If It Be Wisdom in God that Ye Should Read Them

Moroni 10:1-7 (Moroni 10:1-7)

I am a flurry of thoughts and emotions as I start into this final chapter of the Book of Mormon, in what has been a 12-year daily affair for me. But as I read Moroni’s invitation in verse 3 to meditate upon the mercy of the Lord extended towards his people since the time of Adam up until my present moment in time, the thought is overwhelmingly profound. How do I have in my possession a book that is of ancient date, which God has been able to use to school and train me in matters of profound spiritual significance. I have done something that was unique to me, and the result is that the Lord has taught me to repent: the infinite-tries, bounce back card, that never stops working.

How merciful is this! How profoundly life-altering is this.


God works by power. It is by the power of the Holy Ghost that truth is made known. It is by power that God work with us, according to our faith.

The invitation to prove the veracity of the Book of Mormon is in verse 4. Verses 5, 6, and 7 are then a backwards progression through the Godhead with a focus on proving the existence of Christ by the power of God. I had missed that focus on Christ previously, but it is here, as it always is, in the Book of Mormon:

Verse 5 states that we can know the truth of all things by the power of the Holy Ghost. (Such a profound and reassuring statement.)

Verse 6 turns the focus towards Christ, explaining that all that is good (or just and true) points us to Christ and acknowledges the existence of Christ. (For example the Book of Mormon points us to Christ and acknowledges him.)

But then I missed this in verse 7 (because Christ is referenced only by pronoun), by the power of the Holy Ghost, we will know that Jesus Christ is! Therefore, we must not deny the power of God, because this is how we will gain a witness of the Christ. (There is no other way.)

This is what Moroni was trying to get at with these first 7 verses. Gain a witness of the Book of Mormon because it will point you to Jesus Christ. That’s the whole point. They are trying to point us to Jesus.


I was about to move on, but then I was brought back to a phrase in verse 3 that I don’t fully understand: “If it be wisdom in God that ye should read them…” In Spanish, it roughly translates to ” If God judges that it be wise (or prudent) that you should read them…” (I suppose that when I have wrestled with this it will be plainly and painfully obvious.)

There is a timing element in this statement, as if to suggest that if God saw that this was the right time for you to read and consider these things.

(Side tangent: as I am wrestling with this, I was just brought back to housing plans for a home in Arizona that I had considered and contemplated building. I don’t know why. But it was like a packet of truth was unlocked and a flowering of inspiration and ideas resulted. Why? The housing crisis that we have is because we’ve homogenized the building process for commercial gains. That has to stop! We build houses according to local environs, not according to mass production.)

But the greater question is this: Why would it NOT be in God’s wisdom or time table that one should read these things? Or would it be prudent that God would judge that someone would not be ready to receive these things? This is such an interesting and yet profoundly important conditional that Moroni is laying here at the gateway to this invitation.


My takeaways from the above observation are these:

  • God is explaining to me why he has waited until now to reveal these things unto me concerning Florence Nightingale, India, Irrigation, etc.
  • It may be wisdom in God to place some of his children elsewhere in the vineyard.

Despite all that our Church does directly, most humanitarian service to the children of God worldwide is carried out by persons and organizations having no formal connection with our Church. As one of our Apostles observed: “God is using more than one people for the accomplishment of his great and marvelous work. … It is too vast, too arduous, for any one people.”4 As members of the restored Church, we need to be more aware and more appreciative of the service of others.

Pres. Dallin H. Oaks, Helping the Poor and Distressed, October 2022 general conference

I have followed this further to the quote referenced by President Oaks from Orson F. Whitney. When contemplating why good men such as Abraham Lincoln and Horace Greeley couldn’t see the prophets of God right in front of them, Elder Whitney offered this insight:

…Perhaps the Lord needs such men on the outside of his Church, to help it along. They are among its auxiliaries, and can do more good for the cause where the Lord has placed them, than anywhere else. And the same is true of the priesthood and its auxiliaries inside the Church. Hence, some are drawn inside the fold and receive a testimony of the Truth; while others remain unconverted — for the present; the beauties and glories of the gospel being veiled temporarily from their view, for a wise purpose. The Lord will open their eyes in his own due time.

Orson F. Whitney, General Conference Report, p. 59 (emphasis added)

There is a preparation exercise in verse 3. Preparation for what? For the invitation to “ask God” in verse 4.

The preparation exercise is to ponder the merciful nature of the Lord towards his children since the beginning of time. Indeed, a Being of omniscience and omnipotence patiently waits for his wayward and prideful children to come around to him, generation after generation. I don’t know how and I don’t know why he would be such with us. Maybe because this is how seeds grow?

Then the invitation to ask is given in the negative. In consideration of God’s merciful goodness towards the children of men, with what we know of that, are the things presented in the Book of Mormon not an accurate account of God’s ongoing merciful nature with his children? Are these things NOT true? (I need to pray.)


I come back around to one of the first points made in this post: God works by power.

I Trust

Moroni 9 (Moroni 9)

(I don’t like this chapter.)

I am sitting with the descriptions found in this chapter, and I am asking myself: why? Why is it here in the Book of Mormon? Of what I’ve allowed myself to experience, and even of recent news reports that I’ve read of horrific military actions in foreign countries, this is the worst of human depravity that I have ever read about. (Back in Mormon 4:12, Mormon even states that according to the word of the Lord, there had never existed this level of wickedness amongst all the House of Israel.) And what’s more, the more horrendous of the acts was found among the wicked Nephites; once exposed to light, now completely devoid of it.

Why am I being brought to consider such ugliness in a book that testifies of Christ? The reality is that probably not even the thousandth part of their heinous acts are recorded herein, but enough is given to illustrate under what conditions Moroni and Mormon had to operate.

Part of me wonders if satan wasn’t just interested in taking down an entire nation, which he succeeded in doing, but if he was also trying to divert the completion of the Book of Mormon record, which he failed at doing. I don’t know that I should give the adversary that much foresight and credit. Yet if he (satan) understood the impact of this record in Joseph Smith’s time, and tried to prevent it at all costs, could he not have been trying to do the same thing during the time of the Nephites? Destroy an entire civilization to attempt to thwart the completion of the Book of Mormon?


I’m sitting with my destructive responses to anger in the past.


Why did the adversary have his focus fixed on the destruction of the Nephite nation? Because they once were a delightsome people (see vs. 12) and they had Jesus as their guide (reference?), therefore they had a target on their heads. For some reason, exposure to the light, and then rejection thereof, brings greater wickedness than having never been blessed with the light.

Mormon is also mourning their rejection of basic concepts of principle, civility, order, and mercy. Their ability to function as a society of self-governed people was no more. (Oh how we take these things for granted!)


The character of Mormon in this chapter is amazingly and unflinchingly righteous.

  • “My beloved son, I write unto you again that ye may know that I am yet alive;” (vs. 1)
  • “Behold, I am laboring with them continually… wherefore, I fear lest the Spirit of the Lord hath ceased striving with them.” (vs. 4)
  • “And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God.” (vs. 6)
  • “Behold, my heart cries: Wo unto this people. Come out in judgment, O God, and hide their sins, and wickedness, and abominations from before thy face!” (vs. 15) (an interesting verse that perhaps deserves more attention)
  • “But behold, my son, I recommend thee unto God, and I trust in Christ that thou wilt be saved; and I pray unto God that he will spare thy life,” (vs. 22)
  • “but I trust that I may see thee soon; for I have sacred records that I would deliver up unto thee.” (vs. 24)

As I have gone through this chapter, it strikes me that Mormon understands a key purpose of this mortal existences is for us to “labor [to] conquer the enemy of all righteousness” and prepare for the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth. Despite the horrific circumstances in front of them, Mormon knew that this was not the end.

And hence, we have this powerful declaration of Mormon’s at the end of the chapter:

My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever.

And may the grace of God the Father, whose throne is high in the heavens, and our Lord Jesus Christ, who sitteth on the right hand of his power, until all things shall become subject unto him, be, and abide with you forever. Amen.

(verses 25-26)

The Remission of Sins Bringeth Meekness

Moroni 8:24-30 (Moroni 8:24-30)

I love this passage found at the end of this chapter, where Mormon concludes by explaining the doctrine in pure, matter of fact statements. I absolutely love this passage of scriptures! Deep reflection has brought me to this reality again!

What is interesting is that work is not a visible component of Mormon’s explanation here, but I want to explore this thought more, because work is the maintenance that is required to… No! Never mind, “endureth by diligence” there is the work!

There is a real temptation to look a this passively, but what makes this so very true is that work undergirds this entire process. The Holy Ghost comes to us (which is work to put one’s self into that space) and gives instructions (commandments from the Lord), showing us all things what we should do (2 Nephi 32), and at the very same time this Comforter fills us with hope, peace, and love. That love continues with us as we are diligent in prayer to the Father, continually seeking to align ourselves with His holy will.


I know these verses of scripture well, but I am not seeing something.

Remission of sins comes from fulfilling the commandments, which makes sense because sin is a violation of the law, and repentance is the process of changing ourselves to be in harmony with the laws of God. Jesus Christ was always in harmony with God’s laws and hence had no need of baptism. Ordinances are a part of God’s law that we are to be obedient to. Thus was Christ baptized to comply with the law.


It seems striking to me that at the end of their civilization, Mormon and Moroni are grappling with issues of basic doctrine. Why was this so important to the Lord?

Disobedience to law always causes suffering. Obedience to law brings peace. What law? God’s law, eternal law. Law that cannot be altered by edict or decree.


(I’m realizing that while I am intimately familiar with these passages, that this familiarity is causing me to not ponder and consider the deeper significance of these statements.)

Remission of sins brings meekness, or in other words, a condition of being teachable. Why would this be so? The soul opens up to correction, change, and growth in the presence of divine forgiveness.

Isaiah 29 is gold! As it pertains to meekness and a true witness of what will happen at the end of times. The saints will come forth as witnesses of what God can do with a willing people.


Verse 27 seems almost utterly uncorrelated with the previous verses, except that it offers a macro example of what happens when people go the other way. Where meekness and lowliness of heart brings the visitation and hope of the Comforter, pride brings destruction except they should repent.

All Little Children Are Alive in Christ

Moroni 8:4-24 (Moroni 8:4-24)

(Started this study in Spanish.)

I am impressed that the contentions that had resulted were the cause of great sorrow for Mormon (see vs. 4). I’ve read this chapter many times, but I’ve never paid attention to the fact that there were contentions that resulted from false doctrine.

Mormon’s thought and action in response to both contention, and the false doctrines that caused the contentions, was to take the matter before the Lord. The Lord had clear and decisive instruction about the issue at hand. However, the word of the Lord (in vs. 8) did not address the issue of baptism of little children. Rather, the Lord explained the doctrines that would reasonably explain why there was no need for the baptism of little children: Children are alive in Christ; repentance is for those who need to be made whole and healed of their sins, etc., of which little children are not in that category.


Continuing on, I am somewhat caught off guard by the bold assertions that Mormon makes against those that would suppose little children were in need of baptism. He does not mince words, but then he says things like “for he hath neither faith, hope, nor charity; wherefore, should he be cut off while in the thought, he must go down to hell.” (vs. 14)

Now perhaps its because I’m looking too much into this statement, but I have to wonder is this a statement of fact that if a wicked man dies (incomplete)


Moroni states that it is awful wickedness to suppose that a child would not be saved because they did not have baptism. But how could a small child ever be considered a candidate of hell when their entire disposition is to learn and grow and change? The attributes that qualify the soul for Heaven are so much a part of the nature of small children.


Here are hard questions that I have about this chapter:

  • The way that Mormon talks about the purpose of baptism, being the fruit of repentance, for those who are old enough to repent.
  • Now that leads me to consider the age of baptism at which we baptize in the Church today. At 8 years old, it is far more a ritual than an ordinance with deep meaning for children. (I don’t even recall my own baptism.) And I have had family members refuse to baptize their eight year old children because of this very thing.
  • Yet in the scriptures, we have the commandment to baptize children at the age of 8. But I’m going to review this.
  • Mormon refers to this as a dead work, the baptizing of little children.

Review of Doctrine and Covenants 68:25-31.

