Be Grateful

Wonderful article.

Christ's charACTer

I've been studying about the character of Jesus Christ.  Inside the word "character" is the word "ACT". As we act and do our best to apply the attributes of the Savior, the more we will understand our purpose here on earth and the importance of Jesus in this marvelous plan.

Agency is fundamental: Attitude is our choice.

I read this quote this morning.  It is a quote out of the book "Man's Search for Meaning" written by Dr. Viktor Frankl, and Australian neurologist, psychiatrist, and World War II concentration camp survivor.

"The experiences of camp life show that man does have a choice of action.  There were enough examples, often of a heroic nature, which proved that apathy could be overcome, irritability suppressed.  Man can preserve a vestige of spiritual freedom, of independence of mind, even in such terrible conditions of psychic and physical stress.  We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread.  They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing:  the last of the human freedoms -- to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.  Even though conditions such as lack of sleep, insufficient food and various mental stresses may suggest that the inmates were bound to react in certain ways, in the final analysis it becomes clear that the sort of person the prisoner became was the result of an inner decision, and not the result of camp influences alone.  Fundamentally, therefore, any man can, even under such circumstances, decide what shall become of him -- mentally and spiritually.  He may retain his human dignity even in a concentration camp..... I became acquainted with those martyrs whose behavior in camp, whose suffering and death, bore witness to the fact that the last inner freedom cannot be lost...  They way in which man accepts his fate and all the suffering in entails, the way in which he takes up his cross, gives him ample opportunity --- even in the most difficult circumstances -- to add a deeper meaning to life."

Seek out the one....

I had the privilege to listen to one of the most inspiring talks I've heard in a long while last week.  At a work activity we had the privilege of listening to Janice Kapp Perry.  She is a music composer of some music that had changed many lives.   There were so many good things in her talk and I'd like to share one of them.  She shared an experience where she started to include in her prayers everyday that she may seek out and find someone to bless through service.  She shared a powerful experience of serving an older lady that lost her sight.  She began to visit her and read to her, and eventually started to rub her feet.  A few weeks before this old ladies' death she had the opportunity to wash her feet.  She shared how she was able to connect to the Savior and relate with Him as He washed His disciples feet.  I decided to include this request of seeking out someone to bless in my morning prayers.

Elder Bednar teaches a powerful concept of acting and not waiting to be acted upon.  Just making the request is not sufficient enough.  Let me share my yesterday to show how waiting to be acted upon is not the right way.  In my daily routine, I requested in my morning prayer that I may bless someone's life that day.  After the day's end I reflected on how I did.  I found two opportunities that I missed because of my lack of acting, and lack of seeking out the opportunity.  While at lunch, a man asked for a bowl of soup.  I work at a place where I run across people or beggars often.  They usually are always asking for money.  I don't carry money with me.  I've got use to the begging, and am guilty of replying with the auto reply, "I'm sorry, I don't have anything."  With this particular person, he was asking for food not money.  There was a cafe nearby, and a friend and co-worker of mine took him inside and bought him a bowl of soup.  This was easy enough and something I could have done.  If I acted and sought out how to bless his life, I would have not been caught up in the auto reply of "I'm sorry, I don't have anything."  I do have something - and I missed out on sharing.

After returning late last night from watching my daughter's softball game I got a message from my mother on some help my father needed.  I quickly remembered a couple of days ago him telling my how he almost dug himself in a hole trying to install a sump pump.  I recalled my conversation with him, and not once did I offer any help.  I was more than willing to help if asked, but I was not seeking out the opportunity to help.

So, I'm not doing so well in seeking out the one.  This is harder than it seems, especially when there are so many priorities and things that you are juggling.  These are just two examples of missed opportunities, I'm sure there are so many more that I have not realized I missed.  What opportunities have you missed to bless someone else?  This is going to take some work on my part

Trying to find happiness?

I colleague I work with shared this thought last week that I thought was worth sharing with others..

Shawn Achor, a researcher at Harvard University, has determined that our external environment only accounts for 10 percent of our long-term happiness. This leaves 90 percent to be predicted by the way we view the world. But one very important element that Professor Achor found in his research is the trap of equating happiness with success. Every time we have success we then end up changing the goalpost of what success looks like.  If our happiness is always on the opposite side of success, then we never truly get there. 

