A book by the Vatican is set to finally exonerate the Knights Templar. As BBC reported when the story first emerged:
The book is based on a document known as the Chinon parchment, found in the Vatican Secret Archives six years ago after years of being incorrectly filed.
The document is a record of the heresy hearings of the Templars before Pope Clement V in the 14th Century.
The official who found the paper says it exonerates the knights entirely.
The material is contained in a book published in a run of 800 by Scrinium, which prints documents from the Vatican’s secret archives.
The order was tried and deemed heretical after a crackdown by the French authorities — a crackdown rooted in the Templars’ banking operations and fuelled by allegations of magic, sodomy and heretical beliefs. They had become so powerful economically that kings came for loans, with one of their most prominent debtors being the French king, Philip IV.
The new book, a 300-page tome that will set you back about €6,000, “reproduces the entire documentation on the papal hearings” into the orders’ alleged heresy. The Chinon document from 1308 records a decision by Clement to absolve the order of heresy and demanding its reform, though he would go back on this and demand its dissolution in 1312.
The Templars were formed in the early 12th century to protect Christian pilgrims travelling in the Middle East. They also provided an avenue for landless men seeking adventure and an outlet for religious zeal. However, the network the order built up allowed it to become a major economic player. They were also exempt from local laws and taxation, and owed obedience only to the Pope.
Norman Davies has referred to it being “a curious bent of the medieval mind that men could reconcile monastic vows with soldiering”. It is not the only example; for instance, the Benedictine order of monks — on which the Templars were based — “combined old monastic traditions with the military spirit of Rome” (Hans Küng). However, the Templars were founded “to bring security to the land” (Georges Tate) and protect pilgrims rather than conquering the region, and the wealth they built up was put back into their campaigns in the Holy Land.
From Joshua Prower’s The World of the Crusaders:
The Templars became the great banking power of the 13th century, vying with the banking houses of Italy and even the Lombards and Cahorsins… On the one hand their well-guarded castles and tower assured the security of their deposits, and their standing as members of the Church turned the order’s property into asylums against lay intervention. On the other, the orders’ many branches facilitated the transfer of obligations and credits [i.e., cheques] from place to place without actually transporting money over dangerous roads and seas… Praises were heaped upon [the military orders’] valour, military skill and devotion to Christendom. But these were counter-balanced by criticism of their wealth, censure of their alleged greed and condemnation of their rivalries which undermined the stability, and even the very existence, of the crusader kingdom.
Their military prowess was never in doubt. The Templars were, to draw a modern parallel, the shock troops of the crusader armies. They would not retreat unless ordered and they would not normally surrender unless ordered. Whereas most monastic orders advocated fasting, the Templars were well fed and muscled — fighting men. These bearded warriors struck terror into Muslim soldiers, and few Templars were left alive after capture.
After the crusader kingdoms collapsed and the order had to withdraw to Europe, it became the focus of the various kings and nobles because of its secrecy in all matters, from initiation ceremonies to financial activities.
A source of envy was the apparent wealth of the Order of the Temple which, given the bad news from the Holy Land, made many wonder if they were giving value for money. Unlike the monastic orders, they made only a minor contribution to the medieval welfare state… [however] the Templars lived in a state of rough frugality… [although they built fortresses in Palestine] the buildings of their commanderies and preceptories were wholly practical: barns to store their corn, stables for their horses, dormitories to house the half-a-dozen brothers who staffed them, and modest fortifications to keep out thieves. (Piers Paul Read)
The order’s emblem symbolised poverty and frugality — two knights sharing one horse.
They also came under fire for having many members but only a few who ever deployed to the Holy Land; this was unfair, as many members of the order were involved with maintaining its thousands of manors across Europe, most of which were donated to it.
The Templars also came under pressure to merge with another military order, the Knights Hospitaller. Philip the Fair, in turn, had ambitions to command a unified order in a new crusade. The union, predictably, was opposed by the grand masters of both groups.
Philip the Fair had amassed huge debts, much of it from wars against England.
The crackdown in France was swift and uncompromising; on October 13, 1307, about 15,000 members and affiliates of the order were arrested across the country “for crimes ‘horrible to contemplate, terrible to hear of… an abominable work, a detestable disgrace, a thing almost inhuman, indeed set apart from all humanity’ ” (Read). This was under the orders of pious Philip the Fair, below, who acted without consulting Pope Clement; although Clement was largely under the French king’s thumb anyway.
The charges were extraordinary. Prosceutors said the order served the devil, while at their initiation recruits were Jesus was a false prophet and they were
to deny Christ, and to spit, trample or urinate on an image of Christ on the cross, and then kiss the Templar who received him on the mouth, the navel, the buttocks, the base of the spine, ‘and sometimes on the penis’. (Read)
Sodomy was also charged, as was worship of a demon called Baphomet (possibly a corruption of the name Mohammad).
Under the tender mercies of the Inquisition, dozens of Templars confessed to these crimes, including the grand master Jacques de Molay (below, and sometimes known as James of Molay), although he steadfastly refused to say he had commited homosexual acts.
He revoked his confession in the presence of three French cardinals in Paris, apparently thinking the Pope would give him justice. Clement briefly ordered the inquisition against the Templars suspended in 1308, the same year the Chinon document was issued clearing the order of heresy. Some Templars who retracted their confessions retracted the retractions once the inquisition was renewed. While a commission was held from late 1309 and early 1310 into the order’s alleged activities, 58 were executed, burned at the stake for being relapsed heretics. The corpse of one treasurer, John la Tour, was exhumed so it too could be burned.
In 1314, having been frustrated in his attempts to get a personal hearing with the pope and after seven years in prison, Molay was burned at the stake. The grand master, in his 70s, was defiant to the last and refuted all charges against him. He and the preceptor of Normandy, Geoffrey de Charney, were executed on the Ile-des-Javiaux, below.
The order’s property was distributed amongst the Hospitallers and kingdoms in Spain, Portugal and Mallorca.
I’ve always been fascinated by the Templars.
Part of this is probably received impressions, generated by centuries of literature, mythology and retellings. It may be the dichotomy which they represent — warrior monks, a combination of what seem on the face to be diometrically opposed endeavours. I don’t presume to be an expert on the order, which is why all I’ve really produced is a brief narrative of its destruction. But the myths have always caught my mental eye. I don’t know if it is the nobility associated with the name, or if even the name itself is what appeals (never underestimate the powers of phonetics).
I actually haven’t read The Da Vinci Code (though I saw the film), but it sums up the romanticised attitude of the order. Freemasonry seems to have appropriated much of the group’s symbolism, though it’s a stretch to say it is the order reborn.
In reality there was nothing romantic about life in the order. Recruits generally joined young, were sent to the Middle East and died fighting. The attrition rate was phenomenal, to the point where 70% of all Templars in 1307 had been recruited since the turn of the century. It was a hard, short, bloody life, even if it did fulfil the knightly classes yearnings for religious exertion and chivalry. The order’s soldiers were feared as much as respected by their enemies — with many Templars executed horribly after capture.
Now though, you can even find their symbols on everything from T-shirts to teddy bears.
Sources: CNN.com, “Knights Templar secrets revealed”; Norman Davies, Europe; Hans Küng, The Catholic Church; Piers Paul Read, The Templars; Geoffrey Hindley, A Brief History of the Crusades; BBC, “Vatican book on Templars’ demise”; Georges Tate, The Crusades and The Holy Land; Joshua Prower, The World of the Crusaders; Margaret Wade Labarge, Medieval Travellers: The Rich and the Restless.


We are dedicating this blog to our foundress, Sister Ann McKean. We celebrate her 60th year as a Sister of Saint Agnes on August 15, 2017. Sister Ann’s background includes teaching in colleges, universities, and even a Catholic seminary. She has held the title “senior professor of theology.” Her subjects have included Sacred Scripture, women’s studies, world religions, and anthropology.
In her work she has traveled extensively. Health challenges have included a knee replacement and breast cancer. She was cancer free for over 20 years but then battled kidney cancer, breast cancer and then leukemia. That was followed by a heart valve problem resulting in open heart surgery.
I would rather focus on Ann McKean, the person behind all these accomplishments and challenges. What motivates her? What is her personal story?
Sister Ann did not grow up Catholic. Already as a child, she was curious about religion so, during high school, she began searching while active in her Methodist United Brethren Church. She signed up for classes in the Catholic Church and would ask the same questions of other religious persuasions and compare the answers. Eventually she decided that the Catholic Church made more sense. Much to her mother’s dismay, she chose to be baptized in the Catholic Church. On that day, August 1, her 18th birthday, she became a Catholic.
I’ve learned in my brief acquaintance with Sister Ann, that she doesn’t do things by halves. She didn’t just join the Catholic Church; she became a nun, choosing to dedicate herself completely to the love of God and God’s people, taking vows of poverty, celibacy, and obedience. It was not an easy life, especially in the early days of convent living. She loved teaching, especially theology. One highlight for her was being a United Nations representative at the 1995 UN World Conference on Women in China.
When I asked Sister Ann what made her think she could start an organization like Adelante Mujer at an age when most people are enjoying retirement and when her health was none too good, she just replied, “I did it because I thought I could and women in Nicaragua were badly in need of help.”
When her health deteriorated to the point where she could no longer travel to Nicaragua herself, she felt very discouraged. One day, however, she understood when she recalled the following passage of St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:6: “I planted the seed, Apollo watered it, but God has given the increase.” That gave her an understanding and acceptance of the part she played in starting Adelante Mujer. She still devotes long hours to raising money, communicating with the students, and overseeing Adelante Mujer.
Sister Ann is living a life that most of us admire, but would never aspire to imitate. Nevertheless, she has created a path for us to follow. If you wish to join her in her latest, and maybe most enduring mission, we invite you to help “water the seed” she has planted, by making a donation to Adelante Mujer/Advance Woman! We know that God will surely continue to “give the increase!”
Rita Thomas, Board Member ~ August 1, 2017
Please consider Adelante Mujer, Inc. in your estate planning.
To donate by mail, please complete our mail-in donation form.


