In a few days we will celebrate pioneer day. It is a day set aside to honor our ancestors who sacrificed all that they had, many even their very lives, for the gospel. They came by boat from England and Europe, by wagon and handcart from the east. The journey was long and difficult. With iPods, DVD players and plush SUVs, a family road trip these days can hardly compare. I am amazed as I think about those pioneer children. They walked most of the way. The worst thing we faced on our road trips was being forced to listen to educational audio tapes while riding in the car. I think those pioneer children would have gladly put up with that just for the opportunity to ride and rest their feet. One thing they did to pass the time was to sing. And the hymn that they sang the most was “Come, Come Ye Saints.”

It was at a time when many of the saints were discouraged that Brother William Clayton penned “Come, Come Ye Saints.” He was also separated from his wife who had to stay behind in Nauvoo due to illness and pregnancy. He got word that his son had been born and wrote the words to this beloved hymn as an expression of his gratitude. The rule in the pioneer camps was that if anyone started to sing it the rest were to join in.

President Heber J. Grant’s father-in-law, Oscar Winters told a story of what the hymn meant to the pioneer saints. One night one of the company wasn’t at camp with the others. Just as they were preparing to go and look for him, he came walking up with his wagon. He had been sick and weak and had to stop to lie down a couple of times which resulted in the delay. After dinner, the brother sat down against a rock and started to sing the hymn. For some reason that night, no one joined in. His voice was weak but beautiful. By the time he had finished there wasn’t a dry eye there. The next morning when he didn’t rise to hitch his oxen the others found that he had died during the night. The stone he’d sat against the night before became his headstone. The words of that hymn weren’t just a nice thought to them. They actually lived them.

There are countless other stories like this one and likely several in your own families. I encourage you to take some time this July 24th and think about those courageous pioneers. Maybe even look up some family history and find out about your own pioneer ancestry. Lastly, look at your life and think of ways you can honor that pioneer spirit today. When trials come, and they will, remember the pioneers and the words to their favorite hymn.

“Come, come ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear, but with joy wend your way.
Though hard to you this journey may appear, grace shall be as your day.
‘Tis better far for us to strive, our useless cares from us to drive,
Do this and joy your hearts will swell—All is well! All is well!”

– William Clayton “Come, Come, Ye Saints” Hymns #30

Arnold Friberg, best known for his painting of George Washington entitled Prayer at Valley Forge, passed away July 1st at the age of 96. You may not know him, but you undoubtedly know his work. He was born on December 21, 1913 in Winnetka, Illinois to a Swedish father and a Norwegian mother. He took to art at a very young age. When he was 3 his family moved to Arizona where they joined the Church.

To members of the church he is best known as the painter of The Book of Mormon paintings. Adele Cannon Howells, the Primary General President in 1950, commissioned Friberg to paint 12 pictures depicting scenes from The Book of Mormon. She paid him $1000 a piece. Sadly, she never saw the finished paintings, as she passed away before they were completed. But on the night she died she sold some property to raise the money to pay for the paintings. These paintings went on to be included in millions of copies of The Book of Mormon. They are part of the gospel art kit which we can use in our lessons at church.

Epic filmmaker Cecil B. Demille commissioned Friberg to paint scenes of his classic, The Ten Commandments, that served as models for the movie. Friberg even contributed to the costume design of the film, earning him an Oscar nomination. It was Friberg that chose the colors and design of Charlton Heston’s Moses robe. He chose red with black and white stripes to contrast with the Egyptians lighter clothes. It turned out to be inspired as later research determined that the colors of the tribe of Levi, of which Moses was a part, were red, white and black.

As for the famous George Washington painting, Friberg studied the President’s actual uniform in the Smithsonian. He also went to Valley Forge in the dead of winter. On the banks of the Schuylkill River, he took off his gloves and sketched until his hands were too frozen to continue. The original painting has been appraised at $12 million and is a favorite of recent US Presidents. He has also painted Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles as well as a series of works of Canadian Mounties.

What amazes me most about this man is that he never stopped working. An article from The Salt Lake Tribune states that at age 92 he was still painting 7 hours a day from breakfast to dinner with no breaks. At the time of his death there were plans for a Friberg museum in Utah to house all his major works, including the Washington painting. There was also a commemorative statue that was to be unveiled at Utah Valley University, but his unexpected passing has postponed the tribute for the time being.

Perhaps the lesson Friberg’s life exemplifies is one of talent: We are all given talents to share and to help those around us. Arnold Friberg used his talent in ways to inspire the world. He “let his light so shine” and left a positive impact upon the world.

