Christmas thoughts

 

Just a few thoughts on Christmas Eve. 

 

The birth of the Savior was forecast many generations before it happened.  Scripture scholars of the time recognized the signs and expected Jesus’ birth.  We know that is true because of the arrival of the “Wise” men.  We are not told who they were, but we were told they searched the skies anxiously seeking the sign of the “new” star.  They came from the east.  We are not told where in the east they began their search.  It could have been today’s Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, or perhaps even Iran.  We know that it took many months for them to arrive to the “house where the young lad was.”  They didn’t see Jesus in the grotto where he was born.

Because of the nature of prophecies concerning the coming of the Savior, whose mother would be named Mary, most families in the Tribe of Judah named their first born daughter “Mary” hoping their daughter would be the one to give birth to the Savior.  We know little of the chosen Mary’s family.  We suppose that they taught their children out of the scriptures.  They likely were pretty firm in their understanding of those scriptures.  They had to be so in order to raise a daughter worthy of receiving, and giving birth to, the Son of the Living God.  Mary was willing to endure the endless criticisms of the neighbors who had to have noticed that she was pregnant but still unwed.  Some scholars have expressed their opinion that Mary may have been as young as 14 years old.  However, the scriptures do not give us her age.  Those same scholars opine that Joseph was a man of about 40 years old when he married Mary.  There is no scriptural reference to his age.

Joseph, also, must have been devout in his worship of God.  He also was firm in his understanding of scripture.  His was an awesome responsibility to receive Mary as his wife, shielding her from the nasty rumors and chatter of the neighbors, raising Jesus as his own, and helping to prepare Jesus to be who he would become to be.  We know little of Joseph, but we know he received revelation from God on at least two occasions.  We know, therefore, that he was a righteous man.  There is mention of Joseph during Jesus’ ministry, “Is he not the son of Joseph, the carpenter”.  But, there is no information as to what happened to him.  He would have been about 50 years old when Jesus began his ministry.

As for the shepherds:  These shepherds were caring for temple sheep.  They are assumed to be Levites, but younger in age, still learning how to become priests serving in the temple. The angels appeared to them to announce the birth of the Savior and they were instructed to go and see and then spread the news of Jesus’ birth to all they knew.  They would have told the High Priest in the temple and the members of the Sanhedrin, though most of them would have disregarded the news because what would these young inexperienced scoundrels know of spiritual events?

Much as the peoples of the American Continent, these experiences and prophecies were little regarded for most folks.  Judea was expecting a military savior who would help them throw off the yoke of Roman occupiers.  So the birth of Jesus, the Son of God, the Father and Mary a mere mortal was ludicrous to the people.  Little did they know what that obscure birth would mean to the world.

Many would say that Joseph and Mary were poor, but we have no indication of that.  We know that Joseph was prepared to stay in an inn.  We know that he was a carpenter.  We don’t know the social status of carpenters of that era.  We know that Joseph had the means to move the family to Egypt and then back to Nazareth later.  He wanted to return to Jerusalem but was afraid of notoriety when he learned that Herod’s son inherited the throne, so he diverted to Nazareth and fulfilled the prophecy that indicated that Jesus would be from Nazareth.

 

 

The Family Plan

 

The Family Plan

We sat on her mother’s couch visiting about our evening.  I knew I wanted to ask her to marry me, but I was so worried that she might laugh me out of the house that I stammered and delayed.  I told her that I wanted to tell her something, but I was afraid.  She used every wile she could think of to get me to speak up and eventually I did.  I said, “I think....”   And paused, very nervous.

“What do you think?” she asked.

“Well, I don’t know if I want to tell you what I think.”  I was extremely unsure of myself.

“I’ll wait until you do.”  Now the pressure was on me.

“I think I want you to be my wife,”  I finally got around to saying.

Oh boy!   What a response that elicited.  There was a little scream and she ran out of the room.  What had I done?  I wondered if I had offended her.  I wondered if she was gone and had left me sitting on her mother’s couch.  I wondered if she’d be back.  I wondered if I had made a complete fool of myself.

What really happened is that she ran to the back of the house to tell her parents that I had proposed to her.  But I didn’t know that.  I was bewildered.  I didn’t know what to do.  Should I leave?  Should I apologize and say I would never do it again?  My thoughts were running amuck. 

Then she returned.  She had a smile a mile wide.  She was bouncing.  She was beaming.  She jumped onto the couch next to me and yelled “YES!”   I still hadn’t asked her to marry me.  I had only told her what I wanted.  I never did propose, officially.  She, and I guess I, just assumed we were now engaged.  Whew!  I could breath again.  My sweaty palms could dry.  My anxiety could quiet.  My nervousness could quell.  I was in love!  

From that time on, I couldn’t stay away from her house.  I was supposed to be taking evening classes at the local community college, but I didn’t find the time because I was always at her house.  I needed to be close to her.  We went on dates in the evening and talked and talked and talked.  We talked through the night sometimes.  We couldn’t get enough of each other.

