A talk given by six-year-old Rachael Cleverly on Sunday, November 15, 1981, in the Primary of the Bountiful Twentieth Ward, Bountiful Utah South Stake. The talk was printed in the December 1981 issue of the Family Journal. Rachael at this time was a first grader at Bountiful Elementary.
Today I’m going to talk about music.
In a revelation to Joseph Smith the Lord said, “For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads” (D&C 25:12).
It is very important for us to sing the songs in Primary, family home evening, and at other times. When we sing, it makes Heavenly Father happy.
Songs can also teach us things. Like in the song, “Oh, How Lovely Was the Morning”:
Oh, how lovely was the morning!
Radiant beamed the sun above.
Bees were humming, sweet birds singing,
Music ringing through the grove,
When within the shady woodland
Joseph sought the God of love;
When within the shady woodland,
Joseph sought the God of love.
This song tells us about Joseph Smith’s First Vision when he saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Showing posts with label 1981. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1981. Show all posts
Saturday, July 5, 2008
50. The Scriptures
A talk given by Rebecca Cleverly on Sunday, August 30, 1981, just four days after her seventh birthday, in the Primary of the Bountiful Twentieth Ward, Bountiful Utah South Stake. The talk was printed in the September 1981 issue of the Family Journal. At this time Rebecca was starting as a second grader at Bountiful Elementary.
Today I am going to talk about the scriptures. In our family we have a scripture reading contest. Each person who can read is supposed to read the scriptures every day. And when we read for ten days without skipping a day, we get a prize. But when we skip a day, we have to start all over again.
In our Church we have four scriptures—the Book of Mormon, the Bible, the Pearl of Great Price, and the Doctrine and Covenants.
Now I’m going to read you a story from the Bible about Jesus:
“And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.
“And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
“Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
“And their eyes were opened” (Matthew 9:27–30).
I love to read the scriptures all by myself with no help. And I know that they are true. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Today I am going to talk about the scriptures. In our family we have a scripture reading contest. Each person who can read is supposed to read the scriptures every day. And when we read for ten days without skipping a day, we get a prize. But when we skip a day, we have to start all over again.
In our Church we have four scriptures—the Book of Mormon, the Bible, the Pearl of Great Price, and the Doctrine and Covenants.
Now I’m going to read you a story from the Bible about Jesus:
“And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.
“And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
“Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
“And their eyes were opened” (Matthew 9:27–30).
I love to read the scriptures all by myself with no help. And I know that they are true. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
49. The Holy Ghost
A talk given by Michael Cleverly on Sunday, August 9, 1981, about a month before he turned eight and was baptized and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. The talk was given in the Primary of the Bountiful Twentieth Ward, Bountiful Utah South Stake, and was printed in the September 1981 issue of the Family Journal.
Today I’m going to talk about the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead. It tells about the Holy Ghost in the first Article of Faith:
“We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.”
And also it tells about the Holy Ghost in the fourth Article of Faith:
“We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are: first, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, repentance; third, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
When we are confirmed, Heavenly Father’s promise is that the Holy Ghost will be with us as long as we are righteous. Before we are baptized the Holy Ghost isn’t always with us.
I’m going to tell a story about Wilford Woodruff. One night when Wilford Woodruff was staying over at someone’s house, the Spirit—I mean the Holy Ghost—told him to go move his buggy. He could have rolled over and went back to sleep, but Wilford Woodruff had learned that when the Holy Ghost tells you to do something you’d better do it. So he got up and moved his buggy. A minute later after he moved it, a tree crashed where they buggy had been. If he hadn’t moved it like the Holy Ghost told him to, the buggy would have been smashed.
I know these things are true. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Today I’m going to talk about the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead. It tells about the Holy Ghost in the first Article of Faith:
“We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.”
And also it tells about the Holy Ghost in the fourth Article of Faith:
“We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are: first, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, repentance; third, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
When we are confirmed, Heavenly Father’s promise is that the Holy Ghost will be with us as long as we are righteous. Before we are baptized the Holy Ghost isn’t always with us.
I’m going to tell a story about Wilford Woodruff. One night when Wilford Woodruff was staying over at someone’s house, the Spirit—I mean the Holy Ghost—told him to go move his buggy. He could have rolled over and went back to sleep, but Wilford Woodruff had learned that when the Holy Ghost tells you to do something you’d better do it. So he got up and moved his buggy. A minute later after he moved it, a tree crashed where they buggy had been. If he hadn’t moved it like the Holy Ghost told him to, the buggy would have been smashed.
