How to be nice

January 3, 2015

The Christmas song about being naughty or nice makes me cringe. My new year’s resolution is to take back the thousands of times over the years when I have made people sad by my comments; made people look at what I had done as some kind of act of deceit or disloyalty; or had people just turn off the Duane switch and no longer accept me as their friend, colleague, or loved one. In this mortal sphere there is no take backs; only pleas for forgiveness and hopes of a better tomorrow.

For those who have, like me, been less than perfect may I recommend one way of taking a little of the sting out of those moments in our lives which limit our ability to be free of past discretions? I am going to do everything in my human frailty to ask those who have been hurt by my bad judgments to forgive me. I am going to work really, really hard on forgiving those who I feel have done things to dishonor me. Then, I am going to plead with my Savior to forgive me so that I can reach forward and rid myself of all ungodliness.

My father Charles Glenn Jacobs was a man of many seasons. In his youth he was an unholy terror, drinking, carousing, chasing women, making and selling bootleg liquor, and anything else that might fit in those categories. He was abusive to his first wife and moved from Texas to Arizona, where his next season began. Like the Children of Israel it took him a long time – ten years instead of forty – to find peace in his life. He and grandfather (Gramps) batched, ran cattle, built Glenn’s Trading Post in Concho at the junction that scattered  people in three directions; to St Johns, Holbrook, and Sholow. Those were wild days with lots more of the same. He met and married my mother and she became the moving force in his life for the next 32 years until he died in 1973. My mother was the strongest (spiritually, and mentally) of the two and gradually, through example and much, much forgiveness moved him forward to the next seasons. His introduction of mother to Gramps went something like this. He came in the store and went over by the wood stove where Gramps sat and said, dad, this is my new wife, Lucy to which Gramps retorted, “Well, S**t, if you can’t succeed at first, then try, try again.” She went downstairs, bawled for several hours; then, went about the business of taming the “beast”. On numerous occasions he would make comments about those d***n Mexicans, then immediately see the look of sadness on her face, apologize and say, “Moma, I am so sorry; I was fed hatred and bigotry with my mother’s milk.” Forgiving and asking forgiveness were the keys to their success.

When my book of life is opened before the Lord, I will see the little things done in the spirit of the moment that hurt people. I will see the time I was sitting as a guest at a dinner table when one of the ladies began commenting about the “fact” that there had been more than one person a day killed in the making of the Glen Canyon dam; to which I retorted that since the dam was at least ten years in the making, more than 3,650 people would have been killed. She was embarrassed; her husband was embarrassed; and all around just sat quietly allowing the ugliness of the moment to pass. One of those feathers I will never be able to retrieve. Recently, I have been hounding my daughter, Diane, asking for research on certain products. I brought her to tears and it was only then that I recognized that she was doing what she does out of love and concern for her very over-weight father. On another occasion I my beloved wife, Jean, feel bad because of our “discussions” regarding when and if we would spend time in Southern Utah. My mother had an answer to all the above when she addressed the issue of her success in staying the course of marriage with my father until his departure from this life. She declared that nothing in this life is worth arguing about. Even though my father loved to argue and challenge, she remained above that.

I pray that I can during this season of my life the nature, the caring, the opportunity, the privilege, and honor of being a child of Heavenly Father will prevail on me and bless me with tender understanding for those around me.

God bless us all that we may cherish those we love, remembering to ask for and receive forgiveness.

Duane Jacobs, father, grandfather, husband, uncle, brother, cousin, and friend

How to be nice

January 3, 2015

The Christmas song about being naughty or nice makes me cringe. My new year’s resolution is to take back the thousands of times over the years when I have made people sad by my comments; made people look at what I had done as some kind of act of deceit or disloyalty; or had people just turn off the Duane switch and no longer accept me as their friend, colleague, or loved one. In this mortal sphere there is no take backs; only pleas for forgiveness and hopes of a better tomorrow.

For those who have, like me, been less than perfect may I recommend one way of taking a little of the sting out of those moments in our lives which limit our ability to be free of past discretions? I am going to do everything in my human frailty to ask those who have been hurt by my bad judgments to forgive me. I am going to work really, really hard on forgiving those who I feel have done things to dishonor me. Then, I am going to plead with my Savior to forgive me so that I can reach forward and rid myself of all ungodliness.

My father Charles Glenn Jacobs was a man of many seasons. In his youth he was an unholy terror, drinking, carousing, chasing women, making and selling bootleg liquor, and anything else that might fit in those categories. He was abusive to his first wife and moved from Texas to Arizona, where his next season began. Like the Children of Israel it took him a long time – ten years instead of forty – to find peace in his life. He and grandfather (Gramps) batched, ran cattle, built Glenn’s Trading Post in Concho at the junction that scattered  people in three directions; to St Johns, Holbrook, and Sholow. Those were wild days with lots more of the same. He met and married my mother and she became the moving force in his life for the next 32 years until he died in 1973. My mother was the strongest (spiritually, and mentally) of the two and gradually, through example and much, much forgiveness moved him forward to the next seasons. His introduction of mother to Gramps went something like this. He came in the store and went over by the wood stove where Gramps sat and said, dad, this is my new wife, Lucy to which Gramps retorted, “Well, S**t, if you can’t succeed at first, then try, try again.” She went downstairs, bawled for several hours; then, went about the business of taming the “beast”. On numerous occasions he would make comments about those d***n Mexicans, then immediately see the look of sadness on her face, apologize and say, “Moma, I am so sorry; I was fed hatred and bigotry with my mother’s milk.” Forgiving and asking forgiveness were the keys to their success.

When my book of life is opened before the Lord, I will see the little things done in the spirit of the moment that hurt people. I will see the time I was sitting as a guest at a dinner table when one of the ladies began commenting about the “fact” that there had been more than one person a day killed in the making of the Glen Canyon dam; to which I retorted that since the dam was at least ten years in the making, more than 3,650 people would have been killed. She was embarrassed; her husband was embarrassed; and all around just sat quietly allowing the ugliness of the moment to pass. One of those feathers I will never be able to retrieve. Recently, I have been hounding my daughter, Diane, asking for research on certain products. I brought her to tears and it was only then that I recognized that she was doing what she does out of love and concern for her very over-weight father. On another occasion I my beloved wife, Jean, feel bad because of our “discussions” regarding when and if we would spend time in Southern Utah. My mother had an answer to all the above when she addressed the issue of her success in staying the course of marriage with my father until his departure from this life. She declared that nothing in this life is worth arguing about. Even though my father loved to argue and challenge, she remained above that.

I pray that I can during this season of my life the nature, the caring, the opportunity, the privilege, and honor of being a child of Heavenly Father will prevail on me and bless me with tender understanding for those around me.

God bless us all that we may cherish those we love, remembering to ask for and receive forgiveness.

Duane Jacobs, father, grandfather, husband, uncle, brother, cousin, and friend

Tradition lost

November 30, 2014

We bounced on the scene fifty years ago with energy, youth, and great expectations. We had a firm handle on addresses of friends, neighbors, and relatives we would eagerly send Christmas greetings each year as a token of friendship and remembrance of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We sent them in early December and eagerly await the glistening cards and messages of hope. The personal messages we carefully placed inside the cards became a “one size fits all” cheery message about our family and how they had grown and progressed in life. About twenty years ago, the messages we sent and received slowed down to a trickle, but we still enjoyed them and continued corresponding; in many cases only on the occasion of Christmas. In the beginning we had a list that we groomed and improved each year, but time has a way of withering our enthusiasm and dimming our memories. Addresses got lost, people died, divorced, forgot about us, and the list dwindled to a relative small size. Three years ago we stopped sending cards and letters and went with the thrill of the day – E MAIL. We talked recently about many of the people we have enjoyed as friends and found that we had no idea of where they were or what they were doing. We fared equally as well with relatives, noting that we that we had lost track of many cousins and others.

Jean has reconnected with one cousin in the last year and found great reciprocal joy in sharing notes about family circumstances. We met with friends from my high school days in Scottsdale for lunch and solved all the problems on earth. Thursday and Friday of this week we celebrated Thanksgiving and shared beautiful experiences, watched our children and grandchildren learn about and play with each other. We talked about their college, high school, and elementary school activities and found the cycle of life to be working well. We observed that some have brilliant minds and other are more like Jean and me. We both floundered through school, through social and athletic experiences, and consider ourselves extremely blessed to have survived those experiences; then grown together as a team through good times and bad.

My dear cousin Clara Jo Fitch (Candelaria) recently made what she called her last pilgrimage to New Mexico to see family and experience – once again – the land of enchantment. She was not able to get to Utah so she called me and we had a delightful visit. Several months before my mother, Lucy Baca Jacobs Livermore, passed away Jo made a special trip to Utah to visit with mother regarding her spiritual health. Jo is a life-long Catholic and mother converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints when she was in her mid thirties. Mother was always one that wanted to please her family and Jo was on a mission to return mother to the Catholic Church. Mother always had warm feelings for the Catholic Church because of her heritage and the beautiful message of Christ which both her childhood church and the Church of Jesus Christ hold as the centerpiece of spirituality.  In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a list of thirteen Articles of Faith set the stage for understanding how mother could be an active, temple attending member of the LDS Church and still hold these beautiful feelings for the people, the heritage, and the spiritual message of the Catholic faith. The thirteenth article shares the admonition of Paul in which he declares that all truth is from God.  “ . . . we believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.” Capped with the first article of faith, “We believe in God the Father, and in his Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost” mother found great strength in her faith in God, in her hope for an eternal reunion with her family, and with a desire to understand and embrace Charity – the pure love of Jesus Christ.

