Stairway To Heaven

Sorry I missed last week. I meant to share my thoughts Sunday night, then it was Monday and the week went by. Bad on me.

I had a really good day at Church in the Hongqiao branch in Shanghai. It is not easy for me to travel and be away from family and especially mom who I get to be with for eternity. I am all alone, don't speak the language, and feel very foreign (which I very am!) here. But this escalator was my stairway to heaven today. (I bet you have never ridden an escalator to get to sacrament meeting!) At the top is the conference room that the branches in Shanghai meet in. Even though it is a commercial conference center, when you enter in you can feel that it is different. That it is where I am home again. For those 3 hours, I can hear experiences that are from the same Heavenly Father, I can sing the same hymns that I know in my heart, I can have the same priesthood power exercise that power to administer the sacrament and allow me to draw closer to my Father.

I heard a sister talk about their move from Shanghai to Pittsburgh and telling a neighbor about it. She explained to her neighbor that she knew nothing about Pittsburgh, except she could point to it, and it was still a long ways away from family. The neighbor then told her "but you have your church, so everything will be fine." This neighbor only knew of the church from 2 branch BBQs that she had attended. How amazing it is to me that someone who knows so little, can see so much about the truth of the church, that it is a place for all of God's family to gather and be one.

Then priesthood meeting was also about serving one another, and helping each other in true charity. As we forget ourselves, and selflessly serve others, it is incredible how our joy increases. The things we were so worried about become less worrysome. They take on less meaning as we focus on the things that really matter eternally.

Interesting small world. A brother who was also visiting (former branch member for many years but has been gone now for a year or two) served his mission in Porto Alegre!

I was watching The District and was struck by a comment made. Something to the tune of "everyone expects the missionaries to be perfect, to have no fear, and to be able to teach anything at any time." It was said in a nice way but in a way indicating that missionaries are human, and have to work hard to try their best and they are not perfect.

While I understand what was said, I have to disagree. Missionaries are all those things. They have a gift and a power to be all those things to all those they interact with if they will work hard, study hard, pray hard and live the commandments, all of them, 100%. They have been set apart and giving the calling of a full time minister of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the strength of the Lord they can do all things.

It reminds me of a scripture that was used in church also, that I thought applies. Luke 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. I really have prayed for you, and still do. I want your faith to fail not. And I believe it won't.

Sunday's are a treasure to me, a true rest from the normal things of the world. The more I focus on the Savior on Sundays, the better the day and the week goes.

I am reminded once again how much I rely upon the blessing of the temple covenants and what they mean to me.

Love you,

Dad

Keys

It was so nice to hear from you the first day. It brought great joy to an old man's heart! 3 John 1:4!

In the past few weeks, I have had discussions that I always tie back in my mind to something I learned in a stake PEC. Pres. Valencia was teaching about priesthood keys. And while he was teaching I had in my mind a new learning that I have never had before.

While often we think of a bishop or stake president having keys and using those to keep a door closed to covenants (like the temple) until people are proven to be worthy to enter, then they hold those keys to let us enter.

But I had it opened to my mind that it is just the opposite. A person is trying to move forward, and as they are prepared they come to a gate, but it is locked and they cannot move further forward. The bishop and stake president then come with the keys to unlock the gate and help them to move forward in their lives. They are there to help unlock with their priesthood keys what the person cannot unlock on their own.

We had a great day at church. I went to Miamisburg for the last time as the HC for their ward, and then went to our ward, where Ty did a marvelous job and really taught well on learning on scripture study and seminary. He tied it really great to missionary preparation. I had no idea he was going to tie it to that. You would have been proud of him. Then I went to Kettering ward conference as the HC over missionary work,. So I hit 3 sacrament meetings today. Alex O'Neil also came again today and sat by Gavin.

We finished the bungee brakes on the zip lines, so no one will hit a tree (because I don't at full speed so no one is as fat as me). So now we just have to get platforms to make it easier.

I am going to give a Book of Mormon to Brent up at work. On Friday I found out he has never read it so I will give him one this week.

