Every Good Thing

(TALCA, CHILE) Our son, Jason Crenshaw, is located in Talca, Chile, in the closest and possibly the hardest-hit large city near the epicenter of Saturday’s 8.8-magnitude earthquake.

Astonishingly, amidst all the downed infrastructure, we got a brief message from him Saturday afternoon, then another one this morning asking us to call him, as he had permission to call family. We did so, and here is a summary of his report, to the best of my memory.

Reality “On the Ground” the First Night

Elder Jason Crenshaw and his missionary companion, Elder Mark Roberts, were awakened by the shaking around 3:30 am and immediately ran outside their one-story cement-based home. Standing was impossible. They sat on the ground, which shook side-to-side and then in circular motion, but not up-and-down. It seemed to him that the worst shaking lasted 5 minutes, but then it continued at a lesser intensity, nonstop, for a total of around 33 minutes.

During it all, the earth made deep groaning noises, and repeatedly made a sound: “like a dog makes when it half-barks and half-bites you; imagine that sound, only being made by a huge monster, over and over.”

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Tags: Chile, earthquake, Mission

An old friend in Australia asked me recently about my children’s experiences with bullying in school, and whether it happens in LDS denominational schools.

Our discussion started because of this tragic article (caution: some PG-13 content). Some people commented that not only was the bullying a problem, but Brodie’s handling of the bullying was a big issue. Who was watching out for her? Was she ever taught to be assertive? Why was she so emotionally vulnerable?

A Christ-Centered Response

My children did get some bullying in public schools, but they got detailed, careful training from me on how to handle it without resorting to bullying themselves or being stepped on too badly.

Where did I learn those skills? By being bullied myself in junior high and high school in public schools, and most importantly, by getting careful coaching from my father.

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Tags: bullying, Children, church, father

To my friend Jacob Pitt on his 19th birthday

Jacob,

You asked for my “best advice” on your 19th birthday as you prepare to leave on your mission. Here it is:

1) A copy of a letter I recently wrote to Jason on his mission,
2) A book,
3) A few supplemental comments,
4) One more book, and
5) One final comment.

I hope this will help in your “quest of a lifetime” that will only end when we meet before the Lord at that great and last day. (See Boyd K. Packer, “Introduction,” Endowed from on High: Temple Preparation Seminar Teacher’s Manual, iv.)

I know that if you will follow this advice the Lord will bless you with “exceeding great and precious” blessings.

Kevin Crenshaw

The Letter

The best advice always comes from through and from the Holy Spirit. Everyone needs something different. The Spirit can tell us precisely what we need. The question is, will we listen? Will we obey? (Will we “hearken?”)

With that in mind, I start with a letter I recently wrote to my son Jason on his mission.

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Tags: Faith, False Revelation, Holy Spirit, Humility, Relationships, Revelation, Scriptures, Testimony

I sent out the following email today:

On its official www.lds.org web site, a letter from the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints requested the “best efforts” of Church members to support the marriage protection amendment in California. Such a statement is unusual for the LDS Church, which recognizes this as a serious moral, non-political issue:

“We ask that you do all you can to support the proposed constitutional amendment by donating of your means and time to assure that marriage in California is legally defined as being between a man and a woman. Our best efforts are required to preserve the sacred institution of marriage.”
(http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary/california-and-same-sex-marriage)

The letter was read only to California congregations, but it doesn’t specifically limit the request to them; it appears on the LDS web site for anyone to read and consider. (See DC 58:27-8.)

What happens in California affects the entire US. For that reason, a few large, out-of-state donors are heavily funding the effort to make same-sex marriage the law in California. By contrast, protecting marriage is more of a grass roots effort. See yesterday’s AP news article:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/gay_marriage_money

I can’t sit idly by and watch this happen. However, as a non-Californian I wasn’t sure how to help until now.

What You Can Do

You do not need to be a California resident to make a big difference.

As I’ve analyzed this, I conclude that we must act NOW, in the next 2 or 3 days. I personally recommend the following: Continue Reading »

Tags: Children, Gay Rights, Marriage, Religious Freedom

One thing I learned watching my father was the importance of teaching your children. My dad did this in a relaxed way in day-to-day conversation, more formally around the dinner table, and sometimes by issuing logical or theological challenges that left us thinking—and talking.

My father has a great command of words as well as ideas, which made for quick, memorable lessons. I remember many of these, but my favorite (which I’ve shared with others many times) is the “Parable of the Teargas Grenade.” Perhaps this was most meaningful because it was true, funny, and applied to my situation with laser-targeted accuracy.

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Tags: Courtship, Fathers, Parenting, Stories, Teaching, Timing

In studying the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I encourage everyone I know to ask detailed questions and learn all they can. This, of course, in addition to the supernally-important process of praying and asking God for heavenly guidance.

Asking questions is the best way to get good answers, and there are many excellent resources on the Internet. Unfortunately, there is also a flood of misinformation. So where to look for accurate answers? The LDS Church Web site is doctrinally rock-solid. Another resource I like as a starting point for answers to more difficult questions is JeffLindsay.com. He does his research and is usually a careful thinker (in my opinion), he’s been linked to by the LDS web site on an issue or two, and he even has a sense of humor! Not a bad combination. However, perhaps the most scholarly approach is provided by the Maxwell Institute. Their articles are deep, insightful, and often peer-reviewed.

Temples, Respect, and Reverence

But what of the LDS temple ordinances, which members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hold as so sacred that they do not discuss them in detail outside the LDS temples? Special care should be taken when treading on this sacred ground for reasons of our own spiritual growth, propriety, and plain old-fashioned brotherly kindness and mutual respect. Continue Reading »

Tags: Ordinances, Symbolism, Temples

Years ago, while strolling across the BYU campus with a non-religious co-worker, I mentioned that I had majored in physics there and loved the sciences. Her reply betrayed a prejudice that I think is widespread today.

“I imagine it must have been hard for you to be religious and study science at the same time.”

My reply startled her visibly. I said something like this: “Not at all. I’ve found that truth is truth, wherever it is found. Truth in science never contradicts truth in religion. Conflicts only come from things we falsely assume to be true—false science or false religion.” Continue Reading »

Tags: Flatland, Knowledge, Physics, Revelation, Truth

About a month ago I installed the KidZui 3.0 web browser for kids for our youngest son, Michael. Now that his 30-day trial period is over, I’m sharing Michael’s review right here. (OK, I’ll discuss my perspective as well.)

Michael didn’t really have Internet access until KidZui. Why? Our old filtering solution was good but not perfect. I’ve since discovered K9, which is iron-clad and free. (Read my review here.) Nevertheless, K9 doesn’t provide any kind of starting point or home page for young surfers. KidZui fixes that problem and is easy to install, so I let Michael put it through its paces. Here is his expert opinion. Continue Reading »

Tags: Email, Filtering, Internet, K9, Kidzui, Parenting, PikLuk, Reviews, Web

Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord. (2 Ne. 3:12.)

More than a week ago, a thought came to me that I ought to call Keith Meservy, my brother-in-law’s father, and tell him how much I’ve appreciated his example and scholarship over the years. Since moving to Kentucky and Virginia I hadn’t spoken to him, yet I was a better person because of our past association. His quiet, encouraging manner and careful attention to spiritual things left their mark on me.

Sunday, I received word that he passed away peacefully after a battle with leukemia. Continue Reading »

Tags: Bible, Book of Mormon, Contention, Example, Friendship, Humility, Mistakes, Spirit World, Teaching, Truth

“Declare in my name, in solemnity of heart, in the spirit of meekness, in all things. And I give unto you this promise, that inasmuch as ye do this the Holy Ghost shall be shed forth in bearing record unto all things whatsoever ye shall say.” (DC 100:7-8.)

(Powhatan Ward LDS Church, Richmond Virginia Midlothian Stake, 20 Apr 2008.)

My Life-Changing Experience in 1999

In 1999, I heard Elder Henry B. Eyring of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speak at a regional leadership training meeting in Nashville, Tennessee. It wasn’t his speaking ability that impressed me, but a flood of inspiration and great desire to change my life that came as he spoke and taught by the power of the Holy Ghost.

His words were not overpowering or emotional or awe-inspiring. It was the content and the result of hearing them that made the difference. As he spoke, the Holy Ghost inspired me, and I knew precisely what God wanted me to do and change to please Him best. Elder Eyring testified that if we actually did what we felt impressed to do that day, spiritual blessings would follow. I obeyed, even though it was sometimes hard. My life changed forever.

Now I Listen More Carefully

Since that experience, when Elder Eyring speaks, I listen perhaps a little more carefully than usual, though I know through the Holy Spirit that each the Twelve is a true and living, modern-day apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Uncharacteristically, this past General Conference (April 2008), I had trouble understanding the focus of his Saturday morning talk, so I studied and pondered it for this speaking assignment. Today I’d like to explain, then elaborate on what I believe he was teaching about “the true and living church.” Then I’ll connect it to the concept of a “living prophet of God.” Continue Reading »

Tags: Callings, CFS, Faith, Humility, Joseph Smith, Prophets, Repentance, Service, Sustaining, Teaching, Weakness