Gethsemane, Jesus Loves Me (Us)

This last month has been awesome, culminated by an incredible Easter Sunday.  On Sunday, we had perhaps the most spiritual sacrament meeting ever as we celebrated Easter by a performance by our ward choir.  Debbie then taught our Sunday School Class about the atonement of Jesus Christ in an inspiring way.  Finally we had a Family Home Evening with our family members, which included our Easter Dinner.  In each of these three memorable experiences, we heard the song "Gethsemane", which includes the phrase "Jesus Loves Me".  I testify that he does love each and every one of us. The Spirit bore this testimony to me over and over on Easter Sunday.

This Gethsemane video was shown as part of Debbie's Sunday School class and as part of our Family Home Evening.  The song was also sung beautifully by a young girl in our Easter Sacrament Meeting program.

We have felt the love of our Savior in so many ways over the past month.  Last year we scheduled a trip to Israel for this week.  In fact, as I write this (April 23) we are in the airport waiting to board our plane.  This is a 10 day tour, which includes the passover week in Israel.  We are leaving two days after our amazing Easter Sunday.  As things occurred, we found many activities scheduled for this previous week, which complicated our schedule.  However, each of them were the right things to do.  We were only able to get through all of them with the Grace of our Savior Jesus Christ.  Each step of the way, we saw his hand in strengthening us and preparing the way.  As we look for His hand, we see it everywhere.  For this we are truly grateful.  

Easter Sunday

I think the reason that Easter Sunday was so special, was because we have been studying the life of our Savior earnestly this year in Come Follow Me.  Add to that, our efforts to prepare for our trip to Israel have made the events more meaningful.  This last week, we not only studied our Come Follow Me lesson on the resurrection, but we alsoread and pondered the events of the last week of the Savior's life from the four gospels.  We supported our study of the Savior by reading Jesus the Christ, by James Talmage.

With all of these things in my mind and my heart, I was overwhelmed by an amazing program performed by our Choir on Sunday.  The narration of the program was perfect and inspiring, including repeating many of the words of the songs that would be sung.  Generally, I have difficulty understanding words in songs, which hurts by ability to feel the power of music.  This narrative helped me to concentrate on those inspiring words, accompanied by heavenly voices.  Some of the inspired words included:

• I am going away, if you love me, please hear what I say, Feed My Sheep, Feed My Sheep. Every man is your brother, love and teach one another, Feed My Sheep, Feed My Sheep.
• The hardest thing that ever was done, the greatest pain that ever was known, the biggest battle that ever was won, this was done by Jesus! The fight was won by Jesus,  Gethsemane, Jesus Loves Me, so He gave his gift to me in Gethsemane.
• O Savior what are these tears that I see in thine eyes? Are they the terms that were sehed for me in the place called Gethsemane? . . . O Savior, did I take part in the tears that broke thine heart?
• Oh Lord, my Redeemer, thou has done so much for me! Oh Lord, my Redeemer, All my love I give to Thee.  For they nailed him to a tree on a hill called Calvary.  While i stood there filled with wonder, the heavens roared with Thunder and again I hear this plea.
• Love's redeeming work is done, Fought the fight, the victory won.  Jesus's agony is o'er, Darkness veils the earth no more.  Alleluia!

As I listened to this program, with the narration, choir and special numbers, I was overcome with love for my Savior.  Tears streamed down my face continually.  My mind went to the learnings of the past months and the feelings that I have experienced.  My joy increased with the anticipation to be in Israel in just a few days, walking where my Savior walked.  When the program was over, I felt like I had been in Heaven, in the presence of our Savior.

The sacrament meeting included a sacrament song, that I had not heard before, "O Savior, Thou Who Wearest a Crown", #197.  I have developed a habit of rereading the words of the sacrament hymn during the sacrament.  What power was in these words as they expressed the many sacrifices and tribulation that the Savior experienced in that last week of his life.  My thoughts went to the first talk given by Elder Neal A. Maxwell as an Apostle, when he taught us that all sorrows or challenges that we could ever experience have already been experienced by our Savior.  This song exemplified this thought so well.  Finally, we completed the sacrament meeting by singing Jesus Once of Humble Birth, a perfect summary of the entire  program.

I have experienced many good sacrament meeting programs, but this may have been the best ever.

