Dan Brooks's Blog, page 20

Giving Peace A Chance

“I no longer want to see others as humans. I want to learn to see others as brothers, sisters, mothers, & fathers.” – Rabbi Shaul David Judelman - See more at: 
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/thepange...
Rabbi Shaul Judelman studied under the late great Rabbi Menachem Froman. Froman taught that peaceful existence is possible in the Holy Land between Jews and Arabs. He went as far as teaching, as one article puts it, that “religion and the love of the land could bring together Jews and Muslims instead of dividing them.” 
The idea of the garden Rabbi Shaul has set apart is that it can provide a meeting place for Palestinians and Israelis. This is important because if people meet and get to know each other then there is more of a chance that people will become friends and that what drives these two groups apart can be the very thing that brings them together and that is a love of the Holy Land.
When people meet often the preconceived notions they carry with them begins to crumble and they begin to see each other as Sons and Daughters of the same God.
Many think this can never work, that there will always be war. But if there is to be peace it must first be given a chance. And Rabbi Shaul and others working with him are giving peace in the Holy Land a strong foot hold and a descent chance.
I think there are two basic options either war or peace. In this case whichever side wins they will be rulers not of a bountiful stretch of the Holy Land but of a wasteland and graveyard.
We can have peace if we choose it. It is not simple but it is possible. Part of why Rabbi Shauls efforts are so delightful is that he is humanizing each side to the other. 
The Israelis and Palestinians involved in this project both have a deep love of God and they are succeeding because they are showing others how to see God in others, specifically their enemies.
They are succeeding in teaching others to love their enemy and to turn the other cheek rather than resort to violence. 
We are created in Gods image and so when we look upon another person we are in a sense seeing God face to face.
Dr.King said "Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that."
And Rabbi Shaul and those working with him seem to ember their efforts with that I are understanding.
I believe that if I love God, I should love all His creations. I can't claim to truly love God if I also despise some of His creations much less His children.
And these messages are taking root in the Holy Land. So peace is possible. Peace is preferable. Peace is what we all deserve.
It is better to fail in peace than succeed in war. Violence has cause a world full of problems but hasn't solved one yet.
I destroy my enemies when I make them my friends. -Abraham Lincoln

Families Are Forever

Families are supposed to be forever. There are no exceptions that I'm aware of. And there is the Family Proclamation but that outlines the ideal but what about all of us that don't fit that ideal?
Here's a quote for you.
 Heaven forbid we introduce him to our friends and act as if he's a part of our lives! You don't have to agree with everything someone says or does to love them but the behavior described by Elder Oaks doesn't sound very loving or welcoming.
Whatever people think about homosexuality no one should feel ashamed for being the way God made them. No one can show love while also shaming their friends or family.
People are free to use their agency as they see fit. That is Jesus' plan whereas Satan's is to remove your agency and force others to do as he sees fit.
Now families that are blended between biological and stepchildren should also feel welcomed at church and in the Temple but I've heard many say "Those aren't your kids, you owe them nothing."
I've been told this. I've also heard "They aren't his kids they don't have to listen to him, they certainly don't have to do what he says. He's not their dad."
My stepchildren have been told that.
Not feeling like families that don't fit the perfect ideal are truly welcomed or even included in the emphasis of the importance of the family unit.
I may have an atypical family but it is still a family and I think deserves to be respected as such. I think having an ideal is fine but to hold to that ideal to the point of excluding every other type of family unit is unhealthy.
All are alike into God is what I understand from scripture. So any variation of the family unit should still be respected if we are all truly on equal footing.
And if some may sin? So what? We have all sinned and we continue to so why are the sins of some overlook and not considered to be all that bad yet other sins are deal breakers and though judgment is Christ's alone so many stand up as judge, jury and executioner in the lives of those deemed sinful and unworthy?

