I watched another BYU devotional which I felt was worth posting. I really liked Brother Stocks’ accounting analogy. After all, I did work for SWS Accountancy for a while. :-) Anyway, I hope you’ll take the time to read this talk. And enjoy it as much as I did. I was going to just post a few excerpts, but I feel the whole talk is worth reading.
Our Book of Life
KEVIN D. STOCKS
Kevin D. Stocks was a professor in the BYU School of Accountancy
when this devotional address was given on 4 March 2008.
© Brigham Young University. All rights reserved.
My Dad
I would like to begin with a personal story. In 1988 I was visiting with my brothers and sisters when the conversation drifted to our father, who had passed away many years earlier. We shared our memories of Dad: his ways of doing things, his favorite sayings, our fishing trips (where all he did was bait hooks), and so forth. After enjoying the discussion for 10 or 15 minutes, I was surprised when my youngest sister started to cry. When her emotions settled down, she reminded us that she had been only six years old when our dad passed away. Though she was happy to hear us talk about our memories of Dad, she was saddened because she herself had very few memories of him.
That experience bothered me for several weeks. Being the oldest child in the family, I had many memories of my father and could not imagine life without those memories. It bothered me further when I realized that my wife and most of my siblings’ spouses would never meet my dad and that my children and their cousins would never know their grandfather. So I enlisted my wife’s help, and for the next several months we set about compiling a book about my father. We contacted extended family, found former friends, and called work associates and Church leaders who had interacted with Dad. We asked all of them to write down their memories of him. We made copies of pictures, news articles, and documents that showed his special achievements, trying to put everything we could find about my father in a book. After many months of effort, the book was finished, and we printed copies and gave them to family members as our Christmas gift.
Although this book is of great value to our family, it does not convey anything more than a glimpse into who my father really is. To fully understand my father as an individual, one would need a much more complete book. There is such a book; the scriptures call it the book of life.
The book of life is described in the Bible Dictionary as follows: “In one sense the book of life is the sum total of one’s thoughts and actions—the record of his life” (s.v. “book of life,” 626). I have often desired to read from my father’s book of life. As I contemplated what I could learn about him from reading his book of life, I began to wonder about my own book and what was being recorded there.
Keeping Books
As an accounting professor, the idea of keeping books is nothing new. One of the many responsibilities of an accountant is to keep the books, or to record the financial activities of organizations. These books are then used by interested parties to analyze the organizations’ performances.
In thinking about my book of life, I wondered if I could apply to it some of the principles accountants use to keep the books of enterprises here on earth. For example, one principle of accounting is that each organization keeps its own set of books. If you want to see what Bank of America is doing, you will not find what you’re looking for in the books of Johnson & Johnson. You do not look at the books of Microsoft to see how Barnes & Noble is doing. The books of any enterprise are the records of the activities of that enterprise. The books of J Dawgs, the hot-dog vendor south of campus, look very different from those of McDonald’s, even though the two enterprises are in the same industry. The books of an enterprise in India will differ from those of an enterprise in China or Australia—the conditions and opportunities in each country differ. The key is that every enterprise keeps its own books, and each enterprise is evaluated according to what that enterprise has done given its size, location, market, and so forth.
So it is with a book of life. My book of life will be very different from that of a friend in Atlanta, a cousin in Florida, or a professor in Chile. It will be different from that of President Samuelson, of my bishop, or of my neighbor. My book will even be different from that of my brother, of my father, or of my son. The point is that each one of us has his or her own unique book of life; we need not compare ourselves with others.
I have always found the parable of the talents to be interesting. In Matthew 25 the parable begins with a lord giving his goods to his servants. Verse 15 states, “And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.”
Notice that the lord did not give each servant the same amount; he gave to each according to his individual abilities. We know that the first servant worked to increase his five talents to 10, the second servant increased his two talents to four, and the third servant buried his one talent in order to preserve what he had. Of interest to me is the lord’s response to the first and second servants.
In verse 21 the lord tells the first servant the following: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
The second servant had started with fewer talents than the first and ended up with only four. But note what the lord says in verse 23: “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
The response to the second servant is identical to—not proportional to or in any way less than—that received by the first servant. It was not a matter of comparing the second servant to the first servant; it was a matter of each being evaluated for what he did with what he was given. So it is with each one of us. It is not a matter of being compared to others; it is a matter of what we do with what we have been given.
In a very small way, early on in my life I had a taste of this type of judgment. Some of you may have noticed that I came to this earth with a body that has a few odd parts. Fortunately, and at times unfortunately, the competitive spirit I came with far exceeds my physical capabilities. In the eighth grade I took a PE course, and I vowed to get an A in that course. Unfortunately, pull-ups were a problem for me, rope climbing was not good, and several other requirements of the class presented me with major challenges. At the end of the term I received a C for my achievement in the course. I was devastated and just a bit concerned about what my father would say.
When I got home, Dad looked at the grade and said, “Great! Straight A! I am proud of you.”
You see, the school reported two grades for every class: one grade for achievement (that was the C that I received) and one grade for effort. Dad only looked at the grade for effort. As long as my effort was an “A”-level effort, the level of achievement was not a concern to him. As long as we do the best we can with whatever we are given in this life, our efforts will be accepted by our Heavenly Father. We need not compare ourselves with others.
The Principle of Balance
Another principle of accounting that can be applied to our personal book of life is that of balance. Many of you here today have taken Accounting 200. One of the first things students learn in Accounting 200 is that everything is in balance: debits always equal credits. All transactions have a debit and an equally sized credit—no exceptions. If you get a machine, you either give up cash or incur debt. If you recognize revenue, you recognize cash or a receipt. The books are always in balance.
What about balance in our book of life? I think it is fair to say that at the very basic level we all know that if we do what is right, we will be blessed. And, conversely, we know that if we do not do what is right, we will not be blessed. In the book of life, things must balance—debits equal credits.
The way God gives us blessings is an example of this concept. D&C 130:20–21 states:
There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—
And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.
Obedience brings blessings. Everything is in balance. Debits equal credits.
Another example of the principle of balance is found in 3 Nephi 14:7–8:
Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.
Think of the Word of Wisdom, the sacrament prayer, and other such teachings in which a given action is promised to result in certain blessings. In the book of life, debits equal credits.
There are times in each of our lives when we may feel that doing what is right does not result in blessings or that our prayers are not being answered or that a particular challenge is just too much. In essence, we question the existence of balance as it applies to our life.
I have a young nephew who went to work this last summer on a road-paving crew in order to earn money for his mission. One day a car on the other side of the divided highway crossed the median and all lanes of traffic and pinned my nephew against a concrete barrier. He had been looking the other way and never even saw the car. Although my nephew felt blessed to have escaped death, his left foot was crushed. After months of trying to save the foot, the doctors amputated it last month.
One might ask, “Why? This is a good young man working to fund a mission so that he can serve the Lord, and, through no fault of his own, he suddenly finds himself in bed for six months trying to heal his foot—only to have it amputated. Why? Where is the balance?”
We are not alone in these feelings. Sections 121 and 122 of the Doctrine and Covenants were given to the Prophet Joseph Smith while he was in Liberty Jail. In verses 1 through 6 of section 121 the Prophet pleaded with the Lord to remember the Saints in their suffering. In verses 7 and 8 the Lord responded to the Prophet by saying:
My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;
And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.
As if to emphasize His point, in section 122 the Lord told the Prophet Joseph that even if he was “called to pass through tribulation,” “accused with all manner of false accusations,” torn from family and friends, “cast into the pit,” sentenced to death, and, above all, chased after by the very depths of hell, he would gain experience and it would be for his good (D&C 122:5–7). Debits equal credits. Although we may not see it, and we experience much pain and suffering in the process, everything in our book of life is, when considered in the eternal sense, in balance.
Three Reports
The books of every enterprise have three basic reports. The statement of cash flow describes the liquidity of an enterprise. Any enterprise must have enough cash to make needed payments, regardless of how well the enterprise is doing in other areas, or it will fail. The second report is the income statement. An income statement describes how an enterprise has done financially over a period of time. The third report is the balance sheet. This statement conveys a picture of how the enterprise is doing financially at any point in time. The balance sheet holds the cumulative result of operations over the life of the enterprise. As I think about my book of life, I can clearly see three similar reports.
A Spiritual Cash Flow
Like many of you, I have been asked at times to respond to a plea for help or to comfort someone in pain or anguish or to give a priesthood blessing. To respond to requests like these, we need a reservoir of righteousness—a reserve of spiritual cash if you will. When these requests come, it is past time to prepare; you either have the spiritual cash on hand or you don’t. There is not a more terrible feeling than to be asked to exercise spirituality when you have not built a reserve. What you may have done in the past or what you may do in the future does not really help when you are faced with the need for the Spirit now.
How is your spiritual cash flow? The way to build your spiritual reservoir has been clearly outlined: be faithful in your daily prayers and daily scripture study and keep the commandments. Keep your spiritual cash reserve full.
A Spiritual Income Statement
All enterprises periodically give an accounting of how they have done over the past year or over some other period of time. All revenues, or inflows, are reported along with all expenses, or outflows. The netting of the revenues and the expenses results in a net income figure. When revenues exceed expenses, there is a net gain; when revenues are less than expenses, there is a net loss.
