Mormon Musings

I am surprised (I would be amused if the cost were not so great) that people think they can remove the foundations of our social structure--things like work, chastity, and family and then wonder why other things crumble. You can't remove the foundation of a building while standing inside and not be hit with falling plaster... You're soon going to go out into a world full of marshmallow men. Like the act of putting a finger into a marshmallow, there is no core in these men, there is no center, and when one removes his finger, the marshmallow resumes its former shape. We are in a world of people who want to yield to everything--to every fad and to every fashion. It is incredibly important that we be committed to the core--committed to those things that matter, about which our Father in heaven has leveled with us through his Son, Jesus Christ, and his prophets. I saw an interesting cartoon not too long ago that bears on this point of marshmallow men. It showed

You have been taught the standard of right. Now subdue your rebellious passions, dismiss everything that you know or consider to be wrong, and embrace that which is better. Get wisdom and all the light you possibly can, and never live another twenty-four hours without the Holy Spirit of the Lord, and that will give you joy, peace, comfort, light, and intelligence, by which you can grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. I cannot reach these attainments, neither can you, only by the light and intelligence which flow from heaven. You may say, "Brother Brigham, you are like the rest of us: we see our faults, but we do not like to acknowledge them; we like to have them covered up and kept out of the sight of our  neighbors ." If you find a secret fault, dismiss it secretly. Let your faults go behind you; turn them overboard, and for ever disown them. If no person but yourselves has seen your faults, you are blessed. You may then get rid of them without their

Time makes of the praise and honors of men so much cotton candy--it is sweet, but melts in one's mouth quickly.  Yet how many have paid such a terrible price for that transitory taste.  The problem with approaching life on the basis of "now" is that "now" is over, even as one says the very word.  Neal A. Maxwell, "Things As They Really Are", p. 7

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.  Leo Tolstoy

Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man -C.S.Lewis

If you are ever called upon to chasten a person, never chasten beyond the balm you have within you to bind up. Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 9:125-25 "Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;" D&C 121:43

the wise counsel of Gamaliel, teacher of Saul/Paul: And now I say unto you, refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought.  But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. Acts 5:38-39