Analysis of Awesome

Something I've said quite often in the past is that something is awesome. It can be in a variety of contexts, used to describe a person, an object, or an event. For me, it has some special meaning that takes it beyond the simple "throwaway" compliment it can become in some vocabularies. There was one point in my life that I really remember defining in my mind what it has come to mean to me.

The chore we were discussing was the dishes

One afternoon, my younger sister and I were talking. We have two more younger siblings, and since she was older and more responsible than they she was asked to do yet another chore (or so it felt to her). As we are all want to do at times, she complained a little at this extra duty and I happened to overhear her. I remembered times in my childhood that I was in the very same situation, given more chores because I was able, willing, and responsible enough to do them. I then said something like this: "[Sister,] you are awesome. Now I know that that word comes off as a kind of meaningless word, but I really mean it. You are doing the work that another is not. You are doing the hard thing. You are not shirking, and so you have been asked to do more. This extra work is not something demeaning, it is not an insult. It one of the truest compliments you can receive. You are being told that you are awesome every time you are asked to do more. So stand up tall, square your shoulders, and think not of the drudgery that is before you. Think of the awesome that is in you."

Awesome doesn't just mean "cool" or "neat." Awesome is the description of inspiring awe, being a better you, and surpassing the normal standards of the world around us. It should be our ultimate goal. In the end, this is what the gospel of Jesus Christ is about. Not restricting us, not punishing us for our misdeeds, and not whitewashing all of us to be the same shade. The gospel is about making us awesome with the help of Christ. We are given commandments to let us know what to avoid and what will help us. We can learn about why there are consequences for our actions, using the momentary pain of a mistake and acting to be better because of it. I testify of the power of change, of the love our Savior has for each of us, and how that means that we can be awesome. Be motivated, think of the potential that is in you, and don't back down!

An Answer to Every Question

I was reading in last December's Ensign and I found an article that I thought was interesting. The title is what caught my attention, An Answer for Every "What If".  It appealed to my desire for some universal statement that can cover all sorts of situations, and it certainly started to. The author uses the Atonement to answer questions about "what if [something bad] happened?" The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the most amazing and powerful event that has ever happened on this planet, and it covers every injustice and injury possible. The Atonement can, if you let it, answer every "why me?" or "what if...?" question bringing you down.

He will fix all injustices and uncertainties

However, there are also other questions we might have. We might not understand the "Why...?" or the "How...?" or any number of things. This is a fine place to be! Having a question is part of the process of gaining knowledge. If we have a question, asking an authority will get us the answer. For instance, if we want to know the amount $100 from today would be equivalent in 1801 we could ask a data-bank instead of asking a stranger or somebody not trained to know the answer. Questions are best answered from a trustworthy source. However, all human based information has the potential for error. Representatives might be biased towards their company, any human can make a mistake, and even data-banks could have erroneous information. I sometimes wonder, where can we go to find a trustworthy source?

This is something that I, as a stranger (or even if you actually know me) on the other side of the Internet, cannot answer definitively for you. You are currently reading the words of a representative of my church, and I said earlier that representatives might be biased. This is why I put so much emphasis on reading the Book of Mormon and praying to know if it's true. While I cannot give you perfect knowledge, the Holy Ghost can and will. Moroni teaches this very principle; in Moroni 10:3-5 he exhorts everybody to ask to receive knowledge (I talked about these scriptures in a series of posts a while back). I especially like the shortest of those three verses: "And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." If there is anybody you can trust, it is God, who speaks through the Holy Ghost. He is the most trustworthy source of information possible, and if you sincerely desire, also the most available source. So, give it a try! What is there to lose (besides some time)? Or, more importantly, what is there to gain (measureless joy in this life and the next)?

Birthdays

The celebration of the day one is born is a big deal to some people in some cultures. I know that my family has used it as a time to celebrate the person, celebrate the good they have done in our lives and let them know how much we love them. I've always thought this was just the way things went; for my siblings birthdays I would compliment them, give gifts to them, do some of their chores, etc. On my birthday, I'd enjoy the displays of love that I'd receive. I think this is a rather standard view on birthdays, a day of self indulgence and joy.

