A SPECIAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE!

Ethne Stone

My Granddad: Cyril O. Burt

I don't really post much on here because I'm not that great at writing interesting things. My sisters are the writers, not me. Today, however, I felt the need to share some things that make today special.

Today marks 2 special events. First, it's veteran's day. The great day that we get to really show our thanks to those who fight for our freedom. For me, I always think of my Granddad. He served in WWII. I think he is one of the most patriotic people I have ever known.  The second event is my niece, Ethne's birthday. She would have been 5 years old today. 

Both events are very bittersweet to me. I miss my Granddad and my sweet niece Ethne terribly. However, I've been thinking a lot about the reactions I get when I tell people about Ethne and when I tell people about my Granddad passing away while on my mission. I get the usual "I'm so sorry to hear that." or "That is really sad." etc.... It is sad, but it's not. I want to share with you why.

For those of you who are unaware of the story of how Ethne died, I'm not going to go into details about it. All I will tell you is that it was the biggest trial in my life up to this point. You can go to my brother and sister's blog and read all about it from the beginning here: http://prayersforthefamily.blogspot.com/2012/02/beginning.html. It's a really great blog and they share all their experiences with coping with the challenges that come to them. 

When Ethne and my Granddad died the only thing that could help me through was the gospel. Prayer, scriptures, family, blessings... the whole works went in to it. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe in the Savior, Jesus Christ. We believe that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, he was able to overcome death. Because he overcame death, we can be with our families again.  It was the Atonement that helped me through it.

"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." - Alma 7:11-12, The Book of Mormon

I know that I will see my Granddad and Ethne again. I know that through the blessings of the Temple, my family is sealed together for time and all eternity as we do our best to keep the commandments of God. I know that Heavenly Father loves each of us individually. I know that the Atonement isn't just there for when we sin, but it is also there for us when we are struggling. He knows what we feel, because he has suffered it just for us, so that we wouldn't have to be alone. 

So, although it's not easy, this is not a day of sadness, but rather, a day of happiness and remembrance. I am grateful to have the gospel in my life, because it is what brings me this happiness. 

If you are not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and would like know more about what we believe, go to mormon.org 

My Spiritual Feast – Matthew 13

I have found that it's super easy to fall out of the habit of reading your scriptures. I haven't done it a lot lately and I've needed to get better. Well I started reading again today and it always amazes me how much I get out of reading. I'm always learning something new. It wasn't necessarily that way before my mission. I think the difference is that I'm looking to learn more than I was before. My mind is more open and I am willing to learn. It's amazing how much of a difference that can make.

This morning I read Matthew 13. In this chapter, Jesus teaches in parables. As he is teaching the parable of the sower, he says something that hit me differently than it has in the past and I feel the need to share it with you. Jesus is explaining the different types of ground where the seeds have fallen and comparing them to us. In verse 23 it says, "But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth (TG Teachable) the word, and understandeth [and endureth (JST)]; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." As I read this and pondered it, I realized that there are three things that must happen for us to have strong enough root to endure the temptations and trials of this world. When we are taught the gospel, to make our testimonies become strong enough to rely on, there are 3 steps we must go through:

1. HEAR - We must be willing to hear. Like I had said earlier, I wasn't getting as much out of the scriptures before my mission because I wasn't as open as I am now. We must be willing to listen and willing to get something out of it. "Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind..." (D&C 64:34)
2. UNDERSTAND - We must search ponder and pray about the subject. We must put forth effort so that we may understand those certain principles. We can just expect to listen to a principle and automatically expect to have a strong testimony of it. It doesn't always work out that way. At the end of The Book of Mormon, Moroni even exhorts us to do this, "I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts....ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true.....And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."
3. ENDURE - When I think of enduring, I think of application. We must apply what we have heard and come to understand. I think of Nephi when he said "...I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandment unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them..." We need to have that. We must say to ourselves, I go, I do, because I know. It is our testimonies that can help us have that. 

As we follow this cycle, I know that our testimonies will run deep. Our testimonies will be strong enough to rely on when those trials come along. We will be able to have the strength and knowledge we need to have that eternal perspective. Nothing will be able to sway us.

In Honor of Ethne

Today marks two years since the passing of a sweet angel, my niece, Mary Ethne Stone. I know to most people this anniversary would be a sad day, but because of the gospel, I know where she is. I know that as I follow the Savior's example, keep my covenants, and endure, I can be with her again. I will always miss her. Elder Shayne M. Bowen said, "The truth is, you will never completely get over it until you are together once again with your departed loved ones... I have learned that the bitter, almost unbearable pain can become sweet as you turn to your Father in Heaven and plead for His comfort that comes through His plan; His Son, Jesus Christ; and His Comforter, who is the Holy Ghost." Rather than make this a sad day, I make it a day of renewal. I make it a day where I start something new to honor her.

I knew that this was coming up for a few days and I've been doing a lot of thinking about ways I can honor her. As I thought of ways I could do this, I began to reminisce about her life and my special experiences with her. I thought about her personality. She has one of the most loving spirits. I thought about how she has shown me love. She gave me the special gift of hearing her say my name for her first time. She would always give hugs and kisses to everyone. She truly has a gift of love. I also thought about the many times she helped me through my mission. I could feel her presence at times comforting me when I missed family. She has shown me love in so many ways, I can't even count them. As I thought about these experiences, the words from the song, "As I Have Loved You" popped into my head. As I have loved you, love one another... By this shall men know ye are my disciples. As I thought of that, I knew exactly what I need to do.

In honor of Ethne's life, I am going to start today to do 100 acts of love in the form of service. I don't know who will be the recipients. It could be one of you, but I know through the help of the spirit, I will be guided to those who need it the most. I felt that this would be the perfect way to honor Ethne. She was always showing her love to everyone around her. I need to be more loving like her. I know that service is the best way to do this. As it says in Mosiah 2:17 "...when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." What a better way to honor someone you love, than to
serve our Heavenly Father who made the plan that will unite us all together again.

I know that the Plan of Salvation is real. I know that I can be with Ethne again because of what our Savior, Jesus Christ did for us. He truly loves us and wants all of us to return to him. He has given us the way, all we must do is follow him.

"May we understand and live in thanksgiving for the priceless gifts that come to us as sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father and for the promise of that bright day when we shall all rise triumphant from the grave." - Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin