"Chikin"

All the Chick Fil-A hype has got me thinking about a few things...

1) Every single person on earth needs the Atonement of Jesus Christ in order receive the cleansing necessary to return to live with God. 

2) Marriage between a man and a woman, and the resulting procreation that is made possible from such a marriage, allows more of God's children the opportunity to live on earth and to therefore apply the atonement in their lives.

3) Satan will do anything to thwart people's access to the atonement and by so doing seeks to limit people's happiness and eternal reward.  He does this by distracting us from Jesus Christ.

To tie these points together:  It is bigger than eating "mor chikin."  I worry that making such a big deal about Dan Cathy's comments, on either side, takes focus from the real issue at hand.  It's not just about "protecting traditional values." The real issue is about allowing more people the chance to experience the blessings of Jesus Christ and His atonement. 

Instead of spending a fortune on greasy fast food or writing strong words on Facebook, let's all try to become more like Jesus Christ and seek to share the blessings of His gospel.

http://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng

Control

So I've been thinking about the following scene from Kung Fu Panda lately between the old Turtle guy (Oogway) and the weird-looking fury thing with big ears (Shifu):

(For those of you opposed to reading click here to watch it instead)

                              OOGWAY
                    My old friend, the panda will never
                   fulfill his destiny, nor you yours,
                   until you let go of the illusion of
                   control.
         
                              SHIFU
                    Illusion?
         
                              OOGWAY
                    Yeah. Look at this tree, Shifu. I
                   cannot make it blossom when it
                   suits me, nor make it bear fruit
                   before its time.
         
                              SHIFU
                    But there are things we can
                   control.
         
          Shifu kicks the tree and a peach falls to his feet.
         
                              SHIFU (CONT'D)
                    I can control when the fruit will
                   fall.
         
          A peach falls on his head and Oogway chuckles. Shifu tosses
         the peach in the air, leaps up, and splits it with a chop.
         
                              SHIFU (CONT'D)
                    And I can control--
         
          Shifu punches the ground, creating a hole and places the seed
         in it.
         
                              SHIFU (CONT'D)
                    --where to plant the seed. That is
                   no illusion, Master.
          
                              OOGWAY
                    Ah, yes. But no matter what you do,
                   that seed will grow to be a peach
                   tree. You may wish for an apple, or
                   an orange... but you will get a
                   peach.
         
                              SHIFU
                    But a peach cannot defeat Tai Lung!
         
                              OOGWAY
                    Maybe it can. If you are willing to
                   guide it, to nurture it. To believe
                   in it.
         
          Oogway covers the seed with dirt.
         
                              SHIFU
                    But how? How? I need your help,
                   Master.
         
                              OOGWAY
                    No, you just need to believe.
                   Promise me, Shifu. Promise me you
                   will believe.
         
                              SHIFU
                    I... I will try.
         
          Oogway smiles, then glances up at the sky, then back down to
         Shifu.
         
                              OOGWAY
                    Good. My time has come. You must
                   continue your journey without me.
         
          He hands his staff to a confused Shifu.
         
                              SHIFU
                    What... what are you..?
         
          Oogway backs away into the swirling fog.

I think watching it is better than reading it but I think Oogway is right that "control" really is an illusion -nothing more. We like to think that we are in control and that we can make things happen according to our own agenda but that's not how it works. Just about anything we think is ours has really just been loaned to us for a period of time by He Who Created It. We can try all we want to make thing happen exactly how we want them to but it will likely never go that way. Life becomes more enjoyable when we stop frantically trying to dominate things that can only be controlled by a Supreme Being and humbly align our will with His. He knows what is best for us and wants what will make us eternally happy. The only thing we really can control is whether or not we choose to trust Him over ourselves. I am grateful for that and I hope that I can never get in the way of what God has in store for me. To quote President Uchtdorf: "We make plans and God laughs."

