“ .. the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost. And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive. And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? ”

“Straight is the Gate – the Path to Eternal Life – Baptism, Marriage, Family, Eternal Life”

When I was in my first year of courses at the University of Alberta, way back in the year 1980, I had a chance to take one particular first year course called 'Organizational Theory'. Because of the unique way this course was designed, it was very popular with the students. Although it required a lot of work and consistent attendance, it was designed to permit every class member to achieve a grade of 100%. In this class, marks were awarded for weekly lecture attendance, for participation in the course labs, for completion of specific assignments and for weekly short quiz format exams, based on the class topic of that week. By simply attending the class lecture each week, marks were awarded. For participating in the corresponding labs, additional marks were given. The weekly quiz was a pass/fail. You had to get 100% correct on that module to get any credit that week, but you were allowed to retake the quiz as many times as you needed or had time for. The weekly assignments were cumulative. For each one you turned in, you earned a certain number of marks. If you needed to catch up in your marks, you could catch up by completing additional assignments. The course was designed to encourage the organization – the class – to act in a specific way – i.e. to learn and put into practice organizational theory. Most students received their 100% grade .. along with a sound understanding of that course subject.

In our family scripture studies of late, I have wondered exactly what is meant by the verses that say: “For many are called, but few are chosen.” In the New Testament (in Matthew 22:14) it is given at the end of a parable about those invited to a wedding feast who were refused entry, because they chose to arrive dressed inappropriately (i.e. they chose to arrive unprepared). In modern day scripture, it is given again in answer to a prayer by the prophet Joseph Smith while a prisoner in Liberty Jail (D&C 121) - after describing the fate of those who chose to persecute the saints, states “Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?”

Getting it “Just Right” (before the Lord)

Introductory story: Remember Goldilocks and her porridge - too cold, too hot vs just right, her chairs - too big, too little vs just right, and her beds - too hard, too soft vs just right ..

No speaking assignment this month .. 

My 3 year old grandson, Brigham, broke his leg early this month in a tobogganing incident. A tricky spiral break near the top of the femur. As a result, he gets to wear a full body cast from the chest down, with a metal bar securing the cast from ankle to ankle, for the next month or so. These things happen.

My wife was stuck on the highway on Friday this week for a few hours, when the check engine light came on and the the van engine died on her while driving home from a visit to Brigham's house. Then the engine refused to turn over for her, despite a boost AND having gas in the tank. Hmm. As a result, our van is now sitting in Lethbridge at the repair shop waiting for diagnosis and, hopefully, a quick and inexpensive repair.

One way of looking at it: O, woe is me! Life is unfair and hard. The only luck I ever have is bad luck. Why do bad things happen despite our trying to do what is right and good?

Merry Christmas Brothers and Sisters!

Many of you, at this time of the year, have enjoyed joyful family reunions, have exchanged gifts with family and friends, and have pondered the message of this season. How was your Christmas? What did you get? My message today is has a bit to do about giving and receiving gifts ..

Moroni in his final message to us teaches (Moroni 10:8-18) And again, I exhort you, my brethren, that ye deny not the gifts of God, for they are many; and they come from the same God. And there are different ways that these gifts are administered; but it is the same God who worketh all in all; and they are given by the manifestations of the Spirit of God unto men, to profit them. For behold, to one is given by the Spirit of God, that he may teach the word of wisdom; And to another, that he may teach the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; And to another, exceedingly great faith; and to another, the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; And again, to another, that he may work mighty miracles; And again, to another, that he may prophesy concerning all things; And again, to another, the beholding of angels and ministering spirits; And again, to another, all kinds of tongues; And again, to another, the interpretation of languages and of divers kinds of tongues. And all these gifts come by the Spirit of Christ; and they come unto every man severally, according as he will. And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that every good gift cometh of Christ.

How was your Christmas? What did you get?

Why Tithing?

