During our fireside at the Riverton Stake in Wyoming last week President Anderson told us a story about the Bronze sculpture pictured here. It is a table sized piece made by Phil Nebeker who was preparing to go on a mission in 1993. He had been a part of the Stake's Second Rescue mission-- doing the temple work of the Willie and Martin handcart companies. . Phil decided to sculpt this piece to help finance his mission as his family was already supporting his brother. This is only Phil's second attempt at sculpture. He wanted the piece to honor Bodil Mortensen and James Kirkwood who died at Rock Creek. When the first sculpture was finished Phil and his sister went to pick it up at the foundery where they had it cast in Orem. While they were there a message came that President Hinckley wanted to see them in 45 minutes. It turns out that Phil's sister had called the Secretary to the First Presidency and asked if President Hinckley would be interested in seeing the statue. After a 2 hour visit President Hinckley was pushing to buy the sculpture from Phil. He hesitated because he had already promised the first one to his bishop. But President Hinckley prevailed and wrote a check for the statue. Years later someone, while in President Hinckley's office, noticed a shiny spot on the bronze caused by someone touching a particular spot over and over and removing the patina. Jolene Allphin said she thought the spot was Bodil Mortensen's bonnett. This little ten year old girl in the Willie Company, traveling with another family, was found dead slumped against a wagon wheel clutching a piece of sage brush. Eleven year old James Kirkwood carried his four year old brother on his back the day the Willie Company arrived at Rock Creek. James collapsed and died that evening. These two were among the thirteen buried in a mass grave at Rock Creek.Friday, May 30, 2008
THE SECOND RESCUE
During our fireside at the Riverton Stake in Wyoming last week President Anderson told us a story about the Bronze sculpture pictured here. It is a table sized piece made by Phil Nebeker who was preparing to go on a mission in 1993. He had been a part of the Stake's Second Rescue mission-- doing the temple work of the Willie and Martin handcart companies. . Phil decided to sculpt this piece to help finance his mission as his family was already supporting his brother. This is only Phil's second attempt at sculpture. He wanted the piece to honor Bodil Mortensen and James Kirkwood who died at Rock Creek. When the first sculpture was finished Phil and his sister went to pick it up at the foundery where they had it cast in Orem. While they were there a message came that President Hinckley wanted to see them in 45 minutes. It turns out that Phil's sister had called the Secretary to the First Presidency and asked if President Hinckley would be interested in seeing the statue. After a 2 hour visit President Hinckley was pushing to buy the sculpture from Phil. He hesitated because he had already promised the first one to his bishop. But President Hinckley prevailed and wrote a check for the statue. Years later someone, while in President Hinckley's office, noticed a shiny spot on the bronze caused by someone touching a particular spot over and over and removing the patina. Jolene Allphin said she thought the spot was Bodil Mortensen's bonnett. This little ten year old girl in the Willie Company, traveling with another family, was found dead slumped against a wagon wheel clutching a piece of sage brush. Eleven year old James Kirkwood carried his four year old brother on his back the day the Willie Company arrived at Rock Creek. James collapsed and died that evening. These two were among the thirteen buried in a mass grave at Rock Creek.Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Edith Goble Grave Marker
This is the Grave marker of an infant who died in the Hunt Wagon Train traveling with the Martin and Willie companies. Joanne Baird, shown here, is a sister to Marge Hinckley. They are descentants of Mary Goble who gave birth to this baby just before arriving at Devils Gate. This is how the daughter Mary describes the scene: "We traveled on till we got to the Platte River. That was the last walk I ever had with my mother. We caught up with handcart companies that day. [Martin Company] We watched them cross the river. There were great lumps of ice floating down the river. It was bitter cold. The next morning there were fourteen dead in camp through the cold. We went back to camp and went to prayers. They sang, 'Come, Come, Ye Saints, No Toil Nor Labor Fear.' I wondered what made my mother cry. That night my mother took sick, and the next morning my little sister was born. It was the 23rd of September. We named her Edith, and she lived six weeks and died for want of nourishment...My mother had never got well; she lingered until the 11th of December, the day we arrived in Salt Lake City, 1856...She was forty-three years old...My sister was buried at the last crossing of the Sweetwater River." (Tell My Story Too, Jolene S. Allphin p. 350)
No one knew about the grave marker until recently. It had been in the garden of a family in Idaho for years when they discovered that this baby was related to Sister Hinckley and arranged for the family to get the marker. No one knows how it arrived in Idaho from the gravesite.
HANDCART TRIP JOURNAL MAY 2008
A DISASTER GONE SPIRITUAL
May 2008
Is it possible that something on the face is a complete disaster but can turn out to be a great spiritual experience? It happened to us this week.
We were honored to be invited to go to Wyoming with Jolene Allphin and a group of 30 guests to visit the Handcart sites. Jolene and Sherryl Fowers have been doing this for 15 years and look on this gathering as somewhat of a mission. When it was over I understood why. They tell heart filled stories on the sites as they happened during the fateful disaster in October and November 1856 at Martin’s Cove, Rock Creek and other meaningful sites in the area.
Storms were brewing as we left our home early Wednesday morning. The group met at 8:30 AM in Evanston, Wyoming. We were introduced to our trail boss, Larry Walker, who had served a mission at the Sixth Crossing of the Sweetwater handcart site. He was instrumental in designing the trails for the handcart groups doing treks in the area. The trail boss and storytellers used walkie-talkies for direction to the 8 cars during the three days of traveling around. They worked pretty well.
The first day we tried to get out of the car at Ft. Bridger and other sites but the drizzly rain and wind made it difficult. We ended up spending a lot of time in the missionary humanitarian compound telling stories at the Willie Sweetwater Sixth Crossing. There is a big warehouse on this site with a workshop on one end and a sewing center on the other where the missionaries produce humanitarian supplies to donate. There is a large meeting hall in the middle. The ladies there said they make as many as 3 quilts a day. They all have a camper close by where they sleep and spend non-working time. This is a 6 month mission and I never thought I wanted to do it but it looked like they were having a lot of fun and doing good. They help the stake treks during the summer; they man the visitor center and besides their humanitarian efforts, they square dance, have devotionals and eat together often. They have had as many as 70 couples at both sites.
We had an interesting group with 6 small to medium, well-behaved children, 3 teens, two young married women without their husbands, 4 empty nester couples, 2 men without their wives, a lady from Brazil, an older widow (Sister Hinckley’s sister Joann Baird), A young married couple with the girl’s mother and two women without their husbands. One of the empty nesters was Michael Moody who spent many years as the director of music for the church. He wrote the music to "This Is The Christ" among other things. It was a joy to have him play and accompany our singing on several occasions.
The first evening we met at the Riverton Wyoming Stake Center for a fireside with President Anderson who helped compile the "Remember" book http://www.amazon.com/Remember-Handcart-Companies-Rescuers-Present/dp/B000CD96SW (must be out of print--it is pricy) which is about the past and present rescue of the Martin and Willie Handcart companies. The "Second Rescue" was the effort of the Riverton Stake to do the temple work for all the members of these companies plus the rescuers. This was an amazing experience for the members there. President Anderson related many wonderful stories about how the Second Rescue came about. Our spirits were filled. The current Stake President’s wife, Amy Phister, joined us for the rest of the week. She spent years organizing the treks before the missionaries took over and is still involved. She was the model for some of Julie Rogers paintings on the http://www.tellmystorytoo.com site--namely "Give Thy Angels Charge" and "The Vault of Heaven." Jolene's book on this site is a treasure trove of handcart stories.
The second day it rained in torrents all day keeping us out of most of the places we wanted to go but Jolene kept us inspired with stories and songs. We had a nice program inside the Muddy Gap Cabin where many of us told our stories dressed in pioneer clothing. We visited the Martin visitors center that afternoon and many of our group walked out to Martin’s Cove in pouring rain with 6 inches of water on the path. They came back soaked, cold, but uplifted. Some of us stayed in the log kitchen and made a stew, headed up by James Oliphant. We had a nice dinner together and then another program with more stories and singing.
On the third day we had another great program with a group of missionaries at the Sweetwater Sixth Crossing, Willie Site including a re-enactment of the burial at Rock Creek where 13 were buried in a circle, feet in, covered by white linen sheets and snow. The ground was too frozen to dig a grave. One of the pioneers had these sheets in their handcart saving them for a home in Zion. It was a very touching scene. The original plan was to do it on the very spot at the site but the road to Rock Creek was impassable because of the rain. It cleared a bit in the afternoon and we were able to get out and walk along the Sweetwater together and pull a few handcarts around.
