Thursday Caleb is Getting Married!!!!!

Good Things to Come

In the gospel of Jesus Christ we have the assurance that things will get better.

Empanadas de Dulce; Yummy Stuff

Nothing as good as dulce de batata (sweet potato jam) inside an empanada.  I baked them, but you can also fry them.  I was trying to be artsy, but failed miserable, so by the end just focused on sealing them tightly.  I failed in that sometimes as well.
How to make:
buy some dulce de batata, I get mine at El Chapparral, a Mexican market in San Jose on Santa Clara Street.  They have products from Argentina.
buy some empanada shells.  I get mine at the Mexican store in Manteca at La Super Altena Market but they have them at El Chapparral as well.
I sliced the empanada shells in quarters.  Lay on quarter shell on counter, add a small piece of dulce, put another quarter shell on top.  Seal the edges as best you can, maybe with a fork if needed.  Put on cookie sheet which has been sprayed with non stick oil.  Bake as indicated on empanada package.  (A bit longer than I baked them.)
Best to let them sit a few minutes to avoid a burned tongue.  I had a hard time with this.  Enjoy!!!

Mormon Women: Eliza R. Snow

There are many incredible women in the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  However none is more revered than Eliza R. Snow.  

Eliza R. Snow is best remembered for her poetry.  Ten of her poems are published in the LDS Hymn Book.   The most popular is undoubtedly, "O My Father."  This beautiful description of our Heavenly Mother, and eternal realms is a Mormon gem.   She also penned "How Great the Wisdom and the Love" which is often quoted in conference.  "How great, how glorious, how complete  Redemption's grand design,

Where justice, love, and mercy meet  In harmony divine!" 

A book I am now reading, "Signs, Wonders, and Miracles"  points to her as a widow of the martyred prophet Joseph Smith.  She had asked the Lord to take her as well.  However the prophet appeared to her from beyond the veil, and told her that was not God's intentions for her.  The prophet told her to "be of good courage and help to cheer and lighten the burdens of others."  Eliza was later asked by Brigham Young to organized relief societies in the local units of the church.  She then became the second general president of the relief society.  

Although  "O My Father" is a poem well revered, I like another even better: A Word To Saints Who are Gathering

by Eliza R. Snow

Think not, when you gather to Zion,

Your troubles and trials are through--

That nothing but comfort and pleasure

Are waiting in Zion for you.

No, no; 'tis design'd as a furnace;

All substance, all textures to try--

To consume all the "wood, hay and stubble,"

And the gold from the dross purify.

Think not, when you gather to Zion

That all will be holy and pure--

That deception, and falsehood are banish'd

And confidence wholly secure.

No, no, for the Lord our Redeemer

Has said that the tares from the wheat

Must grow; until the great day of burning

Shall render the harvest complete.

Think not, when you gather to Zion

The Saints here have nothing to do

But attend to your personal welfare,

And always be comforting you.

No, the Saints who are faithful are doing

What their hands find to do, with their might

To accomplish the gath'ring of Israel

They are toiling by day and by night.

Think not, when you gather to Zion,

The prize and the victory won--

Think not that the warfare is ended,

Or the work of salvation is done.

No, no; for the great Prince of Darkness

A tenfold exertion will make

When He sees you approaching the fountain

Where the truth you may freely partake.  (LDS Women)

Now, recently in the media we are made aware of another way to think of Eliza R. Snow, as a survivor of gang rape.  This knowledge helps me to appreciate this woman even more.  Two times she has to pick herself up, and go on.  I noted in the "Liahona September 1987" this story about Eliza Snow.  With the expulsion of the Saints "a man taunted Eliza R. Snow, saying, “Well, I think this will put an end to your faith.” She replied, “No, sir, it will take more than this to put an end to my faith.” He humbly responded, “I must confess you are a stronger person than I am.”  Eliza R. Snow is a person among people.  A person who overcame hardship, and was able to help many others.  A woman who fought for women's suffrage and women's rights.  (Utah had women's suffrage long before any other state or territory, but it was taken away by the federal government.)

Thoughts on the Joseph Smith Translation

A couple thoughts on the Joseph Smith Translation of the bible using as sources the LDS Bible Dictionary and an article in the book "Signs Wonders and Miracles." by Glen Rawson.  The text is from the bible dictionary and in brackets the information from Rawson, or myself.

Joseph Smith Translation (JST)

A revision or translation of the King James Version of the Bible begun by the Prophet Joseph Smith in June 1830. [Interesting to note that the translation of the Bible began shortly after he finished translating the Book of Mormon.] He was divinely commissioned to make the translation and regarded it as “a branch of his calling” as a prophet. Although the major portion of the work was completed by July 1833, he continued to make modifications while preparing a manuscript for the press until his death in 1844, and it is possible that some additional modifications would have been made had he lived to publish the entire work. Some parts of the translation were published during his lifetime.  [Glen Rawson writes, “Many have opined that he never finished it, or that its text was adulterated after he died, both ideas are false.  Perhaps its greatest contribution is its witness of the Savior.  The Joseph Smith Translation reveals a greater Christ—more noble, and even more divine, making the Joseph Smith Translation another treatment and the most correct of any Bible on earth.”  Rawson also points out that the Joseph Smith translation is a testament of Joseph as a prophet.  He translated with out seer stone, and never lost his concentration or place, translating slow enough a scribe could write his words.]

The translation process was a learning experience for the Prophet, and several sections of the Doctrine and Covenants (and also other revelations that are not published in the Doctrine and Covenants) were received in direct consequence of the work (D&C 76–77; 91). The book of Moses and the 24th chapter of Matthew (JS—M), contained in the Pearl of Great Price, are actual excerpts from the JST. Many excerpts from the JST are also given in the appendix and footnotes in the edition of the KJV that accompanies this dictionary. The JST to some extent assists in restoring the plain and precious things that have been lost from the Bible (see1 Ne. 13–14).

Although not the official Bible of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the JST offers many interesting insights and is an invaluable aid to biblical interpretation and understanding. It is a most fruitful source of useful information for the student of the scriptures. It is likewise a witness for the divine calling and ministry of the Prophet Joseph Smith.