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Nurturing and Training
Mothers have the responsibility to nurture and train their children. This principle applies to the animal kingdom as well.
My grandson (Karson Lloyd) told me about his friend, whom he described as a spiritual giant. Each morning at 5:00 the man took his scriptures, climbed up the mountain near his home, and sat on a rock where he read and studied.
Our Marriage
Loving and lovable, that’s my wife,
Comforting and comfortable, describes our life;
Worthy and worthwhile, I try to be,
Joyful and happy I hope is her,
And is certainly me.
Borrowing A Jack
Just over a month ago (3 April 2024) we were caught in a sudden deluge of rain as we left the Meridian Idaho Temple. I could just barely see the yellow line to my left enabling me to keep my car in its lane. I didn’t dare stop or move to the side of the road or we’d have been hit by cars following us.
Read MoreIt’s A Privilege
I had a bit of an epiphany yesterday as I prayed while waiting for the sacrament to reach me. I thanked the Lord for the privilege it was to be there to take the sacrament and to be forgiven of my sins. The Holy Ghost then weighed in and pointed out all the other privileges that I enjoy.
Read MoreCount the Coincidences
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we don’t believe in coincidences. Things don’t just happen by chance. They happen by design.
Take yesterday for example (3 May 2024). I dare you to count the coincidences I’m about to relate, and I defy anyone to say that they happened by chance.
Child Heroes
I am impressed with the story about Tilly, a 10-year-old girl on vacation with her parents in Thailand in 2004. Two weeks previously she had learned in her geography class about tsunamis, and the signs that precede them. When she saw the bay in front of her hotel begin to froth as the tide unexpectedly began to go out, she knew what was happening. She knew what was coming. She ran to tell her parents. She was frantic, and plead for them to believe that a tsunami was coming. She and her parents cleared the beach and told everyone to evacuate vertically by going to the upper floors of the hotel. The tsunami killed 200,000 people up and down many coasts of many countries, but none at that beach. Ten-year-old Tilly’s knowledge and timely warning saved a hundred lives.
Read MoreThe Character of God
Last evening I was told that my granddaughter, Maddie, has been asked by a Protestant pastor to preach in his service next Sunday. This came about because she and her missionary companion had done a follow-up contact to a man who had previously requested a Book of Mormon. The man turned out to be a pastor, and invited them to come back for dinner.
Read MoreThank Goodness for the Dogs
Brandon and Sydney Thompson live on the first farm on the right as you leave Dayville, Oregon heading west. They have four children. In August 2022 their two youngest, ages 9 and 11, were playing with chalk on the sidewalk in front of their house.
Read MoreShem, Ham, and Japheth
The eldest son, down through history, was usually preeminent, and got the birthright. But not always.
In the Book of Mormon Ammon was the leader among the four brothers, but I suspect that Aaron was the eldest. He was the one selected by the people from among the sons of Mosiah to be king Mosiah’s successor. That indicates that he was the firstborn.
Patriarch Timeline
PATRIARCH TIMELINE
Read MoreThe Great Ancient Civilizations
The World Book Encyclopedia says that there were four great ancient civilizations. The World Book Encyclopedia is wrong. There were five. The world is still largely unaware of the Jaredites in America. Archaeologists call them the Olmecs. This was the 5th great ancient civilization.
Read MoreBread Baking
I’m worried about our diet. We’re at an age where we need to be doing what we can to stave off death. Margie has baked bread for the entire time that we’ve been together–55 years this coming fall. This isn’t good. We’re not getting the recommended daily dosage of preservatives. At our age we need all the preservatives we can get. Note how home-baked bread quickly molds. Store-bought bread doesn’t. That’s because of preservatives. Marjorie and I are liable to mold.
Read MoreDon’t Go There
At Lime, halfway between Baker and Ontario, there is a giant rock looming over the west side of the freeway. It is split in half by a great crack. When your car gets right under the rock, as you’re speeding by, for half a second you can see a flash of light through the crack. The two halves of the rock are separated by a space that just might be enough for a small person to wriggle through.
