Words from Darin

I have always wanted to meet people who have served a mission in El Salvador who later in life became famous. I feel that we share something unique. Those missionaires accepted a call to serve my homeland and for that I am so grateful. Darin Southam is one of those fellows. A few days back, he wrote a post that touched me deeply and need to share his words with you. 

 

"Forgive the length of this post but I shouldn’t be alive today. 

I returned to Salt Lake Friday from a location scout in Upstate NY, where Michelle picked me up with the family and we travelled 2 hours straight away to Bear Lake, Utah for a weekend trip with her family. It was a wonderful trip, however, on Saturday I attempted to cross the mammoth lake with a blow up kayak. I just felt an impromptu urging to challenge myself (a frequent thing, for me). I said to Michelle, “Well, I’m going to row across the lake now. Be back in a bit,” to which, Michelle replied, “Where’s your life vest?” Over-confidently, I turned, “Why do I need a life vest?” and continued on with a smirk. From the shore, the lake appears much smaller than it is. A very deceiving optical illusion. But, I’ve since learned, it’s about 8 miles across! 

I rowed myself on the flimsy kayak about 3/4ths of the way, believe it or not. Blistered hands in an awkward kayak that just wasn’t made for such a voyage, as much as it pained me to do so, I turned back. But determined, I turned around again and kept going a little further. At length, I realized I was just too unprepared for the unexpected length of the journey. I’d put sunblock on in the morning but it wasn’t fresh and I didn’t want to make everyone late for dinner—or fry myself in the sun. So I gave in and began the long journey back home. Deep down, however, I felt defeated; giving up is completely foreign to my nature. Eventually, I made it back, having been on the water for over 2 hours! My shoulders were spent from rowing and my hands now with open blisters. 

The following day, having no plans at attempting another crossing, I put my trunks on to meet Michelle and the kids on the water. On my way out, Michelle’s mom joked, “Going for another try?” To which, I shook my head, “No way.” And I meant it. I literally almost fell asleep on the couch not 15 minutes earlier from all my rowing the day before. But my brother-in-law egged me on, “Da-rin, Da-rin, Da-rin,” as I exited toward the lake. The only kayak left was the blow up so I rowed it out to meet the others. Now, somewhere between the walk to the water and the rowing to meet Michelle and the kids I determined in my mind to try again for the other side. I was convinced, if only I had a better kayak, I could make it across. So I switched my daughter for our blue Kayak, which she reluctantly gave me. But Michelle and I mistakenly thought I was too heavy for it so I switched Michelle for hers. Had I known what would happen, I would never have given up the blue kayak. As it were, I was actually 30 pounds UNDER its weight limit and, unbeknownst to me, disaster would descend on the other kayak. 

I powered off. At first, I was flying. It was so much lighter on the water. I rowed hard, alternating from sitting to kneeling to standing. I passed an idling boat confidently on my way to the other side. I was at least 4-5 miles out when I went to alternate to the standing position and realized something might be wrong. The board/kayak was suddenly very unstable and I had to immediately sit back down. But, assured it was just me getting tired and wobbly, I pressed on. Admittedly, the board seemed to feel heavier to row at this point. I looked at the back and couldn’t quite determine if it seemed lower in the water. Again, it was probably just me getting tired, I thought. So, onward I went and I reached at least as far as I had gone the previous day (possibly further) when, all at once, the kayak slowly tipped back, as if someone lifted it by tip and, suddenly, I was dumped into the water. I mounted the board again only to be dumped just like before. I tried laying on it and paddling with my hands but it was futile. Now likely 5-6 miles into the lake with a bottom so deep it’s never fully been measured, muscles already fatigued from rowing so far, there I was--treading water. Alone in the vast sea-like Bear Lake. I was in trouble. 

