My Talk for Lea Kay Boyer's Baptism

Lea,
Today is December 10, 2011 and you are going to be baptized. I am so excited for you. I was baptized 47 years ago, on November 28, 1964. It is the most important and best decision I have ever made in my life.

I want you to think for a moment about all the time and energy your parents have put into teaching you about the Savior and teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All the Sundays they have dressed you for church and hurried to get there on time, the daily scripture studies, Family Home Evenings, songs sung by your mother as a soloist or in groups and other church service by your Dad and Mom. It's important that you understand, they did not have to do these things. It was a choice they made because of their love for the Savior and because of the blessings the Gospel has brought to their lives.

Your parents have given you this unselfish service to bless your life with a life-line that will help you all your life. That life-line is an understanding of the mission of the Savior and encouraging you to be baptized for membership in His true church and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost. It is the most important and best decision of your life and you are making it when you are only eight years old.

I was fifteen years old when I was baptized.

While my parents wanted to be good parents, they had many difficulties in their life because they did not have the Gospel. I did not attend church or Primary, have Family Home Evening, prayers over the food, family prayers, read the Book of Mormon, know who Joseph Smith was or have any knowledge of Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost.

Someone taught me a prayer I recited every night before I went to sleep. Once settled under the covers, I remember gazing into the Heavens and wondering about God before I went to sleep. Soon my wonderings turned into personal prayers that allowed me to ask questions or pray fervently for some need. One of the things I prayed for was an understanding of who Jesus was.

I brought these pictures of the Savior because I knew you would know who He was. You might even recognize some of the stories the pictures represent. Imagine what it would be like to not know any of the stories or have any connection or feeling for Jesus.

For me, God was the creator of all the wonderful and beautiful things in my world and my protector at night. He loved me and watched over me. But the Savior and principles like repentance, the resurrection, baptism, forgiveness, covenants, eternal families, or living prophets, I had never heard of.

My understanding of the Savior came after a series of experiences that led me to attending early morning Seminary. Your Grandma April used to teach early morning Seminary here in California.

I was living in Orlando, Florida. My brother and I would ride with nine other high school students for about a half an hour in an old 1940s automobile leaving at 5:00 in the morning in the dark. We would seat four kids in the front and four in the back with one of the smaller boys laid across the laps of the four kids in the back. We sang hymns at the top of our lungs all the way.

The class was taught by Sister Vera Smith. I loved her so much and she was so good to me. Always patient when my questions interrupted her lessons, always greeting me and taking the time to talk with me. She would be waiting for us to arrive, so neat and smiling with a lesson well prepared.
I remember the boys were funny, we were sleepy on the way there, and the spirit was so strong. It was in Seminary that I finally found the knowledge of who Jesus is, His relationship to God and the Holy Ghost. And I learned all the beautiful stories about Jesus and principles of the Gospel. It was like being led out of a dark tunnel into the light. I couldn't wait to read the scriptures, pray and learn more. There were many spiritual experiences and many loving people teaching me until finally my brother and I asked to be baptized.

My parents agreed to let us be baptized. They drove us to the Stake House and we went in without them or any other family attending. But we had our ward members helping us, people fellowshipped and loved us but I remember being nervous about the water and being immersed. Everything turned out fine.

Now in just a few moments you are going to be baptized by your father, my son. Your Bapa and I spent many hours taking him to church, trying to get there on time, having family prayer, family home evenings and prayers over the food and raising him so that he would have the life-line of a knowledge of Jesus Christ and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints that he is now passing on to you.

He will lead you into the baptismal font, carefully moistening your dress as you step into the water. He will raise his arm to the square and gently lower you into the water until every part of you is under the water. You don't have to be afraid, everything will happen so quickly.

There is nothing magical about the water but the prayer is being given by someone who has the Priesthood authority to baptize because of his obedience to the principles of the Gospel, worthiness to serve, love for you, and his understanding and knowledge of the Savior and Gospel principles.

Heavenly Father knew that when we came to earth we would need physical reminders because of the physical bodies our spirits are in. The Savior was immersed by John the Baptist to be an example for us and our baptismal covenants are renewed every week during the Sacrament when we partake of the bread and water. All of this is done to help us remember that no matter what mistakes we make, we can repent, learn and do better if we have a willing heart and call upon the Savior to help us.

This is called the glorious Plan of Salvation and you are accepting this plan by asking to be baptized.