All humanity must hold close to the truths provided in God’s law. We must unite together in understanding and love of family and country under God. May we share our blessings with our family, friends, and countrymen through understanding and love.

Duane Jacobs, grandfather, father, husband, brother, cousin, uncle and friend

How can we take it in?

Feb 1, 2015        

Today I am almost giddy with joy and appreciation for all that surrounds me. The examples of Christ like love witnessed this week have been beyond my grasp of understanding. I watched as grand children worked tirelessly and together to rig a sort of train out of a bicycle, a couple of kiddie cars, and some twine. They toiled, unaware of the freezing weather for the sheer joy of being together and living life. What joy! I went inside to see “dad and mom” working side-by-side to address issues of family activity now and in the future. I looked down and saw this little angle crawling around spreading humungous amounts of love and heavenly joy. My thoughts went immediately to St Matthew where Jesus tells us what our job is – to love God, to love others, and to love ourselves.

Today I went, resisting all the way, to a baptism. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to be in such a place of peace and tranquility; rather, that some circumstance in the past might cause distress for those associated with the family. Perish the thought. As soon as we entered the chapel the light of Christ eradicated all negative opportunities for Satan to do his dastardly deeds of doubt and destruction and the whole thing became bright and beautiful. Beyond comprehension the little girl with the same name as two of my Aunts went to the podium and sang an angels carol. Her beautiful sweet notes were only surpassed by her bright and knowing countenance. You see, she knows that God lives; that he loves us and is so very pleased when we can see through the din and continue to follow the Iron Rod toward the loving arms of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Smiles, hugs, and promises to continue and enhance a family history and an even more important testament of God the Eternal Father, his Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.

Today when we got home from the baptism, I open my email to find a letter from our latest missionary in the family. Elder Wright is one who has fought like a caged tiger for the opportunity to serve as a missionary. Health questions with no answers plagued him for over a year as he picked and poked at the medical system and slowly but surely worked his way through to find the sweet service he so wished and deserved to provide. The letter is very sacred and precious so I shall not divulge the nature of even the gist of his message. I will simply share that in the short week he has been on his mission he has grown into a man of God. In this world of difficulties, doubts, unanswerable questions, economic impending doom, liars, cheats, and unworthy desires; my heart takes courage and hope as I watch the future leaders of the world. These beautiful people working, loving, sharing, praying, doing the will of Our Father in Heaven.

I believe that the answer to the rhetorical question, “How can we take it in?” is right in front of us. Our job is to join in the feast of love and understanding right in front of us. Jesus told us that we needed to become as little children. I take this literally and ask myself; self, can I turn back the clock of my mind and think happy and sweet thoughts and share them with those around me? Can I get right down on the floor with that angelic one-year old and smile and laugh right back. Can I look around; see those who are having some of life’s trials and bring joy and encouragement to them? Forever I have been intrigued with the world of the autistic, with the epileptic, with the mentally deficient. What are they thinking? What are they going to report to our Savior about how we shared (or ignored) them? The young man plagued with bursts of loud noises; the child that looks just like yours that can only sit and stare at a notepad screen looking at random colors and designs is a child of God, placed here for purposes which are more than we can take in. Our job is to use our talents to bless those around us by loving, caring, actions.

God has formed for us, a beautiful world with all the challenges necessary for us to prove ourselves to ourselves. God bless us all that we can obtain to the challenge.

Duane Jacobs, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin, brother, and friend

How can we take it in?

Feb 1, 2015        

Today I am almost giddy with joy and appreciation for all that surrounds me. The examples of Christ like love witnessed this week have been beyond my grasp of understanding. I watched as grand children worked tirelessly and together to rig a sort of train out of a bicycle, a couple of kiddie cars, and some twine. They toiled, unaware of the freezing weather for the sheer joy of being together and living life. What joy! I went inside to see “dad and mom” working side-by-side to address issues of family activity now and in the future. I looked down and saw this little angle crawling around spreading humungous amounts of love and heavenly joy. My thoughts went immediately to St Matthew where Jesus tells us what our job is – to love God, to love others, and to love ourselves.

Today I went, resisting all the way, to a baptism. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to be in such a place of peace and tranquility; rather, that some circumstance in the past might cause distress for those associated with the family. Perish the thought. As soon as we entered the chapel the light of Christ eradicated all negative opportunities for Satan to do his dastardly deeds of doubt and destruction and the whole thing became bright and beautiful. Beyond comprehension the little girl with the same name as two of my Aunts went to the podium and sang an angels carol. Her beautiful sweet notes were only surpassed by her bright and knowing countenance. You see, she knows that God lives; that he loves us and is so very pleased when we can see through the din and continue to follow the Iron Rod toward the loving arms of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Smiles, hugs, and promises to continue and enhance a family history and an even more important testament of God the Eternal Father, his Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.

Today when we got home from the baptism, I open my email to find a letter from our latest missionary in the family. Elder Wright is one who has fought like a caged tiger for the opportunity to serve as a missionary. Health questions with no answers plagued him for over a year as he picked and poked at the medical system and slowly but surely worked his way through to find the sweet service he so wished and deserved to provide. The letter is very sacred and precious so I shall not divulge the nature of even the gist of his message. I will simply share that in the short week he has been on his mission he has grown into a man of God. In this world of difficulties, doubts, unanswerable questions, economic impending doom, liars, cheats, and unworthy desires; my heart takes courage and hope as I watch the future leaders of the world. These beautiful people working, loving, sharing, praying, doing the will of Our Father in Heaven.

I believe that the answer to the rhetorical question, “How can we take it in?” is right in front of us. Our job is to join in the feast of love and understanding right in front of us. Jesus told us that we needed to become as little children. I take this literally and ask myself; self, can I turn back the clock of my mind and think happy and sweet thoughts and share them with those around me? Can I get right down on the floor with that angelic one-year old and smile and laugh right back. Can I look around; see those who are having some of life’s trials and bring joy and encouragement to them? Forever I have been intrigued with the world of the autistic, with the epileptic, with the mentally deficient. What are they thinking? What are they going to report to our Savior about how we shared (or ignored) them? The young man plagued with bursts of loud noises; the child that looks just like yours that can only sit and stare at a notepad screen looking at random colors and designs is a child of God, placed here for purposes which are more than we can take in. Our job is to use our talents to bless those around us by loving, caring, actions.

God has formed for us, a beautiful world with all the challenges necessary for us to prove ourselves to ourselves. God bless us all that we can obtain to the challenge.

Duane Jacobs, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin, brother, and friend

Ghosts from the past

February 7, 2015              

From time to time I have occasion to go back in my memory and dredge up things of significance. These retro-flashes are generally brought to the front of my brain because of a current event. This was a stereophonic, three dimensional reenactment of the whole melodrama of my excursion into planning and developing a prime corner at 800 North 1000 in Orem. Last week I received a letter from individuals who had recently purchased two buildings at 1027 and 1045 E. 800 N. in Orem. Surprise, surprise, they wanted to change the zoning on these two properties to C – 1 so they could change the use of these properties to “rehabilitation” facilities. Having barely lived through my personal excursion through hell over these, very similar, circumstances, I immediately emailed the letter’s author and shared my support for their notion and said I would be at the meeting.

When I got to the meeting I listened as they laid out their plan. The first thing I learned was that a couple of very important words were omitted in their invitation. The first one was drug and the other was alcohol. Woops! Back up and start over. What they were really trying to do was place a seven foot fence around a chunk of residential property to create a 16 – 20 bed drug and alcohol rehabilitation “detox” center including medical intervention. Some very concerned parents were there to defend their community. Their concerns were extremely valid and heartfelt as they shared their concerns about children passing by the drug rehab facility on an already busy and dangerous sidewalk as they went to school my heart really went out to them in their plight. What just happened here? What could I say, or do, that would calm their fears and give them a little light at the end of this horrific tunnel? I drew way down inside myself and pulled all my thoughts together and gave them – proponents and all – my best shot:

• The changes they are proposing are not in the best interests of that specific grouping of neighbors and will be permanent and will definitely get worse.
• A solution must be achieved that will bless the lives of all who will be impacted by this and other changes in our community. I shared a couple of thoughts on this, but they are irrelevant to this conversation. All such changes impact the families and the community they include in specific ways.
• Orem must not pretend the elephant in the room in the form of drugs, alcohol, homeless, derelicts, robbery, and all the other elements associated with the seven deadly sins does not exist. We must be part of the solution or we will find the community has created a monster.
• The acronym NIMBY – NOT IN MY BACK YARD – declares our natural tendency to protect our own at all costs. Some of us are have current reading assignments in the New Testament. Everything our Savior, Jesus the Christ shared with the world impacts how we will treat others. Paraphrasing, the first and great commandment is to Love God with all your heart, might, mind and strength. The second is like unto it; namely to love your neighbor (yes, even druggies, and others who have different perception of life).

