Last 6 Month's High Council Talk

This one I changed each time but the following composites them all with an alternate one I gave in a Ward.

President Uchtdorf’s talk in the Priesthood session was titled: “A Matter of a Few Degrees.”

Story of the Plane Crashing Into the Mountain
It was a great message he began by telling the story of a passenger jet with 257 people that left New Zealand for a sightseeing flight to the Antarctica. The pilots had not made this trip before and didn’t realize that somebody had programmed their flight coordinates 2 degrees off. By the time they reached their destination they were 28 miles east of where they should have been.
This doesn’t seem like it would have not been too bad of a mistake (you’ll have to ask Curtis how bad) except that as the pilots descended to a lower altitude so the passengers could get a better look at the landscape there was a mountain in their way. As bad as that sounds it seems like even it could have been overcome except that the snow covered mountain peeks blended with the white clouds above and the pilots thought they were traveling over flat ground until they crashed into the side of the mountain killing everyone aboard.

The point of President Uchtdorf’s story was that this was a very terrible tragedy brought on by a minor error – as he put it – “a matter of a few degrees.” He then made the point:

“Through years of serving the Lord and in countless interviews, I have learned that the difference between happiness and misery in individuals, in marriages, and families often comes down to an error of only a few degrees.”

I’ve thought about this many times since listening to it in conference and even more since my assignment to speak about it and I’ve remembered many times in my life where this principle rings true.

Trillion to Billion – a few zero’s off
One example I thought of that puts the concept into perspective happened many years ago when I was doing an analysis of a water utility. In that study I needed to represent the total value of all the utility assets.

The financial people gave me the value of $1 Trillion. This was 20+ years ago and the number startled me. Back then the total estimated value of everyone in America’s possessions, savings and investments was only $20 Trillion. So I questioned them about it.

The answer I received was revealing. They explained that they had an amazing amount of infrastructure that all added up but the big thing was water rights. To them they were priceless so they put a very large value on them. But as I pushed them to backup their number with detail, they could see I wasn’t quite buying the $1 Trillion so they told me to just drop a few zero’s and make it $1 Billion; still a big number.

That floored me even more. I asked them if they understood the impact of what they just did and they said they did and it was only a matter of subtracting a couple of zero’s at the end of their first number. So I did a few quick calculations and to demonstrate the reality of what just happened I gave them – and I give you – this analogy:

Let’s say you were waiting for something very, very, important. The person sending it to you told you it would take 1 million seconds for it to get to you. (I don’t know why anyone would do that but let’s say they were an accountant and so it meant something to them to do it this way.) Do you know how long you will have to wait?

11½ days.

Not too bad, though if it was really, really important, it may seem like forever.
But let’s say the 11½ days came and went and you didn’t get this very valuable thing you were waiting for and the person sending it said they goofed up and instead of a million seconds they needed to take a couple of zero’s on the end and it was going to take 1 billion seconds instead. How long would you wait now?

32 years.

That’s a little while longer isn’t it? You might not be too happy about that.
Now let’s say that the person sending this extremely valuable item to you said instead of a billion seconds it was going to take 1 trillion seconds to get to you. Just a few extra zero’s mind you. How long do you sit by the door waiting now?

31,700 years.

Kind of takes your breath away, doesn’t it? If you were waiting for something extremely important and the sender kept adding just a couple zero’s to the time it would take to get to you, I’m not sure if any of us would be all that happy about it.

If we liken this cavalier attitude of a few zero’s to the gospel message of President Uchtdorf’s, his words make more and more sense when he said:
Small errors and minor drifts away from the doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ can bring sorrowful consequences into our lives. It is therefore of critical importance that we become self-disciplined enough to make early and decisive corrections to get back on the right track and not wait or hope that errors will somehow correct themselves.

Lehonti & the Mountain
There are many great examples of this principle in the Book of Mormon. In Alma 47 we read about the experience of Amalickiah and Lehonti (Lee-hon-tie.)
Both were commanders of Lamanite armies but Lehonti commanded a group of Lamanites who were tired of fighting and refused to obey their King when he ordered them to battle again. The King was angry and told Amalickiah to take the rest of the Lamanite armies and compel Lehonti and the others to fight.
Amalickiah was described as “being a very subtle man to do evil” (47:4) (ever known anyone like that?) and determined to take advantage of this situation and use treachery to become King himself.

He had a problem though. Lehonti had gathered all the conscientious objectors “upon the top of the mount which he called Antipas.” (47:7)

Here they were determined to make a stand and never go to war again. Since they were up on this mount, they had the high ground – the good defensive ground – and were well dug in and supplied, and chances were they could hold out and prevail against anyone trying to force them back into a battle they refused to fight.

Alma 47:6 described them as “fixed in their minds with a determined resolution that they would not be subjected to go against the Nephites.” (47:6) Notice the lengths Mormon uses to show how set in their minds and heart that they would not fight anymore. He could have just said they really, really didn’t want to fight anymore but instead he said they were: fixed, determined, and resolute. Nothing was going to drag them back into this fight.

Now let’s pause and ask ourselves this question?

Are we camped up on the top of our spiritual mountain with our families; fixed and determined and resolved to not play Satan’s games anymore?

Are we confident that we will be safe in this very good place in life; having taken every precaution and put up very good defenses?

You know what’s going to happen, right? You know if it wouldn’t be too disruptive I’d pull out my Ipod and play some dissonant background music at this point because you know that inevitably Satan will try to invite us down from our good defensive place so that he can put us in his bondage, right? You know that Amalickiah is going to try to get Lehonti to come down from his safe place on the mountain because he knows he can’t get to him up on the high ground, right?

Amalickiah sent word three times to Lehonti to “come down and converse with him.” And three times Lehonti said, “No Way!” I’m sure Amalickiah badgered him the second and third time: “What’s wrong with talking? That’s just statesmanlike and friendly.” “All I want to do is have a little lunch and chat.” “So could you please come – down the mountain of course – because that would be very neighborly and Christian.”

But remember, Lehonti was fixed and resolute. He would not come down for any reason. (47:11) Lehonti was a righteous and determined man along with the others.

Since that was not working, Amalachiah went up the mountain a ways and then told Lehonti if he would just come down part of the way, and bring his guards with him so he would be safe and in control of the situation, he had a proposition he just had to hear.

Can you hear it? “You’re still in control. I only want to talk. You will have your guards with you and you only have to now come just a little ways down the mountain; only a few yard; only a few degrees.”

Lehonti, feeling secure in this situation now made a fatal mistake – and it was a doozy. One we can all easily make if we are not diligent and self-disciplined at all times.

Lehonti, who was so safe and secure on the impenetrable mountain, descended a little ways down from the heights of his spiritual defenses, taking every caution possible to ensure safety, and did it because he knew he maintained control the entire time.

As the two leaders talked, a deal was reached between them that if Lehonti could bring all of his soldiers down from the mountain at nighttime and Amalickiah would allow him to surround his men and then Amalichiah would surrender them up.

What were we taught at Stake Conference a couple of weeks ago – if it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is?

In exchange for surrendering his armies, all Amalickiah wanted was to humbly be put second in command to Lehonti of all the Lamanaite. What a great deal! Lehonti keeps control, is in command of all the Lamanite armies and Amalickiah, wins the day and doesn’t have to even stay up on the mountain anymore.

