This is my last e-mail as we will be going home in just a few days. I can hardly write as I shed tears of leaving these great people. When you come on mission you think it will be forever before going home, but then all of a sudden it is over. We have been so blessed by coming to this mission and experiencing the love of our Heavenly Father and the great people of South Africa.
We have been very busy, as you can imagine the past several weeks. We were so happy to have had John and Beth visit for a short time. They had a taste of what we experience daily. It was good to share it with someone in the family, so that they could understand a little of what we feel. Today we had Zone Conference and our mission president asked about the miracles in the mission. I sat there and thought about the many things that we have experienced since being here. Our little “twigs” were just so new and could barely function. There wasn’t anyone in the branch that had been a member for more than two years. It truly has been a miracle to watch these people grow – they have learned to preside, conduct, teach, minister, give wonderful talks, and testify of a Father in Heaven, and their savior Jesus Christ, who is their advocate, their source of strength, their light and their hope for eternal blessings. As they bare such testimonies, I am so humbled by their spirit and their complete faith. Last Sunday in Ngwelezane they had the choir (that is a miracle also) sing; Pres. Mngadi conducted like a pro and called people to callings in the branch. I sat back and realized they were no longer a “twig”, but a true branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We will miss watching them continue to grow – but we know that they will be watched over and the Lord will continue to bless them and help them to succeed.
This past month we have had our Primary programs in both branches. We were the only branches in the District to do so. Nseleni Branch had 25 children sing – they were amazing. They sang with such gusto I thought the roof was going to blow off. Each child also gave a talk. Now this may not seem so incredible to you, but consider that only 5 of the children are members – that they speak very, very, little English. The Primary president is 23. She worked with them for months – she spent almost every day before the day of the program rehearsing with them. On the day of the program, many of their families came to watch. They were amazed that their children could sing such beautiful songs and give talks in English. When their child would perform, they would all clap. The people in Nseleni love our church, even though they aren’t members, because of what we give our young children, our youth and the strength we extend to the Adults through English classes, Aids classes, and constant service throughout the community. Our church is an example of Christ like living. We love all people and serve all who are in need. As individual members, I have learned that this is very important. I know this is what our Savior expects of us. We are all brothers and sisters and need to realize the worth of each soul. We do not worry about what anyone wears to church here. We only worry about what they bring in their hearts. As they come into church, everyone goes and greets each other. Not just by saying “hello”, but with a hug and a warm handshake. After 50 or 60 people have hugged you, you feel loved. I will so miss the simplicity of their lives, their purity of heart and their absolute faith and trust.
This weekend, on Dad’s birthday, we are having an YSA dance at the church. This is a first!! We have tried to work out transport because the young adults cannot afford to come to Richard’s Bay to an activity. We have hired a DJ for the music (church standard of course) and have arranged for transportation to bring them at 6:00 p.m. and take them to their houses at 10:00 p.m. It is very dangerous at night, so we have had to make sure the transport would take them to their individual homes. The young adults are so excited about this activity. I know Dad will be out their dancing away. So, think of us on Saturday as we end our mission by boogieing with 60 of our great YSA’s that we so love.
Our Branch Pres. in Nseleni this weekend is going to Johannesburg to the Temple with his wife. All of our Branch Presidents in the District will then be endowed. The money from our Temple trip with the youth is helping to pay for him to go. Thank you again to all who contributed – it has been a blessing to so many people.
Sunday, we will attend our Nseleni Branch Conference and then sneak away to go to Durban. The next day we will catch a flight home. How can I ever thank my Heavenly Father enough for this experience? Dad and I will just look at each other and start to cry. It has changed our lives and has brought so many blessings. I can’t imagine my life without knowing these people and being a part of this great work. We are grateful for such a supportive family, who without them we could not have experienced this. We love you more than words can express for your sacrifice for us. I hope that you have been blessed as you have held tight together and shared our mission with us.
We have told the people we will see them on the other side. What a party it will be!!
My dear grandchildren – I know that many of you are looking forward to going on your mission some day. I can promise you that it will be a great experience in your life. Prepare now. Grandpa and I know we have the best grandchildren to serve their Heavenly Father and to teach the gospel to many people all over the world.
My heart is heavy to end this chapter in our life, but so grateful to have been granted with time. God continue to bless each and every one of you. Put God first and then all things will work out for your good. I know that to be true. This life is but a moment – don’t get distracted with the insignificant – for we will all be “on the other side” before we know it.
