Sunday, January 24, 2010
I love Steve...he is so good to me and to our family...
Always happy, smiling, calm and loving...
Ready to go teach the YM during the stakes visit for ward conference in two wards last Sunday...
Surprised me and polished my shoes...
Our anniversary breakfast...Steve created fabulous omletes using our new pans we bought each other for Christmas...Steve and I celebrate our 14th wedding anniversary and our 7th temple sealing anniversary this year...
Steve and I finally found a picture of the Jordan River Temple that we liked...so we bought it for our 7th temple sealing anniversary...
Our 14th wedding anniversary day...
Our 7th temple sealing anniversary day...Amanda is taking the picture...but we always celebrate this day with her...she was 6 years old when we were sealed and we she was sealed to us for Time and for all Eternity...Life is just good...So blessed...
My red tree, Steve's star and Amanda's lights on the house...
Steve covered all the bases this year...I love the red tree at Temple Square...I always look for it once we arrive...Every place we have lived since Steve and I have been married...he has put up red lights on our tree...Our tree in front of our home is new, but Steve still managed to put 800 lights on it...
Steve loves the star...He always puts this star up and it's always by my tree...
Amanda got her wish this year and her father surprised her with some lights on the house...she was so excited when she came home from YW's and the lights were on...Her dad worked really hard while she was gone so Amanda could see them when we drove down the street to our home...
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Pres. Lewis asked Deb and me to speak in Stake Conference...What a choice experience we shared...I spoke first and then Deb told her story.
Our talks are the next two posts...It was an incredible conference.
Carl and Annie and Steve and Lupe shared their conversation stories and coming back into activity...
Their road to the temple was also part of their topic...
Our Stake Presidency, the temple coun and his wife and a memeber ot the mission presidency also spoke.
The Spirit was strong and I know I came away from conference with a renewed energy...
Carl and Annie and Steve and Lupe shared their conversation stories and coming back into activity...
Their road to the temple was also part of their topic...
Our Stake Presidency, the temple coun and his wife and a memeber ot the mission presidency also spoke.
The Spirit was strong and I know I came away from conference with a renewed energy...
My talk given in Stake Conference
Missionary Work and Experiences
Talk for Stake Conference
January 10, 2010
Good Morning Brothers and Sisters,
I’m thankful for the opportunity to visit with you today…
When I left the MTC, Elder Johnson, Sister Ferre and I were instructed to remove our name tags before we arrived in Singapore. Missionaries were not legal in the countries we would be serving in. We were Representatives of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Our assignments were to strengthen the members and to support them in their efforts to share the gospel.
The members in Sri Lanka soon realized the importance of their involvement with introducing the gospel to their family members, friends, and neighbors and that they were to be the shepherds to those around them.
President Monson told the newly called mission presidents and their wives, "There is. . . no substitute for a member-oriented proselyting program. Tracting will not substitute for it. Golden questions will not substitute for it. A member-oriented program is the key to success, and it works wherever we try it” I know that is true from my experiences as a missionary and since that time as a member missionary.
Our family has always prayed for the missionaries…Then we changed our prayers to ask for help to be better member missionaries...As a family and individually we found our prayers changing and asking that we would be able to create missionary opportunities and then be prepared to share the gospel.
I loved the thought my mission president, Robert Houghton told us; “Sweetly, boldly, tell the right people at the right time why we are here.”
Some time ago, our neighbors had a party and invited us to attend. Before the party started one of our neighbors welcomed us to the neighborhood group…and then he let us know they knew we were Mormon and none of them were interested. Steve and I told them we had respect for what they were feeling. We haven’t tried to share the gospel with them, but that hasn’t stopped us from taking their garbage cans in from the street, picking up their tumble weeds by the fence, visiting with them and just being their friends.
Deb Parker was one of the first people I met when I started teaching at Ventana Ranch Elem. That was four years ago. We started chatting and getting to know each other, a friendship developed. I invited her to the Veterans’ Day program. The first year she didn’t come…the second year she came and really enjoyed it. During our visits I found that Deb had a love for our Savior…There were many things that Deb didn’t agree with about our church. I wouldn’t argue or debate…I would tell her I had respect for how she felt...
I made sure Deb had a Book of Mormon. Occasionally, I gave her verses that I read during my studies and visited with her about what I liked about them. A few times she would also read them and then discuss with me how she felt.
One day I was reading Elder Perry’s conference talk about sharing the gospel and being a member missionary. Elder Perry referenced a scripture found in
Doctrine & Covenants section 33 that told us to open our mouths.
He said to open our mouths three times.
· First and foremost, we should declare our belief in Jesus Christ and His Atonement.
· The second time we open our mouths, we should tell in our own words the story of the First Vision
· The third time we open our mouths, let us testify of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ
I continued to pray for opportunities to share the gospel with Deb and the right things to say to her. By keeping it simple… Not trying to share my whole entire life’s knowledge about the gospel… this is how I started with Deb. As I prayed; opportunities were created.
