Monday, November 2, 2009

The Tugs and Pulls of the World

Matthew 16:24-26
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?


Many individuals preoccupied by the cares of the world are not necessarily in transgression. But they certainly are in diversion and thus waste "the days of [their] probation" (2 Ne. 9:27). Yet some proudly live "without God in the world" (Alma 41:11), with gates and doors locked from the inside!

Mark it down, brothers and sisters, people too caught up in themselves will inevitably let other people down!

Let us adopt the attitude recommended by President Brigham Young: "Say to the fields, ... flocks, ... herds, ... gold, ... silver, ... goods, ... chattels, ... tenements, ... possessions, and to all the world, stand aside; get away from my thoughts, for I am going up to worship the Lord" (Deseret News, 5 Jan. 1854, 2)

-Neal A Maxwell, "The Tugs and Pulls of the World," Ensign, Nov 2000, 35-37

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Sweet Little Andi has returned home to our Heavenly Father

These our some of our favorite photos of our dear "Precious" Andi!

Andi Mae Orton

October 10, 2002 – June 16, 2009

Andi Mae Orton returned home to her Heavenly Father on Wednesday June 16, 2009. After a six and a half year struggle with I-cell disease, Andi slipped into cardiac arrest and died peacefully at Boston Children’s Hospital surrounded by her loving parents, Russell and Erin Orton. Andi is survived by her brother Logan and her sister Emma.

Despite the hardships of her earthly body, Andi maintained a gentle, angelic sweetness that encircled everyone around her. Whether she was playing peek-a-boo with her eyes, or rolling playfully to from side to side, it was hard not to fall in love with Andi. As her eyes softly gazed about the room, we often wondered about the angels smiling down on her as they safeguarded one of the Lord’s precious children.

Her parents, Russell and Erin Orton, felt privileged to have had the blessing of Andi’s celestial presence in their lives and look forward to the day they can greet their daughter in our Father’s kingdom. Andi’s departure into our Father’s care will surely be greeted by angels and we will miss her.

"The Lord takes many away, even in infancy, that they may escape the envy of men, and the sorrows and evil of the present world; they were too pure, too lovely, to live on earth."

–The Prophet Joseph Smith