Euler's Identity

Screen cap of the Identity,
by way of WolframAlpha

If you were to name the single most beautiful equation, what would you say? Would you say the first thing to come into your mind, such as 2+2=4? Something a bit more complex but still conceivable, such as the Pythagorean Theorem? Or would you agree with the readers of The Mathematical Intelligencer and name Euler's Identity as number one?

So, what is Euler's Identity if it's so great? Simple explanation, check Wikipedia. It is based off of Euler's Theorem, and combines 5 amazing numbers, as explained in the article. I've seen the proof, yet it still boggles my mind a little bit to think that numbers as hard to understand as e and π could be reconciled into a simple, logical number, let alone throwing i into the mix. Despite the difficulty of fully understanding this concept, I still hold it as a fact and I think that this is a wonderful example of math working despite our lack of knowledge of how it works.

I've mentioned this idea of knowledge based on faith before. Just as I have seen the proof of this identity and can tell you that it is good, I've tested The Book of Mormon and can tell you it is true. You need to do this for yourself, since that is the only sure way you can learn of the truth. You will discover a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and learn that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the restored church on the earth. You have my testimony before you, and now you need to test it out for yourself.

Wrestling

One of my first real moments of applying the scriptures to myself happened a few years ago, after I'd been wrestling for a while. It involved taking something I'd heard in the scriptures countless times, and applying it to something that was new in my life in a way I hadn't though of before.

I'm on the left, crossing my feet. Still need to learn.

For those that know a bit about wrestling, there are many facets of the sport that are required to be mastered before you can be even a little good, such as how to stand (stance), how to attack (shoot), how to defend (sprawl), how to win (pin or score points). The first thing that I learned was that this was going to be hard, after 45 minutes or so of near solid running during the first practice. The next thing I'm not sure, but one of the early instructions was on how to improve my stance. Stay low, stay on your toes, don't cross your feet, and keep a stiff neck. Another time I learned how to improve my defense and avoid being pinned. Control my center of gravity, stay off my back, and be ready to keep my neck stiff. With offense, the key was speed, form, and using my neck at times to control where I was going.

Do you see the common thread? During a sport like wrestling, having a strong neck will help you go where you want to go and prevent you from being subject to the wiles of your opponent. When almost on my back, I could keep going if I just had my neck rigid and keeping my shoulders off the mat. When facing somebody better on his feet than I was, if I kept my neck strong I'd be able to shrug off some of his attacks and not be whipped around by him. I was then reading in the scriptures and remembered all the times that "stiff necks"(2 Nephi 28:14) or "stiffnecked people" (Mosiah 13:29) where mentioned and condemned. Why would something so essential in one activity be condemned in religion? Because of the person we are being stiffnecked against.

In wrestling, having a stiff neck is you resisting your opponent's will and going your own direction. This is the idea and goal. In scriptures, having a stiff neck is resisting the will of God and instead striving to do your own thing. This is being prideful and will only result in frustration and humbling experiences. What we need to do is to shake our necks out, relax them for a while, and follow the directions of the prophets, both ancient and modern. As we do that we will find greater peace and ability in our lives, for we know God "will guide you into all truth" (John 16:13) and bring us happiness. I know that I've experienced my truest joy as I follow the gospel of Jesus Christ, and that you can too.

This was not my first moments of "applying" scripture to myself. I've often read 1 Nephi 3:7 and thought to myself "Yeah, I just need to go and do and the Lord will provide a way," and that is certainly a way to apply the scriptures to our lives. The next step is to see how anything we do can be related to the scriptures, and so our scripture study becomes meaningful and significant every day. I know that you can find similar mental bridges between the scriptures and yourself, and that in doing so you will find your scripture study personally significant every single day.

Star What? Firewhy? My Take on Sci-fi

Science fiction. What does it mean to you? Does it mean stories of far off worlds, speculative guesses into mankind's future or aliens? Does it just mean Star Wars or more? Is Star Trek the only television show or does Doctor Who ring a bell through time and Firefly make you mad at Fox? Science fiction is an amazing genre, one that I've grown up with (my parents met at a certain magazine's meetings). I've read about "utopias", outright dystopias, and spaceships. I've seen classics, westerns, and giant blue people. It is a genre of speculation and adapting to circumstances. It has concepts interesting for the simple imagination, and others for their value applied to us.

