Stumbling Blocks vs. Stepping Stones

 About a week and a half ago I was involved in a lesson where we felt impressed to read and discuss 1 Nephi 14:1.  Here Nephi is being taught by an angel in a vision.  The angel tells Nephi about the Gentiles and how the Lord will manifest himself to the Gentiles in many ways.  One of them being "taking away their stumbling blocks".  We discussed this idea of the Lord taking away our stumbling blocks and how we access this gift.

The spirit taught us it is our decision in any circumstance to make that circumstance a stumbling block or a stepping stone.  The decision is either to go towards or away from Christ.  Christ is the difference. 

Eternities greatest stumbling blocks can be stepping stones only through Christ.

Sin is one of those stumbling blocks that will impede and stop our progression if Christ is not present.  In the scriptures we read, "there cannot any unclean thing enter into the kingdom of God."(1 Nephi 15:34)  Without Christ we would never be able to enter the kingdom of heaven because of our sins.  Another obstacle is death.  Romans 8:2 tells us,"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."  Christ has eliminated the stumbling block of life after death and if we choose He will make it possible for us to overcome the obstacle of sin.  The difference is Christ. 

Let us all have hope and faith in the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  For, "there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent." (Mosiah 3:17).

Lessons I learned from Inmates

Before my mission I went to college. While at college I participated in a travelling show choir. One of our shows was at a local prison. There we did two shows with a variety of music from patriotic, to spiritual, to Broadway, and don't forget to throw The Beach Boys in there. I was excited about this opportunity. A group of us arrived early to set up the key boards and sound equipment. We rolled in all of the equipment,  it was checked, and then we passed through some security doors. The music equipment was quickly set up and before we knew it the rest of the choir and inmates were coming through the doors for the performance. Both performances went very well, but there are a couple of moments which I will never forget.

First, we sang an Acapella version of America the Beautiful. As we sang I looked around and saw these tough men crying. They were crying in gratitude for the country which they lived in. I would have thought they would have been a little frustrated, but they were not. They realized the great country that we live in.

Second, I remember the spirit that was present. We sang spiritual songs about Christ's Atoning sacrifice, leaving a good example for our posterity, and forgiveness. Out of all of the performances that we did that year this was the one that will stick in my mind the longest because of what the spirit taught me after.

After the performances we packed up and left. It was a spiritual feast where I saw men cry, pray, and give thanks to God while we sang about their Savior and Redeemer. As I was thinking about the experience after the spirit taught me why the spirit was so strong there. It was because the Atonement was in use. These inmates were actively repenting, changing, and pouring their lives through the strainer of the Atonement and allowing Christ to remove the impurities. We went into a building with bars, walls, and security cameras ,but while we were performing all of those things went away. We all felt free and close to our Savior. The Savior has figuratively spent many long, sleepless nights there with some of those inmates helping them through whatever they were going through. Christ never left them. Neither will he leave us.  Bars nor high security buildings will keep him out.  Only a closed and hardened heart.

I hope that I will actively use the Atonement always like those inmates were. They showed heroic faith in their relationship with which they had with their Savior. Christ is there ready to help us on condition that we let him. I pray and hope that we do, and in the process the chains of the adversary are shattered

The Lord Always Knows Best

One day Elder Trout and myself felt inspired to go and vist a couple of less active members.  As we tried each house we would find no one home. After this happening a couple of times we ended up with an individual whom we were lacking the house number on their address. We walked to a members home to find out the specific home for this less active.  We knocked on the members door and no one answered.  In frustration we decided to knock all of the doors on the street to find whom we were looking for.  The first house told us to come back.  A little ways down we knocked on another house to which a young mother and her daughter answered the door.  They were excitted to learn more about Christ's message about families.  We taught them a little and set up a return appointment.  By the time we were done talking to them we did not have time to try the other doors on the other side of the street to find the initial person whom we were looking for.  On the way to our next appointment we talked to a man in his garage who had just lost a son.  We were able to direct him to Christ and resources which could help him understand why and give him comfort.

