My Jersey Sponsor (Remix)

So, I posted a very similar blog (the first part is identical, in fact) May 2011, but when I wrote it, I thought of another comparison I could make, so I decided to hold off for a while, rewrite it with the other idea, and republish it. It's not been almost 10 months, so I figured that was long enough. If you'd like to see the original post, you can check it out here.

Soccer is a unique sport, in many ways, but right now I'm going to focus specifically on the jersey. Look at any team in the EPL, and you won't see what you see on, say, an NFL jersey. NFL you see the team name or city/state they're from with the number on the front, then the last name and number on the back. EPL, you'll see a company on the front, with a small shield on the left chest with the team name and logo, then on the back you'll see the name and number. This is also seen in many (though not all, yet) MLS teams. Why is that? Honestly, I'm not entirely sure, but there are some pretty cool looking ones out there. Each team is represented by someone different. Several of the teams are so big, and their partnerships have been with them for so long, that they become seemingly synonymous. I mostly think of Chelsea and Samsung, and Arsenal and Fly Emirates (the same used to be said of Liverpool and Carlsberg and Manchester United and AIG, but they've recently changed). Well, usually you'll only see one company in a league, but you do see Rangers and Celtic (huge rivalry) both sponsored by Carling in the Scottish League. But, you'll never see an English team with their town written on their jersey, it'll always be a company. The MLS is slowly working towards that, with a majority sporting some kind of company.
So, we've come to the part of the blog where we find the relevance of what I just wrote about it our every days lives. It's really quite simple, actually: when we were baptized, we covenanted to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ. Once we've done this, we've become a part of a team, but rather than having a company be the displaying name, it's the Savior. We're to live accordingly, and make our actions in line with what Christ expects of us. We're changed, and we are representing something and someone much bigger than ourselves. Just as the company on a soccer jersey comes to almost symbolize the team itself, so should we be closely linked to the Savior. Just like when people think Fulham, they'll think FxPro, people should see us and think of Jesus Christ. We should always be living our lives in a way that would be pleasing to Him, as well as make us an example of the believer. So, wear that name with pride!

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the mission
All the missionaries were having little night visions
Of nice, big packages all loaded with presents
From friends and family all far from their presence.
Their families were sitting right by their phones,
Anxiously awaiting the semi-annual call home.
For some, it's their first, for others their last,
But either way, the time goes by quite fast.
But even with the excitement of gifts and phone calls,
The missionaries were still out in the snow fall:
Sharing a message about this wonderful season,
And what exactly is the true reason.
We honor the birth of our dear Lord and Savior,
Who came to this earth and did us the ultimate favor:
He gave up His life so that we might live.
So this Christmas season, let us to him give.
Let's give Him our time, our effort, our heart,
Our all, our devotion, let's all do our part.
Now my farewell, 'fore we go fight the good fight:
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Merry Christmas everyone! And remember, this time isn't about receiving or decorations, it's about our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ!

Joy to the World...Cup

What is that, you may be wondering. Well, that is the trophy that you receive if you win the FIFA World Cup. The FIFA World Cup is the largest tournament in any sport (this doesn't include the Olympics as those are several different sports. I'm simply referring to within one sport). This is the most sought after trophy out there. Every four years, 32 teams from around the world gather in one place to compete. The greatest of the greatest, the best of the best, the world's elite all come with their A-game, ready to throw down and give it all they got. This isn't just a cross town or even cross country rivalry. This isn't just for the fame and glory of your specific team in one region. This is for the whole shebang. These players represent their entire country, and are vying for world recognition. This is the WORLD Cup. This is truly the only international, worldwide tournament, which is why it's such a big deal to win it. There is no other trophy that has as much pomp, holds as much grandeur, or claims the most respect as this. It's small and simple, but is most coveted above all other trophies. Who wouldn't want a little of that?
Most soccer (football) players will never even enter into the World Cup. That's just how it goes. Only 32 teams can enter, and of all the hundreds, if not thousands of players in each country, not many will get to have that experience. Even the best players who do make it to their national team may never have that opportunity. Some countries just aren't good enough. But anyone who plays soccer and pursues it as far as they can dreams of making it to the World Cup and getting that trophy. It's something they've grown up watching and fantasizing about. For many, it's a life long goal, and for those who have realized it, it's something they looked forward to all their lives.
Before the coming of the Messiah, Prophets had prophesied of His coming. Prophets such as Hosea, Isaiah, and others gave us things to look for: they told of His birth, His ministry, and His death. The Jews looked longingly for the Savior and Messiah, one who would rescue them. Eventually, the idea became one of a political savior, one to come and rescue them from bondage and restore Israel to glory. The expected a king, a conqueror to come and lead them to power. That was not what the Christ's mission was to be. It was never intended to be, and no prophets had even hinted at that idea. He was to be born in humble circumstances, and be rather low key. He wasn't going to be a warrior or a general, and He wasn't going to fight any wars. The Christ's purpose was to save us from our sins.

Those who looked for the Savior were well acquainted with the many prophecies of Him. He was the most anticipated of births. Everyone wanted the Messiah to come. It was a long awaited arrival. Just like the players who practice and train all their lives to have the opportunity to play in the World Cup, and achieve amazing glory of winning, the Jews longed for the greatest prize of all: Salvation. However, just like those players who, while hard working and achieving much individual success, just couldn't achieve the grandeur of the World Cup, there were many who missed the wonderful gift from our Heavenly Father. They disregarded this humble Jesus as simply a carpenter's son, and no one of real significance. Because of their own pride, they rejected the Man they had been waiting for their whole life.
Jesus Christ and his Atonement are the greatest things to happen to us as humans. Because of the gift of the Father of His Son, and the gift of Christ of the Atonement, we are able to have Salvation. As much as I'd love to win the World Cup, this is a much better award. I'll take it. Remember this this Christmas season, and don't worry about the little things. Remember: Christ is the reason for the season.

