I’m related to them and love them forever.
*****************************************************************
Several of my grandchildren will take part in an activity this summer that they’ll likely remember for the rest of their lives. A Pioneer Trek.
Treks are an opportunity for the youth of the chuch to experience just a taste of what pioneer Latter Day Saints faced.
For several days teenagers pull handcarts loaded with life’s bare neccessities along a wilderness trail. Along the way, after thousands of footprints and gallons of sweat, those young people begin to have a special appreciation for the sacrifices of the pioneers.
Many teens who’ve gone on a trek say the experience was life changing.
Virtually every Latter Day Saint is deeply grateful for the faith and strength of those first church members.
Many of them were driven from their homes. They faced starvation, disease, violence, and destruction at every turn. This deadly opposition came about because the Saints believed with all their hearts that they had found the true Church of Jesus Christ.
The adversary knew they'd found it.
So that opposition came accompanied with bullets and bloodthirsty mobs.
Fleeing from comfortable homes, sometimes in the dead of winter, they suffered hardships of body and heart that we can scarcely imagine. Even though angels walked at their sides and miracles strengthened them, precious loved ones died and were buried beside the trail.
Through every challenge they clung to their faith.
I'm in awe of what they did.
But I remember once, while listening to a talk about the courage of the pioneers, being puzzled by something else I’d learned.
What I'd been taught was that Heavenly Father's most valiant spirits have been saved for the very last days.
I’d heard it said that it’s then that He'll need to send special sons and daughters with a vital mission. His bravest, most skilled and steadfast souls will be needed at that time.
The fight for truth will become more fierce than ever before.
I remember wondering how our time could possibly be more challenging than that of the pioneers?
Starvation, bitter cold, blazing heat, angry mobs, disease, wild animals, death of loved ones, and destruction every single day!
How can it get any tougher than that?
I never would have survived as a pioneer, that's for sure.
I'm not brave when it comes to physical danger.
Plus, I don’t care much for pain.
I also depend on modern conveniences.
Thinking about these things I took a look back over my own life.
I realized that my husband was in charge of any danger.
Scary noises in the night, spiders, snakes, bears on the porch... anything like that. I don't recall any mobs, but he would have had to deal with them, not me.
I was in charge of cleaning the bathrooms.
That seemed fair.
Plus, now I live in the desert again, so air conditioning must be in working order wherever I go.
I think drive-thru’s were a major breakthrough in technology.
And those cars we use to drive-thru in are a necessity not a convenience.
Walking thousands of miles pulling everything I own just doesn’t seem humanly possible.
Other necessities in my opinion are indoor plumbing and ice.
Electric lights, cell phones, television and a washing machine are on the must-have list too.
I never would have survived the pioneer trail.
In fact, nowadays, most of us are never more than a few feet from food, water, warmth, and shelter.
Turning up or down the AC takes care of heat waves and blizzards.
If danger prowls, or fire, accident or illness threatens, we call 911.
A rescue team arrives in minutes!
Some of the rescuers will come with guns to protect us from enemies, some with hoses and ladders to put out fires, others with the latest medical equipment to help the sick or injured.
What would the early Saints say to that?
So what is it about the last days that will call for superhuman courage, faith, and strength to make it back to Heavenly Father?
Why will my grandchildren need to be as strong or stronger than the settlers who suffered through so many trials?
Well, there may be lots of answers to that question that we can’t even imagine.
But, I can see some things now in the lives of our young people that give me a glimpse.
One thing I see is that severe, unrelenting temptation to let go of the iron rod surrounds them. They're enticed to leave the path back to Heavenly Father constantly.
It’s everywhere. It's in surround sound, high definition, and virtual reality. It's right at their fingertips. And it starts at an ever earlier age.
Plus the adversary has gone high tech.
Twenty-four seven there he is. Waiting inside every electronic device.
Every hour, every minute. He never, never, never lets up!
For instance, almost every teenager, even those in modest circumstances, can get up from the warm comfort of bed at night, walk past indoor plumbing and a refrigerator full of food, to the computer in the family room. Many have “smart” phones and don’t even have to get out of bed!
Then they can push little buttons, and begin to lose their souls.
Children of God can play "games" full of horrendous violence and vile perversion of every kind.
They can spend hours of precious life watching TV filled with "beautiful" people living lives in darkness.
They can put little plugs in their ears and have filth beat into their brains in time to music.
They can spend more time with depraved killers than they spend with their eternal families.
They can waste their potential, their education, and their desire to be productive and do good.
They can fill their God given minds with stupidity, violence, and ugliness.
They can sink into a filthy cesspool of lies about life and Father's beautiful gift of sexual expression.
