The following transcript is intended to aid in your study. However, while we try to go through the transcript, our transcripts are primarily computer-generated and often contain errors. Please forgive the transcripts’ imperfections.
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Segment 1
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Do me a favor. Before we begin this episode, I want you to take a big, deep breath. Inhale, and now exhale. And now I want you to know this. God is aware of everything you are going through right now. And he has words for you this week. Doctrine and covenants. Sections 98 through 1 0 1 are God's words given to Joseph Smith, who at the time had no idea what the saints in Jackson County were going through.
And Joseph received revelations for them because God knew exactly what they were going through in sections 97, 98 and 1 0 1. A loving father in heaven and his son, Jesus Christ, had some very comforting words for them, and those words can be comforting for us. Today, welcome to the Sunday on Monday Study Group, a Deseret Bookshelf Plus original, brought to you by LDS Living, where we take the come Follow Me lesson for the week, and we really dig into the scriptures together.
I'm your host, Tammy Uzelac Hall. If you're new to our study group, please follow the link in our description and it will explain how you can best use this podcast to enhance your come Follow Me study, just like my longtime listening friend, Joe Martin. Now, another awesome thing about our study group is each week we're joined by two of my friends, so it's always a little bit different, but today.
We have five friends who are going to be on, and you're gonna meet them a little bit later and I'll explain later in the next segment. But you can find pictures and bios of my friends in our show notes, which are found at LDS living.com/sunday on Monday. So everyone grab your scriptures and let's dig into doctrine and Calvins sections 98 through 1 0 1.
Now, normally we begin this segment with asking the guests, what did the Holy Ghost teach you? But we're gonna do things a little bit different for this episode. We always ask our guests to tell us this, but I have five guests who are going to answer that question. Before they do, I want to give you some history about these sections.
You have to know this going into this discussion today. So [00:02:00] clear back in August of 1831, Sidney Rigdon, dedicated Jackson County, Missouri for a place of gathering, and Joseph Smith dedicated the temple site there, and he received other revelations. You can read that in sections 58, 59, and 60 of the doctrine covenants.
Now, fast forward two years from August, 1831, and we are in July of 1833, where leaders of a mob in Jackson County, Missouri called a meeting with WW Phelps and other church leaders because many of the people who were living in Jackson County who were not members of the church were sick of it. They did not want members of the church there anymore.
So mob leaders had a number of complaints about the saints. They felt threatened by the Saint's belief that Jackson County was a promised land that they called Zion, and they objected to the large number of people, many who were poor, who had come to their county for the previous two years to build up Zion.
So without a promise that the Saints would leave, the mob began a campaign of violent intimidation. They battered down the door of WW Phelps house. They threw the printing press out of the second story window onto the street below, and they destroyed the building. The Phelps family, they were left to seek shelter for the night.
In an abandoned stable, other saints suffered horribly. Bishop Edward Partridge and Charles Allen were tarred and feathered, and Sidney Gilbert's store was attacked. So three days later. Partridge Phelps and the other church leaders with no other alternative formally agreed that the Saints would evacuate the county by April of 1834 in nine months.
Now listen, during all of this, Joseph, who is in Kirtland, Ohio, he was curious about the Saints in Jackson County, and so he prayed to receive some guidance or word on what was going on. Joseph then receives two revelations sections, 97 and 98, and then a month later on August 9th, 1833, Joseph did receive word.
He received news from Oliver Cowdry, as well as a letter from WW [00:04:00] Phelps. I'm gonna read a little bit of WW Phelps's letter. I wait for the word of the Lord. If the Lord will yet speak to his children, it may be well to inquire every matter concerning the destruction of the printing office. I know from the experience I have had that it is a good thing to have our faith thoroughly tried.
Now that is a letter because I would complain nonstop. He wrote, he didn't go into great detail, at least not yet, because then in late October and early November, Jackson County vigilantes, they threatened the saints and they actually drove them from their homes. They didn't even get to get to April. On November 6th and seventh, while living as a refugee in Clay County, just north of Jackson County, WW Phelp wrote another letter, a very detailed account to Joseph Smith of the violence, and he described the beatings of church members, the destruction of their houses, and even bloodshed on both sides.
And he signed that letter, quote yours in affliction. I think many of us could write a letter and sign a letter to our prophet or to our Heavenly Father with yours in affliction. In late November or early December after receiving the letter, Joseph Smith prayerfully sought the revelatory guidance that Phelps and so many of the other saints just desperately needed.
And the result of his prayer is a letter dated December, 1833, which is known to us as Doctrine and Covenant section 1 0 1. So going back to how we started, did you guys take a deep breath because I want this deep breath to have us lead into our discussion of these sections because like the Saints in 1833, God is aware of everything you are going through right now and he has words for you.
This week for this episode, I've invited five friends to join us, and my five friends could absolutely sign a letter yours in affliction. And so I asked them to read Dr. Nes sections 98 and 1 0 1 and come prepared to share a verse or verses [00:06:00] that were comforting to them or could be comforting to anyone who is listening.
So in the next segment, we're going to begin with my dear friend in Affliction Tamu.
Segment 2
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So Tamu is my first guest and I couldn't be more happy. Okay, so Tamu, when I called you and said, here's my idea, tell me what you think. I will never forget when you just go, girl, it has been a year, almost been a year, and you just talked to me. So talk to me. Tell me about what's going on in your life and what verses in these sections hit you.
Look, when you called me originally, it has been a year. Look when 2025 is gone. God, please forgive me for saying this because I know that you all, things work together for the greater good that you create for us in this world. But I'm like, I don't, I'm, I don't think I'm gonna look back and miss it. At all.
In fact, I wanna say, when did you, we started prepping this month ago ago, like back in May. And Yeah, and, and you know, there's been a lot of loss in, in my friend group, you know, this, this year. And, um, and since then I've lost three more people, like, you know what I mean? And so I was just, me and God have kind of been, you know, me and my father have been fighting.
We, we talk 'cause I'm gonna talk to you when I'm upset with you. I mean, that's how you fight somebody. Like, yeah, I don't fight silence. So we kind of been going at it, you know, I'm, I've been upset with him and, um, but also I'm still gonna talk and still gonna read because I'm looking for the. For the silver line.
I'm [00:08:00] looking for the rainbow, you know? And, um, and so it, it has been a difficult year. So then reading this, there's been some like, uh, okay, all right. Okay. But then I'm like, no, but you said right here, and I'm somebody that if I find a promise in the scriptures, I am standing in it, and I will, I am, I am the woman that is constantly reminding a no.
You said if I do this, you're gonna do this. You said, if I do this, you, you're gonna do this. And I know that people say you're not supposed to do that, but we have these. For me, there's the rhythm of scriptures. And right now I'm in that season where I'm looking for peace provision and hope, you know, oh, beautiful.
This is what you, this is the thing that's supposed to bring peace. This is the thing that you say you're going to do. And this is where I'm supposed to, you know, have the hope. That if I do A, B, and C, that you're gonna do this. Now, that doesn't necessarily mean that because I'm obedient and because I'm living this law, you know, doing the best I can to live this law as perfectly as I can, that I'm going to be blessed.
I do believe that there's beauty for ashes and, um, I'm leaning into that the hope that this is all gonna make sense one day and that I will find the peace in that. And so that is what I just labeled sections 98 through 1 0 1, the Peace Provision and Hope sections, that that's where I thank you for teaching me that.
