Church Seeks to Address Public Confusion Over Texas Polygamy Group

SALT LAKE CITY 26 June 2008 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints took steps today to better inform the public about differences between the Salt Lake City-based church and the polygamous group in Texas that calls itself the FLDS.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - whose members are often called "Mormons" - placed a series of video interviews on its web site to illustrate the differences between its own members in Texas and members of the isolated polygamous group.

The Texas Mormons featured on the video interviews include a director of community theater, an orthopedic surgeon, a vice president of a medical manufacturer, a former Houston Oilers quarterback, a news anchor and a young woman with aspirations for medical school.

In addition, the Church made a written appeal this week to the news media to make the important distinctions between the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Texas group.

The effort to more clearly distinguish Mormons from the Texas polygamist group follows a survey commissioned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that found a high level of public awareness of stories about the polygamous compound near San Angelo, Texas. Allegations of child abuse led to a raid by the state's Child Protective Services earlier this year. Some 91 percent of respondents had heard or read stories surrounding the religious compound.

However, the survey also found that:

• More than a third of those surveyed (36 percent) erroneously thought that the Texas compound was part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or "Mormon Church" based in Salt Lake City
• 6 percent said the two groups were partly related.
• 29 percent correctly said the two groups were not connected at all
• 29 percent were not sure.

In addition, when asked specifically which religious organization members of the polygamous group belonged to:

• 30 percent said "Mormon," "LDS" or "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints"
• 14 percent said "FLDS"
• 6 percent said "Mormon fundamentalists"
• Nearly half (44 percent) were unsure

Elder Quentin L. Cook, a Church apostle, said the national survey results confirm what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has found in the experience of its members and missionaries in Texas and elsewhere.

"We'd much rather be talking about who we are than who we aren't," Elder Cook said. "While many news reporters have been careful to distinguish between our Church and this small Texas group, it is clear that confusion still remains."

Elder Cook said the issue is an important one for the worldwide Mormon faith.

“Mormons have nothing whatsoever to do with this polygamous sect in Texas,” he said. "The fact is that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints officially discontinued the practice of polygamy in 1890: 118 years ago. It’s a significant part of our distant past, not of our present.”

"People have the right to worship as they choose, and we aren't interested in attacking someone else's beliefs," Elder Cook said. "At the same time, we have an obligation to define ourselves rather than be defined by events and incidents that have nothing to do with us. It's obvious we need to do more to help people understand the enormous differences that exist between our Church which is a global faith and these small polygamous groups."

Elder Cook said the Church is looking at other ways to better inform the public of the distinctions between the two groups, beginning this week with the Internet video profiles of some of its more than 260,000 members in Texas.

"These members and thousands like them are part of the fabric of Texas and contribute to the warmth and southern hospitality of their communities," Elder Cook said.

On Tuesday, the Church sent letters to the publishers of major national newspapers and magazines, and to the heads of broadcast and cable news networks, asking for their cooperation in making proper distinctions between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the FLDS group.

Polygamy was a part of the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Some Church members followed the practice for about a 50-year period until 1890, when it was officially stopped. Any member of the Church practicing polygamy today would lose their Church membership.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints contracted with APCO Insight® to conduct the national public opinion survey. The study was completed by telephone among 1,000 adults 18 years of age and older in the continental United States on May 29-31, 2008. The survey was conducted using a random digit sampling method, ensuring that all households in the continental United States had an equal probability of being selected to participate in the survey. The margin of sampling error for a sample of 1,000 adults is ± 3.1 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.

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Media Letter

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26 June 2008 *The following is a letter from Elder Lance B. Wickman, General Counsel of the Church to publishers of major newspapers, TV stations and magazines. It was sent out on Tuesday, June 24, 2008.

Recent events have focused the media spotlight on a polygamous sect near San Angelo, Texas, calling itself the “Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.” As you probably know, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has absolutely no affiliation with this polygamous sect. Decades ago, the founders of that sect rejected the doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, were excommunicated, and then started their own religion. To the best of our knowledge, no one at the Texas compound has ever been a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Unfortunately, however, some of the media coverage of the recent events in Texas has caused members of the public to confuse the doctrines and members of that group and our church. We have received numerous inquiries from confused members of the public who, by listening to less than careful media reports, have come to a grave misunderstanding about our respective doctrines and faith. Based on these media reports many have erroneously concluded that there is some affiliation between the two – or even worse, that they are one and the same.

Over the years, in a careful effort to distinguish itself, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has gone to significant lengths to protect its rights in the name of the church and related matters. Specifically, we have obtained registrations for the name “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” “Mormon,” “Book of Mormon” and related trade and service marks from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and corresponding agencies in a significant number of foreign countries.

We are confident that you are committed to avoiding misleading statements that cause unwarranted confusion and that may disparage or infringe the intellectual property rights discussed above. Accordingly, we respectfully request the following:

1. As reflected in the AP Style Guide, we ask that you and your organization refrain from referring to members of that polygamous sect as “fundamentalist Mormons” or “fundamentalist” members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
2. We ask that, when reporting about this Texas-based polygamous sect or any other polygamous group, you avoid either explicitly or implicitly any inference that these groups are affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
3. On those occasions when it may be necessary in your reporting to refer to the historical practice of plural marriage in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that you make very clear that the Church does not condone the practice of polygamy and that it has been forbidden in the Church for over one hundred years. Moreover, we absolutely condemn arranged or forced “marriages” of underage girls to anyone under any circumstances.

Stated simply, we would like to be known and recognized for whom we are and what we believe, and not be inaccurately associated with beliefs and practices that we condemn in the strongest terms. We would be grateful if you could circulate or copy this letter to your editorial staff and to your legal counsel.

We thank you for your consideration of these important matters.

Sincerely,

Lance B. Wickman

General Counsel

3,494 and counting

DENVER - Zack Hample can beg for a baseball in 32 languages, including Swahili, Swedish and sign.

The baseball-seeking savant from Manhattan has tricks galore to help him snare a prized souvenir at a major league game, like lowering his glove on a string to pluck up a ball resting far below on the warning track during batting practice. Or his “fumbling with a slice of pizza” ploy to sneak past an usher and move closer to the dugout.

Not that he needs decoys, deceptions or dialects. Hample has a knack for properly positioning himself for wayward baseballs, gathering up, by his count, 3,494 over the last 19 years.

This year alone, he’s averaging 7.8 balls a game over 28 contests, which takes into account homers from batting practice and games, foul balls and those flipped to him by players, coaches and umpires.

He’s in the midst of a Cal Ripken Jr.-like streak, going 524 straight games, he said, with at least one ball, a string dating to Sept. 10, 1993.

What’s more, the 30-year-old recently set a personal record by snagging 28 baseballs at a Washington Nationals game, his backpack bursting with his bounty. He bagged 17 in batting practice, was tossed five before the game, finagled three from players running off the field during the game, found another hidden behind a gap in the outfield wall and had two flipped to him after the final out was recorded; one by home plate umpire Tim Welke and another from Marlins closer Kevin Gregg.

Not a bad night’s loot.

Pursuing baseballs has become his life’s work. He’s written books on the subject - including “Watching Baseball Smarter” - answers questions on his blog from fans wanting tips, and has started a business called “Watch with Zack,” in which he’ll take fans to a game and guarantee them a souvenir ball or their money back.

“I’d still rather be a baseball player, but this is a cool second place,” Hample said. “It’s like a dream job - since I actually can’t be Derek Jeter.”

But he’s made some Jeter-esque catches from the bleachers, his most memorable snag coming on Barry Bonds’ 724th home run on Aug. 16, 2006, at Petco Park. He scooted through the aisle and thrust his well-worn Mizuno glove upward to pluck it out of the air, nearly tumbling over a railing.

“In one moment, I made a catch I’ll feel great about for the rest of my life,” he said.