A birthday cake, the universal symbol of growing older and having fun

One December birthday, while celebrating my father's birthday, my dad did something that changed how I think about birthdays. It was my dad's day; we kids were trying to be nice to each other, by good to our mother, and making my dad's day worthy of being called as such. Then, at the birthday party where everybody was gathered (including my grandma, his mom), my dad produced a bouquet of flowers to give to my grandma. He then proceeded to thank her for all the things she had done in his life, not the least of which was giving him life. After all, we didn't do all that much on our first birthday; it was almost all our mother's work.

This act of humility, of taking something I had been taking for granted and looking at the source of the blessing, will forever make me think of the things my mom has done for me. My birthday, while certainly a fun time to hear well wishes, is a time to thank those around me, to thank my mom, but to also thank my God. I am thankful for my life, both its basic existence and also for the bountiful blessings I've experienced. I am grateful for the many reminders I have of my own inadequacies, and the chance I have, through Christ and His Atonement, to perfect myself and become a better person. My birthday was yesterday, but every day I have the chance to be thankful, be humble, and be faithful. I hope you use your time to look for the good things, and then your life will be filled with them.

Enduring to the End and Power Stance

For the newcomers, I wrestled in high school. I still think it is one of the great contests of skill and strength, even after the intervening time that I've been able to play basketball and other popular sports with fellow missionaries. I also still think it has some of the greatest teaching opportunities. I remember one wrestling match I had, against another team with a history of winning and the specific guy I was against was ranked much higher than I was. This story will involve some terms specific to wrestling, and to save space here I will direct you to an article on the rules.

Amazingly, I was able to get ahead during the first two (of three) periods and most of the third. Not only was I ahead, but I had three points on this guy and I was feeling good. There was only 30 seconds left, and we were both on our feet. Since the guy I was wrestling had much more experience than I did (I had at most one year and he surely had three or four years, if not more, under his belt), winning by a small margin would be all I could hope for. I didn't need any more points, and if I got too adventurous I could easily have put myself in disadvantageous position and maybe even have gotten pinned. All I needed to do was endure without making a mistake, but also not retreat (that's called stalling and costs points). I needed to "power stance."

A standard wrestling match for me

Power Stance is what my coaches would tell us to keep pushing, be aggressive and make your foe understand that you aren't done, but don't do anything that might compromise your win. It takes power and endurance in the last period, and is not easy. You are tired, you've just used all of your strength and agility to get ahead, and after everything is left on the mat you need to leave a bit more. It might be the hardest thing you've ever done, yet it is essential to keep going in order to win.

Unfortunately for my record, I did not power stance properly. I was overconfident and my foe took advantage of a foot that slipped too far and I was too weak in bringing it back. He took me down, and even got near to pinning me, and in those last 30 seconds I gave up 5 points and lost the match. I now look back, and though I know that that one match wouldn't have changed too much of my life I still wish I could have endured a little bit better.

All of us have the opportunity every day to endure, be it well or not. Our life is much like a wrestling match, one where we are ahead at the start and as we apply Christ's grace into our lives. However, we are still constantly under attack, and if we slip up we are always in danger of falling under the influence of Satan. We too need to use a "power stance," or a certain method of aggressively protecting ourselves from his attacks. As we listen to the words of God, found in scripture or the words of His prophets, we will be educating ourselves as to how to power stance. As we apply the things we learn, we'll be properly holding the power stance. And as we execute the power stance all the way to the end of our life, we will hear those blessed words: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21).

Ordinances and Ordnance

My brother, me, and a big bullet

Ordnance is a term for military hardware used to hurt other military things. More accurately, it refers to military equipment in a general sense, but I came to learn of it through the US Army Ordnance Museum while it was in Aberdeen, MD. Thus, my early exposure to ordnance involved tanks. Tanks and bombs and coastal defense guns that shot shells longer than I am tall. It was a treasured opportunity to walk around, read the plaques that were up, and just see the awesome that is in modern military power. Of course, it also afforded my mom a time to send the kids out of the house with my dad and have a relaxing Mother's Day afternoon.

Ordnance can cover many things, ranging from the things that shoot to the things that are shot, the things that move to the things that keep them moving. It is a broad term, and if you are like me and fascinated by things that explode it can hold your interest for a while.

