I want to address a doctrinal matter that is very important for us, as mortals, to understand if we want to be involved in an eternal relationship.  See if this makes sense to you:

Lee Braithwaite, in a Brigham Young University Devotional years ago, told the following story that took place when he was only three and a half years old:  "My mother called to me and said, 'Lee, hurry up and get ready for church.'  I was very defensive and said, "I do not want to go to church."  She said, "But Jesus wants you to."  I defiantly stated, "I never see Him there" (From I'll Try to; I Will Do," Speeches, BYU, 2005-2006, 204.)

To this young mind, it seemed that if Jesus wanted him in church, then He ought to be there also!  At least show up once in a while!  It is one of those important questions that we all ask at sometime in our lives.  Why don't we see Jesus once in a while? Or, why don't we occasionally see a family member who has passed--simply to confirm to us that we are 'on track' and that we are making progress prior to joining them, and that there really is an afterlife?

The answer lies in understanding the purposes of the plan of salvation.  The best answer to these questions are clearer when we start at the end of life and work backwards.  For example, our ultimate goal as a couple is to gain eternal life, exaltation.  That means that thanks to the Savior, we will both be resurrected as male and female, and continue as a husband and wife, father and mother.  That's the order of the Celestial Kingdom.  It was for this reason the earth was created--that we, as the spirit children of heavenly parents, might obtain a body capable of marriage and procreation (see D&C 49:15-17.)

Now, what must we learn/know if we are to become a celestial couple?  Would you agree that we must come to know:

1. How to be obedient to celestial law?  Obedience to gospel laws is one of the primary lessons we are to learn in mortality, because once resurrected and no longer subject to death anymore, we must become perfect in morality, honesty, love, charity, humility, kindness, --all Christlike traits we see modeled in the Savior's life.  Consider this point: What can you do to a ressurrected person in the celestial kingdom who lies, cheats, steals, takes advantage of others, etc.?  You can't execute them--they can't die!  You can't put them in a celestial jail until they repent and come out of imprisonment!  (Can a prison hold a celestial being.) And yet, they still have agency!  No, we must know the differences between good and evil if we are to live next door to President Gordon B. Hinckley and Marjorie, or President and Sister Monson in that highest of the kingdoms of glory. Therefore this telestial sphere and environment was created so that elements will test us in preparation for living among other exalted couples.  These lessons can only be learned outside of parental controls, whether mortal or pre-mortal.  It was President Thomas S. Monson who said:  "The primary purposes of our existence upon the earth are to (1) obtain a body of flesh and bones, to (2) gain experience that could come only through separation from our heavenly parents, and to (3) see if we would keep the commandments ("Ponder the Path of Thy Feet," Ensign/Liahona Nov. 2014, 86.)  Thus, the earth was created for us to separate us from our heavenly parents and through our use of agency  choose from all the options that confront us in this mortal state.  (Satan was cast out to this earth to test us in ways that will prepare us to live among other exalted couples.)

      It was President Brigham Young who taught this concept: "It has also been decreed by the Almighty that spirits, upon taking bodies, shall forget all they had known previously, or they could not have a day of trial--could not have an opportunity for proving themselves in darkness and temptation, in unbelief and wickedness, to prove themselves worthy of eternal existence". . . (JD 6:333.)

2. How to be a loving spouse.  There can not be/will not be divorces among celestial couples.  They learned in mortal life how to succor, how to communicate, how to cherish, how to bless one another, etc., so that they have developed a great love affair that only allows for charitable companionship.  

3. We will become parents again--this time of spirit children.  These are offspring that result from the union of resurrected married bodies that contain spirit rather than blood--hence the term 'spirit children.'  Only those couples who have experienced parenthood and done their best in learning how to rear children will be capable of procreation as resurrected beings (see D&C 131:1-4.)

4. One of the great revelations that cemented this particular doctrinal contribution of the Prophet Joseph Smith was given in the 1995 Proclamation on the Family.  It reads: "All human beings--male and female--are created in the image of God.  Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such each has a divine nature and destiny.  Gender is an essential characteristic of individual pre-mortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose" (The Family:  A Proclamation to the World, Ensign, Nov. 1995:102.)

