Andrew Gifford

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  • A Lot On My Mind

    A Lot On My Mind

    I just finished watching a documentary that verily exposes blatant self contradiction and radical woke-ism with the Disney Corporation.

    While only some of the content was news to me, it just really stirred feelings of resentment towards an entity that used to provide such wholesome entertainment. How can an organization that used to be dear to me now sicken me to the core such that I just want to throw up. I guess one thing thing that really upsets me about this story it is that the same sort of thing is happening not just with Disney, but with many large corporations across the United States. They are ignoring those who used to be loyal customers or patrons and sucking up to a screaming minority that holds values that will destroy our country.

    The vitriol and hatred coming from so many people towards those of us who believe in God and in Jesus Christ and try to live by their teachings are so contradictory to these same people’s claims of tolerance and inclusion. Yet I feel at peace as I remember that this very treatment and the actions of these people actually help fulfill events prophesied prior to the return of our ultimate king, Jesus Christ. I just pray every day that God will give me the strength to overcome my weaknesses of the flesh in order to be ready for Christ’s return myself.

  • God Is Merciful

    God Is Merciful

    Today I’ve been pondering on the kindness, love and mercy of God. How many times have I failed Him and yet He continues to love me and show mercy on me? This is what keeps giving me hope and helping me continue to try.

    “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

    John 3:16

    He gave us his only begotten son in the flesh. He provided a savior for us, knowing that we would all make mistakes and fail. His plan took all this into account. What a loving Father in Heaven to provide a way for us to escape death and hell and to continue to love us no matter what.

    Repenting is the key to progress. Pure faith keeps us moving forward on the covenant path.

  • Some of my thoughts

    Some of my thoughts

    So how to even begin. I lay here in bed thinking about the state of my country. It seems so divided. So many people that speak out against the cancel culture get canceled. People lose their jobs or get their reputations destroyed by those that don’t agree with them. So many of these cancellers preach unity and tolerance while at the same time acting intolerantly and divisively towards those that don’t agree with them. Yet they don’t even see or recognize the pure hypocrisy in their words and actions.

    I know that not everyone that thinks differently than me believes or acts this way. I have many friends who subscribe to ideologies different than my own, but who are good, decent people and would never treat anyone that way. I am grateful to know them and that gives me hope for the future.

    Yet, at the same time it seems we see the U.S. at large showing a dramatic increase in this cancel retaliation for not changing ways of thinking to align with the “woke” culture. It is as if the thought police from George Orwell’s 1984 have materialized into life. For those that think like myself, those who have more conservative viewpoints, an environment of fear has come where we are afraid to publicly say what we really think because we don’t want to have to deal with being publicly shamed, attacked, humiliated, and altogether cancelled.

    The way forward right now is to make our voices heard by voting. Please go vote!

  • Tupungato – Spring of Miracles

    Tupungato – Spring of Miracles

    The year, 1991. The month, January. The day, the 26th. The season, summer in the southern hemisphere – HOT! The place, Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina. With whom? Elder Sergio Romero.

    Elder Romero and I were companions in the city of San Martin in the Mendoza province of Argentina for only one week. Then we received word from our mission president that we were going to be transferred to the city of Tupungato together. Elder Romero had been there once before and so he knew his way around. We would be living in an apartment that doubled as the church house on Sundays with another companionship (two other elders – Elder Ward and Elder Benson). I was hoping this transfer would make things better, as I had been really struggling with the Spanish language and trying to adapt to the change in cultures from the United States to Argentina.

    Left to right: Me, Elder Ward, Elder Romero, Elder Benson

    From my journal comes this description: “I love Tupungato. It is so green here. At night it is fresh and cool (unlike Palmira or San Martin). We open our window each night – it is so much nicer. I love the area – there are side roads (dirt roads) that are lined with poplar trees, and the view of the mountains is fantastic (Andes Mountains). Mount Tupungato (a volcano – the name of this town too) is covered with snow. Vegetables can be bought pretty cheap here, but other things are more expensive.”