So he came down from the mountain and carried out this plan in textbook fashion.

Isn’t this the way Satan always works against us - when we are at the top of our spiritual mountains and in safety that cannot be reached - he needs us down with him and his minions and will stop at nothing to get us there.
And the fatal fallacy every single time is when we give in to this the very first time and decide that we can go down the mountain just a little ways - if only to talk- then we make the biggest mistake by giving up our fixed and determined resolution to stay safe and never give in, by going just a little ways further down the mountain because, after all, you are totally confident in the situation, and you are in control and in a situation that you cannot foresee any way you might possibly lose control.

But you don’t realize you already have lost control because you already gave in and moved just a few degrees away from where you should be. You’ve already dropped a couple of zero’s off from the time you spend on the important things you should be doing.

It was only a short time in the Book of Mormon until we all see the full tragedy of Lehonti’s costly mistake.

Once down the mountain and assimilated with all the other soldiers, Amalickiah “caused that one of his servants should administer poisen by degrees to Lehonti, that he died.” (47:18)

Here again is another moral of that story: that once we are off our mountain, it is a simple matter for our enemy to use this same exact concept to bring us down: to poison us just a little – just a few degrees – so slowly that you don’t even notice and are unaware of your decline.

Lehonti died thinking he was still in control and could not be harmed or forced to do something against his will. Remember he was fixed, determined, and resolute to the end. All he ever did was go a few yards down the mountain and take a meeting. Then he won what he thought was a bloodless and easy victory by going a few yards more down the mountain – a victory that was too good to pass up.

It is in the scriptures that we are introduced to the concept of “dwindling” in unbelief. Not jumping in wholeheartedly and giving up all we have been taught and know to be true to become evil. The devil leads us down to destruction little by little, a few degrees here and a adding a zero or two there. Truly a “dwindling” of our time and resources – and the good, safe ground we are on.

So the question is, what can we do to stay “fixed and determined” to remain true to our predetermined convictions?

President Uchtdorf gives us 4 things we can do to stay the course:
1. Minor Decisions Lead to Major Consequences
“Be cautious… The Lord will help you to recognize and avoid … evils. It is the early recognition of danger and a clear course correction that will keep you in the light of the gospel. Minor decisions can lead to major consequences.

2. Responsibility of Self-Direction
“We … have the responsibility and the power of self-direction: “It is not meet that I should command in all things,” saith the Lord. “Men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; for the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves.” (D&C 58:26–28)

3. Treasure the Words of Prophets
“The more we treasure the words of the prophets and apply them, the better we will recognize when we are drifting off course—even if only by a matter of a few degrees.”

4. The Way Back is Certain & Clear
“No matter how terribly off course you are, no matter how far you have strayed, the way back is certain and clear… If we confess and repent of our sins.”
Never give up Brothers and Sisters. Never give in regardless of the distance or the time or the confidence you feel you have in the situation. Get up to your spiritual mountain just like Lehonti did but on the fourth time you are tempted – stay fixed and determined. On the fifth time when you are presented a deal that is too good to be true – stay fixed and determined. Do not listen to Satan or his army when they persistently nag at you to come down from your spiritual defenses.

Spiritual Disaster
As President Uchtdorf reminded us:
No one wants his life to end in tragedy. But all too often, like the pilots and passengers of the sightseeing flight, we set out on what we hope will be an exciting journey only to realize too late that an error of a few degrees has set us on a course for spiritual disaster.

The gospel is true. There is safety in listening to the Prophet and your church leaders. The scriptures are true. There is safety in following the teachings found in the scriptures of our Heavenly Father especially those written for us in the latter days. And I bear you this testimony and do it in the name…

Alternate Version

One Vote Matters
Since this is an election year, and we vote in a couple of weeks, I’m sure you’ve heard the admonition that every vote counts. Someone was telling me yesterday they saw a movie that is out and the plot is about how the vote for the Presidency of the United States comes down to one man. The plot seamed a bit of a stretch as the movie was explained to me but consider a man named Henry Shoemaker and how the small thing of his one vote – a matter of a few degrees you could say - produced powerful results.

On a sweltering summer afternoon in 1842, Henry was out on his farm in Indiana laboring. All of the sudden the thought popped into his mind that it was Election Day. He’d forgotten all about it.

Town was quite a distance away from his farm and to get there he’d need to go clear back to his house (also a bit of a distance), clean up, saddle his horse, and make the several hour ride quickly in order to get to the polling place before it closed. For a minute Henry thought he could justify bagging it.

But he’d promised one of the candidates that he’d vote for him for state representative. It was a man named Madison Marsh. When Henry got to the polling place they had run out of printed ballots that listed all the candidates and weren’t very helpful with him as to what he should do. I guess they suggested he just take a partial ballot and vote for those on it. But the State Representative he promised wasn’t on any of those ballets. Henry had gone to all this effort to vote for this man and he was determined to follow through. So he took out his pocket knife and did an 1842 version of cut and paste and cut out the names of those he wanted to vote for from partial ballots and hooked them somehow on his ballot and caste his vote.

I guess he was a little disruptive as he did this so it was quite memorable for the poll workers. Later when counting the ballots, the voting inspector declared his improvised ballot as invalid and tossed it out. Without Henry’s ballot, the election for state representative ended in a tie vote. That in turn resulted in numerous court proceedings and hearings and lengthy testimony until it was ruled that Henry’s vote was valid and counted. The tie was broken and Madison Marsh was elected state representative for Indiana.

Bid deal, huh? Every vote counts, so what? Indiana State Representative, who cares?

Well, back then, state legislators elected the United State Senators and in January of 1843 when Madison Marsh and his fellow representatives met to elect the U.S. Senator from Indiana, they were deadlocked. How this worked is they would continue to caste ballots amongst themselves until finally one candidate got the majority of votes. Finally on the sixth ballot, and after a long day of campaigning, Madison Marsh changed his vote and so by one vote Edward Hannegan was elected to the United States Senate.

Every vote counts again, right, big deal, U.S. Senator from Indiana. Big deal.

Two yeas later, though, the United States Senate was completely deadlocked on the decision to declare war on Mexico. They couldn’t break the tie no matter what was said or how ever many times the issue was brought up for vote. But for some reason, Edward Hannegan was away on other business and hadn’t been able to vote on the issue. He was eventually tracked down, came to the Capital and caste his vote for war. So by one vote, the United States went to war with Mexico in 1846.

Again, big deal.

But if it were not for this war, we here in this congregation today would have sang the hymns in Spanish and paid our tithing in Pesos. It was this war with Mexico that resulted in Utah, and our neighbors in Nevada, California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas to be included in the United States of America.
Henry Shoemaker had no idea what the effect of his vote was going to mean. Who knows how history would have turned out had Henry just stayed home that day and worked his farm? Or when he was hassled at the poll, had he given up and not cut and paste his votes on the ballot?

In just a matter of a few degrees, history changed, and that is why is it so important for us to be and stay on the right side of the gospel and to be in tune with our Church Leaders. When they tell us to get involved in the community and encourage us to be informed and participate in the government process by voting, they are just making it up. And if we haven’t seen it in the past, we will see it in the future that just a matter of a few degrees in our society, it can be the difference between freedom or slavery, great economic progress or crisis, morals and virtue or immorality and decadence. Decide today to make a small difference.

President Uchtdorf said many of things to bring home his point but specifically he tells us 4 things about “a few degrees” that are worth remembering:

1. Minor Decisions Lead to Major Consequences
“Be cautious… The Lord will help you to recognize and avoid … evils. It is the early recognition of danger and a clear course correction that will keep you in the light of the gospel. Minor decisions can lead to major consequences.

2. Responsibility of Self-Direction
“We … have the responsibility and the power of self-direction: “It is not meet that I should command in all things,” saith the Lord. “Men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; for the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves.” (D&C 58:26–28)

3. Treasure the Words of Prophets
“The more we treasure the words of the prophets and apply them, the better we will recognize when we are drifting off course—even if only by a matter of a few degrees.”

4. The Way Back is Certain & Clear
“No matter how terribly off course you are, no matter how far you have strayed, the way back is certain and clear… If we confess and repent of our sins.”
Never give up Brothers and Sisters. Never give in regardless of the distance or the time or the confidence you feel you have in the situation. Get up to your spiritual mountain just like Lehonti did but on the fourth time you are tempted – stay fixed and determined. On the fifth time when you are presented a deal that is too good to be true – stay fixed and determined. Do not listen to Satan or his army when they persistently nag at you to come down from your spiritual defenses.

Spiritual Disaster
As President Uchtdorf reminded us:

No one wants his life to end in tragedy. But all too often, like the pilots and passengers of the sightseeing flight, we set out on what we hope will be an exciting journey only to realize too late that an error of a few degrees has set us on a course for spiritual disaster.

On Any Given Sunday
I want to end by repeating some words given by a fictional football coach to his team. Apparently this coaches personal life had been somewhat of a disaster and he was paying the price for recklessness. At the same time his team had some serious challenges on and off the field. So he spoke to them to try and get them motivated to become a better team and better people. I find them most fitting to the challenge that lies ahead.

On Any Given Sunday Football Speech

I don’t know what to say really.
Three minutes
Until the biggest battle
Of our professional lives.

And it all comes down to today!

Either we heal as a team
Or we’re gonna crumble.
Inch by inch; play by play;
‘Til we’re finished.

We’re in bad shape gentlemen – believe me!

And we can stay here.
Get the stuffing kicked out of us.
Or we can fight
Our way back into the light.

WE CAN CLIMB OUT OF OUR SITUATION ONE INCH AT A TIME!

Now I can’t do it for you – I’m too old.

You know when you get old in life

You find out life’s this game of inches.
So is football.
Because in either game - life or football-
The margin for error is so small.

One half a step too late or too early
And you don’t quite make it.
One half a second too slow or too fast
And you don’t quite catch it.

The inches we need are everywhere around us.
They’re in every break of the game
Every minute; every second.
On this team we fight for that inch!

On this team we tear ourselves
And everyone else around us
To pieces for that inch.
We claw with our fingernails for that inch.

Because we know when we add up all those inches.
That’s gonna make the difference between
Winning and losing;
Between living and dying.

In any fight
It’s the guy who’s willing to die for that inch
Who’s gonna win that inch.

And I know if I’m going to have any life anymore
It’s because I’m still willing to
Fight and die for that inch.

Because that’s what living is:
The six inches in front of your face.

I can’t make you do it!

You gotta look at the person next to you;
Look into their eyes.
I think you’re gonna see a person
Who will go that inch with you.

You’re gonna see a person who will sacrifice their self for the team.
Because they know when it comes down to it
You’re gonna do the same for them.

That’s a team!

And either we heal now as a team
Or we will die as individuals

That’s all it is.

Now what are you gonna do?

What are YOU gonna do?

As we seek to live the gospel in these perilous times, may we all remember the message of how little things – as President Uchtdorf said, a matter of a few degrees – can have a profound on our lives.

May we all work together so that inch by inch, we may, as a team and as individuals, claw our way back to our Father in Heaven. In the name …

Stayed Tuned - I'm way behind except for my reading list, of course.

I want to blog something on our family history because I've become obssessed with it. But I'm too busy doing it so I haven't made time. but I've found some stuff that is fascinating like:

I have Confederate blood in my veins. I always thought I was, if anything, pure Union. My 2nd great grandfather died "defending the stars and bars." Ouch. I'm a little conflicted and thought maybe they just drafted him (and other relatives) and they didn't have a choice. They did. And some were very bitter and hated my main man Abraham. I'm trying to get good with it.

One line I've discovered can be traced back to Peppin III, King of Francs (500 AD.) I need to do some pick and shovel on that because I've heard it can get fairly flacky to go back that far and huge leaps of logic have been made to get anyone there. So I'm checking it out.

The Internet is absolutely awesome in regard to family history these days. It's unbelievable what is out there. I've found pictures of ancestors going back 5 and 6 generations that none of my relatives have discovered yet. The books you can get your hands on, like on the Google book project, are amazing also. These are out of print, rare things they have scanned it that have very valuable in the information they contain.

I'm also in trouble for now having, in addition to my piles of books, piles of binders with all my research, charts and stuff. What can I say, it's one of the three missions of the church. Nobody would complain if I had missionary stuff laying around or if I stacked friends of other faiths stacked on the floor and end tables. But nobody has bought my argument that the books are involved with perfecting the saints, so I'll just procrastinate finding a better home for them.

Indexing. Everyone should go to "familysearch.org" and sign up for indexing. It's a great way to gain penance for a day of not living up to your fullest capabilities to pull up a census and "index" it to assist with the great family history work. The goal is to get all the microfilmed records in the granite vault digitized into databases so they can be searched. It's actually fun. You'll never know how much until you sign up and do it. You work at your leisure and at your own pace. It's a great space filler. Since July 23rd I've done 4,500 records. Trust me. Do it.

More later.

Enduring Together

This is my latest retired High Council talk. The assignment was to remind the Wards of the October 2007 General Conference talk of Bishop Richard G. Edgely.

Talk:

This is the 5th time I’ve been able to travel around the Stake on speaking assignments and it’s been very enjoyable to be in the different Wards and partake of the Spirit with each of you. Being assigned to coordinate with your Ward gives me additional opportunities to meet with you and I’m even getting to memorize your seating assignments where you all sit each week.

Your Ward Family has its own unique feel and flavor to it as each Ward and each family does.

It makes me reflect on all of the Ward Families I have belonged to and what they have meant to me.

Riverton 4th Ward Family
Twice in the last two months I’ve read the obituaries of men from the Ward Family I grew up in. Last month the obituary was of a man who was my Scoutmaster as I grew up. I knew him and his family well. He’d wait for us scouts at the bus stop when we got home from school and take us by the scruff of our collars and go work on a merit badge we needed. He was faithful and dedicated to us kids and we loved him. And we knew he loved us. I will miss him and mourn with his family.

The other man I knew made life decisions that were very destructive and messed up his life and that of his family. I knew his children well and it was a sad situation. But I learned that over the past 5 years he had straightened his life out and developed a very strong testimony. The way it was told to me: he got up in every Fast & Testimony Meeting and bore his testimony. This made my heart rejoice because when I think of my first Ward Family I always have tender feelings for so many who were leaders, teachers, and friends and were instrumental in my developing and nurturing a testimony of the gospel. During the mission field, while I was away, this was still my Ward Family and they were a constant support and strength while I was serving the Lord full time and far away.

