You Did a Great Job

Sometimes you get recognition for a job well done and sometimes you don’t.

The ultimate recognition for a job well done is hearing the Lord say to you, “Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth.”

All the sacrifice you are making to be righteous, all the service you are performing for others, all the effort learning and doing the Lord’s will, is all worth it.

Imagine how great it will feel when he tells you what a great job you did!

- Alma 5:16

Beware the Flatterer Who Lusts for Power

Look out for people who possess these two qualities at the same time: 1) lust for power and 2) speak flattering things. This combination is dangerous to the common person who is apt to be taken in by the flattery and then manipulated by the power.

One of these people from years back was a fellow named Amlici. He got a following by flattering talk. When enough people followed him the first thing he did with the new power was manipulate his followers to give him more power, at their expense. Over 12,000 of them were killed in a single day.

A power lusting flatterer offers nothing to you and I but manipulation for their own benefit at our expense.

Instead of admitting power lusting flatterers to political office perhaps we should choose humble people with integrity who have no lust for power and no talent for flattery.

- Alma 2:6-10

Choosing Security Over Responsibility Results in Serfdom

When a group of people chooses security in governance over responsibility in governance they lose their freedom and become serfs, required to perform services to their master.

A wise king arguing in favor of freedom for his people and in support of a representative government said, “the burden [of governance] should come upon all the people, that every man might bear his part.”

Many people today don’t want to ‘bear their part’ and rather want the government to do it for them: financing home loans, building cars, educating their children, providing health care, transportation, banking, and on and on. This results in serfdom.

Instead we should each ‘bear our part’. The gain of perceived security is not a justified reason for abdication of responsibility. Unless you actually want to be a serf.

- Mosiah 29:34

The Greatest Benefactor Of All Time

Asking God for help gets results. Many times we get more than we ask for. In fact if you could choose who you worked for God is the best ‘boss’ to have because he is so generous.

When Alma went to the Lord with a question about what should be done with people who refused to repent he got much more than he asked for.

God told him he was blessed for all the work done in teaching his people the truth, having faith, and even for coming to ask him a question. The ultimate blessing God gave Alma was eternal life.

Is God the greatest benefactor? Yes!

- Mosiah 26:13-20

The Governance of Human Affairs is Unnecessarily Messy

The governance of human affairs is messy business and has been from the beginning of written history. So much struggle for power and control over others and their property has dominated the scene.

The best way to live peacefully, for governance to be peaceful, is for “every man to love his neighbor as himself, that there should be no contention among them.”

Our leaders today would do their people well to follow this principle, yet many don’t because they love themselves more than others.

Ultimately it is incumbent on each of us individually to love others as much as ourselves. Doing that and also electing people to positions of governance who live this way would change the normally messy governance of human affairs to peace.

- Mosiah 23:15

Great Stories Touch Us Individually

Scriptures touch us and help us personally. The same words and story resonates differently with different people and from time to time.

The seminary students pulled the following thoughts, ideas, and teachings from the interesting events of King Noah encouraging his men to leave their wives and children behind and save themselves and his son Limhi defending freedom and leading his people out of bondage by following Gideon’s counsel.

Here is what some of them shared:

Gavin	don’t be a coward, stand up and defend what you believe in
Brittney	deal with your circumstances even if it was caused by someone else
Sarah	get the full story before you take action, don’t just make assumptions
Andrew	problems don’t just go away you need to face them and solve them
Mauricio	don’t give up, keep persisting at your objectives until you reach them

- Mosiah 19, 20, 21, 22

Get Stronger Without Weights

A wooden plank that bridges empty space can hold a certain amount of weight before it breaks. Let’s say 25 pounds. Would two planks, placed one on top of the other, break at 50 pounds? No, it actually requires more than 50 pounds to break them.

This is synergy. The sum of the parts is greater than the individual parts. It happens all over in nature -- a forest has stronger and healthier trees than a tree standing alone.

In the same way we are stronger as members of an organized religion than if we were not.

Alma articulates the benefits that members of organized religion receive:

• burdens lightened
• comfort from others
• encouragement to be strong
• learn the things of God
• know God’s words through his prophets
• unity with others
• access God’s power and authority
• share when you have, receive when you have not
• temporal well-being safety net

My friend who believes in God but thinks organized religion is too much work is missing out on many blessings and benefits – I hope he will reconsider.

- Mosiah 18:18-28

Who You Surround Yourself With Matters

People you choose to surround yourself with reflect your values. Be careful though because that can come back to bite you if you don’t choose wisely.

Take King Noah (124 B.C.). He almost turned around from his loser ways at a critical moment “for he feared the judgments of God would come upon him.”

When his priests saw this they applied to his vanity and said, “He [Abinadi] has reviled the king!” So the Noah was stirred up to anger, forgot his fear of God’s punishment, and had Abinadi killed.

The result? Noah was shortly after killed by fire at the hands of his disgusted people. If he had surrounded himself with better people the result would have been much different, and better.

- Mosiah 17:11-12

“A real man admits it when he is wrong”

“A real man admits it when he is wrong.” Those are the words my mother taught me many times while I was growing up.

Too bad King Noah’s mom didn’t teach him that, it would have spared him and his people a lot of pain and suffering.

If you follow my mom’s advice you will be spared a lot of pain and suffering in your life.

When Abinadi pointed out to Noah and his priests all the wrong they were doing their reaction was to get angry, justify their behavior, lie to themselves, and try to solve the problem by killing Abinadi.

It didn’t turn out to well for them, except for one of the priests named Alma who admitted he was wrong and straightened out. The rest of them paid a dear price for not admitting their mistakes – their life.

- Mosiah 12:9-16, 13:1

Avoiding Corrupt Leaders

When you recognize the pattern corrupt leaders use to get their people to follow them, you can avoid the subsequent suffering of being duped.

Using King Noah as an example:

• he taxed his people 20% of everything they had and used that money for his own benefit
• the tax was used to reward his minions for their loyalty
• vain and flattering words were said to the people by the king and his minions
• the people were lied to extensively
• the king wasn’t concerned about the safety of his people and did not adequately protect them
• the king thought he was above God

The result of King Noah’s corrupt leadership was that many of the people he duped were killed and enslaved. If they had only recognized the signs and avoided them…

We are wise to learn from them.

- Mosiah 11:3-4, 7, 16-17, 27

If You Don’t Like Your Life Then Make Wiser Decisions

It’s tough to look inward and admit that we were wrong. To admit a mistake, an error in judgment, or unwise decision means taking responsibility for the consequences and that can be very painful.

Zeniff made a series of unwise choices that resulted in thousands of people dying and thousands more becoming slaves. He blamed others and refused to recognize that what happened was actually the result of his decisions.

For example after leading his group of people right into the heart of their enemy’s territory he said “but it was the craftiness of king Laman, to bring my people into bondage, that he yielded up the land that we might possess it.”

Zeniff out of his own ambition led his people into king Laman’s territory. Zeniff made a treaty with king Laman to live in the land the king offered. Zeniff judged king Laman to be honest and straight forward when in fact he wasn’t.

After all these mistakes Zeniff couldn’t look inward and realize king Laman wasn’t the problem, Zeniff was.

If we are unhappy with our life it is because of decisions we’ve made. Take responsibility, don’t blame other people, and be wise.

- Mosiah 9:5-6, 10

We Owe Everything to God – Having Pride is Ridiculous

Our dependency on others and particularly on God is undeniable. Ultimately we owe everything to God. We are dependent on him for each breath we take, the materials the earth provides, our bodies, our talents and abilities, and our intelligence.

