Aloha 7/10/13

Aloha,

This was an interesting week.  We went w/ Sister Rowland on Wednesday the 3rd and visited with Waianae 1st Ward.  We said a goodbye to Sis. Canisbog whom we have visited several times in the past.  She had 9 of her 10 children visiting for a grandchild's graduation.  She is 80 years old and loves going out with her son on his fishing boat.   We also said goodbye to Beauty and found out more about her life.  She was #8 in her family, but the father didn't want her and she went to live as a baby with another family who raised her.   She visited her bio-family when she was 11 years old.   At this time that family grew to 11 w/ her as #8.  There were 3 in the adopted family.  That is one thing that we have noticed... family members are raised by Aunties and Uncles.

This 4th of July was the strangest 4th I can ever remember.  We were invited for dinner w/ the Tongan Branch, but declined!  Instead, we had an  early dinner at the "Outback" and later went to the Stake Center to watch the fireworks, but didn't see any.  I checked several times off our patio, but did not see one firework "blasting in air!"   Oh well, I will be at Lake Tapps next year on the 4th and there will be plenty of fireworks and lots of smoke.

As Matt and Genise's family headed for Lake Tapps, WA, they stopped in Boise to meet his bio-mother, brother and step sister.  The whole family was excited to meet each other.   They visited in the park from 4pm until midnight getting to know one another.  Here is Matt sitting by his brother Shando Gillespie.  A picture of his step-sister Josalyn Wisvary and his mother Debby Michaelson.  He has another half-brother, Jake who lives in OR, but he couldn't come.  I am so excited for Matt.  He has wanted to find and meet his bio family for a long time.  YEAH... happy reunion.

Friday we attended our Tongan Branch for our missionary meeting and then we taught the YM/ YW the "Plan of Salvation."   We talked of God, Our Heavenly Father being the Father of our Spirits and how He loves us.  God's plan is a merciful plan.  Before we came to earth we lived as intelligences and then as spirits of our Heavenly Father.  He gave us the gift of Agency and presented His plan, but Satan rebelled by wanting to redeem all and wanted HF's Honor and Power.  Jesus Christ proclaimed "Thy will be done and the Glory be thine forever."  HF chose Jesus Christ and Satan was cast out with a third of the hosts of heaven.  Jesus Christ is central to the plan.  Under the direction of HF, Jesus Christ created the earth so we could have a place to live and gain experience.  We received a mortal body that was created in HF image.  Adam and Eve became our first parents and partook of the fruit which made them mortal and introduced DEATH and SIN.  This earthly life gives us a chance to live righteous lives because of Jesus Christ's atonement.  He overcame death and sin so we might live the "Plan of Salvation" by 1) having faith in JC,  2) Repenting and asking for forgiveness, 3) being baptized by immersion from one holding the priesthood of God, 4)  receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and 5) enduring to the end.  When we die our spirit will leave our body and return to the Spirit world and be taught.  We will then be called forth depending on our righteousness and be resurrected (become immortal with a glorified body of flesh and bones) and judged and assigned a glory of either 1) Telestial... 2) Terrestrial... or 3) The Celestial Kingdom.  All people will be resurrected and receive an immortal body and live forever, but Eternal Life is a gift of God to those who have obeyed His Gospel to reign in His presence.  We enjoyed this opportunity and then Sis. McGiven talked about the roles of women in the home.

Sunday, we were asked to talk in the Waiane 1st Ward RS on "Missionary Work."  In this last dispensation, Joseph Smith ordained his brother Samuel Smith as the first official missionary.  From his labors, the Book of Mormon reached Brigham Young who was a Prophet from 1844-1877 and Heber C. Kimball an apostle from1835-1868.  Joseph Smith wrote a letter to John Wentworth of the Chicago Democrat that included 1) What Mormons believe about the restoration, 2) The First Vision, 3) The Standard of Truth, and 4) the Articles of Faith.

This is what the Standard of Truth declares:  "The Standard of Truth has been erected... no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clim, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done."

Do we ever have our work set forth.  We now have over 72,000 missionaries serving throughout the world.  The Book of Mormon is translated in 81 languages and missionaries preach in 164 tongues.  There have been over 150 million copies of the Book of Mormon printed.   President Joseph Fielding Smith... the 10th President of the Church stated:  "The day will come when every man shall hear the fullness of the Gospel in his own tongue."

What can we do as members?  We need to invite and open our homes to our friends and associates so the full time missionaries can teach.  President Hinckley said... "We need an infusion of enthusiasm at every level of the church.  We cannot evade it.  We cannot escape it.  We must face up to it.  The opportunities are tremendous.  We are equal to it, and the Lord will bless us as we try."

When a new member comes into the church they need three things... 1)  a friend to help them learn our special terminology, 2)  a calling to help them grow, and 3) to be nourished by the good word or doctrine.

In the World Wide Broadcast on June 23rd we were instructed that missionary work is Salvation in our day.  When we join the church we become His instruments.  The Harvest is in the hands of the Lord and if we are faithful the Lord will not let us fail.

I love missionary work and all it entails.

In our Sacrament meeting, I took a picture of the new Branch Presidency. Pres. Fine is in the middle with Bro. Lau as 1st counselor on the left and his 2nd counselor Bro. Vakauta on his right.

I also took a picture of Bro. Naufahu in our Sunday School class.  I always call him Santa Claus because of his beautiful white beard.

On Sunday as the Horton family continued their trip, they stopped to see my mother who is 93.  It is the first time I have ever noticed how much my mom resembles her mother.  She (Estella Alene Hudson) passed away at age 98.  My mother is the only living child from her family.   I can't wait to see her once again.  They (Hortons') finally arrived at Tapps and my grandchildren are feeding ducks off the dock.

Monday, we did our usual and I had a massage.  Sis. McGiven took me to KoOlina so I could take a dip in the ocean.  I got in about 6:48 and watched a beautiful sunset.  It felt wonderful.

Tuesday, we held our District Meeting in Makakilo and played a different game of jeopardy.  We have two Elders' who leave for home next week... Elder Kim and Orberg.  We sang "Until We Meet Again" and then went into The Family History Center to visit 6 Sisters.  They invited us next week to have waffles w/ them.  What sweethearts! I don't like waffles, but we will go!

I'll close with this scripture from D&C 84:88..... "And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face.  I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."

Mahalo,

Sis. Morris