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!