As I have loved you

I had the good fortune of attending BYU while Jeffrey Holland was president of the university. He and Patricia Holland would address us often in devotionals. It was a real treat. Of course this was before he was called as an apostle. Yet, I became familiar with and accustomed to his powerful messages and oratory.

Today he is one of my favorite apostles--if its okay to have favorites.

I concur with his testimony of Jesus Christ.



Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, is the only lamp by which you can successfully see the path of love and happiness for you and for your family.

My goal is to emulate His life and love as he loved.

How do I love thee? As he does... for that way never faileth.

Elevated

This is an article I enjoyed recently. It was good to read a perspective from someone outside of Utah. I think you will enjoy it as well.

The trick to being more virtuous

We can be the passive beneficiaries of moral elevation. Or we can actively pursue it by rejecting bad and seeking good.

I commit to better help others, uplift the downtrodden, and embrace civility.

Our examples often speak more loudly than do our words.

Living in Thanksgiving daily

Recently, I have taken up exercising. Camilla encouraged me. And it has been great. All during my youth, it was automatic keeping fit, but in recent years not so. My exercise of choice has been to go walking every morning. Your mother walks and hikes daily with friends and has acclimated to strenuous climbs and lengthy distances. I am now in a small way following her example.

During my early morning walks, I have had time to think and plan for the upcoming day, weeks, and months ahead. Even in the midst of my health goals, I have found many other benefits of walking like vitality, invigoration, and spiritual edification. I learn new things every day. And they have the unique ability to help, prepare, and sustain us. When Alma addressed Korihor, he said “all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it.” Probably the most unexpected benefit of my early morning walking is that for a few minutes each day, I have a chance to reflect on our abundant blessings and contemplate the world and God’s majesty.

One day when I left the house I saw the majestic spire of the Mount Timpanogos temple in the valley. I thought that’s where I’ll walk today. Rhetorically speaking, I have been there a million times, so following the typical route was going to be easy, so I didn’t. I took some less-traveled roads, which were more serene, quieter and not so busy with traffic. But before long, I was on unknown paths that obscured my view of the temple. The trip took much longer than expected because of diversions and obstacles I didn’t anticipate. But the goal was the temple; time didn't really matter anymore. I continued through the dark, across the ice, past the trees, and up the hills. And I made it.

The temple is a beacon in our lives. This ensign can help us through life’s obstacles, motivate us when we are lost, and inspire us when we need help most. I have always known that, but living it one morning helped re-establish this fact in my heart and life.

The Savior Jesus Christ set a perfect example to encourage and motivate us to follow him. His life and Atonement give us hope in whatever circumstance we find ourselves. Sometimes a detour from our typical planned route seems like a setback when in reality we are being prepared for something much greater. I have always loved CS Lewis’ writing in this regard:

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”

I am more in tune with my Father in Heaven. I feel more passionately the hope we all have through Jesus Christ. Walking every day has really turned out to be a blessing.

Living in Thanksgiving daily is an invitation to enjoy the abundance all around us.

The Race of Life

The following story is not my writing, but it embodies my commitment to honoring those whose examples inspire, uplift, and sustain us just by reading about them.

During the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, John Stephen Akhwari placed last in the marathon, yet major sports magazines named him as one of two “top international Olympians” that year. While losing the race, Mr. Akhwari won the admiration of untold thousands because he embodied the spirit of a true Olympian as he finished despite setbacks.

Track and field athletes that year faced a common challenge when they arrived in Mexico City: its altitude. At 7,350 feet, it was the highest elevation at which any Summer Olympics had been held. From Mbulu, Tanzania, where the altitude is -3.85 feet, Mr. Akhwari suffered leg cramps early in the race. Yet he continued to run.

He collided with another runner and fell, dislocating and badly cutting a knee and injuring a shoulder. He got up and he continued to run.

By sunset, most of his 56 fellow competitors had finished the race. Wounded and in pain, he continued to run. Most spectators had left the arena where the marathon’s finish line was located.

Those who remained noticed lights flashing on a vehicle escorting a lone runner and cheered as the Tanzanian hobbled along the track in his own victory lap to cross the finish line more than an hour after the winner.

It’s doubted that anyone present realized they were witnessing a great moment in the history of the Olympics. Many journalists and people posting on various media have told the story of Mr. Akhwari’s personal victory. In a New York Times article upon the death of Bud Greenspan in 2010 is this account:

“Mr. Greenspan, an eight-time Emmy Award winner, often distilled his view of the Olympics into an incident from the 1968 Summer Games in Mexico City. He was shooting the marathon, which was won by an Ethiopian, Mamo Wolde.

“But what mesmerized him was John Stephen Akhwari of Tanzania. … When Mr. Greenspan asked him why he continued to the end, Mr. Akhwari was incredulous at such a question. ‘My country did not send me 5,000 miles to start the race,’ Mr. Greenspan often recalled him saying. ‘My country sent me 5,000 miles to finish the race’” (Richard Sandomir, www.nytimes.com/2010/12/26/sports/olympics/26greenspan.html)

Finishing the Race (read more here)

We have all been sent to earth to complete a mission. Though challenges and obstacles engage all of us, enduring to the end is our call.

With faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are never alone.

Worth the Wait

This video speaks for itself--to all of us. Laugh? Cry? Admire? Smile. You'll do it all. I did. It was worth the wait.

It IS worth the wait.

It's going to be OK

When I was a young man, a boy really, my family moved from the city to fulfill the dream of my mother to live in the country. There were many challenges.

We experienced miracles regularly in my home when I was growing up. Surprised? No. Grateful? Absolutely. And this continued in earnest when we moved to the country.

There were many chores we did regularly in Castle Valley, depending on the time of year. Many tasks were performed in earnest regardless of the season. For example, watering and feeding the animals, milking, and caring for livestock were tasks done every day. Chopping wood, breaking the ice on the animal watering troughs, and shoveling snow were reserved for the winter time. And then of course summer months included gardening, planting, and harvesting the fruits of our labors.

And so it was during the summertime that I found myself working the soil in a field just in front of the cabin. It was a hot day, and Mom had asked me to till a portion of the garden. I complied. Before long, however, the tiller ran out of gas and I still had some to do to be finished. So I pushed the machine out of the field and down the road to the corner of the house. It was hot, and I was impatient to fill the tank with gas and get back to completing my job. The cans had been sitting in the hot sun at the edge of the tree line. I grabbed a five-gallon can full of gas and began removing the gas cap. As I did so, the pressure in the can began to escape. This was common. But remember, I was in a hurry and didn't really want to wait so I just continued removing the cap before all the pressure was released. Because the can was hot and the gasoline had expanded, the lid came off with force, and it was followed by a stream of gasoline which shot into my face and high into the air. It caught me by surprise and sprayed into my open eyes. The gas had so much pressure it continued onto the cabin and roof beside where I was standing. At first I thought the gas might blind me. So I quickly looked for some way to wash my eyes and hair. Fortunately, there was a water spout on that side of the cabin, so I tried to wash the gas from my eyes. There was no hose, so it was difficult to wash and get cleaned up.

I don't remember if my younger brother, Jeff, saw what happened, but he was soon encouraging me to come around the back of the cabin and use the water hydrant there. He was adamant about having me come behind the house to wash up. I had gas in my eyes and hair and all over my clothes, and the nozzle without a hose wasn't working too well, so I consented and walked behind the house to wash up with the hose. Dad and Gregg were coming down the road now in the truck, when suddenly the gasoline exploded. The house logs and roof were on fire now as was the tiller and the fumes from the open gas can. Gregg and Dad jumped from the truck and dragged hoses to the scene to extinguish the flames. The deafening explosion rocked the home. I was confused and surprised and unsure what to do. Fortunately, the others put out the fire before much damage was done to the house, tiller, or surroundings.

Then I realized that if Jeff hadn't convinced me to come behind the house to wash the gasoline from my hair, skin, and clothes, I would have ignited right along with the explosion. This was another of many situations where the Lord was watching out for and sustaining our family.
We are not so much unique. But we like you notice and give thanks for the miracles that regularly bless our lives, even amid hardship.

And when called to pass through challenges, we must remember, this is not forever. This is not the end. This is not the final product.

It has taken a lifetime to realize the blessings that have come from our experience in the country, and we are just now grasping its impact on our lives and futures.

But for those that wait on the Lord, the greatest miracle of all, Eternal Life, is still coming.



Tender mercies  (text)

Invincible

I loved the movie Meet the Mormons. If you haven’t seen the flick, I am not going to spoil it for you. But knowing how much I enjoyed it, you probably think I want to tell you all about it. I don’t. You can see it for yourself and decide how you feel. What I loved most about the movie wasn’t even part of it. For those of you that have no idea what I am talking about, let me explain. Meet the Mormons is a feature length movie produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with the intent to dispel some of the misconceptions around the world about the religion. So why did I like it so much? You might think it was because it celebrated the influence that we can have on the world or painted the Church in a good light or finally portrayed the effect of the Gospel of Jesus Christ on our lives. True. It did all those things, but that’s not why I adore this movie.

I love Meet the Mormons because its plot was taken from a cross section of everyday members of the Church and highlighted their lives. These were not just accounts of one-of-a-kind individuals, with unique stories. The genius of this movie is that incredible people live all around us in our own homes and neighborhoods with lives and experiences worthy of celebration. The producer could have taken the well-known Steve Young or Donny Osmond or Mitt Romney or [insert a famous Mormon name here], but he didn’t. Instead the focus was on six pretty much run-of-the-mill members of the Church and highlighted their incredible decisions amid mostly common lives. He could have taken any six members of the Church from anywhere and celebrated the good that they do in classrooms, with challenges, on canvas, or among the downtrodden. We have 15+ million stories that could be told.

That’s why I love this movie.

Here is just one more that has a tie to my life:

You know that I love to write. I have elaborated on the merits of good prose many times. In fact, it was one year ago almost to the day that I posted an article I read on Facebook that in a way changed my life. The quality of this piece was manifest as it was shared thousands of times over the Internet.
Seth Adam Smith’s article depicted what was good and right, and I believed and was inspired by his words. But he, too, experienced challenges in his life, not unlike the obstacles we face in our own lives.

Do you see the glass half empty or half-full? The glass doesn’t change. It’s our perspective that determines what we see and how that choice benefits and strengthens us and those we hold most dear.

Sadness and disappointment are temporary. Happiness is eternal.

Share your burdens with someone you love.

Keep your antenna up. Lift a brother.

Together, we are invincible.

Strength beyond my own

Like many of you, we attended the Ogden Temple rededication last week in our stake center. The original dedication of Ogden Temple occurred 42 years ago. I was just eight-years-old at the time and living then in Salt Lake City in the suburb of Holladay .

Much was shared at this special occasion. Just a couple highlights follow:

The temple dedication is really an opportunity for the saints to rededicate themselves to the work of the Lord and service in the temple.

A story of John Rowe Moyle, a Mormon pioneer famous for walking the 22 miles from Alpine to Salt Lake City every week to help build the Salt Lake Temple. Now, a group of his descendants gather at Moyle Park in Alpine every week to share his legacy.

Story of the Castle Valley experience and the lessons learned there

Experiences that are written about your lives that will help, strengthen, and bless your posterities for ions to come. Is that hard to believe?

That is the very reason temples are erected and countless serve within their walls to unite families on earth and in heaven for eternity.

It is the Great Plan of Happiness instigated by the Savior himself fulfill his work and glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

President Monson shared three steps regarding taking full advantage of the blessings of the temple:

1. Love the temple and commune with God to receive instruction and come to know Him better
2. Appreciate the blessings that come to us and our families through the temple and feel its joy
3. Attend the temple to partake of these blessings and unite our families for eternity

When I need a lift to confront obstacles in my path, I often find the balm of gilead in the temple.

The Blessings of the Temple

Ogden Temple Facts

God gave us families

Have you ever noticed how many times a reference to family is mentioned in Granny and Grandpa's personal histories? Let's just say dozens of times. That's because for them family is everything.

Families are how God shares his love.

The Great Plan of Happiness

“No other success can compensate for failure in the home.” ― David O. Mckay

“The most important of the Lord's work you will ever do will be the work you do within the walls of your own home.” ― Harold B. Lee

God gave us families to help us become what he knows we can be.

Use us. That's what we are here for.



Verse 1:
Our Father has a family, it's me! It's you, all-others too: we are his children.
He sent each one of us to earth, through birth, to live and learn here in families.

Chorus:
God gave us families to help us become what he wants us to be.
This is how he shares his love, for the family is of God.

Verse 2:
A father's place is to preside, provide, to love and teach the gospel to his children.
A father leads in family prayer to share their love for Father in Heaven.

Verse 3:
A mother's purpose is to care, prepare, to nurture and to strengthen all her children.
She teaches children to obey, to pray, to love and serve in the family.

Verse 4:
I'll love and serve my family and be a good example to each family member.
And when I am a mom or dad, so glad, I’ll help my family remember.

Words from the wise

My dad was a master storyteller. All who knew him can attest to that. We remembered his birthday just one month ago today. I miss his smile, his eyes, and especially the times spent listening to his uplifting stories and wise counsel. Absence indeed makes the heart grow fonder.

Though our separation is relatively brief, it has been acute. Our family members and friends buoy us up during hard times. Letters from home always have that affect on me. Like letters from a family member or friend, Grandpa's journal does that for me, as well.

So instead of sharing thoughts of my own with you in this post, my message today are the comforting words of Grandpa.

Enjoy below his recently-found journal entries:

Comforting words from Grandpa

Richard Stucki memoir 

I love you

I was searching through my filing cabinet recently. Below the hanging folders, a tattered newspaper article appeared on the bottom of the drawer. I squeezed the folders together to make room and slipped my hand between them to retrieve it.

The newspaper clipping was yellowed and torn slightly. I unfolded the bends and flattened the creases best I could then lifted it to read "Don't wait for a special day to tell Dad you love him."

Of course, I remember finding this article clipping and saving it. So I sat down with anticipation, anxious to read it once again. It did not disappoint.

I went to the Stucki Cousins reunion yesterday in Bountiful. I know you all wanted to go and I fielded questions about you and our growing families.

This picture shows Margaret, Grandpa Bill, Bonnie, Barbara, Grandma Lucy, and Richard.

The words of our fathers are family scripture for us. we have manyes at our disposal to save and share their words of wisdom, advice, and warning. I found a special tribute written by Grandpa Richard regarding some observations regarding experiences in the early days of Castle Valley.

How would our lives be different today if we did not have the legacy left by our fathers and mothers?

Each time we read we should probably ask ourselves "Why did these writers choose these particular stories or events to include in the record? What value are they for us today"

Related article:

The best decision I ever made

Meticulous

Yesterday was a special day. It happened to be my father’s birthday, which is a good opportunity to consider his memory and influence. So I would like to share with you a few special occasions I treasure about him. These are great memories that buoy me up daily.

Grandpa always had an office of sorts where he did his work. In Salt Lake, his office was rather elaborate with files, shelves, typewriter, chair, drawers and a big desk. It was inviting, adorned with artwork and warm, comfortable furnishings. He completed his work, compiled many of his talks, wrote notes, and recorded countless thoughts in his carefully labeled filing cabinets. Though with all these resources, dad's desk was often filled high with papers and the floor was littered with small piles to the point that there was really no place left to walk without tip toeing over the carefully positioned stacks of papers.

I suppose it could become a bit tiresome to have all these seemingly unorganized piles strewn throughout the room, and occasionally my mom would come into his study and clean everything up for him. She put order to his office. He was grateful and kind, yet he couldn't always find his work once his carefully placed projects were rearranged.

Later after we moved, his office took different forms. Though it may not have been as extravagant, it continued to be well-used and scattered with busy work of all kinds.

But I have come to realize that his life's work was not unlike his office. Often Dad would find the one in need of support by navigating through many good things to complete those that were essential. His life was spent serving others in situations that were inconvenient, difficult, and laborious, but convenience wasn't his measuring stick. Love was.
Mosiah 2:17

His life was spent earning people's trust so that he could impact their lives for good. He wasn't everything to anybody, but he was something to everybody. And he was ok with that. My dad wanted to promote and witness of the life of the Savior. His final request made sure of that. We received explicit instructions from him that his funeral be a gospel message putting Christ in the forefront.

That was quintessential Dad.

Grandpa shared many stories with me that have literally changed my life for the better.

Spend a few minutes with Grandpa by clicking this link to read his account of finding Castle Valley. Each time I read these anecdotes, I re-live them with Grandpa.

I could tell you stories about my dad all day long. Good times were great times with Grandpa. 

Fortunately, we will have many more occasions to spend the eternities together with him. And in the mean time, we have our cherished memories.

Tangible Safety

Personal memoirs and family histories are family scripture. Nuggets of knowledge, experiences, and stories become treasured family heirlooms that build, lift, and support us through life. Technology today has made the word of God available to all people. We did not kneel at the Savior's feet or experience for ourselves all wonders this world has to offer, but through the records of others, we can know, learn, and feel these things.

That is the impact of family history. The faithful are promised happiness and hope in the travail of the last days. We need not bear challenges alone. Even the disparate can now come together.

Treasuring up the words of Christ offers sustenance, guidance, and safety amid life storms.

Remember this declaration by Jesus Himself: “Whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived” ¹⁵ —and in the last days neither your heart nor your faith will fail you.




Safety for the Soul

A weekend in Lyman

We came into town and began looking for Kent's place. Driving through the city center we noticed hanging flower baskets on main street. Once we found the right street, locating Kent and Johanna's was easy. We soon met Wynn and Shania and others in the family began to arrive.

We had access to a neighbor's home and setup our bed in the master bedroom: two cots and a double bed that we inflated.

Johanna prepared sloppy joes, salad, and watermelon for us. We ate and visited throughout the evening. In the morning, we went to a flag raising, and mom with others participated in a 5K. Now we are back having breakfast and will momentarily leave for the parade. The small town atmosphere is awesome. Kent and Johanna are good hosts. It's Camie's birthday today...and Neal's.

After the parade, we attended a BBQ lunch, had some free time to scope out town and went to a pioneer museum at the stake center. Now we are taking siesta.  Rodeo tonight and more.

A young man was injured when a horse rolled over on him. An ambulance was called and another ambulance had to be summoned before the rodeo could resume. We just came home from the event and are now getting to bed. Melanie wants to trade beds with mom and I, giving her the cot in exchange for the blowup mattress. I am totally willing to try out the mattress. We just had cake to celebrate Neal's birthday. And now people are visiting before hitting the hay.

Our treasure

Gregg, Terri, and family: Thank you for letting us share an intimate family gathering with you. We had a great time and memorable experience we will always recall with fondness. You all gave us the master suite, and we couldn't have been treated better. Thanks Dallin for being such a good friend to Emily. You have always been a gentleman and treated her with the utmost kindness and respect. Neal, it was fun to help you

celebrate your birthday and see the delightful gifts you received from your family members. They obviously love and admire you as do we. No one will forget the special gift from Natalie and Josh...what wonderful news.

Jessica  you are going to make a lucky young man very happy someday. Tyler and Sheena, Roger and Nakaiya, Ryan, Chad and Nachelle--I could share accolades about each one of you and the good things you have done, the great people you have become, and the fine families you are building. It is obvious to me that you have been taught well. So whatever challenges you or your children face you will know that you we can unite as a family and overcome any obstacle. Your mother and father have demonstrated this for you. This was a weekend we will long remember.

Saturday's Warriors

More than 30 years ago, a musical hit graced the stage, which became the first of many films created for members of the Church. Wikipedia states that Saturday's Warrior has become a classic in the Mormon community.

Corny? Perhaps, but the idea of a modern, royal generation today is echoed by many, including general authorities of the Church:

• A Royal Generation
• Chosen Generation
• The Rising Generation (watch this)

Life can be tough. It is fraught with plenty of obstacles and often challenges even the best of us. I am personally grateful for the good examples of our youth.

President Benson made the following statement to a gathering of youth in Southern California after he became President of the Church:

“For nearly six thousand years, God has held you in reserve to make your appearance in the final days before the Second Coming. Every previous gospel dispensation has drifted into apostasy, but ours will not. … God has saved for the final inning some of his strongest children, who will help bear off the kingdom triumphantly. And that is where you come in, for you are the generation that must be prepared to meet your God. … Make no mistake about it—you are a marked generation. There has never been more expected of the faithful in such a short period of time as there is of us. … Each day we personally make many decisions that show where our support will go. The final outcome is certain—the forces of righteousness will finally win. What remains to be seen is where each of us personally, now and in the future, will stand in this fight—and how tall we will stand. 

Praising Today’s Young People: Seeing Clearly Now

ldsblogs.com

Today's young people have a lot of pressure--but many of them are proving themselves amazing.

My Canvas

I love to write. My escape from the mundane, drudgery, monotony, and boredom is a blank sheet of paper. There I can make time come alive. I can repair what’s broken, celebrate the good, and mend what needs fixing.

For me, even in my weakness and deficiency, writing breathes life into my being and captures timeless experiences that can be relived again and again, offering great satisfaction. I realize that writing alone isn't life. Even so, words heal, strengthen, and inspire abundantly. It’s my connection to all that resides on this earth, my witness of God’s hand in our lives. Though speckled with tedium, the world is vivacious, beautiful, and vibrant. Prose captures that.

Think of the scriptures and the simple verses that give hope, pledge faith, and build confidence in the midst of despair. Feel patriotism grow as we read the Gettysburg address and stand beside a brother. Our family cherishes papers and drawings created by its children and displays samples on the refrigerator or on grandma’s desk per the tender note written with love. We fill our files with these treasures and store boxes of memorabilia with these gems because memories resonate family and evoke tender emotions that validate our existence, further enabling us to share our gifts.

Ancestry.com recently announced the retirement of several websites, including Mycanvas.com, a favorite of many family history buffs. I think of the implications of such a change to many who have contributed considerable time and effort to treasured memories and build personal and family histories of sorts to leave for their posterity such a legacy.

Then I wondered about my own canvas. What have I done with the talents the Lord has given me to benefit others? How have I used my abilities to build, unite and strengthen those around me and leave a timeless legacy for my family? That’s an interesting question and worthy of exploration.

I could always count on my dad to help me, support me, and provide encouragement and inspiration when I needed it most. He is sorely missed, but interestingly you see his influence every day in the lives of those he affected, the people he touched, his children and family.

Interestingly, I spent the other day helping my mom. In many ways it was a delight to be with her. We visited, reminisced, ate a delicious lunch together, and worked side-by-side like hundreds of times before over the course of a lifetime. I wasn't amazing like my dad who could install all needed facilities. Like Gregg who can fix every problem, I couldn't. It was obvious that I didn't work as quickly or get as much done as Jeff. But the amazing thing I realized is that those criticisms came from me alone. Mom had nothing but accolades for the wonderful job I was doing. She praised me for lifting, moving, and trying. Even though my efforts are far inferior to others, Mom doesn't think so. She built me up and made me feel like the most important person on earth.

That, my little family, is a virtue, a gift, a legacy—one I hope to leave with you that you can pass on to your children and their children and so on into perpetuity. The heirloom you carry on will bless you and your family and magnify your talents. The good you will do is an opus to you forever and ever.

My canvas is not finished yet, and it is exciting to rise every morning to see what treasures will reveal themselves during the coming day. One thing I know for sure as part of our family…I’m worthwhile. I’m needed. And I’m loved. And so are you.

Today and tomorrow, what can be better than that?

Serenity

The scriptures warn us about the challenges that will surely come in the last days. So did Grandpa. Sometimes when you are doing the best you can, but things aren't happening the way you want them to, remember Granny and Grandpa are still praying for you.

"I still haven't put it all together yet...but you can take as much time as you need." I echo these words from Stacy Miles.

Comfort, tranquility, peace; these may be the terms we would use to define the composure and confidence of serenity. "We cannot predict all of the struggles and storms of life...but as persons of faith and hope, we know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true, and the best is yet to come."

And for me, that's real serenity.

 5 Verily I say unto you all: Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations;

 6 And that the gathering together upon the land of Zion, and upon her stakes, may be for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth. Doctrine and Covenants 115:5,6

Read Elder L. Tom Perry's talk "Let Him Do It with Simplicity."

My Living Journal

All my life I have been taught to read and ponder the scriptures, so I could apply their insights and guidance to bless my life. Honestly, as a young man, I didn't really understand the concept of pondering scriptures. I would read a few verses and then wait to see what insights filled my mind and heart. The intent was good; the results rewarding. But I still didn't really see the benefit…at least not immediately. And then I got older, and somehow during that process I realized that pondering is a lifelong activity. Pondering the scriptures and life and the tender mercies of God doesn't happen all at once. It is a process. And the answers don’t necessarily come immediately. The application to life does not happen all-at-once. But bit-by-bit life lessons are taught line-upon-line and precept-upon-precept until the concepts become clear and the experiences take on greater and greater meaning throughout one’s life. It’s amazing how forgettable stories and seemingly mundane experiences take on renewed meaning and value later in life when we take time to reminisce and draw conclusions that were meant for our benefit. My journal contains hundreds of examples of this marvelous manifestation of God’s love and patience. He takes all the time necessary to build and fashion us if we will but let the Master Potter influence, shape, and frame our lives.

So often in life we are concerned with the present, and often we need to be. Selecting a major, finding the money to pay regular mortgage or rent payments, pursuing our education and career amid unexpected disturbances, preparing and planning for vacations, family and home life, and a million more legitimate concerns that every family on earth has. And I realize these matters are not small. For some, they are wondering where their next meal will come from, or how they will get through next month’s slough of bills. Anxieties, fears, and numerous trepidations influence every life on earth at some time or another. They have occurred in my life—they've occurred in yours.

But in the midst of these frustrations, consider for a moment that they are simply diversions from what is really important. And the Master Teacher’s lesson will not be rendered vain. All His works will be fulfilled—all of them.

I could not have fashioned the beautiful family I have on my own. The sustenance, wonder, and beauty of my life would have crumbled many times if I alone was in charge of the outcome. But I am not alone, and neither are you. This life is but a short time wherein we receive many opportunities for both joy and pain. Here, we are prepared for a sure outcome of eternal joy if we but do our best to follow the Master.

This I know.

 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Matthew 5:18

 3 Remember, remember that it is not the work of God that is frustrated, but the work of men. Doctrine and Covenants 3:3

 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

"A daughter is one of the most beautiful gifts this world has to give."

- Laurel Atherton

Each a remarkable one

Family

What are your most memorable moments with your family? Often, it is not what we would have expected. Remember the joy is in the journey, and it only gets better from here.



Mosiah 2:41

The Miracle in You

I have learned a few lessons in my life, and I want to share a nugget with you so you can profit now and won't have to wait until you're my age before benefiting. These are my conclusions. There are no exceptions to the rule. I have learned this principle to be true and worthwhile. So let me introduce it with a true story:

When I went to my dad as a young man for advice as I was about to buy my first car, he reminded me about my most important objectives and warned me that I needed to honestly assess my financial ability to achieve my goals if I put money into a car.

I was 16-years-old at the time and knew a lot more than I do now--at least I thought I did--so I responded that I had considered this concern and figured I could benefit from the extra cash when I sell the car. Dad raised his his hand to his chin and rubbed it as he thought. "Well you could wreck your car, and then you wouldn't have anything left." I had the perfect comeback. "But I will have insurance!" I clamored, probably a little more desperate than confident. "Well. You may not..." I didn't even let him finish the sentence. "Of course, I will have insurance. It's the law, and I would never drive without it." I was incredulous but respectful. Of course, my dad consented. I knew he would. A couple years later, I was having some serious engine trouble, and while my car was in the shop I pulled the expensive insurance off the vehicle until it was repaired. Needless to say, I started driving before I put the insurance back on my car and had an accident in the mean time. Everything dad said could happen did. The point is we can benefit from the wisdom of our elders. That's the whole premise behind AskGramps. Following good advice has an immediate impact for the better.

So now for the nugget...we are encouraged to read the Book of Mormon daily. The benefit is in the reading, not just finishing. Another example, getting my home teaching done is great, but doing it is even better. That's where I witness the change and experience the impact of the gospel in other people's lives. Similarly, the blessings of family history come in completing it, not just having it all done. The connection I have formed with ancestors and their stories of hardship, determination, and unwavering resolve are inspiring. Obedience is the first law of heaven, because it's fundamental to all others.

This means that you are the reason all this exists in the first place. You are the miracle at work here, and their purpose is to help you get better every day.

That's the plan.

The Bread of Life

As a young man, just a boy really, I loved it when Granny would make a batch of homemade bread. The whole house smelled sweet and warm. We were happy children on these days, and it happened frequently.

Also around that general time frame there was a tendency in schools to teach that mankind came from apes, otherwise known as the theory of evolution. This was strongly contested by some and generally opposed by the Church and many others. Still, there were good people on both sides of the fence.

Even today, numerous discussions and opinions fill the Internet regarding this subject and statements made by people inside-and-out of the Church regarding the validity or error of this theory. Natural selection and the evolution of plants and animals are used as evidences to perpetuate of this theory, some claiming a connection and others refusing any truth to the matter.

