Civility

We need to remember: You can disagree without being disagreeable. We must remember that smart, well-informed people can have legitimate policy disagreements. We must be grateful that we are blessed to live in a free and democratic society with a Constitution that protects our freedom of speech and ensures that we can advocate our views openly and forcefully. However, the blessing of freedom requires work and commitment by those who would enjoy it. It requires that we listen. It requires that we challenge ideas with better alternatives and not with force, violence and weapons. The path back to civilized debate requires leadership at all levels of society: political, media, academic and business. Civilized society requires humility to recognize that while I may advocate passionately for those fundamental beliefs I hold most dear, it is possible that I am wrong. No one ever learned anything when they were shouting; we only learn when we listen.  

Live for now

Whatever you are, be a good one -Abraham Lincoln


I'm culpable of looking forward and not paying attention to the now that I am living in.  I can't blame myself too much since Graduate School is rather important to take care of but I was overlooking my current obligations.  I found the quote by ol' Abe and started to think about how if I'm going to be a student (in my last semester) I had better be a good one and not get stuck on the senioritis that is likely to kick in right when I need to turn on the afterburner to finish up the semester and the undergraduate degree.  I just need to remember that every day I have to make the choice to be successful, whatever the definition of that may be during that particular day.

Scripture studies

It is interesting how at times we look at the things of the past with more interest than the present.  I was considering the Doctrine and Covenants as I will be focusing on that tome of scripture for my studies during the immediate future. A thought came to mind that I have access to both the old and new testaments that are studied so much for the words of both mortal and pre-mortal Jehovah yet I frequently put on my back burner the word of a celestialized Jehovah speaking to us in our current dispensation.  Those two testaments while immensely informative and uplifting were given to people of previous times with different circumstances.  The Doctrine and Covenants (along with the continuing scripture we receive during General Conference) contains words, advice, and commandments that are more readily applicable to me today.

Heber J. Grant said the following:  I wish that I had the ability to impress upon the Latter-day Saints the necessity of searching the commandments of God, the revelations from the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth, as contained in the Doctrine and Covenants. If we as a people would live up to those wonderful revelations that have come to us, we would be a bright and shining light to all the wide world. [Heber J. Grant, CR, October 1927, p. 4]

There also lies in these pages the origins of many of the practices of the LDS church today

Stake Conference? D&C 20:61,81

Administering to the sick? D&C 42

I won't bore you with more of the same but but it continues on and on with various principles and practices.

I think of Matthew 7:7-11 and realize these scriptures are a gift from God meant to help and guide me.  I'll be utilizing that gift more.

And I'm out of steam on this topic. 

I'm a geek

After reading a friend's post I began thinking about Kingdom Hearts the other day wondering about a phrase which comes at the beginning of the game stating that the closer one is to the light the larger and darker the shadow of that person becomes.   This could entail several interpretations I think.

1.  The closer one is to truth and light the more responsibility he has

2. The closer one is to truth and light the more affect she has on others around her

3. The closer one is to truth and light the harder the adversary works inside of them to bring out the opposite.