Smash Brothers

    Although I wouldn't consider playing video games a sport I did participate in the playing of them from time to time. One game, in particular, that I enjoyed was called Super Smash Bros. I also played games such as Mario Kart and Guitar Hero. Some would say that playing video games is a waste of time. I would agree with them on some points. However, before my mission I spent about a month at home not working. Needless to say I had a lot of down time. So I looked forward to when my brothers would come home from school and we could play video games amongst other activities. The time we spent laughing and playing together is a great memory of mine.

    There's nothing wrong with playing video games once in a while. The trouble starts when we can't go a day (or even a few hours) without sitting in front of the TV with a controller in our hands. So, that being said, it might be a good idea to examine how much time you spend on your XBOX or Wii and consider what's most important in the long run. I testify that the important things in life are actual not virtual.

    Please visit the following links for more on the subject:

• Keeping Safe and Balanced in a Google-YouTube-Twitter-Facebook-iEverything World
• Unplugged
• Just a Game?

Get a Grip

Ann M. Dibb gave a talk entitled "Hold On" in which she talked about the need for us to take hold of the scriptures and never let go. She shared a few great stories that I would highly suggest reading. I also wanted to submit one more analogy to go along with her talk:

I have never been much of a rock climber but I've given it a shot a time or two. Afterwards I always come away with very tired and sore forearms. The muscles in my arms become quite tired of gripping the rocks and lifting myself up to the next handhold. There is, however, a solution to this problem. If I were to take time each day to practice rock-climbing, getting a better grip, I would become a much better climber and be able to accomplish a lot more.

The same is true with our scripture study. If we will spend time everyday "getting a better grip" by reading the words of the Prophets then we can accomplish much more in our lives and become the best climbers we can be. I would urge each of us to study the scriptures daily.

Oranges - Sharing is Caring

Well I had an orange for lunch today, it was delicious by the way, and I couldn't help but notice how convenient that this fruit is for sharing. How peculiar, I thought, that it would grow into separate wedges. Although, I didn't happen to share my orange today (Elder Gunnerson is allergic) it was a reminder to me of all the wonderful things our Heavenly Father has given us to share with each other. More specifically, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. May we share with our neighbor that fruit which our Father has given us, the fruit of the Tree of Life.

Too Quick to Compare

I like to play basketball. And I would even go as far to say that I think I am a decent player. However, that depends on who you compare me to. For instance, if you compared me to Michael Jordan I wouldn't seem so decent anymore. But if you compared me to someone who's picked up a basketball like once I might seem kinda decent after all.

Our success in life is not dependent on how much better we are compared to others. The things that matter in life cannot be measured against anyone else. Our Father in Heaven considers us successful when we better our talents and learn to love others unconditionally. He doesn't judge us in comparison with our neighbors but in comparison with our best possible selves. We know we are successful when we can feel the Spirit in our lives, when we have love towards our fellow man, when we are obedient, and when we are at peace through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

So don't sweat it if your neighbor can garden better than you, or your friend at school seems to do better in math class. Just remember to do your best and Heavenly Father will give you success.

What Will YOU Do With the Time that's Left

As missionaries we don't get to have our own computers so we often rely on the community library to use the internet in sharing the gospel. As I have walked in and out of this building a number of times I have come to realize that there are a lot of books. There are books about literally everything and even if I spent the rest of my life reading them I couldn't even finish the books in the small library of Kalispell, MT.

"So what's your point?" you might ask. The point is that our time is limited here on earth and we should spend it doing worthwhile things. There is a song I really like entitled: Time That is Left. One of the verses reads:

What will you do with the time that's left?

Will you live it all with no regret?
Will they say that you loved till your final breath?
What will you do with the time?

So give that one some thought and possibly make an adjustment to how you spend your time.