Name:____________________________
Score:___________
2009 Football Picks
Week 5
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Hawaii at Louisiana Tech
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Colorado at West Virginia
Friday, October 2, 2009
Pittsburgh at Louisville
Utah State at Brigham Young
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Virginia Tech at Duke
Michigan State at Michigan
Clemson at Maryland
Wisconsin and Minnesota
Virginia at North Carolina
South Florida at Syracuse
East Carolina at Marshall
Tulane at Army
Toledo at Ball State
Northwestern at Purdue
Arkansas State of Iowa
Alabama at Kentucky
Cincinnati at Miami, Ohio
Kansas State at Iowa State
LSU at Georgia
Penn State at Illinois
UCLA at Stanford
Washington at Notre Dame
Florida State at Boston College
North Carolina State at Wake Forest
Central Michigan at Buffalo
Memphis at Central Florida
Air Force at Navy
Western Michigan at Northern Illinois
New Mexico at Texas Tech
Florida international at Louisiana Monroe
Ohio at Bowling Green
Wyoming at Florida Atlantic
UNLV at Nevada
Ohio State at Indiana
Mississippi at Vanderbilt
Oregon State at Arizona State
Kent State at Baylor
South Carolina State at South Carolina
Georgia Tech at Mississippi State
Texas A&M versus Arkansas
Tulsa at Rice
Auburn at Tennessee
UC Davis at Boise State
USC at California
Oklahoma and Miami
Southern Methodist at TCU
New Mexico State at San Diego State
Houston at UTEP
Washington State and Oregon
Colorado State at Idaho
Tiebreaker: Total score in
Utah State at Brigham Young __________
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Week 4 Results
1. Tammy -14
2. Lisa -15 tiebreaker 62
3.dad -15 tiebreaker 49
4.Michael -18 tiebreaker 57
5.Derrinda -18 tiebreaker 52
6.mom -21 tiebreaker 45
7.Juliet -21 tiebreaker 32
Actual tiebreaker 63
2. Lisa -15 tiebreaker 62
3.dad -15 tiebreaker 49
4.Michael -18 tiebreaker 57
5.Derrinda -18 tiebreaker 52
6.mom -21 tiebreaker 45
7.Juliet -21 tiebreaker 32
Actual tiebreaker 63
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Relief Society Lesson - Prophets
Once again, I have just finished teaching my Relief Society lesson today. I chose to teach about Prophets because General Conference is coming up next week. I am once again going to post my outline/visual aids/quotes I used on my blog. Something I didn’t anticipate, which I have noticed, is that a lot of people are logging on to my blog because they are googling Relief Society lessons. As a matter of fact, I had over a hundred hits over the past two or three days from all over the world. Granted, most of them were probably the same person logging on multiple times. I guess a lot of people procrastinate until the day before, or even the morning of, the lesson to prepare. But nonetheless, if other people can benefit from my efforts, then all the better. So here it is. Enjoy!
His Servants, the Prophets
Elder F. Michael Watson of the Seventy
April 2009 General Conference
“The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve are commissioned by God and sustained by you as prophets, seers, and revelators, with the President of the Church sustained as the prophet, seer, and revelator, the senior Apostle, and as such the only man authorized to exercise all of the revelatory and administrative keys for the Church.” -- Elder Jeffrey R. Holland November 2004
The Master speaks to us through his Prophets.
“What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.” -Doctrine and Covenants 1:38
“Important admonition has been given in general conferences of yesteryear and will continue to be expounded by those who have the wisdom of ages past, which allows our hearts to burn within us. It will be in following such counsel that we must be strong, never give up, and endure to the end.”-F. Michael Watson
“You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views . . . [or] your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. But if [we] listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord himself, with patience and faith, the promise is that . . . ‘the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory’.” -Harold B. Lee 1970
“One who rationalizes that he or she has a testimony of Jesus Christ but cannot accept direction and counsel from the leadership of His church is in a fundamentally unsound position and is in jeopardy of losing exaltation” -- Ezra Taft Benson 1982
“That which would be of greatest importance to you would be the words of the current President of the Church, for his words are directed to our day and our needs.” -- Ezra Taft Benson 1979
“If we have a prophet, we have everything. If we do not have a prophet, we have nothing. We do have a prophet. We have had prophets since the founding of this Church. We shall never be without a prophet if we live worthy of a prophet.”-Gordon B. Hinckley 1992
“The Lord is watching over this work. This is His kingdom. We are not as sheep without a shepherd. We are not as an army without a leader.” -Gordon B. Hinckley 1992
Quotes I used but did not make visual aids for:
“In the Doctrine and Covenants, section 88, verse 118, we are admonished to "seek . . . out of the best books words of wisdom." Surely these books must first include the scriptures. Next, and alongside them, must be the words of the Presidents of the Church. In the Doctrine and Covenants, section 21, verse 5, the Lord said of the President of the Church, "His word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth." These books make up what has been referred to as "the Lord's library"--namely the standard works and the various volumes that contain the words of the different Presidents of the Church. Of the latter volumes, that which would be of greatest importance to you would be the words of the current President of the Church, for his words are directed to our day and our needs.
The Lord has also given a special mantle to the apostles, and the significance of their words is pointed out in section 1, verse 14--the Lord's preface to the Doctrine and Covenants-- where he says that those who will not "give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles shall be cut off from among the people." The writing of other General Authorities should be given consideration also.” -- Ezra Taft Benson March 4, 1979 BYU fireside “in his steps”
“... The most vital knowledge you can learn is the saving truths of the gospel--the truths that will make the difference in your eternal welfare. The most vital words that you can read are those of the Presidents of the Church--particularly the living prophet--and those of the apostles and prophets.” -- Ezra Taft Benson March 4, 1979 BYU fireside “In His Steps”
From President Gordon B. Hinckley:
“I heard President Grant on several occasions before I met him. As teenage boys, my brother and I came to this Tabernacle at conference when there was room for anybody who wished to come. As boys are wont to do, we sat in the balcony at the very far end of the building. To me it was always impressive when this tall man stood to speak. Some kind of electricity passed through my boyish frame. His voice rang out in testimony of the Book of Mormon. When he said it was true, I knew it was true. He spoke with great power on the Word of Wisdom and, without hesitation, promised blessings to the people if they would observe it. I have often thought of the human misery, the pain that has resulted from the smoking of cigarettes, the poverty that has resulted from the drinking of liquor which might have been avoided had his prophetic counsel been followed.
He spoke on the law of tithing. I can still hear his great testimony of this principle. He spoke of the fast offering and said, as I remember him from my boyhood days, that if all the world would observe this simple principle, which came as a revelation from God, the needs of the poor over the earth would be met without taxing the people for welfare purposes.
He warned against the enslavement of personal debt. The world at that time was on a reckless pursuit of riches. Then came Black Thursday of November 1929. I was nineteen years of age, a student at the university. I saw the economy crumble. I saw men whom I knew lose everything as their creditors moved against them. I saw much of the trauma and the stress of the times. I thought then, and I have thought since, how so many people might have been saved pain and misery, suffering, embarrassment, and trouble had they listened to the counsel of a prophet concerning personal debt.” -- Gordon B. Hinckley May 1992 “Believe His Prophets”
“President Grant carried to his grave a deep sense of sorrow that, contrary to his counsel, the people of Utah cast the final vote, in 1934, that repealed the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution.…
Now again, as always, we are faced with public moral issues, this time concerning lotteries, pari-mutuel betting, and other forms of gambling. The Presidents of the Church have spoken clearly and unequivocally on these matters.
These are little things, but they are important things. They bring to mind the great contest between the prophet Elijah and the priests of Baal. Said Elijah on that occasion, “How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.” (1 Kgs. 18:21.)
… may I repeat that I have worked with seven Presidents of this Church. I have recognized that all have been human. But I have never been concerned over this. They may have had some weaknesses. But this has never troubled me. I know that the God of heaven has used mortal men throughout history to accomplish His divine purposes. They were the very best available to Him, and they were wonderful.
These men whom I have known and with whom I have worked have been totally unselfish in their zeal to build the kingdom of God and bring happiness into the lives of the people. They have been unsparing in giving of themselves to the great work for which each had responsibility in his particular season.
I speak to the priesthood of this Church, wherever you may be gathered across the world, in gratitude for a prophet to guide us in these latter days. I plead for loyalty to him whom the Lord has called and anointed. I plead for steadfastness in upholding him and giving attention to his teachings. I have said on another occasion at this pulpit that if we have a prophet, we have everything. If we do not have a prophet, we have nothing. We do have a prophet. We have had prophets since the founding of this Church. We shall never be without a prophet if we live worthy of a prophet.
The Lord is watching over this work. This is His kingdom. We are not as sheep without a shepherd. We are not as an army without a leader.” - Gordon B. Hinckley, May 1992 “Believe His Prophets”
His Servants, the Prophets
Elder F. Michael Watson of the Seventy
April 2009 General Conference
“The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve are commissioned by God and sustained by you as prophets, seers, and revelators, with the President of the Church sustained as the prophet, seer, and revelator, the senior Apostle, and as such the only man authorized to exercise all of the revelatory and administrative keys for the Church.” -- Elder Jeffrey R. Holland November 2004
The Master speaks to us through his Prophets.
“What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.” -Doctrine and Covenants 1:38
“Important admonition has been given in general conferences of yesteryear and will continue to be expounded by those who have the wisdom of ages past, which allows our hearts to burn within us. It will be in following such counsel that we must be strong, never give up, and endure to the end.”-F. Michael Watson
“You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views . . . [or] your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. But if [we] listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord himself, with patience and faith, the promise is that . . . ‘the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory’.” -Harold B. Lee 1970
“One who rationalizes that he or she has a testimony of Jesus Christ but cannot accept direction and counsel from the leadership of His church is in a fundamentally unsound position and is in jeopardy of losing exaltation” -- Ezra Taft Benson 1982
“That which would be of greatest importance to you would be the words of the current President of the Church, for his words are directed to our day and our needs.” -- Ezra Taft Benson 1979
“If we have a prophet, we have everything. If we do not have a prophet, we have nothing. We do have a prophet. We have had prophets since the founding of this Church. We shall never be without a prophet if we live worthy of a prophet.”-Gordon B. Hinckley 1992
“The Lord is watching over this work. This is His kingdom. We are not as sheep without a shepherd. We are not as an army without a leader.” -Gordon B. Hinckley 1992
Quotes I used but did not make visual aids for:
“In the Doctrine and Covenants, section 88, verse 118, we are admonished to "seek . . . out of the best books words of wisdom." Surely these books must first include the scriptures. Next, and alongside them, must be the words of the Presidents of the Church. In the Doctrine and Covenants, section 21, verse 5, the Lord said of the President of the Church, "His word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth." These books make up what has been referred to as "the Lord's library"--namely the standard works and the various volumes that contain the words of the different Presidents of the Church. Of the latter volumes, that which would be of greatest importance to you would be the words of the current President of the Church, for his words are directed to our day and our needs.
The Lord has also given a special mantle to the apostles, and the significance of their words is pointed out in section 1, verse 14--the Lord's preface to the Doctrine and Covenants-- where he says that those who will not "give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles shall be cut off from among the people." The writing of other General Authorities should be given consideration also.” -- Ezra Taft Benson March 4, 1979 BYU fireside “in his steps”
“... The most vital knowledge you can learn is the saving truths of the gospel--the truths that will make the difference in your eternal welfare. The most vital words that you can read are those of the Presidents of the Church--particularly the living prophet--and those of the apostles and prophets.” -- Ezra Taft Benson March 4, 1979 BYU fireside “In His Steps”
From President Gordon B. Hinckley:
“I heard President Grant on several occasions before I met him. As teenage boys, my brother and I came to this Tabernacle at conference when there was room for anybody who wished to come. As boys are wont to do, we sat in the balcony at the very far end of the building. To me it was always impressive when this tall man stood to speak. Some kind of electricity passed through my boyish frame. His voice rang out in testimony of the Book of Mormon. When he said it was true, I knew it was true. He spoke with great power on the Word of Wisdom and, without hesitation, promised blessings to the people if they would observe it. I have often thought of the human misery, the pain that has resulted from the smoking of cigarettes, the poverty that has resulted from the drinking of liquor which might have been avoided had his prophetic counsel been followed.
He spoke on the law of tithing. I can still hear his great testimony of this principle. He spoke of the fast offering and said, as I remember him from my boyhood days, that if all the world would observe this simple principle, which came as a revelation from God, the needs of the poor over the earth would be met without taxing the people for welfare purposes.
He warned against the enslavement of personal debt. The world at that time was on a reckless pursuit of riches. Then came Black Thursday of November 1929. I was nineteen years of age, a student at the university. I saw the economy crumble. I saw men whom I knew lose everything as their creditors moved against them. I saw much of the trauma and the stress of the times. I thought then, and I have thought since, how so many people might have been saved pain and misery, suffering, embarrassment, and trouble had they listened to the counsel of a prophet concerning personal debt.” -- Gordon B. Hinckley May 1992 “Believe His Prophets”
“President Grant carried to his grave a deep sense of sorrow that, contrary to his counsel, the people of Utah cast the final vote, in 1934, that repealed the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution.…
Now again, as always, we are faced with public moral issues, this time concerning lotteries, pari-mutuel betting, and other forms of gambling. The Presidents of the Church have spoken clearly and unequivocally on these matters.
These are little things, but they are important things. They bring to mind the great contest between the prophet Elijah and the priests of Baal. Said Elijah on that occasion, “How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.” (1 Kgs. 18:21.)
… may I repeat that I have worked with seven Presidents of this Church. I have recognized that all have been human. But I have never been concerned over this. They may have had some weaknesses. But this has never troubled me. I know that the God of heaven has used mortal men throughout history to accomplish His divine purposes. They were the very best available to Him, and they were wonderful.
These men whom I have known and with whom I have worked have been totally unselfish in their zeal to build the kingdom of God and bring happiness into the lives of the people. They have been unsparing in giving of themselves to the great work for which each had responsibility in his particular season.
I speak to the priesthood of this Church, wherever you may be gathered across the world, in gratitude for a prophet to guide us in these latter days. I plead for loyalty to him whom the Lord has called and anointed. I plead for steadfastness in upholding him and giving attention to his teachings. I have said on another occasion at this pulpit that if we have a prophet, we have everything. If we do not have a prophet, we have nothing. We do have a prophet. We have had prophets since the founding of this Church. We shall never be without a prophet if we live worthy of a prophet.