How is your spiritual income statement? Hopefully in our personal prayers at the end of each day we are giving an accounting to the Lord of our daily activities. How has the day gone? Are the spiritual revenues greater than the spiritual expenses that day? Regular interviews with parents allow us to give an accounting of what we have been doing since our last discussion. Visiting teaching interviews and priesthood interviews for home teaching give us an opportunity to look at our income statement regarding those responsibilities. All of us have had, I hope, the experience of having an interview with our bishop in which he asked us to give an accounting of our activities. Renewing our temple recommends and attending annual tithing settlements are additional occasions through which we can review our spiritual income statements.
In business, almost all companies go through cycles of good years and not-so-good years. Some companies begin with a splash, doing extremely well for a few years, and then, because of changes in the economy or challenges in their particular market, they just seem to fade away. Some companies struggle to get going and finally have a major breakthrough. Often these companies are satisfied with their newfound net income and simply ride that success for as long as it will go. The best companies are those that work continually to deal with the challenges that come and show steady positive net income year after year.
People act in a similar fashion. Some individuals enter a ward with a splash of activity and participation when life is going well, only to withdraw when challenges come. Some individuals are engaged in one activity or position and ride that for the rest of their lives. I have met many less-active members who will spend hours talking about their missionary service as if it justifies their current lack of involvement. Remember, net income is measured for each period of time, and a positive net income one year does not automatically result in a positive net income during any other year. How is your spiritual net income?
An Eternal Balance Sheet
The third report found in all organizations is the balance sheet. The balance sheet shows the financial state of an enterprise at any point in time. It shows the assets of the enterprise—assets being cash, inventory, buildings, and land, things that an enterprise uses for its operations. On the other side, the balance sheet shows the liabilities; liabilities are what the enterprise owes to others, such as accounts payable, loans payable, and notes payable. The balance sheet also shows the equity, or total amount invested into and earnings retained in the enterprise by the owners. On every balance sheet, assets equal liabilities plus the owner’s equity.
As I think of the balance sheet of my life, I doubt that the assets listed include cash, land, buildings, or other such temporal items. The assets in this type of balance sheet can be found in D&C 4:5–6:
And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.
Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.
The sixth section of Preach My Gospel describes these as Christlike attributes (assets) and adds obedience to the list.
Take a moment to think about someone outside of your family who has been a major influence for good in your life. What is it about this person that you remember? I think of an old Scout leader of mine named Charlie Murray. Brother Murray would spend hours with us boys at camps and working on service projects. I really enjoyed being with him because he was fun and would really tell us what he thought about what we were doing in our lives. How he survived winter camp with the 20-plus Scouts in our troop is still a marvel to me.
Now consider the person you have identified and think about what makes that individual special. Let me suggest that what makes this person special is his or her level of faith or hope or charity, or the balance of any of the assets in their balance sheet of life. What makes them special is not the amount of money, the size of the home, the amount of property, or the amount of any other of their worldly assets.
Let me return for a moment to the question I posed earlier about why good people face difficult, sometimes painful, challenges. When all is going well in my life, I find it difficult to develop tolerance or to build my patience or to work on my humility. If things are going well, hope is not a problem, and temperance comes easily. Many, if not most, of the assets in our eternal balance sheet can really only be increased when we are working through challenges and difficulties. Perhaps when we are faced with what seem to be unfair burdens or when our lives seem unduly difficult, we should ask “How do I respond to this so that I build my balance of faith, hope, charity, and so forth?” instead of asking “Why me?” or “Why did this happen?” I do not in any way minimize the challenges we face and the pain we might feel as we undergo trials, but our attitude and perspective can make a significant difference in how we deal with the struggles of life.
On the other side of the balance sheet of life are liabilities and the owner’s equity. We all have a good idea of what the liabilities are in our books. Every time we fail to keep a commandment, we increase our liability balance.
The owner’s equity section of any balance sheet starts with the contributions of the owners of the enterprise. Consider that everything we have, including life itself, is from the Creator. Further, the blessings we receive throughout our lives come from obedience to His commandments and adherence to the covenants we have made. In essence, whatever equity we started with and any increase that has occurred in it is from our Lord—the Lord is the owner of the owner’s equity section of our balance sheet of life. Even more wondrous is that, through the Atonement, Christ has already paid for our liabilities (sins). The scriptures tell us repeatedly that our liabilities will be forgiven us if we repent. For example, Mosiah 26:30 states, “Yea, and as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me.”
Do we realize what an incredible blessing this is? The Lord has paid for all our liabilities, and they will be eliminated eternally from our balance sheet of life if we repent and keep the commandments.
How is your balance sheet in your book of life? How are the balances in your asset accounts of faith, hope, charity, love, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, humility, diligence, and obedience? How is your liability balance, and have you made use of the offer of the Lord to take all liabilities from you?
Book of Life
At some point we will go before our Father in Heaven to give an accounting of our activities from our time on this earth. Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin stated it this way:
Each of you has an eternal calling from which no Church officer has authority to release you. This is a calling given you by our Heavenly Father Himself. In this eternal calling, as with all other callings, you have a stewardship, and “it is required of the Lord, at the hand of every steward, to render an account of his stewardship, both in time and in eternity.” [D&C 72:3] This most important stewardship is the glorious responsibility your Father in Heaven has given you to watch over and care for your own soul.
At some future day, you and I will each hear the voice of the Lord calling us forward to render an account of our mortal stewardship. [Joseph B. Wirthlin, “True to the Truth,” Ensign, May 1997, 16]
Keeping a written history of our life on earth is a very important responsibility. Such histories bind generations of families together. I certainly encourage all to write personal histories.
At the same time, it is important to recognize that we are all, day by day, moment by moment, writing our book of life. Although not written on paper, the entries in this book are just as real and will have an eternal impact.
When I was born I had a number of physical challenges, the most serious being a deformity of the heart. At the age of nine I had open-heart surgery, which at the time was in an early experimental stage. I was given a 50/50 chance of surviving the surgery and a chance that the surgery would be successful. Obviously I survived the surgery, and I have had no heart problems since.
Looking back at that time, there were two truths I knew then, and I still know today. The first was that the Lord knew me individually and was watching over me. I knew He loved me, and because of that everything would be okay—regardless of what I had to go through. That knowledge has been a tremendous blessing as I have faced the various challenges in my life.
The second was that I had been given many blessings and my life has a purpose. I also knew that with these blessings came a tremendous responsibility to do all I could to be worthy of that which I had been given.
The same is true for each of you. The Lord knows you individually and is watching over you. He loves you and wants only the best for you. He is there for you through the challenges of life as you seek Him in prayer. Each of us has a responsibility to live such that our book of life reflects actions taken that will permit us to return to live with Him forever. Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Inspired Guidance
"I am convinced that there is no simple formula or technique that would immediately allow you to master the ability to be guided by the voice of the Spirit. Our Father expects you to learn how to obtain that divine help by exercising faith in Him and His Holy Son, Jesus Christ. Were you to receive inspired guidance just for the asking, you would become weak and ever more dependent on Them. They know that essential personal growth will come as you struggle to learn how to be led by the Spirit."
Richard G. Scott, "To Acquire Spiritual Guidance," Ensign, Nov. 2009, 6–7
Richard G. Scott, "To Acquire Spiritual Guidance," Ensign, Nov. 2009, 6–7
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Happy Birthday Juliet!
I hope you have a happy birthday despite being sick. Hopefully we can celebrate your birthday on Friday. Get well soon.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Relief Society Lesson Temperance
Being Temperate in All Things -Elder Kent D. Watson of the Seventy
October 2009 General Conference
Temperance is:
A divine attribute of Jesus Christ
A spiritual gift available through the Holy Ghost
Being temperate is to use moderation in all things or to exercise self-control.
Being temperate means to carefully examine our expectations and desires, to be diligent and patient in seeking righteous goals.
A temperate soul is a person of increased spiritual strength.
Through temperance we:
Develop self-mastery
Live with moderation
Learn to control (temper) our anger, vanity, and pride
Can protect ourselves from dangerous excesses and destructive addictions.
This was my outline/visual aids for my Relief Society lesson today. It is rather short and concise but hopefully you will be able to get something out of it anyway. I did say quite a bit more during my lesson. :-)
October 2009 General Conference
Temperance is:
A divine attribute of Jesus Christ
A spiritual gift available through the Holy Ghost
Being temperate is to use moderation in all things or to exercise self-control.
Being temperate means to carefully examine our expectations and desires, to be diligent and patient in seeking righteous goals.
A temperate soul is a person of increased spiritual strength.
Through temperance we:
Develop self-mastery
Live with moderation
Learn to control (temper) our anger, vanity, and pride
Can protect ourselves from dangerous excesses and destructive addictions.
This was my outline/visual aids for my Relief Society lesson today. It is rather short and concise but hopefully you will be able to get something out of it anyway. I did say quite a bit more during my lesson. :-)
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
2009 College Football Picks Champion Party
We had our second annual football champ party last night. Michael was crowned King of the 2009 college football picks. He was awarded a trophy with his name on it. Afterwards we watched the Las Vegas bowl and saw BYU beat up on Oregon State. It was a fun night.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
The Reflection in the Water
I was so excited when I found this transcript today! I have been looking for it every few days since I saw the fireside on my DVR. This is one of the best talks I’ve seen/heard in a long time. President Uchtdorf is quickly becoming my favorite speaker. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The Reflection in the Water”
CES Fireside for Young Adults • November 1, 2009 • Brigham Young University
My dear brothers and sisters, if we take the two hymns that we have just heard—“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” and “Do What Is Right”—and make them the motto of our lives, we will be in good shape on our way back to our Heavenly Father. What a wonderful sight you are! In my mind’s eye I can imagine many other beautiful faces like yours—youthful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in all the nations throughout the world. You may not all look exactly alike, but you have so much in common. I consider this a choice assignment, and I’m grateful to President Monson for providing me this opportunity to spend a few minutes with you.
