Whom then shall I fear?

I think of how much we tend to value public opinion… especially with all of the social networking and status updates now days. Advertising sells that, “image is everything”. We spend so much time checking ourselves in the mirror but so little time checking our hearts with the Lord. Public opinion becomes our God and we so freely sacrifice the majority of our energy and time on the altar to uphold it.

Depression seems to be such a rising problem in society. I know for some people it is a very real illness but there are those who needlessly suffer with anxiety and depression from fear of what others think or don’t think of them.

“who art thou, that thou shouldest be ^aafraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; 13 And ^aforgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the ^bearth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor? 15 But I am the Lord thy God, that divided the ^asea, whose waves roared: The Lord of hosts is his name.16 And I have put my ^awords in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.

Why should we lose hope or why should we fear? When it's all said and done, who's opinion really matters most?

Change of Seasons

I noticed a few of the leaves were turning yellow today which means the change of seasons is in the air. This is always a welcome change for me because I LOVE fall! Seeing these signs of nature, made me think of the variety of seasons in life for all of us.

I couldn't help but reflect on the phone call from my dad earlier this morning that mom has been admitted to the hospital again. With her condition seemingly getting worse over the past year, this could be an indication that I am entering another season in my own life... the leaves are changing. I suppose nothing really does stay the same forever and life unfolds in ways we usually don't expect.

Thinking about my mom today, I began to feel a little heavy with fear. "I'm not ready to be at a stage in my life yet where I watch my parents deteriorate.... In 20 yrs. from now I still don't think I'll be ready to handle such a challenge!" Needing some comfort, I recalled the scripture in Mormon that reads, "For do we not read that God is the ^asame ^byesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no ^cvariableness neither shadow of changing?"

I remember sitting in a testimony meeting years ago and listening to a mother who just lost a baby at birth. I'm sure this was something she never imagined would happen to her. But through her tears she had not lost her faith. She stood confident and declared with boldness, "I don't know what the future holds...But I know Who holds the future." I've never forgotten that.

I take comfort in knowing that God will not leave us, He will help us through whatever life requires of us and give us strength to bear it. I believe with all my heart in the promise found in Isaiah "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

"What Faith Can Do"

Photograph Entitled "Resurrection" by, Mark Maybry I have hope because of my Savior, Jesus Christ. I trust in His Atonement for me that as I press forward with faith in Him & do my best to follow His example, He will set things right. I know He lives and loves all of us. I know miracles happen when we keep our focus on Him. One of my favorite radio stations to listen to is K-Love Christian Radio And "What Faith Can Do" by, Kutless is currently my favorite song.

"What Faith Can Do"

By, Kutless

Everybody falls sometimes

Gotta find the strength to rise

From the ashes and make a new beginning

Anyone can feel the ache

You think it’s more than you can take

But you are stronger, stronger than you know

Don’t you give up now

The sun will soon be shining

You gotta face the clouds

To find the silver lining

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains

Hope that doesn’t ever end

Even when the sky is falling

And I’ve seen miracles just happen

Silent prayers get answered

Broken hearts become brand new

That’s what faith can do

It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard

Impossible is not a word

It’s just a reason for someone not to try

Everybody’s scared to death

When they decide to take that step

Out on the water It’ll be alright

Life is so much more

Than what your eyes are seeing

You will find your way

If you keep believing

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains

Hope that doesn’t ever end

Even when the sky is falling

And I’ve seen miracles just happen

Silent prayers get answered

Broken hearts become brand new

That’s what faith can do

Overcome the odds You do have a chance

(That’s what faith can do)

When the world says you can’t

It’ll tell you that you can!

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains

Hope that doesn’t ever end

Even when the sky is falling

And I’ve seen miracles just happen

Silent prayers get answered

Broken hearts become brand new

That’s what faith can do

That's what faith can do!

Even if you fall sometimes

You will have the strength to rise

By Study and by Faith

Winter semester started today. My husband is nervous because his classes are very intense and require long laborious hours of study and homework, leaving very little time for him to work to provide for our cost of living. Really, if it were not for the financial help from his parents while he is in school, I don't know where we would be? We also have food stamps which is something I absolutely have been against but I don't know what else to do?

