GRATITUDE

Life. WOW! Be careful, the beauty we see and the beauty we seek disappears so quickly if we don't hold onto that which is sacred. What is sacred? People, relationships, life is sacred, family, freedom, freedom to fail and freedom to succeed. Emotions are sacred. When I say sacred, I don't mean to say that we grovel at these things or these people. Life is like a garden and it needs attention and love, care and concern. Groveling distances us from that which is sacred and it distances us from the real and true sense of that which is sacred.
When I think of the invitation that Jesus Christ extends to all of us to come unto Him, none of that invitation makes me feel like I am groveling. He wants to me to come unto Him and walk with Him and talk with Him. Really He wants me to share my life with Him and with those around me. This life was never meant to be a life of solitude, we were meant to be with and interact with one another.
I think of my cousin Brandon who is in Afghanistan right now with the Marines. The love he communicates to his wife Jaquelyn is so inspiring. The life we live here in the United States is such a privileged life. The time we spend here from day to day is so sacred. We are blessed with so much, what an opportunity to serve and to give to the world and to LIFE!

Evolution of Perception: Big Post

It's been a very long time since I last posted on this thing. I hope you all enjoy the pics of some adventures from this summer.

This is the first turkey that I have ever attempted cooking. It's actually cooking as I am typing this message.


Just don't ask.

This is a mountain that is in Birchcreek which is east of Smithfield, Utah. I am getting tired of this particular post so I'll keep you posted on any other developments later on.

The Jardine Juniper Trail

So, not too much new these days. We almost made it to the end of this trail but because of time constraints we turned around and made it back down to have pancakes at Crestview Apartments with those who came with the exception of a few.

Okay everybody, this is the Extreme talking now. I would like to take a moment of your time to list some of the adjectives I would use to most accurately describe the conditions of this trail: dry, wet, rocky, uphill, flat, downhill, muddy, snowy, then muddy again, and finally ending in a parking lot.

Like Michael said, we didn't make it to the trail's namesake this time, but that's cool too. In that case, however, I would likely also include "junipery" on my list of adjectives. Please note this.

Finally, I would just say that it sure is awesome to have great friends like these who want to go on some sweet adventures! Can't wait to see what else this summer has in store.

Leatham Hollow: The Beginning of Extreme Adventures

"THE EXTREME"

This was a sweet hike Tyler "The Extreme" Stoker and I went on last weekend up Blacksmith Fork Canyon. It rained the whole time and I wouldn't have it any other way.
This is me after having driven back down the canyon to use the restroom in the local McDonald's. Moral of the story; use the restroom before your drive up a canyon you have never been to before. Don't even think about jumping the fence that says "No Trespassing."


We had to back out because we were running into more and more snow as we got closer and neither of us were up for wading through a few more miles of snow. So when all was said and done we decided that this was definitely a hike that needs to be repeated.

Happiness

So I was at Stake Conference Yesterday and let me tell you why it was amazing. Our Heavenly Father has a messenger, the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost teaches the willing heart. he was present at Stake Conference yesterday. We were taught. The principles were simple and they were true principles.
With each day that passes by I am given a days worth of evidence that God Lives and that he loves all of us on this earth. He does care for us. Why do bad things happen? Ask Him. Follow Him and He will show you.I hope you all like this quote. The world tends to wrap a bag of something with so many strings attached and call it happiness and then entice us to chase is for the rest of our lives to in the end accomplish nothing but fill the pockets of other men and women with hard earned time and energy. If you follow the Lord, He will lead you to true happiness, that yes, is a choice to be had, experienced and shared.

REPENTANCE

So I wanted to post something today I decided to post something about a principle that I have not yet embodied Completely, and that is Repentance. I found this blog by a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that was so good. he mentioned many choice aspects of Repentance that clarified my understanding of that principle. he said the following:

The point of repentance and then obedience thereafter is for the individual to witness the grace, power, and mercy of Christ's Atonement in his life. No man could repent without God's grace. But as we actively engage in the process of sanctification, we can become a witness to the power of God.

Here is the url for his blog. I highly encourage visiting it because it was very insightful and I cannot deny that the spirit spoke to my heart about the principle of Repentance and how I personally need to magnify that principle in my life.
I know that Christ is the Savior of the World. He is our personal Savior. There was nothing general about His Sacrifice in our behalf. There was no blanket salvation. There was a specific price paid for each of us individually. Elder Jeffery R. Holland, plead with the world just over a week ago to not let the Savior suffer alone again. Let us all pick up the cross he has called us to bare and not be ashamed of it. Let us Serve without expecting something in return. Let us serve because we love our God. I am not quite there yet, but I am working at it. I hope that we will each sustain each other in our pursuits to become more like Christ.

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Leaving the "Nest"

Just now I was caught thinking about this analogy that I have shared about myself being an adult eagle that knows how to fly but for one reason or another, or a multitude of reasons, refuses to leave the nest he grew up in. And then I thought about a recent experience I had this weekend that included General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the wonderful associations that I have been blessed with from family and friends and influential acquaintances. The thought that came to my mind was that I CAN fly. Not like jumping off a roof and flying kind of flying. I mean the making a difference in this world kind of flying. More importantly, we all can "fly" (the making a positive difference in somebody Else's life kind of flying). I am reminded of President Uchtdorf's words from one of his messages during the previous October conference. he said, "lift where you stand." I wonder if there could be more positive change in this country and in this world, if we stopped waiting for the government to change and we changed ourselves. If we spent the time we do complaining about this that our the other and spent it serving someone or a group of people, I bet our country would be a better place and the future of this country would be a better future. Let's help those around us see that they too can "fly" (you know what kind). Let's help them see what difference they can make.