Gospel and Comic Books Part 3: Baptism

Feels like it's been forever since I've done one of these... Probably cause it has been. But, I'm back, and ready to go! So, continuing right along with my theme... we move along the Gospel, following up Faith and Repentance, and we find ourselves at... Baptism! Baptism is an essential part of following our Savior. As He said in John 3:3 "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." But how can a man be "born again"? Jesus answers that question a couple verses later: "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." Baptism is a rebirth. We are washed of our past life, and given a new one. The symbolism in baptism is beautiful. The water is a sign of us being washed clean. The fact that we are submerged shows that we are being buried, then raised again, just like our Savior. Our old ways are dying, and we are rising to a new, better life. It's not just a sign of faith and devotion, it's a necessary ordinance for us. If it wasn't, why would Christ be baptized? He was perfect after all. But, "he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments." So, we see that baptism is necessary for our salvation, as Jesus clearly taught and demonstrated. How can we be like Christ? Do the things He did.

Bruce Wayne was a pretty typical kid (except for the billionaire parent thing). But, after his parents died, he was put into a situation that no one wants to be in. So, he left. He left everything behind, and struck out on his own. In this time, he determined that there was too much evil in the world, and he wanted to do something about it. He found himself in a training facilities, run by the famous (yet mysterious) Ra's Al Ghul. After reaching a high level of skill, Bruce decides to return to his home in Gotham, and don a costume, and become Batman. (This is, of course, the origin story presented in the movie Batman Begins. As there are so few consistencies in his origin, I went with this one, since it's probably the best known). Now, what does this have to do with anything, especially baptism? It's quite simple, really: Bruce Wayne's training was a rebirth process for him. He became the Batman... he discovered who he was, what he wanted to accomplish, and how he could do that. He left behind the old Bruce Wayne, and became Batman. It's a similar process, kinda, to our rebirth. We must put off our old persona, who we were, our old vices and bad habits, and become someone better. Just as Bruce Wayne became Batman, we must be reborn, and become something better!

Gospel and Comic Books Part 2: Repentance

So, we move right along to post number 2 in this series! Yay!

You know what's so cool about Wolverine? He's got adamantium covered bones and he can regenerate! How can you beat that? You can't kill him... Even if you dried his feet in cement and threw him in the harbor, once he got to oxygen, he'd be alive. Even if you launched into space, cause once he got back into the atmosphere, he'd be alive. It doesn't matter what you might think of, cause he's got adamantium covered bones, and can regenerate. What a great power to have, right? This is a conversation that comes up quite frequently in my district, and is always resolved the exact same way: He's got adamantium covered bones, and can regenerate. There ya go, end of conversation. Yeah, we're cool like that. Now, wouldn't it be nice if we all had that? What if you knew, no matter what happened to you, you could be healed? Any pain you might experience, any trial you may endure, it won't matter, because in short time, it will be gone. Gunshot to the head? No problem! Getting shanked? Nothin'! Blunt object to the back of the head? Who cares? What comfort this could give us. We'd never have to worry about what may happen, never have to look over our shoulder. We could go through any walk of life with no fears.
But what of emotional problems? If you know Wolverine like I do (we're personal friends... He took us out to lunch last week. I'm working on him, but he's so stubborn, I just can't get him to sincerely read the Book or Mormon!), then you know that he's haunted by his past... most of that comes from not remembering it all, but he's got other demons. He's constantly plagued by incidents that he's been a part of. He just can't let go of those things.
Well, have I got news for you! I've got Wolverine-like powers... and so do you! Through the wonderful gift of the Atonement, we're able to be washed clean of our sins, through repentance! And, because the Lord was resurrected, we, too, will be resurrected, and receive our perfected bodies, free from all pain! Sure, the physical healing will take a little longer than it does for Wolverine, but it will come! And the emotional healing can be instant. Christ suffered in the Garden of the Gethsemane, feeling the physical and emotional pains all of use would suffer. ALL the pains, that ALL of us would suffer. Can you even imagine? Then, He suffered unimaginable pain at the hands of the Roman soldiers, before being crucified. Through this, He knows how to comfort us. He knows what we're going through at any point, and understand perfectly the pains we feel. He suffered them as well. What great comfort that gives. Because of this, and because of the great gift of Repentance, we are able to "regenrate" from our emotional pains, and one day of all physical strifes! So, you're more like Wolverine than you think! (You still don't have the claws, though... sorry). You, too, can regenerate! Just repent!

