What do I do now? Which is first? Oct 24 (7 days ago) to Kim @Kim, My heart went out to you yesterday Kim. You seemed a bit discombobulated. You have seen me that way. You are not alone. @Personally I think you give the best announcements of anyone in the bishopric! * * * * @I understand yours the best and I can remember them the easiest because you are so clear. Chances are you are just trying to get everything right, but I want you to know that that humbleness and thoroughness is blessing my life, and chances are, many others in the ward. @We love seeing you perfect the skills of your calling. Remember you are among friends and we love you. @I am indexing at the FHC but as I thought about you yesterday I just had to stop and write. @Remember: “Whom the Lord Calls, the Lord Qualifies” Neil L. Andersen, April 1993 General Conference
"I have heard President Monson say, “Whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies.” I know this is true, and it gives me hope looking beyond my own inadequacies." @I have heard this so many times i thought it was from the D&C. Guess not. Looks like TSM is now qualified as scripture to me! Smile. @I felt trusted as you told me you ended the story early because you felt frustrated/ lost/ disorganized or something. Then as you asked in priesthood, after the announcements, which do we do first the hymn or the prayer . . . I recognized it was not your best day. We love you. Because of your righteousness you have been gifted with experiences like hearing the German names pronounced in the temple. Proof that not only do I and we love you, but that HF loves you as well. @You are wonderful in my opinion. Your-Your humility becomes you! @I can only imagine the stress you felt as you realized you had nothing to say and the primary program was over! Ha, ha! It makes me want to laugh! Wish I could loan you some of my words. I almost always have something to say. Next time just call on me for a 3 minute talk! Lol @~@ “Thanks Vern, you are always there for me.” KimG told the whole congregation as I supPlied the word SUSTAIN that he got stuck hunting for. After priesthood he said, “what was that b word you used in your email? Bob_ _ something?” V- discombobulated. K- yeah!@@ Brandon, I got to feel like a million bucks again yesterday! And anytime it happens I like it and often need it! I am one of those people who like props, reassurance, acceptance, encouragement, appreciation, compliments, flattery. So kim had a miserable time on the Primary Program Sunday. It didn’t show but I complimented him on his fill -in -the -time -story and kim confessed he was too flustered to go on so he just ended it. @This is one of the benefits of meeting with the saints regularly Brandon. The socializing, the reassuring that takes place is lovely to me. @ Choir practice got cancelled yesterday so my music director: Connie Schroath, who wears Oxygen tubes like BKPacker did, was by the organ and I confirmed the congregation rest song was great. One of my pair of organists, Randalyn Hilton, had put up the hymn numbers for me a second week in a row. She was at the organ and I really wanted to make an impression. With Connie watching I leaned over and kissed Randalyn on the hair like I do my daughters and said, that’s for putting up the hymn numbers for me, thank you again! She seemed a little flustered afterwards but receptive and pleased. @ When she plays I have to take control of the speed we sing. I have to lead ahead and I don’t like singing in front/ before/ ahead of the pianist! But I am learning. @ It was the fifth Sunday so brothers and sisters met together for the third hour. I did not have to pick an opening hymn because the sister do. Bishop Quincy Adams conducted a dialog for us on Finances. He seemed at ease in front of everyone! Pay your tithing first and budget in advance of spending your income were his two commandments. He also had to get an item off his chest that was bothering him before he started the lesson. Q- Brothers and Sisters, this is a smart phone. If you have a teenage son with one take it away! I don’t know how to be any more clear or blunt than that. I am having to visit with may too many of them and they are too young, too immature to keep away from pornography! Sister Irene Nielson whose husband is a counselor in the stake presidency chirped in, the girls too right? She has a mongoloid daughter Sarah’03 and I suspect Sarah wants a cell phone like the other girls. Of course Sarah was only baptized last year because she didn’t care about it until then. @ I was and Animal Science major at BYU and genetics is a huge part of Animal Science. Nielsons had 10 kids and ended with Down’s Syndrom Sarah. The older the woman is the greater the chance of Down’s Sydrome. That is the science behind it. But what about the spirituality behind it? What is HF plan and purpose behind sending late child -bearing LDS women handicapped children? Interesting isn’t it! @ I would really like to visit with Irene and see what she was thinking. As you know from my past postcards, I learned from Mark Clayton that men are 80% sexually visually stimulated and women are just 20% visually stimulated. Girls don’t care about visual pornography. Romance novels are a different story! @ Village Inn Debbie inherited 12 new boxes filled with romance novels from her mother or grandmother or aunt or someone, when they passed away. She hasn’t even opened some of them. Do you think her rich ancestor was addicted? @ Monday, 2:10, 10/31/16 Hello Brandon, Here is something that is blowing my mind right now. I have known Adrian’60 is autistic for the last 3 years. I have complimentarily called him a savant in his painting creations. He can focus and produce like none other, to use a phrase Louis’80 uses. You have heard of people say they are getting off their soapbox. That means they are done preaching/ ranting. Adrian has these topics he reviews in his mind to help him stay founded/ foundationed. He believes certain things. But he recites those things to himself in long philosophical treatise that are quite impressive to listen to. At least the first time. Listening the second and third and fourth times the newness wears away. I have known when Adrian starts one of his philosophical treatise again. But he has been isolated from us for 20-25 years. These long lectures are new! He has been suicidal his whole life. All my 6 siblings have! Which really isn’t surprising considering the chaotic/ wacko/ horrific world they were raised in. I grew up with a tyrant, megalomaniac, explosive, father. I know about tripping the land mine. So although Adrian has told me he will never do anything to intentionally offend me, I still tread extremely carefully around him. I don’t want him to explode! Especially not in anger at me! @ After listening to him for an hour on the phone last week do his lecture on the earning power in America having dwindled, I went for a dog walk and reprocessed what he said. He is frustrated with debt. Finances burden and trigger him. They do me as well so I can relate. Seeing how consumed he was and helpless to meet his expenses I have loaned him $4K twice. In the last 2 months. He is back on the road and earning again but with evidence like Poor Man’s Stew I wanted to make a gentle suggestion. I hurt for him. I don’t want him to be in debt the rest of his life. He told me that he was planning on his debt ending as he got older. He can’t bear