February 28, 2014
Visiting Teaching Message March 2014 ("Our Light Bright")
VISITING TEACHING MESSAGE mARCH 2014: The Divine Mission of Jesus Christ: Light of the
World.
From the
Scriptures
From Our
History
What Can
I Do?
Home Teaching March 2014 ("Why Service")
FIRST PRESIDENCY MESSAGE (hOME tEACHING mARCH 2014) Service and Eternal Life
BY PRESIDENT
HENRY B. EYRING
First
Counselor in the First Presidency
The
Savior is our example of unselfish service. His perfect life was devoted to
serving Heavenly Father and all of His Father’s children. The united purpose of
the Father and the Son is to give all of us the gift of immortality and
the blessing of eternal life (see Moses 1:39).
To
qualify for eternal life, we must be changed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ—born
again and cleansed from sin. Little children under the age of eight, however,
are without sin and are redeemed through the Atonement (see Mosiah 3:16, 21; Moroni 8:10–12).
For all
of us who reach the age of accountability, there is a wonderful plan that
allows us to be cleansed from sin and prepared for eternal life. That
preparation begins with baptism by priesthood authority and the
reception of the Holy
Ghost. Then we must always remember the Savior and keep the
commandments He has given us.
King
Benjamin told his people in the Book of
Mormon of the joy that
comes from feeling forgiveness from sin through the Atonement of
Jesus Christ. Then he taught them that to retain a remission of their sins,
they must teach their children to serve one another and they must be as
generous as they could to meet the temporal and spiritual needs of those around
them. (See Mosiah 4:11–16.)
He also
taught, “And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye
may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in
the service of your God” (Mosiah 2:17).
Jesus
went about teaching His gospel and doing good (see Acts 10:38). He healed the sick. He raised the dead.
With His power He fed thousands when they were hungry and without food (see Matthew 14:14–21; John 6:2–13). After His Resurrection He gave food to several of His
Apostles as they came ashore at the Sea of Galilee (see John 21:12–13). In the Americas, He healed the sick and
blessed the children one by one (see3 Nephi 17:7–9, 21).
James
the Apostle taught us how the desire to serve others springs from our gratitude for what the Lord has done for us:
“But
whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being
not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in
his deed. …
“Pure
religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the
fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from
the world” (James 1:25, 27).
One of
the assurances that you are being purified is an increasing desire to serve
others for the Savior. Home teaching and visiting teaching become more of a joy
and less of a chore. You find yourself volunteering more often in a local
school or helping care for the poor in your community. Even though you may have
little money to give to those who have less, you wish you had more so that you
could give more (see Mosiah 4:24). You find yourself eager to serve your
children and to show them how to serve others.
As your
nature changes, you will feel a desire to give greater service without
recognition. I know disciples of the Savior who have given great gifts of money
and service with a determination that no one but God and their children would
know about it. God has recognized their service by blessing them in this life,
and He will bless them in the eternal life to come (see Matthew 6:1–4; 3 Nephi 13:1–4).
As you
have kept the commandment to serve others (see Matthew 22:39), you have felt a change in your feelings
of pride. The Savior corrected His Apostles when they contended about who would
be greatest among them. He said: “Neither be ye called masters: for one is your
Master, even Christ. “But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant”
(Matthew 23:10–11).
The
Savior teaches us how we can learn to serve others. He served perfectly, and we
must learn to serve as He learned—line upon line (seeD&C
93:12–13
An Answer to Her Prayer
"Wisdom Comes"
“One must the right road choose, or
his soul to lose. As for me, I choose not to lie, too hard to remember
over the truth. Why do harm others when it’s only a harm to me. Not
the way a Righteous path to take.” cn 2/27/14
“Wisdom Comes”
cji
3/1/14
Silence is better
than noise
tenderness over hardness
forgiveness over
revenge
wisdom comes in
kindness
being helpful when
able
always doing good
always
finding the right
road easy
unless having strayed
away
never to lie – but
truth telling
healing instead of
harming
tenderness and
gentleness
quietness showing
virtue!
