A spiritual meeting!

Today at church, Warren Crane bore his testimony.  You remember that he has stage 4 cancer in his bones and blood.   He is pasty white, a big man, who is emotional and cries hard during his testimony.  Today he told this story. 

He said that when he was 20, he owned and ran a milk truck route.  In the winter it got so cold that the diesel in the trucks would gel.  Dairies expect you to be there!  Even when the snow plow couldn't get through, they expected you to come get their milk! 

One cold winter morning, sure enough, his truck wouldn't start.  He called the repair man,it was the wee hours of the morning, to came out and see what he could do.  With a flashlite, they peered into the tank.  They could see the waxy-like particles floating in it...The repair man said:  "You're not going anywhere in this rig today!"    

After he left, Warren just stood there wondering what to do.  "I've got to do my route...what can I do Heavenly Father?"  He knelt down and prayed.  The impression came:  bless your truck.

He questioned the thought..."bless my truck? "  I can't do that!  I know Eliza R Snow blessed her oxen..but to bless an inantimate object? It seemed crazy...almost sac-religious.  (Warren stopped here and said, "I've never told anybody I did this....sniff sniff). 

He put his hands on the truck and blessed it.  Then  got in it and started it up.  The truck made it the whole way (to Jerome and back) and he was able to get to all the people.  It went slow, 30 mph, but he was able to get the job done.  He had prayed all the way!

Warrens words now: "Last week I went to the Doctor.  They pricked my finger and smeared my blood on a glass and then  put it under a microscope.  They projected it on a TV and I could see it.  The doctor pointed to the components in it and explained it.  "These are cancer cells and these are misformed cells."  (all bad news)  I was getting more and more depressed by the minute....Dr. ended by saying, 'Frankly, I'm surprised you're not dead.'"

(Warren:) "Two night in a row, I dreamed about my blood.  In fact I had nightmares.  I couldn't sleep.  I felt so sad and scared.  I finally got up and knelt down  to pray.  I prayed for comfort."  (He was sobbing...the ugly cry).

"As I knelt there, I remembered back when I was 20 years old and had a truck with bad diesel.  I heard Heavenly Father say to me...'if I can help your truck, Warren, I can help you.  You might go slow, but you'll be able to do the job.'"

  Bro. Crane explained that the reason we have these faith building experiences (in our youth and as we grow), is so we can refer them and build on them...for times such as this.  (druing trials)

The reason Heavenly FAther gave us the scriptures is for us to see his dealings with his children and be able to liken them to ourselves.

He reminded us of the Levite Priest who  put his hand on the ark of the covenant and was struck down.  Warren said, "I've always wondered why the Lord was so harsh...but he was trying to show us, not to trifle with sacred things."  The scriptures are full of examples like this.

Bro. Crane ended by bearing a strong testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

There was not a dry eye....you could hear a pin drop.  We all just sat there in silence after he sat down.  No one wanted to get up and break the "spell/spirit." 

I know that we Hilters should write down our faith growing experiences so we can reflect back on them and "remember." It will strengthen and help our posterity.

Wouldn't a Hilterbrand book entitled: "Going forward with Faith" be such an heirloom treaure for each of us now and for our posterity.

  I'm willing to type them up and compile them...if any of you would like to join in.    I'll get it to the sister/mother and she can make copies for her kids.

I really want to, do you?   Could you have me one by January 1, 2008? We'll do a chapter a year...

Who's willing?

Comments

[Linzy]

That was an awesome post Barb! Thanks for building us up!!

[shay]

That would be an awesome book mom. I'd love to do it. Thanks for sharing that experience of Warrens. Powerful testimony.

[Ty]

He's a powerful, mature priesthood leader who understands the gospel. Wow. If all men were like him wouldn't this world be different?

I'm in on the book.

[Jess]

Wow! that experience just strengthened my testimony.I could almost imagine myself there in the chapel. . . silent and full of the spirit with everyone else. What a great idea on the book. That will definitely be priceless.

[Rachel]

Oh, that is a beautiful testimony! He gives me strength...I'm glad you posted his testimony! I will remember it!
I like the book idea! I don't know what exactly you have in mind for the book but as I was reading Warren's testimony it made me think of an experience I had with prayer and the priesthood power and I didn't write it down so I'll type it here if that is okay and you can add it to the book if you want!

It was shortly after Kenadee got home from the hospital and I got sick! I was so sick with the flu! I was miserable I couldn't lift my head off of the pillow. I could only muster enough energy to get to the bathroom when I needed to! I had so many emotions from Kenadee's experience and I was scared that I was going to get her sick. I wouldn't be able to handle it if Kenadee got sick, I had used ALL of strength and energy and I was running out! My stomach had a HUGE pain in it and it wouldn't go away! I asked Dallen if he would give me a blessing, I was crying pretty hard at the time. I needed my Heavenly Father to give me some peace and take the pain away! We started with a pray to invite the spirit. Dallen then gave me a blessing I don't remember what he said but when he was done I laid down and my stomach ache was GONE I felt whole again! I felt like ME again. I have had blessing before and got better but never the second the blessing was given! It was so power! I know Heavenly Father is aware of each of us! He loves me I know this for sure! Rachel