July 6, 2020

For my letter this week I'm sending you my sacrament meeting talk. How many people do you think were in the chapel? 12 did you say? I think that's high. :). Fun Week: Ella is here, Aja is here, big meeting about the family reunion that cancelled it for some families (sad face), the coronavirus struggle is real. While serving on assignment in the Pacific, a mission president contacted me about meeting with a missionary who wanted to go home early. Evidently, the missionary had read some anti-Church literature and felt he no longer had a sufficient testimony to teach the gospel. I met with the missionary and asked if I might ask him a few questions. He consented. The questioning went essentially as follows: Do you believe in the pre-mortal existence — that we lived with God as His children before we came to this earth? He replied that such doctrine was taught in the Bible and he believed it. Do you believe in the doctrine of the spirit world — that everyone will have a fair chance to hear the gospel in its fullness either on earth or in the spirit world before they are judged? He said that that seemed fair and right to him. Do you believe, then, in baptism for the dead? “Yes,” he replied. “That is in the Bible.” Contrary to the doctrine of the Trinity as taught by most of the Christian world, do you believe that God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ are two separate personages with glorified bodies of flesh and bones? He replied in the affirmative. Do you believe in one heaven and one hell as taught by most of the Christian world, or do you believe in three degrees of glory? He replied, “Three degrees of glory.” Do you believe in the eternal nature of families? He said he had always believed in such a doctrine. Do you believe that Christ’s Church today should have Apostles just as existed in Christ’s mortal ministry? He replied that that seemed right to him. Do you believe in on going revelation today or believe that it ceased at the time the Bible ended and thereafter God left us on our own? “No,” he said. “I believe we should have revelation today. In all, about 10-12 questions were discussed. I then asked this fine young missionary, “Can you think of any Church that teaches one, let alone all of these doctrinal principles?” I will never forget his response: “I hadn’t thought of that before.” John 8:32 know the truth and the truth shall make you free Stand fast in the liberty wherewith ye have been made free https://www.mormonperspectives.com/?p=115I learned the importance of religion for the strength of democracy and capitalism in a conversation 12 years ago with a Marxist economist from China who was nearing the end of a Fulbright Fellowship in Boston. I asked my friend if he had learned here anything that was surprising or unexpected. His response was immediate and, to me, quite profound: “I had no idea how critical religion is to the functioning of democracy and capitalism.” Though de Toqueville also had observed this, I had never made this association between religion, democracy and capitalism in my mind. But it was like this scholar parachuted in from Mars – and this is what he saw. He continued, “In your past, most Americans attended a church or synagogue every week. These were institutions that people respected. At church, from their youngest years, Americans were taught to voluntarily obey the law; to respect other people’s property, and not steal it. Americans were taught never to lie. Americans followed these rules because they had come to believe that even if the police or court systems didn’t catch them when they broke a law, God would catch them and hold them accountable. Democracy works here because most people most of the time voluntarily obey the laws. “You can say the same for capitalism,” my friend continued. “It works because Americans have been taught in their churches that they should keep their promises and not tell lies. An advanced economy cannot function if people cannot expect that when they sign contracts, the other people will voluntarily uphold their obligations. Capitalism works because most people voluntarily keep their promises.” Our truth is that we are eternally indebted to your heavenly Father, to render to him all that you have and William Earnest Henley Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from Pole to Pole, I thank whatever gods may be, For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud, Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds and shall find me unafraid. It matters not how straight the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul. The Soul's Captain Orson F. Whitney Art thou in truth? Then what of him who bought thee with his blood? Who plunged into devouring seas And snatched thee from the flood Who bore for all our fallen race What none but him could bear-- The God who died that man might live And endless glory share. Of what avail thy vaunted strength Apart from his vast might? Pray that his light may pierce the gloom That thou mayest see aright. Men are as bubbles on the wave, As leaves upon the tree, Thou, captain of thy soul! Forsooth, Who gave that place to thee? Free will is thine--free agency, To wield for right or wrong; But thou must answer unto him To whom all souls belong. Bend to the dust that “head unbowed”, Small part of life’s great whole, And see in him and him alone, The captain of thy soul. are; Declaration of Dependence Elements that may be considered for inclusion in our Declaration of Joyous Dependance Know who we are-Moses interaction with God -Mosiah 2:34- Free from wonder and confusion Basic foundation tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine Know who God is-First Vision-I saw a pillar of light Know what happens after we die...Alma 11:43 Alma -Dad on mission An understanding of heaven-Stephensons Know that we can overcome sin and death because of our Savior Alma 11:40 An understanding of our lost and fallen state Wherefore, all mankind were in a lost and in a fallen state, and ever would be save they should rely on this Redeemer. 1 Nephi 10:6 Understand the doctrine of the soul Elder Holland-Mosiah 3:19, David O Mckay turns irritations into invitations To live knowing that our suffering has purpose FREEDOM FROM SIN Freedom from being alone Need his help-revelation-strike the steel- Elder Renlund’s 2:00 story-Holy habits, righteous routines, solar-powered, harold b lee testimony is fragile must be reborn every day Mosiah 2:34 Render to God all that we have and are Gethsemane address-sacrament, Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. —Abraham Lincoln 100 score and 20 years ago, a virgin brought forth in Bethlehem a new baby, conceived by miracle, and dedicated to come to save all men who are created equal from sin and death. Now we are engaged in mortality, testing whether our pre-mortal determination to yield our will to God’s will long endure. We are met in a Sacrament meeting. We have come to renew our covenants and dedicate our lives to the life given in Gethsemane, Calvary and on Golgatha’s hill that we might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we can dedicate—we can consecrate—we can not hallow—our lives. The Savior, who give all that He is and has has invited us to consecrate, and we can add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but I pray that we and the world will never forget what He did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which the Savior have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored Sacrament table we take increased devotion to that cause for which He gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that the Savior Jesus Christ shall not have died in vain—that our lives, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that our liberty purchased by the Savior, offered by the Savior, and through his enabling, enobling and saving power we are redeemed, will help us not perish from this earth. Drenched in purpose, marinated in meaning, PSALM 116 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous—Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints. 1 I alove the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. 2 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. 3 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the apains of bhell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. 4 Then called I upon the name of the Lord; O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. 5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is amerciful. 6 The Lord preserveth the asimple: I was brought low, and he helped me. 7 Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. 8 For thou hast adelivered my bsoul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. 9 I will walk before the Lord in the aland of the living. 10 I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted: 11 I said in my ahaste, All men are liars. 12 What shall I arender unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me? 13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. 14 I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people. 15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the adeath of his saints. 16 O Lord, truly I am thy aservant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds. 17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will acall upon the name of the Lord. 18 I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all his people, 19 In the acourts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord.