Tag Archive for: lds

Landmarks

On Thursday, I met up with a friend for lunch and enjoyed a moment by one of Scotlandโ€™s most iconic landmarks.
A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Forth Railway Bridge.
Opened on the 4th of March 1890, it has stood the age of time.
Landmarks give us a true sense of place.
The Eiffel Tower, The Grand Canyon, The Taj Mahal, Machu Picchu, The Great Wall of China, Mount Rushmore, The Acropolis, Big Ben, The Leaning Tower of Pisa, The Colosseum, Stonehenge, Niagara Falls and so forthโ€ฆ
๐‘ณ๐’‚๐’๐’…๐’Ž๐’‚๐’“๐’Œ: โ€œAn object or a feature of a landscape or city that has importance or makes a place easily recognisable.โ€
Landmarks form markers, or reference points for orientation and direction, for travel and communication.
40 Cruise Ships this summer in the Firth of Forth are testament to the fact that the bridge is a significant landmark and a popular tourist attraction.

Dad’s story

I shared with my friend a story my dad told me about the bridge.
6.5 million rivets were used in the construction of the bridge.
Theyโ€™re no ordinary rivets; these are 8 centimetres long and 4 centimetres wide, that binds the structure together.
Dad was a train driver for most of his life travelling over the bridge many times. He told me that one of those rivets was made of gold.
It has long been painted over many times, and Iโ€™d guess few, if anyone knows which one of those 6.5 million, is the gold one.
Landmarks often evoke a sense of awe and wonder to people all around the world, whether they are natural or man-made.
They often tell us the story of human history, of a time long past, yet oft breath-taking and still relevant today.ย  They also serve as a point of interest and pride for the locals.

Landmarks in Life

Reflecting upon the significance landmarks in my life, a rather unusual one came to mind.
Dieter F. Uchtdorf explained: โ€œThe scriptures are the word of God. They are Godโ€™s landmarks that show the way we should travel in order to draw closer to our Saviour and reach worthy goals.โ€
The scriptures have been a great marker and a point of reference.
They provide direction for travel in my own life and have helped me to understand the vital importance of communication with God.
Indeed, they are an essential landmark for me and millions of others.
There are 3,116,480 characters in the KJV of the Bible, 783,137 words, or 31,102 verses of scripture.
Each character, each word, each verse, are as vital to the Bible as the 6.5 million rivets are to the Forth Railway Bridge.
And if you look long and hard enough, there isnโ€™t just one, but thousands of golden โ€œrivetsโ€ to be found.
Go on, take a look!

Valiant Hearts

I am grateful for the rhythm of my heart.
It beats about 65 times per minute and has done so, constantly, day after day, for over half a century.
Whether Iโ€™m sitting, walking, running, or sleeping, it adjusts itself to the right speed for every situation.
As far as I know, my heart has never missed a beat.
Itโ€™s never been cleaned, repaired, or even adjusted.
Its steady, regular, and true.
Day or night, without sleep, without rest, it pumps blood and controls the temperature of my body.
I donโ€™t know exactly when it started to work, how it really works, or even how it continues to keep going, but I am so grateful for the wonder and steadiness of my heart.
On Friday in Antwerp, Monic and I finished our 100+ missionary interviews for this transfer.

Hymn

Meeting them one by one, I recalled the words from Hymn #256 โ€œAs Zions Youth in Latter Daysโ€.
The first verse reads:
โ€œAs Zionโ€™s youth in latter days,
We stand with ๐’—๐’‚๐’๐’Š๐’‚๐’๐’• ๐’‰๐’†๐’‚๐’“๐’•,
With promise shining in our eyes,
Resolved to do our part.
Upon a noble past we build;
The future fills our view.
We face the challenge of our day
And pledge we will be true.โ€

Valiant

๐•๐š๐ฅ๐ข๐š๐ง๐ญ: possessing or showing courage or determination.
I am a witness that every missionary, who serves so willingly has a valiant heart, filled with great courage and determination.
Just as I am uncertain how my heart keeps going, regularly beating day in day out, I look on in wonder at the pulse of their big hearts and work rate of each incredible missionary.
I am grateful for their valiant hearts.
They fill me with wonder.
Whether they are sitting, walking, running, or sleeping, their heart rates adjust to meet every situation and they never miss a beat.
With promise shining in their eyes, each one of them are steady, measured, and true to their purpose to invite others to come unto Christ.
I hope and pray that the message of truth they share from their hearts, will touch your own.