www kevinhinckley com 1 Hems and Crumbs A

www. kevinhinckley. com 1 Hems and Crumbs

A Pride of Grandmas

A Goof of Grandpas

A Juggle of Moms

A Muscle of Elders

A Starve of Elders

A Preen of Laurels

A Tantrum of Toddlers

A Smell of Scouts

A Giggle of Beehives

A Snooze of High Priests

Robert Millett As we traverse the roads of a darkened world, we receive the beckoning invitation to come out of the darkness unto Christ our Savior… If we will hearken to the light we will be led, either here or hereafter, to the covenant gospel and to the greater light of the gift of the Holy Ghost… We thereby become a peculiar, or a purchased, people, those called out of darkness into his marvelous light. Alive in Christ: The Miracle of Spiritual Rebirth ( 1997) 12

Hems… Mark 5 : 22 13

Crumbs Matt 15: 22 -28 14

The Great Plan of Restoration Alma 41

Note from an elderly client Already understood Alma 41 So I know I will never be worthy to enter the Celestial Kingdom. The divorce was my fault, the eternal damage to my family and children too deep- too permanent. Will never be worthy to lead children again. Did not past the test. Mercy and forgiveness has already been applied. Doesn’t undo the

Elder Busche Shortly after our baptism, Jutta and I became aware of an elderly sister named Sister Maischt, whose enthusiasm for the gospel and the Church was so extraordinary that the shabbiness of her outward appearance did not matter much. From her looks, she was as close to a fairy tale witch as anyone I have ever seen—always wearing the same, long, ugly black dress and never clean, always smelly. She simply did not try to look groomed or acceptable. She was originally from East Prussia…She had five children and a husband all killed by the Russians…She lived in a shed without plumbing or electricity and lived off the food she grew on her land. She never talked about the details. 17 When anyone asked her about her background, she would immediately change the subject and talk about the goodness of Christ, the support of angels, and her testimony of the Book of Mormon…

One day, my wife and I discussed Sister Maistcht and the fact that she walked two hours one way to go to church. We debated whether we should make the sacrifice and leave 30 minutes earlier on Sundays to give her a ride. We felt good as finally agreed to do this service for her. How surprised I was, however, when I presented her with our suggestion. She said: Brother Busche, you cannot do this to me. I’m an old lady. How can I ever show the Lord how much I love Him, how much I adore Him, how much I depend on His atoning sacrifice for my salvation and my desire to serve Him? I’m too old and too ugly and to forgetful to serve as the Relief Society president or even a teacher. The greatest joy of my life is on Sunday when I can get up early in the morning, walk to church, and take the sacrament. Yes it is a long walk and, yes, my legs hurt and my back hurts, but every step I rejoice. As I walk I sing the hymns…because my walk is a celebration of my Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. And you want to take this away from me? You can’t do this to me. Let me walk. ” 18

One day, she came to me, as Branch President, and gave me a large amount of money. She said, Brother Busche, this is the money for my funeral because this will be the last week of my life. ” I protested and said: “Sister Maischt, you are going to live much longer. You are not going to die. ” She said: “You don’t understand. The Lord told me that my time of probation is over and that I should come to you to arrange for my funeral. This is the money, and these are the songs and the speakers. ” She handed me a piece of paper with the arrangements for her funeral. When she did not show up the next Sunday in church, the Relief Society sisters visited her. They found her dead in her hovel, calmly and peacefully gone. Yet her influence remains… 19 In my mind, she is a monument of womanhood that I know will stand in the day of her resurrection, in prominence and beauty, and stands for me as a beacon of light in these days when we are so easily distracted by the