Because of Him

Because of Him, healing of broken hearts is possible. He is the light where no other light can shine. He is Hope. He is Love. He came as a helpless child. Approachable by every class. He knows your darkest moments. He has felt the deepest, longest pains. Of every soul that has ever or will ever live.

He took it all on. We accepted it as if he had committed every sin. He bore every burden.

He died. And raised himself up again. Because of him, I will live again. And so will you. And every soul who has ever been born.

Because of him, he has sent angels and prophets and neighbors and friends to tell you. Yes you reading this now. To tell you that there is hope. That all can be healed.

You can choose to believe.

Because of him, prophets are on earth today. Scripture is revealed anew.

Because of him, you are hearing the message of hope, the good news. What will you do with it?  Will you turn to Him? Will you give away all your sins. Will you forgive?

Notice how you feel. If the light is not brighter in you. If your mind is not clearer. Accept the light, the warmth. Choose to turn to God and live.

Born to Give Me Second Birth

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, second verse

1. Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!
Joyful, all ye nations, rise;
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th'angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem!

(Chorus)
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!

2. Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Ris'n with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.

Pliant and Flexible versus Stubborn and Unyielding

A dream of Lucy Mack Smith in her own words

I thought that I stood in a large and beautiful meadow, which lay a short distance from the house in which we lived, and that everything around me wore an aspect of peculiar pleasantness. The first thing that attracted my special attention in this magnificent meadow, was a very pure and clear stream of water, which ran through the midst of it; and as I traced this stream, I discovered two trees standing upon its margin, both of which were on the same side of the stream. These trees were very beautiful, they were well proportioned, and towered with majesty beauty to a great height. Their branches, which added to their symmetry and glory, commenced near the top, and spread themselves in luxurious grandeur around. I gazed upon them with wonder and admiration; and after beholding them a short time, I saw one of them was surrounded with a bright belt, that shone like burnished gold, but far more brilliantly. Presently, a gentle breeze passed by, and the tree encircled with this golden zone, bent gracefully before the wind, and waved its beautiful branches in the light air. As the wind increased, this tree assumed the most lively and animated appearance, and seemed to express in its motions, the utmost joy and happiness. If it had been an intelligent creature, it could not have conveyed, by the power of language, the idea of joy and gratitude so perfectly as it did; and even the stream that rolled beneath it, shared, apparently, every sensation felt by the tree, for, as the branches danced over the stream, it would swell gently, then recede again with a motion as soft as the breathing of an infant, but as lively as the dancing of a sunbeam. The belt also partook of the same influence, and as it moved in unison with the motion of the stream and of the tree, it increased continually in refulgence and magnitude, until it became exceedingly glorious.  

I turned my eyes upon its fellow, which stood opposite; but it was not surrounded with the belt of light as the former, and it stood erect and fixed as a pillar of marble. No matter how strong the wind blew over it, not a leaf was stirred, not a bough was bent; but obstinately stiff it stood, scorning alike the zephyr's breath, or the power of the mighty storm.  

I wondered at what I saw, and said in my heart, What can be the meaning of all this? And the interpretation given me was,that these personated my husband and his oldest brother, Jesse Smith; that the stubborn and unyielding tree was like Jesse; that the other, more pliant and flexible, was like Joseph, my husband; that the breath of heaven, which passed over them, was the pure and undefiled gospel of the Son of God, which gospel Jesse would always resist, but which Joseph, when he was more advanced in life would hear and receive with his whole heart, and rejoice therein; and unto him would be added intelligence, happiness, glory, and everlasting life.
(Smith, Lucy. Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith the Prophet and His Progenitors for Many Generations (1912) (Kindle Locations 621-641). Kindle Edition.)

O How Great the Plan of Our God!

"My beloved brothers and sisters, my dear friends, does it not fill our hearts and minds with wonder and awe to contemplate the great plan of happiness our Heavenly Father has prepared for us?" ("O How Great the Plan of Our God!", Dieter F. Uctdorf, Oct 2016)

I Choose to Believe

Following is a post I wrote in a FB Group for my LDS Mission in Australia.