Deb started asking more and more questions.
One day I passed Deb. She stopped me and said, “I need to talk to you.” We chatted for a few moments and when others started coming in; I excused myself and told Deb I would visit with her later. But that wasn’t good enough. She followed me to another area where we continued our visit.
I felt impressed to tell Deb about the missionaries. I let Deb know that we had wonderful Sister Missionaries serving in our area. I mentioned that there were 6-10 lessons that the sisters gave and they would be able to answer all of her question. I encouraged her to just go into it with the idea of finding out answers. She agreed. I told her that the missionaries come to our home once a month for dinner. She said that worked for her.
I called the missionaries to let them know that Deb would be coming for dinner and that she was willing to listen to their lessons.
Sunday evening came and Deb arrived with her scriptures in hand. After clearing the table from dinner we went into the living room, had a prayer and started the discussion. The Spirit was so strong.
Deb accepted the reading assignment the sisters gave her and another appointment was scheduled. After talking with Bishop Fuller, we invited Sis. Lovin, the Ventana Ward RS Pres to join us in the discussions.
The next appointment, the missionaries asked Deb if she had had a chance to read her assignment. She smiled really big and said yes…5 times. We all laughed…Before we started the discussion I asked Deb if she was saying the opening or closing prayer…she chose the closing…again the Spirit was really strong. Deb could feel a change coming over her…she knew what she was hearing, reading and studying was from God…
Our lives will never be the same. Steve, Amanda and I have so enjoyed having the missionaries in our home, sharing the gospel with Deb and seeing her come to the knowledge of the restored truth that is on the earth today.
Elder Perry also said, “Missionaries will continue to do the best they can, but wouldn't it be better if you and I stepped up to do a job that is rightfully ours?”
Each Sunday when the sacrament prayer is said, I am reminded the importance of the words I hear
“That we may eat in remembrance of the body of thy son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son,
Here is the promise given …
that they may always have his dSpirit to be with them.”
I know that God will be on our right hand and on our left, and that his cSpirit shall be in our hearts, and his dangels round about us, to bear us up as we prepare ourselves to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places as we strive to share the gospel with those around us…
In the name of Jesus Christ
Amen
Talk for Stake Conference
January 10, 2010
Good Morning Brothers and Sisters,
I’m thankful for the opportunity to visit with you today…
When I left the MTC, Elder Johnson, Sister Ferre and I were instructed to remove our name tags before we arrived in Singapore. Missionaries were not legal in the countries we would be serving in. We were Representatives of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Our assignments were to strengthen the members and to support them in their efforts to share the gospel.
The members in Sri Lanka soon realized the importance of their involvement with introducing the gospel to their family members, friends, and neighbors and that they were to be the shepherds to those around them.
President Monson told the newly called mission presidents and their wives, "There is. . . no substitute for a member-oriented proselyting program. Tracting will not substitute for it. Golden questions will not substitute for it. A member-oriented program is the key to success, and it works wherever we try it” I know that is true from my experiences as a missionary and since that time as a member missionary.
Our family has always prayed for the missionaries…Then we changed our prayers to ask for help to be better member missionaries...As a family and individually we found our prayers changing and asking that we would be able to create missionary opportunities and then be prepared to share the gospel.
I loved the thought my mission president, Robert Houghton told us; “Sweetly, boldly, tell the right people at the right time why we are here.”
Some time ago, our neighbors had a party and invited us to attend. Before the party started one of our neighbors welcomed us to the neighborhood group…and then he let us know they knew we were Mormon and none of them were interested. Steve and I told them we had respect for what they were feeling. We haven’t tried to share the gospel with them, but that hasn’t stopped us from taking their garbage cans in from the street, picking up their tumble weeds by the fence, visiting with them and just being their friends.
Deb Parker was one of the first people I met when I started teaching at Ventana Ranch Elem. That was four years ago. We started chatting and getting to know each other, a friendship developed. I invited her to the Veterans’ Day program. The first year she didn’t come…the second year she came and really enjoyed it. During our visits I found that Deb had a love for our Savior…There were many things that Deb didn’t agree with about our church. I wouldn’t argue or debate…I would tell her I had respect for how she felt...
I made sure Deb had a Book of Mormon. Occasionally, I gave her verses that I read during my studies and visited with her about what I liked about them. A few times she would also read them and then discuss with me how she felt.
One day I was reading Elder Perry’s conference talk about sharing the gospel and being a member missionary. Elder Perry referenced a scripture found in
Doctrine & Covenants section 33 that told us to open our mouths.
He said to open our mouths three times.
· First and foremost, we should declare our belief in Jesus Christ and His Atonement.
