Meridian Magazine :: Arts: Films That Feed the Soul: Recommendations For Family Viewing

Meridian Magazine :: Arts: Films That Feed the Soul: Recommendations For Family Viewing

The Atonement and the Value of One Soul

"If we could truly understand the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, we would realize how precious is one son or daughter of God."

--Elder M. Russell Ballard, "The Atonement and the Value of One Soul", May 2004 Ensign pg 84

The Lifeline of Prayer

"No earthly authority can separate us from direct access to our Creator. There can never be a mechanical or electronic failure when we pray. There is no limit on the number of times or how long we can pray each day. There is no quota of how many needs we wish to pray for in each prayer. We do not need to go through secretaries or make an appointment to reach the throne of grace. He is reachable at any time and any place."
--James E. Faust, “The Lifeline of Prayer,” Ensign, May 2002, 59

Give Thanks in All Things

"When we give thanks in all things, we see hardships and adversities in the context of the purpose of life... We are meant to learn and grow through opposition, through meeting our challenges, and through teaching others to do the same... the Lord will not only consecrate our afflictions for our gain, but He will use them to bless the lives of countless others."

--Dallin H. Oaks, "Give Thanks in All Things," Ensign, May 2003, 95

Peace Offering --- Accepted

On November 9th, I shared some thoughts on "Taking the Higher Road" -- you may want to read this, so you understand what I am talking about here.

It's been three days after my peace offering to our neighbors, and today I got a knock on our door. It was the neighbor who I quarreled with, she had a plate of rice krispie treats, and this is what she said to me "This is my peace offering with you. We won't knock on your door anymore, we understand, as we also have kids. And we'll take care of the bikes. We want to not have contention between us either. We understand."

I can honestly say I was surprised. But through this experience, I have gained a testimony that when we follow in the footsteps of the teachings Jesus, the outcome in some way will be a good one. The response from our neighbor shows that she was touched by my act of kindness to her. She didn't have to make a plate of rice krispie treats, and take the courage to knock on our door, apologize and hand them to me, but she did. The outcome could have been good in so many different ways, the very fact that I had a spiritual renewal was a blessing. I always think about how we might plant seeds in people's lives. You can't choose the outcome, but you can plant the seed and they can choose to make that seed blossom now or in the future. The important part, is that you took the step, you took the higher road, you planted the seed. God is watching over us, and I know that He is pleased with us when we make good choices. It truly is simple, sometimes it feels hard, but it is simple. I am grateful for this experience, and I am grateful for the opportunity of planting a seed that blossomed. I would encourage you, if you're frustrated with someone, or something – take the higher road and you will be blessed for your efforts.

Taking the Higher Road

In the last several months we have been frustrated with some bad neighbors. We currently live in the top unit of a condo, and the neighbors below us, who are renting from the owners recently moved in, about 4 months ago. Wow, it seems like a lot longer than that. Anyway, there has been one issue after another with them. It all started on the day they moved in. First it was smoking on the balcony, which is against the covenants here, as well as a city law. I went outside and politely let him know that it was against the covenants. He apologized and said he did not know. Within a couple of weeks they left their kids' toys and bikes out where it was a hazard - at the bottom of the stairs, in the breezeways, etc. Of note, there is a regulation regarding this as it is against the Disabilities Act. The second issue is, is that I was not seeing them at the bottom of the stairway and tripping on them with my infant in my arms. I really did not want to have anything broken, nor did I want my child to be hurt from a potential fall. And this is where it all started. I gave them a simple note, letting them be aware of the regulation and also mentioning my tripping on them. How I wish they could have just said "sorry, we'll take care of the problem" and leave it there. Not more than 5 minutes had passed and I got a fist hammering on my door. I honestly should not have opened it, yes, in hindsight, I should not have at all. The man yelled at me for the letter. He was angry, because I believe he felt he was being singled out in the letter, though all the other neighbors here already know the CC&Rs to the condo community. He also could not believe that in the 3 weeks time that they had lived there that I could have tripped on any of their bikes or toys. I so wanted to walk him outside and show him, but I knew that he knew better, he just didn't want to take responsibility and he tried to put the blame on my shoulders. I would have been fine with the last of that, but ever since then, we have gotten hammering knocks from these neighbors almost daily telling us that our kids are being too loud, jumping too much, or their crying is bothering them etc. We teach our children to have soft feet, to respect those that live around us, and they do. However, there will be times that they will have some noisy play, not throughout the day of course, but it would be unrealistic to keep them quiet 100% of the time. These are daily living noises. We are not loud during the city noise ordinances, unless of course, one of them is crying for one reason or another - but that is part of having children. There are other issues that are excessive noise issues from their unit, but we have not complained to them, although after the hours, have been tempted to call the police. The issues are ones that have affected our entire condo building, as well as other issues that I will not discuss here that have affected others in our condo community as well.

My frustrations levels went through the roof, and it was affecting how I felt, my overall feeling about how life currently felt, how I was as a wife and a mother, and probably a friend too.

