The Mormon Apocrypha

Merry Christmas everyone, I hope you are having a great time today. As it is Christmas, I wanted to share a quick message from Elder Uchtdorf, about how need to change what we focus on Christmas. Isn’t this a wonderful time of the year! So many things fill our hearts with the spirit of Christmas: the melody of Christmas carols, the lights, the decorations, and the happy greetings of “Merry Christmas!” There are certain words that ring like bells in my soul and remind me of the beauty and meaning of Christmas—words such as “ And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus ” and, of course, “Joy to the World!” “Away in a Manger,” and “Silent Night.” There are other words, more cautionary, that are worthy of our consideration as well—words such as: Every Who Down in Who-ville Liked Christmas a lot … But the Grinch, Who lived just north of Who-ville, Did NOT! The Grinch, that memorable character from a classic children’s story by Dr. Seuss, had a he...

Over Ten Years ago, Michael Teh of the quorum of the seventy gave a talk titled "These are your days" to a group of students at BYU-Idaho. While I usually would not do speeches given at church run universities as they are more recent than most entries, this one was too good not to share. My dear young brothers and sisters.  What a thrill it is for Sister and I to be with you this afternoon.  We are excited to bear testimony to you and let you know how much we love and respect you.  You are a chosen generation.  Many prophets and apostles have spoken about your preparation in the pre-mortal world.  Allow me to share some of those statements with you. Statements from Apostles and Prophets " For nearly six thousand years, God has held you in reserve to make your appearance in the final days before the second coming of the Lord.....God has saved for the final inning some of His strongest ... children, who will help bear off the kingdom triumphantly ." (Ezra Taft Ben...

Charles E. Rowan jr. with his wife Irene Noble in Texas ca. 1931 Working on this blog, I come across some interesting people in church history. Charles E. Rowan Jr was one of those interesting people. Rowan was born on October 18, 1885, in Coyote (Now known as Antimony) Utah to Charles E. Rowan Sr and Delilah King Rowan. He was sent to spread the gospel to the southern states in 1903 to 1905. A few years after his mission, in 1913, he married Irene Noble at the age of 27 and had eight children with her. He was called to be president of the Texas mission on January 8, 1935, and was released on March 23, 1935. He passed away on May 5 1963 in Pheniox Arizona and was buried in the Provo City Cemetery in Provo Utah. Charles Rowan Jr Tombstone I have shared a previous talk of his, where he shares a story with an elderly woman embracing the gospel. I wanted to share another talk of his, where he shares another story, this one about a man in need of medical attention. Elder Charles E. Rowan J...

The Great Depression was a hard time for everyone, including members of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. So, to read this General Conference must have been hopeful. It goes over how blessed the members are, with inventions like the telephone and light bulb, and the continued growth of the Church. When the talk does discuss the hardships, people were dealing with, it discusses it in a hopeful tone, saying not to despair and that God will help them through it. Elder Melvin J. Ballard  Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles Benefits of Conference It has been my great pleasure now for nearly forty years to be in attendance at the General Conferences of the Church. I count it a liberal education in the science of life to have had this distinguished privilege, not alone from the things that were said, but the spirit that prevailed during those many sessions has brought to me understanding, light and knowledge that I have prized most highly. I have observed that there has a...