Come, Ye Thankful People

The following is based on a talk President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, gave November 19, 2013, at the Salt Lake Rotary Club. I used his remarks as a starting point and wove my own thoughts and style throughout. There is enough of his material remaining here for me to feel compelled to give him some credit.

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My brothers and sisters, I am grateful for this opportunity to express my feelings of thanks today. It is particularly important to maintain a spirit of gratitude as we enter a season which no longer seems to emphasize gratitude, but gluttony and greed. If our thoughts are centered on Heavenly Father and his Son, Jesus Christ and their gifts to us, we will be able to resist these forces that tend to pull us away from them.

Let me share some thoughts on gratitude:

"Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."³

"Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving."⁴

“We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.”⁵

The U.S. has a great and inspiring history. It is now 392 years since the pilgrims celebrated their Day of Thanksgiving. 

These people of the Mayflower Compact were 44 Saints and 66 Strangers.⁷ Nevertheless, it was a contract of equality and unity.

During their first winter, 47 died.⁸ But hope and harvest came again.

H.U. Westermayer said, “The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished; nevertheless, they set aside days of thanksgiving, days of praise and prayer.”⁹

I might argue with Mr. Westermayer that the Latter-day Saints were frequently just as impoverished, and they, too set aside days of thanksgiving, praise and prayer. And we have been reconciled with our countrymen, and have offered forgiveness, and obtained a measure of acceptance.

Today, some think that Thanksgiving Day should not be connected to God the Almighty but only to country and history.

Here is what George Washington had to say in his October 3, 1789, Thanksgiving Proclamation:

“Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor;  both Houses of Congress have requested me to recommend to the people of the United States a Day of Public Thanksgiving and Prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness."¹⁰

With all the busyness and the business going on during this time of year, do not let the feasting distract us from our prayer and praise!

We do well to remember one of our favorite hymns, which reads, “Count your many blessings; Name them one by one. Count your many blessings; See what God has done.”¹¹

A wise man once said, “The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables you to count your blessings.”¹²

Enlarging our capacity for gratitude enriches our entire soul.

Gratitude is one of the most important human virtues and one of the most common human deficiencies. Gratitude does not develop without effort.

We can learn this from the fearless handcart pioneers who pulled their meager belongings in handcarts across the scorching plains and through the snows of the high mountain passes to escape persecution, and then expressed their gratitude in peaceful worship in the Salt Lake Valley.

Elder James E. Talmage said, “Gratitude is twin sister to humility; pride is a foe to both.”¹⁴

President James E. Faust said, “A grateful heart is a beginning of greatness.

“[It is with gratitude as with all other] types of human strength: ‘Use it or lose it.’  When not used, muscles weaken, skills deteriorate, and faith disappears.”¹⁵

President Hinckley said, “I am asking that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I am suggesting that as we go through life we ‘accentuate the positive.’ I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment virtue and effort.”¹⁶

And from President John F. Kennedy:  “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”¹⁷

Henry van Dyke: “Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse.”¹⁸

These values are expressions of gratitude and thanksgiving. They are urgently needed in a time of serious challenges and uncertainty.

We need only to open a newspaper or turn on the news to realize that we are living in a cynical time.  Trust in public institutions, corporations, and even organized religion is declining.  Almost daily, media reports describe the decline of moral decency and the erosion of basic ethical conduct.

In this time of uncertainty, mistrust, fear, rumors of war, and political road rage, we should never forget the Savior’s instruction to us to love one another. One of the best ways we can show our gratitude for the atoning sacrifice of our Savior is to love and forgive others.

A great gift we have received from the Father is our agency. Moral agency refers not only to the capacity to act for ourselves but also that we are accountable for those actions.

Heavenly Father has also given us other commandments to guide us as we walk through this life.  The Ten Commandments and other divine laws constitute the commandments of God.  These divine laws were instituted by God to govern His creations and to prescribe behavior for us, His offspring. If we obey these laws, we will find joy in this life and eternal happiness in the life to come.

It takes courage and humility to put away old hatreds, divisions, and traditions that constrict and confine people into a blind succession of destructive behavior toward others.

“Where there is gratitude, there is humility as opposed to pride; there is generosity as opposed to selfishness.”²¹

I believe that it is within our reach to breach barriers of misunderstandings and build bridges of brotherhood and understanding among ourselves and others. 

Today, the power of Christ’s teachings could bring to pass a miracle, similar to the one Paul described to the people of Ephesus, a people ripe with divisiveness. 

“Without Christ, we were aliens, having no hope.  But now in Christ Jesus we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.²²

“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.”²³

Christ instructed the saints in our day to “let every man esteem his brother as himself, and practise virtue and holiness before me.

“And again I say unto you, let every man esteem his brother as himself.

“I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine” (D & C 38:24–25, 27).

          Speaking to Joseph Smith and the Three Witnesses, Christ said: “I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was crucified for the sins of the world, even as many as will believe on my name, that they may become the sons of God, even one in me as I am one in the Father, as the Father is one in me, that we may be one” (D & C 35:2).

          As we strive to become unified with each other, we also draw nearer to Christ. Since he invited all men to “come unto Christ,” this is a natural first step.

          In a beloved hymn, we sing:

“Come, follow me," the Savior said.
Then let us in his footsteps tread,
For thus alone can we be one
With God's own loved, begotten Son.”

         

In the scriptures, we learn that Christ “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). If we want to become like him, we should also decide to do good. We should be eager to serve our fellow men in whatever ways we are able. Often we think that this service requires that we have money or significant talents or something else that we do not possess. In reality, all it requires is a willing heart.

          Each one of us, from the youngest to the oldest member of the ward, has the ability to touch the hearts of others. Each one of you has the power to bless the lives of your fellow ward members. If you don’t try to do this, you are being like the person who buried his talent.

          And this also applies to sharing the gospel with our friends and neighbors.

          It is really very simple: if you are feeling down, serve others; if you feel like you have no talents, serve others; if you feel like you have no friends, serve others; if you need the Lord’s blessings in your life, serve others.

          We sing “Shrink not from your duty, however unpleasant, but follow the Savior, your pattern and friend.”

          This raises an important question: do you feel like the Savior is your friend? Primary children will likely answer without hesitation that Jesus is their friend, but as we grow older, do we put we put distance between us?

          When I was in Primary, we sang:

“Jesus is our loving friend.
He is always near.
He will guide us when we pray;
Ev'ry child is dear.”

          Brothers and sisters, do you know, even as you endure trials and face the challenges of life, that Jesus is your loving friend? Do you know that you are a child of God, and that he loves you?

          We do not need great doctrinal knowledge to know and understand these things. All we need is the faith of a child. And then with the faith of a child, we need to ask the Father, in the name of Jesus Christ for a witness that we are his children. By the power of the Holy Ghost, he will bear witness to us that he lives, that we are his children, and that he loves us. When you receive that witness, you will also know that Heavenly Father hears and answers your prayers.

          Once we have that witness, we should be sharing it with our families. Can you think of a more significant gift as we approach the Christmas season?

          I was touched as I recently reread Joseph Smith’s witness of the Savior:

“By these things we know that there is a God in heaven, who is infinite and eternal, from everlasting to everlasting the same unchangeable God, the framer of heaven and earth, and all things which are in them;

“And that he created man, male and female, after his own image and in his own likeness, created he them;

“And gave unto them commandments that they should love and serve him, the only living and true God, and that he should be the only being whom they should worship. …

“Wherefore, the Almighty God gave his Only Begotten Son, as it is written in those scriptures which have been given of him.

“He suffered temptations but gave no heed unto them.

“He was crucified, died, and rose again the third day;

“And ascended into heaven, to sit down on the right hand of the Father, to reign with almighty power according to the will of the Father;

“That as many as would believe and be baptized in his holy name, and endure in faith to the end, should be saved“(D & C 20:17-25).

Christ also revealed a similar doctrine to the Nephites:

“Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you—that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me.

“And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—

“And for this cause have I been lifted up; therefore, according to the power of the Father I will draw all men unto me, that they may be judged according to their works.

“And it shall come to pass, that whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world. …

“Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do;

“Therefore, if ye do these things blessed are ye, for ye shall be lifted up at the last day”

(3 Nephi 27:13-16, 20-22).

