Pontificating and some "Odds and Ends"

 We can’t believe that in just two days it will be May, where does the time go? When we were young it was as though we had “forever” to accomplish our most important goals and desires. The most important ones have been realized…our covenants. As for the rest, the Prophet taught us that not all was to be learned in this life, but that our learning will continue long after we pass through the veil. The most amazing part is what the Spirit has been and is able to teach us while we are immersed in teaching others. Thus we have been given a glimpse of the process and our faith and hope has been increased.

 Learning by the Spirit comes not just through study alone but also by the words of prophets and other inspired men and women. A case in point is our speaker in church yesterday. Br. Biolo, a former member of the stake presidency, while speaking about the importance of the Temple and Temple service he expounded on baptism as an example of covenant making. He compared coming to a marriage covenant as individuals, one party in debt and the other with means. When the marriage is solemnized the party with means absorbs the debt of the other partner. This is an example of what happens in the baptismal covenant. The Savior has, because of His perfect sacrifice, an infinite ability to absorb debt (sin); we on the other hand have nothing to offer except the promise to do everything we can to become a better (repentant) spouse. And unlike some spouses (my words) the Savior’s willingness to forgive is also infinite. This was a perfect time for this talk because of the presence of Bob Peters in the congregation, our forever investigator. We will ask him again on Thursday if he is now ready for baptism.

 We have been truly blessed in our efforts to find and encourage members of the branch to come back and take part in the rich blessings of full fellowship and activity. We have seen the principle of faith work in our behalf and on behalf of those who needed our encouragement. Our testimonies continue to grow and our gratefulness knows no bounds.

Being propelled into an even richer and more rewarding existence,

Elder and Sister Johnson

This week our travels have taken us to some interesting places and sites, here are just three:

This guy would be home on the range if he were not so fenced in. About 20-30 minutes from here, down
in WI, we happened on a ranch that sells buffalo meat. The ranch is in the very small
town of Fence. The only store is called a post so the stores' entire
name is the Fence Post...sorry, but none the less true.

A further sign of Spring, in addition to the mid-seventys temperatures, are the many Robins
that have come to town. Notice this classy nest that is so well decorated
with robin-egg blue ribbon. Do you even think the
builder could distinguish the color?

Every time we pass this store in downtown Iron Mountain, Sister Johnson always comments
on the name of this business. You can tell her instinct is to think
of the city in Utah before the dragon slaying saint.