Politics

Consequences of the bad habit of judging and criticizing others. 7 Nov 1833 - The shores of the Missouri River in Jackson County, Missouri, were lined with Latter-day Saints waiting for their turn on the ferry to cross over the river into Clay County where they would find temporary peace.  Hundreds of people in tents and wagons struggled to survive under a heavy, cold rain.  Husbands were trying to locate their families they had been separated from when the mobs attacked.  The Prophet Joseph records, "The scene was indescribable, and would have melted the hearts of any people upon the earth, except the blind oppressor, and the prejudiced and ignorant bigot" (History of the Church, 1:437).

7 Nov 1841 - After Elder William O. Clark had preached to the Saints reproving them for their lack of solemnity and holy living in the" rigid sectarian style," the Prophet Joseph stood and reproved Elder Clark as pharisaical and hypocritical and not edifying the people.  He "showed the Saints what temperance, faith, virtue, charity, and truth were" and charged the Saints not to accuse each other of sin.  The Prophet also taught, "If you have no accuser you will enter heaven, and if you will follow the revelations and instructions which God gives you through me, I will take you into heaven as my back load.  If you will not accuse me, I will not accuse you.  If you will throw a cloak of charity over my sins, I will over yours"  (History of the Church, 4:445).

"And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land." (Mosiah 29:27 )

"This warning has gone out to the people dwelling in this land today that unless they keep the commandments of the Lord like destruction will eventually overtake them.  And what the Lord says of this land is also true in a large measure of other lands.  History records the rise and the downfall of nations.  We have before us the history of Babylon, of Assyria, of Egypt, of Rome, and other nations.  Why were they destroyed?  Because they refused to hearken to the spirit of truth, to the voice of righteousness, and to walk in that spirit before the Lord.  In the days of their iniquity trouble came upon them, and the Lord's anger was kindled against them, and they fell from their high and exalted positions"  (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation,3:321).

Read the statement from the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve concerning yesterday's U.S. elections www.lds.org. "We invite Americans everywhere, whatever their political persuasion, to pray for the President, for his administration and the new Congress as they lead us through difficult and turbulent times."

"Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come."

"Now, my brothers sisters, as you read of troubles in so many parts of the world, remember that the Lord knew these problems would come, and that even with these problems he has foreseen the growth of this Church and its people.  Be of good cheer, for the Lord is guiding his Church"  (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 438). 

La política

Consecuencias del hábito malo de criticar y juzgar a otros.  7 Nov 1833 - Las orillas del río Missouri en el condado de Jackson, Missouri, estaban llenas de los Santos de los Últimos Días que esperan su turno en el ferry para cruzar el río en el condado de Clay donde encontrarían la paz temporal. Cientos de personas en tiendas de campaña y carromatos luchaban por sobrevivir bajo una fuerte lluvia, el frío. Los esposos estaban tratando de localizar a sus familiares que habían sido separado cuando los populachos atacaron. El profeta José Smith escribió, "La escena fué indescriptible, y hubiera derretido los corazones de cualquier sobre la tierra, excepto el opresor ciego, y el fanático prejuicioso e ignorante" (History of the Church, 1:437).

7 Nov 1841 - Después de élder William O. Clark había predicado a los Santos rebrobándoles por su falta de solemnidad y santidad en el "estilo sectario rígido", se puso de pie el profeta José y reprobó al élder Clark como farisaico e hipócrita y no por no levantar a la gente. El ""enseñó a los santos respeto a la templanza, la fe, la virtud, la caridad y la verdad" y mandó a los santos no acusarse pecador el uno al otro. El Profeta también enseñó: "Si usted no tiene quien le acuse, va a entrar en el cielo, y si siguen las revelaciones e instrucciones que Dios le ha dado a través de mí, yo te llevaré al cielo personalmente. Si usted no me va a acusar, no le voy a acusar. Si va a arrojar un manto de caridad sobre mis pecados, y le devuelvo el favor "(History of the Church, 4:445).


