Gratitude
Math Wizard
Marjorie goes for a walk most every day. Today she walked down to the mailbox and back. She brought me the monthly bank statement. I sat down to balance the checkbook—not my favorite activity.
“Well, Marjorie, after my first attempt to balance the checkbook you’ll be happy to know that I’m only $782.99 off. I don’t remember in whose favor it was, but undoubtedly theirs. I think it’s probably your turn to do this.”
It’s A Miracle
President Russell M. Nelson has told us to seek and to expect miracles. As I sit here in my warm living room on this Sunday morning (18 December 2022) I realize that I am surrounded by miracles.
I got up this morning and read a chapter in the Book of Mormon. That book, and the way that I found it, are miracles. My testimony of that book and of the restoration of the gospel are miracles.
A Sense of Awe
We have five senses. We each possess the senses of touch, taste, sight, smell, and hearing. Through accident or illness or age these senses might be lost.
My wife lost her sense of taste 10 months ago when she had a mild case of COVID. She would not have known that she even had COVID but for the fact that she lost her sense of taste. It may just now be returning.
The Daily Recipient
Elder Anthony D. Perkins, in his October 2021 conference address used the term “daily recipient.” That caught my fancy. A daily recipient of what? —The Lord’s grace, His blessings, His comfort, His guidance, His joy.
Read MorePromised Lands Don’t Come Easy
The Tabernacle Choir on Temple Square sings a song so rousing that you become so caught up in it that you just have to move. It is called “Bound for the Promised Land.” The lyrics say, “Oh, who will come and go with me, I am bound for the promised land.”
Read MoreGifts
My Creator has given me many gifts. I am grateful for them, and I find myself thanking Him for them each day. Chief among them is the gift of repentance. The gift of my covenants is another. Third is the gift of my callings (Moroni 7:2) which have developed me and given me skills. Fourth is the gift of the Priesthood which I am allowed to hold and to use. Fifth is the gift of my eternal family.
Read MoreWhat Think Ye of Christ?
(Elder Michael John U. Teh in his April 2021 conference address told of an assignment given to him to write a one-page summary about the relevance and importance of the Atonement. That is a great challenge. Here is my attempt:)
Read MoreAngels and Sunrises
The calendar says that yesterday was the first day of spring, but I’ve always thought that the first day of spring was supposed to be today. I must take note this morning of the time and position of the sunrise.
Read MoreGratitude
I am grateful for the talents with which the Lord has blessed me, and which He has helped me to develop. I am grateful that I can study, and write, and think. I am grateful to be able to create. I am grateful to be a father, and a husband, and a disciple. I am grateful for the peace which I feel, the happiness, and the joy. I am grateful for a clear conscience, and for the ability to repent. I am grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost and for personal revelation. I am grateful to be able to look upon everyone with feelings of love and compassion. I am grateful for health and for strength and for the ability and the desire to serve. I am grateful for the opportunities that are given to me to serve my fellow men. I am grateful to be able to live in this choicest of places in the choicest land in all the earth. I am grateful for each ancestor who preceded me and who opened the way for me to be in this particular place at this particular time under these particular circumstances. I realize that I am here to serve them, and to serve my Savior and Redeemer. I am grateful for my Priesthood, my covenants, and the eternal family which I have because of those covenants.
Read MoreGive Thanks
This week will be Thanksgiving. This week President Nelson gave us each a challenge. He asked us to use our social media to give thanks. I’m afraid that my social media is limited to my family. Maybe I can say something to them that can motivate and inspire their own thanksgivings.
Read MoreExquisite Creations
As a boy wandering around the woods above my house, I fixed May 20th in my mind as the date on which I could find a fairy slipper. A fairy slipper is a pink, exquisitely-formed flower into which you can imagine a fairy’s dainty foot being inserted. Its real name is calypso orchid. It is a low-growing plant which sends up a 5-inch stem topped by a one-inch-long mottled, pink blossom. “Exquisite” is the best word to describe its shape and color. It is unique, and somewhat rare. It belongs to a genus that contains just this one species.
Read MoreCan A Coyote Feel Happiness?
