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

Politics 101 in the 21st Century

I’ve heard many a person comment of late that we are living in a messed up time and the dirty business of politics is one of the reasons. We’re all entitled to our opinions and that’s one that is valid for the nonreaders.

If you have studied politics much you’d realize we ain’t seeing nothing like the past. Politics has always been kind of a dirty business, and certainly is today, but compared to some previous campaigns everyone is on their best behavior.

George Washington was revered in his day as much as he is now but his political opponents had no problem trashing him – and most did it anonymously. That way you could say anything you wanted.

It got so bad in John Adam’s presidency, that this famed signer of the Declaration of Independence, convinced Congress to pass the infamous “Alien and Sedition Acts.” This allowed him to lock up in jail anyone who spoke negatively against the President or the government. He could also kick anyone out of the country who made similarly libelous comments. Imagine that in our day. “W” would love that one. We can’t even keep the aliens out of the country let alone kick citizens out for their big mouths. Bye-bye Rosie sounds real good.

In the 3rd Presidential race, Aaron Burr tied with Thomas Jefferson and the House picked Jefferson so Burr became the Vice President. He was so ticked off at personal things a Cabinet Member, Alexander Hamilton, had said about him, he eventually challenged him to a duel. He killed him. Then he left the country to the West and tried to be made king and emperor of the Louisiana Purchase lands and was eventually banished to Europe.

One more example was when Andrew Jackson ran for the 6th Presidency. This race was so nasty on a personal level directed toward Jackson’s wife, Rachel, she passed away from the stress of it all. He won the popular vote and the House picked his opponent for President and for four years the ugliness did not stop; very specific personal ugliness most of which flying both ways was not true, or relevant.

So our day is pretty calm. Swift Boating is whimpy - forgetting the fact that it was true. But we do have a serious problem that is new and troubling. Our society’s inclination toward celebrity worship and “political correctness.” I put that in quote marks to differentiate it from legitimate politeness. In the last two weeks I’ve looked up close and personal at some things going on that show this.

There was the Mitt Romney speech, a speech by Hillary Clinton, a three hour interview with Newt Gingrich, a two hour interview with Bill Clinton, and the first Oprah introduction to Barack Obama including his talk. What a rush. Here is what I observed.

The most qualified man right now for the Presidency is Newt Gingrich. Mostly because he isn’t going after it. It is becoming more and more true that somebody who wants the job ought to be automatically disqualified. He is articulate and right on, on most of the issues. Being a historian he’s actually studied the stuff and is forming opinions based on research and facts and not jut barfing back trite clichéd politically correct drivel. I watched three hours with the guy and he has this crap-eaten grin to go along with his educated answers and is unflappable. Both characteristics are a necessity when deranged people are calling in and asking the most absurd questions on earth. Three hours went by like a minute.

Bill Clinton is amazing. He is the most gifted liar, maybe, to ever live. Cain was a wimp. I think he lies just because he can. And he gets pretty much a free pass, so he does it. One of these days, I suspect he’s going to tell us he’s really a Martian and came from outer space. And he will do it with passion, and he’ll say it with a straight face, and if questioned, he’ll lean forward and repeat it, and in his mind he’ll be thinking, “You’re all a bunch of dummies letting me say anything I want and letting me get away with it.” I’m sure in his diary he records that he is shocked at what he says and gets away with. Some liars convince themselves that they are really telling the truth and then just live in a dream world. Not Bill. He doesn’t believe a word he says but says it anyway. I almost respect him. Kind of like I respect Nehor.

Mitt Romney’s speech was great. It had nothing to do with religion and had everything to do with America. If he made his entire campaign like that speech, he’d hearken us back to the Reagan days when American meant something and we were once again proud of our country. What scares me worse about his whole situation is those who would never vote for him because he’s a Mormon and those who are voting for him simply because he is a Mormon. Frightening perspectives. He won’t make it and that’s good because I don’t want the Church trashed by imbecile’s simply to attack him. It’s tiring. Just like the atheist idiots who are criticizing his speech for not reaching out to them. Get a freaking life. He didn’t reach out to the Neo-Nazi’s either. Or the murderers. Or the Buddhists. Or the illegal aliens (a third of the country at last count.) Or the Lost Ten Tribes.

