THE VALUE OF LIFE

The owner of a small business, a friend of the great poet Olavo Bilac, met him on the street and asked him, “Mr. Bilac, I need to sell my small farm, the one you know so well, could you please write an announcement for me in the paper?”

Bilac wrote: 

For Sale: A beautiful property, where birds sing at dawn in extensive woodland, bi-sected by the brilliant and sparkling waters of a large stream. The house is bathed by the rising sun. It offers tranquil shade in the evening on the veranda.

Some time later, the poet met his friend and asked whether he had sold the property, to which the man replied, “I’ve changed my mind. When I read what you had written, I realized the treasure that was mine.”

Sometimes we underestimate the good things we have - chasing after the mirages of false treasures. We often see people letting go of their children, their families, their spouses, their friends, their professions, their knowledge, their good health and the wonderful memories of life that was accumulated over the years.  They throw out what God has given them so freely, those priceless possessions that were nourished with so much care and effort.

Look around and appreciate what you have: your home, your loved ones, friends on whom you can rely, the knowledge you have gained, your good health, and all the beautiful things in life that are truly your most precious treasures and then remember, we can no longer shower kindness on those we love after they a have passed away.  Each moment is precious and the true value of life lies within the breath of life itself!

"May we teach our children not to seek after riches, but rather to learn about happiness and when they grow up, they will know the value of life, not the price of things." By  Linda Sumner Urza, One fine day 

THE MITT BEHIND THE MORMON

Is Romney out of touch with the average American? Yes, he is, but not for the reason people accuse him. He is out of touch because most Americans just can’t comprehend living the “Mormon lifestyle” and when you have lived it your entire life, you forget that it isn’t normal.

A big problem for Romney is that he seems to have forgotten that most Americans don’t realize how much of a Mormon’s life is devoted to service. So the average American doesn’t know how much of Romney’s personal life has been devoted to service. To Romney, this level of service is standard. It is what he was raised watching and what he has personally lived.

When you have devoted so much of your life to your faith, centered in charity, it can be a bit shocking to be called selfish, greedy and uncaring. It doesn’t really help Romney as a politician that it can be very uncomfortable as a Mormon to talk about your charitable deeds to others since your service is not something you use to make yourself look better.

Romney served as a Bishop and Stake President in the LDS church. These positions entail overseeing the spiritual, emotional and economic welfare of the people in your geographical area. The Bishop personally oversees the extensive welfare program of the church. When parents lose their jobs and need help financially, they meet with the Bishop. When a father runs out on his wife and kids, the Bishop is responsible for making sure that family’s needs are met.

A Bishop and Stake President oversees the personal welfare of all the members of the congregations they preside over. A Bishop and Stake President will deal personally with some of the worst situations families and individuals might face in their lifetime. On average they will spend 20-30 hours of their time each week in unpaid service fulfilling these callings, while still working their full time secular jobs.

Romney served in these positions for more than 10 years. This would equal over 10,000 hours of unpaid service. It would be incredibly difficult to serve as a Bishop and Stake President and be out-of-touch with average Americans because every day of your life you are in service to average Americans on a very personal level. You serve these people and you come to love the people you serve. Yet, you will never hear Romney brag about this. You might think it is because he wants to stay away from the “Mormon” label, but Mormons know differently.

You won’t hear him brag about it because you just don’t use church service as a political tool. It would offend your spirit to use the blessing you were given to be able to serve in these capacities as a way to make yourself look better. This is why Romney is out of touch with the average American. Most can’t comprehend that people actually live this kind of lifestyle, truly giving of so much of their time and money on a daily basis in quiet, unheralded service. To use that service as a way to gain something for yourself, would be offensive to anyone that is serving for the right reasons.

So people can call Romney greedy, selfish and out of touch with the average American, but Mormons understand why Romney seems so uneasy confronting these accusations. Mormons understand why Romney won’t stand up and tout his tens of thousands of hours of personal service and his millions of dollars he has given to charity. He didn’t give of his time and money to one day become president of the United States. He did it because he loves God and he loves the people he has been asked to serve. You just don’t use that kind of love or service as a political tool.

So yes, his Mormon upbringing, beliefs and lifestyle will probably continue to keep him out of touch with the average American and it makes him a somewhat awkward politician, but Mitt Romney, despite his millions of dollars, has a better understanding for what many Americans are going through more than many others because it was his life to understand it and try to help people deal with difficult personal issues for over a decade, on a day-to-day basis.   Article written by: Diane Rice

(If you want a president who will serve the people, you must elect a man who believes that service to his fellow man is more important than power, money and greed.) Linda Sumner Urza, One fine day

THE PRESIDENT'S PRAYERS

In times of peril and uncertainty our past presidents have called upon the Lord through fervent prayer. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln are three great leaders who made many references in their journals, and each giving credit to the Lord for the "direct inspiration" they received. Many things are revealed about a person through their devotion to God. It's clear that these men were humble, not boastful and the sincerity of their words will forever be preserved. These men were not afraid to pray out loud or to show their faith in God.  Let us not forget that it was their nobility and courage that established "one nation under God."

George Washington

A Prayer for Guidance

O eternal and everlasting God, I presume to present myself this morning before thy Divine majesty, beseeching thee to accept of my humble and hearty thanks, that it hath pleased thy great goodness to keep and preserve me the night past from all the dangers poor mortals are subject to, and has given me sweet and pleasant sleep, whereby I find my body refreshed and comforted for performing the duties of this day, in which I beseech thee to defend me from all perils of body and soul....

Increase my faith in the sweet promises of the gospel; give me repentance from dead works; pardon my wanderings, and direct my thoughts unto thyself, the God of my salvation; teach me how to live in thy fear, labor in thy service, and ever to run in the ways of thy commandments; make me always watchful over my heart, that neither the terrors of conscience, the loathing of holy duties, the love of sin, nor an unwillingness to depart this life, may cast me into a spiritual slumber, but daily frame me more and more into the likeness of thy son Jesus Christ, that living in thy fear, and dying in thy favor, I may in thy appointed time attain the resurrection of the just unto eternal life bless my family, friends, and kindred.

--An undated prayer from Washington's prayer journal, Mount Vernon

Thomas Jefferson 

A Prayer for the Nation

Almighty God, Who has given us this good land for our heritage; We humbly beseech Thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Thy favor and glad to do Thy will. Bless our land with honorable ministry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people, the multitude brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endow with Thy spirit of wisdom those whom in Thy name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that through obedience to Thy law, we may show forth Thy praise among the nations of the earth. In time of prosperity fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in Thee to fail; all of which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. --Washington D.C., March 4, 1801

Abraham Lincoln 

A Prayer for Peace
Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet if God wills that it continues... until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid another drawn with the sword... so still it must be said that the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and for his orphans, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and a lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.

--Second Inaugural address, March 4, 1865

Franklin D. Roosevelt 

A Prayer in Dark Times

Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity...

Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith. They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph...

Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom. And for us at home--fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas, whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them--help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice... Give us strength, too--strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.

With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace--a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.