They can destroy their future families and break the hearts of the family they’ve been born into.
They can lose their testimony.
They can waste precious youth and glorious possibility.
With just their thumbs.
*******
I’d like anyone who spends any of their time in this way to do something for me.
Think deep into your heart and soul.
Be completely honest.
Then answer these questions.
Should I be doing this? Is this how I should spend my time?
What does the light of Christ that’s born within you tell you?
********
The pioneers had to bury loved ones alongside the trail and go on with broken hearts.
Children, fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters were left behind.
But they didn’t lose the people they loved..
They had to leave them for only the rest of their lifetimes.
Today, we can really lose our beloved family.
We can lose them more surely than to death, and in our own, safe homes.
So, after some serious thinking, I’ve decided that we do need the bravest, most valiant spirits for this day and beyond.
Our time is full of dangers never even imagined by those who came before us.
The most valiant souls who choose the right in the midst of so much wrong really are needed today!
Those who will choose to grow in the light, and use their time to develop their talents and skills are needed now!
Those who will educate themselves to a useful profession are needed now!
We desperately need those who study the words of Heavenly Father and know the plan of happiness.
We need exceptional souls who will one day become wonderful parents and leaders in the Lord’s church.
We need those who can point to the path that leads home to Heavenly Father and Mother.
All of us can look back to the pioneer fathers and mothers for their inspiring examples of faith and strength.
We should be deeply grateful for them.
And then those valiant sons and daughters of God who were sent in these last days should get ready.
They must remember who they are!
They should “gird up their loins and fresh courage take.”
And then get ready for the fight of their lives.
So much depends on them.
**********
Moroni Chapter 7: 12-19
One thing I see is that severe, unrelenting temptation to let go of the iron rod surrounds them. They're enticed to leave the path back to Heavenly Father constantly.
It’s everywhere. It's in surround sound, high definition, and virtual reality. It's right at their fingertips. And it starts at an ever earlier age.
Plus the adversary has gone high tech.
Twenty-four seven there he is. Waiting inside every electronic device.
Every hour, every minute. He never, never, never lets up!
For instance, almost every teenager, even those in modest circumstances, can get up from the warm comfort of bed at night, walk past indoor plumbing and a refrigerator full of food, to the computer in the family room. Many have “smart” phones and don’t even have to get out of bed!
Then they can push little buttons, and begin to lose their souls.
Children of God can play "games" full of horrendous violence and vile perversion of every kind.
They can spend hours of precious life watching TV filled with "beautiful" people living lives in darkness.
They can put little plugs in their ears and have filth beat into their brains in time to music.
They can spend more time with depraved killers than they spend with their eternal families.
They can waste their potential, their education, and their desire to be productive and do good.
They can fill their God given minds with stupidity, violence, and ugliness.
They can sink into a filthy cesspool of lies about life and Father's beautiful gift of sexual expression.
They can destroy their future families and break the hearts of the family they’ve been born into.
They can lose their testimony.
They can waste precious youth and glorious possibility.
With just their thumbs.
*******
I’d like anyone who spends any of their time in this way to do something for me.
Think deep into your heart and soul.
Be completely honest.
Then answer these questions.
Should I be doing this? Is this how I should spend my time?
What does the light of Christ that’s born within you tell you?
********
The pioneers had to bury loved ones alongside the trail and go on with broken hearts.
Children, fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters were left behind.
But they didn’t lose the people they loved..
They had to leave them for only the rest of their lifetimes.
Today, we can really lose our beloved family.
We can lose them more surely than to death, and in our own, safe homes.
So, after some serious thinking, I’ve decided that we do need the bravest, most valiant spirits for this day and beyond.
Our time is full of dangers never even imagined by those who came before us.
The most valiant souls who choose the right in the midst of so much wrong really are needed today!
Those who will choose to grow in the light, and use their time to develop their talents and skills are needed now!
Those who will educate themselves to a useful profession are needed now!
We desperately need those who study the words of Heavenly Father and know the plan of happiness.
We need exceptional souls who will one day become wonderful parents and leaders in the Lord’s church.
We need those who can point to the path that leads home to Heavenly Father and Mother.
All of us can look back to the pioneer fathers and mothers for their inspiring examples of faith and strength.
We should be deeply grateful for them.
And then those valiant sons and daughters of God who were sent in these last days should get ready.
They must remember who they are!
They should “gird up their loins and fresh courage take.”
And then get ready for the fight of their lives.
So much depends on them.
**********
Moroni Chapter 7: 12-19
12 Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually.
13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.
14 Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil.
15 For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.
16 For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.
17 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.
18 And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the lightby which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged.
19 Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ.
