Dad?

There I was. 7 years old. Sitting in the middle seat of my dad's truck holding on to him and the seat belt. We sat there for seconds peering into a good 20 foot mud puddle in the middle on some construction site in Carmel, California.

Main concern: Can be make a splash big enough to justify the trouble we were about to get in?

The 1994 Ford F-350 dualy lurched forward spitting dirt out the 4 spinning rear tires. I felt the G-force pushing me back into my seat. Then I was thrown forward by the impact of the truck hitting the murky mud water.
Mud. That's all I can think of as I picture it in my head. I picture it something like this; 

No, that's not us. Keep in mind I was 7. In my eyes, everything was larger than life. Needless to say, as I tell the story 15 years later, it wasn't the mud, mess, or muddled mom that left the lasting impression. It was the time I spent with my dad, his interactions with those around him and his willingness to take me to work with him that day and make me feel like I was the boss.

Like most kids, and most kids should, I spent a lot of time with my mom. She was the one who scheduled play dates, made sure I did my homework, and forced me to enjoy eating fruits and vegetables. Thanks to my dad, she could stay home a lot of the time when I was a child. I hope I can do the same for my wife and the son we expect within the week.

Dads have other important roles.

The reality of a baby boy being placed into our family seems so surreal. I've been watching my wife's belly get bigger and bigger for the past 9 months and I still don't believe it's really happening. The first thought I had when my wife showed me the positive on the pee stick was, "The Lord trusts me this much?" 

Followed by a hosanna shout, a few downward fist thrusts, and several cheers, whoop's, holla's, and booyah's.

As the day of reckoning draws near, I cannot help but ponder deeply the responsibility that will be placed into my arms. Literally. Especially when you read quotes like this;

"Fatherhood is not a matter of station or wealth. It is a matter of desire, diligence and determination to see one's family exalted in the celestial kingdom. If that prize is lost, nothing else really matters." - Ezra Taft Benson

No pressure. No big deal. Hakuna matata.

That's a ton of pressure!

That's a huge deal!

Lots of matata!!

Thankfully, this job doesn't have to be done alone. I am beyond thankful for my wonderful, thoughtful, loveful, understandful, strongful, happyful(see picture above), smartful, insightful, and beautiful wife.

And let's not forget our Heavenly Father.

“When we are on the Lord’s errand, we are entitled to the Lord’s help. Remember that the Lord will shape the back to bear the burden placed upon it.”

Getting back to the presence of God is not a feat to be accomplished as an individual. He doesn't give you a near-impossible task and say, "Good luck. See you never." He is there every step of the way. And His Son, Jesus Christ, the Light and Life of the World, will always be there for us to lean on when it gets dark.

When this bundle of joy pops out into our world, I know, and you should too, there are so many sources of help. Especially to those who seek it.

I hope I can be the father my son needs.
I hope I can be worthy to share a title the Creator of All insists we call Him.
I hope I can take this job seriously.
I hope I can follow the Spirit and follow the will of the Lord concerning how to raise to him.
I hope I can be a worthy priesthood holder and an example.
I hope I can show him how to love and respect his mom, my wife.
I hope he loves me.

I thank my dad. He wasn't perfect, and still isn't. But he sure nailed the whole dad thing.

He's taught me how to have fun, ride a bike, and enjoy peppercini's.
He's taught me how to lay tile, memorize entire discographies and band line-ups from the 60's, 70's, and 80's, and how to cook fish.
He's taught me you can still eat meat with less than half of your teeth, catch a short-hopping grounder, and precancel stamps.
He's taught me how to be respectful when it comes to church and have fun at work.
He's taught me how to endure trials when it seemed there was no light at the end of the tunnel.
He's recently taught me that change is possible.
He's taught me how to do things with passion.
There is so much he has taught me that I have yet to realize. Thanks dad.

Just Keep Reading, Pt. 3

How to get the 

MOST

out of your scriptures!

How do I have good scripture studies where I actually feel engaged and am learning something?

So there is a story about a 14 year old boy who had a QUESTION.

         "Which church should I join?"

So guess what he did?

