School is out next Monday, where did the year go? I was enjoying so many wonderful religious discussions with Wrett and Alex, but now it's all over. We will have to wait til next year to resume them. I can't wait for next year with all the cool stuff we're doing in Band, but at the same time I don't want to let go this year. I'll still be posting all summer long on here so be sure to stay and read it.
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People need to comment and like my blog, watch this video about liking, and hopefully you guys fill start doing it. Human beings are very social beings and need to have friendships with others in order to have a happier life. Causes of modern social problems are often the because of lack of friendship in the depressed person’s life. In times of woe, friends are the bedrock that keeps you from sinking even lower.
Forgiveness is a key part in keeping a good friend. Everybody makes mistakes, and if you have a true friend then they will apologize for you and you them. Friendships take time and you learn to rely on one another and depend on one another to be there. One of the best ways you can be friend is being reliable for them and you will bond even further in your friendship as you learn to rely on eachother Albert Camus said the following about friends, “Don’t walk behind me; I may not lead. Don’t walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.” Envy will kill friendships and ruin lives. If you’re best friend does better at a subject then you, don’t let jealousy rule your mind and ruin that friendship. Friends should be able to share deep memories and trust one another. How do you know if someone is really your friend? A friend that doesn’t recognize your values and ideas may not be the best person to call a friend. A true friend is someone who respects your beliefs and is there in time of need. When you are at your lowest, you can find that your true friends will be there to help rise up out of the ashes. You share ideas and thoughts when them and trust them not to abuse their knowledge. Ask yourself, “Do I have true friends?” “Do I have a friend that respects my beliefs?” Do I have someone who is always there for me?”. If they do not fulfill those three questions then are they your true friend? How do you make friends in the first place though? If you just recently moved to a new town, or if you don’t want to give up old friends that you left behind you can still make friends. the first thing you need to do is to meet people! Put yourself in a situation that you talk to new folks in your school or town. Go to town events such as a Mule Jump or whatever so that you can bond with them. Over time your friendship will grow as you become more acquainted with them. In Conclusion, it’s not the hardest thing in the world to make friends. You can bond with them over time and learn to trust them and rely on them. You can ask yourself if they are really people you would consider best friends. You can do it and have a wonderful time with your new best friend. This is for Kodie Jenings, The Mormon concept of God is very different(radical maybe) from the traditional Christian view. One of our Prophet, Lorenzo Snow said, "As Man is now, God once was. As God is now, Man might be." We believe your life didn't begin at birth.. In order to tell you want i want you to know i must first talk about the Plan of Salvation With the Restoration of the Gospel we learned that many things were lost(1 Nephi 13:26-27) in the Bible and that Knowledge of plain truths were lost after the apostle's deaths. We believe that God is the the Father of our spirits(Souls). Before you came to earth, your spirit lived with Heavenly Father who created you. You knew Him, and He knew and loved you. It was a happy time during which you were taught God’s plan of happiness and the path to true joy. But just as most of us leave our home and parents when we grow up, God knew you needed to do the same. He knew you couldn’t progress unless you left for a while. So he allowed you to come to earth to experience the joy—as well as pain—of a physical body.One thing that makes this life so hard sometimes is that we’re out of God’s physical presence. Not only that, but we can’t remember our pre-earth life which means we have to operate by faith rather than sight. God didn’t say it would be easy, but He promised His spirit would be there when we needed Him. Even though it feels like it sometimes, we’re not alone in our journey.