Dominican Republic: Michelle and I have been invited to attend the company trip to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. It's an all-expenses paid trip that my company does for the sales teams that exceed their sales quota each year. About 1/2 the company gets to go each year. We will be there Feb. 25th - March 1st. Well, maybe it isn't all the way free...so far we have had to spend $400 on passports. The last time I was out of the country was my mission (can you believe it? OK, Mexico, but that doesn't really count). Here is the agenda for the trip:
Wednesday - Take the red-eye to Atlanta, then to DR
Thursday - Snorkeling at an offshore reef; ziplining through the tropical forest
Friday - Deep sea fishing; ride 4-wheelers through the forest
Saturday - Hang out at the beach ALL DAY
Sunday - Fly home
Michelle has never been out of the country, so she is very excited! She served her mission in Oklahoma, so she stayed stateside.
Last night Justine had 8 or her friends over for her 12th birthday party. We took them all to see Inkheart; then we came home for pizza and they did a murder-mystery: Death of a Teen Idol.
Tonight, as I pondered my Sunday School lesson, a thought came to my mind. It was a quote given by Carlfred Broderick, a prominent member of the church in the mid to late 20th century:
The term "savior on Mount Zion" is ordinarily reserved for those engaged in vicarious work. Truly, Saints who selflessly devote themselves to genealogical and temple work deserve the title. They perform Christlike service in lovingly opening the gates of exaltation to others who without their work would not have that opportunity.
But I believe that the term might also be applied to another group of the Saints. These have been called to sacrifice for the sake of saving the living, often of their own household.
Children need not merely replicate the sins of their fathers, but that each generation is held accountable for its own choices. [Ezekiel 18:2-4]
Indeed, my experience in various church callings and in my profession as a family therapist has convinced me that God actively intervenes in some destructive lineages, assigning a valiant spirit to break the chain of destructiveness in such families. Although these children may suffer innocently as victims of violence, neglect, and exploitation, through the grace of God some find the strength to “metabolize” the poison within themselves, refusing to pass it on to future generations. Before them were generations of destructive pain; after them the line flows clear and pure. Their children and children’s children will call them blessed.
In suffering innocently that others might not suffer, such persons, in some degree, become as “saviors on Mount Zion” by helping to bring salvation to a lineage...”
Last week, Michelle and I were able to attend the temple with Justine, her first time. She was so excited! Our ward temple night actually fell on her 12th birthday, and Bishop Woodruff signed her recommend early that previous Sunday so that she could go with us that day. She rode over with the youth (we had around 20 in the temple with us), and we met her in the baptistry. I had been working to prepare some names of my immediate family: My maternal/paternal grandparents, a couple aunts and uncles, a cousin, and others. It was the first time I had prepared names (thanks Stacy and Dessa for helping me get started!). I felt a real spirit of Elijah as we visited Indiana this past spring; my sister and I were able to gather a lot of information while we were there. The Spirit was strong as Justine and I participated in the baptismal and confirmation ordinances. A couple of the young men who I had become close to when I served as the YM President last year assisted me with the male names...it was such a wonderful experience!
I am grateful for my dear sister for bringing the Gospel to me; our upbringing wasn't great, and the Gospel saved us both. For wonderful friends both before and after my mission who helped teach me and bring light into my life. For my wonderful wife who saw the good in me early, and who has helped me become a better husband and father. But most of all to my Heavenly Father, who has blessed me with a wonderful family and has entrusted chosen spirits to come to our home. I feel truly blessed!
