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

Religious and Personal Liberty

As i watched this video about religious liberty, i was examining my own heart, and a thought dawned in my mind. "How can i stand for religious liberty when i don't have personal freedom from my sins?" Aren't they basically the same thing? Am i free to worship God in my personal life the way my heart wants me to be? What did i do when the thought came "You should read the scriptures?" How sincere was my prayer this morning? Did i sincerely seek the Lord like i sincerely sought lunch today? What inhibited me from worshiping the God i claim to love so much? Am in bondage to anything in my life that prevents me from worshipping my God even when external circumstances warrant it?

I've often felt that the external world is merely a reflection of an internal world, and our collective external world is a reflection of our collective internal world. (Ghandi was an amazing example of this. He first achieved liberation from the internal war, then helped others achieve spiritual liberation, and then won the external political battles liberating India from the control of the British.) So it is no surprise to me when i'm seeing spiritual bondage all over the place, to hear that religious liberty is under attack.

What i'm seeing though is a lot of well intentioned people getting "vocal" about protecting religious liberties by getting on social media, and clicking, posting, liking, and sharing. That's good, but it's not the best. The Savior said that we must "cleanse the inner vessel." We must first gain spiritual liberty before we can defend our religious liberty. We cannot fight like Captain Moroni for our our freedom of religion if we have not chosen "liberty and eternal life" by obeying the commands of Christ.

Obedience when followed precisely results in one amazing gift: charity. Charity is often viewed as feeling the fulness of God's love for other people, but that is a gross misinterpretation. Charity is described in both Lehi's dream, and Nephi's first vision, as the "love of God which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men (1 Nephi 11:22)." (If you'd like to know more about this, the book Following The Light of Christ Into His Presence, by John Pontius is an amazing resource!)

Charity, then, is the experience of feeling the fulness of God's love for me.

Maybe if he'd cleaned his glasses...

So what does that have to do with religious liberty, you might ask? Everything! If we are to take the Savior at his words, before we can help our brothers and sisters see the error of their ways, we must first have clear vision. We must cleanse the inner vessel, clean the windows, take of our dirty glasses, whatever the euphemism you understand or like, we need to stop talking about it, and do it! Fearless obedience is the very attribute that made Moroni so powerful! (Moroni 38:17) It's also what made the stripling warriors so powerful! We cannot defend ourselves from spiritual enemies if we aren't fully putting on our armor.

This is my vision: every priesthood holder powerfully discerning the influence of the Spirit of Christ, and learning to hold fast to every word which comes out of God's mouth. Every mother nurturing her children with the spirit of Christ in her heart, telling bedtime stories from the scriptures. Instilling faith in Jesus Christ at every opportunity. Taking advantage of every little revelation, every moment of conscience telling us to do something, every prompting, dutifully and faithfully obeyed, obeying because we recognize that those moments are opportunities to show our love for God.

I Was Born On A Rollercoaster

If you've been to Disneyland, you may recognize this sign. The ride is iconic. You're in the dark the whole time, you can barely see a thing. It bumps, shakes, dives, turns, and rocks you all over the place. The whole time you're (or someone else) screaming your head off, horrified you're going to lose a limb, or fall out, or something drastic. It can be a scary ride for some! Most of the time people get off, and think "WOW THAT WAS SO FUN!" and run back in line to get back on the ride!

My friend Shelby and I went to breakfast and then went on a hike, and we realized that life in mortality is like being born on Space Mountain! It's dark, we don't know when the ride will end, we can't see super far in front of us (unless someone turns on the lights), there's bumps, and jerks, and twists and turns, and flashing lights, and people screaming, and it can be a bit much at times!

Not remembering what we signed up for, and the bumps ahead can be quite distressing! But here's the good news. We can turn on the lights. Well, God can turn on the lights for us, if we ask him to and if we let him.

You see, before we came to mortality, we agreed to certain bumps, jerks, twists and turns! Neal A Maxwell sums up the ideas of our mortal experiences reflecting our decisions as spirits before earth beautifully. (You can read the talk here)

In some ways, our second estate, in relationship to our first estate, is like agreeing in advance to surgery. Then the anesthetic of forgetfulness settles in upon us. Just as doctors do not de-anesthetize a patient in the midst of authorized surgery to ask him again if the surgery should be continued, so, after divine tutoring, we agreed once to come here and to submit ourselves to certain experiences and have no occasion to revoke that decision.

God has a plan for each and every one of us. An individual plan of salvation, and exaltation. He knows the bumps and bruises we're going to take, because he knows us perfectly. He's seen us grow and interact for billions of aeons! To quote Elder Maxwell again

It does no violence even to our frail human logic to observe that there cannot be a grand plan of salvation for all mankind, unless there is also a plan for each individual. The salvational sum will reflect all its parts. Once the believer acknowledges that the past, present, and future are before God simultaneously—even though we do not understand how—then the doctrine of foreordination may be seen somewhat more clearly. For instance, it was necessary for God to know how the economic difficulties and crop failures of the Joseph Smith, Senior, family in New England would move this special family to Cumorah country where the Book of Mormon plates were buried. God's plans could scarcely have so unfolded if—willy-nilly—the Smiths had been born Manchurians and if, meanwhile, the plates had been buried in Belgium!

By turning to the great physician for the prescription, our bumps and bruises, and broken bones and broken hearts can turn to anchors and pillars of strength and power. As Jesus said “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matt 19:26 ESV)

The Sleeping Giant

So… for the past several years, God has been pointing at, hinting at, nudging me towards, sometimes blaring at me, tugging me, and besmoodgening (I'm following the lead of great men, and making up words) me towards a gift of mine. It's been one i've never really taken the time to develop, but since i've been doing my spiritual work, and cleaning out my closet, it's been coming up more and more.

Well, about a month ago i got some really great direction, ya know, practical "do this" advice, as opposed to the nebulous besmoodgening i was getting. (besmoodgen: /bēsmo͞ojen/ a gentle prod repeated over and over.)

I followed the "to-do" and had a great sense of satisfaction! I can feel myself moving in this really great direction. I'm not ready to unveil what said target is, because in part, i'm not sure exactly where it will take me.

Well! As of today, i started something that i'm really excited about, and i can feel the sleeping giant inside me waking up. He's coming to the surface, and he's going to rock my world. I know i'll be sharing him with my friends, and family, so you'll no doubt see him! Until then, i'll appreciate all your prayers, and well wishes!

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.

Morse Code And Meditation

Consider this picture as you read the following story.

There once was a former army morse code operator who was looking for a job. One day while looking in the paper for a job, he saw an ad "Morse Code Operator wanted, for appointment call…." He quickly picked up his phone, and called and made an appointment. He was told to come in at a relatively early hour in the morning in a few days.

The day arrived and the operator hopeful walked into the office, dressed in his best suit and tie, and walked up to the secretary. "I'm here for the interview for morse code operator!" he proudly said. The secretary looked up, smiled, and asked him to "take a seat with the others." Puzzled he turns around and sees 3 men men sitting in chairs, dressed in a suit and tie.

As he takes his seat he asks the men how long they've been sitting there. The first man has been waiting for 45 minutes and was reading the paper, the second man had been waiting for 30 minutes and was reviewing his interview notes, the third man had been waiting for 15 minutes, and was nervously sitting there. As our friend took his seat he decided to calm himself down, and clear his mind.

After a few minutes he stepped up to the secretaries desk and asked for a paper and pen. The other men glanced up, and then resumed their respective activities. A few minutes later our friend stood up and marched into the office of the interviewer. The manager stood up, and asked him what he was doing in his office. Our friend showed him his notes, and the man shook his hand and said "congratulations, you've got the job."

When the hiring manager stepped outside his office to announce that the other perspective employees could go home, they were upset and asked why they weren't hired! They had never gotten their interview!

Calmly the hiring manager said, "The entire time you've been sitting out here a message has been broadcast via morse-code: 'If you can hear this, come into my office, you've got the job.' All of you had equal opportunities to translate, all of you had the training, and the skills, but not one of you took the time to be still and listen. Therefore, none of you got the job. You're all dismissed."

This story illustrates a very powerful truth: if we don't listen for the still small voice, we won't hear it. When Christ comes we'll be among those who "never knew [him]." The injunction to "Be still and know that I am God" is a commandment. (And it's not just in the Old Testament! It's a commandment in the Doctrine and Covenants as well.)

I'm sure there are numerous reasons why this is, first off, the world is going to get CRAZY, and if we don't anchor ourselves into him, then we'll won't survive the storm. The second is more subtle i think, by becoming still, we allow ourselves to really surrender everything to the Savior, and let him make changes in us for our benefit.

John 10:27 says "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." (NIV) Matthew 7:22-23 says something quite chilling. "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in they name done many wonderful works? And I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Did you notice how often they said that they did a wonderful work "in thy name"? What is the only church that has Jesus Christ's name on it? I've seen plenty of Baptists, and Methodists, and sects of Christianity, but I'm only aware of one church that bears the name of Jesus Christ: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 

Many of members of the LDS Church believe that because they're called, (or got the job interview appointment, and were well qualified, as was the case in the story above), that they'll be chosen. Unfortunately it doesn't work like that! "...Many are called, but few are chosen." as the scriptures declare. The problem? "Their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world…." The solution? Spend time in stillness, and give your heart a chance to let go of the things of this world.

What will happen if you do? The scriptures will open up to you in a way that they've never done before. The words of the prophets will make more sense, and you'll feel an increase of peace in times of difficulty. Your ability to regulate your emotions will be enhanced, and you'll be more calm in times of relative chaos. Also, one of my favorite blessings, all things will begin to be revealed to you. 2 Nephi 27: 11 says of the last days, "And all things shall be revealed unto the children of men which ever have been among the children of men, and which ever will be even unto the ends of the earth." Some people think this will happen in General Conference, but it won't. General Conference has to be the standard to the world, the ensign, the constant unchanging message and invitation to all the peoples of the world. No, this says it will be revealed to the "children of men" not just the prophets or apostles, or yogis, or sages, or mystics.  It will be direct, straight to us, from God to man.

The twelve steps teach it, Oprah suggests it, the prophets have commanded it, and the warnings for not doing it are unmistakably clear! Meditate. Take time each day to be still: still your body, mind, spirit and emotions. (Don't still your heart-beat otherwise you'll die, and I don't want that on my head.) And if you don't know how to do this, ask God to teach you! (That's how i had to learn) If you do this with the pray of knowing God, i promise that you'll get that! I have come to know and love God better through my daily time in stillness. I've become a better disciple of Christ. Love reigns in my home, and in my heart, and when i step out of bounds, i recognize it, and quickly hop back on the path of love, and devotion. It might not make you perfect overnight, but it will certainly transform and change you life!  As always, i love comments, so feel free to share your thoughts! 

It is my hope to meet you as we travel the road of happy destiny (hopefully you'll be meditating),

until then, happy meditating, and have a wonderful life!

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.