tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309012452024-03-13T02:39:23.448-07:00Richard AlgerPersonal Online JournalRichard Algerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921970283086332560noreply@blogger.comBlogger738125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30901245.post-49398637819800655202023-12-14T16:28:00.001-07:002023-12-14T16:33:35.859-07:00Why do good people suffer?<p>This is a video answering a question from a teary woman asking why she is suffering when she is doing everything she knows to follow God. <br /><br />
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<br />The woman asks:</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">How do we understand the love of the Lord when he gives you more trials? In my personal life I have more trials than anything else. Trying to have a baby we cannot have. And we are here going to the temple, doing every single thing we are supposed to do. How to understand that?</p></blockquote><p>Elder Jeffrey R. Holland replies: </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p>Okay, you’re falling into a trap that I want everybody in this to avoid. And that is:</p><p>God must not love me, if I suffer. I must be being penalized, if I suffer. Can you see the danger of thinking that way? </p><p>Every person I know in this book [holds up the scriptures] suffers. Peter who was crucified upside down. James, the first Christian martyr from the New Testament. Paul beheaded. Now does God like Peter and James and John and Paul and Isaiah and Ezekiel and Jeremiah and Daniel? Prophets of captivity. Prophets of persecution. Prophets of trouble and trials of every kind. Who suffered more than anyone in time or eternity that we know of? The living son of the living God, the only perfect child who ever lived. Don’t ever. Please, please, do not fall victim to the temptation to say, ‘Well, I guess God doesn’t love me’. Because, what on earth would that say about his love for his Only Begotten Son? </p><p>These are times for faith. These are times for perseverance. Life is filled with times of trouble. I just ask us to cling to the wonderful examples that we’ve had, starting and going down to virtually every figure I know to point out here [holds up the scriptures]. </p><p>If there were any really picnic stories in here, I missed them. They must have taken them out of my edition. Because everyone in here is a hard story. And I think that’s for a reason; that somehow, and this is the part I don’t fully understand and I don’t ask you to just blissfully accept it and glide out of the room. But there is something at work in suffering that is exalting. </p><p>Now that is not news, anyone particularly wants to hear today, but I think it somehow must be doctrinal. That suffering is exalting. I don’t know whether that’s because it makes us more patient with others? Does it make us more sympathetic with other people who’ve got troubles? It is part of the expanding of our heart to where we’re not smug and we’re not self centered? And we’re not trivial? I don’t know. I think it’s probably all of that. But it is hard to read these [the scriptures] and it is impossible to read the life of the Savior without coming to the conclusion that suffering somehow is preparatory to exaltation. </p><p>So hang on and say your prayers and trust in the Lord and lean against that pillar and know from Elder Holland as a promise to you apostolically today that it’ll never be removed. And someday, somewhere, sometime, you’ll have more children than you know what to do with. And I don’t say that trivially. I say it prophetically. That with the eternal view, and the long sketch of our plan of salvation, every blessing tenfold, 100 fold, 1000 fold will be given to us. But I think probably only when we’ve worked off our rough edges and been ready to receive it. </p></blockquote><div>--</div><div>Here is the quote shown at the end<br /><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div>How can you and I really expect to glide naively through life, as if to say, “Lord, give me experience, but not grief, not sorrow, not pain, not opposition, not betrayal, and certainly not to be forsaken. Keep from me, Lord, all those experiences which made Thee what Thou art! Then let me come and dwell with Thee and fully share Thy joy!”</div></div><div><div><br /></div></div><div><div>“Lest Ye Be Wearied and Faint in Your Minds”, Neal A Maxwell, Apr 1991</div></div><div><div><a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1991/04/lest-ye-be-wearied-and-faint-in-your-minds?id=p10&lang=eng#p10">https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1991/04/lest-ye-be-wearied-and-faint-in-your-minds?id=p10&lang=eng#p10</a> </div></div></blockquote>Richard Algerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921970283086332560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30901245.post-61221205797530123122023-06-21T11:11:00.002-07:002023-06-21T11:11:41.042-07:00Jacob Collier deconstructs a Stevie Wonder classic<p>I love Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder. I have learned to appreciate is more because of Jacob Collier. <br /><br />
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<br /><br /></p>Richard Algerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921970283086332560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30901245.post-27819660243339847552023-02-23T12:26:00.005-07:002023-02-23T12:35:59.439-07:00Living on the Lord’s Side of the Line<p>My dad shared this with me today. I don't remember ever hearing it before. I recommend the whole talk. Here are some parts that stood out to me. </p><p>'There is power in making covenants. Weekly, as we renew our covenants and promise to take upon ourselves the name of the Son, to always remember Him, and to keep His commandments, we receive in return a transcendent promise, one filled with heavenly power: that we “may always have his Spirit to be with [us]” (Moroni 4:3). Having the Holy Ghost with us—and learning to hear His voice—is a key, perhaps the single most profound key, to remaining steadfast and immovable on the Lord’s side of the line. And it all begins by making a covenant.'</p><p>...</p><p>'In today’s world, where immorality is celebrated on nearly every world stage, succumbing to moral temptation is depicted as being easier and even more desirable than maintaining moral purity. But it isn’t. The moment of sexual transgression is the last moment immorality is easy. I have never known anyone who was happier or who felt better about themselves or who had greater peace of mind as a result of immorality. Never.'</p><p>...</p><p>'It is so much more comforting to live with the Spirit than without, so much more joyful to have relationships of trust and true friendship than to indulge in a physical relationship that would eventually crumble anyway. Whereas Satan’s lies lead only to enslavement, the Savior’s promise is that if we will seek the riches our Father wishes to give us, we “shall be the richest of all people, for [we] shall have the riches of eternity” (D&C 38:39). In other words, we shall have joy in this life and a fullness in the life hereafter. Righteousness begets happiness.'