Who are Stars?

This past week, I took the kids to Comic-Con here in San Diego. We waited in long lines and braved huge crowds, but even so, it was fun seeing all the media blitzes for movies, toys, and video games. The kids had an especially great time collecting lots of giveaways and promotional freebies. The highlight of their day though was being able to meet actual movie and television stars.

When I was younger I used to attend as many science fiction conventions as I could. It was very exciting being able to meet celebrities up close. These days, however, the excitement is no longer there. I've come to the realization that these famous people are really nothing more than just that, people with a job. It just happens that their job puts them in view of millions of people. But in reality, being on the small or big screen doesn't make them any smarter, wiser, or more morally upright than anyone else. They are perhaps quite talented in many respects, but celebrity status in and of itself doesn't qualify a person for emulation by the masses.

On the other hand, there are people on this earth who have spent many years exercising faith and being obedient to the commandments of the Lord. They carry with them a special spirit and are special witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are called by the Lord to be prophets, seers, and revelators.

"And Ammon said that a seer is a revelator and a prophet also; and a gift which is greater can no man have, except he should possess the power of God, which no man can; yet a man may have great power given him from God. But a seer can know of things which are past, and also of things which are to come, and by them shall all things be revealed, or, rather, shall secret things be made manifest, and hidden things shall come to light, and things which are not known shall be made known by them, and also things shall be made known by them which otherwise could not be known. Thus God has provided a means that man, through faith, might work mighty miracles; therefore he becometh a great benefit to his fellow beings."
(Book of Mormon, Mosiah 8:16 - 18)


"I have seen the same miracle in the service of President Monson as he received the call to preside as the prophet and President of the Church and to exercise all the keys of the priesthood in the earth. Revelation and inspiration have come to him in my presence, which confirms to me that God is honoring those keys. I am an eyewitness. They are keys of a priesthood which is, in the Lord’s words, 'without beginning or end.'”
(Henry B. Eyring, “The True and Living Church,” Ensign, May 2008, 20–24)

"The fact of the matter is that God is revealing His will as He did anciently. He is guiding His Church through His appointed servants."
(Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Quorum of the First Presidency,” Ensign, Dec 2005, 46–50)


These are truly special men worthy to be our examples and our leaders. I have met a few of them personally and can say that it is both an exciting and a humbling experience. They are humble, caring, loving men. There is hardly a television or movie star that can even come close to matching the greatness of their calling and position nor the humility of their service.

While it is good to meet them in person, I no longer get excited about meeting film stars nor do I feel it is worth spending money to obtain their autograph or to take a photo with them. I believe that the real stars here on earth are the Lord's servants, his prophets, seers and revelators. It is exciting to meet them and hear their words which are the Lord's words to us in these days. I can testify that these are truly men of God. I hope that you will study their words and come to feel that special spirit that testifies of their divine calling.

The Fourth of July

Independence Day is one of my favorite holidays. It's not because of the church breakfast, the potlucks and barbecues, nor even the dazzling fireworks displays. Of course, I love that part of the holiday, but the Fourth of July means so much more. It's a time to reflect on how this nation has been greatly blessed by God. We enjoy freedoms and liberties that are hard to find anywhere else in the world.

"Therefore, it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another. And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood."
(Doctrine and Covenants, Section 101:79 - 80)

Ever since the war for independence, many thousands of souls have sacrificed even their lives to maintain and protect our freedoms. We should be thankful to them. We should also thank Heavenly Father for the blessing of living in this land and for every comfort and convenience we enjoy.

The final verse of my favorite patriotic hymn describes perfectly how I feel about these United States of America:

Oh, beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam,
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.
(Hymns, America the Beautiful, no. 338)

Father's Day 2009

My oldest daughter sent me a Father's Day card in the mail. It made me cry for joy, not because of the artwork or the printed message on the inside. It was her handwritten words that touched me. I won't share them here though.

I don't mind not getting breakfast in bed, elaborate cards, neckties (ok, I could use a new tie), a fancy homemade dinner. All I really want is for my kids to appreciate all the sacrifices, the hard work, and the prayers on their behalf. Morning and night and several times in-between, I ask my Heavenly Father to take care of my children. I want them to stay close to the Gospel of Christ. Whatever else they aspire to in this life, if they continue strong and true in the faith, it'll make me happy.