We were both 21; both working part time.  I tutored English as a Second Language for Spanish speaking middle school students.  She taught chorus in several elementary schools.  Neither of was financially prepared for marriage.  Both of us thought things would work out.  Neither of us understood the pressures family life would bring.  But we knew we loved each other.  We knew we had much in common.  She was an accompanist of great skill.  I was a conductor of mediocre skill.  We both loved music.   We knew we wanted a family, but we never talked about how many children we would welcome into our family.  Secretly I thought 4 would be enough.  Secretly she thought 7 or 8 would be about right.  But that discussion never entered into our conversation together until our family was complete.  Then we talked about what we were thinking about those years ago.

Early in our marriage we were advised to plan our family wisely.  Not the number of children, but how to prepare them to be good, profitable citizens.  This article is an attempt to describe how we approached our family’s plan.  It is my hope that it will be of benefit to those who read it.

“Preparation”

In our minds, preparation is one of the most important concepts of our “Family Plan”.  We sat together and we considered how we would raise our children.  We are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  We knew we would raise our children in the Church and that we would follow the advise our church leaders give to us.  However, it seemed to us that there was not much instruction as to how to accomplish the advise given.  So we began to lay a plan.

We decided we needed to prepare our children in four areas: Educationally, Emotionally, Spiritually, Physically.  We were not willing to advocate our responsibilities to other entities, but we would permit them to assist us in raising our children.   We looked for the talents each might develop, and we searched for the current interest of each. 

Each year, at the beginning of the year, we would “retreat”.  We would leave our children with a family member and check into a motel with our computer and books and notebooks and set a plan for the year for each of our children. The first year was pretty easy.  We didn’t have any children as yet.  Then as each child came, we prepared a plan for each.  The following chapters will offer samples of the plans we made for our children based each year.  

Some of our plans were more interesting.  We had to allow for the “special” needs of some of our children.  Some of our annual plans were very generic.  As our children got older, our plans became less detailed, because they each began to present their own characters and our overall goals began to be met.    

Having said all that, our goals were good, but our follow-through was not stellar.

Republicans Prefer To Lead From Behind?

 I'm convinced that the Republican establishment prefers to lead from behind.  Why, you might ask?  I've been voting for the past 50 years.  During a great number of congressional elections during that time, it seems to me, the Republicans have run such a weak group of candidates which are chosen because they will show fealty to the establishment instead of really wanting to move the United States of America back to its founding principles.  

This current cycle is no different.  Mr. McConnell is made of this same cloth.  He was not inclined to support candidates who wanted to return to our founding principles and gave not one cent of his millions of dollars of campaign funds to candidates such as Mr. Masters of Arizona.  He gave not one cent to Ms. Tshibaka of Alaska, and gave very little to Mr. Laxalt of Nevada.  

I'm beginning to think that establishment Republicans (read RINO) do not WANT to win.  Rush Limbaugh years ago said that Republicans prefer to be the opposition rather than the majority party.  I think Rush was right again.  

U.S. Federal Government Stretches To Find Answers to "Mass Murder"

 So the great minds of gov't overreaching circles, both Republicrats and Democans are having trouble understanding why there are so many violent mass killings in the "Land of the Free and Home of the Brave". How can it be and why now? Along the way we learned last week that the majority of citizens of the United States in the demographic of 17-35 describe themselves as not affiliated with any religion whether it be Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, or any other religion. May I explain my thoughts on the subject?

In the post WW2 recovery period (and before that time, I'm told) the United States had what was known as Blue Laws. Blue laws were found in the entire United States to one degree or another. Blue laws were set in place to set Sunday up as a "Day of rest". Labor unions did all they could to continue that tradition as did nearly all religious leaders. However, greedy company owners and stock holders of businesses large and small pressured their legislators to repeal blue laws. Legislators began to loosen blue laws in the late 1950's and throughout the 1960's. As businesses began to run on Sundays just as any other day of the week, activity in churches began to decline. The influence of churches in moral activity began to wane.

Along the way, in 1946, Doctor Benjamin Spock, a pediatricion, penned a book he named "Baby and Child Care". "Baby and Child Care" sold 500,000 copies. In that book he instructed parents that they should never say "NO" to a child. That children should be allowed to do whatever they want without restrictions. (Admittedly this is my own take of his intention.) Social Scientists in the United States began to preach Dr. Spock's doctrine to the masses. As a result of Dr. Spock's book state legislatures began to codify his teachings as state law giving children the right to charge their parents with child abuse when disciplined.

"In the United States, the Supreme Court upheld blue laws as constitutional, recognizing their religious origins but citing secular justifications that have resulted, most notably the provision of a day of rest for the general population." (McGowan ET AL. v Maryland, May 29, 1961). However, state legislators have largely gutted blue laws since 1961 until Sunday is now just another day of work.

Because of Dr. Spock's influence in Social Science and with state legislatures codifying his doctrine, and because activity in churches began to wane, children growing up in the 1960's became more unruly and hard to manage. By the turn of Y2K states largely told parents they had no right to discipline their children. Parents were unfairly charged and convicted of child abuse often without evidence and based solely on a child's testimony.

Now, today, we see the fruits of history. Lower activity in churches where morals and citizenship are taught to parents and children, and resulting lack of control by parents of their children for fear of being charged with child abuse.

And we wonder why we have a problem?

Reaching 70 years old!

 Tomorrow I will celebrate my 70th birthday, but tonight some of my family and I enjoyed a birthday party.  My Princess-Bride asked my children to bring 70 of an item to give me.  So...

70  pennies - with inscription - 70 pennies because our love for you just makes cents!

70 kernels of popcorn - with inscription - 70 kernels of popcorn for your corny "dad jokes" that you never know when they will pop up!

70 goldfish crackers - with inscription - 70 fishes cuz I can't give you wishes, but these aren't the kind that you fry!

70 paper clips so that I can keep it all together.

70 lighted marbles to replace my "lost marbles".

70 glass pebbles with inscription - If found please return (to my address) $$ reward $$.  The jar is labled, "Grandad's Marbles".

70 loose screws - Hmmmm - makes me wonder.....

70 M&M candies

70 Color Coding Lables - so I can get organized?

A chocolate bar of 70% cocoa.  I love dark chocolate! 

plus various notes and cards.

I had a marvelous birthday party thanks to my bride and children.

Restaurants vs Governors

 Why do restaurant owners not sue the governors who require them to close for "taking"?  If  government requires them to stop and in essence "takes" their business, they should be adequately remunerated for their loss. It doesn't matter the reason government takes a business or property it is still a "taking".  It appears that the legal sharks in these states are missing an opportunity.

The Power of One

So much has been written about a baby born to parents in Israel.  To much of the world this event was just another addition to the population of the world.  But to those who knew the signs, understood their meaning and anxiously awaited that specific birth, it was an answer to prayer, it was an event second to no other since the time of Adam and Eve.  

The "wise men" in the east knew of the signs.  The scriptures do not tell us from whence they came or who they were, exactly.  The only reference is that they were "wise men" who came from the east.  They saw the new star and knew of its importance.  They had prepared for this event.  Were they "holy men"?  We are not told. We only know that they were "wise men".  Many have proposed that they were scholars of History, of the Scriptures or astronomers, or physicians,  We don't have any information from which to base these claims.  We only know that they were "wise men".

It is interesting to me that the shepherds in the field were first notified of Jesus' birth, and that they were chosen to receive angels who reported the birth of Jesus.  They knew this was an historic event, one that had previously been prophesied over centuries,.  I suspect even they were surprised of how they were informed.  Celestial beings came and sang to them.  Never in their experience had that ever happened before.

Jewish tradition indicated that the Savior would be born of a woman named Mary and many families who knew the scriptures named their first born daughter "Mary" hoping she would be the one to give birth to Him.  They didn't know what that child would do.  Most of the children of Israel hoped he would be a military leader who would relieve them of the burden of their oppressors. Never in their dreams could they have supposed that Jesus would indeed relieve them of their burdens, but not in the way they supposed.

But Mary knew and so did Joseph.  They had been prepared. 

The birth of Jesus Christ is felt the world over in this Dispensation of the Fullness of Times.  His name and His Gospel is being preached in nearly every nation to every tribe who will permit it, and to every family who will listen.  

Jesus is the epitome of the power of One.  

I testify that the birth of Jesus is one of the most sacred events in human history.

I testify that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the world, the Redeemer of mankind, and the literal Son of our Heavenly Father.  The only condition placed upon mortals is that they recognize Him as such and that they repent of their sins, both of commission and omission.

I praise Him, I honor Him, I worship Him, and I am grateful for the sacrifice He willingly gave for all of mankind.  He is my Lord and my Savior.  I so witness in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ, amen.

 

Life IS Precious, But Eternal Life is More Precious

 In our pre-earth existence we longed to receive a body in order that we may be able to become more like our Heavenly Parents and to prove ourselves worthy of returning to our Heavenly Father who created this world and all that in it is.  Each person who lives on the earth today, regardless of his/her religious affiliation, political bent, skin color, economic advantage/disadvantage, national origin, familial traditions, addictions, health and physical disabilities, or any other characteristic that seems to define us, looked forward to coming to this world with a physical body. At that point in time, I think, we were not concerned with any of the fore mentioned, and we each were sure we could overcome any obstacle placed in our way as we worked to overcome them.  

However, we failed to take into account the strong influence of Satan, whose whole purpose is to prevent us from returning to that being that created us, but rather to frustrate the plan Heavenly Father created for us. 

Satan uses our fears, phobias, uneasiness, animal instincts, and any other tool that he can develop to cause us to stray from the Plan of Happiness.  

Here are a few things that I have noted:

1.    Reasons we fear death:

        a.  We haven't been as successful as we thought we should be.

        b.  We haven't been as "spiritual" as we thought we should be and we haven't repented.

        c.  We are afraid that our spouse/children/grandchildren/friends could not endure our absence.

2.    Reasons we stray from the path Heavenly Father designed for us:

        a.  We are afraid our friends will make fun of us.

        b.  We think it is too hard.

        c.  We are comfortable in our addictions and/or sins.

        d.  We don't want others to tell us what to do.  Some call this pride.

        e.  We are afraid that if we change we will lose our "friends".

        f.  We are uncomfortable with the thought that we can receive personal revelation.

        g.  Nobody likes us.

  I'd like to address these things.

First the fear of death.

    Every person born will eventually experience death.  Will it be painful?  Maybe.  But regardless of how it happens, it will happen eventually to each of us.  It doesn't matter if we are wealthy or poor, popular or ignored, famous or infamous.  Each of us will die.  Some of us are anxious to die and chose to select the date and manner of death because of the fears noted above.

    Life is precious.  It is precious because it is a step in our eternal progression.  The Lord said to Moses:

    "For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Pearl of Great Price, Moses 1:39)

    This goal that Heavenly Father has set requires that men (and women) obtain physical bodies, learn how to manage physical things, learn to be righteous before any of his ultimate goal can be reached.  So life IS precious.  Preventing life is working against His plan and complements Satan's plan.

    That having been said, death should not be feared.  If I passed away today, my death would affect many in my sphere of life and cause pain of separation, but it would only be a step in my own eternal progression.  I hope that I am living my life in such a way that this change would be positive. So in the same way that LIFE is precious and should not be prevented, so also is DEATH precious, but it should not be hurried artificially.

Secondly

    In order to live a spiritually successful life we must take into consideration the fears mentioned above.  We should not worry what our so-called friends think if we are working to improve our relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  It is not they who determine our status upon our death.  It is not easy, but as we learn how to live in accordance with Heavenly Father's plan it becomes easier because we receive assistance from the Holy Ghost.  As we work to become closer to our Heavenly Father, our addictions become easier to discard and we are more capable of repenting of those sins we have accumulated.  As we come closer to Heavenly Father, we learn that those who give us guidance are not simply "telling us what to do", but are giving us suggestions as to how we can improve our station in eternal life. If we lose "friends" because of righteous choices we make they are not really the friends that will help us or others to accomplish our eternal goal. As we do all of these things, personal revelation will attend us.  Marvelous miracles will be manifested and we will be amazed by the things we learn.  Others will seek us out because of our change in attitude regarding life and eternal progression.  Our circle of true friends will increase.  Service to others will be comfortable.

Comments are welcome as long as they are respectful.

    

The COVID-19 Corona Virus and it's effects

We are becoming a faceless, godless, uncaring, violent, and sterile society. As that happens we also become heartless and anti-social because of unfounded fears. We can't identify people around us because we can't tell the COVID "SJW", from criminals because we can't see their faces. 

We are suspicious of others because they "might" make us sick or attack us. We lose our humanity, we lose our camaraderie, we lose neighborliness, we lose patience, we lose brotherly love, and we lose our purpose for life.

I say: "Take off our masks. Open our nation. Cease this nonsense. Let's get back to living, earning, spending what we earn, befriending our neighbors, enjoying parks, going to the movies, taking our sweethearts to enjoy dinner together, and growing our economy."

NFL's new Black Anthem

Oh NFL, you have signed your own death knell. 

Why would you further race divisiveness by playing a "Black Anthem" before the National Anthem? Are players exclusively black? 

Are there not Hispanic, Polynesian and white players? So will you also play a "Hispanic Anthem" and a "Polynesian Anthem" along with a "White Anthem" before the National Anthem? 

Where are you going with this? And now the question is: What is the make up of fans attending NFL games or watching on TV? Are NFL fans exclusively black? 

C'mon NFL, you have some explaining to do if you want to save your business.

I Am Disgusted, Bewildered, and Indignant

The state of New York recently enacted a law that permits abortion of babies at full term!  And now I'm told Delaware has followed suit.

What selfish people we apparently have become!  As noted by God's prophet a few days ago, injuring or killing children, even those yet unborn, is such a heinous sin that it is unimaginable how God could forgive it. And this particularly when there is no danger to the mother.  I cannot understand the selfishness that pervades one's mind to do such an act.

Heavenly Father permits evil people to do evil acts in order that they may indict themselves.  The blood of these infants will be evidence against those who conduct such evil and those who cause or request it to be done.  Because they appear to do such terrible work with impunity there will surely be some eternal penalties.  The children killed in such a fashion are innocent of any sin or misdeed.  These folks cannot escape the Lord's wrath.

Why can we not understand that sex is way more than just a momentary physical pleasure?  Why can we not understand that God gave his children the instruction to multiply and replenish the earth so that each of his spirit children would have the opportunity to receive a chance to experience mortality.   This is not a toy with which to play, but rather a tool to bring to pass Heavenly Father's purpose.

When these folks take the life of an unborn children, Satan believes he is thwarting Father's plan.  It cannot be done, but Satan still tries.

Neither I nor any other person has the right to judge the hearts of these folks, but the Lord surely does.  His holy prophet has spoken with regard to abortion in general and in this new twist with specificity.

I wholly support and sustain President Russell M. Nelson, his counselors, and the Council of the Twelve Apostles in their condemning of  further degradation of our brothers and sisters.  He has warned and we had better heed his warnings.

