The peace that passeth understanding

We had a great tragedy this week in our family. My 18-year-old nephew took his own life on Sunday morning. He had great potential. He was handsome, intelligent, talented, funny, liked by everyone. He was a high school football star, excelled at all sports, was loved by his classmates and family, and was a budding artist. He made some mistakes, but was recovering from them.

Personal mountains

In our bishopric meeting last week, it was the second counselor, Brent’s turn to offer a spiritual thought. He quoted a scripture:

… verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. (Matthew 17:20)

Moroni tells us in Ether 12:30 that the brother of Jared had this kind of faith:

For the brother of Jared said unto the mountain Zerin, Remove—and it was removed. And if he had not had faith it would not have moved; wherefore thou workest after men have faith.

Indecision becomes decision

When I was in my mid-teen years, we were blessed with a family doctor who was a dedicated member of the Church. His name was Dr. Milton H. Brinton. He was a wise man and a strong supporter of the Word Of Wisdom. So much so, in fact, that he prepared a slide show of the effects of smoking and use of alcohol and presented it to all who would listen. As a doctor, he had seen firsthand the effects of these things on people’s lives and happiness.