Of course we need to take action to improve our talents, increase our wealth, and groom ourselves. But none of it would be possible without what God gives to us first.

Given that we owe everything to God it makes false pride especially ridiculous.

The athlete that thinks they are better than other people because of their athletic skills.

The popular actress because of her physical beauty.

The rich person because of all the money they have.

The politician because of their power and status.

None of us are better than another because we are all equally dependent on God for our existence.

I spent two years as a missionary in Brazil living among people who materially had very little. As I put off my false pride and understood we were all equal my love for the people grew exponentially and my ability to help them increased.

(Amazons, Brazil, 1986)

King Benjamin said “I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you.”

If there is something in your life that you have pride in, perhaps it’s worth re-evaluating. Acknowledge your dependence on God and you will have more peace.

- Mosiah 4:11

Don’t Surrender to Base Human Tendencies

In the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” the Mr. Potter character is petty, selfish, greedy, materialistic, and just plain mean. It’s a great sketch of how someone that indulges in natural or base human tendencies is miserable and unhappy.

We have the God given ability to decide what we do and choose how we feel. If someone offends us we can choose to hurt them or forgive them. If we see an opportunity in a business transaction to take advantage of someone for our own benefit we can choose to be greedy or honest.

In 124 B.C. King Benjamin said “the natural man is an enemy to God”. Be disciplined. Control our passions and appetites. Overcome our natural tendencies toward base behavior.

Overcoming the natural man leads to happiness and contentment.

- Mosiah 3:19

Learn From Those Who Have Gone Before

Learning from the experience of people who have already lived and died is smart.

Smart because it advances our own knowledge and wisdom much quicker than can be done if each new generation had to start from scratch learning what works and what doesn’t.

Imagine if heart surgeons were unable to learn from their predecessors. What if military commanders were not able to learn the strategies that succeeded and failed in the past? Innovation is dependent on our ability to learn from those who have gone before.

In 124 B.C. King Benjamin had three sons whom he taught the language of their ancestors so they “could be men of understanding”. Then he counseled them to “search them diligently that that ye may profit thereby”.

And profit they did. Benjamin’s son Mosiah instituted a representative form of government, something that was very rare up to that point in the history of the world but which he was able to envision because of the learning he had from those who had gone before.

I asked my class, “Who have you learned from and what have you learned from someone who has already lived and died?”

Gavin referred to Abraham Lincoln. He has studied many of his speeches and writings and found in them the importance of keeping a laser focus on staying true to our principles.

If you want to leap-frog your life experience, study and learn from those who have gone before.

- Mosiah 1:2, 7

Selfish and Satisfied Don’t Jive

An irony of life is that the less self-centered you are the more content and satisfied your life is.

Imagine going to an amusement park every day for years to ride the most awesome roller coaster. The thrill you get the first few times would quickly dissipate and you would have no lasting satisfaction. Years down the road you would look back and consider it a waste, nothing gained.

Now consider the opposite, helping and serving other people in ways that better their lives. While it may not be adrenaline inducing you feel a long lasting satisfaction. You can look back years later and still feel content about the good you’ve done.

Helping and serving other people brings lasting pleasure and satisfaction.

Enos spent his life teaching and encouraging people to stay close to God. At the end of his life he said he “rejoiced in it above that of the world.”

What are you doing today to help and serve others?

- Enos 1:26

Learn the Hard Way or Easy Way

Learn the hard way by making mistakes others have made. Or, learn the easy way by avoiding the mistakes others have made.

In almost all the sciences each successive generation learns from those who have gone before. Math, physics, and computer science (my favorite!) have all benefited this way.

However when it comes to human behavior many rebellious generations think they know more than their predecessors so they throw out the old and bring in what they think is new. Funny though, it’s not new. It’s been tried so many times before and failed each time.

If you want to learn the easy way just take Sherem’s experience of challenging God’s word and avoid the mistake he made.

- Jacob 7:1-23

You’re Trying Too Hard, Lighten Up

It’s actually possible to try too hard at something.

When a new pilot in training is learning to fly they have a tendency to hold the flight yoke (the plane’s steering wheel, kind-of) tightly as if they need to control the plane.

It turns out that gripping too tightly causes the pilot to have less control by overcorrecting the plane’s movement. A light and soft touch on the controls allows the plane to fly naturally and safely while the pilot makes small corrections to stay on course.

When it comes to the Gospel trying too hard is equivalent to making the simple complex and thereby, as Jacob described it, “looking beyond the mark.” The Gospel is plain and simple and someone who despises the Gospel because of it’s simplicity will overlook the blessings it brings.

- Jacob 4:13-14

News Alert – You Aren’t the Only Person With Feelings

Others will listen to you if you listen to them first. Others will understand you better if you first try to understand them.

Human nature is to naturally think of self first. We think our feelings are the most valid, the most real, and the most important.

We live on an earth with about 6 billion people, all of whom are equally important as our self. Their feelings are just as real, just as valid, just as important. With so many people we are bound to cross paths with others who offend us, irritate us, or otherwise rub us the wrong way.

Jacob had a difficult message to share with his people. Before he delivered the message he spent a lot of time expressing to them his understanding of how they felt and that he was sensitive to it. When he delivered the message it was consequently received well.

This principle of understanding others and being sensitive to their feelings can be applied to every aspect of our lives and in every relationship. The next time someone offends you or ‘makes you mad’ try it out – reach out to understand them and their feelings first, before you try to get them to understand yours, and you will find a softening of heart as artificial barriers are removed.

- Jacob 2:6-9

Treasured Artifact of Julia’s Youth

Julia drew this today to help the class memorize 2 Nephi 28:7-9. When she is well-known and famous this will be a treasured artifact of her youth.

- 2 Nephi 28:7-9

Search Knowledge or be Ignorant

Try to encourage someone to understand or learn something that would be helpful to them when they just don’t care or won’t listen. Pretty frustrating, right?

One of my students shared a story of her cousin who was very unhappy with his life because he was making decisions that led to negative consequences. She encouraged him to read the scriptures and pray so he could find answers  on how to resolve his unhappiness. He refused to do it, wouldn’t make any effort, and consequently his unhappiness continued and deepened.

“You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.” The original quote from 1546 by John Heywood is “A man maie well bring a horse to the water, But he can not make him drinke without he will.” Human nature hasn’t changed even after all these years.

Nephi taught his people “in plainness, even as plain as word can be” and some still refused to understand, or even try.

If you want knowledge then search for it. Seek to understand. Make the effort. Or be ignorant.

- 2 Nephi 32:7

Do Not Go Silent When Intimidated

We studied the second half of Dallin H. Oaks talk about religious freedom (link here) today.

In his words…

“Such forces — atheists and others — would intimidate persons with religious-based points of view from influencing or making the laws of their state or nation.”

“Aside from the obvious fact that this objection would deny free speech as well as religious freedom to members of our Church and its coalition partners, there are other reasons why the public square must be open to religious ideas and religious persons. As Richard John Neuhaus said many years ago, ‘In a democracy that is free and robust, an opinion is no more disqualified for being ‘religious’ than for being atheistic, or psychoanalytic, or Marxist, or just plain dumb.’”

“…we must not be deterred or coerced into silence by the kinds of intimidation I have described. We must insist on our constitutional right and duty to exercise our religion, to vote our consciences on public issues and to participate in elections and debates in the public square and the halls of justice.”

God Source of Power, Not Government

Our seminary class is studying a talk that Dallin H. Oaks gave a week ago at BYU-Idaho entitled “Religious Freedom” (link here).

In his words…

“Along with many other religious people, we affirm that God is the ultimate source of power and that, under Him, it is the people’s inherent right to decide their form of government. Sovereign power is not inherent in a state or nation just because its leaders have the power that comes from force of arms. And sovereign power does not come from the divine right of a king, who grants his subjects such power as he pleases or is forced to concede, as in Magna Carta. As the preamble to our constitution states: ‘We the People of the United States . . . do ordain and establish this Constitution.’”

“Religious freedom has always been at risk.”

“One of the great fundamentals of our inspired constitution, relied on by Oyun of Mongolia and countless others struggling for freedom in many countries in the world, is the principle that the people are the source of government power.”

“The greatest infringements of religious freedom occur when the exercise of religion collides with other powerful forces in society. Among the most threatening collisions in the United States today are (1) the rising strength of those who seek to silence religious voices in public debates, and (2) perceived conflicts between religious freedom and the popular appeal of newly alleged civil rights.”

Eating the Same Exact Salad Every Day – Boring!

If you had to eat the exact same salad every day it would get boring pretty quickly.

Your body needs the nutrients and minerals in the salad. Happily we can get those needed nutrients and minerals even when the ingredients change. Combining ingredients in different varieties and quantities produces salads that are interesting and tasty.

The Gospel is plain and simple. But it can be taught and combined in different ways to make it interesting. Consider how Isaiah in the Old Testament taught the Gospel compared to how Paul in the New Testament taught it. Same ‘nutrients and minerals’ but different flavors. Each resonates with us in different ways strengthening our understanding and belief.

It’s not surprising that God has provided multiple scriptures and prophets to give us his word. The core message is the same but the variety strengthens our understanding and belief.

Next time you read a scripture, listen to a talk, or participate in a lesson about something you’ve heard before don’t mentally check out, instead mentally engage and enjoy the flavor!

- 2 Nephi 29:11-13

You Aren’t Accountable So Live It Up!

You are not accountable or responsible for what you do. Just enjoy life and live it to the fullest. If you need to lie a little or take advantage of someone else to get ahead do it. You’re going to die anyway so you might as well get the most out of life while you have it.

I hope that statement above seemed out of place for the bite-sized beliefs in this blog. If you are just fine with it you may want to consider that a red flag – be concerned. It is in fact a falsehood.

Any teaching even loosely based on the idea or belief that we are not accountable is false and should be rejected.

This philosophy is entrenched in academia, entertainment, government, art, and all forms of media. It’s everywhere we turn. We face enormous pressure to believe and live our life in accordance with this false idea.

Nephi cautions us to avoid this belief by explaining that many people will say, “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us.”

The problem in believing that we are not accountable for what we do is that it leads to behavior that hurts others and hurts ourselves. That’s why it’s a falsehood because of course there are consequences. Ignore them at our own peril.

“Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost.”

Recognize the philosophies of men and avoid believing in them. Rather turn to God and the truth.

- 2 Nephi 28:5-8,31

Finding Comfort in Times of Grief and Anguish

In times of grief and anguish we can find comfort by turning to a higher power, to something greater than ourselves.

Several members in seminary today related stories of people close to them who died. In each case they turned to God and found solace and comfort.

This comfort from God is available to us at all times even if we have neglected or even rejected him in the past. He  will still accept us whenever we turn to him.

In our human pettiness do we easily forgive someone who offends us? It’s difficult. Yet even if we offend God he is still there willing to readily forgive and bring us close again.

Does God ever tell us to avoid benefiting from his blessings? No. Does he tell us that we can’t enjoy salvation? No again. He always invites us to him and just asks that we repent.

Therefore we each control our proximity to God and in times of grief and anguish it is a great comfort to put ourselves in his care.

- 2 Nephi 26:23-28

Be Understood

You make things very clear and plain when you want someone to understand what you are saying.

Dressing up communications with complexity, ambiguity, and ‘noise’ causes people to not understand.

You can tell if someone is trying ‘hoodwink’ or ‘pull one over on you’ if they make their communications unnecessarily wordy, complex, or complicated.

Many times highly educated people use overly complex communication to ensure that only people in their elite circles understand it, thereby excluding people they don’t want.

The document that defines the greatest form of government in the history of the world, the U.S. Constitution, is only 4,400 words (about 17 standard pages). Young people can read it and understand what it means. However many of the bills being written today are extremely wordy, complex, sometimes ambiguous, and elaborate.

Nephi had an important message to share with everyone and he went to great lengths to make it very plain, very simple, and therefore powerful and meaningful.

He wanted them to learn, avoid err, and understand.

When you have something important to say use clarity and plainness and others will understand you.

- 2 Nephi 25:4, 7, 20, 28

Seminary Teacher Look Alike?

I just laughed when I saw this blog post by Julia:

http://notwithoutlaughter.blogspot.com/2009/10/look-alike.html

To Be Satisfied, Or Not

Satisfaction is what you feel when you deep clean a room in your house and make it perfect. It’s what you feel when you let someone behind you at the grocery store go in front because they only have a few things and you have a lot.

Labor on things that satisfy and you will be satisfied. Spend your time and labor on instant gratification and pleasure and the result will be emptiness.

- 2 Nephi 9:51

Students Teach the ‘Teacher’

My seminary students had some great insights into what resonated with them in General Conference over the weekend. It’s great to hear their perspective of these teachings and shows how serious they are about learning and understanding truth.

Here is a highlight of what they said:

Sarah – when we are serving others it’s serving God and we do it because of our good desires.

Brittney – liked how the Rabbis after visiting Welfare Square said they believe our church does good works for the right reasons.

Logan – Elder Holland’s testimony of the Book of Mormon was so powerful.

Gavin – anger leads to destructiveness and bad feeling, we should be cheerful and not angry.

Andrew – the story Elder Choi told of the young men that were trouble makers (and bad singers) but they turned their lives around and became faithful (and good singers).

Anne – parallel of the workers that didn’t use their safety equipment to how we can apply that in our lives.

Julia – appreciated Elder Holland’s powerful testimony because he had such conviction and expressed it so strongly.

Bite-size Beliefs from General Conference (Sunday)

General Conference was so interesting to me this weekend since I was looking for ‘bite-size’ beliefs to share with my seminary class and on my blog.

The conference archive can be watched here: www.lds.org

Here are some of the beliefs I captured in the Sunday session:

• Successful travelers resist all distractions.
• In days of despair hope is found in the Savior.
• Rationalization is foolish.
• We are responsible for our time and what we do with it.
• After we experience a change in heart we must take good care of it.
• Stay true and faithful to what is right and blessings will flow.
• We all have the God given gift of moral agency.
• Truth is not relative.
• Self-discipline has eroded so society now tries to keep order by control and regulation.
• In the end it is only the internal moral compass that controls civility.
• The lack of internal control by  individuals leads to external control by governments.
• Intelligent use of agency requires knowledge of the truth.
• We cannot assume that the future will be like the past.
• Mere wanting is not a proper guide for conduct.

Bite-size Beliefs from General Conference (Saturday)

During General Conference on Saturday I listened for ‘bite-size’ beliefs. It’s amazing how many there were. Each of these could be a separate blog post, lesson, and discussion. They are profound yet simple.