Gospel and Comic Books Part 1: Faith

I figured I'd right a new blog... It's about time, right?
Well, I wanted to write another series of blogs. I like doing that. It's fun! So, in concocting an idea, I decided I would take principles most people were familiar with, and do my thing with them (that is, compare it to something nerdy). So, in my pondering and thinking, I decided on doing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
 Gospel means the message concerning Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation, or the message or teachings of a religious leader. Christ's gospel was incredibly simple. He taught it to everyone, including His Apostles so they could teach it to others, and it can be found throughout the New Testament, and the Book of Mormon. It's the third lesson in the series of lessons that we as missionaries teach people. It is summed up simply in five steps, namely: Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End. These are the steps that we must follow to gain eternal life. It's a simple path, and one that we are never alone on.
We're going to start off with step one, Faith. Faith is a hope for things that are not seen that are real. As Adam and Eve fell and were banished from the Garden, they also left the presence of our Heavenly Father. They no long were walking by sight. They had to do everything they were told to by faith. They didn't know it would do anything, really, but they had faith it would. Now, generations later, here we all are, working through our life, and (hopefully) following the commandments. I've never seen God, and odds are you haven't either. We don't have a perfect knowledge of Him, or His Son, but we have faith that They are there and watching, and that each thing we do right, we'll be blessed. We can see the blessings that come from obedience, but we have to have faith that they will come before they do. How can we be sure that God is really there, watching over us, waiting to bless us? Well, for now, we can't know for absolutely sure. We walk by faith rather than by sight. It's a simple thing, and it's the first step. Everything comes back to faith. Without it, we have nothing. And before we can do anything else, before we can progress and learn, before we can grow any closer to our Father in Heaven or to Christ, we need to have faith. That is the starting point.
Where does faith come in in the world of comic books and superheroes? Well, consider this: Wolverine is going to face off with Sabertooth. They've fought several times before, but this time it's meaningful. This isn't just some feud match that's been going on between the two, this is for protection. Sabertooth is no longer just trying to beat up Wolverine our of spite, now he's joined forces with Magneto and is trying to bring down the entire X-Men organization, starting at Xavier's Institute. Wolverine is the only one who can take him on at this point, so he marches towards his foe, ready to take him on, one-on-one. As they meet, Wolverine wastes no time in bringing out the claws. He has no fear because he knows any damage dealt to him, he can quickly recover from, thanks to his regenerating powers. But, how does he know all this?
Imagine Spider-Man, answering to a cry for help. Peter puts on his outfit, and jumps out the window. He doesn't care that he's twenty-some stories up, he can just sling his webs and swing around the city no problem. He's got agility and acrobatic skills that make maneuvering a cinch. But, how can he be so sure the webs will come out?
I could go on and on with examples, but we'll leave it at that. Because Wolverine and Spider-Man have used their powers before, they know what they are, what they themselves are capable of, and how to use their powers. They know what makes them start and stop, and how to control them. They have faith that their powers will work. Every time Wolverine takes on a bad guy, and everytime Spider-Man jumps out of a window, their exercising faith. Maybe it's not the same faith we exercise, but it still is hoping for something that can't be seen, that's real. Ok, maybe Spider-Man can see his webs, and Wolverine can see his claws and watch himself heal, but you know what I'm getting at. They can't be entirely sure their powers will be there everytime they need them, but based on previous experience, they're pretty confident in them. And because of that, when Wolverine comes face to face with Sabertooth, or Spider-Man leaps our of that building, they do so with a knowledge that their powers will carry them through.

Before Abraham was... I... AM... Batman

So, who loves Batman? Answer: Everyone. He's awesome: he uses his brains, brawn, and billions to make him a "super"hero, though he posses no actual superpowers. That doesn't stop him from whooping up on the bad guys and doing things that the average person couldn't, or at least wouldn't, do (either from lack of funds, lack of equipment, or too much sanity). With the help of his butler, Alfred, his gadget provider, Lucius Fox, and a police commissioner, Commissioner Gordon, who's good at turning a blind eye, Batman is able to weed out the villains and ne'er-do-wells of Gotham (of which there are many). He's able to incorporate his own style of criminal justice, and able to infiltrate places and apprehend suspects in ways that the normal police force are unable to do. This is because he's, obvioulsy, not part of the Gotham Police Department... and this for a very good reason.

The whole purpose for Bruce Wayne donning the Batman get-up is because of the lack of reliability the residents of Gotham had for the GPD. When the cops are as bad as the crooks, who can you trust? Who can save the people? Who can protect the innocent? Cue the Caped Crusader. By entering the contest as a vigilante, he's able to uphold the law without being subject to the finer rules. Sure, a cop needs a warrant, and probable cause, and this and that... Batman doesn't need any of that! He just needs some sweet gadgets, and a location, and within minutes, he'll have the bad guy.

But, this raises quite an objection amongst many people (besides the villains, of course). Many people are uncomfortable with the vigilante type. They feel it unsafe and reckless for one man to take the law upon himself. What gives him the right? And how can we be sure he won't become corrupted as well? These are legitimate concerns, and obvioulsy it's hard to quell these with a simple "well, he's Batman!" While those of us who know him a little more personally (this group consisting of Alfred, Lucius, and the readers), we know that Bruce Wayne is nothing if not trustworthy. We know he'll never do anything wrong, and only has the best of intentions. However, those who only see him in newspaper articles and as a black blur on the nightly news have no reason to assume him to be infallible.

Many people think he's just a lunatic! Some guy running around with a mask, beating up people? What a nut job. Others fear the possibility of an abuse of his abilities. It's likely that some people even think that he's no less a villain than the Joker or Riddler. But, there are a few who stand by him, praising him for his efforts, and standing up for him as a true hero. These include even such notable public figures as Harvey Dent, the District Attorney (who's opinions obviously change, but that comes later). So, just what is Batman? Hero? Villain? or Maniac?

Batman is far from the first person to be the subject of such public debate. Even when the evidence is obvious, some people will always find a way to slander someone when they don't like what they're doing. Want the ultimate example? Look no further than the New Testament. Jesus Christ, the only perfect human, came to this earth to teach the gospel, establish His church, and die for our sins. While here, He healed the sick, gave the blind sight, made the deaf to hear, and the lame to walk. He did many great and wonderful things... and yet, wast He welcomed with open arms and made the king that He truly was? Of course not! He was ridiculed, questioned, and mocked. He was rejected by even the most devout followers of His Father, and was the subject of many an attempt on His life.

He was public enemy number one amongst the Jews, and when they finally couldn't take anymore, they brought Him under false pretenses, trumping up non-existent charges, and bringing in complete liars as witnesses, breaking all their own laws, just to get rid of Him. He did nothing to them, especially nothing they tried Him for. Their charges were that of blasphemy, heresy, treason, and sedition, of which He was guilty of none. And besides just the Pharisees and Sadducees, the regular man on the street often didn't even realize who He truly was. Many people thought He was just a crazy person, claiming to be the Son of God. Even amongst the signs, miracles, and wonders, many people still didn't believe His claim. They often would say "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?" (John 6:42).

Even His own kinsmen didn't believe Him to be who He was. Still today, people doubt Him: they say He was a prophet, and no more. Or, some even less, no more than a good man. I bare you solemn testimony that Jesus was the Christ. That He lives! He is our Savior and Redeemer, our advocate with the Father. No man can come to the Father, except through Him. It is through Him that we have life, and we will have life eternal. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Only Begotten, and to whom we owe our allegiance and deepest gratitude. So, what was Jesus? Hero? Villain? or Maniac?

