I went with my brother-in-law, Tyler, to drop him off at UVU. Now usually on Tuesday's I take my sister's car to go pick up Ally Best... and then Ally and I go to our class at BYU. Tyler's car exploded so it's a little more difficult for me to get to school now. I was very grateful this day that I was able to use my sister Melissa's car.
This isn't there car... and actually that isn't their awesome child either ... that is Jayden our nephew.
This is kind of like their car... except it has been hit a lot...
Anyway... on to the real point of this story. I was a little early picking up Ally. It seems that every time I am early someone needs my help. The last time a guy came up to me and needed help jumping his car... so of course I helped. This day was a little different though...
(Think of the tune from "The Fresh Prince of Bel-air")
Now this is the story all about how
My day got flipped, turned upside down
And I'd like to take a minute just sit right there
I'll tell you all about a crazy lady who wasn't all there
In west American Fork I was born and raised
School and workin' is where I spend most of my days
Chillin' out, maxing, relaxing all cool
And all sittin' in the car outside UVU
When a crazy homeless lady, she was approachin' my hood
Needed a lift to Little Ceasers, seein' if I could
I thought of killer hitchhikers and I was scared
I said, "Hop in and I'll take you all the way up there!"
I hoped I wouldn't get stabbed, a judgemental fear
Told me of her "tests" while I adjusted the car mirror
If anything I could say this lady was weird
But I thought really?, judging others, yo Chad you should care
I pulled up to the place about 3:38
And I said to the lady "Yo, Rose see you later!"
Thought of God's Kingdom, and said a quick prayer
Can't be judgin' others and expect to get there
So I learned a lot from this experience. Though I was late picking up Ally... and we were late to class... Rose needed my help...
"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."
Isn't the power of the media amazing?
No really... it is.
Just think about it. Let's think of some examples:
You can quote almost every part of your favorite movie... probably a chick flick if you're a girl and an action film if your a guy.
When your favorite song come on the radio you can't help but sing it out loud... unless of course there are other people in the car... because then you don't want to look "weird"... or maybe your friends are like you and love the same song, so you all sing it REALLY loud together!
My point is that media can be engraved into our minds... for good... or bad.
The other day my dad was asked by my nephew to help him beat the last level on Super Mario Bros. on Super Nintendo. I told my dad, with specific detail, exactly how to do it... and guess what? I probably haven't played that game in 10 years! Oh and that same day I heard a song... it's a pretty fast song... and I sang every single lyric to the tee. I hadn't heard that song in years as well.
So do you see my point? Media can have a lasting impression on our minds and our souls.
I am not saying that all media is bad. A lot of media can be very uplifting and inspiring... but then there is media that, dare I say, "could blast a crater in their minds forever." (Jeffrey R. Holland)
When many people make the judgements of what movies to see, music to listen too, or video games to play, many think that "bad" is ONLY that which deals with sex and pornography. While this is a major thing to look for, let me remind you of a few commandments.
"Sex outside of marriage is a serious sin. In fact, Alma taught that it was among the most grievous of sins. But what did Alma rank as the two most serious sins? Denying the Holy Ghost and 'shedding... innocent blood,' or committing murder." (Alma 39:5-6)
So let us take a look at these commandments in comparison to media today.
1) Denying the Holy Ghost
"For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame." (Hebrews 6:4-6)
Now most of us don't really have to worry about this since we haven't "seen" God... so we don't have a perfect knowledge of Him; however, there can be small instances where we may not deny but are putting aside the Holy Ghost. You know... like when you choose to go somewhere or do something that you KNOW will not have the influence of the Holy Spirit.
With media think for example... Does this contain vulgar language, gore and excessive violence, darkness, evil spirits, etc?
Just remember... "Wherefore, all things which are good, cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually." (Moroni 7:12)
Does this invite evil? to fight against God? Does this media "scare", "disturb", or "offend" the Spirit of God?
