Parable of the Pearl

President Packer tells the parable of the pearl in such a way that motivates us to seek after doctrine.
"A collector of precious gems after a lifetime of searching, found the one gem he had looked for all his life. It was a pearl! He valued it above all the jewels in his collection.

It was his treasure. He was certain that nowhere in the world was jewel box worthy of this perfect gem, so he designed a box himself and commissioned the finest craftsmen to carve it. He hovered over their work. when the box was finished and lined with blue velvet, he put his precious pearl on display.

He stood by as people came to see it. He studied them and listened carefully to what they said. Soon he turned away in deep sorrow. It was the box they admired. It was the box that attracted them. To his great disappointment, only a few of them really saw the pearl." (Mission President Seminar, 22 June 1999)

The kingdom of heaven in like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

Who, when he found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. (Matt 13:45-46)

And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom. Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand. (D&C 88:77-78)

We hope that as you teach all these family home evening lessons, none of us will come away knowing more about the box and not appreciate the pearl.

Each member of our family must learn the doctrine. We learn the basic doctrines from the revelations and from each other. We must learn about the restoration, authority, covenants and ordinances.

There are really only about 4 or 5 basic doctrines of the Church and around them everything else revolves: the Atonement, the plan of happiness, the Godhead, priesthood and priesthood keys, and continuing revelation from Heavenly Father. These are eternal and unchanging truths. They never change. Doctrine answers the question why.

Principles are doctrinally based guidelines for what we ought to do. They answer the question what. Examples are the first principles and ordinances of the gospel: faith, repentance, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Rules or applications answer the question how. If we teach the doctrine and the principles associated with the doctrine, then our children and everyone else we teach will quickly understand the how.

President Packer also taught us that "true doctrine understood changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the dcotrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior." So let us ask ourselves in teaching our lessons, "what doctrine, if understood would help each child or person we teach not have difficulty following a rule.

So, I would like to challenge you to take any possible rule that your children or students might question. What is so great about asking the question behind the doctrine is not in just getting the answer. Go to the scriptures and look for the questions. Our fundamental role as parents and as teachers is to help those we teach act in accordance with principles. So let's become experts in asking inspired questions.

Joseph Smith taught us that the way he studied the New Testament was to try and identify the question the Savior was answering as he taught a principle.

The Savior was concerned with other elevated rules over doctrine as illustrated in Matthew 23:23 where we read "Wo unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgement, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."

On one occasion, Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught about Jacob's teachings with respect to looking beyond the mark and applied them to the Jews of Jesus' day. "They took the plain and simple things of pure religion and added to them a host of their own interpretations; they embellished with the added rites and performances; and they took a happy, joyous way of worship and turned it into a restrictive, curtailing, depressive system of rituals and performances. The living spirit of the Lord's law became in their hands the dead letter of Jewish ritualism."

Doctrine answers the question why and principles answer the question what. When we emphasize how to do something without reference to why we do it or what we do, we risk looking beyond the mark. We could fall into the trap described by Paul "for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." (2 Cor. 3:6) Those who are committed to seeing that rules are followed without reference to doctrine and principle are susceptible to looking beyond the mark. Our great challenge is to accept the Savior as the Redeemer of the world and avoid the theological blindness that comes when we look beyond the mark. The Savior promised is "Come unto me, ye blessed...there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my father." (Enos 1:27)

Family Home Evening Exercise:

1. Take a rule such as R-rated movies or attending all three meetings on Sunday or not swearing and identify it on the top of the triangle you draw.
2. Next identify the principle - the guidelines for implementing the doctrine....such as 1 Cor. 3:3 for the movie question...your body is a temple...inside and out.
3. Now look at the doctrine associated with the priniciple... the eternal truths that do not change...such as eternal life, the plan of happiness, etc.
4. Now practice teaching the doctrine, the principle and the rule and the see if the rule is more easily understood once it is put into perspective.

Doctrine, Principles, and Rules

The most important words of counsel I have found to assist you in your parenting efforts can be found in understanding the importance of teaching doctrine and principles in order to understand rules. Viritually every question that anyone asks can be answered by discussing the doctrine, the principles and the rules.

Why We Are Taught to Not Watch R-Rated Movies?

Would you eat a slice of bread from the top picture?

Would you eat the pizza that the delivery boy brings you if a rat had been on just one piece?

What about the little boy and his snake? Does this make you want to run out and play with a snake?

How often do we say that the movie is great except for one part? Is this a good way to approach Heavenly Father's commandments. We can look at something we shouldn't except for just one part?

Why are we taught to not watch R-Rated movies?

The For the Strength of Youth Pamphlet states:

"'Our Heavenly Father has counseled us as Latter-day Saints to seek after "anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy" (Articles of Faith 1:13). Whatever you read, listen to, or watch makes an impression on you. Public entertainment and the media can provide you with much positive experience. They can uplift and inspire you, teach you good and moral principles, and bring you closer to the beauty this world offers. But they can also make what is wrong and evil look normal, exciting, and acceptable.

Pornography is especially dangerous and addictive. Curious exploration of pornography can become a controlling habit leading to coarser material and to sexual transgression. If you continue to view pornography your spirit will become desensitized, and your conscience will erode. Much harm comes from reading or viewing pornography. It causes thoughts within you that weaken your self-discipline.

Don't attend or participate in any form of entertainment, including concerts, movies, and videocassettes, that is vulgar, immoral, inappropriate, suggestive, or pornographic in any way. Movie ratings not always accurately reflect offensive content. Don't be afraid to walk out of a movie, turn off a television set, or change a radio station if what’s being presented does not meet your Heavenly Father's standards. And do not read books or magazines or look at pictures that are pornographic or that present immorality as acceptable."

Bottom line: if you have any question about whether a particular movie, book, or other form of entertainment is appropriate, don't see it, don't read it, don't participate."

But have living prophets or past prophets really specifically talked about R-Rated movies as such?

President Gordon B. Hinckley taught:

"Be clean. I cannot emphasize that enough. Be clean. It is very, very important and you at your age are in such temptation all the time. It is thrown at you on television. It is thrown at you in books and magazines and videos. You do not have to rent them. Don't do it. Just don't do it. Don't look at them. If somebody proposes that you sit around all night watching some of that sleazy stuff, you say, (It¹s not for me. Stay away from it." (Denver Colorado, youth meeting, 14 Apr. 1996, Quote by Elder Joe J. Christensen, Ensign Nov. 1996, p. 40)

Elder James E. Faust taught:

"Parental hypocrisy can make children cynical and unbelieving of what they are taught at home. For instance, when parents attend movies they forbid their children to see, parental credibility is diminished. If children are expected to be honest, parents must be honest. If children are expected to be virtuous, parents must be virtuous. If you expect your children to be honorable, you must be honorable." (Ensign Nov. 1990, p. 33)

Remember, President Benson was speaking to the young men of the Church when he said:

"'Again I say, leave it alone. Turn it off, walk away from it, burn it, erase it, destroy it. I know it is hard counsel we give when we say movies that are R-rated, and many with PG-13 ratings, are produced by satanic influences. Our standards should not be dictated by the rating system. I repeat, because of what they really represent, these types of movies, music, tapes, etc. serve the purposes of the author of all darkness.' (H. Burke Peterson, "Touch Not the Evil Gift, nor the Unclean Thing," Ensign, Nov. 1993, 42)

President Benson also taught us the following:

"Consider carefully the words of the prophet Alma to his errant son, Corianton, 'Forsake your sins, and go no more after the lusts of your eyes.' (Alma 39:9.)