But if we can cultivate genuine happiness in our lives our intelligence, creativity, and energy levels will rise. Professor Achor has determined that there are 5 specific activities that help us generate meaningful happiness. It may come as no surprise that each of the activities are core elements of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

1. Be Grateful. Write down three new things that you're grateful for each day. ---President Hinckley has said, “When you walk with gratitude…you walk with a spirit of thanksgiving that is becoming to you and will bless your lives.”
2. Be Positive. Journal about one positive experience each day. ---President Kimball stated, "What could you do better…than to record…your recovery after a fall, your progress when all seemed black, your rejoicing when you had finally achieved?."
3. Be Healthy. Exercise teaches our brain that our behavior matters. ---In Doctrine & Covenants section 89 it says, "And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, [the Word of Wisdom] …shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones; And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge."
4. Meditate. Meditation allows our brain to get over the cultural ADHD of multitasking and learn to focus. ---In Doctrine & Covenants section 76 Joseph Smith said, "And while we meditated upon these things, the Lord touched the eyes of our understandings and they were opened, and the glory of the Lord shone round about."
5. Serve. Perform random acts of kindness such as write one positive email thanking someone for something they did for you. ---King Benjamin in the 2nd chapter of Mosiah declares, "when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."

Overcoming the World

Here is something that was prophesied back in 1889 by the prophet Lorenzo Snow.  If we were that "advanced in knowledge" back then, think of where we are today.

"We are considerably advanced in the knowledge of the things of God, and are qualified to act in His behalf; yet we are not entirely out of the wilderness, if I may be permitted to use that expression.  The time will come when we shall overcome the world and every temptation that can be advanced to affect us.  We are now advancing to that point;  but we have not yet reached it.  And now comes a time when the Latter-day Saints will probably be subjected to temptation greater and more subtle than we ever again will experience as a people.  But let me tell you that after we have passed through the scenes that are now before us, the clouds will break; and ... we will stand on  a much higher [plane] of righteousness, of faith, power and influence than ever before.  We will have the approval and blessings of the Almighty, and we will have influence with the world.  They will respect us more than they ever have done."

I really liked this quote, sometimes it feels like the world is winning in the battle of good and bad.  We will "overcome the world,"  it has been prophesied by a prophet of God.

Instantly....

I marvel at the power of the word "instantly."  I enjoy being able to put in my Nestle Quick chocolate milk mix into my milk and to get "instantly" delicious chocolate milk.  What a marvel it is to me to be able to get things "instantly" like hot oatmeal or chocolate pudding.  Sometimes wanting something "instantly" can get us in trouble also and we have to apply the precious virtue of "patience."  I read a powerful talk given by President Boyd K. Packer this morning titled, "These Things I Know" given in the 2013 April General Conference.  I want to share a portion of his talk that uses the word "instantly":

"Each of us must stay in condition to respond to inspiration and the promptings of the Holy Ghost.  The Lord has a way of pouring pure intelligence into our minds to prompt us, to guide us, to teach us, and to warn us.  Each son or daughter of God can know the things they need to know instantly. Learn to receive and act on inspiration and revelation."

This is case in where "instantly" does not get us into trouble.  Ever wonder why inspiration takes so long sometime?  I believe if we heed President Boyd K. Packer's counsel to "Learn to receive and act on inspiration and revelation" and to always "stay in condition to respond to inspiration and promptings of the Holy Ghost" that we can have this gift of "instantly" knowing what we should do through inspiration.

What are you doing to "stay in condition"?  In physical exercise we do many routines to "stay in condition" whether it is daily running, swimming, biking or pick your favorite physical activity.  The spirit and soul needs the same exercise to "stay in condition."  How often and how much sincere time is spent with the great Creator in prayer, pondering and study?

To the Fathers.... Happy Fathers Day

The Power of the Priesthood is REAL!

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints I hold the priesthood, which is the authority to act in God's name.  There is a great talk by the prophet Thomas Monson called "Willing and Worthy to Serve"

I want to pull out a story from this talk that shows the power of the priesthood in action.  I've had many experiences in my own life where I've seen this power of God bless my own life and others.  I know it to be REAL, and am so grateful to be trusted by God to hold such an important responsibility.

During World War II, in the early part of 1944, an experience involving the priesthood took place as United States marines were taking Kwajalein Atoll, part of the Marshall Islands and located in the Pacific Ocean about midway between Australia and Hawaii. What took place in this regard was related by a correspondent—not a member of the Church—who worked for a newspaper in Hawaii. In the 1944 newspaper article he wrote following the experience, he explained that he and other correspondents were in the second wave behind the marines at Kwajalein Atoll. As they advanced, they noticed a young marine floating facedown in the water, obviously badly wounded. The shallow water around him was red with his blood. And then they noticed another marine moving toward his wounded comrade. The second marine was also wounded, with his left arm hanging helplessly by his side. He lifted up the head of the one who was floating in the water in order to keep him from drowning. In a panicky voice he called for help. The correspondents looked again at the boy he was supporting and called back, “Son, there is nothing we can do for this boy.”