An ordinance is a term used in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints quite often to refer to the sacred rituals including the Sacrament, Baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. They require a proper authority, or the priesthood, in order to be performed correctly and be valid. This authority can only be confirmed by the laying on of hands by one who currently holds that authority, and was restored to Joseph Smith through the same method.

Ordinances can also cover many things, from weekly Sacrament to sacred Baptism. They are the keys to eternal life. They are what separate the true church of Jesus Christ from others, because of the authority that is required. They are the biggest change available to you today and can bless your life with peace, happiness, and comfort that comes with following Christ.

The biggest similarity between these two words is the sound. Ordinance has a single extra letter. Yet with that extra letter it also carries such importance. Don't take my word for it; read the Book of Mormon and ask to know if it's true. God would only reveal such a document to somebody called to do so; acceptance of the Book of Mormon is acceptance of Joseph Smith as a prophet and the LDS Church as the true church of Christ on the earth. I've learned this for myself, and I know I am a happier person because of it. Now it can be your turn.

That Time of the Year

For the past month, maybe even two for some, we have been hearing about Christmas. It is an incredibly exciting time of the year, full of increased media attention, sales, releases, and family. I love it! When I think of Christmas, I think of the fun times I've had with my family, the delicious food I've eaten, and the eventful stories I've been a part of (what childhood is complete without a flaming santa hat or Christmas dinner on the floor?). At the same time, I would be remiss if I didn't talk about what the Christmas celebration should be about as well as what it tends to be about.

I have often heard that we need to "remember the reason for the season." I agree, but I also want to emphasize a different angle than the standard birth of Jesus idea. I want to talk, rather, on the life of Jesus instead. Christmas is a wonderful celebration not because it's the celebration of our Saviors birthday but because it's a celebration of our Savior. Christ came to the earth, to "[descend] below all" (Doctrine and Covenants 122:8) so that he could raise us up at the last day. The best gift to all the earth, the Atonement, is the reason for the season!

The best part is that we can definitely keep this reason alive in our hearts throughout the year. Acts of service, following His commandments, and reading the scriptures. These are all ways to "feel the Christmas spirit" of Christ. I love the Christmas season, and more than that I love the Spirit I feel as I follow Christ. If you want to learn more about my beliefs in Christ, check out the Jesus Christ portion of mormon.org.

What I Am Thankful For: Big Things

This last week (since Tuesday, up to Today) I've been saying things I'm grateful for. I've mentioned silly things, such as celery, and serious things, such as modern technology. I am thankful for each of the things I've mentioned, as well as many other things, but today I'd like to be thankful for the truly life changing things that come from my membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I am thankful for the prophet Joseph Smith Jr. I am grateful for the faith and endurance that he showed and that God used to restore the true church again on the earth. I am also grateful for the early Church members, that suffered at the hands of others and that endured anyway and so built the foundation for the Church that I am a member of. I am grateful for the prophets and leaders that have since led us under Christ's direction. I am grateful for the history that has led up to me being here today.

I am grateful for the truths that I know. I am grateful for the revelations given to the living prophets and prophets of the past that help me understand my place in the universe, and tell me how I can best fulfill my purpose in life. I'm grateful for the knowledge of what my purpose in life is, and that it is good! I'm grateful for a religion that makes logical sense as well as spiritual sense.

I am grateful for a Brother that loves me perfectly. I am grateful that I have the opportunity to follow Him, and that He has opened a way that I can return to Heavenly Father. In the end, this is the truest thing to be grateful for. This I know, that I am eternally grateful to Christ for his infinite atonement. I hope you want to feel this joy as much as I love feeling it, and that you'll give the gospel, which has brought me so much joy, a chance in your life. Talk with missionaries, and start an amazing change in your life!

Try the links I've included. Most will take you to a place that will explain my word choice. Also, Mormon.org is a great website for explaining mormon related questions!

Optimism

Nathan Fillion, actor
that plays Mal

One of my favorite TV series is Firefly, a sci-fi series that has been called a "space western" quite accurately. The captain of the titular ship, Malcolm Reynolds, is an interesting guy, somewhere between a scoundrel, a noble, an idealist, and an I-don't-care-anymore type of guy. One of the things he says, though, really got me thinking just recently. He states "It's a real burden being right so often." Out of context, it is a good description of his character; bold, self-absorbed, and rather humorous. However, in context it comes right after his doom-filled prediction comes true, and he is instead talking about how he doesn't want to be right like that all the time.