"'The lusts of your eyes.' In our day, what does that expression mean?

Answer: "Movies, television programs, and video recordings that are both suggestive and lewd.

Answer: "Magazines and books that are obscene and pornographic.

"We counsel you not to pollute your minds with such degrading matter, for the mind through which this filth passes is never the same afterwards. Don't see R-rated movies or vulgar videos or participate in any entertainment that is immoral, suggestive, or pornographic. Don't listen to music that is degrading" (Ensign, May 1986, p 43).

In my Teachings of the Living Prophets class, I often taught that “when the prophet speaks the debate is over.” If you want to end the internal debate, simply look to what the prophets have said.. They have spoken on the subject many times. One person making a wrong choice doesn't justify wrong choices of another. We are all held responsible for our own choices. Personal accountability is the key here.

To all rated R movie watchers your logic is flawed. I am sorry if you feel you can rationalize watching rated R movies, but by doing so you are breaking a commandment.

The prophet said not to watch rated R movies. (period) He did not say, don't watch rated R movies, unless they get a point across, or unless they show nudity in a tasteful way, or unless you can justify it buy pointing out a PG-13 movie that is worse.

To avoid such temptations, be like Captain Moroni of old; set up “fortifications” to strengthen your places of weakness. Instead of building walls of “timbers and dirt” to protect a vulnerable city, build “fortifications” in the form of personal ground rules to protect your priceless virtue.

Jamie, you are the only one who now dates as a single person. When you’re on a date, plan to be in groups and avoid being alone.

Justin, Jeremy, John, Jason: I know men, young and old, who have simply determined not to turn on the TV or surf the Internet anytime when they are alone. To you fathers, it is wise to keep computers and televisions in the family room or other high-traffic areas in your home—not in children’s bedrooms. I also counsel fathers to wisely choose not to turn on the hotel television (except CNN).

Remember, such “fortifications” are not a sign of weakness. On the contrary, they show strength. The Book of Mormon teaches that Captain Moroni was so strong that if all men would be like him, “the very powers of hell would [be] shaken forever.” Remember Moroni’s “strongholds” were the key to his success.

Creating your own “strongholds” will be the key to yours.

One key fortification you can build is to decide now, before you face a challenge, where to draw the line. Our prophet teaches that if we decide now not to watch inappropriate media but instead to walk away, “the challenge is behind us.”

An emeritus General Authority named Elder Sorensen recently taught about not watching R-Rated movie by sharing a story about his granddaughter:
" Recently my granddaughter Jennifer was invited to go with several of her school friends to a dinner and a movie. The girls all agreed on the movie they were going to see, and Jennifer was comfortable attending. However, the girl who left dinner to buy the movie tickets for the group returned with tickets to a different movie than was planned! She said, “It is a great show, and it’s R-rated.”
Jennifer, caught by surprise, couldn’t believe the situation had changed so quickly. But fortunately she had made up her mind before she ever found herself in this position that she would not watch R-rated movies. She was able to stand firm and say to her friends, “I can’t go see an R-rated movie. My parents would not approve.” To which the girls replied, “Oh, come on! Your parents will never know!” Confronted with this, Jennifer went on to say, “Well, actually it doesn’t matter whether my parents will know. I just don’t go to R-rated movies!”
Her friends were upset and tried to get her to relent. They told her she “was ruining everything.” When she would not give in, they threw the ticket and change in her face and deserted her for the R-rated movie. It wound up being a lonely night full of rejection from her friends. But it was a great moment for Jennifer and our family. She gained confidence, self-worth, and spiritual power. "

Knowingly petting a poisonous spiritual snake is doubly dangerous. Those who do remind me of the little boy who was overheard praying, “Heavenly Father, if you can’t make me a better boy, don’t worry about it. I’m having a real good time like I am.”

Don’t be like that shortsighted boy. Those who plan to sin, thinking they can repent before they receive the sacred covenants and ordinances of the temple, risk losing their spiritual health. They find it is a painful process to come back to the right path.

For those who suffer from a poisonous snakebite, there is a painful cleansing process. Where the bite was inflicted, a cut with a sharp knife is required. Then, someone must cleanse the infected blood from the wound. Often a stay in the hospital is required. My plea to you is to avoid petting that rattlesnake. (Elder Sorensen)

To Elder Sorensen, past prophets and current prophets, I add my counsel: please follow the example of the prophet Joseph Smith. "I have learned this one valuable lesson, when the Lord speaks, do it!"

He has spoken through his mouthpiece the prophets. Let's heed their counsel.

Why Should We Get Up Early?

In Preach My Gospel, Elder Holland gives this quote: "the first three hours of a mission will either make or break a mission." When we think about our lives, we all have been given the same number of hours. What we do in the morning makes the difference between what we accomplish and what we wish we would have done.

In the scriptures we read:

Abraham rose early to stand before the Lord.
Jacob rose early to worship the Lord.
Moses rose early to meet God at Sinai.
Joshua rose early to lead Israel over the River Jordan.
Sameul rose early to meet Saul.
David rose early to do as his father bade him.
Job rose early to offer sacrifices for his children.
Jesus rose early to go to a solitary place to pray.
The people rose early to go hear him.
The women rose early to go to the sepulcher.
Joseph Smith rose early to ask of God in the Sacred Grove.

Are you like the young man in the picture above? Getting up early makes you ill?

Do you remember Ben Franklin's wise counsel - penned for the second picture above: "early to bed, early to rise, makes a man, healthy, wealthy, and wise."

Do you love to wake up and see the beautiful dawn (see the final two pictures above).

Here are 15 tips on how to get up early:

1. Have a good reason to get up
2. Be Productive in the mornings
3. Get enough sleep
4. Get to bed earlier
5. Sleep more effectively
6. No more another 10 minutes
7. Jump out of bed
8. Use an alarm clock, not just the snooze
9. Establish a stable routine
10. Have something to look forward to
11. Be aware of the consequences
12. Remove the option completely (schedule something)
13. Have a similarly motivated buddy
14. Keep track of your times
15. Review all of the things you have done

Source: Waking Up Early - 15 Tips That Work
June 15th, 2007 by Dave Cheong

Parable of the Boiling Frog

The Boiled Frog

They say that if you put a frog into a pot of boiling water, it will leap out right away to escape the danger.

