A drunken man in an Oldsmobile
they said had run the light.
That caused the six-car pile
upon 109 that night.
When broken bodies lay about
and blood was everywhere,
The sirens screamed out eulogies,
for death was in the air.
A mother, trapped inside her car,
was heard above the noise,
Her plaintive plea near split the air,
"Oh, God, please spare my boys!"
She fought to loose her pinned hands,
she struggled to get free,
But mangled metal held her fast
in grim captivity.
Her frightened eyes then focused
on where the back seat once had been,
But all she saw was broken glass and
two children's seats crushed in.
Her twins were nowhere to be seen,
she did not hear them cry,
And then she prayed they'd been thrown free,
"Oh, God, don't let them die!"
Then firemen came and cut her loose,
but when they searched the back,
They found therein no little boys,
but the seat belts were intact.
They thought the woman had gone mad
and was traveling alone,
But when they turned to question her,
they discovered she was gone.
Policemen saw her running wild
and screaming above the noise
In beseeching supplication,
"Please help me find my boys!"
"They're four years old and wear blue shirts,
their jeans are blue to match."
One cop spoke up, "They're in my car,
and they don't have a scratch."
"They said their daddy put them there,
and gave them each a cone,"
"Then told them both to wait for Mom
to come and take them home."
"I've searched the area high and low,
but I can't find their dad."
"He must have fled the scene,I guess,
and that is very bad."
The mother hugged the twins and said,
while wiping at a tear,
"He could not flee the scene, you see,
for he's been dead a year."
The cop just looked confused and asked,
"Now, how can that be true?"
The boys said, "Mommy, Daddy came
and left a kiss for you."
"He told us not to worry
and that you would be all right,"
"And then he put us in this car with
the pretty, flashing light."
"We wanted him to stay with us,
because we miss him so,"
"But Mommy, he just hugged us tight
and said he had to go."
"He said someday we'd understand
and told us not to fuss,"
"And he said to tell you, Mommy,
"He's watching over us."
The mother knew without a doubt
that what they spoke was true,
For she recalled their dad's last words,
"I will watch over you."
The fireman's notes could not explain
the twisted, mangled car,
And how the three of them escaped
without a single scar.
But on the cop's report was scribed,
in print so very fine,
"An angel walked the beat tonight
on Highway 109."
Friday, September 5, 2008
7 Reasons Not to Mess with Children
1. A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales. The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small. The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale. Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible.
The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah".
The teacher asked, "What if Jonah went to hell?"
The little girl replied, "Then you ask him".
2. A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's work. As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was.
The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."
The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like."
Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl: replied, "They will in a minute."
3. A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to "honor" thy Father and thy Mother, she asked, "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?"
Without missing a beat one little boy (the oldest of a family) answered, "Thou shall not kill."
4. One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head. She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, "Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?"
Her mother replied, "Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white."
The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, "Momma, how come ALL of grandma's hairs are white?"
5. The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture. "Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, 'There's Jennifer, she's a lawyer,' or 'That's Michael, He's a doctor.'
A small voice at the back of the room rang out, "And there's the teacher, she's dead."
6. A teacher was giving a lesson on the circulation of the blood. Trying to make the matter clearer, she said, "Now, class, if I stood on my head, the blood, as you know, would run into it, and I would turn red in the face."
"Yes," the class said.
"Then why is it that while I am standing upright in the ordinary position the blood doesn't run into my feet?"
A little fellow shouted, "Cause your feet ain't empty."
7. The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray:
"Take only ONE. God is watching."
Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A child had written a note, "Take all you want. God is watching the apples.
The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah".
The teacher asked, "What if Jonah went to hell?"
The little girl replied, "Then you ask him".
2. A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's work. As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was.
The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."
The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like."
Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl: replied, "They will in a minute."
3. A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to "honor" thy Father and thy Mother, she asked, "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?"
Without missing a beat one little boy (the oldest of a family) answered, "Thou shall not kill."
