Kenneth C. Whitney Family Newsletter
Kenneth C. Whitney Family Newsletter
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Dad's July Talk
President Gordon B. Hinckley told us, "Faith, which is of the very essence of personal conviction, has always been, and always must be, at the root of religious practice and endeavor." What is faith?
Last week, my bride and I attended Dustin and Lauren's wedding in the temple. They are demonstrating their faith in the future that they learned at their parents knees. As we were in the sealing room I looked around at those in attendance. There were lots of old people. My dad was there. He turned eighty last week. Jack's parents were there. His dad turns eighty in November. Gay's parents were there. I think Don has been eighty forever. Stan's parents were there. Who knows how old Glen is. Lana's mom was there. She didn't have grey hair but raising Lana had to have aged her. Anyway, as I was observing all those gentle oldsters and one pair in particular, I leaned over to Linda and whispered, "I hope when we get old we look as good as that couple." In the gentle way that wives have she held my hand and leaned over to whisper in my ear, "That's a mirror dear."
The world's definition from the dictionary says faith is, "belief and trust in and loyalty to God; ... firm belief in something for which there is no proof." Carried further from the Bible dictionary. We believe that "faith is to hope for things which are not seen, but which are true ... , and must be centered in Jesus Christ." In fact, from the fourth Article of Faith, we believe that "faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel." Those who walk in faith will feel their lives encompassed with the light and blessings of heaven. They will understand and know things that others cannot.
Let's look in Hebrews chapter 11, to the apostle Paul's explanation of faith.
1. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2. For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
You might be thinking, "Yeah, that's fine for most but I have no faith, so to speak."
Turn to D&C 138: 55 & 56.
55. I observed that they were also among the noble and great ones who were chosen in the beginning to be rulers in the Church of God.
56. Even before they were born, they, with many others, received their first lessons in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men.
Look at our children if you desire evidence that souls were held back until now. Don't they seem to be smarter and smarter as generations are born? Speaking of intelligent children who display faith, a few days ago our granddaughter was visiting. My bride prepared and served those little Kool-aid popsicles you make in ice cube trays with toothpick handles. The six-year old loved the cool treat and planned on make more when she got home. She had the process all figured out but for one detail so she asked her grandma, "How do you get those toothpicks in the icemaker?"
She had no knowledge of ice cube trays but she faith in her grandma. Can we not have faith in our eternal Father? Our knowledge is limited also. Our life here is roughly comparable to walking into the middle of a multiple act play. We can't remember all that has transpired nor do we know what will play out in the final act. God is the author and we must have faith that when the time comes, He will show us how the toothpicks get in the icemaker.
You are here now, in these unsteady times, prepared to be here more than at any other time. We are here now by design. If you still doubt whether you can gain and use faith, turn to 1 Nephi 3:7
7. And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commands unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.
We have been commanded to live by faith and we receive no commandments beyond our abilities. We live in uncertain times. We are living through turbulent times. A great storm of evil has come upon the earth. The winds of wickedness howl about us.
Look in 2 Timothy 3:1-8. Paul wrote to Timothy:
1. This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3. Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4. Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7. Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
Do we know anyone who this describes? Do we ever see on TV or hear in the news those who might fit part of this description? Speaking of the news, have you noticed anything about war recently? All the evil that swirls around and threaten to overcome us is at times unbearable. On the surface life goes on but in attendance is an undercurrent of fear, a palpable fear. Will we be able to afford gas to go to work? Will our children survive school and if they can, how will they afford housing?
After teaching the multitude, Jesus and His disciples set sail for the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. It was night and the Savior rested comfortably near the stern, asleep on a pillow. In time "there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship." Terrified, the disciples awakened Him: "Master, carest thou not that we perish?" His answer was characteristically calm: "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?" Is the Master talking through the ages to us? "And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm."