I am so proud of your efforts, and pray for you daily. Work hard, study hard, pray hard. A cliche of Smith but I have learned there is great wisdom in my mother's statement she used for all my life.

Weekly Thoughts

President Monson:

“Now is the time for members and missionaries to come together, to work together, to labor in the Lord’s vineyard to bring souls unto Him. He has prepared the means for us to share the gospel in a multitude of ways, and He will assist us in our labors if we will act in faith to fulfill His work.”

“Agora é o tempo de os membros e missionários se unirem, trabalharem juntos, trabalharem na vinha do Senhor para trazer almas a Ele. Ele preparou os meios para que compartilhemos o evangelho em uma infinidade de maneiras, e Ele nos ajuda em nossos labores se agirmos com fé para realizar a Sua obra”

I like this one and thought you might also. It took me forever to find it in Portuguese and I tried to use word generalizations to go to the right "trail" to find it. When I had struck out, Lysi came over and I asked her help. She took me right to it. Amazing.

This past week I spoke in the Englewood ward. I spoke about Shepherds of Israel and related that to how we can reach out to those we serve in many ways, and gave examples in my life. Then I had a section on reaching out to those that are lost. And how we should never give in. I only gave 1/3 of it due to time. I attached it if you want to read the entire thing.

In scriptures today I noticed that during the day of judgement, that the righteous will look forward to the justice of God. Not just look forward to the resurrection, the judgement, the meeting with Christ, but to the justice of God. It just struck me in a new way that when we are in the straight and narrow, we have no need to fear. Things on earth or in heaven.

I fixed the stove display that kept going out. As I suspected a connector had cracked solder joints on the PCB control board. So for 10 minutes I resoldered the connections, and put it back in and voila. Instead of a $100 service call and a $250 part, it cost us nothing but some time. That was after I went up on the roof and finished caulking in the new chimney cap we had to make and pour. Gavin and I formed a frame around it with an overhang and drip edge, then poured in and finished concrete to seal out the rain. The previous one was leaking and caused the garage ceiling to get damaged. So we had to fix it.

Love you so much, keep working hard. We are excited to hear the first assignment. We have prayed for you daily and will continue to.

Angles

I have been thinking more about that statement I made in the talk last week. The errand of angels is given to women.

I have noticed recently how often someone in need has been ministered to by an earthly angel. Sometime the "angel" is aware and showing pure charity in love for the other person. Sometimes they don't even realize that they are serving in that regard, but are just reaching out in kindness but it really is seen by me as an answer to direct prayer of another. That is how it happens. God answers our prayers, but it is usually through another person that he does so (I don't remember which prophet said this but I know it's a quote). And almost always it is the women around me that I have seen performing these acts, known and unknown. Women truly have a gift that men will never have. They are able to accomplish so much it's incredible. And that includes you!

I am soon off to the Middletown building. Mom is going to standards night there and I am meeting with the zone leaders to discuss the work of salvation in the zone and how we can coordinate better.

Mom brought an investigator to church today that she taught with the Sisters yesterday. It was nice to see her there and participating in sacrament meeting.

Last night I went to the stake high priests quorum meeting. If you study it you will realize that the "quorum" of high priests is only at the stake level. The wards have "groups" of the stake high priests quorum. We only meet as a full quorum once a year, and last night was it. All three of the stake presidency spoke on various topics. I liked Pres. Zimmerman's thoughts on "how deep are your roots". Indicating we need to:

1. Commit time for Heavenly Father

2. Avoid Spiritual Atrophy

3. Work to always have the spirit with us

Pres. Valencia talked about being a lifter, not a leaner.

Always be a lifter!

We had a monster productive Saturday. Raked all the leaves, mowed the lawn, trimmed, edged, worked on waterproofing the chimney, fixed the TP holder, planted flowers, fixed the car door, changed the Mazda brakes, front and rear. And others things also. It felt nice.

Work hard, study hard, pray hard.

There's No Place Like Home

In all the places we can be in, in all the circumstances we may find ourselves, in all the people we can be around, there is no substitute for the home. It is a remarkable place where the best of life can be found.

