the jonah reflex [email protected]. the “last photo i ever took” contest

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The Jonah Reflex The Jonah Reflex [email protected] [email protected]

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Page 1: The Jonah Reflex Khinckley1@yahoo.com. The “Last Photo I ever took” Contest

The Jonah ReflexThe Jonah Reflex

[email protected]@yahoo.com

Page 2: The Jonah Reflex Khinckley1@yahoo.com. The “Last Photo I ever took” Contest

The “Last Photo I ever took” The “Last Photo I ever took” ContestContest

Page 3: The Jonah Reflex Khinckley1@yahoo.com. The “Last Photo I ever took” Contest

August 13August 13thth, 1856, 1856A little less than four weeks’ travelling brought us to the Missouri river. A little less than four weeks’ travelling brought us to the Missouri river.

We crossed it on a steam ferry-boat, and encamped at the town of We crossed it on a steam ferry-boat, and encamped at the town of Florence, Nebraska, six miles above Omaha, where we remained Florence, Nebraska, six miles above Omaha, where we remained about a week, making our final preparations for crossing the plains. about a week, making our final preparations for crossing the plains.

““The elders seemed to be divided in their judgment as to the The elders seemed to be divided in their judgment as to the practicability of our reaching Utah in safety at so late a season of the practicability of our reaching Utah in safety at so late a season of the year, and the idea was entertained for a day or two of making our year, and the idea was entertained for a day or two of making our winter quarters on the Elkhorn, Wood river, or some eligible location winter quarters on the Elkhorn, Wood river, or some eligible location in Nebraska; but it did not meet with general approval. A monster in Nebraska; but it did not meet with general approval. A monster meeting was called to consult the people about it. meeting was called to consult the people about it.

““The emigrants were entirely ignorant of the country and climate—The emigrants were entirely ignorant of the country and climate—simple, honest, eager to go to ‘Zion’ at once, and obedient as little simple, honest, eager to go to ‘Zion’ at once, and obedient as little children to the ‘servants of God.’ Under these circumstances it was children to the ‘servants of God.’ Under these circumstances it was natural that they should leave their destinies in the hands of the natural that they should leave their destinies in the hands of the elders. … These men… with one exception, favoured going on. They elders. … These men… with one exception, favoured going on. They prophesied in the name of God that we should get through in safety. prophesied in the name of God that we should get through in safety. Were we not God’s people, and would he not protect us? Even the Were we not God’s people, and would he not protect us? Even the elements he would arrange for our good, etc. elements he would arrange for our good, etc.

But Levi Savage used his common sense and his knowledge of the But Levi Savage used his common sense and his knowledge of the country. He declared positively that to his certain knowledge we country. He declared positively that to his certain knowledge we could not cross the mountains with a mixed company of aged people, could not cross the mountains with a mixed company of aged people, women, and little children, so late in the season without much women, and little children, so late in the season without much suffering, sickness, and death… Savage was accordingly defeated, as suffering, sickness, and death… Savage was accordingly defeated, as the majority were against him. He then added: ‘Brethren and sisters, the majority were against him. He then added: ‘Brethren and sisters, what I have said I know to be true; but, seeing you are to go forward, what I have said I know to be true; but, seeing you are to go forward, I will go with you, will help you all I can, will work with you, will rest I will go with you, will help you all I can, will work with you, will rest with you, will suffer with you, and, if necessary, I will die with you. with you, will suffer with you, and, if necessary, I will die with you. May God in his mercy bless and preserve us. Amen.’ May God in his mercy bless and preserve us. Amen.’

Page 4: The Jonah Reflex Khinckley1@yahoo.com. The “Last Photo I ever took” Contest

Elder BednarElder Bednar

You and I may know the You and I may know the right things to do– that is right things to do– that is

knowledge. By if you and I knowledge. By if you and I are intelligent, we will consistently are intelligent, we will consistently

do the right things. It is one thing to do the right things. It is one thing to know what to do, but intelligence is know what to do, but intelligence is consistently doing the right thing.consistently doing the right thing.

It important and good and necessary to It important and good and necessary to know that the gospel is true. Intelligence know that the gospel is true. Intelligence is consistently being true to the gospel…is consistently being true to the gospel…

Page 5: The Jonah Reflex Khinckley1@yahoo.com. The “Last Photo I ever took” Contest

J. Golden KimballJ. Golden Kimball

An acquaintance met J. Golden on the street one An acquaintance met J. Golden on the street one day and in conversation asked, "Do you day and in conversation asked, "Do you believe that Jonah was swallowed by the believe that Jonah was swallowed by the whale?"whale?"