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bondand free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile. Nephritis 26:33
If we are called to be like Christ who denies none, whose atonement is available to all, it was done for all, why are so many so quick to deny those people or those families which do not measure up to their standards?
The Lords standards are what we should be concentrating on but our scope of application is our lives not everyone else's.
And if we too are sinners, who are we to deny or judge anyone?
To me love is the absence of judgmental attitudes.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
Judging others is not our job, loving, welcoming, and understanding them is.

"There are many attributes which are manifestations of love, such as kindness, patience, selflessness, understanding, and forgiveness. In all our associations, these and other such attributes will help make evident the love in our hearts." Love-The Essence of the Gopel by Thomas S. Monson

President Monson also said this in that talk: We cannot truly love God if we do not love our fellow travelers on this mortal journey. Likewise, we cannot fully love our fellowmen if we do not love God, the Father of us all. The Apostle John tells us, “This commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”3 We are all spirit children of our Heavenly Father and, as such, are brothers and sisters. As we keep this truth in mind, loving all of God’s children will become easier.

Love is our job while judgment is Christ's but Christ did say this about judgment:

Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. John 7:24

Since before Christ in Jewish literature judging righteously meant judging favorably or giving the benefit of the doubt.

This idea derives from Leviticus (19:15): "In righteousness shall you judge your fellow" 

The Radical Impact Of Love

The Talmud derives the principle of judging others favorably from a verse in Leviticus (19:15): "In righteousness shall you judge your fellow" In its literal sense, the verse is addressing judges. The Sages derive from this the importance of being fair and impartial to both sides in a disagreement, not giving better treatment to either one during the court proceedings.
In Jewish literature since before Christ the importance of judging favorably or judging righteously as Jesus says in scripture. Understanding Jesus' Jewish audience demonstrates what Jesus really meant when He said "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." John 7:24
The fact of righteous judging meaning judging favorably is disregarded by many because rather than follow the counsel of our Savior, many would rather stick to their "righteous indignation."
But this teaching stems from Leviticus and would radically change our society if more people were to follow it.
Another radical teaching is this one in Matthew 5:43-48

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

We are given no exceptions to this teaching. There is no, "love your enemies unless...," teaching. Jesus simply states that we are to love our enemies as He did when He prayed that Hod forgive His murderers for they knew not what they did.

Now for a parable to tie the two teachings together:

30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. Luke 10:30-37

The Samaritan made no assumptions about the injured Jew who was wounded and stranded unconscious on the roadside.

In Jesus' time Samaritans and Jews were enemies because though they worshipped the same God, they did so differently. Sound familiar?

The Samaritan treated His enemy as most would only treat their loved ones. This is the radical example of what good loving your enemy can amount to.

Here's a modern example of the wonders these radical teachings can work.

At an abandoned Catholic cathedral Saint Edwards in Philidelphia, the homeless families in the area sought shelter.  

The Catholic Church declared along with the city government that these homeless families were squatting. But fearing a PR snafu the homeless families were told that there would be a safety inspection by the local fire department.

While the city and Catholic Church plotted the best ways to rid themselves of the problem a local group of college kids got involved and met with the homeless families.

They had church services all on their own with their communion/sacrament with Apple juice and stale baffles or whatever they could find. The cathedral echoed with children's voices singing as these families and college kids sang hymns together.

These families and college kids became a family.

But for as hard as this new family tried it seemed as though their eviction was a foregone conclusion.

But the college kids pointed out to the public that Jesus was homeless. 

And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. Luke 9:58

But in the dead of night only days before the inspection there was a knock on the cathedral door. It was two off duty fire fighters there to ensure that these homeless families would pass the inspection.

They brought fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, and everything needed. The spent hours working and risked their livelihood doing so.

The homeless families passed the inspection and were allowed to stay and they formed The Kensington Welfare Rights Union which is now an international group fighting to end homelessness and poverty.

One of those college kids became a semi famous author and preacher Shane Claiborne.

Faith can move mountains but faith in love is the stuff of miracles.

