tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77597913488112539752024-03-13T11:48:06.814-07:00Ocean YSA Branch WeeklyThe Ocean Young Single Adult Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsAlex Hickenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03207742547852726942noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759791348811253975.post-56571362910648653222019-02-27T21:11:00.001-08:002019-02-27T21:11:52.636-08:00Your Treasure is Where Your Heart is.<p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">Today I started noting how to focus on Heavenly things, for your treasure is where your heart is. Seek after Heavenly things because they will never perish. The following are my thoughts and notes:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">Don't seek the pursuits of pride.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">- glory of men</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">I almost considered writing about the many pursuits of pride, but the term "glory of men" from Jesus Christ sums it up simply. If one find seeking the "glory of men" in their desires, the individual should evaluate their ambitions.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">Don't talk or make visual presentations about your works.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">- Alms and miracles </span></p><p><span style="font-size: 17.6px;">don't talk about your spiritual work. Let it talk for itself. Don't talk about the miracles in your life casually or regularly. Keep all of these things sacred. Treasure them secretly in prayer, and God will openly reward the faithful saints openly.</span></p>Alex Hickenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03207742547852726942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759791348811253975.post-22485393091212754712012-09-02T17:01:00.000-07:002012-09-02T17:01:01.469-07:00Facing a New Era in the Ocean BranchDear Ocean Branch,<br />
<br />
I am in Utah, staying with my grandparents for a couple days on my way to BYU Idaho. I have been wanting to write to expound on my idea, which lead us to celebrate our friendships on the 25th of August. The cause may not have been understood. The Ocean Branch is facing a new era. Josh, Cade, Jesse, Kirsten, Jill, Leland, and many people are moving forward in their life. At least the priesthood will be facing times of unstable leadership. <br />
That evening of the 25th of August was to be cherished. The cause was partially felt, and I am grateful for your participation. The cause was to live up to the current times. Don't live in the future or the past. Since the times are uncertain, the evening to cherish wanted to unite us, so we can make things happen still. Last night Andrew called me to teach today, but it could not be. The faith of the branch needed to cover the changes in the branch. We all need to fulfill our duties and election. We are responsible for the prosperity of the branch. If you are not living up to the standard expected, the branch is so much more weak. Your testimony, worthiness, and attendance is foremost to make the branch flourish. I hope to return to see the branch built on the solid foundation of Christ. Continue to rediscover your growing testimony.<br />
True happiness comes for living the Gospel. Since we understand the happiness of the Gospel, I sought to get everyone excited to bring all our friends to join us. It is hard to get together, but the happiness of a powerful unified branch is worth the work. Brad Burgon is so excited about a challenge given during the YSA California Conference to continually seek to bring one person to the branch functions. I have felt this challenge coming for a while. Let us seek to hold our closest loved ones in the Gospel to have true unity.<br />
<br />
See you in December!<br />
<br />
Alexander HickenAlex Hickenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03207742547852726942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759791348811253975.post-27486773324956330092012-04-22T19:14:00.000-07:002012-04-22T19:14:17.236-07:00Gary Palmer's ChallengeI am been seeking patiently to see who would have the faith to give me something to update our blog with for a while. Many honorable people have come and gone, but Gary Palmer, a high counsel member, had the faith to inspire this entry, which I hope will more fully cement the principles and admonitions that he taught. I was impressed at how he seemed to hearken to the commandments of our Stake President to express his love for our diligence in the Gospel, the building of God's Kingdom on Earth. The talk that he was assigned to review with the Ocean Branch was spoken in General Conference last October by Robert D. Hales, which he titled "Waiting upon the Lord: Thy Will Be Done." I have found that not many people type up their talks, with is good, showing their faith in the Gift of the Holy Ghost, but I want to publish the talks which are hidden in our computers, since they were told only once or so. If you have talks, you can send them to me. I am alexnhicken@gmail.com.<br />
Waiting upon the Lord is an interesting idea. Apostle Elder Hales explained.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">"What, then, does it mean to wait upon the Lord? In the scriptures, the word wait means to hope, to anticipate, and to trust. To hope and trust in the Lord requires faith, patience, humility, meekness, long-suffering, keeping the commandments, and enduring to the end.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">To wait upon the Lord means planting the seed of faith and nourishing it “with great diligence, and … patience."</span><br />
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Expounding on the topic, Gary explain the mindset learned by, the President of the Quorum of the Apostles, Boyd K. Packer. "Do whatever you want Lord. Here I am."<br />
Jesus Christ is the greatest example of this topic, suffering everything that man can do to him without murmuring or rebelling against his Heavenly Father.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">"He exercises His agency to accept and carry out our Heavenly Father’s plan. The scriptures teach us that through His youth, He went “about [His] Father’s business” and “waited upon the Lord for the time of his ministry to come.” At the age of 30, He suffered sore temptation yet chose to resist, saying, “Get thee behind me, Satan.” In Gethsemane, He trusted His Father, declaring, “Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done,” and then He exercised His agency to suffer for our sins. Through the humiliation of a public trial and the agony of crucifixion, He waited upon His Father, willing to be “wounded for our transgressions … [and] bruised for our iniquities.” Even as He cried out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” He waited upon His Father—exercising His agency to forgive His enemies, see that His mother was watched over, and endure to the end until His life and mortal mission were finished."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
A main principle expounded up is living in our difficult trials of life, trusting that God's wisdom is good for us. When Joseph Smith was falsely accused and thrown in Liberty Jail, he questioned "O God, where art thou?" He had suffered for months away from his family and friends with horrible situation of a frozen shelter in winter and very poor living conditions. God did comfort him, answering his prayer in Doctrine and Covenants section 121. I wish to quote parts of it, but I don't want miss the depiction of the greatest love and compassion of our Heavenly Father.<br />
The pioneers of our church are exemplar of the fruits of waiting upon the Lord. The saints settled in multiple cities, looking for the promised safety, but their adversaries sought to drive them out of all their homes. The faith of the Saints were tested and proven faithful to build high on the mountain top the temples of our God. The wisdom of the Martin handcart company is always question, since they would have failed to arrive in Utah in the depths of winter, but God was with those most faithful saints all the way. Gary Palmer spoke of a church film, showing seventeen miracles for them.<br />
We may question many thing that happen in life. Why me?<br />
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"As we ask these questions, we realize that the purpose of our life on earth is to grow, develop, and be strengthened through our own experiences. How do we do this? The scriptures give us an answer in one simple phrase: we “wait upon the Lord.” Tests and trials are given to all of us. These mortal challenges allow us and our Heavenly Father to see whether we will exercise our agency to follow His Son. He already knows, and we have the opportunity to learn, that no matter how difficult our circumstances, “all these things shall [be for our] experience, and … [our] good.”<br />
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Concluding his talk, Gary Palmer committed us to study the great scriptures that Elder Hales quoted in his speech. There is 47 of them. They are full of the wisdom of God, and the pondering thereof will bless your life. He invited us to record our revelation in our study of each one. I will put the references in this document to conclude this article.<br />
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1. Moses 4:2.<br />
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2. Luke 2:49.<br />
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3. Joseph Smith Translation, Matthew 3:24, in Bible appendix.<br />
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4. Luke 4:8.<br />
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5. Luke 22:42.<br />
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6. Isaiah 53:5; Mosiah 14:5.<br />
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7. Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34.<br />
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8. See Luke 23:34.<br />
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9. See John 19:27.<br />
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10. See John 19:30.<br />
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11. Doctrine and Covenants 121:1.<br />
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12. Psalm 37:9; 123:2; Isaiah 8:17; 40:31; 2 Nephi 18:17.<br />
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13. Doctrine and Covenants 122:7.<br />
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14. Doctrine and Covenants 121:1.<br />
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15. Psalm 30:5.<br />
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16. Matthew 6:10; 3 Nephi 13:10; see also Matthew 26:39.<br />
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17. Alma 32:41.<br />
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18. Matthew 6:10; Luke 11:2.<br />
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19. 2 Nephi 32:5.<br />
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20. Romans 5:3.<br />
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21. Doctrine and Covenants 67:13.<br />
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22. Alma 45:17.<br />
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23. 2 Nephi 31:20.<br />
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24. Moroni 6:4.<br />
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25. Doctrine and Covenants 109:44.<br />
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26. Alma 1:25.<br />
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27. Alma 34:41.<br />
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28. Hebrews 10:35.<br />
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29. Doctrine and Covenants 98:3.<br />
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30. Job 19:25–26.<br />
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31. Job 13:15.<br />
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32. 2 Nephi 28:30.<br />
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33. 2 Nephi 28:30.<br />
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34. Teachings of Presidents of the Church: David O. McKay (2003), xviii.<br />
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35. Matthew 25:40.<br />
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36. Mosiah 3:19.<br />
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37. Matthew 26:38; see also verses 39–45.<br />
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38. Alma 7:11.<br />
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39. See Luke 22:43.<br />
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40. “In Memory of the Crucified,” Hymns, no. 190; see also 3 Nephi 11:11; Doctrine and Covenants 19:18–19.<br />
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41. Matthew 26:42.<br />
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42. See Doctrine and Covenants 76:107; 88:106; 133:50.<br />
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43. “Where Can I Turn for Peace?” Hymns, no. 129.<br />
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44. Psalm 121:4.<br />
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45. Doctrine and Covenants 84:88.<br />
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46. Isaiah 40:31.<br />
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47. Matthew 26:42.<br />
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<br />Alex Hickenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03207742547852726942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759791348811253975.post-71448297658947630472012-03-26T12:24:00.001-07:002012-03-26T12:24:40.682-07:00My Chinese Story: A Victory and a Failure of Mine<br />
<br />
My Chinese Story<br />
<br />
My Chinese Story: A Victory and a Failure of Mine<br />
<br />
The editing of this true story is inspired by a couple friends, wanting to know how I am doing, and Wes, wanting me to write with good publishable grammar.<br />
January 25, 2012<br />
I have arrived!<br />
Dear Mom, Dad, and everyone,<br />
I have arrived safely, and everything is good. It is not as cool here as I thought. It is basically the same as our house.<br />
When I arrived in Beijing, I could see fireworks out of the window of the plane. I thought that there would be festivals like in Thailand or Japan, but the celebration of the New Year’s at least here in Nontang is very family oriented. They mainly have a week off to gather as family each others houses to eat and socialize.<br />
It is 2:30 in the morning, so it seems that I will have jet lag. I want to go to sleep.<br />
On the twelve hour flight to Beijing, I sat next to a girl named Bing, after the season of Winter, meaning Ice, for she was born in the month of January. I had her be my first teacher of Mandarin Chinese. I bought a notebook that I plan to carry around. The first statements of the notebook that I have in Chinese and English are “Can you teach me Mandarin Chinese? This is all I know. Please review what I know and share more.”<br />
I wrote a lot in my journal, read the scriptures, and studied Mandarin. Another question that I added to the list on my notepad is: “Where do you think that I should begin learning Mandarin Chinese. Bing said that I should first learn Pinyin the phonetics of the language spelt out in English.<br />
I am doing well. I have ten days to prepare to teach. Tomorrow Mary and I are going to celebrate the New Year with family.<br />
Love<br />
Alex<br />
29 January 2012<br />
Celebrating the New Year AND I have a real branch to attend!<br />
(Hint to Elder Hicken and Angulo) THIS is a NOVEL.<br />
Dear Family,<br />
This week has been amazing. God works in mysterious ways. On Wednesday Mary took me to celebrate the New Year with her family. She has like six siblings, so currently her family is rich in the ability to have great reunions. I fear that the tradition of celebrating the New Year with a great amount of family will diminish in a few generations, since most families only have one children now. Soon instead of siblings unite with their parents and children, it may be the child meeting their parents with their children. The population will decrease dramatically; then, they will have to stop the one child rule.<br />
Wednesday morning before we left to visit Mary, my host,’s family, I woke up about seven, my usual time. I look out the window to see China, and I saw many adults, practicing Tai Chi, at the school that I will be teaching at. I had to go join them. When I first met them, I asked for the teacher; then, they realized that I was Mary’s new teacher, since I spoke English. They could barely speak a word of English, so they continued. Their movements were hard to imitate at first. After watching them, I saw them pull out their swords. That was cool to see. I still tried to imitate them. When they concluded, practicing with their swords, they pulled out their fans. I got better at imitating them; then, one gave me a fan to practice with. They practiced to music, and for one song I did pretty well. I was pulled off to the side by a teacher, when they practice with two fans; one in each hand. The teacher show me the basic steps of Tai Chi until the morning work out was over. They practice each morning at seven, but I have not joined them yet because I went to celebrate the New Year with Mary’s family and CHURCH.<br />
The first evening I meet a lot of her family. They gambled, playing a card game, as they waited for dinner. Fruit was served, and I was able to eat fresh Apples, Cutie Oranges, and Longan. At dinner we were gathered around a table. Not all of the family could gather around the table, but I may have been at the main table. They brought out many dishes. Guess how many… TWENTY different dishes. Since this was the real Chinese traditional food, I had to try each dish. They were mostly very good. I wondered about the meat that tasted of cheese though. I was able to have very limited communication with a few people. I think that I may come home with a habit to talk very slowly. I was served milk at dinner, and it tasted a little like medicine. It was suppose to “flavored.” It did not taste very good, but they do what can they do. After dinner I was so cold. I was lead up stairs to my room, and they let me use their laptop. Even though it was only like seven thirty. I did not feel like hanging out cold, so I went to sleep super early. I don’t think that I have endured jet lag.<br />
I woke up really early on Thursday, since I went to sleep super early. I checked my email, since I could not think of anything else to. I was not informed how to prepare properly for the trip. In my emails I saw my application progress as I entrusted it to my parents after my best efforts. A couple days ago I received an email saying that they received my transcripts in time and my application, further explaining an acceptance letter may be coming.<br />
Mary likes to sleep in, and there was not much to do Thursday morning. Since my feet were cold, I took a walk. My feet, being cold, has been a cause that seems to be only my temporary dilemma; although, I feel that I have adapted quickly. The desire to have warm feet was a focus of my decisions the first few nights. The nights and days have sounded like a war outside or a hurricane with all the fireworks. Mary’s family did not have any so I did not personally see the abundant fireworks at a good view.<br />
After lunch on Thursday I was still bored, hanging out. I want up to my room with a hint of home sickness, but I mainly wanted to keep my feet warm in my bed. When they found me there, they said that they had pulled out the badminton rackets and a birdy to play with. I went down to hang out, and I saw one of the family grandma’s picking seeds out of cotton. I saw that helping her would be the most amazing thing. When they saw this, they came and joined the work, and we finished picking the seed out of bundles of cotton. Too bad I forgot my cord to my camera I took a good picture of everyone together. (I also forgot my shaver cord to charge that, so at church today I looked a little scruffy. I did get a razor and shaving cream on the day, but I have this as a new skill to learn.)<br />
Thursday evening was interesting. Mary said that she was going to take me out to dinner. I never know exactly what is going on, but I trust the Chinese people. I was taken to another family gathering. At first I did not understand that was the case, for a government worker introduced me to “English students of the local university,” which I found out later that it was just another family gathering hosted by Mary’s Sister’s family. The government worker, which was my age, of the daughter of a family friend, who is a local English teacher too. The government worker spoke English very well, so we were friends perhaps. I tried to ask her out; although, she lived like two hours away. I am still working on that. One thing that I had to overcome was that Mary would tell me what to say and try to chose the food that I would eat, but I overcame this when I met at this family dinner. I met all the “English students individually.” I recalled that on named Christy said that she would be willing to teach me Mandarin. Sarah, the government worker, and Mary lead me to eat at another table that the sister was hosting. Mary’s sister’s husband loved my excitement to try all the new Chinese food, and he would spin the thingabob with each new dish served to me. It is tradition at these dinners to have toasts like twenty times. I think that it is partially a measure of seeking to be drunk. A man named Mister Wang came to meet me. I expected to go aside to talk a little bit, but he just mainly wanted to make a toast, which was all that he expected. I asked his name, but he went back to his friends table. The government worker said that he wanted to make friends with me, since I was American, wanting to host me for dinner the next day. As I sat next to my government worker friend, kind of feeling like my date, I asked for a pen and a pencil, since she explained that we can communicate through a social networking organization popular in China called QQ. Each person suppose to have a number for this social network. I wanted Christy’s help learning Mandarin, so I went to go find her with the pen and paper to obtain this “number.” It turned out that my new friend Mister Wang was the father of Christy. Christy is nineteen. There was a good group of youth with her and their parents. I felt like I was a celebrity. They wanted to have me over for dinner and take pictures with me. The host of the dinner that I was originally invited to had me go to his house. That was a little scary to receive at first, but everyone was coming. All the youth became my friends. Sarah drove us to the house. Seeing all four the youth reminded me of Jamaica because they were squeezing themselves in the back seat.<br />
The driving in China is very interesting. Everyone just goes wherever they want. People respect that. Cars, pedestrians, scooters all go wherever they want, so every Chinese has a special sense of carefulness that Americans don’t understand. There is a carefulness. With carefulness of course comes a patience; however, with this carefulness they drive slow.<br />
When Sarah first turned left to visit the family’s house, she was driving on the wrong side of the road. If I had not gone to Jamaica, I bet many of you would think I would be scared, but I actually find it humorous. After a few moments we were driving on the right side of the road. When we arrived at the house, I was received by a crowd of people with the youth as a “posse.” I met many people there only for like five minutes; then we went to the host’s house. I still did not know what is going on. They asked me if I wanted to take a shower. I actually did because I did not the day before. After that they asked if I was sleepy. The plan seemed to be that we were going to say the night there. I was able to please everyone, and everyone loved me. One of the youth loves foreign people, and the youth helped me join QQ. After that I wondered if the room that I was working on the computer with and shown was my room. When I saw that I was twelve, I decided to sleep. EVERYONE was in “my room,” hanging out. I got up to say I am going to sleep, and get out of my room if it was my room. When I told everyone my decision, I was shown into my room. Yeah does this email seem like it will never end. I did not know when the celebration or stay with the family would end ether. I thought that it was just going to be one dinner and be back the day that we left.<br />
I felt a headache coming though. When I woke up Friday, I had a slight headache and I did not feel like eating. I was praying that I would not get sick, but I came to know the purpose and hand of God in this day as I exercised trust in him. Mary became worried, and she decided to return home that day. That morning I tried to eat, seeking a consistency in my life. I ate a 馒头, a steam bun, and an apple for breakfast. There was a bowl of rice porridge prepared for me, but I was feeling out of it. I went up to take a nap, after drinking a few glasses of water.<br />
My hydration has been an adventure too. On Thursday morning I woke up so dehydrated and cramping. Drinking water is not served naturally at meals. I asked to water, but the glass was so small. I looked for more liquid that I may drink. We ate the same food for breakfast as we did the twenty dish feast the night before. Since I had nothing new to try, I asked for the soup prepared with extra broth. This morning I taught everyone what broth and the importance of hydration was. To this day Mary talks of the broth experience. I had like three bowls of soup. I needed to be hydrated. I needed to take control of my life. I stopped Mary from serving me the food that she wanted me to eat, and after this day she finally understood my right to chose for myself what I want.<br />
After my nap, I felt a little better, but we were still leaving. I was realizing at this time that this would be perfect timing to figure out how to go to church. I found that the closest church in China to where I live as in Suzou. Of course I was questioned. They do not understand the concept of church. Communication is hard, since Mary barely knows English. I learned to not be annoyed by her and humbled myself by the end of this Friday. A family friend had to drive us to Nontang; although, our original plan was to take the bus. The friend came because we waited like two hours standing on the side of the road, waiting, and it never came. When we came home, Mary started talking about going to church tomorrow. Tomorrow was Saturday though. I have boldly emphasized my right to observe my religion for myself. The next morning I was rushed off to find the church for me. I was afraid that they were convincing me to attend a Catholic Church in Nontang. I stood my ground though. A humble servant of the lord came. She spoke English. She was a Chinese kindergarden teacher of a local school. It came out to be a Seventh-day Adventist Church. The sister respected me, and she was a great mediator for me with Mary. Mary wanted to go to the address that I found in Suzou, but I was prompted to say that we should do more investigation to make the trip worthwhile. When I proposed the idea to go on the Internet and figure out what I can, they were surprised, asking why I was happy, laughing. They said. How can I do research without a computer or Internet. Computers and the Internet has been more readily accessible than my own clothing, so I knew that my request would be received.<br />
Mary’s little brother was driving us around. Using his computer at his house, I felt good. I had my appetite and ability to work out what is going on, trusting the church. When I found that church websites were not going to offer any phone numbers of local leaders for advice, I clicked to chat with the missionaries of mormon.org. They gave me the phone number of the district president at Beijing. She spoke of virtual sacrament and meeting, since I was not in Beijing. I was down for anything. Just as long as I can partake of the Sacrament, but God had a greater plan for me. The leader of the Beijing Church heard that lived near Suzou, saying that there is a branch there. She gave me their contact information, and we called to figure out what is best. Mary was so worried. She did not want me to get lost in China especially on my first weekend here; however, my new branch president Benson comforted her, offering the option to stay at her house. Since this was an option, I ask if I could get clothing and stuff. Mary said yes, but when we were on the road, heading out of town, I received the news that I was going to meet new people and stay at their house without anything AGAIN. I basically had the clothing on me.<br />
We were off, and I had the address. It was in English though, and Mary would not attempt to understand that. When we arrived at Suzou, they asked around for a church. I know that it would be the wrong place, but it was Suzou. The place of my new branch, and I was going to stay there. We arrived at a big BIG cathedral. They tried to convince me that this was my church. I asked for the phone to call my branch president. I said that we were in Egret Park. Recognizing where we were, he told me to give the phone to Mary. After discussion, we were off again, but we had another humble servant with us as a guide from the cathedral. We finally met up with President Benson, and he showed us the house that we have our meetings. A couple guys were there, and we hang out. Mary loves to talk. President Benson has been studying Mandarin for twenty years, so he told us Mary’s touching vision.<br />
Mary works for a Chinese Orphanage, but she knows how corrupt the system is. She has been working hard, scarifying a lot obtain this vision, which is to have the profits of the school that I will be beginning perhaps called Mary International Education go to build a new private orphanage program by herself. In my house in Capitola, we have heard scary stories of Mary, but I trust as I said in my last talk and article at the Ocean Branch weekly services. Every person is a pure child of God; despite, the natural man is scary. Mary is a very loving person.<br />
Mary gave my two hundred yuan for my bus fare home and entrusted me with President Benson. When I entered his car, I was received by two of his wonderful children. Emma, nearly four years old, and Anders, perhaps two. President Benson said that we were going to pick up the rest of his children after we buy me a bus ticket home for Sunday after church. His children were getting haircuts, and as I waited in the car to see him return with his newly groomed children. I counted FIVE addition children. The oldest Benny, second Hannah, third Katie, Layo, and Oscar. I have eight new siblings now. You may count seven, but President Benson’s wife is due this coming week for the eight name Anniegene or something close to that.<br />
The Benson Family is stush (luxurious). When Mary gave me a towel to dry myself off after showing, I received basically a sweat rag towel, and when I look for a towel at the Benson’s the first towel that I found as the biggest beach towel that I ever seen like seven feet by five feet. At dinner I broke the news to them, that their common fast food dinners of KFC and what not was a first for me. I know that KFC is not luxurious, but they are stush. I watched more movies there that I have this entire year. How to train your dragon is a pretty awesome movie. The children all loved me, hoping that I would come every week, but with the new child coming, my extra body in the home was just a warm up. The Benson Family is amazing. They were all prepared before I got up about seven. I do not know the time because I do not have a watch or a clock. I can use my phone, but it is sixteen hours off. This morning (today being Sunday) I finally had my traditional oatmeal and raisin breakfast. I was almost going to go into withdrawals without my oatmeal and raisin breakfast.<br />
The Suzou Branch is a real BRANCH, and it is full of the some noble of the children of God. They are currently recovering from most of the people coming home from vacation. They usually have sixty people. The branch is so mature.<br />
I am so grateful for all that God has prepared for me in China. I never doubted God’s care. We even have a YSA Sabbath supper next week for Fast Sunday, and I hear the food is as glorious as it is in the Ocean Branch. I love the people of China. I see that the people that I email may think that I am unapproachable with conversation; Not even one question. Please forward this to the Branch, family and so forth, and post this on my Facebook wall as a note like I use to do with Trevor’s emails. Just tag me. Take care. I hope to hear from you soon.<br />
Love<br />
Alex<br />
8 February 2012<br />
Preparing for Work, and the learning curve of teaching is truly high. I feel the burn.<br />
Dear Family,<br />
