http://www.njagyouth.org/Liberty_.htm

15:8 … Have ye inquired of the Lord?
15:11 … If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing in your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you.
D&C 50:29 And if ye are purified and cleansed from all sin, ye shall ask whatsoever you will in the name of Jesus and it shall be done.

How is it that one can say, “I don’t know how,” or anything else along those lines if one hasn’t even taken the time to ask the Lord how. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Matt 7:7-8). “Ask, and ye shall receive…” (D&C 4:7). Why is it so hard for man to ask for directions? Maybe the women back then wouldn’t have been afraid to ask God for direction…

Something to consider… Post your answers if you feel up to it…

If you could select three genetic traits for your children, which ones would you select?

How would you feel about raising children you have adopted or fostered but to whom you are not genetically related?

If a biological child of yours might be born disabled or fatally ill because of your genetic heritage, would you have children anyway? What circumstances or conditions would affect your decision?

If you knew you might carry a gene responsible for a serious medical or behavioral disorder, would you want to be tested before having children? Would it be fair for a prospective spouse to require you to be tested before conceiving children? Would it be fair for the state to make such a requirement?

(Zimbardo, et al. Psychology Core Concepts, 5th Ed. p. 46)

3:7 I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

It is important that we know that if we do God’s will, we will be cared for. This can be related to any number of subjects. Compare it to tithing, for one. Many people can testify that when they didn’t think they had enough money to make it through, yet still paid a full tithe, their needs were met. Others can testify that their hardship was made worse when they did not pay their tithe. This passage can also be related to any number of other subjects as well.

3:15 As the Lord liveth, and as we live, we will not go … until we have accomplished the thing which the Lord hath commanded us.

Garner relates this to a story of keeping an agreement. If the man is to keep this agreement, he could loose his house. N. Eldon Tanner’s reply to this man was that he should keep his agreement at all costs. He even went as far as to say, “I am talking about your agreement, and I think your wife would rather have a husband who would keep his word, meet his obligations, keep his pledges or his covenants, and have to rent a home than to have a home with a husband who will not keep his covenants and his pledges.”

I can relate to this as someone who will do everything in my power to keep a commitment that I make, which is why I always try to loosely commit to something instead of actually committing to it. Commitment is important. People want to deal with people that they can trust, people who keep their commitments. Just because you may not succeed with something on the first try, this doesn’t mean that you should give up. Search for another way to perform the commandment, as Nephi did when he suggested going and getting gold and silver from his fathers house.

We can even look back to when they left the riches at the house and only took what they absolutely needed. We could probably say that God had them leave their riches there so that they could use them later for this assignment.

3:29-31 – Garner quotes Heber J. Grant, “Many men say: ‘If I could only see an angel, if I could only hear an angel proclaim something, that would cause me to be faithful all the days of my life!’ It had no effect upon these men [Laman and Lemuel] that were not servering the Lord, and it would have no effect today.”

I find it so interesting how easily we dismiss big things in our lives without questing them. I am constantly reminded of this story:

The man whispered, “God, speak to me” and a meadowlark sang.
But the man did not hear.
So the man yelled “God, speak to me” And, the thunder rolled
across the sky. But, the man did not listen.
The man looked around and said,
“God let me see you.” And a star shined brightly.
But the man did not notice.
And, the man shouted, “God show me a miracle” And, a life was born.
But, the man did not know.
So, the man cried out in despair, “Touch me God,
and let me know you are here”
Whereupon, God reached down and touched the man.
But, the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on.

I must admit that I too am guilty of missing the obvious at times. I wish that there was more time to sit and ponder, while amazed at God’s creations.

4:6 And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do.

Elder harold B. Lee said, “You must learn to walk to the edge of the light, and perhaps a few steps into the darkness, and you will find that the light will appear and move ahead of you.” D&C 100:6 states, “For it shall be given you in the very hour, yeah, in the very moment, what ye shall say.” I like to call this walking by faith and it can be related to many things, but let’s consider a project for a class. You may not know what needs to be done specifically, but you can either sit there all day and think about it, or you can move ahead and get started. Once you get started you will see that it really isn’t all that hard to accomplish – you just need to have a little faith (in this case in yourself) and get going!

