Small and Simple Things

I recently had the following experiences: About a year ago, I met with someone to discuss the future of a project that we would be working on together. This particular person had been significant to me because she had been (unbeknownst to her) very influential in my life as I made big decisions. Anticipating my meeting with her was very exciting and I prepared my content and my mind for the time I would get to spend with this women who had, in some way, changed my life.  The time with her was uplifting and thrilling. I felt lucky to be in the same room with her throughout the meeting. She treated me as her equal and I felt privileged to be able to even sit at the same table with her. About a week later, I had a conversation with a mentor that helped me learn even more from this experience. I was on the phone with a mentor getting advice about a social venture that I have thought about for a long time. He had worked with a non-profit organization that helps youth tur...

A Land of Promise "To make us love our country, our country ought to be lovely." -Edmund Burke The United States of America is my home, but it is also much more than that. It is a land of liberty opportunity, and promise. Millions of people have traveled across plains and seas chasing the American dream. During the summer months of 2016, I lived in India. While I was there, my friend and translator asked me, "Why do you think that America is so advanced?" My mind almost immediately thought about entrepreneurship, liberty, and the free market system. After thinking for a moment, other things such as fertile soil, rich resources, and mild climate also came to mind. I started responding with those answers, but something inside of me knew that I was overlooking something much bigger.  For weeks afterwards, the question lingered. Why is America so advanced? I would pose the same question to you. Why do you believe that America is an advanced nation? While there ...

While speaking with a classmate the other day about the crazy nature of life and how we often feel lost or out of control, we remembered the story found in the gospel of Mark 4:35-41. The disciples were on a ship with the Savior, crossing the sea of Galilee when a great tempest arose. In the account, is says that "the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full." The disciples, apparently fearing and frantic woke the Savior and asked, "Master! Carest thou not that we perish?" My classmate and I realized that we too are just like the fearing disciples. At times, I feel as though life is throwing me about and I have little knowledge or control as to where I am going. In fear, I kneel in prayer and plead, "Master, carest thou not that I perish?".  Upon being awaken, the Savior rebuked the wind and calmed the sea and turned to his disciples to ask them where their faith had been. " Why are ye so fearful? Where is your faith?" W...

I will be personal with you for a moment. I find it very tempting to give heavy attention to my own sorrows and struggles before I even start to think of what others are going through. When I am having a hard time, I want others to be worried about me. When I am having a great day with amazing experiences, I expect others to rejoice with me. It is far easier for me to turn inward than to look outward. I suspect that I am not alone in this, but for now, I will speak for myself. If I am the main character in my story, this attitude is fitting as the story should focus on and revolve around the problems, needs, thoughts, and actions of the protagonist. Is this wrong? Shouldn't I be the main character of our own life? This view of the world is portrayed through pinterest, instagram, and other social media outlets It is all about me, my story, my selfies, and my posts. It is taught to us by our individualistic society. It is easy to develop the view that the world revolves around me a...

About a year ago, I read a book entitled, Weakness is NOT sin . Many of the thoughts in this post come from this book. I highly recommend it. Ether 12:27 - "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness . I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that they humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." God shows us our weakness . He gives us weakness . Notice that the scripture doesn't say that he gives us " weaknesses. " What is the difference? This scripture isn't talking about our anger issue, or our fear of commitment, or our susceptibility to fall into a particular sin. Rather, this scripture is talking about our general weakness. It is referring to the general idea that we are "less than the dust of the earth" (Helaman 12:7) and that while our spirit may be willing, ...

On May 27, 2015, I was boarding a bus with my good friend Gregory Barker. We were starting a journey that would begin with an 18 hour bus ride. We were joined by 34 strangers who were filing onto the bus where we would be riding and sleeping that night. I boarded that bus not recognizing yet recognizing that I was missing something. I didn't realize that I was missing it until we arrived at our destination the next day. On Thursday, we arrived at our first site in Kansas City, Missouri. It is a beautiful temple and it was great to walk around the temple and enjoy of the spirit that you can feel on temple grounds. Directly after, we went to the Community of Christ temple (a dissension of the LDS church) in Independence and it was a beautiful building. Speaking with Gregory, it was interesting that we both noticed the lack of meaning and symbolism within the building. Our next stop on the tour was Liberty Jail. This was a place of great suffering, butt along with suffering came ...

The declaration of the United States of America states that all men are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Men have pursued happiness since the beginning of time in a variety of ways. Psychologists and others who study human nature brew up theories trying to discover how to live a happy life. Should there not be an answer that applies to all? If there is a universal answer to this question, would it not be the most important information we could possibly share with others? The pursuit of happiness ends when one discovers, and patterns their life after the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel of Jesus Christ has been around since the beginning of time. The first two humans to walk the earth were taught the Gospel by heavenly hosts. Adam and Eve lived the gospel and were blessed. Since Adam and Eve, God has called prophets to preach and remind each of us where peace and happiness ca...