New Monastics

With the self unattached to external contacts, he finds the joy which is in the self. With the self engaged in meditation of Brahman, he attains endless joy. Bhagavad Gita 5.21

Brahman is God in Hinduism and this bit of Hindu scripture is about recognizing the spark of divinity within each of us and that when we focus on God all else fades away and we enjoy pure bliss and joy in God's love and presence.

And here we have Jesus teachings us why those who are rich love their riches more than they love God.

16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good[a] Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”

17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good?[b] No one is good but One, that is, God.[c] But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

18 He said to Him, “Which ones?”

Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’[d] and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”[e]

20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth.[f] What do I still lack?”

21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Matthew 19:16-22

And something similar in Alma 39:14

Seek not after riches nor the vain things of this world; for behold, you cannot carry them with you.

The alternative is to deny the material world in favor of the spiritual one. Celibacy is one such endeavor that monks of both eastern and western faiths practice. 

For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it. Matthew 19:12
Jesus suggests that if we can follow this part of the monastic lifestyle that we should but this teaching is not for everyone. Paul describes it as a gift.
I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am. But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. 1Corinthians 7:7-9
I think the larger point is that avoiding sex, fasting and shying away from the material is to the soul what sensory deprivation is to the mind. It clears a wide open field within allowing the divine to fill the clearing.
When we sacrifice the material we allow the spiritual to come into focus. We would do well to experiment with what new monasticism can do in our own communities. We could have new ideas, new opportunities and new beginnings if we take that chance.

Immigration:WWJD?

This immigration fiasco was entertaining and depressing. One woman screamed "Jesus wouldn't break the law."
Really? The revolutionary who turned over tables in The Temple, the one who performed miracles or worked on the Sabbath wouldn't break the law? 
Breaking the law was kind of His thing. In fact He didn't just walk on water, He J-Walked on water. That's where the J in J-Walking comes from as Jon Stewart said.
The rest of the hate centered around shouts of "Go home." Or. "Go back to Mexico." 
In fact these immigrants are refugees, according to the U.N., from Guatemala and parts of El Salvador-completely different countries from Mexico.
I find it odd the conservatives greeting refugees with contempt, disdain and outright hatered consider unborn children as divinely protected people but brown refugee children as less than deserving of the same consideration.
How do these anti-immigration conservatives think this is Christian behavior.
What would Jesus really do in this situation? I think this scripture is particularly enlightening:
 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. Matthew 25:32-46

That is how Jesus teaches us to treat one another. He also tells us this:

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48.

What I'm seeing and hearing out of conservatives and many Mormons is disdain, contempt and outright hatred of these refugees. I'm not seeing a lot of love which is exactly how Jesus said His disciples would be recognized.

34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13:34-35

If this is truly a Christian nation where is the love towards these tired, these poor these huddled masses we are supposed to welcome?

Like A Broken Vessel

Anderson Cooper did an experiment to see what schizophrenics deal with in terms of hearing voices.  My dad is schizophrenic.  He has been diagnosed for 30 years.  I have schizo-affective disorder which is a type of schizophrenia so I have dealt with what this link shows Anderson Cooper dealing with for only one day.  He gets to take the headphones out while most with schizophrenia never get that release.  Please watch this video here to understand better what I'm talking about.

Many schizophrenics drink or use drugs not because they're bad people but because drug use and alcohol consumption silence the voices.  And those who are mentally ill are at a much higher risk of suicide because of the issues they deal with and not having many options to end the delusions or silence the voices.

Elder Holland gave a talk called "Like a Broken Vessel."  Wherein he discusses mental illness, I suspect because the issue is close to him as statistically speaking it must be close to the Apostles and First Presidency.

Suicide is not a path I would ever recommend, but as someone who has which I write about how I attempted it here, I understand that it isn't the cowards way out.  It is instead like a window in a burning building, people don't jump to end their lives they jump to escape the flames.  Schizophrenics and others with mental illnesses don't choose suicide over life they choose suicide over the constant voices and/or delusions they suffer from.

