tributes to mr Merritt
I learned lessons in a matter of months in Mr Merritt's freshman English class that changed the direction of my future. Similarly, we learn line-upon-line in life and continue to have moments of particular clarity. The old adage “a picture is worth a thousand words” refers to the notion that images reveal insights and communicate information where otherwise lengthy prose would be required.
Even complex ideas are understood quickly and easily with pictures. And the Lord Jesus Christ himself used experiences that were pertinent and telling for the people at that time in order to drive home true principles and points of doctrine. The pictures and experiences he drew in people’s minds were memorable, engaging, and have lasted eons. He both clarified and veiled his teachings with parables. So simple a child can understand, yet profound enough for the wise, the parables of Jesus are a priceless source of gospel truths. Teaching in parables allowed Jesus to reveal great truths to those who were spiritually in tune and, at the same time, conceal or hide these truths from those who were not ready for them. His life was spent ministering to the people of the ancient world on numerous occasions by healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, unstopping the ears of the deaf, and even raising the dead. Those miracles were wonderful for the people of that time, but they have not ceased in our day.
Miracles continue to follow those that believe (Ether 12:12). God’s works are never frustrated. Some may say “I am not blind or lame or halt or maimed and today we have fine doctors, immaculate hospitals, and medical knowledge. Do we really need his involvement in our lives?”
True. We have wonderful blessings abundant in our lives today, but there is also tremendous hardship. At times of difficulty and loss, we have hope in Jesus Christ that our wounds will be healed and our hearts mended. The Lord is not offering to just get us by as important and helpful as that is. But he is offering to enable, empower, and heal us so that we can become more like him and enjoy the kind of life that he lives. And slowly we become witnesses of him and our lives improve and are refined.
The Savior taught frequently about choosing the better path. “A merchant man, seeking goodly pearls … , when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it” (Matthew 13:45–46).
It is easy to get the cart before the horse, thinking that if we keep all the commandments, we will be blessed with happiness. In a manner of speaking, I suppose that is true. But more succinctly, we are happy because we keep the commandments. Does that make sense?
Parable of the gem of great value buried in the field
Sometimes the obvious is staring us right in the face. We say “How couldn’t I have seen that?” This is what is happening all around us. Every day we hear of people clamoring to retain the old architecture, heal the animals, restore the environment, save the whales, keep nature pristine, and protect the land. Yet we lose important peoples' histories everyday without batting-an-eye and fail to realize the tremendous loss this is to our lives. Are we learning the important lessons that were left for our benefit? Are we acknowledging and enjoying the wealth of information prepared or not for our perusal.
Throwing the baby out with the bath water is not just tragic, it is an idiom that should prevent an equally terrible mistake--failing to cherish life's worth.
From my dad's journal:
I know my Grandpa Stucki very well though, because he wrote a journal that told much of his life’s experiences. I am so grateful for that. If I were to lose everything I had, and could only save a couple things, I’d grab my scriptures and John S. Stucki’s Journal. It means that much to me. I’m sorry that my grandmother hadn’t written anything. She would have had much of interest to tell from her perspective. My great grandparents left their families in Switzerland and eventually came across the plains with handcarts to Utah. I wish I had something from them, too.
Maybe Mr. Merritt's English classes had even more influence on my life than I first realized, noting lessons that are still very pertinent and important today.
Even complex ideas are understood quickly and easily with pictures. And the Lord Jesus Christ himself used experiences that were pertinent and telling for the people at that time in order to drive home true principles and points of doctrine. The pictures and experiences he drew in people’s minds were memorable, engaging, and have lasted eons. He both clarified and veiled his teachings with parables. So simple a child can understand, yet profound enough for the wise, the parables of Jesus are a priceless source of gospel truths. Teaching in parables allowed Jesus to reveal great truths to those who were spiritually in tune and, at the same time, conceal or hide these truths from those who were not ready for them. His life was spent ministering to the people of the ancient world on numerous occasions by healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, unstopping the ears of the deaf, and even raising the dead. Those miracles were wonderful for the people of that time, but they have not ceased in our day.
Miracles continue to follow those that believe (Ether 12:12). God’s works are never frustrated. Some may say “I am not blind or lame or halt or maimed and today we have fine doctors, immaculate hospitals, and medical knowledge. Do we really need his involvement in our lives?”
True. We have wonderful blessings abundant in our lives today, but there is also tremendous hardship. At times of difficulty and loss, we have hope in Jesus Christ that our wounds will be healed and our hearts mended. The Lord is not offering to just get us by as important and helpful as that is. But he is offering to enable, empower, and heal us so that we can become more like him and enjoy the kind of life that he lives. And slowly we become witnesses of him and our lives improve and are refined.
The Savior taught frequently about choosing the better path. “A merchant man, seeking goodly pearls … , when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it” (Matthew 13:45–46).
It is easy to get the cart before the horse, thinking that if we keep all the commandments, we will be blessed with happiness. In a manner of speaking, I suppose that is true. But more succinctly, we are happy because we keep the commandments. Does that make sense?
Parable of the gem of great value buried in the field
Sometimes the obvious is staring us right in the face. We say “How couldn’t I have seen that?” This is what is happening all around us. Every day we hear of people clamoring to retain the old architecture, heal the animals, restore the environment, save the whales, keep nature pristine, and protect the land. Yet we lose important peoples' histories everyday without batting-an-eye and fail to realize the tremendous loss this is to our lives. Are we learning the important lessons that were left for our benefit? Are we acknowledging and enjoying the wealth of information prepared or not for our perusal.
Throwing the baby out with the bath water is not just tragic, it is an idiom that should prevent an equally terrible mistake--failing to cherish life's worth.
From my dad's journal:
I know my Grandpa Stucki very well though, because he wrote a journal that told much of his life’s experiences. I am so grateful for that. If I were to lose everything I had, and could only save a couple things, I’d grab my scriptures and John S. Stucki’s Journal. It means that much to me. I’m sorry that my grandmother hadn’t written anything. She would have had much of interest to tell from her perspective. My great grandparents left their families in Switzerland and eventually came across the plains with handcarts to Utah. I wish I had something from them, too.
Maybe Mr. Merritt's English classes had even more influence on my life than I first realized, noting lessons that are still very pertinent and important today.
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