Feedback please

In the new ward they want the clerks writing on the ward newsletter in rotation with the bishopric members. This is my first time at it. I have to e-mail it out by tomorrow. I would love to get some feedback on how I did, and any recommendations. It's scary writing for the world. Here it is, it is titled Spiritual Crocodiles. Thanks!


Our beloved Apostle, Elder Boyd K. Packer, describes himself as an animal lover, and loves to study the animals of Africa in particular. Elder Packer had the opportunity to visit Africa on one of his church assignments. There he learned a lesson that I ponder often. I encourage you to read the talk in its entirety. The original talk was given in 1976, but it is even more applicable in our day and time. If you have the internet, I highly recommend you view the video presentation of the message at; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnPfO13XONM

Elder Packer was in Africa and had a chance to view the animals in their natural habitat. It was a particularly dry summer, and sources of water were hard to come by. Elder Packer was taken by a guide where he watched a group of antelope try and drink from water that had collected in elephant footprints. The antelope would get close to the footprint and run. Elder Packer thought that the antelope were afraid of lions, but could not see any around. He asked the guide about this, and got a single word answer, “Crocodiles”. Elder Packer thought the guide was joking, and asked him again. The answer again was, “Crocodiles.” Elder Packer’s response to this was, “Nonsense, There are no crocodiles out there, anyone can see that.” The guide and Elder Packer drove to another watering hole where an embankment overlooked the area. They got out of the car and the guide said; “There, see for yourself.” Elder Packer couldn’t see anything except the mud, a little water, and the nervous animals in the distance. Then all at once he saw it!—a large crocodile, settled in the mud, waiting for some unsuspecting animal to get thirsty enough to come for a drink. Suddenly Elder Packer became a believer! When the guide could see that Elder Packer was willing to listen, he continued with the lesson. “There are crocodiles all over the park,” he said, “not just in the rivers. We don’t have any water without a crocodile somewhere near it, and you’d better count on it.” Elder Packer then speaks of the watering holes of life and says;

“Those ahead of you in life have probed about the water holes a bit and raise a voice of warning about crocodiles. Not just the big, gray lizards that can bite you to pieces, but spiritual crocodiles, infinitely more dangerous, and more deceptive and less visible, even, than those well-camouflaged reptiles of Africa. These spiritual crocodiles can kill or mutilate your souls. They can destroy your peace of mind and the peace of mind of those who love you. Those are the ones to be warned against, and there is hardly a watering place in all of mortality now that is not infested with them.”

I relate to this topic because I am in the business of responding to those in need. Never a day goes by that I do not respond to the request of help from someone is some form or another. I receive the calls for service or assistance through a radio. Some calls sound like, “Respond to a family fight”, or “Respond to an alcohol offense”. There are thousands of different calls I go to ,and they are all different. However if there was a spiritual radio, I imagine that the calls would sound like this, “Respond to a spiritual crocodile attack, one soul down, and another badly injured.”

Elder Packer says, “Some of us are appointed now, as you will be soon, to be guides and rangers. Now we don’t use those titles very much. We go under the titles of parents—father and mother—bishop, leader, adviser. Our assignment is to see that you get through mortality without being injured by these spiritual crocodiles.”

As we quickly enter a new school year, a lot of us are going into new situations, or have loved ones that are. It may be a new school, a new sports team, a new job, some new friends, or more spare time. I think as we reach this milestone it gives us a good opportunity to remind ourselves of the danger of spiritual crocodiles. They are so well camouflaged, that they can hide in places we can’t imagine. Elder Packer was surprised that a crocodile could hide in the footprint of an elephant, but was assured they can. These crocodiles can hide among our best friends; enter our homes through an internet cable or a TV Set. The places spiritual crocodiles can hide is without number. Fortunately, there is spiritual first aid for those who have been bitten. The bishop of the ward is the guide in charge of this first aid. He can also treat those who have been badly morally mauled by these spiritual crocodiles—and see them completely healed.

Brothers and Sisters, I encourage you to use this as an opportunity to personally, and as a family, evaluate and discuss where spiritual crocodiles lurk in our community. I encourage you to plan and discuss how to avoid these dangers. I know that if you are willing to try this, not only your souls will be safer, but you will be physically safer, and your families will be blessed. I leave you with the parting words that I have shared over a thousand times at shift change with my co-workers, “Stay Safe”

Brother Marchant