· The second time we open our mouths, we should tell in our own words the story of the First Vision
· The third time we open our mouths, let us testify of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ
I continued to pray for opportunities to share the gospel with Deb and the right things to say to her. By keeping it simple… Not trying to share my whole entire life’s knowledge about the gospel… this is how I started with Deb. As I prayed; opportunities were created.
Deb started asking more and more questions.
One day I passed Deb. She stopped me and said, “I need to talk to you.” We chatted for a few moments and when others started coming in; I excused myself and told Deb I would visit with her later. But that wasn’t good enough. She followed me to another area where we continued our visit.
I felt impressed to tell Deb about the missionaries. I let Deb know that we had wonderful Sister Missionaries serving in our area. I mentioned that there were 6-10 lessons that the sisters gave and they would be able to answer all of her question. I encouraged her to just go into it with the idea of finding out answers. She agreed. I told her that the missionaries come to our home once a month for dinner. She said that worked for her.
I called the missionaries to let them know that Deb would be coming for dinner and that she was willing to listen to their lessons.
Sunday evening came and Deb arrived with her scriptures in hand. After clearing the table from dinner we went into the living room, had a prayer and started the discussion. The Spirit was so strong.
Deb accepted the reading assignment the sisters gave her and another appointment was scheduled. After talking with Bishop Fuller, we invited Sis. Lovin, the Ventana Ward RS Pres to join us in the discussions.
The next appointment, the missionaries asked Deb if she had had a chance to read her assignment. She smiled really big and said yes…5 times. We all laughed…Before we started the discussion I asked Deb if she was saying the opening or closing prayer…she chose the closing…again the Spirit was really strong. Deb could feel a change coming over her…she knew what she was hearing, reading and studying was from God…
Our lives will never be the same. Steve, Amanda and I have so enjoyed having the missionaries in our home, sharing the gospel with Deb and seeing her come to the knowledge of the restored truth that is on the earth today.
Elder Perry also said, “Missionaries will continue to do the best they can, but wouldn't it be better if you and I stepped up to do a job that is rightfully ours?”
Each Sunday when the sacrament prayer is said, I am reminded the importance of the words I hear
“That we may eat in remembrance of the body of thy son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son,
Here is the promise given …
that they may always have his dSpirit to be with them.”
I know that God will be on our right hand and on our left, and that his cSpirit shall be in our hearts, and his dangels round about us, to bear us up as we prepare ourselves to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places as we strive to share the gospel with those around us…
In the name of Jesus Christ
Amen
Deb Parker's talk given in Stake Conference on 1-10-10
Stake Conference Talk
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Good morning, Brothers and Sisters:
My name is Debra Parker, and I was born and raised in southern California. I attended a “non-denominational” Christian church with my family all of my growing up years, and have known our Heavenly Father and received His Son Jesus Christ as my personal Savior early in my youth. There has never been a day that I did not feel His love, even though He didn’t always feel mine in return.
When I was about 14, my sister Diane and I attended a Fireside Chat with an LDS friend. The reason for our being there was not the usual reason one attends a Fireside ~ this one was special to us because the Osmond Brothers were speaking (a few of you may have heard of them J). It was an incredible experience, highly emotional for all attending, as the Brothers shared their powerful personal testimonies of the truth of the Book of Mormon. Upon leaving we were offered some literature, with an invitation to read certain scripture passages. We did, and found them interesting, igniting a desire to know more about this “new” religion. We attended the Visitor’s Center at the Los Angeles Temple and received a Book of Mormon of our own. Regrettably, I can’t tell you what became of that copy ~ my sister and I continued learning a little more about the Church but our interest simply wasn’t enough to sustain further investigation at that point in our lives, and we didn’t have much support for it then, either ~ no one in our family knew much about Mormonism, and so our curiosity ended there for a time.
As the years passed though, and my interest ebbed and flowed, I would pick up a book or article now and then and read more about the Church. Most of what I found to read was not always favorable to the LDS faith. In fact, I have read much that is diametrically opposed to gaining a testimony regarding the truth of the gospel doctrine. Through the years, though, one thing kept happening that kept my interest and need to know more continuing; even as my life changed, and we’d moved a number of times, it seemed everywhere I would end up, some member of the LDS Church would come into my life; someone that seemed, in retrospect, specifically designed to be there for me to inquire of, bounce ideas off of, get me thinking ~ keeping that spark of interest burning. You see ~ my personality is such that I am the type of person who wants to KNOW and learn ~ to analyze things to the “nth” degree, to know with certain surety that what I know is true ~ in other words, not yet strong enough in faith to accept the ‘substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen’ (as we read in Hebrews 11:1).