That night we ate meatloaf together at the Grubstake in Atlantic City, which is the last town before the road to Rock Creek. Since we were the only people in the restaurant the owner let us stay to tell more stories and sing together. Some of the group braved the snow and mud that night and went to Rock Creek to sleep...and I mean "brave"! We slept at our nice bed and breakfast with the mystic hippies who owned it. The next morning we would wake to 3 inches of snow. I could look across the plains and imagine how it must have looked to those pioneers those many years ago. How daunting that must have been.
We left that morning and my spirit was filled with the sweet songs and stories told with such emotion and love these last few days. I have been to these places before but telling the stories while we were there made a difference in my understanding of the sacrifice and suffering...and our bad weather made me more empathetic to theirs.
Our group was awesome beyond words. They would be my pick of mates if we ever did this for real. Thanks to Jolene Allphin for her passion and knowledge of the stories. She is a true inspiration. This may be her last year...she says but I don’t know if she will be able to stay away, unless it is raining and snowing again.
May 2008
Is it possible that something on the face is a complete disaster but can turn out to be a great spiritual experience? It happened to us this week.
We were honored to be invited to go to Wyoming with Jolene Allphin and a group of 30 guests to visit the Handcart sites. Jolene and Sherryl Fowers have been doing this for 15 years and look on this gathering as somewhat of a mission. When it was over I understood why. They tell heart filled stories on the sites as they happened during the fateful disaster in October and November 1856 at Martin’s Cove, Rock Creek and other meaningful sites in the area.
Storms were brewing as we left our home early Wednesday morning. The group met at 8:30 AM in Evanston, Wyoming. We were introduced to our trail boss, Larry Walker, who had served a mission at the Sixth Crossing of the Sweetwater handcart site. He was instrumental in designing the trails for the handcart groups doing treks in the area. The trail boss and storytellers used walkie-talkies for direction to the 8 cars during the three days of traveling around. They worked pretty well.
The first day we tried to get out of the car at Ft. Bridger and other sites but the drizzly rain and wind made it difficult. We ended up spending a lot of time in the missionary humanitarian compound telling stories at the Willie Sweetwater Sixth Crossing. There is a big warehouse on this site with a workshop on one end and a sewing center on the other where the missionaries produce humanitarian supplies to donate. There is a large meeting hall in the middle. The ladies there said they make as many as 3 quilts a day. They all have a camper close by where they sleep and spend non-working time. This is a 6 month mission and I never thought I wanted to do it but it looked like they were having a lot of fun and doing good. They help the stake treks during the summer; they man the visitor center and besides their humanitarian efforts, they square dance, have devotionals and eat together often. They have had as many as 70 couples at both sites.
We had an interesting group with 6 small to medium, well-behaved children, 3 teens, two young married women without their husbands, 4 empty nester couples, 2 men without their wives, a lady from Brazil, an older widow (Sister Hinckley’s sister Joann Baird), A young married couple with the girl’s mother and two women without their husbands. One of the empty nesters was Michael Moody who spent many years as the director of music for the church. He wrote the music to "This Is The Christ" among other things. It was a joy to have him play and accompany our singing on several occasions.
The first evening we met at the Riverton Wyoming Stake Center for a fireside with President Anderson who helped compile the "Remember" book http://www.amazon.com/Remember-Handcart-Companies-Rescuers-Present/dp/B000CD96SW (must be out of print--it is pricy) which is about the past and present rescue of the Martin and Willie Handcart companies. The "Second Rescue" was the effort of the Riverton Stake to do the temple work for all the members of these companies plus the rescuers. This was an amazing experience for the members there. President Anderson related many wonderful stories about how the Second Rescue came about. Our spirits were filled. The current Stake President’s wife, Amy Phister, joined us for the rest of the week. She spent years organizing the treks before the missionaries took over and is still involved. She was the model for some of Julie Rogers paintings on the http://www.tellmystorytoo.com site--namely "Give Thy Angels Charge" and "The Vault of Heaven." Jolene's book on this site is a treasure trove of handcart stories.
The second day it rained in torrents all day keeping us out of most of the places we wanted to go but Jolene kept us inspired with stories and songs. We had a nice program inside the Muddy Gap Cabin where many of us told our stories dressed in pioneer clothing. We visited the Martin visitors center that afternoon and many of our group walked out to Martin’s Cove in pouring rain with 6 inches of water on the path. They came back soaked, cold, but uplifted. Some of us stayed in the log kitchen and made a stew, headed up by James Oliphant. We had a nice dinner together and then another program with more stories and singing.