that burden as he ages. I took a risk. Here is what I texted him: [Looks like I cleaned out/ erased all my emails without having recorded that one. I could get it back if I asked him to Forward it back to me, but bps doesn’t care about it that much!] But the very first sentence said, I just want to blab! In other words it was fluff. Not counsel, not advice, not criticism just me needing to solve his frustration with finances in my mind. The tool? Don’t consume. Don’t spend. A dollar saved is worth 2 dollars earned. No taxes nor tithing etc. Of course I wasn’t that blunt. @Man was I worried when I saw 40 minutes of vmail on my computer from him Sunday morning. I started listening. After 4 minutes it sounded like it was going to be a new lecture about how he has run his financial life. It makes me feel like a perpetrator for ever having made a suggestion. Luckily it is all recorded and not stuff I had to listen to from beginning til end! The other night when he was venting, lecturing, preaching I put on my gym clothes and went for dog walk for an hour while he talked. I just as well do something useful! I hadn’t been very motivated to walk but with him on the phone anything is better than just sitting there and listening. So get up and be effective. @ As I started to listen yesterday morning I decided to change the water in my two biggest aquariums. It motivates me to get something done to avoid the burden of just listening to his intense, factual, convincing presentation. @ So how do I resolve with him? What do I say to soothe feelings I have ruffled? This is what I texted: October 30 12:38 PM
"I have heard President Monson say, “Whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies.” I know this is true, and it gives me hope looking beyond my own inadequacies." @I have heard this so many times i thought it was from the D&C. Guess not. Looks like TSM is now qualified as scripture to me! Smile. @I felt trusted as you told me you ended the story early because you felt frustrated/ lost/ disorganized or something. Then as you asked in priesthood, after the announcements, which do we do first the hymn or the prayer . . . I recognized it was not your best day. We love you. Because of your righteousness you have been gifted with experiences like hearing the German names pronounced in the temple. Proof that not only do I and we love you, but that HF loves you as well. @You are wonderful in my opinion. Your-Your humility becomes you! @I can only imagine the stress you felt as you realized you had nothing to say and the primary program was over! Ha, ha! It makes me want to laugh! Wish I could loan you some of my words. I almost always have something to say. Next time just call on me for a 3 minute talk! Lol @~@ “Thanks Vern, you are always there for me.” KimG told the whole congregation as I supPlied the word SUSTAIN that he got stuck hunting for. After priesthood he said, “what was that b word you used in your email? Bob_ _ something?” V- discombobulated. K- yeah!@@ Brandon, I got to feel like a million bucks again yesterday! And anytime it happens I like it and often need it! I am one of those people who like props, reassurance, acceptance, encouragement, appreciation, compliments, flattery. So kim had a miserable time on the Primary Program Sunday. It didn’t show but I complimented him on his fill -in -the -time -story and kim confessed he was too flustered to go on so he just ended it. @This is one of the benefits of meeting with the saints regularly Brandon. The socializing, the reassuring that takes place is lovely to me. @ Choir practice got cancelled yesterday so my music director: Connie Schroath, who wears Oxygen tubes like BKPacker did, was by the organ and I confirmed the congregation rest song was great. One of my pair of organists, Randalyn Hilton, had put up the hymn numbers for me a second week in a row. She was at the organ and I really wanted to make an impression. With Connie watching I leaned over and kissed Randalyn on the hair like I do my daughters and said, that’s for putting up the hymn numbers for me, thank you again! She seemed a little flustered afterwards but receptive and pleased. @ When she plays I have to take control of the speed we sing. I have to lead ahead and I don’t like singing in front/ before/ ahead of the pianist! But I am learning. @ It was the fifth Sunday so brothers and sisters met together for the third hour. I did not have to pick an opening hymn because the sister do. Bishop Quincy Adams conducted a dialog for us on Finances. He seemed at ease in front of everyone! Pay your tithing first and budget in advance of spending your income were his two commandments. He also had to get an item off his chest that was bothering him before he started the lesson. Q- Brothers and Sisters, this is a smart phone. If you have a teenage son with one take it away! I don’t know how to be any more clear or blunt than that. I am having to visit with may too many of them and they are too young, too immature to keep away from pornography! Sister Irene Nielson whose husband is a counselor in the stake presidency chirped in, the girls too right? She has a mongoloid daughter Sarah’03 and I suspect Sarah wants a cell phone like the other girls. Of course Sarah was only baptized last year because she didn’t care about it until then. @ I was and Animal Science major at BYU and genetics is a huge part of Animal Science. Nielsons had 10 kids and ended with Down’s Syndrom Sarah. The older the woman is the greater the chance of Down’s Sydrome. That is the science behind it. But what about the spirituality behind it? What is HF plan and purpose behind sending late child -bearing LDS women handicapped children? Interesting isn’t it! @ I would really like to visit with Irene and see what she was thinking. As you know from my past postcards, I learned from Mark Clayton that men are 80% sexually visually stimulated and women are just 20% visually stimulated. Girls don’t care about visual pornography. Romance novels are a different story! @ Village Inn Debbie inherited 12 new boxes filled with romance novels from her mother or grandmother or aunt or someone, when they passed away. She hasn’t even opened some of them. Do you think her rich ancestor was addicted? @ Monday, 2:10, 10/31/16 Hello Brandon, Here is something that is blowing my mind right now. I have known Adrian’60 is autistic for the last 3 years. I have complimentarily called him a savant in his painting creations. He can focus and produce like none other, to use a phrase Louis’80 uses. You have heard of people say they are getting off their soapbox. That means they are done preaching/ ranting. Adrian has these topics he reviews in his mind to help him stay founded/ foundationed. He believes certain things. But he recites those things to himself in long philosophical treatise that are quite impressive to listen to. At least the first time. Listening the second and third and fourth times the newness wears away. I have known when Adrian starts one of his philosophical treatise again. But he has been isolated from us for 20-25 years. These long lectures are new! He has been suicidal his whole life. All my 6 siblings have! Which really isn’t surprising considering the chaotic/ wacko/ horrific world they were raised in. I grew up with a tyrant, megalomaniac, explosive, father. I know about tripping the land mine. So although Adrian has told me he will never do anything to intentionally offend me, I still tread extremely carefully around him. I don’t want him to explode! Especially not in anger at me! @ After listening to him for an hour on the phone last week do his lecture on the earning power in America having dwindled, I went for a dog walk and reprocessed what he said. He is frustrated with debt. Finances burden and trigger him. They do me as well so I can relate. Seeing how consumed he was and helpless to meet his expenses I have loaned him $4K twice. In the last 2 months. He is back on the road and earning again but with evidence like Poor Man’s Stew I wanted to make a gentle suggestion. I hurt for him. I don’t want him to be in debt the rest of his life. He told me that he was planning on his debt ending as he got older. He can’t bear that burden as he ages. I took a risk. Here is what I texted him: [Looks like I cleaned out/ erased all my emails without having recorded that one. I could get it back if I asked him to Forward it back to me, but bps doesn’t care about it that much!] But the very first sentence said, I just want to blab! In other words it was fluff. Not counsel, not advice, not criticism just me needing to solve his frustration with finances in my mind. The tool? Don’t consume. Don’t spend. A dollar saved is worth 2 dollars earned. No taxes nor tithing etc. Of course I wasn’t that blunt. @Man was I worried when I saw 40 minutes of vmail on my computer from him Sunday morning. I started listening. After 4 minutes it sounded like it was going to be a new lecture about how he has run his financial life. It makes me feel like a perpetrator for ever having made a suggestion. Luckily it is all recorded and not stuff I had to listen to from beginning til end! The other night when he was venting, lecturing, preaching I put on my gym clothes and went for dog walk for an hour while he talked. I just as well do something useful! I hadn’t been very motivated to walk but with him on the phone anything is better than just sitting there and listening. So get up and be effective. @ As I started to listen yesterday morning I decided to change the water in my two biggest aquariums. It motivates me to get something done to avoid the burden of just listening to his intense, factual, convincing presentation. @ So how do I resolve with him? What do I say to soothe feelings I have ruffled? This is what I texted: October 30 12:38 PM
Adrian,
listened to your first e-mail.
Only one new truck in your life, and lifelong generosity/obligations. In my opinion you have been the perfect giver/provider/cover other's asses/payer!
You deserve every frivolous dollar you ever spend on yourself! Serious! So do I.
And there's nothing you can do about providing less for your family. Neither could I. That was our lot. So just forget that saying a dollar saved is two dollars earned! Laugh out loud.
Joseph Smith shouldered bad finances his whole life.
So if you had a stimulating talk because of my text and no hard feelings then good. If not we can work it out. Love you!
Vern
How did Adrian respond? Was he angry? Will he ever talk to me again? 40 minutes is a long, long rant! How affected was he? Do I need to listen to all of that? What attitude can I take and listen safely? Is there a way to fortify myself so I don’t take it personal? Here is Adrian’s text responding to my offer of reconciliation:
October 30 12:48 PM to Vern,
I love you. I love that we talk freely. I really got stimulated. I had to rehearse my story to remind myself where I've come from. Thanks for listening. You are an exceptional listener. Very gifted communicator. Adrian
@ Good. I dodged that bullet. Relief. No problems to work out, at least that he admitted. So now when I listen to the other 35 minutes of those vmails I can sit back and not take them personal, I hope. If I ever listen. I may not quite be the gifted listener Adrian declares me to be. @Wednesday, 11/2, 10:47am Good morning Brandon, They had a Family History Expo at the Dixie Center last Saturday. BobD attended. He said he got a $50 ticket for free by going late. No fair. I was surprised they would even announce such an expensive outing in sacrament meeting. Bob says it is a yearly event and yes they make $. Not church sponsored. Weird mixing there, in my opinion. Bob is unmarried, 40something, survivalist, conspiracy theorist, house painter and laborer. He has 94K names indexed and comes in regularly even in his paint clothes to index and look up obituaries and recent arrests. He is a slow reader and a convert, lives in Washington and saves money. He says Alex Boye was the night’s entertainment and he had a free ticket. He thinks Alex was a drug money man in his teens. Alex says he is one of 3 blacks in the tabernacle choir. I hadn’t heard about the drug money exchange he was running for his dad so I decided to look up his story last night. I had read it on Wiki but had missed that part. I found a 90 minute interview by a mormon guy and decided to listen and do II at the same time. It was very insightful and I found it entertaining and faith promoting. It was made in 2011. Talent search has gotten huge all over the world. I have watched probably 50 portions on Youtube. Some of the strangest things. Simon Cowell on “America’s got talent” is one of the 4 judges that is central to the opinions on the program. Everyone else can be sort of wishy washy but not him! [Deseret News 2015 Aug 5 Musician Alex Boye was eliminated from the 10th season of NBC's "America's Got Talent" Tuesday after performing a cover of Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson's "Uptown Funk" during the final round of judges' cuts.|In Boye's first performance on the show in June, he wowed the judges and fans with his version of Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off." After Tuesday night's performance, the judges were torn. They said that while the Utah performer has potential, they didn't feel he was ready for the next level of the competition. |"Alex, you know that I'm a huge fan of yours," judge Howie Mandel said. "I want to wish you the best of luck, and hopefully we'll see you again."...] Alex was born in 1970 so he is sort of old to be making headway in the popular music scene. BobD was wrong. He was never a drug runner. But he was interested in American girls and when the manager at McDonald’s in north London where he worked, and whom Alex hated, told the 16 years old he had some American girls to visit him he was interested. He lived in a rough part of town and was basically an orphan. He earned money to stay at a boarding school and his mother went back to Nigeria to check out a potential husband. She was gone for 8 years. Yuck! At boarding school they had street fights all the time. Alex thrilled with tussling. When you are numb and dead inside that is a way to feel alive. Sad isn’t it! Anyway, I am thrilled he can be an active, up front, high profile Mormon! BTO was a rock group Adrian’60 was listening to when I came home from Guatemala in ‘76. [ wiki Randolph Charles "Randy" Bachman; born September 27, 1943 is a Canadian musician best known as lead guitarist, songwriter and a founding member of the 1960s and 1970s rock bands The Guess Who and Bachman–Turner Overdrive.] Randy Bachman the lead singer converted to Mormon in Toronto Canada after he had left the Who and started his own group with Fred Turner. Bachman Turner Overdrive. “Taken Care of Business” is probably their most famous song.
