Yesterday, our stake held its first annual stake wide Temple day. We provided all the Temple workers and patrons from 8am to the 4pm Endowment session. My family decided to take advantage of this day to do my fathers work and then seal him to my mother sister and myself, and to his parents. We also took the opportunity to seal my mother to her folks, along with her siblings.

I have not felt the spirit so strong in a very long time, as I was in the endowment it was confirmend to me very strongly that my dad was ready and excepting of the work being done on his behalf, I found myself talking with him, and letting him know how much he means to me and how honored I was to his work. I was overcome with feelings of love and comfort. I am so thankful to have the privledge to attend the Temple and do the work for those who have paved the way for me.

Tags: Temles Sealings

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Back in, December I discovered that my ex-wife had passed away leaving our then 18 year old daughter pretty much on her own. I was able to reestablish communication with my daughter, after ashamedly, not being in touch for to long.

Since then we have been able to build and continue to work on establishing our relationship. We have gained respect for each other and our love is increasing as we become reacquainted. 

She has a strong testomony in a recent e-mail she was telling my how down and lonely she felt, and that Mother's Day was a big waste(first year since mom died), she closed it saying it was going to spend time with the scriptures and her P. Blessing.

She has got herself back into school taking 12 credits this semester then 15 in the fall, she is taking a double major zoology and criminal justice labatory sciences, so in a few years I will have own CSI.

About the time before I found out about her mom's death I began praying in earnest for Eva-Marie that she might be able to make the proper choices in her life. She has been doing so I am so proud of her. 

Tags: Family Love Rebuilding

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Saturday April 25, 2009, for me was a landmark day, one of the best days of my mortal life, with great ramafacations for all eternities, as I was able to be seald to my wife for all time and eternity. The road leading up to this event was not easy, we started on the road over 11 years ago. I remember sitting on the plane from SLC to Detroit, after a visit with my daughter, praying and pleading with Heavenly Father for someone to come into my life whom I could fall in love with and share my future with, a short time later I met Kathy.

We hit it off right away, we set a wedding date she was firm in not moving it forward, we were married on March 12 1999, 4 months before the original date. We were married out of the Temple firist since I had previous sealings, and needed to obtain the needed clearence to be sealed, both Bishops thought it would be wise to marry than plan to go to the Temple a year later, we made to the Temple just not on the suggested time frame.

We found ourselves going inactive after a Bishop rub us both wrong it easier to stay home than face someone you thought very little of in a leadership position, we both kept our testimonies. 3 years ago we moved out of the ward and began talking about what it would take to get to the Temple, in October we were ready to move forward, after much repentance on my part the paperwork was ready to be submitted, a few weeks later the word came saying we could be sealed, do to family circumstances we waited another 6 weeks to take care of this sacred ordience.

While in the Temple I again felt at complete peace knowing that what I was doing was the right thing. I was also able to get some answers, I had been searching for. THe sealing was performend by a lifelong friend of the family, former HT, Temple President, and mny other callings that effected my life. It left us both in awe, knowing the blessing that are in store... Now the work begins....

Tags: Sealinganswerseternitiesprayers

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Just a quick note I am so excited I will be leaving for the Temple in less than an hour to be sealed to my wonderful wife, after 10 long years...

Tags: Sealing Temple Excitment

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After 10 years of being married to my wonderful patient wife, in today's mail was a letter from the First Presidency, granting the sealing request. Why we waited so long is still a mystery to me. My first 2 marriages both ended before reaching 3 years. I have spent a long time thinking and repenting for the role I played in the destruction of those realationships.

When I was sealed to my second wife no clearence was needed, even though my 1st wife was still living. Since I know the Lord stands at the head of this Church, I now have grown to understand the need now for this clearence.

My wife Kathy is the most loving and patient on the earth(of course I am a little Biais).

I thank my Heavenly Father at least daily for her and the blessings she has brought into my life.

Mike

Tags: Sealing

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A week ago yesterday I had the honor of conferring the Aaronic Priesthood, and ordaining my son to the office of Deacon. In the weeks leading up to this sacred event I found myself very distressed at the fact his mother was determined to have a this ordinance become a dog and pony show insisting on having  nonmember family and friends present, I resolved to put my anguish aside knowing that her Bishop had approved of her plans. I spent allot of time preparing myself to perform this ordination, drawing closer to my Eternal Father and his son. I was really able to feel the spirit that afternoon.

