The Most Desirable Above All Things

"And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the ^alove of God, which ^bsheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the ^cmost desirable above all things. And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most ^ajoyous to the soul." (1 Nephi 11:22-23)

"And now abideth ^afaith, ^bhope, ^ccharity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." (1 Cor. 13:13)

As I consider the tender mercies of the Lord toward me, my family, my friends and toward all people, there is a song that comes continually to mind.  It comes to mind in part because of the steady diet of cult classic movies upon which I was fed in my youth (think The Goonies, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Ferris Beuller's Day Off, etc.)  The song was produced by the great Huey Lewis and the News for the 1985 blockbuster film Back to the Future, and is called The Power of Love.  In this song, Mr. Lewis sang more truth than perhaps he knew: "But you'll be glad baby when you've found, that's the power makes the world go'round".  Whether it be helping others in time of need, showing understanding toward those who differ in behavior or opinion, or simply being merciful to all, there are innumerable ways to exercise the gift of charity.

Fortunately I have also been introduced to some more refined expressions of what the Apostle Paul (see also Waiting on the Road to Damascus) described as the greatest gift, and that which "never faileth".  The first is a Joni Mitchell song simply called Love, and the second is a scene from the Robert Bolt film The Mission, starring Robert Deniro, both of which are based on 1 Corinthians 13:

"1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not ^acharity, I am become as sounding
brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of ^aprophecy, and understand all ^bmysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the ^apoor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4 ^aCharity ^bsuffereth long, and is ^ckind; charity ^denvieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself ^aunseemly, ^bseeketh not her own, is not easily ^cprovoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in ^ainiquity, but rejoiceth in the ^btruth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8 Charity never ^afaileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12 For now we see through a ^aglass, ^bdarkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

13 And now abideth ^afaith, ^bhope, ^ccharity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."

In a book that confirms the truth of the Bible, the prophet Moroni recorded the words of his father:

"46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

47 But ^acharity is the pure ^blove of Christ, and it endureth ^cforever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, ^apray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true ^bfollowers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall ^cbe like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be ^dpurified even as he is pure. Amen." (Moroni 7: 46-48)

And in an epistle to his son, the prophet Mormon also wrote:

"16 ...Behold, I speak with boldness, having ^aauthority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for ^bperfect ^clove ^dcasteth out all fear.

17 And I am filled with ^acharity, which is everlasting love; wherefore, all children are alike unto me; wherefore, I love little children with a perfect love; and they are all alike and ^bpartakers of salvation." (Moroni 8:16)

So what do Huey Lewis, Joni Mitchell, Robert Deniro, the Apostle Paul, Mormon and Moroni each have to teach us? Perhaps nothing more or less than that which modern prophets have recently taught (Elder Gene R. Cook, Charity: Perfect and Everlasting Love, Elder Wirthlin, The Great Commandment, Elder Uchtdorf, The Love of God, Elder Oaks, Love and Law, Elder Holland, The First Great Commandment) or that which John the Beloved taught anciently:

"18 My little children, let us not love in word, ^aneither in tongue; but in ^bdeed and in truth." (1 John 3:18)  

Create!

Humans, like God, are innately creative beings.  In fact, as Elder Uchtdorf recently taught, "The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul."  This capacity is inherent in all of God's children.  Everyone can create.  Everyone can create masterpieces. 

For example, isn't it inspiring to watch a child draw, or write, or dance, or sing?  Even a first utterance, or a first step, is a creation of unfathomable beauty and wonder.  Each person grows to create in the way that they were designed to create. Each creation is unique.

I often draw inspiration from others who strive to develop their capacity to create.  Just yesterday, for example, I had the opportunity to tour the Museum of Art in Springville, Utah.  While this museum is not the Louvre, the Musee D'Orsay or the Uffizi Gallery, it still contains an impressive array of artwork.  Among other pieces, the Springville Museum of Art currently has on display a collection of paintings, of both sacred and secular themes, by the artist Walter Rane.  Rane is evidently a diligent student of the masters, and his diligence has paid off.  Although I still might prefer the work of Carl Bloch, Tissot or even J. Kirk Richards, Rane's handiwork is certainly of good report, and praiseworthy.  If you would like to take a brief virtual tour of this exhibit, here are some pictures of a few of the paintings that are on display:

The Springville Art Museum has many other paintings and sculptures by a wide variety of artists.  These artists have demonstrated just one of the endless ways in which it is possible to create.  Start small.  Beautify.  Create!

