Only upon the Principles of Righteousness

     "In raising our family, we decided that our most important goal would be to help our children establish their own connection to heaven. We knew that ultimately they would need to depend on the Lord, not on us. Brigham Young said, “Were I to draw a distinction in all the duties that are required of the children of men, … I would place first and foremost the duty of seeking unto the Lord our God until we open the path of communication from heaven to earth—from God to our own souls."

     I wish I had had the wisdom of this man in my household as my children were growing-up!

Good Things to Come

Thankful for the Light of Christ

Light /līt/ to provide with illumination.

Light of Christ:  The phrase “light of Christ” does not appear in the Bible, although the principles that apply to it are frequently mentioned therein. The precise phrase is found in Alma 28:14, Moroni 7:18, and D&C 88:7. Biblical phrases that are sometimes synonymous to the term “light of Christ” are “spirit of the Lord” and “light of life” (see, for example, John 1:4; 8:12). The “spirit of the Lord,” however, sometimes is used with reference to the Holy Ghost, and so must not be taken in every case as having reference to the light of Christ.

     The light of Christ is just what the words imply: enlightenment, knowledge, and an uplifting, ennobling, persevering influence that comes upon mankind because of Jesus Christ. For instance, Christ is “the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (D&C 93:2; John 1:9). The light of Christ fills the “immensity of space” and is the means by which Christ is able to be “in all things, and is through all things, and is round about all things.” It “giveth life to all things” and is “the law by which all things are governed.” It is also “the light that quickeneth” man’s understanding (see D&C 88:6–13, 41). In this manner, the light of Christ is related to man’s conscience and tells him right from wrong (cf. Moro. 7:12–19).

     The light of Christ should not be confused with the personage of the Holy Ghost, for the light of Christ is not a personage at all. Its influence is preliminary to and preparatory to one’s receiving the Holy Ghost. The light of Christ will lead the honest soul who “hearkeneth to the voice” to find the true gospel and the true Church and thereby receive the Holy Ghost (see D&C 84:46–48). Additional references are Alma 19:6; 26:3; D&C 20:27.

All Present and Accounted For

It's True Sir-All Present and Accounted For by Clark Kelley Price

A Message from the Artist 

     Seldom in the annals of history has there been such an inspiring example of unwavering faith in God as was exhibited by the valiant young sons of the Ammonites. These two thousand and sixty young men were a "Great support" to their country´s defense. Though they had never fought, the scriptures tell us "they were exceedingly valiant for courage . . . . . and true at all times in whatsoever thing they were instructed. They were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God, and to walk up rightly before God." (Alma 53:20-21) Their mothers had especially influenced their faith. Their commanding officer, Helaman, called them his "sons," "for they are worthy to be called sons," he said. (Alma 56:10) They called him "father", such was the love and respect they had for him. 

     This scene depicts the moment when Helaman (shown on his horse) learns from a subordinate officer that all two thousand and sixty of his beloved sons have survived a terrible battle in which every one of them have "received many wounds." This was the second time this had occurred, though many other soldiers in the army had perished, this "little band" under Helaman´s leadership, lost not a single man. Speaking of this unbelievable occurrence, Helaman states, "two hundred out of my two thousand and sixty had fainted because of the loss of blood; nevertheless, according to the goodness of God and to our great astonishment, and also the joy of the whole army, there was not one soul of them who did perish.

     "And now, their preservation was astonishing to our whole army, yea that they would be spared while there was a thousand of our brethren who were slain, and we do justly ascribe it to the miraculous power of God, because of their exceeding faith in that which they had been taught to believe - that there was a just God, and whosoever did not doubt, they should be preserved by His marvelous power. Now this was the faith of these of whom I have spoken. They are young and their minds are firm and they do put their trust in God continually." (Alma 57:25-27) Helaman had also stated in his epistle to his commanding general, Moroni that "as the remainder of our army were about to give way before the Lamanites, behold those two thousand and sixty were firm and undaunted. Yea, they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them." (Alma 57:20-21) 

     It is my hope that in painting this poignant scene from the Book of Mormon, it will enable us to stand with them in their ranks, to absorb their marvelous spirit, that we may be one with them, and they with us, "all present and accounted for" in the final battle against the forces of Satan in these last days. - Clark Kelly Price

 Personal Testimony

     My father has often shared stories from his World War II experiences.  The following is one story I've pieced together the best I can.  One morning, as a teen-aged infantry soldier in France, his company was marched into a field with other units.  There was a platform from which the commander explained their objective for the next day.  They were to break through the enemy line.

     It was a day he never forgot.  His company, B Company, 8th Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, assembled at 3 a.m.  They were quietly marched through a dried-up swamp.  When they were almost to the other side, machine-guns opened fire "from all directions."  Dad quickly hit the ground.  When he looked around, he saw he was under an enemy machine-gun nest 20 feet away, "close enough that I wasn't planning on moving." 

      As a child, Dad's parents had divorced. He lived in Vermont with his mother who belonged to the Christian Science faith. He was not allowed to play sports and knew very little of organized sports in our country at the time. He did have a pet crow, a bicycle, a paper route, and a daisy air rifle.

     The sound of the bolt on the machine gun being pulled back would startle him as he lay as still as possible.  The sun rose and the sun set while pretending to be a dead body on the ground.  He could hear the soldiers talking to each other as they manned their machine gun nest. 

     Months earlier, while stationed in England and preparing for the invasion of Europe, Dad was in charge of a small group of soldiers that didn't like to get up in the morning. A thick fog would envelop the parade field during morning formation. Fortunately, he stood near the end of the field where he could not be seen.  He would report "all present or accounted for."  Most, if not all of his men, were still sleeping and not in formation.

  

     A full moon shined over the field that night as he lay as motionless as possible.  After midnight, clouds began to cover the moon.  He crawled away as fast as was prudent.  When out of range of the enemy, he kept moving until he got to his own line, where he was challenged by a soldier from another company. 

     Challenges and passwords were changed at midnight, and he hadn't received the new password.  He explained the situation, and the soldier proceded to quiz him about sports personalities unique to home.  The future was looking bleak as he explained that he knew nothing about sports or sports personalities.  He was then quizzed about where he was stationed in England, and it turned out that one of the soldiers he had let sleep-in was there and said "let him enter; Bob Walker is a good egg."

     I do not know the myriad of feelings one goes through in the midst of an armed conflict.  I do know that our life on earth is also a conflict.  I hope I can be present and accounted for with the rest of my family when the conflict is over.  I hope we can all be known as "good eggs" at the final day.

A Firm Foundation

     While in medic school, after a long day of studying, I would often take a break from my school work by designing my family’s future house on graph paper.  After several years of Army duty, and after many revisions to my graph paper drawings, spring came, the ground was finally prepared and the day came to build the foundation.  Measurements were made as I carefully constructed the footers out of boards that would later be used as headers over doors and windows to support our home.  I coated the insides of the boards with the used motor oil from our family car so the cement would not harm the wood.  Reinforcement bars were carefully spaced inside the footers to provide increased strength.  My friend Marty Bruns assisted me in the pouring of the cement. 

     The cement cured, the boards were carefully removed for future use, and the time arrived to lay the concrete blocks.  The summer was hot and humid.  My wife mixed the mortar in a wheelbarrow and I laid the blocks.  Block by block and course by course we built the foundation in perfect alignment for our house to rest upon.  By the end of the summer, my wife was nicknamed “Popeye arms.”

     As autumn approached, the school year started and our oldest son would board the school bus at the construction site.  I would work on the house until he came back from school.  Many individuals assisted in the completion of the house, such as my home teacher Geoff Jones.  On two consecutive Saturdays, members of the priesthood came -- we raised the sides of the house, and we placed the roof trusses thereon.  Roger Poland helped me place the last few rows of shingles on the roof as the first snow of winter fell.

     Our family moved into the basement while my father, a licensed professional engineer, and I wired and finished the upstairs.  For years to come, there always seemed to be another project to be completed.  My good friend Fred Allodi always cheered me on and helped me with whatever needed to be done.  It would have been impossible to endure to the end without such a good friend.  Family and friends are key for our progress.

     I was reminded of the preceding events as I read the following by President Henry B. Eyring.  “As a young man I worked with a contractor building footings and foundations for new houses. In the summer heat it was hard work to prepare the ground for the form into which we poured the cement for the footing. There were no machines. We used a pick and a shovel. Building lasting foundations for buildings was hard work in those days.

     It also required patience. After we poured the footing, we waited for it to cure. Much as we wanted to keep the jobs moving, we also waited after the pour of the foundation before we took away the forms.

     And even more impressive to a novice builder was what seemed to be a tedious and time-consuming process to put metal bars carefully inside the forms to give the finished foundation strength.

     In a similar way, the ground must be carefully prepared for our foundation of faith to withstand the storms that will come into every life. That solid basis for a foundation of faith is personal integrity.

     Our choosing the right consistently whenever the choice is placed before us creates the solid ground under our faith. It can begin in childhood since every soul is born with the free gift of the Spirit of Christ. With that Spirit we can know when we have done what is right before God and when we have done wrong in His sight.

