MIDWEST VACATION

The older I get, the more I wonder about how my life is connected to my ancestors and future generations. When we are young the focus of life is learning and building but as we age our desires seem to turn to those who have preceded us and the other group that is coming up behind.

For instance, one of my worries is that my grandchildren won’t remember who I am – especially the younger ones. Teresa and I spend a lot of time with all of them but I am afraid many may not remember how grandpa and grandma liked to play with them when they were little. By the time their memories can hold onto our experiences together we will be too feeble and loopy (OK, that last part is for me, not Teresa) to do anything that is exciting enough to pack away as a pleasant recollection. We will have become those “old folks who smell funny and can’t do much.”

That’s one of the reasons I try to keep some semblance of a journal – so my posterity can understand a little bit about who I really was. And these blog entries are meant to give them a view into the things that were important – to me! I figure if I write enough (even if it is boring) they will have some foundation for knowing who we were when we are gone. At least that is the idea!

So, here’s some thoughts I had as Teresa and I went on a little vacation a few weeks ago. It was partly personal and partly work related – but all of it was interesting and uplifting.

In the summer hiatus from classwork my employer offers guided workshops, for teachers and spouses, to historic sites that are important to LDS Church history. A few years ago we went on the Northeast version and had a wonderful time visiting sites in New York, Ohio, Vermont, and other church-related locations. We developed some good friendships and really enjoyed the experience – in fact, I hope we can go back to many of the sites at some future time.

A couple of summers later we were offered a chance to experience (sort of) what it would be like to make the trek to Utah from the other side of the Rocky Mountains. For a week, our group followed the Pioneer Trail that was used by the Saints as they left, what was then, the borders of the United States and moved to the frontiers of the Utah Basin. The big difference in our pioneer adventure was we made the trek in six days and had four-wheel-drive vehicles instead of wagons and oxen. Again, it was an amazing workshop and helped us understand (just a little) what it must have been like.

Well, this summer we were blessed to finally participate in the final workshop available to teachers and spouses. This adventure included visits to many of the Church History sites relating to the Missouri and Illinois experiences of the early Saints. And, as a bonus, Teresa and I went out a few days early to visit Rex and Lisa, my younger brother and his wife, in Indiana. We decided that may be the closest we get to them anytime soon so we better take advantage of the proximity of our workshop.

[For those of you who are geographically inclined, Indiana is NOT very close to Missouri, but it IS much closer than when we are in Utah.]

Having lived most of my life in the Western United States, I am very used to having mountains and deserts as the main landscape. So, when we arrived in Indiana (and the rest of the Midwest) there were some adjustments to make.

You see, everything is green.

Not just some things.

Everything was really green.

And most of the green consisted of soybeans and corn.

Lots of soybeans and corn.

Sometimes too much soybean and corn.

Soybean field -- very green

Add to that, there were no mountains anywhere!

How do you know which way to go if you don’t have mountains as a point of reference?

Even our GPS had trouble with the flatlands. (Google Fail and Garmin struggle)

Eventually, we sort of got used to the GREEN. At least Teresa did. In fact, she loved it and wished we could take some home with us. She really likes green. I guess I’m more of brown kinda guy. But that’s what makes us such a good team.

Anyway, we had a delightful visit with Rex and Lisa (and Nicholas). They are very gracious hosts and took good care of us while we were there. Here’s a few of the adventures they shared with us:

Pleasant company on the back deck

No pictures of this– sometimes I’m not really thinking clearly. ☹

Gawking at their cool Harley.
Aren't they BAD!!?

Visiting the Indianapolis Speedway and Museum

Climbing this tower (which wasn't as hard as it might look -- or at least looked to old people).
It's called the Soldiers and Sailors Monument.

Catch and release a live turtle. Way to save the weak and suffering Nicholas!!

This is not the turtle but sort of like it.
Our little friend had been attacked and had scratches and cracks in his shell.

Real Indy Racing!! -- Almost.

Teresa learned she better watch out cause I'm coming through!

Lots of good food.

Plenty of welcome conversation.

And renewing/developing relationships that have suffered from lack of contact.

Our days with Rex and Lisa were so much fun. We are hoping they will come visit Utah soon and we can do this again (except we will host them). It does help that they have kids and family in the area so I suspect they will be out before long (or at least they hinted they would)! 😉

Saturday was spent driving from Indianapolis to Kansas City, MO. Again, the drive was extremely green but the company was so pleasant (my wife is a great traveler) that the long drive passed quickly. It’s a good thing the roads are well marked because we still had difficulties with the GPS as we ‘trekked’ across the plains of Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri.