[Year Title Albums:
1973 Bachman–Turner Overdrive
Bachman–Turner Overdrive II
1974 Not Fragile
1975 Four Wheel Drive
Head On
1977 Freeways
1978 Street Action
1979 Rock n' Roll Nights
1984 Hard and Fast
2014 Not Fragile 40th Anniversary Edition - wiki] So I am not into hero worship but having someone with worldly success and Mormon values is nearly impossible! @ So bps, after researching Alex Boye again I decided to write his wife, Julie Boye. What? Why write his wife and not him? Answer: She writes personal articles for Deseret News and chances are she will have more time than Alex, although if she really does have 5 kids she might be like my daughter Jessica and not even have time to text a sentence a month! Here is some background on Alex. I loved his testimony last night during the 90 minute interview! @~@ Wiki-Early life @He was born in London in 1970 to Nigerian parents. While pregnant, Boyé's mother went to London while his father remained in Nigeria. According to his own words, he never knew his father. His mother remarried and worked for London Underground, cleaning tracks at night. One day his mother said she was going to Nigeria for a couple of weeks for a visit and did not come back for eight years. Boyé was raised in the Tottenham neighbourhood that has been described as "tough". He spent much of his youth in foster homes with Caucasian parents. @As a teenager, he listened to the music of Motown, including artists Stevie Wonder, Kool and the Gang, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Jackie Wilson and Otis Redding. When he was 16, Boyé was working in a McDonald's in London when he was introduced to the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) by a manager. He was baptised soon afterward. He first performed in public while serving as a missionary for the LDS Church in Bristol, England. @Career @The 1990s @After completing his mission, he became a backing dancer. Among those with whom he performed in this role was George Michael. @In 1995, he formed and became the lead singer of Awesome, a European boy band. @They performed at local dances and other small venues until 1996 when they won a vocal competition on Capital Radio, London's largest radio station. Universal Records of Europe signed Awesome to a five-album recording contract. Awesome released three singles off their first album, Rumors, which made top-10 charts all across Europe. @The band sold 500,000 CDs and performed alongside artists that included Bryan Adams, George Michael, Simon and Garfunkel, MC Hammer, and many others. But Boyé disliked the lifestyle of a touring musician. "I had this dream of being a musician, but it was taking me down a road that led somewhere I didn't want to go," he said. Boyé decided to leave the band in 1999 to pursue a solo career. He lost all of the material possessions he had gained as a member of Awesome when the record company took the apartment, the clothes, the phone and the money. @The 2000s @In 2000, Boyé moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, to pursue a career in Christian music. He released his first religious album The Love Goes On in 2001. @Personal life @Boyé met his wife, Julie, in an LDS singles ward and they were married in the Salt Lake Temple on 6 January 2007. [Alex Boye was 37 years old. Hard to believe he had not married previously! Is she a white girl? Yep. Is she pretty? Yep. Is she 15 years younger than he is. For sure! -vj] As of 2016, they are the parents of five children. @In 2009, Boyé began raising money to buy a house for a local refugee family with sales of his single, "Crazy for You." @On 22 February 2012, Boyé became a United States citizen in a ceremony at the Rose Wagner Theater in Salt Lake City. He was surprised when he was invited by the judge conducting the ceremony to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner". @A video showing Boyé is part of the "I'm A Mormon" campaign launched by the LDS Church in Britain in the spring of 2013. @~@ so here is my message to Julie Boye after putting in a request to be Facebook friends.
[Year Title Albums:
1973 Bachman–Turner Overdrive
Bachman–Turner Overdrive II
1974 Not Fragile
1975 Four Wheel Drive
Head On
1977 Freeways
1978 Street Action
1979 Rock n' Roll Nights
1984 Hard and Fast
2014 Not Fragile 40th Anniversary Edition - wiki] So I am not into hero worship but having someone with worldly success and Mormon values is nearly impossible! @ So bps, after researching Alex Boye again I decided to write his wife, Julie Boye. What? Why write his wife and not him? Answer: She writes personal articles for Deseret News and chances are she will have more time than Alex, although if she really does have 5 kids she might be like my daughter Jessica and not even have time to text a sentence a month! Here is some background on Alex. I loved his testimony last night during the 90 minute interview! @~@ Wiki-Early life @He was born in London in 1970 to Nigerian parents. While pregnant, Boyé's mother went to London while his father remained in Nigeria. According to his own words, he never knew his father. His mother remarried and worked for London Underground, cleaning tracks at night. One day his mother said she was going to Nigeria for a couple of weeks for a visit and did not come back for eight years. Boyé was raised in the Tottenham neighbourhood that has been described as "tough". He spent much of his youth in foster homes with Caucasian parents. @As a teenager, he listened to the music of Motown, including artists Stevie Wonder, Kool and the Gang, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Jackie Wilson and Otis Redding. When he was 16, Boyé was working in a McDonald's in London when he was introduced to the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) by a manager. He was baptised soon afterward. He first performed in public while serving as a missionary for the LDS Church in Bristol, England. @Career @The 1990s @After completing his mission, he became a backing dancer. Among those with whom he performed in this role was George Michael. @In 1995, he formed and became the lead singer of Awesome, a European boy band. @They performed at local dances and other small venues until 1996 when they won a vocal competition on Capital Radio, London's largest radio station. Universal Records of Europe signed Awesome to a five-album recording contract. Awesome released three singles off their first album, Rumors, which made top-10 charts all across Europe. @The band sold 500,000 CDs and performed alongside artists that included Bryan Adams, George Michael, Simon and Garfunkel, MC Hammer, and many others. But Boyé disliked the lifestyle of a touring musician. "I had this dream of being a musician, but it was taking me down a road that led somewhere I didn't want to go," he said. Boyé decided to leave the band in 1999 to pursue a solo career. He lost all of the material possessions he had gained as a member of Awesome when the record company took the apartment, the clothes, the phone and the money. @The 2000s @In 2000, Boyé moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, to pursue a career in Christian music. He released his first religious album The Love Goes On in 2001. @Personal life @Boyé met his wife, Julie, in an LDS singles ward and they were married in the Salt Lake Temple on 6 January 2007. [Alex Boye was 37 years old. Hard to believe he had not married previously! Is she a white girl? Yep. Is she pretty? Yep. Is she 15 years younger than he is. For sure! -vj] As of 2016, they are the parents of five children. @In 2009, Boyé began raising money to buy a house for a local refugee family with sales of his single, "Crazy for You." @On 22 February 2012, Boyé became a United States citizen in a ceremony at the Rose Wagner Theater in Salt Lake City. He was surprised when he was invited by the judge conducting the ceremony to sing "The Star-Spangled Banner". @A video showing Boyé is part of the "I'm A Mormon" campaign launched by the LDS Church in Britain in the spring of 2013. @~@ so here is my message to Julie Boye after putting in a request to be Facebook friends.
