Tag Archives: Haleakala

Beauty for ashes, the Oil of Joy for Mourning

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Fall on Haleakala

Sister Hardman with aging Silverswords on Haleakala

Nene on Haleakala

Evidence of those we pass on the beach (until the next wave or high tide)

Sister Hardman sweetening each week

Early yesterday morning I slowly woke up with this phrase repeating in my mind, “…beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning…” I felt it had something to do with several recent experiences. When I gained more consciousness I grabbed my phone and looked it up. Isaiah spoke in first-person for the Messiah, and gave many reasons for “good tidings.” 

“…[The Lord] hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;…to comfort all that mourn;…to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:1-3)

Over the last week, Sister Hardman and I observed and participated in small gatherings where the Lord was binding up someone brokenhearted and giving them joy, where the doctrine of Christ was proclaimed to provide liberty to someone captive to a compulsive behavior and comfort was kindly displacing their mourning. We observed where beauty or a state of wholeness was envisioned once again in the mind and heart of someone whose life or relations were in ashes, where persons under heavy burdens were being praised and reminded of the good they are and do, and where righteousness planted in their hearts by the Lord was once again imagined in their minds like trees planted by God that will grow into Joy and into the Glory of God.

Every Addiction Recovery Program support meeting starts with love, compassion, prayer, and readings from others who have experienced recovery. Words from church leaders are also studied, then participants are given the opportunity to share and strengthen each other. In one gathering, a meek person came to provide support to their loved-one who was in recovery for addiction. However, when given the opportunity to share, they acknowledged their own need for Healing through the Savior due to burden or prisons of their own. We saw, felt, and witnessed in their eyes the Lord binding up their oozing, wounded, broken hearts with a subtle and gentle mighty change of heart. 

In a different gathering specifically for Spouse and Family Support of those in addiction, the reading included a long list of emotions that are felt when a family member becomes addicted to harmful behaviors. Participants nod their heads as we read together about fear, weariness, confusion, loss, shame, hopelessness, anger, loneliness, isolation, hurt, or bitterness. Then the guidebook asks an inspired question that takes the focus from the mortal causes of their pain and re-focuses all of us on the source of divine love and power. “What evidences do you have that God knows you? How will this knowledge strengthen your faith and give you courage?” After a long moment of deep thought, we hear things like, “Oh, when so-and-so gave me an unexpected hug that day, perhaps…, yes, it was God sending them to me,” or “After my deepest state, when I turned my life over to God, he took the craving away that I had for years. Only God could do that.”

On another occasion, this time a social event with other senior missionaries and local members we met at a favorite coastline to view the sunset. Afterwards we went to our friends home and played games to relax and get to know each other better and share a little about our service mission. We had a nice time but obviously we were all tired that night and upon our departure I was insensitive to a question from our host. Sister Hardman confirmed that my response was uncomfortable. I agreed and we decided to return the next morning for me to apologize. They welcomed us and we sat to visit and I apologized and responded more understandingly to the discussion from the night before. They were kind and filled with love and grace. Oh, how wonderful it is to repent and make things better and let the Lord anoint us with, “the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.”

And finally, one more example. This past Sunday we had the blessing to speak in two wards where, while giving the talks we gazed into the faces of beautiful people who love and seek the Lord, Jesus Christ but like all of us, have need of Healing for something in their lives. Between meetings we met a sister who is very faithful in the Gospel but has needed Healing through the Savior for a number of the emotions and fears mentioned above. We invited her to come and share her testimony with some of the people we work with, to facilitate and help their healing. In humility she expressed willingness and some lingering concerns but in doing so confirmed to us the power her experience would have for our friends. I felt prompted to say to her, “What you have just said may be just what others need to hear who are seeking healing.”

We bear testimony and witness from daily experience that the Lord has come and will come “to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;…to comfort all that mourn;…to give unto [us] beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that [we] might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.”