One thing I do know is that he is supposed to be in school right now. He kicks himself for waiting so long to get his Bachelors Degree but I'm proud of him for having the courage to finish his schooling at this stage in our life! He knows he's in the right place too. He has had wonderful opportunities to work with different professors in Astronomy, Physics and now Planetary Geology. Each professor highly admires Joseph and have written excellent letters of recommendation for his internship this summer.

I don't know where we are going in the next few years. Perhaps we will stay here for another 4 until he gets his Masters? My oldest child will be turning 14 then... that's crazy for me to think about!! Most likely we will move somewhere across the United States. His dream is to work for NASA and I would love to see him achieve that dream.

There is no doubt in my mind that our Heavenly Father has guided us to where we are and is continuing to guide us where we need to be. It's very exciting. I've seen so many miracles in the 11 yrs. of our marriage. Prayer and faith have been a daily part of our journey. Monetarily, I don't like depending on anybody, I have had to humble myself and except a little financial help here and there. But I know that when all is said and done, when Joseph finally finishes school, we will then be in a position to help someone else in their journey.

I want it to be very clear that I have never cared for lots of money. I told my husband when I married him that I would be happy to live in a tiny house and live a very simple life. I don't care for manicures, matching purses and shoes, name brand clothes or name brand anything for that matter. And I think it's wonderful that my kids are content with paper, markers, books and their imagination... so spending money on toys has never been a problem either. It's wonderful! I like the simple life because it helps me treasure the simple things!

I am very excited for my husband to be successful and achieve his dream, not for money but for the sheer thrill of saying that he did it, he got his degree, he accomplished something that he didn't feel he was capable of doing.

I have no doubt that when he finishes up his schooling we will have opprotunities to make very good money. I'm sure it will be nice but at that time, I never want to lose sight of the happiness I have found in simplicity, hard work, prayer, faith, humility and trust in God...because money can't buy any of these things.

Fruit Meet for Repentance

"Repent".... all throughout the scriptures we hear this important word. It is a foundation principle of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. After Jesus was baptized, Satan tried to thwart Christ's mission but to no avail.... triumphantly our perfect Savior escaped the snares of the adversary and the first thing Jesus began to teach was repentance.

"From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."- Matt 4:17

Why is repentance such an important thing? And what did Christ mean when He told the Pharisees and Sadducees to "Bring forth fruit meet for repentance."?

What do we think of when we hear the word "repent"? I believe how well we understand the doctrine of repentance will greatly determine our personal application and affections for it.

What feeling does it provoke... difficulty, uncomfortable, hesitation, condemnation of others, ridicule of self, or on the other hand, does it induce feelings of peace, gratitude, an assurance of God's love, Christ, the Atonement, hope and confidence?

Our 4th Article of Faith states:
"We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are:
First - Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
Second - Repentance
Third - Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins
Fourth - Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost."

I submit to you that repentance is not a one time thing in our life. I submit that is the reason why Christ used the word "fruit" with repentance. A tree doesn't grow to bring forth one fruit but many, a whole harvest and year after year it does. Even within one fruit is the potential for so much more.

Today I read an article given years ago by one of the 12 Apostles, Neal A. Maxwell:

This is just a portion of it but you can see all of it here.... in fact I encourage you to read ALL of it. :)

"For some months, I’ve tried to emphasize repentance, one of the most vital and merciful doctrines of the kingdom. It is too little understood, too little applied by us all, as if it were merely a word on a bumper sticker. Since we have been told clearly by Jesus what manner of men and women we ought to become—even as He is (see 3 Ne. 27:27)—how can we do so, except each of us employs repentance as the regular means of personal progression? Personal repentance is part of taking up the cross daily. (See Luke 9:23.) Without it, clearly there could be no “perfecting of the Saints.” ( Eph. 4:12.)

Besides, there is more individuality in those who are more holy.