I found myself wondering, “Can a coyote (or any animal) feel happiness?” I decided probably not. An animal can feel contentment when its belly is full and its appetites are satisfied; but in order to feel happiness, one must be able to feel and to express gratitude. When one knows from whence one’s blessings come, then one can experience not only happiness, but joy.
Read MoreCount Your Many Blessings
I’m a counter. I count everything. While looking at Marjorie’s flower gardens it occurred to me that she has literally thousands of blossoms. She has hundreds of plants, and each one produces bloom on top of bloom. For about half a second I considered the possibility of numbering her blossoms, but it would be an impossibility even for me.
Read MoreSpring Morning
10 May 2020, 5:10 a.m. I get out of bed and look out my window. Hunt Mountain is encased in a white fog bank with trees and portions of the mountain showing through. It’s beautiful. It’s photo-worthy. I take my camera and go outside. It’s 40-degrees and very damp. It rained hard yesterday afternoon. I empty .71 inch of rain from the rain gauge. Perhaps 12 head of elk are grazing in the grass in the corner of the potato field where the pivot doesn’t reach. The potatoes haven’t come up yet. The dark, damp soil makes a nice contrast with the luxurious spring green of the grass, the light green of the newly-leafed-out aspens, the dark green of the evergreen trees, and the strikingly white fog.
Read MoreWhy Me?
Several years ago I interviewed a young woman for a temple recommend to receive her own endowment and to be married and sealed for time and all eternity. As I completed the interview and signed the recommend, tears were streaming down her cheeks. I said, “Please share with me your feelings.” Then she told me the following story.
Read MoreHealed From Within
As part of his redeeming power, Jesus can remove the sting of death or restore the spiritual health of a struggling soul. The scriptures are filled with examples, but a young Korean sister indelibly taught me this lesson.
Read MoreBoy Tries to Tithe
Brother Artel Ricks tells an interesting story of an inspired Primary teacher. Artel was a little boy five or six years old. One night his family sat around the dinner table and talked about tithing.
Read MorePilgrim Faith and Gratitude
The Pilgrims arrived in the New World in November 1620. Of the 102 who had set out from Holland and England, only half were still alive the next spring.
Read MoreDominoes
King Lamoni awoke from his 3-day swoon and found his faithful wife watching over him. As he attempted to explain…
Read MoreLooking Beyond the Mark
Two stories from general conference and an experience of my own need to be gathered together into one place.
Read MoreGifts
Good morning, Father. I thank Thee for the gift of another day. I thank Thee, My Father, for the knowledge that I am Thy son. I thank Thee for my Savior who has given me so much.
Read MoreIncredible Morning
It is only 6:00 a.m., and I’ve already been witness to several miracles and tender mercies. These things happen more frequently when the blessings you pray for are for others, and not necessarily for yourself.
Read MoreThings to Wonder About in Vanuatu
What makes the light-colored trails, areas, and dark lines in the water of the bay below our house? They last a long time. I’ve observed the same phenomenon as I’ve driven along the Columbia River. The dark line appears about 7:30 in the morning, and moves very slowly to the east. Are these caused by differences in temperature, aeration, by the tide, or by some other thing?
Read MoreThe Lord Doth Immediately Bless You
In my reading this morning, a word has arrested my attention. The word is “immediate.” The verse I read said, “And again, when they thought of the immediate goodness of God, and his power in delivering Alma and his brethren out of the hands of the Lamanites and of bondage, they did raise their voices and give thanks to God.” (Mosiah 25:10).
Read MorePlaying Catch-up
For the past 46 years I’ve been playing catch-up. That’s how long I’ve been a member of the Church. I was baptized and became a member just 20 days before my 20th birthday. Consequently I missed out on Primary, Young Men’s, Aaronic Priesthood ordinations, scouting, seminary, and a mission.
Read MoreLetter To Mom
Your great grandson, Isaac, spoke in church yesterday. It was Mother’s Day. He said that we should all write letters to our mothers. A great longing came over me to be able to do so. I haven’t seen you for 31 years now; but I’ve no doubt that you see me, and know what I do. I think that if I was to write you a letter, you’d probably read it.
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