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Speaker: Glenn Rawson
Hi, this is Glenn Rawson. One of the most powerful ways to share history and heritage is by the telling of stories. We began sharing inspiring stories nearly 30 years ago. Each of those stories is true and was intended to inspire and strengthen faith. Over the years, those stories have reached millions around the world. This podcast is for you to listen, learn and enjoy.
First Story:
Have you ever heard this? It has been said that great battles make great heroes.
President Russell M. Nelson said to the sisters in October 2020:
“My dear sisters, let us not endure this current season. (he’s talking about the pandemic) Let us embrace the future with faith. Turbulent times are opportunities for us to thrive spiritually, he said. They are times when our influence can be much more penetrating than in calmer times.”
Great trials, my dear friends can show us what we are made of and who makes us as illustrated.
James, the Lord’s brother once said, “Count it all joy when you fall into many afflictions.”
Joy! Joy? Where is the joy to pray in life’s storms? What eternal purpose is served by fear, pain, struggle, temptation, trial, death, pain, whatever? Well, there’s an answer to that and maybe these two stories, back to back, will help you.
Years ago, a young friend of mine, a former student, Skye Nighting, was climbing in the Teton mountain range. She and her sisters weren’t far from the top of Table Mountain or Table Rock if you know where that’s located, when they happen to notice a thunderstorm – big and black and coming up the range behind them.
Now, if you know anything about those mountains, lightning storms in the Tetons are deadly. Stories and legends of killer storms are familiar to anyone who’s spent much time there.
As the storm bore down on them, Skye became anxious and frightened. Should she and her sisters go on to the top and take their chances with the lightning or should they turn back and get down to lower safer ground?
Now, think about it. They had come all this way, they were so close to the summit but that summit would be the most dangerous place in a storm. There was more than just the fear of getting wet. People have died in those mountains before from lightning storms.
Stop for just a moment. Think about it. Why did that storm have to come in the first place?
Couldn’t an all-powerful, all-knowing God have turned it away or turned it around? He knew it was there? Couldn’t He have turned it away? Well, of course He could. Then answer me this; Why didn’t He? And the larger question: Why does God allow Satan to beat us up and oppose everything good we are and are trying to do? What I’m really asking is why does life have to be so hard sometimes and why does God not only allow it?
In some respects, He may actually cause it. Now, that concept causes a lot of people heartburn. The answer may be found in another story.
A man was brought once to Jesus. The man was deaf and had a speech impediment. Jesus took that man, pulled him aside from the group, put his fingers into the man’s ears. Jesus then spit and touched the man’s tongue. Then the Savior sighed and looked up to heaven and said:
“He opened.”
The blind man and with a speech impediment was immediately healed. But why did the Savior put the fingers in the man’s ears? And why did Jesus spit and then put the spit on the man’s tongue?
Well, think about it. The man was deaf. In a sense, his ears were plugged. By putting his fingers in the man’s ears, Jesus communicated his intent to remove the obstruction so that the man could hear. It was a form of communication and then why did the Savior spit and then put saliva on the man’s tongue?
Well, this farm boy saw it all the time. Then and now, saliva symbolized healing. Touching saliva to the man’s tongue communicated the message that Jesus wanted to heal this man’s speech impediment.
Now, why did Jesus do those unusual and some would say disgusting things? The answer is this – if there is no faith, Jesus can do no miracle. Within that man, the sleeping giant of faith had to be awakened before the miracle could happen. He couldn’t talk to him so he used the only language he could understand – that of signs.
It’s the same now. It’s no different. Our God will do whatever it takes to awaken faith in us even if that means trials, afflictions, fear and even thunderstorms when and where we least expect or want them.
As that storm closed in on Skye and her sisters, they huddled together and got down on their knees and began to pray and asked their Father in heaven to turn the storm away. Their awakened faith was answered as they stood and watched that mighty storm split and it went around them on all sides. Rain fell, lightning flashed all around them but where they stood was safe and dry.