I know these things are true. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Friday, July 4, 2008
48. Courage
A talk given by six-year-old Rebecca Cleverly on Sunday morning, May 3, 1981, in the Primary of the Bountiful Twentieth Ward, Bountiful Utah South Stake. The talk was printed in the June 1981 issue of the Family Journal.
Today I’m going to talk about courage. Courage is doing what you are supposed to do and not letting other people try to make you do wrong things.
I am going to tell you some stories about courage.
David had courage to fight Goliath. Goliath thought he could kill David. And David killed Goliath with his slingshot.
Joseph Smith also had courage. When he was nine years old, he had to have an operation on his leg. And Joseph Smith said he would let the doctor operate if he would let his father stand by him.
The pioneers also had courage to go across the country, and they had to leave their homes and come and build new ones.
Today the missionaries have courage to go around the world to teach the gospel.
I pray that we can have courage. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Today I’m going to talk about courage. Courage is doing what you are supposed to do and not letting other people try to make you do wrong things.
I am going to tell you some stories about courage.
David had courage to fight Goliath. Goliath thought he could kill David. And David killed Goliath with his slingshot.
Joseph Smith also had courage. When he was nine years old, he had to have an operation on his leg. And Joseph Smith said he would let the doctor operate if he would let his father stand by him.
The pioneers also had courage to go across the country, and they had to leave their homes and come and build new ones.
Today the missionaries have courage to go around the world to teach the gospel.
I pray that we can have courage. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
47. The Song of the Righteous
A talk I gave on Sunday morning, April 26, 1981, on radio stations KISN–FM and KLUB–AM in Salt Lake City, Utah. The text of the address was later published in the May 1981 issue of the Family Journal and the June 1981 issue of the Cleverly Newsletter.
The Savior of mankind, that perfect Being Who is our example and teacher in all things, taught that “men ought always to pray” (Luke 18:1).
“And in those days” following His resurrection and ascension into heaven, “when the number of disciples was multiplied, . . . the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said,” among other things, “we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:1–4).
When I was a boy I used to wonder about such instruction. How do you pray always? How do you give yourself continually to prayer when there is so much else to be doing in the day-to-day world of gaining an education, earning a living, caring for a family, and the myriads of other things with which we occupy ourselves?
As I searched for an answer, it became obvious from other scriptures that there were right ways and wrong ways of praying always:
“And when thou prayest,” the Savior said, “thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which is in secret shall reward thee openly.
“But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
“Be not ye therefore like unto them” (Matthew 6:5–8).
I learned from this passage that “praying always” has little to do with vain repetitions or much speaking or a multiplicity of words. Indeed, the Savior used very few words to teach His disciples how to pray:
“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
“Give us this day our daily bread.
“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen” (Matthew 6:9–13).
From this divine model of prayer, I think we learn that “praying always” has somewhat to do with our attitudes and our reverence for God and all that is sacred. It has to do with the way we live our lives.
But, from still other scriptures, I found that there are ways to keep our thoughts and hearts continually centered in Him who is “the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). The Apostle Paul taught the Saints of his day “to be filled with the Spirit;
“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:18–20).
And in another place: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16).
And the Lord Himself speaking: “For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing on their heads” (D&C 25:12).
So here we have a key, I think, to one way that we can pray always. The song of the righteous, by the Lord’s own definition, is a prayer unto God. We can speak to ourselves “in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in [our] heart[s] to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19).
Who of us is not moved, inspired, instructed, strengthened in our faith, brought closer to God by the great hymns of Christianity?
Some of the hymns and sacred songs remind us of our daily duty:
Have I done any good in the world today?
Have I helped anyone in need?
Have I cheered up the sad,
And made someone feel glad?
If not I have failed indeed.
And this one:
Do what is right; be faithful and fearless;
Onward, press onward, the goal is in sight;
Eyes that are wet now, ere long will be tearless;
Blessings await you in doing what’s right!
Other hymns remind us of important truths about the gospel, about ourselves, and about our relationship to God, such as in the ever-popular children’s song:
I am a child of God,
And he has sent me here,
Has given me an earthly home
With parents kind and dear.
Among my favorites, however, are those hymns that focus my thoughts on Jesus Christ, that bring me in closer communion with Him, that increase my appreciation for what He has done for me:
Redeemer of Israel,
Our only delight,
On whom for a blessing we call,
Our shadow by day,
And our pillar by night,
Our King, our Deliverer, our all!
Come, thou Fount of every blessing;
Tune my heart to sing thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Praise him for his mercy;
Praise him for his love;
For unnumbered blessings
Praise the Lord above.
Let our happy voices
Still the notes prolong;
One alone is worthy
Of our sweetest song.
Or what comfort from these marvelous promises:
The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!
And these promises:
How gentle God’s commands!
How kind his precepts are!
Come, cast your burden on the Lord
And trust his constant care.
Beneath his watchful eye,
His saints securely dwell;
That hand which bears all nature up
Shall guard his children well.
Why should this anxious load
Press down your weary mind?
Haste to your heavenly Father’s throne,
And sweet refreshment find.
His goodness stands approved,
Unchanged from day to day;
I’ll drop my burden at his feet
And bear a song away.
Consider also the profound message and the simple beauty in the words of this great hymn:
How great the wisdom and the love
That filled the courts on high
And sent the Savior from above
To suffer, bleed, and die!
His precious blood he freely spilt;
His life he freely gave,
A sinless sacrifice for guilt,
A dying world to save.
By strict obedience Jesus won
The prize with glory rife:
“Thy will, O God, not mine be done,”
Adorned his mortal life.
He marked the path and led the way,
And every point defines
To light and life and endless day
Where God’s full presence shines.
How great, how glorious, how complete,
Redemption’s grand design,
Where justice, love, and mercy meet
In harmony divine!
There are many other great hymns. Let me conclude with just a final one—a hymn that is loved by many people:
And when I think that God, his Son not sparing,
Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin;
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee;
How great thou art, how great thou art!
When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, What joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim, my God, how great thou art!
Yes, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto God. We need not be musicians. We need not even know how to carry a tune particularly. But, as we go about our daily affairs, we can have the words in our minds, we can have the songs in our hearts and thus be found praying always.
May that be our happy lot, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
The Savior of mankind, that perfect Being Who is our example and teacher in all things, taught that “men ought always to pray” (Luke 18:1).
“And in those days” following His resurrection and ascension into heaven, “when the number of disciples was multiplied, . . . the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said,” among other things, “we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:1–4).
When I was a boy I used to wonder about such instruction. How do you pray always? How do you give yourself continually to prayer when there is so much else to be doing in the day-to-day world of gaining an education, earning a living, caring for a family, and the myriads of other things with which we occupy ourselves?
As I searched for an answer, it became obvious from other scriptures that there were right ways and wrong ways of praying always:
“And when thou prayest,” the Savior said, “thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which is in secret shall reward thee openly.
“But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
“Be not ye therefore like unto them” (Matthew 6:5–8).
I learned from this passage that “praying always” has little to do with vain repetitions or much speaking or a multiplicity of words. Indeed, the Savior used very few words to teach His disciples how to pray:
“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
“Give us this day our daily bread.
“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen” (Matthew 6:9–13).
From this divine model of prayer, I think we learn that “praying always” has somewhat to do with our attitudes and our reverence for God and all that is sacred. It has to do with the way we live our lives.
But, from still other scriptures, I found that there are ways to keep our thoughts and hearts continually centered in Him who is “the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). The Apostle Paul taught the Saints of his day “to be filled with the Spirit;
“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:18–20).
And in another place: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16).
And the Lord Himself speaking: “For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing on their heads” (D&C 25:12).
So here we have a key, I think, to one way that we can pray always. The song of the righteous, by the Lord’s own definition, is a prayer unto God. We can speak to ourselves “in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in [our] heart[s] to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19).
Who of us is not moved, inspired, instructed, strengthened in our faith, brought closer to God by the great hymns of Christianity?
Some of the hymns and sacred songs remind us of our daily duty:
Have I done any good in the world today?
Have I helped anyone in need?
Have I cheered up the sad,
And made someone feel glad?
If not I have failed indeed.
And this one:
Do what is right; be faithful and fearless;
Onward, press onward, the goal is in sight;
Eyes that are wet now, ere long will be tearless;
Blessings await you in doing what’s right!
Other hymns remind us of important truths about the gospel, about ourselves, and about our relationship to God, such as in the ever-popular children’s song:
I am a child of God,
And he has sent me here,
Has given me an earthly home
With parents kind and dear.
