New Beginnings

The last few months have been full of "New Beginnings" in our lives and all around us.  Most of our grandchildren have started a new school year, we just began our 6th term of teaching institute classes on our mission, we have a new grandchild on the way (the first in their family), and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a new First Presidency.

Our new First Presidency is here and the newest member of the Rueckert Family is on the way

Our son Lamoni and his wife, Aide, are expecting their first child after an IVF process.  We are so happy for them and pray that all will go well as they prepare to begin their family. 

Each eight weeks we experience a “new beginning” in our Church Service mission, teaching Institute classes to Pathway students.   We meet new people and learn to love them in just a short time, only to start again the next term with a new set of amazing people.  Each one of them has a life and a story.  Let me share one example from our last term that touched our hearts.  This man had suffered a brain tumor and underwent significant operations and time in the hospital.  His life totally changed, yet he told our class, “Though becoming disabled has been one of the greatest challenges of my life, I now see it as a blessing. Through this experience, I've learned to rely completely on the Savior. I am grateful, . . .  I needed to lose physically in order to grow spiritually”.

Our institute class from the last term

Our monthly in-service training with other missionary teachers

 

As I have pondered this concept of new beginnings in each of our lives, my thoughts have gone to a talk that we heard in the recent General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from our “newest” apostle, Patrick Kearon.  When I listened to this talk, I felt a strong impression to share it. These are some of my favorite words:

“Jesus also blessed those who had wavering faith, like the father of the sick child who cried out, perhaps as you have, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” And He even poured out compassion upon those who hadn’t sought Him at all, like the woman taken in adultery, the widow of Nain, the disabled man at the pool of Bethesda, and the man born blind. Have you felt Him going about doing good in your life even when you haven’t been seeking Him or following Him?

To each of these scriptural figures, and to all who would listen and respond, He gave a new beginning, whether it was a new life forgiven of sin or a new life healed of disease or a new life raised from death.

What does this mean for you and for me? His goodness and mercy and loving-kindness know no bounds. New beginnings are at the heart of the Father’s plan! Fresh starts are the mission of the Son! New dawns, new chapters, and new chances are the simple core of the gospel’s good news!”

Even The Church of Jesus Christ had a new beginning recently.  As President Russell M. Nelson passed away at the age of 101 years, we now have a “new” president of the Church, President Dallin H. Oaks.  As the new First Presidency was interviewed, I was impressed with their message to the world.  

The following came from my journal, 

“Tonight, as I heard this interview, I could see and understand a very special initial focus of President Dallin H. Oak’s ministry.  I feel like he is speaking to the whole world and inviting them to find the answers of life which are taught in the Savior’s Church.  I felt like he repeated often the message that Heavenly Father has a plan for all of His children and we need to trust in the Lord, come and enjoy His blessings with us.  Jesus Christ is the Way!”

I encourage all of us to enjoy our “new beginnings” and take this opportunity to grow to what we desire to become.  It is never too late to have a fresh start!

President Russell M. Nelson:

President Nelson has had a major impact on our lives.  It seems that every way that we think about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His Church has been impacted by his inspired and eloquent words and leadership.  He certainly was a prophet for the ages, especially as he celebrated his 101st birthday.  I am personally grateful for the Lord's plan that allows the transition of leadership of His Church to be seamless.  No campaigning, no contention, but a continuation of the Keys of prophets, seers, and revelators, controlled by the hand of the Lord.

I had never seen a transition from the passing of a prophet so close to the General Conference.  In my mind, I had ideas of how it could happen.  However, as usual, I was wrong.  I was impressed with the respect that President Oaks gave to President Nelson during the General Conference, whose format and talks had all been approved previously by President Nelson.  We then awaited the viewing and funeral of President Nelson with that same respect and reverence. 

Our son, Ben, wanted to go to the viewing, so he and I arrived early at the Conference Center the day after General Conference.  There were lines, but all seemed so organized and appropriate. Although there was bustling of lines, the moment that we appeared in the viewing area, all was quiet and reverent.  No photos in that area, but memories that will last a lifetime.  The next day we were content to watch the funeral from home.

Ben and I outside the conference center before the viewing began

Lines inside of the conference center

Winding around the Christus statue

One of my favorite photos of Ben with the Christus statue in the background

Watching the funeral from our home the next day

 President Dallin H. Oaks:

During the transition from President Nelson to President Oaks, we wanted to learn all we could about President Oaks.  In the first week, Debbie had already read his published biography and was kind enough to share many of the highlights with me.  One was the role that he had assumed as a keeper of the doctrine early in his ministry.  This resonated strongly with me as I pondered many of his talks in past conferences. She was also busy listening to as many of his conference talks as she could.   I followed her example, but was much slower.  