1 Peter 3:8   "Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous."

Pitiful refers to being tenderhearted. The link that takes you to the Anderson Cooper video ought to allow you an insight into what the effect of voices are on anyone that suffers from them and facilitate being tender and compassionate with those who do suffer from these issues.  My wife cried when she saw what I have gone through on top of suffering from delusions which have the same effect as do the voices so having both symptoms really does a number on you.  My heart breaks for anyone who suffers these symptoms and though I have suffered from them as well, I do not suffer from them daily as I am stable on the meds I am on.

That quote from 1 Peter is how Elder Holland begins and ends his talk so I think it is of special significance and importance.

If you still don't understand how detrimental these issues can be for people who suffer from them and think there is no excuse for suicide or that the atonement doesn't apply to them then please read this article from a man who lost his Uncle to suicide.

3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.
4 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?
5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.
6 And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.
7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.
8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.
9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. Mark 14:3-9

A Place Set Apart

“I can take my Bible, and go into the woods and learn more in two hours than you can learn at meeting in two years, if you should go all the time.”
- Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr., to his mother, Lucy Mack Smith, Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith, p. 101
Things get stale at times in church. The same talks the same manuals and a Prophets words and if it's Easter or Chridtmas the teachers may even reference our Savior!
The best religious experiences I've had have been out in nature and in the Temple.
The Temple has been set apart as a sacred place to commune with The Lord.  And everyone seems to be so good to each other I always leave feeling rejuvenated and overjoyed.
My point isn't to tell anyone where they "should" feel rejuvenated and refreshed spiritually only that it is important to do so periodically.
I've gone to worship and study with people of other Christisn denominations and of other faiths as well. That can hit the spot on occasion.
There are places and times that are set apart for our spiritual nourishment. It does us a great deal of good to make use of them.
LDS chapels, Synagogues, cathedrals, Hindu Temples, Buddhist Temples or The great outdoors are places set apart for communion with God. Nature is one of my favorites and Salt Lake City has fantastic access to a the places mentioned above.
If church gets stale try nature or others places to seek inspiration. Redundancy creates boredom and our spirituality craves creativity and nuance, different perspectives allow for growth.
Places to pray, places to meditate, places of silence and solitude, places of joyful noise and music, places of communion with God, places overflowing in Christlike love, there are always places set apart to nourish and provide us with what we need if we only search.
Seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened up to you.

Faith In Love

Many of us have faith in Christ but do we have faith that Ge meant what He said? Do we have faith that His teachings will work?
Here are a few things Christ said about love:

Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Matthew 22:36-40

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13:34-35

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:43-45

We are to love not just those who are good to us but to those who hate us, our enemies. If we are to truly love our enemies how can we justify killing them?

Those with faith in Christ often say that the lifestyle Christ preached is the most beneficial for all, believer or not, all will be blessed by that life. But few seem to want to fully commit to that lifestyle.

But two notable men did; Gandhi and Dr. King. They were murdered as Christ was because 2,000 years after Christ the world still wasn't ready for that loving and nonviolent life. They became threats through preaching love of all even our enemies.

Gandhi achieved the independence of His country and Dr. King changed America and got us closer to living out our own creeds.

Both men had more faith in the power of love than in the love of power or violence.

One country earned their freedom through love and nonviolent resistance and America changed radically and for the better. 

And maybe the reasons there are so few examples of miracles accomplished by nonviolent means and love is because so few people give these tactics a chance. 

Too many people have more faith in violence than they do in love and the worst offenders are often "disciples" of the man who said His disciples would be known by their love for one another.

Faith can move mountains and faith in love can work miracles.

