Eyres On The Road

On today's episode, Richard and Linda are joined by their son Eli for a discussion of the power and value of friendships. They share a family discussion they recently had about talking to our children about how to be a good friend, and they refer to a YouTube video featuring Trevor Noah and Simon Sinec that you can watch at https://youtu.be/CNBxIhxHHxM.

This week's 3-Letter Lesson is a warning and a caution--about how Taking For Granted (TFG) can undermine our happiness, eliminate our wonder and awe, and sedate us into missing out on all the little and big joys that life offers us. Richard and Linda explore why our minds default so often to a sense of entitlement or of taking things for granted instead of to the antidote of gratitude, awareness, and praise.

After 12 episodes exploring a "new lens" for viewing Church and family, the Eyres get back to their ongoing series on "3-Letter Lessons"--little word-pegs that remind us of perspectives and attitudes we want to embrace. Today the word is AGE, and Richard and Linda advocate that age and its wisdom and perspective should be valued, respected, tapped-into, and even cherished-- much more so than it is in western society today.

(Re-run from 10/30/2020) Lincoln said "Sometimes I am driven to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I have no place else to go." As parents, we often feel this same feeling. Parenting is hard, children are complicated, the world is dangerous and confusing, particularly in this pandemic--and we are driven to our knees because we have nowhere else to go. And this can be a GOOD THING, because an earthly parent praying to a Heavenly Parent about a child that they share can create some of the most fervent, effectual prayers ever uttered. And it can generate answers that we would never find anywhere else. On today's show, the Eyres talk about parental prayer and how we can all make it a more important part of our lives.

The Eyres are in New York City for the US Open Tennis tournament (and a little Broadway) and use the first part of this episode to think about their 60-year love affair with the City. They then move on to discuss the final installment of the 12-essay series on Familycentricity which focuses on Christ and how He is both the End, the Means, and the Joy of our lives. To see the full article go to latterdaysaintsmag.com.

In today's episode, Richard and Linda "go deep" attempting to discuss their belief in a two-way eternity and how and why they favor a faith that embraces eternal progression rather than eternal rest. They begin the discussion with the question they are frequently asked "What is different in your LDS beliefs as compared to traditional Christianity?" For a full essay on the topic, go to latterdaysaintmag.com.

In this episode, Linda and Richard tell a story about a beloved leader who taught them, by example, to always put people first. They then share a method for setting "Relationship Goals" and conclude with a metaphor about "staying on the porch after you storm out and slam the door."

Today the Eyres are thinking a little about ageing. But they are also talking about the fact that "family" should not just have the nuclear definition of parents and children, but the more common world definition of three or even four generations--often all living under one roof. They ask if, without living all together, we can partake of the benefits of 3-generation families. See accompanying article at latterdaysaintmag.com.

In this episode, Richard and Linda relate how some of their experiences around the world have underscored the importance of family commitment as the path to happiness. They focus on the scripture about "turning the hearts" of parents to children warning that the earth is otherwise "cursed" or "wasted". For more on this, read this weekend's cover story by Richard on Meridian Magazine.

In this episode the Eyres talk about how a parental attitude of extreme humility, acknowledging the "everythingness" of God and our own "nothingness" can impact the atmosphere and the perspective of our children and our families. Through personal stories and experiences Richard and Linda summarize their article which is currently the cover story in Meridian Magazine at latterdaysaintmag.com.

In the first half of this episode the Eyres talk about the log cabin they built as a family in the Blue Mountains of Oregon--where their five sons and 20 of their grandkids are "camping" this week. In the second half they shift to an overview of an essay series they are writing on viewing the Gospel of Jesus Christ within a family centric paradigm. You can find the summary of all 12 essays at latterdaysaintmag.com this weekend.

The Ampersand (&) is what we need more of in this polarized world of ours where everything seems to be a Versus (vs). The & pulls things (and pulls people) together, while the vs pushes people (or things) apart. We especially need more & and less vs in Politics and in human relationships. And perhaps where we need the & most is in our marriages. Read the article that accompanies this episode on the cover of Meridian Magazine.

In this episode, Richard and Linda tell three stories from their recent essay at latterdaysaintmag.com. Each of the three stories illustrate how our Parental God loves all of His children despite the things that, to our limited perspective, look unequal and unfair. You will enjoy these stories, (one involved a giant Banyan tree) and they will expand your view of Divine Inclusivity.

There are more than 2.5 billion Christians in the world who refer to God as "Father." Usually it is a term of respect or honor, symbolic or metaphorical for Creator (as in Thomas Edison being the "Father" of the light bulb.) But there is one Church, one Faith Tradition, that uses the term Father literally, and that is what the Eyres talk about in this episode. For more on this subject, see the cover story at latterdaysaintmag.com.

In this episode, Richard and Linda explore the fascinating doctrine of pre-mortal life and delve into how that belief can change our view of this world and its purpose. While all churches teach some form of life after live, and even though deja vu is a near universal experience, there is only one church in all of Christianity that officially teaches of a life before life. Richard also writes about this subject today at https://latterdaysaintmag.com

Today the Eyres, fresh off of a retreat with their four soon-to-be missionary grandsons, talk about the interplay between family and church, and how, in an ideal world, religion supports and backs up families. They believe that it is families that are eternal, not churches, and that we are all part of families here on earth and part of God's family for eternity. Read the article they refer to at https://latterdaysaintmag.com/making-sense-of-the-gospel-through-a-family-lens/.

How do we get ourselves and our kids in touch with the Spirit or Higher Intelligence of God, to help us discern truth from error and give us the security and comfort we need? The Eyres suggest that there are four portals (abbreviated PTL) that get us "in" to the Spirit: Joy, Love, Peace, and Beauty. Today, they discuss these four portals as both the passwords into the Spirit, and as the manifestations of the Spirit.

(Saren, left, as a 5 year old in England) In their ongoing effort to introduce podcast listeners to their children who they talk about so often, the Eyres interview their first daughter Saren on today's episode. Saren's stellar Wellesley/Harvard education, her LDS mission to Bulgaria, and having 5 kids of her own in five years launched her into a life of service to other parents and families and to coaching and speaking to parents worldwide through her organization, poweroffamilies.com

(Shawni, middle, as a child in London) On today's show, Richard and Linda interview their daughter Shawni, well-known blogger (71toes.com) and podcaster (In the Arena with the Eyre Sisters) about her life, her family, and the motivation behind her ongoing work to help and improve parenting and families. Briefly covering Shawni's life from childhood through her education, her mission, and her own marriage and family, the conversation stems into encouragement for all parents.

The Eyres are in Laguna Beach today and In this new episode they continue their series on "3-letter lessons" and focus on OBS or Observe. Really seeing, truly noticing, and the effort to be acutely aware is the key to all learning and all becoming. Jesus taught us to "watch and pray" and the better we get at observing the more we will have of gratitude, calmness, love, beauty, peace, perspective, inspiration, and joy.