Pure Potential - That's What I Am

Let me throw several interesting little events at you.  I'm going to deviate a little from the way I thought I was going to write this entry. 

1)  Not long ago, I saw a poster advertizing a movie entitled "That's What I Am."  I don't know a thing about the movie (except that Ed Harris might be in it.  Man, he's getting old.) but the title struck me.  I thought of some wonderful conversations I had with a very good friend of mine in which we discussed that very idea.  Who and what are we?  We had a very simple conclusion:  "We are Pure Potential." 

2) As I've thought lately about how to overcome my personal struggles and difficulties, I read once again this quote from the profoundly honest Abe: 

"Is is difficult to make a man miserable when he feels he is worthy of himself and claims kindred to the great God who made him." 

This made me think of another of my favorites, from the powerfully humble and humbly powerful Ezra Taft Benson: 

"Nothing is going to startle us more when we pass through the veil to the other side than to realize how well we know our Father and how familiar His face is to us." 

3)  Usually when I begin to write a blog, I look for a Church-produced video that goes along with the theme for the day.  Sometimes I have to search for just the right one.  Today, I got on to the Church's Youtube channel and found that this video had been added 7 hours ago. 

All these little things have been adding up around me this week.  In the words of one of my favorite hymns of all time, "how can I keep from singing?"  I know that I am a child of the creator of worlds without number.  I know that we all are.  I feel that our separation from Him in this mortal life, is our opportunity to come to appreciate that reality more fully.  He is constantly showing us evidence of His existence, of His love, and of our relationship to Him.  We are pure potential.  Simply to realize that allows us to tap into it. 

In others' words...
"To see things in the seed.  That is genius."  -Lao Tzu

Consider the Following

What makes a man great?  What makes his words great?  For what reason are Emerson or Churchill or Cicero or Horace quoted more than the next guy?


"On one of his trips to Russia as Secretary of Agriculture, President Benson had a moving experience revealing the deep religious faith of some of the Russian people.
"He had been conferring with Premier Khrushchev and other high officials of the Russian government as a representative of the United States.  Following that conference, he indicated a desire to visit some church where Christians were still permitted to meet.  After some persistence, he was taken to a Baptist church in Moscow.  The members of the press accompanying him to Russia for his governmental meeting also followed him to this little church.  
"It was one of the very few Christian churches still open in that vast city.  The congregation was made up mainly of elderly people, many of whom were women. 
"As the obviously American group walked into the chapel, the people in the congregation looked almost agape, hardly believing their eyes.  One of the Americans, Secretary Benson, was unexpectedly called to the pulpit.  
"Choking with emotion, he testified in that city to the reality of the Lord Jesus Christ.  
"'God Lives.  I know that He lives.  I know that Jesus is the Christ and the Redeemer of the world,' he declared.
"His words were translated into Russian.  With each sentence, nods of assent were seen throughout the congregation.  Women removed their head coverings and wiped their eyes.  Men rubbed away the moisture that blurred their vision.  The hardened news correspondents who came because they felt they were compelled to as a party of the Secretary's entourage, and who at first had no interest in this religious gathering whatever, now wept with the congregation.  
"It was a solemn moment.  Hearts were melted.  A spirit enveloped the worshipers such as they had never felt before.  Hands folded and heads bowed in humble prayer.  

"'I firmly believe in prayer,' the voice of the Secretary continued.  'It is possible to reach out and tap the unseen power which gives strength and anchor in time of need.  Be not afraid.  Keep God's commandments.  Love the Lord.  Love one another.  Love all mankind.  Truth will triumph.  Time is on the side of truth.'
"The American press then slowly walked down the aisle toward the door with a humble attitude in complete contrast to that with which they had entered.  As they passed the pews, anxious hands and hungry hearts reached out to them.  Then from thankful lips came the strains of 'God be with you til we meet again...,' although everyone realized that this hope would likely never be fulfilled in mortality."