Yo decidí hace unos años atrás que el partido Democrat tiene una tolerancia que hace mucho más posible que los propósitos de Dios se lleven a cabo en el mundo. Yo sé que el Presidente Obama es mucho más un defensor de la inspirada Constitución, que un político buscando favores. Su método del liderismo es de enseñar principios correctos, y permitir que la gente (y los legisladores) gobiernan a si mismos. Durante los últimos cuatro años, el otro partido se dedicó a defamar a la presidencia en la esperanza de que si le echaran la culpa por todos los males del mundo, la gente tendría que confiar en ellos para poner todo en órden; pero la gente ya no aguanta. Para hallar soluciones, no tienen que estar de acuerdo con el presidente, solo tienen que poner atenciónes a los problemas y cumplir con sus responsabilidades.

 Ahora, nos toca a nosotros tomar de ventaja a la oportunidad que se nos presenta a esparcir las buenas nuevas del evangelio, porque siempre cuando hay libertad para escoger el bien, también hay libertad para escoger el mal. "Y si llega el momento de que la voz del pueblo doth elegir la iniquidad, entonces es el momento de que los juicios de Dios vendrá sobre vosotros, sí, entonces es el momento en que lo visitará con gran destrucción incluso como lo ha hecho hasta ahora visitado este tierra ". (Mosíah 29:27)

"Esta advertencia ha salido a las personas que moran en esta tierra hoy que a menos que guardan los mandamientos del Señor, como la destrucción eventual alcanzarlos. ¿Y qué dice el Señor de esta tierra también es cierto en gran medida de otras tierras. Historia los registros de la subida y la caída de las naciones. Tenemos ante nosotros la historia de Babilonia, de Asiria, de Egipto, de Roma, y ​​otras naciones. ¿Por qué fueron destruidos? Porque no quisieron escuchar al espíritu de la verdad, a la voz de la justicia, y para andar en el espíritu ante el Señor. En los días de su angustia iniquidad cayó sobre ellos, y la ira del Señor se encendió contra ellos, y cayeron de sus altos cargos y exaltado "(Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrina de Salvación, 3:321).

No os desespereis... Por saber lo que sabemos, y si vivimos de la forma que debemos vivir, no hay lugar ni excusa para el pesimismo ni la desesperación… Les prometo, en nombre del Señor cuyo siervo soy, que Dios siempre protegerá a los de Su pueblo y se ocupará de ellos. Tendremos dificultades del mismo modo que toda generación y gente las ha tenido; pero, con el evangelio de Jesucristo, ustedes tienen toda esperanza y promesa y consuelo. El Señor tiene poder sobre Sus santos y preparará siempre lugares de paz, defensa y seguridad para Su pueblo. Si tenemos fe en Dios, podemos tener la esperanza de un mundo mejor, para nosotros, personalmente, y para toda la humanidad.
Pte. Howard W. Hunter

E Pluribus Unum

http://cantos.org/music/911.html

The symbolism of the red, white, and blue corn coming together in a bright collage of color on a each ear represents the standard of the United States adopted by Congress in 1782: E Pluribus Unum, "of many we are one".

El simbolismo de los diferentes colores de maíz juntos en una sola mazorca representa la variedad que enriquece una nación multicultural.


Janeen and I were at a funeral in Southern California when we received a phone call early in the morning and turned on the TV. We were especially concerned since my daughter was living in Manhattan, and we could not reach her. We rushed home to New Mexico later that day when we heard she was all right. The frost killed my garden that morning. The next year my 911 corn came up colored red, white, and blue. I wrote these compositions as reflections of my deep emotion about the events of 9/11 and thereafter, including my visit to Manhattan on March 11, 2002 when I made the video of the Tribute in Light

 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be bone, as we are. (John 17:11)

Creativity

Since I started taking a lot of Dopamine for Parkinson's Disease, I have experienced increased creativity, at the expense of sleep... and no doubt other important responsibilities that my wife notices better than I do.

