Week 16

August 31, 2022, Week 16

Whoever said that pday is a rest day, has never served a mission, or they would know of the blasphemy that they speak.

Anyways.

Just a heads up this email is going to be absolutely massive.

Ok so first off here's my answers to my questionnaire from last week:

- Why do we experience hard things?

• we experience hard things, because this is how we learn and grow. Blessings in disguise. If we aren't uncomfortable in life, we wont grow. Muscles grow after they tear.

- what makes something hard?

• something hard is something that pushes us in one way or another, it makes us uncomfortable, sore, tired, etc.

- Why do we loose things in life?

• sometimes we loose things so that we can find them again. Sometimes we loose things because in the end, this thing wasn't actually good for us.

- what do you considered lost?

• lost is something that we perceive can't be found or had again.

- Why are we sometimes pushed to the breaking point.

• sometimes we have to be cut down, so we can grow back better. Sometimes we will be tested, to strengthen our resolve.

- when/why do you consider yourself broken?

• there have been times where I have felt broken, where I've had to start over. These times were hard, but now, I know that I am better than I was before, and I am thankful for the opportunity to suffer a little in the beginning, so I could triumph in the end.

- How do we become stronger.

• we become stronger by doing continually. If we succeed, we've achieved our goal. If we fail, we've learned, and can try again. Strength isn't about how much, life is a game of endurance.

- what is strength?

• strength is recognizing our weaknesses, and ACTING to resolve the issue. Everyone can point out a problem, strength is being the one to fix it.

- How do we become smarter.

• we become smarter by realizing that we can ALWAYS learn more. Smart isn't about how much you know, its about knowing that you don't know everything.

- what is intelligence?

• There's knowledge and there's wisdom. Knowledge is knowing what's good and bad, wisdom is whether or not you act on this information.

- How do we become better.

• we become better by changing into who we want to be tomorrow, from who we were yesterday.

- what is better?

• better is a positive change. We become better when we change in a positive way

- better according to what/who?

• better is relative. If you relate your progress to others' you're trying to measure inches with a meter stick. The only person you can accurately compare yourself to is the person you were yesterday.

- What makes a person strong.

• a strong person is someone who never gives up, someone who will do what it takes to get things done, who will know when it is appropriate to fight, and when to take it on the chin. Someone who puts others before themselves, who uplifts others, who helps others bear their burdens. Someone who would allow themselves to be hurt, rather than hurt others.

- where does strength come from?

• strength comes from weakness. We are not born strong. Strength comes from trial and error, failing enough times to learn how to succeed. Strength comes from standing up after the countless times that we may fall.

- What makes a person happy.

• a happy person is someone who knows they are loved. Love makes a happy person.

- what is happiness?

• happiness is directly correlated to love. When we feel loved, we are happy. When we don't feel loved, we are unhappy. The two are inseparable.

- where does it come from?

• material things are not capable of loving you. Thus, they are not capable of making you happy. Happiness comes from the love you give and receive from other people.

- What makes a person perfect.

• a perfect person is someone who knows they aren't perfect. That no matter what they do they will always fall short. That we will all have to suffer, but we don't have to do it alone. Everyone has their issues, so they forgive, and support others on their own paths to perfection.

- what is perfection?

• perfection is not a human trait. It is not a title we can hold in this life. Rather it is a verb. It is a process. Perfection is doing the best you can to do what you truly believe to be right. To stay true to your moral code, do all with integrity, and always be honest. Don't hesitate to apologize, learn and keep going. Perfection is an end goal.

- Who are you.

• I am me. No one else can be me. I am exactly who i was made, and have been forged to be. I am unique, I am beautiful, and I am special. No one else talks like me, acts like me, looks like me, thinks like me, laughs like me, cries like me, feels like me, or loves like me. I perceive myself one way, others perceive me in their own ways. No one is wrong, because to me, I am me, and to them, I am me.

- why are you?

• I am that I might have joy.

- Who is someone you consider strong.

• My father is strong.

- how did they become "strong"?

• He became strong by being perfect. By doing his best to break the cycle, to fix the wrong, to do what he knows is right. By being honest, apologizing, and always getting back up. He is strong because he left what was comfortable, and he chose the harder path. And he did it not for himself, but for those he loved.

- Who do you want to be.

• I want to be me.

- why?

• because I am the best me there be.

- When did you become you.

• when I realized who I wanted to be.

- when are you the most you?

• when I'm the most happy.

- with whom are you the most you?

• With those I love most.

- who are you to others?

• to them, I am only what they are capable of perceiving me to be. My actions speak for themselves.

- When did you start to succeed.

• when I realized that my success doesn't depend on what others think of me.

- what is success?

• success comes from happiness, not the other way around.

- what made this time successful?

• because I found happiness.

- When did you grow the most.

• I grew the most when I went and experienced life. When i came out of my shell and walked. When I've fallen and gotten back up. When I've kept going, even if its at a meager crawl. Every tree grows differently, but they are all beautiful.

- what is growth?

• growth is process of changing.

- how do we grow?

• we grow through our choices and their consequences.

- Where (physical location) did you feel the most pain in your life.

Anywhere that I felt alone.

- what is pain?

• pain is the perceived absence of love.

- Where did you find the person who has taught you the most about yourself.

In my prayers.

- who is this person to you now?

Everything.

-who was this person to you when you first met them?

An angel.

- Where do you desire to live.

Guatemala (for now).

- why here?

Because it's where the Lord needs me.

I hope that some of you had the time to go over a few of these questions and reflect a little bit on yourselves and your life; past, present and future. If any of you are like me, i look for the deeper meaning. I question, I dissect, I speculate. I'm not always content with just knowing something. I like to know the who, what, when, where, why, how, and according to who. Its good to remember where we come from, where we're at, and where we want to go. It keeps us grounded and helps us to keep the big picture in mind.

Lately I've been reading through the new testament, looking specifically for doctrine that Christ directly taught himself. What i noticed was that he had a perfect knowledge of the past through the scriptures, he always knew exactly what his purpose was at the present time, and he had a plan for the future. He knew all these things all the time because his actions weren't according to his will, but the will of Him that sent him.

Just like Christ, we all have a purpose here on earth. We can learn from the past through the scriptures, and through daily prayer we can be guided each day. We can learn of our future through scripture study, diligent prayer, personal revelation, the words of our modern day prophets, as well as our patriarchal blessings. God has given us more than enough information, what we lack is faith. One of the most popular reprimandings from Christ is: oh ye have little faith. We have so many examples to learn from: Enoch, Abraham, Isaac, joseph of Egypt, Moses, Nephi, Jacob, alma, the sons of Mosiah, captain Moroni, the 2,000 stripling warriors, Samuel the Lamanite, the brother of Jared, Moroni, joseph smith, Christ. Just to name a few.

3 simple things that lead to perfection:

Daily scripture study

Daily prayer

Daily observance of the commandments

We have a perfect father in heaven, with a perfect plan for each of us. Have faith in the process. He will consecrate all of our afflictions for our gain, if we will turn to him. I bear solemn witness of this, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Pictures :)