Saturday new student orientation continued with showcase which they did a pretty good job on. The production side of it still needed some touching up, but overall I think they did a pretty good job with it. I liked how they incorporated so many things about the school into one big presentation. After showcase was the welcome week dance, but I stayed home and went to bed fairly early.

Sunday was church, nothing special to report there. I read the first chapter of my psychology book which was a really good thing because I’ve had so much homework already that there was no way I could have read that chapter too! Sunday was pretty quiet, and I got some time to catch up with some various people.

Monday I was up bright and early for the first day of school. I was able to rearrange my schedule on Sunday evening so that I had classes from 9am-12:15 straight and then the English class in the afternoon. It seems like all of the classes will be good, although I have now replaced the english class with an online philosophy class. Amanda and I were not able to get into the 1 p.m. English class with Bro. Bonner and she just absolutely did not want to take this other English class, so we found her some alternatives. I think she decided to take an Intro to Humanities class online, but I haven’t talked to her, so I don’t know for sure.

After class I got some more books, then came back to the apartment and started reading. I got my religion homework done and then went to FHE where we just met up as a ward really quickly, had some ice cream, did a quick lesson and then most of us split. I came back to the apartment, grabbed some books and went to the library for a couple hours. I have a really bad feeling that I’m going to be doing a lot of reading this semester and a lot of homework. I think I’m going to be living in the library! I guess that will keep me away from my boredom, but hopefully I’ll still be able to have some fun here and there (not that I’ve done anything fun in the past couple days…)

We finally got our third roommate yesterday, Val (Clayton). He is a returned missionary and seems like a good guy. He is going to be in my Book of Mormon class so that should be interesting.

The whole, I don’t want to go to school thing is starting to kick in, but I am looking forward to day two and seeing how these classes unfold. It will be much nicer getting out of class at 12:15, instead of 4, as it should give me lots of time to get my homework done. I’ll probably come home, have some lunch and then go to devotional and then go to the library to study, study, study. I’m hoping that I’ve got some time tonight so that I can go to the gym… I was hoping to go last night, but I wasn’t even done reading when I left the library at 10:30 last night and I came home, needing sleep for today!

Well, I think we are getting close to my turn for the shower, so hope everything else is going well out there and keep praying for Stephanie…

When reading about keeping a journal I can relate to this as it is something that I have tried many times and seem to eventually struggle with, but I have found that it is a very good thing to do. Kimball writes: “Those who keep a book of remembrance are more likely to keep the Lord in remembrance in their daily lives. Journals are a way of counting our blessings.” I can easily relate to this quote. I can look through old entries and see where I would thank the Lord for things that he had done in my journals, or pray to Him asking for one thing or another. It is also great to be able to look back and count ones blessings or remember things from the past that we may not remember very clearly. I wish that I had been more diligent in my journaling and I have found lately what has helped me is posting, the parts from my journal that I am comfortable posting, on the Internet for my friends to read. This connection to them seems to keep me going and can inspire conversations on topics that normally would not be brought up.

Garner proposes the question: “How does understanding what Lehi left and what he took with him help us better prioritize in our own lives?” 1 Nephi 1-5 actually tells me a lot. It tells me that Lehi believed that his dream wasn’t just a dream – that it was a commandment from God and it shows us what he was willing to give up to follow that commandment. We often hear that our wordily possessions won’t get us anywhere. We are told in Matthew 6:19-20, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.” We see that Lehi left all his treasures behind him and took only what was important and necessary (his family and provisions). “… For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also…” (Matt 6:21).

It is important that we thank the Lord for all of our daily blessings, from the big things down to the small things. We, as people, do tend to forget to thank people in our daily lives and I’m sure that we can also experience what it is like to not receive thanks after doing something for someone else. We should then only be able to start to imagine how the Lord would feel when we just plainly forget about Him.

Everyone do me a favor and pray for Stephanie (from the theatre) – no last name for fear of searches, but you know who she is…

I can’t say much, but just pray for her continued safety and that she will get all of the legal issues taken care of. Pray that she will make new friends, find a job – that all of her needs will be taken care of.

