Fear, Anger, Hate and Suffering

I recently gave a talk in church that was based on a talk called Living the Gospel Joyfully and while I was speaking the Lord in my mind asked me to compare the blessings that Lord attempts to give to a proverb from Star Wars; Fear leads to Anger, Anger leads to Hate, Hate leads to Suffering.

While giving this talk it came to me that when we put up our umbrella to resist the rain of blessings or the sunshine of the light of Christ shine upon us. The turn around is that when we see others get the blessings of heaven and our own sins blind us from seeing our own blessings we are quick to become fearful. Has God forgotten me? Am I worthy of no blessing at all? Our own ambitions and hesitancy keeps us from pressing in a good direction that would lead us to strengthen our faith and regain our blessings through repentance and the charity of God; we go down a path of witch many have not returned. As children of God we know all to well that the proverb of the Jedi ring true but there was no alternate so that we could avoid this path so I propose this one...

Faith leads to Trust, Trust leads to Charity, Charity leads to Happiness. I know that it might seem cheesy by making a mirror of this age old movie quote but I think that seeing its opposite opens our eyes so that we can see both the good and the evil paths and make our new choices with what we have learned.

When we are quick to judge because we decide to look at the blessings of others over what is on the other side of the scale that they are called to balance, we fail to realize the blessings we have in conjunction with our own blessings. Let us remember to have faith so that we might build upon that over fear. Lets hope that we do not listen to our fear and short comings over our faith and inner power that God has given us both to grow with and share. We have the makings of greatness in us, let us bear one another's burdens and show the strength of the Lord.

Image is found here.

Reflecting pool

This last weekend was tough. There was cause for a lot of reflection as I was let go from my old job of eight years. As I reflected on the experience there was tears and comfort from the Spirit. As I was praying on what I should do (panicking) I was told by the Spirit that I should be still and know that my Heavenly Father has got this and has had it from the foundation of man. He knew that this was coming and that the experience would be to my benefit. But... enough about me.

This week we got the chance to study Ezekiel and the experience that he had with the Saints of ancient days. There was one particular experience that he had where he was crying repentance to the people and they just would not listen. Famine, pestilence, war and death threatened them all because they were so casual with their faith and to familiar with strange gods (I know its the Nephite cycle). They were doomed to have the scattering prophecy occur sooner than they thought.

During this time there was one experience where the prophet was able to get the waters to rise just by constantly dipping into it. This caused the Saints of those days to reflect on what was going on and who was in change. This caused me to reflect. What do we do to reflect on the success and failure that we have done for our Father in keeping his commandments? Are we so relaxed with our faith that we fail to see the constant flax cords that attempt to pull us away from those things that would be deemed holy?

In some of the early days of the Saints, we were asked to keep a journal and that was supposed to be our reflection pool so that we could look at ourselves as we were and once was. When I turned over my company phone, I failed to realize that this was the way that I was keeping a journal (silly me) so now I find that those photos and words of reflection are gone and its time to start over. The chapter that I am starting is such that I don’t know where I am going but I look forward to where it will land. I have God before me and behind me; to my left and to my right. If anything this will be a short chapter and I will be back to my old self with a new perspective. I have to say that this has been the most invigorating experience that I can ever say that I have had (and I have had brain surgery... eight times). This is my second firing from a job and this time (unlike the first) will have the Lord as a companion to the experience. I will not be alone. I'm so excited.

Reflection Pool

This last weekend was tough. There was cause for a lot of reflection as I was let go from my old job of eight years. As I reflected on the experience there was tears and comfort from the Spirit. As I was praying on what I should do (panicking) I was told by the Spirit that I should be still and know that my Heavenly Father has got this and has had it from the foundation of man. He knew that this was coming and that the experience would be to my benefit. But... enough about me.

This week we got the chance to study Ezekiel and the experience that he had with the Saints of ancient days. There was one particular experience that he had where he was crying repentance to the people and they just would not listen. Famine, pestilence, war and death threatened them all because they were so casual with their faith and to familiar with strange gods (I know its the Nephite cycle). They were doomed to have the scattering prophecy occur sooner than they thought.

During this time there was one experience where the prophet was able to get the waters to rise just by constantly dipping into it. This caused the Saints of those days to reflect on what was going on and who was in change. This caused me to reflect. What do we do to reflect on the success and failure that we have done for our Father in keeping his commandments? Are we so relaxed with our faith that we fail to see the constant flax cords that attempt to pull us away from those things that would be deemed holy?

In some of the early days of the Saints, we were asked to keep a journal and that was supposed to be our reflection pool so that we could look at ourselves as we were and once was. When I turned over my company phone, I failed to realize that this was the way that I was keeping a journal (silly me) so now I find that those photos and words of reflection are gone and its time to start over. The chapter that I am starting is such that I don’t know where I am going but I look forward to where it will land. I have God before me and behind me; to my left and to my right. If anything this will be a short chapter and I will be back to my old self with a new perspective. I have to say that this has been the most invigorating experience that I can ever say that I have had (and I have had brain surgery... eight times). This is my second firing from a job and this time (unlike the first) will have the Lord as a companion to the experience. I will not be alone. I'm so excited.

P.S. For those accustom to me posting an image, I apologize. I was going to use the Lincoln Memorial reflection pool but the image would not come up. Image I wanted is here.

Stains of the Mind

I was struggling on what to write about and it was in my priesthood meeting that I learned the most fascinating thing; one day you will have to stand before God naked. 

Let that soak in a little. Oh sure you will not be nude. I didn’t write nude; I said naked. There will be nothing you have done that you can hide and either you will go into judgment with your head held high or wish that you could hide under a rock and disappear. And what will determine that? You!

 

We are asked to daily repent of our sins and rise above what we were yesterday. We are asked to correct our course and ride down a strait and narrow path riddled with trials that will truly test the skills of navigation that our Father gave us before we left our heavenly home. At times we will make mistakes that will tarnish our spiritual apparel and we need to keep it clean. 

Here’s the real kicker. Will we forgive ourselves or will we let our stains get us because we will not let it out of our minds after the Savior has removed them? When we look at ourselves are we looking at stains that do not exist? Are we bound to put the stains back because we cannot move on beyond the experience that we have repented of? Do we insist on letting out past experience define how pure we are? Have we not forgiven ourselves when we went through the repentance process?

Do you think that perhaps the noble and great ones have not also been though the experiences that we think that they have not? Think of the great names, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Brigham, Peter, Paul Alma…. The list goes on and on. All of these brethren have been through a mighty change, a crucible if you will that asked them to be better men (and that’s just the men; think of the sisters that have gone through it too). Either sin can define us or refine us. Father has taught us correct principles so that we can govern ourselves and part of that governance is repentance. 

I’m not going to dwell on the rules of the church but stick to the principles of the gospel. When we repent we are made whole. Period. It is not like having a tattoo removed or removing a piercing where there is a scar or blemish left behind. We are made whole. Sin will change us, that’s true but you must use that experience to your advantage. You have a painful teaching tool as Alma (both of them) does. You have been asked to do great things and make sacrifices so that you could be the person that you are today. Now that you know this, can you ask yourself am I ready to meet God? Will I hold my head high? Will I wonder what I could have done more? Will I say that I was prepared with what I had at the time that the conflict occurred? 

It was said of Captain Moroni that if all were like Captain Moroni that the very gates of hell would shudder. I am certain that sometimes you scream at heaven saying that you are not Moroni but really are you? He was just a man and our brother who learned just like you and I line upon line, precept upon precept; here a little and there a little. His experiences didn’t define him but he created a definition through his experience; he was a child of God and God had sent him in his time and place to be a noble and great one in his moment. 

Ours is the moment to be the noble and great ones of our time. Do not let sin define you; do not let your experiences define you. Sure you will not be all prophets, seers or revelators but great home teachers or visiting teachers are needed. Define yourself based on your experience. Were you better yesterday? No? Well get up and get to work; build the kingdom! God has a work for you today! Hold your head high! You are a child of God; the maker of heaven and earth! Show it! Be it!

Image is here.

I want to be like Alma II

When I was a child I thought that being the translated Alma must have been awesome. Here this guy was that had converted thousands and seen angels and finally when his life was over was translated and given the chance to be with the Lord. I had forgotten that this man had been through his own Gethsemane. He had to go through a change that I cannot fathom.

Alma grew up under a father who was on the run from a tumultuous king who thrived on women wealth and perhaps the death of those that opposed him. When the government was openly attacked after his father had left with him and his family, the king’s priests through rape victims, gained the trust of the Lamanites. Some years later found Alma and his family and I supposed that the young Alma II who had only known the gospel and running was quite relieved of the chance to stop running. Satan had a good hold of those wicked priests and had taught them a thing or two about seducing children and Alma II bought into their narrative hook, line and sinker.

Some years later when they all escape the turmoil, Alma II hooks up with some roughnecks who are the king’s sons. Finally he thinks he has freedom.  I can’t blame him. For years he had been taught to pray in his heart for fear of death by Noah’s priests and their legion of dark bare skin warriors. He turned to the gods of the Lamanites over the God of his father. 

Today I had the opportunity to talk about Israel and the prophet Hosea. It seems that Israel is so easily seduced by the coolness when it offers relief from pain and suffering and as much as we hear our parents tell us no we fail to listen to their warning. We become like Gomer (Hosea’s wife) or Alma II and think that we are going to be ok because either we believe that God will not punish us because we are the chosen ones of Abraham or that beat us with only a few stripes and tell us to go on our way. Some of the saints here in Medford OR tell a different story. They remind us that God doesn’t change and that should you be drowning in your own gull of bitterness, it is you that needs to call out and reach out to the Lord because you have turned your back on Him and not the other way around. 

When Alma II went though his change he was like many other prophets that have that experience that asks them to be a man over a childish destroyer. Alma II was shown his own personal hell. The scriptures say that for days he was in that gull and it took three days before he either believed what he was calling out to or that he was eager finally to be something better. The sons of Mosiah didn’t need that but apparently he did. Jonah went through it when he was in the belly of the whale so I am not surprised when someone is in a coma for three days suffering his own guilt and anguish. 

I love the Living Scriptures depiction of what he went through after as he attempted to convert those that he had seduced away from the church. It was not enough to say that he had repented until he had attempted to restore the faith of those that he had convinced to turn from their God. He had to go through more pain of rejection and it didn’t end there because later in his life he would go with the sons of Mosiah and attempt to convert the Lamanites for the next fourteen years risking life and limb so that someone could hear the word of the Lord. 

Times like those I stop my envy of the prophet and reflect inward on the things that I have done in my life. Have I converted the righteous to wickedness through my actions or lack of action? Have I been a good husband and father to my family and attempted to bring them closer to God as Alma attempted for his son (and perhaps whole family). Have I hidden my sins? Have I gone through a Gethsemane as Jesus has so that I could progress to my next level? Am I ready for my cross? Could I die for my religion or convictions? 

I am not sure that I am ready for such commitment. Sure as Gomer hit rock bottom in her life, so have I (I think) but I am as young Alma II climbing back up so that I can come to God with clean hands and a smile on my face. I look forward to my Father saying that I have done well and that he is well pleased with what I have done. I hope that no man’s blood is on me because of what I neglected to do or from the things I showed a lack of remorse for. 

My time will come one day and I am glad that Heavenly Father continues to show his mercy and miracles to me so that I can testify that He lives and so does His Son. I may have never beheld their faces but I don’t have to, to know that they live.  I am a son of God the Eternal Father and have been reborn though Christ my Savior. Could I ask for anything more? That is the greatest knowledge I could ever know or share. My life, as hard as it is, is awesome.

Image comes from Living Scriptures

Basking in the Son.

Today I want to talk about the last son of Krypton. No I am not going to talk about the allegory messiah aspect of him but that there is something that each of us members of the church have and that is the Holy Ghost; ultimate cosmic power, itty bitty living space. I’ll explain.  

While at church I was privilege to hear a lesson in sacrament about the lessons of abiding by the rules of sports. When we engage in a sport we agree to honor the boundaries and rules of that sport. For Olympiads abiding by the rules is strictly important and a tenth of a second could mean winning and losing. What the Lord did for us here on Earth was he gave us a plan and with it came the rules of the game with eternal consequence and reward. Our boundless spirits with boundless understanding and potential would be given boundaries. The game was hide and seek and all we needed to do while here on Earth was find our Father in Heaven. Now with no memory of who he was he would make it fair by giving us the Holy Ghost and for many that companion would be a constant companion; a gift.

In the mean time we would have bodies not unlike our spiritual bodies with arm, legs, eyes and what not but it would have boundaries; limits. Being spirits we knew nothing of boundaries because we had been limitless so this was new but we were up for the challenge. Ok find Father and we will have a partner in the search; great.

