How do you try to achieve Harmony?

That We May Be One
By Appreciable Goodfaithpoet

When we write the tune, that forms our short life,
We observe all too soon, that there will be strife.

In a choir and band, there must be music players.
And though the piece is grand, it can be played by music slayers.

For, even if we plan the most beautiful thing,
We’ll loose our best fan, if it’s flat when they sing.

I now clearly see, it is God that I should trust.
If our duet becomes off-key, then MY tuning I'll adjust.

Yes, that's the key to life, to trust in God above,
And overcome all strife, with harmony and love.

What does being "ordained" mean to you?

I was reading a news magazine the other day and in a small section titled Consumer Leisure I found the following list.

The Internet sites for online ordination:

• themonastery.org, the site of Universal Life Church Monastery, performs online ordination for free, instantly. The church's ordination not only qualifies you to marry but also to "bury, anoint, or exorcise others."
• spiritualhumanism.org, will ordain at no cost, but requires an email "within 48 hours of sign-up to activate ordination credentials."
• amfellow.org, the American Fellowship Church site, charges $25 plus a $3 fee for ordination. The AFC requires "signature and document mail-in" - meaning you may wait up to two weeks before officially being ordained.
• dudism.com is the online shrine of the unconventional Church of the Latter-Day Dude. If you don't mind the frequent uses of "dude," become ordained instantaneously at no cost.

I just don't think ordination can occur over the Internet. What does "ordination" mean to you?

The Grace of God

The Grace of God
By Appreciable Goodfaithpoet

Grace is not the removal of consequences for ongoing bad behavior. Grace is the miraculous, divine help that transforms us as people so that we can correct and overcome bad behavior. Imagine that a new oil company was started and this company had unlimited resources. They quickly build gas stations in every town in the world and announce that gas at these stations is free of charge. We could sit at home and say, “the gas is free, I don’t need to do anything to receive it.” If we held these beliefs, we would not get very far when we attempted to drive our vehicles. Even though the gas is free we need to go to an authorized gas station to fill up our tank. The gas is truly free, and there are still requirements to receive it. “Without faith it is impossible to please him, for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them who diligently seek him.” “Faith without works is dead.” Knowing that the gas is free is not enough to sufficiently fuel our repentance and conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ. We must also go to the authorized station and fill up our tank once a week. This will help us to have the power to arrive at our destination, eternal life in the presence of God. Can we boast about the journey that we have made? No, it was God who provided the gasoline.

What does repentance mean to Mormons?

I recently read a blog talking about a Mormon Repentance Quiz. It said that Mormon's believe it is too hard to repent. The blogger used the Doctrine and Covenants to pose True and False questions about repentance. I think he was trying to scare people away from being a Mormon by saying, "It's too hard." I can't help but chuckle at that - ironically, he also things the rewards for Mormons are "too great".

I have taken the liberty to adjust the requirements of his Mormon repentance quiz and modified it to use the Bible as the word on the subject.

Have you met the requirements of repentance as defined by Jesus Christ?
1. True or False? According to the Jesus Christ, people who repent of their sins forsake their sin.
2. True or False? True repentance involves keeping the commandments.
3. True or False? In order to live with Heavenly Father you must stop sinning.
4. True or False? True repentance means never repeating that sin again.
5. True or False? A crucial test of repentance is abandonment of the sin.
6. True or False? If you hope to achieve exaltation in the next life, you must overcome your sin in this life.
7. True or False? Repenting of only some sins never results in complete forgiveness.

Answer Key:
1. True: "He that coverth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." (Proverbs 28:13) John was baptizing and people came to Jordan "confessing their sins" to be baptized and when the Pharisees and Sadducees came John rebuked them saying "Bring forth therefore fruit meet for repentance". What is the "fruit", if not repentance?

2. True: True: Jesus says "For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." Jesus then goes on to explain being angry is sin, if you don't forgive a brother it is sin, lusting after a woman is sin, swearing is a sin, not loving your enemies is a sin… "For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not the publicans the same?" If you can't be like the Pharisees and publicans, doesn't that mean you have to follow the commandments of God?