I have not read everyone's story about their experience with the church. Here is mine.

I have always loved church. I do not remember a time in my youth that I did not know it was true. My biggest difficulty is choosing to believe that I could be true to the church. That I choose to believe that Jesus can do in my life what I believe he can do in the life of everyone else.

There was a period several years ago when I looked more closely at history and doctrine of the church that had become much more readily available because of the Internet. I had a ward member choose to leave the church. I did not understand why. I had several, long phone conversations with him. Here is more from that experience.

After spending some time looking inside and considering what I want I came to this. This life had not given me many concrete, completely proven truths. I believe is it designed to be that way. I think we are given opportunities to believe or not to.

I believe that we get what we truly want. If we want rich, close relationships with family and friends we get that. If we choose fear and anxiety it comes along as well. Now I get that there are exceptions to this. Chemical imbalances in our brains. Struggles that we did not seem to choose to take on.

I choose to believe in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because I choose to believe. I want the truths that they teach to be true. I choose to live as if they are. I have felt many, many times how my life is blessed by living by the principles taught at church.

I recognize that there are imperfect people at the founding of the church up to the present time. In high and in local callings. I am one of those imperfect ones.

I love the church. I love the family and friend connections I have because of my association in it. I believe that the church is still undergoing a restoration. That the most bitter branches are being cut off to make room for the sweet fruit. I want to be a part of that process.

I loved the talk Elder Ballard gave earlier this year. I hope it will help many young people navigate their own spiritual journeys safely.

I look forward to hearing how y'all are doing.

I've Got my Mind Set on You

What would be possible if everyone worked for "the benefit of the church of the living God, that every man may improve upon his talent, that every man may gain other talents, yea, even an hundred fold... Every man seeking the interest of his neighbor, and doing all things with an eye single to the glory of God"?
(D&C 82:15-20)

What Our Priesthood Keys Can and Cannot Do

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Ultimately, all keys of the priesthood are held by the Lord Jesus Christ, whose priesthood it is. He is the one who determines what keys are delegated to mortals and how those keys will be used. We are accustomed to thinking that all keys of the priesthood were conferred on Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple, but the scripture states that all that was conferred there were “the keys of this dispensation” (D&C 110:16). At general conference many years ago, President Spencer W. Kimball reminded us that there are other priesthood keys that have not been given to man on the earth, including the keys of creation and resurrection. 

The divine nature of the limitations put upon the exercise of priesthood keys explains an essential contrast between decisions on matters of Church administration and decisions affecting the priesthood. The First Presidency and the Council of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, who preside over the Church, are empowered to make many decisions affecting Church policies and procedures—matters such as the location of Church buildings and the ages for missionary service. But even though these presiding authorities hold and exercise all of the keys delegated to men in this dispensation, they are not free to alter the divinely decreed pattern that only men will hold offices in the priesthood.
("The Keys and Authority of the Priesthood", Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Apr 2014)

See also "Joseph Smith’s Teachings about Priesthood, Temple, and Women", LDS.org Gospel Topic Essays

Lord, Increase Our Faith

Recommended by my son.

Lord, Increase Our Faith, Bruce R. McConkie Oct 31, 1967

I love you and I don't want you to go

These words struck me as I imagined Jesus saying them to me.

