Dedication

Natty and I attended the Brigham City Utah Temple dedication today.  Though Jack is old enough he wasn't really interested in going and I really felt with the amount of time he would have to be in the meeting it was just going to be too much for him.  He and Andy went over to the Jenkins so Natty and I could go.  The Jenkins went to the first session, we went to the second.  It was a great meeting and I appreciated the talks that were given.  It was a neat thing to listen to President Packer as he shared his thoughts.  This was a special day for him as Brigham City is his home town.  There were stories of dedicated service, there were invitations to dedicate ourselves to regular Temple attendance and service.  As I ponder my own life those times when I have dedicated myself to regular Temple attendance have been times of great strength and blessings from the Lord.  I am grateful for those times and recognize that my dedication needs to be constant and true. 

It was wonderful to share the experience with Natty.  She said she really enjoyed it.  I think the hosanna shout surprised her a bit though I tried to explain it to her beforehand.  She did quite well.  I am grateful for her desires to do what is right.  I am grateful we were able to participate together.

I went to a Singles Fireside tonight where Elder Leavitt from the 70 spoke.  He was great and I quite enjoyed his message and that of his wife.  I think about some of what he said, we all have our own challenges, our own struggles.  We all have trials for a reason and as we look back on those we can recognize the growth that we have experienced because of them.  That is true.  I know that having gone through the last three years of my life I have faced challenges that I would have never chosen for myself.  I am grateful that in the midst of those challenges I was dedicated to living gospel basics.  I believe that doing my very best to live those basics carried us through some extremely difficult time.  I also believe that the Lord is aware of each of us individually.  He knows our needs and provides us with that which we stand in need.