Book of Mormon Final Paper by Bailey Lerwill

Take a minute now to think back when you have been struggling. It might have been one of the darkest times in your life you faced, or you had to overcome the hardest thing in your life. Or just a bad day when nothing wanted to work for you. Like a bad hair day and it was just not working or you did not felt not very important. Then out of nowhere someone did a service for you. Thanked you for something you did, cooked you a meal, walked you to class, told you looked cute, even just said hello. That service was either a big or a little act of kindness but made the differences to you. Think back when someone served you and think about how it made you feel. I know when someone gives me service, I want to go out and server and help other people feel important and loved. Mary N. Cook of First Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency spoke at general conference in April 2011 her talk was addressed “Remember this Kindness Beings with ME.”  She said “I know that our Savior live and loves each of us. He has given His life for all. I pray that we will center our lives on Jesus Christ and follow in his ways by loving and serving one another. By doing so I know that we can make the world a better place.” I absolutely loved this, it hits so many good points like first off you need Jesus Christ to be a part of your life he love you and he has done so much for us. Take time in life to just look around you. Look and see if there is someone in need of help that you could serve. We all pray to our heavenly father asking for help and for comfort and ask god to serve us. That is not a Bad thing, the lord wants us to go to him for help but because we do go to him he wants us to help others. HE expects us to help others. It doesn’t mean we have to spend all our money or all our time. Christ died for us he was giving a hug service to us so we should at least do something simple to help out someone in need. If we just gave a little of our own time each day to help someone the world could be so much happier and peaceful. Dallin H Oaks tells us “Loving and serving one another can solve so many problems.” This is so true sometimes the people we do serve are the hardest people to deal with. But we need to remember they are a Child of GOD just like you and he loves them too just the same. Try to look through Gods eyes. You will be able to see everything differently. Pray for that help to see them the way he does. God will help you find different ways to help serve that person, only if you are willing. ARE you willing? How can you become more willing? I have a really good friend right now that is on his mission in the West Indies and in one of his emails to me he sent Moroni 7 vs. 40-48 this scriptures talk about having Hope ,faith and charity. One of those scriptures I want to share is verse 45: “And charity suffereth long, and is kind , and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked , thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”  You have to be humble and be ready to help with the love of Christ like in verse 47 says: “But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.”  God loves us and because he helps us he tells us in D&C section 20 verse 19: “And gave unto them commandments that they should love and serve him, the only living and true God, and that he should be the only being whom they should worship.” So when you gave us this assignment in the being of the semester I quickly started praying about it and trying to keep an open mind. One day I was at my apartment and I was trying to find a way to help with my roommates and it hit me, SERVICE. So I quickly got thinking of different ways I can do service. I prayed daily to have help to be able to see through Gods eyes and to be able to see people that could use help. First my roommates came to my mind. So throughout this semester I have written letters to my roommates, thanking them for being my roommate and telling them there strength’s and how I appreciate them. I also did the dishes for them several times throughout the semester and I am not going to lie there were times I did not want to do their dishes. I felt like I was being used and too nice. I did not have nice thoughts but I thought about Jesus at those times and thought about everything he did for me, and the dishes are really a small thing in the big picture. I also noticed when my roommates would notice what I have done and thanked me I felt more giving and would want to serve those roommates more than the others that did not thank me.

            I am in the relief society presidents in my ward and with that calling I have many opportunities to serve the girls in my ward. I have been able to get to know these girls and help them in there trails. Every Sunday the presidency bakes a treat and we all go to girl’s apartments and talk to them and see if there is any way we can help them. I also have gave a lesson in relief society. That was a growing experiences for me. I had to rely on the spirit and when I was standing up there it amazed me the love I felt for the girls. I hardly knew them at that time but I cared for each of them.  

A couple of weeks ago I went home and my family had the assignment to go to the church house in Tetonia and clean it. So instead of sleeping in like I really wanted to, I got out of bed and went with my family to go clean the church. It ended up lasting an hour and half but my family was and is and will be blessed. It was enjoy able to just be with my family and be doing a serves for the lord.

