Migrating Salmon vs. Migrating Hairlines

21 Friday Nov 2014

Posted by in Opposition

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We’re all familiar with the annual migration of Salmon swimming upriver. These Salmon expel every single ounce of energy in their effort to “migrate to greener pastures” to safely lay their eggs. Shortly after their eggs are laid, the fish that have actually reached their goal and destination die from the exertion of the trip itself. The journey for these fish is laced with myriads of pitfalls like fisherman, bears, hawks, polluted water, and competition from other fish that can prevent them from reaching their goal. This migration is of course necessary and is for the greater good of the species to continue its existence. In contrast let’s compare that to my hairline. The hair on top of my head as of a couple years ago seems to have started its own migration toward what it deems as “greener pastures” which seem to be located in my ears and nose. This totally gross aspect of aging is totally not cool and even worse, unlike the Salmon the hair on top of my head is not returning, rather, it’s dying off and headed for extinction! I see the logic and reason for the Salmon migration yet my hairline doesn’t realize it’s being deceived and that the “greener pastures” it’s migrating toward are really not greener at all! In fact, are leading to its demise!

Let’s take a look at our own migration pattern. There are two sides to this battle here on earth. These two sides have been at war, are at war and will continue to be at war until Christ returns. In this war you are on one side or the other and always in migration (never standing still). You are either heading deeper into your chosen side or closer toward the opposite side. There is no middle ground! There is only black and white. Your allegiance, your alliance, your time, your talents, your gifts and abilities are sought constantly and relentlessly by both sides to give their side strength to overcome the other. Here’s the kicker though… we all know which side will be victorious in the end! Both sides are claiming that the “Grass is greener on their side” yet only one can be true and that truth is easily recognized. Christ loves us, cares for us, wants us to be happy, and wants to help us so we can help ourselves and others. Aside from the countless blessings and gifts he gives us are a living Prophet to inspire and lead us. He also offers us gifts like the Priesthood and the Holy Ghost. These gifts help us with understanding and help us reach our potential. Of all the gifts, signs, and aids he gives to us, the most telling of them all is the atonement itself. That single act, the greatest act that has ever, or will ever take place was done for each of us.  Our Master, our Capitan, our Leader, our Teacher, our Example literally sacrificed his life for you and I. Read that again, the very creator of the world, the Savior himself, perfect in every way died for you and I. THAT is love. That is courage, sacrifice, love and understanding and that is the type of leader I want to follow. In this battle however, that is exactly opposite to the type of conniving leader that Satan in. Rather than sacrifice himself he’d rather throw any and all “under the bus”. He hasn’t, nor would he ever do anything to uplift or help anyone, not even those he attempts to lure to his own side! He wants to use us, trap us, force us, enslave us, and snare us in his grip under the false advertisement of fun, good times, the easy way out, or the more socially accepted thing to do.

So the question is where are we “migrating” to? Are we being unrelenting and productive like the Salmon towards the greater good until our time comes? Are we using and utilizing every gift and ability that we are able to, to insure that we stay on the right team and enhance our team’s abilities? Are we giving everything we have to God? Are we migrating to the “correct pasture”? Are we avoiding the pitfalls, being careful and attentive to avoid the snares the adversary places before us to entrap up to stop us from reaching our goals? Or, are we like the hair on my head. Migrating toward the “ears” and “noses” of life realizing or not realizing they are filled with only empty treasures. After all, the only “treasures” ever found in ears and noses are blobs of earwax and boogers. Contrast that to the mansions and treasures we know are in Heaven. Let us strive to be faithful servants. Let us check our “migratory pattern” and insure that it leads to the “greener grass” which God’s presides over and resides in.

Successful Failures

17 Monday Nov 2014

Posted by in Failure, Opposition, Success

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Sometimes in life, we fail. Sometimes we even fail miserably.  But, I am convinced that for every single failure we experience – there is an increased opportunity for success.  True failure only occurs if we miss the opportunity to make it a success.  Heavenly Father sent us all down here to earth to be tested, and part of that test is experiencing a life completely full of failures (our own and others), which are really opportunities for improvement which cannot be learned or discovered any other way.

When Satan tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, he no doubt thought that by getting them to partake of the forbidden fruit he would enjoy a success and that they would suffer a failure.  Yet in reality, this was Adam and Eve’s greatest success – realizing that ‘man could be’1 in no other way.  I imagine that in that moment (or even the first few days and weeks), to Adam and Eve this great success might have felt a whole lot like a failure because they were driven out of the garden, the earth was cursed, and they were intimately introduced to bitterness, pain, sorrow, vice, and sickness.  In addition, they had their sorrows ‘greatly multiplied’. 2 On the surface that doesn’t sound like success, yet we all know that we must experience these things in order to know (and choose) the sweet.  Thus, we can understand that the event labeled as ‘the fall’ might be one of the greatest successes this world has ever known.  It brought about physical life (as we know it) and activated agency and accountability.

Opposite Adam and Eve in the garden was Satan, who at first thought his subtlety -which resulted in their eating of the fruit – was a success (on his part), realized shortly thereafter that his perceived success resulted in God calmly informing him that the seed of the woman (made possible only by his enticing and their subsequent eating of the fruit) would have power to ‘crush his head’. 3   Thus Satan achieved what he thought was a great success, only to understand later that it was in reality, a most glorious failure, one in which he helped facilitate his own demise.   All of this came about because he (Satan) ‘knew not the mind of God’. 4   The mind of God is ever working towards improving His Children, and there can be no doubt that He has prepared a successful outcome for each and every one of our failures.

The fall, as described above (even when viewed as a glowing success – which it is), did bring to pass negative things (physical and spiritual death).  It brought about a separation from God, and in the world of eternal life – separation from God along with physical disease and death can be viewed as failures.  Yet these conditions were necessary in order to require redemption.  This cannot be overstated.  The results of this perceived failure (along with many of our perceived failures) are the actual catalysts or pre-requisites for future success.  You can’t fix it if it’s not broken, and in this sense a fixed person (redeemed or improved person) is much more than a non-broken (innocent or non-improved) person ever could be.  The result of the fall created the requirement for a Savior.   The requirement for a Savior resulted in the most amazing event in all of creation, where God’s own son, even Jesus Christ suffered the full weight of the world5 in order to redeem us all, which in turn, allows us to draw upon that power and become much better. This is the most monumental success the world will ever know, and it was all required because of a planned failure.

Shortly following the events in Gethsemane in which the Savior performed the miracle of all miracles, His mortal life came to an end.  Jesus Christ was in no way taken, but offered Himself up willingly as the Lamb of God once His great work was completed.  However, in the minds of many (especially at the time of Christ), they considered His capture and death to be a failure (something less than complete), at least in the sense that His ministry did not result in the immediate and successful convincing of the governmental leaders, and general population to the gospel.  This perception could have been based in the fact that Christ had escaped their snares many times before – and been able to continue His ministry – but now it seemed as if all of the opposition to Jesus had finally overtaken Him.  This perceived failure was in large part due to the lack of fully comprehending the magnitude and necessity of the events, the important role of Jesus Christ, and the promises that He had made.6 Similar to the atonement however, the perceived failure (which resulted in his crucifixion and death) was an absolute requirement for His next great success – the resurrection.  In order for Christ to be resurrected, He had to die.

