The Church's New Policies Honor Parental Rights

Facebook Post from Friday, November 13, 2015

This past week has seen a massive wave of news items and social media posts regarding changes in my church's policy regarding baptism for minors. Sorry if your newsfeed has been bogged down with it and your ties to the LDS Church have never gone beyond having Mormon friends! Whew. It's been overwhelming for everyone, I think. One good thing to take away is that it is clear that Mormons are not a bunch of blind sheep. We are thinking, feeling, passionate-about-our-faith people who represent a very wide range of perspectives and experiences. Hurray! I think that is something to be glad about. Minus the bickering.

Some time ago ... here comes a personal story ... one of my children was singled out by an adult of a different church and was told that our church was wrong and The Book of Mormon, another book of scripture that testifies of Jesus Christ, was false. Woah. I was not present. And when my child, 8 or 9 years old at the time, finally told me about it the following day, he was clearly disturbed and confused. At that tender age, pretty much every adult looks like an authority figure. He wondered if I'd been lying to him or if I was just plain wrong. Of course, I was TICKED. And would've tracked this person down and let him know he'd crossed a line. But I didn't because I love people in his congregation and didn't want to cause trouble in our friendships. Instead, I talked with my son and reiterated what our beliefs are and why. He was consoled and I was still TICKED. That man had interfered in my sacred right as a parent to teach my child according to my own conscience, heart, mind, experience, and beliefs!

So, this is why I support my church's position to postpone baptism (which includes an affirmation of and commitment to all of the doctrine of the Church) for children of same-sex couples until they are of legal age (18 years old, rather than the customary 8). I do believe my church leaders are honoring that right and privilege for parents to teach their children their own values and tenets, even if those teachings are contrary to core Church doctrine.

Yes, there is a great deal of hurt anyway, but I believe the motive is to support families and not tear them apart.

{Experiences with Miracles} The Things Which are Not Seen are Eternal

I have received so many miracles throughout my life, and this year in particular, that I know they are real.  I know God's power is in his temples and is available to bless our lives.  I felt it last month before I gave birth to my daughter, Norah Jane.  

My due date was still three weeks away, but for some reason, I was filled with worry and fear about my husband, Neal, leaving us for five days to attend his dad's funeral in Utah.  We live in East Texas, so it's a full day of travel to get across the country.  I couldn't possibly have Neal miss the funeral, so I was just very worried in my heart.  

One night I couldn't help it.  I cried and cried, praying for courage. Gradually, I felt a sense of strength come over me, reflecting on the courage of the early Latter-day Saint women who had given birth in wagons and under trees as they escaped religious persecution, or without their husbands who were serving years-long missions for the Church, and I thought that I could be brave like them.  I felt distinctly that this change in my heart was a result of my mom having put my name on the prayer roll in the Helsinki temple, where she and my dad are serving an 18-month mission. I've never experienced that before, but it was clear to me that this was where the feeling of divine power was coming from: the Helsinki temple.  

As it happened, a few days later Neal left for Utah and two days after that strong, regular contractions started.  I called a friend, whose husband took my four boys to their house and she took me to the hospital.  Before we left for the hospital, though, I asked my friend's husband for a priesthood blessing. He said in the blessing that everything was "as it should be," that my family members on the other side of the Veil were working on our family's behalf and they were excited for my future.  I now felt calm as we went on our way, wondering about the things he had said.  

In the hospital, labor was progressing rapidly and I called Neal, who was on his way to his dad's viewing, with the funeral the next day.  He was nearly in a panic and started to look at changing his plane ticket to come home immediately.  It wasn't possible that he would make it home in time since my labors were always very quick, so I urged him to stay and that I would just be brave and deliver without him.  As word spread through his family and to other ward members, many prayers began to be offered on my behalf.  An hour later, the contractions began to slow down.  By morning they had mostly stopped.  Everything was very unusual.  I've never started labor that early and it has never stopped once it has started.  I was discharged and on bedrest at our friends' home until Neal returned from Utah two days later.  I believe it was a result of everyone's earnest prayers that labor stopped.  It was a miracle!  

Neal had had a very meaningful time honoring his dad, reconnecting with siblings and relatives (many he hadn't seen in years), hearing new stories about his dad and having an opportunity to grieve while surrounded by loved ones.  I am so glad that he was there for all of the funeral events.  It was very important!

