Hi Tyson!
We hope you are happy, healthy, safe, learning in school, and loving Jesus. We will pray for you and your choices this week especially, although we keep all our loved ones in our prayers all the time. What things are you doing lately for fun? What is your favorite thing to study at school?
We are so excited for the new ___ Temple, which is very close to our house. We wish it were close enough to walk. Even so, a 10-minute drive is way better than our old hour drive all the way to the ___ Temple. The new temple is so beautiful inside and out. The Spirit is felt so strongly.
Although we still have cottontails and quail, the population is much smaller than it once was. We also haven’t seen the coyotes that used to hang around here. We thought the coyotes were gone until we heard them howling the other night. Recently, we turned of the AC and opened the windows, which allows us to hear outside sounds better. Now we hear the pack howling whenever a siren goes by and other unexplained times. It is both chilling and cheering. Because we like to plant a garden, we are glad the coyotes keep the rabbit and quail population smaller. But…and this is a big but…the thought of a pack of predatory animals living on the golf course is a bit unsettling. Nevertheless, the howling makes me grin.
When we went through the temple during the open house, they put booties over our shoes to protect the floors. I couldn’t help thinking it felt like Jesus washing the feet of His Apostles. In the land of Israel where Jesus’ lived during His life, foot washing was a normal thing, because people wore sandals in the hot, dry, dusty climate. Usually a servant performed the task of foot washing for the occupants of the house and their guests. When Jesus began the washing, Peter tried to stop Him from washing his feet. Peter didn’t want Jesus to act as a servant. Jesus explained to the Apostles that even though he was the Savior, he still served them. He wanted them to understand that they should serve each other. Jesus wants us to follow his example and serve others, too. You can read about this in John 13.
Your seven-year-old year is an important year to prepare for your coming baptism. Pay special attention in Primary and during Family Home Evening. Learn what it means to take Jesus name upon you, always remember Him, keep His commandments, and serve Him until the end. It’s not hard to understand, especially if you remember that the commandments only lead you to do good; they will never lead you to hurt, anger, lie, steal, or any other bad thing. Baptism day is much more special if you know what you are doing and why you are doing it. Most people don’t learn all this until later. That’s ok, too, because you will learn more about the gospel line upon line and precept on precept all the days of your life. The gospel of Jesus Christ is an exciting adventure and the only one to bring you true happiness upon Earth and joy during eternity.
Send us a letter or picture or school paper. Letters are the best way to keep in touch, when we live so far apart.
Love Ya Lots!
P&G