One of the other services I had been doing and has been the most enjoyable to me has been going to the temple and doing baptisms for the dead. I have gone almost every week on Thursday. To me this is the best part of the week for me! I enjoy going and doing this service for the people that have already passed into the spirit world. I want to give them the gospel of Jesus Christ of latter day Saints and give them the opportunities I have, like being with my family for eternity. The temple is an amazing place and I love being this close to the temple and being able to go to the temple whenever I can. The temple will bless you and the other people that you do the work for. The temple is my refuge in this crazy world we live in. It would always amazes me that ever Thursday when I woke up I knew I would go to the temple but throughout the day I could see satin try to discourage me and try to make me feel bad about myself by no matter how I felt I knew I should go to the temple, and always did.

 In my family class I have this book that is centered on the family and I found a quote that I loved it was taken from a Latter-day Saint father of six, William. He said “I believe that people are at their happiest when they’re serving others… Service in the church is based on doing things for other people, and going outside of yourself.”  This quote is so true. I have personally felt that happiness. I love seeing my family, friends, and strangers smile and feel grateful. I have hopped that when I have done a little act of kindness others would do the same.

Having this opportunity to give my time and help others has been an amazing opportunity for me. Service is a very important thing to do. When you are serving others you forget about yourself and are helping God with the things which he sees that needs help. My testimony has been strengthened so much! Service is the best way to go. I am so thankful for the church and I KNOW without a doubt that this is the one and true church. I know that God hears your prayers and will help you. I also have a testimony for service. It does bless your life when you forget about yourself and put others in front and help them. I have enjoyed the opportunity to grow and learn more about myself and learning to have a better attitude towards others. In closing I want to thank Brother Bolingbroke for giving me this challenge and pushing us to be better people. I have love the BOM class and appreciate everything you have done for us.

Bailey's Paper

Today we talked about the change of heart. It really hit me hard. Made me think about all the little experiences I have had to make my testimony grow as strong as it is today. I am so thankful for all those times that I was being tested and pushing me to grow. At those times I remember thinking why me and why do I have to change... I’m just fine the way I am. But God know better than all of us. He knows our greater purpose and wants us to be the best we can be. In life we as humans resist change and don’t like to change things up. When I was 18 years old I had an experience that brought me to the knowledge of knowing how special life really is and how you need to enjoy every day cause you never know what is around the corner. July 24 it was summer time I just barely turned 18. I had been sick EVERY DAY! I was so sick I couldn’t eat and had no energy. I was just lying on the couch that whole summer.  I had doctor appointments one after another. Finally they came to the conclusion I needed my gallbladder out. So on July 24 I went into the doctor’s office and was being prepared for surgery. I remember crying right before and I kept telling my mom I was so scared. I didn’t have a good feeling about it. Then next thing I remember was waking up and the first thing I said was I feel like I have liquid in my chest the nurse brushed it off. I spent the whole day in the day-center. I wasn’t even feeling good but they sent me home. I cannot tell you to save myself what that ride was like. The next thing I remember was my dad pulling me up to get me out of the car I couldn’t see or hear and I felt dizzy. The next thing I remember was I was being taken to the Driggs hospital. When we got there they immediately started to try to get an ivy in me and they couldn’t. They were trying my legs, feet, arms, hand… My body was shutting down. A normal person’s oxygen levels should be 90% mine were at 30. They life flighted me to IF and I spend 3 days in the ICU and 2 days in a normal room! I had some of the most spiritual moments in my life those 5 days. No one knew if I was going to be normal because I had go without oxygen for so long. The Lord was with me that day. No Doubt about it! Because of the priesthood and the many prayers I am here today and as healthy as ever. To this day the doctors can’t explain what happened to me. But I have the Lord to thank for my life and I will forever be in his debt.

Bailey's Paper on the The Family

THE FAMILY

The Family Proclamation to the World is what the church gave to our families in 1995.This revelation is to help keep our families strong and together. It helps us know what our roles are as family members. As Gordon B. Hinckley said it is an essential part to our eternal plan. To me the Proclamation is a blessing and my parents have and still are fulfilling it for our family. My mom she is a stay at home mom. Let me tell you there is nothing better to come home to a clean house and the smell of homemade bread fresh from the oven. My dad is the hardest working man I know. We live on a farm and he is always working hard trying to bring the crops in. My parents are amazing people and they are always there for me. I use to always joke to my parents about the Family Proclamation by telling them that tucking me into bed every night was a part of the Proclamation. To tell the compete truth I don’t think I had ever read the whole Proclamation. When I did read it, I got a deeper understanding than I had and knew it was inspired and true.

Families are the most important thing in the world. According to Elder Tom Perry Families lie at the center of our Heavenly Fathers plan. We need to make our homes a safe place where we can have refuge from all the storms and the world around us. Our families make us who we are today and who we will be. You are a made up of the people in your family.