Over a period of time, I started to be more aware of God reaching out to me during this frustration, and trying to help me take the "higher road." I will be perfectly honest in saying that I was feeling like I was not about to take the higher road because I was angry with them, because I was sick and tired of what we were dealing with on a daily basis, because I just didn't at the time feel it was in me to do it, I just didn't want to.

But, I noticed that my patience levels on a daily basis was dwindling into nothing. I noticed that I felt like a dark cloud every day followed me where ever I went. I was starting to more and more look at the negative vs. the many positive things in my life. I was being dragged down into a hole that I knew if I didn't do something about it soon, I would maybe be hiding in there for some time.

One of my favorite quotes, and I'm not sure who it is by is that when we listen and then follow God, we will always be right. How comforting that is to me. We can't go wrong.

I talked to my friend on my On Wings of Faith group and they encouraged me to take this step. I was totally feeling out of my comfort zone, but I don't think it really was out of my comfort zone, but that Satan simply did not want me to climb into the hole that I had chosen to get myself in. The moment I decided to take the higher road with these neighbors, is when I could literally feel my spirit lift to heights I hadn't been at in awhile. Like a spiritual bandaid. I knew that what I was doing was right. A member on On Wings of Faith (Melissa) told me that I could not choose how they responded, but that I would be blessed. All of the members on On Wings of Faith encouraged me to do this, and that God would make note of my efforts to make some peace.

So, I made some chocolate chip oatmeal cookies and also wrote a little note. In this note, I explained where we were coming from, where our frustrations stemmed from. I also apologized for a bit of an argument I got in with one of the neighbors. And I asked them if there was a better time for my children to have their louder playtime during the day. I have not yet heard back from them. But, it is much better than the almost daily hammering of our door for noises that are daily living noises. We'll see what comes of this. For now, however, my spirit has been renewed, a breath of fresh air has made life more sweet and less bitter.

For the Beauty of the Earth - TOTW

For the Beauty of the Earth

Hymns, For the Beauty of the Earth, no. 92

1. For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies,

[Chorus]
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

2. For the beauty of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flow’r,
Sun and moon, and stars of light,

3. For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild,

Text: Folliott S. Pierpoint, 1835-1917
Music: Conrad Kocher, 1786–1872

Psalm 95:1–6
Psalm 33:1–6

The Profound Power of Gratitude - TOTW

"Gracias, danke, merci whatever language is spoken, 'thank you' frequently expressed will cheer your spirit, broaden your friendships, and lift your lives to a higher pathway as you journey toward perfection. There is a simplicity even a sincerity when 'thank you' is spoken."

--Thomas S. Monson, “The Profound Power of Gratitude,” Ensign, Sept. 2005, 3

Who’s Losing? - TOTW

"One warm evening during the past summer months Sister Ashton and I enjoyed a professional baseball game. During the early part of the competition our attention was diverted from the action by a late arriver. As he walked by, he spotted me and asked, 'Who’s losing?' I responded with, 'Neither one.' Following my answer, I noticed that he glanced at the right-field scoreboard, saw the game wasn’t tied, and walked on, undoubtedly wondering about me.

Seconds after he made his way to a distant seat, Sister Ashton said, 'He doesn’t know you very well, does he?' 'What makes you say that?' I replied. She responded with, 'If he did, he would know you don’t believe anyone is losing. Some are ahead and some are behind, but no one is losing. Isn’t that right?' I smiled in approval with a warm feeling inside.

Proper attitude in this crisis-dominated world is a priceless possession. Never before is it more important for all of us to move forward with conviction. We may be behind, but we are not losing if we are moving in the right direction. God will not score our performances until the end of the journey."
--Elder Marvin J Ashton, "Who’s Losing?" Ensign, Nov. 1974, 41

Meridian Magazine:: Line Upon Line: We Have the Answers to the Hard Questions

"Recently, as I sat in Barnes & Noble at a book signing, looking at all the books around me, I was suddenly struck by the fact that in one way or another they all dealt with life’s great questions. Why injustice? Who are we really? Where are the answers? Why do I feel so empty? Is there absolute truth out there somewhere, or is everything relative?"

Meridian Magazine:: Line Upon Line: We Have the Answers to the Hard Questions

Strengthening Each Other - TOTW

"If you sometimes get discouraged, consider this fellow. He dropped out of grade school. Ran a country store. Went broke. Took 15 years to pay off his bills. Took a wife. Unhappy marriage. Ran for House. Lost twice. Ran for Senate. Lost twice. Delivered speech that became a classic. Audience indifferent. Attacked daily by the press and despised by half the country. Despite all this, imagine how many people all over the world have been inspired by this awkward, rumpled, brooding man who signed his name simply, A. Lincoln.” (Wall Street Journal.)

