Florida Hansons: February 2023

Thursday, February 16, 2023

School and family pictures - Ashley's family

School pictures 2022-2023

I love these pictures

Ronan

Nora

Evie

Ashley's family

My thoughts

Spanish:
Jesus, sus discípulos y su madre María estaban en unas bodas en Cana de Galilea. Como faltaba vino María le pidio ayuda a Jesús. María le dijo a los que servían: 

Juan 2:5
Su madre dijo a los que servían: Haced todo lo que él os diga.

Jesús hizo un milagro y convirtió el agua en vino. El maestrala le dijo al novio:

Juan 2:10
y le dijo: Todo hombre sirve primero el buen vino, y cuando están satisfechos, entonces el inferior; pero tú has guardado el buen vino hasta ahora.

Si Jesucristo puede cambiar agua en vino, imagínense lo que el puede hacer con nosotros. El nos ama y nos puede cambiar a mejores personas. Lo que debemos hacer es, como dijo María la madre de nuestro Salvador “Haced todo lo que el os diga”.  Seguirlo, obedecer sus mandamientos, hacer todo lo que el nos pida y escuchar a su espíritu que nos da dirección a nuestras vidas y el nos ayudará a cambiar y ser la persona divina que podemos ser.

English:

Jesus, his disciples and his mother Mary were at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. As there was no wine, Mary asked Jesus for help. Mary told those who served:

John 2:5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

Jesus performed a miracle and turned the water into wine. The governor of the feast said to the groom:

John 2:10

And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.

If Jesus Christ can change water into wine, imagine what he can do with us. He loves us and can change us into better people. What we must do is, as Mary the mother of our Savior said, "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it." Follow him, obey his commandments, do everything he asks of us and listen to his spirit that gives us direction in our lives and he will help us change and be the divine person that we can be.

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Update

Lidi and I went to lunch together on Jan. 27th

Brent and I went to the temple on Jan. 28th. Last November he was called to be the 2nd Counselor in the Orlando Florida Mission

On Jan. 20th we celebrated Brenda's birthday

On Jan. 30th I tried on my dress and it fit again because I have lost 10 pounds because of my pancreatitis.

Dedication of the San Juan, Puerto Rico Temple - January 15, 2023

Last summer Ashley and James were at the Christofferson family reunion. Elder D. Todd Christofferson is James' mom's cousin. Every year at the reunion he talks to the family about what he has been doing in his calling as an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He told the family he would the one dedicating the temple. When Ashley heard that she immediately texted me to tell me. She told Elder Christofferson that her grandparents, uncle and mom were one of the pioneers in Ponce. When we went to Utah at the end of August to take Conner to BYU, Brent asked James if he could get tickets for the dedication. I was fine with going to one of the chapels but Brent wanted me to be in the temple. He offered to pay for James and Ashley's plane tickets. James sent an email to Elder Christofferson including the story of how we joined the church, which I had written with my dad's version, what the missionaries told me and what my brother and I remembered. Elder Christofferson answered back saying even though the temple was small and the tickets were at a premium he was confident he could get the 4 of us tickets. At the end of December James got an email from Elder Christofferson asking for the name of our Ward and Stake and the name of our bishop. He told in the email to James that he was looking forward to being at the temple dedication with us. The week before the temple dedication we got our tickets from our bishop. The tickets were for the Celestial Room. I was so happy I cried. We left our hotel an hour early to make sure we got there on time. The dedication was beautiful. When we got to the temple and we stood in a line outside the temple on the sidewalk. I was so excited to be there. We were all so happy. When we entered the temple I felt such a beautiful and sweet feeling. I was so grateful to be there. When we entered the Celestial room the feeling was again so sweet and all I could do was think of my parents, my brother, my uncle and aunt and my cousins who are members of the church. I knew that my parents were there too in spirit. It was really cool to see that there was a card with our names on the seats. I had no idea that our seats were reserved. In the row in front of us the wives of the general authorities were seated. In this order, from left to right (if you are looking from the row behind were we were seated) Sister Cari Alvarado, Sister Kathy Christofferson, Sister Duncan, Sister De Hoyos and Sister Waddell. In front of them facing them from left to right were, Elder Jorge Alvarado, Elder Christofferson, Elder Duncan, Elder De Hoyos and Elder Waddell. On the row next to the wives of the General Authorities and on the other side of the podium was the temple President and his wife, President and sister Casablanca. My friend Lidi's parents were seated on our row, Brother and sister Morales. Brother Morales was the music Director. There were other people seated in the Celestial room that I did not recognize. Lidi and her husband came in just before it started since there were a couple of empty chairs. Elder Alvarado (Georgie) conducted the session. The Casablancas spoke. A young man also spoke. Elder Christofferson spoke and said the dedicatory prayer. I wish I could remember some of the things he said but I was to overwhelmed and excited. I remember that Georgie was choking up the whole time he was conducting. Ashley and I were crying for much of it. When the time came to sing The Spirit of God, that was really difficult. I couldn't get any words out. I look at Georgie and he making a huge effort to sing but he was crying and his face was red, that gave me strength and I was able to sing the last few words. I said "if he can do it then I can too". After the dedication was over those who were in the Celestial Room were asked to stay seated and wait for the rest to exit the temple and that we would be going out the side door. We walked out and turned left to a hallway and there Elder Christofferson and his wife and Cari and Georgie were waiting to say goodbye to us and those who were in the Celestial Room. When I gave Elder Christofferson a hug he said to me "This is a very special day for you, right?" That was really sweet of him. I gave his wife a hug, then Cari and then Georgie (which is the picture that was on the Church News). We exited the temple and then went to take pictures and chat with those who I knew.

Brother Flores was my one of my brothers mission presidents.

From left to right, Brother Velez, Maricarmen Landron, Sister Daisy Negron Landron, Sister Velez, me, Ashley, James and Brent. I know the Velez and Landron families from my ward in Ponce when I growing up.

Ashley took a picture when we were being interviewed, this interview never made it to the church news. At least we could not find it.

Our name cards on the chairs in the Celestial Room

The Spirit of God

Our tickets

My handkerchief

Brent handkerchief

The letter that came with the tickets

Thursday, February 2, 2023

Dedicatory prayer for the San Juan, Puerto Rico Temple - Taken from The Church News

Following is the text of the prayer offered in Spanish by Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to dedicate the San Juan Puerto Rico Temple on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023.

O God, our Eternal Father, Creator of heaven and earth, Author of immortality and eternal life, Thou Great Elohim:

Relying upon the mercy, merits and grace of Thine Only Begotten Son, we humbly call upon Thee to hear us this day as we gather and dedicate to Thee this, the San Juan Puerto Rico Temple.

We thank Thee, Holy Father, for the means Thou hast blessed us with in the Church to build this and many other temples around the world. We thank Thee that this island is now graced with a house of the Lord. We recognize and thank Thee for the faith and sacrifices of those Latter-day Saints in Puerto Rico who actively serve Thee and their fellowman, who diligently fulfill callings, who unselfishly minister, who generously contribute tithes and offerings, and who seek to do Thy will in all things as they patiently walk Thy covenant path.

O Thou who seest all and who keepeth covenant, wilt Thou abundantly bless these faithful Saints. May they never want for bread or any of the necessities of life. Hear their prayers and have respect for their offerings. Strengthen them in faith that they may never be weary in well-doing, that they may not faint by the way. Grant them joy in this mortal sphere and the hope and assurance of eternal life with Thee in Thy celestial kingdom.

We pray for those who have been baptized and have commenced upon the covenant path but who have wandered therefrom or whose commitment has waned. Help us extend to them the hand of fellowship. Renew a desire within their hearts to honor their promises to Thee so that Thou mayest once again bestow a full measure of Thy promises and blessings upon them. As Alma prayed, “Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious; give unto us power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brothers and sisters, again unto thee” (Alma 31:35).

