Pet Peeve.... (small soap box warning!!!)

I have a pet peeve. It deals with those who become dependent on their word processors spell check! Why in heavens name do I bring that up at this point of our mission? I'll explain.

Part of my responsibilities is to accompany missionaries who may need to return home for health issues. It doesn't happen often but it does happen. So as I write this post I am doing so from the comfort of our oldest daughter's apartment in Taylorsville, Utah. One of my other responsibilities is to carry an empty suitcase with me on my way to the states and on the way back carry a full suitcase with Walmart products.

While I was at Walmart I noticed a thank-you board that had been placed near the checkout lanes for those who may want to write thank-you notes to our veterans- specifically our Vietnam Veterans. This is a great gesture to our veterans. As tomorrow marks Veteran's day in the United States I hope all can reflect on those whose backs freedom is maintained.

Why, though, am I venting about spell check? On the table was the Presidential declaration that President Obama signed honoring those who fought and served during that war. As I read the declaration I was appalled at an error that I saw in the declaration. The word was spelled correctly but it was the wrong word!
Fortunately, before I ranted too much, I looked up the Proclamation on the internet to see how it was supposed to have read. This was how it came out of the White House:

Vietnam War Memorial in Washington D.C.

Eleven years of combat left their imprint on a generation.  Thousands returned home bearing shrapnel and scars; still more were burdened by the invisible wounds of post-traumatic stress, of Agent Orange, of memories that would never fade.  More than 58,000 laid down their lives in service to our Nation.  Now and forever, their names are etched into two faces of black granite, a lasting memorial to those who bore conflict's greatest cost.

This isn't what I saw at Walmart. What I saw at their was a declaration that someone didn't proof. It appeared that they decided to let spell check do their job for them. What I read was that 58,000 men laid down their lives in service to our Nation and that their names were etched into two faces of  "back" granite. Someone, somewhere, should be embarrassed by the lack of discipline in making sure the words are not only correct but the correct words. It was after getting to that point in the document that I stopped reading as I was pretty upset.

Full picture

Close up

Here is a photo of what I saw at the store.






To read President Obama's Proclamation click here.


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We believe....Article 10

 "We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory."

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is known today for its missionary work and missionaries. They are spread out all over the world. This is following the command of Jesus Christ as He commanded His early apostles to:

   

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen"(Matthew 28: 19-20)

There is a process that is gone through before missionaries ever enter into a country. Part of that process is the dedication of the country for the sharing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Just as it occurred in the early part of the Church it still continues today.

Shortly after the Church was formed in the early 1830s missionaries were sent to England to share the Gospel. Unlike today the missionaries sent out then were not usually 19 year old young men. Nor did they serve for a set period of time of two years- sometimes it was shorter and sometimes longer. A number of those sent were married and left families behind to be cared for by family members and friends. The Gospel message in England was well received and hundreds and thousands of people entered the waters of baptism to join the restored Church.

Orson Hyde

Shortly after that one of the early Apostles of the Church was assigned to go to the Palestine to dedicate that land for the gathering of Israel. The Apostle's name was Orson Hyde. From April 1841 to December 1842 he was in Jerusalem. Part of his dedicatory prayer included the following:

"Now, O Lord! Thy servant has been obedient to the heavenly vision which Thou gavest him in his native land; and under the shadow of Thine outstretched arm, he has safely arrived in this place to dedicate and consecrate this land unto Thee, for the gathering together of Judah's scattered remnants, according to the predictions of the holy Prophets -- for the building up of Jerusalem again after it has been trodden down by the Gentiles so long..."

The gathering of Israel continues...

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More Fun in the Philippines...

The Philippines has an official touristy motto- It's more fun in the Philippines! It reminds me of the one Indiana decided to spend X amount of dollars to some marketing firm to come up with: Restart your Engines... I think I prefer the Philippines one!

I have an unofficial Senior missionary motto: "It's your camera-don't leave home without it!" I'll explain.

Manila traffic. Mattress anyone?

On EDSA with the mattress man!

Wednesday morning three of us were being dropped off at the airport in Manila. Two Americans and one Canadian being dropped off by Rex. Rex is the administrative assistant who works in the medical department at the PAO. As we were traveling down EDSA- the main thoroughfare through metro Manila- a trike carrying a unique cargo passed us on the right. As soon as he passed us all three of us whipped out our cameras to take a picture. I actually took two.

That is why it is More Fun in the Philippines!!

Live from SLC....

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We believe...Article 7

"We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth."

We are God's children. What parent doesn't want to give their children gifts? The gifts that are mentioned in Article 7 are referred to as gifts of the Spirit.

As the Savior concludes His discourse to His disciples (commonly referred to as the Sermon on the Mount) He touches this particular subject:

     "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you:
     For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it 
     shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a 
     stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give
     good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good
     things to them that ask him?" (Matthew 7:7-11)

What may be commonly heard is that such things don't exist anymore. That God is done with such things or (to me it seems a very arrogant thing to think or say) we live in the 21st century- "we don't need things such as revelation or visions." To me that is a very sad commentary on our understanding of a loving Heavenly Father.

Examples are found throughout scriptures. My favorite is of Peter teaching in the temple following their receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Most are  familiar with the Lord's senior apostle. Most are also familiar that the Lord had told Peter that he, Peter, would deny the Savior three times. To this prophecy Peter strongly told the Lord that he would do no such thing. It is interesting to read about Peter's denial. He followed the Savior and His captors back to where they would interrogate Him. Peter was hanging back to see what would occur. Three times people approached him saying they had recognized him as being one who had followed the Savior. Three times he denied knowledge of the Savior (see Mathew 26; Mark 14). This was done in the dark of the night and with people who were not leaders or of consequence.

Peter Teaching at the Temple

Contrast this to the Peter who has received the Gift of The Holy Ghost. Here is a man who stands in front of hundreds, if not thousands, of people in the temple at Jerusalem. Some he stood in front of may even have  been those that had crucified the Savior. He is not ashamed of who he is or who he represents. He had been blessed with the Holy Ghost and with that blessing he was able to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

     "And when the day of Pentecost was fully 
     come, they were all with one accord in one 
     place...And they were all filled with the Holy
    Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance...Now when
    this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every
    man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying
    one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man  
    our own tongue, wherein we were born?" (Acts 2:1,4, 6-8)

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we continue to believe and claim that these gifts are still active and in use today. Our Heavenly Father does not love us any less then those who have passed on before us. We are as in much need today, or even more so, as our ancestors who have traveled before us.

David O. McKay

The Church has nearly 14 million members. These gifts are experienced through them and others. Just one example can be found with a former Prophet of our Church- David O. McKay. Having recently been called as the newest Apostle of the Church he was sent on a world-wide tour to visit the members of the Church. In one occasion those that heard him speak experienced the interpretation of tongues. "While in the Pacific Islands, Tahitian Saints were able to understand his words in their own language." During his tour in the Holy Lands he prophesied that "...although the land would run red with blood, the Jews would yet be gathered." (Presidents of the Church Student Manual, 2004. pp 144-160).  

These gifts are truly from a loving Heavenly Father. They are to bless His children. It is a wonderful time to be alive!


Next...Article 10

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