Finding the Truth of a Prophet of God

Growing up I always knew the church was true, and I did my best to follow the commandments to the best of my abilities. I never really questioned my beliefs, but I remember a time in primary where I had a harder time believing that Joseph Smith prayed and saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. The thoughts of doubt came in spurts. I would ponder about it and then I would forget that I had any doubt about the First Vision at all. By the time I was on my mission, I remembered back in primary where I thought that Joseph Smith seeing God was a little silly and the doubts I once had slowly came back into my heart.

I wrote to my family about my feelings and I received letters back from my parents and my grandpa about their thoughts on the subject. I found out that my grandpa went through the same experience. I thought that this was crazy because he has such a strong testimony and great love for the church. When I read his letter, I remember feeling the spirit and knowing what he had wrote was the truth. It was correct information and I knew that Joseph Smith really was visited by our loving Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ. I remember praying and acting on Moroni’s challenge and promise he states in Moroni 10:3-5: “Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath bee unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things and ponder in your hearts. And when ye shall receive these things I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, He will manifest the truth unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.”

I looked for the truth of Joseph Smith, and by pondering and looking for help from my family and from Heavenly Father by the power of the Holy Ghost I found what I was looking for. I was sincerely looking for the truth of Joseph Smith. I wanted to know for myself that he was a true prophet of God, and through the Holy Ghost, I found that he was a prophet.

Life Without Light

One Sunday morning, some young men were getting the sacrament ready. While they were finishing up, they realized that they had forgotten to bring the bread. Embarrassed, one of the young men silently approached the bishop of the ward and told him the situation (By this point, Sacrament Meeting had already started). As the young man went back to his seat at the sacrament table, the bishop made his way to the pulpit and explained what had happened to the whole ward.

            He then asked the congregation, “How would it be if the sacrament table were empty today because there were no atonement" (The Infinite Atonement pg. 57)?

            Would there be any bread if Christ could not go through with the crucifixion? Would there be any water if He would not shed His blood for the sins of the world? No, there would not.

            What would there be if there were not an atonement? Tad R. Callister, the General Sunday School President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, lists five things that would happen if there were not an atonement:

1)      There would not be a resurrection.

2)      Our spirits would become subject to the devil

3)      We would be “shut out from the presence of our God”.

4)      We would “endure a never-ending torment”

5)      We would be without hope.

Could you imagine a life where you will not be able to see your Heavenly Father again? you would feel loss, pain, hate, and mistakes. All your heartaches will linger. No wound given to you would ever heal. The world you would live in would just drift farther away from love, peace, and Heavenly Father.

Alma the Younger, a prophet from the Book of Mormon, personally experienced that feeling. He was doubtful and angry with Christ and His gospel. The Book of Mormon explains, “… One of the sons of Alma was numbered among the unbelievers, he being called Alma, after his father; nevertheless, he became a very wicked and idolatrous man.” In this stage of his life, he had made it his goal, along with the sons of Mosiah, to destroy the church of God. He convinced others to leave the church and “gave a chance for the enemy of God to exercise his power over them” (The Book of Mormon pg. 199).

That was just to show how much evil and doubt there was in Alma’s heart at that time.

A while later as he was continuing to try and destroy the church of God when an angel had met up with him and the Sons of Mosiah. And the angel spoke to them as if the angel's voice was a voice of thunder, and it caused the earth to shake. They fell to the earth because the shaking was so tremendous, and with all that going on, they could also not understand what the angel was trying to tell them. Then, because of the amazement of that experience, Alma could not speak. He was so weak, that he could not open his mouth, and could not get up from the ground.

After two days and two nights of fasting and praying from his friends and family had passed, Alma finally could walk and talk again. He became a changed man! He said this: “After (going) through much tribulation, repenting nigh unto death, … (He) snatched me out of an everlasting burning, the gall of bitterness, bonds of iniquity, (and) the darkest abyss, … (because) my soul was racked with eternal torment” (The Book of Mormon pg. 201). 
He had rejected the Lord Jesus Christ and found his way back to Him because of the atonement. What if that were not possible? He would be stuck feeling like that for eternity. You would be feeling like that for eternity.

You have the atonement in your lives. you are able to feel as Alma did after they had found God and repented of their rebelliousness. you can always reach the goal to have Christ in your lives so that you can feel His love. God loves you so much that He gave you His beloved son, Jesus Christ. Be grateful. Do all you can to show your appreciation for the gift of everlasting life with Him. Because Christ gave His life for you, you are able to live again, you are not subject to the devil, you are not shut out of God’s presence, you can have everlasting peace, and we do have hope.

My favorite scripture in the Book of Mormon is written by one of the Sons of Mosiah. Ammon says, in Alma 26:35; “Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for He hath all power, all wisdom, all understanding; He comprehendeth all things, and He is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe in His name” (The Book of Mormon pg. 275).

 The atonement is real. It is here for you. So that you can live with your Heavenly parents, family, friends, and everyone you love for eternity. So that you can experience true joy.

I promise that you are able to do whatever it takes to use the atonement. It is hard, I know it has been for me. But it is worth it. God is waiting for you. He loves you. He always will.

            Tad R. Callister, The Infinite Atonement, 2000, Salt Lake City, UT, Deseret Book Company, N/A, Pg. 57-58.

              Translated by Joseph Smith, The Book of Mormon, 1981, Salt Lake City, UT, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Pg. 199-202.

     LDS Media Library, The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints, https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2015-12-1000-why-we-need-a-savior--a-christmas-message-about-our-savior-jesus-christ-asaviorisborn?lang=eng, December 12, 2017.

Religious Freedom and Discrimination

         Inspiration for Elevation

        Today, it seems like there is a rise in discrimination against different groups and cliques of people. I want to focus with religious discrimination and how we may help lower discrimination against each other. I would like to focus my efforts on the younger generations of people, because they are the future. They are the people that need to change so that we can be able to have a more peaceful and brighter future for the human race.

The First Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” (“The First Amendment”) This means that religious discrimination should not be used in any situation including school and work. Could religions be experiencing more discrimination than they have in the past? People feel as if they have been discriminated at school and work because of what they believe in. This happens because of different beliefs, culture, and opinions. They sometimes contradict each other and force hatred and confusion to be brought up. How could we help prevent this discrimination from spreading? One way that could prevent discrimination from spreading is to gather all faiths together and discuss and clear up what we all believe. On Facebook we are able to gather many people together and discuss many things. So, Facebook groups could help promote these discussions and help each other understand one another. Creating a survey about how people personally feel about religious discrimination and showing the results in a public place such as Facebook could help give a realization to the general public of how we need to become less discriminating could help as well.

            The United States of America allows the people to have the right to believe whatever religion they choose, through the First Amendment. This means that people should be able to practice their religion in any environment. Two places that have been controversial with how and if religion should be practiced are in the school and work place.

            In the article, “Parents say La. Public School Discriminated against Buddhist Student,” written by Americans United for Separation of Church and State, it gives an example of how people can be discriminated at school: The son of Sharon and Scott Lane, who are Buddhist, complained about having religious discrimination at school because of his Non-Christian background. Their son was marked down on test scores, called “stupid”, and was given tests about Christianity for his grade. The Lanes tried to negotiate with the school, but they responded by telling the Lanes that they are on the “Bible Belt” and that they should look for a school with more students that fit in with him. With that response, the Lanes took the school to court, and won. Because of the choices the school made, the consequences given to them were to stop using religious teachings in school, stop discriminating against other peoples beliefs, getting rid of religious books in the school curriculum, and to stop sharing personal beliefs to the students. We can see that there can be intense situations in school where people can become religiously discriminated. This needs to stop so that everyone came feel welcome and safe no matter where they are.

            The consequences given to the school was a good example of what should have been done before the situation became a problem. The problem was that school leaders and other students were going against another person and bringing up religion in a government sponsored institution. We should help make everyone feel welcome, no matter their background. It is okay that we share our beliefs in the right manor and environment, but to share it to bring someone down is not how it should be done.

            In another article called, “Abercrombie Religious Discrimination Case Less Than Cool For Supreme Court, Sikh Americans” written by Gurjot Kaur, explains how religious discrimination is happening in the work place. Samantha Elauf, a Sikh, applied for a job at Abercrombie and Fitch but was not hired because she wears a hijab. Although Abercrombie and Fitch have a “no headwear policy” (Kaur), Samantha had collaborated with a current employee and friend about wearing a hijab to the interview and was told it would not be a problem.  She had no idea of the rule when she walked into her interview. Kaur compares this problem with another situation that happened in 2008. Another “Sikh Applicant” (Kaur), who applied for a car dealership, was denied because he had a beard for religious purposes. Later the car dealership made a policy of allowing beards for religious purposes. This is how we should be taking these situations at work places. We should not deny people to work because of things that they religiously believe. What difference does it make that people will wear a hijab at a clothing store or another person having a beard at a car dealership? Companies and businesses would not have these problems if they would allow peoples religious beliefs not be something that would stand in the way of a person being jobless or not.

            On the other hand, there are things that are rising up that dismiss the idea of why we should not care about religious discrimination. One big one is that people are starting to dismiss the idea of religion. The writer of the website “A Good Life without Religion” writes about how things would be better if religion was not involved in our lives. In the introduction to the website it says, “… you're fed up with the way that religion is creeping into all aspects of public life – into politics, education (faith schools, for example), welfare services, and so on.” (Suffolk Humanists and Secularists) People are getting sick of how religion is getting pushed into all areas of our lives. They feel as if everything will become better if we all came together and believed that there is no God. If this were to happen, we would not have as many problems in schools or at work.

            Though the idea of no religion may attract to some people, it is unrealistic at this time. So how could we help religious discrimination come to an end? One way that could help is to make people aware of the situation. One way to do that is on social media, especially on Facebook. A survey of could be made of how people feel about religious discrimination and share the results on Facebook so people can become more aware of religious discrimination.