The Lord taught me alot through this experience.  He did not want us to go over there because of that less active member whom we were looking for.  He had others in mind , so from now on when something does not go the way that I thought it would or should I am going to strive to have faith to allow the Lord to accomplish what he had in mind for everything happens for a reason.  We all have the opportunity to allow Heavenly Father to use us to help others around us.  How grateful I am for that.  There are numberless blessings waiting in the wings of our lives just waiting to come on stage.  It is our job to give the stage to them by our faith produced actions.

The Road not Taken

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and
I took the one less traveled by,


And that has made all the difference.

This poem by Robert Frost is one of my personal favorites because it is something we as disciples of Christ have to live.  There are two roads and one is a lot more travelled.  One is a lot more popular.  One is a lot more convenient.  Which one of these are we going to travel? 

This cartoon demonstrates the worlds point of view.  They make fun of the idea, but that is not a new concept to us.  For Lehi and Nephi saw a vision where the exact same thing occurred.  Lets be steadfast and immovable and take the road less travelled for that truly will make all of the difference for us and our families.

What is the road less travelled?

It is the straight and narrow path.  Some of us cringe at the thought and sight of this path, but in reality it should be the opposite.  Elder Maxwell says this, "There is a real risk that members of the Church—particularly the young—may perceive the concept of the straight and narrow way too narrowly. Variations of the concept of the straight and narrow path appear many times in the scriptures, but it is really a description of a clearly marked corridor to salvation and exaltation—a path of high adventure for the brave, not the intolerant; it is not an ecclesiastical “country club” situated on a narrow theological terrace. The way is as wide as infinity in terms of its requirements of love and truth; it confines us only in marking those peril points along the path of life.

How very grateful I am for the straight and narrow path.  Sadly it is often the one less travelled, but we have our own agency to decide which path we will take.  Let us take the one which will line us up for eternal rewards and happiness. 

Why is life so hard?

Why is life so hard? A question which many have asked often many times in their life. Think about it; "Why is life so hard?"

In today’s world we as people to often shy away from something because it is hard. Maybe we need to re-consider the correlation we have made between something being hard, and it not being worth our time.

Steve Pavlina is one of the world’s well known bloggers. He has over 2 million views on his blogs a month. Seth Godin is a well-known writer and speaker. Both of these amazing people have written many books, spoken to many people and started many one show companies. They accomplish more in a couple months then some accomplish in a year. They are great examples of work. Steve says this about hard work in a post which he titled "Hard Work“:

"Hard work pays off. When someone tells you otherwise, beware the sales pitch for something “fast and easy” that’s about to come next. The greater your capacity for hard work, the more rewards fall within your grasp. The deeper you can dig, the more treasure you can potentially find…Your life will reach a whole new level when you stop avoiding and fearing hard work and simply surrender to it. Make it your ally instead of your enemy. It’s a potent tool to have on your side."

Seth said this in a post called "Labor Day“

"Hard work is about risk. It begins when you deal with the things that you’d rather not deal with: fear of failure, fear of standing out, fear of rejection. Hard work is about training yourself to leap over this barrier, tunnel under that barrier, drive through the other barrier. And, after you’ve done that, to do it again the next day."

These two leaders have discovered and fed the love of work.

Even during Christ's life some of his disciples left him partly because it was going to be hard. After Christ feeds five thousand with food, him and his disciples leave. Christ leaves to be alone, and his disciples get in a ship to go to the other side of the sea. While Christ’s apostles are on the water a storm comes. Christ walks to them on the water and calms the storms. When they come to the other side some people came up to Christ and ask to be fed because they had heard about Christ feeding all of those people. Christ explains to them how he is the bread of life and testifies of his divinity. "Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard."

Christ’s asks for our all. Work is an amazing sifter of those things which we do need and what we do not. I love to trail run and go hiking in the mountains. When one does this they take the least amount with them as possible to reduce the weight. Work fulfills the same purpose. When one really works they drop, discard, and strip away everything that is access.

God said, "For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." "This is my work." If we want to help the Lord out with his work and glory we must not shy away from hard work but run to it and embrace it. One will never accomplish a dream without work.  When we put our mind to it and allow the Lord to help; together we accomplish a lot more then we could ever do on our own. 