Read MoreThe Biggest Miracle of All
I have never wanted to be the center of attention. Indeed, this was my greatest fear. I didn’t want people looking at me, talking about me, or laughing at me.
As a little boy I rode the bus to school. The bus had to cross a railroad track. In those days there were no crossing bars that would come down to stop traffic ahead of an oncoming train. The rule was that the bus driver was to stop before crossing the tracks, and send a child running across who would look both ways for an oncoming train, and then wave to the driver to proceed.
The Worth of a Soul
The worth of a soul must, indeed, be great. See how hard Satan works to win one. And our Savior died for mine. He gave His life for yours. What is the worth of a soul?
Perhaps we could judge its worth by asking, “What is the destiny of a soul?”
Unfinished Poem, Unfinished Life, Part II
Ten years have passed, where did they go?
The clock is in high gear.
You’d think ten years would go by slow.
I’m aging fast, yet have no fear.
Anne Hutchinson
Coincidentally, I got the following email this week. Anne Hutchinson is a friend of Sherm and Cheryl Smith with whom we served our mission in Vanuatu. I think that I gave the Smiths a copy of My Heart Is Brim with Joy, the book I wrote about our experiences in Vanuatu. Cheryl shared the book with Anne, who was so taken with it, and who was so complimentary, that I must have shared another of my books with her. I’d forgotten.
Read MoreVance Tucker
I got to worrying about Vance Tucker. His wife, Alice, had passed away two years ago. He was elderly, childless, alone, and I hadn’t seen him out jogging for quite some time; so I dropped in for a visit.
Read MoreDementia Forebodings
Serving as an ordinance worker in the temple was the best calling I ever had. I served for a total of 10 years. We served in both the Boise and Meridian Temples. It became necessary for us to be released in 2021 when Marjorie went back to the temple as the COVID-19 closure was lifted, and discovered that her dementia had progressed to the point that she could not remember what she was supposed to do. Among other things she had forgotten the veil ceremony. By going to the temple weekly she has since regained most of the veil ceremony, but still needs some help at the veil.
Read MoreTaking Offense
I think it was Brigham Young who said, “He who takes offense when no offense was intended is a fool. He who takes offense when offense is intended is also a fool.”
I neither take offense nor give it, so I am completely baffled by last Saturday evening’s encounter. There are some people around whom you have to tiptoe and be very careful. If I was to name those people, my niece, Jacque Cobb, would not be on the list.
Safety in Following the Rules
In my family history researches I have come across several tragedies. There was a young man who drowned while canoeing on a lake in Washington. There was a young woman and her 7-year-old niece who died from being burned in an explosion in the home. I theorize that the explosion was caused by refilling kerosene lamps after dark (when the flames were lighted), something my mother said was never, ever to be done. There was a young man killed by his shotgun while crossing a fence. My hunter’s safety course instructed us to always lay our guns on the ground before crossing a fence, something that young man apparently failed to do.
Read MoreArguing with the Holy Ghost
Sunday March 17th. Margie’s 76th birthday. We arrived at the meetinghouse at 8:00 to take part in choir practice, and told the conductor that we would be leaving promptly at 8:40 so that we could be at the Pine Valley Branch at 10:00 where I was to speak.
Read MoreCarlton and Ruth Darnell
I awoke suddenly and looked at the clock. 3:22 A.M.. My mind was full of thoughts–and full of gratitude–for a couple who greatly influenced my life 56 years ago. I laid there and thought about them for two or three minutes, and then felt compelled to get up and to write about them.
Read MoreMost Important Dates
Tomorrow and next Sunday are the two most important dates on the calendar. They’re better and more important than Christmas or my birthday.
Tomorrow (4 March 2024) is the 57th anniversary of my baptism. On that day all of my sins were remitted and off the books. On that day I received the gift of the Holy Ghost. My girl friend took me to her house after the baptism where I broke down and sobbed like a baby. I was clean! I was happy! Life was suddenly good and exciting despite the fact that I was to report for active duty in the U.S. Navy just 13 days later.