This coming Independence Day, there are a few things in particular I’d like to remember (though there are many others to celebrate):

1) Our soldiers and servicemen and women who help our country. For those of you outside the United States, we all have these wonderful people to be grateful for.

2) A country, that though imperfect, can be a beautiful place of freedom–a land of liberty. As admonished by Nephi, as long as we uphold what is righteous, we will prosper in the land.

3) Our forefathers, who fought for what they believed to establish such a country of freedom. Might I add that religious freedom was a part of what they fought for. In a time now when people belittle the very God who blessed us with that freedom, may we remember this particular point. Without that religious freedom, the gospel of Jesus Christ could not have been restored through the prophet Joseph Smith.

As the 4th of July–Independence Day–is on Sunday, maybe this is something to give a few minutes of thought, and a prayer of gratitude to our Father in Heaven. Have a happy Independence Day!

Last night I was watching Charly, the movie based on the book by Jack Weyland. There’s a line in it that I thought was quite profound. “Earth’s crammed with Heaven and every common bush afire with God, but only he who sees, takes off his shoes.” As we approach our Independence Day, I am amazed at the faith it took our forefathers to leave England and come to this new land and then to fight for and gain their independence and forge a new nation. The evidence of God’s influence on the founding of this country is woven throughout the history and the documents of that time. Steps were taken to insure all freedoms, such as the freedom to worship. In the Constitution, provisions were made to separate church and state, to prevent a government-run religion such as the one they had left in England.

The motto of this nation, which is on our currency, is “In God We Trust.” I think that says it all. But as you look around these days, it seems we have forgotten our meager beginnings. There are those out there who deny the existence of God. There are some who believe in God, but don’t know where to find Him. There also those whose “God” is some worldly thing such as those with addictions or who seek the approval of the world. And there are those who’ve been taught correct principles and then somehow lose their way and abandon them. As I observe life around me, it seems that those people who are firmly grounded in the principles of the Gospel are the most happy and successful. They cling to their faith in times of trial and it gets them through the stormiest of seas. These are they who see, who know God’s plan.

In everything around us, we can see God. He is there in a thousand tiny ways if we will just look. It seems to me that today, more than ever, we need people who see. We need people who will stand up and fight for the values that this country was founded on. We need people who will not forget God in everything they do. We need people who will fight for the family, who will take a stand against things that would destroy it. We need people who are not afraid to speak up, even if its just by voting, when a law or proposition violates the moral principles we believe in. Granted, it will not always be the easy or the popular thing to do, but as was said in War and Peace, “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” The war for independence still goes on today. It is a different sort of war than the one in 1776. It is more a war of ideas and values and is just as important as the first one in preserving this country. The national anthem sums this up best,

“O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power 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!”
(The Star Spangled Banner, Verse 4 by Francis Scott Key)

Last weekend I saw the new movie The Karate Kid. It was well done and a good retooling of the original story. I found myself cheering for the hero kid and cringing when he got hurt. And as I left the theater I felt uplifted and ready to take on the world. What is it about this story that has such a lasting and broad appeal? Is it the universal themes of overcoming adversity and forgiveness that keep us coming back?

First we have Dre, a young boy who moves to a new place and is bullied. Then there is Mr. Han, a maintenance man with a painful past who becomes Dre’s teacher. Dre trains with Mr. Han to fight the bully in a tournament. At one point Dre wants to go home, back where they moved from. It is the same for all of us in overcoming trials and tribulations. We have to work to overcome our weaknesses or other adversity. It may take months and sometimes even longer. Sometimes we may feel like we’d rather go back to an earlier time. We may wish to escape our trials and go back to when things were easier. But it is in stepping out of our comfort zone that we grow. Like Dre going to Mr. Han, we can turn to others who have been through trials for guidance. That’s why we have parents, friends, and leaders.

After the tournament, the bully and his teammates grow to respect Dre. It is his choice whether or not to accept the change in them or not. When we have been wronged, it can be hard to forgive those who have wronged us. We may feel justified in our anger. But, a grudge hurts the one holding it the most. Sometimes the hardest thing of all is to forgive ourselves. Mr. Han has a point where he must learn to forgive himself for past mistakes. If we cling to the past we cannot move forward. Sometimes we might find ourselves going over and over a bad choice we have made. This is counterproductive. It is like beating a dead horse. It’s over and there is nothing that can be done to change it. We must learn from it and then move on.

