The Iliad Book Six and the Book of Mormon: Friendship's Disruption of a Long War

 In Book 6 of the Iliad, we move from the macro to the micro - on the battlefield, a single Trojan and a single Greek discovered that their grandfathers were friends, which makes them also friends.

After a long speech where Glaucus tells the story of his grandfather, Diomedes opens his arms in friendship: 

He [Diomedes] spoke, and transport fill’d Tydides’ heart;
In earth the generous warrior fix’d his dart,
Then friendly, thus the Lycian prince address’d:
“Welcome, my brave hereditary guest!
Thus ever let us meet, with kind embrace,
Nor stain the sacred friendship of our race.
Know, chief, our grandsires have been guests of old;
Œneus the strong, Bellerophon the bold:
Our ancient seat his honour’d presence graced,
Where twenty days in genial rites he pass’d.
The parting heroes mutual presents left;
A golden goblet was thy grandsire’s gift;
Œneus a belt of matchless work bestowed,
That rich with Tyrian dye refulgent glow’d.... 

Mindful of this, in friendship let us join;
If heaven our steps to foreign lands incline,
My guest in Argos thou, and I in Lycia thine.
Enough of Trojans to this lance shall yield,
In the full harvest of yon ample field;
Enough of Greeks shall dye thy spear with gore;
But thou and Diomed be foes no more.
Now change we arms, and prove to either host
We guard the friendship of the line we boast.”

Thus having said, the gallant chiefs alight,
Their hands they join, their mutual faith they plight;

 

So basically, since their grandfathers were once friends, Glaucus and Diomedes swore friendship there on the battlefield. They still had to kill other Trojans and Greeks, but they would no more try to kill each other, to honor the historical friendship of their ancestors. 

 

Another Epic Change of Heart

Likewise, in the Book of Mormon, the sons of King Mosiah go to the lands of the Lamanites, who were the enemies of the Nephites, despite the fact that they all descended from one family. But it wasn't this ancient kinship that brought these two groups together - it was the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The king's son Ammon teaches the gospel to King Lamoni, who ruled over a branch of the Lamonite nations. After his miraculous conversion and all his household, the change of heart toward Ammon and his brothers and his people was dramatic in Alma 23:

 

Behold, now it came to pass that the king of the Lamanites sent a proclamation among all his people, that they should not lay their hands on Ammon, or Aaron, or Omner, or Himni, nor either of their brethren who should go forth preaching the word of God, in whatsoever place they should be, in any part of their land.

Yea, he sent a decree among them, that they should not lay their hands on them to bind them, or to cast them into prison; neither should they spit upon them, nor smite them, nor cast them out of their synagogues, nor scourge them; neither should they cast stones at them, but that they should have free access to their houses, and also their temples, and their sanctuaries.

And thus they might go forth and preach the word according to their desires, for the king had been converted unto the Lord, and all his household; therefore he sent his proclamation throughout the land unto his people, that the word of God might have no obstruction, 

but that it might go forth throughout all the land, that his people might be convinced concerning the wicked traditions of their fathers, and that they might be convinced that they were all brethren, and that they ought not to murder, nor to plunder, nor to steal, nor to commit adultery, nor to commit any manner of wickedness.

And now it came to pass that when the king had sent forth this proclamation, that Aaron and his brethren went forth from city to city, and from one house of worship to another, establishing churches, and consecrating priests and teachers throughout the land among the Lamanites, to preach and to teach the word of God among them; and thus they began to have great success.

And thousands were brought to the knowledge of the Lord...

And now it came to pass that the king and those who were converted were desirous that they might have a name, that thereby they might be distinguished from their brethren; therefore the king consulted with Aaron and many of their priests, concerning the name that they should take upon them, that they might be distinguished.

And it came to pass that they called their names Anti-Nephi-Lehies; and they were called by this name and were no more called Lamanites.

And they began to be a very industrious people; yea, and they were friendly with the Nephites; therefore, they did open a correspondence with them, and the curse of God did no more follow them.

Instead of sacred rules of hospitality that brought people together, in this case, it was the sacred teachings of Jesus Christ which the Lamanites learned and accepted, and their former enemies became friends, united in the brotherhood of God.

 

Elder Thomas S. Monson, Part Three: George Bernard Shaw and How Love Lifts

 For Part One, Part Two, Part Four or Part Five, click the link to jump.

Here we are again, happily plowing through Elder Thomas S. Monson's talk, "With Hand and Heart", for the rich references contained therein. All these references support the teachings of Jesus Christ, in that we need to serve and love each other. 

In order to do that effectively, it makes a difference how we see each other. In our faith, we frequently refer to each other as 'child of God', which can make a ginormous difference in the feeling we feel towards each other.

Today's quote emphasizes this, and comes from George Bernard Shaw, from his play, Pygmalion, that became the musical, "My Fair Lady":

 

The Quote

"...True love can alter human lives and change human nature.

This truth was stated so beautifully on the stage in My Fair Lady. 

 Eliza Doolittle, the flower girl, spoke to one for whom she cared 

and who later was to lift her from such mediocre status [Colonel Pickering]: 

“You see, really and truly, apart from the things anyone can pick up 

(the dressing and the proper way of speaking, and so on), 

the difference between a lady and a flower girl is not how she behaves, 

but how she’s treated. 