By defining ‘failure’ in our actions or events as ‘less than perfect’ or ‘there is some (or much) room for improvement’ we can better understand the process of learning from our mistakes, as well as the idea that our mistakes are a critical part of our success – if we learn from them.  God has laid out this plan for us on earth, and he knew very well that every single one of us would be ‘less than perfect’ or that we would act in a way that ‘could be much improved’.  Yet because of this knowledge, He has also prepared a way that because of our mistakes, we can have success.   There is no way that we can become who we are meant to become without ‘growing up unto the Lord’. 7 This includes making many mistakes, but it also includes the requirement to learn from those mistakes.  It requires our constant and continuous use and application of the atonement.  If we truly understand that the Lord can and will use us as tools to ‘do His work’ not despite our mistakes necessarily, but in large part because of our mistakes, since they are the very tools necessary to create true humility, reliance upon the Lord, and therefore true strength and power within each of us.8 If we can understand that process, then we can start to see our failures and our mistakes and what they are meant to be – lessons.  Lessons planned out from ‘before the foundation of the world’ that have been tailored to us individually and collectively.  The decision then becomes ours; whether or not we ‘will hear and know’. 9

Our lives are literally filled with opportunities to learn and during the times when it seems we are failing the most, it is likely the time when we can learn the most – if we are willing to be taught.

‘The Holy Ghost works in perfect unity with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, fulfilling several roles to help us live righteously’10 Some if not all of those roles are directly related to the process of teaching.11   This role is often played ‘independent of any kind of formal teaching or learning setting’. 12 Thus, it is our own responsibility to be aware of learning opportunities, because the Holy Ghost never stops teaching.   Being aware of these opportunities (in good times and bad) is a key element, because ‘one of the greatest acts of agency is the willingness to open our hearts to the promptings of the spirit… God allows us to be the guardians, or the gatekeepers, of our own hearts.  We must, of our own free will, open our hearts to the Spirit, for even though He has a primary role to teach, He will not force Himself upon us. 12 We should all be open to expanding our understanding of what we ourselves consider to be ‘formal teaching or learning settings’ so that we do not restrict ourselves from learning some of the most important lessons in life.  We must not, and cannot ‘try to limit the functions of the Holy Ghost – not what He does, not where He does it, not when He does it, and not how He does it.14

I think when we truly understand this concept we can take a giant step forward by understanding that God is not necessarily frustrated with our failures, since He sees the end from the beginning and recognizes the process of learning as it being played out in our lives.  He has created such a great plan, that it accounted for all of our failures, and uses them for our (and others’) successes.  This is an amazing concept, one that I (sadly) did not recognize until recently.  It doesn’t mean that the disappointments or discouragement with my own failures have evaporated, because they haven’t, but it does help me to understand that I should not dwell on them longer than is helpful, because God doesn’t.  I should only use them to be humble, learn from them, and try and discover how I can turn the failure into a success, and then help other people to learn from my mistakes.15 

An example of this concept is found in maybe the most well known and oft-quoted scripture in the LDS community, 1 Nephi 3:7 which reads ‘And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.’  I imagine the Lord thinking at the time – Nephi, I know that you and your brothers are going to go back to Jerusalem to get these plates, and you are going to fail…. twice.16 But, if you pay attention to what I say to you through the Spirit (during and after these failures), you will learn things that will help you not only now (being successful in getting the brass plates from Laban), but you will also learn some valuable lessons that will help you later because after you complete this long and hard journey, I am going to ask you and your brothers to go back to Jerusalem again.17  I don’t think that it is a coincidence that Nephi’s 2nd trip (going to get the family of Ishmael) – seemed to go a lot smoother than the 1st trip – at least until they were headed back to the wilderness when it was time for some more lessons. 18 This episode (the 2nd trip) is also an illustration of the previous concept that the Holy Ghost will only teach us what we are willing to learn.  It also is a repeat of the same process just explained in obtaining the brass plates, because during this 2nd trip (on the way back from Jerusalem), Nephi was tied up and bound and suffered much at the hands of his brothers (failure), which happened to be a success because he learned how to rely on the Lord, and act for the next time(s) that they attempted to take his life, or bind him in their anger.  This could also be a pattern for us, that any failures that we don’t learn from may be repeated until we learn the appropriate lesson and understand the reason for the failure.

    

So, next time we fail, or next time we are less than perfect, which for me will be about 1 second from now – let us remember that failure is an important part of success if we can keep our hearts open to the spirit and learn from the master teacher.  This process of repeated failure also helps each of us with opportunities to practice forgiveness, love, and serving others, which are essential parts of our learning the art of becoming like Jesus Christ – which is the ultimate goal for all of us.

1 2 Ne. 2:25

2 Gen. 3:16.  This scripture refers specifically to Eve, but I’ve left it in the plural connotation (they) intentionally because when a woman/wife experiences sorrow greatly multiplied, it also affects the husband.  I am not claiming (in any way) that a husband shares in, or somehow helps shoulder the great physical pain (especially during the child bearing process), but I for one, am very much influenced by my wife’s moods and feelings (including pain).  

3 Gen 3:15 (see footnote c)

4 Moses 4:6.  This idea can be applied to the martyrdom of Joseph Smith, as well as any of the other prophets or disciples of Jesus Christ who have sealed their testimonies with their own lives.  Perhaps that is the reason that the footnote d in this verse refers to John 16:1-3 which clearly explains that they (their moment of perceived success) who ‘killeth [them] will think that he doeth God service.  And these things will they do unto [them], because they have not known the Father, nor me [Christ].’

5 See D&C 19:16-19

6 See the Topical Guide and Bible Dictionary under the topic ‘Jesus Christ, Resurrection’ for a complete listing of all scriptures in which The Lord himself (and many others) prophesied of his resurrection.

7 Hel. 3:21

8 See 2 Ne. 33:11, Ether 12:23-28; 37, D&C 50:16, and D&C 62:1.  There is also the fact that we cannot do his work until we willingly choose to do his work, which is the starting point for all change. 

9 See Alma 10:4-6

10 LDS.org topic ‘Holy Ghost’

11 Though this refers to ‘some’ of the roles related to teaching, all of the roles of the Holy Ghost are in one sense or another ‘teaching’.  These include testifying, comforting, witnessing, enlightening, sanctifying, etc.

12 See “In Tune” by Gerald N. Lund pg. 36

13 Ibid. pg. 42-43.  Read the whole book, it is fantastic.  This concept is also explained very well by Elder David A. Bednar in his 3-book series ‘Increase in Learning, Act in Doctrine, and The Power to Become’ and in his talk ‘Seek Learning by Faith’ which was given to CES educators on Feb. 3, 2006.

14 Ibid. pg. 78 emphasis in original.

15 In reference to mistakes of a moral nature, if no other success is readily visible from the recognition of these mistakes other than the true Godly sorrow which leads to the cleansing and redemptive power of the atonement through the repentance process – that is a very real success.

16 The first failure is portrayed in 1 Ne. 3:11-14.  The second failure is portrayed in 1 Ne. 3:22-27.   The third attempt (success) is portrayed in 1 Ne. 4.

17 1 Ne. 7:2

18 1 Ne. 7:6-21.

Courage vs. Crazy

15 Saturday Nov 2014

Posted by in Example

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Years ago as a young 17 year old I was working with my Grandpa in his yard. He was holding the hose watering a patch of dirt prepping it for the weeding we would shortly do. As he always did while working together my Grandpa was dishing out sound advice to me. Today’s topic was “remembering to have fun in a marriage”. Just then across the flower patch my Grandma who was also weeding turned what was exactly and precisely 180 degrees away from us and bent all the way over to work on a section of weeds. Her rump couldn’t have faced us more squarely had it been plumed with a rafter square. My Grandpa and I stopped for a second now silent as we noticed our situation. Suddenly visions of not sugarplums but water balloons, mud balls and tomatoes danced in my head and I started to see more of a giant target than my Grandma’s rear quarters. It was as if I were Nephi and Laban had been delivered into my hands. However, anyone who knew my Grandma knew she is not one to be messed with nor is she a pushover in any sense of the word. My odds of physical survival after taking advantage of this situation would be higher wrestling an angry grizzly bear while handcuffed and blindfolded than with my Grandma. I weighed out the hilariousness of what could ensue vs. what it would be like to learn to walk again once I awoke from the coma she would have put me in. At 17 years old and still now, I have plenty of crazy, yet at that moment I bucked and faltered for lack of courage. I then looked back at my Grandpa who was still holding the hose who simply smiled at me. Without words I understood he had been thinking the same thing the entire time. It was as if the heavens had presented him with a golden opportunity to demonstrate a point to the topic he was speaking to me about that day. A point he couldn’t resist to make. With a simple phrase that went something like “watch this” (which always means something good is about to go down) I suddenly knew what crazy and courage were. My Grandpa was risking his very life and limb to demonstrate a point to me. The perfectly aimed stream of water hit my Grandma square in the butt and she shot up faster than a Cobra striking its prey. It was everything I hoped it would be! Hilariousness and consequence followed. My Grandpa immediately owned up to the act and took his beating like a man again proving his integrity. In fact, he never even lost consciousness! It was totally awesome.

Was it courage? Was it crazy? I’m not sure. I think it was both. My Grandpa was willing to do something completely crazy which required an insane amount of courage for the greater good. That greater good was to demonstrate his point to me on the topic he was teaching me about that day. He risked life and limb for me. He knew there would be consequences, yet he went forward out of love for me.

I don’t mean to say that my Grandpa’s example is on the same level of the atonement, nor do I mean to portray the atonement as a joke, only that the lessons learned between the two can be similar. To anyone who doesn’t understand the atonement what Christ did sounds crazy. He allowed himself to be subject to ridicule, scolding, torment, pain, suffering, hurt, grief, sorrow, anguish, agony, scorn, laughter, evil speaking, jeering, misery, embarrassment and afflictions of all kinds. This came from all directions, all of which he could have silenced totally, completely and permanently at any second, yet he declined to do so. Christ allowed himself openly to their words and actions and was maliciously and ignorantly tormented, spit upon, mocked, teased and tortured all the while choosing not only not to stop it, but not even to buffer it in the slightest! Why would he do that!? Why did he do that!? He did it for you and me. He did it for the very people who were persecuting him. He did it because he loves us. That is not crazy, that is courage and love beyond what we can fathom. That is courage and love surpassing words that exist to describe. I don’t know if the mortal mind can even comprehend the full extent of that sacrifice. Christ allowed himself to be subject to this, knowing he was being led as a lamb to slaughter. He had the power to stop all who reviled him and persecuted him, yet out of love he not only allowed it, but suffered through it without even becoming bitter, hateful or even angry toward those against him. To further my point while hanging on the cross with nails (which were likely more like spikes) gruesomely driven through his very hands and wrists while bleeding badly, cut, bruised, scraped, and with flesh hanging off him finally chose to speak. He didn’t speak words of anger, or cause the burden or treatment to cease with words of fierce rebuke. Not so, rather he petitioned his Father in behalf of those guilty of this very atrocity, IN THE VERY MOMENT and said “forgive them Father, for they know not what they do”! There are countless examples of what the Savior did that could act as a summery for him or the life he led. This just seems to be the most telling of all. No doubt God himself and the very angels of Heaven wept through this! No doubt the Angels struggled against their order not to offer aid! No doubt this was pain and suffering to the highest degree and beyond our physical comprehension! No doubt this was heartbreak beyond compare!  Yet, in his perfection, for the greater good, he endured for you and me. In fact, he endured this for those who hated him. He endured this for those who still hate him. That’s not crazy, that’s courage!

Very recently I’ve witnessed with my own eyes the strength of my own Mother. She like Christ with incredible courage led herself as a sheep to slaughter. She went openly through torment, ridicule, angry words, pain, grief, ignorant words and much more all out of pure love for myself and her other children. Just as with the Savior, she chose not to speak words of fierce rebuke or to become angry at those mistreating her. Rather she was filled with love and by so doing changed the very hearts of those involved and for me forever solidified a legacy of love, strength, sacrifice and courage. Words fall short to express my gratitude, love and respect for the deed done and the courage it took to accomplish. It was personal. It was for me. It was courage of unthinkable degrees which was driven by love of the highest degree for her children. It wasn’t crazy, it was courage! I will forever be grateful for my Mother, who has shown me, and demonstrated through literal example what it means to possess those traits. I will be forever indebted to her for her example and for her love, and for the life which I now live which she brought about. I have never known my mother to lose faith or even doubt her faith. She like the Stripling Warrior’s mothers of old is full of faith, strength, hope, trust, love and courage all with an eye single to the glory of God. I then, like a stripling warrior of old will follow her in faith and go to battle willingly for her and my God both Now and in the future.

The Parable of the Three Shepherds

13 Thursday Nov 2014

Posted by in General

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Note: This is not scripture, nor is it meant to be viewed as me writing scripture, just a cool way to make a point. I love the principles made in parables, and love to see the connections with everyday problems and how they relate to gospel principles.



1 For the spiritual well being of mankind is like unto a Master of a large estate who possessed many flocks of sheep1. And He had commissioned2 three shepherds to attend His flocks, and the shepherds were taught by the Master himself to care for, and raise the flocks as He would3. This was all done to please and glorify4 the Master.


2 But the estate also was plagued with a vile viper whose venom was very noxious, and whose toxin was a painful poison to both the sheep and the shepherds.


3 And the Master forewarned the shepherds that the viper was ever present, and would strike in the black of night, or from the shadows by day. For the design and purpose of the viper was to cause the suffering and destruction of the sheep of the flocks and their shepherds, and to lessen of the Glory of the Master.

 

4 And the Master gave instruction to the shepherds that if the viper should strike, that they should come unto Him to be healed5, for He knew the viper and his ways, and was immune to his cunning.


5 Now as the shepherds went about, and hurrying with the preparations for the work of the day, each one in turn was struck by the viper who had hid himself in their midst.

 

6 Now the strike from the viper was subtle and quick, almost imperceptible to be felt. But the toxin from the bite was noxious and increasingly painful and worked speedily6 to poison the body.


7 The first shepherd upon being struck, strait away left all, and ran to the Master and pleaded with Him to be healed. The Master received him openly, and identified the wound, blessed it, and taking a drop of His own blood7, cleansed and healed the bite from the viper.

 

8 Upon the cleansing of the bite from the viper, the first shepherd went away joyously, feeling health return to him, and looking forward to laboring for the Master caring for the sheep under his commission.

 

9 ¶The second shepherd, upon feeling the bite, thought naught of it, and continued the hurried preparation of the day.

 

10 He continued to labor caring for the sheep of the Master, but was increasingly vexed by the poison that was in him. His wound became greater, more vile, more painful as to effect his ability to walk, and care for his flock.

 

11 The second shepherd continued to ignore the painful bite, until at last it had rendered him unrecognizable to the eye. His flock of sheep sensed his pain, and distanced themselves from him as he and they were effected by the ever increasing purulence of the wound.

 

12 At last, the second shepherd could take no more and crawled low on his belly to the Master seeking aid. The Master received him openly, and identified the wound, and seeing its severity, was much grieved and said, “Why didst thou not come to me to be healed as I had instructed?”

 

13 The shepherd then replied, “I wished to be strong, and prove you therewith that I was so, and in so doing make you well pleased8.” The Master then replied, “I allow the viper to exist in my estate so as to provide opposition9, so that you may learn to overcome. Overcoming opposition will always require submission to My will and instructions”. The Master then taking a lance, opened the painful wound, drained the purulence, carefully, and completely removed all the corrupted tissue and disease. He then taking a drop of his own blood, cleansed the wound, blessed it and it was healed.                 