Not trusting how much further the other side really was and noting the absence of boats in that direction, I turned back and began the daunting swim for home. It didn’t take long before panic set in. I immediately cried out unto the Lord, “God, save me! Save me, God! Save me, God.” I could feel how tired I was and how slow I was going. And, with the dead weight of the waterlogged kayak, my hope of reaching the other side alive was quickly dwindling. After about 20 minutes of swimming, I contemplated ditching the kayak and just swimming back without it but I tested it first, pushing it forward and swimming toward it. It was then that I realized just how dire my situation was—feeling the dead weight of my 205lb muscle-heavy body in the open water, I realized, as hard as it was to push that board, I was dead without it. It had just enough buoyancy to give me something to hold onto—but for how long I did not know. Would it sink in a mile? In two? All I knew is, ditching it would be fatal in the vast 5-mile swim I had left. Having read forums about swimmers preparing for Iran Man, they train for months with 4-5K distance swims that usually last an hour several times a week. They do it in a pool usually, many times assisted, to avoid accidental death. Though I’m in shape, I’m 42 and nowhere near the cardiovascular strength needed to do something like this cold turkey. 

Notwithstanding, I had no choice. 

I pressed on, working into a muscle-numbing rhythm. Then, a boat motored by, about 200 yards away. I lifted my ore high with all my strength. It felt like 50 pounds waving it from the base with no leverage, all while keeping myself afloat and trying to remain calm. Alas, the boat passed me by, leaving me alone again. I continued on, feeling myself getting more and more tired. Becoming more and more desperate. Seeing the tiny homes on the other side, I finally said to myself, “I’m going to die.” Then, another boat zipped by, a little further than the last. I tried once more to wave my ore but they did not see me. In my despair, with no other boats in sight, I thought of all the foolish decisions that led me to my imminent death. Why didn’t I listen to my wife and wear a life vest?! Why did I have to attempt crossing again--and with such careless thought? As ashamed as I was at my choices, I couldn’t change any of it now. 

What was once a crystal blue paradisiacal lake only minutes earlier was now a monstrous abyss threatening to swallow me whole with every waning stroke. I was powerless--suffering alone the consequences of my rash actions and, suddenly, my life flashed before me. Not metaphorically. Literally. I knew this was the end. I thought of my wife and children. How could I do this to them? How could I make Michelle a widow at 38? How could I leave my children fatherless? Little Gabe wouldn’t understand. And the older children would be confused and haunted for the rest of their lives, all without saying goodbye and likely never recovering my body from the depths of the lake. The thought of their suffering willed me to keep going. To endure. “Don’t die. Don’t die! Keep going!” 

I also thought of my unfinished film, 10 years in the making, which I was at last on the eve of producing in August. It would be left by the wayside in the wake of broken hearts and shattered memories. But I pled with God, nonetheless. I pled with Him with all my energy to save me. I begged Him in the terror of my soul drowning in the great deep, “Oh God, save me! Save me, God!” I could feel myself sinking lower and lower; every sidestroke filling my outer ear with water. My lungs in pain and my heart feeling about to burst. Then, I lifted my arm to the square and commanded in the name of Christ that help would come. And somewhere in my heart and mind, I clung to my faith of 42 years--I clung to my God!! I KNEW He could save me. I knew, even though I’d been foolish and given Him no reason to bail me out, I knew He could do it. But would He?

Swimming a little further, having pushed the nearly sunken kayak for over 30 minutes now, I lifted my head one last time and beheld a boat about 150 yards out. Miraculously, it had stopped and was idling. I almost dared not hope, but I gathered all my strength one more time for a chance at saving my life. I yelled as loudly as I could, waving my arms, “HELP! HELP!” They could not hear me. Out of breath, I tried whistling through my teeth and eventually managed a pretty piercing whistle. I knew, if this boat did not see me, I knew there was no way I could make it back. But suddenly, the boat fired up it’s engine and began a b-line straight for me. I could hardly believe it, “Oh, thank God! Thank God! Thank you, God!” But I dared not stop waving my hands as the previous two boats came so close and still passed me by. I watched in fear for the boat to make a hard turn but, thank God Almighty, it continued for me and about 50 yards out, they honked their horn. I knew I was saved. 

They lifted my trembling body safely into the boat and I collapsed on the deck, lying in shock and disbelief. Then I broke down in tears. I hugged the woman who helped me to a seat. I tried to point home but my arm was so weak I had to sustain it with my other arm. I told them over and over, “You saved my life. You saved my life.” I thanked them. Told them God sent them to save me. The boat full of teenagers and parents, all observing me in total silence. Surely, as shocked as I was to see a strong grown man weeping in gratitude for life. 

