O Say Can You?

O Say Can You See?

(Happy Anniversary)

We have been given a beautiful anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Those citizens who choose not to acknowledge our flag, those who choose division over unity, and those who choose to bring attention to themselves or their special interest groups, rather than accrediting the lives spent to give them liberty; those people are blind. When asked the question, “Oh Say Can You See?, the answer would have to be “No”. They don’t see, and we can all pity them for their blindness.

We cannot wait to teach our children to see until we think that they are old enough to comprehend the whole picture. If we do, we are guaranteed that they will not see. As parents and leaders we have a purpose and a duty to the rising generation. We have to dig back to our roots. Whether we are seventh generation Americans or new to America, we need to know the history of The United States of America and pass that on to our children.

My parents were both born in Europe and chose to become United State’s citizens. I am thankful. Their lives and their gratitude have much to do with my feelings of patriotism for this great Country I call home because of them. I also have my third grade teacher, Miss Nakahara, to thank for instilling in me a love for Country. She taught us "The Star Spangled Banner" and the other great hymns that show reverence for and love of Country and fellowmen. Because of people like them, I am not blind; but, I do see.

Is there ugliness in history? Yes, there can be. But our freedom and our patriotism centers in and commemorates the beauty of our freedoms, gained, regained, and sustained by men and women who love freedom.

When we look back to our beginnings, we know that there really were many who sacrifice their lives and their sacred honor and all their worldly goods to establish this new nation and give us freedom from the oppression we felt from England. They could see. They had a vision of the importance of our freedom, and that America would be a beacon on a hill and a light to the world, in helping many others obtain freedom.

So from before 1776 to 1812, our forbears were willing to keep fighting to maintain the freedom they had secured. England would not let go so reluctantly and kept trying to suppress us in any way possible, with their own forces and with paid mercenaries.

Some argue that Francis Scott Key’s poem, “Defence of Fort M'Henry,” (which was written on 14 September 1814—nearly 200 years ago) should not have become our national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” While we have other patriotic songs that do serve us well, none is so clear about our history, our mission, and our destiny. The very words that Key used in his poem, “O Say Can You See?”, concerning our flag still waving after our troops were bombarded by the British at Fort McHenry, are the words which echo today. Our flag and our Country have gone through some terrible setbacks, but we are not defeated. The flag is still waving.

Some think that she is not waving triumphantly any more, but that is because they have lost focus on what is most important. They don’t view our history with gratitude, nor do they envision our future with hope. We have to remember that the lenses through which our forebears saw our Country and our future were pricey. Their determination came with the cost of work and constant vigilance.

We owe a debt of gratitude to them and to the many men and women since then who have served to protect us and keep us free. There cannot be any patriotism without gratitude. There may be those who confuse patriotism with prideful arrogance, but patriotism is born of humble gratitude to those who have done for us that which we could not do alone for ourselves, who have given us that which we could not obtain ourselves.

In order to see, we need to remember. We need to remember those who serve and thank them. We need to remember to be good role models and to clearly point out who the true heroes are. 

The coach in the following video made sure that his team had an understanding of that. He helped them see. 

I love our flag and I love our anthem. Why? The reason is clear. It is because I can see that they represent so much more that a piece of cloth and a song. They represent our beginnings, and they represent ever drop of blood spilled from every wounded and dying soldier, and ever tear shed from every soldier’s wife or mother, son or father.

We have been given a beautiful anthem and a precious flag which can serve to bind us together in these The United States of America, if we choose to remember, and if we choose to see. But we need to open our eyes. If we open our eyes, our hearts should follow.

O Say Can You See?

