Our family is arriving in Portugal!

As of Thursday night December 21st we have 3 of our 5 children + spouses and 4 grandchildren. Everyday more are arriving and hopefully soon we will have everyone with us  in Portugal.

Aubrey arrived on Thursday night about 7:30PM. Thanks to Jason’s flight benefits she flew on Delta One from SLC to London!

Our 4 oldest grandchildren traveled from Texas to Spain and were invited to have a cockpit tour! 

Youngest grandchild Jack, traveled from Utah to Paris for a few days before arriving in Portugal.

On Tuesday, December 20th at 5PM we met Chanelle & Jordan at the Porto airport.

On Wednesday, December 21st we went with Chanelle and Jordan to a church high on the top of a mountain known as the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Grace. The church was originally built in 1775 but remodeled 3 years ago.

It was cloudy when we were there but here are some photos on a clear day.

On the way we stopped at this bridge that is estimated to be 800 years old!

We drove by this big horn sheep

Also a group of perhaps 50 goats

We also visited Amarante.

Found this cemetery 

Christmas tree made of corn!

We sampled a few bakery items.

Lunch in a very authentic stone restaurant.

On Friday, December 16th we taught seminary for the last time this year.

Between rain storms we walked along the Corgo river.

Saturday, December 17th was the Vila Real Branch Christmas party.

Ricardo Cardosa and his former missionary companion visiting from Cape Verde.. They both served as APs in Cape Verde when Pres. Darryl and Ann Hobson were the mission leaders.

There are now seven (7) young women!

On Sunday, December 18th we attended Church in Braganca and afterwords had lunch with Jose Carlos & Dulce.

Elder Fernandes wanted a watch for Christmas and Kim surprised him with one!

On Monday, December 19th we attended the Vila Real choir concert. Ricardo Cardosa and his daughter Kelvia both preformed.

           SCRIPTURE POWER

Helaman describes his father Alma’s interview with him:

“Alma came unto his son Helaman and said unto him: Believest thou the words which I spake unto thee concerning those records which have been kept? And Helaman said unto him: Yea, I believe. And Alma said again: Believest thou in Jesus Christ, who shall come? And he said: Yea, I believe all the words which thou hast spoken. And Alma said unto him again: Will ye keep my commandments? And he said: Yea, I will keep thy commandments with all my heart. Then Alma said unto him: Blessed art thou; and the Lord shall prosper thee in this land.” (Alma 45: 2-8) “And now it came to pass that after Alma had said these things to Helaman, he blessed him, and also his other sons;” (Alma 45:15) 

 

A simple pattern for a father’s interview:  Do you believe the Book of Mormon/scriptures? Do you believe in Jesus Christ? Will you keep the commandments? Offer a blessing.

 

Ammon in teaching Lamoni said: “And Ammon began to speak unto him with boldness, and said unto him: Believest thou that there is a God? And he answered, and said unto him: I do not know what that meaneth. And then Ammon said: Believest thou that there is a Great Spirit? And he said, Yea. And Ammon said: This is God. And Ammon said unto him again: Believest thou that this Great Spirit, who is God, created all things which are in heaven and in the earth?” (Alma 18: 24-28)

 

Zeezrom who earlier tried to bribe Amulek to: “deny the existence of a Supreme Being” (Alma 11:22) later as a result of Amulek’s direct and penetrating response “began to tremble under a consciousness of his guilt” (Alma 12:1) “And Zeezrom began to inquire of them [Alma & Amulek] diligently, that he might know more concerning the kingdom of God.” (Alma 12:8) 

 

Zeezrom was sick with a burning fever and requested to be healed. However, prior to giving a blessing Alma inquires as to his faith in Jesus Christ. Previously Zeezrom questioned Amulek regarding the salvation of sinful people. Amulek taught that no one  can be saved “in their sins” (Alma 11:34, 37) Zeezrom tried to twist his words. “Now Zeezrom said unto the people: See that ye remember these things; for he said there is but one God; yet he saith that the Son of God shall come, but he shall ​​​not​ save his people—as though he had authority to command God.” (Alma 11:35)

 

 

Prior to giving a blessing: “And it came to pass that Alma said unto him, taking him by the hand: Believest thou in the power of Christ unto salvation?  And he answered and said: Yea, I believe all the words that thou hast taught. And Alma said: If thou believest in the redemption of Christ thou canst be healed. And he said: Yea, I believe according to thy words. And then Alma cried unto the Lord, saying: O Lord our God, have mercy on this man, and heal him according to his faith which is in Christ. And when Alma had said these words, Zeezrom leaped upon his feet, and began to walk; and this was done to the great astonishment of all the people; and the knowledge of this went forth throughout all the land of Sidom. And Alma baptized Zeezrom unto the Lord; and he began from that time forth to preach unto the people.” (Alma 15: 6-12)

 

 

Nephi prior to seeing the tree of life vision was also interviewed regarding his belief in Jesus Christ.

 

“For it came to pass after I had desired to know the things that my father had seen, and believing that the Lord was able to make them known unto me, as I sat pondering in mine heart I was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord, yea, into an exceedingly high mountain, which I never had before seen, and upon which I never had before set my foot. And the Spirit said unto me: Behold, what desirest thou?

And I said: I desire to behold the things which my father saw. And the Spirit said unto me: Believest thou that thy father saw the tree of which he hath spoken? And I said: Yea, thou knowest that I believe all the words of my father. And when I had spoken these words, the Spirit cried with a loud voice, saying: Hosanna to the Lord, the most high God; for he is God over all the earth, yea, even above all. And blessed art thou, Nephi, because thou believest in the Son of the most high God; wherefore, thou shalt behold the things which thou hast desired.” (1 Ne. 11:6)

 

Aaron in teaching king Lamoni’s father who was king over all the land of the Lamanites: “And Aaron answered him and said unto him: Believest thou that there is a God? And the king said: I know that the Amalekites say that there is a God, and I have granted unto them that they should build sanctuaries, that they may assemble themselves together to worship him. And if now thou sayest there is a God, behold I will believe. And now when Aaron heard this, his heart began to rejoice, and he said: Behold, assuredly as thou livest, O king, there is a God.  And the king said: Is God that Great Spirit that brought our fathers out of the land of Jerusalem? And Aaron said unto him: Yea, he is that Great Spirit, and he created all things both in heaven and in earth. Believest thou this?

And he said: Yea, I believe that the Great Spirit created all things, and I desire that ye should tell me concerning all these things, and I will believe thy words.  And it came to pass that when Aaron saw that the king would believe his words, he began from the creation of Adam, reading the scriptures unto the king—how God created man after his own image, and that God gave him commandments, and that because of transgression, man had fallen.” (Alma 22: 7-12)

The brother of Jared prior to seeing the spiritual body of Jesus: “Lord, show thyself unto me. And the Lord said unto him: Believest thou the words which I shall speak? And he answered: Yea, Lord, I know that thou speakest the truth, for thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie. And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord showed himself unto him” (Ether 3:10-12)

 

The first three (3) temple recommend questions:

 

1.”Do you have faith in and a testimony of God, the Eternal Father; His Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost?”

 

2. “Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and of His role as your Savior and Redeemer?”

 

3. “Do you have a testimony of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?”