@Hello Julie Boye,
i don't really expect you to accept my friend request but I thought I would try. I have read a couple of your Deseret News articles and it said you had a facebook contact, so here I am. @my paragraph mark. @ I pray your marriage will work for you. I listened to a 90 minute interview of Alex last night and what a character he is. He was here in Saint George last Saturday for the FHExpo. No way I was going to spend $59 for a ticket. I can do all the italian indexing I want for free. I have a daughter with one girl and 4 boys. Wikipedia says you have 5 kids. I thought that was impossible in the short length of time you have been married so I had to do some research and look it up and see if it is possible. I am a retired jr high science teacher and BYU graduate. But I took UoU classes as part of my masters degree. @ hang in there! @ thank you for publishing some things from your point of view. @ hope you can handle the lime light OK. God bless you. Vern @~@
As I listened to Alex last night he said some things that I really keyed in on: 1- The sister missionaries were waiting at his apartment when he got home from working at McDonald’s one night. 2- He wasn’t interested in their message in the least. He didn’t dare ask his serious personal questions about death and afterlife. 3- He went and called all his friends to come see these cute American Women on the phone. About 15 came to see. They couldn’t believe it. 4-. The sisters were about to give up on him. As they left his apartment for the last time one of the sisters, new from the states told of all she sacrificed to be there. Somehow it reached him. He invited them back in to listen better this time. 5. His mom was in Nigeria, he lived with his drinking and smoking uncle. And had to buy breaking WoW stuff for his uncle every weekend. He really wasn’t into church doctrine that solid but he felt imposed on buying all that stuff. One weekend he went home from the store with the list and the money and said get it yourself. That was the starting of the rift and shortly his uncle packed his suitcase and left it at the front door. Alex was on the street. He did a lot of crying and questioning. The scriptures became his anchor. He found an old white van to sleep in and cry in and question in. He didn’t dare take his problems to his bishop. He eventually seemed to be answered by HF with D&C 122 that he opened one night. 5- He was very low class and money meant everything. His McDonald’s manager went on a mission and when he returned Alex wondered where those two years had gone. He was supposed to be already out on his mission but he hadn’t pursued it. 6- He decided to go on his mission and one guy in a store hit him up about blacks not having the priesthood. Crud, he bluffed through it but it was a new aspect of his testimony he had to research! 7- He served his mission in England just like my niece Rachel Formica. 8- He had the courage to substitute for an missing musical number and started touring the mission as a mormon singer! 9- He was originally a dancer. 10- After his mission he was back to the doldrums. [Noun a state or period of inactivity, stagnation, or depression. "the mortgage market has been in the doldrums for three years" synonyms: depression, melancholy, gloom, gloominess, downheartedness, dejection, despondency, low spirits, despair; an equatorial region of the Atlantic Ocean with calms, sudden storms, and light unpredictable winds.] and his story goes on and on.@ bps, I hope for him. I hope he can stay true. He has a great voice. People with good voices, even speaking voices can be a blessing to those around them if they share the word of Christ. @~@ So i googled “Power of the Word” and yay ETB came up. I haven’t listened to this yet but I am going to include it! Once again this is to priesthood leadership so he may say things he wouldn’t say to the general body of the church. I like it when that happens. @~@The Power of the Word
Ezra Taft Benson
President of the Church
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This address, prepared for delivery at the Friday, 4 April 1986, Priesthood Leadership Meeting, was delivered in part by President Benson. The complete text is printed here at his request.
My dear brethren, what a thrilling sight it is to look out over this body of priesthood leadership and to know how many thousands of Saints you serve and how much dedication and faithfulness you collectively represent! There is no other body anywhere in the world today that meets for the same righteous purpose as does this group, nor is there any other group—political, religious or military—that holds the power that you do here tonight.
We live in a day of great challenge. We live in that time of which the Lord spoke when he said, “Peace shall be taken from the earth, and the devil shall have power over his own dominion.” (D&C 1:35.) We live in that day which John the Revelator foresaw when “the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” (Rev. 12:17.) The dragon is Satan; the woman represents the Church of Jesus Christ. Satan is waging war against the members of the Church who have testimonies and are trying to keep the commandments. And while many of our members are remaining faithful and strong, some are wavering. Some are falling. Some are fulfilling John’s prophecy that in the war with Satan, some Saints would be overcome. (See Rev. 13:7.)
The prophet Lehi also saw our day in his great visionary dream of the tree of life. He saw that many people would wander blindly in the mists of darkness, which symbolized the temptations of the devil. (See 1 Ne. 12:17.) He saw some fall away “in forbidden paths,” others drown in rivers of filthiness, and still others wander in “strange roads.” (1 Ne. 8:28, 32.) When we read of the spreading curse of drugs, or read of the pernicious flood of pornography and immorality, do any of us doubt that these are the forbidden paths and rivers of filthiness Lehi described?
Not all of those Lehi saw perishing were of the world. Some had come to the tree and partaken of the fruit. In other words, some members of the Church today are among those souls Lehi saw which were lost.
The Apostle Paul also saw our day. He described it as a time when such things as blasphemy, dishonesty, cruelty, unnatural affection, pride, and pleasure seeking would abound. (See 2 Tim. 3:1–7.) He also warned that “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” (2 Tim 3:13.)