None of this change and growth comes easily or quickly. Alma the Younger was wracked for days with the guilt of what he had done. It was so bad he wished to be dead rather than continue feeling what he was feeling. In the end he was able to forgive himself and set about doing great work in building the Lord’s kingdom. There is a modern adaptation of his story called Turn Around. It follows a young man who has gone off the straight and narrow path and is making all the wrong choices. After a near death experience he endeavors to change his life. It is not easy. In fact, it is a lengthy process and he has to prove to himself and to those he wronged that he has changed. He perseveres and is able to turn his life around.

The last thing we need is to be willing to change. We need to have the right attitude. We need to be humble and teachable. If we don’t want to change, no power on earth will move us. In The Karate Kid, as his Kung Fu skills improve, Dre’s attitude and who he is on the inside change as well. He becomes more confident and doesn’t back down. But it wasn’t until he began to listen to Mr. Han and do what he was told that things began to turn around. We must listen to the Holy Ghost as he prompts us to change and to repent. This week’s challenge is to listen and to make the changes we need to in our lives.

Every year certain holidays come around. Most of us know where the big ones came from such as Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day, etc. But some of the less commercialized holidays have more humble beginnings. Father’s Day came about because of the efforts of a daughter who wanted to honor her dad.

Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington was inspired to create the holiday after hearing a sermon at church about the newly instituted Mother’s Day. Her father had raised his family alone after his wife died giving birth to his 6th child. In 1909 Sonora enlisted the help of the Spokane Ministerial Association and arranged for a celebration of fatherhood in her hometown. On June 19, 1910, young members of the YMCA went to church wearing roses: a red rose to honor a living father, and a white rose to honor a deceased one. Sonora rode through town in a horse-drawn carriage, carrying gifts to shut-in fathers.

It took several years to make the holiday official. While Mother’s Day was lauded with praise, Father’s Day was often met with laughter. After several attempts through Congress, it was President Lyndon Johnson who issued the first proclamation honoring fathers. And in 1972 President Richard Nixon signed a bill finally making Father’s Day an official holiday. Father’s Day is celebrated in 55 countries and in many different ways in those countries.

In the United States we honor our fathers on the third Sunday in June. But we should honor them everyday. The love and care of parents is special. And there is another father we should remember on this special day as well, our Heavenly Father. He is there to listen to our joys and our grief. He is infinitely patient with our mortal stumbles. He loves us with out qualification. So this year in addition to celebrating your earthly father, take a moment to honor your Heavenly Father and thank Him for all your blessings. Give Him the gift of recommitting yourself to doing all you can to come back to Him.

Larry H. Miller is a name that is practically synonymous with the state of Utah. But for those living elsewhere that name may not mean much to you…yet. To some he was known as the owner of the NBA basketball team, the Utah Jazz. To others, he was the owner of several car dealerships or the guy whose name was on the megaplex theater chain. But Larry Miller was more than just a successful businessman. He was a family man and a generous philanthropist. He supported wonderful businesses and projects, such as the Joseph Smith Papers. He simply loved Utah and wanted to make it great.

At a memorial during the first Jazz game after he died, a video clip was played from an interview he gave. He was asked how he wanted to be remembered. Brother Miller stated that he wanted to be remembered as someone who loved Utah. He gave much to the citizens of the state and left a legacy and example that people living anywhere can follow.

In his younger years, he was an accomplished athlete. He played baseball. As time went on he became a husband and a father to 5 children. He began to find success in various businesses and in later years gave generously of the money he made to help various causes. He was a man who lived life to the fullest until his health forced him to slow down — but even then he didn’t stop. Just prior to his passing, the Jazz had a game. From his hospital bed he asked his wife how the team did and was elated that they had won.

Brother Miller was a humble man and didn’t go about doing his good deeds for others to see. On the night he died, network programming was interrupted by a press conference to talk about this wonderful man. I learned more in that 45 min press conference about him than I ever did when he was alive. His was a life lived full steam ahead.

At the pregame memorial I mentioned earlier, it ended simply with a white rose lying across the courtside chair where he had always sat. A beam of light was cast over the solitary rose. Somehow it seemed fitting to honor a life lived so fully and yet humbly in this simple way. It makes me think about the kind of legacy I want to leave behind.

To learn more about Larry H. Miller, see the new book “Driven: An Autobiography.”

The first time I saw Treasure in Heaven by TC Christensen, I teared up. Treasure in Heaven is the story of John Tanner, one of the early saints who sacrificed all that he had (and he had a lot) to help build up the church. From the moment he heard the gospel, he knew it was true. It’s not just the conversion story that warms the soul–it’s the events that John Tanner lives through and how he responds that really makes you run for the tissues.

I won’t spoil it for you. Treasure in Heaven is another in a line of TC Christensen films that is inspirational. Have you seen The Mouths of Babes? Touch of the Master’s Hand? The Bridge? Most are touching stories to begin with, but TC Christensen has a way to bring out the emotion and the Spirit as you watch.

Sitting in front of my TV, watching Treasure in Heaven, I felt the lump in the back of my throat a couple of times. The example that John Tanner followed was that of Jesus Christ. In giving everything he owned to help the Church, Tanner is a wonderful example of consecration–a word that sometimes makes us cringe out of guilt. But in watching this film, whether consecration is something you’re doing well or something you need to work on, John Tanner (and dare we say TC Christensen as well) urge you to build the kingdom of God through any gift, talent or means you have.

I’m not sure if I like Treasure in Heaven better than The Touch of the Master’s Hand (a personal favorite)–both are wonderful. But the message of Christensen’s latest film is as powerful as they come. I highly recommend it.

These days you watch a movie or the news about the President of the United States and you see the polished secret service men and women who protect our nation’s leader. They wear dark suits and ties with hidden communication devices. Their hair is clean cut and they are in excellent physical shape. That’s not exactly the visual that comes to mind when you think of Joseph Smith’s bodyguard, Porter Rockwell.

A new documentary DVD about Rockwell (Stories from the Life of Porter Rockwell) details some stories about his life. His appearance was that of a wild unkempt man. He kept his hair long and could often be heard to swear. He knew Joseph as boys and he remained loyal to Joseph his whole life. He went on to protect Brigham Young after Joseph’s death.

Though it’s hard to picture him running along side an armored limousine, he was just as fierce a protector of the Prophet as the Secret Service is today of the President. The story goes that he was jailed for killing Governor Boggs and then after suffering in terrible conditions was found innocent and released. While in prison he prayed for Joseph. He was worried about his friend. When he was released he returned to where the saints were and crashed a party at Joseph’s place. At first the prophet didn’t recognize him. But when he did he prophesied that if Porter did not cut his hair no man would be able to kill him. Like Samson of old he was blessed with great strength. He was protected. Word got around about his indestructibility and some men came to try to kill him but none succeeded.

Some called him the “Mormon Destroying Angel.” He himself admitted that he “never killed anyone who didn’t need killin.’” He’s not what you think of when considering a disciple of Christ, and his life was very different from ours today, but we can still learn from his example.

We can learn a couple other lessons as well. First, don’t judge a book by its cover. Porter Rockwell was kind and generous and loyal to those he loved, and at the same time tough and fierce to his enemies. Second, not all heroes are polished Supermen out doing deeds for all to see. Sometimes it’s the small quiet things that are truly heroic. And thirdly, stay true to God and to the Church and you will never need to fear. He stayed loyal at a time when many of the Prophet Joseph’s friends betrayed him and fell away. Have you been somebody’s hero today?

To get your copy of the new DVD, click here.

Recently, a DVD set came out of a tour of the Holy Land guided by Church scholar Truman G. Madsen. Between sessions of the last General Conference there was a short documentary about the process of making these DVDs and about Dr. Madsen. He was ill at the time and wanted to make one last journey to Jerusalem and all the surrounding holy sites. Many Latter-day Saints go on trips, take tours with qualified guides or even attend semesters abroad in the Holy Land. They go to “walk where Jesus walked.”

Watching the documentary reminded me of my experience in the Holy Land and all the wonderful experiences I had. We would read about David and Goliath and then take a trip to the field where it may have happened and using the kind of sling David would have had, we tried to throw stones. (It’s harder than you think!) We went everywhere from a possible location of the stable where the Savior was born to the Garden Tomb where His body was lain after His death. The door is adorned with a wooden sign that says simply “He is Risen.”

While it is great to see the sites whether in person or on DVD, the point of Brother Madsen’s trip was not to promote tourism but rather to share his testimony of Jesus Christ as he visited the sites where the Savior lived. We can walk in the Savior’s footsteps without getting a passport. We can know Him the way all the prophets in the scriptures and Brother Madsen did. How do we do this? First we start by studying the scriptures, particularly the New Testament and the Book of Mormon when He was on the earth. We need to learn about how Jesus lived, what He did. Second, we can attend the temple and we can pray for understanding and to know the Savior lives. Third, we need to follow His example. We need to live our lives the way that Jesus did. This includes treating each other the way He did and would have us do.

Shortly after returning from his trip, Brother Madsen’s illness became worse and eventually he passed away. But like many great men before him, he left us a great resource to learn more about the Savior and to strengthen our testimonies of Him. He shared his last testimony with any who want to listen. The final step is to share our testimonies with others. We can walk each day where Jesus walked in everything we do and like Brother Madsen, perhaps others can come to know the Savior through us.