Ships

I have been so unbelievably spiritually fed in this last week, and General Conference hasn't even happened yet!  I feel so blessed.  Yesterday our stake had a home evening with the stake president and his wife.  I love President and Sister Green.  They are the cutest, most tender, most in love couples I have ever seen.  They tease and are hilarious with each other, but the Spirit is ever there when they are. Together they gave a talk about families and not building them "after the manner of men," but instead building them like the three ships built in scriptural history:  Noah's ark, Nephi's ship, and the brother of Jared's barges.  We need to build them from the instruction we get from the Lord.  We need to build them tight like unto a dish.  We need to operate them by faith.  Among the stories and many profound words they said, my favorites were said after we read these verses from Ether chapter 6:

 6 And it came to pass that they were many times buried in the depths of the sea, because of the mountain waves which broke upon them, and also the great and terrible tempests which were caused by the fierceness of the wind.

 7 And it came to pass that when they were buried in the deep there was no water that could hurt them, their vessels being^atight like unto a dish, and also they were tight like unto the ^barkof Noah; therefore when they were encompassed about by many waters they did cry unto the Lord, and he did bring them forth again upon the top of the waters.

 8 And it came to pass that the wind did never cease to blow towards the promised land while they were upon the waters; and thus they were ^adriven forth before the wind.

President Green closed with this: 

"Please remember the concept and truth that the very wind that continuously blew them to the Promised Land, was the same wind that caused the waves to bury them.  Lehi explained that there needs be opposition in all things." 

The Lord is in charge, and always provides a way for us even in our darkest times.  The stones that lit the barges were not only sources of light, but there were witnesses of God's existence and we still have those stones today in our everyday lives.  President Green and his wife said that one night when they were brand new married, they decided to kneel down and dedicate their marriage and lives to the Lord. I'm so excited to one day do the same.  

Oh.  And remember....