Beggars

I don't know how anyone could possibly deny the existence of a God. Everything about life fits together so perfectly that there is no other possible explanation than divine creation. Everything good in life comes from a loving Heavenly Father that allows us to experience joy, love, and peace. We owe everything we have to "Him who created all things."
Why then do we allow ourselves to get caught up in thinking we deserve certain things? We may make good choices here and there and feel like we merit "blessings," but when it is all said and done, nothing in this life is really our own. It is all loaned to us by the ultimate proprietor for us to use and enjoy because he allows us to out of love. He can give and take as He pleases because He has paid the price for it. If He wanted to He could keep every bit of happiness to Himself and be perfectly justified in doing so... but He doesn't.
In the Book of Mormon, King Benjamin talks about we are all "beggars." That every single one of us has complete dependence on God for everything in life and it is absolutely true. We have nothing, and the only reason we are here in existence is because He made it possible. As rich, talented, or powerful we may view ourselves we are nothing without our God. Fortunately for us, He is willing to give us what will make us eternally happy. Mosiah 2:23-25 gives further clarification of our forever indebtedness to our Creator.
I am grateful to my Heavenly Father for all that He has given me and continues to bless me with. He repeatedly blesses me with more happiness than I thought possible previously. I know that by seeking to be obedient to His will, He will continue to bless me. I just hope I can always trust in Him and to never feel like I deserve things from Him.
Also, its interesting how life can keep getting better and better while getting harder and harder at the same time.

Understanding

Do any of you have those days/weeks where you have multiple experiences that teach you a certain life lesson? Like a time when everything that happens to you seems to be related to something you need to be better at like listening to people, humility, or to quit procrastinating? Generally when this happens to me its because there is something that I need to learn and I didn't catch it the first time so Heavenly Father, in His loving way, keeps hitting me in the face with it until it sinks in. Man I'm lucky to have a Divine Creator that copes with my hardheadedness and stupidity.
In the past 24 hours, I have had multiple experiences that have taught me the importance of empathy and seeking to understand other people. Apparently this is something I really do not understand because I have had lessons in this for at very least the past 2.5 years. I think that it is very easy to forget that every single person in this world possesses human qualities no matter who they are. Sometimes, due to someone's popularity or position of power they hold, it is easy to put a person on a pedestal and forget they have flaws, imperfections, and make mistakes on a daily basis. Also, concerning those closer to us, it is sometimes natural to tend to expect perfection from the ones we love and create long lists of requirements for one to meet in order to "qualify" for our affection. Such ideals and mindsets, I believe, are completely un-Christian and I do it every day.
I recently read a journal entry from the commandant of the concentration camp Auschwitz and it blew me away. The man talked about "secret doubts" of the terrible things he was overseeing, and the "heartbreak" he had watching innocent people suffer. It is so natural to believe that every single Nazi during WWII was cold-hearted and evil but here was a good father and husband that was simply carrying out orders from his country because he knew his family would be in danger otherwise. Here was a man with morals, good intentions, and a desire for the welfare of his family that just simply was charged with a less than ideal responsibility. Yeah he had the choice, but the amount of pressure placed upon him to perform a certain task seems to have influenced his behavior to go against his inner compassion and values. He made a mistake just like all of us.
With Election Day having recently past, I caught the end of a presidential press conference today that shocked me. I forget the exact words but a reporter asked President Obama a question that took a stab at his personal intelligence and integrity as it was being broadcast internationally. I'm not the biggest Obama fan either but that struck me as highly inappropriate, especially in such a public setting. I believe that people are generally good-natured and that those in power generally are doing their best to make the most of the less-than-desirable situation the world is in today. Barack Obama, no matter what his personal views and policies may be, I'm sure is a great husband and father to his family. I am sure he worries and cares for them just as much as any father and that he wants the world to be safe for them. He has made mistakes and, similar to each one of us, will continue to do so from time to time. Insulting the people involved in civil service does little to create our ideal situation. Just express your opinion at the ballot.
These tendencies to eliminate the human, often error-prone, characteristics from our view not only hinder our ability to understand people of influence but also those close to us. If we expect every person we encounter to be flawless we would find ourselves very much alone. It is easy to judge others because we all fall short of perfection. It is not as easy however to cast the beam out of your own eye and help another with the mote in theirs. We have weaknesses for a purpose and interaction/help with other people can greatly help weaknesses to become strengths.
I personally want to be better at "putting myself in their shoes" and seeking to understand better both the people I care about and those I do not know as well. I know that by doing so can help me to not only provide me with greater insight on how other people function but also can help me to get a better glimpse at the divinity we all possess within us. We are all a lot more alike than we realize.