Several thoughts impress me:

  • Teaching begins when they are eight years old, maybe before but more earnestly after that.
  • The commandment is that little children should be baptized when eight years old.
  • There are other things to be observed such as work ethic and the avoidance of idle pursuits.

(These verses highlight, no — “trigger” is the right word. These verses trigger a key flaw in my personality, perhaps inherited from generations past, that makes it very hard for me to successfully integrate this instruction into my own family life. There is a layer of discipleship or personal integrity that is not being realized.)

I have in my head this morning a sermon on prayer, sabbath day observance, and hard work generally. Then there are explanations of how prayer is hard work, sabbath day observance can seem like hard work. Goal setting helps us to realize hard work objectives. This is important because to connect with God is hard work. To bring others to God is even harder work.


The purpose of baptism is for repentance. It is a significant step in fulfilling or completing the commandments that God has given to qualify for a remission of sins. (See vs. 11) Mormon interjects repentance all over the place in this chapter. He uses repentance to explain the true purpose of baptism. He also explains the absolute necessity of repentance for those who have distorted the doctrines of Christ as they pertain to little children, calling it a “terrible iniquity.”

In verse 16, I get the feeling that Mormon understands the radical position that he is taking, and how this will be perceived of the natural man. I appreciate that he takes pains to spell this out by stating that he fears not man, and that he is filled with the love of God.

He then goes on to explain how that love is the catalyst for his understanding of the doctrines that impact little children.


There is a question in my heart that comes from wrestling with Mormon’s logic that has been here for a long time and I am spelling it out here so that I can wrestle with this question:

Why then preach the gospel to anyone, if it will bring them under condemnation?

Does the man on the remote island who never hears the gospel preached to him, suffer under that condemnation of the law if he has never heard the law preached to him? I think Mormon would say “no,” but I’m not sure of this. (This discussion is continued below.)

Ignorance, truly, is not bliss however. And the weight of responsibility from having knowledge is also carried by Christ, who is yoked side by side with us. But Mormon is stating that repentance is for those that are “under condemnation and under the curse of a broken law.” (vs. 24)


Since asking the above question a couple of days ago, there have been touch points in my thoughts, studies and elsewhere that have illustrated the importance of teaching the Gospel. I am also being brought to understand the empowerment of education.


Jumping back to verse 19, I am struck by the references here to the mercy of God. Mormon states that “it is awful wickedness to deny the pure mercies of God unto them.” Now the obvious is that even if man were to deny anything from God (and we do it all the time), it doesn’t negate the fact that God does still extend “pure mercy” to little children — constantly, continually.

So the real issue here is not the state of the children (which is fixed in Christ), but rather the changeable state of the man, who in a present state of wicked thoughts, is rejecting the mercies of Christ. “Wo unto such, for they are in danger of death, hell, and an endless torment… Listen unto [these words] and give heed, or they stand against you at the judgment-seat of Christ.” (vs. 21)

(There is more that I want to understand here about the mercy of God towards the children.)

Mercy in the Old Testament has to do with loving kindness, and “blot[ting] out… transgressions” (Psalm 51:1)


I am contrasting the teachings of Jesus regarding little children, and in his assimilation of little children to the kingdom of God, verses the teachings of dead works that say small children must be baptized or they cannot be saved. Ultimately, the variable of difference between the two is Christ and his atonement and redemption, which makes possible growth through trial and error.

Discovery and learning and the excitement of this process is at the heart of the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God, if it is to be received as a little child, must be a place of curiosity, exploration, learning, making mistakes, rebounding quickly, growing, enrichment and development.

Contrary to this are dead works: acts which hold no meaning or purpose, acts which bring no understanding, no enrichment of the self or the community. One of the challenges here is that acts that are meant to be alive and meaningful (the ordinances of the gospel, for example), can become so routine or common that we fail to see them for their power.


Revisiting the islander analogy, I’m trying to think of where this comes from. I don’t think it’s doctrinal. And as I consider this further, if it were doctrinal, it would stand in the face of the doctrine of baptisms for the dead. “Else why are they baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all?” We might as well ask, “Why are we baptized for the dead, if the dead never had the gospel preached to them in this life?” Are the dead not in need of redemption, as much as are the living?

Really then what does Mormon mean when he says “and also all they that are without the law [are alive in Christ]. For the power of redemption cometh on all them that have no law; wherefore, he that is not condemned or he that is under no condemnation, cannot repent; and unto such baptism availeth nothing–” (vs. 22)?

We are talking about those individuals, angels really, who are blessed to pass this mortal existence above the conditions of mortality to which the laws of God have no hold. Such are those that exists with Downs Syndrome or a host of other related abilities. Well might they sing continually the primary anthems of the children, for such are wrapped continually the love of God, and abound in his mercy.

(I was ready to move on, but then realized that I don’t have the answers yet to the understanding of those who are without the law.)


I am wanting to move on, but as I am returning back to this study, and interesting proposition comes before me for consideration: What if they that “are without the law” (vs. 22) is everyone who will not receive the law?

The verse goes on to say: “For the power of redemption cometh on all them that have no law;”

Futher, “wherefore, he that is not condemned, or he that is under no condemnation, cannot repent; and unto such baptism availeth nothing


Is Christ’s atonement really that inclusive to claim those who won’t repent because they simply don’t believe? No. That is not what is meant here. A more plain explanation of what it means to be “without law” is found in the Doctrine and Covenants 137:7-10 (vs. 7-9 specifically elaborate upon this point).

7 Thus came the voice of the Lord unto me, saying: All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God;

8 Also all that shall die henceforth without a knowledge of it, who would have received it with all their hearts, shall be heirs of that kingdom;

9 For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts.

Doctrine and Covenants 137:7-9, Emphasis added.

The Goodness and Grace of Jesus Christ

Moroni 8:1-3 (Moroni 8:1-3)

As a father, the very first thing that catches my attention is Mormon’s efforts in prayer to always be mindful of his son, Moroni, and that this is how he opens this letter to him. I feel that Mormon understands something more about the need to pray for his son, that he would constantly be supplicating to the Father in the name of Christ that he would keep him (his son Moroni) through the goodness and grace of God.

