Thoughts and stories, by Pal

 This is a very thought provoking article!  Are we putting oil in our lamps? Hidden Things: Are We Living With Too Little Oil in Our Lamps? By  Mariah Proctor  · December 10, 2021 The following is the sixth in a series of articles giving greater detail from the stories behind the hidden things in our Treasures from the Life of Jesus jigsaw puzzle. If you haven’t gotten yours yet,  BUY IT HERE . If you already have yours, bookmark or print this page so you can hang on to the story to share with your family as you come upon the hidden image when you do the puzzle.   Read the previous article in the series  HERE. The oil lamp was one of the earliest hidden things we thought to include in our  Treasures from the Life of Jesus  jigsaw puzzle . Not only is it a compelling image of the ancient world, it also symbolizes light and Jesus Christ is, of course, the light of the world. But the oil lamp also brings to mind a parable that Jesus shared with ...

 This is so appropriate and pertinent to our world today!  We love all people, but it won't help them or us to stoop and not aspire to what we all can become! Are We More or Less Compassionate When We Lower Our Nation’s Expectations? By  Tad R. Callister  · December 17, 2021 There seems to be a concerted movement among some to lower national expectations under the guise of compassion and equity. These sentiments often affect educational standards, welfare qualifications, consequences of crime, and various character traits. Of course, we do need to be loving, patient, and understanding, and when needed to provide special help. But that raises the following questions: “How should compassion influence our expectations? And what constitutes true compassion in these circumstances?” For the answer to these questions there is no better starting point than the scriptures—the ultimate guide for determining correct moral values and responses. In other words, how did the Savior...

Perhaps only people who live in Utah, or attended "Dixie State University", or "Dixie College" as it was when I attended, will have much of an opinion of this situation. I was born in St. George, Utah, on October 6, 1934, and grew up there, graduated from Dixie High School, and then Dixie Junior College, with an Associate's Degree.  You can read many pioneer stories in this blog, and stories of my younger days, which all were lived in the very special town of St. George, Utah.  Sadly, it now is growing so much, it doesn't even resemble the town I grew up in.  I guess that is fairly common these days, probably over the whole world.  Is it progress?  It doesn't seem like it.  I have memories of a very peaceful childhood, and I don't think many children growing up now will be able to say that! But within the last year or so there has been a controversy regarding renaming that university, and it has now been renamed "Utah Tech University"!  The...