Temple Experience with Sis Scott

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I worked at the temple this week, my first time back since Hank’s car accident that resulted in Mrs. Bennett’s death. I hoped to put everyone’s names on the prayer roll, and hoped for some “communication” and/or comfort. I have been worried about Mrs. Bennett and her family. 

I worked in initiatory first, and an older black lady I have never seen before, Sister Scott, came into my booth. She was doing work for “Princess Ferguson” from Jamaica. Mrs. Bennett was from Jamaica, and was even Runner-up for Miss Jamaica. We rarely get people from Jamaica at our temple, so it felt telling that she was there during my shift, and at my very booth, the same time as me. She had deep eyes and a very gentle demeanor and was so “open” and full of love. I felt like I was looking straight into Mrs. Bennett’s soul. 

Then I worked New Name Issue and again this same lady, Sister Scott, came into my booth and this time she spoke to me, for a good 4 mins! We usually say nothing extra in there beyond the short ordinance. She told me she was there doing her Mother’s work. She hugged me like 5 times. She was so full of love and gratitude, and said she was so happy she had found the gospel. I felt like Mrs. Bennett was talking to me through her, that from the other side that she is okay, and so happy she has found the gospel! We held up the line of people waiting to receive the new name, so badly, that a patron pulled back our curtain and told Sis. Scott to GO, stop talking and move on! But I needed to hear every word that she was there to tell me. Heavenly Father sent her to the temple, and to my booths that day to give me a message. We are always told there are no coincidences in the temple. 

I then had some free time during my shift that I went into the Celestial Room to pray and read in the Book of Mormon. I once heard that if there is anywhere that angels can manipulate where the ribbon bookmarks lay, it’s in the temple. So I opened where the ribbon lay, 2 Nephi 31, and read. 2 phrases stood out to me. “Remember that I HAVE SPOKEN UNTO YOU.” And “press forward, with a PERECT BRIGHTNESS of hope!” (Verses 4 and 20) I know Heavenly Father is aware of us, and I know he speaks to us. I’m grateful He sent Sister Scott to our temple that day.

Tucker@12

​Tucker goes to more birthday parties than any kid I know. He makes friends with everyone. He loves to drive his go cart (and cousins/friends) down to the creek to fish.  Tucker played Bears football, Southside Cross Country, Southside and ffy basketball(manager), Southside soccer this year with wrestling intermingled in there. He is really athletic and uber competitive. Definitely too competitive sometimes. Tucker has become really good friends with Kase Allspaugh this year and loves to do outdoor stuff with him and his family like go carts and fireworks, etc. Tucker is passing the sacrament now, and going to the temple and he loves it. Writing a talk is challenging for Tucker and he will avoid that at all costs. Tucker randomly makes very loud, high pitched screech sounds, only really at home. It’s terribly annoying! In school Tucker had Cs, Ds and an F, and I didn’t realize it until his parent teacher conference this year. I think he has been coasting off his good looks and charm to satisfy the number system his school previously used for grading. After that parent teacher conference and some threats from Dave and I, He has really stepped up his responsibility and improved his grades to As and B’s! As always, Tucker loves spending time with Chad, doing anything. Tucker got a bunch of fire crackers for his birthday and loves setting some off every night, throwing a few cherry bombs into the pond. Tucker loves Kraft mac ‘n cheese, Ramen, and his favorite restaurant is probably Freddy’s. He used to be an early riser (like 7am) he has started sleeping in, like until 10/11 if he can. He is constantly harassed by Dave and his siblings for being small, maybe growth is in his future!  This next year as Hank leaves the house for his mission, Tucker is going to become Dave’s right hand man. Tucker still hugs me before bed.❤️

Kay@14

 Kay likes to argue. Hates to work outside. Loves to do her nails. Always stays up to the wee hours of the morning piddling around in her room. Speaks before she thinks. Despises doing dishes. And she is also uber responsible. Good at everything she tries. Very creative. Keeps a tidy bedroom. Is a great sister to Cali-recently they started doing 10 pushups together and are chugging water together, before bed, to help check off goals on their goal bingo sheets for this year.  Kay helps Cali pick out her outfit for the next day. Kay is very thoughtful of Dave recently as he was in bed after ankle surgery. She always refilled his water bottle, asked if he needed anything, helped him wrap his ankle, etc. Kay was a fantastic yw class president recently. Her leader told me she was so on top of her assignments. She gates all A’s at school. She is taking Donner diving lessons right now, and of course, is really good at it. She likes having more time at home(she only practices 3x/week.)   Kay is my first child to get her patriarchal blessing. She got her interview and made her appt on her own. After her blessing Patriarch Lykins turned off the recorder and said “you are very pretty. You need to be very verry picky.” He also told her that somewhere out there, a young man is being prepared for her and if she stays on the path, they’ll find each other. If she gets off, he won’t find her because he won’t be looking for that person. I thought the recorder should have stayed on for those words!☺️ Kay reminds me SO much of my Mom. The level of stubbornness is immeasurable! Kay listens to a hymn every night for her 1 thing/day that she does on her own to spiritually feed herself. Kay looks so cute in cargo pants or wide leg sailor jeans. She works concessions at Northside games and earns money for her 8th grade DC trip. Kay has mastered making oatmeal munchies and hash browns, which she learned in home ec. She is so good with kids, teaching swim lessons or babysitting. She says no to every boy who asks her to dance at church dances, even tho her leaders’ rule is to say yes to every boy that gets the courage to ask. President Price has since bribed her with one Alani drink for every boy she says yes to. She just rarely goes with the flow. Cheers to Kay!

Initiatories for Janet Peters’ Mother

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Last week at the temple I started my shift doing Initiatories. The time passed really slowly. I looked at my watch several times. I felt impatient and less than spiritual. My next round of initiatories, Janet Peters walked in. she hadn’t done initiatories for a long time, and she was here to do the work for her Mother who died a few months ago. I started her in the first booth and instantly felt so emotional. I had to pause a few times during the ordinance to collect myself. The next temple worker walked into my booth to do her part, and she was also very emotional. The air was so heavy and warm with the presence of Janet’s Mother. It was undeniable, and she stayed for the entire initiatory, including the first booth of the next person. Then the air felt different, and the weight was gone.  It was a marvelous experience for all of us participating.

Rue@16

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Rue never tells who she has a crush on. If I ask who she likes she says none of them are good enough. She loves to go to church dances, she finds a guy she thinks is cute, dances with him, texts for a few days then gets bored with them and drops them. Rue has THE BEST LAUGH and sometimes snort! Rue has a quiet confidence that doesn’t let her get pushed around and also offends no one ever. She has a bedroom garbage can full of candy and snack trash every week. Rue gets straight A’s. She has 4 classes in media, Bulldog News Network, Yearbook and Journalism and really loves all of them. She loved being football manager this year- flying the drone, driving the golf cart, filling water bottles and cheering on her friends from the sidelines. They were the best group of manager there has ever been is what they were told at the banquet. She took her job really seriously and had a great time doing it! Rue has lofty goals for shot put and is working toward them with winter track. The girl loves to dip things in chocolate. Pretzels, buckeyes, strawberries, bananas, whatever we have. One of my favorite things Rue said this year was about FSY. Tho she has many friends and options to room with, she wants to go solo this year and get a random roommate. I told her that’s a terrible idea and could end up so badly! She responded “well, I’ll just make it great!” My heart beamed with pride❤️ Rue is such a joy! She is a great leader and friend. We watched the Notebook together last week(her first time seeing it) and she totally melted, just like me. Rue loves bellbottoms and boots and highlander cows. She is such a hard physical worker, and she could also stay in her bed and read all day. She gets lots of book suggestions from her bookworm cousin, Hannah. Rue loves temple trips and corrected Tucker when he groaned about going to the temple for his first time. I also loved that! Rue is just easy, pleasant, happy, excitable, joyous. Oh and SHE LOVES CHRISTMAS even before Halloween time, she wants to start Christmas. She is full of love and light and joy and peace. Happy 16th Rue! May you find the man of your dreams in 6 years.

