It's A Wonderful Life

The Christmas season has now officially begun since I watched that classic Jimmy Stewart film.

Too bad we can't all be a George Bailey.

Resolved

No, laughing's not inherently bad; it's true. I love to laugh! I especially love to giggle. Giggling's just so much fun, and it feels so happy and lovely. Sometimes, when I'm really happy and safe, I like to just throw back my head and let a bubble of laughter burst from my belly. It feels good. But sometimes laughing makes me feel ill.

Like the other night. I lose track of myself occasionally, and I give in to the sarcasm and light-mindedness that threatens to fill my life with emptiness. Laughing makes me sick, not when I laugh out of joy, but when I laugh because of crude humor or innapropiately light conversation. We did that last night. My roommate owed us ice cream, so the three of us along with two other friends sat around in the kitchen (until we moved to the living room) and talked and laughed. At first it was good and fun. Then, as the night wore on, things got a little out of hand. I've been trying to reconcile this all night and day, but I've decided that it was just plain wrong. Laughing is not bad, lightmindedness is. It detracts from the Spirit and dulls my sensitivity to the truly beautiful.

I hearby resolve to renounce all frivolity and lightmindedness. I resolve to carry myself with dignity and treat all creations of the Almighty with respect.

Ha Ha Ha

Is is possible to laugh too much?

Oh Say What is Truth

If I was sitting in a Sunday School or Relief Society lesson and had the nerve to do it, this is what I would like to say in response to comments justifying others' false beliefs.

"I fear that what I have to say may be slightly offensive, so I apologize in advance to those of you who may feel my remarks are a personal slight. I do not mean them to be so, but after you hear what I have to say, you will see why I cannot sit silently in the midst of certain comments. Please know that these words are not meant to be in anyway unkind or even directed to anyone specifically, rather, what I have to say is in opposition to a prevailing way of thinking in today's society that is not correct. That idea is that we must be accepting of untruths or relax our standards for the sake of 'diversity'. We live in a day and age when such is the battle-cry of our nation, and those who do not espouse this open-minded belief are considered bigots. Well, fine then, call me a bigot. But the fact is, truth does not change to fit every man's whims. Right is right. And The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the ONLY true church on the face of the earth. We have the full truth; the fullness of the gospel is not found anywhere else on the face of the earth. There are good people all over the earth in all walks of life among many religions, and even among those who do not follow after any religion. But the fact remains that the saving ordinances are found in, and only in, the Lord's true church. Why else would missionary work be so important? Why else would it be so vital that we search out the names of those who have gone before and perform ordinances in their behalf? Because without full activity in this church and participation in ordinances under the direction of the Holy Priesthood, one CANNOT be saved. There is no compromising of the Lord's standard. Right is right; and all our philosophizing will not change it. Only in this church is the Lord's priesthood with all its privileges available. When we walk daily among others in the world, we need to be examples of the believers in word and deed. We need not continually tell them that they are wrong or misguided, but by the same token, we must not accept their teachings as our own. We are children of the covenant and we are here today to hear what God has commanded us to do. Our comments should be focused on his doctrine and how we can more fully live it in our lives. God's law has been declared. His standard is set. We need not discuss ways that the world's ideas are correct. I know that God lives; He is the literal father of our spirits. Jesus Christ is His Son, and our Savior and Redeemer. Joseph Smith restored the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth in these latter days, and the priesthood is indeed the power of God. We are led today by a living prophet who speaks to us the mind and will of the Lord. In all due respect to every one else's opinions on the subject of today's lesson, I think it's time we hear what he (the prophet) has told us is the Lord's word and doctrine on the matter and then discuss how we can bring ourselves more strictly inline with that command."

I apologize if this was a little bit of a rant. Mostly I'm just mad at myself for not saying it the other day, but I'm determined to say it next time.

Truth

Since I promised a glimpse into the mind of chicken dust, I should share the thoughts that have occupied my mind almost unceasingly for the past week or two. If you were to add up all my waking hours and group the thoughts by type, the following would most likely take up more time than any other single group.

Te necesito sí, bendito ser. Ninguno como tú paz puede dar. Señor te necesito, sí te necesito, bendiceme oh Cristo, vendré a ti.

I don't know why it's in spanish; I've been singing it in english plenty too, but a lot in spanish for some odd reason. Basicall, that's a glimpse at the turning wheels of my mind. It's not really exciting, but it's the full truth.

Lessons learned from Dad

Just two of many.