May the words of the church hymn True to the Faith have special significance as you ponder the greatest gift you could give on Father's Day:

"True to the faith that our parents have cherished,
True to the truth for which martyrs have perished,
To God’s command,
Soul, heart, and hand,
Faithful and true we will ever stand."
(Hymns, True to the Faith, no. 254)

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Codes and Commandments

In the first of Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies, Elizabeth Swan is captured and taken aboard the cursed Black Pearl. She invokes the "pirate's code" and declares "parlay" in order to bargain for her life. Afterwards, when things don't go completely as she hoped, she confronts Captain Barbossa and demands he follow the pirate's code. His response to her is, "the code is more of what you'd call 'guidelines' than actual rules."

As Christians, we live by a much higher code than that of pirates. We call our code of conduct the commandments. While some people like to think of Heavenly Father's commandments as guidelines, He expects us to follow them fully like laws.

The purpose of following the commandments is not to bind us down, nor to take away our freedom. They are actually a protection against behaviors and actions that could be harmful to us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. In fact, the Lord promises that we will be blessed in many different ways when we are obedient to His laws.

"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never–ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."
(Book of Mormon, Mosiah 2:41)

Unfortunately, there are people who like to take shortcuts and obey only partially, or when it is convenient, or treat the commandments like loose guidelines. Imagine what it would be like if everyone followed the traffic laws like guidelines, instead of obeying them completely. It might look something like this Goofy cartoon.

I'm glad that we have the commandments to help keep us safe from the dangers of the world. Many times the danger is not obvious or immediate, but we should place our trust in the Lord that his words will bless us and guide us to eternal life. I pray that you'll exercise faith by learning about God's commandments and follow them to the very best of your abilities. I know that you'll be blessed as you do so.

Givers and Takers

Among the many mysterious ojects in the universe one of the most intriguing are what are called "black holes". They start as massive stars 10 to 15 times the size of our own sun. At the end of their life, the star collapses in on itself leaving behind a small object with gravity so strong nothing can escape it, not even light. A black hole orbiting around a companion star would suck the gases and matter from that star into itself until nothing is left of the star. Anything and everything that gets near it is pulled inside.

Conception of a black hole pulling gas off of a nearby star. Credit: ESA/NASA

In contrast to a black hole, consider our own sun. This shining bright star gives light and life to everything on the earth. It maintains balance within the solar system. It radiates light, heat, and energy. Without the sun, the earth would be a cold, lifeless rock in space.

Sun Sky - Noel James Celfi Gallery Photos

While some people are like the sun, others are like black holes. I'll call them "givers" and "takers." Givers share what they have, radiate warmth, and give life to others around them. Takers not only receive, but they take anything and everything that they can.

The apostle Paul described "takers" in this way:
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

(New Testament, 2 Timothy 3:1 - 5)

As a black hole devours all matter and energy into itself, takers also take away the light of Christ, and replace it with selfishness and hatred. They are all about what they can get out of life.

This is in direct contrast to what we as Christians should be like. The Savior taught us this:
"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

(New Testament, John 13:34 - 35)

Mosiah further explained it in the Book of Mormon:

"...humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith.... And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true. And ye will not have a mind to injure one another, but to live peaceably, and to render to every man according to that which is his due. And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish."

(Book of Mormon, Mosiah 4:11 - 16)

My hope is that you will work towards becoming a brilliant shining giver, rather than a dark, all-consuming taker.

My Mom

"The work of a mother is hard, too often unheralded work."
(Jeffrey R. Holland, “‘Because She Is a Mother’,” Ensign, May 1997, 35)

I'd like to take the opportunity this Mother's Day to honor my own mother. She has always been a great example of selfless love, patience, courage, compassion, kindness, meekness, faith, nurturing, and sacrifice. Even now in the midst of a debilitating disease, she remains positive and cheerful. She used to sing and play the piano. How I wish I coud hear her voice sing again, and her hands play the beautiful music of my grandfather.

President Monson perfectly described my mother when he said the following in April General Conference of 1992:

"Mother, who willingly made that personal journey into the valley of the shadow of death to take us by the hand and introduce us to birth—even to mortal life—deserves our undying gratitude. One writer summed up our love for mother when he declared, 'God could not be everywhere, and so He gave us mothers.'

While on the cruel cross of Calvary, suffering intense pain and anguish, Jesus 'saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother!' (John 19:26–27.) What a divine example of gratitude and love!

