Santa's Christmas Letter

pictures shortly. This is the letter from Santa Clause.
Dear Kids;
Thanks for cooking all those doughnuts! The problem is if I get back in the sleigh with doughnuts on my breath Rudolph smells them and then He won't fly an inch without his fair share, which is more like 15 "fair share." I don't mind him eating them generally but very sad experience tells me it's not a very good plan becaue you see it gives him gas! BAD GAS! All the other reindeer refuse to fly behind him, which I'm very sad to say puts him tail entirely too close to my nose! so Thanks, but NO THANKS!
Tell Cynthia thanks for the warning about the trap! It was very well hidden this year beneath the snow, and without her help I'd have missed it entirely! Tell her to keep on her toes for a few days because when your Dad finds out she told, he wil be hopping mad! (Please give her the purple smiling face cookie for bieng such a good helper)
You were all very good kids this year, but I read mattthew's homework and it made me the happiest! He Said christmas was about being nice and showing love for each other, and that Jesus is the best part of Christmas. It sounds like someday he could be chosen to be Santa!
I love you all, Santa Clause

Ben's gone on his mission

Today was the big day that Ben has waited for his whole life.  He has always been so happy and out going.   A mission always felt so far away and suddenly it's here.  We left about 10 and took Ben out to eat at Chuck-A-Rama.  Sense we had a missionary they let him have his meal for free.  As we were standing in line a man with a Cabela's jacket on asked Lynn if Ben was a missionary and if he was leaving today.  Then the man tried to give Lynn a $20.  Lynn sent Ben back to get it.  I talked to this man for a minute and said Thanks and he replied he has had missionaries himself and what a blessing they are. I said he was very generous and there aren't a lot of people like that.  He smiled and said they are all around us.  He is right!!  there are wonderful people all around us. it's like a tender mercy, we have to notice them and watch for them.   There were about 4 other families that came in to have lunch with their missionaries before they were to drop they off at the MTC.  you could just see these young men's excitement.  Excited but also a little bit scared!! 
We had Ben and Hollie's setting apart last night.  It got to be an emotional time for the whole family.  I talked about how when Ben was born he was so sick for so long and I wondered if he would even make it let alone go on a mission.  We came to a time when Ben had been especially sick and Lynn gave him a blessing and we felt like Ben would be able to decide whether he would live or go back tohis Heavenly Father.  Ben immediately started getting better.  We felt like Ben ahd decided to stay.   We are so proud of the young man he has become.    Ben and Hollie were given many promises and they will go forth with faith.  Our Stake President are wonderful men that know how to listen to the Spirit.  They gave them the blessings that were meant for them.  It was a meeting which I could really feel the Spirit. 

I worried that Ben would have a  hard time when it was really time for him to go, but he was all smiles and gave us a thumbs up and off he went. 
It's kind of hard to have Ben and Lisa gone, especially at Christmas time,  I know they are doing what they should.  I guess i couldn't send them off without having a testimony and knowing they are doing what they should.  We have been so blessed by having missionaries.  It has been so good for us.

Last night it was mentioned how often the missionaries were prayer for.  How neat to know that in every Temple an at every session they are prayed for and by people all over the world all of the time.


  We live in exciting times. The Gospel is going forth. 

Typical Days that I love

Last night was a really nice night.  Matthew had to read a story and Lynn listened to him read it all.  It was "Danny and the Dinosaur"  (this was Diana's favorite book when she was a child)  Matthew did a good job and Lynn was so patience with him and listened to it all.  The Miriam had some home work that she needed to go over and Lynn was a super Dad again and went over the homework with her.  He is so good,  always willing to listen and help the children and do whatever the children need. I love how he honors his priesthood and is the best Dad.  I love that he is there when we need him!!!

I went to the Temple this morning. It had great calming effect on me.  When the prayer was said they were praying for a blessing on those with addictions and that they would be comforted and that they would be able to turn their problems over to the Lord.  I felt like the same applies inour lives.  We have struggles with our cfountry, but we need to turn it over to the Lord.  A couple of thoughts that have come to my mind are "Be still and know that I am God and Your future is as bright as your faith. I'm so thankful for the Gospel, for friends, family, testimony and all of my blessings.  We are so blessed.  We wil be fine, we know who is in charge!!  Thanks Becky for your thoughts!