I should tell what is going on before I have to write another long chapter to my China Life story. By the way, it still sounds like a war zone outside.<br />
I hear that it is the Lantern Festival today. Yesterday I went on QQ, a social networking instant messaging website, and I said hello to all my friends. 等一个人, a cousin of Yacht’s, explained the occasion of the day. This day is the final day of the Spring festival. The lantern festival is themed after an ancient inventor that invented the flying lantern. It is an unmanned hot air balloon. They used to use this in war. 等一个人 said that sending these lanterns to fly symbolizes that things are well. We got to the temple after ten pm, so we missed the big event when hundreds are sent flying at once. I did see them though. I was very windy, so it was difficult to let them go successfully. 等一个人’s family bought a few, and we tried to fly one, but it failed. I have a couple, so we can do it at home. Flying these lantern are illegal now, since they cause fires, but Traditions are hard to stop.<br />
I woke up Monday morning, (This is Monday, the thirtieth of January.) wanting to go practice Tai Chi, but I figured that this well be a beginning of a normal week or something new, so I waited for Mary to tell me what is happening. She indeed had something big, having me meet with some education experts at 9:30 am.<br />
I was use making lesson plans, and this is the main thing that we did at first. At 9:25 a girl walked in, calling herself Shirley. We have become very good friends, since we hung out for the past week. Shirley is seventeen years old. Shirley was a child of learning disabilities, so her parents and her decided, since she is a girl, who should ‘stay home;’ instead of going to high school, she goes to an institute, skipping high school. She is studying for a bachelor’s degree to be an English teacher; although, she has never taught a class. She has been a great help and my translator too. We made our first lesson plan before lunch and a couple others in the afternoon. She helped me get in to a perspective of teaching six to seven year old children.<br />
The next day I practiced the lessons before Mary; Shirley; Mr. Yu, the real education expert; and another friend. (They vary.) Mary expected me to bring material to China. I see what type of material that she wanted now, and I could not have provided what she wanted. Kindergarten is for children age 2-6. It is basically preschool for all those years. The reason that I could not provide that material is because they have a completely different perspective on education. All this week they have been teaching me to be a performer. Kindergarten teachers have to be active because this shocking fact. I had to ponder a while to accept it. Chinese parents do not teach their children to read or write. They depend on their primary schools to teach them these skills. This is necessary according to their language, since there is no alphabet. I would think that the parents could teach their children. Maybe the government instilled this in the people to promote trust. I just got back from church, and a man named Mike moved into the branch. His wife got a job practically identical to mine; however, the school system that she works for is a lot more organized. It is organized by Disney, and she likes the job saying that it is her easiest teaching job. She is learning to be a performer like me. Learning these things of the Chinese Education system has been shocking, and I have needed to humble myself to these traditions. When I learned this, I thought to myself. “So much for bring the American style Kindergarten to China as sought after by word before I arrived.”<br />
One adventure that I had with my friend Shirley is that we went to a library and a book store. I was looking for a dictionary, pulling a Brother Duckworth. I got a Mandarin Book of Mormon last Sunday. Sunday I learned that it is simplified Chinese. Traditional Chinese is more real and comprehensive in the writing, so I would rather begin with that, thinking to understand where the simplified Chinese is coming from. Simplified Chinese is more modern though.<br />
I rode Mary’s bicycle. It was fun to try to participate in the madness of the road. Shirley wondered why I would laugh at her when she would walk in the middle of the road, and a car would have to stop suddenly. In front of most places there is an area, which people would park there bicycles, since cycling is more common than cars. When I rode in the libraries bicycle parking lot, I thought that seeing that first hand was interesting. They rarely use bike racks. They just lock a wheel of the bike to itself.<br />
We visited the library first. It was kind of weak. They did not even have a dictionary, which we were looking for. Shirley and Irene, one of the other friends, showed me the English section of the Library, and they only had one series of books. They were the Chicken Soup series for the Soul. We went up to the children’s section of the library, and that place was a mess. I was surprised to see that the books were very big like novels. I did not see any children style books as we know. This makes sense now that I know that parents don’t teach there children to read or write.<br />
At the book store we were lead to a new good friend. His name is Wind, and he is from Ru Gao, the place of Mary’s family. I visited there last week, so I have friends there, pondering visiting him as he did me Saturday. Of course since we were in China, finding a Chinese to English dictionary was hard. Shirley would pull out primarily English to Chinese dictionaries with a very small Chinese to English dictionary in the back. Wind pulled out a fat dictionary though with more than two thousand pages long, weighing like eight pounds. I was in my Jamaican understanding of foreign money, thinking that holding a more than a couple hundred dollars was normal. After buying the 238 yuan dictionary, I realized that the dictionary was about forty dollars. The book is old, and it looked like it was at the store for many years. I feel that God has been saving that book for me, since it is perfect.<br />
There is another Californian that is working with us. His name is Eddie. He came to teach too. His teaching opportunity is with freshmen in college. Earlier in the week I was scared that my stay may be cut short, since I learned on Friday that this job is only a weekend job. I wonder how many job openings there are, since Eddie is being recruited too. I still don’t know how many the answer of these ponderings. Eddie has another job at a local restaurant, so I may have to work on getting another job.<br />
This past week another small thing was worked out, but it is necessary. I need a clock on me one with an alarm because I want to be able to control when I wake up in the morning. One day I wanted to begin waking up at six o’ clock, since I want to study the scriptures and Chinese; however, I did not have an alarm. I prayed to God to wake me up at six, and I prepared by going to sleep at ten o’ clock. The next morning God woke me up at six o’ clock, and I studied the Book of Mormon in Mandarin for two hours. With my knowledge of how to use the dictionary I only found the meaning of four characters. Well although it felt like a little. I learned a lot. 摩 means mo. It is part of the name Mormon. Looking at each part of the character of mo. I see the 摩 means the journal rubbings on the surface. I was surprised to see that is the definition of 摩 it says conflict of two nations caused a war too. 广 means wide and extensive (knowledge). 手 shou means hand, a person doing or good at a certain job with hands, handbook, handy. He is a real crafts man. 摩门 mo+men. 门 is pronounced as men, and it means door. In more of the definition of 门, I saw whole family, blessings has descended upon the house, school, and a branch of study.<br />
The title of the Book of Mormon is 摩门经 见证耶稣基督的另一部约书。 见证 means witness, and it is pronounced jian zheng. 耶稣 is Jesus pronounced yesu, and Christ is spelt 基督。耶 ye of 耶稣 has no meaning, but it is part of pronouncation. 稣, su, of yesu 耶稣 means revive and come to. The pronouncation is jidu. 基, ji, means foundation or base, and 督,du, means super-intended or direct. I think that this means the foundation of Christ is intended directly and especially for you. 的 means nothing, but it is a character used to connect adjectives to a noun it is pronounced as de. 另 is pronounced as ling, meaning another. 一部, meaning volume, is pronounced as yibu. 约 is pronounced as yue, meaning to make an appointment. This same character can be known as yao, meaning weigh. Shirley said that it may mean that the book is appointed. 书 is pronounced as shu, meaning book. There is the title of the Book of Mormon in Mandarin,Momen jing: zheng yesu jidu de ling yibu yue shu.<br />
Yesterday I had my first lesson. I teach 6-7 year old children; although, they seem younger than that because I am trying to teach them with another language. I did well in the lesson for about twenty minutes; then, since I overestimated my skill and kids, the lesson fell apart. I was hoping to do a role play of the movie that we watched, but the class got out of control before I can try. I did not approach the class correctly that is why it fell apart. I am trying to teach them the key phrase: How old are you? I am #. I need to figure out how to teach them, and keep their attention for a hour. A child that I named Jason was literally practicing break dancing when things were out of control. Luckily there was a back up song that we taught them with the TV. We play the some like ten times; until, we said Good Bye.<br />
I went out with Yacht’s cousin last night again to hang out. We went to play pool after we had dinner. I asked them to get me something that I never tried before, and they got me Duck Liver soup. Yao is the name of the Cousin like Ming Yao, the basketball player. They were saying that Ming is actually his first name. Chinese tell there last name first and so forth backwards. I won somewhat against Yao in pool; although, he hit all his balls into the pockets before me. He scratched twice on the eight ball, and the Chinse don’t lose when they do that. At the rate that we were playing, trying to hit the eight ball in, we would have played forever. He introduced me to a couple of his best friends: Xu and Xue. After the everlasting game, Yao and I tried to beat Xu, since he had good skill. Both of us totally lost to him. We hung out at McDonald’s, talked, and played 21, the card game; until, Xue and I had to go home, for we wanted to be home by ten.<br />
Saturday evening was an adventure, I had to take the buses alone to Church. I stayed at the Okeson’s household. Gratefully Mary arranged for someone to take me to the bus 178 from the bus station. I would have been lost. Trying to get off at the Okeson’s bus stop was fun too. I had help somewhat there too.<br />
Church was good. It was good fast Sunday. During priesthood, we practice the memorization of the Oath and Covenant. Since I knew that I had to learn it, I memorized it during the past week. The spirit is strong here; although, I feel weak. Sabbath supper was good. The host family seems to embrace life so much that they don’t let others to talk. It was good though.<br />
Thomas there is a guy from Ecuador here named Andres Galan. He is on an Exchange program, learning Chinese. He knows president Lara, and he was raised in the Guayaquil North Mission area. He is super friendly, and a friend that you may recognize that lives near President Lara is named Franandez.<br />
There were a few guys and a few girls in the YSA here everyone is a teacher of English. I want to go out with a girl named CC, but she seems to be really into Andres. Another girl that I think is cute, which I ponder going out with on Saturday is named Nicole from Taiwan. She is interesting because she got a PhD in English, studying at England, so she has a British accent.<br />
I tried so hard to email you earlier, but I have been unable.<br />
Love Alex<br />
15 February 2012<br />
I made it through my first week of teaching.<br />
你好家庭,<br />
你好么?我是朱彦龙。<br />
I am catching on to a little Chinese. I hope that this email will be a little simpler than the last couple. I taught four more classes last week. I had an assistant a couple classes; although, the class does get out of control sometimes. I am catching on a little. The second class that I taught alone was a lot better than the first. During one class I thought that I needed to teach both classes, since the other teacher is gone. There was a heap of balloon in my classroom, and I was planning to play a game and rest before we have the second class. I was going to teach them duck duck goose, but when I said game they went crazy, and ran to the balloons drawing faces on them. I have learned to teach the class. I will continue to learn as a teacher. I had some brilliant points this week. 彦 is the character of Brilliant, or that is what I remember the definition.<br />
Most nights this week I went out with friends. I went out three times with 等一个人. I call him my cousin, for he is Yacht’s cousin. His name is Yao. He took me out to a restaurant each time. Two of the times were in very luxurious places. This is a hint of how spoiled the children are. I met a girl the first time we made plans to hang out, which was Wednesday. She was “a sister of Yao’s,” but she is actually just a very close family friend. I asked if she would hang out with us; however, Yao made plans to hang out on Tuesday. Tuesday night we went out for dinner. I could never decide an informed meal at the restaurant, so I told them to get me something that I probably have never eaten, and Guess what they got me. They got me Duck Liver soup. It tasted interesting; kind of like egg yolks. Afterward we went to play pool, Yao thought that I was good, but I could not say that I am good at pool. Yao’s friend Xu had great skill though, so Yao and I played to first game. The game would have lasted forever though because we could not hit the eight ball in a pocket; however, Yao scratched on it twice. We call it a tie; then, we played two on one, and Xu totally destroyed us.<br />
The next night I thought that we were going to hang out similarly as the night before but with Youn Yi; however, since she is a family friend, the mother organized a great night out. We went to a new block in China. They are building new blocks and roads like crazy here. Today I went on my first run in China, and I saw the rare sight of a building being demolished, so they are building a lot here. We went to a special hot pot restaurant usually there is one big hot pot, but this one had one for each individual. Youn Yi said that her boyfriend was in the area, and they wanted to hang out since they rarely see each other. I was grateful that I was able to help her in that way. We watched Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. I was worried that it may be in Chinese like the Harry Potter movie that I watched it Thailand was in Thai. I thought that it was funny because it was the Chinese that had watch the movie in subtitles not me. Another crazy thing that I need to tell you about the movie is that it was a 4d movie; although, the movie was not 3d. It was weird. A sharp burst of air would be shot at you went someone is shot. Wind would be made in the theater when the scene is changed to an exotic place, and water would be splashed at you went the camera in near the water.<br />
The next night was Thursday, and everyone was preparing to go to their universities, for it started this past week. I wanted to hang out with Shirley a last time. I thought that doing it as soon as possible would be better, so she would not be in a rush or pressure later. She had me over at her house. The family had spring rolls during dinner, and her grandma made homemade noodles from buckwheat! Shirley alone spoke English. Afterward we went out with her parent to the mall. Seeing the culture of shopping was weird; however, it made sense for her family because the mother loves to knit, so she studies the clothing patterns. I humbled myself to see the greatest of the different designer’s imagination, creativity, and style. When the parent got tired of walking, Shirley and I checked out the arcade. We saw a could girls, playing DDR, and I said that I know how to play that game a lot better than them. We decided to play the game, and I played mainly alone since the game needs skill.<br />
Friday night Yao invited me to dinner again. I meet more of his university friends. Every Chinese student that I have meet has only attended one semester. We went to another great restaurant, but after I did something that I never done before. I went to a KTV! ~ yeah. It is karaoke. I have asked around about places to dance in China, but the youth don’t dance, so I am off the hook. Karaoke seems to be the dancing hobby of Asia for the soul to express it’s artistic self with their voice. It was as I imagined. I do not know any popular songs, so I cannot follow the melody. I did sing a Beatles’ song. They did not want to sing another Beatles’ song though after the first, since the band is so old.<br />
Monday was my last lesson. That morning Mary wrote in Google translate that the parents don’t like me to teach.<br />
I replied why don’t your statement have a conclusion? For example, although the parents don’t like your teaching style, I trust that you will get better, and you still have the job. I did not understand why she would just tell me the opinion of the parents. Shirley asked what I will be doing these days. I assumed that I still had the class to teach. She asked if I still had to teach the next day. I wonder why she would ask and showed Mary the text to see if they were on the same page. Of course I was out of the loop. Mary then confirmed that I was not going to teach the next day. I asked her about the future of the class. She said that the parents still need to enroll in the class and pay tuition. hmmm.. That must have meant that I was not actually teaching the class. I was not being trained. It was a trial period to show the parents what is going on in the class, and that is it.<br />
I now hope to learn Chinese. The people here see that the English language is popular, wanting their children to learn it. Since I have something that they want, I have a lot of opportunity still here. I hope to stay as long as I can, and that I will be accepted at BYU, so I can return in the Fall. I work now to continue my goals in developing the skill of teaching. Mary wants an experience teacher, and I am not an experienced teacher. There are plenty of opportunities here for amateur teachers.<br />
Take care<br />
Alexander Hicken<br />
also know as<br />
朱彦龙 (Zhu Yan Long)<br />
Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan’s names are also Long. I means Dragon.This year is the year of the Dragon, and I was born the year of the Dragon, so that’s my Chinese name. Yan is the same middle name as Yacht’s.<br />
20 February 2012<br />
Looking for another job.<br />
Dear family,<br />
I have been sentenced to sit at a computer because I have done something wrong perhaps. I told Mary that I got a job interview for tonight, and she replied no. I don’t know what that means. I attempted to communicate, but she did not let me use the translator. Mary said according to the contract that she has not drawn up yet, I am supposed to only teach at her school, giving this school the competitive edge. I have an interview tonight at seven, and I don’t what Mary is going to pull on me.<br />
On Friday I realized that I do have a role at the school here. I did not tell you about this because it comes in short notice, but I teach middle school students age twelve on Saturday. I had three on the first day, but they did not come a couple days ago. I have to sell me teaching skills in China. I just completed being informed that my foolish mistake, and the assumed topic was what Itransgressed. I was further instructed not to say anything about her family or the school. On Saturday she said that I should talk to President Benson about getting a job.<br />
This past week, starting Monday the thirteenth, upon revelation the sabbath day, the day before. I received the guidance that I should no longer study the Book of Mormon with my dictionary, for I am not learning real Chinese. I am learning reformed Egyptian translated into Simplified Chinese. During the week that I was studying the mandarin Book of Mormon, I felt weak. I learned on last Sunday that I should have my scripture study and my Chinese language study separate. The progression in studying Chinese is too slow to count it as my scripture study.<br />
I assume that most of you have not read the lasted article that I send for the OBWeekly, but I see that I have a lot of time in the morning to study. In priesthood a brother was lead to testify that at the MTC. He heard Thomas Monson promise his gift of Photographic memory, if you memorize one verse a day. I am assume that it is sequential in order. On my mission, Iattempted this, so this is not new to me. I have gone a week so far. A verse in Doctrine and Covenants 84:85 says: Niether take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say, but treasure up in your minds continually the words of like, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man.God said that portion that is meted unto every man shall be given to us. This bless is much larger than just teaching the gospel. These words are so powerful. I don't know how to explain.<br />
I was further asked by the branch to prepare a talk, which I said yesterday. I already gave you the talk, so I do not need to explain.It should be at OBWeekly.blogspot.com, if not ask Eliza about it.<br />
There is a social networking website here in China. It is called QQ. Ilike to meet people on the bus to Suzhou, and get their QQ number if they are cool. We practice Chinese, and talk. The girl that Imet on the bus coming home was cool, but Ihad to deal with drama this evening with it though. Girls like to have friends, and two random girls asked me to be their friends. Idid not know them, and I did not want with chatting with random mysterious girls. I had to put an end to dealing with the random people, so Iasked them where they got my number.They refused to answer. Igave both of them five seconds to tell me; then, I deleted them off the list. One finally broke down, and said that she was not able to tell me in English. I did not understand that, but she told me in Chinese. Qin Dan, the girl that Imet on the bus gave, my number to them. Iasked if the girl knew the other random girl, and they were actually roommates. haha. Iseem to like to make drama in China.<br />
This weekend Ihung out with Andres, the Ecudarian guy. He thought that it was coincidental that he knows Martiza, my sister in law, and that she married Thomas. Another thing that was coincidental, which happened when we were talking with a couple other YSA about learning Chinese, was that Andres was talking about the Book of Mormon programs that he downloaded to help him learn Chinese, and the guy that made one of the programs was one of the couple YSA.<br />
We seem to be naturally coming together to be good friends. I was hoping to hang out on Saturday. I spoke with Nicole about hanging out. I was worried that the YSA would just be a group of friends that hangs out without dating. I thought that Nicole and I can set an example and a good foundation for us to date each other; however, she is recovering from a spine injury, so we could not do it this weekend as hoped.<br />
Just a few minutes ago in my pursuits to find a job, I received a phone call from Mark from Oakland, California. He is in Shanghai for some reason though. I saw his opportunity as he asked for a passionate creative write. It looks like I am going to be a GHOST WRITER! This is an awesome job title. haha. He said that it will pay forty yuan an hour, which is about 6.35 dollars, but I am excited about the job. He is Dyslexic that is why he needs the Ghost writer. The topics of the book is what I love too, which as teaching, learning disabilities, and business.<br />
Another thing that happened this past week is interesting. One of the faculty leaders has been taking me to the campus cafeteria for lunch, but since she cannot speak English, she was lead to basically sit me to myself. I was tired to dealing with a lonesome lunch. I felt like everyone was talking and laughing about me, so I got up. I saw that I know that one of the sister at least knows a little English, so I went to talk to her and eat Lunch with her. After that day Iwas received by the faculty a friendly. They take me up to hang out with them. One day last week four of the sisters and I went out after lunch to KFC, celebrating a sister’s birthday. I named three of the four sisters each as the following names: Mellisa, Andrea, and Erika. I was happy that Iwas lead to take control of that situation. They are very friendly. They invite me to join their family on outings, but on the weekends, I want to be in Suzhou with the Saints as long as Ican.<br />
22 February 2012<br />
I may be moving to Shanghai to write a book, and I have great news too!<br />
Dear Family,<br />
My life has been on a roller coaster. Last night I felt odd, for the last few days have been plagued me with a cold. My circumstance is developing quite odd. Last night I was told to prepare to visit Sam’s family in Rugo. I had this opportunity to write this book with Mark, which seems to be a man of great statue. I was talking to friends, and in that time as my teaching opportunity here at Mary’s International Education seems to be closing on me. I had to answer to Mark. I will add his cover letter, which he has sent me, so you can understand.<br />
The fact is that my teaching opportunity with Mary is gone. The English program was not managed properly and fell apart from the get go. That is my opinion.<br />
It was an interesting situation this morning, for it began with Mary, telling me that the English school will be closing and I was not going to Rugo. I was shocked. As she was leaving, going to the school, she committed me to do my passion, which is communicating and writing. She asked me “Why I was not writing?”<br />
I replied. “It is because I don’t know what to do with my life, and I don’t know my options.” I pondered how I can take control of my life. I was lead to email Mark, a proposition that I can move down to Shanghai, and we can write his book. I was lead to do this as I spoke to some friends, for I was arranging to see them in Rugo. I did not know what to do, but I felt expected to go to my office at the school. When I arrived I checked my gmail, I saw an email from BYU Idaho, saying that they have made the decision, concerning my admission. This morning has been exciting. When Mary was going to came in to tell me that she was going to buy me a ticket for my flight home, my shocked and dreary state changed to rejoicing. I have been accepted in at Brigham Young University Idaho. I finally may have taken control of my life too, for I am awaiting Marks decision, concerning living with them. I hope to stay here as long as possible to learn Chinese. I wonder if I can teach part time, when I am working with Mark in Shanghai.<br />
By the way, referring to my cold,I feel much better than last night. I found a good friend. I had to inform my good teacher friend of the state I was it that we may understand each other, for she was showing me her family. I did not want to be a fake rejoicing with her about her family, when I actually feel this odd way with all the commotion.<br />
Early yesterday I rejoiced too, for I was lead to ask Nicole whether I can visit her as she is in Shanghai because of my job opportunity. She replied in a text. We could go out Saturday evening to Indian food, thinking of inviting a friend to join us, so the YSA, getting together, is in the works.<br />
Take care<br />
Alex<br />
26 February 2012<br />
The celebration is over.<br />
Dear Family,<br />
Over the past few days, since I emailed you last, I have done a lot. I feel free to express myself and do what I like, since I no longer work for Mary. I am in good terms with everyone, and they express a great love for me. My love for them has been expressed too, for I have been exposed to the routine of the school more. One thing that I have done to show my love is to help in their process of serving the students lunch. All of the teachers go to the cafeteria, and they get two big buckets. One usually has rice, and the other usually has some type of soup. The great love within the school which I feel apart of brings my soul to parade around the school delivering the buckets of food empty or full to there destinations. I love serving. On my first day, doing this, I saw one of my former students, carrying both of the buckets, so I ran to her aid, trying to deliver both of them to the cafeteria. She wouldn’t let me though. She saw my child-like purity. After the delivery she walked ahead, looking like she wanted me to chase her. I embraced her desire, and she guided me, holding my sleeve up to see her classmates. My students were up there in varies classrooms. I am received a like the mascot of the school in a few classes. I helped three times already in their lunch routine, and it has been bliss to serve and interact with the children. I have been hugged and lead by the hand at this kindergarten.<br />
A sister that want me to call her mama dong ping has had me help her in her role as the school doctor. I probably have met or seen all the children, for she has me help her weigh the children on a scale. Another service, which was a lot of fun, was the wrapping of spring rolls. The chief deep fried a lot of springs rolls one day to have plenty for the entire school. All the staff helped. They asked me how many Spring rolls that I ate, and they were happy to hear that I ate more than ten of them.<br />
The evening that I received notice that I was accepted in to BYU Idaho. I was taken out to a steakhouse by the staff. I felt almost awkward, since I cannot communicate to them, but its good. Another we went out to celebrate a teacher’s birthday. I have named her Erika. The younger faculty at the school really know how to have a party. Four of these teacher call themselves my sisters. The younger are my sisters and the older are my mama.<br />
On Friday I had a date with a daughter of Mama Tong, a teacher at our kindergarten. Mama Tong came in the afternoon with one of her daughters. I received her as a good friend as she was the one that I talking to the past few days. When we sat down, I realized that she must be the older sister, since she spoke as if he met me for the first time. She came to inform me that her younger sister, which I was hoping to meet was not coming. Mama Tong likes to give me her phone randomly to meet her daughter, and the settings of our communication never let me memorize her name.<br />
After I received the news that ‘Susan’ was not coming, I went to go up to hang out with the teachers as the students had nap time. I hoped to write in my journal as they knitted; however, Mama Tong gave me her phone, and her daughter was on the phone, telling me that she was coming, so we can ‘play’. When I heard a mix of voice, I knew that it must have been the older sister, and her husband spoke to me too.<br />
They totally spoiled me. When I got into the car, they asked what my favorite food was. Since the word ‘fruit’ rang in their ears, they stopped at a fruit-stand meters away, buying me all the fruit that I wanted. I found out that their names were Vergil and Anna. For an odd reason a lot the English names that I hear seem old fashion, so they asked me to give them new names. Vergil’s nature reminded me of Kevin Chapmen, a high school best friend, so I gave him the name Kevin.<br />
Kevin and Anna took me to a museum, telling me that this museum was the first in all of China. There were divers building with plenty to see.<br />
It was funny because it seemed that the tour guides were always walking over us. They were literally tripping over us. When we arrived at the great man’s house, a tour guide arrived with a company of military officials. I took a picture of the statue of great man and the tour guide as proof.<br />
Zhe is the family name of the great man, but I cannot remember his whole name. I learned that he gained his great wealth by his factories, making clothe. He has also served in government, being one of the first elected to a democratic government. I took a picture of his genealogy, his family admonition, and a few other things. This weekend was very interesting. I learned that Nantong is a city full of museums and Suzhou is city full of gardens.<br />