Sin, on the other hand, brings sameness; it shrinks us to addictive appetites and insubordinate impulses. For a brief surging, selfish moment, sin may create the illusion of individuality, but only as in the grunting, galloping Gadarene swine! (See Matt. 8:28–32.)

Repentance is a rescuing, not a dour doctrine. It is available to the gross sinner as well as to the already-good individual striving for incremental improvement.

Repentance requires both turning away from evil and turning to God. (See Deut. 4:30; see also Bible Dictionary, s.v. “Repentance.”) When “a mighty change” is required, full repentance involves a 180-degree turn, and without looking back! ( Alma 5:12–13.) Initially, this turning reflects progress from telestial to terrestrial behavior, and later on to celestial behavior. As the sins of the telestial world are left behind, the focus falls ever more steadily upon the sins of omission, which often keep us from full consecration.

Real repentance involves not a mechanical checklist, but a checking of the natural self. Often overlapping and mutually reinforcing, each portion of the process of repentance is essential. This process rests on inner resolve but is much aided by external support." - Neal A. Maxwell

Read the whole article here!

Good Things to Come

I had been feeling a little depressed these last few days. I was in a real slump. My sweet husband came home from school yesterday to a tired and emotional wife. Poor guy. He was very patient with me though and was quick to offer help.

I tried so hard to pull myself up and attend to the needs of our little family but I was on the verge of tears with every effort. There wasn't really one particular thing that was distressing me, it was a bunch of little things all piled on top of each other. It was the fruit of self doubt, thoughts of inadequacy, comparing my weaknesses to all the strengths of the women around me and the typical fears of a mom for the future of her kids.

My children could feel and see the emotion in my face yesterday and seemed to mirror the anxiety and tension toward each other. Shouting matches could be heard throughout the house, which only created a perpetual problem of contention. I felt guilty with each heated exchange they had with each other, feeling as if I started the whole dilemma.

"If this is what I'm teaching my children, what good is it for me to be home with them?" I began to ask myself. "It seems they hardly ever listen to me and when they do all they hear is negative."

My husband encouraged to go to bed early and suggested I'd feel better after a good night's rest. He was right. I needed to step away for a moment because I wasn't seeing clearly at all.

This morning I woke up to find a new video on Mormon Messages called "Good Things to Come". I cried all the way through it. It was everything I needed to hear. It was so refreshing and I felt a renewed hope in my future.

God doesn't expect me to be a perfect mom. I know that. And He doesn't expect me to be happy and sweet all the time either. He knows I'll have hard days. But he doesn't want me to give up, He expects me to keep trying and to trust in Him! Being a stay-at-home mom isn't easy and it's hard to see what good is really being done but I know that my family needs me and God will help me in all that is required of me for good.

"Everyone of us has times when we need to know things will get better. My declaration is that that is precisely what the Gospel of Jesus Christ offers us, especially in times of need." ..... This is how the video starts out and then Elder Holland shares a personal story when he was discouraged in his own life and how the Lord helped him through. Watch the video here, so inspiring it's a must see!!!

Meet Ramona

I've been blogging for a couple of years now and along the way I have met many wonderful people. Ramona is one of them. Ramona found my blog in Jan. this year and in return I found her blog. I have gotten to know her a little through emails and have enjoyed our correspondence very much. We share some southern ties. She grew up in the south and my grandma is a southern gal. Ramona and I both love gospel music. I learned to love gospel music from my mom.... (you see when my mom was growing up she belonged to the African Methodist Evangelical church in Wisconsin and that good old gospel music has never left her soul.)

Ramona has a very witty and fun sense of humor. (It must be the southern girl in her.) I think if we were neighbors I would like to sit on my porch and shoot the breeze with Ramona.

Our greatest bond we share is our love for the Restored Gospel. Ramona was kind enough to take the time and share her testimony with me and here she is letting me share it with you:

"I was baptized on Dec 29 2009. No small feat, considering that I had been assigned two in a series of headstrong Sister Missionaries. Sister Paulson and Sister Mulford were 2 of many, and 2 of only 4 missionaries that made it successfully through my front door.