(http://www.mormon.org/beliefs/plan-of-salvation) God’s plan for you is beautiful and simple. He wants you to have joy and to become more like Him. That doesn’t mean He expects you to be perfect. He knows you won’t be. But He does expect that while you’re here on earth you try to the best of your ability to be more like Him and that you learn and grow from your mistakes. Each time you make a poor choice with painful consequences, that decision leads to unhappiness—sometimes immediately, sometimes much later. Likewise, choosing good eventually leads to happiness and helps you become more like Heavenly Father. Why do bad things happen to you? Why would God let bad things happen? Watch this video of a man who had some bad stuff happen to him. It’s comforting to know that God’s Son, Jesus Christ, suffered all things. He understands your pain and can help you through your trials. When you have faith in God and His plan, you can be assured that there’s a purpose to all that happens to you here on earth. Our time here is short compared to our eternal life. As the Lord told Joseph Smith during a period of intense suffering: "Know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?" (Doctrine and Covenants 122:7-8). Your mistakes might be as simple as hurting your friend’s feelings, or a sin far more serious. Seeing the pain we’ve caused and feeling the misery of remorse, shame and guilt can sometimes be overwhelming and devastating. We wonder if we can ever overcome our mistakes and feel the peace of being forgiven. We unequivocally can, because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the process of repentance. We can confess our sins to God and ask His forgiveness. And he’s promised that He’ll "remember them no more" (Doctrine and Covenants 58:42). It works because Heavenly Father sent his son, Jesus Christ, to voluntarily suffer and pay for our sins and sorrows by atoning for them Himself. We can’t fully understand how Jesus suffered for our sins. But we know that in the Garden of Gethsemane, the weight of our sins caused Him such agony that He bled from every pore (Luke 22:39-44) . Later, as He hung upon the cross, Jesus willingly suffered painful death by one of the cruelest methods ever known (Alma 7:11). However, His mental and spiritual anguish went well beyond the pains of the cross. The Savior tells us, "For behold, I . . . have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer . . . even as I" (Doctrine and Covenants 19:16–17). Those that say you are going to Hell are wrong, Kodie. When you were talking about how mad you were at them and God, I'm sorry I did not say much to help you. I'm one of those guys who needs a while to write out his thoughts and make a strong come back. Here is my final and last video about the afterlife. "WILL YOU GO TO HEAVEN?" Yes! God will judge all men fairly and reward them appropriately with a place within His kingdom. They are not God! They do not decide your future and eternal destiny! God will Judge men righteous and reward them with want they sowed in their earthy life. Accusing people that they will be going to hell is not what God wants. I hope this letter helped you with your trials.
Your Friend, Zachary Bowie Doctor Smith Ah, the moment we all been waiting for(drum roll), It’s my Joseph Smith Jr. comparison with the Doctor!!!(Applause) I have been reading the Work and the Glory series,(It’s very good) it has 9 volumes. Joseph Smith was martyred in the sixth on June 27 in the year 1844. In that same volume he says the following to the women of Nauvoo Female Relief Society(Oldest Women Organization in the World BTW), “A shadow crossed Joseph's face now and he seemed suddenly weary. But when he went on, his voice was still firm and powerful. "I do not know that I shall have many opportunities of teaching you. You may not long have me to instruct you. Soon you may be left to yourselves," he went on, more quietly now, "The world has been much troubled by the instruction of Joseph Smith," He smiled sadly. "Well, ere they know it, they will no longer have me to teach them." . . . It was as though he were saying farewell to them." Something of this similar context happens many times within the year before his death. This indicates that Joseph Smith learned from God that his time was coming up fast. The Doctor(Matt Smith) discovered from what he refers as “little people inside a robot suit” that he must die on the 22 of April in 2011 in Utah of all places! Utah as many know have the HQ of the LDS religion(Mormon Church) in Salt Lake City, Utah. The death dates are withing 5 days of each other and Joseph Smith told Brigham Young to lead the Saints into the Rocky Mountains. There is 167 year difference, the only importance of that number that I have found is that a plague broke out in Rome that year. That brings me to my next point, that same day Joseph Smith died the Mississippi River flood eight feet over the averaged flood level of the Mississippi and destroyed much of St. Louis. I’m not saying that that was a natural disaster sent from God, I’m just pointing out an interesting coincidental event.
