The Savior said that we should be as little children. In Matthew 18:3 we read, “Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” I think the Savior was highlighting that children are innocent, humble, and quick to learn. They do not yet have all the callouses of life and are not judgmental of each other. They are confident and secure in who they are. But as we grow up all that seems to change. We start to worry about whether we are wearing the right clothes. We compare ourselves to our peers and a sort of clique system emerges. Little children are open and loving without judgment or reservation. How much better would the world be if we were more like we used to be when we were children?

Perhaps we would be less hurtful to one another. We would be more forgiving, more open to hear what someone has to say, and more quick to reach out a helping hand. We would be more optimistic and maybe closer to the spirit and to the Lord. There’s a new DVD I recently saw called “Little Voices: The Life of Jesus Christ.” Children tell stories from the life of the Savior while showing pictures they have drawn of the story they are telling. It is not only cute, but touching. Their understanding is different than ours, but amazingly profound as well. Jesus loved the little children and set them before us as an example. Maybe the next time you get to spend time with a child, take a moment and watch them and you may learn just as much from their example as they do from yours.

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

Napoleon Dzombe was a humble man, who from childhood was aware of the plight of those around him, including his own family. Malawi, Africa is plagued by draught, starvation and AIDS. With two years left to complete his schooling, Napoleon dropped out to help his family. He was always a dreamer and had many ideas on how to grow better crops and help his people. He created several programs including an agricultural incentives program to help local farmers, found ways to get food from aid organizations and built a hospital to help provide health care for his people. He always believed that one man can make a difference and the abundant fruits of his labor prove it.

During the drought of 2001-2002, which was one of the worst Malawi had ever seen, Napoleon’s efforts saved more than 20,000 people. He has helped more that 35,000 farmers with his incentive program, giving them clothing for following his agricultural principles. He found ways to help them use their fields productively during the dry season. More than 40,000 patients have been treated at Blessings Hospital and it now supplies 56 other medical facilities in Malawi. Because of this one man, 33,000 orphans are receiving Vitameals and will have shelter in a village that he is building.

Filmmaker Martin Andersen went to Malawi, Africa along with Director of Photography TC Christensen to put this remarkable story on film. Add to that the music of Sam Cardon, and the inspiring portrayal of this remarkable man brings tears to your eyes. In the “making of” special feature, the filmmakers share some of the trials and touching experiences they had on location too.

As I watched this film, sitting in my air conditioned living room, with food filling my cabinets and refrigerator, I noted the differences in his circumstances and mine. If this man who started with so little can accomplish so much, what can I (who has been blessed with so much) do? Who can I help today? What difference can I make? What can you do?

To see the film for yourself, click here for the DVD.

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.

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!

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)

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.

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.

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.”

What all these heroes have in common is extraordinary abilities or powers used for good, used to protect those who cannot help themselves against the powers of evil who would destroy them. We have our own hero. And He is as real as you and I. He willingly came to earth with the sole purpose of saving His kingdom from the ultimate villain. He had the powers of Godhood and did for us what we could not do for ourselves. He is known by many names, Savior, Redeemer, Lord of Lords, The Prince of Peace. He is Jesus Christ.

The Savior saved us both physically and spiritually. He made it possible for us to return and live with Him and Heavenly Father again. Because of Him, our families can be together forever. Because of Him, we have no need to fear what comes next. Because of Him, we have the chance to choose for ourselves, to learn and grow throughout our lives. The list goes on. More amazing than a special suit man can build, or supernatural powers of mutation, or the ability to turn green when you’re angry, are the powers Jesus Christ has. His powers far out-do any movie superhero’s. And His love for us makes Him the best hero and example we have.