Preparation

OK, my tantrum is over and I am ready to continue my quest toward the annihilation of all joy found in blogs and their derivatives. Actually, I find great joy in my ponderings and writings so I guess the previous really isn't a true statement. The point is that I am back to normal (though slightly demented) mode in my entries for this site. And for those who are struggling, I say, practice makes perfect: keep reading and enduring and you will eventually find yourself converted (or brainwashed) by the style you now consider despicable.

Yesterday I found out that Joel has been named to the Academic All-State team for swimming. He was pretty excited and I must admit that I was very impressed that he could receive such an honor. That really says something for his efforts with schooling AND swimming. Way to go Goob. Now let's hope you can make it for Baseball!!!

In 1997, there were approximately 63,000 missionaries in the field, teaching the Gospel of Christ. Shortly after that, the Brethren asked that the bar be raised and the total number decreased significantly. During those earlier years, the number of missionaries who returned home for various reasons (indiscretions, homesick, physical or mental problems, lack of desire, etc) was equal to about 5% of the total missionary force (approx. 3500/yr). Today we have somewhere in the neighborhood of 53,000 serving missionaries all around the world but the number who are returning home early has increased to a number closer to 7% (approx. 3700/yr.). These numbers were shared in a stake conference and were given by one of the Brethren in a training meeting for mission presidents. When asked what reasons there were for the increase, one of the leaders indicated that they had also had the same wonder and decided to find out. After a long survey, the conclusion was that many of the missionaries who are coming into the field are lacking in one or all of the following areas:

1. Physical Strength—they have not spent sufficient time working on their physical stamina and the hard hours and physical nature of the work that is done was too much for them. A lot of these missionaries have not worked at all and many have only had jobs or duties that required minimal physical activity.
   
2. Mental Acumen—while every missionary is required to graduate from High School and be able to deal with a certain level of thinking, many have not spent the time that prepares them for the difficult study and effort needed to teach the Gospel. One thing that was found to be a great deterrent to mental strength was the abundance of video games played by many young men.
   
3. Emotional Stability—sadly, a great portion of those who enter the MTC are leaving home for the first time. They have always had Mom there to take care of them and their needs (food, laundry, wake-up, etc) and when she is not around it is a hard transition. Most young men adjust eventually, but there are a number that never can make the change.
   

I don't know this for sure, but I suspect that if you were to look at the reasons for elders going home early during the days or the 60's, 70's, and 80's you would find the preponderance to be violations of mission/church rules and doctrines. My conclusion may be wrong and I can accept that…but the point of even mentioning this is to say that preparation is the key to success in anything we do, but especially missionary work. Thinking that one wants to serve but waiting until the final months of the 19^th year is not sufficient preparation to be successful. And what a sad thing when one has not made arrangements in one's life to be able to serve the Lord as He has asked!!

Rather than pick on missionaries, it might be well for me to look at my own level of preparation. Have I really considered all that I need to do to be ready to serve in the Kingdom to my fullest? What is my understanding of the basic principles and doctrines of the Gospel of Christ? Have I done the things the Prophet has asked or am I procrastinating my day of repentance while I continue living IN the world and OF the world? Wow, maybe I'm not nearly as ready as I once thought I might be at this age. Better take stock and see where I am headed.

For those of you wondering, the plant shown as almost dead some months ago is still hanging on by a thread. It now only has two stalks and the leaves are just as droopy but the green is still there and so I keep watering, hoping for a miracle. I haven't had time nor money to increase my herd of plants but maybe come summer I will be able to invest.

Another entry has come to an end. I hope it hasn't been too difficult for you readers. I enjoy my time here and hope you do also. See you next time.

A Short Post

Last week I asked my children if any of them actually read my blog and most answered in the affirmative. But more than one indicated that they felt my entries were much too long and difficult to read. There were too many words and not enough pictures for their liking. One even stated that their method of checking the blog was to look for one of their family members names and if none were there they went on to something else. While this seemed a little odd to me let me assure you that I AM NOT OFFENDED THAT MY OWN CHILDREN THINK MY BLOG IS BORING!!! After all, I teach high school kids and they say the same thing. So this entry will be short and will include a picture or two to satisfy those who are looking for something to look at rather than something to read. Maybe my feelings won't be hurt so much the next time I write and I can put a regular length entry for this week. That's all for this time. Be happy and remember to be good.

Here we have a drooling Matt with his Mom.

