Dear Elder Snell,

We just got back from a cruise on the Norwegian Jewel to the Western Caribbean (Cozumel, Belize, & Trijillo):

We had a wonderful view of the ocean out of our stateroom and good weather the whole trip.  There were over 1000 guests and over 2000 staff who fed us around the clock, entertained us, and cleaned our rooms everyday.  We met some interesting people too.

On our first stop, we had an authentic tour guide whose ancestors were Mayan--he even spoke Mayan which is a dying language in other areas.  He had a VERY long Mayan name so he just went by Jose.  He told us of several instances where things were named because of a misunderstanding.  For example when explorers asked what one country was called, the Indians said "Yucatan" (meaning "I don't understand what you're saying.")  Thus we now have the Yucatan Peninsula.  Another instance was the Temple of the Diving (or Descending) God which had an inscription of a man upside down.  According to our guide, he was upside down because he represented a bee & was called the "Honeybee God" by the Mayans to honor the perpetuation of their agriculture.  Their "white gold" was salt.  Their blue water was the most beautiful of the whole trip.

We saw the Tulum ruins at Cozumel but the colorful murals inside the buildings were closed to the public because people had put grafiti on the the walls.  Can you imagine?  Tulum was an important port on the Caribbean Sea between the 13th & 15th centuries & it is thought that diseases brought by Spanish settlers was the cause of its demise.  It was a major trade center for obsidian (black volcanic glass).  I bought a piece with my name on it in Mayan hieroglyphics.  The Mayans were amazing astronomers.  One of the buildings had two doorways situated so that when the two annual equinoxes occurred, the sun shown directly through the two doorways for a few minutes, telling the people it was time to plant (or harvest).  Our guide even had a picture of it.  I took a picture of his picture but unfortunately lost my camera.  We had some really good Mexican food and didn't get sick (thanks to the recommendation of our guide).  He also led us to restrooms where we didn't have to pay.

The next day we visited Belize; 6% of which is retired military & is the only country in South America with English as the official language.  Gasoline was $6/gal.  Jr & Adrian were our guides.  We took an hour boat ride to the ruins and saw white, green backed, & great blue herons--magnificent birds up close.  We also saw a little bird that walked on water and a fresh water crocodile.  There were tiny bats covering a tree that ate thousands of mosquitoes and were the only creature that pollinated agave plants.  We visited the Lamanai ruins & I climbed most of the 125 ft temple (Dad's feet were bothering him).  We heard the Howler monkeys which was enough to put the fear of death into a person.  They are quite small but they sound like a gorilla.    You can listen to them on youtube.  We had a lunch of yellow rice, rice & beans, cole slaw, chips & salsa and 4-legged chicken (iguana).  Not really.  Our guide was teasing us.  We saw a big male iguana that turned orange to attract his honey.  I bought a necklace made from mahogany seed by a local artist.  The British cut down all the mahogany forests & exported the wood so now the government has laws to protect it.  School is mandatory & all students wear a uniform.  After graduation, the gov't gives everyone a plot of land to develop and there is no welfare system (everyone has to work).

Trujillo on the Banana Coast of Honduras was a new stop for our ship. It was trying to build a tourist industry because all their banana plantations had to be burned to stop the spread of a killer fungus.  We had a bus tour of the little village with our local guide Sandy.  They even had some mountains!  Christopher Columbus landed in Trujillo in 1502 on his 4th & last trip to the Americas.  The people built a fortress to discourage the many pirates that invaded their coast.  A community of Africans found refuge from slavery there.  Members of their community entertained us along with some dancers from Honduras.  I got to dance with one from each group!  I found some earrings made out of coconut to match my necklace from Belize.

When we got back to the ship, I became ill with a mean chest cold that put me in the bed for most the rest of the trip.  Kerry agreed to go to one of the shows without me and get a massage which made ME feel better.  I found some Allegra at the airport ($2.40 a pill) that helped.  I also managed to lose some important papers and break one of my necklaces.  Our flight home was 2 hrs late, so things didn't end on a very happy note.  I'm still trying to recuperate.  Glad to be in our own beds.                
    

Dear Elder Snell,

We are grateful this Thanksgiving season that we still have the freedom to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.  (A of F 11)  

Highlights from an Agency Based Education Conference (scriptures added):

Niel Flinders: Between 1880-1920 there was fiery debate about whether the foundation of educational philosophy should be Reason (secular) or Revelation (sacred) and the latter lost.  Moral context (God's law) was replaced by ethical context (social relativism) leading to custodialism (forced caretaking) in place of personal responsibility.