Parkinson’s Disease Patients Can Become More Creative When They Take Dopamine (via redOrbit)

Patients studied produced pictures, sculptures, novels and poetry Some Parkinson’s Disease patients can suddenly become creative when they take dopamine therapy, producing pictures, sculptures, novels and poetry. But their new-found interests can become so overwhelming that they ignore other aspects…

Punding

Punding is a possible symptom of Parkinson's disease.  I know I don't have this, because the repetitive, compulsive, irresistible behaviors I engage in are pleasurable, leading to service, accomplishments, and appreciation by others.


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15077237






Punding is characterised by repetitive pointless behaviours that are carried out for long periods of time at the expense of all other activities. They have a compulsive flavour to them and any interruption or disruption of the activity from an outside source frequently leads to irritation, anxiety and frustration. The behaviour is irresistible but rarely considered to be pleasurable. It is often carried out overnight leading to sleep deprivation. The chosen behaviour is frequently related to the individual’s previous occupation, hobbies and pastimes. One of our patients who was a musician wrote thousands of musical lyrics over a short period, while a retired carpenter occupied himself with unnecessary joinery projects in his home. A retired seamstress spent hours cataloguing and sorting her large collection of buttons. One patient spent many hours pointlessly drawing (fig 1) while another spent most of the day on his computer cataloguing all types of data, including excessive detailing of medications and sleeping patterns, which he emailed to his doctor every month (fig 2). A feature of the behaviour is that it is never ending, it is disorganised and frequently leaves chaos in its wake. Most patients concede its pointlessness and often acknowledge its ultimate self-destructiveness. Punding can cause social avoidance, severe sleep deprivation, and disintegration of family relationships.1 In most cases it is the family members who describe the full social and functional impact of these behaviours on the patients’ lives.7
http://jneurology.wordpress.com/article/punding-in-parkinson-s-disease-1bbsle13m97c0-84/

My Photos

I am posting my photography with sayings and scriptures at http://www.facebook.com/DiceEmyGabriela

Don't Worry, Be Happy

Don't worry, use your thinking time to
appreciate art
bake brownies...
chew chocolate...
choose cheerfulness...
do duties...
exercise effortlessly...
fantasize futures...
go gracefully...
hypothesize history...
imagine eternity...
jump joyfully...
caress carefully...
live, laugh...
memorize moonbeams...
nap in the night...
overview orchestrations...
ponder points of importance...
question, query...
write, read...
search the scriptures...
sail with stars...
sit in the sun...
taste test...
undulate underwater...
vault vastness...
verify, validate
want wonders...
wade waters...
excel excellently
expand extensively...
zigzag zealously


"And for this cause ye shall have fulness of joy; and ye shall sit down in the kingdom of my Father; yea, your joy shall be full, even as the Father hath given me fulness of joy; and ye shall be even as I am, and I am even as the Father; and the Father and I are one." 3 Nephi 28:10

"We may amuse ourselves like children do at play, or engage in the frivolities of the dance.  We may take our little enjoyments in our social assemblies.  But when the man comes to reflect, when the saint of God considers, and the visions of eternity are open to his view and the unalterable purposes of God are developed to his mind---when he contemplates his true position before God, angels, and men, then he soars above the things of time and sense and bursts the cords that bind him to earthly objects.  He contemplates God and his own destiny in the economy of heaven and rejoices in a blooming hope of an immortal glory" (John Taylor , The Gospel Kingdom, p. 63).

Don't miss attending church

!
I think that if you miss attendance at church 2 Sundays in a row, you are at risk for losing the Spirit that helps you have the wisdom that leads to keeping the principles that lead yo to be happy.  What do you think?

"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God.  For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness, O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it." Mosiah 2:41

Remember "Is not the gospel a good thing?  Is it not worthy of a man losing his substance and even his life to gain the blessings that are promised to the faithful in Israel?  The man who has the priesthood, who is filled with the Holy Ghost, is to be guided and dictated by it in the way of happiness and life.  It is very necessary for us to have these things laid before us frequently, that we may be put in remembrance of our duties" (The Teachings of Lorenzo Snow, p. 59).

Keeping an Eye on You

 From the day you were born, our eyes have always been on you.  Awake or asleep, healthy or not, our eyes are always on you.  Whether in this life or on the other side of the veil, you are ours.  We will always be keeping an eye on you.

The day will come that you may need to keep an eye on us, but even then, we will be watching and loving you.

Luke 11:34

The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.

Doctrine and Covenants 88:67

 And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.

3 Nephi 20:32
 Then shall their watchmen lift up their voice, and with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye.


Deuteronomy 32:10
10 He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.



Proverbs 7:2

Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.

Psalms 17:8

Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

"Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding." Proverbs 4:7


"We ought to foster education and intelligence of every kind; cultivate literary tastes, and men of literary and scientific talent should improve that talent, and all should magnify the gifts which God has given unto them.  Educate your children . . . if there is anything good and praiseworthy in morals, religions, science, or anything calculated to exalt and ennoble man, we are after it.  But with our getting, we want to get understanding; and that understanding which flows from God" (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: John Taylor, p. 94-95).


I have been studying something new lately: woodworking.  I want to include this in the course I am developing for Ecuador, and I have a lot to learn.  I want to know how to build piano benches for sale.  I started by trying to build an organ bench, after moving a heavy organ with full pedals and no bench.  Then I got a call about moving a grand piano, so I built a grand skid and piano horse.  I will get to the knowledge of how to build piano benches one of these days, but in the meantime, I am getting understanding, because the opportunities that have come, seem to be guided by the Spirit, and associated with the income I need to fund the piano bench project. I would post photos of these, but all my cameras are out of commission.  To be of service in the areas you are learning, you have to have the tools for the service you give.

If your life goes out of tune with the Holy Spirit, then you run the risk of feeling and receiving and reflecting the passions and problems of the unholy spirit.  Indicators that help you know you need to make a correction include feelings of despair or anger.

"Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that you wives and your children may be blessed." 3 Nephi 18:21

Harold B. Lee

"Every day of the week must give nourishment to your spiritual selves.  Family and secret prayers, the reading of scriptures, love in your homes, and unselfish daily service to others are manna from heaven to feed your souls.  Observance of the weekly family home evening is another strong force for righteousness in the home.  All that is contrary to the will of God is as poison to your spiritual life and must be shunned as you would avoid labeled poisons in your medicine cabinets at home" (The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, p. 264).

The tomb is empty

The tomb is empty and thus my life is full.

How I love Him ! And revere Him. I strive to do His will and fail all too often. But He picks me up, dusts me off, and helps me try again. Surely He is the God of Love.

For He has borne my sorrows, my sins, and my grief.

I invite you, all of you, to come unto Him and enjoy His peace, His calmness in the midst of chaos and sorrow, and the warmth of His love. Bend your knees and seek Him out. You will feel His cleansing power. He IS risen.

Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven

Do you find yourself sacrificing your time, talents, energies for others? Good idea. "And it came to pass that he said unto them . . . as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light; yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life." Mosiah 18:8-9 "We really don't know how much good we can do until we put forth the effort to achieve our objectives. Our testimonies can penetrate the hearts of others and can bring to them the blessings which will prevail in this troubled world and which will guide them to exaltation" (The Teachings of Thomas S. Monson, p. 311).

"And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.  And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shall talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." Deuteronomy 6:5-7  "I came across a statement . . . from Thomas Jefferson, who said, 'If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, . . . it expects what never was and never will be.'  And as I thought of that, I paraphrased it and applied it to [the Church].  If the Church expects the family can be both ignorant and safe, it expects what never was and never will be.  Therein I think is our great responsibility. . . .     "Those who apostatize from this church apostatized for one of two reasons---Either because they have sinned and lost the faith, or they're ignorant of the doctrines of the Church.  I say, you think about what I have just said.  If we, as the Church, expect the family can be ignorant and safe, we expect what never was and never will be" (The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, p. 298).

Happy New Year/Feliz Año Nuevo

Janeen had her gall bladder surgery on 30 December.  Roy's DBS implant (brain surgery) is after the trip to Ecuador.  Confirmed: arriving Guayaquil 11 January.

Merry Christmas/Feliz Navidad 

The word "Praise" appears 233 times in the Old Testament; for example: "Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises." (Psalms 47:6).  In the new year, let us praise God for the birth, ministry, atonement, resurrection, and look forward to the second coming of our Savior.