Hank’s BYU Essays

Prompt # 1  

Describe a topic, idea, or experience that you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. What have you done to learn more or engage further in the topic, idea or experience? What resources do you use to learn more?

I’ve always been the type of person who likes to figure things out for myself. From a young age I’ve enjoyed taking things apart to see how they work and putting them back together better than before. That curiosity grew into an interest in mechanics. Over the years, I’ve spent hours teaching myself how to repair and restore vehicles while completing a three-year automotive program. In my free time, I flip trailers and cars in my backyard for profit. Being surrounded by nature while I work helps me focus and appreciate the process of restoration.

Through research and hands-on learning, I taught myself how to weld, grind, paint, wire lights and brakes, and perform vehicle maintenance. My dad has been a great example in teaching me to persevere when a problem gets frustrating. He reminds me that there is a solution out there, you just have to find it. Each project is a challenge that pushes me to think creatively. I have learned how to manage money and take pride in my work. I have made over $20,000, which I have used to pay for my own vehicle and fund my upcoming mission. 

Looking ahead, I hope to build a business centered around construction and heavy equipment. My dream is to create a company where I can oversee projects and maintenance of the equipment I've worked hard to understand. I look forward to the day when I use the skills I have learned in my backyard to create something meaningful, provide opportunities for others, and reflect on the passion that started it all.

Prompt # 2

Have you become aware of significant needs in your family, school, and/or community? Please explain how you have worked toward meeting those needs.

Every year, my extended family stuffs itself with Thanksgiving dinner, then we head out for a hike through the woods on a trail my great-granddad, Jo, created decades ago. It's a special place for all of us, complete with a twenty-foot slide down “Marshmallow Hill.” I have always admired his dedication. Creating a trail is no easy task; however, he wanted to implement a lasting tradition for his family. Through him, I have gained my own love for the outdoors. Some of my favorite things include the smell of fresh-cut grass, the sound of a chainsaw, and the feeling of a cool breeze after hours of working outside. Above all, he has taught me the importance of hard work, especially when it benefits others.

Recently, I discovered that parts of his trail had been infected by a tree disease that was spreading quickly. The work needed to stop it was far beyond what my great-grandad and neighbors could handle. I decided to take on the project myself, cutting down the diseased trees and hauling them out so the rest of the woods could stay healthy. It's been slow, steady work, sometimes taking entire weekends, but each trip reminds me why it matters.

I'm not just maintaining the trail, I'm preserving something that connects generations of my family and community. Seeing my great-granddad smile when he walks the cleared path again makes every hour worth it. This experience has shown me how small, consistent service done quietly and with a purpose can make a long-lasting effect.

Prompt # 3

Briefly describe a time that your efforts have fallen short, a goal was not accomplished, or an aspiration was not achieved. What steps did you take to recover from this defeat? What resources did you use? How and why are you different today?

In April of 2023, my family’s barn burned to the ground on the forty acre property where we were building our dream home in Columbus, Indiana. Inside were our Bernese Mountain dogs, a litter of ten puppies ready to go to their new homes and another mother expecting eight more. For years, my four younger siblings and I had worked side by side caring for our dogs—feeding them, cleaning up after them, and helping train each new litter. It was our shared project, something that taught us work, patience, and love. We had built that barn ourselves, board by board, and poured our hearts into it. When we pulled up the driveway and saw the smoke rising and nothing left but ashes, it felt like everything we had worked for had been ripped away. The loss of the dogs, the uninsbarn, and even our family business was devastating.

For days, we were heartbroken. It felt unfair and impossible to move forward. After we gathered ourselves together, we made a decision; we were going to rebuild. We spent long days clearing debris, hauling materials, and slowly putting the pieces back together. The new barn didn’t erase the pain, but it reminded us that healing comes through effort and faith.

That experience taught me that even when life burns down what you’ve built, God can help you rebuild something stronger. I learned that real strength comes from working through loss with gratitude and determination. The barn we rebuilt stands as a reminder that hope and faith can grow back, even from ashes.

Prompt # 4

We strive to create a rich and varied educational environment through admitting students with a wide range of:

1. Goals
2. Interests
3. Skills and talents
4. Life experiences
5. Perspectives
6. Cultures

Tell us your story. What will you contribute to our university community? Be specific.

While most people spent their time during COVID stuck inside, I spent mine building a house. Out on forty acres of woods in Columbus, Indiana, my mom, dad, grandpa, and I built our family’s 6,300-square-foot home completely by ourselves. We didn’t hire a crew, we just used what we had, learned as we went, and pushed through every challenge that came our way. I helped with everything: pouring concrete, framing walls, running electrical and plumbing, laying tile, and finishing the inside. It wasn’t easy. Some days were long, hot, and frustrating but watching the house slowly come together with my family made every bit of it worth it.

Building that home taught me a lot more than how to use tools. It taught me patience when things went wrong, how to problem-solve instead of giving up, and how good it feels to work hard for something real. I’ve always liked working with my hands, but that experience made me realize how much I love building, fixing, and helping. Since then, I’ve used what I learned to work on cars, repair trailers, and help friends and neighbors with their own projects.

At BYU, I want to bring that same mindset—hard work, determination, and a willingness to serve. I know what it means to start from nothing and build something that lasts, and I try to approach life the same way. BYU’s focus on strength, character, and faith fits perfectly with how I was raised, and I hope to add to that community by showing up, working hard, and helping others whenever I can.

Prompt # 5

A BYU education will be spiritually strengthening. BYU students have a unique opportunity to seek learning by study and by faith. Describe the reasons you want to learn in an environment like this.

Growing up in Indiana, I’ve been the only Latter-day Saint in almost every group I’ve been part of. The only one on the football team who believes in living prophets. The only one in wrestling who knows that Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. The only one in my automotive program who understands that families can be together forever. I’ve learned to stand for what I believe, even when no one else around me does, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy.

That’s one of the biggest reasons I want to go to BYU. I want to finally be surrounded by people who believe the same things I do. When talking about missions or service isn’t strange, it’s normal. There’s strength in being part of a community that pushes you in a good direction, where your friends make you want to be better.

I’ve felt a small piece of that at FSY. I’ve gone every year I’ve been eligible, even choosing it over football camps that could have helped me on the field. I knew I needed to be spiritually fed. FSY showed me how powerful it can be when everyone around you is focused on Christ. I want that feeling every day at BYU, where I can grow in both my education and my faith.

Right now, I’m the only priest in my quorum who is planning to go on a mission. Sometimes it feels like a lot to carry, trying to motivate the other guys to prepare and want that too. I can’t wait to be at BYU, where I’ll be surrounded by people who share that same goal: to serve, to learn, and to follow the Savior together.

Activity # 1

I’ve been working for my uncle’s company since I was twelve years old. What started as helping out on job sites during the summer has turned into real, consistent work that I now do every day after school. I spend most of my time forming walls, tying rebar, pouring and finishing concrete, and cleaning up job sites. I usually work from noon until dark, and while it’s exhausting at times, it’s also taught me a lot about what kind of person I want to be.

Growing up, I watched my family work hard for everything we have, so I’ve always believed in doing things right the first time. This job has taught me the value of patience, consistency, and teamwork. I’ve learned how to keep going when things get tough and to take pride in work that might not always be easy but always means something. There’s something satisfying about standing at the end of a long day and seeing a basement or wall you helped pour standing strong. It reminds me that hard work doesn't always get noticed, but the results always speak for themselves.

Working with my uncle has also shown me how much I enjoy building things with my hands and seeing progress you can touch. It’s helped shape my future goals- first attending BYU for business. Then, using what I’ve learned to create my own construction business and continue learning new skills. More than anything, this job has helped me realize that strength doesn’t just come from lifting heavy things, but from showing up every day ready to work hard and learn.

