Conference Saturday

I love conference. I love the feeling that comes into my home when we turn the television on and the songs of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir fill the air...whenever they sing, you can't help but feel the Spirit. It was particularly touching to hear Elder Wirthlin's remarks about love and then see it demonstrated as Elder Nelson stood to support his dear friend. Deseret Book recently put the rush job on Elder Wirthlin's new book (he only gave DB two months to publish the book...it was released in September) appropriately titled, "Press On."

This Sunday I'll be teaching Sunday School. The lesson is "Jesus Christ: the author and finisher of our faith" mainly covering Hebrews. As part of my preparation, I was intrigued by the word believe. There are certain passages that say unbelief is seeing but being unable to perceive or understand. It made me reflect on the many times I've sat in a sacrament meeting, but I wasn't really there...particularly fast Sundays when I think about what I'll eat for lunch or wish I could go home and sleep! Sometimes this happens in my scripture study when I read out of obedience just before I fall asleep, but don't get anything out of it. It is sometimes discouraging, especially when this happens over a period of time and I don't feel the Spirit.

Christ's words, "Doubt not, but be believing" have new significance. This is further expounded in Doctrine and Covenants: "Search diligently,, ^bpray always, and be believing, and ^call things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly and remember the ^dcovenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another." It's something you work towards...being a disciple and doesn't just come easy or free.

I Haven't Found the Right Person, Slash, Uncanny Ability to Find Flaws In Those I Date Trap

There is a very good article in the September 2007 edition of Ensign called "My Conversion to Eternal Marriage" by James Welch. It is an insightful article about how to get out of the "I haven't found the right person-slash-uncanny ability to find flaws in those I date" trap. I encourage you to read it or to stick your tongue to the pages and try and rip it out of the magazine. (just because I said that someone will try it...you know they will).

I'm going to trade mark "I haven't found the right person, slash, Uncanny ability to find flaws in those I date trap". Let's make some t-shirts. They be up for sale in a few weeks on From the Trenches. That's how people make money these days right? Making t-shirts. Check these out. www.8tees.com or www.sundaydriveshirts.com.  They are great.

This article made me think. I asked myself if I have a testimony of eternal marriage. I thought I did. I don't have a testimony of eternal marriage. I'd be willing to bet that there isn't a single person in the LDS-never-been-married community that does. It goes against the eternal laws that govern the Plan of Salvation. To gain a testimony of an eternal principle such as tithing, you have to obey the principle then as your faith and obedience are rewarded you gain a true testimony. Testimonies of individual principles are gained one at a time.

It was encouraging to see that I don't have a testimony of this principle. It is great to realize that no matter how much I talk, write, or read about marriage, only after the test of my faith (more so of my wife's faith) and marriage, I will truly have a testimony of this principle. I have a testimony of the blessings that come from obedience. I have a testimony that marriage is a commandment (I'm reminded every week by my mother, church curriculum, and my friend who threw their 20's away for marriage). The testimonies I hold of two separate principles do not equal a testimony of marriage. I'm totally okay with that. 

I do have a testimony of dates one through three, never letting my sisters set me up with their friends, and TiVo. Why do those who got married at age 18-22 insist that everyone should get married at that age? My sister, who is happily married with 3 kids, said, "Because misery loves company." Those who get married before they can go to a club or rent a car have lost all credibility when it comes to pre-marriage relationship advice. Please don't encourage others to dive head first into the kiddy pool.

Under construction!!

Hey friends-

We're having some technical diffuculties right now and the blog has been put on hold for a bit. I am so sorry, I know it's too soon, but things already need to be changed around. Keep checking in periodically to find out what's going to happen! In the meantime, enjoy your lives and thanks for stoppin by. :)

G

Be kind, please rewind..

Today I started a new job. While I am so excited about my new adventures, and I definitely think this job is a much better fit (with much better perks) I have to tell you, I'm quite hurt that things ended the way that they did in my old job. I worked as the marketing manager for a certain company we'll call X for several months, and years actually (as I graduated from college I was promoted up). About 4 months ago, things started going sour, and I never could really figure out why, so about 3 months ago, when I started to realize it wasn't going to get better, I started looking for a new job. I would scan Craigslist and Monster for hours on end everyday, begging the Lord for help- and eventually (and timing wise-perfectly) my faith paid off, and the Lord extended his merciful arm yet again and saved me from my personal hell called "my job".