My own mother may not have read to me from the scriptures; rather, she taught me by her life and actions what the 'Good Book' contains."
(Thomas S. Monson, “An Attitude of Gratitude,” Ensign, May 1992, 54)

I thank Heavenly Father for my Mom and everything she taught me, both by example and by her words. I hope that my daughters will someday be as good a mother to their children as my own mother was to me. And may my son find a mate as worthy as my Mom.

I love you, Mom.

Loving to Laugh

Some people who are unfamiliar with our church are surprised to learn that we like to laugh and have a good time. We have church dances, birthday parties, wedding receptions, anniversary celebrations, and so on. We watch funny television shows and movies. There is a scripture in the Book of Mormon that assures us that the Adam's transgression in the Garden of Eden was necessary in order for us to enjoy life.

"Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy."(Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 2:25)

Of course, "joy" means much more than just being entertained or having a good laugh. On the other hand, life without laughter would be rather dull. Each of us has various trials to endure in life and laughter helps us get through the tough times.

Here's a clip from an old Disney movie, "Son of Flubber", which I think is incredibly funny!:



That was good, clean humor, without obscenities, sexual references, or vulgarities. That's what makes me laugh.

If we're not careful, we can actually get carried away, although not up to the ceiling. It's important to be mindful not to laugh at another person's expense nor in a manner that would offend. Humor that is enjoyed and shared by everyone is the best kind and I believe that it is a gift from Heavenly Father to us so that we can have joy. I love to laugh.

Standing Up for Truth

Sometimes it can be tough deciding when and how to defend your beliefs. It's not easy to say or do something that might offend close friends or the people you associate with even though it's the right thing to do.

Carrie Prejean is Miss California, a graduate of Vista High School here in San Diego County and currently a student at San Diego Christian College. She was a finalist in the recent Miss USA pageant. During the interview question portion of the competition, she was asked how she felt about legalizing gay marriage. She responded, "In my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised."



She wasn't chosen to be Miss USA and some believe that her response was the reason she lost the crown. All over the internet, radio, and TV people are criticizing her for her comments and beliefs. Does she regret how she answered the question? Not at all. At a church in San Diego today, she was quoted as saying the following:

“I don't take back what I said. No way I wasn't going to stand up for what I believe in"

“This is how I was bought up to believe. We have to be strong and true to our faith and our beliefs.”

“Are you going to stand up for what you believe or are you going to compromise to win Miss USA.”
(SD Union Tribune article)

Miss Prejean is not a Mormon, but she certainly is a great example of standing up for what you believe to be right even in the face of strong opposition.

It can be very discouraging when the people around us don't support our beliefs or values. We should keep in mind though that whenever we feel alone and in despair, we can turn to the Lord for help and courage to lift us up.



I love my children very much. I want them to hold firmly onto the true principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I hope they can stand up for what's right like Miss California did. I believe it's the only way to be truly happy in this difficult world.

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Celebrating on Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday. Some celebrate this day with egg hunts, candy, toys, or fancy dinners. I would rather have my family try to remember that this is a day to celebrate the Atonement and Resurrection of the Saviour. There has been no greater gift offered to every human being than that of repentance and a hope of eternal life through the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. What a truly wonderful message this is!

The tomb where the body of Jesus Christ is believed to have been laid.
© 2009 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

At this Easter season of hope and renewal we testify of the glorious reality of the atonement and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The empty tomb brought comforting assurance and provided the answer to the question of Job, “If a man die, shall he live again?” (Job 14:14).

Because of the Savior’s resurrection we will overcome death and become the beneficiaries of His mercy and grace. In a world of trouble and uncertainty, His peace fills our hearts and eases our minds. Jesus is in very deed “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

We give our sure witness that Jesus is the Christ. Though He was crucified, He rose triumphant from the tomb to our everlasting blessing and benefit. To each member of the human family He stands as our Advocate, our Savior, and our Friend.

The First Presidency of the Church (President Thomas S. Monson and his counselors, President Henry B. Eyring and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf)

In the following video, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland describes the Savior’s solitary journey to overcome sin and death and testifies of the resulting blessings to all mankind.

"He is risen! He is risen!
Tell it out with joyful voice.
He has burst his three days’ prison;
Let the whole wide earth rejoice.
Death is conquered; man is free.
Christ has won the victory."
("199: He Is Risen!,” Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, no. 199)

I invite you to think about these things, to pray about them and allow the Holy Ghost to bear witness that these messages are true. I have done so and testify that they are.

