Soul Surfer

Tonight I went and saw the movie "Soul Surfer." Talk about a film that sends you through a wave of emotions. The movie is based on the true story of Bethany Hamilton, an aspiring surfer who was attacked by a shark and left armless. I cried... I mean, my allergies started acting up as she came home and struggled with daily activities, also realizing she didn't have the ability to do hobbies like play the ukelele anymore. Frustration, however, was overcome with joy as she succeeded in learning how to surf with only one arm as she slowly, but surely worked her way back to champion status. The love and support from her friends, family, and others inspired by her perseverance was also portrayed very effectively in creating the same sensations of joy within the audience.

With a christian foundation, throughout the film she also repeatedly used the scripture Jeremiah 29:11 which states, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Her faith in this promise was portrayed in her example as she states at the end of the movie that, "I could have never embraced this many people with two arms." Her perspective gained from her trial is incredible.

I encourage everyone to see this movie. Even when the credits started rolling, real clips of the actual Bethany Hamilton came to the screen and everyone in the theater stayed in their seats as they watched for another ten minutes the footage of an extraordinary woman and her journey. We all face things that seem impossible either currently or in the future. It’s inevitable and no one is immune. The principles contained in this movie will help carry you through that difficult time.

Thank you, Bethany Hamilton. I'll be following your example.

When Elder Scott came to town...

One Sunday night in March about a year ago, my father announced that Elder Richard G. Scott was coming over to speak to our family later that week. My father's good friend is Elder Scott's stake president, and he was inspired to invite Elder Scott to come give our family some counsel. (As a side note, my mother had passed away from colon cancer 3 months prior and my father especially was in need of some comforting wisdom.) So, with the expectation of such a great visitor, my sisters and I all felt like Mary and Martha as we profusely cleaned the house and made preparations for our prestigious guest.

I remember that day feeling very nervous to meet Elder Scott. I had met a few general authorities before, but nothing longer than to exchange a few words and a handshake. This was going to be in a much more personal setting, for a much longer period of time.

Then he came. On March 18, 2010 there was Elder Scott on my doorstep. It was the weirdest and most comforting feeling to have all anxiety be swept away. The gravity of who he was and his presence didn't leave, but his eyes were filled with such light and love that I knew he was an apostle of the Lord. It was one of the select moments in my life where I especially felt close to the Savior, and knew He was right there in the room.

So what is it like to meet an apostle? Well, from my experience they are extremely invested in who you are. For the first part of the evening he went around the room asking me and my family members how we were, and what we were up to in life. As some of my siblings shared where they went on their missions, he gave interesting insight to our family on what it's like for the general authorities to send missionaries where they feel inspired they should go, and his experience with and advice for missionaries. He also gave many clever jokes and sincere compliments (i.e. he showed up 10 minutes early before we were expecting him and he smiled, gave a deep chuckle and apologized by saying, "I guess I was on President Hinckley's time zone!" I guess President Hinckley was always very early for events? We all laughed.).

I'll never forget the counsel he gave to my family. Not only as an apostle, but also someone who has dealt with the loss of loved ones (he lost his wife to cancer as well, and his son had passed away), I felt very comforted knowing he knew exactly what my family was going through. A few of the words of guidance he gave was:

- Don't ask why, but what you can learn now.

- Write down/capture all the memories you have of your loved one(s)/ Record the memories and promptings for children and grandchildren.

- Be receptive of the Spirit, and you will be receptive to your mother's instruction as well/ You may nor always feel her presence, but a prompting.

- Pain will subside and the sunshine of memory will remain.
- My mom will be able to more directly instruct us and she is even more aware of us now than when she was living.

Elder Scott then proceeded to give my father the most wonderful priesthood blessing. He was blessed to have an additional blessing of discernment to advise the family and help in key decisions. He was also promised that he and my mom would continue to grow and love, and be closer because of this experience.

He departed leaving our family with even more love than he came with. Truly it was a blessing and a miracle to have an a apostle of the Lord come and visit. Especially one who knew the heartache that my family and I were going through. We all teared up as he gave the conference talk in April about the memories of his own sweet wife and son, and how he has grown from that experience, as well as all that there is to look forward to in the life to come. 

Absence really does make the heart grow fonder, and I'm so grateful for that. I can't think of anything greater than knowing that families are forever. 


