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Great Story!!

We all keep hearing about all the horrible things happening in reaction to Proposition 8 in California. We have seen what happens when you stand up for what you believe. And perhaps gotten a very small taste of what it was like in the days of Joseph Smith.I received this story by e-mail today and was told there are many others like it on lds.org.It was so sweet I had to share it.

My heart is overflowing with joy and gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His tender mercies and mighty miracles in our behalf. I just have to share this with you. As most of you know, I am a Temple ordinance worker and work the morning shift in the LA Temple every Saturday. Today, I had the privilege of translating sister Martz-the new assistant Matron's-message during our devotional. She started like this "The prophet Joseph Smith said that no unhallowed hand would be able to stop this Work from progressing. These past few weeks when mobs have combined and armies have gathered against the saints, the Lord has protected His house". She went on to say that those, like her, who were inside the Temple when mobs were surrounding it, did not realize how scary and terrifying this looked on TV to the rest of us, because inside the House of the Lord all was calm and there was peace abundant. After Proposition 8 passed, the Temple began receiving threatening calls and mail from those opposing it. They were warned that more than 5000 people would come to the Temple and burn it to the ground, and stop Its work. The first Thursday when the mob came, the new LA Temple President called the Salt Lake City Temple Offices for instructions. He was instructed to call the local police and to insure the safety of those attending the Temple by closing the gates. The assistant Matron said today, that it was a tender mercy from the Lord that the mob chose that Thursday to come since they had only one person coming to receive his own endowment that day, which he received in time to leave before trouble started. The LAPD and the FBI responded quickly to the Temple Presidency 's summons and patroled the grounds and kept the mob from entering the same. Most of them had never been there before and expressed their surprise at how beautiful and peaceful all around was. They were invited to come back during the Christmas season to see the lights and they promised they would. On Thursday, November 13th, sister Campbell, a secretary in the Temple, was opening the mail and upon opening a large manila envelope found inside a smaller one. When she opened this one, a white powder flew all around her desk. She thought this could be related to the demonstrators and feared the worst-ANTHRAX. She contacted the President, who in turn called the Salt Lake City Temple office again for instructions. The FBI, the LAPD, and even the SWAT teams were once again in the grounds to investigate, and the Temple once again had to close from around 11:30 AM to 5PM. They closed the gates and were instructed to keep all the people there wherever they were found at the time. Those in the parking lot had to remain in the parking lot. Those entering the Temple had to remain in the first floor and those already upstairs were taken to the Celestial Room. Then, the miracles began to happen: A brother serving as a recorder that day is a Microbiologist by profession and used to deal with hazardous substances every day. He was the first to say the white powder in the envelope was only talc, and put every one at ease. Then the sister coordinator upstairs was impressed to call upstairs to the sealing area, and said "They said we can't go down but no one said we can't go up, and I have many people in the Celestial room with their ceremonial clothes on ready to work. Could they do some sealings?" As it happened, there were four sealers present that day and they ran four sealing sessions non stop while the Temple was closed. Downstairs, someone else thought to invite those in the Lobby to do some initiatories, which they promptly did for all those hours too, brothers and sisters alike. Among those waiting in the parking lot there was a large group of young men and women with their leaders who had come to do Baptisms for the dead, and who waited patiently all those hours and decided when the Temple was reopened to go ahead and fulfill their assignment instead of driving back home. The Temple reopened in time for the 5:30 PM session. The next day when recording the ordinances, they discovered that they had performed 2000 sacred ordinances on Thursday, only one less than the day before when three stakes had been visiting the Temple . Once again the assistant matron reminded us of the words of the prophet Joseph Smith, "No unhallowed hand can stop the Work from progressing...". But, this is not all, a prophecy was fulfilled also. When the new LA Temple President was set apart by President Uchdorft of the First Presidency, he received a blessing and these words were pronounced: " The time has come for the LA Temple to come out of obscurity and become an Ensign for Righteousness to the world under your presidency." The pictures of the Temple have been shown on TV, newspapers and the internet, not only in this country but worldwide. People of other faiths have called and sent letters to the Temple thanking the Church for defending marriage and protecting the family, and commenting how impressed they are by how beautiful and majestic the Temple looks . One minister of an African American church, who by his own admission had harbored ill feelings against the mormons before said " I am impressed by your integrity and Christ like behavior, and even if I am not ready to consider you my brothers and sisters in Christ, we can be first cousins!". I asked the assistant matron if I could share her comments and she said to go ahead. I can only addmy own testimony that I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has the power and authority of God on earth. God Lives and Jesus, His only Begotten Son and our Savior is coming soon to redeem His people. I am grateful to know this and I pray we stand firm, steadfast and immobile while the prophecies of the signs before His Coming are fulfilled. "Be not afraid, only believe" He has said, and also " What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same." I testify that this is true and testify it in the Holy Name of Whom I strive to serve, even Jesus Christ. Be faithful and safe is my humble prayer.
Your sister in Christ, Patricia H. Arnazzi

Good news and ??

I got my test results back. My MRI on my ovary came back showing more cysts.I'm only bugged because I went through the claustrophobic horror of the machine just to find out I have more cysts.Why couldn't they be more clear on the ultrasound?? So, I have to go back for another ultrasound in January. Now I have to pick the lesser of 2 evils. Either I can continue getting painful cysts and having them checked on a regular basis or I can finish off my hysterectomy and go through menopause,yuck.
My breast ultrasound wasn't as positive. The first cyst they found 6 months ago is still there. But now I have 3 more "something" that aren't cysts. He gave me some long name for them but said they are basically lumps that they aren't positive what they are. So,he's sending me to a surgeon so he can review the test results and decide if he wants to biopsy them or not. YIPPEE!!
So once again--back to waiting...

Pam the nut

So,yesterday when I scheduled my MRI the lady asked if I was claustrophobic 'cuz they could drug me for the test. I said "yes and that would be great,let's do that!" That was the only reason I could handle the thought of going in "the tube" So as the lady was putting me on the thing to lay down I said "wait,what about the drugs they promised?" She replied with "whoever told you that was mistaken,we don't do that here" So,I cried.And I cried. She said she would just try to put me in,take me right back out and see how I feel. We tried. HECK NO! So another lady came in and suggested that they put me on my tummy so I could look out the tube and not up at it. That kinda worked.To distract me I listened to the sounds the monster was making and tried to make words out of them.There were 2 distinct sounds.One sounded like "Pam" the other went "da-dut" or better yet "the nut" so I layed there,eyes closed,saying "Pam the nut" over and over! Then I remembered an episode of 'Scrubs' when a lady was in "the tube" and it broke,she was stuck in there for hours. I thought "it's mind over matter" so I layed there chanting "I can do this, Pam the nut!" Hey,it's crazy talk but it worked. That and knowing that my honey was waiting right outside the door to take me away from that place! From the time I walked out to the the time he got me home I was a wreck. It was not a fun experience.So,unlike myself,I was very quiet. Everytime he asked if I was ok,I started crying again.About the 4th time he said "ok,you only teared up that time,you'll be ok now." So,hopefully the worst part is over. Hopefully the results will come back good and I will know I climbed in the tube monster for no stinkin' reason.But that could take until next Thursday (at the latest). So,back to waiting!

Update

After 2 weeks of fighting with the insurance for pre-authorization,I'm finally going to get my testing done (MRI on the ovary and ultrasound on the breast,that's what the insurance is going for right now). The place that I have to go to get it done is so awesome! I found out this morning that I got approval and within 30 minutes the place was calling to schedule and I'm going in tomorrow! I'm so happy that it's not going to drag out and take forever to get in. Hopefully it won't take very long to get the results. I know the only reason it got approved and that I got in so fast was because of prayers. Never underestimate that power!

If I Were an Angel..........

A very creative friend of mine made this video. And of course, since it has some of my angels in it, I had to put it here! These are available for purchase through her. If anybody is interested, let me know, I'll get you in touch with her. It's very touching. You can also find this on you tube.




This just reminds us that though they can be challenging, they are gifts from above and we are so blessed to have them in our lives.Thanks Marika!