April 2009 General Conference

This was General Conference weekend. There were many wonderful messages from the general authorities of the church. I don't have anything to add other than to invite you to go to the archives to review and study their words, especially the words of our living prophet, President Monson.

http://lds.org/conference/sessions/display/0,5239,23-1-1032,00.html

I'm so grateful for the technology that makes it possible to go back and experience the spirit of General Conference. What a wonderful blessing it is.

A Peculiar People

In the 1960s there was a show about a very odd group of people known as the Addams Family. Over the years, it has been recreated in cartoons, comics, movies, TV reunions and revivals. I still prefer, though, the original black and white version. The opening to the show is a classic.

Despite their unusual appearance, the family was rather quite conventional. The parents, Gomez and Morticia, loved their two children, Wednesday and Pugsley, and would do anything to ensure they were well cared for. Grandmama and Uncle Fester were extended members of the family who also helped to take care of family matters. Lurch was the menacingly tall butler with a soft heart. Visitors to the Addams mansion were always warmly welcomed. Gomez was quite generous with his abundant wealth and gladly gave huge amounts of money to friends and worthy causes.

On the other hand, there aren't too many families who blow up model trains, light up light bulbs by sticking one in their mouth, have a lion as a pet, or include a torture rack in their rec room. To the outside world, the Addams household was weird and unusual. They were not like everyone else.

It seems to me that in some ways, we as members of the Church, are often viewed as though we are also just as strange. Our standards, values, and morals don't always go along with those of society at large. And, as the years go by and society's standards stray farther from those we hold dear we may find ourselves appearing more and more odd. For example, our views on same-sex marriage, chastity, alcohol, Sabbath day activities have already put us at odds with various groups of people.

It shouldn't matter to us, however, what other people think or say about us. What matters is what the Lord has said to us:
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy."
(New Testament, 1 Peter 2:9 - 10)

Paul suffered greatly and was persecuted for his beliefs. That didn't stop him from believing.
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
(New Testament, Romans 1:16)

And, if we are ridiculed or unpopular because of what we believe to be true the Lord has promised us his blessings and protection.
"Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail."
(Doctrine and Covenants, Section 6:34)

Try not to be discouraged by what friends or people may say about you because of who you are and what you believe. The Addams family was a happy bunch of people and they didn't care what anybody thought about them either. The Lord will bless you for your faithfulness. I believe that with all my heart.

Inside and Outside

Palpatine. Benevolent and well-meaning on the outside, dark and cunning on the inside.

Throughout most of the Star Wars saga, we see how this character uses deceptions and lies to gain ultimate power over an entire galaxy. The character of Palpatine is so evil, that it may seem hard to believe how anyone can actually be like that. Well, in the time of the Savior, there were some people who acted like Palpatine. The Savior is quoted in the New Testament in this manner:

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity."
(New Testament, Matthew 23:27 - 28)

Eventually, Palpatine's inner darkness took over his appearance on the outside. Perhaps we're not evil like he was, or as hypocritical like the scribes and Pharisees, but is there a message that we can learn from their bad examples?

Do we ever pretend that we didn't do anything wrong, when on the inside we know we made a mistake? Do we blame someone or something else when the responsible person is actually us? Do we get mad instead of apologizing when something is really our own fault?

Alma asked similar questions:
"I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth?
Or do ye imagine to yourselves that ye can lie unto the Lord in that day, and say—Lord, our works have been righteous works upon the face of the earth—and that he will save you?"
(Book of Mormon, Alma 5:16 - 17)

We not only have to be careful about how we behave on the outside, our actions, but also how we think and feel on the inside. Luke Skywalker was often tempted by the Dark Side, by hatred and anger. But in the end, we see that he let go of those feelings and so Palpatine was defeated and destroyed.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven"
(New Testament, Matthew 5:16)

The Savior was the perfect example of having the proper attitude when doing what His Father asked of Him. Even when it was something undesirable and hard as in the Garden of Gethsamane and on the cross.

I hope that we'll always strive to choose the good, both on the inside and outside, how we feel as well as how we act. That's how the Spririt can be with us always to comfort us and guide us when we need and desire it. I believe that to be true.

Looking Fierce!