In closing I would like to bear you my testimony that this is a wonderful day for you. This decision of yours will bless your life all the days of your life. I know the story about how you prayed and made the decision to be baptized and I am so happy for you. No matter where you are, your relationship with the Savior will bless you in all circumstances. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

Precious Feelings of the Spirit by Aleena Boyer

Lea will be 8 in a few weeks. Daniel and I had a talk with her about her choice to be baptized or not. She asked "It's a choice?" We explained that yes it is a choice. We followed the scripture in Moses 6:57 which says, "Wherefore teach it unto your children, that all men, everywhere, must repent, or they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God, for no unclean thing can dwell there, or dwell in his presence." We explained the purpose of Jesus Christ is to be our Savior - to save us from our sins so that we can be made clean to enter in our Heavenly Father's presence in the next life. If we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and follow His commandments we can be made clean through baptism and repentance. The 4th article of faith for our church states that "The first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are first, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, second, repentance, third baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, fourth, laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost." We also talked about prayer and how we can pray to our loving Father in Heaven to know if a decision we want to make is right. Lea told us that she wanted to think about getting baptized and pray about it. We encouraged her to do so and we told her to let us know when she had made her decision. We had a family prayer and sent the kids off to bed. Daniel went to a boy scout meeting at that point and I went into my room to get pj's on and get comfy for the night. A little while later Lea came into my room and with a big smile she said, "Mom, it's a YES!" She was glowing. I hugged her and asked her about her experience. She explained that as she was praying she felt a warm feeling that spread all the way down her body. I told her that was the feeling of the Spirit. A minute later, Jonah came in with a solemn face to say that he had prayed to know if he should get baptized and he wanted to know what it meant when he started to get a little itchy and a warm feeling. He asked if that was Heavenly Father saying yes or no. I told him having a warm, tingly and good feeling means you are making the right choice. And he smiled real big and his eyes were excited as he exclaimed "He said yes!?!" Jonah was so happy. I was truly humbled by these individual and precious experiences that my beautiful children had feeling the wonderful goodness of the Holy Ghost and experiencing an answer to their prayers. It was awesome that they have such pure faith that they received immediate answers to their prayers. This experience for me strengthened my testimony of Jesus' teachings when he said to "become as little children" (Matthew 18:3). I am inspired by the pure faith and desire to do what's right in my precious children. I also love the simple yet powerful way that we receive confirmation from the Holy Ghost of Gospel principles.

"Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me." Alma 32:28

This was a very special experience with my treasured children and I am so happy for the righteous desires of their hearts. I love them so much!

The Bridal Shower for Marie

My daughter Marie is getting married March 19. With the help of Jill Bigelow, Linda Sue Smith, and Melody Newey, and fourteen women bringing salads, we threw a Bridal Shower for her February 26, 2011.

The shower was a wonderful showing of love and support for Marie. About three years ago, two sisters in our ward started a "contribute to the gift" fund, which has enabled everyone to be a part of weddings, babies, and other occasions without the hassle of gift buying, budgeting , etc. We had over fifty people come including members of the home ward, family, and friends from Marie's singles ward. She didn't expect it and was so pleased with all the noisy chatter and well wishes.

The room was immersed in feelings of excitement and anticipation. Optimism punctuated with measuring spoons and water pitchers. Women gathered over orange jello with heart shapes floating in the creamy topping, chattering and smiling; pleased her fiance is so handsome. Marie aghast at the generosity, flustered by the greetings, not knowing quite what to do with all the love and praise she hadn't expected. Basking in the unspeakable pain of feeling so much love, she hesitated opening the gifts until we finally insisted.

Women, beautiful women, contributing to each other's life experiences through nurturing, nourishing, and natural affection. Women just being the best women can be.

Breakfast at Grandma Dot's House

Every morning after a restless night, listening for the trains on the East side of the property, I would awake to the smell of bacon coming from the Grandma Dot's kitchen. Running downstairs, grandmother was in the kitchen, powdered, groomed, wearing a simple dress and nylons, finishing the final touches on breakfast and standing next to a table set with dishes, mats and glasses embossed with "The Great State of Virginia." Those glasses seem to announce what I felt about being in the home. It was great.

We said grace before every meal. Sometime into the breakfast, Anna would knock on the door bringing with her a voice that had a high hollow bell tone in a deep southern dialect difficult to understand. Her voice sang and fluctuated with a cadence and lyrical value beautiful and alluring. She welcomed the day; she welcomed me back into her life. We continued our bacon, eggs, toast and butter breakfast to conversations of what was happening that day and the gentle rhythm of human interaction bound to a place that calls to us, bringing back memories both pleasant and sad. It was like Christmas but the presents were the presence of those around the table. These adults surrounding us were infatuated with our childish aura. They filled our cup with attention and adoration. We were a novelty and something about the way we grew was very important to them.

So this is a couple and the foundation of a family...

The end of November (28th), Aaron Danielson asked my daughter Marie to marry him. The next day, she was surprised by Stan's and my delighted reaction to the news. We had observed Aaron in groups at our home on numerous occasions and more importantly watched Marie's opinion of Aaron develop based on his behavior in numerous social settings, church and institute attendance. Like many other people, we thought they should date a long time before they actually did, based on their obvious attraction and similarity of goals. It seemed so natural that they would fall in love and want to devote themselves to each other in a marriage. However, watching a couple form a family is both exciting and alarming. So much is at stake when it comes to the happiness of the future family. That happiness is also out of everyone's control except the two individuals.

One night as they were talking about how they made their decision, the conversation was lighthearted and giddy. I stopped in my tracks with the piercing reality that I really didn't know very much about this young man. Questioning them as I did about the wisdom of leaping into such an important decision, Aaron reassured me that he had thought long and hard about it and this was what he wanted and the Lord was okay with it too. His eyes focused on my face responding to my challenge with a demeanor calm and convincing. Marie merely laughed quietly to herself while snuggled in his arms. I surrendered, feeling a deep love for both of them.

