j . a . m . k . m . b: President Gordon B. Hinckley

Pres. Thomas S. Monson, Oct 2008

"This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and non-existent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now.

... Professor Harold Hill, one of the principal characters in [The Music Man], voices a caution that I share with you. Says he, “You pile up enough tomorrows, and you’ll find you’ve collected a lot of empty yesterdays.”

f you have children who are grown and gone, in all likelihood you have occasionally felt pangs of loss and the recognition that you didn’t appreciate that time of life as much as you should have. Of course, there is no going back, but only forward. Rather than dwelling on the past, we should make the most of today, of the here and now, doing all we can to provide pleasant memories for the future.

Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. Wrote William Shakespeare, “They do not love that do not show their love.”³ We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us.

Send that note to the friend you’ve been neglecting; give your child a hug; give your parents a hug; say “I love you” more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It’s so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they’re gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of “what if” and “if only.” Said author Harriet Beecher Stowe, “The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.”

In the 1960s, during the Vietnam War, Church member Jay Hess, an airman, was shot down over North Vietnam. For two years his family had no idea whether he was dead or alive. His captors in Hanoi eventually allowed him to write home but limited his message to less than 25 words. What would you and I say to our families if we were in the same situation—not having seen them for over two years and not knowing if we would ever see them again? Wanting to provide something his family could recognize as having come from him and also wanting to give them valuable counsel, Brother Hess wrote—and I quote: “These things are important: temple marriage, mission, college. Press on, set goals, write history, take pictures twice a year.”

Said one well-known author: “Both abundance and lack [of abundance] exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend . . . when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present—love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us [happiness]—the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth.”

Said the Lord in a revelation given through the Prophet Joseph Smith, “In nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things.”¹⁰ May we be found among those who give our thanks to our Heavenly Father. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues.

Brothers and sisters, my sincere prayer is that we may adapt to the changes in our lives, that we may realize what is most important, that we may express our gratitude always and thus find joy in the journey."

Sunday, January 27, 2008

President Gordon B. Hinckley

Most of you who read our blog will know already of the passing of our beloved prophet and church president, President Gordon B. Hinckley. Most of you will have similar thoughts to ours as we reflect on a great and humble man, one who led us and cared for us, one who we will miss greatly. It is strange to mourn when a 97 year old man passes away of natural causes. And I guess I wouldn't call it mourning, how we are feeling, I would call it more a general gratitude that we had him as our prophet as long as we did. It's a feeling of love, and that there is so much about him that we will miss, but as I think more about it, it's not really mourning.

My mother-in-law called about an hour after he had passed away, and my first thought was, this last hour was probably the happiest he has ever had. He has been reunited with his beloved wife who preceded him in death, and certainly many other loved ones and relatives. He is free of his old, worn body that finally had started betraying him. And of course, he is enfolded in the Arms of Love. What a great prospect, to be living solely at the will of the Lord, and ready and anxious to go when He decides it is time. It makes me want to be a better person.

And to me, that last statement is the essence of President Hinckley. He has always made me want to be a better person. He was funny, and witty, and humble, and stern, and compassionate, and serious, and many more genuinely real things, all in their proper time and place. I truly looked forward to his words in Conference, and knew that I would come away enriched, chastened, renewed, and motivated. I always did.

I'm so grateful for the unashamed courage he consistently showed in answering tough questions in the public light. He didn't shy away from opportunities to open our doors to reporters and people who wanted to understand the things we believe. He embraced those times, and always came out in power and humility with the truth. Even compared to some of the other church leaders, he seemed to me to be so unassuming, so unaffected, so genuine, that I listened raptly to his counsel. How could you not love that man and all he stood for?

I'm grateful for the last 13 years in which he was our prophet. If there's anyone out there reading these words who doesn't know what President Hinckley stood for, or why he was such a great man, I encourage you to find out. President Hinckley, we will miss you.

j . a . m . k . m . b

Pres. Thomas S. Monson, Oct 2008

Sunday, January 27, 2008

President Gordon B. Hinckley

No comments:

Important Links

Blog Archive