One of my daughters is in her school's colorguard. The preparation for competition day usually starts early in the morning. She has to wear a uniform, fix her a hair a certain way, and apply a special makeup. There is a particular way of describing her appearance. She refers to it as "looking fierce." I think that's rather a cool way to think about it.


There were some pretty fierce looking characters in Japanese history too. Most people are familiar with the feudal samurai period of Japan. Those warriors not only looked fierce, they also fought that way. Part of their preparation for battle involved wearing some serious armor. Not only was it protective but it also had a formidable appearance.

Kikuchi Takemitsu (1319-1373), general during the Nanbokucho era, fought in the Kyushu region for the Emperor with his army of samurai warriors. This scene depicts a decisive battle in the Chikugo river. (Painted by Ebine Shundo)

It would have been really foolish for a warrior of that period to go out to battle without his sword or having forgotten his helmet or other important parts of his armor. The result would have been disastrous.


Well, we go out to battle every day too. When we step out the door, we are fighting to make the right choices and making sure that the adversary doesn't harm us with temptations, distractions, and sin. Do we go out with all of our armor, or do we leave some of it behind thinking we won't really need it? In other words, have we prayed for Heavenly Father's guidance and protection for the day ahead? Have we made the decision to be obedient to the commandments? Are we going to obey and respect parents, church leaders, teachers in school, and other people in authority? Have we read the scriptures and kept the words in our hearts and minds so that they can lift us up and help answer questions in times of need?

"Wherefore, lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up your loins, and take upon you my whole armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to stand."
(Doctrine and Covenants, Section 27:15)

Just as my daughter prepares herself to "look fierce" for colorguard competitions, likewise I think we could each prepare ourselves to "look fierce" on a daily basis in the struggle to maintain ourselves clean and righteous. I really believe it's important to do that if we're going to win this battle we call life. And, if we do our best every day, I know we will win.

Footprints

The Spy Kids series of movies are fun to watch. In Spy Kids 3D: Game Over, much of the story takes place in a virtual reality game world. Young Juni's mission is to play through all the levels of the game in order to find and rescue his sister. Each level of gameplay is filled with dangers, challenges, and opposition. At one point, Juni is offered the opportunity to invite someone from his family to assist him through the game. He chooses his grandfather. Juni still has to face all the challenges on his own, but whenever it seems that all is lost, Grandpa comes in to lend a helping hand.



This reminds me of a poem that's been around for many decades. It's found on greeting cards, calendars, bookmarks, and a variety of other places. It is titled, "Footprints in the Sand" by Mary Stevenson. I can appreciate the author's good intentions, but I disagree somewhat with the message of the poem. Here are the final few lines:

But I have noticed that during
the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one
set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most,
you have not been there for me?"

The Lord replied,
"The times when you have
seen only one set of footprints in the sand,
is when I carried you."

Official "Footprints in the Sand" Website

While it is comforting to believe that the Lord will carry us in our greatest times of need, I don't think that is a true concept. I've been through some very trying times in my life: the loss of loved ones, financial distress, heart-ache, and illness among other things. I have never felt that I've been carried through any of those trials. It seems rather that if I were to look back at the footprints in the sand of my life I would see a single set of prints during the less troubling times, but a second set in my times of most desperate need. The Lord doesn't carry us but he does love us enough to walk with us during our trials; lifting us, assisting us, but never doing the walking for us. We have to take each step of the way with our own two feet.

Alma describes the succor of the Lord in this manner:
"And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me."
(Book of Mormon, Alma 36:27)

The Lord himself has also promised us peace in troubling times:
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
(New Testament, John 14:27)

It would be great to have someone like Juni's Grandpa just pop in whenever we most need him. On the other hand, it is wonderful to know that we can rely on a loving Heavenly Father to give us aid, comfort, and direction when we most need it. All we have to do is ask. I truly believe that.

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Is it True?

Today is what is known in the Church as "Fast Sunday." Once a month, typically on the first Sunday of the month, we dedicate the day to fasting and prayer. At church on this day, we conduct a fast and testimony meeting where members of the congregation are given the opportunity to stand at the pulpit and share their convictions of the Gospel. During this meeting we often hear the phrase, "I know the Church is true."

Is it really the only true church and religion on the earth? Many people don't think so and try to convince us that we are foolishly being led astray by false prophets and charlatans. They want us to believe that the Book of Mormon is a work of fiction made up by Joseph Smith and the church he helped to organize is nothing but an oddball cult.

