1 Peter 3:19-20 don't fall off the boat
Groeten -
I hope you have all had a wonderful week. Ours had been adventurous. I have learned a great deal in my travels, wanderings, and observations. So, let's see where my thoughts take me.
Let's circle back to pondering. 1 Peter 3:19-20. This week's verses really do speak more about the dead than the living. However, I would like to see where I can go with it.
The past two days we have been able to participate in Stake Conference. It as been wonderfully enlightening.
As I pondered these verses today, I am drawn to a personal story shared by the visiting authority's wife. The theme of last evenings session was "The Temple". As Sister Ence(SP?) talked about the power and influence of the temple ordinance, she shared a story of a close family member. For as long as she could remember, this family member has been in and out of trouble. It seemed that every family reunion was spent talking about this dear family member, how the choices they had made had led them down a path of darkness, how hard it was to see them struggle, again and again, only to slip and fall back in to darker paths. It was heartbreaking. Then a few years ago, they all received word that said family member had pushed the limits and overdosed the current drug of choice.
The family was crushed, they all wondered what more could they have done, and now questioned what would happen to this loved one. After a year or so of mourning, the family members father shared a dream he had recently had. In this dream, the deceased loved one came to him. In the visit, he shared how hard it was to be where he was. He felt as though he had been trapped, alone, on an island that he could not get off, but then remembered all that he had been taught. He opened his mind to learning and understanding as was delighted to learn that for him to progress beyond this point of darkness, he needed to have his temple work completed. It would be the only way for him to escape the darkness and start seeking light.
In this dream, he plead that his loved ones here would complete his ordinances, that he had not accepted, but now knew he needed to progress. The work was done and hope for this dear family member remains.
I was reminded that in God's plan, He made concessions for all. Does that mean that this brother was immediately forgiven? I don't think so. But it does mean that there is hope for him to make amends for poor choices and find redemption. What that path looks like, I am not sure, but through the temple, there may be a possibility.
As I have pondered this thought and the lessons learned today, I would think that it would have been better for this individual and many like them to have made the choice to follow God in this life rather in the life to come. Yet I have hope and faith that in God's plan, where we put forth effort, there is a way to overcome.
So, how do we reach and help those around us, those we love, those with whom we associate to make those choices to follow God? That is my question. I would love to hear your thoughts? I will see if I can continue my thoughts next week.
As for our week? It has been filled with adventure.
The Queen, Professor, Puddin, and Lady Hawkins spent a great deal of quality time together this week. We were North and South, East and West. We went up and down. We were high above and well below. We did our best to see the inside of planes, trains, and automobiles. We mingled our steps with those where Royalty has walked. We saw, learned, and made history. We walked the borders of Hyde Park, touched the gates of Buckingham, survived the Chunnel, tasted Belgium chocolat, wandered the streets of Ghent, flew in a Nor'easter, visited 3 states, and as many countries. It was an adventure to be recorded in the memory books.
While we were gone, Tall Man and Ehl-Bo held down the fort. From the small bits and pieces we have heard, it has been a long week for them. We hope they are feeling better.
Before I go, I would like to apologize for the lack of conference talks. I did not stop, I just forgot to reference them. Hope that you have continued study on your own. Over the past few weeks, I have been further enlighten by Elder Maynes, Elder Evans, and Zwick. I would encourage you to make time to review each of their messages. We only have a few more weeks before we get to receive new instructions. I hope you are all making the appropriate preparations for this event.
I hope you have all had a wonderful week. Ours had been adventurous. I have learned a great deal in my travels, wanderings, and observations. So, let's see where my thoughts take me.
Let's circle back to pondering. 1 Peter 3:19-20. This week's verses really do speak more about the dead than the living. However, I would like to see where I can go with it.
The past two days we have been able to participate in Stake Conference. It as been wonderfully enlightening.
As I pondered these verses today, I am drawn to a personal story shared by the visiting authority's wife. The theme of last evenings session was "The Temple". As Sister Ence(SP?) talked about the power and influence of the temple ordinance, she shared a story of a close family member. For as long as she could remember, this family member has been in and out of trouble. It seemed that every family reunion was spent talking about this dear family member, how the choices they had made had led them down a path of darkness, how hard it was to see them struggle, again and again, only to slip and fall back in to darker paths. It was heartbreaking. Then a few years ago, they all received word that said family member had pushed the limits and overdosed the current drug of choice.
The family was crushed, they all wondered what more could they have done, and now questioned what would happen to this loved one. After a year or so of mourning, the family members father shared a dream he had recently had. In this dream, the deceased loved one came to him. In the visit, he shared how hard it was to be where he was. He felt as though he had been trapped, alone, on an island that he could not get off, but then remembered all that he had been taught. He opened his mind to learning and understanding as was delighted to learn that for him to progress beyond this point of darkness, he needed to have his temple work completed. It would be the only way for him to escape the darkness and start seeking light.
In this dream, he plead that his loved ones here would complete his ordinances, that he had not accepted, but now knew he needed to progress. The work was done and hope for this dear family member remains.
I was reminded that in God's plan, He made concessions for all. Does that mean that this brother was immediately forgiven? I don't think so. But it does mean that there is hope for him to make amends for poor choices and find redemption. What that path looks like, I am not sure, but through the temple, there may be a possibility.
As I have pondered this thought and the lessons learned today, I would think that it would have been better for this individual and many like them to have made the choice to follow God in this life rather in the life to come. Yet I have hope and faith that in God's plan, where we put forth effort, there is a way to overcome.
So, how do we reach and help those around us, those we love, those with whom we associate to make those choices to follow God? That is my question. I would love to hear your thoughts? I will see if I can continue my thoughts next week.
As for our week? It has been filled with adventure.
The Queen, Professor, Puddin, and Lady Hawkins spent a great deal of quality time together this week. We were North and South, East and West. We went up and down. We were high above and well below. We did our best to see the inside of planes, trains, and automobiles. We mingled our steps with those where Royalty has walked. We saw, learned, and made history. We walked the borders of Hyde Park, touched the gates of Buckingham, survived the Chunnel, tasted Belgium chocolat, wandered the streets of Ghent, flew in a Nor'easter, visited 3 states, and as many countries. It was an adventure to be recorded in the memory books.
While we were gone, Tall Man and Ehl-Bo held down the fort. From the small bits and pieces we have heard, it has been a long week for them. We hope they are feeling better.
Before I go, I would like to apologize for the lack of conference talks. I did not stop, I just forgot to reference them. Hope that you have continued study on your own. Over the past few weeks, I have been further enlighten by Elder Maynes, Elder Evans, and Zwick. I would encourage you to make time to review each of their messages. We only have a few more weeks before we get to receive new instructions. I hope you are all making the appropriate preparations for this event.
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