       He turned to the scriptures, of course. And in his own words, this is what he said.

"11 While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one day reading the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 

12 Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know; for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible."

I promise, in the name of Jesus Christ, that if you have a question, the Lord can and will answer it through the scriptures. 

        Just don't stop reading if it doesn't come right away! 

1. So the first step in getting the most out of the scriptures is to start with a question.
2. Then talk to the Lord. Pray and ask that he may guide you in your studies.
3. Start to read.
4. Show that you care what our Father is saying by writing the revelation he's giving you.
5. Don't forget to give gratitude to the one who gave you the answer to your question! - End with a prayer.

I close with my testimony, that I know the Lord lives and he answers prayers. He really cares.

Just Keep Reading, Pt. 2

Scripture Reading Struggles...

    Alright, so my last post was about my perspective on the what the scriptures are.
Now, consider this quote.

"The iron rod is the word of God. The scriptures, the words of the living prophets, and the gift of the Holy Ghost are powerful in their ability to keep us safe. Let us hold fast to the words of the prophets. Let us hold fast to the iron rod."

If we aren't reading the scriptures, that means that we're not holding on the iron rod, right? 

We're floating around out in the mists of darkness trying to feel our way. 

And then we wonder why we have such a hard time when it hits the fan............

So what are some things that keep us from reading the scriptures?

1. They're boring.
2. No time.
3. Don't understand them.
4. Don't see how they can help.

We weren't told this life was going to be a walk in the park.

A matter of fact, why would we even begin to think that?

This life is a test! Tests aren't easy! If they were, we would learn nothing!

Just keep reading!

Comment and let me know if there is more!

Just Keep Reading, Part 1

What is Scripture?

What do you think of when you think of the word scripture? Do you think of the Holy Bible? The Book of Mormon? Any and all text with a religious base?

When I think of scripture, I think of them as the word of God given to us through a prophet - one of His chosen spokesman sent here to the earth for our benefit. There are times when people just cannot get to the prophet and hear the word of God, so they write it down. (Mosiah 2:8) Besides, it allows us to really study. I mean, really study. "Wherefore, ... feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do." (2 Nephi 32:3) Wear your scriptures out!

But let's really look at what scripture is...

Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7)

And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins. (2 Nephi 25:26)

And what is it used for?

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16)

Think about it, if the Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John hadn't written down their experiences, would we know about Christ's ministry, Atonement, and Resurrection? How neat would it be to have "Doubting" Thomas' side of the story? I mean, don't we all go through a phase or two when we doubt?

Oh, remember, remember, this phrase.

Wise people learn from experience.

SUPER wise people learn from other's experiences.

That's what scripture is.
                     Other's experiences.
                                             So why not learn from them?

Love, not Lust.

   As a missionary, I have met many people who are so very confused about what love truly means. The Bible Dictionary refers to love as "charity" and says;

"The highest, noblest, strongest kind of love, not merely affection; the pure love of Christ. It is never used to denote alms or deeds of benevolence, although it may be a prompting motive."

   Love should be the reason we honor our parents, serve out spouses, and worship our God. It is the driving motive for everything we do in this mortal existence. "God is love" and His whole purpose "is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" so that we may dwell with Him and our earthly families, after this mortal life. The spokesmen for God, a.k.a., the living prophets state in the "The Family: A Proclamation to the World";

 "We ... declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife. ... WE DECLARE the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan. ... HUSBAND AND WIFE have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. ... THE FAMILY is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. ...honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ." 

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland in the April 2010 General Conference;

"Why is lust such a deadly sin? Well, in addition to the completely Spirit-destroying impact it has upon our souls, I think it is a sin because it defiles the highest and holiest relationship God gives us in mortality—the love that a man and a woman have for each other and the desire that couple has to bring children into a family intended to be forever. Someone said once that true love must include the idea of permanence. True love endures. But lust changes as quickly as it can turn a pornographic page or glance at yet another potential object for gratification walking by, male or female. True love we are absolutely giddy about—as I am about Sister Holland; we shout it from the housetops. But lust is characterized by shame and stealth and is almost pathologically clandestine—the later and darker the hour the better, with a double-bolted door just in case. Love makes us instinctively reach out to God and other people. Lust, on the other hand, is anything but godly and celebrates self-indulgence. Love comes with open hands and open heart; lust comes with only an open appetite."

   I particularly love what I have highlighted. The "idea of permanence. True love endures." It lasts forever. It doesn't end. That's why I love the idea of families together forever. Why not? God doesn't intend for us to begin a loving relationship and then end it.
   President Spencer W. Kimball wrote;

"Many rationalize that this attraction of two unmarried people is love, and they seek thereby to justify their intimate relation. This is one of the most false of all Satan's lies. It is lust, not love, which brings men and women to fornication and adultery. No person would injure one he truly loves, and sexual sin can only result in injury."

   It runs along the same lines as covetousness. It is brought about by the natural man. An appetite that the human body feels it needs to quench.

   So how do we defeat it?

"Above all, start by separating yourself from people, materials, and circumstances that will harm you. As those battling something like alcoholism know, the pull of proximity can be fatal. So too in moral matters. Like Joseph in the presence of Potiphar’s wife, just run—run as far away as you can get from whatever or whoever it is that beguiles you. And please, when fleeing the scene of temptation, do not leave a forwarding address."

   We need to make a conscience effort to show our love for God and keep the commandments. Stay within the bounds that have been set forth - the Law of Chastity. It is there to protect us and keep us and our family and friends from harm - physically, emotionally, and spiritually.I bear testimony that Jesus Christ is there and is willing to help us when we reach out to him. Stay on the path and make an honest commitment to follow Him, and you will be guided and protected throughout your life. Amen

How I found out. How you can find out.

   I read the other day the positive effect blogging could have on people all around the world, so here I am in hopes that I can be a part of someone's day-made-better.

   As I was pondering on what to write, it wasn't going anywhere. Literally, my mind went blank. I wanted to do an introduction on who I am, and why I'm doing this, but I had no idea where to start. After much arguing and debating inside my head, I figured it out. Here goes my testimony and a little background story behind it;

   I was about 2 and a half months into my mission, and was really struggling. Struggling with the work, struggling with anxiety, struggling with obedience, struggling with my testimony. Day after day I was tired of getting up to do the same monotonous work while facing what seemed like every wind of adversity, whether it was physical exhaustion or someone who stopped us on our way to tell my companion and I that we were wrong. Then one day, I open a letter from a dear friend back home that brought some pretty terrible news that rocked my world. At that moment, the sandy foundation I had was blasted away. My questions intensified 100x over and I needed to know.  I needed to know if serving a mission was right. I needed to know Jesus is the Christ. I needed to know the Truth.

   I picked up a Book of Mormon that was so miraculously placed next to me as if God himself had done it, and started reading where I left off that morning - Helaman chapter 5. In all honesty, I have not the slightest clue what the first 11 verses of that chapter are talking about or even the next 40. Verse 12 hit me like a ton of bricks.

"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." - Helaman 5:12

   You ever just get up in the middle of the night and you turn on a light to see and you're blinded for a few seconds, but shortly thereafter you can see everything? That's what this was like. Everything fell into place. Illuminated completely. In the matter of seconds, I understood the gospel and I knew the purpose Jesus Christ played in my life. I knew what I needed to do.

   It was talking to me. It addressed me like my father was speaking to me - "my son." Then told me what I needed to do, and why I needed to do it.

   I want to make a promise to all those that really seek the truth, that you will find it. The Lord will place in your path some sort of answer, but you must be open. I can almost guarantee your answer will not come in the way that you want, or it won't be the same experience that I had. But I bear testimony that the Savior is there listening. "Behold, I say unto you, that the good shepherd doth call you..." He knows you by name, better than you know yourself.

   Because I have sought Him, He has showed me the way. Seek Him, and He will show you the way.

   I am going to write this blog to share my life experiences that I truly think will help benefit you. I want you to know that I love you. I may not know you, but I want to see you in Heaven there with me and the rest of the family. I hope we can learn from each other.

   Pay it forward.