Dandelions are a much maligned flower. The problem with dandelions is that the world prefers homogeneity. People don’t appreciate anyone who tries to be different, and they don’t appreciate their lawns being anything but grass.

For 16 years the same pair of Canada geese has been coming and nesting at our pond. I can’t tell one goose from another, but they can. Canada geese mate for life.

The Bible makes some pretty outlandish statements. Genesis 22:17 is an example. Abraham is promised in that verse that his posterity will be as numerous as the sands upon the seashore.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” (Matt. 13:45, 46).

A little girl once planted a single tomato seed. The seed grew into a healthy plant that with care and watering eventually bore many beautiful fruits.

A mud puddle was once near neighbor to a geyser. The activity of the geyser was an irritant to the puddle, because he was always being splashed.

On the way to the temple yesterday we passed the houses of all sorts of people. We passed the houses of enthusiastic members of the Church. We passed the houses of active, but nominal, members of the Church.

I prayed this morning that the Lord, through His Spirit, would teach me. Here is what I learned. I had three chapters of Moroni left to read before finishing the Book of Mormon for the 46th time. I began reading Moroni chapter 8.

There was once a farmer who was proud of, and gratified to be, a worker in the temple of the Lord. He felt special. He was in a special place, and doing special things. He was dressed all in white, a symbol of his worthiness.

“For the Lord giveth light unto the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding.” (2 Ne. 31:3).
The Lord not only speaks unto men according to their language,

We’re all familiar with the story of Naaman, the leprous captain of the host of the king of Syria. He was sent to Israel to the prophet Elisha where he was healed of his leprosy.

Marjorie and I had had nearly a 5-year courtship—much of it by letter. I was serving in the U.S. Navy, and was based in Japan. I was to be transferred to Morocco, North Africa for the last 18 months of my service.

I am a beloved son of God.
I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.
The Father knows me by name, and desires to bless me.

There was once a long trailer with no load, and seven small wheels on each side. Being small, the wheels had to turn very fast indeed to keep up with the big truck that was pulling it.

Lorenzo Snow’s conversion came two or three weeks after his baptism. He relates his experience with the Holy Ghost in Teachings of Presidents of the Church, Lorenzo Snow, pages 59-62.

There is a super species living among us whose admirable capacities and character exceed that of humans in many aspects. This species lives everywhere throughout the Americas except in the Amazonian rain forest

Two nights ago I had a brief flicker of a dream that gave me insight and understanding about the spiritual atmosphere to be found in the temple. I love being there and serving there.

There was once a woman with a beautiful, down-filled, red coat. The coat was perfect in every way except that the zipper didn’t work. The weather was very cold.

There was once a man and his wife with a house full of boys. The man and his boys worked hard and played hard, and were very hard on their clothes. They were good men.

There was once a man and his wife with a house full of boys. The man and his boys worked hard and played hard, and were very hard on their clothes.

“Write the things which ye have seen and heard,” Jesus told His Nephite disciples, “and behold, all things are written by the Father.” (3 Ne. 27:23, 26).
I once quoted this to Marjorie, and marveled at the sheer amount that He would have to write.

“Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah, I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels…” (D&C 13).
Sel Mastrude says that he and his wife, Glenda, were very protective of their firstborn baby, Curt.

Because of the beautiful imagery in three verses of Isaiah, I think they should be read together:

Because of the beautiful imagery in three verses of Isaiah, I think they should be read together:

I have come to Bremerton, Washington to ordain my son a high priest. He has received a calling which necessitates it. Getting here has involved a long road trip over dangerous, wintertime highways, but this is where I want to be.

A great bull moose was once walking through the forest when he came upon a long corridor that had recently been cleared of trees. Nothing was in the cleared corridor except 50-foot-tall poles spaced several hundred feet apart.

Once upon a summer, a troop of boy scouts went on a multi-day campout. One boy thought it would be very funny, and a great trick, to put a big rock in the packs of each of his companions. He stealthily carried out his plan.

“When my father was a young lad on the farm out west of Eugene he followed his father and four older brothers around the wheat field. Each carried a short steel sickle, and as the wheat fell from the blade, it fell onto the reaper’s left arm;

One of the greatest understatements of all time—perhaps the ultimate understatement—was uttered by Abraham Lincoln. In his famous Gettysburg Address he said, “The world will little note nor long remember, what we say here…”

As I look at the picture of the Condon castle (see the article, “A Quiet Coup” in this book) I marvel at the number of rocks and the work that went into building it.

The young deer bounded through the orchard toward the house where I was watching through the window. All four hooves hit the ground simultaneously and launched her three feet into the air for the next bound.

The young deer bounded through the orchard toward the house where I was watching through the window. All four hooves hit the ground simultaneously and launched her three feet into the air for the next bound.

For many years I’ve observed the families of couples who are devoted to the Church, but whose children drift into inactivity as they become youth and leave home. I’ve asked myself why.

For many years I’ve observed the families of couples who are devoted to the Church, but whose children drift into inactivity as they become youth and leave home. I’ve asked myself why.

If I called you “peculiar,” chances are that you would be offended. That is because in our current usage of the word “peculiar,” we mean something that is “odd” or “queer.” We don’t normally like to be perceived as being odd or queer.

If I called you “peculiar,” chances are that you would be offended. That is because in our current usage of the word “peculiar,” we mean something that is “odd” or “queer.” We don’t normally like to be perceived as being odd or queer.

A favorite activity of my grandchildren is to get the box of legos, or a box of toys or Lincoln logs, and dump it out on the floor. After stirring the spill around a bit, they’re off to another activity.