PROMISES OF THE LORD - by Doug Johnson

One of the great blessings that we have today with the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is the fact that we have a prophet at the head of the church. It is the prophet that the Lord has designated as His “mouthpiece” or “spokesman”. Prophets are entitled to receive inspiration and revelations from the Lord. We are taught that when the Lord speaks he will speak through his prophets. In the D&C 1:38 the Lord told the prophet Joseph Smith, “What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken…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.”
The Lord has also given us a promise, if we are obedient to his commandments. In the D&C 82:10 the Lord said, “I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.” It is important to be obedient to God’s commandments, if we want to receive the Lord’s blessings.
I want to share with you a story about one of your ancestors who is able to teach us about the principles of “obedience” and the “blessing” of a prophet by his example. This story is about your great, great, great, great grandfather. His name was John Thomas Richard Hicks. John T. R., as he was called, was born April 29, 1825 in Falmouth, England. His father was a sailor; however, John T.R. was only 3 years old when his father did not come back after a sailing voyage to South America. It was believed that all of the men that were on that ship had drowned at sea. His mother was Johanna Richards Hicks. Johanna raised John T. R. and his two sisters. John T. R. married Harriet Yoe on July 7, 1850. It was a couple of years later that he and Harriet were taught by the Mormon missionaries and were baptized. John T. R. and Harriet immigrated to the United States and were part of the Hunt handcart company that was rescued on the plains of Wyoming in 1856. John T. R. became skilled in making and repairing shoes. John T. R. did not just make shoes, but he took pride in his skill as a craftsman. He would measure the person’s foot and then fit the shoe to the individual’s foot. President Brigham Young and other general authorities were some of his faithful customers. John T. R. did well enough at his vocation that he was soon able to buy a building lot and to build a two room house at 340 West North Temple in Salt Lake City. John T. R. and his wife Harriet were faithful members of the church.
At a meeting one day in the Bowery (a thatched roof open-sided assembly place that stood where at the site where the current Salt Lake Tabernacle now stands) President Brigham Young was speaking on the principle of tithing. As he was chastising the saints for their lack of obedience to this commandment he said that he did not know of a man in the Church that paid an entirely honest tithe. At the conclusion of his sermon, a Brother Woods arose and said that he knew of one man who paid an honest tithe. President Young asked who it was and Brother Woods said it was John T. R. Hicks, of the 16th Ward. President Yong asked if John T. R. was present and if so, to stand up. John T. R. arose and President Young gave him a blessing then and there. He promised John T. R. that neither he nor his family nor their posterity should feel the want of food.
President Young’s blessing is especially powerful when coupled with the Lord’s promise, “What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken…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.” The Lord’s promises will be fulfilled if we are faithful to the Lord’s commandments.

DIVINE NATURE - by Kari Johnson

While I was at Girls Camp last summer something really simple happened that reaffirmed to me my divine nature as a daughter of God, and the fact that Heavenly Father loves us and is mindful of us and our lives, even in the smallest details.

One night we were supposed to gather all of the girls and leaders that were at Camp Koholowo and do a stargazing activity. We gathered all the girls together on the front lawn of the Lodge and the man who had come to teach us about stargazing indicated to everyone that we may not be able to do the stargazing activity because it was so cloudy. Looking up you could not see a single star, there was a very thick cloud cover making it impossible to see anything in the night sky. The Girls Camp leaders decided to go ahead and get started with a prayer, and see if the clouds might clear. One of the leaders gave the prayer and simply asked that Heavenly Father would allow the clouds to clear so that we could participate in our stargazing activity. After the prayer the man who was there to teach us began telling us about some different constellations, and as we looked up, it was amazing, the clouds were clearing, and fast! It seemed to me a miracle that so quickly the sky went from not being able to see one star, to clear skies and thousands of stars shining bright. I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who cleared the skies for 200 girls at Girls Camp that summer and sending us the message that we are his children and he loves us in a very real way.

PRAYER & OBEDIENCE - by Zac Johnson

I was on my mission (Recife, Brazil) and in my last area that was called Bonito. This area just had been recently opened and only had about 7 or 8 active members. We lived above a garage (is the best I can compare it to). In the garage is where we would meet. My companion (Elder Araujo) was able to teach me the value and importance of prayer. Since this was a recently opened area there was a lot of work to be done; however, there were many times that appointments would fall and we would have nothing to do. Times before when this would happen I would go straight to the area book or knocking doors, etc. My companion though would go straight to the Lord through prayer.