Dormancy and Goals
What a great life this has been. I am happy. I have a testimony of my Savior. My covenants are intact. I have achieved my goals.
I wanted to be five things:
1. A father: I am the father of 10, grandfather of 56.
Nutshell Sermons
1. “Adam fell that man might be,
And men are, that they might have joy.’ –2 Nephi 2:25
2. “As man is, God once was;
Conversations, Verbal and Unspoken
From the Holy Ghost, unspoken: “It’s 6:35.”
Spoken, to Marjorie: “Oh, my goodness, it’s 6:35. The missionaries invited me to participate in tonight’s lesson with Michael Townsend. I told them that we were probably going to the temple today, and wouldn’t be back in time. Because of the snow we didn’t go. I just have time to get there. I don’t want to go. It’s so late. A sense of responsibility is an awful thing. The elders appreciate me. I’m going to leave you for a bit.” (I put on my shoes, and am out the door).
Fulfillment of Prophecy
As we edge ever nearer to the Lord’s Second Coming it becomes easier to see how prophecies might play out.
Two prophecies about events that have to take place before the Lord’s coming are the building of the New Jerusalem and the devastation that the descendants of Lehi will cause among the Gentiles. In the short report that Mormon left about the Savior’s appearance to the Nephites in third Nephi, the Savior warned us three times that Lehi’s children would lay waste the cities of the American nation, and destroy its transportation system.
The Deacon’s Quorum President
By Danny Kerns,
About his son, Chance, the quorum president
The twelve-year-old boy walked into Sacrament meeting and yelled, “He’s a bully!” His ward didn’t think twice about the outburst, and the parents soon had him calmed down. His name is Sterling, and he is autistic. During that meeting one of the bishop’s counselors noticed Sterling’s parents looked more haggard than usual. Out of concern, he later mentioned it to the bishop. The bishop explained that they were becoming more concerned with his increasing outbursts. The counselor had sat in on many Deacons Quorum and Sunday School classes with Sterling and his father, who was always quick to curb any outbursts or off-topic tangents. However, the counselor noticed that everyone, including himself, walked on eggshells around Sterling. The result of which was zero interaction between him and his peers.
An Instrument in His Hands
While I was stationed in Yokosuka, Japan, my ship was dry docked, so I was a permanent member of the branch on shore. That made me available to my branch president for spur-of-the-moment assignments.
Read MoreSaving the Sailor
An incident occurred while I was a sailor serving on a ship based in Japan. The branch of the Church met in a little chapel on the base at Yokosuka. One Sunday I was standing at the door greeting people as an unfamiliar sailor approached. I welcomed him to church, and he said, “How do I go about joining this church?” My friend and I replied that he’d have to take the six missionary discussions, and that he and I would be happy to give them to him since there weren’t any full-time missionaries serving there.
Read MoreLeaving the Ninety-and-Nine
One Sunday morning when I was bishop, I was seated on the stand. Sacrament meeting had begun. As I looked out over the congregation I realized that one of my flock was missing. Sister Mensing, a widow in her sixties, wasn’t in her usual place. That struck me as odd. Many other people had missed church before, and I hadn’t done anything about it, but this time something inside me impelled me to check on her. I rose, and walked out of the meeting to my office where I telephoned her.
Read MoreDanny’s Power Lesson
Danny came to see us yesterday evening. Ivy was here, too. Marjorie and I had a wonderful time as we sat around the dining room table and visited with our kids.
I have written and compiled quite a number of books for my family. One series is entitled, Danny’s Books. Danny told us what got me started on my book projects. I hadn’t heard this before.
What Is Their Status?
My brother Tim’s 79-year-old wife, Jan, died 3 January. Her memorial service is today, 6 February 2024.
Marjorie’s 79-year-old brother, Don, died 30 January. His graveside service in Spring City, Utah is also today. Marjorie and I have elected to go to his memorial service that will be held 19 May, rather than to brave winter roads to be in Utah today.
