Some years ago on fast Sunday, an elderly sister came to the pulpit to share her testimony. In what ways will sacrifice make our days meaningful and blessed?įirst, personal sacrifice strengthens us and gives value to the things we sacrifice for. “Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven” (“Praise to the Man,” Hymns, no. The word sacrifice comes from the Latin words sacer, which means “sacred,” and facere, which means “to make”-in other words, to make things sacred, to bring honor to them. The Lord said, “Behold, now it is called today until the coming of the Son of Man, and verily it is a day of sacrifice” ( D&C 64:23 emphasis added). Regardless of the time the Lord, in His wisdom, determines to grant each of us, of one thing we can be sure: we all have a “today” to live, and the key to making our day successful is to be willing to sacrifice. If we were told we had a short time to live, we too might plead for more days of life in the name of things we should have done or done differently. On that occasion, God added 15 years to Hezekiah’s life. When he heard the prophet’s words, Hezekiah began to pray, plead, and weep sorely. The prophet Isaiah announced to Hezekiah that Hezekiah’s life was about to end. In the Old Testament we read the story of Hezekiah, king of Judah. How would I treat my wife, my children, and others? How patient and polite would I be? How would I take care of my body? How fervently would I pray and search the scriptures? I think that, in one way or another, we all at some point will have a “one more day” realization-a realization that we must use wisely the time we have. (To hear a free Sound Bite from this album, call Post-Haste at 20 and press 8161.)ĬAPTION: Tom Petty still won't back down, refusing to surrender to heartbreak on his new "Echo.I have visited Brigham’s grave a few times, and every time I do, I contemplate the phrase “one more day.” I wonder what it would mean, what effect it would have in my life to know that I had only one more day to live. Tom Petty will perform June 25 at Nissan Pavilion. Even for the Heartbreakers, "Echo" is a particularly lean album, but Campbell's arsenal of six- and 12-string guitars and Tench's complementary touch generate plenty of vitality and soul. Produced by Petty, Mike Campbell and Rick Rubin, "Echo" also reverberates with familiar sonic treats, and not just when the band pays tribute to the Byrds on "This One's for Me." Though Petty likes to keeps his tunes simple and edgy, they're never colorless on "Echo," thanks primarily to the way guitarist Campbell and keyboardist Benmont Tench bring out the melodies. Then again, as long as Petty continues to compose old-fashioned ballads ("Accused of Love" is a prime example) or flat-out rock anthems (there are several to choose from here), more reminders of his strong ties to the past aren't really necessary. References to historical figures abound on "Echo," ranging from Benny Goodman to Sonny Liston, all reminders of just how uninterested Petty is in prevailing pop fashions. Like Dylan, too, Petty isn't averse to engaging in some name-dropping when the song calls for it - and even when it doesn't. "One More Day, One More Night" is an account of a man's struggle to focus on "what's real." And on "Rhino Skin," Petty offers a Dylanesque philosophy ("You need rhino skin/ if you're gonna pretend you're not hurt by this world") to go along with his now customary Dylanesque way of phrasing a lyric. "Free Girl Now" and "Swingin' " are impassioned salutes to fellow survivors. But beginning with the opening track, "Room at the Top," Petty sounds more defiant than despairing, intent on never making the same mistake twice ("I've got a room at the top of the world tonight/ and I ain't comin' down").Īs the album unfolds, several other songs resonate with similar resolve and hard-won wisdom. Since Petty has acknowledged that his recent divorce led to a bout of depression that stifled his creativity, it's tempting to read between the lines of some of his new songs, to trace their bitter emotions to his personal anguish. Their new album, "Echo" (Warner Brothers), reasserts the band's faith in the cathartic power of '60s roots rock. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers have helped sustain their popularity over the past 20 years by seeming oblivious to passing industry trends, and they're not about to change now.
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