Monday I was driving by a field behind my place, and even with my car running and the windows completely up, I heard a Meadow Lark sing. I quickly rolled down my window to hear it's song and found it standing on a post. I pulled my car as close as I could and you would think that it even posed for me! :) Oh I love what birds do for me, or rather what God, through birds, does for me. The song of the Lark is out! Even with threatening weather/situations/hard times, I took can be joyful in singing praises. AND THE SHEPHERD KNOWS HIS SHEEP
Visiting with Uncle Paul the other day, he mentioned that he had baby lambs. I asked him to show me, which he graciously did. I love black sheep! Perhaps that I feel at times in my rebellion that I am a black sheep and even with all my weaknesses rebellions, God still loves me and believes in me. 
It was amazing to see Pauly pick up the lamb and love it so much. And then such a contrast of the feelings you have towards the lamb, and then see the large adults that act quite dumb. They smell, they act at times like their brain is quite not there. Adult sheep are NOT my favorite. And yet as I looked at the sheep, back to the the lamb, and from the Lamb back to the sheep I was impressed with how God views us. How could he love such "dumb at time sheep? I had the thought that like me loving and seeing the lamb as not a sheep, but precious and tender, that heavenly fahter views us, each one, as a lamb, precious and tender. I love the analogy of the Savior going to find the one that was lost and when he did find the lamb, he placed it on his shoulders rejoicing. I heard someone in church once state that if we are placed on someone's shoulders, as a lamb is, that lamb/us now sees the same view/perspective that the Savior sees. So much truth and symbolism in lambs. You could not ask for a greater care giver then my Uncle Paul! He is a man who's well runs deep and who's water springs for pure water. He is a great shepherd over those whom the Lord has placed in his path and under his care. WHAT A CHILD CAN DO!
After a long labor and a change over to a C-section, Meadow and Austin's little girl Capri joined them. Austin shared with me that that evening in the hospital he told his wife that they needed to start going to church and that he would like to be baptized, so that he could take his family to the temple to be sealed forever. How is it that a baby, that can not speak can do such great things to the human flesh? Truly families are forever, and this little family is taking steps to move forward on God's path. PEANUT BUTTER ANGELS
I love this picture for it was an evening when Jenny, Jing, Kaiden, and I went out to a play together. OH Seriously, I have the greatest inlaws ever! Obviously I have the greatest brothers in the world too, for hooking up with such choice daughters of God.(!) I love them and count them as my own sisters. In Feb/Jan-Ha I can't remember the month we went on the Oasis for HM's top achiever cruise. Jinger left Ironman with Marsh and Jenny. Little Ironman is awesomely allergic to peanuts... so for days before Ironman came to stay, Jenny didn't allow the kids to have any Peanut butter. But when Ireland came over to the house, his eyes immediately became puffy and swollen. So Jenny administered the benedril and hoped that he would be okay. Again the second day seemed to be worst. Jenny said she had prayed that God would send angels to clean up the Peanut butter/oils that she could not possibly find. I questioned Jen asking her if she "really" did pray for angels to clean up the peanut butter--Here is her reply to my question:
To answer you question, I did literally pray for [Heavenly Father] to send angels down to clean my house of the peanut butter. I knew that I could never find it all and that Ireland would be miserable all week if something wasn't done. There must have been a lot b/c it took those angels 2 nights to do it! :)Amazing faith! After reading Jenny's logic I told her I would start praying for dating angels!! Ha, maybe we will skip the dating ones and just ask for the "Find Eternal Companion" ones! ha ha.
I learned a couple of years ago from my friend about "laundry angels" as she calls them. It all started with her and the laundry. It was overwhelming her. And in a large family, there was nothing she could do about it. There was just laundry. But she was getting discouraged and depressed and overwhelmed and ready to give up. Then she started praying for HF to send angels down to help her with her laundry. Such a simple request, but so specific. and He did. Somehow she was able to work her way through the pile. Of course she was still doing it, she didn't just walk away and expect the laundry to be done when she came back, but she knew she was getting help. Things were able to move faster and it wasn't such a burden anymore. Just like the pioneers that had angels take the bulk of the burden pulling their handcarts up Rocky Ridge.
