Lost in Translation

Often times we find ourselves lost in translation. Gossip, rumors, slander, etc. All of it is bad news. There is a lot of garbage out there. A lot of things that we can easily get hung up on, stuck in, and confused about. No good! We can get ourselves into a deep pit if we take something to be truth that is not. Then we can dig ourselves deeper and drag others with us if we spread this filth to others. Also no good!

I am reminded of an episode from one of my favorite TV shows. Yep, Arrested Development yet again. It's just too good! In this particular episode Michael Bluth hears a rumor about a friend of his, Marta, and some guy named "Hermano". He allows this rumor to eat him up until the point that he is convinced that terrible things are afoot. Little does he know..."hermano" means "brother" in Spanish. He was lost in translation and he took something that he didn't fully understand, he twisted it, he involved others, and then he critically hurt his friendship with Marta because of it. What could he have done to avoid this? Could he have simply asked Marta what was going on? Of course he could have! But instead he assumed something and then crippled the whole situation.

Michael gets confused about "Hermano".

Marta is innocent the whole time!

Gob Bluth becomes involved.

So does Buster Bluth.

It results in this. Yikes!

This happens in our lives far too often. It is a terrible thing to witness, experience, or fall prey to. We need to do all we can to avoid this trend.

Satan does all he can twist, confuse, change, imitate, and...mess things up! You don't believe me? Just check out my blog Beware of False Imitations!

We must learn to judge things righteously. "Now these are the words which Jesus taught his disciples that they should say unto the people. Judge not unrighteously, that ye be not judged: but judge righteous judgement" (JST Matthew 7:1). Michael Bluth of Arrested Development really needed to exercise righteous judgment. He needed to follow Christ's counsel in his sermon on the mount when he said to "beware of false prophets" (Matthew 7:15). He continued and said that it is impossible for a good tree (or person) to bring forth evil fruit (or works) and it is impossible for a bad tree (or person) to bring forth good fruit (or works). It is "by their fruits that ye shall know them" (Matthew 7:20).

To know the truth we must search our feelings. We cannot trust our emotions. Emotions are easily clouded by a variety of things but our feelings are from the soul. The Holy Ghost speaks to us through our feelings. Whenever we receive feelings of love, joy, peace, etc. (Galatians 5:22-23) we can be confident that the Holy Ghost is speaking truth to us. We need to trust our feelings because they are of the Holy Ghost. "And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things" (Moroni 10:5).

In conclusion...don't trust rumors, gossip, or slander. Search your feelings (not emotions) and hearken to the promptings of the Holy Ghost. You will have your story straight and you will be happy. Much unlike the Bluth family. Don't be like the Bluths.

Be Yourself

We all are different. We have our own physical, emotional, and spiritual characteristics. There are those out there that we relate to or clash with. But that is okay!

We all have our own way of doing things. We are individuals! God made us that way! Therefore...we simply need to be ourselves. There is a funny movie out there called, "Just Friends" that is all about a guy named Chris Brander (played by Ryan Reynolds) and how he struggles with being who he really is. His mother (shown in the video) teaches him to be himself.

Hmmm...seems like she might be onto something there! My lovely parents have always told me to be myself. As I reflect on my experiences I am reminded of the times that I have been myself and times that I have tried to be someone else. I am happy when I am myself. I am frustrated, upset, and confused when I try to be someone that I am not.

One of my favorite TV shows is called, "Arrested Development". In the show, some of the family members (Gob, Lucille, Lindsay, and George Sr.) have their own chicken dance. It is hilarious.

"How To" chicken dance like the Bluths

(L to R) Lindsay, George Sr. and Lucille dancing to their own chicken dance.

We do not necessarily have to "chicken dance" in our own way but we should be ourselves like the Bluths! In my own experiences, being myself has helped me SO much. In high school, college, and even the beginning of my mission I was so nervous when I met new people. Way nervous! I was so focused on leaving a good impression and not being weird or overbearing that I became far too reserved. I made myself awkward, shy, and depressed because of it. Since coming out on my mission I have learned the true importance being me.

I firmly believe that God has a guiding hand in my life and yours. He places me (and you) where we need to be, when we need to be there, and who we need to be there with. If this is true - which it is - then God is expecting and counting on us to be ourselves. He wants us there because He has prepared us to be there! He doesn't want us in a specific situation to change our personalities, likes, dislikes, characteristics, etc. Follow the counsel of Chris Brander's mom and "Be yourself!"

That being said, we need to be our best selves. What does that mean? A living prophet, Thomas S. Monson, has helped us understand this in a talk that he gave in 1999 called "Becoming Our Best Selves". Within this talk he says, "In the search for our best selves, several questions will guide our thinking: Am I what I want to be? Am I closer to the Savior today than I was yesterday? Will I be closer yet tomorrow? Do I have the courage to change for the better?". In our journey to our best selves we must show our personality while coming closer to Christ.

President Thomas S. Monson. What a cool guy.

I know that as we do this we will be happy. Trust me. I've experienced it. As I look back on the times that I have been sad, lonely, and confused...it has been because of two things. First, I'm trying to be someone that I'm not (or I'm hiding who I truly am!). Second, I'm not coming closer to my Savior. Those two things go hand in hand. As I am myself and I follow the Lord's commandments I am happy. "And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual..." (Mosiah 2:41). I know in my heart that this is true. I feel it. I challenge you to feel it as well. Be yourself! Do your own chicken dance! You will be happy and so will the Lord. Smiles all around.