The Hardship of Life Today, Yesterday & Forever!

Emily Dow Partridge's words:

"and hope is dead for this life but bright for the next."

Jesus’s words:

"These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you."

Vilate Kimball’s words:

first wife of Heber C. Kimball, also recognized the value of romantic distance in a plural marriage. Counseling an unhappy plural wife, she advised the woman that

“her comfort must be wholly in her children; that she must lay aside wholly all interest or thought in what her husband was doing while he was away from her” and be as “pleased to see him when he came in as she was pleased to see any friend.”

More wisdom from Christ:

"A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you."

The real question is what are we living for? And what do you want from this life? Do you feel like a cavewomen? Welcome to the Club!

A Caveman

Into the Greater Light

Rebel enough and you'll go to hell, but for some hell is the path way to heaven. Perhaps Alma and the sons of Mosiah were foreordained to break the mold of just following the leader. Think of the fruit that came forth after they encounter the horrors of hell and the voice of an angel. Can you drink of that cup? The truth is few can survive those types of encounters and live to tell the tale. The safe way for the majority is to follow a trusted leader and avoid the endless pit falls of out right rebellion of the truth which others have paid the price for you to see. Follow the threads down the path into the greater light and maybe than you will know what I mean.
homestead.com/oceanportal

Gratitude in Zion

President Olson,

I just want to take a moment to thank you for
all the help and blessings you have given me
and my family over the last many years you have
been serving in NY. You have been a spiritual
father to me.

I have felt your inspiration and vision for LI
in the depths of my soul and the marrow of my
bones. You awoke things in me that I had kept
secret for years, but the Lord wanted written
down. During your term as Stake President I
wrote those things which have turned into my
book "Into the Greater Light". It is a history
of my strange and wonderful conversion and some
of my dealings with the Lord. It is not so much
written to be published for the people of here
and now, but it is written for the Lord's own
purpose to be used in the future. So I let it
sit on the shelve or the web for only those whom
the Spirit directs to read. Thanks for preaching
Zion on LI for what you have seen can happen for
all has happened for one.

I'm grateful for your faith and trust in me when
many others had great doubts. You looked beyond
my shabby image and listened to the Lord. I'm
more like a Jonah than a Moses and as you know
I tried to run away to Florida to live out my
days in obscurity, but the Lord inspired you to
stop me in my tracts. I'm grateful for your
courage to listen to the Lord and act on his
wishes. Like you I only want to do his will and
finish my earthly mission with honor.

I know he wants me in Salt Lake City at this
time for his own purposes. You were at our branch
when I gave one of my last testimonies on the
signs the Lord used concerning the weather in my
life. Attached is a copy of those hurricanes that
hit Florida that summer of 2004.

The names, places and paths of those storms sent
a message directly to me. It was a clear warning
to me that Florida was not to be my home in the
future. The names: mine, my uncle's and my cousin's.
The places: Stuart where two storms made land fall
is the place my former fiancée of the 60s lives today.
The path: Marks an X across Florida with the center
near Orlando the very place I told the Lord I would
live if he didn't stop me. The Lord has made you a
quiet witness of these things for his own purpose.

I spoke about my concerns of hurricanes hitting LI
the summer of 2006 before I could sell my house and
move. The media was promoting a year with lots of
hurricanes with many coming up the coast hitting NY.
I must admit I had great concerns in June when I
realized my house might not sell until Oct. I went
to the Lord in mighty prayer and heard the still
small voice of the Spirit say as clear as day:
"Peace be still there will be no hurricanes this year."
How true those words were and how wrong the words
of the media turned out to be. But the rest of the
story happened when we got to our Condo in Salt Lake
City. As we entered our new bedroom there upon the
wall was a large painting of the Savior standing on
the bow of a fishing boat with his fearful disciples.
His hand was stretch out toward the stormy sea as
he said "Peace be still". I know this is the place
he would have me be for out our bedroom window we
are blest to view the glorious Salt Lake Temple.

I write to thank you for my call and my release and
to share the joy the Lord has given us in coming west.
Below is a copy of a letter I wrote to Reed Johnson
a nephew of President Thomas S. Monson who I knew
when I first joined the church in 1970.