Protective Walls
I have the ability to make myself two inches taller at will. I have stooped shoulders. I regularly lie down flat on my back on the floor. Because of my stooped shoulders my head cannot even contact the floor for perhaps a full minute. Eventually gravity accomplishes the feat, and my whole spine undergoes a thorough stretching. After doing my exercises, I stand up, and a miracle has occurred. My back is straight, and I am two inches taller!
Read MoreMost Interesting Notes from Volume “H”
1. Hailstones fall at 22 MPH. The largest weighed 1-2/3 pounds and was 17 ½ inches around.
2. The human scalp contains 100,000 hairs. We shed 70-100 per day.
So Close
I have a friend, a non-member friend, who attends church every Sunday with his wife. He sits there stoically and unsmilingly. I’ve never seen him smile. I don’t know if he can. I suspect that he is there because of a deal that he made with his wife. He doesn’t look happy to be there.
Read MoreNot Time to Worry Yet
I asked myself: Who am I? How would I define myself? What do I stand for?
I answered, first and foremost, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Secondly, I am a professional father.
And thirdly, I am a professional ponderer.
What Has Jesus Christ Done For Me?
The most pervasive problem in the world is ignorance—ignorance about Jesus Christ. The most important knowledge that people should possess is the knowledge of who the Savior is and why following Him is crucial. Most people give Him no thought, and ask, “What has Jesus Christ done for me?” ignorantly thinking that He has had, or should have, no influence on their lives.
Read MoreIsaiah and the Book of Mormon
I was issued a challenge. I was told that the Book of Mormon couldn’t be true because its Isaiah chapters are identical to the English version in the Bible. I was told, “Translation doesn’t happen like that.”
In other words, Joseph Smith must have plagiarized the Isaiah writings and borrowed them right from the Bible.
Best Thing That’s Happened
I’ve been trying to work through a conundrum. I’m trying to answer a question: What’s the best thing that’s happened to me? What’s the best thing that’s happened to you?
For my part I can’t decide if my answer should be Marjorie, the Book of Mormon, or my baptism.
Stand Ye in Holy Places
Each year I am assigned to speak in all of the units of the La Grande Oregon Stake. I was surprised to learn that all stake patriarchs aren’t given that same assignment. I am grateful that I have the privilege. I actually enjoy doing it.
Read MoreNephi the Builder
Nephi was amazing. He knew, that with the Lord’s help, he could do anything. With that help he accomplished amazing things.
He made a bow and an arrow. How did he know how to do that? And how did he do it so fast? Making a bow is a complicated undertaking, one that I haven’t had the courage to try. The family group was starving. He didn’t have days to work at it, or to perfect his technique. They needed food now! He and they were weak from hunger. As the other men in the group sat around bitterly complaining and expecting to die, he went to work. The others might have gone out with their slings hoping to find some game close to camp, but they had already determined that the hunt would be futile, and so it was.
The Equinox
September 22nd, the fall equinox. I’ve positioned myself here in the middle of the road with my camera so that I can record the rising of the sun. It will come up in the east, right straight down our county road.
Read MoreDonna Quebbeman Funeral
The world needs to know that I loved Donna Quebbeman. She was always positive, always smiling, always cheerful, a person with whom you felt at ease, and who you liked to be around.
I first knew her as Donna Boman in the old church building here in Baker 50 years ago.
When Angels Speak
When angels speak, we would do well
To quickly go, for who can tell
What might befall if we delay
Go do it now, this very day.
Joseph
“Behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS, for he shall save his people from their sins.
You Are Everything To Me
The best thing that happened to me was Marjorie. I was blessed to recognize her. I was amazed when she quickly answered “yes” to my proposal. Everything is different, and infinitely better, because of her.
Read MoreThe Value of Regular Exercise
Every year, once a year, for many years, I did something to my lower back which would cripple me for a week. I would feel a “ping,” and know that I was in trouble. In a short time I couldn’t stand straight, and became an old man as I tried to move about.
Read MoreThe Blessing that is the Priesthood
I am honored and privileged to hold the holy Melchizedek Priesthood. I can hardly believe it. Me, of all people! This is the same power and authority used by our Savior to create worlds and to heal the sick. He trusts me to hold and to use His power.
Read More