The Blind Men and the Elephant

The Blind Men and the Elephant

It was six men of Indostan
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind.
The First approach'd the Elephant,
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl:
"God bless me! but the Elephant
Is very like a wall!"
The Second, feeling of the tusk,
Cried, -"Ho! what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me 'tis mighty clear
This wonder of an Elephant
Is very like a spear!"
The Third approached the animal,
And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake:
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant
Is very like a snake!"
The Fourth reached out his eager hand,
And felt about the knee.
"What most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain," quoth he,
"'Tis clear enough the Elephant
Is very like a tree!"
The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
Said: "E'en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can,
This marvel of an Elephant
Is very like a fan!"
The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Then, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant
Is very like a rope!"
And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right,
And all were in the wrong!
MORAL.
So oft in theologic wars,
The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean, And prate about an Elephant Not one of them has seen! 

     -  John Godfrey Saxe's ( 1816-1887) version of the famous Indianlegend

Duck Beach 2013

Another memorable Memorial Day weekend has come and gone at Duck Beach.  There seemed to be fewer people at Duck this year, which could mean that more people got married, or that fewer people thought it worth the time and money to venture forth to the Outer Banks.  Whatever the case, those who did participate enjoyed it to the fullest, and some may have even graduated with the proverbial diploma (e.g. a significant other).

This was my senior year at Duck, since I have made the trek every year since 2010.  As usual, I enjoyed the friendship, the socializing, the beach volleyball, the ocean, the beautiful surroundings, and most everything about the experience.  This year, I particularly enjoyed the Sunday worship services at the Kitty Hawk Junior High School.  In commemoration of those who have so valiantly fought to preserve our liberties, we sang America the Beautiful as a closing hymn.  Having temporarily left the majestic purple mountains of the West to appreciate the spacious skies of the East it occurred to me that it remains our duty to "crown" the good of America with brotherhood.  This verse from the hymn brought to mind a principle taught by the Prophet Joseph Smith:

"'Friendship is one of the grand fundamental principles of 'Mormonism'; [it is designed] to revolutionize and civilize the world, and cause wars and contentions to cease and men to become friends and brothers" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 316).

Certainly there are still flaws to be mended, and gold to be refined in America in order for all success to be nobleness and every gain divine.  But as we sang this closing hymn I felt that God has indeed shed his grace on this nation.  I also got to wear shorts to church which definitely augmented the sense of joy that I felt.

While I am on the topic of friendship and brotherhood, I should add that some friends and I took a short detour to the Wright Brothers Monument in Kitty Hawk.  I do not doubt that the brothers Wilbur and Orville were enlightened in the process of invention, but I couldn't help but think that the environment in which they worked acted as a catalyst to creativity.  The beautiful blue sky, the green foliage, the view of the ocean, the myriad birds, the fresh breezes... everything seemed combined together to inspire heart and mind.  In other words, had these brothers lived in a barren wasteland, we might still be waiting for the invention of the airplane.

All in all, Duck Beach 2013 was a success.  Those who have participated can attest that it is not just a Mormon version of Jersey Shore (as one documentary appears to have depicted it).  I met many lively and interesting people, and there was much that is virtuous, lovely, of good report and praiseworthy to appreciate and record.

  

In the Presence of Heavenly Beings

"I believe we move and have our being in the presence of heavenly messengers and of heavenly beings. We are not separate from them. We begin to realize more and more fully, as we become acquainted with the principles of the Gospel, as they have been revealed anew in this dispensation, that we are closely related to our kindred, to our ancestors, to our friends and associates and co-laborers who have preceded us into the spirit world. We cannot forget them; we do not cease to love them; we always hold them in our hearts, in memory, and thus we are associated and united to them by ties that we can not break, that we can not dissolve or free ourselves from. If this is the case with us in our finite condition, surrounded by our mortal weaknesses, shortsightedness, lack of inspiration and wisdom from time to time, how much more certain it is and reasonable and consistent to believe that those who have been faithful, who have gone beyond and are still engaged in the work for the salvation of the souls of men, the opening of the prison doors to them that are bound and proclaiming liberty to the captives who can see us better than we can see them; that they know us better than we know them. They have advanced; we are advancing; we are growing as they have grown; we are reaching the goal that they have attained unto; and therefore, I claim that we live in their presence, they see us, they are solicitous for our welfare, they love us now more than ever. For now they see the dangers that beset us; they can comprehend better than ever before, the weaknesses that are liable to mislead us into dark and forbidden paths. They see the temptations and the evils that beset us in life and the proneness of mortal beings to yield to temptation and to wrong doing; hence their solicitude for us and their love for us and their desire for our well being must be greater than that which we feel for ourselves. I thank God for the feeling that I possess and enjoy and for the realization that I have, that I stand, not only in the presence of Almighty God, my Maker and Father, but in the presence of His Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Savior of the world; and I stand in the presence of Peter and James, (and perhaps the eyes of John are also upon us and we know it not); and that I stand also in the presence of Joseph and Hyrum and Brigham and John, and those who have been valiant in the testimony of Jesus Christ and faithful to their mission in the world, who have gone before. When I go I want to have the privilege of meeting them with the consciousness that I have followed their example, that I have carried out the mission in which they were engaged as they would have it carried out; that I have been as faithful in the discharge of duty committed to me and required at my hand as they were faithful in their time, and that when I meet them I shall meet them as I met them here, in love, in harmony, in unison and in perfect confidence that I have done my duty as they have done theirs." (Conference Report, April 1916, p.3)

