"If Ye Have Not Charity, Ye Are Nothing"

Last Saturday, Mom and I attended our Saturday evening session of our Stake Conference. The theme of this meeting was to "love your enemies." As I listened to the various talks that were given that evening, it drummed up numerous times in my life when I had people who wronged me. It is a hard thing to forgive and forget when you have been dealt unfairly with. For me time has been a good healer.

At this point in my life, I believe I can honestly say that I don't have feelings of hatred towards anyone. It has not been easy, but it has been life-changing for me. I do have opinions about certain people, but they are not fueled by indignation or hatred.

The Lord tells us "... Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." -- Matt 5:44

Then in the Book of Mormon he teaches us the Law of Charity. Here are the principles of this law:

• Suffereth Long
• Is Kind
• Envieth Not
• Is not puffed up
• Seeketh not her own
• Is not easily provoked
• Thinketh no evil
• Rejoiceth not in iniquity
• Rejoiceth in the truth
• Bearth all things
• Believeth all things
• Hope all things
• Endureth all things

I would challenge each of us to go through each one of these principles, and ask ourselves this question "Am I following this principle?" If not, then set a goal to  develop that principle in your life.

Some additional counsel we received from the Lord, through the Prophet Joseph Smith, and is found in D&C 121:41, 42: "No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood (This applies to women, as well as men), only by:

• Persuasion
• Long-suffering
• Gentleness
• Meekness
• Love unfeigned
• Kindness
• Pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul
• Without hypocrisy
• Without guile 

I would like to issue the same challenge with this question, "Do I have these principles in my life?" If not, then set a goal on the ones you need improvement in.

We cannot make it through this life without relationships and interactions with God's children. It is his plan for us to learn to get along with each other and to serve one another. That is why we are in families, in marriages, in congregations, in stakes, in communities and countries.

He loves us and wants us to love one another. "...love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." -- John 13:34

My desire is for us to examine ourselves concerning these principles I have listed, and not to examine others. You might say "Oh he or she needs that, or they aren't following that principle in their life." That is easy to say, but also very immature and childish. The higher road, and the one that the Lord wants us to follow, is to not judge and to focus on our own imperfections and overcome  them. "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" -- Matt 7:3

As a family, we continue to grow and become stronger as we love and support  one another, and love and pray for those that would choose to do us harm or speak ill of us. As we do this, the Lord will exalt us.

I can think of nothing that would bring Mom and I more joy than to be together as a family in the Celestial Kingdom.

Love, Dad

Running With Angels

Today I had the honor to watch and feel a race that was run with two groups of people, mortals and little angels. Teresa and Quin, along with Gavin, Alivia and Grandma Stone, ran with Sienna today.



"WHEN GOD CALLS LITTLE CHILDREN"

When God calls little children
to dwell with him above,
We mortals sometime question
the wisdom of his love
For no heartache compares with
the death of one small child
Who does so much to make our world,
seem wonderful and mild
Perhaps God tires of calling
the aged to his fold,
So He picks a rosebud,
before he can grow old.
God knows how much we need them,
and so he takes but a few
To make the land of Heaven
more beautiful to view.
Believing this is difficult still
somehow we must try,
The saddest word mankind knows will always be "Goodbye."
So when a little child departs
we who are left behind
Must realize God loves children,
Angels are hard to find.

Love, Dad

"The Race"

“Quit!” “Give up, you’re beaten!” they shout at me and plead,
“There’s just too much against you now, this time you can’t succeed.”
And as I started to hang my head in front of failure’s face,
My downward fall is broken by the memory of a race.

And hope refills my weakened will as I recall that scene.
For just the thought of that short race rejuvenates my being.
A children’s race, young boys, young men; now I remember well.
Excitement, sure, but also fear; it wasn’t hard to tell.

They all lined up so full of hope. Each thought to win the race
Or tie for first, if not that, at least take second place.
And fathers watched from off the side, each cheering for his son,
And each boy hoped to show his dad that he would be the one.
The whistle blew and off they sped, as if they were on fire
To win, to be the hero there, was each boy’s desire.
And one boy in particular, his dad was in the crowd,

Was running near the lead and thought, “My dad will be so proud.”
But as he speeded down the field, across the shallow dip,
The little boy who thought to win lost his step and slipped.
Trying hard to catch himself, his arm flew out to brace,
And ‘mid the laughter of the crowd, he fell flat on his face.
So, down he fell, and with him, hope. He couldn’t win it now.
Embarrassed, sad, he only wished he’d disappear somehow.

