Unseen Gifts by Riley Raban

I have recently returned from a mission in El Salvador in Central America. So this is the first Christmas that I have spent with my family in two years. My outlook on Christmas has changed so much over these two short years. Before, I was only excited about Christmas for reasons such as the presents, snow, or maybe even just the chance to get out of school. I remember counting down the days and wondering what brightly wrapped present I was going to get. It truly was an exciting time.

In El Salvador it wasn’t quite like that. I remember walking through the streets on Christmas Day and feeling almost no Christmas spirit. There were no lights, no snow, and not even any Christmas trees or presents. I thought these people don’t understand how Christmas really should be, they don’t even know what Christmas is. I remember feeling sad that first Christmas away from home. As I prayed that night, I remember feeling an overwhelming love for the Savior and also my family. I had realized that really the thing that was most special about Christmas was the opportunity to be with my family. All gathered around laughing and sharing memories. I realized the truthfulness of the Grinch’s realization that, “maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store, maybe perhaps it means a little more.” The greatest gifts we get at Christmas aren’t seen.

The greatest gift is our Savior Jesus Christ because thanks to him we have the amazing Plan of Salvation, that enables us to be together forever with our families. It’s such an amazing gift that I never appreciated until I was separated from them. As we taught people that December we focused on the Savior and his wonderful plan. It gave people hope to find out that they could be with their families forever, and they could live again with him one day. The joy of Christmas is so much more than opening a box. The joy of Christmas comes from knowing that thanks to Jesus Christ, we can all be eternally happy with our families.

I know that Jesus lives, I know that through his Atonement we can be forgiven of our sins and saved. I know that families are essential in the plan of salvation and that He is the gift.

Repost: What Can I Give? by Virgene Silvers

I have a vivid memory of the night I graduated from St Johns High School.  My classmates and I gathered outside on the front steps leading in to the school.  The school auditorium was filled to capacity, brimming over with townsfolk who’d come to celebrate with us.  We were decked out in traditional white and red graduation robes, making last minute preparations for “Pomp & Circumstance,” the Processional March.  I was anxious and ready to get this over with so I could move on.  I blurted out, “I can hardly wait to graduate and get out of this town!”  Mr. Sam Udall, school principal, turned around and said to me, “The day will come when you will regret those words.  You will come to love St Johns and appreciate what you learned here.”  He was right; boy was he right!

It took me a while to know Mr. Udall was right.  I made a lot of mistakes.  I was a bit arrogant and worldly.  It was after the birth of my children and the deep appreciation of motherhood that I came to my knees.  I thought of the wonderful mothers of my childhood.  I knew a big change was needed.  My thoughts and heart turned home: to St Johns, my parents, teachers, and friends; the lessons learned, the principles and values taught, and, above all, a town where family and faith is paramount.  Though difficult and fraught with highs and lows, the move to St Johns with my children was a blessing.  I’m deeply grateful for those parents, friends, and teachers who helped raise Renee’ and Jason.

  

This brief glimpse into days’ past is to acknowledge how much friends and family of St. Johns, my hometown, have given me.  I’ve received gifts of example, love, friendship, acceptance, and employment.  I HAVE been given much.  But, the ultimate gifts are repentance, forgiveness, the knowledge of Jesus Christ, my elder brother, the Light and Savior of the world and his atoning sacrifice for me.

The last ten weeks I’ve spent associating with a diversified group of our community: young and old, of every religion and station of life.  What a wonderful privilege to share our common belief in Jesus Christ and celebrate his birth through camaraderie and beautiful music!  Making friends by singing in a community choir is an exceptional way to get to know and love thy neighbor.

I go outside at night and look upward to Heavenly skies and see the stars over our blessed little town so quiet and peaceful.   I can see over the little village and enjoy the Christmas lights twinkling on decorated homes and down “Main Street.”  I can envision the angels singing as the world in solemn stillness lay, when the time foretold came, Christ is born of Mary, a babe in a lowly manger.  HE is the gift.

We are all God’s children, brothers and sisters.  May we continue to serve and love one another.  Jesus Christ has shown us the way.  We have a perfect pattern to follow.  He is our Savior and Redeemer.  Peace on earth and good will toward all men.  Merry Christmas!

