Where can I turn for Peace?

     Let me just start with a shout out to Pesto. I believe that pesto is probably the amongst the greatest things to come out of Italy. I am just amazed at what difference one single scoop can make to a plate of pasta or to a chicken sandwich. I haven't found one yet but as soon as I find a pesto fan page on facebook I will 'like' it to show my loyalty and dedication to this wonderful food. Right so my week had a smashing start... Quite literally. Monday morning for work we loaded up 32 trees that we were to plant that day. Well my assignment was to stand on the truck and unload the trees into the tractor that we were using to put them into the right places. As I was loading one of the bigger trees the weight shifted and it fell into the bucket. I was still holding onto the trunk of the tree when it slammed against the bucket of the tractor. It kinda hurt. I went on and finished loading the other two trees then I decided to have a look at my numb and swollen thumb. Well when I took my glove off my hand was covered with blood. So I showed my supervisor how it trees had smashed my thumb and split the skin and he is a bit queasy so he took me straight to the doctor. On the way the numbness started to wear off and man it hurt like the dickens! Well good news from the doc, it was just a surface cut and although there was some ugly bruising there was no broken bones or fractures. So basically he put a band aid on it and  suggested that my mom should just kiss it better. Really not a riveting story but its one of the best from the week. Tuesday was pioneer day and I just spent the whole day watching Doctor Who ( I was really missing the great ole English accent so I got my fill). Now because we took a day off we did 10 hours days all week instead of 8 so that we could still get 40 hours in. That was a killer for me, but I'm happy to report that I survived. Allow me for a second to go off on a tangent. This week my mother sent me the last two Hunger Games books and I read them both at the expense of some valuable sleeping time. Let me say that the author did an excellent job of keeping me riveted, the plot was a bit predictable but it was exciting to see how it all turned out. However I do have a bone to pick. Maybe its because it was past 3 o'clock in the morning and my brain was a bit fried but I really did not like that ending. It seemed like she was trying to cram to much in at the end while telling it from the perspective of a girl who was under some serious emotional distress and constantly on drugs. Now Katniss Everdeen is a hero of my but I think she was seriously under utilized by District 13 and the rebels. Here is a girl who has serious proven that she is an expert shot with the bow and arrow and they simply dress her up and take pictures. The in here moment of glory running through the streets of Panem's Captiol she still hardly uses the sweet bow made for her AND she still doesn't get to save the day by storming into the mansion and getting the President. One last thing. Peeta? Come on I was cheering for Gale the whole time and at the very end he draws the short stick. Poor guy, I feel for him.
     Reading both book in a matter of a couple of days kinda through off my groove and scripture study but I did have a good insight earlier this week. I was studying scriptures that talk about Christ role as a pre-mortal being. Funny thing my insight had nothing to do with that subject.  In John 16:33 it says, 'These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but behold be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.' From this I got Christ was teaching his apostles about the blessing of scriptures. He gives us his teachings (which are revered as scripture) that we can have peace. But peace from what? Well in the world we have tribulation he tells us right afterwards. I can completely testify of that truth. It's has been amazing that when I can home and had different things to worry about then serving as a missionary my thoughts seemed to be a bit more clouded and it was more difficult to focus. However on the other hand when my life was completely dedicated to serving the Lord every waking moment of the day my thoughts seemed to be crystal clear and I remember just knowing what I should do. A great peace of mind. Peace from doubts, worries and just distracting thoughts and the like. This peace from be found from the teachings of Christ. I found this out myself. If I study my scriptures daily then my thoughts are more clear and I have a greater ability to focus. So here is the question that has occupied my mind since Monday. How does it work? How does studying the words of Christ Give you peace of mind? Mosiah 4:3 is a story about how ancient Christians in the Americas also found this peace. 'And it came to pass that after they had spoken these works the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come, according to the words which king Benjamin had spoken unto them.' Look at the effects that the Spirit of the Lord brought with them "They were filled with joy, having received a remission of theirs sins, and having peace of conscience," The Spirit brings this peace to us as we read the scriptures. The Spirit and the scriptures are intended to to hand in hand. 'And the Book of Mormon and the holy scriptures are given of me for your instruction; and the power of my Spirit quickeneth all things.' D&C 33:16. Receiving instruction gives me peace from worries and stress because it helps me know what I need to do. As we read the scriptures the Spirit quickens our understanding and unfolds to us previously unknown mysteries. This also brings me peace because I have a greater understanding and a better view on the bigger picture. I love the direction form the Lord when He tells us to 'let the solemnities of the eternities rest on you mind continually.' This is one of the greatest ways to have peace of mind because we are continually giving and inviting the Spirit to testify of truth. This week I spent way to much time reading the Hunger Games. I didn't read my scriptures and I procrastinated my weekly temple trip. Come weekend my mind was clouded, I spent tons of time pacing and just could concentrate. So I went to the temple wondering to myself 'why am I having a hard time concentrating?' Well the insight I just shared came to mind. It was one of those moments when you just want to smack yourself on the head a say 'well duh! I knew that!' and of course I felt a bit reprimanded. I did know better. Well it was great to take the sacrament today. This is probably a horrible analogy but I felt like a junky going through withdrawals who finally gets another shot. Today was President and Sister Patch's homecoming. It was great to be there with so many great people who I served with in the England London Mission. But the best part was the Spirit that I felt. President Patch once told me in a n interview that the Spirit is the single greatest thing that we will feel in this life. I believe it.
This coming week is going to be interesting. I just realized that my housing contracts have a gap between then so I need to figure out where I'm going to sleep in the intervening times. I hope it works out. I also learned that there is a laser tag place here in Provo so I'm dieing to try it out.