Now, the aftermath. How can we go on, knowing I was supposed to die but God snatched me from the grasp of hell? We know we return to our Heavenly home when our earthly work is finished. But can our lives be cut short and our work left unfinished by our own foolish choices? Yes. I knew this and I knew if God saved me it would have to be a total bailout. How can we go on, never forgetting that so many others have fallen without a bailout? Their families left to mourn out their days without them. Why was I saved when so many others were not? I don’t know. But this much I do know: God snatched me from the jaws of death on Sunday. I knew it and I knew He knew it. And I will forever sing praises to His name. 

Parenthetically, Michelle was saddened that she had felt no warning to come save me. But an all-knowing God knew, Satan’s bounds were set--the boat had been summoned, my kayak staying afloat just long enough, and I would be dining safely ashore in the arms of my family before sunset. He also knew, when He taught me at 13 to whistle through my teeth, that this skill would eventually save my life. Because He knew all this, He allowed me to feel the pangs of slowly watching my life come to an end. He allowed me to feel my nothingness. I’ll never forget it. And neither will my family. 

Hug your loved ones today, tomorrow, and forever. Be grateful for life. Do the things that matter most. Forsake the things that don’t.

No one is perfect. Me least of all. But I can only hope this experience will make me a better man. I hope it might also benefit all who read it. God bless."

Darin does not know me or cares to know me but I am in debt for his example and wisdom. Thank for being who you are! 

Con amor,

Vero

 

 

 

Tuesday's Tea

I love the idea of zipping into a nice warm cup of herbal tea. Ideally, it would be a time to invite friends over for tea but we live in a world that keeps us so busy that having people over for tea is not as easy to do, however, I like the idea to take time for me. 

 

Time to ponder about those things that matter most to me, those things of the spirit and this is what I love to do each Tuesday. 

 

By now, I have heard every lesson and every pod cast on a particular set of scriptures. In my case, I listened to about 20 podcasts through the week while I am busy cleaning, or cooking. Ironing is not that boring of a task when I am listening to Follow Him with Hank Smith and John Bytheway or Don’t Miss This by Emily Freeman and David Butler or Real Talk by Scott Sorensen and Ganel-Lyn Condie but when I want to get serious in my study, I listen to Unshaken by Jared Halverson or Act in Doctrine, or Taylor and Tyler of Book of Mormon Central or Scripture Gem or Brother Miller’s Notes or Scott and Chelsie or Talking Scripture or Scripture Power or even the B.Y.U Religious Education program to name a few and I love them all!  

 

Here are my takeaways in my study of Sections 94-97 from last week:

Build your life after the pattern given by the Lord

The word temple comes from the word template which means pattern

The Lord loves those whom he chastens 

The temple and the home are foundations for an eternal family

The temple, the words of the living prophets and the scripture are central to my life

Dedicate more wholly unto the Lord 

Get rid of anything unclean 

From the Old Testament found in Kings 8:37 to too Isaiah 28:21 to the new testament found in 1 Corinthians 3:6 to D & C 94:1 to our day, God wants us to build temples

The Kirkland temple was more of a restoration temple where keys were given 

A temple is the place where heaven and earth are connected 

We build temples to give us a place to take our most holy desires unto the Lord

In the temple, the Lord pours out his spirit upon us

The temple is where we take our burdens 

The temple is the place where we give thanks and obtain knowledge 

The temple is where we partner with God 

The temple needs to be at the center of our lives 

The temple prepares us to do God’s work 

We are endowed with power when we go to the temple

Each temple is unique and not build after the manner of the world 

The Latter-day Saints during this time were poor dealing with persecution

Mobs destroyed the printed press and people’s private property

Our members were abolitionists and moving to a state who had slaves caused friction 

There was a big difference between Kirkland, Ohio and Jackson County, Missouri 

We build temples to thank the Lord as an offering of our gratitude

The temple is a place of instruction where we always learn something new 

Many things are learned only by attending the temple 

If you want to be better at anything, go to the temple

If you are trying to make a big decision, go to the temple 

The temple is the place where you can find God. It’s His home. We get to know Him

The temple allows us to connect with God in sacred ways 

The temple is a type of school 

Everything in the temple is symbolic from the clothes you wear the words spoken, etc.

