Going to the Temple

Recently, at the beginning of a previously forecast of a thirty-six hour snow and ice storm, I worried about being able to attend an early Saturday morning session at the Washington D. C. Temple (of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), especially since it had been three weeks since my last trip to the Temple, and I needed the spiritual strength that Temple participation provides patrons.
I knew that the road conditions would be terrible, because I had just returned, in the wee hours of the morning, to my West Virginia home, from a trip to Baltimore, and the road conditions already had become extremely treacherous.
Also, a job promotional test previously had been scheduled for the same morning as my planned trip to the Temple, and it was my only opportunity to qualify to be on the promotional eligibility list.
I had prayed about what to do, finally deciding that going to the Temple was much more important than any job promotional test.
Almost immediately thereafter, I received word that the inclement weather forecast had persuaded my agency to postpone the promotional examination until a later date.
I continued to pray, asking for travel protection, as I would be making the several hour round trip to the Temple on dangerous snow and ice covered roads.
Then, after getting up at 4:00 AM to prepare for my travel to the Temple, it amazed me to discover that the roads all were bare and that the ice and snow storm simply had faded away and dissipated, to the perplexity of the weather prognosticators.
Arriving safely at the Temple, it was my intention to go directly to do endowments, but a prompting instead led me to go and do family sealings.
During the sealings of children to parents for time and all eternity, I was further pleased and surprised to be helping children, born as long ago as the 1600's, to parents who bore the same unusual surname as one of our Church Stake (Regional) Leaders, but who had been submitted by a distant relative unknown to him.
Faith does indeed precede miracles.

From the Movie: "The Ghost & Mrs. Muir"

You can be so much more alone with others than when you are by yourself, even if you're with those you love.

Shared with Me by a Friend

A group of university graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old professor, now retired.
During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives.
Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups -porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves.
When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said, "Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones.
While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that also is the source of your problems and stress.
The cup from which you're drinking adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate.
In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what you drank.
What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups...and then you began eyeing each other's cups.
Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups.
They are just tools to hold and contain life.
The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have.
Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate God has provided us.
God makes the hot chocolate, we choose the cups.
The happiest people don't have the best of everything.
They just make the best of everything that they have."

...and goodnight, Mrs. Callabash, wherever you are (and do not go gentle into that good night).
Worlds without end.
Sans peur et sans reproche.
Larry D. Kump

Personal Reflections

Earlier this week, when I learned of the death of Gordon B. Hinckley, the beloved and aged President, Prophet, Seer, and Revelator of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church); I was moved to tears, but comforted ever so much that these were and are tears of joy on his behalf.
He now is reunited with his wife and the love of his life.
They are rejoicing as they move forward together in their eternal progression.
As these thoughts about him and my own family continued to stir my heart this week, I was reminded of the atoning sacrifice of Our Savior, Jesus Christ.
He continues to reach out his hand in love to all of us, and literally leads the LDS Church through our living prophets, seers, and revelators.
Earlier this morning, while reading "Words of Hope and Consolation at the Time of Death" (Chapter 14, Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith), reminders came anew to me of all of Brother Joseph's trials and tribulations throughout his life.
How they blessed and strengthened him, as the first modern prophet in this dispensation of the fullness of times!
Brother Eugene Spencer is a friend in Cumberland, Maryland, and struggling now with cancer.
He also has been in my thoughts and prayers, as I remember my own multiple struggles with the same affliction.
And then there's my own wonderful Dad, Willis "Woody" Kump, who now is on "Home Hospice", as he nears the end of his journey here with us.
It really is true, you know: death only makes our loved ones "absent for a moment" and "we shall soon meet again".