With Facebook, people can come together easier and make a group so that they would be able to receive news feed and information about different religions so that people can become more connected and understanding about each other. To allow people to be updated on how the world needs to change to let everyone come together. As well as to share each other’s beliefs so that discrimination on false accusations on different beliefs will be understood. To inform others of these things will help stop confusion and ridicule of different religions because they will be able to understand more of each other. Another way is to set up a survey people can take to let each other know how we feel about religious discrimination. People do not like being falsely accused and bullied of their beliefs and religion. If the survey’s statistics were to be shared, people will be able to know that all people want to be treated equally even though we are all different. I will count the efforts successful by how much involvement people have in the group on Facebook. People will get involved by asking and answering questions about each other’s faiths, commenting on quotes, and sharing them on their “Walls”.

            In conclusion, people are being discriminated because of their religious beliefs. This kind of discrimination is happening everywhere, such as: school and work. Because of the culture we live in, the opinions we have, and contradicting beliefs that exist; we look down on each other. We need to help stop others from allowing religious discrimination to spread. This is possible if we are able to help understand each other. We can do this by sharing how we feel and sharing our beliefs on a community social media site and doing a survey on religious discrimination. By doing this, it would stop court cases and hatred for one another.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Works Cited

“First Amendment”. Legal Information Institute. Cornell University Law School, n.d. Web. 29

March 2015.

“Hello”. A Good Life without Religion. Suffolk Humanists and Secularists, 2010.Web. 29 March                     2015.

Kaur, Gurjot. “Abercrombie Religious Discrimination Case Less Than Cool for Supreme Court,

Skih Americans”. Huffington Post. N.p. 2 March 2015. Web. 13 March 2015

“Parents say LA. Public School Discriminated Against Buddhist Student”. Church and State.

Americans United For Separation of Church and State, April 2014. Web. 29 March 2015.   “Religious Discrimination.” U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. n.p., n.d.       

             Web. 12 March 2015

The Importance of a Paradigm Shift

            Is it important to change our perspective on the world to understand how others see it? Stephen R. Covey, the author of “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, has a sub-section in his book that explains the “power of paradigms”. A paradigm, “is how we ‘see’ the world - not in terms of our visual sense of sight, but in terms of perceiving, understanding, (and) interpreting” (31). Covey effectively uses personal experiences and other examples to appeal to the audience of those that want to improve themselves to become more interdependent such as parents, business owners, or those trying to lose weight. He does this by appealing to us with emotion, credibility, and logic in order to inform us about how to change the way we see the world around us for the better.

            During the time Covey expands on the power of a paradigm, he uses a well written personal experience he had many times during his life. It starts out in his class at Harvard University, when the teacher gave two pictures of two different women to each side of the class. The teacher then showed a picture that looked like both of the pictures. The class had to explain to each other their view of the picture, which caused an argument. Eventually, the classmates showed each other their paradigms of the picture, and the conflict was resolved.

This affects us emotionally because this experience gives us the opportunity to see how we, and those around us, feel about different points of view. People have these kinds of experiences all the time. Certain things come up, and people will have different opinions of what should be done and how things should be. When the students were debating if the picture was an old woman or a young woman, there were indifferent feelings towards each side of the class. Maybe anger, frustration, and irritation. How many times in history has the conflict of blindness of each other’s paradigms caused conflict in the world? Misunderstood points of views have started wars and broken relationships.

Once people understand one another’s paradigm, things can become so much better. Just like the students at Harvard, they eventually took the time to explain and show how each side of the class was right. It made them feel less frustrated. They could feel more accepting to the other’s view points. Anyone can relate to this story emotionally. Everyday people will go through experiences where two opinions will conflict with each other. They will just need to decide to either take no effort to see where the other is coming from or to try to see each other’s paradigm.

              Covey explains that a “map” (31) is our paradigm. It is the way we perceive what is going on around us. He uses an example of having a map of Chicago. Using this example he says, “Suppose you wanted to arrive at a specific location in central Chicago” (31). He explains that having a map of Chicago would be of great use to getting to that specific place.  But, if you had a map that was not of Chicago and you were trying to get to that place, it would not be effective.

            If someone were to try and improve different attributes such as their “behavior” (31) or “attitude” (31). Without the right tools and maps, they would not be able to improve their attributes. Covey explains, “… You’d be lost. The fundamental problem has nothing to do with your behavior or your attitude. It has everything to do with having the wrong map” (31). Through these examples of having maps, Covey explains the logic of the power of paradigms.

            This is another experience we all face. We all want to improve ourselves, but we sometimes do not want to use the tools given to us to achieve what is wanted. This example explains what is needed before we are able to use our paradigms and help others see what we believe and see in the world. We all need preparation to understand what we perceive in the world. As we continue to find the correct map for our lives, it prepares us to encounter other peoples’ maps.  

            With all this insight, Covey relates to explain the power of paradigms. He does not expand on factual evidence. The only times he uses such things is when he explains the definition of a paradigm.