Your call.

LDS FC: Keeper

Alright, your patience has paid off, and we're up to the keeper! You've got to have mad respect for keepers. One man is in charge of a goal 24 feet wide and 8 feet tall... that is quite the area to cover, and when you've got 4 or 5 guys trying to kick the ball in any open space they can find, it gets pretty difficult. Plus, the amazing things soccer players are able to do to those balls, like curving them amazing amounts, it's phenomenal what keepers are capable of. If it gets to the point where the midfielders and defenders just can't keep the striker from taking a shot, then it's all up to the keeper. He'll do anything he can to stop it. If it's a corner kick, he'll come out a little bit and try to punch the ball out. If the ball is rolling in, just a little ahead of the offender, he'll slide out to meet it, and try to diffuse the situation right away. And if the shot is to the opposite goal of where he's at, he'll dive for it. There are some great keepers out there that seem to have slinky spines, lightning reflexes, and psychic abilities to know where that ball is going. Some great keepers include Iker Casillas, Oliver Kahn, Edwin van der Sar, and, of course, Tim Howard. If you need rock solid confidence in your keeper, put in the bald American brick wall that is Tim Howard. You'd think he slows down time the way he's always in the right place at the right time. Oh, 2 unguarded Argentina strikers 10 feet in front of the goal? No problem! That's Tim, unstoppable! That's the purpose of the keeper: to save....

Any guesses? That last part gave it away. So, on our little club we got here, who would be our keeper? None other than the Savior and Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. Besides the obvious and blaring reason, being that Jesus saves, we have other reasons. The Keeper is the last line of defense, often the last thing separating the striker from a goal. It's up to him to keep the ball out when all else has failed. When everything seems to be falling apart, and Satan seems awfully close to scoring on us, we still have the Savior. When we've done everything we could, but it just isn't good enough, we still have Christ and his Atonement to save us. And what fantastic saves they are! It's impressive when a keeper blocks a penalty kick. The striker is lined up, 12 yards from the goal, with a major upper hand. It's incredibly difficult to know exactly what he's going to do. Is he going high, middle, or low? Left, right, or center? Upper corner, just inside the post, or dead center? But, when a keeper can pull of a save, it's amazing. Well, Christ can certainly pull off a save like, a seemingly impossible save, in the most necessary time for it. We can always rely on Him, for He will always stay cool under pressure, and perform at His best all the time. No matter how skilled the striker, no matter how tense the situation, He will always make that save. Jesus Saves!

Forgive Boromir; Forgive Snape

This last Sunday, Elder Smith and I had the opportunity to teach a primary class. We taught about forgiveness, and that's been on my mind a lot recently. We all know about repentance, it gets talked about a lot. We all know how important it is to say we're sorry and make restitution for what we've done, but the other side doesn't seem as commonly talked about. We know to apologize, and are quick to do it, but are we as quick to forgive? Let me give you a couple (somewhat nerdy) examples:

Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship has set out to bring the Ring to Mordor to restore peace in Middle Earth. One of the members is Boromir, a temperamental human who's father is the steward of Gondor (standing in while the real king is MIA). He's hot headed, and was quick to suggest using the Ring for themselves. Somewhat grudgingly, and maybe with alterior motives, Boromir joins the Fellowship and vows to protect Frodo. 
Eventually, they come to a bit of a sticky spot: an Uruk Hai ambush! The Fellowship gets broken up, with Frodo and Sam taking their leave, Merry and Pippin getting abducted, Aragorn, Gimli, Gandalf and Legolas pursuing the kidnapped Hobbits, and Boromir having met his demise. Right before the battle, Boromir snaps. This isn't a surprise to anyone, as Galadriel had foretold it happening. Boromir offered to take the Ring for Frodo, at first sounding helpful, but Frodo knew what was up. Boromir then tries taking it by force. After he realized what happened, though, he was instantly repentant and tried to reconcile his mistake. Well, before he could personally apoligize to Frodo, the battle had started. However, Boromir showed his sincerity in defending Frodo and the rest of the Hobbits to the death... literally. Suffering several shots to the body from Lurtz's arrows, but still fighting throughout (setting up an awesome fight scene between Lurtz and Aragorn where Aragorn wins after decapitating Lurtz). There appeared to be no hard feelings towards Boromir, and he died a hero's death. (Note: This is from the movie, not the books).

Harry Potter: Severus Snape was bit of a jerk. He was always mean and unfair towards Harry and his friends for apparently no reason. We later discover that it was because Snape still carried a grudge against Harry's dad. There is a very tense relationship between Harry and Snape, and they're often forced to work together. 
Dumbledore is convinced, throughout the series, that Snape is a good guy, and fighting on the right side. Despite anything Harry says, Dumbledore maintains his confidence in him. Even when we as the readers are privy to certain information that shows the Snape is not the person Dumbledore thinks it is, there's still more to it. 
*SPOILER ALERT!!!*: Snape, even after killing Dumbledore, still is in fact a good guy. He seems to be right in the inner-circle of Voldemort, even up until the very end of the series... and his life. As he's dying, he gives Harry some of his memories that Harry is able to see in the Pensieve. He discovers that it was all part of Dumbledore's plan, and even killing him was necessary. Dumbledore told him to kill him. After Harry learns of this, he forgives Snape of the 6 years of insults and unfair treatment. In fact, after all is said and done, Harry names his second son Albus Severus, in honor of Dumbledore and Snape.
Boromir and Snape did some pretty bad things to people: people they were supposed to be helping and overseeing. Frodo never disliked Boromir, really, but Harry despised Snape. In both cases, trust was broken, either from the beginning, or after a certain act. It's hard to earn someone's trust, it's harder to earn it back. However, despite what they did, the people immediately effected by their less than admirable treatment forgave them. They realized that they had made a mistake, repented, and were forgiven. How willing are we to forgive? When someone wrongs us, we're angry. We get mad at them, and we don't want anything to do with them. And what about when they apologize? When they say they're sorry? It's so easy to think "they wronged me, I don't have to forgive them." But the Savior told us we need to forgive, as well as ask forgiveness. He said: And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. (Mark 11:25, 26). He even forgave them who crucified Him, saying: Father forgive them; for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34). It's important to forgive, not only because our Lord said to, but because it will bring peace to those who wronged us, and to us as well. If we can't forgive, we can't be forgiven. If Snape and Boromir can be forgiven, so can someone who wronged you.

What Are You Gonna Get With Your Tickets?

So, you know what's ridiculously fun? Going to arcades, playing all those cheesey games, and getting tickets. Seriously legit! Ski-ball, basketball, or that little game where the lights go around and around, and the closer you get to the specific spot, the more tickets you get... Granted, that one is clearly rigged... But regardless, it's good fun. All the bright lights and loud noises keep you intrigued and entertained, and every time you barely miss the mark, you want to play again to do better and prove you CAN do it! It doesn't matter how many tokens or quarters it takes, you are going to beat that game and get 1000 tickets! Because you need those tickets! What can you get with 50 tickets? A couple tootsie rolls, a rubber lizard, a single colored toy, and maybe a cheap plastic harmonica. But what can you get with 1000 tickets? You can get that sweet robot toy! Sure, it'll probably break before you even get home, but there is nothing in the world you want more right now than that robot! So you will play game after game after game, spending your entire month's allowance on them, even asking for an advance from your parents to get the 1000 tickets and get that robot. The harder you work, the more tickets you get, the better the prize.
Now, I'd like to do something different: I'm going to show how my example does NOT compare to the Gospel.
So many times on my mission, I've run into people who think we as a church believe we need to work our way into heaven. That everything we do earns us brownie points, and it's our good works that save us. James said, "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." (James 2:17). Yes, faith leads to works. An example James gives is a person who would see a brother or sister naked, hungry, and wanting, and simply says, "go in peace! Be warm and full!", but does nothing to help them. What good does that do? They can't just be full because you tell them to be. Following the commandments is a work. Repenting is a work. Any good, faithful Christian will agree that these things are necessary. No unclean thing can enter into the Kindgom of God, and it is only through repentance that we are made clean. The Lord said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15), so we know that He expects us to live good lives. Well, it's not each individual act that will earn our salvation. Frankly, there is no "earning" our salvation. We are indeed saved by the grace of Jesus Christ, and through his Atonement. It would be impossible for us to otherwise be made clean of our sins. We could repent, sure, but without Christ's sacrifice, we would still come short. Christ makes up the difference for us. So, even if we do lots and lots of good things, and are really good people, even if we work hard and get lots and lots of tickets, that doens't guarantee us anything. The purpose of this life is to experience trials, and make the most of them, and make good decisions, and to return to live with our Heavenly Father. We are able to do that through living Christlike lives, entering into necessary covenants, and repenting when necessary. It's not a reward system like you'll see at arcades. We don't just get to, at the end of this life, cash in all of our tickets for Celestial Glory. Simply follow all the Lord's commandments and endure to the end, and you, too, can have eternal life! It's that simple!

My Jersey Sponsor

Soccer... that's right, I'm doing it again.

Soccer is a unique sport, in many ways, but right now I'm going to focus specifically on the jersey. Look at any team in the EPL, and you won't see what you see on, say, an NFL jersey. NFL you see the team name or city/state they're from with the number on the front, then the last name and number on the back. EPL, you'll see a company on the front, with a small shield on the left chest with the team name and logo, then on the back you'll see the name and number. This is also seen in many (though not all, yet) MLS teams. Why is that? Honestly, I'm not entirely sure, but there are some pretty cool looking ones out there. Each team is represented by someone different. Several of the teams are so big, and their partnerships have been with them for so long, that they become seemingly synonymous. I mostly think of Chelsea and Samsung, and Arsenal and Fly Emirates (the same used to be said of Liverpool and Carlsberg and Manchester United and AIG, but they've recently changed). Well, usually you'll only see one company in a league, but you do see Rangers and Celtic (huge rivalry) both sponsored by Carling in the Scottish League. But, you'll never see an English team with their town written on their jersey, it'll always be a company. The MLS is slowly working towards that, with a majority sporting some kind of company.
As a missionary, a very noticeable part of my outfit is my nametag. On my shirt pocket over my left chest, or on the lapel of my jacket, still on the left side, you'll see a small black plaque that reads:

 ELDER HOLBROOK

THE CHURCH OF

JESUS CHRIST

OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

It is such an honor to be wearing that tag, and to be able to look at it, and realize who I am, and who I represent. This tag bears two incredibly important names: my family's, and my Savior's. Those are who I'm here to represent. I am an agent for the Lord, acting in his behalf, and I am a Holbrook, here to do my family's name honor. Those are the names I bear. You won't see me without this tag. You'll always know who I am. I'm proud to be wearing this name. I have been given this honor, and am doing all I can to live up to the title I am given. This isn't just some tag you can go and buy at a store. You can't just get this by applying at the right place. This is more than a nametag: this sets me a part as a disciple of Jesus Christ, a missionary in his service. People recognize me based on this tag. This is my "sponsor". It is a great privilege to wear this, just as those on soccer teams feel it a privilege to wear "Samsung" or "FxPro" or "Chang". I have the best sponsor ever! 