You can watch the conference here: www.lds.org

Here is a sampling:

• People need to feel welcome and part of a group for the group to be more effective in their purpose.
• What’s the point of a group if it has no purpose? That’s why all groups have a purpose.
• Being in a world that is constantly changing gives us the opportunity to make new decisions that keep us on the right path.
• Desire leads to behavior.
• Learning cannot be forced.
• Helping others helps ourselves.
• Teachers facilitate learning.
• When we do wrong we place a burden on our self.
• Burdens help prepare us for something better.
• Burdens give us experience to have empathy toward others.
• Think, feel, and do are what teachers should help their students with.
• You can do what seems impossible through belief in God.
• Express love and show it frequently to live peacefully in our families.
• Consistency in doing small things leads to accomplishing great things.
• Love at the center of our family, church, and livelihood yields more meaning in those things.
• What we love determines what we seek. What we seek determines what we think and do. What we think and do determines who we are and who we will become.
• The greatest of all good things is God.
• The first thing to do for something difficult is to try.
• Wise parents condition some of the ‘gifts’ the give their children on their obedience.
• How to know the truth? The Spirit of God.
• We owe everything to the Savior.
• Our needs today are the same needs people had anciently.
• Temperance is a divine attribute.
• Temperance (self control) is required to teach and lead others.
• A temperate person is a strong person.
• Repentance brings peace into our life.
• If we don’t use our agency wisely we’ll end up on the side of evil.
• Engage is something good and it will change you for the good.
• When things get bad they will get better. Winter always gives way to Spring.
• Work hard and things will get better.
• Work keeps us from dwelling on the difficulties of our circumstances.
• Work is an antidote to anxiety.
• Gain a reputation for excellence in all we do.
• It’s in the doing, not just the thinking, where we accomplish our goals.
• Retirement is not part of the Lord’s plan of happiness.
• A person is a fool that takes an insult where one wasn’t intended.
• No one can make us angry, it’s a choice.

Your Plans for the Next 5,000 Years

When you got going this morning did you have a plan for the day? Of course. We plan our day so we are prepared, productive, and can meet our objectives.

We make plans over different time frames: hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, even a lifetime.

What will you be doing in 5,000 years, do you have a plan that extends beyond this life? If you believe that the spirit continues to exist even after the body dies then it only makes sense that we have plans that extend beyond death.

The same reasons we have plans for this day apply for having a plan beyond death: being prepared, productive, and meeting our objectives.

If our objective is lasting happiness then consider the plan our Creator established so we can achieve it.

There are two elements that keep us from happiness beyond the death: physical death and sin. We just need to overcome them.

It’s really quite simple. In the Atonement of Jesus Christ is the power to overcome physical death through the resurrection and sin through repentance.

All you have to do to overcome physical death is to die.  No problem there, we all will. Later, through the power of the Atonement, we’ll all be resurrected.

To overcome sin all we have to do is repent.

So that’s the plan if you want it. Uncomplicated, powerful, and attainable.

- 2 Nephi 9:7

Dealing With a Bitter Past

Consider a child born under the following circumstances: parents live in a desert away from civilization where he nearly starves to death, at a young age travels by ancient boat across the Atlantic ocean with his family for months on end, almost dies on the trip during a tremendous storm, and his older brothers cause parents so much grief they almost die and the child almost dies because of his need for nourishment and mother’s grief so great that she can’t take care of him.

It would be understandable if someone with such a traumatic childhood grew to be bitter, calloused, and negative. It would be quite a feat and admirable if this person became refined, selfless, and positive.

These were the circumstances of Nephi’s younger brother Jacob. The path Jacob chose was the harder but higher path and he became a great teacher.

Here are the characteristics he developed:

• Caring for others to the extent that he felt much anxiety for their welfare
• Constantly thinking about how to encourage others to be better people
• Humility

Jacob is an inspiration and a great example of overcoming challenges from the past.

- 1 Nephi 18:7-8,19
- 2 Nephi 6:1-5

How You Know Who You Really Are

We use things like the clothes we wear, the words we say, and the way we walk to show people who we are. But those things can be faked. They don’t necessarily reflect who we really are.

Who we really are is defined by what’s deep inside our soul. It’s in the thoughts and desires of our hearts.

As Nephi expressed it, it’s “the things of my soul.” We can know who Nephi was because he shared the desires of his heart, the things of his soul.

To really know yourself or another person look past the external layers and into the things of the soul -- that’s where you will find the real person.

- 2 Nephi 4:15-35

Truth Seekers and Power Seekers

Leaders tend to come from two different backgrounds. One is seeking for truth and when they find it are called to a higher level of responsibility. These are called Truth Seekers. The other is in search of power and self-aggrandizement and they impose themselves on others. These are called Power Seekers.

Here are two examples:

Mahatma Gandhi was in search of the principles that lead to freedom and liberation for individuals and nations. As he found the answers he became a natural leader. He never had a formal title or role yet he lead his nation to independence from colonial rule.

Napoleon Bonaparte was in search of power and installed himself as First Consul, then five years later crowned himself Emperor of the French. He lead by imposing his will on others.

Truth Seekers lead others by example and humility. They teach principles and let people follow the dictates of their own conscience.

Power Seekers in every case I’ve studied impose themselves on others. They govern by manipulation. They impose their will on their followers.

Joseph Smith was seeking for truth wanting to know what church he should follow. He wasn’t seeking for power, it didn’t even occur to him. Yet when he was called he rose to the occasion and he chose to dedicate his entire life to what he was asked to do – which gave him a power and influence he never sought and never abused. His leadership is encapsulated by what he said in 1851, “I teach correct principles, and they govern themselves.”

As Joseph in Egypt prophesied, “A seer shall the the Lord my God raise up.”

Contrast that to leaders who try to impose their will on others. Inevitably you will find that the imposers came to power because they were seeking power, not because they were seeking truth.

Be a Truth Seeker not a Power Seeker. Seek for truth and when you find it take on the associated responsibility and rise to the occasion in humility.

- 2 Nephi 3:6, 8

You Control Your Life

We have the power to make our own choices but we don’t have the power to choose the consequences of those choices.

If your life is not what you want do you realize that it’s because of the choices you’ve made? Life doesn’t just happen to us. Life is a result of the choices we make.

This is personal empowerment. It’s given to us by God and no person or organization can take it away from us. Even when they try we still have the power of choice as Victor Frankl explains so well in Man’s Search for Meaning of his experience in a Nazi concentration camp.

If you feel that you don’t have control in your life it’s because you are mistaking the consequences of your choices as your actual choices. The way to control the consequences is by controlling your choices.

For example suppose you are out of money and don’t feel healthy. You might feel like that is just what life has dished out to you and there is nothing you can do about it.

On closer examination though it turns out that you choose to eat fast-food every day. You are free to make that choice. The consequence however is guaranteed. You will be out of money because the food is expensive and you’ll be unhealthy because the food is bad for your body.

We make decisions every day. It’s a wonderful power to have. But we need to use it wisely. In fact we can consciously use our power of choice as a  tool to get what we want but we can’t change the consequences. So make the choices that result in the consequences you desire.

Our ultimate destiny is determined by how we wield the power of choice, which we all have. As Lehi said to Jacob, we can choose liberty and eternal life or captivity and eternal death. Which will it be? Use the power wisely.

- 2 Nephi 2:28-29

I Will Not Forget You

Raising children is tough work. Being a good parent is one of the most selfless acts in life. However it would never occur to me, or to you, to abandon or disregard our children.

Yet there are a few parents who do neglect their children, even infants, and it’s been a problem for thousands of years. Isaiah in the Old Testament asks the question, “For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?”

He answers, “Yea, they may forget…”

It’s such a foreign concept that this could happen, yet a quick search of the news shows that in just the last few weeks there are multiple cases of mothers neglecting their infants to the point of starvation and mothers leaving their newborn infants in public places and walking away.

Yet the Redeemer will never do this to us. Per Isaiah, “Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel.”

He will be there for us. Always.

