I am humbly honored to be able to say that Sunday I was set apart as a Ward Missionary. I will serve until released by the bishopric. The time I devote depends on the needs in the ward; there is no specified number of hours per week. I do not have assigned companions but will not go alone when visiting people in their homes.  I will be working with the full-time missionaries, as needed, in teaching the discussions. Tuesday night is the first as needed.  We will be meeting at the Bishop's house and then heading out to teach.  I did not serve a mission when I was 19 and this is very special to me

I'm proud of my children...

Their Mother passed away April 13. 2008 after a two year fight with cancer just shortly after her 45th birthday. She was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after her mother lost her fight with cancer. Kristi was only 17, a Senior in High School with a job afterwards and Saturdays and HOMEWORK, sings in the church choir, takes part in compassionate service projects as needed, faithfully giving 10% tithing each time she gets paid, Parker had just turned 19, helped carry his Mother's body to the gravesite, graduated high school with honors, earned his Eagle Scout Award, completed his first year at Arizona State University while working two jobs, has accepted the calling as a missionary, accepted the calling to leave his home for two years, accepted the calling to learn the Russian language , accepted the calling to carry the same book that brought his ancestors to America... ...to the Ukraine... ...a place not so far from the homes his ancestors left behind... ...but an eternity away from his... ...and why? Because of the message this book has for all the inhabitants of the Earth... ...Another Testament that Jesus IS The Christ, The Messiah, The Savior of the world, that He IS The Way, The Truth and The Life... that He suffered and died for us... ...me and you... ...the sinners that we are... ...because of the love He has for us... ...and that He rose from the dead a resurrected being with a body of flesh and bone, that He came to this the American Continent to visit and teach the inhabitants thereof... ...inhabitants that He spoke of in the Bible wherein The New Testament: 

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO
ST JOHN
CHAPTER 10

16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 

These children of mine have set the example for me. I am moving forward again on a path of heart as opposed to a path of convenience. And I see my life changing to where the path of heart and the path of convenience are joining together to be traveling the same direction. I did not serve a mission... ...but I'm doing the best I can now. I've met with my Bishop and look forward to being ordained an Elder for the first time in three or four months and going to the Temple. The LDS temple in Kiev, Ukraine is under construction and is scheduled to be complete in Spring of 2010. The plan is for me to be ordained an Elder and temple worthy so that when I fly to Ukraine in November 2010 to pick up Parker, for us to go through the temple there before returning home. What Parker doesn't know is that I plan on bringing his younger sister, Kristina, with me to surprise him. I have a lot of saving to do as I live on a fixed income of Social Security Disability. Kristina will be close to 20 years old then so I'm hoping and praying that she too will have a temple recommend so all three of us can go through the Kiev, Ukraine Temple as a family. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. 

I'm sharing the gospel. I've handed out one Book of Mormon physically to Omar from Sudan... ...he is a driver that came to pick me up and take me to an appointment... ...the time before I had ridden with Yusuf and had started to discuss God and Jesus with him but I froze up... ...this time I was ready so I put my testimony and contact information and links to Parker's farewell in the Book of Mormon... ...I wasn't sure if Yusuf was going to pick me up so I didn't write his name in it... ...I'm glad I didn't because I was still able to hand one out to Omar after we discussed family, prayer, God, Jesus and the beauty of the day, I had one sent to Gail over the internet and she also has agreed to attend a Sacrament meeting for the first time... ...tonight she said she is going to become a Mormon... ...She is sweet and kind and loves her family very much... ...I told her that I would travel from Arizona to Texas to baptize her when she's ready... ...Again I live on a fixed Social Security Disability income so I'm gonna have to figure something out. Another lady, Tamna, requested me as a friend on MySpace. I went and looked at Tamna's  profile where I read that she had just moved to St. Augustine, Florida and that the church she attended was too far away and did anyone know of a church nearby... ...I went to http://mormon.org  and clicked on worship with us and located the address to the St. Augustine Ward and sent her the information as well as the link to Parker's farewell and promised her that if she would listen and pray about what she heard that the Holy Ghost would testify to her that it is the truth. I've sent Joseph Smith: The Restoration to my Catholic friend Laura and I plan on talking more about the gospel when her schedule permits... Wendell from Kentucky stated that his brother is LDS so I promised him that if he would read the Book of Mormon and pray that he too would come to know that it is true. Last Friday at the Doctor I had two more opportunities placed in front of me to share the gospel again. I had taken a book with me titled "Sharing The Gospel With Others" by President George Albert Smith. It once belonged to my maternal Grandmother - Jennie Mortensen - In it she had written: 