Eldridge Ward Family
After marriage, my wife and I had another Ward Family for only a year until our first child was born and we needed more space. I can still recall many of our wonderful Ward Family Members and though we didn’t live there long enough for callings, I do recall the families I home taught and the strength I gained from class members when I substituted a few times in Sunday School.

Sandy 29th Ward Family
After my wife and I had our first child we moved to what we affectionately call “the Ghetto”. Wet had an amazing Ward Family and loved them all as we got immediately and heavily involved for the five years we lived there.

We had our first trials and testing in this Ward and experienced loving Ward Family Members who mourned for us and comforted us. Conversely we had the experience of doing the same for many of them. It was a great time for loving and learning in the gospel and we still keep in touch with and follow the lives of several from this Ward Family. We’ve learned that many times our Ward Families become eternal families to us in the spirit of friendship and the fellowship of Christ’s true Church.

Kearns 38th Ward Family
After our second child was born, we bought a house and became part of another Ward Family. Our new Ward Family was amazing: a whole bunch of young parents with young children all in their first homes and at a similar point in life’s experience. Our High Priest’s Quorum consisted of the Bishopric and one Elder called and ordained a High Priest to be the Group Leader since no others existed.

There were so many opportunities to serve and love our fellow Ward Members. The energy was contagious in this Ward. At a Stake Conference, Elder Russell M. Nelson informed us that he looked at the Church records and we had the largest Primary in the Church; some 2.000 children in 5 Wards.

We had many, many opportunities to comfort and mourn that shaped our lives in a very formidable way. I will never forget the Saturday morning when the quiet was broken by the screams of a distraught neighbor. As my wife and I instinctively made our way quickly to this house along with many other neighbors, we found a sister in our Ward Family distraught over finding her newborn child, blue, and unable to arouse from a nap. We called it crib death back them but now know it as SIDS. Some of us worked on the child while awaiting medical help and others comforted and mourned the mother, the father being away at work.

And even though it has been over 25 years since we lived in this Ward Family, we still have tender feelings for them and keep in contact with many of them and continue to share in their triumphs and their trials. This was the Ward Family where the last two of our children were born. My wife became inflicted with Multiple Sclerosis after the birth of the last and our Ward Family truly surrounded us with love and comfort – and many still do so.

Countryside Ward Family
Next, we built the house we were going to retire in, and thus became part of another Ward Family. It seemed in this Ward there were many families that were struggling to stay intact and many that didn’t make it. These were times where we could support families to assist them in staying intact and when that didn’t work out, we mourned with them and comforted them as they adapted and tried to make sense out of the trials and testing of broken family life.

Little Cottonwood 16th Ward Family
One day, literally, after five years in this Ward Family, after we had settled into the last Ward Family we would ever have, the Spirit was brooding within my wife and me, and to the amazement and utter disgust of our 4 children, we pulled up roots and moved into our current Ward Family; the Little Cottonwood 16th Ward. In one days time we found and bought a house and the next day sold ours and over the weekend we moved. It was one week before our oldest daughter was to start High School and our son was to begin Junior High. Our two youngest would be in 5th and 3rd grades. They were hating us for doing this at this time in their lives and were shocked because usually our spontaneity was well planned out. It was the biggest, most seemingly random, maybe financially stupid thing we had ever done. But in hindsight, maybe the most correct thing we ever did.

We love our 16th Ward Family. We know the Spirit guided us to this Ward Family because they have provided so much love and support to us and our family and we in turn have had the opportunity to mourn for them and provide comfort to many of them as life moves forward. A Week ago we were all shocked to attend the funeral of Otto Bernt; who’d just recently found out he had an advanced brain cancer. We mourn for and comfort his dear wife and do all we can to support her in her time of trial and need.

Ward Families
I take you all down my personal journey because I’m sure you all can relate and have similar experiences in your own lives and in your Ward Family. I hope this causes you to reflect on your current and past Ward Families.

There is a reason for these feelings. Bishop Richard G. Edgely said something about it in the October general conference:

The ward is organized to minister to the needs of those who face even the most difficult and heartbreaking trials. The bishop, often considered the “father” of the ward, is there to provide counsel and resources. But also close at hand are Melchizedek and Aaronic Priesthood leaders, the Relief Society presidency, home teachers, visiting teachers, and the ward members—always the ward members. All are there to administer comfort and show compassion in times of need.

I especially was impressed when he said, “the ward members – always the ward members” because it made me realize that under the inspiration of a Ward Family, I am called, in essence, to be a Ward Member and to bear their burdens and comfort them when they are in need of comfort. These geographic boundaries come by inspiration and leaders are called who hold keys that only operate within those boundaries. So being a member of a particular Ward Family seems like a calling to me.

As Bishop Edgley proceeded to give his talk he recounted 5 deaths of young people in his immediate neighborhood over a few years time; 4 of which were by traffic accident. As I heard this I was shocked but then as I pondered it and read the words again later I recall similar tragedies in my own Ward families as I’ve alluded to.

We thank our Heavenly Father and the Savior of this world for a Ward Family that comes together and makes these tragedies bearable. Can you even imagine not having this association? That would be a lonely and sad state of affairs to be in.

This is what the gospel is all about as taught by Alma when he tells us when us person is prepared for baptism:

Mosiah 18:8-9
8 … As ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort,”

That’s why we are ready for baptism when we are willing to do those things. Everything else in our Ward Family seems to be just practice for these moments when we do reach out and bear burdens and comfort those in need.

Listen to this apostolic description of a Ward Family:

The ward population is comparable to a large family, a patriarchal family, all members of which are acquainted, and are interested in a common cause. Within this ward family all members are on an equal plane. The poor and the rich, the learned and the unlearned, meet and mingle together as brethren and sisters, each giving help and love to the others. The Bishopric should be as fathers to the ward, knowing every family personally, sharing in the joys and sorrows of the people, and giving needed comfort and assistance to the sick and needy and to the well and prosperous. Since the ward is the ultimate unit of the Church, it becomes of great importance in the organization of the Church. It is in the ward that the activities of the Church find direct and real expression. All activities of the Church are organized on a ward basis-whether Priesthood or auxiliary. As the wards of the Church are, so is the Church.
(John A. Widtsoe, Program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, p.85)

5 Things We Learn in Ward Families
In this conference talk, Elder Edgely, summarizes the 5 things that we learn as Ward Families as we bear one another’s burdens and comfort those in need of comfort.

According to Bishop Edgley, the first thing we learn as a Ward Family from bearing one another’s burden and comforting those in need of comfort is:

1. The Lord’s organization is fully adequate to know and care for those with even the most dire emotional and spiritual needs.

The Lord’s organization is perfect though the members are not. If we follow the program outlined in the scriptures and taught by church leaders and spelled out in the great handbooks available to us, we can know everything we need to know and will be guided as to how to care for all within our boundaries. And this pertains to our physical, spiritual, financial, and emotional needs.

Let me repeat that: The Lord’s organization is perfect. We need but follow it. The Church is not the government. It is the kingdom of God on earth. And there are no outcomes like Katrina in the Lord’s plan.

