Restoration of all things

A little over ten years ago, I left the church because of some little things that I didn't think were that important. Nearly ten years ago, I was re baptized in to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I began the journey many have traveled and have either failed or conquered. Soon after the readmission into the church, I fell. With help from a great Bishop, that was worked out. Was active as much as we could, but lived a slightly different life then most members. Anger and other issues popped up that lead to a divorce and losing the family I had. Again another wonderful Bishop was there to be with me and help me with my struggles. I was brought back again. I met my current wife now, and fell again. Nearly a year later, I was welcomed back into the church and again still did my own thing. We petitioned to have my blessings restored. It was denied because it was too soon after being re-fellowshipped back into the church. So we waited the year for that to finish. Resubmitted the application. Took about 3 - 4 months to get back. Because I was not working, nor paying my tithing, they would not put it through but gave me instructions on what I needed to do. As soon as I had a steady job, if you can call working as a cook for a bar in Utah steady, my wife and I put it in our heads that we would pay tithing now matter what. And we did. Few blessings here and there came in. We didn't have need for much. Things went well for a little over three months. When the bottom fell out. Yes I lost my job. But we still paid our tithing. The application was resubmitted while I was still working. We thought it was going to take a while. On Sunday the 26th of June, as we were headed into Sacrament meeting our Stake Pres secretary pulled me aside and asked if I and my wife could meet with the Stake Pres after Sacrament. We said yes we can. Church started, and we pondered what it could mean. We took our boys to their classes and came back to wait for him. He invited us in, had us sit down and then on his desk was the letter we had been waiting for. He opened it and read it aloud to us. We burst into tears. My application to be restored was approved. We scheduled to have it done on Tuesday night and he asked us to go see our Bishop and have him give us our Temple Recommend interview. Then on Tuesday night he would sign both and we would be ready to go.


Tuesday night, we showed up and had to wait a few minutes for everyone to arrive. I had to run back home and get my wife’s recommend so it could be signed. When I showed up, Chris had her other interview and was waiting in the High Council room. President Johnson signed both of them and we walked together to the room. He re read the letter to our Bishop and asked me to sit in his seat. He then proceeded with the restoration. What I am going to share is what I saw in vision while he was speaking. I saw in vision, the Savior even Jesus the Christ; suffer with me for ten long years. To be put on the cross, then placed in the tomb. I watched as He went from mortality to immortality. As He rose from his grave, I understood what the Atonement was all about. Here I was newly restored, rising up to meet the new day. As near to being as perfect as He is. All that was done in the past is now truly in the past. It is over with. It is dead. I am whole again. Other things he mentioned in the blessing sent me elsewhere. He mentioned that attending Angels would be there for me. All I could think about was my mother and her mother. Both were there in spirit and standing by us. I also felt the weight of the responsibilities on my shoulders. It was just amazing what I felt. I truly feel blessed and loved by all who have stood by me and watched as this has unfolded. I pray they can be blessed for their efforts and love for me.

Today has been a good day. Got up, got things that needed to be done done and had an interview with a company I had started before going to Bogeys. They are going to rehire me and get me back in. So that is a blessing too. Jacob and I feel a little under the weather and he has had a bad night so far. He threw up in his bed so we got it out and put it in the washer and dryer. While waiting for the dryer, I felt the prompting to bless him. He was in my arms, so why not. I did so and he is resting well right now. I just feel so overjoyed, over whelmed, so blessed. I can't wait to bless my daughter on Sunday. It will be a joyous occasion.