Thank you, Elder Scott. I'll be following your example.

A Plan of Salvation for the Government

As the talk of Presidential candidates and politics are in the air, I've been thinking a lot about government and some of the present day issues at hand. I have a good friend in California that I'm pen pals with, and as we were talking about politics, I expressed to him that I wish there was a "plan of salvation" for our government. His response blew me away:

"It's interesting that you say how you wish there were a 'plan of salvation' for our government. I have often thought very similar thoughts, but I am reminded of some scriptures in Helaman 5:2-4:

     'For as their laws and their governments were established by the voice of the people, and they who chose evil were more numerous than they who chose good, therefore they were ripening for destruction, for the laws had become corrupted.
     Yea, and this was not all, they were a stiffnecked people...

     And it came to pass that Nephi had become weary because of their iniquity; and he yielded up the judgement-seat, and took it upon him to preach the word of God all the remainder of his days...'

I have reflected on these verses often, for I feel in many ways it describes the constituents of the United States right now. I do believe it is important to be civically involved, and for some like Mitt Romney, to run for office. But to be honest, the real impact, the real responsibility we have, will come through 'taking it upon us to preach the word of God all the remainder of [our] days...' A nation is only as righteous as its people, even it its leader is Mormon. A nation's people is only as righteous as the families and individuals who make moral decisions every day. And those individuals and families will only ever change for the good, and in turn our entire nation, if they are taught and live the gospel of Jesus Christ. You want to change the corruption, scandals, and mismanagement of our nation, as do I? Then we need to share the last, the only salvation, with the people of our country and urge them to do the same. I remember a prophet once saying that 'The gospel of Jesus Christ will be the only thing that saves the world from its own self-destruction.' Not the army, not the U.S. government, the gospel. It's always the answer." 

My friend has very good rhetoric. Using the ethos of scriptures and quotes from the prophets, his logos was very persuasive in reminding me to maintain the perspective that the Gospel is always the answer. I think because of society and being aware of the separation of church and state, I haven't always associated the gospel and its principles as answers to government problems. As with everything in life, however, the most effective solutions come from living the righteous, moral principles of the gospel and I suppose the government is no exception. It's interesting to entertain the thought of what it would be like if our nation was headed by the prophet, or even if the president and the government used the scriptures and advice from the prophet and apostles to guide the domestic and foreign affairs... I suppose only time shall tell... In the meantime, I'm grateful for my friend and his reminder. I think it's a pretty incredible perspective to follow.

"I pray, and then I get answers, and then I do it."

As with all the Mormon Message videos, they are filled with pathos and rich with examples and stories of those who have gained eternal perspective. Many of you reading may be already familiar with Stephenie Nielson and her story, but it continually amazes me. I love this video because it visually persuades and inspires empathy within the viewer as they see an incredible woman that despite outward and inward physical trials, she recognizes that she "is not her body." Searching for answers in her new life after the plane crash, I love her simple answer of "I pray, and then I get answers, and then I do it." Always easier said than done at times, Stephenie's life shows the blessings of prayer and its answers put into action.

Discovering the divine role of motherhood, the clips of her and her husband playing and teaching their children also tug at my heartstrings. In all the Mormon Message videos, including this one, the church is so wonderful at portraying those moments which truly matter in life. The moments of true joy. The happiness portrayed is not only amazing to watch, but as the viewer I found it was also desirable to consistently have in my own life. 

I also love the shot in this clip where it also shows her sparkling green eyes. You can see the light of Christ in them, and how her life exemplifies that light. With a lot of ethos from her experience, she has shared that light by keeping a blog. As she said it was therapeutic and good for her to write, in turn her stories of daily life are sources for others to draw strength from. Stephenie Nielson is an individual to me who has literally almost lost her life, and found it more fully again through Jesus Christ.

I'll be following her example.