 “Then,” wrote the correspondent, “I saw something that I had never seen before.” This boy, badly wounded himself, made his way to the shore with the seemingly lifeless body of his fellow marine. He “put the head of his companion on his knee. … What a picture that was—these two mortally wounded boys—both … clean, wonderful-looking young men, even in their distressing situation. And the one boy bowed his head over the other and said, ‘I command you, in the name of Jesus Christ and by the power of the priesthood, to remain alive until I can get medical help.’” The correspondent concluded his article: “The three of us [the two marines and I] are here in the hospital. The doctors don’t know [how they made it alive], but I know.”

I will not be still...

I happened to come across this youtube video today.  Great message!  May we not stand idle, but do our part in sharing the wonderful message and knowledge that we have a loving Heavenly Father and we are His children.

Courage to do what is right

I read a story from a talk given by Elder Dallin H. Oaks in 1987 today called Priesthood Blessings.

It reminded my of the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego found in Daniel chapter 3, where Shadrack, Meshack, and Abed-nego stood for what was right.  Although they were commanded by the decree of the king to worship a golden image, they stood and did not bow down and worship this false god.  Because of it they were thrown in a fire and their God saved them.

This story I read happened back just before Joseph Smith Jr. was martyred.

As a boy, I was inspired by a story of courage in Nauvoo, which involved my grandfather’s uncle. In the spring of 1844, some men were plotting against the Prophet Joseph Smith. One of the leaders, William Law, held a secret meeting at his home in Nauvoo. Among those invited were nineteen-year-old Dennison Lott Harris and his friend, Robert Scott.Dennison’s father, Emer Harris, who is my second great-grandfather, was also invited. He sought counsel from the Prophet Joseph Smith, who told him not to attend the meeting but to have the young men attend. TheProphet instructed them to pay close attention and report what was said.

The spokesmen at this first meeting denounced Joseph Smith as a fallen prophet and stated their determination to destroy him. When the Prophet heard this, he asked the young men to attend the second meeting. They did so, and reported the plotting.

A third meeting was to be held a week later. Again the Prophet asked them to attend, but he told them this would be their last meeting. “Be careful to remain silent and not to make any covenants or promises with them,” he counseled. He also cautioned them on the great danger of their mission.Although he thought it unlikely, it was possible they would be killed. Then,the Prophet Joseph Smith blessed Dennison and Robert by the power of the priesthood, promising them that if their lives were taken, their reward would be great.

In the strength of this priesthood blessing, they attended the third meeting and listened to the murderous plans. Then, when each person was required to take an oath to join the plot and keep it secret, they bravely refused.After everyone else had sworn secrecy, the whole group turned on Dennison and Robert, threatening to kill them unless they took the oath also. Because any refusal threatened the secrecy of their plans, about half of the plotters proposed to kill these two immediately. Knives were drawn,and angry men began to force them down into a basement to kill them.

Other plotters shouted to wait. Parents probably knew where they were. If they didn’t return, an alarm would be sounded and a search could reveal the boys’ deaths and the secret plans. During a long argument, two lives hung in the balance. Finally, the group decided to threaten to kill the young men if they ever revealed anything that had occurred and then to release them. This was done. Despite this threat, and because they had followed the Prophet’s counsel not to make any promises to the conspirators, Dennison and Robert promptly reported everything to the Prophet Joseph Smith.

For their own protection, the Prophet had these courageous young men promise him that they would never reveal this experience, not even to their fathers, for at least twenty years. A few months later, the Prophet JosephSmith was murdered.

Many years passed. The members of the Church settled in the West. While Dennison L. Harris was serving as bishop of the Monroe Ward in southern Utah, he met a member of the First Presidency at a Church meeting in Ephraim. There, on Sunday, 15 May 1881, thirty-seven years after the Prophet Joseph Smith had sealed his lips to protect him against mob vengeance, Dennison Harris recited this experience to President Joseph F.Smith (see Verbal Statement of Bishop Dennison L. Harris, 15 May 1881,MS 2725, Historical Department, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City; the account was later published in the Contributor,Apr. 1884, pp. 251–60). Dennison Harris’s posterity includes many notable Latter-day Saints, including Franklin S. Harris, long-time president of Brigham Young University. 

Come what may, and love it!

 "Come what may and love it!" was a talk given by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin in 2008.