They continued on to the top and later from the summit of Table Rock, Table Mountain, they watched that storm come back together in all its fury and lashed the peaks of the three Tetons. That storm became one of the most spiritual experiences in Skye’s young life.
My friends, so it can be with us. I realize that what I’m about to say is hard to hear but don’t curse those storms in life, don’t curse those pandemics. Whatever they are and however they come, the trials and turbulent times of life, use them; turn in faith and prayer to Almighty God, the God whose love never fails and let Him awaken the sleeping divine giant within you.
Thank God for the one who loves you just as you are but will never leave you there.
Second Story:
I think I’m pretty safe in saying I will never get to meet the prophet Joseph Smith in this life. But in many respects, I feel and I hope, this isn’t arrogant to say, but I feel as though I know him and would recognize him if the opportunity ever came. And that in large measure, thanks to diary accounts and witnesses who knew him such as the one that I’m about to share with you – a very tender and to me instructive account out of the diary of Curtis Bolton.
Curtis received word that John Leach, a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints had come into the area of Little Falls, New Jersey and were going to preach. Curtis, being much prejudiced, said, “Against the Latter-Day Saints, went to a meeting to oppose Elder Leach and drive him from the place.”
But instead of running the missionary out of town, Curtis listened and was soon convinced of the truthfulness of the restoration. He then records:
“I, and my wife, Rebecca, were shortly after baptized.”
Well, in April of 1844, Curtis E. Bolton traveled up the Mississippi River to Nauvoo, leaving his family behind in New Jersey. While there, Curtis lived with or by the Prophet Joseph for about five weeks and became very well acquainted with the man.
Curtis records the following:
“Received an ordination as a high priest under the hands of Hyrum Smith as also a patriarchal blessing. He ordained me on the 16th of May 1844, in the street, near the fence, North of Joseph Smith’s first residence in Nauvoo.”
So right on that corner, just to the North, probably by the cemetery there, Curtis Bolton was ordained and received his patriarchal blessing right there in the open street.
He then says, “I received a certificate from Willard Richards who lived at this time, lived in the aforementioned house (meaning the homestead) and then Curtis said, “…a few minutes after my ordination, I went on board the steamboat made of Iowa on my return home.
And then here it is. Curtis said, “The last I saw of Joseph Smith, “He was standing with his youngest boy in his arms at the brow of the hill, on the West side of the Nauvoo house, in the middle of the street. No one was near him.”
Curtis adds, “He was the most beautifully formed man and was laughing pleasantly to the brethren on board the steamboat who were leaving to go preaching.”
And then Curtis concluded, “I never in this life shall look upon his like again.”
Curtis Bolton, that last sentence touches my soul. Thank the heavens that you wrote it down and we found it.
Third Story:
This next story isn’t really a story. It’s more like, I’m sorry, a short talk.
When I was growing up, not a Christian, not a Latter-Day Saint, I constantly heard this epithet thrown at members of the church and that by members of my own family. Hypocrites! Call them hypocrites. I still hear it today. Even this very week, Facebook haters accused us, me, of the age-old insult “just a bunch of hypocrites.”
Well, me being a candidate for the foremost hypocrite of you all, I decided to study the meaning of that word a little bit further. What follows here now is what I wrote for a Newspaper column some years ago on the subject of hypocrites.
There are those who have created an image of a Savior who is so gentle, that he’s never angry, so kind that he’s never harsh, so forgiving that he winks at sin and so forth. Now, such an image is wrong and the problem with it is it can foster a casual attitude towards the Lord’s commandment.
The reality is that Jesus Christ cleared the temple with a whip, rebuked Peter severely and turned his back on him and renounced and insulted the Pharisees publicly and furthermore provoked the entire nation of the Jews.
Matthew Chapter 25 always seemed so out of character to me until I paid more attention to what the master was saying. You’ll remember that the master’s foremost accusation against the Pharisees in that chapter was hypocrisy.
