I live with four other guys in a small apartment, and for some reason it cannot stay clean. You see there is this attitude in our house that goes something like this, "Well, it's not mine so I'm not going to clean it up." You may have heard of it before. It doesn't take long for things to start growing in the sink with this way of thinking.
 
My roommate and I this afternoon were complaining about our situation when a powerful thought can to me. The thought was it may not be your mess, but it is your house, and it reflects the kind of person you are. You can imagine that this came as a surprise. I humbled myself and went to work. I did all the dishes, swept the floor, cleaned the counters, and took out the trash (which was a rather painful experience, but I survived). The feeling I got after cleaning was to my surprise a feeling of peace. It feels nice to live in a clean place. 

I'm sure the house will get dirty again, but I live here, and I want the spirit to be here with me. I really believe the spirit is offended by a dirty house. I also had a great opportunity to serve my roommates. Maybe my new attitude will rub off on them. As long as this is my house whatever happens here is my problem.   

Oh how much I love the scriptures! They are so amazing!

I have a hard time deciding which ones are my favorite ones! Today I was reading 2 Nephi 4! For today, this is my favorite chapter! I'll share with you bits and pieces of it that make me LOVE it so much and that have helped me so much! I feel this way!
 
Ok so just a little background here... In this chapter Lehi has just passed away in the wilderness after giving a blessing to all of his children to try and save them and their children. Nephi is talking and he is basically bearing his testimony! I love it. Ok here it is...

verse 15-16: "my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children. Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord: and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard."
 
The reason why I love this part is because we can be exactly like Nephi. We can do the same thing by writting in our journal. They are like our own personal scripture that can help our children when we are gone. I personally love to write when something so amazing happens to me that strenghtens my testimony. If anyone read my journal they would know I have a testimony of this church and they would know what happened to me that helped me to gain this testimony. I hope one day someone reads it and is helped by it and it gives them courage to find out for themselves.
 
Anyways going on with Chapter 4 verses 19-20, 23, 28-30, 34-35:
"...I know in whom I have trusted. My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions...Behold he hath heard my cry by day and he hath given me knowledge... Awake my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul. Do not anger again because of mine enemies. do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions. Rejoice, O my heart and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation... O Lord, I have trusted in the and I will trust in thee forever.  I will not put my trust in the arm of the flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh.  Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.  Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh.  Yea my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will cry unot thee my God, the rock of my righeousness.  Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen."
 

I got called to be our ward's compassionate service leader last week, (in charge of coordinating meals brought in to new moms, etc.) so I got released from my two music callings. I'm very much looking forward to getting to help people on a more personal, Christian level and bring in meals or babysit or whatever. I've been feeling pretty good about reclaiming my schedule and being able to accomplish a lot, with scriptures every morning and finally exercising a few times a week. But sometimes I get a little discouraged at the continual to-do list of a mother and sad that sometimes the time I look forward to the most--when the kids are in bed and I can finally put my feet up and eat bonbons (figuratively, well, most of the time) is so selfish and quite meaningless.

I was wondering about this last night. Why do I work hard all day to finally be able to relax and watch someone else's life in a movie or read about them in a book. What about MY life? Why am I in such a bad mood? I finally realized that I've been tricked by the worst trickster. Why do I limit my own happiness to waiting for when I have everything done on my list, the house looks beautiful, a gorgeous centerfold meal has been cooked and obediently eaten, my children are playing quietly and not bothering me or each other, and I am lounging in the sun, sipping homemade lemonade and gazing out at my flawless, beautifully landscaped backyard? HELLO! That means NEVER! And I already really do lead such a charmed life, why have I trained myself to be like this? Good grief.

I read again about Martha in Luke Chapter 10 this morning. The Lord didn't tell her, as I've always assumed he meant, "sit down and listen to the scriptures being taught and we'll just eat later". With this reading of it, I've been doing okay myself. (I read my scriptures almost first thing every day.) No. He gently pointed out to her that she was being careful (footnote says worried) and troubled about many things. That's it. Read here, "Martha, Martha, thou art being UNHAPPY." Hmmm. That's me right there, and I don't think He likes me that way at all. So I've decided to not get tricked into unhappiness again.

Today has been SO nice. I've practiced just enjoying life with all of my senses, and trying to appreciate single interactions with others. My pretty solitary tulip. The sound of my daughter singing. The warmth and fuzziness of my baby's too-long hair. I've also noticed that it's way easier to be more loving to my children if I'm not worrying about my to-do list or my must-have-someday list. A happy mom is a loving mom. 

There is power in getting involved. My experiences with stepping out of myself and choosing to act has a made all the difference in the world to me. Don't get me wrong. It is hard, but for me it has made all the difference.

When I was younger (I'm 22 now, so by younger I mean a teenager) I was very reserved and quiet. I will never forget something my father told me one day as I was complaining to him about not having any friends because of my shyness. He turned to me and said "Nate you're selfish". Honestly I was taken back by this. I had expected sympathy. He explained that I had so much to offer the world, and that I was selfish not to share it.

I can't say that it was over night that I put this advice into practice, but I have made an effort throughout my life to act rather than be acted upon, and not be selfish with the talents I have. I know that I am not alone as I make these efforts. The Savior’s mission was to help us overcome our weaknesses. I know that my Heavenly Father has been watching over me. He hasn't taken all the difficulties out of making decisions. In fact I've even been rejected for having acted, but I am confident that as I rely on the Lord and prayerfully make decision I will become the person He wants me to be, and share with the world what I have to offer. 

