Scriptures to Ponderize

1. Alma 5:14-16

 14 And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?

 15 Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?

 16 I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth?

2. 3 Nephi 9:20

 20 And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.

3. 1 Timothy 4:12

12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an exampleof the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

4. Isaiah 55:1-3

 1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

 2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

 3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

5. Isaiah 1:16-19

16 ¶Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

 17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

 18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

6. Isaiah 53:4-5

4 ¶Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

7. Proverbs 3:5-6

 5 ¶Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

8. Moses 6:59

59 That by reason of transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death, and inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so became of dust a living soul, even so ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory;

9. Moses 7:62

62 And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem.

10. Doctrine & Covenants 11:7-8

7 Seek not for riches but for wisdom; and, behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich.

8 Verily, verily, I say unto you, even as you desire of me so it shall be done unto you; and, if you desire, you shall be the means of doing much good in this generation.

11. John 15:13

13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Lift Up Your Cross

As I read 2 Nephi 28:24 this morning these are the thoughts that went through my mind:

Working for the cause of the Lord will always be uncomfortable, challenging, or tiring. It is enjoyable and worthwhile, but it is not easy. See Matt. 16:24-27; Mark 8:34-38; Luke 9:23-26. We can liken our work in the Kingdom as if we were taking up our cross. It requires work, it requires spiritual, mental, and physical strength. It requires a firm testimony in the Son of God who carried the cross of the world on His shoulders.

The Rinsing Principle

I like to clean. There was a time in my life where I made money from cleaning, and every time I clean something I think profoundly about what I am doing and how I can ensure the best possible clean. As I have thought deeply about cleanliness I have made connections with Gospel principles and patterns, and one of those is called the principle of the rinse.

When something has become dirty it is important to use the right product, the right tool, and the right process to clean it. An all-purpose cleaner and a paper towel will not eliminate hard water stains simply by spraying and wiping. One must use a more heavy-duty cleaner, scouring brush, and apply a repeated amount of elbow grease in order to vanquish such stains. Keeping this in mind we would not use the same cleaner to clean our household dishes because of the potentially dangerous chemicals in the cleanser. When it comes to scrubbing bath tubs and dishes having the right cleaner, and applying necessary scrubbing power are necessary for an effective clean, but there is something else that allows the surface to remain clean. This is the principle of the rinse.

When we have scrubbed all of the dirt, grime and muck off of any surface it is essential to rinse it off. If the surface is left un-rinsed the same dirt, grime and muck that so much effort was expended to remove will either stay on the surface, or the the scrubbing tool. Rinsing ensures the surface will stay completely clean for as long as regular cleaning procedures are practiced.

At times we may ask the the same question the writer of Proverbs asked: "Who can say, I have my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? (Proverbs 20:9). Our imperfections inevitably get the better of us, and when this happens we need to clean our heart and soul. The same principles that apply to cleansing material things of impurities applies to our own souls as we strive to stay clean.

There is no doubt that we need this cleansing in our lives. Jacob in the Book of Mormon taught that we all need cleansing because of the effects of the fall of Adam, and why the Atonement of Jesus Christ is the only cleansing tool that will work. He said: "For as death (spiritual and physical) hath passed upon all men, to fulfil the merciful plan of the great Creator, there must needs be a power of the resurrection (spiritual and physical)...Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement--save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption." (2 Nephi 9:6-7)

Just as we need to use the right cleansing products and tools to get the job done, we need to make sure the source we turn to for spiritual cleansing is the right one. The one that is designed to cleanse us infinitely and completely. David knew where to turn when he needed to be cleansed. He said: "Create in me a clean heart, O God..." (Psalms 51:10). Many prophets and apostles have testified of  the cleansing power of Christ's atonement. Paul testified that Christ is "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the remission of sins." (1 Col. 1:14). The prophets Alma and Mormon exhorted people to be cleansed be the blood of Christ to be found spotless before God (Morm. 9:6, Alma 5:21). It is very clear that the blood that was spilt during Christ's atonement expiated for our sins which allows us the opportunity to turn to Christ and access that cleansing power. We can apply the blood of Christ through repentance, but this is only one step in the process of repentance. We can compare the application of the blood of Christ to getting the dirt, grime and muck off of our souls. It requires hard work and sacrifice. The next step in the repentance process is to "rinse" away our sins.

To rinse away our sins we need to never return to them. This step in the repentance process can also be difficult. Sometimes it will mean avoiding friends who are a negative influence. Sometimes it will mean breaking long-standing habits. Sometimes we will feel embarrassment or anxiety over changing so dramatically, but we need to remember that not returning to our sins is essential in the repentance process. Our Savior and Redeemer who suffered and bled to allow us the opportunity to become cleansed and purified will not leave us comfortless. He said: " for verily I say unto you, I will that ye should overcome the world; wherefore I will have compassion upon you." (D&C 64:2).

We need to not revert back to those sins and weaknesses we have, and we need to keep the commandments. Some commandments are more directly related with keeping a clean image before God, like in Doctrine and Covenants, section 59, verse 9 it says: "And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day."Other commandments are not as related, but nevertheless important for retaining a remission of our sins (Mosiah 4:11-12).

We are fallen sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father, and he truly is loving because He has provided one way for us to return back to live with him (Alma 38:9). The Lord taught Adam this eternal truth: That by reason of transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death, and inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so became of dust a living soul, even so ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory." (Moses 6:59).

I know that we can become clean through Christ, our Savior, and he teaches and guides us through the path of repentance, which includes a period of spiritual scrubbing and rinsing, so that we can find happiness in this life and in the life to come.

Where Should We Spend Our Time and Money?