You know, in other seasons it may, it it's, it may be different, but I, I do look for, I'm always looking for peace and I'm always looking for provision and hope. Sometimes there's like, okay, there's the chastisement, there's this, there's this, there's this. But there has to be the rhythm of [00:10:00] it. And I also have to know that I am not the only person that is going through mm-hmm.
Things like, not this particular thing, but there are people that have gone through things that this is a rhythm. Yeah. And so give me some of your peace, provision and hope verses um, let's see. I'd love to know what you marked the NC 98 2 and three. Waiting patiently on the Lord for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabo, Sabo, Sabo.
Oh. Can we talk about that word for a minute? Look, I was like, I, I wrote it down. 'cause I was like, I have to look that up. It's one of my favorite titles for the savior. It's called the, and you can say the Lord of Sabbath. I remember reading it going, oh, of course he's the Lord of Sabbath. 'cause he made the Sabbath Sabbath.
They holy all. But actually it's a Hebrew term. It's the Lord of Saba Oath or Saba oat. So Saba oat in Hebrew, Saba oat is the word in Hebrew and it literally means host or army. So he's the Lord of hosts, Lord of army. Now I remember thinking about that, going, well, of course he is. He's the Lord of an army of angels or the Lord of the host of angels.
But Kerry Mulestein taught me the most brilliant thing ever and he, this has changed my life. He said, when we talk about the Lord of Saba oat, we talk about the being him a God of army, a God of hosts. What that tells us is that he's a warrior and he knows how to fight. Okay. Then I know because he said sometimes we struggle with that.
We want the version of Jesus that's soft and cuddly and charitable and kind, but we also have to believe that he is also a God who is just and can fight and knows the enemy's tactics and will fight for you and will go into battle with you. That brings me even more hope. Yes. In the suffering that I'm going through.
You know what? I'm Oh. Oh, that makes me happy. Okay. [00:12:00] Yeah. Together then. Oh, see the I I love it when it says right here that your prayers have entered into the Lord of Saba oat, or your prayers have entered into the captain of the army or the guy in charge who knows how to win this war with you. Yes. Yes.
So, in fact, the Lord of the Saba oat is only used three times throughout the doctrine and covenants that he calls himself. That, and, and so I just think it, we need to pause for a minute, highlight that and go, okay. Hold on. This, this God of armies, the God of hosts. He's heard my prayer. So that must mean he's gonna do something about it.
'cause it says it's recorded with a seal and a testament. Oh, he's gonna do something because he says it is recorded in, it is, it is recorded with this seal in Testament girl, he gonna do something. So when you think about a captain back in the day, and they would take a seal. They would take their ring and they would seal anything that they were writing their name on.
Like, so let it be written. So let it be done. That's what we're talking about right here, like, and it's guaranteed. The Lord has sworn and decree that they shall be guaranteed or they shall be granted. No, no. I said okay. Alright Lord. Well I read that and I was like, okay, okay. So we just kind of in a little bit of a light, we not fighting, fighting no more.
And now that I know that you a warrior, I can kind a warrior right now. Energy he can overcome and fix any problem. Hello? Yeah. Yes. Okay. Yeah. I'm so glad we got to talk about that word 'cause that is so important. And then go into verse three, knowing that about him, he goes on to say, therefore he give it this promise.
And I love Meia promise. Like I said, I'm like, if you tell me that the Lord, if he promised it to Abraham, he promised it to me. So if this is a promise for them, it's also a promise for you. I live in the promise, so [00:14:00] therefore he give it this promise unto you. With an immutable covenant, we all know what a covenant is.
Yep. That they shall be fulfilled in all things wherewith. You have been afflicted shall work together for your good. In my name's Glory. Say it the Lord. Amen. I keep writing down everything you say. I love that you said I live in the promise, I'm living in it. That's all you can do, isn't it? Most days it's just live in that promise.
Okay, God. Well, some people won't like and because you're told, you know, after if it's no, it's no. And I'm like Uhuh as I've been a child and I've been a parent. No, ain't always. No, come on. So, and as my parents, I know that God wants to grant me the things that make me, you know, that are good for me, that I delight in.
And if it's something I feel like something is good for me. A no is just a yes waiting to happen. It's so fun. I love that because in my life I've noticed that when I get nos, God knows what's gonna make me happy. And so it ends up becoming a yes that I never expected. Yeah. And then I can look back and go, oh my goodness.
I would never have asked for that. 'cause I didn't know to ask for that. So that was the no. But then God's like, don't worry, I got this. I, I got it covered. Wait, I didn't think I could ask for this over here. So I asked for this. I asked for the low hanging fruit, but now that I got this underneath that, yes, I need it.
So it's almost like when you live in the promise, you can also say, I also, and I live in the nose. Yeah. I live in the nose. 'cause I live in the promise that you have something better. Yes. You have something better for me. And so that, I love that that one was like, there's hope in this suffering. Mm-hmm. And.
Honestly when you're going, when [00:16:00] you're in these dark tunnels and you do feel the suffering and you're looking at your friends, you know, suffer for the loss of their, their husbands or their children and you know that there is nothing you can do except for be there, mourn with them, comfort them, but also, and of course I do think that I'm God's favorite and I do think that you are.
I do think that I have this special connection where I can just be like, God, why did you do this? Like you see what this family is going through and receive that answer. But there's the hope and the suffering is something that if I'm suffering and there is no hope, it is just dark. Yeah. If I'm suffering and there is hope, there is that warmth.
There's that comfort of. This is for the greater good. There is something better coming, like mm-hmm. It is like, this is not going to last always. Oh, I like that. And so those scriptures, like, I was like, okay, I just need that reminder. Okay. I feel better now. It's like, like a little kid, like with learning how to ride a bike and you let the bike go and I'm just like, guys, you let this bike go and you know, I don't know how to ride this bike.
It's like, oh, but you got these training wheels like this. Scriptures for me are the training wheels of, okay, I'm not falling, I'm, you know, and if I do fall, I'm falling on a, on a cloud, I'm falling on softness. And uh, that gives me hope. Wow, TAMU. Thank you. Thank you for that whole discussion because I think, and I'm really hoping with our guests today that we will see how sections 98 through 1 0 1 are sections of peace, provision and hope.
And you have set that up perfectly. And I didn't even know you were going to, we didn't even have a discussion about that, that I, I [00:18:00] was like, look, we had the, the wow, the whole, the, the renounce war proclaimed piece that I had that highlighted. It's just so many. It's, it was so many, you know, God will provide, um, we'll have to ask our guests at the end of this whole episode to share versus from these sections that they feel like are hopeful for people that provide peace provision and hope that that'll be our question this week.
'cause I think that we need that. But I think that's a great question. Yeah. But this one I do wanna say, okay, so DNC 112, okay. It was good for me because it brought that light and that God has a bigger plan to my mind. Like, it's one thing, your heart feels hurt, but you know, the reality is your mind is like your mind and your heart.
When they work together, there's good. So 12 says, therefore, continue your journey and let your hearts rejoice for behold and low. I am with you even until the end. And it just, it just brought that, um, it brought peace, it brought, just brought peace for me. And I just, that one is the one that as I have, you know, every day when I'm thinking about some of the things, I'm just like, there's gonna be some rejoicing and God is with me even to the end.
