“THANKS & KEEP YOUR FORK”

     Danke, gracias, merci, malo e lelei, obrigato, thank you, or hundreds of other like expressions uttered in as many tongues as there are peoples describe our feelings for you, our dear friends, and for life and the opportunity to live it under the guidance of our loving and gracious Father in Heaven. He desires to bless his children and gratitude for those blessings is the essence of a worshipful life. After all, our task isn’t that of acquiring blessings but rather cherishing them.

      It seems we have but two choices; gratitude or greed. Let gratitude slip and selfishness quickly takes its place. A grateful heart provides the fertile soil of growth and understanding. A grateful heart is a thanksgiving heart. President Faust says, “A grateful heart is a beginning of greatness' (Ensign, May 1990, 86).” A greedy heart is not; its hunger for power and gain sow discontent. Here’s the experience of Elder Gordon Watts and his childhood journey to find that out:

      "As a young boy, life on our small family farm was heaven. Often in our humble home there were not as many shingles as we had roof. The rest-room facility was connected by a long path that required some advance planning, and sometimes my worn shirt had more buttonholes than buttons. The Saturday night bath in front of a warm stove, where your body experienced both extremes in temperature, was a luxury.
      "Then something changed. I started school and began to notice possessions I had not known. Some had nice clothing, beautiful homes with all the modern conveniences, and newer automobiles. Many my age were not required to arise early and do chores before going to school, only to go home at night and do them all over again. While they were popular and confident, I became backward and shy. Regretfully, I began to forget how happy I had been with my basket of blessings as I indulged in comparing their seemingly endless bushels to mine. (“A Grateful Heart,” The New Era, Sept. 1999, 4)

      As we’ve found out, when gratitude wanes, reality is distorted causing our plate of plenty to appear empty. The glass may indeed be half empty but the grateful heart sees the blessing of half a glass and rejoices in it. An attitude of gratitude opens our eyes to the multitudinous blessings God grants.

      One of our faithful elders gratefully rejoiced in a pension (apartment) others looked at in disdain. His humble eyes saw a cement floor where he had known only dirt before. Happiness and plenty are not always roommates but our commitment to serve is a direct reflection of our gratitude.

      True gratitude combines with hope as is found in the attached story of the woman and the fork. For just as appreciation soars for daily blessings here, hope assures us of an even better world.

      We gratefully acknowledge God as our Creator and the giver of every good gift.
Garry & LaNell

A Woman and a Fork

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things "in order," she contacted her Bishop and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.

She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in. Everything was in order and the Bishop was preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.

      "There's one more thing," she said excitedly. "What's that?" came the Bishop's reply. "This is very important," the young woman continued. "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand." The Bishop stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say. "That surprises you, doesn't it?" the young woman asked.

      "Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the Bishop. The young woman explained. "My grandmother once told me this story, and from that time on I have always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement. In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!'

      So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder "What's with the fork?" Then I want you to tell them: "Keep your fork, the best is yet to come."

      The Bishop's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he bid the young woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than many did, even many people twice her age. She KNEW that something better was coming.

      At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's casket and they saw the cloak she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the Bishop heard the question, "What's with the fork?" And over and over he smiled.

      During his message, the Bishop told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman where he learned about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. He told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either. He was right. So the next time you reach down for your fork let it remind you, ever so gently, that the best is yet to come.

      Ether 12:4 “Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.”

Moore Family Update, 2005

      We are richly blessed as our family continue steadfast in the gospel. There is no greater joy than to know that your children (natural and missionary) walk in the Lord. This year we watched 30 grandchildren walk one more year along the straight and narrow path. We're not saying it hasn't been without its bumps, bruises and some catastorphies but from start to finish, it's been a very good year. Their parents are putting in full time effort to teach, train and bless. All of the mothers have been blessed to be stay at home moms for which we are doubly grateful. The Lord seems to recognize the sacrifice required to have mommies at home as he makes paychecks go further and wants diminish while at the same time pouring out blessings that overflow the cup.

