“As you read Matthew 14-15; Mark 6-7; and John 5-6, look for truths that are meaningful to you. You might ask yourself questions such as ‘How do the accounts in these chapters relate to me?’, ‘What messages do I find for my life?’, or ‘What would I like to share with my family or with others?’ ” [Header, Lesson for Mar 25-31, 2019, “Be Not Afraid”.]
Journaling my impressions:
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In Sunday School on Sun 17 Mar and in our priesthood lesson this past weekend (Sun 24 Mar), some folks voiced the idea that the Pharisees get a bad rap for being hypocrites and for working against the law of God, when really they were just following the culture and traditions of their time. I had never heard this idea before. I came home and started researching references to “Pharisee” or “Pharisees”. In the Four Gospels, there are 96 references, with only two that do not condemn the attitudes and practices of the Pharisees in the harshest of terms. The entry in the Bible Dictionary is consistent with that tone, as is each reference in Jesus The Christ, by James E. Talmage (*).
I agree that we should not use references such as these to justify bad behavior towards anyone, be they pharisaical, Pharisees, descendents of Pharisees, or anyone unassociated with Pharisees. I also agree that we should not dismiss references such as the ones in the paragraph above as irrelevant simply because they identify bad behavior or invite us to avoid bad behavior. Does anyone know where a source of info might be that might support the idea that such sweeping criticism of the apparently puritanical practices of the Pharisees may not be justified?
(*) See Page 465 in particular. If you happen to have an edition different than mine, see Chapter 27, “Continuation of the Perean and Judean Ministry”, under the section header, “Derision of the Pharisees Met; Another Illustrative Parable”, for this quote:
…They had grown arrogantly proud of their humility, but God knew their hearts, and the traits and practices they most esteemed were an abomination in His sight. They posed as custodians of the law and expounders of the prophets … those Pharisees and scribes had tried to nullify the law.
“As you read Matthew 13 and Luke 8; 13, think about how you will prepare yourself to “hear” [I add: maybe in General Conference?] and appreciate the Savior’s teachings in these parables. What will you do to apply these teachings in your life?” [Header, Lesson for Mar 18-24, 2019, “Who Hath Ears to Hear, Let Him Hear”.]
Journaling my impressions:
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I found especially poignant the JST (Joseph Smith Translation) equivalent of KJV (King James Version) Matthew 13:30, footnote b, completely reversing the words and the meaning of the content of the verse: Not “first the tares”, but rather the tares second, with “first the wheat into my barn; and the tares are bound in bundles to be burned.” (Italics in footnote, indicating words that are absent in the original KJV text.) How may we listen first to the wheat of the words of the prophets and have ears to hear regarding the content of General Conference next month?
I also like (yet again) Christ taking care to teach deliberately the local people who are rebellious (leaders, Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, others) about power: The power to heal (that they should have held as holders of the priesthood of God), or the power to understand the doctrine (that the sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath [KJV Mark 2:27]). See also JST Mark 2:26-27.
“As you read Matthew 10-12; Mark 2; and Luke 7; 11, make note of the impressions you receive from the Holy Ghost. Consider pondering and recording them.” [Header, Lesson for Mar 11-17, 2019, “These Twelve Jesus Sent Forth”.]
Journaling my impressions:
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I like Jesus’ defense of John the Baptist in Matthew 11:7-11 and in Luke 7:24-30. I also like that He turns on the heads of local “powerful” folk the things that they are most getting wrong regarding power, such as His actions regarding the sinful woman with ointment [Luke 7:36-50] and regarding the picayune complainers [Luke 11:37-54].
You may also wish to explore your own impressions regarding the small write-in opportunity on Page 43, regarding Matthew 10 (“The Savior gave His disciples power”) and “Impressions I receive” (“God will give me the power I need to do my work”).
“As you read Matthew 8-9 and Mark 2-5, be responsive to impressions you receive from the Holy Ghost. Consider writing down the promptings you receive and the things you can do to act on those promptings.” [Header, Lesson for Mar 04-10, 2019, “Thy Faith Hath Made Thee Whole”.]