So, and if he's with me to the end, he was with those people who I've lost to the end and he's with those, their families who are struggling with their loss. To the end, he is with them. All they have to do is call on him. I do. And I just love, I mean I've read that before, but having you read it to me and talk about it really strengthened my testimony, especially with that word even because he could have said, I am low.
I am with you unto the end. Right. But to say low, I'm with you. Even unto the end that added just so much. Like [00:20:00] he's not going anywhere. Right. Wow. Tamu, thank you. Just look even to the end. Yeah. And that's a long time. It is a long time to be with me. Long time for someone to hang out with me. Woo. Look even to the end.
Wow. Okay. This is gonna be a great discussion. I'm so excited for this. So Tam and I invited friends and we have four friends here today that are gonna share with us what they learned. Tam's friend, coming up next, do you have anything to say about him before we get started? Y'all are not even ready for this.
Y'all not ready? No, I don't think we're ready. That's all. That's all. That's how I will set this up. He's amazing. And y'all are not ready. Okay. So we'll introduce you to her friend in the next segment.
Segment 3
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Hello everybody. This is my really good friend and brother served his mission in San Bernardino. Y'all know I'm from San Bernardino. Back then it was the IE 7 1 4. I know it sounds a little gang banging, but it's not like Christ. But this is, is Rex Galbrath and if you knew him back then, elder Galbrath. Um, and he is, I know that this seems so crazy because I've never, I don't really talk about my ward like that, but I have actually, I have a great ward.
Don't go back and listen to anything else I've ever said about my ward, but a great ward. We're full of great people and Rex is one of those people, he's in my ward and, um, has a great family. I also have taught his daughter in my Sunday school class. She's amazing and she gets that from her parents. And so, and Rex always has like, he always has these very inspirational and fun things to say.
One [00:22:00] thing that I will say about Rex, and this is, um, it really touches me that Rex always ask about my children who are less active in church. I don't like to use the word inactive, but less active. And, um, it touches me that he cares. He's always asking where are they at? And you know, when he sees them, they always feel loved.
And so, and that's, that becomes important. That's important. And, and fortifying people in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Not in the church of Jesus Christ, the latter they saints, but in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because when people feel like you love them first, that you can tell them anything. So thank you, Rex.
Well, thank you. What, what an intro. And I, I do love your family. You have incredible kids and we have awesome people in our neighborhood. So it's, it's, it's, it's great to be part of a great community. Well, we are gonna have so much fun with this. So we, we prepped you by telling you. We wanted you to come sharing scriptures from sections 98 through 1 0 1.
Anything that you think could offer somebody comfort or hope or maybe yourself, comfort or hope, because we set this whole episode up by saying that the saints were going through such a horrible time and Joseph wouldn't have known it 'cause he was in Kirtland and they're in Jackson County, Missouri. And it's just fascinating to me how he prays to the Lord to say, how are the saints?
And then he gets section 97 and 98, and then he receives a letter from the Saints, oh, they're not good. And then he prays again and he gets section 1 0 1. So Rex, share with us a verse or some verses that you found that you think could be helpful to anybody listening who might be going through something that's difficult.
Yeah, so the verse that comes to mind when I read through it was DNC 1 0 1 16, and it's only one part, it's a small part, and it just says, be still and know that I am God. I have read that so many times and glossed over it, but when you need it, it means. So much. And so I, I've, [00:24:00] I've had trials like anybody else.
And, uh, yeah, I was gonna ask, when have you needed it? Can you share a time? I, I, there's been a couple times, but when I was growing up, um, I always had a vision of what a family would look like. And one thing that I always had this idea of is what it would be like to have a son that you could throw a baseball with.
Do all those things that I grew up doing and passing on knowledge. When my son was three or four, he was diagnosed with autism. And the one thing that I didn't realize at the time is that when someone is diagnosed with severe autism, the life that you dreamed of and that you wanted is not gonna, it's not gonna play out the way that you think.
And it's almost like, and I don't wanna overplay it to death, but it's the death of a life that you thought would be lived. And, and that was really hard and it happened slowly. Uh, slow death. Or the way that we're we're describing, it is very difficult to see. I've, I've experienced a sister that's passed away and grandma, and when it's, when it happens quickly, you grieve quickly and, and you feel a lot.
And then, and then it kind of subsides. You learn, learn to deal with it. But when it's an ongoing thing, it takes a lot. And especially when you see kids the same age, continue to pass your children up over, it's a constant reminder of the life that I set and then I wanted for him. It's a constant reminder that it's not gonna play out that way.
And that was really difficult. Yeah. And, and so that scripture meant a lot to me because it's difficult when you don't trust in God. 'cause in that moment I'm like, where I went on a mission to San Bernardino, the best mission in the world. I li I've been living a great life. Why did I not get that? I, I've been, my first kid was my [00:26:00] daughter, and she's, she's amazing.
And then when Trey came, and as much as I loved him, I was just like, no prom, no getting in trouble, not getting invites to birthday parties, failing every test, um, schools not wanting to accept them in, and just a world that doesn't want to adapt to people that are, are not neurotypical. And, and so what I learned was, is that when I didn't trust God, my fear went up, my anxiety went up, and I was trying to create a script, uh, that was different from the one that God had for Trey.
And, and so it, it makes it really, really difficult. And, uh, what I learned that, you know, after now he's 13, is that the script is way better. Then I had it in my mind for my whole life. I had this idea of what parenthood and being a dad to a son looked like, and now I get to see what pure love is like. I get to see through his eyes what a world of no judgment, um, what somebody like all the Christ-like attributes I'm seeking for throughout my life that I hope I attain by the time this life is over.
Trey has achieved them as a, as a child. And so I'm like, I get this opportunity and, and we're like a big Disney family. Like another benefit is Trey's gonna love Disney like a little kid for the rest of his life. And, and that was something that we always feared was, oh man, our kids are gone. We don't get this ex, A lot of these experiences, childlike experiences, Trey will, will keep with us for our entire life.
And so my hope is that the story that I've had with my son is that. Um, if you are still, and know that God is scripting [00:28:00] something better for you than you could ever imagine, and just let him just, just follow and let him direct the show, the outcome will be way better, way better than you could ever imagine.
And it's, I actually look back and shame a little bit to not, to be like, oh my gosh, how did I not trust? If God loves Trey more than I do, then I should, then I should remember that, that he's, he's looking out for me. He's looking out for him, and he's not gonna, he's not gonna let me or anyone else ruin Trey's story.
And, and I just get the, the blessing of being part of it. Oh my gosh. Amen. Well, we're a mess. Tammy and I are wiping our eyes. Girl, I'm sorry, I'm, I'm writing in my scriptures right now, Rex, because you said, and I love this, I wrote next to verse 16, let God direct the show. His script is way better. Oh my gosh.
I love that you just taught that to us Soho, while I write that down. Oh, no problem. It good. It's a, it's a, it's a beautiful thing. And the one thing I would say is, is one thing that can help you is you're looking for comfort. Comfort. Look for the non-typical people to help you. Mm-hmm. The, the, the ones that you don't expect.
If you look deeper than skin deep, you will find things and find, uh, skills, relationships that you would never have imagined had Trey not come into our life. I don't think I ever would've went into the autism world. Um, and then I've learned that there's people who actually raise their hand and sign up to work with these kids.
