Too Good, I Had To Share

Recently, I read a cute mom's note on my Missionary Moms pages on Facebook.  She shared her younger son's recent talk in their sacrament meeting and it was too cute not to share.  See if you don't agree with me when you're done with this:

Good morning brothers and sisters. For those who don't know me, I’m Daniel W.. For those who do know me, you can tell that I’m a fan of geeky things. But I'm also a fan of things that are good, right, and that will lead me to my Father in Heaven. You might say I’m a big fan of our prophet and other general authorities.

My dad always tells me that you can find truth anywhere if you look for it. Because I'm a fan, I find a lot of life lessons in some of the books, movies, and even some video games. But, because the movie Star Wars is on everyone's lips, and I’m a big fan, I'm going to reference that today. By the way, did you know there are more Star Wars fans, per capita in the state of Utah, than anywhere else… and I'm guessing anywhere else in the galaxy. I think that we of the LDS faith are big fans of working with a powerful force to accomplish great things.

I think it’s important to state that we are a literal child of God and that we carry the light of Christ. Yoda, the Jedi master, says “Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter” (end quote). Spiritual master, and prophet, Thomas S. Monson says, “If you want to give light to others, you have to glow yourself” (end quote). Both of these masters remind us to keep our spiritual light bright in order to share with and help others.

A good part of growing our spiritual mastery is understanding some of the obstacles we encounter. These are the dark things in life we need to face and overcome. Regarding this, here’s another inspirational quote from Yoda, “Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, and hate leads to suffering” (end quote). President Gordon B. Hinckley expressed the same idea when he said, “Don’t make the kinds of mistakes that will bring regret. You can be wise and happy or stupid and miserable. The choice is yours” (end quote). We learn from this that with a watchful eye, and the guidance of the Holy Ghost, we can make the type of decisions that will lead to joy and peace.

We all need to come to understand that we have the power to make a difference in our own life and to influence for good the lives of others. Or as Obi Wan Kenobi said to those who answered the call of spirit, “The force is strong in you.” (end quote) President Thomas S. Monson said, “We can’t direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails” (end quote) or in other words, by understanding the power is within us as well as what is available to us, we can set our life for smooth sailing.

Courage is a very important part of our spiritual growth. Doubt and fear are not part of any Jedi or spiritual master. Jedi Master Qui Gon Jinn said, “Always remember, your focus determines your reality” (end quote). It’s important for us to put all of our thoughts and energy toward our best efforts. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf wisely told us, “Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith” (end quote). A positive belief is so important for us to obtain positive results. I believe that fears and doubts are whispered to us by the “Dark Side” to stop us from trying for fear of failure. Pushing through those doubts is what we need to do.

When I get a picture in my mind of the characteristics of a true Jedi master, this is what I think of: the humility of Master Yoda, the strength of Qui Gon Jinn, the patience and determination of Obi Wan Kenobi, the innocence and agility of Luke Skywalker and HOPEFULLY, to be wise enough to not have to wrestle with issues to the very end...like Anakin Skywalker as Darth Vader. I’m thinking that the prophet Joseph Smith set the standard for spiritual masters from the very beginning. Through Star Wars, I have learned that a big part of growing spiritually must be done ourselves. This can make a spiritual master feel very alone. Once again, I can't think of anyone but Christ who has faced so many challenges alone more than Joseph Smith. He really was the perfect person to begin this new generation of master Jedis’. I’m surprised there’s not a painting of him in Jedi Robes done by a geek like me...but with more artistic talent.

This leads me to my favorite Star Wars quote said by Master Yoda, “Do or do not, there is no try.” I like how there is only doing and doing again to get better at something. Whether it’s the force or the gospel of Jesus Christ, we need to fully commit to DOing, rather than making attempts that we call “trying.” We can't let doubts, fears, or even having a weak testimony keep us from doing all that we can to be the best person that we can be in the gospel. President Thomas S. Monson said, “All men have fears, but those who face their fears with FAITH have courage as well” (end quote).

As you can see, there are many similarities to the gospel and the Force, and I for one am very glad that there are life lessons to be found in the things that we can relate to individually. I know that I am a son of my Father in Heaven first, and a self-professed geek second, but truth speaks to me and everyone in ways that we can understand and relate.

