Our Inspiration Wall and Our Love Wall

What is it that keeps us getting up in the morning with a good attitude and joy to go forward through thick and thin?

When we first moved into this lovely apartment, we didn't have any pictures on the wall and of course we didn't bring any because all we brought was what we could squeeze into our car.  Therefore, as we receive mail with pictures from our wonderful family we attached them to the wall.  

We had first placed the picture of our Savior there because that is what inspired us to come on this mission.  When we found out that His mission isn't complete until every person who has ever lived on this earth or will live on this earth is saved from their sins,  we wanted to help Him.  That sounds like such an astronomical task for Him to do! So we are here trying our best to help people recognize truth and get baptized so they can have the wonderful gift of the Holy Ghost to help, inspire and direct them; thus helping the Savior with his mission. 

Then of course we obtained a picture of the Prophet, Thomas S. Monson and his counselors for the wall  

OUR INSPIRATION WALL

the rest of the pictures are of our children, their spouses and their grandchildren.  We didn't have a recent family picture to bring so we collect and put up the pictures as they send them to us.

We LOVE our children, their spouses and the grandchildren so very much!

They certainly make life more enjoyable and worth getting up in the morning and 

striving for good things for all of us!

These pictures remind us everyday of what is important to us!

Some good quotes on the wall:  the one above the Savior says,

"The goal of gospel teaching ....is not to pour information into class members.....

The aim is to inspire the individual to think about, feel about, and then do something about living 

Gospel principles"

President Thomas S. Monson

The one next to the bottom states/

"When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following

STOP IT!!!!

Don't judge me because I sin differently than you."

Dieter F. Uchtdorf.

Very bottom states:

President Monson's keys to Abundance in 2013

Have a positive attitude,

Believe in yourself

Face challenges with courage

OUR LOVE WALL

These are pictures, cards and art work that our family members have worked diligently and lovingly to create 

and send to us here in the mission for holidays and birthdays

 and any other time they want to send something that says,

  "We love you and miss you"

What a great feeling it is to feel loved, appreciated and cared for.

We so appreciate all the hard work and effort they have taken to send them to us.

 

We love the song, 

 

"FAMILIES CAN BE TOGETHER FOREVER"

1. I have a fam'ly here on earth.

They are so good to me.

I want to share my life with them through all eternity.

 

2. While I am in my early years,

I'll prepare most carefully,

So I can marry in God's temple for eternity

 

Chorus

Fam'lies can be together forever

Through Heav'nly Father's plan.

I always want to be with my own family,

And the Lord has shown me how I can.

The Lord has shown me how I can.

 

 

If you want to hear it with the music, click here

 

http://www.lds.org/music/library/childrens-songbook/families-can-be-together-forever?lang=eng

 

 

 

Sister Francom: (Grandma)  The Big 70 Birthday,  Flowers from Pres and Sis Shumway

Elder Francom (Grandpa): After a 'birthday dinner out' he is studying the scriptures on his cell phone 

for his 72  Birthday.  He enjoys being able to switch to Hugh Nibley or the lds scripture citation index so easily as he wants more information about the particular scripture he is studying!

AMAZING MISSIONARIES--ELDERS AND SISTERS AND SENIORS

Aren't they clean good looking young men -elders and young women -- sisters?

These missionaries: (always 2 are placed together and they are never to be out of sight of each other)--  learn to get along and help each other and work together;  the come in companions:
2 young men together in an apartment and 2 young women together in their own apartment in another area).

After rising early, showering and eating, they study the scriptures separately for an hour and then together for another hour.  They are required to keep their apartments tidy and clean and to keep on task.  They have their moments of discomfort and distress just as we all do but they learn the best ways to work through them.

Very good training for life ahead for both  marriage and/or career.

The missionaries work hard every day.  They are out and about introducing them selves to all they see and meet and acquaint them with the Book of Mormon as a second witness of Jesus Christ.  It was compiled by Prophets who lived among the people that lived on this continent before and during the time that Jesus lived on the European continent.  Jesus also spent time among them after he was resurrected.  It was delivered by the Angel Moroni to Joseph Smith to be translated by him and published for all to read.

Other times they are teaching lessons about Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost.  For those who are investigating the Church, they teach them about the Doctrine of Jesus Christ and that His Priesthood Authority that was lost on the earth at the death of all the Apostles  has again been restored to the earth through Joseph Smith.  They also talk  about the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints that is to help us all learn the scriptures and how to live them and then to care for and help others.  

When they aren't busy doing that, they are finding ways to help and serve who ever needs help both in and out of the church and with various organizations that need assistance  in the community they are living in.

The young men are expected to go on missions as part of their Priesthood responsibility.  The young women can go if they choose to.  Usually them or their parents/family pay their own expenses for the entire 2 years they are out.

About every 6 weeks the missionaries gather together for Zone (a defined section of the area they are serving in)  meetings where they get instructions by the Mission President and others that will help encourage, strengthen, and increase their knowledge and correct understanding of the scriptures, meaning the Bible and the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. The young elders organize and plan these meeting and conduct them under the direction of the mission president. They also plan what they are going to do in the community and how to use their time wisely.  It is amazing how they can all cooperate together and be supportive of each other.   By the time they leave in two years, they can do these meetings really well.  The spirit of light and truth and love in these meetings is so strong.

After the meetings are over,  they also have some great fun relaxing and having fun together as part of their Zone meetings.  Here after their meetings in the morning, they played games like:
a. human foosball,
b. role playing something fun=skits,
c. playing music/guitars and singing of appropriate music,
d. building and flying paper airplanes,
e. keeping 3 balloons in the air at once--the one that keeps 3 balloons in the air the longest wins.
f.  watching a short movie about how to call a girl for a first date--hilarious! 

Making paper airplanes with a pencil
and then blowing them off a pencil to see how far they would go.

Short film about first time calling and asking a girl for a date.  Takes after Napolean Dynamite.  They loved it










The missionaries spend anywhere from 6 weeks to 3-4 months together and then they get transferred to new companions and learn again to help and enjoy each other.  It is such a wonderful site to see these missionaries at time of transfers when everyone is altogether to change for new companions. During the transition they are so delighted to see old companions for a short period of time and then welcome new companions happily.  Most of them learn how to get along with most everyone by the time the 2 years is up.

These are the missionaries in two zones that were at the meeting.  Just look at those sharp looking young elders and sisters.  Even though we senior missionaries have more aches and pains and don't function at the pace the younger ones do,  we bring some wisdom and lessons learned in life that seem to contribute well.

THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE

PLANS** DOUBT**SLOTHFUL** FAILURE**REGROUP**DETERMINATION
REBUILD**SUCCESS

This is a plan the missionary assistants to the President presented to us in a meeting.  I was impressed and wanted to share it with you.  It seems to fit failure/success in my own life.

THE STORY

D&C 101:44 A certain nobleman had a spot of land, very choice; and he said unto his servants: Go ye unto my vineyard even upon this very choice piece of land, and plant twelve olive trees;                        
45 And set watchman round about them, and build a tower, that one may overlook the land round about, to be a watchman upon the tower, that mine olive trees may not be broken down when the enemy shall come to spoil and take upon themselves the fruit of my vineyard.

46 Now, the servants of the nobleman went and did as their lord commanded them, and planted the olive trees, and built a hedge round about, and set watchmen, and began to build a tower


THE CIRCLE OF--PROJECT/ ASSIGNMENT,  INSTRUCTIONS,  DOUBT,  INACTION,  FAILURE;

More to the story

 47 And while they were yet laying the foundation thereof, they began to say among themselves: And what need hath my lord of this tower?

48 And consulted for a long time, saying among themselves: 

 a.What need hath my lord of this tower, 

 b. seeing this is a time of peace?

49 Might not this money be given to the exchangers? For there is no need of these things.

50 And while they were at variance one with another they became very slothful, and they hearkened not unto the commandments of their lord.

51 And the enemy came by night, and broke down the hedge; and the servants of the nobleman arose and were affrighted, and fled; and the enemy destroyed their works, and broke down the olive trees.

