Thomas S. Monson

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is mourning the loss of the prophet of the Lord today after President Thomas S. Monson passed away last night.

President Monson was only 36 years old when he was called to be an apostle. That's only 10 years older than me now. That's so young. He passed away at the age of 90. He spent 53 years of his life as an apostle of the Lord. That's more than half of his life (for those of you who are numerically challenged).

I've been thinking a lot about how I could write something that hasn't already been written.

Maybe, I will just post two of my favorite talks that I've read (from 1970 to 1979) of his.

This one is called "My Personal Hall of Fame" from October 1974.

This one is called "Hopeless Dawn--Joyful Morning" from April 1976.

President Monson should be also submitted for the hall of fame for his service throughout his life. He devoted his life to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He became a Bishop at the age of 22. He was in a stake presidency at the age of 27. He served as a mission president at 31. He is a fantastic example to all people, not just members of the Church of Jesus Christ.

He will be sorely missed with his humor and incredible life stories. I'm saddened by the fact we won't hear those stories, but also that we haven't heard them in over a year. It makes me happy knowing he has rejoined his beloved wife, Frances. 

I'm excited to see the progress of the Church under President Nelson. I bear testimony that there is a prophet on Earth today, just as in the Old Testament. The prophet leads and guides the Church of Jesus Christ under the ever-watchful eye of Christ himself. I know this to be true.

CHRISTmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Hopefully you're all celebrating with family or friends or both. Hopefully Santa Claus visited your home and everyone is enjoying themselves.

I just wanted to tell you all what I've been thinking about lately. We all know that worldly possessions won't be able to go with us into the next life, right? You could make millions of dollars, but that's not going with you into heaven.

I've been thinking a lot about people. People can be incredible, inspirational or amazing. They can also be annoying or rude. One of Kaylee's favorite things to do is "people watch." People do the strangest things, but in their head, it probably makes sense.

I've been thinking about how people are everything. Creating relationships is more worthwhile than making money. Knowing those people, especially who we have constant contact with, is essential to life. 

Kaylee's family.

I understand that sometimes we can't stand people, just drive in Salt Lake at any time of the day and you'll be frustrated out of your mind. I know I am. But, when you have a chance to meet people, get to know them. Find interest in people. It's obviously more comfortable to just sit in our little corner and shy away from others, but I promise that your life will be fuller if you just come out of your shell a bit and meet someone new.

The most important people though, is your family members. Don't fight or argue with them. They will hopefully be there by your side forever. That is the ultimate goal. We don't ever want a single life to be lost (in this life, but especially the next) because every life and soul is important.

 My dad's side of the family.

 My mom's side of the family.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, but remember at this time that Christ came to this world not to save just you. He came to save everyone!

"Shall cleave to his wife"

It wouldn't be right of me to end with just stories of my mission, especially with the life I currently have.

God has prepared a way that we can live together forever in our families. I can't think of a greater blessing than this.

I'll never forget the day that I married Kaylee. It was a whirlwind of a day, but it was perfect.

A week before we actually got married, Kaylee was able to go through the temple to get her endowments. This means that it was her first time through the temple (besides baptisms for the dead). I was there and seeing her in all white, made me and my heart happy. She radiated beauty as she entered the Celestial room for the first time.

Prior to the wedding day, we picked Gail Ockey to do our sealing. He was the patriarch that gave me my patriarchal blessing. 

I don't remember a lot of what he said by Patriarch Ockey, but I remember how I felt as I looked across the altar into the eyes of my wife. She looked happy. Don't ask why, it was only me.

I wish I could've taken a snapshot of the entire room though and the people that were there. So many happy faces of family and friends. 

Kaylee and I were sealed for "time and all eternity" together. That means that we will not be separated after this life. We are not married "till death" only, but forever. I recommend that blessing to everyone, but not just anyone can seal someone for all eternity. The proper authority must be held by that sealer. Because we are sealed together, our children, starting with our baby girl, will also be sealed to us.

 

Living together forever is something that I would wish that everyone could enjoy. These moments, especially within the walls of the temple, are moments that mean more than anything in the world. The Spirit is so strong in the temple, and being able to go to the temple with the one you love most is incredible.

"My soul delighteth in the song of the heart"

Have you ever heard a song, especially around Christmas time, that just seems to cut right through you? This has happened many times for me. 

This seems to happen to me more often lately. I don't know if it's because I've seen my family less this year since my mission or what, but I've had songs cut through me on multiple occasions this year.

This has proven to me that the Spirit can be there in daily activities.

