Recently, in the office, someone was disturbed about a documentary they had seen the night before about unexplained “ghost sightings”. We all talked about it. I thought personally that there are so many mysteries we’re not meant to understand – we probably need to worry more about how to balance our lives WITHOUT the daily intrusive influence of confusing worldly practices such as ghost hunting.

On many occasions I have talked about Mormon Doctrine or explained Church programs to curious co-workers, but I had never been motivated to speak with such clarity about the Plan of Salvation to them before. I smiled and spoke to the little group who looked at me encouragingly,

“I AM pretty serious about being a Mormon and this is what I believe about spirits… “ I paused, nobody objected so I continued.

“I believe that before every person came to be born on the Earth – we had a meeting in the Spirit World with someone who pretty much spelled out in detail the trouble we were going to have with our mission to Earth and asked us if we were strong enough and willing to do everything we could to get back to our Father in Heaven.”

As I said those words – I got choked up in that way that surprises you when you talk about the Spirit.

The room felt electric and my one co-worker spoke out almost clarifying what she had heard and said,

“You mean you pick your parents!”

It was like I was someone else’s lightning hitting the target! Even though that idea she expressed wasn’t even exactly what I, personally, meant – I knew that she had a moment of understanding of the Spirit. The moment hung there just a second and then someone brought up the TV show again and everything went back to normal.

I testify that the Holy Spirit was in that room – it was like for a moment the probability of the Restored Gospel was revealed to the people there who never may have considered that idea. They just haven’t labeled it yet. As always, line upon line.

As taught in Chapter 33 of the Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, “Faith comes by hearing the word of God, through the testimony of the servants of God; that testimony is always attended by the Spirit of prophecy and revelation.” Just as we struggle every day to avoid sin, we need to seek out every possible daily opportunity to hear and bear testimony – including on the Sabbath during our meetings and worship services, during times with friends who love us no matter what we believe and while interacting with people who we feel are righteous examples for us and our children.

We should also remember to have the courage to let people we meet know who we are right off the bat – especially out in “the world” – so that we can work toward getting ourselves in order, eventually becoming a righteous example for others. 3 Nephi 14:20 Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them.

We’re called to be missionaries – and it can be surprising when the opportunities you pray for come about when you least expect it – like at work.

D&C 88:81 Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor. And we can have the faith to expect that even when it seems like we’re never getting through to people – even though we have the fire and zeal to convert the whole room. We ourselves cannot convert anyone – it is only the Spirit who uses us as the lightning.

John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: Let’s have faith to fulfill that promise so long ago that we would all testify of Him and accept the work He wants us to do.

Mormon 3:17 Therefore I write unto you, Gentiles, and also unto you, house of Israel, when the work shall commence, that ye shall be about to prepare to return to the land of your inheritance;

Freddi H

Ezek. 37: 16-17 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.

From The Family and Eternity By Boyd K Packer, Ensign Feb 1971: “Today we have other organizations in the Church that are working on family ties. We have stakes and missions, wards, branches, and districts. Each is presided over by a priesthood officer. These organizations are temporarily essential; they are not eternal organizations. They can be organized or they can be dissolved. Stakes are often divided and boundaries changed in size and shape, and they may have an entirely different group of people than when they were organized.”

When it comes right down to it, changing wards is inconvenient. This has always been the burden for all who are led by the Lord’s teachings. We’re told we will have opposition when we try to stay righteous. So to avoid murmuring, we have to find a way to rejoice when things aren’t easy.

As difficult as the changes are, we can try to remember that moving ward boundaries is an inspired decision for a growing church and these brief moments of discomfort are regular manageable reminders for us that Jesus can work in our lives. In some ways, the difficulties give us the practice to be more like Jesus. Who said the gathering of Israel was going to be easy – or done for us?

But through the promise of the Atonement, we know our pain is temporary. We know there is a God who loves us and will only give us challenges that we can handle. Isa. 40: 31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

If we remain obedient, we will be blessed in ways we never considered. I’m reminding myself more and more now to “…think of somebody besides yourself.” My Relief Society President shared this thought recently about when she was in college facing the prospect of finding a suitable husband. During this turning point in her life she was profoundly prompted to get out and serve others – to think of others before herself. Miraculously after acting on that prompting, she knew going on her mission was the right path to where the Lord wanted her to be. Today, she has a wonderful family and four sweet children. How do we do the most good for ourselves? We start with helping others.

There’s no question it’s hard for some of us to knock on a stranger’s door and introduce yourself and then with charity offer to help and then actually be there if they really need you. But, isn’t strengthening that skill something Jesus would do? He did it as a perfect example. And as we approach these latter days, we can be sure He will help us all build that kind of network together. He will bring about a literal gathering of the tribes of Israel. Right now, as you read this He is gathering us together in a way that is not corruptible. I can see it easily on this local level, while I’m changing wards. It’s a way to progress spiritually while getting to know new friends and lifting others from their burdens. We just have to remember to lean on the Lord for renewed strength while we work together to strengthen His church one ward at a time.