3. Jesus Christ says "That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven… Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Doesn't being perfect mean "stop sinning". (Matthew 5:45-48)

4. True: "As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly." (Proverbs 26:11) 2 Peter 2 describes quite a few that were destroyed because of their persistence in sin.

5. True: Else why would Jesus "upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not"? Those cities did not abandon their sins, so Jesus continued to upbraid them. Are you suggesting that you can continue in sin and magically be saved?

6. True: Paul says the sorrow of the world worketh death, but "godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation" (2 Corinthians 7:9-10) If one does not feel godly sorrow for things done wrong, how can repentance lead to salvation? Jesus commanded "be perfect". That is His standard not a Mormon standard. Additionally, Jesus said to the young man desiring eternal life "but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." I don't see where Jesus said anything about not keeping a few of his commandments and you can still enter into "life".

7. True: Unless you are suggesting one can "be perfect" while sinning? A shirt with dirt on the inside is still a dirty shirt. Jesus said "Whosoever therefore shall break one of the least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:19) So which sins can you keep and make it into eternal life?

So, how did you do?

5-7 Celestial

2-3 Terrestrial

1 Telestial

But don't worry too much, because Mormon's believe everyone gets a reward for trying!

Source: Picture of Repentance Tough on Sins (I loved the Jedi's too)

Where to find Mormon Music? And do Mormons listen to Evangelical Christian music?

This afternoon my wife found a website called Pandora.com. It is a free music website that plays songs based on your favorites. For instance, if you wanted to listen to Country music, you can type in the name of a song and a playlist will be created for you. The website will play tons of songs based on your preference for music. It creates a great mix of spiritual music for Sundays.

This brings me to the title of this post, "Where to find Mormon Music? Do Mormons listen to Evangelical Christian music?". At Pandora.com we entered "Mormon Tabernacle Choir". Turns out Pandora play lots of LDS music and it mixes in the likes of Charolette Church, Greg Buchanan, David Phelps, Jeff Majors, and the London Philharmonic Choir. It's been a joy to listen to.

Mormons believe good music can help you feel more spiritual. In fact, one of the articles of faith states, "If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." Music has been a part of Mormon worship services since the early days of Mormonism. The following quote is from LDS.org:

Three months after the Church was organized [in April of 1830], the Lord,
through the Prophet Joseph Smith, instructed Joseph's wife, Emma, to make a
selection of sacred hymns for the Church: "For my soul delighteth in the song of
the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be
answered with a blessing upon their heads" (D&C 25:12).

Additionally, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints created a website that holds all of their hymns. Now you can listen or download the hymns before you go to a meeting. Pandora.com has made a difference in our Sundays, I recommend setting up a Mormon Tabernacle Choir station to all my friends: both Evangelical and not.

Here is a song by David Phelps, I might not agree with his doctrine and the Chrisitan stores selling his CDs may diss my religion by selling anti-Mormon books, but wow, he does a pretty good job and I celebrate his passion:

The Christmas Wish

The Christmas Wish
By Appreciable Goodfaithpoet

At Christmas time, the year that my eldest daughter was seven years old, we read the story of the “Northern Express” about a boy who goes to the North Pole on a train in the middle of the night. The boy in this story does not believe in Santa Clause anymore, and so he's unable to hear the bells on Santa’s sleigh. At the end of the story the boy believes in Santa Clause again, and thus can hear the magic ringing of the sleigh bell he received as a fulfillment of his greatest Christmas wish.

After hearing the story, my daughter made a similar wish. The only thing she really wanted for Christmas was a bell from Santa’s Sleigh. She had not written this wish in a letter to Santa or shared this hope with mommy or daddy. On Christmas morning my daughter found no such gift from Santa and she began to cry. When asked why she was so sad, she explained that she didn't get the only thing that she'd really wanted, a bell from Santa’s sleigh. I have told the children all their lives that Santa is real because there are many Santa Clauses and that they can be Santa too. Santa Clause is anyone who gives gifts to children anonymously. While my daughter was crying, I quickly went into the kitchen and grabbed a small sheet of tin foil and then went and got two jingle bells that I used for a visual aid in doing church work. I hastily wrapped the bells in the tinfoil and set it on one of the branches of the Christmas tree. I then asked by daughter to come back to the tree and look more carefully and make sure that she had not missed anything.