The Ugly Duckling
One of the most beloved storytellers of all time was the Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen. In one of his stories, “The Ugly Duckling,” a mother duck discovers that one of her newly hatched chicks is unusually large and very ugly. At first the mother wonders if she has hatched a turkey egg, but the ugly child can swim as well as her other children. And so she comes to the conclusion that the poor thing is simply abnormal and disfigured.
The other ducklings, however, cannot leave the ugly child alone. They punish him mercilessly, pecking at him and teasing him and making him miserable. Finally, the ugly duckling decides it would be better for everyone if he left his family, and he runs away. During the bitter cold of his first winter on his own, the poor duckling nearly freezes to death, but somehow he survives. In spite of his privations, he feels himself getting stronger, and he loves spreading his wings and taking flight even though he’s alone.
Then one day he sees flying overhead a flock of majestic birds, white as snow, graceful in their movements, with beautiful long necks and wide, elegant wings. Oh, what glorious and happy creatures! The ugly duckling longs to fly with them. He is afraid that they might kill him because he is so ugly. But then he decides that would be better than being pecked at by the other animals forever or freezing to death in the winter. And so he takes flight and follows them to a beautiful lake where they settle onto the water.
As he lands, the ugly duckling looks into the water and sees the reflection of a magnificent swan. Gradually, unable to believe it at first, the ugly duckling realizes that the reflection is his own! To his surprise the other swans welcome him, and they even agree that he is the most beautiful, most majestic of all the swans. At last he has discovered who he really is.
The Great Questions
Like this young swan, most of us have felt at one time or another that we don’t quite fit in. Much of the confusion we experience in this life comes from simply not understanding who we are. Too many go about their lives thinking they are of little worth when, in reality, they are elegant and eternal creatures of infinite value with potential beyond imagination.
Discovering who we really are is part of this great adventure called life. Mankind’s greatest minds have wrestled endlessly with these questions: Where did we come from? Why are we here? What happens after we die? And how does all this fit together—how does it make sense?
Once we begin to understand the answers to these questions—not with the mind only, but with the heart and the soul—we will begin to understand who we are, and we will feel like the wanderer who is finally finding home. We will feel like the young swan who has discovered at last who he really is. Everything finally makes sense.
The challenge is that the answers to these questions are simply beyond man’s earthly capacity to logically determine. Questions that reach into spiritual things require spiritual answers. Those who reject revelation and insist on tangible evidence can only speculate or deny that there is life before or after this mortal sphere. Consequently, they may never understand who they really are or what true purpose life has.
As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, however, we have been blessed with the answers to these questions, and we freely share them with all who will listen. We know them not because of someone’s educated guess or because we found a scientific explanation. We have the answers because heavenly messengers revealed these mysteries to man. That same knowledge is available to anyone on this planet Earth who is honest in heart, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
This is no small thing. Throughout history, emperors and philosophers would have offered a king’s ransom for what God has given freely in our time. Because He is merciful and loves His children, God has given again in these latter-days the truth about where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going.
My dear young friends, this knowledge allows you to see your own reflection in the water. It assures you that you are not ordinary, rejected, or ugly. You are something divine—more beautiful and glorious than you can possibly imagine. This knowledge changes everything. It changes your present. It can change your future. And it can change the world.
We are profoundly aware, my precious young friends in the Church, wherever you may be, that you face many challenges in your young lives. Through your leaders and contacts with you individually, I have learned about the scope of your concerns. I’ve chosen from among the many questions I have received just a few that I think are among the harder and more troubling ones affecting you young Saints all around the globe. Today I hope to impress upon your mind and heart how a knowledge of who you really are can help you to successfully conquer the most difficult issues in life.
To Be or Not to Be
Here is the first question: “I’m unhappy and depressed. Sometimes it seems like the world would be a better place if I weren’t in it. Why should I go on living?”
Allow me to be clear: severe depression and thoughts of suicide are not trivial matters and should be taken seriously. I urge those who suffer from depression or thoughts of suicide to seek help from trusted professionals and Church leaders. If you know someone who is thinking of suicide, be a true friend and make sure he or she gets help. Please know that we love you and want you to be successful and happy in life.
That being said, most people have felt sad or inadequate at one time or another. It’s natural to have times of self-doubt or unhappiness. The question “Why should I go on living?” is simply another wording of the age-old phrase penned by William Shakespeare 400 years ago and uttered by millions of Hamlets the world over since that time: “To be, or not to be: that is the question.”1
But Shakespeare was wrong—“To be, or not to be” is not the question at all. There are other options beyond that simple contradiction. For my taste, I’d have Hamlet turn to the audience and say: “Knowing that I am a child of God, what need I do and be to live up to this potential? That is the question.” Now, I understand that such an edit would hopelessly ruin one of the greatest literary masterpieces of all time. Nevertheless, if I were writing a script for you, that is how I would word it.
Think of where you came from. You are sons and daughters of the greatest, most glorious being in the universe. He loves you with an infinite love. He wants the best for you. Do you think our Father in Heaven wants you to feel depressed and sad? He wants no such thing. He has provided the commandments, which are the royal road to a life of purpose, peace, and joy. All we need to do is follow it. Knowing and living God’s commandments really do lead to fulfillment and to joy.
Our destiny is greater than we can imagine. If only we understood who we are and what is in store for us, our hearts would overflow with such gratitude and happiness that it would enlighten even the darkest sorrows with the light and love of God, our Heavenly Father. The next time you feel unhappy, remember where you came from and where you are going. Rather than focus on things that dampen your thoughts with sorrow, choose to focus on those things that fill your soul with hope. You will realize that these things are always connected to serving God and our fellowmen. Remember that the Lord has given you His word in the scriptures. Pray earnestly to Him; talk with Him daily. Learn of Him, and walk in His way. Serve God and serve your fellowmen.
Remember that there is “a time to weep” but also “a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance” (Ecclesiastes 3:4). If your heart has been heavy for a while, perhaps it is time to allow the light of the Son of God into your heart. I plead with you—just look into the water and see your true reflection! Realize the purpose for which you were created! Lift your face toward the far horizon!
It is well for you to laugh! It is well for you to be happy! Lift up your voices and “praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing, and with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving” (Doctrine and Covenants 136:28).
I cannot imagine a heaven filled only with somber beings who never speak up or who do not enjoy music and visiting with each other. That is not heaven for me. I am certain that you were not created to spend the hours and days of your lives isolated from each other in worry or despair. You were created to have joy (see 2 Nephi 2:25), so let’s celebrate the merciful blessings of a joyful and loving Heavenly Father!
You don’t need to wait for permission to fill your hearts with thanksgiving and happiness. You can do this nicely on your own. Get together as young people—in your wards or branches, but also with those in neighboring stakes and districts. Dance together, study the gospel together, work together, serve your fellowmen together—and have fun doing it. It is my earnest prayer that the knowledge of who you are and what you may become will fill your souls with the peaceable love of God and that this will ignite within you a happiness worthy of your true heritage, for in truth you are princes and princesses, kings and queens.
Will I Ever Find My Soul Mate?
A second question we hear from you young people is “I’m so lonely. Will I ever find my soul mate?” I have a number of things I want to say on this subject, but let’s start with the concept of finding the one person you were meant to be with—the one person who is perfect for you.
There is an old story about a young woman on an archaeological excavation who discovers an ancient-looking lamp. When she rubs it, a genie appears, offering her one wish. She thinks for a moment and asks for world peace—that people would love each other and live in harmony forever.
The genie contemplates her request and finally says: “What you are asking for is impossible. The division among the peoples of the world is too deep and has existed for too long. Please ask for something else. Anything but that.”
The young lady thinks again and says: “Somewhere out there is the one person I was meant to be with. I want to find him—someone who is handsome, thoughtful, and has a sense of humor; someone who will help around the house, loves kids, doesn’t watch sports all the time, has a great job, and thinks first about my happiness; someone who will go shopping with me and who can get along with my family.”
The genie considers her request for a moment, sighs deeply, and then replies, “Let me see what I can do about world peace.”
I know this may be a disappointment for some of you, but I don’t believe there is only one right person for you. I think I fell in love with my wife, Harriet, from the first moment I saw her. Nevertheless, had she decided to marry someone else, I believe I would have met and fallen in love with someone else. I am eternally grateful that this didn’t happen, but I don’t believe she was my one chance at happiness in this life, nor was I hers.
Another error you might easily make in dating is expecting to find perfection in the person you are with. The truth is, the only perfect people you might know are those you don’t know very well. Everyone has imperfections. Now, I’m not suggesting you lower your standards and marry someone with whom you can’t be happy. But one of the things I’ve realized as I’ve matured in life is that if someone is willing to accept me—imperfect as I am—then I should be willing to be patient with others’ imperfections as well. Since you won’t find perfection in your partner, and your partner won’t find it in you, your only chance at perfection is in creating perfection together.
There are those who do not marry because they feel a lack of “magic” in the relationship. By “magic” I assume they mean sparks of attraction. Falling in love is a wonderful feeling, and I would never counsel you to marry someone you do not love. Nevertheless—and here is another thing that is sometimes hard to accept—that magic sparkle needs continuous polishing. When the magic endures in a relationship, it’s because the couple made it happen, not because it mystically appeared due to some cosmic force.
