Monday we stayed home all day except for a trip to Long's for medicine. We did go out in the evening to FHE. The Crookstons, who have been here, first on a 23 month mission, went home and came back for 18 months and are now going home again but coming back in November as Service Missionaries. They are incredible people. He has been the Emergency Prepardness person for all of the Island. He is the one who prepared us for last year's hurricane, which ended up moving and missing us. This is a very sacred and blessed place. Also the Markhams are leaving. They came to teach religion and she worked in Administration. They have made a huge impact on the students here. So grateful for these people who put these things together for us to learn more. Today we learned of the great love Heavenly Father has for all of us children. We are all sinners and have need of repentance. The Lord will take us wherever we are and bring us back if we are willing. The great feast where everyday life kept people from coming so the Lord went out and called all those in the streets and then in the highways to come and enjoy the feast. He wants no empty seats at the feast and then the two prodigal sons. Each were in need of coming closer to the Father.
This was a week of birthdays. Paul's Dad, Addison Buell Lewis, would have been 105 on the 4th of May. He was a goodd man who was a servant to all. Always ready and willing to help in any way. We have always been blessed with good people around us. Then was Katie's on the 7th of May. She turned 40. Hard to believe she has a son ready to graduate from High School. She is an amazing woman, great wife and mom and so very talented. She is very loving and giving of herself and always willing to share and help others. We are so blessed to have her in our family. Tyler is getting ready for an interview with his Bishop about his mission. Hope all goes well. He will do an amazing job and will be so good for him. Josh and Gage are doing good. Kory is also amazing. They have been working again on the pool area and it sounds amazing. We love this family.
On the 9th was my Dad, Raymond Hill Anderson, birthday. He would have been 101. On the 10th was Steve's, 77, then Don and Ron on the 11th. Kim's is coming up on the 22nd. I have been blessed with a great family.
We went over to see teh fire and knife competition after our shift. We saw the last 5 contestants and then stayed to watch the women, whom we hadn't seen before. They are pretty amazing. Didn't end up going on Saturday with the Broadbents since I had seen them earlier.
The weather is turning off warm already. Still beautiful but wet by the time we get to the temple even though it is a short trip over. Went to the Doctor again to see about my ears, can't seem to pop them. She gave me another dose of predezone and nasal spray. So far not much difference. Doesn't hurt, just can't hear clearly, like coming off an airplane ride. I asked about my bloodpressure and she said I needed to walk every day for 30 minutes so I have started doing that. Actually feels pretty good to be out and doing.
We had a nice meeting with President and Sister Hallstrom yesterday along with the Broadbents. they ae wonderful giving people. Great insight and Sister Hallstrom shared a couple more books with me that I am reading about the temple.
On Mother's Day we attended Laie 1st Ward where we received a rose and a Hershey bar then in RS we had a great lesson by Sister Whetten and then had strawberry shortcake and visited. Later in the day we did Just Serve and Carole Ann Broadbent brought over a delivious roast dinner for us and we spoke at a YSA Laie Stake conference on the temple. Five other YSA who serve in the temple bore their testimonies and then we each had about 10 minutes. MJ Talk first, Paul's second.
Aloha Brothers and Sisters,
it is a delight to be with you tonight.
We extend our love and appreciation for all you do. We love the temple and the blessings we can
receive there. Heavenly Father has
already promised us all that He has will be ours if we repent and keep His
commandments. Seems like a pretty small
thing when compared to receiving and living with our Heavenly Father again for
eternity and all that that entails.
Elder Lewis and I have loved temples from the beginning of
our Church life together. Elder Lewis
and I were married 18 years before he joined the church. A year after his baptism he went to the Los
Angeles Temple to receive his endowment.
It was a glorious week. We stayed
at the temple all week performing all the ordinances over and over again. On Saturday of that week we were sealed as a
family. We gained a great love for the
temple that week. And it naturally
progressed from there.
Within a
couple of years, he was serving as a veil worker, then progressed to an
ordinance worker which he has served as on and off depending on Church
callings. When we retired in 2005 we
were ready for our first mission but he was called into a stake presidency so
we stayed in LA and continued to serve in the LA temple but in 2007 we received
a call to serve in the Palmyra Temple.
What a blessing to be in the cradle of the restoration. We learned much and served with wonderful
people. Patrons came from all over the
world to visit this special temple. It
is the only temple with a clear window in it which overlooks the Sacred
Grove.
From there we
went to Croatia/Slovenia. To serve with YSA
It was a difficult thing to not be able to go to a temple for over a
year. But one day we got an email saying
there would be a YSA temple trip to the Frankfurt temple. We immediately sent out an email and rented a
van and would take whoever wanted to go.
What a special trip. Several
received their own endowment, 3 their patriarchal blessings and we were able to
attend a sealing of one of our YSA who had married someone from Albania, they
met at a YSA conference.
Our next
mission took us to Hong Kong. Here again
we saw the sacrifices members were willing to make to come to a temple of God
to continue their progression in God’s kingdom.
We had patrons from mainland China, Thailand, Mongolia, Berma, India and
many other countries. For many this
would be their one and only time. They
would come and receive their own endowment and then spend the rest of the week
doing work for their ancestors.
Next we spent
a year in SLCS mission. We were blessed
to be able to serve on Monday morning in the Jordan River Temple in the
baptistery. Again faithful youth would
come at 6 am to do baptisms before going to school. Many were following the Prophet and bringing
their own names to the temple. We also
had many opportunities to attend the Oriquh Mt temple with our young
missionaries who were allowed to go every quarter. And it was a special blessing to be able to
attend with a man that we taught and were able to take to the temple for the
first time.
Again the
gospel took us to Manhattan New York Temple.
Again a very international temple with people from all over the world
coming. Many faithful workers and Saints
would travel at great expense to serve and be in the temple.
Now we find
ourselves in Laie serving in this beautiful temple which casts its shadow over
all of us every day. Do we realize the
blessing it is to be so close to a temple?
Within minutes you can walk to this temple. There will never be another time in your life
when you will have this great blessing.
You now have no responsibility of a family, your time is pretty much
your own and what you do with it.
It is in the
temple of our God that you will receive power from on high to find your way
home. It will strengthen you physically,
mentally and spiritually. If you choose
to take advantage of this great blessing right here in your midst it will set
your priorities straight from the beginning.
It will bless your future family, your service in God’s kingdom and help
you to endure all things until the end.
33 For what
doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the
gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices
in him who is the giver of the gift.
It is a Place
of visual and spiritual beauty. It Points
us to Christ and His atonement—Look to Christ and live.
Pres. McKay once
said “Brothers and Sisters, I believe that there are few who comprehend the
full meaning and power of the temple endowment” if our young people could
glimpse it, it would be the most powerful spiritual motivation of their
lives” pg 3
Commit
yourself today to make an appointment with yourself to be in the temple as
often as possible. Learn all you can
while you are there. The Holy Ghost will
teach you much and will point you to Christ and His great atonement.
I bear witness
that it is here you will learn and grow into the YM and Women Heavenly Father
needs you to be at this time to prepare for his Second Coming. May we all be committed to keep His
commandments, receive the power we need to endure to the end and save ourselves
and our ancestors.
"Every time I'm within the walls of the temple I am happy.
And it's more than happy — I am joyful."
“ “Seek
ye first the kingdom of God and all things will be added to you.” Matt 6:33
If you focus
on the best He will give you the time, means and ways. He will give you more
time, energy and ability to do all other things.
ETBenson When you put God first all other things fall
into place or drop out of your life”.
In the Name of
Jesus Christ, Amen
Paul's talk: President Hallstrom
sends their regards and love. President
Niutupuivaha and Lupe
I must never forget
that I am a child of God. I love Him and I know that He loves me.
I first learned this
truth when I was baptized in Camarillo CA when I was 46 years old. How many of
you were taught by the full time missionaries.
Each one of us has many common threads together. One is being a convert. We will share many other common threads
tonight. Liken yourself to some of
my experiences. Not all. These 2 you
cannot liken yourself to,46 year old deacon and Married 18 years before I was
baptized
Told Bishop I would
not get baptized until I read the scriptures. I did not like to read so I
figured that would be the end of it. Started to listen to book of Mormon tapes.
Come home and read. Likened myself early in the scriptures early. Read about
the hard hearted and stiffnecked. Do not procrastinate the day of your
repentance. I knew the church was good for my family and I supported them but
not for me. 3 children 14, 12 and 10
years old.
D&C 39:10-Arise
and be baptized and wash away your sins and you shall receive my spirit and a
blessing so great as you never have known.
Ezekiel 36:36- A new
heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take
away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
And I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes, and
ye shall keep my judgments and do them. The
key word is do them.
After my baptism I
wrote in my scriptures. Old
testament, _I must never forget that I
am a child of God. Repeat out loud 3
times. Added I love him and I know that
he loves me.
Wife wrote a letter to
President Benson. I have read through tear dimmed eyes your sweet letter
telling of your husband’s decision to prayerfully
read the Book of Mormon. May Heavenly Father bless you and your family with His
choicest blessings as you continue to
learn and do His will.
Five months received patriarchal blessing. You will go to
the Holy temple with your sweet chosen companion and there be sealed for time
and all eternity and you will have you children sealed to you. This will be the
beginning of your eternal family and as you come to know that families are to be forever, you will teach them
well in your home.