God said to Israel, “Don’t sin for if you do I’ll remove you from the land”. Oh how the prince of the power of the air, the god of this world wanted to destroy Israel. If he could get them to reject God’s law then God himself would have to judge them and cast them out of the land by allowing the enemies of Israel to have success.
In 740 BC and following, Israel indeed was taken captive and removed from the land. “Ten tribes down and only two to go” you can hear the adversary thinking. Judah was out for 70 years from 586 BC and then back again. The baby boys of Bethlehem were all killed trying to stop the Promised One. Then the Romans were used to kill the One.
“Not so fast, amigo” for He rose from the grave.
Still, he, Satan, could get Judah out of the land and stop the promises to Abraham. So once again we have the Romans thwarting God’s promises and this time it was the promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the land of Israel and being a blessing to every family on earth.
So 70 AD saw the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple and finally , in 135 AD, saw the last of Judah from the land.
Once again, Satan smiled.
“Not so fast, amigo” for God’s very spirit had fill the disciples and now as Apostles they were sent to the nations.
Andrew was one such Apostle and he is recorded in history as having gone to the peoples dwelling along the Black Sea.
And why is this topical this week, you might ask? Well, President Putin just awarded President Xi Jinping the Order of Saint Andrew, their highest award. Russia feels grateful for the friendship that China has showed her. And indeed this was prophesied by Schema-monk Aristocleus, not long before his death in August 1918. See notes at end of blog.
You see God was going to fulfill His promises to Abraham and bring the knowledge of the glory of God to the whole earth, and He was going to use Israel – in the nations – to do that.
Andrew, the Apostle, went to the Scythians dwelling by the Black Sea. To understand who the Scythians were requires reading Steven M Collins four volumes republished from his original Lost Tribes Found. He systematically shows them to be an empire containing large parts of the Ten Tribes of Israel. We all know from history that the great Celtic migration arose from this region and went across southern Europe through Spain into Great Britain.
From there the world, colonization by Spain, Portugal and Great Britain, extended this bloodline throughout the New World, Africa and the Pacific.
Of course they also went north into Russia and northern Europe and east into Central Asia and ultimately China, Korea and Japan.
See Steve M Collins’ map to the right.
Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland.
Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland. Have you ever thought, why?
Well it turns out that these Celts knew they were formally Scythians from the Black Sea.
As it was Andrew who had gone to this area and they used this connection to make him their patron saint. We can still read about this in the surviving Scottish Independence document. Cited in full at the end of this blog.
United States Independence Day
And being on topic again, this last week saw the United States Independence Day holiday, 4th July. Those from that part of the world may be interested to note that their Declaration of Independence was modeled after the Scottish Declaration of Independence and that comes from ‘Celtic’ Israelites who came from the Black Sea about 100 BC.
Anyway back to our Br’er Rabbit theme
Anyway back to our theme………. God warned Israel not to sin for they would be removed from the land. Let’s say that Satan, as Br’er Fox, took the bate and caused Israel to sin.
Now Israel are in the world, and what’s more they have been pushed to the ends of the earth. They are in the Briar Patch, so to speak. Just where God wanted them so they could be a blessing to all the families of the earth.
We are now starting to witness the awakening of the House of Israel through the filling of the Spirit of God in the Sons of the Living God that Hosea 1 prophesied.
Every promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will be fulfilled and every family of the earth will be blessed through Abraham’s seed both spiritually through Messiah and physically through the casting out of Israel into the nations by the Br’er Fox character of Satan himself.
“Not so fast , amigo!”
Scottish Declaration of Independence connects the Scots to the Israelites
Robert the Bruce and his nobles drafted a letter which they addressed to pope John XXII and which can still be seen in Register House in Edinburgh. It had attached to it coloured ribbons and seals with the signatures of Robert the Bruce and twenty-five of his nobles.
The letter which is drafted:- April 6, 1320, read in part:-
“Most Holy Father, we know and from the chronicles and books of the ancients we find that among other famous nations our own, the Scots, has been graced with widespread renown. It journeyed from Greater Scythia by way of the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Pillars of Hercules, and dwelt for a long course of time in Spain among the most savage peoples, but nowhere could it be subdued by any people, however barbarous. Thence it came, twelve hundred years after the people of Israel crossed the Red Sea, to its home in the west where it still lives today. The Britons it first drove out, the Picts it utterly destroyed, and, even though very often assailed by the Norwegians, the Danes and the English, it took possession of that home with many victories and untold efforts; and, as the histories of old time bear witness, they have held it free of all servitude ever since. In their kingdom there have reigned one hundred and thirteen kings of their own royal stock, the line unbroken by a single foreigner.
NOTES FROM OLD RUSSIAN PROPHETS. THESE MEN PREDICTED THE FALL OF RUSSIA INTO WHAT WOULD BE COMMUNISM BUT SAW GREAT THINGS FOR RUSSIA ON THE OTHER SIDE.
Schema-monk Aristocleus, not long before his death in August 1918, said that “now we are undergoing the times before Antichrist, but Russia will yet be delivered. There will be much suffering, much torture. The whole of Russia will become a prison, and one must greatly entreat the Lord for forgiveness. One must repent of one’s sins and fear to do even the least sin, but strive to do good, even the smallest. For even the wing of a fly has weight, but God’s scales are exact. And when even the smallest of good in the cup overweighs, then will God reveal His mercy upon Russia. Ten days before the end (of his life) he said that the end would come through China. There will be and extraordinary outburst and a miracle of God would be manifested. And there will be an entirely different life, but all this will not be for long” [Orth. Russia, 1969, #21, p. 3].
The salvation of the world is from Russia. St Petersburg will become the spiritual centre of the country. There will be more great events in Russia – the opening and glorification of holy relics in St Petersburg – a great joy for the whole world…
Interestingly, St. John of Kronstadt also prophesied that the deliverance of Russia would come from the East [I.K. Sursky, Father John of Kronstadt, Belgrade, 1942, vol. 2, p. 24 — Excerpts from this work are in preparation for publication by the St. John of Kronstadt Press].


Would you believe me if I told you that we are on an adventure? We certainly are! Find out how God takes us on adventures through the peaks and valleys of marriage and remarriage, family, death and loss, health challenges, and so much more. Yet, life is always an adventure with God when we love Jesus. Some adventures are spectacular, while others we don’t want to repeat, but all of them are blessings if we are willing to see His incredible work in us. It is never a dull moment for believers in Christ!
By the way, I would love to hear about your adventures with God in the lead. Feel free to email me at firstname.lastname@example.org. I’m always happy to meet a new friend!
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Experience the rich historical and cultural heritage of Ethiopia with our immersive tour package by Magic Ethiopia Tours. Explore the ancient town of Lalibela, home to the iconic Rock-Hewn Churches, marvel at the stunning landscapes surrounding the Na’akuto La’ab Monastery, and experience the spiritual essence of Ethiopia’s main churches. Join us for a captivating adventure that promises to leave you with lasting memories of this remarkable destination.
Up on arrival in Lalibela airport your guide meets you and takes you to your hotel and eats your lunch. Afternoon ,begin your tour to the Rock-Hewn Churches of
Lalibela , the most famous of all of the Ethiopian historical sites. Escape into Ethiopia tours help visitors to explore the 11 rock-hewn churches of the remarkable king Lalibela, visiting the Northwestern Cluster of churches - Bet Medhane Alem, Bet Maryam, Bet Meskel, Bet Danaghel, and Bet Mikael & Bet Golgotha. O/n Lalibela
In the morning , drive 7 km south of Lalibela to see Nakuto La'ab Monastery and the beautiful landscape , this church is found inside a natural cavern in the highlands surrounding the town. The church has marvelous treasure and amazing paintings .
In the afternoon, visit the Southeastern Cluster of churches – Bet Gabriel-Rufael, Bet Merkorios, Bet Amanual, and Bet Abba Libanos. Finally, visit the most famous of all the churches – Bet Giyorgis, a huge monolith in the shape of a cross, and constructed in honor of St. George, the patron saint of Ethiopia.
Early in the morning , attend a mass ceremony in one of the main churches of Lalibela then transfer out to Lalibela airport to depart to Addis .


My dear brothers and sisters, Aloha.
I am very humbled to be standing before you today. It is my prayer that the message I have been inspired to share with you will help someone here in the audience today recognize and have a clearer vision of the Lord’s care and love for them.
I’ve titled my remarks The Lord’s Hand in Our Lives and I’d like to begin with a question. Why are you here at Brigham Young University–Hawaii? Why is Camille from New York, Raife from Australia, and Victoria from Hong Kong here at BYU–Hawaii? Why am I, a girl from the prairies of Southern Alberta, here at this university at this particular time? We all have our own story. It is my belief that the Lord’s hand guided each of us to this place at this time. I’d like to share a bit of my story with you.
In a way, it began in my college days at Brigham Young University in Provo. Like many of you, I struggled with choosing a major. My dilemma, if one can call this a dilemma, was that I loved too many subjects – Math, English, History, Biology, Home Economics, Accounting, even Horticulture. Everything was fun and fascinating to me. So narrowing it down to a single major – that was tough. Like many of you, I changed my mind, more than once! After much prayer and careful thought, I eventually chose to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography with an emphasis in Travel and Tourism.
Did the Lord guide me in my decision? I believe so. The world of travel was an exotic choice of major for this small town girl. I come from a family of educators – parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles. Most of them teachers. I thought I too would be a teacher. So you may all chuckle, but back then for me, choosing a degree in Travel and Tourism was going out on a limb! However, as it turned out, the Lord guided me to choose a degree which would eventually help supplement my family’s income in a place where tourism was the number one industry – Hawaii.
The Lord continued to guide me in a way that would lead me here to Brigham Young University–-Hawaii. On September 11, 2001, the tragic bombing of the twin towers in New York City had a drastic effect on the tourism industry. Air travel almost ground to a stop for a time. Within a month of that tragedy, the agency for which I worked made the decision to shut its doors.
Now a year previous to this event, my husband’s employment seemed shaky for a time and so I sought out another part-time job and interviewed for the position of an academic advisor here on this campus. However, my husband’s job stabilized and I was prompted by the Spirit to withdraw my application. Months later, when I was facing unemployment in the travel industry, I admit that I questioned that earlier prompting I had received to withdraw that application! Why had the Lord told me to let that opportunity pass by? My ability to help sustain our young family was now uncertain.
I should not have questioned. The Lord was still mindful of me and helped me immediately secure part-time employment at a local elementary school. I say immediately because this new job opportunity came the week before my last day of employment at the travel agency. Upon the kind recommendation of a friend, I applied for an opening at the elementary school and was hired. The Lord does work in mysterious ways because the principal later told me that he had seen me working with his grandchildren in the Primary organization and that was one of the things which prompted him to hire me. So this is a testimony to everyone here that all experience is to our benefit. Every calling you receive from the Lord will add to your skills and help you develop into the person the Lord knows you can be.
So right now you are all thinking, “Wait, that can’t be the end of the story because Sister Ching is not yet here at BYU–Hawaii!” Almost a year passed when I once again saw an opening for the same position for an academic advisor that I had interviewed for 18 months previously. I immediately felt a confirmation of “now is the time” and fortunately, was offered the position when I applied. I knew that I was where the Lord wanted me to be. Part of my testimony that confirms this to me comes from my patriarchal blessing. I’ll share just a small part of it in which the Lord tells me that men and women will come to me for counsel and advice in the activities of their lives. To the shy, young girl who received this blessing, this sentence from my patriarchal blessing was almost unimaginable at the time. Now, this sentence of my blessing is clearer to me.
I haven’t shared this experience widely with a lot of people previously because it is very personal and sacred to me. Perhaps to others, my story may seem insignificant when you look at the big plan. It’s true, my story is a miniscule piece of the Lord’s larger plan. But to me, this is further testimony that He truly cares for each one of us individually and will guide our path if we allow Him to. By sharing my experience with you today, I want to acknowledge the Lord’s hand in my life as counseled in my father’s favorite scripture: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
It is easy to understand why these particular two lines of scripture are dear to my father’s heart. When I ponder them, I see a roadmap to help us be successful in this earthly life, and more immediately, perhaps why both your path and mine have been directed to this university at this time. The four road signs that I found within this scripture guide our path:
1. Put our complete trust in the Lord in all things
2. Be humble and seek understanding through Him
3. Acknowledge the Lord in all ways
4. Be open to His direction.
First – Put Our Complete Trust in the Lord in All Things
Putting our complete trust in the Lord is something that we must consciously make an effort to do. I think most of us were encouraged as we were growing up to be self-sufficient and independent. These are good character traits and it may seem counter-intuitive to then say that we must put our complete trust in someone else. However, this is the beauty of this principle. When we do put our trust in the Lord, or in a sense allow Him control of our lives, then we actually become stronger than we could possibly be all by ourselves. We must still do our part, but with the Lord’s help, we can accomplish even more amazing things.
The best example of this is a missionary. A missionary is willing to leave the comforts of home and family and serve in an unfamiliar area for an extended period of time. There are many examples of our early pioneer missionaries who left to serve with barely a suit of clothing, a pair of socks, and a Book of Mormon. My great, great grandfather, Benjamin Franklin Johnson, served several early missions for the Church including one here, to what was then known as the Sandwich Islands, in 1852. He was married at the time and so he left most of his earthly goods with his family for their support during his absence and journeyed with very little to the West Coast and then on to Hawaii. His journal relates many financial struggles but always a conviction that the Lord would provide a way. When it came time for him to return home from his mission in 1855, he was left without any means to pay for his passage home – a sum of $50. He resigned himself to the fact that he would likely have to wait another six months before his fare could be raised when a faithful convert from the Island of Hawaii gave the mission a sum of $150, a portion of which he offered for the use of my great, great grandfather’s passage home.1 This is not only an example of how the Lord provided for my great, great grandfather, but also an example of how others can become the hands of the Lord here on Earth – which I will talk more of later.
Our missionaries today also put their complete trust in the Lord. One young friend of mine from Colorado recently entered the MTC in Provo to begin learning a new language: Korean. Her family kindly shares her weekly letters with me and I would like to share one of her recent comments:
“I have never studied so hard in my life and it truly is paying off. I notice the Lord in my life every day and cannot give thanks enough for all the blessings I receive. It has been so humbling to learn Korean. I know the gift of tongues is real. It is amazing how much the Lord will bless your life if you just put forth the effort and prepare to receive blessings. I love this gospel!”2
Learning a new language and then being able to share a gospel message in that language is a true example of road sign #1 – putting complete trust in the Lord.
Second – Be Humble and Seek Understanding through Him
I believe Nephi is a great example of humility and willingness to follow the Lord’s direction. Several times, he was the “hero of the day.” He was the one who secured the brass plates by following the Lord’s command. He also was the one who crafted a bow and arrow and provided meat for his hungry family. He was chosen of the Lord, above his older siblings.3 But never once do you hear him being boastful about the Lord’s trust in him, exemplifying humility.
In addition, Nephi did not lean unto his own understanding but sought direction from the Lord. The task of securing the brass plates from Laban seemed insurmountable to Nephi’s brothers. They wanted to give up. Even Nephi didn’t understand how it could be done, but he knew that the Lord would provide a way. “And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them” (1 Nephi 3:7).
Nephi is an example of humility and willingness to seek understanding through the Lord.
Third – Acknowledge the Lord in All Ways
Giving thanks in our daily prayers is one way in which we acknowledge the Lord in our lives. Another way to acknowledge His hand was shared with me by a friend in my ward as I pushed her wheelchair up to the temple for her weekly temple service. She shared with me that she sees the hand of the Lord in the beautiful flowers and lush greenery that abounds here in Hawaii. I appreciated her thoughts because it reminded me that I often get so involved with the busyness of my day that I don’t take time to appreciate and acknowledge the simple beauties of nature which the Lord has blessed us with.
Elder Bednar encouraged us to acknowledge the tender mercies of the Lord. In his April 2005 Conference address, you may recall that he shared the experience of being a newly-called apostle and feeling all the weight of responsibility that goes along with that calling. He shared that just before he stepped up to the pulpit to address us for the first time, the congregation stood to sing an intermediate hymn, “Redeemer of Israel” ( Hymns, no. 6). This song had been chosen weeks previously but if Elder Bednar had been given the choice, he would have chosen this exact song, for “Redeemer of Israel” is his favorite hymn. Elder Bednar testified that this was a tender mercy from a loving Heavenly Father sending him “a most personal and timely message of comfort and reassurance.”4 By recognizing this as a special gift from God, and not just a coincidence, Elder Bednar was acknowledging the hand of God.
Another term for acknowledging our Father in Heaven’s hand in our lives has been coined as “divine signatures” by Elder Gerald Lund, who authored a book titled Divine Signatures – The Confirming Hand of God.5 In his words, a divine signature is when “the Lord goes an extra step not just to bless us, but to do it in such a unique, or dramatic, or precisely timed way; it’s like He autographs it, so that it is not only a blessing but that it strengthens faith in Him.”6 He goes on to relate a story from a colleague who served as a mission president several years ago in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He tells of a young, new missionary from Northern Brazil who had recently arrived to serve in southern Sao Paulo, a huge metropolis of about 14 million people. It was the practice of this mission president to give all new missionaries a strong start by having them go out their very first day for a mission experience. This young man’s companion didn’t have any appointments scheduled so he took the new young missionary tracting and told him he would take the first door but that the second door would be for the new missionary. Some of you returned missionaries probably remember how you felt knocking on your first door! This new, young missionary was absolutely terrified but obediently knocked on the second door. To his amazement, the door was opened by his sister, who had left home several years earlier with no further contact with her family. This sister became his first baptism in the mission field. When we reflect again on the size of that huge city and the chances of him knocking on his sister’s door as the first door of his mission, we know and recognize a divine signature in the lives of this brother and sister.
Expressing gratitude in our prayers, taking time to appreciate the simple beauties of life, and recognizing tender mercies and divine signatures are ways to show a loving Heavenly Father that we love Him in return and acknowledge His hand in our lives.
Finally – Be Open to His Direction
I believe this last area has two facets. First, we must be living our lives in such a way that we are receptive to His guidance and counsel. And second, we must be willing to be a vessel which the Lord can use to accomplish His purposes. We are His hands on this earth.
In regards to the first facet of living our lives in such a way that we are able to receive guidance, I am reminded of a story related as follows by Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone:
“Some time ago, I had the privilege of being involved with a young man and his father. The youth and a friend had been hiking in the foothills near Cody, Wyoming. The friend jumped across a high power line that was down, but the young man got tangled in it and was electrocuted. The friend ran all the way back down to where the father lived (and it wasn’t a short distance) and told the father that his son had been electrocuted and was dead. The father, who was not a young man, ran all the way back up, taking about fifteen minutes. When he got to where the boy was lying across the wires, he managed somehow to remove the youth from the wires with a board or a large stick. Then he picked his son up in his arms and held him, blessing him by the power and authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood, and commanded the boy to live. The dead boy opened his eyes and talked with his father.”7
Elder Featherstone, when commenting on this experience, said that this miracle could not have been performed or granted from the Lord if the father was not living in such a way as to be worthy to use his priesthood power. When we live obedient lives, the Lord can perform miracles through us. This leads to the second facet of this road sign – that in many situations in this life, we are the Lord’s hands.
A poignant example of this was recently shared with me. In 1892, a young 18-year old student at Stanford University was struggling and pondering how he could pay his fees. He was an orphan, so he had no family financial assistance. He and a friend came up with the idea to host a musical concert. They contacted the manager of a well-known pianist, J. Paderewski, and it was agreed that he would perform for a fee of $2000. The young men did their best to make the concert a success, but in the end, they only raised a total of $1600. Apologetic and humbled, the two young men approached Paderewski with the concert receipts and a check for the balance of $400. Giving it all to him, they promised to honor their check as soon as possible. Paderewski, however, refused the money, telling the young men to take the money, pay off all concert expenses, use what they needed for their fees, and only then, give him any remaining balance. This small act of kindness is confirmation that man is often put in situations to help their fellow men if they choose to do so, much like the new convert from Hawaii who helped my great, great grandfather many years ago.
This story with Paderewski does not end there. He later went on to become the Prime Minister of Poland at a time when his country was suffering terribly. The World War had devastated his homeland so that over a million of his people were near starvation. He reached out to the U.S. Food and Relief Administration for help, which was headed by a man named Herbert Hoover. Hoover immediately proceeded to ship tons of food relief to Poland. Prime Minister Paderewski journeyed to personally thank Hoover. When they met, Mr. Hoover waved the thanks aside, saying, “You shouldn’t be thanking me, Mr. Prime Minister. You may not remember this, but several years ago, you helped two young students go through college. I was one of them.”8
President Monson said, “The needs of others are ever present, and each of us can do something to help someone… I believe the Savior is telling us that unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives. Those who live only for themselves eventually shrivel up and figuratively lose their lives, while those who lose themselves in service to others grow and flourish—and in effect save their lives.”
In that same conference talk, President Monson continued, “My brothers and sisters, we are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness—be they family members, friends, acquaintances, or strangers. We are the Lord’s hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us.”9
Let me end by referring once again to Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Now, think back to my original question – why are you here at Brigham Young University–Hawaii? Whether you are a student, staff, or faculty – why are you here? Do you have a conviction or testimony that the Lord guided you here? In the words of Mormon, “Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God?” (Mormon 5:23). It is my prayer that we will all strive to put our complete trust in the Lord, show humility in all things, acknowledge the hand of the Lord in our lives, and truly strive to be more obedient and Christ-like so that the Lord can bless our lives and use us to accomplish His purposes. I bear my testimony of the truthfulness of the restored gospel on this earth and express my gratitude for a living Prophet who counsels with the Lord. And I express thankfulness to be of service in some small way here at Brigham Young University–Hawaii. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
1 See Benjamin F. Johnson, “My Life’s Review” (1992), 185-186.
2 Brooke Harper, personal correspondence, (2013).
3 See 1 Nephi 2; 4; 16.
4 David A. Bednar, “The Tender Mercies of the Lord” (April 2005 General Conference).
5 Gerald N. Lund, “Divine Signatures: The Confirming Hand of God” (2010).
6 Interview with Kathy Aiken – Mormon Times: Gerald Lund “Divine Signatures” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPS4bo6UOsw November 12, 2010.
7 Vaughn J. Featherstone, “Charity Never Faileth” (1980) as quoted in Grant Von Harrison’s “Seeing with an Eye of Faith” (1999), 62.
8 See Inspirational Stories, Motivational Stories…by AcademicTips.org at http://academictips.org/blogs/what-goes-around-comes-around/ July 20, 2013.
9 Thomas S. Monson, “What Have I Done For Someone Today?” (October 2009 General Conference).


