Everlasting Marriage, Memory under Glass, Everyone, Secret Connection Revealed, Ellie-May and Henry - Twins at Last Meet Below

The New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage

We are back after the Christmas break teaching institute.  The lesson this last week was about the New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage-- a lot of meaning-packed words here and we talked about each one of them.  We feel at times we forget about the significance of this covenant and ordinance.  When President Nelson spoke at Pat Holland's funeral he asked, what was the most significant day in her life?  Her birth, death, baptism ?   He said it was none of those but the day she was joined together with Elder Jeffrey R. Holland in the New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage (Eternal Marriage).  Elder F. Burton Howard said:

If you want something to last forever, you treat it differently. You shield it and protect it. You never abuse it. You don’t expose it to the elements. You don’t make it common or ordinary. If it ever becomes tarnished, you lovingly polish it until it gleams like new. It becomes special because you have made it so, and it grows more beautiful and precious as time goes by . . .  F. Burton Howard, 2002

The Eternal Marriage covenant is a covenant between three people.  The wife, the husband and the Savior, Jesus Christ.  By focusing on the Saviour, we are more likely to come closer to each other.  

Of this special relationship Elder David R. Bender of the Twelve Apostles wrote:

"The Lord Jesus Christ is the focal point in a covenant marriage relationship. Please notice how the Savior is positioned at the apex of this triangle, with a woman at the base of one corner and a man at the base of the other corner. Now consider what happens in the relationship between the man and the woman as they individually and steadily “come unto Christ” and strive to be “perfected in Him” (Moroni 10:32).  Because of and through the Redeemer, the man and the woman come closer together." (Ensign, June 2006, 86)

This diagram has been an important reminder in our marriage of the important role the Savior plays in our relationship.  It has been so important that Sister Betteridge and her sister Tara Anderton wrote a song about it called "The Triangle of Truth", a children's song.  Here are the lyrics:

Verse 1:

There’s a very special triangle that helps me choose the right.

At the top is Christ our Savior I’m directed by His light.

If I want to be in harmony with someone that I love, we each will turn our thoughts to Him.

He’ll strengthen from above.

Verse 2:

In our triangle the lower corners show our starting place.

Then our actions bring us near the Savior and His smiling face.

You will see as we come closer to the Savior ev’ry day, my friend and I come closer too,

Christ is the Truth, the Way!

We love this poem that reminds of our special day:  August 9th, 1977

A Celestial Opportunity for Everyone

There is hope for everyone to have an eternal marriage. The Savior has made it possible for all of us to repent, be forgiven, and make and keep sacred covenants with Him. Even those who do not have the opportunity to marry in this life can be sealed to a spouse for eternity if they are faithful.

Secret Connections Revealed

We discovered last week that one of our beloved institute students is related to our daughter Tiffany Ericksen's husband, Todd.  Todd has a cousin Mark-- his daughter Kennedy Inman has been in our institute class for the last semester.  It is a sweet revelation and connection.  Meet Kennedy Inman, our cousin-in-law? (I'm guessing).

Baptism of Ellie-May

We were pleased to attend the baptism of Ellie-May Bolton in the Ashington Branch.  We have enjoyed being around her on institute nights when we taught in Ashington.  She is an important part of the Ashington youth group and has gained a testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the last year.  It has been marvelous to see the change in her.  We are so grateful to know her. Here she is with family in the picture blow.  Her granddad is Elder Stewart Grimes, a senior service missionary in our mission.  She is prominent on the far left and her granddad is the one smiling on the right in the picture below:

Henry Bryce Ericksen Joins the Saints

Our dear grandson Henry Bryce Ericksen joins the saints... no not the New Orleans Saints (maybe in a couple years), but he was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday the same day as Ellie-May.  We are so proud of him and enjoyed viewing the proceedings via Zoom.  Henry is out daughter Tiffany's 5th child and youngest son and a big brother to his little sister Tessa.  His brother Andrew, Tiffany's oldest son, baptized him.  His sister Mary also joined via Zoom from her mission in Ogden as well as cousin Cameron from his mission in Chile.  His father Todd, gave a talk and confirmed him and Clara and Tiffany were witnesses.  Brother William gave the opening prayer.  A family affair!  Wow... we are grateful for technology!