6-25-19

Well today wasn’t a real productive day. We talked to a few people but none of them was to excited about our message.  I thought the Book of Mormon class and we had a great time discussing 1st Nephi chapter 9. According to elder Joseph Fielding Smith a chapter everyone should read. (About the atonement) the lesson went really pretty good. Our lesson fell through , according to the grandmother who was going to bring her grand daughter she (her grand daughter was out of town). But she said she could come by for refreshments if we had some;). We invited her to the Book of Mormon class but a no show!

My new friend from another city posted this on Facebook today and I thought it was great:

I'd like to share a good story for all of us racially challenged folk who live here in South Dakota...
I'd like to announce that there is still good in the world and we ought to humble ourselves, even in the face of evil... I will share a verse from the Book of Mormon...
D&C 64
9 Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.
10 I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.
11 And ye ought to say in your hearts—let God judge between me and thee, and reward thee according to thy deeds.

My son had a very righteous experience... With all the racial hate going on these days, it was finally good to hear that there are still people in this world who are willing to do good for others in need, no matter their ethnicity background. My son didn't want me to share this for some reason or other but I felt that it should be shared because we all need to see & hear that there is still good in the world too and not just hate!...
My HokSiLa, had locked himself out of his car and was down to his last, he was buying himself some work shoes for his new job and locking himself out was not something he could handle financially at this time... He went into the store to ask if they had something to open his door but to no avail, and so he called us and asked what he could do and all I could do was give him an option of using a hammer, wire and screw driver to pry his door just enough to pop the lock but, as I said he was strapped for cash and so were we... I was outside tending to the pool and other odds and ends but, after the call I couldn't concentrate because one of my baby's were in trouble and so I prayed in secret, hoping for an answer. And so... My son told me that a woman had noticed that he was in some sort of trouble and waited, watching to see if he was able to figure it out but, seeing he was unable to, she approached him. She finally called a tow truck but my son told her that he couldn't afford it & also why he was buying new shoes, she told him not to worry about it and the tow truck guy showed up & popped the lock for him. AS the good son I raised him to be, he put forth his hand to shake the hand of the tow guy and the tow truck guy shook his hand and told him "no charge", to begin with the lady was going to pay the tow truck guy for my son but, the tow truck guy was feeling the spirit of a helping hand too... They exchanged names and the woman, whom I am assuming elderly, told my son to "pass it on"...
When I heard this story from my son, my heart broke into a million pieces and I couldn't help but shed tears of thankfulness to the Lord for another answered prayer and to this truck driver who tows for a living, for his helping hand & good heart and for this kind gesture of this unknown lady who was willing to flip a bill for someone she didn't even know... and I thought to myself as I felt feelings of being humbled, why do I join the crowd and hate too, I felt great shame come over me because I've hated my white skinned brother's & sister's for the ignorance of others and I realize that there is ignorance on both sides of the fence… The fence being the many symbols that divide us all, money, wealth, power, social standing, faith and many more. And so I am back to the old me, the guy who didn't hate but was taught hate again when he returned here to South Dakota. My brother's & sister's, let us not be ignorant, lets not put evil for evil but when evil comes knocking and it will, may we prove our hearts and CHOOSE to be the better man or woman & stand for what is right and do good in the world. What one white guy or gal may do in ignorance a native can also do the same but, if we choose and that is the key "choose", to see the good in the world, we will find it in everyone who holds opposite faiths, beliefs or way of life. I for one will CHOOSE not to have a problem with ignorance from this day forwards... because I have been humbled and I know there are still good people in the world. Not all natives are bad..., just like not all whites are bad also. Some are just raised wrong or fail to see that goodness is alive and well in the world. Satan is doing his best to fool the hearts of men..., don't let him fool yours too, as he did mine. Humbled and thankful for this lesson... My son wasn't the only one touched by this, I was pierced to my core and thankful for it.

I might mention that yesterday we visited with a member who said her son was murdered in the back yard a few months ago. Latter we found out she has been drinking ever sense. Life is so hard out here! We are going to teach her. Most members really don't have a knowledge of the gospel.