I shall always be a flower girl to Professor Higgins, 

because he always treats me as a flower girl, and always will; 

but I know I can be a lady to you, 

because you always treat me as a lady, and always will.” 

(Adapted from Pygmalion, in The Complete Plays of Bernard Shaw, p. 260.)"

I never saw the play, but I've loved the movie for several years. Here's that quote, adapted to the movie version:

 

 

 

 

Elder Thomas S. Monson, Part Two: Charles Dickens and Kicking Off Christmas 2025

 For Part One, Part Three, Part Four or Part Five, click the link to jump.

Welcome officially to the Christmas season of 2025!

Today's quote has a crisp Christmas flavor with a side of service and goodwill - Elder Thomas S. Monson's talk, "With Hand and Heart" brings us to a familiar and beloved story:

 

The Quote

"One who lived much of his life ignoring his fellowmen and living for self alone 

was Dickens’ immortal character, Ebenezer Scrooge. 

But there came that wintry night when the ghost of Jacob Marley 

appeared to Scrooge and lamented:

 

“Not to know that any Christian spirit working kindly in its little sphere, 

whatever it may be, 

will find its mortal life too short for its vast means of usefulness. 

Not to know that no space of regret can make amends for one life’s opportunities misused! 

Yet such was I! Oh! Such was I!

 

“Why did I walk through crowds of fellow-beings with my eyes turned down, 

and never raise them to that blessed Star which led the Wise Men to a poor abode! 

Were there no poor homes to which its light would conduct me!”

 

In an effort to comfort Marley, Scrooge proffered, 

“But you were always a good man of business, Jacob.”

 

Lamented Marley, “Business! … Mankind was my business!” 

(A Christmas Carol.)"

 

Jacob Marley was such a positive negative figure in this story - a man who sought what he thought was success all his life, only to realize too late what success truly was, and unable to make a change. I can't read his speech aloud myself without being very moved by the end. The pain and the intensity of that last line has such power.

His ghostly visitation to his business partner Ebenezer Scrooge - who was probably as close to a friend as the man ever had in life - led Scrooge to a last-minute change of his own.

I read this story every year at Christmas - and there's so many good movie versions of the same story if you're not a reader.  

But the best way to internalize such a story is to do something about it.

Here's some great ideas for ordinary people to make a difference in someone's life this Christmas season. Enjoy! 

 

Elder Thomas S. Monson, Part One: The Return of Edwin Markham

 For Part Two, Part Three, Part Four or Part Five, click the link to jump.

 

For those who suspect I am biased, I freely, fully admit it.

I love all the apostles' talks. I do.

But I extra-special love Elder Monson...who eventually became President Monson. His talks were always full of stories and poems. He was a reader, and even as a small child I could tell.

In this series, we're going over Elder Thomas S. Monson's talk, "With Hand and Heart", from the October 1971 General Conference. The first of five references he gave in this talk was the following about serving other as Christ serves, and avoiding the all-too human tendency to talk ourselves out of it:

 

 The Quote (with context)

"Time passes. Circumstances change. Conditions vary. 

Unaltered is the divine command to succor the weak 

and lift up the hands which hang down and strengthen the feeble knees. 

Each of us has the charge to be not a doubter, but a doer; 

not a leaner, but a lifter. 

But our complacency tree has many branches,

and each spring more buds come into bloom. 

Often we live side by side but do not communicate heart to heart. 

There are those within the sphere of our own influence who, with outstretched hands, cry out: 

“Is there no balm in Gilead … ?” (Jer. 8:22) 

Each of us must answer.

Edwin Markham observed:

“There is a destiny that makes us brothers;

None goes his way alone:

All that we send into the lives of others

Comes back into our own.”

—“A Creed”"

 

I also love that he gives good references usually. I found this poem right away. 

There's a second verse that goes with the first. The whole poem is below:

 

A Creed

By Edwin Markham

There is a destiny that makes us brothers:
None goes his way alone:
All that we send into the lives of others
Comes back into our own.

I care not what his temples or his creeds,
One thing holds firm and fast
That into his fateful heap of days and deeds
The soul of man is cast.

 

For a throwback to another Edwin Markham post we've encountered before, here's the link.

I couldn't have timed that throwback better if I tried - happy Thanksgiving everyone! Grateful for all of you!

 

Elder Gordon B. Hinckley, Part Three: Sir Joshua Reynolds and the Faith of a Child

 For Part One or Part Two, make your choice of the links provided.

We're back and once again in Trafalgar Square with Elder Gordon B. Hinckley, giving his talk "If Ye are Willing and Obedient" in the October 1971 General Conference.

This was totally my first trip to London, when I was 19 - first mugged by pigeons in Trafalgar Square, losing my sandwich. Then I went to the National Art Gallery afterwards. Apparently Elder Hinckley did the same, minus the pigeons - and we get our next reference: 

 

The Quote

"Facing Trafalgar Square in London is the National Art Gallery of Britain, 

in which hangs Sir Joshua Reynolds’ painting of the boy Samuel, 

who as a child heard a voice and replied, 

“Speak; for thy servant heareth.”"

 

A Moment of Faith

Sir Joshua Reynolds had a wonderful way of painting children. He was one of the greatest portrait artists of the Victorian period.

In this painting, he's portraying the story of Samuel from 1 Samuel 3, who has been offered as a servant to the prophet Eli by his mother. One night he hears his name being called. He assumes that Eli is calling him, but Eli was asleep.

It was, in fact, the Lord calling him, and when Eli tells him this, he answers the Lord when He calls again.

Samuel then grew to be a prophet during the time of King Saul and King David.

The painting portrays this childlike faith - how Samuel listened to the Lord without resistance, and did as He asked, even when what the Lord asked of him was hard.

It's a good example for all of us to take. Sometimes I've been asked to do very hard things. A lot of the time I botch it - but I always try. 

Painters, when they first start painting, have to go through a period where they paint badly.  Sometimes, when we try to do what the Lord asks of us, we do it badly. But we should never stop trying, or we'll never arrive at that point where our faith is as seamless and natural as the painting of a master painter.

It can happen. It takes time and effort, and a stubborn determination to keep going regardless of what may come. Great beauty can come of even small efforts, with the Lord's help. 

 

Elder Gordon B. Hinckley, Part Two: William Robert Anderson and the Power of Belief

For Part One, or Part Three, click appropriately. 

Elder Gordon B. Hinckley's talk in the October 1971 General Conference, "If Ye Be Willing and Obedient", goes on to discuss the efforts of another maritime historical figure: 

 

The Quote

"What marvelous things happen when men walk with faith 

in obedience to that which is required of them! 

I recently read the interesting story of Commander William Robert Anderson, 

the naval officer who took the submarine Nautilus beneath the polar ice 

from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean, 

a daring and dangerous feat. 

It recounted a number of other exploits of similar danger. 

It concluded with a statement that he carried in his wallet 

a tattered card that had on it these words, which I commend to you:

“I believe I am always divinely guided.

I believe I will always take the right road.

I believe God will always make a way where there is no way.”

 

Nautilus 90 North

 Elder Hinckley is referring to a book written by Commander William Anderson, about his mission to pilot a nuclear sub under the polar ice cap, in response to the Sputnik launch by the Russians. His successful ability to do so gave a great technological advantage to the United States once again, and paved the way for future explorations under the North Pole.

It sounds terrifying, and such an uncharted trip would require a lot of faith in oneself and in God.

But don't we all have our own adventures we face - situations we never expected to find ourselves in - and isn't it a comfort to be able to reach out for Divine benevolent assistance when it's needed?

God and Christ have always been that assistance for me, through all sorts of adventures. 

Some may say that's naive, to reach out for someone that's in my mind.

Well, I will tell you, if Christ is all in my mind, He's been an extraordinarily consistent imaginary friend. Eventually, when I put my faith in Christ, just like a seed grows into a tree and then an oak, so my faith grows into experience which grows into knowledge and absolute trust.

And now, I am always divinely guided. 

I know I will always take the right road.

And, I know God will make a way when there is no way, if it's His will.

If it's not His will, there will be another way to follow. A better way.

That's what I know now. 

 

And if a belief in Christ can bring out the best in people such as William Robert Anderson, charging through the South Pole in a nuclear submarine, how bad is that? 

Looking forward to reading his book - it's going on the list. :-) 

Elder Gordon B. Hinckley, Part One - Lord Nelson and Working Together in a Great Cause

For Part Two or Part Three of this series, choose your link and click. 

 

It's a rainy day here where I live - the rain reminds me of England. And today's quote from Elder Gordon B. Hinckley's talk, "If Ye Be Willing and Obedient", really transports me back there in my mind:

 

The Quote 

"Recently I stood in Trafalgar Square in London and looked up at the statue of Lord Nelson. 

At the base of the column are his words 

uttered on the morning of the Battle of Trafalgar: 

“England expects that every man will do his duty.” 

Lord Nelson was killed on that historic day in 1805, 

as were many others; but England was saved as a nation, 

and Britain became an empire."

 

 Lord Horatio Nelson

You wanna talk about mythic? 

We have our George Washington, our Abraham Lincoln, and the Britons have Lord Horatio Nelson. That's how much status he accords. 

 

The Battle of Trafalgar, where this quote comes from, was a massive victory for the British, but he did die in that battle, shot by a French marksman. This, however, is the first quote in General Conference that was not spoken, but hoisted in semaphore on his ship as he led them into battle.

 In the very heart of London stands a monument to Lord Nelson, called Trafalgar Square. It's a statue of him on a tall pedestal, surrounded by huge lion statues at the base - a testament to his courage and his capabilities. 

Also a good place for tourist to get mugged by very aggressive pigeons - I lost a good tuna sandwich there one day.

The quote to me is a great summary of a leader - someone who places high expectations on those he leads, but then leads them himself, putting himself at risk and setting the example of how to live and how to fight, even at great personal cost.

Lord Nelson counts in this respect as a Christlike example - giving all that he was, and had, for others. Leading them and encouraging them to be the best they could be in the face of overwhelming odds. That's also what Jesus Christ did for us.

Certainly Lord Nelson wasn't a perfect man - only Jesus Christ was perfect. Lord Nelson was not faithful to his wife. His accomplishments to some speak of colonialism, and are somewhat controversial in that respect. But in the life he led and in his death, he saved millions and engendered great respect and honor.

 

 

The Iliad Book Five and the Bible: When Mortals Fight Immortals

We're back to the Iliad again...and I'm justifying reading the Iliad on the Sabbath, by also reading the scriptures. But the comparison is waking both of them up for me in such a good way. 

Today's comparison between the Iliad, Book Five and the scriptures involves the story of Jacob in the Bible, who wrestles an angel.

In the last Book, Zeus tells his wife Juno that mortals are pathetic next to the gods - what could they possibly do to injure us?

But then, in this chapter, that's exactly what daring mortals do. They dare...and they don't do too badly at all against the Grecian gods in a fight.

But they're not running on their own power - they are, in fact, assisted by other gods - and humans assisted by other gods with divine power become superhuman:

 

But Pallas [Athena, the goddess] now Tydides’ soul inspires,

Fills with her force, and warms with all her fires,

Above the Greeks his deathless fame to raise,

And crown her hero with distinguish’d praise.

 High on his helm celestial lightnings play,

His beamy shield emits a living ray;

The unwearied blaze incessant streams supplies,

Like the red star that fires the autumnal skies,

When fresh he rears his radiant orb to sight,

And, bathed in ocean, shoots a keener light.

Such glories Pallas on the chief bestow’d,

Such, from his arms, the fierce effulgence flow’d:

Onward she drives him, furious to engage,

Where the fight burns, and where the thickest rage.  

The champion is given great powers, but is not allowed to fight any gods except one, and he wounds her on the hand as she is helping her son in battle.

Later on, Tydides, or Diomed, fights and wounds the god of war, Mars, as well.

The humans are, again, a pawn and a proxy for fighting between the gods. Their own wills are sublimated to the will of the gods.

 

Jacob Wrestling with an Angel

From the scriptures, we find a similar story in the Bible - Genesis 28.

Jacob, the grandson of Abraham, had been through many challenges in his life - his brother Esau had left the church, but blamed his brother Jacob for stealing his birthright. Jacob had, in fact, 'bought' his brother's firstborn birthright for a bowl of lentils, showing how little Esau cared for the responsibilities of his priesthood - he only wanted the prestige of it.

So Jacob went to his aged father, with his mother's help, and received the firstborn blessing instead from his father's hand.

Esau came for his blessing, and discovered that Jacob had already received it, and was determined to kill Jacob. His mother Rebekah sent Jacob away to live with her brother Laban, to preserve Jacob's life.

Many years later, Jacob returned to Canaan, sending a message of forgiveness and peace to his brother. When the messenger bearing the message returned, he told Jacob Esau was coming with four hundred men - an army.

Jacob divided his family in two groups, so that one would survive if the other did not.

And then, the wrestle began.

 

And Jacob was left alone; 

and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

And when he [God] saw that he prevailed not against him, 

he touched the hollow of his thigh; 

and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

And he [God] said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. 

And he [Jacob] said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

And he said unto him, What is thy name? 

And he said, Jacob.

And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: 

for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. 

And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? 

And he blessed him there.

And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel [meaning 'the face of God']: 

for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.

Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, 

which is upon the hollow of the thigh, 

unto this day: 

because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew that shrank.

 

Jacob was a man, wrestling with God, for a blessing he needed - the blessing of prevailing over his enemy and protecting his family.

The effort left a mark on him, that generations after him would remember.  Jacob's name was also, through this encounter with the Lord, changed to Israel, meaning 'he who prevails with God'.

It was a blessing that God also wanted, and so it was granted through the Abrahamic covenant. Esau and Jacob were reunited in love again, both having prospered in their absence from each other. 

This idea of a covenant (an agreement between God and man) is also different from the gods that the Greeks wrote about. The Greeks showed their devotions to the gods, made sacrifices, prayed to them for favors...but they didn't know what the gods wanted and made no agreements with them.

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob made covenants, or two-way agreements, with His followers, and they knew better what He expected of them, and how to approach for what they needed. There was more confidence there in approaching God, and less subject to the vagaries of the arbitrary Divine will of the Greek gods.

 

Elder Alvin R. Dyer, Part Three: David Starr Jordan, and the Owner's Guide to the Soul

 For Part One or Part Two of this series, click the appropriate link.

 

The Quote 

A great thinker of our modern day 

supports the statement of the Lord concerning idleness, 

for said he:

“When a man shuns effort, 

he is in no position to resist temptation. 

So, through all the ages, idleness has been known as the parent of all the vices. … 

The dry rot of ennui, 

the vague self-disgust of those who cannot ‘deal with time,’ 

is the natural result of idleness. … 

The indolent ennui of the hopelessly rich 

and the indolent misery of the helplessly poor 

have this much in common. … 

‘Life drives him hard’ who has nothing in the world to do.” 

(David Starr Jordan, The Strength of Being Clean [New York and Boston: H.M. Caldwell Co., 1900], pp. 18–19.)

 

I'm learning to appreciate a good, clear reference when I find one these days. 

So I went in search of David Starr Jordan and his book. Turns out he was the first president of Stanford University, impressive enough all by itself. 

A supporter of the eugenics movement...not so great.

His book, The Strength of Being Clean, has its own website, where the book can be found for free. It's very short - only about 20 pages - and is billed as 'an owner's manual to the human soul' and 'a primer of traditional American values'.

How could I not read this?

 

And now, having read it, I find it full of really interesting ideas. No eugenics, thank goodness, at least not in this. 

He's got some ideas about women that are normal for the time this was written. I can forgive him that.

Other than that, I'm glad his book was preserved, and I can recommend it without any other hesitation for reading. 

The quote mentioned in the talk comes from his five short cuts to happiness. The first is labeled, 'indolence' -  

 

This is the attempt to secure the pleasures of rest 

without the effort that justifies rest and makes it welcome. 

When a man shuns effort, he is in no position to resist temptation. 

So through all the ages 

idleness has been known as the parent of all the vices. 

“Life drives him hard” who has nothing in the world to do. 

The dry-rot of ennui, the vague self-disgust of those who cannot “deal with time,” 

is the natural result of idleness. 

It is said that “the very fiends weave ropes of sand, 

rather than face pure hell in idleness.” 

It is only where even such poor effort is impossible 

that absolute misery can be found. 

The indolent ennui of the hopelessly rich 

and the indolent misery of the helplessly poor have this much in common. 

The quest for happiness is become a passive thing, 

waiting for joy that never comes. 

But life can never remain passive. 

That only is passive which is dead, and all the many evils of life 

come through the open door of unresisted temptation.

Elder Alvin R. Dyer, Part Two: Washington Irving and Changing Times

For a look back at Part One or Part Three, click here. 

Today's quote isn't a quote really - it's an aside reference to a well-known story that emphasizes a point about being idle: 

This, again, comes from Elder Alvin R. Dyer's talk from the October 1971 General Conference, "The Nobility of Man in Choosing Good Over Evil." The reference in parenthesis refers to modern-day scriptures known as the Doctrine & Covenants or D&C:

 

The Literary Reference

“Cease to be idle; 

cease to be unclean; 

cease to find fault one with another; 

cease to sleep longer than is needful; 

retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; 

arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated.” (D&C 88:124.)

This is a very controversial subject, with many different ideas. 

I once heard of a man by the name of Wilson 

who slept so much that his friends nicknamed him “Rip Van Wilson.”

 He said, “I don’t sleep long. I just sleep slow.”

 

The Story of Rip Van Winkle

The 'Rip Van Wilson' reference goes back to a story called "Rip Van Winkle", by Washington Irving.

Rip Van Winkle was an easygoing man, whose wife would constantly berate him for his 'laziness'. He escaped her by going into the mountains. He meets there some supernatural folk who are bowling and drinking. He joins in their game and falls asleep. When he wakes up 20 years later, his wife is dead, and the world as he knew it is twenty years changed.

 

The Concept of Laziness Has Changed

The name 'Rip Van Winkle' came to be synonymous with laziness, which is why the man who slept so much got that particular nickname.

 

We live in a much different time these days - not in a time of laziness, but in a time of overwork and overdoing things, as well as a time of more individualistic routines.

Can we sleep too much? Yes. But we know now that different people require different periods of rest. 

Can we sleep too little? Certainly, and there's dangers in both.

Can someone sleep for other reasons than a need for rest? Yes, mental illness can influence how much someone sleeps. Sometimes, what looks like simple tasks to one person is a herculean effort for another.

These days, health is less about what other people are doing, and more about what works best for each person. 

The times, they are always a-changin', just like they did for Rip Van Winkle...and that's another reason why I appreciate the gospel of Jesus Christ so much. It's a steadying rock for me in changing times. It teaches me how to adapt to new ideas, and when to stay anchored to basic eternal principles. 

Elder Alvin R. Dyer, Part One: Great Slogans and Symbols Throughout History

 For Part Two or Part Three, choose your link.

 

Today we're starting in on Elder Alvin R. Dyer's talk, "The Nobility of Man in Choosing Good Over Evil" from the October 1971 Conference.  He emphasizes the importance of courage in choosing good over evil, and starts off with a cluster of famous quotes:

 

The Quote 

"Men seek for a phrase or a slogan 

to motivate and give impetus to action under certain conditions. 

History refers to such statements as, 

“Give me liberty, or give me death!” or 

“I have not yet begun to fight,” and 

“Surrender? Never! We will die first.” 

Modern slogans have also had their effect, 

such as “V” for victory, 

and the peace and freedom symbols of crowds of demonstrators."

 

There's a lot to unpack here - let's start with

"Give me liberty, or give me death!" - said by Patrick Henry, one of the Founding Fathers of the American colonies. This phrase was said on the floor of the Second Virginia Convention, to encourage others to rebel against the British empire.

 

"I have not yet begun to fight" - there's a little bit of historical telephone tag in this quote from John Paul Jones, sea captain of the American Colonies during the Revolutionary War. During a pivotal battle, he was asked by the British captain of the rival ship if he would surrender, and he said, "I have not yet begun to fight."

The actual quote was a little different, but in the same spirit. The British captain asked if he had 'struck his colors', meaning would he lower the flag of his ship in surrender. His actual response was something more like, "I am determined to make you strike."  

"Surrender? Never! We will die first." - Again, this may have been John Paul Jones, or it may have been similar to the Victory or Death letter left by Col. William B. Travis at the Alamo.

 

V for Victory - This cultural sign has its roots in World War II, and continued through the peace demonstrations of the 1960s. Two fingers lifted palm-out in a V shape still evokes either a victory connotation, or a peace sign. 

 

Each of these phrases or signs became a shorthand for encouraging others to take courage and work towards victory, and then peace, because some things are more important than comfort and convenience. Sometimes we have to fight for what's right and be brave when others aren't.

The Iliad, Book Four, and Alma 43 in the Book of Mormon - When Deity Goes to War

I meant to do this last Sunday, but just had to finish that long talk of so many references.

But now that's done, and I'm back to the Iliad, in Chapter Four now.