- Joseph F. Smith

The Unspeakable Gift

A description of the effects of the Holy Ghost:

“[His influence] quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands and purifies all the natural passions and affections; and adapts them, by the gift of wisdom, to their lawful use. It inspires, develops, cultivates and matures all the fine-toned sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred feelings and affections of our nature. It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness and charity. It develops beauty of person, form and features. It tends to health, vigor, animation and social feeling. It invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man. It strengthens, and gives tone to the nerves. In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being” (Key to the Science of Theology, 9th ed. [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1965], p. 101).  

- Parley P. Pratt

(See also, Elder Jay E. Jensen The Unspeakable Gift)

As If Ye Were Present: Reflections on the Book of Mormon

"And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received- Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation. And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all.  And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written-" (D&C 84:54-57)

Today I finished reading The Book of Mormon in Portuguese.  I was not surprised to discover that The Book of Mormon is also true in Portuguese.  Some people, particularly those who come from Brazil or Portugal (or who served missions in those countries), might even argue that the book is more true in Portuguese, while others, in Spain and in other Spanish speaking countries, might claim that it is most true in Spanish.  (There might be some truth to both of these claims, especially considering the audiences that many of The Book of Mormon prophets had in mind while doing the work of engraving.)  I have also read The Book of Mormon in English, Spanish, French and Italian, but I have not as yet read The Book of Mormon in any Native American language.  I imagine that The Book of Mormon is also true in those languages.  My copies of The Book of Mormon in Arabic and in Hebrew are gathering dust on the shelves, and I will probably read The Book of Mormon in the original reformed Egyptian before I finish either of those.  No matter the language in which it was composed or into which it has been translated, The Book of Mormon is the word of God, a marvelous work and a wonder.  No matter how many times or how thoroughly one studies The Book of Mormon, there is always something to rediscover or to discover for the first time.

Not long ago the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced that the 150 millionth copy of The Book of Mormon had been printed, and Wikipedia indicates that The Book of Mormon has been translated into 90 + different languages.  Many will recall President Benson's invitation to flood the earth with The Book of Mormon, and his promise to those who engage in regular and prayerful study of the book:

“I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity—the pure love of Christ—will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness” (Ensign, May 1980, p. 67).

Certainly it is important not to neglect the living prophets, The Bible (See, Elder Ballard, The Miracle of the Bible) or the rest of the Standard Works, but there is something unique about The Book of Mormon.  More recently President Gordon B. Hinckley reiterated the importance of The Book of Mormon,  and Elder Neal A. Maxwell proffered this challenging statement regarding The Book of Mormon: 

"There is so much more in the Book of Mormon than we have yet discovered. The book’s divine architecture and rich furnishings will increasingly unfold to our view, further qualifying it as “a marvelous work and a wonder” (Isaiah 29:14). As I noted from this pulpit in 1986, “The Book of Mormon is like a vast mansion with gardens, towers, courtyards, and wings (Book of Mormon Symposium, 10 October 1986)."

On another occasion, Elder Maxwell stated "I am glad the book will be with us 'as long as the earth shall stand.' I need and want additional time. For me, towers, courtyards, and wings await inspection. My tour of it has never been completed. Some rooms I have yet to enter, and there are more flaming fireplaces waiting to warm me. Even the rooms I have glimpsed contain further furnishings and rich detail yet to be savored. There are panels inlaid with incredible insights and design and decor dating from Eden. There are also sumptuous banquet tables painstakingly prepared by predecessors which await all of us. Yet, we as Church members sometimes behave like hurried tourists, scarcely venturing beyond the entry hall to the mansion."