Property Of 
Jennie Mortensen 

Who desires to share 
the wonderful blessings 
& testimonies 
within the pages 
of this book. 

It must have been Smith day at the clinic. The first couple I sat next to was an this elderly black couple. I had the book on my lap and the lady may or may not have seen it but shortly after I sat down she pulled a small New Testament out of her handbag and started reading silently. I grabbed a piece of paper and put my name, address, phone # and email as well as the links to Parker's Farewell and James Conlee's music. I tore the picture of Jesus out of a church program I had and got a paper clip from the office assistant and clipped it to the information I had written down. As she read it she said her last name was also Smith and she shared with me the story of how she had always wanted to be a missionary - like Mother Theresa - I talked with her about Parker and Kristi and then I was called up to the desk to be checked out of the office. The lady at the desk saw the book in my hand and said that it looked like an interesting book... ...I talked with her about Parker and Kristi and the church and she gave me a yellow sticky-note to write down the web links and my contact information. I then went to walk away and a man in Army fatigues had heard me talking so I turned to him and his name tag read "Smith" . he saw the book in my hand and said that he was familiar with who George Albert Smith was - it was his way of saying that he was LDS.

 And I left feeling great... 

With all these I tell them that this could very well be the most important decision they will make in their life. 

Update as of March 9th, 2009:

Pray for missionary experiences and they will come:

I had just received two Books of Mormon from the Free Media link at http://mormon.org and had prayed for opportunities to hand these out.  It was early in the morning and my door was open letting the beautiful Arizona sunlight join with the Light of Christ to start my day off right.

I noticed my neighbors, Jesus and Marta, from across the street back their truck into the driveway and lower the tailgate down and lift the hatch on the camper shell.  I grabbed a Book of Mormon and quickly as I could added a three page testimony.  I then said a prayer and headed across the street.  I shared my testimony with them and they said the would read the Book of Mormon. 

Then I found out they were moving out instead of moving something in.  Luckily they are only moving just down the street - as a matter of fact I can see the house they are moving to from the house they are moving from - they are making the move because the rent is $1,500 where they were at and only $800 where they have moved to.  Now they have six children ranging from age 2 to 15 so they have a lot of stuff to move.  I helped move a couple of large loads and had to take a break.  They said we could start again in the morning.

The morning came and I called the area mission and requested two Spanish speaking Elders to come lend a hand in moving not only the family into the new home but also the Gospel of Jesus Christ into their lives.  Although the Elders for this area were not available they were able to send Elder Maxwell and Elder Oakey to help for an hour.  In that hour we were able to get Jesus' flatbed trailer hooked up and loaded with a lot of heavy furniture.  

The Elders had to leave soon but in the time there I had them give El Libro de Mormon (The Book Of Mormon - Spanish Translation) to Jesus and Marta as well as talk to them about Eternal Families.  Jesus and Marta  agreed to start meeting with the missionaries to learn more about the gospel.  

Later that day the Elder's from this area stopped by - Elder Lehman and Elder Cole - We went over to help move some more but Jesus and Marta were done for the day.  I asked for a Spanish Book Of Mormon from Elder's Lehman and Cole in case I had another opportunity to hand one out.

I walked with the Elder's a while as they headed towards an appointment.  I told them I would need to repent when I got home for coveting their position as missionaries.  They headed off into the sunset and I walked on up to Fry's Marketplace to pick up my prescription.