The second thing we learn as a Ward Family from bearing one another’s burden and comforting those in need of comfort is that:

2. Adversity can bring us closer to God, with a renewed and enlightened appreciation for prayer and the Atonement, which covers pain and suffering in all their manifestations.

Sometimes we shy away from adversity but I testify to you that it is true. It has purpose and we should never live or strive to try and take away the adversity that comes upon ourselves or others as an inspired part of our journey through life.

Removing adversity from this life is not the Lord’s plan. We do all we can to not bring upon us or others any unavoidable trial or tribulation but once they come, either as a result of one’s actions or simply as a member of earth, we don’t remove it or take it away. Only the Lord can do that.

Too much stress and unhappiness comes to us as we vainly attempt to take away the adversity of others that can make them grow and learn and become more reliant on Heavenly Father. Instead of attempting to remove adversity from others, we are expected to bear it with them and comfort them as they are challenged. By doing so, if we had the power, maybe we are depriving them – and us – of a lesson and the ability to develop a celestial characteristic that we cannot learn or develop any other way. Remember those powerful words of
President Spencer W. Kimball:

I'm grateful that my priesthood power is limited and used as the Lord sees fit to use it. I don't want to heal all the sick - for sickness sometimes is a great blessing. People become angels through sickness.
Have you ever seen someone who has been helpless for so long that he has divested himself of every envy and jealousy and ugliness in his whole life, and who has perfected his life? I have. Have you seen mothers who have struggled with, perhaps, unfortunate children for years and years, and have become saints through it? …

Being human, we would expel from our lives, sorrow, distress, physical pain, and mental anguish and assure ourselves of continual ease and comfort. But if we closed the doors upon such, we might be evicting our greatest friends and benefactors. Suffering can make saints of people as they learn patience, long-suffering, and self-mastery. The sufferings of our Savior were part of his education. (55-15)
(Spencer W. Kimball, The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, edited by Edward L. Kimball, p.167)

Maybe that is one reason we have been dubbed the most unhappy people in the country here in Utah – maybe we spend far too much energy naively and sincerely attempting to do what only the Lord can do - trying to take away the burdens and trials of our children, neighbors, and community rather than just bearing it with them and providing needed comfort.

The third thing we learn as a Ward Family from bearing one another’s burden and comforting those in need of comfort is that:

3. Members who suffer tragedy firsthand often experience an increased capacity for love, compassion, and understanding. They become the first, last, and often the most effective responders in giving comfort and showing compassion to others.

This provides a good test for us if we are passing our tests of mortal probation. If you are the first, last and most effective person to show compassion to others, you are becoming more Christlike and have learned the lessons that were intended for you by the trials that you have had. This is why we are here on earth, to learn this very principle. This is why bad things happen to good people and why it rains on the good and the bad together.

The fourth & fifth things we learn as a Ward Family from bearing one another’s burden and comforting those in need of comfort are:

4. A ward, as well as a family, draws closer together as it endures together—what happens to one happens to all.

5. And perhaps most important, we can each be more compassionate and caring because we have each had our own personal trials and experiences to draw from. We can endure together.

Bishop Edgely said:

I rejoice in belonging to such a loving and caring organization. No one knows better how to bear one another’s burdens, mourn with those who mourn, and comfort those who stand in need of comfort. I choose to call it “enduring together.” What happens to one happens to all. We endure together.


We are all familiar with the concept or the admonition of “enduring to the end.” We think about it and learn about it and are encouraged to do it regularly. In the scriptures we find many references to it. My favorite is:
2 Nephi 31:20

Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

Bishop Edgley introduced me to a new term in relation to this when he admonished us to “endure together.” When I read this scripture I like to think that it could be worded: “If ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure together, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.”

A Final Testimony of Satan's Reality
To me one of the greatest examples of this feeling of enduring together as a Ward Family comes from an experience of President Harold B. Lee. It demonstrates that even though he was the Prophet and Leader of the entire Church, he still had a Ward Family and thought of them with great love and often, even as his life and mission were coming to an end. From his biography:

On the first Sunday of November 1973, President Lee spent the early morning hours, as was his practice, at the Salt Lake Temple considering problems on which he alone, as President of the Church, could decide. With these matters weighing heavily on his mind, along with a personal problem on which he had consulted with one of his family members, he came to rejoin Sister Lee at their Federal Heights Ward fast and testimony meeting. He arrived late, quietly sat down, and received the sacrament. Just prior to the close of the meeting, President Lee's familiar voice came from the back of the chapel, asking permission of bishopric counselor E. Douglas Sorensen to delay closing the meeting, for he "thought the Lord had been so mindful of me in a special way, a few days before, that he would think me an ingrate if I failed to express myself." According to ward member, Sister Elaine A. Cannon, who recorded his statements in her journal, he spoke these unforgettable words as he remained standing at the rear of the chapel:

Brothers and Sisters, beloved friends and neighbors, members of my ward family, and those in my own little flock over whom I have stewardship: I'm sorry to disturb you, but I know that it would be disturbing to my Father in Heaven if I don't say something to you at this time.

By way of testimony I want you to know that I know that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ and our Redeemer, and he is at the head of this Church; I am not. I know that he operates in all the affairs of this church and I say this by way of testimony that you may know that I know he lives.

And then, after a long pause, he uttered these remarkable words:
I say this to you by way of a serious warning, that I also know that the adversary lives and operates in the affairs of man. And he is determined to cause a downfall of men. If he can't get to us, he will try to get to those closest to us, for he is in a mighty battle with the work of the Savior. And I must tell you these words of warning. So keep close to the Lord. Don't be discouraged. The Lord will take care of his own. If you are prepared, you need not fear, if you are on the Lord's side."

This was a powerful, most unusual testimony, not alone because it came from the prophet of God to his own neighbors, friends, and relatives who had often heard him bear witness to the reality of the Savior Jesus Christ, but also because he had never before borne such a fervent witness to the reality of Satan. It was his last message to the members of his ward, for seven weeks later he was taken in death.
L. Brent Goates, Harold B. Lee: Prophet and Seer , p.564

May we all “endure together” as a Ward Family and work together to fight this mighty battle with the Adversary as he attempts to discourage us and cause our downfall. May we all realize we are “called” to live in this geographically-based organization to bear each other burdens and comfort those in need of comfort as brothers and sisters, both figuratively and literally. May we all draw upon our own trials and challenges to be the first, the last, and most effective to provide needed service and compassion.

The Savior lives. This is His Church. He has organized it and us in such a way that all challenges that come our way can be met and that all will come together to build His Kingdom and prepare for His return. This is my testimony and prayer in the name …

2008 Annual Conference

Here are a few facts I've put together on conference. More to follow:

Talks Given: 35
By Prophet: 3
By First Presidency: 4
By Apostles: 12
By Others: 16

Scriptures Quoted: 429
Four times: 3
Three times: 9
Twice: 48
Once: 294


Book of Mormon: 135
New Testament: 116
Doctrine & Covenants: 108
Old Testament: 39
Pearl of Great Price: 31

Average scriptures quoted per speaker: 12

Most scriptures quoted in their talk: Madsen - 56; Russell - 36; Packer - 31; Christofferson - 29; Oaks - 25; Hales - 22; Uchtdorf - 22; Lund - 20

Most quoted scriptures –
4 times:

Alma 42: 8 (Nelson - SaM; Johnson - SaM; Burgess - ; Christensen - SuA)

Now behold, it was not expedient that man should be reclaimed from this temporal death, for that would destroy the great plan of happiness.