As I thought about it more, I realized that it really is a burden, being like Captain Mal. Instead of seeing the day as an opportunity to grow, hoping for the best, and being optimistic, he has the burden of expecting bad things to happen and then seeing them happen. I do not mean by saying this that it is better to always expect the good, because then unexpected trouble can really mess up a day, but I do mean that having an optimistic outlook on life brings quicker joy, longer mirth, and better happiness.

One of my favorite people, President Gordan B. Hinckley, had it right. He was described as optimistically realistic, or that he would see what is happening and find the reason to be happy and hopeful. This world is full of events that can cause real worry, but if we instead remember Christ and the amazing Atonement he has accomplished for us we can be hopeful of the future and ready to do work to make it happen. I hope you can remember the goodness that you've received, and if you're having a hard time, I'd suggest a classic hymn, Count Your Many Blessings.

Satan's Viruses, Fighting Back

This is the final on a series of posts about malware. Here is the introduction and here is the previous one.

It is easy to see the huge amount of malware out there and the hold that Satan seems to have on the world and get discouraged. Fortunately, we have ways to counter both malware and Satan! First would be being smart and not placing ourselves (or computers) in places where we could easily be harmed. To do this we need to learn where bad things tend to linger. On the Internet, there are many sites that are put up with the desire to trap users and infect them with malware. The smart way to use the Internet is to avoid websites that you don't trust, know what you're going on for, and not to fall for ads that don't promise you anything needful. For more guidance on how to use the Internet, ask somebody that knows more than you through experience or study. In real life this guidance is found is such forms as "surround yourself with friends who desire to be [trustworthy]" (President Packer), "avoid unnecessary debt" (President Hinckley), or to "seek after the kingdom of God" (Matthew 6:33). For the Internet you might ask an Internet-savvy friend, but with life you can ask God and listen through the scriptures and prophets.

Of course, we are imperfect and we might get caught through a clever trap or take a risk because we think we know what we're doing. This is where the second line of defense comes in. With the Internet, every connected computer should have an antimalware or antivirus program. This is a program designed to block access to malware, catch problems before they become too big, and keep a computer safe on the Internet. These programs function much like the Holy Ghost. He will guide us in our day to day lives as we allow him to, protecting us from Satan's attacks and help us change our ways before we become trapped. As long as we follow the guidance and direction of the Holy Ghost we will not be vulnerable to the wiles of the devil.

Unfortunately, simply having the guidance of the Holy Ghost is not enough protection. We can still choose to ignore him, just as we can choose to turn off antivirus protection. At times it may seem tempting to do so, such as experiencing an earthly pleasure or visiting a particular site, but in the end it leaves us open to attack. When we are attacked, we will be placed in a situation that is beyond our control and we will often be without the help or guidance of our protectors (Holy Ghost or antivirus). Fortunately, there is still help. If a computer is badly infected, there are steps to either restore it to an uninfected state or go through and fix all the infections. For our lives, we have our Friend, our Brother, our Savior Jesus Christ. He suffered for us so that we wouldn't need to suffer the full pain of our sins. I know that Jesus Christ has accomplished the Atonement for us, and that through his interposing and infinite sacrifice we are able to be forgiven of our sins and receive his loving help in our lives.

Pride's Many Faces

Pride is a tricky thing, something that most of us have in some form or another and gets in the way of so many important parts of the gospel. A prideful person will resist correction, be offended easily, and lack the guidance of the Holy Ghost, among many more consequences. What makes pride worse is that it can sneak up on us, seeming to be something harmless or even good. I know that I've had problems with pride more than any other thing, and that as I look closer at the things I'm doing wrong I recognize an element of pride in every single one.

A pride of lions. Clever, eh?

So, what is pride, and how is it so invasive? Pride is the placing of your will above that of another, or it is the thinking that you are more something than somebody else, or it is the thought that you can do something and get away with it. Pride is potentially many more things, but because I'm an imperfect philosopher I'm limiting myself to something I can handle. If we were perfectly humble, we'd obey God perfectly because we would realize that we are next to nothing without help. If we weren't prideful, we'd not be depressed at our shortcomings because we'd know ours are not the worst and we can all receive help as we need it. If we humbled ourselves, we would not be trapped by sins because we would realize that we are not entitled to stray from the righteous path.

