Melinda's talk 4/26/26

 I love walking at my Layton City Park, because of the ducks and the squirrels. I walk on the sidewalk and there are all these lines right in between the different sidewalk sections. When I look down, I get caught up and focused on not stepping on the lines as I walk.  I notice my feet and the exactness of my step as I try to stay on the squares and avoid the lines.  “Step on a crack, break your mother’s back”

 It feels like I can’t help it.  It’s just kind of funny but it’s what I do. 

BUT, when I look up, I don’t even notice that the lines are there.  I see the sky and the gorgeous trees and ducks and all the beauty surrounding me and I don’t care if I step on a crack.

So I was thinking about this in terms of the gospel —when I’m trying to stay within the lines and do the exactness of the gospel- the rules of the gospel, it seems hard.  That’s where my focus is, but it’s not on Christ. When I look up, my primary connection is with Jesus Christ, and the lines are secondary and it doesn’t seem so hard.

Scriptures and Prophets  constantly remind us to: Look to God and Live.

Why is it a challenge to consistently look up in our lives? Perhaps we lack the faith that such a simple act can solve our problems. 

When the children of Israel were bitten by poisonous serpents, Moses was commanded to raise up a brass serpent on a pole. The brass serpent represented Christ. Those who looked up at the serpent, as told to them by the prophet, were healed with the promise “that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.”  But many others failed to look up, and they perished.

Alma agreed that the reason the Israelites did not look to the serpent was that they did not believe doing so would heal them. Alma’s words are relevant to us today: “O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in unbelief, and be slothful … ? “If so, wo shall come upon you; but if not so, then cast about your eyes and begin to believe in the Son of God, that he will come to redeem his people, and that he shall suffer and die to atone for [our] sins; and that he shall rise again from the dead.”

Our world today is often characterized by fear and anxiety—fear of what the future might bring for us. But Jesus has taught us to trust and “look unto [Him] in every thought; doubt not, fear not.”

When I’m walking and only looking down, my walk feels endless and monotonous. When I look up my perspective changes, the time flies by, my thoughts are lifted and I feel energized. 

Life is good.  And life is Hard.   Pres. Camille Johnson said , “It’s going to be hard.  You can do hard with Jesus or you can do hard alone.  When you do hard with Jesus Christ, the hard becomes Holy.”

I have noticed this in my own life. I was thinking of a past hard time when looking up helped me to get through it and turned it holy.

When my daughter was six years old, she fell from a 6 foot height straight onto her head onto a wood floor and cracked her skull open. This is our only daughter that we prayed for and longed for after having four sons and then at age 40 we adopted this beautiful brown baby girl.   Laila has my whole heart.  

The night Laila fell is the same night  I was supposed to be leaving on an airplane to meet Wayne in China, instead I ended up having our daughter life-flighted to Primary Children’s Hospital as we were told she might not live.  Wayne was stuck in China and I was all alone overnight in the intensive care unit- Just praying, and crying,endlessly praying that God would see my girl and help us through this difficult time. Somewhere in the night. I had this thought that it would be OK if God took Laila.  I was just grateful to have had six years with her as her mom. I turned it all over to God and I was at peace.  It was such a hard time, but truly what got me through was looking to Christ and knowing that His will would be done and I would be OK with it.   Things were not going well. 

Wayne was stuck in China trying to get a flight home. The doctor told us that if Laila made it through the night, she would most likely be living on machines for the rest of her life and her quality of life would be very diminished. 

She did make it through the night and the next time the doctors checked her they said wow,  her cracked skull and bleeding on the brain are gone…she has made great improvements but she’ll probably be here in Primary Children’s hospital for about four months to help her learn to eat, talk and walk again.

And the next time the doctors checked her, they said, " Wow, she continues to improve, but she’ll probably be here in the hospital with us for about four more weeks just so we can monitor her.

 And then, miracle of miracles, four days after the accident, we were released from the hospital, with Laila told to just take it easy and she could start back in school in a week.  This happened just as Wayne was able to get off his return flight from China. It took him 4 days to get home…in China 4 is considered a very unlucky number– and it was for him…. But I believe God wanted it this way for me …I learned a lot. 

This experience taught me so much because I felt physically alone through it. In the past, I had my Wayne right by my side to lean on, but through this hospital stay, I only had Christ to lean on. I had a constant prayer going on, and it really built my testimony and my faith, and helped me to see that I could go through hard with or without Jesus, but because I looked up and went through it with Jesus, this situation became holy. 

