Our Thoughts About What's Happening With Government

Dear Kids,

A lady named Jodi Stoddard did some videos about the Signs of the Second Coming. They were excellent. She posted the other day and it echoed EXACTLY what your dad and I have been feeling. We've been saying for a while now that this isn't an "American" fight anymore!... We LOVE the original Constitution and know it is a document from God. As a family THAT is what we stand up for. But these words below sum up perfectly how your dad and I feel about it all. 

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I'm not sure I know exactly how to put into words what I am coming to learn. The question of the Constitution and individual freedoms (in regards to COVID) has been a hot topic of discussion, the implications of which I feel is largely being misunderstood and misused in our current situation.
Many use the words of Pres. Benson to advocate their cause.
While Pres. Benson's words were true.... he was on the other side of where we find ourselves now. His was a voice of warning of what would happen if our country continued it's path of his day. We didn't heed his words and now find that as a nation we have succumbed to what he warned against.

As individuals our focus now NEEDS TO SHIFT....now we are to become gatherers of those few who will turn to God as He preaches His sermons through the Great Tribulations.
People will soon be struggling to survive - so much so that they won't have time for politics - but only for the next meal, or the next safe place to sleep as the world falls into chaos.

It is too late to set things right in this country (or the world), but as a woman that travaileth in labor we must go THROUGH it, knowing that the reward will be His return and the institution of a perfect government. Again from this we can see that our primary goal should now be gathering and sharing the gospel to bring those who will listen along WITH us; and that if we spend our time angry and fighting against the collapse around us (which is what ALL the prophets warned us about) we will be lost in the fray as will those we could have saved.

The Constitution WAS inspired by God. It was absolutely the most perfect document to govern men of a TELESTIAL fallen world!!!! (did you catch that? Telestial fallen world)
But what are we in the process of right now? We are moving to a HIGHER form of being. The Terrestrial Millennial law is HIGHER than a Telestial one. The government Jesus brings will be HIGHER and MORE PERFECT than the Constitution.

Ours was the last stronghold of Freedom.... it has been slipping away right under our oblivious noses for decades, and is for all intent and purpose already pretty much gone.
Or as Joseph prophesied is "hanging by a thread.".... and the 'elders would save it'. But we must ask - what does that look like? If there is a higher way than the Constitution, then my reason tells me we will adopt that as our new mantra.

Consider these words from the Gospel of Nicodemus as the Jews were asking pilot to crucify Jesus. The parallels are astounding.... Look at Jesus as representing our freedom or our constitution (for lack of a better way to describe what I am seeing through the Spirit)......

Nicodemus 3:
6 And he (Pilate) went again into the hall, and called Jesus by himself, and said to him, Art thou the king of the Jews?

7 And Jesus answering, said to Pilate, Dost thou speak this of thyself, or did the Jews tell it thee concerning me?

8 Pilate answering, said to Jesus, Am I a Jew? The whole nation and rulers of the Jews have delivered thee up to me. What hast thou done?

***THIS!!!*****9 Jesus answering, said, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, and I should not have been delivered to the Jews; but now my kingdom is not from hence.****

10 Pilate said, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king: to this end was I born, and for this end came I into the world; and for this purpose I came, that I should bear witness to the truth; and every one who is of the truth, heareth my voice.

11 Pilate saith to him, What is truth?

12 Jesus said, Truth is from heaven.

13 Pilate said, Therefore truth is not on earth.

**AND THIS***14 Jesus said to Pilate, Believe that truth is on earth among those, who when they have the power of judgment, are governed by truth, and form right judgment.**

WE are those people in verse 14.... NOT our government which has failed us and who we should NOT expect to fix it... they are not capable because like the Pharisees they can no longer see TRUTH....
So it is a waste of our time to scream at them for failing us.
It is a waste of our time to try and get them to see reason and return our nation to righteousness.... like the Pharisees they ARE NOT CAPABLE of it for they cannot see truth.

