Zechariah

I can still remember the first time some kid called me sir. That was sort of a momentous shock. It didn't make me feel old, at least not exactly, and I wasn't (being in my 20's) but maybe the shock was because it was new to be on the receiving end of respect for a change. I was raised having sir and ma'am instilled in me as respectful terms of address, and they're still a common part of my vocabulary. These days, though, except for when I'm at the VA clinic or hospital, I notice more and more women giving a sort of down turned eyebrow at my use of ma'am. Does ma'am offend women, or make them feel old? Aging never bothered me at all, until, that is, I had to start over with competing in the job market in my 50's. It was then that I discovered the new and unpleasant experience of learning, first hand, that age discrimination is real and very much alive and well.

In a few short weeks I'll be 57. The other day I called my wife at work to discuss a matter. After hanging up, I looked down at my feet, and quickly hit redial. When she answered, I asked, "Why didn't you tell me I had my slippers on the wrong feet this morning?" She laughed, saying, "Oh, did you do that again? You'd better stop it, before I have to really start worrying."

I didn't see the program so don't know what explanations were provided as to why these attempts failed. However, the same kinds of questions could be asked any time an evil is committed by one against another, as to why God doesn't stop or prevent such things, whether it be the case of one abducted and murdered child, or the massacre of millions of people. In answer I can never help but think on Alma 14. Alma 14: 10-11 10 And when Amulek saw the pains of the women and children who were consuming in the fire, he also was pained; and he said unto Alma: How can we witness this awful scene? Therefore let us stretch forth our hands, and exercise the power of God which is in us, and save them from the flames. 11 But Alma said unto him: The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day.

Golf Pro

This made me chuckle, only because I'd probably worry my 5 year old boy might turn out to be a sociopath, if he didn't love to pick flowers and give them to his mother. Anyway, sometimes I think parents worry too much as it is, but I think the world we live in now, doesn't help with that either. Seems we're bombarded with so many stereotypes via the media, we almost can't help it anymore. One example is some friends of ours had a son that began showing an interest in interior design at about age 13. His mother was especially worried, though I couldn't help wonder if her fears had something to do with the interior design shows she loved to watch tending to feature so many gay guys, that she was having trouble separating the two. Another friend has a teenage son who prefers to use his mother's "feminine" scented soaps, instead of the "guy" smelling stuff she buys him. I told her not to worry, that she might be looking at it backwards. I happen to prefer the flower and fruit scents myself. Makes me think of lovely things, like my wife. I have no interest in that overpowering smelly guy stuff. Guy scents don't do a thing for me, and since my wife doesn't like them either, there's no point. As for the princess pictures, I'd be interested in what he finds fascinating about them. While one child might draw what he self identifies with, another might draw things he finds especially beautiful or intriguing. Have you asked him to tell you about the pictures he draws? Whatever the case, I don't think I'd do anything to curtail his play or artistry. I'd just provide him the means to explore his interests and stimulate his talents. There's probably much we'll never understand about why children do some of the things they do. My wife always hated dolls. She loved stuffed animals instead. But then, now that I think of it, maybe that had something to do with why we make such a good pair. When I was little and would play house in kindergarten, I wasn't interested in being any of the people in the family. I always wanted to be the family's pet dog. Hmmm... wonder what that could have meant?

That may depend on how badly you need a pay check. Do you have a family to support? How much life insurance is provided with the job?