CONFIRMADO.  Roy Howard (el jaguar silvestre) va a llegar a Guayaquil el 11 de Enero a las 11:45am.

Cientos y cientos de los versos de escrituras nos llaman a cantar alabanzas a Dios; por ejemplo: ¡Cantad alabanzas a Dios, alabanzas cantad! ¡Cantad alabanzas a nuestro Rey, alabanzas cantad! (Salmos 47:6). En el año nuevo, demos alabanzas por el nacimiento, ministerio, expiación, y resurrección, y prepararnos para la segunda venida del Salvador.

"But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.  And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good---to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted." (Jacob 2:18-19)

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"If I had only seen in my young days an interest manifested by those who had wealth, power and influence to reach down a hand to take the suffering, ignorant poor and elevate them to the standard they occupied, and to place them in possession of every comfort, it would have been a matter of great joy to me.  But it was not so then, neither is it now.  Men generally use their wealth for selfish purposes, and do not seek to devote it to God and to the glory of his name" (Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 315-316).

Gifts of Christmas

"Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law." Romans 13:8

"I wanted something to please them, and to mark the Christmas day from all other days---but not a cent to do it with!  I walked up and down Main Street, looking into the shop windows . . . and then slunk out of sight of humanity and sat down and wept like a child, until my poured-out grief relieved my aching heart; and after awhile returned home, as empty as when I left, and played with my children, grateful and happy only for them" (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith, p. 163).

"No debáis a nadie nada, sino amaros unos a otros: porque el que ama al prójimo ha cumplido la ley". Romanos 13:8

"Quería algo a favor de ellos, y para conmemorar el día de Navidad de todos los demás días --- pero ni un centavo para hacerlo! Me acerqué y por la calle principal, mirando los escaparates... Y luego se escabulló de la vista de la humanidad, se sentó y lloró como un niño, hasta que mi derramada dolor alivia mi corazón dolorido, y después de "un tiempo regresó a su casa, tan vacío como cuando me fui, y jugar con mis hijos, agradecido y feliz sólo para ellos (Enseñanzas de los Presidentes de la Iglesia: Joseph F. Smith, p. 163)

Feliz Navidad

Man of Sorrows

I often sing "Silent Night", but I really believe that His birth went unnoticed by most due to the noise and distractions of the day.

We can depend on Christ to understand our sorrows, because he suffered all his life, and overcame all for us.  The singing shepherds in this video are the young men of Bel Aire ward, Kansas, and their YM president, my son Jess.  The setting of Christ's birth is a stable in a busy, noisy city, too crowded and busy to make room for a mother to give birth.  That was the beginning of the sorrows that prepared Him to understand our needs and atone for us.

Isaiah prophesied that the Savior would be "despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." Isaiah 53:3

 "... and thus we see the great reason of sorrow, and also of rejoicing—sorrow because of death and destruction among men, and joy because of the light of Christ unto life." Alma 28:14

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.  A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.  And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you."  John 16:20, 21, 22

"...Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ." Acts 17:3

Let's not allow the noise and distractions of our day keep us from noticing that which is most important.

Happy Thanks Giving

"It is a mistaken notion that wealth makes people happy.  Cattle, sheep, houses, possessions would not bring you happiness.  The scriptures tell us that he that hath eternal life is rich: and the Lord has told us to seek after the riches of eternal life"  (John Taylor, The Gospel Kingdom, p. 266).

And now, I give unto the church in these parts a commandment, that certain men among them shall be appointed...and they shall look to the poor and the needy, and administer to their relief that they shall not suffer; ...And if ye seek the riches which it is the will of the Father to give unto you, ye shall be the richest of all people, for ye shall have the riches of eternity; and it must needs be that the riches of the earth are mine to give; but beware of pride, lest ye become as the Nephites of old. (D&C 38:34-39)

Thanksgiving 2011 in Kansas

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.(James 1:2-4)

 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?  (James 2:5)

Annie paints

The Howard girls decorated our tree

Lillie ponders the angels

Genevieve love everyone

Jess and family crash at the end of the day at our house

Pizza today, turkey tomorrow

Smoothies and juices

Heidi and Hanna help

Pizza for everyone

Thanksgiving pizza

I think Christopher has eaten pizza before...

