Happy Easter Sunday!

"And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.  He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.  Come, see the place where the Lord lay." Matthew 28:5-6

Happy Birthday, Sister Howard!

Sábado 30 Abril 2011 2 pm empieza el concierto y almuerzo - Martha Encalada canta "Doña Nelly" en "Restaurant La Trucha" en Huagrahuma. http://www.cantos.org/jaguares/eventos.html Venga temprano para pescar en el Rio Muguír con Pablo en la Piscícola Quiroz Quiroz (083 546 899, 095 237 185). 

Temple views

Guayaquil Temple at night

Here are a few views of the temple you could share: 

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2081211&id=1399658247&l=d4740dcdfc

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2082032&id=1399658247&l=6f2f05c6af

Grow Tall and Strong

Redwood trees in California

Where I grew up in California, it was handy to visit the redwood forests.  Curiously, the Thursday evening temple coordinator in Guayaquil is Walter Redwood.  He is 100% Ecuatoriano, has never seen a redwood tree, and furthermore, he is very short, but wears a size 50 jacket; very different from a redwood tree.

 This tree is 369 feet tall (twice as tall as the Statue of Liberty).  Another tree in the same forest is 379 feet tall, but only temporarily.  "Its mass is equivalent to 15 adult blue whales, the largest animal on earth. Each year, this tree produces enough new wood to make a 90-foot-tall tree with a trunk 12 inches in diameter. If all of Del Norte Titan were cut into boards one foot wide, 12 feet long and one inch thick, the line of planks laid end to end would stretch over a hundred miles and could build 120 average-sized houses."

It looks tall and slim, but it is very, very big around.  What I remember about these trees of interest, is that they grow in rocky soil with short roots.  They stand for over 1,000 years because their roots reach out to each other and intertwine.  They hold each other up!

Grow tall, but "see that ye are not lifted up unto pride; yea, see that ye do not boast in your own wisdom, nor of your much strength. Use boldness, but not overbearance; and also see that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love... Alma 38:11, 12

Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds. The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation. It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.  Psalms 68:34, 118:14, 18:32, 28:7

Your greatest strength is in your marriage:
.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwHmjd70cso

Memories

Cousin Brett Foutz made a lot of memories in his home in Gilbert, Arizona.  Now the memories are all that is left.
http://www.kpho.com/slideshow/news/27445576/detail.html

Fuschias (Arete)

When I play the organ for preparation meetings at the temple, I think of my mother and how she played the organ at home every night, and at church, and that she loved the temple.  At the Farmers Market in Guayaquil I found one Fuschia plant and bought it for $7.  A valuable investment in a memory, as my mother always had many Fuschias.

Templo de Guayaquil

Many of the General Conference talks in April, 2011 focused on being prepared for times of pain, suffering, and all manner of tribulations.  The insight I had was that we must avoid the temptations of materialism, and focus our time and energies on building relationships and memories.  Don't forget to share your feelings and experiences with your family and friends.  Be sure to create memorabilia and traditions and stories that can be passed on from generation to generation.

Huge sculpture in Guayaquil

Be sure that your children have memories of their grandmother, including knowing about your experiences with her.   One way to do that is to come to Guayaquil for a visit and tour with her.  Be sure to ask her about the fabulous sculptures throughout the city.

We will be with the family again by November, 2011.  In November 2009 I had a dream about the family.  Here is how I documented my pleasant dream and the music that I dreamed up to go with it.  Ask your mother about the dreams she has about you!

Words of the Prophets

Latest General Conference

Oakland Temple, where I did my endowments in 1967

 "For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.  For by doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and for his name's glory." Doctrine & Covenants 21:5-6





April 2011 General Conference

Lubbock Temple where close to home gives access to all.

"No text nor volume outside of the standard works of the Church should have such a prominent place on your personal library shelves [as the General Conference issue of the Ensign], not because of their rhetorical excellence, nor the eloquence of delivery, but for the content which points the way to eternal life" (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 523).

The great work of the temples

Familia Pino, 25 Marzo 2011

"The Prophet Elijah was to plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to their fathers, foreshadowing the great work to be done in the temples of the Lord in the dispensation of the fulness of times, for the redemption of the dead, and the sealing of the children to their parents, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse and utterly wasted at his coming." Doctrine & Covenants 138:47-48

Super Luna Marzo 2011

"When we go back into the other life and find our dead friends living there, if we have not performed the labor that is necessary for their exaltation and glory we shall not feel very happy and it will not be a very pleasant meeting.  We ought not to wait for opportunities to be pleasant and agreeable always; but we should strive, even if it takes a little sacrifice on our part, to put ourselves in a condition to perform this labor" (The Teachings of Lorenzo Snow, p. 97).

Super Luna

"For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works." Matthew 16:27   .

Super Moon last night

And behold this is not all, there shall be
many signs and wondersin heaven. Helaman 14:6

"Righteousness must be the aim of the Saints in all things . . . Do good and work righteousness with an eye single to the glory of God, and you shall reap your reward when the Lord recompenses every one according to his work . . . In the name of Jesus Christ we entreat you to live worthy of the blessings that shall follow after much tribulation, to satiate the souls of them that hold out faithful to the end" (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, p. 353)

For as the light of the morning 

cometh out of the east, 

and shineth even unto the west, 

and covereth the whole earth, 

so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.

Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:26

Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. Mahatma Ghandi.

My Soul Delighteth in the Things of the Lord

2 Nephi 4

16Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard.
 
17Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorrowethbecause of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.
 
18I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me.
 
19And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.
 
20My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.
 
21He hath filled me with his alove, even unto the consuming of my flesh.
 
22He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me.
 
23Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night-time.
 
24And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me.
 
25And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carriedaway upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them.
 
26O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?
 
27And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy?
 
28Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.
 
29Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions.
 
30Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation.
 
31O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?
 
32May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I may walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road!
 
33O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness! O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine enemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way—but that thou wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my way, but the ways of mine enemy.
 
34O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.
 
35Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen.

Knowing what is important

Heather is grateful for the protection and blessings of Heavenly Father today.  Brandon layed his motorbike onto the road to avoid being hit by a fast car that did not stop or slow down at an intersection out in the country.  Covered with blood, he was taken to the Lubbock hospital with a concussion and shock.  However, he only has skin damage, and is expected to recover soon.  His home teachers will give him a blessing tomorrow.  Heather says, "everything is fine, we know it could have been much worse".

Heather is taking time off from work to stay with Brandon while it is so hard to walk and he is in so much pain.  "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6:19-21).

The "grim reality" of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan has caught the attention of the people of Ecuador.  People who came to the temple seeking safety and peace were told by Security: "the temple is closed for maintenance, your home is the holy place where you should teach and protect your family".

Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh quickly, saith the Lord. Amen. (Doctrine and Covenants 87:8)

"The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean bhands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation (Psalm 24:1-5).

Heather and Brandon are very happy with the nurses, physicians, physical therapists, and all who are taking care of him.  Spring Break just started, so he will not even miss school.

The bishops in Ecuador are reminding the people to listen to the prophets and have supplies on hand for emergencies, but not to value possessions.  There are other values much higher.  "If we are poor, and have not as much as our neighbor possesses, do not envy him, and do not worry about it.  As I said in the beginning of my remarks, there is an eternity before us, and we shall always be ourselves, and nobody else, and what we do not gain today we will gain tomorrow, or some other time" (The Teachings of Lorenzo Snow, p. 131).

Like Brandon and the people of Japan, we are all at risk every moment of every day.  "We are all in it together, all of us, and we have a great work to do.  Every teacher can be a better teacher than he or she is today.  Every officer can be a better officer than he or she is today. Every father can be a better father, every mother a better mother, every husband can be a better husband, every wife a better wife, every child a better child.  We are on the road that leads to immortality and eternal life and today is a part of it.  Let us never forget it" (The Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, p. 582).

To us what is important is our family and our friends.  "For this cause we also . . . do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God" (Colossians 1:9-11).

Grandma loves Annie

Heber J. Grant

"Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; for the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves.  And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward." Doctrine & Covenants 58:27-28

"Never be found among the number that try to see how little they can do; but always be found among the number that try to see how much they can do" (Heber J. Grant, Gospel Standards, p. 97).

Guayaquil Temple Steeple at sunset in March

Sister Howard loves to be of service to her family, friends, and everyone all over the world.  Her last assignment in the Gallup schools was to train and support families and parents.  The training included child care.  In this 2006 video we see her in action, soothing Annie by loving and talking and holding and shushing in her ear.  Another technique not demonstrated is swaddling.

Learn of Me

Carlene and Annie and happy to talk to Grandma and Grandpa on Skype

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." Matthew 11:29

"By learning of Him, by believing in Him, by following Him, there is the capacity to become like Him. The countenance can change, the heart can be softened, the step can be quickened, the outlook enhanced. Life becomes what it should become. Change is at times imperceptible, but it does take place." (Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, May 1996, p. 51).

Fishing in the Rio Miguir is like fishing in the
California Coastal Range, except it is
almost 10,000 feet in altitude.

Countenance change, heart softened, step quickened, outlook enhanced, life what it should be... sounds like fishing trip.  Maybe going fishing is a way to be more like God... if you also learn, believe and follow as well.

Be Merciful to Others

Joseph Smith

"Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." Matthew 5:7

"The nearer we get to our heavenly Father, the more we are disposed to look with compassion on perishing souls; we feel that we want to take them upon our shoulders, and cast their sins behind our backs. . . . If you would have God have mercy on you, have mercy on one another" (History of the Church, 5:24).

Bishop Luis Correa

Bishop Luis Correa is an attorney.  Many of his clients are applying for divorce.  His teaching to them about love and marriage and mercy and forgiveness result in reduced income, and increased blessings to the families he restores.

Change can take place

Thomas S. Monson

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." Matthew 11:29

"By learning of Him, by believing in Him, by following Him, there is the capacity to become like Him. The countenance can change, the heart can be softened, the step can be quickened, the outlook enhanced. Life becomes what it should become. Change is at times imperceptible, but it does take place." (Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, May 1996, p. 51).

