2022.06.26
Almost two months has gone by. I think that our life was so busy because Jessica and I had a calling to teach in the Primary. Jessica actually got a new calling in the local church ward’s Young Women’s Presidency. Since she has a new calling, I call myself a retired substitute primary teacher. Life is simple somewhat.
I have been missing some of my church meeting the last couple weeks because I actually catch COVID-19. I didn’t know that I was sick with it until Wednesday the eighth of June. All my life I was lead by the example or expectation to go the school and work everyday. I actually never missed a day of school through K-12. I took some online quizzes to learn about myself last Friday because I was feeling foolish and unintelligent, since I got four other very important roles of the company that I work sick. We all worked remotely for a couple weeks. I learned that I am not a fool in the quizzes.
I don’t like IQ scores because it defines intelligence to narrowly and specific, when one’s intelligence is individual and different for each one of us. IQ scores measure how fast people can learn, and it doesn’t measure aptitude, logic, or if they can live a thriving functioning lifestyle.
Kyler is active still making music. He shared with me some of his work recently. I am happy that I purchased him a PC. I wish that everyone would have the opportunity to practice their passions.
I am thinking of resuming the Your Friends in the Gospel podcast, since I don’t have to prepare Primary lesson, but the last couple nights were late ones.
2022.07.03 Fourth of July Weekend
This week has had a focus on preparing or planning for the Fourth of July. I was asked what I will be doing for the holiday weekend during our weekly estimating meeting on Monday. I said that I intend to watch Top Gun: Maverick.
We did watch Top Gun: Maverick yesterday evening. Jessica said that the original is a 7 out of 10, and the new film is a 9. I think that everything is great in the film; characters, story, action, and the ending wasn’t too short.
I have a story. I was feeling a lack of purpose on Friday evening. I only live for other people, which is fine. Serving at the temple, I was told that I was not needed at a veil, and I was also told that I was not needed for my next assignment as an initiatory worker because there were not enough patrons, so I had an hour to kill. In my sad state, I was walking up to the level of the temple where the veil ordinance is performed, when I realized that I haven’t explored the sealing level of the temple. The Jordan River Temple is unique because the sealing rooms are on the second floor, when they are usually on the third level. I walked around viewing the sealing rooms and the paintings. I heard a sealer performing sealing ordinances, but I couldn’t hear the words very clearly. I wanted to hear the words to remember them. When I was near the end of my exploration, I visited the sealing office, and I met a sister, who asked what I was doing. I told her my situation, and she said that I might be able to serve as a witness. Two couple came with sealing ordinances to perform for family, and neither of them were sure whether they were going to be able to perform them because they needed a witness. I love serving at the temple because following the spirit is easier there than in the world. I was told three times on Friday evening that I was not needed for ordinance work, but these two couples needed me. I was asked to baptize a boy recently named Lincoln, and I write in a note to him to seek to follow the spirit because you will bless people in ways that you don’t expect or intend to. I was able to listen to the sealing ordinances, and I was reminded to counsel and labor with my wife, and preside in my family with righteousness and genuine love.
2022.07.24
These past few weeks have been the same as usual. I am still playing Yu-Gi-Oh: Master Duel with Trevor. Yesterday was my grandfather’s 95th birthday, and I hung out with Trevor on the way home to Murray from Heber City at Lindon. He recently got a lot of powerful water monsters, so he might look making a deck with it. I can write a lot about Yu-Gi-Oh, but there are more knowledgeable and skilled people, playing the game. My comments are meaningless.
The Fourth of July was nice. Joshua Day loves Pokemon, the trading card game, and we were able to play with his decks. Martha Day was enthusiastic about teaching Jessica; although, they expressed disinterest previously. Trevor grilled Beyond Meat burgers, and we provided the condiments and buns. After we enjoyed firecrackers.
