The Ballard Family Temple Miracle

Shortly after the Logan Utah Temple dedication in May 1884, 

the young daughter of Bishop Henry Ballard of the Logan Second Ward handed him a newspaper from Newbury, Berkshire, England, printed only three days earlier.  Though it was at the time impossible for it to have traveled so far in such a short span of time, two strangers had given it to her with strict instructions to give it only to her father.

Bishop Ballard found that the newspaper contained a story with the names of 60 people and their accompanying birth and death dates.  The next day, Bishop Ballard sought an explanation from temple President Marriner W. Merrill.

President Merrill told him, Brother Ballard, someone on the other side is anxious for their work to be done and they knew that you would do it if this paper got into your hands."  Bishop Ballard made certain the temple work was completed and later learned that most of the people names in the newspaper were related to the Ballard family.

More than a half-century later, M. Russell Ballard, the great-grandson of Bishop Ballard, was serving a mission in England and made a visit to the newspaper office.

"I visited the Newbury Weekly News," he records, "and verified that the newspaper had never been postdated or mailed out early.  I held the issue of 15 May 1884 in my hands and photographed it.  There is no mortal way that, in 1884, it could have reached Logan from Newbury within three days."

Helen Keller's Temple Square Visit

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched-they must be felt with the heart."
In 1936, the American Printing House for the Blind printed a seven-volume Braille edition of the Book of Mormon.

Four years later, on march 11, 1941, President Heber J. Grant presented Helen Keller with a copy of this new edition.  The Deseret News reports that she 'expressed her pleasure at the gift and read from the text with rapidity."

The next day, Keller visited the Tabernacle on Temple Square.  After answering question about being deaf and blind and learning to read, type, and talk, Keller had a question of her own.

Famous Mormon poet Emma Lou Thayne recalls being at the Tabernacle when Helen Keller asked for President Grant:

"There was a flurry of getting up from the front row, and President Grant walked up the stairs to the stand.  She reached out her hand and he took it.  "I would like, she said, to hear your organ play your famous song---about your pioneers.  I would like to remember hearing it here."

Keller placed her hand on the organ while the organist, Alexander Schreiner, played "Come, Come, Ye Saints."  Feeling only the vibrations from the magnificent instrument, she stood there in front of the congregation, and the tears flowed.

-LDS Living-

Great lesson on Sunday--Choices

We were traveling with family and friends in the south of Oman.  We decided to relax on the beach along the coast of the Indian Ocean.  Soon after our arrival, our 16-year-old daughter, Nellie, asked if she could swim out to what she thought was a sandbar.  Noticing the choppy water, i told her that I would go first, thinking there might be dangerous currents.

After swimming a short while, I called to my wife, asking if I was close to the sandbar.  Her response was, "You have gone way past it."  Unbeknownst to me I was trapped in a riptide and was being pulled rapidly out to sea.

I was unsure what to do.  The only thing I could think of was to turn around and swim back toward shore.  That was exactly the wrong thing to do.  I felt helpless.  Forces beyond my control were pulling me farther out to sea.  What made matters worse was that my wife, trusting my decision, had followed me.

I thought there was a high likelihood I would not survive and that I, because of my decision, would also cause my wife's death.  After great effort and what i believe was divine intervention, our feet somehow touched the sandy bottom and we were able to walk safely back to our friends and daughter.

Trifle Not with Sacred Things--By Elder Larry S Kacher 

There are many currents in this earthly life---some safe and others not. President Spencer W. Kimball taught that there are powerful forces in our own lives much like the unseen currents of the ocean.  These forces are real.  We should never ignore them!!!

WHAT ARE YOUR CURRENTS???

The decisions we make in this life greatly affect the course of our eternal life.  There are both seen and unseen forces that influence our choices!!

Questions and challenges are posed to all of us at different times.  The brethren are always encouraging us to question because that's how we learn.  

Questions and doubts are different.  Remember that!!  Doubting is different than wanting questions answered.  Brother Kacher was baptized in college after moving to Provo, Utah.  Questions and challenges were posed by friends and family.  He makes this comment..."I had a choice to make.  Some of their questions created doubt and uncertainty.  The choice was an important one.  Where would I turn for answers?  There were many who wanted to convince me of the error of my ways---"riptides" determined to pull me away from the peaceful current that had become a wonderful source of happiness.  I learned very clearly the principle that there is "opposition in all things" and the importance of acting for myself and not forsaking my agency to others." 

How would I address the uncertainty they created?  Rather than allow them to destroy the peace and happiness that had come into my life, I chose to set them aside for a season, trusting that in the Lord's time, He would reveal all thing.

Does this mean there is no room for honest inquiry?

Think of young Joseph Smith...Did he inquire as to his questions?

The question is not, "Is there room for honest, sincere inquiry?' but rather, "Where do I turn for truth when questions do arise?"  "Will I be wise enough to hold fast to what I know to be true in spite of a few question I might have?"

Testify there is a divine source---One who knows all things, the end from the beginning.  All thing are present before Him.  The scriptures testify that He does :not walk in crooked paths...neither doth he vary from that which he hath said."