The words in the chart:
l.  "Began to Build a Tower" (v. 46);  2. "What Need Hath My Lord Of This Tower?"(v. 47)

3. "Consulted For A Long Time"(v.48)  4. "This is a Time of Peace" (v. 48)

5. "There is No Need of These Things" (v. 49)  6. "They Became Very Slothful" (v.50)

7. "Enemy Arrives and Destroys (v.51)  8. "When Shall These Things Be?"(v.59)

9. "Go Ye Straightway"(v. 60)

THE REST OF THE STORY

 52 Now, behold, the nobleman, the lord of the vineyard, called upon his servants, and said unto them, Why! what is the cause of this great evil? 53 Ought ye not to have done even as I commanded you, and—after ye had planted the vineyard, and built the hedge round about, and set watchmen upon the walls thereof—built the tower also, and set a watchman upon the tower, and watched for my vineyard, and not have fallen asleep, lest the enemy should come upon you?54 And behold, the watchman upon the tower would have seen the enemy while he was yet afar off; and then ye could have made ready and kept the enemy from breaking down the hedge thereof, and saved my vineyard from the hands of the destroyer.55 And the lord of the vineyard said unto one of his servants: Go and gather together the residue of my servants, and take all the strength of mine house, which are my warriors, my young men, and they that are of middle age also among all my servants, who are the strength of mine house, save those only whom I have appointed to tarry;56 And go ye straightway unto the land of my vineyard, and redeem my vineyard; for it is mine; I have bought it with money. 57 Therefore, get ye straightway unto my land; break down the walls of mine enemies; throw down their tower, and scatter their watchmen. 58 And inasmuch as they gather together against you, avenge  me of mine enemies, that by and by I may come with the residue of mine house and possess the land.59 And the servant said unto his lord: When shall these things be?  60 And he said unto his servant: When I will; go ye straightway, and do all things whatsoever I have commanded you;

PERSONAL APOSTASY

Words in the chart
1.Obedience/Worthiness; 2. Questioning, Reasons/Motives
3. Consistent Time of Internal Rebellion;  4. Decision to Disobey and Justify Actions
5. Creation of "Better Plan";  6. Laziness/Slothfulness
7. Humbling Experiences; 8. Humility, Sorrow, Repentance
9. Prayer. Blessings, Testimony

                THE GREAT APOSTASY AND PERSONAL APOSTASY 
                                                                    COMPARED

The horizontal lines on the personal apostasy chart are short cuts to get back on track;
      l. Prayer, Blessings, Understanding, Testimony (If done at that step will bring us again to
         Humility, Sorrow, and Repentance
     2. Who do you turn to?  (Humble real intent prayer to God our Father will help us out of
          internal Rebellion)
What a simple effective program!


Can I say that LDS Family Services here has the best office manager/secretary in the world.  Here is a picture of Lisa.  She has the best nature, always happy, cheerful and organized and helpful.  Her husband at home has MS and is wheelchair/bed bound with lots of health issues.  She has one older teenage son that is at home to help her with her husband.  Here is a picture of her with Elder Francom.  He is kneeling by the desk so I could get him in at close range. Again can I say, she is always happy, cheerful, calm, assuring or reassuring and always helpful.  What a tremendous person to be around!!

" A POCKETFULL OF SUNSHINE"

This Blog is very fitting as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who has done so much for us

CHARM'S TESTIMONY

Charm ( a nick name)  is from the Philippines 

We met her through the missionaries

We were delighted when she would text us with the message,

"Grandma and Grandpa,  I wish for you a 

Pocket full of Sunshine today!"

 After the baptism Saturday and confirmation of Holy Ghost Sunday while she was at work, she sent us this text:

"I am honored to be one with the Holy Ghost
I believe in Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints like I believe in the Sun rising.  Not because I can see it --but because by it------ I can see ----------------- EVERYTHING!"

and I would add -- MORE CLEARLY!

Isn't that such a wonderful way to share her testimony?

This is Charm with President and Sister Shumway.  She had to be baptised early enough so she could leave and go to work.  This is the uniform she wears to work.
It was very special of Pres and Sister Shumway to come to her baptism especially since their son and his family were leaving that afternoon for Iowa.  They don't often attend a baptism because they are so busy.
We were in their home the week prior to the baptism for home evening where they taught Charm the plan of salvation. Abby their daughter really enjoyed Charm

Left is Elder Snow from Utah and Right is Elder Wilson from Arizona.  These are the missionaries that  taught her the gospel here in Tulsa

 All of us together just prior to the baptism meeting.


