The Miracle we call Birth & The Father's Blessing

The the birth of the newest member of our family, Sophie Kaikala Hirschi, to Jen and Braden, is an amazing miracle. I am just in awe how something which starts off as a single cell inside a woman's womb, grows and develops into a human being with an intellect, a child of God.

I mentioned this to Braden several times this week, "Isn't it just amazing how this beautiful baby was developed? How can anyone raise doubt of a supreme maker who controls the growth and development of these precious little babies?"

Stop and consider the process that this baby goes through to develop a heart, a brain, arms and legs, lungs, all the internal organs, and then becomes a housing to its spirit. A baby is the greatest of God's creations. It indeed is a miracle.

When it is proper to do so, Sophie will receive a father's blessing from Braden. She will also be given her official name that she will be known on the records of the Church and throughout her life.


So just what is the baby's blessing all about? What is the process, its purpose and meaning. I found an article from William E. Berrett, an LDS author, that outlined the baby's blessing.

The Blessing of Children

Each fast meeting babies are brought to the chapels of the Church for a blessing. Where and when did this practice begin? And why has it become an important ordinance in the Church?

The ancient Hebrews brought their babies to the priests for a blessing. Usually the temple was the place where the ordinance was performed. Jesus was blessed in the temple and given a name by the aged priest Simeon.  In his time this ordinance was usually performed when the baby was forty days old.

In this dispensation, the ordinance was established with the very origin of the Church. Thus we read in the famous revelation or articles presented to the elders gathered together April 6, 1830:

Every member of the church of Christ having children is to bring them unto the elders before the church, who are to lay their hands upon them in the name of Jesus Christ, and bless them in his name.

There has been no commandment in our time concerning the age at which the blessing and name should be given. The practice varies considerably, but usually it is performed at the first fast meeting after the baby's birth and when the mother of the baby is well enough to attend the services.

Who May Give the Blessing

The giving of a blessing is a right belonging to the High or Melchizedek Priesthood. The prophets of old gave blessings to their children. This same power has been restored in our day.

And again, verily I say, whomsoever you bless, I will bless, and whomsoever you curse, I will curse, saith the Lord; for I, the Lord, am thy God.

As in the case of all ordinances, the keys or directing power rest with certain officers of the Church. The bishop of the ward holds the keys of this power within his ward, and designates the elder who is to bless the particular infant. Ordinarily, the father of the infant is so designated if he is a holder of the High Priesthood.

Purpose of the Blessing
A child is worthy of a blessing because he came into the world innocent and has done nothing to mar that innocence:

But behold, I say unto you, that little children are redeemed from the foundation of the world through mine Only Begotten;

Wherefore, they cannot sin, for power is not given unto Satan to tempt little children, until they begin to become accountable before me;

For it is given unto them even as I will, according to mine own pleasure, that great things may be required at the hand of their fathers.

But little children are holy, being sanctified through the atonement of Jesus Christ; and this is what the scriptures mean.

The purposes of a blessing are threefold:

To give the child a name upon the records of the Church;

To bind the Lord to a promise to use his spirit to advise and counsel the child as he grows toward a period of understanding and responsibility;

To bring to parents and to the Church a sense of responsibility for the welfare of the child.

How the Lord Bestows the Blessing

The giving of a blessing is no guarantee that the blessing will be realized. The Lord has made it clear that:

There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—

And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.

There are those parents who have their child blessed and do little more in teaching him the gospel. But the fulfilment of the blessing depends, in large part, upon the parents, and if the parents want the blessing upon their infant to be fulfilled, they should give heed to the Lord's instructions to them on the matter:

And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents.

For this shall be a law unto the inhabitants of Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized;

And their children shall be baptized for the remission of their sins when eight years old, and receive the laying on of the hands,

And they shall also teach their children to pray and to walk uprightly before the Lord.

And the inhabitants of Zion shall also observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

And the inhabitants of Zion also shall remember their labors, inasmuch as they are appointed to labor, in all faithfulness; for the idler shall be had in remembrance before the Lord.

Now, I the Lord, am not well pleased with the inhabitants of Zion, for there are idlers among them; and their children are also growing up in wickedness; they also seek not earnestly the riches of eternity, but their eyes are full of greediness.

Also:

But I have commanded you to bring up your children in light and truth.

You have not taught your children light and truth, according to the commandments; and that wicked one hath power, as yet, over you, and this is the cause of your affliction.

And now a commandment I give unto you—if you will be delivered you shall set in order your own house, for there are many things that are not right in your house.

The Lord not only fulfils his blessing upon the child by instructing and guiding the parents in their training of the child, but also he fulfils his blessing through his arm on the earth—the Church. The Lord provides a chapel in which the child can worship and grow in spirit. He appoints teachers to instruct the child in the gospel; elders to administer to him the ordinances of the Church and to visit and instruct him and his parents in their home. The Lord provides a treasury of spiritual experience through the holy scriptures, and brings opportunities for service. Through the Church, he teaches the child the gospel in song, shows him how to pray, to bear testimony, and to walk uprightly before the Lord. The Lord provides schools for children, wherein the blessings pronounced upon their heads might be realized. Thus, in June of 1831, he instructed William W. Phelps:

And again, you shall be ordained to assist my servant Oliver Cowdery to do the work of printing, and of selecting and writing books for schools in this church, that little children also may receive instruction before me as is pleasing unto me.

We do err if we fail to see the part played by the Church in the fulfilment of the blessing, or fail to see the obligation upon the Church members to see that no blessing upon the head of a child shall fall to the ground through failure of the Church members to assist the Lord in his work.

Thanks Braden and Jen for doing your part to bring this beautiful baby into our family. We will watch with great interest to see her grow and develop into a beautiful daughter of God who will then take her part, along with her eternal companion, to do what you have just done for her, that is bringing more spirit children into this world, and our family.

We are so happy for you!

Love, Dad

Faith - Do We Really Understand It?

The forth article of faith says: We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

If faith is part of the "first principles... of the Gospel," and listed as the  very first principle, then it is extremely important that we try to fully understand and live it. However, I feel, with a lifetime of study, I am just scratching the surface of my understanding of this principle.

Let's explore what we know about faith.

In the Church's "Guide to the Scriptures" we learn the following about faith:

Confidence in something or someone. As most often used in the scriptures, faith is confidence and trust in Jesus Christ that lead a person to obey him. Faith must be centered in Jesus Christ in order for it to lead a person to salvation. Latter-day Saints also have faith in God the Father, the Holy Ghost, priesthood power, and other important aspects of the restored gospel.

Faith includes a hope for things which are not seen, but which are true (Heb. 11:1; Alma 32:21; Ether 12:6). Faith is kindled by hearing the gospel taught by authorized administrators sent by God (Rom. 10:14–17). Miracles do not produce faith, but strong faith is developed by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. In other words, faith comes by righteousness (Alma 32:40–43; Ether 12:4, 6, 12; D&C 63:9–12). True faith brings miracles, visions, dreams, healings, and all the gifts of God that he gives to his Saints. By faith one obtains a remission of sins and eventually is able to dwell in God’s presence. A lack of faith leads one to despair, which comes because of iniquity (Moro. 10:22).

In the early winter of 1834 in Kirtland, Ohio, Joseph Smith presented a course of 7 lectures called "Lectures on Faith" to the School of the Prophets. These lectures offer some insight into helping us understanding the deeper meaning of faith. 

In the first lecture he taught the following:

The author of the epistle to the Hebrews, in the eleventh chapter of that epistle and first verse, gives the following definition of the word faith:

8. Now faith is the substance (assurance) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

9. From this we learn that faith is the assurance which men have of the existence of things which they have not seen, and the principle of action in all intelligent beings.

10. If men were duly to consider themselves, and turn their thoughts and reflections to the operations of their own minds, they would readily discover that it is faith, and faith only, which is the moving cause of all action in them; that without it both mind and body would be in a state of inactivity, and all their exertions would cease, both physical and mental.

