A Mother’s Love

One of the themes throughout the Harry Potter books is the importance of the love that a mother has for her children. Dumbledore tells Harry that it is because of strength of the love his mother had for him, Voldemort was not able to kill him when he tried. He said:

 “Your mother died to save you. If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. He didn’t realize that love as powerful as your mothers for you leaves its own mark. Not a scar, no visible sign…to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever.” (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone)

In addition to Lily we have several other mothers that J.K. Rowling includes in the series that provide great examples.

1.      Narcissa Malfoy

Narcissa risks her own life to protect her son, Draco, as the battle for Hogwarts concludes and Harry battles Voldemort. It is Narcissa that approaches Harry’s lifeless body to see if he is alive or dead. When she realizes that he is alive she asks if Malfoy is alive and Harry whispers that he is and is. She knows that the only way to save him is to get him to safety, so she tells everyone that Harry is dead and in the midst of their celebration she leaves to find him.

2.     Augusta Longbottom

Augusta Longbottom is Neville’s grandmother. After the death of his parents, Neville is raised by Augusta. Neville often talks about how his grandmother has always been an enemy to Voldemort and his followers and fights for what is good and right. She is one of the few that come to Hogwarts as the battle is raging. She is the last to come through the tunnel from Hogsmeade to Hogwarts and she seals the tunnel so no one else can get through it into the castle. When she asks where Neville is, they tell her that he is inside fighting and she leaves the others to join in the fight with her grandson.

3.     Molly Weasley

Besides Lily, I think the strongest example of the love of a mother is found in Molly Weasley. Molly is always there when her children need her. She adopts Harry as one of her own and is his protector. With only the love a mother has Molly, teaches, corrects, and disciplines Harry along with her own children. She is there when Fred is killed, she is in the middle of the fight for Hogwarts, and charges in when Jenny is in danger and is the one to kill Bellatrix.

The scriptures and modern revelation also testify of the importance of the mothers in our lives. In “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” it states:

HUSBAND AND WIFE have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another… Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children.”

In Alma we read of the 2000 stripling warriors were protected because their mothers taught them to have faith in Jesus Christ and that he would preserve them. Heleman wrote to Captain Moroni that it was this faith that saved them saying they did not doubt they would be safe “because their mothers knew” (Alma 56:48)

The scriptures are full of examples of the power of righteous mothers. There is Eve, the first mother; Sarai, the mother of Isaac; Mary, the mother of Jesus; Sariah, the mother of Nephi; Lucy, the mother of Joseph Smith, and many others.

We must never forget how important our mothers are. Heavenly Father has given us our parents the responsibility of helping us return to his presence and it is our mothers that have the greatest influence in making sure that happens.

Your comments and question are welcome and would that if you agree with what I have written to please share this with your social friends and family.

I Hope You Dance

One of Lee Ann Womack’s hit songs is one called “I Hope You Dance” some of the words include:

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
GOD forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance....I hope you dance.

I like the message of that song – don’t let your fears keep you from achieving your goals, just go out there and dance. It doesn’t matter what people think. Go for your dreams and have fun doing it.

When I was at BYU I was a member of the BYU International Folk Dancers. There was never a show that we did not have several dancers making mistakes, it is almost impossible to do it perfectly. Our director, Mary B. Jenson, always would tell us not to worry about mistakes. No one will ever know if we made a mistake unless we do something that would focus on the mistake. We were supposed to just get over it and get back in the rhythm of the dance and go on. The Book of Mormon Prophet Alma taught:

For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. (Alma 34:32)

The purpose of this life is to learn through by our experiences. We need to realize it is ok to make mistakes, but when we do we need to learn from them and then not repeat the mistake. Our eleven-year-old grandson played football for the first time last fall. In one of his games he missed a tackle and the player scored a touchdown. He came off the field crying because it was his fault the opponent scored. I tried to console him and tell him it was ok. On the ride home we talked about it. I asked Nathan if he was the only one to miss the tackle and he said no. Nathan was playing in the secondary so he was the last chance to make the tackle but everyone else also missed him before he missed. Then I tried to help him understand that it is through our mistakes that we learn and get better. I asked what he could have done different so he would have made the tackle and we talked about learning and getting better. I also reminded him that he was only ten (he was ten at the time) and the purpose of football at his age is to learn and gain skills so when he is older he won’t make those mistakes later.

Brad Wilcox, in a BYU-Idaho devotional told the students of a high school game they would play on the bus while coming home from debate competitions. The game was called Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. They would be slapping their knees and clapping their hands in rhythm as they called out someone’s name. that person would have to repeat all the names and then call out someone else’s name without breaking the rhythm or making a mistake. If they made a mistake they would have to go to the back of the bus and start working their way up to the front again. He said:

“What I realize now is that wherever I was sitting on the bus, the bus was still continually taking me toward home.

“In the Book of Mormon, we read about people who loved God so much they had “no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.”¹⁰Does this mean they were never enticed again? Surely not, since that would have limited their agency. Does this mean they never made another mistake or had another bad day? No. They probably messed up just like we do, since they were living in the same fallen world where we live. The issue isn’t whether or not they slipped, but that they didn’t want to slip. The renewed people of King Benjamin probably sinned again (moved to the back of the bus), but they most certainly recognized the mistakes they had made, repented quickly, and kept trying. They lived in a constant spirit of repentance—continually renewing their covenants. In other words, they stayed on the bus as it moved steadily toward its destination. Enduring to the end does not mean living without errors. Enduring to the end means enduring in the covenant despite errors—remaining in the bus and continuing to play the game no matter where we currently sit, or how many times we are taken to the back.” (“The Law of the Gospel”, Brad Wilcox, BYU-Idaho Devotional, July 31, 2015)

I remember playing games like this and we always would laugh and taunt anyone that would make a mistake and go to the back of the bus. One thing we must remember when it comes to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we are all moving in different directions on the bus and we must never be critical of someone for making a mistake and moving to the back of the bus. We especially need to take care of how we treat someone that has chosen to get off the bus for a time.

Sometimes we might wonder if we are not worthy to be in church or go to the temple, or even partake of the sacrament. Bro. Wilcox said:

“I’m not worthy,” “I’m not worthy to pray,” “I’m not worthy to go to church,” “I’m not worthy to partake of the sacrament,” “I’m not worthy to go on a mission,” “I’m not worthy to go to the temple.” We don’t partake of the sacrament because we are worthy, we partake of the sacrament because we are willing to become worthy. We don’t go to church because we are perfect, we go because we are willing to be perfected, and we certainly don’t go on a mission, or to the temple because we’ve “made it” in our Mormon culture. We go to these sacred environments because it is there that the Lord is making us. It is there that we allow him to continue to shape, and mold, and guide, and help us. As we renew our covenants, we are committing not to be perfect like Christ immediately, but to be willing to be perfected in Christ over time.” (“The Law of the Gospel”, Brad Wilcox, BYU-Idaho Devotional, July 31, 2015)

In a conference talk this past October, Elder Willord W. Andersen gave a talk titled “The Music of the Gospel”. He tells of an old Native American that walked into the hospital and a young doctor asked if he could help the man. The old man did not respond and the doctor finally said: “I cannot help you if you don’t speak to me,”. The old man looked at him and said, “Do you dance?” The doctor realizing the old man was probably a tribal medicine man who healed through song and dance said, “I don’t dance, could you teach me?” The old man responded, “I can teach you to dance, but you have to hear the music.” Elder Andersen continues:

“Sometimes in our homes, we successfully teach the dance steps but are not as successful in helping our family members to hear the music. And as the old medicine man well knew, it is hard to dance without music. Dancing without music is awkward and unfulfilling—even embarrassing. Have you ever tried it?

“In section 8 of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord taught Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, “Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart” (verse 2). We learn the dance steps with our minds, but we hear the music with our hearts. The dance steps of the gospel are the things we do; the music of the gospel is the joyful spiritual feeling that comes from the Holy Ghost. It brings a change of heart and is the source of all righteous desires. The dance steps require discipline, but the joy of the dance will be experienced only when we come to hear the music.

“The challenge for all of us who seek to teach the gospel is to expand the curriculum beyond just the dance steps. Our children’s happiness depends on their ability to hear and love the beautiful music of the gospel.” (“The Music of the Gospel”, Elder Willford W. Anderson, General Conference, October 2015)

How do we learn to hear the music of the gospel and the dance steps that will allow us to perform with confidence? Practice; it takes practice. We live the gospel principles, keep the commandments, and serve each other. We learn to stay on the bus when we make mistakes and get sent to the back. Most of all we learn to get over our mistakes through repentance and the atonement of Jesus Christ. But most of all we need to realize that others will not know when we make mistakes unless we tell them.