 CHARM'S STORY
This is her nickname and it certainly describes her personality

She was raised in the Philippines mostly by a Nanny because her parents worked for some business that  had some connection to the Catholic Church of which they were members. It kept both her mom and dad very busy.  Charm is 21 and her sister is 19  In her younger years she felt she had promptings from the Holy Ghost occasionally and she also had some meaningful dreams.

When Charm was about 13 she went with a friend that was a class mate to her church.  When she walked into the Church house she said,

  "what is this feeling I am feeling here?"   It was warm, peaceful, happy, comfortable and calm.   It was different from any Church she had been in

Shortly after that she and her friend separated into different classes where they didn't see each other so she never could go back to the Church.  In the mean time as she was getting older, she began to study the Bible and to have questions about the teachings of the Catholic Church.  

She would ask her Mother a question and her mother would only comment, 'that is just was how things are".  There was no explanation.  

Charm felt that there had to be some answers so she began going to different Churches to see if they had the answers.  There was either no answer or one that just brought on more questions and a determination to find an answer that would be the truth and satisfy her.

 About that time her friend's schooling brought her back to the same school Charm was in and they were classmates again.  Charm asked if she could go to Church again with her.  By this time the friend had become a better person and was more interested in religion so they went together to her friend's church.

When Charm walked into the Church House with her friend --

THERE IT WAS!! THAT SAME GOOD FEELING SHE HAD BEEN SEARCHING FOR---FOR A LONG TIME!. It felt so good! like she was light as a feather and like she had come home. IT WAS LOVE; IT WAS WARMTH; IT WAS HAPPINESS The feeling was strong and lasted for awhile.

Her friend helped her connect with the missionaries.  She had about 3-4 lessons.  Then  she came to the united States as part of her school training. She is doing training for a year here in the USA  in Hotel, Restaurant management. ( She also has degrees in Civil Engineering and Art but she was told civil engineering wasn't work for girls.)  The Philippine Missionaries helped her contact the online missionaries who continued to teach her the lessons while she was transitioning to here.

After she arrived here, she looked up the Church address where she thought she would be attending and took a cab there only to find it was closed because it was 5pm.. So sad--- So she contacted the online missionaries to help connect her with some missionaries here..

  the online missionaries wrote up a referral and it was given to Elders Snow and Wilson who began teaching her with our help as she couldn't be with them without someone else being present. She began calling us her United States 'Grandparents'.  When the missionaries taught her that we have a living prophet today, she was ecstatic !  After studying the Bible, she couldn't understand why none of the churches had prophets!  She was so happy she practically jumped up and down.

By the time she was baptised, she had worked with seven sets or more of missionaries, all of whom she really enjoyed.  She can't remember their last names so she has nicknamed them Disney characters.  She is such a sweet, unassuming, very polite, sensitive,tender, kind, happy person.  She is so happy since finding the Church she says she has what she terms as the" SMILE SYNDROME".

This missionaries drew this diagram and explained the restored true gospel of Jesus Christ. for her so she could understand

 In the beginning the earth was made and a plan developed by the Gods for Heavenly Father's children (that is all of us who come earth to live)  to come down on earth and have choice so we could learn to become like HIM.  They knew that all of us would make mistakes many times as we were learning good from evil, so right from the beginning, the Savior volunteered to sacrifice his life (the atonement) so we could repent and be forgiven and live with Heavenly Father again. the Savior's incredible atonement will do this for all of us who desire and choose to want the atonement, the Savior and his true doctrine in our lives. The Savior becomes the center of our life.

 "All that is unfair about life can be made right through the atonement."  Sister Burton General Relief Society President

By following this diagrahm above.  We make the Savior the center of our lives by:

1. FAITH.
We acquire faith hearing about the Savior, the Restoration of his true gospel with true authority, Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon.  We can continue to learn by sincere prayers  and reading the Book of Mormon with the other scriptures daily   Each time we keep the commandments our faith increases.

2.REPENTANCE
Follow the steps of repentance--recognize our mistake, apologize and strive to repair the damage. We humbly ask Heavenly Father for forgiveness and help to change our behavior.