Journaling my impressions:
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As I read these chapters this time around, I was impressed yet again by Christ’s indirect focus and carefully indirect teaching about power—Spiritual power, political power, leadership power, community power, personal power, power over elements, power in every sense. In every sense, Christ is teaching-by-doing that real power is not at all about what the World perceives as power. Note that he uses power in all of these senses always in order to promote healing in these various senses. His clear message is that real power is about building family, about building stronger families, about connecting with God more powerfully, about teaching others with power and authority of God. Note well that these actions happen to be home-centered, church-supported actions.
What that means in our everyday lives, how that emerges in our daily to-do lists, depends on what Heavenly Father wants us to do and on what we ourselves want us to do.
“When we read the scriptures with a question in mind and with a sincere desire to understand what Heavenly Father wants us to know, we invite the Holy Ghost to inspire us. As you read Matthew 6-7, pay attention to these impressions.” [Header, Lesson for Feb 25-Mar 03, 2019, “He Taught Them as One Having Authority”.]
Journaling my impressions:
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I thoroughly enjoyed all the changes to these verses and the teachings restored to us according to the spirit of revelation through the Joseph Smith Translation. It never ceases to amaze me how much richer these verses are with their original impact restored. Here are two examples of a dozen or so present in the chapters of this lesson, two that were especially meaningful to me as I read them this time through:
King James Version (KJV)—Italics indicate words absent in earlier translations.
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? [KJV Matthew 6:30.]
Joseph Smith Translation (JST)—Italics indicate words absent in earlier translations.
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, how much more will he not provide for you, if ye are not of little faith? [JST Matthew 6:34.]
King James Version (KJV)
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. [KJV Matthew 7:7-8.]
Say unto them, Ask of God; ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
For everyone that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and unto him that knocketh, it shall be opened.
And then said his disciples unto him, They will say unto us, We ourselves are righteous, and need not that any man should teach us. God, we know, heard Moses and some of the prophets; but us he will not hear.
And they will say, We have the law for our salvation, and that is sufficient for us.
Then Jesus answered, and said unto his disciples, Thus shall ye say unto them,
What man among you, having a son, and he shall be standing out, and shall say, Father, open thy house that I may come in and sup with thee, will not say, Come in, my son; for mine is thine, and thine is mine? [JST Matthew 7:12-17.]
As a father of six kids and five sons, I found verse 17 of the JST deeply meaningful.
“Pay attention to impressions you receive as you read Matthew 5 and Luke 6, and record them in a study journal. This outline can help you identify some of the most important and relevant principles in these chapters.” [Header, Lesson for Feb 18-24, 2019, “Blessed Are Ye”.]
Journaling my impressions:
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I like in Luke 6 how Christ points out to the Pharisees the extent of their hypocrisy simply by healing a withered hand, and how later, in verse 19, He healed everyone who did come unto him:
And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all. [Luke 6:19.]
I love the differences in the Beatitudes of Matthew vs. the Beatitudes of Luke: “Blessed are ye that weep now; for ye shall laugh.” [Luke 6:21.] And many others…
“As you read John 2-4, the Spirit will teach you things about your own conversion. Make note of His promptings. You may find additional spiritual insights from the study ideas in this outline.” [Header, Lesson for Feb 11-17, 2019, “Ye Must Be Born Again”.]
Journaling my impressions:
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I love the interactions (with JST improvements) between Mary and Jesus. The video of the wedding in Cana highlights these interactions beautifully.
The same is true of the interactions between Jesus and Nicodemus. I love how Christ points out to him (lovingly, I’m sure) that, as a leader in Israel, Nicodemus should have at hand the ability to speak, to act, to think, to know the things of God. [John 3:10.] Similarly, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we ourselves should take care that we speak/act/think/know and that we teach with power and authority of God. Note in the video how, as Christ walks away from the scene, he turns and waits, inviting Nicodemus to join him.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the woman at the well and story of the woman at the well, as well. The video of it highlights perfectly all the important things!