2) Murder
Blood, gore, death, etc. Similar questions should be asked here. Yes I do know that the Book of Mormon talks about a man cutting off arms to DEFEND himself... and countless others who fought out of DEFENSE. Every situation is different. Many courageous men and women are fighting for our country right now. However... do we need to introduce into our minds the kinds of images that others HAVE had too because they were fighting "In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children." We must be careful what we let into the stage of our minds. Let us not justify ourselves in committing a little sin.
3) Breaking the Law of Chastity
Pornography, explicit images, crude and other inappropriate language... you know what's "bad." I don't have to tell you.
Ultimately... YOU are the judge... and a big part of life is learning for ourself. But let us also remember that we don't always have to learn by making the mistake first. We don't want to regret the decision we made. If you have to question whether or not you should have certain media in your life... is it really worth taking the risk?... Is some short term gratification really worth corrupting your mind and soul?... and compromising your salvation?
Let us not give up our "birthright" in exchange for some "pottage."
"Some of the greatest battles we will face will be fought within the silent chambers of our own souls."
- Ezra Taft Benson
We must PROTECT OURSELVES from outside influences that will creep their way into our minds. Let us look at how this works... We will build a "dream."
THE ARCHITECT is us... what we perceive is created from our own experiences.
Though we may have friends that can influence us for good or for evil... it is ultimately up to us what decisions we will make in life.
"O that ye would awake; awake from a deep sleep, yea, even from the sleep of hell, and shake off the awful chains by which ye are bound, which are the chains which bind the children of men, that they are carried away captive down to the eternal gulf of misery and woe." (2 Nephi 1:13)
Our "chains" of sin can bind us... and drag us down into a deep sleep. This DEEP SLEEP creates a mist of darkness which only gets darker the deeper we are in our sleep. Just like the movie Inception, we lose perception of what is real. Or in the case of sin, we lose sight of the glory of God. When we don't repent we create more LEVELS of sin and make it harder to get out.
How will we escape?!
We need A KICK... also known as a humbling experience.
"Therefore, blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble; or rather, in other words, blessed is he that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized without stubbornness of heart, yea, without being brought to know the word, or even compelled to know, before they will believe." (Alma 32:16)
I don't know about you but I would rather "kick myself" (humble myself) then be "compelled" to be kicked in the face with soccer cleats or track spikes.
So... how about we be humble?
Oh no!... It seems we have something unexpected raging right towards us...
Do you ever find TRAINS come in or back into your life? Is there a grudge you are holding onto? Someone you need to forgive? Something that is wracking your soul with eternal torment? It sounds like there is a definite need for the Atonement of Christ. If a wound has been healed by Christ we should NEVER re-open that which has already been healed by Him. Get rid of the train! It not only will hurt you but those around you as well!
It may even be necessary to DREAM BIG andget ourselves some heavy artillery in order to fully "repent" and get out.
At times we may find ourselves in a PARADIGM. It's like walking up a down escalator at the same force it is pushing us down. We are not digressing but we are not progressing either. The sins of omission vs. commission. We may not be doing anything wrong... but we aren't doing anything right.
In order for one to "awake" they must be killed. This being symbolic to the Atonement of Christ... a price had to be paid for us "falling" short. This "awaking" may cause pain... and repentance can be difficult if we get to deep in our sins/ dreams. However... Christ will heal our wounds and give us comfort.
INCEPTION... is it possible? Some say no. Is it really possible to "plant" something in someone's mind and change there entire lives?! What do you think? If we FORCE it upon someone else... it is rejected and it will NOT work.
"But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words." (Alma 32:27)
If we let the Spirit soften our heart and plant/ develop a seed of Faith... even a desire... on our own free will, then it WILL work. We need to give place for Christ to come into our lives.
Inception can happen and it will change the whole course of our lives. Then we can RETURN HOME to live with our Heavenly Father!
