6 Feb 2020, Thursday

6 Feb 2020, Thursday
Prioritized Daily Task
EMAIL the children - https://www.agospelcenteredhome.com/2020/02/02/study-the-restoration-a-60-day-countdown/

Restoration study day 6

Asael, Joseph Smith Jr. grandfather,  faced crossroads at the death of his father, taking the path of personal sacrifice. Everyone ultimately faces such crossroads, and many apparent sacrifices are disguised opportunities for personal development through serving others. In Asael’s case, his brother came from Massachusetts to explain that the obligations against his father’s estate exceeded the assets, so he recommended settling the debts on a percentage basis. But Asael said simply that he would not allow his father’s name to go down as that of an insolvent debtor. So he and his brother exchanged farms, and Asael moved to Topsfield to attempt the impossible. The postwar depression decreed minimal profits on farming, but for seven years he applied his total resources to supporting his large family and reducing the debts of his father. Finally, he sold the land to satisfy every creditor, and moved to Vermont with just about $100, enough to buy timbered land there and start over in a log cabin.

In 1799 Asael Smith penned “a few words of advice” to his family, an articulate 11-page document encouraging his family to follow his faith in God and in Christ by living as “scripture and sound reason” would dictate.    Speaking to his own sons and daughters about their children, he emphasized: “Make it your chiefest work to bring them up in the ways of virtue, that they may be useful in their generation.” Such a concern is intense within every sincere parent.  Joseph Smith, Sr. considered his most valuable asset the wisdom of a well-spent life.  Mormons belong to a church of millions actively handing down the best values of their ancestors by teaching virtue to new generations. Out of such a process came the founder of their faith.

The father of Joseph Smith, Sr., gave advice that reminds everyone of the importance of family gatherings. Talking of “yourselves within yourselves,” he expressed a “last request and charge” that his children would share “an undivided bond of love.” Asael felt strongly about the need of family association:

“Visit as you may each other. Comfort, counsel, relieve, succor, help and admonish one another. And while your mother lives, meet her if possible once every year. When she is dead, pitch on some other place … [I]f you cannot meet, send to and hear from each other yearly and oftener if you can. And when you have neither father nor mother left, be so many fathers and mothers to each other, so you shall understand the blessing mentioned in the 133 Psalm.”

Asael Smith’s scripture could well be the theme of any family association: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.”

This was the philosophy of my father, James Olin McAlpin, which our family followed as a young boy growing up on a farm in Haralson County, Georgia.  I know the joy that comes from a family unified in love.

It was the unpublicized integrity of Joseph Smith, Sr., that greatly influenced the career of Joseph Smith, Jr. No one can rightly deny that his family sought righteousness and the will of God. Through Joseph Smith, Jr., such a birthright has come to be a blessing far beyond his family.

The integrity, moral fiber, of many people today is not the same as it was in my father and my grand father's time.   It is now a big business, negotiating for  people who have debt they do not want to pay.  An example of just one company is National Debt Relief.  Their add read in big bold letters - 
 Are you tired of debt controlling your life?

This process of getting relief was relatively easy.  Get a free consolidation quote - Get out of debt without bankruptcy - Be debt free in 24 to 60 months - No upfront fees and no obligation 

I checked them out and found that the National Debt Relief is a Better Business Bureau (BBB)-accredited, New York-based business with a host of awards and accolades. They specialize in consolidating the balances on credit card debts, medical bills, repossessions, certain business debts and other unsecured obligations. National Debt Relief is a debt settlement company that negotiates on behalf of consumers to lower their debt amounts with creditors.

The company says consumers who complete its debt settlement program reduce their enrolled debt by 30% after its fees.

Debbie and I had prayer and read some about the restoration before having prayer together.  I was impressed with the integrity of the Smith family.  Debbie went with Karlene to walk.  It is in the twenties, with snow and ice.  They met a friend and walked inside a building similar to a mall.  Karlene took her mother-in-law to the therapist and Joe L. to his doctor's appointment.   Later Karlene and Debbie went over to her Mother's.  She is going to the Senior Center to work and they are going back home to clean her house.  I worked on getting my 2019 journal in a format to be printed.  I am having to review and edit each page over 2,000 pages.  Karlene and Debbie got home and Karlene fixed dinner for us, Ashton and Joe L.  Joe L drove to work in the ice and snow.  Everyone was worried about him.    I finished one month in my 2019 journal, I have 11 more to go then they can all be printed.  Debbie met with Karlene to prepare for a meeting with their brother Reed Searle.  Unless they can get everyone one the same page, so to speak, including their mother Jalna, there will most likely be some contention among the children and grand children regarding the potato farm and other property that Jalna owns.  Debbie and I read scriptures and had prayer before going to bed.