'It is important to know, when you feel down, that many others do also and that their circumstances are generally much worse than yours. And it’s important to know that when one of us is down, it becomes the obligation of his friends to give him a lift. I hope that each of us will cultivate a sensitivity toward the feelings of others, and when encouragement is needed, make an effort to extend it. Be a friend, and you will have a friend. God be thanked for wonderful friends.'
--Gordon B. Hinckley, “Strengthening Each Other,” Ensign, Feb. 1985, 3

Meridian Magazine :: You Tube: An Apostle?s Testimony of the Book of Mormon

I absolutely enjoyed Elder Holland's talk in General Conference. What a powerful testimony! In this 5-minute video, the essence of Elder Holland’s talk is given with beautiful photos and illustration.

Meridian Magazine :: You Tube: An Apostle?s Testimony of the Book of Mormon

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Meridian Magazine :: Family Connections: At Risk: Our Children?s Imagination

I think that this is a fabulous article. I have found it really sad in so many children who lack the capacity to have an imagination. We have experienced this in our own family, with my stepson in fact, who we only have every other weekend if that. He has done much better in the past year, but the environment he has grown up in, has given him the lack of imagination that he so needs.

And then on the other hand, our oldest has a fabulous imagination - our bed can turn into a train, a boat with crashing waves and sharks beneath, an airplane soaring through the clouds... It is so much fun!

And not only does it create fun in a child's life, but what about the importance of their brain development and how it helps them with life's challenges in general? :)

Meridian Magazine :: Family Connections: At Risk: Our Children?s Imagination

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Three Choices - TOTW

"Tomorrow’s joy or tomorrow’s despair has its roots in decisions we make today. Perhaps some people think to themselves: 'I know I need to change some things in my life. Maybe later, but not now.'

Those who stand at the threshold of life always waiting for the right time to change are like the man who stands at the bank of a river waiting for the water to pass so he can cross on dry land.

Today is the day of decision."

--Joseph B. Wirthlin, “Three Choices,” Ensign, Nov. 2003, 78

Testimony Builder - Thoughts By Me.

Today, I will be taking our boys to church, as my husband is sick with the flu. I think it can be a challenge to be by yourself and take your kids to church, but I also think that it is very important to follow through.

Let me step back a few years. When my oldest was under one, I would take him to church by myself, as at the time my husband was not active in church. During the course of the 3 hour block, I became discouraged because I wasn't getting the spiritual uplift that I wanted and needed. I was spending much of the time in the hallway, because my baby was being too noisy to be able to sit through some of the meetings. At that very moment that I became discouraged and thought to myself what is the point of me being here, the Primary President came around the corner and said to me, "I remember those days, it will get better." At that moment in time, it occurred to me that I am not the only one that has had to go in the hallway, that there will be better days, and it is important for me to be there even in the hallway for a short time period in my babies life. Why? Because it shows him that going to church is an important part of our lives, and eventually when he is older, the habit will be instilled in him, and again, when he grows older he'll start to realize the weekly spiritual nourishment that he can get at church. What a great insight that was for me. It was not coincidence that the Primary President came around the corner at that exact moment, and that what she said to me gave me a better testimony of why it is so important that I come to church with my little one even if it is in the hallway for a brief time in life.

Now, my oldest is in Primary and is loving it. I can see the spiritual growth he has gained by my persistence and faith in bringing him to church each Sunday. It is wonderful to hear him so excited to learn about our Savior. To learn about eternal families, as sometime in the future our family will be sealed for time and all eternity, what a great testimony builder this will be for him, and for our little family as a whole. It is exciting to see him be excited to say the family prayer at night, or during dinner time. It is heart warming to hear him speak with his little voice that permeates a spiritual warmth throughout my heart.

And, I am back to the hallway days off and on with our youngest. He will be able to go to the nursery in about 6 months, which will in turn help for me be able to focus on my weekly spiritual uplift. But again, for now, it is important to teach him that going to church weekly is important to us individually and as a family.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to teach our little ones the importance of living the gospel in their daily lives. I am grateful for the small teachings I receive through my children, for their little insights that give me strength to push forward. This life is truly an amazing journey, difficult at times sure, perhaps difficult is an understatement at times, but nevertheless, it is a blessing. I truly am grateful for the opportunities for spiritual insight and spiritual growth.

Meridian Magazine : : Church Update: Sunday Morning 179th Semiannual Conference

This was the Sunday Morning Session of General Conference...

Meridian Magazine : : Church Update: Sunday Morning 179th Semiannual Conference

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TOTW - Don’t be discouraged...

"Don’t be discouraged at seemingly overwhelming odds in your desire to live and to help others live God’s commandments. At times it may seem like David trying to fight Goliath. But remember, David did win."

--David B. Haight (Ensign, November 1977)

Meridian Magazine : : Church Update: Saturday Morning Session 179th Semiannual General Conference

We watched General Conference as a family both Saturday & Sunday's sessions. I have always looked forward to General Conference, just as I did this weekend. I absolutely love the spiritual uplift it brings into my life. I feel renewed, and a new sense of well-being to move forward with an increased testimony of the gospel and the wonderful blessings it brings into my life, and into my family.

