Don't Judge a Book by its Cover

The English idiom "don't judge a book by its cover" is perfect for this situation. The homeless man was judged as being a "shady" man. The truth, he was a nice guy that was just trying to live his life the best he could. In essence we are all trying to be our best self's. Along the journey of life we find that we get judged. Some will be offended, other will think nothing of it, and many dwell on it way too long.

"Life is perfect for none of us.

Rather than being judgmental

and critical of each other,

may we have the pure love of Christ

for our fellow travelers

in this journey through life."

~Thomas S. Monson~

President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Get up or Give up

Michael Jordan played basketball for Laney High School in Wilmington, North Carolina. Ironically, Jordan was cut from the varsity team as a sophomore. I bet the players of the varsity team might have judged Jordan just a bit. Thoughts of “why” probably interred into Michael's mind. He had to make a decision, to give up and let the event get the best of him or to get up and move on. Jordan once said, "Whenever I was working out and got tired and figured I ought to stop, I'd close my eyes and see that list in the locker room without my name on it, and that usually got me going again."

I often wonder if he had some kind of an idea that he was going to be such a fantastic player. Six-time NBA champion, 10-time All-NBA first team,  nine-time All-Defensive first team, 14-time All-Star; All-Star MVP, one of 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, and last but not least...an Olympic gold medalist.

We cannot let ourselves become discouraged if we fail a time or two. The best athletes in the world all seem to have some common traits:

1) They practice long and hard. Tiger Woods, an American all star golfer, come to Arizona to play in a tournament. After a full day of golfing he would head on over to the practice green and there he would begin a practice session. It's no wonder he's ranked #1 in the world.

2) They never give up. Would Michael Jordan have become a 14-time All-Star by quitting when he was in high school...obviously not!  

Each and every person has a chance to become "great". We all have our own talents and they are to be used! Our potential is to become like our Father in Heaven. A big task.  Perfection is our goal. To follow Jesus Christ takes lots of practice. Sometimes we fail to progress. Like Michael, we fail to make the team, but through perseverance we can regain our spot. When we fall down we must get up and keep trying. If we continue on this course we will become "great".

It is my witness that we can become amazing. When we read our scriptures, go to church, and live as Christ teaches us, we are as the greatest people in the world.    

What in the world?

What in the WORLD is the BOOK OF MORMON??????

Basketball

Recently I was able to attend a 3on3 basketball tournament. It was extremely fun to watch and the crowds made me feel like I was in a big city. It was fun to watch the skill of the different players. Even though the first day of the event was cold and raining the players gave it their all.

It was funny to watch the skilled players bounce the ball and come up on a puddle, in which the ball would instantly stop, then they would have to quickly turn around and try to catch the ball before the other players got it.

 There were some spectacular players there and some that have only played the game a couple of times. Basketball for me is something I really enjoy. The goal is to get the ball in the basket. So simple, yet as we add people to oppose you, and distances that will be worth more points (ie. the 3 point line). Life is kind of like this. We have one goal, to return back to our Father in Heaven. This is made difficult by people there to oppose us (such as Satan). Every once in a while we get close to our goal and we just seem to lose our focus and have to turn back to try again, like when the basketball hit the water. And every once in a great while we seem to be so far from our goal, and we hit the big 3 pointer, by bringing our life back on track. This is a game that we can win! We know the actions we must take to win. It won't be easy, but its very attainable.

                                               Remember that practice makes perfect.     

My Big Brother

When I was just a small boy, I had a favorite big brother. He would put his arms around me and we would go scrambling down some cool dirt path, At times like this i felt ten feet tall. He didn't mind me tagging about one bit, and there was nothing I liked better. I was so proud of him. When I was with him, I felt like I was beaming stronger than the sun. he was good at everything. I never could seem to match the mountains he would make out of sand---Mine would always seem to crumble and sag but his would stand as firm as the Rocky Mountains.
Dad always tried not to show how proud he was of him (he being the oldest and all) but his smile seemed to beam a little brighter too, when my big brother came around. I felt my world had collapsed when he went on his mission. Dad and Mom had to both fight back the tears. He called on Dad regularly and let us know how much he loved us. He even told us how great his mission was so Mom would not worry.
The persecution was really bad there, as the Church was just getting started but he never seemed to let himself get down even though the people would not believe his messages. We would share in his joys when he would get some new converts, but i don't mind saying--I was scared that the non-believers would do something to him. it even got to the point where men were plotting to take his life but dad never seemed to be worried for some reason.
Then, one day, we received a word that his mission had ended but not as most men's do, I was struck sick by the terrifying news--- they finally got hold of my big brother that I played with, who never seemed capable of doing anything wrong-- my big brother who loved everyone he knew and who, most everyone loved.The beat him and mocked him. he suffered all they did to him without striking back. Why would anyone want to hurt my big brother? I could not understand. A mob took him to a hill just outside of town and spitting on him, they nailed him to a wooden cross. My soul moaned as I heard that he begged Father to forgive them. Racked with unbearable pain, he gave up his life for what he believed. My big brother, my king, my idol was dead. I cried through what seemed to be the darkest days of my life.

Where was my big brother with whom i had shaped mountains of sand? Why did he, of all my brothers, have to die like this? i felt Dad's strong arm upon my shoulder---he did it for you and your brothers and sisters. Time passed and i was called on my mission. Sometimes I've forgotten what happened so long ago but every Sunday a small piece of bread and a small cup of water reminds me of my big brother and what he did for me, and assures me that he still lives.

Joseph Smith- First Vison.

Joseph Smith, a young 14 year old boy, had a question about which church he should join. For some of us this is the same question we have today. In the Bible, the book of James, directs us to ask God when we are in search of answers (James 1:5). In the spring of 1820, Joseph went to a grove of trees near his home and knelt in prayer. He described his experience: “I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me [ … ] When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other-This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Joseph Smith-History 1:16-17). A historic answer to a young boys prayer! Joseph Smith was told to join none of the churches, but he was going to be an instrument in the hands of the Master, to bring back the church of Jesus Christ. I know that this event actually took place in history. For I have read of his account. And God has so blessed the world by providing evidence of the truth of this young boy. The Book of Mormon, Another testament of Jesus Christ is the way we can all know of the validity of the this prophet of God.


"We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. (See Moroni 10:3–5.)
Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is his revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the second coming of the Messiah." (Introduction to the Book of Mormon)

I took this challenge on and I with millions have received an answer that the Book of Mormon is in fact the word of God.

A Helping Hand

For the last few days of my life I have been able to do a lot of service. Putting in fence, rolling bails of hay, and moving metal panels. The help I know was needed, and my heart was set in helping. It was hard work to do all that was asked of us. The metal poles were long and took a while to pound in, but the help of another made fast work of that job. The bail of hay was large but the help of others made moving easy. When four people surrounded the heavy metal panels, the lifting came with ease.  Life was so much easier with the help of other people. Alone I could not have done all the work that was required, but with the help of others the work was made possible. We are all in need of that help in our lives. There are obstacles that will occur that will seemingly be impossible, but we don't need to worry. We have help. The great Savior of the world said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and i will give you rest." We do not have to go through this world alone. God has given us special people that will be there in our time of need. We have been put into families so that we can have a friend. Families take care of each other and watch each others back. When we are away from our families we will ALWAYS have a Father in Heaven. He loves us all, He wants the best for us, He is willing to help us. Its my testimony that the lord loves us all, cares for our needs, and lets us have special people in our lives that will give a helping hand.