Depth to life...

Depth, what is it? Defined:

1. The distance from the top or surface of something to its bottom.
2. Distance from the nearest to the farthest point of something or from the front to the back.

Famous Philosopher Ralph waldo Emerson, "Its not the length of life, but the depth". How does life and depth have correlation to each other, distance from nearest to farthest point? Lets explore.

Many people state, "they died old" or "they died young", I endeavor to advocate that time has little effect on a successful life, but the observations made, and the things done with in life that defines. This is what is ment by Ralph waldo Emerson when he made the statement "but the depth".

So how do we lead lives that are deep and meaningful, full of depth and color? This is a question many have but with difficultly in expression of such a question. Many search for the Meaning in Life, and Purpose. These are manifestations of the search for depth.

First step to leading a life of depth and vigor is what I will entitle as the "search for truth". The study and search for truth will lead us to places, give us experience, and create environments for depth in our lives. As we learn truth and gain understanding our view of life changes, our horizon increases and our outlook tword reality metamorphose into a thing of beauty. As we see truth our desire to obtain more truth increases and opportunity to apply that truth come... So to search truth, seek beauty and stop to smell the roses.

This leads to the second step we may take in a depth centered life, Application of truth. It is not merely enough to simply know secular knowledge, learning comes form the application of truth obtained. Truth obtained demands application and use of such, with out such applying depth and meaning in life is lost, our view becomes that of a second dimensional reality, and the true art is lost. Just as it is not enough to simply look at a work of art proclaiming that the colors are fantastic, the picture clear, but after the view walks away unchanged missing the feelings that are stirred in a soul but the carefully placed strokes of the painter. One whose does this leaves with the lesson unlearned, the energy released for the artist still clinging to the strokes of paint on the canvas. We must apply what we learn.

These are two basic and simple principles that will add depth to our lives, color, and vigor in reality. We may not control things as they really are, but we can control the way we view reality. These steps will add a measure of roundness and culture that give us the tools necessary to "paint or picture" in life, they add the wondrous colors, hughes, pastels, and depth that each soul so desperately longs for.

We know that the application of truth to our reality paints depth in our canvas of life,   Now how do we gain, or obtain truth is the question that remains in the equation. Here are a few ways that Ive been able to gain truth:

1)Study, "...seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith."(D&C88:118) As we study we must seek out of the best of the best, we do not have time in life to study EVERYTHING even though we may desire to know all things, so we must choose the best to study, the best yields the most vital truth.
2)Seek Truth by Faith "and that they may seek learning even by study, and also by faith..."(D&C109:14) As we diligently seek to know truth we delicate ourselves to follow what ever truth we may obtain, this is the meaning to seek learning by Faith, or real intent.
3)Endeavor to teach the principles you've learned, "seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom."(D&C88:118) The making available truth learned will intern help us find more truth and temper our wisdom. That all may be edified, teach to learn, half of a lesson or truth learned is the student, half the teacher, both are to be edified together...

I hope that this has given added measure in how to live life to the fullest, it is simple and could be expounded upon much more in depth, but this is the way, truth sets us free from the bondage of ignorance and pushes us into the light, like the allegory of the cave (http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/republic.8.vii.html) truth is freedom... All these things I so declare in the Name of Truth the way and the light, Jesus Christ amen...

"Flash/Bang-isim"

As a I have been pondering media and society in general(is that possible?) I have been noticing a pattern, that I will entitle "flash/bang-isim". I have been seeing very flashy and lucrative objects, philosophy's, and theology's, that all seem to be the right path to happiness that ultimately lead to a destructive end. It seems to note that the flash that is so inticing is the promise of Happiness, Peace, Love, Joy, Attention, Individuality, Neededness and Security. These seem to be a desire of the normal human, I will attempt in this blog post to give example, and the solution to the Flash/Bang-ism craz that is currently destroying humanity down to the individual soul.

The Flash:

The flash is the enticement factor, we as Humans are enticed to choose a numerous amount of things, if it where not so we would not exist. Example, we are enticed to eat food, if we choose to eat food we live, if we do not we of course die. We are invited by food to live. Taking this example one step further we are free to choose good food or bad food, to eat malnutritional food or eat healthy food that will prolong or mortal existence.

In order to make a choice we must be invited to use our agency(ability to choose) to do either good, or bad. 2 Nephi 2:16 states "Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other" acting takes enticement. 