How am I going to better understand this? Through prayer, asking for understanding in the very thing that I am lacking knowledge in.


Knowledge was obtained through prayer yesterday morning. It was a very clear thought process in prayer to petition to Lord for goodness and grace.

The Infinite Goodness of Jesus Christ

Reading a footnote in Exodus 34, the impression that sticks with me this morning is that Christ is a God of humanity. By this, I mean, that the Lord Jesus Christ is the very being who by design is able to succor and care for us in a mortal and messy, fallen condition. He is not for some non-existent, perfected race of creatures. We are it. We are His. We with our increasingly complex and diverse sets of unique challenges are the very beings that Christ came to save.

The Grace of Jesus Christ

The topical guide entry for “grace” also equates it with mercy and favor. It is the sense of finding a position of blessing from the Lord.

(Aah! I just found one of the most profound passages on business success in the scriptures in James 4. I find this extremely significant.)


Continuing my study on “grace”, this morning I was brought to consider the account of Noah found in the book of Moses, wherein it reads that Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. It goes on to state that Noah was also perfect in his generation: bold and fascinating observations. A footnote in Moses 8:28 pointed me to Doctrine and Covenants 10:21, which in observing the corruption of man make this final declaration: “And their hearts are corrupt, and full of wickedness… because their deeds are evil; therefore they will not ask of me.” (emphasis added)

To me, this is the end of the matter: grace is favor in the presences of God; wickedness is failure to ask or call upon God for his guidance, blessing, and direction.


The first two verses of Mormon’s epistle to his son Moroni, are a rich contemplation on their personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It seems very personal and intimate to me. It has been the subject of study for various days now.

Reflecting on how prayer might work in verse 3, I don’t understand why the Lord requires us to act so before him, but it seems to be the only way to bring others safely home is through prayers of complete submission and pleading. Mormon says that he has prayed continually to God the Father through the name of Jesus Christ that Moroni’s faith would be kept and preserved through the goodness and grace of Jesus Christ and faith on His name until the end.

There is something about this position that just feels fixed and immutable, but then he moves on, and so must I.


There is one more paradox that I want to wrestle with in verse 3 about “enduring to the end.” I am brought to consider it as I try to understand the curious wording that Mormon uses to explain his prayers to Moroni.

  • “I am mindful of you always in my prayers,”
  • “continually praying unto God the Father in the name of his Holy Child, Jesus,”
  • “that he, through his infinite goodness and grace, will keep you”
  • “through the endurance of faith on his name to the end.”

What is so curious about this is the double-side nature of perseverance: It comes from both Christ’s efforts and it comes from our own efforts, and if there was a third side, it comes from others efforts to pray continually for our well-being. Are all these things required for us to preserve faith and endure to the end? And why does Mormon feel the need to ask for something that feels like it should just be automatic (the goodness and grace of Jesus)? Is it “automatic,” like just always on or available to us?

The goodness and grace of Christ is always available to us, but only upon conditions of our faith to reach out to receive it. (Now curiously, this is one of the core doctrinal discussion of the rest of this chapter that deals with grace extended to those that are not accountable.)

It still just a very interesting position that Mormon takes in his wording that make God feel like the more volitional of the two players in this exchange. He’s not praying that Moroni will have sufficient faith to be able to access the grace of Christ which is always on. Rather, he is praying that God the Father will keep his son, Moroni. So there is actually a third layer here that I wasn’t seeing before. And it is the agency of Heavenly Father that is being petitioned to position his son Moroni in such a way as to give him access to Christ’s grace.

Mormon is thus assuming that if (part one) God the Father will keep Moroni close to Christ, that Christ’s grace (part two) and Moroni’s faith (part three) will be as they need to be. Heavenly Father is the key player here!

How much more important is prayer because of this! To ask, seek, and knock.

Special Study: Gospel Principles for Business

James 4

This chapter is striking to me because there appears to be a great deal of business logic and sense for the individual in these verses. There are also plenty of gospel paradoxes in my mind that are introduced in these verses.

Topics of Study:

  • Ask and Ye Shall Receive.
  • Making Friends with Mammon or the World.
  • Submission to God
  • Pride vs. Grace and Humility
  • Doers of the Law vs. Judges (Making Ourselves as God)

Ye Ask, and Receive Not, Because Ye Ask Amiss;

A footnote to Heleman 10:4-6 reminds me of the intimate communion and power that the prophet Nephi had with God. He wasn’t afraid to do the Lord’s will and be obedient to His commands, which were extremely specific to his present circumstances.

What is more compelling about this passage in James is the reality that lust, or greed, is what is keeping me from connecting with God. The irony of the situation is real. Lust creates a chasm or void which cannot be filled. Action taken based upon lust is fruitless, meaning that we will expend energy and effort without meaningful or substantial results. Lust-based actions harm others: murders, war, fighting. Envyings and whoredoms should be added to the list of lust-based action. They are fruitless in their application and utterly destructive to the souls that engage in them.

The interesting thing about this comparison of productivity models is that often times money can be awarded to both types of effort, thus blurring the lines between what is right and what is wrong. Thus money is a through-line and neither an ends nor a means to wickedness or righteousness exclusively. The wicked will do wickedly with money. The righteous will do righteously with what money is available to them.

Friends with the World

James states, talking to adulterers and adulteresses, that friendship of the world is emnity or opposition to God (vs. 4). Jesus taught, talking to his disciples, “Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.” (Luke 16:9)

See also Parables of Jesus: The Unjust Stewart

It is not intended that in making friends of the ‘mammon of unrighteousness’ that the brethren were to partake with them in their sins; to receive them to their bosoms, intermarry with them and otherwise come down to their level. They were to so live that peace with their enemies might be assured. They were to treat them kindly, be friendly with them as far as correct and virtuous principles would permit, but never to swear with them or drink and carouse with them. If they could allay prejudice and show a willingness to trade with and show a kindly spirit, it might help to turn them away from their bitterness. Judgment was to be left with the Lord.

President Joseph Fielding Smith, Church History and Modern Revelation, 2 vols. [1953], 1:323 (emphasis added)

Worldly-minded men do not neglect provision for their future years, … while the “children of light,” or those who believe spiritual wealth to be above all earthly possessions, are less energetic, prudent, or wise. …

… Emulate the unjust steward and the lovers of mammon [money], not in their dishonesty, cupidity, and miserly hoarding of the wealth that is at best transitory, but in their zeal, forethought, and provision for the future.

James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, 3rd ed. (1916), 463–64.

See also Psalm 37. This is good counsel not to react against wickedness, but rather to persist in righteousness, and let the wicked come to naught in their own time. The principles upon which the wicked ride do not support them long term.


Submission to God

(I’m at a difficult personal junction this morning, having made the evening deliberately more difficult for myself and my family than it needed to be.)

…Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.

1 Samuel 24:17

I like the above scripture as a good working definition of righteousness: to do good to your enemies.


I am reminded in prayer that submission to God is not the false image that the adversary often paints in my mind of “duty.” Now I’m not saying that attending to one’s duties is bad, but failure to seek the will of the Father, in favor of rote compliance, is not good. There is no life in this thing, and therefore our works will be dead before we start.


Verses 7-11 give a very detailed listing of what submission to God looks like. I really wanted to point to the adversary the other night as the cause for me mucking up the evening’s activities. But that would then 1) give him more power than he actually has, and 2) remove my accountability for my actions and what I actually did.


The whole crux of the matter is submission to God and His Holy will.

Pride vs. Grace and Humility

God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. This is a very interesting contrast. If I am proud and if God is resisting me, how am I able to pray to Him for guidance, direction, or answers to prayers? It will be like sounds bouncing off of a glass ceiling: no connection. And oh how real that rejection can feel, and it is not because God is rejecting us, but rather in our pride, we expect an answer. We demand a response, and get nothing but silence.

But then to the humble, the story looks quite different. It feels different, for it is different. God is not resisting them, and so grace fills their cups to overflowing. Feelings of peace are plentiful and profound. And so the humble progress from grace to grace; meanwhile, the proud increase in skepticism, disbelief, and jealousy. This division very much coincides with the final point:

Doers of the Law vs. Judges

(or rather, self-appointed judges of the law)

The obvious take away from the text here is the observation that those who judge are more preoccupied with their view of the situation, than their efforts to be in compliance with the Law of the Lord. There is a segregation between those who are doing based on the requirements of God’s law and those who refuse to engage and rather sit on the sidelines mocking, pointing fingers, but never entering into the path.

Then there is a business application to the delineation between doers and judges that James takes pains to spell out. Verses 13 & 14 describes the business attitudes of those who judge the law:

Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

There are parallels between false judgment, pride, boasting, and the greed of the business attitude that says buy and sell and get gain. I guess that it is the thought that the end is gain, and thus the attempt to circumvent the plan of God, the law of God with money. As if, that were the end of it all.

The proper response is to turn it over into the Lord’s hands. To say, thy will be done. “Sufficient is the day to the evil there of.”


In Summary

Here is what I’ve learned about business in regards to discipleship:

  • Christ expects us to be as wise in our business transactions as are “the children of this world” which includes planning for the future and being a wise steward of the resources made available to us.
  • Attitude is everything in so far as our first priority is to seek the will of God, to know and execute according to His law as best we can. To judge the law is to be prideful and lustful.
  • In parallel with this gospel study, I’ve taken time to reflect upon different forms of business structure. Profit vs. non-profit, for example, are not strictly equated with gain vs. charity, which is where this all gets very confusing. Business activities should be decoupled from personal righteousness, kind of. It’s actually hard for me to articulate in words the delineation and the paradox of all this.
  • However, I think a key take away from this study has been to understand that Christ would have us to be as wise as the wisest in business, and yet as humble and teachable in our ability to follow Him.

Notes on FN: Health in India

Florence Nightingale on Health in India, At Page 461

(I feel impressed to record some impressions that I am sitting with presently as I am trying to further understand why I am being drawn to consider this text. The Spirit of the Lord bids me to continue to consider these texts urgently. The feelings grow increasingly stronger from day to day. This started several years ago with a series of impression that I thought were related to a proposed film project, but now I don’t know. And now, this grows increasingly urgent for me.)

Where I am at in my reading, I am observing how FN was very instrumental in organizing a set of commissions in helping to execute the sanitary improvements that were designed to preserve and improve life in India. The organization proposed in a dual set of commissions was designed to impart the practical knowledge already obtained in England concerning sanitary improvements and give it to the working government organizations in India. Or better said, the plan was to create government-sponsored departments to transfer and execute this knowledge effectively, without human pride or jealousies getting in the way of progress and realizing the full scope of improvements that were required to realize life-saving change.

( I will say that I have much shifted my perspectives on working in groups with able-bodied peoples of experience as I read through FN’s notes and letters. )

As I’ve already stated, the end objective was transferring knowledge from one government to another for the benefit of the people. This is doing good. I am also observing how this effort started with an exhaustive report that led people to consider the action to be taken. In India, government officials took the fruits of the report and attempted to implement the findings of the report into actionable plans, yet without the expertise of the English to suggest the right way or better way of doing things.

Questions that I am wrestling with:

  • Where am I to go with this information?
  • I am generally adverse to large agri-business productions. Am I being asked to consider my part in it? (I have no education or experience in anything of the sort.)
  • What is the practical application for me in all this?

(These are essentially all the same question.)

He Must Needs Have Charity

Moroni 7:44-48 (Moroni 7:44-48)

(OH WOW! Where do I even begin to grapple with this world view of mine that was just shattered, so that I can be more in harmony with God!?) For the longest time, I have been reading wrong the latter part of verse 44. (I’ve memorized this set of scritpures twice, TWICE and have frequently referenced this passage of scritpures.) For some reason, I assumed that Charity was a default action or behavior that resulted from meekness and lowliness of heart, and confessing by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ.

When I would read, “he must needs have charity” I assumed this to mean that it was a default or automatic response. Notwithstanding, everything else that Mormon says after that suggests that this is something that must be worked for, and is in no way an automatic result of previous Christ-like actions. That they are connected, true! But here Paul’s great musings on charity from 1 Corinthians 13 has all the more weight, and thus his admonition to avoid becoming as sounding brass and tinkling cymbals. Suddenly, I have a lot to learn.

