Panama Canal Cruise Part 1

One thing on our bucket list we had always wanted to do is to go on a cruise through the Panama Canal.  We finally decided to just do it.  So in September we asked our mission friends, the Whitings if they want to go with us so we decided to get together.

The cruise began in LA.  It was on the Norwegian Joy


Friday 1/17 = Travel to LAX

We stayed at Sunny's in Tucson on Thursday night after our Temple assignment. She took us to the airport Friday morning.  We had not chosen seats for the flight, so we ended up with the unused seats which were right behind first class!  A man next to Alan was also going on the cruise.  He got a last minute ticket and decided to go.

LAX was very busy and is larger than we thought.  It has expanded over the years.  We had to take a bus from the gate where we landed to the main terminal for our luggage.  We saw this ANA plane (Japanese Airline)

We met up with our friends Kelly and Connie Whiting that we had first met in Korea.  It was good to see them again.

We took a shuttle to the port and began the process of getting aboard.  Once aboard we went to lunch until we were able to get into our rooms.  It was a small room, but it turned out OK for us once we figured out to stow our luggage under the beds.

We met up with the Cruise Lady People for a little while before dinner which was with all of them.  A couple of them had known each other before.

Saturday 1/18 = At Sea - John Lund Lecture

Our first lecture by Dr Lund was about Mesoamerica and the Book of Mormon.  Dr Lund has studied and written about the Book of Mormon for many years. 

Here is a summary:

1 - Location of the Lands of the Book of Mormon:

Land of Desolation Northward of Zarahemla

Land of Zarahemla North of the Land of Nephi, not Northward

2 - Zarahemla a lowland and the Land of Nephi a Highland area or the "Ups and Downs" of the Book of Mormon.

3 - River Sidon flows northward

4 - Gold, silver and copper are found in the lands of the Book of Mormon: Land of Lehi, Land of Nephi, Land of Zarahemla, and Land of Desolation.

Joseph Smith's Statements:

"Central America or Guatemala is situated north of the Isthmus of Danien (Panama) ... The city of Zarahemla ... stood upon this land ..."  Times & Seasons 3:927

"... these wonderful ruins of Palenque are among the mighty works of the Nephites."  Times & Seasons 3:914

"... Quirigua ... the city in question .. (is) one of those referred to in the Book of Mormon."  Times & Seasons 3:927

Lehi landed "... a little south of the isthmus of Darien."  TPJS p. 267

January 19 = Sunday; Cabo San Lucas; Devotional

Our morning began with a devotional by Brother Lund about dealing with adult children.  Some of the Lund's children are not active in the church so he had special insights to dealing with them.  He taught about the Principles of Divine Intervention in Alma 13, Bind the Lord to His Promise in Mosiah 5, D&C 76:31 - 44 (All the rest will be redeemed), Teachings of Orson F Whitney in April 1929 that our posterity will be blessed, (Encyclopedia of Mormonism)  

The main theme is to give our Love to our Loved Ones and take our Frustrations to the Lord.

Then we went off the ship for a little excursion.  Since it was Sunday, we decided to not swim, but we took a ride on a glass bottom boat out to the bottom point of Baja.  We had the boat drop us off and we walked back to the port.  It was nice to have cool cloths to wash our hands and face before we got back on the ship.

Take Your Love to Your Loved Ones and Take Your Frustrations to the Lord!

by Dr. John L. Lund

You cannot carry out the Lord’s plan in the Devil’s way. Humility, Prayer, and Diligence will allow
the Lord to Divinely Intervene. He will do it in His own time, and His own way, and according to His
own will (D&C 88:68). Humility, Prayer, and Diligence sanctify you before the Lord. The Lord’s time
includes the Spirit World and the Millennium. Joseph Smith passionately taught, “It is not all to be
comprehended in this world; it will be a great work to learn our salvation and exaltation even beyond the
grave” (TPJS p. 348). This is true for you and your loved ones. Be patient and try the Lord’s plan. His
plan works. Have FAITH in God’s plan, HOPE in Christ, and CHARITY for your loved ones. Read the
following scriptures: 1 Corinthians 15:19 and Moroni chapter 7. You do not have the power to change
the heart of your loved one; God does and will if you do what you have been called to do, which is to
Take Your Love to Your Loved Ones and Take Your Frustrations to the Lord in Honest Prayer. The
Lord will divinely intervene in this life or the next. Following are the five principles of Divine
Intervention found in the scriptures:

Five Principles of Divine Intervention

1. Soften the Heart
D&C 105:27, D&C 104:80, D&C 109:56, D&C 124:9, Mosiah 20:26, Mosiah 19:14, Mosiah 21:15,
Mosiah 23:29, I Nephi 2:16, I Nephi 7:5, I Nephi 7:19, I Nephi 18:20, 2 Nephi 10:18, Helaman 12:2,
Alma 24:8, Alma 19:33

2. Strengthen You or Your Loved One or Ease the Burden
I  Nephi 17:1, I Nephi 17:3, Mosiah 9:17, Mosiah 10:10, Mosiah 21:15, Mosiah 24:14, Alma 2:18,
Alma 2:28, Alma 2:31, Alma 14:26, Alma 20:4, Alma 31:38, Alma 33:23, Alma 43:49, Alma 44:5,
Alma 56:56, Alma 58:10, Words of Mormon 1:14, 3 Nephi 3:12, 3 Nephi 4:811, D&C 9:12, Isaiah 12:2,
Isaiah 40:29

3. Raise Someone Up To Do What You Cannot Do
Exodus 3:10 (Moses), Genesis 12:15 (Abraham), D&C 1:17 (Joseph Smith), Genesis 45:7 (Joseph of
Old), Judges 6:714 (Gideon), Alma 1:8 (Gideon of the Book of Mormon), Alma 27:11-17 (an Angel),
Moroni 7:36, I Nephi 3:29, 2 Nephi 1:24, Mosiah 27:36, Alma 17:11, Alma 26:3, Alma 29:9

4. Exodus: Remove You or Deliver You or Your Loved One
1 Nephi 2:2, 1 Nephi 17:26, 2 Nephi 5:5, Jacob 3:4, Mosiah 2:4, Mosiah 7:33, Mosiah 11:26,
Mosiah 29:20, Alma 36:27, Alma 38:4, Alma 44:3, Alma 48:15, Alma 56:47, Alma 57:35, Omni 1:12,
Ether 9:3

5. Remove the Problem
1 Nephi 4:12, Alma 44:3, Exodus 14:28