But, if you put a frog in a kettle that is filled with water that is cool and pleasant,and then you gradually heat the kettle until it starts boiling, the frog will not become aware of the threat until it is too late.

The frog's survival instincts are geared towards detecting sudden changes.

This is a story that is used to illustrate how people might get themselves into terrible trouble. This parable is often used to illustrate how people have to be careful to watch slowly changing trends in the world around them such as their environment, not just the sudden changes.

Its a warning to keep us paying attention not just to obvious threats but to more slowly developing ones.

An example:Let's say that every year, the local well had an inch less of water in it. A person might realize there's a problem if there's suddenly NO water, but a slowly dropping level might not be an obvious crisis until it's too late!

Can you think of other examples?

When you do something in life that is close to the line, you are "froggin."

What about when you stay up past midnight?

What about when you ride a scooter without a helmet?

What about when you download a movie or a song that is copy-righted?

What about when you do something you should not on Sunday?

What about when you come late to Church or do your home or visiting teaching on the last day of the month?

How about examples for the grandchildren?

What about when you do not clean up your room?

What about when you stay up too late?

What about when you fight with your sister?

What about when you leave a mess in the toyroom?

Our Ancestor Wrote Come All Ye Sons of God

Thomas Davenport - Life Story

Note: Reid A Robison's great-great-great-great grandfather wrote the words to the Hymn: "Come All Ye Sons of God." Thomas Davenport was his grandfather Adams' father's grandfather on his mother's side of the family.

Thomas Davenport was born April 1, 1815, in the parish of Brampton, Derby, England. He was the fifth child born to Robert Davenport and Ann Jarvis.

Thomas married Sarah Burrows on August 28, 1836 at Sheffield, Yorkshire, England. Sarah was the fourth child of John Burrows and Charlotte Barber and was born on July 24, 1811.

Thomas and Sarah were both converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Thomas was baptized April 21, 1847 and Sarah was baptized a few weeks later on June 8, 1847. Shortly after Thomas was baptized he was ordained a teacher and later in the same year, he was ordained a priest (September 26, 1847). On April 27, 1848, he was ordained an elder and appointed to preside over the branch of the church in England. One morning during this time, Thomas was on his way to a priesthood meeting and was inspired to write the words of “Come All Ye Sons of God” which is now found in the LDS hymn book.


Come All Ye Sons of God

Come all ye sons of God, who have received the priesthood.
Go spread the gospel wide, and gather in his people;
The latter day work has begun, to gather scattered Israel in,
And bring them back to Zion to praise the Lamb.

Come all ye scattered sheep, and listen to your Shepherd,
While you the blessing reap, which long have been predicted;
By prophets long it’s been foretold, He’ll gather you into his fold;
And bring you home to Zion to praise the Lamb.

Repent and be baptized, and have your sins remitted,
And get the Spirit’s zeal; O then you’ll be united;
Go cast upon him all your car; He will regard your humble prayer,
And bring you home to Zion to praise the Lamb.

And when your grief is o’er and ended your affliction,
Your spirits then will soar to await the resurrection;
And then his presence you’ll enjoy, in heavenly bliss your time Employ,
A thousand years in Zion to praise the Lamb.

Even though the melody is written by another composer, his son William wrote that the song as written in the hymn book is Thomas’ arrangement. The hymn, “Come All Ye Sons of God,” is a hymn of three fold import: first an appeal to the sons of God to spread the gospel; second, an appeal to the scattered sheep to listen to the voice of the shepherd; and their a promise that all who are faithful shall enjoy heavenly bliss.

Certainly the words of this song express the ferver and zeal that Thomas felt in his heart as he went about his missionary labors. In Thomas’ obituary, it says he was set apart to labor as a traveling Elder to preach the Gospel, November 16, 1847, and he continued to so act until the month of November 1859. He worked six days each week at his trade of potter and traveled and preached on Sunday. During that time, he taught the gospel in quite a number of places in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and founded several branches of the Church, notably one at Bolsover, Derbyshire, over which he presided. He was instrumental in bringing about fifty people into the Church at that place. In performing his mission, Thomas estimated that he traveled on foot eight hundred and forty-nine miles.

Thomas began a journal when he landed in New Orleans after coming to America, so he really did not leave any record of his activities in England except for Church records of baptisms, ordinances, etc. In searching through the branch minute records in the Historical Society, there are some indications of Thomas’ activity there.

The decision to come to America and eventually join the Saints in Utah must have occurred sometime in the fore part of 1849. Thomas presumably sailed from Liverpool, November 10, 1849, and arrive in New Orleans December 24, 1849. The latter date is recorded in Thomas’ journal and corresponds with the arrival date of the 45th Company’s migration on the “Zetland.”

Thomas evidently began keeping a journal following his arrival in New Orleans. In his own hand, we have a record of his trip up the Mississippi to St. Louis, Missouri and subsequently to Pottawottamy County, Iowa.

While residing in Key Creek during the winter of 1851, Thomas and the other Saints were admonished to leave Pottawatomie, Iowa, and emigrate to the Salt Lake Valley. During January 1852, in company with three brethren, (McGuire, Briggs, and Karsons)
Thomas secured timber to construct a wagon. A Brother Elisha Davis loaned him use of a bull to complete his team.

On June 20, 1852, the family left Key Creek for Big Pigeon to join up with the 16th company of Saints led by Captain Uriah Curtis. As recorded in the church emigration records of 1852, Uriah Curtis was in charge of a company of Saints numbering about 365, which had been organized by Elder Jedediah M. Grant and Ezra Taft Benson on June 24, 1852. The company left crossing the Missouri River a few days later. Thomas’ journal records the crossing date as being July 1.

In the Journal of History, December 31, 1852, the following is recorded: “The emigraion of Latter-day Saints across the plains in 1852 was larger than in any preceding years, owing to the fact that the Saints, who had made themselves temporary homes in Pottawatomie County, Iowa had been counseled by President Brigham Young to migrate to the valleys of the mountains. As the majority of the Saints complied with the counsel given all the branches in Pottawatomie County (between thirty and fifty in number) were discontinued and the membership of these branches constituted an important part of the emigration of that year. The emigration from Great Britain was also a large one that season and a number of Saints who had spend a year or more in St. Louis, Missouri, crossed the plains in 1852 making their way to the Valley.

Some of the Saints who for various reasons could not get ready for crossing the plains in 1852, went to the Valley the following year or years, but a few who refused to comply with the counsel of the authorities of the Church made themselves permanent homes in the Pottawattomie County and some of these subsequently became identified with apostate organizations or sidetracked “Mormonism” altogether.

Thomas’ journal entries of the trip across the plains were scant. He mentions losing, through death, the bull loaned by Brother Davis, and trading off some of his possessions at Fort Laramie. A family account written years later said the two milk cows had to be used to pull the heavily loaded wagon. Notwithstanding some trials, Thomas took the trek in good stride. His succinct comment was “had a pleasant trip over the plains.”

