Author Archives: Riley Alexander

The Best and Worst Cookies Ever

10 Wednesday Jun 2015

Posted by in Food

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It’s a known fact to everyone who has ever tried my Mom’s chocolate chip or molasses cookies that they are the best cookies ever created by the hands of a mortal. Like Frodo’s sword that glowed blue when there were Orks near, I seemed to have the ability as a kid to detect and sense when there was cookie dough near. Suddenly, like a Duck’s instinctive and unstoppable urge to fly south for the winter I was drawn to the kitchen to eat as much dough as I could before being shooed or forced out. Unfortunately, so were all my siblings. We all arrived within moments clamoring like the seagulls on “Finding Nemo” for a bite (or handful) of cookie dough. Each of us like moths drawn to a flame pretended (or didn’t even pretend) to want to “help prepare” the dough although we all had the same obvious ulterior motives in mind to consume as much dough as possible.

Her cookies were always delicious… except this one time.

I came home to cookies already prepared. I saw that there were about 30 on the plate and naturally planned to eat them all before anyone else saw them. So, I poured a tall glass of milk, and dipped the cookie. I took my first bite expecting a euphoric cookie experience. “crunch”. Peanut? No. Cashew? No. Brazil nut? No. Almond? No. What was this? Uh oh… oh no…. that’s when my mind processed the taste and texture. Walnut! Barf city! I felt I had been duped, had, deceived, tricked, cheated and played. I felt I had been violated as had my taste buds. Yes, the harvest had come and the wheat had not been separated from the tares. I was so upset that I only ate like 17 of the 30 cookies… Yeah, I showed her.

Is this post entirely about whether or not it’s a sin to include walnuts in cookies? No, because we all know it pretty much is. This post is about SEPARATING the walnuts from the cookies… or in more scriptural reference, separating the tares from the wheat.

We all live in the same world. We are all brothers and sisters yet there is turmoil and injustice everywhere. We are aware of the morals and standards of the world that are in such rapid decline its unreal! There is civil unrest, wars, and rumors of war throughout the world. There is so much extortion, violence, murder, theft, dishonestly and breaking of the Sabbath day that it’s treated mundanely and violated so routinely it’s as if there were never commandments against them! The messages portrayed as socially acceptable are mind boggling. The lyrics and messages in music, media, tv shows, and movies today is absolutely unbelievable and seems to be numbing us as a culture to evil itself. It attempts to bombard us until our acceptance of evil reaches a higher teir, only then to repeat that cycle indefinitely. Maybe this is what it means to live in the world, but not be of the world. We must draw our line, because the world will not! It seems we as a people have reached and will continue to push the limits of “anything goes”. This world is very ripe and It seems it truly is time for the harvest. Are we prepared? To further Colby’s message in his last post, If it were in the scriptures we would read somewhere in Moroni where he would have said “Checketh thyself, before thou wrecketh thyself”.

Whether we like it or not, the walnuts will be separated from the cookies, and the tares from the wheat. Hopefully we’re excited about that day. However, the question is: Are we really ready for it? Are we made up of pure delicious cookie, or do we still have walnuts that we need to address and eliminate? If that’s the case, the day is today, the time is now, we can’t afford to procrastinate!

It’s time for a self examination. Right here, right now. What are we made of? Really, when we look deep into ourselves, what are we made of? Are we fully and truly and deeply converted in this Gospel? Are we going to Church because we ourselves desire it? Do we really want to or are we going through the motions because your parents, or spouse wants you to? Are we trying to improve ourselves each day? Are we truly seeking to be more like our Savior? Or… are we as Colby worded it “comfortably complacient?” Are we stuck in cruise control without much thought? Are we hollow and made of words vs made of actions?

It’s time for a wake up call. This sifting process is not separating Members and non members. Not at all! This is separating our hearts, our intents, our desires and who we truly are. God is no respecter of persons and just because we go to Church or just because we have a recommend that doesn’t guarantee our safety. Does it help? Of course!… if we are truly converted! Just being a member isn’t good enough anymore. Just showing up isn’t good enough anymore. Being a “hearer of the word” isn’t good enough anymore! Was it ever good enough? We need to be “doers of the word” also. It seems the time has come to make sure we are deeply rooted into the Gospel of Christ so when the storm comes we will not be torn from our place. We need to be strong and ready.

I wouldn’t ask you to do anything I haven’t done myself, and what’s helped me a ton is very simple. Right now, grab your phone and read the lyrics to the child’s song “If the Savior stood beside me”. Read through it a couple times. Better yet, memorize the chorus. Now, go through 1 entire day with those lyrics constantly in your mind. Think of those lyrics before you made a decision. How would that change your patterns, habits, language, demeanor or thought processes? Would it alter your music choices or entertainment choices? Would it affect what you watch, or do? Would it effect how you parent? How would you change? What would you change?

This post is not to offend others or to elude to myself being superior or perfect. Ha! We all know that’s not true. This is a simple method that has helped me through the years refine myself as I continue to define myself as a follower of Christ. To show my Savior that I know he is my Salvation and my way. That He is my compass. To show him that I not only believe, but also KNOW that fact. To not only say but to also DO those things which I should. To make and continue to make the necessary changes in my life to rid myself of “walnuts” so when the harvest comes, I am as prepared as I can be. Of course you and I will continually have to rely on the Atonement. That’s why it’s there. Use it, don’t abuse it, and let’s decide to make ourselves better every day. Starting Now!

Rocking Out vs. Rocking Out

08 Monday Jun 2015

Posted by in Music

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About 10 years ago my family decided to “take our talents” from Alta ski resort to another resort for a skiing trip. It was my first time officially snowboarding and I was pumped! Included in my gear was my MP3 player and headphones. After only two times down the mountain I felt like I was pretty much a pro. I was feeling all sorts of overconfident and somehow honestly felt my “training” was complete. So, the third time up the mountain I decided “this hill is for sissies I’m going all the way up to the top”. As I sat at the top looking down the mountain I was about to shred, and at all the punks I was about to show up, I put my headphones in and blasted my favorite band at the time: Sum 41.

