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