Yesterday, I performed a wedding for Jane Swallow and Ken Ward. I hadn't ever done a wedding, and I was quite nervous. This is (not word-for-word) the council I gave before performing the ceremony:
If we read the scriptures, we learn that the creation wasn't complete until SHE was created. She was the crowning event, and only then was the work done. My counsel to you, Ken, is to remember that she is heaven's last, best gift. She is to be treated as such with patience, kindness, and love.
If you read in the scriptures, Jane, you might think the description of man is less stellar. God created him, and then promptly declared that it would be better if he weren't left alone. And that he would need help. But if you continue reading, you learn about man's enormous potential to do good, and to bring about good in the lives of others. My counsel to you, Jane, is to help him in patience, kindness, and love.
Saturday, March 31, 2018
Conference Today
Today was the Saturday session of General Conference. President Nelson was sustained by a solemn Assembly, and it was very inspiring. I could feel the Holy Ghost strongly, and was so excited to stand up when they asked for us to do so. And it was so beautiful to see Julianne stand up and sustain the prophet. And we do sustain him.
When he finished that session by going down to the congregation and greeting and probably comforting Sister Packer, Julianne and I cried. It hit me so strongly that a) he was a good man, b) he was a man I can follow, and c) kindness is important to the Lord.
In Priesthood session, they disbanded the ward High Priest Group, and announced the combination of the two Melchizedek Priesthood groups as one Elder's Quorum. It was... fun. It was really very enjoyable to see the prophet, and then two Apostles, get up and explain a change and show us what the Lord wants us to do. I felt again, I can and will follow this man.
When he finished that session by going down to the congregation and greeting and probably comforting Sister Packer, Julianne and I cried. It hit me so strongly that a) he was a good man, b) he was a man I can follow, and c) kindness is important to the Lord.
In Priesthood session, they disbanded the ward High Priest Group, and announced the combination of the two Melchizedek Priesthood groups as one Elder's Quorum. It was... fun. It was really very enjoyable to see the prophet, and then two Apostles, get up and explain a change and show us what the Lord wants us to do. I felt again, I can and will follow this man.
Wednesday, December 20, 2017
My Testimony
If a testimony is truth that you know by the power of the Holy Ghost, then here are some things that make up my testimony:
1. Julianne and I were sealed by God's priesthood power.
2. Christ forgives sins and can use imperfect people to bring about good.
3. The Book of Mormon is the word of God.
4. Joseph Smith was a prophet.
5. Jesus Christ was bringing about His work before His birth, communicated to prophets then, during His ministry, and continues to do so now.
6. I was called to be the Bishop.
7. The prayerful decisions Julianne and I have made have been confirmed in blessings I have given her, and reflect God's will for our family.
8. I was supposed to go to BYU.
9. God wanted Julianne and I to be sealed.
10. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God's Church, and the only one He has sanctioned and empowered to offer His ordinances and covenants.
11. God wanted Julianne to teach in the primary.
I'm sure there's more. I'll update as necessary.
1. Julianne and I were sealed by God's priesthood power.
2. Christ forgives sins and can use imperfect people to bring about good.
3. The Book of Mormon is the word of God.
4. Joseph Smith was a prophet.
5. Jesus Christ was bringing about His work before His birth, communicated to prophets then, during His ministry, and continues to do so now.
6. I was called to be the Bishop.
7. The prayerful decisions Julianne and I have made have been confirmed in blessings I have given her, and reflect God's will for our family.
8. I was supposed to go to BYU.
9. God wanted Julianne and I to be sealed.
10. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God's Church, and the only one He has sanctioned and empowered to offer His ordinances and covenants.
11. God wanted Julianne to teach in the primary.
I'm sure there's more. I'll update as necessary.
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Helping a struggling man
Yesterday over lunch, I went to the grocery store to get some food. In front of me at the checkout line was an older man with a scraggly beard, an unkempt style of dress, and a cart full of alcohol. He looked like a man who had given up and just wanted to drink. I had no pity. I probably made some ill-advised judgements about him. He paid, left and so did I. I got to my car while he was bringing his shopping cart back into the store. He was walking so slowly and laboriously, I realized he needed the shopping cart to hold himself up. I almost jumped out and offered to take the cart for him, but I saw how close he was to the store, and decided it was pointless at that point. I left. I made it out of the parking lot before I realized that he needed the shopping cart to hold himself up to get back to his car, as well, so what was he going to do?
I backed up into a parking stall and decided I would just watch and see what he did. By the time I finished parking, which turned out to be a little difficult for some reason, he had made it back to the corner of the store and had leaned against the wall to stay up. He was looking out to his car like it was an impossibility. This time I jumped out and offered my arm, which he very gratefully took. I slowly walked him to his car and asked what had happened to his leg, and wished him a merry Christmas. He thanked me, and left. I left.
Here's the thing. That was Monday. Saturday, I tweaked my back such that I was almost unable to walk myself. I was laying down most of Saturday afternoon, most of Sunday (I even skipped church), and sort of managed to work by Monday. After I dropped him off at his car, and had walked back to mine, it took me struggling to get in my car to realize that I hadn't felt any pain while walking with him. It was probably there, but I hadn't noticed.
I think I looked beyond my own hurt and helped relieve the hurt of another, and that was why I didn't notice mine.
If we can look beyond our offenses, our grudges, and our pains, which often can be real and painful, and try to alleviate those of other people, ours will hurt less.
I backed up into a parking stall and decided I would just watch and see what he did. By the time I finished parking, which turned out to be a little difficult for some reason, he had made it back to the corner of the store and had leaned against the wall to stay up. He was looking out to his car like it was an impossibility. This time I jumped out and offered my arm, which he very gratefully took. I slowly walked him to his car and asked what had happened to his leg, and wished him a merry Christmas. He thanked me, and left. I left.
Here's the thing. That was Monday. Saturday, I tweaked my back such that I was almost unable to walk myself. I was laying down most of Saturday afternoon, most of Sunday (I even skipped church), and sort of managed to work by Monday. After I dropped him off at his car, and had walked back to mine, it took me struggling to get in my car to realize that I hadn't felt any pain while walking with him. It was probably there, but I hadn't noticed.
I think I looked beyond my own hurt and helped relieve the hurt of another, and that was why I didn't notice mine.
If we can look beyond our offenses, our grudges, and our pains, which often can be real and painful, and try to alleviate those of other people, ours will hurt less.
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
John 14:11
Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
What an inspiring way to rekindle your faith. Just believe for the sake of His work. Just believe for the sake of the children you are raising. Just believe for the sake of your neighbors who don't have the light of the gospel. Just believe for the dead who are waiting in the wings for their work to be done.
In the process, I believe that you will galvanize that belief into knowledge from the Spirit.
What an inspiring way to rekindle your faith. Just believe for the sake of His work. Just believe for the sake of the children you are raising. Just believe for the sake of your neighbors who don't have the light of the gospel. Just believe for the dead who are waiting in the wings for their work to be done.
In the process, I believe that you will galvanize that belief into knowledge from the Spirit.
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Alma 39
And this is not all, my son. Thou didst do that which was grievous unto me; for thou didst forsake the ministry, and did go over into the land of Siron among the borders of the Laminates, after the harlot Isabel.
Yea, she did steal away the hearts of many; but this was no excuse for thee, my son. Thou shouldest have tended to the ministry wherewith thou wast entrusted.
So much scope here for the imagination. Corianton's first mistake was not tending to his duty. This is such a powerful lesson for a man. When he is at work, he should work. When he is at home, he should be a husband and a father. When he is at church, he should worship and serve. A man has something to be doing. He should do it. Idleness can kill spiritual progress very quickly. Idleness often leads to mischief. Any four-year-old can be an example of that. It doesn't really change for a forty-year-old.
Why was it no excuse for him? Why not all the other men who presumable followed after her? Because Corianton was ordained. He had the priesthood. He had a duty.
Yea, she did steal away the hearts of many; but this was no excuse for thee, my son. Thou shouldest have tended to the ministry wherewith thou wast entrusted.
So much scope here for the imagination. Corianton's first mistake was not tending to his duty. This is such a powerful lesson for a man. When he is at work, he should work. When he is at home, he should be a husband and a father. When he is at church, he should worship and serve. A man has something to be doing. He should do it. Idleness can kill spiritual progress very quickly. Idleness often leads to mischief. Any four-year-old can be an example of that. It doesn't really change for a forty-year-old.
Why was it no excuse for him? Why not all the other men who presumable followed after her? Because Corianton was ordained. He had the priesthood. He had a duty.
Sunday, November 12, 2017
Alma 38 - Capacity
Lately, I have been focusing on capacity. My fasts and my prayers have been to plead for capacity to see my children for who they are and look past their attitude, behavior, crying, and whining and see them for their diving potential.
I noticed today in my scripture reading of alma 38 that Alma counsels his son, Shiblon, that in order to be filled with love, it is necessary for him to bridle his passion. I have always considered that good advice for a hormonal teenager or pre-mission child or dating-for-marriage returned missionary: true love is not passion, it is just love. Passion will completely get in the way of love, the Spirit, and peace. Bridle the passion, the hormones, the sex drive, the lust, and let love dictate your actions. Love is patient, and seeks the good of others, and obedient to God's commandments.
Perhaps there is another application for parents, although the above is still good advice for a married man. Perhaps he passions that I need to bridle are annoyance, anger, frustration, criticism, cynicism, impatience, etc. I am not all of those things all the time, but I am often employing one of those to my children. The thought is that maybe by actively seeking to bridle, or restrain, those feelings, I will be filled with love. I will have more room to love them. It will be easier for me to see the good.
A temperate man is one to be envied. A man who in all seasons can control himself and keep his calm. A man who can employ a level head and a fixed determination. I want to be that bridled, controlled sort of man.
I noticed today in my scripture reading of alma 38 that Alma counsels his son, Shiblon, that in order to be filled with love, it is necessary for him to bridle his passion. I have always considered that good advice for a hormonal teenager or pre-mission child or dating-for-marriage returned missionary: true love is not passion, it is just love. Passion will completely get in the way of love, the Spirit, and peace. Bridle the passion, the hormones, the sex drive, the lust, and let love dictate your actions. Love is patient, and seeks the good of others, and obedient to God's commandments.
Perhaps there is another application for parents, although the above is still good advice for a married man. Perhaps he passions that I need to bridle are annoyance, anger, frustration, criticism, cynicism, impatience, etc. I am not all of those things all the time, but I am often employing one of those to my children. The thought is that maybe by actively seeking to bridle, or restrain, those feelings, I will be filled with love. I will have more room to love them. It will be easier for me to see the good.
A temperate man is one to be envied. A man who in all seasons can control himself and keep his calm. A man who can employ a level head and a fixed determination. I want to be that bridled, controlled sort of man.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)