Different But Same

I was struck again yesterday as we attended the temple how the same thing can be taught in different ways, but still be the same.  I saw the third new movie and am amazed at how the identical teaching can be done in a way that can be so different and help me to understand and learn concepts and doctrines in a new way.  It causes me to reflect and realize new angles, deepen understanding, strengthen conviction, and really increase lasting joy in the great plan of happiness.  I continue to be amazed at how others can teach me so much in small and simple ways.  It doesn't have to be flashy, gaudy, high power, or "loud" to teach amazing new things.  In fact some of what I have learned came through near moments of silence.  The temple is just the happiest place on earth!

And......big news......never happened before...... with mom's foot injury she actually let me drop her off and pick her up at the door to the temple.  She has never before in life let me do that (I sure have tried a lot to be nice).  So I have a PB from yesterday!

This week I spoke about the language of prayer.  It has been good to deepen my study on that and to reflect on how it can impact so much of our lives.  I hope you are keeping the commitment to pray twice daily with real intent.  In your true personal inner self to kneel down and really converse with your Father.  

I am sharing some example of when special or unique language is used in aspects of life, and tying that to the special language of prayer, Thee, Thy Thou and Thine.  So 3 examples in my life, 4 scripture examples that teach us the importance, and 5 ways we implement it.  So 3-4-5.  No clue why, just seems good to use 3-4-5.  The 5 ways to implement tie to the 5 aspects of hastening the work.  Including temple and family history work where we learn so well about the special place prayer has in our lives and the power of true prayer when employed appropriately.

Yesterday after we got back form the temple Ty and I helped Craigs replace their water heater that had gone bad.  The hardest  part was getting some dollar parts to allow the piping to fit the new size.  Ty does really well at knowing what to do and being able to do it.  Including copper soldering.

Then after we got home late I tore apart the copier and replaced the laser polygon motor that was failed so we could not use it.  I had to tear to the very center to get to it.  Then after I had it half back together I realized I left out a mirror.  So apart it came again and then back together.  After it was all in place, I gave it a whirl and.......a new fault stops it from even starting.  Aughhhhhh.  So I spent another hour or more until midnight and the Sabbath working it and can;t get it working.  So frustrating.  I have found the service guide so I am able to enter diagnostics modes and the new part is working well, and I found the part that is causing issues.  But guess what?  It is at the very center again!  So I will have to take it all back apart and hope I can find the problem.  The part I am pleased about is although I am very frustrated, I am doing so much better about not letting it sink in, and change me and make me scream out.  It's just frustrating.

Love you forever,

Dad

3 John 1:4

Entertainment Week

This week we had visitors in from Asia and from Europe. We had a full week of longer term strategy discussions around our variable speed business. I had been asking my boss to do this for the last year because we often get caught up in the "now" and the business of daily urgent things and forget to step back, look at the whole, and make sure what we are doing is what is really the most important. She supported it but in the end I had to just push it through, make the week, and make it happen. Lots of great discussion, decisions, actions to move forward etc. but because it was all "your week Mr. Smith" it was draining on me mentally. All day, all evening I had to be in the zone. We did have two nice dinners that I went to and got totally fat. We were going to do other events also but everyone was worn out by then. 

I also got confirmation that I got approved to hire in an MBA for next year to work full time on my small team. Emerson has a special program for targeted high potential MBAs and they come in for a summer internship from top ten schools. Then they recruit from these. So I will be interviewing in the next couple of months and someone will have a job long before their school year is over. I wish I would have had a job waiting for me nine months before I graduated. A lot of stress would have been relieved. But it will be nice to have another person to help with the work load.  I got approved because my boss told the president basically don't you want a new MBA trained by Dan?  He didn't argue that point at all. I guess that is a nice compliment in a round about way. 

I got the back patio tiled last week and grouted yesterday. I am glad to have that done. It makes it look so nice. Aside from that I did a bunch of small jobs and open things since I had done little at home the past two weeks with the visitors in town. 

We also helped the neighbor Audrey sell her van. Pete is in assisted living and she wanted to get rid of it, but really had no idea of how. So Ty got it running (dead battery is all), mom took pictures and coordinated with her, and then we discussed values from my research, she agreed to a low side value to sell it quickly, and I listed it Friday night. I missed a call that night, called them early Saturday, they came within 30 mins, bought it, and poof, faster sold car I have ever done. She was very happy and really appreciated the help. I am happy she would let us help. Helping others always makes you happy. Just one of those eternal truths!

Work hard this week, reach out to others, invite them to know what you know. 

Love you forever. 

Dad

3 John 1:4

Family Work

What a great week. Full of lots of work but today in Sunday school we discussed all about how work is a gift and a blessing. I brought up how Pres. Uchtdorf indicated that we all have the inner desire to create, and I think that relates directly to work. No matter what kind of work we do it leads to some kind of creation. Home improvement, a computer program, a smile, an experience. They are all some kind of creation. 

And this week we finished grouting the porch, and it looks awesome. Then Saturday we laid tile on the back patio. Ty and Alysia helped, then when they had to leave Skjelse came and was a great help. Both places look so much better. We are really blessed to have the funds to do things at times and to have the skills to make our budget stretch. I have, do, and always will know that faithful payment of an honest tithe has made many miracles of getting more done that I could if I kept it all and tried to use it to accomplish it on our own. 

I taught in high priests group meeting today on eternal marriage. It was fun to do something I have such a testimony of. Since we are going to be living eternally, I would much rather share it with mom and be able to have eternal increase. So I will do all I need to know to be able to keep that blessing in my life now and forever. I tried to do the good teacher things and last week assigned three brothers to come prepared with specific answers to the questions we would have. Then I had prepared a few short video clips. So the whole lesson was three questions. 1.  What do you do to ensure your eternal marriage endures. That got a lot of comments and we spent most time on that. 2.  What can we do to teach children and youth the importance of eternal marriage. 3.  How has keeping the marriage covenant brought you joy. That was it. It was nearly 45 mins and there was not a pause. I had to cut off time for more discussion at the end as time was up. I know prayer helped me to be prepared and to have the ability to have us all learn from each other. I only said the questions and a few short comments in between sections. They all said the rest and it was very good to learn from each other. 

We got a new Elder, a new Sister, and a new Zone leader this week. It will be fun to learn from them all. We are very blessed to have good people all around us. 

I have had a guy, Steven (real name Choajie), that works for me in China here visiting and learning. I think I overwhelmed him with so many meetings but it also helped him see many other things that can help him learn more and continue to grow in his job. To help him experience American life we took him to a Dayton Dragons game. It was fun, he liked the atmosphere, the food and the next morning when I talked to him about it he confided "I have no clue how that game is played."  This after all evening the other guy with us explained all what was going on and why it was happening. It was pretty funny. Then later in the week we took him to dinner at a restaurant in the Oregon district that we had never been to. I took mom so we could have a nice evening together also. It was so nice and we ate outside in perfect weather. A fun week. 

I love you forever. 

Dad

3 John 1:4

Family Project

Wow, everybody helped all along the way. Mom was fixed on getting the old carpet off the front porch. We had this in the plan but were waiting for time and money to complete it. Yesterday was the day. We got everyone into the help. Skjelse and Jeff came for a while, and Jeff learned some basics. Ty worked hard as always and is so good and making complex cuts fit great. Alysia moved out of her comfort zone (with a nice push off the edge from me) and she did most of the cutting of the tile. I taught her how and helped her with one, then she just took off. She was awesome. And in the end she was even just taking a dimension and measuring, marking, and cutting the piece. Mom and the sisters prepped the front door for new paint so she is planning on painting it tomorrow. It was a great together day. Then we went over with Skjelse and Jeff to watch a video with snacks. The only drawback is the usual one where my body aches after doing extreme tile yoga for 5 hours. But it looks nice. The grout will go fast. Next we plan on doing the back patio. It should go faster as it is bigger to lay more full size pieces and the cuts will be very easy, just straight across. 

Work went crazy this week. I thought it would be a reasonable week with plenty of open time to get things done, but it exploded starting last Friday and my whole week was crazy. Some of the days I had meetings as early as 5:30 and then not having any break until 5 end of day. It does make the day go quickly. Just not enough time to do the things I am supposed to get done. 

I went to a church disciplinary council this week for re-admittance to the church.   I learned an amazing lesson. The heart that desires Christ really can leverage the atonement and come through shining. It's a tough road but the journey is worth it. What a change I saw over the course of the past year. From discouragement to joy and hope for the future. Pres. Valencia made a comment that made me think. He said that in all his years of church service, he has never seen an individual be more exact in every detail of what they have been asked to do. Through a difficult time they obeyed every word with exactness. It made me think of the armies of Helaman. And their obedience to every word. It would pay rich dividends for all of us if we would do the same. Do we hear the council of our Bishop, Stake President, Mission President, or general authorities and truly hearken?  

It's all worth it, I know it is. The reason we are here on earth has so much more behind it than just living a life. So much rests upon our choices now. Make the ones that will bring eternal joy. 

Love you, Dad

3 John 1:4

Looking on the inside or the outside?

So this week I had a testimony builder again. I was struggling to have a talk come together. I had been studying and pondering for the past 4-5 weeks about "cleanse the inner vessel" from Alma 60:23. Lots of good thoughts, lots of good things, just wasn't coming together. So on Sunday I emailed the bishop that I would speak at to see if there was anything he needed me to focus on. He actually did (they usually are good with the stake subject) and after he gave me that, I totally went down a different path and it came together so easy. It just made sense in my mind. We continue to be guided by revelation! 

So below is my talk for your entertainment and delight!

I also went out with Ty and the missionaries this week. We had a hallway discussion with a single mother and invited her to church again. She came before. She ended up. It coming but I did commit her to read Alma 32 about the seed. She had brought up planting seeds so I told her about it, got her to download the Gospel Library app, and committed to listen to that chapter. Then we saw a new family they had found out in their yard and stopped by for a few minutes. I invited them to church also. They too decided not to come but I know it will help them when they do come soon. 

The talk:

Cleanse The Inner Vessel

 

When I was in elementary school I had an experience I remember to this day. I had a favorite spot to go far away from the playground. It was near the baseball field they would use during the summer season. My friends and I would climb up a giant tree, way up to the sky it seemed, and go out on a large branch to talk and imagine. One day we went out and I was the first to hurry up to the branch. As I stood on it and held on the the smaller branch above I began to bounce like I often did. But today was not my day. As I did so the trusted branch cracked and down it went with me following right behind. This fall of about 20 feet left me on my back and before I knew it, I was unconscious and when I awoke, a few teachers and many students were right over top of me. They had come a considerable distance after the crash. By a miracle I was mostly unharmed and even though I had landed my head right on a rock I had no permanent damage (except some of my friends would say I am a bit "off center" sometimes:))

As it turned out what looked on the outside to be a strong and stable place to see the clouds was instead rotten inside and was unfit to do the job I requested of that branch. 

The Lord had a similar circumstance we learn about in the Book of Mormon. 

The time was perilous, and a favorite leader of many was working hard to protect the people. Moroni and his armies had proven to be exceptionally wise, but were severely out numbered. In his plea, and his general lack of knowing what was going on, he wrote to the governor of the land about the apparent neglect he felt from the lack of support. 

23 Do ye suppose that God will look upon you as guiltless while ye sit still and behold these things? Behold I say unto you, Nay. Now I would that ye should remember that God has said that the inward vessel shall be cleansed first (Alma 60)

And then Moroni continued to trash talk Pahoran, the chief governor. Listen to how he blames and accuses without having a full knowledge of what was really happening to Pahoran. 

28 Yea, behold I do not fear your power nor your authority, but it is my God whom I fear; and it is according to his commandments that I do take my sword to defend the cause of my country, and it is because of your iniquity that we have suffered so much loss. (Alma 60)

Then Moroni explains where his heart really is. How would you take what he is saying?  A description of his inner heart, or a weak justification of his rude and inappropriate accusations?

36 Behold, I am Moroni, your chief captain. I seek not for power, but to pull it down. I seek not for honor of the world, but for the glory of my God, and the freedom and welfare of my country. (Alma 60)

Now really think how would you feel?  How would you respond. Recall Elder Bednar's teachings about how someone cannot offend you, but only you can take offense when none may have been intended. 

Pahoran immediately just tries to explain the circumstance he is in, and reaches out to Moroni. 

2 I, Pahoran, who am the chief governor of this land, do send these words unto Moroni, the chief captain over the army. Behold, I say unto you, Moroni, that I do not joy in your great afflictions, yea, it grieves my soul.

3 But behold, there are those who do joy in your afflictions, yea, insomuch that they have risen up in rebellion against me, and also those of my people who are freemen, yea, and those who have risen up are exceedingly numerous. (Alma 61)

Next comes one of the most remarkable events in the history books I have read. One that has changed my life. One that exhibits a leadership and strength of character seldom matched in this earth's history. Pahoran responds directly to Moroni's misplaced accusations. 

9 And now, in your epistle you have censured me, but it mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart. I, Pahoran, do not seek for power, save only to retain my judgment-seat that I may preserve the rights and the liberty of my people. My soul standeth fast in that liberty in the which God hath made us free. (Alma 61)

Moroni showed exceptional grace in his response. As Pahoran forgave and forgot through his response to Moroni, Moroni then in kind just moved on and celebrated their joint love of freedom, their country and their God. 

19 And now, Moroni, I do joy in receiving your epistle, . (Alma 61)

1 And now it came to pass that when Moroni had received this epistle his heart did take courage, and was filled with exceedingly great joy because of the faithfulness of Pahoran, that he was not also a traitor to the freedom and cause of his country. (Alma 62)

This story is an example to me of epic proportions. Two men who were challenged by judgement of others, but rose above that. It illustrates the point that we cannot know another's circumstance and if we judge, we will miss key items that would change how we feel. 

It also shows that when we are filled with the spirit of God we can truly be clean at the innermost, and be right before God. 

As we think of this we can learn from the lessons of the bible. Jesus as he talked to the Pharisees related the following: 

41 ¶While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,

42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? (Matthew 22)

And as he asked that penetrating question, Elder Cook turned it around for us so we can inspect our inner vessel. Listen to what he said recently in general conference. 

Jesus asked the Pharisees, “What think ye of Christ?”2 In the final assessment, our personal discipleship will not be judged by friends or foes. Rather, as Paul said, “We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”3 At that day the important question for each of us will be, “What thinks Christ of me?” (What Thinks Christ of Me?)

I repeat, What thinks Christ of me?  Of my inner vessel? How will we feel when we are brought before him?  Will we be clean inside and out?

The Psalmist wrote:

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalms 51)

My family and I recently went on a road trip to visit family. We had a great time seeing family we rarely are able to spend time with. On the way back home my father in law sent us with a large amount of frozen beef. He does this for a hobby with his brothers who still ranch full time.  Everything went well and we arrived home. When we unloaded we found some of the beef had softened and the freezer containers it was in leaked. We worked hard to clean up the spill and to wipe everything out. 

The next morning we went out to go to church and were about pushed over with the terrible smell. We had obviously not cleaned deep enough. So we proceeded to clean more, and to clean deeper, and to spray the car to help take out the smell. But whatever we tried did not seem to make a difference. Finally we had to remove the seats, take out the carpet, and treat it with bacteria eating enzymes. After a couple more days and hard work, we finally removed the source of the problem. Only by cleaning the very inner parts could we clean the car. 

