Semana 29

Dear Elder Lutze,

We continue to pray for you daily and put your name on the prayer roll in the temple each week.

This week we did Pizzart with the YW on Tuesday. (We prepped Monday night.) They loved it! Wednesday, Dad and I were set apart for Trek. Bishop sure loves you, your effort, and your attitude. Friday we went to the temple and did an endowment session. We then went to Tru Rest Spa and followed that with dinner at Red Lobster. We were celebrating our 29th anniversary a week early. We watched the boys that evening while Foster and Hannah went on a date. Saturday Cami came over. We ate pizza, played Code Name and Stupid Deaths followed by cheesecake. Today Sonia, Yvonne and Alex are coming over for dinner and bringing Jeannette’s new baby boy. I don’t know any details yet. I taught YWs today! What amazing girls! We talked about overcoming our fears through the Savior.

Just a thought I came across this week as I was thinking about your service as a missionary! And really as we serve Him for life!

President Ezra Taft Benson described what happens in the lives of those who “lose their lives” for the Savior: “Men and women who turn their lives over to God will find out that he can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace. Whoever will lose his life to God will find he has eternal life” (“Jesus Christ—Gifts and Expectations,” New Era, May 1975, 20).

And I love this thought on healing by steps… not all at once even spiritual healing!

Mark 8:22-25

Elder Bruce R. McConkie pointed out truths we can learn from this miracle:

“This miracle is unique; it is the only recorded instance in which Jesus healed a person by stages. It may be that our Lord followed this course to strengthen the weak but growing faith of the blind man. It would appear that the successive instances of physical contact with Jesus had the effect of adding hope, assurance, and faith to the sightless one. Jesus personally (1) led the blind man by the hand out of the town, (2) applied his own saliva to the eyes of the sightless one, (3) performed the ordinance of laying on of hands, and (4) put his hands a second time upon the man’s eyes.

“Certainly the manner in which this healing took place teaches that men should seek the Lord’s healing grace with all their strength and faith, though such is sufficient for a partial cure only.” Following the receipt of this partial cure, “they may then gain the added assurance and faith to be made whole and well every whit. Men also are often healed of their spiritual maladies by degrees, step by step as they get their lives in harmony with the plans and purposes of Deity” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 1:379–80).

Love, 

 Mom