Thanksgiving 2015

I am thankful for many things.

First and foremost, though, is my bride of over 42 years.  Sometimes I am impatient with her, and she puts up with me.  We have never argued in all those years.  I believe it is because neither of us HAS to be right at the expense of the other.  We respect each other, we understand each other and we love each other.

Second, I am thankful for my children.  Each of them is a precious individual with his/her own talents, traits, personality, and thought process.  I love them all to the extent that I would give my life to salvage theirs if it became necessary.  I have sincerely prayed for them when they are in trouble and when they've had medical challenges, and when they have asked I have willingly offered "Father's Blessings" to them.  I have enjoyed listening to the stories they tell about the military, their families, or whatever concerns them at the moment.  I love being a part of their lives.

I am grateful for those of my sons that have served and are now serving in our nation's Military.  Our nation needs willing men and women who are capable and willing to fight to protect our nation.  I am grateful for my sons that have served in that great spiritual army, going out into the world to teach Heavenly Father's children the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Third, I am thankful for the grandchildren presented by my children.  I'm not as close to most of them as probably I ought to be, but I enjoy their emerging personalities.  I'm grateful for the individuals they each are, and I'm grateful for the challenges they each present.  I love them and I enjoy time spent with them.

I am grateful for the Church to which I belong.  I love the Prophet and the Apostles called to serve all mankind.  I enjoy my little calling in the Church which is teaching teenagers.  I love teaching concepts they haven't previously considered.  And I love seeing the light turn on in their minds.

I am grateful for our lives in this great nation, which was established for the purpose of protecting religion, personal rights, and life.  I am grateful for the Pilgrims that came to the American Continent to escape persecution.  I am also grateful for my Pioneer ancestors that came to Utah for the same purpose.  I am grateful for the nation of Mexico that was willing to shelter my refugee ancestors when needed.

I am grateful for the marvels of modern medicine without which I would likely not still be living. I am grateful for modern communication that permits me to write this blog and transmit it for any person willing to read it. I am grateful for "Star Trek" style communicators that permit me to visit over long distances while traveling.

I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father and for the great Plan of Happiness instituted in our behalf and executed by His son, Jesus Christ, whom I serve.

These are only a small sampling of the thinks for which I am thankful.  And I am thankful for willing readers.

Religion In My Family

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons).  I was raised by Latter-day Saint parents. I come from a heritage of 6 generations of Latter-day Saints. 

So that there is no doubt in anyone's mind:

I know that Jesus Christ lives.  I know that his life on this earth was precipitated by his glorified, physical, eternal Father in Heaven and his very mortal mother, Mary.  I know that our Savior, Jesus Christ is very much in charge of this world and all that has been created here.  I know that the Lord Jesus Christ has called, through all generations of time, prophets who were and are charged with communicating his will to the inhabitants of this world.

He said, "What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself, and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same".

I know the doctrines and policies published over the last few days by the Church to be truly the doctrine established by the Lord Jesus Christ and communicated to the world through the Prophet and Apostles He has called. 

I am disturbed to have learned that some of my grandchildren are being taught differently.  I am greatly disappointed to have learned that religion is apparently disregarded and in fact denigrated.  I wonder how many generations of my descendants will be affected by this disregard.  I wonder how many souls will be lost. 

While I cannot change the decisions made by my offspring and cannot live their lives for them, I worry constantly about the decisions that are made that push them away from the teachings learned in their youth.  I worry about how far-reaching the consequences of those decisions will be. 

I can, and do, pray for those of my descendants that are so affected.  I love each of my children and grandchildren more than they will probably ever know.  I worry about them probably more than I should.