This morning in seminary we were reviewing “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge” and learning how to apply such acquisition as we consider Prophets and Revelation. The scenario the students were working with concerns changes in policy and programs. I thought it was very timely. When the Prophet spoke to us in San Antonio, he and Sister Nelson talked about how he receives revelation for the Church. They said that revelation comes in answer to questions taken to the Lord. Sister Nelson sometimes wakes to find President Nelson out of bed and in a private place talking to God. She knows that is the time to leave so the spirit can be unrestrained. President Nelson writes impressions he is getting on a yellow note pad. In the last year of his calling as a prophet of God: changes in the Sunday schedule, with an emphasis on teaching and learning the gospel in the home; when youngsters advance in the priesthood and YW; nineteen new temples announced (including the revelation for the Bengaluru temple, given to President Nelson the night before General Conference); all Sister missionaries can wear slacks; announcement of a new hymnbook and children’s songbook with an international congruence and extra music online; new manuals for gospel teaching; temple changes; and probably other smaller influences have come through our living prophet! Here are the three principles of acquiring spiritual knowledge (from Elder Richard G. Scott and taught in Come Follow Me): 1. Act in faith; 2. Examine concepts and questions with an eternal perspective; 3. Seek further understanding through divinely-appointed sources. A good reminder for all of us!
Elder and Sister Renlund gave valuable messages on Sunday in the Worldwide YSA devotional. You can watch it online on lds.org or YouTube’s Mormon channel. We are going to use the little video in that talk as a thought at district meeting this morning. We live at a miraculous time when we have the words of the prophets at our fingertips!
The gathering to watch the Renlund devotional was at the same time and place (the Los Presidentes chapel) as two baptismal services. Sitting on either side of us were two brand-new church members-- Jorge who had been baptized only the week before and Susan, with her long dark hair still wet from her baptism. Jim slipped out to join the ongoing baptismal service, but came back to the devotional because there was no room in the baptism. Every weekend there are several who enter the waters of baptism in the new Laredo Stake. Our missionaries are outstanding! One of Jim’s former students at Summit Academy will soon be one of them. Dani posted a message from Chelsey Erury that she is being transferred from Ecuador to the Texas McAllen Mission! She says, “If I have learned anything in life, it is that God’s plan is so much better than any plan we can have for ourselves, even if it doesn’t always make sense at the moment…” We think she will be a blessing to this mission!
The Sisters asked us to pick up Josie (investigator) for church again on Sunday. We happily did so! We had to stand outside the chapel because we were late and arrived during the sacrament. Josie quietly asked me when the next baptism would be. It sounds like she is ready. I told her that baptisms are scheduled all the time, and she is always welcome. Some people wait all their lives to hear and accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. Even though her siblings and friends are trying to sway Josie’s resolve, she feels the spirit with the missionaries and members. She is not deterred by those in the great and spacious building.
We were so blessed this week to travel to Austin to see my cousin Susan, her husband Doran, and my Aunt Raeola who was visiting them. I might call it a “family-history” outing because we caught up on family comings and goings and stories about my grandparents and my mother. Aunt Raeola is my mother’s older sister by 18 months and turned 90 last June. Though she had to spend some time in the hospital last week because of some pneumonia, she was doing well. We went to dinner—THANKS, Susan!—and reminisced. Aunt Raeola said she was always a little jealous of Juanita, my mother, because everyone loved her so much. Her nickname was “Happy.” Raeola also said that she was very protective of Mother, and did not want her to marry my dad because Raeola had not met him and given approval as she was married and living in Arizona by then. Raeola also said that Mother was very quick to learn and could do anything that she put her mind to—quilting and sewing, artwork, decorating, etc. We remembered the time Mother almost drowned while swimming in the canal with friends when I was young. I reminded them that she was also an artist. She was a great teacher and story teller and always read to us children. I hope we will see Aunt Raeola again this summer when she comes to Texas!
It is a cold and rainy morning in Laredo, but we are warmed by the spirit. Meeting with our seminary students every morning is a great blessing—worth getting up at 4:30 for! Despite the challenges of learning in their second language, little time as members, or lack of family support these teens are amazing. Most want to serve missions. Most are determined build testimonies. Most are valiantly following the Prophet. We are thankful that our call to serve is to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
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