Leaving Fry's I stopped to speak with the elderly gentleman that meets and greets people as they come through the door.  I started talking about the beautiful day God had given us and he agreed.  I asked if he believed in God and Jesus Christ and he said yes.  I started talking about Kristi and Parker and the gospel but try as I might I could not convert him.  After a bit of me sharing my testimony he smiled and then told me that he is already a member of the LDS faith.  We talked a bit more and then I headed towards home.

THEN I REMEMBERED...

My dear friend Gail in Texas had ordered pizza from my favorite pizza shop - Dominos at University and Country Club in Mesa...  ...one for me and two for Jesus and Marta's family... ...so I started running... ...I ran off and on for that two mile stretch... ...whew.  I arrived... ...and the pizza arrived... ...a second time... ...I apologized and thanked the delivery gal.  I then took two piping hot pepperoni pizzas across the street to a surprised Jesus and Marta.  Thanks Gail... ...such a sweet gesture.  The Lord will bless you for your kind and thoughtful ways.  Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

---

I went to visit my friends Scot and Ruth who have been clean for 8 months now.  I am so proud of them and so very happy for them. They have been given custody of their two year old daughter, my goddaughter, Reese, after two long years.  While I was there I shared my testimony with them orally as well as writing it in a Book of Mormon. Their case manager stopped by for a home visit while I was writing my testimony.  It turns out that he, also, is LDS.  

Later in the evening they ordered pizza and I shared the video Joseph Smith: The Restoration as well as another church video Family Answers. I left these two videos for them as well as the Book of Mormon and asked them to pray about what they had seen and heard so far, and about what they would read. I promised them that they would come to know that these things are true.

I asked them if they would attend a Sacrament Meeting with Kristi and I and they agreed they would.  Before I left I asked if it was okay to kneel in prayer to which they agreed.  As we knelt I prayed giving thanks to God for all He has given us and asked that he would bless this family that they would know the truthfulness of my words.

Here is a link to a song page of How Great Thou Art with a precious picture of baby Reese.  

---

Mi amigo Jose stopped by mi casa. Jose habla un poqueto Ingles. Mi habla un poqueto Espanol. I gave Jose El Libro de Mormon. He read it all night long and told me that he had peace in his heart once again. He said he cried. He said he knew that Father in Heaven and Jesus loves him. I saw a side of Jose that I had never seen. We'll see what happens.

---

Another friend that I trade computer help with stopped by the other night and while here he shared with me that he is agnostic. Mike said he does believe in a supreme being and he does believe that Jesus was a man that walked the Earth but he doesn't believe that Jesus is the Son of God. I left it alone at that point and figured I would come back to it another time. Last night that other time arrived. Mike stopped by again and I shared with him the analogy I learned from Parker of the Bible and the Book of Mormon being an arrow that points to Jesus being The Christ - The Son of God. He liked it. (So do I. Thanks Parker!!! It's a blessing and a joy to have Elder Smith as my missionary companion.) I grabbed a Book of Mormon and put a promise in it that if he read it and prayed to his Creator to know the truth that he would come to know, by the Power of the Holy Ghost, that it is true and that Jesus is The Christ . I shared with him my testimony of the power of faith and prayer and how it helped me get over that mountain on the way to Flagstaff when the alternator in the Camaro was no longer working as it was designed - more a paperweight than an alternator. I tried to share Joseph Smith: The Restoration video but something was wrong with my computer sound. so I emailed him my testimony and pointed him to the video. 

Update April 3, 2009

Mike stopped by again and asked if he could go to church with me this Sunday.  I explained to him about this being the weekend of General Conference and that it was on TV.  I invited him to watch it with me.  He wanted to know which of the sessions of conference would be the best for him to watch. I told him all of them are the best to watch and then went on to explain that no specific session is set aside to be labeled as "best".  While we talked, a successful remedy was administered to the computer's sound system and I shared Joseph Smith: The Restoration video. 

