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Show ermon (or TO SSIeefe By LINCOLN r. HANKS President, Salt Lake Stake Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Sainta Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal." (1 Cor. 13:1.) Things around us may be confusing, in the light of conditions condi-tions as they exist today. Men are looking for happiness but aeem to be getting farther from It The reason seems obvious. Happiness isn't just found; it has to be earned! The Savior - found sacred happiness in healing the leper, restoring sight to the blind, raising the sick from their beds, forgiving the repentant re-pentant sinner. His work was the essence of charity. Men who love their work labor to perfect It, and conse- quently, they find happiness thing worthwhile for their n visit the widow and the orph C " i ! f ' ; in it. When tbey can do some-eighbor some-eighbor help them in sickness, an, do a kindly deed tbey find f satisfaction because they - work for it ! The artist worked patiently with his canvas to , bring life to his painting; the architect gave life to the t cathedral because he searched j out the beautiful and trans-I trans-I posed it from the builder's clay to a haven of worship. I Satisfaction therefrom brought a sort of fullness to , "life with its genuine happi- ness. r ' Thew&enanTyerarS-. Thew&enanTyerarS-. in his head, but the fool walk-eth walk-eth in darkness.", (EccL 2:14.) Our Father In heaven has blessed us with power of ' mind over matter. A master's skill requires long and continued con-tinued effort: Firs.t, to understand under-stand a desired result; second, sec-ond, 'to strive fof perfection In it; last, lt will support and sustain him after he has mastered it And sufch is life. Dad and Mother, what are we doing today that we may nave toe ngnt to expect the love of the family we are raising? Have we tried long and tirelessly to understand our children T Do we strive daily for perfection in our boys and girls? Can we honestly expect the love and devotion of our children? We Can't Take Them With Us Charity, we are advised, begins at home. Are we more Interested in our stocks and bonds, content to let John or Mary find their own way at the hands of others? Where will we be taking the material assets we have? We can't take them with us! As one man said, when referring to his late deceased friend, "What did he leave?" The answer cams back, "He left everything." No, we can't take it with us! Matthew gave us the answer. Mother and Dad. "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thievea break through and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth tlnr mif Hnth Mrnml mnA vhar, thlanMai 4a nnt Kraa Ir th-viifh nor steal; for Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Matt 8:19-21.) The things we parents- teach our boys and girls at our knee and constantly by our example, are the lasting things of their lives. Our mothers should mean more to us than any living thing! "Who can find, a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. She riseth while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.- Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom;- and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of ber household and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates." (Prov. 31.) . I remember some of the little things my mother did for me. She made me a little toy violin when just a small lad; perhaps that la why I learned to enjoy good music. When I found something on the street, she helped me to find the owner. Only a small lesson, but somehow it taught me honesty. hon-esty. A little discipline for telling a falsehood, but it helped to teach me truth. Share my playthings with my little visitor; yes, she would have me mindful of the other person's situation. e Moral Value of Growing Wheat My Ktiy loved to teach me concerning the miracle of a kernel of wheat There I found that it took the preparation of the grounds the glory of the Lord's sunshine, the mists from bearen and the beautiful thing called faith. Then surely there would oome forth thst tiny blade. "Yes, we must be patient," he would say, and bye and' bye the little kernel changed to a blade, then beaded out into a fine stalk of grain, reproducing and giving us back much more than we planted. Yes, these were simple little lessons, but bow true and they till are today. One Inspired author wrote a line or two about " 'twas a aheep, not a lamb, that went astray." Surely parents, if we are worthy of the name, will start this day to be proud of their families, by doing something for them. The fine cars and finishing colleges, they do not need near as much as they need you. From you they must learn to earn their way. How ' many dads and mothers have said, "I'm not going to make my kida work like I did!" What did your work do for you? It made you find the "how" of things; it gave you a reason to want to work for them. Oh, bow we need good parents and good homes in our nation today! And somehow, it's up to you. Truth, Loyalty Fortify Soul And to our young people, that great commandment was given, with a promise, "Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." "Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king who will be no more admonished." (EccL ' 4:13.) It you will seek the counsel of your parents and live even just a little better than they have lived, you shall find unbounded happiness, because somehow or other, the principle of compensation will come your way. "My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother." (Prov. 6:20.) I say to you, the challenge to live righteously before your God is yours! "As we sow, so shall we reap" ia so true. Thus will we have returned to us the results of our early teachings and our later doings. "Therefore, all things whatsoever what-soever ye would that men should do to you, do even so to them; (or this is the law and the prophets." (Matt. 7:12-) j .4 |
