27 May 2018

It is Memorial Day weekend and many people are off enjoying their 4-day weekend. It has been hard to find people to visit. We helped one sister yesterday modify her child's crib. Her husband is out of country with the military, so, she called us to help. We are happy about these opportunities to help. We also had a few young adults, including the missionaries, decorate veteran graves with flags at the Monterey cemetery. I spied a woman sitting alone by a headstone, so I went over and introduced myself and asked her about the family members she was visiting. They were her grandparents who had been dead several years. We had a pleasant talk about life and death, and I shared with her some principles from the plan of salvation and forever families.
       We've focused this week a little more on the military families in Seaside. We've had some meaningful visits, mostly brightening up wives whose husbands are so engrossed in their studies. One woman had a little dog which she said loved to be cuddled by women but enjoyed playing with men, specifically, the dog loved for people to chase her. Well, that proved to be true. She tried to cuddle Elaine, but got rebuffed. Elaine does not appreciate dogs in close proximity to her person. The dog wouldn't let me touch her except for a quick lick of my fingers, a gleeful look and a tongue-draggling smile, as if to say, "Catch me if you can."  My slightest movement sent her zipping away, on to the couch, off the couch, and around the room with amazing agility and speed, only to return with another gleeful look of anticipation. Well, I didn't get much out of that visit because I was so caught up in chasing the darn dog!!
       The weather today is beautiful, but most of the week has been overcast. At the request of President Hunt, I'm talking to some elders regarding addictive thinking problems each week. I did this for 18 months in Europe on our last mission. I think our talks are helpful and I'm enjoying using scriptures from the Book of Mormon to help them. A dear friend called the other day asking for help with a granddaughter who is struggling. It was a joy to be able to talk things through and be of some professional and emotional support. The sister missionary companionship that lives in the same housing complex as we came over quite discouraged. They weren't having much success. Elaine and I sat outside in the sunshine with them for 30 minutes and provided encouragement and perspective. I think they were boosted up a little higher when it was over.
       We had a very nice fellowship evening last Tuesday. Sixteen of us showed up - the largest yet. I had asked one of the students to give a spiritual thought. He showed a short church video from Joseph Worthlin's talk on take what comes and love it. A non-member Marine asked how we balance faith in God with the pain of affliction in our lives. The comments tended to be somewhat doctrinal, so, to personalize it more and validate the reality of mortal suffering, I told them about when our son, Greg, was in a car accident that killed three of his closest friends and nearly killed him. I told them of my experience of having my faith tested.  I told them of the numbing pain that came with the deaths of boys we loved, and of the fear that our own son was dead. I told them how the Lord sounded my heart in those moments of uncertainty with questions that tested my faith in the resurrection, the plan of salvation, and my willingness to consecrate all to Him. I told the group that it was my faith in Father and Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ, and the sacred covenants that I had made with Them that helped me respond faithfully.
       It makes all the difference to know the gospel truths. God's grand purpose is to help us evolve from preexistent spirit to glorified beings. That evolution requires shaping, which comes by experience in mortality. Our response to shaping determines what we become: exalted or something less. Shaping requires our intimate participation. We cannot be exalted by proxy or token sacrifice. Shaping requires the heart, and it is painful and often extends beyond our desired timeframes. To help us endure the shaping process, God yokes us to Him by sacred covenants and our willingness to be yoked to Him. I think the story drove the point home to these young people, including the nonmember Marine. He spoke with us afterwards. There is no greater joy than sharing testimony with young military persons like this group on Tuesday evening. This is what we were sent here to do, and we find great joy in it.