Here is a couple of thoughts I pulled out that are great to ponder:

"If we approach adversities wisely, our hardest times can be times of great growth, which in turn can lead toward times of greatest happiness."

"Learning to endure times of disappointment, suffering, and sorrow is part of our on-the-job training.  These experiences, while often difficult to bear at the time, are precisely the kinds of experiences that stretch our understanding, build our character, and increase our compassion for others."

To the women in my life....

I've been so blessed in my  life to have wonderful women be there for me.  My wife, Stacie, you are simply the best thing that has ever happened to me.  My mother, thank you for all you do and continue to do in my life.

There is joy in doing good

"We should have before us a strong desire to do good to others.  Never mind so much about ourselves.  Good will come to us all right if we keep our  minds outside of ourselves to a certain extent, and try to make others happier and draw them a little nearer to the Lord.  We have been sent into the world to do good to others;  and in doing good to others we do good to ourselves.  We should always keep this in view, the husband in reference to his wife, the wife in reference to her husband, the children in reference to their parents, and the parents in reference to their children.  There is always opportunity to do good to one another.  When you find yourselves a little gloomy, look around you and find somebody that is in a worse plight than yourself; go to him and find out what the trouble is, then try to remove it with the wisdom which the Lord bestows upon you; and the first thing you know, your gloom is gone, you feel light, the Spirit of the Lord is upon you, and everything seems illuminated."  Lorenzo Snow Apr. 1899

How do I retain knowledge?

I mentioned in an earlier post that I was starting to memorize things, and as I get older how hard it is.  I wrote down this question down a couple of days ago: "How do I retain what I learn?"  This morning I read in John 14:26 which states:

26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

There lies the answer to my question.  As I heed to the promptings of the Holy Ghost, it is by the Holy Ghost who will "bring all things to (my) remembrance."

The Touch of the Masters Hand

Lately I've started this goal of memorizing things.  I can't believe how difficult it is for me to memorize. I remember it being so much easier when I was younger.   I've been studying the Atonement the past month, and lately more specifically the principle of repentance.  Repentance is the second principle of the gospel... "We believe the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are first faith in the Jesus Christ, second repentance..."  When you first hear the word sometimes you can have negative thoughts around it because it can be associated with awful sin.  What a blessing it is!  We are all imperfect and sin, can you imagine if we did not have such a marvelous gift.  This gift is given to us by a loving Savior, our Master.  As I've been studying this topic I remember a poem that touches me deeply.  It is called "The Touch of the Masters Hand" by Myra 'Brooks' Welch.  So, I've decided to commit it to memory.  We are all like the old violin in this poem, and with repentance and the "Touch of the Master's Hand" we are beautiful and perfect.

  Twas battered and scarred and the auctioneer
  thought it scarcely worth his while to waste much timo on the old violin.
  but held it up with a smile:  "What am I bidden, good folks."  he cried.
  "Who'll start the bidding for me?"  "A dollar, a dollar"; then two!"  "Only
  two?  Two dollars, and who'll make it three?  Three dollars, once; three
 dollars twice; going for three.."  But no, from the room, far in the back, a 
  gray-haired man came forward and picked up the bow;  Then, wiping the dust
  from the old violin, and tightening the loose strings, he played a melody
  pure and sweet as caroling angel sings.

  The music ceased, and the auctioneer, with a voice that was quiet and low,
  said;  "What am I bid for the old violin?"  And he held it up with the bow.
  A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two?  Two thousand!  And who'll make
  it three?  Three thousand, once three thousand, twice, and going 
  and gone," said he.  The people cheered, but some of them cried, "We do not
  quite understand what changed its worth."  Swift came the reply: "The touch
  of the master's hand."

  And many a man with life out of tune, and battered and scared with sin.
  Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, much link the old violin.  A
  "mess of pottage," a glass of wine; a game - and he travels on.  "He is 
  going" once, and "going twice, He's going and almost gone."  But the Master
  comes, and the foolish crowd never can quite understand the worth of a soul
  and the change that's wrought be the touch of the Master's hand.

Don't expect to be perfect all at once

Lorenzo Snow made a statement back in 1901 that applies just the same today:

"Do not expect to become perfect at once.  If you do, you will be disappointed.  Be better today than you were yesterday, and be better tomorrow than you are today.  The temptations that perhaps partially overcome us today, let them not overcome us so far tomorrow.  Thus continue to be a little better day by day; and do not let your life wear away without accomplishing good to others as well as to ourselves."

That is good news!