Program of our Easter Presentation

We followed the sacrament meeting with Sunday School, which was facilitated by Debbie. We had worked together on a Power Point, since the class was held in the chapel and we chose to project it on the screen in the chapel.  This included a couple of videos. One was a video showing the effects of a fund raising concert put on by Handel in 1741.  He performed the Messiah and gave all proceeds to pay the debts of those in Debtors Prison, allowing 152 people to go free.  The video portrayed this amazing experience, showing the joy in the individuals and their families as they were set free.  The video began with a short statement by President Russell M. Nelson who stated "Our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, came to pay a debt He didn't owe because we owed a debt we couldn't pay." The other video was the presentation of the Gethsemane song which was sung in Sacrament meeting.

The focus of the lesson was supplemented by the talk by Elder Tad R. Callister in the recent General Conference on the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  This was an amazing talk.  The following are quotes from his talk that Debbie used to finish her lesson.

Because the Savior performed His Atonement, there is noexternal force or eventor person—no sin or deathor divorce—that can prevent us from achieving exaltation, provided we keep God’s commandments. With that knowledge, we can press forward with good cheer and absolute assurance that God is with us in this heavenly quest.

I bear my witness that the Savior’s Atonement is not only infinite in scope but also individual in reach—that it can not only return us to God’s presence but also enable us to become like Him the crowning goal of Christ’s Atonement.

The day was also supplemented by wonderful family experiences.  I was able to take Ben to his Church meetings once more. Since he began going to Church in January, he has had nearly every Sunday off of work.  This is not coincidental, it is the tender mercies of our Savior.  On this day, Ben wanted to dress more appropriately so that he could look good for God on Easter.  I gave him one of my white shirts.  It was a joy to watch him enter into his Church meetinghouse in a white shirt.   This was before I went to our Church meetings.

In the evening we held our Family Home Evening and Easter Dinner with our children and grandchildren.  Some had other commitments, but we were able to have representation from 11 of our children and their children.  Our plan was to have a nice dinner and to also present the blessings of the resurrection to our grandchildren and allow the adults to participate also.  Debbie crocheted little Easter baskets for each of the grandchildren.  Each basket had a plastic egg, with nothing in it except the words "He is not here, He is risen".  That led to our presentation on the atonement and resurrection, culminating in the playing of the "Gethsemane" video once again.  We also showed photos of many of the relatives that have passed away that our children or grandchildren had known with the caption, "Because of Jesus, they will live again".

Debbie sharing the baskets and the empty egg with the grandchildren 

Watching the end of "Gethsemane"

We felt like it was a great family gathering.  Sam planned on bringing Camila with him.  We were surprised when he also brought Abraham and two of his kids.  We have not had Abraham in a family gathering for many, many years.

Later in the gathering, with Camila and Abe

Tables decorated with Easter Lilies made by Debbie

Easter baskets made by Debbie for us, including my mother who gave us chocolate oranges

General Conference (April 6-7)

No photos, but we sure loved General Conference.  Each talk is so inspiring.  We loved the continual references and emphasis to the inspired Come Follow Me curriculum and the need to have a Gospel Centered Home.  All the talks were great, but it is especially inspiring to hear our prophet speak, as a prophet.  This conference he focused primarily on repentance.  In priesthood conference he called men to repentance for spending too much time with sports instead of honoring and supporting their wives.  On Sunday he made it so clear that we can only receive exaltation with our families by participating in all gospel ordinances in the temple.  After listening to Brother Callister on the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we listened to President Nelson talking about eternal families and his tender description of the recent passing of one of his daughters.  After the completion of these talks, I experienced a very strong spiritual witnesses.  This was similar to that which I had experienced the previous year when President Nelson  gave his talk on revelation.  He clearly told us that we must hurry for there is not much time left to repent and prepare ourselves.  I testify that we are led by a prophet of God!

Temple and Family History Work

We continue to be blessed as we participate in temple and family history work.  There are so many people helping us in this great work for our ancestors.  Some of the experiences of this past month include:

• Another temple sealing session with Debbie's siblings.  A few couldn't make it but we had nephews and their wives instead, which was also enjoyable.  We love this work.  On April 13 we were able to seal 16 more couples and 28 children to these couples.  This is possible because of the efforts of so many, from each of our families.  We have chosen to continue these sealing sessions each quarter, which gives us incentives to continue doing the other ordinances in between sessions. 