Light the World by Suzanne Hancock

Last year when the LDS church announced its Light the World initiative, I was gung-ho and ready to go. I made sure that I participated each day, shared my experiences on social media, and hash tagged each post #LightTheWorld, just as instructed on LDS.org and Mormon.org. I felt the Spirit, I drew closer to my Savior and to my fellow men/women, and I was so grateful for the church's revelation of this Christ-centered countdown. I felt Christmas like I hadn't in awhile.

You would think I would come out guns-a-blazin' again this year, with the 2nd year of Light the World happening now. Well, it hasn't happened.

I did the first three days, and I was feeling the warmth and glow of the season once again. Then day four came, and I got busy. I thought about what to do, but I didn't do it. Day five came, and again my thoughts didn't turn to action. Day six, day seven, and all the way now to day 16, and I have failed. I look each day, but I haven't fully participated. With guilt abounding in my heart and mind, I tried to figure out what had happened to me. Why had I let all these days go by without doing something that I know would help me feel the true spirit of the season?

The answer slapped me in the face. How could I light the world when my own light was dimmed?

In The Forgotten Carols by Michael McLean, one song's lyrics spoke to my heart this year.

Somewhere beneath the glitter

That comes this time of winter

In many souls there is a cry

They may not clearly say it

But in their hearts they pray it

And you can see it in their eyes

'I cannot find my way

I cannot find my way

I cannot find my way at all

There are so many voices

So many different choices,

I cannot find my way at all.'

This is exactly how I was feeling. Many of us have been there. We go through the motions of the church. We do our callings. We go to church. We have family prayer. Yet we may still feel lost.

When I went back and reviewed the missed days, my OCD self thought I needed to play catch-up and do them all. Really, I am still struggling not to do this. However, I started to contemplate each day of the initiative, and I realized that each day had provided me with an opportunity to see that day's purpose in action.

I sang "We sing Hallelujah" with neighbors at a Fine Arts event. I felt my mom watching over me the next day. I had a friend teach me about looking at others through forgiving and loving eyes. I walked down and met my sweet son after school, and we walked and talked back home. My husband prayed for people who are suffering from sickness, grief, and loss. Each day something happened that correlated with the Light the World calendar.

When my light wasn't feeling like shining, the Lord sent me the light of others to help me see His hand in all things. He knows I wanted to participate fully in this wonderful initiative. He knows that I am struggling in ways that may not be seen by the eyes of the world. He knows that my heart feels a little lost right now.

Yet He is still there. Always there. Ever shining His light for me. For you. For all of us. He knows that I will find my way back, and, until then, He will give me a way to see the light in the world all around me.

That song continues and finishes with this comforting knowledge:

There were three kings

Who followed the star

Of Bethlehem

They came from afar

To praise and honor Him

His light

which beckoned them to see

The Lord of Man

It calls to you,

It calls to me

We're not alone,

We have a star

And it shines today

The love that He gave

Teaches how

And shows the way

That light,

it's clear to see

If we have faith and believe

Three kings found the Lord

And so can we.

And if you've lost your way,

That light burns bright today

And it will shine eternally

Three kings found the Lord

And so can we

'Lord help us find the way

We need to find the way

Lord help us find the way back home'

Three kings found the Lord

And so can we

'Lord help us find the way

We need to find the way

Lord help us find the way back home'

Three kings found the Lord

And so can we

'Lord help us find the way

We need to find the way

Lord help us find the way back home

Lord help us find the way

We need to find the way

Lord help us find the way back home'

And so must we!

How did you end up here? by LeRoy NoskerTanner

“What brought you to St. Johns?” or “How did you end up here?” are both questions that I hear on a regular basis.  Growing up in a village (yes, that’s officially what it is) in the Midwest, I never thought I would end up here either.  I also while growing up never thought I’d choose the career I’m in, but here I am.

  

With the benefit of hindsight, it’s not difficult to see all the little things that have led you to where you are now, but when you’re in the moment, things can seem uncertain or even frightening.  The writer of Proverbs said, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”  He knows the end from the beginning, and He can and will guide us if we seek his guidance.

The Maori of New Zealand have a saying, “Ka mura, ka muri.”  It means we all walk backwards into the future.  We can clearly see the past behind us, but the direction we travel is still unknown.  Nephi said, “And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do.”  There are so many things in life beyond our control, but one thing we have is our ability to choose for ourselves what we will do.  That includes the opportunity, scary as it may be, to let the Lord lead our course.  We can strive to follow the Savior’s example by saying, “Thy will, not mine, be done.”

