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)