Today was a good day. We were in Idaho for Mom and Dad’s welcome home from their mission to the Nauvoo Temple. It was good to hear them speak and be there to support them.
Some of the things I remember about their talks:
Mom’s Talk: she talked about being assigned a new temple president after the first six months. The new president obviously had a few new ways of doing things. There were “murmurings.” One of the new things he had the temple missionaries do was work on their own family history. He also had them go to surrounding wards to be part of the work there. When Mom and Dad went with other temple missionaries, they weren’t well received at all, or at least weren’t welcomed like they thought they would be. This happened for a few weeks at least. Finally the missionaries decided to be a bit more open themselves and talk to the bishop or other proselyting missionaries to see what they could do. The missionaries told them that most of these people were “pioneers” in the Gospel and that they would have to reach out to them. By the time it was time for Mom and Dad to go home, they were really close with the ward family.
She also mentioned how Dad got to baptize me and I got to baptize him for our family members who they’d done work for.
She talked about how a Korean group had saved money for about 2 years to come to the Nauvoo temple.
Dad’s Talk: he talked about an 80 year old man and wife from Peoria who were getting sealed. He and Mom got to be guides for them and learned of their story. They had been active in another church and a few years before had decided to go out west after retirement to see what it was like. On their way they stopped in at Salt Lake City to see what it was. They went through the temple square exhibits and talked to the missionaries. When they got back home, they decided to look into the church more. They came to Nauvoo and went through the visitors center there. As they were talking to the sister missionaries in Nauvoo, one of them introduced the couple to a man named Dallin H. Oakes :). He happened to be there for something and talked to them briefly. He told them missionaries would come by their house and he invited them to listen to them. Later, missionaries visited them at their home in Peoria. The missionaries invited them to be baptized at some point and they were. It had been a year and they were now getting sealed in the temple. It was a great experience for Mom and Dad to meet them.
He also talked about how serving a temple mission was probably similar to the millenium when we’ll be doing work like that all the time.
He talked about how he was nervous when he got called to serve a temple mission if he would be able to support his family financially. It was his biggest concern. When he went to get set apart, one of the first things the Priesthood leader said in the blessing was that he didn’t need to worry about finances, that he’d be taken care of just fine. He realized that God really does know him and is there to bless and take care of us.
I enjoyed both talks and was glad Becky and the kids and I could be there for them.
Afterwards we had a great dinner at Mannings, got to see Doug, Holly and family, and a few others.
It was another hard day for Becky. I’m not sure 100% why, although she talked to me a bit about how it just reminded her of when they left – who knows where I was then…(she did just send me an email with some of her journal writing, which I haven’t seen for a while).
Her email helped clarify what she was feeling and why it was so hard. Although it was hard to read, I feel so grateful that she can be honest with me. I feel this is one of those tender mercies that God has blessed both of us with – the willingness to be 100% honest with one another through our trials, feelings, and recovery.
I love Beck so much and never want to hurt her again.
I know all I can do is submit my will to Him one day at a time, and I’m willing to do that today.
I am grateful for my parents.
I love my children.
I’m grateful for my friends.
I’m grateful I got to go over my Step 2 work tonight with Brandon. I’m grateful I recognized that at times, I’m maybe a bit too hard on myself. I need to do my best and then let things be in God’s hands. He knows the intent of my heart.
I look forward to starting Step 3 tomorrow.
Hasta manana!
Nate
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