This website is a collection of many subjects and thoughts that are important to me, and some insights I’ve learned “...along the way.” I think of myself as just a simple man with a testimony of Jesus Christ and His Restored Gospel. But, I have lived (and continue to live) an extraordinary and enjoyable life. I've tried to share some highlights here. I have so many good memories. (SAE)
1. Be Your “Better Best Selves”:
I believe we should seek and embrace high moral standards and behaviors. And, we should always strive to live close to the highest and most ethical standards we subscribe to …this is the essence of “Moral Integrity.” At all times and in all circumstances, we should be honest and true to ourselves and strive to pattern our lifestyle and behavior after the highest values we believe in (personally and as a society). And I believe we can always do better.
2. Be Concrete and Sequential (at least a little): I like routine, and I like things done in order. This is not an illness! It’s liberating. Of course, there is much in life that is best lived spontaneously (true love, charity, kindness, joy, and happiness). But, there is also much that is best managed with clear instructions and/or proven procedures.
Clear instructions or proven procedures help to remove confusion, doubt, and stress. With complex and difficult tasks, clear instructions or proven procedures are essential for a positive outcome. For example, if you want to bake your favorite cookies correctly, you should follow your favorite and proven recipe. You probably won’t like a batch of cookies that were made with miscellaneous ingredients randomly thrown together, and baked at no particular temperature, or amount of time.
On a grander scale, I believe that understanding what needs to be done (and how to do it) frees the mind and soul to complete the complex and accomplish greatness beyond our imagination. By following correct instructions or procedures, we would have a clearer vision of our purpose and objectives, more positive control of our lives, and more glorious outcomes. We would have the clarity to know where we are; where we are going; what we must be doing; and when we have arrived. We would not likely be adrift.
3. Stress Management:
Stress is unavoidable. We will all experience some stress in this life. Some will be good stress, some will be bad. Good stress has the potential to help us grow. Bad stress can be debilitating. Regardless, we can anticipate there will be some stress in this life. How we manage stress often makes the difference between good and bad stress. From my personal experience, there are three particular conditions or elements that have a direct impact on our ability to manage stress effectively. They are 1) hunger, 2) financial insecurity, and 3) a crisis. We can usually handle (or endure) any one or two of these conditions at a time; however, if all three elements are present simultaneously, our ability to manage stress is challenged significantly.
We can’t always avoid element #3, a personal crisis in our lives. We can minimize the probability of a crisis through responsible personal preparation. But often, a crisis will come despite our preparation; and, the potential for bad stress will follow! So, to minimize the stressful effects of a crisis in our life, and to maintain a good healthy outlook (especially during a crisis), we should strive to avoid element #1 hunger and #2 financial insecurity. We should:
1) Eat wisely (sound nutritional food in moderation). Also, always try to have good food on hand in your home. You can’t understate the positive psychological effects of seeing food “on the shelf” in our homes. And,
2) Always, always pay your bills and debts on time. A practical, understandable, and disciplined financial budget is necessary. In addition, while it may not always be possible, it is best to try to stay out of debt, and it’s always wise to maintain a healthy financial savings plan (a nest egg).
Remember, crises and stress will come. If we avoid hunger and financial insecurity, we’ll better manage each crisis (and the stress) and minimize their negative effects. In addition to dealing well with the crisis; we’ll more likely maintain a good healthy outlook on life.
NOTE: This “Stress Management” thought is written to those who have the means, but who must learn to manage. I know there are thousands of people out there right now who are hungry (starving) and financially insecure (no means) through no fault of their own. Their situation and enormous crises go far beyond the scope of this simplistic approach. For the thousands who are starving, unable to exist, I encourage those of us who can help, to help in whatever way we can! There are many organizations and ways to help. Find those ways and those legitimate charitable organizations …and help!
The answer to cleaning your kitchen is not “Let Mom do it!” Don’t worry, she already has plenty of opportunities, plus plenty of other things to do, as well. To all you Dads and Kids out there, this could be your big opportunity to excel and help dear Mom and the family. You should also know that in addition to helping Mom (and your family) in a tangible and meaningful way, there are many selfish but rewarding reasons for washing the dishes. Don’t miss out on those rewards.
“What are these tangible rewards?” …you ask! Well, let me tell you. Here’s a short list of a dozen rewards:
If done well, you’ll have the satisfaction of actually doing a job well done.
Your kitchen will be more sanitary and more likely to prevent the spread of germs and diseases.
Your personal satisfaction of actually doing something that will both help and impress your mother/wife.
You won’t be embarrassed when you have a “special” friend over.
You won’t have lingering bad odors wafting out of the kitchen.
You’ll have fewer insects on your counters.
You’ll have clean dishes, drinking glasses and flatware to eat with.
You’ll have clean hands and fingernails when you’re done.
You’ll have a higher level of self-esteem.
You’ll have the satisfaction of seeing expressions of shock and amazement on the faces of other family members.
Your kitchen and dishes will be clean.
Your kitchen will look great.
So now, before a share my practical steps to cleaning the kitchen, let me be perfectly clear about something. Knowing how to clean the Kitchen and do the dishes is a valuable skill for life, and it can be very rewarding. Just leaving things on the table, stacking them in the sink, or piling them up high on the counter, are NOT good ideas. But, if you really want to make a contribution, take some advice from a single father with seven (7) children. After my dear wife (Jenny) passed on, I soon found myself in a very serious situation with what I termed “a kitchen malfunction,” and I had to come up with a real solution. To start with, let me first tell you about my “house and kitchen” cleaning observations while growing up.
I grew up in a home where my mother was something of a “white tornado.” Like me, she was a single parent with seven children. She was always cleaning and straightening. Then, there was my grandmother and her twin sister: Grandma and Auntie. “The Twins” would often show up at our front door dressed like cleaning ladies and spend the entire day cleaning our house from top to bottom and corner to corner. In my mind’s eye, I can still see them standing side by side, wearing dresses and clunky shoes, full-length aprons tied around their wastes, and holding their buckets, mops and cleaning materials. Below is a rare picture of “the Twins” without their aprons. Anyway, I just took it for granted that our home would always be clean: “neat and tidy.”
Auntie and Grandma: “The Twins”
In marriage, my dear Jenny also busied herself with cleaning, never really making any demands on me to help. In hindsight, I guess you could say I was a bit spoiled and grew to expect a clean home and kitchen (without doing much myself). I also grew to understand …a clean and orderly kitchen was important! So, after Jenny’s death, I was awakened to some of the harsh realities of housework. I was quick to realize just how talented and hardworking Jenny really was. As a newly single parent, I found that keeping the kitchen clean and orderly was one of my greatest challenges. But here too, as with my many other single parenting challenges, my military training came in handy. I soon developed a meal preparation and cleaning plan (the basic concepts of which I still generally follow today …when I cook or clean, that is). I found that by following these steps, cooking goes much more smoothly, is more organized, and less stressful; and “kitchen clean up” is less stressful and much more rewarding. I continue to believe that and follow these steps even today.
Disclaimer: Now, before you read beyond this point, I acknowledge that any self-respecting “homemaker” will at best be amused at the obvious details. More likely, professional homemakers will probably react in a less than flattering way. Regardless, this was just what I needed at the time. And it worked for me. I was on a learning curve, and so were my children.
Regardless, here are my lists of what and when to do certain things: before and after each meals.
Managing Food Preparation:
Start with an empty trash can and plastic liner in the kitchen.
While you are preparing your meals, don’t leave unnecessary ingredients out. If you’re done with something (e.g., flour, milk, etc.), put it away. Don’t leave things out to clutter your workspace.
(Remember: During food preparations, it is essential to put back (or put away) anything you no longer need for your meal preparation. If you no longer need an item, put it away! Managing your workspace and cooking ingredients, before and during preparation, will greatly eliminate clutter and simplify both preparation and cleanup. For me, this was an important skill to learn.)
If you are finished with any ingredients, return them to where they came from (i.e., in the refrigerator, freezer, cabinets, or pantry).
As you finish with mixing bowls, saucepans, or other dishes used for preparation, rinse them off and stack them out of the way. Be sure to keep one sink empty for rinsing (I hope you have a two-basin kitchen sink!)
If you’re finished with a baking dish, put a little soapy water on it to soak. (Don’t wait until after dinner when it’s hard and crusty.)
As you finished with mixing bowls and skillet, rinse/wipe them out, then set them aside for proper cleaning later.
As you finish meal preparation, rinse off unneeded utensils and put them with “handles up” into a container of hot/warm soapy water solution to soak (I like using a two-quart plastic pitcher or a saucepan).
Serve and Enjoy your mealtime … together! Clean-up Follows!
After dinner, prepare the washing area:
Clear the kitchen counter. Throw away all non-perishables trash items into the trash can; and scrape any perishable items into the in-sink disposal (here’s another “must have” – the in-sink garbage disposal).
If you have left out any reusable cooking ingredients or foodstuffs, wrap, cap, or seal them; and put them where they belong (the refrigerator, freezer, cabinets, or pantry).
One by one, have each person bring their individual drinking glass, plates, and utensils to you at the sink.
Throw away all their non-perishables trash items into the trash can; scrape perishable items into the in-sink disposal and stack all dirty dishes, pots, and pans near the kitchen sink(s).
Prepare a container with a hot/warm soapy water solution for soaking eating utensils (once again, I like a two-quart plastic pitcher or a saucepan). Be sure to put the sharp ends pointing downward in the pitcher.
Clean out both sides of your double basin kitchen sink. Keep the side with the in-sink disposal empty and clean.
Scrape and rinse all perishable trash from the dishes into the in-sink garbage disposal.
Fill the other side of the double basin kitchen sink half-full of clean, hot, soapy water.
If you are the ONLY person cleaning the kitchen, clear the dinner table in this order:
Remove all large items from the dinner table (serving dishes, bowls, pitchers, bread baskets, etc.). Empty and stack them on the counter, but not blocking the sink.
Remove all paper waste into the trash can, and disposable food scraps down the in-sink disposal.
If you have left out any reusable cooking ingredients or foodstuffs, wrap, cap, or seal them; and put them where they belong (in the refrigerator, freezer, cabinets, or pantry).
Remove all drinking glasses from the table and place them by themselves in the sink of clean, hot, soapy water.
Scrape off and dispose of all excess perishable food stuffs from the dishes into the disposal.
Separate and stack all dishes and plates near the sink.
Collect all eating utensils and place them “handles up” into the hot/warm soapy water soaking solution (the two-quart plastic pitcher).
Clean off and wipe down the kitchen table.
Wash the Dishes in this order (and use a dishwashing machine, if available.):
Always wash the drinking glasses FIRST (they should be soaking in fresh, clean hot soapy water waiting to be washed). We want glassware to be clean and spot free. Wash and rinse them off and place them upside down in the drainer or dishwasher. (Note: Even if you have a dishwasher, always wash the dishes by hand first. Never place dirty dishes in the dishwasher!)
Then, wash the plates and dishes. Rinse them off and place them in the drainer or dishwasher.
Next, wash the eating and serving utensils. Rinse them off and place them in the drainer or dishwasher, “handles up.”
Next, scrape and wash the baking dishes. Rinse them off and place them in the drainer or dishwasher (if there’s room).
LAST, wash the skillets, pots, and pans. Rinse them off and place them in the drainer or dishwasher (if there’s room).
After all dinnerware (glasses, plates, dishes, utensils, etc.) are clean and dry, put them away. Please Note: Do Not put them away wet! Dry them, or allow them to dry, first. (Of course, if they’re in the dishwasher, first wait for them to finish.)
Finally, after all glasses, dishes, plates, utensils, pots, and pans have been cleaned, dried, and put away, spend some time with a Windex bottle in one hand and a dry towel in the other. Wipe down the table(s), countertops, sink(s), and whatever surfaces need it, including the appliances. At that point, step back and observe/admire your work. You’re done! You’re a hero! And Mom will be so happy!
I have learned a great lesson from my horses: “Be prepared for and anticipate the morning light.”
Our horse ranch was located in a beautiful mountain valley where the winter nights can be very long and the mornings very cold. I would usually feed the horses in the mornings just before sunrise and again in the early evenings just before dark. Near the end of those long and cold nights, in the early mornings, the horses would usually gather together on the west side of the pasture to catch the first bit of sunlight as it broke over the tops of the east mountains. Myself, I also watched for the morning sun to rise above the eastern horizon …because I knew as soon as it did, “immediately” I would feel the warmth of the Sun’s radiance.
This was a great lesson for me and a “type” of the influence of the Gospel and the Savior in our lives. Those of us who may be struggling in this life in lonely darkness and/or in despair (whether by our own ignorance or disobedience) can also feel the “immediate” love and influence of the gospel in our lives when we turn from inappropriate behavior and embrace the life and love of Jesus the Christ. He will “immediately” bless our lives with His love and the warmth of the gospel. We may not be made completely whole “immediately,” but we will feel his love and have hope “immediately” as the “great plan of redemption” is “brought about” in us. Pure and lasting joy will come as we learn more of Him, continue to follow Him, and embrace His Great Plan of Happiness.
“Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you.” (The Book of Mormon, Alma 34:31)
Jesus Christ is our Divine Redeemer, perfect in all things, including His perfect love for all the children of God. He knows who we are, understands our challenges and weaknesses, and He has divine mercy for us. When we soften our hearts, turn to Him in faith, and sincerely begin to forsake our sins, we will immediately begin to feel a portion of His loving influence …and, we will begin to heal. His influence is warm and inspiring, like the early morning sunlight on our shoulders after a long Winter’s night. His warm influence gives us comfort and Hope!
I’ve been thinking and reading about the Universe around us, and the Hubble Telescope Ultra Deep Field discoveries. The sheer expanse of our Observable Universe, and the enormous numbers of known and unknown Planets, Stars, Galaxies (and other possibilities), are beyond our imagination. I am amazed and humbled by these thoughts and game changing discoveries.
Our Solar System
To begin with, our Solar System (our Sun, planets, moons, etc.) is estimated to be at least 80 Astronomical Units (AUs) in diameter, or about 7.5 billion miles across. One (1) AU equals the distance between the center of the Earth and the center of the Sun (or about 93 million miles). Of course, the Earth’s distance to the Sun is not a constant distance because our orbit around the Sun is not perfectly round. But, we can say on the average, it is “about 93 million miles from the Earth to our Sun.”
Furthermore, while astronomers estimate our Solar System is at least 80 AUs across (a diameter of about 7.5 billion miles), this distance is a low estimate because of the orbital dynamics of the planets in our System. That is, the estimated diameter is variable (it is a dynamic distance). Depending on the positions of the planets in their individual orbits, the distance can vary between 80 and more than 100 Astronomical Units. Regardless, we are told our solar system is a mere speck located inconspicuously within the greater Milky Way Galaxy, our parent galaxy.
Our Milky Way Galaxy
Astronomers and cosmologists describe the Milky Way Galaxy as a barred spiral galaxy. That means it has several distinct arms (in our case four) and is shaped in a spiral …like a giant frisbee. When we look up into the dark night sky, all the stars we see with our naked eyes are located within our Milky Way Galaxy. That is, all we can see are the stars within to our Milky Way Galaxy.
In size, the Milky Way Galaxy is about 100,000 light-years (LYs) across. So, what does that really mean? Well, it means it would take light 100,000 years to travel across the full diameter of the Milky Way Galaxy. Consider this, Light travels at 186,000 miles per second. At the mere click of a light switch (i.e.; one second), unblocked light will travel the equivalent distance of approximately 7.5 time around the entire circumference of the Earth …just one second! At a constant speed of 186,000 miles per second, it would take light 100,000 years to cross the full diameter of the Milky Way Galaxy. Over the space of only one-year, light travels 5.88 trillion miles. Therefore, one (1) Light Year (LY) is 5.88 trillion miles. Multiply that by 100,000!
Now, I mentioned that when you look up into the night sky, all the stars you see are within our Milky Way Galaxy. However, still with your naked eyes, you may be able to spot another galaxy …located well outside of the Milky Way! On a clear, dark, moonless night, you may be able to see a small hazy image of a distant galaxy. That would be the Andromeda Galaxy, a big brother to our Milky Way Galaxy, and our nearest independent neighboring galaxy. The Andromeda Galaxy is located about 2.5 million light-years away. And, it is more than twice the size of our Milky Way Galaxy (Andromeda is about 220,000 LYs in diameter).
Our “Observable” Universe
One more point: Among galaxies, our Milky Way Galaxy is just a medium size galaxy. Cosmologists estimate the “Observable Universe” contains at least 2 Trillion Galaxies and “more Stars than the total number of grains of sand on the entire Earth.” By definition, the “Observable Universe” is a spherical region of the universe comprising all matter that can be observed at the present time from Earth or from its space-based telescopes and exploratory probes. This observable universe is estimated to be 93 Billion LYs across. And again, that is only what we can observe. It’s fare to ask, “what exists beyond our limits?” We do not know! This must make you stop, pause, and think!
While you “pause and think,” please consider these scriptural references that refer to the enormous expanse of God’s Creations:
“That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore.” Genesis 22:17
“And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.”
Genesis 32:12
“But behold, and lo, we saw the glory and the inhabitants of the telestial world, that they were as innumerable as the stars in the firmament of heaven, or as the sand upon the seashore.”
D&C 76:109
“And there are many kingdoms; for there is no space in the which there is no kingdom;….”
D&C 88:37
“And worlds without number have I created….”
Moses 1:33
“And were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, millions of earths like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of thy creations; and thy curtains are stretched out still; and yet thou art there….”
Moses 7:30
The Hubble Telescope
Frankly, the numbers in astronomy are too large to get our heads around. We are incapable of understanding the big numbers like “93 Billion Light Years across the expanse of the Universe.” So, how do we calculate and come up with these numbers? Enter the Hubble Deep Space Field Telescope. This powerful satellite-based telescope looked into a patch of sky that looked empty (just above the Big Dipper). It kept the lens open for 10 consecutive days during Christmas 1995 and found about 3,000 additional galaxies (in that “empty space”). Then, in 2004, the Hubble Ultra Deep Space Field Telescope looked into another patch of sky that looked entirely empty. That event represents the deepest portrait of the visible universe ever achieved by humankind. Using the improved capabilities of the Advanced Camera for Surveys (the camera installed during the 2002 servicing mission), a new Deep Field was observed in the constellation of Fornax (the Furnace). The Ultra Deep Field shows the furthest away galaxies that can be observed in visible light. It kept the lens open for 11 days and found about 10,000 additional galaxies there — all these in patches of space that initially looked empty!
(If you would like to see a short video about the origins of the Hubble Telescope, please click on this link: the Hubble Telescope. I apologize, but it may begin with a brief political clip or advertisement. When you finish the Hubble video, please close the YouTube tab to return to this page. Thank you.)
In 2004, Hubble created the deepest visible-light image of the Universe; and now, with its brand-new camera, Hubble is seeing even farther in the same region.
The next breakthrough came after the 2009 servicing mission in which astronauts installed a new instrument capable of making greatly improved infrared observations. The resulting image, covering most of the field of view of the 2004 Ultra Deep Field observations, is the deepest image ever made of the cosmos.
Published in 2012, the Hubble eXtreme Deep Field is not a new set of observations, but rather a combination of many existing exposures (over 2000 of them) into one image. Combining the Hubble Ultra Deep Field, the Hubble Ultra Deep Field – Infrared, and many other images of the same small spot of the sky taken over almost 10 years, the Hubble eXtreme Deep Field pushes the limit even further.
The Hubble eXtreme Deep Field (XDF), combines Hubble observations taken over the past decade of a small patch of sky in the constellation of Fornax. It combines data from previous images including the Hubble Ultra Deep Field (taken in 2002 and 2003) and Hubble Ultra Deep Field Infrared (2009). The image covers an area less than a tenth of the width of the full Moon. Yet even in this tiny fraction of the sky, the long exposure reveals about 5500 galaxies. This image contains several of the most distant objects ever identified.
