They Came 180 Years Ago Today ... The Beginning of the Blessing

The Lord Appears in the Kirtland Temple, Photo from LDS Media Library

Visions manifested to Joseph Smith the Prophet and Oliver Cowdery in the temple at Kirtland, Ohio, April 3, 1836. The occasion was that of a Sabbath day meeting. Joseph Smith’s history states: “In the afternoon, I assisted the other Presidents in distributing the Lord’s Supper to the Church, receiving it from the Twelve, whose privilege it was to officiate at the sacred desk this day. After having performed this service to my brethren, I retired to the pulpit, the veils being dropped, and bowed myself, with Oliver Cowdery, in solemn and silent prayer. After rising from prayer, the following vision was opened to both of us.”

The veil was taken from our minds, and the eyes of our understanding were opened.

We saw the Lord standing upon the breastwork of the pulpit, before us; and under his feet was a paved work of pure gold, in color like amber.

His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying:

I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father.

Behold, your sins are forgiven you; you are clean before me; therefore, lift up your heads and rejoice.

Let the hearts of your brethren rejoice, and let the hearts of all my people rejoice, who have, with their might, built this house to my name.

For behold, I have accepted this house, and my name shall be here; and I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house.

Yea, I will appear unto my servants, and speak unto them with mine own voice, if my people will keep my commandments, and do not pollute this holy house.

Yea the hearts of thousands and tens of thousands shall greatly rejoice in consequence of the blessings which shall be poured out, and the endowment with which my servants have been endowed in this house.

And the fame of this house shall spread to foreign lands; and this is the beginning of the blessing which shall be poured out upon the heads of my people. Even so. Amen.

After this vision closed, the heavens were again opened unto us; and Moses appeared before us, and committed unto us the keys of the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the earth, and the leading of the ten tribes from the land of the north.

After this, Elias appeared, and committed the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, saying that in us and our seed all generations after us should be blessed.

After this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision burst upon us; for Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said:

Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi—testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come—

To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse—

Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors.

- Doctrine and Covenants 110

#Hallelujah - Happy Easter

#Hallelujah

Memory Jogger Monday - March 21

Matthew and Emma 2011, Our family's first 5K race

List five significant events or experiences in your life, and explain what effects they have had on you.

Marriage

I was 29 years old and Scott was 30 years old when we got married. I worried a lot in my younger adult years as to if or when I would marry. I met Scott online in July 2000. We were engaged the next month and married in November 2000. Best decision of my life!

Miscarriage

We lost our first child in 2002 at 13 weeks. It was a tough blow as we had been struggling to get pregnant. We had waited to tell our family and friends and lost the baby within the week of telling everyone. Good news travels fast ... bad news doesn't travel. Months later someone mentioned how good I looked for being so pregnant. Yeah ... just fat. Wanting a baby and losing a baby was so hard.

Infertility

Five more years of wanting and waiting for a baby was excruciating. Lots of different fertility treatments and doctor visits. An emotional roller coaster. We looked at in vitro and adoption. Everyone in our ward and families were praying for us. And then without fertility treatments we conceived and told everyone immediately (6 weeks). A miracle! Even our doctor said that it was because of prayer.

Birth of Emma

4 pounds and 14 ounces and healthy! Emma was born in 2008 and was the answer to much prayer. Everyone was praying for us for the entire pregnancy and there were multiple times that we almost lost her. We know prayer saved her and protected her. She was so alert, that in the hospital she would lift her newborn head and watch the nurses as they walked around the room. She is still so attentive. We love her! 

Birth of Matthew

8 pounds of pure boy! We thought that the road to having a second child would be as long as the first. We were surprised in 2010 when Matthew joined our family. He was big (compared to his sister) and healthy. Then when he was a few months old he got RSV and we lived at the hospital for 9 days. We know that through the power of God's Priesthood that he was healed. He is a healthy rambunctious boy. We love him!

See this post for more information about "Memory Jogger Monday": 

Writing a Personal History or Keeping a Journal

Under Necessity of Trusting in Their Children

Oquirrh Mountain Temple - © Stuart Gardner

“We want to sacrifice enough to do the will of God in preparing to bring up those who have not had the privilege of hearing the Gospel while in the flesh, for the simple reason that, in the spirit world, they cannot officiate in the ordinances of the house of God. They have passed the ordeals, and are beyond the possibility of personally officiating for the remission of their sins and for their exaltation, consequently they are under the necessity of trusting in their friends, their children and their children’s children to officiate for them, that they may be brought up into the celestial kingdom of God.

– Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, 406