My coworker quit the estimating department, so I have to do all the quantity take offs. We were asked to bid a project that is very difficult mainly because the drawings don’t make it convenient. Most of my coworkers are taking tomorrow off of work as it is Pioneer Day today, but the difficulty of the bid is forcing me to work tomorrow.
This past week was hard because of Jessica’s depression and related afflictions, and Friday was a sad day for me. When I served in the temple, I was asked to participate in a prayer circle. Prayer circles are special prayers, but they are very similar to a normal one. They are done at the conclusion of an endowment session. The main reason that they are special is because we have prayer rolls that people submit names to pray for who are sick or otherwise inflicted. I always put Jessica’s name on the prayer rolls. When I participated in the prayer circle, I cried because my efforts appeared to be in vain, and how can I ever be comforted if Jessica is committed to her weaknesses. The experience at the temple seemed to be an answer to my prayers because things stabilized over this weekend. I try to write very tactfully, but she will not like me mentioning her. This is why I don’t write much about Jessica.
I participated in Primary as a substitute teacher for the first time. The Primary has improved a lot. Singing time was an incredibly planned session. My participation in the class was minimal.
Grandpa’s birthday was chill. He can barely see or hear. It was nice to catch up with my uncles. One of my coworkers in the temple knows Bruce. I mainly caught up with Glennalee’s family. I represented the family of David because Trevor was working, and Jessica was participating in Young Women’s’ baptism. She fearlessly accepted the role to play piano during the time that the girls were getting dressed after their baptisms.
She has grown a lot, since I met her. It took me more than a year to convince her to join a ward choir. She is even driving on highways comfortably. She wants to drive me to see her grandmother in Saint George all by herself. She has grown a lot, yet she has a lot more improve in her life.
2022.08.07
Today is a fast Sunday. I hope that I will have time to record a podcast today, but I want to write about the past few weeks. I mainly want to write about this week. As I have said previously Yu-Gi-Oh: Master Duel, the video game, is an activity similar to my old podcast with Trevor to keep a close relationship with him; however, it keeps my life consistently unnotable in an eternal sense.
My last 3D takeoff did not pass the smell test, so I hope that my 3D quantity takeoffs at work are accurate. Work has been slightly more stressful since my coworker quit the estimating department. I hope that my work maintains the accuracy as before; although, I am doing the 2D and 3D takeoff for each project now.
The topic that I want to write about is my service as an ordinance worker. I am not writing to brag, but I am writing to express my faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The main focus of my work has mainly been in the initiatory. I treat each ordinance as if I am performing it for someone that has never experienced the ordinance before, for the spiritual person of which the proxy work is performed for is there, and I want them to have an instructive edifying experience. The initiatory ordinance may an unknown or obscure because it is most intense. The entire presentation depends on the ordinance workers unlike the endowment ordinance; although, the endowment is a more intense experience for the patron. I was told many times that I did a good job yesterday in the initiatory, but the peak of my experience was my service for a young man. He seemed unsure of himself, but the instructive nature of the ordinance, which I embodied, made him sure of himself and the ordinance; I believe. When I concluded, confirming the anointing for a final time for him in his proxy work, I had a moment with him. He stood up, shook my hand, and said thank you. The sincerity of a moment that he found to express gratitude can be easily be forgotten or seem unnecessary in the typically rote nature of the ordinance. I don’t know if I should progress to be an endowment officiator, but I seem to be an initiatory specialist. It seems that God recognizes it, and keeps me working in the initiatory, which I also appreciate. Every person that participated in the session of initiatory said that I did a good job.
Last week was Jessica’s birthday in which I actually planned a party for. I made a slight mistake, so the surprise was less. When Jessica witnessed the communication of the mistake, she said that she was surprised. It was supposed to be a guacamole party, where guest brought guacamole, and I also made guacamole, but no one made or bought guacamole. The guacamole that I made was eaten before the party since Jessica didn’t know to save it. Hayley Lopez, Jessica’s half sister, wanted to thrift shop for Jessica, so my plan to surprise Jessica was not going to be typical. Hayley was going to reserve our attendance at home, so we don’t go out and about doing chores by saying that she has a gift to give her at the time of the birthday party. Annah Ledesma, Jessica’s cousin, suppose to come slightly earlier, and say that wanted to catch up since she is local, but she was late. She, asking to catch up, suppose to get us to be in the lounge because Jessica would refuse to let anyone in our messy apartment. I told Annah to ask if we could meet in a lounge, which I reserved, when she refuses. Two families, who said that they would come, had things come up. It was a good thing that Martha and Josh Day came on time. Annah coming up was the only real surprise. She came with no-bake cookies, and we played a bowling type game, which she played before, so she obviously beat everyone. The intention was to go dancing after but we didn’t end up going; however, we did have a delightful time catching up with Annah at a restaurant after the guacamole party without guacamole. It was more like a nacho party. Trevor Hicken, my little brother, joined us at the Indian restaurant. Annah had such a good time that she invited us over for a movie or game night, but it was late.
I will now compose my thoughts on Repentance on the next segment of my series of podcast episodes, explaining the principles and ordinances of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Hi,
I am Alex Hicken, the Host of the Your Friends in the Gospel Podcast. This episode is the second of the series, explaining the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as listed in the fourth article of faith.
“We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
Repentance is simply the process of developing Godly holy attributes. There are many steps and commandments to practice, and it can be intimidating to consider changing your perspective and lifestyle. Forming my thoughts for the podcast last night, a question came to mind. Is it worth it?
One thing that I love about repentance is that it involves forgiveness of one’s mistakes. I don’t know how I would live with the guilt of my sin without the healing power of the forgiveness of God.
The life that one has before practice the Gospel of Jesus Christ may be completely different, but it will be a life of communion with God. A person, practicing the Gospel, will have a close relationship with Heavenly Father, and he will prepare a blessed happy life for the individual. The difficulty of life is still apparent, but your perspective, lifestyle, and life preparation will be much more resilient.
The blessings and happiness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ are only a sample of the Eternal Life’s fullness of joy. The life that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ is preparing for us in the eternities is beyond mortal comprehension.
I considered the question “Is it worth it?” because Satan is trying to make the world so distracting and attractive that we forget the possibility of true joy, which is found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am not saying that your life is not joyful. Human life is designed to be happy, but there can be more joy in life, when one practices life after the manner that the designer of life intended, and a life led by God can also bring opportunities that one cannot conceive because Heavenly Father is above all things.
Jesus Christ made it possible for us to be forgiven and guilt free by consecrating his life to the will of Heavenly Father. His plan was for Jesus Christ to be a mediator for men because they are a fallen people. They cannot be resurrect as immortal people or be forgiven; unless, Jesus Christ obtains the power over death in the time of earth, and he atones for the sin of all mankind. Jesus Christ did fulfill his mission on Earth.
The ordinance part of the principles and ordinances of the Gospel of Jesus Christ qualify us to have the mediator to Heavenly Father at the last day. Repentance is required to prepare for “baptism by immersion for the remission of sins [and] laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
On judgement day, man h
2022.09.11
Another month has passed by. Life should be considered private, but my life has become more stable. I have been writing about my boring life without the podcast, but it has actually been unstable for some time. It has become more stable because my wife is more consistent than previously.
I have a few temple stories. When I was presenting at the veil, I saw a sister, a fellow ordinance worker, with a name tag, saying Jamie Burgon. I grew up with Brad Burgon, being a relative as he is my father’s second cousin. I also served with him when he was the branch president at the Ocean YSA Branch. It turned out that Brad is her uncle.
About a month ago, a brother recognized me as Thomas, my older brother. He was his home teacher.
I have been meeting with a brother for a month just naturally eating dinner before our shift. I am being trained to officiate endowment sessions, and the shift coordinators were inspired to have the brother that I have been developing a friendship over the dinners to be my mentor and trainer to officiate endowment session in the Jordan River Temple.