We looked for some time and then at last she saw the tinfoil package. She said, “But it does not have my name on it.” “Santa must have been very busy and just had to wrap it this way for you,” I offered. She opened the package, and there was the gift that she had most wanted. Her eyes dried immediately and she was very happy. She has had those bells hanging above her bed, ever since that Christmas day. Some day I may need to explain that there is no Santa Clause, who lives at the North Pole and flies around the world visiting every home, in one night. However, I also want to explain that parents want to see the dreams of their children come true. We want to see our children happy. Connected with our efforts to help our children be happy, is the act of deceiving them into believing in Santa Clause. This is the only way that we can be “Santa Clause” for them.

When your children look up into your eyes in complete innocence and love, you realize the sacred trust that has been given to you from God. We can become the kind of people that we are capable of becoming, in part, due to the desire to be a good example to our children, nieces, and nephews.

The difference between God and Santa Clause is very clear. In the case of Santa Clause there is inevitable disappointment. With God, there is never an accurate reason for loosing confidence in him. God exists, he created the earth in six days (this amazing gift for all of his children - whether wicked or righteous), and through the power of the Holy Ghost he can touch the heart of each person on the earth at the very same time. We can be completely honest with our children about the existence of God. In fact, helping our children, as much as possible, to believe in God and follow his commandments, is the way that we can be the kind of parents God wants us to be.

My greatest Christmas wish is that my daughter will receive many wonderful gifts from God through his spirit. Hearing the voice of the Spirit comes only to those who first believe. These gifts make up the musical harmony of a happy life. The joy received from the gifts of the spirit, is far more wonderful than the joy received from any gift that Santa can deliver.

I believe that my daughter is on the path to happiness and peace. One year before the "bell experience" she had a different experience, which I wrote about in the following poem:

Christmas Reverence
By Appreciable Goodfaithpoet

The winter sun goes early to bed
As Christmas lights shine warm and bright
All passing eyes with the lights are led
To the manger scene a wondrous sight

My daughter was out in the evening air
In the quiet coolness of the winter snow
She went and got herself a chair
And sat before the mangers glow

She sat a long time with reverence resounding
and quietly looked at the little Christ Child
Love and joy in my heart was full and abounding
To see her sitting out there so meek and so mild

I saw her through the window and when she had returned
I asked what she was thinking to see what she had learned

My six-year-old daughter's response was thus...
"I was thinking about how he died for us."

Yes, when we see a manger scene let's try to do the same
To think about Lord Jesus and praise his holy name.

Healthcare Systems run by Religion

In March I attended the American College of Healthcare Executives meeting in Chicago. I had a wonderful time and learned so many things from the classes offered there. One of the things that amazed me was the origins of so many hospital systems in the United States. Here is a short list of healthcare systems and the religion that started it:

Adventist Health System - Seventh Day Adventists
Catholic Healthcare West - Catholic
Baptist Health South Florida - Baptist
Episcopal Health Services Inc. - Episcopal
The Methodist Health System - Methodist
North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System - Jewish

The Mormons, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, also started a healthcare system. But in 1975-76 they gifted the system to the community. Today that system is known as Intermountain Healthcare and is ranked among the best integrated healthcare systems in the United States.

I was surprised how many religious organizations had worked to take care of the poor and needy. What a neat thing shared across religions. For those that care for the poor and needy, there exists the shared spiritual language of love.

Bible Bash on the Second Row

Hello,

Here is a little more inspiration and humor for you…

Honoring our parents is very important. I learned just how important while attending Church with my family many years ago.