I excused myself from the meeting (much to the relief of the presenters) saying I didn’t feel well and wanted to go home and be with my grandchildren – both true. The resurrection of these experiences made me physically and emotionally ill because I am absolutely positive there are answers that will provide us with opportunities to share with “the least of these” while allowing a wholesome, meaningful experience for all.

May God bless us with the personal revelation and understanding necessary to give us the necessary insights and understanding!

Duane Jacobs, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend

Ghosts from the past

February 7, 2015              

From time to time I have occasion to go back in my memory and dredge up things of significance. These retro-flashes are generally brought to the front of my brain because of a current event. This was a stereophonic, three dimensional reenactment of the whole melodrama of my excursion into planning and developing a prime corner at 800 North 1000 in Orem. Last week I received a letter from individuals who had recently purchased two buildings at 1027 and 1045 E. 800 N. in Orem. Surprise, surprise, they wanted to change the zoning on these two properties to C – 1 so they could change the use of these properties to “rehabilitation” facilities. Having barely lived through my personal excursion through hell over these, very similar, circumstances, I immediately emailed the letter’s author and shared my support for their notion and said I would be at the meeting.

When I got to the meeting I listened as they laid out their plan. The first thing I learned was that a couple of very important words were omitted in their invitation. The first one was drug and the other was alcohol. Woops! Back up and start over. What they were really trying to do was place a seven foot fence around a chunk of residential property to create a 16 – 20 bed drug and alcohol rehabilitation “detox” center including medical intervention. Some very concerned parents were there to defend their community. Their concerns were extremely valid and heartfelt as they shared their concerns about children passing by the drug rehab facility on an already busy and dangerous sidewalk as they went to school my heart really went out to them in their plight. What just happened here? What could I say, or do, that would calm their fears and give them a little light at the end of this horrific tunnel? I drew way down inside myself and pulled all my thoughts together and gave them – proponents and all – my best shot:

• The changes they are proposing are not in the best interests of that specific grouping of neighbors and will be permanent and will definitely get worse.
• A solution must be achieved that will bless the lives of all who will be impacted by this and other changes in our community. I shared a couple of thoughts on this, but they are irrelevant to this conversation. All such changes impact the families and the community they include in specific ways.
• Orem must not pretend the elephant in the room in the form of drugs, alcohol, homeless, derelicts, robbery, and all the other elements associated with the seven deadly sins does not exist. We must be part of the solution or we will find the community has created a monster.
• The acronym NIMBY – NOT IN MY BACK YARD – declares our natural tendency to protect our own at all costs. Some of us are have current reading assignments in the New Testament. Everything our Savior, Jesus the Christ shared with the world impacts how we will treat others. Paraphrasing, the first and great commandment is to Love God with all your heart, might, mind and strength. The second is like unto it; namely to love your neighbor (yes, even druggies, and others who have different perception of life).

I excused myself from the meeting (much to the relief of the presenters) saying I didn’t feel well and wanted to go home and be with my grandchildren – both true. The resurrection of these experiences made me physically and emotionally ill because I am absolutely positive there are answers that will provide us with opportunities to share with “the least of these” while allowing a wholesome, meaningful experience for all.

May God bless us with the personal revelation and understanding necessary to give us the necessary insights and understanding!

Duane Jacobs, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend

Friends and influences

November 16, 2014

We had a wonderful talk in class today from a man who had been abandoned by his father when he was two, or three years old. He shared his story of an incredible mother who cared for, nurtured, and completely blessed his life giving him hope for the future and great appreciation for his mother, other family, and God. His mother has gone to her reward, but his father still continues son in life. He shared the importance of one’s associations, particularly in early life. He brought the story into the recent past when he lost his son to sickness. His son knew that he was not long for this earth and told his father he wanted to be buried in his jeans in California; however, in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints we believe in making certain covenants in our Temples (known as the House of the Lord) which act as a protection, both physically and spiritually. Being buried in his jeans meant that he would not have received his “endowment” and would then not have been buried in his temple clothing. At the suggestion of his father he talked to the Bishop and Stake President and soon was ready to receive this special gift. His brother, just returned from a Mission for the Church noted in his home coming address that the brother that had died was now in the midst of those in Paradise – a place of learning – and was able to share his mission working with those who had gone on before without the blessing of knowing and understand God our Father and Jesus Christ our Savior.

Everything tied together nicely for me when I heard this story from the father’s lips as he told of his myriad ancestors who had no understanding of the Love of God. In the LDS Church we believe that ordinances including baptism, the endowment, and others can be performed in the temple by those worthy to enter by proxy. If not, the billions who have lived in times past would not be able to “grow” in their spiritual knowledge and progression in the worlds of eternity to come. Before I understood the principles of forgiveness, repentance, atonement, resurrection and the eternal plan of happiness I could never figure out how God could not be a respecter of persons and still allow those who died as youngsters, or simply never heard of God’s plan to always be on the outside looking in. The more I read in each of the books of scripture, the more I began to understand why the original twelve apostles were such avid missionaries, sharing their testimony constantly. I could never understand why the Psalms are so full of love and promise for all of God’s children. I could never understand why Moses was saved, raised, and given witness to God’s plan to the extent that he was able to work directly with Jehovah which enabled him to free and ultimately bring the Israelites out of bondage, in most instances screaming and kicking.

As incredible as life is we all have a role in this gigantic reunion as it will take place beyond the confines of this itty bitty earth and our earthly knowledge. We are all different because that is part of God’s plan. I have mentioned the schmoes in Little Abner from time to time. They were essentially blobs of protoplasm that could transform into whatever their owner wished. If the owner wanted a plate of fried eggs and bacon, the schmoes would simply jump up in the skillet and magico, presto a wonderful, steaming plate of bacon and eggs would be presented. That was Satan’s plan. He would simply have us be whatever he wanted, with no individuality, no freedom, no agency; however, he would guarantee that we would go to the next phase of our existence as resurrected beings and live forever never changing, never wanting, never thinking for ourselves. We would lose all we came to earth to gain.

We live in a happy, scary, confusing, world full of contradictions and mistrust. My goal is to stay close to God, be sufficiently spiritually strong, and adequately learned, to focus on the joys of my family, my nation, my God, and my life and truly endure to the end.

God bless us all as we grapple with the opportunities for growth we find on our path.

Duane Jacobs, Grandfather, husband, father, uncle, cousin, brother, and friend

Friends and influences

November 16, 2014

We had a wonderful talk in class today from a man who had been abandoned by his father when he was two, or three years old. He shared his story of an incredible mother who cared for, nurtured, and completely blessed his life giving him hope for the future and great appreciation for his mother, other family, and God. His mother has gone to her reward, but his father still continues son in life. He shared the importance of one’s associations, particularly in early life. He brought the story into the recent past when he lost his son to sickness. His son knew that he was not long for this earth and told his father he wanted to be buried in his jeans in California; however, in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints we believe in making certain covenants in our Temples (known as the House of the Lord) which act as a protection, both physically and spiritually. Being buried in his jeans meant that he would not have received his “endowment” and would then not have been buried in his temple clothing. At the suggestion of his father he talked to the Bishop and Stake President and soon was ready to receive this special gift. His brother, just returned from a Mission for the Church noted in his home coming address that the brother that had died was now in the midst of those in Paradise – a place of learning – and was able to share his mission working with those who had gone on before without the blessing of knowing and understand God our Father and Jesus Christ our Savior.

Everything tied together nicely for me when I heard this story from the father’s lips as he told of his myriad ancestors who had no understanding of the Love of God. In the LDS Church we believe that ordinances including baptism, the endowment, and others can be performed in the temple by those worthy to enter by proxy. If not, the billions who have lived in times past would not be able to “grow” in their spiritual knowledge and progression in the worlds of eternity to come. Before I understood the principles of forgiveness, repentance, atonement, resurrection and the eternal plan of happiness I could never figure out how God could not be a respecter of persons and still allow those who died as youngsters, or simply never heard of God’s plan to always be on the outside looking in. The more I read in each of the books of scripture, the more I began to understand why the original twelve apostles were such avid missionaries, sharing their testimony constantly. I could never understand why the Psalms are so full of love and promise for all of God’s children. I could never understand why Moses was saved, raised, and given witness to God’s plan to the extent that he was able to work directly with Jehovah which enabled him to free and ultimately bring the Israelites out of bondage, in most instances screaming and kicking.

As incredible as life is we all have a role in this gigantic reunion as it will take place beyond the confines of this itty bitty earth and our earthly knowledge. We are all different because that is part of God’s plan. I have mentioned the schmoes in Little Abner from time to time. They were essentially blobs of protoplasm that could transform into whatever their owner wished. If the owner wanted a plate of fried eggs and bacon, the schmoes would simply jump up in the skillet and magico, presto a wonderful, steaming plate of bacon and eggs would be presented. That was Satan’s plan. He would simply have us be whatever he wanted, with no individuality, no freedom, no agency; however, he would guarantee that we would go to the next phase of our existence as resurrected beings and live forever never changing, never wanting, never thinking for ourselves. We would lose all we came to earth to gain.