As you've read through the questions in the first paragraph, you may have chuckled at recognition with some of the mentioned items, thought "why even mention that trash," or each of the things I've mentioned might be completely new to you. This is true for most genres or things that people disagree on, but as a missionary my duty is to bring the Book of Mormon to your attention. This is a book that you likewise may have good, bad, or nonexistent experience with. I tell you now, that this is a book that is true and that your previous experience doesn't matter. Instead, your future experience is what can change your life and it all starts with reading and being ready for a mighty change of heart. Trust me, my experience is not something that I could lie about.

Challenge

This blog post as I write.

Blogs are a challenge. Writing, even before throwing a blog into the mix, can be challenging. It involves coming up with ideas, editing them into a readable format, and going through the time and skill it takes to turn the ideas into text. Then comes blogs, with the necessary pressure of writing something for potentially everybody on the Internet, be they dearest of friends or strangers with malignant intent. I don't mean to simply complain; writing this blog is requiring skills and thoughts that I have never used before, and so I write without the full amount of confidence I would like. However, I know a few things that make this easier. I know the truth of the message I share. I know how it can help your life. I know what it's like to read something online. I know that you are at the potential beginning of wonderful things to come.

I now submit a challenge to you: read the Book of Mormon (it's free!). I can't make you do it, but I can tell you that if I am writing a blog, you can do the simple thing and read a book with the hope to learn something new and true. If you truly desire for a better understanding of things or how you can have more happiness in your life, you will find what you are looking for in this book. I know that the message I share is true, has blessed my life, will bless yours if you allow it, and all you need to do to know for yourself the same thing is to start by reading the Book of Mormon.

On Infinite

If you were asked to describe infinity, what would you say? The basic definition is "An unbounded quantity greater than every real number" (WolframAlpha). If you follow the link, you'll see that there is a more in depth answer given as well, which includes some mathematical stuff. However, can you grasp it in its entirety? For example, take an infinite amount of something. Take a finite amount away, be it 1 or 10^100000000  (that's a 1 with 100000000 zeros after it) or even more, and you still have an infinite amount. This is something that is basically impossible for the human mind to grasp, since when we think of an amount we almost always can think of a larger amount.

Now, there are many scriptures that reference infinite or a similar word, eternity. What is an unfortunate fact of being human is that we cannot fathom what eternity means, yet we are told to be "even as [Jesus Christ]" (3 Nephi 27:27) and to be "perfect, even as [our] Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48). How can we, imperfect humans that we are, become perfect?

The yellow is what is being measured

Instead of answering that immediately, try out a thought experiment and think of the largest number that you can think of. Now, add one to it. You now have a larger number. You can keep going forever. Now, think of the smallest (absolute value) number you can. Then divide it by 2. Same problem. Yet the smallest numbers, when added together, can still be greater than the largest. Don't believe me? Take it to a calculator. What this link is doing is taking 1/1 plus 1/2 and so forth until it is 1/∞(which equals 0), or is the area under the graph of 1/x (represented by the yellow just above), and comparing it to 1000000. The smallest numbers added together are infinite, and so they are naturally bigger than any number you can input.

How does this apply to us becoming perfect? Each step we take towards perfection is small in the scheme of things. We become better people "line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little" (2 Nephi 28:30). It is through the combination of all the "lines," "precepts," and "little" things that we eventually become perfect. Just as the integral of 1/x eventually becomes infinite, so too do our lives eventually become perfect as we use Christ's strengthening and infinite Atonement to better our lives a little bit each day.

Faith and Knowledge

I consider myself relatively well educated. I enjoyed learning, be it from books or from experiments. One of my early goals in life was to read every book in the non-fiction section of the library. I did not accomplish this goal, but I did learn much including the fact that most books on the same subject hold the same information (there's only so many ways you can say that sharks are endangered or what the boiling point of water is). Almost all the things I learned, however, I had to take in faith. I have never touched the sun, but I can read that the surface temperature is around 5500°C. How can I learn this if I've never seen the test done? By trusting that the scientists who have done it wouldn't lie to the world. Furthering this dilemma, how can those scientists know that the test was successful? It's not as if they can verify it completely without a bit of doubt. They can only repeat the test enough times that the law of large numbers comes into effect. This is the way science works, because otherwise it would only be guessing perpetually without any facts to build and work on.

