Rooted Tom Ellsworth

We live in a valley on the coast of Los Angeles County. There is a stream that flows past the north end of our property, makes a wide loop, and then passes on past the south end of our property. Close to the wide loop of that stream there used to be a giant oak tree, probably sixty feet high and about that circumference. The trunk was about eight feet in diameter. Its giant roots had anchored it in the sandy soil of the valley for hundreds of years. It survived drought and fire, disease and insect pests, and the periodic floods that rose 10 to 15 feet around it. One year the stream changed course. The new course brought the stream to the edge of the roots of that great tree. There was a little erosion. The next year, when the rains came, there was more erosion. So it continued for about eight years, until, late one night after many hours of rain, there was a loud cracking rumble in the valley, and that might oak fell. We have often been counseled to sink our own roots deep in the gospel. Securely grounded, the droughts and fires, the pests and floods of life cannot topple us. But, if we allow some of our roots to be exposed, eroded by expediency, selfishness, and lassitude, we put ourselves in peril. Gospel roots are familiar to us all: faith, obedience, repentance, fidelity at home, following the prophets, activity, service, prayer, and scripture study. Tom Ellsworth, 9/2009

To Be Like Him

45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail

47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen." (Moroni 7:45-58)