2nd Ward Young Men Young Women Discuss Help from the Holy Ghost

How has the Holy Ghost helped you? Check out these youth from the 2nd ward sharing experiences of how they have been helped in a time of need.

What does it mean to offer sacraments to the Lord?

"What does it mean to offer up our sacraments to the Lord? We acknowledge that all of us make mistakes. Each of us has a need to confess and forsake our sins and errors to our Heavenly Father and to others we may have offended. The Sabbath provides us with a precious opportunity to offer up these—our sacraments—to the Lord" (L. Tom Perry, General Conference, April 2011)

Progress is not measured by how close Christ is to us but by how we are drawing closer to Christ. Each sacrament we offer draws us nearer to Christ.

-Brother Curtis Roberts, Stake High Councilor

 

On September 12th the Young Men and Young Women of the Smithfield 18th
ward, had the opportunity to spend the day together in Salt Lake City.
It was a great opportunity for them to experience Temple Square together
and grow closer as a ward unit.

The day started with a tour of the conference center. The youth loved
hearing stories of how the building came about, seeing original gospel
art, and feeling of the power and presence of the spirit in a building
that has heard many prophets of God speak.

Next the youth toured the Beehive house, the home of President Brigham
Young. The youth loved seeing items that once belonged to President
Young and walking where a prophet of the church once lived.

This was then followed by a Temple Square scavenger hunt and dinner in
the park. It is fun to go around temple square looking for items that
you may miss otherwise. It is such a beautiful and peaceful place to be.

To finish the day, the youth climbed to the top of Ensign Peak. There we
heard the message 'Get to the Temple' as we overlooked the beautiful
Salt Lake Valley. We are grateful for strong youth who are striving to
live the covenants they have made and to be worthy to always enter the
house of the Lord.

Sister Fiona Seeley

Grandmother's Poem

I was fortunate enough to have a close relationship with my grandparents on my mother’s side, especially my grandmother.  She lived to be 104 years old passing away in 1993. It always amazed me that she was born in 1889 and what she experienced throughout her life. She had many trials in her life and had a strong testimony, that it was through these trials, that we became more like our Heavenly Father. She loved to write poetry and fortunately those poems were compiled in a book “Portraits of the Past “ by Elsie Hubbard. I’d like to share one of her poems titled “Our Trials”.

Did you ever have a real trial to bear,

And you wondered and wondered why?

Were you being punished for past mistakes

Or like Job were you being tried?

I was human, yes, and I’d make mistakes,

But I had humbly repented of them

And was earnestly trying to do God’s will.

Then why this affliction?

And then I thought of a neighbor down the street,

A good man, yet he had troubles too- -

And if anything, they were far worse than mine.

I’d not change with him, that I knew.

As I sat in deep meditation I found

Many much worse off than I.

Should I not be counting my blessings

Instead of questioning, “Why”?

And then- - I remembered our Savior,

Didn’t he bear a cross for me?

And staggered under that heavy load

Up the hill of Calvary.

In anguish I cried, “Oh Jesus our Blessed Redeemer,

Please help me to be more like thee”.

You prayed, “Thy will, not mine be done,

As you knelt in Gethsemane.”

And later,  nailed there on the cross,

Thy body bleeding and sore,

You suffered as no other could suffer

For the sins of the world you bore.

  

You were taken down and in a borrowed sepulcher

You were laid away.

But on the third day, you arose again- -

Triumphant, you broke the bands of death

That we too might live again.

Oh, if we could but be more submissive

To the trials we are called to pass through,

And say, “Thy will, not mine, be done,”

Although we may hurt through and through

For in God’s wonderful plan of salvation

In some way all must be tested and tried

To prove our worth, here on this earth,

As did Jesus, the Crucified.

As my grandmother, I too have a strong testimony of the eventual blessings of trials. We may very well recognize those blessings here on earth, but more than likely, in the life here after. May we bear them well and remember that Christ bore all and is the Savior of the world.

-Brother David Petersen, Smithfield Utah South Stake High Councilor

The Tale of the Ox and the Yoke

Sister Justine Larsen serving in Cambodia, suffers illness, lives with ants and builds faith

Sister Anne Larsen of the 5th ward shared the following messages from her daughter Justine Larsen currently serving in the Cambodia Phnom Penh mission. She has been serving for 8 months.

"Two weeks after arriving in Cambodia Justine woke up one morning and couldn’t move one side of her face. After many tests to rule out tumors, she was misdiagnosed with Bell’s palsy for 2 months and last month, we found out she really had Ramsey Hunt syndrome, which happens when a shingle infection affects the facial nerve near the ear. What it meant for her was that the right side of her face was completely paralyzed; she had severe headaches and earaches, which made her exhausted. She also had to sleep with her eye-taped shut. Thankfully her condition improved drastically after 3 weeks. 