Hillary Clinton. I listened and didn’t turn the channel just so I can say I did. It is painful. I’ve had multiple root canals and cists removed without anesthesia that were more pleasant than listening to her. I wish it weren’t so painful but the sound of her voice grates on something in my inner ear and creates the same physical reaction as bad perfume does to my eyes. They bleed. And what she is saying is irrelevant because it is all so freaking, filthy, wrong. She lies, no doubt, but her lying is out of ignertrance (I’m combining ignert and ignorance together into a new word.) In the speech I heard she was defending her latest and greatest (# 226) socialized medicine proposal and she said – I kid you not – quote, “There are tens of hundreds of millions of people in this country who do not have health care.” Unquote. Huh? Tens of hundreds of millions is one billion. Who the freak is she talking about. There are only 300 millions of people in this country counting the illegal aliens. Picture my ears bleeding at this point.

Oprah and Obama. What can I say? Lightweight Obama ought to be introducing Oprah as the candidate. If people are so for a woman President and some all for a black President, there you go: Oprah. Now she has done nothing to qualify herself for the job, just like he hasn’t. But at least she has all the money in the world. But listen to what she says about him: nothing. She is just using the power of her celebrity to back him.

Her introduction was moving and her delivery makes you want to jump up and be saved but she says she’s endorsing him for the first time endorsing anyone for very personal reasons … Wait for it … Wait for it …. Wait for it …. It doesn’t every come what those very personal reasons are. And nowhere in her introduction does she tell us one issue he is for that is bring her out in support of him. She says he’s got the answers. She says that Washington needs someone like him. She says it’s time the country elect someone who isn’t just talking but doing. But what? I am not hearing one single issue or thing he’s done or for that connects the dots. Oh, she does say one specific thing. He was the first one to come out against the war in Iraq. Great. So now it’s a race to see who can not support something first and that’s who we back. Well folks, I didn’t support abortion first. Pick me!

What a world. It’s portends a scary world if the power of celebrity gains inroads into the leadership of this country. But as long as this next presidential race has been going on, maybe they do need to turn it into a reality show. And we’ll eliminate candidates each week based on something or other. And eventually after the celebrity panel of Oprah, Natalie Maines, and Elizabeth Hasselbeck, narrow down the field based on their pithy insight, the rest of the country can call a number and vote as many times as they are willing to pay, for which every candidate they choose.

For me, I hope the millennium gets here soon.

Mindsets

In preparing to teach Sunday School next week (yea, I have to stay in the game periodically so I don't forget how) I ran across an interesting thing I used to use. I would always use it to introduce Isaiah or in the case of next week, The Book of Revelation. Let me explain.

Beloit College (some place in Wisconsin) puts out a list each year for the entering freshman and professors to show how different their world perpectives are. The point is for everyone to be sensitive in the learning environment to assumptions made because they are very different based on life experiences.

I use it to demonstrate that if the worlds are that different for someone born in 1985 and us old timers, how different is our world from John who wrote Revelation a couple thousand years ago.

Here is the mindset list.

Most of the students entering college this fall, members of the class of 2011, were born in 1989. For them, Alvin Ailey, Andrei Sakharov, Huey Newton, Emperor Hirohito, Ted Bundy and Abbie Hoffman have always been dead.

1. What Berlin wall?
2. Humvees, minus the artillery, have always been available to the public.
3. Rush Limbaugh and the “Dittoheads” have always been lambasting liberals.
4. They never “rolled down” a car window.
5. Michael Moore has always been angry and funny.
6. They may confuse the Keating Five with a rock group.
7. They have grown up with bottled water.
8. General Motors has always been working on an electric car.
9. Nelson Mandela has always been free and a force in South Africa.
10. Pete Rose has never played baseball.
11. Rap music has always been mainstream.
12. Religious leaders have always been telling politicians what to do, or else!
13. “Off the hook” has never had anything to do with a telephone.
14. Music has always been “unplugged.”
15. Russia has always had a multi-party political system.
16. Women have always been police chiefs in major cities.
17. They were born the year Harvard Law Review Editor Barack Obama announced he might run for office some day.
18. The NBA season has always gone on and on and on and on.
19. Classmates could include Michelle Wie, Jordin Sparks, and Bart Simpson.
20. Half of them may have been members of the Baby-sitters Club.
21. Eastern Airlines has never “earned their wings” in their lifetime.
22. No one has ever been able to sit down comfortably to a meal of “liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.”
23. Wal-Mart has always been a larger retailer than Sears and has always employed more workers than GM.
24. Being “lame” has to do with being dumb or inarticulate, not disabled.
25. Wolf Blitzer has always been serving up the news on CNN.
26. Katie Couric has always had screen cred.
27. Al Gore has always been running for president or thinking about it.
28. They never found a prize in a Coca-Cola “MagiCan.”
29. They were too young to understand Judas Priest’s subliminal messages.
30. When all else fails, the Prozac defense has always been a possibility.
31. Multigrain chips have always provided healthful junk food.
32. They grew up in Wayne’s World.
33. U2 has always been more than a spy plane.
34. They were introduced to Jack Nicholson as “The Joker.”
35. Stadiums, rock tours and sporting events have always had corporate names.
36. American rock groups have always appeared in Moscow.
37. Commercial product placements have been the norm in films and on TV.
38. On Parents’ Day on campus, their folks could be mixing it up with Lisa Bonet and Lenny Kravitz with daughter Zöe, or Kathie Lee and Frank Gifford with son Cody.
39. Fox has always been a major network.
40. They drove their parents crazy with the Beavis and Butt-head laugh.
41. The “Blue Man Group” has always been everywhere.
42. Women’s studies majors have always been offered on campus.
43. Being a latchkey kid has never been a big deal.
44. Thanks to MySpace and Facebook, autobiography can happen in real time.
45. They learned about JFK from Oliver Stone and Malcolm X from Spike Lee.
46. Most phone calls have never been private.
47. High definition television has always been available.
48. Microbreweries have always been ubiquitous.
49. Virtual reality has always been available when the real thing failed.
50. Smoking has never been allowed in public spaces in France.
51. China has always been more interested in making money than in reeducation.
52. Time has always worked with Warner.
53. Tiananmen Square is a 2008 Olympics venue, not the scene of a massacre.
54. The purchase of ivory has always been banned.
55. MTV has never featured music videos.
56. The space program has never really caught their attention except in disasters.
57. Jerry Springer has always been lowering the level of discourse on TV.
58. They get much more information from Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert than from the newspaper.
59. They’re always texting 1 n other.
60. They will encounter roughly equal numbers of female and male professors in the classroom.
61. They never saw Johnny Carson live on television.
62. They have no idea who Rusty Jones was or why he said “goodbye to rusty cars.”
63. Avatars have nothing to do with Hindu deities.
64. Chavez has nothing to do with iceberg lettuce and everything to do with oil.
65. Illinois has been trying to ban smoking since the year they were born.
66. The World Wide Web has been an online tool since they were born.
67. Chronic fatigue syndrome has always been debilitating and controversial.
68. Burma has always been Myanmar.
69 Dilbert has always been ridiculing cubicle culture.
70. Food packaging has always included nutritional labeling.

Imagine what John would think, showing up in this world of the class of 2011. Imagine us showing up in his world. And we wonder why it's a little challenging to figure out this book.

Thanksgiving Day

I’m sitting here thinking about my history of Thanksgiving as I remember it.

Growing up, this was always a wild time of the year. It was during this season that we’d always finalize our chicken and turkey production. By that I mean we’d kill (can you say clothsline), clean, pluck, cut, and freeze those chickens that lived, of the hundred or so we started with. This was a lot of work for several Saturdays in the Fall. By Thanksgiving we, like the Pilgrims, were done and ready to party. We also raised out own turkeys and had a half dozen or so of them to take care of.

The one we’d eat on Thanksgiving was one we’d raised. Usually a monster. Maybe that’s why I don’t care for turkey too much. I’m a dark meat only eater though to show I’m not squeamish, I do love the skin especially on a deep fried turkey. Nummy.

Thanksgiving Day was always fun around our house but I’m not sure why. I don’t recall doing anything that wasn’t done on other days or other holidays. At some point you’d find the boys outside playing our version of two on one football or our avoid-the-hedge baseball game; you could see the gaps in the hedge that showed how bad we played the game.

All the while we all had some chores to do helping with the meal though strangely I don’t think they were much. My memory is if you managed to stay out of sight, the less you had to do. Ronald was the absolute master of this on Thanksgiving - and any day really. But though he was the master, we certainly were eager learners and did out best. The worst chore was to take the slop bucket out to the pig pen. Chores like that just aren’t in existence anymore. It was a way of life for us. The pigs wouldn’t be sent to the butchers yet nor was Bibba so those were chores we still had. We had some sort of pecking order of whose turn it was but spent far more energy and time determining who it was than if we’d have just done it.

Sometimes, it seems to me, that Grandpa and Grandma Johnson would be down from Idaho Falls and would join us. That added a level of intrigue to the event. We loved them and they had a calming influence on the proceedings somehow. I guess it was the way they were totally unflappable in our midst when all control had seem to be lost. Never once do I recall either of them getting angry with us or telling us what to do even though you’d think with the chaos there would be plenty of opportunities.

One thing we all tried to do was to avoid getting caught in the Grandpa Triangle. This was where he pinned you on one side and you were in a corner pinned on the other two sides by wall. In this position you could expect to stay for a half hour or so while he literally prophesied about things and lectures in a kind way on principles of health and life. The torture wasn’t being pinned but having your brothers and sisters poke faces at you behind him trying to distract you and make you laugh. Grandpa was undaunted though. I wish I could be pinned by him now and actually listen. I also wish I’d have written down the things he said because I can’t remember much but think there was some actual prophesying that was done that I’d probably appreciate now and would find comfort in my old age. Great times.

Farmor would join us regularly and one of the good times was getting to go with dad to pick her up. This was a journey in the olden days. And, of course, you'd get out of helping with the meal chores while appearing to be volunteering to do work. The olden days, you didn’t have I-15 so you drove down Redwood to 33rd South and up to 300 East. One of dad’s OCDs was to go on back roads and new, more efficient routes, that avoided crazy drivers. Half the time as a youngster I never had a clue where we were at. But we’d get Farmor and bring her back to the house.

She didn’t mind correcting our behavior or weighing in on the chaos but it was usually so subtle (“Oosh Namen”), passive aggressive (“wouldn’t you rather go outside to be noisy?”), or in Swedish, so we would just blow her off and keep doing what we were doing. Good times. Mom and Dad were too busy getting the food ready to deal with us but we always tried to avoid crossing the line that would get my dad to give us the evil eye. That meant the death penalty later on when the blessed event was over.

Dinner was wild. If we didn’t raise almost all of the food ourselves I imagine it was a solid $500 dollar meal. This was food for a dozen people. We totally ate a 25-30 pound turkey; picked pretty much clean as well as a good 30 pounds of mashed potatoes. There would be “stuffing” (come on, who came up with dressing?) and we’d long run out though as a kid I couldn’t eat it for some reason. Thankfully I’ve overcome that agenda. There was gallons of gravy, jello blended with whipped cream, dads original “cancer” punch or our homemade root bear that tasted not surprisingly like yeast. Yuck, though I think I always pretended to like it because dad was so thrilled. Somewhere there were vegetables, and I’m sure out of the garden but I don’t remember them.

I always sat at the bread board. It was a great place because you were out of the lines of fire. You could hang out there and get Farmor’s sympathy because she felt it was some sort of cruel ostracism. I guess that’s where I first learned the strategy that has made life entertaining for myself. What you want to do is to stir the pot or disrupt someone else’s life without altering the course of human events. When you are at the bread board and out of line of sight, you can manipulate things or bring things up and stay out of the way when it hits the fan. Just like in sports, the person that always gets caught is the one retaliating. So true at meal time.

Of course no meal of ours would be complete without us getting Germ to do Nixon and a variety of other pantomimes. He probably wouldn’t’ actually do them until we all gathered after the meal but we’d start planning the entertainment and the seeds during dinner. Even more hilarious than Germ was Steven mimicking Germ. Then there were the skits of "So Long, Farewell" and other things - I think I recall a version of "I represent the lollypop tree" or some such stuff.

The highlight for me and what I miss the most, though, is mom’s apple pie. I know apple pie. Apple pie is a friend of mine. Nobody made an apple pie like mom. I have no clue what she did. I don’t think there was any secret recipe or anything. She just made killer apple pies. They were good each and every time she made them and the taste never deviated from one pie or type of apple to another. They were the same exact delicious apple pie every time. Others have told me since they have found the best apple pie, and I’d try it and be disappointed. I’m so disappointed in all other apple pies; I actually don’t choose it much as a dessert anymore. I know they were a lot of work for her to make and though they were difficult, the last few years mom always made an extra one for me that I’d slip out to the car before the festivities began. Even when they started getting the “temple pies” from the temple cook guy, mom would still make me one of her apple pies and she didn’t care that she saw I didn’t need them. I think she would even tell me to exercise as she pimped me a secret one on the side and I'd alway tell her I'm going to start on Tuesday. she unlike others always believed me.

Mom’s apple pies. My all time favorite Thanksgiving memory.

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

It’s Veteran’s Day and I’m thinking of the troops. I read the other day that since the revolutionary war there have been 44 million who have worn the uniform in service to our country.

There are a thousand war stories and hundreds of heroes but my all time favorite is Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. He fought in the Civil War. He was a college professor in Maine. He felt compelled to join the union army and fight in the Civil War for the highest of all reasons. He entered the 20th Maine Infantry as a Colonel.

Though he was amazing in all he did, one situation rises above all else, since it alone is attributed to the union breaking the backs of the South and winning the war. This experience occurred when Colonel Chamberlain was stationed at the left flank of the union army at Gettysburg. They occupied “good ground" on top of a place called Little Round Top. Along with his regular division, he was told to take 200 deserters and shoot them if they didn't want to fight this battle. They were fed up with war and didn't want to fight anymore and he told them he wasn't going to shoot them as instructed but instead inspired them all to stay and fight. They all new this would be a big fight and very well may turn the tide for whichever side won the battle. The left flank was an honor to be in charge of because you knew if the enemy broke you, your side will lose. Back then honor was a big deal and getting the honor of guarding a flank was a privilege. Chamberlain was told to hold the left flank at whatever cost (meaning fight to the last man) since there would be no reinforcements and no additional ammunition coming their way.

The Rebels made 5 charges up the hill to try and take Little Round Top and thus break the left flank of the Union army but the 20th Maine repelled them back each time though at great cost. By the 5th charge, many of Chamberlain's division had been killed or wounded including himself and many of the deserters he inspired to stay and fight. For himself he was shot in the foot.

As the last Confederate charge took shape at the bottom of the hill, Chamberlain's men had very little ammunition left. Colonel Chamberlain knew they had to hold the flank and could not give it up so he did the only thing he could do; he ordered "bayonets on" and for his men to charge the enemy, making as much noise as possible and to engage the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. That's what they did and the enemy panicked at the bold move and five hundred surrendered immediately to the men with no ammunition. the rest turned around and beat feet back to the rear with the cowards and shirkers.

The Union evenutally won battle in no small part because the enemy didn't break the left flank and overrun the center of the line. Colonel Chamberlain later was awarded the Distinguished Medal of Honor for bravery on the field. He went on to fight in a total of 20 more battles. He was wounded 6 times (including his foot in this battle) and received awards of merit 4 times. At one point when he was shot from one hip to the other, he was declared dead and General Grant gave him a field promotion to General (the only one given in the Civil War) but he fooled them, got better and participated in many more battles.

He received the honor of being the General to accept the Confederate Army official surrender at Appomattox where he held himself a gentlemen to the end. He lived to 85 years old and finally died from the hip wound when it got infected all those years later. It made him the last person to die from civil war injuries.

I can go on and on (some would argue I have) but there are many more stories about him. He was an absolute stud.

Twenty-five years after Gettysburg he gave a speech there and said these phenomenal words:

"In great deeds something abides. On great fields something stays. Forms change and pass; bodies disappear; but spirits linger, to consecrate ground for the vision-place of souls. And reverent men and women from afar, and generations that know us not and that we know not of, heart-drawn to see where and by whom great things were suffered and done for them, shall come to this deathless field, to ponder and dream; and lo! the shadow of a mighty presence shall wrap them in its bosom, and the power of the vision pass into their souls. This is the great reward of service. To live, far out and on, in the life of others; this is the mystery of the Christ,-to give life's best for such high sake that it shall be found again unto life eternal."

Read them a couple of times and read them often. No truer words were ever spoken about Gettysburg. You can feel it when you go there.

Conference

I’ve finished dissecting conference. Here is what I found, in part:

Talks
There were 38 talks given.
3 by the Prophet.
4 by the other members of the First Presidency.
12 by Apostles.
19 by others.

Scriptures
There were 441 scriptures quoted; that compares to 344 at the last conference.

Broken down by books of scripture:
Book of Mormon 148
New Testament 117
Doctrine & Covenants 102
Old Testament 52
Pearl of Great Price 22
Total 441

Frequency Distribution:
1 scripture was quoted 5 times.
3 scriptures were quoted 4 times.
9 scriptures were quoted 3 times.
42 scriptures were quoted 2 times.
268 scriptures were quoted 1 time

Isn’t that an amazing fact, played out conference after conference, that out of the 441 scriptures quoted, 268 of them were only quoted by one speaker? Out of 38 talks there is that little repetition in the use of the scriptures!

Average number of scriptures quoted by speaker: 12

Speakers quoting the most scriptures: Nelson - 68; Hales - 38; Condie - 38; Uchtdorf - 33; Bednar - 25; Packer - 23; Holland - 23; Wirthlin – 20

The scripture quoted 5 times:
John 17:3
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

The 3 scriptures quoted 4 times:
D&C 14:7
7 And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.

D&C 50:14
14 To preach my gospel by the Spirit, even the Comforter which was sent forth to teach the truth.

D&C 121:45
45 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.

Subjects
There were 35 main subjects addressed:

3 speakers addressed:
Gospel Principles (DFU; WG; TSM)
Missionary Work (MRB; EK; LTP)

2 speakers addressed:
Holy Ghost (KH; HBE)
Priesthood (HBE; TSM)
Procrastination (DH; CC)
Service (MT; SS)
Testimony (EF; DC)

1 speaker addressed:
Activation (MC)
Anger (GBH)
Atonement (DAB)
Blessings (SC)
Book of Mormon (CG)
Broken Heart (BP)
Charity (JBW)
Choices (DHO)
Church Membership (BKP)
Church Welfare (RE)
Conference (DBH)
Faith (QLC)
Family (MC)
Godhead (JRH)
Jesus Christ (JRH)
Joseph Smith (BBH)
Love (TSM)
Mothers (JB)
Pornography (WC)
Purity (DAB)
Restoration (GBH)
Revelation (RDH)
Sacrament (CG)
Salvation (CV)
Scriptures (RMN)
Teaching (DJ)
Temples (OT)
Truth (RDS)

Talks of Especial Note

Julie Beck; Mothers Who Know
Henry B. Eyring; God Helps the Faithful Priesthood Holder
David A. Bednar; Clean Hands & a Pure Heart
Dallin H. Oaks; Good, Better Best
Jefferey R. Holland; The Only True God & Jesus Christ
Keith Hilbig; Quench Not the Spirit That Quickens
Erick Kopischke; Preach My Gospel - Unifying Tool

Lists
My favorite part of conference is compiling lists that were given. There are many in every conference and they help me to focus on the messages. I extract them without all the explanations and accompanying data because:

a) I can look it up in the talk if I want.
b) I can use them to prepare talks.
c) I use them to ponder.
d) I use them as an outline for further study and research.
e) I use them to stimulate my memory to add information to my journal and personal history.
f) Its a lot of fun.

Here are 10 of the 48 lists I extracted from this conference:


From bearing one another’s burdens as ward members, we have learned several lessons:

• Lord’s organization fully adequate to know & care for those with most dire emotional and spiritual needs.
• Adversity can bring us closer to God …
• Members who suffer tragedy firsthand often experience an increased capacity for love, compassion, and understanding.
• A ward [or family] draws closer together as it endures together—what happens to one happens to all.
• [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.
  (Richard Edgely)

3 things To Give One Assurance & Guidance When Facing An Overwhelming Calling:
(The message may come in words to your mind or in a felling or both.”)

1. First, the assurance will come from a memory of times Heavenly Father has helped you through dangers and difficulties.
2. The second part of the message you will receive as you pray for help in facing a hard assignment.
3. The third and final message you can watch for when you pray for help in a hard priesthood assignment is this one—I got this one as well—go to work.
   (Henry B. Eyring)
   

We determine the level of our current personal contribution by examining our present choices and priorities against questions such as these:

• Do I spend more time with sports than Church attendance or callings?
• If I have a free day, do I choose to attend the temple or to visit the mall?
• Do I resort to computer games or surfing the Internet rather than offering meaningful service to others in my home and community?
• Do I read the newspaper religiously but find it difficult to read the scriptures daily?
  (Keith Hilbig)
  

Enduring to the end implies:

• “patient continuance in well doing”

striving to keep the commandments

doing the works of righteousness

sacrifice and hard work

trust our Father in Heaven

making wise choices

paying our tithes and offerings

honoring our temple covenants

serving the Lord and one another willingly and faithfully in our Church callings and responsibilities.

strength of character

selflessness

humility

integrity

honesty to the Lord and our fellowmen

making our homes strong places of defense and a refuge against worldly evils

loving and honoring our spouses and children

(Dieter F. Uchtdorf)

Paul counseled with these four simple words:

• Quench
• not
• the
• Spirit
  (Keith Hilbig)
  
  

When we invite the Holy Ghost:

• He will fill our minds with light and knowledge
• He will “quicken" us, that is to say, enlightens and enlivens the inner man or woman
• We notice a measurable difference in our soul
• We feel strengthened
• We are filled with peace and joy
• We possess spiritual energy
• We Possess enthusiasm
• We enhance our natural abilities
• We can accomplish more than we otherwise could do on our own
• We yearn to become a holier person
  (Keith Hilbig)
  
  

I have felt to provide each member of the Relief Society throughout the world three goals to meet:

• Study diligently.
• Pray earnestly.
• Serve willingly.
  (Thomas S. Monson)
  
  