On the third day we had another great program with a group of missionaries at the Sweetwater Sixth Crossing, Willie Site including a re-enactment of the burial at Rock Creek where 13 were buried in a circle, feet in, covered by white linen sheets and snow. The ground was too frozen to dig a grave. One of the pioneers had these sheets in their handcart saving them for a home in Zion. It was a very touching scene. The original plan was to do it on the very spot at the site but the road to Rock Creek was impassable because of the rain. It cleared a bit in the afternoon and we were able to get out and walk along the Sweetwater together and pull a few handcarts around.
That night we ate meatloaf together at the Grubstake in Atlantic City, which is the last town before the road to Rock Creek. Since we were the only people in the restaurant the owner let us stay to tell more stories and sing together. Some of the group braved the snow and mud that night and went to Rock Creek to sleep...and I mean "brave"! We slept at our nice bed and breakfast with the mystic hippies who owned it. The next morning we would wake to 3 inches of snow. I could look across the plains and imagine how it must have looked to those pioneers those many years ago. How daunting that must have been.
We left that morning and my spirit was filled with the sweet songs and stories told with such emotion and love these last few days. I have been to these places before but telling the stories while we were there made a difference in my understanding of the sacrifice and suffering...and our bad weather made me more empathetic to theirs.
Our group was awesome beyond words. They would be my pick of mates if we ever did this for real. Thanks to Jolene Allphin for her passion and knowledge of the stories. She is a true inspiration. This may be her last year...she says but I don’t know if she will be able to stay away, unless it is raining and snowing again.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
OUR HANDCART TRIP
We are going to Wyoming to all the handcart sights for the next 4 days with a group that does their own treck...not handcarts. We just drive to all the sights and tell the stories that happened there. A woman moving into my new Ward is part of this organization- Jolene Allphin. She has written a book called "Tell My Story Too". She works with an amazing oil pastel artist named Julie Rogers who will also be part of the group. Julie paints pictures of the stories that Jolene writes. I have seen Julie's work at the Mission Gallery in St. George (It's on St. George Blvd. near the downtown area. It is worth a look see if you are ever there). Julie's oils are the most powerful art I have every seen. http://www.tellmystorytoo.com/ If you go to the sight be sure to click on the pictures to enlarge and to see the marvelous colors that Julie uses in her paintings. I have a character, Elizabeth Horrocks Jackson of the painting "Vault of Heaven." I will portray her in a program on the sight where her husband died. I also have a new pioneer outfit. I will return with pictures and details next week.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
STUNNING PHOTOS
Here are 50 feel good photos to brighten your day. The one with the cat and the deer was taken locally and appeared in the Desseret News a few weeks back.
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/04/28/really-stunning-pictures-and-photos/
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/04/28/really-stunning-pictures-and-photos/
Thursday, May 15, 2008
SALMON MOUSSE
This is a great way to use up a little leftover fish and it is a cool refreshing summer dish or meal starter with crackers. Maybe it is "chick" food but I love it.
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1 C. cold water
1 pkg. Gelatin
1 C. mayonnaise (you can use light if you’re counting calories)
2 C. broiled Salmon flaked or other flaky fish
1 C. minced celery
1 C. chopped peeled English cucumber
2 T. fresh dill or 2 tsp. Dried
1 T. fresh lemon juice
½ tsp. Sea salt
¼ tsp. Pepper
Sprinkle the gelatin over the cold water. Heat in microwave until hot. Stir until gelatin is dissolved. Cool until it barely starts to thicken. Add the mayonnaise and then the remaining ingredients and stir well. (Add the Salmon last and let it be in chunks not shreds) Pour into oiled mold or spray with Pam. Chill for about 3 hours. Unmold by submerging the mold in very hot water for 30 seconds or so. Serve with crackers or on a lettuce leaf as a salad.
