As I prayed this morning, waiting for the sunrise, I thanked my Father in heaven for the beauties with which I’m surrounded.  I thanked Him that I’m also surrounded by family.  I then thanked Him that I’m enveloped by the Holy Spirit.

It dawned upon me that I’m surrounded or enveloped by many superlative things.  This is my environment.  I’m not only surrounded by physical beauties, family, and the Holy Ghost; but by peace, joy, happiness, and opportunities to serve and to work and to learn.  I’m also surrounded by good people, particularly at church and at the temple.  I’m surrounded with the freedom to do, work, think, act, and worship as I please.

I live in a perfectly wonderful environment that is nearly pollution free.  To be sure, there are still stray pollutants around to irritate me, but they’re few, and easily dealt with.  For instance, this morning when I go on our Friday morning sibling walk I’m going to take a shovel, and grub out some Scotch thistles growing along the sides of the road.

I’m going to visit my brother who had a toe amputated three days ago.  When I asked how he intended to use his recuperation time, he responded that he was trying to get up the courage to begin reading the Book of Mormon.  I’m going to offer to read the book to him and to his invalid wife.  That book has the power to clear mountains of pollutions out of people’s lives.

Today I’m going to make final preparations for the talent night that I’ve arranged for our ward tomorrow evening.  My hope is that some non members will be there who can be favorably impressed by the camaraderie, happiness, spirit, and feeling that exists around Latter-day Saints.  My hope is that the evening’s activities may lead to the missionaries gaining some new investigators.  My laid-up brother and his invalid wife have said that they’ll be there.

I work upon the stray pollutions that come into my mind and my life.  They’ll ever be with us while we’re here in mortality, but this is a beautiful life.  I live in an environment of clear sky, clear air, a clear conscience, and a clear path to eternal life.

I am clearly a very blessed person, and I owe it all to my Savior, Jesus Christ, and to His incomparable, incomprehensible Atonement.