But, as he fell, his dad stood up and showed his anxious face,
Which to the boy so clearly said, “Get up and win the race!”
He quickly rose, no damage done, behind a bit, that’s all.
And ran with all his mind and might to make up for the fall.
So anxious to restore himself, to catch up and to win,
His mind went faster than his legs. He slipped and fell again.
He wished he had quit before with only one disgrace.
“I’m hopeless as a runner now, I shouldn’t try to race.”
But, in the laughing crowd he searched and found his father’s face.
That steady look that said again, “Get up and win the race!”
So, he jumped up to try again, ten yards behind the last;
“If I’m to gain those yards,” he thought, “I’ve got to run real fast!”
Exceeding everything he had, he regained eight or ten,
But trying so hard to catch the lead, he slipped and fell again.
Defeat! He lay there silently, a tear dropped from his eye.
“There’s no sense running more. Three strikes, I’m out…why try?”
The will to rise had disappeared, all hope had fled away.
So far behind, so error-prone, a loser all the way.

“I’ve lost, so what’s the use?” he thought, “I’ll live with my disgrace.”
But, then he thought about his dad, who soon he’d have to face.
“Get up,” an echo sounded low, “Get up and take your place.
You weren’t meant for failure here; get up and win the race.”
With borrowed will, “Get up,” it said, “You haven’t lost at all,
For winning is no more than this–to rise each time you fall.”
So up he rose to win once more. And with a new commit,

He resolved that win or lose, at least he wouldn’t quit.
So far behind the others now, the most he’d ever been.
Still, he gave it all he had, and ran as though to win.
Three times he fallen, stumbling, three times he rose again.
Too far behind to hope to win, he still ran to the end.
They cheered the winning runner, as he crossed the line, first place,
Head high and proud and happy; no falling, no disgrace.

But, when the fallen crossed the finish line, last place,
The crowd gave him the greater cheer for finishing the race.
And even though he came in last, with head bowed low, unproud,
You would have thought he won the race, to listen to the crowd.
And to his dad, he sadly said, “I didn’t do so well.”
“To me you won,” his father said, “You rose each time you fell.”
And now when things seem dark and hard and difficult to face,
The memory of that little boy helps me in my race.
For all of life is like that race, with ups and downs and all.
And all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall.
“Quit!” “Give up, you’re beaten!” They still shout in my face,
But another voice within me says, “Get up and win the race!”

I'm proud of you Chad!

Love, Dad

A Tribute To An Elect Lady

I can't think of a more compassionate and loving person than Mom. She has always sacrificed everything for us. She has laughed with us, and cried with us. She has always put her family before herself.

On this Mother's Day, I'd like to pay tribute to the greatest wife and mother in the world.

Happy Mother's Day!

"Know the Shepherd"

While serving on my mission, one night, after my companion and I had finished our day of proselyting,  I laid in my bed and listened to a talk given by Elder Hugh B. Brown. You kids don't remember Elder Brown, as he died in 1975 before any of you were born. He was a great speaker, always captivating his congregation with heart-warming stories.

Well, this night, as I listened to one of his talks, he related a story that deeply touched me as to the type of person I needed to be, and the personal relationship I needed to have with my Savior.

Here's the story:

One time there was a very prominent actor in New York City. He possessed a special oratorical gift which enabled him to completely captivate any audience. One night after his recitation, he was applauded tremendously, and as he come back on stage to take his bows, a lady in the crowd called for him to recite the 23rd Psalm. This request startled the actor, but being familiar with the scripture he consented to do so. 

As he delivered the recitation, he endeavored to mould and beautify it with all the color, emotion, and personality that the long hard years of work had taught him. His delivery was excellent. Nothing had been forgotten or omitted. The crowd burst into a thunderous applause and praised him for his noble talent. 

As the applause subsided, the actor called an old gentleman from the front row to the stage and asked him to also recite the psalm. The old man appeared nervous, but consented. 

As he turned to the crowd he closed his eyes and bowed his head. He spoke the words:

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou annointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

When the old gentleman finished, there was no thunderous applause; there were no cries of praise; but there was also not a dry eye in the crowd.

The young prominent actor faced the crowd and said, 

"Ladies and gentlemen, I know the words to the 23rd Psalm, but this man knows the shepherd."

This story impressed me in a couple of ways. First, what am I doing, and what can I do, to "know the shepherd." Secondly, it caused me to really ponder the words of the 23rd Psalm.

I ask you to take some time to read the words of the 23rd Psalm, and then ask yourself if you really understand how this short prayer applies to you? As you come to understand the words of this Psalm, apply them in your life. I can promise you as you apply them, you will come to "know the shepherd."

Love, Dad