Wednesday, September 7, 2005

  from "Remember How Merciful the Lord Hath Been" by Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Ensign, May 2004

In 1956, after returning home from several years in Washington, D.C., and having declined several attractive offers there, I received an offer to work at the University of Utah. My wife said I should take it. She said presciently, "I feel if you go there, maybe you will have some influence on students." I replied impatiently, "I'll be typing news releases, not working with students." The subsequent opportunities included being a bishop of a student ward, dean of students, and teaching hundreds of fine students in political science. It wasn't status that mattered, of course, but being stretched and being given opportunities to serve.

[&]

Brethren, there are clusters of memories embedded in each of your lives. And these can help us to "remember how merciful the Lord hath been" (Moroni 10:3). He certainly has been to me!
Brethren, as you submit your wills to God, you are giving Him the only thing you can actually give Him that is really yours to give. Don't wait too long to find the altar or to begin to place the gift of your wills upon it! No need to wait for a receipt; the Lord has His own special ways of acknowledging.
I testify to you that God has known you individually, brethren, for a long, long time (see D&C 93:23). He has loved you for a long, long time. He not only knows the names of all the stars (see Psalm 147:4; Isaiah 40:26); He knows your names and all your heartaches and your joys! By the way, you have never seen an immortal star; they finally expire. But seated by you tonight are immortal individuals—imperfect but who are, nevertheless, "trying to be like Jesus"! In His name, even Jesus Christ, amen.

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From a card:

Purpose to seek Him--He will be your reward.

Purpose to know Him--He will reveal Himself to you.

Purpose to follow Him--He will lead the way.

Purpose to enjoy Him--He will be your closest friend.

Purpose to praise Him--He will be your song.

Purpose to trust Him--He will be your provider.

Purpose to be totally His--He will be totally yours!


Given to me over four years ago by a wonderful couple, loving and spiritual.

It included Psalm 138:8 from a different translation of the Old Testament. I looked up the scripture in the King James Version, including the Joseph Smith Translation (yes, he truly did retranslate, under God's direction, some of the Bible to restore parts lost since originally written). I would encourage you to read Psalm 138.

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Be Grateful.
Be Smart.
Be Clean.
Be True.
Be Humble.
Be Prayerful.

~President Gordon B. Hinckley
November 12, 2000

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La-la-la-la....

*Sorry, Equus is still...floating on air. Anyway, she's working at Wendy's right now. She's not thrilled, but she's had some very helpful and kind people at work. And she's seen someone she knows once every day so far. She's only been working three days, but still, it's neat.*

-She has a Bachelor's degree in English. Why is she working at Wendy's?-

*Because she hasn't put forth the energy to find a real job yet. Sadly, she's very lazy. Haven't you noticed?*

-Yeah. That's sad.-

La-la-la-la...

*In case you don't read Refi's chatbox, Sano finally told Equus he loves her.*

-And she hasn't said much since then. She's been singing. And twirling people around.-

*Yeah...Well (in reality) Equus just found out yesterday that a guy she likes has a girlfriend. But a happy memory is her first time feeling that a guy smiled at her because he thought she was cute. She was at a food place with a friend, and she was smiling or laughing, and this guy smiled back at her.*

^__^ La-la-laa!

*(whispers) By the way, we're going to have a party sometime, hopefully. Tell K-c if you want to be involved.*

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Moroni 10 is one of many powerful chapters in the Book of Mormon.
Please read verses 3-7, a challenge to all the world.

Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
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.
And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
And whatsoever thing is good is just and true; wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is.
And ye may aknow that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, baccording• to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever.

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from “Strengthen Thy Brethren”, a talk given by Elder Mervyn B. Arnold of the Seventy