A + B ≠ C

After talking with an old friend for hours last night, I have not been able to stop thinking about the "godliness" that all of us possess. We are each literal sons or daughters of deity. Along with that, heirs to divine blessings and we each have inherited characteristics and traits of immortal parents. I do not think any of us comprehends what we are capable of accomplishing in life. However, I think there is someone, other than our Heavenly Father, that has a glimpse of understanding what each "child of God" is capable of and, for this reason, seeks to prevent us from reaching our full potential.
One of the great ways this enemy can do this is by discouraging us, by causing us to focus faults and errors more than the possibilities. This causes feelings of discouragement and inadequacy to grow, creating a mindset where faith and hope cannot easily reside. Satan knows that if he can weaken our desire to push forward it leaves us vulnerable and our faith is injured. Without faith, specifically faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior, our source of divine power is greatly weakened and we are further left to dwell in mediocrity or even failure as we begin to think there are limits on what can be done in life.
Here's the thing, A + B ≠ C. I was never good with "proofs" in geometry but let me prove this statement. We'll say that 'A' is you in a normal, every-day state. We'll have 'B' signify a tragedy or hardship in life such as a death in the family or being dumped by your girlfriend/boyfriend. So therefore A+B means that you (A) have experienced a terrible hardship in your life (B). And finally, 'C' in this equation means a natural consequential emotion to a hardship, such as depression or anger. Here's my point: If you (A) experience any sort of set back in life (B) it does not mean you are doomed to feel a certain way because of it (C). Just because your girlfriend dumped you does not mean you have to wallow in self pity as you lock yourself in your room for days. Your B- grade does not mean you need to give up in school. You have power over your emotions and desires, divine power for that matter, and a Heavenly Father that is focused on your eternal happiness and will do anything to help you. Turn to Him instead of basking in unnecessary feelings of defeat or anger! You are only hurting yourself. It is natural to feel disappointed when things do not go as planned but that disappointment should act as motivation to make "lemonade out of lemons" -not to squirt the lemon juice in your eyes over and over.
Lastly, I understand that there are people that go through unbelievably hard trials in life. I do not mean to belittle what anyone is going through nor am I trying to portray that I am perfect at controlling my emotions. All I am saying is that no matter who you are, or what you may feel like the state of your life is, you have a Heavenly Father that wants to help you be happier than ever and wants the burdens you carry to be lifted. All you have to do is go to Him and it will happen.

"Good is the enemy of great"

Its very rare that i get into the whole "blogging" thing but here I am! I've been thinking a lot about everything from my future to how the heck spray cheese works (I still haven't figured it out by the way). And its really hit me that when it comes to making the most out of life its all about faith, or at least that's where it starts. That sounds extremely cliche and way cheesy but its true. I think we often times thinking of "faith" as though we're not sure about something but we're going to do it anyway and hope it turns out. That's not faith at all. Faith is defined as a hope for something "not seen, but true." You can't have faith in something that isn't real or that isn't right. You can feel a difference when you are motivated by faith in something rather than your own want to make it happen. I don't say that as a way of saying you shouldn't desire success but only to point out that it is important that one ensures their dreams are on course with what is true or right and not half-baked or misplaced.

I use this concept as the preface for this blog about how its easy to settle for something good instead of going after something great. I don't think we really have any idea what each of us is capable of accomplishing in life, so many things that can be real or true -if we have faith. God works miracles according to the faith of His children. No faith = no miracles, its that simple. Luke 1:37 says "For with God, nothing shall be impossible." Why then is it so easy to settle for mediocrity? I caught myself recently after being really excited about a possible career and thinking I couldn't handle the class-load it would require -that's stupid. No one puts limits on what we can accomplish other than ourselves. I heard the quote once that "It is better to aim for the stars than to aim for a pile of [manure] and hit it" (quote wording altered slightly). I know I am guilty of setting my standards too low of what I want to accomplish and I'm going to do better at that. I hope no one else has the same problem.
I think its also important to note that we should be motivated to excel for the right reasons. Not by pride or competition but a desire to really accomplish that which you can't see physically, only with an "eye of faith" but is true. There is a huge difference in wanting to succeed so that people will notice you or give you praise and seeking to accomplish something difficult simply because you know its not impossible and its what you need to do. Being motivated by the praise of others or the desire to beat someone else isn't faith, its the opposite: pride. Faith is reaching outward, pride is looking inward.
Lastly, seeing miracles happen in any aspect in your life is only possible if you have faith and that faith needs to be properly based in order to withstand all that seems to pop up out of nowhere to prevent you from reaching a goal. That base that can withstand anything is Jesus Christ. We always hear about how He "took upon our sins and died for us through the Atonement" but what does that mean and why the heck is Alex talking about this in his late-night ranting about goals? Our Savior took upon our sins, mistakes, discouragement, pains, sorrows -everything unfair about life- so that we can overcome it -if we want to. Without Jesus Christ stepping in as our Mediator and making up for these imperfections we would have no hope of accomplishing anything other than failure. But if we have faith, specifically faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, and recognize that we can make up for mistakes and see miracles happen, that can propel us into making the "impossible" become reality.
However, "faith without works is dead." It is not enough to know that something is possible. The proper plans, actions, and accountability need to be put in place to make a dream be visible by the physical eye -otherwise it is nothing more than a good idea. Setting a goal that you have faith in but not acting to achieve it is just as useful as a starving person knowing there is food in the pantry but doesn't walk the 10 feet through the kitchen to get it. Just remember that "If you do what you've always done then you'll get what you've always gotten." To achieve something you have never accomplished before means you will need to do things you have never done before. Change is hard, but necessary. It can be scary but being afraid is not being faithful. The benefits that come from making proper changes to reach a goal far out way any awkwardness or insecurity felt at first.
Gordon B. Hinckley said "The Lord would want you to be successful." Its up to each of us to make that happen.

"Perspective is a lovely hand to hold"

So after much deep thinking, I realized I needed to take an experience I had tonight and re-enter the blogging world.
As you may or may not know, I work at the MTC teaching missionaries. Tonight, I was watching them in the TA (Formerly known as the TRC) and I was paying specific attention to one elder who has struggled with self confidence since day one. I was amazed to see him literally glowing with the Spirit as he taught with power and spoke with boldness. I could feel the Spirit through the tv screen as I watched him in the other room as I watched him. The investigator he and his companion were teaching was not reacting well to them however as he tried to "Bible Bash" with them. Upon realizing his lack of Bible knowledge, the elder began to get nervous and his glow was quickly changed to fear and the lesson went south (figuratively speaking). After the lesson I talked to them and I was surprised to hear how negative they both felt about a lesson that I thought was groundbreaking. After a slight pep talk things got a little better and they realized they did all they could do and the investigator was choosing to ignore the Spirit.
What shocked me the most was that the elder didn't even realize how powerful of a teacher he had been in the lesson and that he didn't notice how his humble testimony invited the Spirit. All he could think about was how little he knew about the Bible and so he left himself be consumed with discouragement. It got me thinking a lot about "perspective" and about how you can choose what to look at. You can choose to see the good or the bad -they are both always there. Every single person in this world makes mistakes and has bad days, its just up to you on how you deal with them. I then began to think about the whole "eternal perspective" and how to keep a perspective of God's eternal plan you would have to focus on the good in life. If you didn't then you wouldn't have a desire to follow Christ or to repent.
I was about this far in my mind wandering to realize that all Satan tries to do is change people's perspective. If he can get someone to think in the moment rather than think about eternal consequences then he wins -game over. Really all he does is get people to shift their focus from something divine and eternal to something worldly or carnal. Whether its getting you to throw away eternal blessings for brief happiness or getting you to focus on items that don't matter or even all the bad things in life, no matter what it pulls you away from experiencing the blessings and happiness that a loving Heavenly Father wants you to have. Satan will put whatever he can in front of you to make you lose sight of the prize.
Its as though consistently you need to ask yourself "How does this help me draw closer to Christ?" as though it filters everything you do. And if it doesn't help you draw closer to him, I'll use a line from Preach My Gospel to advise what to do. "You and your companion should consider whether the activity is worth your time." If it doesn't help you become closer to the Savior then there is no point in doing it or thinking about it.
Well that's the sum of my thoughts tonight. It doesn't even bother me that, since I have been home from my mission for 3 weeks, I can't talk about anything not gospel related. Until next time.