Now you know.... the rest of the story!!

Well, as you may have read from my Mom's previous post, I am currently post-poning serving a mission for at least a semester--perhaps indefinitely! 
On one beautiful sunday afternoon, I don't really know why. I don't know if it was church or just life working on me... but I just really felt like I should go on a mission. I told my Dad that since he is the ward executive secretary that MAYBE he should make me an appointment to meet with my Bishop. Basically I just wanted to look at my options and see how everything could work out timewise with a mission and school and everything. Well, he set up the appointment. My Mom thought it would be a good idea to start my dental papers and everything, so if this ended up working out it wouldn't take as much time.
I had planned to go home the next weekend for Fall Break anyway, so she set up an appointment at the dentist on Monday. The rest kindof seems like a blur! Everything just started falling into place. We realized that there was a possibility that I could actually get everything done in one weekend and I could have my mission call a week and a half later! At that point I was extremely excited! We set up the rest of my appointments (my physical and my interview with the Stake President.)
Sunday rolled around and I met with the Bishop first. We had a good little interview, but one of the questions he asked me kindof caught me by surprise. He asked, "So, do you know that this is the right thing for you to do?" "Well, yeah... I think it is!" He stopped and talked for a second and told me, "You know, it is kindof interesting. There are a few prayers that we are guaranteed answers to. And this is one of them!" It may sound funny, but that was a little bit of a shock to my system! I felt like I should go, and when I prayed I thanked Heavenly Father for kindof pushing me in the right direction, but had I really asked??? I thought I had recieved my answer... but had I really? Was that just me? Should I really go? If so, should I really go NOW?
I kindof pushed those thoughts away! Of course I had my answer! This was super exciting! I was going to go on one of the biggest, hardest, most exciting, most challenging, most terrifying, and most rewarding adventures of my life!
I met with the Stake President and had my final interview. We figured I should be able to submit my papers Monday night! I was stoked! :)
Well, by Monday I had everything almost done! The only thing we had to wait on was results for my TB test. I was a little disappointed that I would have to wait a whole week to submit my papers! (But, it ened up being a blessing in disguise.)
Tuesday, fall break ended and I headed back to Cedar. Wednesday I went to get my TB test read and sent my paperwork back to the clinic in Ephraim.
Well, they got it and had the paperwork ready for my mom to pick up that day!
The Bishop came to my house later that night to pick up my paperwork, but I had forgotten to sign the medical evalution.
At that point what the Bishop had said to me the previous sunday was kindof haunting me. I knew I couldn't sign the medical evaluation and send it in until I knew that this was the right thing to do.
I know things don't always make logical sense... but a lot of times they do. Why should I leave at the end of fall semester when I would only be halfway through some very challenging classes? when I would have to find someone to buy my housing contract? when I am just starting to get into the groove of things and meeting new people and dating? when I already have all the books that I will need for Spring Semester (that would probably be outdated by the time I got back)? when I wouldn't be able to see my sister and best friend in the whole entire world for at least two and a half years when we were both back from our missions? when two of my other siblings would be on missions? why now?
Well, I finally did pray about it, and guess what? I didn't get that confirmation that the Bishop promised me I would have if a mission was right for me. I just feel like right now is not the time!
I'm not saying I will never serve a mission... but I am also not saying that I am planning to leave at the end of Spring Semester.
Right now I feel like my call should read:
Dear Sister Bishop,
You have been called to serve as a member missionary in Cedar City, UT. (English speaking ;) Ha ha!) You will be able to continue to pursue your education. You will have the ability to make new friends, flirt all you want ;), and be able to be a good example to people around you. Continue to do those things that you should be doing (like prayer, scripture study, Sabbath worship, institute attendance, FHE, fulfilling your callings, serving others, visiting teaching, etc.) Keep making yourself a better person, and you will be blessed! :)

Right now, that is the mission I am pursuing! We'll see if I'm right or not... But for now, this is it!!! and guess what!?!?!? I AM STOKED!!!!

Diana

Diana has decided to wait for a while on her mission.  When school started this year she paid  $800 in books.  Many of those books were for the full year.  She feels like if she leaves now those books will not be used and she will have to buy new books to finish the classes.  She is a little dissappointed that everyone knows about her mission, but for the time being she will finish out the school year and then decide exactly what she is going to do.
I'm so thankful for Di and for her trying to figure out what is best.  We all make choices and then we look and rethink them.  I don't always understand why we do this, but I believe that we do things in the Lord's time and sometimes we feel pushed and then we don't have the pressure and we can leave it for a minute. 

