UNOPENED BOOKS

In 1973, President Harold B. Lee gave a talk to Beloved Sisters. In the introduction to that talk he told the story of a young man who had lived a life which, in the kindest of terms, would have been referred to as wayward.

While he was still a very young man his mother passed away and to everyone’s surprise he asked if he could speak at her funeral. Of course tears were shed, but more importantly, introspections were done by most as he spoke. He proclaimed that his mother had been a wellspring of things of beauty, virtue and integrity which would fill volumes, but his downfall had come because he had never opened those volumes of books.

The service lasted longer than many anticipated, but few were anxious that it would end. With tears spilling over the brims of his eye lids he decried the life he had chosen, which was in stark contrast to the constant caring counsel his loving mother had given him from his earliest recollection and which continued even in the raunchiest days of his rebellion.

As I recently reread these words, I again tried to retrace in my mind the chapters and verses which would have filled volumes, from the words and examples which have been bestowed upon me from the Beloved Sisters I have been blessed to have in my own life.

I suspect it would be difficult for any of us to search our personal shelves of unopened volumes without quickly coming to the conclusion that we would have been far better off had we opened and read and reread the wisdom contained in those caring counsels.

A partial list of some of the chapters I need to read or reread:
Work and study need to be finished before play.

Money can only be spent once.

Consequences should always be considered before making choices.

The eternal role we are preparing for is Parenthood.

Friendships fade, but families can be forever.

Integrity isn’t a choice, it is a lifestyle.

Search for treasures which last rather than those which turn to waste.

People will remember acts of love longer than lectures.

You will be appreciated for who you are more than for what you know.

Kindness never goes out of style.

Since I have reached that limit of ten which I was counseled to adhere too, I will allow your minds to conjure up the volumes which you might think worthy of reopening or opening for the first time.

One of the marvelous traits that I have witnessed which seems to be fairly universal in Beloved Sisters is that sharing counsel comes as naturally to them as breathing. We would all save ourselves hours of grief and miles of retraced steps if following that loving counsel became just as natural to us.

Therefore, I hope for a moment we can sincerely send our thanks to mother, grandmother, wife, daughter, sister, friend and teacher, Beloved Sisters all, for the libraries of loving wisdom they have given to the world. I have no doubt that the world would be a much safer, cleaner, peaceful and more pleasant place to reside if more of us would crack open those books which have been collecting dust for far too many seasons.

THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY
EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY


UNOPENED BOOKS
Sunday, May 10, 2015
In 1973, President Harold B. Lee gave a talk to Beloved Sisters. In the introduction to that talk he told the story of a young man who had lived a life which, in the kindest of terms, would have been referred to as wayward.
While he was still a very young man his mother passed away and to everyone’s surprise he asked if he could speak at her funeral. Of course tears were shed, but more importantly, introspections were done by most as he spoke. He proclaimed that his mother had been a wellspring of things of beauty, virtue and integrity which would fill volumes, but his downfall had come because he had never opened those volumes of books.
The service lasted longer than many anticipated, but few were anxious that it would end. With tears spilling over the brims of his eye lids he decried the life he had chosen, which was in stark contrast to the constant caring counsel his loving mother had given him from his earliest recollection and which continued even in the raunchiest days of his rebellion.
As I recently reread these words, I again tried to retrace in my mind the chapters and verses which would have filled volumes, from the words and examples which have been bestowed upon me from the Beloved Sisters I have been blessed to have in my own life.
I suspect it would be difficult for any of us to search our personal shelves of unopened volumes without quickly coming to the conclusion that we would have been far better off had we opened and read and reread the wisdom contained in those caring counsels.
A partial list of some of the chapters I need to read or reread:
Work and study need to be finished before play.
Money can only be spent once.
Consequences should always be considered before making choices.
The eternal role we are preparing for is Parenthood.
Friendships fade, but families can be forever.
Integrity isn’t a choice, it is a lifestyle.
Search for treasures which last rather than those which turn to waste.
People will remember acts of love longer than lectures.
You will be appreciated for who you are more than for what you know.
Kindness never goes out of style.
Since I have reached that limit of ten which I was counselled to adhere too, I will allow your minds to conjure up the volumes which you might think worthy of reopening or opening for the first time.
One of the marvelous traits that I have witnessed which seems to be fairly universal in Beloved Sisters is that sharing counsel comes as naturally to them as breathing. We would all save ourselves hours of grief and miles of retraced steps if following that loving counsel became just as natural to us.
Therefore, I hope for a moment we can sincerely send our thanks to mother, grandmother, wife, daughter, sister, friend and teacher, Beloved Sisters all, for the libraries of loving wisdom they have given to the world. I have no doubt that the world would be a much safer, cleaner, peaceful and more pleasant place to reside if more of us would crack open those books which have been collecting dust for far too many seasons.
THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY
EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY