Annette Funicello – 1942-2013 – A Friend That “Endured To The End”
By Alan on Apr 11 in Blog tagged Alan Osmond, Annette Funicello, dies, Endure To The End, ETTE, lives, M.S., multiple sclerosis | 1 Comment
Annette Funicello – 1942 – 2013
A Friend That ”Endured To The End”
Ms. Funicello embodied youth, good cheer and beach parties for children of the ’50s and ’60s.
Her death, from complications of the disease, was announced on the Disney Web site.
As an adult Ms. Funicello described herself as “the queen of teen,” and millions around her age agreed. Young audiences appreciated her sweet, forthright appeal, and parents saw her as the perfect daughter.
She was the last of the 24 original Mouseketeers chosen for “The Mickey Mouse Club,” the immensely popular children’s television show that began in 1955, when fewer than two-thirds of households had television sets. Walt Disney personally discovered her at a ballet performance.
Before long, she was getting more than 6,000 fan letters a week, and was known by just her first name in a manner that later defined celebrities like Cher, Madonna and Prince.
Sometimes called “America’s girl next door,” she nonetheless managed to be at the center of the action during rock ’n’ roll’s exuberant emergence. She was the youngest member of Dick Clark’s Caravan of Stars tour, which included LaVern Baker, the Drifters, Bobby Rydell, the Coasters and Paul Anka. Mr. Anka, her boyfriend, wrote “Puppy Love” for her in her parents’ living room.
As a Mouseketeer, she received a steady stream of wristwatches, school rings and even engagement rings from young men, all of which she returned. She wrote in her 1994 autobiography, “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes,” that irate mothers often wrote back to say “how hard Johnny or Tommy had worked to save the money for the gift and how dare I return it?”
She said that if she had charm (she undeniably had modesty), it was partly a result of her shyness. Mr. Disney begged her to call him Uncle Walt, but she could manage only “Mr. Disney.” (She could handle “Uncle Makeup” and “Aunt Hairdresser.”)
At the height of her stardom, she said her ambition was to quit show business and have nine children.
With minor exceptions, like her commercials for Skippy peanut butter, Ms. Funicello did become a homemaker after marrying at 22. One reason, she said, was her reluctance to take parts at odds with her squeaky-clean image. She had three children.
Her cheerfulness was legendary. Her response to learning she had multiple sclerosis, a chronic disease of the central nervous system, was to start a charity to find a cure.
There was no irony, only warm good feeling, in her oft-repeated remark about the world’s pre-eminent rodent: “Mickey is more than a mouse to me. I am honored to call him a friend.”
Annette Joanne Funicello was born on Oct. 22, 1942, in Utica, N.Y., and as the first grandchild on either side of the family was indulged to the point of being, in her own words, a “spoiled brat.” At age 2, she learned the words to every song on the hit parade, her favorite being “Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive.”
In 1946, her parents decided to move to Southern California in the hope of doing better economically. They lived in a trailer park until her father, a mechanic, found work. They settled in Studio City and later moved to Encino.
Annette took dancing lessons, learned to play drums and, at 9, was named Miss Willow Lake at a poolside beauty contest. She did some modeling. Mr. Disney, who wanted amateurs and not professional child actors, discovered her when she danced in “Swan Lake” at a local recital.
“The Mickey Mouse Club” was instantly popular, generating orders for 24,000 mouse-eared beanies a day. Annette quickly became the most popular Mouseketeer, and Disney marketed everything from Annette lunchboxes and dolls to mystery novels about her fictionalized adventures.
But she did not receive special treatment. When she lost a pair of felt mouse ears, she was charged $55. It was deducted from her $185 weekly paycheck.
She once decided she wanted to change her last name to something more typically American. She chose Turner. But Mr. Disney, whom she considered a second father, convinced her that her own name would be more memorable once people learned it.
In 1958, as “The Mickey Mouse Club” was ending its run, Mr. Disney summoned Ms. Funicello to his office. She feared she was going to be fired for growing too tall, but instead he offered her a studio contract — the only one given to a Mouseketeer.