          As we look at these two passages, we see that the gospel of Jesus Christ is not as complicated as some make it out to be.  A testimony of the gospel is based on these simple truths.

          Once we gain this testimony and help those we love to gain this testimony, we will be blessed with the strength to resist temptation, and the ability to overcome the challenges we face, and to endure our trials, as we become more like our Savior. If you feel a little uncertain right now, if you feel a little shaky, lean on those of us who have received this witness until you know for yourself.

          I testify to you that we are the children of the living God, our Heavenly Father, who loves us and wants us to return to him. He established a plan so that we can know the way back to him. An important part of that plan was to send his son to atone for our sins.

          I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God. He is our Savior: yours, and mine. He came to earth to set the example for us. He truly “marked the path and led the way.”

          More importantly, he suffered and died for us, and was resurrected. He overcame sin and death so that we may also overcome our sins and our death, if we will follow the path he indicated.

          I stand all amazed at the great love he has for each of us, that he would make such a great sacrifice for all of his Father’s children.

          In this season of Thanksgiving and celebrating his birth, we should be thankful for all that the Savior has done for us. This is what makes Christmas meaningful.

          I am eternally grateful for my Savior and his great gifts to me. I am also grateful to be numbered among you, my brothers and sisters, as the least among you.

          I wish you all a happy Thanksgiving. That a spirit of thanks may carry through the Christmas season and throughout the coming year is my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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Notes (from Pres. Uchtdorf’s portion)

³Melody Beattie, The Language of Letting Go: Daily Meditations on Codependency (Center City, Minnesota: Hazelden, 1990), 218.

⁴W. T. Purkiser, The Gifts of the Spirit, Beacon Hill Press, Feb 1, 1975, 34.

⁵Cynthia Ozick.

⁷Thomas Prince, (1736) Chronology 73, 84–86. Internet Archive.

⁸Nathaniel Philbrick (2006). Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War. New York: Penguin Group, 80–84.

⁹See http://www.quotegarden.com/thanksgiving.html.

¹⁰“Thanksgiving Proclamation, 3 October 1789,” Founders Online, National Archives (ver. 2013-09-28). Source: The Papers of George Washington, Presidential Series, vol. 4, 8 September 1789 – 15 January 1790, ed. Dorothy Twohig. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1993, 131–132.

¹¹Hymns, no. 241.

¹²Eric Hoffer (1973), Reflections on the Human Condition, New York: Harper & Row, 94.

¹⁴Sunday Night Talks, 2nd ed. (1931), 483.

¹⁵“Gratitude as a Saving Principle,” Ensign, May 1990, 86.

¹⁶Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Continuing Pursuit of Truth,” Ensign, April 1986.

¹⁷"Proclamation 3560 - Thanksgiving Day, 1963," November 5, 1963. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project.

¹⁸Henry Van Dyke.

²¹Gordon B. Hinckley, “How Lucky Can You Be!” BYU Devotional, October 13, 1964.

²²See Ephesians 2:12-13.

²³Ephesians 2:19.

Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Lest we forget, lest we forget.

Given on Sunday, 26 May 2013

Memorial Day is a significant holiday. In many areas outside of California, it marks the beginning of the summer season. We enjoy the time off from work, the barbecuing, and the time with family and friends.

But an important part of Memorial Day is memory: remembering. We should remember the sacrifices that were made so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have.

I see many vehicles with the inscription: “In memory of Joe Doakes,” or some other individual. I often wonder if it is the window or the whole vehicle that is dedicated to their memory, and if they treat the car differently because of that.

To me, Memorial Day is also a time to remember our kindred dead. Many of them paid a great price to come to this land of promise and of freedom.

The Lord told the brother of Jared: “Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which we have written.

“For behold, this is a land which is choice above all other lands; wherefore he that doth possess it shall serve God or shall be swept off; for it is the everlasting decree of God.  And it is not until the fulness of iniquity among the children of the land, that they are swept off” (Ether 2:12, 10).

Sometime later, he stated through Lehi: “Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring.  And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever” (2 Nephi 1:7).

There are both blessings and curses associated with living in the Promised Land. How do we qualify for the blessings and avoid the curses? The name of tomorrow’s holiday gives us a clue: we must remember. It is up to us to avoid spiritual senility, and we can help each other.