The Lord is watching over this work. This is His kingdom. We are not as sheep without a shepherd. We are not as an army without a leader.” - Gordon B. Hinckley, May 1992 “Believe His Prophets”
Thursday, September 24, 2009
In His Steps
I have been working on my Relief Society lesson this week. The subject is, His Servants, the Prophets. Taken from the April 2009 General conference address given by Elder F. Michael Watson of the Seventy. As I was doing my research, I found a wonderful article, well fireside, given by Ezra Taft Benson in 1979. There is so much wonderful prophetic counsel in his talk that I wanted to share it with you. I know I just recently posted another lengthy talk given by President Benson. But, this one is also well worth your time and attention. I will be using much of it in my lesson on Sunday. Please take the time to read it, at least once. There is so much wise counsel given, it is worth reading several times. Enjoy!
In His Steps
EZRA TAFT BENSON
Ezra Taft Benson was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when this fireside address was given at Brigham Young University on 4 March 1979.
© Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
My beloved associates--members and friends of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
Sister Benson and I are honored to be in your midst tonight. I pray that the spirit of the Lord will be with us and that I might be an instrument in the Lord's hands to bless and edify you.
For nearly six thousand years, God has held you in reserve to make your appearance in the final days before the Second Coming of the Lord. Every previous gospel dispensation has drifted into apostasy, but ours will not. True, there will be some individuals who will fall away; but the kingdom of God will remain intact to welcome the return of its head--even Jesus Christ. While our generation will be comparable in wickedness to the days of Noah, when the Lord cleansed the earth by flood, there is a major difference this time. It is that God has saved for the final inning some of his strongest children, who will help bear off the Kingdom triumphantly. And that is where you come in, for you are the generation that must be prepared to meet your God.
All through the ages the prophets have looked down through the corridors of time to our day. Billions of the deceased and those yet to be born have their eyes on us. Make no mistake about it--you are a marked generation. There has never been more expected of the faithful in such a short period of time as there is of us. Never before on the face of this earth have the forces of evil and the forces of good been as well organized. Now is the great day of the devil's power, with the greatest mass murderers of all time living among us. But now is also the great day of the Lord's power, with the greatest number ever of priesthood holders on the earth. And the showdown is fast approaching.
Each day the forces of evil and the forces of good pick up new recruits. Each day we personally make many decisions that show where our support will go. The final outcome is certain--the forces of righteousness will finally win. What remains to be seen is where each of us personally, now and in the future, will stand in this fight--and how tall we will stand. Will we be true to our last-days, foreordained mission?
Great battles can make great heroes, but heroes will make great battle. You will never have a better opportunity to be a greater hero in a more crucial battle than in the battle you will face today and in the immediate future. Be warned that some of the greatest battles you will face will be fought within the silent chambers of your own soul. David's battles in the field against the foe were not as critical as David's battles in the palace against a lustful eye. We will each find our own battlefield. The tactics that the enemy will use against us will vary from time to time; he will feel after our weak spots. We must be alert to the devil's devious designs, to the subtle sins and clever compromises as well as the obvious offenses.
Fortunately for us, we have the privilege of fighting under the Lord's banner. While the devil hates us and seeks to make all men miserable like unto himself (see 2 Nephi 2:27), the Lord instead loves us and seeks for us the fullness of joy which He possesses.
Christ lived on the earth and was subject to all manner of temptation, but He won every battle. He is the most successful warrior that ever walked the earth, and He wants to help us win every battle, be it personal or public. When we fall short, His atonement will cover for us on certain conditions.
Jesus knows that His kingdom will triumph, and He wants you to triumph with it, too. He knows in advance every strategy the enemy will use against you and the Kingdom. He knows your weaknesses and He knows your strengths. By revelation, personal to you, you may discover some of these strengths and weaknesses through a careful and prayerful study of your patriarchal blessing. Through proper prayer you can ask him to reveal to you your weaknesses so that you can amend your life. In the Book of Mormon in Ether, chapter 12, verse 27, the Lord says the following:
If men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. . . . If they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.
God can reveal to you your talents and your strengths so that you will know upon what you can build. Be assured that in all your righteous endeavors you can say, as Paul said in Philippians, chapter 4, verse 13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." And also be assured, as Paul said in 1 Corinthians, chapter 10, verse 13, that no temptation will befall you but what is common to man and that God will, with each temptation, provide a way to escape.
We follow a perfect leader--not just one who tells us to do what he thinks we should do, but the only one who can say that we should be as He is in everything. In the Book of Mormon, in 3 Nephi, chapter 27, verse 27, the Lord asked the question, "What manner of men ought ye to be?" And then He answered by saying, "Verily I say unto you, even as I am."
What manner of man was Jesus when He was your age--when He was growing into manhood, when He was personally preparing Himself during those thirty years for His three-year public ministry? Turning to the book of Luke in the New Testament, chapter 2, verse 52, we read these words: "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."
Here, then, are the four great areas where Jesus grew in personal preparation. Your first thirty years cover the time in your life when most of you will be serving missions, getting your education, dating, getting married, establishing homes, and finding and beginning a career. If we, then, are to follow in His footsteps, we should increase in those same four areas in which He increased. In the Doctrine and Covenants, section 93, verse 13, it states that Jesus "received not of the fullness at first, but continued from grace to grace [not from sin to grace, but from grace to grace] until he received a fullness." We too should move "from grace to grace" "in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man." Let us consider these four areas.
"Jesus Increased in Wisdom"
Wisdom could be considered the proper application of true knowledge. Not all knowledge has the same worth, nor are all truths equally valuable. The truths upon which our eternal salvation rests are the most crucial truths that we must learn. No man is truly educated unless he knows where he came from, why he is here, and where he can expect to go in the next life; unless he can adequately answer the question which Jesus posed: "What think ye of Christ?" The world cannot teach us these things as the Kingdom can. Therefore, the most essential knowledge for you to obtain is the saving knowledge within the gospel and the knowledge of its author--even Jesus Christ. In fact, that eternal life for which we should all be striving--which is the greatest gift that God can give and which is God's type of life, the life of the great Eternal One--that eternal life comes from knowing our Father in heaven and His Son, our Elder Brother, Jesus Christ. As the scripture in John, chapter 17, verse 3, reads, "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." We cannot know about God and Jesus without studying about them and then doing their will. This in turn will lead to additional revealed knowledge which, if obeyed, will eventually lead us to further truths. If we keep following this pattern, we will receive further light and joy that will eventually lead us into God's presence where we, with Him, will have a fullness.
In the Doctrine and Covenants, section 88, verse 118, we are admonished to "seek . . . out of the best books words of wisdom." Surely these books must first include the scriptures. Next, and alongside them, must be the words of the Presidents of the Church. In the Doctrine and Covenants, section 21, verse 5, the Lord said of the President of the Church, "His word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth." These books make up what has been referred to as "the Lord's library"--namely the standard works and the various volumes that contain the words of the different Presidents of the Church. Of the latter volumes, that which would be of greatest importance to you would be the words of the current President of the Church, for his words are directed to our day and our needs.
The Lord has also given a special mantle to the apostles, and the significance of their words is pointed out in section 1, verse 14--the Lord's preface to the Doctrine and Covenants-- where he says that those who will not "give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles shall be cut off from among the people." The writing of other General Authorities should be given consideration also.
While the gospel includes the more crucial saving truths contained within theology, it also includes truth in other branches of learning. The Lord encouraged the early missionaries in the 88th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, verse 79, to be instructed more perfectly in
things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms.
Today, with the abundance of books available, it is the mark of a truly educated man to know what not to read. "Of making many books there is no end" (Ecclesiastes 12:12). Feed only on the best. As John Wesley's mother counseled him: "Avoid whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, takes off your relish for spiritual things, . . . increases the authority of the body over the mind."
The fact that a book is old does not necessarily make it of value. The fact that an author wrote one good work does not necessarily mean that all his books are worthy of your time. Do not make your mind a dumping ground for other people's garbage. It is harder to purge the mind of rotten reading than to purge the body of rotten food, and it is more damaging to the soul.
Most novels and pulp magazines are filled with a lot of rubbish, and most TV and a lot of radio programs are a waste of time, if not corruptors of morals or distorters of truth. The less newspapers have to say of value and of truth, the more pages they seem to take to say it. Usually a few minutes is more than sufficient to read a paper. One must select wisely a source of news; otherwise it would be better to be uninformed than misinformed. The subscribers of some mass magazines and newspapers are ever reading but seldom able to come to a knowledge of the truth in the areas of most vital concern.
As we approach the showdown, it will be increasingly valuable to have vocational skills--to be able to use our hands. The most essential temporal skills and knowledge are to be able to provide food, clothing, and shelter. Increasingly the Lord, through His servants, is trying to get us closer to the soil by raising our own produce.
Let us summarize. The most vital knowledge you can learn is the saving truths of the gospel--the truths that will make the difference in your eternal welfare. The most vital words that you can read are those of the Presidents of the Church--particularly the living prophet--and those of the apostles and prophets. God encourages learning in many areas, and vocational skills will have increasing importance. There is much reading material that is available that is either time-wasting or corrupting. The best yardstick to use in discerning the worth of true knowledge and learning is to go first and foremost to the words of the Lord's prophets.
"Jesus Increased in . . . Stature"
There is no question that the health of the body affects the spirit, or the Lord would never have revealed the Word of Wisdom. God has never given any temporal commandments--that which affects our stature affects our soul. There are at least four basic areas which make the difference in your health--in your growing in stature.
First: righteousness. Sin debilitates; it affects not only the soul but the body. The scriptures are replete with examples of the physical power that can attend the righteous. On the other hand, unrepented sin can diffuse energy and lead to both mental and physical sickness. Disease, fevers, and unexpected deaths are some of the things that have been directly related to disobedience. Jesus healed a man of a physical malady and then told him in John, chapter 5, verse 14, to "sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee." Galahad said that his strength was as the strength of ten because his heart was pure.
Second: food. To a great extent we are physically what we eat. Most of us are acquainted with some of the prohibitions, such as no tea, coffee, tobacco, or alcohol. What need additional emphasis are the positive aspects--the need for vegetables, fruits, and grains, particularly wheat. In most cases, the closer these can be, when eaten, to their natural state-- without overrefinement and processing--the healthier we will be. To a significant degree, we are an overfed and undernourished nation digging an early grave with our teeth, and lacking the energy that could be ours because we overindulge in junk foods. I am grateful to know that on this campus you can get apples from vending machines, that you have in your student center a fine salad bar, and that you produce an excellent loaf of natural whole-grain bread. Keep it up and keep progressing in that direction. We need a generation of young people who, as Daniel, eat in a more healthy manner than to fare on the "king's meat"--and whose countenances show it (see Daniel 1).
Third: exercise. The body needs the toning up that comes from exercise. Walking in the fresh air can be exhilarating and refreshing. Properly directed running can have some beneficial effects. Simple situps or sporting activity can be helpful.
Fourth: sleep. Adequate early rest is best. In the Doctrine and Covenants, section 88, verse 124, the Lord commands: "Cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated." There are too many enticements to late evening activities. Not only can this weary the body, but a wearied body may be more susceptible to improper activities in the darkness and lateness of the night. Early to bed and early to rise is still good counsel, and a brief nap during the day can be recuperative.
"Jesus Increased . . . in Favor with God"
What are some of the things that would increase our favor with God? There are many, of course. The book of Abraham in the Pearl of Great Price, chapter 3, verse 25, states that one of the purposes of life is to be proved to see if we "will do all things whatsoever the Lord [our] God shall command [us]." In short, we are to learn the will of the Lord and do it. We are to follow the model of Jesus Christ and be like Him. The essential question of life should be the same one that Paul asked in the book of Acts, chapter 9, verse 6, when he said, "Lord, what wilt thou have me do?" God's will for you can be determined from three sources: (1) the scriptures--particularly the Book of Mormon, of which the Prophet Joseph said, "a man would get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book" (Joseph Smith, History of the Church 4:461)--(2) inspired words from the Lord's anointed--particularly the presidents of the Church and especially the living one, along with the words of the apostles and prophets (local Church leaders are also entitled to give inspired direction for those over whom they preside)--and (3) the spirit of the Lord.
The world has the light of Christ to help guide it, but we are entitled to that great gift, the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the Holy Ghost to be fully operative we have to keep our channels clear of sin. The clearer our channels, the easier it is to receive God's message to us; and the more of His messages we receive and put into action, the greater will be our joy. If our channels are not clear of sin, then we may think we have gotten inspiration on a matter when it is really "sin-spiration"--that is, promptings from the devil.
To the end of clearing our channels and keeping them clear, I would admonish all of you to read President Kimball's book The Miracle of Forgiveness; and the sooner you can read it the greater blessing it will be for you. Other practices that would increase our favor with God would include daily scripture study, along with personal prayers morning, midday, and night. We also need to render service to our Father's children through the family, the Church, and the country.
God has a timetable--a sequence or season for good things. A mission, when its time has arrived, takes priority over marriage and education. And when one is mature enough and has found the right company, then marriage should not be delayed for education. While all three--mission, marriage, and education--are essential, there is a proper order to follow.
We need more men and women of Christ who will always remember Him, who will keep His commandments which He has given them. The greatest yardstick of success is to see how much your daily walk can be like Christ's--how closely you can walk each moment in His steps.
"Jesus Increased . . . in Favor with . . . Man"
The greatest roles you can take to bless your fellowmen are to be strong missionaries and to be strong patriarchs and matriarchs--to raise a righteous posterity who will be part of the solutions to the world's problems and not part of the problems. You have probably heard that the greatest Church work you can perform will be within the walls of your own home. It is also true that no nation is stronger than its homes. For a man, there is no calling as high as that of a righteous patriarch, married in the house of the Lord, presiding over his children. Even the very Elohim has us address Him as "our Father who art in heaven." For a woman there is no calling as high as that of a righteous mother, married in the House of the Lord, rearing a posterity.
Someone has said that happy is the man who has found his worship, his wife, and his work, and loves all three. Do you realize that during your comparatively young years, you will probably be making three of the most momentous decisions of your life? You will be deciding on the role of the Church or worship in your life, selecting a wife or husband, and--particularly for you men--choosing your life's work.
All of you can know, if you do not know already, that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church. All you need to do to gain this knowledge is to carefully read the Book of Mormon and then do what is stated in Moroni, chapter 10, verse 4:
And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
If the Book of Mormon is true--which I testify that it is--then Joseph Smith was a prophet. If Joseph Smith was a prophet, then the church he established, as an instrument in God's hands, is true--even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If the Church is true, then there stands at the head of the Church today a prophet of God.
In addition to finding your worship, you will need to find your wife or husband. This will require careful and prayerful consideration. It would be well to mingle with many good people to have a better understanding of others. It you desire a fine companion, then you should be on a high and wholesome level. One of the best yardsticks for knowing whether a certain person may be best for you is to ask yourself what kind of an influence this person has on you. In their presence do you wish you were better than you are--do you think some of your noblest thoughts--are you encouraged to goodly deeds? If this is so, then that person could be worthy of greater consideration. But if being in their company makes you tend in the opposite direction, you had best leave them.
Young women, you are not required to lower your standards to get a husband. Keep yourselves attractive, maintain high standards, place yourselves in a position to meet worthy men, and be engaged in constructive work. Then, if you are married later than sooner--if you even have to wait until the next life to get a choice man--God will make up the difference to you. Time is numbered only to man. God has your eternal perspective in mind.
And now, so far as your work is concerned: It is divinely ordained what a woman should do, but a man must seek out his work. The divine work of women involves companionship, homemaking, and motherhood. It is well if skills in these three areas can first be learned in the parents' home and then be supplemented at school if the need or desire presents itself. The first priority for a woman is to prepare herself for her divine and eternal mission, whether she is married soon or late. It is folly to neglect that preparation for education in unrelated fields just to prepare temporarily to earn money. Women, when you are married it is the husband's role to provide, not yours. Do not sacrifice your preparation for an eternally ordained mission for the temporary expediency of money-making skills that you may or may not use. I do not think it needs to be an "either/or" choice; but if it does, then choose the divine mission preparation. Some women are well prepared for their mission and want to acquire additional skills in other areas; and that is fine, if they so desire. It is simply a case of putting first things first. To paraphrase the Lord, when He was speaking of those who obeyed the lesser law and neglected the weightier matters: these ye might do, but do not leave the other undone (see Matthew 23:23). Some women acquire money-making skills in areas closely related to their divine missions, and the advantages of that approach are plain.
Brethren, it is your role to be the leader in the home. While the wife may be considered the heart of the home, you are the head. You are the provider, and it takes the edge off your manliness when you have the mother of your children also be a provider. What will you choose for a career? What will your work be? It has been said that no one is born into this world whose work is not born with him or her. We bring from our preexistent state various talents and abilities. We strive to find the right wife, and it is our responsibility to strive to find where we can make a contribution to our fellowman--an area where we have some interest and abilities and where we can, at the same time, provide for our own.
I am glad Beethoven found his way into music, Rembrandt into art, Michelangelo into sculpturing, and President David O. McKay into teaching. To find your proper niche and do well at it can bless you, yours, and your fellowmen. If you need help finding your career, it is available: (1) Ponder and pray about it; (2) study closely your patriarchal blessing; (3) consider what you do well; (4) take some vocational and interest tests; and (5) get acquainted with various professions to see what is available.
I understand that you have a fine career counseling center here at BYU with a diversified program that offers help through classes, testing, seminars, a library, and so on. I hope that if you feel the need you will take advantage of these opportunities. How true it is--happy is the man who has found his worship, his wife, and his work, and loves them all.
The world is gradually beating a path to our door to see how we do things. Stick by your righteous guns and you will bless your fellowman. Be right, and then be easy to live with, if possible--but in that order.
My beloved brothers and sisters, "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man," and so can you. You are a royal generation. The heavenly grandstands are cheering you on. We are fast coming to the close of this game. The opposition is real and is scoring. But we have scored, we are scoring, and we will score in the future. The Lord is our coach and manager. His team will win, and we can be a valiant part of it if we so desire. Rise up, O youth of Zion! You hardly realize the great divine potential that lies within you. May you all follow your leader, Jesus Christ, and increase mentally, physically, spiritually, and socially, I pray for all of you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
In His Steps
EZRA TAFT BENSON
Ezra Taft Benson was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when this fireside address was given at Brigham Young University on 4 March 1979.
© Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
My beloved associates--members and friends of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
Sister Benson and I are honored to be in your midst tonight. I pray that the spirit of the Lord will be with us and that I might be an instrument in the Lord's hands to bless and edify you.
For nearly six thousand years, God has held you in reserve to make your appearance in the final days before the Second Coming of the Lord. Every previous gospel dispensation has drifted into apostasy, but ours will not. True, there will be some individuals who will fall away; but the kingdom of God will remain intact to welcome the return of its head--even Jesus Christ. While our generation will be comparable in wickedness to the days of Noah, when the Lord cleansed the earth by flood, there is a major difference this time. It is that God has saved for the final inning some of his strongest children, who will help bear off the Kingdom triumphantly. And that is where you come in, for you are the generation that must be prepared to meet your God.
All through the ages the prophets have looked down through the corridors of time to our day. Billions of the deceased and those yet to be born have their eyes on us. Make no mistake about it--you are a marked generation. There has never been more expected of the faithful in such a short period of time as there is of us. Never before on the face of this earth have the forces of evil and the forces of good been as well organized. Now is the great day of the devil's power, with the greatest mass murderers of all time living among us. But now is also the great day of the Lord's power, with the greatest number ever of priesthood holders on the earth. And the showdown is fast approaching.
Each day the forces of evil and the forces of good pick up new recruits. Each day we personally make many decisions that show where our support will go. The final outcome is certain--the forces of righteousness will finally win. What remains to be seen is where each of us personally, now and in the future, will stand in this fight--and how tall we will stand. Will we be true to our last-days, foreordained mission?
Great battles can make great heroes, but heroes will make great battle. You will never have a better opportunity to be a greater hero in a more crucial battle than in the battle you will face today and in the immediate future. Be warned that some of the greatest battles you will face will be fought within the silent chambers of your own soul. David's battles in the field against the foe were not as critical as David's battles in the palace against a lustful eye. We will each find our own battlefield. The tactics that the enemy will use against us will vary from time to time; he will feel after our weak spots. We must be alert to the devil's devious designs, to the subtle sins and clever compromises as well as the obvious offenses.
Fortunately for us, we have the privilege of fighting under the Lord's banner. While the devil hates us and seeks to make all men miserable like unto himself (see 2 Nephi 2:27), the Lord instead loves us and seeks for us the fullness of joy which He possesses.
Christ lived on the earth and was subject to all manner of temptation, but He won every battle. He is the most successful warrior that ever walked the earth, and He wants to help us win every battle, be it personal or public. When we fall short, His atonement will cover for us on certain conditions.
Jesus knows that His kingdom will triumph, and He wants you to triumph with it, too. He knows in advance every strategy the enemy will use against you and the Kingdom. He knows your weaknesses and He knows your strengths. By revelation, personal to you, you may discover some of these strengths and weaknesses through a careful and prayerful study of your patriarchal blessing. Through proper prayer you can ask him to reveal to you your weaknesses so that you can amend your life. In the Book of Mormon in Ether, chapter 12, verse 27, the Lord says the following:
If men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. . . . If they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.
God can reveal to you your talents and your strengths so that you will know upon what you can build. Be assured that in all your righteous endeavors you can say, as Paul said in Philippians, chapter 4, verse 13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." And also be assured, as Paul said in 1 Corinthians, chapter 10, verse 13, that no temptation will befall you but what is common to man and that God will, with each temptation, provide a way to escape.
We follow a perfect leader--not just one who tells us to do what he thinks we should do, but the only one who can say that we should be as He is in everything. In the Book of Mormon, in 3 Nephi, chapter 27, verse 27, the Lord asked the question, "What manner of men ought ye to be?" And then He answered by saying, "Verily I say unto you, even as I am."
What manner of man was Jesus when He was your age--when He was growing into manhood, when He was personally preparing Himself during those thirty years for His three-year public ministry? Turning to the book of Luke in the New Testament, chapter 2, verse 52, we read these words: "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."
Here, then, are the four great areas where Jesus grew in personal preparation. Your first thirty years cover the time in your life when most of you will be serving missions, getting your education, dating, getting married, establishing homes, and finding and beginning a career. If we, then, are to follow in His footsteps, we should increase in those same four areas in which He increased. In the Doctrine and Covenants, section 93, verse 13, it states that Jesus "received not of the fullness at first, but continued from grace to grace [not from sin to grace, but from grace to grace] until he received a fullness." We too should move "from grace to grace" "in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man." Let us consider these four areas.
"Jesus Increased in Wisdom"
Wisdom could be considered the proper application of true knowledge. Not all knowledge has the same worth, nor are all truths equally valuable. The truths upon which our eternal salvation rests are the most crucial truths that we must learn. No man is truly educated unless he knows where he came from, why he is here, and where he can expect to go in the next life; unless he can adequately answer the question which Jesus posed: "What think ye of Christ?" The world cannot teach us these things as the Kingdom can. Therefore, the most essential knowledge for you to obtain is the saving knowledge within the gospel and the knowledge of its author--even Jesus Christ. In fact, that eternal life for which we should all be striving--which is the greatest gift that God can give and which is God's type of life, the life of the great Eternal One--that eternal life comes from knowing our Father in heaven and His Son, our Elder Brother, Jesus Christ. As the scripture in John, chapter 17, verse 3, reads, "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." We cannot know about God and Jesus without studying about them and then doing their will. This in turn will lead to additional revealed knowledge which, if obeyed, will eventually lead us to further truths. If we keep following this pattern, we will receive further light and joy that will eventually lead us into God's presence where we, with Him, will have a fullness.
In the Doctrine and Covenants, section 88, verse 118, we are admonished to "seek . . . out of the best books words of wisdom." Surely these books must first include the scriptures. Next, and alongside them, must be the words of the Presidents of the Church. In the Doctrine and Covenants, section 21, verse 5, the Lord said of the President of the Church, "His word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth." These books make up what has been referred to as "the Lord's library"--namely the standard works and the various volumes that contain the words of the different Presidents of the Church. Of the latter volumes, that which would be of greatest importance to you would be the words of the current President of the Church, for his words are directed to our day and our needs.
The Lord has also given a special mantle to the apostles, and the significance of their words is pointed out in section 1, verse 14--the Lord's preface to the Doctrine and Covenants-- where he says that those who will not "give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles shall be cut off from among the people." The writing of other General Authorities should be given consideration also.
While the gospel includes the more crucial saving truths contained within theology, it also includes truth in other branches of learning. The Lord encouraged the early missionaries in the 88th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, verse 79, to be instructed more perfectly in
things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms.
Today, with the abundance of books available, it is the mark of a truly educated man to know what not to read. "Of making many books there is no end" (Ecclesiastes 12:12). Feed only on the best. As John Wesley's mother counseled him: "Avoid whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, takes off your relish for spiritual things, . . . increases the authority of the body over the mind."
The fact that a book is old does not necessarily make it of value. The fact that an author wrote one good work does not necessarily mean that all his books are worthy of your time. Do not make your mind a dumping ground for other people's garbage. It is harder to purge the mind of rotten reading than to purge the body of rotten food, and it is more damaging to the soul.
Most novels and pulp magazines are filled with a lot of rubbish, and most TV and a lot of radio programs are a waste of time, if not corruptors of morals or distorters of truth. The less newspapers have to say of value and of truth, the more pages they seem to take to say it. Usually a few minutes is more than sufficient to read a paper. One must select wisely a source of news; otherwise it would be better to be uninformed than misinformed. The subscribers of some mass magazines and newspapers are ever reading but seldom able to come to a knowledge of the truth in the areas of most vital concern.
As we approach the showdown, it will be increasingly valuable to have vocational skills--to be able to use our hands. The most essential temporal skills and knowledge are to be able to provide food, clothing, and shelter. Increasingly the Lord, through His servants, is trying to get us closer to the soil by raising our own produce.
Let us summarize. The most vital knowledge you can learn is the saving truths of the gospel--the truths that will make the difference in your eternal welfare. The most vital words that you can read are those of the Presidents of the Church--particularly the living prophet--and those of the apostles and prophets. God encourages learning in many areas, and vocational skills will have increasing importance. There is much reading material that is available that is either time-wasting or corrupting. The best yardstick to use in discerning the worth of true knowledge and learning is to go first and foremost to the words of the Lord's prophets.
"Jesus Increased in . . . Stature"
There is no question that the health of the body affects the spirit, or the Lord would never have revealed the Word of Wisdom. God has never given any temporal commandments--that which affects our stature affects our soul. There are at least four basic areas which make the difference in your health--in your growing in stature.
First: righteousness. Sin debilitates; it affects not only the soul but the body. The scriptures are replete with examples of the physical power that can attend the righteous. On the other hand, unrepented sin can diffuse energy and lead to both mental and physical sickness. Disease, fevers, and unexpected deaths are some of the things that have been directly related to disobedience. Jesus healed a man of a physical malady and then told him in John, chapter 5, verse 14, to "sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee." Galahad said that his strength was as the strength of ten because his heart was pure.
Second: food. To a great extent we are physically what we eat. Most of us are acquainted with some of the prohibitions, such as no tea, coffee, tobacco, or alcohol. What need additional emphasis are the positive aspects--the need for vegetables, fruits, and grains, particularly wheat. In most cases, the closer these can be, when eaten, to their natural state-- without overrefinement and processing--the healthier we will be. To a significant degree, we are an overfed and undernourished nation digging an early grave with our teeth, and lacking the energy that could be ours because we overindulge in junk foods. I am grateful to know that on this campus you can get apples from vending machines, that you have in your student center a fine salad bar, and that you produce an excellent loaf of natural whole-grain bread. Keep it up and keep progressing in that direction. We need a generation of young people who, as Daniel, eat in a more healthy manner than to fare on the "king's meat"--and whose countenances show it (see Daniel 1).
Third: exercise. The body needs the toning up that comes from exercise. Walking in the fresh air can be exhilarating and refreshing. Properly directed running can have some beneficial effects. Simple situps or sporting activity can be helpful.
Fourth: sleep. Adequate early rest is best. In the Doctrine and Covenants, section 88, verse 124, the Lord commands: "Cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated." There are too many enticements to late evening activities. Not only can this weary the body, but a wearied body may be more susceptible to improper activities in the darkness and lateness of the night. Early to bed and early to rise is still good counsel, and a brief nap during the day can be recuperative.
"Jesus Increased . . . in Favor with God"
What are some of the things that would increase our favor with God? There are many, of course. The book of Abraham in the Pearl of Great Price, chapter 3, verse 25, states that one of the purposes of life is to be proved to see if we "will do all things whatsoever the Lord [our] God shall command [us]." In short, we are to learn the will of the Lord and do it. We are to follow the model of Jesus Christ and be like Him. The essential question of life should be the same one that Paul asked in the book of Acts, chapter 9, verse 6, when he said, "Lord, what wilt thou have me do?" God's will for you can be determined from three sources: (1) the scriptures--particularly the Book of Mormon, of which the Prophet Joseph said, "a man would get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book" (Joseph Smith, History of the Church 4:461)--(2) inspired words from the Lord's anointed--particularly the presidents of the Church and especially the living one, along with the words of the apostles and prophets (local Church leaders are also entitled to give inspired direction for those over whom they preside)--and (3) the spirit of the Lord.
The world has the light of Christ to help guide it, but we are entitled to that great gift, the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the Holy Ghost to be fully operative we have to keep our channels clear of sin. The clearer our channels, the easier it is to receive God's message to us; and the more of His messages we receive and put into action, the greater will be our joy. If our channels are not clear of sin, then we may think we have gotten inspiration on a matter when it is really "sin-spiration"--that is, promptings from the devil.
To the end of clearing our channels and keeping them clear, I would admonish all of you to read President Kimball's book The Miracle of Forgiveness; and the sooner you can read it the greater blessing it will be for you. Other practices that would increase our favor with God would include daily scripture study, along with personal prayers morning, midday, and night. We also need to render service to our Father's children through the family, the Church, and the country.
God has a timetable--a sequence or season for good things. A mission, when its time has arrived, takes priority over marriage and education. And when one is mature enough and has found the right company, then marriage should not be delayed for education. While all three--mission, marriage, and education--are essential, there is a proper order to follow.
We need more men and women of Christ who will always remember Him, who will keep His commandments which He has given them. The greatest yardstick of success is to see how much your daily walk can be like Christ's--how closely you can walk each moment in His steps.
"Jesus Increased . . . in Favor with . . . Man"
The greatest roles you can take to bless your fellowmen are to be strong missionaries and to be strong patriarchs and matriarchs--to raise a righteous posterity who will be part of the solutions to the world's problems and not part of the problems. You have probably heard that the greatest Church work you can perform will be within the walls of your own home. It is also true that no nation is stronger than its homes. For a man, there is no calling as high as that of a righteous patriarch, married in the house of the Lord, presiding over his children. Even the very Elohim has us address Him as "our Father who art in heaven." For a woman there is no calling as high as that of a righteous mother, married in the House of the Lord, rearing a posterity.
Someone has said that happy is the man who has found his worship, his wife, and his work, and loves all three. Do you realize that during your comparatively young years, you will probably be making three of the most momentous decisions of your life? You will be deciding on the role of the Church or worship in your life, selecting a wife or husband, and--particularly for you men--choosing your life's work.
All of you can know, if you do not know already, that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church. All you need to do to gain this knowledge is to carefully read the Book of Mormon and then do what is stated in Moroni, chapter 10, verse 4:
And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
If the Book of Mormon is true--which I testify that it is--then Joseph Smith was a prophet. If Joseph Smith was a prophet, then the church he established, as an instrument in God's hands, is true--even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If the Church is true, then there stands at the head of the Church today a prophet of God.
In addition to finding your worship, you will need to find your wife or husband. This will require careful and prayerful consideration. It would be well to mingle with many good people to have a better understanding of others. It you desire a fine companion, then you should be on a high and wholesome level. One of the best yardsticks for knowing whether a certain person may be best for you is to ask yourself what kind of an influence this person has on you. In their presence do you wish you were better than you are--do you think some of your noblest thoughts--are you encouraged to goodly deeds? If this is so, then that person could be worthy of greater consideration. But if being in their company makes you tend in the opposite direction, you had best leave them.
Young women, you are not required to lower your standards to get a husband. Keep yourselves attractive, maintain high standards, place yourselves in a position to meet worthy men, and be engaged in constructive work. Then, if you are married later than sooner--if you even have to wait until the next life to get a choice man--God will make up the difference to you. Time is numbered only to man. God has your eternal perspective in mind.
And now, so far as your work is concerned: It is divinely ordained what a woman should do, but a man must seek out his work. The divine work of women involves companionship, homemaking, and motherhood. It is well if skills in these three areas can first be learned in the parents' home and then be supplemented at school if the need or desire presents itself. The first priority for a woman is to prepare herself for her divine and eternal mission, whether she is married soon or late. It is folly to neglect that preparation for education in unrelated fields just to prepare temporarily to earn money. Women, when you are married it is the husband's role to provide, not yours. Do not sacrifice your preparation for an eternally ordained mission for the temporary expediency of money-making skills that you may or may not use. I do not think it needs to be an "either/or" choice; but if it does, then choose the divine mission preparation. Some women are well prepared for their mission and want to acquire additional skills in other areas; and that is fine, if they so desire. It is simply a case of putting first things first. To paraphrase the Lord, when He was speaking of those who obeyed the lesser law and neglected the weightier matters: these ye might do, but do not leave the other undone (see Matthew 23:23). Some women acquire money-making skills in areas closely related to their divine missions, and the advantages of that approach are plain.
Brethren, it is your role to be the leader in the home. While the wife may be considered the heart of the home, you are the head. You are the provider, and it takes the edge off your manliness when you have the mother of your children also be a provider. What will you choose for a career? What will your work be? It has been said that no one is born into this world whose work is not born with him or her. We bring from our preexistent state various talents and abilities. We strive to find the right wife, and it is our responsibility to strive to find where we can make a contribution to our fellowman--an area where we have some interest and abilities and where we can, at the same time, provide for our own.
I am glad Beethoven found his way into music, Rembrandt into art, Michelangelo into sculpturing, and President David O. McKay into teaching. To find your proper niche and do well at it can bless you, yours, and your fellowmen. If you need help finding your career, it is available: (1) Ponder and pray about it; (2) study closely your patriarchal blessing; (3) consider what you do well; (4) take some vocational and interest tests; and (5) get acquainted with various professions to see what is available.
I understand that you have a fine career counseling center here at BYU with a diversified program that offers help through classes, testing, seminars, a library, and so on. I hope that if you feel the need you will take advantage of these opportunities. How true it is--happy is the man who has found his worship, his wife, and his work, and loves them all.
The world is gradually beating a path to our door to see how we do things. Stick by your righteous guns and you will bless your fellowman. Be right, and then be easy to live with, if possible--but in that order.
My beloved brothers and sisters, "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man," and so can you. You are a royal generation. The heavenly grandstands are cheering you on. We are fast coming to the close of this game. The opposition is real and is scoring. But we have scored, we are scoring, and we will score in the future. The Lord is our coach and manager. His team will win, and we can be a valiant part of it if we so desire. Rise up, O youth of Zion! You hardly realize the great divine potential that lies within you. May you all follow your leader, Jesus Christ, and increase mentally, physically, spiritually, and socially, I pray for all of you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Grandma Sabin Lesson Number Two
I mentioned, in a previous posting, a lesson I learned about decision-making from Grandma Sabin. I would like to tell you about another lesson I learned from her. That is, the value of getting an education. In fact, I can partly attribute my education to Grandma Sabin.
Grandma Sabin always stressed the value of receiving an education. Higher education that is. It was something she never received. Maybe this is why she stressed it so much. She did attend BYU, when her kids were older, majoring in premed, but as far as I'm aware she never received a degree.
Maybe this is where I developed my love for medicine. I don't know. For as long as I can remember I had wanted to become a doctor. And I did eventually reach that goal. Grandma always encouraged me to pursue my education.
Education is never wasted. I hear people say that since they don’t use the education they received, it was a waste. I say, knowledge is never a waste. Just because you don’t use your knowledge on a daily basis in your career, you nonetheless received that knowledge, and carry it with you always. It is surprising to me how much I still remember from my education. And even the knowledge that I don’t remember is still in my brain somewhere. So I don’t feel that receiving an education is ever wasteful. In fact, I would go so far as to say, it’s probably the best investment you can make.
Your knowledge, is the only thing you can take with you when you die. Like my buddy Mark Chesnutt says, “they don’t make a hearse with a luggage rack”.
After I graduated from Utah State University, I faced a decision on what to do next with my life. I wasn’t sure I wanted to pursue further education. I rationalized that medical school was another four years plus residency, and I would be an old lady by the time I finished. Grandma told me, "That is true but, you are going to be old eventually anyway, whether you receive a medical degree or not." (that’s not a direct quote but that’s what I got out of the conversation.) So, after weighing the pros and cons, I decided to pursue a medical degree. Even though it was very difficult at times, I am very grateful that I did. Even though, because of present circumstances, I am not able to use my knowledge in a career. I am thankful for my knowledge. Attaining knowledge is never a waste. Knowledge is power.
Doctrine and Covenants 130:18-19
18 Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.
19 And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.
I would like to follow in Grandma Sabin’s footsteps and encourage the pursuit of education. It won’t be easy, there will probably be much sacrifice required, but it will be worth it.
That’s my two cents.
Grandma Sabin always stressed the value of receiving an education. Higher education that is. It was something she never received. Maybe this is why she stressed it so much. She did attend BYU, when her kids were older, majoring in premed, but as far as I'm aware she never received a degree.
Maybe this is where I developed my love for medicine. I don't know. For as long as I can remember I had wanted to become a doctor. And I did eventually reach that goal. Grandma always encouraged me to pursue my education.
Education is never wasted. I hear people say that since they don’t use the education they received, it was a waste. I say, knowledge is never a waste. Just because you don’t use your knowledge on a daily basis in your career, you nonetheless received that knowledge, and carry it with you always. It is surprising to me how much I still remember from my education. And even the knowledge that I don’t remember is still in my brain somewhere. So I don’t feel that receiving an education is ever wasteful. In fact, I would go so far as to say, it’s probably the best investment you can make.
Your knowledge, is the only thing you can take with you when you die. Like my buddy Mark Chesnutt says, “they don’t make a hearse with a luggage rack”.
After I graduated from Utah State University, I faced a decision on what to do next with my life. I wasn’t sure I wanted to pursue further education. I rationalized that medical school was another four years plus residency, and I would be an old lady by the time I finished. Grandma told me, "That is true but, you are going to be old eventually anyway, whether you receive a medical degree or not." (that’s not a direct quote but that’s what I got out of the conversation.) So, after weighing the pros and cons, I decided to pursue a medical degree. Even though it was very difficult at times, I am very grateful that I did. Even though, because of present circumstances, I am not able to use my knowledge in a career. I am thankful for my knowledge. Attaining knowledge is never a waste. Knowledge is power.
Doctrine and Covenants 130:18-19
18 Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.
19 And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.
I would like to follow in Grandma Sabin’s footsteps and encourage the pursuit of education. It won’t be easy, there will probably be much sacrifice required, but it will be worth it.
That’s my two cents.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Week 4 College Football Picks
Name:____________________________
Score:___________
2009 Football Picks
Week 4
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Mississippi at South Carolina
Friday, September 25, 2009
Missouri at Nevada
Saturday, September 26, 2009
LSU at Mississippi State
Fresno State at Cincinnati
South Florida at Florida State
Southern Mississippi at Kansas
North Carolina at Georgia Tech
Indiana at Michigan
Rhode Island at Connecticut
Minnesota at Northwestern
Buffalo at Temple
Michigan State at Wisconsin
Wake Forest at Boston College
San Diego State at Air Force
Tennessee Tech at Kansas State
UNLV at Wyoming
UTEP at Texas
Arkansas at Alabama
California at Oregon
Miami at Virginia Tech
Illinois at Ohio State
TCU at Clemson
Rutgers at Maryland
Central Florida at East Carolina
Pittsburgh at North Carolina State
Akron at Central Michigan
Western Kentucky at Navy
Idaho at Northern Illinois
Troy at Arkansas State
Florida at Kentucky
Colorado State at Brigham Young
Boise State at Bowling Green
Grambling State at Oklahoma State
Arizona State at Georgia
Louisiana Lafayette at Nebraska
Ball State at Auburn
Army at Iowa State
North Carolina Central at Duke
Maine at Syracuse
Sam Houston State at Tulsa
Northwestern State and Baylor
UAB at Texas A&M
Middle Tennessee State at North Texas
Ohio at Tennessee
Louisville at Utah
Arizona at Oregon State
Iowa at Penn State
Cal poly at San Jose State
Marshall at Memphis
Vanderbilt at Rice
Southern Utah at Utah State
Notre Dame at Purdue
Washington at Stanford
Texas Tech at Houston
Toledo at Florida International
Washington State at USC
New Mexico State at New Mexico
Tiebreaker: Total score in
Boise State at Bowling Green __________
Score:___________
2009 Football Picks
Week 4
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Mississippi at South Carolina
Friday, September 25, 2009
Missouri at Nevada
Saturday, September 26, 2009
LSU at Mississippi State
Fresno State at Cincinnati
South Florida at Florida State
Southern Mississippi at Kansas
North Carolina at Georgia Tech
Indiana at Michigan
Rhode Island at Connecticut
Minnesota at Northwestern
Buffalo at Temple
Michigan State at Wisconsin
Wake Forest at Boston College
San Diego State at Air Force
Tennessee Tech at Kansas State
UNLV at Wyoming
UTEP at Texas
Arkansas at Alabama
California at Oregon
Miami at Virginia Tech
Illinois at Ohio State
TCU at Clemson
Rutgers at Maryland
Central Florida at East Carolina
Pittsburgh at North Carolina State
Akron at Central Michigan
Western Kentucky at Navy
Idaho at Northern Illinois
Troy at Arkansas State
Florida at Kentucky
Colorado State at Brigham Young
Boise State at Bowling Green
Grambling State at Oklahoma State
Arizona State at Georgia
Louisiana Lafayette at Nebraska
Ball State at Auburn
Army at Iowa State
North Carolina Central at Duke
Maine at Syracuse
Sam Houston State at Tulsa
Northwestern State and Baylor
UAB at Texas A&M
Middle Tennessee State at North Texas
Ohio at Tennessee
Louisville at Utah
Arizona at Oregon State
Iowa at Penn State
Cal poly at San Jose State
Marshall at Memphis
Vanderbilt at Rice
Southern Utah at Utah State
Notre Dame at Purdue
Washington at Stanford
Texas Tech at Houston
Toledo at Florida International
Washington State at USC
New Mexico State at New Mexico
Tiebreaker: Total score in
Boise State at Bowling Green __________
Monday, September 21, 2009
Week Three Results
1.Lisa -22 tiebreaker 47
2.Michael -22 tiebreaker 43
3.mom -26 tiebreaker 56
3.dad -26 tiebreaker 56
5.Tammy -26 tiebreaker 37
6.Juliet -26 tiebreaker 31
7.Derrinda -31
actual tiebreaker 82
what a crazy week in college football!
2.Michael -22 tiebreaker 43
3.mom -26 tiebreaker 56
3.dad -26 tiebreaker 56
5.Tammy -26 tiebreaker 37
6.Juliet -26 tiebreaker 31
7.Derrinda -31
actual tiebreaker 82
what a crazy week in college football!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Tolerance
I was watching a replay of Elaine S. Dalton's CES fireside this morning on BYU TV. It originally aired last Sunday. Anyway, it's really great fireside and if you have the chance, I would suggest watching it. It was basically about being virtuous and returning to virtue.
What she said got me thinking about how the world's teaches us to be tolerant of sinful behavior. For example, proposition eight and the whole gay marriage idea. The world teaches that promiscuity is okay and even expected. For instance when a celebrity becomes pregnant out of wedlock it is celebrated. When in actuality, it is an extremely sad circumstance. The world teaches us to tolerate and even celebrate sin. Sister Dalton mentioned how the world is so concerned about environmental pollution. We have laws and agencies to protect the environment and the cleanliness of our air and food etc.. But our moral fiber is not protected and in fact is constantly being attacked.