Hample became hooked on hunting down baseballs after attending his first game at Yankee Stadium when he was 6 years old.

He finally caught his first baseball at 12 when a Mets pitcher - Hample doesn’t remember who - nonchalantly tossed it to him during batting practice.

These days, Hample goes to great lengths to make sure he recalls every detail, scribbling a number on the ball in blue ink before stuffing it in his backpack. He’ll also log data on a piece of paper to be transferred to his laptop later.

Hample said he’s never once sold a baseball, but gives plenty to kids - only if they’ve brought their glove to the game, the sign of a truly dedicated ball hunter.

The ones he’s kept are stored at his parents’ house, his cache filling five drawers and six 121-litre barrels.

There isn’t one baseball in view around his apartment - at least not anymore. He used to have the Bonds ball on display until it started fading because of exposure to light.

“It made me so happy to sit on my desk and remember that moment,” said Hample, who also is a freelance baseball writer and works at his family’s bookstore. “Baseballs are like little pieces of art. I feel extremely connected to the game by being able to take home a part of it.”

Hample met up with some fellow ballhawks at Coors Field last week for a Rockies game against the Cleveland Indians. He was first in line when the ticket-takers opened the gates two hours before the game.

Slinging his backpack over his left shoulder, he sprinted up a steep flight of steps and into the left field bleachers, quickly nabbing three batting practice home runs 90 seconds after his arrival.

“Good start,” he said casually.

As he wandered back and forth along the front row in left field, a ball hit by Garrett Atkins sailed over his head, and Hample took flight up the steps to retrieve it. An usher lectured him about leaving his assigned area.

Ushers are his nemesis.

They watch him like a hawk, making sure he doesn’t try to sneak into their turf without a ticket. He’s been kicked out four times in his career, all at Shea Stadium.

Hample shrugged off the usher’s comments.

Just then, Rockies reliever Manny Corpas picked up a ball and Hample leaned over the railing, yelling for it in Spanish: “Dame la bola, por favour!”

Corpas smiled and tossed it to a kid instead.

“A lot of players would rather give them to kids,” Hample said. “If I get them to give it to me, I feel like I’ve won a battle there.”

He’s careful, though, not to plow anyone over. There’s honour among ball collectors.

Not that he was accorded that courtesy on this afternoon. He battled with a fan for a ball that skipped down a corridor, his adversary throwing a mean elbow into his rib cage.

“Did you see that?” he yelled.

Steaming from the elbow, Hample wanted another ball to come his way to wipe the lost one from memory.

Cleveland pitcher Scott Elarton obliged, fielding a ball in the outfield and tossing it to Hample when he darted over.

“Don’t throw anymore to him,” a woman screamed in disgust. “He already has one.”

Try six.

After batting practice, Hample headed toward the Indians dugout, hoping to get a ball from one of the players warming up along the third-base line.

“They won’t give you one,” an usher scolded.

And then Casey Blake flipped Hample ball No. 7.

During the game, his assigned seat was in centre field, but he wasn’t content to wait for a ball to come to him.

He went looking for a ball instead.

Between innings, Hample frequently jogged along the crowded concourse, slipping down an aisle when an usher wasn’t paying attention. He wanted to be as close to the dugout as possible, so he could sprint down and get a ball tossed to him as players ran off the field after the third out.

While he flip-flopped between the Rockies and Indians dugouts, he switched caps. Hample has one for every major league team, an investment that’s paid off in numerous baseballs.

When he was in Florida recently trying to snare Ken Griffey Jr.’s 600th career home run - coming an agonizing five feet from catching it - he wore a Cincinnati cap down to the Reds dugout after the game. Third base coach Mark Berry spied the cap and flipped him a ball.

Being asked to scram from a seat doesn’t deter Hample. Twice he was asked by rightful ticket holders to scoot along as he sat on the Indians side. He settled into a seat 29 rows behind the Cleveland dugout in the sixth inning, his goal to scamper down the aisle for a third-out ball. When the final out was recorded, he bolted for the dugout, fans chuckling in his wake.

Jhonny Peralta rewarded him by rolling a ball across the dugout roof. Hample held it aloft and then handed it to a kid with a glove, the audience’s chuckles turning to cheers.

That made eight for the night.

Yet he was dissatisfied. He easily could have had another half-dozen. Of the ones that got away, none was more disheartening than the ball he lost to the elbow-thrower.

“If there was an official scorer for baseball snaggers, they could not really give me an error based on my performance tonight,” he said. “I just wasn’t reacting with 100 per cent efficiency.”

His fellow ball chasers at Coors Field marvelled at his methods.

“He’s just got the knack,” said Robert Harmon, a fixture in the outfield bleachers at Coors wearing his left-handed glove. “He gets more baseballs in a homestand than I get all year.”

Hample has been to 44 major league parks - all the current ones plus 14 no longer in use. His favourite stadium is Camden Yards (as if designed with ball snagging in mind) and his worst is Yankees Stadium (cramped sections, rigid security).

He’s played catch with former Mets pitcher Heath Bell from the boxed seats along the right field foul line, been razzed by Pedro Martinez for chasing after baseballs and had hearing impaired outfielder Curtis Pride toss him a ball after Hample used sign language to convey his request.

Thanks to his language skills, he’s also gotten more than a dozen Japanese players, including Ichiro Suzuki, to toss him a ball. He can also politely ask for a ball in Italian, Korean and Russian.

“Some might learn a language to say, ‘Give me a beer,’ or ‘What’s your number?’ No, I can ask for a ball,” Hample said.

He also counts playing classic video games as a passion, and holds records in Arkanoid and Breakout.

“I like to take things to extremes,” he said. “Sometimes I’m like, ‘What if I used all this energy and learned the stock market?’ I would be a billionaire. Fortunately, this is what has gotten my interest.”

Hample views his mounting collection (3,494) as if he’s moving up major league’s career hits list. He’s closing in on Hall of Famer Tris Speaker (3,514) at No. 5 and hopes to soon pass Pete Rose (4,256).

“I feel like I should be out there with those guys - it’s a crime that I’m not,” he said. “I always wonder, if these guys weren’t major leaguers, what would they be doing? I’m the answer to my own question.”

Does God Micro-Manage our Lives?

M E R I D I A N M A G A Z I N E

Does God Micro-Manage our Lives?

By Susan Law Corpany

I was shopping recently and I saw a t-shirt. “God at His computer,” the caption read. There was a picture of the Almighty, about to hit the “smite” button.

I almost bought the shirt, but I didn't, because, after all, what if God really does have a smite button and what if buying such a t-shirt is all is takes for Him to push it on my behalf?

God is in charge of the universe. Most of us believe this to be true, but I find that everyone has a different idea of how He goes about managing His real estate portfolio. If, as we believe, Earth is only one of His many properties, then not only does he have to watch out for each of us as individuals but He's got all those other worlds and beings to worry about, too. Perhaps that is part of why I don't buy into the idea of God as a micro-manager.

Questions of Life and Death

When my son was young, he found a baby bird that had fallen from its nest. Afraid a cat was going to eat it, he brought me the tiny bird on a piece of cardboard and asked if there was anything we could do for it.

We didn't know where the nest was, and I had heard that mother birds will not take back a baby once it has had contact with a human. We made a trip to the local pet store and followed their instructions. We bought bird food and an eye dropper, and we got out the heating pad and set it under the bird's new cardboard box home to keep him warm. The first thing Scott did was give the bird a name. We did everything we had been instructed in order to keep poor little Herman alive, and we prayed for help and guidance.

Every morning, the first thing Scott would do was check on his baby bird. It seemed that we had been given good advice, and our little feathered friend was surviving. I took the opportunity to look up a scripture and we discussed how a sparrow does not fall from its nest without God being aware. We talked about how Scott saved the little bird's life by finding it and how maybe God was watching out for the baby bird.

Then it died.

Part two of the lesson. A heartbroken little boy wanted me to explain why God would save the bird only to let it die. I don't do very well at these times when I am called upon to explain the random happenings of the universe and especially when I am called upon to explain what God is up to. See, He doesn't always enlighten me.

I have actually had a harder time spiritually with the death of beloved animals than with the death of family members. I can understand that God might have had a special mission in mind for my brother or husband, for example, but like the depressed little boy on the Art Linkletter show, I, too, want to know: “What does God want with a dead dog?”

I Don't Know

I honestly don't know some of the reasons things happen the way they do. I told Scott that perhaps the bird had been hurt when it fell and tried to help him see that we had been given a chance to serve it at the end of its short life. “It didn't die in a bad way by being eaten by a cat. It died here in our house, warm and fed and loved.” It was the best I could do to impart some comfort.

Sometimes we don't have an explanation. I think it is okay to admit at times that we simply don't have all the answers and that some things that happen will remain unexplained, at least in mortality.

“Why does God allow suffering and wars?”

“Why is there such a difference between the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament?”

“Why didn't God answer my prayers?”

Sometimes for the sake of my sanity, I have to be willing to just say three words. “I don't know.” Then I do my best to let go of whatever the question is. It can be very freeing to just admit that you don't have the answer.

Spiritual Air-Brushing

Sometimes I think people, myself included, give God credit for things He didn't have so much to do with. When I hear the stories from the pulpit and in Sunday School class, my inner skeptic sometimes wonders quietly if there aren't times that we assume divine intervention in error.

We tend as human beings to put our own interpretation on things that happen. If we get a good outcome, then yes, we conclude that God was involved. On the other hand, if the bird dies or the investigator doesn't join the Church, that doesn't automatically mean God wasn't involved in the process.

Sometimes we are able to backtrack and truly see the hand of God at work. I certainly don't ever want to miss acknowledging the miracles of my life, both large and small, but sometimes I fear we put our own celestial spin on things and come up with something that sounds great when we share it in Fast and Testimony meeting. Do other people ask themselves these kinds of questions? Was it really God, or am I just trying to make myself look spiritual?

We have to be careful not to have a fatalistic view that whatever happens is exactly what was meant to happen. I often hear people from church say, “I believe everything happens for a reason.” Somewhere I have a Hallmark calendar page featuring that cantankerous old lady, Maxine. She states: “I believe everything happens for a reason. Usually the reason is because somebody screwed up.”

There are things in my life I have felt strongly I was supposed to do that have not turned out so well. Was that a failing on God's part or on mine? Did I misinterpret the guidance or just mess things up along the way? Although I have my theories, most of the time I don't truly know. I've misinterpreted things just often enough to doubt my ability to call things definitively one way or the other.

Divine Intervention or Cold and Flu Season?

At a recent check-up, I had an opportunity to answer some of my doctor's questions about the gospel. My husband and I had wondered if we would ever have an opportunity to share the gospel with him. He had just returned from a ski trip to Utah and had some questions.

Although I prefer to have my missionary experiences wearing more than a paper gown, I was excited for the opportunity to discuss the gospel with him and promised to drop off some brochures that explained the Joseph Smith story better than I had. On my recent trip to Utah I picked up the brochures I wanted to bring back for him. At the tail end of the trip, I also picked up a cold/flu bug and was not feeling at all well by the time I got back home. I wondered if I should make an appointment to see my doctor.

Did I get sick so that I could deliver the pamphlets while his interest was fresh or was I putting my own interpretation on it? Perhaps when I do deliver the pamphlets, I will tell him that God smote me with the flu so I could come see him again and deliver the message but I was stubborn and toughed it out. That's one of the things I love about my doctor. He always laughs at my jokes. Maybe there will be another installment to this story. Maybe there won't be.

Although I don't want to embellish my spiritual experiences, neither do I want to fail to acknowledge the hand of God in my life. I've often heard, “God has a plan for your life.” There are times when I have asked myself, “Was this part of the plan?”

Was it part of God's plan for me to be a writer? I like to think so. My patriarchal blessing certainly makes it sounds that way. I think there is an outline and it is up to us to fill in the details using the agency we have been given.

Many of what I have considered uninspired experiences have brought me to where I am today, which is right where I think I am supposed to be. Go figure. In short, God expects us to make the most of our opportunities and our talents, using them to bless the lives of others. He expects us to learn from our trials and experiences and use them as growing experiences. And when a baby bird falls from its nest, I think He wants us to do what we can to help.

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© 1999-2008 Meridian Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

The Challenge of Change--Spoken Word Given By Lloyd D. Newell

The Challenge of Change

Delivered By: Lloyd D. Newell

In a tragic accident, a young man was suddenly paralyzed from the neck down. Later, from his wheelchair, he observed with optimism, “My life changed in an instant. All of a sudden it seemed like everything was different. Since then, I’ve learned that change happens to everyone. It’s how we handle it that counts.” Not all change comes as quickly or dramatically as it did for this young man, but change does come to us all. Be it sudden or gradual, change is inevitable. For some it may be a layoff that makes a job change necessary. Children grow up and go off on their own, and a home that was once a busy hub of family activity becomes a quiet and sometimes lonely place. Loved ones pass away, and those left behind must learn to do without their cherished companionship. Coping with change can be a real challenge. But the young man was right—“it’s how we handle it that counts.” If we dwell too long on the past when change occurs, we place the future in jeopardy. We should treasure our memories and speak fondly of past good times, but as one wise man put it, we shouldn’t let “yesterday hold tomorrow hostage.” 1 Change can provide opportunities for learning and personal growth. It forces us to look at things in a new and perhaps better way. In coping with change, we can find strengths and abilities we never knew we had. And the support we feel from things that have not changed—like family or friends or faith—becomes even more valuable to us. Although change is often difficult, with hope and determination we can turn it into something positive and meaningful. As we do, we will see that just as the night gives way to the brightness of each new sunrise, the challenges of today can bring a happier tomorrow. 1 Neal A. Maxwell, in Conference Report, Oct. 1994, 46; or Ensign, Nov. 1994, 36. Program #4111

One way to handle gas prices: Move

One way to handle gas prices: Move

By Steve Hargreaves, CNNMoney.com

Jun 19th, 2008

It may seem a bit drastic, but more and more people are taking what is perhaps the ultimate step in cutting gas prices: They're moving.

Peaches Stevens used to rent an old farm house in southern Indiana. She loved the setting, but her job as a high school science teacher was 62 miles to the north.

Coaching golf after school made carpooling difficult, and even though her Dodge Neon got an impressive 30 miles a gallon, she was still spending upwards of $400 a month on gas.

So she moved. Now Stevens, 49, rents a place eight miles away from school. Plus, she bough a Honda scooter that gets 80 miles a gallon. Now she can get to work and back for about $16 a month.

"I'm doing it all for economic reasons," said Stevens, who figures she'll save enough in gas to pay off the $2,400 scooter in under 7 months. "I loved [the farmhouse], but I do feel like I'm doing the right thing."

Stevens is part of a national trend of high gas prices playing a major role in where people choose to live. Factors like distance from work, access to public transportation, and proximity to shopping are gaining ground on square footage and whether or not the home has a yard and pushing people into more densely packed areas.

"The high cost of gas is cited as a driving factor in increased interest in urban living," said Jim Gillespie, chief executive of Coldwell Banker, a national realty franchise. "Over the past several years we've seen a boom in downtown living all over the country."

It seems like the people actually making the move so far seem to be renters as opposed to owners, as not renewing a lease is obviously much easier than selling a home.

While their wallets may be happy, whether the quality of life is improving for the people who move is debatable.

"I went from a beautiful home with a big back yard to an itty-bitty studio apartment," said Erinn Thomas, who moved from a suburb of Reno, NV, to the downtown area to save on gas. "But it's what I had to do to eat."

So 25-year old Thomas now rents a place just a mile from work.

She says she'll miss the space of the suburbs, but in addition to the $200 a month she hopes to save on gas, she also aims to pocket another $100 a month - and probably improve her health - by staying away from the Drive-thru window at the local fast-food joints.

"I don't have to drive anymore and I can buy a bike," she says.

In addition to personal health, some are also tipping their hat to the health of the planet.

"You cut your carbon footprint, which is pretty cool," said Jason Zulick, a 31- year old human resources manager from Orwigsburg, Penn.

Jason and his wife Tara moved to Orwigsburg from a town 25 miles away. High gas prices weren't the only reason they moved - the couple hopes to start a family and wanted to be closer to relatives in the area.

But they played a big part, and Tara's commute to her teaching job has been cut in half.

"We've saved $150 a month on gas alone just making the switch," said Jason.

At least 4 dead after ferry sinks in Philippines: reports

At least 4 dead after ferry sinks in Philippines: reports

Sat Jun 21, 10:29 PM ET

At least four people were killed when a ferry with over 700 passengers sank in the aftermath of Typhoon Fengshen in the central Philippines, local officials said on Sunday.

"The ship sank 3 km from the shoreline. So far, we have only found four dead, no survivors," Eleandro Madrona, a local congressman, said on radio.

"I would assume people started to transfer to rubber boats after the captain abandoned the ship."

"You can only see the bow of the ship now, it's already down in the water," said Madrona citing accounts from villagers.

A local mayor also reported the ship had capsized and said passengers in life-jackets were seen bobbing in the sea.

The head of the coast guard, Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo, said he was still verifying the reports.

The MV Princess of Stars stalled in rough seas near Sibuyan island on Saturday with 626 passengers and 121 crew on board after Fengshen, with winds gusting up to 195 kph (121 mph), ripped through the archipelago.

The typhoon roared through Manila early on Sunday and is expected to head towards Taiwan in the next few days. (Reporting by Carmel Crimmins; Additional reporting by Rosemarie Francisco and Manny Mogato; Editing by Valerie Lee)

Copyright © 2008 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

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Yahoo! News Typhoon Fengshen kills 80 in Philippines

Typhoon Fengshen kills 80 in Philippines

By JIM GOMEZ, Associated Press Writer 47 minutes ago

Typhoon Fengshen lashed the Philippines for a second day Sunday leaving at least 80 people dead, but the death toll could rise significantly after a passenger ferry capsized carrying more than 740 passengers and crew.

Villagers found four bodies, children's slippers and life jackets that washed ashore Sunday near the stranded MV Princess of Stars. Port captain Nestor Ponteres said the ferry's owner, Sulpicio Lines, had lost radio contact with the ship and the fate of its passengers was unknown.

The death toll included 59 people who drowned in the central province of Iloilo, with another 40 missing, Gov. Neil Tupaz said.

"Almost all the towns are covered by water. It's like an ocean," Tupaz said, adding thousands have been displaced in the province that is home to 1.7 million people.

The four dead washed ashore, including a man and a woman who bound themselves together, were believed to have been on the vessel, which initially ran aground a few miles off central Sibuyan island Saturday, then capsized, said Mayor Nanette Tansingco of San Fernando on Sibuyan island.

The typhoon lashed the central Philippines for about four hours Saturday, setting off landslides and floods, knocking out power and blowing off roofs.

Packing sustained winds of 74 miles per hour and gusts of up to 93 mph, the typhoon shifted course Sunday to the northwest and battered Manila at dawn, dumping heavy rain on the capital.

Rescue vessels aborted an initial attempt Saturday to get to the 23,824-ton ferry, but efforts resumed in stormy weather Sunday, with one ship approaching the stricken vessel, coast guard chief Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said.

"A lot of efforts have been done to send off rescue boats, but we really can't get through the very rough weather," Tamayo told The Associated Press.

Tansingco said the bodies were found in three San Fernando villages, adding residents have also found other objects that apparently came from the ferry.

"Many slippers of children were washed ashore the shoreline and found by villagers," Tansingco told DZBB radio.

The ferry — with 626 passengers and 121 crew members on board — was "dead in the water" after its engine failed around noon Saturday, Tamayo said.

In southern Maguindanao province, at least 14 people drowned in flash floods Saturday, including 10 swept away from riverside homes, said provincial administrator Norie Unas. Five others were missing.

A 50-year-old man and his 10-year-old grandson were killed when a landslide buried their hillside shanty in Cotabato city Saturday, Mayor Muslimin Sema said. Authorities recovered the body of a farmer, one of three people reported missing in neighboring Cotabato province.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo directed the defense and local government departments to stand by for relief and rescue missions before she left for the United States late Saturday.

Officials said neck-deep flood waters had risen further with a high tide, forcing the evacuation of 5,000 people in Sultan Kudarat township in southern Shariff Kabunsuan province, near Cotabato city.

Officials ordered the evacuation of more than 117,000 people from areas prone to floods and landslides in central Albay province. But many returned home by midday Saturday after the typhoon missed the area.

The National Disaster Coordinating Council reported flooding, landslides and power outages caused by toppled power pylons in many areas in the southern and central Philippines. More than 100 domestic flights were canceled because of the typhoon.

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Becky and her Mommy

A Touching Story

一群孩子被困在暗不見天日的下水道，不知道怎麼才能逃脫，死亡的魔掌步步進逼，求救聲漸漸微弱。突然間，孩子聽見上方的人孔蓋外面有呱呱聲傳來，是媽媽的聲音耶！這是一隻英國綠頭鴨（mallard）與牠6個寶寶的真實故事。

鴨媽媽為了搭救困在下水道的孩子，長途跋涉超過3公里，苦苦守候至少4個小時，終於締造了一場母子大團圓的奇蹟。

6小鴨掉進下水道沖走

這個兼具母愛與勇氣的故事，15日發生在英格蘭東北部的紐塞。當地人士研判，鴨寶寶是在「三哩客棧」（Three Mile Inn）附近一個下水道開口，被大水席捲進去，一路隨波逐流。鴨媽媽雖然搶救不及，但是不屈不撓，一路緊緊跟隨著寶寶從人孔傳出的微弱呼救聲，不放棄任何一絲救回孩子的希望。

根 據當地的下水道管線圖，這位鴨媽媽顯然平安越過了許多條馬路、繞過一處交通繁忙的圓環、穿越一條電車軌道，然後還經過民宅、學校與醫院，最後來到哥斯福斯 區的一條死巷，這裡距離三哩客棧約3.2公里。鴨寶寶到了這裡不再漂流，但卻困在一具人孔蓋下方；鴨媽媽則一直在附近守候，等待救星出現。

鴨媽媽守候一晚等救星

早起的鳥兒有蟲吃，「早起的人兒救了鳥。」59歲男子彼得．艾略特習慣在早晨慢跑，15日早上6點鐘他出門時，看到一隻綠頭鴨在馬路上的人孔蓋徘徊，呱呱呼喚。等他晨跑回來，綠頭鴨還在那裡。艾略特懷疑這隻鴨子受了傷，但是從外表又看不出跡象。

艾略特用完早餐再出來查看，鴨子果然不曾離開。他的女兒維琪與2歲的孫子詹姆士決定一探究竟，走到人孔蓋旁邊，這才聽到小鴨在裡頭的啁啾聲，真相終於大白。艾略特立刻號召一家老小和厝邊隔壁，組成搶救小鴨大隊。

他們帶齊鐵撬、鏟子、扳手、漁網等工具，好不容易才將沉重的人孔蓋撬開，下面果然有6隻嗷嗷待救的鴨寶寶，於是用漁網將牠們一隻一隻打撈上岸，和媽媽團聚。這時已是上午10點。

