Free Agency Theft

I'm going to share an incident that took place about 20 years ago, perpetrated by a couple of my children who shall remain nameless.

To preface the incident, let me note that I believe in following the Word of Wisdom as practiced in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Long ago, as a youth, I decided that I would never drink any caffeinated drinks like coffee and tea, nor would I ingest any hard liquor. These drinks are definitely against the Word of Wisdom. Although Coke products are not technically against the Word of Wisdom, even though they contain caffeine, I made the decision to abstain from using those products as well. This was an easy decision since I don't like carbonated drinks.

Knowing of my dislike for carbonated drinks, two of my children decided to play a practical joke on me. They secretly placed Coke (or Dr. Pepper) in the water bottle I always kept in the fridge. This water bottle was dark so it could easily disguise any drink that wasn't the water I was expecting when I took it out of the fridge and took a gulp. That was the worst tasting "water" I had ever injested. Becoming aware that someone had put Coke in my water bottle, my blood started to boil. I was VERY offended by this. The giggles from the two guilty parties revealed the source, but did nothing to calm my anger. They thought this practical joke was so funny...until they saw how it had upset me. Guilt immediately replaced their glee.

 I really enjoy watching videos of practical jokes played on unsuspecting persons. I laugh out loud at the jokes people come up with.  I guess practical jokes come with the territory of living in a large family and other practical jokes previously played on me were funny as well. I didn't, however, like this joke simply because now I could never again proclaim that I had never tasted Coke. They took that choice away from me. I had been robbed! My agency to choose whether to drink it or not was stolen from me. I felt violated.

Although this particular practical joke backfired, I still love my children and I have forgiven them. After all, there were no serious aftereffects from this joke. Nobody was physically harmed and I know that they meant it in good fun. However, I will never forget how I felt that day when my agency was stolen from me. I hope that I can always conduct my life in a way so as to never steal any else's agency.

David Vs. Goliath - A Modern Version of the Story

Referring back to the Bible story of David & Goliath, I see the same battle going on today. For those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, it is quite obvious what is going on politically in our country right now. David (Donald J. Trump) was duly elected as the President of the United States 1.5 years ago. Although the leadership of the FBI and other dishonest far-left Liberals did everything in their power to "insure" that David could never be elected, it happened anyway. Ever since then, David has been bullied and abused by Goliath (the deep-state radical far left politicians, government employees, and the media). Goliath wants nothing more than for David to give in to his chest-thumping and rhetoric. Goliath wants to do battle. David is up to the task and has fought back valiantly and triumphantly. No other President has ever been attacked like David  has. He has had to defend himself every single day since he took office. 

We all know how the story of David & Goliath ends. One young man (David), with only a few stones and a sling shot stood up against a giant (Goliath) who bore bigger and better weapons and was covered from head to toe with protective gear. Even so, with God's help, David saw Goliath's weak spot and went for the kill - a stone to the unprotected forehead of Goliath. 

Just like Goliath, Liberalism is dead. They are trying to resuscitate it, but for now it's not working. Socialism and Communism (which is what the left wants for our country) has NEVER worked and can NEVER work. Venezuela is the newest proof of that. 

When are people going to wake up and see Liberalism for what it is??? It's about hatred, lies, power, and deception. Those are tactics of Satan. Far-left Liberals have gone too far in using those tactics to their own detriment. If they were honest with themselves, which they will never be, they would admit that Liberalism doesn't work. But they don't care. They demonize anyone who doesn't believe the same way they do. So pathetic!

I believe our country is on the verge of a political civil war. Goliath has so much hatred that he can't see straight. He hates David, he hates Christianity, he hates Judaism, he hates Conservatives, he hates those who want to protect the 2nd Amendment, he hates free speech if it is opposing his views, etc., etc., etc. All of  Goliath's cronies out there are trying to create chaos in the country by spreading their hatred and lies. 

Despite what the media wants you to think, I believe that Liberalism is in the minority. Most American's don't want Socialism or Communism. I sure hope it stays that way.

God bless America!

Spiritual Self Evaluation

I was asked by Sister Over to assist with her Relief Society lesson tomorrow by sharing what motivates me to increase my spiritual self-reliance.

 I appreciate this assignment because it has given me an opportunity to do a self-evaluation of my spirituality. I believe that it is normal for our level of spirituality to fluctuate, depending upon what is happening in our lives. Thankfully, I have never gone inactive in the Church. I’m just the opposite. From the time I was a little child until today I have hated missing Church. I’m always afraid that I will miss out on something really cool if I’m not there. I have found, however, that when I feel out of sorts or that something is missing in my life, that my spirituality might have waned a little bit. That’s when I know that I need to get back to doing the basics. I need to take the time to do the little things that will increase my spirituality, especially more sincere prayer and deeper scripture study.

One thing that helps motivate me is my appreciation for what the Savior has done for me. It makes me want to give back to him. I want to try to repay him by doing what’s right. I want to prove myself worthy of His great gift of the atonement.

I know that my testimony, if not fed, will dwindle away. I don’t want that to happen. That’s why I try to do things that will keep my testimony strong. Regular temple attendance is one of those things that I enjoy and love to participate in. It gives me a spiritual high each time I attend.

Another thing that gives me a spiritual boost is Education Week held on the BYU campus in Provo, Utah every August. I have been attending for over 20 years (although not every year). I always leave campus feeling very spiritually fed.

Another motivator, for me, is hope. God has given us promises of such a bright future if we believe in Him and follow His example. I don’t want to miss out on the blessings he has promised the faithful.

 2 Ne. 31:20 is my favorite scripture for that reason. It reads:

“Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.”

There are other scriptures that motivate me as well, but this is a clear favorite of mine. It reminds me to continue to press forward no matter what obstacles get in my path. It reminds me to endure to the end, and it reminds me that I will be rewarded for doing so.

Enduring to the end can be hard, but is so important. Comparatively speaking, this life is just a short little blip on the radar compared to the eternity that is beyond this life. We only have to endure to the end of this life. After this, if we have been true and faithful to our covenants, the promised blessings will come to fruition. What a blessed day that will be.