Many people partially apply principles of science to religion. They want some sort of proof, be it a sign or evidence in the world that there is a god, just like scientists are required to cite their reproducible experiments. A common response is that "all things denote there is a God" (Alma 30:44) but this is not good enough for them. They want a proof that these things denote God, or some thing they can test themselves. This is where they tend to stop applying science, giving up on understanding instead of finding a test they can do. They then hide behind the idea of science, when they haven't even followed through! This frustrates me to no end.

Gravity in action.

For example, do you know exactly why gravity works? You can research and learn from experts and get a good idea, but you can't do the same experiments unless you have the same equipment laying about (one test included 4 atomic clocks on 2 plane rides. Another measured Mercury's apparent shift in orbit by a few inches). You can do simple tests, such as dropping a tennis ball and a bowling ball, and find the results are consistent with the experts' opinions, but rarely will you be able to do the same tests. Since you are being a scientist, you accept this limitation and use the experts' published facts.

The same should be done with religion. You can research from the experts by reading scriptures and modern-day revelation, understanding what it is about and how you can apply it to your life, but you won't have the same experiences since you probably don't have the full measure of faith or responsibility they have. You can, however, try out the simple tests that are available to you and decide based on your personal results what to believe. Just as you wouldn't say gravity is a lie because you don't know the full truth, the same should be true of religion. And just as you can know for yourself if gravity affects your daily life, the same happens to be true of religion. So, are you going to be a scientist to the end and base your opinions on your results, or hide behind somebody's opinion instead of forming your own?

Opinions and Truths

How many buttons? More than an Xbox.

One of the first things you should know about me is that I love computer games. I also enjoy other video games, but they never give the same amount of control as a computer. Two joysticks are simply not as good as a mouse and wasd, and a keyboard has so many more inputs than any controller I've ever seen; just look at it! I'm not here to step on anybody's preferences, since opinions are diverse and we are all free to have them. I know some love the two joysticks and the finesse they give, and there are many other ways to play. I can't say I've tried every game and every way to play it, but I do know what I like and you'll have a hard time convincing me to change just by listing the merits of one way or another. I will admit that I could be convinced if I was given the chance to learn and try out a different method for long enough. It's just an opinion, I can change all the time.

On the other hand, I find it hard to choose a favorite movie or a favorite game. I see a movie or play a game, and I can enjoy it quite thoroughly. However, I have learned how to analyze my entertainment with a different eye and I can find flaws in almost everything I enjoy. As such, I hesitate to call a certain movie or game my favorite because I can see its flaws and I don't want somebody to associate the flaws with what I like. I have decided certain movies are high quality, such as Toy Story (1-3) and Serenity, but these choices are conscious decisions based partly on nostalgia and a love of the genre. This means they might have less weight on you, but I have the right to base my opinion on whatever I want. Of course, if you don't like sci-fi you probably won't even give Serenity a chance, but that's okay. It's just an opinion, and it doesn't have to be based on anything.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ, however, is not an opinion to me. It is a matter of truth, even of absolute truth. Unlike how to play a game, it is true for all people of all situations, times and circumstances. Unlike a favorite movie, it doesn't matter if you like the genre or if you've studied out every little flaw and defect. I did not come to this knowledge because of lengthy testing to see if I like it more than others. I did not choose based on studying it and reasoning that it is the best. I know of this truth because I followed a simple test and found the result to be positive. Trying out a different one will not change my mind. Reasoning against me will only frustrate one of us. Likewise, ignoring me will only harm one of us. Indeed, part of knowing this truth is that you need it as well. You need the truth that can only be found in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You have your agency to choose, but I know that the result of your choice is simple: "liberty and eternal life... or... captivity and death" (2 Nephi 2:27). Please, choose liberty and start by giving the Book of Mormon a chance.

Thermite: Reaction

I've already explained what a thermite reaction is. I've already compared the different parts of this reaction for your understanding. Now I'll tie it all back together, and you can decide if you want a part of this.

My comparison has been leading to conversion, and how similar it is to a thermite reaction. True conversion is an amazing thing, can light others on fire (spiritually), and won't stop working for the person under normal or even many abnormal circumstances. It takes a few key ingredients to work, and won't happen by accident. It will be an unforgettable moment in your life, and you can experience it by following a simple recipe. However, it is just the first step. After the initial reaction, some heat remains but it is all too possible for everything to cool off completely if more action isn't done.

If you have worked properly and are ready to hear the truth, when it hits you amazing things will happen. If you feel the feelings mentioned in Galatians while working on your prayers and study, that is how you can gain the same type of conversion that you might hear others talk about, be it Peter of old or Brian of mormon.org. Recognize the stirrings within you, and talk to your missionaries. You will not regret it. However, you need to act on it. Be ready and willing to change your life, or your feelings will stop just as a fire will eventually go out unless action is taken.

Now that my comparison is complete, I would like to take this opportunity to share something personal. This is my path along the process of conversion. I've stated that I've gained this conversion through revelation by the power of the Holy Ghost. This started when I was quite young, maybe 5 or 6 years old, and I only fully realized it a few months ago when I was trying to pinpoint my conversion. Hopefully you'll be more aware of your life than I was.

So, my parents were "Mormons" since they were young. They've both served missions and are great examples of living righteously and have helped me grow up. Despite the way they can affect my actions, I still needed to decide for myself. I remember one church meeting when the speaker was talking about the necessity of asking in prayer if the Book of Mormon is true. I, being maybe 6 years old, felt a great desire to do this. I knew that this was something I needed to do. I took that moment right then and there to kneel down next to the pew and say a prayer. I don't remember the words of that prayer, I don't remember the rest of that day or what I was feeling after that prayer. However, I knew that I needed to. Because I didn't get that answer right away, I didn't do too much. I lived my life, I obeyed my parents, I was active and willing in the church. However, I was rarely annoyed about going to church, I learned the stories, and I never doubted them. I tell you now that I know that my simple and heartfelt prayer between the pews that day opened the way for a knowledge to steadily and stealthily grow as I always felt good about the Book of Mormon. Now I am trying to share this wealth of joy with you.

I have since felt the "fruits of the Spirit" so many times in connection with my church activity. I felt them while listening to others talk of their conversion, I felt it while talking about truth, I've felt it now while I share this precious moment with you. I know now that because of my simple prayer as a young boy, I can tell you that I know that Jesus Christ has restored His church today. I know this more than anything else, be it simple math or advanced history. And I know that you can know this just as much as I do.
Read the Book of Mormon. Pray to know if it's true. Be willing to listen and act on your answer.
I did.

Thermite: Ignition

We've got the ingredients assembled, and we're waiting to see sparks fly. Something is missing; a pile of rust and aluminum shavings are just sitting there, and nothing has happened. This is where the ingredient is no longer in the control of the thermite mixer. This is the final edge, the last thing that's required for a thermite reaction, and needs to be special. A normal fire at the end of a match or a lighter won't light thermite. You need something hot enough to light the aluminum, such as magnesium. You need to be prepared for what happens next, since it will be quite the experience.

Just like with thermite, the final push for your "reaction" will be out of your hands. It needs to be extremely special, and it comes by the power of the Holy Ghost. No phony imitation will do. If you have a good thermite mixture, filled with good study and earnest prayer, the Holy Ghost will have the ability to ignite you and push you on your way to conversion. Be prepared; this is where the magic happens.

So how can you ignite the spiritual mixture you've been working on? As I said, it is through divine power that it will happen. All we can do is strive to be as receptive to it as possible. We know that the Spirit speaks in a still small voice (Helaman 5:30). How can we hope to hear if we are busy doing things that drown out his voice? How can we listen for the divine prompting if we are focused on an addicting or distracting behavior? You need to calm your environment and listen for the spark that can "pierce [you] even to the very soul" and ignite the preparation you've already gone through.

Another problem is that too many people don't realize that the revelation you will receive is rarely the 3000°+ burning of a strip of magnesium or a visit from an angel. It is quite often the gentle and calm "fruits of the Spirit" talked about in Galatians 5:22-23. The problem with not realizing this fact is that if you are searching for those visions and signs, it is quite possible that you will miss the small voice I've already talked about. If you are paying attention and notice these feelings, it is only because you have a suitable mixture of study and prayer. We know that the Spirit helps us "know the truth of all things" (Moroni 10:5) and we know that "God [can] not lie" (Enos 1:6). You will only feel the fruits of the Spirit if and only if you partake of truth; if you feel these fruits, you must know that the Book of Mormon is true. If true, it was translated by the power of God through Joseph Smith. If he was guided by God, then He restored his church through Joseph Smith as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This line of logic continues to all aspects of the Church. See how a small spark can ignite so many things?

You have successfully studied words of truth, and you have properly humbled yourself in prayer. The Holy Ghost has blessed you with the spark to ignite this work, and now you have the blessing of a sure knowledge of the truth! What do you do with it now? Now you watch as the thermite reaction rages forth in a mighty experience. You go forth with the knowledge that you have. You experience conversion.

Thermite: Aluminum

Onward to the next ingredient: aluminum. This is where the fire is, and this is what is actually burning. While the rust makes it possible to burn as long as there is heat by providing oxygen, the aluminum makes it possible to burn at high temperatures due to its high boiling point. It can be slightly harder to get, but it is also used in so many applications that it's seen more often than rust in some situations. For thermite, it needs to be untainted and a fine powder.

In my comparison, this is prayer. The reaction you'll be experiencing will be during or because of a prayer. You might not be comfortable just praying right off the bat, or you might pray every hour of the day already. Regardless of your previous experience with prayer, the prayer you'll need for this is special and focused towards a specific purpose.

The main purpose of your prayer will be to know if the studying you've been doing is good, or, in other words, if the Book of Mormon is true. Fortunately, we have guidelines to help us know how to go about praying for this specific purpose. It is found in Moroni 10:4, where we learn the key parts from each clause of the sentence:

1. "ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ,": Pray to Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ. I know that there are those that are uncomfortable doing this, but this goes along with testing the fruit to see if it is good. Give it a try, you never know what might happen.
2. "if these things are not true;": Have a question in your mind and in your prayer. Simple enough, right?
3. "ask with a sincere heart,": To get your answer, you must mean your question. Asking flippantly, asking because somebody is telling you to, or asking with a closed mind will not work as well as desiring to know if God really has restored his Church in this day.
4. "with real intent,": This is where things get more interesting. While it sounds like the previous bit, it actually relates to your willingness to act on the answer. If you want to know if the Book of Mormon is true for scholarly reasons, you are less likely to receive your answer than if you want to know if it is true to help you decide if you should join the Church that I represent.
5. "having faith in Christ,": For most Christians, this is easy. Otherwise, remember that faith is related to hope (Hebrews 11:1 see also Alma 32:21), so having a hope in Christ is the first step towards having faith.
6. "he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.": This is a promise. The previous 5 parts are the ingredients and instructions of the recipe; this is the result.

You have received a promise that you can know about the truth of the Book of Mormon yourself. It might not be easy to refine your prayer for such a specific purpose, but I know that it is possible and you will get your answer. I know that I have, and that it took many years before this promise was realized in my life. You can trust me and the millions of others that all promise that this knowledge has blessed our lives. Or you can take this recipe up and find out for yourself.


Now, if you've been following along, you have successfully gathered some studying and spent some time praying. You've created your thermite mixture; now you just need to light it and you'll have an amazing reaction.

Thermite: Rust

To begin this comparison, we'll start with rust. It is by far the most common ingredient. Anybody can find rust, and many times it is an unwanted thing. However, rust itself won't work. It needs to be fine enough, and if it is really just dirt or impure it won't work.

As to the Gospel, this is study. Just as with rust, anybody can find time for study, many people dislike it, and studying things that aren't true will make the final reaction a dud.

In order to prepare yourself for your personal "thermite reaction", you must read the scriptures and other sources of truth. But how can you know if what you are studying is true? The answer is in the final reaction. If it works, it must have been good. This is the same principle found in Matthew 7:15-18. If what you study brings forth good fruit (a successful and awesome reaction), then it must be good.

I want you to study the Book of Mormon. The reaction that I want to prepare you for includes knowledge concerning the Book of Mormon, whether it is true or not. The first step is studying it, which is more than just reading it. According to Moroni 10:3, you need to ponder it as well, which means to meditate and think deeply on what it says. When the Book of Mormon talks about God "[consecrating] thine afflictions for thy gain," (2 Nephi 2:1-2) consider how your life may have been shaped for the better by things that you've suffered through. This applies to all aspects of the Book of Mormon, and the more of this you do the more prepared you will be.

On the other hand, I do not think that studying material designed to create doubt, fear, or hatred will be beneficial. There are many people who desire to study something from all angles before they do anything, but they find things that are created for the intent of ruining your faith before it starts. These would be as helpful as gathering dirt for your thermite, for it creates an atmosphere opposite to what is needed for the later ingredients. You can study all you want, but don't look for the things that will ruin the reaction. If you do find something worrisome, make sure that it is truth and not slander, fact and not supposition. Ask your missionaries and listen to what they have to say.

If you get the right kind of rust, you'll know by the power of the reaction in the end. However, rust doesn't make the thermite burn. It only supplies the oxygen in a quick and ready source for the reaction. The reaction really takes place in the aluminum.