The last Hubble Ultra Deep Field released in 2014 was observed in the ultraviolet. This image allowed astronomers to study star formation in a region 5 to 10 billion light-years away from us. The study is called the Ultraviolet Coverage of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field (UVUDF) project. The addition of ultraviolet data to the Hubble Ultra Deep Field using Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 gives astronomers access to direct observations of regions of unobscured star formation. (Note: The above Hubble imagery and information was taken from the Hubble Space Telescope site.)
Summary
As reference points, here’s a simplified and very brief summary of what we can see or estimate about the “Observable Universe” (what we can see). Let’s think of the “Observable Universe” as being divided into Five Levels or systems moving in the “Observable Universe:”
In “Our Solar System,” we have eight (8) planets orbiting around our Sun. Compared with other stars in the Universe, our Sun is considered an “unremarkable” star. Our solar system is located about halfway between the center of the Milky Way Galaxy and the outer edge.
Our galaxy is “the Milky Way Galaxy.” It is a Spiral Galaxy estimated to be 100,000 Light Years (LYs) in diameter. Within the Milky Way Galaxy, our Solar System is one of more than 400 billion Solar Systems. The Pin Wheel Galaxy (visible in Ursa Major) is much like our Milky Way Galaxy. The Milky Way has an estimate of greater than 400 Billion stars within its boundaries, and there could be as many as 40 billion Earth-sized planets orbiting in the habitable zones of Sun-like stars. There is also an additional 16 orbiting Satellite Galaxies just outside the boundaries of the Milky Way Galaxy.
The Milky Way Galaxy (our Galaxy) seen over the Pyramids of Egypt.
Outside the Milky Way Galaxy is our “Local Group of Galaxies.” In this group, there are 54 different galaxies, and it is estimated to be 10 Million LYs across. There are three major galaxies in the “Local Group:” The three largest members of the group (in descending order) are the Andromeda Galaxy, the Milky Way Galaxy, and the Triangulum Galaxy.
Andromeda has an estimated one trillion stars with 25 orbiting Satellite Galaxies outside its boundaries. It is a Barred Spiral Galaxy (like our Milky Way) located about 2.5 Million LYs away. And it is about 220,000 LYs in diameter.
Milky Way has an estimated 400 billion stars with 16 orbiting Satellite Galaxies outside its boundaries. And it is about 100,000 LYs in diameter.
Triangulum has an estimated 40 billion stars within its boundaries.
This Local Group itself is a part of the larger Virgo Supercluster, which may be a part of the Laniakea Supercluster.
The “Virgo Supercluster (SC)” is a mass concentration of galaxies containing the Virgo Cluster and our Local Group (which in turn contains the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies). At least 100 galaxy groups and clusters are located within its diameter of 110 million LYs. The Virgo SC is one of about 10 million superclusters in the observable universe. A 2014 study indicates that the Virgo Supercluster is only a lobe of an even greater supercluster: Laniakea.
The “Laniakea Supercluster (SC)” is the galaxy supercluster that is home to the Milky Way and approximately 100,000 other nearby galaxies. It encompasses approximately 100,000 galaxies stretched out over 520 million LYs. It has the approximate mass of a hundred thousand times that of our Milky Way galaxy.
My Conclusion and A Short Video
So, there’s my inadequate summary. And, as I said at the beginning, “this has to make you pause and think!” For me, I am overwhelmed, greatly humbled …and, at the same time, more aware of my own “nothingness!” “O Lord, how great are thy works!” (Psalm 92:5).
To help better visualize our universe, I have attached a well done Internet YouTube video for viewing. This video gives a good visual representation of the information I presented above. It is a great video with helpful graphics. Please click on the following link and enjoy watching this amazing film. (I’m sorry, but it may begin with a brief political clip or advertisement.) When you finish the video, please close the YouTube tab to return to this page. I would like to share an additional insight concerning the Cosmos. Thank you.
As I said, this video is a great visual representation of the visible universe and the cosmos as currently understood by astronomers. I appreciate science and feel this is a very good graphical portrayal of our enormous universe. I enjoyed the video and hope you did, too.
My Religious Perspective
Please bear with me now as I share my personal testimony and conviction of God’s Great Creation, including the Observable/Visible Universe.
Of course, the above video is a product of scientific and astronomical discoveries. So, as you might suspect, it deliberately omits any reference to the Divine Works of God the Father and His Son, Jesus the Christ. As good as this video is, in my mind it omits the most important element of the creation: it omits any reference to the Divine Creator. From the Holy Scriptures, and by the whisperings of the Holy Spirit, we know that Jehovah (the Lord Jesus Christ), under the direction of His Father (God the Eternal Father) was and is the Lord of the Universe, “the same which looked upon the wide expanse of eternity ” (D&C 38:1). He is the Creator of the Universe and He knows and understands all things. To simply call the creation of the Universe “The Big Bang Theory,” is a gross mischaracterization of the power of God, and it ignores the Divine Creator. Our planet, our Solar System, our Galaxy, the universe and beyond, are all part of His Glorious Creation.
“…all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.” (The Book of Mormon, Alma 30:44)
Of these things I am certain, and I testify they are true. I share them with all who will read this. And, I do it with full confidence and all sincerity. I know for myself they are true. My name is Scott A. Edgar. I consider myself a disciple of Jesus Christ. I am a fellow servant in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
“I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come….” (The Book of Mormon, Mosiah 4:11)
As I leave these thoughts with you, I also include links below to a great talk offered by Elder Neal A. Maxwell, an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. His address was presented in 2002 and is entitled “Our Creator’s Cosmos.” I highly recommend listening to this presentation. And, I hope you’ll ponder and enjoy his inspiring message. It’s about 35 minutes in length. Please note, during this audio presentation, Elder Maxwell makes several references to visuals and graphics. If you’d like to see the images and read the transcript, please click on and open this link: BYU Religious Studies Center. Thank you.
