Dear Daughters of God - Episode 3 - Heavenly Messages

There are times on this earth when we need extra comfort from the Lord. This need is sometimes answered with angels. Whether they are earthly angels or heavenly angels. He wants us to feel His peace.

This is a link to the Scriptureplus Instagram page explaining the temple endowment ceremony. https://www.instagram.com/reel/CtHXIEEgrGI/?igshid=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng==

Here is a link to an explanation of the endowment ceremony from the Church of Jesus Christ's website.   https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples/what-is-temple-endowment?lang=eng

Let me help you share your story. Write me at DeardaughtersofGod@gmail.com

Thanks for listening! I'm on Instagram as deardaughtersofgod. Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=1iyjqx0cq4kbk&utm_content=qr66nqv

Transcript

Stephanie Test: 0:00

I am Stephanie Eccles. This is Dear Daughters of God, Episode 3, Heavenly Reminders. We are inspired by the true life experiences of those around us. My name is Stephanie Eccles. I'm an educator, counselor, school administrator, natural storyteller. From my perspective as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, I share a variety of life experiences that bring us hope and joy in our Savior, Jesus Christ. Welcome, dear daughters of God. I address you that way because that's what you are to Him. To our Heavenly Father, you are dear. As one of His dear daughters, I would like to tell you a short life experience about a woman named Avera Marie Wright Smith. She was born on August 10th in the year 1900. Much of what I tell you about her will be in her very own words. But before we get into her life experience, I want to give a special hello to all the brothers that are listening, because you love a daughter of God. I welcome you warmly. Now let's go back in time to 1916. We're in Ogden, Utah. Imagine a modest teenage girl raised in a faithful, loving, middle class Mormon family. She attended Weber Academy, which in those days school. And this was a high school. Avera did not like the whistle she received from the boys over her shapely figure. So she lengthened her skirts, or as they called it at the time, dropped her skirts to make herself more comfortable. She considered herself a woman. Reasonably musical. Although those around her would say she played the piano heavenly. So, she lent her talent to the junior class operetta. There was a leading character in the operetta. His name is Joe. He was a dandy. He had his own car and all the girls gushed over him. He tooted his own song. He was the junior class president. He was in charge of the prom. The operetta had to travel to all the surrounding communities to raise money for the prom. An auto caravan was formed so that everyone had a ride because we often had to drive long distances because the show had to go on. So the boys would go with Joe. What a wild bunch that was in his car! They used to cut up something terrible. Brother Manning, our advisor, he caught Joe. And the boys smoking cube bibbies and blowing the smoke into the girls costumes and such. He punished Joe. By not allowing those boys to ride with him anymore. Brother Manning carefully selected the girls that could ride with Joe. The next time we performed well, Joe grabbed me and put me in the front seat next to him of all the nerve as if I wanted to sit next to that conceited. I love me type of boy. Well, by darn, if he did not charm me over. By the end of the evening, I was thrilled to be by his side. Our prom was the best that had ever been given. Joe was in charge of it, of course, as the junior class president. We held it at the brand new Bertha Eccles Hall. It was about this time, oh, that my family went through a real hardship, and it did form a great part of my character. Dad was not working. My family had to watch our expenditures terribly. Uncle Lester took pity on me because of my age, and his like for Joe. Joe and I were very much in love by now. He told me that if I would spend just 10 a month and then keep accurate records showing where every penny had gone, he would give me 100 to keep through the year. So I accepted Uncle Lester's challenge. This was definitely Lesson in thrift. It has stayed with me for some years, and I learned to remodel and make all of my own clothes, including my prom dress and my wedding dress. I sometimes looked around at the other young ladies who could go to the best shops and the beauty parlors. And I would wonder what it would be like. But I lived up to that challenge that Uncle Lester gave me. And he did give me that 100. I sure learned how to economize well. Anyway, life went on. I became engaged to Joe in my senior year at Weber Academy. And our love to each other, oh, it was deep and true. Joe gave my father the money to buy my diamond ring, and he gave up his habits of smoking and drinking for me that year. In the year 1917, I married Joe and graduated as an excellent student from Weber Academy. Well, not too long after marrying Joe, we moved to Joe's mother's house. She left it to us in