John 3:16 (Hales - SaA; Amado - SuA; Burgess - P; Uchtdorf - P)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 7:17 (Johnson - SaM; Wirthlin - SaM; Oaks (2) - SaA)

If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or [whether] I speak of myself.

Fascinating fact: Out of the 429 scriptures quoted 294 of them were only quoted by one speaker. Isn't that amazing that out of 35 talks there is that little repetition from the scriptures quoted.

Total words spoken: 63,736
Average words per talk: 1,821
Total subjects addressed: 35

2 speakers addressed:
Blessings
Children of God
Church Leadership
Church, The
Family
Gospel
Obedience
Priesthood
Service

1 speaker addressed:
Abuse
Atonement
Book of Mormon
Eternal Progression
Example
Experience
Follow Prophet
Godhead
Holy Ghost
Love
Motherhood
Prayer
Revelation
Standards
Testimony
Tithing
Truth
Abuse
Atonement
Book of Mormon
Eternal Progression
Example
Experience
Follow Prophet
Godhead
Holy Ghost
Love
Motherhood

Worldwide Broadcast

Since I had to set up our stake for the broadcast and set up a DVR to record it on DVD I ended up seeing it three times. It was great. Each time I picked up new and good things I missed the previous times. Here are things I remember:

Elder Holland's Parable of the Homemade Shirt was instructive. His "there's bound to be trouble if a shirt is made from a shirt made from a shirt." That is so profound in the context of when mistakes are made, then repeated and exaggerated each time. His point was to have a pattern that you draw from and then each time you bounce your actions off the pattern you will never get too far from the original (or the truth.)

He also recognized that everyone is in different circumstances but can still use the pattern and adapt it rather than reinventing the standard.

President Packer said there were two transendant ideas that came out of the First Vision. One, God is the Father. Two, Jesus is the Son. So it was a family thing that was happening. The pattern revealed to Joseph there and elsewhere was first concerning families and the organization and priesthood came afterward.

He then read the Proclamation On The Family word for word (interjecting some commentary along the way.) He said it was scripture-like. The answers in the Proclamation are the Church's answers to the world in relation to family matters.

He emphasized that God's Plan is more correctly God's Plan of Happiness. At the end of his remarks which were a little subdued he made a very interesting and seemingly spontaneous comment: "He's our Father!" Then repeated, "He's our Father!" He said he didn't quite know how to say it because we do it so glibly but testified again that, "He's our Father!"

The bulk of the time was a roundtable discussion on the family with Elder Holland, Elder Oaks, President Lant, President Beck, and President Tanner of the Primary, Relief Society, and the Young Women respectively.

I can't cover much and capture the context but here are some thoughts as best I can remember:

Elder Oaks said we should be guided revelation by what we do in regard to our family and not by icons of pup culture or conventions of political correctness.

President Lant observed that we are trying to be eternal families not perfect families and that in this life a perfect family is one striving to be an eternal family with all the challenges that come to us in life.

Elder Holland said he didn't know if the next life had Wards or Stakes but he did know there were families and family organization and that is the answer to the question of why we talk so much about family.

Elder Oaks said he always advises newlyweds that to solve problems they need to do what they are doing right then: looking across at each other and not to other people. At least when they first attempt to solve a problem. That's what will get them through their problems in life.

President Lant: The best way to get our needs met is to meet someone elses' needs.

Someone brought up soul mates and Elder Oaks said he was skeptical of the concept. He took me back for a minute when he said what you should be doing is looking for someone you can stand ... with. I don't think he meant for a pause to come after stand and he certainly was not trying to be funny and nobody laughed but me because I swear I heard just the first part about looking for someone you can stand. How true. but also someone you can stand with is good advice.

There seemed to be a recurring trashing of the concept of making lists. I love lists. I'm crushed. I guess what they are saying though is it isn't good to make up a list of duties and assignments in the role of spouse of parent and then fanatically just following the list. That works because I love lists but have no self-discipline to ever follow anything on them. I just like making them.

President Tanner quoted a poem from John Milton,s Paradise Lost that had the phrase: "a thousand daily decencies that flow." the point is that is what makes a happy marriage and family.

"Gospel Culture" was a recurring theme that they used to describe the pattern of living they were talking about that transends anyone's individual's specific traditions or upbringing or background.

President Lant made the observation in disagreeing in a family that it's not who is right it's what is right.

Elder Oaks advises that decisions should be made prayerfully and not looking to worldly priorities of how to have and raise children given by television and prominent gurus or the pressure of neighbors.

Additionally Elder Oaks reminded us that it won't be easy because God set it up on purpose so there will be "opposition in all things" therefore we can't be expected to be applauded every time we do something right. In spite of all that God will bless us.

He told us of an experience with Elder Maxwell when he told them on important issues they should write the message on the inside of their eyeglasses and then when they put them on to use them, the message will be always in front of them. The message we should put on our eyeglasses today is: "Families Come First" and all our decisions should be viewed with that in mind.

President Beck told a funny story about how growing up their family sang, Love At Home, every week at FHE. Finally at about 14 she asked her father why since there were so many other hymns they could sing. He said, "When we learn lesson one I will teach you lesson two." They never did get to lesson two. Her point was we don't have to try and cover everything.

President Lant told the story of when she had young children and her husband was called to be a Bishop it would take her all day Saturday and Sunday to get the kids ready and get to their meeting on time and take up her place on the second row. One week some big mouth lady came up and whispered to her that if it had been as easy for her as it had been for Sister Lant she would have had more children. Sister Lant said she cried the whole meeting and her husband wondered what was wrong with her. Her point is that it wasn't easy and we ought not judge people harshly or falsely. She didn't say it but should have added, "especially if you have your head lodged in the wrong place." But I guess that would be judging harshly.

A particularly poignent moment was when. Then he looked directly into the camera and said, "Father's, rise up and perform your role."

Elder Oaks also talked about using the extended family to support and help each other and that North America could learn from most other continents a little more about that concept because they have a higher vision and practices concerning this.

Still more to come.

Nourishing Power of Hymns

Here is a version of my High Council talk for the past 6 months.

The conference talk I’ll be reviewing and reminding us about is the second talk given in the April Conference on Saturday morning by Jay Jenson of the Quorum of the Seventy titled: The Nourishing Power of Hymns.

Like no other talk in that conference, this one made me reminisce about hymns in my life.

Earliest Hymn Memory

Elder Jensen began by reminding us of President Hinckley’s experience as a young deacon attending a stake meeting with his father. One of the hymns sung at the meeting was “Praise to the Man.” Later in life President Hinckley said about that:

"I had an impression that has never left that Joseph Smith was indeed a prophet of God." (TGBH, p. 399)

This made me think about the earliest experience I recall involving hymns.
It was in a primary meeting. I recall the chorister asking different children their favorite song and then we’d sing it. At some point, the chorister called on me. I wasn’t prepared because by then I’d already learned the art of avoidance-by-studying-shoe-color. Not being prepared, I recall a short panic and then I vocalized the only thought in my mind: “Oh, How Lovely Was the Morning.” The actually name of the song is “Joseph Smith’s First Prayer” but that’s all I new it by.