</p><p>From "Living on the Lord’s Side of the Line" by Sheri L. Dew of the General Relief Society Presidency 21 Mar 2000 <a href="https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/sheri-l-dew/living-lords-side-line/">https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/sheri-l-dew/living-lords-side-line/</a></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfeyxFLhdPk">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfeyxFLhdPk</a> </p>Richard Algerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921970283086332560noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30901245.post-60941785017212928262023-02-20T10:16:00.003-07:002023-02-20T10:16:12.868-07:00The sacred clothing of Latter-day Saint temples, and why it's significant<p>Found at the Saints Unscripted episode, "<a href="https://youtu.be/v8XrZoSsruU">The sacred clothing of Latter-day Saint temples, and why it's significant</a>" </p><p>"Unlike today, clothing in ancient times was very costly and difficult to make. The hand spinning and looming process could take possibly hundreds of hours for a single piece of clothing. Thus, the giving of clothing, especially ceremonial clothing, represented a significant bestowing of authority and power."</p><p>("<a href="http://www.redeemerofisrael.org/2019/10/laver-and-washing-and-anointing.html">The Laver and the Washing and Anointing of Priests</a>", Oct 2019, Daniel Smith)</p><p><br /></p>Richard Algerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921970283086332560noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30901245.post-39905784473718410712023-01-06T08:39:00.004-07:002023-01-06T08:39:25.484-07:00What is the Office of Marriage<p> From D. Todd Christofferson, 4 Apr 2015</p><p>'Knowing why we left the presence of our Heavenly Father and what it takes to return and be exalted with Him, it becomes very clear that nothing relative to our time on earth can be more important than physical birth and spiritual rebirth, the two prerequisites of eternal life. This is, to use the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the “office” of marriage, the “post of responsibility towards … mankind,” that this divine institution “from above, from God” occupies. It is the “link in the chain of the generations” both here and hereafter—the order of heaven.'</p><p><a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2015/04/why-marriage-why-family?lang=eng">https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2015/04/why-marriage-why-family?lang=eng</a> </p>Richard Algerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921970283086332560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30901245.post-32251225675539348752022-12-26T14:14:00.007-07:002022-12-26T14:17:11.262-07:00Four Keys to Understanding the New Testament<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HAMZSG2fjRM" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
<p>Intertestamental Period | Dec 26-Jan 1 | Come Follow Me Insights</p><p><a href="https://youtu.be/HAMZSG2fjRM">https://youtu.be/HAMZSG2fjRM</a></p><p>Taylor and Tyler of Come Follow Me Insights tell in the above video about four areas that can help my study of the New Testament. </p><p>1. History</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p>721 BC Assyria</p><p>587 BC Babylon</p><p>530s BC Persia</p><p>330 BC Greece</p></blockquote><p>2. Language</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">The Septuagint is the Greek translation of the Jewish Bible There was an Aramaic version that was the common language of the people. It was not commonly used during the time of Jesus. </p></blockquote><p>3. Sects</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p>Sadducees<span> </span></p><p><span>Pharisees</span></p><p><span>Essenes</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p>Zealots</p></blockquote><p>4. Gospel Writers </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiil4paiG13tj2bc67zXbTEDJsY_wF_LkUWylCzPIiJcuGnZ60bSWvdFG7WYBIKE1ud79aOtc5GxV8NN9Bj8t1T2dqLA1_hpD9K6q3MXG8_JnX6s55nUEjaV0T7sXPrTQsgqympmMrqjH6cLSOcTamAzf0eftdo-BMZ2jyT1aaKSM-rxyRaw/s1738/ComeFollowMeInsights-Intertestamental-FourGospelsAsAPerformanceTheatre.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="957" data-original-width="1738" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiil4paiG13tj2bc67zXbTEDJsY_wF_LkUWylCzPIiJcuGnZ60bSWvdFG7WYBIKE1ud79aOtc5GxV8NN9Bj8t1T2dqLA1_hpD9K6q3MXG8_JnX6s55nUEjaV0T7sXPrTQsgqympmMrqjH6cLSOcTamAzf0eftdo-BMZ2jyT1aaKSM-rxyRaw/w640-h352/ComeFollowMeInsights-Intertestamental-FourGospelsAsAPerformanceTheatre.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p></blockquote><p><br /></p>Richard Algerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921970283086332560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30901245.post-41415921738435213632022-12-07T21:40:00.009-07:002022-12-07T21:45:51.602-07:00The Rarest of the Good Traits in Human Beings<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="500" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bL1u6fOw7H8" title="YouTube video player" width="280"></iframe></p><p><a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/bL1u6fOw7H8?feature=share">https://youtube.com/shorts/bL1u6fOw7H8?feature=share</a></p><p>"Courage is the rarest of the good traits in human beings. And it is the one upon which all the others are dependent. Because without courage, kindness and integrity and all these other wonderful things, don't amount to much. Because the world demands courage on every plane in life."<br />- Dennis Prager</p>Richard Algerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921970283086332560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30901245.post-9408696211075023422022-12-02T08:45:00.003-07:002022-12-02T08:45:46.607-07:00What is my True Identity?<p>I was thinking about an identity that I have been focusing on. I then asked myself "What identities are healthier for me to focus on?" </p><p>My mind went to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/russell.m.nelson/posts/pfbid0gdpgpN4fHK5uBB2XFRLkaqHta51AzzF3C4rkFk28Y4n94gaXBnQWvqbbCRvnf78Rl">a recent post</a> of Russell M. Nelson. <br /></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p>Labels can be fun and indicate your support for any number of positive things. But if any label replaces your most important identifiers, the results can be spiritually suffocating. I believe that if the Lord were speaking to you directly, the first thing He would make sure you understand is your true identity. My dear friends, you are literally spirit children of God.</p><p>No identifier should displace, replace, or take priority over these three enduring designations:</p><p>- Child of God</p><p>- Child of the covenant</p><p>- Disciple of Jesus Christ</p><p>Any identifier that is not compatible with those three basic designations will ultimately let you down. Make no mistake about it: Your potential is divine. With your diligent seeking, God will give you glimpses of who you may become.</p></blockquote><p>-</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA0ftiDqn3VjFkkX8ZcdOwQd6HsEmS_bY9-F5btepa3l8nQkhGy9XyEucI6cqcx0dqrJyBFtF74hYxm8S9Jc2qow9MnSfBXyMWTD-YQdu-fexib9jLuO1kOlSLWcu3ee5t8Ree4f-PGA5-Qx-nwxS5kn5f5DSa37Ts3Bj7f49oX5fuODna_A/s843/ChildOfGod_ChildOfTheCovenant_DiscipleOfChrist.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA0ftiDqn3VjFkkX8ZcdOwQd6HsEmS_bY9-F5btepa3l8nQkhGy9XyEucI6cqcx0dqrJyBFtF74hYxm8S9Jc2qow9MnSfBXyMWTD-YQdu-fexib9jLuO1kOlSLWcu3ee5t8Ree4f-PGA5-Qx-nwxS5kn5f5DSa37Ts3Bj7f49oX5fuODna_A/w400-h400/ChildOfGod_ChildOfTheCovenant_DiscipleOfChrist.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">From <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ShareGoodIdaho/posts/pfbid0tN6LJnJp6PUDXn9XiiZLZbdmF58BMi4tGr2g3PdjcSfmXVNNJ37E6RLiMsTkJDd5l">this post</a> on Facebook</div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Richard Algerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921970283086332560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30901245.post-38498004927337314322022-11-11T13:55:00.010-07:002022-12-02T08:37:18.889-07:00Prophets Can See Around Corners<p> A BYU-Hawaii Devotional given By Sheri Dew, November 02, 2022<br /><br />
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<br /><span style="color: #0000ee;"><u>https://youtu.be/jqFKbnzuF-M</u></span></p><p><a href="https://speeches.byuh.edu/prophets-can-see-around-corners">https://speeches.byuh.edu/prophets-can-see-around-corners</a><br /><br /></p><p>She tells </p><p>- how all missionaries got smart phones before the Covid-19 pandemic.</p><p>- how President Nelson was instructed to share his #GiveThanks video</p><p>- a moving story of how she gave her often quoted talk in Oct 2001, “Are We Not all Mothers?”</p><p>- even though prophets are fallible, they are one of the most trusted sources for moral truth today. </p><p>It is a powerful witness to me of who I can trust most. She tells of the most recent counsel of President Nelson. </p><p>"To increase our capacity to receive revelation, spend more time in the temple, and become a major force in gathering Israel. To understand who we are as children of God, children of the covenant, and disciples of Christ, and to never allow other identifiers to replace those three primary designations. And to let God prevail in our lives."<br /><br />This is what Dallin H Oaks spoke about 12 years ago, "<a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2010/10/two-lines-of-communication?lang=eng">Two Lines of Communication</a>", Oct 2010.<br /><a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2010/10/two-lines-of-communication?lang=eng">https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2010/10/two-lines-of-communication?lang=eng</a> </p>Richard Algerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921970283086332560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30901245.post-13286574729085215882022-08-21T08:37:00.004-07:002022-08-21T08:37:43.404-07:00What Does it Mean to Recover?<p>President Nelson said, 'Rich meaning is found in study of the word atonement in the Semitic languages of Old Testament times. In Hebrew, the basic word for atonement is kaphar, a verb that means “to cover” or “to forgive.”' <a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1996/10/the-atonement?lang=eng">https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1996/10/the-atonement?lang=eng</a></p><p>In the book of Moses, it says "Unto Adam, and also unto his wife, did I, the Lord God, make coats of skins, and clothed them." <a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/moses/4?lang=eng&id=27#p27">https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/moses/4?lang=eng&id=27#p27</a></p><p>Jesus clothed or covered Adam and Eve. I see this as a symbol of him offering his atonement to them. </p><p>If Atonement means to cover. What does it mean to re-cover? Perhaps it is to apply the blood of the atonement of Jesus Christ to cover us with his strength or his grace. To enable us to be born again as a new creature. One whose confidence has waxed strong in his presence. </p><p>3 Nephi 22:4 "Fear not, for thou shalt not be ashamed; neither be thou confounded, for thou shalt not be put to shame; for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more." <a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/22?lang=eng&id=4#4">https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/22?lang=eng&id=4#4</a></p><p>"Ye Must Be Born Again", David A. Bednar, Apr 2007, <a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2007/04/ye-must-be-born-again?lang=eng">https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2007/04/ye-must-be-born-again?lang=eng</a></p><p>D&C 121:45 "let virtue [or strength] garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God" <a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/121?lang=eng&id=45#45">https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/121?lang=eng&id=45#45</a></p><p><br /></p>Richard Algerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921970283086332560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30901245.post-63648651951236669262022-08-19T06:46:00.004-07:002022-08-19T06:46:21.408-07:00Peggy Rowe "Don't follow your passion but bring it with you"<p>Mike Rowe paraphrases the best advice his mom ever gave him: </p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><blockquote><p style="text-align: left;">Don't follow your passion but always bring it with you. Find a way to love whatever it is you wind up doing. That to me has informed everything. Just because you love something doesn't that you can't stink at it. Just because you don't love something, doesn't mean you might be good at it. It took me a while to figure that out. Growing up with people like my mom and dad, where you were encouraged to constantly experiment, that advice makes sense. But it can't compare to actually watching them live it. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://youtu.be/ZlGJTPvwAS0?t=378">https://youtu.be/ZlGJTPvwAS0?t=378</a> </p><p style="text-align: left;"></p></blockquote><p style="text-align: left;">--</p>Richard Algerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921970283086332560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30901245.post-54185213874512225092022-07-27T07:02:00.002-07:002022-07-27T07:02:32.961-07:00What is the difference between free will and moral agency?<p> I came across this article this morning "<a href="https://philosophy.stackexchange.com/questions/67866/what-is-the-difference-between-free-will-and-moral-agency#:~:text=is%20not%20useful-,Show%20activity%20on%20this%20post.,free%20will%20may%20choose%20evil.">What is the difference between free will and moral agency?</a>" Following is my answer. </p><p>The following are from my faith tradition. In a more general sense, the difference between "free will" and "moral agency" might be illuminated by the difference between a natural right and a natural responsibility. </p><p>"<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmErOV9oQZ8">Elder Bednar: Mormon Moral Agency - You Are Not Free To Do What You Want</a>" is a video by David A. Bednar. He talks to church members about what moral agency is. It may be helpful to recognize that in our church we make covenants with God and with the church and with others. A covenant is a sacred promise. </p><p>"<a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2009/06/moral-agency?lang=eng">Moral Agency</a>" By Elder D. Todd Christofferson uses the term "free will" and "moral agency". </p><p><br /></p>Richard Algerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921970283086332560noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30901245.post-33041658716497828602022-05-04T10:18:00.003-07:002022-05-04T10:18:22.098-07:00All Truth is Ours<p><a href="https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/testimonies/scholars/bart-j-kowallis">Here is</a> an interesting article from <a href="https://speeches.byu.edu/speakers/bart-j-kowallis/">Bart J. Kowallis</a>. He is a Latter-day Saint who teaches geology at BYU. "Bart does research in Geologic Mapping, Mineralogy of Titanite, and Geology of Mexico." (<a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bart-Kowallis">https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Bart-Kowallis</a>)</p><p>From the article ("<a href="https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/testimonies/scholars/bart-j-kowallis">Things of the Earth</a>", Latter-day Saint Scholars Testify, FAIR):</p><p>Brigham Young said that Mormonism “embraces every true science and all true philosophy. . . . True science, true art, and true knowledge comprehend all that are in heaven or on the Earth, or in all the eternities. . . . All truth is ours.” (Young, Journal of Discourses, 14:280–81.)</p><p>-</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p>The first time I was confronted by someone with a different perspective was during my mission to Quebec. One missionary, Elder Clayton, was known missionwide because he and his companions always worked more hours and wasted less time than anyone else. He had no apparent fear of people and would stop and talk to anyone at any time even in the most unlikely settings. I always felt a little uncomfortable around Elder Clayton, as did many other missionaries. We referred to him as “Enoch”; we were certain he already had his application in for translation.</p><p>One day while I was working with Elder Clayton on an exchange, we tracted out some potential investigators in an apartment building. At one point in our conversation, one of them asked us what our church taught about evolution. I responded that we believed it to be a false theory. Elder Clayton, in his calm and pleasant manner, interjected that he believed I was wrong. His understanding was that the LDS Church took no official stand on evolution. I was completely astounded and distraught, and I felt the blood rushing to my head as I checked my anger, for this was heresy to me. We left, and on the way back to our apartment I let him know that the Church could not tolerate such doctrine. I pointed out the obvious implications that evolution had for fundamental tenets of the gospel like the Fall and Atonement, the Creation story, and our relationship to God. He said he understood what I was saying, but he stuck by his belief that the Church had not taken an official position. Although I felt vindicated that day, his comments had a profound effect on me: they opened a crack in my mind with thoughts that had not been there before; they helped me to be more open and willing to listen the next time a similar discussion occurred. I am indebted to Elder Clayton for the day we shared together.</p></blockquote><p>-</p><p><br /></p>Richard Algerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921970283086332560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30901245.post-80482072670290541702022-02-02T12:15:00.001-07:002022-02-02T12:15:48.398-07:00The Christian Network of CBRE<p>I have found something in my company CBRE that surprised me. There is a Christian network. I am guessing that this is similar to other ethnic and cultural groups in the company. </p><p>I have attended 3 meetings so far that use <a href="https://alpha.org/preview/alpha-film-series/">the Alpha Film series</a>.</p><p>We watch an episode each week then break into small groups in Zoom to discuss it. I have found it very enriching. I have found that I am connecting on a emotional and spiritual level with people across the country and world. </p>Richard Algerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921970283086332560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30901245.post-14851213027550035382021-07-11T08:44:00.003-07:002021-07-11T08:44:32.870-07:00Wrestling With Comparisons<p>"<a href="https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/j-b-haws/wrestling-with-comparisons/">Wrestling with Comparisons</a>", J.B. Haws, Associate Professor of Church History and Doctrine, BYU Devotional, May 7, 2019 </p><p>---</p><p>"Please, my beloved brothers and sisters, we must stop comparing ourselves to others. We torture ourselves needlessly by competing and comparing. We falsely judge our self-worth by the things we do or don’t have and by the opinions of others. If we must compare, let us compare how we were in the past to how we are today—and even to how we want to be in the future. The only opinion of us that matters is what our Heavenly Father thinks of us. Please sincerely ask Him what He thinks of you. He will love and correct but never discourage us; that is Satan’s trick.</p><p><br /></p><p>Let me be direct and clear. The answers to the questions “Am I good enough?” and “Will I make it?” are “Yes! You are going to be good enough” and “Yes, you are going to make it as long as you keep repenting and do not rationalize or rebel.” The God of heaven is not a heartless referee looking for any excuse to throw us out of the game."</p><p>("<a href="https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2016/10/am-i-good-enough-will-i-make-it?lang=eng">Am I Good Enough? Will I Make It?</a>", Elder J. Devn Cornish, Oct 2016 GC)</p><p>Dad brought this up during his Come Follow Me study</p>Richard Algerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921970283086332560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30901245.post-834410819384739952021-07-08T08:30:00.001-07:002021-07-11T08:16:01.681-07:00What Is the Meaning of the Phrase “Sufficient Is the Day Unto the Evil Thereof?”<p>From <a href="https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/d-todd-christofferson/give-us-this-day-our-daily-bread">“Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread”</a>, D. Todd Christofferson, CES Devotional, January 9, 2011</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p>In the 1950s my mother survived radical cancer surgery, but difficult as that was, the surgery was followed with dozens of painful radiation treatments in what would now be considered rather primitive medical conditions. She recalls that her mother taught her something during that time that has helped her ever since:</p><p><i>“I was so sick and weak, and I said to her one day, “Oh, Mother, I can’t stand having 16 more of those treatments.”</i></p><p><i>She said, “Can you go today?”</i></p><p><i>“Yes.”</i></p><p><i>“Well, honey, that’s all you have to do today.”</i></p><p>It has helped me many times when I remember to take one day or one thing at a time.