The Fountain of Living Waters

I am truly saddened by the loss of a 10-year old boy in our stake and even more pained at the agony that others are feeling at this time over this tragic accident.

Several weeks ago my girls and I shot photos and a video sequence in Smithfield Canyon. The creek was clear and pure, and the air was fresh and filling. I had been pondering for a few weeks on our Savior Jesus Christ and how he is truly the fountain of living waters. In the book of Revelations in the New Testament, John the Revelator is given a great vision and in the vision one of the elders speaks to him and says: 

“For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” (Revelations 7:17 - https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/rev/7.17?lang=eng#16)

This photo resulted from the outing with my daughters and now hangs in my office. To me it represents our Savior Jesus Christ, the Fountain of Living Waters and reminds me daily of Him.

I too have lost very close friends and family. Six of these people all died before their time. Sorrowfully I have shed many tears. I have waded in deep agony through the dregs of grief and sadness for many months at a time. In each case I pleaded daily with my Father in Heaven for mercy and comfort. It was in answer to these diligent prayers that I finally felt the “living fountains of waters” rush over me to bring fresh relief and take away my grief.

I know that our Savior is the Fountain of Living Waters. He will bring cool relief to our hearts and minds heated in anguish and pain if we will diligently and consistently pray to our Father in Heaven for peace.

He will answer.

-Brother Travis Hilton

President Mont Didericksen addresses recent death of a young boy in the Stake.

I know many of you are aware of the recent tragedy that has affected the lives of two wonderful families in our stake.  This unfortunate accident has also left many friends and neighbors to feel a profound sense of sadness and loss as well.  I won’t pretend to understand at any level what these families are going at this time but my heart aches for them and they have occupied my thoughts and prayers constantly since hearing about the death of 10-year-old Zach.  I have also witnessed the outpouring of love and concern from family, close friends and neighbors.  This love and support is important not just now but will be in the weeks, months and even years to come. 

Although I can’t completely understand and relate to the pain and anguish these families are experiencing, I can relate to their pain at a certain level.  When I was a senior in high school my father passed away from a long battle and history of heart disease.  I remember at the time wondering how I would survive and what would I do.  I was the youngest child and not particularly close to my older sisters, my brother was serving a mission in Japan and my step-mother made the decision to kick me out of the home I had grown up in.  My mother had passed away when I was an infant so I really didn’t know who to turn to or what I would even do.  I couldn’t wrap my head around what had just happened.   If it had not been for the love and support of my best friends’ family, I don’t know what I would have done at that time in my life.  They took me in as one of their own so I could finish school and have a place to call home.  I began to feel an overwhelming sense of peace and comfort from my Father in Heaven.  I knew without a doubt that my Heavenly Father and my Savior, along with both my parents were right by my side every step of the way.  The pain did eventually go away and life got better.  My life took a turn in a direction I never would have anticipated but I have been so richly blessed for the relationships I have developed since that horrible day and looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing.  I have been blessed beyond measure with a wonderful wife and children that words cannot express.  I know they are mine forever if I live up to the covenants I have made with God.  The prophet Joseph Smith was told in the midst of his trials in the Liberty jail that trials he was facing would give him experience and be for his good (D&C 122:9).  I testify that these things are true even when we sometimes feel like we can’t make it through them. 

Many of us have faced similar pain and loss and know to some degree the pain these two wonderful families are currently facing.  Please reach out to them and continue to do so.  The love we show them now will help them through this process of healing.  I know that the healing power of the atonement of Jesus Christ is real and that He understands completely the pain each of us suffer.  He will succor us in our afflictions as He has promised through the power of the Holy Ghost.  I encourage each one of us to reach out to Him in times of need and crisis.  He has the power to heal and bind up our wounds.  I testify that this is true.

President Mont Didericksen

Youth Perspective on The Importance of Family, Journals and Recording Your History

All growing up, I remember going to visit my Great Grandma Lewis. We would usually go to her house at least every other week and when we walked in, my brother Carson and I would walk towards a huge cookie tin she had on her counter.  We’d grab our regular box of animal crackers and sit down by her coffee table while she talked to us and our mom.  