(introductory quote from talk)
May each quorum and each one of us individually . . . follow the example of our Lord and Savior to "take . . . him that is weak, . . . that he may become strong also."
(excerpts from talk)
Brother José de Souza Marques was the type of leader who truly understood the principle taught by the Savior: "And if any man among you be strong in the Spirit, let him take with him him that is weak, that he may be edified in all meekness, that he may become strong also" (D&C 84:106).
[…]
"That day as we walked out of the ocean, I [Fernando Araujo] was touched by Brother Marques's sincere love and worry for me. He truly understood the Savior's words: 'I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick' (Ezekiel 34:16). Brother Marques didn't just give me a ride to church—the quorum made sure I remained active. They planned activities that made me feel needed and wanted, I received a calling, and the quorum members became my friends."
Following his reactivation, Brother Araujo went on a full-time mission and has served as bishop, stake president, mission president, and regional representative. His widowed mother, three sisters, and several cousins have also entered the waters of baptism.
[…]
"Activities are organized to reach each young man. We discuss each young man in our quorum presidency meetings and in our monthly bishopric youth committee meetings. In 2003 we managed to rescue five priests, one teacher, and two deacons, who are now active in their quorums. We have also reactivated some families and have enjoyed the blessing of seeing some nonmembers enter the waters of baptism."
[…]
The Savior's example of going the extra mile to find His lost sheep is evident throughout the scriptures. "What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine and go into the wilderness after that which is lost, until he find it?" (Joseph Smith Translation, Luke 15:4). The Good Shepherd knew when one of His sheep was missing: "He numbereth his sheep, and they know him" (1 Nephi 22:25), "and he calleth his own sheep by name" (John 10:3). He went "into the wilderness," which at times has been defined as "a confusing multitude or mass" (Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th ed. [2003], "wilderness," 1432), and He searched for that which was lost.
We are not told how long it took the Good Shepherd to find the lost sheep or if others helped in the search, but we do know that they "[knew] his voice" (John 10:4) and that He loved them. We also know that He did not give up, that He did "go . . . after that which [was] lost, until he [did] find it," and that when He returned, the lost sheep was safely on His shoulders. And then He exclaims, "Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth" (Luke 15:6–7).
[…]
"As I live, saith the Lord God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock; . . .
" . . . I will require my flock at their hand" (vv. […] 8, 10; emphasis added).
The Lord has always required that those He entrusts with His holy priesthood, including fathers, quorum leaders, and quorum members, be held accountable for His flocks. Brethren, we must search and seek out our flocks, and we must not allow our flocks to become "meat to every beast of the field."
In section 20 of the Doctrine and Covenants the Savior teaches us many of our duties as priesthood holders and quorum members. The following action words and phrases underline His sense of urgency: "watch over," "take the lead," "expound," "visit the house of each member," "pray," "strengthen," "warn," "send," "teach," "exhort," "baptize," and "invite all to come unto Christ" (vv. 42, 44, 46–47, 53, 59, 81–82; emphasis added).
I also felt the urgency in President Hinckley's voice when he stated, "Let us, every one, resolve within ourselves to arise to a new opportunity, a new sense of responsibility, a new shouldering of obligation to assist our Father in Heaven in His glorious work of bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of His sons and daughters throughout the earth" ("Find the Lambs, Feed the Sheep," Liahona, July 1999, 124; Ensign, May 1999, 110).
I am grateful for the example of the Good Shepherd, who did not give up until He had His lost sheep safely home; for the examples of President Thomas S. Monson, who while serving as a bishop left his flock in the care of the adviser and went to the West Temple Garage to rescue Richard from a grease pit (see "The Aaronic Priesthood Pathway," Ensign, Nov. 1984, 41); of Brother Marques, who rescued Fernando from the ocean; of a quorum adviser and various quorum members I am well acquainted with who knocked on Scott's bedroom window every Sunday morning for six months, fellowshipped and loved him, until Scott returned to the fold; and for the examples of many of you who have gone the extra mile until you have found that which was lost. Your efforts will have an eternal effect on the lives of your quorum members and their posterity for generations to come. They will be living testimonies of the promise given by the Savior when He said: "Feed the flock of God which is among you, . . . and when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away" (1 Peter 5:2, 4), "that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father" (D&C 15:6), and "how great will be your joy" (D&C 18:16).
May each [...] each one of us individually, working in conjunction with the councils of the Church, follow the example of our Lord and Savior to "take . . . him that is weak, . . . that he may become strong also" (D&C 84:106). I bear humble witness that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, that the Book of Mormon is scripture, that President Gordon B. Hinckley is indeed a prophet of God, that Jesus Christ is the Redeemer and the Good Shepherd, and that He lives. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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We should do help each other out of love. Remember that.

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Fact of the day: What do clovers, peas, and beans have in common? They are all a particular type of plant--legumes. "All legumes have compound leaves, and some grow as vines. Some have bacteria in their roots that fix nitrogen from the atmosphere." (from Eastern Forests, a Peterson Field Guide, p 240) The clovers I'm most familiar with are red clover and white clover. You can eat the flowers' sweet, sugary fluid (nectar). In red clover, The darker the purple flowers, I think, the sweeter they taste.

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1 John 4:16-21
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
We love him, because he first loved us.
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

Also Moroni 8:16.

And please look at Topical Guide--Love. (A topical guide is kind of like an index of topics in the scriptures.)

Love in Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Hugs and take care out there in the real world, and don't let pretend overwhelm reality. It isn't to be used to leave the real world behind. Be careful. In faith, love and take care.

Remember: Reality is so much more important than pretend. It is real. The best use for pretend is to help us understand reality, by stepping back and viewing the same thing through someone else's eyes or even in another setting.

Hugs. Have faith. Be strong. Love. Hugs. ^_^
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