In the school of mortality, the teacher is often pain and tribulation, but the lessons are meant to refine and bless us and strengthen us, not to destroy us. Who among us has had trials more severe than the Prophet Joseph. Turn to D & C 121:7. While in Liberty Jail, the Lord said to faithful Joseph: "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment." In 122:7 The Lord continues. "And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good."
If Joseph Smith needed experience how much more do we need it? There are times when it seems all that was described in verse 7 has been in our lives. When will this end? Look in Mark 13:7. "And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet."
In D&C 38:30 lies the key. "If ye are prepared ye shall not fear." Have patience and exercise faith. Let's turn to the scripture that so inspired the prophet Joseph, he began the last dispensation, James 1:3-6.
3. Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
5. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
The axiom "You get what you pay for" is true for spiritual growth as well. We get what we pay for in obedience, in faith in Jesus Christ, in diligent application of the truths that we learn. What we get is the molding of our character, with growth in our capacity, and the successful completion of our purpose here on earth - to grow through being proven.
Why worry about future calamities or uncertainties over which we have no control? When challenges and testing do come, faith will lead us to solutions. This is why we need faith. To find solutions to everyday dilemmas. Peace of mind, answers to vexing problems, our ultimate joy depend upon our trust in Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Right will ultimately prevail. It will yield blessings now as we obey the commandments of God. Remember an unfailing, continual, ever-present source of peace and comfort is available to us. It is the certainty that our Father in Heaven loves us, no matter what our circumstance, no matter what winds of trial, turmoil, or tribulation whirl about us. That certainty will never change. Our ability to access that support depends on the strength of our faith in Him.
Here are the basic steps to build our faith given to us by Elder Richard G. Scott.
Trust in God and in His willingness to provide help when needed no matter how challenging the circumstance. Obey His commandments and live to demonstrate that He can trust us. Be sensitive to the quiet prompting of the Spirit. Act courageously on that prompting. Be patient and understanding when God lets us struggle to grow and answers come a piece at a time over an extended period.
Faith is centered in trust in the Lord and in His willingness to answer our needs. In Helaman 12:1 The prophet Nephi reminded his people "the Lord ... doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him." The consistent, willing exercise of faith increases our confidence and ability to employ the power of faith.
Do you say to yourself, "I've tried faith and it doesn't work?" Let's look in Ether 12:6. Moroni is looking to the future and speaking to us.
6. And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.
God has given us the need to exercise faith, that we may find peace, joy, and purpose in life. Faith must be founded on something. There is no more solid foundation than faith in the love Heavenly Father has for us, faith in His plan of happiness, and faith in the capacity and willingness of Jesus Christ to fulfill all of His promises. Perhaps our Heavenly Father's greatest hope is that through our uncertainty we may choose to turn to him. The uncertainties of earth life can help to remind each of us that we are dependent on him. But that reminder is not automatic. It involves our agency. We must choose to take our fears to him, choose to trust him, and choose to allow him to direct us. We must make these choices when what we feel most inclined to do is to rely more on our own frantic and often distorted thinking.
As we try to live his commandments, there are things he will direct us to do that will help calm our fears. These actions often require great courage and direction from the Holy Ghost. He will support us as we face our fears and try to do things that we have never done before.
Our homes should be havens of faith. Mothers and fathers should teach the principles of faith to their children. It is in the home our children find safety from school, peer pressure and other worldly influence. It is there, through family home evening and family prayer, the family is strengthen to the point of being prepared and fear can be replaced with trust. Alma of old spoke of such trust in Alma 36:3, "whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day."
In these uncertain times there is some certainty. That we have the truth: God lives. Our older Brother has made it possible to progress beyond this life. We need only to have faith and act with that faith. We should trust and listen to the Holy Ghost. We must teach our children to be kind to those less fortunate and be self-sufficient. Attend the temple often. Pray often Listen to the direction of our prophet. My prayer today is that we have the strength to do what is right.
