Home for Missionaries - The Search for Truth

Here is a peek at the room Bill and I prepared for the missionaries who moved into our home this month.  I found some nice bargains on-line and am happy how it turned out.  I knew I needed to take a picture before they moved in because it will probably never be this clean again!

A few months ago our Stake President asked if more families would volunteer to house the missionaries.  With our children either married or attending college we have ample room.  They take care of their own food and transportation and their daily and medical needs.  We share kitchen and laundry space.

I see this as an opportunity not only to clean and prepare physical space for them, but I have tried to also prepare our home spiritually.  I've given thought to what I listen to and watch and what my own activities are.  I pray for the spirit to be present and for our home to be a holy place for revelation from heaven.

An Elder from El Salvador and an Elder from Vermont are our first guests.  They are assigned to the Spanish Ward and teach lessons in Spanish.  I enjoy hearing this beautiful language in my home.  I promised to help them with English if they would help me practice Spanish.

I know there is a powerful spirit that accompanies missionary work and I am looking forward to experiencing the daily blessings of their work.  I've heard the Utah missions are among the highest in baptisms throughout the world.  Many people are searching for the truth.  Good people everywhere want to know how to find God and how to help their families find real happiness, purpose and safety.   There is a special promise in the Book of Mormon for those who want to know for themselves what is true.

Moroni 10:4

 4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ^aask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not ^btrue; and if ye shall ask with a ^csincere heart, with ^dreal intent, having ^efaith in Christ, he will ^fmanifest the^gtruth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

 5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may ^aknow the ^btruth of all things.

 6 And whatsoever thing is good is just and true; wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is.

 7 And ye may ^aknow that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, ^baccording to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever.

I believe everyone will embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ if they will read the word of God, especially the Book of Mormon, and pray with a sincere heart to know if it is true.  The Lord will testify to them in their own hearts.  The missionaries living with us are currently teaching a family and other single individuals who have done these things and are preparing for baptism.  I pray for these special witnesses of Jesus Christ and those they are teaching.

A copy of the Book of Mormon and all other scriptures are found on-line at lds.org

Listen - Poem

Listen -

Old and living Prophets

     whisper

     from dusty pages

     and shining pulpits

Servants call all

     but faithful few

     choose to partake

     of Christ's banquet

Peculiar people

     reclaim covenant

     accumulate on Peter's

     Gentile blanket

Trumpet beacon

     signals earth to heaven

     Idumea trained

     for final confrontation

Earthquake thunders

     oceans roar

     war threatens

     faithless tremble

Powers clash

     in royal battle

     The Word, emblazed

     ends Zion's struggle

Who will rise

     to welcome Him

     who will hear

     who will listen?

Janice Harten

Sept 10, 2010

Copyright © 2012 Janice Harten.  All rights reserved.

Rexburg Idaho Temple - House of Higher Learning

A house of higher learning sits on a hill overlooking Brigham Young University Idaho.  The Rexburg Temple can almost be described as an addition to the campus, where students and others turn for spiritual learning.

BYU-I's mission statement reads, BYU-Idaho seeks to develop students who are spiritually focused and ready for leadership in their families, the workplace, and the community.  Several of our children chose to attend this university, and our youngest son is currently studying there.

Recently, I pondered the account of when Jesus was 12 years old and he was discovered by his parents in the temple. (Luke 2)  And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.  And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

Throughout his mortal ministry, Jesus continued to teach in the temple. (John 18:20) Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.  Therefore, it seems obvious that today we may seek to enter the chapels and the temple to be taught by him.

Someone I spoke with recently, questioned our need for inspiration from the Lord, and they wondered if we are as capable of accomplishing the same things by our own power.  Someone else described this as having faith only in oneself, rather than having faith in Jesus Christ.  I was pondering these comments as we prepared to enter the temple session.  I picked up the scriptures, and as I sometimes do, I decided to open them to a random page, and prayed I would find an answer to whether we need the Lord's help.

I opened to Mormon 4.  The chapter heading indicated this chapter was about the war and destruction of an ancient people who once lived on the Americas, called the Nephites.  Immediately, I said in my mind, "No!".  I really didn't want to read such a sad account before going into the session.  So, my next inclination was to open the book somewhere else.  However, I decided to exercise my faith more, and I silently prayed again that I would find something within the chapter I'd turned to that would answer my prayers.

The account on the next few pages, (Mormon 4, 5) was a perfect description of the need to rely on our Savior, Jesus Christ, and what will become of those who turn away from him and rely only on their own power.

4:18  And from this time forth did the Nephites gain no power over the Lamanites, but began to be swept off by them even as a dew before the sun.
5:2  ...they repented not of their iniquities, but did struggle for their lives without calling upon that Being who created them.
5:17  They were once a delightsome people, and they had Christ for their shepherd; yea, they were led even by God the Father.
5:18  But now, behold, they are led about by Satan, even as chaff is driven before the wind, or as a vessel is tossed about upon the waves, without sail or anchor, or without anything wherewith to steer her; and even as she is, so are they.