A Psalm of Life

A Psalm of Life Tell me not in mournful numbers, Life is but an empty dream! For the soul is dead that slumbers, And things are not what they seem. Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal; Dust thou are, to dust thou returnest, Was not spoken of the soul. Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, Is our destined end or way; But to act, that each tomorrow Find us farther than today. Art is long, and Time is fleeting, And our hearts, though stout and brave, Still, like muffled drums, are beating Funeral marches to the grave. In the world's broad field of battle, In the bivouac of Life, Be not like dumb, driven cattle! Be a hero in the strife! Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant! Let the dead Past bury its dead! Act, - act in the living Present! Heart within, and God o'erhead! Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sand of time; Footprints, that perhaps another, Sailing o'er life's solemn main, A forlorn and shipwrecked brother, Seeing, shall take heart again. Let us then be up and doing, With a heart for any fate; Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labor and to wait.       -by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow This is one of the most meaningful poems I've ever read, and after talking in my writing and rhetoric class about ethos, pathos, and logos I've found that all three are laced throughout the poem. To start off, I think the most prominent aspect of the poem is Longfellow's use of logos. From the beginning of the poem he explains that the purpose of life is to live, not die (i.e. "the grave is not it's goal"). This logic also leads to conviction of seizing the day, in contrast to letting life pass by "like dumb, driven cattle." Furthermore, the logic of hoping that "each tomorrow/Find us farther than today" also works together with pathos in touching the emotional appeal of expectation and believing the future holds something better. Other interpretations of the poem have also suggested that Longfellow's words have an underlying theme of hope found in the knowledge of an afterlife, which also would also relate to the emotional appeal. Longfellow also enforces both the logos and the pathos by encouraging the reader to emulate the amazing examples of individuals, therefore also tying in the concept of ethos and the credibility of those examples. Logos is also tied in once again with the repetition of the metaphor of "footprints." This restatement ties in the example of those who have gone before, and the potential that the reader has to leave the same impact on future individuals. Such logos brings self-knowledge, and correlates with the readers pathos in inspiring to know that they can make a difference. Altogether, the final stanza of the poem ties together all three concepts. Logos and pathos are shown that in living an active life with a perspective open to possibilities, as well as with characteristics such as diligence and patience, will bring forth individuals full of ethos and credible experience and example for others to follow.

"A Child of God" - Henry B. Eyring

"The most powerful result of encouragement comes when you talk to [individuals] as if they are already a stronger, more committed [individual] than they might currently be." - Laurel Christensen

With that quote in mind, I love how President Eyring speaks to his audience with that perspective of their potential. In his talk "A Child of God", and as part of that audience, I felt a great sense of duty and amazement of what I could accomplish in the guidelines he set forth for the pursuit of "educational excellence." With his great skill to share, explain, and testify I found I was on the edge of my seat hanging onto every word as I desired to know what was needed to alter or add to my course, or what dangers would prevent me from accomplishing my goals. In addition to how the talk was eloquently presented, the power of the Spirit was detected in every word. I've found that such words are inspired to provide something everyone can relate with, yet deliver individual answers to personal situations and trials. Such words also impart personal revelation and wisdom. The real inspiration and persuasion is guided by the promptings of the still small voice, and how it will affect one to make an active change in their life. The following commentary are my thoughts from the talk, and how I was reminded of my purpose as a child of God.


From the very beginning, President Eyring counseled to avoid pride. With stories and examples of those who let pride infect their character, he gave in contrast the examples of those who prayed and found humility. Reading this reminded me of the scripture John 3:30 which says, "He must increase, but I must decrease." He, being the Savior, should always be the most apparent aspect of our life. As individuals it is also important to recognize that nothing can be performed to it's full capacity without the Lord's help, and therefore He receives the credit. If pride is the problem, then the solution "is simply to remember who God is and what it means to be his child." 

President Eyring also goes on to repeat over and over again the phrase "We remember...". Not only does that emphasize the point of continually remembering the Savior, but also reiterates how often and how much we need to remind ourselves of that love and sacrifice. Once that knowledge is acted upon, it will affect our decisions and we hold the promise that we will be better learners.

To become a better learner, President Eyring offers five simple steps:


1. Welcome Correction
2. Keep Commitments
3. Work Hard
4. Help Others
5. Expect resistance and overcome it.

Great comfort and increased ability comes from realizing that correction only allows room for progression. Our capacity for power increases as we are committed. Working hard will not only bless us now, but also for the eternities. Having a willing attitude to help others and to be helped will produce countless blessings. Knowing the Lord has confidence in you to face and overcome trial... All these traits characterize the qualities of an excellent learner, and as they are understood, carry the promise that they will come naturally to those who understand their potential and what it means to be a child of God.  

Thank you President Eyring (and the Spirit) for those words of perspective and encouragement. You've set an amazing example to follow. :)