I was so thrilled- I let my boss know well in advance (about a month ago) that I would be leaving and we sat together and made a list of all the things I needed to do before I left. Here's the thing though...even though I finished everything on the list that we agreed upon, she still made my life a living hell for the last two weeks of work. For the last two weeks, no one on the management team (all the people I was supposedly working with) would talk to me. No matter how many emails I sent out, or how many phone calls I made, I was denied responses and return phone calls over and over. People treated me like I had a disease when they were forced to be around me. If they didn't have to be around me, they avoided me at all costs. And even though I finally got the H out of there, I still feel a ton of anxiety. I can't even tell you the last time I've left a job not on good terms. I'm not a bridge burner typically...I always leave saying things like, "If you need anything, feel free to call", or "let me know what I can do to help you out." If I was the boss, I would've probably sent out an email saying something like, "Thanks for everything you've contributed, good luck in the future; let me know how things are going", just because I like to leave things on good terms. Even if I didn't care much for the individual! Notice that in my short blurb, there was no "come back to work for me anytime" or even, "if you need another reference, feel free to put me down". No, but it's still a short smooth over. I sent her about 10 emails, saying thank you again and again for all the of experience and opportunities she gave me, hoping to provoke any type of reaction such as, "you're welcome, good luck", and yet- no response. Because there wasn't even a "smell you later", I feel really burned...even though I was the one that chose to leave. I'm so bothered by this whole thing...which only serves to reinforce in me the desire to be kind to others.

I don't have a huge pedestal to climb tonight- I just want to say...be kind, even to those you don't like. I seriously don't know what I did that was so offensive to my boss; but whatever I did, I did it in ignorance. I would never try to tick off the boss! So many times we offend others accidentally- as the person that's offended sometimes this is hard to remember, esp in the moment. But usually most of us don't do it on purpose. So cut someone a break! Remember how humbling it can be when someone else extends some mercy or kindness to you when you don't always deserve it??? Whether you are too nice, or not nice enough, your attitude and actions towards others goes a long way. Remember that and be kind to someone today. (Like the rhyme, eh???)

Word.

G

Beam Me Up and Stuff

Tonight i went to an interfaith dialogue. The night's discussion: theological differences in the Nature of God between Mormons and Evangelicals. Fascinating. The hosting church got ambushed with flack and animosity from their Christian peers on a popular LA Christian radio program last week. Not-so-fascinating. Why can't we all just get along? (BL quotes Shakespeare, G quotes GBH- and yes, i quote Rodney King.)

I will also quote my wise friend KK; tonight he said, "God did not call us intelligent, He called us intelligences." I thought that was really profound, and conclusive of our night. My Evangelical neighbors believed differently than i do on most of the subjects we discussed. In trying to teach them about my theology and answer their questions, i had to approach ideas i was taught in primary from a different angle. I also had to dig into the basic doctrine that i had taught simply as a missionary in a new attitude. I learned that even though i thought i knew the doctrine in and out, up and down. . . there is more to learn. Even about the basics.

This is why i am glad i am a learning, and growing intelligence. Especially growing by absorbing the gospel. I am grateful for experiences that make me question what i believe so that i can become even stronger. Why should I rely on the doctrines of men and of popular theories to guide me? I understand the nature of God, the Father of my intelligence, and i know that i can go directly to Him as THE source of light and knowledge.

If you've never questioned what you believe- i suggest you start.

. . . But maybe don't start at my friend's church. I say this because I was invited to their "not boring church service"and their current services series is "How the Bible relates to Star Wars." Hmmmmm. .. entertaining? yes. educating for intelligences? uh, i don't think so.

One does not simply ROCK into Mordor

The Great Dane--Hamlet, not Scooby Doo--once asked rhetorically, "To be or not to be: that is the question ..." He also went on to spout off platitudes about this and that and about whether it's more noble to suffer outrageous fortune or to take arms against a sea of troubles. Now, the interesting point of this bit of hullabaloo isn't seeing Mel Gibson with a Caesar haircut, nor is it the morbid fact that he's conversing all of this to a skull. No, the main point that ole Mad Max is trying to get across, through the pen of Bill Shakespeare, is that ultimately we have the choice of "being" or of "not being."

And not to beat the free agency topic into a lifeless pulp (of unrecognizable manna from heaven), but the truest act we'll ever see on the stage of life is us choosing. Many of you have probably read the Alchemist or another similarly penned tale about finding your true destiny. And it--or they--makes a great point: That favorability helps us to find our treasure. Or, to clarify things a bit further, we each have unique talents and gifts--facilities that come easily for us--and these strengths and innate abilities steer us toward the destination that will make us most happy.

So gird up your loins--literally, if you're into contact sports--and choose to use your agency and start making an impact. But be patient. It takes time.

And if you can't currently shred like Mister Ed Halen, don't worry. It doesn't mean you can't put in the practice and learn. Just remember to be attentive to what comes natural to you and start developing those skills first.

Then you can worry about tapping that axe later.