What a privilege it was to attend the magnificent new Draper Temple open house and dedication.  The structure is beautiful, as you would expect, but I was surprised at the amazing Spirit that I felt there -- even before it was officially dedicated. True, the ground had already been dedicated and set apart, but I was surprised by the peace that I felt and the way it elevated my thoughts.  Every room in the temple draws your eyes upward and I felt myself examining the ceilings more than I have with any other building. Delicate paintings and carvings of the Sego Lilly greeted my examination of the ceilings.  Even the baptistry, where often my eyes are drawn to the 12 sturdy oxen which hold up the font, my eyes and thoughts were carried upward by arrows all around the outside lip of the font which pointed skyward.

When we went through as a family, I told my children to pay attention not only to the building and the beauty around them, but also to notice the feeling that they had.  As we left the temple, my 10-year-old son observed, "Dad, I couldn't have any bad thoughts in the temple -- even though I tried." 

I said, "you tried to have bad thoughts in the temple?"

He responded, "I was just testing." He was obviously experiencing the same types of feelings that I was enjoying.

Later, my wife and I served in the reception area where people would gather after going through the temple open house.  A woman came up to us, visibly moved by the experience of touring the temple.  I asked how she liked the temple.  "Wonderful," she responded. She then told me that she lives in Sacramento, California and is not a member of the church, but is friends with several Mormon families there that she met through school events. "My friends would drive two hours each way almost every Saturday to go to the Mormon Temple in Oakland," she said. "They were so happy when the temple was built in Sacramento so they could go more often."  She paused for a moment and went on, "I could never understand what the attraction was.  But, now, after being in the temple, I understand."

That is the power of the temple.  Not just the new one in Draper, but all temples.  As we enter, there is a profound feeling of peace, yet we leave with renewed power to live as we should. Peace and power, what more could we want in a world filled with uncertainty, doubt, fear, and helplessness.  I love the temple.  

My semester has ended, and this will be my final blog post for a time. I am grateful for the foundation our country has of forefathers who believed in what our country was capable of, and leaders who followed that helped to fulfill their dream.

Our nation often seems to fragile, and doubt is very prevalent. However, there is so much our nation offers us; such a difference we as a country can and will make in the world. So much we are capable of with all our current advances in technology, and never a time in the history of man that was more in need of good examples everywhere, and the word of God to bring them the gospel of peace. Let us be what we wish we saw in the world, and be giving both of our time, and of the knowledge we so cherish; the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Recently in class we spent time studying and discussing Lincolns 2nd Presidential address, and I was amazed by his vision regarding our nation, and his desire to befriend his neighbors and quickly get back to building a nation that had suffered through out the civil war.

It would have been very easy for him to be extremely hard on the south since he had defeated them, but he took a more neutral stance with "malice towards none." I believe that this act more than any other showed his commitment to his country, and his desire for our nations best interest.

This concept reminds me of how truly lucky we are to have leaders that love the nation they serve. In our current cercumstance as a nation, let us try harder not to be soquick to find wrong with those that serve us in our government, and give each individual his opportunity to prove his abilities to us as a country.

Last week I was talking with some ladies in my ward who had recently started coming back to church after being inactive.  I asked both of them what made them decide to come back to church.  It was interesting to hear their stories.  The one lady told me that the first few times she came back to church, the ladies in Relief Society would move away from her because she smelled like smoke.  After 3 weeks of everyone moving away from her, she decided she would not be going back to church.  A very sad story.  She has since moved into my ward and said that it was so nice to walk into Relief Society and be loved and accepted.

The other lady told me why she had decided to come back to church and she said that she was scared to go to Relief Society the first time not knowing how she'd be accepted.  She said she was so relieved when the sister at the door greeted her so warmly and everyone was so nice and friendly.

I have another friend that is very active in the church.  She was very sick when she was pregnant with her first child.  She wasn't able to attend church for several months.  During the time she was sick, she did not have one person from the ward contact her to see why she wasn't coming to church or what was wrong.  Her visiting teachers never stopped by.  She figured because she had a strong testimony that no one was really concerned about her.  She said it really made her feel bad.

The thing I've come to realize in the church is that we all need a friend.  Whether we're headed straight to the celestial kingdom or we're stuggling with our testimony, we all need a friend in the church.  We need someone to care whether we're at church or we're not.  We need someone to sit by.  Someone to give us a smile.  Someone who cares.  We can't make it by ourselves.

So if you notice someone who isn't at church for a few weeks, give them a call and let them know that you've missed seeing them.  Let them know that you care.

I was recently reading about the articles of the confederation and how our forefathers soon realized that, in order to make our nation all that it believed it had the potential to become, a more secure government would hafto be established.

I'm so impressed when I consider what the world would be like if we didn't have individuals with vision. Image where we'd be if we didn't have people around us that believed we had more potential than we were utilizing? Our progression as a nation would be forfeit.

I'm greatful for men around me with vision, and challenge you and I to try more to BE those people in the world! ITs not hard to find weaknesses in our society. Many people do that. LEts be builders; people that beleive and have a vision of our nations capability.

It is amazing for me to witness the changes that occurred after the American Revolution, and the impact that it had on world wide society. It is admirational to see Gods hand in the changes that occurred as man quickly realized what Liberty meant to each citizen.

Upon the completion of the war, many slaves quickly stated "we live among liberty, but do not have it ourselves." Women also called for changes due to the oppression they were experiencing and the limitations that being a woman during that time entailed.

How wonderful it is to see the Lords hand softening the hearts of western thought and enabling our forefathers to realized that EVERY person deserved the right to be free, and then to see our history slowly evolve toward creating that liberty to theses others who were not yet equally enjoying the fruits of being totally free.

I believe God loves his children and desires each of us to enjoy the freedom to make our own choices so that, as we choose righteously, we become more free, and ultimately more like he is.