- 1 Nephi 21:15

Ironic Culture of Fakeness

‘Back in the day’ when someone had tanned skin it meant they spent time outdoors. They were probably physically active, healthy, and vigorous. Those attributes were automatically assumed if a person had tanned skin.

Now when you see someone with perfectly tanned skin it means they can lay under a bright light at a tanning salon.

Attributes of physical activity, health, and vigor are desirable. Many of us want people to think we have those attributes. Hence the invention of the tanning salon.

Ironically laying under a bright light doing absolutely nothing is the opposite of physical activity, health, and vigor. Yet we hope that people will still think of us in those terms.

Leadership Without a Formal Title

Is a formal title required to be a leader? Not at all. True leadership comes from a person’s character.

Leadership is helping and serving other people. A leader thinks more of the people he is serving than himself.

A true leader doesn’t seek for praise and doesn’t seek for power. He seeks results.

Leadership without a formal title respects leadership that does have a formal title.

When Lehi’s family was close to starvation after their tools to secure food were broken, some members sat around complaining. One got up, made a new tool, then asked the formal leader where he should go to get food. That simple act of leadership saved a family from starvation.

We can be leaders without a title in our families, in our groups of friends, in a public place where no one knows us. Focus on helping and serving others in all aspects of your life without regard to praise, power, or reward and you will be an effective leader.

- 1 Nephi 16:18-19, 21, 23, 31

All Our Senses

See, touch, smell, hear, and taste. The more sensory input the stronger the experience and the better we remember it.

I don’t drink wine and never have but I've seen professional wine tasters deliberately smell wine deeply before they put it in their mouth to taste it. Why? For a more complete experience.

A movie with no sound could elicit some emotions. But with sound effects and music it is much more powerful. Now add 4D effects like a puff of wind, odor, mist, and movement at just at the right time and the effect on us is even more intense.

Nephi wanted to experience what his father had seen. But he didn’t want to just see it, he wanted to experience it with multiple senses. He wanted to “see, hear, and know”.

This applies to our desire to understand the Gospel. See, hear, and know. Listen to the Spirit, hear the words of prophets, and know.

- 1 Nephi 10:17

What is it Worth?

Tiffany and I purchased a new bedroom set recently and decided to sell our old set.

Here is the old set:

To figure out what it was worth I needed to estimate the value other people might place on it. I came up with $850. Within 3 hours I had sold it for $700.

Here’s the cash I received for the furniture:

Joel, the fellow that bought the furniture, wanted it for a guest room in his house. Just he and his wife live in a 4-bedroom house and his son comes to stay occasionally and this furniture will be available for him.

The worth Joel assigned to the furniture was based on the importance of the problem it solved for him.

You have a problem. I have the same problem. We sin and are therefore impure and are unable to return to God unless we are cleansed from our sins.

There is only one solution to this problem and it’s the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

What is that worth to you?

Nephi instructed, in fact commanded, that his descendents “shall not occupy these plates with things which are not of worth unto the children of men.”

What is contained in the Book of Mormon is in fact of great worth to all of us specifically because it persuades us to accept the atonement and be saved.

As Nephi said, “For the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved.”

Again, what is that worth to you?

- 1 Nephi 6:4,6

Class Theme Decided: Dwell in a Tent

The seminary class has decided on a theme. It’s based on 1 Nephi 2:15 and it is:

Dwell in a tent

We discussed what that actually means. When we see the phrase ‘dwell in a tent’ what concepts should we associate with it?

This is what they said:

• We need to follow God. Whatever he asks us to do, that we should do.
• We should leave worldly things behind us.
• We need to surround ourselves with good people, good friends, and our family.

So here it is:

Dwell in a tent. Follow God. Leave worldly things behind. Keep good friends.

The theme of “Strength of God” (Alma 56:56) was highly favored by the class and they are considering that for the theme for the 2nd semester.

I Don't Want To Do That

Doing things we don't want to do is a common everyday occurrence.

Most good things in life only come by first doing things we probably don't want to do.

Having a healthy body requires discipline in eating and pain in exercise. Being educated requires lots of mental focus and study. Having a strong moral character means doing what's right rather than what's easy.

Doing  things we don't want to do - the things that don't come easy - guarantees results.

Discipline in your eating will improve your health. Time and effort in study will increase your knowledge. Being truthful will increase your moral character.

Instead of being self-centered and self-indulgent, help and serve other people and your happiness will increase.

God told Lehi to have his sons get the brass plates. After much effort, pain, and grief they succeeded. The result?

"And we had obtained the records which the Lord had commanded us, and searched them and found that they were desirable; yea, even of great worth unto us, insomuch that we could preserve the commandments of the Lord unto our children."

Good things in life only come after we do the difficult things.

- 1 Nephi 5:21

Same Information but Different Insights

Reading the scriptures provides learning in many ways and on many levels. The insights we gain can depend on our circumstances at the time and on our spiritual maturity.

After reading 1 Nephi chapter 4 the youth shared what they learned and what stood out to them. What a great group of youth with very mature insights. As can be seen from what they shared there is a broad range of topics that were covered. Several even shared the exact same verse and still came away with different insights.

That is the nature of learning. It's individual and it increases as our experience grows. It's why we can read a classic book multiple times and see things we didn't see before. And it's especially why we can read the scriptures over and over throughout our lives and continue to learn more each time.

Brittney: We need to stand our ground. Understand who we are and what we stand for, then stand there. (verse 12)

Sara: To keep God's commandments we need to know them first. (verses 14-16)

Sarah: After we have assurances of who God is then we don't need to continue to doubt. (verse 3)

Gavin: Your faith gives you a stronger testimony than actually seeing a heavenly messenger. (verse 3)

Maddie: Ultimately we have to take action. We can be inspired but if we don't take action nothing will happen. (verses 17-18).

Andrew: Zoram chose 'dwell in a tent', meaning he chose to follow the Lord as should we. (verse 33)

Logan: The Lord is so mighty that he can help us with anything we need help with. (verse 1)

Julia: Everyone has something we can respect. (verses 4 and 10)

Mauricio: We need to have enough faith to follow the Lord. (verse 6)

The Art of Gentle Persuasion

When my children are arguing with each other it's usually the louder one that has the weaker argument. We sometimes tend to think that we need to increase our volume to be more persuasive but in fact the opposite is true.

Persuasion comes from gentle reassurance and reinforcement of your point.

The pattern to follow is first state your point then provide supporting information. Then restate your point for emphasis combined with restating the supporting information or additional supporting information.

That's the pattern Nephi used to successfully persuade his brothers to do something they didn't want to do.

It's the same pattern that the Spirit used to successfully persuade Nephi to do something he really didn't want to do.

So next time you are tempted to increase your volume, don't. Try the art of gentle persuasion instead.

- 1 Nephi 4:1-4 and 1 Nephi 4:10-18

Consider Your Attitude

From students in my class on having a positive attitude:

Maddie: When she has an overwhelming amount of homework she finds that having a positive attitude enables her to get it done. And when it's done she feels good.

Anne: If there is a big pile of laundry that needs to be done, you can start working on it one item at a time until you finish the pile. Alternatively you could throw yourself on the pile and throw a tantrum but nothing would get done.

Andrew: You could look at the pile of laundry and decide that everything is clean, then you don't need to do anything.

Julia: She has to work harder at a positive attitude while travelling because she has a fear of travelling. So sometimes on trips she will have a bad day but when she works on choosing a positive attitude then everything goes better.


BYU and Oklahoma University are playing a football game this weekend. Oklahoma has a better team. If BYU has a chance at winning, what must their attitude be going into the game? Positive of course. If it's negative they've lost before even starting.