“Begin by reading Matthew 4 and Luke 4-5, and pay attention to any insights you receive. The study ideas in this outline can help you identify important principles in these chapters.” [Header, Lesson for Feb 04-10, 2019, “The Spirit of the Lord Is upon Me”.]
Journaling my impressions:
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In the painting at the top of this lesson, Christ Triumphs over Satan, by Robert T. Barrett, notice Satan’s face in the darkness, positioned importantly at the feet of Christ.
As in my recorded impressions of the previous lesson, as I read these chapters, I again was impressed that the local religious leaders in Christ’s day were stunned by the use of power and authority of God, power and authority that they themselves no longer possessed—and were jealous of it. And I love JST Luke 5:23 (KJV Footnote a):
Does it require more power to forgive sins than to make the sick rise up and walk? [KJV Luke 5:23; click on the hyperlink of Footnote a to display JST. Italics indicate words absent in earlier translations.]
Note how Christ focused on the use of power, which is the actual topic at issue here, despite the Pharisaical focus on discussing other things as a mask.
And I LOVE the painting at the end, The Call, by Jorge Cocco. I truly enjoy his painting style, and this one is probably my favorite of his.
“Begin by reading Matthew 3; Mark 1; and Luke 3. As you pray for the Holy Ghost to help you understand these chapters, He will give you insights that are especially for you. Record these impressions, and make plans to act on them.” [Header, Lesson for Jan 28-Feb 03, 2019, “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord”.]
Journaling my impressions:
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I was impressed by the number of JST (Joseph Smith Translation) changes in Matthew 3 and was struck by why the medieval translators would have altered these sections in particular. I was also impressed, not so much by the fact that the evil spirits obeyed Christ, knowing full well who He is, but rather I was impressed more by the fact that the Jews, as keepers of the Priesthood of God, apparently had lost all ability to exercise with authority the Priesthood of God, and here specifically, had lost all ability to exercise authority over evil spirits. In general, the leaders of the Jews (who had lost much of the ability to teach with power or to act with power and authority of God) were threatened by the doings and doctrines of Christ in a similar manner to how the leaders of Christian churches (who had lost much of the ability to teach with power or to act with power and authority of God) were threatened by the doings and doctrines of Joseph Smith. Similarly, I have known people in our day who happened to be active baptized members of the restored church of Jesus Christ who had lost much of the ability to teach with power or to act with power and authority of God and consequently were threatened by a person teaching with power and authority, so much so that some of the people I have known fight against even the idea that one might be able to achieve teaching with power and authority. (Thus ignoring latter-day counsel given here, here, and elsewhere.)
I point this out in my recorded impressions today simply to stress the corollary lesson that as many as believed in such preaching with power and authority of God, who were converted or yet-again-converted unto the Lord, never did fall away, even in our day. Hence, the weekly nature of the Sacrament. So many corollary lessons, so little time…
“As you read and ponder John 1, record the impressions you receive. What messages do you find that will be of most value to you and your family? What could you share in your Church classes?” [Header, Lesson for Jan 21-27, 2019, “We Have Found the Messiah”.]
Journaling my impressions:
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Note well the pattern, the repeated pattern, that people gain their testimonies of Christ based on the testimony of someone they know and trust. Not everyone who knew and trusted Andrew internalized Andrew’s testimony of Christ, but Peter did. And that’s important for all of us.
“Begin by reading Luke 2 and Matthew 2, and pay attention to any spiritual insights you receive. The study ideas in this outline can help you identify some of the most important and relevant principles in these chapters.” [Header, Lesson for Jan 14-20, 2019, “We Have Come to Worship Him”.]
Journaling my impressions:
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I’ve always loved the words about Christ’s childhood after infancy [Luke 2:40-52]. I loved in the video, “The First Christmas Spirit“, a depiction of Christ being self-aware of His Father’s will even when quite young. The video has a brief scene [Time 1:30] with Joseph watching Jesus at about age 10, as Jesus watches a couple of tethered lambs as the owner takes one of them away, presumably to the slaughter, possibly at the temple. The 10-year-old Jesus simply stares, seemingly understanding all too well the deeper meaning of this scene as a type of things to come. Joseph approaches the 10-year-old Jesus and puts his arm around Him, as if to give Him strength for that day yet a far way off.
Second post in a series, “Recording My Impressions,” which I use to share my thoughts after completing the reading assignment each week in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families.
“As you read and ponder Matthew 1 and Luke 1, record the spiritual impressions you receive. What doctrinal truths do you find? What messages will be of most value to you and your family? The study ideas in this outline may help you discover additional insights.” [Header, Lesson for Jan 7-13, 2019, “Be It unto Me according to Thy Word”.]
Journaling my impressions:
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Family history and the doctrine of the family are of vital importance. Jesus descended from Ruth and Boaz and from the root of Jesse through King David through Mary and also through Joseph. (Matthew 1 records not Mary’s lineage but Joseph’s.) I’ve always loved the interaction of Elisabeth and Mary and the in utero interaction between John and Jesus. Makes me wonder whether or not any child in the womb might be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from her/his mother’s womb [see Luke 1:15]. Maybe some of those leaps and kicks are more purposeful than mere stretching for space than we care to admit! I love that Elisabeth and Zacharias prophesied after receiving a spiritual confirmation from on High. To me, it’s cool that it may have been the same Gabriel who delivered messages both to Elisabeth and to Mary. I’ve always wanted to meet him (them if two separate personages) after this life. [The Bible Dictionary (BD) entry for Gabriel says that all occurrences of Gabriel are the prophet Noah.]
In 2019, as we begin to improve our efforts in a home-centered, church-supported approach to gospel living, learning, and teaching, we are invited repeatedly in each lesson to record our impressions. I call this series of posts “Recording My Impressions,” and I’ll use it to share my thoughts after completing the reading assignment each week in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families. I hope you enjoy reading them.
“The purpose of Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families is to help you come unto Christ and become more deeply converted to His gospel. This resource can help you understand the scriptures and find in them the spiritual strength you and your family need. Then, in your Church classes, you will be prepared to share insights and encourage your fellow Saints in their efforts to follow Christ.” [Header, Lesson for Dec 31-Jan 6, 2019, “We Are Responsible for Our Own Learning”.]
Journaling my impressions:
· —- ˅˅˅ —- ·
I love the title of this lesson! To me, there is little or no excitement in the tendency inside of us to relegate to others our responsibility for personal, individualized gospel education. We are responsible to receive the Holy Ghost ourselves, to achieve successfully answers to our own questions and concerns, through the spirit of revelation. [See Alma 17:2-3.]
Quotes on leadership that I find well-suited to Father’s Day:
Kaladin held his side, feeling the blood there. Straight laceration, only about an inch long, not wide enough to be of danger.
It was his father’s voice.
Kaladin panted. He needed to get to safety. Arrows zipped over his head, fired by the Alethi archers.
Some people take lives. Other people save lives.
He wasn’t done yet. Kaladin forced himself to his feet and staggered to where someone lay beside the bridge. It was a bridgeman named Hobber; he had an arrow through the leg. The man moaned, holding his thigh.
⁞
He checked the other two. Hobber was smiling openly. He was round-faced and lean, with a gap between his teeth and short, black hair. “Thank you,” he said. “Thank you for saving me.”
Kaladin grunted, inspecting the man’s leg. “You’ll be fine, but you won’t be able to walk for a few weeks. I’ll bring food from the mess hall for you.”
“Thank you,” Hobber whispered, taking Kaladin’s hand, clutching it. He actually seemed to be tearing up.
That smile forced back the gloom, made the aches and soreness fade. Kaladin’s father had described that kind of smile. Those smiles weren’t why Lirin had become a surgeon, but they were why he’d remained one.
⁞
“What are you up to, Kaladin?” Hobber asked just as Kaladin got a flame started.
Kaladin smiled, standing. “Have a seat.”