14 The second shepherd, upon being healed, rejoiced exceedingly for the relief of the pain, and went away joyously, feeling health return to him, also retaining a scar so as to remember the wound that the Master had healed. Upon his return, the flock also rejoiced exceedingly, as they again recognized the shepherd that had cared for them.


15 ¶The third shepherd, upon being struck by the viper, refused to believe that it had occurred. He thought, “Surely a strike from a deadly viper would be more painful to feel”, and he went away paying no heed to the bite.


16 Gradually the wound grew more painful and vile, and it had an effect on his ability to walk, yet the shepherd regarded it not10. The wound drained a vile purulence, yet the shepherd regarded it not. The shepherd made coverings of thick skins and linens and layers of protection so as to hide and conceal the wound, yet all around him sensed his pain and were aware of the effect of the wound on the shepherd. Even the flock of the shepherd grew wary of the wound and sought distance between them.


17 Yet the shepherd refused to see the wound as it was. And gradually, the painful toxin from the bite of the viper spread to all the body of the shepherd. His mind was numbed, his senses dulled, his ears to hear and eyes to see were slowly taken from him11.

 

18 As time passed, his little flock was lost, and wandered leaderless seeking other flocks, and shepherds whose eyes were clearer, and whose care was unhampered by the toxin of the viper.


19 The third shepherd finally fell to the bite of the viper and was forever lost.

 

20 ¶The loss of His shepherd grieved the Master greatly, and He wept for the loss of His flock and His shepherd. “Why didst thou not come unto Me?” he cried, “For my arms were open, and my love complete as to heal all wounds12“.

 

20 And the Master again cried, “For my grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 13



All of us are wounded to some extent. Even the divinely protected Sons of Helaman were ALL wounded, some grievously, from their battle. So, what are our wounds? How are we wounded? Each of us has a different answer for that question. My wounds are different than yours. They could be sin, physical wounds, emotional, or spiritual. But, every wound is healed the same way. The Atonement.

Not utilizing the atonement, or refusing to acknowledge a need for it, or being overtly disappointed when we are required to rely on it, is not understanding its purpose. We are meant to be wounded. We are supposed to be bitten by the viper. We are here to see how we act AFTER we are bitten. It is the blood that was spilt for all of us. It heals all wounds. There are no extra points for those who use the Atonement less, its actually quite the opposite, The Savior taught this principle through the parable of the two debtors14 The Savior knows us, he knows our wounds, he knows how to heal us. We will love him more, the more we depend on Him and His atonement. But, WE have to either run strait away to Him, or crawl on our belly to Him, to receive His healing power. But, if we simply cover our wounds, and ignore them, they are allowed to fester and worsen, and will eventually destroy us. Lets all be willing to “Come unto Him”, and be healed.


1 Isaiah 53:6, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every on to his own way; and the Lord hath lad on him the iniquity of us all. 2 D&C 20:80, “…Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”

3 John 21:16 , “He saith to hime again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

4 Moses 1:39, “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man”. 5 Mathew 11;28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”.

6 Alma 30:60, “And thus we see the end of him who perverteth the ways of the Lord; and thus we see that the devil will not support his children at the last day, but doth speedily drag them down to hell.

7 Isaiah 53:5, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

8 2 Nephi 4:34, “O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.”


9 2 Nephi 2:11, “For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my firstborn in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.”

10 D&C 38:13, “And now I show unto you a mystery, a thing which is had in secret chambers, to bring to pass even your destruction in process of time, and ye knew it not;

11 D&C 123:8 “It is an iron yoke, it is a strong band; they are the very handcuffs, and chains, and shackles, and fetters of hell.”

12 Mormon 6:16-20, “And my soul was rent with anguish, because of the slain of my people, and I cried: O ye fair ones, how could ye have departed from the ways of the Lord! O ye fair ones, how could ye have rejected that Jesus, who stood with open arms to receive you! Behold, if ye had not done this, ye would not have fallen. But behold, ye are fallen, and I mourn your loss. O ye fair sons and daughters, ye fathers and mothers, ye husbands and wives, ye fair ones, how is it that ye could have fallen! But behold, ye are gone, and my sorrows cannot bring your return.”

13 2 Corinthians 12:9, “…My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

14 Luke 7:41-43 

Facial Hair and Motorcycles

13 Thursday Nov 2014

Posted by in General

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When I was a kid growing up I wanted two things more than anything else in the entire world. More than any Nintendo game, more than peacefully watching a Chicago Bulls game with a 6# bag of gummy worms, yes, even more than my own body weight in my mom’s Spaghetti with a pound of parmesan cheese on it, the things I desired above all else were facial hair and a Motorcycle. As a child I was too weak in spirit to follow the commandment “Thou shalt not covet” and I found myself coveting all men (and occasional women) with facial hair and coveting every motorcycle I saw or heard. I made it a goal to one day achieve them both. As a boy I was powerless to “hasten the work” of puberty and I was forced to sit and wait for that euphoric day when I would have the opportunity to pick up a razor and with it, shave the few patchy hairs emerging from my face in glorious triumph and victory! Then, for added emphasis leave the hairs in the sink only to boastfully claim them when someone yelled “Gross, who shaved and left it in the sink?!” Sure, you may be the worst blog post you have yet to read, but I swear there is a point to this, just stay with me.

Years later the day did come and I likely felt more joy than any other human on the face of the earth has ever felt while shaving. Since that day and still to this day I have avoided shaving at all costs to enjoy the pleasures of the beard I now have that I waited so long to receive. As for my motorcycle the day I purchased it was one of the happiest days of my life. As I stood at my house staring in awe at my Motorcycle (while bearded in fact) it was as if I had achieved the greatest achievement in the history of achieving achievements. It was like the feeling you get when as Mario you jump over Bowser while dodging his hatchets and free Princess Peach for the first time X 1,000,000. It was incredible!

The reason that day was one of the greatest days of my life was because I finally had two things that I truly desired with all my heart. The wait, the work, the desire had finally paid off and I was now able to enjoy them both to their full extent. It’s also important to note that I was able to achieve these things on my own. I was in no way constricted or stopped (other than my Mom, Wife, Grandma, and everyone who’s ever known me telling me how bad of an idea a motorcycle was) or did I have to wait for others to help me. I could reach these achievements as quickly as I was personally capable of. Again, I didn’t have to rely on anyone else.

Not relying on anyone else is a complete contrast to Temple work for the dead! The Holy Ghost, the Priesthood, and being sealed to loved ones for time and all eternity are incredible gifts worth far more than any sum of money or any material possessions could possible even come close to! Those gifts are infinitely better, cooler, and more important than the latest Honda CBR motorcycle and trump the awesomeness of even Hagrid’s beard. There are countless souls who have gone on before us who above all else desire nothing more than these sacred and holy ordinances to be performed in their behalf! However, unlike me they are completely and totally helpless to help themselves! It’s like having an itch that ranks higher than any other itch ever recorded on the “itch richter scale” yet you have to wait for someone else to scratch it! They rely 100% on us! I see this as a tremendous responsibility and that we have much work to do! Linked to that tremendous responsibility however is also tremendous opportunity and blessings! When I think about how truly amazing it is that we get to act as a proxy for past friends, family, and even strangers in their behalf to partake of the eternal blessings they could not, or chose not to partake of in mortal life which they now so desperately desire… I just shake my head in amazement. I don’t think I fully understand the blessings that come from doing Temple work. I know the diseased are blessed with these amazing gifts as we perform their work, but I can’t help but feel as if we are at least equally blessed for facilitating the process. I try to imagine the joy, love, happiness, gratitude and appreciation they must feel at finally, after weeks, months, years, decades or even centuries being able to receive the Holy Ghost, the Priesthood, or to be reunited with their loved ones again!  I try to imagine the reunion that takes place when Husband and Wife see each other again! How about the overwhelming joy in the embrace from a daughter or son given and received by their parents after so many years! We through Temple work have the opportunity to bring about so much happiness and joy and gratitude by literally bringing entire families, and generations of family together again! This to me is an eternal service with an eternal rippling effect. If you haven’t already made it a point to make Temple work a part of your life I would invite you to make that change or work toward that change now. You will not regret it!