</p></blockquote><p><br /></p><p>The following is from <a href="https://bookofmormonstudynotes.blog/2019/06/02/what-is-the-meaning-of-the-phrase-sufficient-is-the-day-unto-the-evil-thereof/">https://bookofmormonstudynotes.blog/2019/06/02/what-is-the-meaning-of-the-phrase-sufficient-is-the-day-unto-the-evil-thereof/</a></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32.4px; margin: 0px 0px 1.1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">In the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, as recorded by Matthew, the Savior cautions his disciples against excessive anxiety about the future. You can’t serve both God and mammon, He says. Therefore, if you really trust God, you will focus on the present, with confidence that He will bless you in the future (<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/6.24-33?lang=eng#p23" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #bc4747; margin-bottom: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, background-color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">Matthew 6:24-33</a>).</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32.4px; margin: 0px 0px 1.1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">Then He gives the following admonition:</p><blockquote style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32.4px; margin: 40px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 20px; position: relative;"><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 34.56px; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof (<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/6.34?lang=eng#p33" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #bc4747; margin-bottom: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, background-color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">Matthew 6:34</a>).</p></blockquote><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32.4px; margin: 0px 0px 1.1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">When Jesus visited the American continent following His death and resurrection, He delivered essentially the same sermon to a group of people gathered at a temple in a place called Bountiful, but with some variations. The verse quoted above is different from the version recorded in Matthew:</p><blockquote style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32.4px; margin: 40px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 20px; position: relative;"><p style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 34.56px; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient <span style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: underline;">is</span> the day <span style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: underline;">unto</span> the evil thereof (<a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/13.34?lang=eng#p33" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #bc4747; margin-bottom: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s, background-color 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;">3 Nephi 13:34</a>, underlines added).</p></blockquote><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32.4px; margin: 0px 0px 1.1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">Here’s how I interpret the New Testament version of this passage:</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32.4px; margin: 0px 0px 1.1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">You have enough challenges to deal with today without piling on all of the challenges you may encounter in the future. Focus your time and attention on today’s problems, and you can work on tomorrow’s challenges when they come.</em></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32.4px; margin: 0px 0px 1.1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">And here’s my paraphrase of the Book of Mormon version:</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32.4px; margin: 0px 0px 1.1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px;">Every day, you have enough time to deal with the challenges and duties of that day.. Therefore, don’t burden yourself with worry that there won’t be enough time tomorrow to deal with tomorrow’s work. There will be enough time.</i></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32.4px; margin: 0px 0px 1.1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">I like both versions of this sentence, and I think they both lead to the same conclusion. I ought to prioritize serving over planning. I ought to prioritize the duties of today over the duties of tomorrow. I ought to pay attention to the people I’m with right now and the tasks I’m working on right now, and not be distracted by the people and tasks I will interact with in the future.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 32.4px; margin: 0px 0px 1.1em; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px;">Today, I will exercise my faith by living in the moment. I will trust God, believing that there is enough time to address any challenges which the future may bring.</p>Richard Algerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921970283086332560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30901245.post-92035481202873723392021-06-20T07:53:00.003-07:002021-06-20T08:06:10.354-07:00"My Kindness Shall Not Depart From Thee"<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_gWXIn6Et7c" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><a href="https://youtu.be/_gWXIn6Et7c">https://youtu.be/_gWXIn6Et7c</a></div><div><br /></div><div>I love this song. It touches my heart and fills me with hope and love. </div><div>See <a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/22?lang=eng">3 Nephi 22</a>, <a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/isa/54?lang=eng">Isaiah 54</a>, <a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/121.33?lang=eng#p33">D&C 121:33</a>, <a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/122.8?lang=eng#8">D&C 122::8-9</a>, <a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/17.24?lang=eng#24">3 Nephi 17:24</a>, <a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/2-tim/1.6-7?lang=eng#p6">2 Timothy 1:6-7</a>, <a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/10.4-6?lang=eng#p4">3 Nephi 10:4-6</a>, <a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/6.16?lang=eng#p16">D&C 6:16</a> </div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Lyrics for My Kindness Shall Not Depart From Thee by Rob Gardner</span></div><div><br /></div><div>For a little while</div><div>Have I forsaken thee</div><div>But with great mercies will I gather thee</div><div>In a little wrath I hid my face from thee</div><div>For a moment</div><div><br /></div><div>But with everlasting kindness will I gather thee</div><div>And with mercy will I take thee 'neath my wings</div><div>For the mountains shall depart</div><div>And the hills shall be removed</div><div>And the valleys shall be lost beneath the sea</div><div>But know, my child</div><div>My kindness shall not depart from thee</div><div><br /></div><div>Though thine afflictions seem</div><div>At times too great to bear</div><div>I know thine every thought and every care</div><div>And though the very jaws</div><div>Of hell gape after thee I am with thee</div><div><br /></div><div>And with everlasting mercy will I succor thee</div><div>And with healing will I take thee 'neath my wings</div><div>Though the mountains shall depart</div><div>And the hills shall be removed</div><div>And the valleys shall be lost beneath the sea</div><div>Know, my child</div><div>My kindness shall not depart from thee</div><div><br /></div><div>How long can rolling waters</div><div>Remain impure?</div><div>What pow'r shall stay the hand of God?</div><div>The Son of Man hath descended below all things</div><div>Art thou greater than He?</div><div><br /></div><div>So hold on thy way</div><div>For I shall be with thee</div><div>And mine angels shall encircle thee</div><div>Doubt not what thou knowest</div><div>Fear not man, for he</div><div>Cannot hurt thee</div><div><br /></div><div>And with everlasting kindness will I succor thee</div><div>And with mercy will I take thee 'neath my wings</div><div>For the mountains shall depart</div><div>And the hills shall be removed</div><div>And the valleys shall be lost beneath the sea</div><div>But know, my child</div><div>My kindness shall not depart from thee</div><div><br /></div></div><div><br />