Through the years, as our Heavenly Father directed these Saints’ paths to intersect with mine, I have been aware of a gentle prodding, a certain nudging, challenging me to seek further into the information I have gleaned over so many years. My dearest girlfriend moved from southern California to the Ogden area, and within two years she and her family were baptized. I remember sitting at her kitchen table at 3:00 in the morning questioning her and her husband about Church doctrine. I was fascinated! While in Newport about eight years ago, I had a dear LDS friend who I scrapbooked with and I can remember many late, late nights spent in discussion with her and her husband over Church doctrine, and arguing (for my part) over questions I posed to them about how this CAN’T be, and what about THIS, and how can you prove THAT, etc. The patience and love that they showed me was profound. I invited the local missionaries to our home for dinner, and we listened to the first discussion, received a copy of the Book of Mormon and an invitation to pray about what we read, and after discussing it with my husband, we decided not to continue the discussions at that time. Four years ago when my family moved to Albuquerque, and I enrolled my daughter at Cibola High School, I immediately noted the 7-Bar Stake Building, and it has been there as a gentle reminder to me every day I’ve passed it that I feel I have some unfinished business there…
In Alma 32:21 we read: “And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.”
This verse brings me to the reason for my talk today. As my life here in Albuquerque has continued to change and evolve, our Heavenly Father, in His infinite mercy, has seen fit to continue a nearly 36-year-old process of sending His emissaries to gently direct my thoughts and my heart toward His truths. A number of people here have come into my life that have been instrumental in helping me to grow and mature to a place where my heart is open and listening to the quiet promptings of the Holy Spirit. One of those incredible people is Sister Parks, whom I have had the good fortune to work with at Ventana Ranch Elementary for a number of years. As she would pass through my office, we began having some wonderful discussions about the Church and about my years of interest and I looked forward to every encounter, and tried to have questions prepared for her each time I would see her. Early last year, I felt myself being drawn to visit the Temple grounds, and I began to spend quiet Sunday afternoons sitting outside the Temple praying, studying scriptures, listening to talks given by the General Authorities and others, reading Ensign articles, and basically unraveling years of misinformation and vitriolic anti-Mormonism views I’d read over time.
I cannot point to one perfect moment of clarity regarding discovery of the truth of the Book of Mormon, as I have felt my heart wrapping around the idea for quite some time, but I can say with all honesty what finally broke through to me in a way that I will never forget; it happened while I was sitting in the warm sunshine on a bench at the Temple, looking up to see the angel Moroni atop the Temple spire, listening to the General Conference talk “Safety for the Soul”, given by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland on Sunday afternoon October 4th. As he neared the end of his talk, his voice rose with the passion and conviction that he felt in sharing his powerful testimony of the truth of the Book of Mormon, and I was captured by his statement: “In this I stand with my own great-grandfather, who said simply enough, ‘No wicked man could write such a book as this; and no good man would write it, unless it were true and he were commanded of God to do so.’”
I was invited by Sister Parks to join her family and the sister Missionaries at her home one Sunday for dinner and to “chat” about my story with them. That night, as we talked, a wonderful feeling overtook me, and I promised to pray and study the information they shared with me. I couldn’t wait until the next discussion! I continued coming back to Annette and Steve’s very welcoming home for the discussions, sometimes two times in a week, and it seemed I couldn’t absorb the information fast enough or deep enough. I felt a literal burning to know all that I could about this gospel, and although I’m sure I challenged these poor sisters with my incessant questions, they were kind and oh, so patient with me. When the question was posed to me regarding praying for a baptism decision and date, it was not a difficult decision, as I had finally quieted my mind and heart enough to understand and listen for the gentle voice of the Holy Ghost. On November 7th, I was baptized at the 7-Bar Stake Building, with my family and friends in attendance, and was blessed to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost the following day, on my son’s 15th birthday. Jonny is now taking the discussions with the Missionaries, and I have every hope that the promises given by our Heavenly Father will be manifested in our home as we continue to seek His will for our lives and to follow His commandments.
My life has been blessed beyond measure this past year, and I wish to testify to you not just the fact that I believe, but that I KNOW these things to be true ~ our Heavenly Father lives; His Son Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, and by His Atoning Sacrifice we can return one day to live with our Father in Heaven; the Book of Mormon is true; Joseph Smith was a Prophet ordained of God to restore the fullness of the everlasting gospel in these latter days; and we have a living Prophet here on earth today, Thomas S. Monson.
I share these things with you in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Good morning, Brothers and Sisters:
My name is Debra Parker, and I was born and raised in southern California. I attended a “non-denominational” Christian church with my family all of my growing up years, and have known our Heavenly Father and received His Son Jesus Christ as my personal Savior early in my youth. There has never been a day that I did not feel His love, even though He didn’t always feel mine in return.