            Stephen R. Covey uses pathos and logos strongly to explain the power of paradigms, but he chooses to not use ethos too much. He chooses to uses a personal experience and other examples of how paradigms are important and how influential they are in our lives to help us understand how to become interdependent.

Works Cited

Covey, Stephen R.. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective people. New York: Simon & Schuster,

1989, 2004. Print.

"Be The Change"

After moving in 2009, I had the worst attitude about everything. I left my home in beautiful green Washington to the dry desolate wasteland of Utah. I went day by day wishing I were back home. Then, I was recommended to go to an activity called, “Be the Change,” in my high school. “Be the Change” was taken from a quote from Gandhi, “Be the change you want to see in the world”. (Edburg) We discussed how people have different situations and believe in different things. We helped each other understand one another and figured out how to personally have a positive effect on the world. Ever since that time, I have been trying to make a more influential change in the world.

            “Be the Change” opened my eyes to thinking of others rather than just myself. I remember one person there. I don’t remember her name, but her beliefs were different than those of the majority. She said that she felt alone and judged because of her beliefs. I reflected on how I was a minority when I lived in Washington and had to stand up for myself a lot of the time, just like this girl had to. That experience helped me realize that I shouldn’t be thinking for myself. That wouldn’t change the world, but taking action to help others would.

            To “be the change,” means to takes action. I believe that as action is taken, faith is being exercised. Some ways that I have been able to take action is speaking up for what I think is right, serving others even when I do not feel the desire to, or having the patience and love for others that are frustrating me. That is why Gandhi has been an influence in my life. In his life time he stood up for what he believed, was vocal about it, served those that hated him, and loved them too. In the book “Gandhi an Autobiography the Story of my Experiments with Truth,” forwarded by Sissela Bok, Gandhi says, “I… believed that the British Empire existed for the welfare of the world. A genuine sense of loyalty prevented me from even wishing ill to the Empire”. (313) He strived to master the art of charity. He wanted change in the world and took action to help the change move forward.

            In the seventh grade, I joined the track team. I became friends with a few people that had a different range of beliefs than me. One friend in particular, Daniel, enjoyed to challenge my beliefs. There were times that I had to be blunt and vocal about certain things, which frustrated me at times. But I never thought “ill” of him because he was my friend. I wanted the best for him.

            Another way I have found opportunities to “be the change” is learning to forgive. There have been many who have offended and hurt me, but that was all in the past. I lived in New York for a couple years and lost contact with some important people in my life during that time. Just this last year, I have moved back and have tried to reconnect with some of these friends. When I visited with them, I felt like something was wrong. They were not the same people I left when I first moved to New York. They had started down a dark path and I could not get past that. How could I forgive them of their betrayal towards me? They stopped believing in what I thought was best for everyone. Because of that, we all stopped being friends. For weeks it bothered me, and I started to feel awful. I hated them for it. Because of this I did not want to forgive them and that stopped my faith and action. I could not “be the change [I] wanted to see in the world.”

            I then realized my error. I needed to forgive them and myself for the situation. I needed to let it go. I could not change them; I can only change myself. So, I asked for their forgiveness and have learned to move past it all. Now I try to be their friend and hope and pray for the day when all is well between each of us.

            As I said before, the only person I can change is me. I am the only one who can change the way I view the world and help to make a change. In order to make that change, I need to have hope for a better future and set goals to help guide me to that future. This allows me to grow and have a better influence on those around me.

            Since I first heard the quote, “Be the change you want to see in the world”, (Edburg) I have been trying to apply it to my life. I try to be an influence of good to others and change the world for the better little by little. I believe that by following Gandhi’s words we can become one as people and live in peace together. This is why “Be the change” is my belief.

____________________________________________________________

Works Cited

Edburg, Henrick.”Gandhi’s 10 Rules for Changing the World.

Daily Good. N.P. 28 June 2013. Web. 30 January 2015.

<http://www.dailygood.org/story/466/gandhi-s-10-rules-for-changing-the-world-henrik-edberg/>.

Bok, Sissela. Gandhi an Autobiography the Story of my Experiments with Truth

Boston: Beacon, 1957. Print.

Talk Nerdy to Me

I don't understand the equation A=pi r squared
Or why a squared + b squared = c squared
I have tried to understand what they mean for a decade now
When I try, my head just says OW
But when you explain what these mean
I just think this is obscene
But I like it when you talk nerdy to me
I like it when you explain x=-2+ or - the square root of 2 squared - 3X3X4 Divided by 2X3
When A is three, B is two and C is four
X equals either 5.75 or 5.25... Is that what I am looking for?
It is most likely not, because I don't really understand what that means
Ouch! My head did it again
Could someone please bring me an aspirin?
Because she keeps talking nerdy to me

- Righteous Fury

My Mission Experience June 26, 2012 to March 20, 2014

Zach's Mission experience

It all started in 'Da Bronx. On June 26, 2012 I landed in New York not knowing what was ahead of me. I remember standing by myself not sure what to do. Missionaries were everywhere in the basement of the
Kingsbridge Chapel. I was thinking to myself, "Why is everyone so happy? We are many miles away from everything we love." I was confused and scared.

