“And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon;…and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads forever and ever.”
David has been reading his Opa’s missionary journals, a Christmas gift that his Dad recently compiled into a nice book. It has been fun to read. In Opa’s journals he had mentioned reading the book Added Upon by Nephi Anderson. David decided that he wanted to read it. Well, he had started and was really enjoying it—I asked him if he had “met” Rupert yet? I remembered this same book on our shelves at home and my Mom telling me that a character in the book was named after her Grandpa (her Mom’s Dad—Rupert Peter Olsen).
Here is a paragraph from the Olsen Family History book explaining more of the story. This is written by my Grandma, Mary Pieper:
“Father (Rupert) was twenty-two years old when he was also called to go to Denmark as a missionary for the Church on April 22, 1903. While on his mission he helped build the LDS meeting house in Alborg, Denmark. During this time an old family friend from Brigham City, Nephi Anderson had been sent by the Church to visit all the missions in England and Europe. He was in Denmark and called Father into his office to talk with him. Nephi had recently written a novel, Added Upon (published by Deseret News Press, 1898) and told Father that he had chosen the name “Rupert” as the name for one of the characters in his story. He had first heard the name Rupert when the Olsen and Anderson families associated together in Brigham City and liked that name. Aunt Daisy also remembered that as a young girl her mother told her that Brother Anderson had used the name of Rupert for the main character in his story Added Upon, and how pleased her mother was. Father was given an honorable release, returning home from his mission on his birthday, July 22, 1905.”
Well, I decided that I wanted to read the book, too. It was very inspiring and well written, but I found myself wanting WAY more details on some of the events. It starts in the pre-earth life and then takes the characters to earth and then the spirit world. At one point of the book, during the Millennium, one of the characters is busy with temple work and commented that he has just attended the laying of the cornerstone of the 100th temple. Remember, this book was written in 1898—there were 4 temples, so imaging 100, really must have been a miracle to them and something only to happen in the Millennium. It is amazing how the building of temples has really exploded in the last few decades. We just looked and there are currently about 147—some of these announced or under construction. It really is a miracle and we are blessed to be a part of this marvelous work.
David has been reading his Opa’s missionary journals, a Christmas gift that his Dad recently compiled into a nice book. It has been fun to read. In Opa’s journals he had mentioned reading the book Added Upon by Nephi Anderson. David decided that he wanted to read it. Well, he had started and was really enjoying it—I asked him if he had “met” Rupert yet? I remembered this same book on our shelves at home and my Mom telling me that a character in the book was named after her Grandpa (her Mom’s Dad—Rupert Peter Olsen).
Here is a paragraph from the Olsen Family History book explaining more of the story. This is written by my Grandma, Mary Pieper:
“Father (Rupert) was twenty-two years old when he was also called to go to Denmark as a missionary for the Church on April 22, 1903. While on his mission he helped build the LDS meeting house in Alborg, Denmark. During this time an old family friend from Brigham City, Nephi Anderson had been sent by the Church to visit all the missions in England and Europe. He was in Denmark and called Father into his office to talk with him. Nephi had recently written a novel, Added Upon (published by Deseret News Press, 1898) and told Father that he had chosen the name “Rupert” as the name for one of the characters in his story. He had first heard the name Rupert when the Olsen and Anderson families associated together in Brigham City and liked that name. Aunt Daisy also remembered that as a young girl her mother told her that Brother Anderson had used the name of Rupert for the main character in his story Added Upon, and how pleased her mother was. Father was given an honorable release, returning home from his mission on his birthday, July 22, 1905.”
Well, I decided that I wanted to read the book, too. It was very inspiring and well written, but I found myself wanting WAY more details on some of the events. It starts in the pre-earth life and then takes the characters to earth and then the spirit world. At one point of the book, during the Millennium, one of the characters is busy with temple work and commented that he has just attended the laying of the cornerstone of the 100th temple. Remember, this book was written in 1898—there were 4 temples, so imaging 100, really must have been a miracle to them and something only to happen in the Millennium. It is amazing how the building of temples has really exploded in the last few decades. We just looked and there are currently about 147—some of these announced or under construction. It really is a miracle and we are blessed to be a part of this marvelous work.
My favorite part of the book was towards the end, when a few of the characters were talking about life on earth and some of the trials and experiences that they had struggled through--and felt "hopeless". From their "heavenly perspective" they conversed:
"We couldn't see very far, could we brother?" remarked Rupert.
"Our faith was weak and we did not trust in the Lord enough."
"Yes; I used to wonder how the Lord would straighten out the mass of entanglements that seemed to exist in the world. We failed to comprehend the providences of the Lord because we could not see byond the narrow confines of the world in which we were living; we could see only a small part of the circle of eternity; we could not see how that visible portion, which was often rough and unshapely, could fit into anything beautiful; but now our vision is extended and we have a larger, and therefore, a more correct view."
I hope that I can have a "more correct view" in life and keep an eternal perspective.