While growing up and even now, my mom always makes up songs whether it was to wake her kids up, or to calm the grandchildren down. She has always loved music. I think I got that from her, but not the creativity of making up songs on the spot.

My siblings and I were all told to sing our favorite hymn or primary song if we were ever scared or afraid of something. If you've never tried this, it works.

Music is incredible. It can make someone get up and dance or sing. It can make you feel the Spirit or it can drive the Spirit away. There are so many different songs and styles of music. The lyrics of songs can be so inspiring or so degrading.

It seems every year around Christmas time, I find a different song that I fall in love with. One of the biggest times of this that I remember was in Strasbourg, France. We sang the First Noel in church and I was absolutely punched by the Spirit as we sang it. I couldn't help but tear up (no tears fell, so it's ok).

Typically, I don't love Christmas music. The radio plays the same songs over and over and it gets old fast. One of the few songs that I usually like is "I'll Be Home For Christmas." When it comes to Christmas music though, I'd rather listen to older artists than any recent takes on the classic songs. I love listening to Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Dean Martin. 

For whatever reason, this year, I've loved most versions I've heard of "Silent Night." The lyrics of that song have struck me down. The last verse has been the one that does the trick:

Silent night, Holy night,
Son of God, Love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

Next time you're listening to music, make sure you pay attention to the lyrics. The background music and beats aren't as important as what's being said. Listen to and think about the lyrics of Christmas music, because they usually give you something more than just a fun song. 

Here is one of my favorite songs because of the lyrics:

Even with songs that aren't Christmas related, you can find the Spirit being invited. I hope that you will start seeking out wholesome music, because it can make or break each day.

"They taught with power and authority of God"

Guess what! I'm on my last mission story of this group of blog posts. You made it! If you've ever served an LDS mission, you might also remember that sometimes there are lessons that are just incredible. This is one of those stories.

This has proved to me that through the power and gift of the Holy Ghost, lives can change to find Christ and His teachings. I also learned that God prepares people to hear His Gospel, especially through the help of members.

I probably taught the first lesson (Joseph Smith story) more often than any other lesson while in France. I loved teaching that lesson. I love quoting the story: "I saw a pillar of light, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other -- this is my Beloved Son, hear him!"

 One of my favorite paintings of the First Vision.

I once read or heard a talk by someone (that I can't find anywhere) that said something like, "When the Joseph Smith story is told, lives change. It doesn't matter what language it's in and whether or not you understand it." I agree with that statement 100 percent.

 In my last area, St. Brieuc, we had quite a few English members in the branch. One of the English members met another English couple and offered to help because they were struggling with money. Eventually, we were able to teach the guy, Jim. His wife was already a member, although not active. Jim is a gruff, brute of a man from Scotland. He is one of the hardest workers I've ever seen.

The moment we started teaching, I knew this was going to be good. He hung upon every word we said. He loved the scriptures that we shared, although he never said anything. I could tell he loved it by the twinkle in his eye. It seemed to grow.

We got to the First Vision part of the lesson and it was weird teaching it in English. My companion and I didn't have it memorized in English, so we read it. His eyes watered and then giant tears fell from his face. He got up and walked away. The Spirit was so strong. We didn't move. He came back a few minutes later and told us he wasn't expecting this.

We finished the lesson and he couldn't wait to start the next one. He was one of our best investigators. I wish I could tell you that this ended super well, but I can't. He moved back to England before we could finish teaching him.

Jim's story showed me that anyone can and will accept the Gospel, but no one will if the Lord hasn't prepared them to do so. A lot of the time, members, not missionaries, are the best at finding those who are prepared. Lives can and do change.

Found on quotesgram.com.

"In His strength I can do all things"

Not long after the last experience, in my first area of my LDS mission, I found that Christ is the perfect example.

That's right, another story from my first area of my mission. I learned a lot in that first area. It was a hard area and my first experience as a missionary. It was one of the smallest areas in the mission, and we had little to no work as my first transfer came to a close. The last week of each transfer, we had deep cleaning day. This is where the story begins as I was stuck in the apartment cleaning.

My mind slowly turned to my family as I was alone and didn’t have any source of communication for a while and wasn’t reading.

‘I miss them so much. I wonder what they are doing right now,’ I thought. My mind began coming up with scenarios of what we would be doing all together if I was there. I was beginning to get homesick, but I couldn’t stop myself.