救鴨救到底載到湖泊放生

艾略特打電話給英國防止虐待動物協會（RSPCA），請教後續處理方式，服務人員建議就地放生。然而當地是住宅區，艾略特覺得風險太大，救鴨要救到底，於是開車載牠們到紐塞機場旁邊一座湖泊，讓鴨媽媽領著6隻鴨寶寶游入湖中，這才功德圓滿，如釋重負。

Fatherhood-The Perfect Gift--Spoken Word by Lloyd D. Newell

Fatherhood - The Perfect Gift

Delivered By: Lloyd D. Newell

Most fathers will tell you that becoming a father changes everything. You feel more love, more gratitude, more responsibility, and more desire to do right and be an example to your child. It’s a job that may seem daunting at times. One father said: “I thought I never wanted to be a father. A child seemed to be a series of limitations and responsibilities that offered no reward. But when I experienced the perfection of fatherhood, the rest of the world remade itself before my eyes.” Fatherhood, of course, is not easy or without heartache and worry. The wise father continues: “This is not to say that becoming a father automatically makes you a good father. Fatherhood, like marriage, is a constant struggle against your limitations and self-interests. But the urge to be a perfect father is there, because your child is a perfect gift.”1 Fatherhood has the potential to make you better than you are: more patient and kind, more loving and forgiving, more tender and strong. For every father, there are those rare, precious moments of inexpressible joy when your daughter writes you a note that says, “Dad, thanks for all you’ve done” or your son says that he loves you, that he’s proud to be your son. And then there are days when you feel like a failure, days when you feel like giving up. But you don’t. You stay with it, you hope and pray for strength, and you trust that if you do your best things will work out. Especially on those difficult days of fathering, remember the words “your child is a perfect gift.” The situation may not be perfect right now; your son or daughter may not be perfect now—but neither are you. We’re all changing, hoping, and striving to become better people, and fatherhood—the perfect gift—can help us do that. 1 Kent Nerburn, in Susan Ginsberg, comp., Family Wisdom: The 2,000 Most Important Things Ever Said about Parenting, Children, and Family Life (1996), 85.

日本啟用世界第一個地震預警系統

更新日期:2008/06/14 17:35 陳政一

（法新社東京十四日電） 世界第一個地震預警系統今天在日本啟用，這套系統在強烈地震發生後，讓居民有幾秒鐘時間對付餘震。

這套去年十月推出的系統，在日本北部今天的地震中首度使用。這起芮氏規模七點二的地震，發生在早上八時四十三分（台灣時間早上七時四十三分）。

日本氣象局說，該局在首度偵測到地震波後四秒鐘發出第一個警告訊號。

但是距離震央約五百公里的東京，在居民感覺到地震前片刻，「日本廣播公司（NHK）」已打出警告訊號。

氣象局及時發出警告，讓居民對餘震有心理準備，包括一起規模為五點六的餘震。每當氣象局發出警告，日本廣播公司電視螢幕上就會出現一個小視窗，敦促居民當心。

日本發展這個系統，主要是為了預先警告可以自動關閉的核能發電廠、鐵路以及其他基礎設施。在全世界的大地震中，有百分之二十發生於日本。

氣象局表示，預警在遠離震央的地區較容易發布。

日岩手如何減震災？ 地震預警發揮功效

更新日期:2008/06/15 14:41 國際中心編譯

日本岩手縣14日上午發生規模7.2強震，除了主震之外，餘震更高達200多次，不過災情相對減輕，一個大功臣就是去年日本氣象廳10月啟用的地震預報系統，這回派上用場，甚至在主震發生後4秒鐘立刻通報媒體，將傷害減輕。日本防震的經驗，值得同樣位於地震帶的台灣學習借鏡。

日本NHK電視台編輯台臨時插播岩手縣強震的快報，連經驗老道的主播也差點來不及反應。NHK主播說，「現在有緊急地震快報，以下為發生地區岩手、宮城、秋田、山形、青森、福島、新潟。」

主震發生之後，由於地殼能量沒有釋放完畢，一天之內還陸續出現200多次的餘震，電線桿、門窗玻璃劇烈晃動，老邁的民眾嚇得不知是好，所幸這次岩手強震傷亡相對減輕，這都要歸功於日本氣象廳去年10月啟用的地震預警系統。

主震之後4秒，預警系統立即啟動，餘震來臨的前10秒，發布地震速報，讓民眾有時間反應，NHK主播說：「以上這4個地方，下一個餘震即將發生，距離只有幾秒鐘，請大家趕快避難。」

位於地震帶的日本，研發這套地震預警系統，原本是為了讓核電廠、大眾運輸系統遇到地震自動關閉，現在進一步擴展到民生用途，證明人為的努力確實可以減少天災的衝擊。

日膽澤水壩遭震裂漏水　救難人員被迫放棄救援

更新日期:2008/06/15 16:05 國際中心編譯

日本岩手縣發生芮氏規模7.2強震，災情最嚴重的栗原市境內的「膽澤水壩」出現裂縫，現在已經開始滲水，原本日本救災人員正在當地搶救一名受困在土石堆中的男子，但因水壩開始漏水，救難人員不得不放棄救援，另外，水壩附近住有30戶人家，目前已經全數撤離。

由於不斷有餘震，道路山泥傾瀉或崩塌，以及有橋樑倒塌，令救災出現困難，部份救援人員要行路入重災區，自衛隊已派出10多架直升機和巡邏機，協助運送救援人員，傷者和災民進出災區。

膽澤水壩已經有水開始溢出，正在附近一處山泥傾瀉地點救人的自衛隊人員已準備撤離，水壩下游有30戶居民，日本當局已要求這些居民遷離。

另外，岩石縣強震後，包括：岩手縣一關市的磐井川上游，以及宮城縣栗原市荒砥澤水庫上游，都出現堰塞湖，日本國土交通省河川局發言人表示，目前堰塞湖仍無危險，如果落雨導致水位上升，則可能引發災害 ，有關單位會再做進一步詳細調查。

Earthquake in Taiwan, Magnitude 7.2

地震屏東震度四級　超商感受輕微

更新日期:2008/06/15 08:36 葉奉達

昨天日本才發生規模7.2的大地震，今天早上7點29分，高屏地區也發生了芮氏規模5.2的地震，震央是在高雄縣甲仙南方，因為是淺層地震，就連有四級震度的屏東三地門卻都感受不大。超商裡的店員當時只抬頭看了看，並沒有太大的搖晃。

從 屏東山地門這間超商的監視錄影帶可以看到，地震發生的時候，坐在櫃檯的女店員感覺到了異狀，先是抬頭望了望，接著又稍微起身想看一下路上的變化，因為沒有 太大感覺，她還是繼續看書，超商架上的東西，也只是輕微的搖晃一下。超商老闆娘：「是客人跟我講說，老闆娘你知不知道有地震？我說有嗎？我一直在忙，沒感 覺呀。」超商老闆娘：「搖一下而已，搖一下而已。」

雖然搖晃不大，不過因為前一天日本才發生大地震，超商的業者還是隨時注意店裡的瓶瓶罐罐，就怕接下來會有餘震造成損失。其實週日早上7點多的這場地震，震央就在高雄甲仙的南方，不過因為是淺層地震，就連有四級震度的屏東山地門，感受都不大。

根據氣象局的地震測報資料，高雄甲仙震度有三級，屏東市和台南善化的震度都是兩級。

New Commissioner of Church Educational System Announced

First Presidency appoints new CES commissioner

By LDS News Services

Published: Sunday, Jun. 8, 2008

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Saturday the appointment of Elder Paul V. Johnson as commissioner of the Church Educational System, succeeding Elder W. Rolfe Kerr, who has been called as the Logan Utah Temple president. The leadership changes will be effective Aug. 1, 2008.

