Matters of Belonging 9.18.19

TMM Blog 9.18.19

This morning in seminary we were continuing teaching the Sermon on the Mount: The Higher Law in Matthew 5:17-48. One of our wonderful young men, wide-eyed, asked if that (verses 27-28) meant that having bad thoughts was the same as adultery. We explained that we all have bad thoughts enter our minds, but that the principle is “If we choose to ENTERTAIN lustful thoughts or desires, it is like committing adultery in our hearts.” He is a senior, but he had never considered this truth. The rest of the lesson was about how to avoid entertaining lustful thoughts and desires. They were all with us at that point! I love having the students search the scriptures and write the principles.

I woke up at 3:30 (one of my usual times every night) to find that we had no water! We always have plenty of drinking water from bottles or the water station down the street, BUT we were horrified to have no hand-washing (even with sanitizer…), toilet-flushing, or showers. We take the simple things for granted, huh? We had water again about noon—we would NOT make very good pioneers!

We went to two baptisms on Saturday. One was the oldest daughter of a family that was previously baptized. She said said she would never be baptized. Somehow, though, the joy of her mother and the other children enticed her to keep listening to the missionaries and attending church meetings. The picture shows her with some of our wonderful young women (seminary students). Check out the picture and see if you can tell how she changed her mind and entered the waters of baptism:

The second picture is Veronica, who had been introduced to the gospel before she moved from California. She quickly prepared herself for baptism when the missionaries found her. She bore testimony at her baptism. There is such joy in finding Christ!

Matters of Line Upon line TMM 9.11.19

Matters of Line Upon Line TMM 9.11.19

Here it is 18 years since terrorists attacked the United States of America and changed history forever. We love this country and think it is worth fighting for! We know that this is truly a land choice above all others, chosen by God to be a haven for freedom where the gospel of Jesus Christ could be restored to the earth. We know that the Constitution is an inspired and holy document that shines hope and liberty here and in desolate places of darkness in the world. Without America and its rule of law, the world would be lost to the adversary. We stand with those who will raise the ensign of truth and liberty and thank God for all that America strives to be.

We attended our first Primary Sacrament Meeting presentation of the year on Sunday. Seventeen children, half of them itty-bitties sang with such faith and gusto that I could hardly sit in my seat without jumping right in to bear my testimony with theirs in song. The primary president was also the chorister, none-months pregnant, and full of joy. I came home and ordered the music to “I Will Be What I Believe.” That little group sang “A Child’s Prayer” like a heavenly chorus in two parts. It was a really sweet blessing. Now, from my description you might think that they were perfectly behaved littles, but you would be wrong—which made it all the more delightful! There was the four-year-old screaming the songs until his little body just gave out; the angel next to him glaring with her hands over her ears; the little boy who was turned around playing with the necklace on the girl behind him and her frustration, not knowing what to do—sing or slap him!; the newly-baptized boy who was completely lost in the words that must have floated above his head without ever quite landing; and the Sunbeam who rested his top teeth on the wooden rail and rolled his eyes the whole time. Oh, it was a real, true primary program.

Our dear new friend Cindy apologized before giving her first public prayer and then touched our hearts as she thanked Heavenly Father for the JOY. It brought tears to my eyes. She didn’t quite know how to end and just sat down. I’m sure the missionaries will continue to teach her about all the intricacies of prayer, but in the meantime, I could feel Heavenly Father welcoming His daughter back to the fold. Cindy was getting her patriarchal blessing last night. Sunday she attended the self-reliance devotional and signed up for two courses. She has found such joy in the gospel!

And speaking of JOY—we love this mission assignment! I remember once I encouraged my brother to become a teacher and coach, but he countered that he really had no interest in teaching anything but the gospel. It is one of the great blessings of my life to teach seminary and institute here in Laredo, Texas! We love you all. Happy birthday last week to the baby of our family, Macie Violet Flanagan, who turned four, and happy birthday this week to our precious granddaughter Preslie who turns seven. Thank you for your prayers and love. Right back at y’all!

Matters of Line Upon Line TMM 9.11.19

Matters of Line Upon Line

TMM 9.11.19

Here it is 18 years since terrorists attacked the United States of America and changed history forever. We love this country and think it is worth fighting for! We know that this is truly a land choice above all others, chosen by God to be a haven for freedom where the gospel of Jesus Christ could be restored to the earth. We know that the Constitution is an inspired and holy document that shines hope and liberty here and in desolate places of darkness in the world. Without America and its rule of law, the world would be lost to the adversary. We stand with those who will raise the ensign of truth and liberty and thank God for all that America strives to be.

We attended our first Primary Sacrament Meeting presentation of the year on Sunday. Seventeen children, half of them itty-bitties sang with such faith and gusto that I could hardly sit in my seat without jumping right in to bear my testimony with theirs in song. The primary president was also the chorister, none-months pregnant, and full of joy. I came home and ordered the music to “I Will Be What I Believe.” That little group sang “A Child’s Prayer” like a heavenly chorus in two parts. It was a really sweet blessing. Now, from my description you might think that they were perfectly behaved littles, but you would be wrong—which made it all the more delightful! There was the four-year-old screaming the songs until his little body just gave out; the angel next to him glaring with her hands over her ears; the little boy who was turned around playing with the necklace on the girl behind him and her frustration, not knowing what to do—sing or slap him!; the newly-baptized boy who was completely lost in the words that must have floated above his head without ever quite landing; and the Sunbeam who rested his top teeth on the wooden rail and rolled his eyes the whole time. Oh, it was a real, true primary program.

Our dear new friend Cindy apologized before giving her first public prayer and then touched our hearts as she thanked Heavenly Father for the JOY. It brought tears to my eyes. She didn’t quite know how to end and just sat down. I’m sure the missionaries will continue to teach her about all the intricacies of prayer, but in the meantime, I could feel Heavenly Father welcoming His daughter back to the fold. Cindy was getting her patriarchal blessing last night. Sunday she attended the self-reliance devotional and signed up for two courses. She has found such joy in the gospel!

And speaking of JOY—we love this mission assignment! I remember once I encouraged my brother to become a teacher and coach, but he countered that he really had no interest in teaching anything but the gospel. It is one of the great blessings of my life to teach seminary and institute here in Laredo, Texas! We love you all. Happy birthday this week to our precious granddaughter Preslie who turns seven. And HappyThank you for your prayers and love. Right back at y’all!

Family Matters on the Covenant Path

TMM Blog 9.5.19

It’s raining in Laredo! This is the first rain we have seen here in months, and everything was looking burned up. Seminary is so great—we hated to leave them for even one day as we flew home for the weekend in Utah. It was a wonderful weekend, celebrating Emma’s baptism with Brady’s cute little family. At the same time Steven’s family had the sacred experience of celebrating Kelsey and Robbie’s sealing in the San Diego Temple. We were disappointed that we could not be in both places, loving on both granddaughters, but it was a special day. We are so grateful that we are able to leave the mission in order to be present at such life-changing events. We love our family! It was also wonderful to attend sacrament/testimony meeting and touch bases with our many friends in our home ward.

We love teaching the New Testament and becoming closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ. We love Him and are grateful to serve him. One of the sweet fruits was to watch our YSAs support and love each other on social media. One young adult was having a very hard time and reached out in her struggle. The men were especially supportive to her—bearing testimony, reassuring her that she is loved, and lighting her way with messages of encouragement and caring. It was truly ministering to someone in need.

We love every day of our service. We have many, many blessings—including you. Thanks for your prayers. Eight more months!