Our family was sitting in Church, all ten of us filling up the second row as usual. I was sitting at one end of the bench and my dad was at the other. Being unsupervised as I was, I pulled a few elastics out of my sock, tied them together and began flipping my little sister. My father looked down the row and saw me doing it so he opened up his bible to a certain passage and sent it down the row with the instructions to give it to me. My brothers and sisters, being as they are, took the liberty of reading it as it came to them. When it finally got to me I read it. The scripture was 1 Corinthians 13:11 "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."

Now, when I read this I stopped... For a while, then I forgot and started again. My father saw that I was doing it again and sent this scripture down the row, my brothers and sisters also read this, Proverbs 15:5 "A fool dispiseth his fathers instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent."
Now, I am no match for my father's wisdom in things dealing with scriptures, but this time I thought that I had him. I sent up Matthew Chapter 5 verse 22. The last sentence states, "whosoever shall say thou fool shall be in danger of hell fire." But, my dad proving again his superior knowledge sent back down Exodus 21:17 "And he that curseth his father or his mother, shall be surely put to death." After I read that, the problem was solved.

I hope that you have a wonderful day!

Sincerely,

-Appreciable Goodfaithpoet

Angry Scout Master

Hello,

Here is a little more inspiration and humor for you…

When I was a child my family went on a camping trip and we had what we called the "bravery tent." This was a small tent set up about 100 feet away from the rest of the tents. Those who slept in the bravery tent would get a prize in the morning. One of my siblings and I decided to sleep in the bravery tent. My sleeping bag was a very old army sleeping bag that had a hole in the lining. During the night as I slept in the bravery tent I somehow worked my way down into that hole in the lining. I woke up inside the lining of the sleeping bag. Because it was lined with white cotton I could not remember where I was (The interior lining of the sleeping bag was red). I screamed and fought in a panic and ripped my way out of the sleeping bag lining.

When I was a scout we went on a 50-mile hike. On the third day we camped in a very rocky area. There was limited space to set up a tent. The scoutmaster set up his very large tent on the only level smooth area for what seemed like miles. (I had a one man tent that I was determined to sleep in even though the large tent could have held us all.) In order to accomplish my desires I had to walk up the hill about 100 yards to find a level spot. After an hour of hard work digging large rocks out of the ground I had made it comfortable enough to sleep on.

During the night as I slept in my one-man tent I somehow ended up down in the bag with the opening folded underneath me. I woke up trapped in my sleeping bag and had a flashback to the bravery tent incident. I began screaming for help. The Scout Master, upon awakening, assumed that I was being attacked by a mountain lion. My worried Scout Master grabbed the axe and charged lickety-split up the rocky hill barefoot and in his underwear. A few moments before he arrived I struggled free, took a deep breath and realized what had happened. I heard him huffing and puffing up the hill and was struck with a different kind of terror. When he reached me I said weakly, "Never mind." He began to curse bitterly, turned around and hobbled down the hill. I found out later that I was lucky he didn't use the axe on me.

From these experiences I have learned just how important unity is (or at least how important it is to stay with the group). To this day my Scout Master hasn’t been able to laugh about this story. I believe that his feet may have been a little sore for the remaining 25 miles of the trip. Such is the power of an innocent flashback.

I hope that you have a wonderful day!

Sincerely,

-Appreciable Goodfaithpoet

P.S. (The following Scout Song Lyrics, can be sung to the tune of the Battle hymn of the republic. If only these lyrics were true in every case.)

It isn't any trouble just to S-M-I-L-E,
It isn't any trouble just to S-M-I-L-E.
There isn't any trouble, but will vanish like a bubble,
If you'll only take the trouble just to S-M-I-L-E.

Second Verse: It isn't any trouble just to G-R-I-N, Grin, etc.
Third Verse: It isn't any trouble just to L-A-U-G-H, etc.
Fourth Verse: It isn't any trouble just to HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! etc.

We have so much in common

We have so much in common
By Appreciable Goodfaithpoet

I suppose that the nature of the class was bound to attract people like myself. This class would naturally appeal to people who love books. Some people seem to feel that the written word is of equal value when compared with words that we hear with our ears. I have a great love for books, and so taking the Library Studies Skills Class at Weber State University, seemed like a dream come true! However, this class held an unexpected surprise for me when we visited the rare books collection at the Library.