    Many times we rode out into the fields and vineyards to meet with different families. The province of Mendoza is known throughout Argentina for its grapes, wine and olive oil. There are a LOT of grape vineyards. Many people, having excess grapes would give us grapes to eat.

    I became very proficient and quick at popping a grape in my mouth, splitting it with my teeth, digging out the seeds with my tongue, spitting them out, and then eating the grape. These were some of the most delicious grapes I have ever tasted. Amazing!!! This is a picture of me with some of our spoils from visiting many people with grapes.

    On March 21, 1991, Elder Romero was transferred to a different area, and I received a new missionary companion, Elder Owen Quass. Elder ward’s companion, Elder Benson, was also transferred to a different area. Elder Ward’s new companion was Elder Matt Cox. This was the new foursome that graced our missionary apartment. In my journal I described my companion, Elder Quass thus: “He can do back flips, hand stands, et cetera. He also loves to joke. He’s funny, yet knows a lot, and understands his responsibilities as a missionary very well.”

     

     

     

     

    Left to Right: Me, Elder Quass, Elder Cox, Elder Ward

    In April I wrote: “We also had another Noche de Hogar [Family Home Evening] last week. About 55 people showed up and the Elders from Tunuyan and the assistant [Assistants to the President or APs] were there too (Elder Bell and Elder Bradshaw), and it was crowded.

    Elder Ward, Elder Galbuchi, and the arms of Elder McClellan – doing a skit

    “We ate empanadas and pizzas — mmm! I love empanadas. They are like the fruit pies, but with meat inside. We did some skits and sang and had some testimonies and all.” It was always fun to have gatherings of the members of the church and friends in the area.

    These type of activities were held with the intent to teach newer members of the Church what a Family Home Evening could include: spiritual messages, fun activities, and dinner. Basically just spending quality time together with our families and sometimes with friends and larger groups.

    The month of April 1991 in Tupungato was was a month of some beautiful spiritual experiences and amazing miracles. The Maldonado family was blessed with Alberto (Tito) deciding to join the Church after a miracle of healing with his daughter, making a part-member family a whole-member family. Elder Quass baptized Tito on April 21, 1991. What a blessing to see families be able to find the truth and later be sealed in God’s temple for time and for all eternity. These are amazing people of faith and conviction!

    My journal goes on to describe the conversion of another newlywed family: “A few days ago we taught a charla [discussion] 1 to a young husband who was just married. They had just moved into a small two room house way out of town (like 4 miles out). They didn’t have any electric lights when we taught him. We taught him by the light of one candle, standing up (they had no chairs). He seemed very willing to listen to us. It was a good charla. We found out later that last Sunday he brought his wife, who hadn’t even heard the charla, to town on the bus to come to church. They couldn’t find it.

    “We came back and taught charla [discussion] 1 again, to the wife. This time they had an electric light hooked up and had two padded crates just for us to sit on. Then, tonight [April 17th] we went back and taught charla 2. When we asked if they had read any of the Book of Mormon (assignment – 3 Nephi, chapter 11), he kind of ducked his head, ashamed, and said he can’t read very well, and didn’t have much time to read. I asked how much he had read, and he said, holding his Book of Mormon open to 3 Nephi, chapter 13, ‘Only to here.’ We were shocked – he had read 2 1/2 chapters – more than we asked. That must have been hard for him because he doesn’t read very well.

    “We taught charla 2 and they accepted the commitment to be baptized. They said the prayers, asking God to help us keep coming to their house and to help them know if the Book of Mormon is true, etc. They put off a trip to Mendoza just so we can come again on Saturday. They are coming to church this Sunday. They are definitely chosen people. They seem so humble and willing to learn. I’m sure Heavenly Father is well pleased with them.”

    From left to right: Me, Jose Nestor Perez, Rosa Rosario Elba Mamani de Perez, Elder Quass.

    I continued in my journal on the day of the baptism: “They have to be the most humble people I’ve ever met. They accepted everything we taught in the first 5 charlas… They were chosen. They accepted the commitments and fulfilled them. We found Jose and Rosa only about 2 weeks ago. Elder Quass says this is the fastest he’s ever seen anyone baptized in the mission. I know that that could have only happened through the Spirit. They felt the Spirit and followed its promptings.