Meridian Magazine : : Church Update: Saturday Morning Session 179th Semiannual General Conference

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A Mighty Change of Heart - TOTW

"...we must be careful, as we seek to become more and more godlike, that we do not become discouraged and lose hope. Becoming Christlike is a lifetime pursuit and very often involves growth and change that is slow, almost imperceptible.

The scriptures record remarkable accounts of men whose lives changed dramatically, in an instant...

But we must be cautious as we discuss these remarkable examples. Though they are real and powerful, they are the exception more than the rule. For every Paul, for every Enos, and for every King Lamoni, there are hundreds and thousands of people who find the process of repentance much more subtle, much more imperceptible. Day by day they move closer to the Lord, little realizing they are building a godlike life. They live quiet lives of goodness, service, and commitment. They are like the Lamanites, who the Lord said "were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not." (3 Ne. 9:20)."

-- Ezra Taft Benson, “A Mighty Change of Heart,” Ensign, Oct. 1989, 2

A Musical Savant Shows Talent

I saw this on one of my friend's wall off Facebook. This is an amazing teenager, who has conquered so much. If you haven't seen this, I highly recommend it. It is absolutely inspirational. It just goes to show you that even when the odds are perhaps against us, God has a hand in every person's life. Every one of us, no matter what our challenges are, we have talents to share with those around us. Talents that change people's lives in so many ways. Very touching.

Harold B. Lee's Quote on America

"Men may fail in this country, earthquakes may come, seas may heave beyond their bounds, there may be great drought, disaster, and hardship, but this nation, founded on principles laid down by men whom God raised up, will never fail. This is the cradle of humanity, where life on this earth began in the Garden of Eden. This is the place of the new Jerusalem. This is the place that the Lord said is favored above all other nations in all the world. This is the place where the Savior will come to His temple. This is the favored land in all the world. Yes, I repeat, men may fail, but this nation won't fail. I have faith in America; you and I must have faith in America, if we understand the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are living in a day when we must pay heed to these challenges. I plead with you not to preach pessimism. Preach that this is the greatest country in all the world. This is the favored land. This is the land of our forefathers. It is the nation that will stand despite whatever trials or crises it may yet have to pass through. (Ye Are the Light of the World, p. 350-351)

September 09' Visiting Teaching Message

I am going to visit two of my sisters today, and in reading the visiting teaching message this month, one of the quotes for this month is something that I have emphasized in my own life and sharing with others in general and on my On Wings of Faith group. Let me share this with you and we'll dive more into the importance of it in general & in my own life as well.

"The reason we pray, study the scriptures, have good friends, and live the gospel through obedience to the commandments is so that when - not if, but when --the trials come, we are ready." --Elder Robert D. Hales

We have been given some simple measures from the example of Jesus, and commandments from God that if we do these simple measures in our lives on a regular basis it will go a long way in our trialing times - and in turn our joyous times are even more joyous.. If we have not done these simple things on a regular basis, then our trialing times simply are harder to get through. The weight of our trials seem too hard to bare.

I know in my own life that when I have not been consistent with my personal prayer, scripture study, and other aspects that make life run more smoothly that life tends to be more bumpy.

If you know me, you will know that I have been through a lot of trials in my life, some that were through mistakes I have made or trials that simply were placed in my life - any way the trials came into your life gives the opportunity for growth. I know that when we choose to lean on God, doing our part, we will get through even a little bit easier, have more sense of peace, comfort, and in the end more joy.

Recently, I friend shared this with me during some difficult times in my life:

Remember that the fiery darts that Satan throws at us puts holes in our buckets, which makes us have to work to keep them filled. It is almost impossible for us to keep our buckets full all by ourselves, that is why Heavenly Father provides friends and loved ones to help in that bucket filling chore. As one fills another bucket, your bucket is filled in return.

Also remember, that the most important is no matter how hard life seems at times, remember that God will never give us anything that we can't handle. Never, never give up and don't let Satan win the battle he is waging against you. Know that endurance is the key to salvation. And that which does not kill us, only makes us stronger. Like the story of the man that was commanded by the Lord to push against a rock, and the man obeyed and pushed, and pushed, but he never moved the rock one inch. He became discouraged, and when the Lord came bac, he told the Lord, I pushed against the rock, but I failed because I was not able to move it. Then the Lord said, I only asked you to push against the rock, not to move it, and by pushing against the rock it has made you strong. So, God is there to comfort us when we think we have failed, but in reality we have succeeded! So, remember, keep pushing against every rock and you will become stronger by every passing day!

I have found in my own life that if the load of my trials are feeling so heavy that I am feeling unable to bare them, I ask myself "Am I doing my part?" If I am not, which we all have our moments that we fall back, then the good news is, is that we can move forward again. He is waiting for each and every one of us. He knows each of us. He loves each of us. And He knows what is best for us. It truly is in God's infinite wisdom that he places us with trials - it is out of love that he does this, to again, give us the opportunity to grow. We can choose that - that is our free agency to choose the better road. I do have a strong testimony of this, and while I am not perfect, and I continue to fall over and over again as others do - I learn, I grow spiritually, mentally, and physically. I am so grateful for these opportunities.