Helaman counseled his sons: “And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall” (Helaman 5:12).

What is it we should remember? First of all, we should remember why we are here in the first place. I don’t mean why we are here in church today, but why we are here on earth. We need to remember our Heavenly Father’s plan.

In Revelation 12, we gain an understanding of why we are here. “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

“And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death” (Revelation 12:7 – 9, 11; italics are mine).

 These verses describe the war in heaven, which is not unlike many of the battles we are fighting today. How were Satan and his followers defeated? Look at verse 11 again: “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” So we see that he was beaten through the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, through the power of our testimonies, and through our sacrifice.

We must remember the Atonement of our Savior. This is absolutely critical to our salvation. That is the main reason we meet here each Sunday. If you pay close attention to the sacrament prayers, you will note each week that we “eat in remembrance of the body of [the] Son,” and drink “in remembrance of the blood of [the] Son, which was shed for [us]” (D&C 20:77, 79; italics are mine). So we are gathered to remember the Savior’s sacrifice for us.

In addition, in each of the prayers, we covenant to “always remember him.” When the bread is blessed, we covenant to keep his commandments, and when the water is blessed, we are promised the presence of his Spirit. This is also very important to us.

If we do not attend our sacrament meetings frequently, it becomes easy for us to forget what the Savior has done for us. When we forget, it is easy for us to fall into the traps of Satan.

If you ponder the covenants contained in the sacrament prayers, the significance of the promise of the companionship Holy Ghost may strike you.

Christ taught his apostles this important truth: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26).

This is a great twofold blessing. Not only does the Savior promise that the Holy Ghost will teach us all things, but he will also bring all things to our remembrance. As we get older, this doctrine becomes more and more comforting.

The key to this remembering that brings and maintains testimony is receiving the Holy Ghost as a companion. It is the Holy Ghost who helps us see what God has done for us. It is the Holy Ghost who can help those we serve to see what God has done for them.

Now if we always remember the Savior, and always keep his commandments, and have his Spirit to be with us, as we partake of the sacrament and then live our lives throughout the coming week, doesn’t it follow that it will be much easier for us to keep our foundation on the rock of our Redeemer? When the storms howl around us as they did in Oklahoma this week; when the ground shakes as it did in Northern California; when the hail and mighty rains beat upon us as it did in San Antonio yesterday, we will be able to withstand all of this and remain true and faithful to our covenants.

If we forget, we may be swept away.

Now we have some brand new graduates here today, and we congratulate each of you, and also who will graduate in the coming weeks. That is an important accomplishment.

While you progressed through school, you learned (or at least filled your minds) with many things. If I were to ask one (or all) of you to come and share some familiar concepts, could you do it? And you not-so-recent grads can ask yourself the same question.

Let’s start with the Pythagorean Theorem. Do you still remember it?

How about the quadratic equation?

Dangling participles?

Avogadro’s number?

The Krebs cycle?

Punnett’s squares?

I could go on, but I will spare you on that count. My point is, these are probably familiar to you, but because you no longer study them, you might struggle a little to explain them. If we reviewed, you would have an “Oh, yeah” moment, and your memory would be refreshed. When we say “use it or lose it,” it refers to your brain, too.

The truths of the gospel are much the same. If I asked one of you to explain the plan of salvation in 500 words or less, could you do it? Could you explain the Atonement of Jesus Christ? The Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood?

More important than explaining, though, is testifying. Can you testify with conviction of the plan of salvation, the Atonement, the power of the priesthood? Can you testify of the gift of the Holy Ghost?

Alma posed a related question in chapter 5: “And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God?  Have ye received his image in your countenances?  Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?

“Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you?

“And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?”(Alma 5:14 – 15, 26). What happened yesterday is not enough. We need to continue to feel the Spirit today!

Each of us is here because we have felt the Spirit in our lives, and received a witness that this is the true church of Jesus Christ. Are you doing all you can to maintain that testimony? Just as you may have forgotten the ins and outs of the Pythagorean Theorem, you forget your testimony if you do not nourish it.

Alma spoke of an experiment: “Now, we will compare the word unto a seed.  Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.