     Those choices, hundreds in most days, prepare the solid ground on which our edifice of faith is built. The metal framework around which the substance of our faith is poured is the gospel of Jesus Christ, with all its covenants, ordinances, and principles.

     One of the keys to an enduring faith is to judge correctly the curing time required. …

     That curing does not come automatically through the passage of time, but it does take time. Getting older does not do it alone. It is serving God and others persistently with full heart and soul that turns testimony of truth into unbreakable spiritual strength.”

     I know that there are many true and good patterns in life, and that we need to build our life on a firm and true foundation with Jesus Christ as our chief cornerstone.  I am grateful for Christ's example and the example of his followers.  There is help and guidance if we will but seek, ask, and act.  I testify in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

John 3

Nicodemus Comes to Jesus

     As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.  For God so loved the world, that he gave his Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  He who believeth on him is not condemned: but he who believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God, which was before preached by the mouth of the holy prophets; for they testified of Christ.  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil.  For every one who doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  But he who loveth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest.  And he who obeyeth the truth, the works which he doeth they are of God.

Thankful To Be Able To Sacrifice In Service

Coming to Ourselves

The following is an excerpt from a talk given by Robert D. Hales:

     The Savior told His disciples about a son who left his wealthy father, went to a far country, and wasted his inheritance. When a famine arose, the young man took the lowly job of feeding swine. He was so hungry that he wanted to eat the husks meant for the animals.

     Away from home, far from the place he wanted to be, and in his destitute condition, something of eternal significance happened in the life of this young man. In the Savior’s words, “he came to himself.” He remembered who he was, realized what he had been missing, and began to desire the blessings freely available in his father’s house.

     Throughout our lives, whether in times of darkness, challenge, sorrow, or sin, we may feel the Holy Ghost reminding us that we are truly sons and daughters of a caring Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we may hunger for the sacred blessings that only He can provide. At these times we should strive to come to ourselves and come back into the light of our Savior’s love.

     These blessings rightfully belong to all of Heavenly Father’s children. Desiring these blessings, including a life of joy and happiness, is an essential part of Heavenly Father’s plan for each one of us. The prophet Alma taught, “Even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you.”

     As our spiritual desires increase, we become spiritually self-reliant.

     The young man spoken about by the Savior, the one we refer to as the prodigal son, did come home. His father had not forgotten him; his father was waiting. And “when [the son] was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and … kissed him.” In honor of his son’s return, he called for a robe, a ring, and a celebration with a fatted calf (see Luke 15:22-24)—reminders that no blessings will be withheld if we faithfully endure in walking the path back to our Heavenly Father.

With His love and the love of His Son in my heart, I challenge each of us to follow our spiritual desires and come to ourselves. Let’s have a talk with ourselves in the mirror and ask, “Where do I stand on living my covenants?” We are on the right path when we can say, “I worthily partake of the sacrament each week, I am worthy to hold a temple recommend and go to the temple, and I sacrifice to serve and bless others.”

     I share my special witness that God so loves each one of us “that he gave his only begotten Son” to atone for our sins. He knows us and waits for us, even when we are a great way off. As we act on our desires and come to ourselves, we will be “encircled about eternally in the arms of his love” and welcomed home. I so testify in the holy name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.

Et Si Omnes Ego Non

Esti Omnes, Ego Non (Even if all, not I)

Etsi Omnes, Ego Non

Here where under earth his head
Finds a last and lonely bed,
Let him speak upon the stone:
Etsi omnes, ego non.

Here he shall not know the eyes
Bent upon their sordid prize
Earthward ever, nor the beat
Of the hurrying faithless feet.

None to make him perfect cheer
Join’d him on his journey drear;
Some too soon, who fell away;
Some too late, who mourn to-day.

Yet while comrades one by one
Made denial and were gone,
Not the less he labor’d on:
Etsi omnes, ego non.

Surely his were heart and mind
Meet for converse with his kind,
Light of genial fancy free,
Grace of sweetest sympathy.

But his soul had other scope,
Holden of a larger hope,
Larger hope and larger love.
Meat to eat men knew not of:

Knew not, know not—yet shall sound
From this place of holy ground
Even this legend thereupon,
Etsi omnes, ego non

                                                                               --by Ernest Myers

“EVEN IF ALL, NOT I” magazine article

Thankful for Mortality

     I am grateful for a Father who ceases not to be God.
I am grateful for His Son who gives us the atonement and the opportunity for Eternal happiness.
I am grateful for the Holy Ghost who acts as our guide while in mortality.
I am grateful for this opportunity, mortality, to work out my salvation, to prepare to meet God.

Let Go, Let God

Link to artist: http://sandscribbles.net/recovery.aspx