Today Begins Holy Week

Temple with Angels

I spent some time this week in the temple, as is my customary pattern these days. I read in 3 Nephi 11:1-17, while I was waiting for the session to begin:

And now it came to pass that there were a great multitude gathered together, of the people of Nephi, round about the temple which was in the land Bountiful; and they were marveling and wondering one with another, and were showing one to another the great and marvelous change which had taken place.

And they were also conversing about this Jesus Christ, of whom the sign had been given concerning his death.

And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which they heard; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn.

And it came to pass that again they heard the voice, and they understood it not.

And again the third time they did hear the voice, and did open their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came.

And behold, the third time they did understand the voice which they heard; and it said unto them:

Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name — hear ye him.

And it came to pass, as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they saw a Man descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another, and wist not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them.

And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying:

Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.

And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.

And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words the whole multitude fell to the earth; for they remembered that it had been prophesied among them that Christ should show himself unto them after his ascension into heaven.

And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto them saying:

Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.

And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.

And when they had all gone forth and had witnessed for themselves, they did cry out with one accord, saying:

Hosanna! Blessed be the name of the Most High God! And they did fall down at the feet of Jesus, and did worship him. (Emphasis mine.)

The words “GREAT multitude” jumped off the page at me. A multitude of eye witnesses of the resurrected Savior Jesus Christ!! The Book of Mormon is the unimpeachable and true record of the reality of Christ’s resurrection. It’s why we refer to it as “Another Testament of Jesus Christ.”

Today is known as “Palm Sunday,” commemorating Christ’s triumphant entry into the city of Jerusalem when palm fronds were strewn before Him as He rode on the back of a donkey into the city.

Christ's Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

His true believers were hailing Him as the Son of God, but it would also mark the beginning of the end of His mortal life.

My brief study in the temple this week also prompted me to turn to 2 Nephi 10, where the reasons for His coming to Jerusalem are spelled out:

Jacob explains that the Jews will crucify their God — They will be scattered until they begin to believe in Him - America will be a land of liberty where no king will rule - Reconcile yourselves to God and gain salvation through His grace. About 559–545 B.C.

And now I, Jacob, speak unto you again, my beloved brethren, concerning this righteous branch of which I have spoken.

For behold, the promises which we have obtained are promises unto us according to the flesh; wherefore, as it has been shown unto me that many of our children shall perish in the flesh because of unbelief, nevertheless, God will be merciful unto many; and our children shall be restored, that they may come to that which will give them the true knowledge of their Redeemer.

Wherefore, as I said unto you, it must needs be expedient that Christ. . . should come among the Jews, among those who are the more wicked part of the world; and they shall crucify him - for thus it behooveth our God, and there is none other nation on earth that would crucify their God.

For should the mighty miracles be wrought among other nations they would repent, and know that he be their God.

But because of priestcrafts and iniquities, they at Jerusalem will stiffen their necks against him, that he be crucified.

Wherefore, because of their iniquities, destructions, famines, pestilences, and bloodshed shall come upon them; and they who shall not be destroyed shall be scattered among all nations.

But behold, thus saith the Lord God: When the day cometh that they shall believe in me, that I am Christ, then have I covenanted with their fathers that they shall be restored in the flesh, upon the earth, unto the lands of their inheritance.

And it shall come to pass that they shall be gathered in from their long dispersion, from the isles of the sea, and from the four parts of the earth; and the nations of the Gentiles shall be great in the eyes of me, saith God, in carrying them forth to the lands of their inheritance. (2 Nephi 10:1-8, emphasis mine).

He came to Jerusalem among the Jews because “there is none other nation on earth that would crucify their God.” Their degree of wickedness had reached its zenith and found expression, sadly, in the crucifixion of our Lord. The events leading up to His betrayal by Judas Iscariot and subsequent crucifixion are well-documented in the New Testament. It’s only in the Book of Mormon, however, that we learn the answer to the “why” question.

I will encourage each of you to spend some time in your family circles this week, the Holy Week, reviewing the events that culminated in the happy conclusion of resurrection morning. I have loved seeing this portrait prominently featured in the temple film:

Mary Greets Christ in the Garden

She was the first of many witnesses, including the multitude in the New World, to see the Savior in His resurrected body. All of us who embrace the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon are likewise witnesses of that reality. The promises we will someday stand in His glorified presence and share eternal with the Father and the Son are astounding and comforting beyond my ability to describe them.

As one continues reading in 2 Nephi 9-10, the glorious and eternal promises that are held out for the Jews who crucified Him are perhaps the ultimate expression of forgiveness that we have in Holy Writ. As I grow older in my mortal probation there is little left on earth that stimulates me more than the HOPE of eternal life with Patsy and all my progenitors who have preceded me. It is a door through which I will someday pass, and I am filled with eager anticipation of its fulfillment even as I continue to revel in my joy among my family here in the flesh. Truly, I can say I am living in the best of times in my life.

Never doubt that you are loved and cherished by your Father in Heaven and His Son Jesus Christ. They have made ample provision for each of us despite our weaknesses and imperfections in the generous plan of salvation that includes the possibility of repentance and forgiveness.

My memories of what Patsy did to emphasize her testimony of the Savior’s resurrection on Easter morning are always fresh in my mind. The glorious Easter feast she always provided with her lace tablecloths, crystal goblets, best chinaware and sterling silverware, were emblematic of her belief that her best was never good enough in exchange for what her Savior had done for her and for each of us. It was her way to say “Thank You,” and so it must be for each of us. 