Even after her being gone for a little over six years, I still remember laughing at all of her stories and opinions that she told. She was a very outspoken woman and was not afraid to share embarrassing stories about herself or others and I often benefited from that. When my grandmother died, the thing that made me the most sad was the fact that I couldn’t remember all of the stories she told me. I was lucky enough to remember her smile and the way we laughed together but those stories were a part of her memory and I had already forgotten them.  I told my mom why I was so upset and she lit up knowing that she could fix it.  She went and got my grandma’s autobiography that I hadn’t known about.  Her book is about 900 pages long and she died at the age of 90. 

As I began reading it, I started recognizing some stories she had told me as well as ones I had never heard about. I got to know my grandmother on a more personal level as I read about how her ancestors arrived in Utah and some stories from their lives and her testimony about them. I felt a deeper connection to her as I read about her childhood and her years in the young women’s program that I had recently become a part of. Soon, I started reading about her mission that she served with her second husband who died while they were serving in London.  

She spoke about how she felt encouraged by the Spirit to begin recording her and her late husband’s history as well as doing much of their genealogy work. Reading about the warmth and peace she felt while doing this work inspired me to begin working on genealogy and start keeping a journal.  

Although I’m not as persistent, detailed, and well spoken as she is, I have set a goal for myself to write about my week each Sunday night.  This goal has helped me to remember the Lord every Sabbath as I see how he touched my life every week.  I am so grateful for the example my grandmother set for me and often ponder about the differences in my life had she not followed her promptings from the Lord.

-Madison Sickler, Stake Family History Youth Consultant, Smithfield 6th Ward

Sharing the Message That We Believe in Christ!

Missionary experiences, in my past, have always found me. As time continues I've found that I must find them...but the rewards are far greater because of the effort and love I put into the search.

Living in Smithfield Utah, compared to other places around the world, has offered me the chance to look for opportunities to share the gospel. One such experience occurred due to the Ogden Temple dedication. Curiosity rather than theology instigated many discussions with our new neighbors from the Midwest so I cautiously invited them to attend the temple open house with our family.

We had a fantastic experience and they had many questions about the temple and eternal families. Their strong Southern Baptist background gave a foundation to a discussion that continued on my front porch later that night. As we shared our beliefs with each other and recognized the many similarities, the Spirit was present and we both felt that conviction. The sweetest moment was when this dear lady stated with conviction, "You believe in the same Jesus I do!". My mind cried out with a resounding "Yes!". These cherished neighbors have now moved back to the Midwest but I recently talked to them and they left with a solid understanding that we are all Christians and that we LOVE our Savior.

Missionary work is not simply a matter of baptizing those who are ready, they are making ready those to be baptized. I truly believe the Lord helped us to instill a seed that day and not just in them, but in me.

-Sister Noelle Harrild, Relief Society President, Smithfield 6th Ward

A Message from Conference and the Mission Field

In years past I have usually listened to the Saturday morning and afternoon sessions of General Conference while I worked on some project in or around my home.  This year I decided I was going watch,  and  pay full attention to, all of the sessions. I was blessed for doing so.  One of the blessings that I received was the opportunity to sustain the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and the other General Authorities.  As everyone knows, three new members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles were called and then sustained Saturday afternoon. I don't personally know all of the three men called, but I do know that they are faithful, worthy men of God. I also know that they were called by the Lord through a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, President Thomas S. Monson.

In the Sunday morning session Elder Renlund touched my heart and helped me to feel the Spirit very, very strongly when he talked about how we can truly magnify our service to the Lord only when we forget ourselves and focus on what the Lord wants us to do.    Elder Renlund states: "To effectively serve others, we must see them through a parent’s eyes, through Heavenly Father’s eyes. Only then can we comprehend the true worth of a soul. Only then can we sense the love that Heavenly Father has for all of His children. Only then can we sense the Savior’s caring concern for them".

Our missionaries work hard to see people through God's eyes and know of our Heavenly Father's love for each of them.  My son, Elder Archibald is serving in a small town in Mexico.  He relates this example of the blessings that come when you forget yourself and try to see people through our Heavenly Father's eyes.  He says: "We continue to work hard here with little result.  We work hard because I know that there is someone here who needs God.  I have never worked so hard, or thought of so many ways to help people, and every time have everything thrown back in my face.  If I look at my situation, in reality, my life here should be horrible, but somehow I am always super happy.  I know that I am happy because I truly live the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We really have nothing else".

I have a testimony that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is led by our Savior through inspired men and women who love each of us and love God. I also know that God loves all of us more than we can ever imagine.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

-Brother Andy Archibald, Smithfield Utah South Stake High Councilor