In September 1969, I attended a Priesthood Meeting in Leeds, England. That meeting was presided over by then Elder Spencer W. Kimball. During the general training session of the conference, Elder Kimball spoke of Temples and said, “there will be hundreds of Temples in Western Europe.” Today, sacred and Holy Temples, Houses of the Lord, are beginning to dot the Earth. We live in an era of Temple building and Temple service. Throughout world history, when there have been covenant-keeping people of God, we have been commanded to build Holy Temples. Whether it was the Arch of the Covenant, Solomon’s Temple, or the beautiful and majestic temples of today, the covenant people of God have been instructed to build Holy Temples to their God. These are magnificent structures of learning and covenant-making. They play a necessary and critical role in building Zion, Gathering Israel, raising a covenant making and covenant keeping people, and preparing for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
In the Lord’s Holy Temples, we learn of Jesus Christ and God’s Eternal Plan of Salvation. We are taught in the simplest terms about the Great and Eternal Plan of Salvation; we make and strive to keep sacred and Holy Covenants with our God; and, we revisit often to review and renew our covenants. In the process, we hope to draw ourselves and our families (on both sides of the veil) nearer to God. All that we do in the temple points us towards Jesus Christ. According to a modern-day Apostle, “…everything in the temple glorifies Him whose house it is. All we do and see in the temple bears witness of Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer—the Son of God.” (Elder David A. Bednar) Attending the Holy Temple faithfully and regularly brings rich blessing in this life, and in the life to come. Temple attendance and service is an act of pure love that blesses all the covenant-keeping children of our Heavenly Father …on both sides of the veil.
In May 2002, I had a unique temple experience. I was honored to attend the Bountiful Utah Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with my daughter, Melissa. Aside from proxy baptisms for the dead, this was her first Temple ordinance session for the living (herself), and an enormous spiritual experience for me. We began our visit by sitting together in the chapel session with a few very close friends and family members. Melissa would soon be making sacred and Eternal Covenants in the House of the Lord. I sat with her and fought to hold back my emotional joy. I was so proud of Melissa’s decision and happy to be sharing that major event with her. While I was overjoyed and filled with love for her, I also knew that Melissa’s deceased mother was nearby …on the other side of the veil. It was truly an enormous spiritual event.
After a few opening remarks by the officiator, Melissa was escorted to the Initiatory Rooms, and I was left temporarily by myself in the chapel. I moved to the back row of the chapel and sat quietly ponder the blessing of that day. My thoughts were mostly about Melissa and how much I loved her. Since her mother’s death (when she was only 11 years old), Melissa had been “a rock” in her support and help within our home. At that tender age, she somehow intuitively knew what needed to be done. Whether she learned those skills from her mother over the years, or she was inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit (or both), she knew what needed to be done, and she went about doing it. Of our seven children, Melissa was the assertive one. On that day in the Temple, I sat in the chapel pondering and thinking about what led us to that sacred event. I truly felt joy in my heart.
After about ten or fifteen minutes, I decided to stand and stretch my legs. I asked for directions to the drinking fountain. Returning to the chapel, I was stopped by a Temple Ordinance Worker who pointed at two large, over-sized doors covered in bronze. He said, “do you know what doors these are?” I didn’t. He said, “these are the doors that face the East. They are the doors that Jesus Christ will pass through when He enters into this temple.” The thought set me back for a moment. I stared at the doors, thought deeply about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, and tried to image His appearance with the doors wide open. I approached the heroic-sized doors and examined their surface. They were indeed bronze covered with raised shapes of the Sun, Moon, and Stars. Outside, it was early in the morning, and the Sun was just rising over the eastern mountains. Inside, I ran my hand over the surface of the doors and could feel the warmth of the Sun’s rays as it rested on the outside of the doors and radiated the warmth to the inside surface. Slowly, I slid the palm of my hand over the shapes of the Sun, Moon, and Stars. As I felt the warmth and pondered about the Savior, I was overwhelmed with the conviction that Jesus Christ himself indeed will come again and will enter His Holy Temples.
After several emotional minutes, I quietly walked back to the chapel. As I walked, I felt love and confidence, and the warmth of the Holy Spirit. When I sat down, I opened the scriptures and began to search for references to the children of God being taught at the Temples, and of the Lord coming to His Holy Temples. I found several, and I noticed a significant pattern of building Temples to the Lord where His covenant people would come to be taught. Consider these references:
The Prophet Nephi built a Temple. (2 Nephi 5:16)
Jacob taught in the Temple. (Jacob 1:17)
King Benjamin gathered and taught at the Temple. (Mosiah 1:18)
Alma & Amulek taught at the Temple. (Alma 16:13)
The Sons of Mosiah taught at the Temple. (Alma 23:2)
The Nephites gathered at the Temple when Christ came. (3 Nephi 11:1)
The Nephite people were told Christ shall “…suddenly come to His Temple.” (3 Nephi 24:1)
Not long after my emotional experience at the massive doors and my brief scriptural searching, I was invited to join Melissa in the Ordinance Room. It was a glorious and joyful session. Melissa was so beautiful. After the session, we were invited into the Celestial Room of the Temple. My joy was filled again to overflowing as I embraced my beautiful daughter. Words cannot describe my feelings as we stood there, dressed in the robes of the Holy Priesthood, standing in the Celestial Room, surrounded by some of our closest family and friends, and knowing that Melissa’s mother (my dear Jenny) was nearby. That day, my heart was full.
“…the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in; behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts.” (Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 24: 1)
(Note: I have recently revisited the Bountiful Utah Temple. I notice the East doors no longer have the raised shapes of the Sun, Moon, and Stars. The shapes have been removed and the doors are now decorated with more standard trim.)
Some things in life are better off left unseen: the realities of war; the accidental horrors of real life; or sometimes, the manufactured evil or grotesque scenes in an explicit film. These types of events can leave negative and lasting impressions on our minds. Many are often unavoidable, especially if you are a first responder, or if you are somehow involved in the event.
However, if you are just a “standby observer,” watching these events on the sidelines is usually not healthy. We may find (or think) there are some “redeeming qualities” that make an event worth watching. However, that is usually not the case. Fortunately, as observers, we usually have the power to avoid or minimize our exposure to these scenes (change the channel, turn away, walk out, or just walk away). However, sometimes when these scenes come before our eyes, we are often curious, then intrigued, and finally tempted to continue watching. In the end, our brain takes pictures that our mind can’t easily erase. And, we will have lasting bad memories that will no doubt affect us emotionally and be hard to forget.
“Life is a stage,” and we don’t always know what will come out from behind the curtain and into our view. Much of what we see is wonderful. But occasionally, we are exposed to the evil or morbid side of life. We can’t always control what we will see. Images flash before our eyes and leave lasting impressions. However, we do have the power to avoid or minimize our exposure to their influence. Knowing when to turn away is wisdom! If you do not turn away, there is often regret.
Being a “Dad” is one of life’s greatest honors. The call of a child, “Daddy’s home,” is one of the sweetest and most beautiful calls I’ve heard! The role of “Daddy” comes with the most profound joy and the indescribable feeling of pure love. But it also comes with the sacred responsibilities of protecting our children, teaching them correct principles and helping them to become valuable contributing members of society. These are noble responsibilities that should not be taken lightly. I know at times being a Dad can be a challenge for most of us; and, to be certain, it has been a difficult road for me. I wish I could say I’ve always been a good Dad. I know I’ve been okay; I wanted to be better. But frankly, I’ve had one major setback and several personal struggles during my years as an enterprising young Dad. Regardless, over time I’ve come to a knowledge of some fundamental conclusions, and I’d like to share them. So, I write this, not because I’m an expert, but because I’ve learned some lessons over many years of being a Dad (now more than half a century).