Four of the most beautiful words in holy writ:

• “And
• God
• remembered
• Rachel”
  (Genesis 30:22).
  (Spencer Condie)
  
  

Examples of small acts of service that can lift and bless another:

• a question concerning a person’s family
• quick words of encouragement
• a sincere compliment
• a small note of thanks
• a brief telephone call
  (Thomas S. Monson)
  
  

Women excel in living and sharing their testimonies of the Lord Jesus Christ and His restored gospel as we:

• Make and keep covenants with Him.
• Are worthy and worship in His temples
• Study His doctrine in the scriptures and the words of prophets
• Qualify for, recognize, and follow the Holy Ghost
• Share and defend His gospel
• Participate in sincere personal and family prayer
• Have family home evening
• Live principles of self-reliance and provident living
  (Julie Beck)
  

Quotes
Lastly, here are my favorite Top Ten quotes from conference (this was very hard to narrow down but by the technique of paired comparison sampling I did it. Actually I could only narrow it to the Top Twenty-Five.):

Adversity
The same happens in our lives. We don’t know when or how earthquakes will hit us. They likely won’t be literal shakings of the earth, as happened in Peru, but rather quakes of temptations, sin, or trials, such as unemployment or serious sickness. Today is the time to prepare for when that type of quake comes. Today is the time to prepare—not during the crisis. What are we doing today to engraven in our souls the gospel principles that will uphold us in times of adversity?
(Walter Gonzalez)

Book of Mormon
The Bible had stood for centuries. It is a precious and wonderful book. Now there was a second witness declaring the divinity of Christ. The Book of Mormon is the only book ever published, of which I know, that carries in it a promise that one who reads it prayerfully and asks concerning it in prayer will have revealed to him by the power of the Holy Ghost a knowledge that it is true (see Moroni 10:4).
(Gordon B. Hinckley)

Children
Children are generally very accepting of their parents and the mistakes parents make. They often forgive, forget, and move on much more quickly than adults do. Don’t feel guilty. Apologize when you have made a mistake. Seek the child’s forgiveness. Change your ways and move on.
(Barbara Thompson)

Children
Remember that it takes a lot of patience to raise a child. As precious as they are, children can be exasperating, frustrating, and sometimes even naughty. It takes a tremendous amount of patience and restraint in order to avoid doing or saying things we will later regret. Sometimes parents need to put themselves in “time-out” in order to avoid making serious mistakes. Removing yourself from the room for a minute in order to regain control is often very helpful.
(Barbara Thompson)

Church Welfare
At the final day the Savior will not ask about the nature of our callings. He will not inquire about our material possessions or fame. He will ask if we ministered to the sick, gave food and drink to the hungry, visited those in prison, or gave succor to the weak. When we reach out to assist the least of Heavenly Father’s children, we do it unto Him. That is the essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
(Joseph B. Wirthlin)

Conference
All of the proceedings of this conference will appear in a subsequent issue of the Ensign and Liahona. We encourage you again to read the talks in your family home evenings and discuss them together as families. They are the products of much prayer and meditation and are well worthy of careful consideration.
(Gordon B. Hinckley)

Decision Making
Increasingly more people are finding that making wise decisions is becoming more and more difficult because of the ultra-interconnected world in which we live. Constantly forced into our consciousness is an incessant barrage of counsel, advice, and promotions. It is done by a bewildering array of media, Internet, and other means. On a given subject we can receive multiple strongly delivered, carefully crafted messages with solutions. But often two of the solutions can be diametrically opposed. No wonder some are confused and are not sure how to make the right decisions.
(Richard G. Scott)

Decision Making
To further complicate matters, others try to persuade us that our decisions must be socially acceptable and politically correct. Some pondering of that approach will reveal how wrong it is. Since social and political structures differ widely over the world and can dramatically change with time, the folly of using that method to make choices is apparent.
(Richard G. Scott)

Divine Assistance
The possibility of an earthquake was always there. When or how it would hit no one knew. When it came, it was devastating. But under the direction of the priesthood, the moment’s challenge was faced. In many cases, when members were unable, the Lord made up the difference. Some members tell of seeing men in white helping to save their lives. Others heard guiding voices. Years of Church service were a preparatory school to becoming organized and helping one another.
(Walter Gonzalez)

Family
In choosing how we spend time as a family, we should be careful not to exhaust our available time on things that are merely good and leave little time for that which is better or best… Super family activities may be good for children, but they are not always better than one-on-one time with a loving parent.
(Dallin H. Oaks)

Family
The amount of children-and-parent time absorbed in the good activities of private lessons, team sports, and other school and club activities also needs to be carefully regulated. Otherwise, children will be overscheduled, and parents will be frazzled and frustrated.
(Dallin H. Oaks)

Family
Families mean work, but they are our great work—and we are not afraid of work. This is what we do best; no one does families better than the sisters of this Relief Society. We uphold, nourish, and protect them.
(Julie Beck)

Family
Satan is working overtime to attack the family. He tells us that marriage is not important, that children do not need a father and a mother, and that strong families are not important. He tells us that moral values are old-fashioned and silly. When challenges come, Satan tells us to abandon our beliefs and go with the ways of the world. He entices us with fame and fortune and tells us where to find the easy life. He attacks our faith in God and tries to discourage even the strongest and most loving families. Satan is delighted when we give in—even just a little.
(Barbara Thompson)

First Vision
At no other time of which we have any record have God our Eternal Father and His Beloved Son, the risen Lord, appeared on earth together.
At the time of the baptism of Jesus by John in the river Jordan, the voice of God was heard, but He was not seen. At the Mount of Transfiguration, again the voice of God was heard, but there is no record of His appearance. Stephen saw the Lord on the right hand of the Father, but They did not address or instruct him.
Following His Resurrection, Jesus appeared to the Nephites in the Western Hemisphere. The voice of the Almighty was heard three times, introducing the risen Christ, but there was no appearance of the Father.
How truly remarkable was that vision in the year 1820 when Joseph prayed in the woods and there appeared before him both the Father and the Son. One of these spoke to him, calling him by name and, pointing to the other, said, “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Joseph Smith—History 1:17).
Nothing like it had ever happened before. One is led to wonder why it was so important that both the Father and the Son appear. I think it was because They were ushering in the dispensation of the fulness of times, the last and final dispensation of the gospel, when there would be gathered together in one the elements of all previous dispensations. This was to be the final chapter in the long chronicle of God’s dealing with men and women upon the earth.
(Gordon B. Hinckley)

Free Agency
Let us decide together what we are going to do. All of us, whatever our callings may be, face tasks that are beyond our own powers. I do and you do. That’s true from the simple fact that success is to get testimony down into the hearts of people. We can’t make that happen. Even God won’t force that on anyone.
So success requires people we serve to choose to accept the testimony of the Spirit into their hearts. The Spirit is ready. But many people aren’t ready to invite the Spirit. Our task, which is in our power, is to invite the Spirit into our lives so that people we serve will want to have the fruits of the Spirit in their lives—the fruits that they can see in ours.
(Henry B. Eyring)

Holy Ghost
We dare not hinder, disregard, or quench the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Yet when it comes to drawing upon the promptings and the blessings which flow from the Holy Ghost, we often "live far beneath our privileges."
(Keith Hilbig)

Journals
Tonight, and tomorrow night, you might pray and ponder, asking the questions: Did God send a message that was just for me? Did I see His hand in my life or the lives of my children? I will do that. And then I will find a way to preserve that memory for the day that I, and those that I love, will need to remember how much God loves us and how much we need Him.
(Henry B. Eyring)

Love
Love is the beginning, the middle, and the end of the pathway of discipleship. It comforts, counsels, cures, and consoles. It leads us through valleys of darkness and through the veil of death. In the end love leads us to the glory and grandeur of eternal life.
(Joseph B. Wirthlin)

Missionary Work
I have found that most people will not read or focus on more than just a few important facts at one time.
(M. Russell Ballard)

Prayer
But be prepared to lose track of time as you pray.
(Henry B. Eyring)

Priorities
Recognize the reality that just because something is good is not a sufficient reason for doing it. The number of good things we can do far exceeds the time available to accomplish them. Some things are better than good, and these are the things that should command priority attention in our lives.
(Dallin H. Oaks)

Revelation
We prepare to receive personal revelation as the prophets do, by studying the scriptures, fasting, praying, and building faith. Faith is the key.
(Robert D. Hales)

Scriptures
Let us search the scriptures with pen in hand, making note of new insights and recording spiritual promptings.
(Keith Hilbig)

Teaching
Just as I learned as a young man that grain was more appealing to our horses than a dirt-filled bucket, I also learned that grain was more nourishing than hay, that hay was more nourishing than straw, and that it was possible to feed a horse without nourishing him.
(Daniel Judd)

Testimony
If you want to know that you know that you know, a price must be paid. And you alone must pay that price. There are proxies for ordinances, but none for the acquisition of a testimony.
(Douglas Callister)