My husband and I have been married for 10 years and I had noticed that people I didn’t know whose first names were always sister or brother would appear at our door. I wondered if my husband had long lost brothers or sisters he wasn’t telling me about. I also wondered how they found us. We would get calls from Elders and Bishop’s. My husband wasn’t very forthcoming on any info.

We moved again and then the Sisters and Brothers started to tag team. They would ask for Brother Gordy. I would ask, are you my husbands long lost brother? No one would talk. By the time Sisters Paulson and Mulford made it through my door, I wasn’t feeling too sisterly toward them, I thought they were trying to sell me something. I asked them why they came; they said “We came for you.” They also told me that my husband was a Mormon. Are you kidding, he never told me that. I figured that I would listen. I didn’t realize that they represented the Church.


I had always gone to church since I was a little girl. I was born in the South and church going is a way of life. My grandmothers help my reading skills by teaching me scriptures. I always went to church all the time. My grandmother was a serial church goer. She had memberships in at least 3 churches in 3 locations. Most of the time I accompanied her whether I wanted to or not. I discovered that if I could read the scriptures with the rest of the congregation I wouldn’t be bored. I was baptized when I was 8 years old. I decided all by myself. I wanted to go to heaven and meet God.

So, you can imagine my reluctance to be baptized again. The Sisters did their best to explain why I needed to do it again. (Article of Faith #5). One underlying reason for my reluctance was a fear of water. I told them that I would think about it. One Saturday we all went to the Visitors Center to watch a film about Joseph Smith. They seemed to always be talking about this man. They asked me if I knew of him. I said, of course. Everyone knew who he was. In Louisiana, where I am from, he was portrayed as an itinerant preacher who had got himself into trouble and was arrested, but he tried to break out of jail by shooting his way out. Of course I did relay this story quite innocently and with no malice. So we watched a film about Joseph Smith and the Restored Church. I have to say that was amazed at his story. I felt that I could identify with him as a child in search of the right church to go to. I was genuinely sad and angry that he was killed in such a way. Everyone was crying including me. I decided right there to agree to get baptized.

These are some of my favorite scriptures; this is my testimony. I did experience a mighty change of heart.

Alma 5: 12 and according to his faith there was a mighty change wrought in his heart. Behold I say unto you that this is all true.

13 And behold, he preached the word unto your fathers, and a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts, and they humbled themselves and put their trust in the true and living God. And behold, they were faithful until the end; therefore they were saved.

14 And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?

Luke 24: 32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

The Saturday I was baptized was the best day of my life. The Bishop of my church baptized me. As I was lowered into the water, time seemed to stop and when I came up I truly felt that all of my past sins had been washed away.

I love this Church and I know it is true. I believe that Joseph Smith was chosen as a Prophet to restore this church. I know I was born to be here in this time, right now. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ; Amen " - Ramona

Haitian Saints Keep the Faith!

This is an amazing story of faith in the middle of adversity.

Photography by Scot Facer Proctor
Maurine and Scot Proctor, Meridian’s editor and publisher, are currently in Haiti with 125 LDS medical, construction and translation volunteers from Utah.

Much of Haiti lies in rubble. Collapsed roofs lie at angles, smashed against the floor below them. Cinder blocks slant in heaps along the roads. Some streets in Port-au-Prince look like old pictures of bombed-out Berlin after World War II. It’s a horror, an apocalypse.

Yet, amidst a shoddy neighborhood stands a jewel, the Croix-des-Missions LDS church and sounding through the air is a hymn: How Firm a Foundation.

It is a particularly well-chosen song in a land whose physical foundations could not stand the earth’s tremors, but whose Latter-day Saints have proven to be remarkably resilient. They know that though all but a handful have lost their homes, their foundation is in the gospel of Jesus Christ and that is firm.



Attending the 3-hour church block on Sunday felt remarkably normal to us. There were the Saints dressed well, many in crisp, white shirts that looked newly ironed. The deacons wore their white shirts and ties as they reverently passed the sacrament.


