Hungry for Heaven

 This blog is dedicated to Ronnie James Dio, a great man, a great example, and a great musician. R.I.P.

 When I think of Dio in the context of the scriptures I always come back to a scripture in the book of Alma, it seems to fit the kind of person Dio was and what he stood for:

 O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people! Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth.

 Ronnie James Dio was a singer, and though he was hardly above 5 feet tall, he sang with the voice of thunder. He sang songs about standing up for yourself and making yourself heard, he sang songs about overcoming the things that keep you down, he sang about fighting your fears, and he sang about the power of desire. Our desires shape who we are and how we act.

 There is a song of his named Hungry For Heaven, and it's one of my favorites. I love the idea of that song, being hungry for heaven, desiring to make yourself better. When you hunger for something its not just something you think about It's something you need, you have to have it, and you'll do anything for it. I have often thought to myself "Am I hungry for heaven? Or am I just kind of snacking on salvation?"  

 Dio wanted to sing, he wanted to touch the hearts of millions through his music, and it became who he was. He influenced countless lives though both the lyrics of his music and the huge amounts of money that he donated to charity as a result of his success. And Dio did it all because that was just the kind of man he was. He was Hungry For Heaven.

 One Columnist said about Dio after his death:

 "The amazing thing is, Dio the man never succumbed to the typical ravages of drugs, booze or hideous all-body tattoos. He never gained 75 pounds later in life or lost most of his voice through merciless shredding and ended it all playing county fairs for 19 drunk dudes in a barn before collapsing in a heap in a motel room in Jersey. There's a lesson in there somewhere. Or everywhere." -Mark Morford

 Ronnie James Dio knew what he wanted and he knew how to get it. And the lesson I learned from his life is that you can succeed and still be a good person. He passed away a few years ago on May 16 2010 from stomach cancer, after 7 Chemo therapies, but he was performing until the end. He was still on stage at age of 67 until his health kept him from doing so.

 I know what I want, and I know how to get it. I only want to make my Father in Heaven proud. I want to do what he would have me do to be close to him, and I want to do it with the same kind of passion that Dio devoted to his art. It might not be easy, but neither is singing in front of thousands while suffering from stomach cancer.

 It is the celestial glory which we seek. It is in the presence of God we desire to dwell. It is a forever family in which we want membership. Such blessings are earned through a lifetime of striving, seeking, repenting, and finally succeeding. - President Thomas S. Monson