3. BAPTISM
When we are baptised, we make a covenant with our Savior and Heavenly Father to do their will which is to always be truthful and love and help each other individually with burdens-.  We become members of his True Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and pay tithing, fast and give donations..  When we make covenants with the Savior he can claim us as his and then can work the power of the atonement in our lives.  When we attend Sacrament meeting with a humble and  repentant attitude and partake of the sacrament we can be forgiven and be clean again.

4. HOLY GHOST
After Baptism, we are confirmed and given the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  That means if we are dong the other 3 steps, having faith, repenting and keeping our baptismal covenant we can have the Holy Ghost as a constant companion.  It will witness truth to us, teach us of things,  recall information, guide us and warn us.  What a great friend to always have!

this circle can be repeated over and over.  there is no limit to what a person can learn and how many times a person can repent and be forgiven.

(this isn't quite how they taught it;  they did much better but this is what I remember)

Charm is so happy, she says she has the**SMILE SYNDROME.**She can't stop smiling! 

SMILE SYNDROME is the name for the  "AWESOMENESS PROGRAM".

These are the levels of her AWESOMENESS PROGRAM
Level 1.  Read and search the scriptures and pray to know the truth about God and his church.
Level 2.  Follow the promptings of the spirit
Level 3.  Find the missionaries and receive the lessons
Level 4.  Get baptised and receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

              She received a strong witness from the Holy Ghost when 
              she was baptised and again when she was confirmed a member of the church
              and given the  HOLY GHOST.

This is the level of where she is now and she is so happy that she just radiates!  

Now her aim is to achieve the rest of the 

AWESOMENESS PLAN as life continues.

Level 5. Temple endowments

Level 6. Mission

Level 7. Temple marriage

Level 8. Children

THANKFULNESS, GRATITUDE AND HAPPINESS

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

We had a wonderful THANKSGIVING at the mission home with Pres and Sis Shumway,  They graciously invited us, Elder and Sister Barker, the fleet and apartment managers and the office sisters, Sister Kohl, office manager; Sister Nurmela, office supplies;  Elder and Sister Leavitt a couple missionary serving in the Pryor ward; an investigator family, father; mother; 2 children; plus their own son from Iowa, his wife and daughter; and their children here with them, Taylor and Abby.  22 of us around the tables; one in the kitchen and one in the dining area.

We all brought food, helped fix it and then Pres. Shumway gathered us in the living room for a spiritual thought.

 He said "I would like to welcome everyone to our home, but it isn't our home.  It is the home of the Savior and his Spirit resides here.   We are blessed and grateful to be able to live in it for 3 years and we are happy to have you  enjoy today with us".  

(He is speaking of the Tulsa Oklahoma Mission Home where they are presently living)

 When he said that, it really gave me a jolt!  Just think of being in the home of the Savior!

The Temple is the Temple;  The Church house is the Church house;  

but to be in the HOME of the Savior?!

He introduced everyone and in doing so brought a happy spirit to the group. Now back to the dinner;

I think these are the verses he quoted.  He only quoted the bold underlined sections of the verses.

I Timothy 4:8 For bodily EXERCISE profitith little: 

*** below is the rest of the verse but he didn't quote it***

--  but Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, 

and of that which is to come.

Ex 12:14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial and

 ye shall keep a FEAST to the Lord throughout your generations; 

ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever.

 *** He only quoted the underlined bold section.***

So he said, Remember,  it is a FEAST so  EAT UP and ENJOY and don't stress over exercise!!  He made comments about how important it is to have family traditions-- several of the food dishes and recipes are those his parents and grandparents had and he is passing them along.

 We love and enjoy his sense of humor.  He then gave us a spiritual thought and a Prayer of Thanksgiving and Blessing on the food.

We had a very enjoyable time with conversation while eating and then gathered in the Living room for some entertainment after we had cleared the tables and all of us helped get the food put away.
 Everyone there has had personal spiritual experiences that have prompted them to give service to Heavenly Father and the Savior in the mission field.  Some of them shared those experiences.
The spirit here in the OTM is incredible!!

