I Love To See The Temple...

This was sent to me from a friend...a letter from someone that works at the LA Temple. I loved this!! It is very comforting knowing that a Prophet of God is here on the earth to guide us each and every day. There have been Prophets on the earth since the beginning of time. Why would God leave us here alone without one now? It's easy to answer that question...I know He wouldn't! Have a wonderful day...Bobejo :-)

Date: Saturday, November 15, 2008, 6:16 PM

My dear family, brothers and sisters, friends and leaders:

My heart is overflowing with joy and gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His tender mercies and mighty miracles in our behalf. I just have to share this with you. As most of you know, I am a Temple ordinance worker and work the morning shift in the LA Temple every Saturday. Today, I had the privilege of translating sister Martz-the new assistant Matron's-message during our devotional. She started like this "The prophet Joseph Smith said that no unhallowed hand would be able to stop this Work from progressing. These past few weeks when mobs have combined and armies have gathered against the saints, the Lord has protected His house". She went on to say that those, like her, who were inside the Temple when mobs were surrounding it, did not realize how scary and terrifying this looked on TV to the rest of us, because inside the House of the Lord all was calm and there was peace abundant.

After Proposition 8 passed, the Temple began receiving threatening calls and mail from those opposing it. They were warned that more than 5000 people would come to the Temple and burn it to the ground, and stop Its work. The first Thursday when the mob came, the new LA Temple President called the Salt Lake City Temple Offices for instructions. He was instructed to call the local police and to insure the safety of those attending the Temple by closing the gates. The assistant Matron said today, that it was a tender mercy from the Lord that the mob chose that Thursday to come since they had only one person coming to receive his own endowment that day, which he received in time to leave before trouble started. The LAPD and the FBI responded quickly to the Temple Presidency 's summons and patrolled the grounds and kept the mob from entering the same. Most of them had never been there before and expressed their surprise at how beautiful and peaceful all around was. They were invited to come back during the Christmas season to see the lights and they promised they would.

On Thursday, November 13th, Sister Campbell, a secretary in the Temple, was opening the mail and upon opening a large manila envelope found inside a smaller one. When she opened this one, a white powder flew all around her desk. She thought this could be related to the demonstrators and feared the worst-ANTHRAX. She contacted the President, who in turn called the Salt Lake City Temple office again for instructions. The FBI, the LAPD, and even the SWAT teams were once again in the grounds to investigate, and the Temple once again had to close from around 11:30 AM to 5PM. They closed the gates and were instructed to keep all the people there wherever they were found at the time. Those in the parking lot had to remain in the parking lot. Those entering the Temple had to remain in the first floor and those already upstairs were taken to the Celestial Room. Then, the miracles began to happen: A brother serving as a recorder that day is a Microbiologist by profession and used to deal with hazardous substances every day. He was the first to say the white powder in the envelope was only talc, and put every one at ease. Then the sister coordinator upstairs was impressed to call upstairs to the sealing area, and said "They said we can't go down but no one said we can't go up, and I have many people in the Celestial room with their ceremonial clothes on ready to work. Could they do some sealings?" As it happened, there were four sealers present that day and they ran four sealing sessions non stop while the Temple was closed. Downstairs, someone else thought to invite those in the Lobby to do some initiatories, which they promptly did for all those hours too, brothers and sisters alike. Among those waiting in the parking lot there was a large group of young men and women with their leaders who had come to do Baptisms for the dead, and who waited patiently all those hours and decided when the Temple was reopened to go ahead and fulfill their assignment instead of driving back home. The Temple reopened in time for the 5:30 PM session.

The next day when recording the ordinances, they discovered that they had performed 2000 sacred ordinances on Thursday, only one less than the day before when three stakes had been visiting the Temple . Once again the assistant matron reminded us of the words of the prophet Joseph Smith, "No unhallowed hand can stop the Work from progressing...". But, this is not all, a prophecy was fulfilled also. When the new LA Temple President was set apart by President Uchdorft of the First Presidency, he received a blessing and these words were pronounced: " The time has come for the LA Temple to come out of obscurity and become an Ensign for Righteousness to the world under your presidency. " The pictures of the Temple have been shown on TV, newspapers and the Internet, not only in this country but worldwide. People of other faiths have called and sent letters to the Temple thanking the Church for defending marriage and protecting the family, and commenting how impressed they are by how beautiful and majestic the Temple looks . One minister of an African American church, who by his own admission had harbored ill feelings against the Mormons before said " I am impressed by your integrity and Christ like behavior, and even if I am not ready to consider you my brothers and sisters in Christ, we can be first cousins!". I asked the assistant matron if I could share her comments and she said to go ahead.