Annette Funicello, who was part of the original cast of the 1950′s Disney television program, The Mickey Mouse Club, died Monday. She was 70 and had had multiple sclerosis for decades. Funicello also co-starred in several Disney beach party movies in the 1960′s along with Frankie Avalon.
Fans are laying flowers on Annette Funicello’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star. When she received it 10 years ago, she said she owed her career to her mentor Walt Disney, who she called Uncle Walt, and his famous cartoon rodent.
“I used to always watch the Mickey Mouse Club with Annette Funicello when I was young”, says Alan Osmond of the performing Osmond Family, who also has Multiple Sclerosis for the past 26 years.
It wasn’t but 5 or 6 years after I got M.S. that a ‘rag magazine’ notified me saying that they were going to expose me and the fact that I had MS with a headline inferring that I was going to die! It was almost embarrassed in letting anyone know that I had multiple sclerosis yet alone having a bad magazine tell the world that I was dying! It wasn’t true! I didn’t know what to do so, I contacted Annette Funicello and we had a wonderful visit. We talked about the business and how Walt Disney was responsible in launching Annette’s and me and my brothers careers into show business. I then explained to Annette that I had recently been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and we shared our stories with each other. I told Annette about the magazine article that was scheduled to come out and she said, “Alan, the best thing to do is to just come open with it and announce it to the world.” Well, that’s exactly what I did!
The next morning I was scheduled to appear on Good Morning America, Entertainment Tonight and with People Magazine. I shared my story and what I had and gave thanks to Annette for encouraging me to open up and talk about it. Actually, I felt much better by getting it out in the open and in dealing with it! Being the third son of eight boys and one girl, my father who had been an army sergeant and in teaching us to be tough would say, “You can do it!” when we had a challenge. My mother would spiritually strengthen us children when challenged with her, “This too shall pass”, encouragements. So from that day I announced it until today I say, ”I may have M.S., but, M.S. does NOT have me!”
I stayed in touch with Annette over the next years and we noted others like Anne Romney, Teri Garr and others who got M.S. as we tried to figure out how to help others who faced the same ‘TEST‘ in life. Annette’s husband Glenn Holt and I talked many times together and especially when Annette couldn’t talk well because the M.S. affected her voice. Glenn always put Annette first and would meet her every need. They had horses and rode them trying every thing they could to stop this disabling disease. They even started The Annette Funicello Research Fund to help others with M.S. and encouraged all to join in by donating.
When I heard that Annette had passed away, I wrote to Glen Holt and sent my condolences and sympathies letting him know that he will Annette would one day be together again:
“Glenn my friend,
Suzanne and I and our families send our condolences and love along with our prayers this day.
Bless you Glen. You were the best husband Annette could have had and you gave her everyting she needed and you were most loving and caring in her every need!
I am a better person for having known you both and we had many great laughs and conversations together.
I know that Annette is in a better place, where my parents are also, and you will be with Annette some day again.
Please know of of love and everlasting friendship,
Alan & Suzanne Osmond”
Glenn was with Annette and so he had his son Philip Holt text me this message:
“Philip Holt here (Glen’s son). Dad has received your email and wants no time to pass by without replying to you. Of course I have heard many of the stories and of the great friendship you all have shared with Dad and Annette through the years. I have just sat down with dad and he has asked me to share the following with you:
Thank you and your entire family so much for your prayers, thoughts and sincere words at this time of our deep loss! I can tell you without any hesitation what so ever that the shared times we have had with you and your family have mutually been a blessing for both Annette and me! Please give thanks to everyone in your family for always being such an incredible example to both of us through the years! Annie had such an incredible and genuine respect for your entire family! This includes you mother too. She was a TRUE fan of your mother! She respected her so much!! It meant so much to Annie that the relationship we shared with all of you had nothing to do with show business and was always truly about the love and respect we all have for our families and each other.