As commissioner, Elder Johnson will direct the operations of the church's higher education institutions, including Brigham Young University, BYU-Idaho, BYU-Hawaii and LDS Business College, in addition to having responsibility for seminaries and institutes of religion.

Elder Johnson was called to serve as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy on April 2, 2005. He was called as a member of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy and an Area Authority Seventy in the Utah North Area in June 2003. In August 2003, he was assigned to the Utah Salt Lake City Area, where he was serving at the time of his call to the First Quorum of the Seventy.

Elder Johnson received a bachelor of science degree from Brigham Young University in zoology/botany in 1978 and a master's of education degree in counseling and guidance in 1982. He went on to receive a doctorate of education in instructional technology from Utah State University in 1989, and was employed by CES as administrator of religious education and elementary and secondary education.

The Church Educational System has grown from a few children's classes in 1832 to a worldwide organization with approximately 700,000 students.

MormonTimes.com is produced by the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, Utah.
It is not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Copyright © 2008 Deseret News Publishing Company

Isn't that Sweet

Florida Woman gets her Dream Come True in SLC

Last Edited: Sunday, 08 Jun 2008, 10:51 PM MDT

Created: Sunday, 08 Jun 2008, 5:23 PM MDT

SALT LAKE CITY -- A 95-year-old Florida woman got her dream come true Sunday thanks to the kindness of a stranger. Vivien Jordan was featured in the Daytona Beach news. In the paper she said she'd always wanted to visit Salt Lake City to hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing. When Angela Waggoner read the paper she felt compelled to make Vivien's dream come true. Fox 13's Candice Gale has the story.
=====================================================================

SALT LAKE CITY 9 June 2008 Vivien Jordan’s lifetime dream came true yesterday thanks to a random act of kindness by a complete stranger. The 95-year-old Floridian was flown to Utah this weekend by Angela Waggoner, a woman who read a newspaper article about Jordan’s lifelong ambition to see a performance of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. When the local paper featured Jordan’s answer to the question “Where in the world have you always wanted to visit?" she never imagined a woman unknown to her would completely orchestrate giving her such a gift. Fox 13 Television reported on her visit to Utah to hear the choir in person.

http://www.myfoxutah.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=6723033&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1

1999-9-21 earthquake in Taiwan

Chichi earthquake (traditional Chinese: 集集大地震; pinyin: jíjí dàdìzhèn), also known as the 921 earthquake (traditional Chinese: 九二一大地震) occurred at 1:47:15.9 CST (17:47:15.9 UTC) on September 21, 1999 in Chichi, Nantou, Taiwan and measured 7.3 on the Richter scale. Its epicentre was at 23.85° N latitude, 120.82° E longitude, 9.2 km (5.7 mi) southwest of the Sun Moon Lake. The depth was 8.0 km (5.0 mi).

Strong quake shakes northern Japan, at least 3 dead

By MARI YAMAGUCHI, Associated Press Writer 9 minutes ago

A powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake rocked a rural area of northern Japan on Saturday, killing at least three people, triggering landslides and reportedly knocking down a bridge, fire and disaster management officials said. At least 64 were injured.

Two nuclear power plants in the area were undergoing inspections but there were no immediate reports of damage, said Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura. Electricity had been cut to about 29,000 households in the quake zone, he said. There was no danger of tsunami.

Trade and Industry Ministry official Yoshinori Moriyama later said about 5 gallons of radioactive water splashed from the two pools storing spent fuel at a Fukushima nuclear power plant, but there was no leakage outside the facility.

However, electricity had been cut to about 29,000 households in the quake zone.

The 8:43 a.m. quake was centered in the northern prefecture (state) of Iwate about 280 miles north of Tokyo. It was felt as far away as the capital.

"It shook so violently that I couldn't stand still. I had to lean on the wall," said Masanori Oikawa, an Oshu city official at home near the epicenter when the quake struck. "When I rushed to the office, cabinets had been thrown onto the floor and things on the desks were scattered all over the place."

One of the deaths was a man who ran out of a building in fear and was hit by a passing truck, and the other confirmed death was a man who was buried in a landslide while he was fishing, Machimura said.

A third victim was a 48-year-old construction worker who was hit by a falling rock at a dam in Iwate, according to the National Police Agency.

Fire and Disaster Management Agency spokesmen said at least 64 people were injured, including at least two people who in critical condition. One of them was a dam worker in Iwate, who was hit by falling rock. National broadcaster NHK said 67 people were hurt.

Footage shot from media helicopters showed numerous landslides onto rural roads running along knots of mountains separated by long stretches of rice fields. The footage aired on national broadcaster NHK also showed a bridge that had collapsed.

National broadcaster NHK said four people were seriously injured while riding on a bus over a bridge when the quake hit.

In the town of Natori, three people were seriously injured while riding on a bus over a bridge when the quake hit, the disaster management agency said.

"We must assess the situation as quickly possible and do utmost in our relief activities," said Machimura.

The meteorological agency issued a warning of a second quake, and a 5.6-magnitude aftershock hit the same area, but it was unclear whether the warning preceded the aftershock. Japan is experimenting with an earthquake warning system.

"A few items fell off the shelves, such as cosmetics and pottery tea cups," Minoru Takada, 41, manager of Seven-Eleven in Oshu, in Iwate prefecture, told The Associated Press. "There wasn't any panic."

Footage from the closest large city, Sendai, showed the force of the quake shook surveillance cameras for 30 seconds. NHK interviewed an official from Miyagi prefecture, where Sendai is located, who said he saw tiles coming off the roofs of some homes.

"It was scary. It was difficult to stand up," said Sachiko Sugihara, a convenience store worker in Oshu in a separate interview with NHK. "The TV fell over and the refrigerator shook."

Windows broke at a nursery school in the area and NHK said some teachers and children were injured, though it was unclear how seriously.

Sendai appeared largely unscathed.

"So far we have not received any reports of damage or injuries. Everything is normal," Hideki Hara, a police official in Sendai, told the AP. "Phone lines, water and electricity are all working right now."

Japan is one of the most earthquake-prone areas in the world. The most recent major quake in Japan killed more than 6,400 people in the city of Kobe in January 1995.

Japan is one of the most earthquake-prone areas in the world.

Last July, a 6.8-magnitude quake killed 11 people in Niigata, just southwest of Saturday's epicenter, damaging a nuclear reactor and causing radioactive leaks. A major quake hit the southwestern city of Kobe in January 1995, killing more than 6,400 people.

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LDS Wrestler to Compete at Olympic Trials

LDS Wrestler to Compete at Olympic Trials

LDS Living Staff
06/10/2008 02:33 PM MDT

This weekend LDS wrestler Justin Ruiz will be competing to land a spot on the Olympic wrestling team and fulfill a lifelong dream.

“I’m feeling excited,” Ruiz said. “I’ve been training for this for most of my life.”

In fact, Ruiz began wrestling in junior high school and has competed ever since—with the exception of his two-year mission in Chile.

“When I decided to go on a mission, it wasn’t a concern,” he said. “When I got back I had lost some ground, but I feel the Lord blessed me to help make up for the lost time. I gained so much from the mission—much more than I could have gained through wrestling.”

Ruiz became a two-time NCAA All American while attending the University of Nebraska, and today he is the top-ranked U.S. Greco-Roman wrestler in his 211.5 weight division, with four consecutive national titles under his belt. He has also wrestled for four world teams, winning a bronze medal in the world championships in 2005.

Ruiz made his first attempt to qualify for the Olympics in 2004, but during the Olympic trials he lost a spot on the U.S. team to Garrett Lowney. Despite the loss, Ruiz traveled to Athens to serve as a training partner for Lowney and other Olympic wrestlers.

“I was obviously disappointed, but I still wanted to see our country succeed, so I wanted to help in any way that I could,” Ruiz said. After this experience, he became more determined than ever to get to Beijing. And if Ruiz makes the Olympic team this weekend, he says it will only be a stepping stone to his ultimate goal—to win an Olympic medal.

