Becoming Christ-Like

This is a talk that I gave in church a few months ago.  I encourage all to read it.

Qualities of a Christ-like life

Sacrament Meeting address

Good morning brethren and sisters.  It is truly a pleasure for me to visit with you today. 

There is a story told of three religious men.  One was a Catholic Priest, another was a Baptist Minister and the third was a Mormon Bishop.  I suppose it could have even been Bishop Sears, but I don’t know.

The Catholic Priest and the Baptist Minister had a tradition of going fishing on Saturday morning.  It was their way to begin personal preparation for preaching their sermons on Sunday.  They were visiting with the Bishop and invited him to go fishing with them on a specific day. 

The Bishop was agreeable and when the appropriate day came along he was ready.  He had his carbon fiber fishing pole, his best reel, the best fishing lures he could find, his hip waders, a vest to keep his supplies, and a large bag in which to put his catch.  He didn’t want the others to out class him. 

Along came the Priest and the Minister.  They looked him over in amazement.  Then they showed him their willow rods and line attached at the end.  They had no reels.  They had no bag, no hip waders, and no vest.

The Priest said to the Bishop.  We’re going fishing, but we don’t intend to catch any.  The point of this outing is to help each other with our sermons, to bounce ideas off of each other.  The fishing poles are only to make people think we’re busy and to keep them from interrupting us. 

The difference was only in communication.  The message given to the Bishop was not the message he received.

For over 40 years I have enjoyed the opportunity to speak to audiences large and small.  I have taught small classes and I have addressed large halls filled with people.  I don’t say these things to show how important I am, for truly I do not consider myself to be an important person.  The principles I will teach today are those learned over a lifetime.  I am still lacking in some of them because I surely am not perfect.

 It is my prayer that the message I give today will be the message you will receive.  My purpose is to teach principles that I hope will assist each of us.

(Reverence)

Have you ever sat in a pew before Sacrament Meeting and just listened?  Have you ever just sat quiet and listened to the prelude and maybe even hummed along?           

Have you ever even heard the prelude music?  Did you know that today’s prelude music was primary reverence songs?

When we are so noisy that we cannot hear and enjoy the prelude and postlude music, we are also too noisy to hear the promptings of the spirit.

This room, this chapel is the most sacred room that the Washington 11^th Ward will visit today.  It is the most sacred room outside the temple.  Do you know why?

The ordinances of the sacrament, which are designed to prompt memory of the body and the blood sacrificed by our Savior, are the most sacred ordinances in which we may partake outside the temple.  These two ordinances offer us unbound blessings. 

For those of you that don’t remember them, or were not paying proper attention to the Sacrament Prayers I will read them to you.

O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it; that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him, and keep his commandments which he hath given them, that they may always have his spirit to be with them.

President Boyd K. Packer said that we actually take upon us the name of Christ as we work for the dead in the temple because we are doing work for others who cannot do it for themselves.  But we agree that we are WILLING to take upon us the name of Christ when we are baptized and when we partake of the Sacrament.

The prayer on the water is similar but not exactly the same:

O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee, in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this water to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them.

We gain a promise.  If we live up to our part of the covenant, we are promised that “we may have his Spirit to be with us.”

Having the Spirit of the Lord, or the Holy Ghost, with us constantly is a wonderful blessing.  If we listen to its promptings it will lead us to prosperity of body, of spirit, and of life.

When Adam and Eve were ejected from the Garden of Eden they were still taught by the voice of the Lord.

Moses 5:4-7

4 And Adam and Eve, his wife, called upon the name of the Lord, and they heard the voice of the Lord from the way toward the Garden of Eden, speaking unto them, and they saw him not; for they were shut out from his presence.

5 And he gave unto them commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord.

6 And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me.

7 And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.

In times of old, the saints offered burnt sacrifice to honor the expected sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Today we partake of the sacrament for the same purpose: to honor the sacrifice of Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross at Calvary.  These things are sacred and should never be trivialized.

This room is sacred because of the emblems of the Sacrament which are offered to all provided they will participate. 

When we speak loudly, when we are in conversation with others and are in competition with the quiet organ music, we are not reverent.

Becoming Christ-like requires reverence.

(Charity)

A few days ago, we were just sitting in our house minding our own business.  I was working on my book, and I received a gentle prompting indicating that Sister Black and I should go purchase a fresh flower and go to the 3^rd floor of the hospital.  We were prompted to visit someone who needed a lift.  We had no idea who that would be.  We have never done this kind of thing before, so we had no idea what reception we would get when we got there.