<p> </p></div>Richard Algerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921970283086332560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30901245.post-22576910573038303452021-06-17T07:59:00.001-07:002021-06-17T07:59:15.994-07:00Rising Strong<p>I am not sure if I can stop saying how much Brene Brown has benefited me. This book is no less good that the others I have read. This quote jumped out to me this morning.</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p>In the absence of data, we will always make up stories. It’s how we are wired. In fact, the need to make up a story, especially when we are hurt, is part of our most primitive survival wiring. Meaning making is in our biology, and our default is often to come up with a story that makes sense, feels familiar, and offers us insight into how to self-protect. What we’re trying to do in the rumble --choosing to feel uncertain and vulnerable as we rumble with the truth-- is a conscious choice. A brave, conscious choice.</p><p>Robert Burton, a neurologist and novelist, explains that our brains reward us with dopamine when we recognize and complete patterns. Stories are patterns. The brain recognizes the familiar beginning-middle-end structure of a story and rewards us for clearing up ambiguity. Unfortunately, we don’t need to be accurate, just certain.</p><p>(“<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23317538-rising-strong">Rising Strong</a>” by Brené Brown p 79)</p></blockquote><p>--</p>Richard Algerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921970283086332560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30901245.post-45418446920380802062021-06-13T08:56:00.005-07:002021-06-13T08:56:40.743-07:00Heart Health<p> Ragusa Fats, Carbs and health</p><p>https://youtu.be/Ji0ZFybqWD8</p><p><br /></p>Richard Algerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921970283086332560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30901245.post-28588794844450822252021-06-11T08:58:00.002-07:002021-06-11T08:58:09.883-07:00I Will Try to Fix You<p>"Lights will guide you home</p><p>And ignite your bones</p><p>And I will try to fix you"</p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2VDAhbzTovo" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VDAhbzTovo">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VDAhbzTovo</a></p><p><a href="https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/coldplay/fixyou.html">https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/coldplay/fixyou.html</a></p><p>I love the Cinematic Pop version of this song. I imagine these words come from God. God will repair all if I allow His Grace in my life by working the path he lays before me. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Richard Algerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921970283086332560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30901245.post-48895522676701954722021-06-01T11:33:00.025-07:002021-07-03T15:35:20.183-07:00Which Part is Mine?<p><a href="https://youtu.be/D7oMWj6nu9I">This is</a> one of the most powerful songs I have ever heard. It is sung by Felicia Sorensen. <a href="https://latterdaysaintmag.com/article-1-6053/">The following</a> has the lyrics to the song as well as the story behind as told by the author Michael McLean. </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p>Lynne and I just celebrated our 36th Anniversary, and I’ve been thinking a lot about the remarkable woman I married back in August of 1974. She’s not only the reason my heart has a song, she influences every song I write, though not always as I would like. Here’s a classic example of what I’m talking about. The song is “Which Part is Mine?” and this story makes the most sense if you experience the lyrics to my first draft of the song first:</p><p><br /></p><p>She was only a dairyman’s daughter. She was only a child of thirteen,</p><p>But the stars on the radio brightened her nights with a dream </p><p>So she called up her best girlfriend, Jenny, cause she thought</p><p>They would make quite a pair</p><p>She said, “Let’s you and me try to sing harmony</p><p>At the amateur night at the fair.</p><p>But she only had the range of an alto</p><p>So the part she knew best went to her friend</p><p>And when Jenny’s soprano drowned out the piano</p><p>They’d have to start over again.</p><p>And the dairyman’s daughter would then say</p><p>“Which part is mine, and Jen which part is yours?</p><p>Could you tell me one more time, I’m never quite sure</p><p>And I won’t cross the line like I have before</p><p>So please help me learn which part is mine</p><p>And which part is yours.”</p><p><br /></p><p>She grew up and got married to Bobby</p><p>Kept him working on his MBA</p><p>They had two little red-headed children</p><p>And one on the way.</p><p>Everybody said she could work wonders and she</p><p>Wondered what everyone meant</p><p>She played so many roles it was taking its toll</p><p>And she feared that her life was mis-spent</p><p>So she opened her heart to her husband</p><p>They discussed everything on her list</p><p>From the kids to the job to her feelings for Bob</p><p>But what it really just boiled down to this…She said</p><p>“Which part is mine, and Bob, which part is yours,</p><p>Let’s review it one more time. I guess I’m not sure.</p><p>And I won’t cross the line like I have before</p><p>If we’ll just define which part is mine, and which part is yours.</p><p></p></blockquote><p> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p>-- interlude --</p></blockquote><p> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p></p><p>Every sleepless night knows many mothers who are</p><p>Wondering if they’ve done alright</p><p>And the dairyman’s daughter knew more than a few of those nights.</p><p>Had she give her son too much freedom?</p><p>Had she smothered her two teenage girls?</p><p>Did she spoil them too much or not trust them enough</p><p>To prepare them for life in this world?</p><p>So she opened her heart to the heavens and she</p><p>And she spoke of her children by name..</p><p>And the prayer that she prayed that her kids would be saved</p><p>Had a very familiar refrain…She said "Let's review this again"</p><p>“Which part is mine? And God, which part is yours?</p><p>Could you tell me one more time, I’m never quite sure</p><p>And I won’t cross the line like I have before.</p><p>But it gets so confusing sometimes.</p><p>Should I do more or trust the divine.</p><p>Could you please tell me which part is mine and which part is yours?"</p><p><br /></p><p>When I first wrote the song, that’s where it ended. I played it for my wife who said… “That’s not the ending, is it?”</p><p><br /></p><p>“Yes, it is…”</p><p><br /></p><p>“Michael, it can’t be. It’s too depressing.”