PonderIt

This story is VERY true. Hal Jensen, the man who i...

2008-05-16T07:46:00.000-07:00

This story is VERY true. Hal Jensen, the man who is refered to as "Hal" in the story, was my Home Teacher when I lived in Valley Center, Ca. He told me this story first hand. Hal's family has visited Indonesia and I have seen pictures of them with the Gus Dur. It is a great and TRUE story, not a "mormon myth".

God won't heal: amputees, retards, or dead people....

2008-04-28T14:18:00.000-07:00

God won't heal: amputees, retards, or dead people.
God answers your prayers in one of three ways. Yes. No. Wait.
You cannot lose if your proof of god is his magical ability to answer every question like that.
I prayed to my cat. I asked for a million dollars. So far the answer appears to be, wait.
Your child may be healed in the following life, that's not what Jesus said would happen when you asked something in his name.
I may get my million dollars in the next life, that's not what I asked for.
Bill Gates never promised to fund PBS. Jesus promised to deliver in this life. My cat said, meow. The Magic Eight Ball said, ask again.

The quote I know is: "The road to Hell is paved wi...

2008-04-26T17:06:00.000-07:00

The quote I know is: "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions". I think it's meaning is perfectly clear - Good intentions are not enough, good actions take you to heaven.

test

2008-04-22T16:01:00.000-07:00

test

Thank you for your comments from Brother Madsen. ...

2008-04-14T20:42:00.000-07:00

Thank you for your comments from Brother Madsen. I recently saw a broadcast while running on a treadmill at the gym. He had me in tears. The talk has become one of my favorites and he tells of a dream he had that is a deep and powerful vision. The talk is called The Savior, Sacrament, and Self-worth. I would love to shake his hand some day.

He accomplished so much in this lifetime, yes what...

2008-04-11T12:14:00.000-07:00

He accomplished so much in this lifetime, yes what a reunion that will be between him and his beloved. Lovely post!

If Hugh B. Brown was allowed to believe it, I thin...

2008-03-24T15:07:00.000-07:00

If Hugh B. Brown was allowed to believe it, I think you're allowed to believe it. :)

Thanks for the great post Brad. This is something ...

2008-03-24T14:42:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the great post Brad. This is something I have wondered about for some time and I think your headline says it all. It can be difficult to discern between revelation and personal impressions, I believe the ability to discern is a gift (gift of discernment). I am grateful for the revelation extending the Priesthood. Is it allowable to believe that revelation did not result in the exclusionary policy in the first place?

Thanks for the post. I've seen Fred Friendly's et...

2008-03-17T15:23:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the post. I've seen Fred Friendly's ethics discussions before and they are great for provoking serious thought. I thought Elder Oaks' responses were interesting.

Sunday can be pretty tough in fact one Sunday as I...

2008-02-27T21:15:00.000-07:00

Sunday can be pretty tough in fact one Sunday as I was talking loudly {yelling}to my kids that they need to obey me and hurry when I say hurry.(We were in the car) I reached down to make sure my song book didn't fall from the seat as I did this I rear ended someone and was late for church. No one was hurt but I did realize one thing I needed to slow down. The Lord had to stop me and he did. With young kids I find it hard to "Stand Still and know that I am" But if I can try even if it's just for one minute, I can grab a little something from my meetings. Then I try to take it back home in some small way. It is a process and it's slowly coming together. Joy and happiness come with great persistance.

The Sabbath is a day of rest -- a day of rest for ...

2008-02-25T11:23:00.000-07:00

The Sabbath is a day of rest -- a day of rest for OUR labors, not from the LORD's labors. I have been where Jared was yesterday, and it's not fun. But then I think about what Jesus would have done in that situation. Like Jared did, He likely would have taken the three-year-old with him despite the distraction.

A friend of my wife's reported that one Sacrament meeting was particularly trying with her young family. Her husband was on the stand, and although she had help from a kindly sister that was an empty nester, she wondered how she had survived the meeting. She hadn't heard any coherent portion of any of the talks and had felt like beating children during the administration of the Sacrament.

The older sister, the wife of the stake president, helped her out to the lobby with the children, and then said, "Don't worry. You're doing the right thing. We have seven children and my husband has been in leadership callings nearly our whole married life. I didn't get anything out of a single church meeting for at least 29 years. But today I can see the blessings of just having been with my children in the right place at the right time."

Orson Scott Card wrote an article titled Does Civilization Begin in Sacrament Meeting? I commend it to anyone with young children.

Thanks to my wonderful wife, we established patterns of what we thought ought to happen on the Sabbath when our children were very young. She has kept this up even when I have had heavy assignments on Sundays. Let me be the first to say that we're far from perfect at it. But let me also say that as our older children progress into their teen years, they actively, almost subconsciously, help us keep to those patterns. They help socialize the younger kids into those patterns. Sundays aren't perfect, but they are the best day of the week in our home.

The comment from 5/29/2007 was closest to the real...

2008-02-25T09:14:00.000-07:00

The comment from 5/29/2007 was closest to the real meaning of this phrase. It is a warning to beware of unintended consequences. It is not a statement about lack of action and follow through. It is rather a warning that taking action without careful thought about what the actual results will be as opposed to the intended results often leads to disaster. In many life situations this is the enabler behavior.

A perfect example of unintended consequences is the forest service strategy in the early 20th century to extinguish all forest fires. This lead to the accumulation of brush and clutter in the forests which finally became the kindling that fueled huge forest fires. In the case of the giant sequoias, the nut could not be released and germinate without the aid of small fires and for fifty years virtually no new trees sprouted. The original intent to save the forests was actually killing them!

I have to admit that today I was really wondering ...

2008-02-24T20:16:00.000-07:00

I have to admit that today I was really wondering if it is even worth going to church on Sunday. Our boys have been that rotten. Today I had to take our 3 year old to class with me as I taught the valiant 11's. He simply would not go to class and wanted to go back to nursery.

I hope that someday we can get to where someday Sunday is a joy and truely a day of rest.

I think the second pointer was just to make sure t...

2008-02-22T13:13:00.000-07:00

I think the second pointer was just to make sure that the first arrow was giving the right information. I mean one pointer always points somewhere right!

I'm going to have to read that talk--we have all o...

2008-02-16T17:20:00.000-07:00

I'm going to have to read that talk--we have all of Hugh Nibley's BOM lectures, so I know we have it. Maybe that can be my Sunday reading tomorrow. Thanks for the suggestion!

Thank you so much, Jane! I'm blushing, here.

2008-02-16T17:18:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much, Jane! I'm blushing, here.

Amen, Sister! You put into words (quite beautifull...

2008-02-15T11:37:00.000-07:00

Amen, Sister! You put into words (quite beautifully) how I felt about this as well!

Viva mothers everywhere! Ours is a difficult, but necessary task. If WE don't do it, who will? We aren't so easily replaced! LOL

Bravo!

I hope you enjoy the talk!

2008-02-14T22:59:00.000-07:00

I hope you enjoy the talk!

I am going to see Madsen speak next Thursday night...

2008-02-14T21:18:00.000-07:00

I am going to see Madsen speak next Thursday night! It's a moment of "synchronicity" for me because my testimony is surging (I've never lost it) and it just seems too perfect to be coincidence. As Elder Maxwell said, "For God there is no coincidence."

Nobody's written here for awhile, but I saw the qu...

2008-02-12T13:59:00.000-07:00

Nobody's written here for awhile, but I saw the question, and wanted to suggest my idea! Read Hugh Nibley's thoughts on the subject. (Such an excellent original idea from me. Turn to Hugh.) In Hugh Nibley's Teachings of the Book of Mormon, Semester one, 1993, he speaks of the Arabs and divination arrows, which explains the two pointers on your Liahona. (Yes, divination arrows. Just read it.)

My Dad is from Germany, where my Mom served a miss...

2008-02-04T14:19:00.000-07:00

My Dad is from Germany, where my Mom served a mission. They served a mission together there a few years ago. They say that their German LDS friends are ecstatic.

Pres. Uchtdorf has a charming personality. He has good communication skills and he understands the international mission of the Church.

I guess we have to wait until general conference to see who the new apostle will be.

What great thoughts. Thank you for sharing them.

2008-01-29T09:22:00.000-07:00

What great thoughts. Thank you for sharing them.

Keryn,I love what you said about him not resting. ...

2008-01-28T15:21:00.000-07:00

Keryn,
I love what you said about him not resting. So true!

I know, Brother Reach Upward. All I could think o...

2008-01-28T10:56:00.000-07:00

I know, Brother Reach Upward. All I could think of when we heard was how happy he must be to have fought the good fight, and to be welcomed into the arms of the Savior. Not to mention his dear wife!

I've seen the comment "Rest In Peace" in regards to his passing, and although I understand that is a way to show sympathy and respect, it sort of makes me laugh. If there is one thing President Hinckley ISN'T planning on doing, it's resting. How wonderful to be free from the infirmities of age!

Pres. Hinckley became a 3rd counselor to Pres. Kim...

2008-01-28T08:57:00.000-07:00

Pres. Hinckley became a 3rd counselor to Pres. Kimball when I was on my mission. He has been in the 1st Presidency ever since, often taking the lion's share of the work when Pres. Kimball, Pres. Benson, and Pres. Hunter were too ill to do so, but never taking glory to himself.

He is a remarkable individual. He was the first general authority to really comprehend modern media. And he made great use of it too. He always seemed so comfortable in front of a TV camera. Broadcast media worked well for him. It allowed his natural love, humor, and down-to-earth personality shine through.

As soon as we heard the news last night, I felt a tinge of loss, but I also felt happy for Pres. Hinckley. I'm sure things are pretty good for him at the moment.