"Oh remember, remember . . . I urge you to find ways to recognize and remember God's kindness."

President Henry B. Eyring

Sunday, June 1, 2014

The Lord Sent Us to Their Door

I thought our family letter might be of interest to my blogger friends this week!

Dear Family,

Last Monday was Memorial Day. We spent part of the day delivering lunches for the local “Meals on Wheels.” No one else wanted to see us and we had no graves of loved ones to visit so it was a very slow day. I think I sent Elder Holt to the grocery store three times.

It was also a hard week. We have been so blessed most days to teach two, three or sometimes four lessons, mostly to lost sheep who are very mixed up people with multiple, difficult problems because of not keeping the commandments. Truly we have witnessed again and again the truth that "wickedness never was happiness!" Way too often people sin because they do not understand the gospel, or take it too lightly as though it is like a restaurant menu, from which they can pick and choose, when, and which commandments to keep. It is very exhausting and frustrating to help people realize the need to repent, and keep commitments! Yet, we have those wonderful moments when people do catch the vision!

Last summer, we drove to a home about 10 miles east of our small Texas town, in search of an inactive member named Richard. No one from the Ward knew anything about him. We found the house, and Richard’s father came to the door and told us he wasn’t home, but invited us in. He explained that his name was Richard also, and that he and his wife Jean had moved in with his son about five years ago. He also said that he and his wife were members, but they had not been to church for about ten years. He gave us information so that we could request his membership records. Several weeks later, we visited him again and met his wife. We encouraged them to come to Church, but they did not show any interest. However, we learned that they were converts, and were sealed in the Temple about twenty years ago. Also, they were very involved in family history then. We continued to visit them each month, and then Richard went with Elder Holt to General Priesthood meeting last October. Shortly after Christmas they came to church and Richard, along with another less active member, came to General Priesthood meeting with him in April.

At our next visit, we showed them a five minute video on the Temple. We challenged them to take the Temple Preparation Lessons and go back to the temple. Jean then shared with us some dreams she has been having about her father and then her mother. In one dream her mother was crying and telling Jean, “I cannot find your father, please help me find your father.” Jean said she absolutely knew the meaning of this dream because she has not completed her parent’s temple work. Well, what a testimony and a relief to know, that their loved ones on the other side are also reaching out to them. As with so many others we have found, we know the Lord sent us to their door.

In the first lesson we taught the Plan of Salvation. While reading D&C 76 about the three degrees of glory, they were absolutely stunned to realize, that to qualify for the Celestial Kingdom, we must be valiant in the testimony of Jesus. (In their hearts they knew they were not living as they should) They had been completely certain, that because they had been sealed in the temple, they WERE going to be saved in the Celestial Kingdom. Much like they had honestly believed that just because they loved and accepted Jesus Christ, they were automatically born again and saved in their old Baptist faith. The shocked look on their faces registered the very tangible moment they truly began to repent! It was an amazing thing to witness! The spirit was SO strong! 

This week we completed the last lesson. During the lessons on the temple, Richard especially, has been very tearful and grateful that these lessons have reawakened his love for the temple. He has expressed sweet memories associated with the Dallas Temple Open House, and then having their deceased son and two others sealed to them. They have been coming to Church regularly, paying their tithing, living the Word of Wisdom (which they previously weren’t) and two weeks ago they met with the Bishop. They are excited to go to the Temple with us as soon as the Bishop feels they are ready and have a track record of keeping the commandments. We feel it is a great blessing to know them and we are becoming great friends. It is also a great testimony to us that when people truly understand how absolutely essential the commandments and ordinances of the church are, it gives them the motivation to be valiant, faithful, committed members of Christ’s church!

This week we visited our convert Jeannette again. She received her Patriarchal Blessing several weeks ago and it was a wonderful blessing. She had just received a copy of it in the mail and was excited to read it to us. We always knew she was a special woman and the Lord confirmed it to her and us. She is so golden! What joy!


Love,
Dad & Mom

Friday, March 14, 2014

The Third Trimester of Missionary Service


I wanted to share with y'all a letter I just wrote to the Taylor's,(center) a missionary couple who served in our zone at the institute, who have recently returned home. It's a little update on our mission!


Dear Elder & Sister Taylor,


It was good to hear from you. We miss you. The Shanz's were transferred way down south and we aren't going to institute on Wednesdays, so we feel pretty isolated from other senior missionaries. We have invited the new Senior Institute couple to go to Dallas if the weather EVER warms up in North Texas.