 President Smith gathered everyone together and put all the new missionaries in a line. As I stood there, all I could see were hundreds of eyes just staring at me. I felt like butterflies were about to burst from my stomach. Finally, President Smith started introducing us. As I recall, I was second or third in line to be introduced.

  
President called each new missionaries individual trainer to come forward to introduce themselves and greet us with a hug.  All I remember is a blonde haired kid running at me, hugging me and then leading me into the crowd of missionaries.

Elder Trevino-Sims was an amazing trainer/companion/friend. His example was remarkable. He taught me how to truly love an individual for who they are. Each day we would go out and we would ask person after person if they knew where deaf people lived. We were faced with some really funny comments, and some strange looks from that question. Even though people would pass unfriendly judgment, Elder Sims always knew what to say and do. He always had the perspective that everyone is a Child of God.

I was able to serve with many wonderful people.

Elder Nielson and Elder Malm were great examples and we got along well together.

Soon, we had two new-comers. Elder Pemberton and Elder Marshall, two stellar Elders. I only got to know them for a few short weeks and then something mind blowing happened. Elder Sims, my beloved mission father and I were sent Upstate to open a new ASL area and program.

I would have to say at this point in my mission, I was very dependent. Elder Sims knew everything, he did everything, and I was his child. I would do whatever he said. I was supportive, and would always agree with him but never made any suggestions or comments. I just went with the flow.

It was a strange 6 weeks. Our goal was to find deaf people. We searched and searched and searched... We had no luck! There are signs on the streets, sometimes, that say "Caution, deaf child in area". So, we would search those streets. We found one or two, but they eventually lost contact with us after I had left the area.  Then we had two wonderful miracles. We found David Moffett and Robert Brentnall. I was not able to see them baptized, but I was blessed to be a part of their conversion. They are two wonderful deaf people that were able to find the church and God's love.

Right before Christmas, I was sent back to the city. I had to leave my wonderful companion. I was devastated.  I was then sent to serve with a deaf companion, Elder Nielson. It was definitely a nerve-wracking thing for me to get used too.

My companionship with Elder Nielson went well. We had an interesting experience together for a good 6 months. I remember being able to teach and bring many deaf people unto Christ. I had the opportunity to learn something great from him. I learned how to truly love. He cared for the members and Investigators like I had never seen before. He genuinely took the time to listen and care for each individual. He showed me great respect, and I to him. Now, he definitely is a different person, at least in my perspective. We both grew up differently, as does everyone. He has his "Deaf-isms" and my "Davenport-isms". At times, we would disagree on things, but our love for each other as companions never ended. I am grateful for his wonderful example and love. He is one to always think of others first. After our 6 months together, I humbly was able to "kill" him off his mission.

In early June with Elder Nielson gone, Elder Marshall who just a few months earlier, came from Newburgh back to the city, to become my companion. He was a hard worker! If he were to receive an assignment from anyone, he would do it! He was one to take charge. His example taught me to do the same. With our team work, we were able to bring an investigator into the waters of baptism. Sean White is his name. Elder Nielson and I were given his contact information from a member, Claudio. Sean went through the lessons quickly, but had some things that got in the way of allowing him baptism right then and there. After months of attempting to get him interviewed with President Morgan, Elder Marshall and I successfully achieved our goal! Sean was interviewed and approved for baptism. July 7, 2013, Sean White was baptized by MJ, our Branch Presidency's 2nd councilor.

After a wonderful 4 1/2 months with Elder Marshall. We were then split off. He with his new Trainee, Elder Aston, and me with Elder Sims! We would be starting a new ASL area yet again, this time, in NYC.

We didn't have much success. What we did, was our best. So we went about doing the Lord's work, teaching and preaching until the day was done. 

During this time a few of my Investigators that I had taught with Elder Marshall were then baptized. Alexa Patterson and Iyoba Howard. Two wonderful converts that are helping out the Deaf Branch immensely. 

Then something strange happened.

One day, on a split with Elder Higbee, and Elder Fortheringham (An awesome Elder who joined us a couple months earlier. He was trained by Elder Malm and Elder Sims when I was with Elder Marshall.) We received a supervising call from President Morgan. He said “ I have a David Moffett here..” and that “he is really excited to go on his "Mini Mission". Out of nowhere the Newburgh Ward that he was baptized in,
surprised President and the ASL missionaries with David. We then proceeded to make arrangements to have David stay with us for 4 weeks, doing missionary work and living a missionary schedule.

He enjoyed it, from what he has said. It was definitely a big adjustment. The companionships had to get switched around. Elder Sims was kicked out of our companionship, and was put with Elder Marshall and Elder Aston. David was put with me and Elder Fotheringham. It was like that for two more weeks. Then, all of a sudden everything in my life as I knew it, changed once again.

