Walt’s Talk In
Sacrament Meeting October 23, 2016
Did you know that
God is a baseball fan? He is. In the Bible it says that “In the big-inning
God created the heavens and the earth.” I’m sure God likes baseball and knows
how the World Series turns out, but I’m also sure he loves the players and is
more concerned for how they turn out. Moreover, we know that he loves all of his
children—you and me—and is working full time to “bring to pass the immortality
and eternal life” of all of us who are willing.
I am so grateful
for the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ in these the
latter-days. With this restoration, we
have had revealed through the prophet Joseph Smith such wonderful doctrines as the
Premortal Life with Heavenly Parents, The Great Plan of Happiness, Agency, the
Creation, Fall, and Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Prophets and Apostles are on the earth again. The Book of Mormon provides a second witness
to the Bible.
Think of it,
before we were born into mortality, we lived with Heavenly Parents. We are literally their children. We are sons and daughters of God! We chose
the Father’s Plan of Happiness including our earthly probation where we would
be able to experience all of the joys and sorrows of mortality, exercise faith
in Christ and his Infinite Atonement.
Perhaps those who rejected the Father’s plan were especially worried
about the pain, sorrow, and tribulation that would come along with the joys of
a mortal experience. Little wonder then that in this life, when the trails and
pain come, that in our weakness, we are tempted to shrink and pull away from
the true Source of Happiness—Jesus Christ and our Father in Heaven—turning
instead to bitterness and false sources of temporary comfort. Nevertheless, as our trials deepen, as our
physical and spiritual strength wane, we know the True Source of Comfort and
Strength. We knew Him before our birth
and we know Him now. We relied on his Infinite Atonement there and we continue
to rely on Him here. He isn’t going to
give up on us now, in the hour of our greatest need.
Becoming
Emissaries
In his latest talk
given in General Conference, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said, “Please, in newer,
better ways see yourselves as emissaries of the Lord to His children…We would
hope that you will establish an era of genuine, gospel-oriented concern for the
members, watching over and caring for each other, addressing spiritual and
temporal needs in any way that helps.
…every good thing you do “counts,” … Indeed, the report that matters most is
how you have blessed and cared for those within your stewardship, which has
virtually nothing to do with a specific calendar or a particular location. What
matters is that you love your people and are fulfilling the commandment “to
watch over the church always.”7
…We are asking
you…to be God’s emissaries to His children, to love and care and pray for the
people you are assigned, as we love and care and pray for you. May you be
vigilant in tending the flock of God in ways consistent with your
circumstances.”
(1)
TELL THIS DON’T
READ IT
Heart Attack
Some of you may
know that on May 2nd, the day after my birthday, I was out mowing
the front lawn when a funny tightness developed in my chest. I ignored it at first and continued
mowing. Then, I started spraying the
lawn with a weed and feed solution. I
didn’t get the connection between the bottle of chemical and the hose and as I
sprayed, the chemical got all over me and my clothes. When I finished and came into the house
soaking wet, Jean asked, “What happened to you?” I told her what had happened and told her
about the strange tightness and now a shortness of breath that I was
experiencing. “Do you think I poisoned
myself?” I asked. “I don’t know,” was
her worried reply.
So I decided to
call the poison control center. They asked several questions, told me to take a
long shower, and then check how I felt in the next hour, then call them
back. I did as instructed, but the
tightness in my chest, the shortness of breath, and now a burning similar to
heartburn were somewhat worse. Jean
insisted that I call my doctor at this point.
It was hard to get in without an appointment but I convinced the
receptionist to let me talk to my doctor’s nurse. Fortunately, she said to come in and they
would get me in.
When I spoke to
the doctor I told him about my “poisoning” experience, and my new theory, which
was that I had a bad case of heartburn.
He said, that we could probably set aside the poisoning idea and the
heartburn was a possibility (which he wrote a prescription for) but he wanted
me to go to the hospital directly and have a blood test to rule out a possible
heart attack.
Wo!
So Jean and I went
over to the hospital and registered showing the prescription for a blood test
with the letters STAT written boldly in red ink. After a while I went into a room and donated
my blood! Why did the needle seem larger
than usual and why did the poke hurt so much?
And why did the sight of the poke immediately start to bruise? Maybe it was my imagination. Anyway, with the blood test results pending,
we drove home to wait—and worry. The
phone call came and the kindly nurse said, “Mr. Stone, the results of the blood
test showed that you had a heart attack.
The doctor wants you to go directly to the hospital in Provo where they
will be waiting for you. Do not drive
yourself; when you get there wait for a wheelchair. They will check you into cardiac intensive
care. The doctor on call is Dr.
Cragun. He will meet you and discuss the
next step which will likely be an angiogram to determine the blockage.”
The drive to Provo
was tense. We didn’t know what to
expect. At the entrance we were met and
our car was parked by a valet service. I
was taken by wheelchair directly to my room in ICU where I was given an IV and
prepped for an angiogram. Dr. Cragun explained
what was happening the best he could to Jean and I. Later I found out she was asked about what to
do in case I didn’t fare to well during the procedure. (I should mention at this point how
incredibly important the caretaker’s role is in these situations. Jean was suffering as much or more than I
was!)
As I revived from
the anesthesia, I was informed that I had undergone an angioplasty. My right coronary artery had been 100 percent
blocked and another artery was also 50 percent blocked.
(2)
But through the miracles of modern medicine
and a skilled physician I was alive and expected to
recover to a level
acceptable for one having gone through this.
For the next month, I followed all the doctor’s orders: I changed my
diet and began walking around the neighborhood.
When I saw my heart doctor again he was pleased with my progress and
gave me his blessing to go to Yellowstone.
A Torn Achilles
Tendon
On June 16th,
about a month and a half after my heart attack I was standing on a rock as I
fished at Yellowstone Lake. Stepping off awkwardly, the physics just right, my
weight came down on my left achilles’ tendon and it ruptured. Next thing I knew, I was face down on the
rocky beach trying to locate my glasses.
I wondered what had happened! Had
I sprained my ankle? I looked and did
not see any swelling. So I felt around
and noticed about a three-inch gap in the tendon between my calf and heal of my
left leg and foot. I immediately took
off my shoe and sock and plunged it into the cold water of the lake. As I sat there, I thought of what this injury
would mean. First of all, would I be
able to get back to the car which was about 100 yards away up a steep
incline. If not, how long would it take
for Jean, who was sitting in the car enjoying a book, to realize that something
was wrong? Finally, I decided to try to
stand and hop my way up the path. I
found that my heal could tolerate a small amount of weight on the flat parts of
the dirt path but for the steeper part, I had to crawl. At length I made it up from the shore to
where the car was parked. I was back up
on my feet trying to hop my way forward.
Jean saw me coming, got out of the car, and shouted:
“Are you hurt?”
“Yes, I think I’ve
torn my Achilles tendon.”
There was a small
clinic near the Lake Yellowstone Hotel that we drove to. It was only a few minutes from where the fall
had taken place. They took x-rays and
determined that I hadn’t broken any bones but noted that the tendon was
probably ruptured. They placed a splint on my leg. We had no medical options
any closer than three hours away so we decided to spend one more night in the
park.
That night, two of
my brothers, who were also in Yellowstone, came to our cabin and gave me a
priesthood blessing. The drive the next morning from Yellowstone
to American Fork was long and filled with many tears. My dear friend and caregiver, Jean, very
concerned. There was no way for her to
know that caring for me over the next months was going to be extremely
challenging. As we neared home, I sent a
text to Cheryl Bellerosa. She had been
in contact almost every day since my heart attack and was ready to jump in and
help but I was reluctant to trouble her.
But Jean asked me to reconsider.