4. One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head. She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, "Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?"
Her mother replied, "Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white."
The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, "Momma, how come ALL of grandma's hairs are white?"
5. The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture. "Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, 'There's Jennifer, she's a lawyer,' or 'That's Michael, He's a doctor.'
A small voice at the back of the room rang out, "And there's the teacher, she's dead."
6. A teacher was giving a lesson on the circulation of the blood. Trying to make the matter clearer, she said, "Now, class, if I stood on my head, the blood, as you know, would run into it, and I would turn red in the face."
"Yes," the class said.
"Then why is it that while I am standing upright in the ordinary position the blood doesn't run into my feet?"
A little fellow shouted, "Cause your feet ain't empty."
7. The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray:
"Take only ONE. God is watching."
Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A child had written a note, "Take all you want. God is watching the apples.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Seoul Temple Promise
Seoul Temple Promise
by Steve Cale, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea,
28 Feb 2004
The temple in Seoul Korea has a promise of temporal protection attached. I know of no other temple in the world for which temple attendance will protect the country from war. I'm a Korean linguist for the U.S. Air Force. I've been stationed in Korea for 12 of the last 22 years. I served my mission in Sendai, Japan and then returned home to Idaho and married my wife Lauri. I joined the Air Force in 1982 and was sent to the Def. Language Institute to learn Korean. I was then assigned to Osan Air Base in 1984. I am an Intelligence professional. On Dec. 14, 1985, my wife and I were privileged to attend the dedication of the Seoul Temple. The day was very cold and the wind was blowing very strong, but as we waited in the parking lot of the temple for our session, we were kept warm by the many friends surrounding us. We entered the temple and took our seats.
President Gordon B. Hinckley, then a counselor, was to dedicate the temple. In his remarks before the dedicatory prayer, he made a comment that was so startling, that I committed it to memory. He said, 'If you will use this temple, you need not fear an invasion from the north.' What a great promise! I also remember the remark, because during my mission, I had the opportunity to work with Elder Kikuchi of the Seventy. As I spoke with him afterwards, he remarked how neat that promise was. My family returned to Korea in 1988 for a 2nd tour, until 1991. The Saints in Korea had been attending the temple regularly and I feel this is why the 1988 Olympic Games were held without incident even though the North Koreans had threatened to disrupt them.
In 1993, we returned yet again to Korea and at that time, tensions were increasing over the possible development by the North Koreans of nuclear weapons. In 1994, it actually appeared that we might go to war with North Korea over this issue. Even though I had heard a prophet of the Lord declare that we would be protected, I began to doubt the promise. I wondered if perhaps I had misunderstood President Hinckley's words that day.
That summer, we were invited to Seoul to a training session with Elder Boyd K. Packer and Elder Henry Eyring. The chapel in Shingdang was filled with church leaders both Korean and American. Elder Eyring spoke first and then Elder Packer stood up to speak. He let us know that 'training' was not the only reason that he and Elder Eyring had come to Korea. He told us that President Hinckley was concerned for the safety of the saints in Korea. Therefore, the day before, President Packer and Elder Eyring had gone up to the DMZ, the border between North and South Korea, and had performed a priesthood ordinance which placed guardian angels at that border. He told us that because of our faithfulness in attending the temple, we would be protected. I don't know if I was more surprised to hear that there were actually guardian angels at the border, or that there was a priesthood ordinance to put them there. One Korean stake president asked Elder Packer, 'how long will they be there?' His answer was, 'as long as they are needed and you are faithful in your temple attendance.' Now I knew we were safe for I had heard the promise twice.
In 1996, President Hinckley came to Korea on his way to Hong Kong to dedicate the temple there. He held a regional conference in Seoul. During his remarks, he made reference to the temple promise. He told us that we now needed to attend the temple faithfully, and also appreciate it. He told us that we were all being protected by the Lord because we had done as we were told. This was the third time I had heard the promise and the second time from President Hinckley's own mouth.