When I was about 14, my sister Diane and I attended a Fireside Chat with an LDS friend. The reason for our being there was not the usual reason one attends a Fireside ~ this one was special to us because the Osmond Brothers were speaking (a few of you may have heard of them J). It was an incredible experience, highly emotional for all attending, as the Brothers shared their powerful personal testimonies of the truth of the Book of Mormon. Upon leaving we were offered some literature, with an invitation to read certain scripture passages. We did, and found them interesting, igniting a desire to know more about this “new” religion. We attended the Visitor’s Center at the Los Angeles Temple and received a Book of Mormon of our own. Regrettably, I can’t tell you what became of that copy ~ my sister and I continued learning a little more about the Church but our interest simply wasn’t enough to sustain further investigation at that point in our lives, and we didn’t have much support for it then, either ~ no one in our family knew much about Mormonism, and so our curiosity ended there for a time.
As the years passed though, and my interest ebbed and flowed, I would pick up a book or article now and then and read more about the Church. Most of what I found to read was not always favorable to the LDS faith. In fact, I have read much that is diametrically opposed to gaining a testimony regarding the truth of the gospel doctrine. Through the years, though, one thing kept happening that kept my interest and need to know more continuing; even as my life changed, and we’d moved a number of times, it seemed everywhere I would end up, some member of the LDS Church would come into my life; someone that seemed, in retrospect, specifically designed to be there for me to inquire of, bounce ideas off of, get me thinking ~ keeping that spark of interest burning. You see ~ my personality is such that I am the type of person who wants to KNOW and learn ~ to analyze things to the “nth” degree, to know with certain surety that what I know is true ~ in other words, not yet strong enough in faith to accept the ‘substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen’ (as we read in Hebrews 11:1).
Through the years, as our Heavenly Father directed these Saints’ paths to intersect with mine, I have been aware of a gentle prodding, a certain nudging, challenging me to seek further into the information I have gleaned over so many years. My dearest girlfriend moved from southern California to the Ogden area, and within two years she and her family were baptized. I remember sitting at her kitchen table at 3:00 in the morning questioning her and her husband about Church doctrine. I was fascinated! While in Newport about eight years ago, I had a dear LDS friend who I scrapbooked with and I can remember many late, late nights spent in discussion with her and her husband over Church doctrine, and arguing (for my part) over questions I posed to them about how this CAN’T be, and what about THIS, and how can you prove THAT, etc. The patience and love that they showed me was profound. I invited the local missionaries to our home for dinner, and we listened to the first discussion, received a copy of the Book of Mormon and an invitation to pray about what we read, and after discussing it with my husband, we decided not to continue the discussions at that time. Four years ago when my family moved to Albuquerque, and I enrolled my daughter at Cibola High School, I immediately noted the 7-Bar Stake Building, and it has been there as a gentle reminder to me every day I’ve passed it that I feel I have some unfinished business there…
In Alma 32:21 we read: “And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.”
This verse brings me to the reason for my talk today. As my life here in Albuquerque has continued to change and evolve, our Heavenly Father, in His infinite mercy, has seen fit to continue a nearly 36-year-old process of sending His emissaries to gently direct my thoughts and my heart toward His truths. A number of people here have come into my life that have been instrumental in helping me to grow and mature to a place where my heart is open and listening to the quiet promptings of the Holy Spirit. One of those incredible people is Sister Parks, whom I have had the good fortune to work with at Ventana Ranch Elementary for a number of years. As she would pass through my office, we began having some wonderful discussions about the Church and about my years of interest and I looked forward to every encounter, and tried to have questions prepared for her each time I would see her. Early last year, I felt myself being drawn to visit the Temple grounds, and I began to spend quiet Sunday afternoons sitting outside the Temple praying, studying scriptures, listening to talks given by the General Authorities and others, reading Ensign articles, and basically unraveling years of misinformation and vitriolic anti-Mormonism views I’d read over time.
I cannot point to one perfect moment of clarity regarding discovery of the truth of the Book of Mormon, as I have felt my heart wrapping around the idea for quite some time, but I can say with all honesty what finally broke through to me in a way that I will never forget; it happened while I was sitting in the warm sunshine on a bench at the Temple, looking up to see the angel Moroni atop the Temple spire, listening to the General Conference talk “Safety for the Soul”, given by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland on Sunday afternoon October 4th. As he neared the end of his talk, his voice rose with the passion and conviction that he felt in sharing his powerful testimony of the truth of the Book of Mormon, and I was captured by his statement: “In this I stand with my own great-grandfather, who said simply enough, ‘No wicked man could write such a book as this; and no good man would write it, unless it were true and he were commanded of God to do so.’”
I was invited by Sister Parks to join her family and the sister Missionaries at her home one Sunday for dinner and to “chat” about my story with them. That night, as we talked, a wonderful feeling overtook me, and I promised to pray and study the information they shared with me. I couldn’t wait until the next discussion! I continued coming back to Annette and Steve’s very welcoming home for the discussions, sometimes two times in a week, and it seemed I couldn’t absorb the information fast enough or deep enough. I felt a literal burning to know all that I could about this gospel, and although I’m sure I challenged these poor sisters with my incessant questions, they were kind and oh, so patient with me. When the question was posed to me regarding praying for a baptism decision and date, it was not a difficult decision, as I had finally quieted my mind and heart enough to understand and listen for the gentle voice of the Holy Ghost. On November 7th, I was baptized at the 7-Bar Stake Building, with my family and friends in attendance, and was blessed to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost the following day, on my son’s 15th birthday. Jonny is now taking the discussions with the Missionaries, and I have every hope that the promises given by our Heavenly Father will be manifested in our home as we continue to seek His will for our lives and to follow His commandments.
My life has been blessed beyond measure this past year, and I wish to testify to you not just the fact that I believe, but that I KNOW these things to be true ~ our Heavenly Father lives; His Son Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, and by His Atoning Sacrifice we can return one day to live with our Father in Heaven; the Book of Mormon is true; Joseph Smith was a Prophet ordained of God to restore the fullness of the everlasting gospel in these latter days; and we have a living Prophet here on earth today, Thomas S. Monson.
I share these things with you in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Our family's Nativities...
I put all the Nativities in one area this year and not all around the house...
My visiting teacher in Japan made this for me my first year living in Japan...The origami Nativity...she always taught me new things about the charm of Japan...
The oldest daugther and her family gave this nativity to us last year since we are now living in the southwest part of the USA...
We bought this our first year in Japan...
Mary Ann usually keeps this one for a few days in her room and then gives it back to us to keep until the next year...so we add it to our display...
Amanda made this nativity our first year in NM at a Super Saturday activity...I made the other two daughters each one for their own homes...Chrstmas tree...and other decorations...
Amanda did a fabulous job decorating our red, white and blue Christmas tree...
Our tree skirt that was made in Japan from a wedding kimono...
We have a star and a stocking made from the same wedding kimono as part of our decorations...
I love Acoma pottery and these ornaments are from the Acoma Pueblo...
Amanda's first Christmas ornaments...hearts are her favorite...
My friend, Cleone gave this pillow to me when she visited a few years ago...it is in our entry way
Our Christmas center piece...
I love snowmen...bought all of these while living in Japan a long with the flowers...
More decorations from Japan...also in our front entry...
Aaron's letter 1-11-10
THE WEEKLY:
Hey Family!!
Well this week I have a little more time to talk because I didn't have very many emails and am on a little later. Well this week has been awesome already and I have come to feel and learn tons of things!
Sunday we went to the other ward of Nonami and our investigator also attended. His name is Tomokazu Mori and now has a date of Feb. 14 for baptism!! He is 22 and learned about the church when he homestayed in Utah 5 years ago. Long story short the missionaries about 3 months ago recontacted him, he became golden and with a testimony, and now we are working together with him to get him ready for the 14th! He has no problem whatsoever except for wanting his parents permission and having a hard time talking about this stuff. He is way awesome and we are praying that it will all work out!
Then after church another investigator came and we had a lesson with her and an awesome member sister. This member sister was really touched by the spirit and started shaking all intense and it was an experience I'll never forget. Kind of shocked my companion and me. But in the end the investigator and her ended up being the same type of person spiritually so it turned out well!!
Then today, even though it was Pday, we went out with english class students and our awesome ward missionary sister for tacos and then over to one of their houses. During this whole time I was really wanting a way to bring up the gospel so I could begin a lesson. Then, of course, God opened up a way.
In the car on the way to Motoya's house I was able to bring up gospel convo. and later in the house more came up! The member we had too has an amazing testimony and the experience turned into quite the awesome one!!
So, all in all, I have come to realize that the Lord really does guide us in our righteous desires. All of the things I have really wanted lately, more lessons or an opportunity to teach..., have been granted. I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who watches out for us and grants unto us graciously.This church is the best church ever and just so happens to be the true one too!!
I hope all of you as well are able to feel this often as well as my love and appreciation for each of you!!
Elder Parks
Hey Family!!
Well this week I have a little more time to talk because I didn't have very many emails and am on a little later. Well this week has been awesome already and I have come to feel and learn tons of things!
Sunday we went to the other ward of Nonami and our investigator also attended. His name is Tomokazu Mori and now has a date of Feb. 14 for baptism!! He is 22 and learned about the church when he homestayed in Utah 5 years ago. Long story short the missionaries about 3 months ago recontacted him, he became golden and with a testimony, and now we are working together with him to get him ready for the 14th! He has no problem whatsoever except for wanting his parents permission and having a hard time talking about this stuff. He is way awesome and we are praying that it will all work out!
Then after church another investigator came and we had a lesson with her and an awesome member sister. This member sister was really touched by the spirit and started shaking all intense and it was an experience I'll never forget. Kind of shocked my companion and me. But in the end the investigator and her ended up being the same type of person spiritually so it turned out well!!
Then today, even though it was Pday, we went out with english class students and our awesome ward missionary sister for tacos and then over to one of their houses. During this whole time I was really wanting a way to bring up the gospel so I could begin a lesson. Then, of course, God opened up a way.