    “Today they came and after church we had a baptismal service. I baptized them both and Elder Quass confirmed them both. The Spirit that was present was very strong. They were definitely the Lord’s ‘chosen.’ The chosen hear the voice of the Lord (through His servants – us) and follow it. They do everything you commit them to do. Jose and Rosa did just that. It was something special for me that I will never forget. Now I just hope and pray that they continue firm in the faith and continue reading the Book of Mormon and praying. It is something we all NEED to do. A prophet of God has commanded that we should.”

    The month of April miracles spilled over into May of that year too. A granddaughter of a member was baptized a week after Jose and Rosa. Liliana Elizabeth del Rio was baptized by Elder Quass and confirmed by me.

    But this was not all. Jose and Rosa shared the gospel with their neighbors. In my journal I wrote: “They were referred to us by Jose and Rosa – they are awesome – CHOSEN. I love seeing people change their lives to live the gospel. The Lord really helps people change and helps them see and understand the truth when they truly have sincere desires and seek it out.” Eduardo and Myriam Gordillo were baptized on May 19, 1991, another chosen couple prepared to accept the gospel. Elder Quass baptized them and I confirmed them.

    How blessed I felt. I wanted to rejoice like Ammon in the Book of Mormon. He declared:

    “…My brothers and my brethren, behold I say unto you, how great reason have we to rejoice; for could we have supposed when we started from the land of Zarahemla that God would have granted unto us such great blessings?

    “And now, I ask, what great blessings has he bestowed upon us? Can ye tell?

    “Behold, I answer for you; for our brethren, the Lamanites, were in darkness, yea, even in the darkest abyss, but behold, how many of them are brought to behold the marvelous light of God! And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work.”

    “….Now if this is boasting, even so will I boast; for this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo. Yea, blessed is the name of my God, who has been mindful of this people, who are a branch of the tree of Israel, and has been lost from its body in a strange land; yea, I say, blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of us, wanderers in a strange land.

    Alma 26:1-3,36

    I felt as Ammon, that my joy was full and I wanted to rejoice in God’s love and mercy! The Holy Spirit spoke peace, joy, and excitement to my soul. I cannot deny what I felt – I know it was the Holy Ghost confirming the truth of these things to my soul.

    The experiences I had in Tupungato helped me draw closer to God and to feel the joy of bringing souls to Christ. The preaching continued with Elder Quass, and periodically doing what we called “splits,” which was switching companions, usually for the purpose of baptismal interviews being done, but also giving us the opportunity to work with other missionaries for a day.

    Me and Elder Quass sporting his leather jackets
    Elders in our zone (la Zona Tunuyan) having a dinner at a member’s house
    Hiking near the members’ house (from previous picture)
    Flying around the apartment
    and back again
  • I’m a Grandpa! And, My Middle Child is Off on his Mission

    I’m a Grandpa! And, My Middle Child is Off on his Mission

    Wow! I am starting to feel old now! I am officially a grandpa. My oldest daughter had a baby girl about seven weeks ago. She is so beautiful. It is just so hard to believe that I am a grandfather now.

    On the same note, my middle child is now off on a mission for our church, serving currently in the North Carolina Charlotte Mission. I dropped him off at the airport EARLY this morning (around 5:00 a.m.). He will be gone for another 21 months. I’ll sure miss that young man. I started a web blog to post his emails home to at https://sethmission.blog.

  • The Book of Mormon IS another true testament of Jesus Christ

    The Book of Mormon IS another true testament of Jesus Christ

    At church today, during our Elders Quorum class, I was filled with the Holy Ghost, testifying to my soul of the truthfulness of what I was hearing. The lesson’s topic included the most recent General Conference sermon delivered by Jeffrey R. Holland, a modern-day apostle of Jesus Christ, entitled “Behold, the Lamb of God.” This led me to open and start reading another discourse given by him just a few years earlier, in October of 2009 entitled “Safety for the Soul.”