One afternoon a few appointments fell and we didnt have anything on our schedule. My companion suggested that we slip into an alley accross the street and say a quick prayer. Following the prayer we a gave a few seconds to see where or what we should do. 25 to 30 seconds had past when my companion looked across a swampy marshy area and pointed at a house that he thought we should visit. I looked at the swamp and noticed that we will probably be getting muddy and wet in order to reach the house. I than looked at the houses and saw that they all had the same color of roofs except for the house he pointed had a blue roof. I asked Elder Araujo "is the only reason why you thought we needed to vist that house, is because it has a blue roof and it sticks out" and he said "no, that is where we need to go". I said "Ok, lets do this". As we started to make our way across the swamp Elder Araujo began to have second thoughts because he started to get muddy and wet. Elder Araujo said "maybe we arent suppose to go to that house". At that time the possible scripture might of crossed my mind (1 Nephi 3:7) "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandements unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." I than told my companion that we were directed to go to that house and no matter what it takes to get there we will go. We hopped from rock to rock and patch of grass to patch of grass. We ended up getting muddy and wet; however, we made it to the house. We came to the fromt of the house and clapped and waited. Nobody came to the door... We clapped and waited. Nobody came again... We went around back and yelled to see if anyone was home. We waited and nobody answered... We know we were suppose to teach someone so we went back to the front door and clapped again. A guy finally did answer the door and let us in. We were able to teach a lesson. I dont know if we were able to teach a follow up discussion; however, I know we planted a seed and I was able to learn a valuable lesson with prayer and obedience.

CHALLENGES BRING UNITY - by Hannah Johnson

One cold February night – our family stayed at the line shack. The next morning we got up and Dad took us tubing with the snowmobile. We would sled down the hill and he would take us back up the hill on the snowmobile. Isaac was using skis so he would ski down the snow packed road. After a while dad told Isaac to ski down the road as far as he could and he would pick him up with the snowmobile.
A couple of minutes after Isaac left on skis, the snowmobile broke down. Reed and I tried to help lift the heavy snowmobile while dad tried to start it, but after about 30 minutes and some prayers we realized we weren’t strong enough and needed to have another plan. Dad and Reed were to hike up the mountain to the line shack to get mom and the other snowmobile. I was to hike down the road and find Isaac and tell him what happened and to hike back up to the broken down snowmobile.
I walked for a long time calling Isaac’s name. Finally I saw him. He was really tired from hiking in his snow boats and carrying his skis (about a mile down the road he stopped skiing realizing that Dad wasn’t coming). I carried Isaac’s skis. We were so thirsty so we would stop and eat snow. We were so tired and just collapsed by the time we reached the snowmobile.
Mom and Dad finally came on the other snowmobile. (Reed stayed at the line shack to watch Andrea). We worked together and prayed and were able to get the snowmobile started.
This experience sounds kind of miserable and like a rough day, but really we had an amazing experience working together as a family – one that we will always remember. Isaac and I worked together – Dad and Reed worked together (they have a cool experience to share another time) – Reed and Andrea worked together – and then Dad, Mom, Isaac, and I worked together. We are so lucky to have a family that can help each other when we have challenges . After this experience I realized that challenges don’t have to be that bad if you look to your family to help you and also to pray to Heavenly Father to help. Each of us had to have our own faith since we were separated.
Once we had our problem taken care of we went back to the line shack and built an amazing snow fort and played in the snow. On the way home we talked about our experience and realized that if we wouldn’t have had that challenge we wouldn’t have had the opportunity to work together. The challenge brought us closer together as a family.
I am not scared of challenges because you will always have someone behind you. It is like when I am at a gymnastics meet I know I will have my team right behind me to cheer me on. And I know that I will never be alone because Heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost will always be with me.

