#LIGHTtheWORLD Day 6 - Reading the scriptures - Book of Mormon Challenge

As many of you know, I serve as a Stake President in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, called to serve over the Salt Lake Rose Park Stake.  We recently had our Stake Conference on November 5-6 and Elder Mark L. Pace was asked to preside.  As part of that Stake Conference, he challenged the youth to read the Book of Mormon.  The challenge wasn't so much to finish, although that's certainly an option, but to read it daily with the thought of how it answers our questions about Christ, how we should live our lives and how God blesses our lives.  We also began this challenge on December 1.  Many of us will not be perfect, I haven't been, but we just get back up the next day, and read again.  To shy away from the opportunity to bless our lives through reading the scriptures, is like never offering ourselves nourishment again.  The Savior as a young boy, taught those learned scholars about the gospel and today, I also gain great insights from the teaching of our youth.  I want them to understand and know what a foundation the gospel will be in their lives and how much they will be enriched because of it.

While I was on my mission, I was asked to speak at a missionary devotional for a Stake where we were serving. In the days leading up to it, I decided I needed to pray and see what the topic should be and knelt in prayer and asked my Heavenly Father.  Not long into the prayer, I saw a Book of Mormon and the direct answer that I should testify as to that book.  I concluded the prayer, got up to write my remarks, and a voice said to me, "a testimony comes from the heart, not a paper" to which I replied, "Buy you aren't giving it in Japanese!".  However I decided to act in faith and that Sunday as I stood at the pulpit, I testified to the Book of Mormon.  It was some of the most fluent Japanese I could speak and flowed like I had never spoken it before.  A week later, while visiting another ward as a Zone Leader, it was their Fast & Testimony meeting and a member during her testimony, indicated how she had started to read the Book of Mormon after hearing a missionary the preceding Sunday testify to its truthfulness.  An amazing blessing comes when we listen or read its words.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has a number of ways you can access the scriptures in multiple languages at www.lds.org including requesting a free copy.  There are apps for phones, or look online here. I hope you'll take a moment today to read the scriptures and follow the Savior's example.

#LIGHTtheWORLD Day 5 - Jesus healed the sick - So can you

I would love to say, that in the course of my life, I've never had loved ones or friends that didn't need our help and everyone was healthy with no problems or issues.  However it's almost never been the case.  My grandparents, who were born in the 1890's were in the twilight of their lives as a young child and some of their last years were in our home during my growing up years.  My father died when I was 10 from cancer and we spent those last few months caring for him.  My mother, who was one of my best friends, lived next door to us during the first 14 years of our marriage and we cared for her through a heart attack and some other health issues. In her final months before she died from Pancreatic Cancer, we experienced some of the hardest of times, yet some of the most tender moments of serving her.  The picture below was on the 4th of July, just a few days before she died on the 7th.  We took her to our community breakfast, where she said some of her last good byes to friends.

My siblings have had their own health problems.  My brother Clayton Christensen while famous in his own right, has skirted death a number of times, well documented in publications, including a feature story in Forbes.   However in each time, I have seen the miracle of Priesthood blessings take part in their lives and while the outcomes aren't always what we expect, there is no question that the healing power of the Savior is present.  I have felt it, seen it and witnessed the outcome.

I have a lot to learn.  I have a neighbor who falls often during the night.  A week or so ago, I got called at 2 a.m. in the morning, and needed to go over and lift her off the ground.  Circumstances aren't ideal and sometimes I go with some resentment because of the frequency.  However I also realize that they have no real place to turn.  As God judges my heart, I know I need to repent.

Fortunately God does give us ongoing opportunities to serve mankind.  There are many ways we can act in his behalf and in the end, two lives are blessed.

#LIGHTtheWORLD Day 4 Worship God

I have a confession, during many of the years I served on the Salt Lake City Council, I use to enter my church house doors at the front of the building, because they were closest to the chapel.  You see, if I entered the doors near the parking lot, I would often get stopped multiple times on the way to the Chapel with City Council related questions.  It wasn't that I wasn't willing to respond, but it was Sunday, and frankly I was there to worship.  Rarely a Sunday went by that I didn't have to respond to an inquiry. While I tried to avoid it best I could and rarely performed council activities on Sunday, having that day of rest made me not resent it more.  I personally needed to feel the spirit that Sunday worship brought me.While my service as Stake President puts me in many meetings, including often multiple Sacrament Meetings, I'm there to worship and find it a wonderful experience in my life.

I also love to attend the Salt Lake Temple and participate in sacred temple ordinances that while initially were for myself, subsequent visits are for those who have died to bless their lives as well.  The temple is really the great equalizer for all mankind, whether in this life or the life to come that provides a venue for those ordinances to take place.  On Saturday, I spent a couple of hours there, and it gave me time to think about things in my calling, my family and sometimes even work, as it pertains to an issue in which I'm struggling to resolve.  I am so grateful for that blessing in my life and the lives of the saints in the Rose Park Stake.

Our meetings are always open to you.  there may well be a building closer to you, but if you're in Rose Park, we have two meetinghouses.  One building is located at 760 N 1200 W or we also have one west of Redwood Road at 868 N Starcrest Drive.  These are not the only congregations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints near you, so if you're trying to figure it out, check out Meetinghouse Locator on www.lds.org.  We would love to have you come worship with us.