I know that this promise is true. I have seen events happen in conjunction with my job, in which many times the experts have been confused as to why the North Koreans did not attack. I know it is because they cannot.
As a member of the U.S. A. F, part of my job is to help protect the Republic of Korea from attack. I feel as a member of the Church, I can do more to protect South Korea by attending the temple. As long as the saints in Korea attend the temple they are protected. I have been so blessed to not only witness the prophet of the Lord proclaim this great promise, but also have been here to see the fulfillment of those words.
by Steve Cale, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea,
28 Feb 2004
The temple in Seoul Korea has a promise of temporal protection attached. I know of no other temple in the world for which temple attendance will protect the country from war. I'm a Korean linguist for the U.S. Air Force. I've been stationed in Korea for 12 of the last 22 years. I served my mission in Sendai, Japan and then returned home to Idaho and married my wife Lauri. I joined the Air Force in 1982 and was sent to the Def. Language Institute to learn Korean. I was then assigned to Osan Air Base in 1984. I am an Intelligence professional. On Dec. 14, 1985, my wife and I were privileged to attend the dedication of the Seoul Temple. The day was very cold and the wind was blowing very strong, but as we waited in the parking lot of the temple for our session, we were kept warm by the many friends surrounding us. We entered the temple and took our seats.
President Gordon B. Hinckley, then a counselor, was to dedicate the temple. In his remarks before the dedicatory prayer, he made a comment that was so startling, that I committed it to memory. He said, 'If you will use this temple, you need not fear an invasion from the north.' What a great promise! I also remember the remark, because during my mission, I had the opportunity to work with Elder Kikuchi of the Seventy. As I spoke with him afterwards, he remarked how neat that promise was. My family returned to Korea in 1988 for a 2nd tour, until 1991. The Saints in Korea had been attending the temple regularly and I feel this is why the 1988 Olympic Games were held without incident even though the North Koreans had threatened to disrupt them.
In 1993, we returned yet again to Korea and at that time, tensions were increasing over the possible development by the North Koreans of nuclear weapons. In 1994, it actually appeared that we might go to war with North Korea over this issue. Even though I had heard a prophet of the Lord declare that we would be protected, I began to doubt the promise. I wondered if perhaps I had misunderstood President Hinckley's words that day.
That summer, we were invited to Seoul to a training session with Elder Boyd K. Packer and Elder Henry Eyring. The chapel in Shingdang was filled with church leaders both Korean and American. Elder Eyring spoke first and then Elder Packer stood up to speak. He let us know that 'training' was not the only reason that he and Elder Eyring had come to Korea. He told us that President Hinckley was concerned for the safety of the saints in Korea. Therefore, the day before, President Packer and Elder Eyring had gone up to the DMZ, the border between North and South Korea, and had performed a priesthood ordinance which placed guardian angels at that border. He told us that because of our faithfulness in attending the temple, we would be protected. I don't know if I was more surprised to hear that there were actually guardian angels at the border, or that there was a priesthood ordinance to put them there. One Korean stake president asked Elder Packer, 'how long will they be there?' His answer was, 'as long as they are needed and you are faithful in your temple attendance.' Now I knew we were safe for I had heard the promise twice.
In 1996, President Hinckley came to Korea on his way to Hong Kong to dedicate the temple there. He held a regional conference in Seoul. During his remarks, he made reference to the temple promise. He told us that we now needed to attend the temple faithfully, and also appreciate it. He told us that we were all being protected by the Lord because we had done as we were told. This was the third time I had heard the promise and the second time from President Hinckley's own mouth.
I know that this promise is true. I have seen events happen in conjunction with my job, in which many times the experts have been confused as to why the North Koreans did not attack. I know it is because they cannot.
