Inaudible Melodies

Life can get crazy. There are so many things going on in our day to day lives. At any time of the day we can easily get carried away with school, friends, relationships, appointments, sports, work, hobbies, eating, going to Barnes and Noble, going to Dairy Queen, getting Slurpees at 711, making cardboard armor and jousting, "testing" fire extinguishers, washing dishes, making sweet mix CDs, and so much more.

Slurpees. One of the many things we can fill our time with.

 It is so easy to get caught up in the excitement of a busy life. We must be wary and do all things "in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order" (Mosiah 4:27). If we are not careful we will end up with having Too Much To Handle. We need to take care of the things that matter most first. When we prioritize our actions with what is in line with the will of Heavenly Father and the teachings of Jesus Christ we will be blessed greatly!

In life there are things that are good, things that are better, and things that are best (see talk "Good, Better, Best" by Elder Dallin H. Oaks). When we choose the things that are "best" we please God and He blesses us. We should never sacrifice scripture study, church, prayer, integrity, virtue, honesty, family and all things "best" for the evils in the world nor should we for even the things that are "good". The "best" things in life fill spiritual holes with everlasting joy. Once we have taken care of the most important things in life we are left with time to ourselves for our own personal enjoyment.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks

I know, from personal experience, that there must be a balance in life! When I get overwhelmed with church, school, or work I need some time to relax!  I need some time for running around with friends on a weekend night, listening to sweet jams while getting delicious Slurpees. Even though this will not fill my spiritual hole in need of everlasting joy it is most definitely harmless fun. But if we get careless we will endanger ourselves to laziness, pleasure-seeking, and transgression. Remember, all things must be done "in wisdom and order" (Mosiah 4:17).

One of my favorite songs is by Jack Johnson and it is all about slowing down and realizing the beauty in the things that surround us. It is called "Inaudible Melodies" from his "Brushfire Fairytales" album and here are some of the lyrics! Enjoy!

But in the long run we have found
Silent Films are full of sound
Inaudibly free

Slow down everyone
You're moving to fast
Frames can't catch you when
You're moving like that

Inaudible melodies

Serve narrational strategies

Unobtrusive tones

Help to notice nothing but the zone

Of visual relevancy

Frame-lines tell me what to see

Chopping like an axe

Or maybe Einstein should just relax

Jack Johnson

 Pure joy can only be found through the source of pure joy: Jesus Christ. BUT we don't need to be robots in order to achieve this. Slow down! You're moving too fast! Recognize that even the "silent films" are "full of sound" and beauty. We all need to "just relax" and not get caught up in over scheduled lives. President Gordon B. Hinckley said, "Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured." So, have a balance of both the joy that comes from church, scriptures and prayer and the joy that comes through sports, music, or school. I assure you that all goodness is from Christ (Ether 4:12). Soak it up while keeping a balance of things that are good, better, and best. 

One scripture that gives me hope is found in the Book of Mormon. It says, "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 2:17).

Hold onto those inaudible melodies. Follow the teachings of Christ. Have fun. You will be blessed in all aspects of your lives and you will be happy.

Time and Eternity

People who know me know that I absolutely love my Family. People who know my family know that they are the bomb (seriously...best family ever). I've got two top-notch parents and two amazing brothers and three fantastic sisters (plus all of their stellar spouses). There's about a four year gap between the first four and my brother and me. I'm the youngest of the family. My brother, Brett, and I are only two years apart and we are super close. Best friends. We've played basketball together, had life-changing experiences together (see my post: A Refining Experience), gotten Slurpees together, listened to tunes together, played pool together, and everything in between. What can I say...he's a good egg. I'm way close with every single one of my siblings but Brett and I have simply been through a lot together.

This past Saturday my brother, Brett, was married to a gem of a lady, Robyn, in the Spokane Washington Temple. My whole family was gathered together to celebrate the great event...except for me. I was here, in Dillon, Montana as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And I am as happy as can be! Why am I so happy if I missed out on the wedding of a life-time? Because I know that I am where I need to be.

RobynBig. Happy. Huzzah!

