Hi darling girls. I have been remiss in contributing here, but honestly, time is a real problem. I thought I would try to do a quick and cursery review of the things I've been reading and learning recently. I am frustratingly behind on the reading I would like to be doing, including the articles you've emailed to me. But I have managed to read a few things. I finished a book Sarah passed on to me called (sorry, but there doesn't seem to be the underlining option at the top of the page so I will have to use quotation marks) "To Them That Believe" by Frederick and June Babbel. Bro. Babbel was a secretary to the Quorum of the Twelve and a companion to Ezra Taft Benson when Elder Benson went to Europe after WWII. It begins with some very inspiring and amazing stories of healing by faith. Then he outlines the necessary actions and attitudes that will create faith and healing in our lives. It is a very positive and encouraging book which gave me the desire to experience this power in my life. As Sarah put it recently in a conversation, "We have been living our religion passively". This book teaches how to be more proactive in claiming the blessings the Lord wants to give us. I am going to buy this book because I want to read it again with Jack so that we can internalize the principles in it.
I recently finished a book I started over a year ago. It is an older book called "A Thoughtful Faith". It is a compilation of essays written by about twenty LDS scholars expressing their personal beliefs and describing their spiritual journeys. It came at a time for Jack of inner turmoil and doubt. Reading of these people's struggles with faith was very theraputic for him. He was comforted to realize that everyone has a crisis of their faith at one time or other and is, indeed, part of the process. If we don't ever have to do some real soul-searching, our testimonies are probably pretty shallow. I really enjoyed the essays because I love conversion stories and that is basically what these are. Ultimately, we must all become converts. I love to hear about the process others go through to come to a place of faith and peace. Even though I didn't recognize the names of most of these scholars, I was still fascinated by their deep and thoughtful mental and spiritual work. It is particularly impressive because they live in the intellectual world of academia and have been able to keep their spiritual bearings.
I am now reading another book Sarah gave me written by a second cousin of mine, Garth Allred. It is entitled "Unlocking the Powers of Faith". Sometimes his writing style is a little boring and can feel like a generic conference talk. But if I pay careful attention, I discover that he is teaching profound principles of drawing on the powers of heaven to be healed from our spiritual, mental, emotional and physical illnesses. This is another book I will buy because I am looking for help to implement the things we have been learning lately about mind/body connections, energy, vibrations, meditaton, intention and so on. Brother Allred, as a teacher and therapist, brings together principles of the gospel, truths from science and also, practices from Eastern medicine which coincides with my own personal, current quest.
I feel that some of us in the family have embarked recently on an journey of intensified spiritual discovery which includes learning about the powers of energy and the spirit world. The book by Dr. Melvin Fish, "Healing the Inner Self" has been a powerful introduction to recognizing these invisible forces that influence us constantly. It is exciting to learn that we can exercize our agency in a way to tap into these things to bless, heal, protect and strengthen ourselves. Last week I had lunch with Neill Marriott. I have been reluctant to share these things with her (even though I was longing to since we have been soul-mates for about 30 years now) because I was afraid to bring yet ANOTHER weird idea into their lives. (Her husband just rolls his eyes when he hears that Neill has learned something new from me.) But at lunch, I realized from what she was sharing with me that she, independantly, has been discovering these same principles.
A few years ago, I began to pray that I would be led to move forward on the Path, that I would be prepared for what is coming, that I would be enabled to live higher and deeper principles of the Gospel. Lately, almost every day, I feel I am being quided to more truths which confirm that the Lord is answering my prayers. For instance, I have caught the vision about the importance of preparing to live in Zion. Several books on the subject have come into my life unbidden, which have fired me up on the subject. As we see the world falling apart and wonder how we are going to make it through the coming tribulations, I am learning that Zion is the answer. Of course, we have always known that it is our faith in the Lord and personal righteousness which will be our best defense, but Zion is really going to be our refuge from the storm. I used to think Zion was something for people far, far in the future. It may be many years before Zions cities are actually built, but I am realizing that me must begin now to be Zion people and to teach our children to be Zion people so that we/they will be qualified to live in that environment. Even if we die before Zion is built, if we have become Zion-worthy, we will have qualified to be members of the Church of the First Born. The thing I am realizing more and more is, Zion and Babylon are mutually exclusive. There must be The Great Divorce in our lives. Our desires and tastes and habits cannot straddle the fence. Well, enough of this rant for now, but you will be hearing more from me on this subject.
I have to quit soon, but I wanted to share a little about our weekend. Neill invited Jack and I to join her at the Roger Young preparedness fair held at UVU. We have been to several of these, but Neill hadn't and she was just recently called to be Stake Preparedness Specialist so she wanted to go. It was the usual concoction, everything from wonderful to weird. I know you all don't want to hear gloom and doom, so I won't say much about the scary things we heard. But, even the scary talks were filled with hope and encouragement if we stay focused on the Lord.
I thought I would share a couple of my favorite thoughts that came from the lectures:
1. From Ken Moravek, expert on surviving nuclear, biological and chemical warfare, "You can survive these things". He taught us very practical ways to do that. But the thing that will stay with me was "If you don't have faith, don't go to a tent city. If you think a tent will protect you from nuclear fallout, think again. It is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that will protect you if you live in a tent city." Amen.
2. Kevin Reese, military training expert, spoke on urban survival when society really unravels. His lecture was very good. The principle I will remember from him is: "Training trumps gear. (Gear can be improvised, but training can't). Community trumps training. There are just too many skills for one person to learn. The idea of Rambo is utter foolishness. We will need each other to survive."
3. Sarah Menet, who had a near-death experience and saw many of the things that are coming, reminded us again and again that what will make a tent city a city of light will be love. She urged us to be true Christians, to not have any animosity for anyone, any group, any ethnicitiy, anyone with different values. She said, "If you hate anyone, you're not a Christian. You're not!" Her lecture was disorganized but still effective as she alternated between warnings of severe trials and promises of divine intervention for the faithful.
I am glad we went because it was a reminder that we must be ever vigilant and continue to prepare, physically and more importantly, spiritually. We must have faith to do whatever the Lord commands, including moving mountains if that is what He wants.
BTW, I ordered some DVDs from the seminar and would love to share them if anyone is interested.
I apologize that my thoughts here are pretty much on the surface. There is just so much to read and think about and talk about. I love you all and know that our hearts rejoice in the same things.
