Story of The Month

EVEN IN DIFFICULT TIMES... WE CAN STILL LEARN AND GROW

As we observe Veterans Day this month...let's be thankful for those who are and have defended us and preserved our liberties. Our world is full of war and hatred in every corner. While we detest war and the destruction from it, we have great cause to be grateful for those who go to war to protect our freedoms. At times we get bogged down with the thoughts of all the bad things in the world. The hungry, the depressed, the sick, as well as the many things inflicted on innocent persons by others...the cheating, the lying, the stealing, the rapings and the killings. There are many things to draw our attention away from all the good things going on.

In the study of the good and bad, there is the following idea: How could we be judged according to our goodness or wickedness if there weren't evil acts done by men? There needs be evidence of the wickedness or there would be no judgement. So there are those who have to suffer at the hands of evil and conspiring men and because of them in order for there to be a judgement of the evil that is done while in this earthly probation.

Therefore, in the evidence of those good things men do for each other the evidence will be used at the judgement seat to speak for their goodness. We need then to follow the teachings of the Savior in order to have the evidence speak for good on our behalf. In the book of Matthew, Jesus taught,"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." So wherever and with whomever we do good things, it is as if we have done it unto the Savior.

Recently our family had cause to recognize all the good surrounding us and of the best in people..This past September 21st is a day we won't forget as a family. One of our obstacles in this life met us head on. Our grandson, Beau Winters, was playing in a football game when he collapsed on the field. He was airlifted to Spokane, WA where he underwent four hours of brain surgery. It was a difficult time for our family as everyone was so worried about the outcome of the collapse. After the surgery the Dr. told us there would be a window of 24-48 hours while they would monitor him and then after that time they would know better just how his body reacted to the cause of collapse and the surgery. Well, after many prayers and a great deal of gratitude for those who knew how to care for him, we were blessed with the information that he was responding well. The news was positive and we felt then that he was probably going to be okay again in every way. The whole experience reminded us of what is truly important while we are here. We are so grateful for the angels above and the angels on earth who cared for him and us. We felt the strength come that was needed to feel that we could cope with whatever we had to at this time to help him and his immediate family. We were made aware of how fragile this life is and how much we depend on Heavenly Father for our well-being... physically, mentally and especially spiritually. He cared for us socially too, as we were overwhelmed with the love of friends and family as we spent those few days not knowing if Beau would be with us or what his mental capacity would be if he lived. There was such an outpouring of love and friendship from those we count as family and friends and then from many who we didn't even know who were part of the area where Beau and family live. What a great blessing those good people were to us.

Even in our difficulties and hardships...we learn and grow from them. I think it is so we can have empathy for others when they have adversity to overcome. We become better people when we live through a difficult situation and find a way to help others.

There is much good to celebrate with this Thanksgiving Day coming up at the end of the month as there is for us to celebrate and be grateful for the military personnel who has and are defending our freedoms today.

What has this to do with Temple Square World? It has everything to do with it, as we discover the gospel of Jesus Christ is the root of everything. That gospel taught on Temple Square by the sisters called to share it, sustains us in this part of our eternal life and eventually leads us back to live with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. The atonement is the key, as we repent and try to do better...as we adhere more closely to gospel principles we become better equipped to return to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and to live with them eternally.

The first weekend of October was general conference of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I'm sure that you were filled with joy at being able to listen to our Prophet and the apostles as I was. To be there on Temple Square and visit the places that we love so dearly because they remind us of who we are and what we need to do was the best. How sobering the thought to know how few of the people of the world know about the restoration of the church and of the prophet. We need to increase our effort to take it to the ends of the earth and share it. I pray we will all renew our efforts to do this.

Written by Maurine WINTERS