Butterflies and Lawyers

Right computers are fine pieces of work, except for the times that they misunderstand what you say and mess everything up! I was a good bit into my next post when I told the computer to backspace so I could fix a spelling error but it miss understood me and deleted everything thing that I had written that far... I always held my self to the standard that if there was a misunderstanding it was on the part of the communicator because they did not put in the necessary effort to adequately relay the desired message. I guess this puts me at fault. Also the fact that computers only do what they are programed to do (which is what you tell it to) doesn't really help my case. So I guess that it could be said of me 'He's a real fine piece of work, except for the times that he misunderstands and messes everything up! (side note story to illustrate the point, Seconds ago one of our neighbors walked into our apartment to pick up some sweets that she left behind, I said 'hello kelsey' she looked at me with a look of disgust and said 'thats not my name.' grabbed her stuff and walked out. Great way to make new friends.)
In my previous post I was in the middle of a deeply touching story concerning a butterfly that landed on my chest at work. I was taking extra care and effort to explain the intricate details of the symbolism and connection butterflies have with my life. ( Manly right?) Also I was exercising my poetic author skills to make it as dramatic as possible. Man it was a really great article! You'll have to read it some time! It was one of those tender mercies of the Lord that Elder David A. Bednar taught about seven years ago. Said he 'I testify that the tender mercies of the Lord are real and that they do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence.' For me the tender mercies was a message that my family is ever near whether they be 600 miles away at home, a few continents away serving the Lord, or on the other side of the thin veil that separates this fragile finite life from the next. Throughout the week I've reflected on the experience and was able to make some connections between what I had been studying this week about our Saviour ( the English spelling just seems to make the title for dignified and grand). Hopefully I'll be able to succeed as a communicator and present my ideas and connections in such a way that they are easy to understand. This week I spent my time studying the references in the Topical Guide under the heading Jesus Christ, Advocate and I learned some really interesting things. At one point I had a flash back to the good ole days serving in Ilford with Elder Dallin Scruggs. For weeks he had been chewing on a question about the mechanics of the Atonement of Christ and how it accomplished the salvation of mankind. Then one morning he scared the death out of me in the middle of our personal studies with a very sporty-like shout of triumph ( it was like his team had won the World Cup!). He laughed at my startled expression the said 'I'll tell you in companion study'. The rest of the study hour was interrupted multiple times by similar, less dramatic, outbursts. I was really hoping that our companionship study was good because it was nigh impossible for me to hold a thought long enough to reach any good conclusions or insights with his random outbursts of 'Revelation!' or "Oh! I get it!' and so on. So after I briefly explained what I had read, Elder Scruggs (now fidgety with excitement) began to lead me on his  insightful scripture chase. We flipped through each of the standard works examining the ins-and-outs of this scripture and that until victoriously he gets to the point. "So because Christ suffered the Atonement even though He was completely innocent He was given the power of death AND the power or responsibility to judge us!" I feel kinda bad cause at the time I felt the conclusion was a bit anti climatic I thought to myself 'well doesn't everyone know this?'. I smiled and said 'well that's just great! What lessons are we teaching today?' Then it was back to the work. Each of us are at different positions in life and our Father in Heaven teaches us according to our needs and our understanding. A significant lesson to me might seem like a beginners course to you. Also the gospel is so deep and we (i should say I and not speak for all of you) tend to be a bit think so sometimes we learn a lesson time and time again, each time it sinks deeper and deeper into our soul. Well that was the case here. This week I learned the same lesson that Elder Scruggs did adapted to my needs of course. So let me rhetorically ask 'What is the significance of Christ being the one that advocate on our behalf?' Here I'll tell you. Have you ever tried to sympathize with someone who was going through something you never had? Remember how hollow it felt when you said 'I know what you're going through'? We seem almost incapable of empathizing with them because we don't know what they are going through because we have not experienced that. Controversially have you ever sat down with a friend or family member in a distressing time and they were able to speak the exact words that you needed to hear? Their words like bandages with healing power on the wounds of your heart? I do. One time going through high school I just had