Once you know we have heavenly parents and They function as a Husband and Father, Wife and Mother, you begin to see why we needed to get away from Their home and learn for ourselves the laws and principles that govern marriage and family relations.  Knowing that we can become as They are, eternal companions and parents, as mortals we look at each other differently; we want to work together to continue the love that began in our early relationship and carried us into marriage.  There would be no divorces IF both partners understood their potential as Eternal Companions.  They would do all they could to meet each other's needs and continue the courtship and love that fostered their initial decision to marry and organize an eternal family.  It does take two to make it work.  One can really mess it up!

When we marry in the temple, the sealer represents Heavenly Father, the God of the Universe.  He asks us some questions and when we commit ourselves that we will live the gospel and be charitable companions, there should be very few divorces.  Of course, many must learn from marriage as well as divorce, but divorce means that one or both partners grew careless in living gospel principles and covenants.  

There are only two ordinances performed in the name of the entire Godhead:  Baptism and Eternal Marriage (including sealing of children to parents.)  That means that each member of the Godhead will do whatever They can to assist us in mortality to become the kind of individuals and couples that will serve each other in a way that both will be anxious to develop an eternal companionship.

(Often we hear someone say, "We want to live so as to live with Heavenly Father again."  I don't know of too many parents who want their children living with them whether in this life or the next!  What we really mean is that we will live in the same kingdom, have access to each other, but as exalted couples we will be rearing our own spirit children and collaborating with others who are passing though the same experiences.  So the revelation says: "And that same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there, only [there] it will be coupled with eternal glory, which glory we do not now enjoy. D&C 130:2.)

 

The Theory of Evolution as to the Origin of Man

We live in an age when academics, even some who teach it at Church schools, believe in evolutionary theory as to the origin of man.  Such nonsense misses the point that has been stressed so many times lately by general authorities concerning Heavenly Parents.  Heavenly Parents are the source of all of us as to our spirit creation.  They are also the Two who birthed Adam and Eve in this world prior to the Fall.  Here is the best response to such this idea of evolution by one of the great servants of the Lord.

President Boyd K. Packer:  “NO IDEA has been (1) more destructive of happiness, no philosophy has (2) produced more sorrow, more (3) heartbreak, more (4) suffering and (5) mischief, no idea has (6) contributed more to the erosion of the family than . . .guess what he would say (?)

Here’s his answer: “The idea that we are not the offspring of God, but only advanced animals.  There flows from that idea the not too subtle perception that we are compelled to yield to every carnal urge, are subject to physical but not to moral law….The man-from-animal theory has been passed about enough to be pronounced true on the basis of general acceptance.  Because it seems to offer logical explanation for some things, it is widely taught and generally accepted as the solution to the mystery of life.”  “The Fountain of Life;” The Things of the Soul, 105-117.

“Now in conclusion:  It is my conviction that to the degree the theory of evolution asserts that man is the product of an evolutionary process, the offspring of animals--it is false!  What application the evolutionary theory has to animals gives me no concern.  That is another question entirely, one to be pursued by science.  But remember [even then], the scriptures speak of the spirit in animals and other living things, and of each multiplying after its own kind….

(D&C 77:2; 2 Ne. 2:22; Moses 3:9; Abr. 4:11-12, 24).

I am sorry to say, the so-called theistic evolution, the theory that God used an evolutionary process to prepare a physical body for the spirit of man, is equally false.  I say I am sorry because I know it is a view commonly held by good and thoughtful people who search for an acceptable resolution to an apparent conflict between the theory of evolution and the doctrines of the gospel.  I give six reasons for my conviction:

Reasons for my conviction

1. The revelations from God. . .If the theory of evolution applies to man, there was no Fall and therefore no need for an atonement, nor a gospel of redemption, nor a redeemer.  (This is a very important point.  If there was no Fall, the whole plan of salvation falls apart.  There is no need for Jesus Christ in such a theory.)

2. An understanding of the sealing authority with its binding of the generations into eternal families cannot admit to ancestral blood lines to beasts.  Let me repeat:  An understanding of the sealing authority with its binding of the generations into eternal families cannot admit to ancestral blood lines to beasts.  That should be reason enough for any endowed and sealed Latter-day Saint!  (This is probably the simplest yet most profound point of his six reasons.)

3. Statements of the prophets and apostles. 

            When the First Presidency speaks, we can safely accept their word (D&C 124:45-46.) quotes from two First Presidency statements.  (I didn’t reference the talk by the First Presidency – too long to include here.)

4. Moral laws of force and validity.  If the laws of genetics alone governed the reproduction             and adaptation of living things, then the theory of evolution might convincingly apply to man.  But they do not.  There are moral laws of force and validity which govern that spiritual part of man, the power to reason, the conscience, which animals do not possess. Can you not see how careful, how clear, the adversary is?  He need not even challenge the existence of moral laws; simply convince us that, as animals, we are not accountable and therefore exempt from them.  To regard myself as but an animal would cost me my agency, my accountability; I would forfeit justice, mercy, love, faith, the Atonement--all that endures beyond mortality-values more dear than life itself.  I will not do it!

5. The word beauty.  Beauty itself cannot be imagined as having come by accident.  The precision, harmony, and symmetry of the physical universe and the compelling interrelationship of natural laws with the spirit and emotion of mankind attest to an order directed by divine intelligence.  Those reasons leave questions yet unanswered.  How old is the earth?  I do not know!  But I do know that matter is eternal (D&C 93:33).  How long a time has man been upon the earth?  I do not know!  But I do know that man did not evolve from animals.

6. The Light.  I said I would give six reasons for my conviction.  I listed only five.  The sixth is personal revelation.  Most of you know how to receive revelation. "Study it out in your mind, then...ask" (D&C 9:8.)

Here we are, spirit children of God, clothed in flesh, sojourning in mortality for a season.  Know that your body is the instrument of your mind, and the foundation of your character.  Do not mortgage your soul for unproved theories; ask, simply ask!  I have asked, but not how man was created; I have asked if the scriptures are true.  And I have a witness and a testimony, and I give it unto you:  That Jesus is The Christ, the Son of God; that he is our Redeemer and our Messiah; that there was the fall of man; and that he is our Mediator and our Redeemer; that he wrought the Atonement; that he is our Lord.  I know him.  I bear to you a witness of him, a special witness of him.”  (‘The Law and the Light,’ The Book of Mormon:  Jacob Through Words of Mormon, To Learn with Joy, (Religious Study Series, 1988, Vol. 4:21-26.)

klundt update

Well, I've done it. I spent the day at the famous Huntsman Center. I had Basil Cell Carcinoma. Carcinoma means cancer and Basil cells are a very slow growing innocuous (as cancer goes) type. Doctor Duffy said that this skin cancer is 100% sun caused and I think I had it on this spot just inside my hairline because it is right where you stop applying sun screen but in the wind and water it is not protected. So they cut out the hole like you would a bruise on an apple and then in order to stitch it up they had to cut a T. Since it was the same day as the Harry Potter Premier, I asked for of course a specific scar but I just got a T. I have one week to be very careful before the stitches come out. It is pretty swollen and sore but will not last long. The swelling has really changed the shape of my face. Each day has been different. Today the swelling reached my eyes and the ridge of my nose and I look like an Avatar. I am really excited to get through the week and be healthy and done! It does make you think about what it would be like if it wasn't going away and your life would never be the same. It is a good reminder of how blessed we are to have such great bodies. I love you all! Beck

Christensens in Hawaii

Well, here they are the last of our family to come. Cooper alone will come in September to represent the Thomases. Here's our pictures of Mandy and James.

Apparently I don't know how to get my script next to the picture I'm referring to so let's play guess which picture is:

Mandy and James at 12:30 a.m. after long delays and a long flight?

Mandy and James at the Pali Lookout?

Mandy and James at Waimia Falls?

Mandy and James at "Ted's Bakery"?

James ready for a scuba dive at Shark's Cove?

Mandy and James a other "surprise we're in Hawaii, too" Christensens on the lanei of the Heaton place?

Mandy playing Tarzan's Jane in the rainforest of Nuanu Valley?