Another thing to remember is even when others know we have made mistakes and they are saying that we should give up, we must stay on the bus and keep dancing. Last night after USU lost their basketball game, the guys on the radio were saying that some of the players should give up on the three point shots. You never give up, just keep shooting until you get your game back. Just keep dancing, even if others are not hearing and feeling the music.

We must not ever think that we are not worth of the Lord’s love. If we don’t feel worthy enough to pray, pray until we feel worthy. Go to the temple and drink in the spirit of the Lord’s House. Remember the sacrament is meant to help us repent. Unless someone that holds priesthood keys has instructed you not to partake of the sacrament, you are worthy. In 3 Nephi the Lord was talking to the 12 disciples who were the leaders of the church when he said that they should not allow anyone who is unworthy to partake of the sacrament; he was not talking to the general membership. It is those who hold the priesthood keys that are responsible for determining worthiness to partake of the sacrament.

Remember what Professor Dumbledore once said to me, “It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live” (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, p 214). So if you have the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance, I hope you dance.

The Chosen One

In the movie Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Hermione and Harry are in the library and Romilda Vane is staring at Harry. Hermione said: “She is only interested in you because she thinks you are the chosen one”. Harry said: “But I am the chosen one”. That is when Hermione slaps Harry on the head and Harry says: “Sorry….kidding!”

Harry, and many others, thinks he is the chosen one because of a prophecy revealed in the previous book – “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix”. The prophecy made by professor Trelawney speaks of the coming of a boy that would have the power to vanquish Lord Voldemort. Professor Snape overheard part of the prophecy when it was given to Dumbledore and he then told Voldemort. Circumstances lead Voldemort to believe that Harry was the boy the prophecy spoke of which lead to the death of Harry’s parents and the attack on Harry. The events of Harry’s life were shaped because Voldemort saw what he wanted in the prophecy and that interpretation set in motion a course that eventually fulfilled the prophecy.

You probably have heard someone speak of your generation as the chosen generation. President Gordon B. Hinckley speaking of the youth of the church said:

“I have great confidence in our young people as a whole. I regard you as the finest generation in the history of the Church. Each time I have stood before such a group, there has come into my mind the great and prophetic statement made by Peter of old. Said he: “Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” (1 Pet. 2:9.) Truly, my dear young friends, you are a chosen generation. I hope you will never forget it. I hope you will never take it for granted. I hope there will grow in your hearts an overpowering sense of gratitude to God, who has made it possible for you to come upon the earth in this marvelous season of the world’s history.” (“A Chosen Generation”, Gordon B. Hinckley, General Conference April 1992)

President Hinckley made those statements in 1992, when my children were in high school. In a General Conference talk in April 2014, Elder Randall Ridd, Second Counselor in the Young Men General Presidency had this to say of your generation:

“you have probably heard before that you are a “chosen generation,” meaning that God chose and prepared you to come to earth at this time for a great purpose. I know this to be true. But this evening I would like to address you as the “choice generation” because never before in history have individuals been blessed with so many choices. More choices mean more opportunities; more opportunities mean more potential to do good and, unfortunately, evil. I believe that God sent you here at this time because He trusts you to successfully discern among the mind-boggling choices available.” (“The Choice Generation”, Randall L. Ridd, General Conference, April 2014)

Dumbledore once told Harry that it was not his abilities that determined who he was but it was his choices. The same is true for you, what will determine if you really are the chosen generation will depend on the choices you make now and everyday. President Hinckley gave this challenge:

“You cannot afford to do any of those things which do not square with the precepts, the teachings, the principles which the God of heaven has set down because of His love for you and His desire that your lives be rich and full and purposeful.

Nor can you afford to idle away your time in long hours watching the frivolous and damaging programming of which much of television is comprised. There are better things for you to do. The world into which you will move will be terribly competitive. You need to increase your education, to refine your skills, to hone your abilities so that you may fill responsibilities of consequence in the society of which you will become a part.