On the night of transfer calls, December 18, 2013, I was called to go back up to Newburgh and start a split area with ASL and English. My new companion would be Elder Gonzoles. All that went through my mind was, "how can I do this?", "I am leaving everything I know!” They were the same exact thoughts I had back when I had arrived on the mission.  I was leaving the people I had been living with for the past 20 months. I was once again devastated. I did not want to go, but I went along with it, what could I do? Stay in the
apartment and not go to transfer meeting? No, that would be silly.

Well, it actually wasn't that bad. Elder Gonzoles turned out to be one AWESOME Elder. We were re-opening the area or white washing as we call it. It turned out that we didn't even need to worry about it! We were set up with lessons, and a lot of work. Thanks to Elder Fuller and Elder Fox, two wonderful Zone Leaders. We were able to do a lot of work and meet many people, including Clarence Beverly. Bill Cosby's
airplane Pilot. We have been working with him for a long time, and he is enjoying the gospel.

At the end of our 6 weeks together, Elder Gonzoles flew home to Corona, California. I again, was able to humbly "kill" another Elder. May he rest in peace.

Then, Elder Reid came into my life. A tall, basketball, football playing, RNB singing, Hawaiian. He is one awesome guy. He has helped me a lot with my attitude, whenever I felt down or depressed, he was always right there to make me smile. I learned a lot about attitude from him. Together we started more deaf work. Together we taught a deaf man named, Allan Ramdharr. Allan was great! Moving to New York from Guiana, he had no knowledge of communication or education, because he is deaf. Then he met the
Jehovah Witnesses, who taught him how to sign. But, they would not allow him to be baptized. So we willingly came to him and taught him the lessons so that he will be eligible for salvation.

Being with Elder Reid helped me have a wonderful last transfer in the mission. Even though I didn't use my mission language toward the end, we enjoyed the blessing of teaching and blessing many people's lives with the gospel of Jesus Christ. I wouldn't have it any other way.

The mission is really the best two years. I didn't witness
lots of people enter the waters of baptism but I found countless
other blessings. I feel like I understand more of what is expected of me
through this mortal life, which is too have Charity and find the true love of Christ. I understand better consecration and self-reliance. I understand 
what is expected of me and I know how to act on it. I personally feel like I have
found a sincere love of consecration and the joy of following the commandments. I am grateful that
I will be able to meet a God again someday with a joyful heart.

Once Upon an Afternoon...

Once upon an afternoon, a woman ate some pizza pie. Then a pig came and sang a lullaby because he felt sick. Then he found a purple dinosaur which ate a butterfly. Mister Butterfly died and went to Butterfly Heaven. Which actually is a Butterfly Heaven. Which actually is in New Switzerland. Then the dinosaur came to party at the Butterfly Heaven caf'e. A bomb fell upon an Avery with on Thursdays. Now Avery liked to obliterate Lexie. But Lexie was magical but not mortal because she hasn't punched any lepricons, and pink couches. So then a cow floated in on a stripped banana. The banana did a crazy dance with a pink unicorn on a blue whale. The music was so magestically intranceing that they started to burp big bubbles of green glowing glue blobs. This caused blue glowing babies to terrorize the pink citizens of Japan. But the citizens of Japan were training their rainbow rainbows to do death grips against the psychotic melons. The flying purple eating cavemen were eating worlds of purpleness. Purple people of Purpleville were drinking cashiers with magically sharpened electric toothbrushes. The toothbrushes were covered with pink Barbie  insides which tasted like little puppies on flaming pizzas. The pizzas looked gross. But tasted so amazingly that the Thunder Fish started to flip out. Then the glowing weasels flew across the night sky with giant lolliepops. the loliepops soon landed, then they created a giant baby, that they laughed hysterically at while burping blue portholes that leaked silver shiny slugs. They sparkled like a disko ball during a full moon. Soon everyone was sleeping on oily flaming tar. It didn't have babies because it was nudered on a pool table in the dark of the afternoon. the afternoon liked expanding funny endings. Babies will explode into Purpleville where the flying dragons poop rainbows. Those rainbows choked melons while the balloons swam through the golden happy gates of heaven. The End.

- A story written by Zach and Avery Davenport and Alexa Muir

Film Analysis

Hot Rod
Original World: Rod and his friends Kevin, Rico, Dave, and Denise are in a stunt man team, and they go around doing random stunts around town. Rod's step-father, Frank, doesn't respect his and pushs him around every day.

Call to Adventure: Frank's heart is giving out and needs a trasnplant, so Rod gets the idea to use his "Stunt" ablilties, and raise money to pay for Frank's heart transplant.

Refusal: Rod gets into a fight with his Frank and re-thinks on what he is doing. Does he really want to go through with saving the man he hates most?

Mentor: Rod's mentor in the movie is Denise. She is a really big support in the team and leads Rod into his big decissions within the movie.

Threshold: Rod decides to go through with his plan and save Frank. Rod puts fliers every where around town to let everyone know that he is trying to save money to save Frank, and that he will do stunts at Birthday parties and other events.

