Seeing the Hand of the Lord in our Lives 1013

JACOB

dear family,

you may be wondering. how have i felt the hand of the Lord in my life this year. i will tell you. my life has actually been engineered this last year to get me to turn to the Lord and walk with him. i am serving as a missionary for the church, and have learned a lot about how to recognize God's hand in our lives. i think God is active in everyones lives if they have eyes to see and ears to hear. president recently instructed us on what he called the three keys to success in missionary work. they were answers he got from apostles to the question, "what makes a missionary successful?". and they are 1) love the people 2) Trust in Jesus. 3) learn to recognize the Lords hand in your work. i'd like to talk about the third. early in my mission i worked really hard and just waited and looked for the day when i would see the miracle i was sent to the mission field to see. i didn't quite know what i was expecting but i had faith in miracles and i worked for them and i waited for them. every once in a while i did see things that i counted  among the big miracles and i was happy. but as i worked more i began to be more sensitive to the things that the Lord was doing not just every once in a while the end of a long period of exertion, but every day as i tried to work in his name. it turns out the Lord is always near us when we live worthily, and as we learn to recognize what he is already doing for us it opens the door for him to have even a bigger presence in our lives. learning to recognize the Lord's hand is an experience that opens your eyes and increases your faith. and it's important to the Lord. he teaches in the doctrine and covenants that in nothing doth man offend him except when we don't acknowledge his hand in all things. with that introduction let me just share a few examples of how the Lord has involved himself in my life. it starts every morning. when i wake up and its early and satan tries to get into my head and get me to start thinking negatively and dread the day that lies ahead, i can call on the Lord in prayer and ask him to make me equal to the day and the tasks that lay ahead. i know that the power of the atonement is real because i feel my heart being changed as i do this. after such a prayer my desires are different. i actually want to do the things that the Lord requires of me. and i find joy in them throughout the day. when we ask not for our trials to be removed, but to be strengthened to meet our trials, we experience the atonement as God changes and exalts and strengthens us. and then as president Monson teaches, we become the miracle in our lives. so that's the first way he's been active in my life. he's strengthened me to meet my challenges. another thing he does is that he beckons me. he calls to me and invites me to follow him. if i ever start getting distracted from what's important he shakes me a bit and reminds me. i think this is true for everyone. everyone has the light of Christ in them prompting them to be good and to believe in God and to serve him, and step by step leading them to greater truth and understanding. it's just a question of how much they hearken to that voice. i love the verse in John 16 that says "ye have not chosen me, but i have chosen you, and ordained you." i really feel that this is true in my life. it's not so much that i've gone out searching the Lord. its that he has called me to walk his way and i need merely to follow the voice that beckons me to draw nearer to him. those are only two examples of limitless others but i do bear testimony that the Lord does work in our lives. like the brother of Jared we can see his hand if we have faith and look for it, and if we continue in this way, the Lord will reveal unto us not his hand only, but all of his glory in due time. 

elder jacob neil peterson.                       

ANNA

We have been greatly blessed this year with the safe arrival of our baby girl. Dave has had heaven's help in his new balancing act as father/husband/student/Elders quorum presidency member. He has been able to do well in school despite greatly reduced studying hours, which would not have been possible without God's mercy. I have been especially grateful that family is now nearby. Ben and Celeste and their wonderful boys bring joy and light wherever they go and we are so happy to now enjoy their influence and support. I have gained a stronger testimony of prayer as I've seen The Lord time and time again answer my simple, specific prayers during my transition to motherhood. I have received strength and an increase in charity and patience when my own supply had run dry. And of course Lily  has added a fullness and happiness to our lives that is indescribable. Why we were entrusted with such a beautiful, intelligent, happy daughter I do not know, but I daily pray that I can give her the life and the love that she deserves.  The Lord has tested and tried us this year, but has blessed us with an outpouring of joy and love in the process. I'm so grateful for the atonement that helps us to become better and more like the Savior, and for such a wonderful family, The Petersons, that I get to be with forever! 