Spiritual Preparation:
Being a parent is a sacred and spiritual responsibility. These little ones are literally spiritually begotten children of God, our Heavenly Father. He loves them more than we know! And in His great plan, He wants them protected, taught divine truths and principles, and prepared spiritually to return to Him! As parents, we need to understand that relationship; and, God expects us to understand it, too. If we are alert to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, there are many times when we look at our little ones, and we can see the spark of divinity. And at those times, we know of its truth!
Having children is not necessarily the same as being a parent. Parenting is a lifelong commitment of love, caring, nurturing, education and example. To prepare for the many responsibilities, you and I need to be our best, and we need to be spiritually prepared. To do that, we need to:
Be personally healthy and productive,
Understand the Great and Eternal Plan of Salvation,
Live the Gospel of Jesus Christ (keep His commandments),
Make and keep (Honor) sacred covenants, and
Learn to feel and rely on the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
With the help of the Holy Spirit, we will be able to respond appropriately when our children (or grandchildren) present us with teaching opportunities. ”Some of the best teaching moments start as a question or concern in the heart of a child.” Devin Durrant
Brief Overview of My Story:
My personal parenting experiences are probably very different than most. My wife and I decided early on that we wanted to have eight (8) children (that was her number, and I agreed)! We had both observed that large families seemed to be “happier” than small family units. That’s not always the case; but at the time, it seemed that way to us. So, we began our family with eight children in mind. Sadly, shortly after the birth of our seventh child, my dear wife became seriously ill and passed away suddenly. At that moment, parenting for me took on a new dimension. Our seven (7) children (ages four months through 13 years) became my sole responsibility. This was for me a near overwhelming responsibility.
My wife (my dear Jenny Marie) was a great woman, a great wife, and a great mother. In our family, she was a rock. Adored by each of us (…and, loved by everyone she knew), we all relied on her. It was a shock to us all when she died. Sadly, at the time of her death, I was ill-prepared for the sheer volume of responsibility that came with being a single parent and homemaker. In addition to my professional career, I became fully responsible for the care and well-being of the children. Add to that …there was housework! That is, there was cleaning, laundry, shopping, meal preparation, washing dishes, care for an infant, helping with school assignments, yard work, and general home management. And on top of that, there were expectations I had as the “spiritual leader” in the home: regular Daddy duties, Family Home Evenings (FHE), Family Prayers, scripture reading, church attendance, church service, bedtime stories, and periodic child counseling. Poor me!
Anyway, I struggled for many months; and, there were good people with good intentions, who said: “it was not possible for me to manage.” They wanted to find homes for all seven of my children. However, I would not allow that. I was their Dad; and, I wasn’t going to allow anyone to take them away (or separate them from each other), nor would I have someone else teach them.
Fortunately, during the first month or so, the Ward Relief Society was there to provide needed “compassionate service.” They were wonderful and at times overwhelming in their service. But they were great! Also, my two oldest children were daughters: a 13 and an 11-year-old. Both were determined to fill in for their mother. They were very helpful, and we all grew together. They were perfect evidence of the saying “the Lord makes compensations.” But at the time of the crisis, I still had to somehow get my arms around the burden of my new responsibilities. I knew I lacked many of the skills of a homemaker, and I needed to learn those skills.
I was a military man, and for me the solution was obvious. I had to “organize my unit.” I’m not recommending the following actions as the perfect solutions, but for me, they worked. We got organized. I began by writing “Our Family Vision and Mission Statement.” Then, we identified all the routine tasks that we needed to do. I created Operating Procedures/Instructions and wrote checklists for completing each household task. We also established Family Rules: what to do and what not to do! I wrote the initial draft; we met as a family council to discuss them; we modified them as necessary; and then, we voted as a family to accept and follow the final draft. Of course, we also maintained a detailed family calendar of activities and kept it up to date, as necessary.
In addition to these basic family instructions, checklists, and rules, we tried to follow guidelines from the church and “align with the Brethren.” At the risk of sounding overly simplified, we generally tried to follow the list of “key teaching opportunities” below. They are provided here for your general consideration:
Family Home Evening (FHE): Plan them ahead of time; joyfully, and faithfully follow through.
Family Prayer: Daily and meaningful.
Family Scripture Study: Learn to love and share this treasure.
Parental teaching by example (integrity): Practice what you Teach.
Listen to the Holy Spirit: Humbly respond to promptings.
Over the years, I have come to appreciate the wisdom and counsel from “the Brethren” that we should emphasize these basic activities in our homes. I say “over the years” because I know how infrequently I held an effective Family Home Evening or a meaningful Family Scripture Study. We usually held them, but I’m not sure how successful they were. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe we were more successful than I thought. I guess I’m just admitting my sense of a shortfall and expressing my sincere regret.
Now, organizing the work and writing procedures are important, but they don’t accomplish the work by themselves. They were like a compass which points the way and gives us guidance and instruction. However, I found that knowing what to do didn’t always translate into accomplishing what needed to be done. We did okay with many things, but we were less successful with others.
(Note: I learned to pray a lot in those days and years; but I confess, FHE, Family Prayers and Family Scripture Study suffered. I sometimes wish I could have a “do-over,” but it is what it is. My children put up with a great deal, but they have been forgiving, and they still love me. And, there was a “silver lining.” Being a single parent has been a growing experience.)
A New Adventure and a Wonderful Blessing:
After six (6) years as a single-parent family, the “Captain and Seven children” began a new adventure. I met a beautiful woman at a Regional Single Adult Conference in Long Beach, California. I could tell she was a good and kind person with a powerful testimony of Jesus Christ and the Great Plan of Salvation. Plus, we found we had much in common. She had come from “a military background,” so my operating procedures and checklists didn’t frighten her. And, she actually liked me. Kathy had two (2) young children of her own; and, it didn’t frighten her away when she found I had seven (7) children. After about eight months of dating and getting acquainted, we fell in love and were married and sealed together in the Holy Temple. About a year and a half later, we added an additional child to our family. We became the proverbial “yours, mine & ours” family.
Today, all ten of our children are on their own, with children of their own, but we are still on-call, ready to find additional opportunities to love and teach our grown children and our grandchildren. Frankly, we are never released from these Eternal callings. And, today our responsibility to teach correct principles, is as important as ever. As I look back on those years with the children, I think we did okay! They somehow survived, and we all still love each other.