And now, Beloved Father, acting in the authority of the holy Melchizedek Priesthood and under the keys of the President of the Church, we dedicate to Thee this structure, the San Juan Puerto Rico Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We dedicate the foundation, the walls and windows, the roof and tower and all other elements of the temple building. We include the arrivals center building adjacent to the temple. We dedicate the rooms, furnishings, implements and equipment to be used in the administration of the temple and its holy ordinances. We dedicate and bless the temple grounds that they may contribute a sense of worship and reverence to honor this holy house and Thy name.

With grateful hearts, we ask Thee to accept this house — now dedicated to Thee — as a worthy offering at our hands. We pray that Thy name may be here, and that it may be a place of holiness from this day forward. We pray that the temple may be protected and preserved from harm, from impurity and from the evil designs of the adversary. May this house of the Lord forever serve Thy purposes in the salvation and exaltation of Thy children, both living and dead.

Dear Father, we pray that the presence of Thy temple on this island may draw down Thy blessings upon Puerto Rico, its people and its leaders. In recent years, they have endured storms and natural disasters that have caused destruction, hardship and suffering. Bless them now with a period of calm and respite and with the time and means to recover and rebuild and to prepare for a brighter future. Remember the poor and the needy, the widows and the fatherless. Guide the government and other leaders of Puerto Rico by the promptings of Thy Holy Spirit to act with wisdom and integrity and selflessly seek the common good. As opportunity arises in the future for the people to decide the political status of Puerto Rico, grant them the wisdom and understanding to know which alternative would best serve them and future generations. May Thy will be done.

We thank Thee for the Restoration of the fullness of the gospel, the priesthood and the Church of Jesus Christ. We thank Thee for the Prophet Joseph Smith who stands at the head of this great and last gospel dispensation. We thank Thee for the Book of Mormon. We pray that the work of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the kingdom of God upon the earth, may go forth that the kingdom of heaven may come (Doctrine and Covenants 65:6).

Bless, we pray, Thy servants, the President of the Church, Russell M. Nelson, and his counselors in the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Quorums of the Seventy, the Presiding Bishopric, and the leaders and members of the Church at every level in every place. Magnify and protect the missionaries of the Church, past, present and future. Strengthen the stakes and the families of Zion here and across the world, that Zion may be established and prosper.

O Beloved Father, we rejoice in Thee and in this day. We thank Thee for Thy love and long-suffering. Wilt Thou receive this temple, and preserve it in holiness, and preserve each of us in holiness, we pray, in the name of Thy Son, our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, amen.

The Church News

At the Reencuentro (Get together) I was seated at the front because I was the chorister. I remember seeing some people come in with big cameras and it looked to me like people from the Church News. I was right. They took pictures and lo and behold I was on the cover photo with my friend Mayra Irizarry. I was also on other photos.

The caption for the picture said: Maria Gonzalez Hanson hugs Mayra Irizarry Hanks during a reunion ahead of the upcoming San Juan Puerto Rico Temple dedication at the Bayamon chapel in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023 | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

The caption for the picture said: Danette Dickson Carter speaks during a church member reunion ahead of the upcoming San Juan Puerto Rico Temple dedication at the Bayamon chapel in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023 | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

The caption for the picture said: Maria Gonzalez Hanson talks with Mayra Irizarry Hanks during a church member reunion ahead of the upcoming San Juan Puerto Rico Temple dedication at the Bayamon chapel in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023 | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

This one was after the Temple Dedication

The caption for the picture said: Elder Jorge M. Alvarado, General Authority Seventy and second (should have said first) counselor in the Caribbean Area presidency, hugs longtime childhood friend Maria Gonzalez Hanson after the first session of the San Juan Puerto Rico Temple dedication in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023 | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

El Reencuentro

The Friday before the temple dedication we got together at a chapel in Bayamon for a get together since there were many that were coming from the states that we had not seen in a while. I was the chorister for the program. It was a beautiful program. We felt the spirit so strong. I am grateful for the gospel and for my parents who joined the church in 1974. My parents taught my brother and I the gospel and gave us the chance to grow up knowing we have a Heavenly Father and our brother Jesus Christ which allowed us to have the knowledge of how we should live.

Paul Barney spoke, he was a youth in 1982 when his dad was the mission president. My brother served under President Barney and Paul served a mini mission with my brother.