Gainsayer is a strange word that a person may only run across in the scriptures, but yet it has a meaning that could commonly apply to our modern society. The definition describes a gainsaying person as one who is disagreeable and always taking issue with every point that is made. A gainsayer manipulates others and…
Category: The Book of On – Volume 2
On How Christ is Our Father
One of my Grandsons asked me, “Grandpa, I am confused by the statement in the Book of Mormon where it says that Jesus is the Father. What does that mean?” The response that follows is merely the thoughts of an old grandfather trying to answer the question of his grandson and is not to be…
On Conscience
We are all born with the Light of Christ and that provides the foundation for one’s conscience. The scriptures tell us that among many other things the Light of Christ is also; “the light that quickeneth” man’s understanding.” (D&C 88:6–13, 41)and in this manner it “is related to man’s conscience and tells him right from…
On Seeing Through a Glass Darkly
Paul speaking to the Corinthians said, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12) This basically means that whilst on this earth we can only have a poor glimpse of the…
On Simple
Simple is one of the terms used by children to sometimes express their superiority over others. I remember in my own youth being called a simpleton a few times. If simple is supposed to express something uncomplicated, why did it seem to sting so bad? The other use of it, for example, was when I…
On Being Peculiar II
President Gordon B. Hinckley said that peculiar translated from the Hebrew term means “valued treasure.” It has been translated from a Greek term that signifies “possession” or “those selected by God as His own people”….great unity is the hallmark of the true church of Christ, It is felt among our people throughout the world. We pray for…
On Patience
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, speaking to the Priesthood Session during the April 2010 conference, spoke of the importance of patience, he said, “The lessons we learn from patience will cultivate our character, lift our lives, and heighten our happiness.” He went on to say, “Patience the ability to put our desires on hold for a…
On the Crime of Justice
Years ago, in the mid-nineteen seventies, while still an administrator at a local university, I decided to enter an annual literary contest open only to faculty members. There were many entries and they were judged by a selected group of our peers. The top three entries were recognized and their pictures and the title of…
On Saying No!
When little children are tired they may be irritable and through their crying say, “No!” to everything they are asked to do. Parents may become frustrated with that disagreeable performance with the results that the child may, by sensing the parents frustration, be taught that saying “No!” is not an acceptable way to behave in…
On Courage To Become
Ordinarily when we think of courage we think of a soldier going into battle or a fireman daring to go into a burning house to save a life or a family pet. It takes courage to face danger head on and danger can have many faces. But we don’t usually think of courage when we…