Testimony of the Book of Mormon

Many of you witnessed Elder Jeffery R. Holland's POWERFUL WITNESS
of the Book of Mormon in General Conference - 4 October 2009.
He said:
"I ask that my testimony of the Book of Mormon
and all that it implies, given today under my own OATH and OFFICE,
BE RECORDED BY MEN ON EARTH AND ANGELS IN HEAVEN.
I want it absolutely clear when I stand before the judgment bar of God
that I declared to the world...that the Book of Mormon
IS TRUE."

He also, declared this thought:
"I TESTIFY that one cannot come to the FULL FAITH
in this latter-day work---and thereby find the FULLEST MEASURE
of PEACE and COMFORT in these, our times---
until he or she EMBRACES the divinity of the Book of Mormon
and the Lord Jesus Christ,
of whom it testifies."

Nephi's Testimony

As we all begin to study and read The Book of Mormon...I am struck my Nephi's TESTIMONY of what he records:

"...I KNOW that the record which I make is TRUE!" (1st Nephi 1:3)

Sisters, as you READ, please, feel free to COMMENT on what you are reading
or your TESTIMONY of the Book of Mormon!
May the "POWER of the WORD"
STRENGTHEN and BLESS US ALL!

New Bride

Diane and Rick had gone out and cut all the "wildflowers"
for all of their flower arrangements

Diane, also, used the wildflowers to decorate
their wedding cake that she made.
Didn't the cake come out AWESOME?

Diane Masciullo became a new bride on Saturday, August 28th! She married, Rick Groves, also, from our Ward.
I am sorry...my pictures of both Rick and Diane did not turn out.
But, I have this wonderful picture of Diane...
just before she legally become MRS. Rick GROVES!

"The Land of the Blue Flower"

"A quality person will not be offended. In life there is no time for
being HURT. There should be no time to be PETTY.
A WISE PERSON will FOCUS on PRINCIPLES of
OPTIMISM and HOPE."
Elder Marvin J. Ashton, Ensign, February 1993, 64

One of my absolute FAVORITE children's book is entitled "The Land of the Blue Flower" written by Frances Hodgson Burnett. If you can find the book...find the copy that is ILLUSTRATED by Judith Ann Griffith! Her ART WORK is DELIGHTFUL!

Here is the description of the story:
"The Land of the Blue Flower is the tale of Amor, a young king orphaned as an infant and left in the care of a wise elder. His caretaker, known as the ANCIENT ONE, spirits the infant away to a castle, far from the gloomy city where Amor was born. In the lands surrounding the castle, the Ancient One teaches Amor to respect and learn from the beauty and mysteries of nature.

When Amor ascends to his throne as a young man, he returns to the city, which has been in a state of ruin for many years. The people of the kingdom are surprised when their new king issues a mysterious proclamation that all persons must plant and nurture the seeds of a magical Blue Flower.

The people follow King Amor's decree with trepidation. As they learn to care for the flowers, they learn to care for the Earth and ONE ANOTHER. Soon, the once-gloomy kingdom becomes known as The Land of the Blue Flower."

Sisters, here lies the SECRET...

The young king had developed his MIND (hence his HEART) to never "harbor a dark thought". The principles that soon were developed among the people were as follows:

1. There is NO TIME for ANGER. It is a worthless thing!
2. There is NO TIME for HATRED in the world. There is NO TIME!
3. There is NO TIME for FEAR! There is NO TIME!
4. There is NO TIME to THINK of the WORST! There is NO TIME!
5. There is NO TIME to FRET. There is NO TIME!
6. There is NO TIME to be IDLE. There is NO TIME!
7. There is NO TIME to FIGHT. There is NO TIME!
8. There is NO TIME to look at DARK THINGS if one cannot MAKE THEM BRIGHTER!

The magic FORMULA lies in these words from the book. "...the earth is full of magic...Most men know nothing of it and so come MISERY. The first law of the earth's magic is this one. IF YOU FILL YOUR MIND WITH A BEAUTIFUL THOUGHT THERE WILL BE NO ROOM IN IT FOR AN UGLY ONE."

We are all disciples of Jesus Christ, dear sisters. We can all "plant our own seeds of the 'Blue Flower'...where ever we go...PRAY each day...to KNOW...just where to PLANT...so that it will BLOOM...where you and Father wished for it to GROW!

Bytheway: the hazards of criticism in marriages | Universe.byu.edu

Bytheway: the hazards of criticism in marriages | Universe.byu.edu

I am always searching for "words of wisdom"..... And this article by John Bytheway caught my interest...

It seems our "society" has a tendency to be CRITICAL about everything...However, the worst part of such behavior is that it is DESTRUCTIVE...and it is manifesting itself especially within the walls of our homes...