Watch your Language

09 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by in Language

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-Uma das coisas que Eu mas gosto nesta vida, E ser capaz de falar em outra lingua.

-emeber-ray en-way ee-way ould-way alk-tay in-ay ig-pay atin-lay?

I remember the day when I first wanted to try and learn a new language. I was super gung ho and knew that I would probably and most likely be the fastest human in the history of humans to learn Spanish in about an hour or two. I knew that I would be the 14 year old Spanish prodigy that humanity would look back at and revere as the gold standard in language learning. I was going to turn heads with my perfectly perfect accent, which I would develop in 10 or 15 minutes (after all I watched speedy Gonzales all the time on Saturday morning and had it almost perfect already) and that I would be able to walk the streets of many foreign countries and be perfectly aware of what was going on.  I was in 8th grade at the time. Reality was slightly different.

I was pretty much limited to colors and food items in Spanish, only accented by the random cuss words that our Mexican friends were so willing to share. Upon my call to Brazil, my dedication was again stoked, and I spent 2 months in the hotbed of cultural and language instruction that is Provo, Utah. After those 8 weeks, I just knew that I was practically three quarter Brazilian at that point and was already feeling like my skin turning a bit darker, I had random thoughts about playing soccer in the street barefoot etc. I knew I was the best the MTC had ever seen. I arrived in Brazil and soon realized I could understand maybe 5% of every conversation.  And that isn’t saying much as my name consisted of about 5% of every conversation. My experience with learning language was just as it should have been. Slowly but surely.

Language is something that is learned over time, little by little, piece by piece, word by word, phrase by phrase in baby steps. Its something that is different for everybody. Some people have a knack for it, others don’t. What I found most important in the learning of some Spanish, and later Portuguese, was that in order to really get it, and get to where you can actually communicate, you had to really WANT to, not like the “Yeah, it would be really cool to totally talk behind someone’s back about them in the hallway at school in another language, and then no one would know what we were saying” type of want. But the desire to be able to fully communicate and sound as if you were born there type of want.  It requires that type of commitment because it is a long, slow, tedious process, in which the wishy washy’s are weeded out. Along with that, the only way to really get to be to the level 17 awesome “Fluent” status is to completely immerse yourself in the language, day and night, dreams included, all day no exceptions. To get to legendary level 87 awesome “no accent” status? That requires you to get into a car accident, slip into a coma, forget everything, and start all over in the land who’s language you wish to master. Not really worth it if you ask me.

So, do I sound like a native Mexican, or Brazilian? Not exactly. But back in the day when I was doing it all day everyday, I could pass as a German guy speaking Portuguese. Not bad.

So, to get to the point. Lately the new language I want to learn is the language that the spirit uses. This language is a bit more difficult to master. Why? because there isn’t a google translate app you can use to cheat. Its an individualized customized language. The spirit communicates with us all in different ways. There are generalities and similarities that are consistent throughout His language, a lot like the common letters that form words in almost all languages, but the specific stuff, the really good part, where its an actual conversation? That is the grand prize. That is the level 984 Uber awesome fluent status that is so elusive to all of us.

So, whats my advise to myself? How to I get to that point? It has to be just like any other language, it starts with that desire to be able to communicate, to be as fluent as you can. It takes time, effort, effort, practice, effort and immersion. Immersion is the perfect word, because it describes perfectly how it needs to be. Immersion is a complete “All In”. No pinky toes out of the water, no sprinkles on the head, no Nacho Libre face dunk. After all, don’t we all get the “gift” after we are “immersed”? Am I there? maybe level 2. Am I closer than yesterday? yes. I know that it all comes down to Desire, Effort, Time, and Practice.

The Lord wants nothing more than to be able to freely communicate to us what we need to hear, when we need to hear it. The problem is us. We are the ones that need to learn specifically how He communicates with us. We need to be listening. We need to eliminate the noise in our life. we need to tune to the right station. We need to ask for help. And it only works if we as individuals learn for ourselves what this beautiful language sounds like to our hearts ears.

Build Your House out of Bricks

09 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by in Obedience

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I have been thinking about obedience a lot lately.  A few examples come to mind…

We have all heard of his story several times.  I would argue that we have read his story more often than others (because it is at the beginning of the Book of Mormon).  This Man (I imagine) had a comfortable life in Jerusalem.  He had friends, money, and a warm home.  God commanded his father to leave that comfortable home, their possessions, and their lives behind.  What did this man do?  He went.  He followed his father into the wilderness.  Once there, his father instructed that he should return for the brass plates.  What did this man do?  He went.  No sooner that he returned from Jerusalem, he was told to return a second time.  What did this man do?  He went back.  After returning a second time, they were commanded to travel across the sea to the ‘Promised Land’.  What did this man do?  Following the pattern of obedience — He went. He and his family jumped on the boat, and through much trial and tribulation, arrived to the Promised Land.  Shortly after arrival, he and his brothers had an argument and split.  Hatred and bloodshed followed for years…

I am thinking about Laman.  Laman was obedient.  Now, he had to lose an argument with the Lord’s prophet in order to obey, but he eventually did.  He hated it.  He drug his feet.  He whined.  He complained.  He had to be convinced to do anything. He tried to kill his younger brother… several times.  How far is obedience going to take Laman?  Obviously not far.  He had to be restrained and threatened several times throughout the journey, he just didn’t get it – but he didn’t really try either.

This journey was not any easier for Nephi.  It was actually much harder.  Now, I don’t think Nephi was too keen on leaving Jerusalem either.  Doubt or confusion is ok.  BUT, there was a huge difference in attitude between these two.  Laman didn’t immediately understand so he began to complain.  Nephi didn’t understand and so he took it to the Lord in prayer and received confirmation that the command from his father actually came from God.  Nephi said “I will go and do” and even when he didn’t fully know how or where to go, he trusted in Our Heavenly Father to lead him.  His final words sum up his life: “I must obey.”

Back to Laman for a minute…  He was taught the gospel and he knew right from wrong.  He has no excuse for his actions or lack of true commitment or conversion.

There is another young man in the scriptures that comes to mind. I think he was not so different than you or me.  Like me, like Laman, he was taught the gospel and the commandments.  When it came to true commitment, however, he was unable to stand.  He asked the Savior what he needed to do to gain eternal life, Christ answered that he should keep the commandments.  I can imagine the young man’s excitement in knowing that he was on his way… He tells Christ that he has kept these things from his youth and asks what else he lacks.  The moment of truth arrives when Jesus tells him to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him.  The young man can’t do it, and ‘went away sorrowful’.

To summarize so far: Laman was obedient, but terrible.  The young man was obedient, but not ready to fully commit.  Now let’s compare them now to King Lamoni’s father.

This man tried to kill his own son for hanging out with Ammon.  But is eventually touched by their love for each other.  Later upon hearing the gospel proclaims, “I will give up ALL that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy,” and “I will give away ALL my sins to know thee.”  Now that, my friends, is commitment.

King Lamoni’s father is converted and goes on to help the missionary work progress.  He is never commanded to give all that he has to the poor.  I don’t know why a young man that had followed the commandments for his whole life was instructed to give away what he had, while a murdering Lamanite king was not required to do so. I don’t know if that is fair.  I don’t have to.  It is interesting to me that the person that was truly willing to give all that he had was not required to do so, while the young man was asked to give up what he held most dear.  We are all given individual and unique challenges and will have to make sacrifices in order to progress.

I do know that where much is given, much is required.  I do know that we need to do our best.  I know that God is there for us when we fall short.  I know that we grow as we are torn down, when we are humble, and when we struggle through.

Which one of these people am I?  Am I Laman, obeying the commandment with disgust while hissing and cursing the fact that I am obeying?  Am I the young man that expects a great reward only to be reminded that I am so incredibly short of my goal?  Or am I the Lamanite king, that has too many faults to count, but that is willing to change and commit with everything I have to gain more of what is really important.

It’s just like the 3 little pigs.  The 1st little pig just throws together a house with whatever is right there, irritated that he was asked to do so.  The 2nd little pig makes his house look good on the outside, but with no real substance.  The 3rd little pig makes up his mind, and goes 100% all out.  He goes to work and remains steadfast and faithful even while his brothers are done.  #1 and #2 obeyed, then went to celebrate themselves and their accomplishment, while #3 gave away the superficial in order to truly obey, prepare, commit, and fortify against evil.  He built on a strong foundation.

I have been all three at one point or another in my life.  Don’t be Laman or the wealthy young man.  You can be so much more.  It’s all a matter of attitude, commitment, and true conversion.

The Absolutely Critical Necessity of Basic Fundamental Core Essentials for Increased Improvement of Progression and Betterment

30 Thursday Oct 2014

Posted by in Fundamentals, Opposition, Sports

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If the title was a bit dramatic – I apologize, but I tried to create a feeling of real dependency – one that in this case I feel cannot be overemphasized.   I also apologize for having another post with reference and illustrations from sporting events – I just can’t help myself.

There are many athletes with nicknames, and some of them are awesome.  Some of them are also horrible – and some of them are not even worth considering because they either aren’t nicknames (T-Rod, A-Rod, etc. are not nicknames – they are just shortened versions of their real names) or these supposed nicknames were as Jim Rome puts it ‘self glossed’ which is jungle way of saying ‘you can’t give yourself a nickname – that’s just not how it works’.    Some of the great nicknames throughout history are known – and some not so much.  But there is one nickname that might be the best of all – ‘The Big Fundamental’.  I don’t know where or when Timothy Theodore Duncan was first called ‘the big fundamental’ but it fits and he’s seen some awesome results.  He is a five-time NBA champion, two-time NBA MVP, three-time NBA Finals MVP, and was the NBA rookie of the year.  He is a 14-time NBA All-Star, and the only player to be selected to both the All-NBA and the All-Defensive teams during each of his first 13 seasons – and I’m not aware of a single endorsement deal of his. Let that sink in.

Part of why I like his nickname so much is that it so complimentary.  Others (especially those who have given themselves nicknames) probably think his nickname is ‘lame’ and highlights his lack of flash or show – which is precisely why it’s such a compliment – especially to him.  I guarantee you he loves this nickname.  He’ll probably never tell you as much or even bring it up – but he loves it.  He loves it because that he knows the value of and has seen the result of hard work continually centered in the basic fundamental core essentials.  He probably spends 95% of his time working on the ‘plain and simple’ things like footwork, positioning, dribbling, outlet passes, rebounding, etc. instead of the ‘strong and mighty’ things like dunking, crossovers, taunting gestures or cute hand signals to be practiced each time a relatively good play is made.  In short – he paid attention to, saw the benefit of, and grew to love the ‘weak and simple things’ of the basketball world that ‘brought great things to pass’ and ‘confounded the wise’ or in Tim’s case – the other teams.  They cannot figure out how and why the Spurs keep winning – despite their small market status, their lack of a flashy star, and their consistent use of ‘small and simple things’ like the old fashioned pick and roll.  I realize Greg Popovich has a lot do to with this – but his nickname isn’t the big fundamental so he isn’t the focus here.

You’d think in the NBA that most people would have a pretty good handle the fundamentals by now – and most of them do okay, but Tim Duncan has mastered the basics.  He doesn’t keep going ‘back to the basics’ when things get crazy or when they lose a few games – he just doesn’t stray from them.  They are who he is.  They are what he is.  They have become his identity and his purpose and his love.  So much so that they have started to exude from his person.  He sweats fundamentals.  He sneezes and fundamental drills come out.  He cries footwork drills.  He dreams about the three-man weave while mapping out his next bank shot.  He loves them because he knows that they are the foundation of greater things and that nothing great can last without a solid foundation.

If we think of his nickname in a spiritual sense (likening basketball to spirituality and eternal progression in real life) – what things can we work on, and how can we think in order to become like ‘the big fundamental’?  The answer is the same for all of us – it’s an unwavering allegiance to, understanding of, and consistent practice in the gospel basic fundamental core essentials.  These are the core doctrines and principles that we learn when we are young but tend to overlook (or assume we know all about) when we get older.  If we learned everything about basketball fundamentals while we were in Jr. Jazz – we might be in trouble.  And if we are relying on our primary aged recollection of the fundamentals –  we might be in trouble.

With this in mind, these fundamentals are often looked at or even referred to (by others) as ‘weak and simple things’, and nobody likes to think of him or herself as weak and simple, and certainly nobody likes to be ‘complimented’ in a way that highlights or ‘reinforces’ their weak and simple characteristics or their repeated use of and reliance upon them.  But if we can get to the point where we really love the fundamentals, we can love that nickname or that ‘compliment’ as it’s applied to us.  We can truly relish the basics and start to see the ‘weak things become strong’ even if our opponents and seemingly all the other players around us are focused on more advanced topics or have seemingly moved on to ‘gospel calculus’ instead of ‘gospel addition and subtraction’.

This is especially true when we realize how much work still needs to be done, how hard and long that work will be, how slowly we seem to be progressing towards the ultimate goal, how daunting our opponent is, and how quickly and repeatedly he claims his powers and ability as ‘great’.  We all like to think we are ‘strong and mighty’ and I emphatically include myself in this category – since I need to remember this as evidenced by the topics I’ve chosen to write on in my last few posts (offense vs. defense, competition, power, etc.) – but the fact is that the answers (to all the questions that matter) are ‘always in the doctrines and principles of the gospel’ (See Elder Bednar’s Increase in Learning book).

Perhaps we often overlook the fundamentals and the ‘weak and simple things’ because we live in the age of instant gratification and quick results.  We tend to believe in and rely on results – and when the results aren’t amazing and mammoth-sized after 16 seconds – we give up or move on to the next promise of results because we don’t think we have time to develop patience or work to help ‘weak things to become strong’ (See Ether 12:27).  But it may also because we tend to believe way too much in our perception, what our mortal eyes are able to see, or what our mortal brains process based on the outward appearance of strength instead of strength ‘as it really is’ (See Jacob 4).

The point I am trying to make is that true power and true strength (real greatness) often do not come dressed up the way most people think they do.  They come disguised as weakness and are further developed and solidified by the repeated performance of very simple things – or in other words, they come dressed up as basic fundamentals.   This process (the repeated performance of weak and simple things, or the very nature of weak and simple things themselves) in many cases turns out to be very irritating to the wise and powerful people, groups, and organizations that claim to have all the answers.   It has always been this way, and it will always be this way, because God said it more than once (in 3 different books by way of 3 different prophets).  He said in Alma 37:6, “by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise”.  He said in 1 Cor. 1:27 “God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty”, and in the D&C he has said “I call upon the weak things of the world, those who are unlearned and despised, to thresh the nations by the power of my Spirit” (D&C 35:13), and “The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones” (D&C 1:19).

