March 4, 2012

The last two weeks have been wild and exciting. Should you ever have to move in the future make sure you do it before you are 68 years young. We relied on so many people from our family, from Orem, Saratoga Springs, and Toquerville that it is virtually impossible to know who to thank for the many huge and small gifts of love we have received. Blessings, packing, hauling, loading and unloading, friendly talks, smiles, thanks and appreciation have filled our lives to the brim. We have “arrived” in our wonderful community of Toquerville to enjoy whatever our Heavenly Father has in store for us.

The most important part of our lives – our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ -  continue to provide us with direction, strength, and certainty that we know where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is my personal resource for assistance with temporal and spiritual events that might otherwise bog me down. The second most important part of my life is my family (intricately linked to the first). My incredible bride Jean and I were married on May 1, 1965 in the Los Angles Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We were babies then, even though we thought were just as wise and mature as those years and decades older. We set out on an adventure that would take us through multiple academic degrees, millions of moves, 40 years of teaching, six natural children, untold numbers of children that have called us parents, confidents, or just great friends. We have been blessed with 26 grand children (all perfect, at least in the sight of their grandpa and grandmother.)

Now, we are in the service of our Lord and Savior, full-time. We will serve in whatever capacity we can to be part of “His” great plan of Salvation. We can do nothing without our Savior. When he shares that all the law and the prophets lay in this great commandment, that we Love God, Love each other, and love ourselves; how can we not want to do his will and serve Him. Over the last four decades, I have had the great privilege of sharing my understanding of life with thousands of students. These students came in all types, sizes, ethnicities, genders, spiritual levels, persuasions, church affiliations, etc. On the first day of class I would share two thoughts with them:

1. They were in a class called, Marketing, management, office procedures, Word processing, Computer Concepts, or whatever. We would certainly get through the material in a marvelous manner; however, we would also make great strides in getting to know something about each other. We would see what wonderful people are on the other side of the street, or world.
2. Second, I gave them permission to enjoy education. I told them that much of life is wrapped up in humor and that anyone was welcome anytime to share a joke or good story. The caveat, it had to be nonreligious, non racist, and not dirty. Some said that was not possible, yet every day we had a delightful laugh over something that was common to many.

Unfortunately, some of you have taken to looking for daily things over which to “pick a scab.” In recent weeks I have heard people taunt, or make fun of ethnic groups, illegal aliens, ex-convicts, military personnel, police officers, disabled persons, Mormons, homosexuals, mentally challenged, and others. May I quietly remind each person who may read this that we are all children of our Father in Heaven; that he loves us all; that we all have our little problems (I am sure each of us knows our own little secret). So here is the challenge. Go back to God’s law. Love God, Love your neighbor. Love your enemy. Love the person who has been just plain nasty to you. Love yourself. Then, forgive and move on to the Charity side of life. If Charity is the pure love of Christ, then we can accomplish our earthly missions by listening to the spirit of the Holy Ghost; then answering the call to serve. Say hello, give a hug, tell someone they look nice, seek out those who have trampled on their lives and share your love.

God bless each of you as you seek out those who are lost, or fallen, or confused.

Duane Jacobs, Gpa Jacobs, pop, uncle, cousin, and dear friends