Life in the Durst Home

I can’t sleep, I really feel like I need to post this, but I am not sure why.

Today at church Anthony and I had the opportunity to speak in Sacrament meeting.

I am going to share my talk with you, but first I ask that you please do not judge me for my grammar and spelling errors. We all know that I am far from knowledgeable in the English language.

I was given the topic of Miracles. I looked up Miracles in the Bible Dictionary, and this is some info I found related to my story. An important element in the work of Jesus Christ, being not only divine acts, but forming also a part of the divine teaching. Christianity is founded on the greatest of all miracles, the resurrection of our Lord. If that be admitted, other miracles cease to be improbable Miracles were and are a response to faith, and its best encouragement. They were never wrought without prayer, felt need, and faith. It is important to notice the different names by which miracles are described. They are called signs, as being visible tokens of an invisible power; they are powers or mighty works, because they are the acts of One who is almighty; they are simply works, or the natural results of the Messiah’s presence among men; they are wonders, marvels, because of the effect produced on those who saw them. For most of you that personal know Anthony and I, know that we have received plenty of Miracles in our Marriage over the past five years. For those of you who don’t know I will share a little about our life. I was born and raised by my Grandparents in the Clayton Valley 1st ward. I attended High School at Concord High, and my sophomore year I met Anthony. I am a perfect example of “You marry who you date”. Anthony and I got married about a year after high school. We moved to Utah very shortly after.….. I was semi active for the first years of marriage. But being a one member mom church was too hard for me to attend alone. A mistake I realize now. We moved back to CA and back into the Clayton Valley 1st ward when I was eight months pregnant with Zack, Still not knowing what I was missing, and not wanting to come to church alone I didn’t. I guess it wasn’t until Zack was born; I had really bad Post Partum Depression. I remember crying to my grandmother and really had nothing to cry for; she told me I needed to go back to church. I didn’t argue with her, I just thought about it. Was she right? But still I did nothing about it. Miracles started to happen a few months later. David Nelson came knocking at my door. He didn’t push like the others had. He was a friend I felt comfortable with; we grew up in this ward together. He invited me to church, and also offered him and Kendra to help with the small kids during Sacrament. And even though I was nervous I decided to give it a try. I remember sitting in Sunday school and sister Panick was giving the lesson. I don’t remember what the lesson was about, but I do remember the comment she made and my whole body being filled with the spirit telling me it was true. After that experience I new I could no longer doubt the church, or even no longer not attend. I started to attend weekly; Devun Marissa and I would pray every night that Daddies heart would be soften as well. Anthony was a little stubborn before he joined the church. He wouldn’t go to any activities, David asked if he wanted to play basketball at night with the men, and he turned that down… (Which by the way I can’t keep him away from now). But Anthony is a very sweet person, and loves his family more then anything else on this earth. And Heavenly father new that! I am a strong believer that trials soften our hearts and increase our faith. Which then increases Miracles? This is about when in my story the Trails began. Marissa was having a horrible time in Nursery. She would cry so hard that she would make herself throw up. I wanted to go to my classes and learn so I asked Anthony if he would give up his Sunday morning golf time with his dad and just go to Nursery with Marissa. He wouldn’t have to go to Sacrament meeting. Just show up after and hang out with Marissa in the Nursery. Anthony new how much I wanted the kids to be a part of the church, and I was lucky enough to have him respect that. He did come to church and hang out with Marissa and after two weeks of going the Missionary’s cornered him and asked if they could come over for a visit. Anthony didn’t have a problem feeding them. So we did that. Once a week. 1st Miracle- Missionaries invited into my home One night we had them over for Spaghetti. I will always remember this night, I was being far too pushy, and in front of the missionaries I kind of cornered Anthony and asked him to take the lessons. (Already knowing that he didn’t want to do this). He yelled at me, and told me I needed to decide what I wanted to do, before I started to push him. Zack then through up spaghetti everywhere and dinner was over. Those missionaries didn’t come back. But that is when I realized he was right. I new what I wanted, but due to my lack of faith in the past I needed to work on my own spiritual growth, before I started to push him into his! So I continued to pray with the kids at every meal, before bed. I read scriptures every night, some nights I would get him involved by asking questions about what I had read, and we would get into biblical discussions. Anthony still was coming to church with Marissa, But Trail # 2 came Financial Problems >>> The church helped us out more then either he or I could believe. We where both very thankful. I know that this softened his heart even more. He couldn’t understand why they would help us, with him not being a member of the church. I remember driving during all this stress wondering if Anthony was ever going to join the church maybe I was losing patients I am not sure, but I know that day the Lord step in and took over. I was driving home from Stockton. Returning my grandmother to my mother’s house. I trip I took twice a week for a few years. A voice said loud as day that Anthony was going to join the church. I looked in the back of the car, and it was only Marissa and Zack ….. Like what was going on?? When I realized after a few seconds what had just happened you couldn’t pry the smile off my face. It was the happiest day of my life. I sat there pondering what had just happened, then I had an urgent feeling I needed to go to the Church book store. So I went thinking I needed to by a book of Mormon for him to read. But while I was their I felt impressed to buy the First Vision. So I bought both. I was a little conniving and had Devun and Marissa watch the movie before Anthony came home from work. Devun loved it, and begged Anthony to watch it. He did of course…Anthony will do What ever the kids ask of him. Anthony watched the movie- And I know he felt something watching it because right after Devun gave him a present… The Book of Mormon