Thanksgiving is Autumn in Kansas

We attend the Spanish Branch

A rod and a staff they comfort me...

Coldwater deadsticking for largemouth bass

Trout on the table

Fly fishing

Fall fly fishing in Wichita

I kept a limit

A Rod and a Staff They Comfort Me

A Rod and a Staff They Comfort Me

a dream of heaven on earth 

(Psalm 23 interpreted for fishermen by Dr. Roy E. Howard)

A rod and a staff they comfort me.

No one asked for my resume.
No one asked me sing or play.
No one asked me where I had been.
No pay was needed to get in.

1. A smile in my face, a loving embrace,
A kiss and a laugh, and a sturdy walking staff.
A rod and a staff they comfort me.

2. A friendly, "hello" with eyes all aglow.
A wave and a nod and a rugged fishing rod.
A rod and a staff they comfort me.

3.  The pastures are green, enough the cuisine.
The waters are still, I can drink to my fill.
A rod and a staff they comfort me.

4.  Love all that you see and soon you will be
Where war is no more, and your cup is running o'er.
A rod and a staff they comfort me.
A rod and a staff they comfort me.

Psalm 23

 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.



"Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently." 1 Peter 1:22

"Let us not forget Paul's wise urging when he said 'confirm' our love to those around us, especially to those who may be swallowed up in sadness (see 2 Corinthians 2:7-8).  Peter said much the same thing . . . In the kingdom our capacity to love is crucial because we live in a time when 'the love of men shall wax cold' (D&C 45:27).  We must do all we  can to see that that doesn't happen between leaders and people in this church"  (The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, p. 606).

I dreamed of the high school class reunion I attended. No one asked me for my resume.  No one asked me to sing or play an instrument. No one asked me where I had been the past 45 years.  I did not even have to pay to get in.  Everyone was smiling and hugging and glad to see each other.  There was no judgement, no resentments, no regrets.  In my dream, I imagined that this must be what heaven is like.  Then I awoke and thought, we should live now as if we were in heaven.  I added those thoughts to my one fishing photo of me carrying a fishing rod and a staff to safely cross the river.  I was suprised to see that I had composed a song that carries so well the message of Psalm 23.  When I fish, a rod and staff comfort me.  The Psalmist used the same words to convey to his shepherding culture that God will lead and comfort us.  So, if we are to live now for heaven, let's all use our rods, our staffs, or whatever it takes to care for one another.
Roy E. Howard, composer

Be Creative

"But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand."  Isaiah 64:8

"God left the world unfinished for man to work his skill upon.  He left the electricity in the cloud, the oil in the earth.  He left the rivers unbridged, the forests unfelled and the cities unbuilt.  God gives to us the challenge of raw materials, not the ease of finished things.  He leaves the pictures unpainted and the music unsung and the problems unsolved, that we might know the joys and glories of creation"  (Teachings of Thomas S. Monson, p. 76).

Study the scriptures daily

"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."  Joshua 1:8

Our cousins, the Grahams:
Annette, Lynn, David, Joel, Mary, Glen, Ruth,  Paul

"Strive in your homes, and teach others, to take some time of each day to have a quiet hour, meditation.  Let there be study of the scriptures at least thirty minutes of each day.  At an early morning hour, or late night, as best suits your schedule, allow yourself an hour of prayerful meditation where you can tune in with God and discuss with Him problems that are too much for human understanding, too great for human strength"  (The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, p. 152).

Come, listen to the prophet's voice

General Conference
Here are links to watching live, or viewing any conference session of any year.
http://lds.org/general-conference/watch?lang=eng

http://lds.org/general-conference/watch?lang=spa

"O that cunning plan of the evil one!  O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men!  When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not.  And they shall perish.  But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God." 2 Nephi 9:28-29

"I wish to remind the Latter-day Saints that the advantages we receive today or tomorrow, while gathered here, will be according to the spirit that we exercise individually.  The elders may address you here, and yet no particular advantage is secured unless you have the Spirit and exercise faith that it is our privilege to exercise, that we may be blessed to understand such things as may be spoken"  (The Teachings of Lorenzo Snow, p. 112).

