We are returning home today – Norma and I
have had a wonderful time – a marvelous rest. Our spirits and souls
particularly have been regenerated. When we pray we are able to feel
spiritually attune and close to God and we find ourselves lost in the more
refined sphere of spiritual gratitude for the marvelous joys in our lives. What
a contrast to those times when we are under the “pressure” of our temporal
lives. I would pray that everyone – especially the honest in heart – might
“pause” frequently in their lives to meditate and reflect prayerfully about the
important things in life.
Yesterday, we went to the Polynesian Cultural Center
which is owned by the Church to provide a means by which all the
Polynesian people might make enough money to go to the Church school and then
return home to be an example to their own people. The center point of course is
the Hawaiian temple. We went to the information center and heard the
presentation about the origin of the Polynesian people and the importance of
the Book of Mormon and the Bible in their lives. As the young Polynesian
student guided us around and bore his testimony to us I knew we were on
hallowed ground and that there was a great – truly – a great out-pouring of the
Spirit. It seems hard to believe but there were a number of people who did not
even start to grasp the significance of the Gospel message. Surely, only the
“honest in heart” can recognize the voice of the Shepherd.
The Polynesian people are
beautiful. They have a simplicity and freshness that sets them apart from the reckless
“pace of the world”. Apostle Matthew Cowley told the Polynesians “I want to
tell you native people that you will never be great trying to be great white
people. You will be great only by trying to be great natives. You have a
delicacy of soul which the white man does not possess.” Surely our individual
greatness lies in being ourselves.
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