When we arrived at the nurses’ station we told the staff what we wanted to do.  We were directed to speak to the charge nurse.  After we explained our purpose for being there, we were directed to visit an older lady who was to have been released that day, but her transportation didn’t come to pick her up.  She was going to be transported to a care center in Beaver for three months before going home. 

We noted that she was an oncology patient but we didn’t ask her name or even what her reason for being in the hospital could be.  It wouldn’t have been ethical for us to do so.  We just presented her the flower we brought and chatted for about half an hour.  She was so grateful.  She said over and over how much she appreciated the flower and our little visit.  She seemed to me to have been lonely.  I wondered if she had received any visitors during her stay in the hospital.

When we left her room, we went back to the nurses’ station and told them we were finished and we thanked the charge nurse for directing us to this particular patient.  We enjoyed our time there and we wanted to be sure the staff understood that.  We will continue to visit the hospital, care centers, rehab centers and rest homes periodically to help lift the spirits of those who have few or no visitors.

Charity is not just the giving of tithing and fast offering or even giving to the humanitarian effort of the Church.

Alma wrote in Mosiah 18:8-10

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?

Charity is lifting others to at least the same level that we have attained or higher.

Bette Midler sang:

It must have been cold there in my shadow,
To never have sunlight on your face.
You were content to let me shine, that's your way.
You always walked a step behind.

So I was the one with all the glory,
While you were the one with all the strength.
A beautiful face without a name for so long.
A beautiful smile to hide the pain.

Did you ever know that you're my hero,
And everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
For you are the wind beneath my wings.

It might have appeared to go unnoticed,
But I've got it all here in my heart.
I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it.
I would be nothing without you.

Did you ever know that you're my hero?
You're everything I wish I could be.

Becoming Christ-like requires charity.

(Humility)

Ammon was one of the sons of King Mosiah.  He decided he wanted to go into the land of Ishmael to teach the Gospel to the Lamanites.  He entered into King Lamoni’s territory.  King Lamoni had established a policy of arresting anyone who dared venture into his kingdom.  Then they would bring the prisoner to the king to be interviewed.

King Lamoni asked Ammon what his purpose was in coming into his kingdom.  Did he want to live there?

Ammon responded that he did want to live there and perhaps even live out his life among King Lamoni’s people.  King Lamoni commanded his servants to untie Ammon and then King Lamoni offered his daughter to Ammon to be his wife.  Ammon declined, but said that just he wanted to be King Lamoni’s servant.

It was time for the king’s flocks to be watered.  There was a place designated for the watering of flocks, but there were bullies that hung around the watering hole.  These bullies would scatter the king’s flock and run off the shepherds.  On this occasion, the king’s servants were again run off and the flocks scattered.

Now the king’s servants were frightened. They feared the king would kill them for having lost the flocks.  Ammon rejoiced that he would have an opportunity to show the king’s men his power that he had been given by the Lord.  He thought by fighting these bullies he would find favor with the king’s servants and maybe would have a chance to teach them the gospel.

Ammon calmed them down and he accompanied them to re-gather the flocks.  When they got the flock gathered up, they went again to the watering hole to water the flock.  Again, the bullies came to scatter the flocks.  Ammon told the other servants to stand around the outside of the flock and keep them from scattering. 

Ammon himself would go talk to the bullies.  The bullies were not afraid.  They attacked by throwing stones at Ammon and Ammon defended himself by casting stones back at them with a sling.  Some of them were killed by his stones, but Ammon was not hurt by the bullies’ stones.  The bullies then decided they should stop casting stones and come at Ammon with clubs.

Alma 17:37-38

37 But behold, every man that lifted his club to smite Ammon, he smote off their arms with his sword; for he did withstand their blows by smiting their arms with the edge of his sword, insomuch that they began to be astonished, and began to flee before him; yea, and they were not few in number; and he caused them to flee by the strength of his arm.

38 Now six of them had fallen by the sling, but he slew none save it were their leader with his sword; and he smote off as many of their arms as were lifted against him, and they were not a few.

After the flocks were watered, Ammon continued taking care of his duties.  The other servants went in to tell this wonderful story to King Lamoni.  King Lamoni asked his servants, “Where is Ammon?”

Ammon was just taking care of his duties.  He wasn’t telling his own story to make himself more important before the King.  He was just going about his duties as he felt he should.

Ammon was humble enough not to brag about how good or strong he was.  He hoped he would be able to teach the gospel to King Lamoni and his people not by telling how great he was, but instead by just serving honorably.

Becoming Christ-like requires humility

(Obedience)

I told you that I am writing a book.  It is an autobiography of my life.  I was prompted to write it and for some reason there is an urgency to get it finished.  I don’t know why there is such an urgency.  Writing my story has not been easy.  I have never been one to write in a journal, so writing this story and telling the stories of my life and finding the poems I have written, has been difficult.  So why am I doing it?  Because I have been directed of the Lord to do so.  I would probably not write it otherwise.

Jesus Christ was born to a mortal mother and a perfected celestial father.  He is literally the Son of the Living God.  We don’t know very much about his life before age 30, but we do know that when he was 12 years old he ditched the family to go hang out in the temple.  Mary and Joseph and the rest of the family were on their way back home to Nazareth after going to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of the Passover.  They were a full day’s journey along the trail before they realized Jesus wasn’t with them.  They hurried back to Jerusalem to look for Jesus.  They looked everywhere.  Nobody they talked to knew where Jesus was.  It took them 3 days to find him.  He was in the temple, “sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 

All that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. 

When Mary and Joseph found him, she said unto him, “Son, why has thou thus dealt with us?”

His answer: “How is it that ye sought after me?  Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”

He was being obedient.

Towards the end of his life, when he was in the Garden of Gethsemane, he prayed to his Father:

Matthew 26:39

“O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt”.

And even later he prayed:

John 17:4

“….I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”

Jesus Christ was obedient

Becoming Christ-like requires obedience.

(Prayer)

When I was preparing to serve my mission, didn’t think I knew enough to be an effective missionary.  Every night I would get on my knees and pray.  I knew that the rights of the Aaronic Priesthood were the keys of the administering of angels.  I didn’t understand what it meant, but I thought it would be worth a try. 

I prayed for an angel to come and teach me all that I should know as a missionary.  I wanted a messenger from Heaven.  I wanted some confirmation of my testimony.

I was disappointed in my expectation, but I did eventually get an answer to my prayer.  I was given to know that the teachers at the Language Training Mission were the “angels” I requested.

How do we offer effective prayers?

Jesus gave us an example. 

Matthew 6:9-13

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

I was tempted to sing this.  You should be thankful that I did not.

Doctrine and Covenants 46:31

31 And again, I say unto you, all things must be done in the name of Christ, whatsoever you do in the Spirit;

Elder Richard G. Scott taught:

“Prayer is a supernal gift of our Father in Heaven to every soul. Think of it: the absolute Supreme Being, the most all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful personage, encourages you and me, as insignificant as we are, to converse with Him as our Father. Actually, because He knows how desperately we need His guidance, He commands, “Thou shalt pray vocally as well as in thy heart; yea, before the world as well as in secret, in public as well as in private.”¹

“It matters not our circumstance, be we humble or arrogant, poor or rich, free or enslaved, learned or ignorant, loved or forsaken, we can address Him. We need no appointment. Our supplication can be brief or can occupy all the time needed. It can be an extended expression of love and gratitude or an urgent plea for help. He has created numberless cosmos and populated them with worlds, yet you and I can talk with Him personally, and He will ever answer.”

The invitation to pray; to seek out answers to our own personal questions or problems, to seek approval for decisions we have made, to seek understanding, is a marvelous opportunity.

Moroni admonishes us to pray about the Book of Mormon:

Moroni 10:4-5

4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

Answers to prayer are not generally verbal.  We do not generally hear a voice.  We sometimes do not even have a feeling or sense of Heavenly Father’s will.  Sometimes the answer to our prayer is:  It doesn’t matter.

Prayer is fruitless if we do not take the time to listen for the answer.  If we just say the words and then jump up and go about our business we will likely not hear the answer.

Becoming Christ-like requires prayer.

(Faith)

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Hebrews said this:

Hebrews 11:1

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

And in Alma 32:21 we read:

21 And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.

          Joseph Smith taught that Faith is the driving force for anything temporal.  By faith we know that the sun will set in the west.  By faith we know that our car will start.  By faith we know that there will be school tomorrow.  By faith you know that the lights will come on when the switch is activated.  By faith we know there is clean water at our fingertips.

          But faith is also the driving force for spiritual things.  By faith we petition our Father in Heaven for blessings.  By faith we expect a response.  By faith we know that the plan of happiness will be effective for us.  By faith we know that the resurrection will have an effect on each member of the human race.