(Side Thought: I can also see why Mormon and Moroni were worried about the weakness in their writing, not having the capacity to effectively articulate such an important principle, or wording it in such a way that has caused me to misunderstand this for so many years. At the end of the day though, it’s my own fault for not understanding this.)


Having therefore determined that the development of charity is therefore a choice, I am choosing to develop it. Here’s how it looks:

From Mormon, charity:

  • suffereth long
  • is kind
  • envieth not
  • is not puffed up
  • seeketh not her own
  • is not easily provoked
  • thinketh no evil
  • rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth
  • beareth all things
  • believeth all things
  • hopeth all things
  • endureth all things

This is exemplary behavior for all the right reasons. We are nice to others because we feel love for others.

I’ve compared Mormon’s observations on charity with Paul’s thoughts. And they are so remarkably close together that one would easily be tempted to conclude forgery, if faith and the guidance of the Holy Spirit wasn’t already affirming something more profoundly true. What really impresses me is how close in doctrinal similarities these two bodies of work are, hitting on all the same points regarding charity. Namely, no other spiritual gift is of value without charity, and that all things must fail, but “charity never faileth.” (1 Corinthians 13:8; Moroni 7:46)


This morning I was blessed to see that a discussion of charity is actually just a discussion of the chief characteristic of the Christ. I’ve re-read the list above placing Christ’s name in front of every description of charity.


I am now working through these descriptions of Charity one by one.

Charity Envieth Not

Envy hurts primarily the one who feels it. It doesn’t stop God from doing his work. (The patriarchs sold Joseph into Egypt, see Acts 7:9) Those who envy do not put themselves in a position to inherit eternal life. (There are many inheritances which through stewardship are given to the meek. ) James refers to envy and strife as a type of wisdom that comes from beneath and is contrary to wisdom born of peace. (See James 3:6)

Charity Is Not Puffed Up

It is not arrogant, proud, nor an effort to make one’s self larger than those around them.

A proud person sets himself above those around him and follows his own will rather than God’s will. Conceit, envy, hardheartedness, and haughtiness are also typical of a proud person.

Pride, Guide to the Scriptures

Reflecting upon the scriptures that describe pride and its effects. Pride is in complete contradiction to charity. A proud person doesn’t have the capacity to feel charity because it sets them at defiance against others, divisive.

Charity Seeketh Not Her Own

I have always saw this as a reference to avoiding nepotism or nepotistic type behaviors, i.e. giving preference to family members. For the first, I’ve used LDSbot as a clarifier which helped me simply to take of my limited scope view and realize that this simply is saying that charity is not selfish. The Topical Guide puts selfishness on par with greediness and lust. The parallels between lust and selfishness is helpful for me in my self reflection. Charity entertains none of these things. It is not selfish, lustful, or greedy.

Charity Is Not Easily Provoked

Charity is not easily angered. But it is curious to me that this wording allows caveat for prolonged provocation. Indeed we read throughout the scriptures about how a wicked people can provoke God even unto destruction, which knowing that God is not easily provoked suggests that one may dwell a long time in wickedness before being destroyed, not because it was ever acceptable to be wicked, but because of God’s ability to not be easily provoked.

Charity Thinketh No Evil

Charity is the absence of evil thought. What is evil thought? Anything that leads to evil action. This almost requires a personal assessment of any area where thoughts have lead to damaging or hurtful action. I feel like that areas in which this tendency has been most readily manifested are in my relationships to my family members. Unexplainably, from time to time evil motives have been assumed. And it is in the assumption that I fail.

Ideas, concepts, and images in a person’s mind. The power to think is a gift from God, and we are free to choose how we use our power to think. The way we think greatly affects attitudes and behavior, as well as our standing after this life. Righteous thoughts lead to salvation; wicked thoughts lead to damnation.

GS – Thoughts

Also associated with this entry are two other topics: agency and pondering. Consequently, I find myself pondering how my thoughts are directly linked to my personal agency. I am free to think whatever I want, but in the discipline of the thoughts (which curiously originate both in the heart and mind) I am able to connect with God. That is the realm in which He communicates with me.

Suddenly, I have a new appreciation for the canvas of the thoughts of my soul (heart and mind). What will I chooses to make of it, considering that this is the space that God most frequently occupies within me.

The other really interesting thing is that I can feed it information that then comes back to my remembrance very easily. So there is a part of it that can be cultivated and frequently is. Sometimes, this is done without our entire awareness of what is being consumed. How does this apply to your own family?


Reading a passage from 1 Chronicles 28, where Solomon receives his commission from his father, David. Subsequently, they are instructed to build the first temple (of which we have record in scripture). Preceding this, Solomon is instructed to be perfect in heart and that the Lord understands the imaginations of his thoughts. I don’t know why this resonates with me except that it feels similar to my present state of being.

Charity Rejoiceth Not in Iniquity

I am pondering what it means to “rejoiceth not in iniquity.” A footnote on 1 Corinthians 13:6, replaces iniquity with unrighteousness or injustice. I am also considering the account found in Acts 8 between Peter and Simon the magician who attempts to buy the Priesthood with money.

20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

Acts 8:20-23

This entry has multiple footnotes for consideration:

“Thy heart is not right in the sight of God.” – Footnote leads to Doctrine and Covenants 49:2, wherein the Lord (Jesus Christ) teaches missionaries about the state of the hearts of those listening to their message. “they desire to know the truth in part, but not all, for they are not right before me and must needs repent.”

Another footnote later on takes me to the topical guide entry for “Motivations” which is the word that I think I’ve been looking for to define this attribute or aspect of charity. “Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.” Proverbs 16:3


I’ve spent the morning contemplating the nature of lust, and lusts of the flesh, and also sitting with the literality of the Saviors commandment, which replaced the law of Moses:

27 Behold, it is written by them of old time, that thou shalt not commit adultery;

28 But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman, to lust after her, hath committed adultery already in his heart.

3 Nephi 12:27-28

So any woman, including my wife, cannot be an object of my lust. This requires me to own my own pro-creativity even more and understand its power.

Thus the following verse in 3 Nephi 12 reads, “Behold, I give unto you a commandment, that ye suffer none of these things to enter into your heart;” And curiously, this verse points back to Acts 8 where Peter is counseling Simon the magician, which is not an incident of lust, but of greed. But are not the two vices so very similar?

Lust and greed, both born of pride, stand in opposition to righteous motives, and cannot exist in the presence of charity. Or in other words, a charitable heart rejoiceth not in iniquity.

Charity Rejoiceth in the Truth

Contemplating this point, my heart was full brim on Sunday (Father’s Day) when I listened to dear sweet Sister McClintock, who at 80 years old spoke on Father’s day, when in her life she had enjoyed none of the traditional relationships associated with fatherhood. She didn’t have a father figure in her life until at the age of 16, when her mother remarried. Then she had a good role model of a father figure in her step-dad. She and her husband never had children, but she addressed that from multiple angles of faith, both in how through their church service they were blessed to be surrounded by children, and how in the temple, they had found both the answers and the peace that they needed regarding their inability to have children. And here is the truth, and for whatever reason, my heart was brought to rejoice in hearing it on Sunday.


There is a recognition of truth in that the charitable heart receives the truth with joy. Christ, of course, was an example of this, and it seems that frequently he had to correct his disciples for not recognizing truth, in favor of convention, tradition, or sometimes even flattery or other diabolical motive. I think of the woman anointing him with oil or when he would dine with “sinners” or “publicans”.


But how do I use this principle to recognize truth? I was about to “Google it” when instead I used prayer as my internal search feature: Charity equals truth in so far as both are attributes of Christ. Christ rejoices in those who are Christ-like. That sounds a little arrogant and self-reflective, except that Christ did nothing of himself but was in all point subjected to the will of the Father. It could be said that those with a charitable heart rejoice in the Christ, and vice versa, that Christ rejoices in the truth.

I’m reminded of Alma’s declaration of all-things denote that there is a Christ.(see Alma 30:44) Nature, the charitable display of God’s works rejoices in the truth. At Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, he said: “I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” (Luke 19:14)

And thus this is how the Lord is teaching me that charity rejoiceth in the truth.

Charity Beareth All Things

In prayer, I was brought to consider 1 Nephi 19:9 which reads in part: “wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they aspit upon him, and he suffereth it…”

I was also brought to consider this phrase, “the weight of the sins of the world” which is what Christ literally bore: a great example of bearing all things. A search for that phrase doesn’t turn up any scriptural references, but does bring up other church articles, including a talk about the Atonement of Jesus Christ by Elder Jeffery R. Holland.

Charity Believeth All Things

In prayer, I was brought to consider that “believeth all things” might be better understood as charity believeth all things that are true. Or in other words, charity is without guile. It’s not questioning parts of the truth with skepticism. Charity believes all things which are true. (Tomorrow I can pray for scriptural examples of this, like King Lamoni who believed all the words of Ammon.)

Indeed, King Lamoni is a good example of understanding what this facet of charity looks like. For he says to Ammon, “Yea, I will believe all thy words.” And he did! (see Alma 18:23,40)

Charity Hopeth All Things

“Hoping for all things” has to do with our capacity to give. It’s that we give unrestrained because we hope for the best outcome in any given situation. Jesus Christ, again, is the best example of this because he gave everything with the hope that every one of his Father’s children would receive it.

What is the personal takeaway, or application from my understanding of charity being a hope of all things? Is it not to give as Jesus gives, to give freely without any expectation of return. Rather, it is with the hope that life will be better for another because of what we are giving.


I am try to find another scriptural reference to this way of looking at hope as an outcropping of charity and my studies draw me more towards generosity than hope.

Charity Endureth All Things

With the phrase “endureth all things” and with principles in the gospel such as “enduring to the end”, there is a tendency to feel the need to fake it. Or to endure endless suffering in great misery and sorrow for the “gospel’s sake”. There is a tendency to decouple Charity, the power source, from the action of enduring.

Indeed, without Christ, without the Love of Christ, to endure anything we are amongst all men most miserable. We are being asked to do a work without the energy to do it, which thing seems ludicrous.

On the other hand, one who is filled with charity can be asked to walk through fire, if God requires it. I find it a bit interesting that Abinadi, who suffered death by fire, was the prophet who explain how it was that Christ drew upon the power of love to complete the Atonement.

…Behold, I say unto you, that when his soul has been made an offering for sin he shall see his seed…
For these are they whose sins he has borne; these are they for whom he has died, to redeem them from their transgressions.

Mosiah 15:10 & 12

Christ endured this because of charity.


Verse 46 has provided me with a profound contemplation of eternity. Charity never faileth. All things must fail, but charity will never fail. What does this mean? Every structure of protection, every institution of man, every vehicle and anything that we put our trust and confidence in; it all must fail. But there is one thing that is eternal and that is charity, love. The contemplation that all of the universe, that which is incomprehensible and veiled in darkness, is actually enshrouded in love. This causes me to consider everything differently.

How can charity never fail?

I am nearing the end of this chapter, and what for me has been the most comprehensive study of Charity to date. The biggest take away at the end of the chapter is an even more profound reason to pray. Having understood what charity is; having consider the superiority of this divine attribute above all others; there is only one way in which such a characteristic can be obtained. It is through prayer to the Father, “which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ;”


Charity is the only law that will never fail. Where this chapter ends, this is where prayer begins. And there are volumes yet to be studied which can only be read with the heart in direct communion with the divine.


I don’t know where to go from here. In prayer, I am contemplating viewing all scripture through the lens of charity, especially the gospel accounts of the Savior. Christ is always the embodiment of charity, hence searching his life with an eye of charity would help to better align myself to him.

How do I continue to develop charity? Because charity has to do with relationships and our capacity to hold love for another person, it almost feels like charity should be prayed for on a person by person basis. Whereas I have been praying about charity in the abstract, perhaps the work comes in wrestling with my individual relationships one by one, and in being able to respond to each and every one with a compassionate and charitable attitude.


Additional thoughts that were first recorded on my to-do list:

25 Jun 2023

  • Our bodies are the tools that in mortality are being trained to recognize the things that are spirits already understand.
  • I am also impressed with two thoughts about marriage one, that it doesn’t matter entirely that much who we are married to, far more important is our commitment to the one that we are married to. second, the marriage covenant and the rights associated with it.

26 Jun 2023 – we’re at 7:45: charity hopes all things

  • What is the personal takeaway, or application from my understanding of charity being hope for all things. is it not to give as Jesus gives, to give freely without any expectation of return. rather with the hope that life will be better for another because of what we are giving.

June 17, 2023

Dearest Children,

I’ve attempted this type of format before for teaching, but have never actually sent you anything. This evening, I feel more compelled to share with you a simple lesson I was reminded of today from my mission experience.

As you all know, we’ve been searching for our van key for the past five days. Today, while I was mowing the front yard, I remembered that I had been placed in a similar situation before. In Costa Rica, at the time of my first transfer from Zapote in San Jose (the Capitol) to Cañas, Guanacaste, a dry and dusty town in the northwest region of the country, two and half hours away. When we got there, we arrived without my backpack, which contained many of my personal belongings, my scriptures, my camera, plus all my missionary teaching tools. Several phone calls to the mission headquarters proved fruitless.

Then I remember the phone call with my mission president. I was frustrated and out of sorts. How could I do anything as a missionary if I didn’t have the tools that I needed to teach, not even my scriptures? His council to me was simple: You’re just going to have to move on.

Today, I heard my mission president’s voice again in my mind as I thought about the mysteriously disappearing van key: You’re just going to have to move on.

So here I am moving on. I’ve ordered a new ignition locking mechanism and keys to replace the current one in the van. In the meantime, the house has gotten a over due deep cleaning. I’ve found missing hard drives and overdue vehicle registration notices.

My missionary bag showed up six weeks later on the other side of the mission with some sister missionaries. I fully expect the van key to show up in some random spot at some future date, but we must move on.

Can you see here how I have been blessed by my service as a missionary? Even 25 years later, lessons that I had learned that were unique to me are blessing me in my ability to keep moving forward. Whenever we do anything to serve the Lord, it may seem like a sacrifice at first, but He will always come back with a more profound blessing in return.

I love each of you. I pray for each of you individually by name on a daily basis.

Thanks for reading!

Love,

Dad

EQ Lesson: Jesus Christ Is the Strength of Parents

Jesus Christ Is the Strength of Parents, April 2023 General Conference

Elder Uchtdorf describes parenting as the process of guiding children to make righteous decisions.

The Premise:

The Lord loves you.

He is with you.

He stands beside you.

He is your strength in guiding your children to make righteous choices.

…Within the framework of gospel values and principles, you are the ones to guide your child in the details of daily decisions. Help your children build faith in Jesus Christ, love His gospel and His Church, and prepare for a lifetime of righteous choices. In fact, that is God’s plan for parents.

Satan will oppose you, distract you, try to discourage you.

But every child has received the Light of Christ as a direct line to heaven. And the Savior will help you, guide you, and encourage you. Seek His help. Inquire of the Lord!

Discussion Outline

Questions:

What is the hardest part about parenting/mentoring/guiding children for you?

  • List these things on the board.

(Read introductory quote)

Definition of Parenting: guiding children to make righteous choices.

How does this definition change your approach to parenting?

Why do you keep trying as a parent? What is the source of your motivation to not give up?

Tools that we have as parents:

List the five points on the board:

  • Jesus Christ is the Strength of Parents:
    • He Magnifies Love
    • He Magnifies Small and Simple Efforts
    • He Gives Revelation
    • A Mighty Change
    • He Gives Support through His Chruch

He Magnifies Love

Our love for our children (which is unique to us)

Establish this fact up front.

Sometimes we might wonder if someone else might be better qualified to guide and teach our children. But no matter how inadequate you may feel, you have something that uniquely qualifies you: your love for your child.

A parent’s love for a child is one of the strongest forces in the universe. It’s one of the few things on this earth that can truly be eternal.

What are ways in which you have felt love for your children?

Less than Ideal

Now, perhaps you feel that your relationship with your child is less than ideal. That’s where the Savior’s power comes in. He heals the sick, and He can heal relationships. He multiplies bread and fish, and He can multiply the love and the joy in your home.

Does anyone have any personal examples or experiences that address this point?

He Magnifies Small and Simple Efforts

Your efforts may seem small compared to the loud voices your children hear in the world…

But the consistency of small and simple things, day after day, nourishes your children much better than an occasional flood.8

That is the Lord’s way…

Every moment is a teaching moment. Every word and action can be a guide for making choices.

What examples of small and simple acts have you seen produce fruits in your own family life?

He Gives Revelation

With God’s help, you can learn to know your children in a pure and heavenly way. I invite you to accept God’s offer to guide your family by personal revelation. Seek His guidance in your prayers.

Q: How has God through prayer caused you to change how you see your children differently?

(Maybe share the experience of Rachel praying to know who Emma really was.)

A Mighty Change

Have you ever prayed that a child would change the way they see something or that they would have a softened heart and repent?

As you open your heart to the Savior and His teachings, He will show you your weakness. If you trust Jesus Christ with a humble heart, He will make weak things become strong.21 He is the God of miracles.

Does that mean you and your family will be picture-perfect? No. But you will get better. Through the Savior’s grace, little by little, you’ll develop more of the attributes parents need: love for God and His children, patience, selflessness, faith in Christ, and courage to make righteous choices.

Who does Elder Uchtdorf suggest has need of a mighty change of heart? The children or the parents? Why?

SHARE: My Experience with Emma’s latest setbacks, and how we were able to wrap our arms around her, dust her off and pick her back and up and keep her running. (Testimony)

Jesus Christ Offers Support through His Church

This section is almost an after thought, and it is rightly in its place at the end of the list.

Never Give Up on the Miracle

We cannot force a flower to bloom:

What you can and must do for the rising generation is provide rich, nourishing soil with access to flowing heavenly water. Remove weeds and anything that would block heavenly sunlight. Create the best possible conditions for growth. Patiently allow the rising generation to make inspired choices, and let God work His miracle. The result will be more beautiful and more stunning and more joyful than anything you could accomplish just by yourself.

In Heavenly Father’s plan, families’ relationships are meant to be eternal. This is why, as a parent, you never give up, even if you are not proud of how things went in the past.