Hobber did just that. He hadn’t lost the near-devotion he’d shown Kaladin for saving his life. If anything, his loyalty had grown stronger.
[Quotes from Brandon Sanderson’s outstanding novel, The Way of Kings, Pages 267, 313, and 403. Yes, it’s a fantasy novel. It’s also a treatise on loyalty and leadership. Yes, everyone should read it. Try it; you’ll like it!]
I apply the above quotes to leadership of a family, quotes that hold a key to quality parenting: If you give up your life for a time to spend it parenting your kids as if parenting were a full-contact sport, then they will recognize your role in losing your life in order to save theirs. Their loyalty to you as a parent will only grow stronger as they grow to recognize your sacrifice, grow to understand it not as an intellectual exercise but as something to choose as a model for their own behavior. You will see them pay their devotion as you see them give up their own life for a time, in order to spend it parenting their own kids.
Family At Home In Accra, Ghana
To me, the above quotes not only apply to Fathers’ Day but teach us important truths about leadership. D. Todd Christofferson teaches us more on loyalty and leadership:
I speak today of fathers. Fathers are fundamental in the divine plan of happiness, and I want to raise a voice of encouragement for those who are striving to fill well that calling. To praise and encourage fatherhood and fathers is not to shame or discount anyone. I simply focus today on the good that men can do in the highest of masculine roles—husband and father.
David Blankenhorn, the author of Fatherless America, has observed: “Today, American society is fundamentally divided and ambivalent about the fatherhood idea. Some people do not even remember it. Others are offended by it. Others, including more than a few family scholars, neglect it or disdain it. Many others are not especially opposed to it, nor are they especially committed to it. Many people wish we could act on it, but believe that our society simply no longer can or will.” [David Blankenhorn, Fatherless America: Confronting Our Most Urgent Social Problem (1995), Page 62.]
As a Church, we believe in fathers. We believe in “the ideal of the man who puts his family first.” [Blankenhorn, Fatherless America, Page 5.] We believe that “by divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.” [“The Family: A Proclamation to the World”, Nov 1995 Ensign, Page 102, or Nov 2010 Liahona, Page 129.] We believe that in their complementary family duties, “fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners.” [Family Proclamation.] We believe that far from being superfluous, fathers are unique and irreplaceable.
[D. Todd Christofferson, “Fathers”, Apr 2016 LDS General Conference.]
I agree with him.
A Father Dances With His Daughter In Their Home
“And now, my son, this was the ministry unto which ye were called, to declare these glad tidings unto this people, to prepare their minds; or rather … that they may prepare the minds of their children to hear the word at the time of his coming.” [Alma 39:16.]
Mike, Brian, Brendan, Kyle, Kevin, Todd, Bob, this post is for you. Thank you for helping to lead the way.
Family Studying Scriptures Together
Please note that these quotes on loyalty and leadership apply equally to motherhood and fatherhood. They particularly apply to both of them in equal roles as complementary leaders, specifically as wife and husband leading together in the joint venture of parenthood.
Father And Child Canoeing On Hampton Lake, North Carolina—A Great Way To See Fall Foliage
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Bonus Material:
Watch/download the video, “Earthly Father, Heavenly Father” at lds.org or at YouTube below:
I love the words of the narrator as we focus on his wedding ring at Time 2:53 and the kid at the door watching his parents pray at 2:34. When I walked in to see my own parents at prayer, I remember the whoosh of feelings of safety and security but mostly of sacredness.
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WebCredits—List of web resources used in this post but not explicitly credited above:
Photo, “Father’s Day”, from private collection
Photo, “Family At Home In Accra, Ghana”, www. lds.org/media-library/images/family-portraits?lang=eng&start=1&end=10
Photo, “A Father Dances With His Daughter In Their Home”, www. lds.org/media-library/images/father-daughter-dancing-1018852?lang=eng
Photo, “Family Studying Scriptures Together”, Aug 2013 Ensign Magazine, Page 3, photo illustration by Cody Bell
Photo, “Fathers Providing A Sacred Moment In A Holy Place”, photo by: Masood Bhat/Kashmir Headlines—kashmirheadlines.in/kashheadlines/11222013-ND-getting-ready-for-prayersa-group-of-people-making-ablution-to-perform-prayers-in-historic-jamia-masjid-srinagar-photo-by-masood-bhat-kashmir-headlines-3452.aspx
Photo, “Father And Child Canoeing On Hampton Lake, North Carolina—A Great Way To See Fall Foliage”, www. lovethesepics.com/2013/10/ american-the-beautiful-in-autumn-peak-fall-foliage-dates-for-48-states-50-pics, photo by Watson Studios
Photo, “Growing Old Together Amid Autumn in Seattle, Washington”, www. lovethesepics.com/2013/10/american-the-beautiful-in-autumn-peak-fall-foliage-dates-for-48-states-50-pics, photo by Rachel Sarai
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Growing Old Together Amid Autumn in Seattle, Washington
A quote on leadership that I find well-suited to Mother’s Day, that I dedicate to all women, following the lead of Sheri Dew, who dares to ask women everywhere, “Are We Not All Mothers?”:
“ ‘Candle flames,’ ” Litima continued. The selection was from The Way of Kings, read from the very copy that Gavilar had once owned. “ ‘A dozen candles burned themselves to death on the shelf before me. Each of my breaths made them tremble. To them, I was a behemoth, to frighten and destroy. And yet, if I strayed too close, they could destroy me. My invisible breath, the pulses of life that flowed in and out, could end them freely, while my fingers could not do the same without being repaid in pain.’ ”
Dalinar idly twisted his signet ring in thought; it was sapphire with his Kholin glyphpair on it. Renarin stood next to him, wearing a coat of blue and silver, golden knots on the shoulders marking him as a prince. Adolin wasn’t there. Dalinar and he had been stepping gingerly around one another since their argument in the Gallery.
“ ‘I understood in a moment of stillness,’ ” Litima read. “ ‘Those candle flames were like the lives of men. So fragile. So deadly. Left alone, they lit and warmed. Let run rampant, they would destroy the very things they were meant to illuminate. Embryonic bonfires, each bearing a seed of destruction so potent it could tumble cities and dash kings to their knees. In later years, my mind would return to that calm, silent evening, when I had stared at rows of living lights. And I would understand. To be given loyalty is to be infused like a gemstone, to be granted the frightful license to destroy not only one’s self, but all within one’s care.’ ”
Litima fell still. It was the end of the sequence.
[From Brandon Sanderson’s outstanding novel, The Way of Kings, Part Two: The Illuminating Storms, Chapter 26 “Stillness”, Pages 368-369. Yes, it’s a fantasy novel. Yes, everyone should read it. Try it; you’ll like it!]
Flaming Red Fall Foliage In Grantwood, Missouri
I think that Dew would agree that this quote applies to Mothers’ Day, this quote that teaches us important truths about leadership. After all, she has said:
Motherhood is more than bearing children, though it is certainly that. It is the essence of who we are as women.
[Sheri L. Dew, “Are We Not All Mothers?”, Oct 2001 LDS General Conference.]
I agree with her.
Kim, Whitney, Mary Lynn, this post is for you. Thank you for leading the way.
Certain Women, Supporting A Friend Who Happens To Have Leukemia
Please note that this quote on candle flames applies equally to fatherhood and motherhood. It particularly applies to both of them in equal roles as complementary leaders, specifically as husband and wife leading together in the joint venture of parenthood.
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WebCredits—List of web resources used in this post but not explicitly credited above:
Photo, “Flaming Red Fall Foliage In Grantwood, Missouri”, www. lovethesepics.com/2013/10/american-the-beautiful-in-autumn-peak-fall-foliage-dates-for-48-states-50-pics, photo by Thomas Hawk. Mary Lynn would love it!
Photo, “Certain Women, Supporting A Friend Who Happens To Have Leukemia”, www. lds.org/ensign/2017/05/general-womens-session/certain-women?lang=eng
Photo, “Family Prayer In Mongolia”, www.lds.org/ensign/2017/04/the-war-goes-on?lang=eng
Photo, “Without courage, all other virtues lose their meaning”, quote from Winston Churchill, British Prime Minister, www. slideshare.net/ssuser63877e/famous-quotation-the-courage
Painting credit, “Queen Esther”, by Minerva Teichert (1888-1976), www. lds.org/media-library/images/queen-esther-old-testament-792485?lang=eng.
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Esther, Queen Of Persia, Book Of Esther, Old Testament, Holy Bible
While Kim and I were studying together last night, I was riveted by the thoughts in these words:
And thus Laman and Lemuel, being the eldest, did murmur against their father. And they did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them. [Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 2:12.]
To murmur is an interesting term. I often murmur. I often see others murmur. Is it possible that whenever any of us murmur, it’s because we don’t get it? Because we don’t understand things the way God does?
I love the solution that Nephi found:
But, behold, Laman and Lemuel would not hearken unto my words; and being grieved because of the hardness of their hearts I cried unto the Lord for them.
And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying: Blessed art thou, Nephi, because of thy faith, for thou hast sought me diligently, with lowliness of heart. [Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 2:18-19.]
It should be no surprise that this was for a lesson entitled, “All Things According to His Will.”
I love the Book of Mormon. I love the things I understand as I study. I love how these answers apply not only to my life at church but to my everyday life.
For Thou Hast Sought Me Diligently, With Lowliness Of Heart
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WebCredits—List of web resources used in this post but not explicitly credited above:
“For the happy man prayer is only a jumble of words, until the day when sorrow comes to explain to him the sublime language by means of which he speaks to God.” [Alexandre Dumas in his masterpiece, The Count of Monte Cristo (completed in 1844).]
For some, sorrow is the teacher of this sublime language; for others, a storm is the teacher. Some in our family have been taking major tests and qualifying exams this year. For some, success is quick. For others, success will come later than expected or preferred. For everyone in our family, life has explained to us in new ways the importance of this sublime language. Here are more of the words in the language to which Dumas refers:
Life is a storm, my young friend. You will bask in the sunlight one moment, be shattered on the rocks the next. What makes you a man is what you do when that storm comes. You must look into that storm and shout as you did in Rome, Do your worst, for I will do mine! Then the fates will know you as we know you, as Albert Mondego, the man.
Storms teach. But the master teacher is what we see as we look into the storm.
Quote from Time 1:00-2:03 of a clip of the birthday toast from “The Count of Monte Cristo” (2002), on YouTube below (or entire movie, with or without subtitles.) :
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Mercédès Iguanada, portrayed by Dagmara Dominczyk
WebCredits—List of web resources used in this post but not explicitly credited above:
Header, Ukiyo-e Woodblock Print, “Great Wave Off Kanagawa”, Hokusai (1829-32)—en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Great_Wave_off_Kanagawa2.jpg, with further info at en.wikipedia. org/wiki/The_Great_Wave_off_Kanagawa
Photo, “Edmond Dantès, portrayed by James Caviezel”—www. pinterest.com/pin/105764291222980072/
Photo, “Albert Mondego (Albert de Morcerf), portrayed by Henry Cavill”—henrycavill.org/en/filmography/best-known-as/perfect-book-boyfriend
Photo, “Mercédès Iguanada, portrayed by Dagmara Dominczyk”—fanpix.famousfix.com/0671183/012040677/the-count-of-monte-cristo-2002-picture.html
Photo, “Until the day when God shall deign to reveal the future to man, all human wisdom is summed up in these two words—Wait and hope.”—www. pinterest.com/pin/120541727497864394/
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“Until the day when God shall deign to reveal the future to man, all human wisdom is summed up in these two words—Wait and hope.”
When I started writing my personal history, I was 18 years old, just out of high school, and I found it difficult simply to get started. I bought a nicely bound journal, but I wanted to start on scrap paper so that it would look good for my kids and grandkids when I wrote my thoughts in the journal. I had untold false starts and threw away tons of scrap paper with scratched out paragraphs. I was young, but I still wanted to include some challenges that I had experienced, some times when I succeeded, as well as times when I felt things down deep. I wrote about people who were important to me. After several months, I had about thirty pages of my life to date, and I was pleased with it.
