April 3, 2023

From Ben - Board Games: Stronger Than the Sword

A couple months ago, one of our senior Sister missionaries was flown home due to some unexpected health challenges. 

A couple weeks ago, her health rapidly faded and this same senior Sister quietly stepped through the veil.

This last Thursday, the entirety of the CTM tuned in for the funeral service. 

It really impacted me. 

Within the service, this senior Sister's dear friend, and each of her seven children spoke, sharing stories and memories and expressing their love for their Mom who had embarked on to her next adventure. 

I recorded some of the quotes that stirred my soul:

"First time I saw her, she had the most amazing chocolate eyes and chocolate hair... I love this woman, she loved me no matter what"

- The Best Friend

"How do you say goodbye to the greatest woman you know..? We don't. We hold her close in our memories and in our hearts"

- The 2nd Child, a daughter

"I just needed to hear my Mom's voice, then I knew that I could go on"

[When recalling a tough experience her mission, during her bi-annual phone call to her mom]

- The 2nd

"Mom, you're our missing ingredient, and now, life won't ever taste the same... Dad, thank you so much for loving Mom"

- The 5th Child, a son and the first twin

"She held many titles: Mom, Mother, Momma, but to me, she was a Superhero... ...there's no way I can love my Mother this much and it not carry on to the next life"

- The 6th Child, a son and the second twin

It was quite emotional and I choked up a couple times through the proceedings. 

Momma, I love you. Thanks for being my mom. 

Dad, thank you so much for loving Mom. 

It was one of those needed moments that again clarifies reality and power-cleaned my wayword perspectives. 

The truest and purest strength of soul comes within family ties. 

Through board games, laughter, working together, hashing it out together. 

There is nothing that has brought me and my soul more power, foundation and strength, then the character I have developed within and because of my family relationships. 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ adds more necessary elements to this idea. 

That of a legitimate family bond to Heavenly Parents, and an actual, spiritual sibling connection to every human being on earth. 

That of sacred and binding covanents, to both God and that of our immediate family ties. 

Covanents that bind and last beyond the void of death

That of a Christ and a Savior that can perfectly heal and mend broken families. 

I can get behind a theology like that.

It's even more amazing that it's not just a theology, but a reality, and not just a conjured or speculated belief. 

Got to go an exchange with a champion soul, Elder Ochoa 

Primary take away:

"Elder Smith, ordinary missionaries point out problems, extraordinary missionaries point out and bring about solutions" 

 

What a life changer! 

I'd heard the quote before, but it made a little more sense when he said it. 

We came up with a couple examples, that will hopefully highlight how cool this idea was to me. 

Members are usually not very missionary minded, they could make so much of a difference!

I'm miserable and depressed

I feel no desire to do missionary work

You are very kind (just thought to throw this compliment in)

Can become...

Members are usually not very missionary minded, they could make so much of a difference! So, I'm going to start praying more intently for them, and give inspired invitations so they can build their faith in Christ

I'm miserable and depressed, so, I'm going to go talk with someone. I need outside help.

I feel no desire to do missionary work, so, I'm going to get on my knees and pray, and seek for help from my mission leaders

 You are very kind and you inspire me to be more kind.

The former statements hold no faith, destroy action, and discourage being an agent unto ourselves. 

The latter have a foundation in faith (a belief that things can improve) enable action and encourage our agency. 

I love it 

(It straight up applies in every facet of life. So cool)

Then finally, General Conference. 

I left with far more questions then I came in with.

If we lived exactly the direct teachings of each of the Apostles, the 70's, and President Nelson, we would be capable of such great service. 

So what's holding us back? 

I love serving alongside Elder Wack. He's got this German bluntness that cast away unnecessary formality and fluff. 

He's an exceptional Elder and is going to bless so many lives. 

Love you each!! 

- Elder Smith

[Most of my photos are just adventure selfies these days. In one of these, I look 40 pounds heavier, but, Mom, I promise it's just the angle. Within also contains my effort to draw Elder Wack on a chair with my non-dominant hand, and also the notes I took during the funeral service]

Benjamin Smith

From Dad - Spring Break

Dear Ben. 

It’s finally starting to feel a little like spring. I’m grateful to have the distinct seasons where we live. It brings variety and spice to life. Just as we start getting tired of winter, spring arrives. It’s been nice to be back home after a week abroad. No place like home and family. 

It was an interesting Sunday. After church I was asked to lead a temple and family history training based on video training from elder Bednar, other general authorities and our area presidency.  It ended up going about 1.5 hours and Amelia was almost dying by the end. We ended up having a family discussion about attention spans and different learning styles. We also discussed how important it is to allow every voice to be heard in a council and how to learn to let your voice be heard.  Mom and I are very different in our capacity and desire to be in meetings. I’m grateful for our families willingness to do hard things. 

We enjoyed having Garret over for Sunday dinner and games. He’s a good sport. We had some good bible discussions as well. 

Mom and I enjoyed some parent teacher interviews this week and your name came up a few times. We ran into Mr S and had a good conversation. His last round of Parent teacher and we were the only ones he talked to. The girls are a true light to that school and the people who go there. I’m grateful for their good examples. 

We’re excited for this week. The girls fly out tomorrow for St George and mom and I follow in the car on Tuesday. Looking forward to spending a couple of days with Steph and Tyler and Bowie. Then we’ll take in a couple of sessions of conference and drive all the way back by Monday night. 

My tender mercy this week was identifying the brake leak in the truck. I was worried it would be really hard to find but it ended up being simple. The back brake line was just dripping on the floor when I brought it into the garage. Here’s hoping it comes off easy. Sometimes it is the small things that make a big difference. My Mom shared a great experience in Messenger that my Dad recorded when he was alive. It is his birthday today. He would have been 76. Miss him lots but so grateful to know that I’ll see him again one day. 

Here’s the story for posterity sake. 

I wish you all could have been here for birthday cake!!

I found a story\letter that Dad had written entitled The Lost Chord. I read it today as we sat around the table sharing a few memories of Dad. It’s long so bear with me . I’d just like to share it with all of you. Maybe it’s what he might have shared today on the occasion of his birthday….

THE LOST CORD

Years ago, we were big goat ranchers with about 250 head of nanny meat goats. We housed them in barns and sheds and had mangers where we fed hay to them in the winter season. The hay was in big round bales weighing about 1350 pounds so we needed a tractor with a front end loader to move the hay to the mangers in the wintertime. In Canada, the winters are cold so it makes starting an old tractor difficult. To make it easier they have engine block heaters that keep the engine blocks warmer and easier to start. I installed a block heater on this old tractor and had a short electrical cord with a special adapter to fit the engine block heater connection that I put on the tractor overnight and was then able to get the tractor started for moving hay the next day.

After we sold most of the goats, we did not use the barn any longer and the short cord with the block heater connection was left hanging in the barn. Great grandpa Smith sold the land, including the barn to Duane Nelson who wanted to move the barn to his farm. I went into the barn one day and got that short cord so I could still use it for heating the engine block for moving hay around our yard at home. Normally, I would be able to get the tractor started during the warm weather if a chinook. However, this year, we had quite a bit of snow and not really cold weather but enough to make starting difficult. I started thinking about the block heater cord but could not remember seeing it in the last 2 years. I found out I could purchase a magnetic block heater and just decided I would do that.

On Saturday, January 9, 2015 after feeding the goats I had the impression I should look for the cord with the block heater connections. It had been at least 2 years since I had seen it. I looked everywhere I could think of and was about to give up. However, the impression wa still present to keep looking. I noticed two brown storage bins up on one of the higher shelves in the furnace room. I reached into the first one and found things I hadn’t seen for a long time, but not the cord. The impression came to look in the second one, even though I was thinking I would just buy a magnetic heater. Much to my delight, my hand touched on a cord and sure enough it was the block heater connection cord I thought was long lost. I went upstairs with the cord in my hand and showed it to Grandma Smith (. Colleen) and said we wouldn’t have to spend the money on the magnetic block heater and related the story of my impression and search.

Here are a few thoughts I have had since that experience. The cost of the new block heater wasn’t that much- $75.00. But, I had the impression to look. Imagine that! Heavenly Father was aware of a small need I had and had prayed about. He is the Creator of infinite worlds in the universe, yet she though enough of me to hear and answer my prayer. That is amazing to me. He knows me- and - He knows you too. He will hear and answer your prayers because He knows you and loves you. In this seemingly insignificant thing, I have a comforting knowledge that Craig Smith is known by name to Him and that He cares about me.I have had a great desire as I get older and closer to the time when one day I will return to Him and our Savior Jesus Christ and answer for my earthly experiences, to know that I have been forgiven of my sins and mistakes. This experience with the lost chord has let me know that He knows of this desire and has shown to me that He will welcome me home as I try to be good and help others along their way too.

He will do the same for you. You are His children and He wants you to come home to Him when it is the right time. He will help you along the way. He loves us all so much that He provided a way for us to return through the kindness and pure love of Jesus Christ who waits with outstretched arms to receive us if we will “come” to Him for healing, peace and true happiness. The lost chord has helped me remember this once again.

What if I hadn’t gone to look? Listen carefully and He will guide you and me. I know that for sure!

                                                        January 2015

I’m grateful for the heritage of faith we have from my Dad and Mom. I testify God does know our names and he is always reaching out to us waiting for and responding to us when we reach out to him. 

I loved this poem I read in the Liahona this month about one of President Nelson’s neighbors who wrote it after President Nelson shoveled the show on their sidewalks for them. 

I’ve seen sermons in stone

And sermons in flowers

Sermons that take minutes

Sermons that take hours

 But I’ve just seen a sermon

Delivered in labor

That showed me perfectly

How to be a good neighbor

Mom and I enjoyed our neighbors last night as we went over to the Rectors and visited with them and the Deo

Love you lots Ben. 

Dad. 

For some reason I didn’t send this off last week so I’ll add an update and give you a double whammy!

Monday we sent the girls off to see Steph and Tyler and Bowie. Then Mom and I followed up with a road trip on Tuesday arriving in St. George on Thursday. The first glitch happened when we arrived in Pocatello  and realized we’d left our passports at the border. We called the next day and all I had to say was my name and the girl on the phone exploded out “we’re you here yesterday! You drove away before the border agent could give you back your passport! We cried all day!” She was hilarious but I was so grateful to know they had the passports that I didn’t mind apologizing profusely for forgetting them. 

We enjoyed some great conversation, invigorating walks and hikes and of course time spent with Bowie. On Friday we hiked a short trail to see some amazing white mountains and Jen and the girls dragged me up a higher area that gave my nerves a little tingle coming back down. Even Mia was worried for Mia as she scooted down ahead of me with no fear. 

Abby on our geocache search up the Tow trail and mountain beside Stephs place. 

Me and Bowie took a walk together and spent 1/2 hour singing and making music. 

To continue, we left St George on Saturday for Salt Lake city, after a fun visit to see the city hall Tyler helped design and to browse a farmers market where we enjoyed a bubble drink and corn dogs. 

We loved attending conference and of course ran into folks we knew, the most surprising being seeing all of Dave and Jens family in the Sunday morning session, down visiting Payton and Logan