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Thoughts about Janet
I like the idea of this service. It’s simple, and done by the family. I’d like to say something, too, but I don’t think I’d be up to it.
Read MoreFuneral Sermon for Janet B. Kerns
We’re here today to pay tribute to a special lady. We thought it would be fitting and appropriate if the family could handle the service.
Read MoreObituary of Janet B. Kerns
Janet Bernice Kerns, age 71, passed away November 24, 1982 at Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande, Oregon after a short illness.
Read MoreObituary of Tom Kerns
Tom Kerns, 86, a longtime Haines resident, died April 22, 1997, at Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande.
Read MoreMother—Poem and Comments at Funeral at Funeral of Janet B. Kerns
We’re sure going to miss Mom, but I really feel at peace now. She always told me she wanted to die with her shoes on, and while she was in the hospital she developed foot dropsy—and they told me, “Go up and get her a pair of high-topped sneakers, and that would help.” So last week I had to go get her a pair of high-topped sneakers, and she died with her shoes on.
Read MoreOur Father’s Legacy—Poem
Dad left us all a legacy, but it has no golden glitter.
It’s not the inheritance he had dreamed, some day to be delivered.
Some might say it has no worth.
At least those whose sights are set on earth.
Eulogy at Funeral of Janet Kerns
Mother knew how to say hello: “Hello. Come on in. Sit down. Have you eaten? We’re glad to see you.” Her family and friends always enjoyed her company.
Read MoreEulogy at Funeral of Tom Kerns
We’ve come today to celebrate the life of Tom Kerns whom we all love. At the same time we celebrate his life, we also mourn his passing, though we realize he was ready to go. Five of us are his children, and—if I counted right—20 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren. The overwhelming majority of us lives and works within reasonable walking distance of this spot where we now stand. And it’s been a comfort to those few of us who are renegades—we moved away—that Dad had so many kids and grandkids for company throughout the years.
Read MoreMemories of Tom and Janet Kerns
Jean: By just a few minutes, Tom Lorance Kerns was the youngest of the seven children of James Wesley Kerns and Lora Cooley Kerns. His next older sibling was his twin, Margaret Olive (Peggy). The children were from eldest to youngest John, Josephine (Jo), Katherine (Kate), Albert (Bert), Jack, Peggy and Tom. Peggy and Tom were 14 years younger than John.
Read MoreChildren of Tom and Janet Kerns-2007
Children of Tom and Janet Kerns, 2007
Read MoreJanet Bernice McCornack as a child
Janet Bernice McCornack as a child
Read MoreJanet Bernice McCornack
Janet Bernice McCornack
Read MoreTom Kerns as a baby
Tom Kerns as a baby
Read MoreTom Lorance Kerns
Tom Lorance Kerns
Read MorePedigree Chart for children of Tom and Janet
Pedigree Chart for children of Tom and Janet
Read MoreTable of Contents
“A Noble Heritage” Table of Contents
Read MoreIntroduction
Introduction to “A Noble Heritage”
Read MoreA Noble Heritage
Cover of “Poems”
Read MoreThe Restoration
My noble, non-member grandfather asked an astute question that he had no way of answering, but that you and I can. He asked the question because of some marvelous observations that he’d made. He wrote the following sometime in the decade before his death in 1962:
Read MoreDavid and Goliath
The Philistines had a super weapon in their arsenal which they believed made them invincible. They had Goliath. The Israelites were all pessimists. When they saw Goliath they thought, “Wow, with a guy that big, we’ll never be able to beat the Philistines.” David, on the other hand was an optimist. When he saw Goliath he thought, “Wow, with a target that big, I can’t miss!”
Read MoreLaw of the Boomerang
In my scriptures, beside the 15th verse of Alma chapter 41 I have written “Law of the Boomerang”. The name of the law is mine, but the principle it illustrates is laced throughout the scriptures.
Read MoreJesus and the Resurrection
Over twenty years ago one of my favorite general authorities visited our stake. Vaughn J. Featherstone asked that someone be assigned to speak in stake conference on the Atonement. The assignment fell to me. I decided that the best preparation I could make would be to reread all four accounts of the Atonement in the Gospels in the New Testament. I got my scriptures, hiked over to our North 40, sat down under the big pine tree there in the draw, and read what Matthew, Mark, Luke and John each had to say about the last week of the Savior’s mortal life. It was a very enlightening and moving experience.
Read MoreHidden Treasures of Knowledge
How would you like to go on a treasure hunt?
Yes? Well, then here’s your own personal treasure map. (Handed all three children a set of scriptures open to D&C 89:18-19). Now you follow the underlined verses while I quote them.
One Thing About Satan
I have to say one thing about Satan. He’s not afraid of hard work, long hours, and impossible odds. He never gets discouraged. He knows he can’t ultimately win, but rejoices in accomplishing little goals along the way. How happy it makes him when I bend to a temptation.
Read MoreWalking in His Shoes
There is an old Indian saying which says something to the effect of, “Don’t judge another until you have walked in his moccasins.”
Read MoreBuilding Your Nest on a Straight Limb
Elder Thomas S. Monson tells the story of a very young boy who was abducted from his home and parents and taken to a village situated far away. He grew to young manhood not knowing who his parents were nor from whence he came. A yearning came into his heart to find and return to his home.
Read MoreThe Sunshine is Back
On Sunday, April 7, 2013 I sat by a window in a straight-backed chair for most of six hours. With both ears I listened to the proceedings of general conference; while with one eye I watched conference on the computer monitor, and with the other eye I watched our mountains. The mountains and the weather were doing spectacular things.
Read MoreUnto What Were Ye Ordained?
Just before arising this morning I had a strange dream. I got up thinking about it, and promptly forgot it. Two hours later I was sitting on the couch, having prayed and studied, and wondered what I could write about. I’d just read something about the Priesthood, but no topic came to mind. I closed my eyes to doze, and suddenly there was my dream again.
Read MoreSpeaking Tips
Last evening I attended a meeting on how not to give a talk. That wasn’t the real intent of the meeting, but it was the main message I came away with. The reason was the distractions that several of the speakers incorporated into their talks.
Read MorePrinciples of Horticulture
I studied horticulture when I went to college, so I become interested when I read verses like this in the scriptures: “Wherefore lay to with your might and call faithful laborers into my vineyard, that it may be pruned for the last time.” (D&C 39:17). Over 60,000 missionaries are out pruning right now, and Church authorities think that number is on its way to 80,000.
Read MoreSeeing Through a Glass Darkly
I’m impressed with how little we know. As Paul said, “We see through a glass darkly.” We’ve received some good hints about what life after mortality is like, and what life before mortality was like; but every time I read the scriptures I’m impressed with how little we really know. We have the fullness of the gospel, meaning that we’re in possession of all the knowledge necessary to get us back into the presence of God; but how much do we really even know about God? We don’t even know ourselves.
Read MoreParable of the Dead Arm
There was once a man who was asked to speak to the men of his stake. His assignment was to wake the priesthood brethren up to the performance of their duty. How to do it was the question that weighed on his mind day after day.
Read MoreAfflictions or Blessings?
Randy Newman’s mother had a terrible affliction. Day after day her neck hurt so badly that she could barely function. Turning her head was a painful ordeal that she avoided. One morning she awoke and realized that she would be unable to go to her job at the bank. She phoned her supervisor, and said that she wouldn’t be in. That day the bank was robbed. The robbers herded everyone into the vault and shot them.
Read MoreRevelation and the Temple
When you go to the temple with an open heart, wanting to learn, and seeking whatever knowledge the Lord desires to give you, you can’t help but receive revelation. The revelations you receive come through the Holy Ghost as little bursts of pure knowledge. They don’t come as grandiose, panoramic views such as those received by Enoch, the brother of Jared, Nephi, or Moses. Those revelations to those chosen prophets had special purposes. For the rest of us, instruction normally comes “here a little, and there a little.”
Read MoreElijah and the Sealing Power
“Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
Read MoreStiffnecked, Gainsaying, and Handicapped
Yesterday at the temple I noticed a man hobbling slowly along with a wheeled walker. Another elderly brother with whom I gently shook hands had huge, painful-looking, arthritic joints in his fingers and knuckles. A sister rode her motorized wheel chair through the foyer. I looked for, but didn’t see, the Down’s syndrome young man who is usually there doing one endowment after another.
Read MoreHere Am I; Send Me
At least once a year, in ward conference, members of the Church have the opportunity to sustain their ward and stake leaders. As we raise our hands to sustain our bishoprics and stake presidencies we are saying, in effect, “I believe these men have been called by the Lord, and that they are the Lord’s authorized representatives. I support them, and I will strive to do the things they ask me to do.”
Read MoreWhat Good Would That Do?
Ralph Swenson was once filling potholes with asphalt when a voice asked him, “Do you have your year’s supply?”
Read MoreWhat Must I Jettison?
I should think it a very valuable exercise if, like our pioneer ancestors, we had to choose from among our many possessions those things that we most treasure, load those few items into a 4-foot by 8-foot wagon box, and leave the rest behind.
Read MoreCondon Castle
In 1066 William the Conqueror assembled an army and crossed the English Channel from Normandy to claim the English throne. William was the English king’s nearest relative and had been promised that he’d be the king’s successor. An invasion was necessary because Harold, the king’s brother-in-law, had seized the throne at the king’s death. When William landed in England, he found that Harold had rushed off up north to suppress an invasion by the Norwegians. When Harold returned, William and his army conquered Harold, and William began his reign as king.
Read MorePositioning
As I read the account of Christ appearing to the Nephites, I found myself thinking how fortunate and coincidental it was that all twelve of the disciples whom Jesus wanted to call were right there in the crowd of 2500 who witnessed Him descending. Why weren’t they scattered throughout the country where Jesus would have had to seek them out?
Read MoreAt the End of the Rope
At the recycling center that I use, I noticed a backpacking magazine sticking up from the box. It was a special issue on survival, and looked interesting, so I took it home to read. Most of the articles in the magazine were written by one guy who has devoted his life to living on the edge. He had become an expert on survival by continually putting himself in harm’s way, and by living to tell about it. It was true that he had learned many useful tricks, and was smart about survival; but I shook my head in disbelief that he had been as dumb as to put himself in so many situations where his very survival had been in doubt.
Read MoreBuffered or Buffeted
I have a fascination with words, and with the ways in which people use them. When I come across a well-turned phrase in a sacrament meeting talk or in my reading, I write it down, turn it over and over in my mind; and put it in my journal to retain it for future use.
Read MoreThe Atonement
Last night I went to bed thinking about the Atonement. I had just prayed for my wife and my daughter, both of whom are to speak on that topic in church tomorrow. Marjorie had only received the assignment that very day, and was feeling resentful toward the procrastinating bishop’s counselor who had given her no more time than that to prepare a meaningful talk on such a profound topic.
Read MorePrayer Balloons
Just before I got up the other morning, I was in a semi-wakeful state when I had a dreamlike vision. It was just a quick glance, but, I think, very accurate, and from the Spirit.
Read MoreBlackbirds
A few years ago as Margie and I were on our way to the Boise Temple we witnessed a beautiful phenomenon just west of Ontario. I had seen it before, but not on that scale. Ahead of us, over the freeway, was a giant cloud of blackbirds flying in perfect unison. The cloud was made up of thousands of individual birds all flying, twisting and turning at precisely the same instant. There was no ripple effect as first one bird and then its neighbor would decide to turn. Instead, every bird from front to back, though perhaps separated by a quarter of a mile, would turn at the exact, same instant.
Read MoreRestrictive Commandments
I heard today that religion is restrictive, and that religion takes away freedoms.
I got up this morning at 4:00. I went out into the living room with my Book of Mormon, sat down on the couch, covered myself with my blanket, and had a prayer before I began reading. I prayed for the Holy Ghost to attend my studying and thoughts; and to give me a subject to think about and to write about, and possibly to teach about in priesthood meeting next week. That setting, that prayer, and that exercise never fail to bring revelation.
Open Your Mouths
Ezra Thayer and Northrup Sweet were told in the 33rd section of Doctrine and Covenants to “open your ears.” (D&C 33:1). Having done so, they were then commanded to “open your mouths.” (Verses 8, 9, and 10).
Read MoreCalamity
Yesterday I finished reading the Book of Mormon. In the past several days, I’ve, therefore, read the accounts of the destructions of two great nations—the Jaredites and the Nephites. There were actually other great destructions which took place earlier, such as in the days of Akish, when all but 30 people and the house of Omer were killed in a great civil war. (Ether 9:12). Before that, in the days of Heth, there was “a great dearth upon the land, and the inhabitants began to be destroyed exceedingly fast because of the dearth, for there was no rain upon the face of the earth.” (Ether 9:30).
Read MoreBabies
To me, one of the best feelings in the world is to get my hands on a baby. When the little person relaxes, trusts you, and puts its head on your shoulder it’s pure bliss. I’m grateful that so many of my children live close by, because at church, or when they come visiting, I can usually find a baby that I can take off its mother’s hands and give her a rest while indulging my own sense of pleasure. In a nutshell, I like babies.
Read More