History of the Hymns

Its been odd. For the last few weeks I have been listening to the History o the Hymns by the Mormon Channel a fantastic morning listening piece. Although they call it a podcast, I would call it a fantastic start to a great morning. Nothing for me in this hotel and the various hotels that I stay at would feel closer to home then listening to the podcast. To say the least its nice. In other words I would highly recommend it.

To Honor and Obey

To honor and obey....

These words were part of the oath that the woman would give to her husband as part of the vow of marriage and yet it seems to drop because of, well fill in the blank as to the excuse that is used. At one time I am sure that it meant something.

Do you remember the scriptures Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. The marriage vow gave a charge to the woman to honor and obey the husband as he obeyed the Lord. We were supposed to mimic the great Jehovah and do for our wives what he did for us all; do everything to build and edify the union of marriage and our spouses.

But alas men and women mock god and make ashamed the union of marriage by swearing that there is no need for such union or that the ways of our forefathers is the old way and that the need for self-reliance is more important than our oath or vow. Our word no longer is our bond and that is a scary time we have created; the bond of trust is breaking.

So what can we do to strengthen it?

It is said that the number one fear of men is that women will laugh at them and that the number one fear of women is that men will kill them. I would have to say that we need to go out on a limb here on both parts. Women need not fear death if they build up and strengthen the men in their lives. Likewise men need not fear mockery or to be made a fool if they show kindness and love to those women that are in their lives.

Might I also recommend that people take time to talk face to face; to touch one another in a non-threatening manner?  Human contact is one of the great stress relievers and it helps release the happy endorphins that prolong our lives and makes us health and happy. We get too cooped up in our digital lives that we fail to see the ones that are in our homes and lives.

There was a time when our employers got to know their employees and spouses held hands and kissed in public; teachers touched their students to emphasis the message that they really cared.

Now those wonderful bridges are burning and socialism is attempting to remove what makes us human by punishing us for being good and hunting for what is wrong with us. Our liberties are being taken away; our rolls as men and women are being bleached out.

And what can we do? Husbands love your wives as Jesus loved the church. That’s a real good start. Families will become strength and the home a learning place again. I believe the poet John H. McNaughton summed it up nicely in this poem made hymn.

There is beauty all around,

When there’s love at home;

There is joy in ev’ry sound,

When there’s love at home.

Peace and plenty here abide,

Smiling sweet on ev’ry side;

Time doth softly, sweetly glide,

When there’s love at home;

Love at home, love at home,

Time doth softly, sweetly glide,

When there’s love at home.

In the cottage there is joy,

When there’s love at home;

Hate and envy ne’er annoy,

When there’s love at home.

Roses blossom ’neath our feet,

All the earth’s a garden sweet,

Making life a bliss complete,

When there’s love at home;

Love at home, love at home,

Making life a bliss complete,

When there’s love at home.

Kindly Heaven smiles above,

When there’s love at home;

All the earth is filled with love,

When there’s love at home.

Sweeter sings the brooklet by,

Brighter beams the azure sky:

Oh, there’s One Who smiles on high,

When there’s love at home;

Love at home, love at home,

Oh, there’s One Who smiles on high,

When there’s love at home.

Jesus, show Thy mercy mine,

Then there’s love at home;

Sweetly whisper I am Thine,

Then there’s love at home.

Source of love, Thy cheering light

Far exceeds the sun so bright—

Can dispel the gloom of night;

Then there’s love at home;

Love at home, love at home,

Can dispel the gloom of night;

Then there’s love at home.

If you are married, give your spouse a kiss. Kiss your kids. If you are living with parents, give them thanks and if you are alone thank God your maker that He watches over you.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen   

Image provided by  Stock Photo

Adam and Eve

In the beginning there was just two people (well there was God and the rest of us in heaven but..) Adam and his wife, Eve. Now you can dispute it with talk about Lilith and such but I like to think that there was just the two of them. One was clearly a hunter/gatherer and the other was clearly a nurturer/teacher. The blessed souls knew their role as man and woman; husband and wife.

Isn't if funny how such a view has now become skewed. The thought of a woman being a teacher to her children and mother to her husband’s offspring is frowned upon. They want us to teach little girls to play with GI Joe and boys to play with dolls (not that there is anything wrong with that) and in so doing take away our sexual identity.

In the past, we taught our daughters that they were princesses and ladies and our sons were heroes and gentlemen; the role was defined. There were skills to be learned from being those things and to rise above the things that would dim our light. My forefathers taught that men and women should learn and be well educated so that they could teach their children combined to be those that would build their community and strengthen government through self-reliance. 

Alas it’s not that way anymore. Men are taught that women can defend themselves and that they should defend none but themselves. The role of husband is a joke and spreading your seed is no crime; the woman will take care of it or the government will take care of it.

Women are taught that they need no man and such thoughts are slavery and dependence. Women can rear their own children without the strong role of a husband and that the government will provide.

Such thoughts mock God.

We have forgotten that Even was created from a rib, not the head to be above him or the foot be be his footstool; his side to be next to him. Being married for over a dozen years has taught me that my wife is different from me and that difference makes us a team. We rely on each other for strength. We are not a bunch of codependents that cannot survive without the other.

We are a team undivided. Our children are ours not just hers or mine or creatures to be raised by an alien force that doesn't know our little ones, ours. We have a home, we have a car, and we have all the things that God has provided because we work together.

My sons know that they are sons of loving parents and sons of God. My daughter (I have just the one princess) knows that she the daughter of two parents that work hard to give her everything and a daughter of a loving Father in Heaven. My children know their roles and the roles that they must play in the future as future men and women. They know that men work and women rear. I may be king of the castle but my wife is Queen of the manor. I handle things outside and she takes care of things inside because it works for us.

I do not know if this means anything to the faceless government bodies that would love to take that away but to my family it means a lot. 

Image provided by Ancestry.com