Nephi:  O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.2 Ne 9:28

Mark Cluff:  How do we adequately prepare students for the 21st century with a 19th century education system?

Teacher: "Can someone give me a sentence using the word 'archaic' in it?"
Student: "We can't have our archaic and eat it too."

Senator Margaret Dayton quoted Reagan:  "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.  We didn’t pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."  We don't hear much about Jonathan Dayton, the youngest signer of the Constitution, but his voice was needed, he was there, and he voted.

John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Mary Biesinger (homeschooling mother of 10+):  Her goal was to help prepare her children for their unique missions such as feed the hungry, liberate the captive, clothe the naked, comfort the lonely, teach the ignorant, create beauty, preach the Gospel, & heal the sick.

You, Sweetheart, are providing the most important education on earth.       

Mitt Romney spoke at BYU Forum on "Lesson Learned".

• Almost nothing he has done in life was planned in advance.  Surprising since he believes in setting goals!
• Since his experience running for President, he is even more optimistic about the nation.  America is still the greatest nation on earth.
• All of our words and deeds may very well be recorded in Heaven.
• Fellow members of the Church are amazingly good people who will be there to help when you need it.
• You are not defined by secular measures. Durante said "Fame if you win it, comes and goes in a minute."  It's about friends, not power candy or adulation cake.  It's about lifting others.
• God does not always intervene.  "Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another." D&C 90:24  Elder Busche told how his business was failing & he was so upset, he spent hours on his knees in prayer.  He said he finally heard an audible voice that said one word:  "Work."
• Stay focused on the greater purpose.  When he was debating Obama, he wrote on the top of his paper "Dad" and a simple drawing of a sun to remind him of his father's fierce focus and to let his light shine.  Find ways to keep perspective during circumstances that make you sweat.  
• A Lutheran Bishop gave him "3 rules for comparing religions."   1) learn from an adherent, not a dissenter  2) Compare the best with the best  3) Leave room for religious jealousy (wishing we had something like that)
• The influence of one single person is enormous.  One 70yo man named Jim Wilson decorated his truck & put 40000 miles on it going to 150 events for Mitt Romney.  In one area, someone lit his truck on fire.  Romney made sure it was replaced.  
•  American needs heroes that are larger than self instead of larger than life.
• Listen to at least one person who will tell you the truth about yourself (it's probably better it it's not your mate)

  

Elder Snell's weekly blog:  http://elderjakesnell.blogspot.com/

10/12/14

Dear Elder Snell—

I’ve been reading a scholarly book called The Lost Language of Symbols.  There is evidence that numbers in the scriptures are often symbolic.  For example, 6 means deficit, imperfection, or failure to attain completeness.  It can also symbolize opposition to and independence of God, or the man without Christ.  Goliath was 6 cubits and 6” tall, had 6 pieces of armor, and a spear head weighing 600 shekels of iron.  And of course the number 666 is associated with “the Beast” or Antichrist.

In contrast, the number 8 is associated with resurrection, new beginnings, rebirth, and baptism.  It can also mean superabundance.  Only 8 humans survived the deluge of Noah’s day.  Aaron and his sons were consecrated on the 8^th day.  The beginning of God’s new kingdom of glory at the conclusion of the Resurrection will be the “8^th age”.  One author pointed out that Christ rose on the 1^st day of the week, which is also the 8^th day.   The Jaredites built 8 barges, Nephi and his family spent 8 years in the wilderness, and Alma and his converts traveled 8 days to escape King Noah.  Christ’s name Jesus totals 888 in Greek gematria.

The Creation is so beautifully and prominently portrayed in the temple.  Perhaps Christ is encouraging us to be more creative as we ponder the unlimited ways in which symbols “testify of Christ.” 

 My nephew Josh and his wife Melissa lost their 7wk old baby to aggressive brain cancer.  The funeral was inspiring.  Josh talked about how God seemed to have left His “signature” on things to let them know He was there for them.  For example, Sophie’s blessing said she knew what was happening and was at peace (which came through in all her pictures).  Heavenly Father gave them five days to say goodbye after doctors said there was nothing more they could do.  She was able to breastfeed right up until five hours before she died.  Interestingly, “five” can mean “God’s grace.”

The most remarkable signature (or grace) was after Josh’s brother Adam came to comfort them when Sophie was first diagnosed (his note is on the back).  As the life passed out of Sophie’s little body five days later, Josh said he looked up and noticed the sun beginning to set.  He asked if he and his wife could take the baby out on the deck for a better view of it.  The nurse took a picture of them holding their little one for the last time.  Isn’t it amazing that Adam’s thought carried over in such a way?

Love you!

