Easter

Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen.

Girls' Hair, 1987 Plymouth 5th Avenue, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ

   This one is kind of a long one! I'm sorry about that. But it's a good one!

   What do girls' hair, 1987 Plymouth 5th Avenues (I know the picture is an '88), and the Gospel of Jesus Christ have in common?
   Well, let me paint a picture for you.

   This last Wednesday night, we were having dinner with a family in our ward, the Clarksons (I'm using standard last names, not real ones). They had invited over another member of our ward, brother Hammond. The night went well, dinner was great (chicken, rice and salad!), the company was good. After awhile, brother Hammond (I'm just going to start referring to him as Hammond and brother Clarkson as Clarkson for ease) had to go run something out to his car. He came back and said, "Duty calls! There's a man outside whose car has broke down. He asked for some water for his radiator, so let's take it to him! Clarkson filled up some pitchers with water and off we four went to help the man out.
   He was stuck on a hill with the hood to his 1987 Plymouth 5th Avenue open. He didn't look completely thrilled at his current situation as he talked on the phone. We got over to him as he hung up and began talking to him. He laughed as he said, "One guy stopped to help me and now I have four!"
   We all began to check out his car and soon determined that the grade of the hill made it too difficult for his car's fuel pump to get gas up to the engine, therefore causing it to go kapüt. That's right, I just said kapüt. Anyway. We determined that if we used Clarkson's mid-size truck, we could pull him up to the top of the hill. It would flatten out and his car would be able to start, allowing him to go get some gas!
   You may think that there are plenty of other ways that we could solve this problem, and while we could maybe have done it some other way, here are the reasons why we didn't:

1. The steep, semi-busy hill wouldn't allow for us to push the car up, or allow for him to just coast backwards down the hill.
2. Without power steering, his car was too heavy and long to just turn around and go back down.
3. No one had any extra gas sitting around, nor felt like going to get some. Plus, Elder Russell, our resident (semi)mechanic said that it would have taken almost a full tank to get the fuel going again (He had a 20 gallon (nearly empty!) tank... ouch).
4. No one was answering their phones - not his family, mechanic friends, or even a rather popular roadside-assistance company!

   Now comes the only problem: The only thing we had to tow him with was some very long, thin nylon rope. There's no way it would hold the weight of his car. Everyone surmised that the rope would just snap, even if we looped it around the frame and hitch of the car and truck multiple times. The loops wouldn't sit evenly and would just snap one by one.
   It was desperate, hopeless even. What could we do?!
   And then the words of my sister came to me: "Trevvy, when in doubt, braid."

   Okay, that's a lie. But for some reason, I did picture her hair braided. Bingo!
   So, I grabbed the two ends of the rope and handed them to Elder Russell. "These are yours. Hold them."
   I ran the length of the rope and took the bend that was now in the middle and ran it back to Clarkson. "This is yours. Hold it."
  Again, I went to what was now the end of the rope and, folding the whole thing in half, took it back to the man (We'll call him James.) "This is yours. Hold it!"
   So now, we had Elder Russell with two loose ends, Clarkson with a fold, and James with two folds and four strands (due to the way the rope folded. If you think about it, it makes sense).
   I stomped my foot in the middle and began braiding, just as I'd seen my sisters do time after time. When the braid was finally done, Hammond tied a good solid knot on the end so that it wouldn't come undone. I crawled under his car, looped the rope around the frame, back out, and then around the hitch of Clarkson's truck.
   With the back of my shirt dirty, my hands black from the dirty frame, and my tie somehow surprisingly clean, I watched, along with Hammond and Elder Russell in anticipation. Clarkson got in his truck, James in his Plymouth, and the moment we'd all been waiting for was lingering over us, waiting to happen.
   The truck's engine started. Parts smashed together as it went from 2-wheel drive to 4-wheel drive. Then, Clarkson put it into gear. James similarly put his Plymouth into neutral and it rolled back a bit before he caught the car with the brakes.
   We took a deep breath and told Clarkson to start slowly while signaling for James to let of the breaks.
   The braids groaned in pain as the all the weight of the car finally pulled them more than tight.
I went to grab my camera, only to find that... I didn't have it. Let me share my feelings with you on that: "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

I couldn't upload it to the computer,
I took a picture of the picture with my
 camera. Sorry that it looks terrible!)

