Manti Temple – Rattle Snake Miracle – How I Overcame my Fear

Dennis Schleicher at the Manti Temple

When the pioneers first arrived in Manti, November 1849, they arrived in 3 feet of snow and no protection. The Saints dug into a hillside, living out of caves and caverns that protected them from the ravaging winter winds and cold.

However, when spring came, the Saints quickly discovered they had tunneled into a massive rattlesnake nest, with hundreds of snakes suddenly swarming their homes, camps, and living quarters.

Miraculously, though, no one was injured or bitten by the snakes.

The hill that once saved the Saints physically soon became the site for the Manti temple.

Now a place to obtain spiritual salvation.

When I heard of this.

I immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

My fear of snakes is so strong, I can’t even write or talk about it without getting flustered.

Can you relate?

A day before I was supposed to attend a session at the Manti temple.

I almost wasn’t going to go.

I let my paralyzing fear and phobia almost stopped me from experiencing one of the most meaningful sessions.

In prayer, I immediately had a vision of Daniel and the lions’ den.

When the lions’ den event occurred, Daniel was in his 80s…

So they tried to use Daniel’s faith in God against him.

They tricked King Darius into passing a 30-day decree that said anyone who prayed to another god or man other than the king would be thrown into the lions’ den.

Reminded how Daniel was protected, I immediately felt the protection of the Saints.

I knew at that exact moment I needed to attend the Manti temple.

With nothing but calmness.

Walking around the grounds, observing the marvelous wonders of the Pioneer’s efforts and the protection that God has on all of his Saints.

When have you felt God’s hand in protecting you?

Love, 

Dennis

Find out more by following Dennis on Instagram @DenSchleicher

Missionary Teach the Doctrine of Christ

As a missionary, you teach the doctrine of Christ (faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of Holy Ghost, and endure to the end).

Gilbert Arizona Temple

I have always viewed baptism as representative of any covenant and the gift of the Holy Ghost as following the promptings of the Spirit.

I kind of have gotten stuck on enduring to the end though.

I know I need to endure to the end and keep all my covenants.

As a single member, I know there is one more covenant for me to make, and so I haven’t been focusing on enduring to the end too well.

The other day, I thought, “What if this is my enduring to the end?

What if I have made all the covenants that I get to in this life?”

And it finally clicked that I haven’t been doing my best at enduring to the end.

At any moment in our lives, we need to be enduring.

No matter what circumstances we are in.

No matter what goals we are working toward.

And so I asked myself what I want my enduring to look like, and I have been able to realign my efforts to match that vision.

🤗Thank you sister Cami Turley for today’s inspirational post.

Follow Dennis on Instagram @DenSchleicher 

Judging Someone’s Worthiness! Are you a Real Member of the Church Of Jesus Christ?

Judging Someone’s Worthiness! Are you a real member? OH-My-GOsh, have I cried. Have I screamed at God? Have I asked, why? 

Dennis Schleicher – Manti Temple, Utah

Yesterday I posted a comment on Strive To Be. Sharing my testimony about Come Follow Me. Someone replied; “are you actually a member of the church? All honesty, I am really just curious because a lot of what you post really goes against what the church believes in.” 

Are my post really that bad? There is still a lot of room for growth in our Church. The mindset amongst church members and hopefully what I am posting is helping with that. Every time YOU share one of my posts asking your friends and family to follow me, I am forever grateful.

I find that people are quick to accuse when they have the Church, mapped out in their mind that it should only be a certain way. Their hearts and minds are not open to change. (This is ironic because this Church changes and only becomes better because of revelation). 

They forget that this church includes everyone, and everyone is on a different level in their own personal spiritual journey. We all learn and teach differently. People forget there are converts from all backgrounds, from all over the world.

First, it sounded sincere, then it says, “goes against the church”! I’d say we got a lot of work to do!! Ugh! Almost appears that they go to church, and don’t learn while at church or listen to general conference. And by listen I’m talking about listening with the heart.  

It’s bad enough I receive hateful comments from anti-church non-members. I receive death threats from those who have left our church. Now, from our members? This is new to me. 

Many times I hear, this Church needs you and your voice. You are making a difference. Well, I NEED this CHURCH… I need our Gospel. And we need more LGBTQ’s attending church. Filling our wards with charity and the pure love of Christ. Wouldn’t you agree? 

I can testify, more people need our church. More people need our Savior, Jesus Christ. No one should judge. No one should question anyone’s worthiness to be a member. It is between our bishop and stake presidency.

We have to leave judgment to the Savior.

Love, Dennis

Follow Dennis on Instagram @DenSchleicher 

Matriarch and Pillar of our Family

Today I entered my grandmother’s name, Marie Schleicher, into Family Search as “deceased” December 27, 2020. On December 31st she would have been 97 years old. The year 2020 is going out with a bang for my family and me.

Although we are in shock, we are comforted by the knowledge that she will be held in the arms of Christ and her husband. My grandma was the pillar of our family. She held us up as the Schleicher family. She was our strong foundation and kept us together like a sturdy structure when the winds of life threatened to blow us apart.

Although I miss my grandmother, and feel her loss within my soul, today I choose to follow her example and be a pillar within the structure she built. She taught me to be strong and I hope to follow her example.
During this time, I look to the Savior Jesus Christ, as He is the one who gives hope, the one who knows how I feel in my loss and shock, the one who knows how to succor me and my family as we celebrate the wonderful long life of our grandmother.

I will remember you each day as I continue on this journey and choose to emulate the good you shared while on this earth.
Marie Claire Rival Schleicher. I love you! ♥️♥️♥️

 

6 Takeaways from April’s General Conference

6 Takeaways from April’s General Conference
1️⃣Worldwide Fast 🌎
President Nelson invites the church to join in a worldwide fast on Friday, or Good Friday, to plead for relief from COVID-19. ALL can join us.

2️⃣Hear Him 🔈
President Nelson originally said the conference would be unforgettable because of the events.

Dennis Schleicher at Temple Square would mark the 200th anniversary of the First Vision — when the church’s founder, Joseph Smith, said he saw God and Jesus Christ.

Summed up in two words: Hear Him. While all the speakers focused, to different degrees, on the message of the Restoration, many of them noted that one of the most important ways members can contribute to that important work is by learning how God speaks to them — or how they can “hear Him.”

3️⃣Women’s Roles 👩🏼
Sister Jean B. Bingham, the Relief Society general president, spoke of the difference between men’s and women’s roles and the importance of an equal partnership between the two. Women must have the courage and vision to unite with men to bring souls to Christ, she said. And “men need to become true partners rather than assume they are solely responsible or act as ‘pretend’ partners while women carry out much of the work.”

4️⃣Teenagers and Youth👫
Two teenagers addressed the audience from the pulpit. Joining a small group of speakers who have spoken in general conference. Without being a general authority or general officer of the church.

5️⃣New proclamation & solemn assembly
“Two hundred years have now elapsed since this Restoration was initiated by God the Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Millions throughout the world have embraced the knowledge of these prophesied events.”
This proclamation is the church’s sixth, and it’s first since 1995.

6️⃣Announced 8 New Temples

*Bahía Blanca, Argentina
*Tallahassee, Florida
*Lubumbashi, Democratic *Republic of the Congo
*Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
*Benin City, Nigeria
*Dubai, United Arab Emirates
*Shanghai, People’s Republic
*Syracuse, Utah
What was your favorite takeaway❓
Who’s joining us in the fast❓

Love, Dennis Schleicher Author of; Is He Nuts?: Why a Gay Man Would Become a Member of the Church of Jesus Christ

Why Would a Gay 🏳️‍🌈Man Become a Latter-day Saint?

LDS Devotional Speaker Literary Agent

Who is Dennis? Why Would a Gay 🏳️‍🌈Man Become a Latter-day Saint?

I am an openly gay man who feels nothing but love from members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I was told my entire life that God rejected me and I was going to hell merely for my sexual orientation. I needed to change my entire persona and become straight. This left such a bad taste in my mouth about organized religion in general that I refused to attend any church for many, many years.

It was Latter-day Saints who taught me that Heavenly Father loves ALL of His children, regardless of their sexual orientation. We are all children of God, and we should leave judgment to the Savior. It is not our place. We are asked only to love.

I am “Elders Quorum First Counselor, Ward Mission Leader,” with only 11 convert baptisms. I’m humbly grateful to be a full temple recommend holder.
Soon, I will be an LDS Literary Agent 🖊 representing good, clean, authors. 📚

Am I Worthy as a Gay Man Going to The Temple?

Temple time! I must be honest because I know some of you will relate. For a few months, I didn’t go. Why? I didn’t feel worthy-NOT because I did anything wrong or that I wasn’t worthy. It was more self-doubt, listening to others, or thinking 🤔 because I am gay, that I shouldn’t be a full temple recommend holder. 🤷🏻‍♂️How wrong could I be? When I enter the temple this past week. I’ve been hugged by dozens, welcomed with open arms, and greeted by so many who said: “Dennis we love you.” ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

If you were questioning your worthiness, or if it’s been a long time since you’ve been, know you’re not alone. Then it’s time for you to attend the “House of the Lord.” Bring honor to your Ancestry. 

👉Most important lesson; “don’t let fear or the adversary dictate your feelings of self-worth.” 🙏🏻