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1 C. cold water
1 pkg. Gelatin
1 C. mayonnaise (you can use light if you’re counting calories)
2 C. broiled Salmon flaked or other flaky fish
1 C. minced celery
1 C. chopped peeled English cucumber
2 T. fresh dill or 2 tsp. Dried
1 T. fresh lemon juice
½ tsp. Sea salt
¼ tsp. Pepper
Sprinkle the gelatin over the cold water. Heat in microwave until hot. Stir until gelatin is dissolved. Cool until it barely starts to thicken. Add the mayonnaise and then the remaining ingredients and stir well. (Add the Salmon last and let it be in chunks not shreds) Pour into oiled mold or spray with Pam. Chill for about 3 hours. Unmold by submerging the mold in very hot water for 30 seconds or so. Serve with crackers or on a lettuce leaf as a salad.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
BURNING IN HELL - MOTHER'S DAY
Last Mother's day Mike and I gave our farewell address at the Farmington 8th Ward. This is the talk I gave.
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My daughter Maren called me once last year concerned about a scripture in the 64 section of the D&C where the Lord promises that the proud and the wicked shall be as stubble; and I will burn them up…She said that bothered her to think about God like that. What did I think about the concept of burning in the gospel? So, I spent the day in the scriptures reading all I could about fire and burning in the scriptures.
I discovered that there are many scriptures about fire in heaven and hell. Two weeks ago Jean Evans talked about Joseph Smith’s vision of the Father and the Son in the Celestial kingdom and they were surrounded by Fire. Mike Miller talked about Elisha and the Chariots of Fire.
Isaiah said (33:14) Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? Then in verse 15 he goes on to answer: He that walketh righteously and speaketh uprightly...
D&C 137:2-3 I saw the transcendent beauty of the gate through which the heirs of the kingdom will enter, which was like unto circling flames of fire; Also the blazing throne of God whereon was seated the Father and the Son.
I think this scripture in Malach was the defining answer:
Malachi 3:2-3 - But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap; And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
I have a story about a woman watching a silversmith refine silver:
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says:"He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver."
She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully Refined?"
He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it" Alma 5:14 Have ye received his image in your countenances?
So, I believe that these scriptures show that the burning of God is a refining fire. The refiner’s fire can be very painful but I do believe that it is loving in God’s infinite wisdom. He knows what we need to learn and the refiners fire will allow us become our highest and best self.
Carlfred Broderick a renowned family therapist told the following in his book "As Women of Faith". He was the Stake President and had just attended a program on Temple marriage put on by the Young Women. When it was over he was asked if there was anything he would like to add. He said: "Yes, there is," and I don’t think the woman has ever forgiven me. What I said was this, "Girls, this has been a beautiful program. I commend the gospel with all of its auxiliaries and the temple to you, but I do not want you to believe for one minute that if you keep all the commandments and live as close to the Lord as you can and do everything right and fight off the entire priests quorum one by one and wait chastely for your missionary to return and pay your tithing and attend your meetings, accept calls from the bishop, and have a temple marriage, I do not want you to believe that bad things will not happen to you. And when that happens, I do not want you to say that God was not true. Or, to say, ‘They promised me in Primary, they promised me when I was a Mia Maid, they promised me from the pulpit that if I were very, very good, I would be blessed. But the boy I want doesn’t know I exist, or the missionary I’ve waited for and kept chaste so we both could go to the temple turned out to be a flake,’ or far worse things than any of the above. Sad things—children who are sick or developmentally handicapped, husbands who are not faithful, illnesses that can cripple, or violence, betrayals, hurts, deaths, losses—when those things happen, do not say God is not keeping His promises to me. The gospel of Jesus Christ is not insurance against pain. It is resource in event of pain, and when that pain comes (and it will come because we came here on earth to have pain among other things), when it comes, rejoice that you have resource to deal with your pain."
"Now, I do not want to suggest for a moment, nor do I believe, that God visits us with all that pain. I think that may occur in individual cases, but I think we fought a war in heaven for the privilege of coming to a place that was unjust. That was the idea of coming to earth—that it was unjust, that there would be sorrow. As Eve so eloquently said, it is better that we should suffer….I am persuaded that she had rare insight, more than her husband, into the necessity of pain, although none of us welcome it."