11. Were this class to go back and reflect upon the history of their lives, from the period of their first recollection, and ask themselves what principle excited them to action, or what gave them energy and activity in all their lawful avocations, callings, and pursuits, what would be the answer? Would it not be that it was the assurance which they had of the existence of things which they had not seen as yet? Was it not the hope which you had, in consequence of your belief in the existence of unseen things, which stimulated you to action and exertion in order to obtain them? Are you not dependent on your faith, or belief, for the acquisition of all knowledge, wisdom, and intelligence? Would you exert yourselves to obtain wisdom and intelligence, unless you did believe that you could obtain them? Would you have ever sown, if you had not believed that you would reap? Would you have ever planted, if you had not believed that you would gather? Would you have ever asked, unless you had believed that you would receive? Would you have ever sought, unless you had believed that you would have found? Or, would you have ever knocked, unless you had believed that it would have been opened unto you? In a word, is there anything that you would have done, either physical or mental, if you had not previously believed? Are not all your exertions of every kind, dependent on your faith? Or, may we not ask, what have you, or what do you possess, which you have not obtained by reason of your faith? Your food, your raiment, your , are they not all by reason of your faith? Reflect, and ask yourselves if these things are not so. Turn your thoughts on your own minds, and see if faith is not the moving cause of all action in yourselves; and, if the moving cause in you, is it not in all other intelligent beings?

12. And as faith is the moving cause of all action in temporal concerns, so it is in spiritual; for the Saviour has said, and that truly, that "He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved." Mark 16:16.

13. As we receive by faith all temporal blessings that we do receive, so we in like manner receive by faith all spiritual blessings that we do receive. But faith is not only the principle of action, but of power also, in all intelligent beings, whether in heaven or on earth. Thus says the author of the epistle to the Hebrews 11:3—

14. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God; so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear."

15. By this we understand that the principle of power which existed in the bosom of God, by which the worlds were framed, was faith; and that it is by reason of this principle of power existing in the Deity, that all created things exist; so that all things in heaven, on earth, or under the earth exist by reason of faith as it existed in Him.

16. Had it not been for the principle of faith the worlds would never have been framed neither would man have been formed of the dust. It is the principle by which Jehovah works, and through which he exercises power over all temporal as well as eternal things. Take this principle or attribute—for it is an attribute—from the Deity, and he would cease to exist.

17. Who cannot see, that if God framed the worlds by faith, that it is by faith that he exercises power over them, and that faith is the principle of power? And if the principle of power, it must be so in man as well as in the Deity? This is the testimony of all the sacred writers, and the lesson which they have been endeavouring to teach to man.

18. The Saviour says (Matthew 17:19, 20), in explaining the reason why the disciples could not cast out the devil, that it was because of their unbelief—"For verily I say unto you" (said he), "if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, 'Remove hence to yonder place,' and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."

19. Moroni, while abridging and compiling the record of his fathers, has given us the following account of faith as the principle of power. He says, page 597, that it was the faith of Alma and Amulek which caused the walls of the prison to be rent, as recorded on the 278th page; it was the faith of Nephi and Lehi which caused a change to be wrought upon the hearts of the Lamanites, when they were immersed with the Holy Spirit and with fire, as seen on the 443rd page; and that it was by faith the mountain Zerin was removed when the brother of Jared spake in the name of the Lord. See also 599th page.

20. In addition to this we are told in Hebrews 11:32, 33, 34, 35, that Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, through faith subdued Kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword; out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens, and that women received their dead raised to life again, &c., &c.

21. Also Joshua, in the sight of all Israel, bade the sun and moon to stand still, and it was done. Joshua 10:12.

22. We here understand, that the sacred writers say that all these things were done by faith. It was by faith that the worlds were framed. God spake, chaos heard, and worlds came into order by reason of the faith there was in Him. So with man also; he spake by faith in the name of God, and the sun stood still, the moon obeyed, mountains removed, prisons fell, lions' mouths were closed, the human heart lost its enmity, fire its violence, armies their power, the sword its terror, and death its dominion; and all this by reason of the faith which was in him.

23. Had it not been for the faith which was in men, they might have spoken to the sun, the moon, the mountains, prisons, the human heart, fire, armies, the sword, or to death in vain!

