You Are What You Hear

Yesterday I had an interesting experience while doing my homework. I decided to listen to some music from Pandora.com while tackling my assignments in an attempt to arouse my dwindling faculties on a “Friday Eve”. The music was not inappropriate by any means, but it also wasn’t uplifting or edifying either. I found myself getting irritated while my mind seemed to connect with idle or even negative thoughts.

The old saying, “you are what you eat”, I believe, has parallel implications to that which we hear. As illustrated in this picture of a baby listening to music with sad overtones (from a study performed by BYU), one cannot deny the direct affects of the music a person chooses to hear and their soul (http://byunews.byu.edu/archive08-Oct-babymusic.aspx).

Music is much more than mindless noise. Music is physical, emotional, and mental. Music is energy—a vibration—which glides through the air until it plucks the eardrum, translating the movement into music. Good music seems to physically massage, mentally inspire, and emotionally caress. It’s as if light is infused into the spine when uplifting music is ingested.

The Lord even said, “For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me” (D&C 25:12) If one who is perfect extols good music, should not we all embrace it?

While typing this blog I performed an experiment. Initially, I had on mainstream pop music. I was easily distracted, unmotivated to finish this blog, and very slow to progress in this assignment. However, after switching to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart my experience was completely different. My mind felt quicker, deeper, more efficient, and I was at ease. I submit this dichotomy can be seen with most people.

Now, as a disclaimer, let me say that I believe there are many times that fast, clean, exciting music is merited and even helpful in life. For example, while working out, “bumping” Bach probably wouldn’t get the blood pumping. As said by King Solomon, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

Why Are You So Happy?

Many critiques of my faith assert that we must breath different air than the rest of the world, as we seem to be so happy all the time. Indeed, the bastian of the LDS community, Provo, UT, is coined as "Happy Valley". Why is this so? How can we be so happy?

May I first explain that our espoused faith does not create a miraculous antidote to all unpleasant events or even tragedies. In fact, the ongoing principle of our faith is to "endure to the end". If life was easy while living our faith, why would we be counseled to "endure". I think the difference from a life of faith and one without it is the vision of what lies around the corner.

We believe as Paul that "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." (1 Corinthians 2:9).

I marvel at marathon runners who can seem to get themselves to run for literally hours each week to train for their competition. For the longest time I couldn't understand them. How can they go through that torture and why on earth do they seem to enjoy it? "Are they all masochists" I would question. However, after starting training for a triathlon, I have been able to understand their impetus for being so physically active. The answer is hope: a vision of the future that, through great effort, will be realized. If you can retain constructive thoughts of finishing a marathon and the glory that it will bring, then wouldn't you be motivated to run every day?

Now translate that to something much, much, (really, infinitely) bigger. Jesus Christ promises us the "Father’s kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him" (D&C 84:38) if we follow his commandments. For eternity! We can know that "that same sociality which exits among us here with exist among us there, only it will be coupled with eternal glory, which glory we do not now enjoy" (D&C 130:2). Wouldn't you be happy if you realized that by simply doing your best to follow the Savior you could have these blessings?

I have a certain knowledge that through obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ we can be endowed with boundless blessings in this life and literally unfathomable gifts in the life to come. What is there not to be happy about?

Not The Fulness at First

I think that many misconstrue the principal that Christ taught concerning perfection. Too often we look like this lady to the left. To be perfect, as the Lord commands us, can seem overwhelming at best. The impetus for this post is to unveil the truth of His directive (to become perfect), especially to my fellow harsh self-critics.

First, if we are to become perfect, we should naturally be interested in observing the road of one who has reached perfection: Christ. Luckily, Joseph Smith received a powerful revelation concerning the progression of the Savior. Doctrine & Covenants Section 93 teaches "And he received not of the fullness at first, but continued from grace to grace, until he received a fullness; And thus he was called the Son of God, because he received not of the fullness at the first." (D&C 93:13-14)

The Lord learned "line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little" (2 Nephi 28:30) until he reached the fullness of knowledge, light, and truth. I find it interesting that in the New Testament, Christ gave the directive to "be ye therefore perfect even as my Father which is in heaven is perfect "(Matthew 5:48). In contrast, as the Savior visited his followers on this continent he said, "therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I or your Father who is in heaven is perfect." (3 Nephi 12:48)

He did not add himself to the equation of perfection until after his resurrection, after mortality. Though Christ never sinned, not even once, he did not reach "the fullness" of light and truth in this life. The point is, even with a flawless track record, we will not reach the fullness of perfect in mortality. Spelling out this principle is not an attempt to induce mediocrity or a sort of asceticism but to increase hope and bring perspective to the loving commandment to become perfect. Stop and ponder how much the Savior loves, trusts and sees in you if he gives us such a commandment.

True Principle

This semester I decided to follow the counsel of what I consider to be scripture. On December 27, 1832, Joseph Smith received a revelation from God. Joseph was in Kirtland, Ohio when he received what is known as Doctrine & Covenants Section 88. The 124th verse reads, “…cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated.” (D&C 88:124)

I have a testimony of the blessings of this revelation. I know that by retiring and arising early has amazing benefits both spiritual and physical. Last semester in school, I had a very demanding schedule. I was at the beginning of a challenging program and I was working for the first time while concurrently going to school. Staying up too late was my biggest weakness. I watched my clock turn to 1:00 a.m. or 2:00 a.m. more often than not and I wasn’t waking up as early as I would like. I was regularly exhausted, incoherent, and unengaged in my daily activities.

This semester, however, I made it a goal to hit the sack earlier each night and to wake up earlier than before. I have seen monumental dividends from this shift. Not only have I been able to conquer my regular obligations more efficiently but I’ve been able to fit in much more enjoyable activities in my schedule because of this. For example, I’ve been able to begin training for a triathlon this summer with my increased time and energy. Indeed, “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”

I know that this principal is true. Because I have tested this principle in my life, I know it is true. Through these same means I have come to know that Jesus Christ lives, that Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God, and that the Book of Mormon is revelation from God. I invite all to test out these things as well that they may know the truthfulness of these things.

Life Is Beautiful

This morning, as I ran out the door, I was greeted with the sharp bites of cold attacking every ounce of me in the 9-degree weather. Walking quickly seemed to make things worse as the bitter breeze sped up as well, mocking me in my valiant effort to get warm. I was cold. While walking was juggling thoughts of the day's demands and recounting a challenging experience I had just experienced the day before.

Sulking in pathetic misery I didn't even notice the beautiful sunrise chisel the silhouette of the majestic Rocky Mountains before me. I did not pay attention to the warm smiles of people passing me. In short, within this vacuum of self pity, I shunned any positive perspective of life.

Yet, the day got warmer and I cleared my hurdles one by one. I went to class and performed very well on the assignments issued. I enjoyed a productive meeting with my study group and attended an inspiring lecture. I eventually felt good about everything. In retrospect, I was blessed to appreciate the beauties and blessings of the day juxtaposed to my earlier trials.

Though this is somewhat trite I think it illustrates a major principle in our lives. We forget reality way too often. True, life brings us bitter cold valleys but only on the path to bluffs of ecstasy. I believe in the words of the Savior as he said, “For after much tribulation come the blessings” (D&C 58:2–4).

The momentary inconveniences of life only heighten our conveniences, the pains develop the joys, the fears buttress the faith, the losses make the gains vibrant. Indeed, life is beautiful in every situation when viewed through the lenses of reality.

Mormon: What do I believe

I distinctly remember an experience I had in my sophomore year of high school. At the end of math class, on the last day before Christmas Break, a friend and I were discussing our plans for the upcoming respite. I inquired of her Christmas traditions, I think. Then she said something like, "What are you doing for Christmas? Oh wait, you're Mormon, you don't celebrate Christmas." Dumbfounded, I asked her for her foundation for that misunderstanding. She then assured me that I didn't believe in Christ or in Christmas.

After ingesting the comment, I did what anyone would do after hearing a ludicrous statement: I laughed. I then attempted to explain to her my belief and devotion to Jesus Christ. I'd like to begin this blog with a similar end in mind, to express my beliefs and knowledge of the Savior.

While a missionary in the New England area for two years, I spent every waking moment trying to teach others of the love and blessings that Christ can bring. I watched the miraculous metamorphosis of dozens who embraced that which I have come to know as truth. I believe everyone on this earth is a child of a loving Heavenly Father; further, I believe that Christ, through his perfect life and selfless suffering, the Atonement, we can get rid of guilt and shame, have peace in this life, and live in eternal happiness with our families after this life. Think about that. When attempting to comprehend these blessings, I am overcome. He loves us infinitely as depicted by this picture.

With Christ, we can say with a sound mind, "Come rain, come death, come pain. Add prolonged blessings, add loss, add poverty." Yes, I am a Mormon, and I know that Christ is my Savior and yours. Jesus Christ himself named this organization with His name: "For thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" (D&C 115:4).

I hope this blog will be mutually beneficial for those who read and respond and for me.