Naruto and Elvis

In the series Naruto, two characters play "shogi" (you could think of it as japanese chess) and discuss whom they believe "the King" is. They mention political leaders and teachers among other things, but in the end, they decide that children, the next generation are all "the King." I believe this is very much true. The adversary targets children because he knows that if he can get them young, it'll be easier for him to drag them down and ruin their lives. 

Elvis sang, "Why are children always first

To feel the pain and hurt the worst? 

It's cruel but somehow,

It just don't seem right."

And it isn't right. Children shouldn't experience all of life's pain. They're not ready for it. 

As siblings, parents, friends, adults, teachers, and fellow human beings we have a responsibility and duty to protect and raise the next generation! They are "the King!" They're the most important piece in the game of life, the most vital resource in the war between light and darkness. 

We need to guard the youth in our lives. 

Countdown Day 56: Knowest Thou The Condescension of God?

Countdown Day 56: Knowest Thou The Condescension of God?

In 1 Nephi, an angel asks Nephi, "Knowest thou the condescension of God?" 

Nephi's response is simple but profound. He replies: "I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things." 

We may not understand exactly how the atonement works on a literal spiritual level. We may not comprehend all the nuances of God's nature. Sometimes, we may even be uncertain of ourselves... But there is one cornerstone we can rely on, that we should always remember: God loves his children. In a world of doubt and darkness, one bright truth will never change: God loves his children. This is constant and unconditional; it doesn't matter what you do or don't understand. It can be understood by small children and taught to the oldest person: God loves his children. 

Countdown Day 55: Put Downs

Countdown Day 55: Put Downs

Today I had a epiphany. When a person puts them self down in ways like, "I'm the worst choice to be this groups teacher," or "There's no way I can do this calling," they're not only insulting themselves, divine children of God, but they're insulting God's own intelligence, and His power! 

God chose you for your roles in life. He's not stupid; He knows your strengths and weaknesses better than you do. When we think like that, we unconsciously presume that we know better than God does. 

Even when we can't do something on our own, God has the power to do literally anything. Through the atonement, we can change ourselves and improve. Saying "I can't do it" is lazy and unfaithful. With God's help, anything is possible. 

Countdown Day 54: Unconditionally

Countdown Day 54: Unconditionally 

As all good parents should, God, as well as Jesus Christ, loves us unconditionally. Similar to our earthly parents, they know everything about us. And despite knowing about all of our faults and mistakes in detail, they still love us more than anybody could imagine. It's unconditional. No matter what we do, Christ and Heavenly Father still love us, just like our earthly family should. We can always go back to them, because they will never stop loving us, and wanting the best for us. They will always love us unconditionally. And that's a fact. 

Countdown Day 53: Never Was Happiness

Countdown Day 53: Never Was Happiness

Alma taught his son Corianton, who was having some issues, that "wickedness never was happiness." I like to keep this in mind, to remind myself of what's really going to bring me happiness. 

Even if doing the wrong thing brings us temporary happiness, it's fleeting and fake. As soon as the endorphins or adrenaline, or whatever it may be, dies down, that "happiness" is gone. 

When we do what we know is right, it brings us real joy. It lasts, and leads to more of it. 

In life, many different things claim they'll make us happy, but most of then are false promises and don't bring us true joy. True joy comes from truth -- of which the gospel and the spirit are composed solely of. 

Countdown Day 52: Resurrection and Judgement

Countdown Day 52: Resurrection and Judgement

Everybody, save those who followed Satan during his rebellion and never got to go to Earth, will receive a resurrected body. These bodies will be like the ones they had in life, but they'll be perfect. We will no longer be subject to death, disease, and other physical and mental infirmities. All of humanity will then be judged. An extremely select few, such as Cain and Judas, will be sent to outer darkness, where they will be unable to progress and will literally be damned. Everybody else will be sent to one of three kingdoms of glory. What's great is that the lowest of these kingdoms is far better than life on earth! So no matter what, you're going to be better off than you are now. 

The lowest kingdom is the Telestial Kingdom. It is likened to a star in the sky, being the least 'bright' of the three kingdoms. 

The middle kingdom is the Terrestial kingdom. It's brightness is likened unto the moon. 

The highest kingdom is the Celestial kingdom, which is likened unto the sun. This is where God the Father lo

Iives, and should be your ultimate goal. 

Countdown Day 51: What Happens When You Die

Countdown Day 51: What Happens When You Die

Eventually, everybody dies. Thanks to Christ, death is not permanent, but until the Second Coming, the dead remain dead. Upon death, your spirit is separated from your body. While your body rots, your spirit goes to one of two places: spirit prison, or spirit paradise. These places are like waiting rooms for those who have died, until Christ returns and everybody's spirit will be reunited with their body. 

Spirit paradise is a world of light and freedom. Those who have heard the gospel and accepted it, along with necessary ordinances, end up here. 

Spirit prison is where those who have not yet heard the gospel, or who have refused it go. It is a world of darkness and bondage. 

While Christ's body lay in the tomb for three days, he prepared a missionary effort in the spirit world. Spirits from paradise go and teach those in prison, who have the option to accept the gospel, and any ordinances performed for them in the temple, and move to spirit paradise. 

God is not unfair. All of His children will have a chance to hear and accept the gospel, regardless of when or where they lived. 

Countdown Day 50: The Atonement

Countdown Day 50: The Atonement

The keystone of the God's plan -- the Plan of Salvation, Happiness, Redemption, etc -- is the atonement of Jesus Christ. Without it, death wouldn't have been overcome, and thus nobody would be resurrected. Just as key is overcoming temptation and sin. By living a perfect life, and through his actions in Gethsemane, up through his suffering on the cross, and his resurrection, Christ paid for our sins. Because he died for us, God is able to exact justice (through Christ's sacrifice) while also extending mercy (through the atonement). With the atonement, we can repent and forsake our sins, and change ourselves into better beings. The atonement is both infinite and endless, and is accessible by all men. Through Jesus Christ, we can all return to Heavenly Father. Were it not for the atonement, our sins would forever prevent us from reaching Heavenly Father, because "no unclean thing can dwell in the sight of God."

Countdown Day 49: The Fall of Man

Countdown Day 49: The Fall of Man

While Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden, they were unable to physically change. Their existence was static. They didn't age, give birth, or die. It wasn't until Satan tempted Eve to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil that her eyes were opened to understanding good and evil. As we know from 2 Nephi 2, there must be opposition in all things. For example, in order for Adam and Eve to be happy, they had to experience sadness. Long story short, Eve got Adam to partake, and they were driven from the Garden of Eden. Because of this transgression, man was now subject to pain, sin, and death. They no longer were in the presence of Heavenly Father, though He did gift them with ways to communicate with Him. However, Adam and Eve were also able to exercise their agency, as they had in the Garden, and chose to be faithful. They were able to, and did, have children, which was necessary for God's plan of salvation. If Adam and Eve had lived in the Garden forever, the plan would've been frustrated. Ironically, even Satan was used as a tool to fulfill God's plan. He continues to fulfill that role as our tempter, making our righteous choices possible by giving us a wicked choice, in opposition. Though humanity was made subject to the natural man (all of our wicked impulses and urges, our desires to be selfish and lazy, and pretty much everything bad about humans that comes as "part of the package") because of the Fall, we also had the Light of Christ, and the Holy Ghost to guide us. 

"Adam fell, that men might be, and men are that they might have joy." 

2 Nephi 2:27. 

Countdown Day 48: The Creation of Earth and Man, and the Veil

Countdown Day 48: The Creation of Earth and Man, and the Veil

Jesus Christ, under the direction of Heavenly Father, created Earth (and the rest of our known plane of existence) as a place for us to be tested in a myriad of ways. After all, we couldn't receive bodies without a place to put them, right? 

Creation went through 7 days. On the 6th day, man (Adam and Eve) was created. They were given the Garden of Eden to take care of, and learned at the knees of Heavenly Father. 

Why did they need to learn? 

Not only were Adam and Eve in a natural, innocent, childlike state, but they had forgotten the premortal existence, as all of God's children have. The reason for this is a "veil of forgetfulness" placed by God. 

If it wasn't for the veil, there would be no point in coming to earth. We wouldn't need to exercise faith in God, because we would literally know and remember that He exists. 

Countdown Day 47: The Premortal Life

Countdown Day 47: The Premortal Life

Before we lived on earth, our spirits existed in heaven in the presence of Heavenly Father. We learned and progressed there, at God's feet. We reached a point where we could no longer progress -- we needed bodies, and a chance to exercise true faith. Heavenly Father presented a plan for us to receive bodies, be tested, then return to Him. This plan required a savior. Jesus Christ volunteered, as did Lucifer, who advocated a different plan. He said he would force everybody to be obedient, and in return everybody would return to God's presence, and God's glory would be his. 

One of the main points of the plan, and our existence, was that we exercise our agency (free will) while on earth to show our faith and obedience. God chose Christ as savior, and Lucifer incited rebellion. A third of Father's children followed Lucifer, for various reasons stemming from fear and doubt. There was a war in heaven, that Lucifer lost. He and his followers were cast out, and Lucifer became known as the devil. He tries to tempt us and bring us down because we have bodies, and he doesn't. He never will. He is absolutely miserable, and can't stand for anybody to be happy. 

Countdown Day 46: I Have Seen Majesty but Once

Countdown Day 46: I Have Seen Majesty but Once

http://www.moroni10.com/mormon_history/joseph-rebukes-guards.html

The Spirit of God can affect all men. It is the purest source of charisma and confidence, and is what true power comes from. When the Spirit strives with you, your countenance changes, to reflect the member of the Godhead who walks with you. The Holy Ghost is what makes somebody -- or something -- truly majestic. 

Countdown Day 45: Ame ni mo Makezu

Countdown Day 45: Ame ni mo Makezu

"Be not defeated by the rain."

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ame_ni_mo_Makezu

A wonderful poem, that expresses simple fundamentals of life in a beautiful way. 

I particularly like the message of perseverance, of putting others ahead of yourself, and of always helping others, regardless of place and situation. 

Countdown Day 44: Prayerful Attitude

Countdown Day 44: Prayerful Attitude

When we pray for answers, we have to pray with a correct attitude. We have to commit to accepting whatever answer we receive, regardless of it's the one we want. We need to be open to answers we hadn't thought of prior. We need to be humble, obedient, and worthy. If we're not worthy, it's difficult to discern any answers from prayer, since Heavenly Father uses the spirit to communicate with us. 

Countdown Day 43: Newsong (3 of 3)

Countdown 43: Newsong (3 of 3)

"Who is the person I want to see the most?!

The number of people I love dearly 

Will only continue growing!

That's how I become stronger~

We haven't heard enough of our story, 

For us to say, "That's it, I'm no Shakespeare." 

Because all of us should be ourselves.

That's just another way we grow stronger. 

We just want to be stronger."

We are all unique, and different. There's beauty in our variety... No single person comes up with all the good ideas. No one artist paints every masterpiece. If we stay true to ourselves we'll eventually find the thing that is unique to ourself -- our strength. The only way we can grow stronger is to accept ourselves. 

If we want to use the atonement, we have to recognize our failings, and reach out to Christ so he can help us overcome them. 

Countdown Day 42: Newsong (2 of 3)

Countdown Day 42: Newsong (2 of 3)

"Made up of jumbled up tunes, 

We are all creatures worthy of love. 

Even if we can't write a song, our hearts will still sing. 

After enduring many storms, 

Are we still creatures worthy of love? 

Even if we sometimes lie, our hearts will be honest... 

We've all been lied to, and hurt before...

But haven't we also told lies, and hurt others?"

No matter how imperfect we are, a humans, we seek to improve, as children of God. We make mistakes and lie and hurt people. We're confusing creatures, mixed up and thrown around. We endure many storms, but we're still treasures, each one of us. No matter how many times we fail, we'll get back up and try again. That's our part of the bargain. In return, God will help us (which is called grace) and we can access the atonement. Ultimately, the atonement is the greatest force for change in existence. 

Countdown Day 41: Newsong (1 of 3)

Countdown Day 41: Newsong (1 of 3)

"Who is the person you want to see the most? 

The number of people you hold dear, 

Will only continue to grow! 

That's how you become stronger." 

We garner strength from our bonds with others. When we truly love another, we will push ourselves harder to speak kinder, be present more, and generally be better human beings. True love will improve us as individuals. The more people we love, the better we'll become -- the stronger we'll grow. In life, we accumulate loved ones. In life, we increase our strength. In life, we learn to love. 

Countdown Day 40: Undone (1 of 2)

Countdown Day 40: Undone (1 of 2)

"Come undone,

Surrender is stronger.

I don't need to be the hero tonight. 

We all want love, 

We all want honor. 

But no one wants to pay the asking price." 

In life, we can't always be the hero. Sometimes, we lack the requisite skills, and other times, we are in danger ourselves. But, there is one person who will always be our hero, no matter what our situation is. He will never fail us. 

A large part of life is learning to surrender, to come undone and lay our pride down. We have to learn to give ourselves up and be humble. The atonement is a force for change. Pride dictates we don't change. In order to exercise the atonement, we have to humble ourselves. The scriptures say we offer up a broken heart, and a contrite spirit -- and that's exactly what we're talking about. 

Even though we can't pay the price of our own sins, Christ can, and did! How magnificent. 

Countdown Day 39: The Liahona

Countdown Day 39: The Liahona

In Alma 37, we learn a lot about the Liahona. It was basically a compass that relied on the faith of it's wielders. If Lehi's family was "slothful" and disobedient, the Liahona wouldn't point the way, rather it's spindles would list about. If they were righteous and faithful, then it would guide them to where they needed to go. 

The Liahona can be likened unto the words of Christ. When we're obedient and faithful, we're guided to places we're meant to be, and will be happier in. If we ignore the directions and are lazy and unfaithful, then we won't be able to discern the proper direction, and will be lost, until we repent and get ourselves back on track. 

Countdown Day 38: Bonds

Countdown Day 38: Bonds

In life, we accumulate various bonds. Most of them are bonds of friendship and love... And a few consist of hate. 

What will you do for your bonds? Will you allow them to be severed when the going gets tough? Will you sever them yourself, to make things easier? Will you weaken your bonds of love, so that your bonds of hatred take precedence and consume you? 

Or will you strengthen your bonds of love? Will you form them with as many people as possible? Will you sacrifice anything for those bonds? 

Is that possible?

Jesus Christ literally gave everything for his bonds. He had bonds with every single one of us, and they were all bonds of love, so powerful we can't even comprehend them. 

If we want to be like Christ, we ought to foster bonds of love with all we meet, and make sacrifices for those we love. 

I believe that one day, all of humanity will link arms and form one great bond of love. We have it in us!

Countdown Day 37: Absolute Truth

Countdown Day 37: Absolute Truth

An absolute truth is something that never changes. It is absolute. 

The absolute truth I've been thinking about the most is that you cannot save somebody else. 

Another absolute truth is agency. We all have the power of choice, and that doesn't change. 

Since we all have the power to choose, another person cannot make our choices for us, even when we want them to. We can't be saved by another... Only through the atonement. Even then, we have to choose to access the atonement. 

We can support each other, but we cannot be another. 

We can shoulder each other's burdens, but we can't take them away.

Life is about choices. We can't make them for others. 

Countdown Day 36: Truth & Tolerance

Countdown Day 36: Truth & Tolerance

This talk should be mandatory reading for every saint. It tackles some of the most common problems we face in modern times, such as issues of tolerance, standing up for truth, and even legislation! Great talk by a great man. 

http://www.lds.org/ensign/2013/02/balancing-truth-and-tolerance?lang=eng

Countdown Day 35: What is the Light of Christ?

Countdown Day 35: What is the Light of Christ? 

President Boyd K. Packer, in his incredible talk coincidentally titled "The Light of Christ," described it as such. 

"It is the sponsor of everything that is good. It is the inspirer of everything that will bless and benefit mankind. It nourishes goodness itself."

You could call it moral sense, our conscience... Essentially, it's what naturally draws us towards good. I like to think of it as everything we have in common with Christ. 

Countdown Day 34: I Will Protect My Family

Countdown Day 34: I Will Protect My Family

One of the fundamental reasons family is important is they provide us unconditional love. Love is, as I often say, the purpose of everything. 

"I will protect my friends... No matter how much pain befalls me." 

In this case, I'd replace friends with family... Because family trumps friends (the originator of this quote had no family). One of my favorite definitions f love is "putting someone else's needs ahead of your own." I'd further that by saying meaningful sacrifice is also a form of love. To protect our love, we do whatever we can, because we love our love... Does that make sense? We'll make any sacrifice for those we love, as we should, because love is what makes life worth living. 

Countdown Day 32 & 33: The Birds of Tokyo

Countdown Day 32 & 33: Birds of Tokyo

I enjoy listening to "Birds of Tokyo," an Australian band. They named themselves as such after reading an article about how there were no longer birds in Tokyo, due to pollution and overcrowding. One member said, "We thought that was interesting, no birds in Tokyo — we thought, we'll be the birds of Tokyo." 

I love the thought process behind that. Even better, I actually love their music! I'd like to bring attention to the lyrics of their famous song "Lanterns."

"Lately I've found

When I start to think aloud

There's a longing in the sound

There is more I could be

In darkness I leave

For a place I've never seen

It's been calling out to me

That is where I should be

We never carried days on our own

But now it's up to us to know

The weight of being so much more

We will find ourselves on the road

On we march

With a midnight song

We will light our way

With our lanterns on

On we march

Till we meet the dawn

We will light our way

With our lanterns on

As we walk out

Without question, without doubt

In the light that we have found

It is finally clear

Our day has come

And we'll stand for who we are

We are ready, we are young

We have nothing to fear

We never carried days on our own

But now it's up to us to know

The weight of being so much more

We will find ourselves on the road

On we march

With a midnight song

We will light our way

With our lanterns on

On we march

Till we meet the dawn

We will light our way

With our lanterns on

We held the light

To our faces

And realised

We were chasing

Shadows behind

Not worth saving

So burn it bright

Forever illuminating

On we march

With a midnight song

We will light our way

With our lanterns on

On we march

Till we meet the dawn

We will light our way

With our lanterns on

[x2]

In darkness I leave

For a place I've never seen

It's been calling out to me

That is where I should be"

Check out tomorrow's post for my thoughts on some specific lines. 