The Book of Mormon records what one disbeliever in ancient times said, and it sounds very much like what we hear about the Church today:

"O ye that are bound down under a foolish and a vain hope, why do ye yoke yourselves with such foolish things? Why do ye look for a Christ? For no man can know of anything which is to come. Behold, these things which ye call prophecies, which ye say are handed down by holy prophets, behold, they are foolish traditions of your fathers. How do ye know of their surety? Behold, ye cannot know of things which ye do not see; therefore ye cannot know that there shall be a Christ. Ye look forward and say that ye see a remission of your sins. But behold, it is the effect of a frenzied mind; and this derangement of your minds comes because of the traditions of your fathers, which lead you away into a belief of things which are not so. And many more such things did he say unto them, telling them that there could be no atonement made for the sins of men, but every man fared in this life according to the management of the creature; therefore every man prospered according to his genius, and that every man conquered according to his strength; and whatsoever a man did was no crime."
(Book of Mormon, Alma 30:13 - 17)

In the movie, Chicken Little, the main character of the title had a hard time convincing anyone of what he saw and knew to be a fact.

Perhaps it would indeed be kind of hard to believe the word of a youngster. Seems like people had a hard time believing a young Joseph Smith too when he claimed to have restored the true Gospel and church after seeing God and Jesus Christ in a vision in 1820.


Today, the Church is led by men who we consider to be prophets, seers, and revelators. They believe Joseph Smith. What kind of men are they?

The President of the Church is Thomas S. Monson. He graduated cum laude from the University of Utah in 1948, receiving a degree in business management. He did graduate work and served as a member of the College of Business faculty at the University of Utah. He later received his MBA degree from Brigham Young University. He served for many years as chairman of the board of Deseret News Publishing Co..

His 1st Counselor is President Henry B. Eyring. President Eyring was president of Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho, from 1971 to 1977. He was on the faculty at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University from 1962 to 1971. He holds a B.S. degree in Physics from the University of Utah and Master of Business Administration and Doctor of Business Administration degrees from Harvard University.

The 2nd Counselor in the presidency is President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. He studied engineering and later continued his education in business administration in Cologne, Germany, and international management in Lausanne, Switzerland. President Uchtdorf joined the German Air Force in 1959 and received his pilot wings in Big Spring, Texas, and fighter pilot training in Phoenix, Ariziona. In 1965, President Uchtdorf joined Lufthansa German Airlines as a pilot. He worked as an airline captain from 1970 to 1996, flying multiple types of airplanes and completing his career flying the B747. He held several executive positions, including head of the airline pilot school, director of in-flight services, and head of cockpit crews. At the time of his call as a General Authority, he was the senior vice president of flight operations and chief pilot of Lufthansa German Airlines.

You can review the biographical information for these and other General Authorities of the Church at this link:
Leader biographies

As you will see, before they were called to serve in their leadership roles in the Church, these men were educators, business executives, doctors, lawyers, and so on. In other words, they are well-educated, respected in their professions, and have nothing to gain from deceiving anyone. They are not getting rich from the members of the Church, they are not seeking fame, nor are they seeking to exercise power over anyone. Instead they travel around the world teaching people the importance of strengthening family bonds and living Christ-centered, clean lives. If the Church wasn't true why would they waste their time doing something of no material benefit to themselves? Perhaps it is true after all.

"And this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety? Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me. And moreover, I say unto you that it has thus been revealed unto me, that the words which have been spoken by our fathers are true, even so according to the spirit of prophecy which is in me, which is also by the manifestation of the Spirit of God."
(Book of Mormon, Alma 5:45 - 47)

I have prayed and fasted to know about these things. I can testify that they are true. I hope that you will also believe them to be true.

Who are You?

Ever since I was a child, I've enjoyed watching Disney's animated movies. There is something special about the music, the characters, and the artwork. In a lot of cases, there is also an enduring and important message in the storyline. One movie that really impressed me was The Lion King. There is one scene in particular that struck a chord with me.

It is when the young lion prince Simba, after having long abandoned the pride, meets up with Rafiki, the eccentric yet wise baboon. When Simba inquires about the identity of the odd visitor, Rafiki responds in turn with a rather deeply questioning, "Who are you?" Indeed, many people at some point in their lives ask themselves, "Who am I?" In the grand scheme of things, who are we?

Here is a clip of that scene and the "revelation" that follows:

I think that Mufasa's message to Simba is rather profound. There are three things that he said that could apply to every one of us.

"You have forgotten me." All of us when we came to the earth through birth, had a veil placed over our memories of our pre-mortal life. We forget that we lived with the Father of our spirits. In fact, we have forgotten our experiences with Him altogether. In the church, we learn of God's existence and our relationship to Him. We are brought to a remembrance of who we are; that we are literally spirit children of Our Heavenly Father. In another sense, though, there are times when after acquiring this knowledge, we stray and forget the promises and covenants we make with him.

"You are more than what you have become." Are we wasting time living a "hakuna matata" lifestyle or are we taking our responsibility to keep the commandments seriously? What are we doing with our lives now? Are we living up to our full potential as children of God?

"Remember who you are." We are not on this earth by chance nor merely as a product of biological processes. When we fully realize that we have a royal and divine heritage, we can live a life that will enable us to inherit eternal life.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you; And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours. And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more. Wherefore, do the things which I have commanded you, saith your Redeemer, even the Son Ahman, who prepareth all things before he taketh you; For ye are the church of the Firstborn, and he will take you up in a cloud, and appoint every man his portion. And he that is a faithful and wise steward shall inherit all things. Amen."
(Doctrine and Covenants, Section 78:17 - 22)

I believe that I am a child of God. I hope that you do too.

The Road to the Kingdom

I really like going to Disneyland. It has been one of my most favorite places since I was very young. I have fond childhood memories of being there with my family. And now as a parent, I've had the joy of going with my own children.

Over the years, Disneyland has changed quite a bit. Some attractions have been updated while others have been removed to make way for new ones. I have seen the submarines change color from grey to yellow, the Country Bear Jamboree playhouse turn into Winnie the Pooh's adventure, Capt. Jack Sparrow join the Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Haunted Mansion turn into Jack Skellington's Haunted Holiday. In spite of all the revisions and refurbishments it remains one of my all-time favorite vacation destinations.

Our trips to Disneyland from San Diego usually start early in the morning so that we can arrive around opening time and enjoy a full day at the park. I have my choice of several freeways and routes to get there. On the other hand, in order to spend the least amount of time on the road I have to carefully select the quickest and shortest route. If I make the wrong turn or miss an exit and get on the wrong freeway it will mean more time spent driving and less time on the rides at the park.

photo courtesy of http://www.aaroads.com

Sometimes it only takes a small mistake, of being in one lane versus the one next to it. Imagine though, if after making a navigation error, I were to delay my course correction? Our time at the Happiest Place on Earth would get even shorter. What if I never got back on the right road? We'd end up in a totally different place altogether spoiling the whole point of the trip and ruining everyone's expectations.

There is a place greater and more wonderful than any earthly Magic Kingdom. The Kingdom of our Heavenly Father is glorious beyond anything we can imagine. The prophet Joseph Smith described it in this way:

"The heavens were opened upon us, and I beheld the celestial kingdom of God, and the glory thereof, whether in the body or out I cannot tell. I saw the transcendent beauty of the gate through which the heirs of that kingdom will enter, which was like unto circling flames of fire; Also the blazing throne of God, whereon was seated the Father and the Son. I saw the beautiful streets of that kingdom, which had the appearance of being paved with gold."
(Doctrine and Covenants, Section 137:1 - 4)

We have the commandents and doctrines of the church to guide us to that kingdom. They are our roadmap to eternal life. We sometimes make mistakes and veer off the right road onto detours that lead us away from that destination. We waste time in places where we didn't intend to go. The problem is that the longer we delay getting back onto the proper path the harder it is to return. If we never make the necessary course corrections, we will never reach the kingdom of our Heavenly Father.

"But behold, for none of these can I hope except they shall be reconciled unto Christ, and enter into the narrow gate, and walk in the strait path which leads to life, and continue in the path until the end of the day of probation."

(Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 33:9)

I hope that my family understands how important it is to remain faithful and true to the teachings of the Savior. Stay on the right road, and make whatever course corrections are needed to get back on the right path when you stray. I believe that we can make it to the end and enjoy eternal life together as a family.

