F-16 "Fini Flight" and The Navajo Nation

               This week I flew to Phoenix for my Brother's final flight in the F-16 at Luke Air Force Base. We then packed up and drove his U-haul to Utah where he's going to store some of his stuff while they spend a year in Korea.  The picture above are some pictures from the trip. Unfortunately we accidentally deleted some beautiful sunset and sunrise shots, oh well::)

                It was a wonderful drive, if we wanted to stop and look at something we did it. There wasn't a time constraint. We drove through the Navajo Nation and camped on a ridge in Monument Valley.  We woke up early and watched the brilliant sun rise over the deep red cliffs and outcroppings found in that valley.  We then spent the rest of that day driving home. We did make one final stop in Arches National Park where the we were able to sit and hang out the window on the passenger side and let the wind blow through our hair.  We need to have some fun::)

                The drive and experience were incredible. The red rock cliffs and formations make one marvel at their creation and grandeur.  One experience that was particularly interesting was the evening we camped on the ridge. There was a Navajo youth group there as well. We found the two leaders and asked if they might share some of their Navajo history with us as well as what they think about life and death and why we're here.  It was interesting to hear this leader recount the struggles and challenges of his people during the settling and conflicts of the pioneers.  It was also interesting to hear him describe his feelings about where we came from, why we're here and where they think we're going. Although we obviously differ in some areas, one lesson I walked away with is the importance of connecting with the earth.  It's amazing to me how important it is for the Navajo to understand and connect with "Mother Earth."  He talked about the consumer lifestyle so many live and how we've forgotten so much of what the earth has to offer, including small things such as medicinal plants and the ability of people to go and ponder  in a natural setting.  The Earth has always been associated with the feminine gender, while the Sun has always been associated with a male gender.  I have to agree with this Navajo leader, there is a lot we can learn from these living beings (the earth and surrounding planets and stars).   We can each find ways to learn from what the earth can teach us. One of the greatest forms of learning is to retreat into nature and find a place to ponder and pray.  For Nephi, Moses, the Brother of Jared, and many others it was resorting to the mountains to pray when it became their personal temple and the veil was parted.  Nephi expressed, "And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things."  This statement can be true for each of us!

My Heavenly Father Loves Me

A few days ago I was driving up Provo Canyon and was listening to this song on the Mormon Music Channel. Although I've heard it many times before, I couldn't help but get slightly emotional as I listened carefully to the words while looking at the surrounding clouds and mountains. It actually caught me off guard with the power of its impact.

The remainder of the week was spent pondering the words of this beautiful song. I had the opportunity to spend two days with the young men at their high adventure camp near Moab.  Two nights were spent sleeping under the star-filled night sky.  It was awe-inspiring to look up and see his countless creations without the interference of the city lights.

After returning from camp, I had to trim some bushes in our yard and while trimming, a beautiful monarch slowly landed on a bush about a foot away from my face.  It was well worth two minutes to simply watch it move across the flowers. Once again, the words of this powerful song came to mind.

It seems when we are ready to listen, the Lord is more than willing to teach.  This week, I've pondered Moses 6:63:

And behold, all things have their likeness, and all things are created and made to bear record of me, both things which are temporal, and things which are spiritual; things which are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth, and things which are in the earth, and things which are under the earth, both above and beneath: all things bear record of me.

Truly, all things above and beneath bear record of him. If we look around, we'll see the signs and wonders which surround us continually. I knew last week it was this song that should be shared on the next blog entry and ironically as I searched for this song I found it in a video which was put together by a close friend. He's done a fabulous job putting this together and he captures the spirit of the song and words.  Please take a second to watch and listen to the words of this wonderful song. As I look for Christ in everything that surrounds me, it's helped me be more patient, kind, and loving. It's helped bring more peace and a greater closeness to our Savior. Truly, we live in a beautiful world!