I recall many of the other children groaning I think because it was a “grown-up” song. I guess they were hoping to sing other deep-doctrinal hits like, “Give Said the Little Stream” but that was my favorite so I said it. In hind sight I know the reason why I liked this song so much and it is like President Hinckley said - I knew then as I know now that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and I loved the message of this song and how it made me feel. It was and still is one of my favorite hymns. Listen to some of the words & the message:

Joseph Smith's First Prayer, Hymn #26

Oh, how lovely was the morning!
Radiant beamed the sun above.
Bees were humming, sweet birds singing,
Music ringing through the grove,
When within the shady woodland
Joseph sought the God of love …
Humbly kneeling, sweet appealing
'Twas the boy's first uttered prayer
When the pow'rs of sin assailing
Filled his soul with deep despair;
But undaunted still he trusted
In his Heav'nly Father's care …
Suddenly a light descended,
Brighter far than noonday sun,
And a shining glorious pillar
O'er him fell, around him shone,
While appeared two heav'nly beings,
God the Father and the Son …
"Joseph, this is my Beloved;
Hear him!" Oh, how sweet the word!
Joseph's humble prayer was answered,
And he listened to the Lord.
Oh, what rapture filled his bosom,
For he saw the living God …

I still thrill when I hear or sing these words. What a great and classic hymn of the restoration.

Elder Jensen described 3 Ways That Hymns Play a Special Role in the Gospel:

1. Hymns Invite the Spirit (When Erika heard this verbalized she thought I meant it like Parker, "Hims Invite the Spirit" and was a big thrown off.)

Hymns are "an essential part of our church meetings. [They] invite the Spirit of the Lord." (Hymns ix) They often do this quicker than anything else we may do.

President J. Reuben Clark Jr. said, "We get nearer to the Lord through music than perhaps through any other thing except prayer." (CR 10/1936, p. 111)

Why is this? Think about it? Why does music (& the hymns in particular) have such a powerful spiritual effect on us?

I think one reason is as expressed in the Chinese Proverb:

“Tell me, I’ll forget. Show me, I may remember. But involve me, and I’ll understand.”

Since we participate in the singing of hymns we are involved in them, therefore, we are able to gain a better understanding of them. There is some sort of eternal principle associated with participation and the Holy Ghost as Elder Scott tells us as it relates to teaching:

Richard G. Scott:
“Never, and I mean never, give a lecture where there is no student participation… Assure there is abundant participation because the use of agency by a student authorizes the Holy Ghost to instruct. It also helps the student to retain your message. As students verbalize truths, they are confirmed in the souls and strengthen their personal testimonies.”

Participation in hymn singing works the same way. That’s why we sing so many hymns as a congregation rather than having choirs do it all.

Experience of John Taylor Singing to Solve a Difficulty among Two Members

President Heber J. Grant said, “There certainly is a delightful influence which attends the singing of the songs of Zion” and then went on to tell a remarkable story about John Taylor and the power of hymns to call on the Spirit of the Lord.

Two faithful members of the Church who had been old friends and shared many hardships and endured many trials together in the early days of the church, now had a falling out and were involved in a business dispute between them.

They decided that they would get President John Taylor to help them solve their differences. They gave their word of honor that they would abide by whatever decision President Taylor made but before they had a chance to tell him what the problem was, Present Taylor said he would like to start out by singing “one of the songs of Zion” for them.

Continuing with President Heber J. Grants words:

He sang one of our hymns to the two brethren. Seeing its effect, he remarked that he never heard one of the songs of Zion but that he wanted to listen to one more, and so asked them to listen while he sang another. Of course, they consented. They both seemed to enjoy it; and, having sung the second song, he remarked that he had heard there is luck in odd numbers and so with their consent he would sing still another, which he did. Then in his jocular way, he remarked: “Now, brethren, I do not want to wear you out, but if you will forgive me, and listen to one more hymn, I promise to stop singing, and will hear your case.”

… When President Taylor had finished the fourth song, the brethren were melted to tears, got up, shook hands, and asked President Taylor to excuse them for having called upon him, and for taking up his time. They then departed without his even knowing what their difficulties were.

President Taylor’s singing had reconciled their feelings toward each other. The spirit of the Lord had entered their hearts, and the hills of difference that rose between them had been leveled and become as nothing. Love and brotherhood had developed in their souls. The trifles over which they had quarreled had become of no consequence in their sight. The songs of the heart had filled them with the spirit of reconciliation.

Hymns really do invite the spirit.

2. Hymns Invite Revelation (the 2nd way that hymns play a special role in the gospel)

According to Elder Jensen, those who have responsibilities over meetings and hymn selection “should make sure that the music, the words, and the musical instruments are sacred, dignified, and will promote worship and revelation.”

“Music becomes a performance when it brings attention to itself. Hymns ‘create a feeling of reverence.’" (Hymns ix)

“The words reverence and revelation are like twins who like each other's company. When the Seventy and Presiding Bishopric are invited to meetings with the First Presidency and the Twelve, we are reminded to arrive early and reverently listen to prelude music. Doing so invites revelation and prepares us for the meeting.”

President Packer taught that a member who softly plays "prelude music from the hymnbook tempers our feelings and causes us to go over in our minds the lyrics which teach the peaceable things of the kingdom. If we will listen, they are teaching the gospel, for the hymns of the Restoration are, in fact, a course in doctrine!" (Reverence Invites Revelation, Ensign, 11/1991. p. 22)

Two suggestions given by Elder Jensen to make hymns more powerful in our lives are:

1. Strive to be more punctual to meetings, sit quietly and listen to the prelude music, and experience reverence and revelation.

2. Exit meetings more reverently, allowing the postlude music to extend the spirit of the meeting.

As we do this, the hymns can become more a part of our heart and mind and maybe they will be a source of revelation in a time of need.

Experience of Two Missionaries Using Hymns To Avoid Mob Danger

Elders J. Golden Kimball and Charles A. Welch, neither of whom claim to sing well, while on a mission in the Southern States, were about to baptize some converts; a mob had assembled, and the brethren were given to understand that if they carried out their intentions of baptizing that the mob would throw them into the river. The brethren determined to go ahead no matter what the result might be. Before doing so, however, they sang a song. The song seemed to have such an effect upon the mob that they were almost transfixed. The brethren proceeded with their baptisms, and then went some distance to attend to confirming the baptized. A message came from the mob asking them to come and sing that song again, and the request was complied with. The leader of the mob, Joseph Jarvis, afterwards joined the Church, and he stated to Elder Kimball that the sentiments of the hymn, and the inspiration attending the singing, as above related, converted him to the Gospel. Brother Kimball’s recollection is that the hymn was “Truth Reflects Upon Our Senses.”