Today's remarks given in Church

I was given the assignment to address the congregation prior to leaving for missionary service to the Texas Houston East Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  The following is the text of my message:

Good afternoon, brothers and sisters. 

I am truly grateful to stand at this pulpit today.  I am thankful for your interest in hearing me speak.  Some of my friends are here today as are some of my family.  Each has been a benefit to me and each has taught me much. 

Today I can announce that there has been some new scripture discovered.  I'd like to read a passage from it.

The book of

Zelpha

11.   And it came to pass there was a young lady whose name was Zelpha, the daughter of Maxine.  She married a young man whose name was James, the son of Rey and together they raised 4 sons and 3 daughters.

22.   Behold, the things which she desired above all others was to be a loving wife and a nurturing mother to her children, which things she knew to be the things the Lord her God desired of her.

33.   And as each daughter grew she desired of them that they would be worthy to enter the temple of our God and receive those exalting ordinances for themselves.

44.   She longed for the time each of her sons would be worthy to enter into the world and serve their God by teaching His sons and daughters the Gospel of Jesus Christ where ever the prophet of God would send them.

55.   And behold, as her sons grew and learned, three of them were called to serve.  One went into the land of the “Hawkeyes” and “Cornhuskers” where corn and wheat are grown.  This land was called Iowa. 

66.   Two of her sons went into the “Land of the Rising Sun” to teach God’s children who had never before heard the words of Jesus Christ.  This land was called Japan.

77.   And behold, her desire was strong to serve her God and with her husband go out into the world and help gather Israel and expand the kingdom of the Lord.  She was concerned that perhaps she would never be able to serve as a missionary.  She was much afflicted.  But with courage and devotion she and her husband did express their desire to serve as missionaries.

88.   Finally, the call to serve came in the seventh month of the 45^th year of the establishment of the Black family.  They were called of Jesus Christ by inspiration to boldly declare the restored gospel in the Texas Houston East mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  They were to prepare to teach in the language of the people of the land southward.

99.   And behold, her countenance was radiant, and her joy was great.  The prophet of God had pronounced her worthy and had accepted her and her husband to serve as missionaries fulfilling her dream of many years.

I know that these verses from the Book of Zelpha are true.  I know this because I just wrote them myself just a few weeks ago.

I recently had reason to recall a passage from the Doctrine and Covenants which reads as follows:

D&C 130:20-21

20 There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—

21 And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.

So now you may begin to understand my story.  I didn't really understand it until recently.

Sister Black and I were born in 1952.  I was born in El Paso, Texas and she was born in Salt Lake City.  In 1954 my family moved to a little town in northern California named McCloud.  In 1956, when I was 4 years old, I began to plan to become a missionary.  My father was the Branch President of the Mount Shasta branch of the Redding California Stake. I remember standing at the top of the stairs with my father and greeting the members of the branch as they came to Sacrament Meeting each Sunday.  We had full time Elder missionaries that I admired, and I set a goal at that time to become one of them when I was old enough. I suspect that if we hadn’t moved to McCloud, my desire to serve a mission may have been diminished.

I remember singing the primary song, “I Hope They Call Me on a Mission when I have grown a foot or two.”  I always thought that was a little strange.  I knew that I was born with two feet, and I didn’t notice the missionaries had any extra feet.  That always puzzled me.  I wondered where they kept the other two feet.  And then when I went to serve my own mission all those years ago, I didn’t grow any additional feet.  I’m still puzzled as to why we sing about extra feet.

Well, my life has been interesting.  Everything I have done, and everywhere I have lived has led to this moment in time. 

When I was 6 years old, we moved from McCloud, California to Fredonia, Arizona.  Sister Black’s family had moved to Needles, California, and when SHE was 6 years old her family moved to Colton, California. My father was a school teacher  in Fredonia and we lived there for 10 years.  I loved growing up in Fredonia, and I thought we would live there for the rest of our lives.  However, my father got crossways with the local school board, so we moved to Rialto, California.   I didn’t particularly want to move to California.  I liked Fredonia.  It was a good place to grow up.   And I was still preparing for a mission.  We moved when I was 16, between my Junior and Senior years of High School.  I moved out of a 7-12 high school of about 85 students into a 10-12 high school of 3000 students. Boy was I ever intimidated.  My graduating class had 995 students.

The move to Rialto, California was to prepare me to meet people I didn’t already know and to take me out of my comfort zone.  Another step in preparing to serve a mission. 

When I was approaching 19 years old, I visited with my father and reminded him of my desire to serve as a missionary.

Flashing back to my sophomore year in High School.  My father taught Math and Science, but he also spoke Spanish.  He had acquired a major in Spanish and he agreed to TEACH Spanish.  For my sophomore year he enrolled me in his Spanish class.  I didn’t want to learn Spanish.  I purposely failed the class. 

Fast forward to my approaching missionary age.  I worked at JC Penney selling suits.   I was working there when my Mission Call came.  My family trouped into the store to bring the famous large white envelope to me and to get me to open it in their presence right then.  With permission of my manager, I did.  It read, in part:

        "You are called to serve in the Uruguay-Paraguay Mission. It is anticipated that you will teach in the Spanish Language."

