November 2014

Amy and Trevor's visit!

 Amy and Trevor in visited us in Oxnard!   While they were here,  We did some shopping at the TO mall.  We swam in Amy and Trevor's pool and spa, played several games of rook, some of us for the first time. On Sunday we attended Stake Conference where Savannah spoke.   In the afternoon we had an early Thanksgiving Dinner and invited our friends the Larsen's to join us. During the weekend Trevor helped Landon fill out his applications for college. We thought about Elder Sweet often and know he's doing a great work!

Front to back, Bob, Landon, Savannah, Tamara, Amy and Trevor.

Here's our family on our way to the Los Angeles Airport. We just stopped the car, got out and Dad snapped this shot!  So glad we took the time!  Amy and Trevor are on their way back to Idaho. So Grateful you had the time and means to visit us!  We love you Amy and Trevor!

Savannah's Talk Given In Stake Conference

I was recently privileged to go to EFY this summer.  While I was there the session director taught us how to utilize Family Search to find and do Temple work for deceased ancestors.  Before that however, he showed us a clip from the conference talk titled “The joy of Redeeming the Dead” from Elder Scott.  He tells us (and I quote), “Do you young people want a sure way to eliminate the influence of the adversary in your life? Immerse yourself in searching for your ancestors, prepare their names for the sacred vicarious ordinances available in the Temple, and then go to the temple to stand as a proxy for them to receive the ordinances of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost.”  When I heard this, I was curious I mean, who wouldn't want a sure way to eliminate the adversary’s influence?  When I returned from EFY I began working towards eliminating the adversary, driven by the spirit of Elijah.  The spirit of Elijah is the spirit that motivates the concern to search out ancestral family members through family history.  It is seen as the Fulfillment of the prophecy of Malachi that in the last days, Elijah “will turn the heart of the fathers to the children and the heart of the Children to their fathers.”

I was surprised by how easy it was to find people.  All it took was following family lines and looking for green Temples indicating unfinished Temple ordinances.  I began exploring my Grandfather Sweet’s side of the family, which I knew next to nothing about.  While delving into my ancestry, I discovered at least 3 lines tracing back to Adam and Eve, too many royal families to count, and curiously some mythological people whom I’m still confused about.  As I was exploring, I came across a woman named Eleanor Walsingham.  I noticed her ordinances weren't started, so I clicked on to her family tree.  After 6 hours of following arrows and lines, I came up with at least 410 individuals who needed their temple work completed.  I definitely was being driven by the spirit of Elijah while searching for my ancestors who needed help.  I’d like to reference the Prophet Joseph Smith now in Doctrine and Covenants 128:15 “…In this epistle to the church, Joseph makes it very clear that doing temple work is essential to our salvation, and that for the salvation of the dead is essential.  That they cannot be perfect without us and we cannot be perfect without them.

I later had the opportunity to be a proxy in the baptistery on the Stake Temple day.  I brought 23 names of my own and was privileged to be baptized for countless other people who have passed.  One month ago in October my ward went on a Temple baptism trip.  I had found 75 more names, besides the 400, that I brought to the Temple.  I hoped that their work could get started that day.  That with the help of the Temple staff and my Ward’s youth, grant 75 people the choice to exit spirit prison and the choice to accept the gift of the Holy Ghost and with everyone’s help, we did just that.

I have seen the promise voiced by Elder Scott fulfilled in my life.  I didn't always realize all the help until I looked back.  I now realize that the sadness I once felt constantly has been expelled.  I found that I had more faith, that my testimony grew, also my testimony of gratitude, Prayer, family history, temple ordinances, and my testimony that the servants of God speak the truth.  I found I also had more confidence in myself in being open about being LDS and dressing more modestly, sharing my beliefs and the gospel of Jesus Christ.  But all this did not happen by idleness, but rather action; my action.  My action to follow and obey the words of the apostles, have faith in the word of God, and reaching out to my lost spirit siblings, my action to aid in the hastening of the Lord’s work on the other side of the veil.  Yes, there is much missionary work being done on Earth, but there is just as much being done and needing to be done beyond the veil.  It is our responsibility to complete the ordinances of our ancestors and give them the choice to accept or reject the Gospel, just like people do here.  I know that what Obadiah prophesied in Obadiah 1:21 is true, 

Obadiah 1:21 - And saviors shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau, and the Kingdom shall be the Lord’s” 

Zechariah 9:11 - As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.

Hebrews 11:40 - God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

I strongly encourage any and all to join the ranks of missionaries in hastening the work of our Lord and Savior.  I know that as you take on the endeavor of family history that you will have the spirit with you all the time and your ancestors will watch over you.  That you will realize the tender mercies of our Redeemer, feel the love of many and grow a love and gratitude for your ancestors.  I close my remarks in the name of our Redeemer, and Brother, and advocate, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Our Boe Family Thanksgiving!
"I Wear Pink for Lisa"

Lilly,Ed,Julian,Laura,Deb,Savannah,Connor,Jonah,Hank,Kit,Burke,Desi,Olivia,Don,Landon,Friend,

Peter,Kayla,Lloyd,Claudia,Elaine,Tam,Taisha,Lexi,Lars,Kit,Tina,Lisa,Brent,Vila,Amy,Arnold,Brent's Father,Eli,Hunter,Hank,Owen,Caroline,Logan,Olivia,Presley,Avin.  

Not shown:Julia,Adam,Bob,Amy,Trevor

Lisa and Tina hosted our forth annual Boe Family Thanksgiving Dinner again this year!  Grandma and Grandpa Boe and all my Brothers and Sisters where there along with their children and beautiful families!  Burke and his family and Laura and her son Julian!

Aunt Lisa, Caroline, Kayla, Olivia, Claudia, Savannah, Presley, Olivia Bowden, Logan and Vila.  The back of the shirts say "Fight like a girl!"

We had a talent show with many amazing Talent's!  I did the Enlarging machine skit.  All the siblings did a skit where we were munchkins and Mom tried to put us to bed after Deb and I babysat.  In the End Dad told us to go to bed and we instantly fell asleep.  Hank and Hunter did a skit called "Watch out for Falling Rocks".  Ed and his boy's played charades with Christmas songs, the last one was "Angels we have heard on high" and Elaine guessed it.  Julian did two magic tricks, and Eli, Hank, Hunter and Lloyd did a skit about filming a skit and in the end had no film in the camera when they finally got the seen right.  Savannah and Owen did a modern dance together.  I think it was Lloyd who did a rap.  We had lot's of wonderful food, Turkey, Ham, pecan pie, and lot's more.   

We stayed at the Marriot Residence Inn near Aunt Tina's in Pleasant Hill and cooked a Turkey in our own Oven!  We enjoyed seeing our little Emily "motor tail" again. (a dog we gave Tina's family)  We enjoyed our family time together and shared our pool and hot tub with our cousins, Owen, Avin and Vila. Friday night we roasted marshmallows over an outside fire pit with Grandma and Grandpa Boe, Aunt Debbie and Uncle Don, Hank, Hunter and Olivia.  Wonderful memories and good feelings all around!   

 We're grateful for many things this time of year, especially for our family!