Freddi H

Let’s talk Family History! The spirit of Elijah just touched my day. Here I am … taking seriously the suggestion to pray about it before I write and as the prayer crosses my mind the phone rings…… interrupting the prayer. Hmmm. Checking Caller ID – it’s a lady from church and I figure I’ll answer it. I’ve invited her to lunch and we need to decide on a time. While on the phone I comment on her interesting accent, ask her about her hometown and inquire as to what brought them to this area in the first place. She tells me that among other reasons, that they were led here to do family history work – she tells me of the amazing breakthroughs and the feelings of the Spirit that come along with family history. Well this is the moment I realize this is the answer to my prayer on what to write about today. I’m getting to know a new friend with a fire about genealogy! What a blessing!

The message about how our redemption will come about in these latter days is in Doctrine and Covenants 138: 46-47 And Malachi, the prophet who testified of the coming of Elijah—of whom also Moroni spake to the Prophet Joseph Smith, declaring that he should come before the ushering in of the great and dreadful day of the Lord—were also there. The Prophet Elijah was to plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to their fathers…

The whole world is turning to genealogy! With the internet at our fingertips, it’s a mouse click away to ask someone in Cork County Ireland about their grandmother’s sister’s husband. As Mormons we’re asked to do work in Temples to seal families together for all time and eternity. What an important duty! This again is the plan of salvation. We can return home with our Heavenly Father. Everyone, every person who has ever lived. If it’s bound on earth then it’s bound in heaven (Matthew 18:18) It’s no surprise that with the upgrades in technology over the years, the electronic genealogy movement has taken off.

I have a testimony of genealogy. When I hit a brick wall with finding people in my family who traveled to America, I was prompted to look in their country of origin. I Googled the last name I was looking for, found three personal emails of people who had information about the name and I wrote to all three of them. By the end of the week, one man had sent me the names for all my lost relatives who stayed behind in Germany. Their work is now done. I feel as if I was led to find those names. Everyone will be led back to the promises of our fathers. The tremendous joy I feel when a family has the opportunity to be connected again is a wonderful earthly experience. Imagine what it must be like in the Celestial Kingdom!

The Genealogy section of this website has tremendous information to guide in your family history or genealogical search.

Freddi H

So On the other end of the line was a guy who was driving through an area far north of where the radio station was. He said he was a member of the LDS church and heard me on the air. He asked me why I was making fun of the Mormons. I remember responding something like “Hey! My husband used to be a Mormon – why aren’t you guys riding your bikes up to my door?” The caller told me if I wanted someone at my door he would arrange it. We talked a few minutes and he was very nice so I gave him my cell phone number.

In hindsight, it’s weird that I would have felt comfortable enough with a stranger on the phone to hand out my personal number. I now believe it was the promptings of the Spirit that made me want to know more about what he was talking about.

After that, the radio show went on and I forgot about the call by the end of the night. A few days later the missionaries called and I surprised my husband by telling him I wanted to know more about the LDS church. The missionaries started teaching me about the Restored Gospel and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I had lots of questions like, “Where do we come from?“, “Where do we go when we die?“, “Why are there so many world religions?”, “Does God exist?“, “If he does, why would God provide prophets in the Old and New Testaments, but not for us today?“. The missionaries answered these questions (the plan of salvation gave the answer to all these) and more and it was like a puzzle coming together. The Book of Mormon made complete sense to me. Even though – admittedly – I had yet – at that early time in my conversion – to gain a strong testimony of Joseph Smith’s work, the Book of Mormon spoke to my heart.

“Believe in God; believe that He is, and that He created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that He has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.” (Mosiah 4:9)

The amazing message that Jesus Christ’s church had been restored was humbling – I thought I knew so much about church. Even so, I still felt like a significant daughter of God who received the message He had sent. I was baptized a few weeks later.

I’m grateful to say that since joining the Church, I have gained a testimony of Joseph Smith as well as a testimony of the Atonement and it seems to continue to grow and unfold as I go.

I recently was in a Fast & Testimony meeting and a young man stood up and went to the stand. He told us he was visiting from another ward. He testified how small inspired decisions can make big changes for good. He told us of a night when he was driving his car, listening to the radio and was prompted to call the DJ to ask why she was making fun of the Mormons. He said he had heard that she had been was baptized and became a member of the LDS church. My husband and I looked at each other in disbelief. After that meeting I went up to and introduced myself to the man who made that one little decision to call me which ultimately brought my family back into church.

I know God loves me because coincidences like this have occurred more than once in my life. He gives all of us the inherent ability to recognize sweet gifts of the Spirit and the LDS Church encourages us to strengthen it for ourselves.

“That in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth . . .” (Ephesians 1:10)

Freddi H