AHS Memorization, 2013–2014
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AHS Memorization, 2013–2014 Contents Kindergarten Memorization ....................................................................................................................... 13 Starting With Me..................................................................................................................................... 13 I’m a Child of Royal Birth......................................................................................................................... 14 Clouds...................................................................................................................................................... 15 The Wind ................................................................................................................................................. 16 What Can I Give Him? ............................................................................................................................. 17 Columbus ................................................................................................................................................ 18 Kind Deeds .............................................................................................................................................. 19 Precious Stones ....................................................................................................................................... 20 Hearts Like Doors .................................................................................................................................... 21 Psalm 100 ................................................................................................................................................ 22 The First Article of Faith .......................................................................................................................... 23 The Second Article of Faith ..................................................................................................................... 24 The Third Article of Faith ........................................................................................................................ 25 James 1:5................................................................................................................................................. 26 I Nephi 3:7 ............................................................................................................................................... 27 Alma 32:21 .............................................................................................................................................. 28 Mosiah 2:17 ............................................................................................................................................ 29 st 1 Grade Memorization .............................................................................................................................. 30 The Swing ................................................................................................................................................ 30 Praise for Creation and Providence ........................................................................................................ 31 The Children’s Hour ................................................................................................................................ 32 The Lamb................................................................................................................................................. 34 2nd Grade Memorization ............................................................................................................................. 35 2nd Nephi 32:3 ......................................................................................................................................... 35 The Creation Poem ................................................................................................................................. 36 Psalm 23 .................................................................................................................................................. 37 Christopher Columbus ............................................................................................................................ 38 1 Song......................................................................................................................................................... 39 I Am a Child of Royal Birth ...................................................................................................................... 40 Prayer ...................................................................................................................................................... 41 I Samuel 16:7........................................................................................................................................... 42 Hiawatha ................................................................................................................................................. 43 Preamble to the Constitution ................................................................................................................. 44 Amos 3:7 ................................................................................................................................................. 45 I Never Saw a Moor................................................................................................................................. 46 How Doth the Little Crocodile................................................................................................................. 47 D&C 89: 18–20 ........................................................................................................................................ 48 Shakespeare (King Richard III)................................................................................................................. 49 Job 19:25 ................................................................................................................................................. 50 Doctrine and Covenants 130:18.............................................................................................................. 51 3rd Grade Memorization.............................................................................................................................. 52 Ways to Be .............................................................................................................................................. 52 Doctrine and Covenants 4:4–7................................................................................................................ 53 Doctrine and Covenants 136:28.............................................................................................................. 54 Isaiah 9:6 ................................................................................................................................................. 55 Chinese Proverb ...................................................................................................................................... 56 2 Nephi 31:20 .......................................................................................................................................... 57 Take What God Gives .............................................................................................................................. 58 Mosiah 2:41 ............................................................................................................................................ 59 God Has Saved ........................................................................................................................................ 60 th 4 Grade Memorization.............................................................................................................................. 61 Moroni 10:4–6 ........................................................................................................................................ 61 I Shall Pass through this World but Once................................................................................................ 62 I Have Wept in the Night......................................................................................................................... 63 The Highwayman .................................................................................................................................... 64 The Flag Goes By ..................................................................................................................................... 69 The Charge of the Light Brigade.............................................................................................................. 71 The Village Blacksmith ............................................................................................................................ 73 Beautiful .................................................................................................................................................. 75 2 Autumn Fires ........................................................................................................................................... 76 The Arrow and the Song ......................................................................................................................... 77 A Prayer in Spring .................................................................................................................................... 78 A Bag of Tools.......................................................................................................................................... 79 All Thing Bright and Beautiful ................................................................................................................. 80 th 5 Grade Memorization.............................................................................................................................. 81 D&C 1:37–38 ........................................................................................................................................... 81 D&C 8:2–3 ............................................................................................................................................... 82 D&C 10:5 ................................................................................................................................................. 83 D&C 14:7 ................................................................................................................................................. 84 D&C 18:10, 15–16 ................................................................................................................................... 85 D&C 19:16–19 ......................................................................................................................................... 86 D&C 25:12 ............................................................................................................................................... 87 D&C 58:26–27 ......................................................................................................................................... 88 D&C 58:42–43 ......................................................................................................................................... 89 D&C 59:9–10 ........................................................................................................................................... 90 D&C 64:23 ............................................................................................................................................... 91 D&C 64:9–11 ........................................................................................................................................... 92 D&C 76:22–24 ......................................................................................................................................... 93 D&C 82:3 ................................................................................................................................................. 94 D&C 82:10 ............................................................................................................................................... 95 D&C 84:33–39 ......................................................................................................................................... 96 D&C 88:123–124 ..................................................................................................................................... 97 D&C 89:18–21 ......................................................................................................................................... 98 D&C 121:34–36 ....................................................................................................................................... 99 D&C 130:18–19 ..................................................................................................................................... 100 D&C 130:20–21 ..................................................................................................................................... 101 D&C 130:22–23 ..................................................................................................................................... 102 D&C 131:1–4 ......................................................................................................................................... 103 D&C 137:7–10 ....................................................................................................................................... 104 Joseph Smith History 1:15–20............................................................................................................... 105 The Road Not Taken .............................................................................................................................. 109 3 To Be a Pilgrim ...................................................................................................................................... 110 States and Capitals ................................................................................................................................ 111 A Little Kingdom I Possess..................................................................................................................... 113 Preamble to the Constitution ............................................................................................................... 115 Christmas Bells ...................................................................................................................................... 116 Gettysburg Address............................................................................................................................... 118 th 6 Grade Memorization............................................................................................................................ 119 A Little Knowledge ................................................................................................................................ 119 A Stanza on Freedom ............................................................................................................................ 120 Allie’s Quotations .................................................................................................................................. 121 D&C 88:122 ........................................................................................................................................... 123 Helaman 5:12 ........................................................................................................................................ 124 Be Strong ............................................................................................................................................... 125 Benjamin Franklin Quotes..................................................................................................................... 126 Builder ................................................................................................................................................... 127 Character that Moves Hearts and Minds .............................................................................................. 128 Character............................................................................................................................................... 129 Daily Choices ......................................................................................................................................... 131 Conscience ............................................................................................................................................ 132 Quotes on Courage ............................................................................................................................... 133 Courage ................................................................................................................................................. 137 Daffodils ................................................................................................................................................ 138 Daniel 2:20–22 ...................................................................................................................................... 139 The Destruction Of Sennacherib ........................................................................................................... 140 Disappointment – His Appointment ..................................................................................................... 141 Don’t Quit! ............................................................................................................................................ 143 Freedom from Bondage ........................................................................................................................ 145 God Asks about Availability................................................................................................................... 146 Do What Is Necessary ........................................................................................................................... 147 Our Sacred Allotment ........................................................................................................................... 148 History Is Not an Accident..................................................................................................................... 149 Be Honest .............................................................................................................................................. 150 4 Joshua 1:9 ............................................................................................................................................. 151 I Am Only One ....................................................................................................................................... 152 If We Had No Winter............................................................................................................................. 153 If You Think You are Beaten . . . ............................................................................................................ 154 In the End .............................................................................................................................................. 155 Indwelling .............................................................................................................................................. 156 Old Chinese Proverb ............................................................................................................................. 157 It Couldn’t Be Done ............................................................................................................................... 158 Every Man ............................................................................................................................................. 159 Death Is a Comma ................................................................................................................................. 160 Learning by Heart .................................................................................................................................. 161 Abraham Lincoln Quotes....................................................................................................................... 162 Living What We Pray For....................................................................................................................... 163 Love of Country ..................................................................................................................................... 165 Luke 6:38 ............................................................................................................................................... 166 Man-Making .......................................................................................................................................... 167 The Sun ................................................................................................................................................. 168 My Little Kingdom ................................................................................................................................. 169 Nothing Touches the Soul ..................................................................................................................... 171 Obedience ............................................................................................................................................. 172 Our Deepest Fear .................................................................................................................................. 173 Ozymandias ........................................................................................................................................... 174 Principles of History .............................................................................................................................. 175 Sheri Dew Quote ................................................................................................................................... 176 Someone is Watching ........................................................................................................................... 177 The Book of Life .................................................................................................................................... 178 The Carpenter of Nazareth ................................................................................................................... 179 The Difference....................................................................................................................................... 181 The Family ............................................................................................................................................. 182 The Living Christ .................................................................................................................................... 183 The Only Real Treasure ......................................................................................................................... 185 The Lord’s Territory............................................................................................................................... 186 5 D&C 123:17 ........................................................................................................................................... 187 D&C 128:22 ........................................................................................................................................... 188 Unless You Let it In ................................................................................................................................ 189 Vice Is a Monster................................................................................................................................... 190 We Must Stand Firm ............................................................................................................................. 191 We are Sowing ...................................................................................................................................... 192 We Will Speak Out ................................................................................................................................ 193 Shortness of Sight ................................................................................................................................. 194 Words are Wonderful Things ................................................................................................................ 195 Would You Judge .................................................................................................................................. 196 When We Choose to Follow Christ ....................................................................................................... 197 You That Have Faith .............................................................................................................................. 198 7th Grade Memorization............................................................................................................................ 