Norah was finally born a week and a half later.  My mom was with us, which was another miracle, and directly because of my early labor.  When I had called her to tell her what was happening during the first labor, she was very worried.  The temple had just closed for three weeks for cleaning so she started looking at plane tickets.  When we had tearfully said good-bye in the summer, we assumed that my mom would miss the birth because of her missionary service and the high cost of plane tickets.  However, my mom discovered that her flight to Helsinki to start her mission had added on exactly enough frequent flyer miles to give her a ticket to Texas.  And because the temple was closed, she was free to go.  A miracle!

In the end, my mom and my husband were both by my side during the final labor.  Just before Norah was born, contractions were getting stronger and I was keeping my eyes closed to stay mentally focused.  I realized that I could sense a change in the room.  A great peace filled it, so thick and tangible that I made the effort to talk and said quietly, "The room is so peaceful."  Neal, who was holding my hand, suddenly began to weep.  Just minutes later, I entered transition phase and was soon asking for the doctor to be called in, so I couldn't ask what he was experiencing, but later he told me that he had felt his dad's presence.  His dad was standing beside him with his arm around Neal's shoulders.  Neal felt as though his dad was saying, "Don't worry. I took care of everything."  Neal relaxed and felt completely at peace, not nervous and worried like usual during my labors.  I could hear his strong, steady voice coaching me through the pushing, which helped me tremendously.  Delivery was very hard work, though brief, but Norah and I were safe and healthy.  Neal's spiritual experience was a tender mercy and a precious miracle.  (I will add that three years earlier, during my labor with my fourth son, Sam, very soon before he was born, I felt a change in the room and Neal had the distinct impression that my Grandma Yolanda was there with us.  He mentioned it to my mom, who was also present, and she immediately confirmed that she felt her deceased mother's presence, too.  They were both in tears because of the sacred experience.)

We had several other miracles and tender mercies this year.  Neal had a career-related opportunity in the spring to visit Utah, and I accompanied him.  We were able to visit his dad in the Alzheimer's care facility where he'd been living for over a year.  We were shocked and saddened to see how much more frail and limited he had become.  Once a strong and robust man, my father-in-law was silent and staring, unable to leave his recliner, or even speak.  It felt very much like a final visit, and it proved to be so.

Much to our surprise, Neal was called to serve in our ward's bishopric just five days after his dad passed away.  It was sad to realize the finality of his father not being able to ordain him to the office of high priest in order to serve in this capacity, as would normally have been the practice.  But, thankfully, a temple sealer we both greatly respect and admire happened to be visiting our ward that very Sunday so Neal was able to ask him to step in, and the man happily accepted the request.  Both the ordination and the setting apart were beautiful blessings.

Also, this summer we needed to sell our house since we were now expecting our fifth child and our current house was very small.  We were very worried about how long it might take, how it would all work out, if it would sell for enough for a significant downpayment on a new house, etc.  Amazingly, especially for the slower market of East Texas, our house was under contract within 4 days!  When we finally found the right house for us and negotiated a contract, the bank was able to expedite the processing of the new house in half the time the old house was taking in order to have a double closing.  On the last day of July, with a host of beloved ward members, we loaded up a moving truck, and the next day had two closings, back-to-back, then unloaded the truck at the new house right after.  To us, it was a huge miracle and an act of great generosity from the Lord, especially since I was 7 months pregnant.  Additionally, our old house sold for enough that we could put 20% down on the new house, plus have a bit extra to put back into savings, and came out in a better financial situation than we had hoped.  Wow!

This year has been full of things like that.  It's been stressful, difficult, worrisome, wearying, but then resolved through miracles and comforted through tender mercies.  And then I've wondered why I was so worried!  I know God loves us and will comfort us in times of worry.  I know that hard times can take a lot out of us, but continuing to believe that good things will come in the end, strengthens our faith, determination and trust in God.  We become more resilient and more grateful, and more compassionate and willing to help others in need.

The last time I was in Sunday School before Norah was born we read from 2 Corinthians 4:17-18.  

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

In light of all the events of the weekend before this particular Sunday School class -- Neal's dad's funeral, my early labor, my mom being able to arrange for a ticket to come, etc. -- I read this and thought that what we don't see right off is often the most important part!  During a struggle when we can't see how it will resolve, it takes faith to keep going and keep trusting.  Eventually, when deliverance comes, then we can see the good that came of it: how we've changed, what we've learned, blessings that have resulted, our increased love for God and Jesus Christ, and it all becomes worth it.  