Nephi had a positive attitude when his dad asked him and his brothers to do what seemed impossible -- get the brass plates from Laban. Each step of the way the positive mental attitude kept Nephi searching for a solution until he succeeded. And each step of the way his negative brothers gave up, complained, and when things didn't go their way they even became physically violent.

If you aren't getting the results you want perhaps consider your attitude and see if that is where the difference will be made.

- 1 Nephi 3:4-6,11-13,16,25,28-31

What Do You Need?

To loosely borrow an idea from Stephen R. Covey, if all the air was suddenly sucked out of the room you are currently in would you keep reading this blog post? Of course not.

When we have an intense need we tend to focus on it keenly with the intent of fulfilling the need. If we need air we will focus completely on getting it.

Many of our needs are not so urgent and intense but they are real and necessary. We might need a friend, help with a decision, information, courage, strength, or nourishment.

Lehi had a need to understand how to prevent his city from being invaded and destroyed so "as he went forth he prayed unto the Lord, yea, even with all his heart..." and he was given the answer.

What do you need, and how will you get it?

- 1 Nephi 1:4-5

The Book that Gets Results

What could transform a young man (my dad Joel) having fun like this

and a young woman (my mom Vivian) having fun like this

and having a Jewish wedding in a synogogue and under a canopy like this

to being sealed in the temple like this

to raising a family like this?

A book like this.

Communicating in a Sound-bite Society

People are conditioned to get information in sounds-bites. Gone are the days of the Lincoln-Douglas debates where hours were given to each side to make their points.

We live in a culture where the attention span is short. If someone asks you a question like "What is this Book of Mormon your church has?" you may need to answer in 60 seconds or less in a clear, simple, and understandable way.

Moroni said he saw our day and I believe it. He wrote an inspired 'sound-bite' introduction to the Book of Mormon that is very precise, to the point, and effective for the modern day culture. Joseph Smith did a direct translation of what Moroni wrote.

Are you prepared to give a 'sound-bite' explanation to a friend that inquires about the Book of Mormon? Moroni's description is an excellent foundation for you to create your own.

- Book of Mormon Title Page

Don't Sugarcoat the Gospel

These youth are amazing! They were asked to take 5 minutes to search the Book of Mormon and propose a class theme for studying the Book of Mormon this year. You will be impressed with how spiritually mature and gospel focused they are.

They don't want or need gospel principles to be superficially attractive or palatable. They don't need sugarcoating.

Look at what they came up with in so short a time:

Helaman 5:12 - God is our foundation
Alma 27:27 - Perfectly honest and upright
Alma 24:15 - Merciful is our God
Moroni 10:5 - Know the truth
1 Nephi 10:21 - No uncleanliness
Alma 56:56 - Strength of God
1 Nephi 2:15 - Dwelt in a tent
Helaman 11:37 - Pride leads to destruction

Andrew recommended 'dwelt in a tent' and explained this would be his first seminary blog post where he would expand on the concept.

Julia expressed that she would like to use 'dwelt in a tent' because it was different and interesting. We all agreed that choosing this theme would require associating it to something conceptual.

Any votes on which one will become our class theme? We'll discuss these more in depth next week and make a decision. It will be very interesting to hear what they have to say about each one as we discuss them.

There is no doubt but that the youth in this church are spiritually mature and ready for the gospel as it is without sugarcoating.

The Good Life

Most of us want a good life and we spend a lot of time and energy in pursuit of it.

A good life for most people would include having money to buy things, living comfortably, choosing what we do with our time rather than having it dictated by financial constraints, being surrounded by people we love and that love us, feeling peace in our hearts, and having a sense of purpose and fulfillment in our life.

If we all want a good life then it's worth asking this question: how do we get it?

There is a pattern for having a good life and it's really quite simple -- focus on helping and serving other people.

Nehor was focused on getting people to pay him money in exchange for preaching. He wanted the good life. His method though was to be selfish and prideful about how great he was. He got the money and immediately started wearing expensive clothes to show everyone he had the good life. He had followers. And when he got in a dispute about points of doctrine, he killed the person he was debating with. So rather than the good life, he ended up being put to death. This is not the definition of a good life. He wanted it but his methods were flawed.

Now the members of the church, the people that did not follow Nehor, were focused on helping and serving other people. That was their focus. They worked hard, they shared their food, clothes, time, and possessions with people in need. As a natural consequence of this they became wealthy. They got the good life.

"And thus they did prosper and become far more wealthy than those who did not belong to their church."

Setting our hearts on helping and serving other people has the natural consequence of leading us to the good life as we are blessed spiritually and temporally by God.

- Alma 1: 3,5-6,14,16,26-27,29-31

New Ideas Are Usually Met with Resistence

Introduce a new idea and people naturally tend to resist it.

Elder Ballard said in December 2007 that we can and should use the Internet to join the conversations and share the Gospel.

We discussed the article in class this morning. Everyone agreed with the concept that it is a good thing to do. But actually doing it? That met with some resistence.

Nephi's brother Jacob said, "Wherefore we labored diligently among our people, that we might persuade them to come unto Christ, and partake of the goodness of God, that they might enter into his rest."

Successful leadership requires diligence and continual laboring. It's easy to throw an idea out there and walk away from it at the first sign of resistence. However if it's worth doing, it's worth laboring for.

- Jacob 1:7

Meet The 2009-2010 Class

It's amazing how a snapshot can show personalities. This is a great class, each youth has unique traits that combined together make it a fun place to be.

These pictures were taken at 6:15a today, look how alive, alert, and ponderous they already are!

On the left side of the room we have Gavin, Sean, Julia, Andrew, Anne, and Logan.

And on the right it's Sarah, Brittney, Sara, Maddie, and Mauricio.

Most of today was spent distributing learning material and organizing our cabinet.

We discussed devotionals and the students like having it fairly open on what subject they discuss and what resources they use. I also asked them to consider sharing scriptures from their personal study that had meaning to them and also share stories from their personal experiences that are spiritually uplifting, which they agreed to do.

What's Important to High School Juniors?

What they said
These are the things that are important to the high school juniors in my seminary class (in no particular order):

• Fun
• Grades
• Friends
• Family
• Sports

What they meant
That's what they said, but that isn't what is really important to them. When we dug deeper to understand why fun is important, they came to the conclusion that what was really important was feeling happy and having a counterbalance for more serious things in life.

The path to understanding why grades were important went like this: grades are important because I want to go to a good college. I want to go to a good college so I can have a good career. I want a good career so I can have a good life. So what's really important to them is having a good life, the career, college, and grades are just a means to get what they want.

Friends were important because they wanted to be close to people who would help and understand them. Interestingly they also wanted to be helpful to others. And helping others was important so they felt important.

The Book of Mormon Has the Patterns
What they found exciting is that everything that is important to them (a good life, feeling important, feeling happy, having a counterbalance to more serious things) is patterned in the Book of Mormon.

Today we discussed the story of Alma and Amulek as a pattern for friendship. Tomorrow we'll cover additional areas of importance and discuss specific examples of patterns in the Book of Mormon that will help them with the things that are important to them.

They Don't Care How Much You Know, Until...

A little talking, a lot of listening

Have you heard the saying, "They don't care how much you know until they know how much you care?"

Seminary for 2009-2010 starts tomorrow morning and I'm teaching the high school juniors. We are studying the Book of Mormon this year.

I'm going to dedicate the first half of the time tomorrow doing very little talking and a lot of listening so they know I care about them and what's important to them.

What they look forward to in school, what fears they have, how their summer went, what are their likes and dislikes, what they care about. Relating and empathizing with them. It's about them, not me.