an emotional over load then a girl broke my heart. That evening I just laid on my bed and slightly but bitterly cried. I heard my mom come down the stairs, wiped my eyes and pretended to be sleeping. ( I wanted to avoid the 'I told you so') She came like and angel sat on the side of my bed, rubbed my back and offered the sweetest words of consolation that I had ever heard. I slept well and woke up optimistic. Such is the power of mothers and those who can accurately empathize. I feel that Perfect Empathy was one of the greatest  powers given to Christ as a sacred prized purchased by His blood in the Garden and on the Cross. He can provide the perfect healing powers for any wound or sickness that infects our soul. Why? because He passed beneath all things. We teach and hold that He suffered all our pains afflictions temptations infirmities and sicknesses as well as paying the penalty for our sins. No we don't know how He did it. But we do know that the scriptures teach it and we know that scriptures are true because we have received a witness from God Himself that they are true. Well I have at least. Any ways back to the point. Christ can empathize with us perfectly. Mosiah 15:8 teaches about what the Atonement accomplished ' And thus God breaketh the bands of death; giving the Son power to make intercession for the children of men-' How are both of these accomplishment vital to the salvation of man? Breaking the bands of death is obvious (both physical and spiritual) through the Atonement we will able be resurrected and because of the Atonement we can break the bands of spiritual death through repentance. Repentance which brings forgiveness, a divine pardon if you will. So what about the second part? 'Giving the Son power to make intercession for the children of men' Well lets look at this etymologically. First power: the ability to do something. Second intercession: the action of intervening on behalf of someone. Or in laymen terms 'stepping in'. So Christ is given the ability (and responsibility I might add) to 'step in' on our behalf. So the next question is what is He stepping into? Why is their a need for an intercession. Well I'll let Abinadi answer that question "Having ascended into heaven, having the bowels of mercy; being filled with compassion towards the children of men; standing betwixt them and justice; having broken the bands of death, taken upon himself their iniquity and their transgressions, having redeemed them, and satisfied the demands of justice." (Mosiah 15:9) So basically Christ is standing between us and the rightful just consequences of our actions. Because He innocently (and voluntarily) suffered the pains of a damned soul taking upon Himself all that hell had to offer, He was given the power to Advocate on our behalf. And because He makes this intercession He is able to say to the Father "Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thous wast well pleased; behold the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified; Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they might come unto me and have everlasting life' (D&C 45:4-5) And what does this intercession do? Its purpose is 'to bring about the bowels of mercy (which Christ gained through His sufferings which is the ability to perfectly empathize), which overpowereth justice," (Alma 34:15). Christ's intercession makes forgiveness possible. Forgiveness comes by repentance on our part and grace on the Lords; it brings with it the sweet healing which is like a drink of cool water on a parched tongue. The relief from the burden of sins which weighs oppressing on each of us who fall short of the glory of the Lord. What does this have to do with butterflies? Mercy, Empathy, Forgiveness and Change. Please think about the metamorphosis process of butterfly and compare it with your experiences of repentance. Christ is able to give each of these freely and perfectly if only we come unto him. I love the promos found in D&C 62:1 "Behold, and hearken, O ye elders of my church (and each of us), saith the Lord your God, even Jesus Christ, your advocate, who knoweth the weakness of man and how to succor them who are temped" and also D&C 29:5 "Lift up your hearts and be glad, for I am in your midst, and am your advocate with the Father; and it is his good will to give you the kingdom." I love these promises. I'm happy that He knows all my weaknesses! Because that means that He can help me perfectly. I know what these scriptures teach is true. I hope that you have found this insightful and helpful. I was a pleasure for me to learn and share it. Maybe next time I'll talk more about my life experiences. Unfortunately I'm out of time.

Be sure to Tune in next week for more of my pontifications!

Brighton Solomon

In the Beginning there was Me!

OK so having a blog seemed like a great thing while I was on my mission. Family and friends were able to see what was going on in my life and I was able to share my experiences and such with relative ease. Having said that I will now announce that the sole purpose of me setting up and managing a blog 'To share my life and stories in such a way that it will be easily accessible to those who care.' Simple enough. I hope this is the first of many great, wonderful, insightful, and humorous blog post.

Yours truly :)
Brighton Solomon