Ceremonies are so deep and symbolic that they teach us new things 

The temple is for preparation, the spirit, power, prayer, strength, thanksgiving and instruction 

Find a place in your home dedicated to the Lord that resembles the spirit found in the temple 

 

Con amor,

Vero

Monday Memory: A Letter to My Child

Each Monday I look through an old journal, so today I found a letter written by Sue Swinton to her new born baby.  She wrote:

 

My daughter how I love you.

Letting you go is so hard. Please understand that it’s for your own good that I part from you. Take forever this little light that will guide you only if you let it. 

Because you are the most valiant ones you came at this time.

I give you three the following gifts:

First, take my gospel through baptism (when you turn eight) is a blessing you will receive as you study, pray, and live it. You will learn of its precepts and its freedom from carnal man. 

Second, I give you a free country choice above all others in which you were born. In this land, you will increase your knowledge, your talents, whatever you soul want to pursue and pick yourself up to try again in those hours when you fall short. 

Third, A covenant family I give you as a refuge that will provide you substance and security. Parents who will teach you and guide you, a family that will unconditionally love you to whatever course you may choose. 

Fourth, A heritage I give you of men and women polished by their suffering of the spirit and the flesh, a refined heritage of those who have sacrificed personal wants, those who had the courage to stand up for what they believed to be right. Also, a heritage that came from far away driven themselves beyond mortal capacity for you to follow after. 

Take these gifts. It brings me great joy to have you receive them. I know you completely and I Know you have the capacity to use them wisely and I trust that you will. Come to me whenever you need me for I will always be near you. More than anything else, I want you to come back to me. My child, more than anything else, you are part of me. Be faithful my child and someday we can be together again as one. 

 

Your Father in Heaven 

God Will Use You, God Will Bless You

My beloved brothers and sisters, I am delighted to be with you today. I love this university for many reasons—not the least of these is the fact that I attended school here, as did my wife, our five children, and four of five of their spouses. I suppose you could say that I have a personal, financial investment in this university.

I love that so many wonderful, intelligent disciples of the Savior come to this campus to dedicate themselves to the pursuit of truth and to seek temporal and spiritual knowledge.

I have already said that I love this university. What I didn’t tell you was that I also carry fond feelings for this building in which we are seated today.

As I was watching students enter the building this morning, it brought back a flood of memories. For a moment it seemed as though time had rolled back, and I could see myself as a student your age, entering this very building.

However, in my case, the reason I most often entered this building was to work the midnight cleanup shift here at the Marriott Activities Center. If you look around, you will see the very places I walked with broom and mop, tidying up after devotionals, basketball games, and special events. So for those of you who might be tempted to litter while you are here, please keep in mind that I will be watching.

This campus is sacred. While I worked and studied here, I also pondered questions that many of you might be asking at this time of your life:

• What should I study?

• What will become of me?

• Does the Lord care which career I choose?

• Will I ever meet someone, fall in love, and get married?

• Will I find happiness and success in life?

I have to tell you that these questions felt all consuming and even frightening at times. I honestly didn’t know exactly where my life would go when I was your age. One thing is certain: I never imagined as I was sweeping this great hall that one day I would be at this pulpit speaking to you.

Today I want to address two of the questions you might be asking—things I myself desperately wanted to know when I was your age.

First, if you dedicate your life to God’s ­service, will He direct your steps and use you for His righteous purposes?

Second, if you choose to follow the Savior and walk in the path of discipleship, will the Lord watch over you, guide you, bless you, and fill you with a spirit of joy and fulfillment?

A Temple in Philadelphia

In the ten years prior to my being called to the Presiding Bishopric, I had the blessing and privilege of helping to identify and acquire sites for temples.

A few years ago President Thomas S. Monson announced that there would be a ­temple in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, so we went to work researching possible sites where that temple could be built. Two sites ultimately emerged—and it just so happened that they were across the street from each other.

With the approval of the First Presidency, and after doing some preliminary due diligence, we began the process of acquiring the properties. To my great surprise, the owner of the first site accepted our offer without negotiation. I can’t tell you how remarkable this was!

It has been my experience that when a property owner discovers that the interested party is the Church, the price often goes up. To put this in perspective, the owner of the second property across the street responded with a price that was more than four times the price we offered.

