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SURPRISES
As I reread the Old Testament I find myself intrigued by the stories therein. I am presently intrigued by stories of shocking surprises.
Read MoreBEST PURCHASES
I get up early every morning between 4 and 5 o’clock. I go into the office,
Read MoreDIVINE WINDS
In 1274 Kublai Khan, the Mongol conqueror, wanting to expand his already immense empire, was ready to attack Japan
Read MoreSTUDY OF DEMENTIA IN A FAMILY LINE
Maretta Althea Wight Simmons 3 December 1871-22 January 1948
Read MoreWALKING IN DARKNESS
William James was the most widely-read philosopher of the 1900s. He devoted his life to seeking a philosophical answer to the question:
Read MoreNUTSHELL TRUTH, CONCENTRATED WISDOM, INSIGHTFUL THINKING
A Catholic theologian once said, “You Mormons are all ignoramuses. You don’t even know the strength of your own position.
Read MoreHOW LUCKY (BLESSED) CAN WE BE?
A Catholic theologian once said, “You Mormons are all ignoramuses. You don’t even know the strength of your own position.
Read MoreGOD MOVES IN A MYSTERIOUS WAY
Back in the day when we had priesthood opening exercises, complete with an opening hymn, the ward ended up with no men capable of playing the piano.
Read MoreWHAT HAS JESUS DONE FOR ME? #2
I am absolutely astonished at what the Lord has done for me. He has provided my family with sustenance.
Read MoreMARJORIE’S PROBLEM
Marjorie was born with dark, curly hair. Very curly hair. This is both a blessing and a problem. She gets up in the morning looking like she did when she laid down.
Read MoreROOTS AND BRANCHES
In December of 1966, fifty eight years ago, I was reading the Book of Mormon for the first time. For the first time in my life I was feeling the influence of the Holy Ghost.
Read MoreTEMPLE ATTENDANCE
A footnote to Elder Gerrit W. Gong’s October 2024 conference address states that 60% of church membership lives within 50 miles of a temple.
Read MoreLAW OF THE BOOMERANG
Alma 41:15 says, “For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored.”
Read MoreMOST INTERESTING NOTES – Vol “I” – Encyclopedia
1. The earth has undergone numerous ice ages. A typical ice age lasts 40,000 to 60,000 years. Inter-glacial periods are similar.
Read MoreNO WILTING ALLOWED
Marjorie loves plants. I count 30 that she currently has in the house. That’s the smallest number ever. She has always had plants, and I have never seen one wilt.
Read MoreSUICIDE
Yesterday my daughter received a message on her phone announcing the death of a school counselor.
Read MoreMISSIONARY HELPERS
Elder Jonah Judd recently got transferred from Baker after being here for six months. He and several sets of the previous elders have used me extensively as a fellowshipper and missionary aid
Read MoreCATTLE CALL
When I was a boy we had a neighbor, Bill Chambers, who lived in the house by our mailboxes at the base of the hill. Bill was a bachelor and a dairyman.
Read MoreGLAD WE’RE WHO WE ARE
For a couple of years now I have been the go-to guy when the missionaries need a ward member who can help teach and fellowship their investigators.
Read MoreLIFE IS TENUOUS
Yesterday morning (11 November 2024) I received a call informing me that my friend’s stepson had committed suicide.
Read MoreMY SON
As you read through the seven chapters that are Alma’s last instructions to his three boys (Alma 36-42), one is struck by their very personal tone.
Read MoreAMERICA IN JEOPARDY
Election day 2024. This evening we will learn which immoral person will be leading the nation for the next four years. One has a history of bragging about his sexual exploits,
Read MoreWHAT HAS JESUS DONE FOR ME? #1
In the April 2002 general conference Dallin H. Oaks told of a woman who offhandedly asked, “What has Jesus Christ done for me?”
Read MoreHerding Pigs or Are You Prepared?
I was blindsided in a Book of Mormon Sunday School class by an idea I’d never heard before. The instructor cited two scriptures, and declared that nearly a whole year had elapsed between the time of the great storm and the appearance of the Savior to the Nephites. I had never before heard or entertained such an idea.