199 The Blessings and Cursings of the Abrahamic Covenant as found in Deuteronomy Chapter 28. ........ 199 Exodus 19:5 ........................................................................................................................................... 200 Psalm 136:1 ........................................................................................................................................... 201 Isaiah 52:7 ............................................................................................................................................. 202 Matthew 22:36–39 ............................................................................................................................... 203 1 Timothy 4:12 ...................................................................................................................................... 204 Doctrine and Covenants 109:22............................................................................................................ 205 Life Is like a Grindstone ......................................................................................................................... 206 Helaman 5:12 ........................................................................................................................................ 207 D&C 121:45 ........................................................................................................................................... 208 D&C 93:53 ............................................................................................................................................. 209 D&C 135:3 ............................................................................................................................................ 210 Hope of Israel ........................................................................................................................................ 211 Improve Your Understanding................................................................................................................ 212 The Highest Glory.................................................................................................................................. 213 Let Each Citizen Remember .................................................................................................................. 214 American Heritage School Mission Statement ..................................................................................... 215 My Life Is but a Weaving ....................................................................................................................... 216 Proverbs 3:5–6 ...................................................................................................................................... 217 6 As a Man Thinketh ................................................................................................................................ 218 Anyone Can Give Up ............................................................................................................................. 219 Overcoming Pride ................................................................................................................................. 220 Friends with the Lord ............................................................................................................................ 221 Principles of Wisdom ............................................................................................................................ 222 Watch Your Thoughts ........................................................................................................................... 223 Providence ............................................................................................................................................ 224 Young People ........................................................................................................................................ 225 2 Nephi 2:26 .......................................................................................................................................... 226 History Is Not an Accident..................................................................................................................... 227 Righteousness and Liberty .................................................................................................................... 228 Pride ...................................................................................................................................................... 229 Quest of Obedience .............................................................................................................................. 230 Following Christ..................................................................................................................................... 231 Putting God First ................................................................................................................................... 232 Choice Spirits......................................................................................................................................... 233 Good Conscience .................................................................................................................................. 234 Earth and Heaven.................................................................................................................................. 235 Five Kernels of Corn .............................................................................................................................. 236 Atonement ............................................................................................................................................ 239 Adversity ............................................................................................................................................... 240 Faithful Stewardship ............................................................................................................................. 241 Prodigal Son .......................................................................................................................................... 242 Story of Christ ....................................................................................................................................... 243 Three Gates of Gold .............................................................................................................................. 244 The Book of Martyrs ............................................................................................................................. 245 He Ate and Drank the Precious Words ................................................................................................. 246 Read, sweet, how others strove... ........................................................................................................ 247 Potential of Man ................................................................................................................................... 248 Count that Day Lost .............................................................................................................................. 249 What Will Heaven Be Like? ................................................................................................................... 250 Choose Our Influence ........................................................................................................................... 251 7 Christian Education ............................................................................................................................... 252 Diligence................................................................................................................................................ 253 Virtue .................................................................................................................................................... 254 Law of Liberty ........................................................................................................................................ 255 God’s Love ............................................................................................................................................. 256 Soul’s Impress ....................................................................................................................................... 257 Along the Road...................................................................................................................................... 258 Liberty or Death .................................................................................................................................... 259 Hinckley on Dickens .............................................................................................................................. 260 Christ is the Cornerstone ...................................................................................................................... 261 Focal Point of History ............................................................................................................................ 262 It Will All Work Out ............................................................................................................................... 263 Joy of the Gospel................................................................................................................................... 264 Hatred vs Virtue .................................................................................................................................... 265 Standards to Judge ................................................................................................................................ 266 Begins with You ..................................................................................................................................... 267 Sacrifice for Faith .................................................................................................................................. 268 Both Sides of the Veil ............................................................................................................................ 269 No Other Way ....................................................................................................................................... 270 Conscience ............................................................................................................................................ 271 Like a Rock............................................................................................................................................. 272 James 1:6............................................................................................................................................... 273 Humility II .............................................................................................................................................. 274 Potential ................................................................................................................................................ 275 Foreordination ...................................................................................................................................... 276 Sun Rises ............................................................................................................................................... 277 Family’s Design...................................................................................................................................... 278 Virtue Exalts a Nation............................................................................................................................ 279 Work...................................................................................................................................................... 280 What Makes Us Happy .......................................................................................................................... 281 New Testament ..................................................................................................................................... 282 Neutrality Is Evil .................................................................................................................................... 283 8 We Will Speak Out ................................................................................................................................ 285 My Savior Liveth .................................................................................................................................... 286 I Cannot Retract .................................................................................................................................... 287 Self-Government ................................................................................................................................... 288 Be Present ............................................................................................................................................. 289 Goal ....................................................................................................................................................... 290 Success .................................................................................................................................................. 291 Character and Education....................................................................................................................... 292 What We Become ................................................................................................................................. 293 Citizenship and Noble Character........................................................................................................... 294 Testimony.............................................................................................................................................. 295 Work II ................................................................................................................................................... 296 On The Last Massacre in Piedmont....................................................................................................... 297 Try ......................................................................................................................................................... 298 Prepare.................................................................................................................................................. 299 Thanksgiving and Gratitude .................................................................................................................. 300 Only Christianity Offers a Savior ........................................................................................................... 301 Happiness in Obedience ....................................................................................................................... 302 Serve Your Organization ....................................................................................................................... 303 Atonement ............................................................................................................................................ 304 The First Vision ...................................................................................................................................... 305 Definition of a Principle ........................................................................................................................ 306 Christ ..................................................................................................................................................... 307 From a Quaker Calendar ....................................................................................................................... 308 Ruth 1:16,17 .......................................................................................................................................... 309 Obedience to Principles ........................................................................................................................ 310 Line of Demarcation .............................................................................................................................. 311 Plan of Salvation.................................................................................................................................... 312 Character Is Power ................................................................................................................................ 313 Words of wisdom from Wycliffe ........................................................................................................... 314 I Nephi 13:12 ......................................................................................................................................... 315 From The Declaration of Independence ............................................................................................... 316 9 Doctrine and Covenants 101:77............................................................................................................ 317 I Am Only One ....................................................................................................................................... 318 Shakespeare “Henry IV” Part I, I–1:18–27 ............................................................................................ 319 Experience............................................................................................................................................. 320 Power of the Bible................................................................................................................................. 321 Faith and Hard Work ............................................................................................................................. 322 A Stanza on Freedom ............................................................................................................................ 323 Fill .......................................................................................................................................................... 324 Sonnet 116 ............................................................................................................................................ 325 Duty and Obedience ............................................................................................................................. 326 Approved in the Sight of God................................................................................................................ 327 What Is True .......................................................................................................................................... 328 The AHS History Timeline...................................................................................................................... 329 General George Washington’s Instructions to the Colonial Army........................................................ 331 George Washington First Inaugural Address, April 1789 ...................................................................... 332 General Washington’s Thanks to God .................................................................................................. 333 Check Your Thoughts ............................................................................................................................ 334 The Gospel Is a Compass....................................................................................................................... 335 Teachings of the Bible ........................................................................................................................... 336 Avoid what Weakens Your Reason ....................................................................................................... 337 Do All the Good ..................................................................................................................................... 338 Adams, John Quincy, Diary entry, January 1, 1829............................................................................... 339 Albert Schweitzer .................................................................................................................................. 341 Small Powers ......................................................................................................................................... 342 Indifference ........................................................................................................................................... 343 8th Grade Memorization............................................................................................................................ 344 Doctrine and Covenants 64:34.............................................................................................................. 344 Doctrine and Covenants 64:33.............................................................................................................. 345 1 Nephi 9:6 ............................................................................................................................................ 346 Helaman 5:12 ........................................................................................................................................ 347 Example of Hope and Liberty ................................................................................................................ 348 Wisdom and Virtue ............................................................................................................................... 349 10 Beauty ................................................................................................................................................... 350 Doctrine and Covenants 93:36–37........................................................................................................ 351 Doctrine and Covenants 130:18–19 ..................................................................................................... 352 Doctrine and Covenants 115:5.............................................................................................................. 353 Matthew 22:36–39 ............................................................................................................................... 354 The Seven Principles ............................................................................................................................. 355 The Family ............................................................................................................................................. 356 9th Grade Memorization............................................................................................................................ 358 American Heritage School Mission Statement ..................................................................................... 358 If ............................................................................................................................................................ 359 Invictus .................................................................................................................................................. 361 The Soul’s Captain ................................................................................................................................. 362 The Road Not Taken .............................................................................................................................. 363 Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening .............................................................................................. 364 The Cat and Moon................................................................................................................................. 365 The Gettysburg Address........................................................................................................................ 368 D&C 88:118–126 ................................................................................................................................... 369 D&C 136:32 ........................................................................................................................................... 370 10th Grade Memorization.......................................................................................................................... 371 John 8:31–34 ......................................................................................................................................... 371 Matthew 12:33–35 ............................................................................................................................... 372 D&C 101:77–80 ..................................................................................................................................... 373 Jacob 5:71–74 ....................................................................................................................................... 374 Success despite Failures ........................................................................................................................ 375 11th and 12th Grade Memorization........................................................................................................... 