Speaking of cows... Well, sort of. I didn't mean it quite like it might at first seem. Anyway, I got one of my bosses good one time several years back. I was working as a milker on a dairy, and the owner's wife came into the milking parlor that April 1st morning. Being joint owner of the dairy with her husband, she was also my boss. When she said good morning and asked how I was, I, playing the hesitant, reluctant, part, said, "Well... okay... but... I have something that I, that I need to tell you." With concern on her face and in her voice she said, "Oh?" I said, "Yeah... The thing is... I've gotten another job offer on another dairy, and I've decided to take it. It's just too good to pass up." Now, just for anyone who is not familiar with life on a small family owned dairy farm, having your milker tell you he's leaving, is one of the last things you want to have to hear, especially if you have a good one. Not only are good milkers hard to find, but if they leave abruptly, you're stuck doing a split shift milking the cows twice a day yourself, along with all the rest of your many farm chores, and it's a very unpleasant prospect, and a big hassle, until you get a new milker and he has the routine down and can do the job as you want it on his own. Fortunately, I knew her well enough to know her sense of humor, and knew it was safe enough to play this kind of joke on her, and not get my tail canned for it. So, in disappointment, she said, "Oh... well... okay... we hate to have you leave... but we understand." Then she asked how soon I'd be leaving, and I gave some very short period of time, and then, after a moment of awkward silence, she asked the needed question, "Well... so... what dairy is it?" I said, "The owner's name is... April...? She says she knows you..." And, trying to think of who April is, she's saying, "April... April..." she then asks, "What's her last name?" I said, "Uh... let's see... Fools? Yeah, that's it... Fools." She then slowly says, "April... Fools. Hmmm... April... Fools." And you can see her mind working hard, trying to put a face to this very familiar sounding name, and she says again slowly, "April... Fools... April... Fools... April" and then as it hits her, and her eyes become huge as saucers, she shrieks, "APRIL FOOLS?!!!" and then boy, did I run, as she came like a bullet chasing after me! We all got such a good, hard laugh over that one. It was memorable!

Presently we're living in a sort of transitional situation (one that's taking much longer than expected ) so most of our art work, and a good portion of the rest of our things, are packed up in storage. Ordinarily, though, we have quite a bit of art work that depicts scriptural themes, be they paintings, prints, statues, or even just pictures with scriptural verses, etc. We also have a penchant for antiques of all sorts, as well as usually having many old family pictures and portraits framed and out and about (though the living relatives are mostly consigned to photo albums ). So, people have a tendency to wander around looking at things, like they're in a museum or something. We always got a kick out of the missionaries when they'd come, as they would go about looking at everything and want to know all about the ancestors in the pictures. One thing we heard more than anything else from the missionaries, was how much they loved to come visit us, because they felt so at home, like the way they would feel in their grandparent's home. And that was a nice thing to hear, as that was always the atmosphere my wife wanted to provide for anyone who entered.

Christmastime at Temple Square was something we so enjoyed the 9 years we spent in Utah. Going to walk the grounds and see the lights, and taking in the concerts, are things we very much miss even after being gone from there for more than 20 years now. Thanks for sharing. :) Oh, I do see a tad bit of snow in that last picture.

Yes, thank you, thank you thekabalist. You are enriching our lives and appreciation for this book we love by sharing your insights and we are so enjoying this rare opportunity. Thank you for all your time and effort. Please continue. :)

After Maya provided a list of some of the Book of Mormon names, it occurred to me that there might be a list of all of them on the internet somewhere so I went searching, and I finally found one. I was hoping to find it with the pronunciation too, but didn't, though I guess that's not necessary for the purposes here anyway, so here they are: Abinadi, Abinadom, Abish, Ablom, Agosh, Ahah, Ahaz, Aiath, Akish, Amaleki, Amalikiah, Amaron, Amgid, Aminadab, Aminadi, Amlici, Ammaron, Ammon, Ammonihah, Ammoron, Amna, Amnigaddah, Amnah, Amnihu, Amnor, Amoron, Amulek, Amulon, Anahoth, Antiomno, Antion, Antionah, Antionum, Antiparah, Antipus, Antum, Arpad, Carchemish, Cezoram, Chemish, Cohor, Com, Comnor, Corianton, Coriantor, Coriantum, Coriantumr, Corihor, Corom, Cumeni, Cumenihah, Cumen, Cumorah, Curelom, Enos, Ephah, Esrom, Ethem, Ether, Ezias, Ezrom, Gad, Gadiandi, Gadianton, Gadiomnah, Gallim, Gazelem, Geba, Gebim, Gibeah, Gid, Giddonah, Giddianhi, Gidgiddonah, Gidgiddoni, Gilead, Gilgah, Gilgal, Gimgimno, Gomorah, Hagoth, Hamath, Hearthom, Helam, Helaman, Helem, Helorum, Hem, Hermounts, Heshlon, Heth, Himni, Horeb, Irreantum, Jacobugath, Jacom, Jarom, Hashon, Jeberechiah, Jeneum, Jothan, Kib, Kim, Kimnor, Kish, Kishkumen, Korihor, Kumen, Kumenonhi, Laban, Lachoneus, Laish, Lamah, Laman, Lamoni, Lehi, Lehonti, Liahona, Lib, Limhah, Limher, Limhi, Limnah, Luram, Madmenah, Mahah, Mahonri, Mani, Mathoni, Mathonihah, Melek, Michmash, Middoni, Midian, Migron, Minon, Mocum, Moriancumer, Morianton, Moriantum, Mormon, Moron, Moroni, Moronihah, Mosiah, Mulek, Muloki, Nahom, Neas, Nehor, Nephi, Nephihah, Neum, Nimrah, Ogath, Omer, Omner, Omni, Onidah, Onihah, Onti, Opher, Oreb, Orihah, Paanchi, Pachus, Pacumeni, Pagag, Pahoran, Pathros, Pekah, Rabbanah, Rahab, Ramah, Ramath, Rameumptom, Remaliah, Rezin, Riplah, Riplakish, Ripliancum, Sariah, Seantum, Sebus, Seezoram, Senine, Senum, Seraphim, Shared, Shazer, Shearjashub, Shelem, Shem, Shemlon, Shemnon, Sherem, Sherrizah, Aheum, Shez, Shiblom, Shiblon, Shiblum, Shiloah, Shilom, Shim, Shimnilon, Shinar, Shiz, Shule, Shum, Shurr, Sidom, Sidon, Sinim, Siron, Teancum, Teomner, Tubaloth, Uriah, Uzziah, Zerahemla, Zebulon, Zeezrom, Zemnarihah, Zenephi, Zeniff, Zenoch, Zenos, Zerahemnah, Zeram, Zerin, Ziff, Zoram. OOPS - I guess that's not all of them after all. Oh, I see. Those names also found in the Bible are not included I guess. Got it now.

