For starters, I'm alive. It's been over two months since I posted. They have been crazy busy for the most part. I apologize for not writing sooner. Either I remembered and didn't have time or I forgot; the last few weeks have been a lot of the former. I'm very sorry guys.
Well, what to tell you.... I've been doing school stuff, work, wedding stuff and sometimes relaxing. Since last time, Wendy and I went to a Mormon Tabernacle Choir concert on campus. Wendy was super happy to go and we had really good seats. Wendy and I also went down to my parents house for General Conference and Thanksgiving. Both of those were really good and I was glad to spend time with my family and my darling Wendy. These last couple months have been full of ups and downs.
Today, going to church was a bittersweet experience. It was sweet because it was my last Sunday in a single's ward. While I have really enjoyed being in that ward, I won't miss the competition that seems to go on in a single's ward. At the same time, it was a bitter experience because it was my last time in the 67th ward. The ward that has become my home ward having been in it for two years. The experience was embittered more by the fact that the man who's been my Bishop for two years got released today. I won't deny it, that man has become my friend because he's helped me in some of my toughest moments. I will note that I was pleased to have him do an important interview for me today which was very touching because he's not just my Bishop, he's my friend.
Well, I should say that I'm really happy to be finishing up school this week and heading home for bit. Then from there I get to fly home with my darling Wendy to meet her family. And a few weeks after that I get to marry my best friend!
My spiritual thought this week comes from a reflection that I had during sacrament meeting. I realized one of the reasons that this ward has become my favorite and my home ward. It is because of all the friends that I've made here. Something I've really come to appreciate over the last few days are the friends that I have. They are really great people and I love them dearly. They have helped me and more often than they know they have changed my life for the better. As Sister Dalton once said in a devotional here on campus, everyone in your life is there for a purpose. I know that this is definitely true of my friends and I'm grateful to have them in my life. I hope y'all can recognize that your friends are gifts from God and I hope you let them know how much you love and appreciate them! Have a good week!
P.S. I've stop talking about what books I'm reading because I'm pretty sure no one really cares. Let me know if you wanted it included. If not I'll leave that part out.
Showing posts with label phases of life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label phases of life. Show all posts
December 9, 2012
January 26, 2012
Written for Their Good
I apologize to my readers for not having written in a while. I was going to post on Sunday but then my nephew decided that he wanted to come into the world. So I decided to hold off until he was born. Well the last few weeks I had to get over a cold that I caught from my roommate a few days after I got back here in Rexburg.
For the past several weeks, I've been reading President Monson's biography "To The Rescue". Two weeks ago, I read about how he was in a stake conference, when he was called upon (without an interview beforehand, which is normal) to become a mission president over the Eastern Canada mission. Acting in faith he excepted the calling. When I read this part that I laughed to myself and thought about how nice it was that this type of situation didn't happen anymore in the Church. Well the very next Sunday, the bishop of my ward, Bishop Wagner, called my name and had me sustained to two callings for which he hadn't really interviewed me. This is one of the many times, that I know that the Lord truly does have a sense of humor.
The following week I was released from my calling of being assistant ward clerk. It was almost 9 months to the day that I'd had that calling. It was interesting because as much work and despite the many long Sundays that this calling had required, I'd really come to love it. For about 9 months, I'd been able to work with my bishopric on a weekly basis. I can tell you that they are just as human as you or I are. They have jobs, families, and worries like other middle-aged men. But I can also testify that these humble men are inspired of God. They have given callings to young adults that they barely know and yet those people have been ideal for those callings. They ask these same young people to give talks every week, and the talks that they give are inspired often despite their speaking abilities. To be honest, there are many Sundays when I feel blessed to be a member of the Lord's true church.
