David Archuleta - Deseret News Interview - June 2009

David James Archuleta was born on December 28, 1990 in Miami, Florida, to Jeff Archuleta and Lupe Marie, a salsa singer and dancer. He is an American pop singer-songwriter. At ten years of age he won the children's division of the Utah Talent Competition leading to other television singing appearances. When he was twelve years old, Archuleta became the Junior Vocal Champion on Star Search 2. In 2007, at sixteen years old, he became one of the youngest contestants on the seventh season of American Idol. In May 2008 he finished as the runner-up, receiving 44 percent of over 97 million votes.

Archuleta speaks Spanish. His mother is from Honduras, while his father is of Spanish, Danish, Irish, German, and Iroquois descent. He has four siblings. His family moved to the Salt Lake Valley, to the city of Sandy, Utah, when he was six. He currently lives in Murray, Utah where he attended Murray High School. David is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Boy Scouts of America.

Archuleta started singing at age six, inspired by a Les Misérables video. "That musical is what started all of this", he said. He started performing publicly at age ten when he participated in the Utah Talent Competition singing "I Will Always Love You" by Dolly Parton, received a standing ovation, and won the Child Division.

In August 2008 Archuleta released "Crush," the first single from his self-titled debut album. The album, released two months later, debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart and as of June 2009, it had sold over 725,000 copies in the U.S. and over 900,000 copies Worldwide.

His new Christmas CD titled "Christmas From The Heart" can be ordered by going here.

What Child Is This?

“. . . Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.” – Luke 2:15

The Christmas season is upon us once again. As we approach the dawning of another Christmas morning, our hearts and minds are focused once more on those wonderful events that took place in the little town of Bethlehem during the night of miracles that occurred over 2000 years ago. On that night of nights a tiny baby boy was born. However, we should carefully note that this was no ordinary baby. Little did the world know or realize that this One who was born in the city of David on that starry night would change the course of the world forever.

One of the hymns that are frequently sung during this season of the year is titled, “What Child Is This?” Wise men down through the ages have sought to find an answer to this very important question. Some people called Him the son of David. Others called Him the son of Joseph. The Scriptures call Him the son of David, the son of Mary, the son of man, the Son of God. I would like to take just a few moments and look at these four titles, which are presented to us in Scripture, and point out four different aspects of the Christ-child.

First, as the son of David, He was the Sovereign child. In Luke 1:31-33 we read these words, “ And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” This tiny little baby who lay in the manger was the rightful King. He was not born to some day become the king. He was born King! – And not just an ordinary king, but, the KING of kings and the LORD of lords. President Ezra Taft Benson once stated, “Jesus Christ is the Lord God Omnipotent. (See Mosiah 3:5.) He was chosen before He was born. He was the all-powerful Creator of the heavens and the earth. He is the source of life and light to all things. His word is the law by which all things are governed in the universe. All things created and made by Him are subject His infinite power.” (Ensign, November 1963, p.6)

Not only was He the rightful King, but He was also a rejected king. We read about the failed plot of Herod the king to destroy the Christ-child as recorded in Matthew 2:1-16:

1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. 7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. 9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. 13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.

Throughout His humble earthly life He was despised and rejected by people from all walks of life, and He still continues to be rejected by people today. The world says that there are too many other things to be concerned with and so it tries to eliminate Christ from any aspect of daily life. Some even go so far as to say that there is no room for Christ in this modern, technological, self-sufficient, fast-paced world in which we live. Thus, they feel that we no longer need His law, His love, or His sacrifice for us. Are we among those who have no room for Him in their busy lives? Do we find ourselves not needing to stand on His promises because we feel that we are doing fairly well without Him? Do we find that there is no time to do things His way because we much prefer to do things our own way? I pray that it may never be so in any of our lives.

Not only was He the rightful King and a rejected king, but He is also the soon returning KING. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 we are taught, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

Second, as the son of Mary, He was the supernatural child. The birth was seemingly impossible; however, the birth of the Christ-child was the fulfillment of the prophecy given by the prophet Isaiah as we read in Isaih 7:14-15, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.” Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men, Herod, angels, Satan, and our Heavenly father, also steadfastly investigated the birth. Without a doubt, this birth was supremely important.

