by David Bay, High Councilor

Our vegetable garden has run its course. Yesterday Coleen and I removed some of the plants that have done a great job bearing fruit. We removed bean vines from the trellises as we picked the last crop of green beans. These vines were productive enough to allow us to fill all our available pint jars with canned green beans. The weather is cooling and moving from summer into autumn. Not long from now, nothing will be growing in our vegetable patch.

In the same way that there are seasons of the year, we have seasons of our individual lives and there are seasons in the Lord’s plan for the earth. Because we have both personal and shared seasonality, our preparation needs to be unique to manage our personal and family needs as well as all our shared experiences.

In Ecclesiastes we read: To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

My body is not as strong, nor does it have the stamina that I had when Coleen and I moved to Brigham City nearly 3 decades ago. Our children are grown and gone from our house (at least for now) and raising families of their own. For example, it’s good to see Leo and Jamie raising their children and teaching them how to garden and to can food. We are excited to watch Mindy and Clay work with their children to establish their dream farm in Fielding.

President Monson taught: “When the time for performance arrives, the time for preparation is past.” (Thomas S Monson https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2006/04/our-sacred-priesthood-trust?lang=eng) So, we need to look ahead and be prepared for what is coming.

President Nelson gave us warning to prepare: “Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory. But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.” (Russell M Nelson https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2018/04/revelation-for-the-church-revelation-for-our-lives?lang=eng)

I am looking forward to receiving the messages of General Conference. I hope to gain better insight into those things the Lord would like me to apply to my life as I look forward to the changing seasons all around me. I pray that He will bless you and your families as well.

David Bay, High Councilor