I have another good friendship with a coworker in the temple. He fostered a child, and he is in a situation that he might lose the son, if they choose not to adopt his newborn sister, who was born with tumors on her heart and brain due to the mother’s drug use. He wants some assurances from God on a decision to adopt or some assurances of her health from the doctors. I asked him on Saturday, if he considered giving her priesthood blessing. He hadn’t. I bore testimony that God knows what is going on with her, and he can guide him in a Priesthood blessing. He took the discussion to heart. I put her name on the temple prayer rolls, hoping that she will have the opportunity to live a fulfilling life.
2022.09.25
Somethings worth writing about from the past couple weeks is that Jessica has had a focus on attending the temple, and we finally made it yesterday. I rarely feel the Holy Ghost actually burn in my heart, but I did during the endowment session that we attended.
I am actually being trained to be an endowment officiator. This process is actually very formal and good. I feel like it is a calling, which I will fulfill like a sealer the next six months or so. The first three months are training; then, the following three months the newly trained officiators are mentors.
I watched the officiator very closely, and he did very well. I was able to watch especially close because Jessica and I were the witness couple. We have never been a witness couple before.
I have tried to go to sleep early the past week, but there is always something going on compelling me to go to sleep late. I also want to rest and prepare for general conference this coming weekend.
2022.10.09
The past two weeks has had a more spiritual focus somewhat. I wrote last time that I have been “called” or assigned to be an endowment officiator. Last Friday was my first time officiating in a few years. It went well. I didn’t mess up anything meaningful. My mentor helped me occasionally.
General conference was last weekend. I always have a goal to try to stay awake the entire time, but I failed at that this session. I was successful at that last conference though. On Sunday I planned, and we prepared three meals. I cooked pancakes for the first time. I left my bread yeast at Trevor’s place, so I couldn’t bake bread today. Another goal that I have is to review the current General Conference speeches before the next conference, and I always fail at doing so, but I just started the goal anew. Materializing my intention, I am inspired to follow an invitation from a talk in church recently. In the Gospel Library app, there is an option to make a plan or a “goal,” and I am now off to a good start.
I am happy to say that I have been able to keep up with the “Come, follow me” literature curriculum. This is incredible for me because I haven’t been able to keep up with literature curriculums most of my life, since I have struggled with reading disabilities or dyslexia.
The third volume of “Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” came out recently. These books are amazing. I have read/listened to the previous two, and I am going to begin reading the third as I wait for my wife to conclude her Young Women’s presidency meeting.
2022.10.16
My focus this past week was preparing for my officiating of the six forty post meridiem endowment session of the Jordan River Temple. My goal was go to sleep earlier to be rested, ready, and awake during the session since there are times when the patrons are watching a film in the dark. As I attempted to go to sleep earlier, I prayed that I can have the spirit of God as I officiated to represent him well, and that the company may feel his love.
The session went well. One person thanked me for a good session, and another person thanked me for the prayer that I gave. The officiator’s assistant used to say the prayer, but the officiator does everything now. The shift coordinator stopped me later, telling me that my prayer was so enlightening or comforting that a patron told him about it. He had a good cry when he was touched by the Holy Ghost. I am not saying this to brag. I am just recording my life in my journal. I didn’t do anything of myself to be impressive. I sought to follow the spirit in the prayer, and the Spirit of God was doing his work on the patrons, the people whose names were on the prayer rolls, and their families.
I am seeking remain humble to retain the Spirit in my service in the temple.
Yesterday was fun. I was telling my co-worker on Friday that I want to go to a massive corn maze, and my cousins invited us to a pumpkin patch. Pumpkin patches in Utah have a whole experience which is way beyond what I grew up with like slides down bales of hay. This pumpkin patch went way beyond the massive corn field maze. It had three mazes, and it was so well prepared that people would most likely figure it out without a map. This is mainly because it is very loopy. I was thinking of attempting the small maze without the map, but I didn’t want to get lost.