In Suzhou yesterday evening the YSA group date was a little messy, but it was okay. Andres and I planned to meet at the Suzhou south bus station, but when I arrived, I was surprised to find that I was at the north station. I was trying to connect with my friend, but I didn’t know how to find the 168 bus. A “taxi” took me, but it took him like 25 minutes to find it. It was too late by then to catch the bus to find Andres. I gave myself an hour to find the place. The bike driver was like a chicken without her head, looking for a bus stop, and I was discussing with Andres the way to reach the restaurant, showing him different destination that I should be going. The “taxi” driver asked for twenty yuan, but I only had hundreds. When he took my hundred, he went off with it even after a man, which coincidentally could speak English, was rebuking him to give me my change. I only got twenty back from him.<br />
The next adventure was finding a taxi, which I don’t have much luck with. Since I was late, I was running after any taxi that I found. That took like forty minutes. I finally got myself a taxi, arriving at the Indian Restaurant about a hour late.<br />
I never at Indian food, so the environment was new. Coming in late, Andres and I were out of it. We had a good dinner though. I sought after having two couples to be at the dinner to have a good personal setting. When the third sister came, it was good, but the environment could have been better. Allyne, the third sister, was celebrating getting into BYU Hawaii as I celebrated getting into BYU Idaho. yay!<br />
Take care, (How is my grammar now, Wes?)<br />
1 March 2012<br />
Good Bye Nantong<br />
It seems that I will never have a regular week in China. I said the celebration was over last Sunday because I was going to get to work to find a job. Mary asked me my plans for tomorrow. I questioned why, but she means business. I can’t stay at her house for much longer, since she is under a lot of stress. I wanted to work out my stay in China for the next six months before I go to BYU Idaho. She needed me to go home as soon as possible, so I offered her a deal, since I want my stay to be a success. I asked her to give me a date that she will buy my flight ticket home. If I don’t find a job, justice is due, and I will be sent home. She gave me until the thirtieth of February. That night I got to work. Since most of my friends are part of the education system, I text my network of friends, if they can help me find a job in a few days.<br />
Somehow I came to realize a while ago that Craigslist is a great way to find a job for foreigners because Chinese people don’t know the website. It is basically customized for us. I emailed all the reasonable job opportunities that I found from Suzhou to Shanghai, since I have connections to there. This day was Monday, and by the afternoon I had a job interview set up for Shanghai the next day.<br />
One thing that I learned about the professional world is that the majority of job opportunities, which I could apply for was taken from me, because I did not have a bachelor’s degree. A bachelor’s degree represents a high standard of training.<br />
Last Saturday Mary took me out to watch a Chinese movie to celebrate my acceptance into BYU Idaho. The movie was gruesome, but the story and the characters were well developed. On the way over to the movie theater, Mary told me to hand out the leaflets to begin recruiting new students that I can teach. That was confusing; however, Monday afternoon Mary had me help her teach English to twelve of my students in our house. Not teaching at the school is awkward. I taught two classes this week with Mary. Working with Mary, we have smooth lessons. Also on Monday I told my colleagues that I would like a haircut. They were going to take me out the next day, but I accepted this job interview appointment.<br />
Going to Shanghai was an adventure. It is a huge city like Washington DC, standing separate from all other Providences. Mary was worried that I would get lost, so she arranged that her friend Anna would show me around. I gave here the information of my appointment and everything, and I went to sleep trusting that everything would work out fine. I planned to leave late in the morning after a little preparation in the morning; however, I received a text from Anna in the morning advising me to get a 7 AM bus. I don’t know how, but I rushed, and got to the station and the ticket in time for the seven AM bus. On the bus lame Chinese films were being played, but I felt good about working on memorizing scriptures instead of corrupting my mind. Guess what! Today mark the day that I finished memorizing the first chapter of first Nephi.<br />
When I arrived, I fulfilled all that I knew of the plan to go about my day in Shanghai. I arrived about eleven at a McDonald’s, which was all I knew of Shanghai. Anna had me wait for a half an hour until she arrived; then, we looked for place of my interview first, since Shanghai is so big. I was lead to an office building, for Mark sent me a text, saying that he can help me. The office building seemed to be quiet, but hearing Mark is hard especially with my old phone. He had a proposition though to keep me here.<br />
During my call, I realized that Anna disappeared, and after the phone call, she mysteriously returned. It seemed that the office building that I was in has the office of my interview. We went up; even though, we were way early. I was really excited for this job opportunity because it seemed perfect. It was not a normal teaching job, but it is associated with a private library. The description of the job was reading books to children.<br />
The job interview was simple. I applied for the job, spoke with the interviewer, and demonstrated my teaching skills in a ten minute demo. After the interview Tina came in to inform me that I had that day to decide whether I would take the job. My phone call with Mark entailed that I would meet him to discuss his proposal, so I asked for an extra day, which they granted.<br />
I DID IT! I found a job that would solve housing, visa, food and everything even a flight home. I would be moving to Shaoxing for the next six months to join a new branch.<br />
After lunch we headed to see Mark. He was in Shanghai, which was a surprise. I thought that he was in the states busy until April from whence he will come. When we arrived at his metro station stop, I was told to turn left to head to a stop light; then, turn right after crossing the street. I did that, but I went out the wrong exit. In the metro stop, there was four exits. I was told to go out of the first, but after heading out the first, I actually went out the second because I went down the wrong stairs. That messed us up. We did meet Mark though. Talking with him, I was surprised to hear his new goals, for he just a few weeks ago closed the Happy Company. He plans to teach the happiness and service of his company as new curriculum at universities.<br />
His proposal was good. Since it was in the early stages of development and I needed to figure out a decision by the non existent thirtieth of February, we decided to move to Shaoxing. I am part of Mark’s team, so it was we.<br />
Coming home from Shanghai was interesting. I experienced first hand what the life of a city of 25 million people is like. When I got out of the subway, there were so many people that we were bouncing off each other and we were in close quarters. I felt a molecule of water in a steam, flowing up the stairs and escalators.<br />
The next day my life was good, but a week does not go by without being thrown in a tail spin. I had a second interview by phone! It was not much of an interview, but it was just my boss informing me of my new situation. They wanted me to commit to a year contract, but I could not. I have four bosses now to convince to hire me without talking to them. They told me that they were going to decide that evening whether to hire me, telling Mary what will happen.<br />
I was so grateful that Mary was my translator, for she was more than a translator. Mary was my negotiator and my advocate. They had three conversation with a phone call each. Mary said that they would not have hired me, if she had not persuaded them. That night was tense. My possibility of staying in China was being decided by people that I could not speak to.<br />
This next morning another tailspin did not turn out well, for an email from my mother said that dad was very sad and worried for my temporal welfare in China, beckoning me to come home. I sent a message to comfort them, saying all is well. Unmanned hot air balloons are being sent home. Everything is figured out. They sent an email earlier in the week or the day before or so, telling me to come home, but my good news satisfied them. Dad was not convinced that I can ever be secure in my job searching efforts today. I humbled myself, since a power struggle, between personal agency and your patriarch is stupid. God seems to have better plans for me. The ones that I was living was exactly according to my desires in China. My contract would finish in time for my first semester at BYU Idaho; although, this tailspin was the most devastating of all. My hours of pondering was humbling. It seems that I will be home soon. I felt like this trip was a victory and a failure both at the same time, for my goals of learning Chinese, earning money for my education, and finding a job in the education system were given and taken from me. I am over it though. This is just a normal week in my adventure here in China, which seems to be over now.<br />
Love<br />
Alexander Hicken<br />
IT’S NOT OVER YET.<br />
PS I had my first Chinese hair cut today. The barbers in China are very radical. I was taken by a couple of my sisters to a nice one though. They shampooed my hair, and they even gave me a much needed massage. When they asked what type of hairstyle that I would like. I said modest. They had the look that word up in their phone. After the haircut they even washed out all the loose hair from my head, so I don’t have a heap of hair to bug me in my shirt. The barber was good, but I realized after the hair cut that he left sideburns uneven. They don’t seem to match one side of the head to the other side.<br />
Another thing that was great today was seeing my students for one of the last times. They all greeted me as they laid in their beds, since it was suppose to be nap time, and they were lead to blow me kisses. The people of my school bring a smile to my face even when they don’t know my Chinese story.<br />
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012<br />
March twentieth<br />
Dear family,<br />
I seem to have finally found that my coming next couple weeks will finally be my regular weeks, for it will be spent fulfilling my hobbies until the twentieth of March, which my departure date. Dad told me that it was illegal for me to seek a job as a tourist, so I refused the job offer at Shaoxing. I spoke with my potential new boss there on Thursday night. The first thing that she spoke about was church. I was going to work for an Episcopal church. Churches are really poor now a days, so when I read more of the situation. I was told by the sister that I would be the second teacher and affording both of us is very difficult. I told her, realizing how weak the program is that they would be better off without me. She even pursued with another proposal, which entailed no pay, so I am left here in China doing whatever hobbies that I want.<br />
Since I lacked a purpose in China, I felt like going against the norm. I showed a little California culture by showing that many people wear shorts all year round. Everyone was freaking out, worrying that I would get sick. I learned from cross country that sickness does not come from being cold, but it comes from being indoors more during the cold season, where the germs are more abundant. Mama Dong Ping told me yesterday, when I wore shorts again, that she was wearing five layers of pants. That’s how they are raised. I was not cold, wearing shorts.<br />
Friday night I went out for dinner with my good friend Shirley. She has been super busy at school, but we went out to a steakhouse to catch up. Shirley only hung out with me for the second week of my stay here. The reunion was too chill for my liking, but it was nice to see her. She was heading to a concert across the street from the steakhouse, so I walked her there.<br />
Walking home, I passed a fast-food chain in China called Dumpling. There is a girl there, which I find cute. I even got her QQ number. She tried to talk to me once over QQ, but she is not confident in her English. I wanted to see her, wondering what would happen. It was very awkward though. Since she were lacking of confidence before her coworkers, they looked at me very strangely, so I said good bye.<br />
Saturday morning I did not have much to do because the dates that I were hoping to have fell through. I was able to Skype with Deneice, a good friend though. A very limited amount of people seem to see my status’ on Facebook because not many people know that I am in China; except for people that I am most close to. I fixed up all the emails for her and Andres, for they want to read my adventure here. I am doing a lot of writing now a days. I was hired as a Ghost writer, so that is fun. Mark said that we can meet in the states to figure out how we can work together.<br />
When all my options were taken away from me, I felt that I don’t have a purpose here. I can practice Chinese. Saturday morning I saw that I was set to be on the spring fall track at BYU Idaho. I thought that I may be attending in the spring, but, rereading the letter, I see that I still have until September to get to Idaho. I occasionally thought myself as a prodigal son, since I used up all my saving, but my father comforted me, comparing my stay to the original Zion’s camp. They went out only to exercise faith. Zion’s camp did not go to war to recapture Zion, but they made it there.<br />
On Friday evening, I introduced Melissa to brown rice, saying it is more complete than white rice. I further said that I like it better than white rice, and on Sunday night, I was surprised that she said that she bought some, preparing me breakfast for the next day. It was tasty. She has cooked me breakfast three days in a row now. She asked what I wanted last night, and I said French Toast of course. I wondered how Chinese French Toast would be. She said that the bread was requiring a lot, and she did not have time to cook it with eggs and stuff.<br />
Fast Sunday was really good. A brother testified of a meaningful principle that ‘my way are not your ways’, which rang true with everyone. I came here to do things, but they seem to not be my purpose here. We ought to seek to do God’s will rather than our own.<br />
The past couple days with Melissa at her class, I would play with the kids. They have toys, but perhaps the toys are beyond their age because they just look at it. They are probably three to four years old. The toys are like Lego’s. On Tuesday and Wednesday I built things for them, and they had played with them. They have a great imagination. They played with an unfinished project of mine as if it is a cake, and a boy sang the happy birthday song. A girl wore one as a crown, and the children felt like a dog or a cat as they held a ball like structure before their face. The class play time have been more fun and loud, which I think is good.<br />
Yesterday my sisters said that they will knit me a yellow sweater, starting today. I thought that they were working on it already, for Erika was working on a yellow sweater. I was wrong, and they said that they will make a better one for me. They asked me if they wanted a long neck, a common design, so I had to have that, since it was handmade just for me in China.<br />
On Monday I decided to read my first Chinese book. The first day was discouraging. Since I was reading the title of the book, the character combinations did not make any sense, so I skipped all the title stuff to get to the story. It is children’s literature, so it should be fun. I asked Melissa, if she recommends any books to learn Chinese, and she recommended Hsu Chih-mo poetry 徐志摩的. I hope that they are like psalms.<br />
Occasionally I am able to be an aid for Mary to teach Engish. Humbling myself to be free without a purpose in China, being able to do whatever that I want and seeking to be fruitful, is interesting. Many people may feel that way now though.<br />
Love<br />
Alexander Hicken<br />
TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 2012<br />
Entering my final week in China<br />
Dear Family,<br />
It feels too long since I wrote you. I need to do research to recall what I need to begin on. I realize that people may want to have a dialog, but I might as well finish, writing the story of my adventure here.<br />
Thursday was a nice chill day because it was women’s day. I don’t know, if many Chinese people celebrate it as much as my associates, but the school teachers went out. Since the day was a half day, We went to a mall, having a fun time at an arcade and a restaurant. Girl love to go have fun, so they were generous with buying token and playing games. Some of the games were boring, since the difficulty seems to be scaled back. I usually don’t do well on racing games, but I was able to basically win the one that I was playing. I was pushing the back bumper of the first place winner. This can also be a sign of how easy it is to do well at this arcade, playing the games. It got good though. I will not go one explaining video games.<br />
In the evening Melissa took me to meet her family. Melissa is married, so we first went to pick up her child. The primary school is huge. They need to organize the departure of the students in order to keep it sane. This school has thirty classes of fifty students! Fifty students per class is average.<br />
Melissa’s son is really cool. Since it was a week day, we were not able to get to know each other well. He also had to do homework, so I was left to hang out, doing what I want. Melissa showed me family pictures and Hsu Chih-mo poetry 徐志摩的. This poetry is love poetry, so I am not too interested in it. She did give me a book though. I don’t know what it is about, but it begins three hundred years ago. I am realizing a book saying that is kind of odd. I will figure it out though.<br />
The book is written in traditional Chinese. I am afraid that it may be Cantonese. It is written from right to left, and up to down. It seems that there may be many one word sentences, so that is a little confusing.<br />
Melissa treats me as her only little brother, since she has never had siblings. On Friday my older sister took me shopping to buy books, so I can practice learning Chinese. Since studying dialog in my current opinion seems to be a good way to go, learning Chinese, I had her buy me a comic book the size of a manga. It is about a legendary male opera singer that cross dresses, during her performances. I hope that he is not a cross dresser all day long. The other book that Melissa bought me is from the thirties. I hope that this book can be enlightening. It has the English text in the back, so I can test if my translation is good.<br />
Saturday was an awesome day. After studying the scriptures, I was lead to take a nap, which was good because I was awaken up to be informed that we were going Ru Gao to meet Sam’s family. I love Ru Gao. This day was cool because I was taken to meet Sam’s father at his factory. He is the big man over the factory. Figuring out what the factory was making was a puzzle because I did not have a tour guide. I had a pretty accurate idea what they were making, which was confirmed, when I was given a catalog. They make machines that manufacture raw material like metals and plastics. I enjoyed the puzzle; then, we went to Yacht and Sam’s old high school.<br />
I had a lot of fun at the high school. The school was quiet, since it was the weekend, but if you read my blog article about his school. I will need to update it. They have institutionalised meeting from 7 in the morning to 9 at night. All of them are not class. I was surprised to witness what I was told from Sam and Yacht was true. On every Saturday they test their skills to prepare for university exams. A teacher took me on a tour of the campus. They have three gigantic five story building for the school’s facility. Since school is all day long and the students come from far and wide, many students have to live in dorms.<br />
The teach let me interview her students perhaps because I told her that I interviewed Sam. It was more like they were interviewing me though. This teacher only had fifteen students, who are preparing to go to foreign universities. I am of the impression that they also have learning disabilities. They were cool! We took pictures. I feel that the class setting was an experience given to me my God, for I was able to have a great time. I was grateful that I was not overwhelmed with fifty students. When it came time for break, some of the guys took me to play basketball.<br />
Although most boys are crazy about basketball, I was surprised that my skill was average or looked upon as good. The skill level of most students in basketball is weak compared to America. I am lost on the court at home, but here I was in the game. Some of the best basketball players of the school wanted to play with me. I was surprised that I had a pretty accurate shot. I kind of lived up the name of America. If I was Michael Angulo or Kade Bullough, I would be looked upon as a Michael Jordan. Their skill is not good because most people work all day long, and little time is given to recreation.<br />
The night was crazy. I was taken to a place to shower. After showering, we went to a sauna type room. This room had a very social environment. We went shopping just before coming here to eat at the sauna. This weekend I felt full most of the day. I was offered food all day long. I don’t know how the Chinese people do it. Maybe they do it just because I am a foreigner, and many American people are obese. After eating at a nice restaurant, they often have noodle soup. I don’t know about you, but I go to dinner to have a filling meal. It does not seems so here. Sitting an the hundred degree room for a while, we went to a resting room.<br />
In this room, I asked Sam’s ‘brother’ how often he comes her, wondering how wealthy the family is. How often to they afford going to shower and relax here. He refused to answer. When we entered the resting room, we were lead to walk through the rooms of one of the residence, since this business was family run. I said hi to the girls casually on a computer as I was trained to do according to the Jamaican culture.<br />
I was wave hi to the girls once in a while according to the Jamaican habit that I have, waving hi to people whenever it is appropriate. One of the girls said “I love you.” Since they were ‘embracing our bond,’ which is my definition of a friendship, I had to make it lasting. I went over to talk to the three girls. We exchanged QQ numbers. They were not confident with their English, so I had to exercise my patience as they retrieved the sister that knew English the best. You may not be able to know this unless you visited here, but instant lasting brotherly friendships are formed. Two of the friends of the family left, and we were left to get to know the family. I got to know the brother, who is an English teacher. We took pictures, and the youngest daughter walked me out. She was not confident in her English; but to show you how the instant lasting brotherly friendships are formed. I heard the sincere words “I will miss you.” as I made my farewell.<br />
Sunday was nice too. I was honored that Sam’s family gave me this day too. I don’t feel like writing much about this day because I have an odd feeling about this Sabbath day. Since the family was Chinese, I could not preach to them, so my sabbath observance was not as great as I wanted. I thought of the phrase if someone compels you to go a mile go with them twain, and as I pondered the commandment within the ten commandments, I more fully realized how meaningful the words are in this commandment.<br />
On Monday I was inspired to make Chinese French Toast for my older sister Melissa, but I ended up feeling the entire faculty. They are not sick now, and they said hao cher, so it must have been good. I was almost frustrating to cook it. Sam’s family was surprised when I informed them of the size of the loaves in America. They are like three times the size of them her. The bakery section is more like a small pastry section. I used up the whole Chinese loaf of bread, trying too cook in a metal pot. Mary does not have a pan, but I was lucky to have plenty of eggs and I was able to have four slices not burnt. The way I served it was more Chinese than the French toast. Since I knew that it would be a hassle to find a fork, I cut the toast into bite size pieces. The food was displayed very nicely. I had a small bowl full of strawberry yogurt within a big bowl full of the bit size pieces of French Toast. I saw extra grapes and longan fruit around to I put that on top too.<br />
That evening we celebrated at a Steakhouse me, leaving. This past weekend I got many new friends on QQ, for I also am friends now with the students that I met at Sam’s school. The teachers that took me out bugged the waiter, which knew English pretty well to talk to me. He wanted to exchange QQ numbers. He is super cool.<br />
The teacher expressed their love to me through him as the translator. They had him test me if they know their names as they always do. Chinese names are very hard to remember because they always give there full name, and they say their name backwards. Reminding me of their Chinese names almost everyday kind of makes sense.<br />
My final week here has been pretty quiet until last night. I have been writing a lot. I write as the teacher knit and the children sleep. Last night Yao’s friends contacted me to hang out tomorrow, and I may go the Shanghai on Friday. My final week is turning out well.<br />
Love<br />
Alex<br />
TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2012<br />
Good Bye China<br />
Dear Family,<br />
This email is my last entry to my Chinese story, for I am home now. The last email concluded with my hopes for a great final few days in China, and I was blessed to have a greatest final days therein. Yao’s friend invited me to visit her and hang out with some of her roommate. I wondered if there would be boys hanging out with us, but Xue, the friend, has nine roommates.<br />
It feels odd to write about this because one of the roommates is on the list of people that I am sending this to. She wants to practice learning English, so she embraced our friendship. When she heard that I love to write, she asked to read some of my writing. Writing of her and all her roommates for her with her reading it is fun.<br />
When I met Xue with her good friend, she was uncomfortable because she never spake to with an English speaker before. I don’t know why Chinese people always say that their spoken English is poor. This was the first time that they spoke to an English speaker, so they should relax.<br />
Ten teenage girls living in one room seemed insane to me. Xue and a couple of her friends took me for a walk, and they denied the drama, which I imagined that can be. All ten girls were studying the same thing, so I kind of felt like I was talking to multiples of the same person, especially if they lacked hobbies. I knew that I may get their QQ numbers, and I wanted to get to know them. I was lead to ask most of the girls what their interests were, which I found to be good to identify who each person was when I instant message them.<br />
The most interesting girl was very similar to me, loving to write. She has been working on writing a comic for six years! It is of a Romeo and Juliet story of China. The name of the story has the word butterfly in it, if you want to look it up.<br />
The majority of the girls lacked a passion to pursue interests, but a common interest is reading. Two of the coolest girls were more athletic, either practicing volleyball or dance. The date with the girls kind of felt like the bachelor show.<br />
The next day was Friday, and I was hoping to hang out with the girl that I met the weekend before at the sauna place in RuGao. During the week, she asked me to give her an English name, so I can have a name to easily remember to call her with. I was hard to decide, but we found a good name. It is Shaundra, the name of a most awesome cousin of mine. We planned to meet at 6 in the evening, and I was thinking that it took two and a half hours to get there. I told her the day before that she needs to tell me the place to meet her, or I cannot come. She waited to the last minute to tell me where to meet her. She is only in the ninth grade, so it was just for fun. Shaundra said that she would bring some friends as well.<br />
As I rushed over the RuGao, I asked Shaundra, if there is a late bus coming home, so I can be home that night. She answered that the latest bus left to Nantong at 5:40 pm, which would not be an option. I could have if I wanted of be lame, but I did not want to cancel the evening of “play,” a word commonly used by Chinese to say hang out.<br />
God provided me a guardian angel to be safe. Before I even got on the bus, a girl began talking to me. Her name is Xue. She said that she was fifty years old, but I have seen college students that looked older than her. She was really cool, helping me find the place that I was going to met my friend, get into a hotel, and get back home in the morning of Saturday.<br />
It turned out that the bus ride only took an hour, so I was way early. I had another friend that I wanted to meet, but she was a teacher. It kind of annoying how the professional world in China works the people way too much. I have a friend that works, starting at 7 am and often comes home after eleven pm. The teacher friend is named Susan. Susan needed to participate in the administration of a mock University entry exam all that weekend.<br />
When Shaundra arrived, I had to rush back to the Wengfeng mall because I went on a walk. I was lead to a park, which I was seeking. I knew that there needed to be one nearby by, since a river flowed by the mall.<br />
She introduced me to four of her friends. I only got one of the QQ number of one of her friends, so I only remember the name of one of them especially since she wants to call herself Candy. After a walk through the mall, we made it to our destination, the arcade. When they saw my excitement for pool, they followed me in to play a game; even though, they had never played before. Candy got into it, and Shaundra was too tense. Seeing the enthusiasm of Candy made me realize that I was inaccurate because I was not hitting the balls hard enough. I was more accurate, and after of playing an hour we discovered our hour time limit was up. We did not even finish a game, but we were tied. We both had two balls to hit into before getting to the eight ball. We played more games and shopped before going to dinner at like ten o’ clock.<br />
On the bus, coming back home from RuGao, Xue, my RuGao guardian, called me. She did a few times in my final days in China. She is my loving RuGao mother. She is a proud Chinese, saying that the RuGao and Chinese girls are more beautiful than California girls. I can’t agree. The Chinese people are so family oriented and friendly that this bond was instant. A couple girl, sitting in the seats before me in the bus, spoke as if they wanted to talk with me, since I spoke English, so I approached them. They struggled as they all do, but we had good times. They wanted to hang out afterward, for they were going to the bookstore and to play at a park. I was down; however, their uncle was with them, and he lead them away with errands to rush to.<br />
When I got home, I still had things to do. Melissa took me out for lunch for the final time. We went to a famous soup place, where they boil the broth and have you place the food in the pot at the table. Eating out of the pot was odd, for all I had was serving spoon and chopsticks, but I managed.<br />
The weekend was full of drama afterward, which I should not discuss.<br />
On my last day in Nantong, I said good bye to the school, which I spent most of my time at. I hung out mostly at Melissa’s class. I drew farewell cards for her class and the faculty. Playing with the kids a final day was nice. They are like 3-4 years old.<br />
During the week prior, a student wanted me to participate in the class, so she had me sit next to her in the class. We sang songs and did various activities. Melissa even gave me a sticker on my forehead, which is common in school, when students are good. I wore that proudly as the children do.<br />
I was given my yellow sweater, which my Chinese sister at the schoo made. Mama Pongping paraded me around the school, boasting of the fruits thereof. It fits well, and it is beautiful.<br />
Also during last week I noticed that every day of that week, the teachers would lead their students in fun dances to a variety of song for exercise. I was lead to join, and the children enjoyed my presence. I only danced one song though<br />
I participated in Mary’s English class on my last day in Nantong too. It was a good fun class of hers; however, at the end She had her students say good bye. They were very disappointed that I had to leave. She instructed them to hug me individually; then, we took pictures. At the end of it all, all the kids gave a big group, hugging for a few minutes. We almost fell down on the flour. They said the dearest words of love, the ones they knew.<br />
On the flight home, I was bummed that I did not have my journal to write in one the way home, but flying from Beijing to San Francisco was fun. I was placed to sit next to two youth, heading for North Dakota and aviation school. At least all the employees of Air China go to the same university of these youth, so I had to test what they said and asked our flight attendant where she attended school. They all went to the same school. I felt part of the Chinese aviation family. I learned that yangyang, the flight attendant, only had to attend the university for one year before attending to the planes. I hope that they don’t work her as much as the people in China. I asked for her QQ, but we were not lead to receive it, since she was so busy. I was told that the majority of flight attendants only work for ten years before they have to move on. Pilots work for thirty years.<br />
This is my Chinese story. I still am trying to figure out how to speak Chinese. I download the international QQ to keep in touch. I began renren, the facebook of China, but I don’t know how to connect with my friends. I love the Chinese people very much. I don’t know when I will go to China again, but I will try to keep everything which I was given there with me especially the friendships.<br />
Love<br />
Alex<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Alex Hickenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03207742547852726942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759791348811253975.post-2473523364484882962012-01-18T14:12:00.000-08:002012-01-18T14:25:25.223-08:00Take care, Alexander Hicken<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Dear Ocean Branch,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I hope that this weekend will be successful change in my life that I may move forward. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have a few things that I wanted to address before I leave; although, Eliza Simunovich intends to continue this blog. The principles that I wanted to leave behind for you to consider applying in your life are the following. You may think that I would encourage writing your journals to keep it updated, but these are the type of things that I will address, the gospel principles that I have been doing the most of, not saying that I am most successful. These are the topics that I am lead to explore according to the wisdom that I have obtained in the application thereof: Journal writing, Develop temperance unto purity, Exercise the most faith as possible, Temple attendance, and be sure to attend the branch that you are supposed to.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I love to write in my journal. When I could afford to, I wrote in my journal each day. You may ask what would you write about each day nothing much happens in a day. A fruit of writing in your journal is that you are reporting your great life to a future generation, so you hold yourself accountable to be the best that you can. Writing in your journal is not an overwhelming task that will consume all your time. The feeling of reporting your life to the best of your view is interesting. It seems to slow down life. It is interesting that I often hear that people want time to go fast. "Oh I just want this day or week to be over." Writing in a journal brings a gratitude for life, seeking to grow each day and serve. There are so many fruits of having a record of your life. Many obvious ones are like being able to keep track of what you have done, what is going on. Writing in a journal is not just a report of your life. "I did this and that;" however, you should view your writing as if you making a relationship with the reader with respect that it may be read with respect it as well. A high standard of living is obtained as you have a better perspective. This standard of living is your character.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Developing temperance unto purity is a view of mine. Temperance means self-control. Many people do things without much thought in anger, jealousy, lust, and so forth. These are weaknesses that we may have; thought processes that Satan may feed on to lure us to actions. In this temperance I see that this encourages a great knowledge of yourself. Personal characteristics are important to know in this knowledge of yourself. We come to know what behavior to shy away from and what to embrace. Christ-like attributes as taught in the Preach my Gospel manual are at the root of the commandments. I say that I believe that the ten commandments of the Celestial law is in the Doctrine and Covenants 4: 5-6.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2f393a; line-height: 13px;"></span></span><br />
<div class="" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/22px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" uri="/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4.5">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">"And </span></span></span><sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">a</span></span></span></sup><a class="footnote" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4?lang=eng#" id="footnote8" rel="/scriptures/chapter/footnote/default.xqy?volumeUri=dc-testament&bookUri=dc&chapterUri=4&noteID=5a&lang=eng" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">faith</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">, </span></span></span><sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">b</span></span></span></sup><a class="footnote" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4?lang=eng#" id="footnote9" rel="/scriptures/chapter/footnote/default.xqy?volumeUri=dc-testament&bookUri=dc&chapterUri=4&noteID=5b&lang=eng" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">hope</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">, </span></span></span><sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">c</span></span></span></sup><a class="footnote" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4?lang=eng#" id="footnote10" rel="/scriptures/chapter/footnote/default.xqy?volumeUri=dc-testament&bookUri=dc&chapterUri=4&noteID=5c&lang=eng" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">charity</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> and </span></span></span><sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">d</span></span></span></sup><a class="footnote" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4?lang=eng#" id="footnote11" rel="/scriptures/chapter/footnote/default.xqy?volumeUri=dc-testament&bookUri=dc&chapterUri=4&noteID=5d&lang=eng" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">love</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">, with an </span></span></span><sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">e</span></span></span></sup><a class="footnote" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4?lang=eng#" id="footnote12" rel="/scriptures/chapter/footnote/default.xqy?volumeUri=dc-testament&bookUri=dc&chapterUri=4&noteID=5e&lang=eng" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">eye</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> single to the</span></span></span><sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">f</span></span></span></sup><a class="footnote" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4?lang=eng#" id="footnote13" rel="/scriptures/chapter/footnote/default.xqy?volumeUri=dc-testament&bookUri=dc&chapterUri=4&noteID=5f&lang=eng" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">glory</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> of God, </span></span></span><sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">g</span></span></span></sup><a class="footnote" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4?lang=eng#" id="footnote14" rel="/scriptures/chapter/footnote/default.xqy?volumeUri=dc-testament&bookUri=dc&chapterUri=4&noteID=5g&lang=eng" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">qualify</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> him for the work.</span></span></span><span class="verse" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 1px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Remember </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">faith, </span></span></span></span><sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">a</span></span></span></span></sup><a class="footnote" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4?lang=eng#" id="footnote15" rel="/scriptures/chapter/footnote/default.xqy?volumeUri=dc-testament&bookUri=dc&chapterUri=4&noteID=6a&lang=eng" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">virtue</span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">, knowledge, </span></span></span></span><sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">b</span></span></span></span></sup><a class="footnote" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4?lang=eng#" id="footnote16" rel="/scriptures/chapter/footnote/default.xqy?volumeUri=dc-testament&bookUri=dc&chapterUri=4&noteID=6b&lang=eng" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">temperance</span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">, </span></span></span></span><sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">c</span></span></span></span></sup><a class="footnote" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4?lang=eng#" id="footnote17" rel="/scriptures/chapter/footnote/default.xqy?volumeUri=dc-testament&bookUri=dc&chapterUri=4&noteID=6c&lang=eng" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">patience</span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">,</span></span></span></span><sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">d</span></span></span></span></sup><a class="footnote" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4?lang=eng#" id="footnote18" rel="/scriptures/chapter/footnote/default.xqy?volumeUri=dc-testament&bookUri=dc&chapterUri=4&noteID=6d&lang=eng" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">brotherly</span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span></span><sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">e</span></span></span></span></sup><a class="footnote" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4?lang=eng#" id="footnote19" rel="/scriptures/chapter/footnote/default.xqy?volumeUri=dc-testament&bookUri=dc&chapterUri=4&noteID=6e&lang=eng" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">kindness</span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">, </span></span></span></span><sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">f</span></span></span></span></sup><a class="footnote" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4?lang=eng#" id="footnote20" rel="/scriptures/chapter/footnote/default.xqy?volumeUri=dc-testament&bookUri=dc&chapterUri=4&noteID=6f&lang=eng" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">godliness</span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">, charity, </span></span></span></span><sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">g</span></span></span></span></sup><a class="footnote" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4?lang=eng#" id="footnote21" rel="/scriptures/chapter/footnote/default.xqy?volumeUri=dc-testament&bookUri=dc&chapterUri=4&noteID=6g&lang=eng" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">humility</span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">, </span></span></span></span><sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">h</span></span></span></span></sup><a class="footnote" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4?lang=eng#" id="footnote22" rel="/scriptures/chapter/footnote/default.xqy?volumeUri=dc-testament&bookUri=dc&chapterUri=4&noteID=6h&lang=eng" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">diligence</span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">."</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> (the highlighted ten) I seem to be able to write a lot on this topic. I should move on.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/22px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" uri="/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4.5">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let us always consider these things in mind and in our actions in remembrance of Christ and his attributes. </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Developing your character in temperance is as embrace of your true character. Many people outside of the Gospel may act not according to their true character because that don't trust various things, but when we come to trust the Gospel, God, and his atonement, our true character comes out. A most important part to this great temperance is the application off all the principles of the Gospel. The word of wisdom, law of Chastity, Tithing and all the commandments entail a great temperance. When we have a control on all these things, we can gauge how much more that we can do. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/22px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" uri="/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4.5">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Do more. This is a way that I define faith. For myself my definition of faith is not the common ideal to believe in Christ, but it is what the belief leads us to do. Here is it. My definition of faith is how </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">boldly</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> that we fulfill the commandments of God. Boldness can be seen in many ways in my eyes. A bold teacher makes plenty of preparation before the lesson. A bold disciple follows the spirit. Nephi was bold. Our great prophets were bold. In this boldness I have learned that we need to keep a vision in mind. Perhaps it may be to be a full-time missionary or the greatest father or mother. These visions are a couple that I see that are most meaningful. Make sure that they are your true desires. Don't get caught up in the vanity of the world. Seek to be most effective in what you want to develop yourself into the vision of your goal. In this view, we have great purpose and depth in our lives. A goal and vision that I had for myself is to be a temple-going person.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/22px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" uri="/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4.5">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Each person should have to goal to the temple as much as possible. At least here in Santa Cruz, the opportunity is so rare that this commitment is logical. </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Temples are dedicated to be some of the most sacred place on Earth. They are the Houses of the Lord. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The temple is a place for the pure children of God to meet to have the greatest moments of their lives. I say the pure children because I trust each person is a pure child of God at the very core; although, we need to be careful. The nature man is scary. The temple is a place, where the natural man is forsaken, where some of the most amazing people gather. This place is of great guidance and comfort. The spirit of God is abundant there. Each week that I go, I see that my communion there always puts my head on straight, so I can face this crazy world better. I go in battered by the world and come out whole. I pray that as our Ocean Branch tries to regroup and renew our temple attendance that every person will come in humility and gratitude no matter what circumstance you are in your life. It will strengthen your faith in Christ. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/22px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" uri="/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4.5">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Be loyal in your attendance at the your local ward or branch as well. I see that people often are carried away from church to do other things. We need to be there for each other. Meeting together at church is a way to show the world that you are doing great. Loyalty to your local branch and ward shows a temperance and a stability. You should to be a church each week to fulfill your calling. There is so much Spirit, guidance, comfort, and inspiration in each meeting. The meetings are designed to promote spiritual growth not only at a personal individual level but in a broader sense of the entire community. This is why that everyone of you need to come and join the saints on Sunday. I am inspired, when I act as an Aaronic Priesthood holder, and I break the bread of the Sacrament. I represents so much. It represents the broken flesh of Christ and the Bread of Life. Let us all prepare to partake of the sacrament with all our faith to be loyal and faithful to our duties to God.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/22px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" uri="/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4.5">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I pray that this weekend will work out and be an important step to move forward. When I return from China, I hope to move and settle into the BYU that I will be accepted in. Maybe this should be read at the 29th of January sacrament meeting as my talk, since we will probably not have new counselors for Josh. To the Priesthood, please take care of the Branch.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/22px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" uri="/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4.5">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Take care</span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/22px Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" uri="/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4.5">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Alexander Hicken</span></span></span></span></div>Alex Hickenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03207742547852726942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759791348811253975.post-65168337404578296732012-01-15T07:53:00.000-08:002012-02-25T15:25:52.919-08:00Best Wishes for Rose at BYU Provo<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-059g5cAMaXc/TxL5Lb7S-SI/AAAAAAAAAUE/tGkym-BH46U/s1600/167664_1865449516343_1244171076_2244930_1246123_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-059g5cAMaXc/TxL5Lb7S-SI/AAAAAAAAAUE/tGkym-BH46U/s320/167664_1865449516343_1244171076_2244930_1246123_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>This is a recording of a testimony of Rose Hage. The recording is bad. Trevor did it for Michael because he was gone, and we all love Rose' testimony especially Michael. This recording is originally for him, but Rose let me share it with everyone. The quality of the recording is reflected in the dot-dot-dots.<br />
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I am thankful...<br />
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...Thanksgiving...It was really fun...but Our oven broke. Our refrigerate broke, and something else would not work...and, so everything is broken around the house. We were trying to figure out how we are going to get everything actually cooked, and Leslie, one of our grandmas,... had a tiny oven, so we just kind of all day... we did not have as many food as we usually do, but I think that even though nothing went well at all. It was really fun because we were all actively trying to make it work. It was not like two people worked to get everything done. We all had to work together to actually make it happen. It was the feeling of being together. I don't think anything beats that feeling. I am thankful for this time of the year even though I hate the weather. I loved the overall festive feeling and the spirit of giving. I would love if it carried throughout the year and I know that personally we cannot create that feeling, but it is really cool that right now while we cannot create that feeling. I don't know. I am grateful that I can come here every week, see you all, and share that feeling. I don't think anything in my life has made me more loving for so many things. I am grateful for this church. I love so many things, but I don't love anything as much as being a member of this church because it helps me more than anything else. We have it all right here, and I am so thankful. I know that this church is true because this is where truth is found....<br />
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The article is dedicated to Rose for her great faith, service, and future, saying good bye, since she is attending BYU Provo. We wish the best for you.Alex Hickenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03207742547852726942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759791348811253975.post-58602609229686832472012-01-08T06:48:00.000-08:002012-01-08T06:58:21.902-08:00The Testimony of our Soon Departing Elder Kaupert<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EQKSBP2_GR4/TwmuyaBTlAI/AAAAAAAAAT8/GrDj2iYYn20/s1600/n546274041_1009678_5060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EQKSBP2_GR4/TwmuyaBTlAI/AAAAAAAAAT8/GrDj2iYYn20/s320/n546274041_1009678_5060.jpg" width="320" /></a><b id="internal-source-marker_0.254885146394372" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>My testimony of the gospel is one of not a few large moments in my life; but rather many many small ones. I've always wondered how all these little moments will affect my future, and I never really realized the impact that they were having at the very moment. Looking back, the Lord has never let go of me no matter how hard I pushed Him away, and I see it in how everything seems to turn out. It always amazes me how things could've been so different had I had different experiences.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Happiness in the gospel for me seems to be made up or created by my life's experience. The love I feel from our leader, Jesus Christ, and our Heavenly father is something that can be found no where else on the earth but in this church. I often hear talk of people saying how the church can be so restrictive, and by living by the gospel, our freedom is stripped away. I disagree whole heartily. Life would be bondage without the reassurance of our father, the atonement, and of hope for things to come. We would be chained down by our heavy regrets and trapped by our own loneliness. That is not to say that other churches don't offer a form of this, but this gospel offers the most complete form. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>To not share that happiness with others would be a major sin for me; however, the single biggest reason in deciding to go on a mission was not this, but rather the incompleteness I would experience the rest of my life had I not gone. In other words, It would be a sin for me to not do the most I can for all of God's children, seeing how I have been a recipient of what I feel like are some of the greatest blessings he has to offer in this life. And really, that's what the Gospel truly is to me, is the pure love of God for all of us.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This Gospel is true. My life is undeniable proof of that. Our entire existence is undeniable proof as well. God's love for us is real, and I have felt it. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows our needs and our wants, wanting nothing more than to give to us everything, which he does provide for us. And so He provided the gospel for to bring all of us happiness. This is my simple testimony.</span></b></div>Alex Hickenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03207742547852726942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759791348811253975.post-74397799500686945182011-12-19T16:35:00.000-08:002011-12-19T16:38:40.238-08:00Elder Angulo's Reply<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Y'all write to much lol! jk Thanks for the updates on life in Cali, but thanks for all the love and support, and there isnt a day that i havent thought about yall. I miss you so much, but im so happy to be serving the lord right now.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://obweekly.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-letter-written-by-joanna.html">This is Elder Angulo's reply to our Christmas letter.</a></span><br />
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</div>Alex Hickenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03207742547852726942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759791348811253975.post-57555745495775689552011-12-18T23:36:00.000-08:002011-12-19T00:03:39.390-08:00A Christmas Letter to our Elders- written by Joanna & I<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">Dear Elder Hicken and Angulo,</span></span><br />
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The semester is over, and this last week was a great one for missionary work, sowing seeds. I met a guy that I have had a couple classes with his name is Jordyn. I have not hung out with him until the week before finals. He is a Christian man, so I had to give him a copy of The Book of Mormon. I could have given it to him last Thursday before finals, but I did not seize the opportunity. Finals day was my last opportunity. During the final I prayed the whole time, asking to meet with him. God granted my prayer, for he left moments before I finished my final. I finished the last few questions quickly in hopes to catch him. As I left in haste to catch him, I saw that he was talking with a friend, so I went to talk with them. It was perfect because Jordyn was with Alex, the guy had a skin disease, making him react to the sun's light. Since they couldn't hang out together, I was able to hang out with him and I get to know each other. I gave him The Book of Mormon, became friends on Facebook, and offered my fellowship. We even hope to go out surfing. </div>
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Another missionary experience happened in Friday. I don't know if I told you about Melissa, we met at Cabrillo, now we are really good friends. She was led to ask me, if I would want to go shopping with her for Christmas. She got out of work just in time for the temple trip. I tried to invite her to come. This evening was the only day that she was able to shop, so we chose to go shopping instead. The Capitola Ward was having a Christmas dinner, so I sought to bring her along. Since she did not want to go at first, I was hoping and praying that she would join us for the Christmas Dinner. I am grateful that God answers prayers. After shopping she needed to come to my house to wrap a present. This situation lead her to be able to come to the dinner. I asked her at the dinner, if she would be willing to have the missionaries introduce the church to her, but she felt uncomfortable meeting with them. I respected that, but I had Elder Rayes come talk to her. I pray that she may receive the missionary lessons soon.</div>
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joanna- hey dear elders</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1uJT0rNGJKw/Tu7relzvIZI/AAAAAAAAAOE/S_QFd9caC5w/s1600/189747_100804220002183_100002178153683_5315_4957214_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1uJT0rNGJKw/Tu7relzvIZI/AAAAAAAAAOE/S_QFd9caC5w/s320/189747_100804220002183_100002178153683_5315_4957214_n.jpg" width="320" /></a> I hope that we all truly learn the real significance of Christmas. We always get caught up with the media. They make us think that buying things is what Christmas is all about; however, we must remember what we know to be true. Christmas is the day that we can rejoice in the birth of our Savior, for he is the one being who was and still is able to give us the most precious gift of all. Jesus was born to be the most perfect example for us to follow. By Him we may learn to follow his humility, patience, loving service, and faithful obedience. Only by his infinite sacrifice we have the means to put our trust in him and be cleansed by his Atonement, for They want us to enjoy the blessings of forgiveness. By us living his commandments and doing so faithfully, this can give us the feeling of the purification of our souls. Let us all strive to be more like him, so we may be successful in life and receive a portion of his love and joy day by day. This helps us endure to the end and eventually enjoy of the fruits of our righteousness, for This is the greatest of all the gifts of God. Isn't this better than any other material possession that we can buy at a store. Yes he truly does love us. Now let us show our love and Gratitude for all that he does for us by loving and having charity to his children such as he has always done for us.</div>
</span>Alex Hickenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03207742547852726942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759791348811253975.post-82970478115202997132011-11-30T09:02:00.001-08:002011-11-30T09:32:59.772-08:00The original interview of Michael Angulo<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me: How do you feel about your preparation?</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 11px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Michael: I feel like I prepared good. I did. I did read all the Book of Mormon, but now I am </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">rereading it. I am on first Nephi. My preparation... I have read the Preach my Gospel from I think </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">chapter three to like page 150. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me: Nice</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Michael: I think I got all the basics down, and then hanging out with all the missionaries, and </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">going out there and getting your feet wet.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me: Have you had any profound experience when you went out with the missionaries?</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Michael: Define Profound.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me: Something that inspire you or something that you know that you will apply on your mission.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Michael: Just to you know teach at their pace at the other people that you are teaching the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">lessons to because you don’t want to hurry anyone. You want to take their time. You want to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">take your time, and just do everything based on their schedule. That is what I have learned </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">and just to be really patient. I think is another key thing to do. Especially because I can be </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">pretty impatient sometimes. I know that will be a key field that I am going to have to work to be </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">patient with other people. What I learned from Elder Fultz is. You can to about an hour of study </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">before you go out. an hour or two before you go out. I know that is required when you go on </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">your mission, but I thought it was really helpful because I did it once with them. It helped me </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">have better knowledge, so I can teach others of what I read. I know that I am going to do that </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">every morning, when I am out there in the field. I will do it as much as possible. I mean I willl do </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">as much reading as I can; plus, I am always the type of person that always wants to have the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">answer, when anyone asks a question. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me: Why do you feel reading a lot is important as a missionary?</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Michael: Because you get closer to Heavenly Father. and we’re struggles in life or question in </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">life that you have can be answered in the scriptures. and especially when you are missionary </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">you can be answering the questions for investigators who asked you that question that you did </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">not know. and you just pray about it and then you find your answers in the scriptures because I k</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">now when I have found answers. It is mostly in the scriptures where I find them. and It is not </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">out there in living.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me: So when you studied with the missionaries, did you learn how to study for investigators?</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Michael: Not really. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me: yeah its really hard</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Michael: yeah I guess you just start from the beginning. I think the restoration is the first </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">lesson. You just kind of teach them the background a little bit about the church, and if they are </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">interested they will call you again. if they are not interested. That is their fault. That is what I </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">learned from being with the missionaries. I can’t remember if I read it in the Preach my Gospel, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">but I am pretty sure I have. I just forgot. I would just go off of what the investigator needs and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">answers too about their situation or troubles they are having in their life, if they want.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me: So are you nervous about anything afraid of anything?</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Michael: I am pretty nervous, but not during mission, but missing my family. I just want them not </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">to feel sad that I am gone and just to be happy and just to you know live life how they normally </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">would everyday and not change their schedule or anything. I just want the spirit to be here even </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">though the priesthood is not in the house. I just want my family to be strong while I am gone </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">because we got a pretty tight bond in the family and it would take something very dramatic to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">brake us apart, so the nerves would probably be from leave my family for the first time. That is </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">want I am kind of nervous about. I don’t want to be cause I hear stories of missionaries going </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">home early because they miss home and their home sick. I don’t want that to happen to me.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me: Elder Faiese is having a really hard time because he is really home sick right now.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Michael: He is? Elder Fultz is going to do a good job, and make him feel like you know at home </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">there. Its his second home. Thats the way I am going to think its just my second home. My </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">home away from home.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me: yeah...So what have you learned about the people in Canada?</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Michael: I haven’t really learned much.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me: What have you learned about Canada?</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Michael: I have learned. I know it is cold, but I didn’t think it was that cold I looked up on line, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">and it was negative 49 degrees. haha I heard in my area Calgary is the biggest city in my </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">mission town, and then the next biggest one is a population of five thousand. so that's like half </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the size of Capitola. What is there to learn about my area?</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me: How big is Calgary? What is the population like?</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Michael: I heard it was about the size I have been told of San Jose, so almost a million people.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me: So there is probably going to be a lot of missionaries in Calgary.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Michael: Yeah</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me: and not that many in other areas at all.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Michael: Yeah I just learn about the Calgary mission from reading different blogs about my </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">mission. That missionaries say it is the best mission. that there is. haha I am sure every </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">missionary says that about their field.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me: haha cool. Did you learn anything about the people in the blogs?</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Michael: Not really. They just had different usernames. I just read it. I couldn’t tell if it was a boy </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">or a girl.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me: Did you learn anything from the blogs?</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Michael: I just learn that it goes back to being home sick. That they have a strong support group </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">there. You are going to feel very welcome.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me: Cool that is good.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Michael: Yeah about my mission president. I know that he served a mission in Oregon. He is </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">from Utah, and the wife is from Los Angeles. I think they meet in Utah. Got married and he </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">was called to be a mission president in Calgary, and a former mission president is our current </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">prophet today. Thomas S Monson, which is very cool.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me: Was he the mission president of your mission?</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Michael: Yeah I don’t know how long ago. I should probably look it up. I am pretty sure that it is </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">double digit years.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">me: yeah haha...So do you already have your email address for you mission?</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Michael: Yeah it is Michael.angulo@myldsmail.net.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me: They have it really simple.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Michael: Yeah its on my facebook I posted my email address and my mission address. on my </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">information on my profile on facebook... All this just feels surreal like back when I got my call </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">it was sixty days it was July second sixty days to the day until I go to the MTC, and it just feels </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">like it was yesterday. It was sixty days, back then I felt you know I felt good. I was just relieved </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">I got my call. I just finally came. and now it like its just like the past three or four weeks my mind </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">has totally been in a different place. It has been missionary mode missionary mode. I haven’t </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">gone out and done anything fun with any members of the branch. I have been so focus on my </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">mission that its just something that I take very serious and I don’t think its anything... you know </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">joke around about and not work hard at just studying and working hard change peoples lives </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">and they are going to need your knowledge need you as a person so I take it pretty serious. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Me: How long did you focus on your mission? Just the past month? or just the whole time since </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">you got your call.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Michael: When I got my call it just was more like a relief. I didn’t really do any studying. not </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">as serious as it was the past three or four weeks. I was maybe taking advantage of it and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">not studying and hanging out with friends, but the past three or four week I have been in that </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">different mode like I said.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me: How do you feel your endowment has helped you?</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Michael: It has helped me tremendously. I got a strong feeling of the spirit because when I got </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">out of the temple that day, and me and my mom were driving home. I just felt like the man. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me: I felt like I can do anything. Like I was telling people the next day in Elder’s quorum, I didn’t </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">expect what happen. I was expecting totally different. I was expecting that it will last twenty thirty </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">minutes. I did not expect it to last one and a half to two hours. The spiritual feeling that I had </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">in there...It felt really cool. When I went into the Celestial room, I felt famous with a big huge </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">chandelier nice couches nice floors. I felt like I was like Jay Z.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me: haha</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Michael: One thing that helped me was just the experience that I can teach you now </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">missionaries that are coming up and want to serve in the mission field that I am serving in and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Elder Fultz is said it is an incredible feeling in his influence and it has really been a key thing to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">me. and I am just going to us his influence to teach people too, but from my own knowledge. so </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">teach up and coming missionaries about how strong your endowment session is and it is good </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">to get endowed for your family and for your family that you want to create with your wife. It just </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">spiritualness I don’t know like the closeness would be very important for the family and all starts </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">with the priesthood and having that authority.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me: How do you feel about your testimony and how it has grown in the past while?</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Michael: When I first came to the church honestly speaking I had no idea what a testimony was, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">so on fast and testimony Sundays I would kind of be confused for the first couple months. and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">then I asked I think it was Miller. it was Miller or Sione what exactly is a testimony? and they just </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">said oh its how you know the church is true. and ever since that getting experience it just going </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">out with the missionaries and studying, studying Preach my Gospel, the Patriarchal blessing </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">prayer continuing to pray, keeping the commandments. not sinning. I don’t know if I said but my </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">patriarchal blessing and Being out with the missionary and seeing them in the field, seeing them </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">work it makes it more realistic to how to you know be a good missionary and use the knowledge </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">that I gained, when I was out there with the missionaries. it really has increased my testimony </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">that much stronger. I mean I know the church is true. I lived with it, and I lived without it, so I </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">know what influence it has. It has I mean Just picture yourself. Where would you be if you not </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">in the church for about eleven or twelve years? What would your life be like? and then if you </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">when you have that picture in your head, that is how my life was like. It was like that. You start </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">sinning. start disobeying the commandments. You do thing that you know you regret and then </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">you come to the church and then like I said pray, reading scriptures, taking the sacrament, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">elder’s quorum, sunday school It just makes everything better. Heavenly father is with you. and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">baptism is a big part. I was baptised when I was eight, but I wasn’t too strong into the church. I </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">kind of found it boring at that age.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me: How have you seen you participation serving with the missionaries become better?</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Michael: I am able to get involved more with the investigators.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me: Any experiences?</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Michael: You know Katie the new girl that got baptized into the Santa Cruz ward? I am pretty </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">sure that you heard about her. I was getting pretty involved in the lessons before she was </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">getting baptized. I know there is another dude way before that that was getting baptized I didn’t </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">say anything because I did not know, and now I do. Just learning and praying and reading the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">scriptures and I kind of figured like asking questions about the church. If you don’t know it, it </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">is not stupid. I’ve kind of always thought what if they make fun of me if I ask this question, and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">I would just learn that and It will increase your testimony with those questions. Just kind of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">insecure about asking a stupid question like what if they make fun of me.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me: How do you feel about how you taught Katie?</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Michael: I felt great I mean. It was Elder Fultz and Skeet I was with. Just going by the spirit, and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">having her feel it too. Even though the spirit is not with her. I know the light of Christ, but not the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Holy Ghost. Just helping her feeling our influence with the spirit it will increase her testimony. It </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">will make her feel like she wants to get baptized that much more, so the more the priesthood the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">stronger the spirit will be to fill the soul.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me: You did not feel awkward about your remarks?</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Michael: not at all</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Me: You know that you are teaching by the spirit when you do that. Often times missionaries are </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">picky about the lessons, and it is good to feel confident about what you do.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Michael: Katie is a cool girl. She is very outgoing. I am proud of her. I am proud of any one that </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">wants to get baptised no matter what age, height, ethnicity. I know we are all God’s children. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">He wants us all to get baptised. He wants to live a good life and not do the things that Satan </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">would want us to do. Katie has chosen that path to obey God’s commandments and have the H</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">oly Ghost to help us through the good and the bad. I am pretty sure that she will be guided </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">to plenty of good. She will know what is right from wrong. Its a good feeling, and I want to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">have that influence on people on my mission. I just want to have that influence on people on </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">my mission. I want to show how important baptism is and how important it is to go to church, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">read the scriptures and yeah...My biggest worry, going back to a few questions, is the inactives </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">that are baptized how am I going to get them to come back to church. The inactives I think are </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">harder than those that are not members of the church because they don’t have the Holy Ghost.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me: The inactives?</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Michael: Yeah the stronger inactives that have been away for a while.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Me: I wanted to ask another question...How was like to feel to have your knowledge grow about </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">the gospel like from nothing to being ready to go on a mission?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Michael: I feel it is important. Iit changes the way you look at life, and it changes you as a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">person like being away from it for eleven to twelve years and seeing where I am at now. It has </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">totally changed my look at life. It totally changed who I am, and I am so grateful for this church </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">to be on this earth and I am so thankful that Joseph Smith restored the Gospel for us. and I </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">know that he was the first prophet, and I know that Thomas Monson is our current prophet. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">He received revelation from Heavenly Father. What else. I think I forgot the question. Can you </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">repeat that question? I think Iwas kind of babbling on. haha</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Me: How do you feel about learning the knowledge of the gospel from the beginning over the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">past year or so?</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Michael: I didn’t know anything about the Gospel in the beginning. I feel like that I know 25 to 30 </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">percent of the Gospel, but that is better than nothing. I feel like...</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me: You don’t feel like you know a lot?</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Michael: Yeah I was doing an interview with President Walch, and what he said gave me more </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">motivation, and it made me feel more safe to know that me did not know much about the Book </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">of Mormon before he went on his mission. He went to Korea. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Me: Yeah you don’t know anything, but when you are on the mission you learn a lot, and you </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">feel confident about your knowledge about the Gospel and everything.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Michael: Yeah especially cause I only know a quarter of the Gospel, but I am hoping that it goes </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">dramatically up on my mission.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Me: Yeah you will. You feel confident about everything. Not everything but like a lot. I remember </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">learning like all the prophecies that will come, and I was able to write a big essay of like all the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">prophecies that will come, and summarize that these.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Michael: Right now I feel like I can teach the lessons in Preach my Gospel: the restoration, the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">plan of Salvation, the word of wisdom, the commandments, and the laws and ordinances. I feel I </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">know so much about those. I don’t know much about the Book of Mormon. Like I said a quarter </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">of it, which it is better than not having any knowledge.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me: Is there anything that you want to say to the Ocean Branch?</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Michael: I love you so much. Thanks for all your love and support. Its been a fun ride, and I </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">am just taking a hiatus right now, a two year hiatus, and once I come back I will come back a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">new man. Hopefully I won’t look any different, but hopefully I will look more manly. I will come </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">back for toned. and I will be able to grow a full beard because I am shaving so much. All the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">missionaries that are serving in the ocean branch. I hope you keep it growing because we need </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">all the young adults to come and just keep the branch growing. We have had it has been a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">tremendous ride. There have been times where I secretly struggled, but you guys have secretly </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">helped me without me saying it without me saying I was in a struggle. I have never been around </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">a cooler group of young single adults in my life than you guys. I am very thankful for President </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Burgon for all their love. I don’t know how many children that you have but I feel like one of them </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">because I feel like Brad has been there every step of the way for me to get my mission papers </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">done and all the love and support there and Michael: one of their sons their child. I feel like the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ocean Branch baby. and now I am going out serving.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Me: A little brother :)</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Michael: I feel like you guys little brother. and I am going to serve the Ocean Branch probably </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">on my mission. I will tell tremendous stories about you guys.</span></span><span style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
</span></span></div>Alex Hickenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03207742547852726942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759791348811253975.post-39556522379414434672011-11-28T08:11:00.001-08:002011-11-28T08:15:54.943-08:00Cade's Full-length Interview<div style="font: 11.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: How was you life like before you considered investigating the Gospel?</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: For me because I grow up in Utah and a lot of my family members are really active </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">members in the church. They really had a big influence on me in my upbringing. I was around </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">it my entire life. I have been around active members. My life was almost Gospel like before </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">actually being baptised. before fully having the Gospel in my life.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: Yeah Michael said he was similarly. When he can back to the church, he did not need to </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">change that much. He needed to learn a lot when he was coming back to the church but he did </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">not have to change his life too much</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: I did not need to change my life at all pretty much besides studying the scriptures, going </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">to church regularly, going to all the church activities and stuff, schedule change, doing things </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">to be more spiritually uplifted, be more involved in the church. For the most part my life before </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">having the gospel was almost like I had the Gospel, but not actually having it. Does that make </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">sense?</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: Yeah that makes sense, if your family is really into it, and most of your family was in it. The </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">majority of the people in Utah are Mormon.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: All my friends you know, and I was never pushed to be baptized. I know when I was eight </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">years old. I went into have an interview with my bishop. I had the interview. The missionaries </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">would come visit me weekly. My parents got a divorce that what kind of put a hold on it; </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">unfortunately, that was the way it was. After my parent got divorced, they went inactive; </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">therefore, my baptism was put on hold. After that I was really down. I saw a change in both </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">of my parents, not being active in the church, a change in their life. How they acted. Not in </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">an extremely bad way not way off course, but the happiness that the Gospel brings. You can </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">see that difference. I have seen that difference. Having the Gospel in my life, and not having it </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">before I was baptized.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: Can you describe that in anyway?</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: Describe having the Gospel in my life as compared to not having it</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: yeah but also about your parents.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: The happiness level. their mannerisms. It was different. They just went about life </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">differently. They did not have anything to look forward to. Its hard to explain to be honest. Its </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">just a feeling. People that have the Gospel in their life you can see that. You can see when </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">someone looses or when someone becomes less active. You can totally see a difference. Its </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">crazy</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: Yeah</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: Ten years later after that interview with my bishop. I am baptized. In those ten years, </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I always wanted to be baptized. After moving, we had to move because my mom could not </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">afford the house, and my dad moved out. I was living with my mom. My mom could not afford </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the house because she was a stay at home mom. We had to move, and we stayed at our </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">grandparents in Murray. I always wanted to go to church and join the church. I always told my </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">mom “hey mom we should go to church on Sunday.” She would be okay lets go. I would try and </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">push her but we never went. I was not my mothers fault at all. I could have gone if IL wanted to. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I don’t want to blame my mom, but that was how life was.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: What sparked that idea? Didn’t you to go to Mormon.org and request the missionaries?</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: Yeah thats what I did. I was in Utah over winter break. Moving out to Santa Cruz, It </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">is really different here obviously. I could see a difference in the people that had the Gospel </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">with my friends and family. I could see a difference there obviously. Just how they go about </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">life compared to people here. Its just difference because I am not able to connect on a great </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">level with people here in Santa Cruz that don’t have the Gospel, so I thought about the church </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">because that is all that I grew up in. That is what I am use to. That is the path that I wanted </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">for myself. I did not want to go down that road of smoking weed, drugs. Thats very common in </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Santa Cruz. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: Yeah I kind of want to hang out with some people at school. I feel weird sometimes </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">because in my biology lab class I saw another person casually ask another guy for a roll to </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">smoke marijuana. I feel it would be hard to hang out with people at Cabrillo. I don’t know how to </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">get into it.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: Its really hard. I was very fortunate and blessed to be friends with Jason. I can connect </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">with him because our personalities are basically the same. It was really hard make friends and </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">connect with people. I was thinking that I really need to go to church. On day I said okay, I am </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">going to seek out the missionaries. I have been thinking about this for months before I did it. I </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">was really thinking about baptism because that was on my mind for all those ten years. I just </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">never did anything about it. I felt I was in the gospel, and I was living a good clean life. I was </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">hanging out with the right people. Doing the right things. having the right influences in my life, </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">having the influence of the Gospel. I talked with my parents about it, and got their impart on it. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">They were ecstatic about me, making my own decision, and actually going through with it. That </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">is how a lot of my family are. I am grateful to know how happy they are in my decision to be </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">baptized, so I just went on to mormon.org, and Elder Jamaias and Wulfenstein showed up at my </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">door. Was in Wulfensteen or Wulfenstine? </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: Yeah Wulfensteen. I like Elder Wulfensteen. He is a good teacher.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: Both of those guys were exceptional.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: How was investigating the Gospel?</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: I always looked forward to them coming over. Teaching me something new</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: It was new?</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: Well</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: You received it easily.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: I knew most of the stuff. It was kind of a refresher; also, it cleared up questions that I had </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">because I had missionary discussions before from missionaries a couple times. I was familiar </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">with it because I went to church with my friends. One of my really good buddies that I played </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">basketball with, his dad was a bishop, so they would invite me to church every Sunday. I would </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">go. I knew quite a bit. It was a refresher like said before. It answered questions that I had. I </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">would write down question that I had from reading scriptures throughout the week and what not, </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and we met on a weekly basis, but the first time we met. I told them I wanted to be baptised. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There was no question. I was familiar with the church. It did not spark me as a wild decision.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: How did your friends invite you (to help you in missionary work, you)</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: My friend who’s dad was a bishop</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: How did he invite you at first?</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: I don’t know. I think that he straight up asked me. Will you come to church on Sunday? </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He straight up asked me.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: That is what I was thinking. I think it is not too uncommon</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: yeah </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: You can ask pretty straight forward, and they would not be offended. I don’t like being in a </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">round about way. I like being straight forward.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: yeah</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: Like with another friend Ivette. I would straight up ask her. When can the missionaries </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">come, and we can meet with her? At first in the friendship I did not talk to her much about the </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">church. I had the missionaries at Utah call her, ask her if she would be interested, and willing to </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">investigate the Gospel. I think that you can be straight forward with people.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: I would like to invite Jason to church. It seems like he is always a little stand offish. Its </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">common. I hope I can get him to church one of these days.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: How do you feel about having your testimony, growing? Like reading the Book of Mormon </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and stuff.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: I would say my testimony was a seed when I first took lesson from Jamaias and </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Wulfensteen; then, it spouted like a plant, and he flower bloomed when I was baptised. My </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">testimony was there. It just continued to grow. How long has it been?</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: 7 months now</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: 6 or 7 months it has continued to grow. Seven months since I have been baptised and </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">active.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: How would you describe it? to have your testimony grow.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: Through see other people come into the Gospel. Like Val for instance. It’s a good </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">example of how I can share my testimony with her and help her understand that I know these </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">things are true. The Church is true. The Book of Mormon is true. It helps me strength my </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">testimony to see her, gaining a testimony because he is in those stages of gaining a testimony. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Things like that strength my testimony. Hearing, the prophet, Thomas S. Monson, the apostles, </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and the seventy, that helps a lot because I went to General Conference the weekend after I was </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">baptised.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: I know what you are describing. Its not like pin point anytime. just going to church line upon </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">like precept upon precept. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: Not its like small. When I was baptised, my testimony was very strong and still is. It </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">was like. I did not know as much as I know now, so it was kind of small. In a sense it was kind </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">of unknowledgeable yet not unknowledgeable, but small amounts of knowledge. Now I have </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">more knowledge, so my testimony is therefore stronger than it was before. Its from see, and </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">witnessing things, and experiencing things like Val, seeing the prophets speak</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: How has baptism changed how you feel?</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: Well I am almost twenty times happier. I am a lot more happy now because I know my </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">purpose in life and stuff like that. I just have answers for things. Whereas before I was baptised </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I did not know the answers to those questions really. I knew the beliefs of the church and stuff, </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">but I never really thought about it. Having the Gospel in my life has made me a lot more happier.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: Have you been thinking about the interesting question? What have you done for yourself?</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: What have I done for myself?</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: for your family or</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: What have I done for myself?</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: What have you done for yourself in the Gospel?</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: I don’t want to come off as selfish. I am definitely not a selfish person at all. When you </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ask, what have I done for myself? I help others.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: Yeah</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: It benefits me to help others. help others to the Gospel</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: I was thinking that you’ve gotten yourself in the Gospel. I wanted you to bare your testimony </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">of all these things blessing that you have received for yourself.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: Okay </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: like I have gotten the Gift of the Holy Ghost for myself. It is a wierd question. I didn’t </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">understand. I didn’t say it right.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: yeah I don’t know. Its kind of an interesting question because it is kind of a selfish </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">question, so it is hard to think of it and an unselfish way to answer it. So well yeah I guess.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: I did not expect it to be selfishly. You can say. It is also for your family because you are </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">setting up your family in the future for receiving the Gospel, and working on yourself.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: Yeah yeah thats right. Being baptised and having the Gospel in my life has truly a </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">blessing because it benefits my family way in the future. My wife and my kids, and also my </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">family in the present, my birth dad and mother and sister because I will be able to help them </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">come unto the Gospel or </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: are they not in the Gospel much</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: No they are not. They are inactive. My parents are not active. My sister has not been </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">baptised yet. I have two sisters. One has been baptised and married in the temple, but my </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">younger sister she is like me. She is in the exact same situation. My parents got divorced. She </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">is in the same boat as me or as I was. I am trying to help her have the blessing of the Gospel in </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">her life. Teach her. Its a great blessing that I can help share with others. I am grateful to have </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the Holy Ghost. I know the truths of the Book of Mormon. I know that Joseph Smith was a true </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">prophet. He restored the Book of Mormon and restored the Gospel. I know that Thomas S. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Monson is a true prophet. I know that this church is true. I say these things in the name of Jesus </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Christ. Amen.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: Another big thing that you have done for yourself. I think it is really big. You are temple </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">worthy. That is a big thing that you have done for yourself. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yeah Huge. In my eyes it is a really big thing to be going into the temple because I have never </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">done it. I will be my first time. I was really excited because I thought I was going to go to the </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">temple in Utah, but then I looked thought my wallet. I was like frantically looking through my bag </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and stuff and I did not have my recommend, so I was unable to go with my friends wanted to go. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was really bummed out. Now with the temple trip coming up I am really looking forward to it. I </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">will be my first temple trip at the Oakland temple.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: Only like one more week</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: Yeah are you going?</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: Yeah</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: Yeah alright</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: I think Josh will be driving. We will have to figure that out.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: Cool Carpool with him. The twenty first right on a Friday. Okay Awesome. I will definitely </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">be able to make that.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: Now we kind of understand the question haha</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: yeah yeah</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: It was a bad question haha</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Cade: It was a tough question for me to answer because I am so unselfish. Different people </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">will taking it differently, but I turned it into an answer where it benefits others. More than myself. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That question will be on my mind for a while, so I will think about it for a while.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: You have done a lot of stuff for yourself and your family like Michael he has.</span></span><span style="font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>Alex Hickenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03207742547852726942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759791348811253975.post-26712824137903831842011-11-20T11:46:00.001-08:002011-11-28T07:55:53.911-08:00What have you done for yourself?<br />
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<span id="internal-source-marker_0.2139698404353112" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the interview that I had with Cade, I was prompted to have the interview based on this question. "What have you done for yourself?" When I asked the question, I quickly realized that it was a very odd. Upon seriously asking the question, I listened to Cade say. "I don’t want to come off as selfish. I am definitely not a selfish person at all. When you ask, what have I done for myself? I help others." After some conversation, I realized the question was so bad that the things that Cade said were purely followed by my cultivation. It was my words not his words. In interviewing, you need to be careful to not influence the interviewee's answers. Gratefully the question was asked at the end, and I asked good questions before this one.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This question is completely spiritual; although, it can be looked at in many different ways. I will explain my spiritual perspective of the question. Your salvation is dependent strictly upon your efforts and desires. Self reliance takes a lot of will power of an individual. Even though we depend on the atonement of Christ for your salvation, the promise of the covenant unto salvation is not fulfill; until, we endure to the end. Our salvation depends on us. Another part of self reliance and what we can do for ourselves is as Cade said.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">During Stake Conference I learned that when we live providently, we are able to serve God comfortably with our surplus. This blessing is given to us upon our faithfulness. Not living providently limits our service. This is what Cade saw. Since he was able to afford receiving the gospel, he has the blessing with his abundant light to spread the light of Christ. He is seeking for the restoration of his entire family to rejoin the faithful saints.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is the greatest gift of all. The exaltation of your family is the most important thing to work for. The salvation and exaltation of our families are depending on our faith. Cade explains: </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Being baptised and having the Gospel in my life has truly a blessing because it benefits my family way in the future. My wife and my kids, and also my family in the present, my birth dad and mother and sister because I will be able to help them come unto the Gospel...They are inactive. My parents are not active. My sister has not been baptised yet. I have two sisters. One has been baptised and married in the temple, but my younger sister she is like me. She is in the exact same situation. My parents got divorced. She is in the same boat as me or as I was. I am trying to help her have the blessing of the Gospel in her life. Teach her. Its a great blessing that I can help share with others."</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The greatest thing that one can do for oneself is to be temple worthy. In these latter-days God has given us a most glorious blessing that no other generation before this dispensation had before. It is a humbling responsibility. We are the generation of savours on mount Zion. Only those that have the faith to be temple worthy can to this work. No one else can do perform the proxy work in the temple.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is also an evidence of great faith, and testimony. Attending the temple, I see that the purity of those people therein gives them an exceptional personalities, for they are humble and they continually exercise faith to improve. Their personalities are growing in "faith, </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4.2?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">virtue</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, knowledge, </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4.2?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">temperance</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4.2?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">patience</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4.2?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">brotherly</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4.2?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">kindness</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4.2?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">godliness</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, charity, </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4.2?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">humility</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/4.2?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">diligence</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">" (D&C 4:6) Developing the character to be temple worthy and a servant God is a great thing to do for yourself. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another worthiness that is a personal work is the following of the Gift of the Holy Ghost. This gift is most precious gift in mortality. We cannot serve god without this faith. Elder Seigfried told a story in his talk today in the Capitola Ward. This prompting may felt small, but he followed it, and he was instrumental in the work of God. He was going on an errand, and he was prompted to drive the truck in the way. He had to fill up the gas tank. At the gas station he ran into a guy that had everything stolen from him, and he was able to stand as a witness of the love of God in his aid, giving him some money. </span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are many of spiritual works. The few mention in this article is working out our own salvation by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and self reliance unto service. This service is most important in the family, the work of God, and the temple. The last spiritual work that I expounded is that worthiness and character in developed upon our own will. These attributes are crucial in the service of God. Without it God cannot perform any miracles. This is my view of the question. "What have you done for yourself?"</span></div>Alex Hickenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03207742547852726942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759791348811253975.post-46243377675422112432011-11-07T23:53:00.000-08:002011-11-07T23:53:23.751-08:00Just Had a Great Missionary Experience on the Bus :)Joanna wrote me this today. It is her words.<br />
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Well I met him last year on the bus. I had meet him because he was friends with my mommy. He is super nice. I saw him a few times after that; then, we hadn't seen each other for a long time till today.<br />
He asked me if I was still going to church. He knows Brother Fontes; then, I said "Hey he and his wife organized the pioneer trek!"<br />
Then we started talking about church and he said you are welcome to come to my church; then, I did like wise. He said he was going to a LDS church in Utah, but he did agree and did not understand the doctrine.<br />
He said that we don't accept Christ as the Son of God.<br />
I explained to him that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever; therefore, we need a prophet who is the mouthpiece of God, for he tells us and guides us on what we need to do to live back with God, such as Moses, Elijah, etc... So thats why we have a prophet now.<br />
Then he asked me "Can anyone talk to God, if we are not of your faith?"<br />
I said "Yes. Of course. That is why we have prayer. It might not be him directly speaking to you, having a marvelous dream or even an angel minister to you, but he can answer your prayer by just a small impression in your heart or a feeling or a thought in your mind. Anyone can receive answers from God, if they have faith."<br />
I also explained that God and Christ were two separate personages, and the spirit testifies to us truths. I also told him that we were spirit children in the pre-mortal existence. There he did not agree. I proved my point by saying that God knew Christ before he was in the womb, for he created him to be the infinite and eternal sacrifice to bring the rest of his imperfect children back to live with him. "Gender is an essential characteristic of our spirits," I explained.<br />
After he said well thats reincarnation and I said rebuked him with that fact.<br />
Just as God knew Christ before he was created in the womb to fulfill his mission. He also knew us before we came here, already having a gender and who we are going to be when we come to earth. Not reincarnating.<br />
I also expounded about Christ, being part mortal part God, for he was able to feel pain and affliction yet still resurrect. He fasted for forty days, so he can feel the affliction of the hungry, for he needed to feel everything we have felt or will feel. By the grace and atonement and resurrection of Christ, we are able to do the same :). Thanks to him our life does not end at the grave. Our bodies die then we go to the spiritual world, wait to be judged, be placed, resurrect, and all this because of Jesus.<br />
I hope I planted a seed.Alex Hickenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03207742547852726942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759791348811253975.post-20244644323481019182011-11-06T23:38:00.000-08:002011-11-06T23:39:58.841-08:00A Man that Always Wanted to be BaptizedIn the Ocean Branch, our most recent and beloved convert is Cade Bullough. He is one of the most radiating s<span style="background-color: white;">tudents at Cabrillo College. His light is great, for he is a witness of Christ. I will have him tell the story of how he chose to be a Mormon, or a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; then, I will write of key principles that I found relevant for this article in a next entry.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.6643268587067723" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"I grow up in Utah and a lot of my family members are really active members in the church. They really had a big influence on me in my upbringing. I was around it my entire life. I have been around active members. My life was almost Gospel like before actually being baptised before fully having the Gospel in my life..."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">"I was never pushed to be baptized. I know when I was eight years old. I went into have an interview with my bishop. I had the interview. The missionaries would come visit me weekly. My parents got a divorce that was what kind of put a hold on it; unfortunately, that was the way it was. After my parent got divorced, they went inactive; therefore, my baptism was put on hold. After that I was really down..."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Ten years later after that interview with my bishop, I am baptized. In those ten years, I always wanted to be baptized. After moving, we had to move because my mom could not afford the house, and my dad moved out. I was living with my mom. My mom could not afford the house because she was a stay at home mom. We had to move, and we stayed at our grandparents in Murray. I always wanted to go to church and join the church. I always told my mom 'hey mom we should go to church on Sunday.' She would be 'okay lets go.' I would try and push her, but we never went. I was not my mothers fault at all. I could have gone if I wanted to. I don’t want to blame my mom, but that was how life was..."</span><span id="internal-source-marker_0.6643268587067723" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"I was in Utah over winter break, moving out to Santa Cruz. It is really different here obviously. I could see a difference in the people that had the Gospel with my friends and family. I could see a difference there obviously. Just how they go about life compared to people here. Its just different because </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am not able to connect on a great level with people </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">here in Santa Cruz that don’t have the Gospel, so I thought about the church because that is all that I grew up in. That is what I am use to. That is the path that I wanted for myself. I did not want to go down that road of smoking weed, drugs. Thats very common in Santa Cruz..."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">"One day I said okay, I am going to seek out the missionaries. I have been thinking about this for months before I did it. I was really thinking about baptism because that was on my mind for all those ten years. I just never did anything about it. I felt I was in the gospel, and I was living a good clean life. I was hanging out with the right people, doing the right things, having the right influences in my life, and having the influence of the Gospel. I talked with my parents about it, and got their impart on it. They were ecstatic about me, making my own decision, and actually going through with it. That is how a lot of my family are. I am grateful to know how happy they are in my decision to be baptized, so I just went on to Mormon.org, and Elder Jamaias and Wulfenstein showed up at my door..."</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">"I always looked forward to them coming over. Teaching me something new...</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">It answered questions that I had. I would write down question that I had from reading scriptures throughout the week and what not, and we met on a weekly basis, but the first time we met. I told them I wanted to be </span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">baptized</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">. There was no question. I was familiar with the church. It did not spark me as a wild decision..."</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">"When I was </span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">baptized</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">, my testimony was very strong and still is. It was like. I did not know as much as I know now, so it was kind of small. In a sense it was kind of unknowledgeable yet not unknowledgeable, but small amounts of knowledge. Now I have more knowledge, so my testimony is therefore stronger than it was before..."</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">"I am a lot more happy now because I know my purpose in life and stuff like that. I just have answers for things; where-as-before, I was </span><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">baptized</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I did not know the answers to those questions really. I knew the beliefs of the church and stuff, but I never really thought about it. Having the Gospel in my life has made me a lot more happier...</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am grateful to have the Holy Ghost. I know the truths of the Book of Mormon. I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet. He restored the Book of Mormon and restored the Gospel. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet. I know that this church is true. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen."</span></span></div>Alex Hickenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03207742547852726942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759791348811253975.post-52918828128050850272011-10-26T12:52:00.000-07:002011-10-26T13:01:54.431-07:00Lesson 6: The Birth of Israel<br />
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<span id="internal-source-marker_0.4039689947385341" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The chapters of this lesson covered the rest of Genesis, so there is a lot that is breezed over. Like I said this is a fast pace class.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Abraham "was gathered to His People." "The early patriarchs had a clear knowledge of gospel principles taught to them from Adam down to Abraham. The phrase “gathered to his people” is one more evidence of their gospel knowledge. Two Bible scholars commented on the significance of that phrase: “This expression . . . denotes the reunion in Sheol with friends who have gone before, and therefore presupposes faith in the personal continuance of a man after death, as a presentiment which the promises of God had exalted in the case of the patriarchs into a firm assurance of faith [see </span><a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/heb/11/13#13"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hebrews 11:13 </span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">]” (Keil and Delitzsch, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Commentary, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1:1:263). </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sheol </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is the Hebrew word for the world of spirits where one goes when one dies, the equivalent of the spirit world. The Hebrews had not only a concept of life after death but also a correct concept of the intermediate place between death and the Resurrection."</span><span style="background-color: white; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Old Testament Student Manual Genesis–2 Samuel)</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In these chapters Jacob receive the birthright and the name of Israel. Rachel guided Jacob to receive the birthright and the bless of the Father, for she knew that it was good for Jacob just as Paul knew that he should not heed to the warning of man even if it is by the words of God by his spirit, which we studied this past Sunday School Class in Acts 21-28, for they know by prophecy what should happen.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The story of how Jacob obtained the birthright blessing from Isaac with the help of his mother is a troubling one in many respects. Typically, commentators who do not have access to latter-day scriptures come to one of two conclusions: either they emphasize Esau’s unworthiness for the birthright and therefore justify the deception, or else they criticize Jacob’s shrewd and crafty nature.</span><br />