Mom at Yearbook Camp
Uh, Yeah. There was a reason why I've been late in doing the newsletter. That was because Mom was at yearbook camp and she only returned home August 5th. So, now that she's home, I can put pictures of her at yearbook camp. Yeah.
Mom helps an eager student
Mom poses as a beach model
Splash city! Doesn't the new camera really capture the moment?
Andy and Melanie at Lake Tahoe!
Jeremy and Martha
Hello everyone. Lyle and I are coming to the west in less then two weeks. I'm so excited I'm beginning to have trouble sleeping through the nights. Or that might just be because I have this big belly in the way and it's hard to sleep with that! Anyway, we're very excited to see eveyone. Lyle is getting old enough where he does more then just sits. He might even begin to play with the cousins, so that will be lots of fun.
We had a good month. We went to Niagra Falls at the beginning of the month. It was beautiful and Lyle only tried to jump over a few times. We went early in the day, like Mom and Dad did, and literally were the only ones there! Lyle ran up and down the walkway screaming excitedly because of all the mist hitting his face. It was very cute. We also got to visit with Aunt Louise, Sean and Grandma. Jeremy's never met them so it was fun showing him off. Grandma cooked a good meal and Jeremy won her heart by never once turning down her sugar treats. It was a fun trip. We also went to the Palmyra pageant. This was also a good time. They leave just enough space inbetween the chairs for babies to sleep. It was perfect for Lyle.
Another fun adventure we had this month was our trip to the "shore." They call it the shore here instead of the beach. Anyway, Lyle was in pure bliss with all the water. At first, all the moving sand and little shell crabs under his feet made him nervous. Once he got over that, we couldn't get him out of the water. I think I had more fun watching him than getting in the water myself. Kids are fun.
So we're well and looking forward to the trip to the west. See you soon!
Philly when it rains...
Nick and Becca
Hello Family,
The Bryces have had a lot of good excitement this month. We said good-bye to the singlewide and moved into our house on July 1st. There are many little projects that we are working on around the house so we haven't completely settled down here. The biggest project is the kitchen. We weren't planning on redoing it for at least a year. But when Nick's brother-in-law saw our remodeling magazines sitting out (we like to dream plenty in advance) he offered to reface our cabinets for us. So now the kitchen is in ruins and the other small projects around the house have been set aside for a while. This means that if you come to visit you'll get to see our unique mirrored and tiled Aztec design buffet hutch in the music room. This is something that we thought we'd get rid of before the summer was over. But from the looks of it there's no telling when Nick will be able to take the sledgehammer to the hutch.
Our new ward is different out here. We live about a mile from our building. The first time we drove to church we felt like we were in a presidential cavalcade. We had to wait at the end of our road for a caravan of Suburbans to pass before we could pull out onto the street. Then we followed them all the way into the chapel parking lot. Our meetings were just like the church meetings on the movie, The RM. After Sunday school a lady in the ward came up to me, put her arm around me and dragged me away from Nick. She stood and talked for a couple minutes then proceded to take me to the nursery to pick up Jonathan and her two-year-old. (Of course Nick had already quit waiting for her to let me go and went ahead to go pick up Jonathan.) On the way down the hall to the nursery she pointed to me from above my head and called out, "New person! New person!" To everyone we passed. Things have since calmed down, which is good because we were more nervous to go to our new ward the second time than the first!
Jonathan met a couple milestones this month. First of all he turned two on the 11th. Just ask Jonathan how old he is and he'll tell you, "I two!" He sure is two, too. Also, Jonathan has developed some new favorite foods, this has actually been transpiring over the last two months. He loves lasagna. He can eat three helpings! (More than what Nick and I usually eat.) The first time he had it he even licked his plate after his third serving, which he has never done before. He also loves pizza (peetah). Whenever we drive pass Peter Piper Pizza he always points out the window and asks, "Peetah?" I guess that must be his favorite place to eat. Yes Jonathan loves cheese! He picks it off his food and than asks for more, "Cheese, wease!" (Cheese, please!)
