Tag Archives: spirit

Miracles in His time and in His way

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“Jesus Christ is always focused on us and in these challenging times we must stay focused on Him. As our advocate with the Father we are certain our name crosses their lips and because of Jesus’ Atonement and God’s great love and wisdom discuss how to succor us in our crosses, and by the power of the Holy Ghost, help each of us within our agency in the best way and timing.” We have born this testimony over and over again in Sacrament meetings throughout Maui, Moloka’i, and Lana’i; the scriptures and the spirit witnessing the truth to our hearts and souls.

We also bear this testimony in various forms to our friends in addiction recovery as we read together and work through the 12 Steps, Healing through the Savior. We have witnessed ‘beauty for ashes’ (Isaiah 61:3), growth from despair, power from Jesus Christ. And even though there is sometimes unfortunate relapse, we know that God never gives up but picks us up where we are and helps all move forward if we will. And we have seen that those who keep coming back to him, He has their back and keeps bearing burdens and providing ‘rest to your souls.’ (Matthew 11:28-29) It is an amazing experience when we feel or are with someone else who feels tears of sorrow swallowed up in tears of joy with little time lapsing between tears. I wonder if that’s part of what Jesus felt in the garden and on the cross. (Hebrews 12:2)

In confidence we don’t provide names, but one friend recently offered a very sacred prayer on behalf of another. Weeks ago we met him when in darkness and fear, about to lose so much. Now, by continuously seeking and applying the Lord Jesus Christ, the Spirit of Christ and the power of God, has returned. Yes, we are seeing miracles in God’s time and in His way. We also meet with those who have been hurt by a loved one in addiction. We are seeing miracles in their lives also.

We are also finding ourselves in other opportunities to bless, and be blessed by others. We keep an eye out for other senior couples in the wards who are looking (or should be looking) for opportunities to serve as senior missionaries. We have met several such couples and enjoy our social relationships and gospel conversations. For example, we had a lovely day last week with our friends, Brian and Jodi Sadleir, getting to know them (and their pups Lucy and Bella) while on the beach, and getting to know them more while relaxing in their pool and eating steak at their home. They have already served a service mission in Heber, Utah. They have deep faith and testimonies and are praying for a missionary service opportunity that will work for their situation here in Hawaii. We are certain God will bless them in their journey. We anxiously encourage all seniors to serve!

We pray continuously for those in need. This includes our own children who also bear various crosses in their lives. We are confident that Heavenly Father and Jesus are focused on each of them and within their agency are being encouraged and loved and comforted and helped. Our compassion for our own children is helping us feel and express compassion to our friends in recovery, and in turn, our experience in the addiction recovery program is helping us feel and express and hopefully bless our own family.

It is Christmas time. On Saturday evening we provided transportation to two sisters in our ward who don’t have vehicles and took them to our ward Christmas Party. Wow, these people know how to celebrate with details and quantity. The food, the attendance, the entertainment, and the socializing was exceptional for a ward party. The entire full-size cultural hall was filled with beautifully decorated round tables surrounded by families and friends of all local cultures. Joan and I performed a couple numbers at the beginning, “Were You There on that Christmas Night,” and, “What Child is This.” There was a professional ukulele singer throughout the prelude and eating time. The primary children pulled-off an amazing nativity scene while singing, “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen. There were two hula numbers. The first by the sisters of our ward, and the second, jazzier, by the sisters of our ward Marshallese Group. The Elders Quorum topped it off with a rousing, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.” Then a special guest came with a gift for all the children. Did I mention the food? Well, it was wonderful. 

On Sunday, Joan and I spoke in the Waiehu Ward and had the privilege once again to bear testimony of the Savior as our Advocate with the Father and once again feel the love of God and the power of the Holy Ghost. Having given this prepared talk a number of times, I said a silent prayer before my turn and ask Heavenly Father to take over and help me say what he wanted. He did so. The word “cross” came to mind and at the beginning of my talk acknowledged that we all carry various crosses. Jesus knows of these crosses and bears them with us.

During our own sacrament meeting in the Kahului 1st Ward we provided the special musical number, “Come, Lord Jesus.” We always have visitors in our meetings. We invited a visiting couple, the Standrings, to join us that evening with our friends for a night of nativity and caroling. That night we gathered at the Jeffrey home for a readers theater about Jesus’ birth, snacks, visiting, caroling, and a little concert by Elder and Sister Hardman. It was fun, spiritual, and joyful.

Merry Christmas.

Jesus Christ – Our Advocate with the Father

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From May of 2025 when Sister Hardman and I started this service mission, all ward and branch leaders in both stakes have invited us to speak in their respective sacrament meetings on Maui, Moloka’i and Lana’i… Our purpose was to worship with the Saints, get to know them, and to bear testimony of Jesus Christ as our Advocate with the Father. Today’s post includes excerpts from those talks.

(Speaker: Sister Hardman) Aloha Brothers and Sisters,

My dad was spiritually sensitive and rescued me a number of times in my youth. Once while fishing along the deep side of the Utah Jordan River near one of his favorite childhood fishing holes, I wandered away from dad along the bank dipping and swirling a stick into the water. At one point he heard a splash, looked upstream but couldn’t see me. He ran to the place where he felt I was, reached into the water and pulled me out by my hair. On another occasion, then in my mid-teens, I was out late, alone with a friend. Concerned, but not knowing where I was dad again followed his feelings, knocked on my friends door, reached into my life and pulled me from the danger… He was my dad, my rescuer, and my advocate. Today we’d like to talk about Jesus Christ as our Advocate with the Father. But first, a little more about ourselves.

