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!