Jacob 9:51
 51 Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your ^alabor 
for that which cannot ^bsatisfy.Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the 
words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and ^cfeast 
upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delightin fatness.

Thoughts: This scripture could be used for those who have addictions. Gamers, coffee/soda/alcohol drinkers, shop-a-holics. etc.
When money or effort is spent toward an addiction it does not satisfy. It only leaves the individual wanting more. 

Same-Sex Marriage

Due to the recent decision by the Supreme Court to legalize same-sex marriage I would like to share my own thoughts regarding the incorrectness of same-sex marriage on a moral level and a spiritual level.
Morally same-sex marriage opposes the traditional values that are meant to help children and society develop healthy relationships that are ideal for growth, development and identity. It is true that children who grow up in homes where the complimentary attributes of father and mother are present are in the most ideal environment to develop wholesome attitudes and relationships. A father and mother can and should provide an exemplary spousal relationship that will most likely exist in their child's life considering same-sex attraction is a tendency experienced by the minority of the population.
Spiritually same-sex marriage prohibits spiritual progress. Our purpose on Earth stated in the lessons from Preach My Gospel "is to have joy and prepare to return to God’s presence." (p. 50). To return to live in God's presence we must become like Jesus Christ and perform all of the necessary covenants. A same-sex matrimony cannot be performed as a sealing ordinance and therefore halts our spiritual progression, and prevents us from completing our purpose on the Earth.

Related Links:
"Same Gender Attraction" from Elder Oaks and Elder Wickman

Chinese Culture Tidbits

It is time to say good-bye to China after 5 months of living and teaching in the middle kingdom (中国 is the word for China in Chinese and literally translated is middle kingdom). Throughout the experience I have written down some of the culture differences that were interesting to me. There are many, but here are a few that I managed to write down.

1. Fruit is like a dessert here. It is eaten at the end of a meal and some will say it is bad for digestion to eat bananas without any other food. Fruit can also be given as a gift.

2. Speaking of digestion, that is the main reason why almost everyone in China drinks warm water. They serve warm water during the summer at restaurants, and consistently drink warm tea (this is more during the winter, but also during the summer). The Chinese believe there are various health benefits associated to drinking warm water such as improved circulation, and promoting a healthy digestion. When some of our cooperating teachers at the school returned from a 2 week stay in England they told us that they have been drinking too much cold water and they were "feeling the effects" in their digestion. Another tidbit about drinking warm water. One student told me that some athletes will drink water after a hard work-out during the summer because it will help the body cool down faster.

3. Wendy, one of our wonderful English-speaking Chinese teacher friends said that there is a superstition among some Chinese people that if a child believes ghost stories then they will wake up with a fever the next day. She proceeded to say that doctors do not know how to remedy the sickness, but there are natural (or "other" in her words) remedies that can help.

4. In China the saying "it takes a village to raise a child" is actually practiced. There is a group of 7 or 8 grandparents (most families in a home, or more commonly apartment, consist of mom, dad, dad's parents, and children. Because both parents work the grandparents are the ones who will watch the small children) that come to the college to let their grand-babies play. They all look after each other's child while keeping their own close by. They all tend to share toys with each other. Yesterday this was really evidenced when Andelyn was running to the bathroom in the teacher's cafeteria.Tessa and I were eating and before we could reach her a Chinese lady had already taken Andee to the bathroom, pulled her pants down and had her in the proper pee-pee position for going in a squat toilet. The lady just told me to go back and eat, which I did.

5. When we found out Tessa was pregnant we wanted to get some pre-natal vitamins. Tessa asked Wendy where we cold get some and she said: "why would you need those? just drink lots of soup."

6. Ping-pong is a big deal here. I went to play with a student and I was just wearing jeans and a T-shirt, same as my student, and when we got there (to the table tennis training room which was a very nice facility) he said he needed to change. He disappeared for a bit and came back in work-out type clothes. I thought maybe this was an isolated event, but when Tessa and I stayed at a hotel in Xi'an (西安),  China we were told we were not allowed to go play ping-pong due to our footwear. We had just been swimming and were wearing sandals.

7. The concept of marriage and family is very strong, and also very different. Most modern Chinese in the city get married in their late 20s or early 30s. They feel it is necessary to have started their career and created a stable life for themselves before they get married. They argue that stability is the financial of a happy family. i asked my students what they hope to find in a spouse and one of the most important factors was stability for her and her family ( and that includes her mom and dad). Divorce is becoming popular, but still rare. 1 or 2 of the students out of 60 knew of someone who had been divorced. The main reason is for the children. Interestingly, between having a happy marriage or a stable life. Almost all of my students would rather have a financially stable life.

8. The education system is a whole new world. We were able to visit a kindergarten, and it was very interesting. First of all, the building was painted in all of the colors of the rainbow, and not muted pastels, but bold bright yellows, blues, and pink! Next the classroom had about 40 students, and there were 3 teachers. Each teacher was responsible for something different. One of the responsibilities was to prepare food and feed the students. Apparently the teachers teach more than just simple math they also help the students with life skills. Wendy was explaining that the teacher will make sure each student is eating enough food for each meal. Wendy's child had trouble eating enough for his age until he entered school and after a while he was taught how to eat enough. Teachers in general are responsible for more than academics. They are also expected to help with discipline and behavioral management.

9. A good Chinese friend came over to teach us how to make a local food called huo shao (火烧). My whole cooking paradigm has changed and expanded. We cooked eggs in a bowl that was placed in boiling water. Made a past out of flour and oil that was used to infuse in the pastry part of the huo shao. Soaked dried mushrooms in a bowl until they were big. Chopped up the biggest green onions I've ever seen and mixed sausage meet with a spiced water. It was great!