In the morning they thought of a plan. They made themselves look dirty with grease and dirt, then they went to the professor and said they had gone out to a wedding the night before and on their way back, the tire of the car burst, and they had to push all the way back and they were in no condition to take the test.
The professor thought for a minute and said they can have the re-test after 3 days. They thanked him and said they will be ready by that time.
On the third day, they appeared before the professor, the professor said that as this was a Special Condition Test. All four were required to sit in separate classrooms to take the test. They all agreed as they had prepared well in the last 3 days.
The test consisted of only 2 questions totaling 100 points. Question #1 Your Name? worth 1-point Question #2 Which tire burst? Worth 99 points OPTIONS: A) Front Left B) Front Right C) Back Left D) Back Right
Moral of the Story, take responsibility or you will learn your lesson, we are not made wise by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future.
I want to share with you a few experiences that I’ve had.
I have been doing triathlons for the past 20 years…it consists of 3 legs of a race, starting with a swim, followed by a bike ride and finishing with a run. Some of the shorter distances will take the average athlete an hour to 90 minutes to complete.
The ultimate goal for most triathletes is to compete and finish the IRONMAN. 2.4 miles swim, 112 miles on the bike and finishing with a marathon…26.2 miles running. The average time it takes is 13-15 hours, but you have to finish within 17 hours. You burn thousands of calories and sweat so much that you collect salt trails all over your body. You spend hundreds of hours planning, preparing, and training. One aspect is the exercise portion…15-20 hours a week in the pool, riding your bike, or just pounding the pavement and long runs. But then there is a calorie management. You spend a lot of time figuring out how many calories you are burning an hour and the best way to replace those calories. At the same time, you are sweating like crazy and need to replenish water and electrolytes.
Another factor to prepare for injury prevention…basically…rest and lots of stretching.
Some people can’t reason the insanity of training and participating for such a race. Their thoughts are clouded with perceptions and judgements of “why?” Why should I waste my time with that? I have better things to do.
That’s just too hard and I could never do it. Or the one I hear the most, I could never make it past the Swim. The list is long and riddled with obstacles that are placed there by some obscure source.
Yes, it is hard...but just like any heavy and burdensome task...there is always a first step. An idea that you can do hard things and it will be worth it. I always appreciate the reminder that eating an elephant can only be done one way: one bite at a time.
And so, it is with being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous and in doing good to all men...believing all things, hoping all things, enduring many things. It can be said by many people that our standards are difficult, challenging, restrictive...but our faith tells us there is a reward.
So how to we deal with that? How do you prepare?
Let me give you another example, an experience where I was asked to participate and felt unprepared…in some respects…unworthy.
When I was in the Singles wards back in college, I had the calling of Elder’s Quorum President and a new Bishop was called. In one of our first ward councils, he noticed that I was starting to grow out a beard. After a while, he tilted his head and asked me to continue to grow it out. Heck, I read into it and thought he was kindly telling me to shave. So, the next week, I showed up to ward council clean shaven…looking sharp.
I was caught off guard when I asked where my beard was and continued to tell me that he thought I would be a great addition to the Mesa Temple Easter Pageant. At the time, it was the largest outdoor Easter play in the world. Crowds of 16,000 would show up.
I ended up getting a small part of John the Baptist. A year later I was asked again to play the part.
Around the same time period, a Mesa photographer was starting a passion project, and it was going to work hand in hand with the Easter Pageant. He wanted to take some of the actors from the pageant shoot the Life of Christ. Again, I was asked to play the part of John the Baptist. Robert, a close friend from the Easter pageant was asked to represent Jesus.
On the very first day of the shoot, we drove 2 ½ hours south of Phoenix to a beautiful area called Arivaca. Neither one of us knew what to expect…in all honesty, we were both pretty casual and thought it was going to be a pretty simple and, if I am honest…low key.
As we pulled up to the ranch, I immediately felt the overwhelming feeling that I was unprepared. Production and lighting equipment was scattered everywhere. Costume trailer and production staff…a videographer setting up expensive cameras and preparing for shots.
As I walked around, getting a feel for what was happened, I realized I was about to represent…not only John the Baptist, but a very significant part of the life of my Savior. Wow…I felt unprepared…unworthy. I could have been more diligent in my prayers…studied…pondered more about this part of our Redeemers life and how important baptism is…
I was flooded with so many feelings…and at that moment I was blessed with a small portion of the feeling that paralleled that of John…
“He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.”
Later, those pictures where put into a book and now hundreds of books have been sold…
Brethren, it is not only my testimony, but personal experiences that I know that we must and do better in preparing for all aspects of life. Let’s not be caught off guard when a calling or opportunity presents itself.
I’ve broken down only 4 basic parts where, if we are prepared…life will be more enjoyable and…we will be able to respond to challenges of life with optimism rather than constantly bracing yourself for catastrophe. We cannot navigate life if we don’t have something to aim for.
One of the enjoyable parts of life is going to be that of exploring and adventure. Take care of yourself so that when an invitation is presented you can say YES! Whether it’s a fishing trip and hike through the Windrivers, a pick-up basketball game or a signing up for an adventure race…take responsibility for your Physical Health. It’s easy at this age but take care of your bodies. The older you get, the more of a challenge this will be…create good habits now and decide…and plan to always be accountable to your health. Be the young man…and be the father that will always play and adventure with your children. Don’t be caught and have the excuse that you don’t have the energy. #1 – exercise #2 – pay attention to your nutrition & #4 – get regular amounts of sleep.
Some of you are starting to find ways to make a little side money. Summer jobs, working the ranch, mowing lawns…something to put a little green in your pockets. This is a power that if you don’t understand it early…it will get away from you fast. Remember the first time you were given money from your parents to go to the swimming pool or buy a treat at the store…that transaction to get what you want is powerful. Bridle this feeling and understand that financial health is a critical part of being prepared. Ask any adult and they will tell you the power and confidence you have when you have your money challenges controlled, life is so much easier. Learn now the value to paying tithing, saving more, spending less than you earn. Know the differences between needs and wants.
President Uchtdorf talked about a Stanford study done in the 60’s where a group of 4-year-old were tested for their willpower. They would place a large marshmallow and told them they could eat it right away or, if they waited for 15 minutes, they could have 2 marshmallows. They left the boys in the room and watched what happen. Most of them only waited a few minutes before yielding to temptation. 3 out of the 10 boys were able to wait and earn that second marshmallow.
The most interesting part was what came later…the professor kept track of the children and began to notice an interesting correlation. The child who could not wait struggled later in life and have more behavioral problems. While those who waited tended to be more positive and better motivated, had higher grades, incomes and healthier relationships.
Be the boy that waits…exercises patients…willpower…does not budge on his established guardrails…be strong in this part of your life and you will navigate life easier.
Pay attention to your education, sharpen your skills, getting additional training to develop and build your career. Stay out of debt. You don’t know what this is right now, but program this into you mind now! Finally, make sure that you are paying your tithing. The Lord wants to bless you, to whom much is given, much is required. If you want to be blessed with an abundance, then show the Lord you can handle the lesser. As you show the Lord you are capable, then he will give you an increase.
Ask any person who doesn’t have their finances in order how much pain, sorrow, embarrassment, and missed opportunities they have had because they’ve used poor judgement in management their finances. Prepare now, plan head, have a healthy financial outlook going forward.
An old Cherokee brave told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people…
My dear little one, the battle between two wolves is inside us all. One is evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.
The grandson thought about it for a moment and then asked his grandfather, “which wolf wins?”
The old Cherokee replied, “The one you feed.”
The simplest way to start on the path of feeding the right wolf…tell the truth…at least…don’t lie. You can simply start by knowing that the truth is the easiest path to follow, its’ the easiest to remember and when you are ready to change, truth will be your most power ally. Facts and truth and frozen in time, while lies are a living thing that you have to keep alive with pain and suffering. Decide now that it’s okay to make mistakes, that it’s okay not to have all the answers, that a story to be included is not necessary to have value among friends and family. Be honest with yourself and those that you interact with.
Don’t spin a web to please and flatter others, life is too short to not be the best version of yourself and be true yourself. Don’t live a life portraying yourself as a sainted perfectionist…none of us walk through life perfect. When we live a life with lies and riddled with untruths, we tie ourselves into knots trying to make those lies a reality…those knots are unnatural and pain the body, the soul and the spirit. If you act out a lie, you weaken your character, if you have a weak character then adversity will mow you down when it appears…and it will. You will hide and there will be no place to hide and at some point, you will find yourself doing terrible things. Simple…Tell the truth. Always.
There is a phrase that is tough, but we usually associate with toys, property, clothes…material items. “Keeping up with the Jones’s”
You see someone with the newest pair of shoes? The family down the street has a boat. Your uncle has the greatest cabin? Your sister is an All-State basketball player on the Honor-Roll?
The trap you would find yourself in, that “if I only had this…or if I only had that…” would solve your immediate problems. Comparing yourself to others is a dangerous and unhappy way to live. You never know the circumstances why someone has something or what they did to get it. We are not equal in ability or outcome, and we never will be. You have to put in the attitude, effort and time to master and accomplish great things in life. The best way to do this is to keep a journal and compare yourself to who you were yesterday, a week ago, a year ago…and so on. Write down things that are working, things that you can improve. Setting goals and a plan to accomplish those goals is vital for progression and improvement.
You can either decide to be a contributor and a taker. You can either be part of the 10% that does 90% of the work or stay at the bottom of the totem pole. Take stock of who you are today, and who you can be tomorrow. This is being honest with yourself and being responsible for your day.
All of us live in a circle where we subconsciously create a barrier of comfortability. Inside that circle is everything you can predict, both positive and negative outcomes and consequences. You step to the left or to the right you can live and survive the risks and rewards. But outside the circle is growth, failure, unknown, pain, success, rewards, and everything the top producers in the world are getting. Don’t compare yourself to those whose circle is bigger or non-existent, you don’t know how many times they have lost the game and picked themselves off the ground tried again. Don’t compare yourself with those no longer fear failure but thrive off the challenge to win. Look at yourself and know that you are moving forward. You have to get up early, stay late, pay your dues, develop relationships, listen better, sharped your skills, discipline your willpower, and find the why to be your best self.