          Faith is the primary force of our lives, but we can lose faith.  We can lose faith that our car will make it home.  We can lose faith that Heavenly Father exists and even cares about us.  We can lose faith in our family. 

Loss of faith is the primary focus of Satan.  He wants us to lose faith.  He is anxious that we not regain faith when we are struggling to return to the straight and narrow path. 

Satan fights against us when we are trying to gain worthiness to enter the temple.  He will put strong roadblocks in our path.  But by exercising faith we can resist his tantalizing temptations.  By faith we can reach our goals.  Faith is an action word.  Faith requires work for there can be no success without both faith and work. 

The Apostle James said in James 2:26:

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Becoming Christ-like requires Faith

(Virtue)

From “Preach My Gospel”

Virtue originates in your innermost thoughts and desires. It is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards. Since the Holy Ghost does not dwell in unclean tabernacles, virtue is prerequisite to receiving the Spirit’s guidance. What you choose to think and do when you are alone and you believe no one is watching is a strong measure of your virtue.

Virtuous people are clean and pure spiritually. They focus on righteous, uplifting thoughts and put unworthy thoughts that lead to inappropriate actions out of their minds. They obey God’s commandments and follow the counsel of Church leaders. They pray for the strength to resist temptation and do what is right. They quickly repent of any sins or wrongdoings. They live worthy of a temple recommend.

Your mind is like a stage in a theater; in the theater of your mind, however, only one actor can be on stage at a time. If the stage is left bare, thoughts of darkness and sin often enter the stage to tempt. But these thoughts have no power if the stage of your mind is occupied by wholesome thoughts, such as a memorized hymn or verse of scripture that you can call upon in a moment of temptation. By controlling the stage of your mind, you can successfully resist persistent urges to yield to temptation and indulge in sin. You can become pure and virtuous.

Doctrine and Covenants 38:24

24 And let every man esteem his brother as himself, and practice virtue and holiness before me.

Becoming Christ-like requires Virtue.

I have given you seven qualities that will help us to become more Christ-like.

A Christ-like individual is

Reverent, Charitable, Humble, Obedient, Prayerful, Faithful, and virtuous.

Brotherly Love and Brotherly Kindness is God's Love

Shay and the Baseball Game

A father tells this story about his son, Shay.

"When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection.

Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.

Where is the natural order of things in my son?

I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.

Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do you think they will let me play?" I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning."

Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.

In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field. grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again, Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

NOW... do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.

The first pitch came, and Shay swing clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow grounder right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of teammates.

Everyone in the stands and both teams started yelling, "Shay, run to first!"

Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.

Be scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!"

Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second struggling to make it to the base.

By the time shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball. The smallest guy on their team, who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team, could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.

Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases home. People were screaming, "Shay, Shay, Shay, all the way Shay."

Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third!"

As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, "Shay, run home! Run home!"

Shay ran to home. stepped on the plate and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team.

"That day", said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, "the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world"

Shay didn't make it to another summer. He passed away that winter, having never forgotten about being the hero and making me happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day."

Matthew 22:36-40

36   Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37   Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38   This is the first and great commandment.

39   And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

40   On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

The Needy Family

A young family moved into the Ward from Germany. The father was in the Army but hadn't ranked up enough to provide much more than just the bare necessities for the family. The mother was German and spoke English with a very heavy accent and was not yet employable.

They had very little and Christmas was approaching. These young parents were stressing because they could not afford to do Christmas for their children. 4 local families decided to help this young family to enjoy a wonderful Christmas. None of these 4 families knew the other 3 were involved. Each family wanted to keep their participation secret from the target family and from anyone else. The things brought to this family were brought secretly.

For example: beginning the 11^th day before Christmas, one family brought them an artificial Christmas tree and left it at the door. One child stayed at the door until the rest of the family had left and was out of sight. Then that child rang the doorbell and ran,

The next night they brought lights for the tree. There were many more lights than the tree needed, the thought being that perhaps they would use some of them to decorate their porch.

The next night they brought decorations for the tree.

The next night they brought decorations for the front room.

The next night they brought candy canes to put on the tree.

Each night something was left on the porch. Fragrant candles, large socks for Santa to fill, and much more.

And so, it went until Christmas Eve. On Christmas Eve they brought wrapped gifts for each member of the family. The tags were signed by Santa Clause. Santa Clause also brought candy. oranges, and little gifts to put into the family's socks.

Early on Christmas Day, the family brought the makings for Christmas Dinner. There was a ham, potatoes, vegetables, pie, and a note expressing love for their target family. The Young Men and Young Women also brought a food basket.

The target family never knew who their benefactors were,

The other three families did much the same thing, but they didn't start as early. They also brought gifts and food and love, and again did not let them know who was involved in this effort.

The target family contacted the Bishop to find out who had done this, The Bishop had not been involved and could not tell them.

Those family members who participated in this "Ding-Dong Ditch Santa Clause" effort remember this special Christmas as the best Christmas ever, even after more than 25 years. Some of them were very young at the time.

It was a special time in 5 families' lives. 5 families were blessed because of this event. 5 families were strengthened both emotionally and spiritually.

None of the men in these 4 loving families were assigned as Home Teachers or ministers to the target family.

The reason I tell this story is because it is a perfect example of pure love and of wonderful ministering to a family in need. One does not need to be "assigned" to minister to others in need.

Jan and Jeremy

I am reluctant to use this next story because Sister Black and I don't hold ourselves up as any wonderful example to anyone. However. this story will help complete my message to you.

The year is 1992. I was 1^st Counselor to the Bishop, and I was at work when my princess bride called me. 

She said, "We have some visitors". 

"Oh," I said. "Who is there?" 

Well there was a story. A young lady named Jan was traveling with her 2year-old son and her fiancé coming out of Mexico and returning to Oregon. Her fiancé was Mexican, and he had a visa to permit him to come into the US. However, he attempted to smuggle some exotic birds when he came through customs and was detained. His visa was immediately revoked.

Jan's automobile was unreliable, and she and her small son were stranded.

Jan is a member of the church. She knew she needed help and she called several numbers trying to locate the transient Bishop. Our Bishop was the transient Bishop, but he was gone often as an agent for the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency. I took care of most of the transient duties when he was gone.     Jan got our phone number and called our house.

Sister Black answered the phone and listened to her story. The spirit whispered to her that she needed to go and pick up Jan and her son, Jeremy, from a flea bag motel near Ft. Bliss in El Paso, and then figure out how to deal with the situation.

When she called me, she had already picked up Jan and Jeremy and was back home again. She needed me to her what to do. I told her to feed them and sit tight and we would figure it out when I got home.

The spirit whispered to me that we should shelter Jan and Jeremy as long as they needed it. We set up our family room as their living space. Jan had no resources, so we just treated them as if they were part of our family.

Our home was very full.  We had 7 children and a dog.  And then we added these two vagabonds.

Jan immediately got a job as a waitress in one of the ritziest restaurants in El Paso, so that her tips would sustain them, she saved her money, got her car repaired and then worked to get her fiancé out of detention, she asked me to come with her to his hearings and I did so. Our attendance and our participation were insufficient to get him released due to the severity of the penalty of attempting to smuggle exotic birds into the United States. He was in detention for some time before he was deported to Mexico.

Jan and Jeremy only stayed in our home for 6 weeks. but those 6 weeks had a great effect on our family and on Jan and Jeremy. Jeremy still talks about that time. He was only 2 years old, but he remembers. Our children still remember the time we had a "family" living in our family room.

Jan thanks me every time we talk. She told me last night,

"Those were some of best and happiest times of my life, and also sad, I felt like Heavenly Father, as He always has, was watching out for me. Sometimes in life we don't have to ask why or double think decisions. I knew what to do and so did your family. To me that is what our church is all about.

“I talk about those experiences every single day, pretty much.

"Because of you guys I was able to work with El Paso Community College pioneering a program with Tech de Monterrey."

The prophet Mormon taught:

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with 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"

(Mormon 7:48)

Elder Massimo De Feo:

"Pure love is the true sign of every true disciple of Jesus Christ."

These stories that I have told you are about love. They represent love expressed through action. This is what true ministering is. It is just love expressed through action. It is caring for those to whom we have been asked to minister.

I suspect that the boys on the two baseball teams didn't think they were expressing love for Shay, but that is exactly what they did.

I suspect that the families helping a new family to enjoy Christmas didn't think they were expressing love. They were just wanting to share their bounty with a family in need.

Likewise, when we go to the temple, and do work for those who have already passed through this life, we express true love, whether we think so or not. Those spirits cannot do their own work, so temple patrons do it in their behalf. This is true love.

I know that Sister Black and I did not consider the idea that we were expressing love when we invited Jan and Jeremy into our home. We were just taking care of somebody in need. We don't hold ourselves out to be anybody special. We just go about our lives in a manner we believe expresses our love for our Savior, Jesus Christ.

I know that God lives.  I know that His son, Jesus Christ also lives and is in control of our world.  I know that Joseph Smith really did see what he said he saw.  He saw the Father and the Son in a column of light descending from above.  He spoke to them, and they spoke to him.  I know that Joseph Smith was given instruction in the Sacred Grove. I know that through Joseph Smith the fullness of the Gospel and authorized priesthoods were restored to the earth.  I know that the work we do in the temples today is of eternal importance.  I know that Joseph Smith translated the writings found on golden plates, using the power of Almighty God, into English and published those writings as the Book of Mormon.

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

Reuniting Children to Their Law-Breaking Parents

There is so much angst with regard to "families" that cross into the United States illegally that rabid thinking seems to have pervaded our national political thought.  Some of our friends and relatives think that it is immoral for citizens of other nations coming into the US illegally should be separated from their children, but should be given a "get-out-of-jail-free" pass not given to US citizens who commit illegal acts.

In order to promote fairness to all peoples who commit illegal acts, whether US citizens or citizens of foreign lands I propose the following:

All persons incarcerated due to suspicion of a crime or as a result of sentencing after a court proceeding should be required to take his/her family into the jail/prison along with him/her.  I suspect the do-gooder folks will cry foul, but isn't that exactly what is wanted for illegal immigrant families?  After all I keep hearing, prisons apparently are the best place to raise children when their parents are incarcerated.

Crossing the US border without permission is a crime.  Illegal entry into someone's home is a crime.  Breaking into any premises for the purpose of robbing and killing is a crime.  Why should one class of criminal be given preference over another?  Why should non-US citizens have priority over US citizens?  Therefore, prisons should be redesigned so that children and spouses can enjoy prison life equally with the law-breaker.

Where does this end?

Let the hue and cry commence.

-30-

Taiwan and the Koreas. What if...?

I have been considering the situation regarding the Korean Peninsula and Taiwan recently.  The thought that came my way was:

What if North and South Korea both petitioned the USA to become territories of the United States with the thought in mind of becoming states after creating constitutions palatable to the U.S. Congress and the president?

China would probably be irritated as would also be Russia as that would put a USA entity on their respective doorsteps.

What if Taiwan petitioned the USA to become a state of the United States?

The Chinese would likely consider it an act of appropriation and possibly an act of war.  Never mind they are doing the same thing with the islands in the South China Sea.  Taiwan has long been a protectorate of the United States, both militarily and politically.  China has never liked the relationship between Taiwan and the USA and has often threatened Taiwan with invasion.  Taiwan is not connected to continental China except through heritage.

These thing will probably never happen, but it gives one pause to think about it.

-30-

Current Musings

I have often said that life gets more interesting every day that I live it.  I was considering my thinking in my youth.  I never even thought of what my life might be like when I reached the age of retirement.  I saw my grandfather when he retired and my own father when he retired and thought, "well that looks pretty easy."  I am now of the opinion that life after a career is not so easy after all.

We have been known to state, "Well when life settles down a little we can do _______."  Now I discover that life doesn't ever settle down.  The differences, as I perceive them are:

1.  We can't do things as fast as we did in the past.  Therefore projects take longer.  Merely thinking about a project takes longer than the doing of it used to take.

2.  Our ability to grasp small objects is greatly reduced.  I have trouble even holding on to a screw driver or a bar of soap much less small change. A dime will slip out of my hands very easily.  50 years ago I didn't think those things would ever be a problem.

3.  We can't see as well as we used to see.  In my youth I had 20-15 vision.  I could see and read street signs two or three blocks away, and I could see and read freeway signs much further.  My siblings always made fun of my "eagle eyes".

4.  Our bodily functions are not the same.  'nuff said.

5.  We spend more time thinking about relationships than we did in the past.  As I age and see my friends and relatives slip into eternity, I am more sensitive to how eternally important is is to make and maintain close relationships.

6.  We are concerned about our spiritual health.  My relationship with my Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, has become of utmost importance.  In my youth I was a little more cavalier in my attitude.

7.  We concern ourselves more about our family and friends.  I worry more about the spiritual relationship my children and grandchildren have with my Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.  When I was young I never even considered that my grandparents would be concerned about me, much less great grandparents or others.

As I become more fragile and perhaps more frail in both body and mind, I have become more concerned for family members and friends.  I find it more important to check on them.  I find that I want to know they are okay.  I know that they sometimes think my interest in them is overbearing, but I don't intend to be offensive.

I beg forgiveness if I have been offensive as I worry about you, my friends.  I am simply concerned.