Some teachers are able to take many situations and find Gospel parallels or symbolism. So here’s a challenge to you, based on one of my random photos. How could you use this image to teach some Gospel principle? The winner should include references to more than just the piano or just the fruit. First prize? Fame and glory, including a paragraph or two about you and/or a thought you wish to share and/or a photo you wish to share, all posted here (subject to editorial approval for good taste).
OK, I’ll also throw in a 1964 90% silver Kennedy half-dollar which has almost $5 of silver right now – but if I’m right, will soon have much more silver than that without gaining any mass (I do that solely to encourage the wise out there to start investing in silver while it’s still so cheap – I’m serious). Honorable mention for second place will also be made. Contest ends May 15 (the same day my Appleton Mystery Photo Contest ends, also with silver prizes).
(As with most photos here, clicking will enlarge it slightly, though the original image has much higher resolution still.)
Orange you grateful that Joseph Smith received the keys of the priesthood?
It often takes life’s acidic moments to play the greatest concertos of the heart.
We’re off to a good start!
Only when immunized against wickedness through repentance and covenants made with God can we see the true contrast between the black of sin and the white of obedience. Thus we are free to “touch” both believer and non-believer, black and white ;), bond and free.
Many of us are blessed with talents that we develop, like music and song… however the complexities involved in our display of these talents often misguides us to undervalue and overlook the simple complexities in Heavenly Father’s creations. Take an orange, for instance. A simple fruit, that grows on a tree. H.F. created it. Not only did he make it delicious, but makes it easy for us to understand when it is ripe by color-coding it. Green= too soon, bright orange= just right. Sometimes we must humble ourselves and recongnize that our talents are not always ripe. As the orange requires water, good soil, and sunshine – our talents will require practice, care, and consideration in order to develop into something truely special. Few pianists will ripen overnight… but with the Holy Ghost’s sunshine they will over time.
PLaying a piano with orange halves would not be very musically good.
A time and place for everything
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Not everything that is good goes together. A fresh ripe orange is good in its sphere, nutritious, tasty, pleasing to behold and to eat.
A well-made and tuned piano is good in its sphere, capable of producing beautiful music that is pleasing and uplifting.
But they do not go together. One cannot eat an orange and simultaneously play a piano well. One would not want to eat an orange at their piano because getting orange juice between the keys on the keyboard would damage it.
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Good things must be internalized
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Though the ripe orange is pleasing to behold, its highest benefits come from ingesting it, where it is pleasing to the palate, and nurishing to the body. The measure of its creation is to be consumed.
Likewise a well-crafted piano may be pleasing to visually behold, but the measure of its creation is for its music to be consumed by listeners, even if the only listener is he who plays it.
Kawai are you so a peeling?
How would you describe the ineffable effects of the Spirit? You may as well try to describe the sweet smell and taste of an orange to someone who has only previously tasted apples or bananas. You could describe the way the peel tears apart in thick segments and how the inside of the fruit divides easily into sections but mere words fail to capture the mouthwatering essence one experiences as the pulp touches tongue for the first time and tastebuds explode in a rich and sticky sweet sensation almost overwhelming.
How would you describe the whisperings of the Spirit? You may as well try to describe the complexities of melody and harmony of Beethoven or Mozart to someone lacking hearing. The deaf may comprehend the mathematical precision of the notes on the paper and may even learn to play the notes well on the piano but they would never be able to feel the music, flowing and sweeping from pianissimo to forte, carrying the soul to dizzying heights of joyful emotion or wringing sorrowful depths.
Seeing is not the same as knowing. Knowledge is not the same as understanding or comprehending. We are all parched and starving, searching for that fruit eternal. We are deaf, waiting for the moment when heavenly choirs welcome us into the joy of the Spirit.
I win Jeff! I will be over to collect tonight.
The orange is good to enjoy in it’s condition. In a few hours it will be poor to eat, and wither away. Music is the same way. wehn it is over it is gone. We must enjoy it when we have it and practice to hear it again. we must practice and care for our “fruit” in the same manner so we can have it again.
the keys to true happiness lie under the shadow of the Spirit’s fruit.
Key of C, Vitamin C…either way, the “key” is Christ! Romans 8:28
Stacey Pokorney
Dallas, Texas
staceypokorney@yahoo.com
have you ever seen an orange piano? neither have i. and that’s the reason why they never built one.
The piano is not unlike the church, a conglomerate of tones that, even though they sound completely distinct, if played in harmony they can make enjoyable music. However, it all depends on the pianist. One cannot blame a perfectly tuned piano for.making terrible music if the pianist is out of practice or simply doesn't know how.to play. Such as it is with the church. Many want to label the teachings or doctrines of the church based on the hypocritical actions of a few of the members. This is as nonsensical as blaming the piano for a bad note.
As for the orange, love a good glass of orange juice or a nice sweet orange. But for the most part I feel that the reward of the orange isn't worth the difficulty of peeling it or juicing it just to get one glass. Many people are like this with the commandments. They will gratefully accept the blessings if placed in front of them, but once things get hard or any real effort is needed to get the sweet reward, they just take the easy way out and move to an easier fruit.