30 Years!!!

June 14, 2015

Dear Sister Kristina,

Can you believe it's our 30 year anniversary today! In a way time has just flown by, but in another way I think back on all the things we've done, the places we've lived, the babies we've had, the teenagers, our new Samoan family, the young adults, the missionaries, the college grads, the newly married and the cutest little granddaughter ever--It's been wonderful!! and I feel so blessed.

Dad has showered me with gifts and flowers. He's still as sweet as he was when I married him and he still thinks I'm the most beautiful woman in the world and makes me feel that way. That's why I married him. He's the best!

So how was your week? Thank you so much for you cute card. That was a fun surprise to come home to yesterday. I was in Utah for most of the week. Dad was here working and sleeping. Leah is still in Utah staying with Grandma and Grandpa. She's doing well. She was a little homesick last night after we left, but has spent a lot of time with Alex and Savannah and Chloe and then today of course they had a big dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's which has really helped her not miss home. She is doing well with her neurofeedback sessions and doesn't mind going at all since all she has to do is get hooked up to wires and watch whatever DVD she chooses. I even had it done so I could see what it felt like. I didn't feel much of anything, so we'll see if it makes a difference for Leah. It's supposed to help heal her brain overactivity. I'm going to be making some quilts for Rebecca (dad's cousin who does the feedback) in exchange for payment. 

While we were in Utah we were pretty much busy the whole time. Leah, Nikki and I stayed at the grandparents. At night we went to Sean's softball games. We visited with Sarah, Kirk and Addie, hung out with Alex and Savannah, met with Sean and Blair and the Williams who were up for the weekend and we checked out the new Noah's for their reception. The engagement is still a secret since Sean hasn't formally proposed yet. Hopefully he will do that soon so we can all talk more openly. The new Noah's is right across the street from the old one that's in Lindon. It's smaller, but it will be so pretty. Blair was really happy with it. Fabiana is meeting with them tomorrow night to take their engagement pictures. It's so funny to me that we're doing all this but they're not officially engaged! haha

Last night when I got home, I quickly changed clothes and dad and I went over to our building to get a seat to hear Elder Oaks speak. We got there almost an hour and a half early and still had to sit in the first part of the cultural hall. We saw the Camerons sitting in the chapel. They said they got there at five and stood in line outside. Man, it's difficult to get to see an apostle. I hope one comes to your mission one day so you get to meet one personally and shake their hand, listen to them, etc.

Our meeting was wonderful. Bro. Richard Turley, the church historian was also there. He was so interesting and told us how he had access to every single bit of church history that we know of and he has seen it all, researched it all and travels the world talking about it. He talked about Joseph Smith and the beginnings of the Book of Mormon. The name of their presentation to us was "Who's on the Lord's Side?" Bro. Turley spoke about how Joseph got the plates and how he had to protect them and how difficult it was. He dictated the entire Book of Mormon in less than 90 days and in one single draft! He never went back over it, never double checked it or made a better draft…just one single draft. That's just amazing! Especially when Bro. Turley showed us how difficult it was for Joseph Smith to write anything. He said the Smith family were not writers. They were oral record keepers. Jos. Smith never wrote things down until he was actually commanded to do so a few years later. Bro. Turley showed us papers on how difficult it was for Joseph to do that. He struggled with that commandment, and that's something people always question..why did Joseph wait so long to write anything down about what happened to him. He just was not a writer or record keeper.

On a big screen he showed us copies of the original manuscript. Joseph had buried those papers in the cornerstone of his house. Years later, Emma's second husband found the papers but they were all soggy and ruined. The portions he found though he gave away to people as souvenirs. Turns out most of the souvenirs were given to members and through the years those members have turned those papers in to the church where they have now been preserved. He showed us what they look like.

Then he showed us Joseph Smith's first attempt at trying to keep a record after he received a commandment to make a record of everything that happened. It sounded like a ten year old. It was so amazing to see his writing in his first journal and compare that to what he had dictated 3 years earlier as the Book of Mormon. This is the first page below.Bro. Turley said Joseph tried to write something at first, then scratched it out, then tried again. Bro. Turley said the grammar in this is horrible. haha I knew that Joseph did not have very much education, but seeing this and how he struggled to write anything was so amazing.

Then Elder Oaks spoke to us about apostacy and how gospel truths get corrupted. He said there are two basic causes of apostacy:1)Disobedience to commandments and 2)False prophets-they are most threatening to those who already believe in prophets. He warned us to always look to the fruits of those who are teaching "By their fruits, ye shall know them." then he reminded us that the Lord speaks to the church through the prophet and only the prophet. We've been having some problems with that in our area with some members who claim they received some revelations pertaining to the church and got quite a few people to follow them. Weird!! Elder Oaks also admonished us to look at the church in its entirety and its fruits and not look for tiny details that we are trying to find fault with. He told us that when we follow the prophet, we are on the Lord's side and we should all ask ourselves, who's on the Lord's side. It was a wonderful fireside and my testimony was so strengthened by their words. I loved it. 

Today I went to the gospel essentials class with an investigator who is a friend of the Cooley's. Chuck had to teach SS, so I went to class with her. She's been taking the lessons and it was so wonderful to be able to talk with her, share some thoughts with her, etc. Our lesson was on prayer. She's a single, 29 yr old from California and she's decided she's going to move up here. I told her I'd try to help her find a place to rent by asking all the RS presidents. I also told her how great the singles wards are and how much I thought she'd enjoy them when she moves up. She's going back to California tomorrow and plans on coming back the first part of July. She said she's been looking into the church and investigating without telling anyone so she could decide for herself first. I think she will make a wonderful member and I'm so hopeful for her. I'll keep you posted.

Today was also the farewells for Kenedee and Shannon. We didn't go to those, but I'm sure they were great. I've been reading Ali's letters and heard that Mallory is doing well, but just missing her family. 

How is your new companion? Can't wait to hear your stories. Here's few pics from my trip to Utah. Have a miraculous week! Miss you, love you and adore you!!!

Love you,

Mom xxoo