Thoughts and stories, by Pal

From LDS Living on May 11, 2015.  Great article to help build your faith! 3 Things Your Relationship with God Relies On SAMANTHA SHELLEY -  It might seem like there are too many things we all should be doing to build our relationship to heaven, but there is definitely one formula that will get us there. One of the things I love about Joseph Smith is how young he was when he saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. The Father and the Son appearing to a relatively uneducated 14-year-old farm boy isn’t exactly a run-of-the-mill experience. But does the uniqueness of that experience mean that only Joseph Smith could be that close to God?  1. Don't think you're less valuable than Church leaders. Joseph wanted us to know that “God hath not revealed anything to Joseph, but what he will make known unto the Twelve, and even the least Saint may know all things as fast as he is able to bear them” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 149). In other words, o...

First, a couple of pictures of our Grandson's wedding, which was last Friday, May 15, 2015.   Sam and Rebecca (Becca) coming out of the Temple right after their marriage.          This was taken soon after, on the grounds of the Temple.           This is a picture of most of the people who were at the Temple. The following is from LDS Living: What You Didn't Know About the Founding Fathers' Temple Work Story MICHAEL DE GROOTE - There's more to Wilford Woodruff's dream of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence than you might expect. Learn more about that vision, how he chose which eminent men and women to do the temple work for, and a few hiccups he ran into along the way. Many Mormons are familiar with the story of how then-apostle Wilford Woodruff had a vision of the Founding Fathers in the St. George Temple and how they asked him to do their temple work. Some Mormons may also be vaguely...

We have a grandson getting married tomorrow, May 15, 2015, in the St. George Temple.                                This is the picture on their wedding invitations!   This is Becca, before her mission. This is Sam on his mission. Sam and Becca first met the morning that they each gave their report on their missions to the High Council.  We were there to hear Sam who had just returned from the Redlands Mission, and Rebecca (Becca) from the Oregon mission.  That was their introduction!   Becca's mother is from Hawaii, and she has a great Hawaiian heritage!   Becca and Sam at a YSA dance, having fun! After a few months being in the Young Single Adult ward, with Becca as Relief Society President, and Sam as the Ward Mission Leader, they began their courtship.   Their first date was May 15, 2014, and they are getting married a year to the day of...

Dear friends all over the world -- I think you all will be interested in this article that is in Meridian Magazine today.  There are several places it says to click if you'd like to donate to their relief.  This is the link you can copy and paste into your computer, so you can help:  (or go to www.ldsmag.com) http://ldsmag.com/7-things-i-learned-from-an-earthquake-in-the-third-world-2/ 7 Things I Learned from an Earthquake in the Third World By Scot Facer Proctor  · May 8, 2015 Editor’s note: An enormous thank you to the hundreds of Meridian readers who have already stepped forward and contributed so generously to the earthquake relief efforts in Nepal. MERIDIAN CARES for Nepal is a joint partner with CHOICE Humanitarian in raising funds to send relief.  Click here to donate . My heart has been rent with sorrow in the past two weeks as I have contemplated the plight of our brothers and sisters in Nepal. We spent time with so many people...

Last night we went to a very inspiring lecture in the St. George Tabernacle by Glen Rawson.  He was a Seminary teacher for 30 years, and now is an LDS tour guide, and talks often in various places.  He told several inspiring and touching stories about pioneer women, and their trials, and how strong they were.  He looked at our audience, and said to us, "You folks in this audience come from strong stock!"  I truly felt what he was saying, and decided to repost two posts that I have done before, about one of my great-greatgrandmothers, Carolyn Farozine Skeen Butler.  I have several wonderful pioneer stories about my great grandmothers, and will probably repost some in the next few days. This story has been on my blog before, as you can read -- WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2014 202. Great Pioneer Story, Grandmother Squaw, and my 2nd great grandmother, Carolyn Farozine Skeen Butler Today I am re-posting blog # 71, and tomorrow # 72, ab...