And I'm like, and they always tell us like, oh, you're amazing parents. I'm like, I didn't sign up for that. You did. There are people out there that are looking and running into the burning building while people like me are trying to run out of any building that causes me discomfort. Mm-hmm. And, [00:30:00] and, and, and they're typically the people you don't expect.
It's the, it's the quiet ones. The ones that aren't openly talking about how great and they're serving their fellow beings. It's, it's the quiet ones, it's the non-typical ones. The non-typical ones are gonna be the ones that will provide you a different angle of dealing with your challenges to give you the comfort that you need when you need it.
Wow. I have a follow up question, Rex. I wanna know through everything that you just shared with us, what's something you do to stay focused on God? Is there anything you do in your life, like on a daily basis or, I don't know, a goal you have? Just what was it like for Rex Gare to really believe those words?
Um. It's interesting. This is a lesson. So if you teach young kids, even though it seems like they're not paying attention, and I didn't pay attention very often, but there was one thing that stuck with me, um, praying to me felt like talking to a wall when I was a kid. It, I didn't, it, it felt like ritualistic it, it seemed like fairytale.
And one of my Sunday school teacher said, when you pray, just come up with an image of what God looks like and let that be something. And, and it's okay to dialogue and converse when it was just not just throwing words into the air. And I could, like, I have a, if I could paint, I wish I could paint what you, what I see.
Mm-hmm. But there's been an image that I've had of God and, and I'm interested the day that I get to compare to see if it's, if it's comparable. Um, but it's in my mind. And he's, and, and he's very. He's, he's, he's very, it's a very comforting normal, and that's why I love like the Isaiah scriptures of there, there was the, he wasn't something like glorious.
Uh, it, it's very common and we feel comfortable, um, knowing that I [00:32:00] felt like I've had thousands of conversations. Mm-hmm. And it's, it's allowed me to focus because I'm not talking to something that seems fictitious. It, it seems real to me. And especially with like the advent of like AI and technology, I'm like, the fact that we can talk to each other from across the world and we can get images in this way.
I'm like, whatever technology God's operating on, why would it seem impossible for him to be able to communicate to us in ways that we can't understand? Uh, because I, I don't know how, I don't know how digital cell phone technology works, but we trust it. And if you, if you keep a constant line open. You may not understand how, how it actually technically works, but you know, the message gets through.
Amen. Ooh, we Rex, look at you making me look good. That's an incredible lesson on prayer. What a great challenge for everybody to accelerate their prayers, Rex. That is so good. Yeah. So I, that, that's, that's helped me focus. And, and I'll tell you, I, I go in and outta focus as much as anybody, but what I've learned is every time you get back in focus, you, you get stronger at, at, at getting back into that rhythm because you shouldn't beat yourself up if you've been going strong and then you fall off like that.
That is the human experience. And I think that's, that's what it's all about. It's, it's about can you get back up one more time than you fall? And, and so that, that's me. It, it gives me comfort to know that, uh, the line is always open when I'm ready for. Wow. Thank you. Thank you so much. That's exactly what we needed.
Mm-hmm. And now I think we know that Rex will be on again, so just plan on it. Rex, we're gonna have you on again as a guest for the full two hours. Yes. Six segments worth of information. You are good. Rex, that was awesome. Oh well I appreciate it. Thank you. Thanks friend. Thanks Rex. Thanks. Thanks. Well good luck.[00:34:00]
Segment 4
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So as my guest host, Ms. Tamu, she helped me come up with some guests and I am really excited 'cause I'm gonna let Tamu introduce who our guest is and tell us a little bit about yourselves. Like how do you guys know each other, all that fun things. So this is my good friend, joy. Joy Martin. Um, joy lives across the street from me.
Prior to living across the street from me, I lived around the corner from Joy. And our daughters grew up together. Um, I've taught her kids in Sunday school. Her husband has actually been my bishop, so he probably knows more detail about me than anybody. And he's sworn to secrecy, so he'll never tell. But Joy is like, she's just, she's Joy.
She's her name. It looks like she, looks like her name is her name. And I just want to this, you know, in all transparency, joy is painfully shy. And, um, this, this was, this is definitely out of her comfort zone, so I really appreciate her joining us on this episode. How you feeling Joy? I'm feeling, I'm feeling pretty comfortable.
I think, you know, the Lord's given me some comfort to do this and, and I think that Tamu, like, like she said, we've been neighbors for a really long time, but she was probably thinking, whose life has been such a hot mess the last few months, that's who I'm gonna reach out to, is Joy to do this. So no, no, no, no.
Not at all. Joy's so quiet. She's so quiet. But then I also know that, you know, when you look at people and you know they have something to say. Mm-hmm. I just, I, when I was praying about it, I kept, I kept having her name come to me and then I was like, I cannot ask Joy. I cannot ask [00:36:00] Joy. And then I thought, oh, I can ask Joe.
He is even shyer. You know, like, I'm just like, how are you the bishop? And you're so shy. He was like, please keep me off the radar. So. Wow. Well listen, just so you know, joy, we love hot messes, so you are in good company for sure. I think this is gonna be great and I'm looking forward to your answers. So we have just set this up by asking all of our guests share with us what you read in these sections that could be of comfort to anybody who could end a letter by saying yours in affliction.
Because I think all of us are in affliction and we're all struggling. So share with us what you found in these sections and give us some verses to mark or verse to mark if there's one. Yeah, there were, there were definitely a lot of verses that stood out to me, but the ones specifically about our trials and and afflictions in ENC section 98 verses one through three that go together.
This really resonated with me for these past few months. There's been a lot of good things in our lives and there's been a lot of hard things in the last few months. The scripture. Just really touched my heart and gave me some comfort. Um, I don't know. Do you want me to read that scripture? Yeah. Okay. So Doctor in covenants 98 verse one, verily I stand to you, my friends fear not let your heart be comforted.
Yay, rejoice evermore and in everything, give thanks. Waiting patiently on the Lord. For your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord and are recorded with this seal and testament. The Lord has sworn and decreed that they shall be granted. Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you with an immutable covenant, that they shall be fulfilled and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good.
And to my name's, glory sayeth the Lord. And, [00:38:00] um, the things, the phrases that kind of, um, stuck out, stuck out to me were, let your hearts be comforted and everything. Give thanks. Um, the Lord's. I heard my prayers and you know, they're gonna be granted and that all these things will work together for our good.
Those are the, the words that kind of resonated with me when I read the scriptures and all of these verses. Like I said, we've had a lot of blessings that have happened and Tams got to experience a lot of those with us. We've had a grand baby come into our lives and we had a wedding and a daughter preparing to serve a mission.
Um, these really great things. But in the midst of that also has come a lot of challenging things like my other daughter who struggles with infertility. And so having a baby enter into our home has, you know, been a little bit challenging. And also during this time, little things like everyone's, you know, trials, afflictions maybe aren't the same for everyone.
And I really love what. Sister Ka told my husband, he was blessed to have her serve as mission president, mission president's wife Oh, wow. In the Vancouver Canada mission. And she, she had told him, if it matters to, to you, it matters to him. And that has something that always has stuck with me because maybe my trials or things that are happening, you know, aren't as as big, but mm-hmm.
If it's important to us, it's important to our father in heaven. That's a beautiful sentiment. I really do believe that. That's not even a platitude. Like I believe that with all of my heart, it is absolutely important to our father in heaven. One, and yeah, I, I completely agree with that. That's beautiful.