The Nativity of Christ
The Nativity of Christ is based in the icon tradition of early Christian art. While most elements in this artwork easily correlate with modern nativity arrangements – angels, shepherds, Mary, Joseph, the Christ child, the star, and the stable animals, there are a few key features in this particular image that are worth explaining and a few that are notably different. In the top right corner an angel proclaims the “good news” of Christ’s birth to a lowly shepherd. Note the staff held by the angel signifying heavenly authority to carry this message directly from God. Two angels, opposite, bend in praise and adoration over the newborn King. Why are their hands draped with cloths? Here is a very ancient custom whereby any common person who received an audience with a king was required to cover his/her hands, thus sparing the king the unpleasant experience of seeing the calloused, dirty hands of a working class individual. In this instance, it signals to the viewer that the baby is royalty. We also see a second shepherd playing flute in adoration. Christ’s ultimate mission of dying for the salvation of the world are hinted at: swaddling cloths that resemble grave cloths, a cross filled halo, and a lamb reminding us of John the Baptist’s words, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
But the heart of The Nativity of Christ is the scene playing out between Mary, Joseph and the old man in the shaggy coat kneeling in front of Joseph. Note that neither Mary nor Joseph gazes in amazement at the miracle God-child as a modern nativity would portray them. Instead, we see Mary quietly focused on her husband, who is seemingly engaged in an interaction with the old man. What’s going on here? That old man is God’s adversary, Satan, ever so gently planting the seed of doubt in Joseph. He asks, “Do you really want to get involved with this Mary and her baby? Why not quietly divorce yourself from them?” Mary watches and waits for Joseph’s answer. Joseph represents each of us – each of us must face doubt and answer the question, “Do you really want anything to do with this baby?” Mary often represents the church in icon art – Christ’s church watches and waits for our answer . . . as does Christ himself.


The Vatican, China and Zen
Dealing with The Vatican, China and Zen we must acknowledge that whatever else freedom means it must mean freedom of peaceable worship. Religious groups are inevitably intertwined with politics by virtue of the powerful sways they have over their congregations and the sheer numbers that become involved. In the case of China there is the added complication that their political ideology – as with many another – is itself a form of religion with the same endeavours to control and manage that most religions have.
I am a lapsed Catholic who loves the ceremony and music of the church and who still contributes a little to its institutions. I envy those who have a faith so strong that it can withstand the behaviour of many members of the hierarchy. Above all, I regard a person’s right to believe – or not – in unproved external forces as paramount in any society.
Maybe President Xi sees the growing congregations for Catholic churches as a form of (potential) political unrest. Religion certainly has a record of political intrigue and like-minded believers can be a strong force if marshalled correctly. Churches are the marshalling yards of religions. That is why he is closing some of them. Maybe the Vatican eyes the population of China as a good breeding ground for support of a church that has lost some following in the west. No Pope can ignore China.
The difficulty from the Catholic Church’s point of view is that it needs to be seen to be above politics while patently indulging in as much political manoeuvring as any other independent state. The Vatican occupies only 0.44 sq km of landmass but commands a following of some 400 million souls. For political purposes souls are people. The Church’s potential influence is therefore great, especially where the infallibility of the Pope is still believed.
As an institution the church has substantial assets but a less healthy cash flow. Many of the assets are unrealisable unless you are willing to destroy the whole manifestation of Catholicism. For reasons quite beyond religious faith this would be a desecration. Many good and faithful Catholics do many good and worthwhile things. Provided they don’t become extremist in pursuit of their faith they should be allowed to worship peacefully.
Now Cardinal Joseph Zen, Archbishop of Hong Kong, is in dispute with the Pope’s attempts to reach a deal with President Xi. The Chinese Authorities have already closed a middle-class English-speaking Roman Catholic Church in Beijing. Closures elsewhere are happening too. China is now demanding the right to appoint Bishops to the church. The bear hug has begun. The Pope is between a rock and a hard place. I imagine he thinks he has more to say than just ‘Holy Father’.
Ideologies and faiths of any kind have to be doubly careful in a world that is producing AI with faster and deeper thinking than humans. Science has entitled us increasingly to seek proof of whatever we are told. Fake news has created an increasingly blurred line between true and false. ‘Faction’ has moved from being for entertainment to being part of the fabric of life. Our lives, in any case, are largely fiction. We believe what we want to.
Today’s free democracy is the brainchild of the west. Trying to impose it on the rest of the world with a missionary zeal would suggest an arrogance unworthy of a thinking institution. Increasingly the people will fashion a religion in their own image and to suit their own wishes. That is as it should be because it encourages thought. And thought is the ultimate prayer.
Good Pope Francis said “As long as a person is seeking the truth, who am I to judge them?”
I’ll say Amen to that.


There are over 300 children in the foster care system today. Less than half of that amount of families that are able to take them in. Children are being taken away from their homes on a daily basis for substance abuse, domestic violence and much more.
With that being said … Danielle, Dylan and Emma are trying to become a foster family in St. Lucie County.
I have been felt a nudging in this direction for a long time and have finally decided that the three of us are ready to take this on. I haven’t told many people at this point. We are in the process of going to classes and beginning paperwork. The people that I have talked to have given me very mixed reactions but quite honestly, I am not doing this for you. Or for me. Or for my neighbor across the street. I am doing this because I have felt a calling, I have seen many children positively impacted by fostering (and sometimes later adoption) and I want to make that difference. I want to love on a baby for five minutes out of their lifetime, or five days or five years. I want them to know that for whatever amount of time they are with us that they are valued and they are loved. They are safe.
I am putting 100% of my faith in God. He has brought me to this place and has helped me every inch of the way.
I am trusting that even in the worst of it, I will remain faithful and know that He is challenging me because I am capable and I am strong.
It has already been mentally challenging for me in preparation for this journey. I have never felt more sure about anything in my life though.
I’m asking for anyone reading this that you might say a prayer for us, send us good vibes or just silently wish us well as we enter into the foster world.
I’m hoping that with this blog I can share some of our adventures as an up and coming foster family. Especially a single parent foster home.


We are defined by our Mission, our Values, and our commitment to act accordingly. It is said that values must be discovered, not merely written on a poster. They must reflect WHO we are as well as who we WANT to be.
"Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements." -- Napoleon Hill
"Where there is no vision the people perish." -- Proverbs 29:18
“A mission statement is not something you write overnight, but fundamentally, your mission statement becomes your constitution, the solid expression of your vision and values. It becomes the criterion by which you measure everything else in your life.” -- Stephen Covey
Our team embraced the idea of discovering our mission and values. As the team discussed how we make decisions, how we choose to do business, and how we choose to serve our clients, several themes percolated to the top.
Our mission and our values are aspirational (we aspire to meet them) as well as a reflection of our character as a team and as individuals.
Our Mission (or Purpose):
We exist to Assist our customers with their Technology needs. We are committed to inspiring Confidence by being Excellent, Responsive, and Honest.
-- Highest Standards of Quality
-- Constant Self-Improvement
-- Work Smart & Collaborate
-- Go the Extra Mile
-- Work Diligently
-- Take Initiative
-- Do the Right Thing
-- Respect for Others
-- No Negativity & Gossip


Welcome to my new blog series. I am embarking on a challenge for the month of October and I will be chronicling my journey to transforming my temple for 31 days. I am actually starting this on October 3rd so I am a little late getting into this challenge.
Okay, before I go any further let me clarify what I am talking about when I say temple.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 says “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple” ESV
As I sat down to create this first page which will be the landing page for this series, the Lord brought me to these verses. I am God’s temple because His Spirit lives in me. I have been in a dangerous process of destroying my temple by unhealthy eating habits and lack of exercise. I don’t want to continue this path of destruction. I want to be holy as God is holy and I want to glorify God with and through my body.
This 31 day challenge will set the course for the rest of my life. Thank you for joining me in this journey. Each day I will add a link to the daily post for the next 31 days below. Let’s go…
(Day 7) End of First Week Weigh In
(Days 8-12) Learning to Plan Well
(Day 15) Beginning The Third Week of My Journey
(Days 16 & 17) That’s It I Surrender!
(Day 19) Celebrate Small Victories
(Day 20) Unexpected Motivation
(Day 21) A New Shopping Experience
(Day 22) Beginning The Fourth Week of My Journey
(Days 23 & 24) Temptations Galore!
(Day 25) Quick Exercise Update
(Day 26) Disappointed But Not For Long
(Day 28) Being Intentional Today
(Day 29) Beginning the Fifth Week of My Journey
(Day 31) Recap, Wrap Up and What’s Next
You have such a pretty smile! Good job with your topic & health journey – I know you can do it!!
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As most of you know, I’m a writer with a background in communications and public relations. However, one lesser-known aspect of my career is that I used to teach English to Hispanics in Jamaica.
Recently, a Dominican requested that I revisit that old tutoring life, to teach him English. After agreeing, I returned home to see whether or not I still had all the old assessments, homework, and teaching notes I had written up all those years before.
While searching for those notes, I came across a copy of an old article I wrote about the Seventh Day Adventist Church, 6 years ago.
While it’s always fascinating to come across a writers’ old work, let’s keep the context in mind. I was raised in a strict Seventh Day Adventist household but believed that the faith failed to answer some of the most basic and fundamental questions I posed about religion.
My quest for answers, from the young age of about three years old, took me further down a path of disbelief. The more I looked for credibility to bolster the SDA faith my family espoused, the more I found the opposite.
Once I accepted that the SDA faith did not hold a solid enough foundation to attract my belief, Christianity as a whole became questionable to me. I touched on this before in Revisiting Religion: Refusing to be an Arawak.
The blog post I’m about to share was written much earlier, in 2012; between the aftermath of Harold Camping’s failed prediction of The Rapture and the doomsday prediction made for December 21st in 2012, as per interpretations of the Mayan Calendar.
The blog post addresses end-of-world predictions, my familiarity with one faith that sprung from a doomsday prediction, and why I believe that just like the Rapture and the Mayan’s End of Days prediction, this faith is groundless.
Do keep in mind that this was just a Tumblr rant, so not all sources were cited. I have, however, included a list of sources at the end of the article for those of you who want to look up some of the claims, for yourself.
The Tumblr Rant
Last year (2011), Harold Camping predicted that “the Rapture” and Judgement Day would occur on May 21, 2011, and that the world would end on October 21, 2011.
Most of the world watched and waited anxiously to see what would happen, but some of us weren’t content with just watching, so we chose to act. How did we act? Well, for starters, quite a few non-believers suddenly converted to Christianity.
Some of us RE-converted. Pastors and priests worldwide reported an increase in the number of baptisms performed in the week leading up to the Rapture. And still, of course, there were some of us who didn’t give a crap.
But nothing compares to the Christians on my Twitter timeline, who took it upon themselves to bash these Rapturists for their beliefs. I mean, I can forgive the Catholics, Anglicans, and other old denominations when they think the formation and beliefs of a new extremist-Protestant group is ridiculous.
But my goodness… along came the Seventh Day Adventists O_O …
I was shocked! Seventh Day Adventists (SDAs) are the last people on Earth who should so much as snicker at the Rapturists! So when the shock wore off, I did laugh. I laughed so hard, I was almost ashamed of myself — but only almost.
Now, for those of you who don’t understand why this is so funny, don’t worry. I promise you: I am getting to a point, and a good one.
We’ll begin here:
One SDA follower (let’s call her “Trina”) was brave enough to begin quoting the Bible to prove her point that the Rapturists were stupid. She called them “false prophets” (Revelations), and tweeted of Jesus’ return, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. (Matthew 24:36).”
Now let’s rewind a century and some change back to 1843 and follow the religious journey of William Miller, and the resulting Millerite Movement. Miller was a farmer and a Baptist preacher, who after reading the Bible for himself, concluded that Jesus Christ was returning to Earth on October 22nd, 1844. As we all know, no such thing occurred on that fateful day.
So what happened? Well, all of 14 things happened, actually. Firstly, some Millerites became disillusioned, and so quit the cult/movement altogether. Secondly, the remaining Millerites became divided as to what should be the resulting truth (aka Plan B), since Plan A, most certainly had not turned out as planned.
This led to the other 12 things that happened i.e. the formation of the following churches:
- Advent Christian Church
- Church of God (Seventh-Day)
- Church of God General Conference
- Church of the Blessed Hope
- Seventh Day Adventist Reform Mov’t
- Davidian SDA (Shepherd’s Rod)
- United Seventh-Day Brethren
- Branch Davidians
- Primitive Advent Christian Church
- Sabbath Rest Advent Church
- (and of course) the Seventh-day Adventist Church
NOW, do you see why I was laughing? These Seventh Day Adventists were ridiculing a group of people for doing the very thing that had led to the birth of their own faith. As we say in Jamaica:
Pot calling the kettle black.
Of course, they don’t always tell you these things in church. I would know. I was born and raised in a strict Seventh Day Adventist family for the first seventeen miserable years of my life, and attended about 8 different Seventh Day Adventist Churches throughout that time- 1 in Maryland (USA), 1 in New York City (USA), 1 in Eastern Jamaica, and 5 in Western Jamaica.
I was taught that Seventh Day Adventists were around longer than the Catholic Church, and that the doctrines of the Seventh Day Adventist church were the real doctrines passed down from Jesus Christ to his disciples. Ask almost any Seventh Day Adventist and, they will likely tell you the same thing.
See? I told you I was getting to a good point.
So if you ever wondered where the “Adventists” got their name, it’s from the word “Advent”, meaning “the coming or return of Jesus Christ,” which they, like the Rapturists, failed to predict.
But Wait – There’s More!
I’m not about to stop here, though. Not when there are still a few other things they don’t tell you in the Seventh Day Adventist Church that I thoroughly intend to. We only just covered lesson number one.
Lesson No. 2
Now, I didn’t hear this in the American SDA churches I attended, but in every Jamaican SDA church I went to, we were reminded that America was 666 – the mark of the beast. What they conveniently neglected to tell people in church though, was how their religion (denomination) began in America, and was founded by an American man i.e. William Miller.
Did I mention that our Quarterlies (the materials we used for Bible Study in Sabbath School) also came from the United States? And if you go on the Seventh Day Adventists’ Official Website, you will see that the Headquarters’ Address is:
12501 Old Columbia Pike,
MD 20904, USA
Funny – isn’t it?
Lesson No. 3
As I stated earlier, William Miller was a Baptist! — i.e. a Sunday worshipper. I don’t know if all SDA people tell their children this, but my biological father called Sunday worshippers “devil-worshippers”. Milder versions I heard in church was that Sunday worshippers worshipped the Sun, and were not true believers or true Christians.
Imagine my wonderful surprise when I found out that the father of the Seventh Day Adventist faith was a Sunday pastor, himself. Unfortunately for my parents, that was not all I discovered.
Lesson No. 4
My mother’s side of the family is Anglican and Catholic, and I was a child who read any and everything I could get my hands on – including an enormous Anglican book on the history of Christianity (censoring out the things they don’t tell you in Anglican Churches either, of course).
In that book, I learned that the Bible was put together by Catholic monks and priests – i.e. even more SUNDAY WORSHIPPERS! Aside from the claims made by SDAs against the legitimacy of Sunday-worshippers, why is this relevant?
One of the SDA’s strongest beliefs is the “the infallibility of the Bible”. In other words, Seventh Day Adventists do not question the Bible’s origins and believe that it is entirely true and wholesome as is.
When I asked about this, my father was too furious that I was reading Anglican material to even bother giving me a proper answer. He might as well have given me one, because the search for a real answer followed me into my adult years, and led me to discover the Arian Heresy.
(You can look that one up on your own, though. It would take a whole other blog post for me to explain it.)
Lesson No. 5
Another principle I was taught in the Seventh Day Adventist Church was not to wear jewelry. Once, a pastor told my mother she could not wear her broach to church, and another one tried to convince her not to wear her wedding ring. (I kid thee not!)
When I asked my family about it, I was told that God banned the wearing of jewelry because the Israelites, in distress, during the Exodus (the journey out of Egypt and to the promised land), melted their gold and built idols to worship; which was a great insult to God.
I took this as a good answer… until I read about King Solomon, who was made King long after the Exodus. King Solomon was the wisest man in the world and loved by God, and he wore jewelry — gold at that. I asked my family about that, too. They had no answers for me, so I decided I would start wearing jewelry.
Why? Because surely, King Solomon was wiser than my parents, my church members, and the Pastor.
There are a lot of other things I could tell you that they don’t tell you in Seventh Day Adventist Churches. I could tell you about being dragged to the final Seventh Day Adventist Church I ever attended — at 17 — to discover that a History Lecturer from my College was the church leader, and the pastor.
I could tell you how he stood there and lied to the congregation about the evolution theory: this College History Lecturer who knew better, stood in the House of his Lord and lied to his people to get an “Amen”.
Then, of course, he trotted off to college Monday morning, to teach us all about ancient civilizations. But if I told you these things, this blog post would never end. And I daresay, I’ve told you all enough already.
There is a big lesson to be learned here, though:
Do not accept “truths” simply because it is easier to believe, and more difficult to question. Find and learn the real truth and origins of your beliefs, or lack thereof. Do not be so quick to simply accept the interpretations of others.
Whoever said an atheist (or agnostic) is thus because they have not read the Bible and know little of religion, surely has never met me…
- Andrews University Press. The Second Advent [Excerpt]. Retrieved from: http://universitypress.andrews.edu/Second%20Advent%20Excerpt.pdf
- Everett, N. Dick. The Millerite Movement (1830-1845). Retrieved from: http://universitypress.andrews.edu/content/Adventism%20in%20America%20Excerpt.pdf
- Kaleem, Jaweed (2011). May 21 ‘Judgment Day’ Believers React To Being Alive On May 22. Retrieved from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/22/may-21-judgment-day-may-22_n_865298.html
- Lechleitner, Elizabeth (2013). Seventh-day Adventist Church emerged from religious fervor of 19th Century. Retrieved from: Seventh-day Adventist Church emerged from religious fervor of 19th Century
- Pappas, Stephanie (2011). Harold Camping predicts the end of the world. Again. Retrieved from: https://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2011/1019/Harold-Camping-predicts-the-end-of-the-world.-Again.
- Taylor, Andrew. The Origins of Millerite Separatism. Retrieved from: https://aurora.edu/documents/library-archives/origins-of-millerite-separatism-andrew-taylor.pdf
- The Seventh Day Adventist Church (2012). Retrieved from http://www.adventist.org/
- *Wikipedia (2012), “2011 End Times Prediction”. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_end_times_prediction
- *Wikipedia (2012). “Millerism”. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millerites
- *Wikipedia (2012), “Seventh-Day Adventist Church”. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventh-day_Adventist_Church
Wikipedia articles were included because it was snooping around Wikipedia and reading the listed articles that originally pointed me in the right direction. If you question the credibility of the Wiki articles, then focus on the other sources.
121 thoughts on “What they DON’T Tell You about the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Sabbath School…”
I’ve grown up SDA, in the Adventist school system. I have never heard anyone teach that we were around before Catholics. Or deny that our church was founded in America. One of the things we learn early-on is what happened in 1844, and it’s not that they hide from you that a lot of the important people in our history weren’t sabbatarians—it’s just not really important. EGW’s visions never introduced theology, but backed up what people learned thru bible study.
Jewelry, vegetarianism, what you can/can’t do on Sabbath, all that is mostly cultural. It’s true that some of our congregations/communities get cultish, but that’s not what our church is as a whole.
i’m sorry about your experience. it is not universal.
Curious what the SDA has to say about adultery! A SDA had a 3 year affair with my husband and remained in a secret “friendship” with him after the affair. She now teaches Bible study at a SDA church. Just wondering if SDAs condone adultery!
SDA does not believe in adultery because it is clearly stated in the Bible that we should not commit it. Saying that, just like any church, the people in it are not perfect. All of these slanders on the church make it sound as if we are expected not to make mistakes. I am sorry you had to go through that and I do not agree with what that person did, but I do not believe you should have an opinion about our faith based on the affair of someone.
I do not believe in the SDA faith and don’t support its beliefs. But, I also agree that she can’t form an informed opinion on an entire denomination based on the affair one person had with her husband.
Very interesting! What do the SDA say about adultery? A SDA committed adultery with my husband for 3 years and remained in a secret friendship with him after they ended the affair. She now teaches Bible school at her church! Just curious to know what their views are on adultery.
Like all other denominations, adultery is a sin for the SDA. However, I do think your anger is misplaced. The SDA woman was undoubtedly wrong for interfering in your marriage and I hope karma finds her for what she did. However, she did not take vows of loyalty and faithfulness. Your husband did. I hope you divorce him. Whatever your decision, I wish you all the best.
Just came across your post looking for some insite on SDA beliefs…you did not disappoint me. Thank you for the time and effort it took to be so open about this subject. I also was born and raised in a cult. A small insignificant one, thank God, but still very damaging to me. I also was very aware at a young age…so questions turned into disruptions and 30 years later my father went to prison for most of his last living years, once again, thank God!
Fast forward 20 more years, I’ve currently finished a 3 plus year journey through any bibicle writing’s I could find…plus a world study of time periods from the beginning of anything found written on humanity till today. With that said ..my experiences with God during this journey have been mindblowing to say the least..
My only advice to you would be, if you really want to find God look for Him. I did and I did:)
But He/God has to be where you ought to go for answers to questions you have about Him..dont ask me or anyone else..think about this for a second..” if He made the whole of creation, couldn’t He , talk on His behalf?”
No one makes any sense when they talk about God to me..God makes sense..everything He says makes sense, they dont!
Talking with my husband throughout this extensive journey has been so helpful! But talking to God was more important! Since everyone seemed to have an opinion on what,how,when,where and why God thinks about everything and they have no problem offering thier thoughts, I thought someone should jump up for God!
I’m not a writer or a scholar, please excuse any errors.
This was to encourage you, please take it so.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and leave a comment. I wrote this when I was in college. I’m 32 now and my sentiments are the same.
I’m glad you found your own path to religion, found peace and was able to share that with your husband.
However, God doesn’t appeal to me. The older I’ve been around, the more I believe he’s either not all-powerful or he’s not a fully benevolent being. Consequently, I have no desire to worship something that might be either incompetent or a little evil.
I do commend your journey and wish you all the best on whatever lies ahead!
Ever considered that you might have to ask him to give you the reason ?, since if you had the reason to begin with – you’d have no real choice.
I choose to leave religion to the rest of you. I have never experienced peace this sweet and everlasting since giving up religion. I wrote this post at 18 years old. I’m now 32. No regrets.
All I can say I wasn’t brought up a Adventist but asked a lot of questions since I was a kid and still do this Adventist remnant message is rock solid and the devil is fully attacking us see Revelation 12:17 which includes the Spirit of Prophecy take some time and listen to prophessor Walter Vieth his personal testimony on google
I’m glad it resonates with you. I want nothing to do with the Seventh Day Adventist Church for as long as I live!
Sounds like your still blinded by Satan’s trickery I will pray that we not be deceived by the devil he is more cunning than you think remember Satan wants to be God
Remember God made Satan.
I read this post with interest, as well as amazement. Your experience being raised SDA was SO VERY different from my own. My family was quite conservative, but never made statements they couldn’t support from the Bible. In fact, I was told over and over to believe nothing that was not founded on the Bible. I attended SDA schools from first grade thru bachelor’s degree, and my perception was that Adventists were open-minded free thinkers. That’s one thing I especially liked about being raised SDA.
Eventually, in my twenties, I decided it was time to really study in greater detail the teachings of the church to determine, without input from parents or teachers, whether those teachings are REALLY supported by the Bible (and incidentally whether the Bible could be trusted). It was time to make the religion my own or to walk away. After a couple of years of deep study, I determined that this was a system of belief that was founded on a trustworthy Bible, was internally consistent with itself, and that was logical. It became my own and has guided me into a life of calm contentment. I am so grateful!
Alexis, please accept my apologies on behalf of those you encountered who were inconsistent, illogical, untruthful and unfounded.
Hello Kathy! I’m glad to hear you had a different experience and that your own questioning led you to believe the SDA church was compatible with your belief systems. That’s wonderful.
I admire your ability to read my little teenage rant from 10+ years ago without throwing a fit over it. If you check the comments, you can see many other people did not take it so very well.
I wish you all the best on your spiritual journey and hope you continue to find peace in the path you’ve chosen. Take care!


Well, it’s Ash Wednesday, thanks, thanks be to God! We head into forty days of intentional slowing-down, of being more prayerful, more thoughtful, less reactive. I don’t know about you, but I totally need some Lenten silence, discipline and turning away from the world, especially the world of politics right now.
What are you giving up for Lent? I am going to give up snacking and also commenting on Facebook. I’ll go there to link to something but I’m going to keep the piehole closed, and that’s going to be tough. But I need it tough. Lent needn’t be as difficult as this, but I do think Timothy P. O’Malley is correct, here. This is the perfect time to fast from suspicion, ideology and demonization. my soul, at least, needs it; I know that.
I meant to have my annual list of newly-published Lenten Reading suggestions for you, but have been very bad with my time; will have that up tomorrow, I promise! you know without my even saying, of course, that I am recommending this book and this one and this book but I have lots more, and even a course recommendation. For tomorrow. As we Benedictines are always encouraged to read something challenging in Lent, I have picked up a used copy of Principles of Catholic Theology by Joseph Ratzinger, aka our Holy Father.
I am also, at this very moment reading Robert Hugh Benson’s Lord of the World, which was free on Kindle!
Did you get ashes today, even my non-Catholic friends? More and more Protestant churches around here seem to be offering them. if so, what does it mean to you, what do you think about it?
Last year I wrote about the Sermon I’d like to hear for Ash Wednesday:
“you remember the movie Moonstruck? It’s the story about an Italian family in Brooklyn, a mother named Rose, a father named Cosmo, and their daughter, Cher.
“There’s a part where the mother, Rose—who suspects her husband of cheating—says to the father, ‘Cosmo, I just want you to know that no matter what you do, you’re gonna die, just like everyone else!’
“and so is everyone in this church. You’re going to die. and no matter how well you think you’re doing, you’re screwing up, and I don’t need to tell you where you’re screwing up because you know where you’re screwing up.
“later in the film, Rose warns her daughter . . . Cher . . . ‘your life’s goin’ down the toilet!’
“So is yours . . .
These ashes say that we are works in progress.
They say: please be patient. God isn’t finished with me yet.
He isn’t finished with any of us.
That is the great wonder and consolation of Lent.
And the promised Lotsa Links: and if you need more Check out New Advent
Pat Gohn’s Among Women Podcast has a roundtable of sorts, on Lenten practices and Devotions
Loving Lent. Weird as it may sound, lots of us really do love it. Forty days of mindfulness and meaning!
What does drinking wine have to do with needing God?Bringing Lent Home with Mother Teresa
Desperate Irish Housewife: and they’re off!


If you were born in the ’90s, you probably know Hanson’s MMMBOP track back and forth. The band burst into the music scene with eccentric long blond hair cuts and catchy tunes that transmogrified the industry.
The brothers were endearing but wholesome. They deviated from the hackneyed swearing and run-of-the-mill head-bang antics associated with rock music. Yet, there was still an air of coolness and bravado about them that set them from the rest.
The band oozed boundless confidence and a mammoth fanfare in the sweet ’90s.
Well, as you know, fame attracts all manner of scandals. Unfortunately, the Hanson brothers had to be a part of it.
An interview with Christianity Today turned into a snoop-fest for tabloids. The media dug deeper to unearth the truth behind the Brothers’ religion.
The three brothers maintained their dodgy tone, seldom leaving information crumbs for the inquisitors. This agitated them more to uncover the truth.
Hanson brothers Religion
The Hanson brothers are members of the Hanson band composed of brothers Isaac Hanson, Taylor Hanson and Zac Hanson.
They are three of seven siblings raised in a Christian setting. But the brothers seldom discuss their religion in the press. It is for this reason that rumors hit the fan that they are not religious.
In an exclusive with Christianity Today, Zac laid himself bare and declared his views about religion. He said, “I do consider myself a Christian.” While making this revelation, Zac Hanson also noted that their religion has been the subject of spite due to gossip and idle banter!
“…I think, unfortunately, it can be a barrier to people,” Zac observed as he weighed the impact of religion.
But isn’t this true?
People judge others because of religion and this could be the reason the Hanson brothers keep theirs under wraps.
Are Hanson Brothers religious?
While the Hanson brothers are not religious, they’re still good people.
They were raised and schooled in an evangelical Christian home and even attended church regularly. But after growing up, all three of them stopped believing in the existence of God or any form of religion. They don’t see themselves as religious anymore because their values have changed since then.
Yet, the band focuses on doing good around the world. They even avoid inserting Christian messages in their songs to amass universal fanfare!
Well, they say everyone has their right to religion. But it doesn’t mean being without religion should attract damnation. You might even argue that religion is the very reason for division and hate in the first place!
So, what music genre does the Hanson Band associate with?
Generally, the Hanson Band doesn’t identify as a metal rock band. Yet, the brothers pledge their faith and support in their music.
The Band also uses Christian nuances in their music to advance the Christian Charity works they operate with.
With this spirit and hearts of gold, the brothers have scaled up their talent and music without invoking religion! You must admit that they are of different mettle when it comes to music, charity, and tours. You name it!


JESM SDA ElementaryLearn. Educate. Grow
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Psalms 32:8
Registration and Enrollment
If you would like your child to attend JE Sampson School, please Contact Us!
Testing and Standards
The Florida Testing and Standards can be seen here: TESTING & STANDARDS
News & Events
To stay updated with what is happening on our campus, visit our News and Blog page!
Programs & Facilities
You can learn more about our program simply by checking out our classes. More on this coming soon!
Learn more about our Career Opportunities!
Learn more about our staff HERE!
Our Mission & Vision
James E. Sampson Memorial Seventh Day Adventist School is the oldest Christian School in St. Lucie County. We offer Christ centered education, preparing students for responsible citizenship in this world and the world-to-come. J.E.S.M. is God centered, result oriented, and aligned with national standards. We offer small class sizes and a nurturing environment which ensures maximum development of each individual’s potential. Our educators are committed to academic excellence and to leading your children to Christ.
Minds are the most impressionable at this age. It is our goal to help these minds build a proper foundation. We believe that this foundation has to be built upon Biblical principles. It is these Biblical principles that will prepare the mind for major decisions that will come in life.
James E Sampson Memorial School understands that in grades 6-8, students are preparing for bigger challenges. They better prepared for High School they are, the more successful they will be. This success will have been built from the strong foundation that we hope each student will gain.
Hello Students! You have an option whether you will do school in person or virtually. Please click the button to the right for the way you will participate. Then download the corresponding Guide. Looking forward to working with you!
3201 Memory Ln,
Fort Pierce, FL 34981
Phone & Email
“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”
~William A. Ward
First Day of School
Teachers’ Consecration Service
Labor Day – No School
What Parents and Students are Saying
I was blessed to learn so much more than academics at this school. JESM SDA School helped equip me for life!
Graduate, JESM SDA School
Watching my child learn at JESM SDA School has been a joy! There’s nothing like Christian education.
Parent, JESM SDA School
I will miss my teacher and my friends. But I feel ready to take on high school. Thank you James E Memorial School!
Graduate, JESM SDA School
Purspose to rightly Train our children
Years experience doing it
Get In Touch
Location: 3201 Memory Ln, Fort Pierce, FL 34981
Telephone: (772) 465-8386
School Hours: M-Th 8:00 to 3:30 and F 8:00 to 2:00
Office Hours: M-Th 8:00 to 4:00 and F 8:00 to 2:00


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It’s that time of year when I’m starting to sort out Christmas decorations and, most importantly, my Advent calendar. Now, with a couple of beaded Advent calendars to enjoy, I’ve been able to spread the celebrations. So, it is now becoming a tradition for me to put together an Advent calendar for my Mum, using my Christmas tree beaded box. But this year, I thought I would go even better. So, I’m inviting you to a special beading celebration…
Inviting you to my Advent extravaganza!
If you take a close look at the photo above, you’ll see my preparations for mine and Mum’s Advent calendars. I like to fill the drawers with notes and of course, we need some chocolate to enjoy too!
So, chocolate buttons are the perfect option for the latter. As for the notes, well, they’re designed to bring joy, gratitude, inspiration and fun throughout the 24 days.
We both enjoy this experience. So, I thought I would try and come up with a way to make an Advent calendar for you to enjoy from me this year too.
I don’t need to mention that 2020 hasn’t been the best. And I think we all feel in need of a little extra love and celebration this year.
Now, I can’t send each of you a beaded Advent calendar. But I can bring the beading fun to you. So, I’ve put together an Advent calendar for you, right here on my blog. It will be opening on 1st December, and running right up until the 24th. Every day will be a different beading gift or treat for you. Plus, I’ve set up some puzzles, some inspiration, some games.
My intention is to bring you a few minutes of fun every day, with the option to grab some amazing bargains that will allow you to enjoy lots of beading throughout next year.
How do you join in?
If you want to be a part of this, all you need to do is pop back to my blog every day throughout Advent. Open your calendar door that day and see what fun awaits…
If you’re on my mailing list, I’ll email you a reminder when the Advent calendar opens. Or, if you follow my Facebook page, you’ll see reminders pop up on there every day.
Now, I’m off to fill those beaded calendars, then sort out my Nativity and the beaded decorations for my Christmas tree.
I hope you’ll be joining me throughout December as I’m inviting you to spoil yourself and enjoy some festive cheer!


ActivateIndy is a partnership between 9 local nonprofits to collectively have a greater impact on our community. We will do this by providing "turn-key" volunteer opportunities for churches, businesses, families, and individuals.
GETTING STARTED IS AS EASY. . .
Pick a Non-Profit
Please choose from the Non-Profit partner below that you would like to serve with your group by clicking on their logo
Register Your Group
After you and your group have decided, just click on the logo and follow the group registration.
Book your opportunity and show up at the selected time.
OUR NON-PROFIT PARTNERS
Wheeler Mission is a diverse, multi-faceted organization serving the homeless, addicted, and at-risk populations throughout Indianapolis and Bloomington. Throughout its nine facilities, Wheeler provides emergency homeless services, long-term residential programming, addiction recovery, and social enterprise for men, women, and children.
The Foundation for Lutheran Child and Family Services’ mission of “Engaging and Empowering Families and Community with Love, Compassion, Faith, and Support” is realized through many programs. Our Residential Treatment Facility specializes in care for children who exhibit chronic behavioral or emotional problems. Other programs include Emergency Shelter Care, Trinity House Group Home, The Sharing Place Food Pantry and more.
Our mission is to break the cycle of poverty on the near Eastside of Indianapolis by engaging and empowering the community to cultivate healthy children, strong families, and vibrant neighborhoods through a Christ-centered approach that meets the physical, emotional, spiritual, and academic needs of our neighbors.
Lutheran Child &
Student Impact, a faith-based non-profit organization, serves students in a hands-on way by providing effective after-school programming, mentoring, and recreational sports leagues.
Grace Care Center opened in July 2012 with the purpose of bringing healing to the broken places of this world by providing care and compassion to our local community. The Care Center serves over 600 families a week through four key services: The Choice Food Pantry, Referral Services for those seeking financial and emotional support, Vehicle Services for those needing reliable transportation and ESL (English as a Second Language) Services.
Grace Care center
Hope Center Indy is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 2016 to provide a refuge where women survivors of sex trafficking can initiate a healing process within a loving and supportive atmosphere. The mission of Hope Center Indy is to transform the lives of women exiting sex trafficking by providing a Christ-centered approach to healing, self-sufficiency, and reintegration into the community.
HOPE CENTER INDY
Youth for Christ connects leaders in Authentic Christ Sharing relationships with at-risk teens, pregnant and parenting young moms and dads, juvenile offenders and high school and middle school teenagers all over Indianapolis and the surrounding counties.
YOuth for christ
The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its mission is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.
The Salvation Army
We help thousands of people like you every week to discover who they're born to be through our Radio Theology show, online course and live seminar Spiritual DNA, Pub Theology events, and the Born To Be Podcast.
Truth at Work invests significant resources in equipping Christian business owners and leaders in earning the right to share their faith in the context of marketplace relationships through modeling Christ-like Servant Leadership.
Truth at Work
Thrivent is a unique community, a not-for-profit fraternal benefit society. We're also a Fortune 500 financial services organization. Our tradition of financial strength is driven by our focus on people, not profits.


Welcome to lifeatthehills.com!
A faith family serving Middle Georgia. Loving God & Loving People
Come experience "Life at the Hills"! We invite you to see and be a part of the exciting things God is doing at SHBC as we carry out our mission to love God, love each other, and love our community as fully committed followers of Jesus Christ.
What We are Learning
February 10 - april 7
Paul’s letter to the Colossians is a great call to the church to rise to the life to which God has called us to live. The basis for Paul’s instruction is the centrality of Christ in God’s eternal plan and in our own hearts. Who Christ is and what He has done continually calls us to “higher living” - setting our minds on the things of God, giving ourselves to his agenda and mission, and prioritizing His work within us and through us. This is the call to truly find what is possible when we once and for all put Christ “First.”


Wisdom of God
Wisdom of God – The wisdom of His Word
The wisdom of God has been evident since our beginning—in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve had free reign of the Garden and everything they would ever need was provided. But the tree in the middle of the Garden was the only thing forbidden. God warned Adam and Eve against eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. They disregarded God’s words. Had they listened to Him and not succumbed to temptation by the serpent, they would never have known evil. This was the fall, the failing, of mankind passed onto every generation.
We wonder about all the suffering in life, why bad things happen, and the evil in the world; but because of Adam’s and Eve’s sin of disobedience in the Garden, we are all subject to those things. You might view it as an inheritance left by our ancestors. There has not been a person since who has not sinned against God—it’s genetic.
Wisdom of God – His wisdom at work
The wisdom of God is demonstrated again in Genesis 6 with the story of Noah. Verses 5-8 say, “God saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. So the Lord said, ‘I will wipe mankind whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals’…but Noah found favor in the eyes of God.” Only Noah and his family were saved when God sent the flood. It was by God’s wisdom the earth was replenished with a righteous generation.
Paul writes in Ephesians 3 about the mystery of the Gospel to the Gentiles. Speaking of God he says in verse 10, “His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Wisdom of God – Having the Wisdom of God
Can mankind be given the wisdom of God? There are many verses revealing that God does indeed gift us with His wisdom. None is perhaps as well known for wisdom as King Solomon. “God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore” (1 Kings 4:29). Other examples are found in 1 Kings 5:12; 10:24; Exodus 31:3 (Moses); Deuteronomy 34:9 (Joshua) and Ephesians 1:17 (Paul’s prayer in Ephesus).
After discussing life’s trials, James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”
Without wisdom, life can be thorny. Our human wisdom can lead us into more trouble, life can seem very unfair. If life contained perfect justice, every one of us would suffer eternally for every shortcoming in our imperfect lives. It is better than fair that a righteous Savior bridges the gap between imperfect man and a perfect God with infinite wisdom. Seeking the wisdom of God is the answer to each and every individual. If we can turn our heart to Him and allow His Word to guide us, we will live a life totally embraced with God’s love and wisdom.


Thursday, December 12, 2013
SAN ANGELO, Texas (AP) — Pope Francis has named an Austin priest to serve as the next bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Angelo.
The Rev. Michael Sis has served as the vicar general of the Austin Catholic diocese since 2010. Bishop Michael Pfeifer introduced Sis as his successor in San Angelo on Thursday, and Sis is scheduled for installation on Jan. 27.
Pfeifer submitted his resignation on his 75th birthday, consistent with Catholic custom in recent years.
Sis is a 53-year-old Mount Holly, N.J., native who was ordained as a priest in Austin in 1986 and has served numerous parishes in Austin and College Station since.
The San Angelo diocese covers more than 29 West Texas counties. About nine percent of its 860,000 residents are Catholic.


Prayer for a New Rector
Almighty God, giver of every gift we receive: look graciously on your Church, and guide those who shall discern whom God is calling to be rector of St. Matthew’s. Grace us with patience, trust, and hope through the interim times of doubt and uncertainty. We pray that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us to continue, improve, expand, and reach out with our ministries to all whom we can touch; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


Meals on Wheels
August 29 & 31:
September 4 & 10:
No Saturday Worship
Labor Day/Church Office Closed
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.. Psalm 95:6-7
Keep Praying for Each Other
By Pastor Jon Haakana
One of the great privileges we have as followers of Jesus is the privilege of prayer. We can come to God at any time, calling on Him by name, to offer our praise, to thank Him for His blessing, to ask for help for ourselves, to lift up others in prayer. As a church we also have the responsibility of praying for one another. In James we read the following on the ministry of prayer: “Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5: 13, 14, 16b)
If you would like your staff and brothers and sisters in Christ at Mount Olive praying for you or someone you know, you can fill out a prayer card at church, call the church office (763.421.3223), or email your request to email@example.com. If you would like to join others in the congregation who receive prayer requests from others to lift them up in prayer, please contact us and we will put you on the prayer chain list. What a comfort to know that we are part of a church family that lifts up in each other in prayer, whether in our worship services or in our individual or family prayers.
at 9:30 AM Starting in September:
Option 1: The Book of Ephesians
Option 2: Parenting Bible Study
In support of Mt. Olive’s annual loan rebate, open a Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) investment. Click on the icon to apply online or for additional information.