 

Kronk

In The Emperors New Groove Kronk is faced with a decision to either let the terrible ruler Cusko live or die by throwing him over a waterfall.  Two shoulder angels pop up and start this conversation with him, "You're not just gonna let him die like that, are you?
Kronk: My Shoulder Angel.
Kronk's Shoulder Devil: Don't listen to that guy! He's trying to lead you down the "path of righteousness". I'm gonna lead you down the path that rocks!
Kronk's Shoulder Angel: Ah, come off it!

Kronk's Shoulder Devil: You come off it!

Kronk's Shoulder Angel: You!

Kronk's Shoulder Devil: You!

Kronk's Shoulder Angel: You!

Kronk's Shoulder Devil:  You infinity.

Kronk's Shoulder Devil:  Listen up, big guy. I got three good reasons why you should just walk away. Number one:  Look at that guy! He's got that sissy, stringy, music thing.

Kronk's Shoulder Angel: We've been through this. It's a harp, and you know it.

Kronk's Shoulder Devil: All right. So, that's a harp... and that's a dress!

Kronk's Shoulder Angel: Robe!

Kronk's Shoulder Devil: Reason number two:  Look what I can do!

Kronk: But, uh, what does that have to do with anything?

Kronk's Shoulder Angel: No, no, he's got a point.

Kronk: Listen, you guys. You're starting to confuse me, so, uh, "be gone!" Or, uh, you know, however I get rid of you guys.

Kronk's Shoulder Angel and Devil: That'll work

Kronk has a very important decision to make.  Let Cusko die and with it Yzma becomes the ruler or allow Cuzco to live and be out of a job.  We are blessed with such choices as this.  Stop or go, left or right, sin or righteousness, optimism or pessimism.

President Faust said, "Tomorrow’s blessings and opportunities depend on the choices we make today."  Oh how very true this simple and eternal principle is.  There are consequences for actions.  Let's be like Kronk and not throw Cusko over the edge of the waterfall, but make decisions that prepare us for success now and set the future up for triumphs.

Impossible! I think Not!`

Let me share two examples in the which two groups of people were placed in circumstances where their dreams looked impossible.  They did not however allow that to slow them down or stop them, and because of that they accomplished their dreams. 

First, have you ever heard of Panyee?  Me neather until I watched this movie about some boys on their small floating village who had a dream.  Circumstance tried to destroy their dream before it even began, but dreams are not made when circumstances are perfect. 

Second, Carl Joseph was a boy that did not let his circumstances limit his dreams. He was born with one leg into a single parent household and in poverty. He was the fourth of ten children. He grew up on a tabacoo farm in Florida. Carl with these circumstances could have thrown away his dreams of playing sports, but he would not allow himself to. Carl played basketball, football, and track. He excelled in all of them. In basketball he could dunk the ball even thou he was only 6'1" tall. He was known for swatting the opponenets ball into the stands. In football he was the team captian and a starter. While playing nose tackle he would hop to make tackles.  In his greatest game he made over 11 tackles and blocked a punt. He went on to play college football at Bethune Cookman College.   In track Carl jumped 5'10" in the high jump. Carl still made honor role with all of these activities.

Carl accomplished all of this on 1 leg.

Former NFL star Dan Dieford said this in reference to Carl, "the most amazing athlete I’ve ever seen.” Here is a video of Carl playing football.

The only one that makes something impossible is ourselves.

Finish or Bust

3,000 meter steeplechase is one of the most physically demanding events one can do on a track. It involves seven laps around the track. Spread around the track are four dry hurdles and one hurdle with water on the far side. By the end of the race each runner has jumped 28 dry hurdles, seven water traps, and ran a little under two miles. This sport originated in the British Isles where runners would run from steeple to steeple. While running from steeple to steeple the runner would have to jump obstacles such as rock walls. Slowly this race evolved from 3,200 (2 miles) meters to 3,000 meters and from rough terrain to flat. The race was then added to the Olympics. This race is one of the most grueling races because of the distance, pace, and obstacles one must jump while going around the track.

At the beginning of such a hard race the task may seem daunting. As one slowly completes jumps after jump and lap after lap their muscles get tired and fatigued. Often the athlete have to just focus on clearing the next hurdle or running the next 100 meters.