However, I’ve often thought “what more could I have done?” “What important truths and principles should I have emphasized more?” “What truths and principles would have blessed and helped them the most?” As I’ve thought about this, I made a list. What should a parent teach his children? The answer to this is probably a “no brainer.” I know we all know this! But I wrote them down anyway to formally record and document these simple but Eternal principles we need to teach our children. So, here’s my list:
Parental Training Topics for Teaching our Children:
Introduce them to Jesus Christ (our Savior and the perfect example to follow). Live like the Savior. They already know and love Him but talk to them about Him.
Teach them to Love God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
Teach them to pray, and to learn to talk to our Heavenly Father.
Teach them to love the Scriptures, our spiritual guidebooks to learning the Commandments and the nature of God.
Teach them to keep the commandments and to “live like the Savior.”
Guide them along the Covenant Path, the path to Eternal Life (the Doctrine of Christ …Faith, Repentance, Baptism, the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and beyond).
Teach them to stay on the Covenant Path.
Teach them about the glorious and Eternal Plan of Salvation, the Plan of Happiness.
Teach them to listen to the Holy Spirit, to receive revelation. Revelation is all around us. Learn to connect Spirit to Spirit.
Strive to help them prepare for and serve full-time missions.
Teach them to prepare for Eternal Marriage in the Holy Temple.
Pray for them, and with them, during the trials and challenges of youth, and beyond.
Final Thoughts:
Today our responsibility to teach our children correct principles is as important as ever. So, in conclusion, please know this, we cannot do it effectively without the guiding influence of the Holy Spirit (aka the Holy Ghost) in our lives. He is our friend! If we are prepared and worthy, the Holy Spirit will enlighten our minds to know of Jesus Christ, to learn more of Him, to become more like Him, and to guide us in teaching our children of Christ. The Holy Spirit is the one who will prepare us to come unto Jesus Christ, our Savior. Ultimately, He will bring us into the presence of God the Father and Jesus Christ. And again, He is the one who will inspire and guide us as we strive to teach our children the truth, and He will guide them unto Jesus Christ. At that moment, if we faithfully follow the Doctrine of Christ, we will stand confidently in the presents of God the Father and His Son, Jesus the Christ.
“…in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost. I urge you to stretch beyond your current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation. Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly.” President Russell M. Nelson
The Holy Ghost should be our best friend. He’s a good friend to have. He is the third member of the Godhead. He is a God. He is “the Revelator and Sanctifier of the Truth,” and His primary mission is to bear true testimony of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Pure light and knowledge from the Father and the Son are revealed and confirmed to us by the Holy Ghost. He reveals, inspires, ratifies and confirms all light and truth. When a worthy person receives a valid sacred ordinance, it will be confirmed, ratified and sealed by the Holy Ghost (the Holy Spirit of Promise). Without the sealing power of the Holy Ghost, an ordinance is invalid and ineffectual (D&C 132:7). It is by the Holy Ghost that sacred ordinances are confirmed and the true disciples of Jesus Christ are sanctified. Is the Holy Ghost a good friend? Yes, He is a very good Friend, and it would be wise to make Him our Best Friend!
To find true joy in this life, we must develop a close relationship with the Holy Ghost. Through Him, you shall receive “knowledge upon knowledge” and “know the mysteries and peaceable things–that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.” (D&C 42:61) You will be filled with “righteousness and truth.” (D&C 121:46) For that to happen, we must begin by learning of him. Who is He; what is His mission; how does He carry out his mission; and, how can I communicate with Him? By necessity, we must learn the following: what must we do to qualify for His companionship and inspiration; how do we recognize inspiration from Him; how and when does He inspire us; what can we expect; and, what should be our response?
Learning to recognize the influence of the Holy Ghost is an important skill! If you’re eligible, then pay attention to “the still small voice” and/or “the spiritual promptings.” Watch for them! And, each time you receive inspiration, make notes of the circumstances leading up to and surrounding the event. Keep the notes in your journal. What were you doing before and during the event? Also, record the circumstance of the event, what were you doing, and how and what did you feel when it happened. Try to be specific. Do this each time you sense the Holy Ghost was guiding you. Over time, and after several events, compare your records and try to see similarities. How are these events similar? Eventually, as you carefully consider these events, you will begin to see commonalities in each experience. Remember these commonalities, and watch for them in the future. Your understanding of the workings of the Spirit will begin to increase. Soon, you will begin to more clearly recognize the promptings, when they happen, as inspired revelation from the Holy Ghost. And, you will grow in Light and Truth.
The Holy Ghost is our primary and best source for “light and truth.” Plus, He has a vast spiritual wireless network that is all around us and has unlimited range and bandwidth. His network is always UP and has an excellent signal. However, to access the network, we must have the right login credentials. Those credentials include: worthiness, spiritual preparation, humility, and a desire to know the will of God. And, of course, our personal receiver must be turned ON! It would be wise for us to “Friend Him” and always stay in contact.
Can or should we realistically expect to receive influence from the Holy Ghost? Yes, if we are worthy of his influence, and/or in serious need for his help and guidance. He may inspire and strengthen us in need, but if we are unworthy, his influence will be limited and will not remain with us. When we are carnal, devilish, generally unworthy, or just not living in accordance with our personal understanding of God’s will, we restrict or block our connection with the Holy Ghost, and His influence by necessity must withdraw.
However, regardless of who we are or what we have done in the past, our Heavenly Father still loves us because we are His children, spiritually begotten of Him. He has a Divine Plan of Happiness that can yet allow us to be with Him again. His beloved Son Jesus Christ has paid the ultimate price to redeem us (His Atonement for our sins, and His Resurrection from the dead). All He asks of us is that we come unto Him, repent and forsake our sins, keep His commandments, and make and honor our covenants with Him. And, the great gift He gives us is the promised influence of the Holy Ghost to guide us to and along the covenant path back to Him. As we stay on and progress along the path, enduring faithfully in righteousness to the end, the Holy Ghost will ultimately introduce us into the presence of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. We will stand in their presence with joy and confidence and hear them say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou has been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:21).
So, is the Holy Ghost an important influence in our efforts to become more “Christlike?” Yes, He is!
In conclusion, please read carefully the following enlightened perspective from Elder David A. Bednar concerning the powerful influence of the Holy Ghost in our lives. Read it a few times and note that “the Holy Ghost is a revealer of Truth.” The Truth is what we are after, in all humility. The truth will lead us to God and Eternal Life!