I also gave him a list given to me by my mother as follows:

17 Points Of The True Church

1. Christ organized the Church 
(Ephesians 4:11-15)

2. The true church must bear the name of Jesus Christ
(Ephesians 5:23)

3. The true church must have a foundation of Apostles and Prophets 
(Ephesians 2:19-20)

4. The true church must have the same organization as Christ's Church 
(Ephesians 4:11-15)

5. The true church must claim divine authority
(Hebrews 4:4-10)

6. The true church must have no paid ministry
(Acts 20:33-34; John 10 11-13)

7. The true church must baptize by immersion 
(Mathew 3:13-16)

8. The true church must bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands
(Acts 8:14-17)

9. The true church must practice divine healing 
(Mark 3:14-15)

10. The true church must teach that God and Jesus are separate and distinct individuals
(John 17:11; 20:17)

11. The true church must teach that God and Jesus have bodies of flesh and bone
(Luke 23:36-39; Acts 1:9-11; Hebrews1:1-3)

12. The officers must be called by God
(Hebrews 4:4; Exodus 28:1; 40:13-16)

13. The true church must claim revelation from God 
(Amos 3:7)

14. The true church must be a missionary church 
(Mathew 28:19-20)

15. The true church must be a restored church 
(Acts 3:19-20)

16. The true church must practice baptism for the dead
(1 Corinthians 15:16&29)

17. "By their fruits ye shall know them." 
Matthew 7:20)

 I plan on Mike stopping by to see the conference session that is best for him to watch.

Update April 5, 2009

Mike came over and watched Sunday Morning Session of Conference - Favorite Speaker was Elder Jeffrey R. Holland.

Tamna had to work both days of conference but asked if she would be able watch it sometime later. I gave her instructions on viewing it at a later date on http://byu.tv  

Gail watched what she could while babysitting her grandchildren.

Update April 28, 2009

Monday, May 25, 2009 - Memorial Day

My neighbor, Joe Gomez, stopped by today. His wife, Peggy, is a member of the church, but he has never joined. He has been baptized in the Catholic faith. He has read the Book of Mormon... ...in English. He is fluent in English and Spanish. I talked with him about you, Kristi, the church... ...and then I gave him El Libra De Mormon as he has not read it in Spanish and asked him to read it. I invited him and his family over for pizza on Wednesday as I am having the elders over for dinner.

Another friend who I had not seen in a while stopped by. I asked Doug if he believed in God and Jesus and if he ever attended church. He said he attended Southern Baptist as a child. He said he had read the Book of Mormon in jail. I gave him a Book of Mormon to take with him and invited him over for pizza on Wednesday as well.

Wednesday, May 27, 2008

Elder's Lehman, Moore and Harrison came for dinner about 5:00. My friend Dave took me to Little Caesars beforehand and I picked up six pepperoni pizzas and some soda. Three of Jesus and Marta's boys came over - I had stopped over to there new house a couple days ago and invited the family for pizza. Adrian will be a senior at Westwood and plays Soccer - position - Striker. The next younger boy, will be a sophomore at Westwood and plays football - I forgot his name. Daniel will be in 5th grade at Whitman Elementary and plays soccer. Kristi came over with a new guy she dated - Drake - He's pretty cool - LDS but he's let his hair grow long - Kristi is trying to get him to cut it. 