 We all have hard things in our lives.  Days when fear and anxiety seem to take over and pull us down.  I testify to you that in our hard we need to Look to Christ and live. He will redeem us and heal us.  The hard won’t automatically be made easy…but going through it with Jesus Christ you will feel better, more supported, more cared for, more loved…more holy.

   I am grateful for the sidewalk that I walk on each morning as I go see the ducks; I'm grateful for the covenant path that's in front of me, and I know my walk is more beautiful when I look up. 

Wayne's talk 4/26/26

 In 1986 a book was published titled “All I really need to know I learned in kindergarten”. It shot to the top of the NY Times best seller

Brothers and sisters All I really need to know I learned in primary.  I am a child of God, Jesus said love everyone, I feel my savior’s love, Love one another, I’m trying to be like Jesus.

How can we try to be more like Jesus? I love that the word try is in there. I believe we can do it by trying to do the things he did.

There are over 150 different names that refer to Jesus Christ in the scriptures.  One of my favorite is The Good Shepherd.  Can we try do what he did as the Good Shepherd? Can we become Shepherds?

Once a month for the past 8 years I receive a phone call where the caller ID shows Brennan.  When I say hello I know exactly what will follow –it will sound like this - Biisshopppp! It’s Brennan.  I’m just calling to see how you are doing.  How’s work? – How’s your family?  He’s calling to check on me because he is genuinely concerned. Brennan was a member of our YSA ward. 

Brennan was born prematurely and was not expected to live. He had developmental issues.  He was always a little behind the rest in his age group.  In 2005 when Brennan was 11 years old he became lost at scout camp on a Friday.  Immediately the call went out for search and rescue to begin.  Brennan had been taught to not talk to strangers, so when he heard people on horseback not realizing they were looking for him he left the trail, he hid and prayed.  After 4 days Brennan’s parents Toby and Jody were beginning to think the worst.  But around  2 pm on Tuesday, one of the volunteers on a 4 wheeler saw Brennan ahead on the trail. News stations around the country called it a miracle  Brennan had been found alive.  Over 4000 people participated in that search

4000 people searching for the one . That is quite the  the opposite of what is recorded Ezekiel 34 when the Lord rebuked the shepherds for not taking care of the sheep. He said.

“My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.

But then he continues:

“Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.

I will feed them in a good pasture – There shall they lie in a good fold

I (the Lord) will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick"

None of us want to be looked at as lost, or broken or sick – so who is the Lord talking to here?

We gain some insight from a  parable Jesus gave when the Pharisees and Scribes murmured and said of Him–“This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them. (Can you imagine that? Not only does he receive them, but he invites them to sit a table and eat with him) 

We all know the parable - A shepherd leaves the ninety nine sheep and goes into the wilderness to find one lost sheep. When  I was a young missionary I always thought – I’m glad I’m not lost and don’t need someone to come rescue me. I’m one of the 99. I was wrong. 

Luke 15:7 refers to -Ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Now wait a minute. The only just person who needs no repentance is Jesus Christ. So who is this story about?  Who are the lost sheep? Each and every one of us.  Me, Melinda, President Dustin, you – the Lord has promised that he will seek us out – so if we are ALL lost why then does the parable speak of just one lost sheep?  Because that is how the savior ministers – one by one.  As if each one of us are his sole focus.  And when he finds us and we recognize his voice, he places us on his shoulders and carries us home rejoicing. For that reason I WANT to be one of his lost sheep.

Another reason I want to be one of his sheep is this -


When the Savior talks about the day of judgment and the criteria he will use to determine who inherits his kingdom. He says “ The Son of man shall come in his glory and all nations shall be gathered and He shall separate them one from another – And He shall set the sheep on His right hand and say - Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

Then he tells them what they had done to inherit that celestial glory.

“For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked and ye clothe me: I was sick and ye visited me: I was in prison and ye came unto me.”

We know the Lord went on to say that those things were done unto him because they were actually done unto the least of these – his brethren.   I love that he calls  the least of us his brothers and sisters.

In essence, the Lord is saying  -what you did, unto the least of my brothers and sisters is the  same thing I said I would do in Ezekiel 34. 

You sought that which was lost, you brought again that which was driven away, you bound up that which was broken, and you strengthened that which was sick. Come – inherit the kingdom prepared for you.

He is saying – you did what I asked Peter to do to show his love for me.  You fed my sheep.

So–  can we still be good shepherds when we have our own problems and troubles to deal with.  When life’s burdens seem too much to bear.  Can we be shepherds when the wolf is at our door - Luckily for us not only is Jesus Christ the Good Shepherd, but he is also the Lamb of God.  And that title is His because He was THE sacrificial lamb – who allowed His blood to be spilled to make everything right for us. Even when it seems we have lost everything He is able to magnify our efforts and provide compensatory blessings -yea an hundred fold. 

He did that for a man who was a big part of Brennan’s lost in the mountains story – The man who organized the majority of the 4000 volunteers to search for Brennan was Kevin Bardsley whose 12 year old son Garrett had gone missing from a scout camp a year earlier and was never found. Instead of becoming bitter, after losing his son, instead of becoming despondent and cursing God, Kevin allowed the fire of adversity to refine him through the atonement of Jesus Christ.  He vowed that whenever he heard of a child lost in the mountains he would be there to with others to search, and to provide comfort to the family. 

I would imagine that Kevin went through periods of wondering -If God loves me so much and is so powerful, then how could he allow pain and suffering .  How could he allow my son to perish in the wilderness.

We know that when we are resurrected all of our mortal bodily imperfections will be gone –all of them.  There is one exception. Jesus Christ - I think one of the reasons that the Savior chose to leave in his resurrected body the marks in his hands and his feet and in his side was to remind us that painful, unfair and terrible things happen even to the pure and perfect. The marks are signs, if you will, that pain in this world is not evidence that God doesn’t love you - It is quite the opposite - they are a reminder that His love is whole and complete. Because He is both the Good Shepherd and the Lamb of God Kevin’s reunion with Garrett will be glorious and all missed blessings and experiences will be restored an hundred fold.

I love the words of the hymn, Dear to the heart of the Shepherd

Hark! he is earnestly calling,

Tenderly pleading today:

“Will you not seek for my lost ones,

Off from my shelter astray?”

(And then our answer to that question)

Make us thy true under-shepherds;

Give us a love that is deep.

Send us out into the desert,

Seeking thy wandering sheep.”

Out in the desert they wander,

Hungry and helpless and cold;

Off to the rescue we’ll hasten,

Bringing them back to the fold.

Brennan was lost on a Friday – we’ve all heard that after dark Fridays Sunday will come. But sometimes Sunday comes and our prayers aren’t answered - But Tuesday will come or Wednesday or next year or eternity. Brennan was found -and not only has he found the Good Shepherd but he has become a shepherd.  He calls ME – to check on ME.

I have been humbled as I have watched how so many of you shepherd each other.  You have become examples to me of the things I learned in Primary: Love one another,  Jesus said Love everyone. I am a Child of God. I’m trying to be like Jesus.

Thank you for reminding me that it is the trying that is important. And that when we try and stumble we can get up and try again.  We can be forgiven. We can stumble again and get up and try again and be forgiven.   That is the plan.

Listen to these words that were not part of the original Children’s hymn “I’m trying to be like Jesus”, but I think we should add them

I’m Trying to be like Jesus but stumbling along the way

I Struggle to live as he did in all that I do and say. 

But tho I may falter and make the wrong choice 

I find hope in forgiveness as the still small voice whispers

Trust in the Savior And know this is true 

His grace is sufficient for me and for you

His love is still constant, repent and fear not for these are the things Jesus taught

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

 

At 8:30 last Thursday night, I went to a "Girls just wanna have fun" night out with Wendy Inkley, Sal Duncan and 5 other women… it was a night of car karaoke- singing Girls Just wanna have fun, stopping at Swig and getting everyone drinks, then, Chinese fire drills at red lights, and toilet papering houses….nicely of course.  We had a riot.  One of the houses was Add and Bre’s….not because they are my kids, but because they are besties with Wendy.  We put hot dogs on branches, and bologna on windows too… it was a hoot.  We did this dressed in disguises like horse heads, or aliens, or wigs.   We laughed a lot– oh to be 14 again.  

April Grandkid Game Night

 Grandkid game night, and we celebrated the individual grandkid….

We put up a poster with their names and 3 things about each kid that we like about them. We talked about everyone’s talents, and made lots of fun 15-second type videos- Strike a Pose, and Eye of the Tiger. We walked to the park– Wayne drove in the car– and played around.  We got 23 cars to honk their horns at us, and every time we cheered like we had just won the lottery!

The grands from 19 down to 4 get along so well– and have such grace for each other.  I put a mirror inside of a box and told the kids that in the box was something most precious to me. It was awesome and I cherished it and was so happy to have it.. Then, one at a time, they walked up and opened the box to see what was inside– and they saw their reflection.  I told them they couldn’t say what they saw until everyone had a turn. Their little smiles and excitement was really sweet.    The most precious thing to their meema is them!  

Papa Wayne got out his ice cream machine, and we ate our weight in ice cream cones.  We sat around and I asked them questions about favorites and what they want to be when they get bigger, and what their favorite body part, etc.   For the record Alfie’s is his lungs  and Poppy said appendix. 

Easter

 Our first annual, Easter Morning Sunrise Extravaganza was a hit! 

I had all of Monson’s family and Landon and Andrew join me at 6:30am by Adam's Reservoir just off of Gordon Ave in Layton while it was still dark. There were ducks on the pond, and the midst was rolling in.  It was freezing cold as we snuggled in our chairs and listened to the last 5 chapters in the book of Mark on Jesus last week, death, and resurrection.  The sun came up.

I bore testimony that I am a believer…that it really did happen.  We sang "Joy to the World" and "Christ the Lord is Risen today" as the sky went from dark to light.  We had maple bars, apple juice, Papa bread, and butter for our treats as we listened to the “Hallelujah from the Mount of Olives” by Beethoven, and then the “Hallelujah Chorus” by Handel.  We danced and marched around to stay warm.

  I brought some hard-boiled eggs so we could do our traditional egg throw– Monson was the winner.   It lasted about an hour– perfect!  It really was freezing.  I’m already thinking of next year and how to tweak it to make it better!  – including Wayne, will be able to be there next year!  ( He won't have a catheter in from prostate cancer surgery) We really missed his wise words. 

I have worn a cross every day this week in honor of Holy Week. I love thinking about the cross with the horizontal bar reaching out to love and include everyone, and the vertical bar reaching up to heaven to Love God.

Landon and Lexi brought in food for Easter dinner– we had their families, plus Jed and Camilla and girls- Roma and Margo, Paula Carlson and the Bayhams- (Monson and Lexi's good friends).  I had everyone do a big celebratory SHOUT with me before the prayer. We are grateful for the atoning sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We did an easter egg hunt for the girls in the backyard.  Our yard is wide open and it’s hard to actually hide eggs there..they are basically just hanging out on the grass.  I also had the girls do Easter chalk art on the back cement – He is RISEN! He is Risen indeed!

Roma, Tayla, Avery Bayham, Lady and Elsie

What I wore in March

March Happenings

We celebrated St. Patties day singing at a rest home!  We all wore green (except Bob Farley) and Wayne had a giant leprechaun hat to wear and pass around to the residents who sang with us.  It as a fun idea.

My Sister Liz's friend gave me a Lucky sweatshirt because of my Instagram whatluckywears account.  They are so cute.  This came in clutch for St. Pat's day as well.

My girlfriend group is going strong... our gathering for March was at Jo Murdock's home-- she made delicious quiche and salad for us and we discussed the Give them P.I.E.-- praise, inspiration and encouragement book by Pinegar...and then I did a thrifting demo and what I thrift and how to do it and how to wear it.  It was fun.
 

Our new branch was invited to the Linden Temple Open house for a 6am tour...that's right 6 am... it was early travleing from Ogden, but so worth it.  Many of our members can't be around anyone under 18-- so they did this special for them, plus a breakfast after at a nearby church.  It was great to have so many of our guys there.  

Tina Patrick, Me, Brigit Adams, Annie 

This is our new Branch members board that we try and keep up to date for all of us to get to know each other better. 

I go on a duck walk most mornings.  I love to walk to the Kays Creek walkway along the Layton Park.  It's a paved trail that follows the creek and features two duck ponds.  I'm becoming very adept at speaking duck.  There are a lot of Mallards with their gorgeous  green heads, and Canadian Honkers that fill the ponds, but we also have a brown looking Mallard called a Khaki Campbell, a black duck with a little white on the chest and a yellow beak called a Duclair, an all black duck with a white beak called a Coot, a bluish beak duck with a mostly gray body called a Blue Swedish, the white storybook looking duck called a Pekin, and my favorite  - the ornamental duck that toally looks fake, or like an artist painted it- a Wood duck.  I walk, pray, recite my Psalm scriptues, see the squirrels and talk to the ducks and catch a gorgeous sunrise.