2 Nephi 28:30- I will
give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept upon
precept, here a little and there a little and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, for unto him that receiveth I
will give more.
Many of you learned
this song in Primary. I learned when
I was 46 years old.
I love to see the
temple. I'm going there someday To feel the holy spirit,
To listen and to pray. For the temple is a house of God, A place of love and
beauty.
I'll prepare myself while I am young; This is my sacred duty. Working on talk,
looking out our apartment window started to weep.
First temple experience Baptisms with the youth. I was a chaperon and the baptism coordinator said I did not
need to be baptized. The youth said no he is a new convert and wants to be baptized.
Then temple preparation classes. I wanted to learn everything.
D&C 110:10-Savior
appeared in the Kirkland temple. And the fame of this house shall spread to
foreign lands; and this is the beginning of the blessing which shall be poured
out upon the heads of my people.
2 verse-I love to see
the temple. I'll go inside someday. I'll cov'nant with my Father;
I'll promise to obey. For the temple is a holy place, Where we are sealed
together.
As a child of God, I've learned this truth, A fam'ly is forever. Last week a sealer in the temple shared this
song with the family.
April 10, 1990-Tues to
receive my endowment and then sealed
Sat April 14 Drove motor home Los Angeles temple.
D&C 6:14-Blessed
art thou for what thou hast done; and as often as thou hast inquired thou hast
received instruction of my Spirit. If it had not been so thou wouldst not have
come to the place where thou art at this time. Arise and be baptized
Entire week in the
temple. The blessings of the temple
forever changed my life. I was not only in the temple that week but the temple
was in me. Bishop Maddux
Last year we came to
this fireside President and Sister Nehipali talked to you. How many of you were here. A YSA spoke that I
served with in the temple and he invited us to attend. With his permission I
want to share his story.
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Dustin Geroski <dwgeroski1s@gmail.com>
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4:00
PM (3 hours ago)
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Aloha,
Elder Lewis gave me
his card this past Friday in the temple asking if I could talk about my
experience in the temple as a YSA and now as married adults.
Marley and I first
noticed each other in the temple last spring, she worked the shift before my
shift and we walked past each other and
smiled. A few weeks later we were at a Hukilau fishing event and that is
where we first spoke and later that
night had our first date.
As we continued to
date we made it our goal to attend the temple each week together. Now, married
since January 4th in the Orlando temple, we continue to regularly attend the
temple together. Most commonly by working the Friday night shift. We have found by doing this we experience
tremendous peace within our marriage. Working in the temple allows us to learn
from the spirit how to be a better
husband and wife to each other. Mahalo, Dustin and Marley Geroski
We have also learned
from our grand daughters. Twin Falls temple every Wednesday morning at 4:30am. She is now in the London England mission. She feels peace and joy in the temple and
takes that peace and joy into the world. President Eyring-If you walk with the
Savior long enough, you will learn to see everyone as a child of God with
limitless potential regardless of what his or her past may have been. We walk
with the Savior in His holy temple.
My experiences- 5:30 am session.
Veil worker. Ordinance worker. Calling pulled me from being an ordinance
worker. Many of you are now serving in the temple with the new
revelations that have been received. Need patrons and workers. See your Bishop for your limited use recommend,
temple endowment ordinance worker.
Special blessings when
you perform the ordinances in the temple.
Let’s liken ourselves
to the early saints
D&C 95-The saints
are chastened for their failure to build the House of the Lord. This revelation
was given in 1833 and the Kirkland temple was dedicated in 1836.
1846 Nauvoo temple-
After thousands had received temple ordinances Brigham Young announced they
would stop the work in the temple and prepare to leave Nauvoo in 4 hours. He
then continued to administer the endowment to the Saints until late in the
evening keeping the temple recorders there until every ordinance had been
properly recorded.
When he arose the next
day, a crowd of saints met him outside the temple, eager for their endowment.
Brigham told them it was unwise to delay their departure. He promised they
would build more temples out west. 209 temples, 153 dedicated, 14
construction, 10 renovation, 32 announced. Then Brigham walked away. He turned
around and saw the saints climbing the steps to the temple and filling its
halls. We have seen this in the baptistry during vacations and holidays. He saw
their anxious faces and changed his
mind. He knew they needed the endowment of power to endure the hardships ahead,
overcome the sting of death, and return to the presence of God.
For the rest of that
day temple workers administered the ordinances to hundreds of saints. The next
day an additional five hundred Saints receive their endowments as the first
wagons rolled out of Nauvoo.
Laie Hawaii
temple-President Joseph F. Smith served a mission here when he was 15 years
old. Now he is president of the church. On June 1 he told 2 friends this is the
birthday of Brigham Young and I feel impressed to dedicate this ground for the
erection of a temple to God. The mission presidents encouraged members to work,
earn, and save, and look forward to the time when they could partake of the
blessings of the temple.
Dedicated November 27,
1919. Heber J. Grant- We most earnestly pray that this sacred building may be a
place in which Thou shalt delight to pour out Thy Holy Spirit in great
abundance, and in which Thy Son may see fit to manifest Himself and to instruct
Thy servants. This is us.
Rededicated in June
1978- Spencer W. Kimball-We ask to speed the work here and greatly increase the
services that will be performed. We especially pray to bless the youth of thy people in Zion.
Rededicated in
November 21, 2010. Thomas S. Monson-We
rededicate our very lives to Thee and to Thy work. Younger missionary age,
deacons and beehives in temple.
Preparing for the 100
year anniversary of the Laie Hawaii temple this November 2019.
The BYU-H Hawaiian
club honored the centennial of the Laie Hawaii temple during the culture Night program last month. March 22,
2019. We dressed the way we did (in white) to show that the temple is our
ultimate goal in this life, and we strive to follow the examples of our
ancestors who made many sacrifices in order to receive the blessings of the
temple.
Quotes from President
Russell M. Nelson-My dear brothers and sisters, construction of these temples
may not change your life, but your time in the temple surely will. In that
spirit, I bless you to identify those things
you can set aside so you can spend more time in the temple.
As you serve countless
patrons-young and not so young- you will come to realize that temple service is
the crown jewel of all of our work in the Church, indeed the temple is the
object of every activity and every advancement in the Church.
God’s objective should
be our objective. He wants His children to choose to return to Him, prepared,
qualified, endowed, sealed, and faithful to covenants make in holy temples.
The newly
called First Presidency was announced at the Salt Lake City, UT temple.
"As a new presidency, we want to begin with the end in mind. For this
reason we are speaking to you today from a temple. The end for which each of us
strives is to be endowed with power in a house of the Lord; sealed as families,
faithful to covenants made in a temple, that qualify us for the greatest gift
of God, that of eternal life. The ordinances of the temple and the covenants
you made there are key to strengthening your life, your marriage and family,
and your ability to resist the attacks of the adversary. Your worship in the
temple and your service there for your ancestors will bless you with increased
personal revelation and peace and will fortify your commitment to stay on the
covenant path." @ Salt Lake Temple
Our missionary
plaque for this mission-D&C 127:4-Let the work of my temple, and all the
works which I have appointed unto you, be continued on and not cease, and let your diligence, and your perseverance,
and patience, and you work be redoubled, and you shall in nowise lose you
reward.
President
Hallstrom, we need dedicated, committed
workers to serve a 4 hour shift in the temple.
Elder Neil L.
Andersen talked at BYU-I devotional Feb 2017.
We were married in 1971. 46 years earlier) He told the listeners to not
be afraid to take a chance on someone who may not be that obvious choice. We
must look deeper and farther into who they are and who they will become. Sister
Lewis, thank you for taking a chance on me and helping me to become your
eternal companion. I love you.
Testimony
This week, 14th, I went to my first BYUH devotional. Elder & Sister Allen were speaking. War with Satan. Very good. I sent off some notes to my grandchildren.
Elder Stephen B Allen
BYUH Devotional AT WAR WITH SATAN
Read Book of Mormon
looking for tactics of the adversary.
Just in 1st Nephi we find:
mocking the prophets, kill the prophets, duties, murmurings,
complaining, spacious building, midst of darkness.
2 Ne fortifications
to defend themselves. Look for tactics
to help me in my fight
Some of Satan’s deceptions:
I don’t have
time to pray, I don’t have time to study the Book of
Mormon, I don’t have time to attend the temple, I don’t have time to date, to
study, he made me so angry, deceptions and alluring and divisive
How do we protect
ourselves?
Pray all the time, listen to and follow the Spirit, read and
study the Book of Mormon, attend Church, Follow the Prophets, Come follow Me,
minister and serve, attend the temple.
2 Ne 12:7 build
defenses around your weaknesses. Give up
your weapons o rebellion as did the people of Ammon.
2 Ne 31: Press
forward
WE CHOOSE EVERY DAY
WHERE WE WANT TO BE IN ETERNITY
It has been a great two weeks.
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| Lunch at Five Guys |
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| Farewelll for Hardins, Niel and Issacson |
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| BYUH Devotional Elder & Sister Stephen & Nancy Allen, VC Directors |
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| Tanners and Allens |
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| Mar Jean, thinking I am looking old at 75 |
