Tiny Pineapple

The Long and Short of Marriage

This is a picture of an idea — and an ideal.

It is a picture of two fine young newlyweds — a tall, handsome, wholesome young bridegroom and a sweet not-so-tall young bride. They have stars in their eyes — stars of eternal hope and happiness.

But the artist intended to suggest to us far more than this. He has here painted the dreams of every normal, healthy young man and young woman — a dream filled with a honeymoon, a happy home, laughing, loving children, faith, trust, honor, achievement — all these and a never-ending love and life together.

Ask any starry-eyed newly-wedded couple how long they want their marriage to last, and the answer will come easily: “Forever!”

Forever? Do they really mean forever? Not to end in divorce court as thousands of American marriages now do? Marriage till death? Yes, that long and longer — for even then separation forever would be tragedy.

Theirs is the hope of eternal living and learning and loving together — an ideal — an eternal “togetherness” of parents and children in the old hallowed patriarchal pattern, consecrated and enriched by the blessings of a loving and eternal Father in Heaven so long as love and faith and fidelity shall endure.

There you have it: the long and the short of marriage. Which will you choose?

BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF

Copyright 1957, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah

Great Men Pray

Great and wise men and women of all the ages have sought and received help through prayer and have found an unfailing source of strength.

Washington at Valley Forge — Lincoln before Gettysburg — Eisenhower on D Day — Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove — Jesus at Gethsemane and at Golgotha — all these have prayed:

“Grant us liberty”; “Preserve the nation”; “Give us wisdom”; “Deliver us from evil”; “Thy will be done.”

And these, too, are proper petitions to an understanding Father in Heaven:

The trust of a child at a mother’s knee.

The prayer of a father for the return of a wayward son.

The student’s honest seeking for answers to an examination.

A young man’s reverent request for strength to do this best in ball game or business venture.

A young woman’s plea for guidance in choosing a husband.

The earnest soul’s sincere desire.

That He answers these petitions (though in His own time and way) is a truth to which millions can daily testify.

What about you? Do you ever need help from a Higher Source? Then follow the example of the great and good and wise men of all the ages. Ask and receive. “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”

Pray.

BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF

Nothing Worth Having Is Free

The food we eat, the clothes we wear, the homes we live in, the cars we drive—even the leisure time to enjoy them in — and all the inner satisfactions of life — all these must be bought with effort and sacrifice.

Let’s look at some examples. Take friendship. You may win friends easily but it will cost you something to keep them: time spent on daily kindly deeds, the thoughtful letter or card of remembrance; the timely word of encouragement; the constant consideration.

The price of education is study. Business success can be bought only through hard work; savings for the future through present self-denial.

So with the development of talents; the ability to play the piano, to paint a picture, to bake a cake, to excel in any art or skill comes only with effort.

Personal health and physical and mental strength must be earned by the exercise we take, the kind and amount of food and drink we put into our bodies — or abstain from.

The trust of friends is built on the keeping of promises. Financial credit belongs to those who pay their bills.

Even Church membership with its present and future blessings is not yours for the mere asking. To belonging you must add obedience; to receiving you must add sharing. These are the works you must add to faith if you would earn the good things of earth and the blessings of heaven. They are the price we must pay for happiness here or hereafter.

So strive, share, serve, save. In other words, pay up, because it pays.

BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF

It’s Smart To Take Part

Belonging to the Church is important. It opens the way for us to work out our salvation, but it’s only the first step on the road to happiness on earth and eternal progress in heaven. The rest comes through obedience and performance every day of our lives.

This is one of the reasons the Church offers so many opportunities for daily participation. The degree to which we take part in these spiritual, intellectual, physical, social exercises will determine the degree to which we are eventually saved.

Let’s take some examples:

A boy or a girl takes part regularly in class instruction, and he learns, in the process, priceless truths. And “we are saved no faster than we gain knowledge.”

We join the Church-sponsored scout troop, a young people’s chorus, a singing quartet, or we “try out” for a part in a dramatic skit. That’s experience, progress.

We take our turn to speak on principles of the gospel in our young people’s improvement meetings or in Sunday worship services. Again, we’re taking part — going ahead.

We participate in Church league basketball, softball, volleyball — and in the process we build the physical body, practice teamwork, and learn the value of putting good sportsmanship into our play and work.

Going to “socials” in the attractive and wholesome atmosphere of our Church recreational halls helps us to develop our social graces and meet and associate with young men and young women of our own kind — the kind we’d like to have for our friends and, eventually, for our mates in marriage.