My father was drinking a soda pop and when he heard where I was going and the language I would learn, he nearly spit it all over my department.  He reminded me that I didn’t want to learn Spanish.  I was mildly disappointed.  I wanted to go to Germany.  However, I   wanted to do what the Lord asked of me.  I did retain some of the Spanish that my father had taught me in my Sophomore year and I learned the language nearly perfectly as a missionary.

The Sunday after returning from my mission, I reported to the Stake President and High Council.  One of the members of the High Council was a man named Dale Gardner.  He had a daughter named Zelpha, who I knew, but had never dated.  He went home after that High Council meeting and told his wife, “Jim Black is home from his mission.”  Maxine immediately went to her daughter, Zelpha, and said, “Jim Black is home from his mission.”  She didn’t express much excitement about my having come home. 

Later that evening there was a YSA fireside at the home of a leader and I attended by myself.  I had been home only a few days at that point.  At the end of that fireside, Zelpha Gardner looped her arms through the arms of the full time Elders and said, “are you gentlemen ready to go?” 

Well, I had a wall eyed fit.  “You can’t do that,” said I.  “Missionaries are to stay at least arm’s length from girls.”  I let her have the full benefit of my displeasure. 

It turns out that she and her brother were the transportation for these two Elders.  They immediately left the fireside.  However, I needed to find out where Zelpha Lived.  I didn’t know her Father’s first name, but I cruised through the phone book to find all the Gardner names.  Finally, I came across Dale Gardner’s name and I called hoping it was the right place.  I wanted to ask Zelpha out on a date.  I was worried, though, that she wouldn’t want to go with someone who had chewed her out so recently. 

But she did agree to go out with me.

I do not believe in co-incidences.  I believe the Lord does what He needs to do in order to fulfill the mandate he has been given from His Father. 

In Moses 1:39 The Lord tells Moses:

For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

When we were in college, I was a sophomore and Sister Black was a freshman, we were in the Institute of Religion building.  I always enjoyed visiting with the girls in those days and we got into a conversation regarding music.  I was a music major at the time.  One of Sister Black’s friends told me, “Zelpha has pitch perfect ear”.  I didn’t believe it.  I had never heard of anyone with pitch perfect ear, so I asked her to prove it.  She did…..and I was amazed, and I have been in awe of her talent ever since that day.

Now, if my family hadn’t moved to Rialto, California, I wouldn’t have met and dated my eternal companion.  I arrived back from my mission on January 3^rd, 1973.  Our first date was on January 22. We were engaged on February 21 (that’s another story).  And we were married for time and all eternity in the Los Angeles Temple on April 17, 1973 by a man named William H. Harliss, Sr, who was authorized to perform such a marriage by a living prophet.  This marriage was performed just 3 and ½ months after I arrived home from my mission.

Sister Black started talking early on in our marriage about wanting to serve a mission when we could do so as Senior Missionaries.  She has looked forward to this time all these years.

In 1974, I was looking for employment that would support my family.  I learned, through Sister Black’s relatives, that the Santa Fe Railroad was hiring and that one of our good friends was the secretary to the Division Superintendent.   I went to her and asked about employment.  She sent me to the employment office and told me to bring the application to her.  She took my application in to the Superintendent and told him that if he wanted to continue to have a happy secretary, he would hire me.  I was hired as a Switchman on the Los Angeles Division on April 30,1974.  I rose rapidly through various ranks.  I was appointed Engine Foreman in 1976, Yardmaster in 1978, Area Operations Supervisor in 1979, Assistant Trainmaster in 1980, Acting Administrative Trainmaster in 1984, Trainmaster in 1987, and finally Assistant Superintendent-Operating in 1989 in El Paso, TX.

I had been promoted and sent there because I speak Spanish and my superiors wanted me to spend time in Mexico coordinating with the Mexican Railroads.  After 6 years in El Paso, the spirit told us to leave my railroad career and find a small LDS town so that we could finish raising our children closer to the Lord and closer to a temple.  I argued with the Lord a little bit because my employment was very good, and the benefits were excellent. But those promptings persisted and even became stronger.  The Lord wasn’t kidding around.  

My parents had moved to Enterprise, Utah, and we decided to visit and enjoy the 24^th of July celebration in Enterprise.  We looked at all the small towns between Silver City, NM and St. George to see if any of them was where we should live.  None of them seemed like home to us.

But then we arrived at Enterprise on July 23^rd.  I decided to go to the Boy Scout Breakfast at 6:30 a.m. on the 24^th.  I couldn’t get any of my family to get up and go along, so I went alone.

While I was there, I felt a prompting to move to Enterprise. 

 

Sister Black and I resolved to go to the temple here in St. George the following day to see if we could get some guidance from the Lord.  After our session we were in the Celestial Room contemplating our situation and we noticed the sealing room up a few stairs from the Celestial room.  We went into it and stood to one side of the altar looking into the opposing mirrors.  In the mirrors, about the third reflection, I could see a couple kneeling at the altar.  Sister Black asked if I could see our daughter, Janice, there at the altar. I could see her. And I could see a young man across the alter from her, but I didn’t recognize him.  Later she told me she was only speculating about it, but I could plainly see her, and the impression that I received at that moment was that if we didn’t move to Enterprise, Janice would not be married for time and all eternity in the temple.

We immediately placed in motion a process to leave the railroad and move our family to Enterprise.

Now I believe that we have been led to each point in our lives by the promptings of the Holy Ghost.  I believe that our move to Enterprise made it so that 6 of our 7 children have entered the Temple and have been sealed there for time and eternity, each to his or her spouse and family. 

However, the Lord wasn’t finished with us.  I contracted a lung disease that made it impossible for me to continue to live in Enterprise. I was placed on continuous oxygen and couldn’t leave the house without oxygen bottles.

My personal physician told me to move to a lower altitude, and the Spirit confirmed it.  We were to move to Washington City.  We had no indication as to where we should live here.  Sister Black had a friend whose cousin was then Bishop Joel Beckstrand of the  Washington 5^th ward.  Sister Black insisted that we attend his ward and see if there was a place to live here.

We visited, and in the High Priests group meeting, when I introduced myself, I told the group that the Lord had sent us here and it was up to them to find us a place to live.  I was only half-joking.  But Brother Cliff Wickham took me aside and said he thought he knew of a place for us.  His Son-in-law had been trying to sell a house on Rocco Rd, but he would find out if his son-in-law would be willing to rent it to us.  And that brought us to this ward today.

In 2016, I retired from Andrus Transportation Services, where Bishop Sears works.  When I retired, Bishop Sears came to me and said, “Do you want to work at D.I. or in the Temple. I guess he thought I needed something to keep me busy.  I wasn’t particularly in love with either prospect and I was on 24/7 Oxygen anyway, but I told him I would do whatever he and the Lord asked of me.

The next thing I knew I got a call from a young woman who asked me if I could meet with President Jones.  I didn’t know who President Jones was, so I asked, “What is President Jones president of?” 

Well, he was the 1^st counselor in the St. George Temple Presidency.  I thought, perhaps, I could make time in my busy schedule to visit with him.

When we visited, I was still carrying around an Oxygen bottle.  He looked at me and then at the oxygen bottle and said, “We had intended to call you to serve as an Ordinance Worker in the temple, but you wouldn’t be able to have that bottle with you.” I said, “If this is what the Lord wants me to do, I won’t need the oxygen bottle.”

I haven’t used oxygen in St. George since then.  I have enjoyed my time in the temple.  I have learned much, have witnessed much, and have experienced many holy events there in the more than 2.5 years that I have worked there.

The story gets even more interesting. 

Sister Black and I together decided the time had come and agreed to make application to serve as missionaries.  We originally asked to serve in the Montevideo, Uruguay Temple as ordinance workers, and we put in application to do so.

Our call is to serve as Member and Leader Support missionaries in the Texas Houston East mission and we are happy to serve where ever the Lord wants us.

As my treatments for my lungs have progressed, I have been able to tolerate natural aspirations without supplemental oxygen.  As of November 15, my prescription for supplemental oxygen was rescinded.  I believe all of this was in accordance with the plan prepared for us perhaps even before the world was created.

The Lord Jesus Christ knows who I am.  He knows who Sister Black is and He knows of our various physical challenges.  I testify to you of the healing power of the temple.  I believe my service in the Temple has been the driving force of my healing. The Lord’s plan has ever been to place us where we can do the best where He needs us the most.  In each of our moves, the Lord has been there.

My family’s move from El Paso to McCloud when I was 2 years old gave me the desire to serve as a missionary when I became of age.

Our move from McCloud to Fredonia gave me a safe place to grow up and learn the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Sister Black was born in Salt Lake City in 1952.  Her family moved to Needles, California soon afterward.  Her family moved from Needles, California to Colton, California when she was 6 years old.  If that move hadn’t happened, she wouldn’t have been in place for us to discover each other.

When I was 15 years old, I went to visit my older sisters in Southern California for a few weeks and my oldest sister insisted that I try out for the stake play.  Sister Black, her mother and her Bishop were also in that play.  If that had not occurred, we would never have met, although neither of us was particularly interested in the other at that point.

My family’s move from Fredonia to Rialto, California when I was 16 was providential because I could later date, fall in love and marry my princess bride.

My call to serve in the Uruguay-Paraguay Mission was instrumental in preparing me to work in El Paso in coordination with the Mexican Railroads and to prepare us for later assignments.  While we lived in El Paso we met and retain many dear friends with whom we keep in contact even today.

Our move to Enterprise was to give our children a safe place to grow up and spiritually mature.

Our move to Washington was to prepare me to serve in the Temple of the Lord and to give opportunity for Sister Black to spend 2 and ½ years tending to her elderly and ailing mother.

My service in the Temple learning ordinances in both English and Spanish was to prepare me to fulfill Sister Black’s desire to serve a full-time mission with me as a couple in the Texas Houston East mission working in Spanish Language assignments.

From my point of view, each experience in my life has led to this new adventure.  I don’t know what the Lord has planned for me after these next two years are completed, but I do know that the Lord knows who I am and that He has a definite plan for me, my princess bride and my family.

So now, Sister Black and I have been called of Jesus Christ by inspiration through His servant, the living prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, to serve in the Texas Houston East Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints working under the direction of President Spencer C. Hewlett.

We will boldly invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end.

We will invite others much as did Alma of old.

Mosiah 18:8-11

8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

11 And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts.

But baptism is not the end.  It is only the beginning of our path back to our loving Father in Heaven.  There is much more.

We, Sister Black and I, will stand for truth and return with honor.

Behold, we are disciples of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  We have been called by him through his holy Prophet, to declare his word to his people, that they may have eternal life.

Now, my testimony for today.  I know that God Lives and knows intimately who I am.  I know that His only begotten Son lives.  I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world.  I know that the words of King Benjamin, which he spoke approximately 124 years before the birth of Jesus Christ, are true:

Mosiah 3:17

17 And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.

I know that our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ appeared to a young man named Joseph Smith.  I know that Heavenly Father introduced His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to Joseph and instructed Joseph to “hear him”.  I know that Joseph was instructed not to join any of the sects of religion that were available to him.  I know that through the prophet Joseph the church established by Jesus Christ in the meridian of times was restored and is known today as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I know that John the Baptist came to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdry and conferred the Priesthood of Aaron to them on May 15, 1829, which commenced the restoration of the Lord’s church.  This event is described in Section 13 of the Doctrine and Covenants.

I know that in June of 1829, Peter, James and John, three of the original 12 Apostles appeared to Joseph and Oliver and restored the Melchizedek Priesthood as well as the Holy Apostleship.  I know that other ancient prophets came and restored the keys that each of them held, including:  The keys of administration of the Priesthood authority, the keys of gathering the children of Israel, the keys of the holy sealing power, among other keys. 

Each of those keys were given to Joseph Smith so that he could begin to implement the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ in the dispensation of the Fullness of Times.

I believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; I also know that through the power of God, Joseph Smith was permitted to translate, from plates of Gold, the record we know today as the Book of Mormon.

I am a witness of the truthfulness of this, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ that it contains.  I know that Jesus Christ stands at the head of this church.  I know that He has called Russell M. Nelson as Prophet, seer and revelator and President of the earthly organization of the Lord’s own church.  I know it.  I have had many sacred experiences that I cannot deny which confirm my faith. 

I know that this room, this chapel, is a most sacred room because it is where the Ordinances of the elements of the Sacrament are administered, which elements represent the body and the blood of the Savior.  I know that this room deserves much more reverence than we sometimes give it.

I know that each of you, if you haven’t already received this same witness, are able to receive it through prayer, study, and pondering the scriptures.  I challenge each of you to seek this testimony and prepare to receive those blessings the Lord is anxious to bestow upon you.  The Lord wants to bless each of us.  He is anxious to do so, if and when we are ready to receive those sacred blessings.

I bear this testimony to you in the Sacred Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

What a Wonderful Time to be Alive

Merry Christmas!

I think this is one of the greatest times to be alive when the prophecies of the 2nd coming are becoming more and more evident.  It seems to me that there are some similarities between the advent of the birth of Jesus and the advent of His 2nd Coming.

The individuals who were familiar with ancient prophecies (and not just those found in the Old Testament) were anxiously awaiting the coming of the Messiah.  These people were not all Jewish or even of the House of Israel.  Some of them were Persian.  Prophets had been preaching of this great event for generations in both the old world and also on the American Continent.

Even though prophets of told of the coming of Christ, they were ridiculed, cursed, tortured, and even put to death for their prophecies. And yet, even through all this persecution, the plan of our Heavenly Father could not be thwarted.  Jesus was born.  That event could not be stopped.  Who, in those days, would have thought that the birth of a baby would have ushered in such a great flurry of persecution, violence, and wars because of the hardness of the hearts of man.

We see similarities today.  Christians are ridiculed, cursed, persecuted, tortured, and even put to death for having the temerity to express fealty to He that Christians worship. Ridicule is abundant even at the hands of political leaders world wide.

I affirm my fealty to my Heavenly Father and to His Holy Son, Jesus Christ.  I love them, I honor them, and I am grateful for the great plan that provided a way for Heavenly Father's sons and daughters to return to him through faith, repentance, Baptism, and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost as taught in the restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I am grateful for the covenants and ordinances available to Heavenly Father's children in his holy temples.

I know that God, our Heavenly Father lives.  I know that Jesus Christ is His Only Begotten Son.  I know that Jesus Christ has called Prophets and Apostles in our own time who communicate His will to His children.  I am pleased to follow that Prophet and those Apostles.  I am pleased to have received a calling, along with my Princess Bride, to go out into the world and invite others to come unto Christ.

I know that the events that usher in the 2nd Coming of the Son of God are coming to pass even today.  I don't know how long it will be, but I do know He is coming.  I see and recognize the signs given by ancient and current prophets.

I wish for all to see, understand, and gratefully await His coming.

Merry Christmas.