Our life is much like a steeplechase. There are many hurdles to jump. There are times in the races when we are relaxed and on a straight away. There are times when we are striving to clear a hurdle. There are times a hurdle seems too big for one to jump. There are times the race ahead seems to daunting to conquer. Let us remember Christ has run the race before us. He knows it perfectly, and as our loving coach He will not lead us astray if we listen to His tender voice.

As we finish it will be well worth the tears, sweat, and strength it took to finish the race.  For we have been changed into a champion in the process.

The Dream

Growing up I dreamed, slept, ate, and bled running. The more the merrier. I created schedules and entered races. I ran track and cross country.

It was my senior year in high school. Region was a week away and then state was two weeks after that. I had just achieved my fasting time. I was excited and pumped for the upcoming race. After school one day we headed out on our daily afternoon run. We headed towards a park behind the high school. I felt great! Today was going to be awesome. The concrete road we were on quickly turned into a dirt path about the same width. The trail slowly slimmed down to produce a single file line of runners. It disappeared into a group of trees on the side of a hill and turned immediately right and then down. As I started running down the hill I found myself alone with no one in sight in front of me or behind me. As I got closer to the bottom of the hill, I picked up speed. I got going faster and faster. At the bottom of the hill I planted my right foot on what I thought was the ground. The second I put all of my weight on that foot the rock, not ground which my foot was resting on, moved and my ankle with it. I felt a tear and pop. I staggered and slowed down. One of my teammates came running up behind me to see me in pain on the side of the trail. He lifted and carried me the mile back to the school. As I took off my shoe my ankle swelled up immediately. Come to find out later my tendons had been damaged and my tibia had shifted down my leg and foot. My dreams of running in Region and State disappeared.

In the following months while I recovered, I thought a lot about what had happened. I experienced frustration as I was limited from certain activities as well as missed out in playing soccer my senior year. I wondered why did this happen? Was this fare? Why now? These are question many of us have asked. As I have gone through this experience and many others, I have been blessed and guided to realize by the spirit that it is not a "bad" thing to go through trials. Good and bad people go through trials. A certain trying experience is not a punishment at all. Often it is a blessing and a complement from our Heavenly Father.

In the Book of John, Christ's apostles ask Christ a question along the lines of, "Is a trial a punishment for sinning?" Here is the story. "And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man , or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him." (John 9:1-3)

The man was not cursed with blindness because someone had transgressed. The very opportunity of having an experience which tests and try’s us is what we need to change our very being, grow and become better individuals, and ultimately become like our Heavenly Father and Savior. It is painful but necessary to burn away the impurities.

Let us be grateful for those experiences which allow God's greatest work being the Atonement manifests itself in us and by so doing change us.

 

Living on the edge

There was once a young man who went cliff jumping with all of his friends.  As the day wore on the boys got higher and higher with each jump.  As the boys got higher they starting thinking, "I could get hurt!”, but the fear of disappointing the others kept them jumping.  One of the boys climbed up past the rest of them to make the highest jump of the day.  He jumped off but when he landed everyone could hear the smack of skin against the water.  The young man had landed sideways as he hit the water breaking a rib.  Some of the boys who were already at the bottom jumped into the water dragging their friend out. 

These boys new deep down inside if they did not stop that one of them was going to eventually get hurt.  Why did they keep going? 

Fear of disappointing  is something which has tied down many people from reaching their dreams and having experiences, but “perfect love casteth out fear."(1 john 4:18).  How does one obtain this love? 

The prophet Moroni answered this question in the Book of Mormon by saying, "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ.” (Moroni 7:48)

The first step is prayer.  Not just talking but pleading with all the energy of our souls.  The gift of love will be blessed upon all those who pray and are true followers of Jesus Christ.  Obedience is what characterizes a true follower of Jesus Christ. I hope and pray that we plead for love, and then have faith in Jesus Christ to be obedient.

Christ lives and loves us.

Why Not

Why?  A word commonly used with different people in different circumstances to different peers.  Why?  A word which can invite the spirit.  Why?  A word, on the other hand, which can show contempt and disagreement?  One word which has started the domino effect to many inventions and ideas which have shaped, showed, and changed the world.

The power of one word. The power of one person.  In 1645, one vote gave Oliver Cromwell control over England.  In 1776, one vote caused the American language to be English instead of German.  In 1868, one vote caused President Jackson to not be impeached.  In 1941, one vote caused Adolf Hitler to be put into power.  It was just one Samaritan which saved the man left to die in the desert in between Jerusalem and Jericho. Noah was one man commanded of God to build an ark and save his people and continue the human race.  Christ was one man who was "prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem [His] people."(Ether 3:14)  He came to earth to fulfill the law and a task which would save everyone who had come, was living, and was to be born from eternal torment.  All it takes is one lost sheep for Christ to go and save.  The Atonement is for the one. 

A fellow missionary and myself were visiting an older gentleman who had not attended church in some time.  He was complaining to us about the world in which he lived, and that he had no say or part in it.  The conversation was abruptly concluded when I was guided to say, "Christ was just one man."  The number one is not "the loneliest number" but has power to change people's lives . 

"Why" is one word that has shaped people, families, and nations.  One person has made a difference in voting politically and directing nations and people.

Christ ultimately shows to us the greatest power of impacting and changing lives; Ultimately His brothers and sisters lives on an individual level as well as collective.

Why Not?  Why not live up to our potential?  Why not see ourselves as our Heavenly Father and Christ see us?  We are children of God.  We have the power to impact individual’s lives.  In my high school there was a saying which greatly impacted me which said.  "To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world."  I love this saying but I want to change it.  To Christ we are worth the world, and to one person we may be the world if we point them to Christ.

Let us never think we are not talented, gifted, or pretty enough to make a difference.   We all have the light of Christ and a body.  When Enoch was called to be a prophet he felt very inadequate.  He said, "Why is it that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but a lad, and all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech."  The Lord then so lovingly replies, "Open thy mouth, and it shall be filled, and I will give thee utterance, for all flesh is in my hands, and I will do as seemeth me good...Behold my Spirit is upon you, wherefore all thy words will I justify; and the mountains shall flee before you, and the rivers shall turn from their course; and thou shalt abide in me, and I in you; therefore walk with me."(Moses 6:31-34)  Let us "walk with [Christ]".  For that is where the power is.  

The power of one is in comprehendable when Christ is on one's side.  Don't ever think you can not make a difference.  For you can!

Where are you going?

Optimism v. Pessimism.  Two polar opposites which we face daily.  The world throws many different views on this.  Like the one shown just to the left in this picture.  Why be optimistic? 

Optimism shows faith.  Optimism shows a hope in the futures and what one cannot see.  Optimism shows a faith and hope in the Savior of the world.  

Moroni, in the Book of Mormon says," And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith(Ether 12:6).

Being optimistic or having a hope for the future and a faith in Christ shows that faith and hope in the unseen.  As we show our faith and hope in Christ we will be able to dance in the rains and storms of life.  We will see the eternal perspective and have the dirt and mud scraped away from our windshield. 

Let us not see and focus on the couple of dark clouds in the sky and miss the gorgeous sunset on the horizon.

To speak or not to speak. That is the question?

Have you ever had one of those experiences when you say something and the second you say it you wish you could take back.  Many embarrassing and hurtful experiences start just that way.  The power of what we say seems to penetrate to the very core of one’s soul.  You might say it does not affect them?  Think again!  Russell Wilcox in an article called Is Anyone Laughing said, "People might put up with put-downs and manage a chuckle for the sake of saving face, but deep down, negative humor hurts. No matter how perfect the timing or how smoothly executed the joke, usually the only ones laughing are those who are afraid they may be your next targets."

Let us follow the savior's words by being "holy in all manner of conversation" (1 Peter 1:15) and having our "words tend to edifying one another" (Doctrine and Covenants 136:24).

Why is it important to always uplift those around us through our words?  Christ said, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matt. 25:40)

This scr. tells us that when we put down and say something negative to one of Christ's children we are saying it to him.  Let us uplift our language and in the process come closer to our Savior, Heavenly Father, Spirit, and be a greater instrument in the hands of the Master.

 

Let your light so shine

In Christ's Sermon on the Mount He says, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16 ).

Light is wonderful.  It gets brighter the closer to the source one gets.  Light when not prohibited will light up the area it is into different degrees.  When a "bushel" for example covers it the light is blocked from lighting up its surroundings. 