"Reed:

Thanks for your kind words and those good memories.
I enjoyed your priesthood lessons which would challenge
and make one think. You showed more than blind faith
when you taught. I remember you showing me how to
teach the gospel when we home taught the Ziggy Pastz
family. I'm glad you’re still out in the mission field
doing good for those who know less.

Living in SLC is a new and wonderful experience for
me. Though my ward is very large the people are very
loving and have come here from all over the world.
I feel the Spirit of the Lord here and know for me
that the Lord has work for me to do here. The ratio
of NM to M in this area is 60/40. As we settle in I
feel there will be many missionary opportunities.

As you might know Bobby Worthington and his family
moved way up into Vermont over 20 years ago and have
done very well. He served as a branch president for
many years and is now a Temple worker. However, he
told me he would never move to SLC as one of his sons
served a mission in Utah in the SLC area and had
nothing but trouble trying to awaken the saints to
their missionary duties.

I come here with a different attitude without an
ax to grind, but with love in my heart and a
willingness to learn from those saints who have
been seasoned in the church and gospel over many
generations. If any of them are like you I shall
be blest and learn much.

Thanks again for your help and good memories and
someday I'm sure we will meet again.

Peace,

Charlie"

Jeff you and Reed are much alike and what I wrote
to him applies to you as well. You have taught me
much and helped to prepare me for the future the
Lord will have me live. Thanks again and may the Lord
bless you and your family with his richest blessing.

Love your friend,

Charlie

Old Mission Stories

Hi Rick,

Dirk and I attended the SL Temple this morning and your 
name came up as we talked about life, the scriptures 
and our missions. Dirk and I go way back to my baptism 
in 1970 and we have continued to stay in touch all these 
years.

I know you and I only knew each other for a short time 
near the end of my mission when you had come back from 
valley I know what you meant.

Give my love to your Mom and Dad. He was a great 
mission President and your Mom was a great mission Mom. 
I learned so much from them about both the church and 
life. They are both great latter day Saints.

I've just finished up a call as Branch President of the 
Long Beach Branch in NY and retired from a successful 
career with KeySpan Energy a NY gas & electric utility. 
We are living in a beautiful condo on Capitol Hill with a 
view of the SL Temple and the valley. Our new ward is 
Capitol Hill First Ward where I'll be lucky to handout hymn
books.

I've never gotten over my strange conversion or my strange 
life, but I've learned to accept the things the Lord has 
laid upon me in a quieter way over the years. See my story 
a WIP (which is good therapy for me an amateur writer) on 
the web at: www.homestead.com/oceanportal Below are a few 
stories from my mission:

Tough Skin II

When I first joined the church there were members who 
would come up to my face and tell me what a lousy job I 
was doing in a calling. Some would yell in my face in 
hopes of driving me out of the church. I learned to turn 
the other cheek and endure those trials by leaning upon my 
testimony,  the good leaders of the church and praying to 
my Father in Heaven who always knew my heart.

These are just some of the growing pain we must all 
endure as we help one another grow in Christ. I thank God 
for the wisdom of that great Stake President who gave a 
little talk at my friends (Dirk) baptism on having a tough 
skin and enduring to the end and keeping a tender heart.

There are many times when people have hurt my feelings in this
church, but I have learned by experience it is better to have a tough
skin and forgive those who may offend me. I always try to remember
what Jesus said while upon the cross. "Father, forgive them for they
know not what they do."

I feel to conclude this section of my writing with two faith
promoting experiences from my mission. While serving in Elko, Nevada
in December of 1973, my mission President gave the entire mission a
challenge to go tracting for Christ on Christmas. He advised us not
to set up any dinner appointments but plan a full day's work for the
Lord. He promised if we would do this, the Lord would provide a
Christmas dinner for us. My companion and I rose up to the challenge
and tracted the whole day with little success. We left tracts and
with some we prayed but no food was offered. Then around 9 pm we
knocked on the door and two little old ladies invited us in. They
were kind and polite and allowed us to give them our message. After
which they asked about our Christmas and what we had had for dinner.
When we told them we hadn't eaten, they were shocked, and said we
can't have that. They took us downtown to a restaurant and treated us
to a fine meal. The promise of our mission President was of the Lord
and we enjoyed a great gift of faith from he who made Christmas
happen.