Spokane Washington Temple

It has always been a desire of mine to attend Brett's wedding and when I first came on my mission a fear of mine was...what if Brett gets married while I am away? I really wanted to be there! But as I have served the Lord I have come closer to Him. I have been able to develop more faith and understanding in the way that He does things. We need to remember when the Lord said, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9). Christ knows that timing is everything and let me tell ya...he's got it down to a "T". But sometimes...we think that we know more than He does. No good! True faith in God is to trust in Him AND His timing. When we allow our will to align with His, miracles happen.

It is God's will that Brett and Robyn are sealed for time and eternity and on September 24th, 2011 that happened. I know that he and his wife are now married forever. Not just until death. Their marriage is eternal. In a holy house of the Lord (the Spokane Washington Temple), they made an eternal convenant (or promise) with God. That is so happy and good! Eternal marriage means everything to the Lord. "Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 10:11).

Here is a great video about eternal marriage and the blessings from it.

This is why I am as happy as can be even though I just missed out on my brother's wedding. I know that the wedding happened in the time that it needed to happen. I also know that I have my own obligations to attend to here in Dillon. I am needed here. My family is needed there. But the beauty of it all is that God is everywhere and He is looking out for each and every one of us. He takes care of everything in His own way and in His own time. I would have loved to be at the wedding...but I don't want to be anywhere but right here, right now.

God is eternal and He has it all figured out. I know that I am where He needs me to be and I know that Brett and Robyn Lee are where they need to be. And we are happy.

Your Best Friend

One thing that I have gained a greater appreciation for since coming on my mission is the fact that the Savior, Jesus Christ, is my best friend. He is always there for me and He knows me perfectly. He knows me more than I know myself. When I think of my best friends...they are those who I have had the most experiences with. They are those who have stood by me when I have done what is right and who have corrected me when I have done what is wrong. Together we steamroll, lazertag, watch movies, play pool, play 2k, play basketball, get Slurpees, etc. Best friends are the best!

Besties.

Through the Atonement (Christ's suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross at Calvary as well as his Resurrection on the third day) Jesus Christ knows me (and you) perfectly. He has literally experienced my life, for better and for worse. He knows exactly how I feel and He is always there for me. I know in my heart that He is always there for me. He has experienced everything that I have experienced. He knows me. He loves me. Therefore, he is my best friend. He is everyone's best friend. However, Satan wants us to feel abandoned, alone, and depressed. He tells us that God has left us and He doesn't love us. That is a lie.

His empathy is earned here in Gethsemane.

Recently, I have been drawn to a certain group of scriptures found in the Old Testament and the Book of Mormon. They are the teachings of the Prophet, Isaiah. First, my friend sent me a letter telling me that one scripture in particular stuck out to her and helped her know that Christ will never forget her. Before receiving the letter I had already been studying those chapters in the Book of Mormon. So, these groups of scriptures have been on my mind a lot lately and they give me comfort and strength. They say, "But, behold, Zion hath said; The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me - but he will show that he hath not. For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me" (1 Nephi 21:14-16). It is not a question of whether the Lord will forget us or not. It is a matter of fact that He cannot forget us. He suffers as we suffer. He rejoices as we rejoice. Our walls (lives) are always before Him. We are graven upon the palms of His hands. What comfort we receive from this knowledge!

In my darkest hours I have been uplifted by Jesus Christ. I have felt His strengthening hand through my hardest times. He has never taken away my problems. He has never intervened and stopped bad things from happening to me. He has never intervened and stopped me from doing something bad. He is not a God of control. He is a God of support. He has always helped me see my problems. He has always put others in my path to help me when bad things are happening to me. He has always given me resources (family, friends, scriptures, church, music, etc.) to help me see when I am doing something that is bad. Jesus Christ knows me and knows what I am capable of. He helps me help myself.

Adversity is something that we all will suffer. It is a part of life. Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said this, "Adversity will be a constant or occasional companion for each of us throughout our lives. We cannot avoid it. The only question is how we will react to it. Will our adversities be stumbling blocks or stepping-stones?" (Adversity - Ensign July 1998). (Please read this entire article. It is the best article I have ever read on facing adversity.) How will we handle our trials and tribulations? Will we let them tear us down or will be allow ourselves to be strengthened in the furnace of affliction (Isaiah 48:10)?

I know that as we hold fast to the teachings of the Gospel, we will have a more sure knowledge that Christ is there for us. He will be with us. "And whoso receiveth you, there will I be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up" (Doctrine and Covenants 84:88). Afterall...He knows you. He is your best friend.