So if action or use of agency takes enticement one way or the other, the question arises, What am I being enticed to do? Are my surroundings inviting me to do good? or bad? What am I choosing? 

These days there are many "enticements" that are placed in our way to do both good and bad. The age old phrase "the devil made me do it" is a complete and utter lie, the devil has no power to make us do anything, he may invite and entice is to use our agency to choose evil deeds all he wants. To believe this would be to say 1)God has a lack of power otherwise he would force us to obey him, or 2) God has created us to sin. Now Satan will use sophistry in order to deceive us into wickedness, "Sophistry; 1)A subtle, tricky, superficial pausable, but generally fallacious method of reasoning, 2)False argument". This is the Flash Factor, it looks good from the outside but the substance is bad. Have you ever seen a commercial and thought: "oh man if I had that life would be so much more bearable?" this is how the flash effects us. It may even temporally blind us from seeing clearly, or seeing at all.

The Bang
So after the Flash, what happens? Bang, the failment of what ever entices us. It may be a hair product that promised to fulfill our deepest desire of fitting in, it may be the car that everyone will oww and ahhh over, it may perhaps even be a miss guided philosophy that promises eternal peace. In the end the Bang ultimately dies, it fulfills its created measure and leaves as quickly as the Flash.

The substance is the ultimate determining factor in the evidence of "flash/bang-ism". It will leave us all that it can , and usually leaves a hole of apathy to filling the gap now in the soul. This usually leads to deeper and more fervent search for more flashes that will "quick fix" us back to normality.


So how do we find the remedy for Flash/Bang-isim? What does bring everlasting peace and happiness?

Seeing things as they really are, seeking not for the superficial answer, ie question the "Why? why do i need this? Why am I doing this?" Asking why will provide introspection and will reveal the flash of the unneeded and bad. This is how to stay away form the Flash.

So how do I find the peace and purpose that I am existing for? Helaman 5:17 "Peace, peace be unto you, because of your faith in my Well Beloved, who was from the foundation of the world" Faith in Christ is the ultimate healer and giver of purpose, the Who I am? the Why I am here? and the Where am I going? can all be answered by Faith in Christ, his Atonement. This is the How to find peace.

From personal experience I can bear testimony that Healing comes in and through Christ, the Flash Bang-ism can be seen through and be over come. As Christ invites so invite I "Come and see"(1 John 1:39) in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

(more answers here)
mormon.org
lds.org

Sailing... in the Gospel

So the last 4 or 5 days in Florida have been super windy, its been especially interesting because of the bike thingy I ride to get places for some reason isn't A) aerodynamic and B) seem to be greatly underpowered. This combination equates to a very slow progression down the street, unless of course we are going with the wind, which seems to turn directions every time I get on my bike, so yes biking into the wind is possible...

Unlike on a bike a sail boat utilizes the wind, no matter which way you go, into or out of the wind... How is that possible?! Well lets see...

Now lets explain, in order to head into the wind you need to turn your boat at a 45 degree angle, this causes the boat to move forward as it moves out. The progress of the boat is decreased by 50%, but there is progress, which is the blessing... This process in sailing is called Tacking. You give up some forward progress to actually make it... On the way back you "run" with the wind, letting you sail wide open and letting her go!! But be careful to put weight  in the stern, or you catch your bow and end up having to de-turtle your boat...

This is a very proficient metaphor for the gospel principle, of sacrifice. It is essential to Tack into the wind to reach our destination, it is also essential to sacrifice to obtain our full potential. It may take massive sacrifices if theres big wind, or small sacrifices if theres little to no wind. Sometimes we think to ourselves "dang I have to give up that?" But the giving up ultimately gets us to our destination. Doctrine and Covenants 97:8 "Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are honest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite, and are willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice—yea, every sacrifice which I, the Lord, shall command—they are accepted of me". Sacrifice is a must...

It is also important to recognize the turn that is required to continue on a straight line, which of course requires two things; 1)destination, and 2) land marks.

1)As we know our destination we have a vision of what we can do, and where we are going, Proverbs 29:18 "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he". When our destination is known we understand what purpose is...

2)Landmarks, in order to efficiently apply the process of tacking equal distance is required, in order to do this constant course corrections is needed, we do this by looking around us, ie reading scriptures, and searching for truth, this will keep us on the straight and narrow...

So 3 things have come up in the sailing analogy; 1:sacrifice is necessary to reach our destination, 2: we need a destination or vision, or purpose is lost, and 3: we must constantly look for continual truth in order to keep on the course.