Service
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 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.
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;
Quick
I am sitting in my living room looking out the window at my swallows. I love those little birds. They’re darting this way and that, swooping, diving, circling, seemingly just for the fun of it. They’re quick. They change directions in an instant. They look happy, and I’m sure they are. They may look like they’re doing these aerobatics for sport, but they’re actually hard at work. They’re sweeping the air clean of mosquitoes and flying insects.
Read MoreTwo Acts of Service
Today I learned about and observed two beautiful examples of service.
First was Adam’s mentioning that he’d been to Bremerton, Washington this past weekend. He flew his plane to Stanfield and picked up Aaron. They continued on to Bremerton arriving there at 1:00 or 2:00 Friday afternoon. By 7:00 in the evening they had Nathan’s new septic system in place and working.
Cold, Lukewarm, and Hot
Three scriptures need to be put together in a sequence or a continuum, and then we need to measure where we are on the line.
The first is where we would hope to be. As my mind surveys the standard works, it rests on Hyrum Smith with his integrity and enthusiasm as being representative. I also think of Nephi, who just before Christ came to the Nephites, worked with such “unwearyingness.” (Helaman 10:4-5).
Ministering
Talk given in Baker Second Ward’s fifth-Sunday meeting 30 January 2022
As I have thought about my topic during the past week, I have identified three principles that apply to ministering:
1. You don’t have to have an assignment to be a minister.
Pre-earth Service
In the terrestrial room of the temple yesterday a thought went through my head that I’ve never had before. Since I wasn’t even thinking of such things at the time, and because of where I was and what I was doing, I have to think that it was a revelation to me. I haven’t heard or read anything that the Brethren have said on this matter, so if it is so, the “revelation” was just for my benefit, and is not something that I should be preaching.
Read MoreBeing Needed
I have a fear. I’m sore afraid of becoming old and non-useful. Being needed is a basic human need, and I can see where the time might come when I’m either no longer useful or not able to contribute.
In thinking about that, I remembered our mission. I have never in my life been more needed, depended upon, or used than during our mission.
Power of the Priesthood
Matt, suggested that I should gather my young grandsons and conduct a Priesthood preparation session. He wondered if that should be expanded to include all of my grandsons. I wondered if perhaps it should be expanded to include all of my Melchizedek Priesthood sons as well.
Read MoreInstruments in the Hands of God
There is a phrase repeated a dozen times in the Book of Mormon that needs to be explored. It was first used by Lehi who said that Nephi had been “an instrument in the hands of God” in bringing them to the land of promise. (2 Nephi 1:24). Lehi used the phrase again as he prophesied of the calling of Joseph Smith. (2 Nephi 3:24). The phrase, “instruments in the hands of God” was picked up and used by Alma and other prophets.
Read MoreThe 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.”
Children of the Evangelist
This morning in my study I found this:
“And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven, and abode with him.
Patriarch
I have spent my adult life preparing for the next church event. I’ve either been thinking about the upcoming lesson or church talk that I was to give, or planning and preparing for an activity. There has always been something. When one was over and done with, there were the next ones to get ready for.
Read MoreDo It Heartily
This past week Danny was given the opportunity of playing his guitar and of singing with his wife at the funeral of a 94-year-old man. The man had requested that Danny do so. Danny was lamenting the fact, which is so often the case, that it takes a funeral to inform you about what an outstanding and interesting person the deceased individual was. “If only I had known these things during his life,” we say to ourselves, “I’d have been able to talk with him or her, and to ask questions, and to have learned some valuable things.”
Read MoreIf Not Me, Who?
One Sunday as the bishop surveyed the congregation from the stand at the beginning of sacrament meeting, he became unsettled when he noticed that Sister Mensing was not in her usual place. The meeting was already under way, but the bishop was so bothered by the faithful widow’s absence that he arose and went to his office to call her. There was no answer.
Read MoreThe Gospel Purpose and Plan
24 October 1994
Katie received a blessing in which she was told that her life was fitting into the gospel purpose and plan. As she has reflected on that statement, she asked if I would write about how my life does that. I agreed to think about it.
Pay Attention!
My mother once went into a car dealership to buy a pickup. She had the money in her purse and was ready to pay in full for the vehicle.
Read MorePresident Nelson
We were privileged on 16 September 2018 to attend a special gathering of Latter-day Saints in the Safeco Stadium in Seattle where President Henry B. Eyring
Read MoreWhat Can I Do?
I have a terror that often enters my mind. It’s a gnawing worry that someday I will no longer be useful, and that I’ll have nothing to do.
Read More50 Years
Today is a banner day. Today (4 March 2017) is the 50th anniversary of my baptism. Fifty years ago I was relieved of all my sins,
Read MoreWhom Do I Love the Most?
As I thought about my children this week, I was startled to realize that I love them more than I love my parents.
Read MorePaying it Forward
In my scripture study I’ve come up with a law. I call it the law of the boomerang. Simply stated, it is that whatever you send out will come back again.
Read MoreSpectator or Participant?
The secret to living a joyful and a successful life is to live it as a participant rather than as a spectator.
Read MoreThe Early Christmas Present
Zack Wright was a 14-year-old boy in Idaho with a passion for snow boarding. Christmas was coming, and more than anything, he wanted a snow board.
Read MoreThoughts Upon a Shoeshine
Whenever I shine my shoes I think of a lady I heard about in New York City who sniffed disdainfully about women who don’t shine the bottoms of their shoes.
Read MoreLearning to Drive
I do a lot of things on my mission here in Vanuatu that are not in my job description. In fact, most of the things that I do are like that.
Read MoreFeed My Sheep
I was very grateful a short time ago to wake up and realize that I was in Vanuatu and not back home. I did it twice. I was awaking from bad dreams.
Read MoreActivated 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 MoreAvailability of Scriptures Through the Ages
The people in the days of Noah and the Children of Israel had no stability because they had no scriptures. Are you any better off than them if you have the scriptures and don’t read them?
Read MoreCome Join the Ranks
Major parts of both the Bible and the Book of Mormon deal with armies and war. One is led to ask why these books of peace are so interlaced with violence. The simple answer is that we are, in fact, in the midst of an ongoing battle that began before the world was created.
Read MoreComplacency
Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; but inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence. (2 Nephi 1:20).
This is a theme that runs throughout the Book of Mormon. This principle and promise was given to Nephi at the beginning of his odyssey (1 Ne. 2:20-21), is repeated two dozen times in the Book of Mormon, and carries through to the end. It is a principle and promise within the book that is demonstrated in both of its extremes many, many times. The Lord means what He says, and keeps His promises.
Another Day in the Life of a Senior Missionary
The first missionary discussion with Dr. Wang didn’t go as planned. On Sunday we had invited him and the sister missionaries to dinner for Tuesday evening. An hour later I had gotten a call about a sick elder in Fanafo. Marjorie and I made a quick run there, and brought the elders back to Luganville. Elder McCain was a very sick young man with a raging fever, a racing heart (193 beats per minute), diarrhea, and a sore gall bladder. Through intravenous rehydration and medicines, Dr. Wang had him stabilized and on his feet by evening, but we had decided to keep him in our care. I gave his companion to another set of elders who needed him, and Elder McCain became my companion for the next couple of days. Our Tuesday evening dinner appointment had thus grown to a party of six.
Read MoreA Day in the Life of a Senior Missionary
Last night Marjorie and I were ready to prepare for bed when we heard someone sing out. “Singout” is what you do here instead of knock on a door. “Elda mo Sista Kerrnnns,” the voice sang. No one ever comes to our isolated veranda at night, and no one can see in, so we don’t even bother to close our curtains.
Read MoreBook of Mormon Missionaries
The philosophies held by, and the techniques used by the missionaries in the Book of Mormon are worthy of examination.
First was Abinadi—courageous Abinadi. His mission call sent him to a degenerate people who were so steeped in sin that the likelihood of success among them was very small indeed. He was aware of that at the outset; but he also knew that unless the people repented, they would be destroyed. They had to be warned. Indeed, the people could neither be converted nor destroyed unless someone should first warn them, for “…the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7).
Service
Knowing what is really important in life has the effect of enabling one to quickly determine how time can best be used. With dozens of things clamoring for our attention at any given moment, we are constantly in a position of having to choose the one to which we’ll devote our efforts.
Read More