So what are the weak and simple things (fundamentals) that confound the wise?  How about some things that are so weak and simple (often termed as ‘old fashioned’ or ‘out of style’ that even our primary aged kids (4 and 5 and 6 year olds) understand but the ‘wise’ (as termed by the world) in large part throw aside as unnecessary, childish, or as a certain someone termed them ‘lame’.  Things like prayer being a very real communication with God and that the habit of praying regularly builds strength.  Things like reading scriptures to grow in spirituality.  Things like 14-year-old boys with no formal education being used to restore the greatest kingdom ever.  Things like getting out of debt and staying out of debt. Things like food storage.  Things like simple obedience.  Things like serving other people before us.  Things like going to church and worshiping on Sunday instead of seeking for entertainment.  Things like home teaching.  Things like genealogy.  Things like temple attendance.  Things like living prophets.  Things like faith.  Things live love.  Things like self-control and discipline.  Things like tithing.  Things like being nice and thoughtful and patient and kind – even when nobody else seems to be.  Things like assisting other people and helping them reach their goals instead of spending so much time and effort in what we ourselves want.  Things like placing more value in people that in things.  Weak and Simple things like that.

Before we think of this as counter-intuitive and contrary to reality (weak and simple things being true power) let’s remind ourselves that Tim Duncan and his Spurs are five-time champs AND “there are many called, but few are chosen…(they are not chosen) because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson…that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness…when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves, the Spirit of the Lord is grieved…he is left unto himself…to fight against God” (good luck in that fight)….”no power or influence can or ought to be maintained…only by [note the weak and simple things that are listed] persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; by kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile…let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men…and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly, then shall they confidence wax strong in the presence of God”.  That might be the epitome of using weak and simple fundamentals to bring great and mighty things to pass.

Offense vs. Defense

25 Saturday Oct 2014

Posted by in Battle, Opposition, Strength

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I think all of us (at least all of us who have been familiar with sports) at one time or another have heard or participated in a debate of offense vs. defense. We’ve likely even heard the phrase ‘the best offense is a good defense’ or even ‘the best defense is a good offense’.  Both of these tend to be supported by those who specialize in one area or the other.  For example – a fantastic offense (think of Oregon in years past) would likely feel confident enough in their talents, skills, stamina, and strategy that by the end of the game they (the offense) would have produced more results  (a.k.a. points) than their opponents’ offense therefore allowing them to come out victorious in the end (without too much thought about defense – or at least what appeared to be a much less focused emphasis on defense).  There are others (think of Alabama in years past, the SEC, or maybe even Provo High School basketball in years past) who subscribe to the opposite school of thought in the sense that they feel confident enough in their defensive strategy, skills, schemes, and stamina that by the end of the game, their defense allowed fewer points than their opponents defense did, also allowing them to come out victorious in the end.

Now, the important part of relating this concept to a spiritual setting is not whether you subscribe to the offensive or to the defensive mindset (as both have very valid points), but whether we can truly and fully understand the concept of an offensive defense and a defensive offense – at the same time.  Hold that thought – because before we can understand that concept we need to understand exactly what the traditional differences are between offense and defense.

Offense:  There are two main definitions for offense and I think both of them are appropriate in this particular context.  The first is: the act of attacking, or a pattern or style of scoring attack, and the second is: something that offends or displeases (or the act of offending or displeasing).   The main (traditional) idea is that when we are offensive, we are in the state of attacking, or on the move attempting to dismantle, outsmart, outplay, or be stronger than any defensive attempt made by our opponent.  Depending on the type of game you are playing, this might be one play at a time (football), or it might be a sequence of plays off and on (basketball or soccer), a very established set of events (half inning in baseball), or a one-on-one defense/offense showdown such as boxing, tennis, or fencing.  The whole point of offense is to force the opponents defense to retreat, give in, or be moved allowing us to gain the goal, or in other words, to force the opponents defense to surrender.

Defense:  The best definition for defense in this context is: resistance against attack; or the practice or art of defending against attack.  The main (traditional) idea is that while on defense, we are not actively attacking, but straining to prevent an attack from the opponents offense.  There are just as many strategies, schemes, and formats for defensive positioning, all with the goal of strengthening the defensive stance against the opposing offense.  Similar to the offense described above, there are times when it is performed one play at a time, one sequence at a time, in a series, or in a one-on-one showdown.  The whole point of defense is to not allow the opponents offense to gain ground or score, or in other words – to force the opponents offense to fail.

With this understanding, it is important for us to realize that there are some types of competition, especially in individual competition (boxing, fencing, karate, sumo, chess, etc.) where the lines (strategies, functions) between offense and defense are not entirely clear.  This may make it increasingly difficult for casual observers (and maybe even seasoned observers) to understand if the individuals are taking a defensive stance or an offensive stance, which is which, and when the transition between the two takes place.  They may just see ‘fighting’ or ‘some type of competition in which two people (or teams) are fighting to achieve the same goal’ – which is to win – let’s be clear on that.  That does not, I repeat, that does not discount the fact that there are two very different styles and approaches being utilized by each team (offense and defense) at the same time.

Now, back to the initial debate of offense vs. defense and which stance is better – and I think for all of us the answer is easy:  it’s both – at once.  Especially if we are to ‘liken all things unto ourselves’ and make this a spiritual discussion – we need the best of both worlds.  We need a strong defense, and we need a strong offense – and we need them at the same time.  We need an offense that is literally relentless, and we need a defense that absolutely refuses to yield.  We need an offense that is ‘sharper than a two edged sword’, and we need a defense that can withstand the exceeding fury from Satan himself.

So, how is this to be done?  How can our defense also be our offense?  And how can our offense also be our defense?  The logical answer is to:

  1.     .      Arm ourselves with power that is simultaneously offensive and defensive
  2.    .       Understand that as participants in the ultimate battle between good and evil being defensive is very offensive to our opponent (Satan).

What kind of power is both offensive and defensive?

Before we think of the type of power, it may help if we recall that the places (very literally places of refuge from the storm) that we commonly refer to and attend in order to rest from the constant storm of evil to bolster our defense are in fact the same places that we attend in order to bolster our offense.  For example, our homes are a very real defense against the storm, but they are also the places where we arm ourselves and our children with faith, with testimony, and ‘with the sword of truth and right’ (See Hymn 259).  This defense creates a very real power that we can use offensively.  The temple is another place that we can go to be literally away from the cares of the world and mend our spiritual defenses.  But do not forget that the temple is the one place on earth where we can receive an ‘endowment of power’.

In addition to the places that we go to receive this power, we have tools that can help us receive this power.  The scriptures, living prophets, and maybe the best of all – direct and unlimited communication with the source of said power who is willing (eager even), to bestow as much of this power on us as we are able to bear and use.  This power (the kind that is both offensive and defensive) is the power of the gospel.  This power comes from earnestly seeking, repeatedly asking, and righteously using it.  It comes from obedience.  It comes from knowledge.  It comes from exercising your faith.  It comes from fasting and prayer.  It comes from sharing it with others.  It comes from consistent, diligent, and steady seeking, using, and serving.  It comes from God.  It comes as a gift made available through priesthood ordinances and temple covenants.  It speaks to us and is confirmed to our hearts through the Holy Ghost and it is all made available through the miraculous atonement of our savior Jesus Christ.  It is available to everyone and it is the greatest power there is.

Being defensive is very offensive and being offensive is very defensive.  

As we steadily and diligently acquire this power and as we understand the defensive use of this power is very offensive to our opponent and the offensive use of this power creates a great defense for us.  In fact, the more we use this power, the previously clear lines between offense and defense become less and less distinguishable – and we are simply ‘watching with all perseverance’ (see Eph. 6:18).  The goal is to get to this point (watching), where there is not a series, or play of offense followed by a series or play of defense.   We want to get to the point where our offense is on full attack mode at the same time that our defense is operating in 4th and goal mode where we cannot give an inch.

This process can become so developed within us that our opponent will be confused as to which state they are in or should be in to combat us.  They will think they are in the midst of an offensive attack only to realize (when it’s much too late) that they have been misled all along the way by our offensive defense.  A perfect example of this is in Alma 52 where the majority of the Lamanite army is pursuing a portion of the Nephite army (led by Teancum), and during this pursuit (since the Lamanites saw the Nephites start to flee) they ‘took courage and pursued them with vigor’ and ‘supposed by their numbers to overpower Teancum’ (vs 23-24).  At this point, the Lamanites (in their minds) are clearly playing offense, meanwhile, another portion of the Nephite army (led by Moroni) took possession of the Lamanite controlled city of Mulek (also playing offense) without much resistance and yet another portion of the Nephite army (led by Lehi) is waiting to meet the Lamanites near the city Bountiful.  When the Lamanites meet Lehi (who had met with Teancum) and his army the Lamanites ‘fled in much confusion’ likely because they thought they were on the offensive side only to discover that the Nephites were much better at offense in this battle and they had not planned on a defensively offensive approach.  So, the Lamanites attempt to flee back to their base (the city of Mulek) and outrun Lehi only to run into Moroni and the portion of his army fresh from their overtaking the city (which no doubt the Lamanites realized immediately) finding themselves in an extremely defenseless position (surrounded by offensive Nephites).   This battle ends bad for the Lamanites, and there are key phrases (which lead to further understanding) in verses 33 and 34.  “And it came to pass that Jacob, being their leader (of the Lamanites), having an unconquerable spirit he led the Lamanites forth to battle with exceeding fury against Moroni…Jacob was determined to slay them and cut his way through to the city of Mulek (back on offense).  But behold, Moroni and his men were more powerful; therefore they did not give way”.  The Nephite army was definitely offensive (trapping, cornering, taking the city of Mulek), but at the same time, they were extremely defensive to the Lamanite fury that ‘they did not give way’.  This duplicity of strength (offense and defense simultaneously) was so effective that the Lamanites ‘being much confused, knew not whither to go or to strike’ (vs. 36).  This is effectively defending and offending the opponent until they are defeated.

Moroni and his captains knew how to fight.  They knew how to play offense and defense, and they knew how to play them at the same time.  They knew how to acquire power and use it.  They learned this so well in fact, that if we (all of us here and now) ‘had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men’ (Alma 48:17).  This is amazing.  But before we deflate ourselves with the thought that ‘nobody could be as awesome as Moroni’, let’s remember that the very next verse gives us hope since he (Moroni) ‘was a man like unto Ammon, the son of Mosiah, and even the other sons of Mosiah, yea, and also Alma and his sons, for they were all men of God…and ‘Helaman and his brethren were no less serviceable unto the people than was Moroni…” (Alma 48:18-19).  It can be done.  It must be done.  We can do it.  We must do it.  We can arm ourselves with such power that we can continually play defense by ‘not giving way’ and continually play offense ‘by gaining power’ and cause our opponents to ‘flee in much confusion’.

As Sheri Dew put it, ‘it seems clear that the only way to fight the fire and brimstone of hell prepared for Lucifer and those who follow him is through the fire and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the fire of testimony’ (See her book ‘God Wants a Powerful People’ – pg. 80).  I can think of some pretty impressive firepower rooted in faith.  The fire of a burning, unwavering, unshakeable testimony of Jesus Christ, his prophet of the restoration Joseph Smith, and the Book of Mormon.  The fire of obedience and love for truth and right.  The fire of the spirit as it literally burns in our hearts.  The fire that we can call on to defend and protect our souls.  The fire of the gospel as it strengthens us, quickens our understanding, expands our visions, and motivates us to become like Christ himself.  This is the great offensive and defensive power.

Let us become great, immovable rocks planted firmly on the shore, with foundations in and on and through Jesus Christ and his gospel truths.  Let us withstand (defensively) the constant barrage of waves as they roll in from Satan and his followers with their malicious intent to weaken and destroy our homes and our families and our identities and potential.  Let us ‘not give way’ and refuse to yield.  While we are constantly withstanding these waves, let us move together (offensively) to limit his reach and his impact.  Let us offensively defend the shore becoming more and more powerful by moving further and further out to sea while behind us, the trail of our faith and power is creating a more ‘firm foundation’ of rock for us and others to stand on.  Let this continue slowly but surely until at last the small puddle of what used to his great sea of evil is surrounded on all sides by ‘mountains of the Lord’ firmly rooted in Jesus Christ, radiating his pure light, love and truth.  Let this be Satan’s last view as the walls close in.  Family after family linked together in love, the unit he attacked so fervently to destroy, becoming at last the most powerful weapon of all, causing him to ‘weep and to wail, and gnash his teeth’ in one final attempt at glorious darkness only to be extinguished by the piercing and pure light of Christ.

Blood Clots and Teeter-Totters

09 Thursday Oct 2014

Posted by in Example, Support

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I will start this one with two sentences.

1.   If you make it to the end of this post without falling asleep, you deserve a family size bag of peanut m&m’s.

2.   All truth can be circumscribed into one great whole.

A bit ago, Tyson posted on how competition spurred us forward as kids. it triggered us to be better and to improve to be able to beat each other up.  He also noted, that if and when we were on the same team, our skills were exponentially better when focused against the same common enemy. There is a perfectly good explanation for that. We need look no further than those voluminous tomes of human physiology as they explain the properties and principles of blood clots.

I will have to say, this post may really belong on the “Super-boring blog of insignificant physiological minutia”, but its worth a shot.

The free lesson today is about something called a positive feedback loop. Its a rare thing in the physiologic sense, but Ill try to explain why it coincides so well with being on the same team.

A simple explanation of a positive feedback loop is in the way blood clots. After we cut ourselves or an injury occurs, certain chemicals in our bloodstream are released. When they come in contact with tissues outside the blood vessels, they go nuts. and yell “fire” in the movie theatre so to speak. Im going to call this an “event”.  After this “event”, these chemicals start stimulating others around them to change, the presence of these chemicals only trigger more of the clotting chemicals to be activated, and you have something like the effect of a giant domino design that starts as a few single dominos, but soon spreads exponentially until a whole football field of dominoes are falling simultaneously. Now you have a blood clot. The presence of one “trigger”, or “event” grows until the desired effect is reached, and the phenomenon stops. The principle of one trigger exciting another, and then those exciting more and more and making a bigger response and continuously growing is the positive feedback loop.

This same principle applies within a uterus during childbirth, the stretch from a baby’s head in the uterus will trigger uterine contractions, the uterine contractions then continue to expel the baby into the birth canal. the baby’s head then stretches the uterus more, and back and forth we go, till you have a happy screaming mom, and baby.

If you made it to here, and your name isn’t Casey, Congratulations!, you’re halfway to Tyson’s m&m’s.

This principle applies in our families like this. We each try and be as good as we can be. When we see the good “event” that our spouse, brother, sister, mother, father, son, daughter, or cousin does, we want to be better. We are “triggered”, or “excited” and we improve or do good ourselves. The more we are around that person the easier we are triggered. When we also improve, or do good, it “positively feeds back”, and the original person doing good wants to improve even more. Its like a teeter-totter that doesn’t have a down. When one side goes up, it stays up, and the other follows upward rather than falling back down. Pretty soon you’re a lot higher than you thought you ever could be on your own. You want to be with each other constantly because it makes you want to improve and you feel stronger when you are. This is why teams (In sports, or marriage) that are successful are so. They are on the same page, have the same goals, and work in synergy to achieve what they want. All truth is circumscribed into one great whole. Blood clots, child birth, and teeter-totters all in the same post. Beat that.  Enjoy the M&M’s.