Now, why was Jesus so scathing on that subject?
Well, I know that the sin of hypocrisy is one that has worried many of you. You’re trying to be good and so therefore you’re subject to the charge. Perhaps it is needful to understand what it is – hypocrisy and why the Savior felt so strongly about hypocrites.
All the whole world hates a hypocrite. A hypocrite is in its definition – a pretender, a deceiver. The word itself is Greek in origin and means an actor and generally it is someone who espouses a cause, publicly professes a allegiance to certain standards but secretly lives a double standard; in short they preach high standards and live low lives. That’s a hypocrite.
The religious are frequent targets of this accusation but though they are at high risk, not always is every religious soul guilty of being a hypocrite. Why? Because hypocrites are conniving deceivers. They know exactly what they’re doing. They deliberately walk in two opposite worlds. This is different from those who are living to the best of their knowledge and ability who are genuinely trying to do good but are still beset with the opposites, the weaknesses.
A man cannot be a hypocrite when he continually acknowledges his weakness and compels no man to live better than he does. Now, hypocrisy piggybacks arrogance since both are an outgrowth of pride, run amok. Hypocrisy tends to be judgmental of others, harsh, exacting, unjust, unforgiving. It may talk compassionately but it does not act it out.
Hypocrisy revels in glory and attention and devours praise and flattery as greedily as fine food. Hypocrisy is obsessed with its public appearance. It will go to extreme lengths to create an image of virtue but close proximity always finds the filth within. Hypocrisy tends to be vicious in its efforts to maintain its ill-gotten place. Those who attempt to expose it will be publicly vilified.
Hypocrites are especially dangerous and destructive to the Savior’s cause. Why? Because hypocrites slither undetected like vipers among the Lord’s people and when they’re finally found, they destroy not only the individuals they have corrupted and deceived but the entire group becomes characterized by the loathsome behavior of that one. Hence, not only do hypocrites lead away their friends but they bring the whole cause into public condemnation, principles and all.
Perhaps, it is for that reason that the only public vice more loathsome than a hypocrite is a traitor and traitors are usually quickly discovered and disposed of, while hypocrites can work undetected for years.
Hypocrisy always has its victims. Usually they are innocent people and pure principles. Both are ruthlessly sacrificed to feed a hypocrite’s ego. This is why the Savior of the world so soundly and publicly renounces them and will inevitably detect every vestige of hypocrisy in his people and expose it.
Hence, my dear friends, trying to live your religion and teach it meekly to others, that’s exactly what you do. That’s exactly what you should do. Judge not the sins of others lest you are found and judged on your own. Just do the best you can and let all the rest of us do the same.
Now, I know what I’m talking about when it comes to hypocrisy. I have been here with you now for almost a year, teaching correct principles, bearing testimony, teaching the right way to live but I’m a man of weakness, faults, failings and foibles just like everyone else and if I make a mistake, I’m the first and foremost hypocrite because I’m trying to help other people be good when I’m not that good myself.
I hope and I pray that you’ll remember just this. Just do your best and let everyone else catch up as best they can.
Fourth Story:
In keeping with our curriculum, the ‘Come Follow Me’ curriculum for the year, I offer the following story and I hasten to add. I really don’t think we’ve grasped the full significance of this story yet and what it means to us. This event that I’m about to tell you about was so important. It was foretold in great detail more than 2,000 years before it happened and that twice in holy prophecy. As I tell you this story, we might do well to ask ourselves, why did this happen and what is this supposed to mean to us now?
Late June 1829, it was a pleasant summer day about 11 o’clock in the morning in the small community of Fayette, New York when Joseph Smith, Martin Harris and Oliver Cowdery walked from the home of Peter Whitmer out into a nearby field where their companion David Whitmer was plowing. Together they went into the woods about 40 rods from the cabin, sat down on a log, talked for a while and then knelt and began to pray in faith each in turn.