WE will be those who Christ puts in their place upon His return. NOT before - for now we are to serve and love and warn and rescue and prepare and pray and glorify and hope and listen......

Christ Visiting Me On My Beach

Dear Kids,

I love meditation.

It's not the "humming" eastern type of meditation. But it is a powerful practice for keeping my mind in tune with the spirit. Opening my soul for just allowing the spirit to fill it with what the Lord has for me.

When I first started to really practice meditation, I had to learn how to quiet my mind from everything going on in the day. There are still times when doing that is difficult. Just freeing my mind from what is going on around me and just being "still". "Be still and know that I am God." That is a HUGE phrase that goes through my mind during my meditation time.

It was interesting the way my "meditation beach" was discovered. I started just feeling peace. And when I would feel peace a vision of a golden beach came to my mind. It is actually similar to a beach that I knew on my mission in Russia, on the shore of Kaliningrad. Amber would wash up on shore and gave it a golden shine. When I thought of peace, that is the place I would be.

When I first started the practice of "pondering and meditation" it was in the gym at the sauna. I started with doing about 10-15 minutes of meditation at a time and I would go to my beach in my mind.

One day when I was doing this, and sitting on my beach in my mind's eye, all of a sudden Jesus starting walking down the beach in the distance. It was quite amazing to me because I didn't have the idea before entering that "mind space" that this was going to happen. I just happened. He came to me. He started walking down in the distance and when I saw him I realized it was Him and I jumped up to meet him. It was so familiar, so much like seeing someone you haven't seen forever, but you just start talking and interacting with them like it was just yesterday that you were together. That is how it was.

I hugged him and I was so glad to see him! Such a HUGE hug and so many big and great emotions. So many smiles all around, so much love and connection. I don't even remember what I talked to him about, just the everyday things, how I was doing, what was happening in my family. Then I asked him if he would give me a blessing. He did, and it was a simple blessing for an enhanced spirit to be with me during that particular day of going through the everyday things I needed to handle.

When I went back to the meditation space after that day, He started coming to me often, just to see me and give me a blessing for the day. After a couple of months I posted on social media about meditation and I shared a bit what I had experience with Christ visiting me. After posting it, I had a friend, Ganel-Lyn Condie, tell me in a conversation, "I think you don't realize what happened. I think you've had your calling and election made sure. You had a visitation from Jesus - your 2nd comforter experience!".

It took me a back just a bit, because I knew I had had spiritual experiences, but I had never equated it to my calling and election made sure - the 2nd comforter experience. But the more I pondered about it, the more I realized that it was EXACTLY that. He came to me with my 2nd comforter experience!

I think it took me a while to wrap my head around it because of how "imperfect" I still am. As I've been on this road of further spiritual experiences, I have had to learn how to repent and forgive myself of my humanity REALLY quickly, because I still make so many mistakes. But it's not about not making mistakes ever again when you have a 2nd comforter experience - it's about learning how to turn to Christ over and over and over again.

As I've moved through and had more experiences with Jesus, it's taken me some time to wrap my head around the fact that He comes to me! He visits ME - of all people! It's starting to really hit me HOW sacred this has been. Taken me some time to wrap my heart around the magnitude of what is happening to me.

I had the reminder again last night. Your dad and I were reading some posts from people on a "Signs of the Times" Facebook page. There was a man on there who posted about some people having amazing spiritual experiences during conference, of seeing angels, ancestors, Jesus and God. When I read it there was a twinge of "Dang.... I knew I missed something! That didn't 'happen' to me."

But the spirit IMMEDIATELY talked to me, "Andrea, don't downplay the experiences you have had just because other people have DIFFERENT experiences. You've already had visitations in your personal revelation. Don't downplay those experiences. They are JUST as powerful as what other people experienced. You know the significance of conference and what went on."