Random Thoughts by Me.

Something that came to my mind today was an inner thought (I do this all the time, as it helps me to conquer my weaknesses, or at least better myself). My thought was if I were to take my moments of talking to my children or to my spouse and "listened" to them coming from my mother - how would it make me feel? Is there anything that I am uncomfortable with, if so, I would imagine my children would be, as well as spouse. And what can I do to take the steps to better myself in these instances. What can I do to make those moments more positive?

I know that for me, over the many years of being more aware of myself and my surroundings, has in turn helped me to be strengthened spiritually, mentally, and physically. I know that being aware strengthens the relationships I have with those around me.

That My Family Should Partake - TOTW

"In a world filled with much laboring and striving in parliaments, congresses, agencies, and corporate offices, God's extraordinary work is most often done by ordinary people in the seeming obscurity of a home and family."

--Neal A. Maxwell (That My Family Should Partake [1974], 122)

TOTW

"Ideals are stars to steer by; they are not sticks to beat ourselves with."
--Barbara B. Smith (Ensign, March 1976)

A Mighty Change of Heart - TOTW

"We must not lose hope. Hope is an anchor to the souls of men. Satan would have us cast away that anchor. In this way he can bring discouragement and surrender. But we must not lose hope. The Lord is pleased with every effort, even the tiny, daily ones in which we strive to be more like Him. Though we may see that we have far to go on the road to perfection, we must not give up hope."

-Ezra Taft Benson, “A Mighty Change of Heart,” Ensign, Oct. 1989, 2

I so needed this thought today - which came into my Inbox for our own TOTW from On Wings of Faith. Different trials come to us in all shapes and sizes, sometimes easier than others, some really hard to even drag your feet through the mud of it all. I have been through several trials, and in the midst of a few myself right now that have been very trying. But it is so true that we must not lose hope. There are many blessings for each of us as we strive to improve ourselves for the better - spiritually, mentally, and physically. The strength the comes through our trials is an amazing blessing in itself.

The Power of Speech - TOTW

"Like all gifts 'which cometh from above,' words are 'sacred, and must be spoken with care, and by constraint of the Spirit' (D&C 63:64). "It is with this realization of the power and sanctity of words that I wish to caution us, if caution is needed, regarding how we speak to each other and how we speak of ourselves. "There is a line from the Apocrypha which puts the seriousness of this issue better than I can. It reads, 'The stroke of the whip maketh marks in the flesh: but the stroke of the tongue breaketh the bones' (Ecclesiasticus 28:17)." (Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Tongue of Angels," Ensign, May 2007, 16)

TOTW - Hear the Voice of the Savior through the Scriptures

"I find that if I pray not only to have a witness of the truthfulness of the scriptures but also to have the Spirit with me as I read, my sensitivity is heightened, and I see ever so much more clearly. I can see where I am in my life and where my Heavenly Father wants me to be. I can understand principles of truth, and I can see how to make the needed changes in my life. I can feel assured that the Lord will help and strengthen me to accomplish the task. Thus the scriptures become written in my life. "When we read the scriptures we are hearing the voice of the Savior. He is not absent from our lives. He is actively positioned in the verses of these holy books." (Cheryl C. Lant, "My Soul Delighteth in the Scriptures," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 77)

Lost Five Days in a Mine

I received this in my email today from a friend. It is very inspiring and a good reminder that when we have faith in God in our difficult circumstances, He will come through for us. And sometimes within our own difficult times, comes strength for not only you, but others around you.

Meridian Magazine

Lost Five Days in a Mine

By Maurine Proctor

Everyone had given up on ten-year-old Josh Dennis, missing for five days, except one man.

It was already dark when Josh Dennis's scout troop had finished setting up camp and were squeezing their way in small laughing groups into the Hidden Treasure Mine in Utah's Oquirrh Mountains in that September, 1989. The mine was a chaotic labyrinth of shafts, chutes, pockets and tunnels on six different levels that wound some eight miles into the mountain. Since the scouts had been armed with safety rules and flashlights, the adventure loomed not as dangerous, but enticing, a scout's dream come true.

An engaging and tow-headed ten-year-old, Josh was still a Blazer and technically too young for the camping trip, but with his scoutmaster Dad,Terry and three other boys, he trekked down the long, black mine shaft where the flashlight beams played off the rough walls and the chatter and hooting of other scouts echoed. Then, Danny, a visually-impaired scout, who was disoriented by the long shadows and dark corners could go no farther. "I'll take you out," Terry volunteered. "Do you want to come with us, Josh?" Josh hesitated only a moment before he shook his head, saying he'd go ahead with Cary and Tyler.

Josh turned to tag along behind the other scouts, who, not realizing he was planning to follow, had moved fast. They were already a long way ahead, threading their way deeper into the mine without him, their voices growing dimmer. Turning back, Josh saw that his father, who had taken the flashlight, was already out of sight with Danny. Josh focused his eyes on the scouts' flashlights ahead, and hurried to catch up. He thought if he moved quickly enough, he'd be with them soon. However, in an instant they turned a corner, and their light disappeared, leaving him utterly alone in the blackness.

He started back toward the entrance again, blindly groping his way down what he was sure was the tunnel. Without any light he was immediately disoriented. The farther he went, the more confused he became, and he stopped for a few minutes until it fully hit him. He was lost and he was worried, though not panicked. At that instant, he knew by instinct what to do. "Dear Heavenly Father," he prayed. "Please help me to be all right."

Josh continued feeling along the wall, yet he didn't seem to be coming any closer to the mine entrance. No distant light offered any hope. Several times he stumbled against broken planks, and he sloshed through unseen puddles that froze his feet in the chilly air. He covered a distance and still no hint of the mine entrance. Finally, he took a turn that lead him up a slope. How steep it was he couldn't tell, but at last he settled on a ledge to wait for help, certain now that he couldn't find his way out alone. Josh hunched down against the cold wall and prayed again, a little boy's whispered words in a silent cave, "Help me."

Lost

Nobody seemed to know where Josh Dennis was. When Cary and Tyler emerged from the mine, he wasn't with them, and Terry, growing more anxious with every passing moment, started asking every cluster of scouts that emerged from the cave, "Have you seen Josh?"

=0 D

They said he wasn't in the mine; they said he wasn't in camp. Everyone was questioned and faces were blank. Terry was sure Josh was still in the mine somewhere, and so the scout leaders, some of them expert rappelers, went back into the mine searching pockets and crannies, dropping ropes down chutes and climbing down to check every forgotten hole. Josh, who apparently hadn't gone that far into the mine, now seemed somehow to have vanished.

By two thirty a.m., the Tooele County sheriff had been notified and some search and rescue were on site. By morning, 40 people were searching for Josh, questioning and questioning again everyone there. "Who last saw Josh?" It was all to no avail. Terry hoped Josh would be found before he had to notify his wife, Janeen, but as the desperate hours passed with no sign of Josh, it was clear she had to be told.

Telling Mom

It was late Saturday afternoon and Janeen Dennis, having run some errands, was just pulling into her driveway when a neighbor came up to her and asked, "Have the police gotten in contact with you yet? Have you heard? Josh is lost." The police and neighbors had been looking for her all over West Valley City, paging her at superstores, calling the malls. Now she was here, but nobody had details. As two of her friends drove with her west to Tooele County, the phrase kept drumming in her head, "Josh is lost. Josh is lost." As they got closer to the mine, a helicopter flew overhead and Janeen thought, Maybe they've found him already and he was being taken to the hospital.

As Janeen arrived at camp, however, the enormous gravity of the situation became clear. She saw her husband, Terry, who normally never cried. He was sobbing.

John Skinner

Long-time Tooele County resident and history buff, John Skinner, heard about the little boy that was lost in the Hidden Treasure Mine Saturday evening when he arrived back in town from Montana. Since John's grandfather had been the superintendent of the mine, and he had grown up exploring its hidden recesses, somebody at the sheriff's office thought he might have a map. He reported to the sheriff's office immediately volunteering his help, but a deputy said a map had been found, and everything was under control.

"Have you found him?" John asked. They hadn't, and he wondered how things could be possibly under control. How is it that they couldn't need his help? He decided to go up to the mine and see for himself, but only made it up to Stockton where the road was blocked. No, they didn't care how well he knew the mine, he wasn't needed there.

By Sunday, the entire nation knew about the ten-year-old lost in a mine in Tooele, Utah, and the news reports were grim. Not a trace of the boy could be found. Many were becoming sure he wasn't in the mine, but had wandered off somewhere into the gulches and draws of the surrounding mountains. Gas stations and convenience stores sprouted signs, "We love you, Josh." The Dennis home and yard was covered with yellow ribbons. Dogs had been brought to the mine to sniff out the youngster, and people everywhere wished their imaginations didn't travel so vividly to a black hole where a terrified little boy lay thirsty, freezing, and starving.

In priesthood that Sunday morning, John Skinner was praying for Josh, and something kept telling him that he had to get up there, that he had a key to finding the boy. He took a drive one more time to Stockton and one more time was stopped. If nobody needed John Skinner up by the mine, why did he feel so urgently that they did?

The Search Falters

Each hour that passed lessened Josh's chances of being found alive, and Janeen and Terry knew agony. During the day Janeen could keep her composure, but she lay awake crying all night. Terry, unable to eat, was growing weak. An idea kept impressing itself upon Janeen, so much so she started asking members of the rescue team about it. "Josh has gone up. He's up somewhere. Could he have crawled up something? Could he have hiked up a hill?"

Another thought returned again and again. On the way up to the mine, her neighbor, whose own daughter had been in a devastating car accident, had said, "Remember when you can't carry this burden anymore, ask the Lord to carry it for you." Staggering under the load of grief, Janeen was having to learn what that meant.

