Marie's Sunday Message - April 25th, 2021

I am up in the mountains seeing some of the most beautiful sights. Steve and I are RV-ing and having the best time seeing the country. Along with some great scenery and fascinating places, I was reminded yesterday, how throughout our lives, the interesting ways we can learn to receive answers to our prayers. And then to take the next step and listen to the voice of the spirit within us.

Before going on our trip, I organized everything into one wallet. I usually have a couple of cards in my phone case, other cards in a little zipper case in my purse, and a few in different places in my bags. I have done that for years in case something gets stolen; I always have a backup. Well, I thought, just for this trip, I would put them all together so there’s no confusion, just simplicity. The next thing I know, I can’t find my wallet! Well... just when everything’s in one place, I thought, really Marie!? Then I really started to panic after looking everywhere several times, with no luck! I was getting ready to cancel every single card and my ID when a thought came to me, “Sit down and say a prayer.” I listened, and I asked. I prayed, asking if it was lost. I didn’t feel it was. Then I asked if I left it someplace where we stopped. I didn’t feel like I lost it in a store, either. Then I asked if it was in our vehicle. I felt at peace! I said, “Well, could I be led to where I might find it?” Then a thought came to my mind, “Look over by the back side compartment behind your passenger chair.” And that’s where it was! I believe, and I know, that was a tender mercy to me. My faith was clear, and I knew I could receive an answer. Why? Because God knows I’m trying to live His commandments daily. That doesn’t mean I succeed all the time, that’s why we have the Savior, but I believe making a daily effort, like reading His word in the scriptures and following His counsel, makes a difference in giving us the faith necessary to ask when we are in need. The daily effort helps the Spirit communicate with us! Like the 10 virgins making sure our lamps are full of help when we need God’s comfort, peace, and direction in our lives.

Without a laser focus on listening to God, we can go through life climbing a ladder without realizing it was leaning against the wrong wall the whole time! I truly believe we can find our direction in life through prayer.

Mark 11:22-23

”And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.”

I am still amazed that the Lord helped me find something as insignificant as my wallet.  By answering a prayer, I knew He was mindful of me... and all of us! I know He is in the details of our lives.

Having the faith that God hears us and will answer our prayers brings amazing blessings. I’d love to hear of a time when your prayers were answered.

#HappySunday #GrandCanyon #MesaVerdeNationalPark #NationalParkWeek

Marie's Sunday Message - January 30, 2022

This weekend was spent with family.  We all gathered together to celebrate my oldest grandson’s baptism. Stephen, who is now eight years old, called and personally invited me to speak on his special day. He said he wanted his Grandpa and Papa to give the opening and closing prayers and he wanted his Nana and Grandma to give the talks. Mine was to be on the importance of baptism and his Nana’s was on receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. As I thought about baptism and what we covenant to do as a follower or disciple of Jesus Christ, it made me realize how much God desires us to be like our Savior and to love one another. After all, we are all God’s children… His family.

It also made me ponder upon my children and how they all love each other and their families. They all made a great effort to be together for this event. And what a blessed day it was! My children are very different, and yet there is an eternal love and bond they have for one another. It hasn’t mattered to them what paths they have all taken, they are family. And there is nothing that gives me greater joy than watching them all laughing and enjoying each other’s company. It gave me this feeling that I was experiencing a little mini version of what our Father in Heaven must feel as He looks down on all of us.  It must thrill Him when we try to make the effort to understand and love each other despite the differences we may have.

John 12:34-35 says, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

I felt, because of how diverse my own children are, I could feel how our Father in Heaven loves all of us and our diversities.  I feel it is my responsibility as a parent to help my children see the blessing in following God’s word. I also feel it’s important to allow people, especially family, to believe what they want to believe. God is a God of agency, not force. The desire of my heart is for my children to learn to love and accept others unconditionally no matter what the differences may be. That kind of love changes hearts, and I believe it’s the only way to truly love as the Savior loves. Families are eternal, but in this life, you never know how much time you’ll get to spend with them, so keep them close. I also believe God knows everything that will happen to us, and if we ask Him, He will guide us through all the potholes we will encounter along our path. I also believe, no, I KNOW the sound of my children laughing together is the best sound created!

I believe right now our world is more divided than ever. So I pray for change, for our hearts to change, to love one another. I hope we individually start bridging those relationships wherever and whenever we can.