If it matters to you, it matters to him. I'm getting that put on a. Perfect. Make me one too. Got you. Joy. Can you tell [00:40:00] us a little bit more about what else is going on in your life that's made it hard to give these verses some more depth or, um, context? Yeah. Also, I have a really amazing nephew that battled colorectal cancer, diagnosed to age 25, and we've had a blessing of lots of time with him.
But in, in June he passed away and, um, that was really a challenge for our family because he was kind of like one of our kids, a big brother to my daughters. I, I have four daughter daughters, so no sons, um, just gaining son-in-laws, but he spent a lot of time in our home after his mission. And um, we just got really close.
And, um, but in thinking of the scriptures and the comfort and peace that we felt through prayers and people's kind actions like. The primary valiant children came and wrote on our sidewalk like we are praying for you. And, and people reaching out and just seeing the goodness and giving our father in heaven, thanks for that, really helped be able to, um, recognize the blessings in it all.
And, and like Tammy said, I'm a very reserved, shy person and he had asked me to give his life sketch at his service. And I, you know, we had all these other things going on too, these happy things that, and there was this really hard thing in the midst of it, and just the peace that I felt from our father in heaven to be able to, to do that and seeing the blessings, even though it was a really hard thing.
Yeah. Tammy was her neighbor and friend. I know you've known this about her. What, what's it been like watching her and Joe go through this and their family? Well, again, with the great times, it's been beautiful with the, um, times of sorrow and [00:42:00] trouble. It is hard because sometimes you don't know, like when my mom passed away and when we've experienced, I'm, I'm getting emotional right now and I, I apologize in advance because my voice changes.
Um, when my mom passed away, you know, the first thing that they did was bring over like just, uh, utensils and stuff to eat on because they knew we have all this food coming in and to come and visit with us. And when someone has a lot of family, you don't know what to do. I don't know what to do. And so, you know, I just sent messages, you know, if you need anything.
And I know that people say that, but, and I'm not a cook, but I am. Great. At ordering things for people. And, um, and so I just, you know, let 'em know. Let them know that I, I'm here for them, but just to watch them go through it, you never know what people are going through in their daily lives. And, um, I knew that they were, I knew that this was a tough loss for them, but you couldn't, nobody could look at them and tell that they had experienced something tragic.
And I think that that is, that's the beauty. That's, I guess that's the blessing and the curse of humanity. Um, because when you're going through difficult things, life is still happening and the outside world has no idea what you're going through. And if we look like once, somebody said, if you, if you look like what you're going through.
Some of us will look like, hell, you guys did not look like hell, y'all look like heaven. And so, um, but it, it was, it's, it's tough to watch your friends experience something like that. And there's nothing you can do except for hold them up in [00:44:00] prayer. Definitely. I wanna go to verse three in section 98 that you shared with us, because as Tammy was talking, I just kind of glanced down and I saw at the very end where it says all things, where with you have been afflicted shall work together for your good.
And to my name's glory sayeth the Lord. And I'm just curious to know is has that been true in your pain, in your sorrow? 'cause sometimes we can read that and think it's a platitude that just is like, oh, here's what the Lord says so we can get through it. And you think, how could anything good come out of a loss?
But has there been any good. Um, there, there has been a lot of good, and sometimes I think when we're going through it, it's hard to recognize that these things are working together for our good. But going back and looking at things, um, that's what I try and do is go back and look and like, what blessings did I see in this?
And, um, some of the things for sure is just being able to continue on with these good, happy things that we had going on too. And I, I, uh, had the blessing of, you know, people reaching out and, and volunteering to help and me being okay, yes, you know, you can help me. 'cause that's something that's challenging for me too, is letting others, you know, come in and do things.
But I, um, just had to honestly do all that I could do and then turn it over to the Lord. And I saw. His hand, you know, working that with people, the goodness. And it was really felt and um, and, and that I was able to laugh at things, um, that I wouldn't have. That would've been really frustrating 'cause I just didn't have the time or control and, and to be able to do those things myself, like I had to speak the next day in church after my daughter's wedding.
And I got into my car and I noticed that there was this meat and cheese tray [00:46:00] that had got left in the car from the wedding. And I just started laughing. My car smelled like meat and cheese and it was July. And um, I still had to go and give this message. So just like being able to laugh at some things that maybe I wouldn't have been able to before, you know, and just turning all that hard stuff over to the Lord, which is something that I've had to learn over my lifetime.
And those things did work together for my good. Oh, that, I love that example. In fact, next to verse three, I wrote, go back and look what a great reminder that you might not be able to see the good while you're in it. But the Lord gives us the gift of being able to look back and remember. And I, I think that is a great statement to put next to that verse, to just go back and look and a great challenge for all of us who are either in the thick of it or if we're coming out to go back and look and see all of the blessings that the Lord has blessed us with.
That's a great, great way to say that. And, and think about that verse, you know, I was, I was, um, thinking about the scripture that you just read. And in that when it's talking about, uh, therefore let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion. We are Zion. You know, we are Zion. And also we are the ones that bring comfort to our friends and our neighbors in, in those moments.
And so I just was thinking as you were talking. You know, when we were at your daughter's baby shower, but then also we knew that Tanner, he was in his final days. And then, you know, you and your family, you, you guys were in DC for the work, for Joe's work trip. And then I think that's when he passed. Did he pass away then, or just the, the day before we were supposed to go.
Yeah. Supposed to go. And so then you come back and then being at the wedding, like the reception, just watching how everybody [00:48:00] was navigating and going through one of the hardest, most difficult things, but then also the blessing and, and the, the circle of life, the circle of love and being comforted. I don't know if that felt like comfort to you, but, um, I just thought it was beautiful how everybody.
Showed up for you and for your family and for, you know, Tanner and his family. And I just, I think that that's the beauty for me of the gospel because not everybody has that. Not everybody has that family and not everybody has a award that can and will show up like that. So I just thought that that was beautiful.
And in reading that scripture, we are Zion, but we're also the ones that were God's hands on this earth. So we're the ones that bring the comfort. And it was comforting being able to, that you guys allowed us to be with you during that time. So thank you. Thank you. And isn't it so powerful when you go back to section 98, just how he opens that section where the Lord just says, I say unto you, my friends.
Isn't that interesting? He doesn't say, I say unto you, my children, I say unto you, my fam, like I say unto you, my friends fear not because. That that is, I think that word is so powerful and you've just expressed that tam so beautifully. This idea of Zion are our friends. Um, family sometimes is tricky and it can be fractured and you don't get to choose your family, you know?
So, but to have people rally around you who aren't related, blood related because they have to, that's powerful. And there's something so comforting in knowing that your friends are by you. And so when he says, you are my friends, you know, you have him and he's on your side, he's gonna be there with a deli tray.
Not the one left in your car, but the one left in your car, the one that you need when your family comes over and on all the paper goods and everything. So, wow. Thank you Joy. Thanks for sharing your [00:50:00] experience and thank you for sharing those three verses. They were powerful and I think a great deal of comfort can come from those three verses for anybody who would sign a letter.
Yours and affliction. So thanks friend. Thank you. All right, well, coming up next, we have a husband, wife duo, and I think that their answer to this question, what did the Holy Ghost teach you as you read these sections, might even surprise me. So we'll do that next.