Such grim predictions by prophets of old would be cause for great fear and discouragement if those same prophets had not, at the same time, offered the solution. In their inspired counsel we can find the answer to the spiritual crises of our age.
In his dream, Lehi saw an iron rod which led through the mists of darkness. He saw that if people would hold fast to that rod, they could avoid the rivers of filthiness, stay away from the forbidden paths, stop from wandering in the strange roads that lead to destruction. Later his son Nephi clearly explained the symbolism of the iron rod. When Laman and Lemuel asked, “What meaneth the rod of iron?” Nephi answered, “It was the word of God; and [note this promise] whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.” (1 Ne. 15:23–24; italics added.) Not only will the word of God lead us to the fruit which is desirable above all others, but in the word of God and through it we can find the power to resist temptation, the power to thwart the work of Satan and his emissaries.
Paul’s message is the same as Lehi’s. After portraying the terrible wickedness of future times—future to him, but present to us!—he said this to Timothy: “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned. …
“From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation.” (2 Tim. 3:14–15; italics added.)
My dear brethren, this is an answer to the great challenge of our time. The word of God, as found in the scriptures, in the words of living prophets, and in personal revelation, has the power to fortify the Saints and arm them with the Spirit so they can resist evil, hold fast to the good, and find joy in this life.
Now to you priesthood leaders we say, look to the prophetic counsel of Lehi and Paul and others like them. In that counsel you will find the solution to the challenges you face in keeping your flocks safe from the “ravening wolves” that surround them. (See Matt. 7:15; Acts 20:29.) We know that you too have great anxiety for the members of your wards and stakes and expend great time and effort in their behalf. There is much that we ask of you who have been chosen for leadership. We place many loads upon your shoulders. You are asked to run the programs of the Church, interview and counsel with the members, see that the financial affairs of the stakes and wards are properly handled, manage welfare projects, build buildings, and engage in a host of other time-consuming activities.
While none of those activities can be ignored and laid aside, they are not the most important thing you can do for those you serve. In recent years, time and again we have counseled you that certain activities bring greater spiritual returns than others. As early as 1970, President Harold B. Lee told the regional representatives:
“We are convinced that our members are hungry for the gospel, undiluted, with its abundant truths and insights. … There are those who have seemed to forget that the most powerful weapons the Lord has given us against all that is evil are His own declarations, the plain simple doctrines of salvation as found in the scriptures.” (In Regional Representatives’ Seminar, 1 Oct. 1970, p. 6.)
In a First Presidency message in 1976, President Kimball said:
“I am convinced that each of us, at least some time in our lives, must discover the scriptures for ourselves—and not just discover them once, but rediscover them again and again. …
“The Lord is not trifling with us when he gives us these things, for ‘unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.’ (Luke 12:48.) Access to these things means responsibility for them. We must study the scriptures according to the Lord’s commandment (see 3 Ne. 23:1–5); and we must let them govern our lives.” (Ensign, Sept. 1976, pp. 4–5.)
In April 1982, Elder Bruce R. McConkie spoke to the regional representatives about the priority the scriptures should take in our labors. He said: “We are so wound up in programs and statistics and trends, in properties, lands and mammon, and in achieving goals that will highlight the excellence of our work, that we have ‘omitted the weightier matters of the law.’ … However talented men may be in administrative matters; however eloquent they may be in expressing their views; however learned they may be in the worldly things—they will be denied the sweet whisperings of the Spirit that might have been theirs unless they pay the price of studying, pondering, and praying about the scriptures.” (In Regional Representatives’ Seminar, 2 Apr. 1982, pp. 1–2.)
That same day, Elder Boyd K. Packer spoke to the stake presidents and regional representatives. He said: “Buildings and budgets, and reports and programs and procedures are very important. But, by themselves, they do not carry that essential spiritual nourishment and will not accomplish what the Lord has given us to do. … The right things, those with true spiritual nourishment, are centered in the scriptures.” (In Meeting with Stake Presidents and Regional Representatives, 2 Apr. 1982, pp. 1–2.)
I add my voice to these wise and inspired brethren and say to you that one of the most important things you can do as priesthood leaders is to immerse yourselves in the scriptures. Search them diligently. Feast upon the words of Christ. Learn the doctrine. Master the principles that are found therein. There are few other efforts that will bring greater dividends to your calling. There are few other ways to gain greater inspiration as you serve.
But that alone, as valuable as it is, is not enough. You must also bend your efforts and your activities to stimulating meaningful scripture study among the members of the Church. Often we spend great effort in trying to increase the activity levels in our stakes. We work diligently to raise the percentages of those attending sacrament meetings. We labor to get a higher percentage of our young men on missions. We strive to improve the numbers of those marrying in the temple. All of these are commendable efforts and important to the growth of the kingdom. But when individual members and families immerse themselves in the scriptures regularly and consistently, these other areas of activity will automatically come. Testimonies will increase. Commitment will be strengthened. Families will be fortified. Personal revelation will flow.
The Prophet Joseph Smith said that “the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.” (Book of Mormon, Introduction, italics added.) Isn’t that what we want for the members of our wards and stakes? Aren’t we desirous that they get nearer to God? Then encourage them in every way possible to immerse themselves in this marvelous latter-day witness of Christ.
You must help the Saints see that studying and searching the scriptures is not a burden laid upon them by the Lord, but a marvelous blessing and opportunity. Note what the Lord Himself has said about the benefits of studying His word. To the great prophet-leader Joshua, He said:
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (Josh. 1:8; italics added.)
The Lord was not promising Joshua material wealth and fame, but that his life would prosper in righteousness and that he would have success in that which matters most in life, namely the quest to find true joy. (See 2 Ne. 2:25.)
Do you have members in your stakes whose lives are shattered by sin or tragedy, who are in despair and without hope? Have you longed for some way to reach out and heal their wounds, soothe their troubled souls? The prophet Jacob offers just that with this remarkable promise: “They have come up hither to hear the pleasing word of God, yea, the word which healeth the wounded soul.” (Jacob 2:8; italics added.)