Activity # 2

I decided to participate in service at Bear Creek Camp because I wanted to build something that would benefit youth in our area for years to come. The very first time my dad and I volunteered to work at the camp in early 2021, the camp looked very rough. The types of things we saw were rugged trails, washed-out roads and bridges, old, worn-out buildings on the brink of collapse, and overgrown plants everywhere. I have always enjoyed hands-on work, so I enjoyed the thought of going to help cut trees, burn brush, and prepare campsites for future youth groups.

I continued to volunteer over the next few years, and I began to see the progress we were making. Working side by side with others helped me work on being patient, teachable, and communicative. Some days were long and tiring, but seeing our progress and watching the camp come back to life made it worth every second. Working at Bear Creek taught me more than how to use tools or clear trails; it taught me the importance of serving consistently and quietly, even when nobody notices.

After all the work we put into restoring the camp, I was finally able to go and experience it as a participant. It was amazing to see all the roads and trails cleared and the campsites in full use. I am so grateful to be a part of making Camp Bear Creek what it is today. Seeing and remembering everything we were able to accomplish is always a good reminder of what people can do when they come together.

Cali@8

Cali LOVES people! She has the biggest heart, gives people huge smiles and giant hugs! She absolutely loves everyone around her. Cali just got baptized and had a wonderful experience feeling the Holy Ghost. She said it was like being covered in a lot of warm blankets or hugs. Cali recently did her part for the PrimaryProgram and she had a 2minute talk she wrote about the First Vision. It was really hard for her to read it when she would practice it. So she MEMORIZED IT! When she gave it in the program it was absolutely incredible! She quoted the first vision from Joseph Smith History from memory. It was like a bomb drop of the spirit because it was so shocking she was looking into the crowd and confidently saying such beautiful truths! Cali loves to participate in things. She got to play soccer this year and really grew into a beast at being aggressive, making big kicks, and huge throws from out of bounds! She scored a goal at her last game and was rewarded with lunch! Cali also is doing pathfinders which is like cross country. She just loves being with people and actually, finally, being signed up for something! Cali takes piano lessons from Grandma and  loves the lessons but mostly the time she gets to spend with Grandma afterward- like cutting mannequin legs off for the life size nativity Grandma is making or any other project Grandma is working on. Cali absolutely loves being her sidekick! Cali does well with math and is improving on her reading. Doing Book Buddies at school is helping, and also reading a verse out of her Book of Mormon every night is helping! Cali loves tending to Graham and Scarlett, who are over often. She does a really great job entertaining and playing with them. Cali LOVES getting to do Valiant Activities that her Aunt Hayden is a leader for. She just loves EVERY activity! Cali keeps a messy room and is good at decorating her bathroom with dirty clothes and towels. She likes her hair in a high pony. She is very unorganized and forgetful with school stuff, but she is great at organizing the junk drawer. She looks so cute in bell bottom jeans. She loves Orange Chicken, Italian Sandwiches, and Popsicles. She bravely walks down the dark lane every morning to the bus with Tucker and a flashlight, with no complaint. She is starting to get comfortable with an eye roll and pairs it with a slightly attitudey voice. She also fights Tucker viciously. Cali is delightfully spectacular!

Cali’s thoughts on her Baptism

When I went under the water I felt like I was covered with a warm fluffy blanket and I could feel so much peace. Hank my older brother baptized me. I got him to smile with his teeth when we first went into the water. We thought it would be cold but it was warm and Hank smiled a lot.  I started giggling cuz I wasn’t expecting it to get deep. It was really peaceful, and l felt like everyone that I loved was around me.

A favorite part was when Samuel’s grandma brought up the cookie jar and gave us brownie’s out of it. My other favorite part was when I got the Holy Ghost blessing. it felt SO WARM and cozy like I was being covered in a lot of warm blankets or hugs. Sadie surprised us and came from Chicago. It was so exciting when we got baptized because I got baptized, and then I got to watch Rae and Samuel from a special spot beside the font. Aunt Hillary made us towels that were really soft and had CTR and our name on it. I also liked how Grandpa gave us the bear slippers full of gummy bears. The bears represent the 3 bears of baptism... bear his name, bear one another’s burdens and bear testimony of Him. Kay made the program. Grandma made really pretty centerpieces of flowers in green pumpkins. And the food was really good! The broccoli soup and sugar cookies were my favorite!  The most special thing about the whole baptism was getting baptized and then watching Rae and Samuel get baptized.

In the Holy Ghost Circle was Dad, Grandpa Larry, Grandpa Payne, Brother Price, Brother Croft.

Hank@18

Hank is so stubborn. He doesn’t take no for an answer. He is a pill to take posed photos of, so cheers to getting a few “senior pics” of him! He keeps his room perfectly chaotically organized. He also loads up the pool table outside his room with shoes and sweatshirts. Hank has half days of school this year, leaving at 11:30am each day and he is so much happier. I think because he isn’t being lulled to sleep by 7hrs of lecture. He has time to work and make money doing his own hobbies- trucks, trailers, tires, trees, etc. He is happy. His grades are great. He is responsible. Half days are a great thing for him! Hank plans to go on a mission right after high school, then do a tech school maybe in diesel mechanics, then start his own business(tree cutting or excavating or something) and be able to service his own equipment. His relationship with Zoe is really important to him. He does weekly (at least) dates with her. I respect that he values a relationship, and tries to “feed” it. Hank works really hard, and he is trying to play hard this year too! He literally flew an airplane yesterday with the young men. He road tripped to Utah for FSY this last summer with 2 buddies and spent 3 days in Zions National Park riding bikes and hiking. He went to a Luke Bryan concert recently. Hank loves the movie F1 with Brad Pitt. Maybe his favorite movie ever. He eats Pork Nachos all the time, and fills in any holes with Jack’s pizzas. He carries a big speaker with him everywhere and is the music man (for sports, work, activities, YM camp, etc.) He absolutely loves his Stake Young Men’s President, Alan Price, who has a great influence on him. Hank has DJ-ed some of the dances this year for church and has loved doing that. Phenomenal feedback on the job he does. He would have lettered in wrestling last year but the Coach said anyone who doesn’t ask to be released at the end of the year from practices wouldn’t get any awards. Hank thought that threat was stupid so he didn’t comply. He was going to track practices and thought it was stupid that he needed to answer to the wrestling coach about it, so he forfeited JV MVP award and his varsity letter. That’s Hank. He took on Shot Put and Disc last year and got SO GOOD at the end of year throwing 120’+ for disc and 40’ish for Shot. He had a blast throwing with his friends (and Rue.)  Hank loves driving his Toyota Tacoma Truck and has replaced several things on it. Hank is so handsome. When he is happy he is so charming! He was so happy to turn 18 and have me a long sincere hug that I will remember forever. Happy 18 Hank!

Temple Answers

We have been working toward listing our House to sell the day we leave for Fall Break. with the idea of selling then building our dream home again for cash, and comfortably being able to live in our dream home with no mortgage and be able to stay a one income family. Getting the house ready to list has been an overwhelming and exhausting effort! Our house has often gotten put on the back burner as we have worked on other projects that have come our way (Scipio House, Janet’s house, Ed’s house, Old Nashville Road.) The other night (3 weeks out from list date) Dave told me he wasn’t sure we would be ready in time. I felt kind of upset because tho I’d love to stay in our house longer, we have already settled on the goal, and I had been working so hard to make the goal, I may have to redo some of my jobs if we wait, and I just wanted to push through and get to financial freedom, because I know it will feel so good.  

I worked at the temple the next day where our shift was really full so I got the opportunity to do an endowment session and then sit in the Celestial room for a while. While a I was in there I told Heavenly Father what was on my mind with our house, and I begged Heavenly Father to answer my prayer. “Is it best for us to list Oct 9th before we leave on fall break?” (Or wait.)Then I cleared my head and let the scriptures fall open to D&C 99 and started reading, looking for His answer. The first line that jumped out to me was

“It is not expedient that you should go…” D&C 99:6

I didn’t feel like that was a clear enough answer to make this big decision off of, I needed the message to be undeniable. So I asked Heavenly Father to please tell me again, more clearly. I kept reading.