    The part of the talk that resonated with my soul today was Elder Holland’s witness of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, that this book, which testifies of Jesus Christ, was translated from an ancient record by Joseph Smith, Jr. through the power of God. I would like to include some of his words here:

    “When Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum started for Carthage to face what they knew would be an imminent martyrdom, Hyrum read these words to comfort the heart of his brother:

    “‘Thou hast been faithful; wherefore … thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father.

    “‘And now I, Moroni, bid farewell … until we shall meet before the judgment-seat of Christ.’

    “A few short verses from the 12th chapter of Ether in the Book of Mormon. Before closing the book, Hyrum turned down the corner of the page from which he had read, marking it as part of the everlasting testimony for which these two brothers were about to die. I hold in my hand that book, the very copy from which Hyrum read, the same corner of the page turned down, still visible. Later, when actually incarcerated in the jail, Joseph the Prophet turned to the guards who held him captive and bore a powerful testimony of the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon. Shortly thereafter pistol and ball would take the lives of these two testators.

    As one of a thousand elements of my own testimony of the divinity of the Book of Mormon, I submit this as yet one more evidence of its truthfulness. In this their greatest—and last—hour of need, I ask you: would these men blaspheme before God by continuing to fix their lives, their honor, and their own search for eternal salvation on a book (and by implication a church and a ministry) they had fictitiously created out of whole cloth?

    “Never mind that their wives are about to be widows and their children fatherless. Never mind that their little band of followers will yet be ‘houseless, friendless and homeless’ and that their children will leave footprints of blood across frozen rivers and an untamed prairie floor. Never mind that legions will die and other legions live declaring in the four quarters of this earth that they know the Book of Mormon and the Church which espouses it to be true. Disregard all of that, and tell me whether in this hour of death these two men would enter the presence of their Eternal Judge quoting from and finding solace in a book which, if not the very word of God, would brand them as imposters and charlatans until the end of time? They would not do that! They were willing to die rather than deny the divine origin and the eternal truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.

    “For 179 years this book has been examined and attacked, denied and deconstructed, targeted and torn apart like perhaps no other book in modern religious history—perhaps like no other book in any religious history. And still it stands. Failed theories about its origins have been born and parroted and have died—from Ethan Smith to Solomon Spaulding to deranged paranoid to cunning genius. None of these frankly pathetic answers for this book has ever withstood examination because there is no other answer than the one Joseph gave as its young unlearned translator. 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.’

    Jeffrey R. Holland, October 2009

  • O Say What Is Truth?

    O Say What Is Truth?

    What is truth and where can it be found? Can it be found among the proverbial alphabet soup of religious thought in today’s world? Can it be found by researching all the contradicting opinions of all the different religions? It is highly difficult and unlikely for anyone to have an unbiased point of view in religious matters. Usually someone is either prejudiced for or against a religion. Writings that speak negatively about a religion are biased against it just as much as those that speak positively about it are biased for it.

    Today’s world is a tumult of religious onions and points of view. There are so many differing opinions and contradicting theses. Yet one should wonder, could God be the author of so much confusion and so much religious contention? Of course not! This is the doing of mankind over the ages, taking the bits and pieces of truth we’ve had and twisting them to fit our own understanding and/or ends. “One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:5-6).

    God is NOT the author of confusion!

    So, when it comes to knowing the truth, instead of trusting one side of a bias over another, why not go directly to the source of all truth – God. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5). He can give us knowledge of the truth through the Holy Ghost. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:26-28). The Holy Ghost is the Comforter spoken of here. Through the influence of the Spirit (Holy Ghost) we can know the truth of all things. We just need to ask God in prayer. If we ask in faith and truly believe that He will send the answer through the influence of the Holy Ghost, then we will feel it. We will feel inside that what we asked about is true, if it is indeed true, or false, if it is not right. “But the fruit of the Spirit [Holy Ghost] is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance…” (Galatians 5:22-23). Thus we don’t have to (and shouldn’t) rely on what a teacher, priest, pastor, reverend, apostle, prophet, or other religious leader has told us is true. We can find out for ourselves, directly from God, if it is true.

    It is through method that I have come to know and have a witness or testimony that Jesus Christ is the Holy Messiah, the Annointed One. He is the Savior and Redeemer of the world. He is the Light and Life of the world, and only in and through Him can mankind be saved. I know that He is the Only Begotten Son of God the Father in the flesh.

  • To My Children & Family

    To My Children & Family

    Hello my children and family. As your father I feel the urgent need to share some things with you along with my testimony of their truthfulness.

    Anciently, God called special witnesses to stand as watchmen on the watchtower, keeping watch and warning the people of coming dangers. These were prophets and apostles. “For surely the Lord, God, will do nothing but he revealeth his secret to his servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7 These prophets recorded the revelations they received, and their writings have today become what we know as the Holy Bible.

    But these ancient scriptures are not the only words of God through His prophets!

    “Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews?

    “Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?

    “Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.

    “And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever.

    “Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written.

    “For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written.”

    (2 Nephi 29:6-11)

    I believe in an unchanging God who loves ALL of his children in ALL of the world, and who has more scriptures written than just those written by the prophets in the middle east, but also by prophets who lived on the American continent – the Book of Mormon. I believe in a God that is all powerful and is not limited by man, a God who just because he spoke to prophets in times past is not prevented from speaking more to prophets in our day. I believe in a God who is unchanging, who will continue to speak to prophets unto the end of time so that they can serve as the watchmen on the tower to tell us what God needs us to know today – to keep us safe.

    I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. I know this through the witness of the Holy Ghost, a witness to my soul that no one can take away from me. Joseph testified of Jesus Christ and was called to restore the true church of Jesus Christ to the earth after many dark ages of apostasy. The resurrected apostles Peter, James and John laid their hands on Joseph’s head and bestowed the holy priesthood of God upon him, the only true authority to act in God’s name. With this authority the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was established as the restored church, with Jesus Christ at its head.

    The prophets and apostles are not perfect people. When Joseph went to meet new converts from England, he dressed in ragged clothes and spoke in an antagonistic manner as a test for them. He said, “I came to meet those people, dressed as I am in rough clothes and speaking in this manner, to see if their faith is strong enough to stand the things they must meet. If not, they should turn back right now.” He told them that if they expected anything more than a man, they were mistaken. The Book of Mormon prophet Nephi expressed frustration at his imperfections of the flesh. He said, “Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.

    “I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me.

    “And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.”

    (2 Nephi 4:17-19)

    This is not to say that prophets and apostles are perpetrators of huge, malignant sins (they are not), but they are not infallible and do indeed, like everyone, fall to temptation at times and, just as we all do, need to repent. The same held true with biblical prophets – Jonah, for example, tried to avoid preaching in Ninevah. They are also subject to the flesh and can at times go about or do things incorrectly. I’m not talking about sins here, but just unintentional failings and weaknesses.

    But this does NOT take away the prophetic mantle that rests on the shoulders of prophets and apostles. God communicates with His prophet the messages needed for the entire world. 

    Ezra Taft Benson said: “But it is the living prophet who really upsets the world. ‘Even in the Church,’ said President Kimball, ‘many are prone to garnish the sepulchres of yesterdays prophets and mentally stone the living ones.’ (Instructor, 95:527.)

    Why? Because the living prophet gets at what we need to know now, and the world prefers that prophets either be dead or worry about their own affairs. Some so-called experts of political science want the prophet to keep still on politics. Some would-be authorities on evolution want the prophet to keep still on evolution. And so the list goes on and on.

    How we respond to the words of a living prophet when he tells us what we need to know, but would rather not hear, is a test of our faithfulness.” (Speech at BYU Feb 26, 1980).

    I know that God loves His children today just as much as He did in ancient times. I know that we need a prophet today just as much as they did in ancient times. Hugh B. Brown shared a story about the time when he gave a legal argument for Joseph Smith being a prophet of God to a member of England’s House of Commons:

    “I began … , ‘You say that my belief that God spoke to a man in this age is fantastic and absurd?’

    “‘To me it is.’

    “‘Do you believe that God ever did speak to anyone?’

    “‘Certainly, all through the Bible we have evidence of that.’

    “‘Did He speak to Adam?’

    “‘Yes.’

    “‘To Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jacob, Joseph, and on through the prophets?’

    “‘I believe He spoke to each of them.’

    “‘Do you believe that contact between God and man ceased when Jesus appeared on the earth?’

    “‘No, such communication reached its climax, its apex, at that time.’

    “‘Do you believe, sir, that after Jesus was resurrected, a certain lawyer—who was also a tentmaker by the name of Saul of Tarsus—when on his way to Damascus talked with Jesus of Nazareth, who had been crucified, resurrected, and had ascended into heaven?’

    “‘I do.’

    “‘Whose voice did Saul hear?’

    “‘It was the voice of Jesus Christ, for He so introduced Himself.’

    “‘Then, I am submitting to you in all seriousness that it was standard procedure in Bible times for God to talk to man.’

    “‘I think I will admit that, but it stopped shortly after the first century of the Christian era.’

    “‘Why do you think it stopped?’

    “‘I can’t say.’

    “‘You think that God hasn’t spoken since then?’

    “‘I am sure He hasn’t.’

    “‘There must be a reason. Can you give me a reason?’

    “‘I do not know.’

    “‘May I suggest some possible reasons? Perhaps God does not speak to man anymore because He cannot. He has lost the power.’

    “He said, ‘Of course that would be blasphemous.’

    “‘Well, then, if you don’t accept that, perhaps He doesn’t speak to men because He doesn’t love us anymore and He is no longer interested in the affairs of men.’

    “‘No,’ he said, ‘God loves all men, and He is no respecter of persons.’

    “‘Well, then, if He could speak, and if He loves us, then the only other possible answer, as I see it, is that we don’t need Him. We have made such rapid strides in science and we are so well educated that we don’t need God anymore.’

    “And then he said—and his voice trembled as he thought of impending war—’Mr. Brown, there never was a time in the history of the world when the voice of God was needed as it is needed now. Perhaps you can tell me why He doesn’t speak.’

    “My answer was: ‘He does speak, He has spoken; but men need faith to hear Him.’”

    (The Case For a Living Prophet, 1939)

    We do indeed need prophets and apostles today more than ever before. Satan is having a heyday, as prophesied in Timothy:

    “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

    “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

    “Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

    “Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

    “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away…

    “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

    (2 Timothy 3:1-5,7)

    Our world is in chaos and confusion and we need a prophet’s stabilizing hand. I know that Russell M. Nelson is a living prophet today! He holds the restored priesthood keys and authority to receive revelation from God for the whole world. We can follow the prophet and prosper or sink ourselves to hell.

    Also, because Satan will always fight the most against the truth, he is waging a terrible war against the Church of Jesus Christ and its members. We need to watch out for false prophets.

    “Take heed that no man deceive you.

    “For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars:

    “… and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:3-8)

    Paul warned us of these days too: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

    “And they shall turn away their ears from the truth” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

    M. Russell Ballard taught: “As Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is our duty to be watchmen on the tower, warning Church members to beware of false prophets and false teachers who lie in wait to ensnare and destroy faith and testimony. Today we warn you that there are false prophets and false teachers arising; and if we are not careful, even those who are among the faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will fall victim to their deception.” (October 1999).

    He also shared this, from President Joseph Fielding Smith, about looking for answers in the right sources: “‘…the moment that individuals look to any other source [outside of scriptures, prophets, apostles, and official Church sources], that moment they throw themselves open to the seductive influences of Satan, and render themselves liable to become servants of the devil; they lose sight of the true order through which the blessings of the Priesthood are to be enjoyed; they step outside of the pale of the kingdom of God, and are on dangerous ground.” (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. [1939], 41–42).

    Because Satan will stop at nothing to ruin the Church and its members, he will use all kinds of lies and falsehoods about the Church and its leaders, usually mixed with truths (remember, that’s how Satan operates – truth with some lies mixed in). We just cannot afford to open ourselves up to that kind of risk for deception, with an absence of the Holy Ghost. If we do, then the lies will become more plausible to our logical minds as the Spirit flees and Satan’s followers come in to take his place.