He was 37 years old, his wife was 41 and their children were: William, 15; John, 8; Sarah Ann, 6; and James 1. Their belongings consisted of 1 wagon, 4 oxen, and 2 cows. The historical records also show that this was the emigration of 1852, Sixteenth Company, organized by Ezra T. Benson and Jedidiah Grant. It was led by Uriah Curtis, Captain of Fifty and arrived on October 8, 1852.

Thomas and members of the 16th Company were undoubtedly welcomed, as seem to have been the custom, by Saints in the Valley, with music, song, and voice. Records do not show exactly how long he and the family stayed in Salt Lake, but it must have been a very short time because he was counseled to go to Iron County and start a pottery. However, their arrival in Salt Lake was about the time of General Conference. At this particular conference, much was said encouraging the Saints to voluntarily go to Iron County.

It must have taken much faith and dedication for Thomas and his family, after traveling some 1,500 miles across the plains, to continue on another 250 miles from Salt Lake to Parowan. They responded to the call and arrived on November 4, 1852.

The first home occupied by the Davenports following their arrival in Parowan was a house owned by Brother Moss. The family resided their only sixteen days, for on the 19th of November they moved into an adobe house acquired in trade from a Brother Glispy for the tree steers and wagon Thomas had brought across the plains. Later he traded for a log cabin and ten shares of land. The lad he farmed while getting established in his pottery business.

It was in November 1853, when Thomas burned his first kiln of pottery. Brother Brigham had said: “Draw from the native elements the necessities of Life.” This is exactly what Thomas Davenport did. He found a splendid source of clay two miles up Parowan Canyon, built a kiln and hauled his clay in a wheelbarrow to town.

Thomas’ first kiln of pottery was nearly all broken. This must have been very discouraging after all his work of making the jars and pans by hand. In the spring of 1856, Thomas created another kiln of pottery only to find it again nearly all broken. In the spring of 1857, however, Thomas burned yet another kiln which was more successful, as one third of it was good. By 1858, Thomas had learned to burn his pottery with complete success.

Thomas’ pottery came to be called Davenportware. Each piece could be identified as his thumbprint was placed in the workable clay before it was fired. Thomas also did farming along with his pottery business. This was undoubtedly necessary for him to sustain his family. He mentions farming upon his arrival in Parowan. On April 6th, 1857, Thomas moved into a house belonging to E. W. Thompson, where he lived for one year. Here he mentions doing farming along with working at the pottery.

The following story had been handed down in the family about a year when there was a serious drought and only a little food was to be found. Thomas had just enough wheat for his family.

The Threshing Story

It was threshing time and Thomas Davenport was all ready to thresh his wheat. The threshing machine was all ready to start when a band of Indians rode up on their cayuse ponies, each one demanding a sack of grain. Thomas Davenport looked at his little stack of grain and then at all the Indians with their sacks and shook his head. There wouldn’t be enough for his family and them too, as the crops had been very light that season. The grasshoppers had nearly cleaned the fields in Parowan Valley. So he rounded up a bunch of vigilantes in full view of the red men. There was Bob Quarm with his iron peg leg and wooden stump for a foot. He used to strap this around his knee. Then there was Robert Miller with his curly red wig and George A. Smith with his false teeth. At a given signal, Bob Quarm gave a war whoop and unbuckled his peg leg and threw it in the air. Rober Miller, not to be outdone, gave another war whoop and threw his wig in the air, exposing his starry dome. The Indians stood wide-eyed, but when George A. Smith gave a howl and let his false teeth fall, they took to their horses and fled. (Page 91 of Dalton’s Book)

Mabel Jarvis, a descendent of George A. Smith describes the incident in the following poem:

Scare the Indians

In Parowan town, when the Pioneers
Were having great hardships, their sighs and tears,
Were often dispelled by some small event;
That happened just as folks came and went,
And one that made folks laugh, sure enough,
Is this one I am going to tell you of.
It was harvest time, and the Davenports
Were filled with joy, and their happy hearts
Beat high, as they viewed their stack of wheat,
This winter they’d surely have bread to eat.
The threshers were coming the very next day,
So they could put their grain away.
When lo! There came galloping down the street,
Twenty Indians, with sacks and demanding wheat.
We can’t spare any the Davenports said.
If we do, there’ll be none left for our own bread.
So Thomas Davenport went to town,
To see George A. Smith and bring help down.
Brother Smith, Robert Miller and Bob Quarm
Said, “Leave it to us, and there’ll be no harm.”
They went to the stack where the Indians were
And in just a few minutes they made a store.
Robert Miller’s wig was a flaming red,
And George A. Smith had false teeth in his head,
And Robert Quarm had a peg leg too,
Buckled on at the knee, so what did they do?
They bowed their heads almost to the ground,
Then up on the grain stack went Miller’s wig,
And Goerge A. Smith’s teeth; then riggidy jig,
Off came Quarm’s peg leg, and onto the stack;
Where it joined wig and teeth, Alas, and Alack!
The Indians were frightened, and people say
They mounted their horses and rode away.
And Davenports kept their stack of wheat,
And all that winter had bread to eat.

The preceding shows of Thomas’ resourcefulness. It was related in an issue of the Church, Ensign magazine.

In the spring of 1858, Thomas started to build his own home. The property, which was later owned by Thomas D. Adams. It included the house, a two-acre lot with a number of fruit trees, a barn, a chicken coop, and a nice garden. An additional piece of property containing an apple orchard was located across the street. The house was one of the first built in Parowan. It had a large living room, a bedroom, a kitchen, and a porch that ran across the east side and north front. There was a small cellar with a cupboard for fruit and a screen cupboard for milk and other foods. The house was built of hand-molded, sun-dried adobe and was plastered and whitewashed inside and out. There was no inside water, but clear water was available close by. Quite near the home was an English elm tree planted as a seedling by Thomas. It grew to be one of the biggest trees in all of Iron County. Near the tree was Thomas’ kiln, used for many years to supply pottery for all of southern Utah in pioneer times.

Temple ordinance work was important to Thomas and Sarah and in November 1856, they received their endowments at the Endowment House in Salt Lake City. They took the trip north in late October 1856 and returned home in the spring of 1857,

Family activities centered around gardening, soap making, selling pottery, and music. Thomas was remembered as an excellent gardener, the first to successfully raise celery in Parowan. A generous man, he and his family freely shared his produce with the neighbors. The boys were also involved in helping on the farm as much of their livelihood depended upon farming.

Lye was made using a leach built in the back yard of the home. This was done by pouring water through the ashes obtained from cottonwood trees. The drippings were used for making the actual lye.

Some of the children were undoubtedly involved in making and selling pottery. The son John sold his pottery in Beaver and other communities.

Music was a central part of the lives of the Davenport family. The children learned to love and appreciate good music. In the evenings and on special occasions, they would engage in group and individual singing. Some of the songs sung were of Thomas’ own composing. This exposure to musical and cultural arts affected the lives of the children.

Daughter Sarah Ann was active in both drama and music. At age eleven, she began singing with Thomas Durham’s choir.