Countdown Day 31: Conviction

Countdown Day 31: Conviction

"Let me tell you something. 

Death is not the end.

Loss of conviction is the end."

No matter what befalls us, the most important thing is not our health, not our attitude at a moment -- it is our "conviction." Our perseverance, our faith. So long as we hold firm to our convictions, we won't care about if we die... Because what we believe and do about that belief is more important than what happens to us. Loss of conviction is truly the end. If we can't hold onto our beliefs, then life won't matter. We'll be blown to and fro, and there won't be anything that truly matters to us. If we have nothing to love, then we have nothing to live for. 

Loss of conviction... 

Keep your conviction strong. Don't let go of it. 

Countdown Day 30: Effective Teaching

Countdown Day 30: Effective Teaching 

I was reading a talk by Boyd K. Packer, and this jumped out at me. 

"The way the Savior taught, and the way you can teach, is both simple and very profound. If you choose a tangible object as a symbol for a doctrine, you can teach just as He did. A teacher can associate the doctrine with an object already known, which can be seen with physical eyes."

As I prepare my farewell talk, I will be applying this principle. 

Countdown Day 29: A New Perspective

Countdown Day 27: A New Perspective 

Why do we enjoy retellings of stories? Why don't we read or watch the same masterpiece over and over and over again without getting bored? Can't we just enjoy all the nuances? 

We can, but once we've appreciated every detail, we'll grow bored of it. That's why we like to constantly tweak stories, and why two things are never the same. We enjoy viewing things through different perspectives. We like tilting the looking glass, or throwing a dash of color in the painting. We like changes and evolutions. That's why we keep telling stories. 

I'd like to apply this concept to people. There is are different people who are constantly changing so that we can interact with each other and learn to love things more, or begin to appreciate things. People will find different things to like about the same story. They'll have their own interpretations of events, and their own favorites, for varying reasons. A story can be, and should be, a very personal thing. When we interact with each other, we learn to appreciate those old tales for different reasons. The uniqueness of humanity enriches life. 

Countdown Day 27: Reliance

Countdown Day 27: Reliance

"They say wherever somebody is thinking of you, that place is your home." 

We can rely on those who truly love us. They will do anything for us -- because they love us! We can trust in and believe in those who love us! They are truly our home!

And lo, who loves us more than Jesus Christ?! He can be our home! He never ceases working to help us! We can really rely on him in life, more than anybody else! 

Countdown Day 28: How You Grow

Countdown Day 28: How You Grow

"... And how you grow is up to you."

Individuals have predispositions, affinities, quirks, and a million other things that make you unique. Some of these things are biological, some are familial upbringing, some are cultural, and others still are ethnical. 

The point is, there's a million things that are "part of the package." We possess many factors that affect how we think and act, and they can be debilitating or can aid. 

Some people argue that we don't really have free will. That all of our actions and thoughts are the results of nature and nurturing. 

I disagree. We are more than the sum of our parts. We can evolve beyond our childhood, travel from our origin. We have a soul! We have agency! We can effect change in ourself! How we grow up -- how we react to our circumstances -- is up to us. 

Some things may seem to be beyond our ability to alter. When we come up against these Jericho walls of development, there is a force we must rely on if we are to topple them. That force is the ark-bearing power of the atonement. With the atonement, we can change anything about ourselves, if we hold to our faith in Christ. God created us; he certainly understands us. If so, then he certainly knows how to change us. 

We have the choice. We choose how we act. We choose how we grow. Ultimately, we choose if we partake of the atonement. I want to always make the best choices... So I will strive to always rely on the atonement of Christ. 

Countdown Day 26: On Call

Countdown Day 26: On Call

Priesthood holders are on-call 24/7. You never know when you'll be called upon to exercise your priesthood. When that moment comes, as it surely will, will you be ready? Will you be worthy? Since you never know when you'll be needed, you must be worthy at all times. If you're not, somebody else may suffer the consequences. 

Countdown Day 25: Fear Within

Countdown Day 25: Fear Within

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

(1 John 4:18)

Love does not lead to fear; it leads to faith and hope. If we're consumed by fear, we're not truly loving. A perfect love casts out fear... It soothes and uplifts, never frets and scares. Why? Because "fear hath torment." Torment: severe physical or mental suffering. Fear hath torment; love does not. Perfect love will not cause us suffering, because a perfect love involves a perfect knowledge of a loved one's identity. We know who they are, what they're capable of, and how much God cares for them. If we understand that last point, we won't feel that torment. When I've lost loved ones, I wasn't tormented. I knew where they were going, and I knew what would happen to them. 