That’s hard.  No likes to feel out of control, and it takes real faith- trust and hope for things we have yet to see- to let God be at the helm of our lives.  Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles once said, “to take one’s agency, that precious gift which the scriptures make plain is essential to life itself, and say, ‘I will do as you direct,’ is afterwards to learn that in so doing you possess it all the more.”

I’m here because I’ve tried to do that.  There have been many times along the way (and probably will be some yet to come) when I have wondered, “What am I doing here?” or “Why did you tell me to go here Lord?”  I have learned that with patience, we should “stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord”.  It took 3 years for my wife and I to be able to see clearly all that the Lord intended in prompting us to move here.  I can promise you, that if you will trust the Lord and seek His guidance in directing your life, then He will prompt you through the Holy Ghost to know what to do as you take decisions to him in faith.

Angels in Service by Velvet Nielsen

I love living in St. Johns because of the good people here. So often others have been angels when I needed help. 

When I was pregnant with Josi I had been on bed rest for two months for toxemia and was in a mess. Some lovely women came to my home when I went to the hospital and cleaned and organized and decorated my home. I came back with my new baby to a place of order and peace.

Many times we have had good neighbors help us with hay. This fall Bishop Hancock, along with Delton and Jared, stopped to help Vanden and the boys get the hay off the field. I love the people here.

Mosiah Chapter 18, verses 8 and 9:

And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

Repost: Attitude of Gratitude by Brian Burdick

I am reposting this because of this season of Thanksgiving and also because it is one of my all-time favorite posts on this blog. Being grateful is easy when everything is going right. What about being grateful in the midst of life's greatest trials? Brian Burdick's words shine as an example of just that.

I would like to share my feelings of love towards the nice, sleepy town of St Johns. In order to do this I need to go back in time about a year. Recently, Daniel asked us what we plan to do for his anniversary in October. Lynette and I were confused at his question, so we asked him what anniversary we were going to celebrate. He then explained that the anniversary he was talking about was when he ended up spending the entire night under the stars, trying not to freeze to death, and basically surviving what was a very difficult ordeal for him, his family, and many of the citizens of St. Johns.

Daniel and I had been doing some yard work outside. I could tell that he was quite agitated and suffering from a great deal of anxiety and depression. His medication for his anxiety and depression had been changed in order to find a medication that would be more effective in dealing with some panic attacks that he was having. (Eventually, it was determined that the new medication was increasing his anxiety and depression and causing them to become worse. Finally, Daniel's psychiatrist found the right medication to deal with his mental health problems.) Daniel told me that he needed to go for a walk to try and relieve some of his anxiety and depression. It was about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, so I told him to go ahead. I expected he would be back soon. Several hours later, Daniel was still gone. Lynette came home from work, and I explained the situation to her. The farther the sun dropped on the horizon the more worried we became. Lynette called a few people in town asking if they had seen Daniel recently. Someone had seen him walking north on 24th W.

Later that evening, Lynette and I began driving around town looking for him. We went to several of the stores and businesses in town, and no one was able to give us any information regarding his whereabouts. Lynette was able to contact one of her friends who sent out a group text message informing people of the situation and asking if any of them had seen him. Because of this text, many people in town began helping us look for Daniel. Even after Lynette and I quit for the night, there were people who stayed out past midnight continuing to look for him. The next morning two sisters in our ward felt inspired to drive north on 24th W one more time. They found him walking barefoot down the road. His feet were great masses of blisters because he had been shoeless for most of the night. Later, Daniel explained that he lost his shoes walking through the muddy parts of the Little Colorado River. We were overcome with relief that Daniel was alive and would be okay. 

Lynette and I were so impressed with our St. Johns’ friends and neighbors. We were so grateful so many were willing to leave their comfortable homes and offer assistance that night. We were also impressed and grateful when we found out how many people had been praying for Daniel and for us. Even though we were anxious about Daniel and his circumstances, those actions brought a spirit of peace that even allowed us to get some sleep that night.

After this ordeal with Daniel, Lynette and I felt like our trials had calmed down for a while. Little did we suspect that a greater trial was to come to our door a couple of months later. In November I found out that I had a deep vein thrombosis (blood clot), and doctors had started me on medication to try and break up the blood clot. Then, on January 1^st, we were sitting in our living room when Lynette told me that I looked yellow. The next day we went to the local clinic and from there we were sent to the emergency room in Show Low. After several hours of being in the ER, arrangements were made for me to be admitted to the Banner Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix.