Read MoreJesus’ Visit to the Nephites
I was blindsided in a Book of Mormon Sunday School class by an idea I’d never heard before. The instructor cited two scriptures, and declared that nearly a whole year had elapsed between the time of the great storm and the appearance of the Savior to the Nephites. I had never before heard or entertained such an idea.
Read MoreFootball and Life
In the night I received a wonderful lesson on life from the Holy Spirit. I was taken back to one of my most miserable times of youth. It had to do with football.
My father played football in college. Both of my brothers played high school football. Obviously, it was expected that I would play football. I knew that I had to do it, so as a little boy I took the family football out into a field and kicked it around. It didn’t act like a ball ought to act. It was perverse, and there was no controlling it. It couldn’t be thrown straight, and it never went where it should when I kicked it. Worse yet, I had no idea why it needed to be thrown or kicked. I had never been to a football game, and no one had ever told me anything about its purpose or how it should be played.
How Could Anyone Have Been So Wrong
I want to tell you about two geologists, their discoveries, and the persecutions they endured because of what they knew.
Alfred Wegener was a German who observed that the shape of the east coast of South America matched the shape of the west coast of Africa. He wondered if the two continents could have once been connected.
Lost Key, Dead Fish
Josh Hollis and his wife were college students when his brother-in-law asked them to take care of the prize fish and coral that he had in an aquarium while they were gone on a trip. He gave Josh the key to their apartment.
Read MoreFinding Joy, #2
I want to speak to you about finding joy.
The scripture says “Men are that they might have joy.” Mankind’s joy is the whole purpose of the plan of salvation. Bringing His children to where they experience joy is God’s whole thrust. Appropriately the plan of salvation is also known as God’s plan of happiness, and joy is the stratospheric level above happiness.
Finding Joy
Doctrine and Covenants, section 89, promises that those who keep the Word of Wisdom and walk in obedience to the commandments “shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures.” (D&C 89:18-19)
Read MoreDementia
Ivy and I headed for the front gate this morning to watch the rising of the sun. We found Ellen just arriving. She knew that I’d be there, since this is the equinox, and since the sun would be rising in the east perfectly in line with our county road.
Read MoreHidden Treasures
Chance is my grandson. When he was small his dad purchased an old safe at an auction for $10. No one knew how to open it. For years it sat unopened in his shop.
Chance became a teenager. The sealed safe intrigued him. One day as he was studying it he decided that he could open the safe by attacking its hinges. With punches and a grinder he finally succeeded in breaking into the impenetrable safe. What was thought to be an empty safe contained $5,000 in five dollar bills. There was no way of knowing who had placed the money there. It all belonged to Chance, except for ten dollars which his dad demanded as reimbursement for the purchase price of the safe.
The Matter of Lineage
One’s lineage has significance. It is noteworthy that Jesus gave power to the twelve and sent them forth to preach and to heal, but “commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not.
Read MoreArticles About Birds
Random Writings, pg 4, “The Liar” about Stellar’s Jay, quail, and red-tailed hawk
Random Writings, pg. 133, “Quail” about California quail, starlings, and magpies
Random Writings, pg. 135, “In the World but Not of It” about quail.
Random Writings, pg. 212, “When I Was a Kid,” mentions lots of birds
Birds
I have suddenly taken notice that our magpies have disappeared. (15 September 2024). I haven’t seen a magpie for months. Same thing with crows and ravens. Where are they? What’s happened? On the way to church today I watched for birds. There weren’t many. There were hawks and ringed doves and blackbirds, but few others. I did, however, see one magpie in Haines. That’s reassuring, but I suspect that a disease or other problem has taken our magpies away.
Read MoreMultiplicity
I am going to give you a lesson in math. Rather than put you to sleep, I think that it will be eye opening.
I’m going to center my remarks around the word “multiplicity.” Multiplicity means “a great number.” It might also mean “innumerable.” The word is used just once in scripture. In D&C 104:42 the Lord says, “I will multiply blessings upon him … even a multiplicity of blessings.” I’m enchanted with that word and its implications.
The Chosen Ones
In her third grade, Marjorie’s principal, Mr. Schroder, began a square dance program. Marjorie loved elementary school because she got to square dance each day. For three years she got to square dance. She looked forward to school.