Sticks and Stones

How many people do you know who, after getting arrested for nothing, stand an unfair trial on trumped up charges, are beaten, then released, rejoice? Probably a few people would. But who would rejoice, not because they were free, but because they were able to go through all that? Who would be happy to have experienced that? I can think of plenty of people who would be happy that it's over, but not happy that they were imprisoned, beaten, and inches from death. But, that was just what Peter and the other Apostles did. After being arrested, the Spirit of the Lord allowed them to escape the prison, which further enraged the Sadducees. They were then taken before trial, where the council were trying to think of how they could condemn them to death. Then one of the Sadducees, named Gamaliel, spoke some reason to them, reminding them of people who had popped up and convinced people that they should follow them, and after they had died the people left, then he said "And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God." He tells them, hey, if they're just talking, who cares? But, if they're actually men of God as they claim, killing them won't end well for you. The council agreed, allowing them to continue on their way, so sure that Jesus wasn't the Christ, and that this would all eventually just go away. But, they couldn't just let them go. They beat the Apostles, and still forbade them to preach in the name of Christ. So, off the Apostles went "rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name." 

Wow. Who would be so happy about such a terrible ordeal? Who would walk away from that thinking "Yeah! We got to suffer, be beaten, imprisoned, and almost killed... all for Jesus!" I know when someone yells at me, flips me off, slams a door in my face, calls me a wicked man, condemns me to hell, calls me a blind leader of the blind, or any other mean thing that happens to me on my mission, I get upset. Well, I laugh, but I'm still a little upset. I certainly don't rejoice that I was able to be yelled at or whatever for the sake of my Savior. That's something I need to work on. 

"10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."

Is this something that you do? When someone says something negative about your faith, about the Church, or about the truth that you know, do you rejoice? Are you glad that you were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name? It is a sign of patience, a Christlike attribute, to be able to bear these adversities. It is also a sign of humility that we take these things in stride, realizing that our friends, our brothers and sisters, are lost and don't know the truth. If they persecuted the prophets and apostles of old, and even our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and they all bore it with gladness, with patience, and even rejoicing, why can't we do the same? We're not being stoned, beaten, wrongly imprisoned, tortured, or crucified. We're just having some mean words thrown at us. We all know the old adage "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." Well, as corny as it is, it's true. When we're given the opportunity to suffer shame for His name, let us rejoice in it! 

Tight Like Unto a Dish

In the opening chapters of Ether, we are introduced to Jared and his brother (aptly referred to as the brother of Jared). The brother of Jared communes with the Lord, and is told to build barges. This brings up many questions: how many? how? how will we breath? how will we see? All valid questions, and all answered by the Lord.
In construction of the ships, the Lord lays out the exact designs, "and they were built after a manner that they were exceedingly tight, even that they would hold water like unto a dish; and the bottom thereof was tight like unto a dish; and the sides thereof were tight like unto a dish; and the ends thereof were peaked; and the top thereof was tight like unto a dish; and the length thereof was the length of a tree; and the door thereof, when it was shut, was tight like unto a dish." (Ether 2:17). In being tight like unto a dish, the barges were sealed against the water, so there was no worry of them filling and everyone sinking, which would be bad. They know it will be tight because these were the designs given to them by the Lord. Now, the issue of them being tight like unto a dish did present one problem, the problem of air supply. If it's airtight, then no more air can come in, and once the air in the barge is gone, they'll all suffocate. This is pretty simply solved, the Lord instructs the brother of Jared to simply put a hole with a stopper to allow air in, then stopper again when water starts coming in.
I'd like to focus on "tight like unto a dish". This is said many times in the verse in description of the barges. Everything, the top, bottom, side, and door are all tight like unto a dish. What does that mean for us? The benefit for the barges was that it would for sure keep out all the water. That was the main danger being presented to them (that and sea monsters), and what they worried most about. We're just going to set off on this grand voyage in these big wooden barges, in the wide open sea, with absolutely no knowledge of where we'll be or where we're going? We'll drown! But, thanks to the Lord's instructions, that didn't happen. We can seal ourselves. We can make ourselves tight like unto a dish the same way the brother of Jared did with his barges. By following the Lord's instructions and doing as He says, we protect ourselves from the dangers that surround us and want to get in and drown us. As we make our lives tight like unto a dish, we are better able to avoid/resist temptations, and keep ourselves afloat, guided by the Lord, towards that promised land. And all the while, the Lord will provide us with air to breath, and light to see. Are you tight like unto a dish?

Will Ye Also Go Away?

In the New Testament, there is an account very well known throughout Christendom. While preaching at the Sea of Galilee, Christ fed 5,000+ people with just five loaves of bread and two fish. Afterwards, they gather up the leftovers, and have 12 baskets still full. This was just one of many miracles Christ worked, and it surprised even his followers. When Christ asked them how they could feed them, none of them even considered that He had ways of doing it beyond the ordinary. Following this event, the next day, the people sought Him out in Capernaum. They came to Him, wondering how He got there, as they had seen His disciples leave the previous day without Him on a boat, and no other boats went. (The solution, if you know or read, is that He had walked on water to their boat). Jesus didn't even answer them. He simply rebuked them for seeking Him out, not because of His miracles or because they believed on Him or because they wanted to keep His sayings, but rather because He had fed them yesterday, and that's what they wanted again. They just wanted a free lunch. He did it the day before, surely He could do it again! They weren't too fond of this, and then called Him out on His claim to be the Messiah. They wanted a sign from Him, because, as they said, "What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat." It was then that Jesus made His claim as the bread of life. " I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." Christ was willing to give them the bread of life, just as He offered the woman of Samaria everlasting water. This agitated some people, that He, the son of Joseph and Mary, people they knew, would claim to be someone so divine. After reaffirming His claim of being the Son of God, one sent of God to be the living bread, many of His own disciples were offended. They didn't know how to take what He was saying, and left Him. He then turned and asked his Apostles if they too would leave. Peter, in his zeal, answered "Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life."

Let us be like the Apostles, and like Peter. We can't be offended, either by the words of the Lord or the words of His servants. Everyone at some point will say something that won't sit well with others. It's important that when we are those that don't take it well, that we not let that effect the eternal. It should be no reason to have negative feelings towards the church as a whole. A bishop's comment does not reflect the entirety of the Church. No one is perfect, and we all make dumb comments. Remember: the blessings that come from following the commandments are important. They're eternal. And they're not worth throwing away over some little comment.  