“You, nor I, cannot hide from what we really are like if we ask the Holy Ghost to help us see ourselves as we really are. The natural man and the natural woman, in my opinion, are extraordinarily adept at rationalizing and hiding from what we are really like. So, if truth is knowledge of things as they were, as they will be, and as they really are, and if the Holy Ghost is a revealer of truth, and he is, then you cannot hide behind the typical rationalizations and constructions that we have of our self when the Holy Ghost shows you things as they really are. Humility is an openness to information, some of which we may not want to receive, that helps us take steps to rely upon the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and thereby become increasingly like Him and His character.” Elder David A. Bednar
Too often, the transition from restful slumber to “awake and standing” is met with resistance. Getting out of bed early in the morning can be a challenge, especially when you have important intervening variables to manage: such as children, school and work. However, as you grow older, these variables begin to fade, and you begin to have more control over your personal life.
I’d like to share my growing love and appreciation for waking and getting up early in the morning. I honestly like and look forward to getting up early each day. But, I haven’t always felt that way. This has been a learned appreciation. It did not come naturally. At first, getting up early was by necessity; but over time, it was by choice. I observed there were two important truths about waking up: 1) it is always easier to get up when I have something positive to look forward to. So, I made it a point each night before bed, to review my calendar for the next day, and to ponder about my opportunities. And, 2) I realized, after getting out of bed, there was rarely more than about a five minute transition period between slumber and fully awake. So, I determined to always stand straight up when the alarm goes off, take a deep breath, and step away from the bed (do not sit back down on the bed). Within five minutes (or less), I was thinking clearly and ready to get on with my morning.
My personal preference is to awake and arise at 5:00 am. That is normally before sunrise. The world is dark and peaceful; and, there is a quiet and growing anticipation of morning light. I have found it to be a calm and magical time. It energizes me for the new day; and, I feel much more spiritually sensitive at that quiet time, too. These are definitely spiritual moments that make getting up early well worth the effort. Perhaps, the only possible downside to getting up early is the need to go to bed early the night before. However, going to bed early each day also has many additional advantages. (Maybe I should write about that sometime.)
Anyway, in addition to the blessings mentioned above, getting up early in the morning also has many “practical” benefits. Some of these benefits include:
You avoid some of those dumb, unrealistic, nonsense dreams that usually occur shortly before you wake up.
You enjoy that valuable and peaceful “quiet time” in the morning.
You control your natural body and put your mind and spirit in charge.
You get personal time each day to quietly contemplate, ponder, meditate and plan your day.
You give yourself time each day to prepare for your stewardships and your mission/work/life.
You allow yourself time to peacefully approach your Heavenly Father (at a regular time and place) to offer up your love and gratitude to Him in prayer, and to ask for daily guidance.
You train your body and mind to focus and be ready to receive “Further Light and Knowledge.”
You open your heart and mind to receive revelation and guidance from the Holy Spirit.
You allow quality time to prayerfully read and study the Holy Scriptures.
You allow time in the morning for a little physical exercise.
So, there you have it. Getting up early in the morning is a gift basket to yourself. In the basket you’ll find several positive benefits: greater spiritual growth, an increase of Enlightenment and Knowledge, better personal preparation and organization for the new day, better clarity of thought and productivity, greater self-esteem, increased mental awareness and insight, a longer day, a healthier life, and a far better and more optimistic outlook on the day.
NOTE: Here is a simple approach for teaching young children (toddlers) to be reverent in church. I developed and used it successfully for many years while raising our children. It was especially helpful to me when I was a widowed, single, military parent (and, raising seven children ages 4 months to 13 years old). The “procedure” probably fits nicely into the category of “Tools for Mr. Mom.” To be sure, it is a man’s approach; but, it’s not limited to men. That said, I expect there will be some “real Moms” out there who may frown a little at its application. But for me, I’m a “concrete sequential” kind of guy; and, I desperately needed to figure this out, …and write it down. So, here’s the plan:
Key Principles:
We need to make being reverent in the chapel a happy and positive experience for children. They need to think/know that being quiet on the pew with Mom and Dad is better than being elsewhere.
Children naturally act like “kids:” full of goodness, fun, curiosity, and love. But, they need to be cultivated and learn an attitude of reverence.
Patterning and learning reverence begins in the home. So, in the home, we need to begin by developing an atmosphere of reverence. We should teach it and practice it if only for brief periods each day. Reverence at church is a manifestation of how well we’re doing.
Children want to please you, and they respond well to positive reinforcement.
Basic Tools:
Soft/quiet educational toys/books for reverent activities.
An available classroom for a “Quiet Room” (try to pick an empty room).
Two hard chairs in the quiet room, facing away from each other.
Reverent Chapel Behavior:
Come to church at least 5 or 10 minutes early and sit reverently with your children (and as a family). Don’t permit them to be noisy or run and play in the chapel. Do allow the children to play quietly with their soft toys and books.
Smile and softly compliment your children when they are reverent in church (and at home).
If they become restless, speak softly to them, and encourage them to focus on quiet activities.
Advanced Reverence Training:
After the meeting/service begins, if a toddler becomes irreverent and distracting from the spirit of the meeting, escort him out of the chapel (leaving the soft quiet toys behind).
It’s usually best to carry the child out. And, if the father is available, this could well be considered “his responsibility.”
As you carry your child out of the chapel, don’t stop in the foyer or hallways. Go directly to your pre-designated “Quiet Room.”
Gently seat the child on one of the hard chairs, facing an empty wall. You sit on the other chair, with your back to the child and facing away, apparently ignoring him.
If your child tries to get off the chair, look back at him and say: “No, sit on the chair!” (It may be necessary to actually put the child back on the chair. Be gentle, but firm!) You may need to repeat this step several times before your child knows you mean it.
Eventually, the child will remain seated but will begin to cry. Wait at least 60 seconds after he starts crying. It may get loud, but that’s okay. You’re in a quiet room; and, crying won’t hurt him.
Then, after a minute or so (and while he’s crying), turn to your child, put out your hands, and say: “Do you want me to hold you?” This usually stops the crying, and the child will melt into your arms.
Please note: This is a very treasured moment with your arms wrapped around your perfect angel. Wait a few minutes and enjoy that moment.
Now, …in addition to enjoying the moment, be very careful. Your child may think the ordeal is over and want to just get down and play. If that’s the case, he needs to go back to the hard chair and you need to repeat steps 4 thru 7 again until he remains quiet (or asleep) in your arms. Once he has accepted the inevitable, stand up and walk lovingly and humbly back into Sacrament Meeting (with your sweet child comfortably in your arms) and take your seat again with your reverent family.
Possible Reinforcement or Follow-up Training:
Of course, if later he repeats the unacceptable and distracting behavior in Sacrament Meeting, escort him out again and repeat the Advanced Reverence Training steps above. Soon he will understand “it’s better to be in Sacrament Meeting and reverent.”
