Hot off the press today is our family on the cover of The Beehive. Next time I’m going to be on the cover of anything, I’ll try to do something with my hair!
Yesterday we got a phone call from another bishop in our stake. He had really good seats to a Diamond Backs game and was looking for someone to give them to since he had a conflict. He doesn’t know us but our name popped into his head and he wondered if we would even want them. He pulled up our picture on his stake directory and saw this picture.
Granted, we were only decked out like this because Evie was singing the anthem at the game but still, it was a sign to him to call us and we are so grateful for the tickets. We are going to use the funds sent to us by the Prisbrey family to make a little family vacation of it.
The chemotherapy has been difficult for Amos to endure so we have decided that next Thursday is his last one. It was already the last one scheduled by the doctor before his reevaluation, but we will seek a second opinion if the doctor wants to continue with more chemo.
Many people have questioned our choice to do chemo at all. Sometimes I just wonder why we do any treatments rather than just relying on faith alone. Two living apostles helps us answer that question and understand the relationships between faith, medical practices and healing.
Dallin H. Oaks
“Latter-day Saints believe in applying the best available scientific knowledge and techniques. We use nutrition, exercise, and other practices to preserve health, and we enlist the help of healing practitioners, such as physicians and surgeons, to restore health.
The use of medical science is not at odds with our prayers of faith and our reliance on priesthood blessings. When a person requested a priesthood blessing, Brigham Young would ask, “Have you used any remedies?” To those who said no because “we wish the Elders to lay hands upon us, and we have faith that we shall be healed,” President Young replied: “That is very inconsistent according to my faith. If we are sick, and ask the Lord to heal us, and to do all for us that is necessary to be done, according to my understanding of the Gospel of salvation, I might as well ask the Lord to cause my wheat and corn to grow, without my plowing the ground and casting in the seed. It appears consistent to me to apply every remedy that comes within the range of my knowledge, and [then] to ask my Father in Heaven … to sanctify that application to the healing of my body.”
Of course we don’t wait until all other methods are exhausted before we pray in faith or give priesthood blessings for healing. In emergencies, prayers and blessings come first. Most often we pursue all efforts simultaneously. “
Deiter F. Uchtdorf
“Sometimes it’s not easy to develop faith in spiritual things while living in a physical world. But it is worth the effort because the power of faith in our lives can be profound. The scriptures teach us that through faith the worlds were framed, waters were parted, dead were raised, and rivers and mountains were moved from their course.
Faith is powerful, and often it does result in miracles. But no matter how much faith we have, there are two things faith cannot do. For one, it cannot violate another person’s agency…The second thing faith cannot do is force our will upon God. We cannot force God to comply with our desires—no matter how right we think we are or how sincerely we pray. Consider the experience of Paul, who pleaded with the Lord multiple times for relief from a personal trial—what he called “a thorn in the flesh.” But that was not God’s will. Eventually, Paul realized that his trial was a blessing, and he thanked God for not answering his prayers the way he had hoped. No, the purpose of faith is not to change God’s will but to empower us to act on God’s will. Faith is trust—trust that God sees what we cannot and that He knows what we do not. “
Until then, take a listen to Evie’s new original song – Love You One More Time – She is looking for a cute boy to star in her music video for this song. He wouldn’t have to sing but it would help if he lives close, is photogenic, has good stage presence and is close to her age. Let us know if you have any suggestions.