"When I get to heaven I'll ask Jonah," J. Golden "When I get to heaven I'll ask Jonah," J. Golden answered.answered.

"But," said the man, "what if is not there?""But," said the man, "what if is not there?"

"Then you will have to ask him," Golden quickly "Then you will have to ask him," Golden quickly replied.replied.

Page 6: The Jonah Reflex Khinckley1@yahoo.com. The “Last Photo I ever took” Contest

Jonah, Chapter 1Jonah, Chapter 1Now the word of the Lord came unto Now the word of the Lord came unto JonahJonah, ,

the son of Amittai, saying, the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry

against it; for their wickedness is come up against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.before me.

But But JonahJonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare thereof, and Tarshish; so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.

WOE to the bloody city! [Nineveh is] all full of lies [and] robbery; theprey departeth not; The noise of a whip, and the noise of therattling of the wheels, and of the pransing horses, and of thejumping chariots. The horseman lifteth up both the bright swordand the glittering spear: and [there is] a multitude of slain, and agreat number of carcases; and [there is] none end of [their]corpses; they stumble upon their corpses: Because of themultitude of the whoredoms of the well-favoured harlot, themistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through herwhoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts (Nahum 3:1-3).

Page 7: The Jonah Reflex Khinckley1@yahoo.com. The “Last Photo I ever took” Contest

Nineveh

The Jonah Travel PlanThe Jonah Travel Plan

Tarshish

Page 8: The Jonah Reflex Khinckley1@yahoo.com. The “Last Photo I ever took” Contest

QuestionQuestion

Why did Jonah run?Why did Jonah run?

I fled before unto Tarshish; for I knew I fled before unto Tarshish; for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.evil.

Do we cheer for the day when the Do we cheer for the day when the wicked will “get theirs” rather wicked will “get theirs” rather than pray for their repentance?than pray for their repentance?

Page 9: The Jonah Reflex Khinckley1@yahoo.com. The “Last Photo I ever took” Contest

Neal A. Neal A. MaxwellMaxwell

Surely, as Latter-day Surely, as Latter-day Saints Saints we must avoid we must avoid the the Jonah Jonah reflex. reflex. Moreover, Moreover, knowing knowing of and believing of and believing in the prophecies does not relieve us of in the prophecies does not relieve us of the responsibility to do all we can to avoid the responsibility to do all we can to avoid the conditions which, unchecked, will bring the conditions which, unchecked, will bring them to pass. them to pass.

Jesus . . . prophesied that in the last days, Jesus . . . prophesied that in the last days, because of iniquity, the love of many because of iniquity, the love of many would wax cold (Matthew 24:12). would wax cold (Matthew 24:12). Yet we Yet we must not regard iniquity or human must not regard iniquity or human hardening and coarsening with a sense of hardening and coarsening with a sense of inevitabilityinevitability

Page 10: The Jonah Reflex Khinckley1@yahoo.com. The “Last Photo I ever took” Contest

Jeffrey R. HollandJeffrey R. Holland[In the story of the Prodigal Son], we can [In the story of the Prodigal Son], we can miss, miss, if we are not careful, the account of an if we are not careful, the account of an elder elder son, for the opening line of the Savior’s son, for the opening line of the Savior’s account reads, “A certain man had account reads, “A certain man had twotwo sons”—and He might have added, “both of whom were lost and sons”—and He might have added, “both of whom were lost and both of whom needed to come home.”both of whom needed to come home.”

This [older] son is not so much angry that the other has come This [older] son is not so much angry that the other has come home as he is angry that his parents are so happy about it. …home as he is angry that his parents are so happy about it. …

No, he who has virtually everything, and who has in his No, he who has virtually everything, and who has in his hardworking, wonderful way earned it, lacks the one thing that hardworking, wonderful way earned it, lacks the one thing that might make him the complete man of the Lord he nearly is. He might make him the complete man of the Lord he nearly is. He has yet to come to the compassion and mercy, the charitable has yet to come to the compassion and mercy, the charitable breadth of vision to see that breadth of vision to see that this is not a rival returning.this is not a rival returning. It is It is his brother. As his father pled with him to see, it is one who his brother. As his father pled with him to see, it is one who was dead and now is alive. It is one who was lost and now is was dead and now is alive. It is one who was lost and now is found.found.