Behold I have given unto you my gospel...

13 Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you—that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me.

14 And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—

15 And for this cause have I been lifted up; therefore, according to the power of the Father I will draw all men unto me, that they may be judged according to their works.

Those are three of the most powerful verses I've read in the scriptures. They come from 3 Nephi chapter 27. It is a perfect summary of Christ's purpose, and His. He died for us, that we may be lifted up. It's through His pain and suffering that we are to be saved. We have the chance to repent because of it, and we may choose to do so, and to follow His commandments, to receive our Eternal glory. We will be judged according to our works, as pointed out here, as well as in the Bible (Revelation 11:18; 20:12,13). Through our faithfulness and obedience will we be rewarded. The Lord asks us simple things to do, and if we do them, we have great things to look forward to.

It's not that we work our way into Heaven. We aren't going to be told we're saved because we did good things. Scriptures don't say that. Jesus Christ suffered and died on the cross to give us the opportunity to be cleansed of our sins. No unclean thing can enter into the Kingdom of God, and we are all unclean. We all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. It is only through Christ's Atonement that we may be saved, because it is only through repentance that we may be cleansed, and repentance calls upon the Atonement. We are saved by grace, and judged according to our works. The Lord has laid out a plan, and expects us to follow it. We may choose to do so, and be rewarded, or not, and suffer the consequences. Every act of obedience brings blessings. Every step down the straight and narrow path brings good results. We cannot and will not be punished if we are living righteously, and we cannot and will not be rewarded if we are not. We have guides to know what to do: we have the Scriptures, and we have a Prophet. Thanks to these blessings, we never have to wonder. We can always find the answer to our questions, and always know which direction to take.

The Lord suffered great and terrible things for us. We are indebted to him more than we'll ever be able to repay. The least we can do is honor Him, respect Him, and follow His commandments. We're asked to do pretty easy things, and it's the least we can do for what He did for us. Plus, even with the great debt that we are in, He still blesses us. So, through simple obedience and righteous living, we get even more blessings, and we show our respect to our Heavenly Father, and His Son.

Firefighters

Firefighters are awesome. Who else would willingly run into burning buildings, sometimes multiple times, to pull out other people, get their partners back, or just put out the fire? Obviously they're paid to do this, but you don't go through a couple years of training voluntarily if something like that wasn't something you wanted to do. They're heroes. My brother is a firefighter. He works for the Columbus, Georgia Fire Department. He's also a paramedic, so he not only pulls people out of those burning buildings, but he gives them medical aid, too. He's someone I definitely look up to and admire a lot. I have always had respect for firefighters, but now that I know everything they go through in their daily work, that respect has multiplied exponentially. They give of their time, energy, and even well being and personal safety to do what they have chosen to do. They give 110% to help people, and put their lives on the line everyday, with no regrets, and seemingly no fear. There have been plenty of inspiring stories centered around firefighters. One I remember hearing is about a firefighter who ran into a burning building three times to save the kids inside. He started in a fourth time when someone told him that that was all the kids. He yelled back, saying he saw one more. While he was in there, the roof collapsed. When they finally put the fire out, they went in and found their now killed companion, huddled over a doll. He had thought it was a child, and sacrificed his life in an attempt to save another. My brother has a couple pretty cool stories too. While putting out a fire, he discovered in one of the rooms several animals. He got all of them out, unharmed. Another time, while fighting another fire, there was a person inside. While his partner provided cover with the hose, my brother did his best to pull the man out. He had suffered so many extreme third degree burns that my brother could hardly get a good grip on him without his skin sliding off life a glove. He finally was able to get a good handle and pull the man out to safety. My brother has several heroic stories that I love to tell people.
What if we were all like this with what we did? What if we were all like this with the Gospel? The Gospel of Jesus Christ can save people. It will put them on the right path and give them the knowledge they need to have eternal life. We can save people's lives just like firefighters do. This message we have is the most important thing we have, and others need it just as much as we do. They risk life and limb for complete strangers, why shouldn't we do the same? They've made their choice, they've joined their brotherhood, and they know what they do. We've made our choice, we've joined our brotherhood, and we know what we do. Let us be like firefighters, giving our all to help those around us. We face much less risk helping those around us as the firefighters. We're not asked to run into burning buildings, to risk our lives, we're simply asked to share the wonderful message with our friends and neighbors. What we have, they need, so let's share it!

When Life Hands you Lemons...

You make lemonade, right? Well, what if life hands you a grapefruit? If you're anything like me, you don't want a grapefruit, grapefruits are gross. The fun little saying is meant to just mean "make the best of your situation". Sometimes, it's really easy to get so caught up in all our lemons that we just focus more on how hard everything is rather than trying to find the solution. There are tons of sayings we can use: Every cloud has a silver lining, the sun will come out tomorrow, life's tough, get a helmet. But does saying something really help? Can you help someone out just by your words?
Absolutely you can. Think how much comfort we can get from the scriptures. Sure, those are inspired men of God, but why can't you be too? Even if you can't come up with something super profound and meaningful to say, someone else has already, so you can easily share that with them. Knowing your scriptures, especially the ones that have helped you, will allow you the ability to share with others when they're going through a hard time. The Words of God will always help someone, if they open their hearts to it. Anything in the Bible or Book of Mormon could easily lift and encourage someone. So, look over the scriptures that have meant the most to you, memorize them, and be ready to share them with people having a rough time.
Back to my grapefruit analogy: I don't like grapefruits, I don't like grapefruit juice. Making grapefruits into grapefruit juice wouldn't be a solution to my problem, it would just give me a bunch of gross grapefruit juice I don't want to drink. So, basically what I'm trying to allude to is what to do with a really big problem. If there doesn't seem to be an easy solution, what do you do? Sometimes, there is no easy "lemonade" solution. In that situation, still look for the best, and look to the one who made lemons and grapefruits. The Lord is your ultimate source of comfort. He'll send the Comforter, or the Holy Ghost. And always remember how Jesus suffered for our pains, and he knows all the we will go through. If you pray and read your scriptures, the Lord can and will talk to you, and show you how to make even those giant, gross grapefruits into delicious, sweet lemonade. All things are possible through Christ!