GRANDMA VELLA

I see the hand of The Lord whenever I pause to pay attention. But here's a specific example: 

From the time I went through our car windshield 53 years ago past the time when the SUV crashed through the intersection and smashed our driver side in last winter, I have felt uneasy about driving -- especially about driving others. This summer, when it appeared I might be the only driver in our household (and I currently have the only license), I felt our long trips were over. I hadn't driven more than 150 miles at a time for the past 10 years and even that made me feel exhausted and anxious. 

I tried to find drivers who had a reason to go to Phoenix to drive us down and back. No luck. I studied the maps of the Phoenix freeways-- even worse! They are multiple, merge and diverge and cross over and under each other. There is even one area where they are three tiers of separate freeways deep -- all crossing the same point. Could not do it

I worried about this frequently in prayers and finally I felt I could drive to the outskirts and then take surface streets to our resort which was located about as far from the northern, eastern, or western edge as physically possible. But on the morning we left, I felt strengthened. We drove only half way, and stopped for the night. The next day I felt I could take a freeway (belt route) part of the way, but I was still uncomfortable and not handling the car smoothly. During our stay there, I always made my driving a matter of personal prayer in the morning. And one morning, as I knelt in a new place in my bedroom and admitted how alone and weak I felt, I suddenly felt a warmth covering my face, then head, then shoulders. I stopped praying and let the peace flood through me -- such comfort and assurance. And I felt very strongly I was not alone and that others would continue to support me. When I finished my prayer I noticed that a narrow shaft of sun had risen through a slit in the blind and fallen on the only spot in the room where I had knelt.

Last night I thought I'd ask at the desk for suggestions for getting around the worst mergers and exits leaving Phoenix and THEN I'd get on the freeways to finish. But when I got up, I remembered that I would not drive it alone. So I prayed for assistance, got on right by our resort, and drove every foot of the worse the roads had to offer, including through the three tier stack. I was not frightened, even thought it was raining slightly. And I am not tired now. 

I suspect this could seem like a petty example of feeling the hand of The Lord. It has nothing at all to do with the Church or service or any other noble cause. However it has tremendous impact on the every day lives of two old parents and grandparents. And I'm grateful beyond words for the blessings of increased strength, comfort and confidence that I have felt recently.

Love to all. You dear people are among my greatest blessings.

Mom/Gma 

LAUREN

I have been so blessed this past year. I know that the Lord has guided me in making many decisions, such as going to law school at BYU and strengthening my relationship with Michael. He has been such a blessing in my life. He is so supportive and considerate. He is always willing to help me with anything; he even took time to read my first law paper, which my family assures me was very dull, and he said it was the best one he'd ever read. :) I'm so grateful that he loves the Lord and honors his priesthood. That will be a blessing in our lives. I'm grateful that he has a loving, supportive family.

ROB

I am grateful for the intervention of the Lord in my life.  Let me describe the chain of events that happened in the last three months.

In August we were going to CA for our vacation when our Volvo suddenly caught on fire, and burned to the ground, which is a story of its own. In trying to resolve our car problems I was motivated to look into the option of going to Sweden to pick up a new car.  

I felt motivated to look into my Swedish ancestors, specifically, my great grandmother - Augusta Johannesdaughter.  I discovered that her great grandfather had emigrated from Germany to Sweden.  With very little genealogical experience I started to look for the parents of Johann Carl Rost on Familysearch.  I was excited to find somebody named Johann Rost in the same birth year, in Germany and took my discovery to Bonnie Drake, our ward family history specialist.  

Bonnie suggested that I look on ancestory.com and within 15 minutes I had found a perfect match for Johann Carl Rost to his father, Johann Carl Rost, who was a German doctor and astronomer.  This information led to finding four generations in Nuremberg, Germany, going back to Casper Rost in 1580.

I was very excited with this find and the fact that their temple work was not yet done.  I again felt motivated to search the family of Johann Carl Rost, the immigrant, and was able to find 60 more collateral names who needed their temple work done.  

I have had a renewed excitement for the temple blessings and being able to perform work for my own ancestors.  I have felt the presence of my great grandmother, and other ancestors as ministering angels in my life.  

Following the sacrifice of our car we have been showered with temporal and spiritual blessings, and a renewal in my own life in mind, body and spirit.  I am especially thankful for being blessed with unexpected resources to celebrate Michael’s wedding, and for the chance to pick up Jacob from his mission.

I testify that the Lord is mindful of us, and loves our family.  I am grateful that the Lord loves us enough to let us struggle at times. And I am grateful for relief.  Above all, I am grateful for the Lord’s blessings in the lives of my dear wife, all nine of my children, and my dear grandchildren.  

I am truly a wealthy man.  

Robert L. Peterson

Nov. 27, 2013


DAVE

This year I have felt the hand of the Lord very closely in my life with the birth of our beautiful daughter, Lillian. It has been amazing to see the Lord's plan for our little family unfold. I have felt the Lord's love very strongly and seen his hand as he helped my wonderful Anna as she went through her pregnancy and as she has continued to take such good care of Lily and me. He has helped both of us as we have striven to rise to our new responsibilities. He has helped me to succeed in my school responsibilities, even as I have had less time to study due to these new wonderful responsibilities. 

I have felt the joy of the plan of salvation so deeply as I have watched Lily grow and learn and as I have seen Anna turn into the amazing mother that I new she would be. It truly is a plan of happiness, and joy in family relations is one of the greatest joys a man can have. I am so grateful for all of my families, both large and small!

Love, Dave


JOSEPH

How I've seen the hand of the Lord in my life
Over the past year I have felt the hand of the lord in my life a lot. He has blessed me with good friends and he has helped me a lot in my schoolwork as well. He also gave me the opportunity to go on trek which was a very humbling and spiritual experience for me and also gave me a new perspective on the trials of others. I am also thankful for the chance that I have to be in seminary and to see the testimonies of my friends which I wouldn't be able to see in other circumstances.

REBEKAH

This Year the Lord has blessed me with countless opportunities of service, leadership, and many other wonderful things.  It is not that this year he has been more mindful of me but I think that this year I have been more aware of the many things he does for me daily.  Each one a simple yet treasured gift.  Through my trials I can see his hand and his purpose and the comfort that the gift of the Holy Ghost brings.  I love the Lord and I am grateful for his love and guidance.

NANCY

It would be hard not to see the hand of the Lord in our lives this year!  We have seen so many miracles in Slovakia with the work going forth boldly and nobly with great power and faith against all odds - hearts changing, Book of Mormon coming forth, sister missionaries introduced, righteous companions being raised up, two faithful mission presidents giving their all, Jacob rising up and going forth in the strength of the Lord to serve!  The kingdom is coming out of obscurity in the land, and many people’s lives have been forever blessed and changed… For all these things, we could not be more grateful!

We have also seen miracles in the lives of Michael and Lauren, who have each exercised great faith… and have now united their faith and their future into one.  We feel the Lord’s power and blessing in bringing Lauren into our circle, and know that she will not only bless Michael’s life, but lift and enrich us all with her unique talents and influence and perspective.  May the Lord continue to bless them on their wonderful and exciting journey together!  

We have also seen Michael go forth in great faith with his education as he completes a rigorous and ambitious program, putting himself into a position to be accepted into some of the finest medical schools in the country.  He has also exhibited the faith to be healed this year, and we are very grateful for his life and healthy constitution.  His service to his family, his roommates, his ward family and many others continues to bring light and joy to all he meets.  We are grateful for his unique gifts and abilities to lift and to serve!  

Rebekah has risen up this year, in faith and in new confidence to serve.  She applied for an ambitious program to serve the children of Northern India - and is giving herself to learning leadership skills and raising of the $3,700 needed to participate.  She also auditioned for an ambitious role in Le Mis, for which, after securing the role, has simply made her talents and character equal to this opportunity.  She has also exercised her faith, attending the temple regularly as well as participating in numerous missionary lessons as she accepts invitations to serve with the fulltime sisters in our stake.    

Joseph remains constant and true, quietly yet continuously growing in wisdom and stature and strength, in knowledge and in faith - before God and his fellow man.  Though young, he is solid and kind.  He brings joy and peace and happiness to our home, as well as hope and light to our future.  He takes complete responsibility for his own development, a rare talent for one as young as he.  He sees clearly the pathway to success in his life, and he follows diligently in the footsteps of his older brothers.  We are so grateful for young Joseph in our lives, and hope he finds joy in this season with his friends and our family!  

How could I talk about this year without mentioning the growth of my dear friend and companion, Roberto?  He has made impressive strides, unparalleled in our marriage and lives to this date.  By applying greater faith in avenues of light, he has seen wonderful success in family history, as well as the guidance of the Lord and increasing perspective of things that matters most in eternity. He continues to participate in home and family development, opportunities to serve, and seems to experience greater satisfaction in the blessings that surround us.  The car fire was anything but a tragedy for him, though unsettling, we have seen him rise to a higher level of living and loving, on occasion even enjoying the ministry of angels. And despite his continuing physical discomfort, he is more able to act in his truer self, and experience the joys God has intended for all his children. I am so thankful for these blessings in his life!!

It has been my special gift this year to travel to the far off homes of David and Ben, and enter into the environments of light and love they have each created with their angel wives, Anna and  Celeste!  And of course, the tender mercies of the Lord in being able to welcome in our lovely Lillian Pearl is a blessing we are most grateful for this year! Each one of these beautiful young parents is exercising great faith in their respective roles of the season - successfully becoming the person that Heavenly Father would have them to be. How I love seeing the blessings of eternity being passed on to our precious, new generation! This is a tremendous blessing to me.   I am also very thankful for the time and the technology I have been given to read stories with my little friends, Seth and Noah, and to see and visit with all my dear family friends who live in Durham, North Carolina!       

seeing

As for me, my life seems to increase in joy and light with each passing day.  The mercies and kindnesses of the Lord are unspeakable to me!  I am very grateful for opportunities to serve as well as rich opportunities to learn, and I’m so thankful for the increasing capacity and the time to do each of these!  It has also been a particular joy for me this year to spend more time with my parents and develop a closer relationship with them.  I continue to be more aware of the Lord's sweet presence in my life with each passing year.  I pray that I will continue to be guided in all my opportunities to learn and to grow and to serve, and that I will become the person Heavenly Father would have me to be!    

"Though we are imperfect, God loves us perfectly"

I have been meaning to write on this blog for quite some time! I always read the posts from others and I really enjoy them. I don't have any profound experiences to share, but I would like to add my testimony to the beautiful testimonies that have been given already.

Yesterday at church, someone made a comment that there was one thing you could always pray for that would be answered in the affirmative, and that is a request for strength. I love the idea that Heavenly Father will always give me strength to overcome obstacles and endure difficult periods of my life. This summer I have been really lonely because I've been living in Provo and I don't have any roommates or people to hang out with. I spend a lot of time working and I find myself either really overwhelmed with things I have to do or just completely bored because I don't have anyone to talk to. Today I decided to pray for strength just so that I could focus more at work and not be so stressed out and be able to enjoy my day no matter what happened. I didn't have a lot of specific requests but I just wanted to know that Heavenly Father was strengthening me throughout the day. I was surprised how strongly I felt the spirit. Little things kept happening that seemed like direct answers to my prayer: I got an assignment I liked at work, I got invited to a movie with some people in my ward, I got a letter from my brother on a mission. It wasn't the best day of my life, but I went to bed much happier than I had before.

I guess I learned two things from this experience: (1) is that if you ask Heavenly Father for strength, he will give it to you. Heavenly Father will always make you strong enough to handle whatever task he has given you. (2) is that Heavenly Father is ALWAYS there for you, you just have to look for it. He is always strengthening me, sometimes I just don't realize it.

As I've gone through the ups and downs of going to school and living away from my family and friends, I have felt so much love from my Heavenly Father. There have been so many times when I felt his love so strongly, and I hold to those feelings whenever I feel discouraged, overwhelmed, or upset.  I am learning to feel the spirit all the time and I love it. I don't ever want to be without it. And I can't think of a better way to strengthen my testimony than to share it. Thank you to the wonderful Peterson family for providing a way to increase my testimony and a means to share it with you!