1. 1. Oh say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
   What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
   Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
   O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
   And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
   Gave proof thru the night that our flag was still there.
   Oh say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
   O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
2. 2. On the shore, dimly seen thru the mists of the deep,
   Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
   What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
   As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
   Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
   In full glory reflected now shines on the stream;
   'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh, long may it wave
   O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
3. 3. Oh, thus be it ever, when free men shall stand
   Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!
   Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
   Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserved us a nation!
   Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
   And this be our motto: "In God is our trust!"
   And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
   O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Text: Francis Scott Key, 1779-1843

Music: John Stafford Smith, 1750-1836

Thanksgiving, Family, and the Great Plan of Happiness

Thanksgiving, Family, and the Great Plan of Happiness

I feel honored to be speaking on Thanksgiving week; plus, it is a privilege to be able to speak about families. In a way, I feel like I am giving my own eulogy. This talk will definitely be about my family and about the great Plan of Happiness. You may learn more about me than you wanted to know; but, I hope that what you really leave this meeting with is a greater appreciation for your own family and for our Heavenly Father’s love for us.

Bob and I were privileged to be born into Latter-day Saint homes. By this, I am not just saying that we belonged to Mormon families, but that we belonged to families who were truly trying to live the gospel. Our parents loved the Lord, and they did everything they could to serve Him and to serve their families. I know that my own parents made many sacrifices on behalf of their children, so that we could have the wonderful opportunities that they were not afforded themselves.

I believe that this love from parents to the Lord and from parents to their children extended way back in our family history. Those grandparents, close and further removed, who did not hear the restored gospel in this life or before they reared their families, still wanted to do their very best, and they still felt accountable to God. This is true for most of us here today. From our own current families back to Ephraim (or the Patriarch whose line you tie into), then to his fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; back to Noah, and on back to Adam, parents have cared for their children and wanted the best for them, and they have felt an accountability to God for their actions towards their families.

And so it is with our earthly family. We are all linked together, with Adam and Eve as our first parents. They were overjoyed when they heard the great Plan of Happiness, and they covenanted to be obedient and faithful so that the Atonement would be affective in their lives. But like Adam and Eve, all of their children have had agency. Some have followed the pattern that leads to happiness, and others have not. Satan would have us all believe that all is lost when we stray from the path, but Heavenly Father offered His Son so that nothing is lost. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).

It is important that God sent us to live in families here on earth. That is His design. We lived with Him in Heaven during our premortal life, and there He taught us our first great lessons while we lived with Him as His Spirit children. Families are central to God’s plan for our happiness, and He intends for us to seek to live happily together as families now, so that we can be worthy to live as families eternally. His grand mission statement reads as follows, “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). Eternal life is not only life with God, but it is life like God’s. We will be blessed to have eternal increase, if we enter into the obligations, ordinances, and covenants that are necessary, and if we live up to those covenants, especially in how we treat one another.

I grew up in a family with seven children. My parents were not born in the United States. They were from far different European backgrounds from one another; but, they did have the gospel in common. They were blessed with strong-willed children, and they were strong-willed as well. But they always did their best to provide a loving and happy home. That does not mean that things were perfect. I have the perspective of the middle child. Those who are middle children will know what I mean.

My sister Kathy, who was nearly three years older than me, enjoyed annoying me. I mean it; she really did. One day when I was vacuuming the family room, she kept unplugging the vacuum. To begin with, I was singing while vacuuming. But after she unplugged the vacuum a few times, I lost my temper. Her response was something like, “My, you must be having a bad day.” She never held grudges though.

My brother Ed, who was two years younger than me, had some health issues as a baby and then developed rheumatic fever when he was young. As he grew older, he was just as healthy, if not healthier than the rest of us; but, he was often babied; and I was often asked to do things for him that he should have done for himself. I resented that.

As a youngster, I can remember thinking, I’m not sure that I want our family to be together forever. I was in a hurry to grow up and get out. But as we all continued to grow, we became good friends. These two siblings have returned to heaven, and I can tell you now that I am thankful for the knowledge that I have of the Plan of Salvation. I am grateful for the Lord’s love for me that He would atone for all of us and make it so that our family is a forever family.

When you believe in the gospel plan, you must take the decision of whom to marry very seriously. You will want to marry someone who shares your values, who is equally yoked with you in your understanding of the gospel, and who will be willing to commit all that they have and are to the Lord and to you and your children. And that is why I married my dear Bobby. I knew that he loved the Lord and I knew that he loved his family and he loved me. Also, it helped that his family members were active in the church and supportive of us and our goals. These are important things to consider, since eternity is weighed in the balance.

