No Coincidences

Tag: ancestors

Grandma, I will see you soon

I believe Sandra Leach was in her early 30s when she accepted the message of the missionaries of Jesus Christ. I have thanked her for that choice every day of my entire life.

I love you Grandma. Thank you.

The greatest gift my grandmother gave me was the gift of a gospel household and a gift of the knowledge of the great Plan of Heavenly Father. Why is this the greatest gift? Death should hurt. Because I know where my grandma is going and because I know I will see her again, death becomes less a sting of bitterness and more a quiet celebration. I know who is greeting my grandmother, I know the peace and joy she will have as she waits for us to finish our race. Especially when a good person passes, and there’s few better than my grandma, Sandra Leach, I know where she’s going is so marvelous and wonderful. It will be sad for us who have to stay.

It will be a brief stay away.

I know that Grandma has a lot to do. I know that she’s working alongside Laura now.

Soon, one day in the near future, when my race is hopefully won, I will meet her again. We’ll sit in some glorious place I can’t describe; I don’t have the vocabulary or ability to imagine the setting of Heaven. We will sit and we will go over every single book she read, that she passed to me, that I read. The books will be in the hundreds! The notes we’ll share! I can’t wait. We’ll have so much to discuss. She’ll have so much more to teach me. Just like she taught me here, she’ll teach me there. I’ll thank her. I imagine there are happy tears in Heaven. I can already see and feel tears of joy pouring from my face as I thank her for leading me there. I will thank her for her perseverance, effort, and determination to raise a righteous home. I will thank her for teaching my mother about God, and Jesus Christ. I will thank her for listening to the missionaries. I will thank her for her faith. I will thank her for the foundation she established so I could live a joyful life leading to the ultimate joy. That moment with her and my loved ones. Discussing our life past and the great future ahead.

I long for eternity. I know eternity is just on the other side of me closing my eyes for good from this existence. I don’t long for death. I’m not anxious to leave all I love here. I am excited for my future of laying a foundation of love, faith, and obedience for my daughters. I am excited for my time on this earth to do all the things my grandmother taught me were important.

How can I ever thank my grandma for what she’s given me? I can only give it to my daughters and all those around me.

Thank you, Grandma. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and soul.

I don’t long for death, but I am excited for it. I am excited for eternity with you. I have no fear of death because I know it will be on God’s time and terms. I know it will be for a purpose. Death will only mean temporarily leaving others to reunite with family that has gone ahead. How great it is to have no fear of death. How great it is to know why I’m here. Thank you, Grandma, for that gift.

May 12, 2022
We are Scripture

As I read the historical background of Section 136 of the Doctrine and Covenants, I’m struck by the realization of how much the pioneers of the 1840s parallel the children of Israel leaving Egypt.

The pioneers were leaving persecution, and in many ways bondage, just as the children of Israel.

The pioneers had a humble leader, being inspired of God. Brigham Young said, “What I know, I have received from the heavens…Men talk about what has been accomplished under my direction, and attribute it to my wisdom and ability; but it is all by the power of God, and by intelligence received from him.”

The pioneers were on a covenant path. The destination was not as important as the journey. Section 136 is all about the pioneers learning to trust and follow God, whatever happened. This has many parallels with the children of Israel, from manna coming to heaven to their rejection of the full covenants with God along their way.

The pioneers were going to settle a new promised land. The children of Israel were going to settle the Lord’s city.

The comparisons go on and on.

As I’ve been writing this, I have said: the pioneers compared to the children of Israel. It’s important to realize that the pioneers were the modern children of Israel. It is no coincidence that their story so perfectly parallels the Exodus from Egypt. God works in patterns. This is proof of His work.

Brigham Young, when worries came from the pioneers about them being behind schedule in their goal to have crops planted, is quoted as saying, if the Saints “had done all [they] could,” he would feel “just as well satisfied as if [they] had a thousand acres planted with grain. The Lord would do the rest.”

Ultimately, the pioneers settled Utah. Salt Lake City has become a bustling and powerful city of the world. The desert has blossomed as the rose, (Isaiah 35:1) just as Jerusalem became a powerful city in ancient times.

