Great Blessings

I have been blessed with such a sweet gift.  Recently I was called to be an instructor for the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints at the State Hospital here in Provo, Utah.  I know that this is a calling from God.  I am so deeply humbled by this call.  Do I feel I am up to the task?  Not for one second.   As a mere mortal I feel like I do not deserve this wonderful blessing I have been given.   Do I know I can be an instrument of our Heavenly Father?  You bet!!   I know without a doubt that if I follow the promptings of the spirit that Heavenly Father sends to me.  If I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, that I will be successful in what I have been called to do.   I know that I through the tender mercy I will be uplifted and I can help make a difference in those brothers and sisters I will serve.  I know that my fears will be met and I will feel such love from my Heavenly Father.

I have been blessed to give several lessons to date.  My dear friends and family, I have not felt so much love for someone other then family then the love I have for these brothers and sisters.  Where dose the love come from?  It is truly a blessing from God.  It is my prayer that they will feel the love that I have for them.  It is my prayer that they know that they matter to me.  It is my prayer if they do not know they matter to me that they at least know they matter to Heavenly Father.

I would like to share one of my lessons I gave last month.   To my non LDS family and friends, I hope you will receive this not as a way to bring you to the LDS faith (tho I would rejoice in that), but to help build and strengthen your faith.  I honestly pass no judgement upon you or anybody else.  Please notice I used the King James version of the Bible.  Please know the love I have for each and every one of you.  I share this with you with every ounce of love I have in my body.....

 

WHOM SHALL YE FOLLOW?

Scripture References:  Abr 3:21-28
                                      Moses 4:1-4
                                      John 13:34,35
                                      1John 4:11
                                      D&C 42:38

We have been taught that before the earth was organized there was a Great Council in Heaven.  We learn that Heavenly Father gathered us all together and Jesus said let us all go down and learn and and grow.  We will learn about repentance and forgiveness as we repent and have a Savior we will be able to return to Heavenly Father once more.   Jesus said let the glory be Heavenly Father’s. 

We then see that Satan said “We will go down and all will do as I say with no choices or agency. We will be brought back to the kingdom and the glory be mine.”

After Jesus and Satan spoke Heavenly Father said that Jesus would be the one.  He cast out Satan.  It was at that point we chose who we would follow.  Some went with Satan.  While others chose to follow Heavenly Father.


Discussion:  Why would some follow Satan knowing they had no choices, no agency that they would be slaves to him with no way back to Heavenly Father?

Why would others follow Jesus?

Were we promised it would be easy?



We are now here on earth.  We have these wonderful bodies.  We have all the trials, tribulations, happiness, sadness we can handle.  We have friends and family.  Now what?

How we live our daily lives gives clues to others “WHOM WE SHALL FOLLOW.”  How we handle the trials of life.  What choices we make.

Just look at the events that are happening around the world.  Pain, dismay, sadness is a daily event.  Wars, earthquakes, Typhoons, famine etc.  We can choose to hide under the covers.  We can say “all is lost”  If we did that who will we be serving?  Who will have the glory?

We can choose to roll up our sleeves dig in and do everything we can to help ease the suffering.  We can learn how to better protect ourselves.  We can serve others.  If we do this who are we following?  Who has the glory?

SCRIPTURE:  John 13:34-35
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

SCRIPTURE:  1 John 4:11
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, We ought also to love one another.



DISCUSSION:  Love!  Sounds simple to do.  But is it?   What is Love?  How do we give it?

I want to stop for a second and make sure we all understand.  Heavenly Father has given us a wonderful gift.  The gift is love.  But before we can love others and show love to others, we first must love ourselves.  How can you expect to love your fellow brother and sisters if you have none for yourself?  If you have no love for yourself today, please make a commitment to start.  Know that you are sons and daughters of Heavenly Father.  He loves you.  You are worthy of his love.  Dig deep down and pray to feel and know it.


Love is an action.  You can not truly love if you keep it to yourself.  Share it!  There are so many things we can do to show love for another.  We do not have to be millionaires to show love.  What about asking if you can say a prayer for them?  What about just helping with mowing the lawn or removing snow?  What about just spending some time listening.  We as Priesthood holders have a wonderful gift to give blessings.  We can share a scripture or two.   These are just a few ideas.

It is important to love one another as the scriptures say it is a commandment that was given to us.  We as adults have a responsibility to be an example to our youth.  If they see us do it, they will in turn want to do it.

Think about those around you that have showed you, your family, your friends love.  How did that make you feel?  How did it ease life’s burdens? Dose your fellow brothers or sisters not deserve to feel the same way?  Think of the many blessings you will receive if you love.  Do you deserve the blessings?  Yes you do.

Please remember Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, the Prophets of old, The Prophets today, our church leadership have never promised us it would be easy.  What they did promise us was that it would be worth it.  What they did promise us is that we shall receive blessings beyond comprehension.
Will you please take a moment this night and make a commitment with Heavenly Father that you will double your efforts?


