His Name!

Well, I think it is finally decided and so I will share the real thing once before making up a code blogger name for our little unborn son. His birth certificate will read: Miles Phineas Cox

I really wanted his first name to be Phineas and to call him Finn but Chancho didn't agree (in fact he said, "I hate the name" and that made me so very sad and I told him that was very rude to say you hate something that I so obviously love, so he apologized and said he didn't hate it he just didn't want it for the first name so we could use it for his middle name. Anyway, maybe his blogname will be Finn.

From my research, the name Miles either comes from Latin (soldier), German (mild, calm, peaceful), or Slavonic (merciful). You can't go wrong with any of those. I like to think of my little man being a peaceful, merciful soldier.

The reason I like the name Phineas so much is because of this man, my 3rd great grandfather:On my Mother's side of the family he was the first to join the LDS church and was a friend to the prophet, Joseph Smith. In fact his brother, Willard, was in Carthage jail with the prophet when he was killed. Phineas was a great leader and an example of righteousness and faith. He was forced to flee persecution with his family and was the leader of one of the first wagon companies to trek across the plains and arrive in Utah shortly after Brigham Young. His son, Franklin D. Richards became an apostle, as did his son George F. Richards (my mom's grandpa), and his son LeGrand Richards. Phineas began a legacy of faith of which I'm truly proud to be a part of and am honored to name my little son after this man.

Some of you may find it interesting that he was mentioned in the last General Conference session by one of our current apostles, Boyd K. Packer.

In his talk, "The Test", Elder Packer talks about the trials the saints went through--murder, plunder, destruction, being driven from city to city and even having and extermination act put out against them and how they constantly petitioned the US government for help and time and time again were failed. He talks about their trek across the plains. Two years after arriving in the valley the saints decided to have a celebration of their liberty and freedom. From the talk:

“It may seem puzzling, incredible almost beyond belief, that for the theme of this first celebration they chose patriotism and loyalty to that same government which had rejected and failed to assist them. What could they have been thinking of? If you can understand why, you will understand the power of the teachings of Christ.

Their brass band played as President Brigham Young led a grand procession to Temple Square. He was followed by the Twelve Apostles and the Seventy.

Then followed 24 young men dressed in white pants; black coats; white scarves on their right shoulders; coronets, or crowns, on their heads; and a sheathed sword at their left sides. In their right hand, of all things, each carried a copy of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. The Declaration of Independence was read by one of those young men.

Next came 24 young women dressed in white, blue scarves on their right shoulders and white roses on their heads. Each carried a Bible and a Book of Mormon.

Almost but not quite as amazing as their choice of patriotism for a theme was what came next: 24 aged sires (as they were called) led by patriarch Isaac Morley. They were known as the Silver Greys—all 60 years of age or older. Each carried a staff painted red with white ribbon floating at the top. One carried the Stars and Stripes. These men were a symbol of the priesthood, which was “from the beginning before the world was”9 and had been restored in this dispensation.

The Saints knew that the Lord had told them to be “subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.”10 That commandment, revealed then, is true now of our members in every nation. We are to be law-abiding, worthy citizens.

The Lord told them, “I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose.”11

And in another verse, the Lord told them that “it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another.”12 They were therefore antislavery. This was a very sore spot with the settlers in Missouri.

And so on that day of celebration in 1849, “Elder Phineas Richards came forward in behalf of the twenty-four aged sires, and read their loyal and patriotic address.”13 He spoke of the need for them to teach patriotism to their children and to love and honor freedom. After he briefly recited the perils that they had come through, he said:

“Brethren and friends, we who have lived to three-score years, have beheld the government of the United States in its glory, and know that the outrageous cruelties we have suffered proceeded from a corrupted and degenerate administration, while the pure principles of our boasted Constitution remain unchanged. …

“… As we have inherited the spirit of liberty and the fire of patriotism from our fathers, so let them descend [unchanged] to our posterity.”14

One would think that, compelled by force of human nature, the Saints would seek revenge, but something much stronger than human nature prevailed.

The Apostle Paul explained:

“The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. …

“… We have the mind of Christ.”15

That Spirit defined those early members of the Church as followers of Christ.

If you can understand a people so long-suffering, so tolerant, so forgiving, so Christian after what they had suffered, you will have unlocked the key to what a Latter-day Saint is. Rather than being consumed with revenge, they were anchored to revelation. Their course was set by the teachings still found today in the Old and the New Testaments, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.

If you can understand why they would celebrate as they did, you can understand why we have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, in the principles of the gospel.”

And so it is that he shall be named. The End.