Names of individuals who received the sealing ordinances on April 13, 2019

• As we continue to do more family research, we keep finding more individuals who need temple ordinances performed.  On April 19, we had four of our grandchildren participate as we did 50 more baptisms and confirmations for our family members.  Eight of these were names that our grandson, Joseph, had identified in his own Family History efforts.  That night at our Cousins Hang Out, Joseph told us that the baptisms were the best part of his day.  As we were in the temple, I certainly felt the power for good that this is for our grandchildren as they participate in these sacred ordinances.

Katelyn, McKenzie, Joseph and Joshua after completing 50 baptisms and confirmations

• The involvement of many others in these temple ordinances is gratifying.  Our friend, Gail Atkinson, continues to request many more family names to perform ordinances by the residents of the Legacy Retirement Home.  Besides the sealings that we are able to perform, we sent another 60 sealings to Gail for those in Legacy Retirement Home to perform.  Daily I receive notifications of temple ordinances being performed by these dedicated saints.  Gail also has friends in Meridian, Idaho who have been performing temple ordinances for our ancestors.  This couple serve as temple workers in the Meridian Temple.  In addition to the many endowments that they are performing, we just sent them over 70 sealing ordinances to perform.
• This past week a couple in our ward returned 50 of our family names for which they had done baptisms with their grandchildren.  On the day before Easter, my brother Jim and his wife and another couple wanted to do initiatory work and were able to perform these ordinances for 20 of these individuals.
• This work goes on daily in temples throughout the world for our dear ancestors and relatives.  Sometimes we see them as we serve as ordinance workers.  Debbie had a spiritual experience one day when she had an initiatory patron from the Legacy Retirement Home.  I will share this in her words from her journal:  "I was in booth 6 of the initiatory when a sister that I recognized came in as a patron.  This particular Sister is from Legacy Retirement and is German and wants to do German names. I soon discovered that she was being proxy for some of our ancestors.  I was able to administer the initiatory ordinances to a few of our ancestors.  Tears came to my eyes as I pronounced blessings that my ancestors can receive through their faithfulness.  The Spirit of the Lord was strong and I felt a flood of love come over me.  It was no coincidence that I was in booth 6 when this sweet German sister came into my booth with my family names.  I love God's love and tender mercies that I experience in my life."

Self-Reliance groups

We were also able to complete a two of our self-reliance groups in the days before our Israel trip.  On Friday, April 19, we completed our 12 week Personal Finance course with ward members.  We have held this each Friday at 12:30 pm in our home.  As before, we have made meaningful friendships with these dear neighbors.  They are organizing a service project to help a few other ward members when we return from our trip.  Besides spiritual self-reliance and friendship, the entire group made progress in their finances.  We know that these principles and materials are inspired and are for EVERYONE.

Our Personal Finance self-reliance group

Yesterday, April 22, we completed the 12 week self-reliance groups with the young Church Service Missionaries at Welfare Square.  We have been facilitating these groups each Monday morning at 8:15 am as part of their one hour devotional.  Many of these missionaries have special needs that do not allow them to complete a 24 month proselyting mission.  However, they are special children of our Heavenly Father and they are providing a great service to the Lord.  We are gratified and uplifted as we serve with them each week.

We have gone through the 12 My Foundation lessons with them.  This is the third time we have gone through this cycle with Welfare Square missionaries.  Each time there are new participants and others have finished their missions.  We will probably do this again in the fall of the year.

Debbie's Self-Reliance group

Tom's Self-Reliance Group

The entire group with their graduation certificates on April 22, including Elder and Sister Miller who lead these fine young men and women.

Additional Family Activities

March 24 Family Gathering

A month ago we had a family gathering which was dedicated to hanging out, rather than having a lesson.  Since it was on March 24, the birthdate of Debbie's father, she decorated in honor of her father. He would have been 98 years old if he was still alive.

We were delighted to see our children enjoy time together, visiting and playing games.  Many commented that they wanted to do more of this in our planned family reunion at the end of July.

Playing games together

Celebrating the monthly birthdays, Gina blowing out the candles

An unexpected great grandchild

On March 23, we received a phone call from our Grandson Braden.  He told us that he and his girlfriend, Ann Keller, had just had a baby.  We didn't even know they were pregnant!  They claim that they didn't know either until the water had broke the day earlier.  

So with no time to ponder this big step in our lives, we went and visited our new little great granddaughter, Marceline Blake Mills

Debbie with new papa Braden and little Marceline

Great Grandma Debbie with Marceline

Great Grandpa Tom with Marceline

A little later we went and visited them and got an updated family photo:

Braden, Ann and Marceline

Second Grade Job Fair

A few days earlier, I (Tom) was able to attend a Job Fair for our grandson, Ashton.  He had a display of his chosen profession of electrician, following in the footsteps of his father.  This was a very impressive display of career choice by all of the second graders.  A few photos follow:

Ashton and his Electrician company 

Explaining his service to others

Ashton (top left) with part of the presentation of all the second graders on their jobs

Teenager Cousin Hang Out

On April 19, we had our Teenager Cousin Hang Out (CHO).  Five of our teenagers were able to participate.  Each CHO has gone a little bit differently, but they have all worked out very well.  In this Hang Out, rather than playing games, they wanted to do Karaoke, which went very well.  The important thing is that they get to know each other better.  In our recent Easter gathering, we were delighted to see our  cousins from last month's CHO renewing the friendships they had made at that time.

The CHO always starts with dinner.  Here is Caide, Great Grandma, Joseph, Grandma, Nikki, Katelyn and Naliyan

We then get to know each other better as we complete and share our Getting to Know You questions

Our major activity was Karaoke.  Caide led the way with his enthusiasm.

More Karaoke and more Caide

We always finish with  Banana Splits

Zoo Day with Camila and her kids

We had wanted to take Camila to the Zoo and her kids wanted to participate.  Finally on Easter week, they were all off of school on Spring Break, so we took advantage of the first day with good weather.  On Thursday, April 18 we had a fun day together.  The kids all wanted to push their mom in the wheel chair and take care of her.  What a beautiful day, both in weather and in seeing the love of these children for their disabled mother.

Family photo on the rhino statue

Family photo on the bear Statue

Watching the bear watching back

Cartwheels along the way, Caide and Isake on his hands

Caide and Cherish in the middle of their cartwheels

Enjoying lunch together as a family afterwards

 Other Family Activities

We were able to enjoy dinner with our adult children for their birthdays.  This month, we celebrated with Gina, Jared, Abraham and Beckie.  We have loved this 2019 tradition as we are able to spend more individual time with each of them.  

We had dinner with Jared after visiting the site of our July Family Reunion at Bear Lake. It looks like the facilities will handle our group, which should exceed 60 people  for three days.

Debbie with Jared in front of the large accommodations for our Family Reunion

Over the past several months, I have gone swimming with Joseph and Joshua, helping them learn how to swim and advance in their scouting.  Joshua began with an immense fear of water.  Now after about 4 sessions, he finally was swimming on his back on his own!  I am so proud of him for his persistence and courage.   It is so gratifying to see him grow in ability, but more importance in confidence.  Way to go Joshua!

Joshua swimming for more than 20 seconds

Debbie and Great Grandma managed to make a visit to a family Easter Egg hunt organized by Kari.  This is a photo of many of the grandchildren who participated on Saturday, April 20.

More Grandchildren Birthdays

Our first birthday was Jon, on March 20.  He enjoyed his book, but we added what he really wanted, Jalapeño peppers.

Scarey Stories

And Jalapeño Peppers

Tiancom celebrated his birthday yesterday (April 22) and Olivia will turn 4 on April 27.  We celebrated with each of them before and after our Easter Dinner.  This gets us caught up until we return from Israel.

Olivia loves her Oliva Books.  She is easy to shop for.

Tiancom enjoying his Lego Journal book.  He also received a child's book about the  Great Plan of Happiness.  Tiancom has a very tender heart and a  deep love for God.

With all that we had scheduled to do this past 10 days, we were overwhelmed.  However, Debbie and I have learned to take one day at a time and do our best.  As we have learned to expect, Our Heavenly Father always helps things to turn out, usually in a better way than we plan.  Often he drops in new opportunities for us to serve in the process.   Always we feel his love.  We know that "Jesus Loves Us".

Now we are on  our way to see "Gethsemane".