We have been blessed with six wonderful children. They are bright and capable, and they all have a desire to do what’s right. Like their parents, they aren't perfect; but they are on the right path. Bob and I have also tried to make sacrifices for our family so that each member could progress and excel and be happy. Also, we taught our children the importance of cheering for each other and being proud of each other’s accomplishments. In a family, we should not be contestants to outdo and oust each other, but we should eagerly help and persuade each other to be his or her best.

We have had great joy in watching our children progress from stage to stage. Life is a miracle. And for God to entrust us with his precious spirits, and to give us the time and the lessons to both teach them and to learn with them is the most incredible gift. It’s beyond comprehension. We've made our mistakes, but we've also made our apologies. Isn't it a great thing that our generation as parents has been allowed to apologize to their children and not lose face, but gain more faith and trust in doing so? And since God is so quick to forgive, we should also all be quick to forgive one another.

There are trials in rearing a family. No one can escape them. While some of them are similar for all of us, some are quite different; and all of them give us opportunities for growth. Some families experience health problems; others infertility; some women miscarry many children; some children have real physical or mental or emotional or social problems. But in our own unique families, it is important for us to realize that our combination is right, and God is at the helm.

Our first daughter was born with diastrophic dysplasia. While her dwarfism may have limited some of her life’s choices, it by no means has limited her capacity to grow and excel and be happy. From her early days, she was loved and treated as a capable individual. It was hard to recognize that Cathy was ever really a baby. She has such a mature adult spirit and nature. Bob and I know that we were extra privileged to have her come to our home.

I could brag about my children one by one. But I’ll spare you that today. The main thing about seeking happiness in family life is to remember to have a good attitude. Do all the important things together, especially praying together. The church provides so much good material and direction. Don’t ignore the established program of Family Home Evening. If your little boys are throwing punches, that’s okay; at least you are all together. And they will all learn to value that time. Reread The Family: A Proclamation to the World. It truly is an amazing document of scripture, written by prophets, and inspired by God.

Our family learned in a deeply personal way that families are forever when our fifth child Robert Jr. passed away. Everyone was looking forward to the birth of this dear baby boy, but it was followed closely by his death; and his siblings did not even get to see him alive. But they felt his spirit, and they all had experiences through the power of the Holy Ghost that let them know that Robby was their brother and would be forever. How sweet to hear Eliza, so young and small herself, comforting her little brother Tommy, “You’re still a big brother, Tommy. You’ll always be a big brother.”

Now I have children all over the country. Cathy still live is SLC, Utah. John and his wife are in Florida. Eliza and her husband are in Texas. Tom is in American Fork, Utah. And Christine, are special daughter that completed our family is with us for a short time yet. We can’t all be together for every holiday anymore. But we stay close through praying for one another and talking to each other by phone, by Facebook, and by letter. It is wonderful to see our children making temple covenants and beginning forever families of their own.

When Tom and Whitney got married, Jacob was just one-year-old. Tom loved Jacob from the time he started dating Whitney. And Jacob has always loved his Daddy. It was a wonderful blessing that Jacob’s birth father allowed for Jacob to be sealed to Tom and Whitney on their wedding day. I know that the Spirit was involved in this process, and I will ever be thankful to the birth father for allowing that blessing to take place. After Tom and Whitney were married, the temple sister brought Jacob into the very full sealing room. Little Jacob had the biggest smile on his face as he looked around the entire room from one person to the next. Yes, I believe he felt the significance of that event that day. The Spirit was strong. And Jacob is our first grandchild. Currently, Tom is in the process of adopting him. We are blessed and thankful. And Jacob’s little sister Amanda will be one year’s old in a few days. What a beautiful, loving granddaughter. The titles of “Mom” and “Grandma” or “Hamma” as Jacob says, are the most important titles to me. “Wife” is right up there, too.

I am thankful for family—past, present, and future. I am thankful that God would send us to families and entrust us to have families. May we value each other and live together in love, so that we will ever be privileged to do so.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Servants in the Lord's Church

In the Lord's Church, callings and positions of authority are not sought after. But individuals are blessed with different talents and abilities, and they are trained and seasoned through years of education and service. Even then the tutoring and reliance on the Lord are great when one is set apart to fulfill assignments from the Lord. There is no self-positioning, nor campaigning; but individuals are called by revelation from God. Humble servants feel the gravity of their position and seek to magnify their service by seeking direction from the Lord and doing only those things which will please Him.

I am thankful to all those who have served the Lord and His congregations, including me, with such diligence and love. I know that they are my brothers and sisters, who feel inadequate at times, but who also trust in the Lord who is behind their callings and behind them. They receive no monetary gain, but the Lord blesses and refines them into His beloved people.

There is no greater calling and assignment that we will receive in this life than to be good husbands and wives and good parents. How we love and serve each other is of utmost importance to the Lord. “No other success can compensate for failure in the home” (David O. McKay). By the same token, no monetary success alone can measure up to the growth and satisfaction that we receive when we are in the service of the Lord; and we can be in His service in His Church and in all our daily endeavors as we submit ourselves to Him and seek to do His will. “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God” (Mosiah 2:17).

So, although church callings and appointments are not sought after, those who are called to the Lord's work, submit themselves to the will of the Lord, and they do so willingly and cheerfully. We should not only sustain them when we raise our rights arms to the square in Sacrament meeting; but, we should sustain them with our prayers, our conversations with one another, and with eagerness to pitch in and help further the kingdom of God by being united in our service to Him. We should also show our support and gratitude by expresses thankfulness to the Lord and to His servants for the jobs that they are doing.

This Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, don’t forget to thank the Lord for His goodness in providing you with earthly parents and servants in His church who are there to aid you in your progress to return to Him. They love you and want you to succeed, and they are a witness of the extension of the Lord’s love to us in providing us His Good News, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, along with the Restoration of His Church, with the keys, the Priesthood, the Sacrament, the sealing powers, and those who have been given the authority to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof (see Article of Faith 1:5).

See also Talk by Boyd K. Packer

I'm Thankful for Mom

I am thankful that Mom converted to the Church at 16-years-old. I am thankful that she already had studied the Bible and recognized the truth. I am thankful that she left old family traditions that were detrimental in that past and carried good family traditions with us into the future.

I am thankful that Mom answered the many questions that I had as a followed her around the house. I am thankful that Mom taught me how to work in the house and in the yard. I am thankful that she taught me the importance of play. I am thankful that she always offered ways to earn some extra money when we wanted it for something good.

I am thankful that Mom was careful when necessary and daring when adventures were necessary. I am thankful that she jumped off the cliff into the Green River, so that I had to do so, to prove that I wouldn’t be outdone by Mom in front of my peers. I am thankful that she dove off of high dive, so I would, too. I am thankful that she made me speak for myself on the phone and at other times.

I am thankful that Mom took me to Church. I am thankful that Mom encouraged me to learn, but never pushed me too hard. I am thankful that Mom believed in Mental Health Days and allowed me to spend time at home with her when I didn’t really feel like being at school. (No, this didn’t happen too often; but back then, the school districts did not claim ownership of the child.)

I am thankful that Mom sought out ways to give me opportunities that she never had herself, and she made them happen. I am thankful that Mom let me make my own choices and choose my own friends. I am thankful that Mom taught me to see the value in all people.

I am thankful that Mom has always loved me. I love you, Mom.

An Unsent Letter to the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve, and our other Leaders

http://burst.to/2CK

This letter is not actually being sent to our leaders at this time, because they are being inundated with letters from various people who feel disenfranchised from the church, and are in effect demanding change. (And I realize that they do not have time to read so many letters that are either negative or positive in nature.) I just wanted to express my love and faith in the leaders that the Lord has chosen. If you share my sentiments of love and devotion to the Lord, His leaders, and this great work, you may share this blog. Or you could write a similar blog of your own to share with family and friends.