When we do our best to emulate the goodness of God as we act in service and love for our fellowmen, we are demonstrating our love for Him and our Father in Heaven in the best way we know how.

I love you too. I love the newness of Spring. I have seen the sandhill cranes, the mallard ducks, the rock chucks and pot guts, even the deer, and the snow is nearly all gone this week. The river is rising, the sky today is a radiant azure blue overhead, and the temperatures are almost balmy.

What a glorious time in which we live! And it’s Holy Week too!

Favorite Quotes from April 2025 General Conference

 

This was another historic General Conference. I know we always say that with each iteration, but they seem to get better with each edition, don’t they? I had several memorable moments and noted my favorite quotes from each speaker, which I am sharing this morning. We are truly a Christ-centered Church these days, a development for which I yearned all those many years ago in my earlier life. These quotes will attest to that reality.

President Jeffrey R. Holland:

“Is there anything sweeter, more pure, more humble than a child at prayer? It is as if heaven is in the room. God and Christ are so real, but for others the experience can become more superficial.”

“Children really do love Him, and that love can carry over into their other relationships in the playground of life.”

“I testify that they are images of the kingdom of God flourishing on earth in all of its strength and beauty.”

President Camille N. Johnson:

“I can be whole, while I wait for healing, if I am wholehearted in my relationship with Him.”

“Faith in Him increases my hope for healing, and that hope reinforces my faith in Jesus Christ. It is a powerful cycle.”

“Through our faith in Jesus Christ, we can seek to be spiritually whole while we wait and hope for physical and emotional healing.”

Elder Ronald A. Rasband:

“I marvel at what President Nelson calls the ‘majesty of this moment’ and express profound gratitude to the Lord for His work. I encourage us to stand tall as his disciples, eyewitnesses of the fulfillment of prophecy, both ancient and modern.”

“The Lord commanded in the early days of the Restoration to ‘seek learning, even by study and also by faith.’ That is happening today and is worthy of a resounding ‘Hurrah.‘”

“I recognize that in the midst of the good news of the gospel, there are those who struggle, who have faith challenges, doubts and questions that seem to have no answers. Brothers and sisters, Jesus Christ is the answer. Start with Him. Look for His hand in your life. Listen to Him.”

Elder Quentin L. Cook:

“In a world of great beauty, there are also enormous challenges. As we turn to Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, He rescues us from the storms of life through His Atonement in accordance with the Father’s plan.”

“In His eternity-shaping Atonement and Resurrection, the Savior broke ‘the bands of death, having gained the victory over death’ (Mosiah 15:8) for everyone.”

“I testify that the key to the Father’s plan of happiness is the Atonement wrought by our Savior Jesus Christ. He lives and guides His Church. The Atonement of Jesus Christ provides the ultimate rescue from the trials we face in this life.”

Elder Ricardo P. Gimenez:

“I hope you will consider my words as a sincere invitation to seek to understand the opportunity to link everything we do with our love for the Savior.”

“The more we can connect the reason with our love for the Savior, the more we will be able to receive what we need or are seeking.”

“I love the Savior, and my love for Him is my ‘why.‘”

President Henry B. Eyring:

“Jesus Christ loves each of us. He offers the opportunity to draw closer to Him.”

“As you bind up the wounds of those in need, the Lord’s power will sustain you.”

“Every covenant servant of Jesus Christ will receive His direction from the Spirit as they bless and serve others for Him. Then they will feel the Savior’s love and find joy in being drawn closer to Him.”

Elder Neil L. Andersen:

“The diminishing love for unborn children worldwide is a grave concern. God cherishes life. … As disciples of Jesus Christ, we cherish life.”

“Life is a most precious part of our Father’s perfect plan and by His decree we cherish life and preserve life; and we choose the continuation of life once conceived.”

“Nurturing and protecting life that is yet unborn is not a political position. It is a moral law confirmed by the Lord through His prophets.”

President Steven J. Lund:

“Serious expectations require serious preparation.”

“[Priesthood holders] will find themselves in consequential times and places where their presence and prayers and the powers of the priesthood of God they hold will profoundly matter.”

“The Aaronic Priesthood is called the preparatory priesthood partly because its ordinances allow them to experience the weight and joy of being on the Lord’s errand preparing them for future priesthood service.”

Elder S. Mark Palmer:

“To all who recognize what you have lost, we invite you to come back so you can once again taste the joyous fruit of the gospel.

“To all who are longing for faith, we invite you to come back.”

“He will never give up on you. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ all that is broken can be healed.”

Elder Sandino Roman:

“When we have faith in Christ, we recognize His blessings and develop a relationship of trust with Him.”

“Pray to your Heavenly Father as if it were the first time. … If you are sincere and humble, you will hear His answer and begin a personal and lasting relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.”

“So, faith in Jesus Christ is a bond of trust, forged in loyalty and love. In other words, in gratitude for God’s merciful love, we show our loyal love by keeping His commandments.”

Elder Dale G. Renlund:

“If we are wise, we receive the truth by accepting the gospel of Jesus Christ through priesthood ordinances and covenants.”

“Indeed, God will be disappointed if we do not rely upon the merits, mercy and grace of the Savior to magnify the God-given talents we have received.”

“Rely on those who love you and who love the Savior. Seek God’s guidance to develop your unique abilities and help others, even when it is not easy.”

Elder Hans T. Boom:

“To those of the rising generation … please learn and receive strength from the faith and testimonies of those that came before you.”

