Over 2 decades as a police officer on the streets of Portland Oregon. Tammy was the youngest of 5 children. She grew up wanting to be a mother. She excelled as a shot put thrower in high school and college. Ranking 10th in the nation. She served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Alabama. While attending college she changed her major 7 times, she ultimately decided to go into social work. At the time jobs were difficult to find in this field. While working at the copy machine in the police department she decided to become a police officer. Join me today as she shares her choice to become a police officer and how it has shaped her as a person.

-As of 2024–2025, there are approximately 737,000 to over 750,000 full-time sworn law enforcement officers in the U.S.. The workforce is predominantly male (85.6%) and with about 14% female representation.

In the Fall of 2024, Ken had been having symptoms that seemed to keep lingering on. He decided to go to the doctors and see what was happening. Through tests, they told Ken that he had pancreatic cancer. The diagnosis was bleak and time was not on his side. He and his wife Holly leaned upon the Lord and one another to find the strength, courage and trust that they had built together since their marriage in September 1996. Join me today as Holly & Ken share their unique courtship and love for one another that has strengthened them through this trial of terminal cancer.

In April 1975, Marion D Hanks gave a talk titled, Trust in the Lord. In it he said, “As life supplies its store of tribulation we need the consolation that comes with knowing that God is good and that he is near, that he understands, and that he loves us and will help us and strengthen us for the realities of a world where sin and affliction exist. And while I’m talking about principles this morning, I am not really thinking in the abstract, but I’m thinking of many noble souls who have met difficulties with courage” ….. Comfort came to them in the quiet knowledge of the nearness of a Savior who himself had not been spared the most keen and intense suffering, who himself had drunk of the bitter cup.”

“From this source—from God and Christ—wisdom and strength can be found that will make endurance possible, and relationships generous and helpful, that will lead to abundancy of life and to everlasting life. God will “temper the wind to the shorn lamb,” and help us to endure all things and to continue to maintain integrity in the face of the siren song of invitation to “curse God and die”—die spiritually, die as to things pertaining to righteousness, die to hope and holiness and faith in a future where there is no corruption and no pain.”

“Christ came that men might have life abundant and life eternal, and he declared that “this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3.)

“Our religion is “not weight, it is wings.” It can carry us through the dark times, the bitter cup. It will be with us in the fiery furnace and the deep pit. It will accompany us to the hospital room and to the place of bereavement. It can guarantee us the presence of a Captain on the rough voyage. It is, in short, not the path to easy disposition of problems, but the comforting assurance of the eternal light, by which we may see, and the eternal warmth, which we may feel. “The Lord is good: Blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” (Ps. 34:8.)”

While heading to the church for a presidency meeting, I saw a sister from another ward trying to unload a truck bed full of decorations for a wedding. I had a moment to decide to either walk into the church to the presidency meeting or go over to her truck and offer to help her carry and lift all of her things into the gym?

My mind returned to a situation as a ward RS president years ago. We had had our meeting and after exiting the building we stood by our cars talking. I noticed a couple (not active but I was friendly with the wife) arrived at the parking lot who had a truck load of things that they had planned to put in the DI truck in the back parking lot. My mind kept looking over wondering if I should exit the conversation and go help them unload. After minutes passed I decided to walk over and offer to help, the husband commented, “it’s a little late”. I felt horrible. Was my conversation with my presidency better than serving this couple? Regret has stayed with me for years. Then the opportunity arose to choose differently. Help a friend and arrive a little late or walk past her and head into my presidency meeting. Then we got an email from Bailey's mission that same night. Our thoughts aligned. Join me today as I share this email and thoughts on serving others!!