The Dermody Family: Musing on Mondays vol.8

Journals/Blogs

President Kimball said, "People often use the excuse that their lives are uneventful and nobody would be interested in what they have done. But I promise you that if you will keep your journals and records, they will indeed be a source of great inspiration to your families, to your children, your grandchildren, and others, on through the generations. Each of us is important to those who are near and dear to us—and as our posterity read of our life's experiences, they, too, will come to know and love us. And in that glorious day when our families are together in the eternities, we will already be acquainted."

Build Wisely

A HOME IS MUCH MORE THAN A HOUSE BUILT OF LUMBER, BRICK, OR STONE. A HOME IS MADE OF LOVE, SACRIFICE, AND RESPECT. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HOMES WE BUILD. WE MUST BUILD WISELY, FOR ETERNITY IS NOT A SHORT VOYAGE. THERE WILL BE CALM AND WIND, SUNLIGHT AND SHADOW, JOY AND SORROW. BUT IF WE REALLY TRY, OUR HOME CAN BE A BIT OF HEAVEN HERE ON EARTH. THE THOUGHTS WE THINK, THE DEEDS WE DO, THE LIVES WE LIVE NOT ONLY INFLUENCE THE SUCCESS OF OUR EARTHLY JOURNEY, THEY ALSO MARK THE WAY TO OUR ETERNAL GOALS.

--THOMAS S.MONSON

Monday, July 7, 2008

Musing on Mondays vol.8

Have you ever wondered where some of the common phrases we say have originated from? I think about stuff like this all the time. I have a list of the little things I hear people say and I wonder to myself, why do we say that? Every Monday I am going to post a phrase and share with you my research as to why we say some of the things we do.

White Elephant Gifts:

Okay, so we have all been to some party where we are asked to bring a "white elephant" gift. I have been wondering for years why we call junky gifts that are ugly and unusable "white elephant" gifts.
In Siam, the royal family would take care of white elephants which were considered to be sacred. From time to time a mere commoner would anger the royal family. In this case, a gift of a white elephant would be given to the commoner and his family. This really wasn't a gift, but a burden to the new owner to care for and feed the elephant. The elephant could not be given away because of it's sacred status. Thus, the "white elephant" gift became one of those things that you can't use, can't get rid off, and that you just rather not have in the first place. Now, the saying refers to any gift that falls into this category and not just the animal.

As always, if you have a common phrase that you would like to know what it means, why we say it, and where it comes from, then leave me a comment and I will do the research for you. Happy musing!