After all…we are ALL family!!

#HappySunday

#FamiliesAreForever

Marie's Sunday Message - December 27th, 2020

In 2007, Chris Williams and his family were going out for dessert on a typical Friday night when a drunk driver hit them. His pregnant wife, one son, and his only daughter died on impact. He and his other son were rushed to the hospital where his older son, who had been out with friends, met them to begin the physical and emotional healing the now family of three would need. Chris said the first thing he heard after the accident in his mind while still on a gurney were the words, “Let this go,” and with that, he felt an immediate peace. He asked everyone around him to forgive the teenage driver. As he concentrated on forgiving the drive, the more he felt the Savior’s love for the teenager. The only way he would have the power to do that was through the Savior. By Chris simply acting as a vessel, the Savior was able to make miracles occur.

"And Jesus looking upon them saith, with men it is impossible, But with God nothing shall be impossible." Luke 1:37

Today Chris Williams, with the help of his Father in Heaven, has continued with his life. His sons are doing well, and he has remarried. Of course, this experience has been life's ultimate challenge, but they have always had the knowledge that life is eternal and the Savior is always with them.

Forgiveness… The Savior knew the importance of this “powerful” act when He said, in Luke 6:37, “Forgive and ye shall be forgiven.” Isn’t that a beautiful promise? The act of forgiveness has the power to lift burdens and carve out pain, leaving peace behind.

As we set about on God’s path to forgive, we need to understand what forgiveness is not. Forgiveness does not require condoning a wrong or allowing harmful behavior to continue. It also takes time. I read this counsel once and never forgot it.

I am so hopeful this coming year will give us a new beginning, and we can finally close the chapter on what has been a difficult year for us all. As we go forward with our focus on the Savior, we will accomplish great things!

Marie's Sunday Message - September 25th, 2022

I chose to write about #ONJ today. Whenever death strikes close to home, it allows us all to pause and reflect on the gift of life that God has given us. We can see the importance of choosing to be filled with joy through all we encounter here in mortality, the good or bad. These choices give us an eternal perspective on our time here on Earth.

Often when we lose a loved one, we seem only to make room in our hearts for sadness. This was not the case at the celebration I attended the other day. It was a celebration of life for Olivia Newton-John. Although there were undoubtedly some tears, it was mostly about remembering her incredible life and the joy she created in this world. Olivia was my friend and a friend like her is rare indeed! With everything she did, #Olivia was a light in the darkness and brought a sense of healing to all those around her because she genuinely loved people.

I was so blessed to be counted among those friends. So when Steve and I attended Olivia’s “Celebration of Life,” it was just that…a celebration!

As we were leaving, I vowed to love and spread more light and participate fully in every moment of my life. As we honored her, we were reminded of the joy she brought to the world through her music and philanthropic ventures. But her beautiful smile and the simple act of loving people inspired us all the most. Olivia brought us together one more time, and it was beautiful.

I am grateful to have known you, my sweet Olivia. You were and will always be one of a kind!!! Till we meet again

#onj #RIP #SundayMessage 

Marie's Sunday Message - July 2nd, 2023

I’m sure there have been times when you, like me, have received feelings or promptings directing you to make a change in your life, so you pray for understanding. Well, during my trip to Israel, I received my answer. So today, I write my last Sunday message to you...at least for a while. 

I’m sad in many ways; I have really enjoyed our time together on Sundays and have felt a closeness in sharing what matters most over the last… has it been 7 years now? But following the Spirit is non-negotiable for me. For 60 years, I have worked in my industry, and it’s all happened because of you! Also, having to be the sole breadwinner for my young family for many years, I have always been very prayerful for direction regarding my work so I could spend the most time possible with my children. I love them so much as I know you love yours! I have felt the need lately to spend more time with them, especially with their precious babies - my adorable grandchildren. (By the way, #9 is on the way, and I would appreciate your prayers for my daughter Brianna🥰.) Any woman understands busy schedules and their demands. So I have felt great peace with this answer of spending more time with my husband, children, and grandchildren!🥰

Today’s message is about my trip to the Holy Land. As I’ve pieced together my feelings from this life-changing trip… let’s say it’s been challenging because how do you write about something so grand. I tried to post the first half last week, but there’s so much that I thought I’d put both posts in this Sunday’s message! All I can say is it’s a bit long! Sorry. 🤣

Every time I started writing, a flood of emotions would return. I’m so grateful I was taught about the Savior in my youth by a loving mother who stressed the importance of strengthening my personal testimony and not just relying on hers. She taught me the importance of feeding our spiritual appetites through daily study and prayer. It’s how we can comprehend the multiple layers, depths, and symbolic meanings of His teachings, His atonement, His death, and the gift of His resurrection. Understanding takes time… a lifetime (maybe a million lifetimes?). 

I heard a great talk last week (I read so much, so I’m sorry I can’t remember who gave it), but the speaker’s message was about his mission. He had to learn a foreign language. When he got there, he could only say a few words, but over time, he could speak some sentences. After a year, he said he could talk comfortably without thinking about every word before he spoke. By the end of his two years, he felt so confident he had mastered the language he decided to take it for one of his college classes. He quickly realized he was only speaking on a two-year-old level. 😂 His point was it’s the same with our study of the Scriptures. You read the Bible once - you understand a few words the second, third, and fourth time you start putting sentences together. The 10th, 20th, or 50th time you begin to understand more deeply and know the words before you have to think about what you’re saying. It takes years to master the language of the Bible and the Savior’s life. That’s why it’s so important to continually read God’s words every day, every year, throughout our lives. 

Before going to Israel, I read many books, listened to numerous talks, and watched countless documentaries to prepare for this trip. But to actually be in Jerusalem was more incredible than I ever could have imagined.

No other city has shaped this earth’s history and destiny like Jerusalem. Just think of the different nationalities that have come through Jerusalem for one reason or another. Egyptians, Hittites, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Muslims, Crusaders, Turks, British, Arabs, and Israelis have all been a part of Jerusalem’s great history. And then there are the people! Individuals like Abraham, David, Solomon, Isaiah, Lehi, Jeremiah, Alexander the Great, Pompey, Cleopatra, Herod, Peter, Paul, Titus, Constantine, Muhammad, Richard the Lion-hearted, Maimonides, Saladin, Suleiman the Magnificent, and even today’s leaders to name a few. But the most significant person ever to be born in Israel or this world was Jesus Christ. He brought about the most important events and remarkable contributions of all time! His atoning sacrifice and resurrection from the dead have immortalized this great city and made the name Jerusalem forever holy. Ironically Jerusalem means “The City of Peace,” which is odd because very rarely has it ever enjoyed the fruits of this word--peace. Even today, Jerusalem is a diverse place that ignites people’s hearts in so many ways. 

If you’ve put this trip on your bucket list… Do it now!!!! It’s simply amazing!!!!! So Here we go!❤️ 

I went wading in the sea of Galilee, you guys! 

I went snorkeling in the Red Sea! Hey! It’s hard to record a video of yourself underwater! 🤣

I floated in the Dead Sea - it was unbelievable

So was this candy shop!! Isn’t this a dream come true?? We also stopped at the best ice cream store!!! It’s called, Katsefet, which means whipped crème. It’s a must if you are ever planning on going to Jerusalem. Do the fresh fruit yogurt!!!

I went to Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus said to Peter, “Peter, upon this rock, I will build my church,” He then promised to give him the “keys of the kingdom of heaven.” But to see the water coming out of the rocks was incredible!

I saw Temple Mount, and we went inside the Dome of the Rock because of my dear friends for years, Tom and Kelly Olds, who happen to be our in-laws. Their daughter married our son. The Temple Mount was so stunning and very touching to be invited. It’s a very significant site for all three major religions: Jews, Muslims, & Christians. To the Jewish faith, they believe it is the Center of the Universe.

It was amazing and helped me understand why so many wars have been fought over Jerusalem. Every single religion holds it sacred….you can feel it while you are there. Instead of writing about it because it would take a lot of space😂 here’s a great site you can read about it.

We walked through the flowing waters in Hezekiah’s tunnels at the Western Wall. If you’re claustrophobic, I wouldn’t recommend it, 😂but it was the most incredible half-hour underground walk. To see how they started digging at two different ends and met up in the middle was unbelievable!

We went to church on Sunday at the BYU Jerusalem Center, and as we partook of the sacrament overlooking Jerusalem...I can’t even tell you what it meant to me!  

Since my first name is Olive, and the Jerusalem Center has an actual olive press outside, this must have meant more to Matt than I realized. He asked me to get inside it so that he could roll the Stone over me. I felt “pressed” to concede to his wishes!! 🤣🫒

We visited the unique historical museums in Jerusalem. The Israeli Museum fascinated me because it’s where the Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed. We also saw the very impressive miniature model of Jerusalem in Christ’s Day, The Model City. I never realized how large Solomon’s temple was in comparison to the size of Jerusalem in Christ’s day. It was very insightful!

And then there was the sacred pit in Caiaphas Palace (St. Peter of Gallicantu), where Jesus went before the Sanhedrin, and Peter allegedly denied Christ three times. It literally took my breath away. It is where the Savior spent the night before he was crucified. We saw where He was probably beaten and lowered into this hole the night before Pontius’ pilot sentenced him. I stood contemplating what occurred there, and although I’ve always been grateful to my Savior for the atonement, I will never forget how I felt inside there. Simply…. I was forever changed. 

When I went outside, we saw the original steps where Christ would have walked down to his crucifixion. As I stood there, my eyes filled with tears. We cannot even semi-comprehend what must have been going through his heart, but mine was breaking!

We spent the night beside the Sea of Galilee in this beautiful hotel. Every room is only steps away from the shore! 

The Sea of Galilee is where most of Christ’s miracles occurred. We visited the Mount of Beatitudes, where the Sermon on the Mount was delivered. Words can’t express how much I loved this! 

We visited a church where they uncovered some fantastic new finds. They still are uncovering new ruins! This is where Jesus taught in the one synagogue and proclaimed He was the son of God. That was so moving to my heart. I literally stood where Christ testified to the Rabbis. 

There’s a new Church at Magdala with a rotunda dedicated to the women in Jesus’s life. We read about them in our Scriptures, but this was different. It reminded me how profound the women were in Christ’s life at specific pivotal points. At the tomb, the first witnesses and messengers to the 12 apostles of the empty tomb who testified that “He has Risen” were the two Marys. And the first messengers of the birth of Christ were Mary and her cousin Elizabeth among many others. Women at that time lived in a society where females weren’t as valued, but this church testified and witnessed God’s love for his daughters. Intuitive, Christ-centered, powerful, and strong women devoted to God, and that chapel had significant meaning to me. We are nurturing caregivers, compassionate and intuitive, and should always esteem these attributes as divine qualities we were divinely given and possess. We are spiritual creatures in nature.

I know the Savior loves women today, and I hope you hear this with your entire being when I say women are the heart and soul of this world. The adversary would have you believe something else, that somehow you aren’t enough but believe me when I say…women are so important to the Savior. 

I saw King Herod’s Palace on the ocean in Caesarea. You could see where the palace used to stand over the sea, and some of the original floors were still recognizable and beautiful. You could tell where the chariot races took place, where his great theater was, which they still used today and the aqueducts. I even saw an ancient toilet!😂 Caesarea still has the most expensive real estate anciently and modern day. But knowing the Savior was there is the value I placed on it. 

Mount Precipice had a fantastic view of Nazareth, Mt Tabor, and the surrounding area. 

And on Mt. Carmel is an excellent view of the Jezreel Valley (Valley of Armageddon, where we discussed the 2nd Coming and the future of this Holy Land. 

When I saw the valley of Armageddon, I realized that “this is where the final battle will be fought, and the Savior will appear, showing the marks in His hand and feet for all to see.” Can you imagine that? I was there! As I pondered this valley, I realized that each day, we fight our own Armageddon, and I wish you every blessing for God’s infinite atonement and love to see you through. When you go into battle each day, euphemistically, of course, please don’t forget to take your Savior with you. Think of him every day and how he will protect you! Just ask! Think of how He will put His arms around you. Make it personal!! I know He will help lift and lighten those burdens from your shoulders. It has taken time for me to fully understand what it means to “Let go and let God.” For the longest time, we would hear that phrase only to be followed by those minions in our heads saying, “But you still have to do something to prove yourself to Him.” My testimony to you is if you love the Lord, you will be doing something; listening to Him offer you eternal happiness. So listen and love Him and then be grateful for all you go through. Follow what you are impressed to do. Because He’s always there, we only need to hear His voice. 

We boarded a fishing boat and crossed the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum. On our way, we cut the engines & had a short discussion that amazed my heart. 

Once on shore, we had a very unique lunch. We had St. Peter’s Fish…🤣  We then visited Capernaum, then drove to the very northern border of Israel, where we looked over Lebanon and Syria. Then, we enjoyed a short nature hike to view the ancient city and altar at Tel Dan and learn how the lost tribes became “the lost ten tribes.” 

I loved Banias, the ancient site of Caesarea Philippi. And Yardenit. That evening, I took a stroll on the Seashore and saw this duck!

I felt my sweet son Michael was with me. We always called him Mallard, and this duck just appeared out of nowhere.

Speaking of my son, my other son Matthew was with me on this trip. He has decided to devote his life to teaching youth groups about the Savior, and this trip was partly a preparation for him to understand the area. He knew he would be a better guide before taking out his first group if he made this trip. We loved everything, but going to the River Jordan (Jesus’ traditional baptismal site) was the best!!!! I learned so many details about the area and John the Baptist - it was incredible and moving. 

In my last Sunday post, I told you that our friend and guide, Clark Anderson, took us over there. Well, two days ago, he sent this photo to me... Clark wrote, “I’m back at the River Jordan today teaching my new tour group, and look who I ran into. Your amazing son Matthew was beside me, teaching his youth group. How cool is that!?” Honestly, it made me tear up a bit! I’m so proud of him!!!  

Knowing your child loves God and wants to help young people find their purpose through knowing Jesus Christ makes this mama very proud!!! 

Watching him travel through Israel in preparation to teach was such a blessing. He said something that really touched my heart… He was teaching a group where he’s going to college (Matthew is a full-time seminary/institute teacher there); right before we left, he told me he showed the movie The Lion King to his classes. He asked the kids who is the villain in this movie. And, of course, they all agreed it was Scar… He said no! Then he offered up that it was Pumba! The kids looked confused, so Matt continued, “Think about it… Pumbaa convinced a king’s son to forget whose child he was… That he was a prince. Pumbaa even got Simba to stoop so low that he ate bugs and enjoyed it. Then Matthew said to them “don’t ever forget that you are the sons and daughters of God and don’t let anyone make you forget that. And please take care of your bodies - don’t hurt or abuse them, especially don’t eat bugs.😂. My Matt is such a good man and has such a cute way with these kids 🥰❤️

Laurus’ Tomb was so touching. It’s where the first person was resurrected. It was on the Palestinian side of Jerusalem, and our driver, Auman, who is Muslim, was so wonderful in taking us there and answering every question I had. I think I wore him out!😂 When we left him, he gave me a copy of the Quran, such a beautiful gesture of love! We drove with him to Qumran (the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls).

I’m so grateful that we were able to be in Jerusalem during Shavuot. This celebration begins in the evening at sundown. Jewish people from all over the world celebrate this holiday, also known as the “feast of weeks,” which commemorates the revelation of the Torah on Mt. Sinai to the Jewish people and commemorates the Torah being given by God to His people on Mount Sinai on Shavuot more than 3,300 years ago. From my best guess, over 5000 people were gathered there that evening. We weren’t allowed to take photos (understandingly), but I could go on the female side with the women and touch the wall. It was an incredible experience!!!! I don’t have photos of this evening, but here’s a picture of a necklace I bought there to commemorate it. The name of it in Hebrew is the “Shema,” meaning “Hear or hearken” from the beginning of Deut 6. This is the central prayer of Judaism saying:

Deuteronomy 6:4-7:

4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:

5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

I believe the necklace says the very first part; Shema. But these are the verses Moses taught the children of Israel to be the most important verses to live by and obey. And these are the ones that the Jewish people have written and put in the Phylacteries they wear during their morning prayers. Also, these verses are written and placed in the mezuzahs, which are right outside on the wall next to the front door of every Jewish home. So these scriptures are central to the Jewish faith and ones we should all live by! To have a necklace with all that faith and history feels inspiring and significant to me!!!! 

We visited the Garden of Gethsemane (which, as you know, means “oil press”).

We passed thousands of Jewish graves as we wandered down the Mt. of Olives. Including those of the Biblical Prophets, Haggai, Zechariah, & Malachi. We made a brief stop at the ‘Teardrop Church.’ We then visited St. Anne’s, the ancient site for the Pool of Bethesda. 

The Upper Room, where the Savior held the Last Supper, was beautiful. Even though it’s speculative where the exact location was, just being there and understanding the last week of his life brought the Bible pages to life for me.

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is believed to be where many Christians and others believe the Garden Tomb. I must say the garden tomb sent warm chills through my body, knowing the history of mankind was changed eternally here!!!! 

We departed Jerusalem and went down by the borders near the shore of the Red Sea as Lehi and his family did. As we did, we traveled from “Jerusalem to Jericho” and reflected on the parable in Luke 10. Then we made our way to the Israeli/Jordanian border at Timnah.

There are too many photos to post but it in Timnah there is an exact replica of the ancient Tabernacle built by Moses. The temple that the Children of Israel carried in the wilderness for 40 years was smaller than I thought. But what came to my realization is that they used this temple for another 400+ years until king Solomon built his temple. As they walked us through it, it was obvious that the ordinances they kept were symbolic of Jesus Christ coming and his atonement. I really loved visiting this place!!!

This post is too long already, so I’ll try to share more later! Let me summarize this last Sunday Message...

Remember (Remember is my favorite word)- your one focus in life is to have a testimony of Jesus Christ. Whatever it takes, however long it takes to have a testimony. My trip to Jerusalem has undoubtedly changed my life in many ways. The stories in the Bible are real. They were documented by everything I saw around me, and the pages of that book came alive in every place I visited! I am sure you can understand this was not just a check on a list for me; this was a dream of mine ever since my parents went there and told me about it. I have been dreaming about this for 47 years. I went there looking for something, and I found it! And even more, I found peace, joy, and incredible gratitude... I am different in such a good way. 

On the cross towards the final moments before His death, Jesus said In Matthew 27:

46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is to say, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

In that very moment, He felt His Father retreat. Did He feel abandoned? I’m sure He did, but at Golgotha, as I stood in silence pondering these words, tears began rolling down my cheeks. Even in the darkest moment of abandonment, Christ did not abandon the Father nor His will. I wondered, Is it like this with us in our trials when we may feel God is just not there? Do we stay strong like our Savior and say, “Not my will, but thine be done”? He didn’t give up on doing His Father’s will, and neither should we. Christ never gives up on us; we should never give up on His love for us. His answers aren’t always immediate and may even be challenging to hear. But I also know that even Christ, while crucified on the cross, asked the Father this question. “Father, take this cup from me but nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done.” And so He endured, and so shall we as His followers. I have gained much strength from what Jesus said. If we do, God will always be there, growth will happen in our souls, and a brighter day will occur. Remember…We are never left alone! 

Two weeks ago, I wrote about Mount Sinai. It was interesting as I pondered upon God asking Moses to bring the children of Israel to the mountain so He could speak to them. When Moses invited them, they basically said back, “Tell ya what, Moses, you go back to the Lord and find out what He wants to say, then tell us what to do.” At that very moment, they gave up their personal relationship with God, their Father. They handed over their individual testimonies and their right to know personally! They gave their power over to someone else. They didn’t want to put forth the effort… they wanted to be told what to do. It was the easier path to take. They gave away and lost the greatest gift we have here in mortality…. Agency. Free will. The power to choose for ourselves. Instead, they gave it away for someone else to decide for them. They gave up a real personal relationship with the Father of our spirits and His son Jesus Christ.

I have loved writing these Sunday messages, but as I wrap them up, I want to leave you with one last thought…. The best way to really know the Savior is through the scriptures. When you know Him, you will follow Him…. So I hope you will continue to join me in reading the scriptures daily and gain a greater desire to learn of Him. Take His teachings and those of His prophets to heart. In Matthew 11, there is one of my favorite passages:

28 ¶ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

I know this is the absolute truth; I have seen its promise fulfilled. The world may be changing and even be a difficult place to live at times but always remember… “The gospel is easy. Not living it is hard!” “People change; truth does not.” These verses spoke to me in Jerusalem… “I will give you rest”…” .my yoke is easy, my burden is light.”

With the Savior, all things are possible, forgiveness, opportunities, love, gratitude, awareness, joy, and especially peace. After this trip, I will never read the Bible in the same way again. It’s intended that we dive into the scriptures to create our own testimony of Jesus Christ. Not to rely only on the testimony of others in the books of the Bible but to search diligently and acquire our own personal relationship with our God. 

On this trip, my son Matthew whispered to me that he learned something about me, his mom …I didn’t quit no matter how sore or tired my body was. He said, “Mom, you’re a finisher!” 😂 I told him, “That’s right, I may start something and not like it, so I’ll never do it again, but I WILL finish it!” 😂 

So as I finish this last Sunday message…Let the Lord make it easy for you….Stay strong, keep the faith, and deepen your knowledge of His infinite love for you. Know that I love you with all my heart💖 I’ll see you during the weeks ahead, posting more of my insane #BucketListAdventures because… I am a finisher 👍🥰😂💖👈😘

Marie's Sunday Message - June 18th, 2023

Happy Father’s Day to all the wonderful men who have made such a difference in my life. And wishing the same to those special men in yours!!💕

For my #Sundaymessage this week, I wanted to tell you a bit more about the amazing trip I was able to take with my son, Matthew. Our next stop was Cairo and Luxor, Egypt!!!🇪🇬🌍 I knew I would be inspired by the timeless pyramids, but I knew little of the wonders of Luxor and its daunting temples.🤯 We even got to ride camels again!🤗🐪

In the USA, we are amazed by artifacts and structures built 200 years ago. In Europe, there is history dating back over 1,000 years old that we are left in awe. But the ancient structures in Egypt are over 3,000 years old. There are even a few items in Luxor’s museum like the Narmer Pallet that goes back to 5000 BC. 

The structures in Luxor are so intense…and the original paint that still there… The colors are spectacular even after all these years. Wow, right! I can’t put into words just how amazing it all was!!! I put in a few photos to show you!!

Matt and I went on this trip with our amazing friend and guide, Dr. Clark Anderson, Clark taught us so much about the ancient Egyptians. For example… most people believe in an afterlife, right? Well, the ancient Egyptians were all about it! 

The colors inside this pyramid just blew my mind! They built massive pyramids, constructed impressive temples, carved huge granite obelisks, and dug and decorated elaborate tombs…all because of their belief in an afterlife. The word death isn’t even in their vocabulary.

Clark took me to his friend Ali where he custom-made vases with all these beautiful symbols on them… Yes, Ali Baba gifted me with one of his special vases from his shop Shahar Zad Alabaster Factory. It’s just incredible!!!✨ I want to thank him for his amazing kindness and generosity. If you’re ever in that area, you must go to his shop—it’s fabulous!!!! Even this special vase reiterated the message and concept of gaining eternal life (the ankh). It’s etched repeatedly on their statues, gates, temple walls & tombs. Hieroglyphs and etched carvings portray visually this message throughout temples & tombs as well. They link 3-4 major concepts together hieroglyphically in key locations. You will often see health (seneb or djed), strength (jded), power (was), eternal life (ankh), for all eternity (jed) all linked together.

As a Christian, I see how our beliefs are really not that different. Through Jesus Christ, I’m given health, strength, and power. Because of the Atonement and we are able to enjoy these blessings for all eternity. But, it leads me to think about one big difference between us… 

The Egyptians built an empire that focused on these beliefs. It was their focus. Many of their rituals might seem so foreign or strange to us, but they are all rooted in their belief that this life is temporary, and there is much more to come. The climax, core, and end goal of all of their beliefs and priorities is to gain eternal life and to be like God. This was their ideal potential, it was their desire, it was their pursuit, and their daily quest! But I don’t want to build an empire, I want to build a life centered around that purpose.

So for today’s Sunday Message, I want you to know that this trip was so inspiring to me that I am making this my daily quest! Every day I will ask myself this question… am I living life with purpose and acting as a child of God? Is He at the forefront of everything I do? I think these are good questions to ask ourselves every day. Being in a land full of purpose reminded me to strive even harder daily to do all I can and prepare myself to one day be with my Savior. I hope you’re enjoying these photos. I have one last post next Sunday and that will be Jerusalem. I can’t even begin to tell you how amazing that was. It was life-changing. 

I love you all and wish you all the best on this beautiful Father’s Day a day to remember God, our Father, and the great blessings and promises that He has given to all of us, His children, to one day be with Him again through His Son Jesus Christ, our Savior. 

Marie's Sunday Message - June 11th, 2023

Hey everyone, I cannot wait to tell you all about my trip. I have had so much fun the last two weeks. Yes, I was able to check off some of my lifelong bucket list dreams. So where did I go?🤔 Let’s start with one of my great desires, and that was to climb Mount Sinai!!! 🤗 I actually went where Moses was…I did it!!! I have a lot of bruises from pinching myself so much!!🥰 I figured if I didn’t do it now, I never would! 🤣 Man, it was amazing, and I’m so grateful to have traveled to a land I have only read about and dreamed of visiting.

