The Reason Why

Have you ever felt strongly about something that you know has changed your life??  Whether it be the a speech, a speaker, a book, a soap opera, an acne cream, or whatever that something may be, you want to share it with everyone that will lend you an open ear. Thousands of people share their stories over the media to uplift and help others live better lives and have courage to stand for what is right. That is exactly how I feel about the message that we share as missionaries. This message has changed and sculpted my life in such a way that I know this can and will help anyone who applies it in their life. Henry David Thorough once said," Grief can take care of itself, but to have a fullness of joy there must be somebody to divide it with."

A Special Type of Soldier

A Special Type of Soldier-Hugh B. Brown

            At the request of the First Presidency, I had gone to England as coordinator for the LDS servicemen.  One Saturday afternoon in 1944, I sent a telegram from London to the base chaplain near Liverpool letting him know that I would be in camp the next morning to conduct Mormon church services at 10:00 a.m.

            When I arrived at the camp, there were 75 Mormon boys, all in uniform and quite a number in battle dress.  The chaplain to whom I had sent the wire proved to be a Baptist minister from the southern U. S.  He, too, was waiting for my arrival.  As these young men ran out to greet me not because it was I, but because of what I represented, and as they literally threw their arms around me, knowing I was representing their parents as well as the Church, the minister said, Please tell me how you do it.           Do what?           Why, he said, I did not get your wire until late this morning.  I made a hurried search.  I found there were 76 Mormon boys in this camp.  I got word to them.  75 of them are here.  The other is in the hospital.  I have more than 600 Baptist in this camp, and if I gave them 6 months notice, I could not get a response like that.

          And then he repeated, How do you do it?

          I said, Sir, if you will come inside, perhaps you will see.

            We went in to the little chapel.  The boys sat down.  I asked, How many here have been on missions?  I think a full 50% raised their hands.

            I said, Will you and you and you and I pointed to six of them please come and administer the sacrament?  And will you and you and you and I pointed to six others please come and sit here and be prepared to speak.

            Then I said, who can lead the music? A number of hands were raised. Will you come and lead the music?  And who can play this portable organ?  There were several more hands, and one was selected.  Then I said, What would you like to sing, fellows?  With one voice they replied, Come, Come Ye Saints!

            We had no hymnbook.  The boy sounded the chord:  they all arose.  I have heard Come, Come Ye Saints sung in many lands and by many choirs and congregations.  Without reflecting adversely on what we usually hear I think I have only heard Come, Come Ye Saints sung that once when every heart seemed to be bursting.  They sounded every verse without books.

          When they came to the last verse, they didnt mute it; they didnt sing it like a dirge but throwing back their shoulders, they sang out until I was fearful the walls would burst.  And should we die before our journeys through, happy day, all is well; I looked at my minister friend and found him weeping. 

          Then one of the boys who had been asked to administer the sacrament knelt at the table, bowed his head, and said, Oh, God, the Eternal Father.  He paused for what seemed to be a full minute, and then he proceeded with the rest of the blessing on the bread.  At the close of that meeting, I sought that boy out.  I put my arm around his shoulders, and said, Son, whats the matter?  Why was it so difficult for you to ask the blessing on the bread?

          He paused for a minute and said, rather apologetically, Well, Brother Brown, it hasnt been two hours since I was over the continent on a bombing mission.  As we started to return, I discovered that my tail assembly was partly shot away, that one of my engines was out, that three of my crew were wounded, and that it appeared absolutely impossible that we could reach the shore of England.

          Brother Brown, up there I remembered Primary and Sunday School and MIA, and home and church, and up there when it seemed all hope was lost, I said, Oh, God the eternal Father, please support this plane until we reach a landing field.  He did just that, and when we landed, I learned of this meeting and I had to run all the way to get here.  I didnt have time to change my battle dress, and when I knelt there and again addressed the Lord, I was reminded that I hadnt stopped to say thanks.

          Brother Brown, I had to pause a little while to tell God how grateful I was.

          Well, we went on with the meeting.  We sang.  Prayers were offered, and these young men, with only a moments notice, each stood and spoke, preached the gospel of Jesus Christ to their comrades, bore their testimonies, and again I say with due respect to the various ones with whom I have associated and laboredthey were among the finest sermons I have ever heard.

          Then the time was up and I said, Fellow, its time for chow.  We must dismiss now, or you will miss your dinner.  With almost one voice they cried, We can eat grub any time. Lets have a testimony meeting!

          So we stayed another hour and a half while every man bore witness to the truthfulness of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  Each one in turn, and in his own way, said, I know that God lives.  I know that the gospel is restored.  I know that Joseph was a prophet of God.  Again I looked at my friend, and he was weeping unashamedly.

          At the close of that meeting, this minister said, I have been a minister for more than 21 years, and this has been the greatest spiritual experience of my life.

Whether on or off the field of battle, these men knew who was their greatest support. May we each have the enthusiasm that these great men had to hear the word of Christ.

"Forgive and Forget"

Growing up we have all heard the well known saying, "Forgive and Forget". I know I heard it quite frequently, but this last couple of days have given me a new perspective on the meaning of this phrase.

Yesterday, Elder Abbott and I were talking about dumb things we used to do in High school. We made each other laugh as we talked about the different pranks we used to play on friends and classmates. We joked about how naive we were and about how funny those things were to us at the time. After exchanging several stories the car got silent as we both reflected on what we used to be. Then Elder Abbott broke the silence by saying something to the effect of... I don't want to think any more about what I used to be and do.

His comment gave me a minute to reflect on a scripture talking about the sacrifice of the Savior Jesus Christ. A Book of Mormon prophet explains:"Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me."(Alma 7:13)

You see the beautiful part of the Atonement(or the sacrifice) Jesus Christ is that it can blot out  our mistakes and sins. It is like a perfect white out, the stain left on us is removed as if it was never there. The Savior blots out the stain that we allow him to remove. I know that the Savior not only forgives us, but forgets what we have done.

Now this does not mean that he forgets you..... oh no..... oh contrar monfer(don't ask me what that means, but my dad used to say it a lot). He remembers you all the more because you are written on the palms of his hands. You are and can NEVER be forgotten.

One last scripture and I'm out. "And now, beloved, marvel not that I tell you these things; for why not speak of the atonement of Christ, and attain to a perfect knowledge of him..?"(Jacob 4:12) Why not talk of Christ? Why not talk of the blood that was spilt on our behalf? His is the message that I share and there is no greater message. I testify that he lives!

"My name is Will Eccles, and I'm a mormon."

As my companion and I walk the streets and talk to everyone, people often ask us which religion we are from. I have never been more unashamed to reply," We are mormons!", in my life. Growing up, when I would be walking out the door to leave the house my dad would always say to me," Remember who you are, and don't let it get you down." Lately, I have had an opportunity to reflect on that statement. I know who I am, and I stand with Paul when he exclaimed, in Romans 1:16, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ"!

If you haven't seen this video... you need to! Paris is a stud.  http://www.mormon.org/me/1RY0-eng