All the Feeling of a Tender Parent

In the Book of Mormon, Nephi wrote about his father talking to his rather rebellious brothers Laman and Lemuel in this manner:

"And he did exhort them then with all the feeling of a tender parent, that they would hearken to his words, that perhaps the Lord would be merciful to them, and not cast them off; yea, my father did preach unto them.

And after he had preached unto them, and also prophesied unto them of many things, he bade them to keep the commandments of the Lord; and he did cease speaking unto them."
(Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 8:37 - 38)

There are times when I think I know how Lehi must have felt. I am also a father that does a fair amount of preaching and exhorting my children to do the right thing. Sometimes the preaching comes out like yelling. I wonder if Lehi did his share of yelling at his sons. It was probably not because he was angry, but because he desperately wanted them to be obedient. I love my children very much. It pains me when I see them arguing with each other, or bending the rules, or stretching the truth, or when there is any hint they might stray from the strait and narrow.

Do you remember in The Little Mermaid when King Triton reprimanded his daughter, Ariel, for disobeying him? He later questioned if he was too harsh. Parents do wonder if they overdo it sometimes. We're not perfect. On the other hand, if I didn't love my children I would just leave them to their own devices.


There are plenty of dangerous things in the world and we as parents have quite a heavy responsibility to keep our children safe from those things:

"And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents....

And they shall also teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord."
(Doctrine and Covenants, Section 68:25 - 28)

I want my children to know that I love them. Even when I raise my voice and give them an angry, mean-looking scowl, this is my way of exhorting them with all the feeling of a tender parent. Please stay away from the "hooks", stay true, and stay close to the Lord, especially when we're not there to watch you. You'll be blessed for it. I really believe that.

A Piano and an Orchestra

I sometimes hear members of our church use an analogy from the music world to compare our church with other religions or faiths. They suggest imagining someone trying to play a piano with missing keys compared to a person playing on a piano with a full set of keys. The idea is that our church has all of the principles and doctrines necessary for salvation and that others are missing some of those important truths. While I believe that our church is the only true church of Christ and does indeed contain the fullness of the Gospel, I'm uncomfortable with the piano analogy. I believe that there are good Christians, exemplary Muslims, faithful Jews, and people of various faiths and denominations who live their lives in a manner that is absolutely praiseworthy. To imagine them as playing on a piano with missing keys would be a mistake. I'd like to propose a different analogy.

One of my favorite classical compositions is Modest Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition". He originally wrote it as a work for solo piano. Maurice Ravel later transcribed it for orchestra. It takes a high level of mastery and talent to play the original piano composition. The video below is of Andreas Boyde playing the final 2 "pictures" of the exhibition.

It is without doubt a skilled and masterful performance. It makes me exhausted just to watch it!

Now, here is a clip of Myung-Whun Chung conducting the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France. It is the same two sections of the composition, "Hut on Fowl's Legs" and "Great Gate of Kiev".




So what is my point? I believe that people who are not members of our church are like the piano solo. Their lives can be full of goodness and beauty, and it can seem to them they are missing nothing at all. On the other hand, the gospel and doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints offer to add a greater richness and depth to their lives in the same way that an orchestra arrangement adds a richer, fuller, and grander sound to a piano composition.

President Gordon B. Hinckley offered the following invitation:
"We recognize the good in all people. We recognize the good in all churches, in their efforts to improve mankind and to teach principles that lead to good, stable, productive living. To people everywhere we simply say, ‘You bring with you all the good that you have, and let us add to it. That is the principle on which we work’ ”
(from a meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, 17 Feb. 1998. “Excerpts from Recent Addresses of President Gordon B. Hinckley,” Ensign, Aug 1998, 72)

I believe that with all of my heart. Come and see for yourself.

Mormon.org

I believe in Christ

"I believe in Christ—my Lord, my God!"

So begins the third verse of hymn no. 134 of our church hymnbook. These lyrics written by Bruce R . McConkie are precisely how I feel about the Savior. There are other hymns which likewise exclaim with fervor and power my convictions about Jesus, the Christ.

"I know that my Redeemer lives.
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!"
(Hymn no. 136)

"O thou Rock of our salvation,
Jesus, Savior of the world"
(Hymn no. 258)

"Redeemer of Israel,
Our only delight,
On whom for a blessing we call,
Our shadow by day
And our pillar by night,
Our King, our Deliv’rer, our all"
(Hymn no. 6)

He who once was dead, rose from the tomb and lives today. I believe this to be true. He lives!