Thanks you for sharing your perspective. All I have to go by is the verse and the footnote to gnolaum.

So true. My 8th grade civics teacher once went on an angry red faced table pounding tirade, yelling at the class for not asking questions. He did his best to get it through our heads that the only stupid question is the one we have, but don't ask.

Actually, that's more correct for me too.

When I saw the word, "gehinom," it made me think of the word, "gnolaum," (from the Book of Abraham in the Pearl of Great Price, where the foot note says gnolaum is a transliteration of a Hebrew word meaning eternal). Could you explain for me, how these two words would be written or broken down, and is there a comparative contrast between gehinom and gnolaum, as that which I'm seeing? I hope that made some kind of sense. You've got a pre-schooler here when it comes to Hebrew.

Thoroughly enjoying the insight you're providing! I agree that a book like this would be a great idea, and rich study resource. :)

Don't worry - I didn't think you were.

Yep - my pic goes further back to about, oh, 1915 or so I'd guess. No, no - I'm not really that old. It's a picture of my grandfather.

My wife was a city girl. Meat came from the grocery store.

This is very important. When I first met my wife, she was afraid of guns, never having been raised around them, and never having lived in an environment where they were ever seen, kept, or used. She, as an animal lover, also hated the idea of hunting. Once when she said she could only understand hunting if someone was going hungry and needed food to survive, I asked how she thought someone would be able to use a gun for that purpose, if he never learned how. That's when she began to understand that guns were tools, and that just as important as having a tool, is the needed skill to use it properly, safely, and effectively.

I believe, strongly, in the right to keep and bear arms, and in protecting that right, at all cost. Now, if God wanted us to be disarmed, well, then I would acquiesce, but since I find ample scriptural support, particularly from The Book of Mormon, for belief in this right, and in defending our families, "even unto bloodshed," I will wait to hear it from the mouth of a prophet of God, if and when I should give up my firearms. That doesn't mean I think others who don't want to keep guns around are wrong, of course. That is their choice. Fortunately, though, at least for now, Americans still have the right to arm themselves, if they choose, but there are those who want to see the citizenry disarmed, stripped of that right, and they are especially dangerous, even more, I would say, than the criminals, who certainly don't stand in line to turn in their guns when bans are enacted. I, for one, am not interested in attempting to protect my home, family, or community, if the need comes, with rocks, shovels, pitch forks, kitchen knives, or baseball bats, against foes with firearms. No thanks.

I'm sorry to hear that. It's sad that some people are so easily frightened away by those sentiments.

I agree, and thanks much!

Have you heard back from them yet, after giving them the link?

Yes - thank you rren, for sharing your beautiful and humble testimony with us. And, not that we need to ask I suppose, but, may we share it with others elsewhere? :)