Who is it that whispers so subtly in our ear that a gift given to Who is it that whispers so subtly in our ear that a gift given to another somehow diminishes the blessings we have received? another somehow diminishes the blessings we have received? Who makes us feel that if God is smiling on another, then He Who makes us feel that if God is smiling on another, then He surely must somehow be frowning on us? You and I both know surely must somehow be frowning on us? You and I both know who does this—it is the father of all lies…It is Lucifer, our who does this—it is the father of all lies…It is Lucifer, our common enemy, whose cry down through the corridors of time common enemy, whose cry down through the corridors of time is always and to everyone, “Give me thine honor.”is always and to everyone, “Give me thine honor.”

Page 11: The Jonah Reflex Khinckley1@yahoo.com. The “Last Photo I ever took” Contest

Elder Holland Elder Holland Cont.Cont.

One observer has written: “In a One observer has written: “In a world world that constantly compares that constantly compares people, people, ranking them as more ranking them as more or less or less intelligent, more intelligent, more or less attractive, more or less successful, it is not easy to or less attractive, more or less successful, it is not easy to really believe in a [divine] love that does not do the same. really believe in a [divine] love that does not do the same.

When I hear someone praised,” he says, “it is hard not to think When I hear someone praised,” he says, “it is hard not to think of myself as less praiseworthy; when I read about the of myself as less praiseworthy; when I read about the goodness and kindness of other people, it is hard not to goodness and kindness of other people, it is hard not to wonder whether I myself am as good and kind as they; and wonder whether I myself am as good and kind as they; and when I see trophies, rewards, and prizes being handed out when I see trophies, rewards, and prizes being handed out to special people, I cannot avoid asking myself why that to special people, I cannot avoid asking myself why that didn’t happen to me.”didn’t happen to me.”

Most “thou shalt not” commandments are meant to keep us Most “thou shalt not” commandments are meant to keep us from hurting others, from hurting others, but I am convinced the but I am convinced the commandment not to covet is meant to keep us from commandment not to covet is meant to keep us from hurting ourselveshurting ourselves. .

Page 12: The Jonah Reflex Khinckley1@yahoo.com. The “Last Photo I ever took” Contest

Psalm of JonahPsalm of Jonah

I cried by reason of mine affliction unto I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; the Lord, and he heard me;

out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.heardest my voice.

For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about; all thy billows compassed me about; all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.and thy waves passed over me.

Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.temple.

Page 13: The Jonah Reflex Khinckley1@yahoo.com. The “Last Photo I ever took” Contest

Elder EyringElder EyringA family moved into a house near us. The A family moved into a house near us. The

home was new, so I was part of the crew of home was new, so I was part of the crew of Latter-day Saints who spent a number of Latter-day Saints who spent a number of nights nights putting in landscaping. I remember the putting in landscaping. I remember the last night, last night, standing next to the husband of standing next to the husband of the family as we the family as we finished. He surveyed our work and said to us standing nearby, finished. He surveyed our work and said to us standing nearby, “This is the third yard you Mormons have put in for us, and I think “This is the third yard you Mormons have put in for us, and I think this is the best.” And then he quietly but firmly told me of the this is the best.” And then he quietly but firmly told me of the great satisfaction he got from membership in his own church, a great satisfaction he got from membership in his own church, a conversation we had often in the years he lived there.conversation we had often in the years he lived there.

In all that time, the acts of kindness extended to him and his family In all that time, the acts of kindness extended to him and his family never ceased because the neighbors really came to love them. never ceased because the neighbors really came to love them. One evening, I came home to see a truck in his driveway. I had One evening, I came home to see a truck in his driveway. I had been told they were moving to another state. I approached to see been told they were moving to another state. I approached to see if I could help. I didn’t recognize the man I saw loading household if I could help. I didn’t recognize the man I saw loading household things into the truck. He said quietly as I drew near, “Hello, things into the truck. He said quietly as I drew near, “Hello, Brother Eyring.” I hadn’t recognized him because he was the son, Brother Eyring.” I hadn’t recognized him because he was the son, now grown older, who had lived there, married, and moved away. now grown older, who had lived there, married, and moved away. And because of the love of many for him, he was now a baptized And because of the love of many for him, he was now a baptized member of the Church. I don’t know the end of that story because member of the Church. I don’t know the end of that story because it will have no end. But I know that it begins with love.it will have no end. But I know that it begins with love.