After all that driving, we found our hotel and settled down for the night. A short walk in the humid weather was enough to get us motivated for a swim and an early bedtime so we would be ready for Church.

The ward we visited was about three blocks from the hotel so we opted to walk. After church, we decided to visit a ‘pioneer village’ type of place. It was free and not too far from the hotel. Reality is that it was further than we expected and all the buildings were locked up and inaccessible. Very disappointing!! So, we opted to visit the WWI Memorial in downtown Kansas City.

Cool (well actually hot and muggy) place and very interesting.

The museum was open but they wanted $16 each and would be closing in 45 minutes so we opted to walk around the outside and look at the displays. We learned a lot and enjoyed the view (despite the sweltering heat).

Now comes the exciting part of the day.

Since the GPS had worked a little better in the big city, we used it to get downtown to the memorial and we got right where we wanted to go. So, when it came time to leave, we plugged in the coordinates and started on our way to see the Kansas City Temple. The GPS got us right there and we had a pleasant visit. But then things got a little crazy (GPS and driver-wise).

There's my little sweetheart in front of the KC Temple

It should have been a simple journey back to the hotel but between the pilot thinking he knew the way without help and the GPS rerouting us a over variety of different roads, we got majorly lost! So lost that both the pilot AND co-pilot were confused and frustrated. We did eventually arrive at the hotel but nerves were frazzled and our confidence was completely shaken.

Monday morning, we decided to test our patience skills (and GPS) by going BACK to downtown KC to visit the Hallmark factory. It turned out to be one of the most interesting things we did. And Teresa found a new friend to hang with:

 

Such a contrast between these two.
Maybe that's why they can be friends.

The Hallmark people were very accommodating and even gave us a couple of small gifts for visiting. That’s another win for the travelling Whitmer’s.

That was also the end of our “self-guided” touring for this little adventure. I worry that this is already overly long for one posting so I will stop here and continue with the Workshop review at a later time.

The take-away, for me, from this part was that Teresa and I need to be more proactive in visiting with our extended family. Particularly MY siblings. The Grange kin live close by us and we see them all quite often.

But the extended Whitmer’s are all many hours away and it takes lots of time and effort to see them. YET, it is well worth the effort so we need to stop being lazy and get out on the road a little more.

And who knows, maybe if we do our part, some will return the favor and come see us in beautiful Utah. Dave and Karen came a year or so ago for a delightful few days.

We would love to have all others looking for a grand adventure come and visit. Our home is large and empty so there are plenty of places to sleep for free. Think about it and call for reservations before we get completely booked. 😊

I promise that I will finish the rest of our vacation in a short while. Just keep your eyes open for the next posting. Love you all. mw

DUNKIRK

I don’t often review movies but this past Friday I went with some work friends to see Christopher Nolan’s “Dunkirk.” While not a devotee’, I do enjoy many of his films because they seem to be thought provoking (except the Batman movies which were intense but more disturbing than provoking). The story of Dunkirk was vaguely familiar to me but many of the details had drifted from my memories. For those who are in the same boat, here is a short synopsis.

Early in the war with Germany, France and England found themselves in a precarious position. Outnumbered and outgunned, both Allied armies were retreating to the shores of Dunkirk. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers were packed on the beaches, waiting for rescue in whatever form it might arrive. Many heroic events occurred and the operation was later dubbed “The Miracle of Dunkirk.”

Christopher Nolan took this uplifting and tragic story as the theme for “Dunkirk”.

Nolan's presentation of the story was unusual – there are three time-lines following different events of the battle/evacuation. Each line covers a different frame of time – an hour for the RAF fighter pilot, one long and excruciating day for rescuers in a small boat, and a traumatic week for soldiers on the beach/ship. The switching back and forth can be more than a little off-putting for viewers if they don’t pay close attention. And to make things even harder, there is very little dialogue in the film so viewers must be diligent in following what is happening.

Soldiers being helped into a fishing boat.

My first impression was one of confusion – the different points of view took some effort to understand (that’s why I share that part with you here). But the more I watched, the more it became easier to follow the story. And then the real message began to emerge.

Soldiers standing in the ocean, waiting for rescue.

In a little more than 9 days, nearly 400,000 Allied soldiers were rescued from the beaches of Dunkirk. Much of the success was due to the dogged perseverance of the British citizens who risked life and limb to cross the channel from England to France as rescuers of their protectors. Over those days, nearly 900 small ships, mostly private vessels, traversed the seas to ferry soldiers to larger ships that could not reach the beaches. Additionally, these same boats were repeatedly loaded with survivors and taken all the way back to English soil and safety. Of the many volunteer ships that crossed the channel, 243 were sunk by enemy fire – yet the others kept coming until the work was done.

The injured loading onto a transport

This is not a movie like the old WWII films of my younger days. There isn’t a lot of character development or interest in side stories. But it is a very powerful tale from the view of participants in the events. Some are tragic, others heroic, and the final scene with the British fighter pilot is perhaps the most touching of the whole experience. The more I ponder the time I spent in the theater, the more I appreciate what was shared.

It is interesting that Nolan would take such a chance with the presentation of this story. Most directors would rely on the charisma of the actors (Kenneth Branagh and other recognizable actors have very understated roles) and side stories to guarantee the attention of viewers but he has gone a different route. Letting events piece together the story from the choppy time-lines and spotty dialogue invites the use of the mind and emotions to confirm the power of the story. I wouldn’t want every film to go like this, but I think “Dunkirk” is a fine place to practice this little bit of magic.

A small word of caution. Some reviewers have indicated there were a couple of times when particularly offensive foul language was spoken, but I seem to have missed that – of course, my ears aren’t what they used to be – so beware. I’m looking forward to taking my wife to see this and hope she enjoys it as much as I did. What a powerful story of faith and heroism by ordinary people.

My favorite kind to know.

GRUDGES

I have never been one to “stew” about things or let my mind focus too much on bad events in life.

Oh, I was pretty upset with my parents when they divorced (I was six). It took a little while for me to settle down but generally I think I have learned to move on from negative experiences without too much angst.

Maybe that’s why it is difficult to understand why people keep regurgitating offenses from the past like they are a kind of badge of honor to be flaunted in the face of others. Oftentimes, it seems like they are trying to use the “offense” as a means of validating their lives instead of moving forward to new adventures.

To constantly review past offenses is painful!

It takes away from future happiness and seldom results in anything uplifting.

I mention this because of the incident, a few weeks ago, where a little girl shared her ‘testimony’ in church and was shut-down by the Bishop of her ward.

Disclaimer: As a life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there has never been a time when a member of any congregation I have attended has been asked to stop and sit down. There have been times when I wish it had happened!! But I have never actually witnessed the experience.

So, what would inspire the Bishop of that ward to stop the expression of testimony from that little girl?  Is he a bigot and hateful to those who claim to be different?

NO!!

The problem wasn’t the little girl. The issue was the people who were sitting in the congregation, filming the whole event for posting on the Internet. They had an agenda and the little girl was simply a pawn in their scheme.  I wonder, truth be known, if a 12-year-old little girl can really have such a deep conviction about her sexual orientation without help from someone who should know better.  Regardless, the “set-up” nature of the experience puts it in a bad light.

You see, testimony meeting is a time to share what we believe about the gospel of Christ. It is set aside, once a month, to allow faithful, struggling, and not so faithful members to stand up in front of their friends and neighbors to express their feelings about the teachings of Christ. Members are encouraged to speak from the heart and witness the truths they have learned about the doctrines and teachings of Christ in their personal mortal experience. They are given full sway to say whatever comes to their heart pertaining to things they have experienced and believe regarding their membership in God’s kingdom.

What testimony meeting IS NOT is a time to pontificate (though some do that every week), tell stories (yes we get that also), or to expound on doctrinal issues (we also get that from time-to-time).

BUT, most especially, it is NOT a time to try to share false doctrine.

Some of the messages members share can push the limits of the guidelines and the Bishop has to gauge whether to intervene or not. But there is (at least) one area where those who conduct the meetings cannot remain seated.

When a member, old or young, begins to profess as truth things that are considered false doctrine in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints action must be taken. The tender testimonies of the members in the congregation are much too sacred to allow someone who is trying to lead others away to continue in their process.

I am confident that there will be few who witnessed this event who will hold the young lady totally responsible for her presentation. She has reached the age of accountability but the influence of her mother (as reported by many sources) was the main motivation for her ‘testimony’ experience.

What does her mother seek to gain?  I can only guess.