The instructor explained about the rare books collection and then offered to give us the opportunity to look at some of these rare books. The instructor disappeared into the back room for a time and emerged with many wonderful old books. As he mentioned the books he had selected, my excitement grew to a heart pounding level. A few moments later, I held in my hands, a very old religious text that is connected with my faith in God. I opened the old book carefully, while supporting the binding tenderly. I read one of my favorite passages from the book and tears came flooding to my eyes. I felt that I was experiencing one of the singular events of my life as I read these sacred words from so ancient a copy of this beautiful book. I looked around the room, filled with a desire to share the joy I felt. I then noticed a man who was having the very same experience, as he was reading from an old religious text of a different religion. It was apparent to me that this man was of a religion and nationality different than my own. His eyes met mine, and as we saw the tears in the other persons eyes, he said, “These are beautiful,” as he cradled a book in his hands. “Yes they are”, I agreed.

There are moments where communication does not require either written or spoken words. This was such a moment. As I looked into his eyes, I realized that this man was a good and honest man. I realized at the same time, that whatever had moved him to tears must therefore be good as well. These feelings banished any fear, suspicion or prejudice instantly from my heart. I felt a bond of brotherhood with this man that I knew very little about. I felt as though God were reaching out to both of us at the same time through different voices, which were both inspired by him. God seemed to be reaching out in the language and circumstances of our lives with a language that transcends nationality and culture.

This experience happened a long time ago. The details regarding the other students with which I took this class are gone from my memory. I remember the things that I learned from the class. I remember doing the research at the library and I remember my instructor and the skill that he displayed while teaching this class. Even so, the most poignant memory from this class will always be the things that remained unspoken, between me and this other man. I wrote the following poem to describe further the things that I felt in that moment.


His image
By Appreciable Goodfaithpoet

Many see your dark skin
And think they know you well
Other faiths say that we sin
And are headed straight for hell

When we look in the mirror
And memorize our face
We think that we grow nearer
To learning our true place.

Yet, the longer I live upon this earth,
And the more I meet new friends
I've learned a lesson of great worth
As my suspicion ends.

I've learned, as I look in your eyes
And walk on foreign sod
I see, in you, to my surprise
The image of our God.

I’ve thought a lot about the feelings of sacred wonder that this fellow student and I shared in that moment. We both had a desire to share the joy we had received from these wonderful records. This shared experience, gave me an appreciation for the things that other people hold sacred. I gained, in that moment, a greater understanding of the fact that we are all children of the same God. As human beings, we hope and yearn for the same things. As I think back to the night we spent in the rare books collection, I remember walking out of the Library and seeing the night sky. It was a clear night and there seemed to be an endless number of stars shining in the sky. I looked up at them, breathing in the cool night air and feeling wonderfully safe and at home in this world. At that moment, I realized very powerfully that those people who hold as sacred, the written words that teach civility and morality, have ever so much in common.

Relationships

Hello,

Here is a little more inspiration and humor for you…

We must love our family more than our Occupations. After we are retired from our employment, it is our family that we want to continue to the end of our lives and throughout all eternity.

Consider the following quotes from Pauline Boss…

"Nobody is a perfect parent. Actually the imperfections of the average family are the child's first introduction to the real, imperfect world they would later have to cope with on their own."


"Sometimes when a family cannot obtain the facts about the whereabouts of a family member they take it on themselves to make a decision or choice whether that person is in or out of the family system. When a family member is consistently "missing", psychologically or physically, the rest of the family may decide to "close the individual out" and to proceed with family life as if he or she were not there. Although someone is missing the family is in limbo. They are unable to grieve their loss because they do not know if that person is in our out of the family. After they have been in limbo for a time and unsuccessful in their attempts to bring back the absent person, the family may decide that the situation is irretrievable. They now recognize that the family will never return to the way it once was, and the missing person is indeed gone and no longer available to them. With perceptions more or less agreed on even in the absence of clear facts, the family begins to grieve what they have lost. Sometimes a family makes a mistake in their decision. For example when a missing person returns after years of absence the family has to reopen its boundaries to let the person back in. Although reunions are usually positive, they can cause increased stress for individuals and families who had closed out the missing person. Getting family members back as well as loosing them can produce stress for families. Both loss and acquisition disturb the equilibrium and require reorganization not only of boundaries but also of all system interactions. This is a concept called 'family boundary ambiguity.' "