Months later, I was called to be an assistant to my Mission President
and moved back to Sacramento. He told us (me and my new companion)
that we were his new gladiators of truth. He wanted our counsel and
expected us to tell him our true thoughts and not just be yes men.
This counsel set the stage for another very interesting experience.

One day while my companion and I were on our way to a Zone Conference
in Gridley, our car broke down in Marysville. I had served in the
town just across the river in Yuba City. I made a few phone calls to
the local leaders and they got our car put in a shop and drove us up
to Gridley to our Zone Conference. While we were waiting I preached
the gospel to some homeless person while my companion watched in
fright. I was always one to try to make good use of my time in
sharing the gospel with others no matter whether they be rich or
poor, good or bad.

After Zone Conference, our mission President drove us down to Yuba
City to recover our car. The mechanic assured us it was all fixed and
our Mission President left to return with his wife to Sacramento.
After paying the bill, we started for Sacramento a few minutes behind
our President. To our surprise the car again broke down just a mile
from the gas station. I quickly called a member who told us the gas
station was now closed and we would have to leave the car overnight.
My companion was upset as he had a lot of office work to do back in
Sacramento. I felt this was a sign and that we could do some
missionary work. We called the Elders who lived in Marysville and
they picked us up and took us to their Apt. They offered dinner and I
said, "No thanks. I have other meat to eat." My companion looked at
me like I was clearly crazy. However, I felt the spirit of God upon
me and I had a great desire to visit some of the people I had taught
in Yuba City over a year ago that to my knowledge had never been
baptized. I asked if any of the Elders would go with me and a young
Elder volunteered. We went first to visit the Sister Missionaries
whose area it was. They both had been sick and I believe we gave them
blessings. I asked them about some of the families I had in mind and
if they knew any of them. I asked if they minded if we visited people
in their area and they said fine go ahead. We visited around 5
families that night and they all expressed renewed interest in the
church. We had a spiritual feast and knew that the hand of the Lord
was in this.

I also recognized that it would be important for this Elder who I
introduced to these families to continue the work  with them. I
mentioned that transfers were going to take place the following week
and I would talk to the President about moving him into that area. 
My statement  was simple and logical. Yuba City was the larger city
with two wards and just one set of sisters. Marysville was smaller
with only one ward and two sets of Elders. My suggestion to the
President would be to transfer one set of Elders over into Yuba City
so that there would be one set of Missionaries in each ward. Since
all the people we visited were in Yuba City II it was logical to move
those Elders into that Ward and have the Sisters remain in Yuba City
1st.

The next week during our late Wednesday night transfer meeting with
the President I made the suggestion and presented my reasoning. Again
to my surprise I got a flat no without any discussion or reasons. My
spirit was grieved and again I felt misunderstood. My companion and
President were both from Utah and had a close friendship. My
companion knew of my desires and had heard me tell the Elders what I
planned to do. I got the feeling the President had already been
briefed on my proposal from my companion who might have put his own
spin on it. I don't know for sure, but if he told the President that
I promised anything without his permission or authority it would
explain why the President shot down my idea so quickly. However this
wasn't the case. I had felt the spirit and only told the Elders what
I would try to do. Now it seemed all was lost. My President had
closed the door and I told the Lord I wouldn't argue the point with
him anymore. My President was my authority and I would submit to his
decision right or wrong and say no more. In my prayers that night, I
expressed my hurt to the Lord and how I thought his hand had been in
our strange encounters in Yuba City, but there was nothing else I
could do. It seemed my President and companion were dead set against
my proposal. Yet, I thought, it isn't my proposal, but the Lords.
However, I didn't have the courage to tell them that. It is the
President's right to receive revelation for the mission and not me. I
was just a counselor. My President had the final say.