Tender Mercies

We have had an interesting week. Lynn ordered a pieceof 24 inch pipe to do a job. He was doing the paper work on the job as he noticed on the copy that wasn't a very good that it said corr. The piece of pipe he ordered and paid for was not corrugated. He went to his books to see if the pipe would work . He worked on it sat night after he had discovered it for quite a while. He went to his meetings Sunday morning and when I got home from Choir practice he was on the phone with the Inspector to talk through the books. They discussed it for over an hour and when Lynn arrive at church almost late he said that it was a relief it would work. When Lynn started doing his paper work again after church because he had to have it done before he left for his job the next morning, the numbers didn't add up again. finally out of desperation he called the Inspector back again (I'm sure the Inspector was not pleased) but they went through it again. Lynn felt really restless about it. As they discussd it again they finally agreed that the piece of pipe that Lynn bought was not up to spefications and that it would not work. It was like a big relief was taken off of Lynn. It is amazing to me to see the Holy Ghost work. When it isn't right it's like something is hanging over you. What a blessing to figure it out. I asked Lynn if we could send the piece of pipe back and he told me that he had called the first time and ordered the piece of pipe and had said the wrong size. When he called back to see if they had cut it they told him that they would just get him another piece and just put the other one on the shelf. It was such a blessing Lynn said he couldn't ask for a refund. I was a little dissappointed but I have seen the blessing in our life. Lynn knew somehting was wrong and he kept at it. The first time they had figured it the Inspector and Lynn both thought it would work but Lynn kept working at it till he felt right about it. If they had put that piece of pipe in they would of had an explosion. they would have sued us and who knows what else. I thought we would count our losses and eat the cost of the pipe and be thankful!!! today Lynn recived a call from another company we do work for and they want him to make them a vessel something with 24 inch pipe and the piece of pipe Lynn bought accidentially will work perfectly!!! the Lord knew what we needed even before we did. We are so very blessed!

My Birthday!

I have had one of the Best Birthdays.  I'm so thankful for family and firends.  Those that said Happy Birthday and those that are my friends!!!  Thanks so much
Melody kid-napped me and took me up to Sister Winters to have brunch.  We didn't know that her boys would be there and they had brunch with us.  It was pretty fun to get to know them a bit.  She is such a good lady.  We had a nice visit and were able to hear a few stories that her boys told us and she never would have.
 She gave me a book and made me tell my wish when I opened it.  I told them how thankful I was for family and friends and that I wanted those people to be happy.  I know it takes the good to know the bad but if we live the gospel we can find real happiness!!
I had phone calls and happpy wishes through out the day!! I have the best life!!!
Melody came down and brought me ice cream and cake about 8:30.  We shared it and had a nice visit.  Hollie brought me a poster that was so cute!!!  She made birthday candy bar posters and I laughingly told her she could make me one.  I never expected her to do it. I LOVED IT!!!

It said:
"U_NO What?  You may be a Nut (nut roll) but you're worth a whopp (Whoppers) ing 100 Grand to us.  Having a Sweetart (Sweetarts)  An aunt like you is better that a shopping spree on 5th Avenue after Payday. Uncle Lynn made a M&M (mighty marvelous) decision when he chews-ed (charleston chews) a Big Hunk like you.  Thank you so Munch for the many Laff (Laffy Taffy) and Snickers.  We hope all that Sugar (Sugar Babies) doesn't Shock (Shockers) you into Roll (Rollos) ing over into an early grave! :) Love your Twix-y relatives. 
What a wonderful day.  Thanks Bishop for making everyone sing to me!!  

Diana's exciting news!!