I hope that we can all take each moment of our life to learn more about our Savior and his gospel by the things that we see and do every day. But mostly I hope we learn by listening to our prophet now and prophets of old through scripture about how we ourselves can be spiritual masters. I’m grateful that we can all be unique in the gospel while still believing in the same principles. Through the gospel we can support each other. I can't forget to say that I love my family and this ward. May the Force, and the FAITH, be with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

This is NOT my original message, and I share it after receiving permission to share with my own missionary.  PLEASE do not share without getting permission from the originator, Kelley Warnick.

From The Mouths Of RMs

Yesterday is church we had a farewell/homecoming for one family in our congregation.  The second brother just returned from his mission in Tennessee and next week the youngest brother leaves for his.  This family is a neighbor in our cul-de-sac so we have knows these boys pretty well.

The younger brother will be serving in the Alpine-German speaking mission.  I'm sure he'll be great.  He already looks the part. and he will definitely blend in better than most.

The returning brother spoke about a talk from General Conference that I remember feeling was spot on at the time, but hearing it again really touched me.  She spoke on the Elder Hallstrom's talk called "That's Just Who I Am". 

The gist of the talk in conference was that once we say, "That's just who I am" we eliminate the opportunity of change in our lives.  Change is what this life is all about.  Change is a gift given to each of us by the Savior's atonement.  When we decide, fatalistically, that is just who we are, we dismiss His power to heal and change us.

Maybe it is because Genius Golfer told me I was asked to give the closing prayer, or because the message was powerful, I got a LOT out of that talk.  And I ended up NOT having the closing prayer; GG was just giving me a hard time because he had been asked to give the opening prayer.

The Big WHY?

Sunday we had our ward conference and I was touched by the talk given by our Stake President.  Now, having worked with him closely in my years with the Young Women's presidency, I admire and love this man.  I know he seeks God's will first and foremost.  But I was still impressed by what he taught us in that meeting.

Gordon B. Hinckley once said thta we need to look to Christ and come alive.  President A first asked "Why?"  Why do we look to Christ, and why to we need to look to Christ to come alive?

Why do we have The Living Christ?
It is a testimony of Who He is.

Why do we "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies...?"
So our children will know who to look to for redemption.

Why do we want our "bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith...? and to "let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly...?"
So our confidence will wax strong, that the Holy Ghost might be our constant companion and that the Holy Ghost will testify to us that Jesus is the Christ.



 Why can we trust in the Lord?
He will direct us for good.


Why must we "press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men...?"
If we do, feasting on the words of Christ, we will have eternal life.

Why did Christ take upon Himself death?
So He'd know what we need.


Why does He invite us "forth, [to] thrust their hands into his side, and...feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet..?"
So we can remember what He did for us, so we can repent and feel His love and His forgiveness.


Why are were asked to build "upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation..?"
So we can survive the whirlwinds of the devil and the storm of life and will be found standing strong in the end.

Why do we labor to persuade others to come unto Christ and be perfected in Him?
So we can enter into His rest.

Why "be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works...?"
So that we may be sealed His.

Why does He invite us to come unto Christ?
 So He can show us our weaknesses--which are not the same as our rebellions--and then He can make them our strengths.

What manner of "men ought ye to be?"
Even as He is.  we need to prepare to meet God.

Everything we do is to come unto Christ.  All we teach is to lead us to Christ.  Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer.  All things testify of Him.  Are we listening to that testimony?  Are we adding ours to it?  Are we moving closer to Him?  If not, WHY?

Blessings that Come from the Gift of the Holy Ghost

I had another opportunity to speak in another ward this week.  My dear friend, Pam, had her son's mission farewell that same day, so I took her spot to speak so she could enjoy her day with his son and their extended family that came to celebrate with them.  Knowing that the talk I gave last week didn't really fit the subject given me, I felt I should just begin again with a new talk. Here is what I came up with:

As the Savior knew the end of His earthly ministry drew near, He prepared His apostles by assuring them in the book of John “And I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever” (John 14:16) and “If I go not away, the Comforter will not come until you, l but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” (John 16:7)

Even though these words were spoken to His Apostles of the ancient church, they are still promised to each of us as members of his Church today.  As we are worthy of it, the Holy Ghost will abide with us too. 

Having the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost affords us many blessings—besides the assurance that we are doing what the Lord would have us do.  I’d like to share some thoughts today on a few of those blessings of having the Holy Ghost as our constant companion—the utilization of receiving the Holy Ghost.

President Boyd K. Packer, in the Seminary Centennial celebration in January, taught us that “the gift of the Holy Ghost will protect you in enemy territory.”  He said: “You have been taught all of your lives about the gift of the Holy Ghost, but teaching can only go so far. You can and, in fact, you must go the rest of the way alone to discover within yourself how the Holy Ghost can be a guiding and protective influence.

“For young men and young women, the process is the same. Discovering how the Holy Ghost operates in your life is the quest of a lifetime. Once you have made that discovery for yourself, you can live in enemy territory and will not be deceived or destroyed. No member of this Church—and that means each of you—will ever make a serious mistake without first being warned by the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

“Sometimes when you have made a mistake, you may have said afterward, ‘I knew I should not have done that. It did not feel right,’ or perhaps, ‘I knew I should have done that. I just did not have the courage to act!’ Those impressions are the Holy Ghost attempting to direct you toward good or warning you away from harm.

“There are certain things that you must not do if the lines of communication are to remain open. You cannot lie or cheat or steal or act immorally and have those channels remain free from disruption. Do not go where the environment resists spiritual communication.

“You must learn to seek the power and direction that is available to you, and then follow that course no matter what.” 

Elder Dallin H. Oakes quoted our prophet today when he taught: “President Thomas S. Monson has declared ‘We are surrounded by immorality, pornography, violence, drugs, and a host of other ills which afflict our modern-day society.  Ours is the challenge, even the responsibility not only to keep ourselves unspotted form the world but also to guide our children and others through the stormy seas of sin surrounding us that we might one day return to live with our Heavenly Father.’  Truly we need the guidance of the Spirit and we must be diligent to do those things necessary to have the companionship of that Spirit.  Specifically we must keep the commandments, pray, study the scriptures, and repent weekly as we partake of the sacrament.”

Now I have had occasional experiences in my life when I have felt the Holy Ghost specifically protect me from harm, danger or accident.  But I have more often felt His influence as I choose to live in obedience to the commandments, petitioning my Heavenly Father in daily prayer, searching for scriptural direction and keeping myself away from influence in my mind and body that would do me ill. In my family life, my calling, my work, I feel the Spirit leading and guiding me as I seek to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost.

Another blessings of having the Holy Ghost as a constant companion is the comfort He is able to provide. Sister Margaret Nadauld, former General YW president, once said “You too are loved by the Lord, just as the disciples of old.  You are loved more than you will ever know.  He wants you to be successful in your life’s mission!  You don’t have to face the experiences of this life alone, nor have you been sent here to fail.

“For this reason,” she continued, “a holy gift was given to you at the time of your baptism….The Holy Spirit can be with you always and guide you back to Him….

“The Lord promises us that because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence and prayer.”

I have two personal experiences with the Holy Ghost blessings me with comfort that I’d like to share.  The first occurred a couple of years ago.  I had gone to my doctor for a regular check-up.  After a routine imaging test, I ended up having a little spot that did not look like the radiologists thought it should.  Consequently, I ended up in an MRI.  An MRI is a big, thick, metal donut shaped machine that makes very loud sounds and because of the safety concerns the operator is forced into the adjoining room to work it—leaving me as the patient in this cold, loud, scary place by myself.  I was scared, knowing the unwanted outcome of this test could potentially alter my life, my family’s life and all the normal things I was comfortable doing.  I knew that my Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers.  So while this big, clangy, scary machine was working all around me, I prayed that I could feel a sense of His care and some degree of comfort.  Almost as soon as I thought those words, I felt a warmth and peace that I knew could only be the Holy Ghost.  The Holy Ghost also instantly brought to my mind the words of a hymn that offered additional reassurance and calm.

The second incident just happened Friday night.  My dad called me just before 4 PM that afternoon.  He and my mom were on the freeway on their way to the University of San Francisco hospital. He had just received a phone call we have been praying, hoping and waiting for.  A kidney was there for him. He has been on dialysis for 3 1/2 years and has been on the transplant short list for almost a year.  He sounded excited and relieved.  They live in California, 900 miles away from me.  As soon as I hung up the phone, I was overcome with emotions and dropped to my knees with gratitude for this wonderful news, again to ask my Heavenly Father for His blessing—to bless my dad that this kidney will be a match, that the surgical team will be guided my His hand, that the transplant will be successful and that my dad might be healed with this miracle of modern medicine.  As I finished my list of requests, I thought to add one more.  I asked that even though I was two states away and unable to be there with them in person, I asked that I could feel the Lord’s will and know that whatever happened would be okay.  As I stood up –and throughout the night—I felt a calm, sweet peace that I know comes only from the Holy Ghost.

Now I know that not all prayers are answered that quickly—but when you really need to be comforted, the Holy Ghost is there immediately if you are worthy of it to bring the peace and clam each of us needs from time to time, even if it is just to strengthen us to keep dealing with the situation we worried about in the first place.

Finally, the other blessing of the Holy Ghost comes in His role as a testifier.  Again, from Sister Nadauld, “This Holy Spirit can help you really understand deep down inside the most important truth ever known—that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and that because of Him every one of us who has ever lived will one day live again.  And because of Him we can repent or wrongdoing and get on the path that leads us back to our Heavenly Father.  That is what the Atonement is the Holy Spirit will testify of that truth to our hearts as we seek to know, and He testifies to others as we bear testimony of these truths to them.”

The Holy Ghost will let you feel for yourself when someone teaches you something true.  Each of us has to figure out how He speaks to us. But once you know that, (and the more you feel His presence with you, the easier it gets) you will feel Him testify over and over to you of truth.  Each time I read the Book of Mormon, for example, I take Moroni’s challenge with a sincere heart having real intent and ask if the Book of Mormon is the word of God.  And invariably, the Holy Ghost will tell me it is.  It doesn’t matter how many times I have done this before.  It is still truth, and He will testify of that to me.

The Holy Ghost is a protector, a comforter, a testifier.  He is a remarkable member of the Godhead.  He is always willing to be with us as we do those things the Lord has outlined as required for that blessed companionship.   And each week as the sacrament prayers are said, we hear those requirements again and the promise is made to us once more.

Tweaking The Work

I have already shared with you my talk from last Sunday about Family History.  But because of the scheduling of our presidency's assignment to be the companion speaker for high council speakers this month, and the fact that Dear Friend Pam's son mission farewell falls on next Sunday, I have the opportunity to re-run my talk with just a bit of tweaking for yet another ward this coming Sunday.  It saves Pam from speaking on a day when her family would be all at her home for Stevie's farewell, as well as trying to prepare a talk when she is just getting back to school this week.  Getting to reuse my talk from last week, saves me from rewriting a new one--though I would be willing to do that.  The high councilman I will be speaking with told me that since I am filling in I'd be fine to use my old talk.  The member of the bishopric told me they have had members speaking all month on ways to invite the Spirit into their lives.  Doing family history is certainly another way to invite the Spirit.  So there isn't too much to tweak to make my old talk appropriate for the topic in that ward.

I am happy to do it.  Speaking in public isn't that big of a deal--though writing something that I think will please the Lord is a much bigger challenge. Now, however, the "naked Great Grandparent's talk" reputation precedes me.  Perhaps the tweaking will be more like editing or cutting and pasting.  The bishopric member who spoke to me just told me to "pray about it" so it was up to me.  Great.  I follow directions much better than I hear promptings.

Family History Unites Geneations

I had a speaking assignment in another ward yesterday...this is what I ended up sharing.  MANY thanks to my mom who rushed me her family history notes so I could share from our own ancestral stories. Thought you'd like to see.

In the dining room of my parent’s home there is a wooden chest.  It is made of heavy, dark, aged wood.  It sits on short legs and is lined with a distinctly patterned fabric.  As a kid I thought it smelled funny. 

I remember hearing my mom tell me about this strange piece of furniture.  She shared that it had been her Grandma Blanche’s cedar chest and had a place in her grandparent’s home when she was girl.  But the connection it had to my mom was more than that.  She told me that when she was about 6 months old, she was left in the care of her grandparents for a few hours while her parents went out together.  Her grandmother placed her in that chest, on a couple of pillows, to sleep that evening—a makeshift crib at her grandparent’s home.  Some time that night, Grandma Blanche died suddenly.   To my mom that old cedar chest was a tangible tie to her grandmother.  It is a treasure to her and a keepsake in our family.

Elder Dennis B. Neuenschwander, of the Quorum of the Seventy, spoke about Bridges and Eternal Keepsakes in his General Conference talk in April of 1999. He said “Every family has keepsakes.  Families collect furniture, books, porcelain, and other valuable things, then, pass them on to their posterity.  Such beautiful keepsakes remind us of loved ones now gone and turn our minds to loved ones unborn.  They form a bridge between family past and family future. 

“Every family has other, more valuable keepsakes. These include genealogies, family stories, historical accounts, and traditions.  These eternal keepsakes also form a bridge between past and future and bind generations together in ways no other keepsake can.”

Elder Neuenschwander noted that “Bridges between generations are not built by accident. Each member of this church has the personal responsibility to be an eternal architect of this bridge for his or her own family.”

We are taught in the Member’s Guide to Temple and Family History Work: “As you participate in temple and family history work, you will be blessed with a stronger testimony of its importance, a greater appreciation of the Lord’s love for His children, and a motivating desire to do temple work for your ancestors.  You will have a better understanding of your family origins and an increased love for your ancestors.”

“Family history and temple work have a great power,” Elder Neuenschwander taught, “Which lies in their scriptural and divine promise that the hearts of the fathers will turn to the children and these children will turn to their fathers.”

President Eyring has said “If you learn stories about their lives, write them down and keep them.  You are not just gathering names.  Those you never met in life will become friends you love.  Your heart will be bound to theirs forever.”

I have been delighted to learn more of the lives of my ancestors from both sides of my family.  They may have lived in very different times than I do, but I feel a connection to them as I learn of their characteristics and choices.

Mary was waiting tables in Finland in July 1914 when, as she recalled, an “old man from America came in”.  John Jarvi was looking for a wife for his 30 year old son Alexander.  Mary longed for the adventure and the promised success to be found in America and convinced him to take her as the bride-to-be.  She had to work for one year to pay the family back for the cost of her passage across the ocean.  She was supposed to marry Alexander, but while she worked that year she got to know Alex’s youngest brother, Jacob.  She preferred him much more and once her passage was paid off, she and Jacob married.  They had 6 children together and raised cows, chickens, pigs, horses, wheat and corn along with a large garden in the little town of Frederick, South Dakota.  She was a member of local Savo-Lutheran church which was the center of their social and religious activities.

Okke and Elizabeth Boomgaarden were passengers on a two-masted sailing vessel, one of the few ships to carry emigrants from the North Sea harbor of Emden, in northern Germany.  The voyage to New York would take 13 weeks.  Young Jacob was less than three years old at the time.  The little family had left a village called Campen.  On board was another young family called the Freerks.  They were leaving their village of Rysum—only a few miles from Campen, but the families hadn’t ever met before traveling the Atlantic on the same ship with a similar dream of success and prosperity in America.

During the passage, a heavy sea washed little Jacob along the deck and would have swept him overboard had not Evertje  Freerks flung her body at him and seized him by the leg.  In heartfelt gratitude, the Boomgaardens voiced the hope that in time their little boy might marry a future Freerks daughter.  The two families went their separate ways upon arriving in Illinois but some years later the Freerks family, including their daughter Harmanna, moved to Grundy County where they discovered their shipboard friends had also moved.  The thankful vow made on the stormy deck of the ship was fulfilled twenty years later when Jacob married young Harmanna Freerks.

Elder Neuenschwander continued “Family history and temple work are one work….  Family history research provides the emotional bridge between the generations.  Temple ordinances provide the priesthood bridge.  Temple ordinances are the priesthood ratification of the connection that we have already established in our hearts.”

My ancestors were not the Mormon pioneers that we honor each July 24^th.  But my ancestors brought our family to America years before my parents would eventually find the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  And, subsequently, it blesses us to do the temple work for these long ago generations of my family.

President Erying once said “It is not surprising that Wilford Woodruff said, while he lived, that he believed few, if any of the ancestors of the Latter Day Saints in the spirit world would choose to reject the message of salvation when they heard it.” 

Because of the eternal nature of the family, and the glorious restoration of the Gospel in its fullness, I believe the words in D&C 110 “that in us and our seed all generations after us should be blessed….Behold the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi—testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent…to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the children to the fathers. Lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse….”

May I share once more from my family history?  I recorded this in my journal, and then shared it in answer to one of my cousins after a question about my Great Grandmother Mary—the mail order bride from Finland—came up. 

As a child of about 8 I remember driving nearly across the country to meet my great grandparents.  My mom and her sister, my own sister, then about 5, and our two cousins–T, about 6, and M, about 3, all rode from California to South Dakota to see them.

Grandma and Grandpa Jarvi were Finnish and so was their whole side of town.  To my 8 year old girl self, Grandma seemed a bit cold to me and a bit severe too.  My thought then was that she just had 4 little kids invade her space.  She didn’t speak to us much, as I recall, but with a grown up perspective now I think she just probably felt uneasy speaking in English.  Her community was Finnish and they spoke in their native tongue daily.

One night, however, as mom was getting my sister and me into bed, we heard Grandma’s one phone of the house ring.   It was in the hallway, just outside our bedroom door.  After a slightly reserved “Hello”, Grandma’s voice burst into energy and excitement.  But it was not in English.  One of her Finnish friends had called and this little grandma that I had thought so severe and cold was gurgle-ling on and on with her friend in a sing-songy language that I couldn’t even recognize.  As I laid on the bed listening, I realized that this lady was friendly and apparently funny too.  After hearing the difference the shared language made, I felt different about her somehow.  She was kind and sweet and a little funny.

But perhaps the most vivid memory of that trip and the stay with Grandma Jarvi in particular was also fairly traumatic.  The four of us kids were trotted out back with Grandma and Grandpa.  We were headed to a shed-like building sitting toward the back part of their back garden.  I remember thinking to myself, “Why are we going to mow the lawn?  It is getting late.”  I assumed the shed looking building was a storage building for gardening equipment.  

Grandpa opened the outside door and herded us in to a small entryway–somewhat like an indoor porch.  There was a seat on one side and a huge dipper hanging on the wall.  Grandma followed us in, bringing with her a big bucket of water.  “This is weird,” I thought to myself.”  Just then in her broken English, Grandma told us to take off our clothes.  In her other arm she carried a pile of our pajamas.  “This is only getting weirder,” I thought again.  

Instead of getting our PJs on, she shepherded us into the adjoining room through an interior door.  This room was rectangular shaped and in one corner was a pile of rocks sitting on what looked to be a tiny fireplace with a subtle glow of heat.  She indicated for us to sit on the bench that lined the whole room.  The room felt like it was made of very smooth wood paneling.  The four of us sat on the bench looking at each other and wondering just what was going on and beginning to feel very warm.  All of a sudden the door opened again and in walks Grandma Jarvi with her bucket of water–buck naked!  This WAS weird.  And more bizarre yet, Grandpa Jarvi followed her in and took a seat near my cousin T–again NAKED!  

This was not normal! 

Grandma dipped the huge ladle into the water bucket and slowly and careful poured the water, over and over again, covering these strange rocks in the pile.  The steam erupted into the air and filled the room.  Soon it was so dense that we couldn’t see our naked, wrinkly grandparents at all.  The heat permeated our bodies and soon we felt like we’d just been thrown into a hot tub, but without ever feeling the water.

Of course, this was a Finnish Sauna and was a regular part of their culture and heritage.  They bathed this way.  For a nearly 8 year old girl this was not a memory that could fade easily.  You just can’t see Great Grandparents NAKED and ever forget it.  However, as the years have gone by I look back on that experience and am grateful for it.  I saw–more than I wanted to then–a glimpse into their home country, their private, yet daily, life together.  They invited us–their great grandchildren–into a regular part of their day.  Now I feel blessed to have known them so personally.

Many years later, my sister and I visited the Pioneer Village in SLC with our own kids and stopped to look at a Swedish home that had been reproduced to represent what the Scandinavian saints had built when they joined the other members of the church in Utah.  A distinct Scandinavian design I saw in the front of the home reminded me of these sweet great-grandparents, now long ago passed away.  I asked to my sister, “Remember when we visited Grandma and Grandpa Jarvi in South Dakota and they took us out to the sauna with them?”  She didn’t remember the experience.  Perhaps she had “blocked it out”–seeing naked, old people as a child might do that.  Or perhaps, more certainly, she was too young to hold on to that memory.  I retold her of the experience we had with our great-grandparents as little girls.

The volunteer ladies “hosting” at this pioneer home had been sitting on the porch doing some quilting when we went along inside.  As we got back to the doorway, one sister asked about the story I was relating–“not meaning to eavesdrop,” she said, “but that memory sounds very distinct and quite interesting.”  I explained it to her and both these volunteer sisters remarked that the memory, though funny now, is certainly an important part of how my own feelings of our heritage have been shaped.

Knowing some of the people personally who have the names on my family group sheet makes all of the genealogy work we do real.  They belong to me, as I belong to them.  We are family.  And time and place and differences won’t ever change that.  The gospel and the revealed truth it provides about temple work and the importance of families makes it possible to link generations as far as we can find them.  These real people will be there in heaven to greet us–just as they met four little grandchildren in South Dakota years and years ago.  Just next time, I hope without any sign of a sauna nearby!               

Love the Lord: The First Commandment

A little more than a week ago, I sat through 2 lunch periods at the junior high as an adult supervisor to the student council who sold Valentine flowers—red real roses or chocolate roses—to the students. Business was fairly brisk that day I was there. What amused me were the sentiments and motivations the kids expressed as they purchased these yet-to-be-delivered-surprises.  Some were very friendly and just wanted their platonic friend to receive a token of love, knowing someone remembered them on Valentine’s Day.  Others may have been sappy and mushy sounding to you and me, but they were motivated, in true junior high dramatic fashion, by the feelings within their little hormone raging hearts.  Yet others were sent anonymously and many of those merely wished the recipient a standard ‘Happy Valentine’s Day’.  I wasn’t there to witness the responses and outcomes of these little Valentine’s Day messages and flowers.  But I am sure that they were welcomed and helped to create a lot of smiles and warmed hearts.

But love is more than one day in February.  And it is more than a reason for Junior High students to recognize their dearest friends, hope for pre-mature romantic attachments, or to stir up mystery.  Real love, true, deep, lasting, eternal love, is God given.  And it is what He asks of each of us.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught us,

“When asked to name the greatest commandment, [the Savior] did not hesitate. ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,’ He said. ‘This is the first and great commandment.’ Coupled with the second great commandment—to love our neighbor as ourselves—we have a compass that provides direction not only for our lives but also for the Lord’s Church on both sides of the veil.

“Because love is the great commandment, it ought to be at the center of all and everything we do in our own family, in our Church callings, and in our livelihood. Love is the healing balm that repairs rifts in personal and family relationships. It is the bond that unites families, communities, and nations. Love is the power that initiates friendship, tolerance, civility, and respect. It is the source that overcomes divisiveness and hate. Love is the fire that warms our lives with unparalleled joy and divine hope. Love should be our walk and our talk.

“When we truly understand what it means to love as Jesus Christ loves us, the confusion clears and our priorities align. Our walk, as disciples of Christ, becomes more joyful. Our lives take on new meaning. Our relationship with our Heavenly Father becomes more profound. Obedience becomes a joy rather than a burden.”

President Benson expressed it this way:

“The great test of life is obedience to God.

 “The great task of life is to learn the will of the Lord and then do it.

“The great commandment of life is to love the Lord.

“To love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength is all-consuming and all-encompassing. It is no lukewarm endeavor. It is total commitment of our very being—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually—to a love of the Lord.

“Why did God put the first commandment first? Because He knew that if we truly loved Him we would want to keep all of His other commandments.

“When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the claims for our affection, the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities.”

‘To Love the Lord’ is the first and great commandment. As we love Him, we will increase our obedience to His commandments.  As we increase in obedience, we are blessed by Him.  And as we are blessed we find new reasons to love Him.

President Uchtdorf explained further,

“God the Eternal Father did not give that first great commandment because He needs us to love Him.  His power and glory are not diminished should we disregard, deny, or even defile His name.  His influence and dominion extend through time and space independent of our acceptance, approval or admiration….

"No, God does not need us to love Him.  But oh, how we need to love God!  For what we love determines what we seek. And what we seek determines what we think and do. And what we think and do determines who we are—and who we will become."

If we think of all our Heavenly Father has given us, in a count-your-blessings kind of exercise, we will find endless reasons more to love Him.  But if you still need one more little nudge, here is what the Apostle John wrote for us, “We love Him, because He first loved us.”

Each week, the YW stand and repeat the YW theme.  It begins with the declaration that “we are daughters of our Heavenly Father who loves us, and we love Him.”

Sometimes the girls say these words so quickly that they might not register the meaning behind what they are saying.  The familiar statement expresses our role as beloved children of God, and more than that, we profess of our returning love for Him.

When we love the Lord we are willing to “stand as witnesses of God at all times, and in all things, and in all places”.  We choose to become disciples of His son, Jesus Christ.  And discipleship is a pretty big deal.

The Young Women values give us guidelines to focus on as we follow and love the Lord:

Faith—Divine Nature—Individual Worth—Knowledge—Choice & Accountability—Good Works—Integrity—and Virtue

We know that blessings come from loving the Lord, following His Son and utilizing those values in our lives:  “we believe as we come to accept and act upon these values we will be prepared to strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.”  Still more blessings we receive from our loving Heavenly Father.

How do we show our love for the Lord?  How can we increase our love for Him? The Savior answered that one as well.  In John 14:15 it reads “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”  It doesn’t get much clearer than that.

Keeping the commandments is exactly how we become true disciples of Christ.  President Uchtdorf again teaches: 

“We increase our love for our Heavenly Father and demonstrate that love by aligning our thoughts and actions with God’s word.  His pure love directs and encourages us to become more pure and holy.  It inspires us to walk in righteousness—not out of fear or obligation but out of an earnest desire to become even more like Him because we love Him.”

Knowing that our topic came from our stake presidency, I thought about how this commandment fits into our pattern of Becoming Zion.  And immediately I thought of the Nephite people who had seen the risen Savior at the temple in the land Bountiful.  4 Nephi tells us “And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land because of the Love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people….and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.” (vs. 15-16)

Loving the Lord motivated the Nephites to the point that they did nothing that hurt each other, that tore each other down, that led another astray, that offended a brother, or that disappointed a loving parent.  They Loved the Lord and were truly living the second great commandment: to “love thy neighbor as thyself”. I can only imagine what a glorious way of life they had in that society.  And it all boiled down to the commitment that each individual had to Love the Lord, with all their might, mind and strength. Like the Nephites of old, we can choose to follow that same pattern in our families, in our wards and neighborhoods, and in our stake.

I’d like to share a paragraph from a letter from a missionary—one of my six trek boys who are all currently serving full time missions.  With permission, I share this wonderful young Elder’s timely thoughts on this very subject.  He was writing about a conversation he had this past week with his companion, and he says “We also had a good talk about the love of God.  He said something that I think is true about love. ‘We came here on earth to first learn what love is, second to learn how to obtain it, third to learn how to share it, and fourth to learn how to retain it for eternity.’ I haven’t studied too deeply about it yet but love is the chief characteristic of God.  I believe it is the underlining principle of the plan of salvation.  It is the greatest motivation.  Love or charity is greater than all and it has no end.  I don’t know how to explain this but I feel like this past week, I have moved in on the inside.  I feel like I am learning about the gospel from the inside instead of just talking about it from the outside….I look back at my mission and the one thing that underlines it all is learning what the love of God is and how to share it.”

That is what this first and great commandment boils down to—we love the Lord, are obedient to Him, share that love with others and they in turn are able to feel His love for them, leading them to Love Him as well.

President Uchtdorf answers the question “Why Is LOVE the Great Commandment?” with this explanation:

“Heavenly Father’s love for His children is the core message of the plan of happiness, which plan is made active through the Atonement of Jesus Christ—the greatest expression of love the world has ever known.

“How clearly the Savior spoke when He said that every other commandment hangs upon the principle of love. If we do not neglect the great laws—if we truly learn to love our Heavenly Father and our fellowman with all our heart, soul, and mind—all else will fall into place.

“The divine love of God turns ordinary acts into extraordinary service. Divine love is the motive that transports simple words into sacred scripture. Divine love is the factor that transforms reluctant compliance with God’s commandments into blessed dedication and consecration.

“Love is the guiding light that illuminates the disciple’s path and fills our daily walk with life, meaning, and wonder.

“Love is the measure of our faith, the inspiration for our obedience, and the true altitude of our discipleship.

“Love is the way of the disciple.”

In John 14:21 we read:
“He that hath my commandment and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love Him, and will manifest myself unto Him.”

By loving the Lord and committing ourselves to becoming disciples of Jesus Christ gives us the right and responsibility to then “Arise and Shine Forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations.”  When we choose to obey the First and Great commandment to love the Lord, we will have increased opportunities to show His love to others.  We will be blessed for our obedience.  We will have the desire to lead others to Christ.  And as we do all this, we will have the Lord manifest himself to us through the Holy Ghost.  Then it might also be said of us “surely there could not be a happier people…”