Among my favorites, however, are those hymns that focus my thoughts on Jesus Christ, that bring me in closer communion with Him, that increase my appreciation for what He has done for me:
Redeemer of Israel,
Our only delight,
On whom for a blessing we call,
Our shadow by day,
And our pillar by night,
Our King, our Deliverer, our all!
Come, thou Fount of every blessing;
Tune my heart to sing thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Praise him for his mercy;
Praise him for his love;
For unnumbered blessings
Praise the Lord above.
Let our happy voices
Still the notes prolong;
One alone is worthy
Of our sweetest song.
Or what comfort from these marvelous promises:
The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!
And these promises:
How gentle God’s commands!
How kind his precepts are!
Come, cast your burden on the Lord
And trust his constant care.
Beneath his watchful eye,
His saints securely dwell;
That hand which bears all nature up
Shall guard his children well.
Why should this anxious load
Press down your weary mind?
Haste to your heavenly Father’s throne,
And sweet refreshment find.
His goodness stands approved,
Unchanged from day to day;
I’ll drop my burden at his feet
And bear a song away.
Consider also the profound message and the simple beauty in the words of this great hymn:
How great the wisdom and the love
That filled the courts on high
And sent the Savior from above
To suffer, bleed, and die!
His precious blood he freely spilt;
His life he freely gave,
A sinless sacrifice for guilt,
A dying world to save.
By strict obedience Jesus won
The prize with glory rife:
“Thy will, O God, not mine be done,”
Adorned his mortal life.
He marked the path and led the way,
And every point defines
To light and life and endless day
Where God’s full presence shines.
How great, how glorious, how complete,
Redemption’s grand design,
Where justice, love, and mercy meet
In harmony divine!
There are many other great hymns. Let me conclude with just a final one—a hymn that is loved by many people:
And when I think that God, his Son not sparing,
Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin;
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee;
How great thou art, how great thou art!
When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, What joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim, my God, how great thou art!
Yes, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto God. We need not be musicians. We need not even know how to carry a tune particularly. But, as we go about our daily affairs, we can have the words in our minds, we can have the songs in our hearts and thus be found praying always.
May that be our happy lot, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
46. Faith
A short talk given by six-year-old Rebecca Cleverly on Sunday morning, March 29, 1981, in the Primary of the Bountiful Twentieth Ward, Bountiful Utah South Stake. She wrote her talk in her journal the same day, and it was later published in the April 1981 issue of the Family Journal. Rebecca at the time was a first grader at Bountiful Elementary.
Today I’m going to talk about faith. Faith is obeying Jesus Christ, our moms and dads, and being kind to one another.
I’m going to tell a story about Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith didn’t know which church was the true church, so he went to talk with God. God said none of the churches were right. I know that Jesus made the true church through Joseph Smith.
I want to bear you my testimony, and I know this church is true. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Today I’m going to talk about faith. Faith is obeying Jesus Christ, our moms and dads, and being kind to one another.
I’m going to tell a story about Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith didn’t know which church was the true church, so he went to talk with God. God said none of the churches were right. I know that Jesus made the true church through Joseph Smith.
I want to bear you my testimony, and I know this church is true. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
45. Faith, the First Principle of the Gospel
A talk given by seven-year-old Michael Cleverly on Sunday morning, February 1, 1981, in the Primary of the Bountiful Twentieth Ward, Bountiful Utah South Stake. The talk was printed in the March 1981 issue of the Family Journal. Michael at the time was a second grader at Bountiful Elementary.
“We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are: first, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, repentance; third, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Articles of Faith 1:4).
Today I’m going to talk about the first principle, faith. Faith means believing in Jesus Christ and believing and doing the things Jesus has told us.
I’m going to tell about David and Goliath. When David arrived at his brothers’ camp, one of his brothers showed him Goliath. David said he would fight the giant. The next morning David got five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd’s pouch. When Goliath was almost to David, David ran toward him and let go of his sling. One of the stones hit Goliath between the eyes.
David beat Goliath because he had faith in God. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
“We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are: first, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, repentance; third, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Articles of Faith 1:4).
Today I’m going to talk about the first principle, faith. Faith means believing in Jesus Christ and believing and doing the things Jesus has told us.
I’m going to tell about David and Goliath. When David arrived at his brothers’ camp, one of his brothers showed him Goliath. David said he would fight the giant. The next morning David got five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd’s pouch. When Goliath was almost to David, David ran toward him and let go of his sling. One of the stones hit Goliath between the eyes.
David beat Goliath because he had faith in God. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
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