As a member of the U.S. A. F, part of my job is to help protect the Republic of Korea from attack. I feel as a member of the Church, I can do more to protect South Korea by attending the temple. As long as the saints in Korea attend the temple they are protected. I have been so blessed to not only witness the prophet of the Lord proclaim this great promise, but also have been here to see the fulfillment of those words.
Do You Want a Donut?
There was a boy by the name of Steve who was attending Seminary in Utah . In this Seminary, classes are held during school hours. Brother Christianson taught Seminary at this particular school. He had an open-door policy and would take in any student that had been thrown out of another class as long as they would abide by his rules. Steve had been kicked out of his sixth period and no other teacher wanted him, so he went into Brother Christianson's Seminary class. Steve was told that he could not be late, so he arrived just seconds before the bell rang and he would sit in the very back of the room. He would also be the first to leave after the class was over.
One day, Brother Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him. After class, Bro. Christianson pulled Steve aside and said, 'You think you're pretty tough, don't you?'
Steve's answer was, 'Yeah, I do.'
Then Brother Christianson asked, 'How many push-ups can you do?'
Steve said, 'I do about 200 every night.'
'200? That's pretty good, Steve,' Brother Christianson said. 'Do you think you could do 300?'
Steve replied, 'I don't know... I've never done 300 at a time.' '
Do you think you could?' Again asked Brother Christianson.
'Well, I can try,' said Steve.
'Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I need you to do 300 in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it,' Brother Christianson said.
Steve said, 'Well... I think I can... yeah, I can do it.'
Brother Christianson said, 'Good! I need you to do this on Friday.'
Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, Brother Christianson pulled out a big box of donuts. Now these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited-it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend.
Bro. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, 'Cynthia, do you want a donut?'
Cynthia said, 'Yes.'
Bro. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, 'Steve, would you do ten pushups so that Cynthia can have a donut?'
Steve said, 'Sure,' and jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk.
Bro. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk. Bro. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, 'Joe do you want a donut?'
Joe said, 'Yes.'
Bro. Christianson asked, 'Steve would you do ten pushups so Joe can have a donut?'
Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut.
And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten pushups for every person before they got their donut. And down the second aisle, till Bro. Christianson came to Scott.
Scott was captain of the football team and center of the basketball team. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship. Then Bro. Christianson asked, 'Scott do you want a donut?'
Scott's reply was, 'Well, can I do my own pushups?'
Bro. Christianson said, 'No, Steve has to do them.'
Then Scott said, 'Well, I don't want one then.'
Bro. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, 'Steve, would you do ten pushups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?'
Steve started to do ten pushups.
Scott said, 'HEY! I said I didn't want one!'
Bro. Christianson said, 'Look, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it.' And he put a donut on Scott's desk.
Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow. Bro. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry.
Bro. Christianson asked Jenny, 'Jenny, do you want a donut?'
Jenny said, 'No.'
Then Bro. Christianson asked Steve, 'Steve, would you do ten pushups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?' Steve did ten, Jenny got a donut.
By now, the students were beginning to say 'No' and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks. Steve was also having to really put forth a lot of effort to get these pushups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.
Bro. Christianson asked Robert to watch Steve to make sure he did ten pushups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. So Robert began to watch Steve closely.
Bro. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class, however, some students had wandered in and sat along the heaters along the sides of the room. When Bro. Christianson realized this; he did a quick count and saw 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.
Bro. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.
Steve asked Bro. Christianson, 'Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?'
Bro. Christianson thought for a moment, 'Well, they're your pushups. You can do them any way that you want.' And Bro. Christianson went on.
A few moments later, Jason came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled, 'NO! Don't come in! Stay out!' Jason didn't know what was going on.
Steve picked up his head and said, 'No, let him come.'
Bro. Christianson said, 'You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten pushups for him.'
Steve said, 'Yes, let him come in.'
Bro. Christianson said, 'Okay, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?'
'Yes.'
'Steve, will you do ten pushups so that Jason can have a donut?' Steve did ten pushups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.