I knew that with the PB I could clean all day and all night and still not get it all. I'm sure it was everywhere...in the carpet, ground into the couches, in so many nooks and crannies. I couldn't do it alone. [Garrett] wanders around the house with PBJs and gets it everywhere.
I was taught last year by the Brother of Jared that we have to be specific in our prayers. And I realized that going through my life praying "HF, please help me" wasn't specific. He was helping me, but I wasn't recognizing it, b/c I didn't know where to look. Or He is standing there asking "What do YOU want me to do to help you." I am trying to be specific so that I can see His hand. And He always comes through for me. You are going to laugh, but I also pray for traffic angels. When ever I come to an intersection where I have to cross traffic w/o a light, I pray for HF to clear the road for me. Or if I am in a hurry, I ask Him to change the lights to green for me. Sometimes He does and sometimes He doesn't. But I know that if He doesn't there must be a reason for it, and I am at peace and patient. Trusting Him to know what is best. Even if it is for me to sit at a red light when I am in a hurry.
I sent Jenny's comments over to Ali.
She told me that with the delivery of her sweet Rachel, she prayed for "delivery" angels to attend her in the hospital and she felt that angels were there. Ali shared with me that she felt impressed to teach on angels for RS and was inspired to find/give a lesson on the following talk When Do the Angels Come?:When Do the Angels Come?Seriously, an AMAZING life changing talk for me. Thank you Ali for sharing it!! And thank you Jenny for having faith enough to pray about angels and teaching me such a beautiful faith.
By Bruce C. Hafen
The ministry of angels in the lives of ordinary, devoted people often goes unrecognized.
At certain sacred times, God has sent his holy angels to instruct and minister to his children. Think of the angel who first taught Adam about the Atonement; the angel who announced to Mary that she would bear the child Jesus; the angels who sang glories to God the night of Christ’s birth; the angel who comforted the Savior in the Garden of Gethsemane; and the angels who brought the keys of the Restoration to Joseph Smith.
No wonder the angels came at such times. These were history’s crowning events. But angels have also come at times that were significant mostly because of their personal, spiritual meaning in the lives of ordinary but faithful men and women.
Personal Manifestations
Some of these personal visits were dramatic and powerful. Think of the angels who ministered to the Nephite children in the account of 3 Nephi 17 [3 Ne. 17], or the angel who chastised Alma and Mosiah’s sons in answer to a father’s prayer. (See Mosiah 27.)
Other personal manifestations have been so quiet that those who received them were unaware of the angelic presence. The ministry of these unseen angels is among the most sublime forms of interaction between heaven and earth, powerfully expressing God’s concern for us and bestowing tangible assurance and spiritual sustenance upon those in great need.
Think of the angel who came to comfort the sleeping Elijah when he was in such despair that he wished to live no longer. (See 1 Kgs. 19:4–8.) Or recall when Joseph Smith “saw the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb, … in foreign lands, standing together in a circle, much fatigued, with their clothes tattered and feet swollen, with their eyes cast downward, and Jesus standing in their midst, and they did not behold Him. The Savior looked upon them and wept.” (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 2:381; italics added.) The Prophet also “saw Elder Brigham Young in a strange land, … in a desert place, upon a rock in the midst of about a dozen [hostile] men. He was preaching to them in their own tongue, and the angel of God standing above his head, with a drawn sword in his hand, protecting him, but he did not see it.” (Ibid.; italics added.)
For an unforgettable picture of unseen angelic armies, think of Elisha’s young servant, who cried when he was surrounded by an ominous army, “Alas, my master! how shall we do?” Answered Elisha, “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” Then Elisha said, “Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” (See 2 Kgs. 6:15–17.)
