Message from Clan Dad - Sunday, April 15 - Stan's birthday

this is sunday morning, and I have been particularly weepy this morning, as I read.. Our temple president assigned us Sec. 109 this month of April to study, and Friday, i conducted the 8;30 session, and had the opportunity to lead the prayer circle also.. certain thoughts came to me that day in that prayer, around that alter, which is symbolic as all alters in the temple are, of the alter upon which the Lord offered His life in the great sacrifice for us... but verse 38 came quite forcefully to me, which i commend to you... " put upon thy servants the testimony if the covenant, that when they go out and proclaim thy word, they may seal up the law, and prepare the hearts of thy saints for all those judgments thou art about to send upon the inhabitants of the earth, because of their transgressions-------then the last sentence, "that thy people may not faint in the day of trouble." Very powerful..and for our Bishops, Scott, Brad, and Craig, more. In our study group monday, Bishop Edgley, in whose home we met, said, I thought you might be interested in the general authority training , to all the general authorities present before Conference, taught by the First Presidency...I would hope you treat this with confidence, as it was given in confidence... but note worthy as President Hinckley said "the one office in the church that carries the work forward is the Bishop.In the eyes of the member, the bishop is the most important leader in the church. Look at his responsibility and how he is involved in the covenant issues, recommends, interviews for worthiness, his role in Welfare, he is the motor that makes the church run.The most important assignment we have as general authorities is to build the Bishop.. " That was the main theme of the Presidents thoughts... Pres Monson dwelt on home storage, and how the church welfare program is really as strong as the individual members committment to preparation... President Faust taught from sec. 105, and redeeming zion.. and reminded them that the Zions camp march, with all that it entailed, produced the Twelve, and leaders of the church for the next 50 years... quite remarkable... well, I have gone on and on, but thought you would be interested... my prayer is that Heavenly Father will watch over you all, and keep you. Love the Clan Dad..... and happy birthday to Stan... I remember, for the benefit for all of you, that i had been in New York to a meeting the week prior to his due date. Knowing that Stans birth was right there, I got home just as Mom and Aunt Mary who had come from Buhl to be with her, were leaving for the hospital... how about the timing... I remember like it was yesterday... again. . .love, Clan Dad