Turned Away

As Sunday turned into Monday, whenever John Skinner had a moment, he prayed for Josh, and the news media reported that few people still assumed that Josh could be in the mine. Searchers had combed every inch of it, their ribbons strung back and forth in multiple colors marking the places probed. Nothing. Today the search was opened for volunteers from the community to comb the surrounding hillsides. The numbers swelled, and Janeen Dennis' eyes anxiously scanned the hillsides looking for a flash of blue that could have been Josh's coat. But John Skinner, still pushed with the sense that he could find the boy, was not allowed near the mine. Having been turned away twice on the Stockton side of the mountain, he hatched an idea. He decided to go up the mountain on the Ophir side on a different unguarded road, and then go into the old Buckhorn mine which he knew connected with the Hidden Treasure.

Once in the Buckhorn, it took him hours to wind his way through the nooks and crannies of the abandoned mine. When he got to the place where the two holes joined, fallen timbers and rocks made it too dangerous to cross. He was foiled again.

As John came down the mountain on Monday night, he stopped for a soda. On a napkin, he drew a picture of the mine for a waitress and pointed out the place the thought Joshua Dennis was lost. She asked what scores of his friends had asked, "You've got so much knowledge; why don't they let you help them?"

John couldn't rest. He prayed, and he felt all but compelled to try again. On Tuesday, he finally made it up to the camp, and it was his worst encounter yet. "I know this area. I know the mine," he pled with authorities. "If you don't leave now, we'll escort you out," a deputy told him.

That night the newspaper read "Hope Fading Fast for Local Boy Lost Four Days," and Janeen and Terry, with hearts sinking, began to plan Josh's funeral. Some were saying that shortly the entrance to the mine should be blasted shut so that nobody could ever be lost in there again, It was a bad night for John Skinner, as a discouraging cloud sunk over his spirit. He kept praying about it, and three areas of the mine kept coming to his mind. When the television reporters said that authorities were becoming certain that Josh Dennis must have left the mine and gotten lost or met with foul play, John shook his head. He can't have gotten out of that mine with no lights. He's got to be in there. Maybe if he'd been less aggressive about it, they would have let him help. But now his involvement seemed hopeless.

Don't Give Up

John hardly slept that Tuesday night, tossing and turning and praying. When he awoke on Wednesday morning, he had an entirely new feeling. He was going to go up there, no matter what, and find Josh. As his wife later said, "Wild horses wouldn't have stopped him."

Wednesday was the last day of the search. A Utah Power and Light team from Carbon County, with high-powered, sophisticated experience in mine rescue, had been called onto the scene on Tuesday, and still the ten-year old had not shown up. Team member Ray Guyman had vowed, "If that boy is in there, we'll find him." Now, even his determination was waning as their repeated searches turned up nothing.

The UP&L team was standing by a truck, scanning a map of the mine. when John Skinner approached them, "Have you looked in the resolute stope?"

"You sound like you know this mine," one said.

"I do. My grandfather used to be the superintendent here."

"We've needed you. Where have you been? Would you mind coming in with us for one last sweep p before the rescue efforts wind down?"

The Search

It was 2:00 in the afternoon when Janeen, Terry, and their bishop and his wife knelt around the bed in the hotel room pleading through tears with God for Josh's life. Janeen said, "It was a prayer with real intent. and you could feel that it connected." At that same hour, John Skinner finally got into the mine, and while some who followed scoffed and went off different directions, Ray Guyman and Gary Christensen followed John.

They went to the first of the three places that John had been impressed to look. Nothing. They went to the second place. Nothing again. As they went to the third spot in the mine, they were talking and calling, "Josh, Josh," and suddenly Ray Guyman, who was deaf in one ear said, "Shh. Did you hear that?" They became still and listened. A faint cry came, "Help."

Different colored ribbons hung everywhere, showing that the area had been checked and rechecked by scores of people. How could the little boy have been missed? But the cry came again: "Help."

Cold chills went down John's back. He'd always known it. The boy was alive. For five days and nights he had held on. Neither terror, nor dehydration, nor hunger had taken him. Josh had seen their light and was able to answer. They climbed up a thirty degree angle, and Gary Christensen was the first to get him, a little boy sitting on a ledge with ruffled hair and a dirty face.

He had sunken eyes from dehydration and rocks in his hands because in his dreams he was eating a hamburger and drinking Sprite, but no sight could have looked better to three rescuers than Josh Dennis. "We'll take you out to your Mom and Dad,"

“Only my Dad's here, not my Mom. She's back home," he said, in a sentence whose meaning they would only later come to understand.

Found

Josh emerged from the mine to television cameras rolling, cheers, and weeping. By this time, the lost scout. who had seemingly vanished without a trace, had become a focus of the nation, and his rescue was a felt miracle by millions.

Janeen and Terry were resting in their motel room, when a knock came at the door. "Josh is alive. He's been found." She just looked toward the heavens and wept, "Thank you." They arrived at the hospital before their son, and one of Janeen's first views was of the blue coat she had strained to see on the mountain while searching for Josh. It was Josh, pale and tired, his toes frostbitten, and in that moment of exhilaration, Janeen thought, "He's so dirty."