Ken and I were born and raised on opposite ends of the Los Angeles basin in southern California, he in San Fernando Valley, and I in Newport Beach. Our families moved to Utah when we were young, and we met later at BYU. Ken became an engineer for Boeing and worked in California, Washington, and Utah. We raised our seven daughters and one son mostly in Pleasant Grove Utah. We loved the teen years with our children and their friends coming and going from our home where visitors would occasionally say, “There is a good feeling here.” Life was good but seemed to get more complicated as our children became young adults and began making their own way and starting their own families. Our love for them grows and grows, not because everything is perfect, but because we care deeply and want eternal blessings for them. We are learning to trust God and the Atonement of Jesus Christ in their behalf. In prayer we advocate for them every day… 

Healing through the Savior, 12-step Addiction Recovery Program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is available to anyone who desires assistance in recovery from any addictive substance or compulsive behavior, or anyone desiring to seek change in their life. It is based on recovery through repentance and the power of Jesus Christ and His Atonement. The spirit of the Lord is very strong in these meetings as all learn about, apply, and have success using God’s grace…

All are invited to find a life of peace, freedom and even joy, encircled in the arms of God’s mercy. Jesus came with healing in His wings and is mighty to save. He lives to bless us with His love. In Addiction Recovery meetings we find hope, help and healing. We find Him. Come… 

I know that we have a loving Heavenly Father. I know that we have a Savior, our brother Jesus Christ, who atoned for our sins, pains, and weaknesses.  Through him we can receive the opportunity for immortality and eternal life. I know that the Father and the Son appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith and restored the fulness of the gospel in these latter days. And I know that we are led today by a prophet, who holds all priesthood keys. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

(Speaker: Elder Hardman) Sisters and Brothers, Aloha. 

As a young boy growing up in California, I would sometimes get into mischief and get in the way of the peace and ideal my covenant keeping parents wanted for our forever family. One day, a friend and I were riding circles around our chapel not a block away popping wheelies over the speed bumps. We noticed some beautiful potted plants on a cinderblock wall. Perhaps it was the sun reflecting on the shimmering swimming pool in the yard just beyond that made those flowers catch our attention. We parked our bikes in the ivy hedge and peaked over the wall. Upon seeing the pool, we wondered, “Wouldn’t it be cool to see how big a splash these potted plants would make landing in that pool?”

Later that evening my father took me for a walk. With my ear pinched between his strong carpenter fingers, we crossed the street, stood at our neighbors door where dad made me ring the doorbell. Upon offering apologies and help cleaning the pool, our neighbor declined. I don’t think they wanted me anywhere near their pool. My parents required accountability, but were reasonable and practical… They provided meaningful things for me to do. Even in discipline I always felt they believed in me and throughout my life I had an advocate in Mom, and in Dad.

There is another advocate that believes in us so very much… He is our Savior, friend, and Redeemer, By virtue of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants our righteous savior, advocates, “Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed,…Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life.” (D&C 45:1, 3-5)

Listen to this perspective about advocacy by Elder D. Todd Christofferson, “I may at any moment,” he said, “and in any circumstance approach through prayer the throne of grace, that my Heavenly Father will hear my petition, and that my advocate, he who did no sin, whose blood was shed, will plead my cause.” (I Know in Whom I Have Trusted, D. Todd Christofferson, April 1993, italics added)…

In 3 Nephi the resurrected Jesus appears in person to a multitude. ..

At some point the people were weak and asked to go to their homes to pray for understanding. In tears, perhaps remembering the healing prophecies they had heard about his ministry, (Mosiah 3:5) they looked steadfastly at him as if to say, [“Please don’t go. Show us what you did in Jerusalem.”] Filled with compassion and mercy he heals them all. They bath his feet with their tears. With the children gathered around him, and the multitude kneeling around them, Jesus speaks unto the Father great and marvelous, unspeakable things (v15-17) “And no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father.” (3 Nephi 17:17)…

We are now on another service mission, this time to help bring people to the Lord their advocate who gives them power to be rescued, not from dying on the cold planes of Wyoming, but who are in prison to addiction. I know that with his help, his power, his advocacy to the father for them, they can be rescued, and out of depths of despair, feel joy akin to the pioneers when God’s rescuers finally came over that snowy hill in Wyoming, to bring them in.

We live in a beautiful, but fallen world and many of Gods beautiful children are falling. But I have every confidence that the eye of the creator is on all his creations. It can be no other way, as his love is infinite. I see his patience and wise hand at work in my life, and in the lives of people I love… 

When Sister Hardman and I prepare ourselves to represent the savior, a miracle happens and He takes away all judgement and criticism. In our Addiction Recovery support meetings we feel great love and compassion for each person who walks through the door… 

God is in this work. Jesus is our advocate with the father. The eternal spirit of truth witnesses to my spirit that this is true. I testify with love in the name of Jesus Christ, our advocate, amen.