 all wrapped up in Christmas rapping paper. By this time it is early December. For the first time he said he would read it, and he started that night. I remember him falling asleep at the kitchen table as he studied it. However he still didn’t want the missionary lessons… Miracle #3 The Bishop was meeting with one member family for the Christmas season. He came to our house for that visit. Anthony was about a week or two into the book of Mormon, and he had a ton of Questions. Bishop Christenson asked him if the missionaries could come over once a week, just to answer any questions that he may have. Anthony agreed. Having the missionaries in our home every week really brought a sweet spirit… They loved us and wanted to best for our family. We loved them and the became part of our family. I remember one night Elder Grow was making fun of me for bible dipping…. You pray for a reason and then open the bible and the first thing you read is your answer. I didn’t do it a lot, but His mom did and he was trying to wing me from doing it. I don’t know why we had that conversation, but Anthony decided that night he was going to try it. After I went to bed, he prayed and asked if the church was true. He then opened his scriptures and received his answers. As many of you remember he came to church that Sunday and bore is testimony asking to be “Sign UP” in his popular words. That next week he was baptized, and a year a half later we were sealed in the temple. The Miracles in our home have been great. I know that Heavenly Father WANTS to bless us. He wants to give us everything he can. He just wants us to have faith in him and his Son. Over the last three years we have had our ups and downs. But when we have faith everything always seems to work out. We have been blessed with food showing up at our door, when we had nothing to eat, bills being paid when there has been no money to pay them… Christmas presents at our door when we have had little to offer our children. Miracles- Written in the 1992 Encyclopedia of the Mormonism reads- God desires to bless his children, and sometimes does so in ways that require the manifestation of extraordinary power. He is restrained only by their lack of faith. Thus, the absence of miracles is evidence of the lack of faith among his children, (Moro. 7:37). “for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain” (Ether 12:12).”For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them” I know that Modern Miracles happen. I know that Jesus is the Son of God, and he came here for me! Joseph smith did restore the Gospel on this earth. And I am so thankful for them! I am thankful for my beautiful family. I am so thankful for my husband and all he does for our family. I am so thankful for all the missionaries that give up two years of their life’s to teach and bring members to the church. I am so thankful for Bishop Carter, I know that he loves are family, and wants the best for us. I am thankful for all of you brothers and sister. You are my family, you help us more then you will ever know. I know that God lives and loves us all.