Bro. Christianson finished the fourth row, then started on those seated on the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each pushup in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. Sweat was dropping off of his face and, by this time, there was not a dry eye in the room.
The very last two girls in the room were cheerleaders and very popular. Bro. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, 'Linda, do you want a doughnut?
Linda said, very sadly, 'No, thank you.'
Bro. Christianson asked Steve, 'Steve, would you do ten pushups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?'
Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow pushups for Linda. Then Bro. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. 'Susan, do you want a donut?'
Susan, with tears flowing down her face, asked, 'Bro. Christians on , can I help him?'
Bro. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, 'No, he has to do it alone, Steve, would you do ten pushups so Susan can have a donut?'
As Steve very slowly finished his last pushup, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 pushups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.
Brother Christianson turned to the room and said. 'And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, plead to the Father, 'Into thy hands I commend my spirit.' With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, he collapsed on the cross and died. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten.'
When everyone in the classroom heard what the teacher meant by it and realized everything. Steve smiled on the ground where he laid in his own sweat and began to cry.
One day, Brother Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him. After class, Bro. Christianson pulled Steve aside and said, 'You think you're pretty tough, don't you?'
Steve's answer was, 'Yeah, I do.'
Then Brother Christianson asked, 'How many push-ups can you do?'
Steve said, 'I do about 200 every night.'
'200? That's pretty good, Steve,' Brother Christianson said. 'Do you think you could do 300?'
Steve replied, 'I don't know... I've never done 300 at a time.' '
Do you think you could?' Again asked Brother Christianson.
'Well, I can try,' said Steve.
'Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I need you to do 300 in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it,' Brother Christianson said.
Steve said, 'Well... I think I can... yeah, I can do it.'
Brother Christianson said, 'Good! I need you to do this on Friday.'
Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, Brother Christianson pulled out a big box of donuts. Now these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited-it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend.
Bro. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, 'Cynthia, do you want a donut?'
Cynthia said, 'Yes.'
Bro. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, 'Steve, would you do ten pushups so that Cynthia can have a donut?'
Steve said, 'Sure,' and jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk.
Bro. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk. Bro. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, 'Joe do you want a donut?'
Joe said, 'Yes.'
Bro. Christianson asked, 'Steve would you do ten pushups so Joe can have a donut?'
Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut.
And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten pushups for every person before they got their donut. And down the second aisle, till Bro. Christianson came to Scott.
Scott was captain of the football team and center of the basketball team. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship. Then Bro. Christianson asked, 'Scott do you want a donut?'
Scott's reply was, 'Well, can I do my own pushups?'
Bro. Christianson said, 'No, Steve has to do them.'
Then Scott said, 'Well, I don't want one then.'
Bro. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, 'Steve, would you do ten pushups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?'
Steve started to do ten pushups.
Scott said, 'HEY! I said I didn't want one!'
Bro. Christianson said, 'Look, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it.' And he put a donut on Scott's desk.
Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow. Bro. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry.
Bro. Christianson asked Jenny, 'Jenny, do you want a donut?'
Jenny said, 'No.'
Then Bro. Christianson asked Steve, 'Steve, would you do ten pushups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?' Steve did ten, Jenny got a donut.
By now, the students were beginning to say 'No' and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks. Steve was also having to really put forth a lot of effort to get these pushups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.
Bro. Christianson asked Robert to watch Steve to make sure he did ten pushups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. So Robert began to watch Steve closely.
Bro. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class, however, some students had wandered in and sat along the heaters along the sides of the room. When Bro. Christianson realized this; he did a quick count and saw 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.
Bro. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.
Steve asked Bro. Christianson, 'Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?'
Bro. Christianson thought for a moment, 'Well, they're your pushups. You can do them any way that you want.' And Bro. Christianson went on.
A few moments later, Jason came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled, 'NO! Don't come in! Stay out!' Jason didn't know what was going on.
Steve picked up his head and said, 'No, let him come.'
