Message 19 September 2011

Message—19 September 2011

Dear Family & Friends,

After the Zone Conference last Monday we were able to spend some time during the rest of the week trying to contact some of the inactive members of the Brockport Ward.  A number of the people we called had phone numbers which were no longer in service so we did not make contact with them.   We did arrange to meet with a few of the members this coming Wednesday.  We spent some time catching up on our records concerning the apartments.

On Wednesday evening I went with some of the ward members to the Palmyra Temple to do baptisms for the dead.  There were eight Melchizedek Priesthood brethren to do the baptisms and confirmations and also serve as recorders and witnesses.  There were two sisters to help with the process.  There were 4 young women and 5 young men.  I served as a witness for the baptisms.  One of the brethren who did some of the baptisms has some health problems and has to have an oxygen tank part of the time each day.  He is a very faithful good brother and serves as a temple worker two days a week.  In order to do the baptisms we had his oxygen tank just outside of the glass around the font and handed his oxygen tube over to him in the font and he very effectively performed the baptisms.  He was able to also remove the oxygen tube and he was able to serve as a proxy to be baptized in behalf of some deceased people.  We had a great experience together.  Before we started the baptisms and confirmations a member of the temple presidency shared a few thoughts with us.  He shared an experience with us where he received mercy from someone else.  He then related that as we serve as proxies in the temple for those who have died in the past we help them to reach a point in their lives in the spirit world where they can receive the blessings of the mercy of the Lord through his atonement.  Another thought shared was that in the temple we will be able to experience seeing how close the bridge is between the mortal world and the world of spirits.  The work of the temple really does bring us closer to those in the world of spirits than any other place.

Our son-in-law, Chris is in Texas fighting some of the fires they are having problems with in that state.  We also have another son-in-law who is fighting fires in Oregon.  We pray for their safety and safe return.  We hope those with sicknesses will recover soon and be able to continue in their busy lives.  We hope all of our families and friends receive the blessings they need in their lives to handle all the trials and challenges life brings to them.  We continue to pray for all of you and we trust in the Lord to answer your prayers and help you through the rough times.

We are nearing the end of reading the Book of Mormon together during the time between the last transfer which was the last of August and the next transfer which will be the first week of October.  We are just finishing reading the Book of Ether.  As we have read and prayed and discussed what we read, our testimonies of the truth of the Book of Mormon have been increased.  We have learned additional truths and doctrines which we have not previously learned in the times we have read the Book of Mormon.  This is always true, each time we read the Book of Mormon and pray for inspiration we will be blessed to learn more new truths and doctrines and learn more about the Savior and all he has done for us.

Love,

Mom & Dad, Grandma & Grandpa, Richard & Maxine