Below is President Shumway with two of his sons.  His son on the right was a music major on the violin and was very good even though he hasn't practiced much since being in medical school and he was playing Taylor's violin. the son on the left, Taylor, is also taking violin lessons now But was playing the mandolin then.  President Shumway in the middle is on the guitar.  They all sing parts and sang some really fun songs.  President Shumway has written a song about prophets that they played and sang for us.  It was very good. I hope to get a copy some day!

Below, Taylor is playing a favorite piece on his violin that his mother, Sister Shumway loves and she accompanied him.  She loves her role as the Missionary Mother and she loves to cook for them.  She is usually wearing her white apron due to cooking most of the time.  She has 190 missionaries since starting in the Mission in June/July? of this year and this January they will be getting 40 more so that will bring the total to 230 missionaries.

President and Sister Shumway wanted something fun and safe for their children to be involved in while they were growing up,  so Pres. Shumway who has a background in music and Sister Shumway also decided to have a family band.  They even made CDs and sold them.  It sounds like they had much fun and enjoyment doing the performances.  Below is a picture on a CD they sold

After the day, we all went home with very full happy stomachs and happy hearts with beautiful music replaying in our minds.   It was a special time -- to remember always.  Elder Francom and I are amazed with  all that President and Sister Shumway accomplish with their happy, positive, and encouraging attitudes that are so strengthening and uplifting to all the missionaries.

FRANCOM MEMORIES BELOW

Left to Right;  Granny Francom, Rob, Shannen, Spencer, Sophie, Sasha, Nhaya

Family, do you remember the last Thanksgiving we had at the homestead in Logan? Not everyone was able to come but we enjoyed those who could.(I should have taken this picture earlier when more were still at the table). It was the year before we sold the home in 2005. That home has so many fond memories of family gatherings!

Left to Right Nhaya, Daniel, Kai, Jonathan, Charie, Jared, and Ella

Does anyone remember looking for food to snack on to fix to eat?

David showing his Son Collin where to look while David's wife, Lori, Daniel and a friend look on

Below:  Remember when the cousins put on a fashion show with the play clothes for Granny?  They had so much fun!

and Granny loved it!

Left to Right, Nhaya, Sophi, Grannie, Naomi, and in front Sasha

Boys,  Was that when you boys helped your father put a stairway in the garage? Yes! and it was a very good thing you were there to help!!

 WE love and appreciate each one of you, our sons and daughters and your spouses so very much. We are so pleased with your faith, endurance, growth, development and charity.   Each and everyone of your children --( our grandchildren) are invaluable to us. Along with learning experiences, you all have brought us much joy.  When we are far away we miss, love and appreciate you even more

The family home in Logan, Ut for 36 years

--and of course we can't forget Daniel's happy dog, MOKIE, that we all enjoyed,  even Dad!

Mokie  with Jared and Elizabeth's black dog, Baby

 We are so very grateful to be serving our Heavenly Father and the Savior who prepared this great Family Plan of Salvation for each and all of us that have ever lived or will live on this world.  Not for just here and now, but for eternity and forever as well.  There are so many that don't have this knowledge in their lives about how important the true gospel and family is that we hope we can help to bring this knowledge to as many families here as we possible can.  Please pray for us to have courage to open our mouths and share the gospel of Jesus Christ in such a manner that people we approach and teach will be accepting.

Left to right--the husband behind the wife:  Jonathan, Charie and Kai; David, Lori and  Garrett;  Mark, Laurel and Preston Harris; Rob McGee (Amy's fiancé) and Amy behind Mom and Nhaya; Daniel (not married) behind Dad and Naomi;  Spencer, Shannen and Sasha Williams; Steven and Nan; Jared and Elizabeth;
Front row left to right, Brooke, Bradie, Jessica, Collin, Kumen, Sophie, and Bailey

This is the last family group picture we have had together --

Taken in Driggs, Ida. When Grandmother Stone passed away 2003

Can you believe that -- my how time does fly!!  We need to get another one as we don't have everyone in this one and everyone is almost 10 years older. Maybe when we return from the mission we can get one.


To end this blog,  I will copy the comment made by Aunt Rae's friends who are also on a mission.