Terry, who in his grief and stress had hardly eaten in five days, collapsed, and they put him on a gurney, too. Josh looked toward him and with the earnestness of a ten-year-old asked, "Oh, were you lost, too?"

Answered Prayers

Amidst the hubbub of greetings that surrounded Josh, he beckoned to Janeen and whispered, "Mom." She leaned over, and he whispered something that he never again would remember or repeat, "There were angels with me."

Headlines everywhere announced that Josh had been found and that he had prayed for help. Readers imagined the trauma of a helpless child at last coming to a happy end, but only his closest family and friends would ever know the rest of the story. He later described how he felt after his first prayer, "I knew that my Heavenly Father would protect me, no matter what. I didn't panic. I didn't feel like my life was in danger. I was calm and I never doubted."

For Josh it had been like floating in a bubble of protection. He had gone to sleep shortly after he had been lost, and awakened only once in awhile, when he heard a distant sound or felt uncomfortable. He hardly felt hungry or thirsty, and even though at the hospital they thought they might have to amputate his frostbitten toes, he hadn't felt cold. Nothing about the experience was traumatic for him. "It seemed to me like I had been lost only a few hours, when suddenly I saw a light in the distance and heard someone calling my name," he said.

The reason he was surprised to hear that both of his parents were outside, worried about him, was because he assumed it was still Friday, or maybe Saturday at mos t. "It's not Saturday, Josh. It's Wednesday," a rescue worker told him.

Josh Dennis had more than overcome the odds against death by exposure or dehydration, he had seen a miracle. And in God's masterful economy, his remarkable experience answered the needs of many others. Ben Lemon, an off-duty policeman, who had scoured the mountain searching, prayed his heart out for Josh, and vowed, "If this boy is found, I will change my life and go back to church." He did and years later told Josh, "It's because of you I have my two beautiful daughters." The new bishopric in Josh's ward had been seeking in prayer the solution to how to unify the ward. Josh's experience bonded his ward like few other things could have.

Janeen Dennis had been praying for challenges to help her grow, and she came to understand dependence on the Lord like she had never before experienced. John Skinner had wondered if he knew and understood when the Spirit spoke to him.

After his days of quiet urging to go find Josh, when nobody thought they needed him, he would not need to wonder that again.

Mission Farewell

Exactly nine years to the day since he emerged alive from the mine, Joshua Dennis sat on the stand at church at his mission farewell prior to his departure to Honduras. When Elder John Madsen of the First Quorum of Seventy arose to speak, the same faithful Josh who had so courageously endured five days in a mine, understood his experience in a new way.

"What does it mean to search?" Elder Madsen asked. "There's someone in this is audience who knows, and his name is John Skinner, because over and over again he was moved to try and get into that mine, and he was thwarted at every turn, but he could not be restrained.

"I believe it is our responsibility to search, to do whatever it takes and never give up. If we search the holy scriptures, we find out they are true. If we search the commandments, we find their promises will be fulfilled. As Joshua goes on his mission to Honduras, he will search, and he will not quit searching for those who sit in darkness and are waiting to be found and brought into the light.

"Josh will do whatever it takes to be a rescuer and bring souls to the one who truly rescues. Jesus Christ. The greatest rescue of all time was performed by the son of God who gave His body and His blood that all mankind might be redeemed."

At Thanksgiving, while Josh was still in the MTV, he wrote John Skinner a letter. "I've been pondering in my mind all day," said Josh, "the things that I'm thankful for, and the list never ends. I thought of you when I read this scripture in Mosiah 7:12, 'I am very thankful before God this day that I am yet alive, and am permitted to speak and I will endeavor to speak with boldness.' P.S.," Josh ended the letter, "I'm glad you know what it means to search."

Is Your Hut Burning?

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger.”God, how could you do this to me!” he cried.

Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. “How did you know I was here?” asked the weary man of his rescuers. “We saw your smoke signal, “ they replied.

It is easy to get discouraged when things are going bad. But we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering. Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground --- it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God.

For all the negative things we have to say to ourselves.
God has a positive answer for it:

You say: “It's impossible” God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)
You say: “I'm too tired” God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: “Nobody really loves me” God says: I love you (John 3:16 & John 13:34)
You say: “I can't go on” God says: My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalms 91:15)
You say: “I can't figure things out” God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6)
You say: “I can't do it” God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)
You say: “I'm not able” God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: “It's not worth it” God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28)
You say: “I can't forgive myself” God says: I FORGIVE YOU
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: “I can't manage” God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)
You say: “I'm afraid” God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)
You say: “I'm always worried & frustrated” God says: Cast all your cares on ME
(1 Peter 5:7)
You say: “I don't have enough faith” God says: I've given everyone a measure of faith (Romans 12:3)
You say: “I'm not smart enough” God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: “I feel all alone” God says: I will never leave you or forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5)