Knowledge Is Power

I am so grateful for knowledge. There are many types of knowledge but I wish to focus on the knowledge that we will use use not just for now but forever. I am reminded of a personal experience I had while serving my mission. I was in the Missionary Training Center at the time. I was attending an evening class where we were 'role playing' a teaching experience. My companion and I were teaching one of our instructors. I will never forget that opportunity. That was a turning point for me in my missionary service. This experience gave me the confidence that I needed, in a new situation, in different and unfamiliar territory. I was asked to teach the Joseph Smith Story. During the teaching experience, my heart was touched by the spirit and my entire body was overcome with a feeling of warmth and love. I gained a witness of the absolute truthfulness of the story of the boy, Joseph Smith. I knew that his account was exactly like he said it was. During that teaching time, I came to know that my calling as a full-time missionary of my Heavenly Father was inspired. In each of our lives, we come to understand, first-hand, the importance of our divine nature as sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father. We all will face the challenges that come with mortality. Our bodies will endure various sicknesses and adversity. Our Father in Heaven is well aware of what we face. In fact, in a time long ago, we were excited to come to earth and face the challenges that would accompany us through this mortal journey. We were overjoyed by the prospect of this opportunity. No matter what we face, it will be alright. Several years ago, Becky faced some unknown medical challenges. She would be about her daily activities and suddenly pass out, without any warning. This went on for many years. I was attending college classes, every day and working the night shift. I arrived home at 12:30 AM and everything looked very normal for this early morning hour. When I opened the back door, our dog Rascal jumped abruptly up on me. I quickly petted him and he ran swiftly to the downstairs familyroom. I could tell that there was something amiss. From the top of the stairs, I could see that Becky had passed out, sometime during the evening. Her neck was crimped to the side as she had fallen up against a wall of the room. I wondered in the moment if I was going to lose her and I thought about what I would do next with our two young daughters. The experiences we face are daunting. Our Father will never leave us alone! I am grateful for the things that make me strong. I am thankful for the opportunity of life. Our understanding was completely clear, at a previous time. We will understand everything, with clarity, once again. For now, faith and endurance is the requirement. Everything will be alright!

Speak, He Is Listening

"Heavenly Father, are you really there?  And do you hear and answer ev'ry child's prayer?  Some say that heaven is far away,  But I feel it close around me as I pray.  Heavenly Father, I remember now Something that Jesus told disciples long ago:  "Suffer the children to come to me." Father, in prayer I'm coming now to thee.  Pray, he is there. Speak, he is list'ning. You are his child; His love now surrounds you. He hears your prayer; He loves the children. Of such is the kingdom, the kingdom of heav'n." (A Child's Prayer)

I have known, from the time I was very young, that prayer is a powerful and useful tool, to help us throughout our lives.  From as far back as I can remember, prayer was offered in our home many times throughout any given day.  It was obvious that my parents believed that it was important.  I have heard my mom and my dad pray for me and specifically ask that God bless me in every facet of my life.
When I was nineteen, and just getting down to the last two weeks before leaving on my mission, I recall asking my dad for help because I felt confused and overwhelmed.  I was nervous about leaving to go on my mission, although I knew that my decision to go was good and right.  Dad's answer to me, was prayer.  He took the time to pray with me and even gave me several Priesthood blessings.  Looking back on that time, he knew that God was well aware of the feelings I was having and my dad knew that He would help me.  He did help me and He has helped me many times since then for which I am most grateful!
There isn't anything that we can't pray about.  He is our Father, and He will help us.  There is no doubt in my mind.  He is there and He is listening. 