Fourth of July

Hey family, How was your Fourth of July? Dave and Sandy were moving into their new home so they will remember this one for sure. This is one of my favorite holidays and I didn't really get to celebrate this year but the next morning we were gifted with this beautiful rainbow right outside our front door. I think that's better than fireworks. Instead of a reminder of something past its a promise of something in the future.
Love mom

Maurice and Svetlana Stock, our good friends from Provo moved to Virginia. We got to spend a couple of hours with them in Honolulu while they were here with their hapa-hauoli grandchildren.

Another new experience for Doug and Geri

We had an office party at the beach. We called it a "Ed Week debriefing" and locked the doors behind us. This is my first experience riding on a Hobi sailboat. It was great!

Cancer Relay

The missionaries made up a team (most of us were cancer survivers. They chose to name our team, "Missionaries for Drews" It was really a big event---many other teams, each with their own tent surrounding the field, decorated and festive. There was entertainment all night on a stage in the middle of the field, and it was pretty good entertainment, too. Some of the entertainment was Zumba sessions, which many of of participated in. It was fun! This is a picture of the luminary I made for Drew. They had a circle of them, all around the big field where we were walking all night in relays. I have to admit, though, that the missionaries did not stay all night. Most of us left about midnight.

Pictures

Thanks for the pictures. You kids are so cute!

Happy Mother's Day

Thanks for the happy mother's day.

Houston!

After many months of uncertainty, it looks like Houston. Sandy and I went down on a house hunting trip and found the new place. It was funny, after looking at 40 or so houses, interviewing at schools and attending wards, we went to the internet real estate site and started imposing filters. Distance to schools, distance from church, Katy 3rd Ward, pool, reasonable price, etc. And only one house popped up! So this is it 25603 Winston Hollow Lane, Katy.

The kids are excited about the move. Logan loves the new high school with its huge number of classes. The sizes of the schools are kind of amazing. Seven Lakes High School has five full sized gyms! He loves that they teach Mandarin. Kallie is excited to play softball all year round. My new job looks pretty good. I'm over exploration and new business development for the
Americas. Lots of activity in South America and Canada right now while the Gulf of Mexico is running slow since Obama won't give out new drilling permits. The office is a nice campus-like affair and its out West in Katy rather than downtown so the commute is nice. We'll move the first week in July and get settled in. Logan wants to start in the summer football conditioning program early. Then we'll take summer holiday in August (probably not a bad time to be out of Houston). We are excited to be closer to the Thomases!!

Darin started his summer door-to-door sales job. Tough first day but its really picking up. He had five sales yesterday so he is much more encouraged. Even though we have a couple of months left here in Canada, we put some things up for sale online and people have been carting our belongings off every day. The computer I'm typing on is sitting on one of Sandy's oriental tea boxes.

Tanner starts at BYU in Summer term. He is excited to start college life and get ready for the mission. Big changes for us!!

Love Dave and Sandy

The Klundts in Hawaii

It's been fun to have the Klundts here this week. We've had perfect weather and explored some pretty fun places. We are better prepared now for more guests because we know where to go. Becky promises to make up a little book or list or something for future visitors.

Here's Abbey and Anne making up to a Tiki God. It worked, too. We had great weather that day at the PCC. The picture on the right top, of course, is the girls and grandma taking hula lessons.

The one on the top right is to demonstrate what a tough hike we took up to Manoa Falls.

Top left is at the airport. Even after the long flight they look pretty perky and excited to be here.

Geri on the boards

Doug caught me coming in on a great wave ride.

Sweet Reunion

I think most of you have seen these pics...but we'll make it official on the blog. We are loving having James home! This deployment was 7 months long and we felt it! But now that it's over, everything seems oddly back to normal. The kids received daddy with open arms. It's so great to hear "daddy" in the house again without "Afghanistan" attached to it. He's been given 2 weeks off before getting back to work, so we've just been enjoying hanging out and getting some projects done. We have a beach trip planned over Easter in Destin, Florida we are looking forward to. We also have the open house of the Atlanta temple all this month of April for which we'll be volunteering with our stake on Friday. That along with Claire and Clay's 4th birthday April 20th (today) and their friend party the following day- time if never dull around here. If you are ever wondering, we love Georgia and this small town of Valdosta is a great place to be. Compared to the deserts and high crime regions of Tuscon and Las Vegas where we resided last, this is heaven! We miss you all, however :D

