Who is That?

McRob. McBob. These are the nicknames that I have given to one of my favorite basketball players. Josh McRoberts. He is a stud and a half. One thing that I love about him is that not too many people know about him or follow him. But does this mean that he isn't talented or doesn't have promise? Of course not! Now, I will tell you a little bit more about him.

Ferocious.

He played high school ball in Indiana and then went on to start at power forward for Duke University for two seasons. He declared himself eligible for the 2007 NBA Draft and fell to the Portland Trail Blazers with the 37th pick. He was up and down during the first years of his NBA career as he fought for playing time. He was traded back to his home state to play for the Indiana Pacers in 2008. Since the trade he seems to have found his niche on the Pacers. He still struggles with consistency but he has flashes of brilliance. Here's some evidence of his "awesomeness".

Now that you have seen a little bit of his talent and excitement...do you want to learn more about him? Go to or watch one of his games? "Like" him (like I have!) on facebook? See what I mean? Just because something (in this case - a basketball player) isn't well-known does not mean that it isn't valuable.

I will now tell you a story that explains how this same principle applies to something much more serious and much more valuable. The story is told in its fullness in the movie, "The Book of Mormon: How Rare a Possession!" and is also summarized in the book, "Our Search For Happiness". I will quote from the latter:

"Vincenzo di Francesca, an Italian minister of religion, was walking down a New York City street toward his church when he saw a book without a cover in a barrel full of ashes. He picked up the book, turned the pages, and saw for the first time the names of Nephi, Mosiah, Alma, and Moroni. He felt impressed to read the book even though he did not know its name or origin, and to pray about its truthfulness. As he did, he said that 'a feeling of gladness, as of finding something precious and extraordinary, bore consolation to my soul and left me with a joy that human language cannot find words to describe.' He began teaching the principles in the book to the members of his church. His church leaders disciplined him for doing so and even directed him to burn the book, something he refused to do.

"He later returned to Italy, where in 1930 he learned that the book was published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He wrote a letter to the Church in Utah that was forwarded to President [Heber J.] Grant. President Grant sent him a copy of the Book of Mormon in Italian and gave his name to the president of the European mission. The diffuculties of wartime prevented Vincenzo from being baptized for many years, but he was finally able to become a member of the Church on 18 January 1951, the first person baptized on the island of Sicily. Five years later he was endowed in the Swiss Temple."

Francesca did not know what the book was but he felt prompted to read it. When he did his eyes and heart was opened to the truthfulness of the book and to the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He saw the light that comes from its truth-filled pages.

There are many people who do not want to read the Book of Mormon for a variety of reasons. Some believe it is unneccesary. Some believe that it "replaces" the Bible. Some believe that the Bible contains all of God's word. All of these are false perceptions. The Lord Jesus said, "Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible...Know ye not that there are more nations that one?...murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together" (2 Nephi 29:6-8).

The Lord loves all of His children. Therefore, He speaks to more than one nation. That's what the Book of Mormon is! A record of God's children and their relations with Him. When speaking about the Book of Mormon, President Gordon B. Hinckley said (in an article entitled "The Power of the Book of Mormon"), "It is a record of ancient America. It is the scripture of the New World, as certainly as the Bible is the scripture of the Old. Each speaks of the other. Each carries with it the spirit of inspiration, the power to convince and to convert. Together they become two witnesses, hand in hand, that Jesus is the Christ, the resurrected and living Son of the living God."

I know that the Book of Mormon is true because I have read it and I have tested it. I have prayed to God to know if it is true and I was filled with warming assurance. I feel the love of God each time that I read its pages and it brings me nearer to Him. Because of the Book of Mormon I have a stronger relationship with my friends, family, and the Lord.

I love the Book of Mormon. I know that it is true because I have read and prayed about it. It has brought me great happiness and I know that it will do the same to you. I invite everyone to read the Book of Mormon. Give it a chance. Just like I gave Josh McRoberts a chance and was not disappointed (he is so fun to watch!) if you read the Book of Mormon you will be enlightened and you will definitely not be disappointed.

Beware of False Imitations

In today's world...corruption abounds and false imitations thrive.
 

How dare they?! Rice Chex stole my face and put it on their cereal box. False imitation!

The holy scriptures are given to us by God so that we may have the knowledge needed to help us navigate through this world of sin and deceit. Many prophets have prophesied of our day and have warned us of the dangers that are all around us. Here are some scriptural warnings/examples:

- Matthew 24: 24 - "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."

- Mark 13:22 - "For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect."

- 1 John 4:1 - "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."

- 2 Nephi 28: 12 - "Because of pride, and because of false teachers, and false doctrine, their churches have become corrupted, and their churches are lifted up; because of pride they are puffed up."

- Words of Mormon 1:15 - "And it came to pass that after there had been false Christs, and their mouths had been shut, and they punished according to their crimes;"

- Doctrine and Covenants 122:5 - "If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou art in perils by land or by sea;"  

Satan is clever, seductive, and dishonest. He is the father of all lies (2 Nephi 2:18). Therefore, he will try extremely hard to trick us. There are deceptions all around us. Evil is dressed up to look good. Good is cut down to look evil. Satan works in many ways. Here are only a few examples: Teen drinking is accepted by many and is portrayed as the only way to have fun in high school. However, I was extremely happy in high school and I have never had a drink of alcohol. Abstinence before marriage is pure and is pleasing in God's eyes but in today's society it is chopped to pieces and is deemed "outdated". The devil corrupts. The devil cheats. The devil is evil! He tries very hard to imitate and twist things that are good so that he can trick us to do evil.

Here are some pictures of some look-a-likes:

No, no, no. This is NOT Zac Efron. It's my good buddy and fellow missionary, Elder Triston Rogers!

This IS Zac Efron. Elder Rogers is 1,000,000 times cooler (and Elder Rogers ties a lot better knot!).

This is my pal...Elder Jeremy Garcia. NOT Taylor Lautner AKA Jacob.

Taylor Lautner. Not as awesome as Elder Garcia huh? I think NOT.

 As you can see...there are many things that are similar out in the world. Satan uses "look-a-likes" to trick and hurt us. How do we know what is the truth and what is false? The scriptures tell us how. "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them" (Matthew 7: 15-20). What these verses teach us is that we can judge something by whether it yields good "fruit" or not. Just like I cannot go to a corrupt and diseased tree and get a good and healthy apple, I cannot go to a crude, brutal, or vulgar movie and be uplifted. Everything that is good is of God and everything that is evil is of the devil (Moroni 7:15-17). With this knowledge we can go through this life in safety.

We also can use this knowledge to find truth. I have been blessed with a testimony of the Book of Mormon and of the prophet Joseph Smith. I have judged Joseph Smith of his fruits (the Book of Mormon). I receive only uplifting and joyous feelings when I read from its pages and I know that it is true because everything that persuadeth men to do good is of God (Ether 12:4). I know that all who read from the Book of Mormon with an open heart will come to know of its divinity and of the validity of Joseph Smith as one of God's prophets.

In conclusion...as we determine what's good and what's bad and surround ourselves with purity then we can be sure to stay away from Satan's fasle imitations.