The Amazing Things Of Life

When was the last time you flew on an airplane?  Was it fearful or did you find it enjoyable?  I find it incredibly amazing that a large machine can fly through the air with such grace and mobility.  Every working part must be orchestrated so that the functions that each performs is precise.  I love to watch airplanes fly and it makes me grateful that I get the chance to be a part of the success.  So it is with our lives.  The precise implementation of all that we learn must be practiced and then properly executed to produce good sound results.  The next time you fly pay close attention to the operation of the aircraft and you’ll know what I mean.

Scouts

I accompanied Brady on his inaugural scout camp-out.  The excitement has been building for a couple of weeks now.  With packing list in hand Brady gathered the required materials that he would need for a successful night.  We camped out in Tooele, Utah in a place called Settlement Canyon.  There were five boys and three adults present.  We had an incredible time and I marveled at the way the boys treated one another and the effort they displayed in carrying out such a successful event.  Happy Scouting Brady!  We’ll have plenty more opportunities just like this.

Get Past Your Fears

Some people struggle while speaking in front of big crowds.  Others think that holding a small snake can’t get any worse.  Yet others aren’t quite comfortable doing anything that is out of the ordinary.  Can I suggest that you “walk out on a limb” and stretch yourself beyond what you normally otherwise would?  Life is an opportunity to stretch, learn, and grow.  The growth that we receive will help us and bless our lives forever.  Learning is a continuous improvement.  It’s exciting, it’s difficult, and yet the dividends are huge.  Stretch a little, you’ll be glad you did.

I'm Getting Tall

Our boys and I went to the Magna Library.  Just inside the door is a large fee-standing wall with a arrow slide on the side and a measuring tape runs from top to bottom.  You stand up next to the wall and you slide the arrow to match the top of your head to find out how tall you are.  Brady, our oldest boy, stood up to the wall and asked, "How tall do you think I am?"
I reallly didn't know what the outcome would be.  I slid the arrow until it reached the top of his head.  The tape read five foot three and a heavy quarter. 
It took me forever to get to be five three.  I can't believe how big our kids are getting.  It amazes me that the time is racing by.
One of the highlights for a kid is getting taller.  It's how you measure growing up.  I am thrilled for these kinds of times.

It's Likely You'll Win

When I was in third grade, a girl in my school class used to run around the playground and I was never able to catch her.  We would play tag at recess and I never could catch her.  She would run me down and it caused me frustration.  I decided that it was just going to be that way but I knew that as we got older I would get faster than her.  That day did come and it was in fourth grade when it happened.  I remember thinking to myself that I knew it would come.  If you have ever experienced a similar experience you know what I'm talking about.  If you haven't then keep on trying and eventually things will work out.

The Savior’s Call to Serve

In the monthly magazine, The Ensign, published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, our prophet, President Thomas S. Monson taught us the importance of heeding the call of the Savior.  I enjoyed this message and found it of significance to share with you.

"All who have studied mathematics know what a common denominator is. For Latter-day Saints, there is a common denominator that binds us together. That common denominator is the individual call each of us receives to fill assignments in God’s kingdom here upon the earth.

Are you ever guilty of murmuring when a calling comes to you? Or do you accept with thanksgiving each opportunity to serve your brothers and sisters, knowing that our Heavenly Father will bless those whom He calls?

I would hope that we would not lose the real objective of our cherished opportunities to serve. That objective, that eternal goal, is the same spoken of by the Lord and found in the Pearl of Great Price: “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”

May we ever remember that the mantle of membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not a cloak of comfort but rather a robe of responsibility. Our duty, in addition to saving ourselves, is to guide others to the celestial kingdom of God.

By willingly walking the path of service to God, we will never be in the position of Shakespeare’s Cardinal Wolsey. Stripped of his power after a life of service to his king, he sadly lamented:

Had I but served my God with half the zeal

I served my king, He would not in mine age

Have left me naked to mine enemies.

What kind of service does heaven require? “The Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days.”

I pause when I think of the words of President John Taylor (1808–87): “If you do not magnify your callings, God will hold you responsible for those whom you might have saved had you done your duty.”

Like a glowing searchlight of goodness is the life of Jesus as He ministered among men. “I am among you as he that serveth,” Jesus declared as He brought strength to the limbs of the cripple, sight to the eyes of the blind, hearing to the ears of the deaf, and life to the body of the dead.

With the parable of the good Samaritan, the Master taught us to love our neighbors as ourselves. With His answer to the rich young ruler, He taught us to shed our selfishness. With the feeding of the 5,000, He taught us to see to the needs of others. And with the Sermon on the Mount, He taught us to seek first the kingdom of God.

In the New World, the resurrected Lord declared, “Ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do.”

We bless others as we serve in the shadow of “Jesus of Nazareth … who went about doing good.”God bless us to find joy in serving our Father in Heaven as we serve His children on earth."

To all people, the call is the same--reach out to those in need and carry out our responsibility to serve all men and women.  Service always makes you feel good.

Some Of Life's Greatest Lessons

We have always enjoyed being together as a family. The joy that we feel as a family comes from doing things together. One of our favorite things to do is work hard to accomplish a particular task or goal. We have always worked well together and we understand that each individual provides a set of specific skills that contribute to the end result.
On Saturday, we worked hard to fulfil a 'Bake Sale' that Danny had lead. His goal was to make enough money to buy a trampoline. I knew that it was possible. With Becky involved I have learned that anything is possible. We began at around 9 AM and the plan was to go until everything was sold or 2 PM. There were a lot of people who came and purchased many goods. At 2 PM, we cleaned up and headed for home, with the knowledge that 'success' was the end result. We didn't have any idea how much money was earned. In the end, the Bake Sale yielded $365. Hard work and teamwork as a family prevailed once again. We saw the kindness and generosity of many people and our lives were blessed because of it. As the kids jump on the new trampoline, I can't help but think of the lessons they have learned, that will last not only in the present but the future just as well. I am grateful for hard work and determination.