Our view can change.  Don't judge yourself or anyone else 
until you have the opportunity to see the issue in a different light.

Live and Learn

Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. Mahatma Gandhi

Peace on Earth

Jugo de Guanábana con amigos

Elder Howard con amigos músicos

"Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." Luke 17:21

"The mission of the Church is to prepare the way for the final establishment of the kingdom of God on earth.  Its purpose is, first, to develop in men's lives Christlike attributes; and, second, to transform society so that the world may be a better and more peaceful place in which to live" (David O. McKay, Gospel Ideals, p. 104).

Elder Howard con amigas

Me visitan los amigos en el hospital

Feliz Día de los Enamorados

California is a romantic place
just ask Zane and Sarah
Happy Valentines Day

Affliction

Sister Howard found a man on the beach who loves her.

If you live on this planet, you must be prepared for afflictions and sickness.  The best way to prepare is to love and be loved.

It is going to get worse before it gets better: "For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be." Mark 13:19

"We are the only animals that let our kids come back home." Bill Cosby.  We hope that our kids let us come back home.  In these troubled times, we must be close to those who love us.

"Having one child makes you a parent; having two you are a referee." David Frost.  We tried as hard as we knew how to raise our kids with love and acceptance.  Now in our old age we are learning to love even more.

Our four kids get along with each other pretty well.

Tell us about acts of service

The night of February 4, on the anniversary of the departure of the Saints from Nauvoo (in 1846) I dreamed that I finally learned how to spend time with my wife by learning to follow my father’s example.

My father worked hard all his life to provide for the family, and in so doing, was gone from them most of the time.  He tried to magnify callings, study and learn, and try to be ever better qualified for the Lord’s service; but he had to be forced into early retirement in order to be available with his wife as missionaries in Chile.  Her serious health problems began after the mission, and my father spent fifteen of his last twenty five years learning to make his wife the first priority of his life, including dedicating four years to her full time care while she was completely helpless.  

Now the Lord is trying to help me understand that no success can compensate for failure in the home; that a man is not whole without a help meet and companion; that no other assignment or act of service is more important than fostering the love and trust of my wife.  When I left on my first mission, my father counseled me to allow folks to serve me, because that is how love grows in them, and their lives are blessed.  I hope I can learn to love and serve my wife now while we are young and healthy temple missionaries.  

In our old age we will need each other more and more, but we can’t wait for that day to come.  We must learn to need each other now.  As we serve each other selfishlessly, our love will begin to mature, and we will learn to be more like our Savior.

Better Keep in Touch!

Elder Howard back home on the ranch

Jake, the rancher, went one day


To fix a distant fence.


The wind was cold and gusty


And the clouds rolled gray and dense.





As he pounded the last staples in


And gathered tools to go,


The temperature had fallen,


The wind and snow began to blow.



When he finally reached his pickup,


He felt a heavy heart.


From the sound of that ignition


He knew it wouldn't start.



So Jake did what most of us


Would do if we had been there.


He humbly bowed his balding head


And sent aloft a prayer.



Michael Andrews
never feared the cold

As he turned the key for the last time,


He softly cursed his luck


They found him three days later,


Frozen stiff in that old truck.



Now Jake had been around in life


And done his share of roaming.


But when he saw Heaven, he was shocked --


It looked just like Wyoming !



Of all the saints in Heaven,


His favorite was St. Peter.


So they sat and talked a minute or two,
Or maybe it was three.


Nobody was keeping' score --
In Heaven, time is free.



I’ve always heard,' Jake said to Pete,
'

that God will answer prayer,


But one time I asked for help,


Well, he just plain wasn't there.'



'Does God answer prayers of some,


And ignore the prayers of others?


That don't seem exactly square --


I know all men are brothers.'

'

Or does he randomly reply,


Without good rhyme or reason?


Maybe, it's the time of day,


The weather or the season.'



'Now I ain't trying to act smart,


It's just the way I feel.


And I was wondering', could you tell me --


What the heck's the deal?!'



Peter listened very patiently


And when Jake was done,


There were smiles of recognition,


And he said, 'So, you're the one!!'



Troy knows how to stay in touch

That day your truck, it wouldn't start,


And you sent your prayer a flying,


You gave us all a real bad time,


With hundreds of us trying..'



'A thousand angels rushed,


To check the status of your file,


But you know, Jake, we hadn't heard


From you in quite a long while.'



'And though all prayers are answered,


And God ain't got no quota,


He didn't recognize your voice,


And started a truck in Minnesota '



BETTER KEEP IN TOUCH!

Filled with His Love

Stanlie Gail, fearless adventurer

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with his love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen." Moroni 7:48

Joseph Fielding Smith

"We accept without reservation the scriptural teachings that Christ is the Son of God and that he came into the world to ransom men from the spiritual and temporal death brought into the world by the fall of Adam. . . . We must believe in Christ and pattern our lives after him. We must be baptized as he was baptized. We must worship the Father as he did. We must do the will of the Father as he did. We must seek to do good and work righteousness as he did. He is our Exemplar, the great Prototype of salvation" (Joseph Fielding Smith, Ensign, November 1971, p. 3).