Here is what she wrote about her living conditions when she was struggling with her sickness and was confined to a cockroach and ant infested apartment. 

"I wipe ants off of everything. Every spoon/plate/cup I use; every shirt I put on; I find one in my retainer case almost every day; I pick them out of my rice sometimes.

We had the hottest night of my whole month here this week. It was so hot that none of us could sleep. At one point I just got up and walked around, because I couldn't handle just sitting and sweating. It's hot season right now, and everyone says it's one of the hottest they've ever experienced. I don't think I've ever prayed so hard in my life. And I feel awful that that's what I prayed about, but it was so hot. I couldn't even cry it was so hot.

I keep telling my companion that I have met my match in Cambodia. Cambodia has decimated and razed me to the floor. It's a harsh place to live."

Being in Cambodia has also been very hard emotionally.  She wrote: 

"On Tuesday we were at a member's house and she lost $20 (which is a lot of money in Cambodia) She had been saving it to pay off a debt that she inherited and the debt collector was coming to get the money that day. She just sat down and sobbed about how hard her life has been and that she would rather die than live. The whole time we were there I wanted to give her the $20 bill in my bag so badly, but our mission president has advised us to not give money or we would have to give to everyone. 

Yesterday we visited an 18-year-old boy with stomach cancer. The elders gave him a blessing and we just talked to him for a bit after that. His parents said that he's going to die because they don't have the money to pay the doctors anymore and there's nothing else to do for him. It's just so sad. These people have such hard lives. I'm having a hard time keeping it together just writing it out to you. The circumstances here are the stuff of nightmares. 

As rough as this mission is in some ways, it really is an incredible mission. Sister E. and I have started to try writing down all the miracles that happen every day. Cambodia is an incredible place for a lot of reasons.

One of our members stopped selling rice so she could start reading her scriptures more. She is the same lady who had lost her $20 and not once while searching her house did she even think to touch her tithing money, which would have covered at least some of the debt. 

Another member Om Sarouen is an incredible example of what it means to be a member missionary. She is the mother of both of our branch presidents. She has befriended and referred a number of our current investigators and she continually serves and loves them.

She also has gone through some really terrible things. She was 20 years old when Pol Pot took over. (Pol Pot was the leader of the Khmer Rouge regime that killed between 1-3 million people in the late 70s) 

She told us that when Vietnam came into the country, she had just barely given birth to her first-born, who is now the branch president of Ta Khmau Branch 2. Because of the chaos during that time, she was separated from her husband and had to run with her ten-day-old baby to Vietnam to safety. 

Later on, the same child, was really sick to the point where he was slipping in and out of consciousness. He was given a priesthood blessing while the family was learning about the gospel and healed. From that point on their family has been an incredible strength for the church in Ta Khmau. 

Yesterday she went over to one of our investigators' house before church to give her a hug and invite her to church. Unbeknownst to her, our investigator had been really struggling that morning because of some difficult family problems. 

Our investigator told us later, Om Sarouen's hug made her start crying because she felt so loved and gave her the little push she needed to come to church. Our investigator even bore her testimony of her trust in God during fast and testimony meeting. Members are where the miracles happen."

This is how Justine describes a typical lesson:“ We walk through little walkways through fields of trash and debris to get to a little alley, which has a ton of doors on either side. Go in one of the doors and you find a little room with cement or tile floors, cement walls, and a tin roof. There's usually a rice cooker, somewhere to hang some clothes, a mattress or pad, and that's it.  We all sit on the floor for the lesson and drip with sweat and there are usually ants crawling around and someone's cell phone goes off in the middle of the lesson or a crowd of kids gathers at the door and they giggle and shriek every time you smile up at them.

Despite being so different from what I thought would be the "ideal lesson", we've had some really incredible lessons here. Some of the people we teach just seem to get it. They take everything we say so seriously and they apply what we teach them immediately. We have people asking us how long before they can get baptized. Their faith is so inspiring. One of our investigators is mad she's not baptized yet, because she wants to pay tithing. 

I'm so grateful for my mission. I could never have grown like I am now without this experience. I have had moments that were so difficult but now are so near to my heart. I still have moments that are so difficult, but it's a good difficult. 

As I write this email, I keep having to pick ants off my arms that are crawling all over the desk of this internet shop. It's just a part of life here. One of our members fed us a bowl of fried chicken innards with ants crawling all over it. It was actually pretty tasty. 

Every week is just that much better. It's still hot here. I still drip with sweat every night while making dinner. I still walk through trash and pick ants off my silverware before using it. I still have weird health things that are just part of living in a rough environment. 

The difference has been in me. I really have found myself changing and choosing to be happier.  In Philippians 4:11–13, Paul is stuck in a Roman prison after years of rough missionary service and he writes: 

“I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
“I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” 

Is the Atonement real?

Yes. I testify from experience that it is a real power. When we think we can't go any further, we can find strength through Christ. 

It's really humbling to realize this isn't my work. I think I came in thinking I was going to be able to work hard and have success by relying on my abilities, but that belief got squashed real quickly. My job really is just to love, follow the Spirit, and trust in the Lord.

I have learned so much since I got here. I've learned that my best doesn't mean perfect and that's ok. I've learned that any effort is one step closer to your goal no matter how small. I've learned that the Atonement can change people. I've learned that God doesn't require us to be perfect- rather He asks us to try. I've learned that despite the incredibly difficult circumstances and trials some people have to endure in this life, there is hope for a better future and a better life in Christ. I've learned God is a forgiving and merciful Father who is always waiting for us to turn to Him. 

I know that God lives, that He is mindful of His children and I know that He loves each one of us. I've felt that to be true as I share that love with those around me."

- Sister Justine Larsen

Sister Lauren Boring is weeks away from completing a successful mission in the California Ventura Mission

My youngest child and daughter, Lauren, is about three weeks away from completing a successful mission in the California Ventura Mission.  Shortly after President Thomas S. Monson made his historic announcement reducing the missionary ages from 19 to 18 for elders and 21 to 19 for the sisters, I asked her what she thought and she said, "No, I prayed about it and the Lord said I am on track doing what I am doing now."  I hate to admit this, but I was relieved.  My son, Wade, had just returned from the Brazil Campinas Mission and I had wanted him to go, of course, but I never really expected (and truth be told, wanted) my daughters to go.  If they wanted to go, I would support them, but I was much more comfortable if they stayed home and got their educations.

A few weeks after our initial conversation, Lauren entered into the living room and announced in a loud voice, "I have an announcement!"  My first and immediate thought was she was getting married which really concerned me because I hadn't heard she was dating anyone.  Then she said, "I am going on a mission!"  Talk about mixed emotions.  Half of me was saying, "Yay!"  the other half of me was sobbing, "No!"  I asked her what happened to the answer to her prayer?  She said she was sitting in church and got this overpowering feeling she should go on a mission, so she prayed again, only this time the answer was yes, she should go.

I was concerned, all right, I was scared.  I could only imagine where the Lord would send her.  She was willing to go anywhere.  Then that fateful day came when the large white envelope from Salt Lake City arrived in the mail.  She opened it and began reading.  My heart was pounding in anticipation.  Then she read the words "California Ventura Mission."  I grew up in Southern California, and while it has its rough spots, generally she was going to a pretty nice part of California.

As Sister Boring wraps up her mission, I can't express enough how proud I am of her for her willingness to forget about herself and serve others for 18 months.  She has indicated in her letters how much she loves her mission, but she is ready and excited to see and be with her family, again.  She has had many amazing, spiritual experiences, experiences that will remain with her throughout her life.  She is not the same person she was when she left.  She has grown spiritually, mentally and emotionally.  She left home a 20 year old girl, but is returning home a strong, mature and independent 21 year old woman.

In a day and age when selfishness seems to run rampant, I am thankful for the young men and women of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who literally put their lives on hold for 18 months to 2 years to serve God and their fellow human beings.  It is really an amazing feat when you think about it.  We have some pretty special young adults in our Church, and I thank God for them and pray for them each and every day.

Let me close with a quote from one of Sister Boring's recent letters:  "I love the Lord. . . .  I'm still focused, I'm excited to be home, but I desire to give my all and do my best.  That's what I will continue to do."

- Brother Michael Boring, Stake High Councilor

Missionary Letter: Elder Riley Archibald

This post is a portion of an email sent home from Elder Riley Archibald who is serving in a small town in Mexico. I thought it contained a great message for all of us.

Elder Archibald said:

We are working very hard to try to bring the less active and non active people to church. The town has 211 members, but only about 20 are active. We brought 6 less active/inactive members back to church on Sunday. I was super happy for that. One of these people is now one of my favorite people. His name is Miguel and he is about 80 years old. We went to visit another person at almost the farthest point that we go outside of town. We found Miguel sitting on a rock waiting for the man to pass with his tortillas for the day. He said that he was a Church member, but he hadn’t been to church in 10 years.  He would like to go to church but the tricycle taxis don’t go that far from the town center.  We told him that we would be by at 8:30 Sunday morning to pick him up in the car of a member. When we passed by, Miguel was all ready to go, just like he had never missed a day of church.

Through Miguel I learned that there really are lost sheep that are our brothers and sisters that really can’t get to our Heavenly Father, not because they don’t want to, but because they don’t know how. I challenge all of you to invite someone to an activity of whatever kind or just to make a new friend with someone at work.  Help them find the Lord. The Lord has time for everyone and I know that if we work hard, God will be there to help us.

With tons of love,

Elder Archibald

- Brother Andy Archibald, Stake High Councilor