Our bodies while here on Earth have been an asset for some of us and a hindrance to others. Without knowledge of the Spirit that can be a real crippling blow but with the spirit you realize how powerful you are both spiritually and physically. I have come to a realization that the give that was given to me as a young eight year old was the best thing I could have had; it like the yellow sun to the son of Krypton.

The power of the Holy Ghost unlocks to your spirit truths that you would have not had if you had not taken the time to learn it though the prism of the Holy Ghost. What I mean is every day that you spend with the Holy Ghost in your life you become more and more enlightened and you begin to see the world differently; you are able to do and say things in such a way that it changes you and those that you intended to change. 

Each day you expose yourself to prayer and the scriptures you gain a new color to your rainbow.Although Satan would have us think that we will be like Icarus and fall because we attempt to gain power from the Son (see what I did there), it is completely different we become more powerful and gain the chance to win the challenge of seeing Father, well, that just comes easier and easier. It just takes time to bask in the power and influence of the Son.

Image found here.

Guns and God

Last night I was talking to a good friend about our different points of politics which as it turned out was not that different on the subject of firearms. While my view is that men should be able to arm themselves with what they see fit and the government be damned, his view was that of arm yourself for defense only and military weapons should not be in the hands of civilians. The common thing was that we both believe in a armed citizenry. Now the Lord at that time after the conversation brought to mind that there was some parallel to the things that the Jews requested in times of the kings and that was more knowledge than they were prepared to understand let alone use. My friend made a strong point that it was important to know how to use a fire arm and what it was capable. He noted that most people are not aware of the power of military grade weapons and that it should not be given to them. At that time I was thinking of the power and knowledge that the Jews received. It overwhelmed them and caused their fall. Would I be overtaken by my lack of preparedness if I were to use something outside of my understanding to defend myself, say an AR15 like the deep doctrine of the kingdom. Would I be easily beguiled by Satan as a thief in the night?

Children are given a limited understanding of the gospel because to overwhelm them is damning. The Lord gives us power according to our understanding of the gospel and what has been given line upon line. We do not quickly give a shot gun to a child who doesn’t know the power of BBs. Those that would quickly assume that TV, radio and the internet will educate our children in the gospel as well as it has done about fire arms are bound to see children hurt spiritually or physically.

Our responsibility is to shelter first, educate second and then show through limited experience the emblems f the gospel like we do firearms.  The gospel is a powerful thing. It changes lives, hearts, enriches lives and brings us all closer to the Lord Jesus Christ. We know that this can be also damning but with a careful course, it is the most enriching experience. Why wouldn’t we expand the gospel to the world? If we do it right and allow the Lord to be our teacher and guide it has no limits. We want to insure though that we take the steps that we were taught much like the steps of using a gun, safety, education and limited use under the direction of a teacher so that we are duly prepared.

May we all find strength in the gospel, may we teach by example and may we bring others closer to Christ.

Image is located here. 

I wish you knew

It seems that sometimes I want my children to know what I know without the experience that is attached. I suppose that its something similar to what the children of Israel went through with the Judges and Kings of Israel. The Lord gave them a commandment and they did half of it and thought that they were fine and that their children would be fine too. Their children who didn't go through the experience find that Canaan is just fine and are quick to commit sin because they don't have the experience.

I as a parent want so badly for my children to have the faith and knowledge that I have acquired my whole life in seconds so that they will not make the mistakes that I have made. My wife keeps telling me that they must be taught and learn by example and their own experience. Its so frustrating. I just want to dump my knowledge into their little heads and tell them that life is going to be hard but worth it and to prepare for it.

My experiences have taught me that this cannot be so. Two very good examples are when then President Kimball wanted to tell Israel and the saints of the dangers that we were to face it seemed that the Lord had to tell his son not to as such things would be both detrimental and damning. We have had to learn of our fate because we have not listened to the prophets on our own. The little messages that they give are so very important.

Secondly is the ordinances in the temple have changed from what my parents experienced to what I have experienced. The stress of keeping the covenant of God was, I think, stricter and with greater emphasis than it is today. The covenants had consequence (something not taught today) if disobeyed and perhaps its was for our parents so that they would be firmer in the faith. I do not know why it was removed but here we are.

As parents we are desperate to insure that our kids do not make our mistakes. How much are we like Alma when his son Alma turned from the church would give our lives to change it. We,like Alma, warn them and coax them, teach them and bribe them, all with the intention to insure that the Spirit will reside in their homes when they are adults. We worry about if they are ready for the priesthood or adulthood. If we have not taught them enough about the Kingdom. I have learned to let go and that the Lord will teach them where I could not and when I could not.

