The Church of Jesus Christ has been very active especially this week with the theme "Because of Him...". I think it is wonderful that the church is making a big deal out of this - focusing on the life and ministry of the Savior this Holy Week. The church hasn't until recently talked much about the Holy Week - from Christ's triumphant arrival in Jerusalem ; palms spread before His way, while the multitude shouted "Hosana to The Lord. This is known as Palm Sunday to other religions.

The only mention of this pivital day of remembrance in our Hymn book is the hymn, "All Glory Laid and Honor" (page 69)

All glory, laud, and honor
To thee, Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring.
Thou art the King of Israel,
Thou David’s royal Son,
Who in the Lord’s name comest,
The King and Blessed One.

The company of angels
Are praising thee on high,
And mortal men and all things
Created make reply.
The people of the Hebrews
With palms before thee went;
Our praise and love and anthems
Before thee we present.

To thee, before thy passion,
They sang their hymns of praise;
To thee, now high exalted,
Our melody we raise.
Thou didst accept their praises;
Accept the love we bring,
Who in all good delightest,
Thou good and gracious King.

I often reflect on this time and am grateful for my time spent as a young LDS boy singing in an a Episcopal Church. Having listened to sermon after sermon on Palm Sunday, Good Friday sermons on the stations of the cross, and culminating in a Easter Sunday with glorious music proclaiming, indeed, He has risen!

So, back to the church as their push on "Because of Him...". They have a different theme each day to reflect on the Savior, and more importantly what role it plays in our lives. The church has a Easter Website for this purpose. People are invited to make videos, or pictures of them holding a sign that says, "Because of Him..." And they fill in the rest. Mormon.org has a wonderful video with thought-provoking statements. And people are invited to use the hashtag #BecauseofHim to share their declarations.

I thought long and hard about this statement, and created a meme a couple days ago.


As I thought even more about this, I started thinking about who I am. The basic answer lies in this children's song- turned hymn:

I am a child of God,
And he has sent me here,
Has given me an earthly home
With parents kind and dear.

I am a child of God,
And so my needs are great;
Help me to understand his words
Before it grows too late.

I am a child of God.
Rich blessings are in store;
If I but learn to do his will
I’ll live with him once more.

Chorus
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with him someday.

In those three simple verses contain so much truth! So, could my end all statement be: #BecauseofHim I am a child of God? Yes, it surely could be. I thought further on not only who I am, but what I am because of Him. Presently in my life, I am set apart as a musical missionary for the Church of a Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is a service mission as a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. And presently, we are getting ready to perform Handel's Messiah as an Easter gift to the world. Music has played a huge part in my life in the past and, dare say it, it will continue with me on this earth until I breathe no more. With many of the titles contained in the Hymnbook and with many of the titles of the Messiah, one could insert, "Because of Him" in front and get greater insight and truth:
  • (Because of Him) I know that my Redeemer Lives
  • (Because of Him) <And> With His stripes we are healed
  • (Because of Him) [We] Cast our burdens upon The Lord
So, it is a true statement that #BecauseofHim I praise with music. I love the hymns of Zion. I love the music and words that go with them to declare truth. I have been blessed to be able to write and arrange music. My "brother" blog site contains many of the music that I have created or will yet create. So, one more statement could say: #BecauseofHim We have Hymns. :)

Last, but certainly not least, I think about my family. I think about my eternal companion, my two children, and my grandchildren. I am so grateful for my family. And for the sure knowledge that families can be forever. We have that promise if we do what we can on our part to make that a true reality. It's all in the 'enduring to the end' phase of life; where we are presented with trials and the test is to see how we handle them and what we learn from them. Many of us will pass with flying colors, while many will falter or stumble along the path.  But we are all on that same road, and just as the Good Samaritan that our Savior taught about in the scriptures:

And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Luke 10:25-37

This parable is, to me a roadmap for us to endure to the end. That we, as children of God need to be good Samaritans and:
  • Show compassion for others - even those that we do not know.
  • Be willing and able come to the aid of others - again, even those we don't know.
  • Be willing and able to give of ourselves through whatever means to others - even those we so not know.
The Savior summarized this parable with five simple but powerful words: Go, and do thou likewise.

So, thinking about all of these things, my statement of belief reads now:

#BecauseofHim I am who I am and I know my eternal potential. I want to share this truth with others.

It's kind of long, but that seems to summarize my thoughts. Those thoughts may change; the statement of belief may get longer, but the absolute bottom line statement that covers this would be, very simply:

#BecauseofHim I live

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