After running several different tests and having a specialist perform a special endoscopy, we found out that there was a tumor wrapped around my bile duct, which was cutting off the flow of bile to my small intestine. This test took place on the 4th of January. After meeting with several doctors, it was agreed that I needed a pancreaticoduodenectomy, more commonly known as a Whipple. The surgery was performed on the 9^th of January. It is a very lengthy and extremely difficult surgery. It involved removing parts of my pancreas, stomach, bile duct, and about 15 inches of my small intestine, after which I was replumbed. The recovery time was quite lengthy. The doctors eventually were able to tell us that I was suffering from pancreatic cancer. When I was told this, I felt like someone had hit me over the head with a 2 x 4. This news was extremely stressful and difficult to hear. After three weeks in the hospital and one week at the home of our daughter, Sian, I was able to come home to St. Johns.

The next step was chemotherapy and radiation that began after I had adequately  recovered from the surgery. These treatments were to try and take care of any lingering cancer cells and would take 6 to 8 months to complete. I have finally completed (more or less) these treatments. Now the plan is to monitor for the cancer's possible return. Needless to say, it has been a very difficult year for our family.

So should we really be celebrating the anniversary of the beginning of this difficult year? Most definitely we should! While the year has been tough, our family has been awed by the amount of love and concern we have been shown and for the prayers that have been offered in our behalf. We are so grateful for the acts of service that people in St. Johns have given us. We have received many meals, loaves of bread, plates of cookies and other wonderful expressions of love. We have received assistance with our lawn and our garden and with other projects around our home. We have received many visits from people who have gone out of their way to encourage me while I have been recovering from the various medical treatments. Everywhere I go, people stop me and ask how they can help and then let me know that they are praying for me and my family. These acts of love and kindness have assisted me in those days when I am struggling with depression and with worry about the future. We are forever grateful for all of the service that has been rendered by so many loving hearts and hands to our family. I just want to tell everyone thank you. There are so many of you that I do not dare start naming names for fear I will leave someone out. Most importantly, I want to thank my loving Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ for allowing me to turn to them when times seem the darkest. I know that through the grace of Jesus Christ my life will continue after this earth life has ended and that my family can be a unit of eternity. This is the greatest act of love possible, and for that I will be eternally grateful.

Thankful for Answered Prayers by Rashelle Price

Have you ever prayed for an answer and then opened the scriptures to have them fall open to the exact verse that gives you the much-needed answer? Or have you ever simply been reading and have a scripture hit you with such force it was like it was whispered straight from heaven and written on your heart?

I can still picture like yesterday sitting on the old burgundy hand-me-down couch. It was early in the morning, before my first child was born. I was going in to be induced in a few hours and couldn’t sleep. I was so excited and nervous. We had tried for years to have this baby, and I had been told I would not be able to have children for quite awhile, until some infertility issues were taken care of. I had had exploratory surgery and found my ovaries were the size of a grapefruit instead of an almond, and they were full of cysts. I also had multiple miscarriages. After being discouraged, and feeling sorry for myself, I finally did something that would help. I started praying and going to the temple, I wanted a baby so badly! I knew in my heart I would have children from the promises given to me in my Patriarchal blessing. I also started doing research on infertility, and, as I was reading about a certain condition, I had the Spirit prompt me to have my doctor try testing my progesterone hormone levels. At first I was resisting this prompting, telling myself, “What did I know?”, but I did know that the Holy Ghost had told me this would help. So I got up my courage and asked my doctor. He said he “doubted this was the problem, but it wouldn’t hurt to just do the test.” My progesterone level was very low! I started taking a supplement, and then within 2 months l was expecting! He tested my levels again right away, and they were too low to sustain a pregnancy. With supplemental natural progesterone, I was able to finally carry the baby and not have a miscarriage like before. I then knew what I needed to do with each subsequent pregnancy.

So back to the morning of Karston’s birth… There I was trying to find a measure of comfort and peace before going to the hospital. I had spent months on that old couch. (At 24 weeks into my pregnancy, I started having pre-term labor and was put on bed rest.) So I opened my scriptures, and they fell open to Luke 1:13.

13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.

16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

When this sweet baby boy was born, I knew the type of child he would be, like John the Baptist in these scriptures. What a wonderful blessing he has been in my life!