It was a real blessing to have my 2 nephews stand in the circle, as I was able to stand in the circle as they received the priesthood many years ago.

Yesterday as I sat and watched my son exercise his priesthood for the first time as he passed the sacrament it was a very deep and moving moment in my life. I glanced over at my wife his step mom and could see the tears striking down her face as she felt the sacredness of the moment in his life as well as mine.

One of the things that is wonderful to see is the acceptance the ward has given my son even though his records are in another ward, he has always been included in the activities as he went through primary, now that he is in the young men’s program he has slipped right in and has even been invited to attend summer camp with the scouts.

It is so wonderful to be a member of this church and be able to exercise the priesthood in behalf of my family.

Tags: Priesthood Fatherhood

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While I surfing the web yesterday I decided to Google my daughter’s name, I do this occasionally, just to se what pops up. We have not really spoken much over the last few years, too many details to go into now.  I came across an obituary for her mother, my 1^st wife; it left me in shock, as she died a month before I saw the notice. Thoughts raced through my head nonstop such as what happened and more importantly where is our daughter, is she ok, sure she is 18 but no child should be forced to deal with the death of a parent alone. I live in Michigan she is out in Utah;

 I had no contact number for her. I went to work and was able to get a number for her Grandmother here in Michigan,

 I called and spoke to someone there, a few minutes later my phone rang a number popped up but no one was on the other end. I called it back and recognized Eva-Marie’s voice; I left her a message to please call me.

We finally were able to talk about 10:30 last night we had a long conversation, she seems to be doing very well,

 her mom taught her to be self reliant and, due to other circumstances Eva-Marie had grown up and became an adult before her time.

She has inherited the house and is having it fixed up, has had a couple friends move in,

her Bishop is keeping a close eye on her, she is attending Weber State University.

While the death of Eva-Marie’s mother is a shock; and a real trial for my daughter it has reunited a father with his daughter.

 When she was a baby, I would often repeat a little diddy to her that went something like Eva-Marie daddy’s little angel girl,

Eva-Marie Daddy’s little angel girl…the rest of it escapes me right now.

I have been praying to find a way to reconnect with her for sometime. It is tragic that it took the death of her mother to get me off my duff

and actually make the first step.

At the end of the conversation she told me she is willing to let me into her life.

 I was rather shook up when she spoke the truth saying I am not use to having a father to have a relationship with.

I have a long way to go in being a father to her but I am on the road and am not going to turn back.

Tags: Daughter Death Reunite Prayer

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In our Stake Conference this weekend the following was reported by the president of the Detroit Michigan Mission.

As a companionship of elders were out tracting in the inner city, they stood on a porch speaking with a lady, out of no where a car came flying around the corner with guns blazing they saw an individual run after the car shooting. One of the elders had been out for about 9 months the other for only a week.

Two weeks later they were called into court for the preliminary hearing. The prosecutor decided to call only one to testify. The newer elder was testifying, as the defense attorney was questioning him he began to press as to why they would have been in that neighborhood stating the only reason they could have had for being there was to purchase drugs, this line of questing continued for only a few moments before the judge interrupted and let the attorney have it saying do you know who you are talking to, this young man is a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, he and many others like him are working in the worse areas of our city trying to make things better for everyone.

Tags: Missionairies

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            Sunday night I got a phone call from the Elders Quorum secretary wanting to set up a PPI, which I agreed to the catch was it was set up so my nephew would be conducting the interview, making this an awkward situation for both of us. After all I changed this kid’s diapers cleaned him up when he threw up at the mall.

           The PPI took place last night it was the first one Mike had conducted, he made me very proud, he started off by agreeing that it could be very awkward but went on to say remember for the next 20 minutes I am not your nephew. The actual PPI was hands down the best, most spiritual PPI I have had, Mike was very sensitive to the spirit and asked the right questions. I could not have felt better about the PPI; Mike has grown into a real spiritual man, for this I am grateful, too have been able to have played a role in his life as his uncle. When he was called into the presidency, I was concerned since he is 24 years my junior, I discussed with the Bishop about meeting with the High Priest, we deiced to ride it out for awhile and see how things went well I am glad I stuck it out

Tags: Accepting Change Of Heart

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