24. "Faith, then, is the first great governing principle which has power, dominion, and authority over all things; by it they exist, by it they are upheld, by it they are changed, or by it they remain, agreeable to the will of God. Without it there is no power, and without power there could be no creation nor existence!

Time will not permit to explore all the aspects of faith (Literally volumes have been written), but let me summarize some of the important ones as noted above.

• Faith is confidence and trust in Jesus Christ.
• Faith must be centered in Jesus Christ to obtain salvation.
• Faith includes a hope in things which are not seen, but which are true.
• Faith is kindled by hearing the gospel.
• Faith brings miracles, visions, dreams, healings and all the gifts of God. (Gifts of the spirit; i.e., ministering of angels)
• Faith helps us to obtain a remission of our sins, and to live in the presence of God.
• Faith is the moving cause of all actions.
• Faith, when not present, we would be in a state of inactivity, both mind and body. (Physical and mental)
• Faith is the moving cause of action in both temporal and spiritual.
• Faith created this earth.
• Faith is what causes all things to exist.
• Faith is what allowed us to be placed upon this earth and receive our earthly bodies.
• Faith is the first great governing principle in the universe, and that all things exist, are upheld or are changed.
• Faith, without it, power would cease to exist, and without power, we, and this earth would not exist.
• 
  

There is a lot to digest here. I encourage each of you to study, ponder and pray about faith. Ask Heavenly Father to help you understand and enlarge your faith. For us to become like our Heavenly Father, and create worlds without end, we will need to have a full understanding and control over our faith.

I would also ask each of you to do the things that would enlarge and grow your faith. Live the commandments of the Lord. Listen to the promptings of the spirit. Seek to know the mind and will of God.

As you do these things, I promise you that your lives will be happier, your problems smaller and you will come to know your Maker.

Love, Dad

The New Temple Movie - Some thoughts and feelings

Having recently attended the temple, it was inspirational to me to view the new temple movie. The plot, the characters and the words were all the same, but the style, presentation and feeling was amazing.

I came away from the endowment session that day with a renewed understanding of who I am, where I came from and where I am going. It helped me to understand, in a deeper way, the creation of this earth, the love our Heavenly Father and Savior have for me -- The pattern of organization, development and planned systems for Heavenly Father allowing his children the opportunity to be like him.

I came to understand better the critical and important decision that Adam and Eve made to allow God's plan to take place. It was a selfless decision, one that extended the opportunity to all of God's children, and not just Adam and Eve, to come to this earth and partake of eternal life and exaltation. Their decision was to extend the title of "Adam and Eve" to each of us. As it says in the movie dialogue that we are to consider ourselves as if we were Adam and Eve. There is deep and rich symbolism in that action.

I learned more fully that Satan is deceitful, a lier and a cheat. He wants to destroy God's plan and us. Nothing good comes from him, and never will. With gold and silver he has purchased and controls evil and wicked people, governments, organizations, media and so on. He is not, nor ever should be, our friend. Everything bad comes from him. Everything good comes from God.

12 Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually.

13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.

14 Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil. (Moroni 7:12-14)

So I had it re-enforced to me that day that I need to do everything in my power to do good continually. If I don't, then I am following Satan. He wants me to be miserable like him.

On the other hand, my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ want me to be happy like them. They want me to have, not just happiness on this earth life, but happiness forever. The only way I can do that is to follow their counsel... to follow their spirit... to listen to those quiet and soft voices and impressions. 

Those voices are best heard when I am living the commandments, when I am clearing my mind of clutter, when I am listening with my spiritual ears.

Although the new temple movie was the same information portrayed, it impressed upon me the stark reality of life and my personal mission here.

From that day, I made a renewed promise to the Lord that I was going to try harder and do better. I hope we can all do the same.

Love, Dad

Lotoja 2013 - An Inspiration to Me

Friday, I had an all day company boating activity in which I contributed my boat. When I got home around 6:30, and while I was cleaning the boat and putting things away, I was thinking about the Lotoja Race that Adam and his road bike friends were participating in.