Why is it that homosexuality, gay marriage, promiscuity, etc. should be tolerated and even embraced? Yet, people who try to defend what is right, such as marriage being between a man and a woman, virtue, moral cleanliness, etc. are looked down upon and even persecuted. If the world teaches tolerance, why isn't virtue tolerated? There seems to be a double standard here.
One thing that comes to mind even within the church, is movies. Why do church members think it's okay to watch movies, TV, etc. with questionable content? I've already done a blog posting about this, so I won't elaborate. But this is something that always baffles me.
That's my two cents.
What she said got me thinking about how the world's teaches us to be tolerant of sinful behavior. For example, proposition eight and the whole gay marriage idea. The world teaches that promiscuity is okay and even expected. For instance when a celebrity becomes pregnant out of wedlock it is celebrated. When in actuality, it is an extremely sad circumstance. The world teaches us to tolerate and even celebrate sin. Sister Dalton mentioned how the world is so concerned about environmental pollution. We have laws and agencies to protect the environment and the cleanliness of our air and food etc.. But our moral fiber is not protected and in fact is constantly being attacked.
Why is it that homosexuality, gay marriage, promiscuity, etc. should be tolerated and even embraced? Yet, people who try to defend what is right, such as marriage being between a man and a woman, virtue, moral cleanliness, etc. are looked down upon and even persecuted. If the world teaches tolerance, why isn't virtue tolerated? There seems to be a double standard here.
One thing that comes to mind even within the church, is movies. Why do church members think it's okay to watch movies, TV, etc. with questionable content? I've already done a blog posting about this, so I won't elaborate. But this is something that always baffles me.
That's my two cents.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
College Football Picks Week Three
Name:____________________________
Score:___________
2009 Football Picks
Week 3
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Georgia Tech at Miami
ESPN 4:30 p.m.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Boise State at Fresno State
ESPN 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Temple at Penn State
Ohio State at Toledo
California and Minnesota
East Carolina at North Carolina
Duke at Kansas
Louisville at Kentucky
Eastern Michigan at Michigan
Boston College at Clemson
Wofford at Wisconsin
Ball State at Army
Northern Illinois at Purdue
North Texas at Alabama
Furman at Missouri
Cal poly at Ohio
Tennessee at Florida
USC at Washington
Tulsa at Oklahoma
Nebraska at Virginia Tech
Utah at Oregon
Michigan State at Notre Dame
Wyoming at Colorado
Middle Tennessee State at Maryland
Indiana at Akron
Alcorn State at Central Michigan
Virginia at Southern Mississippi
UAB at Troy
Arizona at Iowa
Nevada at Colorado State
San Diego State at Idaho
Florida international at Rutgers
Connecticut at Baylor
Southern Methodist at Washington State
Gardner Webb at North Carolina State
Navy at Pittsburgh
Buffalo at UCF
Cincinnati at Oregon State
Rice at Oklahoma State
Florida State at Brigham Young
Texas State at TCU
Charleston Southern at South Florida
Central Arkansas at Western Kentucky
Northwestern at Syracuse
Mississippi State at Vanderbilt
Utah State at Texas A&M
Bowling Green at Marshall
Iowa State at Kent State
Florida Atlantic at South Carolina
Miami, Ohio at Western Michigan
Southeastern Louisiana at Mississippi
Air Force at New Mexico
Georgia at Arkansas
West Virginia at Auburn
Texas Tech at Texas
UTEP at New Mexico State
Tennessee Martin at Memphis
San Jose State at Stanford
Hawaii at UNLV
Louisiana Monroe at Arizona State
Kansas State at UCLA
Tiebreaker: Total score in
Florida State at Brigham Young __________
Score:___________
2009 Football Picks
Week 3
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Georgia Tech at Miami
ESPN 4:30 p.m.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Boise State at Fresno State
ESPN 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Temple at Penn State
Ohio State at Toledo
California and Minnesota
East Carolina at North Carolina
Duke at Kansas
Louisville at Kentucky
Eastern Michigan at Michigan
Boston College at Clemson
Wofford at Wisconsin
Ball State at Army
Northern Illinois at Purdue
North Texas at Alabama
Furman at Missouri
Cal poly at Ohio
Tennessee at Florida
USC at Washington
Tulsa at Oklahoma
Nebraska at Virginia Tech
Utah at Oregon
Michigan State at Notre Dame
Wyoming at Colorado
Middle Tennessee State at Maryland
Indiana at Akron
Alcorn State at Central Michigan
Virginia at Southern Mississippi
UAB at Troy
Arizona at Iowa
Nevada at Colorado State
San Diego State at Idaho
Florida international at Rutgers
Connecticut at Baylor
Southern Methodist at Washington State
Gardner Webb at North Carolina State
Navy at Pittsburgh
Buffalo at UCF
Cincinnati at Oregon State
Rice at Oklahoma State
Florida State at Brigham Young
Texas State at TCU
Charleston Southern at South Florida
Central Arkansas at Western Kentucky
Northwestern at Syracuse
Mississippi State at Vanderbilt
Utah State at Texas A&M
Bowling Green at Marshall
Iowa State at Kent State
Florida Atlantic at South Carolina
Miami, Ohio at Western Michigan
Southeastern Louisiana at Mississippi
Air Force at New Mexico
Georgia at Arkansas
West Virginia at Auburn
Texas Tech at Texas
UTEP at New Mexico State
Tennessee Martin at Memphis
San Jose State at Stanford
Hawaii at UNLV
Louisiana Monroe at Arizona State
Kansas State at UCLA
Tiebreaker: Total score in
Florida State at Brigham Young __________
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Gender and Athletics
I have been following the story recently of the 18-year-old athlete from South Africa whose gender has been questioned. She has been competing as a woman and has been blowing the competition away including world-class athletes. Therefore, some have come to question whether she is really a female or not.
This got me thinking. So I’ve decided to share some of my thoughts with you. First of all, let’s have a little bit of a biology lesson. I didn’t do any research on the subject so I’m just going to share with you what I remember from medical school/undergrad.
In terms of biology, gender can sometimes be ambiguous. There are chromosomal abnormalities such as XXY and XO which can produce a viable fetus but with obvious deformities. I believe XO is called Turner syndrome if I remember correctly. And I believe XXY is called Klinefelter’s syndrome. There can also be XXX or XYY and several other combinations. Suffice it to say there can be many chromosomal abnormalities which produce hermaphrodites.
Then of course there are phenotypic hermaphrodites who for instance can be normal XY genetic males who do not develop properly in utero and therefore appear female when born. This is what I suspect happened to the young South African athlete.
From what I’ve heard on the news about this case, this young athlete was raised as a girl. And for all intents and purposes according to her family that’s what she is. But upon further study it was found that she actually had no ovaries or female reproductive organs and instead had undescended internal testes. Which are producing androgens (testosterone) therefore the running abilities of a male. Not to mention the masculine features such as deeper voice and increased muscle mass which she bears.
People seem to be pretty harsh on this young athlete. I actually feel sorry for her. I don’t believe she was trying to cheat. I think she and her family both believe that she is a normal female. And I can’t begin to understand what she must be going through emotionally to have her gender called into question on a global stage. She probably didn’t have the most advanced medical care available while growing up. And perhaps, had no reason to suspect anything was wrong.
There are many variations of hermaphroditism. True hermaphrodites, those people containing both male and female reproductive organs, are extremely rare. But more commonly hermaphrodites can also be those whose gender is ambiguous at birth. I don’t want to get into too much detail but suffice it to say there can be many different combinations of hermaphroditism.
By default, fetuses develop as female. In order to develop as a male, the fetus must produce his own androgens(testosterone). This higher level of androgens is what triggers the male reproductive organs to develop in utero. And interestingly, the male brain develops differently because of the higher androgen levels in utero. There is a part of the male brain, if I remember correctly it’s the suprachiasmatic nucleus, which is about three times larger than in females. I suppose this is why males and females think so much differently. That’s a theory anyway.
The more you study the human body the more you appreciate what a miracle it is. And it truly is a miracle every time a baby is born without abnormality. There are so many things that must go right during fetal development and one little hiccup in development can cause devastating effects.
So I guess what my point is, among all my rambling thoughts, is that maybe we shouldn’t be so quick to cast judgment without knowing the whole story. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m about as judgmental as they come. But, in this case, I feel sympathy for the young 18-year-old South African athlete. Who, perhaps is just trying to live a normal life, discovered she had a talent for running, did her best, and now is being scrutinized because of her biology.
That’s my two cents.
(I intentionally left the name of the athlete out of this blog. Although it's not hard to figure out who I'm talking about.)
This got me thinking. So I’ve decided to share some of my thoughts with you. First of all, let’s have a little bit of a biology lesson. I didn’t do any research on the subject so I’m just going to share with you what I remember from medical school/undergrad.
In terms of biology, gender can sometimes be ambiguous. There are chromosomal abnormalities such as XXY and XO which can produce a viable fetus but with obvious deformities. I believe XO is called Turner syndrome if I remember correctly. And I believe XXY is called Klinefelter’s syndrome. There can also be XXX or XYY and several other combinations. Suffice it to say there can be many chromosomal abnormalities which produce hermaphrodites.
Then of course there are phenotypic hermaphrodites who for instance can be normal XY genetic males who do not develop properly in utero and therefore appear female when born. This is what I suspect happened to the young South African athlete.
From what I’ve heard on the news about this case, this young athlete was raised as a girl. And for all intents and purposes according to her family that’s what she is. But upon further study it was found that she actually had no ovaries or female reproductive organs and instead had undescended internal testes. Which are producing androgens (testosterone) therefore the running abilities of a male. Not to mention the masculine features such as deeper voice and increased muscle mass which she bears.
People seem to be pretty harsh on this young athlete. I actually feel sorry for her. I don’t believe she was trying to cheat. I think she and her family both believe that she is a normal female. And I can’t begin to understand what she must be going through emotionally to have her gender called into question on a global stage. She probably didn’t have the most advanced medical care available while growing up. And perhaps, had no reason to suspect anything was wrong.
There are many variations of hermaphroditism. True hermaphrodites, those people containing both male and female reproductive organs, are extremely rare. But more commonly hermaphrodites can also be those whose gender is ambiguous at birth. I don’t want to get into too much detail but suffice it to say there can be many different combinations of hermaphroditism.
By default, fetuses develop as female. In order to develop as a male, the fetus must produce his own androgens(testosterone). This higher level of androgens is what triggers the male reproductive organs to develop in utero. And interestingly, the male brain develops differently because of the higher androgen levels in utero. There is a part of the male brain, if I remember correctly it’s the suprachiasmatic nucleus, which is about three times larger than in females. I suppose this is why males and females think so much differently. That’s a theory anyway.
The more you study the human body the more you appreciate what a miracle it is. And it truly is a miracle every time a baby is born without abnormality. There are so many things that must go right during fetal development and one little hiccup in development can cause devastating effects.
So I guess what my point is, among all my rambling thoughts, is that maybe we shouldn’t be so quick to cast judgment without knowing the whole story. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m about as judgmental as they come. But, in this case, I feel sympathy for the young 18-year-old South African athlete. Who, perhaps is just trying to live a normal life, discovered she had a talent for running, did her best, and now is being scrutinized because of her biology.
That’s my two cents.
(I intentionally left the name of the athlete out of this blog. Although it's not hard to figure out who I'm talking about.)
Thought of the Day
Humility is the only true wisdom by which we prepare our minds for all the possible changes of life. - George Arliss
Monday, September 14, 2009
Week 2 Results
1.Michael -13
2.Tammy -14
3.Dad -15
4.mom-17
5.Lisa -20
6.Derrinda -23
7.Juliet -26
8.Mercedes -36
2.Tammy -14
3.Dad -15
4.mom-17
5.Lisa -20
6.Derrinda -23
7.Juliet -26
8.Mercedes -36
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
College Football Picks Week 2
Name:____________________________
Score:___________
2009 Football Picks
Week 2
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Clemson at Georgia Tech
Friday, September 11, 2009
Colorado at Toledo
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Idaho State at Oklahoma
Syracuse at Penn State
North Carolina at Connecticut
Eastern Michigan at Northwestern
Western Michigan at Indiana
Central Michigan at Michigan State
Stanford at Wake Forest
Fresno State at Wisconsin
Duke at Army
Pittsburgh at Buffalo
Iowa at Iowa State
Troy at Florida
Marshall at Virginia Tech
Arkansas State at Nebraska
Kent State at Boston College
Morgan State at Akron
Texas at Wyoming
Houston at Oklahoma State
TCU at Virginia
BYU at Tulane
Notre Dame at Michigan
Howard at Rutgers
Idaho at Washington
East Carolina at West Virginia
Louisiana Tech at Navy
Southern Methodist at UAB
UCLA at Tennessee
Weber State at Colorado State
Eastern Washington at California
Jacksonville State at Florida State
James Madison at Maryland
Murray State at North Carolina State
Florida international at Alabama
Vanderbilt at LSU
South Carolina at Georgia
Mississippi State at Auburn
Air Force at Minnesota
Bowling Green at Missouri
Ohio at North Texas
Hawaii at Washington State
Kansas State at Louisiana Lafayette
Illinois State at Illinois
New Hampshire at Ball State
Memphis at middle Tennessee State
Texas Southern at Louisiana Monroe
Central Florida at Southern Mississippi
Rice at Texas Tech
Kansas at UTEP
South Florida at Western Kentucky
Southeast Missouri State at Cincinnati
Western Illinois at Northern Illinois
USC at Ohio State
Miami Ohio at Boise State
Prairie view A&M at New Mexico State
Tulsa at New Mexico
Southern Utah at San Diego State
Northern Arizona at Arizona
Purdue at Oregon
Utah at San Jose State
Oregon State at UNLV
Tiebreaker: Total score in
USC at Ohio State__________
Score:___________
2009 Football Picks
Week 2
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Clemson at Georgia Tech
Friday, September 11, 2009
Colorado at Toledo
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Idaho State at Oklahoma
Syracuse at Penn State
North Carolina at Connecticut
Eastern Michigan at Northwestern
Western Michigan at Indiana
Central Michigan at Michigan State
Stanford at Wake Forest
Fresno State at Wisconsin
Duke at Army
Pittsburgh at Buffalo
Iowa at Iowa State
Troy at Florida
Marshall at Virginia Tech
Arkansas State at Nebraska
Kent State at Boston College
Morgan State at Akron
Texas at Wyoming
Houston at Oklahoma State
TCU at Virginia
BYU at Tulane
Notre Dame at Michigan
Howard at Rutgers
Idaho at Washington
East Carolina at West Virginia
Louisiana Tech at Navy
Southern Methodist at UAB
UCLA at Tennessee
Weber State at Colorado State
Eastern Washington at California
Jacksonville State at Florida State
James Madison at Maryland
Murray State at North Carolina State
Florida international at Alabama
Vanderbilt at LSU
South Carolina at Georgia
Mississippi State at Auburn
Air Force at Minnesota
Bowling Green at Missouri
Ohio at North Texas
Hawaii at Washington State
Kansas State at Louisiana Lafayette
Illinois State at Illinois
New Hampshire at Ball State
Memphis at middle Tennessee State
Texas Southern at Louisiana Monroe
Central Florida at Southern Mississippi
Rice at Texas Tech
Kansas at UTEP
South Florida at Western Kentucky
Southeast Missouri State at Cincinnati
Western Illinois at Northern Illinois
USC at Ohio State
Miami Ohio at Boise State
Prairie view A&M at New Mexico State
Tulsa at New Mexico
Southern Utah at San Diego State
Northern Arizona at Arizona
Purdue at Oregon
Utah at San Jose State
Oregon State at UNLV
Tiebreaker: Total score in
USC at Ohio State__________
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Week One Results
The first week of college football is over. It was a good one. We all enjoyed watching the BYU Oklahoma game together in the theater. What a great game!