 

The Council of War on Olympus

It looks like a simple conflict - Trojans and Greeks fighting. But it's not that simple.

High above them are the gods of Olympus, looking down and deciding how they will push the war forward, or stop it.

Zeus is ready for the war to end, but his wife Juno wants her vengeance on Paris and Helen: 

 

“Shall then, O tyrant of the ethereal reign!

 My schemes, my labours, and my hopes be vain?

Have I, for this, shook Ilion with alarms,

Assembled nations, set two worlds in arms?

To spread the war, I flew from shore to shore;

The immortal coursers scarce the labour bore.

At length ripe vengeance o’er their heads impends,

But Jove himself the faithless race defends.

Loth as thou art to punish lawless lust,

 Not all the gods are partial and unjust.” 

 

The sire whose thunder shakes the cloudy skies,

Sighs from his inmost soul, and thus replies:

“Oh lasting rancour! oh insatiate hate

To Phrygia’s monarch, and the Phrygian state!

 What high offence has fired the wife of Jove?

Can wretched mortals harm the powers above,

That Troy, and Troy’s whole race thou wouldst confound,

And yon fair structures level with the ground! 

 

And thus the war continues because of the politics on Olympus. Juno and Minerva inspire an archer to shoot the first arrow and break the truce, and the two armies go at it again.

 

Alma 43 - God Counsels with the Nephites to End Their War with the Nephites

 Similarly, in the Book of Mormon, there's a very long war between two people who are descended from one family. One group is from Nephi, the younger brother who was obedient to God, and separated from Laman and his family, who was older and generally more rebellious.

From these two brothers each grew a numerous people, who seemed almost constantly at war with each other.

In Alma 43, a group that had been affiliated with the Nephites, who were generally good and obeyed God, crossed over and joined the Lamanites. The Lamanites attacked the Nephites, intent on conquering them and submitting them to their rule.

Truthfully, most of the Lamanites were not interested in carrying on an ancient family feud, but the group of Nephites who became Lamanites, angry with their former brethren, stirred the Lamanites up to fight and to kill.

All the Nephites wanted to do was live their lives and worship the Lord according to their desires, and the Lord helped them to win the battle.

 

"And the work of death commenced on both sides, 

but it was more dreadful on the part of the Lamanites, 

for their nakedness was exposed to the heavy blows of the Nephites 

with their swords and their cimeters, which brought death almost at every stroke.

While on the other hand, 

there was now and then a man fell among the Nephites, 

by their swords and the loss of blood, 

they being shielded from the more vital parts of the body, 

or the more vital parts of the body being shielded from the strokes of the Lamanites, 

by their breastplates, and their armshields, and their head-plates; 

and thus the Nephites did carry on the work of death among the Lamanites.

And it came to pass that the Lamanites became frightened, 

because of the great destruction among them, 

even until they began to flee towards the river Sidon."

 

In the Grecian epic, the humans don't control their fate - because the capricious Gods are always there, moving them and shaping the fight according to their own whims, and many Greeks and Trojans lose their lives as a result. They thought their fight was their own doing, but it really wasn't.

 However, from Alma 43, we learn a different paradigm - that Heavenly Father gives the people their own wills to do good or evil. He doesn't stop the dissenters from going over to the Lamanites, and expressing their wickedness and rage in war, but he worked in partnership with the Nephites when they respected Him and asked Him for help.

He lets them know the plans of the Lamanites, so they can prepare to fight. They would prefer peace, but they won't allow the Lamanites to just take over and oppress them without defending themselves. The Lord allows them to fight to save their homes, their families, and their faith.

When the Lamanites attack, the Nephites are prepared, and they win the day with God's help, for which they gave thanks.

On to Chapter Five next week!

 

 

 

 

Elder Paul H. Dunn, Part Seven: Walt Mason Gave a Beggar...

 For Part One, Part Two, Part Three, or Part Four, or even Part Five or Part Six, click on the appropriate link.

Elder Paul H. Dunn gave us so many references in his talk, "What is a Teacher?". Here's the final one, a poem this time:

 

 The Quote

I gave a beggar from my store of wealth

Some gold. He spent the shining ore,

And came again, and yet again,

Still cold and hungry, as before.

I gave a thought, and through that thought of mine

He found himself, the man, supreme, divine—

Fed, clothed, and crowned with blessings manifold

And now he begs no more

It certainly sounds like Walt Mason's poetry, the Homer of modern America. He wrote like my great-grandfather did, very practical and often lightly humorous poetry.

 But no matter where I looked - in his book Rippling Rhymes, or Horse Sense in Verses Tense, or Uncle Walt, I couldn't find them, but I kept finding other pieces I loved. The titles alone make me want to read these books.

But back to the poem.

When the man was given money or material goods, his needs were only met for a short time, because he was still the same man who was impoverished. His poverty came from the inside. 

Knowing that he didn't have enough money to help the man, he gave him a thought that helped to change him into a different man, inside, and the man changed his impoverished circumstances on his own.

That's the power that the gospel of Jesus Christ has for us. I've seen it happen in my life, and in the lives of many others. And I thank God for ideas that create newness of life within us.

It feels appropriate to end this blog with another one of Walt Mason's many poems - I'm truly enjoying his work myself. 

This one's called "Little Pilgrims":

 

We are weary little pilgrims, 

straying in a world of gloom; 

just behind us is the cradle, just before us is the tomb; 

there is nothing much to guide us, 

or the proper path to mark, 

as we toddle on our journey, 

little pilgrims in the dark. 

And we jostle, and we struggle, in our feeble, futile wrath, 

always striving, always reaching to push others from the path; 

and the wrangling and the jangling of our peevish voices rise, 

to the seraphim that watch us through the star-holes in the skies; 

and they say: "The foolish pilgrims! Watch them as they push and shove! 

They might have a pleasant ramble, if their hearts were full of love, 

if they'd help and cheer each other from the hour that they embark—

but they're only blind and erring little pilgrims in the dark!" 

Elder Paul H. Dunn, Part Six: Elbert Hubbard and Finding Ourselves with the Help of a Teacher

For Part One, Part Two, Part Three, or Part Four, or even Part Five or Part Seven, click on the appropriate link.

For the next quote, Elder Paul H. Dunn in his talk, "What is a Teacher?", he moves on to the idea of teacher as guide instead of teacher as a filler of knowledge:

 

The Quote 

"Elbert Hubbard said, 

“You can’t teach anybody anything. 

You can only help him find himself.”

 

Elbert Hubbard may have said this or something similar, but the idea seems to go back to Gallileo and the Renaissance. Hard to tell.

I did find a somewhat similar quote of his, from a biography of his:

 

"It is a great thing to teach. 

I am never more complimented than when someone addresses me as "teacher".

To give yourself in a way that will inspire others to think, to do, to become—

what nobler ambition! 

To be a good teacher demands a high degree of altruism, 

for one must be willing to sink self, to die—as it were—

that others may live. 

There is something in it very much akin to motherhood—a brooding quality."

 

So that's something similar which truly came from him.

He seemed a very colorful personality - anyone who could write a book called Jesus Was an Anarchist, you know he's got interesting things to say. 

I couldn't say whether or not Jesus counts himself as an anarchist, but I do know He is the Master Teacher, and He has truly helps lead me back to myself when the world pulls me away.

Elder Paul H. Dunn, Part Five: Two Educations by Adams

 For Part One, Part Two, Part Three, or Part Four, or even Part Six, or Part Seven, click on the appropriate link.

This talk, by Elder Paul H. Dunn, "What is a Teacher?" comes with a cornucopia of quotes to look up. Here's the next one:

 

The Quote

"It was James Truslow Adams who said, 

“There are obviously two educations. 

One should teach us how to make a living, 

and the other how to live.”

 

Personally, I love this quote, and I love James Truslow Adams for saying it and vindicating me in the advice I gave to my homeschooling friend, here and here. See? I wasn't even the first one to come up with the idea.

Did you know that the phrase, "American dream", comes from James Truslow Adams? I didn't.

But where does this quote come from? His book, The Epic of America?

No.

At first I thought it came from an essay Adams wrote for Harper's Magazine in October of 1931. They have an online archive that I would love to peruse, but unfortunately, there's a paywall.

But thankfully, it wasn't Harper's. It was Forum Magazine, which I was able to find for free.

And here below, is the original quote from the original source. Sometimes I amaze myself:

 

"There are obviously two educations. 

One should teach us how to make a living, 

and the other how to live. 

Surely these should never be confused in the mind of any man 

has the slightest inkling of what culture is. 

For most of us it is essential that we should make a living. 

In the old days we learned how to do it mainly in the shop or on the farm 

or by practice in the office of merchant, lawyer, or doctor. 

In the complications of modern life and with our increased accumulation of knowledge, 

it doubtless helps greatly to compress some years of experience ;

into far fewer years by studying for a particular trade or profession in an institution; 

but that fact should not blind us to another — 

namely, that in so doing we are learning a trade or a profession, 

but are not getting a liberal education as human beings. 

It is merely learning how to make a living. 

Culture is essential in order to enable us to know how to live 

and how to get the best out of living, 

and a liberal education should help us on our way to acquire it, 

albeit the acquisition is a lifelong process."

 

This guy sounds fascinating, and definitely a kindred spirit! Making a note to read more of his work.

I also agree somewhat with his ideas here - there is earning a living, and there is building a life. Most of my education in doing this has come from the gospel of Jesus Christ, but also with study of history and literature as I talk about here. 

Formal school is very helpful in this regard, but I never let school get in the way of getting an education. Most of what I learned, I learned on my own.

 

 

Another thing that I make a point of doing is learning through a lens of Jesus Christ and His gospel. Some may feel this limits learning - but I feel exactly the opposite. Once I found a mindset I trust, I stick with that mindset, and then I am free to discard much that isn't going to be of value to me in building the life I want.

Other people are free to find whatever works for them. I know that this works for me. 

Teaching Children How and Why to Learn, Part Two: The Place of the Arts

If you missed Part One, you can find it here.

Ever since I was young, I've loved to read, and as an extension of reading, write.

Does it show? :-)

Today is my second half of my soapbox lecture to my friend, whose 12-year-old daughter quit school and now wants to happily live off her mother forever. Or so it seemed. On further investigation, she's a good kid who got frustrated with our local public school system, but she and her parents are new to homeschooling. I gave them the same thing advice I wrote yesterday, with a little more detail.

But what if she declares that she wants to go into the arts, instead of the other six fields? What should my friend say?

I know what I would say if her daughter were mine...

 

My Attempts at a Career in the Arts

I'd spent my whole life since I was seven, putting on shows, treading the boards, doing art in one way or another - writing stories and winning awards, magic shows in fifth grade, singing in choirs, then theatre - all this from a very shy (almost pathologically shy) girl. Art helped me finally find my voice when I was 16 years old, and I mean that literally. I spoke so infrequently in public that I couldn't identify what I sounded like before then.

Of course, this meant to my mind that I should go directly into the arts as a career. A life of watching television meant of course I could write for it, or for movies, or anything, and I would certainly be successful. After a couple years of high school theatre, I set off to New York City to become an actor.

 

Mistake #1 - No Service Mindset

What I didn't realize, first of all, was that this adventure was for me, and no one else.  It was a whole lot of 'look at me' when there was an audience there I needed to take care of, with no idea what they wanted or needed.

Making a living requires doing things for other people, not for us. My art was intensely mine, and while that helped me, that didn't help anyone else. People pay money for art that serves them, not me.

 

Mistake #2 - Hitting the money wall

Within six months, I was hurting for money. Plain and simple.

Not having prepared myself with any job skills, I took jobs that were dangerous. I had a night shift cutting photographs with a chopper machine that threatened all my digits. When I was told I'd have to start drinking coffee or I'd never survive, it became a choice between my religious beliefs or my work.

I quit that job before I lost any fingers.

Then I tried telemarketing - calling people on the phone and offering them tickets to the opera.

Lasted less than a day.

Waitress lasted less than a day. Fortunately, I wasn't pretty enough for the job where I work at a black box theatre bar offering Asian gentlemen drinks, in my naiveté. But I applied for it.

 

Mistake #3 - No Work Ethic 

But even if these jobs didn't last, most (other than the bar job) so low paying and took up so much time that I wasn't working on acting. My acting teachers noticed that I wasn't doing the homework they were giving me, because it was a choice between exercises or sleeping.

My sleep and general lack of organization won out, and I started failing the classes I came there to take.

Living forever on the edge of your income, nearly homeless, unable to form or support a family while working on a dream - everyone does it. Comparatively few make it to a living wage doing what they love in the arts. 

It's like telling your child to win the lottery for a living. How many parents are out there doing that?

 

Mistake #3 - Not really my dream after all

Eventually I left New York to move back home with my parents - a complete psychic blow.

I kept trying - taking acting classes, getting work in Renaissance festivals, auditioning for local work - for a time, but eventually I quit acting for the reason (get this!) that I hated people watching me.

A very good reason to quit a career where people pay to watch you. But I wasn't prepared for anything else, so I had to start from scratch.

If I had listened to my father (who very gently tried to tell me about computers and programming, his great loves, and my occasional interest), I would have been able to support myself that way while doing smaller acting jobs on the side, or working in community theater, or even voice-over work, so only a very few would have to see me! 

Instead, I had to work a very long time to get to a point where I could support myself and my family, fortunately working off the typing classes my mother insisted I take in high school. I got very good at typing, and turned that skill into a low-level administrative career that paid the bills and allowed me and my husband to set ourselves up independently. From there, I worked over into data science, and now building my computer skills.

But scrambling to learn skills as an adult instead of starting younger was a great, great loss to me.

 

Caveat - When You Can't Leave It Alone

Granted - there are some people who can't simply walk away from the arts. I'm one of them.

I did try to stop writing, for a time. I refer to that time period of my life, doing nothing but what made money or other useful stuff, as "The Desert". That's what it felt like.

So I picked it up again, but in a different way. Hence, this blog.

And for my friend's 12-year-old girl, I would tell her the same. Start with the practical. Look at those six categories - and notice that each one of them contain something that has to do with the arts.

 

Construction - set building and design for movies or plays

Law - entertainment lawyers are needed for contracts

Business - someone has to market all those movies, or count their money

Computers - special effects require computers. And computers always need fixing.

Healthcare - every set has a nurse or some sort of emergency personnel

Education - many performers and artists teach, in or outside of public education

 

So that's an option. Only a few of many. But there's better pay to be found in less glamorous areas - don't avoid the places where fewer people are looking. Besides, ever talk to someone who works at Disneyland? They don't always go there on their time off, if you know what I mean.

In Practical or Artistic Work, You're Gonna Work and Work HARD - Hard Work is Good for You

There's plenty of options open to those who want to make art for themselves and not be told what to make by those who will pay. Exercising a talent might not make you rich, but it always makes your life richer and more meaningful.

My novels will never make as much money as Harry Potter made, but the world I built within those pages is just as rich and real to me. And I love sharing them with anyone who's interested. That's the work I love to do.

My children draw art, write poetry, sing and make music, make and play games, because it makes them happy. Some of them would like to go professional, some don't. But all of them have education and skills to build a life with, and then add the arts on top, like the frosting on a cake. But don't ignore the cake and eat only frosting like a maniac - yes, I like frosting too, but the cake carries the frosting.

 

Get Both Kinds of Education 

So, if you must build a career in the arts, choose the day job skills first.

Use the day job to build your life, and then circle back to bring in the arts. Maybe you'll get lucky enough to quit the day job one day. Maybe you won't want to.

Isn't it nice to have choices? And not have to coerce Asian businessmen in a black box theater bar to buy you drinks you shouldn't be drinking, while living with your parents forever? 

I think so. 

Back to Conference quotes again tomorrow. Thank you for listening to my soapbox rant. :-)