Faith That Forgiveness Is The Answer

A few years back a unassuming milkman walked into an Amish school and killed 5 little girls and wounded 5 more.  The response from the victims families to the milkman's family was one of forgiveness, compassion and caring.  Rather than demand an eye for an eye the Amish first thought to forgive.  The out pouring of love and support from the Amish families was so overwhelming the gunman's family released this statement:

To our Amish friends, neighbors, and local community:
“Our family wants each of you to know that we are overwhelmed by the forgiveness, grace, and mercy that you’ve extended to us. Your love for our family has helped to provide the healing we so desperately need. The prayers, flowers, cards, and gifts you’ve given have touched our hearts in a way no words can describe. Your compassion has reached beyond our family, beyond our community, and is changing our world, and for this we sincerely thank you.“Please know that our hearts have been broken by all that has happened. We are filled with sorrow for all of our Amish neighbors whom we have loved and continue to love. We know that there are many hard days ahead for all the families who lost loved ones, and so we will continue to put our hope and trust in the God of all comfort, as we all seek to rebuild our lives.” 

 38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. Matthew 5:38-39

The word in Greek translated as resist has a consistent connotation of violence.  So it would appear that Jesus is not forbidding us to resist in the English sense of the word but to be nonviolent as we resist so as not to become that which we are fighting against. 

This idea was touched on by Dr.King when he said "Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.  Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that."

Meaning, I think, that you cannot add anger or hate to a volatile situation and expect anything less than an escalation of hate, anger and ultimately violence.  Love, understanding, compassion and forgiveness are the things needed in a situation like this Amish school shooting and in less severe but heartbreaking situations that most of us have faced at one point or another in our lives.


14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14-15


21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Matthew 18:21-22

Seventy times seven is a symbol for infinity and the Jewish people were into numerology or Gematria as it is called.  Jesus was very clear that we are called to forgive as infinitely as we are called to love.


A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13:34-35

Jesus said by our love all shall know we are truly His disciples.  Not by our scriptural knowledge, not by anything under the sun other than our love, that is what tests our metal as disciples of Christ.

It is easier to give into hate than strive for love, it is easier to disown someone than to continue to love.

It is easier to curse your attackers than it is to beg God "Forgive them for they know not what they do."

We are not called to live an easy life, we are called to live a righteous one. A life that closely resembles Christ's and there was little t nothing easy about His.

Today in Utah Timothy Troy Walker who killed Draper Police Sgt Derek Johnson, plead guilty and showed such remorse that many of his victims family were moved. The Victims Grandmother said to Walkers mother "My heart aches for you." To which Walkers mother said "I still love him."

The love the Amish showed in the midst of their tragedy would do much good in this situation as well and though the outpouring of love here may not match the magnitude of the Amish situation it has promise.
I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.  -D&C 64:10

20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." Luke 17:20

I believe that love is as powerful as faith, it freed the country of India without an Army fight for that freedom and even against the British Army fighting against it.

Seek And Ye Shall Find

Our leaders have said to express our doubts, to ask our questions at church. And many have until they get shot down dismissively. It's as if people only go to church to have their world view reinforced rather than to seek spiritually, to ponder and pray and discuss.
Far too many of us seek only as far as the latest issue of the Ensign and only go over scripture as quoted in conference talks.
Seeking there isn't bad but seeking to reinforce what you already believe I think is dangerous. It results in spiritual atrophy and even death.
Each of us lives in a bubble to one degree or another. And by seeking and finding we expand that scope of knowledge and faith.
It's like a bubble universe. It can start out as small and grow to an infinite size. And then grow some more.
Many think that there is a limit to the truth they need. Enough knowledge for a lifetime then we go to heaven and that's the end game.
But is it? Are we not to continue to grow over the course of eternity?
Jesus told His disciples who had accepted the truth of His identity and origin that they should seek and that they would find, to knock and it would be opened to them.
This universe is infinite in scope and it is the bubble God resides in and that's as big as our scope of knowledge will be in the eternities.
Accepting God and Jesus Christ as being factual is not the end of our understanding but the begining.
Life is a mystery and the human mind is designed to solve it.
Children have an amazing imagination and awe of the world. We lose that when we think we know all that's worth knowing. There is enough knowledge and inspiration to keep that childlike awe alive and well within us until the end of time.