Frankly, it takes work. For any relationship to survive, both parties bring their own magic with them and use that to sustain their love. Although I have said that I do not believe in a one-and-only soul mate for anyone, I do know this: once you commit to being married, your spouse becomes your soul mate, and it is your duty and responsibility to work every day to keep it that way. Once you have committed, the search for a soul mate is over. Our thoughts and actions turn from looking to creating.
But what about those who despair of ever finding an eternal companion? First, don’t give up. Go to activities, meet people, and do all you can. I know that dating can be rough. Rejection is one of the most painful things we can experience. Trust me, I know how this feels. I fell in love with Harriet long before she fell in love with me.
But this didn’t stop me—not at all. I found ways to be in the same place she was. When I was administering the sacrament at church, I arranged to pass it to her family. I was doing the best I could to impress her, but I think she found me a little immature. The sparks simply weren’t there for her. I despaired of ever convincing her that I could be anything more than a friend.
I went away, joined the Air Force, and then traveled half a world away to attend pilot training in the United States. It wasn’t until I returned to Germany having completed my training as a fighter pilot—years after I had first met her—that this beautiful young woman looked at me and said those magical words I had been longing to hear: “You have matured since the last time I saw you.”
I moved quickly after that, and within a few months I married the woman I had loved for a long, long time.
So don’t give up, brothers and sisters. Just because you have been rejected a time or two—or three or four, or a couple hundred times—don’t despair. Brethren, the secret to finding the girl of your dreams is to get to know many of them and then, when you fall in love and it feels right, ask her to marry you. If she says no, you continue to search and to pray until finally you will arrive with that young woman at the altar of the temple. Just don’t give up.
Now, sisters, be gentle. It’s all right if you turn down requests for dates or proposals for marriage. But please do it gently. And brethren, please start asking! There are too many of our young women who never go on dates. Don’t suppose that certain girls would never go out with you. Sometimes they are wondering why no one asks them out. Just ask, and be prepared to move on if the answer is no.
One of the trends we see in some parts of the world is our young people only “hanging out” in large groups rather than dating. While there is nothing wrong with getting together often with others your own age, I don’t know if you can really get to know individuals when you’re always in a group. One of the things you need to learn is how to have a conversation with a member of the opposite sex. A great way to learn this is by being alone with someone—talking without a net, so to speak.
Dates don’t have to be—and in most cases shouldn’t be—expensive and over-planned affairs. When my wife and I moved from Germany to Salt Lake City, one of the things that most surprised us was the elaborate and sometimes stressful process young people had developed of asking for and accepting dates.
Relax. Find simple ways to be together. One of my favorite things to do when I was young and looking for a date was to walk a young lady home after a Church meeting. Remember, your goal should not be to have a video of your date get a million views on YouTube. The goal is to get to know one individual person and learn how to develop a meaningful relationship with the opposite sex.
Now, there are those among you fine young members of the Church who might never marry. Although they are worthy in every way, they may never find someone to whom they will be sealed in the temple of the Lord in this life. There is no way for those who have not experienced this despair to truly understand the loneliness and pain they might feel. I know of many women who want more than anything else to be a wife and a mother, and they cannot understand why their prayers have never been answered. There are many single men who, for whatever reason, also find themselves alone.
First, let me tell you that your prayers are heard. Your Father in Heaven knows the desires of your heart. I cannot tell you why one individual’s prayers are answered one way while someone else’s are answered differently. But this I can tell you: the righteous desires of your hearts will be fulfilled.
Sometimes it can be difficult to see anything beyond the path immediately before us. We are impatient and do not want to wait for a future fulfillment of our greatest desires. Nevertheless, the brief span of this life is nothing in comparison with eternity. And if only we can hope and exercise faith and joyfully endure to the end—and I say joyfully endure to the end—there, in that great heavenly future, we will have the fulfillment of the righteous desires of our hearts and so very much more that we can scarcely comprehend now.
In the meantime, do not wait for someone else to make your life complete. Stop second-guessing yourself and wondering if you are defective. Instead, seek to reach your potential as a child of God. Seek learning. Become engaged in a meaningful career, and seek fulfillment in service to others. Use your time, your talents, and your resources to improve yourself and bless those around you. All of this is part of your preparation for having a family. Immerse yourself in your ward or branch and seek to magnify your callings, no matter what they may be.
The great purpose of this mortal existence is to learn to fully love our Heavenly Father and our neighbor as ourselves. If we do this with all our might, mind, and strength, our eternal destiny will be glorious and grand beyond our capacity to imagine. Be faithful, and things will work out for you. That is His eternal promise to all who love and honor Him.
Can I Remain Faithful?
A third question young people have is “Can I remain faithful?” There are those who have doubts about God or the Church. Others give in to temptation that lures them away from the safety of the straight and narrow pathway of discipleship.
When I was a pilot, I often saw an interesting weather phenomenon as I flew between Europe and Africa. It is called the intertropical convergence zone—a band of thunderstorms that moves north and south across the equator, filling the horizon with billowing, menacing columns of clouds.
I could scarcely look at these clouds without being fascinated with their beauty and majesty. They towered in massive black formations, and within them lightning sparked with brilliant light from one end to the other in an indescribable fury of fire. What a glorious and fascinating sight!
But what do you think pilots do when they approach these storms? They avoid them—no matter how beautiful and intriguing they appear. As moisture rises in the clouds, it begins to freeze, forming hail the size of soccer balls that can puncture metal and destroy an aircraft. Severe turbulence and electric discharges can cripple the airplane and its systems.
Isn’t the same principle true when you see things that could cause spiritual harm? Temptation wouldn’t be temptation if it didn’t appear attractive, fascinating, or fun. But, like the pilot approaching a storm, you need to learn to avoid it, no matter how beautiful or intriguing it may appear.
Because Heavenly Father loves His children, He has given us the commandments to keep us at a safe distance from those harmful storms. He does not force any of His children to walk in His way. He allows and expects you to choose for yourselves. But know this: some choices lead to disaster. So, choose the right.
I add my witness to the chorus of warnings against the terrible problem of pornography. Steer clear of it. Stay away from it. The same words we used to train our pilots regarding thunderstorms I say to you regarding pornography: “Avoid, avoid, avoid!”
Don’t assume that you can put the nose of the plane just a little bit inside the storm—do not flirt with pornography. Remember that often the most disgusting and destructive of things can appear attractive in the beginning. Steer clear of those things that can endanger you.
Is It True?
Now the next issue: What about doubts and questions? How do you find out that the gospel is true? Is it all right to have questions about the Church or its doctrine? My dear young friends, we are a question-asking people because we know that inquiry leads to truth. That is the way the Church got its start—from a young man who had questions. In fact, I’m not sure how one can discover truth without asking questions. In the scriptures you will rarely discover a revelation that didn’t come in response to a question. Whenever a question arose and Joseph Smith wasn’t sure of the answer, he approached the Lord, and the results are the wonderful revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants. Often the knowledge Joseph received extended far beyond the original question. That is because not only can the Lord answer the questions we ask but, even more importantly, He can give us answers to questions we should have asked. Let us listen to those answers.
The missionary effort of the Church is founded upon honest investigators asking heartfelt questions. Inquiry is the birthplace of testimony. Some might feel embarrassed or unworthy because they have searching questions regarding the gospel, but they needn’t feel that way. Asking questions isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a precursor of growth.
God commands us to seek answers to our questions (see James 1:5–6) and asks only that we seek “with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ” (Moroni 10:4). When we do so, the truth of all things can be manifested to us “by the power of the Holy Ghost” (Moroni 10:5).
Fear not; ask questions. Be curious, but doubt not! Always hold fast to faith and to the light you have already received. Because we see imperfectly in mortality, not everything is going to make sense right now. In fact, I should think that if everything did make sense to us, it would be evidence that it had all been made up by a mortal mind. Remember that God has said:
“My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. …
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8–9).
Nevertheless, you know that one of the purposes of mortality is to become more like your Heavenly Father in your thoughts and in your ways. Viewed from this perspective, searching for answers to your questions can bring you closer to God, strengthening your testimony instead of shaking it. It’s true that “faith is not … a perfect knowledge” (Alma 32:21), but as you exercise your faith, applying gospel principles every day under any circumstances, you will taste the sweet fruits of the gospel, and by this fruit you will know of its truth (see Matthew 7:16–20; John 7:17; Alma 32:41–43).
You Are Eternal
There will always be voices telling you that you are foolish to believe that you are swans, insisting you are but ugly ducklings and that you can’t expect to become anything else.
But you know better. Because of the revealed word of a merciful God, you have seen your true reflection in the water and you have felt the eternal glory of that divine spirit within you. You are no ordinary beings, my beloved young friends all around the world. You are glorious and eternal.
No matter your circumstances or trials in life, I urge you to remember who you are, where you came from, and where you are going—for the answers to those questions will truly provide confidence and direction for your life.
Your Heavenly Father lives. He knows you. He speaks to you in these latter days through prophets and apostles. President Thomas S. Monson is the Lord’s prophet on earth in our day. This Church is directed by the Savior Jesus Christ. I know this. He is at the head of this Church.
Today I may speak to you with imperfection—and with a German accent—but I promise you that the words you feel in your heart and in your mind and in your soul come to you through the eloquence, purity, and power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost you can know the truth of all things.