Thomas and Sarah Burrows Davenport, as devoted Latter-day Saints had great love and affection for their children. They sought to set the proper example and to encourage them in their lives. The effect they had on the children seemed great. To the end of their lives, the children remained faithful Latter-day Saints.

Thomas set an example of community and church service for his family. He served as a director of the Parowan Branch of the United Order and as alderman, city councilman, and treasurer.

The branch of the United Order was organized in Parowan in April 1873 when President Brigham Young, George A. Smith, and Erastus Snow visited. On April 10, 1874, President Young was again in Parowan on his annual tour of the southern communities and he took occasion to encourage the people to sign up in the united order. On March 9, 1875, the order was organized under territorial law with Thomas Davenport being elected as one of the directors.

The order lasted only one more year, disbanding in 1876, since most of the city residents did not enter into it. The people as a whole did not go into the United Order. Judging from the Official Board of Directors, most of the leading families went into it. Their property was turned into a common fund and each received according to his need.

Thomas’ Church career was spent in doing missionary work, magnifying his priesthood, filling church leadership positions and in doing temple ordinance work for his deceased ancestors. In England, he traveled hundreds of miles on foot preaching the gospel in many sectors of the country. Prior to his immigration to American he served as president of the Bolsover, Derby, England Branch. In Parowan his church service continued to flower and grow.

By magnifying his priesthood, Thomas was ordained a seventy May 18, 1857, and eleven years later a high priest, March 25, 1868. Being a seasoned worker, he was ready for the calls that came to him commencing in 1869. Approximately twenty years were spent in leadership positions, first as a counselor to two ward bishops (1869-1879) and then for the next ten years as a member of the High Council. Concurrent with these positions, he regularly sang in the ward choir, rarely missing a practice or a meeting.

Genealogy and temple work also occupied his time with ordinance work being conducted on behalf of his kindred dead first in Salt Lake at the endowment house and later at the dedicated St. George Temple.

Patriarchal Blessing of Thomas Davenport given on February 23, 1854 by Elisha H. Groves, at Parowan , Iron County, Utah Territory.

Brother Thomas, in the name of Jesus of Nazareth by virtue of the Holy Priesthood in me invested, I place my hands upon thy head to seal upon these a Partriarchal or Father’s blessing which shall rest upon thee, and thou shalt realize the fulfillment thereof in as much as thou wilt be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord they God, yieding to no temptation. Thy life shall be precious in the sight of thy Heavenly Father. Thy days shall be many upon the earth, the holy angels shall be with thee and in their hands they shall bear thee up and deliver thee from the temptations of the evil ones who would seek to overthrow the sons of Adam. Thou art of the seed of Abraham of the loins of Joseph and blood of Mannasseh, a lawful heir to the blessings and fulness of the Holy Priesthood which thou shalt receive in due time that thou mayest be able to officiate in the ordinances of the house of the Lord in behalf of thy progenitors. Thou art a father in Israel, thy posterity shall become numerous upon the earth, thy name shall be perpetuated to the latest generation. Thou shalt receive of the dews of heaven and of the fruits of the earth, and all things needful to render life happy and agreeable.

Thou shalt have wisdom given unto thee that thous mayest fill any mission or station where unto thou mayest be called in as much as thou will seek it with all thy heart doubting not, thou mayest live to behold the winding up scene, the coming of thy Redeemer, the reign of peacee, receive many blessings and privileges in the Temple in Zion, be annointed a King and a Priest unto the most high God, receive thy Crown, Kingdom, Dominion, Power, and Eternal increase.

Be thou therefore faithful, yield to no temptations and these blessings shall be sure unto thee.

I seal them upon they head in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, even so.

Amen.

They Knew The Prophet Joseph

James Houston Sr. Knew Joseph Smith; His wife Margaret had a visit from a stranger telling her to join the Church

Here are the conversion stories of James Houston and Margaret Crawford. James knew the prophet Joseph Smith. His wife's conversion story about the stranger that visited her home and wrote on their freshly white-washed wall is equally fascinating.

James is the father of James Houston who is the father of Lucy Houston (grand-daughter of James Houston Sr.) Lucy Houston is the grandmother of Reid A. Robison (mother of Gloria Dawn Adams Robison). This means James Houston Sr. is the great-great grandfather of Reid A. Robison and the first person in that line to join the Church.

Margaret Crawford is the wife of James Houston Sr. and the great-great grandmother of Reid A. Robison and the first person in that family line to join the Church.


Conversion Story of James Houston Sr.

“I was brought up to be a shawl weaver. I saw a lot of trouble in my youth. It caused me to reflect much and I had a strong desire to know the true way to be saved in the kingdom of God. I saw that the great men did not agree on what was right. There was no use of me trying (presumably to reconcile my religious desires with the common teachings of the time), but still I had a great desire to know, (the truth about religion).

One day I was at an election meeting when the priest was doing his best. While he was speaking upon the subject of “What To Do To Be Saved,” I felt a desire to (some day) be with the good people when they were gathered together.

I continued praying in my heart when eventually something came over me that made me feel good all over. I did not say anything about it to others. I often thought about it, but did not know what it was. But I know now.

The Lord heard my prayers and gave me the answer (the knowledge) that I would be shown the right way. At this time I think that I was about 14 years old. (James Sr. was born on June 4, 1817)

I worked as an apprentice for two years under my brother, John (just before he died). After his death, he came to me one night in a dream. He asked me some questions and I asked him some. From that time on things took a turn (presumably he meant to say that he began to understand). I can see many ways that the Lord opened up the way for me to see the gospel.

The Elders (Mormon) came to Paisley about the time of my dream. The Elders were from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I was so engrossed in company that I did not get to hear them.

I went to a place one night and they would not let me in for they had been disturbed the night before. However, I did get into conversation when one of those who did hear and had attended the meeting the night before. He told me of the Angel appearing to Joseph Smith and what the Angel said. I got the loan of a “voice of warning” and began to read. The devil was mad and I did not know what was the matter. The man of the house where I lodged was religious and what I read in the book was so good, I began to preach to him. It made him “raving” mad and he said “all these things are done away….” In anger he went on to speak of “……sins…..” etc. I could not understand why he was so mad and me so glad. But I was not to be put off that way. I could not get ride of that feeling (of gladness) and I would argue in the workshop until I was astonished at myself.

I sailed for America in 1840 with a small company of the Saints under the direction of Brother Millner. I could see the same spirit manifest against the Saints (on board ship). All this confirmed my newly found faith.

After a pleasant journey of nine weeks, we landed in New Orleans. The Gospel had a great affect on my mind and I thought a great deal. Brother Millner invited me home with him to Springnel (State not mentioned). While I believed the Gospel to be true, I thought that I was not good enough to be baptized. However, I went to the meetings regularly and in 1841, I was baptized and confirmed the same night.

I knew that the Gospel was true for I received the ‘spirit’ according to the promise. In the spring of the same year (1841) Brother Lyman Wright came on a Mission. He gathered some stock for the Temple and Nauvoo House. He needed someone to help drive the cattle and I volunteered. I eventually arrived in Nauvoo, the City of the Saints on April 30, 1841. I cannot begin to describe the many strange reflections; suffice it to say that I saw the Prophet of the Lord, Joseph Smith. A few days following my arrival, I began to board in the house next to that of the Prophet and I continued to live there for nine months.

I can assure you that the Prophet was all he professed to be. I know he was a true Prophet of God for I have heard him speak and prophesy as he was lead by the Holy Ghost. He was a fine and great man. I knew this by the Holy Ghost that was in me.

I labored at the Nauvoo House that summer. I got my blessing from Patriarch, Hyrum Smith on September 29, 1841 and he requested that I should be ordained into the Seventies Quorum. I was ordained at the October Conference.

I kept working, looking, watching and praying and the experience I got did me great good. In 1842, I continued working the same as the year before. An apostate named Bennett tired to do great harm by stirring up the people against us. The word of the Lord was for all the brethren to go and preach the Gospel. It had the desired effect upon me for on November 1, 1842, in company with Brother Samuel Mulliner, I started on a three-year mission to Scotland. While on this mission, I married Margaret Crawford, whom I baptized July 26, 1845 in the River Clyde, New Lauark-Shire, Scotland.

Margaret Crawford Life Story

Margaret Crawford, the daughter of James Crawford II and Elizabeth Brown was born March 1, 1825 in Dunsyre, a small village at the southend of the Pentland Hill range. She was raised near the Boghall Castle and experienced living closed to where here ancestors lived.

At the age of two, Margaret moved to Wilsontown in 1827 where her brother, James was born and in 1829 on to Peebles-Manor parish where John another brother was born. In 1831, at the age of six, they moved to Eddleston, Peebleshire where Christine, a sister was born. Then the family moved to Biggar, where Margaret, being the eldest of the family, helped her father on the farm.

Margaret attended a dress-making school which proved to be a benefit to her during her life. While in here teenage years, her mother, Elizabeth Brown Crawford, died, and she was able to sew her mother’s burial clothes.

Margaret was very well-educated and had a knowledge of the Old English handscript. Her son, Thomas, later would write most of his missionary journal in this language which she had taught him because they were living in America at the time.

The Crawford family lived near Dalveen Pass, one of the finest passes in the Lowlands. James Houston traveled past this site many times while on his mission in Scotland. The Crawford family also lived close to the land of Crawford and Crawford-John, where the Crawford families had many castles and were a well-to-do people and were closely related to one another. This was also the valley in which they raised Clydesdale horses which also was helpful in Margaret’s later years in southern Utah when her family raised Clydesdales.

When Margaret was seventeen years old, she helped her mother clean and white-wash the walls in their home using a mixture of white-chalk and water. After they had just finished the large fireplace at one end of the room, they stepped back to admire the snow white walls and hoped it would not have to be done again very soon. Just then there was a knock at the door and there was a stranger who entered the room and took a piece of charcoal from the hearth and proceeded to write upon the beautiful white walls. Margaret and her mother stood watching the stranger in speechless amazement.

The stranger wrote on the wall the following: “Margaret would be visited by a young man who was teaching a new and strange religion, who was from the New World and had crossed many waters to teach the gospel to her. He was from their own nationality. She would listen and accept this strange religion and marry him and go to the New World and build a home and have a great posterity.”

Three years later, a missionary by the name of James Houston, who was from Scotland, but had moved to America, knocked on her door, taught her the gospel and baptized her. Shortly after that, they were married.

Who First Joined The Church in Our Family?

The 5 J's have at least 24 ancestors on Grandpa Robison's side of the family that first joined the Church at the time of the restoration. These people are the great-great-great-great grandparents of the 5 J's. What are their names? Where did they come from?

1. Lewis Robison - joined the Church in Nauvoo and was 3 greats (not 4). He was born in Cincinatti, Ohio and his dad was a Reverend named Charles. He was baptized in Nauvoo.

2. Clarissa Minerva Duzette - joined the church in Nauvoo and was born in Worcester, Ohio. Also 3 greats for the 5 J's (not 4) and was the first wife of Lewis Robison.

3. Grandpa Robison's grandmother was Phebe Elizabeth Pearson. Her grandfather Jacob Ephraim Pearson was born in 1787 in Manchester, Maine and died in Circleville Utah.

4. Jacob Pearson's wife was Rhoda Ewers and was born in 1789 in Gill, Maine. She also died in Circleville, Utah.

5. Phebe Elizabeth Peaarson's grandfather on her mother's side was Jacob Foutz, who was born in Washington, Penn. in 1800. He is the one who survived Haun's Mill Massacre by covering himself with bodies and pretending he was dead. He died in Salt Lake City.

6. Jacob Foutz's wife was Margaret Mann, who was born in 1801 in Thomastown, Penn. She died in Pleasant Grove, Utah.

7. Grandpa Robison's mother was Effie Jensen. Her grand-father was Christian Frederick Jensen who was born in Denmark in 1838 and died in the Mormon settlement of Kimball, Alberta.

8. Christian Frederick Jensen's wife was Johanna Hansen who was also born in Denmakr and died in the same town, Grandpa Robison was born in - Aetna, Alberta in 1834.

9. Grandpa Robison's mother's parents from her mother's side were the Skrivers and teh Sorensens. Her grandfather was Peder Petersen Skriver who was born in 1859 in Denmark and who died in Cardston, Alberta in 1879.

10. Peder Skriver's wife was Jensena Sorensen who was born in Denmark in 1858 and died in Aetna, Alberta.

That summarizes the list of the first members of the Church from Grandpa Reid Enoch Robison's side of the family.

For Grandma Gloria Dawn Adams Robison, her ancestors also joined the Church in Europe for the most part.

11. Her father's great grandfather was William Adams. He was born in Ireland in 1822 and died in Bluff, Utah.

12. William Adams' wife was Mary Ann Leech. She too was born in Ireland in 1821 and died in Parawan, Utah (the same town Grandma Robison was born in).

13. Grandma Robison's great grandfather on his mother's side was Thomas Davenport. He was born in England in 1815 and while a missionary for the Church wrote the hymn "Come All Ye Sons of God." This stirring hymn is sung by Priesthood holders world-wide as they remember the importance of their ordination. He too passed away in Parowan, Utah. (1888)

14. Thomas Davenport's wife was Sarah Burrows. She was born in 1811 in England and died in 1882 in Parowan, Utah.

15. Grandma Robison's great grandfather on her father's mother's side of the family was John Hardison Redd. He was born in Snead's Ferry, North Carolina in 1799 and died in Spanish Fork, Utah in 1858.

16. John Hardison Redd's wife was Elizabeth Hancock. She too was born in Snead's Ferry, North Carolina in 1798 and dies in Spanish Fork, Utah in 1853.

