We had some great inspiration and
out-pouring of the Spirit this past week. We have individuals both members and
“not yet” members, we work with at least weekly. Let us bring you up-to-date on
one or two:
Four months ago the branch
president called a gentle 77 year-old brother to be the Elders Quorum
President. (Branches generally only have one quorum for all of the Melchizedek
priesthood holders) He has only come back into activity about three years ago
after being baptized more than 30 years ago. He and his counselors have
struggled putting the home teaching program together. It doesn’t help that he
has no interest in using the computer. His counselors are not much more
computer literate either. This week while visiting once again with one of the
counselors, Sister Johnson had the impression that I could do, as the Elder’s
quorum secretary, what she has been able to do for the Relief Society. I
received a strong confirmation that she was right. The Elders Quorum President
and the Branch President reinforced our impressions. I have been called to be
the secretary and will work until we leave, helping them with the organization
of Home Teaching, agendas, reports, etc. With the distances, high levels of
inactivity and big financial challenges it is very difficult for some members
to take responsibility to watch over another of their brothers or sisters. I
will do my best. The best part is this; the Elders Quorum presidency had already called an
assistant secretary, the 40ish inactive Priest son of the Branch Clerk. We have
developed an excellent connection with him and he with us. He still has issues
with church attendance but he reads the B of M with us and has a very good
understanding of Gospel principles and doctrine. Unlike the counselors,
however, this brother is extremely well grounded in computer knowledge and
skills. The hope is we will be able to move him into full activity including
priesthood advancement so that he will be qualified to take over as the
secretary when we leave. We see
the hand of the Lord in this series of events.
Dennis Klingman has been
“troubled” recently by the strong impression he needs to get the temple work
done for one of his brothers. Dennis has come back into almost full activity.
He still has some issues he is working on so he wasn’t feeling yet as though he
himself could take the name to the temple. We have worked to establish his
access to the records available on the Internet. Sister Johnson has done the
bulk of the work and has begun to find and piece together his family tree. This
is just a beginning. It is amazing to see the reach of the Spirit. That we
could be a part of missionary work on both sides of the veil at the same time
is just exciting. Dennis expressed his intention to visit with us in Utah this
summer and we included in that visit a request that we visit the temple
together. In the mean time we have asked our oldest son Brad and his son Zach
to get this piece of Dennis’ work completed.
We experienced a great Fast and
Testimony meeting on Sunday with solid testimonies and a very strong Spirit.
Even the kid that normally sits behind us and talks through the whole meeting
was quiet and we assume influenced by the Spirit’s presence. The very most
exciting thing however was the attendance of Bob Peters at that meeting. It is amazing
how close he seems to be baptism but still can’t make that final step. Much
like some young men view marriage we guess!
Living the good, better,
best life,
Elder and Sister Johnson
P.S. Here is picture that serves as a reminder of what Moses said and felt after viewing the works of the Lord, "And it came to pass that it was for the space of many hours before Moses did again receive his natural strength like unto man; and he said unto himself: Now, for this cause I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed."
 |
| In the center of the Trifid Nebula, thanks APOD. The little "pokey" things at the bottom center of the picture are stars being born. They are at the very tips. |
No comments:
Post a Comment