I've was reading in a book this morning called: "Believing Christ" by Stephen E. Robinson.  Fantastic read.  Easter is around the corner and it is a wonderful time to remember our Savior.  I want to quote something very powerful that I read this morning in his book:

"But why would You do this for me?

    Because I love you.

But it doesn't seem fair.

    That's right.  It's not fair all - it's merciful.

    It is, after all, a gift.

But how can I possibly deserve such a gift?

   Don't be silly.  You can't.  You don't.  This gift

   is offered because I love you and want to 

   help you, not because I owe it to you.

But how can I ever repay You?

   There you go again.  Don't you get it yet?

    You can't repay me, not you or all the billions

    like you.  Gifts of this magnitude can never

   be repaid.  For what I've done out of love for you,

    you can only love me back, and seek to become

    what I am - a giver of good gifts."

Jenny's Pearls

I have 4 daughters of my own.  My oldest is just entering her teens - and I am learning so much.  She likes and wants to do everything.  This morning I felt inspired to send her a story I heard once called Jenny's Pearls.


The cheerful girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box.

"Oh please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please!" Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face.

"A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2. If you really want them, I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them yourself. Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma." As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her piggy bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores. She went to the neighbor, Mrs. McJames, and asked if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.

Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere--Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother had told her that if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.

Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night when he finished the story, he asked Jenny, "Do you love me?"

"Oh yes, Daddy. You know that I love you."

"Then may I have your pearls?"

"Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess--the white horse from my collection. The one with the pink tail. Remember, Daddy? The one you gave me. She's my favorite."

"That's okay, honey. Daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.

About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked again, "Do you love me?"

"Daddy, you know I love you."

"Then will you give me your pearls?"

"Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is so beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper."

"That's okay, Honey. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you." And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss. A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian-style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek.

"What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?"

Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. When she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, "Here, Daddy. It's for you." With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's kind daddy reached out with one hand to take the prized necklace. With the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case. He handed the handsome velvet case to Jenny and told her, "Thank you for giving me your most prized possesion that you even saved for all by yourself. Here Honey, I have this for you also. I wanted to trade you, but I was going to give these to you tonight either way."

As Jenny pryed open the blue velvet box, so nice a thing itself she'd never known, the glistening white sheen of the rich genuine pearls struck her teary eyes.



Sometimes is is so hard for us to give up things we truly love, especially when we don't have the understanding of what is in store for us.  I also want to share one of my favorite Mormon Messages called "Moments that Matters Most."  It has a lot of hidden gems.

Are you forgetful?

I think I am one of the most forgetful people around.  I'll commit to be somewhere, or do something for someone, and at times I'll just get so busy and forget.

A couple of years ago an created a post talking about how important the word of "Remember".   This morning I was reading in the book "Teachings of Lorenzo Snow" and came across these profound words:

  "We frequently, in the multitude of cares around us, get forgetful and these things are not before us, then we do not comprehend that the gospel is designed and calculated in its nature to bestow upon us those things that will bring glory, honor, and exhalation, that will bring happiness,  peace and glory.  We are apt to forget these things in the midst of the cares and vexations of life, and we do not fully understand that it is our privilege, and that the Lord has placed it in our reach to pursue that gospel whereby we may have peace within us continually....  Where is the man that will turn aside and throw away those prospects that are embraced in the gospel which we have received?  In it there is satisfaction, there is joy, there is stability, there is something upon which to rest our feet, there is a sure foundation to build upon, and upon which to yield that which is required of us."

Something what helps me in my forgetfulness is routines.  When I establish regular routines to do things like daily prayer and daily scripture study,  I do a better job at remembering.  When was the last time you  attended a regular religious meeting?  Have you forgot what it is like to be spiritual?  When was the last time you said a prayer and read and pondered scripture?

Act on Faith!

I had the privilege to server a mission for my church in Portugal.  I was serving there with 3 other young men from Cape Verde, Africa, Elder Barros, Elder Brazao, and Elder Fernandez.  I was serving in a small town called Pombal.  This was a rural area of homes and villages surrounding a castle.

We used buses and trains to get around to the various villages.  We took a bus out to a member's house that lived far away.  We spent time with the family, had dinner, (if I remember right there were pork products in a soup, one being a pig's ear, still had hair on it).  The mother Rosa drove us to the train station to catch the train.  Well, the train was suppose to stop there at 9:09pm.  Well it was a very small town station and at that hour only me, Elder Barros, Elder Brazao, and Elder Fernandez were there.  It was freezing cold.

