In the world of sports today, it's really hard sometimes to find any sort of chivalry or sportsmanship. Most of what we see are technical fouls for fighting in basketball, 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in football and what have you. We don't see much kindness or respect in sports anymore like we used to In this video, we have two softball teams playing for a conference title. One player, a senior playing in perhaps her final game, hits a three run home run. On her way around the bases, she forgets to touch first base. The run won't count unless she touches all of the bases. As she turns around to do so, she tears the ACL in her knee. What happens next is very touching.
I can't help but be reminded of the Savior's teachings that "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethern, ye have done it unto me." Let's always remember this as we associate with our fellow men.
Yes, it is actually possible to tie in Harry Potter to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The prophet Alma said that: "But, behold, I have all things as a testimony that these things are true; and ye also have all things as a testimony unto you that they are true; and will ye deny them? Believest thou that these things are true? But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator." (Alma 30:41,44)
I am a huge Harry Potter fan. I love the books. Before my mission, that's basically all that I ever read. I listened to the books on tape before I went to sleep. I absolutely love it. I love the movies as well. The last Harry Potter movie I saw before I came out on my mission is Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. There are a few things about this particular movie that I didn't like, such as the adding of the scene where Bellatrix and Fenrir Greyback attack the Burrow. That never happens in the book. There was one scene that's not in the book that I found particularly interesting. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the books or movies, I'll explain a little bit about what's going on before we hit the clip. Harry's mentor, Professor Dumbledore, had just been killed by one of his colleagues and friends, Professor Snape. As a tradition of the Death Eaters, who are Lord Voldemort's (the ultimate bad guy) henchmen, every time they killed, they send the Dark Mark(symbol of a skull and a snake) into the sky. It's kinda hard to see in this 2nd video clip so I'll post this one just so y'all will see what it looks like. It appears in about the middle of the clip.
Harry had just tried to catch Snape and get revenge but was defeated rather easily by the well learned professor. Harry had come back to the place where Professor Dumbledore's body had fallen and we'll let the video take it from there...
What I thought was interesting was the way they all raised their wands to erase the Dark Mark. It signified to me the power we have as we work together. We are all on the same team as children of God. We all have the same enemy. Imagine what we could do against the evils of this world if we united together as the students and teachers of Hogwarts did! I know that each of us have a ton of potential, for we have an Eternal Being as our spiritual Father. Let us unite together against the influences of the adversary as we continue on the path back to our Heavenly Home.
P.S. I own nothing of these clips. All the credit goes to Warner Brothers.
Yesterday, I talked about following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ. I also realized that it's been a while since I've done anything sports related. Back home, I was a huge fan of SportsCenter. I watched it all the time. One of my favorite parts of it was the Not Top Ten. Every day they would have a Top Ten, but on Friday's, they would take the best of the worst and arrange a NOT top ten for us. Here's one I found that I particularly enjoyed. This is an example of what NOT to do. :)
In all seriousness though, there's a hymn that I love that talks about following the example of the Savior.
Savior, may I learn to love thee,
Walk the path that thou hast shown,
Pause to help and lift another,
Finding strength beyond my own.
Savior, may I learn to love thee—
Lord, I would follow thee.
Who am I to judge another
When I walk imperfectly?
In the quiet heart is hidden
Sorrow that the eye can’t see.
Who am I to judge another?
Lord, I would follow thee.
I would be my brother’s keeper;
I would learn the healer’s art.
To the wounded and the weary
I would show a gentle heart.
I would be my brother’s keeper—
Lord, I would follow thee.
Savior, may I love my brother
As I know thou lovest me,
Find in thee my strength, my beacon,
For thy servant I would be.
Savior, may I love my brother—
Lord, I would follow thee.
The prophet Nephi said: Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel...And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved." (2 Nephi 31:13,16) I know that as we strive to follow Jesus Christ, He will help us get through the tough times of life. Everything He went through was for us and He asks us to follow him. If we do, we will be saved.
I’m trying to be like Jesus;
I’m following in his ways.
I’m trying to love as he did, in all that I do and say.
