The Mission

One of the most time consuming, rewarding activities since we married has been serving as inner- city welfare service missionaries for the Church in a Hispanic unit. Our eyes have been opened to the social injustice that exists here in the land of the free and we have become very sympathetic to the plight of the immigrant.
Recently Ariel's worked extensively with a 16 year-old young woman who is pregnant. She has dropped out of school and is planning to keep the baby. Ariel visits her to teach her English and talk about her options for the baby. We are working to connect her with LDS Family Services.
Andrew has been working with a woman in quite a predicament. Her husband was murdered a year ago, leaving her with three children (she was pregnant at the time with her third), and no place to go. She is now desperate for a place to work and live, but has not advanced in applying to the government for assistance because of her legal status.
These are the types of situations we have seen over the past year. From our perspective, these people, with or without legal status, are some of the best to grace God's green earth. They work hard, they dance their troubles away, they love their families, and they love the gospel.
We're glad they are here. We welcome them. We would rather many people have sufficient than few people have abundance.
King Mosiah welcomed two large immigrant groups to enter his land. He received both of them "with joy" (Mosiah 22:14; 24:25). The people of Anti-Lehi-Nephi were welcomed into the Nephite land, even though they had once been responsible for the death of many Nephite people. While it may have put a stress on their economic situation, and while some of them may have come for the wrong reasons, they were welcomed. Immigrants today are much like those people in the scriptures: people looking for freedom from the bondage of fear, poverty, or a number of other things.
Forgive the political talk. That's not exactly why this blog was created.

Ariel's Valentine Song (Click here)

It was a great Valentine's day for the three of us. Lamb chops (by Andrew), strawberries in our salad, music, candles, and Chocolate Chiffon Pie (by Ariel). Andrew received a pair of cozy slippers and a fantastic set of coupons that expire June 2008 (or he'll forget and not use them). As traditioned, Ariel received her third love song, which can be listened to by clicking on the link above (the title to the post). Listen carefully for baby boy's first musical experience, he's still in Ariel's tummy, yet his heartbeat has unprecedented rhythm. A drummer may be joining the ranks. Big thanks to cousin Ben Sorensen who recorded and played guitar for the song! So, basically, we're still way in love. And yes, Andrew did place that garnish on the lamb chops. Ariel was so very proud.

President Hinckley's Final Public Address

Ariel and I were blessed to be present for President Hinckley's final public address one week before his passing. Below are pictures from the meeting, courtesy of Don Thorpe.

Garden Park Re-Dedication

Sunday January 20, 2008

Dedicatory Prayer

President Gordon B. Hinckley

Sunday, January 20, I had the unique experience of sitting at the feet of God's prophet, and the prophet of the whole earth, President Gordon B. Hinckley.

I attended a meeting as a member of the Garden Park ward in Salt Lake City's Bonneville Stake. Over the past two years the building received a major renovation for safety purposes. The work just finished and the rededication of the building took place Sunday, performed by President Gordon B. Hinckley, father of Bonneville's Stake President, Clark Hinckley. Others that addressed the congregation included Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin and Elder Dallin H. Oaks, both members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

My wife and I arrived an hour and a half early and obtained seats on the front row. When the commencement of the meeting neared everyone suddenly stood up. I felt a rush of the Spirit overwhelm me as I saw the prophet of God pass down the aisle. He looked tired, old and weak, as well as energetic, young and strong. A true light boomed out of him and I received an indelible witness in my heart and mind that he is a prophet of God. No one else on earth, at 97 years of age or any age, could carry such a commanding presence.

President Hinckley's dedicatory prayer reminded me of an observant listener of the Prophet Joseph Smith's praying: "Never until then had I heard a man address his Maker as though He was present listening as a kind father would listen to the sorrows of a dutiful child. . . .There was no ostentation, no raising of the voices as by enthusiasm, but a plain conversational tone, as a man would address a present friend. It appeared to me as though, in case the veil were taken away, I could see the Lord standing facing His humblest of all servants I had ever seen." (Daniel Tyler, in "Recollections of the Prophet Joseph Smith," Juvenile Instructor, Feb. 15, 1892, p. 127)

As he uttered a prayer dedicating the building I felt a conduit to the heavens open above me. It truly felt as though a son were talking to his father as he asked the Father to bless the land, to bless the saints, to bless the work. I felt as though, were I to open my eyes, I would have seen God the Father standing by His prophet, listening to his prayer and ready and anxious to respond.

President Hinckley was the prophet when I received both the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods. He guided me through my youth, sent me on a mission, and is still here to counsel and teach me in my marriage and as I anticipate the arrival of my first child. His bold, prophetic words have kept me from the addictions of pornography, gambling, verbal and physical abuse, and most importantly, they have brought me closer to Jesus Christ. I attribute much of my meager spiritual progress in the past ten years to President Hinckley.

As Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles testified over a year ago, so do I testify, that "President Gordon B. Hinckley is in every way, from head to toe, such a prophet, one whose life and voice we cherish and for whom we have prayed so much" (Prophets in the Land Again, Jeffrey R. Holland, October 2006).

It was a beautiful prayer, and appropriate for his last public petition to the Lord. He cared so much for the work and for the saints as is manifest in his words. Mom Galli has brought up multiple times what a kingdom builder he was. I think that works as a perfect description of him.

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695249772,00.html
We attended President Hinckley's funeral last Saturday and The Deseret Morning News published this picture the next day.
It was a wonderful experience to be there.
Some thoughts from Andrew that day:
“I’m sitting here in one of President Hinckley’s legacies—the Conference Center. It doesn’t feel right to be here without him. I’ve been overcome with emotion as I’ve thought of his love, his life and his testimony. He taught with such simplicity and clarity, but his testimony brought me to tears on many occasions. He is the prophet that guided me for as long as I’ve had a testimony of the church. I’ve cried this morning as I’ve realized how much I do and will miss him. What will General Conference be without President Hinckley? How will my children know how to be without President Hinckley? How will the saints in Portugal keep steadily moving forward without President Hinckley? I know all will be well, and that the Church is in the Lord’s hands, but oh, how I miss him! Ariel and I just read the talk he gave to the Portuguese and Spanish saints while I was in Portugal. It stirred some deep emotions. He meant so much to me. He meant so much to them.

Let the work roll forward. Let it move on in the wake of so many legacies that this great prophet has left us. I will miss him, but the Church is true and the Savior guides. Long live our dear prophet’s memory.”