When A Father “Walks the Walk!”

January 21st, 2026 Scott
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My wife and I both have the same feeling. We are both proud to be children of the men whom we call “Father!” It’s quite a blessing and one that should never be taken lightly or for granted. Even at my age, I never tire of being stopped and told how lucky I am to be the son of my father. A few years ago, I was playing first base on a local softball team. The first base coach of the other team said, “Are you Garth’s son?” “Yes, I am,” I replied. “Well,” he said, “Your Dad is a member of my congregation at church, and he often teaches a class. He is a wonderful man.” Then he added, “What would it have been like to have been taught and instructed by him all your life!” Then he added, “You are a lucky man!” I nodded my affirmation and added, “I have indeed been blessed to have him as my Dad!” Our conversation stopped as the new inning started but as I stood there at my position, my mind wandered back in time to the many occasions when people, upon hearing I was my father’s son, would come up to me and tell me what a ‘great’ man my father was and if I could be half the man he was, I would be extraordinary!

I don’t think I will ever be “half the man” my father is, but that doesn’t bother me at all. I’m just grateful that by striving to be like him, I am becoming closer to what I should and could be, and by striving to do so, I can also catch a glimpse of exactly why I am also striving to become like my Heavenly Father. I may never reach Godhood, but the journey to become such is enriching and enhances the joy of life and shows me the potential of what I might become!

Not too long ago, before my father passed away, my sister paid my Dad a compliment when she proclaimed that, “He doesn’t just ‘talk the talk’, he ‘walks the walk.” So, I salute every man who ‘walks the walk’ of Fatherhood and who lifts their sons and daughters to heights beyond their own greatest imaginations! By blessing the lives of your children, you also bless the nations in which you and they reside! Your influence reaches beyond the grave. You are the pattern by which the understanding of a loving Heavenly Father becomes clear, and your teachings elevate the souls of men and women beyond the heavens, reaching to a divine Father who is real, and who waits for our honorable return!

Begging Gretzky

January 20th, 2026 Scott
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A number of years ago, I was serving in a church calling that required me to visit the wards and branches of my stake.  During visits to the different congregations, I would often take the opportunity to talk with the primary-age children. I usually took a few minutes in sharing time to express some thoughts. One year as I traveled about, I told a story about Gretzsky, our dog, named after the famed Hockey player. I told them that our dog loved to eat human food, but that he had developed an allergy to it. The veterinarian had told us that, for his own good, we should discontinue feeding him human food. However, Gretzsky didn’t understand that the food he so desired was actually making him sick. Consequently, he continued to beg for my wife’s “home-cooked” meals. Most of the time, my kids gave in to his constant begging because they couldn’t stand to see him be sad. But just because their motives were good didn’t mean they were doing the best thing for our dog. The best thing for his health was to feed him proper dog food.

I paralleled that to a loving Heavenly Father who knows what is best for our “spiritual” health. Sometimes, like my dog Gretzsky, we don’t understand why we can’t always have the things we want. Sometimes we might be tempted to think that if Heavenly Father really loved us, he would give us what we desire. However, a truly loving Father nurtures those he loves. Sometimes that means holding back, or refraining from giving things that we desire when he knows it will be detrimental to our spiritual health. Many times, like Gretzsky, we don’t understand. I told them how wonderful it is to know that we have a Father that will always be looking out for our spiritual growth.

It is easy to understand why Gretzsky wanted tasty human food compared to the bland dog food we tried to serve him. It is also easy to see that the best thing loving dog owners should have done was to change his diet. My children’s kindness didn’t do Gretzsky any favors. Sadly, he developed cancer within a year or so of me telling this story and had to be put to sleep. Our dog Gretzsky developed a taste for things that were harmful to his health. He begged and begged to get it and in the end it killed him. He should have been satisfied with what his masters gave him, but he wasn’t.

Thank goodness we have a Heavenly Father who has more wisdom than earthly masters and watches over and protects our spiritual health so that we might live. Perhaps we should be more willing to accept the “bland” dog food placed before us in this life, rather than the spicy things of the world. Knowing that we have a loving Father watching over us should give us faith in the words of the Savior when he said, “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35) Let us have faith in the Lord and in the infinite love he has for us all. Let us be willing to accept his will and submit to his will. In so doing, we will gain eternal life!

Pray To God, But Row For Shore

January 16th, 2026 Scott
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“There exists a Divine partnership between God and man that is wonderfully depicted in the following story. A young minister was driving through the countryside when he spotted a farmer tilling 40 acres of magnificent farmland. The minister pulled over and addressed the farmer, “God has certainly blessed you with a wonderful piece of land.” The farmer replied, “Yes, but you should have seen the mess it was in when God had it to Himself!”

The Combination of faith and works has long been a hallmark principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The apostle James wrote-

“…faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:17-20)

While the farmer recognized that God was the principal hand in his success, he also understood that much work was required on his part. There is an old proverb among Russian sailors, when facing stormy seas, that says, “Pray to God, but row for shore.” This practical way of looking at life will no doubt strengthen our character and build our faith in times of adversity. When faced with life’s stormy challenges, it is not “good enough” to fervently pray in faith to Heavenly Father for deliverance, then sit back and expect the boat to magically make its way to the shore in safety. We must also do our part!

I know of a woman who felt strong animosity towards another sister in the church. She confided in me that she struggled in forgiving and accepting this other sister because of past negative experiences. She told me she often prayed to learn to “like” this other person, but it hadn’t worked. I asked her if she had attempted to do anything on her part, like taking something over to this sister, or offering service of some kind for this woman, or perhaps just taking the time to talk to her as a friend. She said she hadn’t. I suggested she might try. Later, she reported that she had put forth a concerted effort to get to know her, as we had discussed. In so doing, she learned more about this other woman and could better understand why this sister acted the way she did. And, while she reported that they were still not “good” friends, she informed me that she had learned how to better accept this sister for who she was. Because of her efforts, their relationship had changed from “intolerable” to one of “understanding.”

When Jacob and his family were starving, he didn’t just pray for food. He sent his sons into perilous Egypt to procure it. There they were delivered by the Lord through Joseph, their long-lost brother. We must always recognize that God will bless our lives, but he expects us to do our part. By allowing us to assist Him in helping ourselves, He is developing Godly characteristics in us. “Pray to God, but row for shore” is an excellent saying to remember in times of need.

The Power Of a Mother’s Encouraging Words Are Eternal!

January 15th, 2026 Scott
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My Mother would have been ninety-seven this year. It has now been over 20 years since she passed.  Recently, a scene from a sitcom brought back a fond memory for her.   One of the characters, speaking of a new girlfriend that had come into his life, told his friend:

“She sees things in me that no one else has ever seen!” He paused for a moment, and then with great emphasis continued,  “Things that aren’t there!”

That exchange reminded me of an experience I had with my own mother years ago when I was a young man. In a public forum, she made a flattering statement about me, her son, that caught me off guard.  And as I sat there listening to her, I couldn’t help but think the same thing that this sitcom character had told his friend regarding his new girlfriend. My mother saw things in me that I didn’t think were there.

Yet, the power of her faith in me propelled me closer to becoming what she thought I already was. What a testament to the power of love!  We all respond much better to this type of encouragement than to being belittled or criticized.

My mother’s comments about me that day have stayed with me my entire life.  Her words of praise have served as a source of comfort and inspiration throughout my life.  I have always wanted to live up to them. Perhaps as parents, we should remember how valuable a compliment is to our children. Perhaps in so doing, our words can serve as a powerful force in the lives of our children long after we have left mortality.

On occasion, I recall my now deceased mother’s words. Often I weep while so doing. I weep because I feel the love she so offered me, and I weep to become who she thinks I am. Mostly, I weep because this is a boy who misses her embrace and the sound of her voice encouraging me to become all that she thinks I am.  I have found that the power of a mother’s encouraging words is eternal!

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