New Site Location

I am going to use this web address until further notice for file storage reasons.

http://FHEnight.com

There is a little add box that pops up and blocks part of the screen, but you can easily minimize or close it, but it will come back when you change pages.

I will probably purchase a domain name in the future, but I am still researching web servers and don't want to invest to much unless this will be useful to everyone. Let me know what you think of the new site.

Military Service in Iraq

• Opening Song: Hymn # 270 "I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go"
  
• Scripture: Alma 43:45-47
  
• Story The Candy Bomber

The majority of news about the ongoing operations in Iraq are negative and filled with news about fighting and protests against Coalition Forces. After having flown over almost every portion of Iraq and interacting with several Iraqi civilians up close, I believe our military leaders when they say that 95% of all Iraqi's are happy with our presense in their country and what we are doing for them.

When Iraqi's see our helicopters flying around, we recieve excited waves from children and adults alike. Last year when I convoyed through half the country, every town had the streets lined with people waving and yelling things like "Thank you!" and "Go USA!". Every base and camp in Iraq employs local Iraqis in order to help put money into needy Iraqi hands. I just read a news report that came from one camp commander that had paid out over 7 million dollars to working Iraqi's and reconstruction projects in the local city. On a personal level, our unit is becoming known as the "Toy Bombers" because of a small event that has become a huge project.

One day one of our pilot's (who is also a member of the church) was flying over the city and saw several children kicking around a flat soccer ball. The site inspired him to gather up all the extra balls and frisbees laying around camp and on the next flight over the town, they dropped them in the playing field. The next day the parents came to the base to thank the pilots for showing such love towards their children. The story spread home to the pilots' families and as they started sending additional toys to Iraq to be dropped for the children, more people started to get involved. Now the "Toy Bombers" are quickly becoming a large organization. The last shipment arrived with 18 large boxes filled with toys that have been dropped in towns and villages all over Iraq.



In the Sunday Morning session of the latest General Conference, President Gordon B. Hinckley gave a talk titled "War and Peace"

One of our Articles of Faith, which represent an expression of our doctrine, states, “We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law” (A of F 1:12).

But modern revelation states that we are to “renounce war and proclaim peace” (D&C 98:16).

In a democracy we can renounce war and proclaim peace. There is opportunity for dissent. Many have been speaking out and doing so emphatically. That is their privilege. That is their right, so long as they do so legally. However, we all must also be mindful of another overriding responsibility, which I may add, governs my personal feelings and dictates my personal loyalties in the present situation.

When war raged between the Nephites and the Lamanites, the record states that “the Nephites were inspired by a better cause, for they were not fighting for … power but they were fighting for their homes and their liberties, their wives and their children, and their all, yea, for their rites of worship and their church.

“And they were doing that which they felt was the duty which they owed to their God” (Alma 43:45-46).

The Lord counseled them, “Defend your families even unto bloodshed” (Alma 43:47).

And Moroni “rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it—In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.

“And he fastened on his headplate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren” (Alma 46:12-13).

It is clear from these and other writings that there are times and circumstances when nations are justified, in fact have an obligation, to fight for family, for liberty, and against tyranny, threat, and oppression.

Last year when I deployed over here, myself and many others believed it was in defense of our families back in the United States. Although many do not feel that threat any more, I find comfort in knowing that even the Iraqi people are our brothers and sisters and we are helping bring the blessings of liberty our bretheren like Moroni. I know that I joined the military as a result of personal revelation. I know that I am doing the Lord's work while serving in Iraq and have seen the positive effects first hand that we have brought the people who live here. I pray in my heart that this operation we are conducting in Iraq is in preperation for allowing the gospel to be preached to the people in the Middle East. I continually pray for the Holy Ghost to guide our leaders and commanders in their plans and decisions. I am grateful that my service in the military can be focused on helping save people. I share this testimony with you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

• Activity Ideas
  
  1. Make your own "Title of Liberty" like Moroni with paint and a large piece of paper, or even "rent" and old shirt and use a piece thereof like Moroni. Explain what it means when people of old "rent" their clothing.
     
  2. Buy some candy bars and have string and hankerchiefs available to recreate the actions of the "Candy Bomber". Try different sized parachutes and see how high and how much hang time you can get with your candy bar
     
  3. Put together a box to send to the Toy Bombers for the children in Iraq. Visit the Toy Bomber website for more information on what to send.
  
  
• Closing Song: Hymn #152 "God be with you till we meet again"

Frequently Asked Questions

Updated: 19 September 2004

I will update these questions as I get asked. If you have a question or idea please send it to my army email (which I don't want to publish online) or jonesturtle@yahoo.com

Q: How do I post a lesson?

A: I don't really know who has experience with blogger or writting html. I have very little experience, but have the time right now to learn. If you have a lesson to post, please email it to me as a word document (Office 2000 or earlier) or just use notepad or contain all in information in your email. I will transfer it to html and post it when it is time. Don't forget to send any website links or references. I can't post pictures with blogger right now, but can reference them with a link.



Q: How often will you post lessons?

A: I want to post a lesson monthly so that families can continue their regular FHE routines throughout the month and so that I won't get overloaded working on this project. I think it will be a great way to grow closer as an eternal family as we share lessons and testimonies through these extended FHE lessons.



Q: I want to send you a lesson. When is it my turn?

A: I want to try to have every lesson from a different family each month. Right now I don't know who all is interested, so please let me know if you want to do a lesson for a specific month. I will keep an updated schedule on this FAQ. I will email you one month before as a reminder and would like the lesson 2 weeks before so I can format it and resolve any questions I have. Here is the schedule.


• September 2004 - Chris Jones
  
• October 2004 - Cliff Lybbert

Q: Can I share this website with others?

A: My original thought was to keep this page reserved for family members since some testimonies are more personal, but I now realize that this could be a useful tool for others to enjoy. The current blogger settings for this page should restrict regular traffic. Please let me know if anyone would be restrictive with what they would share if this website was made more public.