President J. Reuben Clark eloquently captured the blessing of unseen angels in the lives of ordinary, devoted people in his masterful sermon, “To Them of the Last Wagon.” President Clark recognized the “mighty men” who led the early Saints, but he reserved his most reverent tribute for “the meekest and lowliest” found in “the last wagon in each of the long wagon trains.” Out in front of these toiling caravans were “the Brethren,” for whom “the air was clear and clean and … they had unbroken vision of the blue vault of heaven.” But, in contrast, “back in the last wagon, … the blue heaven was often shut out from their sight by heavy, dense clouds of the dust of the earth … [which made] the glories of a celestial world [seem] so far away.”
Even though some of the early brethren had seen “in a vision, the armies of heaven protecting the Saints in their return to Zion” (History of the Church, 2:381), President Clark mentioned angels only once. After describing the grinding frustrations of lame oxen, broken hubs, and sick children in the last wagon, he spoke of a pregnant mother trying to breathe through heavy, choking dust. “Then the morning came when from out that last wagon floated the la-la of the newborn babe, and mother love made a shrine, and Father bowed in reverence before it. But the train must move on. So out into the dust and dirt the last wagon moved again, swaying and jolting, while Mother eased as best she could each pain-giving jolt so no harm might be done her, that she might be strong to feed the little one, bone of her bone, flesh of her flesh. Who will dare to say that angels did not cluster round and guard her and ease her rude bed, for she had given another choice spirit its mortal body that it might work out its God-given destiny?” (New Era, July 1975, p. 8; italics added.)
Discerning the Light
The veil between heaven and earth usually hides the angels from our sight. Yet often in the early stages of our spiritual development, we may experience unmistakable contact with the angels of the unseen world. These experiences may move our sense of belief to a sure sense of knowledge, as we exclaim with Alma, “O then, is not this real?” And Alma replies to us, “Yea, because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is good, because it is discernible.” (Alma 32:35; italics added.)
Yet our discerning this light does not yield perfect knowledge. We must nourish the tree of faith to “get root” against the day “when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it.” (See Alma 32:37–38.) As we wait for additional flashes of spiritual light, our days of nourishment and testing can last many years.
The early manifestations of “discernible” angelic contact in our spiritual development frequently occur in youthful conversion experiences, missionary service, or times while we are attending college. These crucial, formative periods of spiritual breakthrough in a young person’s life may be compared with the Kirtland period in Church history; and the years that follow may be compared with the period of Nauvoo and beyond.
Youthful Kirtland Years
The early years of Kirtland were an unusually happy time for Joseph Smith and the Saints. What wonderful events had blessed them in only a few years: the Vision in the grove, the publication of the Book of Mormon, the formal organization of the Church, the optimistic launching of missionary work, the school of the prophets, and mighty revelations outlining a glorious future. It was a youthful, buoyant time. The Saints had no inkling of what waited for them, coiled like a deadly snake barely around the corner of history: mobs, persecution, apostasy, and martyrdom.
But first the angels came. Indeed, the dedication of the Kirtland Temple in March of 1836 represented the greatest spiritual outpouring in modern Church history. Joseph wrote that, shortly after the dedicatory prayer was offered, “Frederick G. Williams arose and testified that [during the prayer] an angel entered the window and took his seat between Father Smith and himself. David Whitmer also saw angels in the house.”
Later, “Brother George A. Smith arose and began to prophesy, when a noise was heard like the sound of a rushing mighty wind, which filled the Temple, and all the congregation simultaneously arose, being moved upon by an invisible power; many began to speak in tongues and prophesy; … and I beheld that the Temple was filled with angels. … The people of the neighborhood came running together (hearing an unusual sound within, and seeing a bright light like a pillar of fire resting upon the Temple,) and were astonished at what was taking place.”
