"Things that matter most..."

This past weekend I had the opportunity to go up in the mountains with my wife and kids. The scenery was "awe inspiring". We were up at Smith and Morehouse reservoir. It is one of the most beautiful places I've been. While we were there we did some fishing. I was sitting on a rock with my 3 year old Brynlie helping her cast the pole and reel in the fly on the end of her line. We hooked a fish. Brynlie reeled it in. As we went to the water's edge and pulled the fish out of the water there was a squeal of excitement and laughter. I pulled the fish out of the water and Brynlie put her hands around the fish, with the same excitement in her voice she said, "I got one." You could not pay me any amount of money to trade for that experience. I have four beautiful daughters and a gorgeous wife whose beauty surpass the beauty of the scenery I was experiencing up in the mountains. I treasure moments like these. In such a busy world, do you take time to notice the precious moments around you?

Click on this link in this post and watch this video. It is remarkable and powerful. There are a lot of hidden messages in here that touched me significantly. Stop, pause and notice before you run.

http://lds.org/pages/mormon-messages-gallery?lang=eng#moments-that-matter-most

Did God create the universe?

I was out of town for work a couple of weeks ago. During the evenings I had a chance to go catch a movie. An advertisement for a tv show came on during the previews. It was advertising a tv show called "Curiosity". The episode it was advertising was called "Did God create the universe?" A famous physicist, Stephen Hawking challenges the existence of God through one of his theorems. He tries prove this scientifically. I learned at a young age that God speaks to our hearts and minds. Remove and close the heart and God will not be able to communicate with you. It really is not a big mystery as some make it out to be. The key to solving this question requires humility.

"We need not be ashamed of spiritural truths. Beacause of the temptation to intellectual pride, always remember that the sun rises and shines on gentle and simple alike, so the light of truth beams as directly upon the simplest and humblest of God's children as upon you. Do not, therefore, be ashamed of spiritual truths. Do not reject them or think you must amend them because they are common to you and to those who have not had the advantage of higher education. Be not ashamed of Jesus Christ because the poor believe in him and some of the mighty of the world do not. Do not let your scientific intellect discard truths merely because they are not subject to demonstrable proof. Open your hearts and souls so that you may have understanding of spiritual truth." Howard W. Hunter

God did create the universe. He is the great Creator. Do you want to know for yourself? First, humble yourself, then sincerely ask. Do as it says in Matthew:

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."

Wisdom vs. Knowledge

Albert Einstein said,

"The example of great and pure characters is the only thing that can produce fine ideas and noble deeds."

Howard W. Hunter stated,

"The world needs more knowledge, and we're sweeping rapidly forward in this achievement, But increase in knowledge is not the greatest need of mankind today. Man's greatest need is the ability to properly use or put to use the knowledge which he has already acquired. To the knowledge you have learned must be added wisdom. Knowledge without wisdom may be the pathway to that which is evil unless one is willing to apply the principles of right-doing and follow the commandments of God."

How do you plan to use your knowledge today?

Jacob 6:12, one of my favorite scriptures states:

"O be wise; what can I say more?"

"Government dependency is dangerous"

"From my own experience in business and as a lawyer and church worker, and from my firsthand observations in this country and other countries of the world, there appears to be a trend to shift responsibility for life and its processes from the individual to the state. In this shift there is a basic violation of the law of the harvest, or the law of justice. The attitude of "something for nothing" is encouraged. The government is often looked to as the source of wealth. There is the felling that the government should step in and take care of one's needs, one's emergencies, and one's future. Just as my friend actually became a slave to his own ignorance and bad habits by refusing to accept the responsibility for his own education and moral growth, so,also, can an entire people be imperceptibly transferred from individuals, families, and communities to the federal government."

President Howard W. Hunter

"Reconcile yourselves to the will of God"

2 Nephi 10:23-25

23Therefore, acheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are bfree to cact for yourselves—to dchoose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life.

24Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved.

25Wherefore, may God raise you from death by the power of the resurrection, and also from everlasting death by the power of the atonement, that ye may be received into the eternal kingdom of God, that ye may praise him through grace divine. Amen.

The word "reconcile" has the following definitions:

1. To reestablish a close relationship between.

2. To settle or resolve.

3. To bring (oneself) to accept: He finally reconciled himself to the change in management.

4. To make compatible or consistent: reconcile my way of thinking with yours.

I particularly like number 1 and 3 used in combination with this scripture. Life can get so busy, and many times I find that I need to reestablish a close relationship with God. I also find that as I bring myself to accept His will, He always has a way of taking care of me and knowing what is best for me.

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The First Vision....

I just sat in a meeting with the LDS church historian Marlin K. Jensen. He spoke on the first vision. I was deeply moved by the Spirit. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. Joseph Smith did see what he said he saw, two personages who were God the Father, and His Son Jesus Christ.

Gordon B. Hinckley said once, "Well, it's either true or false. If it's false, we're engaged in a great fraud. If it's true, it's the most important thing in the world."

I know that it is true, and the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was not founded on a lie. How do I know this? I've asked God myself, and He has answered me multiple times on this matter. For me to deny this, I would have to deny God Himself.

Elder Jensen said something that really touched me, he said, "If the Lord can work through me, He can work through anybody." Do you believe it?

Is this a sign of old age?

I can't believe that I'm posting about this experience... but it is quite funny. A few weeks ago, I was home with my kids. It was late. I needed to drop off a box of shirts to a friend of mine to take to work the next day. Stacie was gone at Ashley's softball game and I was home with the rest of the kids. I decided to quickly run the box over to my friend's house. I took the suburban and headed over to his house. I drove into my friend's driveway, and quickly hopped out of the suburban, leaving it running, and ran up to the door. I knocked on the door. I glanced at the suburban, and it was moving towards the garage!!!! I apparently left the car in drive. I quickly ran to try and jump in the suburban before it hit the garage door. I ran around the front of the suburban. I quickly realized I was not going to make it. While in front of the suburban, I began pushing it back. Yes... this is true.. I was pushing on the front of my chevy suburban while it was in drive. Well, you can guess what happened.... The suburban pinned my into my friends garage. So here, I am pinned between the garage door and the suburban. Luckily, I had my cell phone on me. I called my friend, "Dan, quick come out front!!!" Dan was wondering why the stress in my voice. He came outside to find me pinned by my suburban. He jumped in the suburban and put it in reverse. My body indent remains in his garage door. I came away with a bruised knee. When Stacie returned home I told her, "Stacie, I got in an accident." I told here what happen.... she said, "You cost me so much money." As I get older, I just might cost her a ton of money.

One year older....

So, it is my birthday. I guess I should post something. Time is flying by so fast. My kids are growing up, I'm getting older, greyer, more absent-minded, and my body hurts more after I try and do things my mind says I can do.

I really have to say that I'm completely happy. My life has been so richly blessed. Thank you to all my family and close friends. I consider many of you close friends.

I read a phrase about marriage this morning stating that it is more important to be the right person rather than marrying the right person. Although, I believe in this statement, I really did marry the right person, and that was Stacie McFarland. She has made this life complete and whole, and the joy she brings each day can not be measured. Those who know her, know what I'm talking about.

Integrity is the golden key to the door of success.

"One of the greatest accomplishments of our lives is to promote an honest, earnest integrity within ourselves. This means that we become spiritually sound, intellectually sincere, morally honest, and always personally responsible to God. Integrity is that golden key which will unlock the door to almost any success." Teachings of Howard W. Hunter

Can you imagine what the world we be like if everyone was honest? It starts with ourselves.

SMTD

Last night before family prayers, my daughter had fallen to sleep. I was trying to wake her up to come say prayers. It was one of those moments, where it did not matter what tactics I used, she was not coming. So, we ended up doing them without her. This morning she came into my office and I asked her what happened last night. She started commenting on me missing our PPI (personal priesthood interview) last Sunday. She said there should be a book that tells you what to do when kids act the way she did last night. Then she said that I needed to spend a whole day with her alone. She said instead of calling it PPI, they should call it SMTD. I asked her what that stood for. She said, "Spend More Time with Dad." This meant a lot to me, and I thought it was important to write down and share. Always be ready to catch golden nuggets that your kids drop here and there. This was one I was given this morning.