As you listen and watch, please take special note of the sweet and tender music that emphasizes the truth of Elder Scott's words. You will hear much MORE than the so-called ' Six Solfeggio Frequencies' that are storming across the Internet, purporting to be 'in-tune' with the universe. Thanks to Wikipedia, one can easily discern that Solfeggio, or Solfège, is actually just a name for perfectly ordinary do-re-mi scales! Isn't is amazing how the Adversary twists that which is beautiful so that those who think that they will find something sacred in those six frequencies stop looking for the truth! Contrary to those espousing the restoration of 'lost sounds', the restoration has indeed happened with the ushering in of this last dispensation! Joy and Happiness are not illusions that are conveyed within the listening to just SIX NOTES but in hearing ALL of the witnesses of God!
We can't alleviate the pain of our neighbors who are grieving the death of their son, or take away the pain for others who are finding it nearly unbearable to look to the Christmas Season
Image via WikipediaToday's INSPIRATIONAL FAMILY focus is also from Elder Richard G. Scott, in another talk of his, 'FINDING JOY IN LIFE': " "Sadness, disappointment, and severe challenge are events in life, not life itself. I do not minimize how hard some of these events are. They can extend over a long period of time, but they should not be allowed to become the confining center of everything you do. The Lord inspired Lehi to declare the fundamental truth, "Men are, that they might have joy." That is a conditional statement: "they might have joy." It is not conditional for the Lord. His intent is that each of us finds joy. It will not be conditional for you as you obey the commandments, have faith in the Master, and do the things that are necessary to have joy here on earth."
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We are truly hoping that this Post sends our love. We care about your sorrow and grief. We hope it especially touches the heart of those who are Blogging their pain about missing Mama and not looking forward to spending Christmas without Mama. We care.
From Brent L. Top: "Today there are still people suffering on the plains, as it were. We cannot always see their sorrows and hardships. It may not be frostbite, exhaustion, or starvation, as it was then. It may be, however, loneliness, discouragement, and depression. It still takes faith to reach out to those in need, to smile, to be a friend, and to be kind. It still takes faith to do more for those who are silently suffering around us, even as we speak, than periodic token participation in "service projects." Living our religion requires kindness, compassion, and sensitivity to others--living the Golden Rule--just as much as it requires prayer, scripture study, fulfilling a Church calling, or even attending the temple.
Today the suffering and needs of those around us may not be as visible, but there is as much need today for "rescuers" as there was when the handcart pioneers were freezing at Martin's Cove. There is just as much need today for us to be true to our covenant to "bear one another's burdens, . . . mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort" (Mosiah 18:89). It still takes faith to respond to the need to "succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees" (D&C 81:5). Today it still takes commitment to covenants to leave behind the "ninety and nine" and go out into the wilderness of the world and rescue the one who has lost his or her way--spiritually speaking. It still takes sacrifice to remove the spiritual blinders that often cause us to be so self-absorbed that we are unaware of and insensitive to those around us who outwardly look like they know where they are going and what they are doing but who are lost and wandering in a spiritual fog. It still takes faith and perseverance to search for the prodigal--whether it be a friend or neighbor, a brother or sister, a son or daughter, or even a mom or dad. It still takes faith, hope, and charity to rescue the lost--wherever and whomever they may be--and lovingly wrap them in the warmth of the Savior's love and mercy. When it comes to service, sacrifice, and consecration today, it still takes faith to "walk the walk," not just "talk the talk." It still takes faith to go forth--like the pioneer rescuers on the Wyoming plains--"doing all we can, not doubting nor despairing."
(Brent L. Top, cont.) "... Losing a loved one--whether suddenly by a tragic accident, after a long struggle with a terminal illness, or even by natural causes--is no less painful for us today than it was for those pioneers. It still takes faith when a casket is closed to look forward to a happy reunion someday beyond the veil. It still takes faith in Christ's victory over death and the hope of a glorious resurrection. It still takes hope in Christ's promise that he "shall wipe away all tears from their eyes" (Revelation 7:17).
"....President Harold B. Lee said:
We have some tight places to go before the Lord is through with this church and the world in this dispensation. . . . The power of Satan will increase; we see it in evidence on every hand. [CR, October 1970, p. 152]
Whether the "tight places" are institutional or individual, it will still take faith and courage to hang on like Arabella Smith. As Lehi and Nephi saw, we are only able to withstand the "mists of darkness" and ignore the scornful mockings from the "great and spacious building" if we will hold fast--"clinging to the rod of iron" (see 1 Nephi 8:1934, 11:25, 12:17, 15:2225). The iron rod is the word of God--the scriptures, the gospel, the words of the prophets--but it is also much more. John the Revelator saw in vision the Son of God, whom he described as "clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God" (Revelation 19:13; see also John 1:13, 18). Christ is the iron rod to which we must cling--never loosening our grip, never letting go. Never. For if we will continually hang on to him, he will never let go of us. Never. No, not ever!
May we demonstrate in our own lives the fire of the covenants that those we honor today so valiantly demonstrated. May we hold onto the iron rod--hanging on with both hands for all we are worth throughout our entire lives--in times of trial and tribulation as well as when life is smooth sailing."
Brent L. Top is an associate dean of Religious Education at BYU. This devotional address was given on 22 July 1997 in the de Jong Concert Hall.
©1997 by Brigham Young University. All rights reserved.
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