How can this be? Without homes, they are living on the street in hastily-assembled, makeshift shelters on any flat land that is available. Their walls may be sheets hung over ropes or pieces of cardboard. Their beds are concrete or hard earth. Everything they owned—and that already wasn’t much—has been stripped from them by an initial quake that lasted about 45 seconds and after shocks that continued for days.

Haiti, right now and for the foreseeable future, is a land sleeping out. People fill the church’s courtyards at night—and instead of woe, they laugh and talk. They have shanties on the median strip between two lanes of riotous traffic.

We asked member after member, how can you be so beautifully groomed on Sunday, given your conditions? They answered that because most everyone is now living in the street, they are indeed dirty during the week, plagued by all the ills that befalls a newly-made street person, but, they added that though they had no water to drink, they had water good enough to wash their clothes.

So there they were singing about what really is their firm foundation and looking like any other LDS congregation across the world—except they are homeless.



Their Lessons and Talks

That is not all. Their lessons and talks were sophisticated and scripturally based, as if they had a library and computer at their fingertips to prepare instead of the side of the road.

The sacrament meeting began with strains of “Come, come ye Saints, no toil, nor labor fear, but with joy wend your way.” For most of us who come from other nations, we would be hard-pressed to find joy in impoverished and broken Haiti before the earthquake, let alone now, but they sang like they meant it, “Happy day, all is well.”

They prayed, “We are all thankful to be counted among the living. We are grateful to know of thy truth. There are many outside the walls of this church who do not have this truth to sustain them through the trials. We know we were kept alive because we have a mission to complete. Bless us all that we can be strong and take care of each other.”

We listened tearfully. The sacrament was passed and each of the seven children sitting on the row next to us took not a single piece of bread but a scoop each. They are hungry.

Then we heard a talk, a surprising, enriching talk from France Nathalie Desir—so beautifully done.She told the audience:“For some of the adversity we face, we can place the weight on our own shoulders because we are not obeying God’s laws. That adversity we can control, but there are some kinds of adversity we can’t control like the earthquake. We didn’t do anything to attract it. We all had friends and families who were killed. A lot of people are discouraged and have lost faith, but we as members of the Church now have a mission.

“We know why we have adversities. They are to make us stronger. We have the freedom to either let them overcome us or to make us strong. Just as we send little children to school, the Lord has sent us here for a school.

“Our big enemy is our pride that keeps us from loving our neighbour and obeying the commandments…Since January 12, we all have experienced sleeping outside. As I was lying in the courtyard looking up at the stars, I knew this was the time to manifest charity and mourn with those who mourn, give food to those who need food.

“We have a certain joy, and the joy is knowing these things are temporary. The trials we are given on earth are for us, and the Lord knows everything we are going through and they are to augment our faith and bring us to God.”

The primary children at the ward were as happy, giggly and bright as any children in the world—maybe more so.

The lessons for the youth were very much like those for the adults.

We must be strong in this time of adversity. We must reach out with love to those who are discouraged.

Home Teaching

Francy Saint-Preux, the High Priest group leader for the ward, said doing home teaching is ten times harder than it used to be because people are no longer in their homes and sleeping somewhere on the street, but after the quake they made every effort to assure that everyone was safe. Temporal needs are difficult to meet because they are so overwhelming and every priesthood leader is inundated. They’ll do anything to help, but there are some things they just can’t do.Francy said, “The island is in disarray from top to bottom.”He noted, “One of the first things I had to do as a leader in the high priests is to restore confidence in the members. I remind them that the important things are still intact. Your kids are safe. You have the gospel. I encourage people to focus on staying close to God. “What we teach the members is the gospel,” he said. Our gospel is simple--pray, read your scriptures, pay your tithing and work. Do everything you can to work. Even the solution to a temporal problem is a spiritual one. Get back to the basics.”

Meet the Members

Guerby Pierre

Guerby Pierre is one of those exceptional people in Haiti who actually has a job. He is well-educated and has a job as an accountant with a billboard company. He tells what happened to him when the earthquake hit:“The things I saw during the earthquake are forever engraved on my memory. You see things in disaster movies, but it is nothing like when it happens in real life, and I cannot ever forget it.

“I was inside at my work, working at my computer, at what seemed like a normal day. Then, all of a sudden with a roaring noise, it seemed like a giant beast had taken the building in his arms and was twisting and shaking it back and forth. My screen fell off my desk; bookshelves started falling, and I ran for the door, but could hardly keep my footing with the shaking. As I stood at the door, the wall I had been leaning against before completely collapsed. “It is so different when you experience this in real life. People think of the great earthquakes in 3rd Nephi. People outside thought it was the Second Coming.

“My work is destroyed. That was my livelihood. I went to my house and it is completely gone, but I was able to go in and get the things that really mattered to me—my temple recommend, my passport, some clothes and my scriptures.”He held up his battered scriptures at that moment, the gilt-edged pages long ago worn away, and we asked him, “Did that happen to your scriptures during the earthquake?”He just smiled back and said, “No, I really love my scriptures and I use them all the time.”The day before the earthquake a tune started wafting through Guerby’s mind. Again and again it came and stayed with him through the day. He realized that the words were “The Lord my pasture will prepare, and guard me with a shepherd’s care.”He was so impressed with the message that returned again and again to him, that he wrote down the words to the hymn and sent them in a note to his sweetheart. The next day the meaning was still in his soul as his world was hurled apart, and he knew that no matter what happened, the Lord had already sent him a message of comfort.Now, Guerby is sleeping outside in a tent every night. The way he looks at it is his first job is to take care of his friends and other members of the Church. Even if he doesn’t have a lot of money he can strengthen them. His second job as an accountant is gone, so he has more time for his first job.Some things are really hard. It is hard to think that after working hard to become college-educated that he might be back to shining shoes to get enough money to live on. And it’s hard not to have a home. He misses the feeling of something comfortable and recognizable to come back to at night.He’s holding on. He had saved a little money. He got some food and shoes from the bishop.

Each night as he lays under the stars, it reminds him of what is really important in life. He said, “In one sense I have nothing, but in another, I have everything because I have the gospel, and this earthquake has only augmented my testimony. My life is changed. The earthquake simplified it. Since the earthquake, I could all of a suddenly think clearly.” Gone are certain things he thought were really important. Instead, he is hoping to find a way to take his best friend and sweetheart to the temple to be married.“Life can be hard sometimes,” he says, “but it will be OK.”

Charles Marie Murielle

“When the earthquake happened, I was inside my house. I had just come from school because I am studying to be a nurse. There was a professor who was absent, so I came home early.“I was just taking off my uniform when the earthquake started. I heard the noise and felt the earthquake and thought to myself, this is an earthquake.

“After it stopped, I found myself, I was yelling, but I had a strong feeling I shouldn’t leave my house. I should just stay there. I went to open my door to go out, and my door was blocked, I couldn’t open it. “I said a sincere prayer. I told the Lord that I was not ready to die. I don’t have a family, yet, and I haven’t been to the temple. With a lot of strategy I was able to open the door by myself.

“Outside, everyone was crying and screaming out to God, ‘What is going on?’ The farther I got out, I saw that churches had fallen and people had been killed. “My school which is four stories tall had collapsed and all the students and teachers had been killed. I would have been there if my teacher had not shown up. “All communications were cut off. No radio. No telephone. No one knew what was going on. We were all trying to find an open space. We kept hearing instructions, “Don’t go inside. Don’t go inside.”“From time to time the earth would shake again. I was continually scared. I was the only member of the Church nearby, and I felt like I was alone. People from other religions were making a lot of noise and were screaming. I found myself in silence because the Spirit told me exactly what to do. I knew it was not the end of the world.

“I prayed, ‘Give me strength so that I can hold on.’ I found the strength to help a few people who were injured. I found a lot of people who were in shock. The next day I met a brother from the church who came to my house to see if I was OK. He told me I needed to come to the church that all of the members were meeting there. That gave me strength.We asked her what the future holds for her without money or a house or a school. She said she is determined to find a way to finish her nursing, but for now, she lives at the church and she’s scared to go back to her house. Maybe she will make cookies to sell.