Mt Sinai is on the Sinai peninsula. Which was also the scene of my first camel ride!!🤗 Yep, you heard me 🐪 crazy fun!!! Mount Sinai is known by many different names, including Mount Horeb, Mount Musa, Gebel Musa, and Jabal Musa. (I am so ready for the Mt Sinai category on Jeopardy!😂) I love the Old Testament, so to climb where Moses climbed to receive the Ten Commandments was incredibly special for me, and to do it without any Motrin was a true miracle. 😂🤣😂

The hike is approximately 4.35 miles up and takes about 3 hours to get to the top. We started at 1 AM on camels. They took us 1/2 way up in the dark of night with just the moon shining, and because the desert is completely dark, the stars were electrifying, and the Milky Way was magnificent. From where the camel drops you off, there are about 1000 steps remaining to walk to the top, and 760 of them are steep rock steps that one man spent his life’s work creating. The people there called him Stephanose. What incredible work he accomplished, and I am especially grateful for those steps now.😉

Coming down, there were two ways to descend the mountain. One is a short way down with 3,750 incredibly steep steps.

The other is a winding snake path that people usually ride down on camels, or you can walk, which is what my son and I decided to do. It’s a bit longer but much better on the knees and joints, but mostly I wanted to savor every single moment. I’m also glad we did this climb at night because I’m terrified of heights, and I’m not sure I could’ve done it if I saw the height of what I was attempting to climb. Coming down, I psyched myself out and became an intrepid traveler but still, yikes….Oh, I fell once (it’s slippery up there) and still have a nice shiner on my knee😂 but it was well worth it!!!! 

Being in the Holy Land has made it much easier to clarify the topography in the Old Testament. Everyone has tried to imagine where Moses took the children of Israel into the desert when he escaped Pharaoh, but it’s all speculation. Our guide and friend, Clark Anderson from Anderson Tours, was simply fantastic! He gave us all the options to consider. The part that gets me every time when I think about Mt. Sinai is…It was where Moses met God. When Moses came down from the mountain, scripture says he had to cover his face because it glowed so brightly. It really is hallowed ground - and from my view on top of Mt. Sinai, I could feel it! I cannot adequately explain how sitting there waiting for the sunrise impacted me. I have thought of that moment often and the feeling of majestic awe of God's power and love for us. I was where Moses received the 10 Commandments, the foundational law for 4,000 years!… Moses climbed that mountain 10 times in his lifetime. Especially the last few at his age, with no Motrin! So I sure didn’t have anything to complain about! The 10 Commandments are so beautiful in the sense they provide us with common sense and are psychologically sound in their outcome.

I still can’t believe it. I don’t have adequate words to describe how incredible the view was. What was interesting is the mountains are pretty much red all around, but on Mount Sinai, there’s a grayish ash color that looks like it was chard. Many guides there said it was the correct location because the mountain shows it was on fire. Whether that's true or not or even the correct Mount Sinai, I don’t know. But sitting up there pondering upon what took place was simply incredible!!! 

I’m so grateful to my sweet husband, who provided this opportunity to go with our son, Matthew. My son Matt was so cute; he asked me several times if I really wanted to go to the top (he was worried about me💖). I assured him I was OK and reminded him I didn’t come all this way not to make it to the top and that my mode of operation is, “I am a finisher!!!” I told him if I start something, I finish it! If I don’t like it I’ll never do it again - but no matter what I finish!!!! 😂. He kept repeating that throughout our whole trip… “I know, Mom, we finish it!😁#PersonalBest!! 👍😁

When I was at the top, I kept thinking of these scriptures in John 15: 

9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

( I love this next part)

12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

( as I thought of this last verse. It made me teary-eyed)

14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

This trip sparked a whole new area of interest in my soul, especially after 60 years of working. And physically, I want to do things I love and desire to do while I can. I’m so grateful for this opportunity, and hopefully, you enjoyed seeing the photos and hearing about it.… Let me know cause I have more places and pictures from this bucket list trip I’d love to share with you. But for today, all I can say is God is amazing… He loves us all so much. How do I know this? Look at the world He created for us to live in during our mortal existence. His only ask is that we keep His commandments. They were never given to control us. God’s commandments are there to bless and protect us and help us become the best versions of ourselves possible. I’m going to try now with all my heart to be a finisher for Him.😂👍😘