Ancient Writings

Was Jesus Married? I don’t know the answer. However, whatever He did was the way it should have been done. If we needed to know the answer, we would already know. I hope that someday I overcome all of my faults, and through repentance, will be worthy enough to be where He is. If that ever happens, I will find the answer to that question. Until that hoped for reunion, I will just try to become what I need to become, and be what He wants me to be. However, as I approach my eighty second birthday I realize how short my time left here is. I am not sure there is enough time left for me to get that done. I am a very slow learner. Therefore, when we get to the other side, please come down and visit me from time to time. Lots of love, Gordon The topic that might be of interest: The entire article that discusses the discovery of a new text fragment can be found at the Smithsonian and the Smithsonian Channel will premiere a special documentary about the discovery on September 30 at 8 p.m. ET. Top religion scholar, Karen King, just unveiled the discovery of a 1600-year-old Coptic text fragment that suggests that at least some early followers of Christ believed he was married. Myrna wrote: I am just fascinated with ancient writings. More so because Joseph Smith put up with so much from his critics and the church has put up with so much through the years. It seems to me that more and more ancient texts are uncovered and none of them are well-preserved as were the plates. Therefore, it is a little joy to me to know that Heavenly Father saved the record of the Nephites to teach us in our day and did it so well that they were not destroyed by time. Even some of the ancient metal plates discovered in other places have been ravaged by time. Ours were on gold for a reason. Isn't it a marvel? In addition, Joseph Smith was assisted so that he gave the proper translation to the ancient text every time. That is even more of a testimony builder to me. Translators work and work to come up with what they think are reasonable translations and they make errors. They do not have heavenly assistance and did Joseph. You are 81 and I am 71. I have the same thoughts about time rushing past and it being my time to go home. I have no need to come "down" to visit you. First of all, you will be in the "land of light" and of peace and joy and second of all, I am concerned about where I might be. As long as it is not "outer darkness," I will be happy. Can you imagine a fate worse?

To Michael

In his letter, Ben said he had seen you. I think that is great--two cousins in the MTC at the same time. 

We would like your box number for the MTC if you would share it. It would be really nice to send a card or do something for you. For example, if you will tell us your size, we could get you a couple of T-shirts and have them delivered to you. That might be faster than having your folks do it. In the OLD days, you could just go to the MTC and drop off whatever you wanted delivered at the front desk. :)

On Tuesday, I found out that I have Type 2 diabetes. That has been a difficult idea to accept. I am on a sugar ban for 10 days. I will take a class in just a few days that will help me know how to live for the rest of my life. I will be allowed "good" carbs and will not be allowed "bad" carbs. I can eat all the veggies I want. There are starchy vegetables that turn into sugar and so they are out. What fun. I am 71-years old. You would think I could have made it just a few more years before this, right? ;)

We had a really good couple of days at the temple on Friday and Saturday. We were as busy as could be. That is always wonderful when so many people come to the temple. We had large sessions as well as lots of weddings and sealings of living families. Many times the temple is crowded all day but the sessions are small because all of the people are just coming to view the weddings. A goodly number of them also want to see the spiral staircase which means they have to be guided in small groups and that takes more of us in order to accomodate. I love the temple. I love working there.

We had another missionary homecoming today. It is different here in our ward with our new bishop. He does not assign a topic but tells the returned missionary to speak about their mission, not in an traveloge style, but in a faith-building manner. This missionary did an excellent job of that. He told us how he had learned to listen to the spirit and used several examples.

One of the nice things about serving in the states was that several of his missionary companions and a convert family were able to be there for his homecoming. The family still lives in Texas but the missionary comps are at BYU.

We had an interesting discussion in Sunday School today. Our instructor, Paul Sutorius, is a retired seminary principal. He was telling us that as we read about Moroni in Alma 46 we should remember that we are being told about a covenant people who are making and keeping sacred covenants. I suppose having been to the same class yourself, you also were given the understanding of the direct association of the Joseph of Egypt story when his brothers, who had sold him, rent his coat. Moroni's rent garment is clearly symbolic of Joseph's coat, which was "rent by his brethren into many pieces" (Alma 46:23).

Bro. Sutorius told us that :"The rent coat or garment was an essential part of Moroni's covenant of liberty. Moroni rent his coat and rallied the people; then the people rent their garments 'in token, or as a covenant, that they would not forsake the Lord their God; or, in other words, if they should transgress the commandments of God, or fall into transgression, and be ashamed to take upon them the name of Christ, the Lord should rend them even as they had rent their garments' (Alma 46:21)."

Many of the wars between peoples through the ages have been, and still are today, over "dirt," he said. So it was in the times of Moroni. In order for the Nephites to take care of their families, and keep the covenants which they had made, they needed dirt. They needed a place of their own to grow crops. Even today, the church will not build a temple or a chapel on leased ground. The church must own the ground the building stands on. Just as the Mormon pioneers located in the West, away from the problems of the East, so they could keep their covenants, so did Moroni recognize the need for his people to have a place of freedom where they owned the dirt.

Bro. Sutorius built a huge flag pole in his front yard. He flys the American flag and a BYU pennant. He played football for BYU.

We will continue to pray for you and ask Heavenly Father to bless you and help you to learn the language easily and well. We do love you!

Grammy and Gramps

To Ben

You didn't say whether or not you had much of a chance to talk to Michael or not. Hopefully, you got to say more than "hi" and "bye." I think that is great--two cousins in the MTC at the same time.

It is great to learn that you "did a lot of studying, and have been eagerly trying to complete a task in Preach My Gospel." It sounds like a good use of time and effort. I think I should try that myself.

Tuesday sounds like it was wonderful for you. Thanks for sharing Elder Neil L. Anderson's nine things that he said President Monson would say if he had been there.

On Tuesday, my day was not so great. I found out that I have Type 2 diabetes. That has been a difficult idea to accept. I am on a sugar ban for 10 days. I will take a class in just a few days that will help me know how to live for the rest of my life. I will be allowed "good" carbs and will not be allowed "bad" carbs. I can eat all the veggies I want. There are starchy vegetables that turn into sugar and so they are out. What fun. I am 71-years old. You would think I could have made it just a few more years before this, right? ;)

We had a really good couple of days at the temple on Friday and Saturday. We were as busy as could be. That is always wonderful when so many people come to the temple. We had large sessions as well as lots of weddings and sealings of living families. Many times the temple is crowded all day but the sessions are small because all of the people are just coming to view the weddings. A goodly number of them also want to see the spiral staircase which means they have to be guided in small groups and that takes more of us in order to accomodate. I love the temple. I love working there.

We had another missionary homecoming today. It is different here in our ward with our new bishop. He does not assign a topic but tells the returned missionary to speak about their mission, not in an traveloge style, but in a faith-building manner. This missionary did an excellent job of that. He told us how he had learned to listen to the spirit and used several examples.

One of the nice things about serving in the states was that several of his missionary companions and a convert family were able to be there for his homecoming. The family still lives in Texas but the missionary comps are at BYU.

We had an interesting discussion in Sunday School today. Our instructor, Paul Sutorius, is a retired seminary principal. He was telling us that as we read about Moroni in Alma 46 we should remember that we are being told about a covenant people who are making and keeping sacred covenants. I suppose having been to the same class yourself, you also were given the understanding of the direct association of the Joseph of Egypt story when his brothers, who had sold him, rent his coat. Moroni's rent garment is clearly symbolic of Joseph's coat, which was "rent by his brethren into many pieces" (Alma 46:23).

Bro. Sutorius told us that :"The rent coat or garment was an essential part of Moroni's covenant of liberty. Moroni rent his coat and rallied the people; then the people rent their garments 'in token, or as a covenant, that they would not forsake the Lord their God; or, in other words, if they should transgress the commandments of God, or fall into transgression, and be ashamed to take upon them the name of Christ, the Lord should rend them even as they had rent their garments' (Alma 46:21)."