"Take my words, read 'em every day, keep 'em close by, don't you let 'em fade away,
So you'll remember what I forgot to say, write this down.
Oh I love you and I don't want you to go"


Then I thought of this,

Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. (Isaiah 49:16)

And this,

Knowing Christ’s character, I believe that if anyone is going to be begging on that occasion, it would probably be Jesus begging the unrepentant sinner, “Please, choose to stay. Please, use my Atonement—not just to be cleansed but to be changed so that you want to stay.” ("His Grace Is Sufficient", Brad Wilcox, 12 Jul 2011)

Being at peace with my past frees up my future

"Got My Mind Set On You"
(from azlyrics.com)

I got my mind set on you
I got my mind set on you
I got my mind set on you
I got my mind set on you

But it's gonna take money
A whole lotta spending money
It's gonne take plenty of money
To do it right child

It's gonna take time
A whole lot of precious time
It's gonna take patience and time, ummm
To do it, to do it, to do it, to do it, to do it,
To do it right child

I got my mind set on you
I got my mind set on you
I got my mind set on you
I got my mind set on you

And this time I know it's for real
The feelings that I feel
I know if I put my mind to it
I know that I really can do it

I got my mind set on you
Set on you
I got my mind set on you
Set on you

But it's gonna take money
A whole lotta spending money
It's gonna take plenty of money
To do it right child

It's gonna take time
A whole lot of precious time
It's gonna take patience and time, ummm
To do it, to do it, to do it, to do it, to do it,
To do it right child

I got my mind set on you
I got my mind set on you
I got my mind set on you
I got my mind set on you

And this time I know it's for real
The feelings that I feel
I know if I put my mind to it
I know that I really can do it

But it's gonna take money
A whole lotta spending money
It's gonna take plenty of money
To do it right child

It's gonna take time
A whole lot of precious time
It's gonna take patience and time, ummm
To do it, to do it, to do it, to do it, to do it,
To do it right

Set on you
Set on you
[Repeat]

Conference Quotes

"the Restoration is not an event, but it continues to unfold.” (Elder M. Russell Ballard, FB Post, 2 Oct 2016)

The God of heaven is not a heartless referee looking for any excuse to throw us out of the game. He is our perfectly loving Father who yearns more than anything else to have all of His children come back home and live with him as families forever. (J. Devn Cornish, 1 Oct 2016)

Lyn G. Robbins on using compassion, kindness, discipline and sacrifice as common judges of Israel.

D. Todd Christofferson on describing love in terms other than unconditional.

"an invitation to learn more about Jesus Christ and His gospel is preferable to an invitation to learn more about our Church... Feelings about our Church follow conversion to Jesus Christ; they do not precede it.” (Dallin H. Oaks, 1 Oct 2016)

Christofferson on how the grace of God does not restore us to our previous state of innocence.

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Previous Conferences

"It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines" ("The Laborers in the Vineyard", Jeffrey R. Holland, Apr 2012)















"God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve love. It is simply always there” (“We Never Walk Alone,” Thomas S. Monson, September 2013 general Relief Society meeting).      

Much sifting will occur because of lapses in righteous behavior which go unrepented of. A few will give up instead of holding out to the end. A few will be deceived by defectors. Likewise, others will be offended, for sufficient unto each dispensation are the stumbling blocks thereof! A few will stumble because, in their preoccupation with the cares of the world, they do not have oil in their lamps. And, again and again, those who refuse to eat their spiritual spinach will come off second when they wrestle with the world. Some, because of the scorn of the world, will grow ashamed and let go of the iron rod. (See 1 Ne. 8:28.) A few who have not been Saints, but merely tourists passing through, will depart from the path. A few, failing to be of good cheer, will even charge God foolishly. (See Job 1:22.) (“Be of Good Cheer”, Neal A. Maxwell, Oct 1982)

       

Spiritual Inoculation

On Saturday, a counselor in our Stake Presidency encouraged the Young Men's leaders to be prepared to answer any question from the young men in our care. He told us that if we are to spiritually inoculate them, we must master the content of the gospel topic essays available on lds.org. They are also available on the Gospel Library app under the church history section.

I recommend the full talk by Elder Ballard the counselor referred to.
"The Opportunities and Responsibilities of CES Teachers in the 21st Century", Feb 2016.

#lovechallenge

From a FB Post of mine.

I was challenged by Jerame to post photos with my loving spouse/significant other for 7 days and tag 2 people each day to keep the celebration of love and promotion of all kinds of love going. 