A Lesson From A Young Girl

I'm not sure why this memory popped into my mind but it's a great one to share.  Years ago, Natalie was hospitalized with an illness.  We are so blessed to have Primary Children's Medical Center right here in Salt Lake City, Utah.  It is a premiere hospital in the United States, with 'cutting edge'  medical knowledge, specifically for children.
I left Natalie's room and went to the cafeteria to get something to eat.  As I walked down the hallway, I noticed the many children, in the different rooms, with their own various health struggles.  I walked by one particular room and as I passed by, the young child occupying that room looked right at me.  Her eyes were gentle and a large smile enveloped her face and I knew at that moment that my heart had been touched to the very core.  I was impressed that even during the difficult time, for this child, there was still room for happiness that she shared with me.  It made 'our situation' seem very small.
There are angels around us who watch out for us and help in times of need.  I believe that those angels are members of our family, friends that care for our well-being, and neighbors that just want to do something thoughtful and nice.  They are busy doing good because it's the right thing to do, nothing more and nothing less.  I believe that acts of kindness are happening all the time.  
When you think that you are the only one with struggles and challenges, remember that there are others who are burdened with things much greater than your own.  They are like the young child in the hospital, that through the pains and struggles of mortality, was able and willing to give me, a total stranger, a smile of encouragement that everything was going to be alright.
No matter the challenge, there is the surety that everything will work out.  That has been true in every situation in my life.  It will continue to be true because that's the way it was designed to be.    

Do My Best

From the time I was a young boy, I heard my parents say on many occasions to 'remember who you are.' I tried to live by that but made some mistakes along the way. As a grown man, that phrase is a big deal to me. It doesn't mean that perfection is required, it means that I try my very best.
As a young boy, I received a pump pellet gun. If you pumped it ten or twelve times, you could do some serious damage to anything that you would hit. I would go out into the cattle corral and shoot sparrows from atop the barn. I shot many birds that the farmers in our small community found to be a nuisance. My mom had told me that robins were off-limits to shoot. I was alone, one afternoon, and noticed a large nest neatly positioned in a lilac bush. I didn't think much about it until I saw the head of a robin sitting in the nest. To this day, I still can't figure out what possessed me to act on something I knew to be wrong. I positioned my pellet gun toward the nest and 'sighted up' the robin. With the head of the robin positioned squarely in the sights of the rifle, I depressed the trigger and awaited the fatal consequence of my poor decision.  As if my first choice wasn't bad enough I walked toward the nest and waited for a few minutes. Just as I had hoped, the other parent robin flew into the nest. When one poor decision is put into motion, another is likely to follow. Before all was said and done, I had consciously slaughtered an entire family of beautiful robins.
It is one of the lessons of life that makes me feel bad whenever I think about it.
I hold out hope that the decisions I make, now, will allow those who love me the most, to know that I am trying to do my best.
Sometimes there are situations when I have to think that if I were to make a particular decision, would the consequences directly impact Becky and our children in a negative light?  Would my parents approve of my choices?  What about Becky's parents and my siblings?  Would the 'ripples' of poor decision-making continue for a very long time, thus inhibiting the progress toward the eternal goals I am trying to attain?
Fortunately, lessons give me valuable teaching opportunities. In all situations, I remember the phrase that my parents often used--'remember who you are.' It has kept me out of shady situations before and will continue to do so as I follow its wise counsel.

One Blessing After Another

I am so amazed at all of the millions of blessings that I receive.  One of those unique blessings, is my body.  Have you ever really stopped to look at the complexity of the body.  The capability is trully incredible.

When each of our children were babies, I would take the 'night' feeding and once the bottle was gone, I would get them completely settled for the night and spend the next little while rocking them in my arms.  I would look at their precious faces and all of their unique features.  I was amazed at their size and realize that one day they would grow to be adult men and women.  The inner workings of the body are a modern-day miracle.

"Each organ of your body is a wondrous gift from God. Each eye has an autofocusing lens. Nerves and muscles control two eyes to make a single three-dimensional image. The eyes are connected to the brain, which records the sights seen.

Your heart is an incredible pump. It has four delicate valves that control the direction of blood flow. These valves open and close more than 100,000 times a day—36 million times a year. Yet, unless altered by disease, they are able to withstand such stress almost indefinitely.

Think of the body’s defense system. To protect it from harm, it perceives pain. In response to infection, it generates antibodies. The skin provides protection. It warns against injury that excessive heat or cold might cause.