According to reliable reports, Two years ago this mother was relieved of her membership in the Church for practices or beliefs that violated her covenants as a member. Not being privy to the details, I can only guess that her experiences in the Church became a “burr in the saddle” of her journey through mortality and she concocted this plan to embarrass the Church.

Which brings me back to my opening gambit.

Why is it that people can’t let go of hurt or perceived injustices they have in their lives?

In much of society, there seems to be a need to “get even” with those who have offended. 

But what positive does it do for the offended, their families, and loved ones when they exact their payment?  Is the doctrine of the Church going to lose truth because of the drama?

Wouldn’t it be much simpler to move on and adjust to the new norm in life?

From personal experience, I can validate the benefits of giving up fretting about things over which I have little or no control. The need to ‘get even’ has never made me happier. Forgiving and moving on has ALWAYS resulted in a more comfortable experience.  I think Jesus had something going when He counseled us to forgive all, no matter what offense had been given.

I feel bad for those who can’t forgive.

The Savior said:

Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.  I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men. 

(D&C 63:9-10)

Reality is that none of us know enough to NOT forgive. We cannot make the judgment necessary to determine if someone is worthy of forgiveness. Only Christ, who has suffered for all we do, has that right and the ability.

So, in that vein, I forgive the mother (and others) who used the little girl to further their own purposes. I hope she can find some peace in her heart so she can let go of the ill-will she has towards the members and leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And I hope there comes a day when she can see that her actions hurt no one but herself in the eternal scheme of things.

And I hope for the same when it comes to the judgment of others I have offended.

PRACTICE

Well, my long layoff seems to have affected my ability to come up with subjects to share. This is my third fourth attempt to write something meaningful and I’m afraid it won’t be much better than the first two three iterations. But I’m not giving up without a fight.

The last couple of weeks we have been covering Revelations in my class. It’s a pretty exciting book of scripture – if you are ready to learn and listen. But if it is the end of the school year and you have other things on your mind, it can be somewhat confusing (and maybe boring).

For the teacher and the student.

Not that I don’t get why some are less than interested, but when we cover the events of Christ’ Coming and the students totally miss the significance of what John is teaching – well, it is a little frustrating. It’s not like the expectation is for them to see the deeper meaning of all the prophecies but it would be nice if they actually tried to understand some of the simple things.

And I guess they do…to a certain degree. But not where I was hoping they might be when we finished our discussions. Instead, they remember that there will be earthquakes and hailstorms along with droughts and floods while most of the earth is in turmoil.

What they miss is the joyful experiences the righteous will have as they welcome the Savior back to His earthly home. All the powerful messages about redemption and renewal are lost amidst the worry/excitement over the outward disasters on the earth (and the concern for what to do after school is out).

The dragon, woman, and baby. Lot's of symbolism.

Maybe that’s a little like how we look at life on a daily basis.

It’s easy to see the challenges we face as we struggle through our probation. And the mortal nature of life invites us to justify/explain the failures that slow us in our quest for peace. These might be good things, but when they are the total focus we cheat ourselves of a better life.

To dwell on the disasters that will rend the world in the last days is to ignore the powerful spiritual experiences God promises to those who remain faithful. For every Armageddon, there are ten other events that lift and provide joy for the righteous followers of Jesus Christ.

The same is true for our daily walk.

Mishaps occur, but if they are the focus, there will be misery instead of learning. Growth comes when trials are examined, evaluated, and released as experience and not packed in our luggage. The backpack of life will weigh down the soul who chooses to retain all the negative.

To anticipate joy is to release misery. Fear is replaced as peace rises to the top of our focus. And finding and following the True God of this world (not the one who thinks he is) sets us up for the joy that is Eternal Life.

With lots of PRACTICE.

LOOK WHO'S BACK

After nearly a year’s hiatus, I have determined that it is time to renew my association with this little blog. The reasons for my absence are many and varied, but not worth speaking of in detail. Let’s just say I have had some difficulties finding time to spare for writing in general. The hope is that I can get back on a regular schedule and keep things current.

Now, some of you may wonder why I would come back at all!

It’s not like anyone really missed my messages – as witnessed by the meager number of visitors before my ‘break’. And yet, there was always an emptiness in me that yearned to go back and share more of my vision of life. Maybe it’s just so I can organize my thoughts and solidify what I feel about the world and my part in it. For whatever reason, there is an itch that needs to be scratched so here I am, scratching.

I am wont to discuss politics because so much is depressing and unsavory. The results of the last election, while not as disastrous as expected (though who knows what the future will bring), have left a nasty feeling that doesn’t appear to have an ending any time soon. The distastefulness continues to grow with each new ‘crisis’ but no one wants to find real answers to the problems. So much rhetoric and so little substance on all sides of the debate.

The best thing to report is the birth of another new grandson. William Nicolas was born to Josh and Heather last summer (I have stopped putting in dates for security reasons). He’s quite a handsome little fellow, just like his brothers and cousins. There were some difficult days early on (lots of colic) but he is a very happy boy right now. That puts our grand total for grandchildren at seventeen (that's not a number, that's a brag). How wonderful that is for a couple of old folks to enjoy.

Many of the outside activities I used to enjoy have been unavailable for a time. The Jordan River Temple has been closed for more than a year so we have nowhere to work on Wednesday night. We miss those experiences and can hardly wait for the reopening (which seems to be delayed even longer). The lack of time has curtailed any fishing experiences and with all the other events that have occurred (maybe I can get into those later) grandma and grandpa have been on the run most every day.

Last summer I was invited to participate in a teaching experience online through BYU-Idaho. For the last three terms I have ‘taught’ (mostly my job is to guide self-teaching) classes to students all around the world. My furthest student was from South Africa but there have been some from South America, England, Ireland, various parts of the U.S. and even right here in Utah. The process is interesting but the experience is delightful. My ‘students’ are from all social levels and come in a wide range of ages. The things that they accomplish are amazing and, I believe, truly inspired. If you haven’t heard about the program, check out BYU-Idaho Pathways for information.

My regular job is still the same – teaching the gospel of Christ. This year we are (almost done) focused on the New Testament. What a powerful testimony of Christ and His work as we study Him and His apostles. This is probably my 2^nd favorite book of scripture (after the Book of Mormon) because it is so easy to find Jesus in the teachings. And the Savior is the whole purpose for what we do as teachers.

Well, I don’t want to wear out my welcome on my return from obscurity. The hope is that further postings will come about on a regular cycle. Who knows what that really means but we shall see. Until then, thanks for reading and take a moment to respond if you have something you think I could use. mw

LOOKING OUT

For some time I have been trying to find a way to express my feelings about what I see as a dangerous trend in American politics and thinking. I love my country and want it to be safe. But I also appreciate the benefits others have received from the marvelous experiment that is The United States of America, even if their origins are not the same as mine. The clamor caused by some of our political, social, and economic leaders to protect the country by testing or limiting the freedoms of specific nationalities or ethnicity is a very dangerous proposition. When we start to fiddle with the rights of citizens based on birthplace, religion, or culture we begin the journey that will result in a loss of freedom for all.

A few days ago I was pointed to a link about a group that is in such a position. The focus of the article was Scouting amongst a ‘less-than-popular’ religious group and how they have dealt with prejudices encountered. As I read their story I was impressed with the feeling of “this could easily be the story of my people, and has been in the past.” It wasn’t too many years ago my own religious faith suffered from some extreme persecution because others misinterpreted the true facts about what we believe. And now, again, I am witnessing frightening statements that echo the fearful experiences of past days.

Somehow, Americans must come to understand that there will always be groups of good people that are unpopular and feared because they are different. And there will always be politicians, teachers, business leaders, and others who will try to influence their constituents through fear and prejudice for their own personal gain. Whether it be financial, political, religious, or some other reason, these influencers have only one interest at heart --- selfish increase. And when good people let these desires of others hold sway over what they know to be correct – then we have the beginnings of captivity for all.

I am very disappointed with the direction our political, economic, and social worlds have moved in the past few decades. There is too much of self-centeredness and too little charity (in the Christian sense of the word) being offered by many who lead. The more we separate ourselves into classes (Democrat, Republican, LGBT, Straight, Christian, Muslim, etc.), the more likely we are to have fear and loathing for the other side. And fear begets fear until there is no trust left and we divide into little cliques of our own making and disassociate from the main body of the citizenry. While that may not seem a particularly bad thing, there are always consequences when we withdraw from the body of the people. Let me illustrate by referring to an experience from the Book of Mormon (3 Nephi 7).