Read MoreCanceling the Debt
I think it would be safe to say that we have all had the experience of lying awake wondering how we are going to cover next month’s bills. Few things are more unsettling and worrisome than pondering about our debts.
Read MoreRays of Light
I was intrigued when I heard the talk by Alexander Dushku in the April 2024 general conference. He spoke of the rays of light that most of us receive versus the explosion and pillar of light that came in response to Joseph’s first vocal prayer.
Read MoreAlma
Alma the younger is one of the more interesting personalities in all of scripture.
Alma was born the son of a prophet–the son of a very spiritual, energetic, and dedicated prophet. Yet, somehow in his youth, his father’s teachings, training, and example failed to sink in or to impress him.
The Most Important Words
It occurs to me that some of the most important words all seem to begin with “Re.”
The Redeemer made Redemption from sin possible.
The Restoration taught us how to Repent.
The Plan of Redemption
I noticed something rather astonishing.
In the Church we do a lot of talking about t he plan of salvation. This is because of the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon mentions the plan 30 times, and gives it six different names. It is “the great plan of salvation” (Alma 42:5), “the great and eternal plan of deliverance from death” (2 Nephi 11:5), “the plan of restoration” (Alma 41:2), “the great plan of happiness” (Alma 42:8), “the plan of redemption” (Alma 42:13), and “the great plan of mercy” (Alma 42:31).
Journal Entry, 7 July 2024
Ivy and Joseph and their six children moved in with us this week. They then went to a 4-day, 3-night family reunion at Dayton, Washington. As they left, Nathan and Leslie and three kids came for a 4-day visit.
My main goal these days is to maintain a “simple and consistent environment” for Marjorie. Her mind is deteriorating. This week has been confusing for her. Some of her questions this week are disturbing:
Military Honors or Unlikely Standout
Membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints changed me from a shy, backward farm boy to a standout. As I look back and remember some honors that I received in the military, I see no reason that I would have been chosen for those honors except that I was a practicing member of the Church.
Read MoreThe Discipline of Misfortune
The Bible Dictionary speaks of Joseph of Egypt as being the prime example of “the discipline of misfortune.” That phrase captures my attention.
Misfortunes and difficult things come to all of us. I have long maintained that our greatest afflictions are intended to become our greatest blessings if handled properly. Said just a little differently that principle becomes “our greatest blessings often come from our greatest afflictions.”
Holy Ghost Experience
I went to La Grande today (16 June 2024), it being the 3rd Sunday of the month, expecting to speak in La Grande 3rd and 4th Wards. The stake speaking assignments were given to the high council and other stake leaders back in December and January.
Read MoreLehi and the Brass Plates
Lehi was a descendant of Manasseh (son of Joseph) living in Jerusalem among the Jews. He had lived there “all his days.” (1 Nephi 1:4). Why? His predecessors should have been living in the northern kingdom of Israel, and have been carried away captive to Assyria in 721 B.C,
Lehi was born about 643 B.C., which would be the same year that Judah’s king, Manasseh (not Joseph’s son), died. Manasseh had a 55-year reign and filled Jerusalem with blood. (2 Kings 21:16) The worship of Jehovah had a difficult time during Manasseh’s reign. The worship of Jehovah was prohibited, its priests were put down, and all copies of the scriptures were destroyed.
Survivors
It is fascinating to think that the sole survivors of the Jaredite and Nephite civilizations were both prophets of the Lord. Why was that so?
It was not accidental. It was by design and was orchestrated by the Lord. It was done so that a record could be left as an aid and a guide for future generations.
Moroni
There is a well-known painting of Moroni kneeling and praying with his hands clasped over the gold plates prior to his burying them. It’s a wonderful depiction of his actions before placing the plates in the ground where they would lie undisturbed for the next 1400 years.
Read More24 Gold Plates
The book of Ether in the Book of Mormon comprises 31 pages. It was placed there by Moroni. He stated that it was his abridgment (Moroni 1:1) of the 24 gold plates found by the people of king Limhi. In the second-to-last verse of the abridgment he says, “and the hundredth part I have not written.” (Ether 15:33).
Read More