Every night I pray that they even get a inkling of what I have been attempting to tell them all month. That they will not have to wonder through my desert but enjoy the milk and honey that I have attempted to insure that they have. Am I good for attempting to make it easier or better. I hope so. I just fear that their fruit will become bitter because I have removed the oppression and challenge. That they will spoil because of the good soil that they reside. Alma had his son become apostate and hang out with royal rich kids, partly because he couldn't openly teach prayer in his home (thanks to some priests of Noah). Are there priests of Noah in my life, Goliaths if you will, that are influencing my children by default? Man I hope not. I just continue to follow the Prophet and hope that my kids will just turn out ok. In the mean time my wife and I will be strong as we can and good examples.

Image is located here.

Our Own Trial

I have been reflecting on what I learned at church today. The Sunday school lesson stood out the most. We talked about three faith promoting saints Deborah, Gideon, and Samson. Each of these Israelites had their own case that lifted their faith and sent them to places that they would of never been had not the Lord been part of their lives. Deborah strengthened Barak to face the enemies of Israel, Gideon faced thousands with his three hundred and Samson, a repentant soul, brought down the house of the Philistines with the strength of the Lord.

I was thinking of how the Lord in his infinite wisdom has given each of us our own trial or test. Barak asked the prophetess to be there to strengthen him as he faced an enemy that could have crushed Israel. In other words he asked someone with more faith to assist him so that his faith would be stronger. Gideon asked the Lord for a miracle, not to test the Lord but to affirm his own faith that he was being obedient and that the Lord would be there for him and his three thousand brethren. Finally the Nazarite, Samson who had done so much that would have soiled Israel’s good name asked in fervent prayer to be an instrument one last time and allow him to destroy the enemies of his people. He would give his life and seal his testimony of the power and divinity of God by destroying pillars that held the building up.

I think of the trials that I have been asked to go trough and at first I thought that I was going to die from them. I am eternally grateful that I am alive but more than that I love the fact that I have learned from the experiences that I have been in. I have learned faith and gained knowledge from plain and simple things that could not have happened if I had not seen the miracle that they were.

At one time two weeks ago I was talking about training wheels in reference to riding a bike and the lesson that we gain when they are removed. We are asked to ride alone, no extra wheels, and sometimes we fall but most of the time we have gained the faith to balance and stand on our own and just as we were infants being taught to walk; our parents are always there and will cheer us on as we accomplish things for ourselves. The more I learn about walking on my own by faith the more scared I become because like flying, as you look through the window you realize that you are leaving the ground. Your initial thought is fear of falling but you keep rising. Somehow I think that my faith has got to that pivotal moment where the wheels have left the ground and I realize that I am rising. Part of me wants to shout for joy but the other part wants to throw up from fear. I trust the Lord it’s just a new experience. I sense that this flight of faith has been for a while as I have begun to see and recognize the miracles of my life and have made special effort to thank my Father in Heaven for them and the chance to see them come to pass in my life.

I know that not everyone will have these types of epiphanies because the test is different for each of us. You can’t cheat on this test; the answers are unique for each of us. Attempting to cheat will only result in unhappiness. Let us each take some time to recognize the faith promoting miracles in our lives. Don’t cheat yourselves of the great experience that God has given us.

Image is here.

The lessons we learn

Today we talked on a talk by Linda Reeves about Protectionfrom Pornography and the topic was strange it started out as a discussion on protecting ourselves to protecting our children and building a good relationship so that we can teach them how to direct their own course away from the wicked things of the world. All the while we were talking couldn’t help but reflect on the things that I have taught my son and a friend of mine who passed away. Both examples of the things I discussed were a great influence.

One of the things that we discussed was first establish a relationship of trust. Children will be more eager (and I guess friends to) if you care about what they like. My son listens to what I care about because I care about the things he cares about. He wants me to know that games of all kinds are part of his interest. My friend Christine before she passed had a strong interest of her boyfriend, family, volunteer service and job. Because I was willing to show genuine interest in what they felt was important, the things that I felt important were listened to.