---

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

I took a Book of Mormon with me today when I went to the doctor, in hopes that I would have an opportunity to give it to someone.  Barb, the driver, picked me up and on the way I asked if she believed in God and Jesus to which she said yes.  I commented on how beautiful the day was that God had created for us.  I also shared this experience.  In 1997 when I was traveling with my wife to Flagstaff, Arizona, we stopped about half way between Phoenix and Flagstaff at a MacDonald's.  When we got back in the Camaro it would not start... wouldn't even turn over.  We were parked on a hill and the Camaro had a standard transmission so I let it roll and popped the clutch and it started up.  I looked at the gauges and saw that the alternator was not charging.  We went to every service station in that area but none took the credit cards that we had with us.  I decided to head towards Flagstaff.  As we drove, the battery continued losing power as the alternator acted more like a paperweight than an alternator.  It got to where I could not use the emergency flashers and had to drive on the edge of the roadway at only 10 miles per hour.  If I tried to go faster it would flood the engine with gasoline as there was not enough spark. We rounded a bend in the road and saw a large mountain in front of us.  I knew the Camaro could not make it over that mountain under its own power.  I offered a prayer that we would be able to make it over the mountain and to a service station that would accept our credit card.  Upon finishing the prayer, the Camaro ran fine, 55-65 miles per hour to the top of the mountain.  When we crested the mountain and started to come down the other side, the engine shut off completely.  We rolled to the bottom of the mountain where there was an exit... ,,,and a service station that accepted our credit card.  When I finished the story Barb said it was a miracle.  I went into the doctor's office, checked in and had a seat where I started writing my testimony in the Book of Mormon.  The nurse, Katie, called me in to draw blood for lab work.  She saw the Book of Mormon and Preach My Gospel in my lap and asked what inspirational message I had for the day.  I shared my testimony and she accepted the Book of Mormon.  On the way home I tried to give Barb the web site addresses for my testimony and Parker's mission pages.  She took the slip of paper from me but then told me she would not visit it as she doesn't do any web surfing.  She then went on to tell me that her mission in life was to convert all the Mormons to Christianity.  I tried to explain that we are Christian but she would not believe me no matter what I said.  She Parker was lying to the people in the Ukraine.  I defended Parker and the church and I read to her the following which was printed on the back of Kristi's Seminary Graduation program.

"Knowledge is not merely the equations of algebra, the theorems of geometry, or the miracles of space. It is hidden treasures of knowledge as recorded in Hebrews, by which 'the worlds were framed by the word of God' (Heb. 11:3); by which Enoch was translated that he should not see death; by which Noah, with a knowledge no other human had, built an ark on dry land and saved a race by taking seed through the flood.... The treasures of both secular and spiritual knowledge are hidden ones—but hidden from those who do not properly search and strive to find them.... "Spiritual knowledge is not available merely for the asking; even prayers are not enough. It takes persistence and dedication of one's life. The knowledge of things in secular life are of time and are limited; the knowledge of the infinite truths are of time and eternity. Of all treasures of knowledge, the most vital is the knowledge of God: his existence, powers, love, and promises" (Spencer W. Kimball, in Conference Report, Oct. 1968,129).

She gave me a birthday card with anti-Mormon literature.  I went in the house and prayed for her and Katie.

---

I got a phone call from a Miss Thomas of Portfolio Recovery and we discussed my portfolio.  I then shared my testimony with her and talked with her about Parker and Kristi.  As I was trying to give her the web site addresses for my testimony and Parker's mission she kept repeating it back to me incorrectly. She said she had no pen.  She asked me if I could hold on while she got a pen.  After a couple minutes she returned and asked me to repeat the web site addresses. She said she really wanted to check them out.  I gave her my email address and asked her to email me... ...she said she will.  As we ended our phone conversation she said "Have a blessed day."

---

Sunday, August 9, 2009

I am humbly honored to be able to say that today I was set apart as a Ward Missionary. I will serve until released by the bishopric. The time I devote depends on the needs in the ward; there is no specified number of hours per week. I do not have assigned companions but will not go alone when visiting people in their homes.  I will be working with the full-time missionaries, as needed, in teaching the discussions. Tuesday night is the first as needed.  We will be meeting at the Bishop's house and then heading out to teach.  I did not serve a mission when I was 19 and this is very special to me.

---

When my son, Elder Parker Smith was in the Missionary Training Center he started off by saying: 

Also he writes: 

"I got to bear my testimony in Russian to the branch and that was awesome. The three hours following was a mental workout as I tried to understand as much I could. The fact that I didn't understand everything isn't the point though. I will be able to do that in due time. What is of utmost importance is that I felt the Spirit there, and I now have come to see for myself that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the same wherever you attend, and that this is worldwide, and that it will be true forever and eternity. Oh, how I love it!"