"Usually one family member breaks through the denial pattern first and, if allowed to talk freely, will break open the family's "unspoken secret" for everyone. Although painful, this action is the beginning of family reorganization and health. Lower stress and better health becomes possible for them despite their loss. The family talks together, perhaps cries together, and then reorganizes their family boundary, taking into account their loss. When families do not break through this denial system, their stress levels often increase."

"When a family member is missing, physically or psychologically, a high degree of boundary ambiguity keeps people in limbo. When there is no clear course of action, ambivalence can thrive. People dread closing out the family member who has been missing for a long time but at the same time they hope for closure and to be done with the waiting. They may even become angry with and wish that they could just never think of the person again and then be consumed with guilt for having such thoughts. The distress that results from conflicting emotions can become so overwhelming that families and the individuals in them become immobilized. They cannot decide what to do or how to act. They freeze. Ambivalence may be a normal reaction to a chronically ambiguous situation. This immobilization can be considered as frozen grief, low mastery, helplessness, hopelessness, blocked coping, blocked decision making, anxiety, depression, or all these. High boundary ambiguity during situations of ambiguous loss can lead to ambivalent feelings and behaviors toward the missing family member. Such feelings can best be coped with if they are recognized, talked about, and normalized to minimize immobilization from guilt and shame."

Consider also this statement from James Q. Wilson…
"We learn to cope with the people of this world because we learn to cope with the members of our family. Those who flee the family flee the world; bereft of the family's affection, tutelage, and challenges, they are unprepared for the world's tests, judgments, and demands"

And this follow-up comment by Neal A. Maxwell…
"How ironical that some go into a far country, leaving the nourishing family garden--in which there may be some weeds--and go into a desert with its tumbling sagebrush." (End Quote)

Let us stand with our families and work through the problems common to every family. Our Heavenly Father wants us to love one another.

I hope that you have a wonderful day!

Sincerely,

-Appreciable Goodfaithpoet

P.S. An Iowan walks into the hardware store to buy a chain saw. He says, "I want one that'll cut down about ten trees in an hour." So the clerk sells him one. The next day, the Iowan comes in all upset and says, "Hey, this chain saw only cut down one little tree in one hour!" The clerk said, "Gee, Let me take a look at it." And he pulled on the starter rope and the saw started up and the Iowan said, "Hey, what's that noise?"

Good Communication

By Appreciable Goodfaithpoet

We attended a wedding reception recently and I was talking with a dear Lady who has been a friend to my wife from the time that she was little. I said to this Lady, “I’m looking for my children and so far I have only found one out of three.” I then pointed at my wife, who is expecting and said, “ I know right where the fourth child is though.” The Lady became very angry and said in a harsh tone, “And I’m sure that she would say the same thing about you!” “Oh, I didn’t mean it like that.” I explained, “I thought you knew that my wife is expecting, that is why I always know where our fourth child is.” “Oh, I’m sorry.” The blushing Lady replied as everyone had a good laugh.


I asked the children recently, “What is the way to be happy?” “To be nice”, answered one of the children. I inquired further, “What happens when someone is mean to you, how do you feel?” My youngest daughter said, “Well, you might feel like you need to kick them.”

My four year old son and I recently went on a Father and Sons campout. My Son was worried that if some babies came to the campout with their fathers that they might chew on his flashlight. He said that if babies came that he would hold his backpack over his head to keep it safe. During the first evening around the campfire my Son had marshmallow and dirt all over his face. “Son come over here so I can wash your face.” My Son asked with a smile, “So people can recognize me?” After he was cleaned up I said, “You’re a handsome boy.” He replied with enthusiasm, “You can say that again!”