I have been sharing the idea that serving others is a remedy for many of your own personal problems, because I have a testimony of that principle.  


"How God anointed Jesus of Nazereth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." Acts 10:38 

"Only when you lift a burden, God will lift your burden.  Divine paradox this is!  The man who staggers and falls because his burden is too great can lighten that burden by taking on the weight of another's burden.  You get by giving, but your part of giving must be given first" (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 251).  

Bloom where you are planted

From: "howaru@juno.com"
To: manymac@comcast.net; 2rhoward@att.net
Sent: Tue, September 27, 2011 12:01:58 PM
Subject: plots

I finally received some facts about the "hole" issue, of plots in Marion.

There is a registry at the cemetery confirming that we have 14 plots left of the original 16. No record is kept at the Summit County office. (I asked them if the records were buried in some file)  They are under the name of Edward L Howard. I told them (Ronie Wilde@allwest.net) (Rick Gines, Sextan) that the family wanted to not sell. If we out live the above, the registry will be passed on to their replacements. If you need one of the plots, simple call the funeral service (example: Crandall - Scott at 435-783-4786) and they will verify the registry...so no problem...we are in. For your interest... if you are considering cremation...hang on to the urn if you'd like for as long as you want for convenience sake (of travel or for any other reason) then call Crandall. Marion cemetery allows only one urn per plot.

Nathan

Nathan,

Thank you for rooting out these long buried files.  It is clear that your many years in the gravel pits have grounded you in foundational research skills.  When the plot thickens and I need a long rest, I will call Crandall who will plant me Scott-free.  My accountant will be pleased.

Agradecimientos from the Howard who never could get into anything concrete (except at the Marion Cemetery).
 

P.S. to my kids: If you don't know the prerequisite to inheriting one of these paid for plots, let me know (but keep in mind that Edward L. Howard has more than 14 descendants - first come, first served).

Roy,

you havent lost your literally skill, nor your Lambert humor.

I dont think your kids will have to worry about space...they don't bury folks in the Millenium

Nathan

Nathan,

The Millenium is coming soon?  Then I won't have to lie still too long?

Pioneer cemeteries are for insiders and mainstreamers, not outliers; but I understand why they don't like to stack the bodies: it is bad enough being surrounded by liers, you don't need backbiters, too.

It is nice to have all these relatives in one plot - potential suitors can visit and get a sense of what kind of family they are Marion into.  Besides, not every bachelor is the Marion kind.  Anyway, the Lamberts are well-bread; they should rise well.

What I wonder, is which of our ancestors noticed how we gather at the cemeteries and dig in the earth, and saw us as their "descend ants"?  I guess it makes sense.  However, the latinos must have been poor. Can you imagine digging and finding just teeth, because they could not afford embalming and concrete crypts? So that must be why they call us their "descen dientes".

For all of you looking forward to a career (or a job), don't discount the mortuaries and cemeteries - people are dying to receive your services.  Imagine, 6,964,855,039 people on the earth, and growing, every one a future customer! I wonder about the sales pitch: "...all you future stiffs gather 'round.  You can't stay ceased, you know; soon you will be deceased; all of you functs will soon be defuncts, the mised will be demised, the parted will be departed, the animate will be inanimate and the sensate will be insensate.  Bloom where you are planted, but choose now to be planted in the right location... a great location with a view, that is how you want to spend eternity, with your friends and family all around and above and beneath you. Discounts for mass burials, family unit cremations, and cash payments in advance!...  

If you dig it, go with the flow.

So far, 100 billion have died on this planet.  Thanks to Jesus Christ, all will live again.  Thanks to you temple attenders, many won't have to wait so long to qualify for the best that the next life has to offer.  Plan for the future, anchored in an understanding of the past.

Roy E. Howard

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