I feel there is no greater Refiner’s Fire on this earth than motherhood. My mother made some bad choices in her younger days that put her in a very painful refiners fire. Some fires do come from our choices some come as part of life in a fallen world but we can be refined by both. When I was about 10 years old I saw my mother prayerfully quit smoking so she could go back to church. At this time she was married to an abusive alcoholic. I saw her develop so many amazing humble qualities as she attempted to create a home for her children in a very chaotic atmosphere with the help of the Lord. I saw the Gospel begin to purify her in the fire of her adversity. I wanted to be a part of this gospel that brought some hope and peace to our home life. Her fire was my salvation. She had to go into hiding in fear for her life when she finally left my dad after the children were gone. When she was 64 years old she died of a brain tumor that had caused her to suffer incredible pain for several years. This refined her even more. Carlfred Brodrerick told about the lingering suffering of his dad when he was dying. It made me think of my mother. He said: "…I know he was refined by his pain, by his adversity. He needed to go through that suffering. He could have been embittered, he could have been destroyed. His faith could have soured and left him, but he chose to learn from his pain. I do not want you to think that is was the pain that was good. It was the man that was good and that made the pain work for him, as indeed our Savior did.
This was so true of my mother. She was good and the pain worked for her.
So, I close asking how can we be good enough to endure our refiner’s fires? I have two scripture:
Moroni 7:48 …pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope that we may be purified even as he is pure.
When I pass on I hope to meet Jeremiah. His intense suffering, alone, trying to teach the rebellious Israelites never ceases to give me strength. I love the following scripture because it shows his discouragement but lets me know how he got through.
Jeremiah 20: 7-9 O Lord, thou has decieved me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and has prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me. For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me, and a derision daily. Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forebearing, and I could not Stay.
So, are we all going to burn in a lake of fire and brimstone for all of our mistakes and sins? The pain of remorse and regret can be as painful as any fire. Hebrews 4:8 Though He were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. We are here to learn as the Savior did and suffering must certainly be a part of our education. But, He has given us the tools to endure well. What a blessing! In the end we have two choices. Our pain can make us bitter or better. I pray for better.
*****************************************
My daughter Maren called me once last year concerned about a scripture in the 64 section of the D&C where the Lord promises that the proud and the wicked shall be as stubble; and I will burn them up…She said that bothered her to think about God like that. What did I think about the concept of burning in the gospel? So, I spent the day in the scriptures reading all I could about fire and burning in the scriptures.
I discovered that there are many scriptures about fire in heaven and hell. Two weeks ago Jean Evans talked about Joseph Smith’s vision of the Father and the Son in the Celestial kingdom and they were surrounded by Fire. Mike Miller talked about Elisha and the Chariots of Fire.
Isaiah said (33:14) Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? Then in verse 15 he goes on to answer: He that walketh righteously and speaketh uprightly...
D&C 137:2-3 I saw the transcendent beauty of the gate through which the heirs of the kingdom will enter, which was like unto circling flames of fire; Also the blazing throne of God whereon was seated the Father and the Son.
I think this scripture in Malach was the defining answer:
Malachi 3:2-3 - But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap; And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
I have a story about a woman watching a silversmith refine silver:
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says:"He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver."
She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully Refined?"
He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it" Alma 5:14 Have ye received his image in your countenances?
So, I believe that these scriptures show that the burning of God is a refining fire. The refiner’s fire can be very painful but I do believe that it is loving in God’s infinite wisdom. He knows what we need to learn and the refiners fire will allow us become our highest and best self.
Carlfred Broderick a renowned family therapist told the following in his book "As Women of Faith". He was the Stake President and had just attended a program on Temple marriage put on by the Young Women. When it was over he was asked if there was anything he would like to add. He said: "Yes, there is," and I don’t think the woman has ever forgiven me. What I said was this, "Girls, this has been a beautiful program. I commend the gospel with all of its auxiliaries and the temple to you, but I do not want you to believe for one minute that if you keep all the commandments and live as close to the Lord as you can and do everything right and fight off the entire priests quorum one by one and wait chastely for your missionary to return and pay your tithing and attend your meetings, accept calls from the bishop, and have a temple marriage, I do not want you to believe that bad things will not happen to you. And when that happens, I do not want you to say that God was not true. Or, to say, ‘They promised me in Primary, they promised me when I was a Mia Maid, they promised me from the pulpit that if I were very, very good, I would be blessed. But the boy I want doesn’t know I exist, or the missionary I’ve waited for and kept chaste so we both could go to the temple turned out to be a flake,’ or far worse things than any of the above. Sad things—children who are sick or developmentally handicapped, husbands who are not faithful, illnesses that can cripple, or violence, betrayals, hurts, deaths, losses—when those things happen, do not say God is not keeping His promises to me. The gospel of Jesus Christ is not insurance against pain. It is resource in event of pain, and when that pain comes (and it will come because we came here on earth to have pain among other things), when it comes, rejoice that you have resource to deal with your pain."