I think the WISDOM that Brother Bytheway expresses in this article...is not just for married folks...but, how we talk "about" ONE ANOTHER and "to" ONE ANOTHER....

Baptism: Amber Joy Nestell

Elders Lanham and Henriksen - Amber Nestell - Andrew Clark

Amber Joy Nestell
was baptized this morning
by Elder Henricksen!

It was a WONDERFUL baptismal service...Filled with heartfelt testimonies,
love for one another...and most of all, the SPIRIT was present!

Front Row: Andrew Clark - Amber Nestell - Shirley and Ted Priestley
Andrew's brother standing in the background.

Garvin Smith with Elder Henricksen
Garvin is the Ward Mission Leader.
He was assigned to speak on the "Holy Ghost", PLUS
He has, also, been assigned as her NEW HOME TEACHER!

After her baptism, Amber was presented with this gift...
a "Quad" - Given to her by
Brother Joe Dickinson

Elmer and Selma Widmier came over from
Bigfork to witness Amber's baptism!

Debbie Perrone and Fran Mc Carrell

Fellowshipping afterwards:
Jennifer Sherratt, Jo Ann Frederick, Bishop Robison, and Amber

The Widmiers are good friends with
Mary Lou and Wally Hartman

Debbie and Steve Perrone
"Always ready to SUPPORT"

Grace Guest and Shirley Priestley
Grace played the piano and bore her testimony!
Shirley gave the talk on "Baptism" and is
Andrew Clark's mother.
Grace has, also, been assigned as one of Amber's new
VISITING TEACHERS!

Jennifer Sherratt lead the "Opening" Hymn
and Denise Nez lead the "Closing" Hymn

At Amber's request, Jo Ann Frederick was asked
to bare her testimony...It was WONDERFUL!

Jennifer Sherratt, also, made this INCREDIBLE CAKE!

Mosiah 18:8-11
"And it came to pass that he said unto them:
...as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God,
and to be called HIS people,
and are WILLING to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light;
Yea, and are WILLING to mourn with those that mourn;
yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times, and in all things,and in all places, that ye may be
redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have ETERNAL LIFE---
Now, I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against
being baptized in the name of the Lord,
as a witness before HIM that ye have entered into a covenant with HIM,
that ye will SERVE HIM and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantely upon you?
...when the people had heard these words, they CLAPPED their hands for JOY, and EXCLAIMED:
THIS IS THE DESIRE OF OUR HEARTS."

Our Sacrament Experience

'I' am willing to take upon 'me' the name of Thy Son...
and ALWAYS REMEMBER HIM...

His Hands

Questions I Need to Ask Myself...

A few years, ago, I took a personal inventory based on a few Book of Mormon scripture verses...I thought, perhaps, you might like to take this personal inventory as well...You will find it most interesting...and perhaps sobering...as you ponder your ANSWERS...

Alma 5

14 And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?
15 Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?
(Alma 5: 14-15)

1. Have "I" been spiritually born of God?
2. Do "I" have His image in my countenance?
3. Have "I" experienced a mighty change in my heart?
4. Do "I" exercise faith in Christ?
5. Do "I" look forward to stand before God and be judged of my works?

19 I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?
(Alma 5:19)

1. Can "I" look upon God with clean hands and a pure heart?

27 Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God? Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble? That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins?
28 Behold, are ye stripped of pride? I say unto you, if ye are not ye are not prepared to meet God. Behold ye must prepare quickly; for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand, and such an one hath not eternal life.
29 Behold, I say, is thee one among you who is not stripped of envy? I say unto you that such an one is not prepared; and I would that he should prepare quickly, for the hour is close at hand, and he knoweth not when the time shall come; for such an one is not found guiltless.
30 And again I say unto you, is there one among you that doth make a mock of his brother, or that heapeth upon him persecutions?
(Alma 5: 27-30)

1. If "I" died, today, have "I" been sufficiently humble?
2. Are "my" garments clean and white?
3. Am "I" stripped of pride? If "I" have not..."I" am not prepared to meet God.
4. Am "I" stripped of envy?
5. Do "I" mock my brother?

46 Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unot me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me.
(Alma 5:46)

1. Have "I" fasted and prayed many days to know that what the prophets have taught or currently teaching are true? (Or if Joseph Smith is a prophet; the Atonement; Jesus is the Christ; Plan of Salvation; First Vision; Latter-day prophets; True Church...)

58 For the names of the righteous shall be written in the book of life, and unto them will I grant an inheritance at my right hand. And now, my brethren, what have ye to say against this? I say unto you, if ye speak against it, it matters not, for the word of God must be fulfilled.
(Alma 5:58)

1. Will "my name" be written in the "Book of Life"?

As Christ has loved "me"...Do "I" LOVE OTHERS?

Deborah
24 July 2005