Third, as the son of man, He was the servant child. The Scriptures teach us in Philippians 2:5-8, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” As the servant child, the Lord Jesus Christ shared the problems of the flesh. He experienced physical weariness, hunger, thirst, and physical pain. Yet, in all of this, He never sinned! In all that He did, He submitted to the will of the Father and showed a pattern to us to follow through His obedience, patience and ministry to others.

Fourth, as the Son of God, He is the Savior child. Read and ponder the words of John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” As the Son of God He was only sinless man who ever lived. He was the only sacrifice that could take away sins. He is the Christ – the Messiah – the Redeemer – the Savior of the world!
Concerning the Christ, President Gordon B. Hinckley once remarked: “How wondrous is the story of the great Creator, the mighty Jehovah, who condescended to come to the earth as the babe born in Bethlehem of Judea, who walked the dusty paths of Palestine teaching and healing and blessing, who gave His life on Calvary’s painful cross, and who rose from Joseph’s tomb, appearing to many on two continents – the resurrected Lord whom we read about in the testament of the Old World, the Bible, and in the testament of the New World, the Book of Mormon, as well as the word of modern revelation. We have read these, and the Spirit has borne witness in our hearts so that we too can testify that Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life, and that he that liveth and believeth in Him shall never die (see John 11:25-26). (Ensign, May 1988, p.66.)

May I conclude my remarks this afternoon by sharing with you an essay on the Life of Jesus Christ that I came across some time ago that helps to put the period in place to all that I have endeavored to share with you this day. The essay is entitled “One Solitary Life”:

Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher.
He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put His foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself.

While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. While He was dying His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth – His coat. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.
Twenty long centuries have come and gone, and today He is a centerpiece of the human race and leader of the column of progress.

I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that were ever built; all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life.

Brothers and Sisters as we gather together with friends and loved ones during this joyous holiday season, may we be ever mindful that Christmas is not about the beautiful Christmas decorations that we see. Christmas is not even about the beautifully wrapped packages under the tree. No, Christmas is about giving thanks to our Heavenly Father for His precious gift to the world on that very first Christmas morning – the gift of His Only Begotten Son – He who was born KING – the Messiah – the Savior of the world – Jesus the Christ – THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL. May God bless us, everyone, is my humble prayer. In the Sacred name of Him of who saints and angels sing - He who is the life and the light of the world – even the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Faith Among Shadows

"Faith Among Shadows" by Malcolm Leal is not just another story. This is an amazing story of courage and commitment, but most of all, it is a story of the faith of one man's great-grandmother that ultimately through the trials and tests that he endured in his own life, became his faith, his story, his TESTIMONY. This is a book about faith in action. Though we have never met in person, I am honored to call Malcolm my friend, but more importantly my Brother. If there is one book you should read, I highly recommend that this be the one.

The Importance and Necessity of Prayer in Our Lives - Part 2 (Revision 2)

Note: This is a continuing study on the importance and necessity of prayer in our daily lives. A much abbreviated form of these notes were used to present a lesson on prayer to a Junior High boys’ Sunday school class on 19 September 1993 while I was still a member of the Baptist church. The original notes were later revised and new material was added on 02 August 2000. On 16 January 2009 the notes were revised once again and are now presented here for all to read.

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." - 2 Chronicles 7:14

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in my sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer." - Psalm 19:14

President Gordon B. Hinckley on the Power of Prayer

"Believe in prayer and the power of prayer. Pray to the Lord with the expectation of answers. I suppose there is not a man or woman in this entire congregation today who doesn't pray. I hope that is so. The trouble with most of our prayers is that we give them as if we were picking up the telephone and ordering groceries - we place our order and hang up. We need to meditate, contemplate, think of what we are praying about and for and then speak to the Lord as one man speaketh to another. 'Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord' (Isaiah 1:18). That is the invitation. Believe in the power of prayer - it is real, it is wonderful, it is tremendous." (Gordon B. Hinckley, Smithfield/Logan Utah Regional Conference, April 21, 1996; see "Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley" p. 469)

Elder Russell M. Nelson on Keeping Faith in God

"Praying helps us to face trials in life. Prayer centers our attitudes precisely. With that focus, we do not wander to the right or left through land mines with traps of temptation. Disciples do not flirt with danger at the jagged edge of disaster. Experienced mountain climbers do not lean toward the dangerous edge but toward safety, with ropes and other safeguards to secure them in those they trust. So it is with us. When we climb mountainous challenges of life, we should lean toward our Master and be yoked with him, clinging tightly to the iron rod of the gospel, to family, and to trusted friends."

"The Lord said, 'Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not' (D&C 6:36). I have learned that such faith gives emancipating power. Facing God first lets us decide firmly what we shall not do; then we are free to pursue what we ought to do." (Russell M. Nelson, "Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods," General Conference April 1996; see Ensign, May 1996, p. 16)

In our lat lesson we briefly discussed three aspects of prayer: (1)What is prayer?, (2)Why pray?, and (3) How to pray. We begin this lesson by stating the condition for receiving forgiveness when we pray.

After the Lord had given His disciples an example of how to pray (see Matthew 6:9-13), He says unto them, "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6:14, 15). We read similar words of our Savior in Mark 11:24-26, "Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses." The lesson here is simply this - forgiveness of man is the condition for forgiveness by man.

We, like Peter, may often wonder how often we should forgive someone who sins against us. Peter felt that seven times was sufficient, but notice the Lord's reply in Matthew 18:22, "I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven." In other words, what the Lord was teaching Peter as well as us today is that no matter how many times a brother or sister sins against us we should always find it in our hearts to forgive them.

For the remainder of this lesson I would like to present several different aspects of prayer for your consideration. I will merely list each one with the associated Scripture verses so that you may review them for yourselves at your convenience. I will cover six different areas:
1. Kinds of Prayer
2. Parts of Prayer
3. Personal Requirements of Prayer
4. General Requirements of Prayer
5. Posture Used in Prayer
6. Times for Prayer

Kinds of Prayer

1. Secret - Matthew 6:6
2. Family - Acts 10:2, 30
3. Group - Matthew 18:20
4. Public - 1 Corinthians 14:14-17

Parts of Prayer

1. Adoration - Daniel 4:34, 35
2. Confession - 1 John 1:9
3. Supplication - 1 Timothy 2:1-3
4. Intercession - James 5:15
5. Thanksgiving - Philippians 4:6

Personal Requirements of Prayer

1. Purity of Heart - Psalm 66:18-19
2. Believing - Matthew 21:22
3. In Christ's Name - John 14:13,14
4. According to God's Will - 1 John 5:14,15

General Requirements of Prayer

1. Forgiving Spirit - Matthew 6:14
2. Simplicity - Matthew 6:5,6
3. Humility and Repentance - Luke 18:10-14
4. Unity of Believers - Matthew 18:19,20
5. Tenacity - Luke 18:1-8
6. Importunity - Luke 11:5-8
7. Intensity - Matthew 7:7-11
8. Confident Expectation - Mark 11:24
9. Without Many Words - Matthew 6:7
10. Unceasingly - 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Posture Used in Prayer

1. Standing - Nehemiah 9:5
2. Kneeling - Ezra 9:5
3. Sitting - 1 Chronicles 17:16-27
4. Bowing - Exodus 34:8
5. Hands Uplifted - 1 Timothy 2:8

Times of Prayer

1. Daily, In the Morning - Psalm 5:3; 88:13; 143:8; Isaiah 33:2
2. Twice Daily - Psalm 88:1
3. Thrice daily - Psalm 55:17; Daniel 6:10
4. All Night - Luke 6:12
5. Without Ceasing - 1 Thessalonians 5:17
6. In Secret - Matthew 5:6
7. Silently - Psalm 5:1

May we be found "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints," casting all of our cares upon Him for He cares for us. This is my humble, heartfelt prayer in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Importance and Necessity of Prayer in Our Lives - Part 1 (Revision 2)

Note: A much abbreviated form of these notes were used to present a lesson on prayer to a Junior High boys’ Sunday school class on 19 September 1993 while I was still a member of the Baptist church. The original notes were later revised and new material was added on 02 August 2000. On 16 January 2009 the notes were revised once again and are now presented here for all to read.

Scripture References:

"And it came to pass, that as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples." - Luke 11:1

"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” - Mark 11:24

"But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering;" - Alma 13:28

“Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work.” - Doctrine and Covenants 10:5

What is prayer?

In the simplest of layman’s terms, prayer is communication with God. It is asking and receiving. It is making our request known to Him in faith. Prayer is as old as man, as universal as religion, and as instinctive as breathing. Men of all faiths practice it in some form. Prayer springs from the heart with a need – a need greater than man’s ability to satisfy. Prayer is man’s acknowledgment of a being higher than himself. Prayer brings us into close fellowship with God, admitting our need for Him and our utter dependence upon Him. Our Lord instructs us to Ask, Seek, and Knock; because these three words cover the whole spectrum of prayer.

Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with one another. The object of prayer is not to change the will of the Father, but to secure for others and us blessings that the Father is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional to our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work, and is an appointed means of obtaining the highest of all blessings. All things are possible when we Ask, Seek, and Knock.

Before the first generation of mankind had passed away, men began to call upon the name of the Lord (Genesis 4:26; Moses 5:4). Either with (Genesis 12:8; 13:4), or without (Genesis 20:7; 32:9-11) sacrifice, prayers were constantly offered by the patriarchs to God.

Prayer is nowhere specifically commanded as a duty in the law, and prayers were not prescribed at the sacrifices except on two occasions: (1) a confession of sin on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:21), and (2) a thanksgiving when offering the first fruits and tithes (Deuteronomy 26:3, 13). It is, however, certain from the nature of things, and from the custom in later times, that prayers accompanied sacrifice. “Making many prayers” was a part of the corrupt religion under the later kings (Isaiah 1:15), and a marked feature of the religion of the Pharisees (Matthew 6:5; 23:14).

Most men try to pray, yet so few really know how. There are two kinds of prayers: (1) the prayer that does not reach God and (2) the prayer that does reach God. This point is illustrated by our Lord in the parable of the Pharisee and the publican found in Luke 18:9-14. Both men went to the same place, at the same time, for the same purpose to pray. The Pharisee prayed in his religious pride, expecting God to answer because he thought himself worthy. Notice the words of his prayer, “God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.” Now contrast his prideful prayer with that of the humble publican to whom the Scriptures tell us “would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven.” Notice the words of his prayer, “God be merciful to me a sinner.” Scriptures tell us that this humble publican “went down to his house justified rather than the other [the prideful Pharisee].”

Why pray?

Christ taught us in Luke 18:1 “that men ought always to pray, and not faint.” We are taught in 2 Nephi 32:9 that “ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.” Prayer is imperative. Christ told his disciples in Matthew 26:41 to “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Marion G. Romney once said, “No divine commandment has been more frequently repeated than the command to pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Ensign, November 1979, p. 16).

We should also pray because prayer is the only way to get things from our Heavenly Father. In James 4:2 we are taught that we have not because we ask not. In 3 Nephi 18:20 we are further taught “And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.” In Alma 37:37 we are told to “Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.” Brigham Young once said, “If we draw near to him, he will draw near to us if we seek him early, we shall find him (JD, 13:312).

We should also pray because there is joy in prayer. In John 16:24 we are told “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” In Moroni 7:48 we are told “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all energy of heart, that ye may be filled with his love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure.

We should also pray because prayer unlocks the treasure chest of the wisdom of God. The Prophet Joseph Smith came to realize this when as a young boy he was seeking an answer as to which of the churches was right and which of them he should join. He read these words in James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” After reading those words he sought the Lord in prayer and was told that none of the churches were right and that he was to join none of them.

We should also pray because prayer is a channel of power. In Jeremiah 33:3 we read these words. “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” We should also pray because it is a sin not to pray. The brother of Jared was chastened by the Lord because he “remembered not to call upon the name of the Lord” (Ether 2:14). Samuel in 1 Samuel 12:23-24 says, “God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and right way: Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.” Joseph F. Smith once said, “Do not forget to pray. Don’t suppose for a moment that you are safe and secure in the favor of the Lord when you feel independent of Him as you will be if you feel your dependence upon Him all the day long” (CR, April 1915, p. 140).

We should also pray because Christ while here on earth prayed often to the Father. If Christ, our divine example, needed to pray then we His disciples should pray without ceasing as we are directed in 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

How to Pray: Read Matthew 6:9-13 [Compare Luke 11:2-4]

Here in these verses we find the Lord’s example of prayer as taught to His disciples. We are to pray:

·To “Our Father who art in heaven” because He is all wise, all loving, and all-powerful. We are also instructed to pray in the name of Jesus and with the help of the Holy Spirit (John 14:13; Romans 8:26:27).

·For His will to be done in everything (James 4:15).

·For the coming of His kingdom (Matthew 25:31-46).

·For our daily necessities (Luke 11:3). ·For forgiveness and practice forgiving others (Matthew 18:21-22). ·For the leading of the Lord and deliverance from evil (Luke 22:42).

·In faith (Hebrews 11:6)

I would like to share with you 23 elements of the Lord’s example of prayer.

1.Relationship – Our Father

2.Recognition – which art in heaven

3.Adoration – Hallowed be thy name

4.Anticipation – Thy kingdom come

5.Consecration – Thy will be done

6.Universality – in earth

7.Conformity – as it is in heaven

8.Supplication – Give us

9.Definiteness – this day

10.Necessity – our daily bread

11.Penitence – And forgive us

12.Obligation – our debts

13.Forgiveness – as we forgive

14.Love and Mercy – our debtors

15.Guidance – And lead us

16.Protection – not into temptation

17.Salvation – but deliver us

18.Righteousness – from evil

19.Faith – For thine is the kingdom

20.Humility – and the power

21.Reverence – and the glory

22.Timelessness – for ever

23.Affirmation – Amen – As God has said, so shall it be

It is a great joy to be able to talk with our Heavenly Father, any time, in any place, under any circumstance, and to know that He will hear and answer our humble prayers. The answers that we receive may sometimes be different from what we expected. We may, for example, pray for patience and receive tribulation, not realizing that “tribulation worketh patience” (See Romans 5:3). Our Heavenly Father answers all of our prayers – not necessarily according to our wishes, but according to His perfect will.

Joseph Smith's First Prayer

Creating Currents of Hope and Positive Change In One's Own Village

“I want to be an engineer, so I can make different things that make the world a better place, starting with my village.” - William Kamkwamba

John ‘Jigsaw’ Cramer had said in SAW III, that “Despite having all the advantages, many of us still choose not to advance.” However, every once in a while, life presents us with people or situations that remind us just how much we take things for granted. Such is the story of William Kamkwamba. William’s story clearly illustrates just how much can be achieved if one purposes to meet his objectives. William Kamkwamba is a thinker and doer from Malawi who inspired many of us with his windmill. His native Malawi had gone through one of its worst droughts seven years ago, killing thousands. His family and others were surviving on one meal a day. The red soil in his Masitala hometown was parched, leaving his father, a farmer, without any income. But amid all the shortages, one thing was still abundant. Wind.

William was kicked out of school when he couldn't pay $80 in school fees and spent his days at the library where a book with photographs of windmills caught his eye. When he was just 14 years of age, working from rough plans he found in a library book called “Using Energy” (by Mary Atwater), he built an electricity-producing windmill by making use of materials that were available to him through scouring junk yards to include bicycle parts, plastic pipes, tractor fans and car batteries. For the tower, he collected wood from blue-gum trees. He modified each of his resources to suit his requirements. The windmill he built powers four lights and two radios in his family home.The windmill he initially built was only 5m (approximately 16 feet) tall. His current windmill is 12m (approximately 39 feet) tall.

William's first windmill

William's ingenuity, hard work and determination has won him admiration and much respect from people who believe in his noble deed. What William achieved is way beyond a simple windmill to power his family’s energy needs. He has shown us that one individual without a budget, the materials, and even the necessary tools can still achieve what may appear to be the impossible.

Some of us may be in a position to realize our dreams by taking just a few steps here and there. We have at our disposal all the advantages – the information, the time, the support, the finances – and yet, some of us still choose not to advance. William Kamkwamba chose otherwise. He believed in himself. He started with whatever little he had, where he was. Regardless of his age, the odds stacked against him, and the fact that he had no one to help him realize his goal of providing energy for his family, William Kamkwamba turned his goal into more than just a dream, he made it a reality. He believed, began and eventually became.

In 2002 as a 14-year-old boy began work to make his dream a reality, many people, including members of his own family thought that he was crazy, had gone mad, or was bewitched -- a common description for people with perplexing behavior in some African cultures. Despite the opposition, he forged on with the determination to prove everyone wrong. Ignoring the jeering crowd, he would quietly bolt pieces together using a screwdriver made of a heated nail attached to a corncob. The heat -- from both the crowd and the melted, flattened pipes he used as blades -- did not deter him. Three months later, his first windmill churned to life as relief swept over him. As the blades whirled, a bulb attached to the windmill flickered on. Now he has five windmills. The windmills generate electricity and pump water in his hometown, north of the capital, Lilongwe. Neighbors regularly trek across the dusty footpaths to his house to charge their cellphones. Others stop by to listen to Malawian reggae music blaring from a radio. He even built a windmill at an area school that he used to teach classes on windmill-building.

William Kamkwamba is now 22 and a student at the African Leadership Academy, an elite South African school for young leaders. Donors pay for his education.

His story has turned him into a globetrotter. Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, an avid advocate of green living, has applauded his work. Kamkwamba is invited to events worldwide to share his experience with entrepreneurs. During a recent trip to Palm Springs, California, he saw a real windmill for the first time -- lofty and majestic -- a far cry from the wobbly, wooden structures that spin in his backyard. Former Associated Press correspondent Bryan Mealer, who covered Africa, wrote a book, "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind," after hearing Kamkwamba's story. The book was released in the United States last week. Mealer, a native of San Antonio, Texas, said he lived with Kamkwamba in his village for months to write the book. The story was a refreshing change after years of covering bloody conflicts in the region, Mealer said.

So, what is our excuse for not taking the initiative? The time is now. Let us go out and harness the power that is all around us. Let us learn, share and purpose to create currents of hope and positive change both in our lives and in the lives of others.

Kamkwamba's story is documented in his autobiography, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope. A short documentary about Kamkwamba, called Moving Windmills, won several awards last year; Kamkwamba and friends are now working on a full-length film. You can read the ongoing details on his blog (which he keeps with help from his mentor) or his website, and support his work and other young inventors at MovingWindmills.org.

Scott MacIntyre - No Fear

100 Huntley Street - Scott MacIntyre - His Story

Scott Douglas MacIntyre is not LDS, but I found his story to be so inspiring that I thought that I would share it here with all of you. You may remember Scott from season 8 of American Idol.

Scott was born on 22 June 1985 in Scottsdale Arizona making him 24 years of age. He was born legally blind as a result of Leber's congenital amaurosis and has only a 2 percent field of vision. His sister, Katelyn MacIntyre, has the same condition, but with a wider field of vision. He was home-schooled until age 14, when he entered Arizona State University. He released his debut CD, "Brothers for all Seasons", in 1999. He received a Marshall scholarship to study in Britain after graduating from college at age 19. In 2005 he was diagnosed with kidney disease and his piano teacher's wife donated her kidney to him in 2007. Scott also has a brother, Todd. His father is Douglas MacIntyre and his mother is Carole MacIntyre.

Scott's college credits include: Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ (BM in Piano Performance, 2005) and the Royal College of Music, South Kensington, London, England (2006). Scott plays the guitar and drums as well.

100 Huntley Street - Scott MacIntyre - No Fear

Be Bold, Be Courageous, Be Strong

An Address to the Young Men of the Church

A person who has courage is able to boldly (without outward fear) face difficulties and dangers, and by habit is able to trust in the Lord for his strength in all of the circumstances of life.

I would like to take just a few minutes to address the Young Men of the Church. My remarks will be addressed to those who are not only destined to be future leaders of the Church, but great leaders of our nation as well. I wish to address those of you who will be future missionaries for the Church. Those who will one day turn this world upside down for the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is my humble prayer that some of what I say in these next few minutes will prove to be of some benefit and a blessing to you. If there were but one message that I could give to the Young Men of the Church, the message would simply be this - Be Bold, Be Courageous, Be Strong.

Webster defines the word courage as the ability to conquer fear. The word bold is defined as courageous. Therefore, one who has courage is also bold. Concerning courage, Theodore Roosevelt once said, "Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the grey twilight that knows not victory nor defeat." President Joseph F. Smith once said, "After we have done all we could do for the cause of truth, and withstood the evil that men have brought upon us, and we have been overwhelmed by their wrongs, it is still our duty to stand. We cannot give up. We must not lie down. Great causes are not won in a single generation. To stand firm in the face of overwhelming opposition, when you have done all you can, is the courage of faith. The courage of faith is the courage of progress. Men who possess that divine quality go on; they are not permitted to stand still if they would. They are not simply the creatures of their own power and wisdom; they are the instrumentalities of a higher law and divine purpose." (Gospel Doctrine, p. 119)

As you journey down the highways of life you will without a doubt encounter obstacles along the way. Some of these obstacles may seem insurmountable, but take heart, for you will overcome them. In order for you to overcome the obstacles that you will face, you will be required to have courage. Courage to make decisions - sometimes at a moment's notice. Courage to say yes. Courage to say no. Courage to be able to stand in the face of adversity for that which you know to be right, even when being right means being unpopular. No matter what the consequences, you must always have the moral courage to stand your ground for what you know to be the truth. Don't give in or compromise to be friends with those who you know are wrong. President Thomas S. Monson once said, "Courage, not compromise, brings the smile of God's approval." (Ensign, November 1986, p.41) If your friends laugh at you, ridicule you, despise or even reject you, take heart, be courageous and STAND. And having done all as the Apostle Paul admonishes us in Ephesians 6:13 - STAND. Remember, even the Savior Himself was mocked, jeered, ridiculed, spat upon, and rejected.

Whem I think of being courageous, I am reminded of such stories in the Scriptures as the account of Daniel in Daniel chapter 2. As you will recall king Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that disturbed him greatly and he called upon the magicians, astrologers, and the Chaldeans to recall and interpret the dream or else they would be put to death. None of them were able to fulfill the king's commands. This made him angry and very furious and he commanded that all of the wise men of Babylon were to be destroyed. Daniel, who is in prison at this time, asks that he may be given a little time and he would show the king the interpretation of his dream. The secret of the king's dream is revealed to Daniel in a night vision. Daniel goes in before the king, recalls and interprets the dream. Because of Daniel's courage, the wise men of Babylon were saved from execution, the king's dream was interpreted, and Daniel was rewarded with great gifts and was made ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. Daniel's three companions, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were also given charge over the affairs of the province of Babylon.

I also think of the courage and boldness of the three Hebrew children, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who in spite of the king's command to bow down and worship the golden image that he had created, stood for what they knew was the right thing to do even if it meant death in the fiery furnace. The king ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than normal. Beacuse of this great heat, the men that put the three Hebrew children in the furnace perished. Because of their great courage, boldness, and trust that God would deliver them from this situation, they were unharmed by the flames. Not even the hair on their heads was singed nor were their clothes burned. The king now seeing what great faith these three Hebrew children had, issues a decree that anyone who spoke against the God of the Hebrew children would be destroyed and the three were promoted in the province of Babylon. (See Daniel 3)

I also think of an incident that occurred in Littleton, Colorado not too long ago. I am sure that most of you can recall the events that took place at a local school there. During that ordeal the perpetrators started taunting some of the kids by asking them if they believed in God. One brave girl stood up and said, "I believe in Jesus!" She was immediately gunned down in cold blood for her faith. I cannot help but wonder how many of us would have been that courageous, that bold, if we were the ones in that same situation. Her death was indeed tragic, but her testimony was everlasting.

You may never have to deal with situations quite like these, but there will be many situations that you will face that will require you to be courageous and bold. The Scriptures warn us to "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8) BE COURAGEOUS, BE BOLD.

Young men you are going to face many challenges in life. There are going to be times when you are tasked to do some things that may seem impossible for you to do. In your own limited strength and wisdom, those tasks may very well be impossible for you to accomplish, but just remember the words of the Apostle Paul as recorded in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." There is no situation that you may find yourself in, no crisis that may come your way, no heartache that you may bear, no trial that you may face, no obstacle that you may have to overcome, that Christ will not give you the strength to endure if you will but put your full trust in Him and be obedient to His commands and His will for your lives.

May I conclude my remarks with the words of the Apostle Paul found in Ephesians 6 verses 10-18:

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace:
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perserverance and supplication for all saints;

May you grow to be courageous, bold and strong in the Lord. May you also "Fight the good fight, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses" (1 Timothy 6:12). This is my humble prayer. In the Sacred name of our Lord and Savior. Jesus the Christ. Amen.