I was Blind and I was Blind and Now I See!Now I See!

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CNN-CNN--“Scientists: Lake Superior Warming -“Scientists: Lake Superior Warming Rapidly”Rapidly”

Warmer? In the Spring? No Way!:Warmer? In the Spring? No Way!:OregonianOregonian “ “State Police Looking for New TroopersState Police Looking for New Troopers” ” Quick, start with the doughnut shop!Quick, start with the doughnut shop!

The Kansas City StarThe Kansas City Star “ “Police Chief Asks Public for TipsPolice Chief Asks Public for Tips””Wouldn’t it be easier to just give him a higher salary?Wouldn’t it be easier to just give him a higher salary?

Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles Times “ “Researchers have finally solved one of the Researchers have finally solved one of the great canine mysteries: Why are small dogs small?”great canine mysteries: Why are small dogs small?”

Uh, cuz if they weren’t, they’d be big dogs?Uh, cuz if they weren’t, they’d be big dogs?CNNCNN “ “Bird dies, Cheney plane unharmedBird dies, Cheney plane unharmed””

Not content with shooting lawyers, he also hates wildlife as Not content with shooting lawyers, he also hates wildlife as well…well…

  

QuestionQuestion

By earthly By earthly standards, does our standards, does our membership in the membership in the church come at a church come at a price?price?

John 9John 9And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blindblind from his from his

birth.birth.When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of

the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,clay,

And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam,…He went his way And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam,…He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

The neighbours … said, Is not this he that sat and begged?The neighbours … said, Is not this he that sat and begged?Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am

he.he.Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and

anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.

They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his

sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.washed, and do see.

Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.among them.

They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.

John 9 ContinuedJohn 9 ContinuedThen again [they] said unto him, Give God the praise: we know Then again [they] said unto him, Give God the praise: we know

that this man is a sinner.that this man is a sinner.He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not:

one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he

thine eyes?thine eyes?He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear:

wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are

Moses' disciples.Moses' disciples.The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a

marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.he hath opened mine eyes.

Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.eyes of one that was born blind.

If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in

sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out. sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out. (excommunicated him)(excommunicated him)

QuestionQuestion

Even as members of the Church, Even as members of the Church, can we also be blind?can we also be blind?

How do we help others see?How do we help others see?

Can children “learn” the church Can children “learn” the church without knowing “light and without knowing “light and truth”? Can they be lifelong truth”? Can they be lifelong members and still be blind?members and still be blind?

D&C 93:40I have commanded you to bring up your children in light (no blindness) and truth

Elder HollandElder Holland

When crisis comes in When crisis comes in our our lives—and they will—lives—and they will—the the philosophies of men philosophies of men interlaced with a few scriptures and interlaced with a few scriptures and poems just won’t do.poems just won’t do.

Are we really nurturing [those we teach] Are we really nurturing [those we teach] in a way that will sustain them when in a way that will sustain them when the stresses of life appear?the stresses of life appear?

Or are we giving them a kind of Or are we giving them a kind of theological Twinkie—spiritually empty theological Twinkie—spiritually empty calories? President John Taylor called calories? President John Taylor called such teaching ‘fried froth,’ the kind of such teaching ‘fried froth,’ the kind of thing you could eat all day and yet thing you could eat all day and yet finish feeling totally unsatisfiedfinish feeling totally unsatisfied. . (“A Teacher (“A Teacher Come from God,” Ensign, May 1998, 27)Come from God,” Ensign, May 1998, 27)

Lectures on Lectures on FaithFaith

We have now clearly set forth We have now clearly set forth how it was, that God became an how it was, that God became an object of faith…and we have object of faith…and we have seen that seen that it was human testimonyit was human testimony, , and human testimony only, that and human testimony only, that excited this inquiry…excited this inquiry…

It was the credence they gave to the testimony It was the credence they gave to the testimony of their fathers, this testimony having aroused of their fathers, this testimony having aroused their minds to inquire after the knowledge of their minds to inquire after the knowledge of God; the inquiry… always terminated…in the God; the inquiry… always terminated…in the most glorious discoveries and eternal most glorious discoveries and eternal certainty.certainty.

Light and TruthLight and TruthD&C 133D&C 133And also it is an imperative duty that we And also it is an imperative duty that we owe to all the rising generation, and to all owe to all the rising generation, and to all the pure in heart—the pure in heart—For there are many yet on the earth among For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find itthe truth because they know not where to find it——

Therefore, that we should Therefore, that we should waste and wear out our liveswaste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness, in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heavenfrom heaven

For example:For example:Do our children know how to repent (and seek the light) Do our children know how to repent (and seek the light)

or just how to stop what they’re doing?or just how to stop what they’re doing?

Friends of Elder Friends of Elder HollandHolland

How do you tell a sixteen-year-old girl she is going to die? How do you tell a sixteen-year-old girl she is going to die? Straightforwardly, with tears, with love and Straightforwardly, with tears, with love and

determination to determination to continue as normally as possible. That's continue as normally as possible. That's how. Time? Maybe two how. Time? Maybe two months. months.

Soon after she returned home, Suzanne went on a family Soon after she returned home, Suzanne went on a family trip to trip to Disneyland, her favorite place. She attended a Disneyland, her favorite place. She attended a four-day forensic meet in Salt Lake, she auditioned and received a part in the high four-day forensic meet in Salt Lake, she auditioned and received a part in the high school musical, she asked a young man to the sweetheart ball and danced all school musical, she asked a young man to the sweetheart ball and danced all evening without crutches on a newly acquired artificial leg. She carried a full load evening without crutches on a newly acquired artificial leg. She carried a full load at school and, despite a record winter for snow and ice, rarely missed a day. There at school and, despite a record winter for snow and ice, rarely missed a day. There began to be shoulder pains, shortness of breath, then loss of appetite, but began to be shoulder pains, shortness of breath, then loss of appetite, but Suzanne would take nothing but aspirin because pain pills might interfere with Suzanne would take nothing but aspirin because pain pills might interfere with her school activities. her school activities.

On 15 March she began a three-week tour of the South with her grandmother. The On 15 March she began a three-week tour of the South with her grandmother. The pace of the tour and her increasing loss of strength made her extremely tired. pace of the tour and her increasing loss of strength made her extremely tired. Breathing became so difficult it was impossible for her to lie down. But still it was Breathing became so difficult it was impossible for her to lie down. But still it was only aspirin and determination to see the trip through to Disneyworld. On 27 only aspirin and determination to see the trip through to Disneyworld. On 27 March her father flew to Miami Beach to bring her home. Her condition was March her father flew to Miami Beach to bring her home. Her condition was critical. They arrived home early in the morning on the 28th. She had her first critical. They arrived home early in the morning on the 28th. She had her first pain pill that afternoon and passed away in her sleep that night. On 29 March the pain pill that afternoon and passed away in her sleep that night. On 29 March the rest of the group reached Disneyworld. rest of the group reached Disneyworld.

These are my childhood friends, Stan and Barbara. I grew up with them, and my These are my childhood friends, Stan and Barbara. I grew up with them, and my daughter has not had cancer. But theirs has and she's gone. And how do you tell a daughter has not had cancer. But theirs has and she's gone. And how do you tell a child that life isn't entirely a Disneyworld? child that life isn't entirely a Disneyworld?

Will there be times in your life or theirs that they will need the substance of the Will there be times in your life or theirs that they will need the substance of the gospel in a way that only you can teach it?gospel in a way that only you can teach it?

(That Our Children May Know…)(That Our Children May Know…)