Segment 5
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Okay. So here we are with my friend Aileen. Hi Aileen. Hi Tammy. Okay. How long have we known each other sis? Oh, a while, yes. Um, more than 10 years. Both of our husbands are named Jim and both of our husbands work together, which is how we know each other. Um, they have nicknames. What's your husband, Jim's name?
Smart Jim? Yes, and mine is, mine is, uh, good looking. Jim. I don't know how they got those names though, do you? I, I think it was Kirsten. Oh, yes. Our daughter Kirsten named them. Yes. That's so true. Tamu. You're gonna love this though, because where they work at Discover Card, every time they would be on a meeting, they would say, where's Jim?
They'd go, where's Jim Hall? But they used to say it so fast that they'd say, where's Jamal? And for, they used to think my husband's name was Jamal. I could see that. I mean, tall. Yeah. Where's Jamal Curly hair? Uhhuh. You know? Is Jamal on the call yet? No, he's not. So that's calling him Jamal. That's another nickname that Aileen calls him.
Hey Jamal. So, yes. Um, Aileen, tell us a little bit about yourself and your husband. Do you have kids? Where do you guys live? All that fun stuff. Sure. So, uh, Jim and I, uh, live in South Jordan. We have three kids between us, we are a second marriage, so we're a blended family. We each had a daughter, uh, when we got married, and then we had a [00:52:00] surprise son that we just shipped off to college.
So we're empty nesters. We've been married for. 22 or 23 years, one or the other. Mm-hmm. And you know, we have kind of a funny story of meeting we met online way before it was acceptable to meet online, so. Wow. And you got a gym, I mean, it worked out for you too. Yes, yes it did. Yeah. That is awesome. Good.
He's he's great. Yeah. And so are you like, we love these two so much. So thanks for saying yes to this. How did you, what did you think when I asked you because it took you a while to respond. Uh, I think we thought you might be crazy, but you know, I am a little bit so goes without saying. Yeah. But it, it was also, um, a really good invitation for us to do some study and, um, to be able to have conversations about, you know, hard things and how we would handle hard things.
And, and so I think, I think it was a really great opportunity for both of us. Well, let's dive into those conversations. Tell me what you read or what helped you. What did the Holy Ghost teach you as you read from these sections given your life situation? Sure. I, I thought it was really interesting, as I read, like in section 98, it's really talking about like what's going on with the people and that they're having such a hard time.
Then Section 99 was like kind of to specific Indi a specific individual who had left his children while then the next section was kind of to Joseph and Sidney, and then the last section was, and if you are able to sustain all of these things, this is your reward. And I thought, what, um, you know, we're all faced with trials.
We're all faced with hard things. And I think that one of the things that came to me is through my life, I've always kind of been the practical kid, you know, in my family. I was always the one that was like, okay, what needs to be done? Let's figure out a [00:54:00] plan and let's do it. And I never really got too high or too low.
You know, I have a sister that if there's a problem, she just falls apart and she's a mess. And she's, you know, I would never call her in an emergency. And so I always just kind of thought, okay, well I am just practical and I can just, I can just find a problem and I can solve it or whatever. But I think, um, through reading this, some of it I thought is, you know, it's a choice.
Like we have to make choices. And that's what it came down to for the Saints, right? Like they were going through all these things. The prophet gave these scriptures to help them, but they still had to make a choice. And the choice that I made in my life was that I know that no matter what comes my way, it's going to be okay.
Mm-hmm. And, um, and I think that's helped me to not fall apart in whatever it is that comes our way. Yeah. Even though, you know, I got married and I had a marriage that, you know, was pretty terrible for most of it and fell apart. And I was a single mom for like eight years before I finally met Jim. And then, you know, we had some, some lumps and bumps along the way trying to like, figure out how to blend a family.
And then, you know, we bring a ba another baby into that. And so there's, you know, there's just been a lot of things that have gone on and I haven't always handled things with, you know, the most grace, like we all, you know, kind of have those things. But I always knew that things would be okay. And it would, and it would be.
Okay. So Tammy, you know, that like this year being faced with a cancer diagnosis, like. I could have really like thrown me like, you know, into a tailspin. And I would have friends that would say, are you okay? And I'm like, yeah, I'm, I'm okay. I'm fine. And, and they'd say, well, you know, it's okay if you're not.
It's okay to not be okay. And I'm like, I know, but I am okay. And there was one evening where I was kind of alone in the house and Jim was [00:56:00] still working and I started to feel sorry for myself. And it was about this 15 minute window of like, just really feeling sorry for myself and, you know, what did I do to deserve this?
And why is this happening to me? And I was like, you know, I need to make a choice that I don't have to feel sorry for myself. So, you know, I went to gym and I said, we gotta do something else. So I gave him like three options. We go in the yard and dig in some dirt. Or you take me shopping or I go in the pantry and eat my weight outta the pantry.
Like those are the three options, you know? But I hope, I hope you picked shopping. Did you pick shopping? I actually picked digging in the dirt and then we went shopping, so I got outta the three. I love it. You know, it was um, and that was really the only time through this whole process that I've felt sorry for myself.
And I think it is a choice. And I think the Saints made the choice. Was it hard? Oh my goodness. Can you imagine being driven out of your homes, being, having your homes burned, losing all your possessions, losing your crops, you know, your variability to feed your family. But they made the choice to stay with the church and to stay strong because they knew it was true and they knew that they would.
It would be for their benefit. And then, you know, Joseph gave them the blessings and said, you know, if you keep turning your cheek, these are the blessings and the rewards that you're gonna get. And how powerful is that? Some of the ones that really were good for me is it says Section 1 0 1 versus 13 through 18.
And they that have been scattered shall be gathered, and all they who have mourned shall be comforted. And all they who have given their lives for my name shall be crowned. Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion. For all flesh is in my hands, be still and know that I am God. Zion shall not be moved out of her place, [00:58:00] not withstanding her children are scattered.
Hmm. I love that. You know, um, I think of some of the trials that. Jim and I have gone through since we've known each other. It was in those quiet, peaceful moments where you're like, it's going to be okay. I'll give you an example. Not long after we got married, Jim's daughter was back and forth between our home and his ex-wife's home, and she was, she had gotten married again and it was kind of a contentious situation and Emily was kind of mediating, you know, fights and disagreements between her mom and her stepdad.
And it was a really, it was just not a good situation for them to be in. And through some conversations with his ex-wife, which our relationship had been pretty strained up until this point, we felt like that she needed to get out of this marriage, but she couldn't. She couldn't afford to. And. So we made the choice that we were going to pay for her to have an attorney so that she could get divorced.
So we did, we gave her the money. She paid for an attorney. She got divorced. I believe that we even maybe helped her move into an apartment with her kids. And then when we would have Emily, when we would go home, we knew that she was struggling. And so we would go to the grocery store and take groceries to them when we would take her back home.
And it completely changed the relationship that we had with her. And we could have kept a bitter relationship for, you know, 20 years. Mm-hmm. But instead, we made the choice to turn the cheek and find a way to make this a better situation for Emily. And, um, [01:00:00] I will tell you that, you know, Emily is. 35. And you know, they live across the country now.
They live in Alabama. But when she is with us, the first thing she always does is she comes and she sits next to me so that I can put my arm around her. And she just wants to be loved. And I don't know that we would have that kind of a relationship had we not healed that big, um, chasm that was between her mom mm-hmm.