The DeMoux Family Picture (notice Bryce's defective eye)

My First Set of Lists

Ok, just for fun, I thought I would list some of my favorite things. This won't be a comprehensive list because I can't remember what comprehensive means. Many things will be left out and some that aren't really favorites might be listed but it will be a list that I have made. So here goes.

Things I like to eat:

• Ice Cream—most any flavor but especially vanilla with hot fudge or chocolate syrup. But I hate the cheap brands because they have too much air and not enough flavor.
  
• Shrimp—fried, broiled, baked, in things or fresh are wonderful. The fatter the shrimp, the better I like them. I'm not really a fan of the little ones they put in salads but I'm not really sure they are shrimp anyway. I suspect they are some fake thing like those fake crab meats you can buy.
  
• More ice cream-- cause it is really super after eating some shrimp.
  
• Mushrooms—fried, on pizza, sometimes raw (though this isn't my favorite way to eat them), in soup or casseroles. My only concern is the after effect.
  
• Chicken Noodle Soup—Teresa makes homemade noodles and I love how thick and tasty they are. The soup part is pretty good also.
  
• Burritos—really good Mexican food is fantastic. Teresa makes great burritos that rival any I have ever had at a restaurant. I used to think the very best came from the Red Iguana here in Salt Lake but I don't get there much anymore so they may not be as good as I remember.
  
• Good Chinese food—not Panda (though that will do for cheap food) but food that is really Chinese. We used to go to a place on State Street (can't remember the name) that was excellent but we usually just go to Panda. If anyone has a good place to go, please let me know (and don't say Chinese Buffet cause I KNOW they use cats and seagulls for their meat).
  
• Linguini with Clam Sauce—can't find this much anymore. Lots of places offer linguini but very few serve clam sauce anymore. Don't know why cause it is really good. Of course, most places want to put a thick Alfredo sauce on the pasta and I prefer the lighter, almost clear sauce (what is that called????)
  
• Fresh Clams—I once ate a whole bucket of clams cause no one else at our table liked them. It was heavenly but I spent the night paying for the pleasure. This was a great example of actions and consequences.
  
• Most vegetables—the only ones I can think of that I don't like are eggplant (horrible childhood experiences) and okra (nasty flavor). Most everything else I have tried is delightful. I even like cooked spinach and collard greens.
  
• Corn on the Cob—nothing better in the summer (maybe it's the butter but I like to think it is more the corn).
  
• Watermelon—Melissa disagrees but I think this is one of the greatest fruits God has created.
  
• Tapioca—I know this is just 'frog-egg' pudding but I like the flavor. I also like the whipped cream that we put on top (even if it is Cool Whip).
  

Good Movies to watch:

• The Hunt for Red October—one of the best Sean Connery movies ever. Lots of action and a great story.
  
• The Outlaw Josey Wales—Clint Eastwood at his very best. Probably too violent for my likings these days but still a good western.
  
• Silverado—the best of the modern western movies. Thankfully Kevin Costner was still a young actor so he didn't take the lead and mess things up.
  
• Westerns—I grew up with cowboys and Indians so it's natural for me to keep that connection with my youth. Besides, the good ones always let the hero win.
  
• Pride and Prejudice—I know, this is a 'chick flick' but it has a wonderful story and was well acted. And I'm not against any movie that has good acting and a good story.
  
• Aladdin—Robin Williams made this a great movie. The story is a little lame but the comedic nature of the movie was excellent.
  
• Toy Story (all iterations)—Woody and Buzz make good partners. The animation was top notch and the writing was very entertaining.
  
• Waking Ned Devine, The Secret of Roan Inish—just had to put these in so my kids and wife would know that I continue to be a little warped.
  

Jobs I have held over the years:

• Dishwasher—made $1.00/hr when I was in the 8^th /9^th grade. My dad was a cook at the same restaurant. The sinks were so deep I had to stand on a bucket so I could get to the dishes in the bottom.
  
• Busboy--$.87.5/hr at the same place as above. They paid less per hour because we were supposed to get 10% of the tips the waitresses got. Didn't always word out that way but I was just a kid so they ignored me when I complained.
  
• Paperboy—several times and none paid very well.
  
• Construction—started in HS as a clean-up guy on construction sites. Also built highways while I was going to college.
  
• Grocery Store Clerk—first job I really worked to get. I bothered the store manager for almost a year before an opening came and he hired me. I thought I was going to own my own grocery store so I would always have enough food but I found out it wasn't a very glamorous or fun business.
  
• Shoe Salesman—a part time college job. I was assigned to sell women's shoes because it had the lowest margin and the full-time guys wanted to sell men's shoes. I ended up selling more than most of the full-time guys cause I could get the ladies to buy multiple pairs + socks and things.
  
• Stock room worker in the bookstore—another college job that helped us make it through. Part of the deal was a discount on books and first choice of used texts.
  
• Financial advisor—one of my favorite jobs before I became a teacher. Horrible hours (1pm-midnite, four days a week) but I enjoyed helping people take care of their money. This was the cause of 'the year without a dad' in our home.
  
• Phone Technician/manager—longest duration for a job until seminary. Never really felt like I belonged but I was pretty good at it so I stayed. Finally realized that money wasn't the best part of a job.
  

Places I would like to go before I die:

• Australia—seems like a very exotic place. I am especially interested in diving on the Great Barrier Reef. Don't know why but it sounds like a lot of fun.
  
• Alaska—partly for fly-fishing but I have wanted to see what it might be like there. Canada was interesting but I imagine Alaska is a lot better.
  
• Maine—haven't been to the east coast much. I see pictures of Maine and it looks like such a beautiful place. I think I prefer autumn but I would go anytime.
  
• Hong Kong/Japan—the Orient has always been interesting to me. I would also like to go where I would be the tallest person in most any crowd.
  
• The Moon—not much chance of this but we can dream can't we? With all the science fiction I have read is it any wonder I want to travel in space? I keep hoping for a travel company to start tours but nothing yet.
  
• West Virginia—the original home of my ancestors when they joined the Church. I wonder if it is really as lush and beautiful as they describe.
  

That should be enough for today. I will try to add a few more lists as they become apparent to me. Its fun thinking about what I would include on each section. There are a lot of movies that I used to think would make my favorites but as I think about them they fall out of contention. The food list is really incomplete but I decided it would take too many pages if I kept going. I considered making a list of the favorite pets we have had but then I remembered that we never had any pets we liked. The fish always died and the others escaped when we weren't looking. Maybe I will work on some serious things for the future. Let me know how you like this and I will know whether to continue. See you round.

Stake Conference, etc.

I mentioned earlier that our stake was going through a leadership change. President Lynn Payne has been a wonderful servant to the Lord and our stake for the past 15 years (6 ½ as a counselor and 8 ½ as the president). His counselors were John Campbell and Bill VanWagoner and they also have been very faithful in their service. But as with all callings, the time has come for someone else to take the reins of the stake so Elders Bruce C. Hafen and Patrick Price were sent to make the requested changes. Early Saturday morning Elders Hafen and Price began interviewing the priesthood leaders (30+) of the stake to determine who the Lord would call to serve as the new stake presidency. The interview process took nearly five hours and then the brethren pondered and prayed about who should fill the position. Sunday morning we were called on to sustain the new presidency consisting of Dave Barker as president, Michael Jackson as 1^st counselor and Steve Jensen as 2^nd counselor. What an amazing process this is as we receive new leaders. There is not politicking, no campaigning and no climbing for position. Men who hold the authority of God pray and receive revelation that guides them to who should be the next leaders of the stake. And then the members of the stake are asked to sustain and support these new leaders for the next decade or so. This process would never work in the business world but it works very well in the Kingdom of God. I am so glad to be part of a church that can remain faithful to the precepts and doctrines of Christ without any wrangling or haggling for leadership positions.

As part of our conference, we were blessed to hear from the authorities assigned. One message I took from our training was a thought from Elder Hafen. He was talking about some of the things he has learned in his service in the Quorum of the Seventy. In one of their meetings, Pres. Faust was asked to make a few comments to close the meeting. He said to the brethren present, "your most important duty is to raise up a righteous posterity." Imagine that, instead of worrying about duties in their callings and administrative responsibilities, one of God's prophets advised these men to make sure their children and grand-children were raised in an environment of learning in the Gospel. Nothing is more important in our Church than the family and its protection. No wonder we respond so quickly to attacks on the sacred institution. It's one of the many eternal things we are privileged to participate in during mortality.

