THE TALK I GAVE IN CHURCH IN FEB. 2008

TONITE CHUCK CALLED AND SINCE ANDRA TOLD HER MOM A STORY I TOLD IN CHURCH I TOLD HIM I'D ADD THIS TALK TO MY BLOG. SO BEAR WITH ME ON THIS ONE.
IN FEB. BRO. VANCE WAS CONDUCTING AND HE CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD THE FIRST SUNDAY AND ASK ME TO PRAY IN CHURCH WHICH I DID. THE NEXT SUNDAY HE TAPPED ME ON THE SHOULDER AND ASK ME TO COME OUT IN THE HALL SO I FOLLOWED HIM OUT. HE DID A LITTLE SMALL TALK THEN SAID WOULD YOU SPEAK NEXT SUNDAY IN CHURCH. HE GAVE ME A SUBJECT THEN CALLED THAT EVENING AND SAID HE CHANGED HIS MIND ABOUT THE SUBJECT SO COULD I USE THE SONG "I STAND ALL AMAZED". THE FOLLOWING IS THE RESULTS OF THAT ASSIGNMENT.


BRO. AND SIS. LAST SUNDAY BRO. VANCE ASK ME TO BE ONE OF THE SPEAKERS TODAY. I WANTED TO SAY NO BUT MY MOTHERS WORDS RANG LOUD AND CLEAR IN MY MIND AND HEART! DON'T EVER TURN DOWN A CALLING IN THE CHURCH." SO IF MY MIXED UP EMOTIONS WILL COOPERATE WITH ME I'LL TRY TO SAY SOME THING THAT MIGHT BE BENEFICIAL TO EACH OF US.
THE SUBJECT OF MY TALK IS FROM ONE OF OUR BEAUTIFUL HYMNS "I STAND ALL AMAZED". BRO VANCE TOLD ME I COULD SING IT IF I WANTED TO. I CAN TELL HE'S NEVER SAT BY ME IN CHURCH!


I AM AMAZED AT ALL THE MANY BLESSINGS POURED OUT ON ME BY A LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER. THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS WE TAKE FOR GRANTED. AS I LOOK AROUND MY HOME AT THE SWITCHES AND BUTTONS AND RUNNING WATER. NO MORE HAULING DRINKING WATER IN A CLEAN TEN GALLON MILK CAN AND NO CARRYING WATER FROM THE CANAL FOR CLEANING AND WASHING ETC.
MY MOTHER WENT FROM SCRUBING CLOTHS ON A WASH BOARD FINELY TO A GAS POWERED WASHER THEN LATER IN LIFE TO AN AUTOMATIC WASHER. CLOTHS WERE HUNG TO DRY ON A CLOTHES LINE OUT IN THE YARD. IN THE WINTER THEY FROZE FIRST AND AS MY MOTHER SAID "CAME BACK IN THE HOUSE STIFF AS A BOARD." YOU BROUGHT THEM IN TO HANG AROUND THE HOUSE TO FINISH DRYING. NOW WE ARE BLESSED WITH CLOTHS DRYERS.
THE OLD MODEL T FORD SAT DURING THE LONG WINTER MONTHS DUE TO POOR ROADS AND SNOW THAT WAS PLENTY HIGH. DAD TOOK US TO SCHOOL AND CHURCH IN A SLEIGH, OR WE WALKED, WHICH HAPPENED OFTEN.

VERY SMALL AIRPLANES BECAME JETS AND ROCKETS. WOOD AND COAL FOR COOKING AND HEATING BECAME ELECTRICITY AND GAS. I FEEL MY MOTHER WORKED MIRACLES WHEN SHE BAKED A BATCH OF BREAD IN THAT OLD WOOD BURNING COOK STOVE. THE BREAD WAS ALWAYS JUST THE RIGHT SHADE OF BROWN AND NO DOUGH INSIDE.
IN TWIN GROVES WHERE I GREW UP OUR ENTIRE CHURCH BUILDING WOULD HAVE FIT INSIDE THIS CHAPEL AND HAD ROOM LEFT OVER. WE DID LEARN EARLY TO BEHAVE AS THOSE HEAVY RED CURTAINS PULLED ON HEAVY DUTY WIRE DIDN'T MAKE FOR QUEIT CLASS ROOMS. OUR PARENTS SAT TOO CLOSE FOR TOO MANY ANTICS FROM THEIR CHILDREN.