Copyright © 2014 – cji
February 27, 2014
"First Class"
.jpg)
“First
Class”
cji
2/28/14
Each can
become anything
they can
become their best
or
choose to be quite less
how many
choose wisely
pretending
to be nothing
making
up lies and stories
without
character to know
thus it
is the very few wise
choosing
to be first class
honorable
and righteous
so very
few to be their best
becoming
all that one can!
Copyright
© 2014 – cji
February 26, 2014
"Something to Remember" (Jukebox)
“Something to Remember”
cji
2/27/14
Someone’s taken a lot of time
putting together this memory
times when some were young
maybe some yet to be born
yet a way to travel in our time
finding innocence to laugh
when violence wasn’t a choice
(not that there weren’t fights)
but not like the ones of today
thus hear and listen to some
of the music of my day once
maybe your day as well to be
something to remember today
this memory of our/my youth
taken a lot of time by someone!
Coolest Juke Box ever
Copyright © 2014 – cji
"Crushing Roses" (a short essay)
“Crushing
Roses” cji 2/27/14
It would seem since the dawn of civilization
when two or more gather – Satan can interfere to cause the hurting of one of
those gathered. Sometimes it could be more than just one – and the hurt can be
long-lasting even to death. Sometimes simply an implication – unintended or
even fully intended cause the hurtfulness. Many times these ‘put downs’ are
part of some written code which the worldly accept and apply. However, this
hurtfulness should not be so. Too often they’re done in circumstances where
those gathered have covenanted not to do hurtful things to one another or to
anyone known or unknown. Yet these covenants are forgotten and the verbal
attacks – hurtful actions – beguiling rumors spread like an ice fire leaving
only widows and widowers to pick up the pieces of what once was a testimony of
a loved one.
What takes place is no different than someone
seeing a lovely rose bush – with some flowers in bloom and others still in the
budding stage. Of course there are those which have bloomed and since run their
life cycle and can no longer be hurt. One could liken the later to those who’ve
so firm a testimony – such a strong understanding – that those seeking to hurt
them are left without. Yet most are like the new bud fresh – seeking to come
into the light – and yet cut off and crushed by another. Yes some are already
in bloom and after repeated beatings to are crushed by the hurtful words,
rumors and/or actions. Each falling to the earth – the light crushed from them –
and thus becoming crushed roses. No longer having vitality or beauty to share
with those around.
Those who performed such actions ignore the
results of their words, rumors or actions. Some hide behind power and or a
blind sense of power – thinking they’ve done the world and those around them a
favor. As much as saying to the person(s) we don’t want you around us anymore –
why don’t you just go away. In the same manner telling Heavenly Father we don’t
want those roses in our garden – we don’t want to tend to them and care for
them. And thus forsaking the feelings of love for one of guile and prideful
hate.
Crushing roses takes place continuously in
today’s world. Sadly many see it as humor in the TV/Movies and media spew which
is ever present in literature and music. There is a world without feelings –
deaf unable to hear and blinded unable to see. Often too late comes the
gardener to the aid of the roses – or the steward to the people – only to weep
and feel lost at such cruelty of one to another of Father’s children or creations.
Which will we be found – being ever vigilant or
waiting hoping we’re not next or one of our loved ones? We must remember the
Second Great Commandment – we’re to love all of Father’s Creations – and therefore
be found as good gardeners – protecting the weak and tender – or we indeed will
be found next. c/ork
“Crushing
Roses”
cji
2/27/14
Stepping
aside to destroy
using poor
choiced words
spitefully
and hatefully
designed
to crush others
filling
a power need within
carelessly
stepping aside;
Crushing
roses still in bud
claiming
rights unauthorized
causing
another to weep
inwardly
unable to be hidden
showing
pain uncontrolled
this
rose crushed willfully!
Copyright
© 2014 – cji
"Silence" (Harvard Writer: Abolish free speech)
Sandra Korn, a senior who writes a column for the Harvard
Crimson newspaper, thinks radical leftism is the only permissible political
philosophy, and the First Amendment only hinders colleges from brainwashing
students with her viewpoint.
“Let’s give up on academic freedom in favor of justice,”
states the subtitle of her Feb. 18 column, in
which she insists Harvard stop guaranteeing students and professors the right
to hold controversial views and conduct research putting liberalism in a
negative light.
“If our university community opposes racism, sexism, and
heterosexism, why should we put up with research that counters our goals?” Korn
asks.
“It is tempting to decry frustrating restrictions on
academic research as violations of academic freedom. Yet I would encourage
student and worker organizers to instead use a framework of justice. After all,
if we give up our obsessive reliance on the doctrine of academic freedom, we
can consider more thoughtfully what is just.”
Korn’s view grabbed the attention of the nation’s top
conservative voice, Rush Limbaugh.
“This is not unique. This is not satire. This is not
parody,” Limbaugh said on his nationally broadcast radio program Tuesday. “This
woman, Sandra Korn, is real, and she’s serious that free speech needs to be
abridged because it is threatening liberalism. It means that liberalism cannot
hold up to scrutiny. It cannot withstand a challenge. If liberalism were
infallible, if liberalism were so powerful and automatic, they would welcome
challenges to it – and they would welcome the attempt to persuade and to
convert. But instead they’re threatened by it.”
When asked of he thought her belief was going to become a
movement, Limbaugh indicated it already was one.
“This is what the left is,” he explained. “Why do you think
they want to get rid of this program? Why do you think they want to get rid of
Fox News? Why do they want to silence criticism? What is Obama’s modus
operandi? Eliminate the opposition. This is already a movement!”
“This woman has just written a column about it at Harvard
with what appears to be an extreme view of eliminating the First Amendment as a
way of silencing opposition. But she’s very honest. The First Amendment, free
speech, ‘threatens liberalism,’ meaning liberalism cannot thrive in an open
society. Liberalism is totalitarianism. Liberalism is statism. It is
authoritarianism. It is all of the horrible Isms, and it cannot thrive when
there is open debate. It cannot survive challenges.”
The Crimson article is complete and more comprehensive then
the snippet I first read.
She
references student activity in 1971. This was the time of Radical Liberalism.
The
forced take over or Universities by students.
The
sit in's were NOT peaceful.
Robert
Bork's book is excellent on this time period and look into liberalism.
"Slouching
Towards Gomorrah: Modern Liberalism and American Decline"
Synopsis
Slouching
Towards Gomorrah is a penetrating, devastatingly insightful exposé of a country
in crisis at the end of the millennium, where the rise of modern liberalism,
which stresses the dual forces of radical egalitarianism (the equality of
outcomes rather than opportunities) and radical individualism (the drastic
reduction of limits to personal gratification), has undermined our culture, our
intellect, and our morality.
In
a new Afterword, the author highlights recent disturbing trends in our laws and
society, with special attention to matters of sex and censorship, race
relations, and the relentless erosion of American moral values. The alarm he
sounds is more sobering than ever: we can accept our fate and try to insulate
ourselves from the effects of a degenerating culture, or we can choose to halt
the beast, to oppose modern liberalism in every arena. The will to resist, he warns,
remains our only hope.
“Silence”
cji
2/26/14
Forget anything to say
no longer acceptable
closing the closet door
locking in chains strong
multiple locks to secure
unwittingly giving up
media the first to go
free-speech disallowed
oligarchical
totalitarianism
attacking freedoms
till only one way found
the road to Babylon
accepted as the way
silencing the only other
roadblocks of hatred
hiding Zion’s road
no longer acceptable
silence left only to say!
Copyright © 2014 – cji
February 25, 2014
"Solatium"
“Solatium”
cji
2/26/14
Millions of tax-payers wait
when their solatium will come
their injuries and suffering
from government abuses
losses continue to mount
carrying the heavy load
illegals and free-loaders
seeking the solace today
welcoming legal correction
seeking no money but yet
wanting the stealing to stop
sadly no solatium to come
millions of tax-payers wronged!
Copyright © 2014 – cji
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