   Wait! I whipped out the cell phone that Elder Russell and I share and snapped a picture. Whew! Here it is!
   To our amazement, the truck slowly pulled the car up the hill. The rope (and the vanity license plate on James' car) made horrible groaning noises under all the weight. The rope seemed to say, "Why are you doing this to me!? I wasn't made for this! Stop it!"
   I seemed to say, "Go go go!"
   After what seemed like forever, but in reality, wasn't that long, the truck and car made it to the top of the hill! Hallelujah!
   Then, James anxiously tried the ignition.
   A few clicks!    ...Then nothing.
   A few more clicks ...Then nada.
   One last try - some more clicks. And...
   Vroooooooooom! It roared to life like a lion chasing an antelope down the savanna. All was well. We tried to untie the rope, but it had stretched and contorted so much that it was better to just cut it, so we did. We spoke for a few more minutes and James thanked us, comparing us to the Good Samaritan. He shortly hopped in his car and drove off to who knows where.

  It was a cool feeling. We just helped a guy and he was on his way. That's all. We went about doing good.
   Now! I didn't just ask you what cars and girls' hair have in common, but also, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I didn't forget it! So here we go.
   Truck = Jesus Christ. (Except, He's not a mid-size truck. He's a very large, heavy duty, unlimited-power truck with a V180. Yeah. His Atonement and Power are that strong.)

The rope after it was cut off. That's my size
10 foot for comparison.

   Broken down car = that's the rest of the world and all their problems, just packed in there tight.
   Rope = all of us that are trying to spread the Gospel of Christ, whether we are Missionaries, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Christians, or just plain ol' good people.
   If Christ wanted to, He could roll up behind us and easily push the car to the top of the hill. That would be an easy task for His matchless power. However, He wants us to have the growth, the trials that cause us to become better people. He wants to give us the chance to experience the joy that He does when He helps another child of God on their difficult journey through life.
   However, there is something else we must learn. We have to work together, to share the load, to simultaneously pull the load.
   If we pulled the load on our own, under our own power, we'd snap. Bam.
   If we all pulled at the same time, but not together, we wouldn't get very far. One by one, we'd slowly snap and break and be done for.
   If we all pulled at the same time, in harmony, working together, we'd make it. The Gospel would go forth without a problem. Sure, along the way, one or two of us would still break, but the load would still be shared and the Gospel would still go forth.
   Get it?
   So, when you're on that one popular TV game show and you're pick religion for $500 and you get this story, you'll know to answer, "What do girls' hair, 1987 Plymouth 5th Avenues, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ have in common?"
   Look at that. I just taught you a great Gospel Principle AND prepared you to get a nice bonus check.
   You're lovin' me now, aren't ya?
   I then got to go look at myself in the mirror after that. I was nasty.

And somehow, my tie was clean. It's a miracle.

Stove Toucher!

   Have any of you ever read The Continuous Atonement by Brad R. Wilcox? It's an absolutely brilliant book (Yeah, I like the Atonement if none of you can tell!). In it, Wilcox really helps the reader by seeing how the Atonement of Jesus Christ has a personal, real relevance for all. If you ever get the chance to read it, I would highly recommend it.

   Today, I want to quote him on something that is rather, well, humorous. My companion, Elder Russell, and I now quote this section of the book with laughter because it makes sin sound...

   ...funny!

   Before you think I'm a blasphemous son-of-a-gun, let me explain to you. Wilcox makes a brilliant mockery of sin. He takes many of the common excuses that we have for sin and puts them in the context of touching a burning stove. Please, take a gander: 

 (I put * next to my personal favorites.)

     In the context of touching a hot stove, consider some of the most common excuses for sin:
          Just one touch won't hurt.
          I'm afraid if I take my hand off I won't be able to leave it off.
          I deserve this.
          The only reason I feel pain is because of my Mormon culture.
          But I was born with the desire to touch the stove.
          It's my parents' fault. They're the ones who bought the stove.
          I just need to adjust to the burning rather than try to overcome it.
          I want to be excommunicated so it won't hurt when I touch the stove.
          No one told me touching the hot stove was bad.
        *It may hurt, but at least I'm touching it with someone I love.
          It's not like it's totally wrong. It's a gray area.
          Everyone else is touching it.
          I'll touch it if I want. It's my right. Nobody is going to tell me what to do or not do.
          Stove? What stove? I don't see any stove.
          I just don't care anymore. I'm numb to it.
          I know it's wrong, but I'll move my hand tomorrow.
          You can't go without touching the stove all the time.
          I've blown it now. I might as well touch it more.
        *Those who don't touch are so old-fashioned.
        *At least it's just my hand and not my whole face.
          How will I know it hurts unless I touch it myself?
        *At least the other stove touchers accept me and don't judge.
          There are others who touch it more than I do.
          If God didn't want me to touch the stove, He wouldn't have given me a hand.
   
   Tell me that you didn't chuckle at all. Well, don't tell me that. I hope that you did, chuckle, however. These excuses, though, are true! How pathetic do they sound? Really? Seriously?
   Our excuses will do us no good come Judgement Day. The Prophet Alma taught:

14 For our ^awords will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also condemn us; and in this awful state we shall not dare to look up to our God; and we would fain be glad if we could command the rocks and the^bmountains to fall upon us to ^chide us from his presence. (Alma 12:14)

   Good point. It doesn't matter what excuses we give here. All of our excuses are pathetic, really. When we stand before God to be judged, can you really picture yourself saying, "It's your fault. You gave me the hand!" It's really just not going to cut it. 

   However, that doesn't mean repentance is easy! It is worth it though. Repentance is a difficult, often painful process that brings joy - infinitely more joy than sin ever will.

   And we can talk about repentance through the Atonement another day. I just wanted to share that. 

The Atonement and being Scatter-brained

   It's pretty easy for my mind to get scatter-brained and distracted. I'm having one of those moments right now and because of that, I can't remember what I was going to write my blog about. And that's how life is for me.

   Recently, my mind has been on the Atonement of Jesus Christ a lot. And rightfully so - it's only the most important event in the history of everything. I've always wondered exactly how the Atonement works - and that's something that I'll keep wondering. We won't understand that in this lifetime.

   I also like to think about what the Atonement does for us. I feel like this is a subject that missionaries speak on all the time. Yet, I want to add my own touch to it and that is what I'll be attempting to do here.

   Let's get the basics: The Atonement of Christ refers to the suffering of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, His subsequent death on the cross, and His glorious resurrection thereafter. It is through the Atonement of Christ that we are cleansed from our sins and transgressions and we will be given a perfect body that will never die again.

   Somehow, it's also through the Atonement that we are changed. Again, I don't understand how it works - I just know that Christ does change us. He makes us happier, He gives us hope, He is the author of our faith. I wish I knew more about the Atonement so that I could share it with you all. 
   All I know is that the Atonement is real. I can't see it, I can't touch it, I can force someone else to believe in it. However, I can feel it. It's the best thing ever.
   
   I apologize for having such a short, scatter-brained post. Maybe next week I'll have something better.

Trusting Trials

   It's often said that a mission is the best two years of your whole life. A missionary that I love and respect said, "I can't quite agree with that. I would say that it isn't the best two years of your life, but the best two years for your life." I can agree with that.

   My mission has been full of trials, just like life normally is. Does anyone love tribulations? Who loves struggling? Really though?

   Not this guy.

   We know from the scriptures that God will consecrate all trials to be for our good if we turn to Him, specifically in Section 122 of the Doctrine and Covenants. It reads in verse seven:

And if thou shouldst be cast into the ^apit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the ^bdeep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to ^chedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of ^dhell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee ^eexperience, and shall be for thy good.

   The key part is that "all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good." If I may, I like to add this: "all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good and the good of others!" Let me explain. Towards the beginning of my mission, my Dad sent me a copy of a talk that he gave in Sacrament meeting on trusting in the Lord. He told of a long event that happened in Yellowstone National Park that I now echo:

    From 1926 - 1995, the main predators of Elk, wolves, were taken out of the Park for the good of the Elk herds that were becoming too thin. Elk, weighing from 500lbs. to 700lbs. (some even getting up to 1,300lbs.!) had little to fear from anything else in the park. Life was easy for them! They didn't have to watch their backs, worry about straying too far from the herd, or drinking too long at the riverside. They had nothing to do but sit about and graze, drink, and be merry - the easy life, if you will. Imagine that being like your biggest problem being gone, whatever it may be. It would be fantastic.

   However, the side effects were much farther reaching than ever thought beforehand. Elk over-browsed the trees that grew along the banks of streams and rivers - willows, cottonwoods, and all other shrubs and life that prevent erosion. Birds lost nesting space. Habitats for fish and other aquatic species declined as waters became broader and shallower and, without shade from stream side vegetation providing shade, warmer. 

   Aspen trees in Yellowstone's northern valleys, where elk winter, were seldom able to reach full height. Elk ate nearly all the new sprouts.

   Coyote numbers climbed. Though they often kill elk calves, they prey mainly on small mammals such as ground squirrels and rodents, reducing food available for foxes, badgers, and birds of prey.

   The list goes on - elk were overpopulated, other animals lost homes and a place in the park, and so on.

   Something had to be done. In 1995, wolves were reintroduced to the ecosystem. Let's look at what has happened since then.

   Elk population has been halved. 

   Aspen groves are coming back nice and strong. 

   Coyote population has also declined.

   Willows, cottonwoods, and the other vegetation have re-stabilized stream banks, helping restore natural water flow. Overhanging branches again shade the water and welcome birds. 

   Beaver colonies have risen dramatically now that stream banks are lush with vegetation, especially willows (a key beaver food.) Beaver dams create ponds and marshes, supporting fish, amphibians, birds, small mammals, and a rich insect population to feed them.

   Wolves don't cover their kill, so they've boosted the food supply for scavengers, notably bald and golden eagles, coyotes, ravens, magpies, and bears.

   Again, the list goes on. Isn't it strange that one decision made roughly 70 years earlier for the good of one group could have such a negative impact on the rest of the parks inhabitants? Reintroducing that one 'trial and tribulation' for Elk helped out so many others. It's rather far reaching.

   So it is with us and our trials. "...all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good and the good of others!" The next verse, eight, in section 121 of the Doctrine and Covenants reads as follows:

The ^aSon of Man hath ^bdescended below them all. Art thou greater than he?

   Think for one second. Christ Himself asked while suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane if there was any other possible way, if He could have His cup removed from Him. Nevertheless, He did as our Father asked and suffered. What if, like the Elk, He had not had His greatest trial? What would that mean for the rest of us?

   Life would be pointless. Without the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we would live a short 80 years, if we were lucky, and then die. All for nothing. Sure, we would grow and be happy in this life, but would there be any hope for the life after? Would there be anything after for us?

   No.

   Lucky for us, Christ went through with it. Because of His greatest trial, we are more than blessed - we are promised immortality and eternal life with our families. Our gratitude for Him is only matched by His eternal love for us.

   And, as our perfect example, we should emulate Him. We don't have to love our trials. We may want something easier, and smooth life. Yet, think how many people may depend on us! Our mothers and fathers. Our sisters and brothers. Our wives and husbands. Our sons and daughters. Our coworkers. Our neighbors. Our students. Our clients. Our friends. Our enemies.  

   We can't possibly think of who we bless by our suffering.

   So the next time you want to have it easy, think of this: I'm blessing someone else. Take President Monson's advice and, "do not pray for tasks equal to your abilities, but pray for abilities equal to your tasks." (Three Goals to Guide You)

   Christ is ever watchful and mindful of us. He will always be with you and watch over you. I promise you that.