We do the right things for the right reason... and sometimes we even do the right thing for the wrong reason like “I need to provide for my family (right thing)
... so instead of getting a job... I am going to steal (wrong reason).”
or even “Hey I want all of God's children to be saved (right thing)... but I'm going to force them all to do what's right... they will have no freedom to choose for themselves and 'I' will receive all the glory (wrong reason)”... and then there are those who do the wrong thing for the right reason. They have a Christlike desire to do good; however, their actions do not coincide with His teachings. For example, We may have a friend who is making choices that aren't really bringing them closer to God we will say. Their choice of friends... well... they're not great either. We have the “desire to do good” and help our friend, so we decide to hang out with THEIR group of friends and try to influence them for good. We may have a “desire to do good” but our “erroneous actions” don't line up with our “desire to do good.” From that one “small and simple” choice... “great things” will be brought to pass. Our “good influence” will be drowned out by their bad influences.
The path we were once on will no longer be clear but “clouded by the mists of darkness.” The world will blind us and we will lose our way.
It starts out like a wedge... slowly squeezing it's way into our souls.
That blindness leads to breaking the commandments whether big or small... and opens the gates to Hell. We lose the Spirit of the Lord... because “the Spirit cannot dwell in unclean temples.” Righteous people may try to help give us direction and help us correct our wrong choices... but because we lack the Spirit and have hardened our hearts... we take offense. We do exactly as Jacob (Book of Mormon Prophet) warns us against and we let the “pride of our hearts destroy our souls.” We think to ourselves... “I am right... but If I am right then they (righteous people) have to be wrong.” We begin to attack everything about that person and what they represent. We forget our multiple witnesses that we received from our Supreme Creator, our Father in Heaven. This will eventually lead the to ultimate destruction of our souls... spiritual death.
We need the Atonement, the sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We alone are indebted unto God... we sin and fall short of the glory of God... and Jesus Christ has made it possible, through His sacrifice, that our shortcoming will be made up for... we can be cleansed... and return to live with God.
Whether it's getting to know the random kid in your history class...
telling the bus driver to "have a great day!"....
or testifying to a congregation...
we are striving towards a purpose. We are helping others come unto Christ.
God will help us, but we MUST do our part. That is, we can't expect someone to talk for us. We can't expect that the "random kid" will come talk to us. We can't just expect that all bus drivers have great days. And we definitely can't expect that someone else will share their spiritual witness of God... because maybe the listener needs to hear it from YOU.
The Lord has commanded us to open our mouths. For those who don't he has said, "But with some I am not well pleased, for they will not open their mouths, but they hide the talent which I have given unto them, because of the fear of man..."
It is our mission to become like Him... and it is their mission too.
Don't miss an opportunity... Open Thy Mouth!
Have you ever had the time to just experience the world around you? On a college campus with everyone running around with their busy schedules it can be hard. But in a few short hours I was able to graduate with a major in “Campus Wildlife.”
My thesis... People Watching...
You see while sitting on the grass minding my own business I noticed something... and I'm not just talking about the random boy and girl that were flirting with each other. What I noticed was:
A kid with roller blades... and snow skiis... though we had no snow... hmm...
A guy reading his scriptures... and at a closer glance he was praying
I even noticed a girl passed out on the lawn... probably a Freshman... I mean it was only day 3 of college.
And with all these students hard at work... I then heard something... the BYU Carillon Bell Tower playing “Come, Come Ye Saints.”
At first I thought this was kind of ironic because I had just seen a girl passed out on the grass... and the lyrics came into my mind, “And should we die before our journey's through. All is well! All is well!”
But with all the craziness going on in these students lives as well as my own I then thought, “Why should we mourn or think our lot is hard?... Why should we think to earn a great reward if we now shun the fight?” Ya life is hard sometimes... and we want to give up and still expect the same reward in the end... but do you know what? “All is well! All is well!” Life is good! God is good!
