Dear family and friends, The weeks go by tooo fast, for my comfort anyway, although imagine how exhausted we'ld be if they were longer. Recently, we at U.M. had wonderful opportunities to quote some significant jobs to a customer. I had real reason to pray for help and guidance and to reflect on how to expect to receive, recognize and process the answers. Something Brother Richards said before he sealed Maren and Joseph for time and all eternity kept coming into my thoughts. As I recall, he said, "If you want to talk to God, pray. If you want to know His answer, read the scriptures." Long ago the Lord told us that he always reveals his secrets to his servants the prophets [Amos 3:7]. And, on the day His church was organized in this dispensation, April 6, 1830, the Lord admonished us to record and receive the words of his prophet servants "as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith" [D&C 21:1-7]. This commandment with its accompanying promises applies to the words of all who have served faithfully in the calling of apostle and prophet in His church since that momentous day. In order to receive the benefits of the words the Lord has spoken to others we must sometimes ponder and invite the Holy Spirit to enlighten us as we seek to do as Nephi did and "liken the scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning" [1 Nephi 19:23]. At other times, speaking from personal experience, the words seem to literally blaze on the page as the answer I prayed for. In either case, as we make time in our busy lives to read daily from the scriptures, including the words of living apostles and prophets, and earnestly strive to apply these teachings in our lives, we will, as Nephi, find that our souls delight in the scriptures [2 Nephi 4:15-16]. And more importantly, we will be blessed, as Father Lehi reminded his children of the promise the Lord had previously made to those privileged to live in this great land, that, "inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; and inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence" [2 Nephi 4:4]. Simply put, this is true. I hope we will choose to seek and accept His guidance and receive His blessings. Love always, near though far, Ken-Dad.

Ere you left your room this morning. . .

Mona got the motem fixed so here goes blog #2. Megs and Jan thanks for your comments. It seems I need a facebook acct to view and send pics so I'll try to get one this week. Last week was another busy one for the Duchesne Three [Mona, Alex and me]. With over 600,000 people reportedly losing their jobs last week I feel shocked and saddened for them and grateful to still be among the employed. Hopefully the economy will soon begin to get some traction. Some of my customers are beginning to show some positive signs. I am especially grateful that our children are also anxiously and in most cases gainfully engaged in good causes. My advice to you is to work smart, steadily and when necessary hard to make a worthwhile contribution worthy of compensation. Along with our own efforts we need to heed the counsel of Amulek as recorded in Alma 34:17-29 to cry unto the Lord for our specific needs and the welfare of those we are concerned about. We need to pay careful attention to his reminder that we remember to be charitable to others otherwise our prayer is vain and availeth us nothing. Lets remember that even when we cannot vocally cry unto the Lord to "let [our] hearts be full. drawn out in prayer unto him continually for [our] welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around [us]." I know that when we are humble and seek to know and do God's will that He surely will lead us by the hand and give us answers to our prayers. Love always, near though far, Ken F

my first blog

Dear family and friends, Alex has made a blogger of me on the foundation of computer instruction given me by Maren and Joseph at Christmas. Thank you for your caring and patience. In my very limited experience I appreciate how blogs allow us to stay in touch on a real time basis that beats a phone call because we can savor it more lastingly. It was suggested by Margo that I call my blog 'free advice--worth the price' so anytime I feel the impulse to proffer anyone a dose of my unsolicited wisdom, worth, I claim, at least what it costs you, nothing, I may do so without having to hear the snickers or groans or an obligatory, if insincere, thank you. Given my nearly nonexistent keyboard skills, you are all now fairly safe from the threat of a future overdose of dads free advice. I will, however, extend to each of you the invitation to blog me with any advice that you think I may benefit from, as long as the cost is the same as I ask for mine. Until I get my own computer I thank my wife, Mona, for the use of hers. Yours always near though far, Ken F

P. S. My advice to you is keep blogging.