The Christmas season came quickly. I found myself frequently reflecting on the lyrics in "Winter Wonderland"; "To face unafraid the plans that we made..." There they were right in front of me forming a family with two little boys in tow. Aaron was patient. He waited for his relationship to develop at the boys' speed. Marie let down boundaries, gradually allowing Aaron more access to their hearts as like all children, they melted into the security of one more adult's love. Together, they bonded to each other while talking out their future, voicing concerns and quelling tides of doubt through maintaining their relationship with Heavenly Father. They struggled, laughed, relaxed, tensed up, and moved forward, molding their affiliation into a problem solving union called a couple, a pair or beloved.

It takes such a leap of faith to trust anyone with your life's happiness let alone the happiness of your children. To face "unafraid" is reflected clearly in a quote from Bishop Richard C. Edgely listed as one of Marie's Facebook posts: "I say choose faith. Choose faith over doubt, choose faith over fear, choose faith over the unknown and the unseen and choose faith over pessimism. :)" And she ends her post with a smiley face.

The House in Alberta

Memories of my grandmother's house bring immediate feelings of longing and home sickness.

The house was set far from the road down a dirt lane. We always parked in the back and entered the house through the back porch and into my grandmother's kitchen. Off of that back porch were the entrances to Tine and Anna's study, Anna's bathroom, the back hall entry to the main house and the door into my grandmother's kitchen.

The hall entry opened into a wide hall, probably 10 to 12 feet wide, that ran the length of the home straight to the front door. About four feet in from the back door, the stairs led up to the second floor. Along the South side were doors leading into Tine and Anna's parlor and master bedroom. On the North side were entries into my grandmother's large living room and a small door under the stairs leading to the cellar.

On the second floor were six to seven bedrooms depending on if you were counting before or after the remodel when Dot joined two of the bedrooms on the South side to make a very large master bedroom and if you counted the small laundry room that was my uncle Tommy's bedroom for a while, located on the East end. All the bedrooms shared one large bathroom at the West end of the hall.

A fragrance graced each room; the smell of bacon in the kitchen, Irish Spring soap in the bathroom, the musty, moldy smell of the cellar, my grandfather's pipe smoke in the living room and grandmother's powdered perfumed presence in whatever room she was in.

The Reason for January

My first thought was that there is no reason for January. On January 1, I generally feel lack luster, unmotivated and tired from Christmas. Just getting down the decorations and harvesting the dust bunnies takes most of my energy the first week. My resolutions have new motivations with a wedding in the planning. And I am somewhat proud that my first resolution this year is not to lose weight, although it is my fourth.

By the second week, I am scanning the yard looking for green, impatient for spring. I can't dig in the dirt because it is too cold but the yard is so barren of color, it feels like I need to dig in the dirt. I really want to plant those bulbs I didn't in the fall. Frustrated I haul out a shovel and test the soil to see if I could plant. I notice our carport has a new collection of dry leaves, blown ahead of December snow storms. I ignore both jobs because it feels too cold to clean or dig outside. The excitement of new December snow has melted into the inconvenience of dealing with its accumulation. Gray skies seem to extend downward to the frozen ground and snow lined roads; slushy mushy mess, that discourages my wanderings and muddy ups the floor when the grandkids come.

Toward the middle of the month, there are some clear days and when the inversion lifts, the air feels clean and frosty. Yesterday's sky looked like a blue Caribbean sea hovering over the pristine mountains freshly dusted with snow. The sunsets have been phenomenal, framed in the skeletal branches around our house and reflecting on the snow fields. Deer come daily to forage around my shrubs for any green, (like me, wishing for spring) leaving us gathered around the windows watching their grace and soft brown eyes widen as they search for us. In the orchard, Stan found a forgotten bundle of apples protected from the cold by multiple tarps. He transfered them to the refrigerator for our winter apple crunch. I can smell the cinnamon just thinking about those apples.

In the fourth week, January sends us a magical snow. Everything is frosted again like a flocked Christmas tree, snow edging every limb, branch and twig. Limbs bend from the weight, I anticipate an afternoon thaw which doesn't come, only more snow layering the first flakes with others extending the magical scenery. I think this is as beautiful as my yard has ever been, coated in white, sparkling, new snow. As I drive to the mall, a dog is perched on the sidewalk outside his house sitting and looking at the snow. Further down the road, a group of grade school children have rolled the snow down their sidewalk into a gigantic white ball, larger than their little brother. Watching them struggle gleefully to push this further, I want to help too. Cars are moving slowly. All of us are moving slowly, admiring the snow and cautious of the danger of slippery roads. Snow seems so quiet, so simple and sparkling despite the gray skies above.

It is the January 28 and the magical snow is melting. All that muddy soft dirt cries for planting. I am mentally making a note that it is time to coat the grass with pre-emergence chemicals. January is almost over and I can see many reasons for January. Its like that magical snow. Quietly we realign our life. Our New Year's resolutions have time to bud and grow. And there is time to plan the garden. A new beginning, a fresh start. January