These last few weeks, I've done a lot of scripture reading, listened to a quite a few devotionals, and I've even been blessed to listen to an Apostle, Elder L. Tom Perry come speak at my university. Needless to say, it was rather difficult for me to come up with an idea as to my spiritual thought to share. I know someone reading this post will say that I've already shared one but that wasn't entirely intentional. In the last few weeks, I will say that I've had an epiphany. If you don't know what that word means or are too lazy to look it up on Dictionary.com then I'll try to explain what I understand it to be. For me, it was like I'd been struck by lightening and I suddenly understand something. Growing up, I'd always heard the phrase that "The Book of Mormon" had been written for our day but I had always figured that this was more of a figurative meaning rather than literal. Well during the past few weeks, my little brother Aaron wrote a post about his political views about a certain subject. This sparked a conversation and I ended up reading some articles posted up by uncle Chris that were written by Orson Scott Card. I want to remind my readers that he is the author of my favorite series "The Tales of Alvin Maker". Anyways, I was reading one of the articles by Brother Card when I had my epiphany. The Spirit made it perfectly clear to me that was a correlation between what HAD happened in the Book of Mormon and what we are experiencing TODAY. Earlier I read this scripture written by Nephi to the Gentiles (or non-Jews) where he writes "for I know that they shall be of great worth unto them in the last days; for in that day shall they understand them; wherefore, for their good have I written them." (2 Nephi 25:8) It was a moment that changed my life and, at the time, sent chills down my spine. Now I can testify as did President Benson that "The Book of Mormon... was written for our day. The Nephites never had the book; neither did the Lamanites of ancient times. It was meant for us. Mormon wrote near the end of the Nephite civilization. Under the inspiration of God, who sees all things from the beginning, he abridged centuries of records, choosing the stories, speeches, and events that would be most helpful to us." (Emphasis added)
I hope that those of you, my dear readers, who have read the Book of Mormon will try looking for how the Book of Mormon relates to our day. If you're having trouble with it, ask the Lord to help you see it and I promise you that He will help you to see how it relates. To those of you, my readers, who haven't read the Book of Mormon. I challenge you to get a copy of it; they are sold at many different places or you get them for free from some LDS missionaries. I ask you to read it. I want you to know that I know that this book was written by prophets inspired by God and that it was written for us. If you ask God about it's truthfulness, He will tell you in your heart. Then if you decide to follow the Lord, it will change your life as it has mine.
For any of those who have forgotten, my dear nephew Nikolai was born just two days ago.
And I am now 24. I hope that y'all have a good week!
For the past several weeks, I've been reading President Monson's biography "To The Rescue". Two weeks ago, I read about how he was in a stake conference, when he was called upon (without an interview beforehand, which is normal) to become a mission president over the Eastern Canada mission. Acting in faith he excepted the calling. When I read this part that I laughed to myself and thought about how nice it was that this type of situation didn't happen anymore in the Church. Well the very next Sunday, the bishop of my ward, Bishop Wagner, called my name and had me sustained to two callings for which he hadn't really interviewed me. This is one of the many times, that I know that the Lord truly does have a sense of humor.
The following week I was released from my calling of being assistant ward clerk. It was almost 9 months to the day that I'd had that calling. It was interesting because as much work and despite the many long Sundays that this calling had required, I'd really come to love it. For about 9 months, I'd been able to work with my bishopric on a weekly basis. I can tell you that they are just as human as you or I are. They have jobs, families, and worries like other middle-aged men. But I can also testify that these humble men are inspired of God. They have given callings to young adults that they barely know and yet those people have been ideal for those callings. They ask these same young people to give talks every week, and the talks that they give are inspired often despite their speaking abilities. To be honest, there are many Sundays when I feel blessed to be a member of the Lord's true church.
These last few weeks, I've done a lot of scripture reading, listened to a quite a few devotionals, and I've even been blessed to listen to an Apostle, Elder L. Tom Perry come speak at my university. Needless to say, it was rather difficult for me to come up with an idea as to my spiritual thought to share. I know someone reading this post will say that I've already shared one but that wasn't entirely intentional. In the last few weeks, I will say that I've had an epiphany. If you don't know what that word means or are too lazy to look it up on Dictionary.com then I'll try to explain what I understand it to be. For me, it was like I'd been struck by lightening and I suddenly understand something. Growing up, I'd always heard the phrase that "The Book of Mormon" had been written for our day but I had always figured that this was more of a figurative meaning rather than literal. Well during the past few weeks, my little brother Aaron wrote a post about his political views about a certain subject. This sparked a conversation and I ended up reading some articles posted up by uncle Chris that were written by Orson Scott Card. I want to remind my readers that he is the author of my favorite series "The Tales of Alvin Maker". Anyways, I was reading one of the articles by Brother Card when I had my epiphany. The Spirit made it perfectly clear to me that was a correlation between what HAD happened in the Book of Mormon and what we are experiencing TODAY. Earlier I read this scripture written by Nephi to the Gentiles (or non-Jews) where he writes "for I know that they shall be of great worth unto them in the last days; for in that day shall they understand them; wherefore, for their good have I written them." (2 Nephi 25:8) It was a moment that changed my life and, at the time, sent chills down my spine. Now I can testify as did President Benson that "The Book of Mormon... was written for our day. The Nephites never had the book; neither did the Lamanites of ancient times. It was meant for us. Mormon wrote near the end of the Nephite civilization. Under the inspiration of God, who sees all things from the beginning, he abridged centuries of records, choosing the stories, speeches, and events that would be most helpful to us." (Emphasis added)
I hope that those of you, my dear readers, who have read the Book of Mormon will try looking for how the Book of Mormon relates to our day. If you're having trouble with it, ask the Lord to help you see it and I promise you that He will help you to see how it relates. To those of you, my readers, who haven't read the Book of Mormon. I challenge you to get a copy of it; they are sold at many different places or you get them for free from some LDS missionaries. I ask you to read it. I want you to know that I know that this book was written by prophets inspired by God and that it was written for us. If you ask God about it's truthfulness, He will tell you in your heart. Then if you decide to follow the Lord, it will change your life as it has mine.
For any of those who have forgotten, my dear nephew Nikolai was born just two days ago.
December 28, 2011
And Upon These I Write the Things of My Soul
So these last two week have been pretty crazy with clean checks, finals, going down to Utah, and the holidays. I love spending time with my family and even being able to help my friend Crystal stay sane. On the other hand, I have really missed my girlfriend and I missed being able to always be there for her. Luckily, I was able to go to the Salt Lake City temple with my friend Crystal.
These holidays have been interesting because my sister Catherine is nearing the end of her pregnancy and her little boy tends to move around quiet a bit. Being the oldest of four kids I remember being little and feeling my mom's stomach when she was pregnant with my two youngest siblings. It now strikes me as odd to realize that my sister that I grew up with, that I was little with, will be having a little person of her own soon.
For me, this is one of those things that is mile marker. It is also reminder that we all are in different phases of life and that we will always move from one phase to another, often silently and slowly. I think some of the greatest changes in this world are often silent and slow, and if we are not careful we may over look them.
These last few weeks have been enjoyable but hectic. I will admit that in the last few weeks I have not been as diligent in my journal writing as I ought to have been; hence why this post has been less events and more thoughts. For about the last month or so, I have been going through the Book of Mormon again because I haven't done so since I was on my mission in 2009. Since then my life has taken many turns and I have had many scriptural classes both of which have greatly improved my understanding.
A few weeks ago, I ran across a scripture that stuck out to me. It's found in 2 Nephi chapter 4, in this chapter Nephi talks about the plates and what they mean to him; he writes about them in these terms "And upon these (the plates) I write the things of my soul... Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord..." (verse 15, 16) I like these verses because I to me, that is what I should writing about in my journal "the things of my soul". In a small extent, I feel that I understand it's importance. My grandpa Sebright wrote a journal while he was in school. Years later after he had passed away, my dad read it and it helped him to come closer to his father. Think about it this way, if someone only knew you from what you wrote in your journal, would they recognize your personality? Would they understand your motives? My challenge to you and myself my dear readers is to try and do better at your journal writing and try to write more of "the things of [your] soul" upon them. May the Lord bless and keep you is my prayer. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
For me, this is one of those things that is mile marker. It is also reminder that we all are in different phases of life and that we will always move from one phase to another, often silently and slowly. I think some of the greatest changes in this world are often silent and slow, and if we are not careful we may over look them.
These last few weeks have been enjoyable but hectic. I will admit that in the last few weeks I have not been as diligent in my journal writing as I ought to have been; hence why this post has been less events and more thoughts. For about the last month or so, I have been going through the Book of Mormon again because I haven't done so since I was on my mission in 2009. Since then my life has taken many turns and I have had many scriptural classes both of which have greatly improved my understanding.
A few weeks ago, I ran across a scripture that stuck out to me. It's found in 2 Nephi chapter 4, in this chapter Nephi talks about the plates and what they mean to him; he writes about them in these terms "And upon these (the plates) I write the things of my soul... Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord..." (verse 15, 16) I like these verses because I to me, that is what I should writing about in my journal "the things of my soul". In a small extent, I feel that I understand it's importance. My grandpa Sebright wrote a journal while he was in school. Years later after he had passed away, my dad read it and it helped him to come closer to his father. Think about it this way, if someone only knew you from what you wrote in your journal, would they recognize your personality? Would they understand your motives? My challenge to you and myself my dear readers is to try and do better at your journal writing and try to write more of "the things of [your] soul" upon them. May the Lord bless and keep you is my prayer. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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