Spiritual and Physical relief, and Bathtub ballet
First, may I say that I love the Lord Jesus Christ. I love sharing my testimony. I love visiting with others whether members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or not. I love sharing the things I have learned along my way through this physical-mortal portion of our lives. I love the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that teach that we are merely passing through a moment of our existence when we are born, live, and die on this world.
On Tuesday we enjoyed Zone Conference with a different Zone of young missionaries than those with whom we usually meet. It was a wonderful day with a spiritual "lift" that will live with me forever. These young missionaries have a spiritual insight unmatched anywhere. I marvel how spiritually mature these youngsters are. I don't remember having progressed so far when I served as a young missionary so many years ago. Their love of learning the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ will be an assistance to them through their entire lives if they will allow themselves to continue receiving revelation similar to the way they receive it now.
On Wednesday we traveled to Beaumont, Texas so that I could be "stabbed in the back". What really happened is that my sweet companion and I occasionally need relief from our back pain. Mine is not as severe as is Sister Black's, but this time it was for me that we went. I underwent a procedure called Radio Frequency Ablation. Our Pain Management Doctor is the Stake President in the Orange Texas Stake. We have great respect for President/Doctor Daniel Harris. He burned several nerves in my back using radio waves. The damage done to these nerves is not permanent, but it lasts several months. The result is that the pain usually felt is not transmitted to the brain and thus we get relief from the perceived pain. It doesn't cure the cause of pain, but it mitigates the sensation of it. The cure would include massive surgery as I have a great deal of arthritis in my back.
While we were in the surgical center in Beaumont I had opportunity to visit with several people about the purpose for which we left our comfortable circumstances in Utah to come to Southeast Texas. Many of those who work there are Latter-day Saints, but not all of them are. I enjoyed visiting with the nurses and clerks there who were interested in hearing my story. I hope that interest will eventually prompt them to learn more.
We stayed the night in Beaumont because I was prohibited from driving the rest of the day, and I don't like Sister Black to drive much because of the pain medication she needs and uses. Those medicines slow reaction time.
We hurried back to Houston on Thursday because I had my annual eye appointment scheduled for Thursday morning. We learned that my eyesight has not deteriorated during the past year, but that the glasses I have been using were not appropriate for me. I have graduated to "progressive" lenses so that my eyes can focus easily. There will be some learning and brain training to utilize these lenses properly.
On Friday we were privileged to be the transportation for 4 sister missionaries as we went to the Temple with new or returning members for the purpose of doing baptisms for their kindred dead. Our scheduled time in the temple for what we call "Faith meets Family" is from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. We had so many people come that we were there until after 9:15 pm. Our Sister Missionaries hadn't had any dinner so we picked up food to eat on the way home. They are usually supposed to be in their apartments by 9:30 pm and sleeping by 10:30. The temple is a distance away from our area, so these young ladies didn't get home until after 10:00.
Saturday morning, as I was preparing for the day, I was blessed to enjoy what my older sister, who is much wiser than am I, calls "Bathtub Ballet". I call it instant aerobic exercise. I don't remember exactly how it started, but evidently our "non-slip" bathtub mat is not non-slip. I remember well enjoying a close-up view of the floor at the end of my acrobatic exercise. Apparently my eye became closely acquainted with something on the way down. I'll likely get to enjoy a wonderful "shiner" when it matures. I have a few other aches and pains that I am discovering now too.
Then Saturday evening we went back to the temple with our young Elders and some pre-members who wanted to see the temple and enjoy the grounds. While they were there on the grounds, the Elders taught them a lesson touching on the importance of the temples and the ordinances performed within its walls. I spoke with these pre-members asking what they felt as they strolled the grounds and received the lesson the Elders taught. They all responded that they felt different and that they liked how they felt.
Today is Fast Sunday. These families that went with us to the temple yesterday will hear testimonies of a family that was sealed together in the temple yesterday. What a marvelous event they have enjoyed as mother and father along with all of the children were sealed together for time and for all eternity by a man given the authority to perform such an ordinance by the prophet of God. They will ever remember that special day.
Oh, how I wish every family would prepare themselves to receive such. Lives are changed, eternal families are created, and families are linked from generation to generation within the walls of the Holy Temples throughout the world.
