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.

THE LAMB OF GOD

I hope to some day be free of the effects of the garbage that I have exposed myself in this life. I hope that I am not found without the bounds of Christ's mercy because of the sins that I have committed. I hope that I am not without the bounds of His justice because of the principles that I have obeyed. I hope to be found more worthy of the guiding influence of the Holy Ghost. I hope to never be ashamed of the truth that I have been taught. I hope to never deny Him. I hope that i may walk from this moment forward in a manner that is pleasing before Him, without fear of men or women and what they might say or do. I hope that fear will only exist in my heart for the Lord, that the fear that remains be a real love for Him and His will, not a fear of falling short or being caught when I err. I hope that I may find peace and that when I find peace that it will be prized above all the posessions that one could have. I hope that that peace will be founded on His truth and His Gospel and not on my selfish comfort zone. I hope to forget myself and go to WORK!

SEARCHING FOR BALANCE

Searching for balance in this life is like trying to stay in one place on the deck of a ship that is being tossed to and fro in a violent storm. When you think you have gained your balance, the storm throws you in a direction you were not anticipating. Then when you have gained some sense of control, you are drenched by a wave of cold, salty sea water that only further inhibits your ability to regain your footing.
BUT, even amidst all of the tumultuous weather there is a knowledge that a supreme being is watching over you and providing you with the safety necessary o weather the storm. Not only that but He has provided you a way to be healed by the Gift of His son's suffering. Then to top it off, He provides those that follow Him the gift of the Holy Ghost; a constant companion to those who are humble and follow the Savior.
There are so many gifts that our God provides us, so many of which we hardly can explain why He would bestow us with such great gifts. I know that he loves all of us, each of us with a special kind of love that is individual and specific to us as His children. Let's remember that when we find ourselves in the most violent of storms. Someday we will find ourselves standing firm in whatever weather that comes our way. Standing firm because of the new level of trust that we place in the Master's Hand.
The book that is shown in this post is amazing. It talks about how we must maintain balance. Stephen R. Covey counsels us that the center of our lives must be God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. As we maintain our focus on them we will be directed in the ways that they would have us go and ultimately return to their presence to receive Eternal Life.