"The Lord knows where this world's choices are taking us, and he knows the perils which lie ahead. He alone has the solution for the problems we face. Our need to hear his voice has never been greater. That need is illustrated by the following conversation Elder Hugh B. Brown reported having with a noted British jurist. The latter felt that the idea of a modern prophet was incredible, and he asked Elder Brown to defend his assertion that God speaks to man in our day:

"'May I proceed, sir, on the assumption that you are a Christian?'
"'I am.'
"'I assume you believe in the Bible - the Old and New Testaments?'
"'I do!'
"'Do you believe in prayer?'
"'I do!'
"'You say that my belief that God spoke to a man in this age is fantastic and absurd?'
"'To me, it is.'
"'Do you believe that God ever did speak to anyone?'
"'Certainly, all through the Bible we have evidence of that.'
"'Did he speak to Adam?'
"'Yes.'
"'To Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jacob, Joseph, and on through the prophets?'
"'I believe he spoke to each of them.'
"'Do you believe that contact between God and man ceased when Jesus appeared on the earth?'
"'No, such communication reached its climax, its apex, at that time.'
"'Do you believe that Jesus was the Son of God?'
"'He was.'
"'Do you believe, sir, that after jesus was resurrected a certain lawyer, who was also a tentmaker, by the name of Saul of Tarsus, when on his way to Damascus, talked with Jesus of Nazareth, who had been crucified, resurrected and had ascended into heaven?'
"'I do.'
"'Whose voice did Saul hear?'
"'It was the voice of Jesus Christ, for he so introduced himself.'
"'Then, my Lord, (That is the way we address judges in the British Commonwealth.) I am submitting to you in all seriousness that it was standard procedure in Bible times for God to talk to man.'
"'I think I will admit that, but it stopped shortly after the first century of the Christian era.'
"'Why do you think it stopped?'
"'I can't say.'
"'You think that God hasn't spoken since then?'
"'I am sure He hasn't.'
"'There must be a reason; can you give me a reason?'
"'I do not know.'
"'May I suggest some possible reasons: Perhaps God does not speak to man anymore because he cannot. He has lost the power.'
"'Of course that would be blasphemous.'
"'Well, then if you don't accept that, perhaps he doesn't speak to men because he doesn't love us anymore; He is no longer interested in the affairs of men.'
"'No, he said, "God loves all men, and he is no respecter of persons.'
"'Well, then, if he could speak, and if he loves us, then the only other possible answer, as I see it, is that we don't need Him. We have made such rapid strides in science; we are so well educated, that we don't need God anymore.'
"And then he said, and his voice trembled as he thought of impending war, 'Mr. Brown, there never was a time in the history of the world when the voice of God was needed as it is needed now. Perhaps you can tell me why he doesn't speak.'
"My answer was, 'He does speak; he has spoken; but men need faith to hear him.'"
(The Profile of a Prophet, Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year, pp. 3-5.)

AUTOBIOGRAPHY IN FIVE SHORT CHAPTERS

I.

I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost........ I am helpless.
It isn't my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.

II.

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don't see it.
I fall in, again.
I can't believe I am in this same place.
But, it isn't my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

III.

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in ... it's a habit ... but,
My eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

IV.

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

V.

I walk down another street.

HIGHS AND LOWS OF A MISSION

A mission is a strange experience.
It's a trial and it's a test.
A mission throws you at the worst.
Yet teaches you the best.
I've never been so happy,
I've never been so depressed.
I've never felt so forsaken,
I've never felt so blessed.
I've never been so confused,
Things have never been so clear.
I've never felt my Heavenly Father so distant,
He's never been so near.
I've never been so discouraged,
I've never been so full of hope.
I've never had it so easy,
I've never had it so rough.
Things have never been so smooth,
Things have never been so tough.
I've never traveled through more valleys,
I've never ascended so many peaks.
I've never met so many freaks.
I've never had so many ups,
I've never had so many downs.
I've never worn so many smiles,
I've never worn so many frowns.
I've never been so lonely,
I've never had so many friends.
Boy, I hope this is over soon,
Gosh, I hope this never ends!

OPPOSITION

You can never know the good
If you've never know the bad.
You can never be happy
If you've never been sad.

You've got to taste the bitter
So you can know the sweet.
You've got to be hungry
To be glad you can eat.

You've got to be sick
To be grateful for your health.
You've got to need money
To appreciate wealth.

There's got to be some problems
To rise above.
You've got to be lonely
So that you can know love.

It's called opposition, my friend,
Opposition, a necessary condition
In this world of ours.

If you've ever climbed a mountain
When the sun is blazing hot
A sip of cold water is the
Best thing you've got.

If you've been out playing all
Morning in the snow.
A jumb into a nice warm tub's
The nicest thing you know.

When you've been working
You're glad to hit the sack.
When someone you love's been gone,
You're glad when she's back.

When you make a mistake or two,
Then when you do it right-
It's just like the world turned
From darkness into light.

It's called opposition, my friend,
Opposition, a necessary condition
In this world of ours.

From: "MY TURN ON EARTH"

HONESTY

"When you're made King and Queen for a day, just go to the mirror and look at yourself, and see what the guide has to say. It's not your father or mother or friends whose judgement you must pass. The verdict that meant the most in life comes from the one staring back in the glass. He's the one to please. Nevermind all the rest.

You will have passed the most difficult test when the man in the glass is your friend. You can fool all the world down the pathway of life and get pats on the back when you pass, but your final reward in life will be heartache and tears if you cheated the man in the glass. Be honest with yourself."