December 11, 2017
Dearest Spencer:
Dearest Spencer:
I am so so so so so sorry that I didn't send your letter until after you had gotten off last week. I was heart sick once I made that realization. I'm grateful that at least you and Christopher got to talk back and forth some!
This past week flew by. It seems that I was always going, but don't have much to show for. Kept busy with RJB's swim meets and orchestra concert (the advanced orchestra sounded really good!) in which she played first violin. Her teacher is one who plays favorites and RJB is a favorite.
I spent far too much time looking for a new vacuum, finally bought one at Sears--now questioning the purchase--seemed to have better suction in the store.
We celebrated CABs 21st birthday yesterday. Grandpa Goff, Grandpa Belnap and Sharon joined the rest of us and we had a lovely time. Really enjoyed sitting around the table and talking. There was a lot of laughter--made me very happy, At one point your dad was talking about the Spanish language and how growing up he always thought of Spanish as "less than" and explained some of his prejudices saying that they used to tell jokes that weren't very nice and lobbed out an example--your Grandpa Belnap chuckled at the punch line and CAB and DGB laughed so hard not at the joke but at Gpa's reaction to the joke. It was hilarious. You will be glad to hear that your Dad ended his explanation with how much he now appreciates Spanish speaking cultures of the new world and finds them fascinating and he loves the Spanish language and is so happy that you get to learn it and talked of his hope that you will be blessed with great abilities with the language (how is it coming?)
CJB and Ryan called last night. The phone was passed around for over an hour. We sure do miss them! CJB and I talked about the very real possibility of them having our first grandchild while we are in Africa--no announcement but just an observation of reality I tell you, the circle of life thing is amazing to observe. It's beautiful and what a blessing to have families, right?
We had our first real snow storm and I got to shovel snow (I LOVE to do that. There is something about the manual labor coupled with the peace quiet beauty and solitude that comes with it. There wasn't much snow only a few inches and the forecast doesn't call for much before Christmas so we might not have snow for Christmas, which will be a first for the kids. I remember as a kid having a few Christmases without snow and it was very disappointing. Yesterday was largely spent running errands. We finally got ski rentals for the kids and had very slim pickings As a result NJBs are a tad small and RJBs a few inches too big, but beggars can't be choosers as the saying goes.
We had the ward party Friday night There was a good turn out. Love our ward! Uncle Darrell came up to take care of Gpa Friday night and joined us at the ward party. He spent the night with Gpa and ended up having car issues so spent Saturday night at our place and eventually headed home on Sunday. It was nice having him around.
Church today was very good. We had a discussion in Sunday School about establishing Zion. During the discussion I thought that Zion, the pure in heart, begins with us each individually.--I ask myself the question, "what is the state of my heart"? "Do I have charity towardmy fellow humans, beginning with my family?" etc. I experience this soaring thoughts and desires but then mess up repeatedly in the application, that is part of the reason families in my opinion are so important, it's where we really get to practice the Gospel up close and personal in the environment where we are not afraid to show our worst because deep down it is where we know we are loved the most and will still be loved despite our actions some times. It's where we have repeated opportunities to exercise patience, turning the other cheek, diligence, meekness etc etc. It really is the penultimate schoolhouse living the gospel.
Well Spence, I love you so much, and as always, pray for you multiple times daily. You are always in our thoughts and we wouldn't want you to be any other place than where you are at this time in your life. You are such a good person and have the amazing gift of being a missionary. There may be times that it doesn't feel like such a gift, but it really is the greatest and most transformative time of your life and will affect the rest of your life in profound and meaningful ways. I love you to infinity and beyond and back again!
LTIABABA
Mom
This week I read a talk by Elder Bednar given back in 2005, https://speeches.byu.
WHY THE SPIRITUAL GIFT OF BEING QUICK TO OBSERVE IS SO VITAL TODAY
Let me now address the question of why the spiritual gift of being quick to observe is so vital for us in the world in which we do now and will yet live. Simply stated, being quick to observe is an antecedent to and is linked with the spiritual gift of discernment. And for you and for me, discernment is a light of protection and direction in a world that grows increasingly dark. Much like faith precedes the miracle, much like baptism by water comes before the baptism by fire, much like gospel milk should be digested before gospel meat, much like clean hands can lead to a pure heart, and much like the ordinances of the Aaronic Priesthood are necessary before a person can receive the higher ordinances of the Melchizedek Priesthood, so being quick to observe is a prerequisite to and a preparation for the gift of discernment. We can only hope to obtain that supernal gift of discernment and its light of protection and direction if we are quick to observe—if we both look and obey. President George Q. Cannon, who served as a counselor to four presidents of the Church, taught powerfully about the gift of discernment: One of the gifts of the Gospel which the Lord has promised to those who enter into covenant with Him is the gift of discerning of spirits—a gift which is not much thought of by many and probably seldom prayed for; yet it is a gift that is of exceeding value and one that should be enjoyed by every Latter-day Saint. . . . Now, the gift of discerning of spirits not only gives men and women who have it the power to discern the spirit with which others may be possessed or influenced, but it gives them the power to discern the spirit which influences themselves. They are able to detect a false spirit and also to know when the Spirit of God reigns within them. In private life this gift is of great importance to the Latter-day Saints. Possessing and exercising this gift they will not allow any evil influence to enter into their hearts or to prompt them in their thoughts, their words or their acts. They will repel it; and if perchance such a spirit should get possession of them, as soon as they witness its effects they will expel it or, in other words, refuse to be led or prompted by it.[Gospel Truth: Discourses and Writings of President George Q. Cannon, comp. Jerreld L. Newquist (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1974), 1:198–99] Can we recognize how crucial this spiritual gift is in our lives today and how being quick to observe is a powerful invitation for the blessings of discernment? President Stephen L Richards, who served as a counselor to President David O. McKay, has provided additional instruction about the nature and blessings of discernment: First, I mention the gift of discernment, embodying the power to discriminate . . . between right and wrong. I believe that this gift when highly developed arises largely out of an acute sensitivity to impressions—spiritual impressions, if you will—to read under the surface as it were, to detect hidden evil, and more importantly to find the good that may be concealed. The highest type of discernment is that which perceives in others and uncovers for them their better natures, the good inherent within them. . . . . . . Every member in the restored Church of Christ could have this gift if he willed to do so. He could not be deceived with the sophistries of the world. He could not be led astray by pseudo-prophets and subversive cults. Even the inexperienced would recognize false teachings, in a measure at least. . . . We ought to be grateful every day of our lives for this sense which keeps alive a conscience which constantly alerts us to the dangers inherent in wrongdoers and sin. [CR, April 1950, 162–63; emphasis added] As we integrate the teachings of Presidents Cannon and Richards, we learn that the gift of discernment operates basically in four major ways. First, as we “read under the surface,” discernment helps us detect hidden error and evil in others. Second, and more important, it helps us detect hidden errors and evil in ourselves. Thus the spiritual gift of discernment is not exclusively about discerning other people and situations, but, as President Cannon taught, it is also about discerning things as they really are within us. Third, it helps us find and bring forth the good that may be concealed in others. And fourth, it helps us find and bring forth the good that may be concealed in us. Oh, what a blessing and a source of protection and direction is the spiritual gift of discernment!  |
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