And so I invite you, every one of you within the sound of my voice, to think for a moment upon why you are here under the divine plan of your Father in Heaven and of your tremendous potential to do good during the life that He has given you.” (“A Chosen Generation”, Gordon B. Hinckley, General Conference April 1992)

I recently listened to a talk given by Jane Clayson Johnson at BYU-Idaho Education Week. She quoted President Monson’s formula to guide you in the choices of your life: “Number one, fill your minds with truth. Number two, fill your hearts with love. Number three, fill your lives with service. “(“Eternal Learning”, Jane Clayson Johnson, BYU-Idaho Education Week, July 2015). Sister Johnson told the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and when King Nebuchadnezzar built the golden idol and commanded that everyone should bow down and worship it. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to bow down and were cast into the furnace and were not harmed (Daniel 3). She said that while we probably won’t face such trials:

“We must stand alone if we need to. We have all made a covenant to be witnesses of God at all times, in all things, and in all places. It is now time to double down on the gospel, put it front and center in our lives, ask the Lord to help us seek, recognize and stand up for truth. As in the days of King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon we must pitch our tents with the door towards the temple, away from the world physically and metaphorically, open our heart, open our doors towards the temple and allow the words of the prophets, words of truth to flow inside.” “(“Eternal Learning”, Jane Clayson Johnson, BYU-Idaho Education Week, July 2015)

Sister Johnson said there is something amazing about filling our minds with truth, it fills our hearts with love – the second thing President Monson said we should do. She told the story of “Sarah” who in a fast and testimony meeting told of how she had made the decision to leave the church and when she was leaving the chapel another sister saw the look in her face and she said hi to her. Sarah ignored her and walked out of the chapel. “Laura” followed her out to the sidewalk and down the street. Sarah said as she cried, “I feel I just don’t belong here”. Laura hugged the girl she barely knew and said “it is easy to lose each other, but I don’t want to lose you”. Sarah told the congregation in that testimony meeting that moment was a life changing event because of the love that was shared that day.

We need to look around and notice those that are struggling with heartache, illness, depression, loneliness. Jesus commanded us to “Love one another, as I have loved you”. There are no exceptions in that commandment.

Sister Johnson told of another experience they had in San Diego. They were on the beach when a group of Navy men, up early for training exercises, came running by. They were sweating buckets. They passed by strong, disciplined, focused. Then they saw another group. One soldier flanked on each side by two others. The one in the middle was having a hard time getting through the exercise. The two on each side had their arms around the young struggling man encouraging him and never leaving his side.

As brothers and sisters in the gospel we need to be aware of those around us that need our help and be willing to give of our time to provide the help that is needed. The third choice President Monson said we need to do is fill our lives with service. Sister Johnson said:

“We are here to help each other, whether it is to help someone struggling in the gospel, inviting them back to church or a band of brothers who will not let their brother fall, love carries us. The Savior said every commandment hangs upon the principle of love.” “(“EternalLearning”, Jane Clayson Johnson, BYU-Idaho Education Week, July 2015)

Service is at the center of home and visiting teaching. Home and visiting teaching is much more than a single visit each month. Many look at other members and think that they have such good lives, but if you get to know them you will find we all have struggles that we are dealing with. We are all at different levels with our testimonies and commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to be loving and patient with those that have weaknesses that are visible to all, even as we struggle with our own weaknesses that might not be obvious to those around us. We must love our neighbors that are not members of the church and accept them as children of our Heavenly Father, even if they don’t have any interest in the church. Show them the fruits of the gospel by being friends and inviting them into your home and participate with them in their family activities.

I have said many times that the mission of the student wards is first to be a buffer between your testimony and the philosophies of men that are taught across the street (Utah State University as well as other institutions) and secondly to help build members that are converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and committed to the law of consecration. When you leave this ward we hope that you will be willing to go wherever the Lord will send you and that you will be willing to serve in whatever calling is extended to you. Service in God’s kingdom is essential for your growth and will bless you and your family in so many ways.

One of the things that we need to remember about being the chosen generation is that we must never let that go to our head. The reason that Hermione slapped Harry when he said “but I am the chosen one” was because he was boasting about it. We must never become prideful about our membership, our callings, or our professional achievements. Pride was always the beginning of the downward cycle that lead the Nephites to destruction.

We must be steadfast and immoveable in keeping the commandments of the Lord and have a love of all men. We must let virtue garnish our thought unceasingly, then shall our confidence wax strong in the presence of God. (D&C 121:45)

I testify that God lives, he loves us, he knows us individually and is aware of our struggles. He will be in the details of our lives if we allow it by our obedience. I know that Joseph Smith did see our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ, that he translated the Book of Mormon by the power of God. It is a second witness for Jesus Christ. President Thomas S. Monson is the Lord’s prophet today. Be loyal to those who lead the church, they are called of God. I know that our Heavenly Father is aware of each of us. I have had several experiences where the promptings have come a times when members have needed to know that he cares and is aware of their struggles. His love for us is eternal and unending.