It can be done! I remember hearing once someone make the comment that if something really difficult needed to be done and no one could figure out how to make it happen, all they needed to do was mention to papa dust that it was impossible and somehow he would do it. Maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but it holds true in most cases. Story: A couple of summers ago, Dad was driving a truck pulling a trailer up to some church camp. It was being held at someone's cabin and he only had a rough map of how to get there. Just before reaching the lodgings, the road became slightly confusing for him. He could see the cabin, however, just on top of a hill off to his side. It was pretty steep, but he seemed to notice a dirt road?/path leading up to the driveway, so he took it. I was not there, so this is not first-hand storytelling, but this is what I was told. Halfway up the path, he realized that he was in a bad position. The hill was WAY too steep for a truck to drive, least of all one that was pulling a loaded trailer. Still, going back down was out of the question as there was a drop-off on the other side and he was very unsure about backing down (understandably). So, he finagled the gears, punched the gas without spinning the tires, and went for it. Apparently have felt the wheels of the trailer leave the ground as he came over the top of the hill, but make it he did (thank heaven!). After safely parking the vehicle, he went inside and at some point mentioned the path he had taken to get there. Upon hearing this, the owners of the cabin were flabbergasted. "But, but, we don't even ride our 4-wheelers on that path. What were you thinking?!?!" Well, I suppose he was thinking he had a task to do and that was the way he could see to finish it, so he did.

Give. My dad is undoubtedly the most generous person I have ever met, or probably will meet. No sacrifice is too great for him it seems, and he seems to give without thinking most of the time; it's a natural reaction for him. Two quick stories to illustrate: When my family was moving from Brigham City to Kaysville, my parents worked to try to make the Brigham house as nice as possible so as to have a better chance at selling the place for a good price. One of the tasks they set about doing was to finish the basement. Dad had already done most of the framing and electrical work, but he wanted to at least get the sheetrock up. Shortly before buying the materials, however, someone made an offer on the house as it was. My parents were obviously thrilled. Most people's first thought would be something along the lines of being glad that they had not yet spent the money to purchase the materials for the basement walls. Not Dad. No, his first words in regard to the subject were, "Well, I'd better at least go and buy the sheetrock and leave it for them in the basement." WHAT?!?!? Really, Dad, why do you think that way? Perhaps once it's suggested it seems like a good idea, but how do you even come up with such ideas? My mom is in the primary presidency in her ward, and my dad teaches the eleven-year olds. At the most recent primary activity day, they had several activities illustrating the life of Joseph Smith. Dad was telling the story of the first vision, and the room in which this activity was held was decorated like the Sacred Grove. Apparently his wasn't the most active station, and there was one boy who was being particularly rambunctious. Dad had with him a porcelain bust of the prophet Joseph which he was using as a sort of visual aid. So what did he do with this boy? He gave him the statue; I guess he figured if he had something to focus his attentions on, he would be a little more reverent. I suppose it helped. Dad didn't just let him hold it during the lesson though, he let him keep it. Maybe Dad felt a little sheepish about it later, wondering if it was actually a good idea, but I hope not. Perhaps I'm wrong, but a little boy who lives with his grandmother and has little or no positive male influence in his life might just remember that statue some day when the memory will be the one thing in his life that encourages him to stay on the path of truth. I don't know, but I think Dad was right to give it to him.

When it comes down to it, I've learned a lot from Dad. Some things are good, some maybe not as wonderful. But Dad loves Jesus Christ. That's good enough for now, and maybe I'll someday have the same qualities of pure grit and automatic generosity that Dad has displayed.

Each Life That Touches Ours For Good

Remember primary? Back in the good old days when we all went to sunbeams. I love those little kids; they are so cute. And everyone always fights to sit by the teacher. Oh, how popular are Sunbeam teachers.

Which brings me to a question that was hotly debated by members of my extended family at a gathering. If no one calling is more important than another, why does everyone revere the prophet so much. Why do people wait for hours to shake his hand, or tell stories decades after his death of when there got to be in the same room with the man? As might be deduced by a previous post, I don't hold with these opinions much. I figure that a man is just a man, and should be treated with respect, but I'm not one to join any followings of famous people. Except occasionally. And so I have come to the following conclusion.

President Monson gave a talk in May 2004 Conference about your personal influence. No one can escape the responsibility of werf's personal influence. For a sunbeam teacher, that is werf's class. For a big sister, that is her siblings. For a bishop, that is his ward. For the prophet, that is the entire church and much of the world. The honor that is given to the president of the church does at times come because as humans we struggle with pride issues. We aspire to certain positions and give praise to those who occupy those positions. This is not the kind of the love the prophet seeks. But for most of us, I think the reason we love him so much is much like the sunbeams love their teacher. He loves us and serves us. By virture of his calling, his personal influence streches to include many people, but it is the same in many ways as my personal influence and yours.

I think mostly I was reminded of this little discussion because lately I have often been in a place where it would not been entirely unheard-of to meet a General Authority. I keep having these little day-dreams of being introduced to Elder Holland or President Packer and the thrill such a meeting would give me. Mostly because of my Teachings of the Living Prophets class, I have in recent months come to love the Bretheren very much (and these two are special favorites of mine), and have been reminded of the unkind way I spoke in this family discussion about those who ooh and ahh over shaken the prophet's hand. It's just his personal influence. He is an amazing man, and we love him because he loves us, and he encourages us to be our best.