The Beautiful Provo YSA 35th ward

     I got an iPhone this week and let me say this this is just absolutely amazing! There is so much that you can do with it! You know I was thinking about it and the amazing technology that we have today (like the iPhone) have changed us from people who study and memorize and learn to people who just simply need to know how to asked the right question and google it! Honestly if ever I have a question I don't need to go to the library, check out a book that talks about the subject the read it, alls I have to do is simple type it into the search bar on safari and choose which site I want to get the answer from. Really, it makes life so much easier. Other exciting things this week: my parents are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary this week with a cruise to some beach with hot white sand and shady palm trees. Last I heard from them they both were sick trying to get their sea legs but optimistic that it would turn out alright. Bless them. Also happy birthday to little shelder roony the lad turns 18 today, officially an adult yet still not viewed as responsible enough for the perks of being 21. So maybe not quite an adult but closer to an adult then a child.
     Today was the first Sunday in my new ward the BYU 35th ward covering the Yorktown and Madison buildings in liberty square. It was funny to watch people. Of course is didn't know anyone in the ward so I got the chance to quietly sit by myself and observe everyone else. Super interesting. I highly recommend it for anyone that feels they have a boring life. It was like being at the state fair auction. All these marriage hopefulls running around sniffing out the new fresh meat that they be around for the next 9 months. What I really found interesting was the selling points that people would try to use , I guess you can learn a lot about people by observing how they put their best foot forward. There was a couple of young gentlemen sitting just before me in sacrament meeting who both had a set of pipes. Every time we would begin a hymn they would raise their voices high above all the others and with a sweet harmony serinat the young women sitting around them. Lucky for them they had really good voices and after each song the same couple of girls would turn around and remind them of how amazing their voices were. At then end of the meeting I even heard on of these twitterpated girls reserve the seat just in front of them for the rest of the semester! Other selling points are for the most part able to be catagorized under the following heads, flashy dress and appearance, relations, catchy humor ( this was usually the best to observe because more often then not it was the most butchered and awkward) and the ever Mormon unique spirituality, who can have the best comment in Sunday school?

     Any guesses on the topics for the bishopric as they spoke today? Yup that's right! Marrage, the wife's talked about meeting their dream men and the husbands talking about how stupid they were for delaying the proposal because they wanted to enjoy the bachelor life. It was cool to see all the poor women's hearts melt during the sisters stories then seeing the brothers either nod in agreement or stare at the floor according to what point the bishop was making. Apparently the idea of being this too cool for school bachelor is a really popular idea among the men in our ward. Little do they know that when that pretty little thing smiles their way it will be game over for their plan.

Single wards are great!

Brighton

19/08/2012

A while back I gave a shout out to  pesto on my blog and now I feel like another shout out to a great little fruit that makes kitchen life so much better. Key limes. Wonderful little inventions they are. A squeeze of one of these can make an old dry piece of meat a great burrito filler. I also have found that slicing a handful of them in half and  dropping them into your water bottle for the day can really improve things. Key limes make me happy. So recent stories from my life... Well I think that the most exciting things that have happened recently have to be the times I've got to spend with the Nicholls family. So for those who are out of the loop I meet the Nicholls while I was serving in the Basildon ward in the England London Mission. I spent six months in that area and eat at their house every other Sunday. Also they were gracious enough to invite me and Elder Potts over for a wonderful Christmas day. Martin is also the bishop of the ward there so we were privileged to spend extra time with him doing the Lords work. They are absolutely some of the most wonderful people I have ever met. Going to their home was like a bit of fresh air at times. Anyhow we went to the Brigham City Temple open house yesterday. It was stunning! Only the best for the Lord right? I am so grateful to be part of a temple building people. I'm just grateful that we understand the significance of a temple! I have made it a habit to attend the temple weekly and this is one of the greatest way for me to keep a more long term perspective. I can not say that every time I go I receive an earth shattering revelation or learn something magnificent but I do feel different. I feel a peace that surpasses any other substitute peace. Its hard to describe but I feel the assurance that there IS something greater out there and that the covenants that we make through the priesthood will help us to obtain it. I feel there that families are eternal. I just love the temple. So work is going great for me! I'm starting to pick up a little bit of Spanish here and there. Also I'm just about accustomed to the physical demands of the job. Its really funny the tan lines that I am developing because of my personal protection equipment. From my check bones up my face is a lighter shade because of the safety sunglasses and hardhat that I am required to wear and also my hand are a shade lighter then my arms because I have to wear gloves. I think I'm just a funny sight to behold! I've learned a few good things about landscaping that might prove to be useful one day when I own my own city and have to plant trees on the side of the freeway. Well I took a look at the syllabus for the class I will be starting tomorrow, not exactly what I expected! I guess I have forgotten what is expected from you as a student. You have to study the text book, read the teachers commentary, have discussions with classmates, formulate your own ideas about it, write essays, and take exams. I can not believe I paid money for the opportunity to do this. I did decided earlier this week that I did not want to dig ditches for the rest of my life but its beginning to look like that will be the easier option! But as Elder Holland has said you might find on the Highway to Hell the chamber of horrors banner 'welcome to the ethics of ease'. Well the easy course isn't ever really the best one so I guess I'll just have to tighten up my belt, put my thinking cap on and go to work! Its just hard for me to fully imagine that I have to take at least three times as many classes as this for at least four more years! And they say this is the best time of my life... Well you got to start somewhere I guess right? Last Sunday I taught the Elders quorum lesson, well I didn't really teach I just kinda oversaw and directed a great conversation between the class. The topic was about maintaining spirituality as a student in this world. It was amazing how much the "little things" such as prayer and scripture study can help accomplish this. I had an interesting thought which i shared with the class. I feel that all to often we approach prayer as a drug addict may approach his next hit. We will have a deep craving, pray till we feel the God's love, then almost in an instant leave and come down from our high until our next wave of withdrawals hit. It doesn't have to be like this! We all can order our lives so that we can live in an environment of the spirit! This is one of the foremost goals of my life. You know they say that those who are found standing in holy places will be spared at the last day. If we can live in an environment mental and/or physical where the spirit can reside the we will be found in a holy place. i guess these holy places are not always chapels, temples and homes but mentalities and life styles that are arrived at by living the standards of the gospel and following the teachings of Christ. I'm definitely not perfect at it, but the idea of living like this is very appealing to me and I hope that one day I can arrive at it.