I'm the sort of person that likes to categorize things and say more with less (not that I'm all that great at it). I've thought about pride a little bit recently, and I've recognized pride in my foibles that I need to overcome. It is because of pride that we are asked to "become as a little child" (3 Nephi 11:37), who is humble enough to obey the Father's corrections. As we correct our prideful tendencies, seek ways to humbly follow Christ, and seek His help through prayer we will become better people, of this I am confident.

One thing to be cautious with this topic is being too submissive to too many things. A certain amount of "pride" in righteous things, or happiness to do something in front of others, can help us make good choices, and resist the influence of people we do not want to follow. I've known people that through righteous pride have struggled through difficult times in order to accomplish important goals, and having pride in family members can brighten their day. Humble yourself to the Lord, and be stubborn to those that oppose him.

One request that I have for you is to humbly consider several things: the Book of Mormon, our message about the Restoration, and then meeting with missionaries. I cannot say this enough, because even sharing it constantly isn't enough, but I know that this is the truth and that you can know too.

Grace and Works

A previous post I mentioned a topic that I've heard much discussion about, grace vs works. Often, somebody will complain (erroneously) about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as requiring its members to work for their salvation. This idea comes from a misunderstanding of a verse in The Book of Mormon, which states that "we know it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do" (2 Nephi 25:23). I know that it is through grace that we are saved, and that it is only through the infinite atonement that we can experience exaltation, resurrection, or even joy. I also know that many people misunderstand the idea of grace, and I hope to eliminate that misunderstanding today.

Joule, namesake for joules, SI unit
 for a different type of work.

First: what are works, and what is grace? Works (in this instance) are the actions we take in this life, and grace is the "help or strength given through the Atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ" (source). The entire disagreement can be solved by realizing that grace is not a magic moment that makes us perfect, but is instead a constant companion that helps us become better or strengthens us during trials. Since this is the case, of course we are going to do "works" in this life because we are applying the grace of Christ throughout our lives. It is not the grace that comes from works, but the works that comes from grace. It is not through donating a certain amount of time or money, nor is it only breaking a few commandments. It is through having enough faith to repent and apply grace to our lives that we receive exaltation. Does that make enough sense?

However, it is only sometimes that naysayers of works simply mean that all our sins are covered by grace. Other times what they are really attacking is the doctrine of baptism. This is a complex topic that can involve priesthood authority, modern day revelation, and a discussion of the Godhead; instead, I will deal with it simply and direct you to more devoted sources. Baptism is a commandment and an essential ordinance, and so just as with other commandments we won't be truly repentant until we follow it. This reason is good enough for me because of a simple word: testimony. I know through personal revelation that Jesus Christ restored his true church through Joseph Smith, so I know that our modern prophet is also the mouthpiece of God and only tells us the truth. I know this from my experience with The Book of Mormon. I know the true way to be happy.

Feedback Loops and Repentance

Simple diagram of a loop. A is the action, B is the change.

This requires two definitions, the first of which is a feedback loop. This is a system that takes action based on what its previous action's result was. So, if there's a spring and a motor, and the motor wants to be a specific place but the spring is resisting, a feedback loop would have the motor push until it is at its destination. They are used extensively in many environments, as instead of programming something to go exactly so far (and potentially falling victim to error of various kinds) the designer just needs to program something to go until it gets there. All that is required is action, measuring the result, comparing it to a goal, and taking action to get closer to the goal.

The second definition for today is what repentance is. Repentance is the faith driven change of heart that results in a change of actions from sins to acts of righteousness. There is a debate concerning grace in relation to works, but that is a thought for another day. Instead, suffice to say that having faith causes us to change who we are and obey the commandments, eventually becoming like Christ.

And now to combine definitions! The ultimate goal of repentance is to become perfect, something that is no easy goal to achieve. If we were required to become perfect in one day, that would be like the non-feedback loop program. Not only is it difficult to reach the goal, but it would be difficult to make sure you got there in the end. Instead, we go through repentance, changing each day a little bit and progressing towards perfection. The reason feedback is important is so that we know if we are heading in the right direction and feel the joy of success. All that's needed is to have somebody else to report to, and we achieve goals because of the small steps we take and we receive the recognition of those we hold dear. President Thomas S. Monson says that "When performance is measured, performance improves. When performance is measured and reported, the rate of improvement accelerates." These two principles, measuring our performance (and making changes to improve the performance) and claiming responsibility for the performance (by telling somebody about our changes) will help us improve our lives, whatever the field we apply it to.

Choice

So, you are sitting there watching a movie, playing a game, or reading a book. There is a villain that is trying to rule the world, make money, or just be evil and the good guys of the story are doing their best to stop this nefarious plot. Of course, the villain isn't working alone and has several mooks working for him. This is where today's lesson is: how is the mook reacting to the treatment the villain is sharing?

The villain's pictures are copyrighted.
Enjoy this one instead.

Often, in order to characterize a villain as a true scumbag, writers will have it treat the underlings (also called mooks) with utter contempt. Sometimes I've wondered, "why does [insert mook here] keep following [insert villain here]?" it would be the logical choice to quit the job, maybe even go to work for the good guys. After all, the hero treats his friends kindly, and the cruel boss won't be bothering you anymore. Sometimes this does happen, and it's called a heel face turn (or mook face turn with a bit of help face turn). These are the smart mooks that we should try to be like. (Confused by the terms? Follow the links or visit TVTropes.org to learn more.)
A scripture I've shared before is in 2 Nephi 2:27, and reminds us that we have the same choice presented to the mooks. How often do we make choices that puts us in Satan's camp instead of God's, when one leader will treat us so much better than the other? Just look at the evidence of people being happy, comfortable with who they are, filled with hope and joy as they follow what is found in the scriptures. I know that the presence of Jesus Christ in my life has provided me with more instances of joy than all my game playing, meme consumption, or trope following. I know that you can have the same joy, all starting with investigating The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If you want to try it out, mormon.org is the best place to start.

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.

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.

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: 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.

First Writing

Welcome to my blog. It is new (as of writing) and it is untried, much like your opinion of me is. To help change that unfortunate condition, why don't I tell you a little about me? Then you can form your opinions with a grain of truth behind them, and hopefully you'll understand why I am willing to share my personal thoughts and feelings on a subject that I hold so dear.

If you didn't know yet, I am a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know that I am writing to a generally unfriendly and opinionated group (the Internet), but I hope my sincerity and ideas are interesting enough for you to stay and consider. I don't want to ignite the fiery malice of those that troll. I don't want anybody to feel attacked by my ideas. I also don't want anybody to attack my ideas offhand. However, I do want you to consider your life and ask yourself if you have what I have, an absolute knowledge of my worth and how I can experience the love of God. Then, ask yourself if you are willing to change once you find that knowledge. I hope the answer is yes, but if you haven't been scared or offended yet, now you can get to know me.

I am at the beginning of two years during which I am voluntarily giving up many of the things that I hold dear in exchange for something more dear, the ability to serve the Lord with all my energy. For example, I enjoy video games, especially computer games. Now, I only touch a computer to communicate and share this message over the Internet. I would enjoy sleeping until I no longer felt tired. Now, I wake at a set time and have work to do the rest of the day. I want to gain all the education I can to secure opportunities in life. Now I work full-time as a missionary and have no time to learn anything that won't help me teach. I have sacrificed to be here; don't reject me as just another nerd or young ne'er-do-well. However, despite the massive way my actions have changed, I am still shaped by my past and almost the same person I used to be. I might not be playing computer games for hours a day, but I remember the fun I've had. Don't reject me as just another missionary, either. Get to know me as a person, and then get to know the message I share.

Quick rundown of me: I've enjoyed many years playing video games of various sorts. I enjoy the effects of chemistry and know a little about how it works. I like computers and the things that can be gained from them. I like sci-fi, in literature, television and movies. I care about the difference between "geek" and "nerd". I am a human with real experiences and (often) amusing quirks. As you continue to read, you will learn more about me and what I did in the two decades before I became a missionary.

Despite all this, I am also a missionary for the LDS church. I have gained, through nothing short of personal revelation, a sure knowledge of the truth of the Book of Mormon and of the prophet that leads us today. I want to share with everybody the blessings I have received from this testimony, including what I have learned about my savior Jesus Christ. I invite you to continue reading this blog with an open and curious mind.