OK, so I figured out today that I could graduate in April 2007 if I take 16-22 credits per semester! This of course would all depend on me actually getting into BYU-Idaho!

Here’s my schedule for the current semester, along with a really bad picture of me:
http://spencer.byui.edu/cgidev2p/SRRWclsd.PGM?idno=CHE04008

I didn’t end up doing anything at all on Thursday. I sat around waiting for something to do to find me and it never happened. I sat around and watched Without a Trace and then decided that I was starving and didn’t want to deal with making anything so I went to Little Caesar’s and got a $5 pizza which was surprising good with their spice pack which I have never heard of before. I think I ended up watching 16 candles, I still have no clue why I got this movie, and went to bed fairly early. I talked with Batch & Promack for a little bit which was nice to heed off the boredom.

Friday I was up early for the devotional, but this time I was able to meet up with Ashley & her grandparents. After the devotional I went to the transfer student seminar and then started new student orientation with little trips to the library in between. NSO was good I guess, but it was fairly boring as we did all the same stuff that groups always do to “break the ice.” It was nice to have some new people to hang out with and to get to know some of them. I did get really burnt yesterday though and didn’t realize it until the end of the day when I looked at how red my hands were. So now my face is burnt, my hands and my neck, but the rest of me was fully covered.

When I got back to the apartment I found some luggage and stuff sitting outside. Within a couple minutes I finally had a roommate, although it wasn’t the guy that I’ve been expecting. Steven seems like a nice guy – is a freshmen, psychology major, who happens to be in the psychology class that I am currently enrolled in, but am probably going to end up dropping. It looks like I’m going to drop that class because when I run the grad report with IS as my major and business as my minor both the psychology and the government class fill the same requirements, so I’ll probably forget the psych for now and try to figure out my schedule still.

Steven and I just sat around talking for a bit last night until about 11:30 when we decided it was time to get ready for bed as we got up this morning for the breakfast to continue the orientation. After breakfast we attended the morningside in the Taylor Chapel. The rest of the group went to academic orientation while I went to the devotional and am now sitting in the library.

So far I have really enjoyed the devotionals and other talks we’ve had around here. President Bednar gave a really good talk yesterday at commencement. While I can’t remember exactly what all he said, one of his points was learning to love learning. Another thing that they have stressed a lot in the past two days is that it is a privilege to come here and not a right. While I’ve obviously known that from the beginning, I think it really sat in last night. I wish I could remember exactly what he said from some of the other things in his speech, but there was something about being in an environment that can only be found in three other places on the Earth. He kept saying that we are in a disciple training center. That we are blessed to be in a location with a temple (soon), a place for education and a place with strong stakes of zion. It really is interesting what we have here in the middle of nowheresville Idaho – and honestly, I don’t see why anyone would want to go to any other school (other byu’s excluded). One thing he said, was along the lines of, “We do so much for so little and so little for so much,” which was a quote from another member when standing in the Taylor building right before it’s dedication. It really is true, even when applied to the microscopic environment and not just the macro… Look at what the Church has built here in Rexburg for 13,000 students while the entire rest of the Earth has nothing.

I’ve only been here for a week and a half now and haven’t even started classes, but I can now see what Larilyn was referring to when she told me about why she wanted to go to BYU and can’t see myself wanting to go anywhere else. I can see why people love it here and why some don’t want to leave, even when they aren’t in class. I won’t be making any formal decisions still for some time to come, but we’ll have to see how the next couple weeks go, but so far I think I’m in love (and no I’m not talking about Amanda… I haven’t even seen her since Wednesday!)

… We do so much for so little, and so little for so much…

Yesterday was pretty quiet. I spent most of the day going back and forth to the laundry room doing laundry which I guess at least gave me something to do. Around 9 Amanda called me and I had to take Becky out for ice cream because I promised her I would if she did good on her final, so Amanda, Becky, Jenae, Ashley and I went out to Dairy Queen. After that Becky and I went and got gas for $1.94/gallon! You want to know what was even weirder than paying that little? Not the fact that it was 85 octane and not 87, but the fact that I pumped before I paid! That was just weird.