North Ogden. We were just a couple of kids, you know, trying to keep body and soul together. We just couldn't take care of it. The house and the property became an immense responsibility. I mean, it was just too much for us. In addition to that trouble, oh, the military service. It was at the heels of Joe with the World War II in tow. We did not have many choices to make because of the war and all. So Joe enlisted in the army just before they drafted him so that he could get some training. We sold that place to Bishop Ward on Tick, which I think they call credit these days. We decided to return home to mother and father's house before Joe had to leave for his service. He took me, first, on a marvelous trip to Yellowstone Park and he invited mother and father to join us. We were all the greatest of friends. Dad and Joe, they teased each other and they got along famously together. I was pregnant at the time, and I received attention from all the nurses along the way. They thought I was adorable. Joe, he was crazy in those days. He scared a bear down. On father and me, we ran for all we were worth. I mean, I nearly wet my pants. Oh, well, that's embarrassing, come to think of it. I nearly had a miscarriage. My only thoughts were that baby would have the markings of a bear on it. Well, one day after my 18th birthday, I did deliver Joanne. And she had a bare bottom. Oh, Joe. Well, he had enlisted and had to report for duty just three days later at the University of Utah. And Joanne, my sweet baby, she made me feel better. All eight pounds of her sweetness. You know, she was born in Dr. Pierce's hospital at Brigham City. When I held her in my arms, all the pain and anxiety were gone. And I thought her to be the most beautiful baby in the world. After 14 days in the hospital, I went to Salt Lake to be with Joe. And for three months, we lived in a small apartment overlooking the University of Utah campus. Well, I hate to even try to describe those days, because here I was, a teenager, a very inexperienced mother, my husband. I was burning up with fever from the shots they were giving him to combat the killer flu. Not to mention my emotions. I wasn't sure if I'd ever see my husband again in my thoughts, my thoughts of survival. Well, oh, it was awful. Well, the army ordered me home about this time because of the Spanish flu, and Joe was transferred to the Presidio in San Francisco. On the day that I waved him goodbye, the flu struck me, and I nearly died. Mother and father took pity on me and took me back to Ogden. They were so good to me and they nursed me back to health. And I could never repay them for their goodness. Joanne was such a sweet baby. She walked at nine months and was trained, too. When the armistice was signed, oh, life was good again. And Jo came home in time for Christmas. The end of the war, ah, well wonderful, is not strong enough a word to express how I felt. The reunion was sweet. And I looked forward, now to build our future. Hmm. In April, just four months later, in 1919, Joe was called on a mission, to the Southern States mission. He wanted to put me in a little home, but mother and father thought I was too young to be alone. And again, I stayed with my parents in the latter part of April, before Joe left. We went to Salt Lake City to be set apart for his mission. Of course, he insisted that I have the patriarchal blessing as well. I consented to make him happy. I received the blessing from the church patriarch, Hiram Smith. In the blessing, the patriarch promised me many things. An important promise was that I would have many little ones. And if I would have them willingly and sweetly, they would grow to be a blessing in my name. That is an exact quote. How little did I know then, the truth of these words. Joe left for his mission after being set apart by Jay Golden Kimble. I was left with one child and pregnant with a second. Life was routine. And quiet until Joe notified me that he needed more money. Well, how was I supposed to get him more money? I didn't know where I was going to get any more money. I never prayed harder in my life. I've been paying my tithing on the little money that I had and all at once without notice. Mr. Ward came to me and paid the money on the place at North Ogden, which we had not even expected for another year. I also found that some men had been stealing lumber from the range, so I had Clicks Wright, a cousin who's also a lawyer, write to them asking for the money for the lumber they had stolen. The men came through and paid me for the lumber they'd taken. Clicks, my cousin, he didn't even charge me for his service. So I made us girls matching dresses. They were twins. Oh, those dresses were as cute as could be. I delivered a child on Christmas Day in 1919 at five o'clock in the a. m. at my parents house. At 7 a. m. I received a telegram from my sweet Joe on the birth of a son. We had not had the time to send word to Joe, he just felt inspired to send the message. Dick, that's our new baby, was a beautiful baby too. He was nine pounds of love and joy to sweeten my life. When Dick was a year old, Joe returned from