We live in a happy, scary, confusing, world full of contradictions and mistrust. My goal is to stay close to God, be sufficiently spiritually strong, and adequately learned, to focus on the joys of my family, my nation, my God, and my life and truly endure to the end.

God bless us all as we grapple with the opportunities for growth we find on our path.

Duane Jacobs, Grandfather, husband, father, uncle, cousin, brother, and friend

Dreams – round two

May 17, 2015

A few weeks ago I had a dream while recovering from surgery. The essence of the dream was that I had unfinished work to do here and that I needed to go back and finish the job; then, came the description of a work that was so foreign to me, and so intricate in detail, as to give me serious pause. I knew it was from the Holy Ghost and directed by ministering angels. The problem was that the revelations I receive have always been for me and my family; however, this one dealt with the restoration mother earth beginning with Utah Lake, the replacement of the penal system with a correctional system, which would be placed on the South West corner of the salt land shores of the Great Salt Lake, the restoration of eatable products sans poisons, pollutants, and killer diseases, and of course a complete restructuring of the educational system.

What to do!! I visited with several colleagues, friends, and family and committed myself to dig deeper into these fantastic projects; although, I knew in my heart that I was missing something in the interpretation. Lacking the resources, the gatekeepers, and the physical strength to do these things I was left flummoxed. Then dream, round two. In my second dream I was told that when I looked closely at these constructs I would find that each tiny facet related to how we interact with each other; how we help each other; and how we seek out opportunities to make life just a little better for those around us.

My job was never to be the great power behind making these things happen although I do intend to push them through any means that comes to mind. Rather, my job is to grow where I am planted. To reach out to those in need, especially those who come to mind through the never ending promptings of the Holy Ghost. I know, for example that at this very moment there are people (specific human beings) that need a kindly nudge to get out of their shell and reach out to others. As soon as they do this they will feel wanted, needed, and loved. I know there are others that hurt so bad physically they have a difficult time getting to the bathroom who need to make those quantum leaps of faith that will enable them to move beyond their physical conditions and help others. My daughter Kaye has sent a few email or face book clips of individuals who make my circumstances look absolutely rosy. My job and your job is to reach out to others; go beyond our natural selves and provide a moment’s relief for those in need.

I had occasion to share with a loved one recently that his job was to calm his soul by helping others; going to a care center and talking to someone, going to a rehab center and offering to sit in or be part of group therapy sessions, help people detox, or just going to a public place like the LDS Visitors centers around the world and talking to people. I never experience these beautiful activities that I don’t come back to my routine filled with energy and appreciation for my life and all that has been given.

Restoring mother earth; creating a viable correctional system; revitalizing the foods we eat; and recharging the educational process, are all brilliant ideas. They need to be done. I will continue to plug away in any fashion I feel will move a few grams of sand in the right direction, but my real job is to continue to rid myself of all ungodliness, so that I can better assist those in my circle of influence. My greatest source of encouragement comes from seeing the magnificent people around me. I watch as my grandchildren grow to maturity and go to college, on missions, love their parents, find meaningful sports and recreation that builds their physical, mental, and spiritual vision, and generally do way more than my generation ever dreamed.

What a joy. Hopefully, we will all reach out and touch someone with love and consideration.

Duane Jacobs, husband, father, grandfather, brother, cousin, uncle, and friend

Creation of a correctional system –death of a penal system

May 3, 2015

Proposal for the creation of a model CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

If in fact, the State of Utah has absolutely determined to move the State Correctional Prison at the Point of the Mountain to another location within reasonable driving distance of Salt Lake County this is a plan which would enable them to create such a new facility using guidelines, structures, management, and correctional staff/systems consistent with the term correctional.

1. The state and the Federal government would work together to select and create total ownership of 1200 acres on the southwestern side of the Great Salt Lake.
1. Much of this land is, or has been part of the Great Salt Lake and will need to be organized to accommodate all existing wild life and other associated natural resources needs.
2. The exterior and perimeters of the new facility would be crafted to honor the natural beauties of the area including colors, structure sizes and designs.
3. The facilities themselves would be contracted for completion using a minimum of 75 percent of the labor force from within the existing correctional system population.
4. The correctional staff would become part of the management and organization used to complete the project(s)
5. Inmates chosen as part of the 75 percent workforce would be identified by three things:

                                                               i.      Their desire to attain training and education sufficient to meet the needs of their families and themselves when they move past the incarceration stage of their lives.

                                                             ii.      Their propensity to work within the framework of the new system without drugs, alcohol, or other mind modifying drugs except those specifically design and prescribed for treatment.

                                                            iii.      Their ability and commitment to serving as trainers and educators in using their pre-incarceration degrees, knowledge, and teaching expertise in completing said projects, and/or in training others.

6. For those unwilling, unable, or otherwise indisposed, a second tract would available to them which would be a very basis lock-down system where they could continue to serve out their penalty phase of incarceration.
7. Those not maintaining the standards or correctional inmates would be returned to lock-up facilities.
8. The genesis of this program is already in existence in the job/jail programs throughout the state.

The state of Utah spends hundreds of millions each year taking people off the streets, training them to be the best-kept prisoners in the world; letting them go; then, watching them flounder, flip, and flop until they either violate their parole agreements, or simply run out of things they can do to survive. Housing is almost impossible, jobs are possible, but not at compensation levels to pay their fines, charges for time served in jail, for back child support not paid while in jail, and the most basic of living expenses. An example of living expenses would be a place to stay in a motel which costs $325 per week. Essentially it costs a single person with a $300 child support requirement, $1,300 motel bill, $300 in food and personals, $300 in past due, or delinquent fines, hospital, and other jail associated charges, and $300 for miscellaneous costs of living. A person making $9.00 per hour and working 40 hours per week, or 170 hours a month will bring in $1530 gross, or $1410 net with only FICA taken out and no state or federal taxes.

This scenario is only in the very best of circumstances and the negative income to expenses ratio is so critical as to guarantee a return to jail/prison. The recidivism rates in the nation are in the mid sixty percent ranges, but in some of the jail/prisons in Utah the recidivism rates exceed 80 percent. The state of Utah is currently planning huge financial increases from state and federal coffers including the creation of a new prison. Besides the costs factors, the community disruption factors, and the incredible lack of purpose – penal vs correctional – the most pressing problem comes from a complete lack of logical perspective in the rules, laws, guidelines, and training used by prison/jail officers. The terrific pressure being placed on correctional officers and on-the-street police officers is going to continue to boil until changes are made at the top. An absolute guaranteed disaster will always erupt when, through laws, guidelines, training, and most importantly, the “wink and a nod” are provided officers as their tools of their trade. When officers do as they are instructed/commanded and shoot for body mass, multiple times; when officers storm private homes yelling, screaming, and demanding absolute obedience; when officers are required to walk up to vehicles with no protection and no hint of what may be hiding inside; when officers are compelled to treat prisoners like caged animals with no rights and no dignity; when the system is crafted, to punish, demean, and destroy, rather than correct, disasters will continue to percolate and dissolve the very fabric of our society.

Constant number one:

We made an eternal commitment on May 1, 1965 to God and to each other that we would live this life to the fullest, together, through thick and thin. We have changed totally over these fifty years. We have had great days and terrible days. We have experienced wealth and poverty. We have had successes and failures in how we taught and counseled our children, and we have had some incredibly painful disagreements and many more exquisitely positive, memorable experiences. The point is we never gave in and never gave up. We held on to that commitment we made so many decades ago. Our love is eternal and we plan on finishing this race together and ready for the eternal challenges.

Constant number two:

We made the decision to live each day as if it was our last, and work every minute of every day to plan for and live so we would enjoy our family and our earthly experiences. Nothing was easy about going to school, working, and raising a family all at the same time; but, because we made the commitment, kept moving forward, and diligently worked to find the best in each situation. We made some decisions like the one to leave Eastern Arizona College because we didn’t feel my job as Director of Cooperative Education was planned and laid out so it could be successful. We thought, we prayed, and we discussed and made the decision to exit. Very dangerous ploy, but we had determined to achieve our job goals and staying in Thatcher was not in keeping with this commitment. Was it difficult? Was it a lot crazy? Do even today still wonder if it was the right decision? Sure to all of them, but with the added caveat that we tried very hard to never look back and worry about what could have been, we kept moving forward and upward toward completing our goals.

Come unto me

But Jesus said, “suffer little children, but forbid them not, to come unto me, for such is the kingdom of heaven” Matthew 19:14

March 15, 2015 

NOTE: This week’s comment is for some very special people in my life that have had to fight for their very existence. Perils paralleling those that befell Job have attempted to crush the very life out of them. They are; each and every one; Children of our Heavenly Father. He loves them and I love them. For any who have been in the depth of the murky darkness of despair, depression, doubt, fear, mistrust, and contempt, you will understand the blessing and relief of coming out of the darkness. Share your love with any around you that are under this dismal torture.

______________________

My moments of pure delight come as occasion permits for me to associate with children. This week we visited, as messengers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, on two separate occasions and both provided me with the opportunity to share my thoughts about God and love. On both occasions their parents were present as I asked the children what they thought about a man called the Brother of Jared who had a big problem with light and had asked God for a very specific answer to his prayers. I told them about his dilemma in not having any way to light the way in dark boats on a very long journey. They didn’t justify, deny, condemn, or squander the opportunity to understand how God answers prayers. They are the little children after which God patterned (in spirit and love) the kingdom of God. This concept is so easy to understand when we are little children; then, we grow up and see evil things which should never happen. We have an innate need to blame someone or something, so we blame God.

We decide we need to get back at God and do more evil, or just dumb things like,. . . well you know the list. We don’t feel better, we just feel more confused and lost because the earthly idols we chased after do nothing for us. My dear departed sister, Lynda, used to say the that she was a “dry alcoholic”, meaning that she didn’t drink alcohol but substituted other additions. The smoking doesn’t satisfy anything, the alcohol is so temporary and at such a high cost, financially and to our associates. We do even dumber things because we simply have no idea what else to do. We put ink in our skill, piercings in our bodies, more drugs in our bodies and end up empty shells on the side of the road. Satan is ecstatic. God still loves us. The cravings are still there and we continue down the spiral once described as slowly winding ourselves down to hell.

There is an answer. God has shared in James 1:5 that if we lack wisdom we need to ask God and it shall be given him; however, there is a caveat that simply notes we must ask in faith, nothing wavering. That doesn’t mean we have to have a perfect knowledge, it simply means we need to look to our Father in Heaven for answers. For us muscle heads who still want to play all the other cards before we turn to God, the plan is very simple. Back to my story about the Brother of Jared and his need to light the eight boats that would take them across the dark and deep waters to a new land and God tells us exactly how to do it. Try God. Make a plan. Work it out in detail; then go for it. During your planning and execution phase you can tell God what your plan is and how you plan on working through to completion. Tell God you are still very suspicious of his motives (even his existence) if you need to, but tell him that you are going to, let’s say, go to Church, walk three miles, a day, and eat wholesome foods. Simple things like that will get you started. Keep the goodies like smoking and drinking until later when you have begun to feel the spirit of the Holy Ghost and good things begin to happen.

The brother of Jared got his answers. He got the physical and spiritual light he needed to assist his people as they crossed the ocean to a new life. Go back in your mind to the children. They love, giggle, play, fight, pray, argue, and understand because they have the Spirit of God in their very essence.

Thank you all for the blessings you bring to my life.

Duane Jacobs, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother, cousin, and friend

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Tradition lost

November 30, 2014

We bounced on the scene fifty years ago with energy, youth, and great expectations. We had a firm handle on addresses of friends, neighbors, and relatives we would eagerly send Christmas greetings each year as a token of friendship and remembrance of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We sent them in early December and eagerly await the glistening cards and messages of hope. The personal messages we carefully placed inside the cards became a “one size fits all” cheery message about our family and how they had grown and progressed in life. About twenty years ago, the messages we sent and received slowed down to a trickle, but we still enjoyed them and continued corresponding; in many cases only on the occasion of Christmas. In the beginning we had a list that we groomed and improved each year, but time has a way of withering our enthusiasm and dimming our memories. Addresses got lost, people died, divorced, forgot about us, and the list dwindled to a relative small size. Three years ago we stopped sending cards and letters and went with the thrill of the day – E MAIL. We talked recently about many of the people we have enjoyed as friends and found that we had no idea of where they were or what they were doing. We fared equally as well with relatives, noting that we that we had lost track of many cousins and others.

Jean has reconnected with one cousin in the last year and found great reciprocal joy in sharing notes about family circumstances. We met with friends from my high school days in Scottsdale for lunch and solved all the problems on earth. Thursday and Friday of this week we celebrated Thanksgiving and shared beautiful experiences, watched our children and grandchildren learn about and play with each other. We talked about their college, high school, and elementary school activities and found the cycle of life to be working well. We observed that some have brilliant minds and other are more like Jean and me. We both floundered through school, through social and athletic experiences, and consider ourselves extremely blessed to have survived those experiences; then grown together as a team through good times and bad.

My dear cousin Clara Jo Fitch (Candelaria) recently made what she called her last pilgrimage to New Mexico to see family and experience – once again – the land of enchantment. She was not able to get to Utah so she called me and we had a delightful visit. Several months before my mother, Lucy Baca Jacobs Livermore, passed away Jo made a special trip to Utah to visit with mother regarding her spiritual health. Jo is a life-long Catholic and mother converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints when she was in her mid thirties. Mother was always one that wanted to please her family and Jo was on a mission to return mother to the Catholic Church. Mother always had warm feelings for the Catholic Church because of her heritage and the beautiful message of Christ which both her childhood church and the Church of Jesus Christ hold as the centerpiece of spirituality.  In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a list of thirteen Articles of Faith set the stage for understanding how mother could be an active, temple attending member of the LDS Church and still hold these beautiful feelings for the people, the heritage, and the spiritual message of the Catholic faith. The thirteenth article shares the admonition of Paul in which he declares that all truth is from God.  “ . . . we believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.” Capped with the first article of faith, “We believe in God the Father, and in his Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost” mother found great strength in her faith in God, in her hope for an eternal reunion with her family, and with a desire to understand and embrace Charity – the pure love of Jesus Christ.

All humanity must hold close to the truths provided in God’s law. We must unite together in understanding and love of family and country under God. May we share our blessings with our family, friends, and countrymen through understanding and love.

Duane Jacobs, grandfather, father, husband, brother, cousin, uncle and friend

Call to action

May 31, 2015

Two years ago we participated in a Race for Rachel, a young girl diagnosed with cancer. We have watched through the eyes of Andy and Cammie, our children, as she has gone through tremendous pain and suffering as treatments were applied. Recently on face book she shared one of the most significant messages of our day, saying that she was getting very tired and almost too weak to use the keyboard as she shared a beautiful understanding of life and eternity. She shared positive, meaningful, sweet, and genuine expressions of love for her family, friends, and life itself. In my never-to-be-humble mind she is a sterling example of who and what we ought to be.

Yesterday L Tom Perry, one of the twelve apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints passed away at 92. He was charismatic, dynamic, sincere, and inspiring as he shared his apostolic testimony of the divinity of the Savior, Jesus Christ. His desire was, as Rachel’s is, to share love, hope and understanding of our purpose in life. Elder Perry’s obituary picture is one with a smile as big as all outdoors, sharing another way he had of giving to others.

Recently I was in the oncology center getting pumped up with iron. One of the ladies seemed to be having a bad hair day so I asked her to help me, saying I just couldn’t figure it out (truth be, I couldn’t). She immediately went to her mothering role and gave me a note telling when my next appointment was. Then in a flash of inspiration she went back to her computer and printed out all of my appointments with Central Utah Clinic. She was helping a soldier in distress and that gave her reason to go beyond herself. She felt better; my needs were addressed, and all was good with the world.

A few weeks ago during surgery I had a very detailed, significant dream which puzzled me. I shared the dream with a few people and received some beautiful and inspiring assistance in my understanding. Joe Richardson, a high school friend and surveyor shared his professional understanding of many of the tenants in the dream and gave credence to the thinking, specifically about Utah Lake and the place the Utah State Prison should be installed. Doug Austin brought me a book by Lee Nelson telling of his life and experiences he had as he wove his net around his personal destiny.

My brother Glenn, lent a great deal of credibility to the dream by sharing his belief that the Utah lake project could become reality because of the potential for financial gain through harvesting the pond fill, sacking it, and selling it as Utah lake fertilizer. Then, there was always the potential for other benefits like more water storage, more and better recreational opportunities, and all kinds of new thinking that would bless the lives of thousands.

Yesterday, my beautiful daughter-in-law called and shared similar feelings about my dream and gave me the name of a book that tells of a similar dream, particularly about Utah Lake. We talked for some time about the importance of following our promptings, understanding which thoughts were spiritual and meaningful, and which were simply the machinations of our idle thinking.

Some of you will say all this excitement, prompting, and gushing about “stuff” is simply poppy cock. That is where perspective comes into play. Nothing in this life is ever accomplished without someone getting out of their mental prison and doing something. The only ending in doing nothing is that nothing happens. Go for the gold ring. Life is exciting and very worthwhile.

God bless us as we charge forward in our efforts to help others and make life just a little better for those around us.

Duane Jacobs, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend

Brave new world

Before it all happened

February 14, 2015

The age of enlightenment is upon us. We are the future. Everything – both good and bad – that can impact us is upon us. That was the essence of the message sent from the United States Patent Office, circa 1880. Again, in post- world war two, Aldus Huxley wrote and published Brave New World, his perception of what the world would embrace and become in the future. The patent office statement came to the world when we had only a glimpse of telephones, railroads cars, fossil fuel consumption, and anything else that would lead us to believe we were moving toward what would become an electronic, mechanized, sterile earth which edged ever more rapidly to loss of personal value, limited to zero privacy, and pretend economies propped up by central banks with zero interest rates to give the illusion of a flowing economy.

