THE THUMBS OF LIFE

As if we Homo sapiens didn't already have enough pride puffing principles to worry about, we go about boasting to one another that of all of Heavenly Father's creations we along with a few other very fortunate creatures have an opposing digit which we call a thumb. Sometimes we feign humility by saying such things as 'I am all thumbs' or 'that isn't for sucking,' but in the main we acclaim this dangling digit as a proof of great superiority over other less fortunate creatures. With all the pompous praise we go about heaping on our thumbs it is a wonder that it doesn't on occasion refuse to cooperate and just go on strike as a reminder to us of how important it really is. Yet in all my years I have yet to have my thumb tell the other four fingers that it has no need for them. I guess if I had to hitch a ride, the uplifted thumb might seem to be standing alone in this effort. By and large, however, the thumb is found to be in a very cooperative existence with the other extensions of the hand. Sometimes it needs only one finger, for example, to help when we desire to pick up a small piece of lint or a piece of paper. On other occasions it employees the aid of all its mates, such as in gripping or grabbing. I don't think it is very long after birth that the thumb makes the marvelous discovery that it is not a digit in opposition, but instead is found in most cases to be complimentary to the pointy, middle, ring and pinkie fingers. Whenever I think my own thumbs are beginning to be lifted up in pride, I just show them a page I have written and they quickly recognize that their contribution to whatever has been written is nothing but blank spaces.

So that I don't confirm what many of you have already suspected, that I often slip into meaningless palaver that has little or no point at all, I want to declare at this time that the reason I have written about the wonderful thumb which we sometimes take for granted is that in many ways we, like the thumb, could become proudly puffed up in a singular principle or action as if it had no need for ideas or thoughts or actions of others which seem opposing, but in reality may be complimentary and expanding, capable of magnifying our own meager contributions.

Let me try to give you a few examples which might help to clarify the point I am trying to make:

It would be as if, since we have the wonderful teachings found in the Book of Mormon, we would then to our detriment become so built up in our reverence for this book, that we might treat the Bible or the Doctrine and Covenants or the Pearl of Great Price or the Teachings of the Living Prophets or guidance of enlightened men and women, as if we have little need for them. Long ago Ezekiel declared that the word of God, regardless of the package it was found in, was to become one in our hands and in a very beautiful synergistic way bring brighter light to guide our steps than could be given from any singular contributing source. I can never receive too many inspired words from Heaven sent.

Because we find some specific taboos and recommendations about our dietary habits written in Section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants we could then be excused if we were to ignore all the understanding of nutrition and health which has been made available over the last 1 ¾ centuries. How many would have been denied meaningful years of progress if we had declared to Louis Pasteur or Clara Barton or Washington Irving or the countless others who have dedicated themselves to the understanding of what is needed to live a greatly extended, productive and healthy life that we have no need of thee because we have a Word of Wisdom. I need all the help I can find to be the most I can be.

Because we become so enamored with giving wonderful service to our brothers and sisters we can thereby be excused if we hold in lesser value the principles of faith and hope. We must always remember that our faith will be greater because we involve ourselves in charitable actions and that our charitable actions will become a more frequent part of our lives as our faith increases. We must never forget the interdependence and introprogressive dependence which all principles have to one another. They are indeed one great whole.

Because we have been privileged to live in lands which might provide some freedoms to learn and advance, that others who live in less fortunate circumstances, therefore, must have been of much lesser valiancy in their former estate. We have little, or perhaps in reality, no idea the why of our time and place of birth into mortality; but we do know that our Father in Heaven has placed us all on this earth with a stewardship to value, respect, love and care for one another and by all means to never demean nor diminish the eternal value of any of our brothers and sisters. We all belong to a universal family and have need of the best from one another.

Therefore, on those days when we might be feeling a bit 'thumby' or just a little too full of ourselves and our uniqueness, it might be well to take a deep breath and remind ourselves of our constant dependence on others, their contributions and their ideas. I have an idea that my own life will be much more if I am willing to acknowledge the wonderfulness of the all the 'extensions' which Heavenly Father has surrounded me with to make my passage full and beautiful and joyful.

Thank you all for all the meaningfulness you have brought to my life.