      President Moore continues his work as Associate Administrator of the Church Education System. He and Hermana Moore are in the throes of writing lessons for the new Aaronic Preisthood & Young Women Manuels which will be available in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Hermana Moore has found a heaven on earth in the temple where she serves as an ordinance worker. She graduated from BYU in April. Presidente Y Hermana just returned from Rexburg where President spoke to the students at the BYU-I devotional. His grandkids said it was amazing because he didn’t even put them to sleep. He felt good about things because no one threw rocks at him, probably because the ground was covered in snow! That sounds like Presidente doesn’t it!

      Our youngest two, Randy and Kathryn are graduating in December from the U of U and BYU respectively. Randy and his beautiful Charisse's Madelyn is a year old and running. Kathryn is engaged to a wonderful young man from our very own neighborhood who served a mission in Texas (of course he learned Spanish there!) and is graduating from Tufts University in Boston this May. They will marry the 2nd of June. The reception will be in his backyard and YOU ARE ALL WELCOME. Time is 7-9 and the address is 1295 E. 2100 South in Bountiful. If we have June Showers it will be held at our chapel just across the street. Our phone is 801-292-1009 if you have any questions. I won't even try to send individual invitations so consider this your invitation, please. We love you all and would be delighted if you could join us for the celebration.

      Rob and Carrie as well as Dan and DaLynn are raising teen agers big time! With a 16, a 15, and two 13 year olds the family has fully arrived at adolesence. Rob has a new job with Simplifile that is giving him a great opportunity to use his creative genius, the Lord willing, and Dan is excited about Winter semester's opportunity for some academic research and a slightly lessened teaching load at BYU-I. Rob & Carrie's Rachael, Keith, Christopher, Becca and Miriam keep Carrie employed working 16 our days! The same is true of Dan and DaLynn's Ashton, Tanner, Hunter, Atalie, Mason, Taylor and McKay. December brings 5 birthdays, their anniversary and Christmas for them.

      Dave and Natalie were elated when President Bush nominated the Justice that Dave clerked for in 2000 to the Supreme Court. Dave will spend the first week of 2005 promoting Justice Samuel Alito nomination in the Senate. Teaching at the U of Kentucky law school plus interviews for Television, Radio and newspaper have made it an exciting year. Natalie has a full time job supporting Dave and raising up Scott and Matthew to the Lord.

      Richard and Ruth remain loyal to Les Olson Business Machines Company and it has served them very well. As head of purchasing, inventory, etc. he seems to be able to anticipate needs and make them extra successful. Ruth is making wonderful citizens of Ashley, Taylor and Devin. Joseph and Shera are loving his work with Idaho Falls Pediatrics as a Pediatrician. Joseph is our fifth son and a recent ultrasound discovered the reality of a fifth son that will make his advent in the fifth month of May. He will be NUMBER 50 in our family. Adam, Jacob, Spencer and Benjamin say, "Yeah, another wild Indian!"

      Ben and Britt are off on a cruise with their Kade, Hunter, Michael and Annika (the queen of the tribe) Christmas compliments of Britt's parents. They should be thoroughly fed and content upon their return. Ben's employment with Pacific Wireless continues to bless their family. Doyle and Kris are basking in that warm Arizona sunshine one more winter. We call often so they can tell us the sun still shines! Lewis & Roca law firm has been a great asset to this family's success. Kris' Kamry, Kayla, Logan and Taeya all love "Daddy come home time." Little Logan has become the gentleman of the house with, "Ladies first, please!" There's so much love in these families that you can feel it the minute you're welcomed inside. We know where that comes from and so, we add gratitude for the gifts of the spirit to our overflowing praise of Him whose work this is and of which families are the foundational building block.

      Thank you for building your personal kingdoms, one moment at a time. Thank you for your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His redemptive power. Thank you for your submissiveness to His Plan of Happiness. God lives. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, our Savior, our Master. The Holy Ghost bears personal witness to each of us as we plead and search for added light and knowledge. Joseph Smith is the prophet of the restoration of this great and marvelous work and Gordon B. Hinckley is the prophet of our day. Of this we bear witness in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.