376 Jacob 2 .................................................................................................................................................. 376 Line upon Line ....................................................................................................................................... 377 28 Principles of Liberty.......................................................................................................................... 378 Joseph Smith ......................................................................................................................................... 380 Genesis 3 ............................................................................................................................................... 381 Moral Laws ............................................................................................................................................ 382 Thomas Jefferson, 50th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence ........................................... 383 11 Marquis Beccaria................................................................................................................................... 384 Alma 29 ................................................................................................................................................. 385 D&C 84 .................................................................................................................................................. 386 D&C 88 .................................................................................................................................................. 387 I Samuel 8 .............................................................................................................................................. 388 Mosiah 29.............................................................................................................................................. 389 2 Nephi 1 ............................................................................................................................................... 390 Marion G. Romney ................................................................................................................................ 391 Pain Poem ............................................................................................................................................. 392 Meade McGuire .................................................................................................................................... 393 D&C 134 ................................................................................................................................................ 394 Articles of the US Constitution.............................................................................................................. 395 Article I: Summary Specifics .................................................................................................................. 396 Article I, Section 8, Powers of Congress................................................................................................ 397 Article II: Summary Specifics ................................................................................................................. 398 Article III: Summary Specifics ................................................................................................................ 399 Article IV: Summary Specifics................................................................................................................ 400 Article V: Summary Specifics................................................................................................................. 401 Article VI: Summary Specifics................................................................................................................ 402 Article VII: Summary Specifics............................................................................................................... 403 Amendments to the US Constitution .................................................................................................... 404 Declaration of Independence Abuses ................................................................................................... 406 Joseph Smith, On Education ................................................................................................................. 409 Excerpt of Thomas Jefferson Letter to Nephew Peter Carr, 1785 ........................................................ 410 12 Kindergarten Memorization Starting With Me God made me specialLike no one else you see. God made me a witness To His diversity. - Rosalie Slater 13 I’m a Child of Royal Birth I’m a child of royal birth. My Father is king of heaven and earth. My spirit was born in the courts on high; A child beloved, a princess (prince) am I. - Anna Johnson 14 Clouds White sheep, white sheep, On a blue hill When the wind stops You all stand still When the wind blows You walk away slow. White sheep, white sheep, Where do you go? - Christina Rosetti 15 The Wind Who has seen the wind? Neither I nor you; But when the leaves hang trembling The wind is passing through. Who has seen the wind? Neither you nor I; But when the trees bow down their heads The wind is passing by. - Christina Rosetti 16 What Can I Give Him? What can I give Him, Poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; If I were a wise man, I would do my part; Yet, what can I give Him? Give my heart. - Christina Rosetti 17 Columbus Columbus was a dreamer, A boy who watched the sea And thought, as ships sailed out of sight. How round the earth must be! Columbus was a doer, A man who went to sea And proved the thoughts he had were right, His dreams reality. - Margaret Hillert 18 Kind Deeds Little drops of water, Little grains of sand. Make the mighty ocean, And the pleasant land. Thus the little minutes, Humble though they be, Make the mighty ages of eternity. Little deeds of kindness, Little words of love, Make this earth an Eden Like the heaven above. - Isaac Watt 19 Precious Stones An emerald is as green as grass, A ruby red as blood, A sapphire shines as blue as heaven, But flint lies in the mud. A diamond is a brilliant stone, To catch the world’s desire, An opal holds a rainbow light, But a flint holds fire. - Christina Rossetti 20 Hearts Like Doors Hearts, like doors, will open with ease To very, very, little keys, And don’t forget that two of these Are “Thank you, Sir,” and “If you please.” - Robert Louis Stevenson 21 Psalm 100 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands, Serve the Lord with gladness: Come before His presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord He is God: It is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise: Be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; And his truth endureth to all generations. 22 The First Article of Faith We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. 23 The Second Article of Faith We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression. 24 The Third Article of Faith We believe that through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. 25 James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him, ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” 26 I Nephi 3:7 “…I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded….” 27 Alma 32:21 “…therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.” 28 Mosiah 2:17 “…when ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God.” 29 1st Grade Memorization The Swing How do you like to go up in a swing, Up in the air so blue? Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing Ever a child can do! Up in the air and over the wall, Till I can see so wide, River and trees and cattle and all Over the countryside— Till I look down on the garden green, Down on the roof so brown— Up in the air I go flying again, Up in the air and down! – Robert Louis Stevenson 30 Praise for Creation and Providence I sing the mighty power of God, that made the mountains rise, That spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies. I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day; The moon shines full at God’s command, and all the stars obey. I sing the goodness of the Lord, who filled the earth with food, Who formed the creatures through the Word, and then pronounced them good. Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed, wherever I turn my eye, If I survey the ground I tread, or gaze upon the sky. There’s not a plant or flower below, but makes Thy glories known, And clouds arise, and tempests blow, by order from Thy throne; While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care; And everywhere that we can be, Thou, God art present there. 31 The Children’s Hour Between the dark and the daylight, When the night is beginning to lower, Comes a pause in the day’s occupations, That is known as the Children’s Hour. I hear in the chamber above me The patter of little feet, The sound of a door that is opened, And voices soft and sweet. From my study I see in the lamplight, Descending the broad hall stair, Grave Alice, and laughing Allegra, And Edith with golden hair. A whisper, and then a silence: Yet I know by their merry eyes They are plotting and planning together To take me by surprise. A sudden rush from the stairway, A sudden raid from the hall! By three doors left unguarded They enter my castle wall! They climb up into my turret O’er the arms and back of my chair; 32 If I try to escape, they surround me; They seem to be everywhere. They almost devour me with kisses, Their arms about me entwine, Till I think of the Bishop of Bingen In his Mouse-Tower on the Rhine! Do you think, O blue-eyed banditti, Because you have scaled the wall, Such an old mustache as I am Is not a match for you all! I have you fast in my fortress, And will not let you depart, But put you down into the dungeon In the round-tower of my heart. And there will I keep you forever, Yes, forever and a day, Till the walls shall crumble to ruin, And moulder in dust away! – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 33 The Lamb Little lamb, who made thee? Dost thou know who made thee, Gave thee life, and bid thee feed By the stream and o’er the mead; Gave thee clothing of delight, Softest clothing, woolly, bright; Gave thee such a tender voice, Making all the vales rejoice? Little lamb, who made thee? Dost thou know who made thee? Little lamb, I’ll tell thee; Little lamb, I’ll tell thee: He is called by thy name, For He calls Himself a Lamb. He is meek, and He is mild, He became a little child. I a child, and thou a lamb, We are called by His name. Little lamb, God bless thee! Little lamb, God bless thee! – William Blake 34 2nd Grade Memorization 2nd Nephi 32:3 “Wherefore..., feast upon the words of Christ, for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.” 35 The Creation Poem First, came the light and the darkness. Second, came heaven and earth. Third, came the water and dry land and every good seed of worth. Fourth, came the sun, the moon and the stars. Fifth, came the fish and the birds. Sixth, came the beasts, ruled by Adam and Eve. God’s power is too great for words. Day Seven? God blessed it and then He rested! 36 Psalm 23 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: For thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou annointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” 37 Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus, the Admiral of the Sea. Discoverer of America, the homeland of the free. Persistent in his vision, he made his dream come true, When he bravely sailed the ocean in 1492; Although he faced a mutiny, he courageously sailed on. Never turning back, not even when all hope was gone. And when his dream of finding land became reality, He changed the future of the world and shaped our Destiny.... – Laurie Stephens 38 Song Why do the bells of Christmas ring? Why do little children sing? Once a lovely shining star, Seen by shepherds from afar, Gently moved until its light Made a manger’s cradle bright. There a darling baby lay, Pillowed soft upon the hay; And its mother sung and smiled: “This is Christ, the holy Child!” Therefore bells for Christmas ring. Therefore little children sing. – Eugene Field 39 I Am a Child of Royal Birth (Girls) I am a child of royal birth My Father was King of heaven and earth. My spirit was born in the courts on high; A child beloved, a princess am I. (Boys) I grew to the stature that spirits grow I gained the knowledge I needed to know. I was taught the truth and I knew the plan That God and Christ laid out for man. (All) I waited my turn and I came to earth Through the wonderful blessing of human birth. Then the curtains were closed and the past was gone; On the future too, the curtains were drawn. (All) Someday I’ll go back; I will answer the call, I’ll return with my record to the Father of all; The books will be opened and so will my heart. There will be rejoicing if I’ve done my part. – Anna Johnson 40 Prayer Prayer is so simple It is like quietly opening a door And slipping into the very presence Of God, There in the stillness To listen for his voice. Perhaps to petition Or only to listen, It matters not; Just to be there, In his presence, Is Prayer! Each prayer is answered, That is so; But for our good It may be, “No!” 41 I Samuel 16:7 “…for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” 42 Hiawatha By the shores of Gitche Gumee, By the shining Big-Sea-Water, Stood the wigwam of Nokomis, Daughter of the Moon, Nokomis…. There the wrinkled Nokomis Nursed the little Hiawatha, Rocked him in his linden cradle, Bedded soft in moss and rushes, Safely bound with reindeer sinews; Stilled his fretful wail by saying, “Hush! The Naked Bear will hear thee!” Lulled into slumber singing, “Ewa-yea! My little owlet!” Who is this that lights the wigwam? With his great eyes lights the wigwam Ewa-yea! My little owlet!” ….. – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 43 Preamble to the Constitution We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. 44 Amos 3:7 “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secrets unto his servants the prophets.” 45 I Never Saw a Moor I never saw a moor, I never saw the sea, Yet know I how the heather looks, And what a wave must be. I never spoke with God, Nor visited in heaven, Yet certain am I of the spot As if the chart were given. – Emily Dickinson 46 How Doth the Little Crocodile How doth the little crocodile Improve his shining tail, And pour the waters of the Nile On every golden scale! How cheerfully he seems to grin, How neatly spreads his claws, And welcomes little fishes in With gently smiling jaws! – Lewis Carroll 47 D&C 89: 18–20 “And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones; And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.” 48 Shakespeare (King Richard III) God bless thee, And put meekness in thy breast; Love, charity, obedience, And true duty. 49 Job 19:25 “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.” 50 Doctrine and Covenants 130:18 “Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, if will rise with us in the resurrection.” 51 3rd Grade Memorization Ways to Be Be Be Be Be Be Be Be Be Be Grateful Clean Smart True Humble Prayerful Positive Still Involved – Gordon B. Hinckley 52 Doctrine and Covenants 4:4–7 “For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul; And faith, hope, charity, love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work. Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence. Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” 53 Doctrine and Covenants 136:28 If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing, and with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving. 54 Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 55 Chinese Proverb If there is righteousness in the heart, There will be beauty in the character. If there is beauty in the character, There will be harmony in the home. If there is harmony in the home, There will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, There will be peace in the world. 56 2 Nephi 31:20 “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.” 57 Take What God Gives Take what God gives, o heart of mine, and build your house of happiness. Perchance some have been given more, but many have been given less. The treasure lying at thy feet, whose value you but faintly guess, another builder, looking on, would barter Heaven to possess. 58 Mosiah 2:41 “And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.” 59 God Has Saved God has saved for the final inning some of his strongest most valiant children who will help bear off the kingdom triumphantly. You are the generation that must be prepared to meet your God. Rise up, O youth of Zion! You hardly realize the great potential that lies within you. – President Ezra Taft Benson 60 4th Grade Memorization Moroni 10:4–6 “And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. And whatsoever thing is good is just and true; wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is.” 61 I Shall Pass through this World but Once I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, Or any kindness that I can show to any human being, Let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, For I shall not pass this way again. 62 I Have Wept in the Night I have wept in the night For the shortness of sight That to somebody’s need made me blind; But I never have yet Felt a tinge of regret, For being a little too kind. – Author Unknown 63 The Highwayman PART ONE The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees. The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas. The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor, And the highwayman came riding— Riding—riding— The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door. He’d a French cocked-hat on his forehead, a bunch of lace at his chin, A coat of the claret velvet, and breeches of brown doe-skin. They fitted with never a wrinkle. His boots were up to the thigh. And he rode with a jewelled twinkle, His pistol butts a-twinkle, His rapier hilt a-twinkle, under the jewelled sky. Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark inn-yard. He tapped with his whip on the shutters, but all was locked and barred. He whistled a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there But the landlord’s black-eyed daughter, Bess, the landlord’s daughter, Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair. And dark in the dark old inn-yard a stable-wicket creaked Where Tim the ostler listened. His face was white and peaked. His eyes were hollows of madness, his hair like mouldy hay, But he loved the landlord’s daughter, The landlord’s red-lipped daughter. Dumb as a dog he listened, and he heard the robber say— 64 “One kiss, my bonny sweetheart, I’m after a prize to-night, But I shall be back with the yellow gold before the morning light; Yet, if they press me sharply, and harry me through the day, Then look for me by moonlight, Watch for me by moonlight, I’ll come to thee by moonlight, though hell should bar the way.” He rose upright in the stirrups. He scarce could reach her hand, But she loosened her hair in the casement. His face burnt like a brand As the black cascade of perfume came tumbling over his breast; And he kissed its waves in the moonlight, (O, sweet black waves in the moonlight!) Then he tugged at his rein in the moonlight, and galloped away to the west. PART TWO He did not come in the dawning. He did not come at noon; And out of the tawny sunset, before the rise of the moon, When the road was a gypsy’s ribbon, looping the purple moor, A red-coat troop came marching— Marching—marching— King George’s men came marching, up to the old inn-door. They said no word to the landlord. They drank his ale instead. But they gagged his daughter, and bound her, to the foot of her narrow bed. Two of them knelt at her casement, with muskets at their side! There was death at every window; And hell at one dark window; 65 For Bess could see, through her casement, the road that he would ride. They had tied her up to attention, with many a sniggering jest. They had bound a musket beside her, with the muzzle beneath her breast! “Now, keep good watch!” and they kissed her. She heard the doomed man say— Look for me by moonlight; Watch for me by moonlight; I’ll come to thee by moonlight, though hell should bar the way! She twisted her hands behind her; but all the knots held good! She writhed her hands till her fingers were wet with sweat or blood! They stretched and strained in the darkness, and the hours crawled by like years Till, now, on the stroke of midnight, Cold, on the stroke of midnight, The tip of one finger touched it! The trigger at least was hers! The tip of one finger touched it. She strove no more for the rest. Up, she stood up to attention, with the muzzle beneath her breast. She would not risk their hearing; she would not strive again; For the road lay bare in the moonlight; Blank and bare in the moonlight; And the blood of her veins, in the moonlight, throbbed to her love’s refrain. Tlot-tlot; tlot-tlot! Had they heard it? The horsehoofs ringing clear; Tlot-tlot; tlot-tlot, in the distance? Were they deaf that they did not hear? Down the ribbon of moonlight, over the brow of the hill, The highwayman came riding— Riding—riding— 66 The red coats looked to their priming! She stood up, straight and still. Tlot-tlot, in the frosty silence! Tlot-tlot, in the echoing night! Nearer he came and nearer. Her face was like a light. Her eyes grew wide for a moment; she drew one last deep breath, Then her finger moved in the moonlight, Her musket shattered the moonlight, Shattered her breast in the moonlight and warned him—with her death. He turned. He spurred to the west; he did not know who stood Bowed, with her head o’er the musket, drenched with her own blood! Not till the dawn he heard it, and his face grew grey to hear How Bess, the landlord’s daughter, The landlord’s black-eyed daughter, Had watched for her love in the moonlight, and died in the darkness there. Back, he spurred like a madman, shouting a curse to the sky, With the white road smoking behind him and his rapier brandished high. Blood red were his spurs in the golden noon; wine-red was his velvet coat; When they shot him down on the highway, Down like a dog on the highway, And he lay in his blood on the highway, with a bunch of lace at his throat. . . . And still of a winter’s night, they say, when the wind is in the trees, When the moon is a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas, 67 When the road is a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor, A highwayman comes riding— Riding—riding— A highwayman comes riding, up to the old inn-door. Over the cobbles he clatters and clangs in the dark inn-yard. He taps with his whip on the shutters, but all is locked and barred. He whistles a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there But the landlord’s black-eyed daughter, Bess, the landlord’s daughter, Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair. – Alfred Noyes 68 The Flag Goes By HATS off! Along the street there comes A blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums, A flash of color beneath the sky: Hats off! The flag is passing by! Blue and crimson and white it shines, Over the steel-tipped, ordered lines. Hats off! The colors before us fly; But more than the flag is passing by. Sea-fights and land-fights, grim and great, Fought to make and to save the State: Weary marches and sinking ships; Cheers of victory on dying lips; Days of plenty and years of peace; March of a strong land’s swift increase; Equal justice, right and law, 69 Stately honor and reverend awe; Sign of a nation, great and strong To ward her people from foreign wrong: Pride and glory and honor,—all Live in the colors to stand or fall. Hats off! Along the street there comes A blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums; And loyal hearts are beating high: Hats off! The flag is passing by! – Henry Holcomb Bennett 70 The Charge of the Light Brigade Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward, All in the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. “Forward, the Light Brigade! “Charge for the guns!” he said: Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. “Forward, the Light Brigade!” Was there a man dismay’d? Not tho’ the soldier knew Someone had blunder’d: Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die: Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon in front of them Volley’d and thunder’d; Storm’d at with shot and shell, Boldly they rode and well, Into the jaws of Death, Into the mouth of Hell Rode the six hundred. Flash’d all their sabres bare, Flash’d as they turn’d in air, Sabring the gunners there, 71 Charging an army, while All the world wonder’d: Plunged in the battery-smoke Right thro’ the line they broke; Cossack and Russian Reel’d from the sabre stroke Shatter’d and sunder’d. Then they rode back, but not Not the six hundred. Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon behind them Volley’d and thunder’d; Storm’d at with shot and shell, While horse and hero fell, They that had fought so well Came thro’ the jaws of Death Back from the mouth of Hell, All that was left of them, Left of six hundred. When can their glory fade? O the wild charge they made! All the world wondered. Honor the charge they made, Honor the Light Brigade, Noble six hundred. – Alfred, Lord Tennyson 72 The Village Blacksmith Under a spreading chestnut-tree The village smithy stands; The smith, a mighty man is he, With large and sinewy hands; And the muscles of his brawny arms Are strong as iron bands. His hair is crisp, and black, and long, His face is like the tan; His brow is wet with honest sweat, He earns whate’er he can, And looks the whole world in the face, For he owes not any man. Week in, week out, from morn till night, You can hear his bellows blow; You can hear him swing his heavy sledge, With measured beat and slow, Like a sexton ringing the village bell, When the evening sun is low. And children coming home from school Look in at the open door; They love to see the flaming forge, And hear the bellows roar, And catch the burning sparks that fly Like chaff from a threshing-floor. He goes on Sunday to the church, And sits among his boys; He hears the parson pray and preach, 73 He hears his daughter’s voice, Singing in the village choir, And it makes his heart rejoice. It sounds to him like her mother’s voice, Singing in Paradise! He needs must think of her once more, How in the grave she lies; And with his hard, rough hand he wipes A tear out of his eyes. Toiling,--rejoicing,--sorrowing, Onward through life he goes; Each morning sees some task begin, Each evening sees it close Something attempted, something done, Has earned a night’s repose. Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend, For the lesson thou hast taught! Thus at the flaming forge of life Our fortunes must be wrought; Thus on its sounding anvil shaped Each burning deed and thought. – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 74 Beautiful Beautiful faces are they that wear The light of a pleasant spirit there; Beautiful hands are they that do Deeds that are noble, good, and true; Beautiful feet are they that go Swiftly to lighten another’s woe. 75 Autumn Fires In the other gardens And all up the vale From the autumn bonfires See the smoke trail! Pleasant summer over And all the summer flowers, The red fire blazes, The gray smoke towers. Sing a song of seasons! Something bright in all! Flowers in the summer, Fires in the fall! – Robert Louis Stevenson 76 The Arrow and the Song I shot an arrow into the air, It fell to earth, I knew not where; For, so swiftly it flew, the sight Could not follow it in its flight. I breathed a song into the air, It fell to earth, I knew not where; For who has sight so keen and strong, That it can follow the flight of song? Long, long afterward, in an oak I found the arrow, still unbroke; And the song, from beginning to end, I found again in the heart of a friend. – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 77 A Prayer in Spring Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today; And give us not to think so far away As the uncertain harvest; keep us here All simply in the springing of the year. – Robert Frost 78 A Bag of Tools Isn’t it strange how princes and kings, and clowns that caper in sawdust rings, and common people, like you and me, are builders for eternity? Each is given a list of rules; a shapeless mass; a bag of tools. And each must fashion, ere life is flown, A stumbling block, or a Stepping-Stone. – RL Sharpe 79 All Thing Bright and Beautiful All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful, The Lord God made them all. Each little flower that opens, Each little bird that sings, He made their glowing colors, He made their tiny wings. The purple-headed mountain, The river running by, The sunset, and the morning, That brightens up the sky; The cold wind in the winter, The pleasant summer sun, The ripe fruits in the garden, He made them every one. He gave us eyes to see them, And lips that we might tell, How great is God Almighty, Who has made all things well. – Cecil Frances Alexander 80 5th Grade Memorization D&C 1:37–38 “Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled. What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.” 81 D&C 8:2–3 “Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart. Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses brought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground.” 82 D&C 10:5 “Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work.” 83 D&C 14:7 “And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.” 84 D&C 18:10, 15–16 “Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God; And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father! And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!” 85 D&C 19:16–19 “For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink— Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.” 86 D&C 25:12 “For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.” 87 D&C 58:26–27 “For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward. Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;” 88 D&C 58:42–43 “Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more. By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them.” 89 D&C 59:9–10 “And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day; For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High;” 90 D&C 64:23 “Behold, now it is called today until the coming of the Son of Man, and verily it is a day of sacrifice, and a day for the tithing of my people; for he that is tithed shall not be burned at his coming.” 91 D&C 64:9–11 “Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin. I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men. And ye ought to say in your hearts—let God judge between me and thee, and reward thee according to thy deeds.” 92 D&C 76:22–24 “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! For we saw him, even on the bright hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father— That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.” 93 D&C 82:3 “For of him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation.” 94 D&C 82:10 “I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.” 95 D&C 84:33–39 “For whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods of which I have spoken, and the magnifying their calling, are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies. They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham, and the church and kingdom, and the elect of God. And also all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord; For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me; And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father; And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s kingdom; therefore ball that my Father hath shall be given unto him. And this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood.” 96 D&C 88:123–124 “See that ye love one another; cease to be covetous; learn to impart one to another as the gospel requires. Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to find fault one with another; cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated.” 97 D&C 89:18–21 “And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones; And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint. And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.” 98 D&C 121:34–36 “Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen? Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson— That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.” 99 D&C 130:18–19 “Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.” 100 D&C 130:20–21 “There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated— And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.” 101 D&C 130:22–23 “The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us. A man may receive the Holy Ghost, and it may descend upon him and not tarry with him.” 102 D&C 131:1–4 “In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees; And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this border of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage]; And if he does not, he cannot obtain it. He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase.” 103 D&C 137:7–10 “Thus came the voice of the Lord unto me, saying: All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God; Also all that shall die henceforth without a knowledge of it, who would have received it with all their hearts, shall be heirs of that kingdom; For I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts. And I also beheld that all children who die before they arrive at the years of accountability are saved in the celestial kingdom of heaven.” 104 Joseph Smith History 1:15–20 “After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction. But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction—not to an imaginary ruin, but 105 to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being—just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him! My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I 106 asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join. I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.” He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into 107 heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fireplace, mother inquired what the matter was. I replied, “Never mind, all is well—I am well enough off.” I then said to my mother, “I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true.” It seems as though the adversary was aware, at a very early period of my life, that I was destined to prove a disturber and an annoyer of his kingdom; else why should the powers of darkness combine against me? Why the opposition and persecution that arose against me, almost in my infancy?” 108 The Road Not Taken Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim Because it was grassy and wanted wear, Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. – Robert Frost 109 To Be a Pilgrim He who would valiant be ‘gainst all disaster, Let him in constancy follow the Master. There’s no discouragement shall make him once relent His first avowed intent to be a pilgrim. Who so beset him round with dismal stories Do but themselves confound—his strength the more is. No foes shall stay his might; though he with giants fight, He will make good his right to be a pilgrim. Since, Lord, Thou dost defend us with Thy Spirit, We know we at the end, shall life inherit. Then fancies flee away! I’ll fear not what men say, I’ll labor night and day to be a pilgrim. – Paul Bunyan 110 States and Capitals Alabama - Montgomery Alaska - Juneau Arizona - Phoenix Arkansas - Little Rock California - Sacramento Colorado - Denver Connecticut - Hartford Delaware - Dover Florida - Tallahassee Georgia - Atlanta Hawaii - Honolulu Idaho - Boise Illinois - Springfield Indiana - Indianapolis Iowa - Des Moines Kansas - Topeka Kentucky - Frankfort Louisiana - Baton Rouge Maine - Augusta Maryland - Annapolis Massachusetts - Boston Michigan - Lansing Minnesota - St. Paul Mississippi - Jackson Missouri - Jefferson City Montana - Helena Nebraska - Lincoln Nevada - Carson City 111 New Hampshire - Concord New Jersey - Trenton New Mexico - Santa Fe New York - Albany North Carolina - Raleigh North Dakota - Bismarck Ohio - Columbus Oklahoma - Oklahoma City Oregon - Salem Pennsylvania - Harrisburg Rhode Island - Providence South Carolina - Columbia South Dakota - Pierre Tennessee - Nashville Texas - Austin Utah - Salt Lake City Vermont - Montpelier Virginia - Richmond Washington - Olympia West Virginia - Charleston Wisconsin - Madison Wyoming - Cheyenne 112 A Little Kingdom I Possess A little kingdom I possess, Where thoughts and feelings dwell, And very hard I find the task Of governing it well; For passion tempts and troubles me, A wayward will misleads, And selfishness its shadow casts, On all my will and deeds. How can I learn to rule myself, To be the child I should, Honest and brave, nor ever tire Of trying to be good? How can I keep a sunny soul To shine along life’s way? How can I tune my little heart, To sweetly sing all day? Dear Father, help me with the love That castest out my fear! Teach me to lean on Thee and feel That thou art very near. That no temptation is unseen, No childish grief too small, Since Thou, with patience infinite, Dost soothe and comfort all. 113 I do not ask for any crown But that which all may win; Nor try to conquer any world Except the one within. Be Thou my Guide until I find, Led by a tender hand, Thy happy kingdom in myself And dare to take command. – Louisa May Alcott 114 Preamble to the Constitution We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. 115 Christmas Bells I HEARD the bells on Christmas Day Their old, familiar carols play, And wild and sweet The words repeat Of peace on earth, good-will to men! And thought how, as the day had come, The belfries of all Christendom Had rolled along The unbroken song Of peace on earth, good-will to men! Till ringing, singing on its way, The world revolved from night to day, A voice, a chime, A chant sublime Of peace on earth, good-will to men! Then from each black, accursed mouth The cannon thundered in the South, And with the sound The carols drowned Of peace on earth, good-will to men! 116 It was as if an earthquake rent The hearth-stones of a continent, And made forlorn The households born Of peace on earth, good-will to men! And in despair I bowed my head; “There is no peace on earth,” I said; “For hate is strong, And mocks the song Of peace on earth, good-will to men!” Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: “God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 117 Gettysburg Address Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain— that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. – Abraham Lincoln 118 6th Grade Memorization A Little Knowledge “A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle.” - Kahlil Gibran 119 A Stanza on Freedom They are slaves who fear to speak For the fallen and the weak; They are slaves who will not choose Hatred, scoffing, and abuse, Rather than in silence shrink From the truth they needs must think; They are slaves who dare not be In the right with two or three. – James Russell Lowell 120 Allie’s Quotations “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined!” --Thoreau “Study scriptures only on the days you eat!” “What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?” “Do one thing every day that scares you!” 121 “What ever you can do, Or dream you can, Begin it. Boldness has genius, Power and magic in it.” —Goethe “Remember nothing is so bad that it can’t be made worse by murmuring about it.” —Elder Jeffrey R. Holland 122 D&C 88:122 … and let not all be spokesmen at once; but let one speak at a time and let all listen unto his sayings, that when all have spoken that all may be edified of all…” 123 Helaman 5:12 “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.” 124 Be Strong Be strong! We are not here to play, to dream, to drift; We have hard work to do and loads to lift; Shun not the struggle—face it; ‘tis God’s gift. Be strong! Say not, “The days are evil. Who’s to blame?” And fold the hands in acquiesce—oh, shame! Stand up, speak out, and bravely, in God’s name. Be strong! It matters not how deep entrenched the wrong, How hard the battle goes, the day how long; Faint not—fight on! Tomorrow comes the song. —Maltbie D. Babcock 125 Benjamin Franklin Quotes “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” “Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security, will deserve neither and lose both.” “Life’s tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.” “All mankind is divided into three classes: those that are immoveable, those that are moveable, and those that move.” “Words may show a man’s wit but actions his meaning.” “Take time for all things: great haste makes great waste.” “He does not possess wealth; it possesses him.” “Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today.” “Be slow in choosing a friend, slower in changing.” “Well done is better than well said.” 126 Builder I watched them tearing a building down; A group of men in a busy town With a ho-heave-ho and a lusty yell, They swung a beam and a sidewall fell. I asked the foreman, “Are these men skilled? Would you hire these men if you were going to build?” He smiled and said, “No, indeed, Common labor is all I need. I can easily wreck in a day or two, That which takes builders years to do.” I thought to myself as I walked away; Which of these roles do I want to play? Am I a builder who builds with care, Who measures life with a compass and square, Who follows life with a straight laid plan, And patiently does the best he can? Or am I a wrecker who walks the town, Content on the labor of tearing down? 127 Character that Moves Hearts and Minds “I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has had to overcome while trying to succeed. Character is power.” - Booker T. Washington “Ninety-nine percent of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses. Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.” - George Washington Carver “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world. I had reasoned this out in my mind, there was one of two things I had a right to, liberty or death; if I could not have one, I would have the other.” - Harriet Tubman 128 Character You are the person who has to decide Whether you’ll do it or toss it aside You are the person who makes up your mind Whether you’ll lead or linger behind Whether you’ll try for the goal that’s afar Or just be contented to stay where you are. Take it or leave it, Here’s something to do. Just think it over. It’s all up to you. What do you want? To be known as a shirk? Or known as a good man who’s willing to work? Scorned as a loafer or praised by your chief? Rich man or poor man or beggar or thief? Eager and earnest, or dull through the day Honest or crooked? It’s you who must say. You must decide in the face of the test Whether you’ll shirk or give it your best. 129 Nobody here will compel you to rise. No one will force you to open your eyes. No one will answer for you, yes or now, Whether to stay there or whether to go. Life is a game but it’s you who must say Whether as cheat or as sportsman you’ll play Fate may betray you but you settle first Whether to live to your best or your worst. So whatever it is you are wanting to be, Remember, in reason and choice you are free. Kindly or selfish, or gentle or strong Keeping the right way or taking the wrong. Careless of honor or guarding your pride– All these are questions which you must decide. Yours the selection, whichever you do. The thing men call character, is all up to you. - By Edgar A. Guest 130 Daily Choices “Character is distilled out of our daily confrontation with temptation, out of our regular response to the call of duty. It is formed as we learn to cherish principles and to submit to selfdiscipline. Character is the sum total of all the little decisions, the small deeds, the daily reactions to the choices that confront us. Character is not obtained instantly. We have to mold and hammer and forge ourselves into character. It is a distant goal to which there is no shortcut.” - Sidney Greenberg 131 Conscience “I would sooner have the approval of my own conscience and know that I had done my duty than to have the praise of all the world and not have the approval of my own conscience. A man’s own conscience when he is living as he should live, is the finest monitor and the best judge in all the world. Men can accuse you of wrong-doing and it has no effect at all if you know they lie and you have done that which is right.” - Heber J. Grant 132 Quotes on Courage Courage is reckoned the greatest of all virtues; because, unless a man has that virtue, he has no security for preserving any other. - Samuel Johnson Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. - Winston Churchill Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow. - Mary Anne Radmacher It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare. - Mark Twain 133 People are made of flesh and blood and a miracle fibre called courage. - Mignon McLaughlin Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear—not absence of fear. Except a creature be part coward it is not a compliment to say it is brave. - Mark Twain It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns and had never been to any wars, was the bravest man who ever lived. - Harper Lee Courage is being afraid but going on anyhow. - Dan Rather Courage is doing what you’re afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you’re scared. - Edward Vernon Rickenbacker 134 Coward: A man in whom the instinct of selfpreservation acts normally. - Sultana Zoraya Courage can’t see around corners, but goes around them anyway. - Mignon McLaughlin Sometimes the biggest act of courage is a small one. - Lauren Raffo Cowardice, as distinguished from panic, is almost always simply a lack of ability to suspend the functioning of the imagination. - Ernest Hemingway, Fear and courage are brothers. - Proverb 135 Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. - C.S. Lewis True courage is not the brutal force of vulgar heroes, but the firm resolve of virtue and reason. - Alfred North Whitehead 136 Courage “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all. From now on you’ll be traveling the road between what you think you are and what you can be. The key is to allow yourself to make the journey.” - Ambrose Redmoon “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear – not absence of fear. Except a creature be part coward it is not a compliment to say it is brave.” - Mark Twain 137 Daffodils I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o’er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the milky way, They stretched in never-ending line Along the margin of a bay: Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing their heads in sprightly dance. The waves beside them danced; but they Out-did the sparkling waves in glee: A poet could not but be gay, In such a jocund company: I gazed—and gazed—but little thought What wealth the show to me had brought: For oft, when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils. - William Wordsworth 138 Daniel 2:20–22 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: For wisdom and might are his: And he changeth The times and the seasons: He removeth kings, And setteth up kings; He giveth wisdom to the wise, And knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: He knoweth what is in the darkness, And the light dwelleth with him. 139 The Destruction Of Sennacherib The Assyrian came down like the wolf on the fold, And his cohorts were gleaming in purple and gold; And the sheen of their spears was like stars on the sea, When the blue wave rolls nightly on deep Galilee. Like the leaves of the forest when Summer is green, That host with their banners at sunset were seen: Like the leaves of the forest when Autumn hath blown, That host on the morrow lay withered and strown. For the Angel of Death spread his wings on the blast, And breathed in the face of the foe as he passed; And the eyes of the sleepers waxed deadly and chill, And their hearts but once heaved, and for ever grew still! And there lay the steed with his nostril all wide, But through it there rolled not the breath of his pride; And the foam of his gasping lay white on the turf, And cold as the spray of the rock-beating surf. And there lay the rider distorted and pale, With the dew on his brow, and the rust on his mail: And the tents were all silent, the banners alone, The lances unlifted, the trumpet unblown. And the widows of Ashur are loud in their wail, And the idols are broke in the temple of Baal; And the might of the Gentile, unsmote by the sword, Hath melted like snow in the glance of the Lord! - Lord Byron 140 Disappointment – His Appointment “Disappointment—His Appointment” Change one letter, then I see That the thwarting of my purpose Is God’s better choice for me. His appointment must be blessing, Tho’ it may come in disguise, For the end from the beginning Open to His wisdom lies. “Disappointment—His Appointment” Whose? The Lord, who loves me best, Understands and knows me fully, Who my faith and love would test; For, like loving earthly parent, He rejoices when He knows That His child accepts, UNQUESTIONED, All that from His wisdom flows. 