“All of us, whether we are the first generation in the gospel or the fifth, should ask ourselves, ‘What stories of faith, strength and celestial commitment will I pass on to the next generation?‘”

“Let us be, ‘True to the faith that our parents have cherished.‘”

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf:

“The Lord invites us not just to join His kingdom but also to be anxiously engaged in building it.”

“We are one, not because of where we’ve been but where we are striving to go, not because of who we are but who we seek to become.”

“Our love for God and His children is a powerful testimony to the world that this is truly the Savior’s Church.”

Elder Gary E. Stevenson:

“We rejoice that because of the Savior’s atoning sacrifice, we can be forgiven and cleansed of our sins as we repent. This brings us peace and hope while making it possible for us to return to God’s presence.”

“Living prophets in our day — who receive revelation from God to teach and lead us — are increasingly inviting us to come unto Christ.”

“I testify that all who accept the invitations from our living Prophet and his counselors to more intentionally commemorate the holy events that Easter represents will find that their bond with Jesus Christ grows ever stronger.”

Sister Amy A. Wright:

“If we are not testifying to the veracity of His premortal godhood, His divine mission and His prison-bursting Resurrection in our homes and in every single meeting of this Church, then our messages of love, service, honesty, humility, gratitude and compassion can become nothing more than a jaunty pep talk of thoughtful living.”

“If we become casual in our discipleship of Jesus Christ, it could be catastrophic for our children.”

“When we tell our children we love them, are we also telling them that their Father in Heaven and Savior Jesus Christ love them? Our love may comfort and inspire, but Their love can sanctify, exalt and heal.”

Elder James R. Rasband:

“It might be said that the plan of salvation is a plan of happiness precisely because it is a ‘plan of mercy.‘”

“For those who sometimes struggle to feel answers to prayer, seeking the Lord’s mercy is one of the most powerful ways to feel the witness of the Holy Ghost.”

“In sum, is the Father’s plan as taught in the Book of Mormon really this merciful? I testify that it is.”

Elder Sergio R. Vargas:

“I invite all of us today to center our lives on Jesus Christ and His teachings.”

“Our divine nature and covenant relationship with God entitle us to receive divine help.”

“Ask for help. Jesus Christ understands and is always eager to share our burdens.”

Elder D. Todd Christofferson:

“True worship means loving God and yielding our will to Him — the most precious gift we can offer.”

“Worshipping together, as the ‘body of Christ’ has unique power and benefits as we teach, serve and sustain one another. … As a community of Saints, we strengthen each other in worship and in faith.”

“Those who reject God as the source of truth, or disavow any accountability to Him, in effect substitute themselves as their god. One who places loyalty to a party or cause ahead of divine direction worships a false god.”

Elder David A. Bednar:

“Joseph [Smith] did not pray merely to know what was right. Rather, he prayed to know what was right so he could do what was right.”

“The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ, confirms the truthfulness of the Bible and restores plain and precious truths that were lost from the Bible.”

“Ancient prophets and apostles personally conferred priesthood authority upon Joseph Smith and committed priesthood keys to him.”

Elder Steven D. Shumway:

“When we say yes to serving, we are saying yes to Jesus Christ. And when we say yes to Christ, we are saying yes to the most abundant life possible.”

“We engage in God’s work, not because God needs us, but because we need God and His mighty blessings.”

“Callings are sacred gifts from a loving Father to help bring others with us to Jesus Christ.”

Sister Tamara W. Runia:

“I testify that while God cares about our mistakes, He cares more about what happens after we make a mistake. Are we going to turn to Him again and again? Are we going to stay in this covenant relationship?”

“The invitation to repent is an expression of God’s love. Saying yes to that invitation is an expression of ours. … Yes, your repentance doesn’t burden Jesus Christ; it brightens His joy.”

“We don’t stay on the covenant path by never making a mistake. We stay on the path by repenting every day. And when we’re repenting, God forgives without shaming us, comparing us to anyone else or scolding us because this is the same thing we were repenting of last week.”

Bishop Gerald Causse:

“The Lord loves you personally. He knows your circumstances and the door to His blessings remains wide open to you no matter the challenges you face.”

“What matters to the Lord is not merely whether we are able, but whether we are willing, to do all we can to follow Him as our Savior.”

“The Lord’s compensating blessings often come through the kindness and service of others who help us accomplish what we cannot do on our own.”

Elder Gerrit W. Gong:

“This is Easter in Jesus Christ: He answers the longings of our hearts and the questions of our souls. He wipes away our tears, except our tears of joy.”

“He reunites us, whole and holy, with each other and God. In all good things, Jesus Christ restores abundantly — not only what was but also what can be.”

“Each Easter season we celebrate, as a symbolic whole, eternity’s great gifts through Jesus Christ — His Atonement; His (and the promise of our) literal Resurrection; Restoration of His latter-day Church with priesthood keys and authority to bless all God’s children.”

Elder John A. McCune:

“In Christ, we can understand better the perfect attributes of the Father and His plan. Through Christ, we are given the enabling power to overcome the tendencies of natural men and women so that we might become more like the Father.”

“As we make and keep covenants, we will naturally turn outward and have a desire to help others feel the measure of joy and love we feel in our covenantal relationships.”

“We can be part of the greatest cause on the earth today, the gathering of Israel. We can help to bring God’s children to Christ.”

President Dallin H. Oaks:

“By far God’s strongest mortal help was His provision of a Savior, Jesus Christ, who would suffer to pay the price and provide forgiveness for repented sins.”

“The plan of a loving Father in Heaven provides many other gifts to protect us, including protecting us from sinning in the first place.”