Just as our experience with the car, so it is with our hearts and minds. We have to clean the very inner part to become who our Father in Heaven wants us to be and knows we can be. And just like Moroni we can clean the inner soul first, and lead ourselves to Christ. 

No matter what we may have done, or how we feel inside, the Savior is the master cleaner. He can help anyone make clean hands and a pure heart. 

Bear testimony

I love you forever. That simply will not change. 

Dad

3 John 1:4

Week of Work

This week I paid the price for being gone on family vacation.  I know it always happens this way, but it is never a joy to return.  A vacation is supposed to refresh you and make you ready to work hard again, but it just serves to remind me that family is most important, and I wish I could spend all my time doing that instead of work each day.

Each day I would think I will get done on time, or a bit early so I could leave and get home.  I spent many days on vacation doing work and meeting so I knew I had time to leave a bit early.  But each day things would happen, situations that have been pushed off had to be addressed, and I ended up staying late.  Even on Friday I had some visitors from China in, and I had planned to end at 4:00.  I thought in my mind then if everyone is still talking we will still end by 4:30, and I could drop them off then head home a bit early.  But the discussions did not end until 5:30, then I had to drop them off, return to the office and gather my things.  All in all a long week for work but the family time the weeks prior were worth it.

The evenings were spent trying to figure out, clean, and then disassemble, clean and repair the horrific stench in the car.  The meat we brought home from Grandma and Grandpa leaked out of the freezer bags and into the carpet.  Then when we stopped and unloaded it began to rot.  And it was not long before it was unbearable.  Just gross, at it's core.  At first we wiped, cleaned, sprayed, and I even used bleach in the rear gaskets to get all we could find.  But it remained.  I then realized it was under one trim piece, so off it came (and as I write this I can still smell the stench in my mind as I did this) and we found a pool underneath.  Great, we found it!  We cleaned that and sprayed, then used an ozone treatment in the car.  Next morning......augh!  Stench remains.  So I had to take out the rear seat, the carpet underneath it and all of it had to come out, be cleaned, and the frame underneath sterilized.  It turned out to be the carpet piece and that took work to remove the offending bacteria and then use an enzyme to actual destroy the source of it all.  After all that each evening we finally can be in the car and it is fine.

The lesson in it all is that you have to clean the very source, the very core if you want to make things change.  Just like our lives, we have to clean the inner most part of us, our thoughts, our desires, out intents before we can truly change and become who He wants us to be.  Changing just the appearance will leave us stinking the next morning.  We have to change inside.

Love you forever, it's a great time to be alive.

Dad

3 John 1:4

Eternal View

I was talking with mom this week about how I came to see how it is so important to look beyond the world swirling around us and to the longer term in our actions, decisions, and thoughts.  It drives the way I act, the things I choose to fill my mid with and how I make decisions.

Many years ago I caught a very brief vision of what eternity really means and how long it really is (duh, forever), but it really was impressed upon my soul, not just my mortal mind.  it scared the daylights out of me to understand for that brief moment how long eternity really is and how short this life is.

That was the time it began the shift for me to treat decisions and what I really have as most important differently and more vital than the rest of what is around me.

I think it was one of those momentous times for me.

I was thinking of hit this week because I was 1. thinking so much of family, and 2. went through the temple with Gavin last week and that always is great to remind us of what is most important.

The drive back home was neat because of everyone's attitudes.  It was difficult at times, challenging, frustrating and all, but everyone kept such a great attitude and we had fun for the trip back. But it is a long drive.

I am worried about work this week because I have been out of the office for 3 weeks and I will pay for that, but that's life!  I had a great family vacation seeing everyone.

I had another great stake mission correlation meeting.  It is always neat to compare efforts and see what is making an impact.  Then to share challenges and what each side can do to work towards an improvement.  Everyone is always so positive to find solutions and make things better for all.  The zone leaders are so positive.  And it is really fun to watch President Porter and President Valencia work together.

Love you forever.

Dad

3 John 1:4