And, and us for so long. So, you know, turning the other cheek is not always easy, but it's always worth it. Yeah. And I think that that's, you know, some of those rewards were what kept the saints going through their trials. Well, and in fact, isn't that what he says to them, isn't, doesn't he talk about turning their other, his, their other cheek in this section?
A lot of times, yeah. Right. He tells 'em, you know, at one point it even says, you know, 70 times seven. Mm-hmm. Uh, and he, and he tells them, if you will, your, um, posterity will be protected. And he tells 'em for three and four generations, if you continue to do this, they will be protected And think about how their posterity was protected.
It is in, yeah. Uh, section 98, it starts with, I have tears in my eyes. Now it's hard to read. Is at verse 23. Yes. Now I speak unto you concerning your families. If men will smite you or your families once, and you bear it patiently and revile, not against them, neither seek revenge. Ye shall be rewarded. But if you bear it not patiently, it shall be accounted unto you as being meted out as a just measure unto you.
But you have to read verse 25. And again, if your enemy shall smite you the second time and you revile not against your enemy and bear it patiently, your reward shall be and a [01:02:00] hundred fold. I would dare say your daughter sitting next to you, was that a hundred fold? Absolutely. Yeah. Wow. I completely agree.
And I also, like when you were talking, the thing that stuck out to me was, you know, Jim's role in this, like what, you know, what was going on with him and in his heart, and verse 16, where it talks of, uh, section 98 where it says therefore renounce war and proclaim peace and seek to turn the hearts of the children to their, I'm sorry, I, I'm getting emotional too.
The hearts of the children to their fathers. In the hearts of the fathers to their children. And that's exactly what he did. Yeah. Mm-hmm. And he is very much like the peacemaker in our home. Like, you know, um, our kids used to say that if mom yelled it wasn't scary, but if dad ever raised his boys, like it was scary because he, he's just doesn't do that.
So, yeah. And he, he very much is this peacemaker and, and has that effect on, he has that effect on my daughter. And she's, whenever she's upset, that's who she wants to talk to. And, and so I think, you know, what a great attribute that that is for him. Yeah. Wow. Beautiful. What a wonderful story and great application of the scriptures.
Elaine, thank you so much. I didn't know that story about Emily. Yeah. Yeah. So neat. Oh, I'm so glad you were there for her. Yes, we sure do love her. She's got you too, two of the cutest little kids. So it's fun. We get to be grandma and grandpa and it's, it's fabulous. Oh, well you are wonderful grandparents. I will say that.
So thank you. I love you, friend. You're awesome. I love you so much. Thank you, Aileen. All right, well then next up is your husband. We'll see if he's ready for this.[01:04:00]
Segment 6
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Okay. Jim, I just want you to start talking to us because it, I mean, without, I'm not going into any detail, but I will say this, that when I called and asked you to do this, you were dealing with a lien and cancer diagnosis and then life happened. And so I just wanna know how did, did any of these chapters have an effect on you, and what verses stood out to you?
What's going on in your life? Yes. I think, uh, especially when you, you know, it's been a, it's been a few weeks since you first asked, and, uh, and, and we first took a look at these chapters and I think the story then was different than it is now. Like, it was hitting us pretty hard, and I think we were having to go through some of these same decisions, like, are we just gonna accept this?
And are we gonna move on and we're gonna do what has to be done? Or are we gonna, you know, have a little pity party? Are we gonna, you know, feel sorry for ourselves and things like that. And so I'm glad you had us read ahead and, and cover this. Like, it really, it was, it was, uh, beneficial. And, you know, I think, I think you must have been inspired to have us do that.
Um, why Jim? Uh, uh, just, just because the impact it had on our life, you know, that, you know, that it, it was very relevant. I mean, you knew some of what was going on, but. We didn't talk about it, like how, how, mm-hmm. How we were impacted or not and all that. And Aileen told the story about people saying, are you okay?
And, and all that. The story that went alongside that is, we had a missionary out on a mission. We had to make a choice. Well, do we call him and let him know that his mom has cancer? And you don't want to distract him from his mission, but you also don't wanna hide things from him that, you know, he's gonna say, why didn't anybody tell me?
So we were sure that, you know, he's, he's very mature. We're sure he could handle it, but he surprised us how well he handled it. And it made us, [01:06:00] it made us feel like we're doing something right with, with him. So. Mm-hmm. We called Carter, Carter's our son. Um, he was, uh, at the point, I guess, you know, four months or so from coming home from his mission and we.
We got special permission to call not on P Day. And we said, Hey, you know, we, however we told him that, you know, you know, mom's got cancer, but you know, we think it's gonna be okay. We're gonna, we have a good team of doctors and and so on. But he, how he surprised us, he is like, yeah, I know it's gonna be okay.
Like even if it's not okay, it's gonna be okay because we have the gospel. I know what the plan is and you know, we don't have to worry. So we felt the same way, but it was, um, it was terrific to hear that come from our son, so. Absolutely. So. Wow. That's neat. I did mark a couple of scriptures and I think they all kind of aligned to that story.
Like in, uh, section 98, there's just verse 13 and 18. And who so layeth down his life and my cause for my namesake shall find it again, even life eternal. And that as soon as I read that, I thought of the story about Carter and what he said. Like, even if it's not okay, it's, it's gonna be okay. It, and then 18 is let not your hearts be troubled for, in my father's house are many mansions and I have prepared a place for you and where my father and I am there you shall be also, um, you know, just kind of completing that thought, I think.
Tell me about that line. Let not your hearts be troubled. Tell me about the role that played in your life going from a lean, having cancer. Is there anything else in your life that, that played an [01:08:00] impact in where you were like, okay, I can be okay. Well, I think it's, it's like a reoccurring theme because, um.
Uh, we all have, we all have troubles. We all have, you know, we, we try to just kind of live our lives and, you know, not stir anything up or whatever, but stuff happens and it didn't turn out this way. Like, uh, I, I am good, there's no problem. But we, um, we thought I was headed to a cancer diagnosis again this year.
Mm-hmm. And so it was just another like, oh my goodness, here we go again. But I think by that point we were already, you know, whatever, whatever it is, we're gonna be fine. Like, it's, I don't know if it's me taking care of her or her taking care of me or whatever, but we're gonna do what needs to be done.
And if our son is, uh, aligned with us and, and can have the faith and the plan and what's what, what comes next, then it's that much easier for us to do that as well. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. And the, and the other thing I thought, I don't know if it's necessarily connected to this scripture, but the other thought I had is just, um, I'm a convert to the church.
I'm a, it wasn't long before I met Elaine that I converted. And I feel like it's important that we continue to kind of share this message and to live what we believe as examples to like the rest of my family that doesn't, you know, that doesn't necessarily know or understand these things. And so they have belief in God and all that, but I, I think sometimes they can be surprised that we know there's a plan and we, we know that whatever happens, we're gonna be okay.
So anyway, that's, that's one of the other thoughts I had. I did highlight one other, at least one other scripture, uh, section 100 verse 15, and it's. Therefore, let your hearts be comforted for all things shall [01:10:00] work together for good to them that walk uprightly and to the sanctification of the church. And I guess that kind of aligns to that thought of we can be comforted and we, um, you know, we know that we're doing the things that we're doing for the right reason.