“Our part in this divine plan is to trust in God and seek divine helps, most notably the Atonement of His Beloved Son, our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ.”

Elder Ulisses Soares:

“Reverence is not just an aspect of spirituality; it is the essence of it — the foundation upon which spirituality is built, creating a personal connection to the divine.”

“Showing reverence for sacred things gives meaning to much of what we do every day and strengthens our feeling of gratitude-inspiring awe, respect and love for higher and holier things.”

“The absence of respect for the sacred produces an increasing casualness in attitude and carelessness in conduct, which can rapidly spiral one generation into apathy and catapult the next generation into misery.”

Elder Michael B. Strong:

“To be the Lord’s disciples, we must intentionally imitate His thoughts and actions every day — for example, His obedience, humility and patience.”

“Compassion is that portion of charity that seeks to alleviate all suffering.”

“Discipleship of Jesus Christ … is a path filled with deliberate and purposeful acts of love towards others.”

Elder Scott D. Whiting:

“To those who may be in hiding, we implore you to come back.”

“Through the matchless power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, you can be made whole again.”

“As His Saints, each of us must foster a culture of belonging in the Church that is loving, accepting and encouraging of all who desire to progress along His path.”

Elder Christopher H. Kim:

“When we harden our hearts, we are blinded, and good things cannot come into our hearts or our minds.”

“We want to become humble before the Lord, like as a little child who obeys their father. We will then always have the Holy Spirit with us, and our hearts will soften.”

“We can choose to harden our hearts, or we can choose to soften our hearts. In our daily lives, we can choose to do the things that invite the Lord’s Spirit to come into and dwell in our hearts.”

Elder Patrick Kearon:

“I invite you to receive either for the first time, or to a greater extent than ever before, the magnificent realisation that you truly are God’s beloved child. You must undo the bow, tear off the wrapping paper, open the box and actively receive with grateful humility a true, pure understanding of this foundational truth.”

“You may be wondering, ‘What do I have to do to receive this gift from God?’ Well, actually, nothing. It is a gift from the Giver. That is simply a fact. Just let it in. You are His child. You are beloved of Him. Do not complicate it. Do not block the receiving of this gift with thoughts that you are somehow undeserving.”

“You are a child of God. This is not just a nice song we sing. Will you please accept, open, and receive this gift of knowledge and understanding from Him? Will you hold it close as the precious treasure it is? Re-receive this gift, or perhaps truly receive it for the very first time, and let it transform every aspect of your life.”

Elder Benjamin M. Z. Tai:

“When we exercise faith in God and His Son, Jesus Christ, we receive clear assurance of their reality and of their concern for us.”

“Our opportunity is to love, share and invite in a way that those we love can feel the love of God.”

“Please know that your every effort matters and, as certain as the stars above us, that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know, hear and love you.”

President Russell M. Nelson:

“When I speak of having confidence before God, I am referring to having confidence in approaching God right now.”

“Two years ago, I called upon us, as covenant followers of Jesus Christ, to be peacemakers. … I thank those of you who took my previous counsel to heart. But we can still do better.”

“As we go to our Heavenly Father, with increasing confidence, we will be filled with more joy, and your faith in Jesus Christ will increase. We will begin to experience spiritual power that exceeds our greatest hopes.”

What Think Ye of the Resurrection?

I have been pondering this question all night and again into this morning, so I decided to summarize my thoughts for this entry today. I was impressed with what President Oaks had to say in this recently released video as he explained he was speaking for the First Presidency:

https://youtu.be/CzPZ9PRE0WE

In Alma 11:42 when Amulek is speaking with Zeezrom, he says, “Now, there is a death which is called a temporal death; and the death of Christ shall loose the bands of this temporal death, that ALL shall be raised from this temporal death.” (Emphasis mine).

I don’t know of a more ennobling thought than this - Everyone who ever lived on this planet will one day be raised from the dead. It is a miracle of astounding proportions. ALL really means ALL, without exception. Jesus Christ was willingly crucified in Jerusalem, His body placed in a borrowed tomb, then on the morning of the third day following arose in a glorified body of flesh and bones, opening the way for everyone else thereafter. Think of it! It is a miracle of profound magnitude.

"Handle Me and See. . ."

There were many witnesses of Christ’s resurrected body, among them His ordained Twelve Apostles and others. Even “Doubting Thomas” became a living witness. Add to them the multitudes in the Book of Mormon when the Savior appeared to them and all of them went forward to touch the marks in his hands and wrists. Beyond those living witnesses we have the inspired teachings of the prophets.

I often look at Alma 40 for a complete explanation from this inspired prophet:

Behold, there is a time appointed that ALL shall come forth from the dead. Now when this time cometh no one knows; but God knoweth the time which is appointed.

Now, whether there shall be one time, or a second time, or a third time, that men shall come forth from the dead, it mattereth not; for God knoweth all these things; and it sufficeth me to know that this is the case - that there is a time appointed that ALL shall rise from the dead.

Now there must needs be a space betwixt the time of death and the time of the resurrection.

And now I would inquire what becometh of the souls of men from this time of death to the time appointed for the resurrection?

Now whether there is more than one time appointed for men to rise it mattereth not; for all do not die at once, and this mattereth not; all is as one day with God, and time only is measured unto men.

Therefore, there is a time appointed unto men that they shall rise from the dead; and there is a space between the time of death and the resurrection. And now, concerning this space of time, what becometh of the souls of men is the thing which I have inquired diligently of the Lord to know; and this is the thing of which I do know.