We need to Let our light so shine before men [and women], that they may see our good works, and glorify our Father which is in heaven. (See Matthew 5:16)

To the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve; also, to the Seventy, the Bishopric, and the Leaders in all the Auxiliaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: 

I feel to thank you for your faith, love, prayers, and service to the entire church body membership and to the world at large. I know that you carry a heavy load on our behalf and on the Lord’s behalf. Because of His love for us, and because of our love for Him, we are engaged in the building of His kingdom together.

I can more fully feel the love of my Savior in my life because of your love for all of us. It is a powerful service that you are rendering, and it is humbling to know that the Lord loves us so much that He has given us the gift of prophets and apostles and a manifest order to the structure and workings of His Church. It is the same organization that existed when Jesus was on the earth and established it. He has established it here again for our day.

And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the body of Christ.

(See Ephesians 4:11-16)

We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.

(See Article of Faith number 6)

I know that the Lord has always spoken through His prophets.

Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

(See Amos 3:7)

I also understand that none of you sought for your offices. You have only sought to do the Lord's will and to serve Him. 

And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

(See Hebrews 5:4)

For this reason, I will not try to second guess the workings of the Spirit or the direction of the leaders within the Lords church; nor will I seek to take honor or glory unto myself which does not belong to me. Why should I, when I know that the Father has promised me everything that is His in due time? Unfaithfulness, bitterness, and seeking for power or for more than what is allotted to me would come at too great a cost and at too great an eternal sacrifice. When there are things with which I disagree or lack understanding, I will pray for the Lord's Spirit to be with me to restore light and truth to my mind and heart. 

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

(Romans 8:16-18)

It is through the Gift of the Holy Ghost that I feel secure and peaceful and directed. I know that the Lord is at the helm and He is the Leader in this latter-day work through you. Because I trust Him, I also trust you, because I know that you were called by Him.

We have been promised that no latter-day prophet will lead us astray. I truly believe that. I saw the mantle of authority newly fallen on President Monson when he spoke at a news’ conference soon after he became prophet. He has had years of tutelage in preparing for this moment, and he has lived a life full of examples of following the Spirit with exactness and honor in serving as the Lord would have him do.

I am thankful to the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve for their relatively new and inspired documents of scripture: 

The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles 

and 

The Family: A Proclamation to the World .

I know that these are true and inspired documents. And they were given in the Spirit; therefore, I deem them as scripture. 

I have found the principles and doctrines within these documents to be true and remarkably on target for the times in which we live. The Spirit can confirm the truth of these things to everyone. They are in harmony with all other scripture and the words of all previous prophets. I am thankful that our Heavenly Father would give us renewed direction through His chosen and called prophets and apostles. 

I have full trust in following the counsel, commandments, directions, or strong recommendations which are given in our General Conferences. I know that my time isn't being wasted with personal opinion, but that I am being taught by the servants of the Lord. Because I have the scriptures and because I have the Gift of the Holy Ghost, I know that I am entitled to personal revelation concerning the things which I hear spoken in these assemblies. And again, they are in harmony with the testimony I already have and with the words of scriptures that are already a part of me. 

I want you to know that I am trying to be patient and understanding with our brothers and sisters who are currently lacking in faith. But at the same time I feel to say as Paul did:

I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation.

(See Romans 1:16)

And also as Alma said, I seek:

To stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that I may be in, even until death, that I may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that I may have eternal life.

(See Mosiah 18:9)

I pray that our Heavenly Father will continue to support and sustain you. I also hope and pray that you can feel the love and support and sustaining influence from the majority of the members of the church. I deem it an honor to be able to follow a living prophet, and I am most thankful that the Lord is giving us direction for our times and for these seasons of particular unrest, uncertainty, infidelity, and pride. I will rededicate myself to the service of the Lord and seek to do His will. I hope that I will never be found choosing to be involved in any group or company that is offensive to Him; while, at the same time, I pray that I will be found worthy to let my light shine in His behalf. 

Thank you for your sacrifice and service on our behalf and on the Lord's behalf. I personally am extremely grateful. I love the Lord and I honor you as His servants.

Most sincerely, from your sister in the gospel,

Heidi Sommerfeld Stevenson