Pondering on that I thought to turn to John 14:18 which says simply, "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."  It struck me that Jesus didn't only say "I will send you a comforter," but he also said "I will come to you."  His ministry is personal.  He can come personally.  I don't know when he does, how often, or for whom, but he is not limited by anything.  He can come and personally comfort and strengthen us when we need it.  I don't know if the Savior came personally to my bedside, but he did send my husband, my mother, and even my father-in-law.  I am grateful beyond measure!

My Unplanned Pregnancy

I'm currently carrying a baby that I did not plan. In fact, my husband and I were taking precautions to prevent pregnancy because we both felt that adding another baby would be more difficult than not. I'm too old (age 36). I'm too tired. I'm too overwhelmed by 4 boys often enough to not feel up to it. Pregnancy is so long and tiring. Childbirth is so difficult. We don't have enough money. Our house is too small.  Etc... However, despite all the reasons not to get pregnant, it happened. Through our own choices and actions, of course -- though we didn't choose pregnancy itself. 

Initially it was shocking and worrisome, and has been sooo hard on my body, and yet, I look at my other children and feel reassured that I will love this child as much as I love them. That the same joy the others bring me, she will, too. That the same ways that I have been learning and changing as a result my motherhood, will continue. As we've gotten by and made it work until now, we will continue to get by and make things work. Even on our humble income, even with my weariness and sometimes selfish preferences, even with all the demands that come with parenthood.

In the end: a baby is not a crisis. He or she is family.

We rise up to challenges that are inherent in family life. We give and give and give. That's what we do. The more willing we are, the more satisfying it is. Our children grow up, they mature, they succeed and fail, they fall down and get back up. They depend on us less and less, and we feel so proud of who they are and what they are doing. It's a privilege and an honor to experience this, and to contribute to society in such a singular and important way. I'm grateful for my child. Not resentful. Not afraid. Humans are resilient, resourceful, and capable. I am capable. I can do it. Not very well all the time, but overall, yes, I can do it. In two months, she'll be in my arms and I'll wonder why I ever doubted and feared, and will just be completely grateful.

I choose family. I choose life and hope.

The Redemption of the Dead: Part of God's Perfect Plan

Doctrine and Covenants, Section 138, verses 57-60
Received by the prophet Joseph F. Smith, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, on October 3, 1918

57 I beheld that the faithful elders of this dispensation, when they depart from mortal life, continue their labors in the preaching of the gospel of repentance and redemption, through the sacrifice of the Only Begotten Son of God, among those who are in darkness and under the bondage of sin in the great world of the spirits of the dead.
 58 The dead who repent will be redeemed, through obedience to the ordinances of the house of God,
 59 And after they have paid the penalty of their transgressions, and are washed clean, shall receive a reward according to their works, for they are heirs of salvation.
 60 Thus was the vision of the redemption of the dead revealed to me, and I bear record, and I know that this record is true, through the blessing of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, even so. Amen.

Teachings from this vision and some things they imply:

1.  Prophets can see into the spirit world and tell us what goes on there; reveal things that are otherwise hidden to us.  How wonderful it is to have prophets in these latter days!

2.  The spirits of the dead have access to repentance.  The effects of sin are not permanent for those who choose to accept Christ and repent.

3.  Temple ordinances are a requirement for those who wish to repent.  Which is why we do temple work. If they have already performed those ordinances during their mortal life (and are not in a state of rebellion against God, I'm assuming), they have access to repentance.

4.  They have to pay a penalty of some kind; perhaps experience grief or sorrow for what they did, perhaps do some sort of service for others to right wrongs or to just act like Christ, be obedient to his commandments.

5.  People who die with unresolved sin, but repent, are washed clean!  The guilt is gone!

6.  After they have repented, they receive a reward!  Most likely: happiness, joy, the presence of God our loving Heavenly Father, joining the missionary ranks, becoming more like Christ!

7.  Salvation is fully available!  True and complete repentance makes it as though the person had never committed the sin.  There is no lasting stain.  There is no lasting memory of guilt.  They are on equal ground with everyone else who has repented and qualified for salvation, including the sinless Savior, Jesus Christ, himself.

Christ the Consoler, Carl Bloch

It is amazing, wonderful, incredible, fantastic, and joyous!  This is what Jesus died for.  This is what he submitted for in the Garden of Gethsemane, what he submitted for when he was spit on and whipped, what he submitted for when he was nailed to pieces of wood and lifted up for all to see.  This is what he allowed his spirit to leave his body for, and then commanded it to return for on the third day.

The plan of salvation is so complete that there are no loop-holes, no flaws, no misses, no mistakes, no one overlooked.  It can work perfectly for anyone who submits, just as the Savior did.  Submission to the plan of God is not weakness, but ultimate power because it infuses us with God's power, which is the only power that Satan cannot compare or stand up to.  We can crush him through our obedience to God's perfect and beautiful plan.  We are mightiest when we are meekest before God.
I have no fear for the future; everything will be made right.  Christ succors his people in their time of need because he bought that role with his own suffering.  He earned it with his blood.  He knows pain. Intimately.  He knows healing.  Perfectly.  He is the author and finisher of our faith.

I know this because I have grieved and because I have been healed. I don't regret or begrudge the grief.  I absolutely love the healing!  And I love Jesus Christ for healing my soul.  Peace be to yours.

Love,
Michelle

Please Stay

Gina Ashby
Colorado, USA

To those who are mourning over the excommunication of Kate Kelly, more specifically those who hoped the Church would grant priesthood ordination to women through her efforts, my heart has been deeply saddened and troubled. I feel strongly to say: PLEASE STAY! Please stay with us! My heart goes out to you. I love you dearly! We went to college together, served a mission together, you are my friends, my family. You will forever be my sisters in Christ.

Please stay! Although your hearts are troubled, I plead for you to look at the big picture, the eternal scope of things. You are so needed in building up the kingdom of God, preparing the world for the coming of our Savior. There is no other place that teaches the Plan of Salvation, that has restored priesthood keys, confers the Gift of the Holy Ghost, or that looks to Jesus Christ as the literal head of the Church. There is no other place that will keep your family members as safe, or that teaches more passionately to stay morally clean, to keep the Word of Wisdom, to live the Law of Chastity, to know and love God by knowing and keeping the commandments. There is no other place with power to seal families into the eternities, or prepare us more fully to stand before God after this life is over.

Leaving this Church would rob you and your loved ones of the safety and security only the fullness of the Gospel can bring. Please stay!

As you supported OW, you felt sisterhood, unity, and bonding over a common cause. The Lord knows your desires. His prophet knows your desires. You’ve opened your hearts, shared your wounds, you’ve nurtured one another, strengthened, uplifted, inspired, and rallied around each other. You’ve felt companionship, friendship, and loyalty. You have shared your voice, felt needed, valued, and understood. In gathering, you have enjoyed the rewards of leading, inspiring, edifying, discussing, and problem-solving. You have been aware of the needs of others. You have used talents, taken courage, and stretched yourselves. The reality is: All those things can be found when similarly united in the efforts of the Relief Society. Can we, as sisters, unite together in the cause of doing good and building up the kingdom of God in the way the Lord has established?

Dive into Relief Society with equal passion! Use your strengths, talents, gifts, and skills to bless the lives of people in your ward and community—men, women, & children. Put your passion into the organization that was created and patterned after the ancient institution “to help prepare daughters of God for the blessings of eternal life.” The Relief Society has been restored modernly for women to use their glorious qualities to grow and flourish in the way best suited for women.

Study the recently published and inspired book, Daughters in My Kingdom, and be reminded how valued the women of the Church are and have always been. “The world’s greatest champion of woman and womanhood is Jesus Christ.” The Relief Society is the same women’s organization that existed in the church anciently and is “divinely authorized, divinely instituted, divinely ordained of God to minister for the salvation of the souls of women and of men.” It truly is bigger and more wonderful than we may realize.

If you are hurting, doubting, or struggling, look to the many generations before you who faced things that were hard for them and caused them to question or wonder if it was worth it. Staying the course and choosing faith always brings the greatest blessings. It will for you, too. Feelings are tender now. Don’t be rash in the moment of lamentation. Let the gospel heal you and draw you closer to the Savior. Put your energy into building faith. Hearts can heal.

As your sister in the Gospel, I plead for you to stay. Choose faith. Choose patience. Choose to trust the Lord and His modern-day prophets. All will be well. We can get through, but let’s do it faithfully, together.

A Story of Healing After Tragedy: My Shattered Heart Made Whole

Please listen to this beautiful talk by my sister, Gina Ashby, of Highlands Ranch, Colorado.  This talk details the main components of her journey to heal after the suicide death of our older brother, Brian, in 1999.  Her message is one of hope, faith, learning, and growth.  Her courage will inspire you!