Love,
Rebecca Pace

Thou Shalt Love the Lord

Lately I've been thinking about the Lord’s command that we love him.  I suddenly find this so sweet!  He is not asking for us to fear him, or have a distant relationship based on courtesy or respect.  He is inviting us to enjoy with him the intimate and tender relationship that in our fondest dreams we yearn for!  This is what the gospel is all about.  And we do love him - as he truly love us!  

In counseling his son, Helaman, Alma teaches us as well, “Let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.”  I love the thought of an affectionate relationship with Jesus!  He said unto the Nephites, “behold, my bowels are filled with compassion toward you.”  Then he stayed and blessed each one of them because they yearned to be with him longer.   At the time of Jesus, the bowels were considered the center of one’s being.  I think when he expressed that his bowels were filled with compassion he meant that he had great stirring feelings, unto physical yearnings of love for his people that motivated him to serve them in any way that he could.    

As I experience it, to feel this kind of love for our Savior is to experience a swelling of happy joy and delight that causes our souls to rejoice and seek ever more diligently to be near him and to do his will.  Loving the Lord is more than just acting out of obedience to keep his commandments.  We obey because we love him, and completely trust in his love for us.  We obey because when we do, we feel the joy of having him near. We obey because we know that his purpose is for us to have more light and knowledge through our experiences.  As we take advantage of these opportunities to grow, the Spirit fills our souls - our hearts are one with his!  

“He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit for the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his life that he may draw all men unto him.”  

Everything that we love and cherish and need comes from our Lord.  He is the light and life of our world, the bread of life, the living waters, the way, the truth and the life!  

“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.  And let him that heareth say, Come.  And let him that is athirst come.  And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

“Come unto me, all ye ends of the earth.”   “Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you...” “...come unto me [and] ye shall have eternal life.  Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive.,,”  

How I love this invitation!  To do so is my greatest desire...

"...That ye may stand as witnesses..."

I was reading in Mosiah 24 this morning and thinking about trials and covenants. We often wonder why those followers of Christ are made to pass through trials when they seem "undeserved."  Mosiah 24:13-14 opened my view a little bit.  It says,

13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying:  Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.
14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions."

Sometimes we are allowed to experience trying things so that we may gain testimony of God's covenants, giving us an unshakeable testimony of God's watchful care in the future. We experience trial in part so that we may see God's promises in action, coming to our aid when we desperately need it. This is an active gospel that requires application, trust, humility and faith. I know that the Lord is watching over our small family and I'm grateful for the temple that allows us to make sacred, saving covenants.

Temple Blessings by Elder Featherstone

I love the blessings and promises made by Elder Vaughn J Featherstone in this "temple statement for Utah South Area" - given in the Manti Temple April 1987.  (Liz and David were tiny newborns)


"The season of the world before us will be like no other in the history of mankind. Satan has unleashed every evil, every scheme, every blatant, vile perversion ever known to man in any generation. Just as this is the dispensation of the fullness of times, so it is also the dispensation of the fullness of evil. We and our wives and husbands, our children, and our members must find safety. There is no safety in the world, wealth cannot
provide it, enforcement agencies cannot assure it, membership in this Church alone cannot bring it.

As the evil night darkens upon this generation, we must come to the temple for light and safety. In our temples we find quiet, sacred havens where the storm cannot penetrate to us. There are hosts of unseen sentinels watching over us and guarding our Temples. Angels attend every door. As it was in the days of Elisha so it will be for us: 'Those that be with us are more than they that be against us.' Before the Savior comes the world will darken. There will come a period of time where even the elect will lose hope if they do not come to the temples. The world will be so filled with evil that the righteous will only feel secure within these walls. The Saints will come here not only to do vicarious work, but to find a haven of peace. They will long to bring their children here for safety sake.