Then I read

 “After a few years…” D&C 99:7 (Not necessarily meaning “years”just meaning not now.)

Then 

“continue your journey, and LET YOUR HEARTS REJOICE.” D&C 100:12 (which was Him saying “slow down and ENJOY your life” to me)

Then

“Zion shall NOT BE MOVED” D&C 101:7

I knew I got my answer. I went back and found again those 4 phrases that were an answer for me and committed them to memory and left the Celestial room. I went straight to find a pen to write the 4 answers down. After I changed clothes and was waiting on my friend to come out, I opened the scriptures again to the place I left off, and read

“Let not your gathering be in haste…but let all things be prepared before you.” D&C 10:68

That’s how Heavenly Father speaks to me. I ask a question, clear my mind and start reading my scriptures and he will speak to me. We aren’t listing this fall. He is preparing something for us! EXCITING when I KNOW he listened and sent ME an answer! 

For me the temple has been a distraction free haven to receive guidance and answers. 3 other experiences where I received clear guidance in the temple- 

Counselors for Stake Primary-

Sis Cruikshank (an older lady, fellow temple worker, who I was posted at the recommend desk with at the perfect time to ask for advice in choosing counselors for a stake calling.) She had experience with this and advised me to go to the celestial room and tell Heavenly Father what I was thinking then clear my mind and listen. I did and 3 names blew thru my mind. I turned those names in, in order.

Hank Grounded-

Hank was in trouble and I wanted to keep him grounded forever to protect him from making mistakes, but during the endowment Eve’s words jumped out at me “Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient" and I knew I had to “set Hank free” and unground him. I had to let him live and learn and Heavenly Father trusted him to learn from his mistakes, so should I.

What He thinks of Hank-

Another time I was in the celestial room all by myself. The silence was so heavy. I asked Heavenly Father to tell me what he thought of Hank. My upper lip burned like it never had before, a new way of feeling the spirit for me. I felt it so strongly.  Heavenly Father told me 3 things. 

1- Hank is not influenced by others’ opinions. 

2-Hank is so good at turning negatives into positives. 

3- He is a Warrior for Him.

Tucker@11

Tucker is SO COMPETITIVE! This makes him awesome to watch in a soccer or handball game, because he is everywhere and stealing the ball, or in a cross country race he is passing people one at a time to make sure he is top 10, or top 5. He is all over the place, and is such a hustler, and loves TO WIN! (This doesn't always apply to football yet.) This competitiveness is hard to watch at birthday parties or in a group kickball game when everyone isn't taking it as seriously as him, or he doesn't think the rules are followed. He got so upset at his birthday party when someone else made the biggest splash off the diving board by doing something other than a cannonball, that he left his own party for awhile.  When Tucker is not playing sports, he has a very gentle heart and is mild mannered. However he recently got to go to Young Men's camp as Dave's kitchen help (Dave was the camp cook.) Tucker got to act like a regular camper and had the TIME OF HIS LIFE! He was Mr. Popular and made his rounds to every ward at night, high fiving everyone. Hank said "the kid won't stop talking!" Tucker keeps a pretty messy room. He loves Ramen. He saved up $300 to buy a Virtual Reality headset by doing lots of different jobs. Tucker loves to hang with Chad, always, and also Griffin, Robert, Gage. Tucker was a BEAST at his 4th grade handball tournament! His team won and he probably deserved MVP if they awarded it.  He ran Southside Cross Country this last year and did amazing. He is playing football. He is going to try out for Southside Basketball, and he still wrestles in the winter. He talks really quietly and mumbles at home a lot. He got good grades this year. His teacher said he can do really well when he focuses. He still sucks his thumb but it has become so rare, I think this is the end of that. He loves to fish anytime, anywhere, and spend time in the woods. Tucker helps Grandpa at the Scipio house with different jobs like stoning the fireplace or doing railing, and Grandpa says he is a really hard worker. Tucker is actually growing some this year! He has an 8 pack of abs. He looks just like Dave's pics at this age. Twins. We love our mighty, little Tuck!

Stake Conference Talk Topic was "How Do We Encourage Youth to Serve"

Meg Stake Conference Talk 6/7/2025

How Do We Encourage Youth to Serve

What if your neighbor asked you to take 20 mins one night to help her? What if she asked you every night following, with no end in sight. Would you be willing to do it? At what point would helping become an irritant? When would serving your neighbor feel like servitude?  Kathy lived alone, developed Multiple Sclerosis and needed to be lifted out of her wheelchair and tucked into her bed every night. 

40-50 men took turns going over every night in pairs to help Kathy. They said it started out kinda weird, and awkward. They’d get her mail, ring her doorbell and she’d yell “come on in” then she would talk their ear off. You couldn’t have a short conversation with kathy. They’d walk down the hall and get her bed ready. Pull off her slippers. Then the guys would choose a side, lock wrists under her arms and legs. Together, they'd lift, move forward, dance around the chair a little bit, and try to gently set her in the bed. Then she was very particular about how she had to be set up in that bed. So you’d have to sit Kathy up, move the pillows 100 different ways, and when it looked like she couldn't be more uncomfortable, that’s when you got the thumbs up that everything was ok. Then the fun part was parking the motorized wheelchair to plug in to charge. You’d put her cane where she could use it to reposition herself throughout the night. You’d get her water and pills. Turn out the lights and lock the door.  

This started out as a 2-3 month assignment. This went on for over 3,000 nights. 365 days a year, it has been going on for over 7 years, and it has changed the lives of the ordinary men that lifted her every night. Several of those men started with grumbly attitudes, because they had other things to do.  They spent time in their church meetings trying to think of ways they could help Kathy get into bed, without going over every night, cuz it was really a burden. In those discussions one person finally said they couldn’t see an end in the foreseeable future. Even if they get her a lift, she can’t put herself in the lift. One man said, “If you are not willing to do it and if no one else is willing to do it, I will do it myself, every night if I have to.” That’s when the other men had a change of heart. One night after helping Kathy a big burley guy walked out of Kathy’s house. He got really quiet. He was in tears and said “I can’t believe I thought this was a burden.” The men got to know Kathy. She took such an interest in the men’s families. Kathy became a motivation for them to stay fit and strong so they could lift Kathy. One of the men would go to the gym and do deadlifts, but he called them Kathy lifts. Another of the men said when he goes over now it feels like he’s tucking one of his own kids in bed, and they have a family prayer with her. One man said, when we heal the body we turn inward, but when we heal the soul, turning inward doesn't work. The triage of a soul is found in turning outward to other people. Every time I go to Kathy’s and help her, it feels like it heals a part of my soul. It’s amazing how as one helps the other, the other helps the other back. The men lift Kathy, and helping Kathy lifts the men.

Elder Christofferson said, “The more we serve our fellow men in appropriate ways, the more substance there is to our souls. We become more substantive as we serve others. Indeed it’s easier to find ourselves, because there is so much more of us to find.”

How do we help this concept sink deep into the hearts of our youth? The concept that they can find their lives, by losing their life in service to others. How do we encourage the youth to serve each other, serve in their classes and quorums, speak in sacrament meetings, serve missions?

I asked my 5 kids what motivates them to want to serve. They answered with 3 F’s. Food, Friends, and Force.

Food, have you ever had a cold popsicle on a 95 degree day? It definitely helps. 

Friends, can’t you make practically anything enjoyable if you’re doing it with friends?!

And Force…

When they say force I don’t think they mean dragging them by the ponytail to the food pantry. A love for service can’t be forced into their hearts. As Elder Renlund said, “Our Heavenly Father’s goal in parenting is not to have His children do what is right; it is to have His children choose to do what is right.” so I think “force” means we implement service in our programs and activities that are already happening, and we talk about daily acts of service in our homes and in our Sunday lessons. Maybe as a class, every 4th week of the month we are doing service. In our Presidency meetings we can ask “who do you want to help this month, and what can we do that would lift them?” And go with the youth’s inspiration. Our youth just need the time set to serve, and the support to make it happen. They are full of ideas and energy and eagerness to help. They innately want to serve, help and lift those around them. 

Youth in our stake have participated in lots of service lately, and these are just a few that I'm aware of.

Our stake’s Valiant aged primary kids recently pooled their talents together to paint little dotted squares with q-tips, that when compiled together make the beautiful picture of Christ displayed outside the chapel doors today.

At a recent activity, the Valiant aged children also intently and thoughtfully made bookmarks for the missionaries to give out with their Books of Mormon. Moroni’s promise and a personal message about a favorite story or a short testimony was included on the bookmarks, giving the missionaries something personal to add. 

Another Valiant aged group of girls was told they were going to heart attack someone’s yard. Who did they want to do? My daughter, Cali, asked if they could do it for my Granddad. This loving and thoughtful act of service, brought my 89 year old, widowed Grandad to tears around Valentine’s Day, when he walked out of his house to see dozens of paper hearts with sweet messages, standing upright in plastic forks that were stuck in his lawn. It reminded him that he was loved!  Seeing the effect the girls’ combined effort had on my Granddad, I think it’s safe to say, made the girls want to serve more! 

Another group of Young Women and Valiant girls combined on an activity night to do all things hair! They learned about proper hair care, including how to wash hair, what products to use, and the best tools for combing, brushing, and styling. Adult leaders helped the young women organize the activity. Parents were invited to participate as well. It was a blessing to all of the valiant girls and their families, in particular for one special girl whose mom passed away last year. The Primary and Young Women came together to specifically serve one family, but it blessed all of them. It brought so much joy to everyone to see the eyes of the girls light up as they saw their images reflected back to them in the mirror. They knew they were daughters of God and they knew He loved them. 

Another group of youth from several wards participated in Operation Christmas Child where they packed shoe boxes with toys and other fun items that were sent to children in need around the world. These physical gifts are given to the children as local church groups share a message of Jesus Christ with them. The shoeboxes are tangible ways to show them that Jesus loves them.  This service took several weeks to collect donations and pack the boxes, but the kids were happy to gather together with friends and collectively work toward something that would lift someone else.

These are such beautiful ways that the youth in our stake have served and lifted those around them!

How do we encourage youth to do more things like this? I want to suggest a dummy tip that I have learned while working with youth and trying to get them to do anything that might seem undesirable at first. Phraseology. We need to phrase our proposals wisely.  If we ask “do you WANT to speak in Sacrament mtg?”  they are probably going to say “No, I'd rather hide.” If we ask “do you want to go spread a steamy pile of Mulch on this smoldering 100° day for Sister Johnson?” They may say “I'd rather play video games in the air conditioning.” SO let’s package these proposals a little better…. How about “Will you speak in sacrament Meeting?” and how about “Sister Johnson isn't feeling well and needs her mulch spread. Will you help me spread it for her? Bring a friend and we will jump in the lake together after!” If we can combine the youth's interests into opportunities to serve, we can draw youth to the very experiences where they will feel the love and light of Christ, gain confidence, and be lifted and healed themselves.

Douglas D. Holmes said, “we sometimes forget the importance of relationships in our ongoing journey to Christ. We are not expected to find or walk the covenant path alone. We need love and support from parents, other family members, friends, and leaders who are also walking the path.

These kinds of relationships take time. Time to be together. Time to laugh, play, learn, and serve together. Time to appreciate each other’s interests and challenges. Time to be open and honest with each other as we strive to be better together. These relationships are one of the primary purposes of gathering as families, quorums, classes, and congregations. They are the foundation for effective ministering, [and I want to add, an effective channel for influence.]

Michael T. Nelson said, “It is relationships in the lives of the youth that have the greatest influence on their choices.”

President Eyring taught that what will matter most is what [the youth] learn from you about who they really are and what they can really become. My guess is that they won’t learn it so much from lectures. They will get it from the feeling of who you are, who you think they are, and what you think they might become. 

A favorite story from the May 2000 New Era issue (“The Visitor,” by Ken Merrell.) reads, 

When I was 18, as I was preparing to serve a mission, my bishop called me to teach the Sunbeams. . . .

One day I invited Mike to come to church and sit in my class. Mike was my age but had stopped attending church completely by the time he was 12. We had remained friends over the years. . . . Once in a while Mike would accept my invitations to come to an activity. It always surprised me when he did, so I kept ­inviting him.

At that time, Mike had long, black hair and a beard. . . . I don’t remember when I invited him to my Primary class, but one day he showed up.

“Class, I would like to introduce you to my friend Mike,” is how I began my lesson. “He is visiting us today.”

Mike sat next to me in front. The children sat in a semicircle with their eyes fixed on him. They were much quieter than usual. I was about five or six minutes into the lesson when one little boy got up from his chair and walked across the room and stood directly in front of my friend. . . .

. . . The other children watched the two of them for a few minutes. . . .

Then it happened. . . .

With the innocence of a child, [the boy] said to Mike, “Are you Jesus?”

The look on Mike’s face was total surprise. It seemed, as I glanced at the children’s faces, they all had the same question on their minds.

Mike looked at me as if to say, Help, what do I say?

I stepped in. “No, this is not Jesus. This is His brother.”

Mike looked at me as if in shock.

Then without hesitation the boy . . . reached up and wrapped his arms around Mike’s neck. “I can tell,” the boy said as he hugged Mike.

The author ends the story by saying that just over a year later, Mike was serving as a missionary. My guess is that he was reminded of something that day that he had not thought about for a very, very long time.

We all want to live a life of meaning, and this is especially true of the rising generation. They desire a cause. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest cause in the world.

Elder David A. Bednar promised, “As we empower the youth by inviting and allowing them to act, the Church will move forward in miraculous ways.” Too often we have not invited and allowed the youth to sacrifice for this great cause of Christ. Elder Neal A. Maxwell observed, “If [our] youth are too UNDERwhelmed [by God’s work], they are more likely to be overwhelmed by the world.”

Our youth have energy and so much to give! They come with an innate desire to serve and lift others. And they can be so fun to serve with! If we can be thoughtful about our approaches, using our knowledge and skills, and if we will heed the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, we can aid the youth in experiencing the miraculous lifting and healing powers of serving others and serving our Lord, Jesus Christ. The youth will feel the joy of choosing to engage in, and sacrifice, for the cause of Christ. His gospel will get deeper in their hearts, and His work will move forward in miraculous ways.

Kay @13

Kay makes me want to wring her neck sometimes, or kick her out of the car because she is so quick to interupt and argue, and doesn't listen! She has such a bright mind and loves to dabble in so many different crafts. She is so creative. She makes earring and bracelets and phone holders and bookmarks and crocheted creations. The list goes on. She has so many talents. She is a social butterfly and has jumped around to so many different activities from swimming, gymnastic, and cheer to basketball and next year she plans to try out for volleyball. A church leader in the North Vernon Ward (Malini) nicknamed her Lil'Bit because of her powerful volleyball serve! You wouldn't expect such a serve to come out of someone so small! Kay gets straight A's. She is quick at learning piano from Grandma during weekly lessons this year. She is still cat crazy. She has friends in all different groups at school. She got to go to her first church dance this last weekend and was so happy with how her hair turned out for it😆. She likes to wear wide legs pants.  She does not think before she talks, which leaves Dave throwing his hands in the air sometimes😄. The best way for me to find Kay on the swimming deck was to look for the glowingly whitest skinned girl. It must be her "light" that makes her so bright 🌞. She isn't scared of much, except spiders. Her room is ALWAYS tidy. Her shoes wreak. She is strong. She was such a patient and skilled swim instructor last summer teaching several private lessons. She is a very creative babysitter and does such fun activities with her kids(usually Vail, Rae, Bryn, Cru.) She is a saver, and has quite a wad of cash ready to pay for her 8th grade DC trip next year. She likes to bake Oatmeal Munchies(no-bakes) and Hashbrowns that she mastered in Home Ec class this year. She is a garbage can for carbs right now, after school she loves to eat Bread, Pasta, Bagels and Rice Krispie Treats(also mastered these in Home Ec.) Kay had Grandpa Larry for her Sunday School Teacher the last 2 years where she became his secretary for who was to bring treats each week, and she loved his Book of Mormon Nuggets. Kay is Valiant, Bright and FUN!