17. Grandma Robison's great grandfather on her father's mother's side of the family - the other set of grandparents - was John Lowell Butler. He was born in 1808 in Sampson, Kentucky and was the hero of the day at Gallatin County in Missouri where the mob tried to prevent the Saints from voting on election day. John took a club and drove the mob away. He died in Spanish Fork, Utah in 1853.

18. John Lowell Butler married Caroline Farozine Skeen who was born in Sumner County, Tenn. in 1812. She died in Panguitch, Utah in 1875.

19. Grandma Robison's mother's side of the family was equally rich in conversion stories at the time of the restoration. Her mother's great grandfather was James Houston who was born in Scotland in 1817. He joined the Church there and died in St. George Utah in 1864.

20. Jame's Houston's wife was Magaret Crawford. She too was born in Scotland in 1825 and was visited by a stranger who wrote a message on her wall in charcoal shortly before she joined the church. The message was about who she would marry and that she would join the Church. She died in Panguitch, Utah in 1912.

21. Grandma Robison's other set of grandparents on her father's side were William Darby Cooper and his wife Lydia. William was born in South Carolina in 1828 and died in Washington, Utah in 1867.

22. William Darby Cooper's wife Lydia was born Lydia Ellen Rochester in Union, South Carolina in 1828. She also died in Washington, Utah in 1902.

23. On Grandma Robison's Mother's side of the family, her great grandfather was Joseph Asay who was born in 1823 in New Jersey. He died in Mt. Carmel Kane, Utah in 1879.

24. Joseph Asay's wife was Sarah Ann Pedrick, who was born in 1818 in New Jersey and died in 1900 in Emery, Utah.

25. Grandma Robison's Mother's other side of the family had a great-grandfather named Christopher Lister Riding, who was born in England in 1816. He died in St. George in 1887.

26. Christopher Riding's wife was Eliza Adelaide Dolbel, who was born in St. Jean, Jersey, Channel Islands, in France in 1834. She died in Provo, Utah in 1908.

If you go to http://www.familysearch.org/ and enter these names and the dates of their deaths, you will find their pedigree charts. A faster way to do this is to enter these names:

Marion Robison, died in 1951, in Meeteetse, Wyoming and select pedigree.

Effie Jensen, died in 1978, in Lovell, Wyoming and select pedigree.

Thomas Marion Adams, died in 1980, in Lovell, Wyoming and select pedigree.

Lucy Ora Houston, born in 1902, in Paragonah, Utah and select pedigree.

*Note: When you print the Marion Robison page, there will be some blanks for Lewis Robison and his wife Clarissa Minerva Duzette. In that case enter, Lewis Robison and put 1883 as year of death, in Salt Lake City Utah; and enter Clarissa Minerva Duzette and put 1891 as year of death in Salt Lake City, Utah.

It would be a fun family home evening project to print off these pages as well as the pages from your spouses side. Your next challenge will be to fill in a four generation page for your mother's line. See if you can do this and then if you have questions, we can help you.

Barbara Schultz Polizzi was born to Clyde and Henrietta Schultz.

Glenn Lavern Flint was born to Oscar Glenn and Nellie Flint.

The Story of Red Sleeves

When Grandpa Robison was a little boy growing up in Montana, he loved to visit his grandparents in Lovell, Wyoming. Often he would ask his Grandpa Adams to tell him a story. A favorite story of all the grandchildren was that of "Red Sleeves & the Bear." Dallin, Amanda, and Emily have a big black bear running around loose in their neighborhood in Summit Park, Utah. In fact, just today a trap was put up in their front yard.

The story of Red Sleeves will be a good one to tell all the grandchildren. It is still one of Grandpa's favorites after all these years.

The Story of Red Sleeves & The Bear

(related to Reid A. Robison by his grandfather Thomas M. Adams in the late 1950s)

Once upon a time, there was a hermit that lived in the woods in the Big Horn Basin, in Wyoming. He was very poor and his coat was so worn out that all you could see was the red lining of his coat sleeves. No one knew his name, so people referred to him as “Red Sleeves.”

Old Red Sleeves loved to hunt. Day after day he would tromp around the hills and hunt wild animals. He especially loved to hunt for bears.

One day, Red Sleeves came face to face with a Big Black Bear. The Bear must have sensed that Red Sleeves was trying to shoot him so he began to chase him. After running away from the bear for one hundred yards, Red Sleeves sensed that the bear was gaining on him, so he turned and shot him in the right front leg. That big black bear only hesitated for an instant and continued chasing Red Sleeves.

After another hundred yards the bear got even closer and so Red Sleeves turned and shot the bear in his left front leg. Again the bear barely slowed down and continued the chase in hot pursuit of Red Sleeves.

By then old Red Sleeves was getting worried. He continued another 100 years and again turned and fired off a third shot. This time his bullet hit the bear in the rear right hind leg. Again that bear was not fazed and continued the chase and got even closer to Red Sleeves.

Finally after another 100 yards, Red Sleeves knelt down one last time and fired off his last bullet. This time he hit the bear in his rear left hind leg. The bear was not dazed in the least and kept on chasing old Red Sleeves and got almost within grasp of him.

Just then they reached the edge of the forest and Red Sleeves climbed up a tall tree to escape the bear, but the bear climbed right up after him. When Red Sleeves got to the top of the tree, he realized that he was out of tree. There was no where else to climb and the bear was inches away.

The big black bear opened his mouth very wide and was all set to eat Red Sleeves, when at the very last second, Red Sleeves reached down inside of the bear’s mouth and grabbed onto his tail and pulled him inside out. Well, when he did that the bear scurried back down the tree and ran away in the opposite direction.

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."

Mine Angels Round About You

The Miracle of Elder Jenkin's Appendectomy

D&C 84:88

"And whosever receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face, I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you , to bear you up."

Parents and grandparents take comfort in that scripture as they sends their sons forth to serve missions.

And as you know, there are so such things as coincidences.

This lesson is about the protection missionaries receive as they serve the Lord.

Here is the story of Elder Jenkins, (see the top two pictures) who is currently serving in Trinidad.

Yesterday, Elder Jenkins had an emergency appendectomy. When the doctor opened up the inflamed area, he discovered that the appendix was infected and had gangrene. Even though the appendix had ruptured, it was caught at the perfect moment for its removal. (See the third picture)

What was unusual about the circumstances leading up to this emergency surgery?

First, Grandmother Robison and I are constantly on the road and had just returned two days prior.

Second, we were travelling with the Area Doctor, Elder Otto, who stays in Trinidad for 3 days every six months and checks the medical condition.

Third, the doctor had suggested that Elder Jenkins and his companion remain in their apartment for the day during zone conference in the mission home. Not realizing that directive and not wanting to awaken Dr. Otto when the Elders called early on the morning of zone conference, Grandma Robison and I instructed them to come to the mission home.