I really appreciated that confirmation, because the spirit is exactly right about that. I tend to soften my experiences in my life in general. The hard things I've been through, the spiritual experiences, the knowledge I've gained... I tend to allow myself to deemphasize what I've experienced based on what other people experience or know. The spirit has been telling me and teaching me over and over and over again that I can't do that anymore.

My eye of faith experiences are REAL! They have happened to me! They are magnificent and amazing! It's so humbling for me. So humbling. The spirit also talked to me the other day and reminded me, "Andrea, you've been steady and stayed a 'worker in the field of the Lord' for your whole life. He is so pleased with you. He intends to use you. Don't give away your power by underemphasizing what you know."

I love you kids. When you take time to sit and just go into your eye of faith moments, it's amazing what happens. I find when I couple it with the power of prayer, study AND pondering time, the spiritual feast is unbelievable.

I love you,

Your Mom

Sacrament Meeting At Home

Dear Kids,

It is the end of a good Sunday with all of you.

It is April 2020 and COVID - 19 has changed the world forever, I believe. There are a lot of things that are concerning with what is happening (government overreach, data misgathering, contention back and forth, lots of conflicting information coming out), BUT there are so many good things that have come from this time.

One of those great things has been doing sacrament in our home. I hope you have memories of this time doing the sacrament together as a family. Maybe it will be more and more common place as the Savior is closer to coming back, maybe what will be unfamiliar is doing sacrament meeting all together as a group of Saints - it is unforeseen at this point.

But what I do know is that I am loving it. We have had Mesha and her boys come down and do a family sacrament meeting all together every Sunday for the past month. It has been beautiful to set up the table with the white tablecloth, watch Brent as he gets the formal dishes out so that we are taking sacrament from beautiful dishes and cups, making sure there is wonderful Sunday music on, choosing the hymns, and having good family discussions and lessons all together.

Gabe, today you gave the lesson on King Benjamin's talk in Mosiah. You led the discussion and I got emotional thinking about the times I was in Russia and there were so many kids who has no idea how to do what you just did our home. The skills of learning how to teach your family and the leadership that develops, just makes me so excited for your future. All of you kids, you are strong souls and spirits! I hope you remember, I hope you remember all of this.

It is going to be fascinating to see how the world starts to turn again. I don't think it is ever going to be the same. But there are exciting times ahead. There are so many people that will keep being distracted from keeping their eye on the Savior coming back, but we must lose our focus! Never!

I love you guys so much. I love you thoughts, your testimonies and your goodness.

I love you,

Your Mom

Stripped Of Pride To See Angels

Dear Kids,

The last couple of weeks I have had a type of "cloud" over my mind with my meditation times. Most of the time I can find a good flow and an abundance of the spirit, especially as I envision going through temple processes and our future and anything else that the Lord would have me know.

But the past couple of weeks I have had a type of cloud over me. I was wrestling with it for a while because I couldn't figure out if I had done something to chase away the spirit, if I had done something that needed repenting of (besides the everyday things :-) ).

Then today I read the talk by Elder Andersen from conference and he was talking about "Spiritually Defining Memories". In this talk he is speaking a lot about experiences that we have had, or will have, that are moments when we can say that we know that God knows that we know! They are spiritual experiences that leave such an impression on our mind that we do not forget them.

Most of the talk he was speaking about moments that are involved in regular everyday life - as appropriate because that is where the Holy Ghost speaks to us so often. But in one section of the talk he said this, "Some experiences are so sacred that we guard them in our spiritual memory and do not share them."

Then he referenced a couple of things. First is the scripture Alma 12:9, "It is given unto MANY to know the mysteries of God, nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him."

Then he referenced this from Elder Maxwell, "It takes inspiration to know when to share spiritual experiences. I recall hearing President Marion G Romney who combined wit and wisdom say, 'We'd have more spiritual experiences if we didn't talk so much bout them.'"

Then Elder Anderson then quoted this scripture, "Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost, wherefore they speak the words of Christ. Angels have not ceased to minister unto the children of men. For behold they are subject unto Christ, to minister according to HIS command, SHOWING themselves unto them of strong faith and a firm mind in EVERY form of Godliness."

Then I had a flashback to a meditation I had just a little bit ago when in the middle of the meditation I saw in my mind's eye the part of the temple when messengers come and we are taught how to interact with them and I had flash to my mind the section in D&C when Joseph Smith gives distinctions of how to make sure it is a right spirit that has come to testify to you. In that meditation there was someone there, SO STRONG, I felt it so strong that I opened my eyes to see who was there, but the room was empty.

It was ever since that experience that I have had the cloud over my mind.

Then after reading Elder Anderson's talk today I was taught WHY I had this cloud. It is because the Lord wanted to make sure to cement into my mind and heart that the experiences that I will have are for ME and BRENT only.

I have to be very honest with myself about the fact that there is a portion of me that totally understands how Joseph Smith felt when he went to get the golden plates, but he was forbidden because his heart was not 100% right and pure as to the motivation for taking them. I have to be honest with myself that I have not had 100% pure motives for wanting to have spiritual experiences. I have to admit to myself that there is a part of me that wants them for influence, for recognition, for "clout".

And THAT must be rooted out.

In a blessing I received from your dad in February he said these words, "I bless you to be aware of the presence of ANGELS assisting you in your work and at times you will see them and interact with them so that they may more effectively teach you all the wisdom they have gained."

I have been told that I will SEE THEM AT TIMES and INTERACT WITH THEM so they can more effectively teach me all the wisdom they have gained.

In order to have those type of spiritual experiences, my heart has to be right. It has to be pure. No "better than", no dominion, no pride. Completely stripped of pride. And when I have these experiences I was told very specifically to write them down in my private journal and only share them with Brent.

So the cloud was given to me a little while before the Lord knew I was going to read Elder Anderson's talk so I would have enough time to really figure out what was going on. Then I got my answer today in his talk.

I am not going to force it, but I know that I am on a path of further visions and revelations. In order to be right on this path I must be ready to tell no one. Just like it said in Alma that I can know the mysteries of God but I'm under a strict command to NOT share. And maybe the time will come to share, and maybe it will never come. And that is okay. I cannot trifle with sacred things. I keep them sacred. Without pride involved.

So, I praise God. Seeing angels or not seeing them. I praise God. I glory in my Jesus. Always.

I love you,

Your Mom

Confirmation For Podcasts

Dear Kids,

Your dad called me the other day while he was delivering a greenhouse. We talked about the drive and the "deep thoughts" he was having while he was driving.

Right now, what both of us are really thinking about is "what is our family's part in the world right now?" Your dad told me he kept talking to Heavenly Father about that question for hours, he said, "I was driving and kept asking what He wants us to do in order to move forward, what He wants us to move forward with in our lives. But the heavens were shut. Nothing was coming through. For hours I kept talking to Heavenly Father with no answer. Then finally this impression came... 'I already told you what to do ... and you didn't do it.'"

What we didn't do were the Becoming Spiritually Centered Podcasts.

When he told me that phrase of "I already told you what to do and you didn't do it" there was a FLOOD over my body. I actually haven't felt THAT specific of a confirmation for a LONG TIME. I was washed with the spirit, it was piercing for my soul. The spirit especially yelled at me, "EXACTLY! GET TO IT!"

So here we are, working on the podcasts again. I can't believe how much opposition in my mind and heart are coming because of these podcasts that will be recorded. But the Lord told us to do it. So we are going to go for it.

I didn't want to forget that moment of the FLOOD over my body of the confirmation to go forward with these podcasts. When I get discouraged about them, then I want to remember this confirmation. If all this is is an obedience lesson, then that's okay. But all I know that is THAT confirmation could not be denied. I know that God knows that I know that we MUST do these. Then the next step will be made clear.

I praise God for confirmations and the Holy Ghost!

I love you,

Your Mom