The Garden is Growing

As james continues to serve in Afghanistan, life moves on- Seasons have come and gone, I've celebrated another birthday, and the kids are getting taller (and so much fun). This is our house on Stonehaven Drive. I don't think I've ever posted a picture of where we actually live, so I finally took a picture! We're at the end of a cul de sac. I love it.
Back in Feb, me and the kids celebrating mom turning 34. Really, 34? Is that necessary?
And after years of wanting, I finally have a garden. Georgia has great weather for farmers. It's fun to see the large cotton crops in the Fall and currently the U-Pick patches of strawberries and blueberries available now in the Spring. In the Christensen garden, we're attempting peas, carrots, asparagus, brocolli, squash, and zuchinni all surrounded with protective marigolds to keep the bugs away. It's amazing to me that the whole plant-a-seed, add-water, bare-fruit thing actually works. It's very exciting.
And so, we've seen changes and growth here. We can't wait to welcome our daddy home soon so he can get in on this family thing :). We've been so blessed while he's been gone and know that your prayers have truly helped us. Now with Libya throwing a wrench in the works, we just pray he will get home as soon as possible.
-Georgia Five.

Edible Book Contest

Hi family, I am getting some pretty neat blogs from some other missionaries and just keep thinking we should not give up on ours. Let's try it again.

I entered the Edible Book contest at the library and invited my RS sisters to join me in the project. I made a little train engine out of cookies and graham crackers and brought it to RS to show the sisters, then invited any of them who wanted to participate to our apartment Sunday afternoon/evening to make a car to add on to my engine. I had three couples and one sister come so we got a little train out of it. With my ingredients and their creativity we got a pretty cute little train out of it. The judging was done yesterday and now all the entries are on display at the library. Our little train got "Best Children's Book". Never mind that there were only 7 entries and 7 categories. It was fun.

The sad looking picture is my attempt to duplicate The Gold Plates. It's a long story but didn't turn out so well.

Love mom

Busy!

I just finished reading the book Charlie St. Cloud (first book I've finished in months!) which recently came out as a movie I have yet to see. Basically it's about two brothers and one dies. There's a part where the living brother is describing the situation to a girl and it really identified with me and what I'm still feeling with Drew's death. I just wanted to share it. The character Charlie explains what he misses most, "Most of all...I miss that feeling when you go to sleep at night and when you wake up in the morning. It's the feeling that everything's alright in the world. You know, that amazing feeling that you're whole, that you've got everything you want, that you aren't missing anything. Sometimes, when I wake up, I get it for just a moment. It lasts a few seconds but then I remember what happened, and how nothing has been the same since."

I've had that thought so many times. Several times a week- just driving in the car and I know something is different, something is missing. And I know, it's Drew. Drew is missing. And it still breaks my heart. And I don't know that I'll ever stop missing him.

I have a new motto for myself in this new ward that I've started from day 1 but just put together in my head today. I want to Love Like Drew. I look at people differently. I try to see them through Drew's eyes. Those people in my ward who he would have found fascinating, interesting, or unique that others might find homely, backwards, or plain. I'm hugging strangers. I'm striking up conversations with people I wouldn't normally talk to. Because I know Drew would.

My heart still hurts that Drew is no longer with us. I haven't been able to share about my brother with others in a controlled manner yet. So emotional still.

But our family is doing well. James is busy, he's already seen action over there. Flying a lot. The kids are happy. The town is great. I was just called to be in the RS presidency today. My testimony is strong. My love for the gospel is great. We live on....

Try again.

I'm going to try to send some different picturess .

Okay, that's better. You'll recognize these people. This was taken our last Sunday in Provo before leaving. Pretty good except for little Drew got lost behind Janey.

Pictures

I'm trying to download some pictures and I can't find them on this lap top. Well, this isn't the set I was trying to find, but these are two of our best friends here---missionaries from Arizona. Craig and Judy Olson. They were in the MTC with us. Fun people. We are sitting on the patio of Mark Doxey's home overlooking the ocean. Beautiful view. Mark and Debbie are friends from our Provo ward who now live in Laie but happen to be in Utah right now. They just offered us their patio while they are gone so we took them up on it and had a patio party to celebrate all the wedding anniversaries this month.