Additionally, Dad mentioned to me that you sometimes post items on your website about “Annie and our friendship”. He is incredibly proud of your shared friendship and therefore wants you to feel free to continue with these posts as you wish.
Respectfully and with Sincere Thanks,
Philip Holt on behalf of my Dad Glen Holt and of course Annette Funicello Holt”
I share our comments with Philip and Glen’s blessings because we all will face these moments in life. May we always remember that family and friends are forever; and so are we! As God’s children, because of Jesus Christ’s atonement, we all will return to Him once again.
As I paused and looked at Annette’s name, it dawned on me that her name ends with ‘ETTE’. This has been one of our family’s slogans which means, “Endure To The End”. Endure means to remain firm in a commitment and to be true to the commandments of God despite temptation, opposition, and adversity. We have always tried to live this and so did Annette as the article above reminds us of ‘her modesty’! We would always express “ETTE” or “Endure To The End” when hard challenges came when we were growing up in show business and even made rings with ETTE to remind us because as scripture says: ”
“Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.” 2 Nephi 31:20
To my freind Annette, Glen Holt and all family members, may I say, “Endure To The End”. Death is a part of God’s eternal Plan of Life. God is not the author of confusion. There are also opposites in all things. As we are born; we must also die. When the physical body dies, the spirit continues to live. In the spirit world, the spirits of the righteous “are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow” (Alma 40:12). This is where Annette is.
I also want to encourage all family and friends of Annette to remember to continue supporting The Annette Funicello Research Fund. (See address below.) This is how we all can express thanks to Annette and remember her by helping many others with M.S. as Annette said,
”I have great faith there is a reason God wanted me to have MS,” … “I think the reason is for me to help others and help raise funds.” Annette
Annette, your ‘TEST‘ is now a ‘TEST imony” to all!
The Annette Funicello Research Fund
PO Box 599
Shafter, California 93263
ENDURE TO THE END – ‘The 5th Principle’ Of The Gospel
By Alan on Sep 17 in Blog tagged 5th principle, endure, Endure To The End, ETTE, NOIZ, Zion | 1 Comment
FAITH
REPENTANCE
BAPTISM
RECIEVE THE HOLY GHOST
ENDURE TO THE END
And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb; and whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be.
(ZION SPELLED BACKWARDS)
“But with some I am not well pleased, for they will not open their mouths, but they hide the talent which I have given unto them, because of the fear of man. Wo unto such, for mine anger is kindled against them.”
D&C 60:2
LETS TURN THE WORLD AROUND!
“And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb; and whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be.” 1 Nephi 13: 37
The Race Of Life
By Alan on May 27 in Blog tagged after this life, another room, celestial, children of God, death, disease, divine attributes, earth, Endure To The End, finish line, God, good and evil, Jesus, kingdom, life=threatening, many mansions, mortal life, mortal mission, our father, pathway, Plan of Salvation, prayer, President Thomas S. Monson, purpose of life, race, resurrected, savior, scriptures, seasons of life, teach your children, telestial, Terresterial, The Book of Mormon, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The race of life, The Spirit, travel, treasures, victory over the grave, Where are we going, Where did we come from, why are we here, your heart | Comments Off
The Race of Life
By President Thomas S. Monson
Where did we come from?
Why are we here?
Where do we go after this life?
No longer need these universal questions remain unanswered.
My beloved brothers and sisters, this morning I wish to speak to you of eternal truths—those truths which will enrich our lives and see us safely home.
Everywhere people are in a hurry. Jet-powered aircraft speed their precious human cargo across broad continents and vast oceans so that business meetings might be attended, obligations met, vacations enjoyed, or families visited. Roadways everywhere—including freeways, thruways, and motorways—carry millions of automobiles, occupied by more millions of people, in a seemingly endless stream and for a multitude of reasons as we rush about the business of each day.
In this fast-paced life, do we ever pause for moments of meditation—even thoughts of timeless truths?
When compared to eternal verities, most of the questions and concerns of daily living are really rather trivial. What should we have for dinner? What color should we paint the living room? Should we sign Johnny up for soccer? These questions and countless others like them lose their significance when times of crisis arise, when loved ones are hurt or injured, when sickness enters the house of good health, when life’s candle dims and darkness threatens. Our thoughts become focused, and we are easily able to determine what is really important and what is merely trivial.
I recently visited with a woman who has been battling a life-threatening disease for over two years. She indicated that prior to her illness, her days were filled with activities such as cleaning her house to perfection and filling it with beautiful furnishings. She visited her hairdresser twice a week and spent money and time each month adding to her wardrobe. Her grandchildren were invited to visit infrequently, for she was always concerned that what she considered her precious possessions might be broken or otherwise ruined by tiny and careless hands.
And then she received the shocking news that her mortal life was in jeopardy and that she might have very limited time left here. She said that at the moment she heard the doctor’s diagnosis, she knew immediately that she would spend whatever time she had remaining with her family and friends and with the gospel at the center of her life, for these represented what was most precious to her.
Such moments of clarity come to all of us at one time or another, although not always through so dramatic a circumstance. We see clearly what it is that really matters in our lives and how we should be living. 
Said the Savior:
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
“But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”1
In our times of deepest reflection or greatest need, the soul of man reaches heavenward, seeking a divine response to life’s greatest questions: Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where do we go after we leave this life?
Answers to these questions are not discovered within the covers of academia’s textbooks or by checking the Internet. These questions transcend mortality. They embrace eternity.
Where did we come from? This query is inevitably thought, if not spoken, by every human being.
The Apostle Paul told the Athenians on Mars’ Hill that “we are the offspring of God.”2 Since we know that our physical bodies are the offspring of our mortal parents, we must probe for the meaning of Paul’s statement. The Lord has declared that “the spirit and the body are the soul of man.”3 Thus it is the spirit which is the offspring of God. The writer of Hebrews refers to Him as “the Father of spirits.”4 The spirits of all men are literally His “begotten sons and daughters.”5
We note that inspired poets have, for our contemplation of this subject, written moving messages and recorded transcendent thoughts. William Wordsworth penned the truth:
Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting:
The soul that rises with us, our life’s Star,
Hath had elsewhere its setting,
And cometh from afar:
Not in entire forgetfulness,
And not in utter nakedness,
But trailing clouds of glory do we come
From God, who is our home:
Heaven lies about us in our infancy!6
Parents ponder their responsibility to teach, to inspire, and to provide guidance, direction, and example. And while parents ponder, children—and particularly youth—ask the penetrating question, why are we here? Usually it is spoken silently to the soul and phrased, why am I here?
How grateful we should be that a wise Creator fashioned an earth and placed us here, with a veil of forgetfulness of our previous existence so that we might experience a time of testing, an opportunity to prove ourselves in order to qualify for all that God has prepared for us to receive.
Clearly, one primary purpose of our existence upon the earth is to obtain a body of flesh and bones. We have also been given the gift of agency. In a thousand ways we are privileged to choose for ourselves. Here we learn from the hard taskmaster of experience. We discern between good and evil. We differentiate as to the bitter and the sweet. We discover that there are consequences attached to our actions.
By obedience to God’s commandments, we can qualify for that “house” spoken of by Jesus when He declared: “In my Father’s house are many mansions. … I go to prepare a place for you … that where I am, there ye may be also.”7
Although we come into mortality “trailing clouds of glory,” life moves relentlessly forward. Youth follows childhood, and maturity comes ever so imperceptibly. From experience we learn the need to reach heavenward for assistance as we make our way along life’s pathway.
God, our Father, and Jesus Christ, our Lord, have marked the way to perfection. They beckon us to follow eternal verities and to become perfect, as They are perfect.8
The Apostle Paul likened life to a race. To the Hebrews he urged, “Let us lay aside … the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”9
In our zeal, let us not overlook the sage counsel from Ecclesiastes: “The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong.”10 Actually, the prize belongs to him or her who endures to the end.
When I reflect on the race of life, I remember another type of race, even from childhood days. My friends and I would take pocketknives in hand and, from the soft wood of a willow tree, fashion small toy boats. With a triangular-shaped cotton sail in place, each would launch his crude craft in the race down the relatively turbulent waters of Utah’s Provo River. We would run along the river’s bank and watch the tiny vessels sometimes bobbing violently in the swift current and at other times sailing serenely as the water deepened.
During a particular race we noted that one boat led all the rest toward the appointed finish line. Suddenly, the current carried it too close to a large whirlpool, and the boat heaved to its side and capsized. Around and around it was carried, unable to make its way back into the main current. At last it came to an uneasy rest amid the flotsam and jetsam that surrounded it, held fast by the tentacles of the grasping green moss.
The toy boats of childhood had no keel for stability, no rudder to provide direction, and no source of power. Inevitably, their destination was downstream—the path of least resistance.
Unlike toy boats, we have been provided divine attributes to guide our journey. We enter mortality not to float with the moving currents of life but with the power to think, to reason, and to achieve.
Our Heavenly Father did not launch us on our eternal voyage without providing the means whereby we could receive from Him guidance to ensure our safe return. I speak of prayer. I speak too of the whisperings from that still, small voice; and I do not overlook the holy scriptures, which contain the word of the Lord and the words of the prophets—provided to us to help us successfully cross the finish line.
At some period in our mortal mission, there appears the faltering step, the wan smile, the pain of sickness—even the fading of summer, the approach of autumn, the chill of winter, and the experience we call death.
Every thoughtful person has asked himself the question best phrased by Job of old: “If a man die, shall he live again?”11 Try as we might to put the question out of our thoughts, it always returns. Death comes to all mankind. It comes to the aged as they walk on faltering feet. Its summons is heard by those who have scarcely reached midway in life’s journey. At times it hushes the laughter of little children.
But what of an existence beyond death? Is death the end of all? Robert Blatchford, in his book God and My Neighbor, attacked with vigor accepted Christian beliefs such as God, Christ, prayer, and particularly immortality. He boldly asserted that death was the end of our existence and that no one could prove otherwise. Then a surprising thing happened. His wall of skepticism suddenly crumbled to dust. He was left exposed and undefended. Slowly he began to feel his way back to the faith he had ridiculed and abandoned. What had caused this profound change in his outlook? His wife died. With a broken heart he went into the room where lay all that was mortal of her. He looked again at the face he loved so well. Coming out, he said to a friend: “It is she, and yet it is not she. Everything is changed. Something that was there before is taken away. She is not the same. What can be gone if it be not the soul?”
Later he wrote: “Death is not what some people imagine. It is only like going into another room. In that other room we shall find … the dear women and men and the sweet children we have loved and lost.”12
My brothers and sisters, we know that death is not the end. This truth has been taught by living prophets throughout the ages. It is also found in our holy scriptures. In the Book of Mormon we read specific and comforting words:
“Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.
“And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.”13
After the Savior was crucified and His body had 
lain in the tomb for three days, the spirit again entered. The stone was rolled away, and the resurrected Redeemer walked forth, clothed with an immortal body of flesh and bones.
The answer to Job’s question, “If a man die, shall he live again?” came when Mary and others approached the tomb and saw two men in shining garments who spoke to them: “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen.”14
As the result of Christ’s victory over the grave, we shall all be resurrected. This is the redemption of the soul. Paul wrote: “There are … celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.”15
It is the celestial glory which we seek. It is in the presence of God we desire to dwell. It is a forever family in which we want membership. Such blessings are earned through a lifetime of striving, seeking, repenting, and finally succeeding.
Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where do we go after this life? No longer need these universal questions remain unanswered. From the very depths of my soul and in all humility, I testify that those things of which I have spoken are true.
Our Heavenly Father rejoices for those who keep His commandments. He is concerned also for the lost child, the tardy teenager, the wayward youth, the delinquent parent. Tenderly the Master speaks to these and indeed to all: “Come back. Come up. Come in. Come home. Come unto me.”