“Now behold, would not this increase your faith?  I say unto you, Yea; nevertheless it hath not grown up to a perfect knowledge.

“But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow.  And now, behold, will not this strengthen your faith?  Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow.

“And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good seed?  I say unto you, Yea; for every seed bringeth forth unto its own likeness.

“Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away.

“And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.

“And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect?  Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand”

(Alma 32:28 - 34). But pay attention to what he says next: “And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us.  And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.

“But if ye neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.

“Now, this is not because the seed was not good, neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ground is barren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof.

“And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life.

“But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.

“And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst” (Alma 32:37 - 42).

If we do not nourish the tree, it will die. This doesn’t mean it was a bad tree; it means that we didn’t take care of it. If I neglect my testimony, it doesn’t mean that the church isn’t true; it means that I was careless in my discipleship.

So I must remember to take care of my testimony. I must continue to nourish it by feasting upon the word of Christ. I nourish my testimony by praying in faith for a continued witness that the church is true, and for the strength to endure to the end. I nourish my testimony by attending my meetings and renewing my covenants. I nourish my testimony by remembering to take care of it.

Saying “I’ve read the Book of Mormon once; I don’t need to read it again” makes as much sense as saying “I had dinner once; I don’t need to eat again.” You just wouldn’t do that.

Finally, we need to remember to serve. That is a topic for another Sunday. Service keeps things in perspective. It helps us to be thankful for what we have received, and it strengthens our love for one another. The service we give should be a sacrifice. In doing so, we are a greater blessing to our brothers and sisters.

One way we serve and nourish our testimonies is to share them with our friends and neighbors. If you are not sure of how to do that, “ask the missionaries; they can help you.”

I close with the words of King Benjamin to his people: “And finally, I cannot tell you all the things whereby ye may commit sin; for there are divers ways and means, even so many that I cannot number them.

“But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish.  And now, O man [and woman], remember, and perish not” (Mosiah 4:29 - 30).

I pray that we will always remember to build on the rock of our Redeemer. I pray that we will always remember him, and that we will remember his Atonement and our own testimonies.

I testify to you that this is God’s work. He lives and loves us. May we never forget this.

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Eulogy for Virginia Ellen Peart Stevenson (1936-2013) Delivered 4 May 2013

It is a privilege to be here to pay tribute to my mother. She is probably overwhelmed seeing how many of you are here today.

When Dad and I met with Bishop Baker, he told us how his children were asking which Primary Teacher had died. As he described her, they realized who it was, and said, “Oh, the laughing teacher.”

That is how many of us remember Mom. Friends have commented on her smile, her laughter, and best of all, the love they felt from her. She spread happiness, and many have remarked that she “always treated me like she loved me.”

Perhaps the best tribute I read was “Being her friend was like being encircled in the arms of the Savior’s love.” “She made life seem like a sweet, happy party and each person feel like the guest of honor.”

A good friend of mine pointed out that we, Mom’s posterity, are a living breathing tribute to Mom, and he loves Mom because of what I became.

She is survived by a loving, devoted husband, Ronald Dee Stevenson, a younger brother, Robert Harvey Peart, by five children, 26 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her older brother Donald Aris Peart, a grandson, Robert D. Stevenson, Jr., and a great-grandson, Andrew John Love.

          -------------------------------------------------

Virginia Ellen Stevenson came from pioneer stock. That probably doesn’t surprise anyone who knows her. One grandmother was Swedish, the other grandparents were of British descent. Her parents were both Salt Lake City natives, but came to California on their honeymoon, ran out of money, and stayed. Mom was born in San Leandro on 10 August 1936, the second of three children born to John Aris Peart and Evelyn Gertrude Cox. In 1942, she and her family moved to Los Angeles, where her father was working. By 1947, they had put down roots in Los Angeles.

When Mom started kindergarten, she said she cried every day on her way to school. Soon her mother made her walk to school alone, and then the crying stopped. This is hard to imagine in light of the Virginia Stevenson we all know.

Before Mom started third grade, a mean girl told her that her new teacher, Mrs. Darnell, wasn’t nice and would flunk her. Her mom consoled her, and mom soon learned that Mrs. Darnell was a wonderful teacher who provided many opportunities for her students to learn. They kept in contact with each other for many years afterward.

