Way back when I was an undergraduate student, Kristina and I danced together in a performing group. I admired her then. She's become an even more wonderful woman in the years since then. Her heart is with her Savior, her husband, her family, and those she serves in her community. She is a mother of five children, and a teacher to many. But she's humble enough to learn from everyone around her. One of her children has just left to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He and his siblings are examples to Kristina of how to live a Christ-like life--and she cherishes that blessing. Probably my favorite part of the whole conversation, though, is the end when she talks about "belonging." It sums up all the tidbits we touch on throughout our time together. I hope you know that you "belong" too!

As a recent convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jon has found so many things that align between our teachings and practices and that of his Makah heritage. Especially the Potlatch. As he learns more about both, he wishes that his people could see that value in each. He feels like the traditional potlatch is going away--and wishes that he knew how to revive it. But he also sees that by learning the Gospel, he really is living a potlatch-life. He wishes he could share the Good News of Jesus Christ with everyone so everyone can live a potlatch-life!

When Sonny returned from his mission, he wooed and married a good, strong woman. Sonny tried taking care of his body through exercise and weights--but that ended up in disaster. Of course, taking care of your body is good and healthy. But when Sonny got hurt lifting weights one day, the physician who should have been watching out and caring for Sonny gave bad advice and an addictive prescription. Sonny became an addict. This addiction went on to cause havoc in his and his family's lives. Add to that alcohol. Years of their lives have been marred by drugs, alcohol, and the lifestyle that accompanied. And then other poor life choices. Sonny is working on returning to the temple. He has achieved the restoration of his priesthood. But he is mending things that have been broken--and these will still take time. Thankfully, the Savior has all the time and all the grace and mercy needed.

Sonny LaFontaine was loved as a child. He was raised by two loving parents and extended family. He had a particular affinity towards his maternal grandmother (Navajo). He learned through her passing, that Heavenly Father was aware of him and that the Plan we so often talk about as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. Sonny is also a natural-born leader. This is a blessing and a curse, he has found. As a missionary, he used this gift in a negative manner--resulting in hard lessons. But those lessons also helped him grow up.

This interview was so long that I broke it into two parts. The second half will be posted next week.

Life is not easy. It's not supposed to be. And some of the challenges we bring upon ourselves. Valerie has had challenges in her life that were from other people's decision. And she has also taken challenges, like major hikes. She is planning on hiking Mount Everest someday soon. How amazing will that be!?! She loves to volunteer. It adds to her simple life. She volunteers her talents, like photography and videography. And she just loves to be involved. Those kinds of challenges are fulfilling and sometimes exciting. She has learned to be grateful about all things in life, a quality worth emulating.

There is a part in this conversation when Maribeth talks about her time in the temple. She said that the temple became more precious to her through the following steps: (1) Just going. Just being there. Giving it time. (2) Listening to the ordinances. She said that it didn't make sense to her at first. But she listened anyway. (3) Then she started memorizing the ordinances. They became something she looked forward to reciting in her mind as she attended. (4) This is where she really began learning. She put the effort into learning more about what she was participating in. (5) Understanding the meaning. She says that she doesn't understand everything--but what she does understand has blessed her and has given her light and knowledge. I love this process she talks about. And she gives so many more tidbits of advice.

Heavenly Father prepares us for different things. Harriet Whitmer was prepared for her educational career here and there. And then she was blessed by being willing to step into the Indian Education program in her community. She loved learning the children. She loved learning the people. She loved learning the history. She loved learning how things connected in her life. She was blessed by temple and family history opportunities as well. Harriet has learned so much about her family's history and the way it has made her who she is--though most importantly she is a child of God. 

Recently we read and talked about the Stripling Warriors in the war chapters in the book of Alma. We talked about the parents, actually, more than the youth. Why? Because the parents were the ones that we are more like right now. We have the youth--but we're the parents. Bartley Harris talked about his sacred roles of husband and father and how those are so precious to him because his family is so precious to him. He loves them so dearly. We talk about some of his career moves--but always he saw how those opportunities and locations could teach, strengthen, and provide for his family. It was a wonderful conversation.

It is definitely interesting how some people come to the careers that they do. I read a book by one of my MPA professors who described that process--it isn't a straight line. Gordon Limb's career has not followed a "straight line." But he has been led to do what he does now. During our conversation, he talks about how he's so grateful for the matriarchs in his line who have gone through so many hard things to bring him into this world and put him where he is now. I can feel that same emotion. He talks about how he has seen probably generational trauma manifest itself in his line and how he is working to combat the ill effects of that. It's pretty interesting. But, most importantly, he's trying to help people recognize their divine heritage of which we all share.

The honesty and pure testimony that Gayle shares in this episode is real and powerful. She just talks about her relationships with family and how God has always been a part of those relationships. She talks about how she has used prayer for personal strength and to bless the lives of those she loves and served. Gayle talks matter-of-factly about how having the Holy Ghost in your life with strengthen you and me in these latter-days, just as our prophet has told us. There are just so many good things that Gayle shares; both she and I hope that many people will be able to listen and receive their own witness of the love of our Savior Jesus Christ through these words.