ElderKiser,
Itwas wonderful to visit with you!! Thank you for the package, for all yourkindness and generosity. You are such a wonderful and thoughtfulperson. Justin loved the t-shirts and tie. The alligator heads werea big hit. Scooter was never quite sure just exactly what to think ofthem. It was good to hear your voice, you sound great. I am so gladthat you are having the experience to teach the gospel, to share the joy of theSavior with others. You have always been a willing worker, capable andable to get the job done. You have worked hard all of your life and nowyou continue to do so as a missionary and bring the blessings of serving theSavior in the lives of so many.
Itis too bad that there is a possibility of severe floods in Louisiana . That Mississippi is just one darn big river as it reaches the delta and flowsinto the Gulf of Mexico. I hope that the flood waters recede and thatthere is not any damage. With hurricanes, oil spills and all, the folksin Louisiana have had enough challenges. I hope that the levees hold thewater that is released from the reservoirs. You just never know whatlessons the Lord has in store and what he wants us to learn.
Wegot more rain yesterday and it rained through the night and is still rainingthis morning. We live in a desert and we need the water, but I hope thatour flooding is minimal. I imagine that it is snowing at the higherelevations, so when it warms up I hope it warms up slowly so the snowpackdoesn’t cause flooding here. I saw on the news last night that up inLogan by Utah State University that there is expected to be some flooding onone of the tributaries of the Weber River. It was at flood level and thenwas dropping at the 10 o’clock news but was expected to rise again with therains today.
Yesterdaywas my last day teaching the high school seniors. I have enjoyed teachingthat age group as they are old enough to think about the lesson material andnot just give standard and pat answers. They have asked me to teach theadult gospel doctrine class. I am really nervous about teaching adults,but I am confident that God will bless me as I prepare.
Thelesson came from Luke 15 & 17 and we studied the parable of the ProdigalSon and the Ten Lepers. In the story of the ten lepers all ten werehealed but only one returned to say thanks. Aside from the very obvious,and that is gratitude, and why did the other nine fail to say thanks. Iam sure that there are lots of reasons why, and maybe even some returned to daythanks but could not find the Savior. I certainly do not want to judgethem. The next and I think more interesting part is the dialogue that theSavior has with the one leper that returns. After asking where the othernine are, the Savior states, “…Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made theewhole.”
Allten were healed, and I do not believe that the other nine because they failedto return and say thanks that the disease returned. So what does it meanwhen the Savior remarked, “Thy faith hath made thee whole”? Is there adifference between being cleansed from a disease and being made whole. Ithink that there is. Being whole to me gives an impression that thegrateful heart expands our spiritual being. There is a message of beingcleaned on the outside as well as on the inside. Not only did this personhave faith to be healed on the outside, he had faith to believe inChrist. His attitude, belief and grateful heart made him whole orcomplete. I thought it was a wonderful message not only about gratitudebut on belief as well. As you teach having a grateful heart, one ofappreciation and gratitude make you whole? As you accept challenges withgratitude, instead of anger or frustration, how does it make you complete?
PresidentHinckley said of the parable of The Prodigal Son, ”I ask you to read thatstory. Every parent ought to read it again and again. It is largeenough to encompass every household and enough larger than that to encompass allmankind, for are we not all prodigal sons and daughters who need to repent andpartake of the forgiving mercy of our Heavenly Fathers and then follow Hisexample.”
Inthe Story of the prodigal son, how did the father react to the return of hisson? How did the prodigal son respond to his father’s love? How didthe elder son respond to his father’s generosity in throwing a party at theprodigal sons return. How did the father respond to the elder son’scomplaint. Why is it sometimes difficult to welcome back a “prodigal son”who has repented?
Asa missionary, you probably see much of these stories in the lives of those thatyou teach and associate with. I think that you are awesome. Pleaselet us know if there is anything that you need. I hope that your bike isin good repair and working well enough. I doubt that you would tell us ifyou really needed anything, but if you do please let mom or I know. Ilove you so much am so proud of you and grateful for the opportunity that youare having to be a servant of Jesus Christ and represent His restored church.
Ispoke with a motorcycle mechanic a year ago and he said to drain the gastank and put a trickle charger on the battery. Because it is fuelinjected and not carburetor we do not need to worry about gas build up in theinjectors or carbs, at least that is what he told me. I thought that Icould just charge that battery every six months, but the battery died. Irepaired the mirror, the clutch and put new grips on the handle bars. Ibought the tail light but have not fixed that yet.
Loveyou,
Dad
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