This appears to be a very harsh and unloving fate for those who have strayed from the arms of the Savior.  But, these were people who had once known and followed him, and then turned away.  However, the chapter continues by describing the restoration of hope for those caught in this downward spiral.  These next verses are talking about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon.  The whole purpose of the Book of Mormon is to restore faith to those who want to come, know and be brought back into the Savior's presence.

5:12  Now these things are written unto the remnant of the house of Jacob; and they are written after this manner, because it is known of God that wickedness will not bring them forth unto them; and they are to be hid up unto the Lord that they may come forth in his own due time.
5:14  And behold, they shall go unto the unbelieving of the Jews; and for this intent shall they go - that they may be persuaded that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God; that the Father may bring about, through his most Beloved, his great and eternal purpose, in restoring the Jews, or all the house of Israel, to the land of their inheritance, which the Lord their God hath given them, unto the fulfilling of his covenant;

5:21  And also the Lord will remember the prayers of the righteous, which have been put up unto him for them.
5:22  And then, O ye Gentiles, how can ye stand before the power of God, except ye shall repent and turn from your evil ways?
5:23  Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God?  Know ye not that he hath all power, and at his great command the earth shall be rolled together as a scroll?
5:24  Therefore, repent ye, and humble yourselves before him...

It seems clear to me, and I testify, that we need the help of the Lord, to overcome sin and receive the blessings of happiness.  Without him there is eventual sadness, destruction and pain.  I choose the former.

At the beginning of this blog, I shared an experience and poem about the reflections of light in the chandelier in the Bountiful Temple.  They were symbolic of future posterity.  In the Rexburg Temple, I again noticed these tiny sparkling colors, and a new realization came to me.  If each of these sparkles represents an individual person, none of them are forgotten or out of sight of our Father in Heaven.  They remain completely within his vision and power of influence.  And even though some remain hidden from me, although I appear to be looking right at them, each is never out of his sight, reach or understanding.  He looks upon us all with the eyes of a loving Father, ready and eager to help as soon as we are willing to invite and receive him.

I guess this is my Sunday sermon to myself.  I didn't even describe the majesty of the temple interior and surroundings.  This is, without a doubt, one of my favorite temples.

Without Price

Yesterday, I was searching for additional study materials to supplement my reading in Hebrews, in the New Testament.  I found many wonderful resources that the church has scanned and made available on-line, following these links: lds.org, Menu, Manuals, Institute.

I feel overwhelmed with the realization that all this information is at my fingertips, in an instant.  I'm experiencing a modern day miracle.  This experience reminded me of another scripture in 2 Ne 9:50.

50 Come, my brethren, every one that ^athirsteth, come ye to the^bwaters; and he that hath no ^cmoney, come buy and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price.

I wanted to remember the following quote from the Institute, New Testament Student Manual, PDF, pg 388.

Perfection Entails Consecrated Effort on a Specific
Problem

In a very real and meaningful way, you can begin to
become perfect right now. This means specific and
concentrated efforts on a particular problem rather
than scattered random attempts to overcome all
problems in one immense effort. Consider the counsel
from President Harold B. Lee: “The most important
of all the commandments of God is that one that
you’re having the most difficulty keeping today. If it’s
one of dishonesty, if it’s one of unchastity, if it’s one
of falsifying, not telling the truth, today is the day for
you to work on that until you’ve been able to conquer
that weakness. Then you start on the next one that’s
most difficult for you to keep.” (Church News, 5 May
1973, p. 3.)

President Lee’s comments suggest some specific
things that you can do to overcome your weaknesses.
First identify what your weaknesses are. Make a list
with your greatest concern at the top and so on in
descending rank. Remember, this list is very personal
and should be kept secret and private. It is a matter
strictly between you and your Savior, and you should
never share it in class or in public.

Each morning review your list, particularly noting
the problem you want to work on that day. Then pray
to the Lord, entreating him for power and promising
him you will do all you can. That night report to him
on your success or failure. As you find yourself
improving (and you will), pray for forgiveness and
additional strength. Keep constantly in mind the joy
and love your Heavenly Father is feeling toward you
because of your efforts. Remember also that your
weaknesses can become your strengths; indeed, as
each is overcome, it can be a rung of power leading
upward to God and your eternal home. Examine
Ether 12:27. What is the purpose of weakness? What
does the Lord intend to do with your weaknesses if
you let him? Will you let him? If you do, you will find
the power of heaven opened to you and you will
receive greater joy and peace and a closer
relationship with your Savior than most people ever
know.