What an exciting week we have had.  I have absolutely loved it!!!  On Sunday Di called her Dad and told him that she felt like she should go on a mission.  Then she told me but she told me she couldn't tell anyone because she wanted to open her call record it and then send it to Lisa. This is what we did so Lisa could know when Ben would get his call and this is how Di wants to tell Lisa she is going on a mission.   Well she wanted to have it done in 1 week but they have changed a few things and Di had to have a Tb test  and it can't be read for 2 days and so she can send it in until next week.  Di had told me several weeks ago that she wouldn't go until May at least.  She is so excited.  We just can't let Lisa know so Di can surprise her. I truly believe that Lisa will have an idea that Di could go but we will do our best to keep it a secret from her.
Di and jake had high 5 it a couple of weeks ago that neither one of them would go on a mission.  Then Di decided to go.  She texted jake on Wed. and told him tha she was going to go.  I was walking out the door and I heard jake say NNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOO.  I laughed because I knew what text he was reading.  He texted her back TRAITOR!!!!   Spelled (Trader)  I have to smile at Jake. 
Ann Baker (Lynn's sister) also told us tonight that Sarah was going on a mission.  She is so excited.  She will be a great missionary.  I can't believe all the Young Women that are going on a mission.  The church will go forth boldly.......   I believe that Young Women will go forth and spread the gospel.  Face book official said that usually the church issues 600 calls a week.  This last week they got 7000 mission applications.  I'm so proud of Di and all the young Women.  She will be a great missionary like her sisters before her.  We are so very blessed!!!

Small and Simple things

      We have been watching a little bit of movies that have incredible people with incredible talents.  I have thought a lot about it today and had just smile.  We all want to do incredible things and be wonderful but as I have talked to my little Matthew about it the only real power is the "Priesthood Power"  and it is given to worthy male members of our church,  Who can give us blessings and help us in our lives.  It doesn't take a super hero to move a mountain it takes the work of God in having us do the little things that will move the mountains.
Lisa on her mission she was able to meet a young lady who ws very sick.  she was transferred to the UOM Hospital.  This young lady was so ready to be baptized but because she was so sick it  didn't happen and she passed away.  Lisa has tried to stay in contact with her parents but it has been hard as they are struggling like all of us would be with the loss of a wonderful young lady.  Lisa felt prompted to call the mother one day and the mother answered.  She only talked a short time but Lisa was able to tell her that she cared and she loved her daughter.  Lisa felt like she should call her again a few weeks later and made arrangements to visit them.  She had to get special permission from her mission Pres and have someone drive her there.  As she met with the parents and explained the importance of being baptized by the Porper Authority and how important it is. The Spirit was with  with herand her companion to bear testimony and the parents gave persission to have the Temple work done. It's amazing to me that now Lisa can do all of her work.  If she had had been baptized then passed away it would have been harder to get her other Temple work done.  
It's the small and simple things that we do that count.  The everyday things like reading our scriptures, having FHE, praying, following promptings and Listening to the Spirit to be the best "super hereos".  The kind of heroes we need in this life. 
This reminds me of Elder Holland's address.  We need to love God and follow him.  Be a true Disciple of Christ!!!

Baptisms

I have a Young woman that I have really been tyring to work with.  She has had a hard life, but has been very blessed also.  I asked her if she wanted to do baptisms for the Dead and she was very off stadish.  I asked her if there was a problem but she still didn't seem to want to discuss itwith me.  I decided to let it go, she has another sibling that is excited to do baptisms so I felt I could wait till this other person was old enogh and then get both of them there together.  I debated about going to the Temple or going to Institue class.  I finally decided I better go to the Temple and there this young lady was.  I went up and gave her a hug and said I didn't think you would be here.  She smiled and said it's been kind of a hard day and I just felt like I should come.  She is so amazing.  If we would all serve in whatever way we can, when we've had a hard day, our lives would all be better.  I'm so blessed to work with these Young Woman and the example they set!!!

Peanut Butter and . . . . PICKLE!!!