Erick Goimbert

They didn’t try to get out, as it was hard to stand, impossible to walk. They just started praying. He did not know it was an earthquake as he had never experienced anything so overwhelming before.When they finally made their lurching way out of the house, he saw that all the houses around him were completely destroyed and his neighbors had been killed.

Now, he and his family are sleeping wherever they can find a spot at night, mostly in the road by their house. He’d like to come and sleep at the church, but his home is too far away.He has no tent, but sleeps under some corrugated tin cover. Every morning he doesn’t know where to get food. He just waits day to day for help. Like most Haitians, he doesn’t have a job, and his wife just sells things in the street.Among his slim possessions are a few Tylenol pills for when his back, hit by the dresser in the quake, hurts too much.

He says with some good cheer, “Everybody is praying. There is definitely a feeling of unity and my testimony has been strengthened. You drive through my neighbourhood and mine was the only house that is not completely destroyed.What for the future? He sees no possibilities to rebuild a house. He has no money and can’t see where he could possibly get any.

Polycarpe Macking

The day of the earthquake, two of his children had just come home from school and were watching television. He was out in the front yard feeding the chickens, their main source of livelihood.

About 4:45, he started to feel the shaking movement. Immediately his children ran outside as the roaring, pitching earth got worse. As soon as they ran outside, the house collapsed. They knelt down and, crying, said a prayer for his wife and other daughter, asking that they would be safe. They found her quickly for which he was grateful.

Now, he doesn’t know what he’s going to do. “God must have a plan for me,” he said, “and I’m just going to have to see what it is.”

The scriptures are his life and he loves to read.A vibrant young man, he still hasn’t had a job for seven years, and the few chickens they had were crushed or scattered in the earthquake. For now, they are sleeping in their yard. They have no money to rebuild.

Group Photograph

We couldn’t help ourselves in wanting to show the amazing light and joy in the faces of the Haitian Saints here in the Croix-des-Missions Ward in Port-au-Prince.

We then told our translators to instruct them to do something we learned from then President David Bednar at BYU-Idaho. We told them to hold up their scriptures high and let us see them.

We saw every variety of scriptures, manuals and hymnbooks go up into the air.

Many of the children wanted to gather for their own group picture.Their faces captured it all.

This is a glimpse of the members of the Croix-des-Missions ward after the earthquake. It’s good they can sing “Happy day, all is well,” because like the handcart pioneers of old they have nothing but God’s help and the help of his children to see them through.

Donate here to help the victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

More good news about relief efforts here.

Parable of the Sower and Alma 32

One of my favorite songs is from the Chronicles of Narnia soundtrack , "The Call" by, Regina Spektor. Everytime I hear this song I can't help but think of Mathew 13:1-23 and Alma 32:28-43. This song keeps playing in my head today, I know the words but this is the first time I've put them down. Great song... even greater message!

It started out as a feeling
Which then grew into a hope

Which then turned into a quiet thought

Which then turned into a quiet word

And then that word grew louder and louder

'Til it was a battle cry

I'll come back

When you call me

No need to say goodbye

Just because everything's changing

Doesn't mean it's never

Been this way before

All you can do is try to know

Who your friends are

As you head off to the war

Pick a star on the dark horizon

And follow the light

You'll come back

When it's over

No need to say good bye

You'll come back

When it's over

No need to say good bye

Now we're back to the beginning

It's just a feeling and no one knows yet

But just because they can't feel it too

Doesn't mean that you have to forget

Let your memories grow stronger and stronger

'Til they're before your eyes

You'll come back

When they call you

No need to say good bye

You'll come back

When they call you

No need to say good bye

- The Call by, Regina Spektor

My Tribute to Jim

Today I found out that a relative of mine passed away. I just found out about his blog and was reading some of his final entries. He died very young. I've been sitting here crying as I'm reading. What a truly wonderful family and what an amazing man. He had great faith in our Savior and was devoted to being a true disciple of Christ. I didn't know him, he was my dad's cousin. I guess not many people do know their second cousins... But this is a one I really wish I did. I guess I'll have to wait.