"We feel the Lord must have a sense of humor as he sends us senior missionaries out into the big cities to drive and find our way. The GPS is our best new friend."!  from Gary and Joye Neal

WE add our comments:   -- and it takes both of us to watch traffic to keep from being hit or hit someone else!  We give thanks every night that we are still in one piece and safe!  We are so grateful for this scripture D&C 84:88.  We see evidence of it every day.

 "And whoso ^areceiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go^bbefore your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my ^cSpirit shall be in your hearts, and mine ^dangels round about you, to bear you up."

OUR HEARTS ARE FULL WITH THANKFULNESS AND GRATITUDE

CONTINUED SISTER"S MISSION CONFERENCE

THE VALUE OF WOMEN AND SISTERHOOD FIRESIDE

                       

Below, President and Sister Shumway enjoying some peaceful music  with the sisters just before the fireside began

President Shumway stood and welcomed everyone.  His comment is that he loves the Elders but he loves the Sisters more.  Then he proceeded to introduced Sister Shumway.  He began by telling us that several years ago he and Sister Shumway had been struggling over an issue for about 4 years.  They were considering all options, praying, reading scriptures, fasting and also attending the temple.  She would get promptings one way and he would get promptings the other way.  She came to him one day and said,  "Let's fast and pray and go the Temple again.  I am sure we will get the answer this time." While he was setting in the Temple waiting for the session to begin, he said in personal prayer,

  "Heavenly Father,  it doesn't matter to me any more,  Whatever will make her happy and give me peace will be ok with me." and he turned to looked across at her.  He was immediately flooded with a very warm feeling and the message that she was an "elect lady." In the celestial room, there was an aura about her.  He said that she is the perfect example of womanhood. 

(I have noticed when I am around them how solicitous he is of her.  She is usually talking with someone, or one the phone, or talking with one of her two children, or making food.  He always comes around with a smile and goes up to her, touches her shoulder and tells her in a quiet voice what he will be doing. When ever there is a change he goes to her and does the same thing.  She always addresses him as "President",  what about this or that, gets his answer and proceeds as he said.  It is a pleasure to see how respectful, caring, pleasant and happy they are towards each other.  Occasionally She will do little things to tease him which brings a smile to his face.)

 He commented ,

 "Sisters, You can't get to where you are going if you don't know who you are."

Sister Shumway then spoke and said that a month before he was called to be a stake President  both he and Sister Shumway were plagued with Satan working on them with a depressed dark spirit  that was weighing them down.  They felt horrible.  Both of them were praying, reading scriptures and  fasting.  Nothing was helping so they decided to read the scriptures together and it made it worse.  They were feeling like they weren't worthy, like they didn't have a good heart.  She especially felt not good, inadequate and unable--  Like she had so many weakness she could hardly function.  Then they were called in to see Elder Russell M Nelson.  After he discussed with them the new calling, he took Sister Shumway by the hand, pulled her up to standing position, looked her right in the eye and told her she was alright; that she was capable and she would be able to do this just fine.  That dark spirit fled from both of them.  In stead was a peaceful feeling of calm assurance with some feeling of increased responsibility.

 She continued, Sisters,  it is normal and part of life to
have negative thoughts like:
 " I don't feel capable, not good enough or smart enough;
 I don't look or act or say things good enough;
 I don't seem to say or do anything well." --especially
 if I feel someone is critical of me

Or we can get distracted by worldly things and begin to
compare ourselves to someone else which always
leaves us short and feeling not good enough:
We can become very self critical.
                                All these feelings can leave us feeling anxious, frightened and immobile   
   
 BUT, she said:

We need to recognize that it is through negative feelings that Satan can stop any good work--

Filling us with negative thoughts will make us feel so down that we can't even function--

as ourselves, as daughters, sisters, wives, mothers and especially as Sister Missionaries.

These negative feelings leave us confused and dissatisfied with our role as women 

IF we continue to feed it,  we will cease to be effective in our lives and the lives of others.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=6B3J85iEAnc&feature=endscreen

(copy the above address and paste into the url address bar on your computer)  

listen to music that can help you feel peaceful

Sisters, know that you are a daughter of Heavenly Father who loves you and will always love you.  There is nothing you can do that will change that love and he has confidence in you.  He also knows that you have a work to do.
                               KNOWING WHO YOU ARE WILL GIVE YOU POWER.

