President Harold B. Lee, Part Five - Henry Ward Beacher and First Principles Before Launching Out in Life

 For Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four or Part Six, you know what to do. Click away!

 It's so wet outside. Wet and cold. But I still have power, and I'm snug in my house.

What better to do then, than ponder President Harold B. Lee's talk, "A Time of Decision" - most especially, the next quote in this talk, still speaking on the importance of valuing timeless principles over the shiny and the new:

 

The Quote

I pass these wise words of counsel to others in public office 

for what they are worth 

and strongly urge that those of you having heavy responsibilities in public office or elsewhere 

should meditate prayerfully 

and give the Lord a chance to aid you 

in solving the problems of life.

“Expedients are for an hour,” 

someone has said, 

“but principles are for the ages.” 

(Henry Ward Beecher)

Good advice for anyone in any field, really - and so like Henry Ward Beecher to say it. His sister was Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of Uncle Tom's Cabin. He was a popular and controversial figure, who put out some good things. Lots of books he left behind to explore.

 

I didn't have any luck finding the original quote, but there were others that were similar. Here's one from his book Seven Lectures to Young Men:

 

"If you have, beforehand, no settled opinions as to what is right and what is wrong ; 

if your judgment is now, for the first time, to be formed upon the propriety of your actions ; 

if you are not controlled by settled principles, 

there is scarcely a chance for your purity.

For this purpose, then, I desire to discuss these things, 

that you may settle your opinions and principles before temptation assails you. 

 

As a ship is built upon the dry shore,  

which afterwards is to dare the storm and brave the sea, 

so would I build you staunch and strong, ere you be launched abroad upon life."

That's what I love about the gospel of Jesus Christ - it steadies me, fills in the holes, and gives me something I can count on in life. Since I was a child, I've been taught basic principles, and even though I don't always live my life by them perfectly, the more I do, the better my life.

 

What principles do you live by to prepare to go out in the world? 

 

President Harold B. Lee, Part Four - Hamilton Wright Mabie and Fundamental Truth by the Fireside

  For Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Five or Part Six, you know what to do. Click away!

 It's a cold rainy morning. Snow is descending upon us, and I'm hoping to get this blog out before we lose power. 

But never fear. If we get kicked back into the 80s during a snowstorm, we're prepared with generators and gas. Today we're delving deeper into President Harold B. Lee's talk, "A Time of Decision" and another quote about truth from someone I'm not familiar with, but whose name I absolutely love. Such a power name. The face doesn't look like someone to mess with either.

 

The Quote

"Another man of wisdom added: 

'There is no progress in fundamental truth. 

We may grow in knowledge of its meaning and in the modes of its application, 

but its great principles will forever be the same.' 

(Hamilton Wright Mabie)"

 

Hamilton Wright Mabie was a super interesting guy, and he doesn't mess around. I definitely get that vibe from his picture.

There's a bunch of books he wrote or helped edit, and I want to look up them all, particularly the Every Child Should Know series and his personal essay collection, entitled My Study Fire. Sounds so very romantic. 

As for the quote, this is a super-interesting statement to make, particularly in the age of truthiness, my truth and your truth that we're living in today.

Is there fixed truth in the world that never changes? I think so.

There's the law of gravity and all that as far as science is concerned, but then there's also spiritual truths that I live by, that help me function and have joy in this life. 

Notice I don't say 'help me be happy'. 

One fundamental truth about life is that there is suffering - but with Jesus Christ, suffering can eventually lead to joy. Joy is the happiness that comes after suffering, which is deeper and richer than 'happy'. Like Easter after Christmas. 

Like reading by the hearth on a winter day...

 

 

"The lighting of the fire in my study 

is an event of importance in the calendar of the domestic year ; 

it marks the close of one season, 

and announces the advent of another. 

There is always a touch of pathos 

in the last warm autumnal days, 

that makes the cordial acceptance of winter a kind of infidelity 

to the months that have lavished their gifts of life and beauty at our threshold."

- My Study Fire, by Hamilton Wright Mabie 

 

I feel warmer already - dang, but I love this guy!

 

There are so many other fundamental truths as well, truths that don't change.

What fundamental truths can you think of?