"It would have got me," said Galen West, a 68-year-old retired dentist who now fishes commercially in the Gulf of Alaska.
West encountered the grizzly at about 11 a.m. on an overgrown game trail in thick brush while he was hunting on state land with his 12-year-old English setter 8 miles north of Choteau. Three other hunters in his party were in the vicinity at the time, walking through an area known as Eldorado Grove — a large island of cottonwoods, riparian shrub fields and open meadows surrounded by grass and farmland east of U.S. Highway 89.
With the best buffaloberry on the entire Rocky Mountain Front, it's a haven for grizzlies who often bed down during the day in thick brush, said Mike Madel, a grizzly bear management specialist with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
A dozen grizzly day beds were found in the vicinity of the shooting, he said.
"Generally they will defend themselves — and defend their cubs," Madel said.
He advises hunters to avoid these dense areas in order to help reduce the chances of meeting a grizzly.
Hunters also should carry bear spray in case they do encounter bears, he said, noting the spray scares off the bears.
"This situation that happened yesterday could have been very different if the hunter had been carrying bear spray," Madel said.
However, West said he would not have had time to dig bear spray out even if he had it with him.
"There was no decision to make," West said. "I had one thing to do and that was defend myself."
West said that he heard a twig break, and then saw the bear standing on its hind legs about 20 feet away and making a "wolfy growl." The bear then dropped to all fours and charged him, he said.
He shot three times with his .20-gauge shotgun. The bear was struck between the eyes, just a little bit above them, said West, calling his shots "lucky." (2 of 2)
With the bear quickly approaching, there was no time to get the gun to his shoulder and aim, he said. Advertisement
"It was really surprising to me how close that was," said Rod Duty, a FWP game warden. "He's a pretty fortunate guy."
A necropsy will be performed on the bear, Duty said, adding that the shooting appears to be a straight forward case of self defense.
Montana grizzlies are protected as a threatened species.
The female West shot had three nursing cubs, which also will be recorded as mortalities if they are not captured because they probably won't survive on their own, Madel said.
In an attempt to capture the cubs, managers moved the dead female into a culvert trap, Madel said. The culvert was to remain overnight at the scene Tuesday.
The 9-year-old, 380- to 390-pound female had a radio collar, with her movements being tracked as part of a population study by FWP, Madel said.
West said that when he killed the bear it landed so close that he could have touched it with the barrel of his gun. The encounter was over in about 4 seconds, he said. He hopes his experience makes other hunters realize they "have to be damn careful" because of all the bears in the area.
West, who has friends in Montana, has hunted in the same spot for five years, he said. In Alaska, he spends a lot of time hunting at a cabin outside of Sitka. He always figured he would have a head-on encounter with a grizzly someday.
"I didn't expect it to happen here in Montana," he said.
Despite the close call, West and the members of his hunting party continued hunting Tuesday. They saw grizzly tracks from a sow and cubs in one area they hunted in.
"We left," West said.
With the bear quickly approaching, there was no time to get the gun to his shoulder and aim, he said. Advertisement Quantcast
"It was really surprising to me how close that was," said Rod Duty, a FWP game warden. "He's a pretty fortunate guy."
A necropsy will be performed on the bear, Duty said, adding that the shooting appears to be a straight forward case of self defense.
Montana grizzlies are protected as a threatened species.
The female West shot had three nursing cubs, which also will be recorded as mortalities if they are not captured because they probably won't survive on their own, Madel said.
In an attempt to capture the cubs, managers moved the dead female into a culvert trap, Madel said. The culvert was to remain overnight at the scene Tuesday.
The 9-year-old, 380- to 390-pound female had a radio collar, with her movements being tracked as part of a population study by FWP, Madel said.
West said that when he killed the bear it landed so close that he could have touched it with the barrel of his gun. The encounter was over in about 4 seconds, he said. He hopes his experience makes other hunters realize they "have to be damn careful" because of all the bears in the area.
West, who has friends in Montana, has hunted in the same spot for five years, he said. In Alaska, he spends a lot of time hunting at a cabin outside of Sitka. He always figured he would have a head-on encounter with a grizzly someday.
"I didn't expect it to happen here in Montana," he said.
Despite the close call, West and the members of his hunting party continued hunting Tuesday. They saw grizzly tracks from a sow and cubs in one area they hunted in.