 

Walking on Water

My husband was out of town one night several years ago, and as I was putting my oldest son to bed, who was just 3 years old at the time, I thought I would tell him a story from the scriptures to help him settle down and relax.  The story that came to mind was when Peter tried to walk on water to meet Jesus, who was coming towards them in the middle of the sea.

I had thought "tried" was the right word until that night.  Then it occurred to me that Peter had walked on water.  Peter had walked on water.

That was an amazing moment.  We might not be too impressed by Jesus walking on water, because we already know he had been healing people of all manner of illnesses and infirmities, and, plus, he was half-God.  Being a literal son of God the Father in the flesh, he was naturally endowed with special, sacred powers and abilities.  So, of course he could walk on water if he needed to or wanted to.

What struck me was the realization that someone as completely mortal as myself was recorded as walking on water.  Suddenly that seemed to imply something about myself.

Matthew describes that he, Peter, and other disciples were sent by Jesus out onto the Sea of Galilea in a ship to sail to the other side.  In the meantime, he would disburse the crowd that had gathered and then go up into the hills to pray by himself (Matthew 14).

Unexpectedly, in the middle of the night, the disciples on watch -- and perhaps everyone was awake anyway with how "contrary" the winds were -- noticed a figure coming towards them, a figure that was walking across the billowy waves unphased.  Fear filled their hearts as they believed it was a spirit approaching, but when Jesus called out to them and revealed his identity, Peter replied, "Lord, it if be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water" (v. 28).

Peter had witnessed numerous miracles of healing at Jesus' hands.  He knew that Jesus had some very special powers and abilities.  And having spent so much time with him, listening to him and learning from him, Peter knew that Jesus was a man without guile, full of compassion and kindness, someone who was completely trustworthy.  Even -- could it really be so? -- the promised Messiah!

Verse 29 continues, "And he said, Come.  And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus."

We know the rest of the story; that Peter broke his concentration on the Savior and began to notice the wind and the waves, and his faith wavered, allowing fear to impede him and almost drown him.  Peter then called out to the Lord to save him as he began to sink.

    "And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
    And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased" (vs. 31 and 32).

Experiencing and witnessing this, everyone that was on the ship came and worshipped Jesus saying, "Of a truth thou art the Son of God" (v. 33).  Who can walk on water?, they must have reasoned.  Only a divine being could do that!

But, Peter did.  We don't know how many steps he took or how far from the ship he got, but his faith was powerful and incredible and resided in a mortal man's heart and mind!  So, what about me?  This sacred experience tells me that, like Peter, though mortal from both parents, I'm not doomed to fail.  My spirit was created first by Exalted Beings, therefore, it is within me to succeed.  My flesh might be weak, but it can learn.  I can gain experience in the times I fear and fall, and have the Savior's hand stretched out to me to lift me up.  I can look back and realize that I did make progress during my up times, and I can have confidence that I can keep going forward.

Not only that, but that I can overcome major obstacles.  I can.  I can.  The atonement, that beloved enabling power, is the "can" in "I can" and makes all things possible for me.  I might not ever need to walk on water during my life, but I have many challenges and weaknesses that I desperately want to rise above and walk confidently over.  I realize how often I limit myself because I think something is too hard or I am too weak or it's just not possible.

I limit my access to the atonement (Christ's power) and also discount the power endowed upon me (in small measure at birth when I came with the light of Christ, and then in great measure through temple covenant making).

In remembering that Peter walked on water, I am taught that I can overcome any obstacle -- if I just refuse to doubt the power given to me from God through Jesus Christ, my Savior.

Stories of Faith: Myrtle Wilcox Paul

My great-grandmother, Myrtle Wilcox Paul, wrote a letter when at age 93 that detailed some of the main events of her life. Her life was very adventurous, including her parents' mission call to Samoa in 1911, as well as her own missionary call to a separate island at age 15.  Here are two stories from her life; the first from her childhood in Canada and the second from her mission in Samoa.

Myrtle was the second oldest daughter, photo from 1910/11

I was born in Cardston, Alberta, Canada, October 3rd, 1897, daughter of David Eugene and Anna Elizabeth Layne Wilcox. When I was eight years old I was baptized in the river by Jacob Scott.

... I want to go back to the years 1910 and 11. One event that happened during that time changed the course of our lives. It has to do with a prairie fire. In the summer the prairie grass grows tall and becomes a fire hazard. Warnings are posted and a severe fine occurs if anyone is responsible for a fire. One day my father had some trouble with some of his machinery. He took it to town to the blacksmith shop for repairs. Mother was sewing and became very nervous with it. She kept fussing about dad being gone so long.