After that we went back to their apartment to watch Dirty Rotten Scoundrels which was pretty funny although everyone was practically falling asleep. Amanda put mayo in Becky’s hair so in case you’ve been wondering what that smell is.. now you know!

This morning I got up and went to the Education Week Devotional. I tried to meet up with Ashley & her grandparents, but I couldn’t find them and couldn’t get a hold of them on their cell phones. Maybe I’ll have better luck tomorrow. I’m supposed to be getting a roommate at some point here, but no one seems to really know when for sure. It will probably be nice to have someone around here to keep me company, but it will be weird to be living with a complete stranger, but I guess that is just part of life, right?

Not sure what else is going on today. I have nothing planned and a bunch of the girls are out of town for the weekend, but hopefully we’ll (I’ll) find something to do. I’m hoping to get a chance to meet Amanda’s grandparents and hang out with Ashley while they are here.

Tomorrow is new student orientation, so we’ll have to see how that one goes…

Anyone know how I can open a word document that I’ve forgotten the password to?

I found some stuff online that says you can change the password with a hex editor, but I can’t figure out where the password is stored that I need to change.

There was no devotional yesterday because of finals, but I did get my ID card so I can now go to the gym with the girls, when and if they ever go again… I was hoping we would go last night, but they were all pretty tired and had to study for finals. I had all sorts of built up energy last night and was contemplating going myself, but then realized what time it was and figured that I wouldn’t really get anything out of going.

I found Amanda & Kim in the library yesterday. They really didn’t look like they were having that much fun, but I guess that is life before finals. After learning there was no devotional I cam home and talked with my mom for a while before posting some old journal entries online, reading and eating lunch/dinner. I went over to Tara & Shelly’s around 7:30 and then we went over to Ben’s to watch Brother Bear which was pretty funny. We made a pretty long list of other movies that we are going to have to watch, so this might have to become a weekly affair or something as it seems like some of these people don’t get out much! After the movie we went back to Carousel Court and just hung out for a while between the two apartments. I finally left Becky & Kim to do their homework around 11:15 and came home and talked with Alison for a while before calling Amanda to see if she had fun feeding the cows and to make sure that she made it home safely.

I can’t say that much else went on yesterday. Today should be pretty quiet as there is really nothing planned. I am going to do my laundry today and hopefully tonight I’ll get to meet Amanda’s grandparents… and I’m really hoping that they brought a surprise with them.

Netflix finally got the movie that I sent them last week, I guess it was Friday. Four days from here to Santa Ana. I guess it’s only three from Salem, OR, but still that is one long delay to get a movie from Netflix! Well, I think it is time for me to hit the shower and face the day seeing that it is almost noon!

Love many, hate few, learn to paddle your own canoe.
  — American Proverb

Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it.
  — Song of Songs 8:7

Joe Nichols

I watched him take the two strike call:
He hadn’t tried to swing at all.
I guess he’d had all that he could take,
He walked away, for goodness sake.
His father’s voice was loud an’ mean:
“You won’t amount to anything.”

That little boy quit tryin’,
He just walked away.
There were teardrops on his face.
Tell me, how would you feel?
You’d probably give up too,
If nobody believed in you.

That old man said: “One more try,
“I know I’m not too old to try.
“I promise, son, I’ll do my best,
“This time, I’m gonna pass the test.”
“Give me the keys, Dad, an’ get in.”
His father never drove again.

That old man quit tryin’,
He just turned away.
An’ there were teardrops on his face.
Tell me, how would you feel?
You’d probably give up too,
If nobody believed in you.

We take His name out of schools.
The lawyers say it breaks the rules.
Pledge of allegiance can’t be writ,
An’ under God, should not be said.
I wonder how He will take.
I just pray it’s not too late.

What if God quit tryin’,
He just turned away?
There were teardrops on his face?
Tell me, how would you feel?
You’d probably give up too,
If nobody believed in you.

Tell me, how would you feel?
You’d probably give up too,
If nobody believed in you.

Anyone know what ever happened with that girl? Anyone have an email address or anything for her? I have a pager number from years ago, but that’s it…