I am a lover of peanut butter!
Peanut butter and jam. Peanut butter and jelly. Peanut butter and honey. Peanut butter and banana. Peanut butter and oreos. Peanut butter and apples. Reeses Pieces! Anything along those lines. . . but now I have a new one!
Peanut butter and . . .  PICKLES!!!!
If you have never tried a peanut butter and pickle sandwich, you aren't alone. If you think it sounds absolutely disgusting, you are also not alone!
I first heard of it from my roommate last year. As I watched her make one I thought, "There is no way I will ever try that; those are two things that are absolutely never supposed to go together!"
Over the summer I went on a blind date. The boy called me tell me what exactly we were doing and ask me what I wanted for our picnic lunch. I told him I didn't care and I wasn't really picky. His reply, "Ok. How about peanut butter and pickle sandwiches?" (At that point, I think something on the inside of me died!) "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?"  Luckily, somehow I talked him out of it!
Eventually, I moved to Provo for the summer and met my wonderful roommate Kylie. Kylie has a love for life and an enthusiasm in everything she does! I absolutely love her! Well, we discovered that we had a lot in common. One night we were talking about how much we both loved peanut butter. Well, all the sudden I had a sneaking suspicion that she was one of those crazy people that liked peanut butter and pickle sandwiches. I turned to her and said, "Kylie, have you ever tried a peanut butter and pickle sandwich?" Her eyes turned into saucers, and she just started screaming! I thought at that point she was going to jump out of her wheelchair and start jumping up and down! She thought she had found someone that shared her love of peanut butter and pickle sandwiches. Unfortunately I had to break it to her that I had actually never dared try the bizarre combination. I told her someday I would try it, but I just didn't know when that day would come!
Well, last Saturday that day came! I made a sandwich (actually I only made a half...) I figured that was more than I could probably handle!
I took a deep breath, then a big bite. . .
Suprisingly, it wasn't bad! I'm not going to say it was the best sandwich I have ever had (the best would probably be peanut butter, honey, and banana), but it was really not bad at all! I might even potentially make another one some day in the future.
Moral of the story: There are somethings that you just gotta give a chance! :)

Youth conference July 2012 Ensign Peak

We left at 6:30 in the morning. We loaded up on school buses and headed up to Salt Lake City. First we went to the Church museum. We were running late as usual and so our visit was cut short. They told us about the Prophet Joseph Smith. After, we went to the Church Office building where we took an elevator to the 24th?? floor. Going straight up makes my ears pressurize. It was worse coming down. We looked over the area and then we went to have lunch. It was so hot. we went to the Visitor center where they showed us a mormon ad movie. and they had some missionaries share their testimonie with us. We finished off the day eating at chuch a rama and then we watched "The Prophet of the Restoration".
 The next morning we were ready for the trek to Ensign Peak. I thought we would roast. It was a 2.5 mile trek one way. It was a bit slow going and they took their time telling us stories and getting to the hottest part of the day. We probably hiked about 1.5 miles up the mountain after we had played games inthe morning and getting the hend carts and stuff like that.  Then we had lunch and they told us another story about Mary Gobal a pioneer who as a young woman came acrosss the plains. Her mother and 2 sisters and brother died while crossing. She was told that she need to have her feet taken off at ther ankles but then the Prophet came in and she told him what was going on The Prophet Brigham Young gave her a blessing that she wouldn't have to have her feet amputated according to her faith. She went to another Dr. who told her again she needed her feet amputated and she told him the same thing. She lived with that Dr to help pay for her medical supplies but she wasn't getting any better. He feet hurt her so bad that she would just cry. One day someone knocked at her door and asked why she was crying. She told this neightbor lady about her feet and this lady told her she could help her feet. This lady came every day for a couple of months and put herbs and stuff on her feet and they got better. The next problem was she had set so long on the chair that she could no longer stand up. She went back to live with her Father and he put up a shelf and told her to reach for it all day while he was gone to work. It took several days but she finally reached it. Then he raised the shelf higher and after several months she finally was able to stnad again and then she finally learned to walk again. It took a lot of faith and work.
   Then it was time ofr the women's pull. They had the men line up on the side and just watch the women. The hand cart in head of us only had 4 but it was a smaller cart. Our cart had 6 women because one of the YW had hyper venelated and had asma problems. As we went up the YW was doing fine but the cart ahead of us was really struggling. I finally left our cart and went to help the other cart. It was a tough pull. One of the workers said to the cart I was working on Just make it to me and then I will help you. We finally made it to her and then she took the handle and helped us up the hill. (She really got inside the handle and the other leader had to get out and rested for a minute. As soon as most of the YW were at the top they turned around and came back down to help the other carts. It was simply amazing. I felt like there was no judging, no complaining just love and working together.  When we made it to the top we walked up the next rise and then the pony express came and handed out letters to everyone form the parents, spouse and so forth. It was pretty neat. They rider said "Watch out for the box." I wondered who would send their child a care package and smiled. In just a minute I heard "Is there a Laurie Bishop"? I thought "Oh my heart"!!!! the package was for me. Who else but my wonderful husband woud send me 4 boxes of chocolates up the mountain. There were to the point that they would cound out but they were going to start melting pretty soon. I opened thema nd handed them out to everyone I could find that would eat one. I couldn't see packing them back down the mountain. It was so nuice and thoughtful. I sure don't know how I got such a wonderful, thoughtful husband!!!! After we had a testimony meeting. I was so impressed how the youth spoke about the Enabling Power of the Atonement. at least 70% of them said, I have larned that we have to do all that we can do and then the Lord will make up the rest. They are so amazing. There are so many adults that don't understand that principle. We all do all that we can and then we turn it over to the Lord and He will take care of us. I have learned this in my life but I need to apply it more!!! Then we had dinner which was wonderful, fruit and pulled pork. Then it was time toh ead home. Waht a wonderful experience. I hope the lessons learned will linger in all of our hearts and strengthen all of us. I'm thankful for htis experience!

