I love you guys

This blog is for my family. I was just looking through pictures and found these, I think you all have them, some of them were posted by Michelle recently. I love you guys, thank you for the good memories growing up and all the good examples that you have set. I know I was a punk kid sometimes (some of you are thinking "was"?), thanks for loving me anyway.

Our lesson in Priesthood today was on eternal families. Remember when our whole family was in the temple together? That was a great feeling. Enjoy the pictures.


I chose this picture because if you look in the top right corner you can see why all of the children in our family learned good work ethics. SOMEONE had to vacuum while dad was reading the newspaper... Just kidding. Our parents really did teach the importance of work though, and I am grateful for that.



This is still my favorite Halloween costume of all time, Jack. Way to go dad.


My favorite part of this picture is the one of Chris waving goodbye. I believe this is when he was leaving for his mission. I am grateful that Chris chose to serve a mission, it had a major impact on decisions I made when I was approaching that time in my life. Thanks Chris.


This last one is just such a good picture of Mom and Dad. One of the greatest things they did for us was love each other and love us. Thank you!

Obedience

I wanted to share a thought I had about obedience. It begins with that well known verse by Nephi, "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded," (1 Nephi 3:7) Nephi is committed to be obedient and voices his desire to be obedient. Even when it gets tough and his brothers want to turn back, he replies, "As the Lord liveth, we will not go down unto our father in the wilderness until we have accomplished the thing which the Lord hath commanded us."

So now we get the picture, Nephi is serious about this obedience thing. But so far, it is all talk. He has not actually obtained the plates yet. Now the Lord tells us he will prove us and try us in all things, and we see that in the next chapter. In chapter 4 verse 10 Nephi is constrained, or commanded, by the Spirit to kill Laban. This is obviously NOT what Nephi had in mind when he covenanted with the Lord to be obedient and not return without the plates. The Lord is testing him. The covenant came first, now the test. Will he obey?

He does, but listen to his words, "I shrunk and would that I might not". This was a real test to see if he would obey. Now go to D&C 19:16-18, another example of Someone that had covenanted to be obedient in all things. The Savior had a similar experience to Nephi. He had covenanted and promised to be obedient to the end, and the Father wanted to let Him show that. When the Savior realized what it was going to require, He, like Nephi, comments that He "would that [He] might not . . . and shrink".

But, of course, he obeyed. And the first thing he tells the people in ancient America about Himself is that he "suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning." He wanted them to know he was obedient.

I learned that Obedience is not about me. It is not about what I want.

Now, think about this and watch this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz1mK5mLxu0

Adjusting to Change

Today I gave a talk on adjusting to change. It has been a great week studying that topic and preparing and I have learned a lot. I love this subject because it applies to everyone, everywhere. Since it applies to everyone I thought, why not share it with everyone? So here is the readers digest version of what I learned:

The Problem? Change can be hard.
Why? For me I believe it is one of three things-
1. It means being separated from something or someone I love.
2. It means doing something I have never done before. This can require stretching, pain, and humility.
3. I am afraid, doubtful, uncertain, or downright scared of the unknown.

There is no such thing as "Never Never Land". We cannot avoid change.

Why must there be change? This was the Plan of Salvation from the beginning, a plan that would change us to become more like our Father. Listen to this by President Eyring, "The purpose of the gospel of Jesus Christ is to change you so that you're not trying to resist change. You're trying to have change take you where the Lord wants you to go."

2 Nephi 2:22-25- if things had not changed, there would have been no change. Everything would have stayed the same, forever. But, change did come, and the reason? That men might have joy.

The purpose for change is growth, and the purpose for growth is joy.

So what do we do about it? What is the solution?
1. Keep your eye and heart fixed on that which is unchangeable.
2. Turn change into an opportunity for growth and happiness.

The first one, keeping our eye and heart fixed on the unchangeable, includes three things- The Word of God, Prayer (and coming to know our unchanging Father in Heaven), and our covenants. These have been very constant in my life, and I know they will always be there. Again from President Eyring, “We can follow a steady upward course in a world of change without fear, welcoming the opportunities. The way is a simple one, clearly marked. It is to keep our eyes and hearts fixed on that which is unchangeable."

The second one, turning changes into opportunities for growth and happiness, includes seven points.
1. Recognize what you can control- your attitude. Victor Frankl said,""...We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way..." You can always choose your attitude.

2. Have the faith to try. If you are in a new situation, you might just need to do something new. President Hinckley said, “The faith to try leads to direction by the spirit, and the fruits that flow therefrom are marvelous to behold and experience.” Have the faith to try.

3. Keep moving forward. For this part, see the talk given in the last general conference titled, "Get On with Our Lives."

4. Be of good cheer. John 16:33

5. Have courage. Joshua was facing some major changes when he was commanded to take Israel accross the Jordan to the land of Canaan. The Lord told him to be of a good courage. See Deuteronomy 31:6.

6. Forget yourself. Elder Bednar said, “Character is revealed, for example, in the power to discern the suffering of other people when we ourselves are suffering; in the ability to detect the hunger of others when we are hungry; and in the power to reach out and extend compassion for the spiritual agony of others when we are in the midst of our own spiritual distress. Thus, character is demonstrated by looking and reaching outward when the natural and instinctive response is to be self-absorbed and turn inward.” Forget yourself and go to work. This will really bring happiness in times of change.

7. Accept help. We can't do it alone, and we shouldn't try. For this principle see Elder Hollands talk last Conference titled "None Were with Him."

Remember, the purpose of change is growth, and the purpose of growth is joy.

We have the power in us to turn changes into opportunities for growth and happiness. This was the Plan of Happiness from the beginning.