Years ago I was asked to read Dr. Johnson’s “Who Moved the Cheese.” Several of my colleagues raved about it and told how it had been used as a motivational presentation in a high muckity muck seminar. I read it and evidently got a totally different meaning from it than the rest of the world. Here was a noted writer of Children’s books of faith, honesty, love, etc. sharing how we needed to abide the system which was at the center of our global demise. How could this be? I went into my cocoon and begin to attempt my first (well, not really my first) serious writing. It was a parody of “Who Moved the Cheese and I was very excited about my creative venture. I showed it to a couple of esteemed colleagues from the English Department and their only comment came from my next door office neighbor who said it was obvious I had put a lot of heart and soul into it; that I had capitalized the letter “a” every time it was used as a word, like proper English capitalizes the letter “I”. And, oh, there sure were lots of commas where there shouldn’t be.

Well, that wasn’t the answer any serious writer of great prose wants to hear, so I went and sulked for a few years; practiced writing these weekly goodies which seem to help me understand the world better and some people get benefit from them. At least they say nice things about them and encourage me to keep sharing for which I am thankful.

The intervening years have brought more “Brave New World” symptoms; more “Big Brother” from another text, “1984”, written by George Orwell. This is another terrifying look at a world without the comforts of humanity, freedom, privacy. In “1984” Orwell depicts a world in which man is no longer the master of personal destiny. “Big brother” (like the NSA, FCC, and lots more alphabet soup) combined finds an individual that attempts to escape the system and fails in the end.

The monster waiting in the darkened corridors will have to wait for now. I am going to actually complete the parody I began so long ago; however, I will continue to share my weekly thoughts with anyone who cares to read them. My creation will begin in my blog which appears at the bottom of each email I send out. You are welcome to peruse my blog anytime your curiosity becomes so rampant you can no longer resist.

After spending the last several years reviewing, contemplating (praying), and humbly asking for personal inspiration and understanding, some of the incredible things about the plan of salvation (happiness), eternal families, ministering angels, and most importantly, my responsibilities to God and family, I am finally able to see tiny glimpses of what some of the thoughts in the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. (The last three are texts believed by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to be the word of God).

Each of you bless my lives as your share your personal thoughts with me, providing hope, understanding and love. God bless each of us as we traverse this sticky slope, ever holding the Iron Rod.

Duane Jacobs, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin, brother, and friend

After all we can Do

November 2, 2014

Jean and I were at Wendy’s for our Friday night date and we sat across the aisle from four young ladies. One had a pretty red flower in her hair and after I asked them how they were doing she began motioning and singing. Her “helper” told us that although she couldn’t say much more than she had, the girl was thanking us for talking to her and telling us she was going to a party to dance. The other girl and her “helper” sat quietly, but contented that all was going well with the pleasantries.

Recently a wonderful young man returned from a Genealogy Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, where he spent his days and evenings helping people search out their ancestry. He gave the full measure of his strength, his love, and his testimony in this service. Back home now, he will continue to grow and learn as we all must so we can continue to do all we can do.

Frequently I see individuals like my friend and neighbor Bill who have lived marvelous lives and now find themselves unable to do the things they have so enjoyed over the years. Should they simply stop and let others take over or should they keep moving forward. The answer to this is to do what Bill has done. He continually goes to Church, visits with neighbors, shares his wonderful stories, creates new and exciting electronic gadgets, and everything else he can do to truly express his love for his wife, his family, and God.

Words from the bible and the Book of Mormon keep rolling around in my head. In Matthew, Corinthians, timothy, Hebrews, etc Christ and the apostles and prophets continually encourage us to stay the course; to never give up; to endure to the end. Christ tells us in Matthew 10:22, “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake; but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” What should we do to ensure we are doing all we can do? We know that man has an incredible ability to forget God and worship the things of the world. History is replete with tragedy after tragedy in which man, thinking his plan is supreme to God’s takes matters into his own hands, becomes rich, arrogant, entangled, intoxicated with the power he esteems himself to possess; then, falls like a dead leaf in October. Our job is to overcome the desire to fall away and follow the people in the great and spacious building in committing war against the Holy Ghost, our Savior Jesus Christ, and God.

I am a slow learner; one of those who take two steps forward and one back. Hopefully, I won’t get to the point where I take one forward and two back as I have seen some of my friends do in recent days. I watch with anguish as wonderful people get caught in the Humanist mode, thinking that they are immune to the consequences of living outside the bounds which God has set. I have seen individuals go from loving, caring, kids; to raging junkies, willing to lie, murder, and steal, for that next fix, that next bit of excitement, or that next opportunity to play Russian roulette with their very lives. Most lose badly and the end is never want they wished.

To those who cast of fears of being despised and scorned for their love of God, I salute you. For those who feel unworthy of God’s love, I give you my solemn understanding that God is not a respecter of persons; that his plan of Eternal happiness is marvelous and is for all of us. Little children, adults, and seniors all are kept carefully his wing. Our job is to reach out to those in need, listen to the promptings we each have; then act by helping to bless the lives of others.

God bless each of us as we reach out in love to those less fortunate.

Duane Jacobs, grandfather, father, brother, uncle, cousin, and friends

After all we can Do

November 2, 2014

Jean and I were at Wendy’s for our Friday night date and we sat across the aisle from four young ladies. One had a pretty red flower in her hair and after I asked them how they were doing she began motioning and singing. Her “helper” told us that although she couldn’t say much more than she had, the girl was thanking us for talking to her and telling us she was going to a party to dance. The other girl and her “helper” sat quietly, but contented that all was going well with the pleasantries.

Recently a wonderful young man returned from a Genealogy Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, where he spent his days and evenings helping people search out their ancestry. He gave the full measure of his strength, his love, and his testimony in this service. Back home now, he will continue to grow and learn as we all must so we can continue to do all we can do.

Frequently I see individuals like my friend and neighbor Bill who have lived marvelous lives and now find themselves unable to do the things they have so enjoyed over the years. Should they simply stop and let others take over or should they keep moving forward. The answer to this is to do what Bill has done. He continually goes to Church, visits with neighbors, shares his wonderful stories, creates new and exciting electronic gadgets, and everything else he can do to truly express his love for his wife, his family, and God.

Words from the bible and the Book of Mormon keep rolling around in my head. In Matthew, Corinthians, timothy, Hebrews, etc Christ and the apostles and prophets continually encourage us to stay the course; to never give up; to endure to the end. Christ tells us in Matthew 10:22, “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake; but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” What should we do to ensure we are doing all we can do? We know that man has an incredible ability to forget God and worship the things of the world. History is replete with tragedy after tragedy in which man, thinking his plan is supreme to God’s takes matters into his own hands, becomes rich, arrogant, entangled, intoxicated with the power he esteems himself to possess; then, falls like a dead leaf in October. Our job is to overcome the desire to fall away and follow the people in the great and spacious building in committing war against the Holy Ghost, our Savior Jesus Christ, and God.

I am a slow learner; one of those who take two steps forward and one back. Hopefully, I won’t get to the point where I take one forward and two back as I have seen some of my friends do in recent days. I watch with anguish as wonderful people get caught in the Humanist mode, thinking that they are immune to the consequences of living outside the bounds which God has set. I have seen individuals go from loving, caring, kids; to raging junkies, willing to lie, murder, and steal, for that next fix, that next bit of excitement, or that next opportunity to play Russian roulette with their very lives. Most lose badly and the end is never want they wished.

To those who cast of fears of being despised and scorned for their love of God, I salute you. For those who feel unworthy of God’s love, I give you my solemn understanding that God is not a respecter of persons; that his plan of Eternal happiness is marvelous and is for all of us. Little children, adults, and seniors all are kept carefully his wing. Our job is to reach out to those in need, listen to the promptings we each have; then act by helping to bless the lives of others.

God bless each of us as we reach out in love to those less fortunate.

Duane Jacobs, grandfather, father, brother, uncle, cousin, and friends

Blank slate

June 7, 2015

One of the strings that tie my life together is an annual outing held in most wards and stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints commonly called the Fathers and Sons camp out. I went on my first one in Salt Lake New Mexico (well near it, anyway) and have been on many over the past sixty three years since then. For the past two years I have had the great pleasure of attending with my son David and his son Cason. We went for walks, took pictures, and of course ate way more than our apportioned lot. We learned much about nature, rain, mild winters, and the great sound of a stream working its magic as it flows down a hill. If you really want to get your heart rate up and into aerobic levels find some kid who knows how to play the game Abraham was a prophet; Abraham had seven sons. By the time you get through exercising your arms, legs, head/neck, and tongue, you will be ready for the up-coming marathon.

The question of the day: Why are we here? The double-down question of the ages; if we are just going to go around the same little circle, repeating our mistakes, laughing at the same jokes, and never improving, never challenging ourselves, what will become of our lives? The answer will be very predictable and not very rewarding. We will have simply been through the motions and never accomplished anything more than wearing a path in the self same trail around the self same circle. I want more out of life than a worn out circle.