Timothy

My Tim is such a joy to me.  I just love this kid. He hasn't served in a Young Man presidency until now when he has been called to serve as the Teacher's quorum president.  Now because he hasn't served in the Presidency he doesn't know or understand the line of authority.  We all smiled as Brother Roberts The 2nd counselor in the Bishopric (Tyson's Dad) told us how Tim had asked Tyson to be the first counselor.  I'm thankful he is excited and trying to get everything in order.   He is such a fun kid and loves life.  you don't get anything over on him very often.  I'm thankful for his willingness and his ability to make people smile and to try to do his best. 

Harry

It was about Sat. June 3, 2012, (I believe) I had gone to the Temple that morning and I was at the Stake Center and we were just finishing the casting for the pageant, when my phone rang.  It was a number that I didn't know.  I went out of the room to answer it and there was a man whose voice that I didn'tareconize.  The man said he was down at the armory and that 2 of my daughters had been in a tractor accident.   He said that they were fine.  I asked where they were and he replied they were at the armory.  I said I would be there momentarily.  I grabbed my stuff and didn't explain where I was going.  I ran to the car and sense I haven't been at that church that many times I turned the wrong corner (it may have been stress also) I called Lynn and told him that Laura and Rebeckah had been in an accident. I knew which girls it was without being told.  When I arrived at the armory, the people gathered around saw me coming and everyone moved out of the way.  When I saw Laura she just burst into tears.  I gave her a hug and told her it was OK but it was OK.  Laura and Beckah were all right.  I was so thankful that I didn't know how bad the accident was until I got there and could see them.  I think Laura was trying to park the tractor and it wouldn't stop.  I don't know if it was a lack of experience or what caused it.  She tried to stop at the curb and it climbed the curb and then the tree and then it flipped back on her.  It immediately started on fire. I think both girls were pinned under the tractor. Laura said she started screaming and she didn't know that the tractor had started on fire. Rebeckah said she could see the flames !!  Laura was more in the flames but I don't think she had any burns on her.  The ambulance was there and Laura kept complaining about her arm.  They were going to load them both in the same ambulance but Rebeckah wouldn't let me leave her.  Laura looked at me and said "Mom it's OK, go with Rebeckah".  Rich Olsen was a person on the ambulance crew and it was comforting that he was there to talk to take care of Laura.  I felt so torn Laura was in more pain but Rebeckah was so scared and I couldn't be with both of them.  I called Rachel after we got to the hospital and she came to help me take them of them  Laura ended up breaking her arm but it wasn't a bad break in that they had to put a wrap on it. One to hold her arm in place and the other to hold it to her body.  Rebeckah had a couple of small burns on her toes and one on her knee and scraped her toes a bit.  They were mostly scared but I know that we had angels helping seen and unseen.  I'm thankful to a Heavenly Father who allowed this to happen at a time and place when these National Guard were there practicing and were there to be able to see what needed to be done and the ability.  Jason Fowles was able to raise the tractor basically by him so that someoneI'm not sure who it was  could pull the girls out.   There were people all along the way to guide and protect them.    Thanks so much to everyone who helped my daughters.  Thanks for your willingness and abilities.  I know our Heavenly Father knows us and loves!!! I'm Thankful for all the Angels who helped take care of my Daughters that Day!!