‘What about the work here?’ I thought,trying to focus my mind onto the work we had in Alençon. ‘Who am I kidding, we have nothing here. The branch is tiny, there hasn’t been a baptism in over a year. The most recently scheduled one went down in terrible flames.’

Tears formed in my eyes and I couldn’t help but return to what my family was doing and how I missed them so much. I held the tears back as best I could, but slowly couldn’t see well, so I washed my hands and wiped my tears away. I walked out into the main room and grabbed my scriptures.

I went into the bedroom and opened my scriptures which seemed to fall open to Alma 26. It was a chapter about the sons of Mosiah and their work among the Lamanites. Ammon glories in God in having the opportunity to convert so many.

One of my favorite scriptures. I just threw this graphic together.

“3 Behold, I answer for you; for our brethren, the Lamanites, were in darkness, yea, even in the darkest abyss, but behold, how many of them are brought to behold the marvelous light of God! And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work.

4 Behold, thousands of them do rejoice, and have been brought into the fold of God.

5 Behold, the field was ripe, and blessed are ye, for ye did thrust in the sickle, and did reap with your might, yea, all the day long did ye labor; and behold the number of your sheaves! And they shall be gathered into the garners, that they are not wasted...

12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in His strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land for which we will praise his name forever.

13 Behold, how many thousands of our brethren has he loosed from the pains of hell; and they are brought to sing redeeming love, and this because of the power of his word which is in us, therefore have we not great reason to rejoice?”

I looked up from my scriptures and out into the hallway. Just outside on the wall, a painting of Jesus Christ hung on the wall. It was the painting with him like it was a portrait in the red robe and white clothing underneath.

This is the painting that was hanging outside in the hallway. I love this painting of Christ.

‘He was away from His Father for 33 years, and I’m whining about two years,’ I thought to myself. My tears were now gone. ‘He and His Father knew that He was going to His death, but still both agreed to let the process be done. I can do this. I will see my parents in two years, it isn’t that long. “For in His strength, I can do all things.”’

This proves to me that the Lord is always aware of us individually again. I also found that Christ did everything in His life because of and for us. He lived for us; He died for us. He is the example that everyone should be striving to become.

"He hath attended to...my prayer"

Fast-forward a few years to my time at the MTC. Not that I didn't have any special experiences in high school, but I chose to skip over them. I considered writing about the Pioneer Trek, but I must have repressed those memories a bit.

This time, I found that God answers prayers immediately when He feels it is necessary. I also learned His plan is perfect.

The Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah is basically a religious school/prison. Don't get me wrong, the MTC is a great place to begin to learn a language and learn more of what you'll be teaching for two years on a mission, but you're basically trapped in that place.

I was at the MTC before the Church reduced the time missionaries need to spend there, so I was there for two whole months. About three weeks in, I was finally settling in and enjoying my district of 11 other missionaries when I got a letter from my dad.

I looked forward to letters from my dad because he always kept me updated in sports. This letter was different though. In this particular letter, he told me that Rick Ence had passed away. My dad shared this because they are the same age. He told me because I went to high school with one of his sons.

Justin Ence was the football star in high school. I thought for sure that kid was going to go big in football, but I think playing quarterback and safety hurt his chances even though he could've been a star safety in college (think Eric Weddle-type player).

Justin wasn't a close friend, but everyone knew who he was because of football. He was popular in high school, but is one of the most down-to-earth people you'll meet. He is always nice to me and everyone he ever came in contact with.

Here is Justin on his wedding day with his mother. He married his high school sweetheart, Jesslin. I stole this picture from her Facebook page.

When Rick passed away, Justin was serving his mission in Brazil. I read the letter and my heart sank. The world seemed to dim.

At the end of the letter, my dad told me Justin got to talk with his family and was told that Rick wouldn't have wanted him to come home for this. His brother's told him to finish his mission, which he did.

That night, at the MTC, I prayed one of the most fervent prayers I have ever given in my life. I don't remember everything that I said, but I remember asking for the Ence family to be comforted and that they all would understand His plan. I also asked that I may understand His plan and why these things happen at times like this. I felt the most calm feeling come upon me at that time.

I felt like I received an answer almost immediately that the Lord knows what He is doing and that He needed Rick for work on the other side. I still can remember this feeling over 7 years later. I don't think I'll ever forget it. 

Here is a picture of Rick Ence. He was 49 when he passed away. He would've turned 57 two weeks ago.

This is an example of how the Lord has a plan at all times, even if it hurts our finite, mortal minds here. He also answers prayers immediately when necessary. I didn't really ever meet Rick, but I will never forget him and his family because of this special moment.