    John counseled the church members in Asia Minor, during a time of rampant apostasy from the church, “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” Revelation 3:11 This is good counsel for us today. Hold fast to the iron rod. Remember that Lehi commented of his dream, “And great was the multitude that did enter into that strange building. And after they did enter into that building they did point the finger of scorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit also; but we heeded them not.

    “These are the words of my father: For as many as heeded them, had fallen away.” 1 Nephi 8:33-34. This holds true today. As members of the true church we will be mocked by those not of our faith and by some who leave our faith, but it is when we give in to this”finger of scorn” that we could falter and also fall away.

    I just plead with each of you to seek answers from the right sources. Ask God of their truthfulness for yourself. Seek your own witness that the prophets on earth today are true prophets. Don’t listen to those who would say otherwise. Don’t pay attention to the world’s mocking. You have the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Learn how to use it. Let’s repent of our sins and strive harder to do what is right. Let’s pray for more charity for everyone. Let’s work together on becoming an eternal family. We can do it!

    God lives! Jesus Christ lives and is our Redeemer. Through him we can obtain forgiveness of our sins. Let’s forgive others freely and not cage them in their past sins. Joseph Smith saw what he said he saw – I KNOW it! He was the prophet of the restoration of the true gospel of Jesus Christ! The Book of Mormon is true. It truly is the record of prophets on this continent. The priesthood of God is real and was indeed restored to the earth. This priesthood is REQUIRED for gospel ordinances to be valid in God’s eyes. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the ONLY true and living church upon the face of the earth.

    I plead with you with all my heart to study your scriptures daily. Study your patriarchal blessing – God has a plan for you. Pray to our Heavenly Father morning and night. He longs to hear from you. Read this talk: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1999/10/beware-of-false-prophets-and-false-teachers?lang=eng as well as President Nelson’s recent words: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2018/10/opening-remarks?lang=eng

    https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2018/10/the-correct-name-of-the-church?lang=eng

    https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2018/10/becoming-exemplary-latter-day-saints?lang=eng

    https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2018/04/revelation-for-the-church-revelation-for-our-lives?lang=eng

    I love you all.  Dad.

  • Experiencing Oregon – Part 1

    Experiencing Oregon – Part 1

    –Sunset, Bandon, Oregon–

    Sunday, April 1st, 2018 – April Fools Day. With the van loaded, family, luggage, food and all, we pulled out of Springville, headed for the Oregon coast. The kids found a Box Elder Bug inside the van, crawling across the dash board. We joked that it wanted to hitch a ride to Oregon with us. They named it “George.”

    First to I-80 and across to Wendover, Utah and West Wendover, Nevada we went, stopping there for a restroom break, a few yards from the Nevada state line. I had never been there before, but I knew that the town straddled the state line between Utah and Nevada. It was just funny to see a casino with its parking lot in Utah but the building in Nevada.

    Our last stop before Oregon was in Carlin, Nevada. It felt good to stand up and stretch our legs. We filled up and made use of the facilities before heading out on our last stretch before the motel in Oregon. We also switched drivers. Hunter drove the rest of the way to Lakeview, Oregon.

    The last stretch of road for the day was the lonely area from northwest Nevada into southeast Oregon. From Winnemucca, Nevada up highway 95, and then northwest on highway 140 to Lakeview, Oregon, there were no towns, no cell service, and practically no gas, restrooms or civilization. The highway was narrow, with almost no shoulder, especially after crossing into Oregon. We encountered almost no other traffic. I only found out later that the southeastern part of Oregon seems to be made up of practically nothing but wilderness study areas and wildlife refugees. If course this pretty much means no civilization either, but it was sure pretty, kind of reminding me of southwest Utah with all the black lava rock and sage brush.