Bro. Christianson said, 'You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten pushups for him.'
Steve said, 'Yes, let him come in.'
Bro. Christianson said, 'Okay, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?'
'Yes.'
'Steve, will you do ten pushups so that Jason can have a donut?' Steve did ten pushups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.
Bro. Christianson finished the fourth row, then started on those seated on the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each pushup in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. Sweat was dropping off of his face and, by this time, there was not a dry eye in the room.
The very last two girls in the room were cheerleaders and very popular. Bro. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, 'Linda, do you want a doughnut?
Linda said, very sadly, 'No, thank you.'
Bro. Christianson asked Steve, 'Steve, would you do ten pushups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?'
Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow pushups for Linda. Then Bro. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. 'Susan, do you want a donut?'
Susan, with tears flowing down her face, asked, 'Bro. Christians on , can I help him?'
Bro. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, 'No, he has to do it alone, Steve, would you do ten pushups so Susan can have a donut?'
As Steve very slowly finished his last pushup, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 pushups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.
Brother Christianson turned to the room and said. 'And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, plead to the Father, 'Into thy hands I commend my spirit.' With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, he collapsed on the cross and died. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten.'
When everyone in the classroom heard what the teacher meant by it and realized everything. Steve smiled on the ground where he laid in his own sweat and began to cry.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
The Visitor
When I was 18 years old, as I was preparing to serve a mission, my bishop called me to teach the Sunbeams. I had never before learned to love others more than myself until I had served those children in such a simple assignment. With time and patience I learned how to keep those seven children in their seats and listening to a simple lesson.
One day I invited Mike to come to church and sit in my class. Mike was my age but had stopped attending church completely by the time he was 12. We had remained friends over the years as I had served as the deacons quorum president, the teachers quorum president, and the first assistant to the bishop in the priests quorum. He had been the topic of many fellowshipping discussions and was often part of my prayers as the years passed.
Once in a while Mike would accept my invitations to come to an activity. It always surprised me when he did, so I kept inviting him. At the time, Mike had long black hair and a beard. His complexion was dark and pleasant. I don't remember when I invited him to my primary class, but one day he showed up.
"Class, I would like to introduce you to my friend Mike," is how I began my lesson. "He is visiting us today." Mike sat next to me in front. The children sat in a semicircle with their eyes fixed on him. They were much quieter than usual. I was about five or six minutes into the lesson when one little boy got up from his chair and walked across the room and stood directly in front of my friend.
The boy paused for a moment and then climbed onto his lap. I continued with the lesson as I watched the two of them from the corner of my eye. The boy sat looking into Mike's face. Mike was quite uncomfortable but did not interrupt the lesson or turn the boy away.
The other children watched the two of them for a few minutes. Then one of the girls climbed off her seat and approached Mike. I was intently interested in seeing how Mike would react and did not want to instruct the two children back to their seats. The girl stood with her hand on Mike's knee looking into his face.
Then it happened. The boy on Mike's lap reached up with both hands and turned Mike's face directly to his. I stopped my lesson to see what was about to unfold. With the innocence of a child, he said to Mike, "Are you Jesus?"
The look on Mike's face was total surprise. It seemed, as I glanced at the children's faces, they all had the same question on their minds. Mike looked at me as if to say, Help, What do I say? I stepped in. "No, this is not Jesus. This is his brother." Mike looked at me as if in shock. Then without hesitation the boy in Mike's lap reached up and wrapped his arms around Mike's neck. "I can tell," the boy said as he hugged Mike. The rest of the children smiled and nodded in agreement as their simple question was answered. Mike blinked back the tears in response to the love he felt from this small Sunbeam.
The lesson went on, but that day the teacher who taught the most was a three-year-old child. Mike spent more than a year getting ready to serve a mission. It thrilled me to learn that he left for the mission field a few months before I returned.
I still think of the scripture in Matthew 18:5: "And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me."
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