What Have You Done?

As I held you in the crook of my arm this morning, I realized again that I was holding a treasure—a priceless treasure. I began enumerating what you’ve done for me. These things need to be written down.

Read More

Amazing Animals

Several stories about animals have come to my attention this week, and need to be put together in one place.
The first was a report on “Beautiful Jim Key,” which is the title of a book about a horse of that name. I’m hopefully going to find a copy of the book to purchase.

Read More

The Road to Jericho

The road to Jericho is littered with people in need of help.
You remember the Savior’s parable of the man on that road who was set upon by thieves, and was left for dead. There were bad guys back in those days, too. There were also those who were uncaring, and those who were too busy to get involved. The priest and the Levite passed the unfortunate man by, but the Samaritan stopped and bound up the man’s wounds. “Samaritan” back in those days was a derisive word, but because of Jesus’ parable it has since evolved to become synonymous with goodness, kindness, and compassion. The Samaritan saved the man’s life. The word “good” has thus forever become affixed to the word “Samaritan.”

Read More

Calamity

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 More

Rudeness Bites—Kindness Scores

The trouble with Laman and Lemuel was rudeness. They seemed to know nothing of kindness, and were, instead, caught up in selfishness, criticism, murmuring, and extreme rudeness. Nephi used the word “rudeness” twice in one verse when referring to his brothers. While aboard the ship he says that they “began…to speak with much rudeness, yea…they were lifted up unto exceeding rudeness.” (1 Ne. 18:9).

Read More

Stranded on Earth

Death is the surest evidence that our Father loves us. He knows us and remembers us. He does not leave us stranded here on earth.

Read More

Kindness

The very basis for all of Jesus’ teachings may be summed up in His oft-repeated admonition to “love one another.”

Read More

A Vanuatu Love Story

In June 2014 Charles Mol came to Santo Island from Gaua Island on Church business. Charles was Gaua Branch clerk. I became acquainted with him, was impressed with him, and learned that he was a 30-year-old returned missionary.

Read More

Activated By Love

I frequently think of the story told by Elder Russell M. Nelson in general conference about going on a mission tour with another general authority in a dusty location. He often got up in the morning to find that his companion had shined his shoes.

Read More