Of one of the concluding meetings, Joseph wrote, “The Savior made his appearance to some, while angels ministered to others, and it was a Pentecost and an endowment indeed, long to be remembered, for the sound shall go forth from this place into all the world, and occurrences of this day shall be handed down upon the pages of sacred history, to all generations.” (History of the Church, 2:427–33.)
Dark Nauvoo Years
Now contrast those glorious experiences with the dreadful conditions under which the Nauvoo Temple was dedicated less than ten years later. Joseph and Hyrum had been slain. The Church was racked with dissension and apostasy, and the dark spirit of the martyrdom hovered over Nauvoo like the destroying angel of death. The Saints knew they could not stay. They worked frantically to finish the temple, even as they also hurried to gather provisions and prepare wagons for their plunge into the great unknown trek westward.
Part of the Nauvoo Temple was dedicated in October 1845, even before it was finished, and in December Brigham Young began to administer the temple ordinances day and night. Within two months, the first company of wagons crossed the frozen Mississippi, never to return.
The story is told of a blind convert named Brother Williams who came from Massachusetts to Nauvoo in time to help complete the temple. Brother Williams had heard the stories of Kirtland, and he believed fervently that when the Nauvoo Temple was dedicated, the Savior and even the resurrected Joseph would return. He anticipated great spiritual manifestations that would heal his blindness. He believed that each stone they were laying brought him one step closer to the Savior’s healing hand.
But the Nauvoo Temple dedication was no Kirtland. As far as we know, there were no visible manifestations, no angelic ministries, no Pentecost.
We Lived Once in Kirtland
Our youthful years as missionaries and students are, despite their typical growing pains, frequently a kind of Kirtland for us: a simple and beautiful time, filled with intellectual breakthroughs, private spiritual moments, and emerging idealistic convictions. Those years may lift us for a time above the noise and smoke and confusion of worldly valleys to a high mountain peak, where we develop a growing closeness to the Infinite.
But the day always seems to come when we must leave our Kirtlands. When we do, sooner or later, we may have our own kind of Nauvoo, perhaps more than once. We will have our own frozen rivers and parched deserts to cross, a moral or financial or intellectual wilderness to tame. It will not always be fun. Perhaps we will feel bewildered and disappointed, and we may look back longingly to those youthful years, wondering why we cannot recapture the way things were in our days of Kirtland.
When our Nauvoo comes, we may find ourselves living in a culture that offers little reinforcement for our belief in the ideals of family life. The surrounding environment may even discourage and attack our devotion to marriage and children. Some of us may begin to feel a growing sense of distance in our marriages, as those around us take for granted that modern men and women should not feel bound by unconditional family commitments. But we will know better, for we lived once in Kirtland, where the Spirit whispered to us that the doctrine is true: marriage is sacred and love is forever.
After leaving our Kirtland, some may feel the waning of their sense of spiritual wonder, as the accumulating pressures and pollutions of life seem to cast doubt on the reality of inspiration or the worth of the institutional Church or the value of giving ourselves unselfishly to others. Especially in that kind of Nauvoo, some of us may turn away bitterly and say that the stories of Kirtland were not really true.
“How could they be true?” some will ask. “We see no angels here, not now, when we need them most. What happened at Kirtland must have been the foolish imagination of our youth.” We will feel pressure to see things this way, for we may be surrounded by unbelievers who whisper tauntingly in our ears as did the enemy in Nauvoo: “Your Prophet is dead. Wake up—it was all a childhood dream.”
Our Nauvoos Must Come
When our Nauvoo comes, it will neither surprise us nor throw us off course if we have kept the image of Kirtland burning brightly in our memories. “It is all right,” we will say. “We understand. We receive our full witness only after the trial of our faith. After much tribulation come the blessings.” And we will pick up our wagons and our families and head west.