Many of the wars between peoples through the ages have been, and still are today, over "dirt," he said. So it was in the times of Moroni. In order for the Nephites to take care of their families, and keep the covenants which they had made, they needed dirt. They needed a place of their own to grow crops. Even today, the church will not build a temple or a chapel on leased ground. The church must own the ground the building stands on. Just as the Mormon pioneers located in the West, away from the problems of the East, so they could keep their covenants, so did Moroni recognize the need for his people to have a place of freedom where they owned the dirt.

Bro. Sutorius built a huge flag pole in his front yard. He flys the American flag and a BYU pennant. He played football for BYU.

We will continue to pray for you and ask Heavenly Father to bless you and help you to learn the language easily and well. We do love you!

Grammy and Gramps
   

Type 2 Diabetic

I wondered why I was not feeling well? As it turns out I have Type 2 Diabetes. I thought I was going to beat the gestational diabetes curse but I didn't. My numbers are good enough that I only need to give up most sugars and starches, exercise and lose 20 pounds and then I will be OK (maybe). 

I am at 6.5 (whatever that means). I am signed up for a class to teach me how to eat.

Reed's Tiger Muskie

Gordon Smith wrote: Todd, Reed and I went fishing at Pineview Reservoir.

Reed caught this Tiger Muskie at Pineview Reservoir Friday August 10, 2012.

The fish is thirty six inches long.  Wow!

We had a lot of fun.  Maybe I will catch one next time.

Todd caught one last year.


Myrna wrote: Congratulations to Reed. What a great fish! I'll bet it put up quite a fight.

Our Week

Today we received a new bishopric. It was sad seeing our former bishopric sit on the stand for the last time. They certainly have been excellent leaders and have been such great men to work with the youth. They have reactivated several families and young men. Those young men are now going on missions. We have five missionaries out now but will have three more going soon. I will not be surprised if Bishop Roy Ward becomes the next stake president. Our new bishop is one of the dentists here in town. His brother and he own the Nephi Dental Clinic. His brother is first counselor in the First Ward. 

We have Caydin and Donovin here with us this week. Erin is going to girl's camp with Megan and AnnMarie. Donovin tells us that he is now going to church in St. George. His best friend is LDS and invited him to go to Scouts with him. He also goes to church with his friend when he is home but is now a registered Scout. He is a good boy. He wants to be a missionary and tells us that he will be baptized when he is 18 and doesn't need his parent's permission. He likes going to church with us and has made friends here.

We are certainly happy that you are being blessed with the gift of tongues. Gramps and I are thankful that you are putting in the needed work in order for the Holy Ghoset to bless you so that you can learn so quickly. I always thought that Spanish was more difficult to learn than French. I would give Spanish a try if I had some time but I really don't need it except to know what Hispanic folks who are shopping in Walmart are actually saying to each other. Maybe they are saying: "I hope that woman does not buy the last yellow shirt because it is the one I wanted."

It is goodnight for this old Grammy. I love you and Gramps and I continue to pray for you and for your success.

Sorry from Myrna

I stayed up late (early?) and went to bed at 4 a.m. because I thought that I was done with the news and could then put it aside and enjoy my family. We have to publish the paper today. Then I was awakened at 7 a.m. when got more deadline stuff that Alan wanted ASAP. Because of that, I ended up not going to my doctor's appointment this a.m. RATS. I have a bladder infection that has been haunting me for the past two weeks. It is not the kind that does more than cause mild discomfort. Dad is angry with me over not taking care of myself and putting the news before my health and is not even speaking at this point. Oh, well. I am tired and think I need a nap. To bed at 4 and up at 7. It doesn't work. Now I am tired and cranky. 

We had the special fast for Eric which we ended with a big and noisy party for Mel. It is so great having the Boltons here. I look forward to it every year. I hate giving up even a single second with them because those in-person seconds are so rare. I feel like I should be a little puppy-dog and just shadow their every move.

I have been feeling a tiny bit grouchy because I am tired but, I suppose, no one could tell because we all stayed up late visiting and no one went to bed. It is likely that we are all tired. We had a good time together. I have such smart and funny people in my family. Megan and Mikaela stayed awake until 2 a.m. because they were so happy to be with each other and we were all happy to have that happen. (I remember being young, really I do, and having fun early in the a.m. Wait, you say that I still do like to be up late/early? Well, I do like it but I don't do as well with it. I seem to wear out much easier than I did way back when.)

The only problem I had Monday was finding a place to do the weekly writing and begrudging the time away from the family. Writing the news from the bedroom late at night is not an option. Dad won't let me work in the bedroom at night because my tapping keeps him awake (REALLY?). For some reason, it keeps me awake also. You would think, however, that it mostly mental on his part because he can't hear anything else. Lights also bother him and, to my way of thinking, I would suppose that the light from the computer screen is really the culprit.

Braden and I ended up being together in the living room together and we ended up having a great visit and I gave up TRYING to work because that is not as much fun as visiting. I can write every week but I can't visit, in person, with my family every week. 

Mel went running at 6 a.m. while I was sort of asleep. Tell me how she finds the energy for that?  I don't think that I had that kind of energy even when I was her age. I really don't remember that I did.

I am going to make another appointment with the Dr because I should not be as tired as I am. (I am just bushed. I am also moody.) I think the bladder infection is wearing me down. Sorry, Kirsten, for being so short with you on the phone. I do love you.

August addendum: Well, when I made it to the Dr. I found out that I am diabetic. He said it was no wonder I was tired and moody. It was also no wonder that I had a bladder infection. That dumb blood sugar. Now I am also tearful, worried and afraid.

I refuse to correct letters to the editor.

I really hate to disappoint you but I have been thinking over what you asked me to do. I appreciate that all writers like to get feedback from other writers. I do not think that I am the person to help you, however. I am really leery of reading and helping with letters-to-the editor.

 

I had a person, whom I thought of as a friendly school-mate of a couple of my children, who made all sorts of trouble for me a year ago. He brought a letter to me to have me correct (grammar and punctuation). I had him sign the copy I then printed off for him signifying that it was his work and not mine. I dated the copy and he turned it in to the newspaper. It was printed in our local paper. He was taken to court for what the authorities thought was the threatening nature of the letter. I was called to court, under oath, to bear witness as to what had happened with that letter. He tried to claim that I had changed the letter after it was printed. I had not, could not and would not. Luckily the jury considered my long newsprint reputation. He was found guilty and served jail time. I became a lot more concerned about what I help others with. The disclaimer that is printed on every opinion page was saving for the newspaper but Allan and I determined that we would not be so helpful in the future. At our local newspaper, we are mostly interested in local issues and are not interested in national issues or topics that the state papers cover.

There are many others in the community who would be willing to assist you with your need for a good critic.  Snow College has many classes of many types that are taught in Nephi via interactive computer instruction at the Juab School District office. Of course, for those there is a fee.

In Provo, there are writer's groups that you could join. I belonged to one such group for awhile and a chapter was even started here. We Juab County members all became too busy and closed the local chapter.

I hope that you understand. 

Jones Family Cookies

• Pudding Chip Cookies‏

Julie and Jim Jones

5/14/12

Ingredients:

4 1/2 C. flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 1/2 C. margarine

1 C. firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 C. granulated sugar

1 pkg. (6 serving size) Jell-O vanilla instant pudding (3/4 Cup)

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

3 eggs

3 cups chocolate chips (1 pkg.)

 

Instructions:

Mix butter, sugars, pudding and vanilla in a bowl.  Add flour and baking powder and then chocolate chips.  Lightly grease cookie sheet.  Bake on cookie sheet at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Holy Ghost: A Bag of Reminders for a Special Child

*Some of these ideas are mine. Some come from others. I am grateful to all who have helped me glean and sift the ideas to make them part of the bag I use for my family.

We have some gifts to give you so that you will be reminded about the Gift you are about to receive.

1. This is a cozy comfy blanket. This will remind you that the Holy Ghost will comfort you and give you strength when you find yourself sad and lonely. He will help you when you miss a loved one. The Holy Ghost will be a shelter in times of dark and stormy weather as long as you choose the right. 

2. We have some lip balm for you. This is to help you remember that the Holy Ghost will speak to you in a still small voice. You may feel it in your heart, hear it in your mind, hear it in your ears, or feel a warm glow inside and, when He speaks, please listen and you will be safe.

3. Next is this hand-washing liquid. If you look closely at the bottle, the label says, “deep cleansing.” The Holy Ghost can help you remain spiritually clean and maintain that deeply clean spirit.  It will remind you to have “clean hands and a pure heart." You must have clean thoughts and actions to feel the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost cannot dwell with unclean things.

4. Here is a bottle of detangler. The Holy Ghost will help you avoid wrong choices and getting tangles in your life. But if you do make mistakes and get your life all tangled up, He will help you repent if you pray and ask for help and follow His promptings. He will help you detangle or untangle your life.

5. Here is a set of earphones. They will remind you to tune-in to what the Holy Ghost has to say to you. The Holy Ghost will help you to always choose the right. He will never persuade you to do anything wrong. If you are confused and if you hear loud and jangling noises and voices, that is Satan. The Holy Ghost is always calm and peaceful.

6. We have a package of erasers. The Holy Ghost can help you repent and erase mistakes. Jesus Christ died for us and made it possible for us to repent. When we repent, we erase our mistakes.

7. Now we have a ruler. It is to remind you that the Holy Ghost is a teacher. The Holy Ghost will help you understand and know the truth as you study the scriptures and learn. If you pray to know the right answer about anything, the Holy Ghost will step in and help you know the truth. That is why Joseph Smith knew that what was true when he had the first vision and when he translated the Book of Mormon.

8. Here is a flashlight. This flashlight will remind you that the Holy Ghost will help light your way and help you walk the righteous path. 

9. This heart will help you remember that the Holy Ghost changes our hearts for the good. You can show Heavenly Father and Jesus that you love them by keeping the commandments.

10. Here is a pack of Snickers. When your friends, classmates or peers snicker at the righteous choices that your are making and are not supporting you, these will remind you NOT to listen to the snickers and listen to the Holy Ghost instead and do what is right.

11. Last, but not least, are these Life Savers. This is to remind you to share the gospel and be a Life Saver to your friends and loved ones.

For boys, I always include a map or a Scout compass.They help us remember that the Holy Ghost shows us the way. He keeps us going the right direction as long as we are worthy.

I hope these gifts will remind you to stay on the righteous path and, if you need any help, don’t ever be afraid to pray in your mind, on your knees or with your head bowed. Remember to follow your parents and listen to what they say. The Holy Ghost teaches us to love our parents and our families.

“The Holy Ghost is the Testifier of Truth, who can teach men things they cannot teach one another.” Gordon B. Hinckley

*****

Ten is the right number of objects to use the time you are allotted but you may substitute and you may also use:

A picture of the Savior. It reminds you that you are following Christ’s example and that you are taking his name upon you.

A tiny bell that rings ever so softly that represents how we must carefully listen to the still small voice.

A candle to remind you that, if you listen to the Holy Ghost, he will light the way and help you choose the right by giving you a warm feeling inside.

Soap to remind you that you must have clean thoughts and actions and that, when you make a mistake after you are baptized, you can repent and heavenly Father will forgive you.

A white washcloth to remind you that, even though all children before the age of eight are not accountable, after you are baptized you are a new and clean member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Fruit to symbolize that the fruit of the spirit is love, joy and peace.

A dove to represent the Holy Ghost.

A sun, even though there is only one, many can feel the warmth.

A seashell to hear the whisperings of the spirit.

Remember that the Holy Ghost:

Comforts and teaches,

Tells us what we should do,

Changes our hearts,

Fills us with hope and love,

Testifies of Jesus Christ.