The next morning came and it was our duty to meet early in the
President's office to make transfers by phone. When my companion and
I
arrived, we found the President sitting in his chair behind his desk
holding his head. He said, "Elders, I have a terrible headache and
haven't been able to sleep all night. There is something wrong with
the transfers." At that very moment, the spirit prompted me to
present my proposal on Yuba City again. As quickly as I finished, the
President said that's exactly what we need to do. Now Elders do it.
My companion's mouth dropped to the ground in surprise as I felt
vindicated by the Lord.

The true vindication came a few weeks later after I had completed my
mission and arrived home. I received a letter from one of the Elders
I had trained earlier in my mission. He wrote that he was one of the
Elders transferred into the Yuba City ward where I had helped to
reactivate a number of families into investigating the church. He
thanked me and shared a marvelous ending to this miracles story. He
wrote: We visited with the Nelson family and taught them the gospel.
This last Sunday Bro. Nelson got baptized and was ordained a Priest.
Then he baptized his wife and children and ordained his son a Priest.
The will of the Lord was done and great joy entered into our hearts.

The Lord rules in Heaven and Hell in Earth and in his Church and
Missions. For those who have eyes that see, ears that hear, hearts
that understand, minds that discern and wait patiently upon the Lord
all things are possible. The Holy Ghost is real and the gifts of the
spirits are ours according to ours desires, faith, and faithfulness.

Oh, my Brothers and Sisters never, never, never, give up. This Church
is true, the work is real and your lives will be tried to see if you
will endure to the end. Have a tough skin and a tender heart and true
faith in Jesus Christ and you will gain eternal life. In the name of
Jesus Christ amen.

Just another mission story: Late in my mission (last 6 months) I was
finally called to leadership. Then when I had but 3 months left a
stranger thing happened. The Mission President (William Walsh) called
a special mission conference (Mar.1974) for half the mission near
Alburn, Ca for all the missionaries in Neveda and the Sacramento
area. During this conference he announced his two mission assistances
(APs) would be going home in a few days. Then to everybody's surprise
he announced his two new APs and asked for a sustaining vote from the
missionaries. I was one of the names he announced and was sustained
without any foreknowledge save a few seconds before when the Holy
Ghost spoke quietly in my ear saying you are one of them. It was an
honor, but I was also humbled. I thanked the President and he told me
to thank the Lord and get on my knees and pray for help. I shortly
found his counsel very important. After being congratulated by many
Elders, Sisters and former companions a Elder I didn't know came up
to me and asked if he could talk to me privately. I agreed and we
went a little ways off from the people. This Utah Elder said the
following to me: "Elder Luerssen we might of sustained you publicly
here today, but we will never sustain you privately. That calling
(AP) is reserved for those of us born in the church, which have come
from good Mormon families and lived good Mormon lives. Not for some
dirty, hippie, eastern, NY convert like yourself!" I never told
anyone about this while I was on my mission. I took it as an honor
that people would treat me like the prophets of old. In June 1972
while in the Mission home in SLC I had the honor of receiving my
Endowment in the Salt Lake Temple. Following that event our
missionary group was invite to the 5th floor of the Temple in the
Priesthood assembly area to hear President Lee give a short talk and
do some Q&A. During the Q&A time I got to ask President Lee a
question. I asked how Adam & Eve were literally created. It was quiet
in the Temple before I asked that question, but a greater hush went
through the crowd after I asked. To me it was an honest humble
sincere request, but to the majority of the missionaries they thought
I was out of line. President Lee saw my heart and answered it was a
scripture as he answered all the questions that day by opening the
books before us. The answer was we learn that answer in the future.
What happened after the meeting is more important. I stayed behind
with a few other Elders to shake hands with President Lee. He was
very friendly and asked us to walk out with him. As we entered the
hallway he stopped and put his arm around my shoulders and
said, "Elder Luerssen I want you always to remember this." He turned
me around and point to a spot in the Temple and said, " This is the
very spot that the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to the Prophet Lorenzo
Snow while he was praying in this Temple." He then announced to those
around us that the Lord Jesus Christ has walked and does walk the
halls of this Temple. This last story happened Jan. 1997 a few weeks
before Dirk and Marilyn got married. I was sleeping alone in my
bedroom as my wife was working the graveyard shift at a nursing home.
I awoke in the middle of the night to the Lord Jesus Christ standing
in the air at the foot of my bed. He spoke to me and said, "Come up
Hither!" I said, "Nay Lord I'm not worthy or ready." He said, "What I