When I met with the owner of the first property, he explained that he had owned the property for almost twenty-five years and could have developed it several times. But he had always felt that the property had a “higher and better purpose.” When we offered to buy it, he said it felt right.

However, you probably already know that when it comes to building the kingdom of God—and especially when it comes to building temples—things often don’t go as smoothly as we would hope.

Shortly after we filed the paperwork, the city of Philadelphia, through a city-controlled agency, filed a legal claim that stopped the transaction. They wanted to take title to the property themselves. This was a very serious matter. We did everything we could to meet with the agency and remove the claim. We were unsuccessful. This was a real problem and was very discouraging. We had felt so good about the property. We believed that this was the place where the Lord wanted His temple to be built.

As a final step we took our appeal of last resort to the mayor. He was the only one with the authority to change the situation.

With a heavy heart I flew to Philadelphia with the Church temple architect. There we were joined by an Area Seventy and two local Church members. One of these members was someone you may have heard of. He, too, attended this university. In fact, he played on the BYU football team and eventually ended up playing professional football for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Vai Sikahema is a well-known local ­celebrity in Philadelphia. He had completed a successful career playing football and afterward became a sports announcer on a local tele­vision station.

Before the meeting with the mayor, our little group of five met together and talked about the purpose for the meeting. Then we knelt in prayer. We knew that we would desperately need the Lord’s blessing that day.

At the meeting, the mayor, a city council member, and some of the mayor’s staff were in attendance. After introductions, my heart sank as I realized the atmosphere in the room was more than a little cold. It appeared evident that the decision had already been made, that the hearts of the city officials had been set against our building a temple there, and that this meeting was little more than a formality.

As we started to explain the project, the mayor explained that his staff had assured him this property was better suited for commercial purposes—an office building or a hotel would not only benefit the city with jobs but would provide needed tax revenue. We would need to look for another site.

Brothers and sisters, I have been in situations where all appears lost, where it seems that nothing you can do or say will make a difference. What I have learned in these situations is that if you are on the Lord’s errand, do all that you can do with the talents and abilities God has given you and then lift up your heart and plead for God to hear your prayer and intervene on your behalf. Even though you may appear to be outnumbered, even though it appears that all may be lost, our beloved Father in Heaven will reach out and take you by the hand. He will fight your battles. He will come to your aid.

I know that the five members of the Church in that room were pleading in our hearts for heavenly help. What could we say or do that would help change the mayor’s heart and mind?

I asked the mayor if the architect could show a simple drawing or two of how the temple might look. He looked at his watch—a sign that he wanted the meeting to end—and said, “Okay.”

But before the architect could begin, Brother Sikahema asked the mayor if he could say something.

The mayor was acquainted with Brother Sikahema and said, “Of course.”

Vai paused for a moment and then stood. In a humble voice he went on to say something like this:

“Mr. Mayor, many years ago when I was a young boy in Tonga, my father and mother and my brothers and sisters sold our home, we sold fruits and vegetables, and we sold everything we could to have enough money to travel to Hamilton, New Zealand, to be sealed as an eternal family in the temple. You need this temple. This temple will bless your city. This temple will bless your community. It will bless the people.”

Then he sat down. We were all very quiet.

After a moment the Church architect stood and showed the mayor a few drawings of what a temple might look like. It was clear that in those few minutes something had changed. In reality, everything had changed.

As the architect sat down, the nonmember city councilman asked to speak. He stood and said, “Mr. Mayor, I have spoken with the leaders in the community and neighbors of this property. We want this temple. We need this temple. It will bless our city. It will bless our community. It will bless the people.”

As he spoke, you could feel the Spirit come into the meeting. It was a sacred moment. What was to have been a thirty-minute meeting lasted for the better part of an hour and a half. Oh, how different things were after that sublime moment!

To my surprise, at the end of this public meeting the mayor turned and asked if I would offer a prayer in that setting. His heart had changed. The temple would go forward. It would be built on the selected site.

Now brothers and sisters, I have a special blessing for us today that is not always possible. I would like you to meet Brother Vai Sikahema, who is with us this morning. He is not just a football player and he is not just a stake president. He is an instrument in the hands of the Lord.

