Dede N Mike Wright‎ to Worldwide Fast April 10

8 hrs · 

I have had a friend mock me because they didn’t see an immediate miracle happen after the worldwide fast. I know that our fast was accepted and I know that our prayers are being heard. I know that God will deliver us from this trial when the timing is right. We need to continue to have faith and to continue to pray.

I was pondering today and thought of Daniel in the lions den. God didn’t take Daniel out of the lions den right away did He? No. Why? Daniel was faithful, that’s why he was in the lions den—because he had faith that even if he did pray God would deliver him. Daniel had faith, and faith is supposed to produce results right? So why didn’t God take him out?

Because if God would have just taken Daniel out of the lions den—he wouldn’t have been able to have had the experience of being in the lions den and not being eaten. If God would have taken him out, Daniel would have known that, yes God does deliver us FROM difficulty, but he would not have learned that God also delivers us IN difficulty! Having God deliver us in difficulty requires more faith, more prayer, and more trust.

The loins in that den were ready to kill Daniel but they didn’t because Daniel had faith. In Daniel’s time of need, God sent an angel to hold back the lions—to deliver him IN the trial so he could grow, learn, and become. When morning came and they opened the lions den, there was Daniel with the lions without a scratch on him. Daniel had learned what he needed to from that experience and was then delivered FROM the lions den.

God hasn’t delivered us FROM the pandemic yet but He certainly is delivering us IN this pandemic. So instead of wishing to be out and focusing on the negative—look around and see God’s angels holding back your lions. When the timing is right God will deliver us FROM this, until then let’s remember He is delivering us IN this. ❤️

This is a post on Facebook someone shared, that really speaks to my heart.

Cynthia Jijon Jensen

March 28 at 9:39 AM

Repost: I cannot tell you what a testimony builder this COVID 19 experience has been. Everything our governments are doing is reactive. They are trying to handle the situation as it develops, in varying stages of success.

However, almost everything our church has done has been proactive. Today, the church closed all the temples completely. On the outside, it seemed reactive. However, I see now that the Lord prepared us for this.

Less than one year ago, the church announced that couples no longer have to wait a year to get sealed if they have been married civilly. I just shrugged at the time and thought it was a great policy. However, today I see that the Lord knew the temple closures were coming and He took away the waiting period for couples who had no choice but to get married civilly while the temples were closed.

It solidified my testimony to know that Lord, through our Prophet, is not being reactive. He is being proactive.

*Come Follow Me - giving us time to become familiar with it (even if we are not perfect).

*General Conference - going to be different (even if it wasn't in any way close to our speculations)

*Closing all Temples - but already having a policy in place for couples whose lives are held in limbo!

*Age of witnesses being lowered - baptisms can be witnessed by non-priesthood holders so with 1 priesthood and 2 women, the baptism can still happen.

*Ministering - no longer focusing on visiting people in their homes but, just a general, personal caring connection.

*Online Seminary classes - An amazing tool to have that allow High School kids to continue to learn without having to physically attend class.

*Youth Changes in age - Young Men who were turning 12 this year have already received the priesthood at the beginning of the year instead of after the pandemic (hopefully) ends making them able to pass the sacrament in their homes under the direction of their bishops.

*Also, so grateful for Personal Revelation, Emergency Preparedness and Food Storage always taught by the Church.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING, THE SIGNS ARE EVERYWHERE!!!

"Years ago when Sister Nelson and I had several teenaged daughters, we took our family on a vacation far away from telephones and boyfriends. We went on a raft trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. As we started our journey, we had no idea how dangerous this trip could be.

The first day was beautiful. But on the second day, when we approached Horn Creek rapids and saw that precipitous drop ahead, I was terrified. Floating on a rubber raft, our precious family was about to plunge over a waterfall! Instinctively I put one arm around my wife and the other around our youngest daughter. To protect them, I tried to hold them close to me. But as we reached the precipice, the bended raft became a giant sling and shot me into the air. I landed into the roiling rapids of the river. I had a hard time coming up. Each time I tried to find air, I hit the underside of the raft. My family couldn’t see me, but I could hear them shouting, “Daddy! Where’s Daddy?”

I finally found the side of the raft and rose to the surface. The family pulled my nearly drowned body out of the water. We were thankful to be safely reunited.