Our thoughts will turn to the Savior’s life, His death, and His Resurrection. As His special witness, I testify to you that He lives and that He awaits our triumphant return. That such a return will be ours, I pray humbly in His holy name—even Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Redeemer, amen.
President Thomas S. Monson
Love Is Stronger Than Hate.
By Alan on Mar 29 in Daily Inspiration tagged become strong, Endure To The End, ETTE, humble, love is stronger than hate, theFamily, weak things, Weakness | Comments Off
Love Is Stronger Than Hate.
“ And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.” Ether 12: 27
For The Family
Be A Defender Of The Family
By Alan on Mar 16 in Blog tagged be a defender, be together throughout eternity, change the world, do the dishes together, Endure To The End, eternal truths, family activities, family home evening, family prayer, feel the Spirit, forces of Satan, G rated movies, get married, God's definition of marriage, God's Plan of Life, gospel study, help your siblings, high priorities to family, highest priorities, hug your brother, in time and eternity, make home a holy place, most important unit, not the worlds, ordained of God, plan of happiness, raise a righteous family, remember your ancestors, role of men and women, sacred law of chastity, sanctity of the family, support one another, talk about the good, The Family, uncleanliness, wholesome family life | Comments Off
Be a Defender of the Family
You can help change the world by standing up for what prophets have taught about the family.
Did you know that you can help change the world during your teenage years? You have the power within you to stand up for eternal truths that are being attacked in one of Satan’s biggest battles. How can you do it? You can make a huge difference by being a defender of the family and letting those around you know that “the family is ordained of God. It is the most important unit in time and in eternity”.
“Because of the importance of the family to the eternal plan of happiness, Satan makes a major effort to destroy the sanctity of the family, demean the importance of the role of men and women, encourage moral uncleanliness and violations of the sacred law of chastity, and to discourage parents from placing the bearing and rearing of children as one of their highest priorities”. (Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “The Eternal Family,” Ensign, Nov. 1996, 65).
You can help counter the destructive forces of Satan by standing up for the family through your actions and in your conversations at home, in the community, and even online. Here are several ways you can defend the family every day.
1. Put family time first. With so many sporting 
events, parties, school functions, and other activities in your schedule, it’s easy to say, “I’ll spend time with my family later—when things slow down.” But you’ll soon find that life will never slow down, so it’s important to give high priority to family activities now. Don’t underestimate the way you can defend the family unit just by participating in your family unit.
For example, be on the front row at your brother’s music recital. Read the family newsletter your mother wrote. Be excited about the familyhome evening lesson your sister planned. Listen to and use kind words with your family members. See how close you grow as you support one another in your interests.
The First Presidency has taught: “We counsel parents and children to give highest priority to family prayer, family home evening, gospel study and instruction, and wholesome family activities. However worthy and appropriate other demands or activities may be, they must not be permitted to displace the divinely-appointed duties that only parents and families can adequately perform”.
2. Strengthen your family members. Look for ways to make life easier for your siblings and parents. 
Find something they need help with and do it, such as giving a hug to a brother who had a hard day at school or helping your sister when it’s her turn to do the dishes. When you support one another in your needs, your family will grow stronger as one. Remember that family happiness is a team effort.
“We need to understand that we are each an important and integral part of a family and the highest blessings can be received only within an eternal family. … Being one in a family carries a great responsibility of caring, loving, lifting, and strengthening each member of the family so that all can righteously endure to the end in mortality and dwell together throughout eternity. … The eternal nature of an individual becomes the eternal nature of the family”.
3. Be an example of good family life. Let your friends
know about successes your family shares. You could talk with them about something fun your family did together over the weekend. Tell them about your brother’s winning goal or your sister’s high score on the test you helped her study for. Don’t say anything bad about your parents or siblings, but focus just on the good things your family does—in both face-to-face and online conversations.
Do your part to make your home a holy place where others can feel the Spirit (see D&C 88:119) and where they can see what God’s plan for families is all about. Consider inviting friends over when your familyspends time together so they can see the joy of family friendships.
4. Stand up for the family in your conversations. When conversations come up in school, work, and other activities—or even in text messages, e-mails, social networking sites, or online articles—where truths about the family are attacked, have the courage to defend the doctrines about Heavenly Father’s plan for families. The world continues to attack these eternal doctrines, and it’s up to you to be a voice of truth. The Spirit will help you know what to say.
5. Beware of how the media defines families. Much in the media today does not 
support God’s definition of marriage and families. It might endorse or glorify alternatives to wholesome family life that are contrary to God’s plan. The counsel in For the Strength of Youth can apply to teachings about the family: “Satan uses media to deceive you by making what is wrong and evil look normal, humorous, or exciting. He tries to mislead you into thinking that breaking God’s commandments is acceptable and has no negative consequences for you or others. … Have the courage to walk out of a movie, change your music, or turn off a computer, television, or mobile device if what you see or hear drives away the Spirit” ([2011], 11).
When you choose media that support the principles of an eternal family, it will be easier to strengthen the family and also prepare for a future temple marriage.
6. Many of your ancestors have not received
the essential ordinances that seal them together as families. Remember that defending the family isn’t just about the families on the earth today, but it’s also about all families. With new.familysearch.org, it’s easy to prepare names for temple work to help deceased family members receive the sealing ordinances. (You can watch video tutorials about FamilySearch at lds.org/fhy)
7. Develop habits today that you want in your future family. Even if you don’t come from a strong family, you can make your future familystrong as you prepare for and worthily marry in the temple and seek to raise a righteous family of your own. Think about the types of things you want to do in your future family, and start those habits today. For example, even if your family doesn’t have daily scripture study, you can study the scriptures on your own each day. By forming that habit now, it will be easy to hold family scripture study when you get married.
You can also defend the family by deciding now that when you are older you will marry in the temple for time and for all eternity, and then strive to have children and raise them in righteousness. We have been counseled: “All members, even if they … are without family in the Church, should strive for the ideal of living in an 
eternal family. This means preparing to become worthy spouses and loving fathers or mothers”.
Sister Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president, has said to the young members of the Church, “This generation will be called upon to defend the doctrine of the family as never before”. When you do this and live as a defender of the family, you can change your future and your family’s future and also be a part of a generation that can change the future of the world as you protect the family together. Even if you don’t see immediate results, your actions will be an influence for good in supporting Heavenly Father’s plan for eternal families.
The Time Will Come – The Family
By Alan on Mar 12 in Blog tagged be able to preserve families, deeply and actively in, Endure To The End, gathering evil, in the midst, LDS, prophet, Revelator, seer, Spencer W. Kimball, surrounding us. train up a child, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Family, the time will come, when only those who believe | Comments Off
The Time Will Come – The Family
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Prov. 22: 6
Who Do You Honestly Trust?
By Alan on Oct 04 in Blog tagged brothers and sister, eight sons, Endure To The End, Great and Dreadful day, Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, One Heart, One Mind, ordinance workers, Suzanne Osmond, temple, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Holy Ghost, twelve apostles, who do you honestly trust | Comments Off
Glenn Beck’s program tonight on GBTV.com today really made me stop and think when he asked us to write down, “Who Do You Trust”. There are not that many people, companies, institutions, churches, or government leaders that I honestly trust.
BUT, HERE ARE SOME THAT I DO!
MY HEAVENLY FATHER, MY LORD JESUS CHRIST,
AND THE HOLY GHOST!
MY WIFE SUZANNE
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
PROPHET, THOMAS S. MONSON & FIRST PRESIDENCY,
PLUS
THE TWELVE APOSTLES
MY EIGHT SONS & FAMILIES
MY BROTHERS AND SISTER
SUZANNE’S FAMILY
SOME DEAR FRIENDS, AND
SOME TEMPLE ORDINANCE WORKERS
We are living in the last days, the best and the worst of times, a great and dreadful day, when the fulfillment of prophecies will challenge us and we will have to choose between Babalon and Zion and trust in one another in order to survive; to love our neighbor as ourselves; to be of One Heart and One Mind; to endure to the end; to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit from within and with all our heart, and to put our trust the Lord Jesus Christ who will return and “fight our battles”. (D&C 105: 14)
We will need to have love for one another and make the stranger a brother, then we will be One. No one can make the journey to Zion alone; we must take others with us. We must keep all of the Commandments, receive the covenants for the purppse of becoming perfect and entering into a perfect priesthood society and accept the Atonement by means of the Covenant. By our acceptig the terms of the Atonement and enduring in the Covenant to the end, we will be delivered from Babylon and will be redeemed; We will provide the Savior’s grace to become Zion people and return home to Zion to be saved. Then we will be blessed to be with God and become exalted.
Are you prepared for all of this? This is why we came here. Life is not always easy. In the process of living we will face struggles, many of which will cause us to suffer and to experience pain. Why must this be so? The Lord said, my people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them”. (D&C 136: 31)
Without trials we cannot be prepared for the great blessings the Lord wishes to give us. ”Struggles are a part of the sacred sanctification process. There are no soft or slothful ways to become sanctified to the point that we are prepared to live in the presence of the Savior.” (Elder L. Lionel Kendrick of the Seventy)
Remember that you do not walk alone. As you walk through life, always walk toward the light, and the shadows of life will fall behind you.
“Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.” Ps. 24: 3-4
Righteous Shall Have Peace, Yea, Tidings Of Great Joy!
By Alan on May 17 in Blog tagged Endure To The End, good and evil, great and dreadful, hope, Jesus Christ, New Jerusalem, peace, publisher of peace, The Family, theFamily, Zion | Comments Off
We are living in perilous times.
There is and always has been a war between good and evil.
We are living in the last days which was foreseen and recorded as being a Great and a Dreadful Day as we know how this world will end.
As a publisher, we publish peace for those individuals and families who seek to bring forth Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they endure to the end the shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the lamb. (1 Nephi 13:37)
Yes, if you take upon yourself the name of Jesus Christ and accept him as your Savior in all righteousness and follow Him, and keep His commandments, there is great hope for you.
“And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I
send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem.” Moses 7: 62
When Times Get Tough And Dreary, Bring Me Sunshine!
By Alan on Apr 30 in Blog tagged Bring me sunshine, Endure To The End, ETTE, facebook, music, song in our hearts, The Family, theFamily | Comments Off
I agree with what Lucita says who sent me this messaage and video. We need to get out of those dark and negative moments and bad feelings and turn on some music to “Bring Me Sunshine”!
Lucita said,
“It’s about learning to be happy in these the hardest of times. When you watch the news, or EVEN just hear about the things going on in the world, a lot of it is either sad, depressing, or possibly angering. Like when many people loose their jobs, or die in wars, or just feel the pressure of day to day living. When you listen to happy music like this, it makes you stop and think about your blessings instead of feeling so bad.”
Download with Vixy | Convert YouTube to MP3
We need to ‘hang in there’ and Endure To The End! It’s always darkest before the morning comes. We must always look at the BIG PICTURE of life and know that “this too shall pass”. Remember that we can deal with all of the problems that come in life if we stay positive and keep a song in our hearts!
Endure To The End!
Lucita on Facebook
Alan Osmond
For The Family
When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going!
By Alan on Apr 26 in Blog tagged Endure To The End, going gets tough, The Family, theFamily, there's a way, tough get going, where theres a will | Comments Off
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When tough times come, and they always do, that is the time to be wise and to stay positive.
Where there is a will, there is a way!
When we were young our Father gave us chores to do that were sometimes pretty tough to do. He had about 5 acres of sugar beets and had us hoe the weeds You can do anything if you put your mind to it!
You become what you think about. . . . so think creatively and go and make good things happen.
TheFamily.com