Fourth, throughout the day, Dr. Otto was able to monitor the medical condition of Elder Jenkins. Rather than treat Elder Jenkins for Denge as directed by the initial symptoms, Dr. Otto felt prompted to medicate Elder Jenkins with the medicine one would administer to a person suffering from an inflamed appendix. By nightfall, the pain had localized into the right side of his abdomen, a classic symptom of problems with the appendix.

Fifth, the decision was made to get Elder Jenkins to an emergency clinic, the closest, yet finest in the area. The doctor who normally leaves at 7:00 p.m. had remained until 7:15 p.m. She determined that it was a classic appendectomy and called for a surgeon who specializes in this type of surgery. At that point, Elder Jenkins was given a blessing. Dr. Otto anointed and I sealed the anointing.

Sixth, the surgeon was located and performed the surgery at 9 p.m. Upon making the incision, he discovered that the appendix had ruptured, that gangrene had set in, but that the infection was confined to the area in which the appendix was located. Prayers were answered, the power of the Priesthood was manifested. After successfully operating on Elder Jenkins, the doctor was able to give a full report in person to Dr. Otto and myself.

What if....any of these steps had been out of sequence? There is no such thing as a coincidence. "Mine angels are round about you" -- further evidence of being engaged in the Lord's work in which miracles surround us, miracles brought us here, and miracles await us.

May the Lord continue to bless each of His missionaries in this His work.

(Suggestion: This might be a good story to tell in a talk about Grandma and Grandpa's Mission or at least one to tell in Family Home Evening.)

Fishermen Casting Their Nets

Lesson on Fishermen Casting Their Net

Have you ever wondered about the practical application of the Savior's teaching regarding fishermen casting their net? This terrific series of photos was taken in St. Lucia on our most recent mission tour. Note how strong the bodies of these men become as day by day they go about their work. Also note the fabulous catch they made as they pulled in their net. We watched them try and second time and come up with only a handful.

Let's look at the actual teaching from the bible:

Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

Do these photos help you imagine what was involved in casting a net into the sea?

“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
“And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.”

Don't you love the word "straightway." When we are asked to serve, do we go "straightway?" (Which is immediately.)

After the Savior’s Resurrection, Peter and other disciples went “a fishing.” However, “that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.”

He told them to “cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.”

Doesn't the last picture help you imagine what a full net of fishes would look like?

When we study the life of the prophet Joseph Smith, we find similar faith-developing obedience.
Early the next morning after the angel Moroni’s all-night-long visits with him in September 1823, Joseph went to work with his father. Because he had been awake nearly all night, he “found [his] strength so exhausted as to render [him] entirely unable” to perform “the necessary labors of the day.”

Joseph's father told him to return home, and he “started with the intention of going to the house; but … [his] strength entirely failed [him], and [he] fell helpless on the ground, and for a time was quite unconscious of anything.” When he awoke, he “looked up, and beheld the same messenger standing over [his] head, surrounded by light as before.” Joseph was commanded to “go to [his] father and tell him of the vision and commandments which [he] had received.”

Although understandably weary, he obediently “returned (straightway) to [his] father in the field, and rehearsed the whole matter to him.” His father replied “that it was of God, and told [him] to go and do as commanded.” Exhausted but obedient, Joseph then “left the field, and went to the place where the messenger had told [him] the plates were deposited, a journey of several miles.”

Each day we decide what we will do and what we will not do, among myriad of choices. When we choose to obey the commandments (straightway) and cheerfully as our top priority, neither murmuring about nor measuring the things He commands, we become fishers of men (and handmaids of the Lord) and cast our nets on the right side of our own ships. We simply go and do the things the Lord has commanded, even when we are weary, trusting that He will help us to do exactly as He asks. As we do so, the Lord helps our unbelief, and our faith becomes powerful, unshakable, and vibrant much like the picture of the muscles on the fishermen in the second picture.

While in the Liberty Jail, the Prophet Joseph wrote: “Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance [or faith], to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.”

No matter where we live, who we are or what we are doing presently in the Church, there is much about our daily lives that is repetitive and even routine. As we go about this day to day work, we must remain focused and go about doing the things that matter most.

The "must-do" priorities include making room in our lives for the minimum daily requirements of faithful behavior: true obedience, humble prayer, serious scripture study, and service to those around us. No other daily vitamins strengthen the muscles of our faith as fast as these actions. We also must remember that sincere fasting fosters strong faith. Fasting is especially important as we faithfully seek to correct deeply embedded character flaws which go “not out but by prayer and fasting.”

Just as the fishermen developed muscles in day by day work casting and reclaiming their nets, so too is the process of developing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a step-by-step, line-upon-line, and precept-upon-precept process. We promote strengthen our faith when we do what is right. As we do this, increased faith will always follows as a consequence.

If we exercise our faith daily with prayer, study, and obedience, the Savior helps us overcome our unbelief, and our faith becomes a shield to “quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”

Alma taught that we may “withstand every temptation of the devil, with faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.” Just as the fishermen of the photo can not expect to gather successful piles of gathered fish, we can neither ignore nor reject the essential ingredients of faith and then expect to reap a rich harvest.

The Savior taught us so much about life by His parables and illustrations. The example of casting our nets is rich with lessons of obedience, diligence, and steady work to gain the blessings of not only a rich harvest of fish but strong physical bodies. Steady persistance in obedience and diligence in following Heavenly Father's will yields strong spiritual bodies.

The big bird teaches the little bird

President Howard W. Hunter told the story of watching a mother bird and her babies. When he was a young lad he watched a big bird hop across the yard, cock her head to the side and thump the grass three times. Immediately the big bird caught a worm. She took the worm over to the baby birds and ....then the big bird swallowed the worm. She did not even give the little birdies a bite. Then the big bird flew up to the top of a tree, caught a bug, and showed it to the baby birds and....then the big bird swallowed the bug. Again, she did not even give the little birdies a bite.

What do you think happened next? Well, the next thing you know, that big bird just flew away.

What do you think the baby birds did?

They jumped out of the nest, cocked their heads, thumped the ground three times....and each caught a worm.

We need to involve our students in order to be effective teachers.

Doctrine and Covenants Section 68:25 reads: "And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents."

Note that it is not enough to "teach our children" but rather we must teach them to "understand."

Further, Section 50:13,14 asks this question: "Wherefore, I the Lord ask you this question--unto what were ye ordained? To preach my gospel by the Spirit, even the Comforter which was sent forth to teach the truth.

Teaching is not telling. Teaching is a process. Understanding is an outcome. It is the Spirit that is the teacher as we note in Section 50 verse 14 above.

Elder Richard G. Scott taught us this valuable insight about teaching: "Ensure that there is abundant participation because that use of agency by a student authorizes the Holy Ghost to instruct. It helps the student to retain your message. As student verbalize truths, they are confirmed in their souls and strengthen their personal testimonies."

Returning back to the story of the big bird and the little birds. The big bird loved the little birdies and wanted them to learn how to find worms and bugs on their own. She set an example for them by showing them how it was done. She insured abundant participation by her students (the little birdies). They were not just taught, but they were taught to understand.