Seaton Sluice is a village in Northumberland. It lies on the coast at the mouth of the Seaton Burn River , midway between Whitley Bay and Blyth. In the 2021 census the village had a population of 2,956. This little village is two miles from our flat.
It is called Seaton Sluice because a water gate was implemented to keep the boats afloat in the harbor. (A sluice is a water channel containing a sluice gate, a type of lock to manage the water flow and water level.)
The Sluice was created to aid in the management of salt pans for harvesting salt for hundreds of years since 1236 and it was later used to transport coal from inland coal mines.
We frequently go to this spot to walk or jog for exercise each morning. This last week we were running along this spot and I had the impression that we are like boats in life. If we can keep our boats afloat in the Savior’s stream of redeeming love, we can navigate through the difficulties of life more easily. Some people never manage to get their boats into the stream and even become beached in difficult situations. We need to remember there is ALWAYS a way to enter the stream again and have the blessings of His Atonement move us to more productive and joyful points in our life.
A passage was blasted through the rock between the sea and harbor in the 1600's to aid in the draining of sand from the harbor-- at high tide the gate would be closed and the harbor gate also closed so the sea water would remain in the harbor then at low tide the gate would be opened and the sudden rush of water out through the narrow passage would wash out the sand in the harbor back to the ocean. Is this not like the washing of a spiritual wound with the living water of our Savior that we may begin to appropriately heal after the debris is removed from it ? Let us all keep our boats afloat in the stream of redeeming love of our Savior and wash our spiritual wounds with His living water that we may be healed.
Multiply and Replenish
This last week in institute we discussed the first commandment that Adam and Eve received-- to multiply and replenish the earth. This commandment is still in force today, though it can present some challenges concerning when and how many and some struggle with the ability to bear children. Elder Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve apostles has given us assurance in this regard:
"The bearing of children can … be a heartbreaking subject for righteous couples who marry and find that they are unable to have the children they so anxiously anticipated or for a husband and wife who plan on having a large family but are blessed with a smaller family.
We cannot always explain the difficulties of our mortality. Sometimes life seems very unfair—especially when our greatest desire is to do exactly what the Lord has commanded. As the Lord’s servant, I assure you that this promise is certain: Faithful members whose circumstances do not allow them to receive the blessings of eternal marriage and parenthood in this life will receive all promised blessings in the eternities, [as] they keep the covenants they have made with God.”
We also addressed some of the most pervasive evils in our world, pornography and immorality. One of the most important principles that can help push this temptation out of our lives is to understand better our divine identity and purpose: We are beloved children of Heavenly Parents, with a divine nature and eternal destiny.
As we focus on our eternal identity, President Russell M. Nelson said: “Not all labels are of equal value. But if any label replaces your most important identifiers, the results can be spiritually suffocating. … No identifier should displace, replace, or take priority over these three enduring designations: ‘child of God,’ ‘child of the covenant,’ and ‘disciple of Jesus Christ’” (“Choices for Eternity” [worldwide devotional for young adults, May 15, 2022], ChurchofJesusChrist.org).
Temple Rescue
Our dear friend who joined the church just over a year ago, Ben Lowerson, is now preparing to submit his mission application. He felt the need for some extra strength as he began this process so we rushed him to the Preston temple 3 hours away for a Sealing Session and an Endowment session. It brought heavenly power to us all and gave him the boost he needed. We can't wait to see where he is called.
Bamburgh Castle w/ Barnard and Moss
Missionary work can be very demanding for the young missionaries. Because we have a car (and only a few missionaries do here), we invited the sisters to a p-day outing at Bamburgh castle just one hour away. Thank you to German and Sarah who left money for their lunch at the castle. Sisters Angela Barnard and Jocelyn Moss are amazing missionaries. It was fun to share this preparation day with them.
Firth Idaho Harvest
We were delighted to receive a new district leader in this most recent transfer: Elder Aaron Daniels, he is friends with a grandson of Donna & Gaylen Clayson, who are dear friends from our MTC training. Here we are on a flat inspection with Elder Daniels -- a wonderful missionary.
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