Hearing has always been a problem for most people, we listen but we do not hear. Or, we hear what we want to hear and disregard the rest. One of the most important requests made to Joseph Smith by the Father during the first vision was, “This is my Beloved Son, Hear Him.” Nearly every…
Category: The Book of On – Volume 4
On Confidence II
We don’t always know what motivates us to do what we do, but it is often influenced by what is happening in our environment. I was a young boy during the Second World War, and I remember listening to the radio about what was going on in the European front, the Pacific front and hearing…
On Love (A Valentine Message)
“Love one another; as I have loved you.” ( John 13:34) To love everyone, as suggested by that scripture, is to be able to see yourself, your hopes, desires, fears and your ambitions in the lives of everyone around you. My granddaughter, Sarah (a recently returned missionary) in one of her letter’s home wrote a…
On Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln is one of the few persons, or even things, that I can remember from my early education. He was so impressive coming from a poor environment and having put so much importance on an education. Having failed to win public office several times, where he thought he could do some good for his…
On Risk Taking
Can a person living on this earth avoid taking risks? I think not! The following poem written by an unknown author says it very well: To laugh—is to risk appearing the fool;To weep—is to risk appearing sentimental;To reach out for another—is to risk involvement;To expose feelings—is to risk exposing your true self;To place your ideas,…
On Vanity
“Vanity of vanities,” saith the Preacher, “all is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2) Every once in awhile, we will read or hear a good story describing the vain. One of the best happened in real life to me. It is the story of the ‘toupees:’ “Years ago, I was attending a meeting in St. George, Utah with…
On The Origin of Man
Bertrand Russell once said, “Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.” I know that I am a little eccentric and others know it too. That is the only reason I expose my opinion about such a complex issue as, ‘The Origin of Man.’ When I first…
On Things Change, Thank Goodness!
I have always had a love affair with cars, and during the course of my long life, I have probably had between 75 and 100 of them. There are some, that at this point in my life, I don’t even remember having. When I was a young man, cars were somewhat simple mechanically, and I…
On Being a Little Salty
I have always loved salt on my food, even when doctors began telling us that it was not good for us, I would use it anyway. Food, generally, is so bland without salt that I would rather give up eating than eat without salt. I have as much faith in salt as the Savior Himself….
On Loads Give Us Traction
There are several ways that the word traction can be used, but the most common in this modern age is in respect to a tire on a road surface. The following story is one told by my youngest son at a church meeting in New York City—a story that he would never tell to his…