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<a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/gen/27/1-40#1"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Genesis 27:1–40 </span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Jacob Obtains the Birthright from Esau</span></h3>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A more complete knowledge of gospel principles, however, may pose some additional problems. Can a person deceive a patriarch and get a blessing that belongs to someone else? Was Jacob a deceitful and crafty man? Was Isaac blindly favorable to certain children? Can one be dishonest and still get a valid patriarchal blessing? The following points should be carefully considered:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. As the record in Genesis now reads, there is little option but to conclude that Rebekah and Jacob deliberately deceived Isaac and that Jacob explicitly lied to his father (see </span><a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/gen/27/24#24"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">v. 24 </span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">). Rebekah and Jacob believed the deception was necessary because Isaac obviously favored Esau. Joseph Smith, however, taught that certain errors had crept into the Bible through “ignorant translators, careless transcribers, or designing and corrupt priests” ( </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Teachings, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">p. 327). For example, a comparison of the early chapters of Genesis with the fuller accounts revealed to the Prophet (now found in the books of Moses and Abraham) shows how much has been lost. It is possible that the story of Jacob’s obtaining the birthright has also lost much or been changed by unbelievers. These changes could then explain the contradictions.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Rebekah knew by personal revelation that Jacob was to be the son of the covenant (see </span><a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/gen/25/22-23#22"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Genesis 25:22–23 </span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">). Jacob reluctantly gave in to his mother’s wishes after she told him that she would take the responsibility for what they were about to do.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Although the early patriarchs and their wives were great and righteous men and women who eventually were exalted and perfected (see </span><a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/132/37#37"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">D&C 132:37 </span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">), this fact does not mean that they were perfect in every respect while in mortality. If the story is correct as found in Genesis, Isaac may have been temporarily shortsighted in favoring Esau. Or Rebekah may have had insufficient faith in the Lord to let Him work His will and therefore undertook a plan of her own to ensure that the promised blessings would come to pass. These shortcomings do not lessen their later greatness and their eventual perfection.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. Whatever the explanation for the circumstances surrounding the reception of the blessing, one thing is perfectly clear. Priesthood holders are given the keys to bind </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and loose </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">on earth and have that action validated in heaven (see </span><a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/matt/16/19#19"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matthew 16:19 </span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">). Once Isaac learned of the deception, he could have revoked the blessing and given it to Esau. Instead, he told Esau, “Yea, and he shall be blessed” ( </span><a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/gen/27/33#33"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Genesis 27:33 </span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">). Later, when Jacob was preparing to leave for Padan-aram to escape Esau’s wrath, Isaac clearly gave him the blessing of Abraham (see </span><a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/gen/28/3-4#3"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Genesis 28:3–4 </span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">), an additional proof that Jacob received the blessing meant for him and that Isaac confirmed it upon him. Thus, if the Genesis record is correct as it now is, Jacob, like others, received a call and a promise of eventual blessings because of his potential and in spite of his weaknesses. Like anyone, he had then to live worthily in order to obtain the promised blessings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jacob is the Father of the House of Israel. The House of Israel from the beginning does not seem to be a obedient and temperate to the ways of the Gospel. After Reuben and Levi committed genocide, Jacob receive counsel of God to leave the land; however before they could leave, Jacob had to reprove his house, saying.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">were</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> with him, Put away the strange a</span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/ot/gen/35?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">gods</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">are</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> among you, and beb</span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/ot/gen/35?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">clean</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and change your garments:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 3 And let us arise, and go up to Beth-el; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my a</span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/ot/gen/35?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">distress</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and was with me in the way which I went.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 4 And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">were</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in their hand, and </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">all their</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> earrings which </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">were</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">was</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Shechem.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Joseph was basically the only obedient son. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught that all prophets are types of Christ: </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“A prophet is one who has the testimony of Jesus, who knows by the revelations of the Holy Ghost to his soul that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. In addition to this divine knowledge, many of them lived in special situations or did particular things that singled them out as types and patterns and shadows of that which was to be in the life of him who is our Lord.”</span><span style="background-color: white; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ( </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Promised Messiah, </span><span style="background-color: white; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">p. 448.)</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Likewise, the life and mission of Joseph typifies the life and mission of Jesus. Consider the following:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Joseph was the favored son of his father; so was Jesus (see </span><a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/gen/37/3#3"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000099; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Genesis 37:3 </span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; </span><a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/matt/3/17#17"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000099; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matthew 3:17</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Joseph was rejected by his brothers, the Israelites, as was Jesus (see </span><a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/gen/37/4#4"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000099; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Genesis 37:4 </span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; </span><a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/john/1/11#11"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000099; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John 1:11 </span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; </span><a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/isa/53/3#3"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000099; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Isaiah 53:3 </span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; </span><a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/1_ne/19/13-14#13"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000099; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 Nephi 19:13–14</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Joseph was sold by his brothers into the hands of the Gentiles, just as Jesus was (see </span><a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/gen/37/25-27#25"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000099; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Genesis 37:25–27 </span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; </span><a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/matt/20/19#19"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000099; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matthew 20:19</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Judah, the head of the tribe of Judah, proposed the sale of Joseph. Certain leaders of the Jews in Jesus’ day turned Jesus over to the Romans. Judas (the Greek spelling of </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Judah </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) was the one who actually sold Jesus. (See </span><a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/gen/37/26#26"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000099; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Genesis 37:26 </span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; </span><a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/matt/27/3#3"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000099; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matthew 27:3</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Joseph was sold for twenty pieces of silver, the price of a slave his age. Christ was sold for thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave His age. (See </span><a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/gen/37/28#28"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000099; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Genesis 37:28 </span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; </span><a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/matt/27/3#3"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000099; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matthew 27:3 </span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; </span><a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/ex/21/32#32"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000099; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Exodus 21:32 </span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; </span><a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/lev/27/5#5"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000099; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Leviticus 27:5</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> In their very attempt to destroy Joseph, his brothers actually set up the conditions that would bring about their eventual temporal salvation—that is, Joseph, by virtue of being sold, would become their deliverer. Jesus, by His being given into the hands of the Gentiles, was crucified and completed the atoning sacrifice, becoming the Deliverer for all mankind.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Joseph began his mission of preparing salvation for Israel at age thirty, just as Jesus began His ministry of preparing salvation for the world at age thirty (see </span><a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/gen/41/46#46"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000099; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Genesis 41:46 </span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; </span><a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/luke/3/23#23"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000099; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Luke 3:23</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> When Joseph was finally raised to his exalted position in Egypt, all bowed the knee to him. All will eventually bow the knee to Jesus. (See</span><a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/gen/41/43#43"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000099; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Genesis 41:43 </span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; </span><a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/88/104#104"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000099; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">D&C 88:104</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Joseph provided bread for Israel and saved them from death, all without cost. Jesus, the Bread of Life, did the same for all men. (See</span><a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/gen/42/35#35"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000099; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Genesis 42:35 </span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; </span><a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/john/6/48-57#48"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000099; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John 6:48–57 </span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">; </span><a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/2_ne/9/50#50"><span style="background-color: white; color: #000099; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 Nephi 9:50</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hope to see you all tomorrow! :)</span></div>
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</div>Alex Hickenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03207742547852726942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759791348811253975.post-15459301105243587822011-10-19T23:00:00.000-07:002011-10-19T22:32:41.170-07:00It's Institute Week!It's Institute week! Institute is a bible study, going on to it's sixth week. I summarized all the lessons so far. Check out the Institute page above, and you can chose to be caught up. I will keep the summaries coming each week, so you can make plans to come next week. If you can't make it tomorrow, I hope to see you there! :)<br />
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Institute is starts at seven pm on Thursdays!Alex Hickenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03207742547852726942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759791348811253975.post-87113512022773088082011-10-19T17:52:00.000-07:002011-10-19T17:52:26.037-07:00Week 3: The Fall<div style="direction: ltr;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Third lesson was done by Matt Muirhead. His lesson taught about the fall, covering many other things as well. His lesson taught very simply as if it was from the beginning. First addressing a view of the character of God. It seems to be overlooked, limiting it to a "starchy" angry person. Jehovah a God of the Old Testament is the spirit of Jesus Christ before he lived on Earth. God the Father is a different being from the Son. They are one and of perfect love. Perfect love is hard to understand; however, we can witness it as we learn of the character of God in the scriptures and try to emulate it now. The natural man cannot perceive the great glory of the identity of our Savior that is why Matt spoke of this weird stigma about the scriptures as they are confused, when they read the scriptures. Let us pray and humbly search the scriptures that we may not be ignorant to the life of the perfect beings of Christ and the Father.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> The notes that I take is not a summary of the class, so I will discuss what I learned. It was a basic lesson about the fall though. The Fall is the acts that plunged man into mortality with sin, death, pain, work, and everything. This could only happen by partaking of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Satan was the main force to propel the Plan of Salvation forward by partaking of this fruit.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> One thing that I learn, concerning the desire of Satan that I never realized before, was spelled out in Moses 4:6. "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">he sought also to </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">c</span></span></sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><a class="footnote" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/4?lang=eng&query=Destroy+earth#" id="footnote24" rel="/scriptures/chapter/footnote/default.xqy?volumeUri=pgp&bookUri=moses&chapterUri=4&noteID=6c&lang=eng" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">beguile</span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Eve, for he </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">d</span></span></sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><a class="footnote" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/4?lang=eng&query=Destroy+earth#" id="footnote25" rel="/scriptures/chapter/footnote/default.xqy?volumeUri=pgp&bookUri=moses&chapterUri=4&noteID=6d&lang=eng" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">knew</span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> not the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">e</span></span></sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><a class="footnote" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/4?lang=eng&query=Destroy+earth#" id="footnote26" rel="/scriptures/chapter/footnote/default.xqy?volumeUri=pgp&bookUri=moses&chapterUri=4&noteID=6e&lang=eng" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">mind</span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> of God, wherefore he sought to destroy the world." I wrote in the last summary that the world is necessary to the Plan of Salvation. The destruction thereof will also fulfill his will to destroy the Plan of Salvation. Other parts of Satan's will is the destruction of our agency as revealed in verse 3 of Moses 4. He wants to be able to control every person, leading them into carnal security until they forget faith and lose hope, "for </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">he seeketh that all men might be </span><sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">h</span></span></sup><a class="footnote" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/2?lang=eng&query=miserable+like+until+himself.#" id="footnote80" rel="/scriptures/chapter/footnote/default.xqy?volumeUri=bofm&bookUri=2-ne&chapterUri=2&noteID=27h&lang=eng" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">miserable</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> like unto himself." Ezra Taft Benson further describes the designs of Satan in his talk called <u>Beware of Pride</u>. "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The central feature <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7759791348811253975" id="LPHit47" name="LPHit47" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; z-index: 100;"></a>of <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7759791348811253975" id="LPHit48" name="LPHit48" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; z-index: 100;"></a>pride is enmity—enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen. Enmity means “hatred toward, hostility to, or a state <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7759791348811253975" id="LPHit49" name="LPHit49" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; z-index: 100;"></a>of opposition.” It is the power by which Satan wishes to reign over us." Speaking of Satan is odd because he is like an insane evil genius, who most of the time makes no sense. We have to make sure that we can recognize his insanity quickly before we are led to do foolish things.</span></span></div>Alex Hickenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03207742547852726942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759791348811253975.post-77370871406458806422011-10-19T17:49:00.000-07:002011-10-19T17:49:07.653-07:00Week 5: Abraham<br />
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<span id="internal-source-marker_0.4960774688515812" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The reading for the past lesson is a must to read, for it is Genesis 12-23. I enjoyed the reading, and the pure life that Abraham has; furthermore, the reading has the rare chance to read of a communion with God. Abraham's is an extraordinary person, and he shows how a prophet lives a perfect life with the grace of God. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A glue-in expounds from the writing of President </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Joseph Fielding</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Smith in the </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Doctrines of Salvation</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">"Salvation does not come all at once; we are commanded to be perfect even as our Father in heaven is perfect. It will take us ages to accomplish this end, for there will be greater progress beyond the grave, and it will be there that the faithful will overcome all things, and receive all things, even the fulness of the Father's glory. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">I believe the Lord meant just what he said: that we should be perfect, as our Father in heaven is perfect. That will not come all at once, but line upon line, and precept upon precept, example upon example, and even then not as long as we live in this mortal life, for we will have to go even beyond the grave before we reach that perfection and shall be like God.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">But here we lay the foundation. Here is where we are taught these simple truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ, in this probationary state, to prepare us for that perfection. It is our duty to be better today than we were yesterday, and better tomorrow than we are today. Why? Because we are on that road, if we are keeping the commandments of the Lord, we are on that road to perfection, and that can only come through obedience and the desire in our hearts to overcome the world."</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When I was reading of how Abraham received the commandment to sacrifice his only son, I saw a complete obedience to God. He did not question. The emotions of his soul was not written out; although, his reaction is usually written. I saw that his attitude was in the spirit of the commandment. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Elder Melvin J. Ballard wrote: “You remember the story of how Abraham’s son came after long years of waiting and was looked upon by his worthy sire, Abraham, as more precious than all his other possessions, yet, in the midst of his rejoicing, Abraham was told to take this only son and offer him as a sacrifice to the Lord. He responded. Can you feel what was in the heart of Abraham on that occasion? You love your son just as Abraham did, perhaps not quite so much, because of the peculiar circumstances, but what do you think was in his heart when he started away from Mother Sarah, and they bade her goodbye? What do you think was in his heart when he saw Isaac bidding farewell to his mother to take that three days’ journey to the appointed place where the sacrifice was to be made? I imagine it was about all Father Abraham could do to keep from showing his great grief and sorrow at that parting, but he and his son trudged along three days toward the appointed place, Isaac carrying the fagots that were to consume the sacrifice. The two travelers rested, finally, at the mountainside, and the men who had accompanied them were told to remain while Abraham and his son started up the hill.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">“The boy then said to his father: ‘Why, Father, we have the fagots; we have the fire to burn the sacrifice; but where is the sacrifice?’</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">“It must have pierced the heart of Father Abraham to hear the trusting and confiding son say: ‘You have forgotten the sacrifice.’ Looking at the youth, his son of promise, the poor father could only say: ‘The Lord will provide.’</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">“They ascended the mountain, gathered the stones together, and placed the fagots upon them. Then Isaac was bound, hand and foot, kneeling upon the altar. I presume Abraham, like a true father, must have given his son his farewell kiss, his blessing, his love, and his soul must have been drawn out in that hour of agony toward his son who was to die by the hand of his own father. Every step proceeded until the cold steel was drawn, and the hand raised that was to strike the blow to let out the life’s blood.” (“The Sacramental Covenant,” </span></span><em style="line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">New Era, </span></span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Jan. 1976, pp. 9–10.)</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Bear in mind that Abraham was saved from a similar fate instigated in wickedness by his own father. As with most people, Abraham must have abhorred human sacrifice. Why would the Lord require such a trial of his faith? What can be learned from the life of Abraham, who was faithful to the end?</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In the lesson Lisa Muirhead spoke of three great intelligences:</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">God Man Satan</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> D&C 10:5 2 Nephi 2:29</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Ephesians 6:10-13 Alma 34:15</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We can only bind ourselves to one of the two: God or Satan. God provides the way to happiness and truth, and Satan leads the way to misery and ignorance. </span></span></div>
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</span></div>Alex Hickenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03207742547852726942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759791348811253975.post-59958079837101822242011-10-19T17:46:00.000-07:002011-10-19T17:46:31.014-07:00Week 4: Learning of a few of the first Patriarchs<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In the fourth spoke of the first great patriarchs of mortality. Lisa did speak of many people including the following: Cain, Abel, Enoch, and Noah.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The story of Cain and Abel is a basic one. Lisa printed out a Glue-in that sets everything straight from the world's misunderstanding of the Gospel.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">The Pearl of Great Price supplies many answers. (See Moses 5:1-41, especially verses 16-38, along with the notes and commentary provided in this study guide.) For example, Adam and Eve taught the gospel of Jesus Christ to their family, including Cain and Abel. Cain held the Melchizedek Priesthood and had been taught proper sacrifice, which was the blood sacrifice of a firstling of the flock. Cain had a bad and arrogant attitude to begin with. Satan is the one who commanded Cain to offer sacrifice and encouraged him to mock God by offering a sacrifice of produce from his farm. Cain received repeated warnings from God, inviting him to do things right and receive the promised blessings. Cain rebelled against Adam and Eve and kept his evil doings from them. He surrounded himself with wicked peers, including a wicked wife. Satan taught Cain how to murder Abel. Cain gloried in his wickedness and murdered Abel in order to get his material possessions; thus, Cain was fully accountable for rebelling against God and making covenants with Satan. His punishment was completely fair according to the law of justice.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Enoch</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In the lesson Lisa reviewed the writing of Moses as he saw Enoch in vision, when he was translated, meaning to be changed to an immortal being without dying. His glorious Zion people lived 365 years in the Gospel; so well so, the entire community was taken up to live with God. Moses' words can be read concerning </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">t</span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">he scope of Satan’s triumph and the resultant sorrows of God </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">in chapter 7:29-40.</span><br />
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<span id="internal-source-marker_0.03938349918462336" style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">29 And Enoch said unto the Lord: How is it that thou canst </span></span></span></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/7.29-33?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">weep</span></span></span></span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">, seeing thou art holy, and from all eternity to all eternity?</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">30 And were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, millions of </span></span></span></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/7.29-33?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">earths</span></span></span></span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of thy </span></span></span></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/7.29-33?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">creations</span></span></span></span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">; and thy curtains are stretched out still; and yet thou art there, and thy b</span></span></span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 13px;"></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 13px;"><div style="background-color: transparent; display: inline !important; line-height: normal;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">osom is there; and also thou art just; thou art merciful and kind forever;</span></span></span></span></div>