I am adding an extra post today to acknowledge that some are hurt by being reminded that they do not have a relationship or do not have the kind of relationship they want.  

I know that I am not the husband that I could be. I am a work in progress.  

I choose to participate because I think this is a work worth campaigning for. Love always wins. Love is alive and must be nourished and fought for.  

We may not have a special relationship right now. Or the kind of one we hope for. We must hold up the standard, the ideal as a way to turn our eyes to the heavens. To see what might be possible and choose to work for it.  

#lovechallenge

Redefining Failure

Business Insider: Spanx CEO On Failure from Eleanor Rigby on Vimeo.

Spanx CEO offers advice to redefine failure. Learning to celebrate failure at a young age led to this billionaire's success.

Code Monkey

I relate to this.



Code Monkey (Soundcloud)

Code Monkey get up get coffee
Code Monkey go to job
Code Monkey have boring meeting
With boring manager Rob
Rob say Code Monkey very diligent
But his output stink
His code not "functional" or "elegant"
What do Code Monkey think?
Code Monkey think maybe manager want to write login page himself
Code Monkey not say it out loud
Code Monkey not crazy, just proud

Code Monkey like Fritos
Code Monkey like Tab and Mountain Dew
Code Monkey very simple man
With big warm fuzzy secret heart:
Code Monkey like you
Code Monkey like you

Code Monkey hang around at front desk
Tell you sweater look nice
Code Monkey offer buy you soda
Bring you cup, bring you ice
You say no thank you for the soda cause
Soda make you fat
Anyway you busy with the telephone
No time for chat
Code Monkey have long walk back to cubicle he sit down pretend to work
Code Monkey not thinking so straight
Code Monkey not feeling so great

Code Monkey like Fritos
Code Monkey like Tab and Mountain Dew
Code Monkey very simple man
With big warm fuzzy secret heart:
Code Monkey like you
Code Monkey like you a lot

Code Monkey have every reason
To get out this place
Code Monkey just keep on working
See your soft pretty face
Much rather wake up, eat a coffee cake
Take bath, take nap
This job "fulfilling in creative way"
Such a load of
Code Monkey think someday he have everything even pretty girl like you
Code Monkey just waiting for now
Code Monkey say someday, somehow

Code Monkey like Fritos
Code Monkey like Tab and Mountain Dew
Code Monkey very simple man
With big warm fuzzy secret heart:
Code Monkey like you
Code Monkey like you

Code Monkey

Other than having a fantastic manager, I relate to this.



Code Monkey

Code Monkey get up get coffee
Code Monkey go to job
Code Monkey have boring meeting
With boring manager Rob
Rob say Code Monkey very diligent
But his output stink
His code not "functional" or "elegant"
What do Code Monkey think?
Code Monkey think maybe manager want to write login page himself
Code Monkey not say it out loud
Code Monkey not crazy, just proud

Code Monkey like Fritos
Code Monkey like Tab and Mountain Dew
Code Monkey very simple man
With big warm fuzzy secret heart:
Code Monkey like you
Code Monkey like you

Code Monkey hang around at front desk
Tell you sweater look nice
Code Monkey offer buy you soda
Bring you cup, bring you ice
You say no thank you for the soda cause
Soda make you fat
Anyway you busy with the telephone
No time for chat
Code Monkey have long walk back to cubicle he sit down pretend to work
Code Monkey not thinking so straight
Code Monkey not feeling so great

Code Monkey like Fritos
Code Monkey like Tab and Mountain Dew
Code Monkey very simple man
With big warm fuzzy secret heart:
Code Monkey like you
Code Monkey like you a lot

Code Monkey have every reason
To get out this place
Code Monkey just keep on working
See your soft pretty face
Much rather wake up, eat a coffee cake
Take bath, take nap
This job "fulfilling in creative way"
Such a load of
Code Monkey think someday he have everything even pretty girl like you
Code Monkey just waiting for now
Code Monkey say someday, somehow

Code Monkey like Fritos
Code Monkey like Tab and Mountain Dew
Code Monkey very simple man
With big warm fuzzy secret heart:
Code Monkey like you
Code Monkey like you

Universal Salvation of the Willing

I believe in the universal salvation of the willing. Here are a few scriptures that point this out.