The surge of noise, sound, speed and chaos hit my eardrums which triggered my adrenals to start pouring, literally pouring adrenaline into my body. It was like a match had been dropped into a tanker filled with lighter fluid and firecrackers, driving by endless fields of dry parched grass on a windy day. Mix that with male hormones and a faulty sense of self confidence and your neck deep in “hey y’all watch this” territory. I felt like I was bullet proof! I was overconfident, under skilled, out of my league yet completely drunk with adrenaline. I had two options, take out the headphones, calm down, and think logically… or absolutely dominate and destroy that mountain by tearing down it faster than any human or even snow mobile had ever done before. Often times lessons in logic are only learned from illogical choices. Or in other words… we all know which option I chose.

Most of my stories have a happy ending… this isn’t most of my stories. I was just about to break the sound barrier when my board edge “caught” the snow and my takeoff into orbit started. As I was flying through the air I realized I had made a massive mistake and I knew I was totally hosed. I remember as I was approaching my “final decent” after the drinks were served during my flight, I was powerless to change my position due to the momentum I had built up prior to my takeoff. Finally, the unavoidable impact came. The entire responsibility of bringing my speeding body to a halt was given to my face as it plowed deep and  relentlessly into the snowy mountainside like an anchor raging through the ocean in an attempt to slow down a giant runaway ship in a ferocious windstorm. Eventually, my body did finally come to a stop. I was happy and quite surprised to find my face was still on my face. That day, a lesson had been learned. That my good friends, is what we call a reality check.

So what does the story of my face leaving a crater and mile long trench down a mountain have to do with anything? Plenty. Today, my choice of music is very different. In fact, it’s completely opposite. I love Church music. So does that mean my days rocking out to music are over? Does that mean the days of being completely amped and drenched with adrenaline from music are over? Does that mean I can’t blast the tunes ever again? Behold, I say unto you “nay”.

The difference in being completely amped up by Sum 41 and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir are polar opposite. Sum 41 “forced” a false confidence that was placed entirely in myself which a recipe for failure every single time. It made the untrue seem true, which of course was proven incorrect in the end. However, the powerful music and message portrayed by one of my favorite power hymns “allows” a powerful confidence to be built in Christ which builds my faith and actually strengthens my testimony. A recipe for success every single time. It simply solidifies the truth as truth, and simply strengthens my faith in that truth which is eternal and unchanging.

Music to me is extremely influential. I think we often overlook how awesome our hymns are! Our hymn book is totally crammed with some of the most awesome power ballads you have ever heard. Granted, they are usually played slowly, as to bring the Spirit in. However, the Spirit is felt multiple different ways, and for me personally, my favorite way is when it’s Powerful, Epic, Overwhelming, Undeniable, and Strong! I love when powerful hymns are played almost resulting in the piano catching fire due to an overload of pure awesomeness! It’s how I love to hear certain hymns played or sang! I love the power and presence they can bring under those conditions. There’s nothing quite like a nice Spiritual beat down which makes you think “yes sir, may I have another”! It makes me wonder if that’s how the Angles sing to Christ in Heaven or how we reacted when we learned we would all get the chance to come to Earth with physical bodies.

I’m not saying this method of “rocking out” to feel the Spirit is for everyone. I’m also not saying there is not a place for quiet, calm, reflective soft hymns, I’m just trying to point out how absolutely POWERFUL many of the songs in our Hymn Books are and that we can still “rock out” in a totally productive way! In fact, if you haven’t in a long time, I want to ask you, right now, take 15 minutes, thumb through the Hymn Book and start reading the lyrics to the songs. Really look into their meaning, the passion, their energy and the message that is portrayed in them. The unmistakable truth they are filled with. It may help you to see the Hymns in whole new light. I know it’s helped me. Plus, who doesn’t like rocking out?

Here’s a few of my faves you could start with:

The Spirit of God, Redeemer of Israel, Praise to the Man, Come, Come Ye Saints, Battle Hymn of the Republic, How Firm a Foundation, I Believe in Christ, Let Us All Press On, Onward Christian Solders, Called To Serve, Carry On, Who’s on the Lord’s Side Who?, Ye Elders of Israel and the list goes on and on and on and on…

If Dr. Seuss was a Mormon

19 Tuesday May 2015

Posted by in Poems

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If Forest Gump was an avid reader of our blog, I’m pretty sure his famous quote would have actually been “This blog is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get”. This post is no exception. As much as I’d like to say the following poem is a newly discovered, never before seen, unpublished work found in Dr. Seuss’s old sock drawer about his conversion to the LDS faith… it’s not. I will also admit that I’ve spent probably too much time thinking about what Dr. Seuss’s conversion story would look like if it actually existed. So, having explained all that, welcome to the artificial LDS conversion story of Dr. Seuss. (that he never wrote!) Yepper, expect the unexpected on this blog.

I hear a knock at my door, two young men there? Tell me more!

“I am Sam”, “and I am too, we’ve come to bring the Gospel to you”!

This Mormon church? I haven’t searched, I do not know this Mormon Church.

In my hands, by and by, a book or Mormon?  I don’t know why.

I will read it, I will spy, to see why, you brought it by.

As I read, I learned why! I know why, you two brought it by!

The truth is here, in this book! Just read its pages come and look!

I can read it here or there! I can read it anywhere!

I love to read it night and day, and read what all the prophets say.

I feel the spirit here and there! I can feel it anywhere!

As I read and do by part, grows 3 sizes does my heart!

I know it’s true, and so can you! I know I do, do you know too?

It makes me happy, it makes me smile, I want to go the extra mile!

It’s changed my life, and will change yours! It opens eyes, hearts and doors.

My testimony though still growing, is like a seed I’m now still sowing.

