Sermoncitos II Roy E. Howard Nathan L. Howard and other authors Foreward In October 1967 I left home to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Lat- ter-day Saints. My father, Edward Lorenzo Howard Jr., started sending me a letter each week, which was in the form of a one page typed sermon. This was really an extension of the sermons he had published on his own printing press with handset type. He continued the little sermons every week until the day before his death at age 90. His mailing list expanded and he purchased a copy machine and lots of stamps. He adjusted to the changes in technology with a computer for typing, then used email to send out the weekly sermoncitos, always on schedule. His cre- ativity and academic integrity never waivered. He bore his testimony of Jesus Christ and the restoration of the Gospel to innumerable people through this tremendous effort. He continued to be a teacher to his children and grandchildren all the days of his life. The tradition became such an integral part of the family, that his oldest son, Nathan, took over the responsibility with not one week missed in the routine. This fi rst volume is a compilation of Sermoncitos II, those written since the passing of Edward L. Howard, Jr. Since there have been hundreds of Sermoncitos before and after these, this is just a small collection through December, 2007. Authors of this volume: Nathan Lorenzo Howard, family patriarch and custodian of the project; LouAnna Fifield, a dear friend that has influenced many, including us, by her living example of the of “cocoa seed” analogy; and family members JoAnn F. Howard; Corla H. McFarlane; Al Pace; and Roy Edward Howard. Where no credit is given at the end of the article, Roy is the author. When Nathan has felt the need to quote his father, a Sermoncito from E. L. Howard is included. Occasionally you will see articles that quote scriptures in the Navajo language. Each Na- vajo passage is replicated with an English version, so everyone can understand the entire article. These have been read in the Lupton, Arizona branch of the church, where Roy is branch presi- dent. Navajo is quoted from the scriptures, or from the “Gospel Principles” manual. Since the articles are submitted weekly to the family and the church members, there are seasonal topics, and those marking historical or family events. There is some repetition, espe- cially in the funeral sermons This collection is offered as an aid in building testimony and changing lives by sharing scriptural perspectives. May the Spirit touch your heart as you read these scriptures, stories, experiences, and testimonies. Future projects include compilations of Sermoncitos I, those that inspired us all for 40 years. Achievement There was a British physician and novelist, A.J. Cronin who said, “The virtue of all achievement is victory over oneself. Those who know this victory, can never know defeat.” Elder Eyring’s father was a world-renowned scientist. He said to Henry when he was growing up, “We were working a problem (science equation) just last week. You don’t seem to understand it much better. Isn’t that what you think about all the time?” Hal’s answer was “No”. His father gave him this advice, “Find something to do that you think about all the time that you enjoy so much that when you don’t have to think about it, that’s all you think about.” So, that’s just what President Eryring went on to do and has done so well all his life. Choosing a particular course in life that you love, may not be the easiest route to take, but it will provide the greatest rewards. Adlai Stevenson said, “There are two steps in getting any task done: the first is to be- gin, the second is to begin again. The first is the hardest.” For me personally, I finally chose the profession of my Father and I enjoyed working in it for nearly 40 years. I was not so easy and I considered more than once to take another route. Church service and our level of activity is an- other choice we make and what we achieve is optional and involves time and commitment. But none can deny, the blessings are proprotional to our efforts. Whether in business, play, in our church activity, in our health pursuits and in all phases of life...Success is achieved by going the extra mile and putting in the effort. “Most people are seduced by the lure of the comfort zone. This can be likened to going out of a warm house on a cold, windy morning. The average person, when he feels the storm swirling outside his comfort zone, rushes inside where it’s nice and warm. But not the true leader. The true leader has the courage to step away from the familiar and comfortable and to face the unknown with no guarantees of success. It is this ability to “boldly go where no man has gone before” that distinguishes you as a leader from the average person. This is the example that you must set if you are to rise above the average. It is this example that inspires and moti- vates other people to rise above their previous levels of accomplishment as well.” John Haremza (Waiora Corp) President Hinckley said, “Believe in yourself. Believe in your capacity to do great and good things...You are not destined to be a scrub. You are a child of God, of infinite capacity.” Seek out and achieve the best of you. Glean the good from the past and from loved ones and from role models. Don’t settle for failure to achieve that, which Father in Heaven expects from each one of us. Program yourself for success and follow the Master in all your achieve- ments. Nathan L. Howard Adversity A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. Her mother took her in the kitchen...filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, the second - eggs and the last - ground cocoa seeds. She let them sit and boil without saying a word. In about 20 min. she turned off the burn- ers. She fished the carrots and eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the cocoa out and placed it in a cup. Turning to her daughter, she asked, “Tell me what you see.” “Carrots, eggs and cocoa,” she replied. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. They were soft. The mother then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the cocoa. The daughter smiled as she tasted it’s rich aroma. The daughter then asked, “What does it mean, mother?” Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity - boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. It’s thin outer shell had protected it’s liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground cocoa seeds were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they literally CHANGED THE WATER! “Which are you?” she asked the daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or cocoa?” Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup or a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart? Or am I like the cocoa seeds? The cocoa actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the cocoa, when things are at their worst you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or cocoa? May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong,enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy. The happiest people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. This week’s message was given to us by LouAnna Fifield. God Knows Each of Us There are many witnesses to the reality of the resurrection. The apostles of the New Testament give their personal testimony (Acts 4: 33). Others were resurrected at that time and appeared unto many (Matt. 27: 53). To the people in America Jesus said, “thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world” (3 Nephi 11:14).