Forgiveness

I taught a lesson about a week ago on forgiveness.  As I taught this lesson I thought of an incident in my life when someone kept coming into what I felt was my territory. And taking over what I was supposed to be in charge of.  This frustrated me, but I couldn't ever think of a way to make it any different so for many years I just let it fester.    When I saw this lady and this year I felt like I should apologize. I told her I was sorry that there had been contention and I hoped we could see more eye to eye.  She was surprised and said she never realized that there was any problems but sometimes she has tunnel vision and gets in her own mold and doesn't notice anything.  As I taught this lesson, I noticed that I had let this go.  I don't dwell on it and I don't talk about it and get all frustrated.  It's amazing to me how when you let it go... you can just be done and let it go.  What a blessing that is in our lives!!

Seminary Ebenezer :)

Today was like the best day to have right before Spring break. Since i am on the Seminary council I helped to put together a special day to really explain what Ebenezer is and what it stands for. We had Brother Lindhardt from the Institute come and talk to us. he did such a great job.
He started by explaining how Isreal is the Lords people, there are some that are born in and some that are baptized in but we are all Isreal now. then he went into how Samuel was born and his life was dedicated to the lord. Then in 1 Sam 3:20-21 it said that Samuel was a prophet and everyone was following him and the LORD was appearing to him. they were following him and he was teaching them. then ch 4:1 sSamuel had recieved revalation and was going to teach the people how to have the LORD with them when the Philistines came and attacked them so they went out to a place called Ebenezer and fought the Philistines and they lost. so Isreal knew that they needed the LORD to be with them to defeat the Philistines. However they didn't understand how they could get the LORD to be with them so they sent for the Ark of the Covenant because they were so used to tangeble gods and didn't understand how to keep the lord with them. so they thought the Lord was the Ark and they took it to battel and lost the battle and the Ark. and since Isreal thought the Ark was god they were so distraught that Eli the high priest fell over backwards and broke his neck and his daughter-in-law was having a baby and when she heard the news she said name my child Ichabod (the glory of gid is departed from Isreal) then she died.
Meanwhile the Philistines were thinking that they now had Two gods. So they put them together and went to sleep them in the morning their god was tipped over toward the Ark so they set it back up and the next day it was tipped over towards the Ark and its' head and arms were broken off, then they got Emrods or tumors or boils all over so they sent the Ark on their neighbors and and they got the emrods and then they sent it on and then the Emrods just followed so one of the wisest Philistines said lets send it back to Isreal so everyone agreed to do that. but then another philistine said wait waht if the emrods were just a coincidence so they decided to test the LORD by having two Milk cows that just had calves and had never pulled a cart pull it and put the calves in a corral behind the cows then if the cows pulled it to Isreal it was really a miracle. And do you know what they pulled it straight back to Isreal.
then after they got the ark from the philistines Samuel was able to teach the people how to have the LORD with them. then the people learned and applied the teachings and right after they understood there was another battle with the Philistines. and the people said Samuel please pray for us and sacrifice for us then in ch 7:10 the LORD fought the Isrealits battles. and Isreal was able to defeat the Philistines.
then Samuel took a rock something with a very sturdy fondation, and put it in a place that they won and named it after the place where they had lost so that they would remember.it was soooooooooo cool!!!
then we got some little pebbles with Ebenezer written on it to remind us. then out big Ebenezer in front of the sminary building everyone that was commited signed it so they would remember. Now Our Ebenezer is full of signatures of people who have commited who are in with both feet. it looks so good it makes me soooooooo happy taht I am a member of the church who has modern day Ebenezers all around me. like the Temple the Seminary scriptures hymns tabernacles and my family to help keep me commited. The church is true i love to be able to be commited to work for a goal of Zion. I hope you all raise your own Ebenezers and stand with a recommitment.

-Ben Bishop :)

Miracles :)

After a fantastic spring break with my wonderful family and beautiful weather in Manti Ut, this morning I woke up to snow! What?!? Snow?!? It was completely unexpected.
The sky showed no signs of clearing up, and there was snow everywhere! And I had to go back to Cedar today so I could be there for classes tomorrow. If I had known it would snow I would have left the day before when the weather was still really nice.
I thought about praying for the snow to stop so I could make it home, but the problem is we NEED snow. We haven't got near enough of it.
I ended up praying not that the snow would stop, but just that I would be able to return to Cedar safely regardless of what the weather did.
By the time church started the snow was still coming down steadily. Doubts started setting in. Did I really dare go home in the snow, or was that just asking for trouble? I ended up talking to my mom and a few other sweet ladies in our ward. :) (They were very concerned about me driving in the snow through the mountains alone.) They expressed their concerns, and basically I just broke down. I didn't know what to do. I decided to ponder and pray about it and just see how I ended up feeling.

Finally the meeting started. The opening hymn was "You can make the Pathway Bright." Very few songs are more applicable to a terrified girl who needs to drive home in questionable weather. I started feeling a little better. But the best part of the meeting was when the choir sang "I know that my Redeemer Lives." This song has become very special to me this past year.

"I know that my Redeemer Lives."
1. I know that my Redeemer lives;
When comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, He lives, who once was dead;
He lives, my ever living head.
He lives to bless me with His love,
He lives to plead for me above,
He lives my hungry soul to feed,
He lives to bless in time of need.

2. He lives to grant me rich supply,
He lives to guide me with His eye,
He lives to comfort me when faint,
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.
He lives to silence all my fears,
He lives to wipe away my tears,
He lives to calm my troubled heart,
He lives, all blessings to impart.

3. He lives, my kind, wise, heav’nly friend,
He lives, and loves me to the end,
He lives, and while He lives I’ll sing,
He lives, my Prophet, Priest and King.
He lives, and grants me daily breath,
He lives, and I shall conquer death,
He lives, my mansion to prepare,
He lives, to bring me safely there.


This was just the answer I needed. I knew that he could "bring me safely there".

By the end of the meeting, I was feeling much better. I felt good about leaving for home. I knew that I would be watched over and protected.

I packed up all my stuff super fast and on the road shortly thereafter.
Starting out the roads were a little wet, but that didn't last long. The roads were clear and the snow seemed to be put on pause. :)

Leaving Manti:


Most of the Drive:


Back in Cedar:


I got just so I was one mile away from my final destination and it started snowing lightly. By the time I pulled up to my apartment the snow was in full force again.

I am so thankful for a Heavenly Father who will watch over me in my time of need. What a miracle! :)I love being a part of his restored gospel on the earth! :)

What the Sam Hill to you do with a six inch long thumb?

I really didn't know it was possible for a thumb to grow six whole inches in length in just a few short seconds, but sure enough it's true! That stupid thing doesn't fit inside a glove any more, and seems to run into any and every obstacle that comes along.
I really don't know how long that naughty word was in my mouth, but had apparently been lodged in between some teeth or something for days. It had plenty of opportunities to jump out today but took it's own sweet time. Believe me it's not good to even have them in there, and honestly I didn't have a clue it was there. It didnt shake loose when that hundred and fifty pound ragged piece of steel caught the glove and drug it to the immovable stopping point where everything came to a sudden stop with my poor short thumb being the only cushion in the equation. It didn't come out when I shyly pulled the perfectly good undamaged leather covering from the hand where it had been perched all day. It didn't even come out when I saturated a paper towel trying to get my apparently super long finger to stop bleeding.
I really don't know who coined the phrase "sticking out like a sore thumb", but it's amazing what a quarter inch deep gash can do to lengthen out something so short. I was able to get a large gauze taped over it in such a way as to get it back inside a very large glove, but the glove seemed to grow in lenght the same as the thumb.
My thumb must have felt like the fish swimming hard and fast with it's eyes closed, all of a sudden it hit something hard, and "DAM".
I told the kids I joned the bishop's owwy finger club. Matthwe said "That's a dumb club to join dad!"

Giving away problems

I had an insight today with my friend Ann that made me ponder. As we sat talking she asked me how do we give our problems to the Lord. Now I have never thought of how we do it though I have tried to do it myself many times. I told her that I felt that we needed to pray and tell the Lord what was going on and ask for his help and guidance. Then we have to basically give it to the Lord and not worry about it. It is much easier said then done. Ann has also talked to her friend Joy about this struggle and Joy must of had a simillar experience because as she described her feelings Ann felt like she was reading her mind. Finally Joy said, I have prayed to forget what happened. I always want to hang onto the problem so I can not let it happen again, but as we analyzed this we decided that we need to pray to forget it all because the Lord can handle any problem better than I can and as we turn it over to him we need to have the faith and let him take care of it.