Today the world is full of alluring and attractive ideas that can lead even the best of our members into error and deception. Students at universities are sometimes so filled with the doctrines of the world they begin to question the doctrines of the gospel. How do you as a priesthood leader help fortify your membership against such deceptive teachings? The Savior gave the answer in His great discourse on the Mount of Olives when He promised, “And whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived.” (JS—M 1:37; italics added.)
The scriptures are replete with similar promises about the value of the word. Do you have members who long for direction and guidance in their lives? The Psalms tell us, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Ps. 119:105), and Nephi promises that feasting upon the words of Christ “will tell you all things what ye should do.” (2 Ne. 32:3.)
Are there members of your flock who are deep in sin and need to pull themselves back? Helaman’s promise is for them: “Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil.” (Hel. 3:29.)
Success in righteousness, the power to avoid deception and resist temptation, guidance in our daily lives, healing of the soul—these are but a few of the promises the Lord has given to those who will come to His word. Does the Lord promise and not fulfill? Surely if He tells us that these things will come to us if we lay hold upon His word, then the blessings can be ours. And if we do not, then the blessings may be lost. However diligent we may be in other areas, certain blessings are to be found only in the scriptures, only in coming to the word of the Lord and holding fast to it as we make our way through the mists of darkness to the tree of life.
And if we ignore what the Lord has given us, we may lose the very power and blessings which we seek. In a solemn warning to the early Saints, the Lord said this of the Book of Mormon: “Your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received—
“Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation.
“And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all.
“And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon.” (D&C 84:54–57.)
Oh, my brethren, let us not treat lightly the great things we have received from the hand of the Lord! His word is one of the most valuable gifts He has given us. I urge you to recommit yourselves to a study of the scriptures. Immerse yourselves in them daily so you will have the power of the Spirit to attend you in your callings. Read them in your families and teach your children to love and treasure them. Then prayerfully and in counsel with others, seek every way possible to encourage the members of the Church to follow your example. If you do so, you will find, as Alma did, that “the word [has] a great tendency to lead people to do that which [is] just—yea, it [has] more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which [has] happened unto them.” (Alma 31:5.)
Like Alma, I say unto you, “It [is] expedient that [you] should try the virtues of the word of God” (Alma 31:5), in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Ezra Taft Benson
President of the Church
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This address, prepared for delivery at the Friday, 4 April 1986, Priesthood Leadership Meeting, was delivered in part by President Benson. The complete text is printed here at his request.
My dear brethren, what a thrilling sight it is to look out over this body of priesthood leadership and to know how many thousands of Saints you serve and how much dedication and faithfulness you collectively represent! There is no other body anywhere in the world today that meets for the same righteous purpose as does this group, nor is there any other group—political, religious or military—that holds the power that you do here tonight.
We live in a day of great challenge. We live in that time of which the Lord spoke when he said, “Peace shall be taken from the earth, and the devil shall have power over his own dominion.” (D&C 1:35.) We live in that day which John the Revelator foresaw when “the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” (Rev. 12:17.) The dragon is Satan; the woman represents the Church of Jesus Christ. Satan is waging war against the members of the Church who have testimonies and are trying to keep the commandments. And while many of our members are remaining faithful and strong, some are wavering. Some are falling. Some are fulfilling John’s prophecy that in the war with Satan, some Saints would be overcome. (See Rev. 13:7.)
The prophet Lehi also saw our day in his great visionary dream of the tree of life. He saw that many people would wander blindly in the mists of darkness, which symbolized the temptations of the devil. (See 1 Ne. 12:17.) He saw some fall away “in forbidden paths,” others drown in rivers of filthiness, and still others wander in “strange roads.” (1 Ne. 8:28, 32.) When we read of the spreading curse of drugs, or read of the pernicious flood of pornography and immorality, do any of us doubt that these are the forbidden paths and rivers of filthiness Lehi described?
Not all of those Lehi saw perishing were of the world. Some had come to the tree and partaken of the fruit. In other words, some members of the Church today are among those souls Lehi saw which were lost.
The Apostle Paul also saw our day. He described it as a time when such things as blasphemy, dishonesty, cruelty, unnatural affection, pride, and pleasure seeking would abound. (See 2 Tim. 3:1–7.) He also warned that “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” (2 Tim 3:13.)
Such grim predictions by prophets of old would be cause for great fear and discouragement if those same prophets had not, at the same time, offered the solution. In their inspired counsel we can find the answer to the spiritual crises of our age.
In his dream, Lehi saw an iron rod which led through the mists of darkness. He saw that if people would hold fast to that rod, they could avoid the rivers of filthiness, stay away from the forbidden paths, stop from wandering in the strange roads that lead to destruction. Later his son Nephi clearly explained the symbolism of the iron rod. When Laman and Lemuel asked, “What meaneth the rod of iron?” Nephi answered, “It was the word of God; and [note this promise] whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.” (1 Ne. 15:23–24; italics added.) Not only will the word of God lead us to the fruit which is desirable above all others, but in the word of God and through it we can find the power to resist temptation, the power to thwart the work of Satan and his emissaries.
Paul’s message is the same as Lehi’s. After portraying the terrible wickedness of future times—future to him, but present to us!—he said this to Timothy: “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned. …
“From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation.” (2 Tim. 3:14–15; italics added.)
My dear brethren, this is an answer to the great challenge of our time. The word of God, as found in the scriptures, in the words of living prophets, and in personal revelation, has the power to fortify the Saints and arm them with the Spirit so they can resist evil, hold fast to the good, and find joy in this life.
Now to you priesthood leaders we say, look to the prophetic counsel of Lehi and Paul and others like them. In that counsel you will find the solution to the challenges you face in keeping your flocks safe from the “ravening wolves” that surround them. (See Matt. 7:15; Acts 20:29.) We know that you too have great anxiety for the members of your wards and stakes and expend great time and effort in their behalf. There is much that we ask of you who have been chosen for leadership. We place many loads upon your shoulders. You are asked to run the programs of the Church, interview and counsel with the members, see that the financial affairs of the stakes and wards are properly handled, manage welfare projects, build buildings, and engage in a host of other time-consuming activities.