Here are the results from the first week of college football picks:
First-Michael -13
Second-Tammy -15
Third-Dad -22
Fourth-Mom -24 tiebreaker 56
Fifth-Mercedes -24 tiebreaker 74
Six-Lisa -25 tiebreaker 48
Seventh-Juliet -25 tiebreaker 55
Actual tiebreaker 27
Good job everybody! Good luck this week.
Here are the results from the first week of college football picks:
First-Michael -13
Second-Tammy -15
Third-Dad -22
Fourth-Mom -24 tiebreaker 56
Fifth-Mercedes -24 tiebreaker 74
Six-Lisa -25 tiebreaker 48
Seventh-Juliet -25 tiebreaker 55
Actual tiebreaker 27
Good job everybody! Good luck this week.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Thought of the Day
I heard a quote yesterday from President Spencer W. Kimball that I liked. It was from a devotional on BYU TV. I don't remember the speaker. And I can't find the direct quote, but I will paraphrase. It went something like this:
"Failure, from an eternal perspective, is most often the result of selfishness." -- Spencer W. Kimball
A profound statement from a wise prophet.
That's my two cents.
"Failure, from an eternal perspective, is most often the result of selfishness." -- Spencer W. Kimball
A profound statement from a wise prophet.
That's my two cents.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Ezra Taft Benson Gems
While I was doing my research for my post yesterday, I came across this article in the July 1994 Ensign. This is not the entire article, just a few gems from President Benson. President Benson is the prophet who signed my mission call. So, I have a special affinity for him. He was a very wise man who taught us many wonderful things while he served as prophet. Here are just a few of them. By the way, if you would like to read the entire article, click on the title.
We Will Know Him
“Nothing is going to startle us more when we pass through the veil to the other side than to realize how well we know our Father and how familiar His face is to us” (Ensign, Dec. 1988, p. 6).
Commitment to the Lord
“We must put God in the forefront of everything else in our lives. He must come first, just as He declares in the first of His Ten Commandments: ‘Thou shalt have no other gods before me’ (Ex. 20:3).
“When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the claims for our affection, the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities” (Ensign, May 1988, p. 4).
Faith and Works
“I believe that, while we should ask the Lord’s blessing on all our doings and should never do anything upon which we cannot ask his blessings, we should not expect the Lord to do for us what we can do for ourselves. I believe in faith and works, and that the Lord will bless more fully the man who works for what he prays for than he will the man who only prays” (God, Family, Country: Our Three Great Loyalties, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1974, p. 329).
Food Storage
“The revelation to store food may be as essential to our temporal salvation today as boarding the ark was to the people in the days of Noah” (Ensign, Jan. 1974, pp. 69, 80).
Debt
“[One] reason for increase in debt … is the rise of materialism, as contrasted with commitment to spiritual values. Many a family, in order to make a ‘proper showing,’ will commit itself for a larger and more expensive house than is needed, in an expensive neighborhood. Almost everyone would, it seems, like to keep up with the Joneses. … As a result, there is a growing feeling, unfortunately, that material things should be had now, without waiting, without saving, without self-denial” (Ensign, June 1987, pp. 3–4).
Work
“The earth was cursed for Adam’s sake. Work is our blessing, not our doom. God has a work to do, and so should we. Retirement from work has depressed many a man and hastened his death. … We should work at taking care of the spiritual, mental, social, and physical needs of ourselves and of those whom we are charged to help. In the church of Jesus Christ, there is plenty of work to do to move forward the kingdom of God. Missionary work, family genealogy and temple work, home evenings, receiving a Church assignment and magnifying it are but a few of our required labors” (Ensign, Oct. 1986, p. 2).
Importance of Good Homes
“No nation rises above its homes. In building character the church, the school, and even the nation stand helpless when confronted with a weakened and degraded home. The good home is the rock foundation—the cornerstone of civilization. There can be no genuine happiness separate and apart from a good home, with the old-fashioned virtues at its base. If your nation is to endure, the home must be safeguarded, strengthened, and restored to its rightful importance” (in Conference Report, April 1966, p. 130).
There Is a Power in the Book
“[The Book of Mormon] helps us draw nearer to God. Is there not something deep in our hearts that longs to draw nearer to God, to be more like Him in our daily walk, to feel His presence with us constantly? If so, then the Book of Mormon will help us do so more than any other book.
“It is not just that the Book of Mormon teaches us truth, though it indeed does that. It is not just that the Book of Mormon bears testimony of Christ, though it indeed does that, too. But there is something more. There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path. The scriptures are called ‘the words of life’ (see D&C 84:85), and nowhere is that more true than it is of the Book of Mormon. When you begin to hunger and thirst after those words, you will find life in greater and greater abundance” (Ensign, Nov. 1986, p. 7).
Scripture Study
“When individual members and families immerse themselves in the scriptures regularly and consistently, … other areas of activity will automatically come. Testimonies will increase. Commitment will be strengthened. Families will be fortified. Personal revelation will flow” (Ensign, May 1986, p. 81).
Following the Counsel of Leaders
“One who rationalizes that he or she has a testimony of Jesus Christ but cannot accept direction and counsel from the leadership of His church is in a fundamentally unsound position and is in jeopardy of losing exaltation” (Ensign, May 1982, p. 64).
Humility and Pride
“The central feature of pride is enmity—enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen. … Pride is essentially competitive in nature. We pit our will against God’s. When we direct our pride toward God, it is in the spirit of ‘my will and not thine be done.’ As Paul said, they ‘seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s’ (Philip. 2:21). …
“The proud cannot accept the authority of God giving direction to their lives (see Hel. 12:6). They pit their perceptions of truth against God’s great knowledge, their abilities versus God’s priesthood power, their accomplishments against His mighty works. …
“Pride is the universal sin, the great vice. … Pride is the great stumbling block to Zion” (Ensign, May 1989, pp. 4–7).
Improving Individuals
“Some may ask why we as a people and church quietly and consistently seek to change individuals while there are such large problems all about us. … But decaying cities are simply a delayed reflection of decaying individuals. … The commandments of God give emphasis to improvement of the individual as the only real way to bring about the real improvement in society” (A Plea for America, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1975, p. 18).
“The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of the people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature” (Ensign, Nov. 1985, p. 6).
We Will Know Him
“Nothing is going to startle us more when we pass through the veil to the other side than to realize how well we know our Father and how familiar His face is to us” (Ensign, Dec. 1988, p. 6).
Commitment to the Lord
“We must put God in the forefront of everything else in our lives. He must come first, just as He declares in the first of His Ten Commandments: ‘Thou shalt have no other gods before me’ (Ex. 20:3).
“When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the claims for our affection, the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities” (Ensign, May 1988, p. 4).
Faith and Works
“I believe that, while we should ask the Lord’s blessing on all our doings and should never do anything upon which we cannot ask his blessings, we should not expect the Lord to do for us what we can do for ourselves. I believe in faith and works, and that the Lord will bless more fully the man who works for what he prays for than he will the man who only prays” (God, Family, Country: Our Three Great Loyalties, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1974, p. 329).
Food Storage
“The revelation to store food may be as essential to our temporal salvation today as boarding the ark was to the people in the days of Noah” (Ensign, Jan. 1974, pp. 69, 80).
Debt
“[One] reason for increase in debt … is the rise of materialism, as contrasted with commitment to spiritual values. Many a family, in order to make a ‘proper showing,’ will commit itself for a larger and more expensive house than is needed, in an expensive neighborhood. Almost everyone would, it seems, like to keep up with the Joneses. … As a result, there is a growing feeling, unfortunately, that material things should be had now, without waiting, without saving, without self-denial” (Ensign, June 1987, pp. 3–4).
Work
“The earth was cursed for Adam’s sake. Work is our blessing, not our doom. God has a work to do, and so should we. Retirement from work has depressed many a man and hastened his death. … We should work at taking care of the spiritual, mental, social, and physical needs of ourselves and of those whom we are charged to help. In the church of Jesus Christ, there is plenty of work to do to move forward the kingdom of God. Missionary work, family genealogy and temple work, home evenings, receiving a Church assignment and magnifying it are but a few of our required labors” (Ensign, Oct. 1986, p. 2).
Importance of Good Homes
“No nation rises above its homes. In building character the church, the school, and even the nation stand helpless when confronted with a weakened and degraded home. The good home is the rock foundation—the cornerstone of civilization. There can be no genuine happiness separate and apart from a good home, with the old-fashioned virtues at its base. If your nation is to endure, the home must be safeguarded, strengthened, and restored to its rightful importance” (in Conference Report, April 1966, p. 130).
There Is a Power in the Book
“[The Book of Mormon] helps us draw nearer to God. Is there not something deep in our hearts that longs to draw nearer to God, to be more like Him in our daily walk, to feel His presence with us constantly? If so, then the Book of Mormon will help us do so more than any other book.
“It is not just that the Book of Mormon teaches us truth, though it indeed does that. It is not just that the Book of Mormon bears testimony of Christ, though it indeed does that, too. But there is something more. There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path. The scriptures are called ‘the words of life’ (see D&C 84:85), and nowhere is that more true than it is of the Book of Mormon. When you begin to hunger and thirst after those words, you will find life in greater and greater abundance” (Ensign, Nov. 1986, p. 7).
Scripture Study
“When individual members and families immerse themselves in the scriptures regularly and consistently, … other areas of activity will automatically come. Testimonies will increase. Commitment will be strengthened. Families will be fortified. Personal revelation will flow” (Ensign, May 1986, p. 81).
Following the Counsel of Leaders
“One who rationalizes that he or she has a testimony of Jesus Christ but cannot accept direction and counsel from the leadership of His church is in a fundamentally unsound position and is in jeopardy of losing exaltation” (Ensign, May 1982, p. 64).
Humility and Pride
“The central feature of pride is enmity—enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen. … Pride is essentially competitive in nature. We pit our will against God’s. When we direct our pride toward God, it is in the spirit of ‘my will and not thine be done.’ As Paul said, they ‘seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s’ (Philip. 2:21). …
“The proud cannot accept the authority of God giving direction to their lives (see Hel. 12:6). They pit their perceptions of truth against God’s great knowledge, their abilities versus God’s priesthood power, their accomplishments against His mighty works. …
“Pride is the universal sin, the great vice. … Pride is the great stumbling block to Zion” (Ensign, May 1989, pp. 4–7).
Improving Individuals
“Some may ask why we as a people and church quietly and consistently seek to change individuals while there are such large problems all about us. … But decaying cities are simply a delayed reflection of decaying individuals. … The commandments of God give emphasis to improvement of the individual as the only real way to bring about the real improvement in society” (A Plea for America, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1975, p. 18).
“The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of the people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature” (Ensign, Nov. 1985, p. 6).
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
To the Mothers in Zion - Ezra Taft Benson
I was watching BYU TV on Sunday night. There was a talk given by Elder Cecil Scott Grow which was really good. He mentioned a couple of quotes from President Ezra Taft Benson. This led me to search for the source of those quotes. The quotes were from a talk given at a fireside for parents in 1987, which was later made into a pamphlet by the Church.
Anyway, it is pretty long but I hope you will read it. I put a lot of effort into finding it and formatting it for this blog. It has taken me several hours to format it with Dragon. Not to mention I’m completely out of breath and tired now. It is hard for me to talk a lot. So I hope my efforts were not in vain.
I was going to mention some of the points that stuck out to me. But I think I will just let you read it and take from it what you will. Enjoy!
To the Mothers in Zion
President Ezra Taft Benson
Address given at a Fireside for Parents, 22 February 1987
(Produced as a pamphlet and given to Church members)
There is no theme I would rather speak to than home and family, for they are at the very heart of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Church, in large part, exists for the salvation and exaltation of the family.
At a recent general priesthood meeting, I spoke directly to the young men of the Aaronic Priesthood regarding their duties and responsibilities. Shortly thereafter, at a general women’s conference, I spoke to the young women of the Church, discussing their opportunities and their sacred callings.
Tonight, at this fireside for parents, seeking the sweet inspiration of heaven, I would like to speak directly to the mothers assembled here and throughout the Church, for you are, or should be, the very heart and soul of the family.
No More Noble Work
No more sacred word exists in secular or holy writ than mother. There is no more noble work than that of a good and God-fearing mother. This evening I pay tribute to the mothers in Zion and pray with all my heart that what I have to say to you will be understood by the Spirit and will lift and bless your lives in your sacred callings as mothers.
President David O. McKay declared: “Motherhood is the greatest potential influence either for good or ill in human life. The mother’s image is the first that stamps itself on the unwritten page of the young child’s mind. It is her caress that first awakens a sense of security; her kiss, the first realization of affection; her sympathy and tenderness, the first assurance that there is love in the world” (Gospel Ideals, p. 452.)
President McKay continues: “Motherhood consists of three principal attributes or qualities: namely, (1) the power to bear, (2) the ability to rear, (3) the gift to love.
. . . This ability and willingness properly to rear children, the gift of love, and eagerness, yes, longing to express it in soul development, makes motherhood the noblest office or calling in the world. She who can paint a masterpiece or write a book that will influence millions deserves the admiration and the plaudits of mankind; but she who rears successfully a family of healthy, beautiful sons and daughters, whose influence will be felt through generations to come, . . . deserves the highest honor that man can give, and the choicest blessings of God” (Gospel Ideals, pp. 453-54). With all my heart I endorse the words of President McKay.
A Mother’s Role is God-ordained
In the eternal family, God established that fathers are to preside in the home. Fathers are to provide, to love, to teach, and to direct. But a mother’s role is also God-ordained. Mothers are to conceive, to bear to nourish, to love, and to train. So declare the revelations.