141 “Disappointment—His Appointment” “No good thing will He withhold,” From denials oft we gather Treasures of His love untold, Well He knows each broken purpose Leads to fuller, deeper trust, And the end of all His dealings Proves our God is wise and just. “Disappointment—His Appointment” Lord, I take it, then, as such. Like the clay in hands of potter, Yielding wholly to Thy touch. All my life’s plan in Thy moulding, Not one single choice be mine; Let me answer, unrepining— “Father, not my will, but Thine.” - Edith Lillian Young 142 Don’t Quit! When things go wrong, as they sometimes will When the road you’re trudging is all uphill; When the funds are low and the debts re high And you want to smile, but you have to sigh; When care is pressing you down a bit Rest if you must, but don’t you quit. Life is hard with its twists and turns As everyone of us sometimes learns; And many a fellow turns about When he might have won had he stuck it out; Don’t give up though the pace seems slow You may succeed with another blow. Often the goal is nearer than It seems to a faint and faltering man; 143 Often the struggler has given up When he might have captured the victor’s cup: And he learned too late when the night came down How close he was to the victor’s crown. Success is failure turned inside out The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, And you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems afar. So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit, It’s when things seem worst that you mustn’t quit. - Author Unknown 144 Freedom from Bondage “ Freedom from the bondage and guilt of individual sin and transgression is the highest form of liberty and it only comes from Christ. Only Christianity offers a Savior. One of the amazing things about pure Christianity is that it requires no force to bring about change. It is so silent, so gentle, so calming and yet so persuasive that without the use of force it proves to be the most powerful means to change the hearts of men. It is revolutionary in nature, not because it uses force of arms, but because converted souls will embrace it at the cost of their lives . . . . (“And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just – yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them. . . .” Alma 31:5) - From the National Center for Constitutional Studies, Dec., 2001 Newsletter 145 God Asks about Availability God does not begin by asking us about our ability, but only about our availability, and if we then prove our dependability, he will increase our capability! - Neal A. Maxwell 146 Do What Is Necessary Start by doing what is necessary, then do what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible. - St. Francis of Assisi 147 Our Sacred Allotment “I have a conviction deep down in my heart that we are exactly what we should be, each one of us…I have convinced myself that we all have those peculiar attributes, characteristics, and abilities which are essential for us to possess in order that we may fulfill the full purpose of our creation here upon the earth…. ….That allotment which has come to us from God is a sacred allotment. It is something of which we should be proud, each one of us in our own right, and not wish that we had somebody else’s allotment. Our greatest success comes from being ourselves.” - Henry D. Moyle 148 History Is Not an Accident History is not an accident. Events are foreknown to God. His superintending influence is behind righteous men’s actions. And though mortal eyes and minds cannot fathom the end from the beginning, God does.” - President Ezra Taft Benson 149 Be Honest “Be honest with yourself, others, and the Lord. Do not rationalize that dishonesty is right. Honesty is more than not lying. It is truth telling, truth speaking, truth living, and truth loving.” - James E. Faust 150 Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded thee, Be strong and of a good courage; Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” 151 I Am Only One I am only one But I am one. I cannot do everything But I can do something. What I can do, I ought to do; And what I ought to do By the grace of God I will do. - Edward Everett Hale 152 If We Had No Winter “If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.” -Anne Bradstreet 153 If You Think You are Beaten . . . If you think you are beaten, you are, If you think you dare not, you don’t If you like to win, but you think you can’t, It is almost certain you won’t. If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost For out of the world we find, Success begins with a fellow’s will— It’s all in the state of mind. If you think you are outclassed, you are, You’ve got to think high to rise, You’ve got to be sure of yourself before You can ever win a prize. Life’s battles don’t always go To the stronger or faster man, But soon or late the man who wins Is the man WHO THINKS HE CAN! - Unknown 154 In the End In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught. -Baba Dioum 155 Indwelling If thou couldst empty all thyself of self, Like to a shell dishabited, Then might He find thee on the Ocean shelf, And say---”This is not dead,”-— And fill thee with Himself instead. But thou art all replete with very thou, And hast such shrewd activity, That, when he comes, He says---”This is enow Unto itself---’Twere better let it be: It is so small and full, there is no room for Me.” - Thomas Edward Brown 156 Old Chinese Proverb If there is righteousness in the heart, There will be beauty in the character. If there is beauty in the character, There will be harmony in the home. If there is harmony in the home, There will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, There will be peace in the world. - Confucius 157 It Couldn’t Be Done Somebody said that it couldn’t be done, But he with a chuckle replied That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried. So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin On his face. If he worried he hid it. He started to sing as he tackled the thing That couldn’t be done, and he did it. Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that; At least no one ever has done it”; But he took off his coat and he took off his hat, And the first thing we knew he’d begun it. With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin, Without any doubting or quiddit, He started to sing as he tackled the thing That couldn’t be done, and he did it. There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done, There are thousands to prophesy failure; There are thousands to point out to you, one by one, The dangers that wait to assail you. But just buckle in with a bit of a grin, Just take off your coat and go to it; Just start to sing as you tackle the thing That “cannot be done,” and you’ll do it.“ - Edgar A. Guest 158 Every Man Every man gives his life for what he believes. Every woman gives her life for what she believes. Sometimes people believe in little or nothing, And yet they give their lives to that little or nothing. One life is all we have to live, And we live it as we believe in living it and then it is gone. But to surrender what you are and live without belief Is more terrible than dying, More terrible than dying young --Joan of Arc 159 Death Is a Comma “In Gospel grammar, Death is not an exclamation point, Merely a comma.” - Elder Neal A. Maxwell 160 Learning by Heart Learning by heart . . . means to learn something so deeply that it becomes part of our core: it fills us; it changes us. . . . Learning by heart in its richest sense is a gospel duty. It is a twin commandment to remembering. We are to learn spiritual truth by heart and then retain in remembrance what we have placed deep in our hearts. - Susan W. Tanner 161 Abraham Lincoln Quotes “Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it.” “...I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord’s side.” “Stand with anybody that stands RIGHT. Stand with him while he is right and PART with him when he goes wrong.” - Abraham Lincoln 162 Living What We Pray For I knelt to pray when day was done And prayed, “O Lord, bless everyone; Lift from each saddened heart the pain, And let the sick be well again.” And then I woke another day And carelessly went on my way; The whole day long, I did not try To wipe a tear from any eye. I did not try to share the load Of any brother on the road; I did not even go to see The sick man, just next door to me. Yet, once again, when day was done, I prayed, “O Lord, bless everyone.” 163 But as I prayed, into my ear There came a voice that whispered clear: “Pause now, my son, before you pray; Whom have you tried to bless today? God’s sweetest blessings always go By hands that serve Him here below.” And then I hid my face and cried, “Forgive me, God, I have not tried. Let me but live another day, And I will live the way I pray.” —Whitney Montgomery 164 Love of Country Breathes there a man with soul so dead Who never to himself hath said: “This is my own, my native land” Whose heart hath ne’er within him burned As home his footsteps he hath turned, From wandering in a foreign land? If such there breathe go mark him well; For him no minstrel raptures swell; High though his titles, proud his name Boundless his wealth as wish can claim; Despite those titles, power and pelf, The wretch concentrated all in self, Living shall forfeit fair renown And doubly dying shall go down To the vile dust from whence he sprung Unwept, unhonored, and unsung.” - Sir Walter Scott 165 Luke 6:38 “Give and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” 166 Man-Making We are all blind, until we see That in the universal plan Nothing is worth the making if It does not make the man. Why build these kingdoms glorious If man unbuilded goes? In vain we build the world Unless the builder grows. - Edwin Markham 167 The Sun “The sun shines through pollution without taint.” - Sir Francis Bacon 168 My Little Kingdom A little kingdom I possess Where thoughts and feelings dwell; And very hard the task I find Of governing it well. For passion tempts and troubles me, A wayward will misleads, And selfishness its shadow casts On all my words and deeds. How can I learn to rule myself, To be the child I should, Honest and brave nor ever tire, Of trying to be good? How can I keep a sunny soul To shine along life’s way? How can I tune my little heart To sweetly sing all day? 169 Dear Father, help me with the love That casteth out my fear! Teach me to lean on Thee and feel, That Thou art very near; That no temptation is unseen No childish grief too small, Since Thou, with patience infinite Doth soothe and comfort all. I do not ask for any crown But that which all may win: Nor seek to conquer any world Except the one within. Be Thou my guide until I find Led by a tender hand, Thy happy kingdom in myself, And dare to take command. —Louisa May Alcott 170 Nothing Touches the Soul Nothing touches the soul But leaves its impress, And thus, little by little We are fashioned into the image Of all we have seen, heard, Known and meditated. And if we learn to live With all that is the fairest And the purest and the best, The love of it all will, In the end, Become our very lives. - David B. Haight 171 Obedience When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power. - Ezra Taft Benson 172 Our Deepest Fear “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.’ We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we subconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” - Marianne Williamson 173 Ozymandias I met a traveler from an antique land, Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand, Half shrunk, a shattered visage lies, on whose frown, And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command, Tell that its sculptor well those passions read, Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things, The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed: And on the pedestal these words appear: “My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!” Nothing beside remains. Round the decay Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare The lone and level sands stretch far away. - Percy Bysshe Shelley 174 Principles of History “The more we read of history, and particularly of sacred history, . . . the more we can establish a pattern by which to guide our own lives which will lead us into productive living. He has set the way. That’s the road to progress, and whether it be in matters of theology or day-to-day living as part of the society in which we live, the principles which are set forth in the scriptures become principles which can make for happiness and understanding, lofty ideals by which to guide our lives, and the faith by which to move through the problems which we will inevitably confront as we go forward with our lives.” - Gordon B. Hinckley 175 Sheri Dew Quote “While life is meant to test, challenge, and strengthen [me], if [I am] attempting to negotiate the twists and turns and ups and downs of mortality alone, [I’m] doing it all wrong. Mortality is a test, but it is an open book test. [I] have access not only to the divine text but to Him who authored it.” 176 Someone is Watching Someone is watching And that is a fact. Someone will copy The way that I act; So make this your motto And put it to use: Be someone’s example And not his excuse. —Kathy McDonald 177 The Book of Life “The Book of Life is the record of the acts of man as such record is written in their own body. It is the record engraven in the very bones, sinews and flesh of the mortal body. That is every thought, word and deed has an effect on the human body. All these leave their marks, marks which can be read by Him who is eternal as easily as the words in a book can be read.” - Bruce R. McConkie 178 The Carpenter of Nazareth In Nazareth, the narrow road, That tires the feet and steals the breath, Passes the place where once abode The Carpenter of Nazareth. And up and down the dusty way The village folk would often wend; And on the bench, beside Him, lay Their broken things for Him to mend. The maiden with the doll she broke, The woman with the broken chair, The man with broken plough, or yoke, Said, “Can you mend it, Carpenter?” And each received the thing he sought, In yoke, or plough, or chair, or doll; The broken thing which each had 179 brought Returned again a perfect whole. So, up the hill the long years through, With heavy step and wistful eye, The burdened souls their way pursue, Uttering each the plaintive cry: “O Carpenter of Nazareth, This heart, that’s broken past repair, This life, that’s shattered nigh to death, Oh, can You mend them, Carpenter?” And by His kind and ready hand, His own sweet life is woven through Our broken lives, until they stand A New Creation—”all things new.” “The shattered [substance] of [the] heart, Desire, ambition, hope, and faith, Mould Thou into the perfect part, O, Carpenter of Nazareth!” – George Blair 180 The Difference I got up early one morning and rushed right into the day; I had so much to accomplish that I didn’t have time to pray. Problems just tumbled about me, and heavier came each task; “Why doesn’t God help me?” I wondered. He answered, “You didn’t ask.” I wanted to see joy and beauty, but the day tolled on gray and bleak; I wondered why God didn’t show me. He said, “But you didn’t seek.” I tried to come into God’s presence; I used all my keys at the lock. God gently and lovingly chided, “My child, you didn’t knock.” I woke up early this morning and paused before entering the day; I had so much to accomplish that I had to take time to pray. -Author Unknown 181 The Family “The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children.” —The Family: A Proclamation to the World 182 The Living Christ Week 1 As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth. Week 2 He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth. “All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made”. Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He “went about doing good”, yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. Week 3 He entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our pre-mortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come. Week 4 He instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice. He was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary’s cross. He gave His life to atone for the sins of all mankind. His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth. Week 5 We solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world. Week 6 He rose from the grave to “become the first-fruits of them that slept”. As Risen Lord, He visited among those He had loved in life. He also ministered among His “other sheep” in ancient America. In the modern world, He and His Father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, ushering in the long-promised “dispensation of the fullness of times”. 183 Week 7 Of the Living Christ, the Prophet Joseph wrote: “His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying: Week 8 “I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father”. Of Him the Prophet also declared: “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! Week 9 “For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—“That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God”. Week 10 We declare in words of solemnity that His priesthood and His Church have been restored upon the earth—”built upon the foundation of… apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone”. Week 11 We testify that He will someday return to earth. “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together”. He will rule as King of Kings and reign as Lord of Lords, and every knee shall bend and every tongue shall speak in worship before Him. Each of us will stand to be judged of Him according to our works and the desires of our hearts. Week 12 We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son. 184 The Only Real Treasure “It takes courage and commitment to follow the promptings of the Spirit because they may frighten us as they lead us to walk along new paths, sometimes paths that no one has walked before, paths of the second mile, of acting totally different from how worldly people act. For instance, we may be prompted to smile when someone offends us, to give love where others give hate, to say thank you where others would not find anything to be thankful for, to accept jobs that others would be too proud to do, to apologize where others would defend themselves, and to do all the seemingly crazy things that the Spirit prompts a righteous, honest, listening heart to do.” - F. Enzio Busche 185 The Lord’s Territory “There is a division line well defined that separates the Lord’s territory from Lucifer’s. If we live on the Lord’s side of the line Lucifer cannot come there to influence us, but if we cross the line into his territory we are in his power. By keeping the commandments of the Lord we are safe on His side of the line, but if we disobey His teachings we voluntarily cross into the zone of temptation and invite the destruction that is ever present there. Knowing this, how anxious we should always be to live on the Lord’s side of the line.” - George Albert Smith 186 D&C 123:17 “Therefore, dearly beloved…, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.” 187 D&C 128:22 “…shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory!” 188 Unless You Let it In All the water in the world, However hard it tries, Can never sink the smallest ship Unless it gets inside. And all the evil in the world, The blackest kind of sin, Can never hurt you in the least Unless you let it in. - Author unknown 189 Vice Is a Monster Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, As to be hated needs but to be seen; Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face, We first endure, then pity, then embrace.” - Alexander Pope 190 We Must Stand Firm We must stand firm. We must hold back the world. If we do so, the Almighty will be our strength and our protector, our guide and our revelator. We shall have the comfort of knowing that we are doing what he would have us do. Others may not agree with us, but I am confident that they will respect us. We will not be left alone. We cannot be arrogant. We cannot be selfrighteous. The very situation in which the Lord has placed us requires that we be humble as the beneficiaries of his direction. While we cannot agree with others on certain matters, we must never be disagreeable. We must be friendly, soft-spoken, neighborly, and understanding. -President Gordon B. Hinckley 191 We are Sowing We sow our thoughts and we reap our actions; We sow our actions and we reap our habits; We sow our habits and we reap our character; We sow our character and we reap our destiny. 192 We Will Speak Out We will speak out, we will be heard, Though all the earth’s systems crack; We will not bate a single word, Nor take a letter back. Let liars fear, let cowards shrink, Let traitors turn away; Whatever we have dared to think That dare we also say. We speak the truth, and what care we For hissing and for scorn, While some faint gleamings we can see Of Freedom’s coming morn? - James Russell Lowell 193 Shortness of Sight I have wept in the night For the shortness of sight That to somebody’s need Made me blind But I never have yet Felt a twinge of regret For being a little too kind! - Anonymous 194 Words are Wonderful Things Keep a watch on your words, my darling, For words are wonderful things; They are sweet like bees’ fresh honey, Like the bees they have terrible stings; They can bless like the warm, glad sunshine, And brighten a lonely life; They can cut in the strife of anger, Like an open two-edged knife. - Mrs. E. R. Miller 195 Would You Judge Would you judge to the lawfulness or unlawfulness of pleasure? Take this rule, now note: Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, takes off your relish for spiritual things; whatever increases the authority of the body over the mind; that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may seem in itself. -Susannah Wesley 196 When We Choose to Follow Christ “When we choose to follow Christ, we choose to be changed. The Lord works from the inside out; the world works from the outside in. The world would take the people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of the people and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men – who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature. Christ changes men and changed men can change the world.” - Pres. Ezra Taft Benson 197 You That Have Faith You that have faith to look with fearless eyes upon the tragedy of world at strife And know that out of death and night shall rise the dawn of ampler life, Rejoice whatever anguish rend your heart, that God has given you the priceless power To live in these great times and have your part in freedom’s crowning hour, That you may tell your sons, who see the light high in the heavens their heritage to take, “I saw the powers of darkness take their flight. I saw the morning break!” - Anonymous 198 7th Grade Memorization The Blessings and Cursings of the Abrahamic Covenant as found in Deuteronomy Chapter 28. The Lord’s blessings upon the House of Israel predicated upon obedience: The House of Israel would become the greatest nation on earth. They would be blessed with an abundance of food, raiment and comfortable homes. They would be blessed with good health and strong children. The House of Israel would be blessed with great military strength so that surrounding nations would fear to attack them; nevertheless, if there were a war, Israel would be blessed with victory. They would be blessed with abundant rains and flourishing crops. They would be blessed with so much wealth that other nations would come to borrow from them, but Israel would never have to borrow. The Lord’s cursings upon the House of Israel predicated upon disobedience: Instead of being the highest, Israel would be the lowest. Instead of prosperity, there would be poverty. Instead of health, there would be pestilence. Instead of fertility, the land would become a desert. Instead of military victory, there would be humiliating defeat. Instead of happy marriages, wives would be kidnapped and ravished. Instead of happy families, children would be sold into slavery. Instead of flourishing flocks and herds, Israel would be left destitute. Instead of enjoying religious freedom, the children of the Covenant would be compelled to worship man-made idols. Instead of comfort and abundance, there would be hunger, thirst and nakedness. 199 Exodus 19:5 “The Lord said, …if you will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people…” 200 Psalm 136:1 “O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever.” 201 Isaiah 52:7 “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!” 202 Matthew 22:36–39 “Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” 203 1 Timothy 4:12 “…but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” 204 Doctrine and Covenants 109:22 “And we ask thee, Holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them.” 205 Life Is like a Grindstone Life is like a grindstone. Whether it polishes you up or grinds you down depends upon what you are made of. ~Anonymous 206 Helaman 5:12 “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…” 207 D&C 121:45 “...let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.” 208 D&C 93:53 “And, verily I say unto you, that it is my will that you should hasten to translate my scriptures, and to obtain a knowledge of history, and of countries, and of kingdoms, of laws of God and man, and all this for the salvation of Zion. Amen.” 209 D&C 135:3 “Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the fulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord’s anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum. In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated!” 210 Hope of Israel Hope of Israel, Zion’s army, Children of the promised day, See, the Chieftain signals onward, And the battle’s in array! Chorus See the foe in countless numbers, Marshaled in the ranks of sin. Hope of Israel, on to battle; Now the vict’ry we must win! Strike for Zion, down with error; Flash the sword above the foe! Ev’ry stroke disarms a foeman; Ev’ry step we conq’ring go. Soon the battle will be over, Ev’ry foe of truth be down. Onward, onward, youth of Zion; Thy reward the victor’s crown. Chorus Hope of Israel, rise in might With the sword of truth and right; Sound the warcry, “Watch and pray!” Vanquish ev’ry foe today. 211 Improve Your Understanding “Improve your understanding by acquiring useful knowledge and virtue, such as will render you an ornament to society, an honor to your country, and a blessing to your parents. Great learning and superior abilities, should you ever possess them, will be of little value and small estimation, unless virtue, honor, truth, and integrity are added to them. Adhere to those religious sentiments and principles which were early instilled into your mind, and remember, that you are accountable to your Maker for all your words and actions.” - Abigail Adams to John Quincy Adams, June 1778 212 The Highest Glory “The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected, in one indissoluble bond, the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.” ~John Quincy Adams 213 Let Each Citizen Remember “Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is... executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.” - Samuel Adams 214 American Heritage School Mission Statement My work this year will develop my mind, heart and body to: 1. Be useful in the hands of the Lord in building the kingdom of God on earth; 2. Increase knowledge of and faith in the Plan of Salvation; 3. Develop a love, understanding and appreciation for America and the Founding Fathers; 4. Develop the basic academic knowledge and skills necessary to be able to make selfeducation a life-long pursuit; 5. Learn to reason and discern between right and wrong, truth and error; 6. Develop character and self-discipline of mind and body; and 7. Conduct myself in all aspects of life as a Christian. 