You do this by surrounding yourself with the best things in life. Good friends, people that will hold you to your standards and raise the bar when necessary. They will listen and challenge you when you step out of line. They will support you when times are tough and cheer along with you when it’s a time of celebration. Good music that will inspire you and maintain thoughts and actions in accordance with your goals and passions. Entertainment that is wholesome for you mind, body and spirit. Knowledge and education that will give you a greater understanding about your purpose as a son, brother, and father. There is so much good in life, but on the other side of the coin, you will find a harsh reality of evil. So, with all the good that is out there, make sure your mind is seeking those things. Whatever you seek…whatever you look for, you will find. Sow kindness, charity, empathy, friendship, loyalty, compassion, joy…you will reap those same things. Be the good in the world.
As you take care of your emotional health, you really have the right fuel to feed your physical and financial health. The underline pillar is taking care of your soul. The spirit is the life force to your physical being. As you honor your commitments to Heavenly Father, stay worthy of your priesthood, and ask for forgiveness for your shortcomings, you will be endowed with the power of heaven to move mountains.
Pray Always. Feast on the Scriptures. Serve others Always.
For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray, ye would know that ye must pray; for the devil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray. But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.
Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.
When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.
Our redeemer was tempted 3 times, but how do we relate to that. Where do we fail or come out victors in our own temptations?
The first temptation deals with satisfying our natural and earthly appetites. We seek to put food in our bellies, have nice clothes, the latest games. As life gets more mature, addictions come into play. Substances, gluttony, pornography, debt, gambling, co-dependency? Decide now that you will follow the Saviors example, he consistently sought the will of the Father. Food…his appetite was set aside after 40 days of fasting and said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceed from the mouth of God.” He denied himself for the glory and honor of his Father.
The second temptation exploits and disguises the consequences of putting our own needs, our will ahead of Heavenly Father’s. We tempt the Lord when we put chance ahead of obedience. When we put conditions on our behavior. When we say, it’s just a little sin and okay to shortcut life. Lord, if you give me this, then I’ll be happy. If you could just have this, then I will follow you better tomorrow. Christ understood that we are to serve God, not vice versa. It all goes back to the will of God, not about what we want. It is also written, do not put the Lord your God to the test.
The final temptation is to put the things of this world ahead of exaltation and salvation. Satan will tempt you every day of your life with worldly treasure that will pass away, for what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? I hope that you will constantly have the phrase ready in your mind, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord God and serve him only.”
You do this by surrounding yourself with the best things in life. Good friends, people that will hold you to your standards and raise the bar when necessary. They will listen and challenge you when you step out of line. They will support you when times are tough and cheer along with you when it’s a time of celebration. Good music that will inspire you and maintain thoughts and actions in accordance with your goals and passions. Entertainment that is wholesome for you mind, body and spirit. Knowledge and education that will give you a greater understanding about your purpose as a son, brother, and father. There is so much good in life, but on the other side of the coin, you will find a harsh reality of evil. So, with all the good that is out there, make sure your mind is seeking those things. Whatever you seek…whatever you look for, you will find. Sow kindness, charity, empathy, friendship, loyalty, compassion, joy…you will reap those same things. Be the good in the world.
As you take care of your emotional health, you really have the right fuel to feed your physical and financial health. The underline pillar is taking care of your soul. The spirit is the life force to your physical being. As you honor your commitments to Heavenly Father, stay worthy of your priesthood, and ask for forgiveness for your shortcomings, you will be endowed with the power of heaven to move mountains.
Pray Always. Feast on the Scriptures. Serve others Always.
For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray, ye would know that ye must pray; for the devil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray. But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.
Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.
When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.
Our redeemer was tempted 3 times, but how do we relate to that. Where do we fail or come out victors in our own temptations?
The first temptation deals with satisfying our natural and earthly appetites. We seek to put food in our bellies, have nice clothes, the latest games. As life gets more mature, addictions come into play. Substances, gluttony, pornography, debt, gambling, co-dependency? Decide now that you will follow the Saviors example, he consistently sought the will of the Father. Food…his appetite was set aside after 40 days of fasting and said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceed from the mouth of God.” He denied himself for the glory and honor of his Father.
The second temptation exploits and disguises the consequences of putting our own needs, our will ahead of Heavenly Father’s. We tempt the Lord when we put chance ahead of obedience. When we put conditions on our behavior. When we say, it’s just a little sin and okay to shortcut life. Lord, if you give me this, then I’ll be happy. If you could just have this, then I will follow you better tomorrow. Christ understood that we are to serve God, not vice versa. It all goes back to the will of God, not about what we want. It is also written, do not put the Lord your God to the test.
The final temptation is to put the things of this world ahead of exaltation and salvation. Satan will tempt you every day of your life with worldly treasure that will pass away, for what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? I hope that you will constantly have the phrase ready in your mind, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord God and serve him only.”