A writer for The Christian Science Monitor predicts that the coming century will be “very secular and religiously antagonistic,” with intolerance of Christianity “ris[ing] to levels many of us have not believed possible in our lifetimes.”[vi] Other wise observers have noted the ever-growing, relentless attack on the Christian religion by forces who reject the existence or authority of God.[vii] The extent and nature of religious devotion in this nation is changing. The tide of public opinion in favor of religion is receding, and this probably portends public pressures for laws that will impinge on religious freedom.
Atheism has always been hostile to religion, such as in its arguments that freedom of or for religion should include freedom from religion. Atheism’s threat rises as its proponents grow in numbers and aggressiveness. “By some counts,” a recent article in The Economist declares, “there are at least 500 [million] declared non-believers in the world — enough to make atheism the fourth-biggest religion.”[viii] And atheism’s spokesmen are aggressive, as recent publications show.[ix] As noted by John A. Howard of the Howard Center for Family, Religion, and Society, these voices “have developed great skills in demonizing those who disagree with them, turning their opponents into objects of fear, hatred and scorn.”[x]
Such forces — atheists and others — would intimidate persons with religious-based points of view from influencing or making the laws of their state or nation. Noted author and legal commentator Hugh Hewitt described the current circumstance this way:
“There is a growing anti-religious bigotry in the United States. . . .
“For three decades people of faith have watched a systematic and very effective effort waged in the courts and the media to drive them from the public square and to delegitimize their participation in politics as somehow threatening.”[xi]
For example, a prominent gay-rights spokesman gave this explanation for his objection to our Church’s position on California’s Proposition 8:
“I’m not intending it to harm the religion. I think they do wonderful things. Nicest people. . . . My single goal is to get them out of the same-sex marriage business and back to helping hurricane victims.”[xii]
Aside from the obvious fact that this objection would deny free speech as well as religious freedom to members of our Church and its coalition partners, there are other reasons why the public square must be open to religious ideas and religious persons. As Richard John Neuhaus said many years ago, “In a democracy that is free and robust, an opinion is no more disqualified for being ‘religious’ than for being atheistic, or psychoanalytic, or Marxist, or just plain dumb.”[xiii]
Religious Freedom Diluted by Other “Civil Rights”
A second threat to religious freedom is from those who perceive it to be in conflict with the newly alleged “civil right” of same-gender couples to enjoy the privileges of marriage.
We have endured a wave of media-reported charges that the Mormons are trying to “deny” people or “strip” people of their “rights.” After a significant majority of California voters (seven million — over 52 percent) approved Proposition 8’s limiting marriage to a man and a woman, some opponents characterized the vote as denying people their civil rights. In fact, the Proposition 8 battle was not about civil rights, but about what equal rights demand and what religious rights protect. At no time did anyone question or jeopardize the civil right of Proposition 8 opponents to vote or speak their views.
The real issue in the Proposition 8 debate — an issue that will not go away in years to come and for whose resolution it is critical that we protect everyone’s freedom of speech and the equally important freedom to stand for religious beliefs — is whether the opponents of Proposition 8 should be allowed to change the vital institution of marriage itself.
The marriage union of a man and a woman has been the teaching of the Judeo-Christian scriptures and the core legal definition and practice of marriage in Western culture for thousands of years. Those who seek to change the foundation of marriage should not be allowed to pretend that those who defend the ancient order are trampling on civil rights. The supporters of Proposition 8 were exercising their constitutional right to defend the institution of marriage — an institution of transcendent importance that they, along with countless others of many persuasions, feel conscientiously obliged to protect.
Religious freedom needs defending against the claims of newly asserted human rights. The so-called “Yogyakarta Principles,” published by an international human rights group, call for governments to assure that all persons have the right to practice their religious beliefs regardless of sexual orientation or identity.[xiv] This apparently proposes that governments require church practices and their doctrines to ignore gender differences. Any such effort to have governments invade religion to override religious doctrines or practices should be resisted by all believers. At the same time, all who conduct such resistance should frame their advocacy and their personal relations so that they are never seen as being doctrinaire opponents of the very real civil rights (such as free speech) of their adversaries or any other disadvantaged group.
VI.
And now, in conclusion, I offer five points of counsel on how Latter-day Saints should conduct themselves to enhance religious freedom in this period of turmoil and challenge.
First, we must speak with love, always showing patience, understanding and compassion toward our adversaries. We are under command to love our neighbor (Luke 10:27), to forgive all men (Doctrine and Covenants 64:10), to do good to them who despitefully use us (Matthew 5:44) and to conduct our teaching in mildness and meekness (Doctrine and Covenants 38:41).
