From Dad 9/2

Hi everyone,

Fall is in the air. The first thing mom did this morning was check the score between BYU and Arizona. It sounds like a good beginning of the season for BYU. We love hearing about grandkids and sports and dance, as well as school. The little details you include bring back fun memories when our family was doing the same things. Memory is a great way to set back and think about family and all that has happened. You all know mom’s memory has such a capacity for details. This week she said, “Do you remember when Linda Summers was getting on the bus and a boy ‘whopped’ her on the bottom and Brent turned on the boy and royally cleaned his plow?” How amazing is it to be able to recall so clearly details from long ago. Many of you will have them same ability I am sure.

We are working with a family where the husband needs to take medicine daily for the rest of his life. He is on permanent disability with two children, 3 and 1. Like all of us who don’t love taking medicine it is easy when things are going OK to feel the pills are unimportant. The problem comes a few hours or a day or two later when he becomes angry and violent with no control in how he treats anyone. We explained one of the pills is blue and one is pink. Each morning and each evening he can still reason in his mind the purpose for taking the pills is to remain a family and as long as he takes them they will continue to be a family. When not, then the risk of no longer having a family is there. The mother seemed at peace knowing that he knows there are limits. These limits are only to protect the safety of his family.

Mom and I invited the elders, one finishes his mission in three weeks, to go with us Monday and have Indian food. It was good. Mom was not especially excited with the “music”. It was a cross between western and Chinese. Friday night we took time to have a nice meal at home and watch “Sound of Music”. It was fun seeing Austria and living “next door” we relate well to the mountains, the trees, the century old buildings. We loved the music. It was fun going back to 1965 when Boyd was 2 and Chris was 1. One day you too will have 45 years of memories to look back with fondness and feel the warmth of being family.

Our Russian friend upstairs where we live enjoys singing songs with us and allows us to teach her about the restoration. Mom asked her if she would like a priesthood blessing this week. She has problems with her eyes and dizziness. She said she would. It was an important time for us. We felt strongly the Spirit after the blessing. She has mellowed and you can see the warmth coming into her eyes.

Ron Peterson talked more about the Church and his personal responsibilities to his family this week than ever before. We especially talked about attending Church and how his example of loving kindness to each member will bless them in ways no one else can. He does not take exception. We are glad for that. He does have sincere concerns about the present and future well being of his family and seems to be genuinely working toward putting the gospel in how he personally lives more into practice. For this we are very thankful.

Time and time again we see members who at one time knew God lives and that He is our Father now wrestling with day to day problems as though there were no solution. Those who actively are working each day to keep all the commandments have an eternal perspective for finding solutions today for the problems and issues needing answers now. This perspective helps open the door to personal revelation or communication with our Father in Heaven through His Spirit to receive answers and guidance we would never think about or understand solely on our own. He, our Father in Heaven, is really our father. He knows each of us personally and cares. Too often we see the effort being made to define what He can do and how He can help us limited to how we can do things. This is sad. The one who has the knowledge and the capacity to put our world and our universe together and make it work has the power also to answer our prayers. He never lies. I know this is true. Only the adversary would seek to convince us otherwise.

Business is a fickle master. When we think we understand the business of life or even some phase of the “business world” and no longer need the support or instruction from a Heavenly Father, who still thinks about us and cares about us, then we have successfully cut off the limb from the tree on which we were standing and being supported. We can only hope the “ride” down to the ground is not too brutal. So is life. So is the world of Herr Jindre. When he has needs, he needs the Lord. Yesterday he said, “Your Church cannot be the true Church because you are too involved with trying to change people’s lives.” For most people religion is something that is there for them as they feel the need or want to be involved. They do not see it as a way of life. “I am the way, the truth, and the life…” doesn’t seem to have much meaning. Nor does, “Serve me with all of your heart, might, mind, and strength.” Or, “He who will do the will of my Father will know whether what I teach is from the Father. If I teach only my will, it has no value.”

We were talking with a young husband on Friday who is very knowledgeable. He said what do you say to scientists who quote, “These bones are 80 million years old”? Since man has always been and the organization of this world and universe was from materials without a beginning, the only challenge science has is to understand that not everything has a beginning or an end. They have no concept of eternity and therefore God to them is incomprehensible. As far as scientists discovering new “truths” we talked about the discovery that the world was flat and if you steered your ship too close to the edge you would simply fall off; or the discovery that the sun revolved around the earth, and that the earth was the center of the universe.

I am thankful for the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness. Knowing the truth and allowing it to make us free from misinformation and traditions brings life, strength, and hope. It gives purpose and meaning to getting up in the morning and feeling a responsibility to account for our actions. It gives us knowledge our Father in Heaven is still in charge and through His Son, Jesus Christ, the misinformation will one day come to an end and the lamb and the lion will graze in peace together and our children will no longer be required to learn war or to be prepared to protect them and their own from the Tempter. For he will be bound. We will no longer tolerate his influence and he will be talking to a blank wall for a thousand years. Good times are ahead. Brave the storms. Do your part. Be true and faithful. Make and keep covenants.

Please remember we will always love you and pray for your well being.

Love always,

Dad

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