And he said: 

""Us four Elders just started a youth night for our branch. It'll be good to strengthen their testimonies, to spend time with each other, plus it'll give them a great opportunity to do missionary work also. So we'll see how that goes."

He states that: 

"They [Ukraines] have some very strange remedies that are supposed to work for everything. Like they think if you put an onion to the part of your body that hurts, then you'll get better. Or if you eat meat, you're supposed to get over a cold. Well you know what, people of Ukraine? I have a remedy for you... It's called Priesthood power!"

That reminds me of a conversation I had just this past week when I was asked by Gail if I could have one superpower what would it be and I said that was easy... ...the power of the Priesthood which is the same power that Parley Parker Pratt called upon to heal the blind lady, the same power that Moses called upon to part the Red Sea, the same power that Jesus called upon to raise Lazarus from the dead, the same power that God called upon to create the Heavens and the Earth... ...the same power my son Parker called upon to give me a blessing, his first, after he was ordained an Elder. 

He also wrote on difficulties of tracting:

We were tracting one last flight of stairs before we had to get home, and in order to get back to home before curfew, we decided to each take a door on the last floor. Fortunately/Unfortunately, someone came to each of our doors (which is rare). They talk through the door, so we're each trying to introduce ourselves, and so the entire time we are trying not to laugh at the same time because we're all saying about the same thing (good evening, we are representatives of the Church of Jesus Christ, we want to share a brief message with them about whatever...). But yeah, it turned out terrible. Duffy ran away from his door because the old lady on the other side was getting upset and he couldn't say anything without laughing, and Lamarr and I continued to try to talk to our doors, but it was so hard to hear.

I asked Parker to pray, giving thanks throughout the day - to carry a prayer in his heart like a song - to ask God to help him to know where to go, what to say, to get those doors to open - I told him if he will do this with a humble heart, knowing that God is the answer... ...and listening for Him to speak... ...he WILL hear His guidance and be able to act accordingly... ...and those apartment doors will become faces... ...the faces will have names... ...and in hearing the truth Parker gives them from his heart, those names, in time, will begin with Brother and Sister.

Elder Smith then went on to say:

And now he writes:

Went to Zone Conference this week. Enjoyed seeing all the other faithful missionaries here in Donetsk. Talked a lot about the Spirit and utilizing it. And also found out some great news...coming soon in a little area known as Alekseyvka (maybe you've heard of it) will be the baptism of a young woman by the name of Eera (maybe you've heard of her). Oh I'm so stoked!

And:

DENNIS IS GETTING BAPTIZED! That's right. He prayed specifically about baptism, got his answer, passed the interview, and is now ready to even further the follow the example of his Brother and Savior, Jesus Christ. Oh what joy that we feel, and I'm sure that he feels (and will feel). He is going to be such a boost to the branch here in Mariupol and he is going to be such a solid member. Yay for success! Woot for the help of the Spirit! Huzzah for the Restoration of the fullness of the Gospel! I wish you could all be here to see such a glorious time and such a magnificent, saving ordinance such as baptism. I am so grateful that the authority to perform baptism as well as other ordinances have been restored after being lost from the earth for hundreds of years. "What authority?" you may ask. Well, it is the Priesthood. The power that was used by Christ to heal, to bless, and to minister. The authority that is necessary to do such things as baptize an individual as well as to give to that same individual the gift of the Holy Ghost. Wouldn't you agree that it is so comforting to know that that authority is on the earth today so we are able to apply those saving ordinances in our lives? But yeah, that's Dennis. He's getting baptized, in case you didn't hear/read.

Pray for missionary experiences and they will come!!!

---

I posted the following out at the Ever On Dan Fogelberg Fan Site  / Fan Forum that I created and has been online since July 2, 2000.  It started out as a one page web site and now it contains over 400 pages.