I REMEMBER ONLY TWO PHONES IN OUR WARD AND HAVE OFTEN WONDERED WHO
WAS CALLED ON THEM. OUR BISHOP HAD ONE AND MY UNCLE AND AUNT HAD THE OTHER. THOSE PHONES HUNG ON THE WALL AND HAD A HANDLE OR CRANK THAT SUMMONED THE OPERATOR[WHO WAS A REAL PERSON] SHE CONNECTED THE CALL TO WHOM EVER WAS ASKED FOR. NOW WE HAVE CORDLESS PHONES AND CELL PHONES AND VERY LITTLE CONTACT WITH A REAL PERSON IF YOUR TAKING CARE OF IMPORTANT BUSINESS. WE CAN TALK TO PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD WITH VERY LITTLE EFFORT.
MY MOTHERS LETTERS TOOK A WEEK OR MORE TO ARRIVE AT HER FAMILY'S HOME IN SOUTH EAST TEXAS. NOW WE CAN SIT AT THE COMPUTER WRITE AND SEND , AND IT IS THERE INSTANTLY.

THESE ARE A FEW OF THE THINGS I'VE SEEN CHANGE. I TRULY STAND ALL AMAZED AT THE TECHNOLOGY THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE THRU THE INSPIRATION OF A LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER. WE KNOW PRESIDENT HINCKLEY EMBRACED ANYTHING THAT WAS FOR GOOD TO HELP SEND THE GOSPEL AROUND THE WORLD. LAST WEEK WE ENJOYED THE DEDICATION OF THE REXBURG TEMPLE BECAUSE OF THAT TECHNOLOGY. I READ THAT FAMILY HISTORY HAS BEEN MADE EASIER. I WISH I WERE MORE COPUTER LITERATE.

ONE BLESSING I HAVE IS MY SIGHT. I'M ABLE TO READ THE SCRIPTURES AND OTHER GOOD BOOKS. I'M READING DAVID B. HAIGHTS BOOK ' A LIGHT UNTO THE WORLD'. I'D LIKE TO QUOTE FROM HIS BOOK. "PRESIIDENT SPENCER W. KIMBALL READ THE BIBLE AT AGE 14 ALL SIXTY SIX BOOKS AN 1,519 PAGES. HE STATED "IF I CAN DO IT BY A COAL OIL LAMP YOU CAN DO IT WITH ELECTRIC LIGHT."

AS A YOUNG MAN PRES. KIMBALL DIDN'T HAVE A CAR OR BICYCLE, BUT HE HAD 9 COWS TO MILK TWICE A DAY. HE SAID HE THOUGHT IT WAS A WASTE OF TIME SITTING ON A THREE LEGGED STOOL. MAYBE THERE WAS SOME THING ELSE HE COULD DO WHILE MILKING. HE PLACED A COPY OF THE ARTICLES OF FAITH ON THE GROUND WHILE HE MILKED AND WENT THROUGH THEM UNTIL HE HAD MEMORIZED ALL 13. THEN HE DID THE SAME WITH THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. HE ALSO MEMORISED MANY IMPORTANT SCRIPTURES, ALL WHILE MILKING NINE COWS.

BRO. HAIGHT WROTE OF BRO. HOLLAND'S TEACHINGS THAT WHILE STYDYING FOR HIS PHD AT ONE OF OUR EASTERN UNIVERSITY'S HE BECAME WELL ACQUAINTED WITH ONE OF THE LIBRARIANS. ONE DAY HE ASK "ILENE I NEED TO KNOW HOW MANY BOOKS OF MORMON WE HAVE IN THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY THAT CLAIM TO BE DELIVERED BY AN ANGEL.' THE LIBRARIAN GAVE HIM A PECULIAR LOOK AND SAID "I DON'T KNOW OF ANY BOOKS THAT HAVE BEEN DELIVERED BY AN ANGEL SWORDS MAYBE BY CHARIOTS BUT I DON'T KNOW OF ANY BOOKS.
BRO. HOLLAND ASKED HER "JUST CHECK FOR ME WOULD YOU? IT MAY TAKE A LITTLE WHILE BUT I REALLY NEED TO KNOW."
THE LIBRARIAN DUTIFULLY DID SOME CHECKING OF THE NINE MILLION BOOKS IN THE LIBRARY, THEN ONE DAY SHE SAID "MR. HOLLAND I HAVE FOUND ONE BOOK WHICH CLAIMS TO BE DELIVERED BY AN ANGEL." SHE HELD A PAPER BACK BOOK OF MORMON. SHE SAID I'M TOLD YOU CAN GET THEM FOR A DOLLAR."MY GOODNESS" SAID ELDER HOLLAND"AND ANGELS BOOK FOR A DOLLAR. YOU WOULD THINK ANGELS WOULD CHARGE MORE, BUT THEN AGAIN WHERE WOULD THEY SPEND IT? THINK OF IT ONE BOOK DELIVERED BY AN ANGEL WHICH TEACHES OF OUR ETERNAL SALVATION."CLOSE QUOTE.

WE CAN MAKE CORRECT CHOICES AND MAKE CHANGES IN OUR LIVES.

I'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER AND BE THANKFUL FOR YOUR LOVE, SUPPORT AND TENDER MERCIES WHEN I LOST MY ETERNAL COMPANION. I ALSO WANT TO THANK TWO SPECIAL PRIESTHOOD HOLDERS WHO CAME AND GAVE ME BLESSINGS WHEN I NEEDED THEM. I WAS TOLD BY BOTH THAT VERELAN WOULD BE CLOSE WHEN I NEEDED HIM. THAT HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. I DON'T WANT HIM TO LEAVE WHAT EVER MISSION HE HAS BEEN ASSIGNED MORE OFTEN THAN IS NECESSARY. I DO TREASURE THOSE VISITS.
I'D LIKE TO RELATE ONE OF THOSE TIMES THAT IS DEAR TO ME. ON FRIDAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING CLAY AND I LEFT AND FLEW TO N.Y. TO BRING HOME A GRAND DAUGHTER WHO WAS ANXIOUS TO MAKE CHANGES IN HER LIFE. WE LOADED HER THINGS AND DROVE TO KIRTLAND, OHIO THAT NIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING WE GOT UP AND WENT TO THE LDS VISITORS CENTER. IT WAS 9 AM AND IT DIDN'T OPEN TILL 10 SO WE LOOKED AROUND A BIT AND WAITED UNTIL THE MISSIONARIES ARRIVED. THEY TOLD US TO LOOK AROUND WHILE THEY HAD PRAYER MEETING AND GOT THERE ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE DAY. ONE COUPLE INVITED US TO WATCH THE FILM WHICH WE DID. IT TOOK SOME TIME TO GET STARTED AND I WAS GETTING ANXIOUS AS IT WAS GETTING LATER. AS I SAT WATCHING THE FILM I HAD A CALM PEACEFUL FEELING COME OVER ME AND HEARD IN MY MIND AND HEART"ALL WILL BE OK OUR LANIE NEEDS THIS.' THAT CALM ASSURANCE STAYED WITH ME THE REST OF OUR TRIP. WE VISITED CARTHAGE AND NAVOO. TWO VERY SPECIAL PLACES.

MY TALK WAS ALL COMPLETED UNTIL TWO OCLOCK THIS MORNING WHEN I WOKE UP WITH A STRONG FELLING I SHOULD TELL ABOUT MY BROTHER. MAYBE IT IS FOR ME MAYBE FOR SOME ONE OF YOU WHO HAVE LOST SOME ONE DEAR ARE SOME ONE WHO WILL LOSE A LOVED ONE.

MY BROTHER DIED AT AGE 47 HIS OLDEST DAUGHTER HAD MARRIED AND HAD HER FIRST CHILD A NEW BABY GIRL. JAMIE WASN'T ABLE TO GET OVER HER DADS DEATH AND SAID SHE CRIED A LOT. THEN ONE NIGHT MY BROTHER CAME TO HER AND TOLD HER HE WAS TEACHING SIXTY THOUSAND PEOPLE AND SHE NEEDED TO LET HIM GO SO HE COULD DO HIS WORK ON THE OTHER SIDE. JAMIE STILL MISSED HER FATHER BUT WAS CONSOLED BY THIS.