We look forward to and can't wait for the family party this month! See you then!
Love, the Bryces
Each weekend I think to myself, "Self, we should do something fun this weekend." Then I realize every weekend has held some sort of adventure. One weekend we experienced the strange monsoonal weather of LV. I know most of you take information from me as extremely over exaggerated and mostly non-true, but this is for real 100% the way I'm telling it. Keresa and I were swimming in one of her friend's pools in the 100+ degree weather. There were no clouds in sight and no breeze. Within about 30 minutes, the breeze started, then became wind, then became a storm until there were deep black clouds all around the valley. It rained like a hurricane for maybe 6 minutes, then stopped immediately and within a half hour again the wind took the same steps in reverse and we had perfect swimming weather again. Weird eh? Another fun adventure is a new car I got for Keresa. The car is a Mercury Sable, so pretty much a Ford Taurus. When I put gas in it the first time, the pump only went about a gallon and stopped. So I figured the gauge in the car must have been broken because it said empty even though I had just topped it off. So I reset the miles and told Keresa to go about 300 miles before refueling. I took the car to school and sure enough, it ran fine even on E-Light (gas indicator). That is, until the afternoon when it was 100+ again. It stalled at a stop light and all the Las Vegans honked when I didn't go on the green light. I pushed it out of the way and walked over to the nearest gas station to buy a gas can. The car started right up when I added the gas. After much pondering and experimenting, we figured out that the tube that leads from the gas cap down to the gas tank is just very narrow, and if you hold the gas pump on full blast it fills up the tube and automatically shuts off the pump. You just have to fill it slowly... Other that that we just have the regular baby stuff. We are going to the ultra sound where they determine the gender of the baby the day after the reunion, so we will tell you all then.
Keresa and MK
Hello Fam,
Not a whole lot has changed from July to August. I still hang around the pool at Casa Blanca (and get paid for it), hang around with Mom and Dad at Logandale, and wait to leave for Domincan Republic. So I guess that means August brings at least one major change: only one month before I leave instead of two! A few weeks ago, I sent in my passport to apply for my visa and finished up all my vaccinations as well. Also, upon closer inspection of my missionary booklet (as if I hadn't read it through enough times), I discovered that I will only be spending two weeks in the Provo MTC. After which I will be flying down to the Santo Domingo MTC to finish my training! Pretty sweet eh? How could I overlook something as cool as that?
So you may or may not know, but generally when Dad speaks, he almost never has enough time in the sacrament meeting to give his entire talk. In fact, he often has to shorten his 20-25 minute talk to a 2-3 minute message. But when we were preparing to speak together again last month, he asked me to take as much time as I could as he was struggling with his talk. I told him I'd probably be able to take maybe 7 or 8 minutes tops. When we arrived at the meeting, the person conducting (Rod Leavitt) found me and said, "Now we want you to take up most of the meeting today, Matt. We want to hear from you, not a Dry Councilman." I told him I'd do my best. So after the youth speaker and the musical number (a men's quintet that they recruited me into right before the meeting started), I commenced with my talk. I went right through my notes, shared my thoughts, and went through plenty of scriptures. But before I knew, I looked down in the congregation to see Mom drawing her finger across her throat in kind of a head chopping motion. I looked at the clock and much to my astonishment, it was five minutes to the hour! So then Dad really didn't have time to give his talk. But instead, he summoned me back up to the podium and turned to hymn no. 105 (Master the Tempest is Raging) and said, "Since my boy didn't give me any time to give my talk, he and I will sing this hymn for you that covers the theme of my talk." So right then and there we sang. Pretty sweet, eh?
I'll do my best to remember and write down the talk I gave last month.