Even as we seek to speak with love, we must not be surprised when our positions are ridiculed and we are persecuted and reviled. As the Savior said, “so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matthew 5:12). And modern revelation commands us not to revile against revilers (Doctrine and Covenants 19:30).
Second, we must not be deterred or coerced into silence by the kinds of intimidation I have described. We must insist on our constitutional right and duty to exercise our religion, to vote our consciences on public issues and to participate in elections and debates in the public square and the halls of justice. These are the rights of all citizens and they are also the rights of religious leaders. While our church rarely speaks on public issues, it does so by exception on what the First Presidency defines as significant moral issues, which could surely include laws affecting the fundamental legal/cultural/moral environment of our communities and nations.
We must also insist on this companion condition of democratic government: when churches and their members or any other group act or speak out on public issues, win or lose, they have a right to expect freedom from retaliation.
Along with many others, we were disappointed with what we experienced in the aftermath of California’s adoption of Proposition 8, including vandalism of church facilities and harassment of church members by firings and boycotts of member businesses and by retaliation against donors. Mormons were the targets of most of this, but it also hit other churches in the pro-8 coalition and other persons who could be identified as supporters. Fortunately, some recognized such retaliation for what it was. A full-page ad in the New York Times branded this “violence and intimidation” against religious organizations and individual believers “simply because they supported Proposition 8 [as] an outrage that must stop.” [xv] The fact that this ad was signed by some leaders who had no history of friendship for our faith only added to its force.
It is important to note that while this aggressive intimidation in connection with the Proposition 8 election was primarily directed at religious persons and symbols, it was not anti-religious as such. These incidents were expressions of outrage against those who disagreed with the gay-rights position and had prevailed in a public contest. As such, these incidents of “violence and intimidation” are not so much anti-religious as anti-democratic. In their effect they are like the well-known and widely condemned voter-intimidation of blacks in the South that produced corrective federal civil-rights legislation.
Third, we must insist on our freedom to preach the doctrines of our faith. Why do I make this obvious point? Religious people who share our moral convictions feel some intimidation. Fortunately, our leaders do not refrain from stating and explaining our position that homosexual behavior is sinful. Last summer Elder M. Russell Ballard spoke these words to a BYU audience:
“We follow Jesus Christ by living the law of chastity. God gave this commandment, and He has never revoked or changed it. This law is clear and simple. No one is to engage in sexual relationships outside the bounds the Lord has set. This applies to homosexual behavior of any kind and to heterosexual relationships outside marriage. It is a sin to violate the law of chastity.
“We follow Jesus Christ by adhering to God’s law of marriage, which is marriage between one man and one woman. This commandment has been in place from the very beginning.”[xvi]
We will continue to teach what our Heavenly Father has commanded us to teach, and trust that the precious free exercise of religion remains strong enough to guarantee our right to exercise this most basic freedom.
Fourth, as advocates of the obvious truth that persons with religious positions or motivations have the right to express their religious views in public, we must nevertheless be wise in our political participation. Preachers have been prime movers in the civil rights movement from the earliest advocates of abolition, but even the civil rights of religionists must be exercised legally and wisely.
As Latter-day Saints, we should never be reticent to declare and act upon the sure foundations of our faith. The call of conscience — whether religious or otherwise — requires no secular justification. At the same time, religious persons will often be most persuasive in political discourse by framing arguments and positions in ways that are respectful of those who do not share their religious beliefs and that contribute to the reasoned discussion and compromise that is essential in a pluralistic society.[xvii]
Fifth and finally, Latter-day Saints must be careful never to support or act upon the idea that a person must subscribe to some particular set of religious beliefs in order to qualify for a public office. The framers of our constitution included a provision that “no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States” (Article VI). That constitutional principle forbids a religious test as a legal requirement, but it of course leaves citizens free to cast their votes on the basis of any preference they choose. But wise religious leaders and members will never advocate religious tests for public office.
Fragile freedoms are best preserved when not employed beyond their intended purpose. If a candidate is seen to be rejected at the ballot box primarily because of religious belief or affiliation, the precious free exercise of religion is weakened at its foundation, especially when this reason for rejection has been advocated by other religionists. Such advocacy suggests that if religionists prevail in electing their preferred candidate this will lead to the use of government power in support of their religious beliefs and practices. The religion of a candidate should not be an issue in a political campaign.