And when the time cometh when ALL shall rise, then shall they know that God knoweth all the times which are appointed unto man.

Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection - Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of ALL men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of ALL men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.

And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.

And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil - for behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord; for behold, they chose evil works rather than good; therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them, and take possession of their house - and these shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, and this because of their own iniquity, being led captive by the will of the devil.

Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked, yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful looking for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them; thus they remain in this state, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of their resurrection.

Now, there are some that have understood that this state of happiness and this state of misery of the soul, before the resurrection, was a first resurrection. Yea, I admit it may be termed a resurrection, the raising of the spirit or the soul and their consignation to happiness or misery, according to the words which have been spoken.

And behold, again it hath been spoken, that there is a first resurrection, a resurrection of ALL those who have been, or who are, or who shall be, down to the resurrection of Christ from the dead.

Now, we do not suppose that this first resurrection, which is spoken of in this manner, can be the resurrection of the souls and their consignation to happiness or misery. Ye cannot suppose that this is what it meaneth.

Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but it meaneth the reuniting of the soul with the body, of those from the days of Adam down to the resurrection of Christ.

Now, whether the souls and the bodies of those of whom has been spoken shall ALL be reunited at once, the wicked as well as the righteous, I do not say; let it suffice, that I say that THEY ALL SHALL COME FORTH; or in other words, their resurrection cometh to pass before the resurrection of those who die after the resurrection of Christ.

Now, my son, I do not say that their resurrection cometh at the resurrection of Christ; but behold, I give it as my opinion, that the souls and the bodies are reunited, of the righteous, at the resurrection of Christ, and his ascension into heaven.

But whether it be at his resurrection or after, I do not say; but this much I say, that there is a space between death and the resurrection of the body, and a state of the soul in happiness or in misery until the time which is appointed of God that the dead shall come forth, and be reunited, both soul and body, and be brought to stand before God, and be judged according to their works.

Yea, this bringeth about the restoration of those things of which has been spoken by the mouths of the prophets.

The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but ALL things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame.

And now, my son, this is the restoration of which has been spoken by the mouths of the prophets -

And then shall the righteous shine forth in the kingdom of God.

But behold, an awful death cometh upon the wicked; for they die as to things pertaining to things of righteousness; for they are unclean, and no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of God; but they are cast out, and consigned to partake of the fruits of their labors or their works, which have been evil; and they drink the dregs of a bitter cup. (Alma 40:4-26, emphasis mine).

I ponder a lot these days on what my dear companion Patsy is doing as a glorified spirit in a state of happiness known as paradise. I know that’s where she is, but I confess I am clueless as to all that she might be doing for the joy and benefit of others. That was always her inclination in her mortal life, and it is logical to assume she would still be doing it there too. I just can’t articulate the particulars.

Wedding Day, 1969

Along with all of you in our family, I stood at the side of the casket that held her mortal remains and gazed upon her still and lifeless body, her flesh and bones, but absent her spirit that once inhabited it. I thought of Mary who visited the tomb of Jesus, thinking she was going to anoint His body with precious ointments and spices, and discovered an empty tomb instead. He had taught the disciples of His literal resurrection, surely, but to be confronted with the actual evidence must have been a shocking reality nonetheless. I have found peace, certainly, in the knowledge of the plan of salvation giving me the assurances that all is well with her. It is that peace of knowing that continues to sustain me.

When the holidays like Christmas and Easter come and go each year, I am comforted in their Christ-centered themes. I am so grateful for living prophets among us like President Oaks who remind us of the significance of those calendar days. We have become a Christ-centered Church at last, and now forevermore. The days of “programs” in the past have given way, mercifully, to an unfiltered emphasis on the scriptural documentation of His reality in our lives now, and for that eventuality I am most grateful.

I am forever grateful that the glorious vision of President Joseph F. Smith was canonized as D&C 138. He also pondered the same things I have pondered in the death of his loved ones, as he explains here:

And as I wondered, my eyes were opened, and my understanding quickened, and I perceived that the Lord went not in person among the wicked and the disobedient who had rejected the truth, to teach them;

But behold, from among the righteous, he organized his forces and appointed messengers, clothed with power and authority, and commissioned them to go forth and carry the light of the gospel to them that were in darkness, even to ALL the spirits of men; and thus was the gospel preached to the dead.

And the chosen messengers went forth to declare the acceptable day of the Lord and proclaim liberty to the captives who were bound, even unto ALL who would repent of their sins and receive the gospel.

Thus was the gospel preached to those who had died in their sins, without a knowledge of the truth, or in transgression, having rejected the prophets.

These were taught faith in God, repentance from sin, vicarious baptism for the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands,

And ALL other principles of the gospel that were necessary for them to know in order to qualify themselves that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

And so it was made known among the dead, both small and great, the unrighteous as well as the faithful, that redemption had been wrought through the sacrifice of the Son of God upon the cross.

Thus was it made known that our Redeemer spent his time during his sojourn in the world of spirits, instructing and preparing the faithful spirits of the prophets who had testified of him in the flesh;

That they might carry the message of redemption unto ALL the dead, unto whom he could not go personally, because of their rebellion and transgression, that they through the ministration of his servants might also hear his words.

Among the great and mighty ones who were assembled in this vast congregation of the righteous were Father Adam, the Ancient of Days and father of ALL,

And our glorious Mother Eve, with many of her faithful daughters who had lived through the ages and worshiped the true and living God.

Abel, the first martyr, was there, and his brother Seth, one of the mighty ones, who was in the express image of his father, Adam.

Noah, who gave warning of the flood; Shem, the great high priest; Abraham, the father of the faithful; Isaac, Jacob, and Moses, the great law-giver of Israel;

And Isaiah, who declared by prophecy that the Redeemer was anointed to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that were bound, were also there.

Moreover, Ezekiel, who was shown in vision the great valley of dry bones, which were to be clothed upon with flesh, to come forth again in the resurrection of the dead, living souls;

Daniel, who foresaw and foretold the establishment of the kingdom of God in the latter days, never again to be destroyed nor given to other people;

Elias, who was with Moses on the Mount of Transfiguration;

And Malachi, the prophet who testified of the coming of Elijah - of whom also Moroni spake to the Prophet Joseph Smith, declaring that he should come before the ushering in of the great and dreadful day of the Lord - were also there.

The Prophet Elijah was to plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to their fathers,

Foreshadowing the great work to be done in the temples of the Lord in the dispensation of the fulness of times, for the redemption of the dead, and the sealing of the children to their parents, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse and utterly wasted at his coming.

ALL these and many more, even the prophets who dwelt among the Nephites and testified of the coming of the Son of God, mingled in the vast assembly and waited for their deliverance,

For the dead had looked upon the long absence of their spirits from their bodies as a bondage.

These the Lord taught, and gave them power to come forth, after his resurrection from the dead, to enter into his Father’s kingdom, there to be crowned with immortality and eternal life,

And continue thenceforth their labor as had been promised by the Lord, and be partakers of ALL blessings which were held in reserve for them that love him.

The Prophet Joseph Smith, and my father, Hyrum Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and other choice spirits who were reserved to come forth in the fulness of times to take part in laying the foundations of the great latter-day work,

Including the building of the temples and the performance of ordinances therein for the redemption of the dead, were also in the spirit world.

I observed that they were also among the noble and great ones who were chosen in the beginning to be rulers in the Church of God.

Even before they were born, they, with many others, received their first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men.

I beheld that the faithful elders of this dispensation, when they depart from mortal life, continue their labors in the preaching of the gospel of repentance and redemption, through the sacrifice of the Only Begotten Son of God, among those who are in darkness and under the bondage of sin in the great world of the spirits of the dead.

The dead who repent will be redeemed, through obedience to the ordinances of the house of God,

And after they have paid the penalty of their transgressions, and are washed clean, shall receive a reward according to their works, for they are heirs of salvation.

Thus was the vision of the redemption of the dead revealed to me, and I bear record, and I know that this record is true, through the blessing of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, even so. Amen. (D&C 138:29-60, emphasis mine).

So, we learn that ALL will be given many opportunities to repent, whether in this mortal life or in the spirit world. It is our pleasure and our joy to provide ample opportunities to ALL of them to accept our vicarious offerings in the temples now dotting the expanse of planet Earth. Those vicarious ordinances assure them of every opportunity to advance as we are advancing day by day toward our ultimate destiny of exaltation in the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom.

And that is a JOY to which I eagerly subscribe each time I attend the various temples nearby.

I believe in the literal resurrection of the physical bodies we each possess. 

At this Easter season 2025, I am filled with renewed hope in its reality. I envision her looking much as she did on that glorious morning of December 19, 1969, when we made promises to one another that would last for eternity. 

I trust in those promises now and forever.

The Liverpool Mormon Yankees

I awakened to a -24 degrees reading on the thermometer this morning. Seems the air is coming in the form of the Arctic Express today. Jake came with dinner last night, and he was in a rental car with bald tires. He got stuck in the road on the way out, but we were able to extract him from the snowbank and send him on his way in frigid conditions. Always good to remember that “slow is best” during the winter on the ranch road.

It’s also Martin Luther King Day in America, and the 60th inaugural of a new POTUS, this time it was Donald J. Trump. It’s January 20th, 2025. 

I drove out of here after starting a fire in the stove to warm things up. It was 50 degrees on that side of the house. I went to Heber City for breakfast and listened to much of the inaugural proceeding on the car radio.

I was asked by Melanie the other day if I had ever written about the Mormon Yankees. I remembered writing about them tangentially in previous posts, but never intentionally. So today I will tell the full story.

To appreciate the context I must first lay a foundation. President Henry D. Moyle was one of Grandfather Lee’s favorite people. He was a wealthy businessman before being called to the apostleship, and he and Grandfather became fast friends. I was privileged to be his home teacher for a season in the Federal Heights Ward where we all resided. 

President Henry D. Moyle

Because of his success in business, President Moyle was what most people today would have called a very progressive thinker. For example, he favored rapid building of Church chapels throughout Europe. In addition, he sought and found prominent buildings for the Church to purchase then convert into mission homes. He wanted the Church to establish a “presence” throughout Europe. He reasoned that if missionaries were successful and added to the ranks of the members, the resulting tithing revenues would easily accommodate his expansionist vision. He does what most people who spend first, then hope for the best, also do without having the cash in the bank.

He served eventually as a counselor to President David O. McKay, succeeding the venerable President J. Reuben Clark when he died. It was clear President Moyle would have a vigorous role to play among his brethren of the First Presidency. Eventually, there would be four counselors serving simultaneously with President McKay as he aged, and that proved to be an unprecedented development that had never been seen in Church history, nor since. Two of the counselors, Alvin R. Dyer and Thorpe B. Isaacson were not ordained apostles. 

That development ended when President McKay was succeeded by President Joseph Fielding Smith, and Harold B. Lee and N. Eldon Tanner were named as counselors.