</p><p><br /></p><p>“Depressing? It’s not depressing, it’s life. Can’t you see, I have captured a truth about life in my song. Everyday we wake up and we have to decide how much is up to us, and how much we can turn over to someone or something else. Is today the day that if it’s meant to be it’s up to me, or is today the day to just let go and let God?”</p><p><br /></p><p>I was on a roll…I think if you listened closely you could have heard a church organ underscore my little sermonette.</p><p><br /></p><p>“Is today the day that when the going get’s tough, the tough get going…or is it a day you trust that you’ve done all you can do and show some faith. Can’t you see, Lynne, this song, perhaps more than any other song I’ve written, has captured a truth about life.”</p><p><br /></p><p>“Yeah…in a really depressing way. Can’ you fix the ending?”</p><p><br /></p><p>We’d been married a long time and I’d learned not to get defensive when my wife offered constructive criticism of my songs. So, I listened, actively, and when the mood seemed right I said.</p><p><br /></p><p>.. “SO HOW MANY SONGS HAVE YOU EVER WRITTEN?”</p><p><br /></p><p>“Goodnight, Michael. Play me that song again sometime, when it’s finished.”</p><p><br /></p><p>I was NOT going to change that song. The artist in me was not going to compromise just to make Pollyanna happy. You know, I never discussed this with her, but I think my wife truly believed Romeo and Juliet should have lived. </p><p><br /></p><p>I was too riled up to sleep so I went to the “great room” of our house. Perhaps I should mention here that at the time our place was sort of like THE WALTONS television show, and I was John Boy. My mom and dad lived there, my wife and our three kids, and my sister and her husband and their three children. The central gathering place of the house we called the “great room”. It had a wonderful piano in it, and with the logs and rock and high ceiling it sounded great. </p><p><br /></p><p>I played through the song again, imagining how it would sound, unchanged and recorded in a professional studio with terrific players and a great singer. </p><p><br /></p><p>When I got to the final few lines…. “It gets so confusing some times. Should I do more or trust the Divine? Lord please help know which part is mine and which part is…..yours……”</p><p><br /></p><p>When I came to the word yours I accidentally hit the wrong chord and it created an almost eerie texture to the song. As the harmonics rang throughout the room, and put the context of the song into an entirely different key, I saw in my mind’s eye the dairyman’s daughter that I’d been singing about. She was in her kitchen, grating carrots. Then, dropped everything into the sink and leaned against the counter, with her head bowed and her fingers interlaced. </p><p><br /></p><p>And I heard her sing:</p><p><br /></p><p>"DID YOU HEAR ME?</p><p><br /></p><p>It was so faint I almost missed it.</p><p><br /></p><p>I CAN FEEL YOU NEAR ME…</p><p><br /></p><p>I could see her lower lip tremble.</p><p><br /></p><p>THIS IS THE ANSWER THAT I’VE BEEN LONGING FOR</p><p>JUST TO KNOW YOU HEAR ME</p><p>AND TO FEEL YOU NEAR ME….</p><p>IT'S ALL THE ANSWER</p><p>THAT I’VE BEEN LONGING FOR</p><p><br /></p><p>I could hear violins swelling and the woodwinds echoing. It was so beautiful I couldn’t stop, and strangely I knew how she was feeling. Living under the same roof with so much family (nuclear and extended) all needing so much attention, understanding and love and not knowing if and/or when you’ve done enough can really make you yearn for answers to life’s big questions like “which part is mine, and which part is Yours?” Yet when you’ve been struggling for a long time, and wondering if anyone up there knows what you’re going through, and then you feel that closeness, it’s so healing you don’t ever want it to leave. It’s curious to me that what often brings the comfort is not a specific answer to a question, but knowing you are actually being heard.</p><p><br /></p><p>Yes, I knew how my dairyman’s daughter felt and so I joined her, loudly in the refrain:</p><p><br /></p><p>DO YOU HEAR ME???????</p><p><br /></p><p>Throughout the house I heard unimagined voices saying: “YES, WE HEAR YOU…………GO…..TO……BED!!!!!!!!</p><p><br /></p><p>But I couldn’t. Not yet. I didn’t want the feeling to go away. So very quietly I played that ending over and over and over again. After I’d recorded the song people told me that the fade out was longer than HEY JUDE. My explanation was simple. People who are feeling heard don’t ever want that feeling to go away. </p><p><br /></p><p>And then the dairyman’s daughter was gone. In my mind’s eye I couldn’t locate her anywhere. It surprised me when I heard myself sing what became the ending to the song:</p><p>AFTER I’VE DONE MY BEST</p><p>I KNOW YOU’LL DO THE REST</p><p>BECAUSE I KNOW YOU HEAR ME.</p><p><br /></p><p>The recording of the song sounded just like it did in my head, and I sent it to my wife and daughter who were on an educational tour together overseas. I express mailed a copy so they’d have something to listen to on the long bus rides. Typical of my wife, she played the song for everyone and then called to tell me how much everyone responded to it. </p><p><br /></p><p>She’s never taken credit for the ending.</p><p><br /></p><p>She should.</p></blockquote><p>-</p>Richard Algerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921970283086332560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30901245.post-37640351959967070682021-05-07T11:45:00.005-07:002021-05-07T11:45:27.890-07:00Art Together Now<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2hnhE7zlWNg" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div>Art Together Now Announcement 2021: <a href="https://youtu.be/T7YCao8_Dlw">https://youtu.be/T7YCao8_Dlw</a><br /><br />Original version: <a href="https://youtu.be/a5j50F4rlzA">https://youtu.be/a5j50F4rlzA</a></div><div>OK Go Sandbox - Art Together Now (Symphony From Home Version): <a href="https://youtu.be/i7va3BbNoSk">https://youtu.be/i7va3BbNoSk</a><br /></div><div>OK Go Sandbox - Art Together Now (Nature Version): <a href="https://youtu.be/g4EEtfNk1yk">https://youtu.be/g4EEtfNk1yk</a></div><div>OK Go Sandbox - Art Together Now (Kids Version): <a href="https://youtu.be/2hnhE7zlWNg">https://youtu.be/2hnhE7zlWNg</a></div><div>OK Go Sandbox - Art Together Now (Bunni Version): <a href="https://youtu.be/iCH9yM46FhY">https://youtu.be/iCH9yM46FhY</a></div><div>OK Go Sandbox - Art Together Now (Space Version): <a href="https://youtu.be/nvhVTLk431U">https://youtu.be/nvhVTLk431U</a></div><div>OK Go Sandbox - Art Together Now (Praxinoscope Version): <a href="https://youtu.be/7JCEXOYOK9A">https://youtu.be/7JCEXOYOK9A</a></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Lyrics</span></div><div>It's all still the same</div><div>Everything's untouched but forever changed</div><div>Oh, we're all still the same</div><div>Everything's untouched but forever changed</div><div>All the colors we painted yesterday</div><div>They look so different now</div><div>And all those harmonies we sang yesterday</div><div>All sound so different somehow</div><div>Though they're all still the same</div><div>Everything's untouched but forever changed</div><div>Everywhere on earth</div><div>Every single soul, everyone there is, all together now</div><div>And everyone alone all together on the precipice</div><div>All that mattered then, all that matters now</div><div>All that matters after the world shuts down</div><div>All of it dissolved all together in the chrysalis</div><div>Together in the chrysalis</div><div>Nothing changes, until one day it does, then there's no going back</div><div>Our best selves and our worst selves live in that moment there</div><div>Sparring over who draws the new maps</div><div>And though their lines</div><div>May look the same</div><div>Everything depends on who wins that game</div><div>Everywhere on earth</div><div>Every single soul, everyone there is, all together now</div><div>And everyone alone all together on the precipice</div><div>All that mattered then, all that matters now</div><div>All that matters after the world shuts down</div><div>All of it dissolved all together in the chrysalis</div><div>Together in the chrysalis</div><div>And now the impossible's happenin'</div><div>A million knots that we were told can't be untied</div><div>Would always hold all unraveling</div><div>And even while the heavens fall</div><div>The fog's still wrapped around us all</div><div>And when it's snuffed out every last star</div><div>We'll see just who we are</div><div>Just who we are</div><div>All together now, all together now</div><div>All together alone in the chrysalis</div><div>We're all together now</div><div>All together now, all together alone in the chrysalis</div><div>We're all together now</div><div>All together now, all together alone in the chrysalis</div><div>All together now</div><div>All together now, all together alone in the chrysalis</div><div>We're all together now</div><div>All together now, all together alone in the chrysalis</div><div>All together now</div><div>All together now, all together alone in the chrysalis</div><div>We're all together now</div><div>All together now, all together alone in the chrysalis</div><div>All together now</div><div>We're all together alone</div>
<p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Richard Algerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921970283086332560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30901245.post-82249349113687567882021-05-07T07:14:00.006-07:002021-05-07T07:14:26.589-07:00"Everything with eyes has some amount of eyes"<p>"Everything with eyes has some amount of eyes"</p><p><a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/0RQ6ghOpbHURdOqn1ltRDy?si=c076891e0722475f">https://open.spotify.com/track/0RQ6ghOpbHURdOqn1ltRDy?si=c076891e0722475f</a><br /><br />This reminds me to not take myself too seriously. And about tautology. </p><p><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tautology">https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tautology</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/honor_societies.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="740" height="218" src="https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/honor_societies.png" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Triops Has Three Eyes</span> </p><p>Rabbits have two eyes</p><p>And whales have two eyes</p><p>And eagles have two eyes</p><p>But triops has three eyes</p><p>Triops has three eyes</p><p>Two eyes on a face</p><p>Are usually enough</p><p>But triops has got</p><p>One that looks up</p><p>And one that looks around</p><p>And one to keep an eye</p><p>On the other pair of guys</p><p>Triops has three eyes</p><p>Needles have an eye</p><p>Tornadoes have an eye</p><p>Potatoes have a lot of eyes</p><p>But triops has three eyes</p><p>Triops has three eyes</p><p>Everything with eyes</p><p>Has some amount of eyes</p><p>And triops has got</p><p>One that looks up</p><p>And one that looks around</p><p>And one to keep an eye</p><p>On the other pair of guys</p><p>Triops has three eyes</p><p>There are two sides to every story</p><p>But triangles have three</p><p>And the tricycle has one more cycle</p><p>Than the washing machine</p><p>Chickens have two legs</p><p>And varmin [unverified] have two legs</p><p>And monkeys have two legs</p><p>But tripods have three legs</p><p>Tripods have three legs</p><p>They've got more than you</p><p>'cause they need more than two</p><p>A tripod has got</p><p>One that points back</p><p>And one that sticks out</p><p>And one to be a friend</p><p>To the other pair of legs</p><p>Tripods have three legs</p><p>Look, there's an eye</p><p>Hey, there's another eye</p><p>And there's a third eye</p><p>'cause triops has three eyes</p><p>Triops has three eyes</p><p>Two eyes on a face</p><p>Are usually enough</p><p>But triops has got</p><p>One that looks up</p><p>And one that looks around</p><p>And one to keep an eye</p><p>On the other pair of guys</p><p>Triops has got</p><p>One that points back</p><p>And one that sticks out</p><p>And one to be a friend</p><p>To the other pair of guys</p><p>Triops has three eyes</p><p>Triops has three eyes</p><p>Triops has three eyes</p>Richard Algerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921970283086332560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30901245.post-80468158172519150062021-05-05T16:43:00.005-07:002021-05-05T16:43:57.626-07:00How Far Are You Willing to Love?: Including isn’t Agreeing<p> I loved this talk by Ben Schilaty. </p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/63lwcxP8ZVQ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><p>How Far Are You Willing to Love?: Including isn’t Agreeing | Ben Schilaty | TEDxBYU<br /><a href="https://youtu.be/63lwcxP8ZVQ">https://youtu.be/63lwcxP8ZVQ</a><br /></p><p>Years ago I read his blog regularly. <a href="http://benschilaty.blogspot.com/">http://benschilaty.blogspot.com/</a></p><p>Love God, Love my Neighbor, "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Matthew 22:40 <a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/matt/22.40?lang=eng#p40">https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/matt/22.40?lang=eng#p40</a></p><p>His talk reminded me of this video of Dallin H. Oaks, "Love and Law", <a href="https://youtu.be/SsrZ1XqwQlg">https://youtu.be/SsrZ1XqwQlg</a></p><p><br /></p>Richard Algerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921970283086332560noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30901245.post-39225906622375154312021-04-30T08:45:00.003-07:002021-04-30T08:52:25.774-07:00Occam’s razor: the simplest explanation is usually the right one<p> Occam’s razor "the simplest explanation is usually the right one"</p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occam%27s_razor">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occam%27s_razor</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/William_of_Ockham_-_Logica_1341.jpg/220px-William_of_Ockham_-_Logica_1341.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="205" data-original-width="220" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/William_of_Ockham_-_Logica_1341.jpg/220px-William_of_Ockham_-_Logica_1341.jpg" /></a></div><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9GI0EJyBxIg" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p><a href="https://youtu.be/9GI0EJyBxIg">https://youtu.be/9GI0EJyBxIg</a></p><p><br /></p>Richard Algerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08921970283086332560noreply@blogger.com0