Saturday, December 3, 2016

Strange Events at Payson, Utah

Maison, our grand daughter was to receive her endowment today in the Payson Utah Temple at 11:30 this morning.  I had to get my temple clothes ready.  I left them in Manti, and Thursday were on the 10:30 session.  I brought my temple suit case home so we would have them for today. 

We left this morning a little after nine.  The roads were dry and traveling went well.  A little after we had past Nephi I fell to sleep which is not unusual for me.  I get sleepy in the car, that is why she does 95% of the driving.

When I woke up we were way past Payson and Nearly to Linden.  "Carol, where are we going?"  She quickly replied,  "were going to the Draper Temple,"  I told her to turn around and go back to Payson.  She made call Jeanne,  Maison's mother to confirm Payson as our destination.  No one answered.  I called several more time with no answer.  I called both phone numbers for Robert.  The first was disconnected and I left a message at the other one.  Finally I called Holden, our grandson.  He answered.  He was at the Payson temple, had not entered into it.  We were there in plenty of time.

We parked and then walked into the temple.  After showing our recommends, Carol went to the left and I went to the right into the men's.  I was assigned a locker where I changed into my white clothes.  I reached into my bag to get my robes and they were not there.  I needed the robes to participate in the endowment. 

I didn't have them.  What am I going to do?  I may have to wait in the foyer until the session was over.  Or I might go on the session as an observer.  I mentioned my problem to a worker in the locker room. He left for a minute and came back with small not giving me permission to get the needed temple clothing from the laundry room in the basement of the temple.  He led me there, I got the robes and waited for the elevator door to open.  It opened and Carol was in the elevator.  That surprised me.  We rode the elevator up to the chapel were we waited for the session to start.

After the session we visited with family on the Celestial floor for a short period of time and then drove to Manti where we filled our temple assignment there.  After our shift, we came home getting there a little after 9:30.

It has been quite a day.

Friday, December 2, 2016

Choice Land

There are many scriptures concerning the Americas as being a choice land above all other lands.  Most appertain to keeping the commandment.

1.  Nephi states, "...land which is choice above all other lands     1 Nephi 2:20

2.  Nephi sees in vision, "...Gentiles who have gone forth out of captivity, and have been lifted up by the power of God above all other nations, upon the face of the land which is choice above all other lands..."  1 Nephi 13:30

3.  Lehi prophesies,  "...notwithstanding our afflictions, we have obtained a land of promise, a land which is choice above all other lands; ..." 2 Nephi 1:5

4.  And behold this last, whose branch hath withered away, I did plant in a good spot of ground; yea, even that which was choice unto me above all other parts of the land of my vineyard.  Jacob 5:43

5.  The brother of Jarad inquired of the Lord whether, where shall we go and how will we get to. "...a land which is choice above all the earth?"  Ether 1:38 

6.  After the Brother of Jarad  gathered the flocks, the Lord said, "...   I will go before thee into a land which is choice above all the lands of the earth.  Ether 1:42

7.  The Lord speaks to the Brother of Jarad,  Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity..."  Ether 2:1

8.  The Lord instructed them that they should not stop but continue to the land"... choice above all other lands,"  Ether 2:7

9.  He continues,  "...this is a land which is choice above all other lands; wherefore he that doth possess it shall serve God or shall be swept off;..." Ether 2:10

10.  "And the brother of Jared repented of the evil which he had done..."   They are forgiven of their sins and.    "... if ye will sin until ye are fully ripe ye shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord...for [this land] shall be a land choice above all other lands.  Ether 2:15

11.  Moroni comments, "... the Lord did pour out his blessings upon this land, which was choice above all other lands;..."  Ether 9:20

This brings up a number of questions. 
  • What makes this land a choice land?
  • Why is this land a choice land?
  • Is it because of the many natural resources?   Timber, fertile soil, oil, gold, copper, etc.
  • Is it because we have freedom?
  • Is it because the restoration of the gospel took place on this land?
  • Is it because there are so many beautiful places in this land?
There are other countries that have timber, fertile soil, oil, gold, copper, etc

"Our earliest American fathers came here with a common objective–freedom of worship and liberty of conscience. Familiar with the sacred scriptures, they believed that liberty is a gift of heaven...."  Ezra Taft Benson. General Conference Talk – April 1962. America, a Choice Land.

Comments and suggestions are WELCOMED