Little Stuff

I made some bread last week.  I knew we were having Matt Adamson and his mother over on Sunday to watch the final session of conference and to eat some lunch.  Matt loves homemade bread.  There was enough to take a loaf to the Sister Missionaries and another to the Elders.  It is just a pleasant thing to do when I need to fill up some time.

We enjoyed our visit with Matt and his mother.  Conference was as uplifting as I hoped it would be.  President Holland was inspiring.  I saw a quote on Facebook: "Whenever Satan goes to bed at night, he checks under his bed to see if Elder Holland is there."  And Elder Perry warned the world as a prophet of the error of its ways.  His power and strength were inspiring.

I have continued to meet, along with the Elders, Carl Bogren.  He has not been as receptive the past two weeks.  We now know why.  He received a final notice from a court in Seattle notifying him that if he doesn't show up to answer charges of some sort of assault charge, he will be arrested and flown to Seattle to face even more serious charges.  His claim to his room mates is that the charge is for littering.  We have always known that Carl is not being completely honest with us.  We just have not known how. 

His date to have a job and begin to pay rent has come and gone.  His landlord collected his key and wished him well.  He still does not have a job.  I believe we now know why.  Background checks put a stop to his being hired.  He did follow through on my request to meet with the produce manager at Fred Meyer.  The day he went in, it was the manager's day off.  An associate manager helped him fill out the application and said he would give it to the manage.  We will know later what comes of this. 

We convinced Carl to meet with our Branch President, President Olsen.  After a lot of encouragement, Carl did that.  We implored him to be honest and transparent as he visited with President Olsen.  I received a call from the branch president yesterday saying he had spent the morning putting Carl on an airplane to Seattle.  Without disclosing confidences to me, he let me know that Carl would not be back any time quickly.  He expects Carl will have to pay restitution for something and possibly even some jail time.  At YSA home evening I suggested to those in attendance that we include Carl in our fasting and prayers this week.  I can't help but wonder if this buffeting is not helping Carl to be prepared to be baptized and start his progression.  He tells us he knows the Book of Mormon is true.  He reads it daily.  Anyone who can relate the story of Gidgidonni, Pahoran and Gidgidonnah and remember the names is reading.

It rained hard the past two days.  The car washes here are so inadequate in their washing capabilities.  I put on my rain gear and took a towel to the car in the rain.  As I rubbed and scrubbed, the falling raindrops rinsed the dirt to the ground.  The car is now clean.

I have been studying the 2nd book of Peter in preparation for Institute tonight.  Peter lays out the steps we need to go through in order to receive a 'Divine Nature.'  It makes so much sense.  It doesn't make it sound easy, but it does make it sound possible.  We simply must be in control of our lusts and passions, and be able to progress in our faith and love.  The way is outlined for us in chapter 1.  I am excited to bring this to our YSA members.  As we discuss these well explained steps, we will come to understand that by doing these things we can make our calling and election sure.  And then we will discuss that by having our calling and election made sure, we will receive the other comforter that the Savior said he would give us.  That 'other comforter' is Jesus himself.  And when we have that relationship with the Savior, he will show to us the Father.  It is a wonderful and a beautiful principle of the gospel.