“To make the team would be a huge accomplishment—something I’ve been dreaming about all my life. At the same time, it’s just a step I need to take my ultimate goal of winning a medal at the Olympics.”

Power and Protection Provided by Worthy Music

Elder Russell M. Nelson

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

CES Fireside for Young Adults • May 4, 2008 • Brigham Young University

It is a joy for my wife, Wendy, and me to be with you, my dear brothers and sisters. From the BYU Marriott Center in Utah, we are broadcasting to many congregations throughout the world. Thanks to each of you for being with us.

We extend a special welcome to those who will soon be finishing high school and are attending a CES fireside broadcast for the first time. As you enroll in institutions of higher learning and continue your education, I hope you will participate in institute classes so that you may have this strong spiritual resource to balance your secular learning. You will also have opportunities to attend future CES firesides such as this. Take advantage of those occasions. They will enlighten and encourage you.

The title of my message tonight is “Power and Protection Provided by Worthy Music.” This topic is especially applicable to young adults. As you know, people of your age have made many significant contributions as writers, composers, and connoisseurs of worthy music.

Power

The power of worthy music was felt tonight as we sang these words in our opening hymn:

Come, ye children of the Lord,
Let us sing with one accord.
Let us raise a joyful strain
To our Lord who soon will reign.¹

Through music we raised our voices in powerful praise and prayer.

Such a hymn provides a pattern of worship that is pleasing to God. His prophet taught us to “praise the Lord with singing, with music, . . . and with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving” (D&C 136:28).

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Ogden Institute of Religion choir. Thank you, Brother Ritchie, Brother Simon, and members of the choir, for your magnificent music. It has not only honored the Lord, but it has also touched our hearts deeply.

As the choir sang “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” I was deeply moved. The message focuses on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Written by the English poet Isaac Watts, those words bear repetition:

When I survey the wondrous cross,
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord! that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God:
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood. . . .

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.²

Indeed, Isaac Watts did demand much from himself. In his lifetime he wrote approximately 600 hymns. Two of his most productive years were between his graduation from school at age 20 and his taking a job teaching when he was 22. At that young age many great hymns flowed from him. Lyrics by Isaac Watts in our book of hymns include, among others, “Joy to the World,” “Sweet Is the Work,” and “He Died! The Great Redeemer Died.”

Even as a small boy, Isaac Watts had poetic potential. “Once during family prayers, he began to laugh. His father asked him why. [Isaac] replied that he had heard a sound and opened his eyes to see a mouse climbing a rope in a corner, and had immediately thought,

“A little mouse for want of stairs
ran up a rope to say its prayers.

“His father thought this irreverent, and proceeded to administer [physical] punishment, in the midst of which Isaac called out,

“Father, father, mercy take,
and I will no more verses make.”³

I would like to comment on another song in our hymnbook. The text of “How Great Thou Art” was first written by a young minister in Sweden. His name was Carl Gustav Boberg. He was only 25 years old. After attending a church meeting, he walked two miles along the southeastern coast of Sweden in a thunderstorm. The experience inspired him to write the words, which were later translated into English by Stuart K. Hine:

O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy pow’r thru-out the universe displayed;
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee,
How great thou art! How great thou art!⁴

On one occasion I was in a mission conference when a missionary with great compassion, with tears in his eyes, asked me, “Why did the Savior have to suffer so much?” I reached for our hymnbook, turned to this song, and answered his question with this verse:

And when I think that God, his Son not sparing,
Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in,
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.⁵

Jesus suffered so much because of His love for you and me. What a message! Worthy music is powerful. It has power to make us humble, prayerful, and grateful.

Prophets through all generations have taught the importance of worthy music in our expressions of worship. A few citations from the scriptures may serve to illustrate.

An Old Testament scripture bids us to “make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise” (Psalm 98:4). In the Hebrew language, those words literally mean to burst forth into song and to shout for joy. Contrast that spirit of enthusiasm with scenes we may see at church when some sing only passively and without a spirit of joy.

A New Testament scripture counsels me and you to have a well of good music within:

“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:19–20).

Another New Testament verse says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you . . . ; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16).

From the New Testament we also learn that the Lord and His Apostles concluded the Last Supper with a hymn before leaving for the Mount of Olives (see Matthew 26:30). That tradition continues in our day. Each time members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles meet in the temple, we begin with a hymn. It sets a sweet, spiritual tone for our deliberations.

The Book of Mormon teaches that one’s desire to sing praises to the Lord comes with one’s complete conversion to Him. Alma asked this penetrating question: “I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?” (Alma 5:26).

Ammon later exclaimed, “Blessed be the name of our God; let us sing to his praise, yea, let us give thanks to his holy name, for he doth work righteousness forever” (Alma 26:8).

Complete conversion is the key to our experiencing God’s greatest blessings. In the Doctrine and Covenants, we read this expression from the Lord: “For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads” (D&C 25:12).

In the preface to our book of hymns, the First Presidency has provided this statement:

“Inspirational music is an essential part of our church meetings. The hymns invite the Spirit of the Lord, create a feeling of reverence, unify us as members, and provide a way for us to offer praises to the Lord.

“Some of the greatest sermons are preached by the singing of hymns. Hymns move us to repentance and good works, build testimony and faith, comfort the weary, console the mourning, and inspire us to endure to the end.

“We hope to see an increase of hymn singing in our congregations. We encourage all members, whether musically inclined or not, to join with us in singing the hymns. We hope leaders, teachers, and members who are called on to speak will turn often to the hymnbook to find sermons presented powerfully and beautifully in verse. . . .

“. . . Latter-day Saints should fill their homes with the sound of worthy music. . . .

“Hymns can also help us withstand the temptations of the adversary. We encourage you to memorize your favorite hymns and study the scriptures that relate to them. Then, if unworthy thoughts enter your mind, sing a hymn to yourself, crowding out the evil with the good.”⁶

Worthy music also has the power to persuade. We learn this lesson from the writings of John Jaques. He was born in England in 1827, a son of Wesleyan Methodist parents. In his youth John earnestly sought the true religion. He studied intensively with Latter-day Saint missionaries and, at the age of 18, became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“John’s austere father, upset upon hearing this news, wrote: ‘I wished you . . . to attend the Wesleyan Chapel. They [the Mormons] do not teach you . . . [to] honor and obey your parents. I . . . hope you will give up the idea of belonging to such a party. . . . It is fiction.’

“John’s reply, written March 14, 1847, when he was but twenty years of age, included these words: ‘Dear Father: I would pray . . . that I may understand the things of the Kingdom of God and carry my ideas to you. . . . Since I [joined the Church] my eyes have been opened, and I have been able to understand the truth. I can bear testimony to the truth . . . of the doctrines . . . in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.’”⁷

Three years later, at age 23, John Jaques wrote the words to this hymn that we know and love:

Oh say, what is truth? ’Tis the fairest gem
That the riches of worlds can produce,
And priceless the value of truth will be when
The proud monarch’s costliest diadem
Is counted but dross and refuse.

Yes, say, what is truth? ’Tis the brightest prize
To which mortals or Gods can aspire.
Go search in the depths where it glittering lies,
Or ascend in pursuit to the loftiest skies:
’Tis an aim for the noblest desire.

The sceptre may fall from the despot’s grasp
When with winds of stern justice he copes.
But the pillar of truth will endure to the last,
And its firm-rooted bulwarks outstand the rude blast
And the wreck of the fell tyrant’s hopes.

Then say, what is truth? ’Tis the last and the first,
For the limits of time it steps o’er.
Tho the heavens depart and the earth’s fountains burst,
Truth, the sum of existence, will weather the worst,
Eternal, unchanged, evermore.⁸

John stood firm in his conviction of the truth. He remained true and faithful and ultimately served as assistant to the Church historian from 1889 until his death on June 1, 1900.

