Century MARK Post!!!

Yes this is IT! This is my 100th post on my blog (wavey lines and dream music to bring in a flashbak moment) I remember it well on my computer set up at my Grandmother's home in Taylorsville, UT. Oh the brand new over-eleborate desk, made for an executive, and now in the basement by the cold, drafty window. OK to tell the truth that's about all I remember, I couldn't even tell you, by memory, what my first post was about.

BUT to mark off my 100th post I am going to share the reason's behind why my son can name off the prophets of God living on the earth today. (we have a video somewhere which will make it's way to this post when it's downloaded from the camera and posted, but too much homework and family living is keeping me from doing that as of now.) It's also Halloween (oooh spooky) in my house and my wife is throwing a party, our first one in this house, and our first one together as a couple, and her first party officially given credit to her in its entirety. Lots going on.

OK the First presidency and Prophets of God

Thomas Moson, Henry Eyring, and Deiter Uchtdorf and my baby knows them all

and why?

Click to find for a slide show of learning

Paul saw the abuse of the Internet by saints

yes he did... Read it with that thought in mind.

1 THIS know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

1 I CHARGE thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
9 Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:
10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
12 And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.
13 The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:
15 Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.
16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
19 Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.
20 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.
21 Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.
22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.
23 ¶ The second epistle unto Timotheus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Ephesians, was written from Rome, when Paul was brought before Nero the second time.

Roller Coaster

Reading my new favorite book of the moment (scroll down it's talked about in a few posts) I came accross something the author's wife shared with him and it hit me hard... It was a good hard though like having your kids run up and hug you as you come through the door after a difficult day.. .. oh right the quote! "I remember as a young schoolteacher (with a large and active class) asking my wife, Debi, "When does life even out? Why dows it always feel like a roller coaster with so many highs and lows all in the same day? I wish life could just even out." ...(ok here comes the quote)... Being a nurse, Debi replied, "Brad, when you get hooked up to the heart monitor, you don't want to see a straight line. That's bad news. It's the up and down lines that let you know you are alive." ("The Continuous Atonement" by Brad Wilcox)

I read that again, after I typed it, and it still gave me a lump in my throat. I don't know if that was because his wife's name Debi (same as my Mom) and I was having a childhood moment of memory, or it really is just about the most obvious, funny, and perfect quotes dealing with a truth in life I've ever heard?

Yes feel free to agree or tell me I'm unique in my judgment call on this one, either way it won't change what I've posted or my feelings for the quote.

Enlarge to show Detail

I was looking at cereal boxes, as I was breaking them down to put in the recycle bin, and noted the pictures on the front that were digitally altered with the wording "Enlarged to show detail" written close to the obviously enlarged picture of cereal. I thought about this and wondered: "Why don't fashion magazines have that same type of captioning for the models they present as real in their magazines?"

Here is one that is perfect for my example:



Caption? "Digitally altered so her waist looks inhumanly small to give REAL girls and women complexes about themselves."

I know this example is extreme and obvious, but I also know that before a picture is placed into a magazine it has been altered more then once (if not 10s of times till the person looks close enough, but not actually realistic)








Example! - live on TV, and then later in a magazine reprint for the story. I give you:


Katie Couric

Caption Reads! "Looks about the same, but modified just enough to make you believe that to be normal, you need to look not actually real."

What are we telling women, and more importantly, little girls growing up? No, I had it correct the first time, more importantly women who are raising the little girls growing up, and setting THE examples for them?!

Makes you wonder what is even real anymore...

wonderful new book

Yup just like the title says my family received a wonderful new book, and wonderful is an understatement. OK title let's start there; the title of my new wonderful book "The Continuous Atonement" by Brad Wilcox .... OK a teaser exert from the book is merited: "Chapter 3 HE'S GOT US COVERED The fall was designed-- complete with all the accompanying misery and pain--to ultimately bring us freedom and happiness. There is no shortcut to the Celestial Kingdom. Everyone who ends up there must pass through the lone and dreary world on the way. God knew the problems associated with a mortal probation, but He also knew that Jesus would be the solution to those problems. Yeah it's that good all the way through! Don't believe me? OK another teaser (the feeling this one gave me was a favorite, hope you get the same feel) (Taken from Chapter 2 entitled "Who needs a Savior?")
- THE STING OF DEATH -
Of the 62,000 people who attended the open house following the remodeling of the temple in Santiago, Chile, one was a father who supported his wife and children in their desire to participate in the Church (of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) but resisted being baptized himself. I had met the father several times previously; so when he finished the temple tour I couldn't resist teasing him a little.
"Did you see the chair?" I asked.
He responded, What chair?"
I said "The one with your name on it. The one that is in there waiting for you to get baptized so you can bring your family back to the temple to be sealed."
He smiled and chuckled good-naturedly. "Oh, President Wilcox," he said, "my live is just fine as it is. You can take my name off that chair. I don't need it."
A few months later his "just fine" life changed drastically. His sixteen-year-old son, a priest, was out riding his bicycle around the neighborhood when a gang stopped him and demanded the bike. He wasn't about to give it up without a fight, so his attackers pulled a knife and stabbed the defenseless teenager to death.
When the father heard of his son's murder, he was so overcome with anger and hate that he set out immediately in search of the gang members, but he did not find them. At nights his grief was inconsolable. His tears could not be stopped. He found little relief in sleep because nightmares haunted him. For the first time in his life he was forced to think seriously about death, and seemingly unanswerable questions taunted him. Was his son really gone forever? This father knew his son was good and had influenced many lives with his example. The father knew of the bright and promising future the boy once had ahead of him. Could such great potential go unrealized? Friends told him that his boy would live on in his memory, but that brought little comfort. Who would remember his son when he too was gone? This man who claimed he didn't need a Savior was now slapped in the face with the stark reality of our fallen condition.
A modern philosopher once wrote, "This is the terror; to have emerged from nothing, to have a name, consciousness of self, deep inner feelings, an excruciating inner yearning for life, and self-expression--and with all this yet to die. It seems like a hoax" (in Nibley, "not to Worry," 151).
Similarly Joseph Smith asked, "What is the object of our coming into existence, then dying and falling away, to be no more? (History of the Church, 6:50). But then Joseph Smith proceeded to do something others had not: He provided answers. And these answers were exactly what this Chilean father had desperately craved.
The man requested to meet with the missionaries. As they taught him, a measure of peace began to replace despair; a measure of hope began to replace hate. Soon, I was honored to be invited to attend his baptism.
When I saw him enter the room dressed in white, I greeted him with a warm abrazo. I'll never forget the intensity in his voice as he spoke in my ear, "Is it still there? Is the chair with my name on it still waiting for me in the temple?"

Yeah that's enough of a teaser for this book, I don't need to give the entire thing away... OK enough from my end on this book how about if you are desirous to read it you go buy it? This is a good link for new or used copies.

Thanks for reading, and family you can borrow our book after all my immediate family finishes OK?