his mission. Ah, we've finally set up housekeeping. Oh, it's about time. We lived in a house in the 700 block of the 22nd Street in Ogden. We purchased furniture from Marshall Fields through Father's Store. Dad had just opened his new store, 2355 Washington Boulevard. Taylor Wright Company was the chosen name. That was my mother's maiden name, and our family's surname made it complete. It was considered the finest store west of the Mississippi River at the time. Can you imagine that? Father had managed to get the first property that Grandfather Wright had ever owned from the Eccles Estate. Later, Royal Eccles told me that my father had come to his office with a collateral specified in which he did not think my father could raise to buy the property. He did not want to sell it to him, but he had given my father his word, so he gave it to him. My husband, Joe, he worked with my father in the store. Now at this time, In 1922, the economy was at a very low ebb. And my training, back from when I was a junior in high school, it came in good stead. For we had to economize! Charlene, our third child, was born on February 10, 1922, and she was a beautiful child. Not long later, I was pregnant again, and discouraged. This was my lot in life, but I did not remember that at the time. With the hard times, oh, we were doing everything we could. To save every penny, Joe insisted that we use the tissue wrapping in the shoeboxes that wrapped around the shoes as toilet paper. I was using every wrapping around the butter and saving every piece of wrapping, and if I saved enough, I could oil the pan to make cake. In these hard times, I had passing thoughts of ridding myself of the child. Times were very difficult. In making our meager income stretch During this period, deep depression And the weather being cold with new fallen snow I had a knock at the front door I always kept the screen door locked And never let a stranger in As I opened the door, I saw a man, all dressed in grey. He asked if I had anything to be fixed. Stranger scared me, but I had no fright when confronted by this man. He was kind and warm, like my father, to this day. I do not understand why I opened the door and let him in, but I am grateful that I did. He stood looking at me and then spoke in a soft tone for about 15 minutes or so about my pregnancy and the beauty of it. He talked frankly about the mistake that I was contemplating. And that the thoughts were a mistake, too. I was not far enough along for him to know that I was with child. He asked to see the piece he was to fix, and while he worked on it, I tended to the babies. When he finished, I asked him what I owed him. He said, Quarter will do. I put the quarter on the table. As he finished, I let him out of the front door. I closed the door. I noticed the quarter still lying on the table. Hurriedly, I grabbed the quarter and returned to the door. I went clear to the sidewalk, looking up and down the street. He had not had the time to turn the corner, but he was no place in sight. Mystified, I turned toward the house. There had been a light snow, and there were my footprints in the snow, but no others. This experience left an indelible impression on me. It was a warning, and my pregnancy became very special to me. Avera Marie looked at this time as a miracle. And she wrote down this miracle to share with her posterity. She feels it was a reminder from heaven of the preciousness of life, and as she called it, her lot in life, which was to bear many children. And she did just that. Avere Marie bore eleven children and ten made it through birth, leaving her with five boys and five girls. And eventually 50 grandchildren. Avera Marie was considered the dearest of mothers. She would reflect back at that time. When she was visited by the heavenly messenger that perceived her thoughts and came to offer her warning and comfort, she writes to her posterity, be thankful with your lot in life for the teachings of our savior, for the teachings of our pioneer forefathers, and for a strong belief in the gospel. Which you need every day in your life. The gospel of Jesus Christ is true. Our leaders are inspired of God. The church patriarch who blessed me as a young girl received divine inspiration from God. He knew of my future and what would bring me fulfillment and happiness. As I look back through the trials and tribulations, my heart is full and tears are falling. Through the tears of inexplicable joy and gratitude for my Saviour's goodness to me and mine, signed, Avera Marie Wright Smith. There's a scripture in the Book of Mormon. That I believe summarizes this miracle that occurred in Avera Marie's life. It's found in the book of Moroni, chapter 7, verse 29. Quote, My beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold, I say unto you, Nay. I have another story that I would like to share with you, but to fully appreciate it, you'll need a little bit of understanding about Latter day Saint temples. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, Consider the temple to be the house of God on this earth. And we go there to make covenants with God and participate in the ordinances to become closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ. While we're there, we all wear white clothing. And in some ordinances, we wear sacred robes, like the ordinance of the endowment. I will link in the show notes a site on Instagram. It's called Scripture Plus. I'll read a conglomeration of brief excerpts from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints website. to help you better understand the endowment ordinance. Quote, an endowment is literally a gift. In this context, the temple endowment is a gift of sacred blessings from God to each of us. Of course, all of the promise blessings of the endowment depend on our faithfulness. After you've received your endowment, Return to the temple as often as you can. When you do, you can take part in initiatory and endowment ordinances for ancestors and others who have passed away. As with all other ordinances performed at the temple, those who have died know of your service and can choose whether or not to accept what you have done for them. Your participation also allows you the chance to hear the blessings and instructions And covenants again. As you attend the temple, you'll notice more ways the endowment relates to the plan of salvation and blesses your life. What you learn and feel will become clear and more precious to you over time. As you visit, you'll feel God's love and be reminded of what matters most. And one more portion about Sacred Temple Clothing. The church's website says this, quote, Sacred Temple clothing to church members, the symbolic robes worn during temple worship represent a sacred and personal aspect of their relationship with God and their commitment to live good and honorable lives, unquote. With a little more understanding about the temple, Let's go on with the story. About five years ago, I was in church and heard a young girl about 11 or 12 years old bearing her testimony about the gospel of Jesus Christ. She shared an experience that she'd had that year. She'd become old enough to be able to attend the temple and do baptisms for those that had passed away. She decided that she wanted for herself to make the commitment. To attend the temple one time per week during this year and do baptisms. I remember thinking, what a mature decision for this 11 year old girl and what a commitment for her family, because she certainly could not get there by herself. As she spoke, a thought came to my mind. That thought was this, it's your turn, Stephanie, to make that commitment. I was taken back, but I decided, well, then that's what I will do. I will make that commitment. I put it on a whiteboard in my master bedroom area, and I made 52 individual squares as a motivator to check them off as I completed my goal each week. I reminded myself that it would be difficult at first. Now, this many years later, I am retired, but at the time, I was the executive director of Excelsior Academy. Which is a set of charter schools, which are 40 minutes away from my home. And I considered this position a professional calling. So it certainly was a satisfying position. But given the commute and the intensity of this position, it took at least 60 hours a week to complete. This temple commitment was going to mean fewer hours of sleep. So after that seemingly sensible temptation came to my mind. I began to hesitate and wonder, am I really going to make this commitment? And then I thought, hmm, no, this is my chance. I am going to follow this inspiration that came to my mind. I decided yes, I'm going to begin to attend the temple weekly, and I did. In the beginning of me going to the temple more regularly, I found that there were parts of the endowment session that I did not fully understand. I would take these parts back to prayer, and gradually, week after week, these answers would come to me, and more comfort would come to me. And I began to feel the spirit more and more as I attended. At the time I had a friend that would meet me there and we would go to the cafe first. And that was delightful to go with a friend. Then I started to notice blessings were coming upon me and upon my marriage. Now most of my kids were grown and I started to notice the blessings come upon their lives and I had not even told them of my goal or what I was doing. Then, after some time, the shock came to the world, and the coronavirus shut down much of our lives, especially within our church lives. The temples were shut down, and we could not attend any longer, and we couldn't attend church. This was a shock to the routines that we had in our lives, but we had blessings in other ways, families coming together and learning the Gospels as a family. Eventually, the temples were reopened. I found that the Jordan River Temple was the easiest place to get an appointment. It was a larger temple. It was such relief to be back. It did not seem like a burden to schedule a visit to do the work in the temple one time a week. I had missed this part of my life when the temples were closed. When I went back, it became more clear to me at the time the temples reopened than at their closure when I could