I Will Go Before Your Face

I wanted to share this picture of a sunrise which was taken a few days ago.  Even though it's an amateur picture taken from an iPhone, it was a stunning morning as the sun touched the peak of Timpanogos.  It reminded me once again that, "All things have their likeness, and all things are created and made to bear record of me, both things which are temporal, and things which are spiritual; things which are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth, and things which are in the earth, and things which are under the earth, both above and beneath: all things bear record of me." Moses 6:63. This sunrise was a beautiful reminder of this truth taught in the Book of Moses.

            

 D&C 84, which is a revelation given to Joseph in 1832, states in verses 87-88, "Behold, I send you out to reprove the world of all their unrighteous deeds, and to teach them of a judgment which is to come.  And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up."

            

Sometimes we feel a personal commandment from the Lord to do something or sometimes it might be a calling that seems impossible.  When those times come, we should remind ourselves that whosoever will "thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God." He will prepare the way for us regardless of how difficult or simple the task may seem. Not only will he prepare the way for us, but let's not forget the last sentence in the underlined scripture, his "angels will be round about you, to bear you up." I share a simple witness that this statement is true! There are many, both from our posterity and those who've passed on before, who are aware of us and are there to support us in what we're asked to do (whether it's a personal commandment from the Lord or an "official calling").  If the veil were parted and we could see, I think it would shock many of us how engaged those on the other side of the veil are in our lives.

           

From the scriptures, we see several example of missions that were difficult or seemed impossible.
Visualize yourself in the shoes of the people used in these examples. What a daunting task each seemed to face in their own journey:

            

            - Daniel 3.  The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego as they refuse to follow the commandment of Nebuchadnezzar and are cast into the fiery furnace.  They stayed true to their Lord despite being walked to the furnaces - imagine being in their shoes!

           

            - Daniel 2.  This seems a little more subtle. Daniel went before the King and translated his dream when others could not. Daniel understood well the Lord would attend him as he stood before the King. Imagine being in his shoes.  Would there be doubt? Would we wonder whether we'd be ready for that inspiration?  No, we would not if we conform our lives to the way the Lord would have us live!

           

             - 1 Samuel 17.  David and Goliath. Imagine entire armies watching.  What pure and simple faith on the part of David.

           

             - 1 Nephi 4. Nephi returns to Jerusalem to obtain the plates. According to his doubting brothers, this was an impossible command from the Lord.

          

             - Alma and Ammon.  Teaching the hard-hearted Nephites and going to deliver the gospel to the Lamanites, who up to that point, only sought the destruction of the Nephites.

            

These are a few examples of people who went and did, in the face of certain failure, according to what the world viewed as possible.  I'd like to share one last story of someone who felt a personal prompting and acted on it.  It required extra time and many of us may have disregarded the prompting because we're to "busy".  This was a story shared at a meeting in Florida and was shared by a worker in the Orlando Temple, Sister Hessi.  This story was taken from my journal.

               

             As the sisters in the Temple were having their prayer meeting, Sis Hessi (another temple worker) recounted a story from her life that goes something like this:

                Sister Hessi was doing names in the Temple one day and as she was finishing and getting ready to return home.  She felt prompted to stay and do another name.  She hesitated because she had a baby sitter at home and had given a specific time she would return.  But, she decided to stay and do the name for one more sister.

                As she was driving home, she noticed the emergency response vehicles in the area and realized they were at her house.  As she frantically walked in the babysitter said “I’m so sorry, I only turned away for a second”.  Her child had been swept away in the stream behind the house and had been swept under the culvert. They still hadn’t found the body.  She was going to go help look for her when she felt like she should first look in her daughter's room.  There was her daughter sitting in the room all wet and dirty.  This sister asked her daughter how she had got to her room, and the daughter recounted  she didn't remember how she got out of the river, only that a nice lady in white brought her back to the room.  This sister asked  her daughter the name of the lady, and it was the same name she had stayed to do in the Temple prior to going home that day.

           

This story is an example of a lady who received direction to do something as simple as staying at the Temple to do an extra name, and she did it. Truly his angels were there to bear her up that day. It's my witness that whatever the Lord asks us to do, he will provide the way! His angels (and often times people we know) will be there to bear us up and support us as we faithfully seek to do the Lord's will. He is mindful of those who humbly follow his counsel and guidance!  Sometimes it might be direction to switch careers or something significant.  Other times, it will be to simply pass by and visit someone or pick up the phone and make a call. Either way, He will be on our right and our left and His Spirit shall be in our hearts, and his angels round about us.

The Wedding Ring

Recently I was inspired by the post of a friend and made a renewed effort to look around more carefully for the deeper symbolism of all that surrounds us and how it might point to Christ.  It's interesting that all we have to do is look and the world is full of symbolic representations of the Savior. Yesterday my wife and I were in the Provo Temple, and I was twisting my wedding ring.  As I looked down, it caused me to ponder the significance of this seemingly simple symbol.  As I pondered, I realized often times things can be viewed from a "worldly" perspective, or they can be viewed with "spiritual eyes."  Although the world may have a different meaning of what the wedding ring signifies, I believe there is actually a deep meaning in this simple ritual of exchanging rings when we enter into this exalting ordinance of marriage.

These are a few of the possible meanings related to the wedding ring and the exchange:

1) The Circle: The circle typically represents God, Unity, Heaven, and Eternity. As mentioned earlier, it may not have this meaning to the world, but I want to relate this meaning to someone who's seeking all the Lord has to offer. Heaven has to be involved in a celestial marriage. We use our hands to work, which is where the ring is located. As we work together, and make it a union between a couple and the Lord (think about the temple marriage ceremony and symbolism of that ordinance), that marriage [couple] can ultimately ascend to the highest kingdom of Heaven.

2) Gold: My ring happens to be made of gold and I realize all rings are not.  The gold color typically represents purity, royalty, and refinement.
       Purity: We should constantly be striving to purify ourselves of those things that don't bring us closer to God. It's interesting that it's symbolized in the wedding ring, which means that although it's an individual process, ultimate exaltation and purification will be a joint journey - the spouse has to be involved at some point if you will be an eternal partner.
       Royalty: D&C 131:2-5 "In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees; And in order to obtain the highest a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage]; And if he does not, he cannot obtain it.  He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have  an increase." A couple who enters into this covenant and proves themselves faithful in all things will go onto become Kings and Queens.
       Refinement:  D&C 128:24 "Behold, the great day of the Lord is at hand; and who can abide the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap." All who enter his presence will have to have the impurities removed from their life. Just as the purest gold is refined in extreme heat, so we pass through tribulation and repentance to eliminate the impurities in our life. The only true way to be refined is when we allow and invite the atonement of Jesus Christ to work in our lives.

3)  The Ring Exchange: In the act of the ring exchange, one person typically slides the ring on the partners finger. This represents giving one's self to the other; mentally, physically, and emotionally.  We don't have the desire to lust after another or get emotionally involved with someone else. This is the person to whom we give ourselves completely. It's only through this union (when it is of the Lord) we can truly become an exalted being. As we give ourselves to her/him, it represents how we should treat that person. A celestial partner will not abuse, hurt, or criticize.

4) Location of the Ring:  The ring generally located on the left hand where it can constantly be seen.  This symbolizes how we should constantly be looking for opportunities to involve the Lord in our marriage and also how we might better serve our companion. Our marriage should always be something we're looking at.  Does it feel like a celestial relationship? Is the Lord involved? Do we have spiritual experiences together? Just as we can see the ring throughout the day, these important questions should constantly be in our focus.  1 Corinthians 1:11 "Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord."


Some might think I'm reading too much into this, but the closer we look at how those things which surround us point to the Lord, the more we will understand Him, love Him, and seek to serve Him.  In this case, the ring and what it represents should also spur in us a desire to treat our spouse better, lift them,  and serve him/her. When we do this, great things await us as heaven seeks to sustain those efforts.