Brothers and sisters—my dear friends—I love you. I love you with all my heart. I am grateful for you. I am grateful for your goodness. As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, I bless you individually and collectively that you may learn to know who you really are and what you must do and be to live a happy and fulfilling life.
It is my prayer and blessing that when you look at your reflection, you will be able to see beyond imperfections and self-doubts and recognize who you truly are: glorious sons and daughters of the Almighty God. In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.
© 2009 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
Notes
1. William Shakespeare, Hamlet, ed. W. J. Craig, Oxford Shakespeare (1924), act 3, scene 1, line 56.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The Reflection in the Water”
CES Fireside for Young Adults • November 1, 2009 • Brigham Young University
My dear brothers and sisters, if we take the two hymns that we have just heard—“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” and “Do What Is Right”—and make them the motto of our lives, we will be in good shape on our way back to our Heavenly Father. What a wonderful sight you are! In my mind’s eye I can imagine many other beautiful faces like yours—youthful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in all the nations throughout the world. You may not all look exactly alike, but you have so much in common. I consider this a choice assignment, and I’m grateful to President Monson for providing me this opportunity to spend a few minutes with you.
The Ugly Duckling
One of the most beloved storytellers of all time was the Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen. In one of his stories, “The Ugly Duckling,” a mother duck discovers that one of her newly hatched chicks is unusually large and very ugly. At first the mother wonders if she has hatched a turkey egg, but the ugly child can swim as well as her other children. And so she comes to the conclusion that the poor thing is simply abnormal and disfigured.
The other ducklings, however, cannot leave the ugly child alone. They punish him mercilessly, pecking at him and teasing him and making him miserable. Finally, the ugly duckling decides it would be better for everyone if he left his family, and he runs away. During the bitter cold of his first winter on his own, the poor duckling nearly freezes to death, but somehow he survives. In spite of his privations, he feels himself getting stronger, and he loves spreading his wings and taking flight even though he’s alone.
Then one day he sees flying overhead a flock of majestic birds, white as snow, graceful in their movements, with beautiful long necks and wide, elegant wings. Oh, what glorious and happy creatures! The ugly duckling longs to fly with them. He is afraid that they might kill him because he is so ugly. But then he decides that would be better than being pecked at by the other animals forever or freezing to death in the winter. And so he takes flight and follows them to a beautiful lake where they settle onto the water.
As he lands, the ugly duckling looks into the water and sees the reflection of a magnificent swan. Gradually, unable to believe it at first, the ugly duckling realizes that the reflection is his own! To his surprise the other swans welcome him, and they even agree that he is the most beautiful, most majestic of all the swans. At last he has discovered who he really is.
The Great Questions
Like this young swan, most of us have felt at one time or another that we don’t quite fit in. Much of the confusion we experience in this life comes from simply not understanding who we are. Too many go about their lives thinking they are of little worth when, in reality, they are elegant and eternal creatures of infinite value with potential beyond imagination.
Discovering who we really are is part of this great adventure called life. Mankind’s greatest minds have wrestled endlessly with these questions: Where did we come from? Why are we here? What happens after we die? And how does all this fit together—how does it make sense?
Once we begin to understand the answers to these questions—not with the mind only, but with the heart and the soul—we will begin to understand who we are, and we will feel like the wanderer who is finally finding home. We will feel like the young swan who has discovered at last who he really is. Everything finally makes sense.
The challenge is that the answers to these questions are simply beyond man’s earthly capacity to logically determine. Questions that reach into spiritual things require spiritual answers. Those who reject revelation and insist on tangible evidence can only speculate or deny that there is life before or after this mortal sphere. Consequently, they may never understand who they really are or what true purpose life has.
As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, however, we have been blessed with the answers to these questions, and we freely share them with all who will listen. We know them not because of someone’s educated guess or because we found a scientific explanation. We have the answers because heavenly messengers revealed these mysteries to man. That same knowledge is available to anyone on this planet Earth who is honest in heart, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
This is no small thing. Throughout history, emperors and philosophers would have offered a king’s ransom for what God has given freely in our time. Because He is merciful and loves His children, God has given again in these latter-days the truth about where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going.
My dear young friends, this knowledge allows you to see your own reflection in the water. It assures you that you are not ordinary, rejected, or ugly. You are something divine—more beautiful and glorious than you can possibly imagine. This knowledge changes everything. It changes your present. It can change your future. And it can change the world.
We are profoundly aware, my precious young friends in the Church, wherever you may be, that you face many challenges in your young lives. Through your leaders and contacts with you individually, I have learned about the scope of your concerns. I’ve chosen from among the many questions I have received just a few that I think are among the harder and more troubling ones affecting you young Saints all around the globe. Today I hope to impress upon your mind and heart how a knowledge of who you really are can help you to successfully conquer the most difficult issues in life.
To Be or Not to Be
Here is the first question: “I’m unhappy and depressed. Sometimes it seems like the world would be a better place if I weren’t in it. Why should I go on living?”
Allow me to be clear: severe depression and thoughts of suicide are not trivial matters and should be taken seriously. I urge those who suffer from depression or thoughts of suicide to seek help from trusted professionals and Church leaders. If you know someone who is thinking of suicide, be a true friend and make sure he or she gets help. Please know that we love you and want you to be successful and happy in life.
That being said, most people have felt sad or inadequate at one time or another. It’s natural to have times of self-doubt or unhappiness. The question “Why should I go on living?” is simply another wording of the age-old phrase penned by William Shakespeare 400 years ago and uttered by millions of Hamlets the world over since that time: “To be, or not to be: that is the question.”1
But Shakespeare was wrong—“To be, or not to be” is not the question at all. There are other options beyond that simple contradiction. For my taste, I’d have Hamlet turn to the audience and say: “Knowing that I am a child of God, what need I do and be to live up to this potential? That is the question.” Now, I understand that such an edit would hopelessly ruin one of the greatest literary masterpieces of all time. Nevertheless, if I were writing a script for you, that is how I would word it.
Think of where you came from. You are sons and daughters of the greatest, most glorious being in the universe. He loves you with an infinite love. He wants the best for you. Do you think our Father in Heaven wants you to feel depressed and sad? He wants no such thing. He has provided the commandments, which are the royal road to a life of purpose, peace, and joy. All we need to do is follow it. Knowing and living God’s commandments really do lead to fulfillment and to joy.
Our destiny is greater than we can imagine. If only we understood who we are and what is in store for us, our hearts would overflow with such gratitude and happiness that it would enlighten even the darkest sorrows with the light and love of God, our Heavenly Father. The next time you feel unhappy, remember where you came from and where you are going. Rather than focus on things that dampen your thoughts with sorrow, choose to focus on those things that fill your soul with hope. You will realize that these things are always connected to serving God and our fellowmen. Remember that the Lord has given you His word in the scriptures. Pray earnestly to Him; talk with Him daily. Learn of Him, and walk in His way. Serve God and serve your fellowmen.
Remember that there is “a time to weep” but also “a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance” (Ecclesiastes 3:4). If your heart has been heavy for a while, perhaps it is time to allow the light of the Son of God into your heart. I plead with you—just look into the water and see your true reflection! Realize the purpose for which you were created! Lift your face toward the far horizon!
It is well for you to laugh! It is well for you to be happy! Lift up your voices and “praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing, and with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving” (Doctrine and Covenants 136:28).
I cannot imagine a heaven filled only with somber beings who never speak up or who do not enjoy music and visiting with each other. That is not heaven for me. I am certain that you were not created to spend the hours and days of your lives isolated from each other in worry or despair. You were created to have joy (see 2 Nephi 2:25), so let’s celebrate the merciful blessings of a joyful and loving Heavenly Father!
You don’t need to wait for permission to fill your hearts with thanksgiving and happiness. You can do this nicely on your own. Get together as young people—in your wards or branches, but also with those in neighboring stakes and districts. Dance together, study the gospel together, work together, serve your fellowmen together—and have fun doing it. It is my earnest prayer that the knowledge of who you are and what you may become will fill your souls with the peaceable love of God and that this will ignite within you a happiness worthy of your true heritage, for in truth you are princes and princesses, kings and queens.
Will I Ever Find My Soul Mate?
A second question we hear from you young people is “I’m so lonely. Will I ever find my soul mate?” I have a number of things I want to say on this subject, but let’s start with the concept of finding the one person you were meant to be with—the one person who is perfect for you.
There is an old story about a young woman on an archaeological excavation who discovers an ancient-looking lamp. When she rubs it, a genie appears, offering her one wish. She thinks for a moment and asks for world peace—that people would love each other and live in harmony forever.
The genie contemplates her request and finally says: “What you are asking for is impossible. The division among the peoples of the world is too deep and has existed for too long. Please ask for something else. Anything but that.”
The young lady thinks again and says: “Somewhere out there is the one person I was meant to be with. I want to find him—someone who is handsome, thoughtful, and has a sense of humor; someone who will help around the house, loves kids, doesn’t watch sports all the time, has a great job, and thinks first about my happiness; someone who will go shopping with me and who can get along with my family.”
The genie considers her request for a moment, sighs deeply, and then replies, “Let me see what I can do about world peace.”
I know this may be a disappointment for some of you, but I don’t believe there is only one right person for you. I think I fell in love with my wife, Harriet, from the first moment I saw her. Nevertheless, had she decided to marry someone else, I believe I would have met and fallen in love with someone else. I am eternally grateful that this didn’t happen, but I don’t believe she was my one chance at happiness in this life, nor was I hers.