I testify that God lives. I testify that He knows us individually and that he knows even our individual names. I know that Jesus is the Christ and that only by and through Him can we receive salvation and eternal lives. I know that God called prophets in ancient times and that he still calls prophets to cry repentance even today. I know that President Russell M. Nelson is that prophet today. I so testify in the holy name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
On Tuesday we enjoyed Zone Conference with a different Zone of young missionaries than those with whom we usually meet. It was a wonderful day with a spiritual "lift" that will live with me forever. These young missionaries have a spiritual insight unmatched anywhere. I marvel how spiritually mature these youngsters are. I don't remember having progressed so far when I served as a young missionary so many years ago. Their love of learning the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ will be an assistance to them through their entire lives if they will allow themselves to continue receiving revelation similar to the way they receive it now.
On Wednesday we traveled to Beaumont, Texas so that I could be "stabbed in the back". What really happened is that my sweet companion and I occasionally need relief from our back pain. Mine is not as severe as is Sister Black's, but this time it was for me that we went. I underwent a procedure called Radio Frequency Ablation. Our Pain Management Doctor is the Stake President in the Orange Texas Stake. We have great respect for President/Doctor Daniel Harris. He burned several nerves in my back using radio waves. The damage done to these nerves is not permanent, but it lasts several months. The result is that the pain usually felt is not transmitted to the brain and thus we get relief from the perceived pain. It doesn't cure the cause of pain, but it mitigates the sensation of it. The cure would include massive surgery as I have a great deal of arthritis in my back.
While we were in the surgical center in Beaumont I had opportunity to visit with several people about the purpose for which we left our comfortable circumstances in Utah to come to Southeast Texas. Many of those who work there are Latter-day Saints, but not all of them are. I enjoyed visiting with the nurses and clerks there who were interested in hearing my story. I hope that interest will eventually prompt them to learn more.
We stayed the night in Beaumont because I was prohibited from driving the rest of the day, and I don't like Sister Black to drive much because of the pain medication she needs and uses. Those medicines slow reaction time.
We hurried back to Houston on Thursday because I had my annual eye appointment scheduled for Thursday morning. We learned that my eyesight has not deteriorated during the past year, but that the glasses I have been using were not appropriate for me. I have graduated to "progressive" lenses so that my eyes can focus easily. There will be some learning and brain training to utilize these lenses properly.
On Friday we were privileged to be the transportation for 4 sister missionaries as we went to the Temple with new or returning members for the purpose of doing baptisms for their kindred dead. Our scheduled time in the temple for what we call "Faith meets Family" is from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. We had so many people come that we were there until after 9:15 pm. Our Sister Missionaries hadn't had any dinner so we picked up food to eat on the way home. They are usually supposed to be in their apartments by 9:30 pm and sleeping by 10:30. The temple is a distance away from our area, so these young ladies didn't get home until after 10:00.
Saturday morning, as I was preparing for the day, I was blessed to enjoy what my older sister, who is much wiser than am I, calls "Bathtub Ballet". I call it instant aerobic exercise. I don't remember exactly how it started, but evidently our "non-slip" bathtub mat is not non-slip. I remember well enjoying a close-up view of the floor at the end of my acrobatic exercise. Apparently my eye became closely acquainted with something on the way down. I'll likely get to enjoy a wonderful "shiner" when it matures. I have a few other aches and pains that I am discovering now too.
Then Saturday evening we went back to the temple with our young Elders and some pre-members who wanted to see the temple and enjoy the grounds. While they were there on the grounds, the Elders taught them a lesson touching on the importance of the temples and the ordinances performed within its walls. I spoke with these pre-members asking what they felt as they strolled the grounds and received the lesson the Elders taught. They all responded that they felt different and that they liked how they felt.
Today is Fast Sunday. These families that went with us to the temple yesterday will hear testimonies of a family that was sealed together in the temple yesterday. What a marvelous event they have enjoyed as mother and father along with all of the children were sealed together for time and for all eternity by a man given the authority to perform such an ordinance by the prophet of God. They will ever remember that special day.
Oh, how I wish every family would prepare themselves to receive such. Lives are changed, eternal families are created, and families are linked from generation to generation within the walls of the Holy Temples throughout the world.
I testify that God lives. I testify that He knows us individually and that he knows even our individual names. I know that Jesus is the Christ and that only by and through Him can we receive salvation and eternal lives. I know that God called prophets in ancient times and that he still calls prophets to cry repentance even today. I know that President Russell M. Nelson is that prophet today. I so testify in the holy name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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