To those of you who have taken the challenge of life by the horns and surged forward in your efforts to bless the lives of those around you; keep up the great work. Watch the people around you and look for ways to cheer up, rise up, encourage, and inspire each person you see. I was recently privy to a circumstance in which a relatively large sum of money was given to bless the lives of a missionary and his family just because they felt inspired to do so. Both of my grandsons on missions for Christ share their regular opportunities to encourage and bless the lives of those in their circle of influence through the teachings of Jesus Christ and in pure service. Sometimes it is through prayer and teaching; however, much of the work they do is in the form of physical labor in assisting the elderly, caring for the poor and for those who are ill.

When my mother was still on this side of the veil, her home teachers came over and asked her to talk into a microphone and tell some of the experiences she found interesting in her life. Of course, she said what we all say, “Well, there is really nothing significant in my life anybody would want to hear.” I knew better and through a little extracting we were able to get some wonderful experiences on the record that gave us (especially future generations) a glimpse into her life. A little later Jean and I were given a personal history journal – blank – and asked to complete them. I am probably mistaken, but I believe they also gave my mother a blank journal too and I believe she actually did what was asked and completed her history. Some of us didn’t do anything and the journals are still collecting dust.

Jean Jacobs, my sweetheart, has compiled a number of picture journals which serve to provide reminders of and to generations past and future sharing why we are here and what our business ought to be about. There is hardly a day that goes by that I don’t ask mom a question about the age of a child when something took place, or where we were when we last saw old what’s-his-face. So here is the challenge:

Prearrange with recorder in hand (now you can just use your telephone) and a series of questions like out of the life history book we received from our children. Don’t wear anybody out. Twenty to thirty minutes is more than sufficient to get some great stuff. You can repeat the exercise if it was fun and productive. You will find thing in the history of loved ones that will encourage and bless you as you try to model your lives after the good things they accomplished or attempted, and avoid the pitfalls they may have encountered as they walked through the minefields of employment, marriage, spiritual growth, and blessing the lives of others.

Thank you for being my wonderful friends and family. You are an inspiration and a joy.

Duane Jacobs, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother, cousin and friend

August, 16, 2014

My dear institute brethren:

It is a great honor to work with our wonderful institute, YSA students. They are the brightest, most energetic, spiritual generation in the history of man and they feed our souls each time we associate.

Something we have worked hard at over a lifetime of service in the church is ensuring all things we do are in accord with the principles, the spirit, and the guidelines of the gospel.

We are delighted with the wonderful associations we have garnered this past week at the Pleasant Grove YSA Institute and look forward to participation with them for the remainder of our one and one half year missionary calling. We seem to have fallen through the organizational cracks regarding our actual missionary call. We were called to serve by President Scoville in August and told that we would become “real” missionaries in December, 2013. We kept asking and time kept going. Finally in June, 2014 we asked for and received an appointment with Bishop Smith, who shared from the handbook that we, as “service missionaries” should be set apart by our local bishop. He then set us apart.

We also received a request to serve as “home bound” and agreed to begin that for the Fall semester, 2014. That is our YSI history. This is our plan for the future.

1.       Receive, complete and submit our missionary application which will be sent to us this week.

2.       Post the date of our calling as September 1, 2013 (the approximate date of our calling by President Scoville.)

3.       Work the remainder of our missionary season with the wonderful people at Pleasant Grove YSI institute on Thursday evenings. Even though it was painfully obvious they did not “need” us, they made us feel needed. Our goal is to be worthy of that trust.

4.       Painful as it may be for us, we need to ask to be released from the home bound seminary experience. Sister Jacobs feels that it will be too much for Brother Jacobs because of his physical limitations.

Thank you for all you do in the service of the Lord,

Duane and Jean Jacobs

Answers, Answers, Everywhere

March 29, 2015 

Several years ago a life-long friend of mine found himself in a world of hurt. He was clearly on his way out of this life when one of his children tracked him down, nursed him back to health and got him into a place where he could enjoy his remaining years and pay forward the blessings of this moment. Now, in my never-to-be-humble opinion, this is the way life ought to be handled – with tender loving care. In another instance, my brother wishing to assist an ageing aunt, helped find her a caregiver, then proceeded to visit regularly, take care of her physical, mental, and social needs without the slightest interest in what he might get in return.

My much older brother Glenn has always been willing to assist others because that is built into his DNA. He and I have hundreds of discussions about  NIMBY (not in my back yard) and the negative impacts of this virtually universal mind set. It has become even more painful over the years as we, as a community – as a society – increase our numbers of mentally different, socially compromised, and legally challenged with jail and prison time and felony backgrounds. Watch carefully as a person of “questionable” character comes into the personal space of a group in one of our communities. Eyebrows raise, internet access points are carefully searched, and meta-communications trespassing signs go up like umbrellas in a torrential rain storm.

Here is a scenario that is met thousands of times a day in our wonderful country.  A person spends four months in a county jail. In his county you pay for the privilege of going to jail. In addition, hospital charges from  unknown incidents occurring during his trip to the jail,  he now owes the jail system thousands  for his rent during his stay. Promises broken, no soap for a month, work for $1.65 an hour, prevention from working and paying his child support, losing his job, paying 1950’s phone charges, and $.95 for an envelope (stamps are contraband), he or she gets out of jail, with no place to stay, no income, no welcoming community to assist in his movement back to normalcy, this person is statistically guaranteed to return to the jail/prison system over and over again.

There is no question that people have always done dumb, illegal things. There is equally no doubt, they will continue as long as life on this planet continues. Those are irrefutable facts. What are we to do to bless the lives of those in our communities who are simply attempting to ensure the safety of loved ones and balance their critical needs with the needs of those who have betrayed the trust and laws of our society and become part of the world of evil? There is no special place for them on some remote island, or leper’s colony as in biblical times. There is no death sentence, or euthanasia society can or should inflict. Remember! These people – give or take one percent of our population at any given time – are someone’s child; someone’ father or mother. They are God’s children.

Compound our “jail” problem with hundreds of thousands of mentally different people who do not fit the convenient norms of current society; sprinkle in a few hundred thousand servicemen and women traumatized by years of war-time killing, maiming, and culturally disenfranchising; and a few million more who have been deprived of “the American dream” of a house, a car, and the opportunity to pay for such, and the thoughts of a traditional circumstance under which to grow and live becomes very opaque.  Once again, I refer to the law of love God and Jesus Christ have provided us. I believe our lives, our very existence, is predicated on a promise we shared with God in the preexistence to Love God, love our fellowmen, and love ourselves.

Thank you for the great opportunity of sharing my thoughts. I can no longer verbalize in the ways I have enjoyed in the past, so this is a wonderful exercise for me to see what my mind still has jammed up inside.

God bless each of us as we reach for the worthy desires of our hearts.

Duane Jacobs, Father, husband, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend

Weekly Notes from D. Duane Jacobs

Chapter Two – The untrue legend of Oscar Kearnesky

August 8, 2015

What to do! What to do! Sunshine, their beautiful daughter had been beguiled by Slick Cain, a dashing young man who had embedded himself in the lives of Oscar, his wife Hilda, and of course their lovely daughter Sunshine. Using his most deceiving city slicker ways Slick charmed the socks off Sunshine, went to Lost Wages and married her in one of the many gambling paradise drive through marriage places. Slick, with the willing assistance of Sunshine cowed the Kearneskys into destroying Nifty B and B by overspending, poor service and all the tried and true glop of a person with poor character and only one goal. Get in; get what you can; and get out. He did.

Months passed with Nifty B and B hanging on by a thread. It would take time to restore the good name of their live time business effort but with added effort, the caring community pitching in to assist them in rebuilding, they would survive financially. Their family name and reputation would take much longer. Some things would never be the same. Sunshine would soon give birth to a new generation. She was married but had no idea where Slick had gone. She loved him and wanted him back. It was because of the torture she was going through that Oscar determined to track down this fellow who had caused a volcano to erupt under their whole world leaving chaos and destruction in the wake. In Cain’s ramblings he had mentioned that he came from a family of prosperous ranchers in the North Eastern part of Arizona in the small town of Round Valley. He would go there and see if he could help his daughter. He had no idea what he would find; who he would find; what he would do; or even what was best for Sunshine.

Round Valley was a beautiful high mountain hamlet with a main street leading invitingly to the three restaurants and two motels snuggled along the state highway taking people through to the more sunny parts of Arizona or on into New Mexico and the land of enchantment. A fine, sturdy post office was perched prominently on the first slight curve of main-street and seemed like the most logical place to find someone in this location. A delightful lady, Amanda, in her mid-fifties asked cheerfully what his mission was. When he said he was looking for Slick Cain, her demeanor changed, her face drooped and she said had no knowledge of who this fellow might be. After a few moments of stunned silence, she said in a subdued, almost whispered tone; “he is my son.” He was always a good boy but when he was nineteen he started working for a contractor with a rotten reputation. He became enamored with money, fame, and fast living. The contractor had been using deceptive tactics, had defrauded many people and was charged and convicted of fraud, embezzlement, and other such trash. Slick avoided imprisonment by testifying against the contractor and left very soon after leaving no forwarding address.