More important than anything I could ever share with you about Dan Fogelberg is that Jesus is the Christ,

the Book of Mormon being another testimony that joins with the Bible in declaring this to be true,

and that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God instrumental in the hands of God to restore the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Earth after the apostacy left the world in darkness for so long.  I don't care if you hate me for all of this that I'm sharing with you, all I care is that I serve the Lord and do as He would have me do... ...and so I try and share these things with you... ...if you love me for it.... ...I love you... ...if you hate me for it... ...I love you still... ...I pray for you all... ...you are my brothers and sisters and I cry sometimes because I, no matter what I say or do, cannot give you a testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon... only you can do that by reading it and asking God... ...and you keep putting it off... ...what happens, Heaven forbid, if you die tomorrow, having not. 

If someone were to tell me that they would join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints if I would delete the Ever On web site and fan forum... ...I would do it... ...but I have no worry of this... ...because anyone that would join would not make such a request.  Still, if they said they would join if I deleted it and never listen to Dan Fogelberg again... ...including the album Love In Time scheduled for release on August 13, 2009 with songs of his I have nver heard... ...I would agree to do it.  That's how important what I am trying to share with you is.

I'm talking about your salvation here... ...whether you believe that it is true or not will not change the fact that it is true... ...and if you die tomorrow and stand before God and He asks if you were given the opportunity to read the Book of Mormon, what will you say?"

My son Parker talked of an arrow with the Bible being a nail holding it up... ...the arrow can be spun in any direction... ...just like the translation of the Bible... ...but if correctly it points to Jesus being the Christ.  Now if we add a second nail, the Book of Mormon to that arrow, the two of them together, the Bible and the Book of Mormon, it becomes immovable... ...it points in one direction... ...to Jesus.

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

---

All things happen according to the Lords time frame and we just keep the faith that these investigators will become ally-gators because what we are giving them is not a crock. (I'm so funny!!!) (Ally definition from dictionary.com: a person, group, or nation that is associated with another or others for some common cause or purpose.)  When I'm talking to some of my future ally-gators, I say:

See this beautiful galaxy we live in... how beautiful the full moon is... the stars... ...the sunrises and sunsets... ...how beautiful Saturn is with the rings around it. Now, being as we are made in the image of God, Male and Female, and as Man is, God once was... As God is Man[kind - male and female] may become. We will have the same opportunity to create worlds without number... and the universe is our canvas. Imagine waking up one morning, after we have become as God, and looking at the canvas and, together with the one you love, painting a galaxy... ...with the only limitation being your imagination. There is no limit to the variations that the imagination can conceive. Waking your husband or wife up to show them another idea for a new flower, animal, or planet. The universe is endless and there is enough real estate in it to create worlds, even galaxies, without number... more than the sand of the seas, and still not interfere with galaxies being created by your friends. 

Isn't it beautiful... ...what we have in store for us... ...ALL that the Father has is ours... ...if we follow just a few simple rules while on earth.

Well... I could go on... ...but I'll leave you with my testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel and a hymn text I wrote with a friend that I will be submitting to the Church for acceptance as hymn text this year... ...oh what a joy and blessing it is to have been born and raised in a Latter Day Saint family. What a joy it is to know that life is eternal. What a joy it is to know that Jesus is the Christ. What a joy it is to know the plan of salvation. What a joy it is to know God the Father and to feel of His love. What a joy it is to know that we also have a Mother in Heaven, a Goddess, that reigns as an equal with our Father in Heaven and to feel the unconditional love that she, too, has for each and every one of us. What a joy it is to know that Joseph Smith stood face to face with God, with Jesus, with Moroni, with John the Baptist, With Peter, James and John. What a joy it is to remember as a young boy singing "We Thank Thee Oh God For A Prophet" and knowing that David O. McKay was that prophet. What a joy it is to see the gospel roll forth, to see Gordon B. Hinckley receive guidance to build so many beautiful temples so the work of God can be done by more people. And what a joy it is to say that I know that Thomas S. Monson is a man called of God, by prophecy to stand at the head of Jesus Christ's church here on the Earth and that he in fact does receive revelation from beyond the veil as to how to guide the people of the Earth. Oh what a joy it is indeed. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Brother Brett Martin Smith 
1916 North Macdonald 
Mesa, Arizona 85201 
brettsmith@everon.info  
480-306-4360 