#LIGHTtheWORLD Day 3 - Helping the blind to see

This one has definitely hit home, and due in large part to the work of our youngest daughter Sarah Christensen.  Sarah has spent most of her High School years, being trained and then training guide dog puppies for the blind.  I was the reluctant dad, who wasn't sure he wanted a puppy in the house. I wrote a year ago about this reluctance in a story you can read called Daughters and Dogs put Dad at a Disadvantage!  Well needless to say, we are on dog #3, Oceana.  We don't choose the names, but they definitely become part of our family.  Below, is a sweet and tender moment, where Sarah was able to hand off her first dog to someone who was blind.  It's a bitter-sweet moment, because you truly become attached to the dogs, and yet we know it's for a greater purpose.  Sarah, who takes the dogs daily to school and other locations, has her heart tugged in so many directions during the experience, but exemplifies the Savior's love for those who can't see.

Sarah's 2nd dog, Orchard, was nearly at the point of graduation,when an accident happened with a blind person training with him, which caused him to be career changed.  Faced with the opportunity to bring him home and have him become a permanent part of our family, or allow him to try and be trained as a service animal for those who are hearing impaired, Sarah, with a full heart, gave permission to see how he would do with this new calling.  While still in training, we were encouraged with a report this week that he is progressing in this new assignment.

While still the grumpy dad, I'm so proud of our daughter and her selfless service to God's children.

#LIGHTtheWORLD - Day 2 Honoring one's parents

I feel like I have two sets of parents now, my own - Robert and Verda Mae Christensen and also my in-laws, Frank  & Lois Nielsen.  The only one I still have left, is my mother-in-law, but she is the best Grandma in the world to my children and the rock of Cathy's family.  We cherish her days with us still on earth and while she gets after me from time to time when I pay for things or do things on her house, it's only because I know the Savior would not only want me to do it, but he expects me to do it.  Just like he asked James to look after his mother, I know he would want me to do the same.

I've written two blogs about my own parents, Robert Christensen and Verda Mae Christensen.  I love them both, and both blogs are consistently in my top 10 blogs.  They were wonderful examples to me and I'm ever so grateful to have them in my life.

#LIGHTtheWORLD Day 1 - Rendering service to others

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has issued a challenge for every day prior to Christmas to live our lives as the Savior would and to share that light with others.  In addition to posting the video presentation, I was trying to think of a person way I could do it and take advantage of my blog.  While I could write about how I might be doing it, I thought I would take each day, and write about how I've seen others do it, whether to me or to someone else.

Day 1 talks about rendering service.  I am the recipient of it often, but I was thinking back in August of 2013 when I took my job at Salt Lake County as the Director of the Office of Regional Development.  A co-worker who really looked out for me and got me set up to be successful. Her name is Karen Lowe.  She worked with me in the County Mayor's office.  From the start she would make sure I had what I needed, knew exactly how to request or have something done for me.  Every time I looked lost or wondered how I would do this new job, she helped me with logistical needs that just made me feel like I could do it.  I valued the conversations she shared and she was kind enough to listen to me.  While Karen has since retired, I think often of the blessing her service was in my life.

From holding my hand to my heart, my friend and my love

26 Years of holding her hand have been better than
I would have ever imagined!

A week or so ago, my wife Cathy took a challenge to post in Facebook for 7 days a picture of me, indicating why she loved and cared for me.  It was far more generous than I deserved, but I was grateful and it reminded me of what a great partner she has been for me.  Last year I wrote about our first date and then another piece about our 25th wedding anniversary.  Today, I just wanted to write about how much I love to hold her hand.

While for most, it might not be quite so eventful, you must remember that I was a shy person and holding a girls hand was not an easy social move for me.  In fact, it's fair to say that mentally, I tormented myself over it and my record of holding any girls hand was maybe once or twice.  However on my third date with Cathy, I took her to a Utah Symphony concert (tickets were inexpensive as a student) and I not only really liked her but had an impression that she was the right girl for me.  I tend to over-think things a lot, and this was no exception.  However I couldn't figure out how to initiate the process and Cathy was not making it very easy.  Her hand while visible, was no where to be found.  As we walked up South Temple from the parking lot on block 85, I decided that it was now or I would never have the courage to make it happen.  Having visualized it earlier in my mind, I mustered all the courage I could find, and asked Cathy, "What's that in your hand?" She lifted her hand to look at the inside of it, and then I slyly slipped my hand into hers and replied, "Oh I guess it's mine".  I thought it was very creative, to which I guess she did too.  She smiled, a little and then left it there.  Victory!

Cathy and I were engaged on Ensign Peak, but hiked up again
during the period of our engagement.

I'm pleased to say in the years that have followed, the encouragement to get Cathy to hold my hand isn't quite as intensive but nevertheless similarly satisfying.  We've held hands in a variety of social settings since, before Prophets, Governors, Community leaders, and crowds of thousands.  However for me it's still about the one and and in particular, Cathy.  She now not only holds my hand, but my heart as well and hoping that it never ends.