Scenario note: the fun thing about writing an untrue story is that, as the author I can make my characters do anything I want them to do. I am going to “take the road less traveled” and make these grandparents to be into super heroes. Sunshine and Slick will find a way through hard work and repentance to help each other make better decisions and do what is right for the child of God they will bring into the world. Most stories like this end up with the father in prison, the mother working hard to help her child with the help of her family, but never feeling successful or fulfilled and always feeling betrayed, disloyal, and ashamed.

I have watched time after time as beautiful people do dumb things. Others just go through tough times because of illness, job loss, or disaffection with family. The domino effect takes over and this becomes their life instead of a slight detour. I believe our job as children of God who believe in the worth of individuals is to seek out those circumstances in which we can serve as ministering angels and help those in need.

You all inspire me. I see what you do to bless your families and friends and I feel great joy and appreciation.

Duane Jacobs, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend 

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Adjustment hour

May 24, 2015     

Decades ago in the early part of my professional career, we would invite, or be invited to attend or participate in adjustment hour. This activity was usually accompanied by an “open bar”, lots of gab, and politicking. For example, while attending professional organization annual meetings different publishers would present their latest and finest at presenter tables; then, provide these adjustment hours to sweeten the deal for different college and university employees, who, in turn would make recommendations for the purchase of publications. Everyone was friends. Everyone was happy, and all went well. Going to these conferences and association meetings was enjoyable enough, although difficult because of the ever degenerating environment. One of the expectations of those anticipating professorial rank increases was participation in these organizations through membership and leadership roles. A real “catch 22” for one not wanting to get so far in the mud and sludge he would forget his real values.

I watched as some of the finest people I knew took little journeys into the tantalizing world across the darkness over to the worldly, spacious building just to be good with their jobs and never came back. I watched others come back sans wives or husbands, void of interest in their highest callings as sons and daughters of God. The justifications were horrendous. The long-term outcomes were even more frightening than can be imagined. People gave up all they had ever held sacred; all they had loved; all they might have had in the future for a bowl of pottage. How easy to slip and slide down that delightful little path into the warm embrace of those who had gone before.

Quite frequently I see individuals of all ages who have made that life-changing dive. I ask why and the answer is inevitably that others had done them wrong; that people picked on them; that God never did anything for them; that their parents, their religious leaders, and their friends had all lied to them. They would not be fooled any longer. They would go out, find their personal “adjustment hour” environment and climb in head first. My observations in recent weeks and months of very young people abandoning their spiritual instincts for lives with drugs, alcohol, cancer sticks, pornography, spontaneous sex, violence, and crime make me sad. My answer; no God’s answer, is to follow his commandments, whether from the Ten Commandments, or from the Words of Christ to love God, love our fellow men, and love ourselves.

For those of us who have occasion to fall into this trap, the answer is to get over oneself. Go to the nearest street corner and ask the person with the sign if he would like to join him for a meal at Arby’s. Go to the nearest Salvation Army store and ask to help stock shelves. Go to your son or daughter and tell them you want to go on a hike with them. Find someone in your apartment complex or neighborhood that looks like he has lost his last friend and invite him to take a walk. Do something for someone else and the rewards will come back 100 fold.

Half a dozen years ago a beautiful young cashier at a local bank was assisting us as we went through some awkward moments when we changed bank account numbers and had overdrawn the original account. She worked diligently to ensure our satisfaction with the bank and in turn, our continued patronage. A few weeks later when I returned to the bank to thank her for the excellent, professional work she had done, she had disappeared. After a very significant discussion with the bank manager and the head cashier the truth slipped out that she had been fired for cause. The cause turned out to be that she was trying to be the very best possible employee and while following the laws and rules and protocols of the bank became a liability so they fired her and blackballed her. I saw her and her children outside a retail store recently and to my delight, she had not gone across to the dark side; rather, had forgiven, forgotten, and moved on further into the light.

We can all choose to do as this beautiful child of God; or we can continually linger in our personal pity party. It is exclusively our choice.

Duane Jacobs, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother, cousin, and friend

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After all we can Do

November 2, 2014

Jean and I were at Wendy’s for our Friday night date and we sat across the aisle from four young ladies. One had a pretty red flower in her hair and after I asked them how they were doing she began motioning and singing. Her “helper” told us that although she couldn’t say much more than she had, the girl was thanking us for talking to her and telling us she was going to a party to dance. The other girl and her “helper” sat quietly, but contented that all was going well with the pleasantries.

Recently a wonderful young man returned from a Genealogy Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, where he spent his days and evenings helping people search out their ancestry. He gave the full measure of his strength, his love, and his testimony in this service. Back home now, he will continue to grow and learn as we all must so we can continue to do all we can do.

Frequently I see individuals like my friend and neighbor Bill who have lived marvelous lives and now find themselves unable to do the things they have so enjoyed over the years. Should they simply stop and let others take over or should they keep moving forward. The answer to this is to do what Bill has done. He continually goes to Church, visits with neighbors, shares his wonderful stories, creates new and exciting electronic gadgets, and everything else he can do to truly express his love for his wife, his family, and God.

Words from the bible and the Book of Mormon keep rolling around in my head. In Matthew, Corinthians, timothy, Hebrews, etc Christ and the apostles and prophets continually encourage us to stay the course; to never give up; to endure to the end. Christ tells us in Matthew 10:22, “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake; but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” What should we do to ensure we are doing all we can do? We know that man has an incredible ability to forget God and worship the things of the world. History is replete with tragedy after tragedy in which man, thinking his plan is supreme to God’s takes matters into his own hands, becomes rich, arrogant, entangled, intoxicated with the power he esteems himself to possess; then, falls like a dead leaf in October. Our job is to overcome the desire to fall away and follow the people in the great and spacious building in committing war against the Holy Ghost, our Savior Jesus Christ, and God.

I am a slow learner; one of those who take two steps forward and one back. Hopefully, I won’t get to the point where I take one forward and two back as I have seen some of my friends do in recent days. I watch with anguish as wonderful people get caught in the Humanist mode, thinking that they are immune to the consequences of living outside the bounds which God has set. I have seen individuals go from loving, caring, kids; to raging junkies, willing to lie, murder, and steal, for that next fix, that next bit of excitement, or that next opportunity to play Russian roulette with their very lives. Most lose badly and the end is never want they wished.

To those who cast of fears of being despised and scorned for their love of God, I salute you. For those who feel unworthy of God’s love, I give you my solemn understanding that God is not a respecter of persons; that his plan of Eternal happiness is marvelous and is for all of us. Little children, adults, and seniors all are kept carefully his wing. Our job is to reach out to those in need, listen to the promptings we each have; then act by helping to bless the lives of others.

God bless each of us as we reach out in love to those less fortunate.

Duane Jacobs, grandfather, father, brother, uncle, cousin, and friends

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Aids in living

October 4, 2014

Physical health is very important. When we are physically strong we are able to work, play, and generally function in our family and community. We often diminish our health through neglect and downright willful disobedience to the promptings and prodding of our friends, loved ones and medical community. Several years ago I began having serious problems with my heart, pulmonary system, and blood clotting issues.  Many concerned, loving, caring people told me to get regular physical activity and eat correctly. My mind still remained in the teenage mode of thinking that youth would always be with me and that I was generally immortal. Over the years, things kept getting worse and after heart attacks, blood clots, pulmonary embolisms, and general degeneration of vital bodily functions. Now, I am not talking about sinister kinds of behavior. I fully embrace the principles of the Gospel and have, to the best of my ability followed the admonition to come unto Christ and rid myself of all ungodliness. The subsequent blessing from following Christ and ridding ourselves of all ungodliness is the promise that we will, by the Grace of God be perfect in Christ and deny not his power.

Time and life as it is have enabled me to be provided with a life-saving tool that just a few years ago was simply an imaginary star wars toy that might be available someday. A slim metal tool was placed under my skin and two electric probes run through my vein and “screwed” into my heart lining. Pace makers have been around for years; however, the defibulator I received acts as both a pace maker and a three phase defibulator that takes care of my heart by sending little messages in the form of electrical shocks varying in degree from tender tickles (more like a hammer to the chest) to an all out shocking of the heart to return it’s life giving beat.

As grateful for this life saving devise as I am, I can’t help but look to another tool that has blessed my life from a very early age, sending messages to my spirit when I was in my, “dumb as a rock” phases. This tool is available to us all. It is of course, the Holy Ghost. Like the defribulator, we have to ask for it, then listen to its promptings, or messages. While I have only had two promptings from my defibulator, I have had literally thousands from that still small voice that guides, admonishes, and teaches us to love God, Love our fellow man, and love ourselves. Sometimes I have been able to listen, understand, and act favorably on these promptings without undue loss of spirituality. Other times I have had to be given the highest levels of the charge by the Holy Ghost to return to the Iron Rod; the Word of God.