General Conference

Have you ever been reading the scriptures and realize that everything totally went over your head?  I know I have.  It's hard to fully grasp what you're reading when it's caught up in parables, analogies, and symbols.  Wouldn't it be nice if we had scripture that was in our own modern day language instead of that old scriptural language?  Turns out, there is.  We can hear a prophets voice even today. 

Just like in Biblical times, God calls prophets today.  Every 6 months, the prophet and the apostles speak to us in an event called General Conference.  It almost seems too good to be true, but it's real, and it's amazing.  Amos 3:7 reads, "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."  This pattern has always been in effect.  God has called prophets on the earth since the beginning of time, and that is how he has revealed his secrets.

So take the opportunity to listen to conference.  This is truly no ordinary blessing.  If we take heed to the prophets of the past as well as present, then we will have increased happisness, more trust in the Lord, and a more satisfying life.

Unity

Being in a rock and roll band before my mission, I've played music with a lot of different people.  Trying to find the right combination of style, taste, and sound is pretty tough sometimes.  Even after you find a good combination, making each person become as one, so to speak, is an extreme challenge.  Often times little disagreements will come up, but there are occasions when everyone gets in the groove, and that's when music is made.  The trick to getting the perfect sound is unity.

Unity is something that we need to be striving for in this life.  Whether it's for a rock and roll band, a family, or just in oneself, it's an important attribute to attain.  The people of Alma, after they had been baptized, we're commanded to be unified together.  Mosiah 18:21 reads, "And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another."

Just like having unity in a rock band will produce the best music, unity in a home will produce the best people.  The main person we want to be united with is our Savior, Jesus Christ.  We must unite in the same cause as Him.  We must develop an eye single to His glory.  We must see the world as he does.  We must see others as he does.  It is then we will be in perfect harmony with Him and His teachings.

Broken

First off, I know what you're thinking: another Jack Johnson blog?  Well, music is something that I can relate to.  I've been playing music ever since I can remember, and plus, you can never have too much Jack Johnson.  The song that I want to talk about this time is a song called Broken.  The song talks about Jack and another person, although it is never revealed who Jack Johnson is talking about.  We can get a lot from it by a line from the chorus though.  The chorus is: "Without you I was broken, but I'd rather be broke down with you by my side."

The question is, who is the 'you' that Jack Johnson is talking about?  Without out this person, he was broken, but even if he is broken, he'd rather have this person there.  So I ask myself who am I broken without?  Well a few answers come to mind: my family and friends are two big ones, but those only cover some aspects of my 'broken-ness.'  The one person that we are all truly broken without is Jesus Christ.

We are completely broken without him.  Acts 4:12 reads, "..for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."  It is only in and through Christ that we can return to live with God.  Even with him in our lives, we will still face some "breakdowns."  It's inevitable.  But remember, without him we are broken, but we'd much rather be broke down with him by our side.  When we have those breakdowns, He'll be there to lift us up and to help us through it.  May we always strive to have him by our side.

Need For Speed

Now I'm not the biggest gamer, but I do enjoy a good video game every once in a while.  One type of game that I like in particular are the Need For Speed games.  There's so much to the game.  You can do drag races, circuits, drifts, or even just drive around the town.  I also really enjoyed making my car go super fast and look super cool.  Contrary to the title of the game, sometimes a Need For Speed will get you in trouble. 

There are all sorts of courses you have to race, most of them have many twists and turn.  I learned quick that slamming the gas wasn't the best way to win the race.  Sure on the straightaways I did pretty well, but when the turns came, it was disastrous.  I learned quick that I needed to slow down when I saw a turn coming up, and my racing improved drastically. 

Racing is a lot like life.  We often think going as fast as we can will ensure our victory, but that's not true.  We have twists and turns in our life just like in the races, and if we don't slow down, we'll find that our slamming of the gas has slid us off course.  King Benjamin, in the Book of Mormon, gives us the same advice when he says, "...for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength." (Mosiah 4:27).  There's a time when a Need For Speed will do us good, but we need to be careful that we don't over do it.  For when we run faster than we have strength, we will inevitably fall.

Nay, Speak No Ill

I've been thinking a lot about charity lately.  It's such a pure attribute that we will most likely not be able to achieve it in this impure, mortal state, but we can always be working towards it.  I can't remember where I heard this quote, but it has always stuck with me.  "Sometimes charity is just saying nothing."  When I heard that quote, the hymn, Nay Speak No Ill, instantly popped into my head.

Then speak no ill, but lenient be
To other’s failings as your own;
If you’re the first a fault to see,
Be not the first to make it known.

Many times, we can show charity by just keeping quiet.  We're not perfect, and neither is anyone else.  When we see some one's fault, we don't have to be the one to make them known.  Let them be, and go on.  Look past the imperfections and accept them as they are.  That is true charity.  Charity is one of the most important attributes we can attain.  Moroni puts it well in Moroni 7:46 when he says, "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing." 

Mountain Moments

Have you ever been on a mountain top and looked out to see the view?  It's pretty incredible.  The air is fresh, the view is great, the world is so peaceful up there.  Life is full of "mountain" moments, and we always wish that we could stay at the top of the mountain forever.  We all know that we can't.  We eventually have to return to the somewhat repetitive routine of life.  We may even reach a "valley" moment where we have no view at all.  As much as we don't like the "valley" moments, they are a necessary part of life.

What makes the "mountain" moment so great?  What makes us appreciate the "mountain" moments so much?  Yes, it is a great view, and we do feel on top of the world, but it's the contrast of the "valley" moments that gives us the sense of awe in the "mountain" moment.  Lehi, a prophet in the Book of Mormon, talks about how what life would be without any contrasts.  "For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things...wherefore [we] would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for [we] knew no misery; doing no good, for [we] knew no sin." (2 Nephi 2:11, 23). 

It's tough to swallow, but we really do need those tough times in life to enjoy the good times.  Each time we go down into the valley, we have an opportunity for a growing experience and once we reach that "mountain" moment, we will realize that it was all worth it.  May we all make those "mountain" moments into memories you'll never forget.

Slow Down

There are very few music artists that I could listen to all day long.  Jack Johnson is one of them.  With his combination of acoustic and blues, it just sings to my soul.  Inaudible Melodies, an album and song by Jack Johnson, is a perfect example of his style.  There is a line in one of his songs that I sort of live by.  I'm a sort of 'go with the flow' kind of guy.  I don't like to rush, but sometimes there are so many things that we have to do in a day, that we are forced to rush.  Here's the start of the chorus of the song Inaudible Melodies:

Slow down everyone you're moving too fast
Frames can't catch you when you're moving like that

Are we moving too fast?  Is life too busy?  We often find ourselves are running here, there and everywhere.  We may think to ourselves, "Where has the time gone?"  Many times, our life is filled with so many activities and events that we don't have time to stop and focus on the things that really matter.  Addressing the same topic, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, "We would do well to slow down a little, proceed at the optimum speed for our circumstances, focus on the significant, lift up our eyes, and truly see the things that matter most."

There's nothing wrong with stepping back and slowing down.  With all of the different things we have to fit into our schedule, are we remembering to fit in those things that matter most?  Do we make it a point to put the precious things first in life, or is our life constantly cluttered so much that we cover those things up?  We must find the balance.  That is when we can excel.  May we all manage our minutes better to make room for those things that matter most.