The Way To Perfection:Study

Just imagine this, Your 5' 4" a solid 100 pounds and just skin and bones, your opponent is a good 6' 4" and a good 280 pounds. Sounds pretty hard to believe that these two people could go one on one with each other. Its only obvious that the monster of a man, the 280 pound man would in a sense destroy the little man that is weighing in at 100 pounds. There is no hope for the little man, Right? well, not necessarily, why do I say that you might be asking? Well crazier things have happened, no matter how big or strong the guy is and how little you are, you can still defeat that person. There are so many ways, of course you couldn't really go head on to the man, but you can find his weaknesses. You would have to study him out, and see what he lacks in. He might lack in movement, stamina, whatever the case, but you would find that so you can come out on top.

When I was in the 6th grade, you could say that I was a wee-little-lad. Don't know the exact size of me but I was small. I still played football. I would never stop loving and doing a sport just because I was not big enough or whatever the case was. But my 6th grade year, I went into the football season, I really loved catching the football, so a receiver you might say I wanted to be. Well to my surprise I was not put as a receiver I was put on the line. I was blown away, a little man like me on the line, brought a big shock into my eyes. I didn't even really know what to do on the line. I felt like the team on "Little Giants" that had no idea what they were doing. But they kept on pushing through and found the other teams weaknesses and at the very end they came on top. Even though at times it was tough and I was put on the line against some very VERY big boys. I got pushed around most of the times, I still pressed through it and I even did what I was on the line to do. To block them or get through to cause a massive pile up so the line backers could tackle the quarter back or running backs. But the only way that I was able to accomplish that was to study the man out in front of me. I had to see what his weakness was. Most of the time I just had to be faster then him.

We always need to be studying. If its for a big football game, basketball game or even preparing spiritually.

Our Heavenly Father has given us Scriptures to study on a regular basis to prepare to meet him and to learn of what we need to do in life. These scriptures are The Bible, The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine & Covenants and Pearl of Great Price. In Doctrine and Covenants 109:7 it states, " Yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom, seek learning even by study and also by faith." (Boldness added). Study is a vital part in our progression in Perfection. If we did not study we would not learn and grow in this gospel. As I study the scriptures every day, I learn something new all the time. That is the stuff that I need to apply in my life, so I can be better and know what I need to do or stay away from so I can be like our Heavenly Father.

Through studying out the things necessary for coming out on top when going head on to a giant or whatever the case might be we can be successful and we can prepare our selves for PERFECTION!!!  

                                              

The Way to Perfection: Prayer

You run, sprint, hit, catch and practice you hardest!!!
You tighten up your laces, put the head gear on, practice your shots, and get the blood pumping!!!

These are all things that we do as we prepare for the big games, for Football and Wrestling. We do all these things for the physical aspect of the game, but what do we do to prepare spiritually? Both steps can help reach that goal of Perfection!!

Each time I went out to the field for a game, or to the mat for a match, I always turned to something. What might that be.....? PRAYER!!! We always need something to prepare us, For the Perfection in Sports its practice. Practice, Practice, Practice. and Spiritually its Prayer.  I never really thought about how much prayer works. But it does, and this is how.

Before running out to the field before each game, my team and myself would all gather together and have a moment of silence, each time we did this, I would bow my head and say a little prayer to my Heavenly Father. For protection, guidance and possibly success. Saying that little prayer kept my relationship with my Heavenly Father strong and close, I new each time I went out to the field I would have His added protection with me. In the Book of Mormon, a Prophet councils us to "pray always", 2 Nephi 32:9 says, "But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform anything unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul." (Boldness added). Always turn to the Lord in everything we do.

Another experience is for Wrestling, before each time stepping into the middle of the mat to shake the opponents hand, I would grab my ankle strap and I would walk to the edge of the mat bow down and as I put the strap around my ankle I would always say a little prayer. Saying that prayer to my Heavenly Father, I would feel the Peace of the Holy Ghost that I would be watched over.

The power of Prayer is so important for us to prepare us for Perfection. It shows our Humility that we need the help of our Hevanly Father in our Lives. Over the years as I have turned to prayer in sports, or just questions and concerns I might have for life. I truly see the care our Heavenly Father has for us. I know as we turn to Him, our Heavenly Father in prayer, we can be guided and protected for the evil ways of the advisary, D&C 10:5 states,  "Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work." We can make that step to Perfection!!!