I too need and want additional time.  Certain scholars, such as Grant Hardy and M. Joseph Spencer  have devoted much time and diligent effort to a serious study of the Book of Mormon.  But one need not be a trained scholar to understand, appreciate, and most importantly to apply the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that are contained in The Book of Mormon.  Even a child can understand.  The Prophet Joseph Smith once declared that "I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”

While finishing the record of his father, the prophet Moroni boldly declared: "Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing." (Mormon 8:35)  Moroni witnessed the destruction of his entire civilization.  He also abridged the record of Ether, an earlier prophet who had witnessed the destruction of his entire civilization.  Like other prophets of The Book of Mormon, Moroni also witnessed future calamities.  Like Isaiah, Moroni stood in the midst of past, present and future destruction, witnessing and warning of the causes thereof, and teaching the universal need for repentance.  

One might wonder, if the Nephites had access to the record of the Jaredites, why weren't they able to avoid the same fate as the Jaredites?  One might also wonder if Moroni, a survivor of a once thriving civilization, a historian who was intimately familiar with the destruction of an earlier civilization, and a witness to future calamities, might have something to say to us now, as if he were present?  What might he say?  In January of 1831 for the occasion of a conference of the Church, the Prophet Joseph Smith received a revelation in which the Lord declared: "And if ye seek the riches which it is the will of the Father to give unto you, ye shall be the richest of all people, for ye shall have the riches of eternity; and it must needs be that the riches of the earth are mine to give; but beware of pride, lest ye become as the Nephites of old." (D&C 38:39)  The Jaredites, the Nephites and the early saints received ample warnings, and those same warnings have continued in modern times (see President Benson, Beware of Pride, and President Uchtdorf, Pride and the Priesthood).   

After Moroni had witnessed the destruction of his family and his entire civilization, and after having abridged the record of the destruction of the Jaredites, he supposed that he would not have written more.  What more could this lone, wandering Nephite have left to write for future generations?  What was Moroni inspired to write about, and why?  Why not just end The Book of Mormon with the account of his father?  After all, he was alone, hunted by the Lamanites, and the custodian of many records. Why include the Jaredite record? and why include his own record?

Moroni chose a few more things to include in his own record, writing for the benefit of the future generations of Lamanites.  His own account includes a record of Christ's choosing and ordaining of the twelve among the Nephites, the conferral of the gift of the Holy Ghost, the ordination of priests and teachers, the administration of the sacrament bread and wine, the principles of repentance, faith in Christ, baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the workings of the Spirit in the Church of Jesus Christ.  Then, Moroni chose to include a timeless sermon of his father to the Nephites who were the peaceable followers of Christ, on faith, hope and charity.  Of all the sermons and of all the records that Moroni had to choose from (and certainly there were many) why did he choose to include this one? 

The conclusion of The Book of Mormon includes teachings on the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the purity of little children, charity, and another epistle of Mormon to his son Moroni.  Mormon knew that if the Nephites perished, they would perish like the Jaredites (Moroni 9:23), but this did not excuse Moroni from finishing the work that he was called to do:

"My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever.  And may the grace of God the Father, whose throne is high in the heavens, and our Lord Jesus Christ, who sitteth on the right hand of his power, until all things shall become subject unto him, be and abide with you forever. Amen." (Moroni 9:25-26)

What more beautiful letter has a father ever written to his son?  In the final chapter of The Book of Mormon Moroni testifies of the truthfulness of the record, of Jesus Christ, of His grace, and of the gifts of the Holy Ghost.  He invites all to study and ponder the message of The Book of Mormon, and to ask God the Eternal Father, with a sincere heart and real intent, if these things are not true, and to come unto Christ and be perfected in Him.

I love The Book of Mormon.  In any of the 90 + languages into which it has been translated, it is true.  I am grateful for any additional time to repent and to remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments, to do according to that which is written, and to feast upon the words of Christ that The Book of Mormon contains:

"Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy, hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your souls delight in fatness." (2 Ne. 9:51)

Something in the Way: A Nod to The Beatles

Lately there have been a lot of songs by The Beatles coming to my mind.  There are only a few of their songs that I have learned to strum on the guitar: Blackbird, Yesterday, Norwegian Wood... but these Liverpool legends produced many musical masterpieces that are worthy of note.  While I can't possibly list all of them, I did begin to compile a list of some of my favorite songs, and I included a few that I had never heard before.