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</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">31 And thou hast taken </span></span></span></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/7.29-33?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Zion</span></span></span></span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> to thine own bosom, from all thy creations, from all eternity to all eternity; and naught but peace, </span></span></span></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/7.29-33?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">justice</span></span></span></span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">, and truth is the habitation of thy throne; and mercy shall go before thy face and have no end; how is it thou canst </span></span></span></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/7.29-33?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">weep</span></span></span></span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">?</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">32 The Lord said unto Enoch: Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own </span></span></span></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/7.29-33?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">hands</span></span></span></span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">, and I gave unto them their </span></span></span></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/7.29-33?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">knowledge</span></span></span></span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his </span></span></span></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/7.29-33?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">agency</span></span></span></span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">;</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">33 And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should </span></span></span></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/7.29-33?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">love</span></span></span></span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> one another, and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are without affection, and they </span></span></span></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/7.29-33?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">hate</span></span></span></span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> their own blood;</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">34 And the a</span></span></span></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/7.29-33?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">fire</span></span></span></span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> of mine </span></span></span></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/7.29-33?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">indignation</span></span></span></span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> is kindled against them; and in my hot displeasure will I send in the </span></span></span></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/7.29-33?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">floods</span></span></span></span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> upon them, for my fierce anger is kindled against them.</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">35 Behold, I am God; </span></span></span></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/7.29-33?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Man</span></span></span></span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> of Holiness is my name; Man of Counsel is my name; and Endless and Eternal is my </span></span></span></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/7.29-33?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">name</span></span></span></span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">, also.</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">36 Wherefore, I can stretch forth mine hands and hold all the </span></span></span></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/7.29-33?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">creations</span></span></span></span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> which I have made; and mine eye can pierce them also, and among all the workmanship of mine hands there has not been so great </span></span></span></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/7.29-33?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">wickedness</span></span></span></span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> as among thy brethren.</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">37 But behold, their sins shall be upon the heads of their fathers; Satan shall be their father, and misery shall be their doom; and the whole heavens shall weep over them, even all the workmanship of mine hands; wherefore should not the heavens weep, seeing these shall suffer?</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">38 But behold, these which thine eyes are upon shall perish in the floods; and behold, I will shut them up; a </span></span></span></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/7.29-33?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">prison</span></span></span></span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> have I prepared for them.</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">39 And </span></span></span></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/7.29-33?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">that</span></span></span></span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> which I have chosen hath pled before my face. Wherefore, he </span></span></span></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/7.29-33?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">suffereth</span></span></span></span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> for their sins; inasmuch as they will repent in the day that my </span></span></span></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/7.29-33?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Chosen</span></span></span></span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> shall return unto me, and until that day they shall be in </span></span></span></span><a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/7.29-33?lang=eng#"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">torment</span></span></span></span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">;</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">40 Wherefore, for this shall the heavens weep, yea, and all the workmanship of mine hands.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Noah</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Methuselah was the prophet left after Enoch's Zion people of God were taken up, and Noah was his son. They taught the gospel to the world for many decades, mainly being the only people that would receive it. Noah was a "perfect man," and I am humble to see how his sons, Ham, Shem, and Japheth did not fall into the ways of the world. Noah must must have been a great father.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">A glue-in, quoting from the book </span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">The Old Testament Made Easier</span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> by David J. Ridges, says on page 198.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">"One of the important messages we learn form the account of Noah and the ark is the value of faith obedience. For example, securing a year's supply of emergency food storage, as commanded by the Lord through our modern prophets, may be difficult during times of plenty because the need is not constantly pressed upon our minds by current circumstances. Therefore, it requires faith obedience to gather food storage. Elder Spencer W. Kimball spoke of Noah and this principle. He taught:</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">"Paul, speaking to the Hebrews, said:</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">By faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house...</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(Hebrews 11:7).</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">"As yet there was no evidence of rain and flood. His people mocked and called him a fool. His preaching fell on deaf ears. His warnings were considered irrational. There was no precedent; never had it been known that a deluge could cover the earth. How foolish to build an ark on dry ground with the sun shining and life moving forward as usual! But time ran out. The ark was finished. The floods came. The disobedient and rebellious were drowned. The miracle of the ark followed the faith manifested in its building" (Faith Precedes the Miracle, 5)"</span></span></span></span></div>
</b>Alex Hickenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03207742547852726942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759791348811253975.post-35579051947965088442011-10-19T07:20:00.000-07:002011-10-19T07:20:14.294-07:00The Creation<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The reading in preparation for the second class was the first few chapters of Genesis. This lesson went over the creation and the creation of Adam and Eve; furthermore, agency, the right and ability to choose, was discussed.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The creation of an Earth for Man to abide on is crucial for our life. Adam and the Lord were mostly known to be involved in the creation of the earth; otherthan, the verse in the writing of Abraham in Chapter three of his book number 22 says: "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">a</span></span></sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><a class="footnote" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/abr/3?lang=eng#" id="footnote26" rel="/scriptures/chapter/footnote/default.xqy?volumeUri=pgp&bookUri=abr&chapterUri=3&noteID=22a&lang=eng" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">intelligences</span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">b</span></span></sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><a class="footnote" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/abr/3?lang=eng#" id="footnote27" rel="/scriptures/chapter/footnote/default.xqy?volumeUri=pgp&bookUri=abr&chapterUri=3&noteID=22b&lang=eng" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">noble</span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and great ones;"</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A glue-in given to us quotes from the writing of Bruce R. McConkie, concerning the Creation of the Earth and Adam.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">We know that Jehovah-Christ, assisted by “many noble and great ones” (Abr. 3:22), of whom Michael is but the illustration, did in fact create the earth and all forms of plant and animal life on the face thereof. But when it came to placing man on earth, there was a change in creators. That is, the Father himself became personally involved. All things were created by the Son, using the power delegated by the Father, except man. In the spirit and again in the flesh, man was created by the Father. There was no delegation of authority where the crowning creature of creation was concerned. (Promised Messiah, p. 62)</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">With Fathers personal involvement in creating his beloved child to have a mortal body, he modeled the creation of Adam after his spirit's imagine. Our tangible body is how we have always looked in the spirit world when we were raised in the presence of God the Father before mortality. Doctrine and Covenants 77:2 references to this truth, being explained to us by Christ himself in an inquiry about parts of Revelation of John.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Earth was originally created without the opposition in the world of hot and cold; barren and fruitful; and decay and preservation. Only perfection existed; however, I see a couple things that existed as opposites as the following: the voice of Satan and the light of Christ, and the Tree of Life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Only with opposition can we learn and be able to chose. Adam and Eve had one chose; although, he chose the names of all the animals and his wife. On way I understand how the mind works is that "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">man could not </span><sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">b</span></span></sup><a class="footnote" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/2?lang=eng#" id="footnote44" rel="/scriptures/chapter/footnote/default.xqy?volumeUri=bofm&bookUri=2-ne&chapterUri=2&noteID=16b&lang=eng" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">act</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> for himself save it should be that he was </span><sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">c</span></span></sup><a class="footnote" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/2?lang=eng#" id="footnote45" rel="/scriptures/chapter/footnote/default.xqy?volumeUri=bofm&bookUri=2-ne&chapterUri=2&noteID=16c&lang=eng" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">enticed</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> by the one or the other." 2 Nephi 2:16 There are only two sources of enticing from God and Satan. We can simply recognize the source and whether it is good and bad. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px;">Before I move on to the second topic of the creation of Adam and Eve, Lisa Muirhead shared a children's book with the class called <u>Finding the Green Stone</u> by Alice Walker. </span><br />
<a href="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTbjPiYkUwCR_Uix6do0pN7nSR_6SIu3SY_uxysncO7pLCqU3Hr" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTbjPiYkUwCR_Uix6do0pN7nSR_6SIu3SY_uxysncO7pLCqU3Hr" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px;">Its about a world, which has humanity blessed with a great gift. This gift is a green stone. The green stone is shines according to the light of one's righteous choices. The main character is a boy that lost his green stone because he was unrighteous, lacking the understanding that the lose of one's green stone represents his character. The boy cared to have the stone though, searching diligently for it, for it was a cherish item of his community. The community even helped as most of the community knew that he can obtain the stone and the light thereof, if he changes his unrighteous character to embrace integrity. Not until the child learned of his errors did he find his stone, and the entire community rejoiced in his revelation.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After the creation of man, the father said "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And I, the Lord God, said unto mine </span><sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">a</span></span></sup><a class="footnote" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/3?lang=eng#" id="footnote37" rel="/scriptures/chapter/footnote/default.xqy?volumeUri=pgp&bookUri=moses&chapterUri=3&noteID=18a&lang=eng" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Only Begotten</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, that it was not good that the man should be </span><sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">b</span></span></sup><a class="footnote" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/3?lang=eng#" id="footnote38" rel="/scriptures/chapter/footnote/default.xqy?volumeUri=pgp&bookUri=moses&chapterUri=3&noteID=18b&lang=eng" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">alone</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">; wherefore, I will make an </span><sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">c</span></span></sup><a class="footnote" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/3?lang=eng#" id="footnote39" rel="/scriptures/chapter/footnote/default.xqy?volumeUri=pgp&bookUri=moses&chapterUri=3&noteID=18c&lang=eng" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">help</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> meet for him." I will conclude with two final glue-ins. They speak of 'an help meet for Adam,' and the relationship he had with Eve.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">The distinction between "help meet" and "helpmeet" (or "help-mate," as it is sometimes referred to) is crucial to proper understanding of the roles of husband and wife. "Helpmeet" means "</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">helper" or "assistant" and is often interpolated to mean "of lesser status." "Help meet" means "help that is vital for him." "Meet" means "necessary," "vital," "required." (see D&C 58:26)</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">second one</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Thus, God created a vital help for Adam, a companion of equal status to work with him and he with her. The equality of husband and wife is clearly taught in the Proclamation on the Family. The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve stated (</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">bold</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> added for emphasis):</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities,</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> fathers and mothers are obligated</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> to help one another as </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">equal partners.</span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">President Howard W. Hunter taught the following about the proper relationship between husband and wife </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">bold</span></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">added for emphasis):</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">"A man who holds the priesthood accepts his wife as a partner in the leadership of the home and family with full knowledge of and full participation in all decisions relating thereto... </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">The Lord intended that the wife be a helpmeet for man </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(</span></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><em style="line-height: 1.22em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">meet </span></span></b></em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">means equal)</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">—that is, </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">a companion equal and necessary in full partnership." </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">("Being a Righteous Husband and Father")</span></span></span>Alex Hickenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03207742547852726942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759791348811253975.post-27093206584310384912011-10-18T07:26:00.000-07:002011-10-18T07:26:14.249-07:00First Class<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The first class of institute was foundational, setting the environment, which</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I feel</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> is pretty fast pace. You will be given a notebook, which you may not even need to carry with you. Lisa will keep it for you. She provides everything.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The founding doctrines of Institute this year was the discussion of how we can have knowledge of the Plan of Salvation bless our lives. "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">a</span></span></sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><a class="footnote" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/93.29-32?lang=eng#" id="footnote43" rel="/scriptures/chapter/footnote/default.xqy?volumeUri=dc-testament&bookUri=dc&chapterUri=93&noteID=24a&lang=eng" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #2288bb; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Truth</span></span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> is </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><sup class="studyNoteMarker" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">b</span></span></sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><a class="footnote" href="http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/93.29-32?lang=eng#" id="footnote44" rel="/scriptures/chapter/footnote/default.xqy?volumeUri=dc-testament&bookUri=dc&chapterUri=93&noteID=24b&lang=eng" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #2288bb; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">knowledge</span></span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come;" (D&C 93:24) How does this knowledge bless us, and how can have more blesses for exercising faith more fully in the fullness of the restored Gospel. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The knowledge of God, the Atonement, and the Plan of Salvation is an anchor to the souls, for the world is a tempest. If we get relaxed in keeping the commandments, the tides and winds can carry us to forbidden places. We can know who we are, why we are here, where we are from and going. Elder Neal A. Maxwell said in the Ensign of </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 11px; text-transform: uppercase;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://lds.org/ensign/1984/05?lang=eng" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #2288bb; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">MAY 1984</span></span></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">:</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So much more than a matter of abstract theology, this great plan can focus daily life. Its truths are crucial to how we see ourselves, others, life, the Lord, and even the universe. Or how we view a baby. Or death. Or the praise and honors of the world. This plan constitutes the mother lode of meaning and can cradle us, conceptually, amid any concern. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Plan of Mercy Plan of Happiness Plan of Redemption</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Alma 42:15 Alma 42:8,16 2 Nephi 9:6-13</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">2 Nephi 11:5 Alma 34:8-16</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“We mortals have a limited view of life from the eternal perspective. But if we know and understand Heavenly Father’s plan, we realize that dealing with adversity is one of the chief ways we are tested. Our faith in our Heavenly Father and his beloved Son, Jesus Christ, is the source of inner strength. Through faith we can find peace, comfort, and the courage to endure. As we trust in God and his plan for our happiness with all our hearts and lean not unto our own understanding (see Prov. 3:5), hope is born. Hope grows out of faith and gives meaning and purpose to all we do. It can give us comfort in the face of adversity, strength in times of trial, and peace when we have reason for doubt or anguish.” M. Russell Ballard, Ensign, May 1995, 22</span></span></span></span></div>
</span>Alex Hickenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03207742547852726942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759791348811253975.post-48545594569494028892011-10-17T08:35:00.000-07:002011-10-17T08:37:18.389-07:00Welcome to Institute!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This week on the Ocean YSA Branch Weekly is dedicated to catching you up on the first few weeks of Institute. Our new teacher Lisa Muirhead is a wonderful teacher, and everyone ought to come. She is a great servant of God too busy to address us, but Lisa has delegated me to address the Santa Cruz area of California, concerning what Institute is.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This year Institute is a bible study, covering the Old Testament. Since General Conference, the second scripture mastery versus of the Book of Mormon that I memorized helps us understand the points that Sister Muirhead. The versus is 1 Nephi 19:23.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">"And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning."</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This versus tells us exactly what we are doing in the class. We are reading many things from the Books of Moses, dissecting the word of God to understand the real restored truths revealed to us by our modern prophets.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We will be reading from Isaiah; however, the main purpose is to "liken the scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning." Since the beginning, this goal has directly been address. Lisa applies the word of God to us as a great source of strength that all the young single adult saints need. I will write a brief summary of each class up until this week, so you may catch up and join us this coming Thursday at 7 pm at the Stake Center.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"I ask you to make Institute a priority." - Thomas S. Monson</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span>Alex Hickenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03207742547852726942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759791348811253975.post-60927288355019081852011-10-08T22:58:00.000-07:002011-10-11T07:04:34.002-07:00Reflection on General ConferenceHow has General Conference affected you?<br />
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Please add your comments to this post.<br />
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I reviewed the first talk of General Conference, committing me to memorize the scriptures. I have committed to memorize a scripture a week, coming from the scripture mastery. I see what Elder Scott taught in my life. Nephi is my friend now, a great example. Memorizing 1 Nephi 3:7, I see his great maturity to have a powerful testimony, a bold personality, and a habit to bear his testimony in his speech. My personal definition of faith is the boldness that we do the commandments of God, and Nephi is a great friend encouraging me to follow the spirit, having the faith that I can accomplish what I am prompted to do.<br />
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The branch members don't seem so understand that I would like to see how General Conference affected to members. You can email a paragraph or so to me on how the event of this past conference, if you want. My email address is alexnhicken@gmail.com. If you do so, I will post it in this entry. I gave an example. This newsletter is not about me. Its about you and the work of God in the Santa Cruz Stake for the YSA. Have a good week.<br />
<br />Alex Hickenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03207742547852726942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759791348811253975.post-55661857596781129982011-10-06T14:57:00.000-07:002011-10-06T15:02:49.364-07:00Getting Ready For This Month's Book ClubIn book club for this month, we are reading <u>Icecore: A Carl Hobbes Thriller</u> by Matt Whyman. <br />
<a href="http://d28hgpri8am2if.cloudfront.net/book_images/cvr9781416949077_9781416949077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kca="true" src="http://d28hgpri8am2if.cloudfront.net/book_images/cvr9781416949077_9781416949077.jpg" /></a><br />
Here is a description of the book:<br />
Carl is a seventeen-year-old British computer hacker who penetrated the security systems at Fort Knox for a laugh, but the American government was less than amused. Since his prank, gold bars have been landing in the hands of terrorists across the globe.<br />
Now he finds himself in a military prison deep in the Arctic and far off the grid. He is caged alongside the world's most notorious terrorists with no one to trust and no end in sight.<br />
Carl Hobbes may not be a criminal mastermind, but if he wants to escape this subzero prison with his life, he'll have to start thinking like one.<br />
Still not sure if you want to read the book? <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=E764HjhVZikC&printsec=frontcover&dq=ice+core+book&hl=en&ei=xwyOTpa4I-uAsgLWk7mIAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false">Check out the first chapter here.</a><br />
We have October 26th set as the date of the next meeting, all other information regarding the place and time of book club will come soon so please check back for more information. Remember all ladies are welcome to come and join in the festivities so invite friends!<br />
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“We read to know we are not alone.” - C.S. LewisAlex Hickenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03207742547852726942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7759791348811253975.post-1833118274324991872011-09-29T23:28:00.000-07:002011-09-29T23:28:57.343-07:00Let Us Prepare for this General Conference Weekend in the Greatest Humility that We Can Summon<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; white-space: normal;"></span></span></span><br />
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<span id="internal-source-marker_0.21718842186965048" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This weekend is going to be tremendous; however, it will only impact you according to your faith. This article offers two perspectives of encouragement; one from the Relief Society Presidency and one from the Elder's Quorum Presidency. The reason that this weekend is tremendous is because it is General Conference! I pray for a glorious weekend of revelation unto a greater life. This is the reason for this article. </span></div>
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<span id="internal-source-marker_0.21718842186965048" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span id="internal-source-marker_0.21718842186965048" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are the words of our Relief Society President Anya Salden.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Preparing for General Conference</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the effort to help everyone become excited about General Conference this weekend, I've come up with a few suggestions to take into consideration while preparing yourselves for such an awesome occasion! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">First, read the First Presidency message for the month of September. Elder Uctdorf has some really good advice on preparing for General Conference. However, I would add an emphasis on writing your questions or concerns down. For me, just thinking of a question is not enough. Writing it down makes the answers more tangible when they come. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Second, attention activities. If you are anything like me, it took a good game of conference bingo to get me to really pay attention to the things being said at General Conference. (If you need directions on how to play or want someone to compete with, let me know!) You can also look online at The Friend website to find other attention activities, such as coloring pages and matching games. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lastly, watch/listen to conference in an environment that is conducive to feeling the Spirit. If that is not possible over this upcoming weekend, don't stress. As long as you take advantage of modern technology and make it happen as soon as you are able, your questions will still be answered. The Lord knows what we need to hear and when. The question is, are you listening? So here's wishing you an upcoming weekend of happy listening!!"</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Receiving the word of God with great faith can be hard. It takes great humility to let an event as a conference have a sustained influence on our lives. The people that will be addressing us are endowed with power from on high. They are mighty in Spirit and good works. Let us receive their example of obedience unto ourselves. It is such a great blessing to have Prophets and Apostles, seeking to increase the faith of Christ in all the world. We ought to be seeking after the works of these disciples. I am grateful for the suggestions of Anya. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A singular charge that I have for you is to seek the goal to live in the present. The past is done. Lets learn from it and live our best today. Let the word of God this weekend change your life. Follow the counsel of these servants, setting the revelation that you receive to discipline yourself in the way of greater obedience. Set goals, and apply the word in our lives. Set them in how you will continue to sustain a life of receiving the words of our latter-day prophets. Study the conference addresses in realistic achievable goals over the next six months.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I plan to read a talk a week. I have never read the general conference talks regularly. Each person is different, and we need to let this be personal. God loves us beyond the imaginations of any man. Let us set appropriate goals to set ourselves to where God sees that we have a potential to be. Be realistic. Come to know yourself. Seek to know how God knows you and your election. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thomas S. Monson is today's prophet of God of the same stature of Joseph Smith, Abraham, Enoch, and all the former prophets. God has given him words to give specifically for us at this time to prepare for the eternities. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">We write these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen</span></span></div>
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</span>Alex Hickenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03207742547852726942noreply@blogger.com0