There were signs the Church was growing, but not fast enough to keep up with all the spending. Today, we would call it “deficit spending.” President Joseph Fielding Smith, who was serving as the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder Harold B. Lee sought to put a damper on the profligate spending, and were aided by President N. Eldon Tanner of the First Presidency, all of whom were fiscal conservatives. Together they reined in spending and put the Church back on a sound fiscal footing. From 1970 until today, we are reaping the benefit of that conservative approach to Church finances.

T. Bowring Woodbury (l) and President McKay

That’s a quick snapshot in Church history to provide the background. President T. Bowring Woodbury at the time was serving as the president of the British Mission. He shared the expansive vision of President Moyle, and he was what we would likely call a “super salesman” in today’s world. It's not my purpose here to provide the complete litany of abuses that arose in that era. Those have been thoroughly documented elsewhere. Later, he would finish his business career as a vice-president in marketing at Zions Bank, where I knew him. (Coincidentally, President Jeffrey R. Holland and Elder Quentin L. Cook served as missionaries in the British Mission under President Woodbury). He was always a natty dresser and forever a promoter in the first rank. As a mission president he sought to put the Church “on the map” by promoting the Church in every way he knew with aggressive programs to baptize thousands where only mere hundreds had been the historical precedent. He instituted something called “baseball baptisms.”

The elders would gather at local parks throughout England and play baseball together. It was a novelty that attracted many youthful English participants. They would play with the Mormon elders, then go swimming in the nearby pools and local bathhouses where baptisms were performed. The numbers of baptisms soared, and the program was deemed a rousing success. This was way before the Osmonds made their rise to prominence to assist with marketing the Church, and the American baseball playing missionaries scored a lot of baptisms that pleased their promoters.

But there was a problem. The success was neutralized by the vast number of “converts” that were lost due to lack of follow up and fellowshipping on the part of the local members where they resided. Many of those “converts” would attest years later that they had no idea they had been baptized into the Church. The expected tithing revenues, therefore, failed to materialize, and the Church’s deficit spending caught up and threatened the Church financially during the Sixties.

That’s where I come in. I went to the North British Mission in 1967-69. One of my first assignments as a new missionary was to look up some of those ill-gotten converts. Our instructions were to seek them out, and if we could locate them ascertain their level of interest in the Church. President Spencer W. Kimball was by then supervising the work in England. My companion and I were given about 2500 names to research. If they expressed interest in the Church we were to embrace them and encourage them further. If they knew nothing about the Church and we were unable to arouse any interest we were to excommunicate them and strike their names from the records of the Church. I used to joke that I excommunicated WAY, WAY MORE than I baptized in my two years in England, and that was no joke - it was true. We failed to find most of our 2500 names.

President Wilford H. Payne was my first mission president. He was an advocate for “legitimate” baseball among missionaries. He elevated the effort by subscribing our North British Mission team in a semi-pro baseball league (“The National League”) sponsoring teams throughout England. We were exclusively Americans back then, and we competed against other American teams mostly comprised of servicemen in the various branches of the military serving in England. It was all above board, hoping to offset what back then was a never-ending onslaught of negative press from many sources. 

I joined what we dubbed the “Liverpool Mormon Yankees,” called to play by President Payne when I had been out about four months. There was also a “London Mormon Yankees” team. We were headquartered in Liverpool and the nearby Wirral Peninsula. I took Mom there with me years later to visit my old stomping grounds, though it didn’t resemble the old days much when we were there as missionaries. The team had been playing for three years before I joined them. We did well, playing other teams within our mission boundaries, and we did well enough that we went on to play in regional tournaments, then down to Nottingham (outside our mission) to play for the national championship. Here’s the line score from my Google search:

We took home the national trophy. I have to say the competition wasn’t really that great. Baseball was in its infancy back then in England, and it has never overtaken the national pastime of football (“soccer” is what we call it here).

Truth be told, it felt like that summer was one long holiday for us. We even got in a long weekend of spectating at the British Open golf championship that happened to be played within our zone boundaries that summer. The instruction from our zone leader was to “proselyte” among the spectators. It’s in quotes because that didn’t happen at all.

President Lenard R. Robison succeeded President Payne as our new mission president in July. He came to one of our games, and he told me later it was his strong impression after witnessing it firsthand to shut it all down. His instincts were right on point. He also told me that was when he knew I would be one of his Assistants someday before I went home. 

I am so grateful to have lived long enough to witness the day when President Russell M. Nelson has put the Church unerringly on a path of single-minded discipleship to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and temple worship. May we never again return to the days I lived through in England as a baseball-playing missionary. I am simply illustrating here what the contrast has been historically.

We didn’t attract many converts because of our exploits as baseball players, I’m sure. For all the hype that went along with it there was very little substance that converted to baptisms. We attracted a lot of young English lassies, some of whom were members, most were not, but we were little more than an interesting sideshow. Parenthetically, if you do a Google search for “Mormon Yankees,” you will discover a basketball team organized in the Fifties in Australia.

Eventually there would be seven missions throughout the British Isles, including Scotland and Ireland. We were on the front end of converting districts into stakes, and that part was fulfilling and rewarding. I have written elsewhere of my interactions with Grandfather and Aunt Joan when they visited my mission during the time when I had a challenging assignment with my “greenie” Elder Shoemaker in Gateshead up in Northumberland. 