Caring about what matters

Human nature is that we care about things that matter to us. So the next objective tomorrow is taking them from what matters to them, what they care about, what's important in their lives, to where they clearly understand and believe that the Book of Mormon helps them with those things that matter to them.

This will be the second half of the class -- listening to what they care about and bridging that to the Book of Mormon.

For example, they probably care about having friends that understand and help them. If that comes up then I will show them how the Book of Mormon has patterns for finding friends and being a friend. Alma caring for Amulek in his tribulation comes to mind.

Preempting objections

The learning process is usually linear. If a student has an objection that their mind is stuck on, additional learning is stunted because they can't accept what they are hearing until their objection is resolved.

Our youth exist in an environment of skepticism about the Book of Mormon. The world generally passes it off as false.

Spending a few minutes quickly going through a bullet list of irrefutable reasons that the Book of Mormon is true will clear this barrier if it exists. Youth respond positively to these kinds of proofs because it solidifies and inspires confidence to what they already hope, and in many cases, believe, to be true.

Having accomplished these things tomorrow should lay the foundation for a spiritual and in depth study of the Book of Mormon for the next 10 months.

- Alma 15:18

Keep Your Financial Promises and Live

When we take on financial obligations like borrowing a dollar from a friend, borrowing $1,000 from a credit card company, or borrowing $100,000 from a bank for our mortgage, is that a serious obligation?

If we aren't willing to do everything in our power to keep the promise of payment we shouldn't enter into the agreement in the first place. But once entered we must do everything in our power to stay true to the obligation -- it could be the difference between life and death.

Limhi and his people made an agreement with the Lamanite king to pay 50% each year of everything they had in exchange for keeping their land and a few other terms.

"...the Lamanites had granted unto them that they might possess the land by paying a tribute to the Lamanites of one half of all they possessed".

This worked for two years until the Lamanites came and attacked Limhi's people. In the battle, the Lamanite king was wounded and brough to Limhi.

Limhi asked, "What cause have ye to come up to war against my people? Behold, my people have not broken the oath that I made unto you; therefore, why should ye break the oath which ye made unto my people?"

Since Limhi and his people had kept their financial obligation, the Lamanite king trusted them and his heart was softened. He went to his people, who were preparing to come attack and destroy Limhi's people, and convinced them not to do it.

Limhi's people were literally saved from death because they had kept their financial promise.

- Mosiah 19:15, 22; Mosiah 20:14

Laden with Taxes

Congress is currently drafting and considering a bill that will give the government control of health care delivery and will also cost a lot of money to execute. In reference to the bill, I was asked this question by one of my nephews:

I wonder what freedom of any real significance do you stand to lose from this bill?

After giving thoughtful consideration to the question, this was my answer:

I suppose it's a matter of perspective. In my world (my perspective) there are 7 people I provide for. So there is quite a bit of significant freedom I lose. Each time I am forced to give up (at the threat of going to prison) a dollar which I've earned by the 'sweat of my brow' I lose some freedom.

To illustrate, imagine that tomorrow you suddenly became the owner of 5 apartment complexes that generate monthly cash flow of $10,000 each. For the rest of your life you will be earning $50,000 a month without having to lift a finger since other people run the business. You would suddenly be able to choose to do whatever you wanted. You might still choose to go to law school and then go work for a law firm or whatever you currently are planning on doing. But here is the point, you would have the freedom to make other choices like serving missions or writing books. Whatever your passion is, you would be free to choose.

I'm trying to illustrate that there is a direct correlation between your ability to do what you choose with your money and the freedom that you have. Each time someone takes away a dollar from you by force you lose a little freedom. So the more money taken from you, the more freedom you lose. I hope this makes sense.

King Benjamin said that he labored with his own hands so the people wouldn't be laden with taxes. To be laden is to have a load or burden put on. He wanted his people to not have that burden so he ran his government in a way to keep the people free from that burden.

Your length of time as a provider for your family has been short but hopefully enough that you feel the weight of the responsibility to a degree that these principles make sense to you.

Consider all the work you have put in to teaching swimming lessons this summer. Instead of sitting around, you've busted your bum to provide a value to the children you teach. In exchange for that value, they have paid you money. The money is just a symbol of the value you provided to them, it reflects how they feel about what you've done, and it's paid well.

Now, you are free to choose what to do with that money. You will use it however you want, whatever makes the most sense to you and Kaity. But if I forced you to give 50% of that money to me so now I control the money, would you lose some freedom? Clearly you would.

Please seriously consider this. What are you planning to do with the money? Now someone forces you to give up half of it, what changes will you need to make from your original plan? Do you see how for every dollar you are forced to give up you lose some of your freedom?

So that's the principle -- the more you are taxed the more freedom you lose. How you apply that principle to your beliefs defines who you are and what you stand for or against.

As I mentioned in my earlier email, I value freedom and liberty over security and that defines what I stand for and against.

- Mosiah 2:14

Be Selfish to be More Selfless

On commercial airline flights they tell us that when the oxygen masks drop we were to put the mask on ourself and get the air flowing, then help our child or others that need assistance. This bothered me for years -- I thought it was inconsiderate to put my needs in front of others and that a good Christian would defer to the needs of others first.

This was incorrect.

Jesus told Peter "and when thou are converted, strengthen thy brethren." Essentially Peter needed the 'oxygen' before he could give it to others.

This applies to helping other people economically. Given that high inflation is coming, job security will continue to be less secure, and taxes are going to increase, there will be many opportunities and needs to help people and relieve their suffering.

Now is the time to create a solid foundation for our own families. Not for selfish reasons but so we can effectively help those in need. If we don't have food stored for these times and food becomes scarce, we'll be forced to spend all our time just trying to get food for our family leaving no opportunity to help others.

If we have built income streams that don't require going to a job then we can spend our time helping people in need rather than just trying to survive ourselves. In other words, become financially independent now and you will have a great capacity to be of service to others.

While on the surface it might seem selfish to take care of yourself first, it actually allows you to be less selfish and more giving to others.

- Luke 22:32

How We Learn Best

Dale Edgar studied how people learn and created the "Cone of Learning" to illustrate it. His findings validate what I will be doing teaching seminary this school year.

Listening to lectures is one of the least effective ways to learn. However I believe it is effective to talk in front of the class to explain a context or set the stage for what they will be learning. Reading the scriptures also sets the stage for learning, and we'll be doing that as well.

So while there will be some lecturing and reading, I want to spend a fair amount of time having the students participate in discussions and teaching/sharing the scriptures with other over the new media.

Here is the Cone of Learning:

Scripture Stories as Patterns for Our Lives

Elder Jay E. Jensen Of the Presidency of the Seventy in a recent Ensign article talks about a scripture study pattern that can help us better understand the scriptures.

When I read this article a few weeks ago I felt strongly that we should use this pattern while studying the Book of Mormon in seminary this upcoming school year. It's a great way to benefit and learn from the scriptures.

Scripture Stories as Patterns for Our Lives (PDF)

Join the Conversation

My seminary class this upcoming school year will be sharing and teaching what they are learning by joining the conversation on the new media. These links below are reference material I'll be using to help my students understand what we can do.

Elder Ballard encourages us to join the conversation in the new media, share the gospel in simple and clear terms including the message of the restoration (Dec 2007):


Click here for the text of his talk

News article of what members are doing to join the discussion:
http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/mormons-make-their-voices-heard-digitally

Elder Ballard in October 2007 shared the need for clear, simple statements about our faith. Suggests creating a list of simple statements or points:
http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-775-9,00.html

Bad Economy is Good

A faltering economy means real suffering for many people.