"Now, I do not want to suggest for a moment, nor do I believe, that God visits us with all that pain. I think that may occur in individual cases, but I think we fought a war in heaven for the privilege of coming to a place that was unjust. That was the idea of coming to earth—that it was unjust, that there would be sorrow. As Eve so eloquently said, it is better that we should suffer….I am persuaded that she had rare insight, more than her husband, into the necessity of pain, although none of us welcome it."
I feel there is no greater Refiner’s Fire on this earth than motherhood. My mother made some bad choices in her younger days that put her in a very painful refiners fire. Some fires do come from our choices some come as part of life in a fallen world but we can be refined by both. When I was about 10 years old I saw my mother prayerfully quit smoking so she could go back to church. At this time she was married to an abusive alcoholic. I saw her develop so many amazing humble qualities as she attempted to create a home for her children in a very chaotic atmosphere with the help of the Lord. I saw the Gospel begin to purify her in the fire of her adversity. I wanted to be a part of this gospel that brought some hope and peace to our home life. Her fire was my salvation. She had to go into hiding in fear for her life when she finally left my dad after the children were gone. When she was 64 years old she died of a brain tumor that had caused her to suffer incredible pain for several years. This refined her even more. Carlfred Brodrerick told about the lingering suffering of his dad when he was dying. It made me think of my mother. He said: "…I know he was refined by his pain, by his adversity. He needed to go through that suffering. He could have been embittered, he could have been destroyed. His faith could have soured and left him, but he chose to learn from his pain. I do not want you to think that is was the pain that was good. It was the man that was good and that made the pain work for him, as indeed our Savior did.
This was so true of my mother. She was good and the pain worked for her.
So, I close asking how can we be good enough to endure our refiner’s fires? I have two scripture:
Moroni 7:48 …pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope that we may be purified even as he is pure.
When I pass on I hope to meet Jeremiah. His intense suffering, alone, trying to teach the rebellious Israelites never ceases to give me strength. I love the following scripture because it shows his discouragement but lets me know how he got through.
Jeremiah 20: 7-9 O Lord, thou has decieved me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and has prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me. For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me, and a derision daily. Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forebearing, and I could not Stay.
So, are we all going to burn in a lake of fire and brimstone for all of our mistakes and sins? The pain of remorse and regret can be as painful as any fire. Hebrews 4:8 Though He were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. We are here to learn as the Savior did and suffering must certainly be a part of our education. But, He has given us the tools to endure well. What a blessing! In the end we have two choices. Our pain can make us bitter or better. I pray for better.
Friday, May 9, 2008
BEING NATURALLY GOOD - C. S. Lewis
We must, therefore, not be surprised if we find among the Christians some people who are still nasty. There is even, when you come to think it over, a reason why nasty people might be expected to turn to Christ in greater numbers than nice ones. That was what people objected to about Christ during His life on earth: He seemed to attract "such awful people." That is what people still object to, and always will. Do you not see why? Christ said "Blessed are the poor" and "How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom," and no doubt He primarily meant the economically rich and the economically poor. But do not His words also apply to another kind of riches and poverty? One of the dangers of having a lot of money is that you may be quite satisfied with the kinds of happiness money can give and so fail to realize your need for God. If everything seems to come simply by signing checks, you may forget that you are at every moment totally dependent on God. Now quite plainly, natural gifts carry with them a similar danger. If you have sound nerves and intelligence and health and popularity and a good upbringing, you are likely to be quite satisfied with your character as it is. "Why drag God into it?" you may ask. A certain level of good conduct comes fairly easily to you. You are not one of those wretched creatures who are always being tripped up by sex, or drinking, or nervousness, or bad temper. Everyone says you are a nice chap and (between ourselves) you agree with them. You are quite likely to believe that all this niceness is your own doing: and you may easily not feel the need for any better kind of goodness. Often people who have all these natural kinds of goodness cannot be brought to recognize their need for Christ at all until, one day, the natural goodness lets them down and their self-satisfaction is shattered. In other words, it is hard for those who are "rich" in this sense to enter the Kingdom. – Mere Christianity p. 180-181