On October 10, Debbie and I had dinner in Orem, Utah after attending the Orem Utah Temple.  The next day as I was helping out with a few things at our trailer in Salt Lake City, I couldn't find my credit card.  As I pondered where it could be, I remembered that it had been left at the restaurant the night before in Orem.  Unfortunately, I had to drive to Orem.  Fortunately, I was able to use the time to listen to a few of Elder Oaks early talks soon after he was called to the Twelve. I was blown away with the profound doctrine that he taught in those talks.  His second talk, in April 1985, was what I consider a landmark talk about Taking Upon Us the Name of Jesus Christ, clarifying several related doctrines that I had not understood before. His third talk, in October 1985, was titled "Spirituality". I felt like I was listening to President Nelson's talk about "Think Celestial".  By the time I had listened to his first five talks, there was no doubt in my mind about his prophetic role, even as a new member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.  That night we listened to the Interview with the First Presidency in which President Oaks was clearly speaking as the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There was no question in my mind that the Lord had prepared him for this new responsibility and that Jesus Christ is in charge of His church.  I had felt impressions at various times in General Conference, but the full witness hit me that Saturday, October 11.  I am so grateful for that witness.

New Temples and temple visits:

Right after October conference, the Jordan River Temple began its maintenance closure for the next two weeks.   We chose to participate in temple ordinances in new temples that we had not previously visited together.  The first week, mentioned above, we attended the Orem Utah Temple.  The next week, we visited the Syracuse Utah Temple.  As we have learned long ago, the ordinances are the same, beautiful and consistent even though some of the logistics vary. We were happy to have an opportunity to see these new temples.  We love living where we can visit so many temples, even when our temple is temporarily closed.

In front of the Orem Utah Temple

In front of the Syracuse Utah Temple

I have also been able to find many more of Debbie's ancestors through the individual death records in the village of Tennstedt that are available from 1608 to 1630.  As I have gone through these one by one, I have found many wives from Debbie's great . . . great grandfathers and through that discovery have also been able to add more great . . . great grandfathers and several siblings of great . . . great grandparents.  I never get tired of this family history work.  I have to make sure all of my other priorities are done, then I can spend my time in these records.  This, of course, has provided many more names of individuals who need their baptisms and other ordinances performed in the holy temple.  As soon as the Jordan River Temple opened back up we were able to take four of our grandchildren to the temple and with our participation, perform baptisms and confirmations for 30 more individuals.  Of those, eleven were great . . . great grandparents.  For me, there are few joys in the world that exceed seeing these temple ordinances being performed for the individuals that I was blessed to find.

With four precious grandchildren at the Jordan River Temple

Family Activities:

We have had a few more family activities in the past few months, two hosted by our kids and one at our clubhouse.

Labor Day:

Our son Jacob hosted a barbecue on Labor Day in his home.  We had about 20 in attendance, primarily the Salt Lake and Utah County crowd.  The food was good and the company was even better.  

Family Barbecue in the back yard of Jacob and Deb

Cousins had a good time together relaxing and . . . 

. . . playing games

Ben and Liam became best friends

Family Halloween Party:

Our big family party was held at our clubhouse on October 25 with 39 in attendance.  This is always a favorite for most of our families.  There was a great chili dinner, games led by the teenagers, and trick or treating at every door we could find in the clubhouse, including closets and bathrooms The following were some of the photos taken:

Moroni and his daughter Tiare

Giovanna and her family, Peter Pan and Tinker Bell

Jared's family, 3 of the 101 Dalmations

The Digerness Boys, Harry Potter and Jurassic Park

Kari and her dragon daughter, Serenity

Serenity with the full costume in view

Kaleb in his Air Soft protection gear

Pollyanna's kids in assorted costumes

Damian and Nik

Austin with his pumpkin that became a ball most of the time

This is what this pumpkin looked liked after being decorated

Haivyn playing the bean bag toss

Ashton playing the cake walk administered by Abbie who also made the cupcakes that were given out

Some of the trick or treaters at the back door

Halloween night party in Hyrum, Utah:

Dan and Amy hosted the Halloween night dinner and trick or treating in Hyrum, Utah.  Our Cache Valley group attended with the grandparents, 16 participating. 

5:00 pm Taco Salad Dinner

Focus on the grandkids' table

Some of the Trick or Treaters

And the rest

On their way to trick or treat

Other Grandchildren activities:

We always have the privilege of attending events with our grandchildren.  Here are a few of them:

Abbie Batting

Abbie being hit by the pitch

Abbie on First Base with McKenzie coaching her and congratulating her

Kaleb playing flag football

Jacob singing with Hillcrest High

A Beatles concert supporting ALS

McKenzie singing a solo part at the Alta High School Choir Concert

And with her proud grandparents after

Birthdays:

The biggest birthday party was hosted by Giovanna and Leo for Liam's second birthday.

Family photo by the desserts and decorations

Liam with his grandparents

The birthday boy with his cake

Great Granddaughter Ofelia turning 3 in Chicago with her birthday books

Granddaughter Skylar turning 3 four days later

Addie turning 11 in Fargo, North Dakota

Kaleb turning 12

Asher turning 15

McKenzie turning 18

This is the End:

My grow box garden is coming to an end, different from our new beginnings.  However, it has been a good year with a lot of cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers and a few cantaloupes.

One day's varied harvest

My best cantaloupe that I have ever grown

The grow boxes grew wild . . . 

Even growing productively over the fence