Another error you might easily make in dating is expecting to find perfection in the person you are with. The truth is, the only perfect people you might know are those you don’t know very well. Everyone has imperfections. Now, I’m not suggesting you lower your standards and marry someone with whom you can’t be happy. But one of the things I’ve realized as I’ve matured in life is that if someone is willing to accept me—imperfect as I am—then I should be willing to be patient with others’ imperfections as well. Since you won’t find perfection in your partner, and your partner won’t find it in you, your only chance at perfection is in creating perfection together.
There are those who do not marry because they feel a lack of “magic” in the relationship. By “magic” I assume they mean sparks of attraction. Falling in love is a wonderful feeling, and I would never counsel you to marry someone you do not love. Nevertheless—and here is another thing that is sometimes hard to accept—that magic sparkle needs continuous polishing. When the magic endures in a relationship, it’s because the couple made it happen, not because it mystically appeared due to some cosmic force.
Frankly, it takes work. For any relationship to survive, both parties bring their own magic with them and use that to sustain their love. Although I have said that I do not believe in a one-and-only soul mate for anyone, I do know this: once you commit to being married, your spouse becomes your soul mate, and it is your duty and responsibility to work every day to keep it that way. Once you have committed, the search for a soul mate is over. Our thoughts and actions turn from looking to creating.
But what about those who despair of ever finding an eternal companion? First, don’t give up. Go to activities, meet people, and do all you can. I know that dating can be rough. Rejection is one of the most painful things we can experience. Trust me, I know how this feels. I fell in love with Harriet long before she fell in love with me.
But this didn’t stop me—not at all. I found ways to be in the same place she was. When I was administering the sacrament at church, I arranged to pass it to her family. I was doing the best I could to impress her, but I think she found me a little immature. The sparks simply weren’t there for her. I despaired of ever convincing her that I could be anything more than a friend.
I went away, joined the Air Force, and then traveled half a world away to attend pilot training in the United States. It wasn’t until I returned to Germany having completed my training as a fighter pilot—years after I had first met her—that this beautiful young woman looked at me and said those magical words I had been longing to hear: “You have matured since the last time I saw you.”
I moved quickly after that, and within a few months I married the woman I had loved for a long, long time.
So don’t give up, brothers and sisters. Just because you have been rejected a time or two—or three or four, or a couple hundred times—don’t despair. Brethren, the secret to finding the girl of your dreams is to get to know many of them and then, when you fall in love and it feels right, ask her to marry you. If she says no, you continue to search and to pray until finally you will arrive with that young woman at the altar of the temple. Just don’t give up.
Now, sisters, be gentle. It’s all right if you turn down requests for dates or proposals for marriage. But please do it gently. And brethren, please start asking! There are too many of our young women who never go on dates. Don’t suppose that certain girls would never go out with you. Sometimes they are wondering why no one asks them out. Just ask, and be prepared to move on if the answer is no.
One of the trends we see in some parts of the world is our young people only “hanging out” in large groups rather than dating. While there is nothing wrong with getting together often with others your own age, I don’t know if you can really get to know individuals when you’re always in a group. One of the things you need to learn is how to have a conversation with a member of the opposite sex. A great way to learn this is by being alone with someone—talking without a net, so to speak.
Dates don’t have to be—and in most cases shouldn’t be—expensive and over-planned affairs. When my wife and I moved from Germany to Salt Lake City, one of the things that most surprised us was the elaborate and sometimes stressful process young people had developed of asking for and accepting dates.
Relax. Find simple ways to be together. One of my favorite things to do when I was young and looking for a date was to walk a young lady home after a Church meeting. Remember, your goal should not be to have a video of your date get a million views on YouTube. The goal is to get to know one individual person and learn how to develop a meaningful relationship with the opposite sex.
Now, there are those among you fine young members of the Church who might never marry. Although they are worthy in every way, they may never find someone to whom they will be sealed in the temple of the Lord in this life. There is no way for those who have not experienced this despair to truly understand the loneliness and pain they might feel. I know of many women who want more than anything else to be a wife and a mother, and they cannot understand why their prayers have never been answered. There are many single men who, for whatever reason, also find themselves alone.
First, let me tell you that your prayers are heard. Your Father in Heaven knows the desires of your heart. I cannot tell you why one individual’s prayers are answered one way while someone else’s are answered differently. But this I can tell you: the righteous desires of your hearts will be fulfilled.
Sometimes it can be difficult to see anything beyond the path immediately before us. We are impatient and do not want to wait for a future fulfillment of our greatest desires. Nevertheless, the brief span of this life is nothing in comparison with eternity. And if only we can hope and exercise faith and joyfully endure to the end—and I say joyfully endure to the end—there, in that great heavenly future, we will have the fulfillment of the righteous desires of our hearts and so very much more that we can scarcely comprehend now.
In the meantime, do not wait for someone else to make your life complete. Stop second-guessing yourself and wondering if you are defective. Instead, seek to reach your potential as a child of God. Seek learning. Become engaged in a meaningful career, and seek fulfillment in service to others. Use your time, your talents, and your resources to improve yourself and bless those around you. All of this is part of your preparation for having a family. Immerse yourself in your ward or branch and seek to magnify your callings, no matter what they may be.
The great purpose of this mortal existence is to learn to fully love our Heavenly Father and our neighbor as ourselves. If we do this with all our might, mind, and strength, our eternal destiny will be glorious and grand beyond our capacity to imagine. Be faithful, and things will work out for you. That is His eternal promise to all who love and honor Him.
Can I Remain Faithful?
A third question young people have is “Can I remain faithful?” There are those who have doubts about God or the Church. Others give in to temptation that lures them away from the safety of the straight and narrow pathway of discipleship.
When I was a pilot, I often saw an interesting weather phenomenon as I flew between Europe and Africa. It is called the intertropical convergence zone—a band of thunderstorms that moves north and south across the equator, filling the horizon with billowing, menacing columns of clouds.
I could scarcely look at these clouds without being fascinated with their beauty and majesty. They towered in massive black formations, and within them lightning sparked with brilliant light from one end to the other in an indescribable fury of fire. What a glorious and fascinating sight!
But what do you think pilots do when they approach these storms? They avoid them—no matter how beautiful and intriguing they appear. As moisture rises in the clouds, it begins to freeze, forming hail the size of soccer balls that can puncture metal and destroy an aircraft. Severe turbulence and electric discharges can cripple the airplane and its systems.
Isn’t the same principle true when you see things that could cause spiritual harm? Temptation wouldn’t be temptation if it didn’t appear attractive, fascinating, or fun. But, like the pilot approaching a storm, you need to learn to avoid it, no matter how beautiful or intriguing it may appear.
Because Heavenly Father loves His children, He has given us the commandments to keep us at a safe distance from those harmful storms. He does not force any of His children to walk in His way. He allows and expects you to choose for yourselves. But know this: some choices lead to disaster. So, choose the right.
I add my witness to the chorus of warnings against the terrible problem of pornography. Steer clear of it. Stay away from it. The same words we used to train our pilots regarding thunderstorms I say to you regarding pornography: “Avoid, avoid, avoid!”
Don’t assume that you can put the nose of the plane just a little bit inside the storm—do not flirt with pornography. Remember that often the most disgusting and destructive of things can appear attractive in the beginning. Steer clear of those things that can endanger you.
Is It True?
Now the next issue: What about doubts and questions? How do you find out that the gospel is true? Is it all right to have questions about the Church or its doctrine? My dear young friends, we are a question-asking people because we know that inquiry leads to truth. That is the way the Church got its start—from a young man who had questions. In fact, I’m not sure how one can discover truth without asking questions. In the scriptures you will rarely discover a revelation that didn’t come in response to a question. Whenever a question arose and Joseph Smith wasn’t sure of the answer, he approached the Lord, and the results are the wonderful revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants. Often the knowledge Joseph received extended far beyond the original question. That is because not only can the Lord answer the questions we ask but, even more importantly, He can give us answers to questions we should have asked. Let us listen to those answers.
The missionary effort of the Church is founded upon honest investigators asking heartfelt questions. Inquiry is the birthplace of testimony. Some might feel embarrassed or unworthy because they have searching questions regarding the gospel, but they needn’t feel that way. Asking questions isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a precursor of growth.
God commands us to seek answers to our questions (see James 1:5–6) and asks only that we seek “with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ” (Moroni 10:4). When we do so, the truth of all things can be manifested to us “by the power of the Holy Ghost” (Moroni 10:5).
Fear not; ask questions. Be curious, but doubt not! Always hold fast to faith and to the light you have already received. Because we see imperfectly in mortality, not everything is going to make sense right now. In fact, I should think that if everything did make sense to us, it would be evidence that it had all been made up by a mortal mind. Remember that God has said:
“My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. …
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8–9).
Nevertheless, you know that one of the purposes of mortality is to become more like your Heavenly Father in your thoughts and in your ways. Viewed from this perspective, searching for answers to your questions can bring you closer to God, strengthening your testimony instead of shaking it. It’s true that “faith is not … a perfect knowledge” (Alma 32:21), but as you exercise your faith, applying gospel principles every day under any circumstances, you will taste the sweet fruits of the gospel, and by this fruit you will know of its truth (see Matthew 7:16–20; John 7:17; Alma 32:41–43).
You Are Eternal
There will always be voices telling you that you are foolish to believe that you are swans, insisting you are but ugly ducklings and that you can’t expect to become anything else.
But you know better. Because of the revealed word of a merciful God, you have seen your true reflection in the water and you have felt the eternal glory of that divine spirit within you. You are no ordinary beings, my beloved young friends all around the world. You are glorious and eternal.
No matter your circumstances or trials in life, I urge you to remember who you are, where you came from, and where you are going—for the answers to those questions will truly provide confidence and direction for your life.
Your Heavenly Father lives. He knows you. He speaks to you in these latter days through prophets and apostles. President Thomas S. Monson is the Lord’s prophet on earth in our day. This Church is directed by the Savior Jesus Christ. I know this. He is at the head of this Church.
Today I may speak to you with imperfection—and with a German accent—but I promise you that the words you feel in your heart and in your mind and in your soul come to you through the eloquence, purity, and power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost you can know the truth of all things.
Brothers and sisters—my dear friends—I love you. I love you with all my heart. I am grateful for you. I am grateful for your goodness. As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, I bless you individually and collectively that you may learn to know who you really are and what you must do and be to live a happy and fulfilling life.
It is my prayer and blessing that when you look at your reflection, you will be able to see beyond imperfections and self-doubts and recognize who you truly are: glorious sons and daughters of the Almighty God. In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.
© 2009 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
Notes
1. William Shakespeare, Hamlet, ed. W. J. Craig, Oxford Shakespeare (1924), act 3, scene 1, line 56.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Prayers for Mom
I would like to make a special request to all of you who read this blog. My mom is going in for a CT scan tomorrow. She is a hard stick so will you please pray that they will be able to get an IV started so they can give her the contrast. She had a CT scan a few months ago without contrast. Because they were unable to start an IV. :-( I don't know why they did that because it was useless. So she was exposed to all that radiation for nothing. :-( Now she has to do it again. Which is even more maddening in light of the recent study published regarding CT scans and cancer.
Also, would you please pray that the doctors will be able to figure out what's wrong with her. So they can help her. She's been quite ill for some time now.
Thank you.
Also, would you please pray that the doctors will be able to figure out what's wrong with her. So they can help her. She's been quite ill for some time now.
Thank you.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Education
I was watching BYU TV this morning and heard this quote: “A truly educated man never ceases to learn.”-Gordon B. Hinckley. I hope I got that right. I just went from memory. They always play some great quotes about education before the BYU devotional. This is the one that stuck out to me.
As most of you know, I’m a strong believer in education. I think I did a blog entry about this subject and my grandma Sabin. Anyway, I like that quote by President Hinckley because education is something you can always gain more of. Even the most educated person on earth only knows a small fraction of the knowledge available.
The Church has always taught us the importance of education. Education is something that has always been emphasized as something we should strive for. In fact, in this next quote by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, he mentions that education is a commandment.
"For members of the Church, education is not merely a good idea—it's a commandment. We are to learn 'of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad' (see D&C 88:79–80)."
Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Two Principles for Any Economy," Ensign, Nov. 2009, 58
I’m glad that I set and achieved lofty educational goals for myself. It’s amazing how much of the information I obtained during my formal education, I still remember. I hope to be able to continue learning as much as possible. For this is what we are here on earth for. To learn and to grow and to progress towards becoming like our Heavenly Father. Who we all know is omniscient (all-knowing).
That’s my two cents.
As most of you know, I’m a strong believer in education. I think I did a blog entry about this subject and my grandma Sabin. Anyway, I like that quote by President Hinckley because education is something you can always gain more of. Even the most educated person on earth only knows a small fraction of the knowledge available.
The Church has always taught us the importance of education. Education is something that has always been emphasized as something we should strive for. In fact, in this next quote by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, he mentions that education is a commandment.
"For members of the Church, education is not merely a good idea—it's a commandment. We are to learn 'of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad' (see D&C 88:79–80)."
Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Two Principles for Any Economy," Ensign, Nov. 2009, 58
I’m glad that I set and achieved lofty educational goals for myself. It’s amazing how much of the information I obtained during my formal education, I still remember. I hope to be able to continue learning as much as possible. For this is what we are here on earth for. To learn and to grow and to progress towards becoming like our Heavenly Father. Who we all know is omniscient (all-knowing).
That’s my two cents.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Happy Birthday to Me!
Happy birthday to me. Happy birthday to me. Happy birthday dear Tammy. Happy birthday to me. :-)
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Inconsiderate Jerks
Why don't people have manners anymore? What happened to the days when people actually considered others? It's been said that we are living in a "me generation". I can attest to that. People don't consider how their actions may affect others. All they are concerned about is what is best for them. We live in a very selfish society.
Today while shopping at Sam's Club, we came out of the store to find a car parked in the handicapped loading zone in between two handicapped parking spaces. Now, first of all, when you see a van parked in a handicapped parking space, you might assume it's transporting someone in a wheelchair. And you could deduce that the person needs to use the loading zone to get in and out of the van. Who in their right mind would park in between two handicapped spaces, in the loading zone? An inconsiderate jerk.
Is it really that important to park a few feet closer to the store entrance? Is it going to kill you to walk the few extra steps? The ironic thing is, this tends to happen more often at Christmas time. I don't get out much, and perhaps this is one of the reasons. It's difficult enough to load and unload my wheelchair in the van and navigate through crowded aisles. But when you have to deal with inconsiderate jerks parking in the loading zone, it ruins your day. A fun outing turns into a terrible reminder of the inconsiderate jerks which inhabit this earth.
Don't parents teach manners anymore? Are people really that selfish? This is not a one-time occurrence. Granted, this is the first time I've encountered a car parked in a handicapped loading zone. And next to a handicapped accessible van, no less. (This is probably the first time I've encountered a car parked in the handicapped loading zone because they are generally not big enough to fit a car. This is no exception. In order to give us enough room to load, we had to hug the parking space line, which apparently created enough room to park a small car.) But more often than not, there are carts parked in the handicapped loading zone. As if, it is a cart return. Why do people obviously ignore the big blue sign that designates handicapped parking? How do they expect people in wheelchairs to load into and out of the van, if they parked their cart in the loading zone? Obviously, they don't care. As long as it is quick and easy for them, why should they care about someone else?
I know I've blogged about this last year, but it really irks me when people are so inconsiderate. People violating handicapped parking rules has always been a pet peeve of mine. Long before my accident. I mean really, what kind of low life do you have to be? Obviously a selfish inconsiderate jerk.
That's my two cents.
Today while shopping at Sam's Club, we came out of the store to find a car parked in the handicapped loading zone in between two handicapped parking spaces. Now, first of all, when you see a van parked in a handicapped parking space, you might assume it's transporting someone in a wheelchair. And you could deduce that the person needs to use the loading zone to get in and out of the van. Who in their right mind would park in between two handicapped spaces, in the loading zone? An inconsiderate jerk.
Is it really that important to park a few feet closer to the store entrance? Is it going to kill you to walk the few extra steps? The ironic thing is, this tends to happen more often at Christmas time. I don't get out much, and perhaps this is one of the reasons. It's difficult enough to load and unload my wheelchair in the van and navigate through crowded aisles. But when you have to deal with inconsiderate jerks parking in the loading zone, it ruins your day. A fun outing turns into a terrible reminder of the inconsiderate jerks which inhabit this earth.
Don't parents teach manners anymore? Are people really that selfish? This is not a one-time occurrence. Granted, this is the first time I've encountered a car parked in a handicapped loading zone. And next to a handicapped accessible van, no less. (This is probably the first time I've encountered a car parked in the handicapped loading zone because they are generally not big enough to fit a car. This is no exception. In order to give us enough room to load, we had to hug the parking space line, which apparently created enough room to park a small car.) But more often than not, there are carts parked in the handicapped loading zone. As if, it is a cart return. Why do people obviously ignore the big blue sign that designates handicapped parking? How do they expect people in wheelchairs to load into and out of the van, if they parked their cart in the loading zone? Obviously, they don't care. As long as it is quick and easy for them, why should they care about someone else?
I know I've blogged about this last year, but it really irks me when people are so inconsiderate. People violating handicapped parking rules has always been a pet peeve of mine. Long before my accident. I mean really, what kind of low life do you have to be? Obviously a selfish inconsiderate jerk.
That's my two cents.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Week 14 Results/Season Results
It's been a fun season everybody. Congratulations to Michael who is this year's champion!
1- Mom -6 (54)
2- Dad -6 (64)
3- Tammy -7 (45)
4- Michael -7 (52)
5-Juliet -8
Actual tiebreaker 45
the final tally for the season is: Michael with seven wins. Tammy with three wins. Mom with two wins. Dad and Lisa with one win each. Sorry Derrinda and Juliet you have zero wins. :-( maybe next year.
Congratulations once again to Michael!
1- Mom -6 (54)
2- Dad -6 (64)
3- Tammy -7 (45)
4- Michael -7 (52)
5-Juliet -8
Actual tiebreaker 45
the final tally for the season is: Michael with seven wins. Tammy with three wins. Mom with two wins. Dad and Lisa with one win each. Sorry Derrinda and Juliet you have zero wins. :-( maybe next year.
Congratulations once again to Michael!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Baffling Questions
Why is it that mistresses are always so much uglier than the wife? Why is it that seemingly intelligent men throw their life in the trash for a few sinful moments with ugly women?
Perhaps I don't understand because I'm not a man. Perhaps I don't understand because I'm not stupid. Either way it still baffles me.
That's my two cents.
Perhaps I don't understand because I'm not a man. Perhaps I don't understand because I'm not stupid. Either way it still baffles me.
That's my two cents.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Family
Family is somewhat of a strange phenomenon. I’m speaking mostly of extended family. I got the idea to do this blog entry several months ago when some of the antics of my relatives were brought to my attention via facebook. Now, before I get to the meat of this entry, let me just go off on a tangent about facebook. Those of you who have a facebook account are not going to like what I’m about to say. So you may want to quit reading right here. First of all, cool people do not do face book. Face book is a waste of time. There are so many more productive things that could be done with your spare time. Now, I’m not one to preach about time wasting, because heaven knows I’m a big lollygagger. But I know a lot of people spend many hours on face book when they should be doing other things. Such as spending time with their family, studying, magnifying their church callings, or other important responsibilities.
But that’s not the worst part about facebook. I’ve always been a private person. Why would I want people to know what I am doing at all times, and every detail of my life? And, why would I want to know these things about others? I really have no desire to know what horrible things people do. And specifically what horrible things my relatives do and say. I don’t want to see racy pictures of my relatives. I don’t want to read their cuss tooth laden remarks. I left high school a long time ago. Why would I want to go back? Isn’t that the mentality facebook brings? Why isn’t so and so my friend? I have more friends than you, and so forth.
So, if you have a facebook account, I’m sorry you are not as cool as me. But, then again, that bar’s raised pretty high. There aren’t very many people who reach it. :-)
Now, to the real reason I started this blog entry. I find it somewhat strange that just because you share a certain percentage of DNA with somebody, you are forever associated with them. When I think of my relatives, there are some of them I am very pleased to be related to and associated with. And there are others who I’m somewhat embarrassed to be related to and associated with. The reason is mostly because of lifestyle choices and behavior. I’ve mentioned before, my disdain for stupid people. I would argue that people who continue to make poor choices belong in this category. And I’m afraid to say that I share a good portion of my genetic makeup with some of these people.
If I remember correctly, going back to genetics in college about 20 years ago, first cousins, blood uncles and aunts, grandparents and grandchildren share 25% of their genes. Full siblings share 50%, as do parents with children. For each generation removed, the percentage goes down by half. I mention this because the people I’m writing about in this blog share 25% of my genetic makeup. That’s huge amount. For people to be that closely related and to be so different is interesting. This is evidence for the nature versus nurture argument. But that’s another story. Although I will mention that I believe people are born with their personalities intact, sorry tabula rasa people, but environment, i.e. the way you are raised, plays a major role in who you become.
Perhaps the strangest part of family to me is when someone you are related to gets married, you are suddenly family with a complete stranger. And often times, it's someone you don’t even like. Therefore, all of the in-laws jokes out there. I understand the biological necessity of genetic diversity. But dynamically, it seems somewhat strange to me. For some reason, when someone with whom I share a good percentage of DNA, behaves stupidly, I tend to feel that it reflects on me. Even though, it really has nothing to do with me. And for some reason I don’t feel that way about family members with whom I don’t share any DNA. Call me crazy. Maybe I’ve taken too many biology courses :-).
Since I’m talking about family in this blog entry. I want to mention ancestors. As most of you know, I’ve spent a good portion of my waking hours, and even sleeping hours to be honest, thinking about and working on my family tree wall. As a result, I’ve begun to do a little genealogy research. Come to find out, I’ve got ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary war. Ancestors who were Quakers. One ancestor who was the first woman to travel to California in a stagecoach. So the story goes. One ancestor who served a mission to India, and was married by Brigham Young in winter quarters. And then on the dark side, a son and grandson of one of my direct ancestor's brothers who were tried and acquitted of murder. So, thankfully I’m not directly related. But I wouldn’t doubt it if I was. I’m hoping to do a lot more research and find a lot more information about my ancestors. Another interesting fact, about one of my great great grandfathers, is that he was considered mean because of his directness, he told it like it was. Didn’t beat around the bush, etc. I’m wondering if I didn’t inherit that quality from him. :-)
This didn’t turn out exactly as I had imagined when I started this blog entry. I went off on several tangents. The point I wanted to make was that your actions, whether good or bad, reflect not only on you but those with whom you are associated. i.e. your relatives. I find it interesting that just because you share a certain percentage of DNA with someone, you are forever associated. So, please think about all the people you will be affecting, before you do something stupid. And if you want to be as cool as me, delete your face book account.
That’s my two cents.
But that’s not the worst part about facebook. I’ve always been a private person. Why would I want people to know what I am doing at all times, and every detail of my life? And, why would I want to know these things about others? I really have no desire to know what horrible things people do. And specifically what horrible things my relatives do and say. I don’t want to see racy pictures of my relatives. I don’t want to read their cuss tooth laden remarks. I left high school a long time ago. Why would I want to go back? Isn’t that the mentality facebook brings? Why isn’t so and so my friend? I have more friends than you, and so forth.
So, if you have a facebook account, I’m sorry you are not as cool as me. But, then again, that bar’s raised pretty high. There aren’t very many people who reach it. :-)
Now, to the real reason I started this blog entry. I find it somewhat strange that just because you share a certain percentage of DNA with somebody, you are forever associated with them. When I think of my relatives, there are some of them I am very pleased to be related to and associated with. And there are others who I’m somewhat embarrassed to be related to and associated with. The reason is mostly because of lifestyle choices and behavior. I’ve mentioned before, my disdain for stupid people. I would argue that people who continue to make poor choices belong in this category. And I’m afraid to say that I share a good portion of my genetic makeup with some of these people.
If I remember correctly, going back to genetics in college about 20 years ago, first cousins, blood uncles and aunts, grandparents and grandchildren share 25% of their genes. Full siblings share 50%, as do parents with children. For each generation removed, the percentage goes down by half. I mention this because the people I’m writing about in this blog share 25% of my genetic makeup. That’s huge amount. For people to be that closely related and to be so different is interesting. This is evidence for the nature versus nurture argument. But that’s another story. Although I will mention that I believe people are born with their personalities intact, sorry tabula rasa people, but environment, i.e. the way you are raised, plays a major role in who you become.
Perhaps the strangest part of family to me is when someone you are related to gets married, you are suddenly family with a complete stranger. And often times, it's someone you don’t even like. Therefore, all of the in-laws jokes out there. I understand the biological necessity of genetic diversity. But dynamically, it seems somewhat strange to me. For some reason, when someone with whom I share a good percentage of DNA, behaves stupidly, I tend to feel that it reflects on me. Even though, it really has nothing to do with me. And for some reason I don’t feel that way about family members with whom I don’t share any DNA. Call me crazy. Maybe I’ve taken too many biology courses :-).
Since I’m talking about family in this blog entry. I want to mention ancestors. As most of you know, I’ve spent a good portion of my waking hours, and even sleeping hours to be honest, thinking about and working on my family tree wall. As a result, I’ve begun to do a little genealogy research. Come to find out, I’ve got ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary war. Ancestors who were Quakers. One ancestor who was the first woman to travel to California in a stagecoach. So the story goes. One ancestor who served a mission to India, and was married by Brigham Young in winter quarters. And then on the dark side, a son and grandson of one of my direct ancestor's brothers who were tried and acquitted of murder. So, thankfully I’m not directly related. But I wouldn’t doubt it if I was. I’m hoping to do a lot more research and find a lot more information about my ancestors. Another interesting fact, about one of my great great grandfathers, is that he was considered mean because of his directness, he told it like it was. Didn’t beat around the bush, etc. I’m wondering if I didn’t inherit that quality from him. :-)
This didn’t turn out exactly as I had imagined when I started this blog entry. I went off on several tangents. The point I wanted to make was that your actions, whether good or bad, reflect not only on you but those with whom you are associated. i.e. your relatives. I find it interesting that just because you share a certain percentage of DNA with someone, you are forever associated. So, please think about all the people you will be affecting, before you do something stupid. And if you want to be as cool as me, delete your face book account.
That’s my two cents.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Week 13 Results
1- Tammy -11
2- Michael -12
3- Dad -13
4- Lisa -23
5- Mom -25 tiebreaker 49
6-Juliet -25 tiebreaker 53
actual tiebreaker 49
2- Michael -12
3- Dad -13
4- Lisa -23
5- Mom -25 tiebreaker 49
6-Juliet -25 tiebreaker 53
actual tiebreaker 49
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving everybody! We are looking forward to a wonderful family gathering this afternoon. With lots of good food. Although we will be missing Michael and his family as they are spending the day with Derrinda's folks in Oregon. I can smell the turkey cooking right now :-).
This morning I watched a wonderful CES fireside that I had recorded on DVR from November 1, 2009. It is called "Reflection in the Water" by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. As a matter of fact, I watched it twice this morning. I looked for the transcript to post but apparently it's not out yet. I would try to summarize the talk for you but I don't think I could do it justice. I will post the transcript when/if it becomes available. If I remember :-). In the meantime, I have it on my DVR if anyone would like to come over and watch it. It is well worth your time to watch it. CES fireside talks are always good but, this talk was exceptional.
Happy Thanksgiving!
This morning I watched a wonderful CES fireside that I had recorded on DVR from November 1, 2009. It is called "Reflection in the Water" by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. As a matter of fact, I watched it twice this morning. I looked for the transcript to post but apparently it's not out yet. I would try to summarize the talk for you but I don't think I could do it justice. I will post the transcript when/if it becomes available. If I remember :-). In the meantime, I have it on my DVR if anyone would like to come over and watch it. It is well worth your time to watch it. CES fireside talks are always good but, this talk was exceptional.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)