In the car on the way to Motoya's house I was able to bring up gospel convo. and later in the house more came up! The member we had too has an amazing testimony and the experience turned into quite the awesome one!!
So, all in all, I have come to realize that the Lord really does guide us in our righteous desires. All of the things I have really wanted lately, more lessons or an opportunity to teach..., have been granted. I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who watches out for us and grants unto us graciously.This church is the best church ever and just so happens to be the true one too!!
I hope all of you as well are able to feel this often as well as my love and appreciation for each of you!!
Elder Parks
Aaron's letters 1-18-10
WOW!!! That is way awesome!! Dad is a great guy for all that stuff! and you two are quite the awesome pair!! I love hearing about all the things you do.
Sounds like the work of the missionaries in ABQ is nowhere near stopping! You are all doing great and seeing the miracles just like us missionaries in the field! And Dad thanks for the note. I can really feel the excitement of the last 5 months and an extra love for the people and desire to find the good ones!
THE WEEKLY:
Hey Family!
So there goes another really quick week and lots more busy experiences to fill the book! Our zone of 20 missionaries and the three areas that my companion and I are over keep us on our toes and trying to reach goals just the same as before!
We have some really good investigators right now that we are planning on commiting to baptism soon. One of the closest is Hiromi Kobayashi. She sings opera and we met her at that hawaiin restaurant by the church a few weeks ago. Well we have taught her lesson one and she has great relations with the members. She has been very prepared of God and so hopefully she'll grasp onto the rest of the message and progress towards baptism.
One thing I have learned in the midst of all this business and work is that God really guides us. As I have had many desires to see certain things God has really revealed His hand yet again. I am always humbled as I review the past few days and realize the galore of Divine help. God really is our loving Heavenly Father. He wants to help us so much and is only waiting to do so. As we go to Him with our righteous desires He will make manifest the truth and help us along the way.
I hope each of you as well can truly feel this direction in your life.
I only have five months left and plan on continuing the success and having fun as well!
I love you!
Elder Parks
Sounds like the work of the missionaries in ABQ is nowhere near stopping! You are all doing great and seeing the miracles just like us missionaries in the field! And Dad thanks for the note. I can really feel the excitement of the last 5 months and an extra love for the people and desire to find the good ones!
THE WEEKLY:
Hey Family!
So there goes another really quick week and lots more busy experiences to fill the book! Our zone of 20 missionaries and the three areas that my companion and I are over keep us on our toes and trying to reach goals just the same as before!
We have some really good investigators right now that we are planning on commiting to baptism soon. One of the closest is Hiromi Kobayashi. She sings opera and we met her at that hawaiin restaurant by the church a few weeks ago. Well we have taught her lesson one and she has great relations with the members. She has been very prepared of God and so hopefully she'll grasp onto the rest of the message and progress towards baptism.
One thing I have learned in the midst of all this business and work is that God really guides us. As I have had many desires to see certain things God has really revealed His hand yet again. I am always humbled as I review the past few days and realize the galore of Divine help. God really is our loving Heavenly Father. He wants to help us so much and is only waiting to do so. As we go to Him with our righteous desires He will make manifest the truth and help us along the way.
I hope each of you as well can truly feel this direction in your life.
I only have five months left and plan on continuing the success and having fun as well!
I love you!
Elder Parks
Aaron's letter 12-21-09
Hey Everyone!
The day here is great right now! Great weather for the past week or so and today is the same! Just kinda cold!
Yeah today Elder Alkonis and Ii are going to that Hawaiin party! We are way excited to go and meet tons of new people and have lots of fun!! After that we are practicing with the zone for the Christmas Eve concert. Then tonight we will be home teaching with a member!!
Way fun! Love you!
Happy Anniversary! That is so cool! Congrats on the awesome life and example you have shared in my life as well! Good times to remember!!
I love the Polar Express party!! You have such fun times with your class! yeah I am excited to hear about Amandas finals too!!!!
Sweet thanks a ton for the pics!!!!
We don't have any cake plans but have some meal plans with some members and with another district! we are trying to get lots of member visits because new years here is so huge that real working and finding the old way doesn't really work.so fun times and stories for later!!
I am doing great!!great weather and we are both healthy and way happy!we have fun together all the time!!!
Thank You Thank You Thank You!!
That is the best gift anyone could give!! Thanks a ton for your sacrifice and service towards me on my mission!! I love you tons and the Lord is way pleased with everything you have done for one of His servants!!
Love elder parks
THE WEEKLY:
Hey Family!!
So this week I will be talking to most of you on your Christmas Eve, my Christmas Day, so this letter shall be short.
Just to let you know how much I love and appreciate each of you and your efforts toward me, the Lord and the GOSPEL!!
The Christmas season is one of love and I hope each of you has been able to feel that greatly in your lives! I have been able to a lot and enjoy the presence of the Lord as I work in His field of Nagoya Japan!
I have exactly 6 months left from today the 22nd of December and intend on using that to the best!!
I love you tons and know this is the TRUE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST!
Love Elder Parks
The day here is great right now! Great weather for the past week or so and today is the same! Just kinda cold!
Yeah today Elder Alkonis and Ii are going to that Hawaiin party! We are way excited to go and meet tons of new people and have lots of fun!! After that we are practicing with the zone for the Christmas Eve concert. Then tonight we will be home teaching with a member!!
Way fun! Love you!
Happy Anniversary! That is so cool! Congrats on the awesome life and example you have shared in my life as well! Good times to remember!!
I love the Polar Express party!! You have such fun times with your class! yeah I am excited to hear about Amandas finals too!!!!
Sweet thanks a ton for the pics!!!!
We don't have any cake plans but have some meal plans with some members and with another district! we are trying to get lots of member visits because new years here is so huge that real working and finding the old way doesn't really work.so fun times and stories for later!!
I am doing great!!great weather and we are both healthy and way happy!we have fun together all the time!!!
Thank You Thank You Thank You!!
That is the best gift anyone could give!! Thanks a ton for your sacrifice and service towards me on my mission!! I love you tons and the Lord is way pleased with everything you have done for one of His servants!!
Love elder parks
THE WEEKLY:
Hey Family!!
So this week I will be talking to most of you on your Christmas Eve, my Christmas Day, so this letter shall be short.
Just to let you know how much I love and appreciate each of you and your efforts toward me, the Lord and the GOSPEL!!
The Christmas season is one of love and I hope each of you has been able to feel that greatly in your lives! I have been able to a lot and enjoy the presence of the Lord as I work in His field of Nagoya Japan!
I have exactly 6 months left from today the 22nd of December and intend on using that to the best!!
I love you tons and know this is the TRUE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST!
Love Elder Parks
Aaron's letter 12-8-09
Hey Guys!
I am way excited to see the pics from the trip! With BYU yeah I am still planning on elemtary ed as my major....
Hi Amanda!!
That is so cool that Thanksgiving was fun this year!! Guess what!? I will be there next year!
I am excited to also hear some of your chorus stuff when I get home as well as your awesome piano skills!!
I love you!
Elder Parks
ps, thanks for your letter and cute pictures!!
That is so cool you had a good thanksgiving time! We had a party with the Travellers and other missionaries!!
That is so great with the Book of Mormon challenge!! Way to go!
We still have the Chinese couples but the two who are getting baptized will probably get baptized on the 27th now because they are moving the 20th. So pray that they stay strong and close to baptism. As well that the other two, Mo and Fu, will accept baptism and continue to progess well!
Wow dad is taking on quite a load with his new HC assignment! go him! it will be fun!
THE WEEKLY:
Hey Family!
Well again the comp erased my letter so i have to quickly start from scratch!
But what I want you all to know is that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Christmas is a time to closen to Him.
Elder Alkonis and I have made it a goal to focus on Jesus Christ each time we teach and help people understand the strength possible in Christ. The Book of Mormon and prayer are so important in guiding us along this path of knowing Jesus Christ and as we pursue them we can become the sprititual people God desires us to be.
The Christmas season is a very special time to stengthen our relations with Christ and i challenge each of you to begin to do so!
I love you tons and Merry Christmas!
Elder Parks
I am way excited to see the pics from the trip! With BYU yeah I am still planning on elemtary ed as my major....
Hi Amanda!!
That is so cool that Thanksgiving was fun this year!! Guess what!? I will be there next year!
I am excited to also hear some of your chorus stuff when I get home as well as your awesome piano skills!!
I love you!
Elder Parks
ps, thanks for your letter and cute pictures!!
That is so cool you had a good thanksgiving time! We had a party with the Travellers and other missionaries!!
That is so great with the Book of Mormon challenge!! Way to go!
We still have the Chinese couples but the two who are getting baptized will probably get baptized on the 27th now because they are moving the 20th. So pray that they stay strong and close to baptism. As well that the other two, Mo and Fu, will accept baptism and continue to progess well!
Wow dad is taking on quite a load with his new HC assignment! go him! it will be fun!
THE WEEKLY:
Hey Family!
Well again the comp erased my letter so i have to quickly start from scratch!
But what I want you all to know is that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Christmas is a time to closen to Him.
Elder Alkonis and I have made it a goal to focus on Jesus Christ each time we teach and help people understand the strength possible in Christ. The Book of Mormon and prayer are so important in guiding us along this path of knowing Jesus Christ and as we pursue them we can become the sprititual people God desires us to be.
The Christmas season is a very special time to stengthen our relations with Christ and i challenge each of you to begin to do so!
I love you tons and Merry Christmas!
Elder Parks
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