We both would need help to get unpacked and settled back home. So I sent another text to Cheryl asking for
help. She called Janet Oles, her
visiting teaching companion. (It was
amazing that they were Jean’s visiting teachers.) They met us in the driveway
and helped unpack our car. We had rented
the car, and it needed to be returned so Cheryl drove her car and met Jean at
Enterprise and brought her home. Cheryl
went home and brought me a scooter that she had used in her many adventures
with rehabilitation. She also brought be
a shower chair. Janet made us a yummy
meal. Over the next days and weeks, they
were there at every turn.
(3)
I joked with Jean about how I have the best
visiting teachers in the church.
I want you to know
a little bit about the care we received:
·
My
lawn was mowed 15-16 times this summer. (By “wonder woman” who lives nearby--Julie
Merrill.)
·
My
lawn was edged 6 times. (By a “masked man” --Wayne Gileman” -- who lives across
the street, and “boy wonder”—Damon Webb-- who lives next door.)
·
We received
several timely meals, visits, and texts.
·
Your
prayers and the prayers of my family and especially my grandchildren reassured
and strengthened us
·
One
visitor brought me the accordion music for the Beer Barrel Polka—Don Davis.
When it was
reported to me that my grandchildren had been praying for me, I knew I was
going to be alright; I knew I would get better.
IF TIME ALLOWS SHARE THIS
Seven Reasons to Show You Care
(1) By giving care to others, we learn to love them and the
Savior.
1. A poor, wayfaring Man of grief
Hath often crossed me on my way,
Who sued so humbly for relief
That I could never answer nay.
I had not pow'r to ask his name,
Whereto he went, or whence he came;
Yet there was something in his eye
That won my love; I knew not why.
(2) When giving care to others, even our smallest blessings
seem sweeter
2. Once,
when my scanty meal was spread,
He entered; not a word he spake,
(4)
Just perishing for want of bread.
I gave him all; he blessed it, brake,
And ate, but gave me part again.
Mine was an angel's portion then,
For while I fed with eager haste,
The crust was manna to my taste.
(3) By giving care to others, our lives become more
full
3. I
spied him where a fountain burst
Clear from the rock; his strength was gone.
The heedless water mocked his thirst;
He heard it, saw it hurrying on.
I ran and raised the suff'rer up;
Thrice from the stream he drained my cup,
Dipped and returned it running o'er;
I drank and never thirsted more.
(4) By giving care to others, our own challenges
are put into perspective
4. 'Twas night; the floods were
out; it blew
A winter hurricane aloof.
I heard his voice abroad and flew
To bid him welcome to my roof.
I warmed and clothed and cheered my guest
And laid him on my couch to rest,
(5)
Then made the earth my bed and seemed
In Eden's garden while I dreamed.
(5)
While helping to heal other’s wounds, our own
wounds are healed
5. Stript, wounded, beaten nigh to death,
I found him by the highway side.
I roused his pulse, brought back his breath,
Revived his spirit, and supplied
Wine, oil, refreshment--he was healed.
I had myself a wound concealed,
But from that hour forgot the smart,
And peace bound up my broken heart.
(6)
By caring for others, we deepen our character
6. In pris'n I saw him next, condemned
To meet a traitor's doom at morn.
The tide of lying tongues I stemmed,
And honored him 'mid shame and scorn.
My friendship's utmost zeal to try,
He asked if I for him would die.
The flesh was weak; my blood ran chill,
But my free spirit cried, "I will!"
(7)
By caring for others ours eyes are opened: we
see Jesus
Christ and Heavenly Father as they really
are.
(6)
7. Then in a moment to my view
The stranger started from disguise.
The tokens in his hands I knew;
The Savior stood before mine eyes.
He spake, and my poor name he named,
"Of me thou hast not been ashamed.
These deeds shall thy memorial be;
Fear not, thou didst them unto me."
(8)
Text: James Montgomery, 1771-1854
Music: George Coles, 1792-1858, alt.
Hymn
sung prior to the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith. See History of the
Church, 6:614-15.
Mosiah 2:17
(7)