My dear friends, the Lord knows the end from the beginning. He knew that a young football player at Brigham Young University would one day need to be present in a meeting with city officials at the moment when a site for His temple would be discussed. He knew that Vai Sikahema’s humble testimony would need to be shared—that it would be the turning point that made the difference at a critical time.

Heavenly Father knew Brother Sikahema, and He prepared him and put him in the appointed place so that his humble testimony would be shared and his faith and testimony would help further the Lord’s work among men.

God Will Use You

My beloved brothers and sisters, God used Brother Sikahema. He will use you. If you give your hearts to Him and strive to walk in faith and compassion on the path the Savior commanded, He will use you. He will use you in ways you cannot now imagine.

“But,” you might say, “I’m no one special. I’m not a football player. I’m not a celebrity. I’m nobody. I’m average in every way. I’m not particularly smart, eloquent, coordinated, well dressed, or even well behaved. How could God use me?”

Don’t you know that since the beginning of time our Heavenly Father has reached out to those who were average and used them for His purposes?

The Apostle Paul wrote to you today as he did to the ancient Corinthians:

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

That no flesh should glory in his presence.¹

Gideon was a farmer, but God saw him as the man who would deliver Israel from bondage.

When Samuel stood before the people to present to them their new young King Saul, the Bible tells us that Saul was so terrified that he “hid himself among the stuff.”²

Even though Esther was an orphan and a captive in a strange land, she saved her people from execution. Even today the Jews celebrate the Feast of Purim to commemorate her courage.

When it came time for our Savior to restore His Church to the earth, whom did He choose? There were many refined, educated, well-dressed, well-spoken people on the earth at that time. But our Savior chose a rough, humble boy—a farmer, a youth with very little formal schooling.

Why does the Lord choose the weak things of the world for His purposes? Why does God choose the “base things of the world, and things which are despised”? Paul answered his own question: “That no flesh should glory in his presence.”³

Why do you suppose God told Gideon to keep sending his troops home until he only had three hundred men to face more than one hundred thousand of the enemy?

Why do you think our Savior chose a fisherman to be His chief apostle who would lead the Church after He was gone?

Why do you suppose God chose an ­untutored farm boy to translate the Book of Mormon?

First, because God doesn’t look on our ­countenance or the height of our stature:

The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.⁴

Second, because God is able to take the most humble clay and create of it a masterpiece. Truly, “if God be for us, who can be against us?”⁵

Third, God chooses the average and the weak so that no man can boast and say, “I have done this out of my own ability.” He uses ordinary “earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”⁶

When an army of a hundred thousand is routed by a band of three hundred, people give praise to God.

When a humble fisherman takes a small group of believers and shepherds them into a mighty Church, people lift up their voices and give thanks to God.

When a frontier boy leaves the plow and translates the most inspiring and life-changing text since the Bible, people glory not in the intellect of man but in the power of God.

Our Heavenly Father doesn’t need you to be mighty, intelligent, well dressed, well-spoken, or well inherited. He needs you to incline your hearts to Him and seek to honor Him by serving Him and reaching out in compassion to those around you.

I bear my personal witness that if God can use a humble janitor who spent many hours mopping and buffing the floors of the Marriott Center, He can certainly use you.

A Temple in San Salvador

The second thing I want to impress upon you today is that if you will follow Him in truth and might, He will bless you in ways you cannot comprehend.

In 2006 President Hinckley and the First Presidency determined that there should be a temple considered for San Salvador in El Salvador. This was due to many reasons, not the least of which was that our beloved Church members who were traveling from El Salvador to the Guatemala City Temple were having difficulties in the travel, including armed robberies.

We spent many days searching for appropriate temple sites, but none seemed right. I visited a number of properties, including a full city block (eight acres) located in the older central part of the city. As I drove from property to property, nothing seemed right.

Eventually I passed by an emerging area in the west part of the city. I felt something in that area and walked around a number of blocks. One property surrounded by a wall was of particular interest. I reached out to the owners through the real estate agent and received word that the property was not available. I returned home.

But the prophet had said a temple would be built in San Salvador, so I returned once again to look at other properties. None of them seemed right for the temple of God. Once again I found myself drawn to the property with the wall, and I made contact again. Once again they repeated that the property was unavailable. It was their historic ancestral homesite, and it was not for sale.

I returned home again but couldn’t shake the feeling that this was where the temple should be. I reached out and contacted the family and asked if they would at least meet with me. They agreed to do so. Once again I traveled to San Salvador, accompanied by Robert Fox, a friend and employee in the real estate division. That morning we knelt in prayer in my room before beginning the day and asked for the Lord’s assistance.

We arrived at the home for the meeting with the Dueñas family. As we drove through the gate it was almost like entering into a sacred garden. There were trees and flowers, and the busy noise from outside stopped at the gate. We parked, and Mr. Roberto Dueñas, his brother, and two of Roberto’s sons were awaiting us. They greeted us and then escorted us into their ancestral home—which was quite large and spacious.

We told them we were there by assignment of the Church president—President Gordon B. Hinckley—and that he wanted to bless the country and Church members by building a temple there. I showed pictures of other temples. I said that we felt their property, their ancestral home, was the right place.

It was no surprise when they once again declined. But we had to make the attempt. And so for almost one hour we tried every avenue of approach, such as a straight outright purchase, an exchange of property, and every other option we could think of. But they were firm in their resolve and said no at every offer. Once again every door seemed closed.

I had done everything I could do. I had prepared. I had done the best I knew how. But it simply was not enough.

My heart was filled with an urgent prayer: “Father, please help us to know what to say or do.” But we could make no progress.

At last it became evident that our trip had been in vain. It appeared that nothing would change their minds. As we began to prepare to leave, something happened. You could feel the Spirit of the Lord enter the room. It was tangible. Everyone in the room felt it.

Roberto Dueñas, who was not a member of the Church, began to cry. Tears cascaded down his cheeks. It was one of the most powerful spiritual experiences I have ever felt. Finally, Mr. Dueñas turned to his brother and said, “If we can’t sell our ancestral home, couldn’t we sell the very best of the property we have across the street?”

His brother responded affirmatively.

We then talked about the other property. They owned several hundred acres across the main road from their ancestral home, with the heart of the property jutting out slightly so that every car that traveled this road would see the temple.

That was the property they offered for the temple of the Lord. It truly was a miracle.

From that moment forward, the blessings of the Lord attended the process. We acquired the property, and on August 21, 2011, President Henry B. Eyring dedicated it to the Lord’s service.

I testify that this beautiful temple graces the beautiful hills of El Salvador not as a result of anything Brother Fox or I said or did. That temple stands there today because of the unspeakable blessings and powerful ministerings of the Holy Spirit of our Almighty God.

Our Merciful Father

My beloved young brothers and sisters, if the Lord cares enough to send His Spirit and make available a site for a temple, do you not suppose that He will send His Spirit and prepare your heart and guide your steps not only this day but throughout the rest of your life and for the remainder of eternity?

You are inexpressibly more precious to your Father in Heaven than a plot of land. You are a beloved child of your Eternal Father. You are the offspring of the God of the Universe!

Do you not suppose that He is mindful of you? Do you not suppose that He will use you and bless you in ways more glorious than are possible for you to imagine?

The scriptures tell us that if we “trust in the Lord with all [our] heart; and lean not unto [our] own understanding,” if in all our ways we “acknowledge him, . . . he shall direct [our] paths.”⁷

The great King Benjamin perfectly summarized the message I wish to leave with you today. Will you listen to his words as though he were here before you today?

He said:

I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness.⁸

I raise my voice in praise of and witness to this truth. I testify with all the tenderness of my heart that I have seen the promised blessings of God fulfilled over and over and over again in my own life and in the lives of many others.

I promise you that if you will but incline your hearts to your Father in Heaven, if you will strive each day to love and follow Him more perfectly, if you will in compassion and kindness share the burdens and lift up the hands of those who are struggling around you, then the Lord God of heaven will direct your paths. He will use you for His sublime purposes. He will bless you in ways you cannot imagine.

How grateful I am to our merciful Father, who knows us, who loves us, and who desires that we become the magnificent beings of grace and light we were designed to become. I pray that you will capture this vision and know within your hearts that if you seek to become true disciples of our beloved Savior, the Lord will use you. He will bless you. Of this I bear solemn witness in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Talk given at a BYU devotional on November 3, 2015 

Happy 70th Birthday in Heaven dear Bishop Davies

 

In memory of Elder Dean Davies

Last Wednesday, we got word of Elder Dean Davies passing, five days shy of turning 70. He was also in the Presiding Bishopric for several years who attended several D.T.A. cluster meetings where we became better acquainted. One very memorable meeting was held in Hawaii. He met with us and offered to give us a blessing which we accepted, of course. I was dealing with some trials and he told me: “Veronica, I feel prompted to tell you that your prayers will be answered” I have never forgotten those words.

 

As we watched his funeral services attended by the First Presidency and many General Authorities, I couldn’t help to think how lucky we were to call him our friend and mentor. One daughter commented on a question she asked: “Dad, how is it that you are calm even when people tell you things that are hard to hear.” He responded, “I found that many situations, even things that seem very terrible, are often resolved over time, or they simply aren’t that important after a year or two goes by.” He had a gift of patience.

 

Bishop Davies was special to us because he had served in Uruguay as a young missionary and Presided over the San Juan, Puerto Rico mission. He was responsible for finding the land where the temple of El Salvador was built. He gave an amazing devotional at BYU on November 3, 2015 (God will Use you, God Will Bless You) telling of the miracles he saw as he went about purchasing land for temples. 

 

Bishop Davies was the one who came to the Philippines to announced Daniel as the new Director for Temporal Affairs and came back four years later when our time there was up. He spoke so well about Daniel and shared the copy of his talk with us. We had a special dinner at our home. It was just him and us. He wanted it to be private. As you can imagine, it was wonderful to have so many things in common. He truly was a disciple of the Lord who influenced the lives of all with whom he came in contact including us and for him and his example of a hero who endured to the end, I am grateful. 

 

Con amor,

Vero and Daniel 

"She is Here"

September 3, 1015 is a day I will never forget. At around 1:30 pm (MST) Ruby May was born prematurely in a Boise Idaho Hospital.  She was ten weeks early! This happened while I was asleep in Manila. Anything of significance in the West always happens while you are sleeping in the East. I woke up the next morning to find a text that read "She is here" 

I got on the computer immediately to look for flights from Manila to Idaho. It was tough since we were just moving into our new home in Manila and all of the sudden, I needed to turn around and go away not knowing exactly what to expect To get to Idaho, I had to first get out of Manila ether by Hong Kong or Tokyo from there I needed to travel to either Dallas,  Los Angeles or Seattle and from there to Boise. That would literally take two days. After what it seemed forever I met my newest grand baby. I was not allowed to hold her. She was in an incubator with so many wires all wrapped around her tiny body. 

We prayed, and prayed that she would survive, grow and get stronger so that eventually she would be ready to be sent home. Bianca would sing to her, and hold her small hand through a small opening. We all were praying as a family. I realize that day how important the care and love for family is in our lives. We need each other and that is why we grow up in families. Nothing can ever compare to a love a mother has for a child and vice versa. This situation tested our faith. We didn't know the outcome. She could have easily not make it but we were hoping for the best and today this beautiful child turned six! She is a six year old miracle and for that, I am so grateful! 

Con amor,

Vero

 

In Cordoba

Yesterday we heard of an appointment to take my fingerprints to get my DNI in Cordoba which is about a seven hour drive so we left around 4:00 pm to arrived right around midnight. We were exhausted but worth the trip. I got a temporary visa for the next six months. At the police station Daniel forgot his backpack which contained his laptop, dap, phones all our documents including our passports etc. It was tense to think that we lost such important things but it was the police station after all where he had left his backpack and was found. What a tender mercy!  

Today I want to say thank you to the people that helped us. Marcelo Paz even drove our car for us.  “There are two little words in the English dictionary that perhaps means more than all others. They are ‘thank you’. The more often a person says thank you, the happier he will be.” President Gordon B. Hinckley 

It turns out that because I am married to a Permanent Resident, I qualified to get a permanent visa which means that my visa will never expire. Yay! When I finally get my DNI it will be forever. I could live here all my life if I wanted to but most people are wanting to get out of Argentina. The inflation is ridiculously high and there are no guarantees that it will get better. 

For now, my goal is to enjoy my home and the time we are here because sooner or later we will go. 

Con amor,

Vero