The Winds of Adversity

The Winds of Adversity

We recently had a rather violent windstorm here in our area. The following day we drove around Bountiful. There were many trees that were blown down. Some trees were snapped in two. Other trees were literally uprooted and toppled over the power lines and houses and automobiles. We sustained no damage in our area except for some metal siding, which was blown off the neighbor’s patio ceiling.

The power was out in some places and Mary Ellen’s home was without power for some time. They came to our house to stay the night, but fortunately the power came on and they were able to stay the night in their own bed.

As I thought about this, I contemplated about how this could be a lesson in our lives.

The trees that were damaged suffered from two kinds of damage. They were either uprooted and blown down, or they were snapped in two. The trees that were blown over suffered damage because their roots were not deep enough to anchor them against the force of the wind. Some had a good root system into the ground but because it was wet the roots were unable to gain a hold into a firm foundation of earth.

Most of the trees that were blown over were evergreen trees. The force of the wind hit the tree and because the limbs were covered with needles this provided a barrier and did not allow the wind to pass through. The resistance provided additional force to topple the tree. Those trees that were tall had more of a chance of falling.

Those trees that were snapped in two had either a defect in the trunk or were not flexible enough to withstand the force of the wind, which resulted in the trunk splintering into pieces.

What can we learn about the winds of adversity in our life from this example above? Just as in nature the winds may not come for many years, but sometimes without warning they come just as we can expect the winds of adversity to blow in our life from time to time.

Are we going to be a tall stately proud pine tree, more interested in ourselves and in our accomplishments with shallow roots in the Gospel of Jesus Christ or will we sink our roots deep into the Gospel and not worry about how tall we are?

In Mark chapter 4 verse 5, Christ describes a seed which fell on stony ground and this seed had no depth and no root and it was scorched by the sun and withered away. Essentially this is the same situation. We need to be firmly rooted with a strong testimony of Jesus Christ. The seed needs the water, which it gets from the depths of the earth. The tree needs deep roots to withstand the wind.

Most of the deciduous trees fared better. The reason for this, is that their leaves were shed and they offered less resistance to the win. If we, in our lives, are not attached to the things of this world we will better be able to stand against the worldly winds of adversity.

These two principles will help us to live so that we can weather the storms of life. Deep roots in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and shedding the things of the world. There is a German proverb, which states; “Das Sterbehemd hat keine Taschen”. Roughly translated this means the death shroud does not have any pockets. This means we cannot take any worldly goods with us when we die.

The third principle that we can learn from the windstorm is that if we don't want to be blown into or splintered we need to be flexible. There is a Chinese saying that I learned when I was young it is: “Yield when the typhoon blows.”

The trees that were splintered or broken into were either not flexible enough to yield with the wind or they had flaws in their trunk. People who do not repent of their sins and hang onto them are like the diseased trees, which could not withstand the wind of adversity in their life. When we repent we strengthen our trunk.

I would like to at this time like to address those people who are inflexible as the inflexible trees in our story above. Things will not always be the same in the church. The Gospel remains the same but the way we do things in the church will change from time to time. A brief story might illustrate this point. The church for a number of years did not allow people of Negro descent to hold the priesthood. This changed in my life. Present Kimball received a revelation from the Lord that this practice was to change and that all worthy male members of the church could receive the priesthood. In the Salt Lake Temple there was a man who was a sealer. He told the Temple president that he could never seal anyone who is a Negro. The Temple president said, “You have now been released”.

There are many other examples I could cite of people who are inflexible and thus lose the blessings and their status in the church and with the Lord because they are not flexible enough to withstand change.

Each of you, my grandchildren, will not escape the winds of adversity in your life. They may come at an early age they may not come until you are much older, but they will come. You need to prepare yourself to stand against the wind. You may be disappointed or you may have tragedy come into your life. The only way that I have found to face the winds of adversity in my life is to be firmly rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to be flexible, and to take the direction that the Lord has given me.

One day I will tell you my story of how I became a pediatrician, because that was not the direction that I intended to go.

I hope each of you will be able to stand the winds of adversity in your life by being firmly rooted and grounded in the Gospel of Christ, taking care of the weak spots in your character, and being not so attached to the things of the world so that your trunk and roots will be strong.

Love,

Grandpa

The Book of Mormon

The course of study for the church this year is the Book of Mormon. All during the year families throughout the church will be reading from its pages. I would hope that each of my grandchildren would read in the Book of Mormon this year.

Those of you who are too young to read it yourself can have it read to them by their parents. This may seem like a strange request from your grandfather. You may not be able to understand or comprehend many of the things that are written therein, but it will set you on the path to give you the spiritual nourishment, which you will need later on in your life. In the document, which we printed and bound for you, I included the following, which I would like at the present time to make a part of my blog, so it is reproduced here for you to read.
My feelings about the Book of Mormon written 23 August 1994.

I can clearly remember reading the Book of Mormon as a family seated around the dinner table as I was growing up. It happened while I was in High School. I had the usual teenagers response to the whole thing. I did not want to read and really did not enjoy the process. I can remember wondering when we would ever get through Alma. I read, but I don't remember ever getting any special feeling, because I did not read with a sincere intent. 

When I went into the mission home, they asked all the missionaries about the Book of Mormon. They ask how many of the 200 plus missionaries there had read the Book of Mormon. I raised my hand with about one-half of the missionaries. Then they asked how many had read it twice and I raised my hand again with less than 30 of those present. They asked again how many of those missionaries had read the Book of Mormon three times and I was one of only a few who had read it three times. I would not have been able to do that if my parents had not read it as a family. This is not to say that I had understood or had gained a testimony of the Book of Mormon.

While on my mission I read in English for a while, then with Elder Peterson I read the Book of Mormon in German and translated into English. One of us would read 5 verses and translate while the other looked on in his English version. I read through the Book of Mormon at least once that I am sure of and probably more often. We have read the Book of Mormon as a family 5 verses at a time. I have not stopped to count the times. While I was Stake President I read the triple through while I lay in bed waiting for my wife to get herself ready for bed each night. I do not consider myself to be a student of the book, but certainly more than a casual reader.

I remember reading about Elder Joseph F. Merrill and his experience with the Book of Mormon. As I remember he said that he read it early in his life and prayed to receive a testimony of its truthfulness. He said that after twenty years of praying for a testimony he received one. 

My experience is not dissimilar. When I was in Flensburg with Elder Kleinman we were reading in First Nephi about Lehi's vision and then how Nephi subsequently was permitted to view the same vision. I reasoned that if Nephi could do it that I could too. I started praying that I too would be permitted to see the same vision. I prayed intermittently throughout the rest of my mission for that experience. I did so intermittently and sporadically, while I finished college and in medical school. I knew that the Lord would give me an answer, but I had received none. 

I do not remember when I had the experience in matter of time, but I think it was well into my term as Stake President when pondering about the situation I received the following answer, which satisfied me. I have not asked since. The impression came to me as if by a voice which said. " The vision is written plainly in the Book of Mormon for all to read and understand. I gave the vision to Nephi because he had to write it down and record it for posterity. You do not need to see it because it is written as it was given".

I have a testimony that the book is true. I have never doubted it and bear this witness to my posterity that the Book of Mormon is true. I can bear witness to its divine authenticity even though I was not there and have not witnessed its translation. If you read it you will gain an undeniable witness of its truthfulness, but more than that you will know that by living the principles that are expounded in the book you will enrich your life and come to know the source of the doctrine contained therein. You will come to have a personal experience with Jesus Christ so that you can be a true disciple.

I have had many experiences being guided by the spirit in my life. Some of them are written in my more detailed personal history. As I was contemplating what I might share with you, I just want you to know that I have had the spirit guide me as I have given blessings to people, telling me what to say. Often it would be like taking dictation. The words would come into my mind and I would have to speak rapidly to keep up with the things that the Lord wanted the people to hear. I know that God lives and that Jesus Christ is His son and the Savior of mankind.

Love,

Grandpa