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As an example, he referred to a set of principles published by an international human rights group which calls for governments to assure that all persons have the right to practice their religious beliefs regardless of sexual orientation or identity. Elder Oaks said, “This apparently proposes that governments require church practices to ignore gender differences. Any such effort to have governments invade religion to override religious doctrines should be resisted by all believers.”I have never thought of the issue from this perspective. This speech has caused a stir among some members of the media and bloggers, and I agree with Elder Oaks' position and I think we should all remember that it is vital that we protect our religious freedom.
Last week I went with my friend Cliff to the Springville Museum of Art Sculpture Garden dedication. My other good friend Abram helped a lot with the planning and the media relations for the event. Wow, it was really neat! Elder Oaks spoke and then dedicated the garden. It is beautiful and it was a neat experience to hear an apostle speak in a more "casual," smaller setting.
t how quickly he was able to get from the east coast to Utah, a feat which took the pioneers several months. A plane ride that is now a few hours was a 25-hour trip for Dallin in '32. Elder Oaks' mother was at that dedication more than 70 years ago and decided to name the child she gave birth to only days later Dallin.
t first but later agreed to the job. He later said,
My dad is truly an amazing person. He is always there for me and my siblings. He is an extremely hard worker. My dad is an example to me of righteousness, leadership and love. My dad has always been very adamant about serving others. Through callings, work and on a personal level, he has served those around him, even when it may not be easy. I remember as a very young child going to deliver Sub for Santa gifts, helping clean the local high school and being taught to look for opportunities to help others.
A couple weeks ago David McCullough visited the Church History Library. I really like McCullough. For those of you who don't know him, he has won two Pulitzer Prizes and is the author of 1776 and other historical novels. I once heard him speak at a forum at BYU and wow, was it good! You can read the really, really good forum address called "The Glorious Cause of America: How a Course, Untrained Army -- 'rabble in arms' -- Stood Up to the World's Most Powerful Army here. I highly recommend it.“You are truly doing the Lord’s work, because it matters. And if we don’t do it we are not fulfilling our responsibility as citizens. Not just as members of the Church but as citizens."
“You are caring for a national treasure here. The story of the Latter-day Saints, of Joseph Smith, of Brigham Young, and that incredible migration here is a great American story.”
My friend Burgundy is in a music group called Simple Grace. They sing religious songs and are really good! Simple Grace goes to girls camps, firesides, etc. sharing their message. There was recently an article about them in Deseret News. I love good, uplifting music -- check this group out!
Recently Arthur Brooks spoke at a Forum at BYU. While I didn't get to attend, I did listen to it online and it was one of the best Forums I've ever heard! Brooks is the author of "Gross National Happiness" and "Who Really Cares." In his speech he talked about the statistically proven fact that giving actually makes people happier. He gave two reasons for this: giving changes the way your brain works and giving changes the way other people treat you. It was interesting because Brooks is a Roman Catholic and he quoted Mosiah 4:21:And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another.Brooks also told a story about what he called a "magic briefcase." On a previous visit to BYU, he was given a briefcase that he stored in his closet and never used. One day the briefcase he did use broke and he began using the BYU briefcase. As he carried it around he noticed that people would read the briefcase and then look at him and, Brooks thought, assume he was a member of the church. As this happen
ed he began to feel different becaue he felt that he was representing Latter-day Saints. As he used the briefcase he noticed something funny; he began to act differently. He joked that one way the church could change the world would be to give everyone a BYU briefcase. I love this story because it reminds us that people are watching and have high expectations of us.
"Come to Salt Lake City and visit Welfare Square. Your eyes will glow a little brighter, your heart will beat a little faster, and life itself will acquire a new depth of meaning."
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