Rue@15

Rue is easy. She is happy. Calm. Confident. She loves taking care of people, like baby Scarlett or Daisy or any baby. She ran XC this year (and made incredible time drops!) at North but has decided to change next year and instead be a football manager. She'll do laundry, fill waterbottles, drive the golfcart and drone, take photographs, make movies, manage the media outlets, amd be besties with the football coaches. This is right up her alley and I think she'll love it, cuz she loves taking care of people! Rue works so hard at school and gets such good grades! She loves her best girl friends Emma and Claire and Hailey. Rue still loves anything soft and fuzzy, especially Highlander Cows this year! Rue loves taking pictures and has been the BNN(Bulldog News Network) Photographer at a lot of the football games, wrestling meets, and volleyball games this year. She could really benefit from a cleaning a lady. Her room and bathroom are not clean. This is her weakness. Rue keeps her crush's name secret. She still reads all the time. She works really hard when she gets a list of chores. She is loving track and field practices so far where she hopes to throw varsity in a Shot Put. She absolutely loves High School and doesn't like to miss class. She wears her cowboy boots ALL THE TIME that she got from Hillary last year. Rue is a delight. Lucky she is our girl!

Meg Wild Horses Talk Nov 24 2024

Wild Horses

Meg Talk Nov 2024

I’m Megan Kleinhenz Payne and I grew up in this ward! I'm speaking to you today on assignment from the Stake because I get to serve as the Columbus Stake Primary President. I'm so grateful to live here in Columbus where I get to enjoy being around so much family. I am #2 of 11 kids. I grew up on a pig farm. I also picked sweet corn early in the mornings before school. I played a lot of sports growing up. I was even on the boy's baseball team, because it was, efficiently, the same team my older brother was on. He loved that🙂.  In High school I was a Diver and Drum Major for the Sound of North! I'm a decently smart cookie, but I didn't get the best grades in school (it's like street smarts, not book smarts.) In fact after a bad grade report got to my Mom from my English Teacher, my Mom became 'besties' with Mrs. Stover, to give me a little extra "motivation" to do better in her class. I loved that🙂.  I got to go to BYU and study Graphic Design. This is where I met my husband, Dave. We were on a group date, he was not MY date.  Late Saturday night our group date turned into a family room pillow fight, and I got chucked into the corner of a couch breaking my front 2 teeth in half. They fell out. It didn't physically hurt, but it really hurt my pride. I couldn't get them fixed until Monday and I led the music in my Singles Ward. So Sunday morning, as I stood up there leading the music, I knew I shouldn't be smiling, which made me smile even more, which made me look like a fool, but I couldn't help it. Dave took on the blame for my broken teeth, and wore a black shirt to church to "mourn my loss." As an added apology he bought me a ticket to go to a Tim McGraw Concert with him, where I obviously fell in love. We dated for 2 weeks and decided to get married. If you know Dave, you know that just turned out so good for me❤️.

We lived in Utah for 7 years, and Jamestown, New York for 2. Dave, works for Cummins in Supply Chain Management. We have the pleasure of loving and trying to guide 5 kids- Hank, Rue, Kay, Tucker and Cali. I can annoyingly find the silver lining in any person or any situation, which my kids just love🙂. AND I have a Superpower! By looking or listening to someone I can squeeze my way into their heart and feel their joy or sorrow in any given moment. At a funeral I may drop as many tears as the surviving family. At an Elementary School Basketball game, tears fall down my cheeks as I watch a kid on the other team, who I don't even know, make a basket.  American Idol makes me cry. It's because I feel what their mother might be feeling! And as I read someone's story I feel their anguish as they struggle,  and their celebration as they figure things out. So basically if they cry or you cry, I cry. That is my superpower, so watch yourselves.🙂 

—--

Today I want to start with Wild Horses. Have you ever seen the majesty of Wild Horses in real life, or maybe in a movie? Imagine standing on the edge of a cliff in a desert, the sun just peeking over the horizon, casting a golden hue over the landscape. A herd of wild horses races into your view. In a swirl of dust, 2 stallions split off from the herd, in a battle that turns into a breakneck chase over the hills toward the horizon. You see power and strength, grace and untamed beauty, enduring freedom and wild spirit.

Why would we ever break that? Some people say it’s selfish or cruel to break a wild horse, but statistically, horses live happier, healthier, longer lives under the care of a loving master. A loving master can take care of a horse better than the horse can take care of itself. A loving master shoes horses not for his sake but for the horse’s sake, because a horse is happier when its hooves are taken care of. 

A horse's hoof is like a really big fingernail that grows and cracks and splits and becomes painful. A loving master shoes a horse by trimming the hoof and attaching a horseshoe that protects, supports, and enhances. A loving master feeds a horse not just what they can get, but what a horse needs. When we break a horse we don’t break its will, we don’t break its spirit. What we break in a horse is this idea in the horse's head that it is better off on its own. That’s what needs to be broken.

—--

I'm going to tell you 3 stories today that will tie together in the end.

Story #1- In the mountains of Arizona, on a Ranch, there was a broken horse in the corral with a horse that was yet to be broken, so a wild horse and a broken horse together. There was a massive storm and both horses got out of the corral and got wrapped up in barbed wire. Can you guess what the wild horse did? The wild horse pushed and pulled, struggled and flailed because the wild horse was thinking “I have to get out of this! I’m on my own!” But in pushing and pulling, the wild horse cut itself so badly that it had to be put down, and could not be saved. Can you guess what the broken horse did as soon as it was wrapped up in the barbed wire? It held perfectly still. It surrendered, and waited for its master to free him. 

—----

Story #2- Some of you have already heard this one, so you are now excused to take a 4 minute nap..

During Covid Dave and I decided to go for our Dream. Buy the 32 acres behind us and build our Dream Home. We would do most of the work ourselves and with our kids. We designed the dream, cleared the lot together, began framing, plumbing, electrical, tilework, painting, etc. It was really challenging, exhausting, stressful and never-ending, but also thrilling to see our dreams and hard work materialize. As a family, we were doing something really good. The first building we had to complete was building a barn for our Bernese Mountain Dogs that we bred for extra income. We built the cutest little barn with lots of windows, and room for a rustic chandelier in it. I got plantar fasciitis from standing on the steep roof as we put it on.  Then it burned down, with some of our Dogs in it, including a litter of puppies that would have been going to their new homes the next week. We didn’t have insurance on it yet. Our 4-wheeler and other valuable things were in there.  It was a total, devastating loss. Not only for the loss of the building and animals, but also for the crushing halt that it put to our business, that we still have not been able to rebuild. Fast forward 2 years later. We finished the house!  And moved in!  And we heavily appreciate every single second we spend in our home, and on our property. It is a dream come true. On the flip side, I feel like we are always scraping by for money. Groceries, cavities, gas, shoes and clothes (which I try to buy the majority of at Goodwill), and lunch money adds up way too fast! Without having the cushion of that Dog income we had pre-fire, it is such a struggle to stay afloat, let alone save money!  Money is so easy to spend. And I'm not even buying Porsches or Diamond Necklaces. I’m trying to live my life frugally and abundantly, but maybe those 2 words can’t go together. I don’t know if you have ever had what I call a ”come to Jesus, money talk” but they are the worst! Dave and I discussed our finances and what we wanted to do. We considered selling our dream home that we worked SO HARD on, and that just felt awful. We thought of our other options.  I told a friend, Mikell Murray, that I needed a money tree, and she reminded me that President Nelson said we should "seek and expect miracles" and that "the Lord will bless you with miracles if you believe in Him, 'doubting nothing.'” So you know the phrase “go big, or go home?” I decided to go big. I told Heavenly Father I needed $50,000 in 3 months. I started tracking in the Notes section on my phone, any unusual money or savings that came our way... I got a painting job, $200, for my Aunt Tracy.  We were offered to do tree cleanup work at a cemetery that we quoted for $2,000, but the guy told us he couldn’t pay us any less than $5,500 and still feel good about it. I found a new lady to do my hair that was half the cost, $50. I got a creative painting job for Aunt Tracy again, $1,500. We got an extra job replacing the vinyl flooring in an old house, $1,000. I got to start babysitting my nephew! That added up to $500. Our Christmas tree from Menards rang up for $60 cheaper than the ticketed price! The cashier was very confused, but I knew what it was. I caulked and painted the trim at 2 different houses, $3,000. A logging company logged our neighbors’ property and offered to do ours too, $15,000. Our mortgage company sent us an $8,000 refund for overpaying. What? I got a job rolling out pie crusts for my cousin’s new bakery, $300. I logged every single dollar. When the 3 months rolled around, God had materialized $50,030 for us. 