The body renews its own outdated cells and regulates the levels of its own vital ingredients. The body heals its cuts, bruises, and broken bones. Its capacity for reproduction is another sacred gift from God.

Be we reminded that a perfect body is not required to achieve one’s divine destiny. In fact, some of the sweetest spirits are housed in frail or imperfect bodies. Great spiritual strength is often developed by people with physical challenges, precisely because they are so challenged.

Anyone who studies the workings of the human body has surely “seen God moving in his majesty and power.”  (Elder Russell M. Nelson~ Quorum of the Twelve Apostles~ The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints)

I am so grateful for my body and all that it is able to do.  I am most thankful to be blessed with good health and strength.  The blessings seem to come one after another and I am humbled by His love for me.

The Best Team

I was having a conversation with a good friend at work, when another man that works in the same building, approached us to visit for a minute.  We asked him how he was doing and his response was one of discouragement.  "I'm close to just throwing in the towel."  Many have felt the very same way as this co-worker of mine.  My friend and I took the next few minutes to offer encouragement and, more importantly, hope.
I have given a lot of thought to the gradual loss of hope that so many battle with throughout their lives.
I offer a great insight--it is actually truth. 
We all chose to come to this beautiful earth.  We were excited at the prospects of coming to a place where the surrounding beauties would offer us a little of every kind of interest that we would have.  We were going to come here, at varying times, formed into families.  That was a neat concept for all of us, and we were fully in favor of the plan--in fact, we raised our hand in support.  We knew that there would be joys and there would be pains.  We knew that there was going to be opposition.  That opposition would persuade us to do things and make choices that would be contrary to the knowledge that we  had already gained.  We knew that we would make a lot of good choices and some bad ones would be laced into our life, too.  In this life, no matter what opposition we contend with, the reality is, that in the end, the good is going to prevail.  Who doesn't want to be on the winning team?
If any one of us knew beforehand that when the whistle is blown to start a sporting competition, that we were going to be on the losing team, there isn't a single person that is going to stay on that particular team.
When life's struggles come, and yes, they will surely come, remember that each one of us has to muster all of the courage and strength we can to keep a clear picture in our minds of the victory that lies ahead for us. 
It seems so hard but the reward for enduring the sometimes unthinkable is worth every struggles we will ever have to face.
It is our divine mission to be on the winning team.  We were created by a loving Father, who wants nothing more than to have all of His children returned to His presence.  There isn't any challenge that is too much for you to handle.  The Opposition desires discouragement and frustration to enter into your life.  That Opposition knows that the discouragement only has to come a little at a time and over just a short period he can have you bound helpless and hopeless.  It is this Opposition that has mastered this unique, and for him worthwhile, plan. 
We are all important children of our loving Father.  Do the things in your life that will firm up the walls of safety and security against this evil power.
We are on the best team ever assembled in any arena ever known.  We are supposed to be on, and stay on, the winning team!  Never forget it.

Years Rush By

It was nineteen years ago that I arrived home to Sacramento, California, from a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Netherlands. It was a life-altering experience, for me personally. I was prepared and excited to come home and see my family but as that big Boeing 747 airliner took off from the Schipol Airport, in Amsterdam, the feeling became final and the greenery that I had grown accustomed to and the people I had learned to love were going to become a memory. There were people that I had said my last goodbye to, in this life. As I sat in my seat and watched the country disappear into the distance, my heart ached. I had learned the culture, language, and various customs of another people. I loved so much about these people and I didn't know when or if I would ever return. I still long for the day that I return. Although I came home, physically, a piece of my heart resides in Holland and that piece will always remain.
I am so grateful for the opportunity that was given to me to learn and grow there. It was in Holland that I went from a young man to a man. It was a time when I relied, solely, on my Heavenly Father.
I am amazed at the way that time races by. It doesn't seem like very long ago that I was there. The smells are familiar to me. I can taste the food. The sights were breath-taking. It was the opportunity of a lifetime. I am a better person because I answered the call of a living prophet of God to go and share the message of hope to the Dutch people.
My mission was just the setting of a strong foundation that has and will continue to sustain me throughout my life.