HOLD ON - by Jamie Johnson

I have hiked to the “Y” in Provo about 4 times in my life. The first time I hiked it I was 10 years old with a BYU ward that my Dad was the Bishop over. I remember it being really fun and laughing and talking with the college students the whole way up.
So a few years ago Ryan and I took the family on the “Y” hike. It was a lot harder than we thought but we were prepared with water, snacks, and a lunch. The kids had cousins with them so they encouraged each other on.
The next time we went the kids knew what to expect, but were still excited to go on the hard hike. We had water and starbursts to eat once we reached each of the 11 switchbacks – those were the motivators to keep us going.
This last Labor Day 2010 – we spent a couple of days in Midway. On our way home we still wanted to do something else. Ryan saw the “Y” on the mountain and suggested hiking it again. There were some moans and groans, and one or two “Okays”. So we decided to do it even if the majority had a bad attitude. All we had was one water bottle – no motivator treats and Andrea was told she had to hike the whole way without being carried once.
I reflected on this experience as I prepared this lesson in that there are many ways to learn from this experience. We can all be on the straight and narrow path, but we still encounter steep hills and discouragement. There was one point that Reed stopped by some trees in the shade. I stayed with him for a minute, but then encouraged him to get up and keep going. This didn’t work so I left him. I was about half way up the switchback and he still wasn’t coming. I yelled down to him to come. He finally started staggering up the hill. I made it up the switch back where the rest of the family was waiting. Isaac saw Reed was struggling so he ran down to where he was and encouraged him to keep going. The hike seemed to go a little bit more smoothly after that and the attitudes were a lot more positive, thanks to Isaacs sincere example of encouragement.
I know that here on Earth our Father in Heaven and Savior are here to lift us up and help us when we are ready to give up. I wasn’t going to drag Reed up the mountain he had to decide for himself not to give up. Once he decided to keep going then Isaac was there to help – just like our Heavenly Father is waiting for us to come to him.
As we headed back down we could go a lot quicker, but if we weren’t careful then we would slip and fall on the rocks. In life we can be going along thinking everything is great, but if not staying close to the Lord then we are more likely to fall into temptation and be brought down. We also need to remember that we shouldn’t run faster than we are able. We need to slow down and stay in control.
Attitude also made such a difference in our hike. The first three hikes I went on we all had a positive attitude and the hike didn’t seem so bad. But a negative attitude on the last hike made it miserable until we decided to change our attitude. Andrea was a great example in that her little legs made it to the top without being carried and she stayed positive by saying hi to people we passed. Also not having motivator treats we had to look inward to motivate ourselves.

On the path of life we are blessed to have the Iron Rod – the word of God to hang on to. (I demonstrated this by having all the little kids hold hands and then Ryan as Satan tried to pull the kids away).
We are so blessed to have the Iron Rod to hold on to as we follow the straight and narrow path. As we encounter the many hills, and times of discouragement, we need to look at these “speed bumps” as opportunities to grow versus challenges that slow us down. Sometimes these opportunities (challenges) appear to never end. If we are patient and just “Hold On” for one more day keeping a positive attitude, giving thanks for even a small and simple thing then we will “endure well” and be able to be an instrument in the Lords hands and bless the lives of others
I have had the saying of “Hold On” as my motto throughout my life. When I was 12 my Dad died – even though I had so much faith, I found it was harder to “hold on”. So I am so grateful for a family that held on through teaching me the Word of God. I am especially thankful for a ward that helped me “hold on”. Grandpa Doug was one of those that helped me as he was my Bishop.
As the teenager years came – I continued to focus on “holding on for one more day because things will go your way”. I struggled with friends that were making wrong choices and started seeking out better friends. I focused on talents and getting involved. I am so grateful for many earthly angels that helped me and continue to help me hold on in times of hardship. I am also grateful for a Heavenly Father that loves me and is continually sending angles to watch over me and help me to “hold on” because someday I want to have eternal life and be reunited with all of my loved ones.
Even though trials come I am grateful to have a testimony that Heavenly Father loves each of us and is mindful of our situations – he just wants us to “Hold On”.

PERSEVERANCE - by Cameron Johnson

This summer I planted some pumpkin seeds in our garden. It was hard work weeding the garden and taking care of my pumpkins. I watched the garden every day and checked on my pumpkins. Pretty soon green leaves started to grow, and then flowers started to grow on the leaves. Then there were little green pumpkins and they grew bigger and turned orange. It took perseverance to grow my pumpkins because it took a long time and it took work but I persevered and I grew 24 pumpkins.

