June 6, 2021
Dear 5th Ward Members
Letter #64
Two weeks ago, 6 inches of snow and this week 90 degree temperatures. Welcome to Southern Alberta. I’m reminded of the story told by the first settlers of Cardston who, when they arose for their first Sunday along Lee’s Creek in June of 1887, were greeted by 6 inches of snow. It appears things haven’t really changed that much.
For those of you who have been following these letters from the outset, you know that I spent most of last summer building a fence to try to keep the deer out of our back yard. I’m pleased to say we have been mostly successful in this particular endeavour, at least as it relates to the deer not eating Lori’s flowers. She informs me that this is the first year in a very long time that the tulips in the back yard have been able to bloom. She also said the hyacinths have also showed their colours unmolested. I nodded in agreement as though I actually knew what a hyacinth was or that I had noticed the tulips.
Anyway, I was feeling pretty good about myself until last weekend when I went out to do some touch up work on the fence and saw that some creature, great or small, had moved a number of fair sized rocks away from the side of the ramp going into one of the sheds. I was immediately concerned as the rocks had been placed there specifically to keep out a transient family of skunks who last year had expressed interest in the vacant space under said shed, probably to establish their own version of “Home Scents”. So we were able to dissuade them from their plan with a little help from a good friend, but left the rocks as a deterrent.
But now, the rocks were moved and a hole had been opened under the shed. Now I’m no geologist, but I was pretty sure the rocks didn’t and couldn’t move themselves and even if they could, the rocks would likely have no interest in digging a hole. So, I said to myself, we have a new critter of some kind that’s decided to move in, and this one is strong enough to, at least from an animal perspective, move mountains.
Sure enough, when I was safely ensconced in my condo in Med Hat, Lori called to say she had seen a mole in the back yard. I was pretty sure it wasn’t a mole, but I asked her to describe it to me and it immediately sounded similar to the dozens of marmots, specifically yellow-bellied marmots, that live in and around our local golf course. I sent her a picture of this cousin to the eastern groundhog and Lori confirmed it was indeed the same creature she had seen running and galavanting about around the exterior of our yard.
I have to confess that I find these rather large members of the squirrel family kind of cute. However their cuteness quickly vanished when I discovered that this particular creature is likely a young male who is looking for some young females to establish a colony of around 20 mature marmots, sort of like a polygamous Tinder for rodents.
So now, I’m in the process of trying to run the frisky little critter off our land, a prospect that has turned into something more difficult than I imagined. Last night, I saw him gambolling about and ran around the shed to try to persuade him to keep on going. There he was, sitting on our quad doing his best James Dean impersonation. I couldn’t get to him because we were separated by the aforementioned deer fence, an irony that is not lost on me in the least. I quickly, or at least I thought it was quickly, ran to a gate so I could confront my newest animal nemesis face to face, but by then he’d disappeared under the shed using what appeared to be a freshly dug hole. I filled it to the brim with the heaviest rocks I could find. Twenty minutes later, he emerged once again from his subterranean home using another newly dug hole right beside the former entrance/exit. A careful review of the shed showed 3 additional egresses placed strategically around the perimeter. While it appears I have a new summer project, it also appears this little marmot has burrowed his way into our lives.
I want to again publicly thank all those who have assisted in the several moves that have occurred recently. I know it is a tremendous commitment of time and effort to assist when someone is moving, but I also know it is greatly appreciated by those who receive the service.
This past week, I was listening to section 64 of the Doctrine and Covenants, a section that can best be described as containing a treatise on forgiveness. The most familiar verse is verse 10 that reads:
I, the Lord with forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.
I love that simple admonition. It reminds me of the discussion between Christ and Peter recorded in Matthew 18:21:
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, until seven times: but, until seventy times seven.
In Christ’s time, the Pharisees, given as they were to keeping strict track of just about everything as consummate followers of the letter of the law, went so far as to keep count of how many times they had actually forgiven someone who had sinned against them. Of course, the implication is that once you reach a certain limit, forgiveness is no longer required and vengeance and retribution would be not only permissible, but perhaps even required.
But Christ taught a different message. He taught that we should continue to forgive our brother over and over again. Why? Verse 9 of section 64 contains the answer:
9 Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.
Or, in other words, as recorded in the Lord’s Prayer, “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” (I know some of you learned “debts” rather than “trespass”. I was taught both versions in school. The two are, in my view, interchangeable.)
We are, in this world, beset by situations where we can feel slighted, or wherein we can become offended. To choose to allow ourselves to become offended, and worse yet to hold a grudge against someone who has hurt us in some fashion, can result in a bitterness that can impact our ability to feel the promptings of the Spirit and hold us back from progressing in a positive way along the path God has laid out for us.
God loves us. The atonement lays out a method by which we can be forgiven of our own sins and imperfections. If God can find it in His heart to forgive us, why would we ever question our own responsibility to do the same, whether it be in our dealings with family, friends or neighbours.
It doesn’t absolve the trespasser from the consequences of their actions. Rather, it relieves the person who has been harmed from the pain and burden that comes with the offence and the bitterness that sometimes follows.
I know I have written before about people who have gone to someone to extend forgiveness, even in the face of a horrible affront or injury.
On the topic of forgiving others, the Church website says:
In the everyday circumstances of life, we will surely be wronged by other people—sometimes innocently and sometimes intentionally. It is easy to become bitter or angry or vengeful in such situations, but this is not the Lord’s way. The Saviour counselled, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). He set the perfect example of forgiveness when He was on the cross. Referring to the Roman soldiers who had crucified Him, He prayed, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34; see footnote c).
We should pray for strength to forgive those who have wronged us, and we should abandon feelings of anger, bitterness, or revenge. We should also look for the good in others rather than focusing on their faults and magnifying their weaknesses. God will be the judge of others’ harmful actions.
This Sunday, I’m told by President Ferguson that there are some changes being made and he requests that as many as possible join with us in Sacrament meeting at the TSC and on Zoom. The Stake Presidency will be in attendance at our meeting that day.
Stay safe, stay healthy and social distance.
I love you all.
Bishop Brooks
