Your Mother Knows It

 

Just a testimony for Brooke and Will - Love Mommy 💝

Once Kevin asked me, " What if it isn't true all; that which you believe and you did all those things like your clothing, not drinking, spending all this time, wouldn't you be upset? " 

I said, " I know it's true, 

 but I will tell you that even if it was not, I would rather die holding onto something beautiful, building up with the Saints something beautiful,  that beautiful souls do/did to try and be like Jesus; to honor what they did and sacrificed for in the organization that makes this world better, answers every question, gives every kind of help to anyone, and has committed and inspired millions to be their best self, reach a little higher, and use what they are given for the glory of God and Jesus. I would rather die in faith and hope in something that matters, has depth and sacrifice because of love, than die having thought about no one, trying to uphold nothing, and living for myself in shallow darkness." - Your Mom Emily 

Silly and Sixteen

 Beloved Brooke, 

You are beloved by your family and so many people around you! Your friends and many from church showered you with love on this your 16th birthday! A Young Women's leader Sister Putman brought you treats yesterday, a young women in your class brought you a bunt cake, the missionaries mailed you a letter back!!! You mailed them one first in your gobs of letters to your loved ones that you send weekly in the mail, even though these loved ones of yours sit next to you in class at school.....your Grandma and Grandpa put birthday decor up in your room, even when we thought there was no space possible to put any thing else in your room! And, your friend from church Ally Stromness brought you a delicious heart full of Cookie Rack cookies today, on your birthday! Actually, there is one more thing that we don't know who did, decorated your front door with hearts that say, Brooke is : smart, beautiful, creative, talented and a daughter of God, on one heart each.

At sweet sixteen it is fun that you are silly, and yes, the sassy has surpassed anything I have seen in you yet! No matter your age you are always special and my smarty pants princess. 💝💝💝

Love, 

      Mommy💝

Brooke Babe

 Brookesadoodle is one of your nicknames from your friends

Brookskie is your nickname from your Dad

Brookie is your nickname from Grandma and my peanut was what Grandma called you as a baby

Babe is your nickname from me

Book is what Will called you when he was a toddler

Whatever we each call you Brooke, it doesn't matter because you will always first be 

Your Heavenly Father's daughter, a daughter of the creator of Universes, Your God's Priestess in eternity and my princess in mortality.

Brooke I think one of your best gifts you were given is that you seek to learn more and you want to improve. 

I know this because you are always finding out the facts, reading as you always have, and you even asked your teachers for their recommended political books lately, well from your " Libertarian " teacher anyways, which pleased your " Libertarian " Dad, no doubt. 

You told me, " I just want to know what I really think myself." After explaining the book your teacher gave you. I told you that's the best thing to do, and even very important in having a testimony of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ; because if we can't see what others think and know what we think, then we don't really know what we think solidly anyways. 

I asked you about your testimony of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a few days ago, hearing that some in our ward your age ate sending questions around and wondering your thoughts. 

You told me you know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is truth because you feel the spirit. I asked you when you feel the spirit? You said in the temple and when the missionaries come over is when you feel the spirit.

I was so happy to hear your strength and testimony. 

I was happy when you sent me this and it shows though you are a teen, you are a precious gift and the daughter I am so blessed to call mine. 

You wrote: I know you always do nice things and just want me and will to be happy And thank you for working for us, I think it's good to have a break though. I'll stop asking for stuff because I know we want to go on vacation I appreciate you a lot . 

Receiving the Keys - Will receives the Priesthood

  

Will, 

Remember how much I love the statue of Peter in our house of Peter holding the golden key? This January, you and I and all of our family have been blessed so very much that you have received those " keys " that Peter was given by Jesus Himself. I think you have quoted Matthew 16: 18-19 more than any other scripture I have asked you to recite and that is because this scripture and scripture account is one of my all time favorites. The reason that it is my favorite is because of the fact that we can understand and we have a personal witness and our own experiences because these keys are active in our lives through the Priesthood ordinances that we have. 

That Priesthood is in use or active as we have the Holy Ghost with us, we are praying and saying sorry for something, so the power of Jesus Christ activates and cleanses us from or sin. 

I was explaining to you Will, just a few days before you would get the gift of the exact copy of that Priesthood key that Jesus told Peter, " I say unto you Peter, your name is Cephas ( which means rock ) and upon this rock I will build my church, and give you the keys of the kingdom, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. " , that just like our veins carry out blood around our body, since they have a outward layer carrying the blood to our entire body, so is the Priesthood like these veins in our body, but the Priesthood carries and delivers the power or the blood of Jesus Christ through out the body of His church, or to each of us it's members. We can't have access or a way to receive the power of Jesus Christ, if nothing brings it through us...

His Power travels through each of us that have been given the Holy Ghost through baptism and extra blood ( or His Priesthood Power given ) is brought to each part of the body that needs healing, or is in need of nutrients etc. 

So too do the Priesthood Holders bring extra power, healing, and words given, to each member of His church, whether it be by passing the Sacrament, or blessing the sacrament on Sundays, or if it be by serving in a calling that Priesthood Holders are called to. 

I am sure you understand about this power in the Priesthood because you were very excited about receiving the keys by Grandpa Pack and the leaders at church loved by us. 

Grandpa Pack shared with you that this is so special that when someone is given the Priesthood keys, it is recorded by whom and that name and person was given it by another Priesthood Holder, all the way tracing back to Jesus Christ Himself. 

If you ever wonder how special this gift is Will, think of this....

If someone gave you a key that belongs to the front door of a castle, the White House, or how about a Ferrari, would it be any less able to  give you access - to go into the castle, White House, or drive the Ferrari? No! It would be just as much yours having access to the keys in your pocket at all times. 

So, the power of God given to Peter is no different than the same power that Jesus Christ's church was set up with, or even our earth was created with. 

Don't lose those keys! Because those keys are much greater than the keys for your first car, or home...and they access eternal happiness. 

You chose yourself to serve the Bishopric the sacrament this Sunday Will, and you asked if I could also sit in a place where you'd serve to me. You did so wonderful! You asked to pray that morning in the car in the way to church that you would do a good job, even though we had already prayed at home. You gave thanks in the prayer that you can serve the Sacrament. I felt your sincerity. 

I know you will be serving me in that power of God, the rest of eternity, just as you will be serving all of our brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ and His church. 

Love, 

       Mommy 💝

Grandpa and you playing on the floor at his and Grandma's house