Mom couldn’t wait to be baptized, and wrote of how good it felt to be baptized a member of the Church. Even at that early age, she was developing a strong faith and testimony. For a time after that, her family wasn’t active in the Church, but when she turned 12, a loving leader invited her to MIA, and she has been active ever since. Her first calling came at age 13, as a helper in the 5-year-old Primary class.

At age 14, Mom went on her first temple excursion. Four adults and six girls went to the Mesa Arizona Temple to do baptisms. (You have to remember that for many years, we were in the Mesa Temple District, until the Los Angeles Temple was dedicated.) She writes “I had such a peaceful feeling as we went into the [temple] and then sat and listened as one of the sister temple workers talked about the important things of our church.” She added: “It helped me know my goal of going to the Temple was what I really wanted.” How thankful we all are that set this goal early on and remained true to it. She also had the opportunity to serve in the Open House for the Los Angeles Temple prior to its dedication.

Mom worked hard to earn her various awards as she progressed in MIA. She sewed many of her own dresses, and knitted things for her family as well. She babysat frequently and worked at Karl’s 5 and 10. She balanced all of this with school and family activities.

In junior high, Mom began to be involved in student government. She was president of a service club in junior high, and continued to be busy in high school activities, including the Hostess Club, Student Senate, Girl’s League and other activities.

She writes that she was sometimes torn between her friends in student activities and her friends in church.

Mom began modern dance in tenth grade. She loved basketball, too, but dance was better for her asthma. She was able to dance in many performances including competitions at University of Redlands and other colleges.

Mom was a good student, too, and won the Bank of America Achievement Award in Business Education and in Vocational Arts.

In 1954, she left for BYU and quickly became involved in student government and other activities. She took advantage of all the activities that life at BYU had to offer, social and spiritual, and of course, educational. She formed many lasting friendships there.

After two years, she decided to come home and complete her studies at UCLA in order to be with her family, but she said that had she known her brother Don would get married so soon, she probably would have stayed at BYU, partly because she was in line to become student body secretary.

However, as luck (or fate) would have it, she became involved in Lambda Delta Sigma, and this led to her meeting Dad. They were married in the Los Angeles Temple on 29 August 1958. She also graduated from UCLA in June 1958.

Dad and Mom headed to Provo so Dad could finish his degree. Mom writes that she found their first basement apartment dreary and disappointing, but after unpacking their things and making cookies and seeing where others lived, they were glad to be there. They came home for summer break, so I was born in Inglewood instead of in Provo.

After another year, Mom and Dad returned to California, living first in Downey, then in the Baldwin Hills area, where we lived when Vicki, Bonnie and Mike were born. During this time, Dad was called to serve in a Bishopric, and Mom served as a Primary teacher. Mom loved her Primary girls. After Mike was born, she wanted to get back to her class as soon as she could so they wouldn’t give it to someone else. But when they knew she was coming back, she was called to serve in the Primary Presidency.

Around this time, Dad and Mom began preparations for a move to Huntington Beach. In 1965, they purchased the home where Mom lived until her death, for the astronomical sum of $29,500. Actually, that was a lot of money in 1965, and they felt that they had stretched themselves pretty thin. We moved in September 1965, and became one of the founding families in the Huntington Beach Second Ward and the Huntington Beach Stake. Here also, Chrissy was born, to complete our family until we started getting married.

(I could talk about Primary in the “tin shack,” and sacrament meetings in the Huntington Beach Recreation Center before this building was built, but this is about Mom.) Her first callings here were also in the Primary: teaching, then in the ward presidency, then in the Stake Primary Presidency. The rest, you know.

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I would like to change focus now, from what Mom did, to who she was. I have found that in studying the lives of others, we can learn many things about bettering our own lives. As I review this, it is difficult to separate Mom from Dad. They were an amazing example of unity and love. So much of what I will now say applies to both. They were, and are, and will be forever, a team; an eternal partnership.

There are some characteristics Mom displayed that we can all emulate.

1.     LOVE: Mom was a great example of selfless love. That is probably why many of you are here today.

a.    There was never any question that she loved Dad. When he came home from work, she greeted him as if he had returned from months at sea. She also honored him in his role as priesthood leader in our home. That was very clear to us.

b.   There was never any question that she loved us. That was apparent to all. She took pride in her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and in their accomplishments. She repeatedly told us that we were good parents and that made her feel proud.

c.    Mom loved us even when we disappointed her. We tried not to do that very often, because I know I did not like to see the hurt in her eyes. The funny thing is, as Mom grew older, I became the perfect son. She said many times that I never gave her a bit of trouble when I was growing up. (She also taught me not to argue with my parents.)

d.   We felt her love whenever we were leaving to go home. In our family, an old tradition developed called the “Peart goodbye.” There may have been a similar tradition in some of your families. It seemed like it took forever to actually say goodbye to everyone and get on the road. There was always one more hug and one more kiss. And even as we drove away, Mom would blow kisses and give hugs until we were down the street. I wish she would have indulged us in a Peart goodbye last weekend.

e.    Mom was one of those people who could make almost anyone feel like she was their best friend. That is a special gift. It seems that she made everyone feel that they were family, whether they were blood relatives or not.

2.     HIGH EXPECTATIONS: Her love was manifest to us through these expectations she had for us.

a.    Mom, as many mothers do, had a vision of our potential. She knew what we could become and encouraged us to discover the path to get there. I think this is because she was goal-driven herself. 

b.   Each accomplishment, no matter how small, was recognized. Whether it was a baby’s first steps or a scholastic achievement, Mom would be excited. She would praise us, and often brag to others as well.

c.    She encouraged us to develop our talents. Each of took piano lessons, and as children, we had no idea what a blessing this would be to others. The same is true for my sisters’ skills in homemaking and crafts, and other skills we learned as well.

d.   We were expected to be married in the temple and to get an education. Mike and I were expected to serve missions. As a girl, she set goals to be married in the temple and to go to BYU, and worked hard to achieve those and other goals.

e.    She expected us to do well in studies, in Scouting and in Mutual.

f.     Half-hearted efforts were not tolerated. I learned this as an eight-year-old. Dad had back problems, and I started mowing the lawns. Mom made it clear that they had to be done just so. I could not be sloppy or leave unmowed strips anywhere. Attention to detail was important.

3.     TEACHING: A mother is always teaching.

a.    When I think of Mom, I always think of the poem that ends: “Richer than I you can never be: For I had a mother who read to me.” Mom taught us to read, and I recall many happy summer hours reading with her.

b.   Mom also told stories. We can still recite the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff, of the little piggy who wouldn’t jump over the stile, and the “Story of Jack Anorry.” And many others. I’m sure the grandchildren know these stories, too.

c.    We took regular trips together to the library. During the summer, we went every week.

d.   Mom taught us all basic homemaking skills, and even some advanced ones. I remember learning how to make white sauce. We learned how to set the table and how to clean house. We took turns helping her do the dishes after Sunday dinner. I didn’t realize it then, but it was an opportunity for her to visit with us as we worked.

e.    Mom taught us to do needlework. I learned to do cross-stitch when I was very young, and also learned some embroidery. She didn’t realize it then, but she was teaching me a useful career skill. Every time I place sutures in someone’s mouth, I think of Mom. In fact, the sewing is so engrained in us, that when we were discussing which hymns to sing today, Vicki suggested we sing “We Are Sewing.”

f.     Mom also taught us the gospel. She and Dad taught us together. We had our first family home evening when I was about four, and we all continue the habit. She and Dad also taught by example. When I was young, I remember going visiting teaching with Mom. In fact, we were visiting a sister on our street the day Kennedy was shot (I was four), and I can remember that sister’s upset that day. Mom and Dad took the gospel very seriously.

4.     FUN: Teaching and learning can also be fun, and Mom saw to that for us.

a.    Mom frequently played games with us. Sometimes she just refereed them.

b.   We (and the grandchildren as well) would frequently pull the couches apart and make blanket forts and have adventures in the family room.

c.    Mom enjoyed cooking with the kids, even when the results weren’t optimal. I remember her excitement about 20-month-old Emily being able to crack eggs without getting the shells in the dough.

d.   Mom always had cookies or some other treat around for us or for visitors. She enjoyed baking.

e.    Mom had a good sense of humor.  She even laughed at my jokes. And some of my jokes were old when she was young.

f.     According to Scotty, the happiest place on earth is not in Anaheim. He said it is “Grandma’s house!”