At times I am tempted to make a wrong choice,
But I try to listen as the still small voice whispers,
Chorus
Love one another as Jesus loves you.
Try to show kindness in all that you do.
Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought,
For these are the things Jesus taught.
I’m trying to love my neighbor;
I’m learning to serve my friends.
I watch for the day of gladness when Jesus will come again.
I try to remember the lessons he taught.
Then the Holy Spirit enters into my thoughts, saying:
Chorus
I'm trying to be like Jesus. What a simple, yet powerful declaration! The best example that any of us could follow is that of our Savior Jesus Christ. Listen to the words and the music of the song that the LDS children learn, sing, and cherish at an early age. He loves us. He wants us so much to return to live with Him that He suffered and gave His life so that opportunity is available to us. His only request? "Come, Follow Me"
I posted earlier on this blog about an experience that I was fortunate to have with my high school choir performing in Carnegie Hall in New York City (for those who haven't read it, click on this link http://eldersbsowards.blogspot.com/2011/03/one-of-my-most-powerful-testimony.html). Lately, things haven't quite been going the best. I've been battling an illness for about a week and things with missionary work haven't gone as I expected them to go. While I was pondering the events that were troubling me and trying to cheer myself up, I thought back to this experience. Once again, I was filled with gratitude for the opportunity to have this amazing experience. I also thought back to a particular song. The song "Te Lucis Ante Terminum" was our most difficult song of that year and probably the most difficult song I learned in my entire time at high school. It's really long, and it's A Capella, which means that there is no instruments accompanying us to help us stay in tune.
The song has 2 parts to it. The first part of the song, the music is happy and slow, drawn out, and really beautiful. Then the music changes and it changes drastically and without any warning. It goes from this calm scene to what we called the nightmare section. Then after this, it switches back to what it was before, slow, drawn out, and really beautiful. Now what does this song have to do with the gospel? To help me learn it and get the feel for how it should sound, I compared the beginning with the Savior's life. He was performing miracles, helping people, teaching the gospel and everything was happy with those who followed him. Then came the Atonement, when he suffered and bled from every pore, was whipped and mocked, hung on the cross, and died for us all. Then comes the glorious resurrection, and the victory over death and the grave. With the resurrection brings hope that we can all live with our Heavenly Father again. I think it's way sweet how it all connects!
Most of the work that we did in class and in extra rehearsals either before or after school were on this song. It was a totally amazing experience. My best year of high school, no doubt about it. I have posted the song so you'll hear how our hard work paid off. I believe the recording is of the actual performance in Carnegie Hall. Enjoy.
This time of year in the life of a basketball fanatic is all about the NBA Conference Finals getting to the NBA Finals. Two teams...seven games...One champion. To me, it doesn't get much better than this. One of my favorite of these recent NBA Finals is the 2008 Finals featuring the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. Boston won the first two games fairly easily on their homecourt by scores of 98-88 and 108-102. Game 3 in Los Angeles was a different story as Kobe Bryant scored 30 points in a 87-81 Laker victory. Game 4 started out all Lakers as well as they led at one point by as much as 24...but the game didn't end up that way.
Although most of us won't ever get to play in a NBA Finals game, we are all searching for the ultimate prize. What might that prize be? The Lord Himself tells us: "And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God." (Doctrine and Covenants 14:7) We as the children of God are all on the same team. We are trying to win the ultimate prize of being with our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. The Devil is trying to stop us from attaining this prize. We can beat him if we do what the Savior said...by keeping His commandments and enduring to the end. When we do that, we will defeat the enemy of all righteousness and hear our Savior say: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." (Matthew 25:21) We can do it. We will do it, if we do what the Lord asks us to do.
This video is entitled "The Bridge." It tells of a story of a man who is faced with one of the most difficult choices I can think of. Watching this video really made me think of my Heavenly Father and the pain he went through sacrificing His Son. I really felt the Spirit and I think you will too.
Ah, what a topic forgiveness is. It seems sometimes like forgiveness is the last thing that we want to do when somebody has wronged us, yet, as with everything else in our lives, we can turn to the Savior for a perfect example. He taught that: "...I the Lord, forgive sins unto those who confess their sins before me and ask forgiveness, who have not sinned unto death. My disciples, in days of old, sought occasion against one another and forgave not one another in their hearts; and for this evil they were afflicted and sorely chastened. Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin. I, the Lord,will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men." (Doctrine and Covenants 64:7-10) What powerful words from our Savior! If we don't forgive, then the greater sin remains with us. Yes, we as human beings have weaknesses and sometimes we offend, yet when offence comes, look to the Savior who said in his final hours: "...Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do..." (Luke 23:34)
Here is a very very touching video about a man who lost his family in a car accident involving a drunk driver. Every time I see this, I see true Christ-like love as this man forgives completely the young man who completely changed his life.
I testify that as we forgive, our burdens truly will be made light. Happiness will come, and so will hope and healing, as we forgive our brothers and sisters of their trespasses.
"For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer...For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee." (Isaiah 54 7-8,10)
"The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he? Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever." (Doctrine and Covenants 122:8-9)
In this song, the texts from the Prophet Isaiah and the comforting words of the Lord to the Prophet Joseph Smith are combined with beautiful music composed by Rob Gardner. Let it be a reminder than even in our darkest hours, the Lord is with us every step of the way. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
"And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that heshould be DILIGENT, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order." (Mosiah 4:27)
I love this scripture. Here, the Lord is telling us not to push ourselves beyond what our limits are. All that is expected is that we are diligent. First of all, what does it mean to be diligent? Diligence is a constant, earnest effort to accomplish what we want to do, or what the Lord wants us to do. So how do we show diligence spiritually? The main ones are what members of the Church like to call the "Primary answers," or the answers that we have been taught since we were little kids. Examples of such are reading our scriptures, saying our prayers morning and night, attending Church every Sunday that you can, paying our tithing, etc. Yet, being diligent is more than just simply DOING these things. Diligence means taking what you learn and APPLYING them into our daily lives.
In the year 1978, a young man faces the reality of getting cut during tryouts of his high school varsity basketball team. Told that he was too short to compete at that level, he walks away with motivation to prove himself. That young man's name was Michael Jordan. Anybody who has any clue of what basketball is also knows who Michael Jordan is. After getting cut from his high school team, he made the junior varsity team where he scored over 40 points in several games. His junior and senior year, he played varsity and averaged 30 points per game as a senior. This led him to a scholarship to play for the University of North Carolina. He earned the Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman of the Year and played 3 years for the Tar Heels, averaging 17 points per game. Drafted with the number 3 overall pick in the 1984 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls, Michael was about to change the game forever. By the time he eventually retired in 2003, he was known and acknowledged by many as the greatest to ever play the game and the stats back up that claim. He was a 6 time NBA Champion, 5 time NBA MVP, 14 time NBA All-Star, 6 time NBA Finals MVP, 3 time NBA All-Star Game MVP, 2 time Slam Dunk Champion, etc, etc, etc.
So, my question is, what might have happened if Michael gave up after he never made the varsity team his sophomore year? Would he be as well known as he is now? I'd bet a million dollars (if I had a million dollars) that he would not. Michael was diligent, not only in practicing and listening to his coaches, but also in applying what he learned in the actual games. It never was easy for him, and there were plenty of times when I'm sure he wanted to give in, but he never did. If we are diligent with the Gospel, we too will be champions. Maybe not of the NBA, but of eternal life.
One of my favorite things to do is get a group of my closest friends, get a bunch of food, and watch movies. I've always loved watching movies. I remember the good old days of Lion King, Aladdin, Snow White, The Swan Princess(I grew up with 3 sisters...cut a guy some slack), and a lot of the other classic children's movies. A general theme in these movies that I've mentioned and in a lot of children's movies is that the evil characters(Scar, Jafar, The Queen, etc) at one point or another seem to have won, yet the good somehow find a way to pull out the victory. The Savior said: "But if it be not built upon my gospel, and is built upon the works of men, or upon the works of the devil, verily I say unto you they have joy in their works for a season, and by and by the end cometh, and they are hewn down and cast into the fire, from whence there is no return."
It gets kinda hard when it seems like there's no reason to hope. Yet, there is reason to hope. We know that
through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all that is unfair about life will be made up. We will all live again. Our sins can be forgiven. All this and more is possible, because the Only Begotten Son of God atoned for us, in the most supreme act of love in the entire history of the earth. It is because of the Atonement that good will prevail over evil. As we put our faith in Jesus Christ, repent, be baptized by somebody who holds His Priesthood authority, receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost by that same authority, and endure to the end, Satan cannot and will not win. The Savior is constantly extending His arms to us with the invitation to follow Him.
How grateful I am for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I've done plenty of dumb stuff in my life, but thanks to our Savior, we can be forgiven. He promises: "Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more." I know that He lives. I have not seen Him, nor do I think I will ever see Him while in my mortal life, yet I don't have to. The Holy Ghost has told me that He lives. I know that He loves us. If He didn't love us, He wouldn't have performed the Atonement, and if He didn't perform the Atonement, good would have eventually been overcome by the influences of the evil one. I end with a line from a Christmas Hymn:"Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: God is not dead, nor doth he sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With peace on earth, good will to men.”
In the world around us, happiness seems to be hard to find these days. Turn on the evening news and stories of murder, violence, rape, and other horrible things always come on first. In these times, a lot people tend to choose to be miserable and unhappy. There's one word I want to emphasize in that last sentence: CHOOSE. I have several friends back home that always told me that happiness is a choice, and it took so long for that message to sink in. In reality, we cannot control what happens to us, but we can control our reactions to it. Though times are hard, and evil is all around, let us use our God given agency and choose to be happy. Enjoy this video by Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
In the 2007 season, BYU football faced the UCLA Bruins twice. One was in Pasadena, California in the famous Rose Bowl where UCLA plays their home games, and the other was in the Las Vegas Bowl at the end of the season. The first game, UCLA beat the Cougars 27-17. The game was close basically the whole way and a late turnover by the Cougars sealed their fate. In the Vegas Bowl, BYU controlled most of the way. At the very end of the game, UCLA had a chance to win the game with a really close field goal of only 28 yards...but to their dismay, it was blocked. The Bruins had their chance for revenge in Week 2 of the 2008 season when they travelled to Provo to take on the Cougars again.
As we can see...UCLA has had better days. The inspiration for this post came from Matthew 5:21-22: "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment..." http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/5.22?lang=eng
Now, whether UCLA was angry with BYU, I don't know, but what I do know is that anger will get you nowhere. God has commanded us not to be angry with each other and sometimes that is hard, but I know that as we look for the good in people and try our best to love them as the Savior loves them, He will make up the difference.
As I have been out here on my mission, I have grown fond of some of the music that I sang as a kid growing up in the Children's Songbook. One of these songs is called "When I am Baptized." The lyrics go like this:
"I like to look for rainbows
whenever there is rain
And ponder on the beauty
of an earth made clean again.
I want my life to be as clean
as earth right after rain.
I want to be the best I can
and live with God again.
I know when I am baptized
my wrongs are washed away,
and I can be forgiven
and improve myself each day.
I want my life to be as clean
as earth right after rain.
I want to be the best I can
and live with God again."
(Children's Songbook #103)
Baptism is an essential ordinance if we want to enter into the Kingdom of God. Jesus said: "...Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5) http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/3?lang=eng To give us an example to follow, Jesus Christ Himself was baptized. The prophet Nephi said: "And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water! And now, I would ask of you, my beloved brethren, wherein the Lamb of God did fulfil all righteousness in being baptized by water? Know ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments." (2 Nephi 31: 5-7) http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/31?lang=eng
God loves us. He sent His son to live a perfect life. He set the perfect example for us. He suffered for us. He died for us. All that He did, He did for us out of perfect, sincere love for each and every one of us. I testify that when we are baptized, our sins are washed away and our lives will be as clean as earth, right after rain.