In section 132 of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord states that the opportunity and responsibility of wives is “to multiply and replenish the earth, according to my commandment, and to fulfil the promise which was given by my Father before the foundation of the world, and for their exaltation in the eternal worlds, that they may bear the souls of men; for herein is the work of my Father continued, that he may be glorified” (D&C132:63).
Husbands and Wives are Co-creators
With this divine injunction, husbands and wives, as co-creators, should eagerly and prayerfully invite children into their homes. Then, as each child joins their family circle, they can gratefully exclaim, as did Hannah, “For this child I prayed, and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him; therefore also I have lent him to the Lord: as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord” (1 Samuel 1:27-28). Isn’t that beautiful? A mother praying to bear a child and then giving him to the Lord. I have always loved the words of Solomon: “Children are an heritage of the Lord: and. . . happy is the man [and woman] that hath [their] quiver full of them” (Psalm 127:3-5). I know the special blessings of a large and happy family, for my dear parents had a quiver full of children. Being the oldest of eleven children, I saw the principles of unselfishness, mutual consideration, loyalty to each other, and a host of other virtues developed in a large and wonderful family with my noble mother as the queen of that home.
Young mothers and fathers, with all my heart I counsel you not to postpone having your children, being co-creators with our Father in Heaven. Do not use the reasoning of the world, such as, “We will wait until we can better afford having children, until we are more secure, until John has completed his education, until he has a better paying job, until we have a larger home, until we have obtained a few of the material conveniences,” and on and on. This is the reasoning of the world and is not pleasing in the sight of God. Mothers who enjoy good health, have your children and have them early. And, husbands, always be considerate of your wives in the bearing of children.
Do not curtail the number of children for personal or selfish reasons. Material possessions, social convenience, and so-called professional advantages are nothing compared to a righteous posterity. In the eternal perspective, children--not possessions, not position, not prestige--are our greatest jewels. Brigham Young emphasized: “There are multitudes of pure and holy spirits waiting to take tabernacles, now what is our duty?--To prepare tabernacles for them; to take a course that will not tend to drive those spirits into the families of the wicked, where they will be trained in wickedness debauchery, and every species of crime. It is the duty of every righteous man and woman to prepare tabernacles for all the spirits they can” (Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 197). Yes, blessed is the husband and wife who have a family of children. The deepest joys and blessings in life are associated with family, parenthood, and sacrifice. To have those sweet spirits come into the home is worth practically any sacrifice.
Special Promises of God
We realize that some women, through no fault of their own, are not able to bear children. To these lovely sisters, every prophet of God has promised that they will be blessed with children in the eternities and that posterity will not be denied them. Through pure faith, pleading prayers, fasting, and special priesthood blessings, many of these same lovely sisters, with their noble companions at their sides, have had miracles take place in their lives and have been blessed with children. Others have prayerfully chosen to adopt children, and to these wonderful couples we salute you for the sacrifices and love you have given to those children you have chose to be your own.
Rearing Children the Lord’s Way
Now, my dear mothers, knowing of your divine role to bear and rear children and bring them back to Him, how will you accomplish this in the Lord’s way? I say the “Lord’s way,” because it is different from the world’s way.
The Lord clearly defined the roles of mothers and fathers in providing for and rearing a righteous posterity. In the beginning, Adam--not Eve--was instructed to earn the bread by the sweat of his brow. Contrary to conventional wisdom, a mother’s calling is in the home, not in the marketplace.
Again in the Doctrine and Covenants, we read: “Women have claim on their husbands for their maintenance, until their husbands are taken” (D&C 83:2). This is the divine right of a wife and mother. She cares for and nourishes her children at home. Her husband earns the living for the family, which makes this nourishing possible. With that claim on their husbands for their financial support, the counsel of the Church has always been for mothers to spend their full time in the home in rearing and caring for their children.
We realize also that some of our choice sisters are widowed and divorced and that others find themselves in unusual circumstances where, out of necessity, they are
required to work for a period of time. But these instances are the exception, not the rule. In a home where there is an able-bodied husband, he is expected to be the
breadwinner. Sometimes we hear of husbands who, because of economic conditions, have lost their jobs and expect their wives to go out of the home and work even though the husband is still capable of providing for his family. In these cases, we urge the husband to do all in his power to allow his wife to remain in the home caring for
the children while he continues to provide for his family the best he can, even though the job he is able to secure may not be ideal and family budgeting will have to be tighter.
Counsel of President Kimball
Our beloved prophet, Spencer W. Kimball, had much to say about the role of mothers in the home and their callings and responsibilities. I am impressed to share with
you some of his inspired pronouncements. I fear that much of his counsel has gone unheeded, and families have suffered because of it. But I stand as a second witness to the truthfulness of what President Spencer W. Kimball said. He spoke as a true prophet of God.
President Kimball declared: “Women are to take care of the family--the Lord has so stated--to be an assistant to the husband, to work with him, but not to earn the living, except in unusual circumstances. Men ought to be men indeed and earn the living under normal circumstances” (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 318).
President Kimball continues: “Too many mothers work away from home to furnish sweaters and music lessons and trips and fun for their children. Too many women spend their time in socializing, in politicking, in public services when they should be home to teach and train and receive and love their children into security” (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 319).
Remember the counsel of President Kimball to John and Mary: “Mary, you are to become a career woman in the greatest career on earth--that of homemaker, wife, and mother. It was never intended by the Lord that married women should compete with men in employment. They have a far greater and more important service to render” (Faith Precedes the Miracle, p. 128).
Again President Kimball speaks: “The husband is expected to support his family and only in an emergency should a wife secure outside employment. Her place is in the home, to build the home into a haven of delight. “Numerous divorces can be traced directly to the day when the wife left the home and went out into the world into employment. Two incomes raise the standard of living beyond its norm. Two spouses working prevents the complete and proper home life, breaks into the family prayers, creates an independence which is not cooperative, causes distortion, limits the family, and frustrates the children already born” (Spencer W. Kimball, San Antonio Fireside, 3 December 1977, pp. 9-10).
Finally, President Kimball counsels: “I beg of you, you who could and should be bearing and rearing a family: Wives, come home from the typewriter, the laundry, the
nursing, come home from the factory, the cafe. No career approaches in importance that of wife, homemaker, mother--cooking meals, washing dishes, making beds for one’s precious husband and children. Come home, wives, to your husbands. Make home a heaven for them. Come home, wives, to your children, born and unborn. Wrap the motherly cloak about you and, unembarrassed, help in a major role to create the bodies for the immortal souls who anxiously await.
“When you have fully complemented your husband in home life and borne the children, growing up full of faith, integrity, responsibility, and goodness, then you have achieved your accomplishment supreme, without peer, and you will be the envy [of all] through time and eternity” (Spencer W. Kimball, San Antonio Fireside, 3 December 1977, pp. 11-12). President Kimball spoke the truth. His words are prophetic.
Ten Ways to Spend Time with Children
Mothers in Zion, your God-given roles are so vital to your own exaltation and to the salvation and exaltation of your family. A child needs a mother more than all the things money can buy. Spending time with your children is the greatest gift of all. With love in my heart for the mothers in Zion, I would like to suggest ten specific ways our mothers may spend effective time with their children.
Be at the Crossroads. First, take time to always be at the crossroads when your children are either coming or going--when they leave and return from dates--when they bring friends home. Be there at the crossroads whether your children are six or sixteen. In Proverbs we read: “A child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame” (Proverbs 29:15). Among the greatest concerns in our society are the millions of latchkey children who come home daily to empty houses unsupervised by working parents.
Be a Real Friend. Second, mothers, take time to be a real friend to your children. Listen to your children, really listen. Talk with them, laugh and joke with them, sing with them, play with them, cry with them, hug them, honestly praise them. Yes, regularly spend unrushed one-on-one time with each child. Be a real friend to your children.
Read to Your Children. Third, mothers, take time to read to your children. Starting from the cradle, read to your sons and daughters. Remember what the poet said:
You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be--
I had a mother who read to me.
(Strickland Gillilan, “The Reading Mother”).
You will plant a love for good literature and a real love for the scriptures if you will read to your children regularly.
Pray with Your Children. Fourth, take time to pray with your children. Family prayers, under the direction of the father, should be held morning and night. Have your children feel of your faith as you call down the blessings of heaven upon them. Paraphrasing the word of James: “The . . . fervent prayer of a righteous [mother] availeth much” (James 5:16). Have your children participate in family and personal prayers and rejoice in their sweet utterances to their Father in Heaven.
Have Weekly Family Home Evenings. Fifth, take time to have a meaningful weekly home evening. With your husband presiding, participate in a spiritual and an
uplifting home evening each week. Have your children actively involved. Teach them correct principles. Make this one of your great family traditions. Remember the
marvelous promise made by President Joseph F. Smith when home evenings were first introduced to the Church: “If the Saints obey this counsel, we promise that great
blessings will result. Love at home and obedience to parents will increase. Faith will be developed in the hearts of the youth of Israel, and they will gain power to combat the evil influences and temptations which beset them” (James R. Clark, comp., Messages of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
4:339). This wonderful promise is still in effect today.
Be Together at Mealtimes. Sixth, take time to be together at mealtimes as often as possible. This is a challenge as the children get older and lives get busier. But happy conversation, sharing of the day’s plans and activities, and special teaching moments occur at mealtime because mothers and fathers and children work at it.
Read Scriptures Daily. Seventh, take time daily to read the scriptures together as a family. Individual scripture reading is important, but family scripture
reading is vital. Reading the Book of Mormon together as a family will especially bring increased spirituality into your home and will give both parents and children the power to resist temptation and to have the Holy Ghost as their constant companion. I promise you that the Book of Mormon will change the lives of your family.
Do Things as a Family. Eighth, take time to do things as a family. Make family outings and picnics and birthday celebrations and trips special times and memory builders.
Whenever possible attend as a family events where one of the family members is involved, such as a school play, a ball game, a talk, a recital. Attend Church meetings together and sit together as a family when you can.
Mothers who help families pray and play together will stay together and will bless children’s lives forever.
Teach Your Children. Ninth, mothers, take time to teach your children. Catch the teaching moments. This can be done anytime during the day--at mealtime, in
casual settings or at special sit-down times together, at the foot of the bed at the end of the day, or during an early-morning walk together. Mothers, you are your
children’s best teacher. Don’t shift this precious responsibility to day-care centers or baby-sitters. A mother’s love and prayerful concern for her children are
her most important ingredients in teaching her own.
Teach children gospel principles. Teach them it pays to be good. Teach them there is no safety in sin. Teach them a love for the gospel of Jesus Christ and a testimony of its divinity. Teach your sons and daughters modesty and teach them to respect manhood and womanhood.
Teach your children sexual purity, proper dating standards, temple marriage, missionary service, and the importance of accepting and magnifying Church callings.
Teach them a love for work and the value of a good education.
Teach them the importance of the right kind of entertainment, including appropriate movies, videos, music, books, and magazines. Discuss the evils of pornography and drugs and teach them the value of living the clean life.
Yes, mothers, teach your children the gospel in your home, at your own fireside. This is the most effective teaching that your children will ever receive. This is the
Lord’s way of teaching. The Church cannot teach like you can. The school cannot. The day-care center cannot. But you can, and the Lord will sustain you. Your children will remember your teachings forever, and when they are old, they will not depart from them. They will call you blessed--their truly angel mother.
Mothers, this kind of heavenly, motherly teaching takes time--lots of time. It cannot be done effectively part-time. It must be done all the time in order to save
and exalt your children. This is your divine calling.
Truly Love Your Children. Tenth, and finally, mothers, take the time to truly love your children. A mother’s unqualified love approaches Christlike love.
Here is a beautiful tribute by a son to his mother: “I don’t remember much about her views of voting nor her social prestige; and what her ideas of child training, diet,
and eugenics were, I cannot recall. The main thing that sifts back to me now through the thick undergrowth of years is that she loved me. She liked to lie on the grass
with me and tell stories, or to run and hide with us children. She was always hugging me. And I liked it. She had a sunny face. To me it was like God. Of all the
sensations pleasurable to my life nothing can compare with the rapture of crawling up into her lap and going to sleep while she swung to and fro in her rocking chair and sang. Thinking of this, I wonder if the woman of today, with all her tremendous notions and plans, realizes what an almighty factor she is in shaping her children. I wonder if she realizes how much sheer love and attention count for in a child’s life.”
Mothers, your teenage children also need that same kind of love and attention. It seems easier for many mothers and fathers to express their love to their children
when they are young, but more difficult when they are older. Work at this prayerfully. There need be no generation gap. And the key is love. Our young people
need love and attention, not indulgence. They need empathy and understanding, not indifference from mothers and fathers. They need the parents’ time. A mother’s
kindly teachings and her love for and confidence in a teenage son or daughter can literally save them from a wicked world.
Blessings of the Lord upon Parents
In closing, I would be remiss this evening if I did not express my love and eternal gratitude for my sweetheart and companion and the mother of our six children. Her
devotion to motherhood has blessed me and our family beyond words of expression. She has been a marvelous mother, completely and happily devoting her life and her mission to her family. How grateful I am for Flora!
May I also express my gratitude to you fathers and husbands assembled this evening. We look to you to give righteous leadership in your home and families and, with
your companions and the mothers of your children, to lead your families back to our Eternal Father.
Now God bless our wonderful mothers. We pray for you. We sustain you. We honor you as you bear, nourish, train, teach, and love for eternity. I promise you the
blessings of heaven and “all that the Father hath” (see D&C 84:38) as you magnify the noblest calling of all--a mother in Zion. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Anyway, it is pretty long but I hope you will read it. I put a lot of effort into finding it and formatting it for this blog. It has taken me several hours to format it with Dragon. Not to mention I’m completely out of breath and tired now. It is hard for me to talk a lot. So I hope my efforts were not in vain.
I was going to mention some of the points that stuck out to me. But I think I will just let you read it and take from it what you will. Enjoy!
To the Mothers in Zion
President Ezra Taft Benson
Address given at a Fireside for Parents, 22 February 1987
(Produced as a pamphlet and given to Church members)
There is no theme I would rather speak to than home and family, for they are at the very heart of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Church, in large part, exists for the salvation and exaltation of the family.
At a recent general priesthood meeting, I spoke directly to the young men of the Aaronic Priesthood regarding their duties and responsibilities. Shortly thereafter, at a general women’s conference, I spoke to the young women of the Church, discussing their opportunities and their sacred callings.
Tonight, at this fireside for parents, seeking the sweet inspiration of heaven, I would like to speak directly to the mothers assembled here and throughout the Church, for you are, or should be, the very heart and soul of the family.
No More Noble Work
No more sacred word exists in secular or holy writ than mother. There is no more noble work than that of a good and God-fearing mother. This evening I pay tribute to the mothers in Zion and pray with all my heart that what I have to say to you will be understood by the Spirit and will lift and bless your lives in your sacred callings as mothers.