Can I share it with anyone! I can share it with everyone!

With the tall and with the small, I’ll share with them one and all!

I can share it here or there, I can share it anywhere!

I can share it with all I meet, the ones I see on Mulberry Street!

I can share it at my job, with my crazy boss named Bob.

I can share it with a Cat, a rhyming cat who wears a hat!

I can share it in a box, with a fox wearing socks,

I can share it on a plane, in the rain, or on a train!

I can share it at the game, during the stretch in the 7th frame,

I can be the Lord’s tool, If I live the golden rule!

I can be an example too, to be like Christ in all I do.

For we are all his “sneetches”, and to us he teaches,

Stars on thars, or stars on ours, walking slow or driving cars,

We need to love, one and all, for a person is a person, no matter how small!

This wacky Wednesday, the Gospel  seek, or seek it every day this week!

Today’s the day to fill your cup, today is a great day for up!

For that is where Christ will take you, he can change you to brand new!

Oh the places that you’ll go, you CAN come to know!

With the Gospel, come join me! You will love it! You will see!

That’s my mission and my goal, to live with God and be made whole!

Aside from trying to squeeze as many of Dr. Seuss’s books, phrases, or characters slyly in there, I really wanted you to notice above all else the attitude of the character once he’s converted. He can’t help but live it, spread it, share it, and love it. He understands that he can share it with anyone, anywhere, at any time, in fact, he doesn’t even limit his sharing the Gospel to humans. He fully plans on dropping it on a couple animals too. Dude is a missionary for sure! He doesn’t plan on reserving his testimony to those only in his ward, and only on fast Sunday. He understands his testimony and this gospel isn’t to be a light under a bushel… unless of course the intention is to light the entire bushel on fire to spread the light even more! Let’s do the best we can to follow his example.

I know it. I live it. I love it.

The Riddle of Opposites

14 Thursday May 2015

Posted by in Poems

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How is it when I close my eyes, that I better see?

For that is when they truly open, to a greater degree.

How is it when I am alone, I know that I am not?

For that is when they encircle me, after their protection I’ve sought.

How is it when the words aren’t mine, I have so much to say?

When my hands are placed upon a head, and Heaven’s message then convey.

How is it when I tremble weak, I always feel so strong?

For that is when I can sense, heaven pushing me along.

How is it when my mind is empty, it’s completely filled?

For that is when I learn the most, and knowledge in me instilled.

How is it that my two mites, far exceed the greater sum,

and the more I give away, the richer I become?

How is it that the Spirit whispers, yet can overcome the loudest sounds?

It’s never seen by the eye, yet can be felt all around.

How is it when I kneel so low, I can reach so high?

Although I’m on the very ground, I reach beyond the sky.

How is it faith is free, yet worth far more than Gold?

Earned in many places, yet it cannot be sold.

How is it Heaven so far away, is so very near?

When I enter God’s Holy House, and my mind becomes so clear.

How is it when I’m giving, I’m truly just receiving?

The greater gift goes to the giver, and it strengthens my own believing.

How is it when I lose myself, I am also the most found?

For when I lose myself in God, I am anchored safe and sound.

How is it when I look outward, I see what lies inside?

I feel the words and love of Christ, and feel him close beside.

How is I’m so incomplete, yet completely whole,

filled with flaws and empty, yet completely full.

How is it that when I let go, I’m securing holding on?

When I heed his call to go, from the comfort I stand upon.

How is it that the more I feast, the greater that I hunger?

The words and lessons deeper now, than when I was younger.

How is the simple complicated, and a mystery to some?

While to others it makes perfect sense, and answers freely come?

How is it that the answers lay, standing within the very questions?

How is it this leftward logic, is often the right direction?

How is it that for you and I, what allows us to stand tall,

was a successful failure, result from history’s greatest fall.

How is it this fall allowed for death, yet also allowed for birth,

this fall the only way we prove, our worth upon this earth.

How is it that our Savior lived, just so that he could die?

This Lion as a lamb did come, to secure hope for you and I.

To me it seems to be, if we are open and perceive,

we realize Heaven is just the opposite, of how this world believes.

So our duty here on Earth, is to spread God’s truth and love,

so we can live here below, like they do above.

Seeing the Majestic Beauty in the Horrendously Ugly

11 Monday May 2015

Posted by in Cars, Herbs, Optimism

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Behold, the 1982 Chevrolet Citation. Not only is it one of the ugliest cars ever built, but likely one of mankind’s most hideous creations ever. This very make and model down to the color and even various rust spots is the very same make and model that Colby, Tyson, Casey, and I drove in high school. This car had a face that only a mother (it’s driver) could love. While the story of the “ugly duckling” makes for a wonderful story about the beauty that later develops… this car started as an ugly duckling and simply developed into a somehow even uglier older duckling that contracted leprosy and aged terribly. All these reasons are partly why what I’m going to ask you all to do now is so hard, maybe even impossible, but I’d like you to try it.

Take one more look at this car, yes I know it hurts your eyes but do it. Now I want you to see the charm and beauty in this car. Yes, I realize what I’ve just asked you to do. I also realize this is like asking a high school girl to see the beauty in her blind date who is cross eyed, smells like urine and stale Chinese food, only has 7 teeth (which are all crooked), and just picked his nose and ate it. This is difficult yes, but it can be done. In fact, I’ll help you. Take another look at this car. Ignore its repulsive overall appearance. Ignore its rust spots and unsightly color that didn’t even look good straight off the showroom floor. Ignore its nauseating hubcaps which against all odds manage to make the car even more unappealing and tell me what you do see…

Still a big old pile of junk not fit for even scrap metal right? Now let me tell you what I see. All joking about its grotesque appearance aside, I see majestic beauty.

So how is it that we see two completely different things when we are looking at the same object? I think it’s because I see the “inner” beauty this car has. I pull a “Belle” and see past the ugly outward appearance of “The Beast”. I look past the fact that it’s superficially as pretty as an inbred mountain troll and look deeper. I see the various layers this car has and its potential. Simply put, we “see” differently which leads us to perceive differently.