Music has a sweet power to promote unity and love in the family. Not only is it an important component of family home evenings, but it can exert a continuing influence for good well beyond times when children are small. For my gift to the family last Christmas, I prepared a compact-disc recording of musical memories. I sat at the piano and recorded a variety of music that I had sung or played to the children through the years. They liked it. Some of the grandchildren told me that the CD was “cool.”

To illustrate the enduring benefits of worthy music in the home, I have asked our available daughters to sing for you tonight. Since their childhood, they have enjoyed singing together.

Daughters, I’m going to introduce you. Perhaps each of you can wave to the congregation as I mention your name: Marsha Workman, Wendy Maxfield, Gloria Irion, Brenda Miles, Sylvia Webster, Julie Wittwer, Laurie Marsh, Rosalie Ringwood, and Marjorie Helsten.

Our son’s wife, Britney, would like to have been here, but she is excused. She had a baby 11 days ago. Two other voices are missing—our deceased daughter, Emily, and her angel mother, Dantzel. Perhaps they are looking in from their windows in heaven. Our son, Russell, and I also enjoy singing with them, but we will not impose that upon you tonight.

To illustrate the multigenerational merits of worthy music in the home, our daughters will be accompanied by two of their daughters: Katie Irion Owens on the piano and Rachel Miles on the flute. They will sing and play for you “Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee.” After their music, I will resume my message.

[Elder Nelson’s daughters and granddaughters sang and played “Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee.”]

Thank you so much, daughters and granddaughters. Wendy and I love you dearly, as do your husbands and your families.

Many of you folks will be able to influence music that is selected in Church services in the future. A few thoughts may be helpful to you. Remember, music has power to provide spiritual nourishment.⁹ It has healing power.¹⁰ It has power to facilitate worship; it allows us to contemplate the Atonement and the Restoration of the gospel with its saving principles and exalting ordinances. Music provides power for us to express prayerful thoughts and bear testimony of sacred truths.

Music has power to overcome language barriers. In my experience, some of the most moving congregational singing has been rendered in languages that are foreign to me. Yet it spoke strongly to my soul.

The purpose of music in our Church services is not for performance but for worship. Prayerfully selected compositions and excellent performances are appropriate in our worship services when and if members feel a spirit of worship and of revelation. Church music should be supportive of the Lord and His work and not attract attention to itself.

Protection

Worthy music not only has power, but it can also provide protection. For many years President Boyd K. Packer has taught this concept. He has often quoted another statement issued by the First Presidency many years ago: “Music can be used to exalt and inspire or to carry messages of degradation and destruction. It is therefore important that as Latter-day Saints we at all times apply the principles of the gospel and seek the guidance of the Spirit in selecting the music with which we surround ourselves.”¹¹

Brethren and sisters, wherever we are, we should carefully choose what we see and hear. Some of you would not knowingly tolerate pornography in your homes, yet you would allow music into your lives that can be just as devastating.

Many youth listen to music that can be described as loud and fast, becoming louder and faster. It aims to agitate, not to pacify; to excite more than to calm. Beware of that kind of music.

As you know, continued exposure to loud sounds will, in time, damage delicate organs of hearing. In like manner, if you overindulge in loud music, you will more likely become spiritually deaf. You may not be able to hear the still, small voice. A scripture states, “The Lord your God . . . hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words” (1 Nephi 17:45).

Do not degrade yourself with the numbing shabbiness and irreverence of music that is not worthy of you. Delete the rubbish from your minds and your iPods. Protect your own personal standards! Be selective! Be wise!

Do not allow unworthy, raucous music to enter your life. It is not harmless. It can weaken your defense and allow unworthy thoughts into your mind and pave the way to unworthy acts. Please remember:

“That which [does] not edify is not of God, and is darkness.

“That which is of God is light” (D&C 50:23–24).

Dear brothers and sisters, please fill your minds with worthy sights and sounds. Cultivate your precious gift of the Holy Ghost. Protect it as the priceless gift that it is. Carefully listen for its quiet communication. You will be spiritually stronger if you do. You know the proverb “As [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). As you control your thoughts, you control your actions. Indeed, worthy music can provide power and protection for your soul.

For the closing hymn for our fireside tonight, the Ogden LDS Institute of Religion choir will sing “Our Prayer to Thee.”¹² I wrote the words to that song as my prayerful feelings for our Father in Heaven. Please receive this prayer as part of my testimony that God is our Father and that we are His children. I know that He lives. Jesus is the Christ and the Head of this Church that bears His holy name. Joseph Smith is the Prophet of this dispensation. President Thomas S. Monson is the Lord’s prophet on the earth at this time. I so testify and express my love and blessing for each of you, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

NOTES

1. “Come, Ye Children of the Lord,” Hymns, no. 58.

2. B. B. McKinney, ed., The Broadman Hymnal (1940), no. 191.

3. “Isaac Watts, hymn-writer,” http://elvis.rowan.edu/~kilroy/JEK/11/25c.html.

4. “How Great Thou Art,” Hymns, no. 86; see footnote on the author’s original words in the hymnal.

5. Hymns, no. 86.

6. Hymns, ix–x.

7. Russell M. Nelson, The Power within Us (1988), 90–91; see Stella Jaques Bell, Life History and Writings of John Jaques, 19–21.

8. “Oh Say, What Is Truth?” Hymns, no. 272.

9. See Jay E. Jensen, in Conference Report, Apr. 2007, 9–11; or Ensign, May 2007, 11–13.

10. See “The Healing Power of Hymns,” Ensign, Apr. 2008, 66–69.

11. Priesthood Bulletin, Aug. 1973; quoted in Boyd K. Packer, in Conference Report, Oct. 1973, 21; or Ensign, Jan. 1974, 25.

12. In Conference Report, Apr. 2003, 7; or Ensign, May 2003, 9; both words and music are found inside back cover, Ensign, May 2003.

Our Prayer to Thee

We pray to Thee, our Heavenly Father,
With grateful hearts and fond emotion.
We thank Thee for our great Exemplar—
Thy beloved and atoning Son—
Who gave Himself as sacred ransom,
That we could live again with Thee!
Our joy is full, our song so gladsome;
Renew our faith and hope in Thee.

We pray to Thee, our Heavenly Father,
With thankful hearts and adoration.
We thank Thee for our loving Savior,
Who redeemed us from death and sin;
He gave to us His truth to brighten
Our path, to help us walk His way,
To love and serve, to lift and lighten
The lives of all who will obey.

We pray to Thee, our Heavenly Father,
With gratitude and deep devotion
For loving faith and endless splendor—
Eternal glory—bound as one!
We pray for mercy and forgiveness
And hope to know Thy holy will.
We yearn for Thee, we plead in meekness,
Thy trust in us may we fulfill.

© 2008 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. English approval: 5/07. 04520

Children’s Songbook, Home and Family, Love Is Spoken Here, 190–91

Love Is Spoken Here

Gently

Sing parts separately, then combined using third ending.

Children’s Songbook, Home and Family, Love Is Spoken Here, 190–91

1. (Girls) I see my mother kneeling with our family each day.
I hear the words she whispers as she bows her head to pray.
Her plea to the Father quiets all my fears,
And I am thankful love is spoken here.

2. (Boys) Mine is a home where ev’ry hour is blessed by the strength of priesthood pow’r,
With father and mother leading the way,
Teaching me how to trust and obey;
And the things they teach are crystal clear,
For love is spoken here.

[3rd ending] I can often feel the Savior near
When love is spoken here.

Words and music: Janice Kapp Perry, b. 1938
© 1980 by Janice Kapp Perry. This song may be copied for incidental, noncommercial church or home use.

Mosiah 4:15

D&C 68:28