Tests, Allies, and Enemies: Johnathan (Denise's boyfriend) is out to get Rod throughout the movie. He is worried that Rod and Denise will get together and he wants Rod to leave forever. Rod's allies in the movie are his friends Denise, Dave, Rico, and Kevin. Tests that Rod had to go through is his training to get ready for the "Big Jump" he decided to do, to be able to earn money for Frank, and the emotional trails Rod goes through every day from Frank and Jonathan.

Approach: Rod and his stunt team (Excluding Denise) walks down the road singing "You're the Voice" with lots of other people, while bad things go wrong around them.

Ordeal: When Rod talks to his mother about his real father not being a stunt man. This depressed Rod and almost stopped Rod from doing his stunts and saving Frank from his sick heart.

Reward: When Rod earned enough money to save Franks life, and when Denise kissed him right before his "Big Jump".

Resurrection: When Frank gets better and loses a fight against Rod.

Return with the Elixir: When Rod wins in a fight against Frank and finally earns respect from him.

Ordinary World

The Righteous Path
Meet Righteous Fury. He is 18 years old and is just about to graduate High School. He doesn't do much with his life. He's taking an American Sign Language class (ASL) and is in love with writing, though he thinks he's not too great at it. He works as a cashier at Wal-Mart and is planning to keep working there for a long time. But hopefully not. Hopefully he will have a new plan stored in his head in the future and will be able to get on with his life. Hopefully he will be able to gain enough money to go on a Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Hopefully it will be an ASL Mission. After his Mission, hopefully he will be able to know what to do with his life. He has a general idea, but he doesn't know how to get started. That idea is to become an ASL interpreter and a Writer. Hopefully he will be able to become a great and loving husband and father as well. After another year, Righteous Fury finally recieved his Mission calling. He got what he hoped for! He attended the Washington ASL speaking Mission, just as he hoped for. Now he's on the mission doing very well. He's learning many lessons, while teaching them as well, hopeing he will be able to teach his future family the same lessons and be the amazing husband and father he hopes to be.

1)Will Righteous Fury come home a better man with a plan for the future?
2)Will Righteous Fury become an ASL Interpreter just like he hopes to become?
3)Will Righteous Fury be the great husband and father he hopes to be?

Shake the Dust

STOMP ON IT
This is for the good Fathers that do their best for their families

This is for all the Mothers also.

For their hard work that they deal with from their Husbands and children

And are still able to get EVERYTHING done

Stomp on it

This is for the teachers

Every kind of teacher out there

For their hard work at trying to teach their students 

And to let them create a new world of creativity 

This is for the students teachers teacher as well

Because if their teachers weren't there then where would we get the motivation for our teahcers?

Stomp on it

This is for our righteous religious leaders

For the great examples they are to us

So that we can be guided in the right path to a happier life

For their teaching

So that we can know what we need to live by

Stomp on it

Stomp on it!

Stomp on your trials!

Dominate them!

Look up to these people

And live by what you know what's right

The Personalities of Ghandi and Other Righteous Leaders

When will we own ourselves completely? I believe it is through personal traits of goodness that we will become ourselves. Some of these traits are:
• Faith
• Hope
• Charity and Love
• Virtue
• Knowledge
• Patience
• Humility
• Diligence
• Obedience

Faith is believing in things not seen. I believe this is the start in building ourselves. Through righteous things, you are gaining faith, which helps us deal with everyday conflicts. Which is also building our hope in righteousness.

Hope is a trait to become ourselves because it leads us to become optimistic in our everyday lives. It lets us think about the best in things, and gives us confidence to be able to complete tasks. And to complete tasks with Hope and Faith lets us be able to Love what we are doing and to be Charitable.

Charity and Love go hand in hand in every way. When you do Charity, you are able to Love those you are being charitable to, and when you Love those around you, you are able to do more Charity for them more often. To love one another is the greatest Charity, and it also helps us create optimistic thoughts with-in our minds and desires, which is righteous Virtue.

When we are able to have these happy thoughts and desires, We are able to control our behavior and moral standards. To be able to have perfect Virtue would be such a great blessing in my life. To think clean thoughts and to be able to control my action more often in my daily life is the greatest thought ever!

To have Knowledge is very important in finding ourselves too. Knowledge helps us to be able to help others learn from our views and to be able to understand others from their views as well. We need Knowledge to be able to be successful in life as well. When we have Knowledge we are able to understand our jobs, religions, and life styles with-in our cultures.

To be able to have Patience is a great way to become ourselves as well. Patience is the ability to "endure daily obstacles and opposition, or suffering... without becoming angry, frustrated, or anxious." When we are being patient with everyone and everything, we are able to grow our relationships with others, and even ourselves.

Another trait is Humility. To be able to have Humility is to not accept that you have done everything great you have accomplished. You have had help with everything you have done. Let others know that! You will gain great respect from your example, and will be able to become more ourselves.

Work hard and have Diligence! Work on your patience and you will be "Steady, earnest, and energetic, with great effort in your work." When we are able to be Diligent in every work we do, we will be able to find "joy, and satisfaction in all work."

And the last way on the list to become more ourselves is to be Obedient. Be willing to obey rules, and follow the council of any leader we have. If we follow our leaders with obedience, we are acting in Faith, which is going back to the top of the list. This is all connected! Did you notice?