I, Darryl Jon Root bear this testimony to you my brothers and sisters, Life has challenges, life can be cruel, but life can be fun and exciting too.  I know that we have a responsibility to help each other with the burdens that life brings our way.  I know that Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us.  I know he suffers more then we do when we are in turmoil.  I know he needs us, nay, wants us to love each other.  He wants us to love ourselves and spread that love. He wants us to start within our families.  I know that if we start with our families, Love will spread like a plague.  If we show and teach our children love then they take it into their schools and on to the playgrounds.  If we share love with each other then it gets passed on to another.  Love will multiply again and again.  Life is not a race.  Slow down, look for opportunities to give love, give service to those around you.  Look to the scriptures for examples.  Our big brother Jesus Christ has given us such wonderful lessons and examples.  You never know what blessings you give to others.  You never know what blessing are in store for you if you do.

I know that the plan of salvation is true.  I know it works.  I invite you to search yourselves and if there is anything you need to repent about, please do it tonight.  Get on your knees and ask Heavenly Father to help you in the atonement process.   I know that the plan of salvation includes helping others.

I know that Jesus Christ came to this earth and faced the same trials and temptations we do.  I know he is our Savior.

I bear you this testimony and give this lesson to you in the sacred name of Jesus Christ our Savior.  Amen.

Military Part II

My post about my Air Force life was of basic training.  I would to talk about Tech School.

I went into the Air Force with a guaranteed assignment as a Medic.  About half way through basic I was called out of morning formation with several others and given instructions to report to the CBPO building.  We looked at each other and got into a little formation and marched to the building as ordered.  It was a nice little march.  We were glad to be away from the rest of the Flight and be able to take a breather.  When we reached the CBPO we went in and was greeted by a Staff Sergeant who gave us instructions to report to a huge meeting room.  We went in and sat at attention, something we now did without even thinking about it.  About 5 minutes later a "butter bar" (Second Lieutenant), Came in quickly we stood at attention and was ordered at ease.  We sat down again and again without thinking we sat at attention.  The LT reminded us his command of at ease.  He then proceeded to say "Airman, we regret to inform you that we have to break our contract with  you.  At this moment you have no duty code that was promised to you when you signed up.  You have a choice at this time.  1.  Walk out that door, get on the bus and go home.  If you do this you will not be allowed to come back for another 6 months.  or 2. You can walk through this door and accept the assignment we give you.  You will still have your enlistment and can continue on and finish basic.  I will give you 5 minutes to decide and walk through the door of your choice.  He then set a timer and walked out.  We looked at each other in shock.  All I ever wanted was to be a medic in the military.  I was mad.  I thought of walking out the door to go home.  But, I did not come this far to give up.  I thought of my pregnant wife at home we needed me stay and have the benefits and pay.  I thought how can I just walk away?  I loved the military and wanted desperately to be a part of it.  About this time the timer went off.  This female Airman First Class walked in and said "It is time to make your decisions now.  Without hesitation I walked through the door for another assignment. 

There were less of us in the new room.  Now a Captain walked in with several Airman First Class.  He said "Ok, listen up.  I will be handing out these white envelopes with your new assignments.  Once you open them you accept the assignments.  Think long and hard before you open them.  Once you break the seal and read what you just accepted you will be escorted to another area where you will sign your new enlistment papers.  He called our names and one by one we were given the white envelopes with our names on them.  He again reminded us about not to open them unless we truly wanted to stay in the Air Force.  We all hesitated for a bit.  My buddy to my left opened his first and put his head in his palms and said no no.  My heart started beating real hard.  I took a deep breath and opened my packet.

Airman Basic Root, Darryl J. you are to report to Lowery AFB, Denver, Colorado upon completion of Air Force Basic Training and be trained as a United States Aero Space Dinning Hall Food Service Technician.  At Lowery AFB you will receive your first duty assignment.   We wish you the very best God Speed. 

I raised my hand and asked what a Dinning Hall Food Service Technician is.  The Captain laughed and said.  "Son, you are going to be a cook"  He laughed again and the rest of the group laughed with him.  He nodded to one of the Airman who in turn cam up to me and escorted me to the next station were as we say in the Military "Signed my life away."

I do not remember the march back to our flight as my mind was buzzing.  I kept saying to myself.  A cook!  A f**ing cook.   I had a lump in my throat and knot in my stomach.  When we got back we were instructed into our Drill instructor's office were he gave us a briefing of what happened while we were away and instructions for the rest of the day.  He then asked how many of us were reassigned as cooks.  My buddy, myself and a couple of others raised our hands and said "Here Sir!"  He excused the rest and had us stand at ease.  He said "Boys, I want you to understand, You will contribute to this man's Air Force.  You are just as important as the fly boy or the special ops folks or anybody else.  You are a part of the 02nd!!  You are a part of this flight!!  When you leave here in a few weeks, You will represent us and be the best damn Airman we cranked out.  Do I make myself clear?"

In unison we yelled "Sir, Yes Sir"

"dismissed!"

From that point forward I was called cookie 3 and the rest were cookie1, 2, and 4.

When we graduated from Basic we were told not to hoop and holler on the bus or the driver will turn around and bring us back to start all over again from day 1.   I got on the bus and as second nature sat at attention and I stayed that way all the way to the Airport.  When we left Lackland Air Force Base, the rest of the bus was doing what we were told not to do.  I got on the plane once again sitting at attention.  When we were in the air I let out a sigh of relief and started to relax.

Denver was GORGEOUS!!!  But the altitude sucked the life out of you.  They did not call it the Mile High City for nothing.