QUITE A NUMBER OF YEARS AFTER OUR MARRIAGE I KNEW I NEEDED TO ATTEND CHURCH AND I WENT TO SUNDAY SCHOOL ENDING UP IN A CLASS TAUGHT BY TWO RETURN MISSIONARIES. I'D GO HOME AND TELL VERELAN HE SHOULD GO WITH ME. I WANTED HIM TO FEEL WHAT I FELT. THAT DIDN'T WORK AND ALL I GOT WAS STOP NAGGING ME. THEN ONE DAY AS I SAT IN SACRAMENT MEETING VERELAN CAME IN AND SAT DOWN BY ME . I WHISPERED TO HIM WE WOULD BE GETTING A NEW BISHOPRIC THAT DAY AS ALL THE STAKE PRESIDENCY WAS THERE. HE ASK IF THEY WEREN'T OTHER THINGS THEY MIGHT BE THERE FOR. THAT NEW BISHOP ALSO NEW TO OUR WARD, BECAME VERY DEAR TO OUR FAMILY.
ONE SUNDAY HE CALLED AND INVITED US TO MEET HIM IN HIS OFFICE. WE WENT AND AFTER GRETTINGS AND SMALL TALK OUR BISHOP JOHN DALLING LOOKED US IN THE EYES AND ASK IF WE KNEW WE WRE JUST THIRTEEN STEPS FROM THE TEMPLE? I KNEW IT WAS CLOSER TO A MILE. WE DID AGREE TO TAKE THOSE THIRTEEN STEPS IN THE TEMPLE PREPERATION CLASSES. BRO JOHNSON WOULD EACH WEEK CHALLENGE US TO DO SOMETHING. VISIT AN ELDERLY PERSON, DON'T GOSSIP, ATTEND ALL CHURCH MEETINGS THEN ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WAS TO PAY AN HONEST TITHING. I WONDERED HOW WE'D DO THAT SINCE WE LIVED FROM PAY DAY TO PAY DAY AND NOTHING LEFT OVER. WE WERE PROMISED THAT IF WE DID THIS WE WOULD BE BLESSED AND OUR MONEY WOULD LAST. A FEW YEARS LATER THAT TEST WAS TRULY PROVEN WHEN WE GOT OUR OLDEST SON READY FOR HIS MISSION . AFTER HIS CLOTHING AND ESSENTIALS HAD BEEN PURCHASED WE HAD NINE DOLLARS LEFT. IT LASTED US AT LEAST TEN DAYS TO THE NEXT PAY DAY AND WE ATE WELL HAD GAS FOR THE CAR AND HAD A FEW PENNIES LEFT AT THE NEXT PAY DAY. I TOLD MY MOTHER ONCE I WOULDN'T NOT DARE PAY TITHING.

MOTHERS AND FATHERS OF THOSE BEAUTIFUL LITLE CHILDREN WHO WOULD RATHER AT THIS HOUR BE HOME IN THEIR BEDS TAKING A NAP, BUT YOU'RE BRINGING THEM AND THEY DO MAKE SOME NOISE. MAY I SAY THOSE NOISES ARE MUSIC TO MY EARS SINCE YOU'RE TEACHING THEM YOUNG WHERE THEY SHOULD BE ON SUNDAY'S. THEY WILL GROW UP AND OTHERS WILL TAKE THEIR PLACE ONE DAY ALL TOO SOON.
LAST FAST SUNDAY IN CHURCH MY ONLY GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER DECIDED TO SING "THE WHEELS ON THE BUS GO ROUND AND ROUND" AND OF COURSE THE ACTIONS WENT WITH IT. THEN SHE SANG "I AM A CHILD OF GOD" THOSE CLOSE AROUND COMMENTED TO THE PARENTS THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE SHE COULD SING SO WELL. WERE THEY UP SET? NO AND I'M SURE THAT LITTLE INTERUPTION WAS OK IN THE EYES OF OUR SAVIOR.
I WILL ALWAYS BE THANKFUL FOR MY SAVIOR'S ATONEMENT FOR ME AND THAT MY SINS ARE FOR GIVEN IF I WORK AT BEING TRUE TO MY TEACHINGS. "OH IT IS WONDERFUL THAT HE SHOULD CARE FOR ME" I SAY THESE THINGS IN THE NAME OF OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST AMEN