The Way to Perfection

Whats the one thing that you want to receive in life? Is it, your favorite car, job, house, etc... what is it, ponder about that. As I have progressed through life, one thing that I have thought about in trying my hardest to achieve is; PERFECTION!!! Now I know I will never achieve perfection, cause I am imperfect, we all are. The only perfect one is our Savior Jesus Christ. Wouldn't you say that's a great goal to try and achieve. We all want to gain perfection. Even Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want us to look for perfection. In Matthew 5:48 it states, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." That is, to strive on a daily basis to be like our Father in Heaven. So that has been my goal in life, PERFECTION!!! So what do we need to do in our lives to strive for that Perfection? Over the next couple of blogs I would like to address "The Preparation to Perfection". Comparing The Gospel aspect of Perfection, to the Perfection of Sports. So stay tune with my blogs and see how you can achieve PERFECTION!!!!

FAITH? WORKS?

So today I was pondering about the word Faith? What is it? Why do we need it? Then I was also pondering about the word Works? What is it? Why do we need it?

There is a lot of commotion about Faith and Works. Some of us might have Faith but be lacking in the works. Some of us might have the Works but lacking in the Faith. Why are these two words so important to returning to be with our Heavenly Father.

First I would like to explain what each word means and its importants then I will tie it into on how we need both Faith and Works to return to be with our Father in Heaven.

So Faith as states in Alma 32:21, "And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true," Faith is something you believe that is true but you cannot see. Just like our Savior Jesus Christ. We have all not seen Him but we know he truly is the Son of God, that He died for us and through Him we can return to be with our Heavenly Father.

Without Faith nothing is possible. We cannot receive anything. Faith is a daily task that we always need to continue to increase. You can never have to much Faith. As it states in the Matthew 17: 20; "Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." As we gain Faith we can do so much. It is so important to have Faith in our lives.

Next Works? Works, something so good to have in our lives. But something so simply to forget about. The definition of the word Works is, "The effort or activity directed toward the production or accomplishment of something." The Lord has asked us, "If ye love me, keep my Commandments" (John 14:15). Those are works, that we need to accomplish. As we show our Love for Him by keeping his commandments we are blessed with, increased Faith, (hum, there is the word I was was looking for) and also increased support and protection from our Heavenly Father.

 It is something that we need to do on a day to day basis. Not just today and take a couple days off and then get back on it. We need to strive to work everyday and every hour. Just like our Faith we need to strive to increase our Faith everyday. 

These two words; Faith and Works are so key and important to have in our Lives. We might have one but not the other. If that is the case we cannot progress. We are stuck. Its kinda like a rowboat. Usually you have two ore's that you use so you can go straight and get to your destination. Well if you forget one of those ore's and only use one then you will just go in circles. You would not continue on to your destination. With two they work together and then you will have a straight shot to your destination.

That is why our Heavenly Father has counciled us on exercising both; Faith and Works. As We read in James 2:14,17-18 & 26 it says; "14What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

We all need both of them to reach the potential our Heavenly Father wants for us. I can testify as we strive to live our lives with The Faith and Do the works we can and will return to be with our Heavenly Father and we can receive the blessings that He has in store for us. Always remember John 14:15; "If ye love me keep my commandments." This is what He asked us to do. We need Faith and Works in this commandment.

"The Way"

Last Thursday Elder Roerdanz and myself were driving home to Great Falls Montana from Chinook Montana. We came across something that happens all the time in Montana during the Spring time. We hit Construction. The joke up this way is that there are two seasons; Winter and Construction. So we ran into some road construction and I had no idea that running into something that most people hate running into while traveling on vacation or going home would open my eyes to something amazing pertaining to The Gospel of Jesus Christ.

As we came into visual of the Construction there was a flag lady to warn us to stop. As we came to a stop the lady came up to our window and said, "Just have to wait for a "Pilot Car". As Elder Roerdanz and myself sat there, we began talking about why in the world do we need a pilot car. As we looked ahead and saw a bit of the construction, we felt like it wasn't looking to bad as far as heavy equipment or anything like that. We thought we could make it safely around all the work and have no problems. And plus even get through a lot faster then having to wait and follow behind a "Pilot Car".