My forever family consists of my father, mother, one brother and me. In April I got sister-in-law and was happy to add her to my family. Both my brother and I were both raised by our loving parents. Who are always supporting us. We grew up on our family farm in Driggs Idaho. So our income was from my dad and the harvest of the crops. When I was in the second grade I was diagnosed with type one diabetes and so my mom got a job at the Elementary School I was attending so she could be there if I needed help. She worked there until I went into middle school. My mom was a stay at home mom and was always there if I ever needed her. It was nice to know that if I was ever sick at school all I had to do was call and my mom was there. These roles that my mom and dad follow align perfectly with the proclamation. In the proclamation it says “fathers are responsible for provide for the necessities of life.” For the mothers role the proclamation says, “Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children.”

I believe very strongly that because my brother and I were raised on the family farm we both know the concept of working hard and understand the life cycle. We both grew up having chores and having to help our parents with the planting and harvest. We were always with our parents either in a tractor or helping with the house hold duties. When I was younger we had cows and horses and pigs. We would raise our pig for meat. I remember going and picking the pigs up and feeding them during the summer, then in the fall we would take them into the butcher and we would eat the meat. I always knew where the meat came from. I learned at an early age that just because you have faith doesn’t mean everything goes your way. My parents are hard workers and strong in the church but sometime trials happen. Mother Nature sometimes likes to pout and put some hail down destroying our crops making our yearly pay shrink.

In the proclamation it says “Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care of each other and for their children.” My parents have always shown their love for each other. My parents have always kissed in front of me and showed affection and I have always known without a doubt that they love each other and always will. When I have my own kids I want to make sure that they know that me and my husband love each other, and show affection in front of them. I have seen the love between my parents and I know without a doubt that my parents love me.

“Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.” One example of this is when I was a little girl I would get upset or do something wrong I would run to my bedroom and slam my door which would upset my dad. My slamming of my door was getting to the point where I was breaking my door and the door frame. One day when I slammed my door my dad came in and took down my door. I had to work to get his trust back. My parents have always have been loving, kind and forgiving. An example of wholesome recreational actives that we do is camping. My family loves to go camping together and be outdoors but we always make sure we are back for Sunday and go to church. This is true with all the activities we do in our family. Prayer has always been important to our family. In the mornings before we each went our own ways we try to have family prayer. We also ate supper every night and said a prayer before each meal. I believe my parents have taught a lot of these principles by example. My parents are always very hardworking, forgiving, respectful, and have faith.

The family structure is being attacked by Satan and its destruction is growing rapidly. It started out as little things and over time has grown. In 1995 when the proclamation was first given the family’s makeup was more traditional and over time is has been changed with the same sex movement which Satan is in charge of. If he can mash our families, he is getting greater power.

There are many struggles in the family in today’s time, but if we follow these guidelines we will be blessed. Those that violate their role in the family will stand in front of God in the last days and be accountable for their violations in their family. If we honor these guide lines we will be blessed with the ability to go back to heaven, live with our families for eternity, have safety and support here on earth while with our families. I feel so blessed that my parents have had high standers and live the counsel given to us in the proclamation.

            I am so thankful for my family and how we live the Family Proclamation, it has blessed my life. When I have my own family I will and want to follow the same example that my parents set and follow the Proclamation. I have seen how it has blessed my family so why would I not to bless my future one. This is truly a blessing from God that will bless my life now and the in the future.

Macie and Stockton Love Notes

 This is from Macie. What a cutie!

This is Stockton's thank you letter to us for his birthday present. He is getting so big. Can't believe he is five!

Jeff and Alana's Boys at Christmas

Zackrey, Jaden, and Payton Lerwill

Family Christmas Photo Cards 2013

New Years Eve

For New Years Eve we had Dalan and Stormi and Bailey here and we also invited Cleve and Angela Booker over. Verna was also here and came over. We had a great dinner of taco, Mexican rice, and refried beans with lemon pie and apple crisp for dessert. It was yummy. We also played Life on the Farm. Stacy's favorite game. ha ha. It is a lot like Monopoly. Cleve wasn't too excited either, but I think they both had fun. It was great. Verna left I think around eleven. Dalan and Stormi left around 11:45, and Booker's left around 1:30 am. It was fun, I didn't get any pictures those. Can't believe 2014 is here! Hope it is a good one for everyone!!