Joseph prayed first at the conclusion of the first round, they then commenced praying again but still there was no result. At that point, Martin Harris proposed that he withdraw himself.
After Martin had left, they knelt and prayed again. They had not been many minutes in prayer when they discovered a light above them in the air of exceeding brightness.
Simultaneous with the light came a strange entrancing influence which permeated them so powerfully that they felt chained to the spot. It was accompanied with a sensation of joy absolutely describable and then standing before them was an angel of the Lord. He held in his hands the gold plates from which The Book of Mormon had been translated. He turned the leaves of the record one by one so that they were visible to every man present.
Addressing David Whitmer, Moroni said, “David, blessed is the Lord and he that keepeth his commandments.”
Immediately afterwards, they heard a voice from out of the bright light above them saying, “These plates have been revealed by the power of God and they have been translated by the power of God. The translation of them which you have seen is correct and I command you to bear record of what you now see and hear.”
According to David Whitmer’s account, about three feet away, a table with many records on it, besides the plates of the Book of Mormon, the sword of Laban, the directors and the interpreters, David Whitmer would later declare that table appeared.
Human language could not describe the heavenly things and that which we saw. At the close of the vision, Joseph went off in search of Martin Harris. Upon finding him, Martin asked Joseph to join him in prayer. Before they’d even finished, the same vision was opened again.
Upon hearing and beholding, Martin Harris cried out, apparently in an ecstasy of joy,
“…’tis enough mine eyes have beheld and jumping up. He shouted, “Hosanna! Blessing God and otherwise rejoiced exceedingly.”
The four men had seen with their own eyes, touched with their own hands, heard with their own ears and felt in their own hearts. They returned to the cabin and drafted a document that stands today in the front of The Book of Mormon and it begins:
“Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues and people; unto whom this work shall come, it is the testimony of the three witnesses of The Book of Mormon. That day and that event is more important than most of us know and understand. It affects every person on earth, you see, it has been an irrevocable law of God from the beginning that in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. The truthfulness of the Book of Mormon has been proven to the world in the manner in which God has decreed it be done and everyone in this world will stand accountable for the testimony in the front of the Book of Mormon.”
How many times have we read the Book of Mormon and flown right over the account of the three witnesses?
But as part of your curriculum for Come Follow Me, I have no authority but I invite you, when you feel inclined, read that witness page again and consider for what reason it was given.
Last Story:
Well I’m a little over time but i want to close tonight with a story on the lighter side. This is a story about my Annie who I hope is listening and making comments and Annie this is a story and I’ll bet you don’t even remember but one day she reinforced a powerful principle for her old man.
It was a Sabbath day. We had been at church all morning. It was one of those Sundays called Fast Sunday that seemed to be far too slow for the little children. We came home from church and my little Annie said:
“Oh Dad, I am so hungry.”
I walked into the kitchen and it was a disaster – dishes, all dirty, counters covered with yuck and the like. Clearly there wasn’t going to be any meals fixed in this kitchen until it was cleaned up. I said to my beautiful, little girl, “We need to clean the kitchen first.”
Her answer was quick and the classic, “…but Dad, it’s a day of rest.”
I said, “Sweetie, evidently Saturday was a day of rest. Friday was a day of rest, Thursday was a day of rest, now Sunday is a day of mess. Let’s get it clean.”
We all pitched in and cleaned the kitchen and we soon had a simple meal prepared and life went on.
In speaking of the Sabbath day, I am reminded that when our Heavenly Father created the Earth, he carefully planned out each of the six days of creation so that He could rest on the seventh day. I suppose and I say this to myself more than to you. A little more advanced planning for the Sabbath on our part would similarly help us keep the Sabbath day holy.
Thank you for listening. Many of the stories you heard today have been published and are archived at glennrawsonstories.com. If you would like more information you can communicate with us there. We will be back again with another podcast next week.
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