Thus we may see that the Lord is merciful unto all who will, in the sincerity of their hearts, call upon his holy name. (Helaman 3:27)

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For all who will have a blessing at my hands shall abide the law which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof, as were instituted from before the foundation of the world. (D&C 132:5)

-

It is significant that when we partake of the sacrament we do not witness that we take upon us the name of Jesus Christ. We witness that we are willing to do so. (See D&C 20:77.) The fact that we only witness to our willingness suggests that something else must happen before we actually take that sacred name upon us in the most important sense. 

What future event or events could this covenant contemplate? The scriptures suggest two sacred possibilities, one concerning the authority of God, especially as exercised in the temples, and the other—closely related—concerning exaltation in the celestial kingdom. ("Taking upon Us the Name of Jesus Christ", Dallin H. Oaks, Apr 1985)

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And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them (Abraham 3:25)

 Just because we are willing does not mean we do not have to work.

[We] have plenty to do, but it is not to fill that gap. We will all be resurrected. We will all go back to God’s presence. What is left to be determined by our obedience is what kind of body we plan on being resurrected with and how comfortable we plan to be in God’s presence and how long we plan to stay there. ("His Grace is Sufficient", BYU Devotional, Jul 12, 2011, Brad Wilcox, Ensign Sep 2013, YouTube  )

He is the Great Mediator

It's a very difficult thing to go through: to kneel down and desire to speak to my Father in Heaven when I am so lonely or when I am so anguished. It's an interesting conversation to have. He doesn't immediately try to make it better. He listens to me first.. and I thought that was very helpful.  

He allowed me to get that anger off my chest. But inevitably He would come back and teach me about His Son, Jesus Christ. When I did feel anger, or there was just a deep sense of loneliness, I didn't direct that at the person that had caused this. It directed itself at the Savior. ("Forgiveness: My Burden Was Made Light", Forgiveness and the power of Jesus Christ enable a man to survive losing his wife and several children in a car accident, MormonMessages, 28 Jul 2010)

Have I decided what I would do in this case?

Will I allow the Savior to take the pain and grief of what has happened to me. Will I allow Him to take the pain and grief I have caused?

The deepest desire of my heart

From a FB post of Dallin H. Oaks

I received a letter from a woman studying at Harvard University. I was impressed with its content. 

She said, “I am only 26 and I have felt the trial of singleness overtake me.” 

After sharing more in her letter, she concluded: “I was walking home from work one afternoon one year ago, pouring my heart out to God, telling Him my deepest desire was to be a wife and mother. I was stopped in my tracks as a powerful thought and feeling came into my heart and mind. The thought was that I was wrong. The deepest desire of my heart should be discipleship of Jesus Christ and then the second can be to be a wife and mother. My outlook on life has changed since then. I had them switched around. I know all the blessings promised will be mine, but this will happen in the Lord’s time and not mine.” What a powerful thought! 

Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught, “Since faith in the timing of the Lord may be tried, let us learn to say not only, ‘Thy will be done,’ but patiently also, ‘Thy timing be done.’” We may say, “Thy will be done,” but when your heart is aching—perhaps you’re not yet married and you desire to be—it would be wise to also say, “Thy timing be done.” Ask the Lord for continued revelation to guide your life. 

The Lord has His own timetable for His children. In life’s experiences, including marriage, parenthood, and many other things, each timetable will be different. We must have faith and trust in the Lord to know that He is there and that He loves us. All promised blessings will one day be yours.