Last week there was a piece on the news show 'Nightline' that highlighted the opening of the new Draper Temple http://tinyurl.com/8xrp93
. I understand why the Church leaders want to take our message out in their own words because even with Elders Ballard and Cook trying to make things clear, the reporters still seem to have missed that the FLDS people are not part of our Church. And some of their comments seem to distort the truth about other parts of the doctrine of the Kingdom. Misunderstandings are rampant about what we believe and what we are trying to do in the world but I believe we will eventually be successful in our efforts. This is a sign of the power the adversary has over many of the souls of this world. He has the ability to cloud the truth and make that which seems good to be evil and that which is evil to be good. Nephi was right when he informed us of these things. Surely the Book of Mormon is inspired of God and serves as a guidebook through the challenges offered to the Church in the latter-days. Without a doubt, God has His hands in the workings of this organization and has prepared things so that we can work our way through the trials this life brings.

Sunday I am speaking in our ward and I haven't yet zeroed in on what my topic will be. There are so many things that I would like to share but I'm not sure which subject the Lord wants me to approach as I address the members. I suppose I can't go wrong if I choose one of the topics used in our last general conference but I'm not sure which would be best for our congregation. I hope I can come to some resolution of this dilemma before Sunday at 11:00 am so the folks in the benches don't hurt their heads as they sleep. Report later!!

Phat and Photos

I have always had a passion for ice cream and chocolate (go back a few entries where I express myself some about both) but I have noticed that as I grow older, my shadow grows wider. Not that I am obese or anything like that, but it is obvious that I am not the same boy my sweetheart married nearly 32 years ago. In those days there was a common concern amongst most of my relatives and friends that I might waste away if I didn't bulk up a little. After all these years of Teresa's good cooking and my insistence on frozen delights and products from the cocoa plant, there is a significant increase in my tonnage (or maybe just poundage) to the point that I have decided it is time to limit my intake of the two most delectable products on this green earth. Therefore, I am currently trying to change my habits and only allow myself one or two treats during the week so that there will be less of me the next time I make an appearance in a swimming suit or similar attire. There is also the slim chance that this effort, combined with my exercise program, will allow me to perform some of the manual labor around the home without the constant need for an oxygen tank at my side (jk). I have noticed that I do tend to get a little 'breathy' when I work hard so I am hoping there will be a change.

Actually, there is another reason for my efforts to improve my physical characteristics. Our insurance company, DMBA, has a program where we (Teresa and I) can earn up to $400 (combined) if we will follow a schedule they provide for us each month. They give us counsel on things we can eat so we avoid many of the more flagrant offenders in the healthy food area. For instance, they have challenged us to do away with sugared drinks like soda (which is pretty easy since Teresa doesn't like them so she doesn't buy them much) and they encourage us to eat fresh fruit instead of having a candy bar or ice cream. The taste isn't quite the same but the results on our bodies will be much better. We decided that this will be an easy to get some money for an anniversary bash next year. If they are going to offer free money, why not take them up on it.

There is a wall in my classroom that I dedicate to pictures of my family at the various stages of life. It starts with the wedding announcement for Teresa and me and progresses through each of our children to the present day (at least as much as I can smuggle photos out of the house). As we have added spouses and grandchildren, the space needed has grown proportionally, until the whole production takes about 10 feet of the side wall of my room. While it may seem a little prideful, I have found that is actually a good reminder to my students concerning the priorities we need to set in our lives. On a daily basis, they hear me teach and testify of the power the gospel has in the lives of people who choose to follow the Savior and His prophets. But my wall is a physical reminder of the rewards that come from living as we have been counseled. Seeing how two young 'whipper-snappers' started out as a couple and then witnessing the results of a life together, trying to do the best we can, my charges can see the consequences of seeking to be what God has asked us to be.

Many that come to my room are from homes where they have a parent missing or where one or the other has lost interest in the teachings of the gospel. Having something that represents what we are taught to do gives some of my students the courage to keep trying, even when what they want seems impossible to attain. It's not that we (Teresa and I) are perfect examples but it is that we are an illustration of people who have never given up trying. Through all the difficult times and the struggles that life has offered, we have not bailed out for our own selfish desires. If nothing else, I hope we offer hope that their own lives can be happier than what they see around them.

I believe I will go home now so I can be with my little wifey. She sure is a wonderful and patient woman. How else can you explain why she hasn't taken to a daily habit of beating around the head and shoulders for all my missteps? Thankfully she loves me with my 'warts'. See you next time.

 

 

Fear and Service

Our stake is in the midst of a change in leadership and I have been thinking about how the Lord works in His kingdom to bless the saints. We are part of a very unique form of government as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I can't think of another organization that goes about its business the way the Church directs things. This Saturday we will be visited by two men (Elders Hafen and Price) who have no direct association with anyone in our stake. They will spend a few hours meeting and considering the names of a group of priesthood leaders they know little about. Yet, when they leave on Sunday afternoon there will be a new Stake President called with two new counselors and the beginnings of a new leadership group that will stand for the next decade or so. And the wonderful thing about it is IT WILL WORK!!! There will be challenges for the new leaders and they will have to adjust their lives to meet the new callings but the end result will be that these men will become the foundation for the stake and will help many to find Christ and deepen their commitment to Him. Why does this work over and over again in the Church? I think the answer is found in the Doctrine and Covenants:

For thus saith the Lord—I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end. Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory. And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come, will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom. Yea, even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and things to come will I show them, even the things of many generations. And their wisdom shall be great, and their understanding reach to heaven; and before them the wisdom of the wise shall perish, and the understanding of the prudent shall come to naught. For by my Spirit will I enlighten them, and by my power will I make known unto them the secrets of my will—yea, even those things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man.
(D&C 76:5-10)

Joseph and Sidney were in the process of asking some very specific questions concerning doctrines of the gospel and they had gone to the Lord for help in understanding what He would have them teach. What they received was more than they had ever imagined but it is exactly what the Lord wanted them to know. The same happens for us today. Elders Hafen and Price will come, fasting and praying, that they might know the Lord's will for the Granger Stake leadership. They will meet with some of the leaders currently serving and then will counsel with the Lord through prayer and listen for His answer as to who they should call to fill the callings available. And they can do this because they have prepared themselves through fear and service to the Savior and our Heavenly Father. Those are the two requirements God gives if we want to know His will.

To fear God is not to quiver and shake whenever we think of Him, but rather, it is to respect and reverence His name and the things He offers to us as blessings. When we treat the holy things He provides (scriptures, temples, leaders, the Spirit, etc.) as He intends, we are blessed to know Him in a way those who do not reverence Him can never experience. We become part of His 'inner-circle' and we are allowed to know things about His character and plans that cannot be shown to those who keep Him at arm's length. The more we honor Him and His Son, the more He can reveal to us concerning our own lives and the lives of those we are called to serve.

Service then becomes the fruit of knowing/respecting/fearing our Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ. In effect, we take the place of God and Christ as we learn more about Them and take Their image into our own countenances. That is what Mormon was teaching when he said:

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.
(Moroni 7:48)

What we choose to do to bless the lives of others becomes the gauge by which we are measured in the eternities. It won't be enough to know what is true or to know who needs help, it will be necessary to DO something with that knowledge. And as we DO, we will be given a greater inheritance in the things God has to offer. One of the great things He has promised is a knowledge of things that are and were and are to be in this world. What more can we ask of Him than to be prepared in all things for the events this life will present to us.

One warning!! As Joseph and Sidney found, what God wants us to know may be much more than we feel we are prepared to understand. The truths we gain are given with the understanding that we will act upon them and use them to lift others to the same truth. Be prepared and know that you will never receive anything you are not capable of using to bless others. Such is the power of revelation in our lives and such is the gift we receive from God as we Fear and Serve Him faithfully.

Sickness and singing

Sadly, my time off for Christmas has begun with several days of sickness. Why does our body wait until we have some free time to give up on us? It doesn't seem right. School let out Friday and that very night I began to feel horrible. Saturday day was miserable and there was little sleep that night as I made the trek from the bed to the bathroom over and over. Relief did not come on the Sabbath so I missed my meetings and even today (Monday) I am weak and less than able to fulfill my duties for the season. It appears I may have a stomach flu bug and it just has to run its course but I DON'T LIKE IT one bit. When I'm king of the world, I will make it illegal for any bugs to infect us during our vacation times. They will only be allowed to afflict us during working days and the employers we work for must make adjustments in the way they do things to accommodate this change. And if the bugs don't like it, then they can go bother the other primates or mammals of this world. So there!!!

As I sit around being miserable, I have the opportunity to listen to a great deal of Christmas music coming from our radio. Mostly it's pretty good but I have noticed that there are some arrangers, composers and performers who do much better than others. For instance, most every Christmas carol arranged by Chip Beck (Mannheim Steamroller) or Kurt Bestor is excellent. Even some of the songs that have been on the bottom of my favorites list can be made enjoyable with the right hand at the helm. I have never really liked 'O Holy Night' but the productions by both of these artists are very enjoyable and move way up my favorites list. And anything that Karen Carpenter sang (she has passed on for those of you not aware) is very pleasant to the ear.

Sadly, the same cannot be said for many of the 'modern' performers that ply their trades. And I think I have discovered the reason so many are distasteful to the ear. One young lady, singing a quaint little carol, was unable to decide which of the many notes in the scale of music should be used for her rendering so she seemed determined to use them all. Her "warbling" became so obnoxious and difficult to endure that I finally had to turn off the music. Most singers of the modern age seem to feel it is better to cast about, looking for the right note and never settling on anything in particular, rather than choosing one tone and sticking with it. Even performers who have better control are prone to wander about, letting us guess where they might eventually land in their search for quality music. If you listen to those who are trained in real music, you will seldom hear a note that slides or is indefinite in its performance (I am currently listening to Garth Brooks as he sings 'God Bless Ye Merry Gentlemen' and he slides on almost every note he sings). Maybe that is why I enjoy performers like Karen Carpenter, Neil Diamond (who doesn't really sing but still hits the notes) Andy Williams, Josh Groban and others. They act like they know where they are going and make sure they get there with good quality. I suppose the younger generation may consider this being nit-picky but I believe it is a sign of good quality singing.

While I am on the subject, I have a bone to pick with some performers on their choice of music. I greatly enjoy most of the music Josh Groban offers on his albums, but when he delves into the popular songs, he is stepping to an area his voice does not fit. His rendition of 'A Bridge Over Troubled Waters' is almost painful to endure and I cringe when he tortures 'Starry, Starry Night'. Someone needs to help these very talented folks remember what genre of music they are designed to share. Oh, I know there are guys like Michael Buble' who can do most anything but they are more rare than people want to believe. I mean, can you imagine James Taylor trying to sing something from Phantom of the Opera? Or Ludacris crooning like Frank Sinatra? And what if Alan Jackson decided to branch out and sing some of the music from Les Miserables? Performers need to be selective where they use their voices so they don't look ridiculous doing things that don't fit their style.

OK, I know this is something I shouldn't bring up, but when I hear Barbra Streisand, Barry Manilow or Neil Diamond singing Christmas carols, I want to giggle a little bit. Like I said, I shouldn't but I do. And one last thing!!! Right now the radio is playing "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music and they are calling it a Christmas song. WHAT does that song have to do with Christmas? OK, that's enough on music for one day…but don't be surprised if the subject comes up again.

I was going to get a little more introspective but I think I will save that for next time. I hope all have a wonderful Christmas and remember the reason we celebrate these special days. The Lord Jesus Christ has come to THIS world and we have been blessed by His presence, even though it took place 2000+ years ago. His message of peace and love for all mankind is the substance of what the Gospel teaches us all. May we learn from Him and find our lives more like His so that we may be with Him. He is our Lord and Redeemer and the Light of our lives: The only Light that can take away the gloom of this mortal, imperfect world and bring us to God our Father. I love Christ and the Father and will follow Them thru Eternity. Merry Christmas to you all. MW

Greetings and Salutations for Christmas

I haven't had time to really think much about Christmas because we have been very busy in our home. It occurred to me today that I haven't even put up Christmas decorations in my classrooms yet so I took a few minutes and took care of that at the Jr. High. Not sure what to do for the HS but I will see what I can do. Joel and Teresa have done all the festive improvements at home so I am thankful for their efforts. It's not like I haven't thought about things, but with tithing settlement and house repairs and being lazy (oh, that one wasn't supposed to get in there), I just haven't done very well. There are still a few days so maybe I will improve…probably not!!!

Last night I was under the house (crawl space) looking at some of our plumbing and noticed there was a pipe joint that was dripping quite badly. Now, I am a fix-it man of sorts but there are two areas where I am always reluctant to take a risk: plumbing and electrical. Both of these areas of repair have challenged me my whole life and if a project is deemed (by myself or Teresa) to be too large or two dangerous, we call in professional help. My discovery was determined by me to be much too dangerous and so I contacted a plumber and he came to give us an estimate on the work. Sadly, these guys are much better at finding problems than I am so by the time he left we had found about $1000 in work for them to do. Overnight Teresa decided that part of it that had to do with her daycare could wait so the price has gone down substantially but it is still a big shock. So much for getting a new receiver for our sound system (the old one died a couple of years ago). Ah, but we will be safer from flooding and water damage now that we have had the problems fixed.

The Christmas season has caused a huge time shift in Joel's focus. He is part of the High School Madrigals and they perform nearly every night leading up to Christmas. Sadly, I have not been able to attend because of my own scheduling conflicts but I hope to be able to attend the school concert on Wednesday (tomorrow) and maybe another performance this weekend. Teresa says they have been exceptionally good and it has been a pleasure for her to be with them. She has been one of the drivers for many of the performances so she has seen them in a variety of circumstances. I guess they had a little girl pass out last night because she locked her knees. Sorry I missed that one…maybe someone will copy her antics..!!??

One last thing before I close up. My sweet wife has informed me that I need to do a better job in my scheduling. I don't do very well with keeping a calendar so I often forget things and have to hustle when the item is needed. Her suggestion is to get one of those phones that have a daily calendar built in and start to keep things on that. I do always have my phone so it might be a useful idea. I think my only reservation is that I would want one with a full keyboard, not one where you use the predictive dialing for the words. It makes me crazy when I text and the thing keeps giving me suggestions on words that aren't what I want. And sometimes it won't give the word I am spelling at all. I suppose a Blackberry or something similar will work for my needs. We'll see what happens.

How’s Your Heart?

The other day I was reading the Church News and came across a recap of a message Elder M. Russell Ballard had given at the U of U for Institute students. His companion speaker was Elder John Huntsman Sr. and the message he gave is what struck me the most (not dissing on E. Ballard because his talk was excellent). Elder Huntsman spoke of an experience he had with Pres. Howard W. Hunter, while Pres. Hunter was serving as the Prophet. Here is the part that I was interested in sharing:

He said he had learned much from great leaders he has known, including President Howard W. Hunter.

He recounted that on one occasion, as he was driving by President Hunter's home, he felt a prompting to stop and see how he was feeling. The Church president asked him for a blessing.

"He [President Hunter] said, 'Today, President Huntsman, I had an ill thought toward another individual. It has made me physically sick. I need a priesthood blessing, because I cannot continue to function if I have any ill thoughts toward any man or woman on earth.'"

Elder Huntsman said the incident made him think of the statement by the Savior, blessed are the pure in heart, "for I was in the presence of someone who was pure in heart." (Church News, Nov. 22, 2008)

What is the real power of our actions on our physical health? Here is a man who, because of the decisions he made while in mortality, had reached the point where any negative/ill thought toward another of God's children caused physical sickness in his body. Could it be that there is more connection between our spiritual and our physical persona than we have realized. Those of us who suffer from frequent disorders in our bodies might want to check out our relationships with those we love and serve. I won't go so far as to say that every sin we commit might be a source of sickness or weakness, but it seems logical that we could increase our physical health if we were more thoughtful of our spiritual existence.

There is also that phrase, "pure in heart", that rises up before us, calling for examination of our commitment to Christ and His Kingdom. Can we really say that we have purged our souls of all unrighteousness and are seeking to become like King Benjamin's subjects:

And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually. (Mosiah 5:2)

This is not a lecture for others, but more of a self-examination of my own motives when I deal with others. There are certain words in my vocabulary that might (or most assuredly would) be considered derogatory in nature when spoken aloud. I have a tendency to use phrases like "knucklehead", "goof-ball", and even "loser" when I describe people I know. Mostly, it comes in anonymous stories and such but it is still something that sets a tone others hear and may assume would include them in different instances. There are also times when decisions made by others seem to be incorrect so, while I may not say anything vocally, I am prone to have "an ill thought toward another individual." Sadly, many of these thoughts are toward people I love the very most and probably manifest themselves in my associations with them.

Could this ability to have a pure heart explain why the Prophets have a tendency to live such long lives? Not being weighed down by the stress of judgment on others, they can focus on the lifting and blessing of Heavenly Father's children. The love that is present when we refrain from criticism and degrading comments must have some beneficial results in our lives. I wonder if this is the "Balm of Gilead" spoken of so much in the scriptures.

My desire is to learn to withhold remarks or thoughts that might put me in the arena of experiences causing harm to my spiritual and physical self. It is a lofty goal, but obviously (at least based on E. Huntsman's story) not out of the realm of possibility. There is a lot of reconstruction to be done and many old habits to weed out of my life, but it is something I would like to tackle as I move closer to the end of my mortal existence. Pay attention and let me know if you think I am doing better.

News and Views for the week

Nothing special on my mind so I will just freestyle for a while. Sometimes these take on a form as they progress and other times they end up as a long treatise on many things. Let's see how it goes.

The other day, in my 9^th grade seminary class, one of the kids asked me, "Brother Whitmer, do you ever sin?" Now most of you who know me realize that this is a really dumb question so I said, "that's a really dumb question." Then this same student said, "Well, what sins do you commit?" I really thought this was a pretty personal question so I replied, "I am not going to tell you because you aren't my Bishop." As I think about that experience I wonder why we ask people dumb questions. Is it really any of our business if someone is going to have a baby? Aren't we running the risk of offending a sweet soul simply because they have put on a few extra pounds? Why take the chance? And why should we be asking a young couple when they plan to have children? What about questions that have to do with the salary range of your job or the price of a new house or car? Can't we let people have some privacy without delving into all their private affairs? I think this all rises from the lack of respect we seem to have with one another in our personal relationships. We have become so 'familiar', calling everyone by their first names and forgetting common manners, that we think everything is fair game for our asking. It would be nice to have some of the courtesy we once felt was common in our lives.

Most of my years teaching have been accompanied by an effort to keep live plants in my classroom. It gives the room a better feel and I am of the belief the extra oxygen is good for the brain power of my students. Unfortunately, there has been a scourge raging through my plants for the past few months. At least 5 long-term residents of my room have succumbed to some form of…something…that has resulted in their deaths. Where I could formerly recover these plants, I am coming up short and losing some beloved friends. My daughter, Melissa, thinking I have a green thumb has sent one of her ailing subjects to my laboratory but it appears what magic I once had is beginning to wane in its power. I fear I shall lose her plant as well as one or two more of my own. Possibly, it is time to get some new victims but I really hate to give up on these little (and big) guys until they are completely deceased. Reports will be posted at another time on the results of my efforts.

Completely Dead ------------------------ On the way to Death (Missy's Plant)

Dead but showing green. --------------------- One of the few that lives!!!

The current rage to watch and read the Twilight series has been of interest to me only because so many of my family and students have participated. I have not read any of the books and have no desire to see the movie. My only reason is that it just doesn't sound interesting to me. Sort of reminds me of when I was in high school and the "Lord of the Rings" books were becoming popular. All my friends were reading them and raving about how wonderful they were but I just never could find an interest in little people and elves and orcs and such. Many years later, when the movies came out, I decided to see what I had missed and found that much of the series was interesting and readable. But those silly poems would have killed me in high school so it's a good thing I didn't try them in those days. Now I know how to skip over dull parts and get to the meat of the book, but then I would have felt obligated to read it all and would have learned to hate the whole series. It is possible the Twilight books will end up the same but I suspect it will take many years to find out.

Why is it that a small painting project in the house can turn into a major remodeling job? Teresa wanted to paint the walls in the living room, kitchen and dining room and so we decided to give it a go. Now we find that we also need to redo Joel's room (done first BTW), fix the ceiling in the hall, and put in some new lighting in the living and dining rooms. What was going to be a few hundred dollars has become a bottomless project, sucking our checkbook dry as the Christmas season approaches. And it is all our fault. It's not like we haven't had this happen before. Every time we come up with a small change, a cancer breaks out and the whole house decides it needs work performed. One time we wanted a new door and it evolved into a complete change in the family room. Even when we know the changes will be major, we get into things and they increase exponentially in their difficulty. Someday we will get smart and hire someone else to do the work so we can just watch and laugh. But then they will laugh all the way to the bank with our money.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin passed away last Sunday night. He was a wonderful man who set a great example for all who knew him. I wasn't aware that he had 8 children and only one was a boy. What a household that must have been. He REALLY was a saint to have that many daughters in one home and not go crazy. He will be missed for his direct and pertinent messages in our conferences. I have also enjoyed his dry wit that is sometimes hard to catch if you are not paying attention. May his family be blessed to have strength in his passing and may he truly revel in the reunion with his beloved, Elisa. He is a good man who will be missed by all.

Time to wrap up for now. Christmas is near and there will be lots to report. Hope all are doing well and living the good life. See you next time.