say is clean, Is Clean! But if you do not want to accept of my
atonement and sacrifice which I suffered and died for, you have your
agency." I quickly came to my senses and like Peter of old I begged
the Lord's pardon and said, "I'll do as you wish My Dear Lord." He
said, " I will sanctify you before the nations!" I quickly fell back
asleep thinking it was only a dream, but when I awoke in the morning
a miracle had happened. The ground was covered in a beautiful gentle
white snow which had fallen during the night. The miracle was it had
come out of nowhere, a crystal clear night in which the weathermen
had no answer as to why it hadn't been forecast. To me it was the
sign and witness that the Master had been there and will in his own
good time fulfill all his words to me and all his children.

Peace,

Charlie

Hard Boiled Egg Heads

Dirk,

God allows tests and trials to fall upon all of
us to see if we will do all that he has commanded
us to do. This life is full of examples and I will
try to find some GC talks that bring this out more
clearly. I call these tests that God sends the
"tests of Abraham". These greater tests come as
we draw closer to God. Because of unbelief and
lack of faith most never get to the trials that
God sends. So like many things in the church these
tests are seen as exceptions and not the rule. The
general priesthood don't want to talk about these
things because they have not experienced them.

While sharing a similar testimony in a priesthood
class in my ward a few weeks ago the teacher
quickly pushed passed my commends as irrelevant to
our trials. Those trials only happen to a few.

So good men with good intent dismiss the greater
truths and never experience the fulness (calling
& election) in this life. They either dismiss
such talk or keep totally silent on the subject
hiding behind the fact it is to sacred to talk
about. This all must change before the Saviour
comes again. This is all part of that unbelief
written about in the Book of Mormon and the curse
that is upon the whole church because they can't
see or believe what happened in "Jacob's time"
(Jacob4:6)can happen in our time. These
scriptures back up the fact that the Lord sends
us trials; D&C 98:12, 101:4, 105:19, 136:31  /
Ether 12:6 / Mosiah 23:21

However, your trial maybe breaking the hard
shell of unbelief surrounding your priesthood
brethern so that they may be born again into
greater light and knowledge. They don't like
you hammering on the hard shell of their comfort
zone. Who are you to tell them what they don't
know or believe.

They like this saying, "Those who know don't tell
and those who don't do."

Statements like that are part of that hard shell
and you will have a hard sell to break it. Because
as you try to break it they are programed to dismiss
you. You and I know by personal experience the truth.
We must continue to seek to know the mysteries of
godliness.

D&C 6:
9)Say nothing but repentance unto this generation;
keep my commandments, and assist to bring forth my
work, according to my commandments, and you shall be
blessed.
  10)Behold thou hast a gift, and blessed art thou
because of thy gift. Remember it is sacred and cometh
from above—
  11)And if thou wilt inquire, thou shalt know
mysteries which are great and marvelous; therefore
thou shalt exercise thy gift, that thou mayest find
out mysteries, that thou mayest bring many to the
knowledge of the truth, yea, convince them of the
error of their ways.

Hang in there Dirk our day will come.

Peace & Love,
Charlie

PS We who came forth out of Stony Brook: Bobby,
Glenn, you & me are all hammering on that shell
with various degrees of success. Each of us has
at times been hurt by that hard boney shell of
unbelief. But we have not suffered as these: 
3 Nephi 20-23 

Joseph’s Martyrdom!

Knowing that God sees the end from the beginning and shares that knowledge with his prophets is a major factor in judging Joseph’s martyrdom. Did not the Lord speak in D&C 132:60 the price Joseph would pay?

Let no one, therefore, set on my servant Joseph; for I will justify him: for he shall do the sacrifice which I will require at his hands for his transgressions, saith the Lord your God.

Perhaps on another note Joseph’s final plead wasn’t for mercy, but like the Savior’s cry of:

My God, my God, why hast thou fosaken me?

There is strong evidence he was bearing his final testimony. See Psalm 22 to make the connect. A leap of faith from doubt and despair to a true witness to those round about it was all foretold and written. Can you see the paradigm shift?

Born Again or Lost Again Shawn?

Open letter to a lost Soul

Shawn McCraney

Charlie wrote:
Please come back brother "Into the Greater Light", I write from my heart as well as my head, spirit and experience to one I feel has been wounded by those who should of showed charity and known better. I am a outside witness of the truthfulness of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. I was born again at Woodstock in 1969 and led by the Lord and his Holy Spirit to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. I have written a book entitled, "Into the Greater Light" that I share freely on the net at:
www.homestead.com/oceanportal
I invite you to read my conversion and testimony by the power of the Holy Ghost and tell me what you both think and feel. My name is Robert C. Luerssen and my friends call me Charlie. I just moved here to SLC from NY where I was born and lived most of my life. The following is a sample of my book to give you a taste of who I am and where I'm coming from.The Foreword at: www.homestead.com/oceanportal/Chap.html
From: bondservant@bornagainmormon.com [mailto:bondservant@bornagainmormon.com]
Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 11:10 PM
A friend wrote to Shawn McCraney www.bornagainmormon.com :
Subject: Forward (2-13-07)
I received this War & Peace of an e-mail, which I commend you if you read through the whole thing. At any rate, here it is...
Shawn wrote to me:
You have been deceived beyond belief, my friend. May God open your eyes and ears.
I wrote to Shawn:
You may be cool in your black outfits, but for being a common man I question. You are very common to those in church history who for whatever reason left the truth and than kick against the pricks.
Rev. 2: 4
Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
Why not repent on Valentine's Day and come back to your Lord's true church? Or does priestcraft pay you too many common dollars? Now for your comments: "You have been deceived beyond belief, my friend. May God open your eyes and ears."
If you would of read my book with an open mind and with the Holy Spirit to guide, you might of been able to comprehend the Greater Light, even Jesus Christ. However, since you have rejected the greater light and wisdom God asked me to share with you I can only give you my NY kindergarden wisdom better know as "NY Jack" (the lower law).
I'm rubber your glue whatever you say about me bounces off and sticks to you. Or it takes one to know one!
I would wish you God's speed, but the scriptures are clear on that:
2 Jn. 1: 10-11
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
However, I will pray that you speedily repent of your lessor faith before God closes your mouth as he did Korihor (Alma 30:52-53) in the Book of Mormon. Only than will you know that my God is God.
Peace,
Charlie
Shawn wrote:
Feel better?
Charlie (I) wrote:
Yes my brother I enjoy sharing my testimony and NY culture with you. As you can read I'm no naive "Molly Mormon" who maybe soft spoken and living on the beliefs of their forefathers. I have a message, conversion and mission which will cut both ways. Judgment will start in the Lord's church and move forth to the ends of the earth. You indeed might be serving the Lord's purposes by cleaning his church out of the deadwood and those of little faith or weak beliefs. They say birds of a feather flock together. Your gathering quite a flock of lost souls. I'm sure you can get them into one of those lesser kingdoms. On another note you remind me more of Nehor (Alma 1:2-4) than Korihor. Or maybe you can become the next Harold Camping of Family Radio. I would love to see you two together out gracing each other. However, I do fear for you because their end is a pattern for those who lead souls astray. By the way how is you voice holding up? Are we going see TV reruns next week? I hope you can say more than your pat answers you have programed into your computer. Or does the cat, devil or Lord have your tongue?
We're praying for you in high places,
Charlie
PS Perhaps living in Utah will help knock off some of my rough edges and I'll become a smooth stone like you.
Shawn wrote:
I used to try and be acerbic and witty in my writing. Made me FEEL good. But I try and just stay on task, now. Apologies if I don't bite onto your East Coast bravado and try and tear a bit off. I pray God's light will shine into your heart and convict and convince you that all you need is Jesus.
In His Name
Shawn
I wrote:
Thanks Shawn that is more real and I respect your sincerity, though I think you worship Jesus in a lesser light. I'm only hoping you can open your heart and mind to the greater treasures that the Jesus (John 17:3)I know wants you to receive. This I truly pray for you in the name of the true Christ, even Jesus Christ my Redeemer and Lord, amen.

Peace,
Charlie