The Beatles are the best selling band in history, with Love Me Do as one of their earliest hits.  P.S. I Love You was also an early hit.  So simple. So pure.  Of course, Beatlemania occurred before I was born, but it is the kind of music that stands the test of time.  I have a lot more research to do before I can consider myself a true connaisseur of The Beatles, but in the mean time, here is the list that I have begun to compile...

Favorites (thus far):

- Something
- While My Guitar Gently Weeps
- I Will
- Here, There and Everywhere
- Golden Slumbers
- In My Life
- Here Comes the Sun
- Till There Was You
- Two of Us
- Michelle
- I Saw Her Standing There
- And Your Bird Can Sing
- All Things Must Pass
- Soldier of Love
- I'll Follow the Sun
- I'm Looking Through You
- If I Fell
- I Should Have Known Better
- For You Blue
- For No One
- And I Love Her
- All My Lovin'
- Across the Universe
- A Taste of Honey


I would also include George Harrison's My Sweet Lord and Apple Scruffs, and Lennon's Beautiful Boy. 

Here is a list of a few more Beatles songs that I enjoy (without the links):

- I'm in Love
- Tomorrow Never Knows
- Love You Too
- Love of the Loved
- Long, Long, Long
- Lovely Rita Meter Maid
- Revolution
- Tip of My Tongue
- Hide Your Love Away
- We Can Work it Out
- Wait
- Things We Said Today
- Old Brown Shoe
- One and One is Two
- No Reply
- Not Guilty
- Penny Lane
- Paper Back Writer
- One after 909
- There's a Place
- The Word
- The Night Before
- The Inner Light
- The Honey Moon Song
- The Fool on the Hill
- That Means a Lot
- Taking a Trip to Carolina
- You're Gonna Lose that Girl
- Yer Blues
- Words of Love
- What You're Doing
- Watching Rainbows
- To Know Her is to Love Her
- Sure to Fall in Love With You
- Some Other Guy
- Rain
- Slow Down
- Searchin'
- Sun King
- Like Dreamers Do
- Junk
- Julia
- Johnny B. Goode
- I'm Only Sleeping
- I want you
- I want to tell you
- Hold me tight
- Hey Jude
- Let it be
- Hey Bulldog
- Her Majesty
- Heather
- Girl
- Don't bother me
- Day Tripper
- Dig a Pony
- Cry baby cry
- Can't buy me love
- Because
- Bad to me
- Baby it's you
- Ask me why
- Act naturally
- World without love
- A Hard Days Night

Which are your favorite Beatles songs?

A Night at the Opera

Last night I attended the Utah Valley Symphony production of "Opera's Greatest Hits" at the Covey Center for the Arts in Provo.  There is another event tonight, and tickets are only $10 or $12.  Perhaps it goes without saying, but this performance was a musical delight, a treat for the ears as well as the soul.

During the symphony, the conductor gave brief explanations to introduce each of the songs.  These background sketches made the songs more meaningful and more enjoyable, and the musicians were superb.  There will be a few different songs performed tonight, but some of the opera pieces from last night's performance include: Der Rosenkavalier (R. Strauss), Musetta's Waltz, La Bohème (G. Puccini), Hai già vinta la causa, The Marriage of Figaro (W.A. Mozart), Ombra mai fu, Serse (G.F. Handle), La ci darem la mano, Don Giovanni (W.A. Mozart), La donna è mobile, Rigoletto (G. Verdi), Nabucco overture (G. Verdi), Sous le dôme épais (Lakmé) (L. Delibes), Una furtiva lagrima, L'elisir d'amore (G. Donizetti), O mio babbino caro, Gianni Schicchi (G. Puccini), March from "The Love of the Three Oranges" (S. Prokofieff), Bei Männern, Magic Flute (W.A. Mozart), Papageno, Papagena, Magic Flute (W.A. Mozart).

And it looks like tonight there will be a rendition of L'amour est un oiseau rebelle from Bizet's Carmen...

Moab: The Maiden Voyage

Last Friday I joined some friends for a weekend mountain biking trip to Moab, Utah.  Although I have always enjoyed bike riding, and although I had been to Moab a couple of times before, I had as yet never put the two together.  After saving up for a bike, I finally decided to make the purchase and take her on her maiden voyage.  And there was much rejoicing.

