O Fall, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?
How long shall thy cool breezes be stayed, and thine leaves, yea thy colorful leaves, which adorn these heaven-reaching trees, be kept from our view, and these burning hours be penetrated with our cries?
Yea, O Fall, how long shalt thou suffer the temperatures of heated oppressions to bear down upon thy servants, before thine shortened days shall yield to gentle hours, and thy rains be moved with compassionate swells upon them?
O Noble Fall, bearer of harvests, frosts, and feasts, and of all things blessed that in them are, and who tamests and subjectest the devil heat, and the dogged and benighted dominion of Summer—stretch forth thy time; let thine flora bloom; let thy pavilion be taken up; let thy hiding place no longer be covered; let thine leaves be inclined again toward the earth; let thine stiffneckedness be softened, and thy days move with swiftness toward us.
Let thine anger be kindled against our Summer enemies; and, in the cool fury of thine generation, with thy sword avenge us of this fervid season.
Spiritually strong families are in every nation of this world. Yet, we need so many more of them! Henry B. Eyring said: "As the forces around us increase in intensity, whatever spiritual strength was once sufficient, won't be enough."1 That warning impresses me more every time I read it. I repeat:
"As the forces around us increase in intensity, whatever spiritual strength was once sufficient, won't be enough."
Let us think about what that really means:
We've all heard the motto: If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Well, we've been trying. Sociologists, psychologists, criminologists, politicians, physicians, educators, therapists and so many others have been trying---and trying again.
Isn't it time to try something different? I believe it is time to counter the insidious and relentless attack on our families and nations by dramatically increasing their spiritual strength!
How can we do that?
One answer may be in the words I saw as I was driving along a remote country road. Three words on a large sloping barn roof caught my attention. I believe those words could spiritually strengthen our families and our nations, if properly applied.
The three words on the big sloping roof of that old barn were:
Those three words in English may translate into a different number of words in other languages, but the concept has power! Think of what could happen if we each determined that from this moment on, there were certain things we would never do, or never do again -- NOT EVEN ONCE!
For example, imagine the strength to our nations that would flow if just 10 families in each village, each town, and each city around the world made and kept a commitment to NOT EVEN ONCE abuse a child or a woman–in any way
NOT EVEN ONCE to lie, or cheat, steal. Not even once!
NOT EVEN ONCE:
Does this sound impossible? With the help of God, it is not!
Scripture of the Day: 1 Corinthians 10:13
My daughter-in-law’s mother, Susan, was a wonderful seamstress. President Kimball lived in their ward. One Sunday, Susan noticed that he had a new suit. Her father had recently returned from a trip to New York and had brought her some exquisite silk fabric. Susan thought that fabric would make a handsome tie to go with President Kimball’s new suit. So on Monday she made the tie. She wrapped it in tissue paper and walked up the block to President Kimball’s home.
On her way to the front door, she suddenly stopped and thought, “Who am I to make a tie for the prophet? He probably has plenty of them.” Deciding she had made a mistake, she turned to leave.
Just then Sister Kimball opened the front door and said, “Oh, Susan!”
Stumbling all over herself, Susan said, “I saw President Kimball in his new suit on Sunday. Dad just brought me some silk from New York . . . and so I made him a tie.”
Before Susan could continue, Sister Kimball stopped her, took hold of her shoulders, and said: “Susan, never suppress a generous thought.”
Susan didn’t have an assignment to make that tie. She wasn’t hired to do so. Despite feeling a bit hesitant, she did it because it felt right. Susan had a quiet sense of mission to serve others. I was also the beneficiary of such service. Her service went beyond any calling because it lasted throughout her life. Never suppressing a generous thought became a part of her personal ministry.
Some years ago, at the conclusion of a Utah Board of Higher Education meeting, Elder Neal Maxwell submitted his resignation. He said he needed to do so to make time for his personal ministry. Most of the board members assumed he was referring to his apostleship. However, he explained that his personal ministry was different than his apostleship. His personal ministry was to comfort fellow cancer patients.
We often speak about the Savior’s ministry. But have you ever wondered if you have a personal ministry? I have.
What is personal ministry? Each of us has a personal ministry. I believe we received our personal ministry in the premortal world. It was divinely given and lasts a lifetime.
...[President Kimball taught] Remember, in the world before we came here, faithful women were given certain assignments while faithful men were foreordained to certain priesthood tasks. While we do not now remember the particulars, this does not alter the glorious reality of what we once agreed to. You are accountable for those things which long ago were expected of you just as are those we sustain as prophets and apostles!
How can we know what was entrusted to us at that time? As we accept callings and love and obey the Lord, our personal ministry unfolds. It is a sacred and precious thing. It embraces the people who come and go across the path of our life. It extends beyond our temporary callings as presidents, counselors, secretaries, teachers, and so on. It is illuminated by our patriarchal blessings. And while each of our ministries is unique, they allow us to become extensions of the Lord’s love.
Scripture of the Day: John 10:16
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