In some ways having a faltering economy is good. It helps us remember our dependence on our Creator. In remembering this dependence we are humbled, live better lives, and repent. Which is good.

Prophets of old have actually asked for conditions that resulted in a faltering economy. Their purpose specifically was to encourage people to repent and remember who they really are.

Nephi requested "let there be a famine in the land, to stir them up in remembrance of the Lord their God, and perhaps they will repent and turn unto thee."

Keep our current economic situation in perspective. It is temporary and if it stirs us to a remembrance of our Lord then there is good in it.

- Heleman 11:4-7

The Price of Pleasure

Tiffany and I ate dinner last night at a Cajun restaurant. Yum.

I noticed a middle-aged couple near our table completely enjoying their meal. Heaping plates with blackened shrimp and fish, okra, and peppered french fries. All things Cajun. Bite after blissful bite, no time for talk, just eat and enjoy. Hors d'oeuvres, main course, desert, the works.

After they finished they sat in quiet reverie for a few minutes contemplating the enjoyment they just had, expressions of satisfaction on their faces.

As they got up to leave their expressions changed to discomfort and pain. They both slowly hauled themselves up out of their chairs, one with a cane, the other using the table and chair for support. They were both about 100 pounds overweight.

Then it struck me that for the 15 minutes of enjoyment just concluded they would now suffer the effects of that pleasure 24x7, around the clock, in everything they did. Even sleeping would not give repreive since their sleep would be inhibited. Even while eating they still had to deal with feeling terrible physically.

Imagine if they swapped the amount of time feeling good and feeling bad -- they would spend 15 minutes of pain for feeling good at all times. Wouldn't it be worth it? Ironically when we eat in moderation and eat healthy food a natural pleasure is felt so there wouldn't even be the 15 minutes of pain.

As Alma says, "see that ye bridle all your passions." Following that advice will go a long way to living a truly pleasurable life, one where we can feel good all the time rather than just for a few moments here and there.

- Alma 38:12

Pleasure Has Limits

You might believe that super rich people have much more pleasure in life than you do. This is why many of us envy the rich, picturing a life with no constraints on the fun and pleasure we can have.

The truth is that even super rich people have constraints on the amount of pleasure in their life. Consider this: are their bodies special in some way that they can eat large amounts food and not get fat?

All people, regardless of how much money they have, need to love and be loved, need a purpose in life, need physical exercise, and need mental development. No amount of money can change this.

Regardless of how much wealth you have, you still have to take care of your body, your mind, and your spirit. If you don't you will suffer. So rich people who neglect these things suffer just as much as poor people do.

Instead of envying rich people and thinking that somehow they have much better lives, we should focus on gratitude for the blessings we already have in our lives. Everyone, regardless of challenges or economic position, has blessings to be grateful for.

"Humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you."

- Alma 34:38

Know Your Opponent

Two football teams are battling it out. Team A vs. Team B. Each team has their playbooks that define their strategies and plans. Prior to the game, Team A secured Team B's playbook. They also know what Team B's hand signals are. And furthermore, they figured out how to tap into Team B's intercom system and hear the coaches make decisions while the game is being played.

Has the likelihood that Team A will win the game increased? Absolutely.

Knowing your opponents strategies and plans gives the upper hand. It eliminates surprise and you can effectively plan to defend against their attacks and you can launch an effective offense.

Surprise is the #1 factor in winning a battle. When Santa Ana and his troops from Mexico were fighting the Texans in the 1800's, Sam Houston waited patiently until the time was right, mounted a surprise attack, and very quickly and with very little loss completely conquered the invading army, won the battle, and concluded the war. And this was just shortly after the Mexicans had completely whipped the Texans at the Alamo.

There is a spiritual battle going on each day, and each one of us is a participant. The adversary Satan and his minions are constantly trying to deceive us with the intent to overthrow us.

"There are many spirits which are false spirits, which have gone forth in the earth, deceiving the world. And also Satan hath sought to deceive you, that he might overthrow you."

Can we be more effective in this battle by understanding our adversary? Yes! The same principle applies. By understanding that he wants to deceive us with the intent to overthrow us we can focus preventing ourselves from being deceived.

And how do we keep ourselves from being deceived?

"And again, I will give unto you a pattern in all things, that ye may not be deceived; for Satan is abroad in the land, and he goeth forth deceiving the nations—

"Wherefore he that prayeth, whose spirit is contrite, the same is accepted of me if he obey mine ordinances. He that speaketh, whose spirit is contrite, whose language is meek and edifieth, the same is of God if he obey mine ordinances. And again, he that trembleth under my power shall be made strong, and shall bring forth fruits of praise and wisdom, according to the revelations and truths which I have given you."

- D&C 50:2-3, 52:14-17

To Have and to Hold

To own something means it's yours. But is it really?

Some people buy sailboats and some join sailing clubs and use the clubs boats.

Sure there are some distinctions. The owner can use the boat whenever they want. The club member has to schedule. The owner pays insurance and maintenance while the club member does neither.

Picture a club member relaxing in his borrowed boat looking at nice wood paneling in the state room and enjoying the deep tones of the grains and polished surface.

Now picture a boat owner in their state room enjoying the wood paneling in the same way.

The similarities are interesting. Both enjoy it the same and neither one can take it with them.

When we die we take none of our possessions. Anything we 'own' is just a temporary stewardship. Maybe it's a few hours at a time while we sail a club boat or a few years if we buy a boat. But either way it's not truly ours because we will not possess it forever.

Our intelligence we possess forever. Our sealed relationships we keep forever. But nothing physical on this earth is ours and we are deceiving ourselves if we believe otherwise. We are but stewards of things for a brief time while we are here.

"And now I ask, can ye say aught of yourselves? I answer you, Nay. Ye cannot say that ye are even as much as the dust of the earth; yet ye were created of the dust of the earth; but behold, it belongeth to him who created you."

It's silly to be proud of our possessions because they aren't even ours which makes the pride so vain it exposes our self deception for others to see.

Everything we 'have' actually belongs to the person who created us.

- Mosiah 2:25

Proud Parents or Blessed Children

Parents spend so much time and energy raising children. If a grown child compliments their parents for being just (guided by truth, fairness, reason, and justice), what did the parents do to deserve it?

Teaching our children about physical and spiritual things will deserve that compliment. By taking the primary responsibility to teach our children we will deserve the same praise that Enos had for his father.

"I, Enos, knowing my father that he was a just man—for he taught me in his language, and also in the nurture and admonition of the Lord—and blessed be the name of my God for it—"

What greater compliment could a child give a parent than this gratitude?

- Enos 1:1

Perserverance and the Reward

Have you ever reverse-engineered a web site to programmatically extract data? Most people probably never have and never will do this.

There are thousands of hurdles that have to be overcome. Tiny details that will prevent the objective from being met. If one little semi-colon shows up in an unexpected place either the extraction will completely fail or the data will be invalid.

The only way to successfully automate data extraction from a web site is to keep at it. When a problem comes up it must be solved. This could take hours and sometimes days but forward progress is stopped until it's resolved.

Giving up anytime before the job is complete is the same as not starting at all. There is no partial completion and partial reward. It's either accomplished or it isn't.

"And let your diligence, and your perseverance, and patience, and your works be redoubled, and you shall in nowise lose your reward, saith the Lord of Hosts."

Building the Nauvoo temple was the object of the perseverance mentioned in this scripture. Nothing great is accomplished without diligence, perseverance, and patience. Redouble the effort, push harder, and the reward will be received.

- D&C 124:4