Old Eyes See Best

When Grandpa Robison was a little boy in third grade, he lived in Billings, Montana. Several times a year his parents would take him to his visit his grandparents in Lovell, Wyoming. Lovell was 90 miles south of Billings. Grandpa and Grandma Adams had a farm and Grandpa Robison, who was called "Robbie" loved to go with his Grandpa Adams to change the water in the irrigation ditches. The family often tells the story about one of their first visits to Lovell, when Robbie's little brother, Brad was two years old and barely talking. As they left Lovell after one of their visits, Brad pointed to a cow and said "look mommy, the damn cows are out." When Grandpa Adams was confronted about the story, he said if a cow is out, there is no other name for it. Brad thought all cows were called damn cows until a very embarrassed mother corrected him.

One of the things that Grandpa Adams taught Robbie was to never walk behind a horse because you could get hurt. Not imagining how you could get hurt, Robbie with visions of Wyatt Earp, the movie star cowboy floating in his head, walked up to one of Grandpa's horses and smacked him on the behind. The horse gave him a swift kick in the thigh and he flew back 10 yards against a tree and bumped his head. For the next week in school, he limped around with a big bruise on his leg and a big bump on his head.

What did Grandpa Robison (Robbie as a little boy) learn from this lesson? He learned this very valuable lesson - "Old Eyes See Best."

In Moses 6:27,35-38, we read valuable lessons about "old eyes".

27 And he heard a voice from heaven, saying: Enoch, my son, prophesy unto this people, and say unto them—Repent, for thus saith the Lord: I am angry with this people, and my fierce anger is kindled against them; for their hearts have waxed hard, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes cannot see afar off;

35 And the Lord spake unto Enoch, and said unto him: Anoint thine eyes with clay, and wash them, and thou shalt see. And he did so.

36 And he beheld the spirits that God had created; and he beheld also things which were not visible to the natural eye; and from thenceforth came the saying abroad in the land: A seer hath the Lord raised up unto his people. (Shouldn't we say See-er to really understand this word?)

37 And it came to pass that Enoch went forth in the land, among the people, standing upon the hills and the high places, and cried with a loud voice, testifying against their works; and all men were offended because of him. (Aren't most men offended by what prophets announce?)

38 And they came forth to hear him, upon the high places, saying unto the tent-keepers: Tarry ye here and keep the tents, while we go yonder to behold the seer, for he prophesieth, and there is a strange thing in the land; a wild man hath come among us. (Is President Hinckley, a wild man come amongst us? - No, but the worldly might think so because he announces God's will and not man's.)

When we think about the experience of the early Saints in Missouri, we often think about how the Missourians were not nice to the early Saints. But what do we have in Missouri right now as a memory? Nothing. That is the lesson of Missouri. There is nothing there.

Joseph Smith sawthe enemy far off...the people did not listen. He told them to start laying a foundation for the temple in Independence. They did not obey.

There is a great parable about this in the Doctrine and Covenants, Section 101: 43-53

43 And now, I will show unto you a parable, that you may know my will concerning the redemption of Zion.

44 A certain nobleman had a spot of land, very choice; and he said unto his servants: Go ye unto my vineyard, even upon this very choice piece of land, and plant twelve olive-trees;

45 And set watchmen round about them, and build a tower, that one may overlook the land round about, to be a watchman upon the tower, that mine olive-trees may not be broken down when the enemy shall come to spoil and take upon themselves the fruit of my vineyard. (Now the tower may be compared to the temple and the watchmen to the Priesthood - the watchman, of course is our living prophet, President Hinckley.)

46 Now, the servants of the nobleman went and did as their lord commanded them, and planted the olive-trees, and built a hedge round about, and set watchmen, and began to build a tower.

47 And while they were yet laying the foundation thereof, they began to say among themselves: And what need hath my lord of this tower? (Now this is a very bad question. What they should be asking and what we should ask when we hear President Hinckley is "what does the prophet see from the top of the tower?)

48 And consulted for a long time, saying among themselves: What need hath my lord of this tower, seeing this is a time of peace?

49 Might not this money be given to the exchangers? For there is no need of these things.

50 And while they were at variance one with another they became very slothful, and they hearkened not unto the commandments of their lord.

51 And the enemy came by night, and broke down the hedge; and the servants of the nobleman arose and were affrighted, and fled; and the enemy destroyed their works, and broke down the olive-trees.

52 Now, behold, the nobleman, the lord of the vineyard, called upon his servants, and said unto them, Why! what is the cause of this great evil?

53 Ought ye not to have done even as I commanded you, and—after ye had planted the vineyard, and built the hedge round about, and set watchmen upon the walls thereof—built the tower also, and set a watchman upon the tower, and watched for my vineyard, and not have fallen asleep, lest the enemy should come upon you?

I hope that you will learn the valuable lesson my grandfather taught me "old eyes see best." Listen to your parents and grandparents. Listen to the Lord's chosen servants his prophets and you will see that "old eyes see best."