Skip forward 18 years, and I am gathered with friends and family as this firstborn boy opens his mission call....Tegucigalpa Honduras! Wow, I am a little in shock. We all spend the night researching all we can about this country he will serve in for two years. My dad and I are especially excited because we love the ancient Mayan Culture, and I believe this is the area the Book of Mormon people lived. 

Anyone who knows me would think that I would have really had a panic attack, as the next morning I hear my girls telling Karston they found out Honduras is the murder capital of the world, and that a woman is killed every 15 minutes. But because of the promises in Karston’s Patriarcal blessing, and the following scripture, I have been and continue to be at peace with him being in Guatemala and now Honduras for the two years of his mission.

74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemy might serve him without fear,

75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Just because we are doing the right thing does not mean everything will be easy. With 17 days until Karston was to fly to the Guatemala Missionary Training Center, he got sick, to the point that it hurt to swallow anything or have food in his stomach. Again, the Lord provided a way through wonderful people here on earth, for him to get the care he needed and be healed in this short period of time. I took him to the ER where the doctor had a daughter on a mission, and had also served a mission in South America. I was so relieved to have someone that understood our time frame and the challenges he would face getting care on his mission. Also, a wonderful nurse went out of her way to go talk to Dr Hamblin, who happened to be at the hospital doing scopes that day. He came and visited us in the ER, and he put us on his schedule to have a appointment in his office and a scope the next week. From what I understand it usually takes months for this to happen! In the ER the doctor was able to identify a bacteria that spirals into the stomach lining and is very hard to get rid of, which was causing the problems. He put Karston on 5 different medications. During the scope, to the doctor’s surprise, there were multiple ulcers at the opening of his stomach.The doctor let us know he had taken samples of his stomach and would not be able to have the results for 10 days to know if the bacteria was gone. If it was not gone in 10 days, his mission departure date would have to be extended . The 10 days would be only 2 days before he was to fly out. On Sunday, Karston had a Priesthood Blessing where he was promised he would heal. To my amazement I received the call from the doctor’s office 3 days after his procedure! His infection was gone, and he was cleared to go on his mission! The doctor felt confident that the Ulcers were caused by the Bacteria and would heal with the medication he continued to take. 

Heavenly Father does keep promises and answers prayers. Sometimes it takes years of faith, and sometimes it is right away! 

I know if we keep doing our best, listen to the Spirit, and follow Heavenly Father, He will help us through any trial we have. Don’t get discouraged when things don’t work out right away, just keep having faith! Everything we go through will help us grow and become the person we were meant to be. Most importantly, always be grateful and thankful for all our many blessings!

A Full, Steady Stream of Blessings by Jodi Heap

I have been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints my entire life. I grew up in a warm and loving home that encouraged correct gospel principles.  For these two facts, I am eternally grateful (and undeserving).  The gospel has always brought me happiness that I am seldom able to adequately describe, and though I have at times questioned, I have never doubted its verity and truth.  

Certain aspects of the gospel have come more easily- faith in my Savior Jesus Christ, personal prayer, tithing, self-reliance, church attendance, the Word of Wisdom… Others, however, have not come so easily. Despite the best efforts of my mom, an incredibly dedicated seminary teacher (Sister Herring, I will never forget you), and young women leaders, I never dedicated myself to reading the Book of Mormon as a youth.  I knew then, as I know now, that by reading the Book of Mormon I would grow closer to my Savior and be guided to do what was right if I abided by the precepts found within its pages.   I simply never made it a priority.  During my young, single adult years, my efforts at personal scripture study improved but were still spotty.  Later, after marrying and becoming a mother, one would think that reading the Book of Mormon every day while rearing my precious little children would have been made an obvious priority.  Nope, more excuses.  

Fast forward eight years… I can’t tell you exactly what affected the change, but if my commitment to reading the Book of Mormon daily was lukewarm before it is definitely nearing hot now.  I am still far from perfect, sometimes my mind wanders and I have to reread the same chapter, but I do read daily.  This new habit of mine has brought about some changes in my life that are so precious I wouldn’t dare live without them again.  I have been blessed with greater patience (not perfect patience, mind you), within in my home especially, because I feel so much closer to my Savior, Jesus Christ.  What mother couldn’t use a little more patience?  Along with this greater patience, has been clarity of mind to see situations with my children and others from a deeper perspective.  I am able more patiently and quietly assess what and if action needs to be taken.  I have a greater peace about who I am, and about Heavenly Father’s plan for me specifically.  And finally, I feel as if all of these improvements are tied into the final, and most important change since my recommitment to reading the Book of Mormon daily… my ability to feel and recognize the presence and promptings of the Holy Ghost.  I know the Spirit has always been present in my life, but it’s like by reading daily I have opened the valve to full blast, or cleared the traffic jam. Where before there was a trickle of water or a couple cars, there’s a full, steady stream and clear highway full of traffic zooming by.  I have felt promptings so clearly that they’re unmistakably the Holy Ghost leading and guiding me. 