God, be Merciful to Me, a Sinner

Luke 18 gives us a parable of two men praying, one a Pharisee, the other a Publican. Publicans were looked down upon by everyone, and term "sinners and publicans" was used frequently, closing linking the two together. Pharisees, on the other hand, were holy religious men. They were showy in their devotion to their sect, and made sure everyone knew just how spiritual they were. The parable reads: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

I love the mental image this parable paints. I can just see the Pharisee, clothed in fine clothing, standing tall and proud, with a look of smug satisfaction on his face, looking towards the heaven and proclaiming his superiority, and thanking God for his selfish doings. Then, off to the side, probably even behind the Pharisee, stands the Publican. I picture him as a working man, hardened by physical labor, his hands calloused and dirty, his clothing humble and worn, his demeanor that of sorrow and remorse as he reflects on what he's done. He can't even lift his eyes up to Heaven, fearing the possibility of an upset Lord looking back at him, ashamed of the deeds he's done. He pounds his chest, showing his grief, and in pure humility, not justifying his actions, not glazing over his shortcomings, but begging for mercy. Asking the God of all, a perfect, exalted man, to look down on him, a lowly, despised sinner, made filthy in the eyes of the Lord by the ways of the world, with compassion and sympathy. To show forth mercy undeserved to this man. He recognizes his sin, he feels great distress, and he wants to be cleansed of the dirt the sin has smudged on him. It's different from the dirt that gets on his clothes from walking, or from working. It's a dirt that can't be seen by anyone but himself and the Lord, and it's a dirt that can't be cleaned with merely soap and water. It's a dirt that can only come off through the blood of the Lamb. He cries unto the Lord for forgiveness. He recognizes his fallibility as a human, knowing that he's far, far from perfect, and he goes to the only one who can make him whole again, his Heavenly Father. "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." In his humility, the Lord states, he will be exalted. Let us be as this Publican, this sinner: let us always go to our Heavenly Father and say to him "God, be merciful to me, a sinner."

Remember...

"Remember Lot's wife."
A simple scripture. Short, sweet, and to the point. Christ's words in Luke 17:32 may seem simple at first glance, but if you think about it more, you discover just how profound of a statement it is. We often make simple phrases, such as "Remember the Alamo", "Remember the Maine", or "Remember the Titans" to use as a motivational phrase to strengthen our commitment. Never forget the things that happened here. Remember the Alamo, and the loss it was to us. Don't let it happen again. Remember the Maine, and how it was sunk by our enemies. Don't let it happen again. Remember the Titans, and their dedication and perseverance.
But why remember Lot's wife? Well, who was Lot's wife? Obviously, she was Lot's spouse. Who was Lot? Back in the Old Testament, there were two cities that lived in utter sin and wickedness, Sodom and Gomorrah. They were so perverse that the Lord was ready to just wipe them out. But first, He sent angels to go and see if they could find enough righteous people to make it worth it. There weren't, but there was one man, and his name was Lot. The angels warned Lot of the coming destruction, and he took his family and fled. They were warned not to look back at Sodom and Gomorrah, or they'd be turned into a pillar of salt. As they fled, Lot's wife looked back, and just as was told them, she turned into a pillar of salt.
Now, the sin wasn't in physically turning around to look. Lot's wife crime was deeper than that. She didn't just glance back, she looked back, longingly, wanting to return, missing her life there. She was leaving sin and deprivation to live in righteousness, but she couldn't leave behind her home. She didn't want to. When she looked back, she was saying that she wasn't repentant of what she had been doing, and that she didn't want what she was being given. She was desirous to continue living in sin.
That is Christ's admonition to us in Luke 17:32, that we remember the fate of Lot's wife as a result of her choice to look back. Not just to the city, but to her past. We must make positive steps forward in growing in faith and coming closer to our Heavenly Father. As a result, we often leave behind pasts that are colorful, and filled with mistakes. We must forsake these things, and leave them in the past where they belong. If we start to look back, to miss our past, and to want to return to it is when we start to slip, and become as Lot's wife. Stay strong, and endure to the end. And always Remember Lot's Wife.

Make your Choice

Life is all about choices. Big or small, they have an impact. Each day, we are faced with hundreds, even thousands of choices to make. Often times, they may not seem like that big of a deal, and it may seem like they won't have any long term consequences. And often, that's true. What you eat for breakfast today probably won't effect who you marry. But, there are many choices that we make that will effect the long term, and many of those are ones we don't expect. Obviously, there are big glaring choices that should be made. Should I follow Jesus Christ? Should I obey the commandments? Should I always be setting a good example? Those are pretty easy ones to answer "yes" to, because those will effect you today, tomorrow, and forever, into the eternity. As the Lord says in Luke 16:13, "No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Mammon is the material, the worldly, the temporal. If we serve mammon, let our own selfish desires take precedence, then we are letting that take us away from our Heavenly Father. We can only hold to one, the other we have to despise. So, hold to the One that brings life eternal.
Our choices stretch far beyond what we can even comprehend. In Helaman, Samuel the Lamanite preaches to the people, and he tells them, "and now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free." We are able to act for ourselves, and choose whether we will follow our God and be righteous, or be wicked and perish. Nephi reaffirms this in 2 Nephi 2:27: "Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself."
We must choose for ourselves: eternal life or death. The only way to eternal life is through Christ our Savior. It is through his Atonement that we can repent and be forgiven, and it is only through that that we can return to our Heavenly Father and have eternal life. So, in the words of the great prophet of old, Joshua, "choose you this day whom ye will serve...", and keep in mind the eternal significance of your choices.