5.     INTUITION: Mom always knew what was going on with us. We could not hide a thing.

a.    It was an old Peart family joke that we needed to buy Mom a “fur-lined cookie jar.” She could be upstairs in her bathroom and still hear me getting a cookie, no matter how quiet I was. How do moms do that? I know she inherited that skill from her mother, but still.

b.   Both Mike and I became seriously ill on our missions. Communication was difficult, and our Mission Presidents were nearly silent, but Mom knew.

c.    When I struggled in college, Mom knew. Her radar was amazing. Of course, that was good motivation for me to be a good boy.

6.     SERVICE: Of course, Mom showed her love readily through serving others.

a.    Mom lived to serve, and it began at home. She made many sacrifices for us.

b.   At times, it seemed that she lived in the kitchen. She was always baking something or fixing a casserole for someone. And of course there was some for us as well.

c.    Mom loved doing for others. Food, treats, sewing, quilting, knitting, crocheting, and on and on. One event that touched me was when Mom, Vicki and Chrissy had a sewing marathon to make missionary dresses and jumpers for Eliza before she left on her mission. I got teary then, and still do, as I think about it. The torch has been passed.

7.     CHURCH ACTIVITY: Mom showed her love through church activity, and this has several facets.

a.    We all attended our meetings together – happily. Now prior to 1980, that meant that we were continually coming and going from one meeting to the next. Mutual was always on a weeknight. Relief Society was a weekday meeting, as was Primary. Sunday meetings were spread throughout the day. We did it all and had time for service in between. And we did it with a smile.

b.   Mom supported Dad in his church callings. I don’t ever recall hearing her complain. Now I have to say, that after reading her personal history, perhaps this was because she also had many demanding callings and knew what he was up against. But the fact remains that he felt her support every time he went to “one more meeting.”

c.    Mom wasn’t afraid of the challenging callings. She served in every class, in every calling in Primary, including 11-year-old Scout Leader, nursery, and Stake Primary leadership. She served in the Young Women’s organization, as a Den Mother, in the ward Relief Society, and as “Relief Society Queen,” the Stake Relief Society President. She learned from her leaders, and she surrounded herself with strong leaders when she was in charge.

d.   Mom’s biggest concern with her callings, apart from stepping out of her comfort zone, was the time she would have to spend away from us. But as I look back, I don’t feel that we were neglected. She still had time for us.

e.    Mom enlisted our help in fulfilling her callings. I served with her in her Scouting roles. We would help with set up and with decorations and other projects.

f.     She supported us in our church callings and encouraged us to magnify our callings.

g.    Along with Dad, Mom was exemplary in temple attendance and family history efforts. They attended the temple monthly when that meant making the long trek up the 405 to the LA Temple. Frequently they performed ordinances for family members.

h.   Mom loved her family, her ancestors and their traditions. She loved to share her memories of various ancestors and the things they did. I loved hearing their stories. Emily also commented on this. What a privilege it is to feel that my ancestors are real people and not just names on a chart. I will always appreciate mom’s and Dad’s efforts to preserve that for their posterity.

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Mom set a great example for each of us. Some things she didn’t do: she didn’t overindulge us; she didn’t compare us to others; she didn’t unfairly criticize us.

The challenge for each of us as her posterity is to remember her example and to carry on the traditions that she has established. In particular, we should strive to love as she loves, and to serve as she serves.

We honor her legacy as we continue to build on it. That is no small order. I can see it in the lives of my siblings even now.

I know with all my heart and soul that Mom is only separated from us by a thin veil. She is aware of our sorrows at her departure. But be assured that this is only temporary. We will see her again. At her father’s funeral, it was said that he had gone on ahead to help build our mansions in heaven. Mom is there to help decorate them.

I pray that we will live our lives so that we can be reunited with her in eternal joy and happiness in the kingdom of our Heavenly Father.

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.