215 My Life Is but a Weaving My life is but a weaving, between my God and me; I do not choose the colors, He worketh steadily. Oftimes He weaveth sorrow, and I in foolish pride, Forget He sees the upper, and I the underside. Not till the loom is silent, and shuttles cease to fly, Will God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why. The dark threads are as needful in the skillful Weaver’s hand, As the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned. - Anonymous 216 Proverbs 3:5–6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding, In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” 217 As a Man Thinketh “Man is made or unmade by himself; in the armory of thought he forges the weapons by which he destroys himself. He also fashions the tools with which he builds for himself heavenly mansions of joy and strength and peace. By the right choice and true application of thought, man ascends to the Divine Perfection; by the abuse and wrong application of thought, he descends below the level of the beast. Between these two extremes are all the grades of character, and man is their maker and master. Of all the beautiful truths pertaining to the soul which have been restored and brought to light in this age, none is more gladdening or fruitful of divine promise and confidence than this – that man is the master of thought, the molder of character, and maker and shaper of condition, environment, and destiny. As a being of Power, Intelligence, and Love, and the lord of his own thoughts, man holds the key to every situation, and contains within himself that transforming and regenerative agency by which he may make himself what he wills.” - James Allen 218 Anyone Can Give Up “Anyone can give up; it’s the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that is true strength.” - Anonymous 219 Overcoming Pride “If you can overcome pride, you can overcome anything; and, therefore, become perfect. Humility is not to think less of yourself, but to think of yourself less.” - Anonymous 220 Friends with the Lord Either you get to be friends with the world and you are in trouble with the Lord, or you make friends with the Lord and you are in trouble with the world. It all comes down to deciding which kind of trouble you would rather be in! - Anonymous 221 Principles of Wisdom The three primary principles of wisdom are: 1) obedience to the laws of God, 2) concern for the welfare of mankind, and 3) suffering with fortitude all the difficulties of life. - Anonymous 222 Watch Your Thoughts Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habits. Watch your habits, they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny. - Anonymous 223 Providence Providence is the light of history and the soul of the world. God is in history and all history has a unity because God is in it. - George Bancroft 224 Young People Young people increasingly need to be learners who act and thereby receive additional light and knowledge by the power of the Holy Ghost—and not merely passive students who primarily are acted upon. - Elder David A. Bednar 225 2 Nephi 2:26 “And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon...” 226 History Is Not an Accident History is not an accident. Events are foreknown to God. His superintending influence is behind righteous men’s actions. And though mortal eyes and minds cannot fathom the end from the beginning, God does. [Truly, History is Christ—His Story.] - President Ezra Taft Benson 227 Righteousness and Liberty “Many Americans have lost sight of the truth that righteousness is the one indispensable ingredient to liberty.” - Ezra Taft Benson 228 Pride Pride does not look up to God and care about what is right. It looks sideways to man and argues who is right. Pride is manifest in the spirit of contention. Was it not through pride that the devil became the devil? Christ wanted to bring men to where He was. The devil wanted to be above men. Christ removed self as the force in His perfect life. It was not my will, but thine be done. Pride is characterized by “What do I want out of life?” rather than by “What would God have me do with my life?” It is self-will as opposed to God’s will. It is the fear of man over the fear of God. Beware of pride. ~President Ezra Taft Benson 229 Quest of Obedience When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power. - Ezra Taft Benson 230 Following Christ When you choose to follow Christ, You choose to be changed. The world works from the outside in; The Lord works from the inside out. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature. Christ changes men and changed men can change the world. - President Ezra Taft Benson 231 Putting God First When [we] put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the claims for our affection, the demands of our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities. - President Ezra Taft Benson 232 Choice Spirits You are not just ordinary young men and young women. You are choice spirits, many of you having been held back in reserve for almost 6,000 years to come forth in this day, at this time, when the temptations, responsibilities, and opportunities are the very greatest. - Ezra Taft Benson 233 Good Conscience To keep a good conscience and walk in such way as God had prescribed in His word, is a thing which I must prefer before you all, and above life itself. Wherefore, since it is for a good cause that I am likely to suffer the disasters which you lay before me, you have no cause to be either angry with me, or sorry for me. Yea, I am not only willing to part with everything that is dear to me in this world for this cause but I am thankful that God hath given me heart so to do; and will accept me so to suffer for Him. - William Bradford 234 Earth and Heaven Earth’s crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God; But only he who sees takes off his shoes; The rest sit around it and pluck blackberries. - Elizabeth Barrett Browning 235 Five Kernels of Corn T’was the year of the famine in Plymouth of old, The ice and the snow from the thatched roofs had rolled; Through the warm purple skies steered the geese o’er the seas, And the woodpeckers tapped in the clocks of the trees; And the boughs on the slopes to the south winds lay bare, And dreaming of summer the buds swelled in the air. The pale Pilgrims welcomed each reddening morn; There were left but for rations Five Kernels of Corn. Five Kernels of Corn! Five Kernels of Corn! But to Bradford a feast were Five Kernels of Corn! “Five Kernels of Corn! Five Kernels of Corn! Ye people, be glad for Five Kernels of Corn!” So Bradford cried out on bleak Burial Hill, And the thin women stood in their doors, 236 white and still. “Lo, the harbor of Plymouth rolls bright in the Spring, The maples grow red, and the wood robins sing. The west wind is blowing, and fading the snow. And the pleasant pines sing, and the arbutuses blow. Five Kernels of Corn! Five Kernels of Corn! To each one be given Five Kernels of Corn!” Oh, Bradford of Austerfield, haste on thy way. The west winds are blowing o’er Provincetown Bay. The white avens bloom, but the pine domes are chill, And new graves have furrowed Precisioner’s Hill! Give thanks, all ye people, the warm skies have come, The hilltops are sunny, and green grows the holm. And the trumpets of winds and the white March is gone, And ye still have left you Five Kernels of Corn. Five Kernels of Corn! 237 Five Kernels of Corn! Ye have for Thanksgiving Five Kernels of Corn! The raven’s gift eat and be humble and pray, A new light is breaking, and Truth leads your way. One taper a thousand shall kindle: rejoice That to you has been given the wilderness voice! O Bradford of Austerfield, daring the wave, And safe through the sounding blasts leading the brave; Of deeds such as thine was the free nation born, And the festal world sings the “Five Kernels of Corn.” Five Kernels of Corn! Five Kernels of Corn! The nation gives thanks for Five Kernels of Corn! To the Thanksgiving Feast bring Five Kernels of Corn! - Hezekiah Butterworth 238 Atonement One does not speak lightly of the Atonement or casually express appreciation. It is the most sacred and sublime event in eternity. It deserves our most intense thoughts, our most profound feelings, and our noblest deeds. One speaks of it in reverential tones; one contemplates it in awe; one learns of it in solemnity. This event stands alone, now and throughout eternity. - Tad R. Callister 239 Adversity God has never worked out his purpose through the pampered victims of ease and luxury and riotous living. Always he has used to meet the great crisis of his work, those in whom hardship, privation, and persecution had built characters and wills of iron. God shapes his servants in the forge of adversity; …he does not fashion them in the hothouse of ease and luxury. - J. Reuben Clark 240 Faithful Stewardship God requires faithful stewardship of all His gifts, especially the internal property of conscience. This is a tool for self-government as each child learns the revelation of consent. Each individual governs his life through the voluntary consent to do right or wrong. - The Foundation for American Christian Education 241 Prodigal Son The story of the Prodigal Son is the most beautiful story ever told. - Charles Dickens 242 Story of Christ ...everybody ought to know about [Jesus Christ]. No one ever lived, who was so good, so kind, so gentle... - Charles Dickens 243 Three Gates of Gold If you are tempted to reveal A tale to you someone has told About another, make it pass, Before you speak, three gates of gold; These narrow gates: First, “Is it true?” Then, “Is it needful?” In your mind Give truthful answer. And the next Is last and narrowest. “Is it kind?” And if to reach your lips at last It passes through these gateways, three, Then you may tell the tale, nor fear What the result of speech may be. - Beth Day 244 The Book of Martyrs Read, sweet, how others strove, Till we are stouter; What they renounced, Till we are less afraid; How many times they bore The faithful witness, Till we are helped, As if a kingdom cared! Read then of faith That shone above the fagot; Clear strains of hymn The river could not drown; Brave names of men And celestial women, Passed out of record Into renown! - Emily Dickinson 245 He Ate and Drank the Precious Words He ate and drank the precious words, His spirit grew robust; He knew no more that he was poor Nor that his frame was dust. He danced along the dingy days, And this bequest of wings Was but a book. What liberty A loosened spirit brings - Emily Dickinson 246 Read, sweet, how others strove... Read, sweet, how others strove, Till we are stouter; What they renounced, Till we are less afraid; How many times they bore The faithful witness, Till we are helped, As if a kingdom cared! Read then of faith That shone above the fagot; Clear strains of hymn The river could not drown; Brave names of men And celestial women, Passed out of record Into renown! - Emily Dickinson 247 Potential of Man Unless a man undertakes more than he possibly can do, he will never do all that he can. - Henry Drummond 248 Count that Day Lost If you sit down at set of sun And count the acts that you have done, And, counting, find One self-denying deed, one word That eased the heart of him who heard, One glance most kind That fell like sunshine where it went— Then you may count that day well spent. But if, through all the livelong day, You’ve cheered no heart, by yea or nay— If, through it all You’ve nothing done that you can trace That brought the sunshine to one face— No act most small That helped some soul and nothing cost— Then count that day as worse than lost. - George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans) 249 What Will Heaven Be Like? I desire no future that would deny the blessings of the past. Heaven would not be heaven without family and friends. - George Eliot 250 Choose Our Influence Men and women have falsely argued from the beginning of time, that to take counsel from the servants of God is to surrender God-given rights of independence. But the argument is false because it misrepresents reality. When we reject the counsel that comes from God, we do not choose to be independent of outside influence. We choose another influence. We reject the protection of a perfectly loving, allpowerful, all-knowing Father in Heaven, whose whole purpose, as that of His Beloved Son, is to give us eternal life, to give us all that He has, and to bring us home again in families to the arms of His love. In rejecting His counsel, we choose the influence of another power, whose purpose is to make us miserable and whose motive is hatred. We have moral agency as a gift of God. Rather than the right to choose to be free of influence, it is the inalienable right to submit ourselves to whichever of those powers we choose. - President Henry B. Eyring 251 Christian Education The mark of Principle Approach curriculum is that it causes the student to produce his own learning… All Christian education aims to form character and scholarship worthy of Christ… resulting in a student who has the character and skill to fulfill the great commission—discipling the nations for Christ. - The Foundation for American Christian Education 252 Diligence Plough deep while sluggards sleep. - Benjamin Franklin 253 Virtue Without virtue, man can have no happiness in this world. - Benjamin Franklin 254 Law of Liberty The gospel of Jesus Christ is the perfect law of liberty. - President Heber J. Grant 255 God’s Love When filled with God’s love, we can do and see and understand things that we could not otherwise do or see or understand. Filled with His love, we can endure pain, quell fear, forgive freely, avoid contention, renew strength, and bless and help others in ways surprising even to us. - Elder John H. Groberg 256 Soul’s Impress Nothing touches the soul but leaves its impress and thus, little by little, we are fashioned into the image of all we have seen and heard, known and meditated; and if we learn to live with all that is fairest and purest and best, the love of it all will, in the end, become our very lives. - David B. Haight 257 Along the Road I walked a mile with Pleasure. She chattered all the way, But left me none the wiser For all she had to say. I walked a mile with Sorrow, And ne’er a word said she; But, oh, the things I learned from her When Sorrow walked with me! - Robert Hamilton 258 Liberty or Death There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.... Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! - Patrick Henry 259 Hinckley on Dickens [Charles Dickens] was... one who loved the Lord and who wanted his children to love the Lord. ...the story of the Son of God... has been told with beauty and understanding... love and respect by Charles Dickens, the most popular English author of his times. - President Hinckley 260 Christ is the Cornerstone [Christ] is the chief cornerstone of the Church… There is no other name given among men whereby we can be saved. He is the Author of our salvation, the Giver of eternal life. There is none to equal Him. There never has been. There never will be. Thanks be to God for the gift of His Beloved Son, who gave His life that we might live and who is the chief, immovable cornerstone of our faith and His Church. …One thing we do know. Like the Polar Star in the heavens, regardless of what the future holds, there stands the Redeemer of the world, the Son of God, certain and sure as the anchor of our immortal lives. He is the rock of our salvation, our strength, our comfort, the very focus of our faith. In sunshine and in shadow we look to Him, and He is there to assure and smile upon us. He is the central focus of our worship. He is the Son of the living God, the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten in the flesh. He is “risen from the dead … the first fruits of them that slept.” He is the Lord who shall come again “to reign on the earth over his people.” None so great has ever walked the earth. None other has made a comparable sacrifice or granted a comparable blessing. He is the Savior and the Redeemer of the world. I believe in Him. I declare His divinity without equivocation or compromise. I love Him. I speak the name of Jesus Christ in reverence and wonder. He is our King, our Lord, our Master, the living Christ, who stands on the right hand of His Father. He lives! He lives, resplendent and wonderful, the living Son of the living God. - Gordon B. Hinckley 261 Focal Point of History Christ is the focal point of all of history for it is because of his great act of atoning love that eternal life with the Father of us all is made possible. Providence, God’s loving care, is the key to understanding history. Everything depended on Him—His atoning sacrifice. That was the key. That was the keystone in the arch of the great plan which the Father had brought forth for the eternal life of His sons and daughters. - Gordon B. Hinckley 262 It Will All Work Out It isn’t as bad as you sometimes think it is. It will all work out. Don’t worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. Put your trust in God and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayer. - Gordon B. Hinckley 263 Joy of the Gospel The gospel is a thing of joy. It provides us with a reason for gladness. Of course there are times of sorrow. Of course there are hours of concern and anxiety. We all worry. But the Lord has told us to lift our hearts and rejoice. - Gordon B. Hinckley 264 Hatred vs Virtue Hatred always fails and bitterness always destroys. Are there virtues more in need of application in our day, a time marked by litigious proceedings and heated exchanges, than those of forgiving, forgetting, and extending mercy to those who may have wronged us or let us down? - Gordon B. Hinckley 265 Standards to Judge I should like to suggest three standards by which to judge each of the decisions that determine the behavior patterns of your lives. These standards are so simple as to appear elementary, but I believe their faithful observance will provide a set of moral imperatives by which to govern without argument or equivocation each of our actions and which will bring unmatched rewards. They are: 1. Does it enrich the mind? 2. Does it discipline and strengthen the body? 3. Does it nourish the spirit? This, my brethren and sisters, is our divine right—to choose. This is our divine obligation—to choose the right. - Gordon B. Hinckley 266 Begins with You Reformation of the world begins with reformation of self. - President Hinckley 267 Sacrifice for Faith Should we be surprised to endure a little criticism, to make some small sacrifice for our faith when our forebears paid so great a price for theirs? - President Hinckley 268 Both Sides of the Veil In the gospel of Jesus Christ you have help from both sides of the veil, and you must never forget that. When disappointment and discouragement strike—and they will—you remember and never forget that if our eyes could be opened we would see horses and chariots of fire as far as the eye can see riding at reckless speed to come to our protection. They will always be there, these armies of heaven, in defense of Abraham’s seed. ~Jeffrey R. Holland 269 No Other Way “The task of the children of God in these concluding days of the world’s history is to proceed with ‘unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save,’ to ‘press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men[,]… feasting upon the word of Christ, and endur[ing] to the end. This is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God’.” (2 Nephi 32:19–21) - Elder Holland 270 Conscience One common man who holds to his conscience can ultimately influence the destiny of nations. - by Helene Holt Regarding John Lothropp 271 Like a Rock In matters of principle stand like a rock. - Thomas Jefferson 272 James 1:6 He that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. - James 1:6 273 Humility II I resonate to the English author John Ruskin’s memorable statement that “the first test of a truly great man is his humility.” He continued: “I do not mean, by humility, doubt of his own power… [But truly] great men… have a curious… feeling that… greatness is not in them but through them… And they see something Divine… in every other man… and are endlessly foolishly, incredibly merciful.” - Elder Marlin K. Jensen 274 Potential We can be transformed into the magnificent beings we were created to be, if we will simply listen and obey the Master’s voice… He cares profoundly. It is His presence which gives us peace. It is His nearness which gives us hope. It is His protection which gives us life. ~Phillip Keller 275 Foreordination Before we came here, faithful women were given certain assignments while faithful men were foreordained to certain priesthood tasks. While we do not now remember the particulars, this does not alter the glorious reality of what we once agreed to. You are accountable for those things which long ago were expected of you just as are those we sustain as prophets and apostles!” - President Spencer W. Kimball 276 Sun Rises I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. - C.S. Lewis 277 Family’s Design God’s design for the human family is the most obvious and self-evident truth of the created order. To reject this truth is to open oneself to every destructive folly to which the mind of man is susceptible, for it is to reject the foundation of logic itself. For this reason the acceptance of homosexuality by a society is the surest predictor of its collapse. - Scott Lively 278 Virtue Exalts a Nation Righteousness alone can exalt...a nation...practice virtue thyself, and encourage it in others. - Patrick Henry 279 Work Work is a developer of character... - Benjamin Rush 280 What Makes Us Happy All that we call human history— money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery—is the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy. - C.S. Lewis 281 New Testament “The study of morality... of this there are books enough writ both by ancient and modern philosophers; but the morality of the Gospel doth so exceed them all, that, to give a man a full knowledge of true morality, I shall send him to no other book, but the New Testament.” - John Locke 282 Neutrality Is Evil Neutrality is a myth, a glorified myth. Neutrality is a Trojan horse, professing some advantage but being inherently full of danger. Neutrality isn’t neutrality at all. It always favors the despot. It adds to his power. If a man steals from his neighbor, his act is evil. If that man happens to be your employer, his act is still evil. If nobody questions the evil actions of his thieving employer, on the idea that it is better for him to remain neutral, then the employer continues to steal. Remaining neutral will destroy everyone involved. Neutrality refuses to keep evil in check. Evil unchecked will destroy good. That is why neutrality is so dangerous. 283 Moreover, real neutrality refuses even to identify evil as evil; in which case there is no activity to promote good as well as no activity to prevent evil. By default neutrality is the great sympathizer and nurturer of evil. The most deadly enemy of righteousness is not evil, it’s neutrality. If you are neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm, God will spue you out of His mouth. - The Reverend John Lathrop (attributed to him in the book Exiled by Helene Holt) 284 We Will Speak Out We will speak out, we will be heard, Though all the earth’s systems crack; We will not bate a single word, Nor take a letter back. Let liars fear, let cowards shrink, Let traitors turn away; Whatever we have dared to think That dare we also say. We speak the truth, and what care we For hissing and for scorn, While some faint gleamings we can see Of Freedom’s coming morn? ~James Russell Lowell 285 My Savior Liveth What though my joys and comforts die, the Lord, my Savior, liveth. What though the darkness gather round, songs in the night He giveth. No storm can shake my inmost calm while to this refuge clinging. Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing? ~Robert Lowrey 286 I Cannot Retract ...unless my conscience is thus bound by the Word of God, I cannot and will not retract; for it is unsafe and injurious to act against one’s own conscience. Here I stand, I can do no other: may God help me! Amen. - Martin Luther 287 Self-Government The law is made only for slaves; a free man does right because it is right. ~Karl G. Maeser 288 Be Present “Be present. In life, there are no ordinary moments. Most of us never really recognize the most significant moments of our lives when they’re happening.” ~Kathleen Magee 289 Goal If you have not chosen the Kingdom of God as your goal in life, it will in the end make no difference what you choose instead. ~Elder Neal A. Maxwell 290 Success …we can be comforted to know that God, who knows our capacity perfectly, placed us here to succeed. No one was fore-ordained to fail… let us remember that we were measured before and we were found equal to our tasks; and, therefore, let us continue, but with a more determined discipleship. When we feel overwhelmed, let us recall the assurance that God will not overprogram us; He will not press upon us more than we can bear. ~Elder Neal A. Maxwell 291 Character and Education Character is the aim of true education; and science, history, and literature are but means used to accomplish this desired end. Character is not the result of chance, but of continuous right thinking and right acting. True education seeks to make men and women not only good mathematicians, proficient linguists, profound scientists, or brilliant literary lights, but also, honest men, with virtue, temperance, and brotherly love. It seeks to make men and women who prize truth, justice, wisdom, benevolence, and self-control as the choicest acquisitions of a successful life. ~President McKay 292 What We Become So we can clearly see that it is not what we know but what we become that matters. ~Mr. Gaylord Swim 293 Citizenship and Noble Character In my opinion, the highest, noblest purpose in all our education from the grades to the university is to teach citizenship and noble character... A man’s character is greater than intellectual attainments or social privileges; that every thought creates character; that every act is an incarnation of character; that every decision is a revelation of character; that habit is a pillar in the edifice of character. - David O. McKay 294 Testimony A testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ is the most sacred, the most precious gift in our lives, obtained only by adherence to the principles of the gospel, not by following the paths of the world. ~David O. McKay 295 Work II Let us realize that... the privilege to work is a gift, that the power to work is a blessing, that the love of work is success. ~President David O. McKay 296 On The Last Massacre in Piedmont Avenge, O Lord, thy slaughtered Saints, Whose bones lie scattered on the Alpine mountains cold; Even them who kept thy truth so pure of old, when all our fathers worshiped stocks and stones. Forget not: in thy book, Record their groans who are Thy sheep, And in their ancient fold slain… Their martyred blood and ashes sown o’er all the Italian fields… That from these may grow a Hundred-fold, who having learned Thy ways early, May fly the Babylonian woe. - John Milton 297 Try If you don’t try, you don’t do, and if you don’t do, then why are you here? ~Pres. Monson 298 Prepare Remember the promise of the Lord: “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.” Fear is a deadly enemy of progress. It is necessary to prepare and to plan so that we don’t fritter away our lives. Without a goal, there can be no real success… Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal. Someone has said the trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never cross the goal line… Preparation is hard work but absolutely essential for our progress. Our journey into the future will not be a smooth highway stretching from here to eternity. Rather, there will be forks and turnings in the road, to say nothing of the unanticipated bumps. We must pray daily to a loving Heavenly Father, who wants each of us to succeed in life. Prepare for the future. ~President Thomas S. Monson 299 Thanksgiving and Gratitude To express gratitude is gracious and honorable, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch heaven. ~President Thomas S. Monson 300 Only Christianity Offers a Savior Freedom from the bondage and guilt of individual sin and transgression is the highest form of liberty and it only comes from Christ. Only Christianity offers a savior. One of the amazing things about pure Christianity is that it requires no force to bring about change. It is so silent, so gentle, so calming and yet so persuasive that without the use of force it proves to be the most powerful means to change the hearts of men. It is revolutionary in nature, not because it uses force of arms, but because converted souls will embrace it at the cost of their own lives. But pure Christianity does need one thing to survive – freedom of conscience. Men must be allowed to embrace it if they so choose. Hence the need for government to guarantee freedom of religion. Government must be kept from either establishing religious doctrines or preventing them from being believed and lived. America’s most sublime message is the message of Christmas. If we really understood the impact the message of Christ’s birth could have on the world, Americans would do much more to help the rest of the world enjoy Christ’s most bounteous blessings. - The National Center for Constitutional Studies 301 Happiness in Obedience Youth. You will remain much safer and infinitely happier if you will place your energy into current obedience rather than saving it for future repentance. When we are obedient, we establish a base from which the challenges of the future can be addressed. ~Elder Glenn L. Pace 302 Serve Your Organization If you will serve your organization, your cause- the Relief Society—your every need shall be fulfilled now, and in the eternities; every neglect will be erased; every abuse will be corrected. All of this can come to you and come quickly when you devote yourself to the Relief Society. ~Elder Boyd K. Packer 303 Atonement Restoring what you cannot restore, healing the wound you cannot heal, fixing that which you broke and cannot fix is the very purpose of the atonement of Christ. ~Boyd K. Packer 304 The First Vision Few events in all of human history surpass the spiritual majesty of the First Vision. ~ Elder Boyd K. Packer 305 Definition of a Principle A principle is an enduring truth, a law, a rule you can adopt to guide you in making decisions. General principles are not spelled out in detail. That leaves you free to find your way with an enduring truth, a principle, as your anchor. ~Elder Boyd K. Packer 306 Christ The most important and most significant of all events that have happened in the history and life of mankind are the birth, life, death, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten of God the Eternal Father. - N. Eldon Tanner 307 From a Quaker Calendar When the song of the angel is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flocks, The work of Christmas begins: To find the lost, To heal the broken, To feed the hungry, To release the prisoner, To rebuild the nation, To bring peace among brothers, To make music in the heart… - Howard Thomas 308 Ruth 1:16,17 “Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for wither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.” 309 Obedience to Principles Man has always benefited from obedience to true principles. Principles are anchors of safety. They are like the steel anchors a mountaineer uses to conquer otherwise impossible cliffs. They will help you have confidence in new and unfamiliar circumstances. They will provide you protection in life’s storms of adversity. ~ Richard G. Scott 310 Line of Demarcation “`There is a line of demarcation well defined that separates the Lord’s territory from Lucifer’s. If we live on the Lord’s side of the line Lucifer cannot come there to influence us, but if we cross the line into his territory we are in his power. By keeping the commandments of the Lord we are safe on His side of the line, but if we disobey His teachings we voluntarily cross into the zone of temptation and invite the destruction that is ever present there. Knowing this, how anxious we should always be to live on the Lord’s side of the line.” - George Albert Smith 311 Plan of Salvation The great plan of salvation is a theme which ought to occupy our strict attention, and be regarded as one of heaven’s best gifts to mankind. - Joseph Smith 312 Character Is Power I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has had to overcome while trying to succeed. Character is power. - Washington, Booker T. 313 Words of wisdom from Wycliffe We cannot keep a faithful church without the word of God. Every man and every woman must have the Word of God in their own language. God has given us the scriptures so we may learn to think and serve. The fact that something is believed by the multitudes does not make it true. 314 I Nephi 13:12 And I [Nephi] looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren who were in the promised land. 315 From The Declaration of Independence When in the Course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another... a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the Separation. We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness... 316 Doctrine and Covenants 101:77 ...the laws and constitution of the people, I have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles. 317 I Am Only One I am only one, but I am one. I can’t do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, that I ought to do. And what I ought to do, by the grace of Heaven, I SHALL do! 318 Shakespeare “Henry IV” Part I, I–1:18–27 Therefore, friends, As far as to the sepulchre of Christ, Whose soldier now, under whose blessed cross We are impressed and engaged to fight... Holy fields Over whose acres walked those blessed feet, Which fourteen hundred years ago were nail’d For our advantage on the bitter cross. 319 Experience Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see. - Corrie Ten Boom 320 Power of the Bible The Bible in the hands of the individual brings salvation, reformation and liberty. ~President Joseph Fielding Smith 321 Faith and Hard Work Our Father in Heaven does not wish us to cower. He does not want us to wallow in our misery. He expects us to square our shoulders, roll up our sleeves, and overcome our challenges. That kind of spirit—that blend of faith and hard work—is the spirit we should emulate as we seek to reach a safe harbor in our own lives…Use your ingenuity, your strength, your might to resolve challenges. Do all you can do and then leave the rest to the Lord.” ~Wirthlin Joseph B. 322 A Stanza on Freedom They are slaves who fear to speak For the fallen and the weak; They are slaves who will not choose Hatred, scoffing, and abuse, Rather than in silence shrink From the truth they needs must think; They are slaves who dare not be In the right with two or three. - James Russell Lowell 323 Fill Fill your minds with truth. Fill your hearts with love. Fill your lives with service. ~President Thomas S. Monson 324 Sonnet 116 Let me not to the marriage of true minds Admit impediments; love is not love Which alters when it alteration finds, Or bends with the remover to remove. O no, it is an ever-fixed mark That looks on tempests and is never shaken; It is the star to every wand’ring bark, Whose worth’s unknown, although his highth be taken. Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks Within his bending sickle’s compass come, Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, But bears it out even to the edge of doom. If this be error and upon me proved, I never writ, nor no man ever loved. - William Shakespeare 325 Duty and Obedience If there are any of us who lack faith in this work it is because we have not kept the commandments of God. If there are any who do not know that this is the work of our Father, it is because they have not done their duty. ~Pres. George Albert Smith 326 Approved in the Sight of God …No consideration whatever ought to deter us from showing ourselves approved in the sight of God, according to His divine requirement. Men not unfrequently forget that they are dependent upon heaven for every blessing which they are permitted to enjoy, and that for every opportunity granted them they are to give an account. ~The Prophet Joseph Smith 327 What Is True We say that God is true; that the Constitution of the United States is true; that the Bible is true. ~Joseph Smith 328 The AHS History Timeline Premortality measured Before time was The Creation and the Fall measured Before time was The Dispensation of Adam 4,000 B.C. The Dispensation of Enoch 3,300 B.C. The Dispensation of Noah 2350 B.C. The Dispensation of Abraham 2150 B.C. The Dispensation of Moses 1500 B.C. The Nephites 600 B.C. Jesus Christ Meridian of Time The Early Church and Apostasy 50 A.D. John Wycliffe and the Bible in English 1384 Christopher Columbus Discovers America 1492 The American Christian Founding 329 1620 The American Christian Republic 1776–1787 Enlightenment and Secularization of America 1800’s and 1900’s The Dispensation of the Fullness of Times and Joseph Smith 1830 The Gathering and Building of Zion My Place in God’s Plan Present Day Present Day The Second Coming and Millennium 330 Future General George Washington’s Instructions to the Colonial Army The blessings and protection of heaven are at all times necessary, but especially so in times of public distress and danger. The General hopes and trusts that every officer and man will endeavor so to live and act as becomes a Christian soldier defending the dearest rights and liberties of his country. 331 George Washington First Inaugural Address, April 1789 No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than those of the United States. 332 General Washington’s Thanks to God Providence has a… claim to my humble and grateful thanks for its protection and direction of me through the many difficult and intricate scenes which this contest [the Revolutionary War] has produced, and for the constant interposition in our behalf when the clouds were heaviest and seemed ready to burst upon us… We have… abundant reason to thank Providence for its many favorable [blessings] in our behalf. It has at times been my only dependence, for all other resources seemed to have failed us. 333 Check Your Thoughts If you first gain power to check your words, you will then begin to have power to check your judgment, and at length actually gain power to check your thoughts and reflections. ~President Brigham Young 334 The Gospel Is a Compass You cannot find a compass on the earth that points so directly as the gospel plan of salvation. It has a place for everything and puts everything in its place. ~Brigham Young 335 Teachings of the Bible All the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible. ~Noah Webster, 336 Avoid what Weakens Your Reason Avoid whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, takes off your relish for spiritual things… increases the authority of the body over the mind. ~Susannah Wesley 337 Do All the Good Do all the good you can do, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can. - John Wesley 338 Adams, John Quincy, Diary entry, January 1, 1829 But, in good or in evil fortune, It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. Let him look to the Fountain of all good; let him consult the oracles of God. 339 “The Magnificence of Man Appetites for...degrading forces can become addictive. Physical or mental addictions become doubly serious because, in time, they enslave both the body and the spirit. Full repentance from these shackles, or any other yokes of sin, must be accomplished in this life while we still have the aid of a mortal body to help us develop selfmastery...In daily prayer we may gratefully acknowledge God as our Creator, thank him for the magnificence of our physical temple, and then heed his counsel.” - Elder Russell M. Nelson 340 Albert Schweitzer No ray of sunshine is ever lost, but the green which it wakes needs time to sprout, and it is not always given to the sower to live to see the harvest. All work worth anything is done by faith. 341 Small Powers An immense effect may be produced by small powers wisely and steadily directed. - Webster, Noah 342 Indifference There is a tendency on the part of some to become indifferent. There are those who drift off seeking the enticements of the world, forsaking the cause of the Lord. I see others who think it is all right to lower their standards, perhaps in small ways. In this very process they lose the cutting edge of enthusiasm for this work. For instance, they think the violation of the Sabbath is a thing of unimportance. They neglect their meetings. They become critical. They engage in backbiting. Before long they have drifted from the Church. ~Gordon B. Hinckley 343 8th Grade Memorization Doctrine and Covenants 64:34 “Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days.” 344 Doctrine and Covenants 64:33 “Wherefore, be not weary in welldoing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.” 345 1 Nephi 9:6 “But, the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold, he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen.” 346 Helaman 5:12 “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.” 347 Example of Hope and Liberty “The happy union of these states is a wonder; their Constitution is a miracle; their example the hope of liberty throughout the world. Woe to the ambition that would meditate the destruction of either!” - James Madison 348 Wisdom and Virtue “Nothing is of more importance . . . than to form and train up youth in wisdom and virtue. Wise and good men are . . . the strength of the state; more so than riches or arms.” - Benjamin Franklin 349 Beauty “Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson 350 Doctrine and Covenants 93:36–37 “The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth. Light and truth forsake that evil one.” 351 Doctrine and Covenants 130:18–19 “Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.” 352 Doctrine and Covenants 115:5 “Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations.” 353 Matthew 22:36–39 “Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” 354 The Seven Principles God’s Principle of Individuality The Christian Principle of SelfGovernment America’s Heritage of Christian Character Conscience Is the Most Sacred of All Property The Christian Form of Our Government How the Seed of Local Self-Government Is Planted Unity with Union 355 The Family A PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints WE, THE FIRST PRESIDENCY and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children. ALL HUMAN BEINGS—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose. IN THE PREMORTAL REALM, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally. THE FIRST COMMANDMENT that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife. WE DECLARE the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan. HUSBAND AND WIFE have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and 356 spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations. THE FAMILY is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed. WE WARN that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets. WE CALL UPON responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society. 357 9th Grade Memorization American Heritage School Mission Statement American Heritage School exists for the purpose of serving parents in assisting in developing the minds, the hearts, and the bodies of students in order that they may: be useful in the hands of the Lord in building the kingdom of God on earth; increase faith in and knowledge of the Plan of Salvation; develop a love, understanding and appreciation for America and the founding fathers; develop the basic academic knowledge and skills necessary to be able to make self-education a life- long pursuit; learn to reason and discern between right and wrong, truth and error; develop character and self-discipline of mind and body; and conduct themselves in all aspects of life as Christians. All activities, teaching, governance, and administration are to be accomplished in light of the above objectives and in so far as possible in harmony with revealed principles of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and laws of the land. All teachers, staff, administrators, and trustees shall strive to be living examples of the values, principles, and skills taught at the school. 358 If If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too: If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies, Or being hated don’t give way to hating, And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise; If you can dream---and not make dreams your master; If you can think---and not make thoughts your aim, If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same:. If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build’em up with worn-out tools; If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings, 359 And never breathe a word about your loss: If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!” If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much: If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, And---which is more---you’ll be a Man, my son! - Rudyard Kipling 360 Invictus Out of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll. I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul. - William Ernest Henley 361 The Soul’s Captain (A reply to William Ernest Henley’s poem “Invictus”) Art thou in truth? Then what of him Who bought thee with his blood? Who plunged into devouring seas And snatched thee from the flood? Who bore for all our fallen race What none but him could bear— The God who dies that man might live, And endless glory share? Of what avail thy vaunted strength, Apart from his vast might? Pray that his Light may pierce the gloom, That thou mayest see aright. Men are as bubbles on the wave, As leaves upon the tree. Thou, captain of thy soul, forsooth! Who gave that place to thee? Free will is thine—free agency, To wield for right or wrong; But thou must answer unto him To whom all souls belong. Bend to the dust that head “unbowed,” Small part of life’s great whole! And see in him, and him alone, The Captain of thy soul. - Orson F. Whitney 362 The Road Not Taken Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim Because it was grassy and wanted wear, Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. - Robert Frost 363 Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow. My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year. He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound’s the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake. The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep. - Robert Frost 364 The Cat and Moon There is an inn, a merry old inn beneath an old grey hill, And there they brew a beer so brown That the Man in the Moon himself came down on night to drink his fill. The ostler has a tipsy cat that plays a five-stringed fiddle; And up and down he runs his bow, Now squeaking high, now purring low, now sawing in the middle. The landlord keeps a little dog that is mighty fond of jokes; When there’s good cheer among the guests He cocks an ear at all the jests and laughs until he chokes. They also keep a horned cow as proud as any queen; But music turns her head like ale, And makes her wave her tufted tail and dance upon the green. And O! the rows of silver dishes and the store of silver spoons! 365 For Sunday there’s a special pair, And these they polish up with care on Saturday afternoons. The Man in the Moon was drinking deep, and the cat began to wail; A dish and a spoon on the table danced, The cow in the garden madly pranced, and the little dog chased his tail. The Man in the Moon took another mug, and then rolled beneath his chair; And there he dozed and dreamed of ale, Till in the sky the stars were pale, and dawn was in the air. Then the ostler said to his tipsy cat: “The white horses of the Moon, They neigh and champ their silver bits: But their master’s been and drowned his wits, and the Sun’ll be rising soon!” So the cat on his fiddle played hey-diddlediddle, a jig that would wake the dead: He squeaked and sawed and quickened the tune, While the landlord shook the Man in the Moon: It’s after three! He said. 366 They rolled the Man slowly up the hill and bundled him into the Moon, While his horses galloped up in rear, And the cow came capering like a deer, and a dish ran up with the spoon. Now quicker the fiddle went deedle-dum-diddle; the dog began to roar, The cow and the horses stood on their heads; The guests all bounded from their beds and danced upon the floor. With a ping and a pang the fiddle-strings broke! The cow jumped over the Moon, And the little dog laughed to see such fun, And the Saturday dish went off at a run with the silver Sunday spoon. The round Moon rolled behind the hill, as the Sun raised up her head. She hardly believed her fiery eyes; for though it was day, to her surprise they all went back to bed! - J.R.R. Tolkien 367 The Gettysburg Address Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. - Abraham Lincoln 368 D&C 88:118–126 118 And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith. 119 Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God; 120 That your incomings may be in the name of the Lord; that your outgoings may be in the name of the Lord; that all your salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands unto the Most High. 121 Therefore, cease from all your light speeches, from all laughter, from all your lustful desires, from all your pride and light-mindedness, and from all your wicked doings. 122 Appoint among yourselves a teacher, and let not all be spokesmen at once; but let one speak at a time and let all listen unto his sayings, that when all have spoken that all may be edified of all, and that every man may have an equal privilege. 123 See that ye love one another; cease to be covetous; learn to impart one to another as the gospel requires. 124 Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to find fault one with another; cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated. 125 And above all things, clothe yourselves with the bond of charity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and peace. 126 Pray always, that ye may not faint, until I come. Behold, and lo, I will come quickly, and receive you unto myself. Amen. 369 D&C 136:32 32 Let him that is ignorant learn wisdom by humbling himself and calling upon the Lord his God, that his eyes may be opened that he may see, and his ears opened that he may hear; 33 For my Spirit is sent forth into the world to enlighten the humble and contrite, and to the condemnation of the ungodly. 370 10th Grade Memorization John 8:31–34 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 371 Matthew 12:33–35 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. 34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 372 D&C 101:77–80 According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles; 78 That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment. 79 Therefore, it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another. 80 And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood. 373 Jacob 5:71–74 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, and labor in the vineyard, with your might. For behold, this is the blast time that I shall nourish my vineyard; for the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if ye labor with your might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come. 72 And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all things. 73 And there began to be the natural fruit again in the vineyard; and the natural branches began to grow and thrive exceedingly; and the wild branches began to be plucked off and to be cast away; and they did keep the root and the top thereof equal, according to the strength thereof. 74 And thus they labored, with all diligence, according to the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard, even until the bad had been cast away out of the vineyard, and the Lord had preserved unto himself that the trees had become again the natural fruit; and they became like unto aone body; and the fruits were equal; and the Lord of the vineyard had preserved unto himself the natural fruit, which was most precious unto him from the beginning. 374 Success despite Failures Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat. - Theodore Roosevelt 375 11th and 12th Grade Memorization Jacob 2 17 Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you. 18 But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God. 19 And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted. 376 Line upon Line “He knows not how to rule a kingdom, that cannot manage a Province; nor can he wield a Province, that cannot order a City; nor he order a City, that knows not how to regulate a Village; nor he a Village that cannot guide a Family; nor can that man Govern well a family that knows not how to Govern himself; neither can any Govern himself unless Reason be Lord, Will and Appetite her Vassals; nor can Reason rule unless herself be ruled by God, and (wholly) be obedient to Him.” - Hugo Grotius 377 28 Principles of Liberty 1. The only reliable basis for sound government and just human relations is Natural Law. 2. A free people cannot survive under a republican constitution unless they remain virtuous and morally strong. 3. The most promising method of securing a virtuous and morally stable people is to elect virtuous leaders. 4. Without religion the government of a free people cannot be maintained. 5. All things were created by Providence (God), therefore upon Him all mankind are equally dependent, and to Him they are equally responsible. 6. All men are created equal. Equal before God. Equal before the law. Equal in their rights. 7. The proper role of government is to protect equal rights, not provide equal things. 8. Men are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights. (Declaration of independence) 9. To protect man’s rights, God has revealed certain principles of divine law. 10. The God-given right to govern is vested in the sovereign authority of the whole people. 11. The majority of the people may alter or abolish a government that has become tyrannical. 12. The United States of America shall be a republic. 13. A constitution should be structured to permanently protect the people from the human frailties of their rulers. 14. Life and liberty are secure only so long as the right of property is secure. 15. The highest level of prosperity occurs when there is a free-market economy and a minimum of government regulations. The The The The Freedom Freedom Freedom Freedom to to to to try. buy. sell. fail. 16. The government should be separated into three branches – legislative, executive, and judicial. 378 17. A system of checks and balances should be adopted to prevent the abuse of power. 18. The unalienable rights of people are most likely to be preserved if the principles of government are set forth in a written constitution. 19. Only limited and carefully defined powers should be delegated to government, all others being retained in the people. 20. Efficiency and dispatch require government to operate according to the will of the majority, but constitutional provisions must be made to protect the right of the minority. 21. Strong local self-government is the keystone to preserving human freedom. 22. A free people should be governed by law and not by the whims of men. 23. A free society cannot survive as a republic without a broad program of general education. 24. A 25. free people will not survive unless they stay strong. “Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations – entangling alliances with none.”) 26. The core unit which determines the strength of any society is the family; therefore, the government should foster and protect its integrity. 27. The burden of debt is as destructive to freedom as subjugation by conquest. 28. The United States has a manifest destiny to be an example and a blessing to the entire human race. – W. Cleon Skousen 379 Joseph Smith “I teach them correct principles and they govern themselves.” 380 Genesis 3 16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. 17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. 381 Moral Laws “Legislatures are as powerless to abrogate moral and economic laws as they are to abrogate physical laws. They cannot convert wrong into right nor divorce effect from cause, either by parliamentary majorities, or by unity of supporting public opinion. The penalties of such legislative folly will always be exacted by inexorable time.” - John Mackay 382 Thomas Jefferson, 50th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence “May [the Declaration of Independence] be to the world, what I believe it will be, (to some parts sooner, to others later, but finally to all,) the Signal of arousing men to burst the chains, under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessings & security of self-government. That form which we have substituted, restores the free right to the unbounded exercise of reason and freedom of opinion. All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man. The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride them legitimately…” 383 Marquis Beccaria “In every human society, there is an effort continually tending to confer on one part the heighth of power and happiness and on the other the extreme of weakness and misery. The intent of good laws is to oppose this effort and diffuse their influence universally and equally.” 384 Alma 29 1 O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people! 2 Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth. 3 But behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish; for I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me. 385 D&C 84 106 And if any man among you be strong in the Spirit, let him take with him him that is weak, that he may be edified in all meekness, that he may become strong also. 386 D&C 88 77 And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom. 78 Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand; 79 Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms— 80 That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned you. 387 I Samuel 8 5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. 6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord. 7 And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 388 Mosiah 29 26 Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law—to do your business by the voice of the people. 27 And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land. 389 2 Nephi 1 9 Wherefore, I, Lehi, have obtained a promise, that inasmuch as those whom the Lord God shall bring out of the land of Jerusalem shall keep his commandments, they shall prosper upon the face of this land; and they shall be kept from all other nations, that they may possess this land unto themselves. And if it so be that they shall keep his commandments they shall be blessed upon the face of this land, and there shall be none to molest them, nor to take away the land of their inheritance; and they shall dwell safely forever. 10 But behold, when the time cometh that they shall dwindle in unbelief, after they have received so great blessings from the hand of the Lord—having a knowledge of the creation of the earth, and all men, knowing the great and marvelous works of the Lord from the creation of the world; having power given them to do all things by faith; having all the commandments from the beginning, and having been brought by his infinite goodness into this precious land of promise—behold, I say, if the day shall come that they will reject the Holy One of Israel, the true Messiah, their Redeemer and their God, behold, the judgments of him that is just shall rest upon them. 390 Marion G. Romney “We who hold the priesthood must beware concerning ourselves, that we do not fall into the traps [Satan] lays to rob us of our freedom. We must be careful that we are not led to accept or support in any way any organization, cause or measure which in its remotest effort, would jeopardize free agency, whether it be in politics, government, religion, employment, education, or in any other field. It is not enough for us to be sincere in what we support. We must be right!” 391 Pain Poem Pain stayed so long I said to him today, “I will not have you with me any more.” I stamped my foot and said, “Be on your way,” And paused there, startled at the look he wore. “I, who have been your friend,” he said to me, “I, who have been your teacher—all you know Of understanding love, of sympathy, And patience, I have taught you. Shall I go?” He spoke the truth, this strange unwelcome guest; I watched him leave, and knew that he was wise. He left a heart grown tender in my breast, He left a far, clear vision in my eyes. I dried my tears, and lifted up a song— Even for one who’d tortured me so long. Quoted in Tragedy or Destiny by Spencer W. Kimball 392 Meade McGuire Father, where shall I work today? And my love flowed warm and free Then He pointed out a tiny spot And said, “Tend that for me.” I answered quickly, “Oh no; not that! Why, no one would ever see, No matter how well my work was done; Not that little place for me.” And the word He spoke, it was not stern; He answered me tenderly: “Ah, little one, search that heart of thine. Art thou working for them or for me? Nazareth was a little place, And so was Galilee.” 393 D&C 134 1 We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society. 2 We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life. 4 We believe that religion is instituted of God; and that men are amenable to him, and to him only, for the exercise of it, unless their religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of others; but we do not believe that human law has a right to interfere in prescribing rules of worship to bind the consciences of men, nor dictate forms for public or private devotion; that the civil magistrate should restrain crime, but never control conscience; should punish guilt, but never suppress the freedom of the soul. 394 Articles of the US Constitution Article I Legislative Department-organization, powers, restraints. Article II Executive Department-powers, restraints, duties, and elections Article III Judicial Department-powers, jurisdiction, Restraints, Definition of treason. Article IV Relations of the States-To each other and to the federal government. Guarantees to states. Government of territories. Article V Amendment Process. Article VI Debts of Confederation, “supremacy clause,” duties of officials. Article VII Ratification 395 Article I: Summary Specifics 1.1 All lawmaking power in Congress 1.2 House of Representatives 1.3 Senate 1.4 Elections and meetings for both houses 1.5 Rules for each house 1.6 Rights and duties of Congressmen 1.7 Making Laws 1.8 Powers granted to Congress 1.9 Powers forbidden to Congress Habeas corpus guaranteed Powers forbidden to states 396 Article I, Section 8, Powers of Congress 1.8.1 Collect taxes to pay debts and provide for common defense and general welfare 1.8.2 Borrow money on credit of U.S. 1.8.3 Regulate commerce with nations, among states and Indian tribes 1.8.4 Establish rules and laws of naturalization and bankruptcies 1.8.5 Coin money, regulate value, fix weights and measures 1.8.6 Provide for punishment of counterfeiting 1.8.7 Establish post office and post roads 1.8.8 Promote sciences and arts by securing rights of authors and inventors 1.8.9 Establish inferior courts to the Supreme Court 1.8.10 Define and punish piracies and felonies 1.8.11 To declare war 1.8.12 To raise and support armies 1.8.13 To raise and support a navy 1.8.14 To make rules governing land and naval forces 1.8.15 To call militia to execute laws 1.8.16 To provide organization of militia 1.8.17 To govern seat of government [Washington, D.C.] and other federal lands 1.8.18 To make laws necessary for carrying our foregoing powers [“Elastic Clause”] 397 Article II: Summary Specifics 2.1 The office of President 2.2 Powers of President Military and civil duties Making treaties and appointing officers Filling vacancies during recess of Congress 2.3 Responsibilities of President Give state of the Union information May specially convene Congress and adjourn in cases of disagreement Shall receive ambassadors, execute laws 2.4 Impeachment of President Treason, bribery, or high crimes and misdemeanors 398 Article III: Summary Specifics 3.1 One Supreme Court-inferior courts 3.2 Jurisdiction of courts, all crimes tried by jury Original and appellate jurisdiction of Supreme Court; congress can limit appellate jurisdiction 3.3 Treason defined—punishment Treason--giving aid and comfort to enemies Congress to declare punishment 399 Article IV: Summary Specifics 4.1 Full faith and credit to each state Full faith and credit given in each state to public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of all other states 4.2 Citizens’ rights and fugitives 4.3 New states and territories Creation and admission of new states Congressional power over public lands 4.4 Protection of states Protection and republican government guaranteed to states 400 Article V: Summary Specifics 5.1 Amendments proposed by 2/3, ratified by ¾ Amendments proposed by 2/3 of both houses or by constitutional convention called by 2/3 of states; ratified by 3/4 state legislatures or by 3/4 state conventions 401 Article VI: Summary Specifics 6.1 Public debts, supremacy of Constitution, pledge of officials to uphold Constitution Public debts under Articles of Confederation to be assumed and paid Supreme law of land defined o “This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.” Duty of federal and state officials to uphold Constitution; no religious test required 402 Article VII: Summary Specifics 7.1 Method of ratification Constitution takes effect when 9 states approve 403 Amendments to the US Constitution Bill of Rights (1791) 1. Freedom of religion, speech, press; right of assembly, petition 2. Right to keep and bear arms 3. Limitation on quartering of soldiers 4. Limitations on searches and seizures 5. Protection of accused in capital crimes 6. Right to speedy trial of accused by impartial jury 7. Trial by jury in civil suits 8. Excessive bail or cruel and unusual punishments forbidden 9. This enumeration of rights does not deny other rights retained by people 10. Un delegated powers reserved to the states and the people 11. Exemption of states from federal suits by citizens of another state (1798) 12. New method of electing President and Vice President (1804) (Supersedes part of Art. I, sec. 2.) 13. Slavery prohibited (1865) 14. 1. Guarantee of due process and equal protection of all citizens 2. Apportionment of Representatives in Congress (Supersedes part on Art. I, sec. 2.) 404 3. Statue of public officials engaged in insurrection 4. Status of Civil War debts (1868) 15. Protecting of Voting rights (1870) 16. Income tax (1913) 17. Election of Senators by the people; senatorial vacancies (1913) 18. Prohibition of intoxicating liquors (1919) (Repealed in 1933) 19. Women’s suffrage (1920) 20. Abolition of “lame duck” session in Congress-change in date of assembly (1933) 21. Repeal of Prohibition (1933) 22. Limitation of President to two terms of office (1951) 23. Right of people in District of Columbia to vote for electors of President and Vice President (1961) 24. Failure to pay taxes not a restriction on federal voting rights (1964) 25. Succession to the Presidency in case of vacancy or disability (1967) 26. Suffrage extended to 18, 19, 20-year-olds in all state, local, and federal elections (1971) 27. No pay increase for Senators and Representatives during current term of office. (1992) 405 Declaration of Independence Abuses 1. He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public Good. 2. He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing Importance, unless suspended in their Operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. 3. He has refused to pass other Laws for the Accommodation of large Districts of People; unless those People would relinquish the Right of Representation in the Legislature, a Right inestimable to them, and formidable to Tyrants only. 4. He has called together Legislative Bodies at Places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the Depository of their public Records, for the sole Purpose of fatiguing them into Compliance with his Measures. 5. He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly Firmness his Invasions on the Rights of the People. 6. He has refused for a long Time, after such Dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the Dangers of Invasion from without, and Convulsions within. 7. He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands. 406 8. He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers. _ 9. He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the Tenure of their Offices, and Amount and Payment of their Salaries. 10. He has erected a Multitude of new Offices, and sent hither Swarms of Officers to harass our People, and eat out their Substance. 11. He has kept among us, in Times of Peace, Standing Armies, without the consent of our Legislature. 12. He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power. Parliament destroying right to self-rule 13. He has combined with others to subject us to a Jurisdiction foreign to our Constitution, and unacknowledged by our Laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislaton: 14. For quartering large Bodies of Armed Troops among us: 15. For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States: 16. For cutting off our Trade with all Parts of the World: 17. For imposing taxes on us without our Consent: 18. For depriving us, in many Cases, of the Benefits of Trial by Jury: 19. For transporting us beyond the Seas to be tried for pretended Offences: 20. For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an arbitrary Government, and enlarging its Boundaries, so as to 407 render it at once an Example and fit Instrument for introducing the same absolute Rule in these Colonies: 21. For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments: 22. For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with Powers to legislate for us in all Cases whatsoever. King George of Great Britain abandoning the colonies, waging war against them 23. He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us. 24. He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our Towns, and destroyed the Lives of our People. 25. He is, at this Time, transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to complete the Works of Death, Desolation, and Tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty and Perfidy, scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous Ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized Nation. 26. He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the Executioners of their Friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands. 27. He has excited domestic Insurrections among us, and has endeavoured to bring on the Inhabitants of our Frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known Rule of Warfare, is an undistinguished Destruction, of all Ages, Sexes and Conditions. 408 Joseph Smith, On Education “Among the changes for the worse, which the world has witnessed within the last century, we include that specious, superficial, incomplete way of doing certain things which were formerly thought to be deserving of care, labor and attention. It would seem that appearance is now considered of more moment than reality. The modern mode of education is an example in point. Children are so instructed as to acquire a smattering of everything, and as a matter of consequence, they know nothing properly. Seminaries and academies deal out their moral and natural philosophy, their geometry, trigonometry, and astronomy, their chemistry, botany, and mineralogy, until the mind of the pupil becomes a chaos; and like the stomach when it is overloaded with a variety of food, it digests nothing, but converts the superabundant nutriment to poison. This mode of education answers one purpose—it enables people to seem learned; and seemingly, by a great many, is thought all sufficient. Thus we are schooled in quackery, and are early taught to regard showy and superficial attainments as most desirable. Every boarding school miss is a Plato in petticoats, without an ounce of that genuine knowledge, that true philosophy, which would enable her to be useful in the world and to escape those perils with which she must necessarily be encompassed. Young people are taught to use a variety of hard terms which they understand but imperfectly—to repeat lessons which they are unable to apply—to astonish their grandmothers with a display of their parrot-like acquisitions; but their mental energies are clogged and torpified with a variety of learned lumber, most of which is discarded from the brain long before the possessor knows how to use it. This is the quackery of education.” (Nauvoo, Ill 1844) 409 Excerpt of Thomas Jefferson Letter to Nephew Peter Carr, 1785 “When your mind shall be well improved with science, nothing will be necessary to place you in the highest points of view, but to pursue the interests of your country, the interests of your friends, and your own interests also, with the purest integrity, the most chaste honor. The defect of these virtues can never be made up by all the other acquirements of body and mind. Make these then your first object. Give up money, give up fame, give up science, give up the earth itself and all it contains, rather than do an immoral act. And never suppose, that in any possible situation, or under any circumstances, it is best for you to do a dishonorable thing, however slightly so it may appear to you. “Whenever you are to do a thing, though it can never be known but to yourself, ask yourself how you would act were all the world looking at you, and act accordingly. Encourage all your virtuous dispositions, and exercise them whenever an opportunity arises; being assured that they will gain strength by exercise, as a limb of the body does, and that exercise will make them habitual. From the practice of the purest virtue, you may be assured you will derive the most sublime comforts in every moment of life, and in the moment of death. “If ever you find yourself environed with difficulties and perplexing circumstances, out of which you are at a loss how to extricate yourself, do what is right, and be assured that that will extricate you the best out of the 410 worst situations. Though you cannot see, when you take one step, what will be the next, yet follow truth, justice, and plain dealing, and never fear their leading you out of the labyrinth, in the easiest manner possible. The knot which you thought a Gordian one, will untie itself before you. Nothing is so mistaken as the supposition, that a person is to extricate himself from a difficulty, by intrigue, by chicanery, by dissimulation, by trimming, by an untruth, by an injustice. This increases the difficulties tenfold; and those who pursue these methods, get themselves so involved at length, that they can turn no way but their infamy becomes more exposed. “It is of great importance to set a resolution, not to be shaken, never to tell an untruth. There is no vice so mean, so pitiful, so contemptible; and he who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it a second and third time, till at length it becomes habitual; he tells lies without attending to it, and truths without the world’s believing him. This falsehood of the tongue leads to that of the heart, and in time depraves all its good dispositions. “An honest heart being the first blessing, a knowing head is the second. It is time for you now to begin to be choice in your reading; to begin to pursue a regular course in it; and not to suffer yourself to be turned to the right or left by reading anything out of that course.” 411
