Elizabeth's Important Choice

When Terri, and her mother Elizabeth  moved to Pryor, Montana they had no idea of some of the wonderful things they would get to experience.  They quickly met Mary and Pete   They met the Johnsons, and the Jorden family, and many others who quickly became friends. 

Not long after their friendships began the native Pryor residents shared their strong beliefs in Jesus Christ. 

Terri was especially impressed and decided to accept an invitation to go to  church.  They are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

After about 3 months Terri chose to be baptized and confirmed into the church.  Terri's life began to change as she experienced new feelings.  Despite being different than she had felt before, her feelings were comforting, pleasent, and peaceful. 

She began to see herself changing in many positive ways.  Her feelings had influenced her so much that Elizabeth began to notice a happiness that she had not seen in her daughter before.  When she questioned Terri about it, Terri responded she felt that way since she joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 

Despite being not very religious, Elizabeth began to go to church with Terri.  After church one Sunday Elizabeth was waiting in the hall while Terri participated in choir practice.

Missionaries teach messages about Christ 

Soon two young "boys" by name of "Elder Dearborn" and "Elder Lewis" came and spoke with Elizabeth.  She knew who these "boys" were.  Of course, they were the missionaries.

Later, Elizabeth shared her experience meeting the missionaries.  She felt like they were kind and respectful.  She then asked if they could share some messages of Christ with her. 
To her expectation the messages of the missionaries made sense to her and gave a feeling of peace. 

                                                                          Elizabeth agreed to baptism.  On Saturday, March 12, 2011 Elizabeth was baptized by Brother Jorden.

She now enjoyes the same peace that her daughter Terri enjoys, being a little more unified.

 If you were to ask Elizabeth about her baptism, she would say, "It was the best choice I ever made." 

Questions? Visit me on facebook or  mark.lewis@myldsmail.net

The Ripples

Every one has seen ripples.  These rings start small and grow forever, until something stops them.

What ripples will you start?

Father's Day

A Dad is a pretty special person. Dads spend time with their children, work hard to help support a family, teach,  instruct, protect, and many more things. 

I have got to say, My Dad is the greatest Dad in the world!!

My Dad has been patient with me.

My Dad took me camping in the woods to help me receive the Eagle Scout Award.

My Dad taught me how to manage money.

My Dad taught me to love my Mom.

My Dad taught me to work hard.

My Dad taught me to not procrastinate.

My Dad found time to spend with me.

My Dad helped me with my home while in school.

There are many things I admire about you Dad, So Have a happy Father's Day!!

Navigating a steady course.

As you might be able to tell I am an airplane fanatic!!  I love everything about them.  I have found that there are many life lessons that can be found by observing these incredible machines!!

Many times our lives are rather frantic.  There simply isn't always time, or the resources to get everything in all at once.  Check out this talk which, I feel is a good analogy about airplanes, and our lives.

Nails in a Fence

I don't know who wrote this, but I like it because of its message.


There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there.

I feel that if control ourselves we will find more happiness in our lives.  God has given us the ability to choose for ourselves.  President Monson of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints said that there are three "R"s of Choice.

1st.  The Right of Choice
2nd The Responsibility of Choice                                                               
3rd   The Results of Choice
See President Monson's talk on the "Three Rs of Choice."
http://lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/the-three-rs-of-choice?lang=eng
We all have the right to choose, as Heavenly Father's children.  With this right we must be willing to accept the consequences, whether they be for good, or for bad.  The results will come, and much like this youngster we may not be able to fully change the results of our choices.

What is taking so long?

I love the feeling of a job well done after a hard days work.  I recently felt this when I helped dig out a tree stump about a week ago.

The stump must have been two and a half feet in diameter.  The roots were deep, and the more we dug, the more could see more root.  I seemed like that stump was never going to come out.

After a while we noticed that one reason the once strong foundation was so immovable was because the ground was frozen.  I thought that after ten or fifteen hits with a 8 pound hammer, the frozen earth might break loose.  This gave us some relief, but the job was still incomplete.

Soon talk of leaving the project came into play while one of us took turns whacking away any soil that we could.  Every attempt yielded only little dirt removal.  After all, we had worked on the task for more than 3 hours, and we were loosing daylight.  What could been done?

In the last minutes available the stump broke away from the ground's grip and our goal was fulfilled!!

I remember the sense of accomplishment as we drove home that night, knowing we had done all we could to get that stubborn stump out of the ground.

From that lesson, I learned to never give up on your goals.  It took patience, hard work, and diligence.  The blessing of having the stump out of the ground didn't come immediately.  It took effort.  It took time we didn't want to give. 

When I think of that experience, I see how the Gospel of Jesus Christ is much like this stump removal.  Many times in my life, I wanted to give in, feeling somewhat embarressed for my unseen accomplishment.   In the agony, there were moments that it seemed my situation would never get better.  After a while I discovered something; that is our Heavenly Father ALWAYS reaches out to us when we reach out to Him.  Our desired blessings don't come immediately or not at all when it isn't His will.  He will however, help us in a time when we will learn the most from our experience, and at a time it will bless us the most.  I have waited for years for some things, and seconds for others.  Reguardless of time, Heavenly Father's help always comes. 

This movie is similar to my own experience  I feel it is appropriate.

Can you see God's hand in your life?

A Mother Indeed

Mothers are incredible.  They carry us for 9 months, bring us into the world, and nurture us throughout our early development.  The more I watch my Mom, the more I appreciate her.  The older I get the wiser she is. 

I have always known my Mom was special.  Every day she would be there when I got home, and prepare my brother and I our after school snack of choice, a bowl of  Albertson's Peanut Butter Cup ice-cream. 

Shortly there after, she made sure I got started on my homework early.  I may not have fully recognized it then, but her persistence was helped me develop a habit of work that I have carried throughout my life. 

Her work didn't stop there.  She was always there.  Always.  I can't quite explain it.  She always knew when I needed help and was there to help me with what I needed, even if she was doing something for herself.  I'm sure she would have loved to give her feet a rest, but my Mom took the higher route. 

She gave, and continues to give her life to me, my Dad, and my four brothers and one sister.  When we leave the house, that doesn't stop my Mother's reach.  She is always telling me how the rest of the family is doing, while I am here in Montana serving a Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I know she is giving her time, and attention to my family in Nevada.  Many times even before I left she would baby sit for my married siblings, so they and their spouse could enjoy a date night together. 

If there is a job to be done, my Mom doesn't hesitate.  She is involved in all the lives of those around her. 
She volunteers to help with anyone's needs.  I can remember her preparing meals for families in our area who were going through a hard time.  I remember her volunteering time in my elementary school classes.  I remember, countless ways to bless not my life, but everyone she sees.

I suppose what I am trying to say is, I love you Mom.  You are so special.  Nothing with ever replace you in my heart.  I know you will always be my Mom.  Enjoy Mother's Day, and remember you have a son in Montana who things the world of you!!! 

mark.lewis@myldsmail.net