As we do, we will sense that Kirtland was given to us as a first witness, to be told to our children and their children’s children, that they may know that God is the Lord. He slumbers not nor sleepeth. We will know that, always, for we were there, that season in the Mormon village of Kirtland.
I still think of Brother Williams, his blind eyes glistening with hope, waiting for Jesus and his angels to come to the Nauvoo Temple. I don’t know what happened to him after Nauvoo. Did he find the healing he hungered for? Did he find his Savior and see the face of Brother Joseph? I suppose that he and the other faithful ones of Nauvoo did find the enlightenment and the peace they sought—but later, perhaps within the last wagon along some dreary prairie trail, or in struggling to build a new life, far away in the West.
I suppose that Brother Williams made the same discovery as did the Saints in the Martin and Willie handcart companies, which were trapped by heavy, early snows on their way across the plains. In a conference address, Elder James E. Faust shared the feeling of one company member:
“‘Not one of that company ever apostatized or left the Church, because everyone of us came through with the absolute knowledge that God lives, for we became acquainted with him in our extremities.
“‘I have pulled my handcart when I was so weak and weary from illness and lack of food that I could hardly put one foot ahead of the other. I have gone on [to some point I thought I could never reach, only to feel that] the cart began pushing me. I have looked back many times to see who was pushing my cart, but my eyes saw no one. I knew then that the angels of God were there.” (Ensign, May 1979, p. 53.)
Such unseen angelic manifestations in the “extremities” of our lives may, over time, have more profound meaning than the more visible outpouring of Kirtland. The Lord has promised that if you are true and faithful, the Lord himself may be “in your midst and ye cannot see me.” (D&C 38:7.) Even if you do not see him, he can “be on your right hand and on your left, and [his] Spirit shall be in your hearts,” and the angels who came to Kirtland will be “round about you, to bear you up.” (D&C 84:88.)
Moreover, our memories of Kirtland can be enriched by our later, perhaps more turbulent, experience. The very meaning of earlier witnesses may well grow richer with the perspective of time. It is because of what we saw in Kirtland that we ventured to Nauvoo. That we have once seen so clearly is our witness that we can again see clearly, with greater depth, even in the very midst of our afflictions.
When do the angels come? If we seek to be worthy, they are near us when we need them most. The mountain might even be full with the horsemen of Israel and their chariots of fire.
WELL IF YOU HAVE STUCK WITH THIS GINORMOUS POST THIS FAR, TACK A GOLD STAR TO YOUR FOREHEAD!! The end is in view!
DOES GOD CARE ABOUT IPODS?!
So last winter, right after starting my jog program, I started having ipod challenges. My ipod started acting like it was too cold for it to be working in the morning at 5 am with the world covered and most times still falling with a blanket of snow. After two weeks, my ipod bit the dust. So I borrowed my mom's. After six weeks, her's ended up biting the dust. Two ipods in less then two months--you can just call me Ms. Ipod Killer! At least I was feeling that this was going to be a start to that reputation. Right before Christmas I went on KSL searching for ipods. I didn't care if it was used, I just really wanted an ipod to help my mind not focus not giving up on my goal/but rather the music/whatever I listened to would distract me enough that I would keep going.
I also really wanted the ipod that clipped on to clothes. I have an arm band, but for lots of reasons I won't go into, I am not a fan of the arm bands.
So there on KSL--I found a pink clip one that was new and barley used, and then I found a brand new one still in the box blue ipod. I felt not to contact the pink one, and impressed to contact the seller for the blue one. He was selling the new ipod for 135--which in the retail world, brand new ones were going for 149. So I was happy to be saving nearly 15$. I contacted him and he said he would sell it to me. He was away for Christmas break but we could meet up right after he came back.
I told my dad, excitedly about the ipod. And hoped that I was justified in spending so much. My dad scolded me a bit and said not to pay more than 100$ for the ipod. He said that the kid had gotten it as a gift from work, and was not out anything, but only had money to gain. I pushed aside his counsel because I was happy with the savings I was already going to be saving. My dad then said, "Bryndi, you have not because you ask not" and then he left it at that. I smiled and inside decided I was till okay with the 130.
Well the morning of meeting the kid, I will call him "Chris" I woke up and went outside to jog. All morning long the only thing that played as if on repeat in my mind was "You have not because you ask not--you have not because you ask not." I could not get these words to settle, but felt more and more impressed that I needed to at. So, I pulled up to the bank, and text Chris and asked if I had cash, if he would take $105 for the ipod instead of $135. (Yes I was too chicken to offer just $100.) I thought for sure he would laugh in my face, but moments later a text came back with "Sure, I can do that". I about died!! Yea have not because yea ask not...!
Well after the exchange with this kind kid from BYU, I sent him the email below. He responded back...:
Jan 3, 2011
So [Chris], Not that you even need to know this---but you are part of the miracle so I thought I would share.
I started a jog program about 5 weeks ago. I was using a ghetto old Ipod as a timer/music no worries. Well about 2 weeks into the program, it bit the dust. Thankfully my mom had the same ghetto ipod I did and she let me use hers. Her's bit the dust 2 weeks ago. I didn't know how I was going to afford a new ipod, but just at the start of jogging pretty much thought I might go crazy not listening to something. I usually just listen to conference and the ensign. Well--it was a good time just to be with God in the morning. I did however pray for a way to open up to get a new ipod. There were two listings--yours and another girl's. I know it might sound crazy but when I prayed I didn't feel like I should contact the girl. So I contacted you. And you were true to your word.
I know you were selling just because you didn't need it--but I was praying because not that I "needed" it, but I felt to get through this jog program, I "needed" it. :) God is amazing. Thanks for letting him bless my life with an ipod, through your service and kindness.
Well that is for your random email of the day. I just drove away in a lot of gratitude, and wanted to thank you for making this possible for me and my program. Thanks!!
So moral: God answer's prayers! Even ones about ipods. :D
Bryndi
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Jan 18, 2011
Bryndi,
I hope your program is going well! I understand how big a difference an ipod can make when working out. I know I could hardly do it without something to listen to.
It's funny that you mentioned how you felt like you needed to contact me in particular for the ipod. I had been contacted by several people before you who were interested in buying it, but I didn't feel like I should sell it to anybody until you contacted me. I don't know why (I guess...I didn't know why) but I was about to take down the posting because I kept feeling like I shouldn't sell it. God really does work in every aspect of our lives, doesn't He? He cares about all of His children, even down to the smallest details. I'm glad that I could be a part of that with you.
Take care, and have a great day!!
[Chris]
Again, does God really care about whether I got an ipod or not?!! It was important to me, and I am important to Him...! I am reminded again of the truth on God helping my friend's friend find a gold ring in the sand in the beach (click here).
My heart is full. This morning I was touched by the brilliant/profound question Ammon states to his brothers, "Who could have supposed that our God would have been so merciful..." Alma 26:17. Ammon is referring to the awful state he and his brothers were in when trying to destroy the Church. And a few verses after that Ammon states that God could have exercised his justice on their polluted and sinful state-- "but in his great mercy hath brought [Ammon and his brethren] over that everlasting gulf of death and misery, even to the salvation of [their] souls." Alma 26:20. As I read these words this morning I was filled with amazement at God's GREAT mercy on all of us... on me... Oh the greatness of my God. Who could have supposed that he would let me learn such deep truths and bring such choice people/experiences into my life. I surely feel like boasting in God and his great goodness and everlasting kindness and mercy.
My heart is full.
I could post a handful of other amazing life long lessons, from so many people who have touched my life or leave me different/for the better.
Jesus is the Christ. Heavenly Father does listen and answer prayers. Families can be together forever!
The natural man can be conquered. Jesus's is merciful and his mercy does save! My heart is full. Lesson, not lost on me!
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