Thanks to the generosity of Grandpa Bob in reserving a camp site, a delicious breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon and olives, and a snug shammy, I was prepared to gallivant through the trails and slick rock of DinoFlow and EKG.  With a little help from more experienced riders (as well as a borrowed pair of sun glasses and shared sunscreen), I soon learned to navigate the ups and downs, the twists and turns.  Along the approximately ten miles of terrain I had plenty of time to enjoy the beauty of the desert and to contemplate the life metaphors that such a journey brought to mind.  I will spare you an elaboration of these metaphors, but perhaps at least one is worth noting.  As is to be expected when mountain biking, I took a couple of spills, but my third crash was the most fortunate because I narrowly avoided plummeting into a menacing patch of cacti.  As I picked up my bike and glanced around at the impressive array of thorns and needles, all I could think at that moment, and now, is "Thank you God".

After enjoying some gnocchi at an Italian Restaurant, returning to camp, and rinsing off, we all decided to rendezvous at Dead Horse Point before heading home.  The view from Dead Horse Point was nothing short of spectacular.  The immensity of the panorama caused me to stand in awe at the magnificence of God's creations.  I was happy to discover that I was not alone in my revery when I overheard a conversation in French taking place a few yards away from where I was standing.  After I introduced myself to a man and his family from Marseilles, he explained to me they had explored many places in Southern Utah, but the view from Dead Horse Point was more spectacular than he could have imagined.  This good man was visibly moved by the glory of creation before him, which amplified the sense of awe that I had also felt.

All of this caused me to ponder the words of the Psalmist: "when I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou has ordained; What is man, that thou are mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?" (Psalms 8:3-4) Well could I echo the words that Nephi recorded when he overheard his father Lehi giving praise to God: "Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty! Thy throne is high in the heavens, and thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth; and, because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee that they shall perish!" (1 Ne. 1:14) 

After this experience, I think there could be some truth to the bumper sticker that I have seen on occasion: "London - Paris - Rome - Tokyo - Berlin - Beijing - MOAB".

 

Great are the Words of Isaiah

"And now, behold, I say unto you, that ye ought to search these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah." - 

3 Nephi 23:1

Who was Isaiah? Why did the Lord give the commandment to diligently search the words of Isaiah?

The Hebrew name  (Yesha'yahu) means "the Lord (YAHWEH) is salvation".  The LDS Bible Dictionary describes Isaiah as "a prophet in Jerusalem during 40 years, 740-701 B.C." who had "great religious and political influence during the reign of Hezekiah, whose chief advisor he was".  He was a martyr and the most quoted of all the prophets. The Lord promised that all of Isaiah's prophecies, whether concerning events of his day or of future events (or both), would be fulfilled. (3 Ne. 23:1-3)  Many of Isaiah's prophecies have yet to be fulfilled.

Isaiah prophesied of Christ and taught of the universal need for repentance and obedience to God's law.  Among other things, he also prophesied of the restoration of the house of Israel.  The LDS Bible Dictionary explains that "A major difficulty in understanding the book of Isaiah is his extensive use of symbolism, as well as his prophetic foresight and literary style; these take many local themes (which begin in his own day) and extend them to a latter-day fulfillment or application. Consequently, some prophecies are probably fulfilled more than one time and have more than one application."

There have been many books written, and many commentaries made on the Book of Isaiah, including Elder Bruce R. McConkie's "10 Keys to Understanding Isaiah", Victor Ludlow's Isaiah: Prophet, Seer & Poet, and Avraham Gileadi's New Translation of the Book of Isaiah, complete with Apocalyptic commentary, but the greatest key to understanding Isaiah is the Holy Ghost or the Spirit of Prophecy (2 Ne. 25:4-5).  The prophet Nephi declared that "in the days that the prophecies of Isaiah shall be fulfilled men shall know of a surety, at the times when they shall come to pass." (2 Ne. 25:7)  Nephi also declared that Isaiah's words were recorded specifically for our time and for our benefit. (2 Ne. 25:8).


In his day, Nephi rehearsed (1 Ne. 15:20) and read (1 Ne. 19:23) the words of Isaiah to his people in order to "more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer".  The LDS Bible Dictionary entry on Isaiah concludes with this promise and invitation: "The reader today has no greater written commentary and guide to understanding Isaiah than the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants. As one understands these works better he will understand Isaiah better, and as one understands Isaiah better, he more fully comprehends the mission of the Savior and the meaning of the covenant that was placed upon Abraham and his seed by which all the families of the earth would be blessed."