I see a car with a rich history behind it. A car that somehow was able to withstand the rigors and abuse of being driven by 4 consecutive teenage boys. I see a car that went camping, to friend’s houses, and hosted many of fun times. A car so BAD it was GOOD. I see a car that died a legend and a symbol at our house. A car that if it could speak would tell some hilarious stories including its usage as a low speed bumper car, it’s sideways radio that reset every time you took the keys out, the time Casey managed to get it’s engine coolant boiling, it’s being involved in a felony and multiple brushes with potential death due to random occasions when the brakes failed, or accelerator “stuck”. Finding the beauty in ugly can be done… I’ve just proven it. The same can be done in trials If we look for it. I’ve mentioned this before but trials are the precursors to blessings. I will take it one step further and even say that trials are blessings in disguise. There are always blessings in trials, they are always there, we just have to look at them and “see” our trials differently.

Let me give you one more example. While I was in High School and driving this vomit inducing rust bucket I often worked at my Grandpa’s house in his huge and beautiful yard. While pulling weeds with my wise, faithful, amazing, and incredible Grandpa he would at times mention something to the likes of “you know why we are pulling weeds right?… because God allows thistles and noxious weeds to afflict and torment man!” I would smile and agree completely. I hated weeds. I saw them as ugly, invasive, pesky, relentless invaders with no possible inner beauty. I saw the weeds back then like you see this car now. I understood his statement for exactly what was it was superficially: God created the weeds and allows them to grow in the middle of the beautiful flowers to afflict us. I could likely qualify roasting in the heat of the day in the summer sun with skin tone similar to Snow White while pulling weeds out of the soil torment or affliction. As I look back now, those very weeds provided me the opportunity to get to know my Grandpa better, a man I quickly grew to respect a tremendous amount and who taught me more and I love more than he’ll ever realize. It provided me with ample time to dig sprinkler trenches, and shovel turkey poop into his garden while listening to his wise lessons for life. They provided me with the funds to hang out with friends and buy junk food. Back then I didn’t “see” the blessings in disguise.

But, it gets better. I also “see” the layers in the statement about noxious weeds I didn’t see before. In fact now, that exact same statement is actually borderline hilarious. Let me tell you what I “see” with that statement now.

I see that God is permanently in our corner rooting and fighting for us. He is hopelessly, helplessly, endlessly, relentlessly, trying to help us. He can’t help but help us. We are being rewarded constantly even when it appears or we perceive a situation as a punishment. There is beauty in ALL things regardless of how ugly they appear.

Why do I say that and how is it that yet again while looking at an identical object we “see” it differently? How can our high school girl example look past the hideous, boogey eating, cross eyed Neanderthal across the table and see nothing but perfect future husband material simply oozing with handsome and dapper charm?

Here goes the long explanation. I work with various botanicals, plants, shrubs, trees, barks, leaves, and flowers on a daily basis. Technically I am a “Certified Master Herbalist” although I’m usually referred to by one of the following names: herb dork, herb guy, herby nerdy, hippy, crazy or weirdo. Long story short I have studied various plants and their potential benefits for years. So what exactly are these “thistles and noxious weeds” that God sends to “torment and afflict” us?

Here is a list of only 5 of the most common “thistles or noxious weeds” in my area along with a brief one sentence description of their common uses or potential health benefits:

Holy Thistle: One of the oldest and longest used herbs for aiding in lactation, and various female or reproductive complaints regardless of age.

Dandelion: Sky high levels of plant based absorbable iron to combat anemia, one of the best and most reliable and effective hepatic tonics known along with being a great detoxifier.

Wild Lettuce: One of the most effective and able nerve tonics in the botanical world to counter act spasm, twitch or any involuntary movement. (In fact, it was featured on Dr. Oz)

Purslane: The highest plant based source of Omega 3 discovered thus far, more carotene than carrots and enough melatonin to naturally aid in supporting and modulating proper sleep cycles.

Red Clover: Tops in nearly every herbalists book as an extremely effective blood purifier and an herb often used to support the balance of estrogen in estrogen deficient women.

Suddenly, you realize that God sent and allows “weeds” in our lives yes… but extremely beneficial weeds. Sure, he might have thrown us in the deep end of the pool a time or two, but we had a life preserver waiting for us. He provides love, light, mercy, beauty and hope in everything. In the most ugly he embeds beauty. It is his way, it is his only way. We just need to work on “seeing” differently.

Lessons I Learned from Batman

07 Thursday May 2015

Posted by in Superheroes

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In case you thought I was done making Superhero references after my various posts have included Tony Stark (Iron Man), Superman, Spiderman and the Incredible Hulk… you are wrong. Today, I will again be referencing an action hero. Basically, in other news: Asparagus is still disgusting. Today’s Super Hero is none other than Bruce Wayne… also known as Batman.

(Here’s a quick setup for those unfamiliar with his story)

When Bruce was young and long before he turned into the super awesome crime fighting tech spectacle known as Batman he had fallen down a well into a bat cave. His fall stirred up a nest of Bats who swarmed around him and scared the living snot out of him giving him a massive bat phobia. Shortly after being rescued from the well by his Father Thomas Wayne and Alfred (the family butler) the following dialog takes place:

Alfred: Took quite a fall didn’t we Master Bruce?

Thomas Wayne: And why do we fall Bruce?… so we can learn to pick ourselves up.

Go ahead and read that simple dialog one more time. Thomas Wayne flat out nails it like “sky” nails Chicken Little. We all fall, it’s inevitable. We all at one point (or even now) come up short. We are all in one way or another a day late or a buck short. The question is not what will we do “if” we fall, but “when” we fall. “Falling” and “failing” are NOT the same thing. When we “fall” does it mean we’ve “failed?” Absolutely not! We don’t fail unless we choose to! It is our conscious choice whether or not we fail. We are all going to fall, but we don’t fail until we CHOOSE to STOP getting up. It’s our response to WHEN we fall, that determines whether or not we fail. The second we stop trying, the second we relent and give up hope THAT is when we fail!