Israel, Rome, Aztecs, and America?

I've got a bone to pick and a bit of venting to do. Please bear with me then we can get to the good stuff! Right so I saw a picture posted of Facebook earlier this week that said a few things to the effect of: 'if you don't like gay marriages don't get one, if you don't like abortions don't get one...... yodda yodda then ended with if you don't like taking away peoples right then don't take mine! I about lost it. These people are so selfish and might I add thick (yea a bit strong and opinionated). Here is why. Rhetorical question time. Don't take your rights away? What about your unborn child's rights? Does that child not deserve to live because it would discomfort you? I understand that sometimes there are extreme cases and the decision will scare people for all time. What I am speaking out against is the flippant disregard towards morality and humanity. And especially those people who jump on the band wagon to support a cause that will only justify them in an attempt to easy the guilt of poor decision making. See what really got me is that they assume that it is their 'right' to disregard morality. Honestly do people not look at history? Look at the fall of the greatest empires. Can't see a direct connection between their abandonment of morals and the demise of civilization? Rome became bread and circus with sexual immorality all intertwined, then Mongols and Germanic tribes picked them to pieces. The might ancient Americans civilizations thought it was a good idea to cut the hearts out of their people. Just think what that does to the moral of civilians. Then there was the Israelites we all know their story running after strange gods and strange women. I fear the Modern day Americans are heading down the same path. I love democracies for the fact that they build good people. I mean let us take another look at history. Through out the World Wars the American people (each one) had to come together and make great sacrifices and work really hard and then followed some of Americas greatest years being propelled ahead to be a world power. Conversely our communist anti thesis, Russia also a world power had a Strong Government, Powerful influence but when it came down to the individuals they were weak. Behind the Iron Curtain was starvation, deprivation, depression and death. Soon the bubble popped and and now thirty years later they are still picking up the pieces and this rein of governmental has changed nations of peoples attitudes to be cynical and bitter with little regards to Deity and morals. I'm not sure if you can find happier people then Americans because they work hard and have great meaning to their lives. This I feel is fostered by our structure of government. Democracies build strong people. Now this were I'm concerned. When the voice of the people choose wickedness then the whole nation is standing on shaky ground. Religious or not this is truth. I hope that anyone that have any desire for a good future for themselves and their children will take an unyielding stand to defend the basic standards of morality that protect humanity. OK hope I don't leave anyone to offended in the wake of that tangent.
This week I was reading the Book of Enos from the Book of Mormon with a dear friend who shared some wonderful insights that I've been thinking about for a couple of days. Ill share the insights as my own just know that they are not.
First I never realized that the first few verses are a powerful lesson on parenting. Look at the influence that Jacob had on his son Enos 'Behold, it came to pass that I, Enos, knowing my father that he was a just man' I feel they had a great relationship. Enos felt that he knew his father which shows that Jacob was transparent, he allowed his children to know who he was and what he cared about. Well the Jacob was also 'just' trustworthy I'm sure is a big part of this adjective. The righteous have no need to fear proximity therefore Jacob could be a powerful influence because he was righteous and he allowed his kids to see into his character and they desired to emulate that. 'for he taught me in his language, and also in the nurture and admonition of the Lord-' best part of Jacobs example of parenting is that he did it the Lords way! And might I add from his own testimony. "for he taught me in his language" Jacob used his own words to teach Enos. and he taught him so that he could understand. He must have been an amazing teacher because after his death his words still resonated with his son so much that they sunk into his soul causing him to have a hunger for its salvation. A blessing I'm sure his father taught him about. This hunger leading him to 'wrestle before the Lord'. I love the use of that word, because it accurately describes the effort and process behind gaining a testimony and standing on or our own spiritual feet. Again another evidence of a great parent. Jacob couldn't control Enos's desire but he did give him the tools and the knowledge of how to gain this precious gift. These insights all come from the first few verses of the chapter. This amazing book has greats of insight some of which I'll probably visit later. Let me just end by saying how grateful I am for my parents. I'm thankful they were strict on me and not just taught me good principles but helped me to adopt them for myself. I guess parents are the best defense we have to moral demise. How thankful I am to have the expert parents I do. They'll probably deny it but I strongly believe it!

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