Mombaum

10/19/14  Dear Elder Snell,

Whoa!  Is Elder Ili’s first name Bubba?  I got a kick out of you noticing all the plants.   

Saw a good movie called Ragamuffin about a talented gospel song writer who struggled over his harsh upbringing.  Two quotes:

“I am thoroughly convinced that on judgment day the Lord Jesus will ask one question and one question only:  Did you believe that I loved you?”

“Closeness to God is not about feelings, it’s about obedience.”

One of our sisters finished her mission in London.  In one area, she was only one of six white people and she’s a blonde.    Several of our missionaries have experienced what it’s like to be in the minority.  Have you ever felt like the odd man out?

This week we had a sibling reunion at Kyle’s house in Boise (the last time we saw everybody was after our parents died two years ago).  My sister Shawny rode with me and we talked non-stop both ways!  Linda Marie made Mom’s rhubarb custard pie and belly button soup!  We spent one afternoon in a hot springs pool.  It was good because no one went to sleep during conversation like the day before!  Our sister Carol knit fingerless gloves for all the women.  She accidentally knit two right hand gloves for Shawny, but she didn’t want to say anything.   

Besides eating non-stop, we laughed a lot.  Casey was telling how he kept his step son Daniel in line.  Daniel didn’t like to go see his grandma because her skin was of full of tumors & he didn’t like how they looked.  Casey had some really smelly oil that he called “tumor oil”.  He told Daniel that if it touched his skin, it would grow a tumor.  All Casey had to do was lift the lid and Daniel would straighten up. 

Another good one was from Kyle’s daughter “little” Shawny who always had one of those annoying ice cream trucks come around, playing their little song, to lure children into begging for over-priced ice cream bars.  They had watched a movie with an evil kid snatcher in it so Shawny told her kids that the ice cream truck was the evil kid snatcher.  They would run screaming into the house every time they heard it.

Tatia and Kepa came and had breakfast with us all Sat morning!  It was really good to see them too.

Hope you have a great week.

Love,

Mombaum

Dear Elder Snell,                                                                                                               10/26/14

Interesting week.  Doctor thought he could cure my arrhythmia (atrial tachycardia) with an ablation (cauterization of abnormal cells) but when he got in there, there was too much scarring to risk the ablation.  He decided to treat me medication instead.  Made me think about how fragile life is and how oblivious we are to how we are sustained from day to day.  I’ve been having symptoms for 6 years.  Did you know that my stiff old heart has already beaten around 37 million times?  It was quite humbling to watch it in action on sonogram.  I’ve renewed my determination to live more appreciatively. 

I was going over my goal to be a better missionary as summarized in one of my favorite scriptures:  Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been ^acalled of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life (3Ne 5:13).  I found this picture that went with the idea (people standing barefoot behind the barefoot Christ.  I fancied myself the first one on the left because they were the smallest feet).

I’ve also been pondering gifts of the Spirit, more specifically the gift to be healed.  Apparently, the admonition to Oliver Cowdery (D&C 9) applies to every gift.  It had not occurred to me that because Joseph received many visions of Book of Mormon people which he shared with his family and also saw the plates every year for four years before receiving them, that he had been “study[ing] out in [his] mind” the ancient culture and writings long before he started the work of translation.  I have been studying nutrition and changing my diet to lower inflammation in the gut which may turn out helping my heart from getting worse!   I also asked for a blessing because I caught my husband’s virus a few days before my procedure (he had been coughing for a month).  I had my worst night of coughing the night after my blessing, but it must have cleared out my lungs because in the morning, they no longer felt tight and the cough had disappeared.  When I checked into the hospital, the nurses thought I would be fine doing the procedure.

I’ve also been working on increasing the quality of my prayers i.e. preparing better, speaking out loud, asking for guidance from the Spirit so my prayers unfold as a result of revelation (so I do not ask amiss), and spending more time listening & pondering.  My big weakness is movies that contaminate my mind with untruth and offensive images or language but I’ve been doing better.  I had a perfect record on our mission but somehow degenerated after I got home. 

Love you,

Mombaum

Dear Elder Snell,                                                                                                                               11/10/14

 

Precious boy—we have been delighted with your letters!  Of all the missionaries I’ve written over the years, only a couple have ever responded but I did not expect it, since I know personally how busy it gets.  Just want you to know if you get busy, we will not feel neglected.  We can always ask your parents to share their letters.

We attended a special regional meeting at the Marriott Center that was called for all YSA.  We were really interested in what urgent message the Church had for our young people.   I would say the bottom line was:  Do not delay.  Repent and prepare to take on the mantle of the Church and use the power of the Priesthood to stand for righteousness.  Here’s some highlights:

• The Gospel is not an umbrella that protects us from trials, it’s the rock that keeps us from being washed overboard or blown away.

• Never stop FHE.  It’s a key principle.

• You were foreordained into the Royal Army of God.  Prepare for coming challenges by 1) reading & pondering scriptures, 2) regularly attending temple, 3) keeping Sabbath holy

• The new matron of Timpanogos Temple told a story about when her husband was mission president:  A 600# member wanted to get baptized.  She had a white king size sheet but she had no idea what to do with it.  She knelt down & asked God.  He told her where to fold and cut and when she was through, she had pants & a top & most the seams were already finished!

• State your intentions.  They must be bone marrow deep.  Don’t get distracted.

• Elder Ballard said to focus on things that matter most.

1.  Interview yourself regularly (every 6 mo or so).  Think about your intentions & make necessary course corrections.  Commit to draw the line.  Pray to know what 1-2 goals you need (not too many or too low)
2. Prepare for the Second Coming.  Finish school & get finances in order.  We need men & women out in the world prepared to say “Here am I, send me.”
3. Stay close to family (connect at least once a wk).  Do not drift.  Report in at night.  Read a few pages of scripture every day.  Pray morning & night.  Get married.  Read last conference talk (enclosed).  Carry a picture of Christ to look at for those times you need help beyond your ability.
4. Apostolic blessing:  Remember teachings & music.  Go to a quiet place.  See yourself, change, commit, state your intentions & you will be happy and secure.  You will know your priorities. You will be all you can be.  You will be prepared to bless God’s children.    

President Kimball said the extra oil in the lamps of the wise virgins was made up of all the seemingly insignificant things we do to maintain righteousness—it’s CTR—Church, Talking to God, & Reading scriptures).

I prayed for your investigator who was dying of cancer.  Did he respond well to the Restoration movie?  We pray & fast often for our ward missionaries’ contacts as well.  It’s better if we have a name.  I even put their names in the temple if they are having a hard time repenting of something (like overcoming smoking or pornography). 

We love you so much it hurts!                                                               

Mombaum

Dear Elder Snell,                                                                                                                               11/16/14

We went to a fireside with Elder Walker who served on the temple committee of the Church. 

From President Thomas S. Monson comes this promise: Come to the temple and place your burdens before the Lord and you’ll be filled with a new spirit and confidence in the future. Trust in the Lord, and if you do He’ll hold you and cradle you and lead you step by step along that pathway that leads to the celestial kingdom of God. [Quoted in Dell Van Orden, “San Diego Temple: 45th House of the Lord Dedicated in ‘Season for Temple Building,’”Church News, 8 May 1993, Z8]  (I love that part about confidence in the future.)

Other nuggets:

• Someone asked President Hinkley what was the most important thing he ever did.  He said the sealing of his children & grandchildren in the temple.
• What temple is busiest?  Provo.  Used to be Jordan River until Draper & Oquirrh Mt were built.  It probably will be Timpanogos after Payson & Provo City temples are finished. 
• The people of Portugal got a temple of their own because they attended the temple in Madrid (6 hrs away) more than the people who lived in Spain. 
• A Church video on temple garments https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkTz_NQqKA8&feature=youtu.be?  was first made two years ago when Mitt Romney was running for President in case anyone took issue with it.
• There was more difficulty building a temple in Phoenix than in Rome.  President Hinkley had purchased the property ten years earlier. 
• Apostles used to be the tour guides of temple open houses.  One member was afraid to ask her friend to an open house; kept procrastinating until 3days before it was dedicated.  She finally invited her & her friend said, “Oh I’ve already been three times by myself!  Insiders know that after a dedication & away from the press, President Monson always seeks out children, elderly, and handicapped in spite of security who are trying to get him out of the crowd & into the car.  Once Elder Walker showed him how he could skip out a side door & avoid the throng.  Pres Monson said, Would Jesus slip out the side door?
• The property that Brigham City Temple sits on used to have a school on it.  When it was torn down, someone bought the real estate & subdivided into 8 plots.  Nothing sold until the Church made an offer.  The temple going up on Logan Square in Philly (near Britta) will be one of the most prominent temples in the world.  The property used to be owned by a wealthy Jew who had turned down many offers.  He said he had a feeling he should wait until it was the “right purpose”.  After hearing the Church’s offer, he not only felt it was right but sold it for much less than it was worth.
• On Earth Day, EPA organized everyone in the Toronto area to turn off all lights after 8PM to save energy.  The Temple complied but soon complaints came in from the airport because pilots used the lighted temple as a landmark for find the runway at night! 

 Love you so much!