The train doesn't show up on time, so we wait.  Soon it was 9:30pm - still no train.  We then start running in place to keep warm.  I told them this was a test of our faith.  The next train will be the one to stop and take us home.  Well, soon after we hear a train coming.  We run out of the station anxiously waiting.  There is a horn and the train passes with hardly even noticing us.  We walk back into the station (the inside of the station was still outside and cold).  By this time Elder Brazao had his shoes off rubbing his feet.  The cold was harder on the Elders from Cape Verde.  They are use to very warm climates, whereas, I'm from Utah and was more accustomed to the colder weather.  Nonetheless, I had been jogging in place for 45 minutes.  I told them again that it is our test of faith.  Don't give up hope.  Within the next 5 minutes, 6 trains pass, not one of them stopping.  We had be waiting there in the freezing cold for over an hour.  Finally, Elder Fernandez said, "Its time to leave and find a taxi."  I said "the next one will stop.  It's a test of our faith.  I know that Christ lives, I don't doubt He lives and I know anything I ask and the Holy Ghost confirms, I will receive.  The part that was missing here in this experience was the confirming of the Holy Ghost.  We found a cafe and called a taxi and arrived at home without any problems.  We could have stayed at that station and froze for another hour or put some effort into finding another way home.  You can have tons of faith by words, but without getting up and doing something about it, forget it.

James 2:14,17

14. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
17. Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Live 2 Inspire!

In Romans chapter 11 the apostle Paul prophesies of the great Apostasy and restoration of the gospel.  After Christ's death the prophets and apostles where killed.  Due to unbelief the true gospel, the priesthood and authority was taken from the earth.  v20 "..because of unbelief they were broken off"

In verse 22 it says: ".. if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off"

So, it all begins by not doing good.  We eventually become blind.  v7 "... Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded."  We cannot stand idle and do nothing and not expect to be in good standing with God.  We then begin to forget.  Forget what?  Forget our divine nature of who we really are.   We are "spirit sons and daughters of heavenly parents, and as such, have a divine nature and destiny."

We cannot stand idle and expect to "ultimately realize our divine destiny as heirs of eternal life."  Let us be the "election" that "hath obtained it."  What good do you plan to do this day?  Who will you lift up and inspire?   I've enjoyed a phrase that I need to repeat in my mind often: "Live 2 Inspire!"

As God is, Man may be.....

Lorenzo Snow, a latter-day prophet stated:

"... and the Lord revealed to me, just as plainly as the sun at noon-day, this principle, which I put in a couplet:  As man now is, God once was.  As God now is, man may be."

I've pondered this statement this week.  I was attending the LDS temple and I decided while I was learning I'd look at things from a different perspective.  Instead of looking at life from my own perspective, I imagined, "what if I were God.. how would I go about "bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man?"  How would I help my children grow and progress?  How would I help them return to me?

It is interesting how things that you'd never consider enter your mind and heart when you look at things from another's perspective.  Although, I view myself in my own carnal state, "even less than dust of the earth" compared to my Heavenly Father, I've still been given the precious gift of creating another earthly life, and am an earthly Father.  I can relate somewhat, and I have an incredible amount of love for my children and want to live with them forever.

I'm not going to relate all that I learned as I've pondered these questions as if I was a  Heavenly Father, but I'd encourage you go through the same exercise.  You'll probably learn new and different things than what I learned.  It may prompt you to ask and ponder on different questions.  A wise man once gave me an unexpected answer when asking him what I thought was a very deep question.  He said, "You're asking the wrong question."

Why do we bless our food?

The other night I got in a discussion with the young men and leaders about why we bless our food.  We had ordered pizza for food at our activity.  When someone says in a prayer: "please bless the food that it will nourish and strengthen our bodies," is pizza really going to nourish and strengthen our bodies?  What if it was doughnuts and ice cream.  Where did the blessing of food come from.  One of the leaders mentioned that maybe it came from the pioneers coming across the plains.  They had to bless buffalo chips to bring nourishment to their bodies when they had no other food to eat.  Well, interesting enough I came across a real story of a pioneer woman while reading a talk by Elder Marcus B. Nash of the Seventy.