If we are following these guidelines, we will be able to gain the attributes of a leader of so many. We will be looked up to, and we will most definitely own ourselves completely. I do keep forgetting to do many of these things and will keep working on them, but I do many of these things as well. Even now! And so tonight is not the last time I will see the light.

(Special thanks to Preach my Gospel)

Blurbs

Mine by Taylor Swift:
When Taylor first meets eyes with a handsom waiter at a random resteraunt, they instantly fall in love. They go through life together, no problems and have a happy life. But when a argument takes place things get a little sticky. Will Taylor stay with her "True love", or will they fall apart and leave each other?

In the Jailhouse Now by Johnny Cash:
All his life Johnny has been a good kid. HE never broke the rules or done anything illegal. But he did have a friend named Bob who did so. Then one day Johnny meets a cryptic woman. Will she change Johnny for the worst, or for the best?

Home by Michael Bubl'e:
Michael has been away from home for a long time and he misses his parents. He doesn't feel like he is living the right life he needs. He feels alone and empty in life. Then something changed within Michael! He found someone new. Her name is Kay le'Sert Leroy. She has beautiful eyes that look like a rainfall in the jungles with splotches of blue around her green eyes, short brown hair that is just as soft as a hare, and is 6'7. they go about town and see all the wonderful sights. They figure out that they have so much in common and think that they should be together. Will Michael go back to his old life with his parents? or will he stay away from them and live his life with Kay le'Sert Leroy?

I Thought I saw Your Face Today by She and Him:
One day as Zooey was walking through the park and turned her head, she thought she saw someone from her memory. She hopes to find this person and to fall in love all over again with him. Will she find this spark of love again?

A Boy Named Sue by Johnny Cash:
When Sue was three his father left him and his mother. And before he left, he named his only son Sue. As Sue grew up he would be made fun of and get into many fights. Sue got mean and hard within the soul and swore to the Moon and stars that he will find his father and kill him for naming him Sue.  Does Sue kill his father? Or will he die trying?

Marvel Sixer

Story Songs

Song Title: Mine
Song Artist: Taylor Swift
Mine Lyrics

Plot:
As Taylor is growing up she watches her parents argue and fight all the time. She doesn't want that to happen to her, so she wants to try and avoid any contention she has with the one she loves in the future. Later in her life she walks into a restaurant and meets a handsome young man working as a waiter there. Taylor and this young man get into a relationship and it soon becomes pretty serious.

 Character:

• Taylor Swift (Young and older)
• Taylor's husband
• Taylor's parents
• Taylor's children

Conflict:
Taylor wants to have a great relationship with her future husband. She doesn't want to have the same relationship her parents had with each other so she is going to try and prevent that from happening. It doesn't go through very well and Taylor begins to have a fight with her husband.

Theme:

• Communication
• Have a good relationship with people close to you

 Settings:

• A restaurant where Taylor first meets her future husband
• In the forest with pictures of memories everwhere
• The beach where Talyor and her husband walk down and live right next to
• The lake where taylor is purposed to 
• Taylor's childhood home

Song Title: In The Jailhouse Now
Song Artist: Jonny Cash
In The Jailhouse Now Lyrics

Plot:
Jonny has a couple friends that like to break the law, gamble, and pretend to be who they really aren't. He tells his friends that they shouldn't do those things but they do it anyways. Soon they get into trouble with the law and are thrown into jail. And so does Jonny once he meets this lady friend of his.

Character:

• Jonny Cash
• Ramblin' Bob
• Susie

Conflict:
Jonny and his friends start to break the law by gambling, robbing, and "taking in every honk tonk int town". They get into all of it so much that they get in trouble with the law and get thrown into the jailhouse.

Theme:

• Breaking the law is bad
• Don't gamble, steal, and rob

Setting:

• The jailhouse

The Jealous Raven

THE RAVEN

-EDGAR ALLEN POE

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
  Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
    While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
   As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
  "'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door-
                Only this, and nothing more."

    Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
  And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
    Eagerly I wished the morrow;- vainly I had sought to borrow
    From my books surcease of sorrow- sorrow for the lost Lenore-
  For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore-
                Nameless here for evermore.

    And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
  Thrilled me- filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
    So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,
    "'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door-
  Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;-
                This it is, and nothing more."

   I won't give the whole poem because it is way too long to pay attention to, but this poem makes me "jealous". When I studied Edgar Allen Poe last year in English, I became very familiar with his writing. This one in particular was very interesting for me to read. It made me quite "jealous" and really made me think about my writing. This poem makes me "jealous" because I have never really thought of the words I use. I have always gone with words that rhyme together no matter how crummy it sounds. His thoughts that I feel within the poem make me "jealous" to read as well. What goes through the persons head is quite interesting. I have always wanted to get better at writing like that. (To write what goes through peoples’ minds is an interesting way of expressing yourself.) It also lets others feel the way you feel. Edgar Allen Poe is a role model of mine and I am quite "jealous" of his work.