Above all, I understand that Christ loves them even more than I do. 

Countdown Day 23: Ammon's Understanding

Countdown Day 23: Ammon's Understanding 

When Ammon, a Nephite missionary, came to preach amongst the Lamanites (who hated the Nephites) he was bound and brought before a king, Lamoni. They discussed Ammon's purpose in being there, and Ammon told Lamoni that he wanted to serve him, and bring him happiness. This pleased him, so he offered up one of his daughters as a wife, and a new cushy life as royalty. 

Ammon turned it down, instead, he became the king's servant -- literally! He prepared his chariot, herded flocks, and did other menial tasks, all with a good heart, and a strong spirit. 

Why? Why not just preach and be done?

Because that isn't the point of missionary work. The purpose is to express the love of Jesus Christ, whatever way we can. Missionaries are always down for service, whether it be a member of the church, or a person they just met on the street. Service is an expression of love, and missionaries are envoys of the love of Christ. 

Countdown Day 22: Perfection

Countdown Day 22: Perfection 

Perfection is not all-or-nothing. It is not do-or-die, and there are no penalties for failure. Perfection is a long term goal we work towards in this life, and into the next. It doesn't matter how much of ourself is perfect; what matters is that we've made progress. 

As long as we're making progress, we'll get there, however long it takes. 

"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your father which is in heaven."

Countdown Day 21: Observe and Serve

Countdown Day 21: Observe and Serve

How can you help a person if you don't know they need aid? 

You can't. 

This is one of the most basic reasons we need to practice being observant. Other benefits include perceiving ways to improve, learning more about others, and being more mentally agile. 

Christ was extremely observant, and used those observations to teach and serve effectively. We see it in the way he gently comfort a woman stricken with a disease of blood, or the way he converses with a Pharisee. 

Even more importantly, he took the time to serve them as individuals, showing how much he loved them. 

I testify that Christ loves you as an individual, and will always love you, no matter what you do or become. 

Countdown Day 20; Not because it is Commanded

Countdown Day 20: Not because it is Commanded of Us

Why do we love God? While it IS a commandment, we love him, quite frankly because he loves us. As it says in 1 John 4:19, 

We love him because he loved us first. 

It's simple. God loves us more than we can comprehend, and we love him for that. We love him because of all the things he does for us, which are done out of love! In the end, everything about our existence boils down to this relationship: 

God loves me. 

I love God. 

Countdown Day 19: A God for the Masses

Countdown Day 19: A God for the Masses

Let's briefly take a look at some of Christ's more famous interactions from the four gospels. 

- Nicodemus, a Pharisee. 

- A roman centurion suffering from leprosy. 

- A woman taken in adultery. 

- Fishermen. 

- A widow at the treasury. 

- Matthew, a publican. 

This is just a brief sampling of those Jesus interacted with. Notice something? He doesn't stick to one crowd. Or place. He traveled far and wide, talking to many different kinds of people, preaching the gospel of salvation and healing all. 

Jesus Christ does not discriminate. He is everybody and anybody's God. He came to the sinner and believer, the poor and rich, the whole and suffering. The Savior is here for all of us, because he loves who we are -- not what we are. 

Countdown Day 18: Christ is Accessible

Countdown Day 18: Christ is Accessible  

I've been listening to "The Healer's Art," and it brought up a wonderful point about the Savior's ministry. He didn't spend it in contemplative solitude, but he made himself accessible to all. We read of him at wedding feasts, funerals, market places, and more. Any place the people were wont to gather, Christ could appear. 

Christ is not an isolated God. Though he no longer walks the earth as he did in mortality, he is still just as accessible as he always has been, through prayer. 

He desperately wants us to reach out to him. He wants to help us, because he's our older brother, and he loves us dearly and unconditionally. For the healing power he has, we just need to reach out and believe. He wants to heal our infirmities and shoulder our burdens. 

Countdown Day 16: The Ultimate Evil

Countdown Day 16: The Ultimate Evil. 

Last week we discussed teaching people that temptations will come, and how vital that is, and how to protect them. Tomorrow I'll talk about preparing it whether temptation, but today I'd like to focus on one specific passage we went over: 

12 And it came to pass that when Moses had said these words, behold, Satan came tempting him, saying: Moses, son of man, worship me.

13 And it came to pass that Moses looked upon Satan and said: Who art thou? For behold, I am a son of God, in the similitude of his Only Begotten; and where is thy glory, that I should worship thee?

14 For behold, I could not look upon God, except his glory should come upon me, and I were transfigured before him. But I can look upon thee in the natural man. Is it not so, surely?

15 Blessed be the name of my God, for his Spirit hath not altogether withdrawn from me, or else where is thy glory, for it is darkness unto me? And I can judge between thee and God; for God said unto me: Worship God, for him only shalt thou serve.

16 Get thee hence, Satan; deceive me not; for God said unto me: Thou art after the similitude of mine Only Begotten.

17 And he also gave me commandments when he called unto me out of the burning bush, saying: Call upon God in the name of mine Only Begotten, and worship me.

18 And again Moses said: I will not cease to call upon God, I have other things to inquire of him: for his glory has been upon me, wherefore I can judge between him and thee. Depart hence, Satan.

19 And now, when Moses had said these words, Satan cried with a loud voice, and ranted upon the earth, and commanded, saying: I am the Only Begotten, worship me.

20 And it came to pass that Moses began to fear exceedingly; and as he began to fear, he saw the bitterness of hell. Nevertheless, calling upon God, he received strength, and he commanded, saying: Depart from me, Satan, for this one God only will I worship, which is the God of glory.

21 And now Satan began to tremble, and the earth shook; and Moses received strength, and called upon God, saying: In the name of the Only Begotten, depart hence, Satan.

22 And it came to pass that Satan cried with a loud voice, with weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth; and he departed hence, even from the presence of Moses, that he beheld him not.

(Moses 1:12-22)

This is a long passage, but it's vital to our discussion today. The point I want to make is twofold: first, we need to be able to understand what darkness is. Second, Lucifer is a wretched, pathetic, sore loser, who is the embodiment of evil itself, for reasons I'll explain in a moment. 

1: Moses said he could discern between light and dark, and recognized Satan as the wicked soul he was. Prior to this tempting, he had been conversing with God, so he had a direct comparison between the two. When Moses began to fear, he understood the bitterness of hell. I interpret that as meaning he began to understand the horrid state the devil is in, and began to fear for his soul. Despite his evil, the devil does have power. If we learn about the attributes of a good thing and those of a bad thing, we can learn to discern between good and evil. 

Second: Lucifer lost his chance for a body when he rebelled against God and incited war in heaven. He is literally damned: unable to progress. He feels no remorse for his actions, and seeks no repentance. He is instead determined to bring each and every one of us down. 

In a way, he's trying to prove that he's right, and that we needed to be controlled and guided through our lives instead of being gifted with the agency we have in this life, thanks to Christ. 

Mainly, though, he just wants everybody to be as miserable and trapped as he is. He is the ultimate sore loser. He gains nothing from bringing us down, earns nothing from our misery, save a perverse satisfaction. He is a true monster. 

And though he has power, we will have far more after this life, and can personally call upon the power of Christ, as Moses did.

Lucifer displays how feeble he truly is in the above passage. Ranting, gnashing of teeth, he really is pathetic! 

The adversary is very real, and very dangerous, but we need not dwell on him unduly. Once we understand his nature -- the nature of evil -- we can understand how he works, and thwart his attempts to take us down. 

I testify that Christ is the opposite of the adversary. He embodies goodness, and is full of compassion and sacrifice. He is truly the savior, and he loves us more than we can ever know in this life. 

Countdown Days 13 & 14

Countdown Days 13 and 14: Because I Have Been Given Much. 

For the past few days, the LDS Hymn "Because I Have Been Given Much" has been stuck in my head. I love this hymn, and it's base premise: because I have been given much, I too must give. 

This affects me in many ways. As a resident of Johnson County, I've certainly been given much. As a member of a full, happy family, I have been given much. As a healthy human, with a strong body, I have been given much. As a member of the church, I have been given even more. As a beneficiary of the atonement, I have been given the most anybody can receive. 

In each of these ways, I'm obligated to give some of what I have to others. I'm incredibly blessed in diverse ways, so it's only fair that I give to others. It's the right thing to do. It'd what makes me happy. 

Let It Go: A Frozen Gospel Song Parody

I proudly present to you the lyrics to my third Gospel Song Parody! As always, I try to keep the lyrics the same in as many places as possible, while changing some of the lyrics to fit a higher meaning. A lot of this one's pretty on the nose, but it reminds me of this year's mutual theme video. For comparison, the original lyrics will be posted under the GSP. 

Let It Go: A Frozen Gospel Song Parody

Sins are red

And the spirit is dead 

Always been petty and mean 

A kingdom of guilt and sin 

And it looks I'm the queen/king

The wind is howling 

Like this swirling storm inside

Couldn't keep from sin

Heaven knows I tried...

Don't let Him in

Don't let Him see

Be the weak girl/boy who never pay sin's fee

Conceal 

Don't feel

Don't let Him know...

Well, He always knows!

Let it go, let it go

Can't hold it back anymore

Let it go, let it go

Go your way and sin no more!

I don't care what the tempter says

Let the tempest rage

The Master always calms it anyways

It's funny how repentance 

Makes everything seem small

And the things that once tempted me 

Can't get to me at all!

It's time to see

What I can do 

To test the limits and break through

Choose right not wrong 

He died for me 

I'm free!

Let it go, let it go

I lean on the Christ who died

Let it go, let it go

Believe in the God who cried

With Him I stand and with Him I'll stay

Let the tempest rage...

His resurrected body rose up from the ground

My soul is saved by He who'll never let us drown

And one thought crystallizes like an icy blast

I'm never going back

My sins are in the past!

Let it go! Let it go!

He rose on the third dawn! 

Let it go! Let it go!

Death's power is gone! 

With Him I stand in the light of day...

Let the tempest rage!!!

The Master always calms it anyway

Let It Go (Original)

The snow glows white 

On the mountain tonight

Not a footprint to be seen

A kingdom of isolation

And it looks like I'm the Queen

The wind is howling 

Like this swirling storm inside

Couldn't keep it in

Heaven knows I tried

Don't let them in

Don't let them see

Be the good girl you always have to be

Conceal

Don't feel

Don't let them know

Well, now they know

Let it go, let it go

Can't hold it back any more

Let it go, let it go

Turn away and slam the door

I don't care what they're going to say

Let the storm rage on

The cold never bothered me anyway

It's funny how some distance

Makes everything seem small

And the fears that once controlled me

Can't get to me at all

It's time to see what I can do

To test the limits and break through

No right, no wrong, no rules for me,

I'm free!

Let it go, let it go

I am one with the wind and sky

Let it go, let it go

You'll never see me cry

Here I stand

And here I'll stay

Let the storm rage on

My power flurries through the air into the ground

My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around

And one thought crystalizes like an icy blast

I'm never going back, the past is in the past

Let it go, let it go

And I'll rise like the break of dawn

Let it go, let it go

That perfect girl is gone!

Here I stand, in the light of day

Let the storm rage on

The cold never bothered me anyway

Piracy Killed the Video Store (MSP)

Piracy Killed the Video Store

Modern Song Parody (MSP) Baikanon

To the tune of "Video Killed the Radio Star"

I saw you on my laptop back in 2002 

Lying awake intent on downloading you

Windows 98 didn't stop me from going through 

Oh-a, oh

I saw you perform in your third sequel 

The series had lost the glamour and was kinda dull

But it was alright, I didn't pay for bull 

Oh-a, oh

I found a website 

Oh-a, oh

It all was free

Piracy killed the video store

Piracy killed the video store

Int'net came and broke your heart

Oh-a-a-a, oh

And now we meet in an abandoned studio

We see the cameras and it seems so long ago 

And you remember, the theaters used to go, 

Oh-a, oh

You were the next one 

Oh-a, oh

You are the last one 

Piracy killed the video store

Piracy killed the video store

In my mind and in theaters, we can't delete, we've gone too far. 

Oh-a-aho, oh

Oh-a-aho, oh

Piracy killed the video store

Piracy killed the video store

In my mind and in theaters, we can't rewind, we've gone too far. 

Int'net came and broke your heart, put down the blame on hand held cams. 

You own a video store 

You own a video store 

Piracy killed the video store

Piracy killed the video store 

Piracy killed the video store

Piracy killed the video store

You own the video store. (You own a video store.)

True Heroism

Heroism 

I once heard that a hero is somebody who will go to any lengths to save a single person. 

This is currently my favorite definition of heroism. It's not about numbers, or pride, or anything simple and unemotional. It's visceral and heartfelt. 

I can relate to this definition. Sometimes it was with the wrong motivations, but for years, I had a friend for whom I'd do absolutely anything to save. Now, that circle of people has expanded to lots more of my friends -- and my ultimate goal is to make every single person I meet the one soul I'd "go to any lengths to save." I want to be a true hero. A true hero doesn't care who the person they're saving is, only that they were in danger and needed help. A true hero doesn't see it as heroism, but as a moral obligation to do everything in their power to help somebody else. 

That makes Jesus the greatest hero of all time, because He did that for each individual child of God when He went through the atonement. What better aspiration is there than to save people? That's one of the reasons I follow Christ, the ultimate hero.