So the chapter on the Mormon Yankees ends with my affirmation that even seemingly frivolous ventures can bear long-lasting fruits. We baptized the niece of the branch president during our assignment on the Wirral Peninsula while playing baseball. That was the summer back in the day, when native branch presidents thought they were entitled to a summer vacation (not kidding here), and we took over his branch leadership responsibilities while he relaxed. She remains active in the Church today, presuming she’s still living.

I was just sitting down to write when three beautiful young women passed over my threshold - granddaughters Paden, Chloe and Aleyah Goates. They were off for the holiday, and what a delightful trio they are!

I am grateful for each of you, and pray you may all be blessed. The sky overhead is crystal blue, not a cloud in sight. I pray that it may be so for each of you today and always!

Abolish the Electoral College?

I noted an article that appeared in The Hill yesterday. Three Democrat senators have proposed a bill to abolish the Electoral College. They bring up an ongoing discussion that never seems to go away. It's the difference between a democracy and a representative republic.

Our inspired Founders as they established the Constitution of the United States sought to prevent a true democracy, fearing that a straight democracy would disenfranchise the minority if a direct election empowered a majority.

The Constitutional Convention, 1787

Instead, they opted for a form of government that instituted a representative republic with "checks and balances." It features three branches of government - the executive, the legislative and the judiciary. The elected representatives conduct the business of the people and are accountable ONLY to those whom they represent.

One fundamental principle of a constitutional republic is the protection of minority rights against the potential tyranny of the majority. This design counters direct democracy, where majority rules could potentially ride roughshod over minority interests. The U.S. Constitution outlines various checks and balances intended to prevent any single branch of government from gaining absolute power, thereby protecting individual rights from being infringed upon by majority vote.

The key element of this style of government is the separation of powers among branches of the government, a system meant to foster a balance of power. The legislative branch makes laws, the executive branch enforces these laws, and the judiciary interprets them. Each branch operates independently from the others to prevent any accumulation of power, adhering to the principles laid out by the framers of the Constitution.

Think of the background from which our Founders had escaped. They were subjects of the Crown of England, and they were seeking freedom from what they viewed as a despot in their King. When John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress, affixed his signature at the bottom of the Declaration of Independence he wrote it boldly and as large as he could. He quipped that he wrote it so large so that "the old fat King" would not have to use his spectacles to read his name, but that story may be fictional.

As it unfolded in the debates over the form of government Americans would adopt, the electoral process distinctly forms the basis of the U.S. as a republic. Citizens do not vote directly for laws and policies but instead elect representatives who make these decisions on their behalf. This filter theoretically places an informed decision-making body between the populace’s desire and the law, which aligns with the characteristics of a republic.

It is not surprising that in the aftermath of this most recent national election there would be some who would once again seek to blur the lines between the very issues our Founders debated. The conflation of "democracy" and "republic" in contemporary usage often obscures their distinct historical and Constitutional meanings. 

A democracy, in its purest form as practiced in ancient Athens, involves direct participation of the citizenry in legislative decisions. While democratic, this approach was deemed impractical and potentially volatile by the framers of the U.S. Constitution, leading them to form a constitutional republic. This system combines representative democracy with foundational laws that protect individual rights and minority opinions against the potential tyranny of the majority.

During recent political upheavals, some commentators and politicians have asserted that calling the United States a democracy is incorrect, preferring instead the term "republic." This assertion, seen in media portrayals and political rhetoric, often suggests that appreciating the United States as a republic exclusively helps safeguard against the flaws of a pure democracy. Senator Mike Lee’s (R-UT) comments from October 2020 exemplify this stance as he described the American system as not one of mere majorities but rather as a “constitutional republic” where majority rule is tempered by statutory and constitutional boundaries. (Congressional Record vol. 166, no. 171 [October 8, 2020], statement of Sen. Mike Lee).

Having read this far into this post, some may simply say, "So what?" Well, the answer is it DOES make a difference what form of government we choose. 

The Electoral College is the process by which Americans elect their President and Vice-President indirectly through their state's electors. Candidates must secure 270 electoral votes, a majority of the 538 at stake, to win the White House. 

Before the general election, states select slates of electors. After voters cast their ballots in November, the candidate who wins the popular vote determines which slate of electors — Republican, Democrat or a third party — will cast electoral votes in the Electoral College for the president. 

In most states, it's winner-take-all — whoever gets the most votes in the state wins all of its electoral votes. 

In Maine and Nebraska, the rules are slightly different. They have a proportional representation system in which the winner of each congressional district is awarded one electoral vote, and the winner of the statewide vote is awarded each state's remaining two electoral votes. Some Republicans were hoping to change Nebraska's rules to a winner-take-all model, since one of its electoral votes often goes to the Democrat, but the effort fell short. 

Electors meet in their respective states in mid-December to cast their votes for the president. The meeting takes place the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December, which fell on Dec. 17, 2024. 

There is no Constitutional provision or federal law that requires electors to vote for the candidate to whom they are pledged, though they almost always do. "Faithless electors" are rare, since the electors are selected by the parties.

There are 538 electors in total across the 50 states and Washington, D.C. 

Each state is allocated electors based on the size of its congressional delegation. Several states with the smallest populations — Alaska, Delaware, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming — have three electors each, since they have one representative in the House and two senators, while California, the largest, has 54 electoral votes.  Washington, D.C., is also allocated three electors.

By spreading power and influence throughout the nation, we see the wisdom of our Founders. However, be aware that there will always and forever, it seems, be people who lose elections and seek to reverse the history of the Electoral College. They usually fly under a banner labelled "Progressives." 

Put me down as a "Traditionalist."