Thoughts and stories, by Pal

Great Story!  This is such an interesting story, of a young convert in New Zealand who had to have a tatoo removed to serve a mission.    New member cuts out tattoos to serve mission   Thomas Swain   June 8, 2015 Written by Ione Cussen Pasi Haufano didn’t always want to serve a mission, it wasn’t until he was in his mid-twenties that he even starting to consider the idea. But when he’d made that choice, nothing was going to stop him. His perseverance became a beacon of faith, an example of determination that has quite simply become legendary. Pasi was raised in a Polynesian (Tongan/Samoan) home in New Zealand and was Baptised in 2006, but he didn’t really understand the significance of what he was doing. “I knew I had to be baptised, but I never understood the doctrine behind it”, he said, “I couldn’t even remember the name of the church, I didn’t know that there was a Book of Mormon.” Pasi at home in New Zealand wi...

This is such a comforting article.  It contains thoughts from a book by Robert L. Millet, a BYU Religious Professor, entitled "When a Child Wanders."  Why There Is Hope Even If Your Child Has Strayed ROBERT L. MILLET - from lds living Learn more about the doctrine behind what happens when a child wanders from the faith. I thought I knew something about the depth of divine love and the supernal power of the everlasting covenant when I chose to write  When A Child Wanders . The last two decades have, however, sharpened my convictions and deepened my faith. My wife Shauna and I have witnessed miracles as loved ones have been drawn back to the fold, but we still seek with all our hearts for the restoration of each one of our children to full and complete acceptance of the restored gospel. And we trust in the assurance that “Our heavenly Father is more liberal in His views, and boundless in His mercies and blessings, than we are ready to believe or receive” (Jo...

This is truly a great resource for all of us, whether we have freed slave ancestors or not.  I have several ancestors who freed their slaves before the Civil War.  I would love to find their names, and do their Temple work.  I'm not sure how to go about that.  If any of you find out, please e mail me.  My e mail is in my profile.  I would love to hear from anyone reading this.  Tell me what you think about what I post or about yourselves and your lives.  I am truly interested!  THANKS!  Elder Christofferson Announces 4 Million New Freed Slave Records Released for Indexing SOURCE: FAMILYSEARCH An event today launched the volunteer indexing effort of 4 million freed slave records. Image from The Freedmen's Bureau Project  Live Broadcast FamilySearch, the largest genealogy organization in the world announced the digital release of 4 million Freedmen’s Bureau historical records and the launch of a nationwide volunte...

This article tells about the fathers of some of the prophets.  All you fathers who read this, can be a father to a future Church leader, and perhaps you will be.   Fathers of the prophets By Ryan Morgenegg For the LDS Church News Published: Thursday, June 18 2015 1:00 p.m. MDT President Joseph F. Smith and his son Joseph Fielding Smith, 1914 Source: BYU Religious Studies Center Prophets have been some of the most influential men throughout time and are often referred to in scripture as “fathers.” But what kind of men were the literal fathers of the prophets? A look at the fathers of modern-day prophets LDS Church New The impact of righteous fathers in the gospel is real. From Christ’s relationship with His own Father to the scripture stories of Lehi and Nephi or Abraham and Isaac, there are principles learned, behaviors modeled and lessons taught. The Church’s Proclamation on the Family states, “By divine design, fathers are to pre...

This article will touch your heart! LDS senior missionary serving in Ghana   builds pulpit for paralyzed  branch president                   By  Sarah Petersen ,  Deseret News                   Published: Tuesday, June 16 2015 7:15 a.m. MDT                                           With the help of people around the world and divine intervention, Elder Gary Parke completed a project that one branch president in Ghana calls "a total miracle." “ He just sat there for a minute, and he looked at me, and he said, 'Elder Parke, we have been praying that we could finally figure out some way to allow President Azumah to be able to conduct the meetings like anybody else would.' I knew then, without any doubt, that the Lord was mindfu...

It is so important to unplug, and reconnect with our loved ones and friends.  We've all see photos of a group eating together, and each one on their private cell phone.  The computer at home can be the same distraction from building your relationships.  Great article from the BYU Magazine. UNPLUG AND RECONNECT By M. Sue Bergin (BA ’78) from BYU Magazine, Spring 2015 Holding hands instead of handhelds can reduce relationship static. Pam and Jake (names changed) had been married more than 20 years when they both got cell phones. Pam loved being able to reach her husband at any time. And then came texting and always-on smartphones with their pings announcing the arrival of every e-mail. Jake began texting and checking his e-mail constantly, says Pam, including while driving. Conflict ensued. “Since I’m not one to bite my tongue and suffer silently, I would say something every time the phone irritated me, which meant we were having those uncomfortable kinds ...