Member of : 
Hillside Ward 
Lehi Stake 
Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona 
Bishop John Little 

Parker and Kristi's Home Ward: 
Harris 2nd Ward 
Mesa Central Stake 
Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona 
Bishop Paul Rowley 

It was time for the 2002 Arizona Spring Singles Conference for The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints and the theme was Lift Up Your Heart. Entries were being accepted for Conference Hymn and Conference Poem. 

I had never written a hymn before and wanted to give it a try. Sandi Penrod Adair joined with me in this endeavor. We wrote the first draft and took it to Brent Jorgensen to ask if he would write the music. He looked it over and said he 'might' do it but he wanted us to go re-write it... ...yuck... ...I thought it was fine but went prayerfully to the task of the re-write. 

Feeling confident that it was hymn-worthy we once again took it to Brent and once again he looked it over and said he 'might' do it but he wanted us to go re-write it... ...yuck... okay back to the poets world although I didn't want to re-write it... ...Sandi coaxed me on and patiently looked up scriptures to help us know what to write. 

I'm now glad that Brent sent us back to the drawing board because I do believe this third and final version of Lift Up Your Heart turned out as a work that would be pleasing to the Lord. We took it back to Brent  but he said he was going to be working on a different piece for entry of the Conference Hymn. 

Well, someone suggested we try Linda Leavitt and so we gave her a call and she agreed to write the music. She got it done the day before the entry deadline arrived and called a gentleman she uses for transcribing the music. This is done on a piano that records the music as it is played and prints out the sheet music. One problem, the man was on vacation. So, we could not enter it into the Conference Hymn category but we did enter it into the Conference Poem category. 

Brent entered his work into the Conference Hymn category and it was selected as the Conference Hymn and we (the choir) learned it and sang it at the conference. Ours was selected as the Conference Poem and we read it before hundreds of members of the congregation at the closing conference fireside. 

We never did get it put to music but I hope to someday. I plan on sending it in for possible acceptance as Hymn text which is a selection process each year by the church. Deadline is March 31 for this. The picture is a drawing I did of Jesus using a painting by Greg Olsen entitled "The Savior" as the subject.

Lift Up Your Heart Lift up your heart, lift up your voice Sing praises to Him who dwells on high Lift up your heart, be glad and rejoice Honor to Him who for us did die Lift up your heart; glorious psalm His love is our calm at the eye Lift up your heart, He steadies the storm He is love, He is peace, He is Life Though my soul it may roar and be troubled Though my spirit at times it does quake I will not lose my faith through the battle God is my refuge and strength Though the suf'ring seem long and I weary I'll endure to the end of each day I will not lose my sight in the darkness God is the light and the way Lift up your heart, lift up your voice Sing praises to Him who dwells on high Lift up your heart, be glad and rejoice Honor to Him who for us did die Lift up your heart; glorious psalm His love is our calm at the eye Lift up your heart, He steadies the storm He is love, He is peace, He is life I'll let not my heart fill with torment I'll let not my soul be afraid I'll strengthen with might by his Spirit I'll lengthen the peace in my day I'll open my heart to the Master I'll baptize my days with His love I'll then know and feel of His comfort Soft as the song of a dove Lift up your heart, lift up your voice Sing praises to Him who dwells on high Lift up your heart, be glad and rejoice Honor to Him who for us did die Lift up your heart; glorious psalm His love is our calm at the eye Lift up your heart, He steadies the storm He is love, He is peace, He is life Text: Sandi Adair and Brett Martin Smith © 2002 Artwork: "The Savior" Brett Martin Smith © 2002 Moses 7: 44             Joel 2             Psalms 46 Selected As The Conference Poem For The Arizona 2002 Spring Singles Conference  For The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints