Music: Foundation of Faith (And a quick update!)

In case you didn't know i've been kind of quiet on the blogsphere because i've been going back and forth between Idaho, Utah, and Arizona. It's been an amazing couple of weeks! I've got a lot of insights to share here, and on my other blog, but i wanted to share a quick insight that hit me today amazing time, and some fun pictures from my trip.

I love jazz music

Music. Magic that has enchanted people since the beginning of time. There's something inside of us that cannot resist the pull of great music! Whether it's Jazz, or Hip-hop, or Baroque, or Classical, or maybe Country western, once you find music that you love, you can't get it out of your head!

If you've had the pleasure of seeing Pixar's new movie Inside Out, then you (hopefully) noticed the tripledent gum ad that kept popping up for the young girl. The molecules said about the memory of that jingle "this one is never gonna fade! Sometimes we throw it up there just for fun!" (Speaking of Inside Out and music, i'm currently hooked on the song Lava.)

TripleDent Gum, will make you smile!

As i pondered why some of these songs just randomly come from the depths of our memory, i had an insight, it's because we're hardwired for praise. We're hardwired to praise the Lord! (This is a subject i'll be writing about at some point, but it requires a lot more time and attention than I can put into a blog post)  The Lord designed us this way so we could learn easier through song! Basically any song  can stick in our memory like gum on the bottom of a shoe, which means we have to be just as careful what we let into our ears, as what we let our shoes fall into.*

When i was pondering this, one of the first witnesses that pointed me to this was the fact that almost all the major religions, the texts were recited to music? The Hebrews have their chants, and prayers that are in song, the Muslims have their call to prayer, and the Qur'an in song, and the Hindus have the Vedas which were originally hymns, Catholics have their repeated prayers, and songs. Even the Yogis sing their mantras to music!

The Vedas are older than Moses!

For a while i was really annoyed that Latter-day Saints don't put many of our scriptures to music. We have our hymns, yes, but i wish there was some cool song that i could use to sing 1 Nephi!  (I was actually just talking to Erwin about this today.) The jews have cool patterns! However, it seems that Latter-day Saints are peculiar enough as they are, that they avoid things that might make them seem even weirder.. i.e. chanting scriptures to music in order to learn them better.

Back to today! I was walking through Deseret Book, and after i made my purchase i saw a jewel, a nugget of gold, an oasis in the desert! (No, it was not the chocolate counter next to the cashier!) I saw Scripture Scouts on CD!

Old School Cassettes

When i saw the CDs, i remembered that in my childhood i used to listen to the cassettes as i would fall asleep. There was one particular song that i would stay up late and listen to over and over. As i would listen to it, i would feel something. I wasn't sure what it was, but i loved how it felt! I would listen to it over and over, just because i loved how it felt!

As i looked back, i realized that i was feeling the Holy Ghost testifying to me about what i was hearing. Then I realized that the foundation of loving the Lord, and loving the scriptures came to me as i listened to these songs. Songs about the rameumptom, and kids talking about Laban and the plates.

I bought the album, and immediately put it into my car CD player. As i listened to it i was shocked to hear how corny some of the songs are. But even though they're corny i can't help but love them!

Now on CD!

Moral of the story: use music as a foundation for faith. Children may wander in later years, but they will remember the music, and the feelings, and that can and will provide a path to return. Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is older, he will not depart from it. President Eyring said it this way,

There are things you can do early, when those you love are young. Remember that daily family prayer, family scripture study, and sharing our testimony in sacrament meeting are easier and more effective when children are young. Young children are often more sensitive to the Spirit than we realize.

When they are older, they will remember the hymns they sang with you. Even more than recalling music, they will remember the words of scripture and testimony. The Holy Ghost can bring all things to their remembrance, but the words of scriptures and hymns will last the longest. Those memories will exert a pull that may bring them back when they wander for a time, possibly for years, from the pathway home to eternal life.

*(The fact that Satan uses that hardwiring to ensure that meaningless drivel and horrid filth play on repeat in our heads is just a further backhanded 2nd confirmation for me.)

Now time for some photos from my trip to AZ with Erwin!

Erwin and me in front of the Payson, UT temple

In front of the Grand Canyon

This is the symbol of our trip. Mediation: where heaven meets earth.

We slept under the stars

Sat Nam! We love meditating!

Beautiful

Cellular Memory Storage

Today i woke up to being taught about cells, memory, molecules, light, and computers. I felt impressed to share, so i hope and pray to God that this comes out the way he intended it, and that i get out of the way.

Cells carry memories just like computers! Cells are programmed with light that has been embedded with a message, just like a computer chip is programmed with an encoded signal. The phrase from the 2008 LDS General Conference "Today scientists even describe light as a 'carrier' or 'messenger'" was going through my mind the whole time i was downloading this information. (You can find that talk here.)

Our bodies as divine instruments animated by spirits, i.e. beings of light, have the capacity to encode light with a message, and send that light to a molecule. (Candace Pert PhD calls these molecules the "Molecules of Emotion") That molecule then becomes like the computer chip, embedded with memories, or emotions, or visual flashes, all transmitted through light.

We've moved far beyond binary as "off and on". With light as information transfer, or fiber optics, we can change the quality, color, or brightness, and use that as a code for transferring information. Our bodies, as gifts from the highest and holiest God, are greater than anything we can develop.

It is my hope that you will pray about, and embrace cellular memories. What this information means to me is that God is light, God is truth, and our bodies need to be sanctified by God's light, and we get that because of Christ's Atonement. There is not one molecule of our bodies that needs to hang on to bitterness, or resentment. If we come unto God, every fiber (cell, or molecule) of our being can and will be cleansed by Him who is light, the light of the world.

As always, comments are encouraged and appreciated! Have you had an experience with cellular memory?

Also, if you'd like more information about cellular memory, you can read Molecules of Emotion by Candace Pert PhD. For more information about light as a form of information transfer take a look at DYC 88, the talk i mentioned earlier, or this TED Talk.

Sinner's Stockholm Syndrome

The other day I was pondering my need for repentance, and I began to understand what it means to be saved from our sins, and not in our sins. I realized that I if I want peace I need to leave my sins! As I pondered that need for change, I found some unpleasant feelings about leaving my sins and vices behind.

Let me give a little background to this post though. From my study of the scriptures and experiences on my mission, I’d experienced a constant peace amidst trial that seemed to surpass all understanding. When I came home, through the bumps of life, I lost the constant peace. I tried to get it back, but it was as elusive as smoke through my fingers. It would only last for a few days, sometimes a few months, but it never lasted.

At the time of this epiphany I realized that I wanted Christ’s peace, but I wanted the sinners lifestyle. I selfishly wanted peace. I was resisting the changes I’d been praying for, and everything was becoming clear in this moment. The moment of truth, literally, where I’d finally understand what Christ was commanding me to do.

“Come follow me.”

Christ was inviting me to leave my sinner’s lifestyle of selfishness and live a life of selfless service in everything I do. This time, I won’t turn away. I’m going to commit, and I’m going to live it. This was the whole message that Jesus Christ repeated to Peter “feed my sheep” and  “come follow me.” So that is what i'm going to do. If i make a few mistakes along the way

I feel like a seed has been planted in my heart, the seed of service, and it is now my duty to serve so that my seed will grow. So if you’ve got any service opportunities let me know. I’m very interested in serving where I can.