The life of Ann Rowley, a pioneer woman in the early days of the Church, demonstrates how exercising faith impacts our lives for good. A widow from England, Sister Rowley exercised her faith to answer the prophet’s call to gather to Zion. She was a member of the Willie handcart company, which encountered deep snowdrifts along the trail in the fall of 1856. They had reached a point in the trek where her seven children were literally starving. She wrote: “It hurt me to see my children go hungry. … Night was coming and there was no food for the evening meal. I asked God’s help as I always did. I got on my knees, remembering two hard sea biscuits that … had been left over from the sea voyage. They were not large, and were so hard they couldn’t be broken. Surely, that was not enough to feed 8 people, but 5 loaves and 2 fishes were not enough to feed 5,000 people either, but through a miracle, Jesus had done it. So, with God’s help, nothing is impossible. I found the biscuits and put them in a dutch oven and covered them with water and asked for God’s blessing. Then I put the lid on the pan and set it on the coals. When I took off the lid a little later, I found the pan filled with food. I kneeled with my family and thanked God for his goodness. That night my family had sufficient food.”

What a great story of faith.  In Mosiah we read:

“Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend."

President Monson once stated:

"The future is as bright as your faith"

I just came another great pioneer story about blessing food.  This is a journal entr y from a rescuer of the Martin and Willie handcart company.  I read this from Elder Bednar's called: "The Atonement and the Journey of Mortality"


Examples of the enabling power are not found only in the scriptures. Daniel W. Jones was born in 1830 in Missouri, and he joined the Church in California in 1851. In 1856 he participated in the rescue of handcart companies that were stranded in Wyoming by severe snowstorms. After the rescue party had found the suffering Saints, provided what immediate comfort they could, and made arrangements for the sick and the feeble to be transported to Salt Lake City, Daniel and several other young men volunteered to remain with and safeguard the company’s possessions. The food and supplies left with Daniel and his colleagues were meager and rapidly expended. The following quote from Daniel Jones’s personal journal describes the events that followed.
“Game soon became so scarce that we could kill nothing. We ate all the poor meat; one would get hungry eating it. Finally that was all gone, nothing now but hides were left. We made a trial of them. A lot was cooked and eaten without any seasoning and it made the whole company sick. … “Things looked dark, for nothing remained but the poor raw hides taken from starved cattle. We asked the Lord to direct us what to do. The brethren did not murmur, but felt to trust in God. … Finally I was impressed how to fix the stuff and gave the company advice, telling them how to cook it; for them to scorch and scrape the hair off; this had a tendency to kill and purify the bad taste that scalding gave it. After scraping, boil one hour in plenty of water, throwing the water away which had extracted all the glue, then wash and scrape the hide thoroughly, washing in cold water, then boil to a jelly and let it get cold, and then eat with a little sugar sprinkled on it. This was considerable trouble, but we had little else to do and it was better than starving. “We asked the Lord to bless our stomachs and adapt them to this food. … On eating now all seemed to relish the feast. We were three days without eating before this second attempt was made. We enjoyed this sumptuous fare for about six weeks.”

Mr. Perfect

I had the wonderful opportunity to take my family to Disneyland a few weeks ago.  On the way down we stopped off at a Disney outlet store.  I found a great T-shirt there for $3.  On the front of the shirt it read, "Mr. Perfect.  Life is good when you're me"

I had to buy it and wear it with pride.  If fact, I'm wearing it right now as I type this thought.  The problem I've had with this T-shirt, is that the days that I wear it, I seem to have experiences that really show just how far from perfect I really am.  Tonight happend to be a not so shining moment for a father who lost his temper with his oldest daughter.  Of course, I'm sure I'm the only parent that has struggled in being the perfect parent.  For a brief time I felt me telling myself, "I can't do this?  I need help, I'm ready to throw in the towel."  At this point you start to disengage.  I found myself in my office pondering and praying.  I sat in my office chair staring at my bookshelf.  I decided to pull off a book called "Pathways to Perfection" by Thomas S. Monson.

 I opened it up and began reading a talk called, "Finishers Wanted".  Was this coincidence?  No way.  This was an answer to a prayer from a son to his Father in Heaven who was struggling to be a father of his own.  President Monson tells of story of how he was out window shopping and came across a sign that said "Finshers Wanted".  He told of examples from the scriptures of those who failed to finish and endure the race.  He also shared of examples of those who "fought a good fight" and "finished the course."  I read phrases like "run with patience".  It was just what I needed tonight.  Jesus says in 3 Nephi 12:48, "Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect."  So "life is good when you're me" and you are applying the Atonement of Jesus Christ in your life.  He feels in the large gaps that we have in our imperfect state, and carries us so we can be "Mr. Perfect" even as He and the Father.  We just need to endure, keep the commandments, rely on Him and "finish the course."  Let us be look unto Jesus, the Savior and be finishers, Hebrews 12:2:

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Let us remember though that we cannot be a finisher without our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He is the "finisher" in us.  Moroni 6:4:

"... relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith."

My testimony of the Atonement

How have you gained a testimony of the Atonement?

I can still recall the sweet cleansing feeling that burned within my soul as I knelt near a grove of trees near my home one evening as I completed the repentance process.  I knelt and prayed in gratitude to my loving Heavenly Father.  I felt the cleansing power, it allowed me to move on to what the Savior and my Heavenly Father wanted, needed me to do.  The repentance process is a continuous process that I've had to apply in my life.  It is a perfect process that works, it lifts, it completes, and makes one whole.

It does not matter at what level you are in your life, whether you've strayed so far off the straight and narrow path, or if you are slightly distracted, or taken a few steps off the path, or you are right on the right path headed in the right direction - the repentance process applies, and the Atonement can lift and carry us to our eternal destination of peace and happiness.

Have you applied the Atonement in you life today? If not, why not?  Have you looked to your Savior and asked him to apply the wonderful gift of Love given to you today? Why not?
"Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price."

I know I can do the will of the Father because of this precious gift. "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:  But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles;  they shall run, and not be weary;  and they shall walk, and not faint."

Never!

I was touched by a talk I read by President Monson this morning.  I testify that President Monson is indeed a prophet of God.  He starts out by sharing an experience of being in an art gallery and comes across the picture by Frank Bramely.  I've posted this picture.  It is a wife who weeps in the lap of her mother-in-law after losing her husband at sea.

President Monson then gives a wonderful sermon on how our Savior has conquered death.  I was deeply touched in the talk about a letter from a father who lost his son whose faith in Jesus was so strong.


Last summer, not long after Jason’s 15th birthday, he was once again admitted to the hospital. On one of his visits to see Jason, his father found him with his eyes closed. Not knowing whether Jason was asleep or awake, he began talking softly to him. “Jason,” he said, “I know you have been through a lot in your short life and that your current condition is difficult. Even though you have a giant battle ahead, I don’t ever want you to lose your faith in Jesus Christ.” He said he was startled as Jason immediately opened his eyes and said, “Never!” in a clear, resolute voice.  Jason then closed his eyes and said no more.
His father wrote: “In this simple declaration, Jason expressed one of the most powerful, pure testimonies of Jesus Christ that I have ever heard. …As his declaration of ‘Never!’ became imprinted on my soul that day, my heart filled with joy that my Heavenly Father had blessed me to be the father of such a tremendous and noble boy. … [It] was the last time I heard him declare his testimony of Christ.”

May we have this same faith and "Never" lose faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Full of patience?

So, it's been a long few weeks. I've started a new job and my days have been pretty full.  Today was another one.  It was late, I was practicing the violin with my oldest daughter to get ready for a recital.  I don't usually get this kind of time.  My wife calls for me to take a break.  "Did we really sound that bad?"....  yes, thus the practice.  Needless to say, I was tired, not ready to take a break.  I made my way into the family room and grabbed the scriptures to read with the kids.  The kids were not willingly participating, I was cranky and not in the best mood.  So while I'm reading I snap at one of my kids, then continue to read.  The very next words popped out and hit me: "...full of patience".  It was a verse I was reading that talked about the Savior.  Other attributes mentioned in the verse were: long suffering,  quick to hear the cries of his people, full of grace, mercy, truth and equity.  My wife smiled at me, I smiled back, "Looks like I need some more patience and long suffering"

The power of mastering the Spirit over the body.

There is a scripture in Romans 8:6 that states:

"For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."

Our bodies have been given to us to help our Spirits become even stronger.  We need to learn how to control our natural carnal behaviors and allow our Spirit to lead the way.  I believe this is why it is so important to do the small spiritual things such as prayer, pondering, scripture study, etc... to feed our Spirits.  I read a great quote by Melvin Ballard, member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostoles:

“The body that has been given to us was for the purpose of allowing the spirit to exalt itself to a nobler condition. The lightning that is seen flashing from cloud to cloud, from mountain top to mountain top, is an electrical force that may tear down buildings, set fire to property, and destroy life. Conduct electricity through the dynamo wire, and motor, and behold its wonderful results working for the service of man, accomplishing something under the control of a physical instrument, it thus becomes a power for good. So with steam, if allowed to evaporate freely it does little good, but restrain it in the boiler, send it through the engine, and under its power you may travel across the continent or sail from shore to shore. And so, too, with this highest, most potent of all spiritual forces, the intelligence that is in man; enshrine it in a spiritual body, that it may have the experiences of spiritual life; and then give it a physical body, that it may enter into and obtain the joy and experiences of physical life, and you have enlarged its powers immeasurably” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1912, 107)."