not attend. The blessings, the strength, and the power that those earlier visits had given me. It seemed like they were there as a storage of spiritual strength for that time when I could not attend. Back to the evening at the temple. I'm walking back into the women's dressing room and I stop at the counter to take off my temple robes before entering the locker to change out of my temple dress. And this is the purpose of these counters. Many women are there using the counters to fold their robes. There's a mirror in front of each counter. And as I began to fold my temple robes, I felt someone was watching me. Now, there were several women around, but I felt eyes were on me. I looked up, and I saw a younger woman than me in her 30s. She was beautiful. She had dark, curly hair, and blue eyes, and a sweet smile. She was looking directly at me. I smiled back at her. I noticed that she did not move until I moved. As I folded one end of my robe to the other end, she would copy my movement, and then she would look at me for my approval. It was not until then that I realized that she was intellectually disabled. I said to her, It looks like you're doing it just right. She smiled and said, With her eyes fast on me, That's how I want to do it, Just right. There was a pause, And quiet. Her simple words Touched my heart, Deeply. They carried greater meaning. They continued to play in my mind and bring tears to my eyes as I drove the 45 minutes home. I felt as if the Lord was saying to me, as these words replayed in my mind, you are doing it just right. I often say in my prayers, help me Lord, help me do it just right. The words I received that night from that angelic woman told me that he knew me. He understood my need, my desire to do things perfectly. Like in ballet, when I placed first the toe, then the ball, then the heel of the foot ever so gently. The way I present myself from my head to my toe, the words that I choose to use, the training I give my teachers in a classical education to know their subjects so well that they speak and teach from their hearts, that their students might experience a lesson that comes from spoken language expressed from the heart of a human being. New, my need to work towards the refinement of life as this refinement is like that of our divine heritage. The Lord wanted me to know that he was pleased that I was doing what he asked of me, that he knew I would want to know those words, that I was doing it right in the sight of the Lord. I was doing it right. I went to sleep that night. Understanding more about myself from his omnipotent perspective, that my efforts were accepted by the Lord. How did I know all of that in those simple words from that angelic woman, my earthly angel? I could only say it was a miracle. I had heard parents of children that were born with disabilities express the heavenly power. That came with their children and its influence on those around them. I remember one mother sharing the words of a blessing given to her disabled child. She wondered if her little girl's life would continue. She was told this daughter of God's calling was on this earth. Her influence was to be felt by those around her. I did not fully understand that heavenly power until that moment in the temple, when it was my turn to be touched, touched by a spirit whose life on this earth is seemingly a gift to the rest of us. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles says this in his talk given in General Conference. Of October, 2008 called the Ministry of Angels quote. But when we speak of those who are instruments in the hand of God, we are reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with here and now every day, unquote, the Lord allows us to be a part of his work. He wants his influence to be carried through his children. From one to another. I am grateful for those merciful moments when the Lord smiles on us through one another. Avera Marie Wright Smith would light up and smile if she heard the words given by Elder Carlos A. Godoy of the Presidency of the Seventy. As he said in his general conference talk in October of 2020, it was titled, I Believe in Angels, quote, the Lord is aware of the challenges you face. He knows you. He loves you. And I promise, he will send angels to help you. Unquote. I think Avera Marie would find these final words found in the Doctrine and Covenants, section 6, verse 23, to be a suitable summary to the blessing she received by a heavenly angel being sent to her. Quote, Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God? Unquote. The Lord continues to bless us with miracles on this earth today. I thank you for being with me today. Now imagine me holding your hand as I say farewell until we meet again. Do you have a story? Where you have seen the Lord's hand in your life, or a family member's life, I would like to help you tell your story. We could do it in a couple of different ways. We could do it in the form of an interview, or I could tell the story for you. Whichever you prefer. Reach out to me at Dear daughters of god gmail.com. That's Dear daughters of god gmail.com Until next time.