So Now You Know....

During and after my medical examination this morning, Dr. McCormack used words such as "wonderful", "perfect", "amazing", "remarkable", and "beyond all reasonable expectations" to describe me.
So now you know.

Postscript: The numerous comments made on this blog entry have been dwarfed by the number of emails sent to my home email address. Although some surprised me and others amused me, all have been appreciated. I continue to stand all amazed at how many times God has blessed me, so much so that I scarce can take it all in. Thank you.

Powerball-The cruelest tax of all

The recent frenzy over the "Powerball" lottery jackpot reminded me of a statement by Kansas minister Joe Wright:
"We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery."

Sent to an friend of almost 40 years

Your observation that I am "deep" ... took me somewhat by surprise...., so much so that it has been on my mind ever since then.
To be sure, I do my home-teaching, attend my meetings (LDS Church services), pay my tithes & other offerings, go to the Temple, and also do some volunteer work as a union officer and in the local rotary club; but my efforts pale in comparison to all you do and how you serve, all without hesitation or counting the cost to your own personal needs.
...
...
...
... grateful for all that God has done for me, I also know that He wants, most of all, for us to lose ourselves in service to others, and, when all is said and done, you are much more His faithful and obedient servant than I ever could hope to be.

A Feedback Reply to an LDS Friend (See the entry: A Prophet's Call...)

Dear XXXXXX,
...Although it's amazing to me how only 15 minutes a day of Scripture reading can get you through all of the Scriptures (Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine Covenants, & Pearl of Great Price) each year, I continue to stand all amazed at the number of times David O. McKay had read the entire Book of Mormon.
I've been a member since 1969, and only have read the Book of Mormon completely about 40 times (although I just finished reading it yesterday for the second time this year).
It just reminds me of how much other stuff I do and read, and especially how irrelevant most of it is to what really counts, both now and for eternity.
-Larry
--------------------------------------------------------------
Larry,
Re: "Almost"..how true!
Re: "A Prophets Call"... I'm doing it, BUT am behind schedule due to .....
XXXXXXX

Almost?

Have you ever noticed how some of us cope with the reality of our bad choices by denying that we have a choice to change our situations?
It's almost like saying we don't believe in Christ's unconditional gift of our moral agency and the power of His Atonement.
Almost?

A Prophet's Call: Reading the Book of Mormon

Gordon B. Hinckley, President & Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), recently challenged all Latter-day Saints to reread the Book of Mormon (Another Testament of Jesus Christ) by the end of this year.
His call for more Scripture study hearkens me back to a former LDS Prophet & President, David O. McKay, who once said that he had read the Book of Mormon over 300 times.
Each time he read it, he learned new things and drew nearer and nearer to Jesus Christ.
So it has been for me, and so it also can be for you.
For a free copy of the Book of Mormon, call 1-888-537-2200.

Memories from my Youth in Hagerstown, MD

The announcement in Church this morning of the Martinsburg, WV Stake (regional) Conference on Sunday, October 30th at the Maryland Theater in Hagerstown, Maryland (10:00 AM) brought back lots of teenage memories.
When I was a teenager, my next door neighbor and best friend Ray Geyer (the one who introduced me to the Church) used to spend a lot of time with me, going to the movies at the Maryland Theater.
Back then, the movie theater was the only place in town with air-conditioning (none of us had it in our homes), and we went to the afternoon matinees, mostly just to escape the Summer heat (and also my pollen alllergies).
I have a particularly vivid memory of Ray and me sitting in the balcony, throwing "Good & Plenty" licorice candy at the patrons on the main floor.
I also remember that the "Good & Plenty" candy box also worked as a particulary fine whistle if you blew through the end of the empty box.
There were three theaters in downtown Hagerstown at that time and the Maryland was the cheapest at 75 cents, and they also always had double features.
The other two theaters, the "Colonial" and the "Henry's" are long gone now, but the Maryland has been restored and still survives, albeit now with different community and cultural programming.

Thank You, Benjamin.

Benjamin Person was a North Carolinian, born in 1737, and, early this morning in the Washington D.C. Temple, the privilege was provided for me to complete his endowments.
Many images coursed through my mind during his endowment ordinances; among which were how he has waited for over 200 years to receive these Providential gifts, and also how he lived through and experienced the very birth of our nation.
Ben's presence this morning, as well as his gratitude, was palpable.
Then, while exiting down the stairwell of the Temple and silently mouthing a prayer of gratitude for Christ's Atonement and my own privilege of Temple service, notwithstanding my own fulsome flaws and failings;the power and presence of the Holy Ghost set my lips quivering and tears welling up within my eyes.
Thank you, Benjamin.

My Favorite Single Word from the Scriptures

That word is "Mary", and it was spoken by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to Mary as she wept at the entrance to His tomb.
She, supposing him to be the gardener, tearfully asked Him where they had taken her Lord.
In my mind's eye, I readily and clearly visualize that supernal scene and His loving regard for Mary.
In that one exquisite word (her name), Christ lifted Mary from the depths of despair and reassured her of His eternal love.

A Dream

In the wee hours of this morning, I awakened from a delightful dream.
In it, I was tired and afoot in Cumberland, Maryland.
It was many years ago (not long after my conversion to the Gospel), my car had broken down, and I was wearily trying to make my way to Church.
John & Grace Cline, newly married, drove by and picked me up on their way to Church.
On the way, we had a wonderful visit, although I now can't remember
the details of our dream conversation.
Upon awakening however, I was reminded of when Grace Ogle first brought her nonmember boyfriend, John Cline, with her to our old LDS meetinghouse on Columbia Street in Cumberland. (That must have been in the early 1970's or thereabouts)
I also have a very poignant memory of a Washington, D.C. Temple endowment session with Grace's Dad, Ralph Ogle.
John, a humble and quiet man, now is a Bishop, and John and Grace have grown children who have served honorable missions.