And ALWAYS remember that on this mortal journey we must never think that our choices affect only us.  

Do our choices matter?

A BIG RESOUNDING YES!!!

Elder Kacher says---"From time to time I have an image that haunts me.  What if that September day, while relaxing on the beach of the Indian Ocean, I had said to my daughter Nellie, "Yes, go ahead.  Swim out to the sandbar."  Or if she too had followed by example and had been unable to swim back?  What if I had to live life knowing that mu example resulted in her being pulled by a riptide out to sea, never to return? 

Are the currents we choose to follow important?

Do our examples matter?

Are my decision firmly planted in the rich soil of the gospel of Jesus Christ?

How to ride out a riptide!!!

1.  Don't Panic

2.  Don't try to swim against the riptide

3.  Swim parallel to the shore

4.  Go with the flow

Carisa compared these steps to helping us with challenges and questions in our lives.

1.  Don't panic--Trust in God, He will NOT let you down!!

2.  Don't try to swim against the riptide--Focus on the positive.  Try your best to hang in there til help comes!!

3.  Swim parallel to the shore---Identify and change negatives, and REPENT.  CHANGE!!

4.  Go with the flow--Associate with hopeful people and environments  

President Henry B. Erying...

Heavenly Father has perfect foresight, knows each of us, and knows our future.  He knows what difficulties we will pass through.  He sent His Son to suffer so that He would know how to succor us in all our trials.  PLEASE REMEMBER THIS!!!

Great lesson.  Thanks Carisa!!!  We missed you if you weren't there.

  

Yes, this is me!!!

I'm a sucker for cupcakes with colored frosting and sprinkles on top!!!

New sisters in the ward...

We have a new family that has moved in with the LaMarca's.  It's Mandy's twin sister Sandy.  He and her husband, Merrill have 6 kids.  For a good time head to the LaMarca's.  Especially if you would like to babysit!!  They have Coby, Ryker, Lydia, Zaryn , Felicity and Quentyn!!  Welcome to the Scott's.

Melissa Goulding has her mother living with them.  Maurine Openshaw.  She is a very nice lady and we hope to see her out and about soon.  She has had some health problems but seems to be on the mends!!

Callie and Cody Goff have moved in at 259 Bristlecone.  They are such a cute couple.  We are so excited to have them in the ward.  They have on little daughter, Riley who is 4.  Welcome to the Goff's!!

Takesha and Bill Pollock have more into Sunset Ridge #1519.  They have 4 kids.  Ellee, Andee, Gunner and Canyon.  They travel a lot on the weekends so we don't see them around much but they are great people and we are so happy to have them in the ward.

WELCOME!!

Things to be aware of...

There will be no Church on the 20th of March.  It will be the dedication of the Provo City Temple.  You either need a temple recommend or a ticket from the bishop to be able to attend.  Sessions are at 9, at 12 noon, and at 3:00.  Please be in your seat one half hour early.  Bring a white handkerchief.  

Lots of Pow Wow's coming up.  If you need more information, contact one of the scout leaders.

Remember the Women's Broadcast on the 26th at 6:00 p.m.  It's in the Stake Center and will have light refreshments after.  

Please pray for Brother Brady, and also Sister Alice Tuckett.  They are both needing your extra prayers.  We love them both!!

The church needs volunteers at the Rock Church for tours this summer.  2 hour blocks.  If you are interested, contact President Goodwin (Ed)

The temple will be closed from the 14th to the 26th of March.  Also it will be closed the Saturday of Conference weekend.

Please pray for missionary experiences.  We have been asked to specifically to pray for our Elders in our area by name.  They are Elder Nelson and Elder Gilger.  We need to reach out to our neighbors!!  It's our responsibility to find contacts for them.  Pray for opportunities!!

JUST SO YOU KNOW!!!

Great lesson on Sunday!!

Strengthened by the Atonement of Jesus Christ...

Dallin H. Oaks

"In mortality we have the certainty of death and the burden of sin.  The Atonement of Jesus Christ offsets these two certainties of mortal life.  But apart from death and sin, we have many other challenges as we struggle through mortality.  Because of that same Atonement, our savior can provide us the strength we need to overcome these mortal challenges."

Have you ever wondered why Christ suffered these mortal challenges of every kind?

It was so that he could feel or experience everything that we could ever feel or experience, 

He can help the weak to become stronger..

Our Savior experienced and suffered the fulness of all mortal challenges "according to the flesh" so He could know "according to the flesh" how to succor his people according to their infirmities.  He knows our struggles, our heartaches, our temptations, and our suffering, for He willingly experienced them all as an essential part of His Atonement.  And because of this, His Atonement empowers Him to succor us---to give us the strength to bear it all!!

How firm a foundation..

Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,

For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.

I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand...

Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand!!

One day all of these mortal burdens will pass away and there will be no more pain!!!  I pray that we will all understand the hope and strength of our Savior's Atonement; the assurance of immortality, the opportunity for eternal life, and the sustaining strength we can receive if only we will ask.

This is a great talk--read it.  Page 61 of the November 2015 Ensign.

It gives us great hope and helps us look to the future without fear!!