The older I get the more I realize that Heavenly Father is looking out and protecting me. Below are three recent examples that I know of and the more I look back and think about it the more I realize my Heavenly Father is looking out for me and my family. There are many other incidents besides these, from driving out in MT for long periods of time to keeping me and my family safe day in and day out. Although we may not always see or feel when He is watching over us; occasional we run across incidents that pretty much prove He is. For that I am eternally grateful. I pray that we all may see his hand as there are times when it seems the heavens are closed and we are left to ourselves – for this reason when faith grows dim or we forget I wish to share the following three stories. May we never forget what great things God does on behalf of His children. May we always exercise faith in him, just as Nephi and the other prophets have done as only good can come from it.
Here are three examples of how Heavenly Father answers my and my family’s prayers.
1- Scuba diving – Saturday Dec 26 Sunde Rock by Hoodsport, WA My wife is kind enough to let me go diving about once a month and I look forward to leaving the world as we surface dwellers know it for the underwater world; to me it is the closest I will ever get to being an like an astronaut or explorer and discovering new and interesting things; which I love to do – I have a compelling need to see what I am missing or what else there is to see and learn as I find it most fascinating. I try to say a prayer with Krista before I go diving that all will go well and I will be safe and that I will see something interesting
My buddy Bob and I dove Sunde Rock marine preserve last month, our first dive was wonderful; the water on the surface however was quite chilly – around 40 degrees F; at depth below 20’ it warmed to high 40’s into the 50’s. I used to dive wet but thank goodness have been diving dry for the last 5 plus years which is a huge comfort. Bob and I descended to 70 plus feet turned on our lights and found 2-3 wolf eels and at least 1 octopus in the cracks and dens that make up the wall. We took pictures of the octo and wolfish and other critters on the north wall. Visibility was around 15 ft, which is good for
We then popped back up to 45 ft and proceeded north to the wreck, finding it after along swim the wreck was covered in a school of around a thousand young little fish (2 to 3 inches long), which to me is a big thrill swimming with school of fish or rather having a school swim through and around you, camera in hand I took a bunch of pictures of Bob, and the fish with the wreck in the background. My wife brought me a new UW camera which I love since I can take pictures and share them; its nice to be able to share my experiences with my family and friends and preserve my memories; I had the camera’s lanyard around my wrist which was kept taunt by a spring loaded holder; so I thinking there is no way this camera is coming loose, more on that later.
Noting now our air is about 1400 ; its now time to turn tail and head back to the beach; we swim back the way we came at around 35-40 ft and some to the fish bowl area right behind the wall where we say the octopus and wolf eels. I spied a nudibranch take a few pictures and then another wolf eel at 35 ft and take a few more pictures; then we head back to the beach. At around 17 ft I notice moon jellyfish swimming in the water column; and determine to take a picture or two; one of my favorite things to see when I am diving are all the critters swimming along in the water column; most are opaque or clear and are quite beautiful, for example the moon jellies I saw today had a bell(top) which was pitted like a whiffle ball, enjoying the jellies I determined to take a picture of them; went to grab my camera and discovered to my horror that it was no longer there and had somehow come off of my wrist!
Somewhere between the wolf eel and the jelly I has lost it! Nooooooooooo! Nooooooooo! I said to myself underwater; anyone who knows about diving here in the PNW knows if you loose something your changes of finding and recovering it are nil zero nada and zilch. Saying a quick prayer, please Please! PLEASE! Heavenly Father help me find the camera! I looked around hoping that I could see it, still nothing and the feeling of losing something of value was making me sick, especially since it was a gift from my beloved wife (who I love more than anything because she puts up with me, which automatically qualifies here for Sainthood I assure you.) Not to mention it was a very expensive gift (well over $250) to boot, which made me even sadder.
With my mind racing in a vain effort to find the camera; I tried to recall if it was positively or negatively buoyant; I seemed to remember that it was positively buoyant, so I surfaced hoping to see it floating on the surface; hopefully the current hadn’t caught it and taken it out of sight. Looking around with no luck I swam in vain looking for the camera; hoping to catch a glimpse of the camera. After a while bob surfaced and I told him what had happened and we looked for the camera together hoping to see it on the surface. Remember the water at the surface was 40 degrees of cooler and soon were quite chilled.
Resigned to my fate that I had most likely lost my camera I made my way out of the water and got my gear off; continuing to scan the surface of the water for a glimpse of the camera. Bummed and now resigned to telling Krista I had lost the camera (oh Boy! I can’t wait to tell her…) Bob and I took our surface interval changed out our tanks and prepared for the next dive.
Silently in my heart I was hoping (beyond hoping really) I would be able to go back and find the camera; I knew the chances of finding the camera were all but nil on my own and that I needed heavenly intervention and help; so I said a sincere prayer to our Heavenly Father asking for his help to help find the camera.
Putting the matter in His capable hands I prepared for our second dive which was now going to be a search and recovery dive (my first real search and recovery dive) with a hope that He would somehow answer my prayer and help me get that camera back! We swam back out to the anchor chain and descended down the chain to the bottom around 35- 40 ft and the bottom of the chain was an ecology block and under the ecology block was yet another wolf eel that made at least four wolf eel sightings ( a good diving day by any account! ). We then retraced our steps to the wolf eel den at 35 ft on the other side of the fish bowl, looking for the camera, since that its where I had it last.
Next thing I knew Bob was waving my camera in front of my mask! I let out a big YEA! The Thank you, shaking Bob’s hand; could have hugged him but that is against the buddy code of conduct, (unless your buddy saves your life, then it’s OK). Bob clipped the camera’s lanyard to my BC and we finished the dive, seeing a young wonderful octopus out on the rocks, which is a real treat and one of my favorite experiences as octopuses are in general just as curious as I am. This octo has a mantle the size of a softball and was using a piece of kelp as an umbrella for cover; I was able to take a few pictures and a movie before my Camera’s batteries died, the movie turned out but the pictures were dark since my flash was dead due to low batteries; after playing with the octo for about 5 minutes we toured the rest of the site spying even more octopus and wolf eels, fish crab, etc before ending what turned out to be a most memorable dive. Prayers of thanks by me were offered that day to a loving and kind Father in Heaven who really is watching over me. What power and strength it is to know he is looking out for me, especially when it seems I do not deserve it. It makes me want to double my efforts to be a good husband and father and person in general. Oh! If only I could hold on to that feeling when things aren’t going as I wish! (Part of the reason I am writing this now so I can remember!)
In the end I can’t help but thank my Father in Heaven who heard my prayers and answered them through Bob. I am very thankful also for Bob and hope he knows that as well. I am very grateful for Heavenly Father who heard and answered my prayers for a safe and enjoyable dive day and also for helping me when I made a mistake and lost something of value. Not only did he help me recover my camera he helped me have two wonderful dives.
That being said I want my wife Krista and my children to know they are much, Much, MUCH more precious than any dive, pictures or camera; you are my most prized and cherished possession and I want you to know if you are sincere and work on obtaining a testimony, (reading the scriptures, pondering the word of God and asking Heavenly Father through Christ to understand and gain a testimony of the gospel, and of his restored church) that he will answer your prayers and reveal the truth by the power of the Holy Ghost. You will know as I that Christ’s church has been restored.
You will also come to know as I do - That following by the Lord and asking God for help you can also know God is ready to bless you and able to assist when needed to overcome any adversity or obstacle. In fact I now that I am a father as well that there nothing he wishes more to do than to bless you and help you be happy.
We are all inadequate in some way - unable to return to our heavenly home and return to Him without help from His Beloved Son, Jesus the Christ and our Father in Heaven; but if we will exercise faith in Him; do as He asks and as He has commanded He will come through; maybe not in the way we think or hope He will but He will be mindful of our needs and give us what we need if it is His will.
Were there not three examples? – two more examples:
2- Dec 29 or 30 – Lost my Planner (wallet). On my way to work from the parking lot to the Bremerton Ferry terminal my planner fell out of my backpack. My planner contains all my ID and credit/bank cards. Did not even realize it was gone until my wife called to let me know someone honest had found it and turned it into Diamond parking; bless them for being honest and bless God for looking out for me.
3- Lost my Planner Jan 5 – Realization comes on my way home leaving the office; “Where is that planner?” GONE. Again Really? Yes really. So I lost it between my car and work. ( I KNOW I had it in the car that morning and put it in the backpack.) (You would think I would be more careful and secure it falling out again! Nope not me!) Not to be! Oh, No! Not again! or as Homer says: “D’Oh!” Tell Krista; (bet she was pleased…) I said my own prayers as did my wife, and my children. Krista and Nate pray that someone honest will find it. This time it is lost for over a day. So I Ieave early for home Wednesday to retrace my steps – nothing.
a. I ask the ferry worker on the way to work, nothing reported or found on the boat yesterday.
b. Check WSF lost and found in
c. Call Kitsap Transit ask – Nothing turned in.
d. Call Bremerton Police and ask – Nope.
e. Check All the stores at the ferry terminal post store, cold stone, Subway, Starbucks and hotel; “anyone found a planner/wallet? Nope
f. Check the parking lot - look all around - Nada
Spoke to Krista: “I really feel it will be OK and we will find it in your car or at the office, are you sure it isn’t in you office? I can’t help but feel its somewhere OK.” Me - “Yes! I’m sure it is not in my office!” Krista – “Maybe it’s in your car…” I’m thinking – “Well that is the only place it could be…” so I get home and spend an hour or so cleaning out the car (what a sty ) still nothing, but at lease the car is now cleaned out, just needs a good vacuum now.
Give up for now looking grim – good news is that no activity on the credit cards. Again resigned to having to cancel all the cards get new ID’s etc etc. It’s trash day tomorrow so I start to collect the trash from upstairs then go downstairs grab the trash from the restroom downstairs; open the front door… What is this? MY PLANNER! On the base of the door, against the door! WOW! Thank YOU Father in Heaven!
I am grateful for honest people who through their actions answer sincere prayers. I am grateful for a God who hears and answers my prayers. May this inspire you too to have faith in God and ASK when you need his help.
1. Mosiah 2:24
And secondly, he doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever, therefore, of what have ye to boast?