I Can Be An Elephant Hunter

In one of the talks I listened to recently from Life Leadership, they spoke about being an elephant hunter. They talked about how that occurs sometimes in business. That sometime on a board of directors someone talks about bringing up the elephant in the room. They then said that powerful leaders don't just suggest that there might be an elephant in the room. They are elephant hunters. They seek out the most important issues facing the business.

In the same way, I can be an elephant hunter in all aspects of my life.

I can face the dangers of pornography in my life and in the life of my children and challenge my close friends to do the same. Here is a video that may be helpful to you and your family.

I can take responsibility for my part in the finances of my family and have frank, kind discussions with my wife.

I can take on all the elephants in my life.

I am the Programmer of my Program

Do I sabotage myself daily? I have an opportunity to fill world with what's possible. To be free from the chains of my previous, unhealthy opinions and self-assessments. I am the programmer of my program. I say who I am because I say who I am.

Holy temples are as necessary today as they were in ancient eras

The Truth Shall Set You Free

Joe: How do you know?
Quince: Because she knows the worst thing about me and it's OK.
Joe: It's not just one thing, it's just an idea Joe... um
It's like, you know each other's secrets...you're deepest, darkest secrets.
Joe: You're deepest darkest secrets?
Quince: Yeah, and then your free.
Joe: Free?
Quince: You're free, you're free to love each other completely, totally. No fear... There's nothing that you don't know about each other and it's, it's OK.

The Faith to Reap

I love this quote on the relationship of hope to faith

if you ever find yourselves without enough hope to reach your dreams, don't focus on increasing your hope. Focus on increasing your faith in Christ, and hope will follow automatically.  When we are discouraged, we tend to focus on hope.  Like the high school football coach at halftime, the world would give you a pep talk.  "You can do it." we're told.  "Positive mental attitude." we're told.  "Get out there and go, go, go." But that kind of hope evaporates as soon as we meet with significant challenges.  The hope that comes from faith in Christ is different.  One who has faith in Christ recognizes that even if she or he can't do it, the Savior can.  And from this faith springs the hope that never gives up until the dream comes true.  This is the faith to reap. ("The Faith to Reap" a BYU-Idaho devotional from March 17, 2005 by Elder Wilford W. Andersen)

“That I Might Draw All Men unto Me”

Out of all the talks of conference, this message has had the most impact.

The concept—“the greater the distance between the giver and the receiver, the more the receiver develops a sense of entitlement”—also has profound spiritual applications. Our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, are the ultimate Givers. The more we distance ourselves from Them, the more entitled we feel. We begin to think that we deserve grace and are owed blessings. We are more prone to look around, identify inequities, and feel aggrieved—even offended—by the unfairness we perceive. While the unfairness can range from trivial to gut-wrenching, when we are distant from God, even small inequities loom large. We feel that God has an obligation to fix things—and fix them right now! (“That I Might Draw All Men unto Me”, Dale G. Renlund, Apr 2016)

What is the best way to draw near under God?

To draw closer to the Savior, we must increase our faith in Him, make and keep covenants, and have the Holy Ghost with us. We must also act in faith, responding to the spiritual direction we receive. All of these elements come together in the sacrament. Indeed, the best way I know of to draw closer to God is to prepare conscientiously and partake worthily of the sacrament each week.

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As we draw closer to God, the enabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ will come into our lives. And, as with the disciples on the way to Emmaus, we will find that the Savior has been nearby all along.

Follow Him and Find New Life

Because of Jesus, I will live again, my wife, my parents my children. I have always believed that.

To me, the greater wonder has been the miracle of forgiveness. That his grace can change my heart. Can make in me a new creature that no longer has the disposition for sin.

Every day I get to choose to follow him to trust him to willingly give my will to the Father as he did in Gethsemane and on the cross.

Perhaps the greatest discovery of my life, without question the greatest commitment, came when finally I had the confidence in God that I would loan or yield my agency to him— without compulsion or pressure, without any duress, as a single individual alone, by myself, no counterfeiting, nothing expected other than the privilege. In a sense, speaking figuratively, to take one’s agency, that precious gift which the scriptures make plain is essential to life itself, and say, ‘I will do as you direct,’ is afterward to learn that in so doing you possess it all the more. ("Obedience", Boyd K. Packer, BYU Devotional Dec 1971)

Why Does Evil Exist?

A fantastic explanation of moral agency and God's love. Be prepared to think deeply.
From https://www.facebook.com/uju.okezuruonye/videos/984682531597413/

If God exists, why doesn't He stop rapists from raping?Why doesn't He stop suicide bombers from bombing?Shay He has all the power?Abi is He indifferent?Then, why worship Him?Are these your questions?Dr Zacharias, by the Holy Spirit, doth answer thee.Watch.PS:Seated beside Daddy Ravi is Professor John Lennox, a British Mathematician, Philosopher of Science, Christian Apologist and Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford.God's gat people, mehn.God's gat people.😎
Posted by Uju Okorie on Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Survive Under the Heat of the Day

"Social, ethical, cultural, or educational converts will not survive under the heat of the day unless their taproots go down to the fulness of the gospel which the Book of Mormon contains." ("The Book of Mormon Is the Word of God". Ezra Taft Benson. General Conference Apr 1974. Also in the First Presidency message of the Jan 1988 Ensign. )

See also "The Book of Mormon—Keystone of Our Religion" Ezra Taft Benson, Oct 1986

Unshakable Understanding of Women as Living Human Beings

I'm not interested in a world where men really want to watch porn but resist because they've been shamed; I'm interested in a world where men are raised from birth with such an unshakable understanding of women as living human beings that they are incapable of being aroused by their exploitation. (Jonah Mix as quoted in a Facebook post)

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Volare

From Lyrics Translate

Italian Volare  (Nel blu dipinto di blu) Penso che sogno così non ritorni mai più, mi dipingevo le mani e la faccia di blu, poi d'improvviso venivo dal vento rapito, e incominciavo a volare nel cielo infinito. Volare ho ho cantare ho ho hoho, nel blu dipinto di blu, felice di stare lassù, e volavo volavo felice più in alto del sole ed ancora più sù, mentre il mondo pian piano spariva laggiù, una musica dolce suonava soltanto per me. Volare ho ho cantare ho ho hoho nel blu dipinto di blu felice di stare lassù. Ma tutti i sogni nell'alba svaniscon perchè, quando tramonta la luna li porta con se, ma io continuo a sognare negl'occhi tuoi belli, che sono blu come il un cielo trapunto di stelle. Volare ho ho cantare ho ho hoho, nel blu degl'occhi tuoi blu, felice di stare qua giù, e continuo a volare felice più in alto del sole ed ancora più su, mentre il mondo pian piano scompare negl'occhi tuoi blu, la tua voce è una musica dolce che suona per me. Volare ho ho cantare ho ho hoho nel blu degl'occhi tuoi blu, felice di stare qua giù, nel blu degl'occhi tuoi blu, felice di stare qua giù con te..

English translation In The Blue, Painted Blue I think that dream like that Will never return I painted my hands And face blu Then all of sudden I was Abducted by the wind And I started to fly In the infinite sky To fly ho ho To sing ho ho hoho In the blu, painted blue Happy to stay up there, And I flew and flew Happy, higher than the sun And yet more up, While the world Slowly dissappered down below, A sweet music playing Just for me To fly ho ho To sing ho ho hoho In the blu, painted blue Happy to stay up there But all dreams Vanish at dawn because When the moon sets, It takes dreams with itself But I keep dreaming In your beautiful eyes, That are blue as the sky Spangled with stars To fly, ho ho To sing ho ho hoho, In the blue of your blue eyes Happy to be down here And I keep flying, happy Happy, higher than the sun And yet more up, While the world Is slowly vanishing In your blue eyes Your voice is a soft music That plays for me To fly ho ho To sing ho ho hoho In the blue of your blue eyes Happy to be down here In the blue of your blue eyes Happy to be down here With you...