I know the Book of Mormon is true and its promises are sure.  I would challenge anyone who desires to feel closer to the Savior and the Holy Ghost, to read it daily. Don’t make excuses as I did for so long, commit to reading daily and you will see marvelous changes in your life.  They may not come immediately, (obedience before blessings) but they will come, and they will be life changing!

Listen for an Answer by Bob Badger

Prayer is an amazing way of communicating with a loving Heavenly Father. One of the parts of prayer that can be lost is the act of listening. A wise man once told me, “we go to the Lord in prayer to ask out question and then we go to the scriptures to get our answers.” 

The other morning as I was reading in the Book of Mormon, I came across Lehi’s counsel to his two boys Laman and Lemuel in 1^st Nephi 2: 9-10. “9 And when my father saw that the waters of the river emptied into the fountain of the Red Sea, he spake unto Laman, saying: O that thou mightest be like unto this river, continually running into the fountain of all righteousness!

10 And he also spake unto Lemuel: O that thou mightest be like unto this valley, firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord!”

I had been praying to know what the Lord would have me do. Part of my answer is here in this scripture. As I read it this time, I wondered why Nephi and later Moroni would include what seems to be a family problem. Then it dawned on me that I am one of those children as well. That counsel wasn’t just to those two boys, but it was counsel to an old man thousands of years later. To sum up the counsel “just be true and do what the Lord counsels you to do.”

 This morning, Elder D. Todd Christofferson counseled us to be thankful for a pause to go back and study what President Monson has already instructed us to do. Part of that counsel was to spend time in the Book of Mormon. As we search the scriptures and pray, the answers come little by little like a beam of sunshine shining through the storm clouds. He really is there and really does answer prayers.

The Magic of a Primary Program by Suzanne Hancock

On Sunday, our ward had its annual Primary program. As a new Primary president, I experienced this program in a different way than I had in the past. Before, I got to simply sit back and enjoy watching all of the children, as well as my own son. Now, in a new role, I felt stress and anxiousness as the day approached. It soon became apparent to me, however, that I need not worry at all because I truly am not the one in charge.

This is just my opinion, but I believe that the Spirit is the strongest in Sacrament meeting the week that those kids take over the podium. After all, the Lord counsels us multiple times to become as a little child. When I think about that, and when I watched the Primary children on Sunday, it is no wonder we should be more like them. They are humble. They are innocent. Their testimonies shine bright and pure. They sing like their voices are traveling straight to Heaven ... because they are.

Just as the parents' eyes focus on their child when it is their turn to speak their part, smiles and tears abounding, Heavenly Father, too, is focused on each child. He hears them proclaim that they will choose the right, that they will keep the commandments, that they will live Gospel principles, that they will try to live as courageously as the heroes in the Book of Mormon. He hears them, and He smiles.

How we need the examples of these children in our lives! I am so grateful to be able to work with them and to see their Spirits shine. They teach me how I need to live. I want to bottle up all those warm and fuzzy feelings that filled the chapel last week and experience the magic over and over again.

Matthew 18:3-4

And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

The Great Diaper Dilemma by Jana Eisley

There was a time when God helped me change... diapers. It sounds funny, I know, but it's true. 

It was a time in our lives when money was tight, and just when we thought it couldn't get any worse it did. My husband was working tirelessly to keep our struggling business afloat. We had five kids under eight years old, two in diapers and one just potty trained, and I was consumed by the daily challenge of keeping all my children fed, clothed, and happy. 