The next several days were pleasant and delightful. Then came the last day, when we were to go over Lava Falls, known as the most dangerous drop of the journey. When I saw what was ahead, I immediately asked to beach the raft and hold an emergency family council meeting, knowing that if we were to survive this experience, we needed to plan carefully. I reasoned with our family: “No matter what happens, the rubber raft will remain on top of the water. If we cling with all our might to ropes secured to the raft, we can make it. Even if the raft should capsize, we will be all right if we hang tightly to the ropes.”

I turned to our little seven-year-old daughter and said, “All of the others will cling to a rope. But you will need to hold on to your daddy. Sit behind me. Put your arms around me and hold me tightly while I hold the rope.”

That we did. We crossed those steep, rough rapids—hanging on for dear life—and all of us made it safely.

Brothers and sisters, I nearly lost my life learning a lesson that I now give to you. As we go through life, even through very rough waters, a father’s instinctive impulse to cling tightly to his wife or to his children may not be the best way to accomplish his objective. Instead, if he will lovingly cling to the Savior and the iron rod of the gospel, his family will want to cling to him and to the Savior." -President Nelson 

In this day of social distancing and mandated stay at home, I am amazed at the frantic anxiety around me.  This story puts it into perspective.  We need to hang onto to the Savior and the Gospel to survive.

Rachel Bruce Gil Tyler Jake Kurt

Duane Deven Carter Gil

January 12, 2020
Tyler and Jake (Priest and Deacon) and Carter (Priest) after being ordained with Dads and Grands

I watched a documentary on how Lehi and family may have traveled from Jerusalem to the land  Bountiful where Nephi built a ship.  In it they talk of how Nephi probably had been in training with a metal smith.  How else would he know how to make the plates, how else would he know what kind of ore to use for making tools?It kind of answered some questions I've had over the years.  If Nephi was so young, How did he fit into Laban's clothes and impersonate him (besides the blessing of the Lord so he could accomplish his task) Nephi does say that he was "large in stature" .  So look at Tyler and Carter.  Both are 15 - Jake is 11.  Ty and Jake are both taller than their grandfathers.  Carter is taller than his dad.  Carter is in football and has been trying to bulk up.  Ty plays soccer. Both could very well be like Nephi and do a man's job.  And after the years in the wilderness, making and breaking camps, Tucker could very well be as the man Nephi who built the boat under God's direction.

Christmas tree hunt Nov 2019

Tucker and Sierra March 2019

Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught

“Your lives, your friendships, your marriages, your families, your neighbors and coworkers currently constitute the sample of humanity which God has given you. We are each other’s clinical material, and we make a mistake when we disregard that sober fact. . . . These special moments – one-on-one, in small groups, in corridors, hallways, or wherever – do something so subtle that we are scarcely aware that it is happening. Yet these help to further define our relationships with the Lord and with each other. It is often the one-liners that come from these special moments which have such a long shelf life and which help us long after the dispersal of those friends has occurred.” (“Jesus, the Perfect Mentor,” Ensign, February 2001, p. 8)  

Wednesday Nov 13 2019 Cousin Lunch

We are so thankful for these adorable Eagle High School Cousins.  How fun is it that Kim hosts a lunch every other week so these cousins can have a half hour together.  They make it so fun and are so appreciative for the lunch.  Bonus: lunch with Kim and Deven too.  Funny story: today's lunch was chicken pot pie made by Kim and in the oven under timed bake.  The timer went off, the casserole was bubbly but the top was still light and not brown. I turned the broiler on to brown the top and then turned to quickly do the dishes in the sink.  3 min.  I opened the oven and the top was crispy black burned.  I scraped off the top of the burnt crust and the kids ate it anyway.  Kim was a good sport.  I am grateful that I didn't ruin the whole thing!

November 11, 2019 Veteran's Day Thankfuls

 This cute Bree invited us to Eagle Middle School veterans assembly this morning.  She was performing with the swing dance group.  So Gil and I rode our bikes over for an inspiring assembly. There was a WWII veteran there, which of course reminded us of our veterans.

James C Simpson Navy

Calvin G. Price - Navy

And Peter E. Anderson - Union Civil War.  

I am so grateful for the service men and women who have made it possible to have the liberty and freedom we have now.  We pray for our country and it's leaders and people.  We are grateful for the firemen (Jed) and policemen and other first responders who sacrifice family time and safety, for ours.  Thank you.