And yeah. And, and, and like I said, we, we should, we should share that and demonstrate that to others as well. So tell me your turning point for you when you joined the church. I don't know your conversion story. Yeah. So, um, my first wife, uh, was, uh, was a Mormon, was, uh, in inactive, uh, latter day saint. But I knew, I knew nothing about the church or the gospel or anything.
I didn't, uh, I, I knew there were. There were, um, Mormon communities in southern Colorado around me, but I didn't really know, know anything of them. But we had a bishop that married us, you know, and, and that was kind of okay. This is the bishop of her church that she doesn't go to. From then on though, from the, I think from the time she married me, she, you know, she became active and I just started going to church with her because, you know, she's going to church, I'll go to church with her and the kids and help her, you know, get through it all.
And so I did that for several years and, and we always had missionaries around, and at the time I knew I didn't understand it, but, you know, we'd have 'em over for barbecues and we, and they were always around, and what they were doing is they were teaching me the gospel and they were, you know, sharing the lessons with me and things like that.
But I, I wasn't receiving the message for several years. But then. Interestingly enough about the time that my ex-wife and I started having marital trouble, a set of missionaries knocked on the door one day, wanted to [01:12:00] come in and talk to me, and it was like, sure, you know, I was very comfortable talking to missionaries.
I've done it, I've done it through, you know, a, you know, 20 sets of them probably. Mm-hmm. But I think it was just the right missionaries at the right time. Yeah. And the message resonated me with me. We talked about, and it probably had to do with, you know, I was facing a breakup of my family and we were talking about, you know, eternal families and things like that.
Mm-hmm. And, um, like, it, it really, it really hit me hard. And that's, you know, the rest is kind of history. That's when I joined the church and, and everything and, you know, and then my, my wife and I got divorced and, and everything and moved on from that. But, um. Didn't, you know, didn't really move on from, from the gospel in the church.
So, and you kept going to church as a single man? Yeah, as a divorce. I did, yeah. In the same neighborhood. It was, it was, it was uncomfortable and weird. And even when I met Alene and she started going to church with me, we were dating and, and mm-hmm. Going to church together. And it was, it was unusual and different in the, in the family ward where I'm not as outgoing as you know.
Mm-hmm. And so, you know, my ex-wife is really the one that the whole ward had connected with, so. Wow. Yeah. Anyway. Wow. Well then I go back to that verse you read in section 100 verse 15. Because it's true for you and for a lean right. Let your heart be comforted for all things shall work together for good to them that walk up rightly, that you have done and you both have done it beautifully as a couple and as you've raised your family and blended your family.
'cause listen, we know blended families can be tricky, but I think you guys have been a great example of how to do that and things have worked out for the for good. So yeah, I agree. Thank you. And we're so happy that with all the cancer scares you received this summer, God is good all the time. Tamu [01:14:00] all the time.
God is all the time. As you were talking about your son and it, a song came to mind by Yolanda Adams. It's called. It's Already All Right. Oh, okay. I'll look it up. You'll love it. Yeah, I think that's awesome. I'm gonna go listen to it already. All right. All already. All right. Okay. It's a great way to end.
Yeah. Yeah. It's a, I mean, it's a great story and we love sharing it. It's just, I think there's a lot of things we didn't do right in raising our kids or whatever, but that's one thing that we can feel good about, you know, from now on as parents, I think. Yeah. I think every parent can say the same thing. I wanna, I wanna know who did get it right?
Yeah. All right. Love you two. We're done. That's it. That's the end. Thank you. Well, Tam, don't you think our guests just really hit the nail on the head? They did. They understood the assignment. Look, they understood it and they executed it. Yes. I, well, I just think when I was reading these sections, we could dive into every verse, but I really wanted to know.
If, if he puts it in the scripture here, it has to be true. And I wanted to see it true in everyday lives of people that you and I know and love. Right. And boy, we did. Right. And so one of the things that I wanna end with is in Section 1 0 1 of the doctrine and covenants, because I think this is the best way to end all of it for whatever it is that you're going through or whatever it is you're about to go through.
I love that IND doctrine and Covenant Section 1 0 1. After he's speaking to the Saints and he's giving them all the instruction that they need, we get verses 81 through 84. And in these verses he cites a parable that's found in Luke chapter 18. And I think this is the message to all of us because he says, I'm gonna liken the children of Zion unto this parable.
It's a parable of the woman with the unjust judge for men not always to pray and not faint. And that's where we get that saying from is in [01:16:00] Luke 18, he says, there was in the city a judge which feared not God, neither regarded man, and there was a widow in that city and she came to him saying, avenge me of my adversary.
And he would not for a while, but afterward he said within himself, though I fear not God nor regard man yet because this widow trouble with me, will I aventure lest by her continual coming, she weary me. And I love that because the Lord's saying right here. Just can't pray to me. Just pray and weary me with your prayers.
I want you to weary me, ask me so much that I finally say like this, judge, all right, already I heard your prayer. I'm gonna help you out. And that is what I love as the Lord saying, just keep praying. Just don't stop praying. Come to me, weary me and the Lord of Saba oat will hear your prayers. So that's a great way to end this.
And, and you know, like when I read that, it, it did make me giggle a little bit because I, I was looking, I started looking through the scriptures, where in the scriptures, 'cause we see twice now where a woman has gone seeking something and then she gets it like, you know, the woman mm-hmm. Who has a, a, you know, she wants her daughter healed.
And she goes to Christ and the the disciples try to send her away and then here in this parable and it's like, holy, I just gotta give it to her because she is going to keep coming and keep coming. And so it always gets me when people are like, I already told you no. And I'm like, what does that mean?
What does that mean to somebody? Yeah. Need, okay, you told me no. So you know how to say no. So I'm asking again, and I'm gonna keep asking until it's not. No. Yes. In fact, I wanna put next to these ver verses relentless pursuit because not only is he in relentless pursuit of us, we have to be in relentless [01:18:00] pursuit of him relentlessly praying and asking, do not stop, keep going and believe all these scriptures that have been shared today because he loves us.
And you were his favorite and just be still and know he's God. He's got it taken care of, but you gotta keep asking. Amen. Amen. So thanks friend. I'm so glad that you're able to join me today. That's the end of our discussion. So I'd love to know what everyone's takeaway is, and by that, what I'm really asking is, will you please share with us scriptures that you found in sections 98 through 1 0 1 that could be helpful for anyone going through a difficult time.
Let's get a scripture chain going. What we want you to do is join our Facebook or follow us on Instagram and share what you have learned. You can even ask a question, which we love to answer, and then at the end of the week on a Saturday, we post a question for this discussion. So comment on the post that relates to this lesson and share your scripture.
You can get to both our Facebook and Instagram by going to the show notes for this episode at ldsliving.com slash Sunday on Monday, and it's not a bad idea to go out there anyway because it's where we have links to all the references. The transcript of this whole discussion, so go check it out. The Sunday on Monday Study Group is a Deseret Bookshelf plus original, brought to you by LDS Living.
It's written and hosted by me, Tammy Uzelac Hall, and my dear friend, Tam Smith. And today our incredible participants were Rex Galbrath, joy Martin, Aileen Jensen, and Jim Jensen. And you can find more information about my friends at ldsliving.com slash Sunday on Monday. Our podcast is produced by Cole Wissingr and me.
It is edited and mixed by Cole Wissinger, and our executive producer is Erin Hallstrom. Thanks for being here. We'll see you next week, and please remember, you are God's favorite, so keep bugging him.