    At one point we came to the top of a ridge called Doherty Slide which looks to me like a faultline, where one side dropped and the other side went up, similar to the hill just above Hurricane, Utah where I grew up. The highway down Doherty Slide precariously winds down a steep slope into the valley below, with no guardrail and a speed limit of 25 miles per hour. This photo doesn’t do it justice. It is a thousand foot drop from the top to the valley floor. Hunter took this portion very slowly, but it still made us all a little nervous. We were glad to make it safely to the bottom.

    Shortly after this area, the drive seemed to slowly get greener and greener. Then we hit a valley of cultivated fields and greenery, with farmhouses scattered across the valley. I don’t know if you’d call it a town or a village, but it’s listed on the map as Adel. From there we began heading up the canyon where Deep Creek flowed, getting into more greenery and alpine conditions. We even got into a few snow flurries and some rain. There were also some beautiful waterfalls. The beauty of God’s creations was astounding.

    We arrived in Lakeview, Oregon and checked into the Best Western Skyline Motor Lodge. They had a room that had an extra extension room with another bed – three queen beds (we made due with this with some of the kids sleeping on the floor). We enjoyed pulled pork sandwiches for dinner. The room had a microwave oven in which we reheated the pulled pork we had roasted in the crock pot the night before. We had some chips we brought that the kids enjoyed too.

    Enjoying the chips

    Later the boys and Grace went down to the pool and enjoyed a swim.

    The pool 1 Pool 2

    The next morning we packed up and headed out for the beach house, excited that we were going to see the ocean that very day. We were also excited to go through parts of Oregon we knew would be green, mountainous and beautiful.

    Mountains after Klammath Falls

    We hit some spots of snow on the roads going over the mountain passes after Klammath Falls. The sun was out though, and it was already melting. It was amazingly gorgeous.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Ochentiuno, Gracias a Dios – Another Mission Story

    Ochentiuno, Gracias a Dios – Another Mission Story

    —Eighty-five, thank the Lord!—

    As a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I was in the city of Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina (Latitude: -33.3728 Longitude: -69.14755) around April or May 1991, going from door to door talking to people about Jesus Christ with my companion, Owen Quass. We were in a poorer section of town where most of the homes were set back in with a fence and gate in front. In these situations (with either an open door or a yard with a fence and gate) it was polite not to enter the yard, but to instead clap your hands at the gate (or open door).

    Thus, we were knocking on doors or clapping at gates when we came to a home with a small dirt front yard (rarely did anyone with any sort of a yard have grass) with a wire fence and gate, with chickens wandering the front yard. We clapped and a very nice older man came to the gate. We explained who we were and that we were sharing a message about Jesus Christ. He let us in to  his yard and directed us to sit down, I think, on some old wooden crates he had there.

    We usually began conversations by trying to get to know people a little bit. We would ask them questions about themselves and tell them a little about us first. As I had only been in the country about 2 months, I could understand pretty much everything being said to me, but I could not speak the language (Spanish) very well yet. Because of this, my companion was usually the one who started things off in conversation.

    At this particular home, Elder Quass (elder is the title male missionaries go by, along with their last names, while serving as full-time missionaries) led out with a few questions about the man’s family and other things. It quickly became apparent that the man was rather deaf. He kept asking, “¿cómo?” (what?) after everything my companion said. Elder Quass had to speak very loudly and slowly for him to make out what he was saying. Then, having seen all the chickens in the yard (there were maybe 20 at most) he asked, “¿cuántas gallinas tiene?” This means “how many hens/chickens do you have? In quick reply the man answered, “ochentiuno, gracias a Dios!” (eighty one, thank the Lord!)

    It was obvious at this point that the man misheard the question. He thought my companion had asked, “¿cuántos años tiene?” (how old are you?)  We had a hard time containing a laugh. After that, the phrase “ochentiuno, gracias a Dios!” became immortalized in our mission district as a phrase that reminded everyone of this story and brought laughter to everyone’s hearts. I’ll have to thank that man in the next life for unknowingly bringing cheer to many as his story was retold, including in a skit we performed at a church party.

    Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina - Branch Skit - Ochentiuno, gracias a Dios
    Elder Ward, Elder Cox play the missionaries on the left while I, Andrew Gifford, play the old, deaf man on the right, and Elder Quass played someone else to add humor.