Lay hold upon all that you have learned from your home, and teach others to do the same. Teach them to build on the moral fabric that binds and builds society. I read a bumper sticker that decried a vice in our society, declaring that certain things were not the cause as is a popular and controversial subject argued by both sides. But it's ending statement was straight on in declaring the cause of the problem, it stated the cause was the declining and broken state of the family and home. Our society is building all kinds of structures that ignore or disintegrate the family, which is proven to be the very opposite of what is needed.

We are very blessed to have our own and extended families around us that teach and build upon the family as the fundamental unit of society and eternity. Those we encounter can enjoy the eternal nature of the family too if they qualify themselves to lay claim upon those covenants.

I also have been noticing that whenever we have a concern, or a question, He will answer and give us what we are looking for, but it takes our effort and our time and commitment to make it happen. I was searching to know of some things the last few weeks, and as I searched the scriptures, I found multiple examples of things that could help me (and shared them with Mom). As I listened to conference again I heard more examples that helped that I had not heard before. As I took the extra effort to attend church in Shanghai I got direct and clear answers to my concerns that spoke clearly to me. And it was not my home ward, but still was just for me. But in all this I had to do the work to find it, I had to take of my personal time to spend it with things of greater worth. And when I did so, I found answers to my prayers.

Love you much, some day you too will understand the depth of our love for you.

3 John 1:4

This Week In The Life Of The "I Want To Be Home" Dad

I hope you had a fantastic week. I love hearing about your excursions to the temple. So glad you get to go.

My trip to China has been useful but I like being home more. I sent you pictures from Germany, and this one is from flying in to Amsterdam. I love how the clouds look like they are on fire, but only the top ones.

I invited everyone I am travelling with to go to church with me Sunday. Surprisingly, no one wants to. But I know where it is here in Shanghai and it is reasonably close enough to get there. It will be district conference (I email the branch president before I left) so that will be nice. There are three branches here in Shanghai. It's amazing how all over the world people know the truth when they find it.

I have enjoyed listening to conference again. I liked Elder Ochoa who talked about "looking up". There is so much right in the world when we look up to see what is right instead of sideways to see who is right or who is looking. I also liked Elder Nielson (BYU Qtrback) who talked about the exclamation point. But he related it to missionary work by members and I liked some of his ideas that I can use as I train ward mission leaders.

You have a fantastic mom. Listen to her. She will guide you right. I miss her and am so glad we are sealed forever, not just in this life. I spoke with a guy at work who had a question, and then I asked hinm about the Catholic view on marriage, since he is pretty active there. He confirmed til death do you part. He agreed it did not seem too cool and forever seemed like a much better idea.

 

Germany

This week I am in Germany and thinking of you. I am on another work trip. I sure wish I was home, but there is much that needs to be done for work.

I have been able to get approval to have another person join me in my work efforts, so now there will be 3 planners for variable speed, myself and 2 that report to me. I just got the acceptance of the 3rd and he will be awesome. It will be a great help as thee is always way more to be done than I can ever do.

I sure enjoyed conference. It is the best two weekends of the year. When I think of happiness it goes way beyond the immediate for me and listening to conference, and following what is taught, helps me to know the happiness I am building not only now, but also for eternity. I want to have all that joy forever, not just while on earth.

I was speaking with a guy at work and we are taking about gospel topics. He is a good guy, pretty active Catholic, and I was truly curious about their view of marriage after this life. He confirmed that "til death do you part" is part of their marriage, but as we talked, he got so curious that he is going to study more and confirm he knowledge.

One of my favorite talks at conference was Elder Christofferson. He spoke about the moral authority of women and the influence and power they have. Not only do I know that to be true, but mom is a remarkable leader in that. I also know that this extends to you in ways that you will be amazed as you serve. Not only can you do awesome as a missionary, but you sisters have a special power and this moral authority is part of it. Embrace it and it will be a tool of everlasting worth in all you do. You will find your moral authority will be enhanced as you serve full time. It will work to overcome challenges of your investigators, it will serve to open the hearts of some who have previously been untouchable. It will sustain you in discouraging times as you feel it working through you.