Tuesday, September 30, 2008
An Email to my Mommy - January 15, 2000
I'll tell you something funny that happened today. Rachelle and I were here at her apartment... after today's basketball game, BYU vs Utah. Anyway some guy came to the door, and when she was talking to him I had thought that he came to find one of her roommates. So I went behind a wall where she could see me and he couldn't, and I started playing with her elbow cause it was leaned up against the wall. Apparently, I was wrong. This guy was there actually to ask her out but then somehow saw my hand coming from around the corner. Rachelle said that when he saw it, he stopped and stared at my hand on her elbow and had a surprised expression on his face. He then said he had to go and took off.
I felt bad cause I didn't want him to see my hand. I just wanted Rachelle to appear as if she was laughing for no particular reason. Anyway, I embarrassed both her and him. I suppose that he might not be coming back ever again.
Kempe
Rambling
This post is just for my own adventure and you'll probably enjoy a rerun of Three’s Company more than this. Especially the one when there was some confusion, and somebody thought Jack was doing something bad, but he really wasn’t. Yeah, do you remember that one?
I repeat my wife’s BLOG can be found at http://toeternityandbeyond.blogspot.com/ Anything that follows is just what Kempe’s thinking. And that can’t be good.
Okay then, tonight I’ve been thinking a lot about our Priesthood lesson yesterday. We discussed Joseph B. Wirthin’s talk, ‘Concern for the One’, from last conference. As those lessons often go, we were each handed a slip of paper with a quote on it to read. My quote was this:
“To those who have strayed because of doctrinal concerns, we cannot apologize for the truth. We cannot deny doctrine given to us by the Lord Himself. On this principle we cannot compromise.
I understand that sometimes people disagree with doctrine. They even go so far as to call it foolish. But I echo words of the Apostle Paul, who said that sometimes spiritual things can appear as foolishness to men. Nevertheless, “the foolishness of God is wiser than men.”
In truth, things of the Spirit are revealed by the Spirit. “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”The lesson went long and I never actually read it out loud. But even though I didn't get to read it, I'm glad I was able to at least read it to myself and put into context some things I've been thinking about lately.
We testify that the gospel of Jesus Christ is here upon the earth today. He taught of His Father’s doctrine, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”
What got my mind reeling tonight is the 84th section of the Doctrine and Covenants. Tonight, Rachelle and I only read the 83rd section, but as we finished I just quickly read the heading of the 84th. I already knew it’s the revelation on the priesthood. What I didn’t know, and found interesting, was this revelation was received after all the elders were returning home from their missions to the eastern states. I would have figured that this revelation would have come just before they left on their missions, not after.
This revelation was received after they came back and were all reporting on their activities. I know I'm reading more into this than is really there. But for me, this relates. I used to think that things would get so much easier once I was returned missionary. I believed that up until I was actually a returned missionary. So much so, I broke down and had to right down the specific goals and rules I felt I needed to live by. I always had my “primary answers” for goals & rules but I needed some that was specific to me and my plight.
“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”At the end, I then wrote this,
“Conclusion: You can do two things, you can build yourself or you can erode yourself. Obviously the rules are different here in the states from those in the mission field, but the Law of the Gospel has remained the same. It is only by and through the power of Jesus Christ that we can be saved. It is possible to have the spirit all the time.”The question I had to ask myself right after my mission and am being reminded of right now, is that without Christ what else matters? Is anything worth pursuing if it requires me to lay down my faith?
There’s no question that still I have a lot to learn. But along the short path I’ve taken so far, I’ve learned desire comes first, the trial second, and the lesson third. A blessing is in there somewhere but sometimes hard to see. - Like the missionaries who came back from the eastern states, they committed themselves to the gospel, joined the church, and then desired to share it. They experienced many trials on their missions. Then, after they returned, they needed to receive and learn about the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood.
For me, and for others I think as well, it was about the same. I always desired to serve a mission. I had more trials on my mission than I knew what to do with. (Grateful for only half of them really ...) When I came home I thought I knew what I needed to know. However, I really didn’t know anything. My real lesson about the priesthood, and everything in general, came after my mission. Unfortunately, it's really hard to see those few who let questions, doubts and concerns get the best of them after their missions.
They apply to everyone, but these verses came as a revelation to returned missionaries in the 84th section after they returned from their missions. As I read the 84th section, part of it seems like a big heavenly paddling.
“Therefore, all those who receive the priesthood, receive this oath and covenant of my Father, which he cannot break, neither can it be moved.
But whoso breaketh this covenant after he hath received it, and altogether turneth therefrom, shall not have forgiveness of sins in this world nor in the world to come.
And wo unto all those who come not unto this priesthood which ye have received, which I now confirm upon you who are present this day, by mine own voice out of the heavens; and even I have given the heavenly hosts and mine angels charge concerning you.
And I now give unto you a commandment to beware concerning yourselves, to give diligent heed to the words of eternal life.
For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God.
For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ.”
I’m excited for this weekend. General Conference is here once again and it’s a great opportunity to “live by every word that proceedeth forth form the mouth of God.”
Never give up…
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
The Greatest Communicator
Over a year ago I read a book about Ronald Reagan's ability to communicate. I've been thinking about a the story the author wrote about in the first couple of pages and now may read the book all over again. The author started the book with this:
"On February 23, 1984, I walked into the Oval Office and found the president standing beside his desk holding what appeared to be a photograph.
"Mr. President, what's that you've got there?" I asked.
"Well, Dick, I just got of the phone with this young man."
As the president turned the photograph around for me to view, I winced at the haunting image staring me in the face. It was the picture of a twelve-year-old boy who had been severely burned while attempting to rescue his two younger brothers when their family's trailer caught fire. The first brother he found easily, and simply passed through the window. Saving the second brother, however, proved much more difficult. While frantically searching through the flaming trailer, the young man sustained severe burns before carrying his sibling to safety. As a result, the president explained, the boy's face and body had been seriously scarred and disfigured.
"I called this little fella to see how he was doing and to tell him how proud I was of his heroism, Reagan said.
Still shaken by the image, I struggled to get something out.
"I'm sure he appreciated your call, Mr. President."
As he looked back down at the little boy's visage, a smile spread slowly across the president's face. "Dick, at the end of our conversation the youngster said, 'President Reagan, I sure wish I would have had my tape recorder on so I could remember our call together.' So I said, 'Do you have it there?' He said he did. So I told him, 'Well, son, turn it on and let's chat some more.'"
The Greatest Communicator by Dick Wirthlin
