Reflecting the Greatness of God

Dear Family:

Yesterday, a friend of mine from Canada shared a blog post on Facebook entitled “Reflecting the Greatness of God”, speaking of Solomon building the Temple in Jerusalem.  He referred to 2 Chronicles 2:5, which reads, in his translation of the bible:

“The temple I am going to build will be great, because our God is greater than all other gods.”

The King James version reads:

“And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods.”

My friend’s comments include:

“Solomon’s perspective of God drives what he does, and how he does it, to reflect the magnificence and greatness of his God. He brings together the best skills and resources to make it happen, first for the temple and then for his palace. …

“God deserves my very best. My life should reflect His greatness. Does it?

“Everything I do should be done with excellence. That means I should focus on those things for which I am gifted, working with others in their giftings. And I need to give those things the time it takes to do the work well.”

That is great advice for us all.  May all we do reflect the magnificence and greatness of our God.  May we strive to live our lives in harmony with Him.

Love,

Dad/Mark

Hold to the Rod and Each Other

Dear Family:

When Claudia, Angie and I attended Katie Larsen’s wedding in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple, the officiator’s comments were brief, spoken very softly, but memorable.  Two specific things he recommended that Katie and Troy remember were “we are trying to live a Celestial life in a Telestial world” and “hold to the rod and each other.”

It seems to me that living by the second concept makes it possible to accomplish the first.  We have been taught many times about “holding to the rod,” but this is the first time I had heard the concept of “holding to the rod and each other.”  We are bound together as a family by the sealing power.  Taking advantage of that eternal blessing, we should cling tightly to each other in our own little family units, and across the generations to our larger, extended eternal family.  As we do that, empowered by the strength we receive from the iron rod – the Word of God – we will be able to enjoy the joy and peace of living Celestial Lives in a Telestial World.

Love,

Dad/Mark

Armed with Power

Hello family:

As I was reading the following verses from the dedicatory prayer on the Kirtland Temple on the airplane last night, I thought of Ryan recently receiving his endowment in the Mesa Temple in preparation for him entering the mission field armed with power, bearing the name of Christ and being empowered by the Savior's glory. As Ryan leaves for Croatia in July, we can be confident that angels will have charge over him as he bears "exceedingly great and glorious tidings, in truth, unto the ends of the earth."

22 And we ask thee, Holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy ^aname may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine ^bangels have charge over them;

23 And from this place they may bear exceedingly great and glorious tidings, in truth, unto the ^aends of the earth, that they may know that this is thy work, and that thou hast put forth thy hand, to fulfil that which thou hast spoken by the mouths of the prophets, concerning the last days.

(Doctrine & Covenants 109: 22, 23)

May we always treasure the miraculous power of Jesus Christ that comes into our lives in the House of the Lord.

Love,

Dad/Mark

Raising your children during these difficult times

Elder Quentin Cook in the last General Conference:

I know that many of you are concerned about raising your children during these difficult times and increasing their faith. When my wife and I were starting our family in the San Francisco Bay Area, we had that same concern. At a critical point our stake members were advised by Elder Harold B. Lee, then a member of the Twelve, that we could raise our families in righteousness if we would:

1. Follow the prophet.


2. Create the true spirit of the gospel in our hearts and homes.


3. Be a light to those among whom we live.


4. Focus on the ordinances and principles taught in the temple.

(See D&C 115:5; Harold B. Lee, “Your Light to Be a Standard unto the Nations,” Ensign, Aug. 1973, 3–4.)

As we followed this counsel, our faith increased and our fears decreased. I believe we can raise righteous children anywhere in the world if they are taught religious principles in the home.

I am sure as we follow the counsel from apostles of Christ, we can have the Spirit in our homes. Our homes will be safe havens - holy places where we might stand.

Love,

Dad/Mark

(originally emailed 23 Dec 2007)