I can only add my own testimony that I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has the power and authority of God on earth. God Lives and Jesus, His only Begotten Son and our Savior is coming soon to redeem His people. I am grateful to know this and I pray we stand firm, steadfast and immobile while the prophecies of the signs before His Coming are fulfilled. "Be not afraid, only believe" He has said, and also " What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same. " I testify that this is true and testify it in the Holy Name of Whom I strive to serve, even Jesus Christ. Be faithful and safe is my humble prayer.

Your sister in Christ, Patricia A

Hudson @ the Chocolate Bowl

Hudson wrapped up the football season at the Chocolate Bowl. It was so much fun! His team had a great season. He had the best coaches this year, 7 of them to be exact, the best by far was his Dad! They had a lot of fun doing that together. We have so much going on in our lives right now that it was a bit stressful but in the end completely worth it. Hudson loved it!

For someone that we had to practically force to play the sport, Hudson ended up loving it! He was one of the Captains on the team, the Kicker, & Defensive End. This last game they played at the High School on turf. They announced the boys over the PA System and they all ran through a balloon arch w/fog billowing out on them. As the boys ran through they announced each boys name and nickname. Hudson's was announced like this...Hudson "Tower Of Power" Kelley! They lost 8-0 but they finished the season like Champions! It was a very fun night and the whole family was able to be there to support him. It was great!!

Hudson running out to the fieldGiving "high five" to the CoachesHudson..."The Kick-Off"Half-TimeHudson behind #4, headed for the QBHudson & Coach Kelley

Hayden Soccer

Hayden's soccer game last weekend...They won 2-0. She assisted the second goal, very exciting! She is #14. You can click on the photos to see them up close.

She dribbled right past this girl.

She's the one with the ball. She is right behind #9. She beat the defender.
She's headed down the field to assist the goal.
She took the ball from this girl. She looks so serious!

She had a great game!

Halloween...2008

Every year we go to our good friends house, The Hales. It is always a lot of fun! This year we had fun with their dogs, Linus & Woodstock. Here are a few pictures from the night...

Hayden escaped the camera that night...too busy with Ashley to notice!

The Tinsley Crew's In Town

John, Cretia, and the gang, (all except Addie) came for a quick visit at the end of October. We had such a great time with them. It had been three years since we saw them last. The kids had a lot of fun together! We went to a Trunk or Treat Halloween Party the night they arrived. With some help of my friend, we were able to find some costumes for the visitors to wear to the party.

On Saturday, we went to Hudson's football game! It was so hot, it felt like summer again!

Bridger (almost 10), John, Todd, & Hudson (10)

Bridger, Parker, Tanner, Cooper, Hayden, & Mason

After the game we headed over to Uncle John's favorite burger joint, In-N-Out, so he could get his fix before they went back home. Parker thought it would be fun to put the free stickers all over his face. Isn't he cute??!!

Little did he know he would have a follower...Hayden joined right in!

It was a wonderful weekend with The Tinsley's! We can't wait to see them again!!

Hudson's Red Hair & Mason's First Ride on Quito

I finally got around to adding some photos to my blog. Here is Hudson's red hair that I mentioned in my first blog along with Bear. Hudson looked so cute that day!

The next photos are of Mason the first day anyone ever rode Quito. Todd & Bishop Lovingier are in these photos also. Mason was really nervous that day but he did great and so did the horse!

Getting on Quito...

and finally...riding Quito!

Neal A. Maxwell, "A More Determined Discipleship," Ensign, Feb 1979, 69–73

Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters, in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions. (See 1 Kgs. 18:21 President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had "never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional or political life" (in Conference Report, Apr. 1941, p. 123). This is a hard doctrine, but it is a particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked. In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ!

Your discipleship may see the time when such religious convictions are discounted. M. J. Sobran also said, "A religious conviction is now a second-class conviction, expected to step deferentially to the back of the secular bus, and not to get uppity about it" (Human Life Review, Summer 1978, pp. 58–59).

This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions. Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened. Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost. Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel. There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness by what we do. We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds which was, till then, unconscious of itself. Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves, "summer is nigh" (Matt. 24:32 )

Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat!