Strength beyond my own

Think about the greatest challenge of your life. At one point it was certainly my mission: trying my hardest every day with no success, loneliness, learning a foreign language, frequently coming up short, studying every moment possible, and trying to get past our shortcomings was a daily occurrence.

My recollection is that my companion and I came together on Sundays to plan for the coming week. We scheduled every 15 minutes of each day during the coming week. With the Lord’s help, we got things done every 15 minutes. Imagine being that productive.

I learned something then that has stayed with me all these many years later.

Could it be that there is a theme that runs through our lives connecting generations and families together forever? Absolutely. Every experience has purpose, and all our efforts have meaning, even when they feel pointless. Life is not supposed to be easy. Worthwhile things never are.

The inspiring story of John Rowe Moyle tells about 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, Utah regularly to share in his legacy.

Temple dedications are really an opportunity for the saints to rededicate themselves to the work of the Lord and service in the temple.

This also helps me recognize the benefits of following the commandments and heeding the Spirit's promptings, which affects the rest of our lives and that of our posterity. As my own experience as a youth turned out and the lessons learned in my own hometown so long ago, I am reminded of God's ability to turn all things to the good of them that love and serve Him.                                                     Romans 8:28

Writing about experiences in our lives will strengthen, help, and bless us now and our families for ions to come. Is that hard to believe? I have no doubt, because I have seen and experienced this already. We live in faith during this life, but we also come to know things through personal experience. For example, there was a time that perhaps living the Word of Wisdom took a great deal of trust, but I know of its many benefits now. I don’t just believe this principle. I have experienced its promises in my life. The medical profession finally confirms what we have known for decades.

16 For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for everything which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Moroni 7:15-17

Furthermore, Alma discusses faith being like unto a seed. He suggests that just as we see a seed grow, in the same way we can nourish faith until it grows into knowledge. The whole chapter is fantastic.

33 And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.

34 And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Alma 32:33-34

That is the very reason temples are erected and countless serve within their walls to unite families on earth and in heaven for eternity. Seeds if you will are planted now so that we can see their growth and full realization of blessings in a future day. Nobody questions that.

The Great Plan of Happiness instigated by the Savior himself fulfills his work and glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. The temple is part of that plan.

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 or direction in life, I often find the balm of Gilead in the temple. In our day, dozens of temples bring happiness in fulfillment of the prophesied blessings.

Our Heavenly Father’s works are endless. His magnanimous influence for good penetrates every realm and touches all his creations.

Today is a special day. I am writing these lines the occasion that we celebrate the life of Thomas S Monson. 30,000+ will attend his funeral services in the Conference Center. Thousands more will watch and listen to the proceedings through mass media. Dozens have honored him with books, articles, video programs, and shared memories of his life and example. Millions have been influenced for good. Once again he has lead the way and prepared the route for us to follow to return to our heavenly home. He does not take honor unto himself but always directs the praise to the Savior for whom President Monson was a special witness. We know the nature of God the Father because of His Son.

I was getting a haircut a few years ago, when I had an experience that I have never forgotten. As I was sitting in the waiting room prior to my appointment, I noticed on a table a number of periodicals provided for the clients. But what caught my eye was the Life magazine, which showed a picture of Christ with the caption “Who was he?” That topic spurred my interest, so I began to read the article. The author had asked representatives from many different religions around the world to provide their opinions of Jesus Christ. They were all good. As I remember, the point of view gleaned from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came from a BYU professor, I believe.              

It was only a few years later that the Church released The Living Christ, so no one would question our true understanding and perspective of the Savior Jesus Christ.                      

Let's just say that I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. Some might ask "Why?"

Without sugar-coating it, the teachings and plan provided to us include the full range of blessings available in one's life. Like all the keys on a piano, every chord, stanza, and concert or performance lies within the scope of our lives. Though the extent of my possibilities may not be initially realized in me alone or in my life at this very moment, I can see my ultimate potential in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know if I follow him, it is only a matter of time until the full range of joy he has promised is a part of my life. If your life's melody is not yet the piece you had hoped for and the scope of blessings has not been realized, chin up, it is coming. The symphony of eternal happiness has been reserved for the hereafter.

Maybe that is one of the reasons we like listening to piano recitals so much, because we enjoy experiencing the accomplishments of others, and in the back of our mind we acknowledge that over time and with God’s help, we too can attain that level of competence. But for the time being, we can just enjoy the skills and talents of others knowing we have an eternity to develop ourselves. And that goes for being a better son or daughter, a better father or mother, and a better husband or wife as well. In fact, we have the full range of keys available to us to achieve our fondest dreams and realize the piece we are destined to become. And to the piano are added strings and woodwinds and still that is only the beginning until the melody of our lives is a symphony, because we have an eternity to rehearse. The sky is the limit actually sounds too reticent. For with divine help, our real potential has no limits. 

That is the Jesus Christ we believe in. Hallelujah!       

                                                      

My Favorite Music Video

Perhaps my favorite music video ever isn’t what you would expect. Yes, I know. How can one choose just one video as the favorite from the millions available?

When I was in high school, I was interested in business and technical subjects. But that was back in the 20th century. The most-advanced technology for us then was electronic typewriters, which were amazing, at least at the time. But we only had a few electric typewriters at our school. Most were manual, so a select number of students were daily granted the amazing machines.

My favorite typewriter consisted of a circular type head. As one pressed the keys, the ball would spin rapidly and tap the ribbon at the appropriate spot on the sphere, which in turn pressed the ribbon against the paper to print the desired text. This was the epitome of technology at the time and much more sophisticated than the simple type bars that would strike the paper when the respective key was pressed. (see IBM Selectric typewriter and Hansen Writing Ball)

When I began college in 1984, I took an information management class that introduced me to computers. Again, these were cutting edge at the time using 5.25-inch floppies and later 3.5-inch disks, instead of the old cassette tape formats my brother used with his Radio Shack computer. We all tolerated monochrome monitors back then (amber or green), because we didn’t know any better.

Needless-to-say, typewriters are relics and early computers antiques now. Though computer technology increased in speed and capacity greatly, the new generation has migrated to laptops and mobile devices such as smart phones, which give them access, efficiency, mobility, and…wait for it…music.

Audio media seems to drive a lot of what we do. Radios, CDs, iPod, iPhones, and Androids all have at least one thing in common, and that is music. There is a fun quote I really like. It goes something like this:

One of the tragedies of real life is that there is no background music.

Unfortunately, I do not know who to attribute this phrase to. It has been repeated so frequently that the original source has been obscured. But the person who coined the expression definitely did so before YouTube, Vemo, ListenonRepeat, Reverbnation et al. The digital technologies airways are filled with music everywhere you turn, so background music isn’t absent, in many cases, it’s ubiquitous. So with so many catchy tunes available everywhere, anytime, how can one really determine a favorite?

I like the One Voice Children’s Choir rendition of Glorious perhaps even better than David Archuleta’s original performance for a number of reasons.

The performers have surprising talent. I hear their voices and see the performer, and I often think “How does that voice come from that person?” I love to see the talents that were previously hidden from me. This performance is not what I expect from certain people in the choir. This group is made up of many beautiful voices. Some are highlighted. All play a part.

Contributions of each vocalist add to the excellent delivery. The beautiful voices revealed in this rendition are a pleasure to hear and experience. Their delivery is refreshing. Each one is unique and suggest qualities an characteristics that were not initially obvious.

The personalities and passion of the choir members—whether delivering a solo performance or contributing to the background music—is significant and an important part of the whole. Each choir member adds unique qualities to the excellence of the performance. Even the small children in the front row are learning from their colleagues. Teachers and tutors mentor them along. Their part may be small, but they are involved and play an important role.

The rendition is moving, powerful, and brilliant. The song is touching; the music, inspiring; the message, uplifting.

I never get tired of this song and rendition. Did you catch the message? The lyrics articulate well the meaning, which is captured in the last stanza of the song “And there are melodies in each one of us. Oh, it’s glorious.”

That’s not just the message of this song. That is ultimately message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And when we do family history work, we apply these same characteristics to our work. The symphony of life and love is revealed before us, one name at-a-time.

Each one of us plays an important part in completing a portion of the overall picture, even though we may feel deficient. Our families and communities would not be the same without all the characters in the cast. We are all still learning the music and technologies constantly change. When I was young, I could keep up with them. Now they whiz by before I realize what is happening. 

But that is OK. I often think of the scripture counsel “It is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength.” Whatever we can do is a start. Our efficiency will develop as we progress.

 27 And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.

1. Contributions – All of the contributors make a difference. Perspective is refreshing. The wealth of information and knowledge is available to and benefits us all.
2. Personalities and passion – We are surrounded by interesting and worthwhile people. The gospel of Jesus Christ makes us and our families the best we can be. Our potential is magnified and realized beyond our fondest dreams through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We see evidence of that in our lives and have hope in the promises of eternity.
3. Mentors – Jesus said except ye become as small children in the front row are learning from their colleagues—teachers and tutors help them along.
4. Moving, powerful, and brilliant – The song is touching. The music, inspiring. The message, uplifting.
5. Meaning – Did you catch the message? The lyrics articulate well the meaning, which is captured in the last phrase of the song “In each one of us, oh, it’s glorious.”

To read more of Walter’s articles, click the picture.

Family history is like a symphony. Each one contributes by playing his part, which when combined together with others produces a beautiful composition and tells a story—the story of your roots—and why you are who you are today.

I admire those with beautiful voices and melody with the ability to sing the descant with power, passion, and perfection. Likewise, sometimes witnessing their delivery and participating in the joy that comes from their message is… (participation in family history saves lives)

The Message of the Restoration

Invitation to Know the Gospel of Jesus Christ

The Meaning of Maturity

“Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3

Live like you believe

Often what we need most is right in our path, but for various reasons we don’t see it or recognize the importance of the obvious. There is a metaphor for this concept that goes something like this:

Can’t see the forest for the trees

That phrase was confusing to me when I was a child. There were lots of perplexing concepts when I was young, but as I became an adult, many of these ideas no longer baffled me … like perpetual happiness. Nobody can be happy all the time, can they? I don’t know, but I know Someone who does. And I don’t need to understand all things right now. For now, my faith in Him is enough.

Early in the Book of Mormon, an angel asks Nephi a tough question: “Knowest thou the condescension of God?” Nephi’s answer is a perfect statement for us to remember in times of trial. “I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things” (1 Nephi 11:16–17).

Maybe I didn’t see it because it was always there. We have a tendency to take things for granted that are ever-present in our lives, even when these things are of premier importance.

Family history, serving those all around us, living like we believe—when we do these things, the promised blessings are ours. It is not just a good idea or positive perspective. It is a fact. But how do we respond when times are tough and the chips are down?

Stand down is a military term from Vietnam where GIs back off the field of battle and others take watch, so troops can get showers, put on uniforms, or sleep knowing that the perimeter is safe.

Today, I barely remember the horror and sacrifice experienced by many young people of that day. My brother was 18. I was just a child at the time. Thousands died in the conflict. Thousands more lives are impacted nowadays as a result. So I connect with the Stand Down organization providing relief for veterans in an effort to give back to those that sacrificed so much then and still do now.

But the concept of service is everywhere, sometimes in the most unexpected places. I have a new favorite baseball team ... the San Diego Padres. Why? There are many possible reasons, but for me it’s because they are involved in serving others. It takes character and bravery to stand up and be counted. That’s why I admire them.

Without fanfare or attention and sometimes without even acknowledgement, hundreds serve anonymously in many different capacities. But the similarity in them all is that the participants love it.

“Not very many people get to witness miracles all the time, and I do—all the time.”

“I know what it feels like. We are all children of God.”

”Nothing like I thought it would be.”

I don’t know that those you serve will remember or fully appreciate your time, effort, or sacrifice—how could they—but I know that you will never forget it. The experience becomes a great blessing in your life. That’s what He promised us: hope, happiness, peace, and forgiveness.

In the parable of the ten virgins in the New Testament, Jesus Christ taught that five of the ten virgins were unprepared without oil at the coming of the Bridegroom. This is of such significance that the parable mentions that these had to leave to replenish the oil in their lamps. While the lacking virgins were gone to obtain oil for their lamps, the wedding started and the door was shut without them. As sad and upsetting as this may be, there was no accommodation made for them. Without oil, these virgins were unable to enter the wedding feast, which signifies the import of being ready with oil in your lamp now. The oil could signify numerous things. What then is this "oil" in our lives today and why is it so important? I propose it could be unselfish service in others' behalf. We can't borrow another's experience providing service, but participating brings us happiness now and hope in the future. That conviction explains to me the oil in the virgins’ lamps.

Service blesses all those about us and illuminates our own lives, as well.

Many youth today participate in service organizations. Their projects span every quarter of the world. Because of our abundance, many have an opportunity to serve in numerous capacities. These organizations all do good, and I see and feel their joy. It is apparent in their words, their videos, and their eyes which shine. Their examples inspire and lift us all like a rising tide lifts every ship in the harbor. Though not touted by the brethren, the Church plays a significant role in providing relief during these times. There are plenty of examples all over the news and the Internet. But for purposes of this article, I have one of my own to share. It occurred many years ago. I was a relatively young father with several children at the time. It was Sunday and stake conference this particular week. The previous night’s snow had blocked us into our circle, but somehow we made it to the stake center prior to the meeting. We entered the chapel for the service to begin, and the stake president stood up to address the congregation. He thanked us for coming to the church meeting, and then he acknowledged the many that could not make it to the services due to the substantial snowfall. He encouraged us to follow the example of Jesus Christ and asked us to return to our neighborhoods, so we could help and shovel the snow from our neighbor’s walks and attend to their needs. Then he dismissed the meeting perhaps ten minutes after it started. We went back to our home and changed our clothes, then as a family we joined dozens of others and helped dig people out of the snow and provide access to their garages and homes. I am sure that none of my neighbors remember that we were there, but I will never forget it.

That is just a small example, but through my life I have witnessed thousands of them.

Perpetual happiness starts right now by following the words of Jesus Christ and doing the things He has asked us to do. Our actions are confirmed with that warm feeling. That I know. Excuses are not the answer; obedience is. And with that comes understanding and peace now and perpetual happiness in the world to come.

“Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do.” 3 Nephi 18:24

​We bear witness of Jesus Christ as we follow his example and obey him.

Bright as your faith

We have all had one of those experiences when looking at an optical illusion, and we don’t see what others recognize. They may try and help us—stand to the side, stare at it, focus on nothing—but we can’t seem to see what others clearly recognize.

There are literally hundreds of examples on the Web, perhaps thousands.

“Look at an optical illusion and you may think you're seeing things -- such as a curved line that's actually straight, or a moving object that's standing still. You wonder if your eyes are playing tricks on you,” is how one author describes the effect.

Conversations at these times can be very interesting. While two people are looking at the mirage, the dialogue might go something like this:

“So you can see it right? It is right there,” she says pointing to the image.

“I see dots. What are you talking about?” he responds.

“OK. Stand back and try again,” she says encouragingly. “Her chin is right here, and these are her eyebrows.”

“I don’t know what you are talk…OHHHH…I see it now.”

If you can’t see the image others are talking about, don’t feel bad. It happens to all of us. None of us see everything clearly all the time. Most everyone is familiar with the image of the old woman or wait… maybe it is a young woman. At one minute you see the one, then perhaps in a flash you see the other, and the first image is nowhere to be found. Some people see the anticipated reflection in the image and others do not. There are volumes written about why this occurs in an attempt to explain the cause-and-effect relationship.

But that is not the point of this article to explain why we see things differently. Yet the fact that we do perceive stimuli in a different way has made images like this one very popular. Almost everybody has seen this depiction and tried his hand at deciphering it. The point I am making is just that we do see things differently and what is obvious to one person is not necessarily apparent to someone else, and that’s OK.

Something that is very clear to one person, another can’t seem to picture or understand. So if that is true for optical illusions, is it possible that this principle applies to other situations as well? As you consider this possibility, I have a true story to share with you.

We have heard recently of more school shootings, tragedy, pain, and hardship. Difficulties in life just seem to get more challenging, and we look for answers to explain these baffling situations. But with each new obstacle that we face, the overarching answers don’t change. In the gospel of Jesus Christ, the answers never change, because they are right and true from the beginning, and they always will be. When we understand the plan that God has prepared for us, the obstacles in life are still difficult, but they have meaning and purpose.

So does that mean we just breeze through life without challenges and are happy all the time? I would like to think that my faith would allow me to do that, but the truth is that life is still difficult and sometimes painful. So what do we do in those cases?

Well, for me, I often rely on others’ testimonies, others’ good attitudes, and even others’ faith, when I don’t muster the confidence I need on my own. Is that wrong? Is that an excuse? No. It is none of those things. What it is, actually, is a strategy. Let me explain…

When I listen to beautiful music or hear an accomplished singer, my tendency is not to wish that was me performing or attempt to imitate the presentation. Gratefully I can just listen to the chords and revel in their beauty because the Lord has given us the opportunity to rapture in the talents of others. I imagine that is at times true for all of us. But in a very real way, that principle also applies to the faith and courage of others. When I need to rely on others’ convictions and testimonies, the antidote to anxiety and the fix to fear is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and understanding the Great Plan of Happiness.

So when you are having a difficult day or month or year, remember the resources of faith you have been given and take advantage of leaning on the faith of others while you get your footing. I did that regularly with my father. I still do. And at one time or another, I have admired many of you and received strength from following your examples. And I regularly lean on the words of the Brethren and the thousands of resources now available online and otherwise from the Church leadership.

“Every teacher in this audience remembers the legendary story of Brother Karl G. Maeser taking a group of missionaries across the Alps by following a homely set of sticks positioned at crucial points on the path, marking the safe way of passage. The sticks weren’t much to look at—all of them irregularly shaped, some weathered and worn, none of them anything to write home about—but their placement, the course they marked, and the silent message their very presence communicated was the difference between life and death. Brother Maeser’s lesson that day was that these sticks were like the presiding Brethren of the Church—some tall, some short, a pretty homely bunch in a beauty contest—but following their path was to follow the path of safety. My point with you tonight is that this is what true doctrine (which is what the Brethren teach) does for us all day, every day. Someone has to plant those doctrinal guide posts. Someone has to say, “Here is the truth, and here is safety.” Someone has to guide the way of those who are traveling narrow, often dangerous paths, perhaps for the first time, as many of our high school- and college-age students will be doing. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you are very prominent among the ‘someones’ God has asked to mark the path of salvation.”

These words are those of Jeffrey R Holland in a masterly discourse entitled “Be Not Afraid, Only Believe.” It is upon the rock of our Redeemer that we must build.                             Helaman 5:12

(start at 8 min and 16 seconds if you prefer)

So if you are struggling with something that is not yet clear to you, rely on the testimonies of others until you have a full understanding of your own. So if that is true for optical illusions, is it possible that this principle applies to other situations in life as well? Absolutely.

“Though the storm clouds may gather, though the rains may pour down upon us, our knowledge of the gospel and our love of our Heavenly Father and of our Savior will comfort and sustain us and bring joy to our hearts as we walk uprightly and keep the commandments. There will be nothing in this world that can defeat us…fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith.”

And that is how I face every day, especially when the way is not clear.

Black dots

Young or old?

Things you cannot unsee

Many more examples

King of Kings

A visit to Paris was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I wish I could share with you the ecstasy of being in the City of Love and enjoying crepes and gelato and beautiful architecture and art daily. The neighborhoods in Paris are themselves artistic. The food, impeccable. The people and resilient city are a joy to behold. And to do all this with my wife and daughter was a priceless experience.

"Paris has many nicknames, but its most famous is ‘La Ville-Lumière’ (literally, ‘The City of Light’), a name it owes both to its fame as a center of education and ideas as well as its early adoption of street lighting" reads the travel brochure description.

However, words don’t do justice to the city of Paris. I have heard beautiful descriptions of the cathedrals, the museums, the quaint and attractive city streets and magnificent architecture, much of it bordering the Seine River. But the real thing surpassed my fondest expectations.

One of our excursions during our ten-day stay in the Paris was a visit to Versailles. The train ride was lovely yet uneventful, and the station is a short 5-minute walk to the chateau itself. I am so glad now that we decided to take this tour.

The Palace of Versailles is a royal château in the quaint little city and a short distance from Paris. Louis XIII came to Versailles for his first hunting trip. The palace was once the hunting lodge for the king but is now open as a museum and a very popular tourist attraction. Every luxury imaginable was used in abundance. No expense was spared both inside and out. They say that orange trees outline a myriad formal gardens at Versailles, once the epicenter of French royal power. The Versailles gardens alone took 40 years to complete. These expressions showed a deep respect for the king.

We get the chance to adore and honor our King much more frequently right here in our own communities. We need not travel the world to express this sentiment. More on that in a moment.

Yet, while we were there in Paris, the capital of France, we enjoyed visiting a major European city and a global center for art, fashion, gastronomy and culture. Its 19th-century cityscape is crisscrossed by wide boulevards and the River Seine. Beyond such landmarks as the 12th-century, Gothic Notre-Dame cathedral, the Louvre, and of course the Eiffel Tower, the city is known for its cafe culture and designer boutiques along the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, one of the most fashionable streets in the world thanks to the presence of virtually every major global fashion house and an iconic place for luxury shopping. Our hotel was not far from the Arc de Triomphe, which is one of the most famous monuments in Paris, standing at the western end of the Champs-Élysées. We stayed near this monument and explored much of the cityscape from this central feature, which honors those men and women who fought for France.

One can stand atop the Arc de Triomphe and both bask in the beauty of this memorial to veterans and revel in those who have been so instrumental in forming that beloved country. Words fall far short of describing the magnitude of this experience. I have taken photos, written anecdotes, and logged an itinerary during this adventure, but it all is just reminder to me of the rapture and splendor we felt among these good people, their cherished monuments and tranquil, beautiful city. This experience has become a unforgettable and cherished event which has been logged for me among my most treasured memories. Too lavish of praise? I think not.

The significance of this to me is to realize that some of life’s most remarkable experiences occur during a chance-of-a-lifetime opportunity. Other opportunities-of-a- lifetime, however, can be found in the realm of everyday life experiences. It is the latter of these choices that I would like to discuss today.

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.  Alma 7:11

One example that stands out to me is the preparation and expense that we may go to have a wonderful experience. Months of planning, hosts of participants, recommendations, and seeking the best advice are all part of the preparations. With the expense, time off work, and scheduling around other events, the sacrifice may be very significant. And I would be the first to agree that family experiences of this caliber are worth it, but I would also point out that frequently the most meaningful experiences in life are all around us every day just waiting to be discovered and appreciated. Realizing and acknowledging that truth is the beginning of the wealth of joy ready and waiting to be found. When my father would hear Josh Groban’s You Raise Me Up tears would well up in his eyea and stream down his cheeks. As he listened to that song, I knew he was considering those beautiful words in the context of his source of strength, the Savior Jesus Christ. Why is that significant? Because when we view the world through the lense of appreciation and gratitude for the Savior of mankind, everything takes on new meaning.

As I share these words with you, there are hundreds of homes in California that have been destroyed by fire. The neighborhood where my wife grew up today is unrecognizable. Thousands have had their homes, businesses, and livelihoods obliterated because of this tragic fire that took everything in its wake. Rolling hills with beautiful homes and well-manicured landscapes and yards are gone. Where is the hope? How can these people and communities recover?

Instead of happy lyrics and melody of song; rather than fun, games, and the constant laughing of children; in place of skipping from school or returning from work to family and a warm, comfortable home, there is hopelessness, sadness, loss, and misery. These feelings are shared by both the afflicted and those that witnessed these tragic circumstances from San Diego to Santa Barbara, and it’s not over yet. Devastation is everywhere. I don’t claim to understand or grasp the tremendous loss and heartbreak this has caused. These feelings are beyond my personal experience or capacity to fully comprehend. But I know Someone who can and does acknowledge the recent sorrow, loss, anguish and heartbreak. And for me, that hope is what I latch on to at times like these.

He not only understands, but he weeps with us. That is the kind of being that he is. He loves each one of us and understands our heartbreak. More than that, he experienced our sorrows, loss, and afflictions of all kinds, so that he can raise us up and give us an eternal gift beyond our fondest imaginations. The scripture story of Martha comforts me. Her brother died and the Lord was not there to prevent this tragedy. Nevertheless, he comforted and wept with the distraught, then he raised Lazarus from the dead. What was lost had been found. Pain and sorrow was replaced with joy and gladness.

Full talk

“Among the realities we face as children of God living in a fallen world is that some days are difficult, days when our faith and our fortitude are tested. These challenges may come from a lack in us, a lack in others, or just a lack in life, but whatever the reason, we find these excuses can rob us of the songs we so much want to sing.“

And the hope and joy he gave to Mary and Martha and all those that mourned the loss of their friend and brother is the same hope and joy he offers to us in the time of our trials. He can and will remove our pains and suffering if we let him. He knows them all because he had borne them for us.

Amid the many great gifts you will receive or give this Christmas, the gift from the Father of his Son is by far the supreme favor that you or I can or will ever receive. For God so loved the world that he gave his Only Begotten Son. It is with his stripes that we are healed. When we feel we have nothing left to hold on to, we have Him. And for the time being—every day through every trial—we can adore and honor Him.

He is the King of kings. And because he lives, we too can live in peace and happiness despite the uncertainties of our day.

Glory to God for the gift of his Son.

The greatest gift is the Lamb of God who taketh away all our sins and our sorrows.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.¹

It is the grand truth that in all that Jesus came to say and do, including and especially in His atoning suffering and sacrifice, He was showing us who and what God our Eternal Father is like, how completely devoted He is to His children in every age and nation. In word and in deed Jesus was trying to reveal and make personal to us the true nature of His Father, our Father in Heaven.                             Jeffrey R. Holland

“I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me. I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” ²

^{Praises be to the Lord Jesus Christ this Christmas}

#LightTheWorld

Once again, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ by serving others this Christmas season. As we follow His example, we help #LightTheWorld.
25 Ways in 25 Days to brighten the world around us.