Suddenly she folded the sewing and said, “.. let’s go for a walk.”  As we stepped outside, we saw father and others coming toward our place as fast as the teams could bring them. As we turned the corner of the house, a few Indians were coming, some on foot, others on ponies. Father was a good friend to the Indians speaking their language fairly well. He worked for the Cardston Mercantile Company. He was always very honest with the Indians when they came to trade and treated them with respect. They felt he was a good friend and respected him. They turned livestock loose and carried everything they could onto a strip of plowed land. We became aware of smoke in the air and instinctively knew it meant prairie fire altho’ we could not see it yet. It was very frightening.

Mother ran into the house, called my two younger sisters, Lula and Ruth, and had them hold out their arms which she loaded with clothes telling them to run to the nearest neighbors.  Poor frightened little girls. I can still visualize their terror stricken faces as they ran, stopping a moment to look back, then running on again, stopping only long enough to pick up dropped clothing.

Fortunately father had started to dig a well and there was some water in it. Also early that morning he had hauled several barrels of water from the river. A couple of large tin tubs were filled with water and tho’ only eleven years old, I was given gunny sacks along with the others, told to dip the sacks in the water, go out behind the hay stacks and beat the grass down with the wet sacks. We kept this procedure up for hours, more water being hauled as needed.

Our place was in the direct path of the fire as it burned on and on. Suddenly we missed father. “Where’s Dave?” the men were asking. No one seemed to know where he was. One of the men ordered the tent to be taken down. As they started to do so, father stepped from the tent and told the men to leave it alone. “It must come down”, one said, “go ahead, Dave is upset.”  Calmly father told them again to leave the tent alone. There was something in his voice that compelled them to do as he said. He quietly directed where to concentrate their efforts.

Well, our place was saved. People coming out after the fire just could not understand how it escaped. There stood our house, tent, barn and hay stack right in the middle of miles and miles of burned prairie grass. It was beginning to get dark and the fire was sweeping on endangering other farms. Father and all the men left to help those still in the path of the fire. Mother and us girls were left with the responsibility of being guardians, going out every little while to put out any flames or sparks that might flare-up with our wet gunny sacks. We made our pilgrimages all night long afraid to go to sleep.

Father returned as daylight was breaking. The neighbors did not fare as well as we did losing some stock and a barn. Their home was saved. We asked father why he had ordered the men to not take down the tent. He said that when it looked like the place couldn’t be saved, he went into the tent, knelt down and told his Heavenly Father that he had invested everything he had into that piece of land, if it was His will to take it, he would not question, but if it could be saved, he pledged his time and efforts in serving the Lord. He told his Heavenly Father that he would accept any and all calls to serve. He was soon put to the test. Before the year ended he was called on a mission to the Samoan Islands and to take the family with him, which was my mother, sisters LaVera, Lula, Ruth and myself Myrtle (Melita). ... The prairie fire incident gave me my first real testimony of the power of the priesthood in faith and prayer.

I wish to share my testimony with you. I have one you know. Like Nephi of old I was blessed to be born of goodly parents who taught me in the ways of the Lord. I just seemed to grow up with this testimony of mine - my constant companion. It is firm and precious to me as a Pearl of Great Price.

I didn’t have a miracle or a revelation. It was all the good things of life rolled together into a testament that confirmed the truth of the gospel. I found that living its teachings and ideals has brought a way of life that is rewarding in spite of adversities, sorrows and heartache.

Myrtle "Melita" Wilcox Paul
Concord, California 1990

The second story was related by my great-grandfather Earl Stanley Paul, another missionary in Samoa who would later marry Myrtle in Utah, and is an example of her strong spirit and courage, which I think was likely inspired by her parents' examples.

“There was a Samoan (Tinei), very well built and as strong as an ox. He had the habit of whipping his wife. One morning when he was giving his wife a beating, Myrtle ran into the house, went between Tinei and his wife and ordered him to stop. Can you see this brave little girl of 15 (4’11” tall) stopping a man who was angry and looked like a giant beside her. Although she was small of stature she was large in courage, faith and good judgment. ... I considered her a brave missionary, highly respected in her calling. Young in years and in education, but strong in spirit and intelligence, judgment and ability. She certainly had what it takes to be a great missionary.”

Earl S. Paul