While none of those activities can be ignored and laid aside, they are not the most important thing you can do for those you serve. In recent years, time and again we have counseled you that certain activities bring greater spiritual returns than others. As early as 1970, President Harold B. Lee told the regional representatives:
“We are convinced that our members are hungry for the gospel, undiluted, with its abundant truths and insights. … There are those who have seemed to forget that the most powerful weapons the Lord has given us against all that is evil are His own declarations, the plain simple doctrines of salvation as found in the scriptures.” (In Regional Representatives’ Seminar, 1 Oct. 1970, p. 6.)
In a First Presidency message in 1976, President Kimball said:
“I am convinced that each of us, at least some time in our lives, must discover the scriptures for ourselves—and not just discover them once, but rediscover them again and again. …
“The Lord is not trifling with us when he gives us these things, for ‘unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.’ (Luke 12:48.) Access to these things means responsibility for them. We must study the scriptures according to the Lord’s commandment (see 3 Ne. 23:1–5); and we must let them govern our lives.” (Ensign, Sept. 1976, pp. 4–5.)
In April 1982, Elder Bruce R. McConkie spoke to the regional representatives about the priority the scriptures should take in our labors. He said: “We are so wound up in programs and statistics and trends, in properties, lands and mammon, and in achieving goals that will highlight the excellence of our work, that we have ‘omitted the weightier matters of the law.’ … However talented men may be in administrative matters; however eloquent they may be in expressing their views; however learned they may be in the worldly things—they will be denied the sweet whisperings of the Spirit that might have been theirs unless they pay the price of studying, pondering, and praying about the scriptures.” (In Regional Representatives’ Seminar, 2 Apr. 1982, pp. 1–2.)
That same day, Elder Boyd K. Packer spoke to the stake presidents and regional representatives. He said: “Buildings and budgets, and reports and programs and procedures are very important. But, by themselves, they do not carry that essential spiritual nourishment and will not accomplish what the Lord has given us to do. … The right things, those with true spiritual nourishment, are centered in the scriptures.” (In Meeting with Stake Presidents and Regional Representatives, 2 Apr. 1982, pp. 1–2.)
I add my voice to these wise and inspired brethren and say to you that one of the most important things you can do as priesthood leaders is to immerse yourselves in the scriptures. Search them diligently. Feast upon the words of Christ. Learn the doctrine. Master the principles that are found therein. There are few other efforts that will bring greater dividends to your calling. There are few other ways to gain greater inspiration as you serve.
But that alone, as valuable as it is, is not enough. You must also bend your efforts and your activities to stimulating meaningful scripture study among the members of the Church. Often we spend great effort in trying to increase the activity levels in our stakes. We work diligently to raise the percentages of those attending sacrament meetings. We labor to get a higher percentage of our young men on missions. We strive to improve the numbers of those marrying in the temple. All of these are commendable efforts and important to the growth of the kingdom. But when individual members and families immerse themselves in the scriptures regularly and consistently, these other areas of activity will automatically come. Testimonies will increase. Commitment will be strengthened. Families will be fortified. Personal revelation will flow.
The Prophet Joseph Smith said that “the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.” (Book of Mormon, Introduction, italics added.) Isn’t that what we want for the members of our wards and stakes? Aren’t we desirous that they get nearer to God? Then encourage them in every way possible to immerse themselves in this marvelous latter-day witness of Christ.
You must help the Saints see that studying and searching the scriptures is not a burden laid upon them by the Lord, but a marvelous blessing and opportunity. Note what the Lord Himself has said about the benefits of studying His word. To the great prophet-leader Joshua, He said:
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (Josh. 1:8; italics added.)
The Lord was not promising Joshua material wealth and fame, but that his life would prosper in righteousness and that he would have success in that which matters most in life, namely the quest to find true joy. (See 2 Ne. 2:25.)
Do you have members in your stakes whose lives are shattered by sin or tragedy, who are in despair and without hope? Have you longed for some way to reach out and heal their wounds, soothe their troubled souls? The prophet Jacob offers just that with this remarkable promise: “They have come up hither to hear the pleasing word of God, yea, the word which healeth the wounded soul.” (Jacob 2:8; italics added.)
Today the world is full of alluring and attractive ideas that can lead even the best of our members into error and deception. Students at universities are sometimes so filled with the doctrines of the world they begin to question the doctrines of the gospel. How do you as a priesthood leader help fortify your membership against such deceptive teachings? The Savior gave the answer in His great discourse on the Mount of Olives when He promised, “And whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived.” (JS—M 1:37; italics added.)
The scriptures are replete with similar promises about the value of the word. Do you have members who long for direction and guidance in their lives? The Psalms tell us, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Ps. 119:105), and Nephi promises that feasting upon the words of Christ “will tell you all things what ye should do.” (2 Ne. 32:3.)
Are there members of your flock who are deep in sin and need to pull themselves back? Helaman’s promise is for them: “Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil.” (Hel. 3:29.)
Success in righteousness, the power to avoid deception and resist temptation, guidance in our daily lives, healing of the soul—these are but a few of the promises the Lord has given to those who will come to His word. Does the Lord promise and not fulfill? Surely if He tells us that these things will come to us if we lay hold upon His word, then the blessings can be ours. And if we do not, then the blessings may be lost. However diligent we may be in other areas, certain blessings are to be found only in the scriptures, only in coming to the word of the Lord and holding fast to it as we make our way through the mists of darkness to the tree of life.
And if we ignore what the Lord has given us, we may lose the very power and blessings which we seek. In a solemn warning to the early Saints, the Lord said this of the Book of Mormon: “Your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received—
“Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation.
“And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all.
“And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon.” (D&C 84:54–57.)
Oh, my brethren, let us not treat lightly the great things we have received from the hand of the Lord! His word is one of the most valuable gifts He has given us. I urge you to recommit yourselves to a study of the scriptures. Immerse yourselves in them daily so you will have the power of the Spirit to attend you in your callings. Read them in your families and teach your children to love and treasure them. Then prayerfully and in counsel with others, seek every way possible to encourage the members of the Church to follow your example. If you do so, you will find, as Alma did, that “the word [has] a great tendency to lead people to do that which [is] just—yea, it [has] more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which [has] happened unto them.” (Alma 31:5.)
Like Alma, I say unto you, “It [is] expedient that [you] should try the virtues of the word of God” (Alma 31:5), in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
