Easter Miracles

Family Photo

I was looking forward to seeing my oldest child's family and his newest addition, an adorable blonde, blue-eyed baby boy. I was reminded what a miracle the whole birth process is as he gently placed the tiny, helpless newborn in my arms. He was everything a Nana could ever want in a new grandchild! SOOOO CUTE! I was in heaven! EARTHLY HEAVEN not the actual “Heaven” heaven...

When they announced they were expecting we had just found out the melanoma was metastasizing aggressively. I wondered if I'd still be here when the baby was born. I wondered that if I were alive... what kind of life would it be? Well, the incredible news is that I am alive and thriving and actually feeling good most of the time. I am so grateful! Such a blessing and miracle!

Family Photo

I can say that now! I am a medical miracle! My cancer came back 9 months after approval of the newest type of treatment for melanoma: immunotherapy using a drug called Keytrudah (Pembro). They use my own immune system to find and attack metastatic growths and it's working! Some patients have their tumors disappear within months while just over half of the cancer patients don't see any response at all. My tumors are not disappearing... or even shrinking... but they seem to be non-reactive at this point which means I'm on the winning team, the original tumors are not growing and there are no new growths!

Family Photo

I didn't buy winter boots because I wasn't sure I would last through the season. I didn't buy new clothes unless they were “hospital comfy.” I used to wonder if I'd even use up a newly opened bar of soap! I didn't buy new prescription glasses because... why? 

And so on....

Easter Lily - Family Photo

I find myself thinking about what I would like to do with this extra time. One thing I want to do is bear my testimony of the miracle of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and tell everyone it is here on the earth... right now! I want to tell everyone how wonderful the Book of Mormon is and how it can change your life when you understand that Jesus Christ really came to visit this continent after His resurrection. I want to tell everyone that there is a plan for them to live eternally with loved ones and that the relationships we enjoy here can exist in heaven. We can have Heaven... now AND forever. 

I trust in His redeeming grace to save us all from death and sin if we will COME UNTO HIM with full purpose of heart and allow Him to do what He has always wanted and already laid the plans for. His resurrection paved the way for ALL of us.

He lives... He lives... He lives! With all my heart I know this! And you can know it too.

Instagram: LDSWomen

Sand or Rock?

Sand
or
Rock?

Last month my family visited our homeland, the Piedmont Valleys of northern Italy. There in the Italian Alps, Waldensian families hid for hundreds of years from the persecution brought upon them by holding fast to the truths taught by Christ's ancient apostles. Early church missionaries, led by Lorenzo Snow, discovered these families prepared to be taught the fulness of the restored gospel. We hiked overgrown, narrow paths to find the rock- solid home of these early saints hidden in the steep hills of Eissart, Italy. How the missionaries ever found them I will never know. Abandoned for over 180 years, it still stands as a monument to the conviction and sacrifice of faithful ancestors to the truth of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Facing persecution again from their own neighbors, they left their ancestral home in the middle of winter, with little more than the clothes on their backs. They crossed the Alps, traveled to England,crossed the Atlantic and arrived in Council Bluffs to begin their pioneer trek in the first handcart company during the summer of 1856. Arriving penniless and having lost their youngest child to illness, they came with faith founded on the rock of the Redeemer, the Savior of mankind. They would instill this in their children, to serve and rely upon this firm foundation. Their descendants would return through the years to share His gospel of happiness as missionaries themselves.

Like the wise man who built his house upon a rock, not sand (Matthew 7:24), we should build our testimonies upon the firm foundation of the immovable Rock of the Redeemer which will protect us from the storms and trials that lie ahead. Helaman speaking to his sons stated it perfectly, " And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." (Helaman 5:12)

Recently, we have seen the effects of shifting sand on a society of changing values. Only those whose testimonies are built upon a foundation centered on Jesus Christ and His restored Gospel will be able to withstand the winds, rain, and storms of adversity.
As we approach this Christmas Season, let us be reminded that He is the Only Begotten One, the Savior born for all mankind, that all might live again because of Him. He invites, "...follow me, and do the things ye have seen me do." (2 Nephi 31:12). May we seek to do those things that will cause us to become more like Him, that we might have a fulness of joy. He is the way, the life and the light of the world. I testify of His gospel of happiness and unconditional love for all.




Michael Beus, Farmington Utah North Stake

Is It Wonderful To You?

It was the first day without rain last week and I was anxious to get outside and work on the flower beds. As I began weeding I felt prompted to go to the temple instead. I reminded myself that I was already planning on going with my husband that weekend for a ward conference temple night and kept on weeding. I got such satisfaction from seeing the flowers unencumbered by weeds I kept going on to the next bed, and the next, when suddenly the prompting came again, "You should go now to the temple." I heeded it this time and went in to change. 

On the way to the temple I felt like I may have taken too long to decide to go. I might have missed whatever or whomever the Lord wanted me to see, but I knew that I would feel better having obeyed the prompting and I always love the feeling of peace therein. 