Tell me that is NOT a MIRACLE!

Tell me Heavenly Father doesn’t care about what I care about.

Tell me Heavenly Father doesn’t want us to be happy, and live abundantly.

I won’t believe you.  

Tell me to work as hard as I am able, and turn it over to the Lord, because he can and will make something miraculous out of it, and I’ll believe you!

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Story #3- I’m going to tell you about a man named Dallas. Dallas was born to write and direct movies. It was his passion, and he was just “made” for it. He was just a regular guy with a talent, but wanted to succeed, and he thought that success could give him a bigger platform to build God’s Kingdom. In addition to building the Kingdom, Dallas was also driven by the desire for legitimacy. Legitimacy is how successful you are. Legitimacy is measured by how good others think you are. 

Dallas worked for his church in Chicago where he made a short film for his church’s Christmas Eve Service. This faith-promoting film got in the hands of 2 legitimate companies. One was one of the biggest producers in Hollywood, John Blum, who was a maestro at taking low budget horror stories and turning them into big successes. The other was WWE (yes World-wide Wrestling Entertainment). So a horror film company, a wrestling company, and a church in Illinois combined to produce a new film that Dallas wrote and was ready to direct! Dallas felt like he had arrived! He got what he had always wanted- legitimacy, approval, and interest from major Hollywood producers.

They made the film and it had a great message. The movie was tested on random audiences and the numbers came back phenomenal! The movie scored higher than any movie these companies had ever made, so they made BIG plans to do BIG things and everyone was very excited! Then on Jan 20, 2017 the movie was released in the box office. Within the first few hours of a movie’s release on the East Coast, you can predict a movie’s ultimate success or failure. The numbers came in and they were a complete bomb. Lower than their lowest projections. Within 2 hours Dallas went from being a director with a very bright future to a director with no future, and those companies that had been so passionate about him and his projects, left, and went back to what they knew- horror films and wrestling.

Dallas and his wife cried and prayed. They were so sad and so confused, because “God is not the author of failure” was what they had been taught their whole lives, and this was a failure. This made him question “was I really hearing from God? I guess that was me. I guess I was wrong. Maybe I’m not meant for this.”

That night as Dallas was wallowing in his sorrow, Dallas's wife walked in and said the Lord very clearly put 2 messages on her heart. “1- Read the story of Christ feeding the 5,000,” and “2- I do impossible math.” When they dug into the story of Christ feeding the 5,000, Dallas noticed for the first time that when the disciples come to Jesus and tell Him that the people are hungry, He is not surprised. The disciples tell Jesus they need to send the people home to get food, and Jesus says “oh no we can't do that, if we send them home, they’re so hungry they’ll faint along the way!” Not only was he not surprised, it was actually His fault…  He was the one who had been preaching for 3 days! He preached right through breakfast, lunch, dinner until they were so hungry and desperate and the only thing to satisfy their hunger and desperation was Him, a miracle. That’s when he turned the 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish into enough food to feed 5,000 people! So Dallas thought, and he put the clues together. Impossible math and a miracle, and he preemptively thanked the Lord in advance for what he was about to do with the movie’s numbers over the weekend.

But then the numbers got worse. So now Dallas was even more confused. That night he was up till 4 in the morning writing what he calls a “post mortem” analysis, when a message popped up on his computer screen from a facebook friend he barely knew. It didn't say hi, didn’t say hello, just said, “remember it’s not your job to feed the 5,000, it’s only to provide the loaves and fishes.” He thought, has my computer been recording what we’ve been saying today? Dallas asked his facebook friend, why did you tell me that? His friend said “oh, that wasn’t me, God told me to tell you that. I told God No. I barely know Dallas, and that is a really condescending thing to say to someone going through a big failure, but I gave in and sent the message.”

The moment that message appeared on Dallas’ computer screen completely changed Dallas’ life. In that moment Dallas knew God was present, God was looking over all of this, and God had something in store for him. He still didn’t know what impossible math meant, but in that moment all he cared about was God's will. He surrendered. He got to a place where he was truly okay with whatever God wanted for him. He pushed aside the post-mortem analysis and decided to write something different. For facebook he wrote…

“ what do you do when something you have poured yourself into doesn’t land?...Something I created, and believed in, and thought would work, simply didn't connect on a measurable level. People simply didn't want to see it in the theaters, and I thought they would. Period. So what do you do when that happens…? Sadness is a factor… Questioning yourself, the future, etcetera, is all part of it. But [my wife] and I did something that has sustained us through this time. We pursued God and sought to hear what we could from Him, and he made it 100% clear to us … that I’m only to bring my 5 loaves and 2 fish, and the rest is up to Him… I have no idea what’s next. I have no idea if I’ll make another movie… I feel a sense of comfort, and peace, and contentment, and yes, JOY, that you wouldn’t normally expect after the biggest disappointment of your career. And that is what a relationship with Christ does. Joy regardless of happiness. Freedom regardless of opportunity. Don’t hold onto things too tightly. Realize you’re not as smart as you thought you were. It feels good. Trust me.”  and he posted it!

Now back to the drawing board, he tried again. He wrote and made a short film about the birth of Christ from the perspective of the shepherds. While he was doing it he had never felt more in the zone. During this he got the idea for a new show that follows the scriptures about Christ, where Christ and His Apostles have personalities, and you develop an emotional connection to them. A company in Provo, Utah called VidAngel, got hold of Dallas’s short film and loved it, and heard his new show idea and loved it! They said they wanted to make the show and Dallas was so excited! Then they said they wanted to raise the money through crowdfunding and Dallas got really depressed. Crowdfunding is what you see on facebook when someone is trying to raise money for their birthday and the bar never quite gets to where their goal is. The all-time crowdfunding record was 5.7 million dollars from projects with big fan bases, which Dallas had NO fan base, just a little short film, but loaves and fishes man! Not his job to feed the 5,000. By January of the next year, they had crowdfunded over 10 million dollars! Impossible math! This is the kind of math that God is part of. This is what He does. He takes the small, the broken, the surrendered, and makes something out of it. Dallas Jenkin’s show, The Chosen, is now one of the most successful shows in the world, one of the most translated shows in history. It’s in every country and every corner from prisons to government buildings. They finished at the top of the box office and have received many awards, all at the time when Dallas stopped caring. Failure or success, the message is the same, when you make your 5 loaves and 2 fish, and He does ask that of us- Christ could have waved His hand and it could have appeared out of nothing, but He does ask us to participate! He asks us to do the thing that we don’t necessarily need Him for, so that He can do the thing that only He can do, the miracle part. We do our job, whether it’s gathering the 5 loaves and 2 fish, or maybe it's the broken horse HOLDING PERFECTLY STILL while miserably trapped in the barbed wire, or it's me asking for $50,000 and working for it, or it's Dallas creating a beautiful show. You bring what you have, you give it to God and you LET IT GO. Don’t spend any longer fighting and flailing against His plan. Break the silly idea in your head that you’re better off on your own. We will live happier, better lives under the care of a Loving Master. Surrender your life. Give it up to God, and let him do His miracles.

