October 26,2025 A Ministering Message

"Christ is the Way"

President Dallin H. Oaks

Dear family and Friends. It has been too long of a time since I have taken opportunity to post something in this blog. I do hope that this message find each of you and your families well and happy.

Hard to believe how fast time has gone since President Russel M. Nelson passed to take on his new assignment. He surely will be missed. He truly was our living prophet of God.

Now we have a new Prophet/President. A new prophet for the world, and a new president for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Truly a remarkale man. I invite you to take about 12 minutes and watch this video giving us more background on our dear Prophet. Take about 20 minutess to watch how our Prophet has been prepared by the Lord for the calling that he now holds

Do to the fact that we are now entering the Thanksgiving season I would like to insert a story as told by Elder Hugh B. Brown. He tells of an experience during the war where he invited a minister of another church to attend a service he was having with a group of member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

It is the story of gratitude that not only the soldiers had with different experiences that they had. But the gratitued that this minister had for being allowed to witness all of this. I hope you will enjoy this story.

A Special Type of Soldier

Elder 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 am.

When I arrived at the camp, there were seventy-five 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 United States. 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, this 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 seventy-six Mormon boys in this camp. I got word to them. Seventy-five of them are here. The other is in the hospital. I have more than six hundred Baptist men in this camp, and if I gave them six 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 fully 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 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 hymn books. 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, and—without in any way reflecting adversely on what we usually hear—I think I have only heard "Come, Come Ye Saints," sung that way once when every heart seemed to be bursting. They sang every verse without books. When they came to the last verse, they didn't mute it; they didn't 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 journey's 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, what's 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 hasn't 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 shores 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 didn't have time to change my battle dress, and when I knelt there and again addressed the Lord, I was reminded that I hadn't 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 moment's 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 labored—they were among the finest sermons I have ever heard. Then the time was up, and I said, "Fellows, it's 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—let's 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 Smith 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 to me, "I have been a minister for more than twenty-one years, and this has been the greatest spiritual experience of my life."

Here are just a few more quotes about Gratitude & Thanksgiving:

“The Prophet Joseph said at one time that one of the greatest sins of which the Latter-day Saints would be guilty is the sin of ingratitude. I presume most of us have not thought of that as a great sin. There is a great tendency for us in our prayers and in our pleadings with the Lord to ask for additional blessings. But sometimes I feel we need to devote more of our prayers to expressions of gratitude and thanksgiving for blessings already received. We enjoy so much.” - Ezra Taft Benson - “Remembrance and Gratitude,” Ensign, November 1989, pp. 12-13

“The grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for, and with him the good outweighs the evil. Love overpowers jealousy, and light drives darkness out of his life...Pride destroys our gratitude and sets up selfishness in its place. How much happier we are in the presence of a grateful and loving soul, and how careful we should be to cultivate, through the medium of a prayerful life, a thankful attitude toward God and man!” - Joseph Fielding Smith - Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. (1939), 263.

“My brothers and sisters, do we remember to give thanks for the blessings we receive? Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God’s love.“ - Thomas S. Monson - The Divine Gift of Gratitude”

Enjoy now two renditions of We Thank Thee , O God for a Prophet. One by the Choir at Temple Square and the other a choir of primary aged children.

“We are challenged to move through a process of conversion toward that status and condition called eternal life. This is achieved not just by doing what is right, but by doing it for the right reason – for the pure love of Christ. The Apostle Paul illustrated this in his famous teaching about the importance of charity. The reason charity never fails and the reason charity is greater than even the most significant acts of goodness he cited is that charity, “the pure love of Christ,” is not an act but a condition or state of being. Charity is attained through a succession of acts that result in a conversion. Charity is something one becomes. Thus, as Moroni declared, “except men shall have charity they cannot inherit” the place prepared for them in the mansions of the Father.” - Elder Dallin H. Oaks - Ensign, November 2000, p. 32-34

Through all our trials and test of life. There is one absolute !

"Jesus Christ is the Way"!!

Of these things I do testify. He Lives ! He loves each of you as do Debbie and I. Show your gratitude to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ by sharing their love through you to family, friends and even those who are otherwise. Be a peace maker.

If you have troubles with a family member. Let Jesus Christ help you to make peace and be reunited with your family member. That is what this life is for, to give us the opportunity to live with our families for eternity. Let this be the season where you reunite and become family. Love them, have patience and see them as does our Savior. A child of Heavenly Parents just as you and I are. Think celestial and you will have a change of heart. It will be softened and you will have the power you neew to twart the enticing of the advesary to reconnect. He joys in destroying families. God, our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ make it their "work and glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man"

In the Sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.