After my mission, my Grandparents had a surprise for me. As my Grandpa had recently purchased a new more reliable vehicle for themselves, they had saved their former vehicle for me, a Gold Ford 4 door in good working order. For technical reasons, the law required a payment to transfer ownership. So, in order to officially sell it to me, we wrote up the paperwork and I paid him the minimum legal asking price = $1. Once that transaction was complete, I was a happy 100% car owner. A new world had opened up to me.

Similarily, after our missions in the pre-existence, our Father in Heaven had a wonderful surprise for us. He had prepared an entire new world for us to live in. He had provided not only the world itself, but everything in it, including our physical bodies. The minimum legal requirement for us to use this gift is called the Law of Tithing.

In general conference this month (Oct 2013) Sister Carole M. Stephens addressed this topic in the Saturday morning session. We have been assigned to discuss the topic of 'Ordinances and Covenants' this month, and many of my remarks today will draw upon the thoughts she presented there. Her talk concluded with this statement:

“We are beloved spirit sons and daughters of heavenly parents, with a divine nature and destiny. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, loved us enough to give His life for us. His Atonement provides the way for us to progress on the path to our heavenly home, through sacred priesthood ordinances and covenants.

These priesthood ordinances and covenants were restored to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith, and today President Thomas S. Monson holds all the keys of the priesthood on the earth.

Very interesting!  I worked up north with Dale Payne & Assoc but my brother Randy worked up there under Lorne Reid .. My mom sent me this ..

Sent from Samsung tablet
Elizabeth Olsen <[email protected]> wrote:
SOMEONE JUST SENT ME THIS.

I am not really sure which one of you was hired by Lorne Reed, Dale Payne hired the other. Without the kindness of these two dedicated men your mission funds would have been much harder to come by. They were wonderful saviors to many people. They were both a blessing in our lives. I Knew Lorne Reed so well, and came across this. Though you don't remember him, it would be well to know the character of a man who made such a difference in our lives in that and many other kind ways when we lived in Calgary.  

Lorne Herbert Reed Sept 8, 1923 - Sept 7, 2013
Lorne, beloved husband of Vernetta Pilling, passed away unexpectedly at the Foothills Hospital, just one day shy of his 88th [or 90th if you go by the dates above-rdd] birthday. He touched countless lives with his generous spirit and unending faith in the potential of all he associated with. Lorne was born in Canora, Saskatchewan and grew up in the Depression. Although he had barriers to break, his determination and acute intellect opened up opportunities for success throughout his life. He earned his degree at the University of Saskatchewan in Engineering Physics and pioneered geophysical prospecting in the formative years of the Alberta oil industry. Earl in his career he found himself on a seismic crew with Canadian Gulf Oil in Cardston, Alberta. Here, he met the love of his lie and eternal companion. Vernetta, with whom he spent the next 64 years. In 1955 he created his own oil and gas company. Lorne H. Reed & Associates. His unquestioning faith in God carried them through the most difficult trial of their lives, a tragic car accident June 1958 which claimed the lives of their three young children, Loretta, Kathryn and Brian. Over the next seven years they were blessed with five more children.

Mom continues, "I watched the people come into the chapel as I waited for the service to begin. Jerry Palmer was a few rows in front of us. Wyona asked me how old he was. I told her I would go find out – I thought not as young as 73 and not as old as 83, but I would confirm, I told her. When I asked him his age he dodged the question but answered my question about how his life intersected with Lorne’s. 

"I was a return missionary. Coming back from the mission field I didn’t even know that my folks had moved to a neighbouring southern Alberta town from the one where I grew up. When I finally got back to my folk’s house, the next day my brother-in-law brought me to Calgary to find a job, taking me to Lorne’s business. Lorne gave me a math test,” Jerry said, miming with his hand doing a simple addition problem. ”When he saw I had about a Grade XII level of skill he hired me. That money gave me the funds with which to go to university. That job gave me the vision that I could become a professional as well. That is how I know him. He opened the space for me to have a better life. And Arta, I am 80,” he concluded.

Later in the service the biographer was to say that Lorne hired 100’s of young men, giving them ways to have funds to follow their dreams.