LIFE LESSONS ON THE FARM - by Tiffany Johnson

My story is about an important lesson I learned while working on the farm. It was summertime and I was 15 years old. My sisters and I were inside doing our ever-dreaded “Saturday Jobs”. There was no way of getting out of doing our Saturday jobs unless my dad coming into the house to get us to work out on the farm. We loved working on the farm with dad. Anything he had us do was always a lot more fun and a lot easier than the work my mom had us do in the house; however, my mom would only let him take one or two of the three of us who were old enough to go. Therefore, it was always a battle of who would get to go with my dad. This particular Saturday I heard my dad’s motorbike pull up and all three of us ran to the door to see if we could go. I was very happy when my dad said, “I need Tiff to come out with me today I have a job I want to start her on.” I ran to get my shoes and jumped on the motor bike with my dad. We headed out to a field and as we stopped in front of the silage tractor my excitement was starting to dwindle. I soon realized that my dad wanted me to learn how to drive the tractor that would chop all of the hay that summer to store away for silage for the cows. My dad now has a self-propelled chopper but this particular summer he still had his pull behind chopper which, in my opinion, is a lot harder to drive. It had three pieces to it: the tractor, the chopper that hooked on to that and behind the chopper there was a wagon that the chute would spray the hay into. It seemed like a train to me and I thought it looked impossible to drive. “OK.” My dad said, “It’s time you learned to chop hay. We’re short of help and we need you to do it.” I immediately started saying that I didn’t think that was a good idea and I wasn’t ready and I didn’t even have my license yet but he said, “You’re ready. You can do it” Then he proceeded to show me how to work the many switches and levers. As I sat while my dad explained the process to me it seemed I would never be able to do it. There were so many things to watch and buttons to push and all at the same time while you were looking forward to stay on the right row and looking back to make sure the hay was going into the wagon. In addition I had to make sure the chopper didn’t go to fast and get plugged with hay and be on alert for the metal detector, which would buzz so that metal wouldn’t go through the chopper. Once again I said, “Dad, I really don’t think I can do it”. “You can do it. I’ll drive a couple passes with you.” So he drove down one row of cut hay while I watched what he did and he explained everything to me. Then he told me to drive. “Ok”, I said “but you can’t get out. I still need your help.” As I started chopping with my dad in there to help me and tell me what to do it didn’t seem so difficult. “I can do this,” I thought. But then after going down one row and back up another my dad said ok I’ve got work to do. Just keep chopping and a truck will be here in a minute then you can dump the hay in it. Just pull this button and push this and it will dump. I was nearly in tears and I said dad really you can’t go yet I just barely learned what if I ruin everything and break your tractor. What if I mess up really bad? My dad said, “Tiff, I know you can do this. If I didn’t think you could I wouldn’t have given you the job. I trust you.” I swallowed back my doubts and nervousness and said, ok dad if you say so. Then just as my dad was about to leave on his bike I opened the door and said, “But dad what if I need you or have a question where will you be?” That’s when he pointed to the radio below the steering wheel and said. I have my radio all you have to do is press the button and I can help you.
This experience taught me a few great lessons about life. I did learn how to chop that summer. I made some mistakes and I wasn’t very fast in the beginning. I’m sure some of the other workers on the farm probably questioned my dad’s wisdom in letting me drive; but, I got better and by the end of the summer and I loved to chop hay. I found that it was very rewarding. At the end of a long, hard day I could look out over the empty field(s) and think, “I helped do that”. I was a part of accomplishing that huge task. It was very rewarding.
The next lesson I learned was that this life can sometimes be hard and we have challenges that we alone have to face and overcome. We came down to this earth with the ultimate goal of returning to live with our Heavenly Father and we have to make choices everyday that will help us return to live with him. Heavenly Father has faith and trust in us that we can overcome the challenges that we are faced with and make the right decisions so that we can return to live with him. Just like my dad was right there telling me he knew I could do it. Heavenly Father is telling us that he knows we can do it and believes in us that we can endure to the end. My dad trusted me and because of that trust I gained the confidence that I could accomplish the task. Heavenly Father Also trusts us and he won’t give us something that we can’t do. We just need to gain confidence in ourselves to accomplish hard things.
The third lesson I learned was that we are not alone. Just like I had the radio to call my dad when I needed him for something we have ways that we can get help when we need it. We have parents, grandparents, church leaders and most importantly we can always pray to our Heavenly Father and he will hear and answer our prayers. I have a testimony of the power of prayer and I know that when we are faced with a difficult decision or need help with something we can call on our Heavenly Father and he will help us.