What bushels do we put over our light?  It could be the fear of rejection, popularity, acceptance, or something being too hard.  Might I suggest we remove those things which keep the light of Christ from spreading to every heart, people, family, city, and country.

Marianne Williamson in her poem Our Greatest Fear I think says it best.  

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,

talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other

people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of

God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,

we unconsciously give other people

permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,

Our presence automatically liberates others.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."  As we do we give others permission to do the same.  Christ lives and wants us to shine forth the light of Christ that is in each of us.

Faith to Let Go

There was once a young man who was hiking along a trail which followed the edge of a cliff.  The young man slipped.  As he fell over the cliff, he grabbed onto a root sticking out of the side of the cliff.  There he hung helplessly.  Christ came to him and asked, "Do you believe I can save you?"  The young man replied, "Yes."  Christ left and came again asking the same question, "Do you believe that I can save you?"  Again the young man answered in the affirmative.  Christ left a second time and returned asking the same question with the young man answering, "Yes."  Christ then looked at the young man and said, "Then let go."

Sometimes that is what it takes.  Let go and allow the Savior to provide yet another miracle in our life.  In Genesis 22 we find the account of God commanding Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. He did so humbly.  He took his son and hiked to the appointed location and put his son on the altar.  The Lord waited till the last moment to stop Abraham from killing Isaac.  Abraham proved that he was willing to "let go".  Because of that the Lord through an angel stopped Abraham and provided a ram to be sacrificed in the place of Isaac. Then the Lord in his infinite love goes on to bless not only Abraham and Isaac but all of his seed and posterity.  When Abraham was willing to "let go" and do what ever the Lord would have him do, he soured instead of fell.  The Lord will do the same with us as we “let go”.  There are some mountains which can only be climbed by letting go and allowing the savior to carry us by the wind to the top.

Reviewing the Past

A year ago I went on a church history tour with a bunch of my cousins and some other individuals who soon became our good friends. During this two week tour we saw many of the early church history sights such as Nauvoo, the sacred grove, and the Susquehanna River.  Along with visiting the church history sights, we stopped in Washington DC to look at some of our country sights.  As we arrived, we piled off the bus and quickly walked up to the famous fence to take pictures.  After taking pictures and talking to other people, we piled back onto the bus to go to our next destination.  When arriving at my seat I noticed my backpack was missing.  I ran up to the front of the bus, informing the driver of my dilemma and ran back towards the white fence in hopes of finding my backpack.  As I came into view of the fence I could tell something was not right.  Everyone had been pushed back, about 40 yards, from the fence.  I asked someone what was going on.  They informed me that there was a bomb scare.  I quickly looked towards the fence and there was my backpack, sitting alone next to the fence exactly where I had put it down to take pictures.  I then proceeded to leave the line of people and walk out, sheepishly, into no mans land in search of one of the policeman on a bike.  I told him that was my backpack.  He then proceeded to go through the process of clearing me to be able to get my backpack back.  After I was clear, I was allowed to open my backpack and show him what was in it.  I showed him a couple of empty water-bottles and a Book of Mormon.  After showing him this, I was permitted to take my backpack and leave.  As I was from no mans land back to the crowd of people, there were cameras flashing and video cameras rolling.  I felt like a movie star.  Once the pictures were over, I made my way through my new fan club back to the bus.  When I climbed onto the bus I was greeted with a standing ovation by the rest of the group.  After this experience, of course as cousins do, the teasing came.  I was informed that I was the best room clearer they had ever seen.  They chided me about being a terrorist and hiding bombs in my luggage. 

As I think back about this experience, I laugh now but in the moment to be honest I was scared to death.  It is interesting to note how when we are going through hard times we do not see the blessings that come from it.  I find the most growth occurs when the perfect amount of opposition is present.  The Lord knows the perfect amount of opposition to create the optimum growth.  In 1 Cor. 10:13 God says through Paul, " There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."  The Lord knows what to bless us with so that we can have the optimum amount of growth.  Let us always remember that.  Then at the very end the Lord through Paul tells us that he will also "make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

Let us move forward with a hope in Christ enough to turn to Christ and faith enough to walk into the darkness in front of us.