As we get older we become scout leaders, Sunday School teachers, and many of us go on preaching missions.

All this is “taking part.” It is the day-by-day way to happiness and eternal progression. It is part — an important life-long part — in living our religion for our own good and for the greater good of others.

So — young men, young women of the Church — don’t be satisfied with just belonging. Start today to take part because it’s smart. In other words —

BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF

I’ve got to say, of all the possible activities in which one can take part…

Playing Basketball

Square Dancing

Earning A Sash

…square dancing looks like the most fun.

Honor Thy Father and Mother

The word “honor” is one of the richest in the language. It implies “esteem,” “reverence,” “respect,” “courtesy,” “integrity,” “purity,” “chastity” — and much more.

“To honor” also requires obedience — to obey and respect those we would honor.

The commandment “Honor thy father and thy mother” encompasses all of these and it promises much for obedience. Paul called it “the first commandment with a promise.” And what a promise, as we shall see!

But first there’s your part to be done, young men and young women of the Church.

Let’s begin with the little things. How long has it been, you teenaged daughter, since you took your mother in your arms and thanked her for life and the countless kind deeds she has performed for you since birth?

Or you, son, when did you last thank Dad for food, clothing, home, education, the use of his car, and wise counsel?

Do you, our sons and daughters, honor your parents in your choice of good companions, in your seen and unseen conduct, in church attendance, in the sharing of home work, in self-improvement, in keeping the faith?

These are the daily ways you can please and honor parents.

And what are the rewards for honoring them?

First, there’s joy and inward satisfaction for you. These blessings come automatically. Then there’s the Lord’s special promise that you will “love long on the earth” and that “it may go well with you.”

What a promise; what a prospect! To do less than to obey this commandment, to receive less in return, would be to deprive yourself of one of the richest experiences in life.

BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF

Notice the two gentlemen in the background who seem to be a little anxious about the amount of time all this “honor thy Father and Mother” stuff is taking.

Fresh Up With Sunday

All the world needs Sunday, a day for physical, mental, spiritual refreshment.

Our creator set the pattern and gave us this right-to-rest law — the law of the Sabbath. He worked six days, rested the seventh, and, the Good Book says, “He was refreshed.”

Refreshed; relieved of fatigue; restored in strength and spirit. How we need this blessing in our busy, modern world!

How to keep Sunday? Try this once-a-week prescription:

Start on Saturday night. Retire early so you will arise, on the Sabbath, refreshed. Give thanks as you awaken that you are alive for another day of glorious living.

Cleanse your body; dress in your go-to-meeting best; breakfast gratefully; and go to church.

While in church you will learn wisdom and faith with choice friends and neighbors.

At mealtimes add zest to your appetite and nourishment to your soul by keeping a prayerful heart. On Fast Days, rest your digestion, refresh your spirit, and give the savings to the needy.

Between meals and meetings, cultivate your mind with good reading and pleasant visiting at home or with friends.

For good health and stimulating outdoor enjoyment, walk more, ride less to church if you live nearby.

As a perfect nightcap, add an hour of good fellowship and faith with a friendly fireside group.

Time on your hands? No Sunday will be long enough for all the appropriate and refreshing things you’d like to do.

As you prepare to retire, give thanks again that your Father in Heaven gave you this precious gift — one day in seven - when man can rest and be refreshed.

Let’s keep the Sabbath — let’s keep it because He gave it to us — and because we need it!

BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF.

Live and Learn Forever

This life is for serving and learning; so is the next. Part of life’s lessons we learn by failing first and trying over. Some call it trial and error; another name for it is experience.

A certain amount of trial and error we must accept. It’s good for us. But there’s a short-cut to learning, shorter than trial and error, which each of us should try to find. We should seek this short-cut through thoughtful study, from the experiences of others, by the reading of good books, by going to school. Most folks call this kind of learning “education.”

The chief purpose of education is to prepare us to live happily here and hereafter…and to make the world better for others who follow. The scriptures tell us why: “We are saved no faster than we gain knowledge”; “The glory of God is intelligence.” These lofty concepts of the place of education in the lives of people are the special incentives which spur us on in our search for knowledge.

It has been said even more plainly: “…if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another he will have so much advantage in the world to come.”

Yes, and in this life, too. For knowledge here is also power — the power to produce the essentials of healthful, happy, comfortable living; the power to govern wisely and effectively; the power to avoid some of life’s unnecessary pains and frustrations which come to the ignorant or unadjusted; the power to recognize and appreciate truth and teach it to others.

These are some of the aims and products of learning and living—now and forever

BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF.