Freedom Is Great

I am thankful that we have the freedom to come and go as we please.  We live in an incredible time when we can jump in the car and see the beauties of this world. 
Utah is a beautiful state, with many of its own things to see. 
Today, we are going to enjoy the day, as a family, seeing the a beauty of our immediate surroundings.
I am thankful to live in a place where we can enjoy all of these great things.
I feel of God's love for me and I thank Him today that I get to spend time doing enjoyable things with my family.
The words of a song remind me of His love.
"I know my Father lives, and loves me too.  The spirit whispers this to me.  And tells me it is true.  He tells me it is true."
Let today be a day where memories are made that you will remember for a long time.

Honest Day's Work

I remembered some advice that I got a long time ago.  Give an honest day's work for an honest day's pay.
I have tried to remember that each and every day.  It is good sound advice.  I believe that giving an honest effort to my employer is extremely important.
This simple principle goes a long way! 

People First

Last night, I visited with members of a family that I didn't even know.  I was on a church assignment and excited to go and make a visit that would hopefully uplift and edify.  We talked about several things, which included life and into the eternities.  This family is very child-like is every sense of the word.  They were very simple people who were easy for me to love.

I was reminded of a great truth.  No matter how different these people were from me, we shared a common thread.  We are children of a Father in Heaven who loves us deeply.  His love is hard to fully comprehend.  I could feel that these good people were doing the best that they could, in life.  I loved that approach a great deal.

It is imperative that we learn as much as we possibly can.  We all have gifts and abilities to learn in different ways.  The knowledge that we gain will help us through this journey of life.  It's a great one, too!

I love to go to people's homes and learn more about them.  There is something to be said about conversing with someone in their own familiar surroundings.

At the end of the evening, I was uplifted and strengthened by the opportunity I had to learn from these fine people.

I consider it a choice blessing to get to know and associate with people I've never met before.  I look forward to future opportunities to do this again.  Every individual is important!

Character Builders

There are some of life's lessons that seem more significant than others. I would rank the character of a man or woman and the experiences that shape them at the top of the list of things that are of most import. The shaping happens in many different and unique ways. I want to talk about a couple of 'character builders.'

The first one is that characteristic of honesty. Each one of us has experienced the lesson of telling the truth. I still remember one of the first untruths I told.   My third grade teacher was Darlene Dudley. She was a young college graduate and I thought that she was very nice. I recall that she asked me a simple question about something and for some reason I didn't tell her the truth. She was no dummy, however. She was methodical about calling my bluff. As all of the other kids left the classroom for afternoon recess, Miss Dudley asked if she could speak with me. My heart began to race wildly because I knew what she wanted to talk about and I wondered why I hadn't just told the truth in the beginning. "Derek, what you said to me doesn't make any sense, are you sure you are telling me the truth?" I thought that my heart was going to come out of my chest. I thought to myself. "Now is the time to tell the truth and take the punishment that is coming because of my dishonesty." I did tell her the truth, the second time. I could see the disappointed look on her face but she gave me a reassuring smile that she was proud of my decision to tell the truth. The character trait we should all desire to have is honesty--the first time.

The second characteristic we should want to have is the ability to accept people for who and how they are. This one is more difficult to master. I have come to realize that when I feel that someone is really weird, the mutual feeling probably exists in the mind of somebody else, about me. I'm trying really hard to not look at the shortcomings of others. I will admit that the natural man in me is hard to overcome. I believe that as I continue to try to master the principle of 'take someone as they are', I will become better for it. I will also learn many wonderful lessons from the different people around me. I have the desire to let people be who they are. That's a good start.

These two things, alone, will allow me to come closer to the man I want to be.  I am striving to watch closely those who do this very well.  I hope that, one day, I will better master these Christ-like character traits.

It's Time To Move On

You would think that at the age of forty, some lessons would be mastered or close to it. Well, today, was a reality check for me. For some time, I have harbored ill feelings toward an individual but today that reality came to a crossroad. I felt impressed to express my feelings to this person and formally apologize for my wrong feelings and ask for forgiveness. Because I wanted to make sure that I expressed myself correctly, I wrote a short note to this individual. The note I received in return was exactly what I needed to hear.
In the mission field, I tried to do something, every day, that would pull me out of my 'comfort zone.' That takes work. My experience today also required me to step outside of that zone and do something that I ultimately knew to be right.
When I was a kid, I felt like my parents knew so much about life and the consequences that came from making certain decisions. I didn't ever think that the reason they knew so much was that, one, they either made a mistake that taught them a particular lesson or, two, they knew someone who made a mistake that taught them a specific lesson of life. There was a time when I thought that my parents were flirting with perfection.
I pass on my personal learning experience of today, in hopes that someone else will make the choice to take something or someone that bothers them, today, and correct that situation so that not one more minute is wasted feeling sorry or bad.
This life continues to speed onward. The days and weeks race by. It is up to you as an individual to prioritize your life and weed out and fix that which is not good.
I want to be a good person--and I know you do, too. I want to get along with people.(That is sometimes very hard to do.) Each person does things according to their own individual abilities and talents. We don't all have to agree on everything. Now is the time and today is that day to fix the things that seem so tiny but that consume energy that we are unaware of.
I feel better knowing that progress is on my side. My heart feels better about this person. I have exercised some humility and that feels really good. Make the choice to fix those things that are currently amiss. You'll be very glad you did.

It's Nice To See You

I saw a friend at church that I see on rare occasions.  It was nice to see and visit with her.  I am especially grateful for people that remain my friends, even though we rarely see each other.  Friendship is a power word.  "Aristotle said once that friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies." (Jeffrey R. Holland~1998)

The Book of Mormon teaches of a very special friendship that became stronger when it was focused on gospel principles. Early in their lives Alma and the sons of Mosiah rebelled against the teachings of their faithful parents and went about destroying the church of God. They were very cunning and very successful, later confessing that they were the “vilest of sinners” in their efforts to destroy the faith of other members of the church (Mosiah 28:4).

But in response to the prayers of their parents, other members of the church, and the power of God and his angels, these young men were dramatically converted to the truth and immediately set out to “repair all the injuries which they had done to the church” (Mosiah 27:35).

The sons of Mosiah declined the kingship which their father held and chose rather to be missionaries to the Lamanite people. Alma followed in their footsteps, choosing to serve a mission among the Nephite people. What had been an unworthy and destructive association now turned into a powerful and binding friendship, solidified by acts of personal righteousness and devotion.

After 14 years of long, hard, demanding missionary service—service that had included sorrow and opposition as well as miracles of every kind—Alma and the sons of Mosiah were reunited briefly before continuing their work for the Lord. The description of that reunion reveals how strong their friendship and love had become, even in their prolonged absence from one another.

“Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.

“But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God” (Alma 17:2–3).

I had a friend, in high school, who couldn't have been more different than me.  Aside from our differences was a real brotherhood, filled with trust  and love for one another.  That friendship was never the same once I left on a full-time mission for the LDS church.  I have often thought of the conversations we once had.  When we did things together, we felt safe.  Home life in our respective homes was very different from one another.  If I saw him today, I would be very grateful.  After graduation from high school, my friend and I took a week long trip to southern California.  It was a trip filled with memories that I still think about.  We learned some valuable things during that friendship that have made me the man I am today.

Don't ever underestimate the power of being a friend.  The words that you speak have a power in and of themselves.  Your example, of goodness, will penetrate your friends hearts and have an everlasting effect on their lives.

I have many people who are my friends.  I love each one of them.  I am eternally grateful for the friendship I have with my Savior, Jesus Christ.  I feel of His love for me.  His life brings me a great deal of comfort.  His perfect example gives me the pattern by which to live my life.

I Love Home

Have I ever mentioned that I love home?  I have always enjoyed being at home.  I love the spirit that we feel in our home.  It's the contentment that I love the very most.  Every member of our family, is trying to do their very best in life.  I feel extreme gratitude for the gifts and talents that each member of our family brings.  It is a wonderful life. 
Becky and I went out with her parents and enjoyed dinner together, then went to the tabernacle, at Temple Square, to listen to the Orchestra at Temple Square with soloist Josh Wright on the piano.  It was really wonderful to listen to the extreme talent of all who participated.  I was glad to spend time with mom and dad.
Our children were at home and it felt nice to know that they were okay.  It is so nice to have them be the ages that they are and know that while we were away, they were fine.
Once Becky and I got home, I felt grateful for the bounteous blessings we so enjoy!
Today, we have gotten some things done around the house to be able to start off our week nicely.
When Becky and I first got married, I dreamed of having a family that would bring me great joy.  Although I had no idea how many children we would have, I desired to have a family, nonetheless.  I have loved Becky so much for her willingness to be the one responsible to carry those babies and bring them safely to this world.  She always did everything she could to guarantee that they were healthy.  I have watched her be a mother who cares deeply for her children.  She amazes me every day.
I feel grateful, every day, for all that she does to make each of our lives better.  She is an amazing homemaker!
I thank heaven for a place that we can call home.  We are blessed immensely. 
I hope that each one of us can see, feel, and understand the love behind the blessings we are so freely given.