Conclusion
It was the Christian principles of human worth and dignity that made possible the formation of the United States Constitution over 200 years ago, and only those principles in the hearts of a majority of our diverse population can sustain that constitution today. Our constitution’s revolutionary concepts of sovereignty in the people and significant guarantees of personal rights were, as John A. Howard has written,
“generated by a people for whom Christianity had been for a century and a half the compelling feature of their lives. It was Jesus who first stated that all men are created equal [and] that every person . . . is valued and loved by God.”[xviii]
Professor Dinesh D’Souza reminds us:
“The attempt to ground respect for equality on a purely secular basis ignores the vital contribution by Christianity to its spread. It is folly to believe that it could survive without the continuing aid of religious belief.”[xix]
Religious values and political realities are so interlinked in the origin and perpetuation of this nation that we cannot lose the influence of Christianity in the public square without seriously jeopardizing our freedoms. I maintain that this is a political fact, well qualified for argument in the public square by religious people whose freedom to believe and act must always be protected by what is properly called our “First Freedom,” the free exercise of religion.
/> This is a pretty interesting letter from the Risers October 11, 2009
Dear Ones,
How can we briefly tell you about this week? It was significant in so many ways.
The holiday continued: Monday was the boat racing festival. We went to the Mekong twice during the day to watch races. It was sooooo hot and humid, but we won’t be here another year and this festival is pretty neat to see--especially the close races. Tuesday nothing was open because it was a day between two holidays. Wednesday was Teacher’s Day. We tried to stay busy and patient...succeeded sometimes…other times--not. Sometime Tuesday, Bountheng Xaykhom’s brother was killed in a tragic motorcycle accident. Bountheng and his wife Viengxay were baptized last December. His brother-51, never married, not working, heavy drinker-lived with them. President Khamphee and two other men from the Branch went to be with them Tuesday night as soon as Viengxay called him. We went to visit them Wednesday at their village wat. Family and friends and people from the village were there with the family attending the body and waiting for family members to come from Attapeu province in southern Laos. They were grieving, visiting, and a couple of groups of people were playing cards. The next day--Thursday--we went back for the actual “funeral”. It was the Buddhist version--I’m not sure they call it a funeral. Extremely interesting! And it was a privilege to be there with Bountheng and Viengxay. The whole experience was another uniquely Lao surreal-is-this-really-happening event that we’re still trying to understand. Someday you can see all the pictures if you want…and we’ll tell you all about it…but for now, it was somewhere between a funeral and a Scout campfire program and the 4th of July and a wedding and a funeral. After the funeral we went to a kickoff ceremony for World Sight Day at the Vision Clinic. We were an hour late so we were just on time. The monks in the picture have donated their organs (eyes) when they die. After the speeches, everyone was treated to a tour of the operating rooms where two doctors were performing cataract surgeries at a time in a marathon display for the occasion--we were IN the room! Now would that happen in the United States? Then we taught English that night. Regular English teaching…still no visas for the team coming November 7th (after all, the Ministry of Education has only had the stuff since September 21st…maybe we’ll get it to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs tomorrow…picked up our mission president and his wife at the airport. Saturday: The purpose of President Smith’s coming to Lao was to call and set apart members to serve on the Final Ecclesiastical Review committee for the Book of Mormon translation in Lao, which he did before and after the morning session of General Conference. The Asia Area Presidency wanted everyone in the Asia Area to have a “conference experience” like we typically do in Utah…so imagine last Saturday and Sunday in Utah, and that’s what we had this Saturday and Sunday in Lao, coupled with President and Sister Smith’s visit and the historic and spiritual significance of the Book of Mormon translation approval process. Very significant! It’s one of the great blessings of our mission to be witness to it. President and Sister Smith left to return to Bangkok about 9:00 pm. Sunday General Conference sessions. We are so blessed to be taught be by prophets, seers, and revelators, and the Holy Ghost. What a spiritual feast!
We love you. Thank you for your letters, your love, your support, your faithfulness, your examples. Have a wonderful week.
Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma, Elder and Sister Riser, Scott and Jolene
Read the Scripture below and tell me if we have any Anti Moroni leaders today.
Alma 60: 36 36 Behold, I am Moroni, your chief captain. I seek not for power, but to pull it down. I seek not for honor of the world, but for the glory of my God, and the freedom and welfare of my country. And thus I close mine epistle.
P.S Steve will like this picture. Also I don't need to worry about diplomacy on Skinnertopia anymore since it has already won the Nobel Peace Prize.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8294355.stm This is a really cool instrument. It can do just about anything. The article mentions a prominent musician who bought one. It is none other than Jordan Rudess from Dream Theater.