I believe we may well have living on the earth now or very soon, the boy or babe who will be the prophet of the Church when the Savior comes. Those who will sit in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are here. There are many in our homes and communities who will have apostolic callings. We must keep them clean, sweet, and pure in an oh-so-wicked world. There will be greater hosts of unseen beings in the temple. Prophets of old as well as those in this dispensation will visit the temples. Those who attend will feel their strength and their companionship. We will not be alone in our temples.

Our garments worn as instructed will clothe us in a manner as protective as temple walls. The covenants and ordinances will fill us with faith as living fire. In a day of desolating sickness, scorched earth, barren waste, sickening plagues, disease, destruction and death, we as a people will rest in the shade of trees, we will drink from the cooling fountains. We will abide in places of refuge from the storm, we will mount up as on eagles wings, we will be lifted out of an insane and evil world. We will be as fair as the sun and as clear as the moon.

The Savior will come and will honor His people. Those who are spared and prepared will be a temple loving people. They will know him. They will cry out, 'blessed be the name of He that cometh in the name of the Lord. Thou art my God and I will bless thee, Thou art my God and I will exalt thee.'

Our children will bow down at his feet and worship Him as the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings. They will bathe His feet with their tears and He will weep and bless them for having suffered through the greatest trials ever known to man. His bowels will be filled with compassion and His heart will swell as wide as eternity and He will love them. He will bring peace that will last a thousand years and they will receive their reward to dwell with Him.

Let us prepare them with the faith to surmount every trial and every condition. We will do it in these holy, sacred temples. Come, come, come up to the temples of the Lord and abide in His presence.

God bless the Utah South Area. The Lord has planted and is planting giants in the land. Apostles and Prophets are being born in your homes. Some of your youth will walk in the highest places in this kingdom. Your sons who are on missions will return and fill the most sacred callings. You do not know who your children are.

As we faithfully commit and follow through with a great missionary thrust, God will bless us. Our children will see visions, our leaders will dream sacred dreams. Angelic and unseen beings will watch over and protect you and your children. Employers hearts will be softened, bounteous blessings will flow. Satanic influences will be thwarted. Our people will walk in holiness protected and blessed as the "Children of Light." Homes will be protected from evil and destroying powers will pass us by. You will come to the shade of trees, to the cooling fountains, to the haven of rest. Peace, love and hope will be y ours.

This Utah South Area will be the fountain head of blessings that flow to every people on this earth. Let us fulfill our divine destiny to prepare for these promises."

Easter Prayer

Dear Father in Heaven,     

                                                            

Sunday morning is here!  This is the very day in history we have anxiously awaited!  The day of our dear Savior’s return from the grave!  Death has been overcome!  The consequences of sin will no longer be!   Because of this great day, we will receive a resurrection and a restoration of all things.  Because of this happy day peace will return to our earth and the lamb and the lion will lie together in peace. 

 

There will be healing and a great hope for all of thy injured children.  Because of this day, light and life will again be in and through all things.  Anger and hatred will have place no longer.  Love in the hearts of thy tender children will increase. 

   

Brother and sister, father and mother – all will be gathered in from wherever they’re wandered; restored to hope in the bonds of eternal families.  Endowed with power, they’ll go forth from holy temples, their lives consecrated and given unto thee. 

Jesus Christ is the Lord of our salvation.  He is our Savior, our Holy King!  He is the Creator and our great Redeemer; our Exemplar, the Life and Light of all things! 

 For one exquisite moment – he bore the crushing weight of all our burdens!  All heaven and earth wept and groaned in disbelief.  Yet he overcame and rose into thy presence, with great power and healing in his wings!

Great God of heaven, thou art our loving Father.  Thou hast offered that which was most precious unto thee!  Thou art the one whose worthy Son was given.  Like Abraham of old, who gave his son to thee.

Dear Father, thy presence is now before us!  The whole plan was for us to return home to thee.  For this privilege, sacred ordinances are preformed in holy temples.  For this, the Savior gave his life and set us free!  

Together, the Gods of heaven have descended, to effectuate the great rescue of mankind!  Surely the Fathers have saved the generations, with the collective love and power of eternity! 

How great is the goodness of our God!!  How great our amazement and thanksgiving!  We will sing praises and love unto thee forever!   We give our whole souls as offerings unto thee!!  

Family History Work - From Both Sides

Joseph and Emma Smith

Last night we attended a most interesting fireside presented by Michael Kennedy and his wife, Darcy.  Brother Kennedy is the first descendant of Joseph and Emma Smith to receive the Melchizedek priesthood and he has quite a story to tell, and an even more important message to share.  The quick version of the story  is that he was living in a very small town in Nevada in the 70's as a youth with his family and needed to write a report about someone who had influenced American history.  His father suggested that their great, great, grandfather, Joseph Smith, of whom he had never heard, had "discovered Utah".  Thinking that was relevant to his assignment he began to try to research this Joseph Smith, and surprisingly, two Elders knocked on their door.  These missionaries were only in this tiny town for a matter of weeks as a mission experiment.  Brother Kennedy's story is very interesting and comical but the short of it is that he did get baptized and was invited to meet with President Kimball and then Elder Bruce R McConkie because of his membership in this family.

At this time, Bro Kennedy wanted to marry his new girlfriend, who was also a convert from this small town in Nevada, but she wanted only to marry in the temple.  After attending to due process he received the Melchizedek priesthood and asked if he could now marry in the temple.  She then told him that he needed to serve a mission, and after prayerful counsel from Elder McConkie it was decided that he should marry at that time and then they would serve together what would become a life-time mission to his, the Joseph and Emma family.

And here is where the important message on family history work comes in.  Elder McConkie instructed them that no proselyting efforts would be effective until after all of the family history work and necessary ordinances for their dead had been completed.  (Incidentally, the posterity of Joseph and Emma is shockingly small, because of the many who did not marry or have children for various reasons.  And sadly, they have not been able to enjoy the sealing blessings of the temple that meant so much to Joseph.)

Brother and Sister Kennedy began at that time a long and earnest effort and completed this sacred work for Joseph and Emma's posterity who were dead. They learned that before missionary work would be effective for a people, the ordinance work for the ancestors of the same must be completed, freeing and empowering them to participate on the other side of the veil.  He said that the work of salvation goes in this order;  family history and temple work for our ancestors, then these departed and empowered family members (who have received their priesthood ordinances) are able to work on their living descendant's hearts, preparing them to receive the word, then the preaching of the gospel to a prepared people and attending ordinances.  He says you can tell where family history is being done by where the temples pop up in the earth.  I found this all very interesting.  He said that the reason missionary work is so effective among the Lamanite nations is because of the millions who had been converted unto the Lord after the visit of the Savior to the Americas who are now in the spirit world, preparing the hearts of their children to receive the gospel.      

Well, the work for Joseph and Emma's family goes forward.  After the work for their dead had been fully completed, they were freed to begin the missionary work on this side of the veil.  Much effort has been made, and many priesthood blessings have been offered on their behalf, including the dedicatory prayer of the farm house where the church was organized at it's sesquicentennial, as well as part of the dedicatory prayer of the Kirkland temple in D&C 109 : 68-70, which reads in part, "O Lord, remember thy servant, Joseph Smith, Jun.....Have mercy, O Lord, upon his wife and children, that they may be exalted in thy presence, and preserved by thy fostering hand.  Have mercy upon all their immediate connections, that their prejudices may be broken up and swept away as with a flood; that they may be converted and redeemed with Israel, and know that thou art God."  The Church has also reached out to these members of Joseph and Emma's family in other ways, such as organizing large family reunions where our common interests are shared.

I wish I could remember the details about how many members of this family have now been converted to the gospel and received temple ordinances, but the work is going forward, and I do remember him saying that 18 families are at this time working with the missionaries.  

The Lord had a plan for the salvation of the family of Emma and Joseph, and he has a plan for each of our families as well.  May we remember that the work goes forward in orderly ways and call on the Lord to know what we need to do next.  And when things seem to inhibit the progression of our living families, perhaps we could see if the work for the dead might not yet be fully completed...