I have been sharing the idea that serving others is a remedy for many of your own personal problems, because I have a testimony of that principle.  


"How God anointed Jesus of Nazereth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." Acts 10:38 

"Only when you lift a burden, God will lift your burden.  Divine paradox this is!  The man who staggers and falls because his burden is too great can lighten that burden by taking on the weight of another's burden.  You get by giving, but your part of giving must be given first" (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 251).  

Bloom where you are planted

From: "howaru@juno.com"
To: manymac@comcast.net; 2rhoward@att.net
Sent: Tue, September 27, 2011 12:01:58 PM
Subject: plots

I finally received some facts about the "hole" issue, of plots in Marion.

There is a registry at the cemetery confirming that we have 14 plots left of the original 16. No record is kept at the Summit County office. (I asked them if the records were buried in some file)  They are under the name of Edward L Howard. I told them (Ronie Wilde@allwest.net) (Rick Gines, Sextan) that the family wanted to not sell. If we out live the above, the registry will be passed on to their replacements. If you need one of the plots, simple call the funeral service (example: Crandall - Scott at 435-783-4786) and they will verify the registry...so no problem...we are in. For your interest... if you are considering cremation...hang on to the urn if you'd like for as long as you want for convenience sake (of travel or for any other reason) then call Crandall. Marion cemetery allows only one urn per plot.

Nathan

Nathan,

Thank you for rooting out these long buried files.  It is clear that your many years in the gravel pits have grounded you in foundational research skills.  When the plot thickens and I need a long rest, I will call Crandall who will plant me Scott-free.  My accountant will be pleased.

Agradecimientos from the Howard who never could get into anything concrete (except at the Marion Cemetery).
 

P.S. to my kids: If you don't know the prerequisite to inheriting one of these paid for plots, let me know (but keep in mind that Edward L. Howard has more than 14 descendants - first come, first served).

Roy,

you havent lost your literally skill, nor your Lambert humor.

I dont think your kids will have to worry about space...they don't bury folks in the Millenium

Nathan

Nathan,

The Millenium is coming soon?  Then I won't have to lie still too long?

Pioneer cemeteries are for insiders and mainstreamers, not outliers; but I understand why they don't like to stack the bodies: it is bad enough being surrounded by liers, you don't need backbiters, too.

It is nice to have all these relatives in one plot - potential suitors can visit and get a sense of what kind of family they are Marion into.  Besides, not every bachelor is the Marion kind.  Anyway, the Lamberts are well-bread; they should rise well.

What I wonder, is which of our ancestors noticed how we gather at the cemeteries and dig in the earth, and saw us as their "descend ants"?  I guess it makes sense.  However, the latinos must have been poor. Can you imagine digging and finding just teeth, because they could not afford embalming and concrete crypts? So that must be why they call us their "descen dientes".

For all of you looking forward to a career (or a job), don't discount the mortuaries and cemeteries - people are dying to receive your services.  Imagine, 6,964,855,039 people on the earth, and growing, every one a future customer! I wonder about the sales pitch: "...all you future stiffs gather 'round.  You can't stay ceased, you know; soon you will be deceased; all of you functs will soon be defuncts, the mised will be demised, the parted will be departed, the animate will be inanimate and the sensate will be insensate.  Bloom where you are planted, but choose now to be planted in the right location... a great location with a view, that is how you want to spend eternity, with your friends and family all around and above and beneath you. Discounts for mass burials, family unit cremations, and cash payments in advance!...  

If you dig it, go with the flow.

So far, 100 billion have died on this planet.  Thanks to Jesus Christ, all will live again.  Thanks to you temple attenders, many won't have to wait so long to qualify for the best that the next life has to offer.  Plan for the future, anchored in an understanding of the past.

Roy E. Howard

---

Finding Love Through Serving As A Missionary

J. Janeen Howard

Serving is our way of life as we live the Gospel in its fullness.  I never thought our health would be good enough for us to serve a mission.  The papers we had to fill out and send to Salt Lake were very detailed about the health of the prospective missionary.  You need to have good health to be able to do all the things needed to be done.  My sister-in-law said, “ A mission is a marvelous gift of time when you can experience glimpses of heavenly life.  It is a time of cleansing and refreshing.  It is a time to become a celestial candidate.  To sanctify yourselves you must serve others.  The highest of all service is to teach them truths and bring them to the temple.  My brother-in-law wrote that our mission would be just one phase of a continuous life style of serving others, and that after Ecuador it will continue forever.....added  upon many fold, with experiences and talents gained from each passing year.  

During this time of service we learned to put Christ first in our daily life and follow His teachings.  “come unto me all ye that are heavy laden, for my yoke is easy and my load is light  (Matt. 11:28).  Whatever we sacrifice, we must return to Christ and allow Him to be our guide now....no one else.  He is the healer, the master teacher, the one and only way back to our Heavenly Father.  Serving in the temple 5 days a week was the most humbling, spiritual, and inspirational time of my life.  There we receive the further light and knowledge and insights our Father wishes for us to learn.  We are taught how to serve and how to love one another through this sacred service rendered in His sacred holy house.  It is hard to explain the feelings I had as I entered the temple each day.  I just knew that was where I was to be at that time in my life and the Lord helped me do as much as I could with my limitations.  He doesn’t care what limitations we  have, He is interested in our intent and desire to serve.  He knows our heart and understands when we have no words to express what we feel.  It was such a joyous time to be able to be so near to a temple 24 hrs. a day, 7 days a week for 15 months.  How I miss it!

You never know who you might be serving and may even be surprised when you find out!  The love we felt from the temple workers and members of the ward was so strong and palpable!!  The warm abrazos or hugs, and little kisses of the cheek.  This is their way of greeting you and it is a wonderful way to greet one another!  I miss that here at home.  I have been taught to listen to the spirit and act upon those feelings and promptings  knowing the Holy Ghost was my constant guide.  

Those couples who are able and willing to serve a mission will never regret it, I promise.  You will be blessed to do what is needed.  I learned to pace myself and only work a certain amount of time knowing if I did more that my health would be in jeopardy.  It was a hard lesson to learn, because I was so anxious to do everything.  I learned to pace myself and listen to my body when it was time to stop.  I didn’t realize there are so many different types of missions for couples, even ones you can do from your own home!  The Lord will take us however He can get us and He will fill in the gaps when we are unable to do so.  

Brothers and Sisters I don’t know your circumstances, rather I just want to share my testimony of the growth and knowledge I have gained from serving with my husband.  It was not all easy and there were many rough spots to walk over and try to smooth out, but the Lord was right there to help us each and every day.  It is a miracle that my husband who has Parkinsons Disease was even allowed to go to another country and serve a mission.  He was healthier than I was and was so busy when he wasn’t in the temple teaching music lessons, going to other wards and stakes to teach people how to lead a choir, to perform, he even got a fishing club organized!  He only took rests when I made him because he said he had so much to do before we came home.

  I have a 15 yr. old grandson in Lubbock, Tx. who had a very interesting experience the other day.  He and his mother are not active in the church and he hasn’t even received the Priesthood yet, which is a concern of ours.  But he found a friend who needed help the other night, a place to sleep as he was going to run away from home.  Brandon let him sleep in their shed, giving him a blanket and a pillow, unbeknownst to his mother.  The boy said his friend told him Brandon would help him and he did.  The next day he told the boy he would ride the bus to school if he would come too so he could get some help.  The boy did.  He had been in a horrible family situation where there were many other foster children who were being abused.  To make this short, the police went to the home and took all the children away.  The principal, the police and the sheriff kept saying what a good boy Brandon is and that he didn’t do anything bad.  HE probably saved those children’s lives.  I know he learned the virtue of kindness from his mother and someday she and Brandon will find their way back to church.  

I may not know much  brothers and sisters, but I know we have a living prophet at the head of Christ’s church today and very shortly we will have the blessing to listen to what the Lord wants to tell us at this time through the voice of Pres. Monson, his counselors, and the 12 apostles and other quorums.  Our Father in Heaven is mindful of us.  He knows us.  Our Savior Jesus Christ gave His life that we might once again live and return to our Celestial Home.  What greater blessing is this?  I am blessed as a wife, mother and grandmother to have a most wonderful family.  I testify with all my heart that as you reach out to serve and love others the way will be paved for greater things to come to you in your life.  I has mine!  And I say this in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.