A mission is really hard. It looks like we are in Gainesville for the duration. We have been in this ward for a year now, and members are calling Elder Holt "Brother Holt" now. Our ward stretches about 70 miles wide and forty or so miles long. I've (Sister Holt) started to get carsick, so when we get home we are NEVER going on a road trip EVER!


We have visited every, I mean EVERY member and less active too many times to count. But with that all said, we have had some wonderful and amazing experiences. Child birth is a good analogy and we are definitely in the third trimester, and admittedly (though we feel a bit guilty for it) we look forward to birthing this baby and going home. Elder Holt says this is so different than being a young Elder with only his own agenda to worry about. We do miss our children, and especially our grandchildren who still keep asking when we will be home.


Sometimes we envy your set schedule in institute. We really feel like "hunters and fishers" of the honest in heart. It would be a nice change to have someone else set a schedule for us. But we sure love The Lord, and this is a small price to pay for all that He has done for us. We never stop marveling at the privilege and honor and RESPONSIBILITY that is ours to be missionaries for our Savior! As you know President Ames is amazing, and the young missionaries are too. They are such righteous, pure sweet ambassadors. We learn soooo much from all of them! We absolutely adore the sweet you Sister Missionaries in our ward that we work with! We count this whole experience a choice and blessed time in our lives.


Thank you for your kindness and friendship. Your smiles and warmth have always made us feel loved and wonderful. We are certain that you are a great blessing to your family and friends back home. It was wonderful to hear from you!


Love, Elder & Sister Holt


Thursday, January 30, 2014

Song of The Heart

I feel impressed to record some things I have learned about the Hymns of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In D&C  25:11-12, the Lord instructed Emma Smith, "And it shall be given thee, also, to make a selection of sacred hymns, as it shall be given thee, which is pleasing unto me, to be had in my church. For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.”

From these scriptures I have learned to revere the hymns for these reasons:
1.       They are “sacred” to the Lord, so they should be sacred to His saints.
2.      The hymns are inspired! (“as it shall be given thee”) By this I know they teach correct doctrine.
3.      The Lord considers them “prayers” when sung by the righteous, so we should reverence them as such.
4.      If we do so, singing them (praying them) “will bring a blessing upon our heads.
Through the years I have come to realize some of these blessings. The music is sacred. We know it invites the spirit, why? Because the Lords very “soul delighteth in the song of the heart.” All of us are all drawn−̶-even compelled toward something that delights us−̶-that we love! So it is with the spirit of the Lord.
If we read the words of the sacred, inspired hymns, they testify to our spirits of the doctrines taught. Combine those truths with music and they sink deep into our hearts−̶-never to be forgotten. That is why the children’s hymns are so crucial! Remember how we learned our ABC’s?
If “songs of the righteous are prayers unto the Lord” I believe therefore, that opening AND closing hymns are part of the Invocation and Benediction of every meeting. After an opening prayer, which should be an invocation for the Lord’s blessing on our meetings, we all say amen. This signifies our affirmation and unity in invoking the Lord’s blessings−̶-likewise the benediction. Just as we fast and pray together for desired blessings on a beloved family or ward member, because our combined prayers have greater power to obtain blessings from heaven, so singing the sacred hymns together brings this greater power and they bind us together in unity and love.

I was taught years ago that when preparing for a lesson, that time is mine. I can take all the time I need. But, when I teach that lesson, the class time belongs to the Lord. It is a sacred time for the Lord to instruct His children. We should only be the vessel! I’ve come to believe−̶-to know−̶-that if our purpose is to invite the spirit and be taught by the Lord, then music is the most important part. I know there are some students in our classes who do not pray on their own, or at least not consistently. How can we fail to give them the opportunity “pray” a hymn to the Lord.  Far too often in church classes, a teacher will exceed his or her allotted time and the person conducting will announce, “Sorry, we don’t have time for the closing hymn.” Then, with children clamoring noisily at the door, we have a hasty closing prayer, instead of a sacred benediction! I believe that just as an opening hymn is a prayer to invite the spirit of the Lord, a closing hymn is a benediction, it is NOT just a song we can skip. The dictionary defines benediction as a form of blessing. Then let’s never forget to “sing a prayer” to bring forth the Lord’s promised blessings! If we do, that closing hymn will seal the testimony of the teacher and the students, and all will be edified together!