What we did not know but later came to find out, as we traveled farther into the Road Construction, there began to be more and more heavy equipment and a lot of machines tearing up the road. We then realized how important it was for us to wait for that "Pilot Car". That Pilot Car knew what was going on, how long the Construction was and what was on the path of our travel. If we would have not listened to the lady at the very first who said, "Just have to wait for a "Pilot Car", then the consequences could have been bad. We could have been seriously hurt by the machinery or even lost on the un-paved road.

As we continued on in the Construction zone, thoughts started rushing in about our Savior Jesus Christ. How He is "The Pilot Car". As it states in John 14:6; "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." He is the one that leads us, guides us, and helps us every step of the way.

As we go through life we might feel like we know what to choose, what we want and what to do. We might try to do it without our Savior Jesus Christs' help and then we catch ourselves in trouble, or in a rut that we cannot get out of, but we always have the "Pilot Car" or our Savior Jesus Christ that helps us through the way. We do not have to go into things blinded. As we look upon Him, He will provide, and show us the way to return to our ultimate Goal, to be with our Heavenly Father.

As that Road Construction opened my eyes, I now see how important that "Pilot Car" was for us to get through the construction safely. I know that just as that Pilot Car helped us out, we have our Savior Jesus Christ to help us out, to protect us and lead us through this life. He truly is "THE WAY".
                                              

This is the "Pilot Car" that led us through
the construction.

This is the equipment that we could see
at the beginning of the construction



 

This is the kind of equipment that we could
not see deeper into the construction



   

To the Mother's of the World

This Sunday we get to celebrate Mother's Day. What a honor it is to reflect on all my mother has done for me. To all you mother's out there, Thank you and may you have a joyous day on this special day.

My mom is very close to me, she has comforted me when I needed it, She has taught me everything that I need to know in my life. She is a great example to me. She teaches me the best things in my life. She is truely a Great Mother.

As I reflect on my life and how much she has done for me, I cannot put it all into words. But this I do know, that I am proud to say that I am her son. If you all have not noticed I like poems to sum up what I feel and this poem says everything about my mother.



Each day I think about my Father in Heaven and His plan for me. I know that God placed me in my family for a special reason, He gave me the right mom for me and with that I am forever Greatful.

To you mom, I love you. I thank you for everything you have raised me up to be. You taught me well, and for that I will always be greatful. I cannot say enough about you with words but Just know that I LOVE YOU!!!

also to the rest of you mother's out there, thank you for your love and support. May the Lord Bless you all for everything you do for us. YOUR THE BEST!!!!

"Becoming Stonger"

As I reflect on my life, I continue to ask myself, "How much can I take?" Our Heavenly Father is mindful of each and everyone one of us. He knows what we go through, what we face and how much we can handle. Each time we are faced with challenges and trials, it makes us stronger and stronger. It makes me think of a great poem that has great meaning as we go through life facing those things that we do not think we can bare till after the fact. It is called "The Oak Tree".

The Oak Tree

by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr.

  

A mighty wind blew night and day.

It stole the Oak Tree's leaves away.

Then snapped its boughs

and pulled its bark

until the Oak was tired and stark.

But still the Oak Tree held its ground

while other trees fell all around.

The weary wind gave up and spoke,

"How can you still be standing Oak?"

The Oak Tree said, I know that you

can break each branch of mine in two,

carry every leaf away,

shake my limbs and make me sway.

But I have roots stretched in the earth,

growing stronger since my birth.

You'll never touch them, for you see

they are the deepest part of me.

Until today, I wasn't sure

of just how much I could endure.

But now I've found with thanks to you,

I'm stronger than I ever knew.

The things that we all face in life, show us how strong we truly can Become. Just like this Oak Tree, I never knew what I could endure but with the trials I faced, the trust and faith I put in the Lord I always knew that I would come out on top and "Become Stronger".

 I know that as we put our lives into the Lord's hand and remember that we will never face anything in our lives that we cannot overcome. The Lord will help out and He will provide to make us "Stonger".