353: JANUARY 27, 2016

 

 

 

 

Old enough to know better, young enough to still do it.

 

352: THE ABSENCE OF LIGHT

351: FOLLOWING WITH EXACTNESS.... GOD OR A MAN?

 

 

Are they mutually exclusive?

 

Joseph Smith seemed to think so.

 

In The Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 237-238 it reads"

 

“President Joseph Smith read the 14th chapter of Ezekiel – said the Lord had declared by the Prophet [Ezekiel], that the people should each stand for himself, and depend on no man or men in that state of corruption of the Jewish Church – that righteous persons could only deliver their own souls – applied it to the present state [1842] of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – said if the people departed from the Lord, they must fall – that they were depending on the Prophet, hence were darkened in their minds, in consequence of neglecting the duties devolving upon themselves...”

 

 ...

 

While the following quote has been attributed to Joseph Smith,

the apostle Samuel Richards who was the editor at the time is probable source of the quote.

Millennial Star, Vol. 14, Num. 38, pp.593-595 

“We have heard men who hold the Priesthood remark, that they would do any thing they were told to do by those who presided over them, if they knew it was wrong: but such obedience as this is worse than folly to us; it is slavery in the extreme; and the man who would thus willingly degrade himself, should not claim a rank among intelligent beings, unless he turns from his folly.

“When the Elders of Israel will so far indulge in these extreme notions of obedience, as to teach them to the people, it is generally because they have it in their hearts to do wrong themselves, and wish to pave the way to accomplish that wrong; or else because they have done wrong, and wish to use the cloak of their authority to cover it.”

 

350: DESPERATE TO HAVE MORE MONEY?

President Russell M. Nelson and his wife spoke from Hawaii on Sunday evening in the first ever worldwide broadcast for "millenials".  It was translated into multiple languages and broadcast to chapels and homes throughout the world. The first talk was given by Sister Wendy W. Nelson. Here is a meme from something she said in her talk:

 

She then shared a story about President George Q Cannon when he was an impoverished young man. It is recorded in the Elder’s Journal of the Southern States Mission, Volume 3 page 89

"The Late President George Q Cannon was once in a very tight place financially, and he determined to put aside all he could as tithing. One day the Bishop of his ward met him on the street and said: “Brother George, you are paying a pretty good tithing.” No Bishop,” he replied, “ I am not paying the tithing of that which I have received: I am paying the tithing of that which I would like to receive.” And sure enough the next year he had as much income as he had paid tithing on the previous year. "

So correct me if I am wrong, if I  understand the principle from this story if I want to make more money next year, I should pay more tithing this year?  I wonder if I were to start doubling my tithing donations this yeas, I would get a raise (possibly double my salary) next year?

 

 

 

349: BEGINNING OF A SERIES OF MEMES

 

 

meme01:DRIFT

...

348: THE NEW YEAR

 

The below photo was taken last night on New Year's Eve. It was the last sunlight of 2015 to shine on one of the mountain peaks near Big Cottonwood Canyon. Today begins a new year. The past two days have been extremely cold in Salt Lake. Due to the inversion where cold air gets traps in the valley, the pollution increases making it difficult to see the heaven sky. 

 

Eight brave souls were willing to wake up early this morning to hike up to higher elevations to see the first sunrise of the New Year. Despite the severe cold, it was beautiful to see the Morning Star shine in the East prior to the rising sun. The contrast between a blazing fire burning in the midst of bitter cold on top of snow, or the contrast of witnessing the brilliant sun while facing bitter wind are reminders to me that we live in a world of opposition. Despite facing opposition in all things, I am grateful to be alive and continue to learn in the mortal world.

I recently read the following quote:

 

YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE,

BUT IF YOU DO IT RIGHT,

ONCE IS ENOUGH.

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2016.