A few years before the coming of the Savior, the Nephite nation was going through a difficult time of conflict and political upheaval. An unsavory group had gained control of the government and were doing an awful job governing. It got so bad that when a secret band of men murdered the duly chosen but morally corrupt national leader the whole government fell into disarray. Confusion reigned and the citizens banded together in small groups based primarily on familial and neighborhood associations. Each group created their own set of laws based on the whims and traditions of their leaders. The only common agreement between the groups was that they would not go to war with each other – each would be allowed autonomy in their own place.

In many ways, our nation is on the brink of just such a calamity. The focus of a small minority is the personal satisfaction of their own needs and wants at the expense of the safety and protection of society. Instead of recognizing that the majority will be hurt through the unlimited exercising of individual desires (rights??), no matter how abhorrent, the vocal minority insist that everything must be recognized, legalized, and satiated. To do otherwise would be unfair to those offended.

And when new freedom is given, by law or through social edict, even more is expected. As the laws that have been traditionally obeyed in the past become less important or are eliminated, this nation begins to withdraw into little groups designed to protect the individual rights of the identified group. And the pains caused by these separations are pushed off as part of the path to progress.

When those who wish to lead this country begin to create classes of people who are desirable or politically correct, we are following the same pattern as those in ancient days. The results will be the same. Unity is founded on a mutual respect for the common good and the inalienable rights of the individual AND society. Traditionally that has included some give and take on both sides. But give and take does not mean an abdication of all that is morally right. It is wrong to judge an individual by their faith/beliefs in God. There will always be aberrations in a religious society, but to judge a whole faith by their outliers is unfair and unjust. Tolerance does not mean acceptance of behavior that is unseemly and destructive. But it does mean that we cannot judge a whole society by the misdeeds of a small minority. 

There must be a distinction.

One of the reasons for concern this election season is founded in the dilemma we are all facing. As politicians vie for our votes they say whatever they think will sway us to their side, no matter how preposterous. 

We know this and, for the most part, are not fooled by their rhetoric.

Unfortunately, this political cycle seems to have a deep thread of nastiness and a shallow basin of substance. Most of what we hear is pandering to the selfishness of the individual. It sounds good for personal reasons, but what are the costs to the ‘body politic’?  We’ve been headed down this road for quite some time, but I wonder if this might be a more dangerous trip than experienced in recent memory.

I have always had confidence in the morality and intelligence of people. Human nature is generally drawn to do that which is good. But if we begin to listen and follow the rantings of the most extreme in our citizenry, there aren’t many good thing that will come to pass. 

My hope is that people will search their hearts and find goodness in those around them. I am confident that if we will all think beyond the sound bites and placards of politicians we will see what is right and make wise decisions. It would be wonderful if people took time to converse with God on the choices they have to make and listened to His answer. It’s a sure bet that things would work out a lot nicer if they did.

Here’s to getting good answers and ignoring extremes.

WHAT I LEARNED

I have always considered myself to be fairly intelligent – maybe that is a stretch, but it has been my own belief.  Sometimes I have let that get in the way of assimilating new ideas but, overall, there has been an innate desire to learn and grow in smarts.

That’s why General Conference is one of my favorite times of year.  As Latter-day Saints, we gather twice a year to listen to our leaders share words of wisdom and encouragement to help us along our path through mortality. Throughout the past 60+ years I have found myself gleaning vast amounts of knowledge – typically spiritual but other types as well – from those whom we sustain as Prophets and leaders of the Church of Christ.  So, my intent today is to share a few things that have settled into my heart from the most recent gathering of Latter-day Saints.  Hope you enjoy this summary.

(For a more detailed look at the messages, click here)

#1 – The Lord does His work in His own way.

According to common practices in the business world, when a leader begins to show signs of diminished abilities, it is time to replace them. For many years Elder Robert D. Hales has been physically impaired from cancer and other debilitating issues. It would be a simple thing to release him from his position and replace him with someone who is younger and more physically able to serve. But that is not the Lord’s way.  Elder Hales has been allowed to stay with us, despite his struggles.

And why?  

So he could teach from the afflictions he has so patiently endured.

How we would have been deprived if we had missed the messages he has given over the years, particularly as he has shown so many signs of the illness and suffering.  I recall that in one conference he shared that he had spoken in his prayers about being released from his afflictions. He tenderly confessed to the Lord that he had learned the lesson being taught. But the answer given to him was that there was more to gain from his experiences and he needed to continue on.

Elder Robert D. Hales

So he did.

And I love him all the more because of it.

No complaining.

No cursing God.

Just ‘soldiering on’ with faith in Christ.

Selfishly, I am grateful for the faithful attitude of Elder Hales, President Monson, Elder Packer, (and others) as the ravages of life consumed them physically but increased their power spiritually while they endured “to the end.”  The example of righteous men and women, overcoming the weakness of mortality inspires all of us as we approach our own challenges in mortality.

And here’s a second example of how the Lord’s ways are not the ways of man.

Heavenly Father knows how to guide His kingdom so that the power of the Priesthood and the ordinances of salvation are offered up to as many as choose to accept. I am constantly amazed at His willingness to use ALL the resources available to spread the gospel through the world. Yes, there are challenges that must be overcome, but if the gospel is to go to everyone He can’t ignore the gifts He has given to man for that purpose.

The Father and the Son do Their work in Their own way – and that means it won’t look like what others would do.

 

And that’s a good thing.

#2 – Our priorities are not the same as God’s.

While there are so many things to worry about in life, the Lord has a habit of focusing us on the important ones.

Right now the United States is embroiled in a great political experience. Every thought seems to be on whom we should elect to help us recover from the effects of past decisions. These things are important, but I submit that they are not MOST important – or not even highly important.

Lately I have been impressed, through scripture study and listening to wise men and women, that our highest priority just might be the plight of the poor, needy, and helpless (see Ezekiel 16:49).

Political concerns are about how to prevent some of the issues caused by refugees fleeing from oppression. Statesmen debate on constructing walls or blocking the paths of suffering groups, but God is more concerned with the individual needs.

I was impressed with the response we all witnessed to the message of Elder Patrick Kearon in the Sunday afternoon session. His plea to consider the plight of refugees around the world was tender and Christ-like in its presentation.  

I would encourage you to read his message.

But the response by President Uchtdorf, immediately following, drove home the sacred nature of the counsel given.  How can we not feel the need to lift the souls of those who are suffering, through no fault of their own, through the horrendous experiences we see across the world? 

Our priorities need to align with God if we are going to become more like Him.  It’s not about who we should elect or who can do the most good for our nations. The question is, “what are we willing to do to lift those with the feeble knees and the hands outstretched in hope?”

In the final judgment, the answer to this question will carry more weight than all the other things we might think are important in life.

#3 – There is more to the Atonement of Jesus Christ than the healing of sins.

It is becoming clear to me that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is the source of all that is good in this life.

Without the sacrifice of the Savior, there would be no hope for eternal joy through the cleansing of sin.

There would be no hope for healing wounds (physical, mental, or spiritual) that afflict us in life without the Priesthood of God which relies on the Atonement.

 

The One who can do all.

The nature of goodness would be greatly diminished (or even eliminated) without the sacrifice of the Savior.  Men and women, by nature, would be unable to practice or even recognize goodness around them.

Hopelessness would abound and all mankind would revert to the behavior we witness in the animal kingdom.

 

We are ‘fallen’ beings and without the influence and power of Christ’s Atonement we would sink into a state of wickedness that would preclude ever living again with God.

It is eternally clear that a proper understanding and belief in the Atonement of Christ must be part of our core if we are to find joy.

#4 – The scriptures given by God are a primary source for finding faith enough to continue on.

We have four Standard Works to rely on in the latter-days. If our daily study isn’t continued there will be a gap in our spiritual sensitivity and that will cripple us in the fight we must wage against our ‘natural man’.

 I would also include the words of living Prophets in this category. They give us the current, living word of God to guide our lives.  Their guidance and counsel point us in the direction that leads to eternal life. The human nature to think we “know better” can be corrected by listening to prophets and studying the scriptures.

#5 – Prophets are critical to maintaining a testimony of Christ.

Each time I study the scriptures (this year it’s the Old Testament) I am reminded of the need to have living prophets for guidance. As much as I love Daniel, Ezekiel, Peter, Paul, John, Nephi, and Alma they are not here today and can’t guide me the same way a living prophet can.

Pres. Monson

I’m sure John saw our day and may have even tried to warn us about some of the trials we would encounter. But it is so much better to have living prophets who can see and experience the same things we do to help us know how to respond.  The slight corrections they offer are critical to keeping us on the course that leads to peace and happiness.

Conclusion—

While my list is not complete, it gives a taste for what was given by righteous men who follow God’s commandments. My hope is that what I have shared might entice some to go check out the rest of the messages.

It will be worth the time take.

I promise.