Idle words

Idle words 

Not many people today bridle their tongue, or should we say not only the tongue, but also any means of communication. 

Little do they know that they will be held responsible for every communication that comes from them. Not necessarily in this life, but one day they will stand before the Lord to give an accounting for all their actions, because that is the plan of salvation. We were given agency and with it comes accountability. 

Matthew 12:36” But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the Day of Judgment.”

In this scripture in English, Jesus is quoted as using the word idle. I like the German translation by Martin Luther. It renders idle as unnützlich. This means unnecessary or not useful. 

To often today we hear on TV people taking the name of the Lord in vain. We hear swearing and bad language. We go on social media and find all sorts of drivel and people use their agency and feel that they are entitled to express their opinion under the guise of “freedom of speech “. 

It is true that we can express our feelings and are granted that privilege, but most who do, do not think that one day they will stand before the Lord and have to account for what they say or write or communicate. 

That should be a sobering thought! It might make us more introspective in that which we say or write. “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned”. This is really good advice. 

My dear grandchildren please do not use inappropriate language. Do not post or write things that you will later regret. Know that you will be held accountable for your communication  

Think first, then think again. Do you really want to give an accounting for that to the Lord?

Love,

Grandpa 

Opposition in all things

Opposition in all things

We were driving home from Provo the other night with Clark and I saw a big, lighted billboard alongside the freeway.  It was advertising something about the story of the book of Mormon. I immediately got the impression that it was anti-Mormon.  I went to the site and it was more anti than I expected.  It was filled with innuendo and statements to tear down faith and to top it off wanted those who viewed it to donate to the cause and to post it on Facebook.. This is only the beginning. There will be more and more attacks on our faith until God can stand it no longer and the end of the world will come, which is the destruction of the wicked.

As more and more temples are being dedicated and more and more temple work is being done, the adversary will marshal all his forces to destroy faith and disrupt the growth of the saints and keep people from going to the temple (See Satan’s encounter with Marriner W. Merrill).  More people will be deceived and leave the church because of this.

If you read the scriptures carefully you will find that there has always been opposition to the truth and the prophets since the days of Adam and Eve. The angels taught them and they gave their children the message and the Satan came among them and said believe it not and they didn’t believe and followed Satan. 

The gospel is being spread all over the world and although the saints will always be in the minority and there will be even a greater effort from the adversary to lead people astray and try to get members of the church to abandon their beliefs. 

He now has the Internet, billboards and social media to help with his deception and not only rely on printed material and verbal slander as in the past. 

He plants the seeds of doubt into the minds of people and if possible he would deceive the very elect who are the elect according to the covenant. This means baptized members of the church.

Heber C. Kimball made the statement long ago that one would not be able to live on borrowed light in the last days. This means that each and every person will have to have their own testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel and the restoration of the church in these latter days. 

My testimony will not be your salvation. You will have to have your own strong testimony. I can promise you that if you seek diligently, the Holy Ghost will enlighten your mind and you will have the power to resist the efforts of Satan to lead you astray.  

These are times of testing for the members of the church. There will be many who will fail the test. If you have any questions or concerns you should ask me. Don’t get your information from someone who is not grounded and rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

If I am not around you can ask your grandmother or your parents. We have taught them and they are grounded and rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Love,

Grandpa

The Candy Bar Game

The candy bar game

I first played this game in Hildesheim Germany when I was on my mission.  We have played it in our family since.

The game is played with two dice.  Any number of players can play. 

Needed things for the game:

A wrapped chocolate bar.  The bar must be in one piece and wrapped.

Gloves are optional

A knife and a fork

A table for all the participants to sit around.

Method of play:

Place the knife, fork and candy bar in the center of the table.

You can roll the dice and the highest score starts first.

The turns go clockwise around the table.

The one who starts first throws the dice and if a double six does not come up, then the players each throw the dice in turn until someone gets a double six.  This person uses the knife and fork to unwrap the candy bar while the others try and throw the dice to get a double six. Then the person with the knife and fork gives it up to the person and the person who got a double six takes over unwrapping the candy bar.  The players keep throwing the dice.

Once the candy bar is unwrapped the player holding the knife and fork may cut a small piece of chocolate and using the knife and fork eat it while the other players continue to see if they can throw a double six so they have a turn to eat a small piece of chocolate

This occurs until the candy bar is eaten or until everyone is tired. 

If you elect to use gloves, the gloves are to be put on before the knife and fork are picked up.