Have a good whatever, wherever you are :)
Love, Matthias
Faith through Adversity
This life is full of trials. In fact, this life is nothing more than a trial or a test where the Lord "will prove [us] to see if [we] will do all things whatsoever the Lord [our] God shall command [us]" (Abraham 3:25). And although this contains many trials, we can find "incomprehensible joy" in our afflictions via Christ's Atonement, for the Lord "suffered the pain of all men" that we may come unto him for our relief (Alma 28:8, DC 18:11).
In my University of Arizona Singles Ward, a friend of mine gave a phenomenal Sunday School lesson on what causes adversity. He simplified all the bad things that can and do happen to us into four categories he called "The four 'Ws' of adversity."
1.The Work of others - We are given our agency in this life. This creates life's test for we can choose good or evil. As great a blessing as this is, it can also cause us misery at the hands of another's agency. Nephi's brothers, Laman and Lemuel, caused Nephi much physical and emotion torment. They tied him up and beat him. They spoke threatenings to him and many times attempted to take his life. Now, was Nephi being beat to a pulp by his brothers any fault of his own? No, he had these trial because of others' work.
2. The World we live in - A fact about this life is that we live in a Telestial world. In this world he have sickness, old age, and death. Despite how we, or others, live their lives, the world will continue to deal out mortal tribulations. Back to Nephi's family, in their wanderings through the wilderness, they had to obtain their food through hunting. They primarily hunted with bows and arrows. When Nephi's bow broke, they did not kill any animals and "they did suffer much for the want of food" (1 Nephi 16:19).
3. The Wages of sin - In this life, we also have the ability to bring misery to ourselves. Certain sins can bring about great tribulation and sorrow as direct and indirect consequences. In Alma 36, Alma the younger describes his misery and sorrow as a result of his sinning:
Vs 12-16: But I was racked with eternal torment, for my soul was harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all my sins. Yea, I did remember all my sins and iniquities, for which I was tormented with the pains of hell; yea, I saw that I had rebelled against my God, and that I had not kept his holy commandments. Yea, and I had murdered many of his children, or rather led them away unto destruction; yea, and in fine so great had been my iniquities, that the very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror. Oh, thought I, that I could be banished and become extinct both soul and body, that I might not be brought to stand in the presence of my God, to be judged of my deeds. And now, for three days and for three nights was I racked, even with the pains of a damned soul.
4. The Way we grow - Our spirit and our testimony can grow in a similar way that our muscles grow. We can increase our physical strength by enduring physical trials such as weight lifting, daily exercise, running, bicycling, etc. In a similar way, each trial we overcome in this life adds something to our spiritual growth. Alma the Elder comments: Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith. Nevertheless - whosoever puteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day (Mosiah 23:21-22).
The Book of Mormon has many descriptions and accounts of people's sufferings and afflictions. In Alma chapter 28, it discusses a couple of missionaries' trials:
Vs 8: And this is the account of Ammon and his brethren, their journeyings in the land of Nephi, their sufferings in the land, their sorrows, and their afflictions, and their incomprehensible joy... [emphasis added]
Now obviously, Ammon and his brethren experienced great hardships and suffering while serving their missions. But why was their hardships compared right next to their "incomprehensible joy"? It is true that hardships are hard, but the Spirit of the Lord can bring peace and joy to those who call upon the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Mosiah 4:3 - And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come, according to the words which king Benjamin had spoken unto them.
Now just as Ammon's mission was filled with hardships, the mission that lies ahead for me doesn't sound all that pleasant either. I'll be stuck full-time with another 19-year old who's probably even more obnoxious than me, spend all day in a white shirt and tie, I won't be allowed to hug girls, people may reject me and slam the door in my face again and again.
Yet although at face value, a mission seems like a waste of two years, why is it that so many return missionaries describe it as "their best two years?" Indeed, their trials are swallowed up in Christ's infinite atonement and joy is made full through service, love, and charity for the people that they serve. I too look forward to serving the Lord and serving the people of the Dominican Republic and hope that I too will be able to refer to my time spent there as my best two years.