My Dad!

My Dad is the greatest! As I think about the things that he does and the amazing example he is, there is no other way to describe him then amazing! Well, I guess incredible, wonderful, great, outstanding, fantastic, marvelous... I think you get the point! I love my dad!!!

He loves people more than almost anyone else I know. Growing up my mom and I would sing in the choir, which practiced before church every Sunday, my Dad did not sing, because we wanted to have the time to go and talk to everyone that was at church that day, to hug them and tell them that he loved them! And he was ALWAYS sincere! With that love, he would do anything for anyone. I still remember going with him and my brothers to help people move. I am sure that my Dad has helped hundreds of people move, he was busy, but there was always time to serve! What an example of service he is. I am so grateful for the opportunities that I have had to serve, and the lessons of service I have learned from my Dad.

My brother Richard says this about my Father, "I have a lot of great memories of Dad, especially on camp-outs and family outings. One thing I really always loved though was that he would always be willing to shoot hoops, kick a soccer ball or catch a baseball after a long day of work and sore wrists. It meant a lot to me that he'd do that for us and spend time with us whenever possible."

We always did things together as a family, and it was almost always outside. My Dad taught me how to shoot a basketball, swing a bat, hike, load a backpack, repel, start a fire, and so many other things that have to do with nature and being out in it. He taught me to have a great appreciation for God's creations and find joy in them!

My dad taught me how to change the oil, brakes, alternators, fuel pumps and water pumps on our cars, since it seemed like they would always go out!

My dad taught me lots of things, but most of all he taught me the things that matter most. How to love others, the Lord and the Gospel. When my brothers and I were younger he would sing us to sleep. He would always sing the primary song, "I Wonder When He Comes Again." I love this song so much, and get emotional almost every time I hear it now!

My Dad just had such a sweet way to share the gospel even with us! He taught us how to share the gospel with others, and the importance of missionary work. My Dad was always involved in missionary work, serving his own mission then constantly supporting the missionaries and sharing the gospel with those around him. He also taught us consistency and the importance of reading the scriptures. Here is Richard again, "I would have to say though there is one memory of Dad that always stands out, that is of Dad's Book of Mormon that he takes to work to read for lunch each day. I've heard him tell stories about being mocked and ridiculed and having to eat alone. I still feel a great sense of pride and love for Dad when I picture the dirty, worn pages of his Book of Mormon by his lunch pale when he comes home. I think of his dedication to the Church, his love of God and our family.... priceless memories of someone standing up for what is right and good. Love you DAD!"

My Dad has taught me everything I need to know and do to help me return to my Heavenly Father.

I love you Dad!

The Blessing of New Life!

Life is a gift from God, we are here to be tried and tested! We are here to prepare to return to live with God again (Alma 34:32), and we are here to have joy!(2 Nephi 2:25) Life does have a purpose! Joy is one of the wonderful things that this life should be full of! Many of the things that we do in life should bring joy!

Something that brings many people joy is new life! As a baby is brought into this world, it is a sacred experience! One that is filled with much love and joy! My Brother Jeremy, and his wife Jenna have had the great privilege to bring a new life into this world!!! Which also means that I now have a niece! It is an exciting thing for me, so I can only imagine how excited Jeremy and Jenna are to be new parents of a beautiful daughter! I am so happy for them and this new adventure in their lives!!

I am sure that this new baby will soon begin to love life and enjoy every minute of it! So should we enjoy our lives, no matter what happens, for we truly are children of God!!!

This isn't her, but will have to do.

Sister's Sunday: Oh Sweet Music!

Who doesn't love music? I am sure you do! I know that I do, and I know that my awesome sister Alyssa does! So here is Alyssa with the Power of Music!!

Elder Dye suggested that I write something about music, and I thought it would be very fitting since I will have performed my senior recital Saturday April 30! I am graduating this semester in music education.

Like so many other things, I think that the Lord created music to bring about his work. I think the reason I ultimately became a music major is that I have had so many faith building experiences through music. I have had experiences where something, maybe a decision, suddenly becomes clear. I understand that there is a plan, and I can feel my Father's love.

In 1830, Emma Smith was directed by the Lord to collect hymns for a hymn book for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The Lord knew that music was important. It is so prevalent in the way that we worship. If used right, it can bring the spirit into any meeting. I know that that spirit can testify to those listening that the words being sung, often testimonies of others, are true! One of my favorite hymns is "I Know That My Redeemer Lives". Every time I sing or hear this song, I feel so strongly that my Savior does live! It is so comforting to me. I know that he is always there to wipe away my tears and I can feel his love so strongly.

Music is powerful. It is all around us every day. Many of us wake up to music, drive to work with music on, actually work with music on, etc. It is amazing how much it influences our lives, both in positive and negative ways. What if I always tried to listen to music that would uplift me or bring the spirit? I think that I could be one step closer to becoming like Christ, because the choice to listen to wholesome music will bring the spirit, and with the spirit guiding me I know I can do great things. Elder Busche said in a BYU devotional, "...The greatest achievement that can be reached in our lives is to be under the complete influence of the Holy Ghost. Then he will teach us what is really good and necessary to do." I am so grateful for music, and I am so grateful for this gospel and the peace it brings.

When Church Hopping Ends!

Here is a snippet of what Sister Bowes wrote for Elder Walker:

"I want tell you how I came from searching for the Truth since I was a teenager. I've been to almost every denomination you can think of. At 14, I knew I was in the wrong church. At 16, when I started driving, I would church hop. Sometimes I would enter a church building and the people were very friendly but that's as far as it went. I also felt like an outsider at some and even though I yearned to be part of their service, it was too clickish and I was ignored.

 

I'd even begged members of these different churches to study with me, but to no avail. I felt like I was traveling in a foreign country where I didn't understand their language. I never would give up though and off I'd go to yet another church.

 

Nothing changed after I was married. We both ended up church hopping. We had children and we drug them with us. That is until one day.

 

We had a yard sale 6 months ago and up rode two little Elder fellers..." Read the rest of her story at eldermcwalker.blogspot.com

Sister's Sunday: "The Holy Temple - A Beacon to the World"

So this week, "Sister's Sunday" is written by Lauren!! Here she goes!

This was a very special week! Richard and I had the privilege to go to the Sacramento temple and be there as our friend was married and sealed for eternity to her husband. As I was sitting there, watching the two of them smiling and glowing with happiness and love for each other, I started crying! I couldn’t help it! The temple is definitely a sacred place where you can feel the Holy Spirit so strong and I was so happy for them because they will be able to be together forever! Then my thoughts turned to her older brother who was waiting outside and it just made me so sad that he couldn’t be in there at that time with her. I hope that his sister’s example that day will help him have the desire to make changes in his life and have the temple as his goal.
A few weeks ago in General Conference, President Monson spoke about temples and this is what he said about making the temple a priority in your life:

“If you have not yet been to the temple or if you have been but currently do not qualify for a recommend, there is no more important goal for you to work toward than being worthy to go to the temple. Your sacrifice may be bringing your life into compliance with what is required to receive a recommend, perhaps by forsaking long-held habits which disqualify you. It may be having the faith and the discipline to pay your tithing. Whatever it is, qualify to enter the temple of God. Secure a temple recommend and regard it as a precious possession, for such it is.

"Until you have entered the house of the Lord and have received all the blessings which await you there, you have not obtained everything the Church has to offer. The all-important and crowning blessings of membership in the Church are those blessings which we receive in the temples of God.” ("The Holy Temple - A Beacon to the World")

I am so grateful for temples! Being able to go to the temple is so important because the ordinances performed there allows us to be able to return to our Heavenly Father and have eternal families. These blessings cannot be received anywhere else, but in the temple. Let us all make the temple a priority in our lives!


Thanks Lauren! The Temple is amazing! I look up to all of my brothers and sisters, since they were all married in the Temple, for time and all of eternity! I know that they cherish that day, and go often to the temple to remember it!!! Here is a picture of Richard and Lauren on their wedding day at the Sacramento Temple!

I love all the temples, they are all beautiful and allow us to partake of the ordiances needed to return to God, here are some more pictures of the Temples!!

Learn more about Temples:
Temples.LDS.org
"The Blessings of the Temple"