The Divine Institution of Marriage

The California Supreme Court recently ruled that same-sex marriage was legal in California. Recognizing the importance of marriage to society, the Church accepted an invitation to participate in ProtectMarriage, a coalition of churches, organizations, and individuals sponsoring a November ballot measure, Proposition 8, that would amend the California state constitution to ensure that only a marriage between a man and a woman would be legally recognized.
This article on the LDS Church web site is very informative and well written. It states the rationale behind the church's stance that supports Proposition 8 that would define what constitutes a marriage. See the additional resources listed on the right side of the article for a more indepth look at the issue. You might even consider donating to the cause by clicking on donations on the "Protect Marriage" web page. Take a look at all the organizations, politicians, churches and foundations that are supporting Proposition 8. This is a very important vote that will have far reaching implications if it is not passed. I wish I lived in CA to vote on this one.

United Way day of caring

United Way of Utah County recently had their annual day of caring. Someone we know and love was the recipient of a day of labor in her home and yard provided by 75 volunteers from our community. They cleaned her entire yard, worked inside her house, cleaned out and organized her garage, painted her deck, hauled off three containers of yard waste and took a truck load of items to DI. Who was this lucky lady? See the pictures here and click on Green home (Orem.) Yep, that's right. Aunt Gayla Green was the lucky recipient of a day of love and hard work from members in our community including many students and employees from BYU. I love United Way. I have had the opportunity to serve as the college representative at BYU for more than 10 years and I've had the chance to contribute to this great organization in several ways over the years. I'm so happy to know that United Way of Utah County helped one of our own. I only wish I'd known that Aunt Gayla was on the list this year, because I would have gone to help. (Look for May and Dwight in the photos.)

Computer Literacy Tests: Are you Human?

A few months ago I read this interesting article in Time magazine. Who knew what a CAPTCHA was? Not me! I knew they were used on many different computer systems (like Blogspot) but I didn't know why. You know those little funny letters that you have to type into the line before it will publish your comment. Now I know why. It was interesting to learn that in a few short years, programmers will come up with a way for computers to sign in using a CAPTCHA. For now, this "human" way to prove our humanity will continue, but not for long. As the article states at the end: It's nice to know that we humans are still good for something. Soon, we'll be obsolete....
Seriously though, it's absolutely mind bogging (not to be confused with blogging) to think about the advancements that has been made in technology since we got married 29 years ago. Just during that time we have included in our daily lives the following: cell phones and all their gizmos and gadgets, computers (PCs and laptops) in every variety that can do more and more programs and move faster and faster, the internet and all it does for good and evil, the ability to do online banking, cable TV, dish TV, free long distance land line telephones, blogging, emailing, palm pilots, blackberries, digital photographs and cameras, flat screen - High def TVs, CDs, DVDs, home printers, FAX machines, scanners. I could go on, but those are the things we use ALL the TIME and don't think anything of it. What are some other technology "things" you use in your work or home life?

Our darling grand-daughters

These sweet little girls are our grandbabies. We love to spend time with them and look forward to seeing them next month. They are great friends and playmates and they keep their mother and dad very busy. Thank goodness for web cams and the internet for posting pictures. Also, we're thankful for unlimited long distance phone calling. What do you grandmothers do who have long distance relationships with your grandchildren? Any ideas to share? We are certainly biased, but we think these little girls are the sweetest and brightest little girls we know. I love being a grandmother.

Six months down - our Elder in Mongolia

Images from Mongolia....

From his letter dated 8/18/08:  Well this week one of the
most random/cool/faith building things ever happened on my
mission. It was Sunday at we were at the church. On Sundays
we go to the church at 9 o clock so my companion can teach
the branch missionaries since he is the district leader.
After the meeting we usually study at the church until 12
when church starts. Anyway there we were sitting in the
church, it was about 11:30 or so when all the sudden I heard
English being spoken. I said to my companion, in Mongolian.
“Is that English?” He just shrugged. Anyway I thought it
was so I went out into the hall to see what was up. When I
got out there I was met by a bus load of Americans. They
were touring Mongolia and some other places and had some who
stumbled upon our church in Nalaikh. Our branch President, who
is a missionary, who speaks pretty good English, ushered them
into the church and then had them all sit down in the cultural
hall. I went and was greeting them and then they started asking
me questions. They all of course started laughing when I said I
was from Utah. Anyway they were pretty amazed to see this lone
white kid with all these Mongolians getting ready for church.
One of the ladies was so perplexed it was hilarious. She said,
” I just don’t understand it. I don’t understand how you get
these sheep herders to join your church. How do you do it?
What do you say to them?” I said,” I will tell all of you the
exact thing we tell them when we go into their gers. I then
proceeded to give them the first lesson/ I told them that we
have a God who loves us and who loves our families. I told them
how he has a plan for us to become like him. I told them how he
gives us prophets to help us learn and know his will. I told them
how he sent his son Jesus Christ to the world to Atone for our
sins. I told them how Jesus called prophets and gave them
priesthood authority to act in God’s name. I told them how Jesus
and the 12 apostles established God’s church. I then told them
about the apostasy  and how the authority of God was taken from
the earth. I read James 1:5 and asked them what this scripture
meant to them. One lady said, “ It means nothing!” I said,
OK, what it means to me is that if that if we have a question,
we can ask God and receive an answer from Him. I told them about
Joseph Smith and how he did this and received an answer from God.
I told them how God, though the Prophet Joseph Smith, established
his true church again. While I was bearing testimony about the
Prophet Joseph Smith I felt the spirit very strongly and I knew
that he truly had seen God. I knew it. Its not like I didn’t know
it before but I received a strong reaffirmation that it was true.
After saying all this a lady said, “Ok well I still don’t
understand how you convert these sheep herders?” I then told
them about the Book of Mormon and the promise it contains. I told
them how like Joseph Smith we can pray to God and ask Him if this
things are true and how we can receive an answer from Him.
“And that’s it,” I said. We ask them to find out for themselves.
As you can probably guess they were pretty amazed, one lady was
like, ” I just don’t understand it.” They then asked Elder Bilguun
why he joined the church, and in English he said, “ I did what
he said. I read, I prayed, and I received and answer, and I know
its true!” This was a way cool experience to be part of and truly
a testimony about just how powerful this message is that we are
sharing. I myself go out and work and teach and help people all
day long but I don’t convert anyone, the Lord does though the
Holy Ghost. And that’s it, that is how these sheep herders are
converted because they, with sincerity in their hearts kneel down
and ask their Father in Heaven if the things we have told them
and the things they have read are true. And then they receive an
answer from on high and their lives are changed. I love this work,
I know its true. God lives and loves us. He is alive NOW and can
help us NOW. I know this because I have seen him change
peoples lives today.