I wish I had had this list of starter questions. It would have made it tons easier, possibly with fewer false starts. I happen to be a person who loves to ask questions. Maybe there are some questions on this list that makes family history easier for you?
Dave As A Baby
Once you get a good start on what you want to leave behind about yourself, if you wish to consider doing something similar for your parents, grandparents, or other ancestors, a 30-page booklet called My Family: Stories That Bring Us Together is an easy way to get you kickstarted. You can print the PDF file or fill it out online for free.
Hope this helps you to get started on your family history. I’ve had a lot of fun gathering info over the years, and I hope you find it fun, too.
Dave with his barbershop quartet from high school, at the state fair
Teaching styles are so important. It seems to me that every person who hates math can trace it to a teacher that they say made them hate math. Every person I know who loves math can trace it to a teacher that they say made them love math. I love math, and it’s because of my 7th Grade math teacher, Ms. Jane Crowley. It wasn’t one thing she did that made the difference, but a lot of little things, or more probably, simply in the way she taught us. She loved math, and that alone went a long way to help us to love math. Her husband’s job changed, and she moved away, so we threw her a goodbye party at the end of the year. We altered the lyrics a bit of the title song of the movie, “To Sir. with Love” and sang “To Jane, with Love”. She cried and hugged all of us. Wherever you are, Ms. Crowley, we still thank you.
When our daughter, Whitney, was a teenager, Kim and I struggled to teach her to trust our judgment and to use good judgment herself. Whit would push back quite a bit and try to get us to reverse some family decisions (just as any teen does). Most of our discussions centered around receiving the Holy Ghost, which helps each of us to know the right way. When Whitney started driving, she became very quickly a responsible driver. One week, a friend invited Whitney to a party, and she asked Kim if she might plan to go and whether she could use the car. Kim replied that she trusted Whitney’s friend, but that for some reason, she was uncomfortable with Whit attending that party. After some discussion, Kim suggested that Whitney ask me. When Whit asked, I replied that I trusted her friend, but that for some reason, I was uncomfortable with her attending that party. Whit explained that Mom had given her the same answer, and after some discussion, we left it up to Whit to make the decision. We knew Whitney had experience receiving the Holy Ghost and was generally a responsible decision-maker. She considered our counsel and then decided to plan to go. On the night of the party, as she drove to her friend’s house, Whitney happened to misjudge a center divider on a freeway overpass, overcorrected, amazingly managed to keep control of the car while blowing out three tires and bending two rims before coming to rest at the far end of the bridge just at the top of a plunging hill. As she caught her breath afterwards, she said, “OK, Heavenly Father, I get it. You don’t want me to go to this party. Next time, I’ll listen more deeply to my parents.” From then on, Whitney always trusted our judgment, stopped giving us grief, and no longer challenged our authority. It was one of the best lessons ever in our family, and we weren’t the teachers—It was the Holy Ghost who taught Whitney that night. All we did as parents was to create the right environment for teaching to happen.
When I think about our teaching style, I don’t think it was one thing that made the difference, but a lot of little things, or more probably, simply the way we taught our kids. We love to receive the Holy Ghost, and that alone went a long way to help our kids to love to receive the Holy Ghost.
I think some of life’s best teaching moments just seem to happen as life unfolds.
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Teaching Happens Through Prayer…
WebCredits—List of web resources used in this post but not explicitly credited above:
Header photo, “Father And Child Light A Menorah”—www. mormonnewsroom.org/official-statement/religious-freedom
Photo, “Teaching Happens Through Prayer…”—media.ldscdn.org/images/media-library/prayer/ family-praying-921856-tablet.jpg
Photo, “Teaching Happens Through Study…”—media.ldscdn.org/images/media-library/education/spiritual/ dominican-republic-early-morning-seminary-1206571-tablet.jpg
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