Semana 24

Dear Elder Lutze,

I can’t believe your mission is almost one quarter done! This makes your use of your time there that much more important. 

This week was crazy! We finally met with Mark to do our taxes. He felt so bad for missing our appointment on Monday that he brought us a Nothing Bundt Cake on Thursday. We really like him. It’s nice to have that figured out. 

I enjoyed our YW activity on Tuesday. We came up with ideas for activities for the new year. Wednesday Dad and I were asked to do Trek again. I also met with the ladies from my Emotional Resiliency Group. We talked for 2 1/2 hours and set some physical goals! I love these women and the support they are to me.

Friday I made food and ran errands for Becca’s baby shower. We had a great time. I loved seeing Anita again. 

Happy Birthday to me! Saturday I slept in and then stayed in bed reading scriptures. Diver came in to visit and play and then Hunter. Then Dad and I attended a sealing session with the Howells Sudweeks Sis Callister and Sis Miller. We did two sealings like we did the one with you and your friends with multiple siblings. It was amazing to see the hands joined and piled on top of each other on the altar. We did one with three sisters.

The sealer said two things that have stayed with me. One it’s better to sense the presence of those from the other side than to see them. I’ve sensed my parents presence a few times and it’s been very meaningful to me. He was telling us they are present in the room when we’re doing their work. He also remarked on what a small percentage we are of the world’s population that has the privilege of doing the Lord’s work in His temples. He talked about how that endears us to Him. 

My thought goes along with this. I’m almost done with the Old Testament. 

Zechariah 9:11-12

11 As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.

12 Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;

This gives me great hope for Natalie through our covenants. He is so merciful!!! He is a God of multiple chances followed by double the blessings!!!

Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained: “It was of these that Zechariah prophesied when as part of a longer Messianic utterance, he spoke of ‘prisoners of hope’; it was of these that he gave assurance that ‘the Lord their God shall save them.’ He gives the Messianic message in these words: ‘By the blood of the covenant’—that is, because of the gospel covenant, which is efficacious because of the shedding of the blood of Christ—’I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.’ (Zech. 9:11–16.) ‘Wherein is no water’—how aptly and succinctly this crystallizes the thought that the saving water, which is baptism, is an earthly ordinance and cannot be performed by spirit beings while they dwell in the spirit world. Did not Paul say in this same connection, ‘What shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?’ (1 Cor. 15:29.)” (The Promised Messiah, p. 241.)

Love you!

 Mom