This was not just the normal annual 206 mile bike race from Logan to Jackson... Adam's group had been planning this race since the death of Rick Takamori last year, and was dedicating it to Rick "Tak." They organized a team called "Team Tak," had a logo designed and produced riding jerseys, shorts, sweatshirts and vehicle vinyl signs. They were one of the largest organized groups out of the 2,000 participants. Everywhere you looked, there was a "Team Tak" car or jersey. They were the talk of the event. Everyone knew about "Team Tak!" (Not to mention the Anderson's unique-looking vehicle)

Anyway, as I was cleaning the boat and thinking about the race, a little voice said to me, "you need to be there." I was tired from a long day of boating. But I have learned to listen to those voices. It wasn't until the end of the race that I realized the importance of me being there.

So I cleaned myself up, kissed my honey good-bye, and headed towards Logan. Sarah and Adam didn't know I was coming, and I figured I would call them when I got there, to find out where they were staying so I could park my car in the parking lot of the hotel and sleep in my car.

When I arrived in Logan around 10:30, I called Sarah. I asked how they were doing and if Adam was all ready. She said he was all prepared and they were getting ready for bed. I asked where they were staying, and she said the Hampton Inn. I told her that I was in Logan and if I could park my car in the parking lot of the hotel and sleep in the car. She was pretty surprised, and insisted that I sleep in their room. Did I mention that they had their whole family with them?

So when I walked into their "small" two bed- hotel room, there were kids sleeping all over the floor. There were kids between the beds, under the desk, in the corners... they were all over the place. You could not walk without stepping on two or three of them. I told Sarah, I'll just sleep in my car. And she again insisted, and I said where? She said you can sleep right in the hallway, in front of the door. So that is where I slept.

Okay, back to why I was prompted to go. One of the participants of Team Tak was Michael Hurd. Michael is 63 years old and has participated in four previous Lotoja races. This was his 5th year. If he completed the race this year, he would earn the prestigious 1,000 mile award, for having raced in five 200 mile Lotoja races.

After all of the Team Tak participants came across the finish line, Michael was no where to be seen. We waited and waited. No Michael. As the sun set, and the skies darkened, the race was going to be called. Once the race was called, and you come across the finish line, it doesn't count. It was getting darker, and was 8:20 PM. We heard the announcer say that the race was going to be called in in 5 minutes. Sarah heard from Michael's wife that he was out 3 kilometers. That is just over a mile. There was no way he would make it in time.

At that time I felt prompted to go talk to the race official and let him know about Michael, and that he was trying for his 1,000 mile award. He listened to me, but said that once the official from the National Cycling Association called the race, it was official and that no one after that point would count. I thanked him and walked back to the finish line to wait for Michael. I heard the national official call the race, and Michael was no where to be seen. I felt bad for him.

After a minute went by, the person I spoke with sought me out and told me that as soon as Michael came across the finish line to have him, as quickly as possible, turn in his ankle chip, and get it logged. I told him okay, not knowing for sure what that meant. Michael crossed the finish line about a minute after that.

I had him turn in his chip. Michael could barely walk. I grabbed his arm and his bike and we walked over to the timers station to talk with the official timer about Michael's issue. In talking with the official timer and explaining Michael's predicament, he said "let me just check to see if his time got logged in before the race was called." In checking his computer, he said that Michael had a logged time and that his race was official.

There was no way that he crossed the line before it was called. I was there and I witnessed it. I sought out the official that I originally talked to and told him just what happened. He smiled and said that after talking with me, and when the national official called the race, he only turned off the visual time clock above the finish line, but left the chip clock running for another 5 minutes. That was enough time for Michael to cross the finish line and be counted. Had I not been there to ask the official, Michael's time would not have been counted. So there was a reason I was needed.

Now there is a lot more to this story that contributed to Michael's finishing the race. There is not time enough to share it here. But let me just say there was some help from other sources, team mates, a mystery rider and Tak himself, that aided in Michael's finish. Ask Sarah or me, and we'd be glad to share it.

Oh, by the way, Adam did awesome!

What else did I learn from Lotoja 2013? It inspired me to do more with my cycling. Who knows, I might just try one of these 200 mile races...

Love, Dad