President David O. McKay declared: “Motherhood is the greatest potential influence either for good or ill in human life. The mother’s image is the first that stamps itself on the unwritten page of the young child’s mind. It is her caress that first awakens a sense of security; her kiss, the first realization of affection; her sympathy and tenderness, the first assurance that there is love in the world” (Gospel Ideals, p. 452.)
President McKay continues: “Motherhood consists of three principal attributes or qualities: namely, (1) the power to bear, (2) the ability to rear, (3) the gift to love.
. . . This ability and willingness properly to rear children, the gift of love, and eagerness, yes, longing to express it in soul development, makes motherhood the noblest office or calling in the world. She who can paint a masterpiece or write a book that will influence millions deserves the admiration and the plaudits of mankind; but she who rears successfully a family of healthy, beautiful sons and daughters, whose influence will be felt through generations to come, . . . deserves the highest honor that man can give, and the choicest blessings of God” (Gospel Ideals, pp. 453-54). With all my heart I endorse the words of President McKay.
A Mother’s Role is God-ordained
In the eternal family, God established that fathers are to preside in the home. Fathers are to provide, to love, to teach, and to direct. But a mother’s role is also God-ordained. Mothers are to conceive, to bear to nourish, to love, and to train. So declare the revelations.
In section 132 of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord states that the opportunity and responsibility of wives is “to multiply and replenish the earth, according to my commandment, and to fulfil the promise which was given by my Father before the foundation of the world, and for their exaltation in the eternal worlds, that they may bear the souls of men; for herein is the work of my Father continued, that he may be glorified” (D&C132:63).
Husbands and Wives are Co-creators
With this divine injunction, husbands and wives, as co-creators, should eagerly and prayerfully invite children into their homes. Then, as each child joins their family circle, they can gratefully exclaim, as did Hannah, “For this child I prayed, and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him; therefore also I have lent him to the Lord: as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord” (1 Samuel 1:27-28). Isn’t that beautiful? A mother praying to bear a child and then giving him to the Lord. I have always loved the words of Solomon: “Children are an heritage of the Lord: and. . . happy is the man [and woman] that hath [their] quiver full of them” (Psalm 127:3-5). I know the special blessings of a large and happy family, for my dear parents had a quiver full of children. Being the oldest of eleven children, I saw the principles of unselfishness, mutual consideration, loyalty to each other, and a host of other virtues developed in a large and wonderful family with my noble mother as the queen of that home.
Young mothers and fathers, with all my heart I counsel you not to postpone having your children, being co-creators with our Father in Heaven. Do not use the reasoning of the world, such as, “We will wait until we can better afford having children, until we are more secure, until John has completed his education, until he has a better paying job, until we have a larger home, until we have obtained a few of the material conveniences,” and on and on. This is the reasoning of the world and is not pleasing in the sight of God. Mothers who enjoy good health, have your children and have them early. And, husbands, always be considerate of your wives in the bearing of children.
Do not curtail the number of children for personal or selfish reasons. Material possessions, social convenience, and so-called professional advantages are nothing compared to a righteous posterity. In the eternal perspective, children--not possessions, not position, not prestige--are our greatest jewels. Brigham Young emphasized: “There are multitudes of pure and holy spirits waiting to take tabernacles, now what is our duty?--To prepare tabernacles for them; to take a course that will not tend to drive those spirits into the families of the wicked, where they will be trained in wickedness debauchery, and every species of crime. It is the duty of every righteous man and woman to prepare tabernacles for all the spirits they can” (Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 197). Yes, blessed is the husband and wife who have a family of children. The deepest joys and blessings in life are associated with family, parenthood, and sacrifice. To have those sweet spirits come into the home is worth practically any sacrifice.
Special Promises of God
We realize that some women, through no fault of their own, are not able to bear children. To these lovely sisters, every prophet of God has promised that they will be blessed with children in the eternities and that posterity will not be denied them. Through pure faith, pleading prayers, fasting, and special priesthood blessings, many of these same lovely sisters, with their noble companions at their sides, have had miracles take place in their lives and have been blessed with children. Others have prayerfully chosen to adopt children, and to these wonderful couples we salute you for the sacrifices and love you have given to those children you have chose to be your own.
Rearing Children the Lord’s Way
Now, my dear mothers, knowing of your divine role to bear and rear children and bring them back to Him, how will you accomplish this in the Lord’s way? I say the “Lord’s way,” because it is different from the world’s way.
The Lord clearly defined the roles of mothers and fathers in providing for and rearing a righteous posterity. In the beginning, Adam--not Eve--was instructed to earn the bread by the sweat of his brow. Contrary to conventional wisdom, a mother’s calling is in the home, not in the marketplace.
Again in the Doctrine and Covenants, we read: “Women have claim on their husbands for their maintenance, until their husbands are taken” (D&C 83:2). This is the divine right of a wife and mother. She cares for and nourishes her children at home. Her husband earns the living for the family, which makes this nourishing possible. With that claim on their husbands for their financial support, the counsel of the Church has always been for mothers to spend their full time in the home in rearing and caring for their children.
We realize also that some of our choice sisters are widowed and divorced and that others find themselves in unusual circumstances where, out of necessity, they are
required to work for a period of time. But these instances are the exception, not the rule. In a home where there is an able-bodied husband, he is expected to be the
breadwinner. Sometimes we hear of husbands who, because of economic conditions, have lost their jobs and expect their wives to go out of the home and work even though the husband is still capable of providing for his family. In these cases, we urge the husband to do all in his power to allow his wife to remain in the home caring for
the children while he continues to provide for his family the best he can, even though the job he is able to secure may not be ideal and family budgeting will have to be tighter.
Counsel of President Kimball
Our beloved prophet, Spencer W. Kimball, had much to say about the role of mothers in the home and their callings and responsibilities. I am impressed to share with
you some of his inspired pronouncements. I fear that much of his counsel has gone unheeded, and families have suffered because of it. But I stand as a second witness to the truthfulness of what President Spencer W. Kimball said. He spoke as a true prophet of God.
President Kimball declared: “Women are to take care of the family--the Lord has so stated--to be an assistant to the husband, to work with him, but not to earn the living, except in unusual circumstances. Men ought to be men indeed and earn the living under normal circumstances” (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 318).
President Kimball continues: “Too many mothers work away from home to furnish sweaters and music lessons and trips and fun for their children. Too many women spend their time in socializing, in politicking, in public services when they should be home to teach and train and receive and love their children into security” (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 319).
Remember the counsel of President Kimball to John and Mary: “Mary, you are to become a career woman in the greatest career on earth--that of homemaker, wife, and mother. It was never intended by the Lord that married women should compete with men in employment. They have a far greater and more important service to render” (Faith Precedes the Miracle, p. 128).
Again President Kimball speaks: “The husband is expected to support his family and only in an emergency should a wife secure outside employment. Her place is in the home, to build the home into a haven of delight. “Numerous divorces can be traced directly to the day when the wife left the home and went out into the world into employment. Two incomes raise the standard of living beyond its norm. Two spouses working prevents the complete and proper home life, breaks into the family prayers, creates an independence which is not cooperative, causes distortion, limits the family, and frustrates the children already born” (Spencer W. Kimball, San Antonio Fireside, 3 December 1977, pp. 9-10).
Finally, President Kimball counsels: “I beg of you, you who could and should be bearing and rearing a family: Wives, come home from the typewriter, the laundry, the
nursing, come home from the factory, the cafe. No career approaches in importance that of wife, homemaker, mother--cooking meals, washing dishes, making beds for one’s precious husband and children. Come home, wives, to your husbands. Make home a heaven for them. Come home, wives, to your children, born and unborn. Wrap the motherly cloak about you and, unembarrassed, help in a major role to create the bodies for the immortal souls who anxiously await.
“When you have fully complemented your husband in home life and borne the children, growing up full of faith, integrity, responsibility, and goodness, then you have achieved your accomplishment supreme, without peer, and you will be the envy [of all] through time and eternity” (Spencer W. Kimball, San Antonio Fireside, 3 December 1977, pp. 11-12). President Kimball spoke the truth. His words are prophetic.
Ten Ways to Spend Time with Children
Mothers in Zion, your God-given roles are so vital to your own exaltation and to the salvation and exaltation of your family. A child needs a mother more than all the things money can buy. Spending time with your children is the greatest gift of all. With love in my heart for the mothers in Zion, I would like to suggest ten specific ways our mothers may spend effective time with their children.
Be at the Crossroads. First, take time to always be at the crossroads when your children are either coming or going--when they leave and return from dates--when they bring friends home. Be there at the crossroads whether your children are six or sixteen. In Proverbs we read: “A child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame” (Proverbs 29:15). Among the greatest concerns in our society are the millions of latchkey children who come home daily to empty houses unsupervised by working parents.
Be a Real Friend. Second, mothers, take time to be a real friend to your children. Listen to your children, really listen. Talk with them, laugh and joke with them, sing with them, play with them, cry with them, hug them, honestly praise them. Yes, regularly spend unrushed one-on-one time with each child. Be a real friend to your children.
Read to Your Children. Third, mothers, take time to read to your children. Starting from the cradle, read to your sons and daughters. Remember what the poet said:
You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be--
I had a mother who read to me.
(Strickland Gillilan, “The Reading Mother”).
You will plant a love for good literature and a real love for the scriptures if you will read to your children regularly.
Pray with Your Children. Fourth, take time to pray with your children. Family prayers, under the direction of the father, should be held morning and night. Have your children feel of your faith as you call down the blessings of heaven upon them. Paraphrasing the word of James: “The . . . fervent prayer of a righteous [mother] availeth much” (James 5:16). Have your children participate in family and personal prayers and rejoice in their sweet utterances to their Father in Heaven.
Have Weekly Family Home Evenings. Fifth, take time to have a meaningful weekly home evening. With your husband presiding, participate in a spiritual and an
uplifting home evening each week. Have your children actively involved. Teach them correct principles. Make this one of your great family traditions. Remember the
marvelous promise made by President Joseph F. Smith when home evenings were first introduced to the Church: “If the Saints obey this counsel, we promise that great
blessings will result. Love at home and obedience to parents will increase. Faith will be developed in the hearts of the youth of Israel, and they will gain power to combat the evil influences and temptations which beset them” (James R. Clark, comp., Messages of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
4:339). This wonderful promise is still in effect today.
Be Together at Mealtimes. Sixth, take time to be together at mealtimes as often as possible. This is a challenge as the children get older and lives get busier. But happy conversation, sharing of the day’s plans and activities, and special teaching moments occur at mealtime because mothers and fathers and children work at it.
Read Scriptures Daily. Seventh, take time daily to read the scriptures together as a family. Individual scripture reading is important, but family scripture
reading is vital. Reading the Book of Mormon together as a family will especially bring increased spirituality into your home and will give both parents and children the power to resist temptation and to have the Holy Ghost as their constant companion. I promise you that the Book of Mormon will change the lives of your family.
Do Things as a Family. Eighth, take time to do things as a family. Make family outings and picnics and birthday celebrations and trips special times and memory builders.
Whenever possible attend as a family events where one of the family members is involved, such as a school play, a ball game, a talk, a recital. Attend Church meetings together and sit together as a family when you can.
Mothers who help families pray and play together will stay together and will bless children’s lives forever.
Teach Your Children. Ninth, mothers, take time to teach your children. Catch the teaching moments. This can be done anytime during the day--at mealtime, in
casual settings or at special sit-down times together, at the foot of the bed at the end of the day, or during an early-morning walk together. Mothers, you are your
children’s best teacher. Don’t shift this precious responsibility to day-care centers or baby-sitters. A mother’s love and prayerful concern for her children are
her most important ingredients in teaching her own.
Teach children gospel principles. Teach them it pays to be good. Teach them there is no safety in sin. Teach them a love for the gospel of Jesus Christ and a testimony of its divinity. Teach your sons and daughters modesty and teach them to respect manhood and womanhood.
Teach your children sexual purity, proper dating standards, temple marriage, missionary service, and the importance of accepting and magnifying Church callings.
Teach them a love for work and the value of a good education.
Teach them the importance of the right kind of entertainment, including appropriate movies, videos, music, books, and magazines. Discuss the evils of pornography and drugs and teach them the value of living the clean life.
Yes, mothers, teach your children the gospel in your home, at your own fireside. This is the most effective teaching that your children will ever receive. This is the
Lord’s way of teaching. The Church cannot teach like you can. The school cannot. The day-care center cannot. But you can, and the Lord will sustain you. Your children will remember your teachings forever, and when they are old, they will not depart from them. They will call you blessed--their truly angel mother.
Mothers, this kind of heavenly, motherly teaching takes time--lots of time. It cannot be done effectively part-time. It must be done all the time in order to save
and exalt your children. This is your divine calling.
Truly Love Your Children. Tenth, and finally, mothers, take the time to truly love your children. A mother’s unqualified love approaches Christlike love.
Here is a beautiful tribute by a son to his mother: “I don’t remember much about her views of voting nor her social prestige; and what her ideas of child training, diet,
and eugenics were, I cannot recall. The main thing that sifts back to me now through the thick undergrowth of years is that she loved me. She liked to lie on the grass
with me and tell stories, or to run and hide with us children. She was always hugging me. And I liked it. She had a sunny face. To me it was like God. Of all the
sensations pleasurable to my life nothing can compare with the rapture of crawling up into her lap and going to sleep while she swung to and fro in her rocking chair and sang. Thinking of this, I wonder if the woman of today, with all her tremendous notions and plans, realizes what an almighty factor she is in shaping her children. I wonder if she realizes how much sheer love and attention count for in a child’s life.”
Mothers, your teenage children also need that same kind of love and attention. It seems easier for many mothers and fathers to express their love to their children
when they are young, but more difficult when they are older. Work at this prayerfully. There need be no generation gap. And the key is love. Our young people
need love and attention, not indulgence. They need empathy and understanding, not indifference from mothers and fathers. They need the parents’ time. A mother’s
kindly teachings and her love for and confidence in a teenage son or daughter can literally save them from a wicked world.
Blessings of the Lord upon Parents
In closing, I would be remiss this evening if I did not express my love and eternal gratitude for my sweetheart and companion and the mother of our six children. Her
devotion to motherhood has blessed me and our family beyond words of expression. She has been a marvelous mother, completely and happily devoting her life and her mission to her family. How grateful I am for Flora!
May I also express my gratitude to you fathers and husbands assembled this evening. We look to you to give righteous leadership in your home and families and, with
your companions and the mothers of your children, to lead your families back to our Eternal Father.
Now God bless our wonderful mothers. We pray for you. We sustain you. We honor you as you bear, nourish, train, teach, and love for eternity. I promise you the
blessings of heaven and “all that the Father hath” (see D&C 84:38) as you magnify the noblest calling of all--a mother in Zion. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
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