Because Joseph of Egypt knew who he was, he was able to recognize and avoid Potifer's wife's advances.  Knowing who she was helped Queen Esther be brave enough to ask people to fast for her to have strength to approach the King who then let her people live rather than be killed.  And Peter, knowing who he was,even though he denied the Christ 3 times, had the strength to come back, ask for forgiveness and later except the calling as Apostle because he knew who he was.  Another Man in the scriptures was able to say,  "Lord,  I believe.  Help thou mine unbelief"

In this world, it is normal to feel worried and inadequate or feel confusion and dissatisfaction with our role as women. Recognize those negative feelings for what they are and tell Heavenly Father in prayer,  "I don't feel good enough.  Please help me."

Always remember that when you don't feel like Heavenly Father or the Savior is there,  They are still there and always will be.  If you feel yourself further away from them,  guess who moved.  There is always hope,  we can change --repent-- ask for forgiveness and reconnect.

 We are taught that we can become Gods and Goddesses.  Eliza R. Snow stated that "women should be women and not babies. If you know who you are, you can become what you are to become."

Faith without works is dead.  We need to pray, study the scriptures -- mark them to help us, and give service to others.  These will help keep us from being subject to negative thoughts and feelings.

Below, Elders Davis and Treasure, the assistants to the President
I was very impressed with their ability to recognize something that needed to be done for the Sisters and doing it before they were asked/told to do it. These young men are wonderful and so much  help to the President all the time and especially for this "Sister's Conference". When they aren't helping the President or with something like this, they are traveling the mission helping all the elders and sisters in the mission. Since our mission covers parts of 4 states it takes lots of travel time. They are very busy. This picture was taken at a mission wide conference. All the missionaries were so happy to see former companions that everyone was hugging everyone. It was a happy time.

Pres. Shumway Then spoke.   He said;  Too many countries in the world are still treating their women unimportant, inferior, unappreciated, uneducated, undervalued,  irrelevant and denigrated.  In the USA there is a barrage on women to make them feel inferior.  

 He thinks the Lord is "sparing his vineyard a little longer" (Jacob 5:51) so  women can have joy in being women and be treated and honored the way women were made to be and then the "Lord can rejoice exceedingly".  (Jacob 5:60)

He is impressed to emphasize reading of the Book Of Mormon.  It is very important in the conversion process -- especially to women and the significance of righteous women.  He then spoke of Mormon who abridged the Book of Mormon and protectively carried around heavy metal plates for years, in wartime years, until he knew the end for him was near.  He then turned the plates over to his son Moroni who also carried them around.

 President Shumway continued by telling us that when he was studying diligently to teach about the Book of Mormon in seminary his first teaching year,  he received a special witness about Mormon and the good man that he was.

 Mormon  loved his son, Moroni, and had tried diligently all his life to help and teach everyone, including Moroni to have faith in God, our Heavenly Father, and his son Jesus Christ and live according to truth, love, harmony,and light--no deception.  He was a good man striving to help everyone even though everyone was fighting all the time. His goal was to help bring about peace. But they kept fighting until almost everyone was dead.

He said the Book of Mormon will teach us many great things and help stabilize our lives with a peaceful feeling if we will read it.

 Then President Shumway described the depth of sorrow Mormon's  son, Moroni, felt when he found his Dad's body laying on the battle field with thousands of others.  Moroni grieved deeply at the death of this great man, his father, who had striven diligently, since he was 10 years old and was asked to be the leader of the army, to get people to stop, think, recognize truth and live according to it-- To be kind and helpful to each other instead of fighting all of the time.  They just wouldn't do that so he ended up teaching them how to fight well to win the battles. However, instead of winning, they all eventually killed each other off.  Mormon saw so much awful depravity from war and fighting that he couldn't even write about it.

President Shumway said that we women have a very important role in bringing peace, happiness and love into our lives and the lives of others.  He ended with saying that he respects a righteous woman so much that he feels intimidated trying to think of something to teach righteous women that they don't already know.  He has a very big soft spot in his heart for his daughter and his daughters in law.  He loves them as if they all were his own.

   Sisters (married or single), eternal life as families is what everything is all about.  Sisters are very important in sharing the gospel so everyone will have this opportunity sooner than later