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Aug. 18, 2025 – A still small voice, and a house sketch

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When is your most likely time for personal revelation? When is the earth, wind, and fire quiet and the mind at peace enough to hear that “still small voice?” (Ref. 1 Kings 19:12) For me it is early in the morning after a good nights rest, just before I’m conscious enough to remember yesterday’s concerns or todays obligations, yet aware and calm enough to allow my thoughts to be guided by God’s whisper (D&C 85:6) and perfect mildness. (Helaman 5:30) In full disclosure, this doesn’t happen every morning, but I wish it did. This week it happened on Saturday morning and it was persistent. Over and over I imagined myself getting out of bed, opening my journal and drawing a simple two-dimensional sketch of a house in which I was writing the elements of a ‘House of Order.’ Okay, perhaps that wasn’t very revelatory as, like many of you, Joan and I had been studying Doctrine and Covenants Section 88 the day before in preparation for teaching on Sunday. The phrase, ‘House of Order,’ comes from a well-known scripture, “Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;” (D&C 88:118).

So, what was the revelation? It was that I needed to keep this lesson simple and clear and help our sixteen- and seventeen-year-old students apply part of its powerful message. The problem was, Section 88 is an “olive leaf” of peace to the Saints; it contains some of the most powerful and revelatory doctrine about God, his galactic creations, his work, his power, his light, even the light and power of Christ. As we studied this week we were filled with so much wonder that we didn’t know how to choose the portion that we should focus on for our class. “It’s all great; we want to teach it all.” It was overwhelming. Revelation provided the answer; focus on learning and preparing to learn by establishing a house (or personal life) of prayer, fasting, faith, learning, glory, order, and of God. So I finally got up and drew the imagined house in my journal, opened the scriptures and began to populate the house with some of the things God wanted all to teach and learn (D&C 88: 77-80), followed by the process of being most effective at teaching and learning (D&C 88:118-126). 

It wasn’t until standing in front of these wonderful youth on Sunday that I realized they were starting another year of school (some were even heading off to college), and during our discussion we could see and feel that they were grasping more fully God’s reasons for them to learn spiritual as well as secular knowledge so that they could be effective in His work (which may have something to do with the Lord including the “parable of the man sending his servants into the field and visiting them in turn” (D&C 88:51-61). You decide. And by the way, Sister Hardman’s cinnamon roll creations helped satisfy classroom taste buds while providing an object lesson or spiral symbol of Gods galactic creations.

There are definitely applications of D&C 88 to our work as group leaders in the Addiction Recovery Program. As Sister Hardman and I prepare with faith, prayer and learning to establish a setting or house of God, participants experience love and support. We learn right along with them and this week was no different as we moved from the “thorough repentance” steps into the sustaining steps 10 through 12. Step 10, is “Continue to take personal inventory and when we are wrong, promptly admit it.” The more I studied this step the more excited I grew that this is an emphasis I need each day to get over some of my compulsive behaviors such as being prideful, judgmental or impatient. Among other principles, this step includes being intentionally accountable to God, drawing close to him in morning and evening prayer, and throughout the day to protect us from drifting back into old habits. “Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” (D&C 88:63)

I’m realizing that if I truly want to stop unfavorable habits I need to more continuously remember the Saviors Atonement, example and teachings throughout the day. I need to watch myself, anticipate the triggers, and be ready to apply Christ’s power to help me be better. This scripture in the Book of Mormon means so much more to me now. “If ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not.” (Mosiah 4:30)

This week we took several excursions to keep our physical and emotional house in order and to enjoy Gods creations; his children and nature. We took the coastal lava flow hike called the La Perouse Bay, a historical isolated bay on the south tip of Maui with coral beaches, black goats and powerful waves. On another day we ascended a small trail near the top of Haleakala. We visited the Wunders in Pukalani, a faithful couple upcountry who are continuously serving and very interested in our work. They loaned us a DVD called, “Road to Zion – Travels in Church History, The Hawaiian Episodes.” We love learning Hawaiian church history. So we camped out in our meetinghouse library for two evenings (the only place we could find a DVD player). And of course we regularly massage our bare feet walking along fine-sand beaches.