Influence

I had an experience yesterday that reminded me of how important it is to always live your life with integrity and strive to live your best life.  You never know who is watching and listening and what they will remember about you.  And you may never understand the influence you have on others -- whether good or bad.

I had a rare doctor's appointment yesterday.  In chatting with the medical assistant, she brought up that she had remembered something I said at my first visit to that doctor's office -- over a decade ago.  Apparently, what I had said years ago had an impact on her. 

She related what I had told her all those years ago, and how it affected her.  I didn't even remember saying it.  Although it certainly sounds like something I would have said.  :-) 

But it got me thinking that things that we don't even remember saying or doing can have a big impact on someone else's life.  We don't often realize the power and influence we have on others.  A seemingly small act or word that we say or do may have a large impact on someone else.

Do we live our lives in such a way that our influence is positive and good?  Or do our choices affect others negatively?  Do we buoy and lift others up?  Or do our actions, words, and choices drag others down?

Whether we realize it or not, people are watching and listening and learning from us.  Does our example teach others to be better or worse?  Do we influence others for good or bad?  

I hope we can all look back on our lives and be content with our choices and realize that we did the best we could in striving to live a good, righteous, Christlike life.  A life that had a positive impact and influence on others.

Always remember that our choices, our behavior, our words, and our lives not only affect ourselves, but often times have a great influence on others.

That's my two cents.

Facemasks Are Preposterous

Stanford University published a study at the National Institutes of Health on November 22, 2020 entitled "Facemasks in the COVID-19 era: A health hypothesis".  Here's the link: Link to published study

It is pretty long and thorough and a fairly easy read.  I would suggest taking the time to read it.  But if you don't, here is their conclusion:

Go to:

Conclusion

The existing scientific evidences challenge the safety and efficacy of wearing facemask as preventive intervention for COVID-19. The data suggest that both medical and non-medical facemasks are ineffective to block human-to-human transmission of viral and infectious disease such SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19, supporting against the usage of facemasks. Wearing facemasks has been demonstrated to have substantial adverse physiological and psychological effects. These include hypoxia, hypercapnia, shortness of breath, increased acidity and toxicity, activation of fear and stress response, rise in stress hormones, immunosuppression, fatigue, headaches, decline in cognitive performance, predisposition for viral and infectious illnesses, chronic stress, anxiety and depression. Long-term consequences of wearing facemask can cause health deterioration, developing and progression of chronic diseases and premature death. Governments, policy makers and health organizations should utilize prosper and scientific evidence-based approach with respect to wearing facemasks, when the latter is considered as preventive intervention for public health.

As I've said all along, facemasks are not only useless, but detrimental for healthy asymptomatic people. Masks are ridiculous enough for healthy people to wear, but wearing them outdoors is absolutely insane.   Especially those who are running or exercising.   Absolutely preposterous.

Of course the media won't cover this study.  They want to keep the people suppressed and in fear.

This entire pandemic and ridiculous "safety measures" are completely politically motivated. Facemasks actually make people sicker and don't stop the virus.

Facemasks mandates along with all of the other absurd government mandates are only in place to control the people.  Yes, we are living under communism in the United States of America.  Very sad.

That's my two cents.

Holy Week and Happy Easter

In a world where rapper designed Satan shoes -- complete with a drop of human blood -- sellout in a matter of minutes, those who try to follow Jesus are becoming a dying breed.  As we near the Second Coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ, the world is becoming evermore evil and moving farther away from religion and Christ and His teachings.

For those of us who still believe in Jesus and try to follow Him, this is a holy week.  This is the week that our Savior completed His mission on earth, suffered and died for us that we may be redeemed, and was resurrected that we may all be resurrected.

During this holy week, the week before Easter, significant things happened every day in the life of Christ.

Here is a picture of the poster Lisa made that has been hanging in our living room this week.  She is a talented artist and did a great job portraying holy week.

In case you can't read the poster, I will transcribe it for you:

Sunday -- Palm Sunday.  Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem on a donkey. Mark 11: 8-11, Matthew 21:8-11

Monday -- Cleansing of the Temple.  Luke 19:45-46

Tuesday -- Teaching, Parables.  Matthew 22 & 25, Mark 12:41-44, Mark 4

Wednesday -- Healings, Miracles, and Betrayal.  Mark 4:35-41,5; Matthew 26:14-16

Thursday -- Last Supper and Gethsemane.  John 13:1-35, Matthew 26:36-45, Mark 14:16-53, Luke 22:39-46, Matthew 26:45-54

Friday -- Good Friday.  Crucifixion and burial.  John 19, Matthew 27, Mark 15:43-46

Saturday -- Teaching in the Spirit World.  3 Nephi 8 & 9, Luke 23:39-43, Doctrine and Covenants 138:11-24

Sunday -- Easter Sunday.  Resurrection.  He is risen.  Luke 24, Mark 16, John 20, Matthew 28

Yesterday and today (Thursday and Friday) are the days when Christ suffered for our sins and redeemed us through His Atonement.  In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed as He took upon Himself our sins and "sweat as it were great drops of blood" (Luke 22:44).  Then, on the cross Jesus continued His Atonement as He suffered, bled, and died for us.

It doesn't matter where on the spectrum of good and evil or believing and non-believing you are.  It doesn't matter whether you are the most righteous or wicked person on earth.  It doesn't matter whether you are the most obedient follower of Christ or a Satan loving atheist.  Our Savior, Jesus Christ, loves us all unconditionally and suffered and died for all mankind.  Even if you don't believe in Him.  Even if you despise Him.  Even if you try to turn others against Him.  He suffered and died for your sins the same as He did for mine.

I hope we will all remember Him and reflect on His Atonement and Resurrection today and throughout this weekend.  This weekend also happens to be General Conference where we will be spiritually fed by prophets and apostles and other leaders of The Church.

This Sunday, as we celebrate Easter, may we all focus on the significance of Christ's resurrection as the culmination of His Atonement to redeem each of us.  Which made it possible for all of us to overcome sin and death.  Because of Christ's resurrection, each of us will be resurrected.  Every last person who has ever come to earth and received a body will be resurrected.  Regardless of how we lived our lives or what we believe.  What a miraculous gift we have all been given.

This week and especially Easter Sunday marks the most significant and greatest event in the history of mankind -- the Atonement and Resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

I am eternally grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ, and for all He has done for me and for each of us to make it possible for all of us to be resurrected and to make it possible to live with Him and our Heavenly Father again.

That's my two cents.