Sometimes life hits us right between the eyes. Sometimes it hits you so hard it knocks you flat on your butt. Life may even sneak a cheap kidney shot in while your down. Maybe it’s the daily grind, work or family stress, school, an unexpected event, death, illness or disease, a difficult calling, financial struggles, past mistakes or whatever it is that seems to be insurmountable. You don’t see any light in the end of the tunnel. There may be times when you’ve been there so long you almost start to accept it, or start to believe that the endless tunnel with no light at the end is where you belong. We might even feel like we are powerless to change our fate or wonder if we even deserve any better. This is where not Thomas Wayne, but Bruce Wayne teaches a straight up clinic.

(Back to the Batman Story)

Years after Bruce Wayne was found terrified, alone, and scared in the well/batcave (as mentioned above) he confronts his biggest fear: bats. The same fear that has given him nightmares and plagued him since his fall. He doesn’t run from it, pretend it doesn’t exist, deny it, or ignore it. He simply refuses to accept his current mindset and situation and proactively makes a change. Instead of letting his fear and situation control him he runs straight at it full force and meets its head on. In this process he overcomes his crippling bat phobia by converting what used to be his biggest fear into pure confidence. He turns his greatest weakness into his greatest strength to the point that it becomes part of his very identity. He dons a bat colored disguise with a bat symbol on his chest, names his car the bat mobile, responds to the bat signal, and builds his headquarters in the very same bat cave that once terrified him. Through this process he changes his mindset, identity, and conquers his fear. Through this process he becomes, wait for it… Batman. He essentially took his fear, body slammed it, gave it a wet willy, dropped a “yo mama” joke on it, and then wiped the floor with it. In overcoming his fear he uncovered his potential and abilities, gifts, and talents which he found to be virtually limitless after he eliminated what was holding him back.

First off, any guy that can beat up bad guys all day despite sounding like he’s got the worst case of emphysema in history AND turn their weakness into strength earns my respect. This theory of turning a weakness sounds oh so familiar no? How about Ether 12:27:

And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.  

In summary: We are all weak, in fact, we are made that way for a purpose and reason. We likely won’t understand the full extent of our situations and weaknesses. However, working on our weaknesses will allow for lessons to be learned. This helps us build faith in Christ, our weaknesses becoming strong and maybe even shedding light on our future direction, talents or gifts. Its sounds funny but sometimes we can even be afraid of our gifts, abilities, and talents, and even be afraid of our own potential! This is exactly what the adversary wants. He wants us to believe that we should fear the unknown. He wants us to lack the faith to reach our potential. He wants us to think we are weak and can’t change. He wants us to believe that we can’t win or that we don’t deserve to. Relying on and following Christ at all times means that even when we fall, even when we make mistakes, and even when we have no idea what we’re doing, or why we’re doing it, if we are truly following him, we are not failing.

After all, if Bruce Wayne never addressed his fears and weaknesses or decided to get back up after falling… we’d never have Batman.

Lowering the Boom on Food Storage

31 Tuesday Mar 2015

Posted by in Food Storage, Preparation

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A couple of days ago while talking to my niece about food storage she told me what one of her friends had told her about a Stake Fireside she had gone to. The topic was on preparedness and food storage. The time came to start the meeting which was well attended. There was one intended speaker and after the prayer, song and person conducting outlined the layout of the meeting the speaker walked to the pulpit as he was scheduled to. He said “by the raise of hands who here has a 72 hour kit” to which quite few raised their hands. He then said “how many here also have a 3 month supply of food” many of those hands went down. He continued “by the raise of hands who also has a 6 month supply of food?” Many more of those hands went down. Lastly he said “by the show of hands who here has a 72 hour kit and 1 year supply of food and water?” At this point only “a few” hands remained raised from the entire congregation.

He then said “if you won’t listen to the apostles and the prophet, why would you listen to me?” and promptly sat down. The fireside was over.

That is lowering the Boom on food storage!  It’s hard to imagine a more effective lesson on food storage than that. One sentence, a simple question that hit every person there like a 50# bag of refried beans with a 30+ year shelf life.

If I were to count every time we’ve been counseled to get our food storage I would probably be in the bazillions or gazillions by now. We’ve heard it a before, and for years and years, but really, let’s get real about this right now! Imagine just for a second what you would do if RIGHT NOW a natural disaster hit and the supply chains were cut off. Let say in 5 minutes you would be left with no running water, no power, no gas, no way to get to the store for warm clothes, sleeping bags, heaters, gas, or a generator (which the stores would be looted anyways) and you’re left with only what you have at your home right now.

If right now you’re thinking about how long the bag of Cheetos in the pantry could sustain you nutritionally and if it’s possible to quench your thirst with Ketchup… you’re in trouble. Let’s say the disaster is actually a string of disasters and the entire state or even half the country is involved. In that case, help would be extremely slow IF it ever came at all. We’re counseled to get a year worth of food storage… sounds a little ominous no?

If that situation were the case, how much more important to you would food and water storage be than it is to you right now? How valid then would the common excuses of “I can’t afford it”, “I don’t know how” or “I don’t have room” be than they are now? Would you have done things differently? I would hope sustaining your life and the lives of your families would be on top of the list. In some cases families have to make sacrifices to prepare properly. That might mean sacrifices on expenditures, cars, vacations, and more. Sure, it sounds like a total downer, but in the end it comes down to what means more to you? Would you rather chew on the muffler of your brand new car you splurged on… or some delicious 12 year old macaroni noodles with powdered cheese? Sure that’s a horrible comparison but have you tasted muffler?

Lately, I’ve been feeling the need to prepare more and build more onto what I already have. I’ve been thinking about it nonstop all day long for weeks now and basically obsessing over it. I may be slow, but even I know when I’ve being prompted. It’s on my mind so much, I figured I’d even write a blog post on it, and share some ideas. I’m not saying my method is the best, or that there’s only one way to prepare, but this is just what I think may be a good idea or place to start. After all, the only wrong way to prepare is not to prepare at all.

I started with the easy stuff that takes no brains to do: Pre-prepared freeze dried meals. The pros are there is a variety, they pack light, they fit everywhere, they taste more like real food, they come in stackable reusable bins, they can last 30 years, and they require only water to cook. The cons are that it tends to be much more expensive, however the more you buy the cheaper they become.

I started by looking at multiple different companies including  Lindon Farms, the Wise Company, Food Legacy, Mountain House, Dailey Bread, and Shelf Reliance. (Since then Numanna has become a very good option too)

I found which one I thought was the best value and highest food quality and decided on a family package. I then called about 10 distributors of the brand I chose (various stores and websites) and simply told them I was comparing prices and would be purchasing from the cheapest source with the most perks. I was amazed at the discounts, free food, free shipping, other supplies and other freebies I was able to get just by asking… I ended up getting more food for a ton cheaper than I originally planned!

Then, I got my bulk stuff. If you needed even more proof that our Church is awesome, go to the Church cannery. The food is ridiculously cheap, and it’s not just for members of the Church. Even on a budget, a very small budget in fact you can start stocking up. There is no excuse not to start. It’s dirt cheap. Here is a link to their pricelist and where you can find your nearest location.

https://providentliving.org/self-reliance/food-storage/home-storage-center-order-form?lang=eng

You can buy in bulk to take home to can or put in buckets, you can use their canner for free at their location, or you can buy it canned already at cost for them to do the labor for you. Yeah, you read that right, you can buy pre-canned stuff that they have done for you at cost without added labor. That’s like the neighbor kid mowing your lawn every week for the cost of gas. It’s Crazy simple and they have multiple people there to help you.

I bought only the items in bulk in the giant bags, and only the items with 30 year shelf life. Think about it, buying food with a 30 year shelf life means you never have to rotate it, EVER, for 30 years. There really is no excuse… food storage is as easy as you make it.

So, now with my bulk food I wanted a way to organize it better as well as keep it fresh, waterproof and easily accessible so I opted to put them in buckets instead of leaving them in the bags that would be wasted and ruined in the case of a flood, or a small tear. I also like buckets more than #10 cans because they are way more convenient and easy to move around. Trust me, after moving a family member with nothing but #10 cans, there is a much more efficient way to store food! Rather than the regular bucket lids however, I opted for Gamma lids which are way easier to work with, they are water tight, air tight, don’t require a bucket tool to open, and won’t break your hand in 12 places every time  you try to open them, plus, they are available in 7 colors which helps in color coding things.

So, I organized the food into colors, so even just looking at the buckets I would know what the contents were even if they weren’t labeled which they also are. This will help in separating and evaluating inventory quickly. Lastly, with gamma lids, it’s easier to reuse the bucket for another purpose when your delicious 18 year old potato flakes are gone. Mmmm… just thinking about that makes my mouth water.

That’s just where we started. You can start wherever and however you want… just start! As of now it’s not too late. I can’t think of a worse feeling than waking up one day and realizing it IS too late.

Properly Preparing for a Prize-Winning Passage Past Prevailing Pathways

28 Saturday Mar 2015

Posted by in Preparation

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Last summer my 3 brothers and I met up for our annual “Brothers weekend” in Moab Utah to go mountain biking. As is my personal custom and personality I packed at the last available second procrastinating as much as humanly possible. This clearly flawed system has proven itself every time to be a horrible and negative preparation tactic, yet despite that fact I do it on EVERY vacation.

Quickly after the Brothers all met (Colby and Casey flew in) we planned to “hit the trail”. As we unloaded from the truck, I wish I could say that I was “shocked” to find I had underprepared but that would be a lie. My first mistake was my choice in helmet. I had brought my full face motocross helmet (because it looks totally awesome) yet failed to realize that wearing that type of helmet would be like 4 million times too hot for the weather and situation in Moab I knew I would be in.

I am grateful for my brothers. Not only did Tyson bring his own helmet and the helmets he agreed to bring for Colby and Tyson, but he also brought one more “just in case”. Tyson’s preparation insured my trip to Moab didn’t include multiple IV’s sticking out of my body due to heat exhaustion or any awkward mouth to mouth resuscitation by Colby or Casey. The bike riding was a success and super fun.

On the last day of the trip after bike riding all day I got cleaned up and ready to change. To my horror my preparation (lack of preparation) again reared its ugly and in this case stinky head. As you may or may not know, when men exert much physically in the heat of the day for hours on end and sweat profusely they surprisingly do not emit a pleasant rose like aroma. So the fact that I didn’t have a change or shorts was alarming. I was left with 2 options:

Option #1 – Wear gross shorts from day 1 that I’d warn all day while mountain biking in hot Moab.

Option #2 – Wear gross shorts from day 2 that I’d warn all day while mountain biking in hot Moab.

One of my favorite movie characters is Jason Bourne so with my back against the wall, I thought to myself “WWJBD” (what would Jason Bourne do). Sadly, after the tumbleweeds blew across my mind the only thing I could think of was created a new option, which was:

Option #3 – Wear no pants at all for the rest of the day and the entire drive home!

I feared option #3 would automatically revoke my invitation to any and all future events for the rest of my mortal life with them. So, in a last ditch effort I threw a “hail Mary” and asked “does anyone have an extra pair of shorts?” Again, Tyson answered the call! I was saved, as were the eyes and nightmares sure to come to my brothers. This also staved away the relentless retelling of this event at every family reunion for the rest of mortality.

Like the class did with my wood shop project in high School spoken of in my last post, I can often teach how to do something by providing the example of what NOT to do. The fact is, we need to be prepared.  Not just physically prepared, but spiritually prepared also. If this experience were compared to the parable of the 10 virgins I would have been found asleep without a lamp, at the wrong side of town, 2 days past the decided date, at 11 in the morning, thinking I was going to a birthday party.

My preparation was not good! It was awful! I could have done a lot better, yet I didn’t. It was my own fault and under any other condition I would likely have suffered the consequences for my lack of preparation. Yet through the preparation of my older brothers, I was saved.

In real life however and eternal salvation the parable holds true. We alone are responsible for our preparation and faith. I can help but I can’t make others read the scriptures, go to Church, do their home teaching, go to the Temple, or prepare in any way. In other words, I can’t prepare for you. We alone must do the work for ourselves. We can ask for the help of others of course, but we first need to have the desire to help ourselves or even their help is in vain. What we decide to start with, or continue with is up to us, we just need to start or continue! If I had any advice for myself or others, it would be to prepare spiritually in the exact opposite way that I prepare for vacations. We can’t afford to procrastinate, wait, under prepare, rely on others or not take serious our spiritual preparation. As with anything to do with Christ, there is always help. One of the most amazing things about growing stronger spiritually is that we can help and be helped by others along the way! We’ve all heard a story about righteous courage that spurs us with a desire to be better. We’ve all heard that testimony that raises us to another level. Words are so effective in our journey if we allow them to be. Hearing powerful words of testimony yet failing to act upon them is something I think we could all improve on. Let us strive to “be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only”. Let us every day try to better ourselves and also uplift others. Let us make a commitment to be better, to do better, to treat others better and we will naturally find ourselves nearer to Christ than we were prior. After all, we know what’s coming… we just need to be ready for it. Oh, and don’t forget to “pack enough shorts”.

Building Faith

28 Saturday Mar 2015

Posted by in Faith

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Some people naturally have a knack for building things. They imagine a shelf, desk, or bed and in their mind create blue prints. Within a short time they have built the beautiful physical manifestation just as they’d envisioned. These people usually have a myriad of power tools, they can actually read a measuring tape, and they wear tool belts not just because they look cool. I’ve never been one of “these people”. In fact, I’m on the opposite end of the spectrum.

For example In Jr. High I had wood shop. My only project (a wood chest) was so unlevel and off center I could have put a backrest on it and called it a rocking chair. Wood shop in High School wasn’t any better for me. When I showed the teacher my final project (a simple shelf) to get his approval to take it home his first sentence was “that piece of crap isn’t leaving my shop, or people will think I taught you like that”. He then kicked it and the whole thing fell apart like a house of cards. He then called the entire class over for a demonstration on how “not to build stuff”. It was hilarious. My last attempt at building something was a work bench in the garage about 5 years ago, which if I could find the picture I would upload it… and your eyes would bleed when you saw it.

When it comes to building materials my talent is my ability not to “construct” but to “deconstruct”. Give me a couple of power tools and a sledge hammer and I’m tear the place apart like Godzilla in a china shop while feeling like a kid in a candy store. My slogan should be “if you can build it, I can break it”. I’m basically the Hulk when Captain America says “Hulk, smash” and Hulk smiles in the Avengers movie. For all these reasons and more, the next sentence will surprise you. It will shock you. You may in fact want to sit down before you read it.

On Saturday, March 21, in the year 2015 I built a shelf in my basement that is not only pleasing to the eye, but level, sturdy, and completely functional. I honestly have no idea how it happened. It’s like when Peter Parker wakes up the day after he’s bitten by the genetically modified Spider and all of a sudden his vision is improved, he’s more buff and he has crazy awesome reflexes. (That’s in the first Spider man movie with Toby Mcguire BTW). It’s a complete phenomenon and should be added to the great wonders of the world. I took pictures of it on Saturday on my phone and found myself staring at the pictures every day since then multiple times per day in complete disbelief and wonder and how the shelves happened. The only explanation I have is the shelves were for food storage so I think I may have had some heavenly aid. It’s truly remarkable.

My point is, I achieved something that for me what was beyond impossible. Something I didn’t think I could do. To take that one step further it was more in the realm of “don’t even waste your time thinking about it” type of thing. However, I was able to achieve it.

I liken this to us. Most of us likely have the mindset that we are pretty inconspicuous to the world. We aren’t even a ripple in the ocean. We might even doubt our abilities or possibilities. What I have learned is to doubt ourselves, is to doubt God himself. With God, even “little old me” can be a powerful force for good capable of incredible and even miraculous things!

For example take Enoch. At one point he asked God “why is it that I have found favor in thy sight, I am but a lad, and all the people hate me, for I am slow of speech, wherefore am I thy servant”? Enoch doubted himself and saw himself as we likely see ourselves. However, God saw him how God sees everything both then, now, and forever… perfectly. Even though Enoch didn’t see or know what God saw and knew, he had faith. Sure enough, with God and that faith pretty soon Enoch is leading the people in war, causing the earth to tremble, the mountains to flee, rivers to change course, Lions to roar in the wilderness and causing land to rise from the depths of the sea and has caused all nations to fear him and God.

How about another example:

Joseph Smith. You want someone “weak” that God made mighty… he’s in the running for the poster boy of that catagory. God chose a boy, not a man, but a boy, who lived in Podunk farmland to bring back, organize and spread the Gospel and Priesthood and temporarily lead the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as a Prophet in this, the last dispensation to start a work so great, so wonderful, so powerful it will never again be taken from the earth. We are aware of the story of Joseph Smith and what he endured for this work which ultimately ended up in his martyrdom and all the amazing things he was able to do… so, what do I think the biggest similarity between these two examples is? The main reason they were both able to do so much? Faith.

We are capable and able of so much more than we think or know we are. If God can temporarily turn me into a hybrid of Handy Manny and Tim the Tool Taylor for a couple days to somehow build a shelf with an ability I’ve never even dreamed I’d have, he’s capable of anything. Do we allow him to change us? Is our faith sufficient? We know his love and abilities surely are, so it’s up to us. Sure, most of us are just “normal people” but that doesn’t mean God doesn’t have a bigger plan for us.

We all have talents and abilities. We all have a purpose and a part to play. Think of how incredible it is that we were saved and chosen for this day and age. That alone speaks volumes. We know Christ is coming again and we know it’s crunch time. Just like a coach doesn’t put his bench players in with the game on the line with time running out neither does God! We are all capable of so much! Maybe it’s the gift of patience and understanding to work with troubled youth. Maybe our calling is leadership, or being able to understand various situations to bring aid to those in need. Maybe we are able to communicate with a certain group of individuals extraordinarily well which facilitates the changing of lives. Maybe we can inspire or uplift? Maybe we can see visions, or alter the courses of rivers?

Moroni Chapter 10 is my favorite chapter in the entire Book of Mormon because it talks about just this thing. The culmination of that chapter for me is verse 23 which reads:

And Christ truly said unto our fathers: If ye have faith ye can do all things which are expedient unto me.To me, that says it all. God can help you do ANYTHING. Not what you think you can do, not only what match your capabilities, but ANYTHING. We just need the faith.

The only time math has ever been or will be interesting

27 Tuesday Jan 2015

Posted by in Math

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It’s safe to say that math and I aren’t the best of friends. We get along like old people and smart phones, couch potatoes and marathons, or Tony Stark and humility to name a few. To sum it up we just don’t suite each other well. We don’t buy friendship bracelets for each other, exchange Christmas cards or know each others children’s names. In the end, when you divide it all up we just don’t seem to equate or have a common denominator. In fact, our relationship can be reduced to us simply “agreeing to disagree”. We simply don’t enjoy each others company…Until now, in this single isolated case we actually add up! This parallel however is an isolated instance and is just because it’s awesome! Check this out:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was formed in this last dispensation in 1830 with 6 members. From those 6 members it increased steadily until after 117 years (in 1947) the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints hit 1 million members! That is an average growth of 5,405 members per year in that span. From there the work sped up dramatically. In 1963 just 16 years later the membership of the Church hit 2 million members. That is an average increase of 62,500 members per year in that time span. That also means the Church reached its next million members 101 years faster than it did the first million! The Church hit 3 million members in not 16 years, but 8 years later in 1971! That is an average growth of 125,000 members per year during that span. The Church kept on keeping on (yes another Joe Dirt quote) and hit 4 million members only 7 years later in 1978, which equates to an average growth of 142,857 members per year in that span. A mere 4 years later in 1982 the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints hit 5 million members (5,162,619) to equal an average growth of 250,000 members per year in that time span! So how is the Church growing more recently? Well, from 1982 to 2013 there has been 9,919,409 more members join the ranks. That is an average increase per year from 1982 to 2013 of 319,980 members per year! That is an average of 26,665 new members every single month or about 889 new members every single day! It seems to me that the Army of God is being built and fortified!

Now class do you see a trend here? Let’s keep going…

The number of Temples is always on the rise also. We are now at 144 operating LDS Temples throughout the world. There are 4 more Temples preparing for dedication in the next 4 months, with 14 more under construction, with 12 more announced!

Membership is up, Temples are up, how about missionaries? In October 2012 when President Thomas S. Monson announced the new eligibility ages for Men (18 down from 19) and Women (19 down from 21) the number of missionaries serving was 58,500. Today, the number of missionaries serving is 88,000. That is an increase of 29,500 missionaries within 2 years! Sure, some of that is due to the age change, but the Church also reports that since the age change has went into effect, not only is the percentage of Sister Missionaries on the rise, but Senior Missionaries also! To keep up with this increase, since that announcement there has been 58 new missions created… with more announced!

Oh, and I’m not even close to finished, sit back down…

Genealogy work is increasing also! Meaning yes, there are scores, likely millions and even countless more “people” being given the opportunity to join this Church who are joining the ranks from beyond the veil. That literally means the numbers above showing current membership numbers, as incredible as they are… very likely don’t even begin to scratch the surface of what true membership in this Church is really at in the totality of things. How is that possible? Chew on this:

According to familyseach.org it took 80 years to make the first 1 billion records easily searchable online. That is an average of 12,500,000 records per year in that span. However the jump from 1 billion to 2 billion names being easily searchable online was completed in not 80 years, but 7! That is 73 years faster than their first 1 Billion records! That’s an average of 142,857,142 per year in that span! This is aided by more missionaries, more volunteers and better technology, and of course God. Part of the increase in numbers is due to the process itself. In the past information contained on microfilm took 12 to 18 months to become available. This includes capturing, mailing, processing, duplicating, cataloging, and then making the microfilmed images available through a network of family history centers. Now, the process has been refined with digital imaging technology and the information is available online at Familysearch.org and partner sites down from 12 to 18 months to about 45 days, with the goal to whittle even that down to 14 days!

The point with this entire entry was not only to use as many math puns in the first paragraph as possible but to show how the Prophesy of “The Church will fill every nation on earth” is being fulfilled in front of our very eyes! We are witness to an ongoing and ever bigger miracle! Our family members, sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends are joining the ranks and entering the mission field. We ourselves are still in it too formerly called or not! People are waking up! Are you awake!?  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints cannot and will not be stopped. There will come a day when EVERY knee shall bow, and EVERY tongue confess Jesus is the Christ. We have been told that, we know that. There will be opposition. There always has been, however, it will not prevail! One of my favorite all time quotes is by Joseph Smith. It is motivating and inspiring to the highest degree!

The standard of Truth has been erected, no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing. Persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.

With those words we are assured again that this work will continue forward. So, if you were to form a hypothesis as to the future of the Church, all variables considered, it’s mathematically proven it will continue to thrive! Class dismissed.