As recently as 2002 in the Ensign, the Church referred to statements made by The First Presidency regarding this subject in the early 1900s and has not veered from this position.

Similarly, today there are numerous discussions regarding the same sex attraction and the gender of man. The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles issued the proclamation back in 1995, which has stood as a standard in defense of the family.

It occurs to me that the message regarding both of these issues has been clearly and concisely addressed with sensitivity relative to the destiny of man. 

We are given the true bread of heaven. "I am the Bread of Life. He that cometh to me shall never hunger. He that believeth on me shall never thirst."  John 6:35

I am the Bread of Life

Love One Another

The Good Things in Life

There is so much good in the world all around us. Each one of us has so much to be grateful for. I have been so blessed by each one of you and the talents you share with me and the whole family.

My relationship with you is my treasure, a gift for which I am thankful every day.

People addicted to vices are slaves to their addiction. All they can see is the vice. It impacts their focus, attention, relationships, and abilities.

Addictions destroy opportunities and lives.

There are too many good things in life to give up for addictions. Too many.

Making music

This doesn't take a lot of explaining. It speaks for itself.

Words

I was reviewing my journal this week, and I came upon a fond memory:

We had a fun outing this week I shall always remember with fondness. Dad & Mom came up to go with us out to dinner and then to Kingsbury Hall at the University of Utah to see the play Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat starring Donny Osmond. We went to dinner together at Market Street Grill, and then we drove to the U. Mom and Dad pointed out sites such as the sorority and fraternity houses, things that had changed and things that were the same, and they shared experiences with us of how and when they first met. I remembered the stories vaguely but it was good to hear them again. Dad told how he had first seen Mom, or rather a picture of Mom, while he was serving his mission. His missionary companion had her picture. He later met her briefly at a skating party, but they were both with other dates on that particular evening. So it wasn’t until after this that Dad actually dated Mom. On his first date with Mom, she had invited him to her home for Thanksgiving dinner. That was the time the turkey hadn't been fully cooked. Mom remembers it with abhorrence. Dad just smiled. That's always been one of my favorite stories.

We soon found our seats and enjoyed the performance featuring Donny Osmond, which made it particularly special for Linda, since she has always been a raving fan. 

A wonderful evening indeed.

This is one memory I can enjoy time and again because I wrote the experience down in my journal and am able to remember it in detail and relive it each time I read it. Knowing how much my parents enjoyed that evening made it exquisite for me.

I know these are just words on a page, but they bring to life memories so warm and close to my heart that I get to relive them vicariously.

Thanks for letting me reminisce. Firsts

It was mom

To all the special women in our lives, thank you. We love you.

Mother's Day Special - Music and the Spoken Word

Mother Memories

Motherhood

Mom

Heartbeat symphony

Often when having too much fun, we think there must be something better we should be doing. Sound familiar? 

But this time around, I am working on exactly what I think is top priority in my life right now. Yet composing personal histories shouldn't be this much fun. You be the judge.

When I was a boy in Castle Valley, I remember tilling the ground, planting the fields of vegetation in the deep, red soil, then weeding long rows of Silver Queen corn. I'm sure I never thought at the time that I would long for those years gone by. But today, I relish working with the soil, planting seeds and sucklings, and nourishing the sprouts to reach their full potential. Perhaps this is one more way we replenish the earth and show appreciation for the abundance we have been given. Certainly we live through challenging periods—difficult as they may be at the time—so we can later recall the sweet melodies of life and relive the memories that are ingrained in our hearts. These chords are for our benefit, and we want them rooted in our own children to perpetuate the symphony of our lives. 

By capturing these stories in our personal histories, we not only save them for our posterity, but we revive them in our own minds and hearts. If we fail to remember these experiences and forget to enjoy the sweet memories of our lives, then perhaps that is the greatest loss of all.

Relishing former times with hindsight gives perspective during the challenges we face today.

Yes, reliving today's and tomorrow's memories could very well be the most fun we ever have.

Therein lies the treasure. 

Not Forgotten

One of the most exciting social findings of the past half century has been the discovery of widespread generational cascades. A generational cascade is a metaphysical process which starts at the top of one age group and tumbles all the way down to the bottom or the latest descendant. It can even mount upward and affect lives of people that precede the phenomenon. And the classic example of what could happen is something that we all fear, which can be summed up in one word: FORGOTTEN. No one wants to be overlooked. Disremembered is a ruthless term. We all know how it feels to be ignored, unnoticed, or disregarded. People employ hope and determination to help them face trials and confront obstacles. Yet we know these challenges can impact their children and even their unborn posterity, but perhaps we are slightly less aware that these anecdotes give life and meaning to many other people, as well, who would otherwise live lonely and pitiful lives. You may know someone who writes in a diary or records a history of sorts. But a simple count shows that those who keep a regular journal for any substantial length of time are few and far between. These connections are valuable and the information is interesting and fun to learn, but it can also be life changing.

For example, the nucleus of the Navajo generation crossed the Bering Strait from the west and gradually moved south and east. Some anthropologists assume that this migration began 3,000 years ago, and it must have taken several hundred years for the people who were to become the Navajos to traverse western Canada from north to south and finally arrive in the southwestern United States. No one knows the detail of this five-century trek, but imagination pictures groups of people, large enough to hold their own against the vicissitudes of an unknown land, following dim trails laid out by other tribes speaking foreign languages who had entered the New World before them. No doubt they have a rich history of their circumstances and culture of their own. Yet the record of that initial journey from the northern ocean to the Southwest is preserved only in Navajo tradition, since they had no written language at the time. Many facts have been captured in writing now to honor and esteem this community of people. But before these connections turned up—they had been absent for more than 2500 years—this tribe was essentially unknown to the rest of the world.

Humanity that does not keep records is destined to become lost. But as soon as the people of the world begin logging histories of some sort, they are remembered for good or ill in perpetuity. Even though these authors may be initially unknown, they start to have the most remarkable effect. First, of course, they influence their immediate families, but that isn't the major thing. Much more significantly, they radically change the behavior of their extended families and communities. Their identities impact certain parts of the world. The places they live improve and flourish most significantly, particularly with their own children and posterity. And immediately those people start to grow and rejuvenate others. In some families the lives of the children improve immediately and courtship and dating in just a few years means new families will start and quickly strengthen parents and children and family relationships. And as soon as that happens, the communities start developing and entire nations progress. The number of happy people and joyful homes increases greatly. The neighborhoods and tribes advance and brotherhood grows, because joy was meant to be shared. And fulfilled people like personal history authors are ecosystem engineers. They create momentum that involves others and builds families and provides habitats of learning for children and kinfolks and tribes and schools and communities and states and nations. The family unit is strengthened, and as a result of that the number of marriage ceremonies and schools begin to rise, which means more homes, more families, more marriages, and more children. Others in the communities and people all across the world come to benefit from the words the authors compose about their triumphs and trials, hardship and hope, suffering, success, and family longevity. The solitary and unmarried benefit, too, because they are part of a bigger family. Welcomed and encouraged to participate and contribute, the single profit as well. And our population begins to rise and thrive, partly also because they are happier and more fulfilled. And the lonely disappear as they are swallowed up in acceptance, unity, and consensus. Their perceived value is reinforced by the impact of those both living and the dead who preceded them, but here’s where it gets really interesting. The histories change the behavior of the generations: adults get help, children are more prepared, we find solutions to problems and answers to our questions and concerns—connected people are better off and happier.

Family members flourish. They have less contention and more understanding and gratitude, less depression and greater appreciation; hardships narrow, friendships form, connections bless lives, all of which is great for family health and community well-being. The lives change in response to the generational cascades. And the reason is that the relationships stabilize the community and families are reinforced, so they endure longer and collapse less, becoming more fixed in their course and committed to one another. Similarly, by capturing stories and sharing their connections, families and communities recover on all familial sides. There are less divisions and more longevity because human connections stabilize that as well. So personal histories, though small in number, transform not just life experiences and lessons learned in this huge population of people, but also its quality of life.    

The wonder of it is that this all starts with the seemingly small act of recording one’s life experiences for the benefit of others, and personal histories turn out blessing everyone.

That's how we change lives in the human family.

Have you captured the fruits of your labors?

“Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Palm Sunday

Someday, I want to travel to Jerusalem.

I want to stroll the roads where Jesus walked and feel the wind that cooled the neighborhoods where he taught. I hope to brush my hand on the limestone walls surrounding the city, smell the fragrant olive trees, and visit Galilee where he found fishers of men, calmed the sea, and fed the 5000.

And like the other tourists who have come to see the empty Garden Tomb, I want to witness the stone rolled back and see the vacant place where his body was lain but is no more, because He lives again.

Yes. This is something I have always wanted to do. The implications of his life then become the answers to our challenges now. We see it every day:
Guilt becomes peace
Regret becomes relief
Despair becomes hope
Death has no sting
The grave has no victory
With his stripes, we are healed

This Easter, remember the sacred name, life, and sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Mosiah 16:8



More media:

He Lives / For God so Loved the World / My Kingdom Is Not of This World

If The Savior Stood Beside Me

Sacrificial Saturday

This week causes us to reflect on the challenges we face. Though they may be small in comparison to others, they are significant to us and therefore important to God.

Can you imagine the feeling the friends of Jesus experienced when they visited the tomb and found that Christ's body was gone? They must have been in despair.

The events of the last few weeks of his life were the highest of highs and now became the lowest of lows. Not only was Jesus mocked, tortured, and killed, but now his body had been taken and desecrated, or so they thought.

But then in a matter of hours, God changed this tragic situation into incomprehensible joy.

That's the same promise we have despite our present circumstances.



More reading:
Jesus is Resurrected / My Joy is Full / The Meaning of Easter