Listen to some of the words to this hymn:

Truth Reflects Upon Our Senses, Hymn #273
Text: Eliza R. Snow

Truth reflects upon our senses:
Gospel light reveals to some.
If there still should be offenses,
Woe to them by whom they come!
Judge not, that ye be not judged,
Was the counsel Jesus gave;
Measure given, large or grudged,
Just the same you must receive.
Blessed Savior, thou wilt guide us,
Till we reach that blissful shore
Where the angels wait to join us
In thy praise forevermore.
Jesus said,"Be meek and lowly,"
For 'tis high to be a judge;
If I would be pure and holy,
I must love without a grudge.
It requires a constant labor
All his precepts to obey.
If I truly love my neighbor,
I am in the narrow way.
Once I said unto another,
"In thine eye there is a mote;
If thou art a friend, a brother,
Hold, and let me pull it out."
But I could not see it fairly,
For my sight was very dim.
When I came to search more clearly,
In mine eye there was a beam.
If I love my brother dearer,
And his mote I would erase,
Then the light should shine the clearer,
For the eye's a tender place.
Others I have oft reproved,
For an object like a mote,
Now I wish this beam removed,
Oh, that tears would wash it out!
Charity and love are healing;
These will give the clearest sight;
When I saw my brother's failing,
I was not exactly right.
Now I'll take no further trouble;
Jesus' love is all my theme;
Little motes are but a bubble
When I think upon the beam.

Hymns really do invite revelation both within us and to others touched by them as we use them.

3. Hymns Invite Conversion (the 3rd way that hymns play a special role in the gospel)

Elder Jensen tells us, “The hymns of the Restoration carry with them the spirit of conversion.”

Experience of Missionary Couple Using Hymns in Teaching

To reinforce this point, Elder Jensen related the story of two missionaries teaching an older couple in Peru. While teaching then, they were interrupted when the couple’s son, wife, and three children showed up. In Elder Jensen’s words:

“The elders explained who they were and what they were doing. The son was suspicious of the missionaries, resulting in an awkward moment. The junior companion prayed silently, "Heavenly Father, what do we do?" The impression came to sing. They sang "I Am a Child of God." (Hymns #301) The Spirit touched the hearts of this family of five. Instead of two converts, all seven became members, influenced initially by a hymn.”

Hymns really do carry with them the power of conversion.

Given the truth of these three “inviting” principles of music – inviting the spirit, inviting revelation, and inviting conversion – Elder Jensen gives us some suggestions.

1. Teaching Children Hymns Begins at Home

Singing hymns and listening to appropriate music begin at home. "Latter-day Saints should fill their homes with the sound of worthy music.

" . . . We hope the hymnbook will take a prominent place among the scriptures and other religious books in our homes. The hymns can bring families a spirit of beauty and peace and can inspire love and unity among family members.

"Teach your children to love the hymns. Sing them on the Sabbath, in [family] home evening, during scripture study, at prayer time. Sing as you work, as you play, and as you travel together. Sing hymns as lullabies to build faith and testimony in your young ones." (Hymns x)

2. Worship More Meaningfully through Hymns

We should all attempt to follow the example of conference in our lives as they relate to the hymns of the restoration.

Each conference the music is almost entirely comprised of hymns. Most of them we all know better than we think and could probably sing without a book:

Come, Come, Ye Saints
The Spirit of God
I Am a Child of God
O My Father
I Need Thee Every Hour
I Stand All Amazed

Researching past conferences I can tell you that sometime in each conference we will hear the hymn, We Thank Thee, O God, For a Prophet, usually in the Sunday afternoon session – and the last conference we did.

At most conferences we will hear, Now Let us Rejoice (for some reason at a morning session) and Redeemer of Israel. Both were sung as expected.

At most conferences we will hear, Guide Us, O Thou Great Jehovah, usually in a Priesthood session and also How Firm a Foundation, for some reason usually on Sunday morning. Guide Us was sung instead of Priesthood on Sunday morning and How Firm was sung as expected also on Sunday morning.

Usually about once a year it is almost certain we’ll hear, Praise to the Man & Joseph Smith’s First Prayer (both on Sunday morning). Praise to the Man we heard last time and didn’t this time but we did hear Joseph’s First Prayer but on Saturday Afternoon.

I love the power of hymns and bear testimony to you that they have the power to increase the Spirit in our lives. They have the power to be a source of revelation in our lives, and they have the power to aid us in the process of conversion in our lives and in the lives of those around us.

May we all be nourished by the hymns of the gospel, is my prayer …

2007 in Review: Books

This was a great year for books. Yea, getting them, but also reading them. Each year I mainly just go with where my interests take me but I do have a few goals to try and have some discipline.

1) Each year I force myself to read 1 classic. 2) I read the book of scripture from the Sunday School lessons. 3) I read and dissect each general conference. 4) I read at least one book with a business theme. 5) I meet or exceed the number of books read from the previous year. In addition, this year I started a project on American Presidents so I most jumped in to this from the beginning.

I read 61 books this year which is a very good year; 5 a month. Last year I only read 45. I met my other goals as follows (listed in order of best to worst when possible):

Classics
Chronicles of Narnia 1: the Magicians Nephew, C.S. Lewis
Chronicles of Narnia 2: Lion, Witch & Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis
Chronicles of Narnia 3: the Horse & His Boy, C.S. Lewis
Chronicles of Narnia 4: Prince Caspian, C.S. Lewis

Scriptures
The New Testament
Fire in the Bones, Michael Wilcox
Wide as the Waters, Benson Bobrick
God’s Secretaries, Adam Nicolson
The New Testament Through 100 Masterpieces of Art, Regis Debray
The Life & Teachings of Jesus, Volume 1, Richard Holzapfel

General Conference
2007 Annual
2007 Semi-annual

Business
You’ve Got To Read This Book, Jack Canfield

In addition to these categories my 2007 reading breaks out into these categories (also listed from Best to Worst):

American History
Passing of the Armies, Joshua Chamberlain
April 1865, Jay Winik
The Most Glorious Fourth: Vicksburg & Gettysburg, Duane Shultz
Rediscovering God in America, Newt Gingrich
The Great Upheaval, Jay Winik
Our 50 States, Lynn Cheney
America: A Patriotic Primer, Lynn Cheney
What If’s of American History, Robert Cowley
Gettysburg, Newt Gingrich
101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived, Alan Lazar

General History
I Wish I’d Been There, Brian Hollingshead
The Greatest Stories Never Told, Rick Beyer

U.S. Presidents
George Washington, James Burns
Grant & Twain, Mark Perry
John Adams, John Diggins
Thomas Jefferson, Joyce Appleby
James Madison, Gary Willis
James Monroe, Gary Hart
John Quincy Adams, Robert Remini
Andrew Jackson, Sean Wilenz
Martin Van Buren, Ted Widmer
James K. Polk, John Siegenthaler
James Buchanan, Jean Baker
John Tyler: the Accidental President, Edward Crapol
The Bushes, Peter Schwiezer
Abraham Lincoln, Lord Charnwood

LDS Church History
The Worlds of Joseph Smith, John Welch
United By Faith, Kyle Walker
Lengthen Your Stride: Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball, Edward Kimball
Presidents and Prophets, Michael Winter
David O. McKay, Gregory Prince

LDS Doctrine
Preach My Gospel
Beholding Salvation, Kent Brown

Religion
Quest For God, Paul Johnson

Music
Beethoven, Edmund Morris
Storms: My Life With Fleetwood Mac, Carol Ann harris
Mosaic, Amy Grant

Trivia
Why?, Eric McHugh
Where?, Eric McHugh
When?, Eric McHugh
Who?, Eric McHugh
Know It All, Eric McHugh

Fiction
Harry Potter & the Deadly Hallows, J.K. Rowling
Simple Genius, David Baldacci
Stone Cold, David Baldacci
Bourne Legacy, Eric Van Lustbader