Cali @7

Cali is a delight. She smiles a lot, and so easily! She is very observant and gives lots of hugs and back scratches. Even if I yell at the kids,  she will tell me "I bet I know what u need...a hug!" She hugs all of her present and past teachers every time she sees them. Cali is slow to pick up on reading but she is ahead on math. Cali loves playing with friends and spending time with Grandma. She is taking piano lessons from Grandma and loves staying late to hang out, and watch "Call of the Midwives" with her, with lots of good conversations! Cali is pretty unorganized and loses her playway library books constantly. She has weak tooth enamel and has had so much dental work despite lots of brushing, but has done it with a great attitude. She naturally finds the silver lining in things. Cali wakes up to her alarm every morning before school, comes in to wake me up, and then wakes up Tucker. Cali is great at playing with Graham, or any other cousin. She especially loves having Tea Parties with her girl cousins. Cali likes to do art projects, and listen to playways and jump on the trampoline. She wants to do some extracurricular activities if she can get me to sign her up... gymnastics, basketball, swimming.  Cali likes to watch Ninja Kids and some science guy on Youtube with Tucker. She loves Orange Chicken for dinner, and eats candy in hoards when she gets it for a holiday. She does beautiful cartwheels and is such a loving kid. She has graudated from saying "be nice and don't hit" when we ask her a question during Come Follow Me, to now saying "Come closer to Christ." She never tires of Dave or me. She is the perfect caboose in our family.

Hank @17

Hank is a force to parent. He is SO helpful around the house with all of the incredible skills he has developed. Fixing cars, building decks, running the excavator, rewiring my Kitchen-Aid Mixer. Having Hank around is like having another man in the house for the to-do lists. In the last year Hank has bought and fixed up trailers (ground the rust off, repainted, given an new floor, re-wired lights, etc) and sold them for a profit. He impresses me so much! Especially with the fact that he wants to do a good job, not just make a profit. Hank really cares about his girlfriend Zoey. He never wants to disappoint or abandon her. If he loses his phone or car for grades that fall under a B-, It's most important for him to get his phone and car back so he can talk to her daily and see her once a week. This makes me nervous. It also makes me proud that he wants to feed a good and beautiful human relationship. This is one of the most beautiful parts of living! Hank drives a black Mustang Convertible and has fixed it up to sell and already bought his next vehicle to turn for a profit, a Toyota Tundra. Hank does so well in his autoshop class and really enjoys spending time on cars. Hank is a challenge to parent in that he will ask me for something. I will firmly say no and a few mins later I walk away having said yes! Wait, what just happened!? I have determined Hank can only ask me for things if Dave is around. He is not as easily swayed by Hank's negotiating skills, logic, and his charm. Hank works really hard at school. This year is the first year in a long time that he has done homework at home. I know it's hard for him to maintain A's and B's (especially in Math and Spanish), but he does it, and I appreciate his big effort in something that doesn't come so naturally for him. Hank loves spending time with Cole and Truman at Young Men's activities and other nights. He is so lucky to have them. Hank is Preists Quorum secretary which again challenges his natural skills. He is not a meeting goer, an organizational wiz or a note taker, so it stretches him! In football, Hank has gotten to play lots on JV Defense this year, which makes him enjoy football so much more as he gets to play and contribute to his team! It is conference weekend today and Hank was gone or slept thru every talk but one. Disappointing. Yet I also am pretty sure Hank is actually reading his Book of Mormon along with Come Follow Me, which makes me so proud of him. He goes to seminary. He wears an American Flag belt buckle and nice boots to church most Sundays. He is always tired, but never admits it. He needs more sleep. And when he is rested his smile and charm is worth a million dollars. Hank is going to be an awesome missionary and he will be an insanely great (but maybe a little moody😕) husband and Dad one day.

My Miracle, Stake Relief Society Event Talk

During Covid my husband, Dave, and I decided to go for our Dream. Buy the 32 acres behind us and build our Dream Home. We would do 90 percent of it ourselves and with our kids. We designed the dream, cleared the lot together, began framing, plumbing, electrical, painting, tilework, etc. It was really challenging, exhausting, stressful, never-ending but also thrilling to see our dreams and hard work materialize. As a family, we were doing something really good. The first building we had to complete was building a barn for our Bernese Mountain Dogs that we bred for extra income. We built the cutest little barn with lots of windows, and room for a rustic chandelier in it. I got plantar fasciitis from standing on the steep roof as we put it on.  Then it burned down, with some of our Dogs in it, including a litter of puppies that would have been going to their new homes the next week. We didn’t have insurance on it yet. Our 4-wheeler and other valuable things were in there.  It was a total, devastating loss. Not only for the loss of the building and animals, but also for the crushing halt that it put to our business, that we still have not been able to rebuild.   

Fast forward 2 years later. We finished the house!  And moved in!  And we heavily appreciate every single second we spend in our home, and on our property. It is a dream come true. On the flip side, I feel like we are always scraping by for money. Groceries, cavities, braces, gas, shoes and clothes (which I try to buy the majority of at Goodwill), lunch money adds up way too fast! Without having the cushion of that Dog income we had pre-fire, it is such a struggle to stay afloat, let alone save money!  Money is so easy to spend. And I'm not even buying Porsches or Diamond Necklaces. I’m trying to live my life frugally and abundantly, but maybe those 2 words can’t go together. I don’t know if you have ever had what I call a ”come to Jesus, money talk” but they are the worst! Dave and I discussed our finances and what we wanted to do. We considered selling our dream home that we worked SO HARD on, and that just felt awful. We thought of our other options.  I told a friend, Mikell Murray, that I needed a money tree, and she reminded me that President Nelson said we should "seek and expect miracles" and that "the Lord will bless you with miracles if you believe in Him, 'doubting nothing.'” So you know the phrase “go big, or go home?” I decided to go big. I told Heavenly Father I needed $50,000 in 3 months. I started tracking in the Notes section on my phone, any unusual money or savings that came our way... I got a painting job, $200, for my Aunt Tracy.  We were offered to do tree cleanup work at a cemetery that we quoted for $2,000, but the guy told us he couldn’t pay us any less than $5,500 and still feel good about it. I found a new lady to do my hair that was half the cost, $50. I got an exciting, creative painting job for the same Aunt, $1,500. We got an extra job replacing the vinyl flooring in an old house, $1,000. I got to start babysitting my nephew! That added up to $500. Our Christmas tree from Menards rang up for $60 cheaper than the ticketed price! The cashier was very confused, but I knew what it was. I caulked and painted the trim at 2 different houses, $3,000. A logging company logged our neighbors’ property and offered to do ours too, $15,000. Our mortgage company sent us an $8,000 refund for overpaying. What? I got a job rolling out pie crusts for my cousin’s new bakery, $300. I logged every single dollar. When the 3 months rolled around, God had materialized $50,030 for us. 

Tell me that is NOT a MIRACLE!

Tell me Heavenly Father doesn’t care about what I care about.

Tell me Heavenly Father doesn’t want us to be happy, and live abundantly.

Pay your tithing. Work hard. Say yes to opportunities. Serve in your calling with all your heart. And be grateful, because miracles will come.

As long as I live, I will never forget that Heavenly Father gave me money. I know money is NOT the most important thing in Heavenly Father’s Kingdom, but in the moment, it was really important to me, so I know it was important to Him. He knows us. Everything we desire. He loves us. And we can ask for, and expect MIRACLES!