Our stake has a drawer in the entry of the temple where members place names of family who have work to be done. I took out five family file cards and knew that the member who had placed those cards would be as glad as the people whose cards I had retrieved to have their temple work move forward. It felt as good as weeding the flower beds to help empty the drawer... with everlasting results! I was happy as I entered the initiatory area of the temple.

For the past few months I have had to wait over an hour to serve but there wasn't even a line that day! As the ordinance worker invited me into the first room I looked at her sweet glowing face and loved her immediately. Her short grey hair was styled and curled around big beautiful blue eyes. As she began speaking it slowly dawned on me that I knew her! I looked at her name tag and saw Tammy Mitchell, the same woman the Lord directed me to when I was struggling after my diagnosis of cancer. (Read the amazing story here) NO WAY!!!! I didn't even know she was Mormon! When she finished speaking I asked her if she knew who I was and she shook her head no and said, "You look familiar but I can't place you." I then showed her my scar and reminded her where we had met. She smiled with remembrance and recognition and asked how I was doing with the cancer now. I told her my scans have been clear and we hope I'll be ok now. I had to move to the next room then and when I came back she was gone. As I was sitting there, marveling at the timing of the whole event, she suddenly appeared around the corner, hugged me and said, "I love you!" I returned the hug and the love and felt so grateful for God's love for us and even his management of the smallest things in our lives if we let Him. 

Today when I read the conference talk "Is It Wonderful To You?" by Bishop Gerald Causse from April 2015 I remembered this experience and wanted to write it up to build the testimony of anyone who is wondering if God is there or if He is aware of you. He is! Let my experience and the experiences of others be an anchor to your faith and engage yourself in the work of salvation however you feel you can.

"To marvel at the wonders of the gospel is a sign of faith. It is to recognize the hand of the Lord in our lives and in everything around us. Our amazement also produces spiritual strength. It gives us the energy to remain anchored in our faith and to engage ourselves in the work of salvation."

I want to use his words because he says it best:

On this special day, I bear witness that the wonders and marvels of the gospel are anchored in the greatest of all of God’s gifts—the Savior’s Atonement. This is the perfect gift of love that the Father and the Son, united in purpose, have offered to each one of us. With you, “I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me. … 

Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!”

Click here to listen to Bsp. Gerald Causse

No Scars

June 2012 

Who doesn't have any scars? I have a HUGE scar from a tiny little freckle that turned into melanoma. It reminds me to put on sunscreen whenever I am going to be in the sun for awhile. Scars can be good reminders to be careful.

Oct 2013 (left)               Oct 2014 (right)

"Our physical bodies, when harmed, are able to repair themselves, sometimes with the help of a physician. If the damage is extensive, however, 

often a scar will remain as a reminder of the injury.

With our spiritual bodies it is another matter. Our spirits are damaged when we make mistakes and commit sins. But unlike the case of our mortal bodies, when the repentance process is complete, no scars remain because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 

The promise is: “Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more” (D&C 58:42).

--Boyd K. Packer, The Plan Of Happiness, Apr Gen Conf 2015

No spiritual scars remain if we repent now!

How Can It Be?

Heard this AMAZING song: "How Can It Be?" by Lauren Daigle.

It's true!

Jesus Christ broke the bands of death for ALL of us!

H A P P Y    E A S T E R    E V E R Y O N E !!!

Click Here for lyric visual

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UXn_OuJkvE

Click here to see Lauren sing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt5X91ciE6Y

God Will Lift Us Up

Last week a dear friend massaged my aching foot… for a long time. 

My heel had been aching for a long time and she massaged it for a long time. 

So selfless… so Christ-like. 

It was ESPECIALLY Christ-like because 

she KNEW exactly where it hurt and 

what would help make it feel better having suffered from the same affliction.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/91267387@N07/8286976875

 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind...he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people… that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities. 

- Alma 7:11-12

Robert D. Hales:

 I have often pondered… Why is it that the Son of God, and His holy prophets 

and all the faithful Saints will have trials and tribulations?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPP9mRL1rc

Brittany suffers from a difficult illness 

and yet because of that suffering, 

she has been driven to help others who are suffering. 

Sweet sweet video.

Click here to watch "God Will Lift Us Up

At 3:30 the mother's words especially touch me. "I wish it could have been me that suffered." 

Do we not all want to take upon us our children's suffering?
Does that make parenting one of the easiest ways to learn Christlike attributes?
Or hardest?

Henry B. Eyring captures my predicament in an excellent talk in April 2009 on Adversity. 

"There is yet another trial which, when endured well, can bring blessings in this life and blessings forever. Age and illness can test the best of us."

To read click here: Adversity by Henry B. Eyring, Apr 2009

Aging and illness…. my hope and dread as I live each day. 

I bear testimony that Christ does know how to succor us. 

I bear testimony that God WILL lift us up when we need it. 

I have had it happen repeatedly and I know it to be true.