Forty-one years ago, on December 28, Elder Magnusson and I were married in the Oakland California Temple. This week we visited the Xunantunich Maya temple site near where we're living now.
Temples are sacred. Learn more why we chose to get married in the Oakland Temple.
The Youtube channel explains: Mormons, or more respectfully, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints get married, or "sealed," in the temple for time and all eternity, not just "til death do us part."
Our daughters' visit continued into this week. Here we're in front of the Bullet Tree Falls chapel where we attended services on Sunday. The Light the World poster on the fence was an invitation for visitors to join us in worship on December 23rd.
On Christmas Eve we were invited to the Lopez home for their annual family gathering and Christmas program. Elder and Sister Flake (left) were also there.
At Xunantunich with Lisa and Rachel.
Christmas dinner at the Magnusson's. (Notice the watermelon; we've had watermelon almost everyday of our mission. Well, it is red and green--perfect for Christmas!)
We were in Belmopan to deliver packages to the missionaries and noticed the Light the World billboard in the city center. We hope to be able to continue its message throughout the year.
Stopping in at the San Ignacio Town hospital to visit a Church member.
A highlight on Friday was meeting the famous Belizean artist Walter Castillo in his studio. Walter is a native of Nicaragua but now makes Bullet Tree Falls his home with his wife Miko. We were excited to purchase some of Walter's autographed prints. Walter's style portrays Belize's carefree side and unique scenery.
We're overjoyed to have our daughters, Rachel and Lisa, stay with us for a week during this Christmas season. We took in a visit to Tikal, the massive ancient Maya ruins across the border in Guatemala.
Rachel and one of the many stone-carved stelae at Tikal. This stela, while very worn, depicts Maya warriors in the center and their calendar around the perimeter.
Lisa stands atop one of the highest temples, with another protruding from the rainforest canopy beyond.
Fortunately, we didn't need to climb the face of the temples as the ancients did. But, we did climb a lot of stairs that have been erected behind some to get the views.
Tikal was one of the largest of the Maya cities, and consists of temples that tower skyward, as well as remains of large royal palaces, residences, pyramids and stone monuments. It was a privilege to visit this center of a Central American civilization. Most of our neighbors in our village of Succotz are proud descendants of this people.
The foliage in this part of the world is different than anything that we've seen at home in the United States.
This could be used as a Christmas wreath.
As only a few can visit the architectural reminders of the ancient Americans, everyone can and should read the religious history and the prophecies of Jesus Christ as recorded by their ancestors of the Western Hemisphere in The Book of Mormon. President Russell M. Nelson invited the women of the Church in October:
...to read the Book of Mormon between now and the end of the year....If you will accept this invitation with full purpose of heart, the Lord will help you find a way to achieve it. And, as you prayerfully study, I promise that the heavens will open for you. The Lord will bless you with increased inspiration and revelation. As you read, I would encourage you to mark each verse that speaks of or refers to the Savior. Then, be intentional about talking of Christ, rejoicing in Christ, and preaching of Christ with your families and friends. You and they will be drawn closer to the Savior through this process. And changes, even miracles, will begin to happen.
I am happy to say that I accepted President Nelson's challenge and I finished reading the Book of Mormon on December 22nd. One of my favorite verses is Helaman 5:12:
12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall. In the Church throughout the world, the children of Primary present an annual program in Sacrament Meeting. This year's theme was "I Am A Child of God". The Primary in Succotz made a very special presentation last Sunday, with many of the children having memorized their scriptures and talks.
Anyone who knows me, knows that I love children. As you watch this video, you will learn the meaning of Christmas taught though the eyes of children.
Our church's youth Youtube page says this about this next Christmas video song: Do you have childhood memories of Christmas? Did you hear the story of Christ’s birth in a far-off land? Have you asked yourself, like the Wise Men, “What can I bring?” This season, share the story of the Savior’s birth with younger generations. As you do, the meaning of Christmas will shine through every tradition of the season. Old and young will feel closer to Him.
Zone Conference is now known as Multi-Zone since there are now two zones in the country-- the Belize City Zone and the Cayo Zone. We welcomed Elder and Sister Jensen (front row, left) from Cardston, Canada, to their first zone conference.
President Adams taught us about exercising faith in Jesus Christ in this great work. At the end of the meeting, the missionaries presented Christmas skits that focused on the Savior.
Santa (aka missionaries' families) sent packages to Belize via mail. Of course, these are always joyfully received!
Sister Flake planned a traditional American-style Christmas lunch of ham, cheesy potatoes, peas and carrots, rolls and jam, pistachio salad and pumpkin crumb cake . It was beautifully presented and enjoyed by all.
It is a pleasure to serve with these marvelous senior missionary sisters.
Sisters Flake, Magnusson, VandeMerwe, Jensen, and Adams
To finish up zone conference we watched this musical video, which beautifully portrays Christ's birth and of His message of peace to the world.
While visiting with the Jensen's after zone conference, Sister Jensen showed me some photos from their area in Dangriga. I love this picture of the beautiful flowering tree.
Here are other pictures from the Jensen's of a sweet smile and beautiful hairdo.
It never disappoints to travel to visit some of our members on the island of Caye Caulker. I snapped a few shots of some of the sites we saw as we traversed this small island.
It's always a joy to stop in and see Frank and Natalie Ross and their sons. They are stalwarts in the San Pedro Branch.
Our Church and community from Belize joined the world-wide initiative to Light the World with acts of service.
As you click on this website and read the article, scroll through the pictures to see if you can recognize Elder Magnusson in his sun hat laying rock as his group repairs the road in front of the Nazarene School in our village of Succotz.
Paul Woods (left) and his daughters, along with other Church members, friends and missionaries wear yellow Helping Hands vests as they clean a road and park in Belize City.
The Belize Rise and Shine Morning television program featured Light the World on their December 7th show. Belize Church Public Affairs representative, René Gomez and Elder and Sister Jensen were interviewed for the show.
We were happy to have my brother, Craig and his wife, Lynn visit us this week from Utah. It was snowing when they left their home, so they are especially enjoying the sunshine here.
Let the Christmas season begin! Thanks Lynn for bringing some Christmas decorations for our home.
A group of about 30 Belizean Saints traveled through the night to arrive at the Mérida Mexico Temple at 5:00 am. Above the temple entrance are the words in Spanish - SANTIDAD AL SEÑOR, CASA DEL SEÑOR (Holiness to the Lord, The House of the Lord). The temple is truly a holy place. Abner and Alicia Grey had their marriage sealed for time and eternity, and their sons sealed to them. This means the family will be together forever as they keep their covenants--our Heavenly Father's plan for all His children.
It was a special day for the Greys at the temple. Elder Walker explains a little about the temple and the concept of eternal family relationships in the video below:
The sealing room in our temples is a very wonderful and special place. It's a wonderful and a remarkable thing to look into the eyes of a man and a woman who are about to be married. They love each other with all their hearts. When two people are getting married, they can't imagine the idea that this beautiful, loving relationship would ever end. So it's an important part of Mormon teaching that it doesn't need to end at death. This marriage can go on into the eternities, and a loving God intended it to be that way. So He gave us this power and authority. It's actually what Jesus was giving the Apostles in Matthew chapter 16, when Jesus put His hands on Peter and the other Apostles and conferred upon them the authority to have bound on earth and have it be bound in heaven. That's what was happening there. Jesus was giving the sealing authority to His Apostles. And that's utilized in the temple, in the house of the Lord, where a man and a woman can be sealed together for eternity. When you've been married in the temple, you've been sealed in the temple, then your children who are born into this marriage are part of that sealing. And they are yours forever, so long as everybody lives the commandments. Now, you might say, "Well, what about those who were married before?" They can go to the temple and receive those same blessings. The children would come with the mother and father, and they would also kneel at the altar. And it's a beautiful, sacred thing to witness, particularly with little children, to see them kneel at the altar in the temple next to their mother and father, holding hands together on the altar, and have them sealed together as a family for time and for all eternity. That's a great blessing from heaven. It's a great blessing from God. And we believe that's what God intended, that families would be together forever.
We send to all our friends far and near this year's Christmas card, with love.
Check out our Christmas greetings through the years by clicking here.
Our dear friend Margaret Cardinez was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Saturday evening. Margaret and her husband are joined by Elder and Sister Van De Merwe and us. Elder Magnusson was privileged to be able to perform Margaret's baptism.
The Cardinez family was present on this sacred occasion for their mother.
While we attended this memorable baptismal service in Belize, our first grandchild was being baptized by her father in Idaho. December 1, 2018 will now always to be a special memory for us!
December 1st was also the world-wide day of service for members of the Church to "light the world" by giving. Missionaries along with local church members cleaned a park in Belize City.
We joined with the Succotz branch members cleaning the Church of the Nazarene's elementary school, and to repair the road in front of the school damaged by flooding.
Our district of missionaries following this week's district council meeting.
As we followed the sisters into the building to have our meeting, I joked with them that I didn't get the bun memo.
Sunday night was the Church's annual First Presidency Christmas Devotional. Members of the Benque Branch watched this inspiring Christmas program on our laptop.
You can watch the devotional, with President Russell M. Nelson as the concluding speaker, by clicking here
