1 Nephi 1:1 says that he was born of goodly parents. Quite possibly, could it be that he was referring not only to his father and mother, but ancestors?
When Joseph F. Smith was around 28, he was working in the LDS Church Office. The prominent place to work in those days was on a farm, but Joseph wanted to learn more about his father (Hyrum) and uncle (Joseph). So, he would work in a secretarial position for the Church and after work hours, he would go through the Church History files to read about his father and uncle.
One night, while in his office, young Joseph F. was approached by President Brigham Young. Brigham asked Joseph for his name, which he gave. President Young then said, "No, who are your parents?" To which, Joseph replied Mary Fielding and Hyrum Smith. President Young replied that he had a blessing for Joseph from his father Hyrum and asked if Joseph would like it. President Young then laid his hands on young Joseph F.'s head and ordained him to be a member of the 12 Apostles and a member of the First Presidency.
The interesting thing about this story is that Joseph was not asked by President Young if he was worthy or if he had a temple recommend before he ordained Joseph. Instead, he asked Joseph who his family was. That thought gives a whole new meaning to continuing in the faith of our fathers.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Friday, July 24, 2009
Mother's Heart
I was just listening to a talk given by the YW General Presidency on May 1, 2008. Sister Elaine S. Dalton quoted someone saying, "If it is in the mother's heart, it is in her home." In pondering this, at first, I felt reassurance knowing that I love my Father in Heaven and Savior and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. However, I then wondered if there are things in my heart that would not necessarily make my future and present home a heaven on earth. I think that I am going to ponder the answer to that question and change those things in my heart that will draw my home closer to Christ.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Grace
When I was in high school, I ran on the cross country team. The way that cross country is scored is based upon individual and team points. The main runners on the team are the top five individuals on your team that cross the finish line. If one team has five individuals that cross the finish line before your five finish crossing the finish line, the other team wins. You could have a person on your team take first place overall, but your team would still lose if your fifth person crossed the line in last place. Therefore, there is a big responsibility for the fifth person.
My first year of cross country, I was the fifth runner on my team. My first year of XC, the coach of the team had predicted the best girls team he had coached in years. It was really my first year of running ever, and I worked hard to do my best.
Throughout the season that year, my team had done fairly well--beating out all of our competition fairly easily with the exception of one main competitor, the Trojans. The Trojans and my team and been neck and neck the whole season. As we entered state qualifiers, we were continually reminded of the importance of focusing to get in front of the Trojan runners.
The state qualifiers course was at Freeman Park. I had never run at Freeman, and it looked easy. It was only grass and a few hills. I thought that I would be able to run this course without a problem.
Being the novice runner that I was, I started sprinting when the gun went off. Sprinting for 3.1 miles for a novice runner is nearly impossible. I quickly found myself slowing down and in pain. What was even worse was to count the girls ahead of me from the Trojans. One, two...four, and finally, five girls from the opposing team were ahead of me. My coach encouraged me to go faster to get ahead of the Trojan girls, but I could not.
Tears fell my from my eyes as I painfully finished the race. The other top four runners from my team had finished in amazing time...and I had let them down. I was so upset that I left with my family before the results of the race were announced. I knew that I had caused my team to not qualify for the state race. As the park faded from view, I pondered my running mistakes and how those mistakes had hurt my entire team.
A few miles down the road, my cell phone rang. One of my teammates was on the line. All I heard was screaming and could barely make out the words that were being relayed to me. "WE...STATE! WE'RE GOING TO STATE!" I could barely keep my composure! How? I had counted the number of girls ahead of me...how?
Later that day, as I reunited with a few of my teammates, I told them of what I had seen and asked how it was possible for us to still go to state with my errors. To this day, I do not fully understand, but I was told that the number four runner on my team had done something that caused my team to have just enough points to beat out all of the other teams. It was because of the fourth runner that my mistakes were compensated for and we were going to state.
Years after this experience, I have constantly pondered how closely this story fits with that of the Atonement. In 2 Nephi 25:23, we are reminded that "it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." In this life, we are all inexperienced runners trying to cross the finish line to qualify for exaltation. Since we are inexperienced, we fall short at times and make mistakes that can cause us to not qualify individually for our exaltation. But, it is through the grace available through the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ that our mistakes can be compensated for in order for us to qualify. If we turn to Him with a broken heart and contrite spirit, He will not only compensate but teach us how to improve. I am so grateful for the grace that helps me in all of my imperfection to have a chance to qualify for all of the great eternal blessings provided by my Savior.
My first year of cross country, I was the fifth runner on my team. My first year of XC, the coach of the team had predicted the best girls team he had coached in years. It was really my first year of running ever, and I worked hard to do my best.
Throughout the season that year, my team had done fairly well--beating out all of our competition fairly easily with the exception of one main competitor, the Trojans. The Trojans and my team and been neck and neck the whole season. As we entered state qualifiers, we were continually reminded of the importance of focusing to get in front of the Trojan runners.
The state qualifiers course was at Freeman Park. I had never run at Freeman, and it looked easy. It was only grass and a few hills. I thought that I would be able to run this course without a problem.
Being the novice runner that I was, I started sprinting when the gun went off. Sprinting for 3.1 miles for a novice runner is nearly impossible. I quickly found myself slowing down and in pain. What was even worse was to count the girls ahead of me from the Trojans. One, two...four, and finally, five girls from the opposing team were ahead of me. My coach encouraged me to go faster to get ahead of the Trojan girls, but I could not.
Tears fell my from my eyes as I painfully finished the race. The other top four runners from my team had finished in amazing time...and I had let them down. I was so upset that I left with my family before the results of the race were announced. I knew that I had caused my team to not qualify for the state race. As the park faded from view, I pondered my running mistakes and how those mistakes had hurt my entire team.
A few miles down the road, my cell phone rang. One of my teammates was on the line. All I heard was screaming and could barely make out the words that were being relayed to me. "WE...STATE! WE'RE GOING TO STATE!" I could barely keep my composure! How? I had counted the number of girls ahead of me...how?
Later that day, as I reunited with a few of my teammates, I told them of what I had seen and asked how it was possible for us to still go to state with my errors. To this day, I do not fully understand, but I was told that the number four runner on my team had done something that caused my team to have just enough points to beat out all of the other teams. It was because of the fourth runner that my mistakes were compensated for and we were going to state.
Years after this experience, I have constantly pondered how closely this story fits with that of the Atonement. In 2 Nephi 25:23, we are reminded that "it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." In this life, we are all inexperienced runners trying to cross the finish line to qualify for exaltation. Since we are inexperienced, we fall short at times and make mistakes that can cause us to not qualify individually for our exaltation. But, it is through the grace available through the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ that our mistakes can be compensated for in order for us to qualify. If we turn to Him with a broken heart and contrite spirit, He will not only compensate but teach us how to improve. I am so grateful for the grace that helps me in all of my imperfection to have a chance to qualify for all of the great eternal blessings provided by my Savior.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Recognizing Promptings of the Spirit
April 2005, President Eyring, “(When we receive a spiritual prompting,) there is peace and power.”
Greater Blessing
Elder George Q. Cannon (1827–1901): “The Saints should always remember that God sees not as man sees; that he does not willingly afflict his children, and that if he requires them to endure present privation and trial, it is that they may escape greater tribulations which would otherwise inevitably overtake them. If He deprives them of any present blessing, it is that he may bestow upon them greater and more glorious ones by-and-by.”
Broken Heart
"The Lord Jesus
died of a broken heart."
—James E. Talmage – Broken Heart: THE BROKEN HEART
died of a broken heart."
—James E. Talmage – Broken Heart: THE BROKEN HEART
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Fulfillment of Isaiah's Prophesy?
Isaiah 4:1 says, "And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach."
Recently, I was enrolled in a Writings of Isaiah class taught by Dr. Victor Ludlow. He told the class that this verse meant that in the last days, there will be few men that would 1) hold the priesthood worthily and 2) are able to create children. In pondering this prophesy, I have wondered what would cause this prophesy to come to pass.
One possible answer that has come to mind came from a dinner address I attended by the Lighted Candle Society, a group dedicated to the prohibition of pornography and aid for those addicted. The main address was given by a neurosurgeon named Dr. Don Hilton, Jr. He said that being addicted to pornography not only decreases the size of the addicted's frontal lobe but also causes individuals, particularly males, to become infertile. Pornography has potential to sadly bring about Isaiah's warning/prophesy of the last days. May we all do our best to stop pornography from spreading and help those suffering from addiction.
Recently, I was enrolled in a Writings of Isaiah class taught by Dr. Victor Ludlow. He told the class that this verse meant that in the last days, there will be few men that would 1) hold the priesthood worthily and 2) are able to create children. In pondering this prophesy, I have wondered what would cause this prophesy to come to pass.
One possible answer that has come to mind came from a dinner address I attended by the Lighted Candle Society, a group dedicated to the prohibition of pornography and aid for those addicted. The main address was given by a neurosurgeon named Dr. Don Hilton, Jr. He said that being addicted to pornography not only decreases the size of the addicted's frontal lobe but also causes individuals, particularly males, to become infertile. Pornography has potential to sadly bring about Isaiah's warning/prophesy of the last days. May we all do our best to stop pornography from spreading and help those suffering from addiction.
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