I was drowning in worries and problems too big for me to solve, but I was tough. I could handle this. Everyone has tough times. We would get through this. All I needed to do was keep on keeping on. Then there came a day when we were trying to decide which bills NOT to pay, and we were faced with the question...food or diapers? I'd hit my limit! It seemed clear what the choice should be, we all have to eat after all, but I couldn't see how to do without diapers. You have to have diapers! You can't just not have diapers! I had been so good at making it work, so good at getting by. I was trying so hard, I was doing all that I could. Didn't God care? What more did He want from me? What more could He ask of me? ... "I WANT YOU TO ASK ME FOR HELP" Here I was, beyond my limit, and now, I was finally broken enough to ask him. "Father, please help!..." I prayed more sincerely than I had in a long time. 

My prayer was answered, but not in a way that I would have expected. Not in the way I would have liked. 

I can't really describe the feelings that I was experiencing after that prayer... I felt calm, I felt reassured that it would all work out, I just knew it would be ok, but most of all I felt like Nephi from the Book of Mormon, I felt, "led by the spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do." 

First there was a strange interest in wool. Yes. The fabric, the yarn, I was fascinated. I was obsessed. I read everything I could find about wool. Who knew that wool had such amazing properties? Then I learned that people were using wool as a cover for cloth diapers. This sparked an idea. I had done research before on cloth diapering, enough to know that I couldn't afford the cost of the set up. I had disregarded the idea as too expensive, but maybe there was another way. 

I took some hoarded cash, I think I literally had $ 7, and headed to our local thrift store. They had an amazing sale on sweaters 4 for $1 or something like that. (I think it must have been the end of sweater season.) So, I gathered up all of the wool sweaters I could find, 4 or 5. I also found that an entire trash bag of old stained and torn t-shirts was just $5, this could be the absorbent lining, so I picked up one of those. As I was checking out I talked to the cashier about it, and told her my plan. She looked at me like I was crazy, but it wasn't the first time I'd come in to buy things with entirely another purpose in mind. They had begun to expect the unexpected from me at the thrift store, and would always ask me what my plan for my purchase was, like buying skirts to make pillows, men's shirts to make little girl dresses, dresses to make aprons, and jeans to make quilts. The cashier told me that they couldn't sell many of the wool items that came in because they couldn't be laundered. She offered to give me those free of charge! I was amazed. So now I had an entire bag of old wool clothing, and along with the bag of t-shirts, I had enough to make a start. 

The small miracles continued as the other things that I needed were conveniently provided for me. Buttons, elastic, thread, from a lady who was cleaning out her sewing room, and even lanolin (which is pretty expensive and required to make the wool waterproof) from a friend who was done having babies... It took some trial and error to get the pattern right,  but in just a few days I had an entire diapering system set up for my little ones for less than $10. 

That day God really did help me. I don't know if everyone would see this as a miracle, but it was to me. I feel like God inspired my curiosity, He led me to the idea, and the materials, He took me by the hand and led me through. This experience gave me hope. It showed me what I can do, and even better, what I can do with God. It taught me that God really does want to help us, but he won't always just deliver a package containing the solution. And, It proved to me that God really can help me change, even if what I need to change is diapers.

The Little Girls who Prayed by Jeanne Greer

Growing up in St. Johns was the best. There was always fun and adventures awaiting to be found. The Community Center/4-H building had just been built, and there were all kinds of fun classes like  sewing, cooking, and beading. I'm sure cow, chicken, sheep, and rabbit classes were going on that I wasn't interested in at that time. 

That winter we'd had a lot of beautiful snow. The snow had melted off the mountains and Lyman Lake had an abundance of water. The water was going over the spillway which had the Little Colorado River running high and swift.

There were some boys that were fixing a fence down on the river, so that the cows wouldn't be able to get in and get hurt. It was cooking class day, and several of us girls were at the Community Center cooking up some delicious stew and biscuits.

Someone came into the building and was telling our teacher that one of the boys that were working on the river couldn't be found. It just happened that this boy's sister was in the class. As girls that age, we were all so worried, and the first thing that came into mind was that we needed to have a prayer and ask Heavenly Father to help him be found safely.

  

In Proverbs 22:6, we read: Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. My parents taught me that in time of need or in gratitude that I could always talk to my Heavenly Father, and he would be there for me.

Matthew, Mark, and Luke in the New Testament say, "Suffer the little children to come unto me.” I know that Heavenly Father listened to our prayers that day as the boy that we were praying for was Tim Raban. I'm sure he never knew that five of us little girls would ever be praying for him that day.

For a Reason by Lesley Nielsen

My first thought about learning that Trek was going to be this year was, Hey maybe they need some help. I had never been on the Trek before, so I figured I could try and be a helper. Boy, was I in for a treat.

I had no idea what I had gotten myself into. Learning what my role was going to be and what I was expected to do, I was feeling a little overwhelmed with all the responsibilities I had to take care of. 

First responsibility I had to make sure I took care of was, how do I make sure Subway is taken care of. Second, how do I make sure that my parents can run it properly. Third, the shock of, "I have to wear dresses?!" Since I don't wear dresses, except on Sundays, have never really been sized to wear one, I was a bit nervous on trying to come up with them. Fourth, walking 4 miles in an hour. I mean I walk around Subway a lot, so I'll be fine right? Yeah right, I about died walking that far that fast.

With all those responsibilities, I didn't know if i could handle it. Well everything worked out perfectly. I had Subway taken care of, showed my parents what to do, got the dresses made and powered through those four miles. I was all set for the best weekend/experience of my life.

Not knowing what to expect with being put into Trek families, I was a bit worried with what would happen and who was going to be in my family. Let's just say each one of those young men and young women who became my "brothers and sisters" were put in my family for a particular reason.

I was so excited to get to know each and every one of those kids and of course our Ma and Pa, Nicole and Shane Johnson. We shared laughs, heartfelt stories, what some of our fears were. Things I probably wouldn't have gotten to know if I wasn't there. They all helped me in such different ways, they have no idea what it meant to me to be their "Big Sis." I don't have little brothers or sisters, so this was the coolest experience, because I felt like a person that these kids could look up to.

With that being said, Trek also had some rough times. One in particular happened quite out of nowhere. Everyone knows the saying, Everything happens for a reason. Well, I'm a firm believer of everything happens for a reason. Here is a small story of why.

While walking with the handcart along with the fam, I started to get really bad muscle cramps in my calves. I told Ma that I'm going to go a little slower to see if I can just stretch them out and get them to cooperate for me. Being the Ma she is, she stayed behind with me to make sure I was okay. The cramps started to subside, so being the stubborn person that I am, I decided to keep on trekking, pun intended, along with everyone.

Not 30 minutes later, I was on the forest floor bawling my eyes out because I was in such pain from my calves. The cramps came back, but this time they disabled me. I couldn't move my feet either way without having my calves seize up and not move. I was hurting, disappointed in myself, and embarrassed, because everyone was making a fuss over me. I'm the type of person that puts others first way before myself, because I'll take care of myself when I can. So the fact that the medical team and the head Trek people were all gathered around trying to help me out, made me feel uncertain about myself. If it wasn't for them though, I wouldn't have gotten through the rest of the night.

This all happened just minutes before it was the Women's pull. I had been looking forward to that all day because I had never experienced it before, so I was ready. I was ready to be a leader and show these girls that they can do hard things. That, unfortunately didn't happen for me. Here is why I believe things happen for a reason. If I were there with the girls, pulling and pushing the handcart, I think I would have either severely hurt myself and/or put myself in a position where I, personally, had to do most of the work. I say that because I don't like others, especially "little sisters" doing things that will hurt them. Why put all of them through this, when it just has to be me. That's just how I am. Why does everyone have to suffer, when just a few are needed.

With me out of the picture, I had to come to the realization that not everything has to be done just by me. That I don't have to put that pressure on just myself anymore. Those girls pulled and pushed that handcart through everything that was in their way and proved to everyone that they didn't need an adult participant helping them, that they can handle anything that comes their way.

Well the cramps finally subsided, and I could walk again, barely, but I pushed through it. When I finally showed up again with my family, I realized then how much I was missed and cared for. In just that short amount of time of walking with my family, they became like my real family.

The rest of Trek flew by. I know it was just a couple of days, but it truly seemed longer than that. Doing so many activities, getting to know our ancestors better, and getting to know our Trek families better, was the best experience I think I have ever had. I have a testimony of this gospel, and I truly believe that everything does happen for a reason. So if you're late, or forgot your keys and have to head back to your desk or even get hurt along the way, it is for a reason. A reason that we may never know at that moment, but in due time it will come to us and we'll realize why these things have happened.

I truly loved Trek even with the bad stuff. Without trials, we can never fully enjoy our blessings. I loved all of the families and helpers who were there. Without all of you being a part of it, it wouldn't have been the success that it was. Thank you for the experience of a lifetime. Can't wait till the next one!