Life is a Painting not a Puzzle

Life is full of trials: we make mistakes, we get sick, we lose people we care about. Sometimes my tendency is to view life like a puzzle, something to be solved. When I lose a piece, I'm sunk. Once a piece is missing, there is essentially no way to complete the picture.

However, a more correct comparison would be to say that life is like a painting. We may make a mistake here or there but a true artist can easily turn those blemishes into an overall beautiful picture. 

Elder Bednar relates the following in one of his conference addresses:

"In my office is a beautiful painting of a wheat field. The painting is a vast collection of individual brushstrokes—none of which in isolation is very interesting or impressive. In fact, if you stand close to the canvas, all you can see is a mass of seemingly unrelated and unattractive streaks of yellow and gold and brown paint. However, as you gradually move away from the canvas, all of the individual brushstrokes combine together and produce a magnificent landscape of a wheat field. Many ordinary, individual brushstrokes work together to create a captivating and beautiful painting."

Each day we paint a little bit more. And hopefully we don't get discouraged if things maybe don't turn out how we planned or if we feel like we messed up. With God's help, we can improve our lives/paintings each day. 

Owning Up to Our Actions

I recently had a very interesting experience... It all started when I was in the shower.. I had woken up just like any other morning but while in the midst of my morning routine I remembered that I had parked my car in a nearby lot that is only open to the public on weekends. Long story short, I ended up paying $75.00 to get a boot taken off my car.

As I waited for the company to come remove the boot I kept trying to think of ways it wasn't my fault, looking for a reason why I shouldn't have to pay the fine. But ultimately I came to the conclusion that there was me, and only me, to blame so I paid the fee and went on my way 75 dollars poorer. 

We make choices every day. Sometimes our actions are in line with the commandments of God and other times they aren't. It's my experience that we are quick to take credit for the good that we do but even quicker to make excuses when things go south. Perhaps all we need is to be a little more honest with ourselves and own up to our actions. And remember to move your car when you need to.

The College Student and the Concept of Zion

For those of us in school right now it's easy to get caught up thinking about ourselves. What classes am I going to take? What should MY career be? What shirt should I wear today? None of these questions are bad, they're a necessary part of our lives. But they sometimes make it hard for us to think about people besides ourselves.

In the scriptures we read about the concept of Zion. The Doctrine and Covenants speaks repeatedly on establishing Zion. Enoch built a city that was called 'Zion'. D&C 97 refers to Zion as, "the pure in heart". And we sing hymns about Zion in church on Sundays. So with that said I want to share this scripture...

"But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion, for if they labor for money they shall perish (emphasis added)." - 2 Nephi 26:31

As students, we are preparing ourselves to enter the work force. We know that we have a duty to provide for our future families but sometimes I think we get caught up in future fortunes instead. This scripture reminds us that our labor should always be to build God's kingdom, not ours.  In the end, money isn't important but people are and I hope that we won't forget it.

Knowledge is Freedom

I've heard it said before that "knowledge is power" and I don't disagree. I would simply like to add that "knowledge is also freedom".

In 2 Nephi 2:26 it states that Adam and Eve became free forever, knowing good from evil. When we gain knowledge we are free to make more educated decisions, freeing us from choices that lead to sin. Thus, one of the sole purposes of our existence on this earth is to learn how to tell the difference between good and evil, righteousness and wickedness.

It appears to me that making this distinction has become increasingly difficult as of late. In the world we see many that call good, evil and evil, good.  See Isaiah 5:20 for his prophecy on the subject. Society no longer looks to the laws of God or to His doctrine for answers on issues of morality. Instead, we are encouraged by the world to "choose what is right for us". This dangerous doctrine of doing whatever works was taught by none other than Korihor, an anti-christ in the Book of Mormon (see Alma 30:17, 60 to find out what happens to him...).

The truth is, there is a law. There are rules, commandments that God has given us. As we learn to keep them and to distinguish good from evil we are becoming more and more like Him. We are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death.. Pick whichever one you want.

What's in a name?

Names have really been intriguing me as of late. Why are they so important to us? Why do we care if someone remembers our name or not? And we do care. For some reason, when someone can call us by name we feel as if they know us. They may remember a hundred things about us but if they can't remember what we are called then we still feel like they don't care, or don't know us.

When we are born, our parents decide what our names will be. Whether its Joseph, Andrew, Jeffery, or Kyle that word becomes a part of us. It's kinda weird. Growing up, we get nicknames that sometimes mean more to us than our original name. For some reason, we like that. 

At baptism we take upon ourselves the name of Christ. We strive to represent Him in what we do and say. Mosiah 5:8 says, "There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ..." 

Christ said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." Christ does know us and is ever calling out to us. Let's listen and follow Him. 

The night is darkest just before the dawn

I don't know if that saying actually has any real scientific merit but it certainly rang true for me this summer. My summer job took me away from Utah and down to the northern part of Texas. It was hot, dusty, and at times a little bit miserable. But overall I was in good company and had an enjoyable time. However, my last week of work was indeed a trial and a tribulation. Tuesday was particularly awful. My exhaust system on my car broke. Like, we are talking pipes hanging from the bottom of my car, scraping the asphalt. I was terrified that I would have to stay an extra day or two for it to get fixed.

Thankfully, we were able to get it fixed on Wednesday and I started the journey home on Thursday morning. I was so grateful. My prayers had been answered. However, 200 or so miles from home I hit something on the road and my right rear tire was shredded. Let me just take time to point out that I had already replaced all four tires on my car over the course of the summer. Needless to say I was a little bit bummed.

Anyway, we put the spare on and somehow made it the rest of the way home. Shoutout to Dalton Facer for sticking with me the whole way just in case I got another flat. But as we were driving across the rather large state of Wyoming I couldn't help but think of the pioneers who made a similar trek but on foot. After initial thoughts of, “why me?” I realized I had so much to be grateful for. So I thanked God for my safety, for my friends, for my family waiting for me, for technology and innovation, for all the blessings which I enjoy everyday.

The night may be darkest just before the dawn but what better time to look up at all the stars?

Without Sail or Anchor

Let me start off by saying that I am not a sailor, nor have I ever even been sailing. I have, however, watched movies where people do and it actually seems like a lot of fun.

In the last chapters of the Book of Mormon, Mormon casts before us an awful scene of blood and carnage. The Nephites and Lamanites are at war (which by this point in the book is a regular occurrence) and to say the least, things are not looking good. But as bad as the war is, Mormon is more concerned about their spiritual welfare. Because of his people's wickedness he knows that we too will sorrow for the destruction of this people as we read his account. And he's right.

In verse 18 of Mormon chapter 5 we read that the people were as though they were, "upon the waves, without sail, or anchor, or without anything wherewith to steer..." Like I said before, I'm no sailor but I think it is safe to say that those three things are essential. They give us control of the boat. With them we can stop, change direction, and return to our proper course should we stray. Without them we are simply at the will of the ocean. And after watching Shark Week that is not something I desire...

So as we set sail today and tomorrow lets not forget that we have power to stop and to change our course. Hopefully if we make minor adjustments (See President Uchtdorf's talk: A Matter of a Few Degrees) along the way we'll make it home to our Heavenly Father without being entirely lost at sea or eaten by a shark.