I have taught my children and my friends a few things, because I want my children to avoid things that are poison to the mind and body to treat your relationships as an opportunity to really get to know someone. Porn teaches lust and objectism (ok it’s not a word but you get the idea; someone is an object and should be treated like such). Hormones, kisses, sex and such are good things but like fire that is not honed and controlled can result in a bon fire that is out of control. The damage done from a wild fire is repairable but could have been avoidable. The same is true for porn and things like it; avoidable and preventable. Teaching children to know that kissing is safe but that ‘soul’ kissing is dangerous teaches them the difference between a match and blow torch; both can be used to ignite kerosene but one clearly over does it; could cost you your life or just your eyebrows. Some of the rules of dating I taught to my friend Christina, my children at the time were too young but I aim to pass them along so that they get it too.

“Christina, take your time to build relationships and you too can have the relationship that [my wife] and I, your Mom and Dad have. There were rules that [my wife] and I always followed on our dates and here they are....

[Ihave to] a PLAN date. I knew where I was going on the date. [I was] PAYING for the date; if there was money involved, I was paying for the date. [I should be] PREPARED for the date; if there was any prep needed (what to wear or have on your person) I made sure that [my date] knew.

Other rules we had been Rule of the Trinity. Avoid being alone; date in public and/or with friends. Avoid being in the dark; learn what they are like in the light. The great dates are in the light. No movies (there is no communication or learning and it’s in the dark). Avoid lying down; this is self explanatory.

Any combination is fire but all three was the absolute fire.

Finally when things are getting to hot and heavy, [my wife (then my girlfriend)] was the one to initiate Water Breaks. That’s when the kissing is too much and the touching is too much and its time to break apart before something happens. She would yell "OK we need a water break and then get away from me so that she could clear her head, maybe get a drink but definitely get away from the kissing and touching.

One you can pass on to your nieces and nephews (and children should you have some) is the two feet rule.

The door is two feet open. You are two feet apart from your date/interest. Two feet on the floor at all times.

At any rate I am now rambling. Good luck and God bless.”

An excerpt from my message to my find Christine.

It has been two years since I gave that wisdom to Christina and I will give that wisdom to any one interested and at most my sons and daughter who will one day have an interest in girls and boys and will internalize that and keep them safe and informed. Kids are smart but do dumb things (sometimes) but if they have a good relationship with parents they will then at least be willing to talk about things before they happen or things when after they happened. We want kids to talk to us no matter what. Like our Heavenly Father, we want our kids to be eager to avoid mistakes because they were well taught or come to us (and those that would help) if they have made mistakes. My friend lost her life to a disease and will always be missed but I hope that the things that I taught her will be a asset and blessing to her in the next life as it is to my kids in this one.

Hopefully I will have armed my children my with wisdom and have given you something to share... 

The picture is of my friend Christina (August 1985 to November 2011)

Infinite God

Image comes from http://product.ganeshaspeaks.com

So I was listening to conference this last weekend and thought nothing of it. It was a very similar message but I took the time to listen to every speaker (witch was not like me as I am usually doing something during conference) and two things came from it to me.

First we are in some serious trouble. If we do not know where to turn when there is trouble we will be lost physically and spiritually. Several times through the course of the conference disasters were mentioned of various kinds and to me that was telling me that our 'Titanic' was heading to the iceberg and those who could see the trouble coming could only see the tip. I listen to a lot of people for advice and encouragement but the prophets and apostles, I hope I listen to the most. Like a scared animal I sense a storm brewing. I turn to the scriptures and prayer to know what to do so that I can be more ample prepared. Perhaps I need to read the council again when the magazine comes out.

Second was subtle and at first I didn't notice the effect because the conference was a bit fresh in my mind. As I was doing my job I began to see people for what they were and for a moment I saw the eternal perspective of things and I have to admit it freaked me out. I understood how important it was to learn the gospel as fast as I could and to teach it to others as fast as I could. I could not look at another persons face without seeing their spirit (of sorts). I kept hearing Isiah and how he talked about being blind and deaf. Even the Savior made reference to it. Still I wonder what I am supposed to do with this perspective and for how long it will be with me. I no longer see old men and women or chain smokers and drug users. Their spiked hair and piercings are somewhat transparent to me and I have begun to see who they are on the inside.

I thought of my own kids and wife. I keep attempting to push them to the light but as Lehi experienced attempting to compel his sons, he could only do it with words.When Nephi and Lehi compared the gospel to a fantastic fruit that everyone would want to have, I have now an inclining of what that means and that has become a precious pearl but I do not know what to do with it. I cannot just give it to anyone but it truly must be shared with those that will appreciate it.