It's been awhile since we posted. Sorry for the delay, it's been a very busy month!
Happy Sabbath to all,
In ward news, Heidi K was sustained to the fitness committee.
We had 2 (well 3) speakers - read on to have that make sense. Patricia M spoke first. She spoke about Muslims. In 2000, the church spoke highly of Mohammed and said that Muslims had a hard time having a truthful history written about them. In 1978 the church said that God's love was for all mankind.
According to Islam, Mohammed was the last of a long line of prophets. Mohammed means "praise." He was born in Mecca, orphaned as a youth and worked as a herdsman - so he had lots of time to think. He married at age 25, she proposed to him, and they had 4 daughters and 2 sons. At age 40 he said that the angel Gabriel appeared to him and for the next 22 years (610-632 A.D.) Mohammed said that he received revelation from God through Gabriel.
Mohammed preached against idolatry and female infanticide and moved from Mecca to Medina, where he was more accepted. He died at age 62. He had simple tastes and smiled often. He loved children and when he was criticized for kissing his grandson he said, "If you want mercy, you must give mercy." He taught that fasting would bring about the state of humility. Pres. Hinckley taught that we need to be respectful of everyone and don't look for faults. He pointed out that Heavenly Father wants us to be mindful of every people.
Susan P started by reading a poem about the Plan of Salvation by Orson F. Whitney. Susan then pointed out that we were there when the plan was laid out. In order to receive our 2nd estate we need to be obedient to the commandments in this life. We have had a veil placed over our minds and we must walk by faith. We all have challenges, trials and opportunities. As we gain knowledge of the Plan of Salvation, we gain an eternal perspective. Trials and challenges are but for a moment, if we have an eternal perspective. But it is easy to lose our eternal perspective, it is acquired only by faith. A mortal perspective is easy to get, especially during trials. You can begin to wonder, "Does the Lord love me, does He hear me, does He care about me... Why am I being punished?"
Challenges and growth experiences are temporary. They are events in life, not the substance of life. Life can and should be rewarding, challenges are but stepping stones to growth and attainment. Susan then said that all good talks had a great story that is memorable. She said that instead of trying to tell the story, she had asked the person whose story it was to come and tell us the story herself.
Kathy S, a non-LDS, then spoke to us and told us her story. She was kidnapped when she was 12 years old. She was VERY badly beaten, hit, thrown against the wall, strangled and suffocated. She was beyond terrified! All she could think was, "Breathe, breathe!" Then something that she described as a bolt of lightning came and the pain was gone. She felt very peaceful, connected to everyone, pure love, no pain and she heard, "You don't have to breathe, you are okay." She thought she had died and realized that she didn't have to breathe. Then she had a breath and came back to life. She was then knifed in the throat and dropped off in the woods to die. She started walking, but soon gave up and sat down. A voice told her to get up and walk some more. She said that she obviously lived.
Kathy then asked the question, "What is the purpose, what does it matter?" She said that when you die there is no hurt, pain or anything negative - only peace. She was able to forgive the man who did those things to her. She pointed out that we all have lessons to learn. That 100% of us will die, but will we live? We all have a purpose! She ended by telling a story of William Hearst - he wanted a particular piece of art and told his people to find it and he didn't care how much it cost. One of them found it and he was willing to pay any price to own it. He was then told that it was found in his storage bin. Sometimes the things that we are looking for are really in our own storage bin already. Susan wrapped up by saying that we are blessed to know who we are and where we are going.
We had a delicious Bishopric Wives Dinner made by Sis. Moon, followed by a terrific fireside on the temple presented by the Bennetts.
We loved seeing all that were there and missed those who weren't!!!
With much love,
Debbie