I believe we often read the scriptures and forget that we are scripture. Very little differentiates us from the followers of God 2000 or 4000 years ago. Different places, different time, new technology; but we are still following God, trying our best to keep His covenants, and trying our best to come closer to Him.

If scripture verses were written about you, what would be written?

With this understanding comes an important realization. History repeats itself. I believe we can read of the ancient Jews condemning their Christ to death on the cross and scoff at the idea. We are ~170 years removed from our “time in the wilderness,” our pioneer days. If Christ came before Zion today, would we know Him?

I hope we would, but sometimes I worry for Zion. We know Zion will become complacent in the last days. It’s important that we stay vigilant in our devotion to God and to our covenants with Him. Otherwise we risk the same fate that befell Jerusalem so many years ago.

February 17, 2022
The Glory of the Sun

I recently finished a book that was so packed with wisdom I couldn’t come close to taking it all in. Every page provided a new insight. Every thought was provoking. It is amazing to walk through the minds of men and women so in touch with the spirit or some form of knowledge I don’t yet have. It’s my favorite part of reading. From reading his words and thoughts I could feel his closeness to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and therefore come closer to them myself.

The name of the book was The glory of the sun which refers to 1 Corinthians 15:41:

“There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.”

Doctrine and Covenants 76:70 reads:

“These are they whose bodies are celestial, whose glory is that of the sun, even the glory of God, the highest of all, whose glory the sun of the firmament is written of as being typical.”

Sterling W. Sill, author of this book, was a general authority in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was asked to share a series of gospel messages each week for a year over the radio. The series was called “Sunday Evening from Temple Square.” Those 52 addresses were put into this book. It’s amazing to see that so many unique and powerful messages can come from one individual.

Sterling W. Sill

Every message was so good, I could randomly turn to a page and share an important thought. There was one in particular I found pertinent to our current moment in history.

Elder Sill shared his messages at the height of the cold war so there is an emphasis of freedom and liberty throughout.

In one of his addresses titled “Five grains of Corn” Elder Sill reviewed the custom of Thanksgiving. Elder Sill pointed out that Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday. It is a day we give thanks to our ancestors who bravely came here and suffered through much hunger, affliction, and death. He reminded me that during Thanksgiving we give “deep gratitude.. for the rich productivity of American soil.”

I believe it is important for us to remember the blessed nation we are fortunate to live in. The United States of America is a chosen land. One thought Elder Sill presented was the idea that we live more lavishly and comfortably today than any king in history. He pointed out that if we had to live as King Solomon, even in all the glory of his palace and kingdom, it would be a great hardship to us.

What a thought! The average person in America lives with more comfort than any historical king! How blessed we are and how often we take for granted this great nation we live in. It truly is a promised land.

What has always separated America from any other nation is our freedom – the freedom that gives us the ability to worship our God however we please. If you look at the short history of the United States it becomes quickly apparent what separates us. It is the freedom we enjoy, particularly religious freedom. It saddens me that as a nation we are turning from the God who has so blessed us. It is part of the agency God has given us, the freedom this nation is founded on, that currently allows so many to turn from God.

This paragraph from the book rings so familiar to our current landscape that I will quote it in whole. Elder Sill says:

“In the United States we have just gone through a great political election to decide who would represent us in the governing councils of our country for the next four years. We have been sharply divided on issues and people. We have settled the matter by an appeal to the ballot box. No blood was shed, no life was in danger, no one had any thought of trying to liquidate his opponent. No one even pounded with his shoe or threatened to throw it at anyone. Now all Americans will settle down and give full support to the government that they, under God, have created. Now we will all unite in building a greater America and help to carry out our divine mission to promote freedom, justice, and happiness in the world.”

Election day is tomorrow. It is my sincere prayer that we as a nation can unite and support whoever wins this election. It is my prayer that there is no bloodshed, danger, threats, or pounding of feat.

The final and important point Elder Sill gives in this message is about our faith in God that I have already mentioned. Specifically, the devotion to His Son, Jesus Christ.

The Mayflower Compact, written by those coming to settle a new America reads, “We whose names are underwritten have undertaken for the glory of God to establish in Virginia the first colony for the advancement of the Christian faith.”

The New England Federation Compact Agreement reads similarly, “We all have come into these parts of America with one and the same end, namely to advance the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

I hope we can remember our Thanksgiving for this promised land. I hope we can remember the freedoms and liberties we enjoy, and how great it is to be a part of the democratic process. Finally, I hope we can remember who it is our ancestors came to America to serve, who’s kingdom they wished to establish.

“America was established as a kind of laboratory or experiment station to show what would happen to any people who cared and dared to follow Jesus Christ.” – Elder Sill.

How blessed our ancestors were and how blessed we’ve been as we’ve looked to Jesus Christ. I hope that can continue.

November 2, 2020
House Pets
Sometimes I look at my dog and think, “he wouldn’t last 5 minutes out in the real world.” If he had to go out and hunt/scavenge for food and water, on his own, no chance. Being cute getting someone to give him food and water would be his only chance at survival. If that option is removed, he’s a goner.

Look at this picture. It looks like he just ate a plate of strawberries and his afternoon plans are to lounge and get belly rubs.

Exhibit A

Granted, he is an 8-pound poodle/terrier mix. He wasn’t bred to survive in the wild. He was bred to be cute and to get people to give him stuff. I’m just saying, removing that option = goner.

I can already hear the “big” dog owners. “My dog would survive in the wild. Yours is closer to a cat, mine still has some wolf instincts.” OK. Your golden retriever is not surviving a week in the wild without its cute factor, just the same as my poodle/terrier.

Exhibit B

My dog lives the most cushy life imaginable. He sleeps all the time. He wakes up and eats. He sleeps some more. He goes on walks. Then he sleeps. He plays. He goes on bike rides. At 9:30pm he stares me dead in the eyes and I know he’s saying, “You know good and well it’s time for bed.”

It wasn’t until just recently that a very obvious and humbling fact slapped me right across the face. I wouldn’t survive a week out in the wild.

I was looking at my (adorable) little dog curled up on the bed, petting his soft hair, admiring how good he is, being jealous of how easy his life is, when I had that thought. “You poor pathetic creature. What would you do without me?”

Who was I talking to?

*Slap to the face.

What would I do out in the wild?

Here I was in my air-conditioned condo, with a giant Hydrapeak water bottle filled to the brim with ice cold water that I filled from my refrigerator. That morning I’d poured Berry Colossal Crunch into a bowl, pulled a cold jug of milk from the refrigerator, and had cereal, like a proper grown man should do. That morning I’d taken a piping hot shower. I let the water run long enough so that it was plenty warm. Cold shower? No chance! Running water came from a tap where I put a toothbrush I’d squeezed mint toothpaste onto to brush my teeth. I then sat in a comfortable chair and worked at a computer.

Who was I to judge my dog? I was living the same life my dog was!

Put me out in the wild without food and water and tell me to figure it out. Remove the option of me going to someone’s door and saying, “please feed me,” and I had no chance.

I don’t think we take the time often enough to
1. Stop and realize how blessed we are.
2. Realize how pathetic we are.
What would I do out in the wild without a can opener? Let alone having to hunt and find food?

I’ve recently read a couple books about the old west. A story I just read was about an 11-year-old boy who ran off with some Shoshone Indians (Native Americans). He lived two years with them. Eating buffalo meat. Hunting rabbits. Fishing for trout. I was amazed at the life this boy lived just 170 years ago.

Can you imagine if your ancestors could look at you now? What a pathetic sight you would be. Your great-great-great-great grandpa would marvel at your fancy light up information device and cans of food but would ask you, do you know how to hunt? Do you know how to guide yourself by the stars? Do you know how to survive without your pre-packaged meals and Uber eats? (Reminder- that great grandfather would be so perplexed by Uber eats).

Can you imagine your great-great-great-great grandmother asking where you keep the chickens? How do you grind the wheat for your bread? (Do you grind wheat for bread??? I DON’T KNOW!) Can you even cook without that radiation device that nuclearizes your food into something *edible?

While modern advances are amazing, truly amazing; we have become so pathetic.

That’s all.

Just thought I would remind all of us of that.

Next time you look at your house cat, little dog, big dog, or even your fish and scoff and say “you dumb and spoiled animal,” I hope you pause for a second and soak in the irony.
October 8, 2020