When River Song refused to kill the Doctor time got stuck around 5:02 pm. And the similarities continue. Joseph Smith died at 5:16 in the afternoon, we know this because a bullet hit John Taylor’s watch stopping it at that time. Also, this isn’t a big thing but Matt Smith and Joseph Smith have the same last name and are in their 30’s(when JS died). Conclusion, Joseph and the Doctor died within 5 days of each other, within 10 minutes of each other and with in a highly LDS populated area! Was this on purpose? Doubt it, but still it’s hard to believe that this was done by mistake or something One major difference I failed to point out is that the Doctor escaped his death,by so did Joseph in a way. One of the most famous Joseph Smith quotes prove my point, "The Standard of Truth has been erected, no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing. Armies may rage, persecution may follow, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly and nobly until it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear. It will stop stop until the purposes of God are accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say to us, the work is done!" Although Joseph Smith did pass away, his spirit and truths that he restored will never go away til the “work is done”. So I just turn that into a similarity right there. Another point I wanted to talk about was that Joseph Smith liked the Doctor; he is a leader for whoever is with him, and he does his best to tell everyone about new ideas, and philosophies, like in this quote, "You don't know me; you never knew my heart. No man knows my history. I cannot tell it: I shall never undertake it. I don't blame any one for not believing my history. If had I not experienced what I have, I would not have believed it myself. I never did harm any man since I was born in the world. My voice is always for peace." this line from Joseph sounds so much like what the Doctor would say to his companions. The Doctor would do his best to tell of the Time War and how he doesn’t like guns, but I think the Doctor as harmed more than his fair share of men.(Rose, Capt. Jack, Donna, Rory, etc) Although in the context of that quote from above, Joseph is actually talking about The First Vision not some Time War or any War at all for that matter. ". . . If the Lord has to take us through the fires to find enough metal to do the job, then I say, let the fires begin. I, for one, am ready" Joseph Smith talking to Benjamin Steed, in vol 4. The Doctor would say something along those lines too before some big battle or something in my mind, or one of his companions to him.(Lord=Doctor in that case) “You don’t give up. You don’t just let things happen. You make a stand You say no! You have the guts to do what’s right, even when everyone else just runs away,” as said by Rose Tyler in season one episode 13. I can easily see Emma Smith(Wife of Joseph) saying this to Joseph when he just wants to rage quits and is tired of persecution. Finally, my last paragraph, The Doctor and Joseph Smith are incredibility alike, and I want others to know this too. I’m a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and a fellow Whovian to my friends. The Doctor is clever, smart, and to the point of insanity by all of his wonderful ideas. Joseph Smith, clever, strong, and as that same taste for adventure as the Doctor does, with Emma by his side. Leading people across the Untied States trying to find a safe place to worship God. Joseph Smith communicated with God so that he could lead his people and plan for the future. The Doctor in his 900 years of experience and wisdom takes his companions to new and exotic adventures. They both died with in very near dates and time of each other, and both have a legacy that will last forever. This is by a man by whose name is Eric Johnson. I found this article online pretty neat and wanted to share it with you guys. Eric Johnson is not a LDS member as stated in the article, this is his opinion.
"Over the years that I have studied world religions, I have found it fascinating to dialogue with the adherents of these faiths. So many times I come away with a better appreciation of each one and, in turn, find ways to better practice what I believe to be true. For instance, from Judaism I have been challenged to have a deeper love of the Bible. Whole chapters from the Torah are read each Sabbath, and the Jews so revere the written word that they will kiss their personal copies of the scripture and then touch them to the scroll as the rabbi parades it down the aisle. From Islam I learn the value of prayer. Five times a day the devout Muslim gets on his knees and face as he turns towards Mecca to pray to his God Allah. Such devotion to what I consider to be a false God compels me to spend more time worshipping the true and living God as revealed in the Bible. Meanwhile, Hinduism and Buddhism have taught me to better respect my place of worship. Shoes are not worn in the temples of these Eastern religions-the same is true in the Muslim's mosque-and the admiration both Hindus and Buddhists have toward their idols are obvious. While I don't see any Christian church building as anything more than concrete, wood, and carpet, the idea of coming there to commune with God should cause the Christian to enter with an attitude of awe and reverence. Just as I have benefited from observing these world religions, so too I believe that we Christians can learn important things from our Mormon friends. Although a person might question the motives of the Mormon when it comes to the points listed below, we must admit that the actions are certainly commendable. So here is my personal top 10 list. 10. Dedication to the heritage and the faith. From a young age, Mormon children are taught about their heritage and the struggles that the early LDS pioneers faced when it came to living their faith. On the other hand, most of us Bible-believing Christians have very little knowledge of our history, including the conflicts and persecutions of the early Christian church. As a result, we do not benefit from the examples of our own past. Being an exceptional Mormon is a high priority. Nominal Mormonism is frowned upon. There are certain expectations a Mormon must meet in order to attend the temple, a place where only "worthy" Mormons can go. To get a temple recommend card, a person is not only expected to attend regular services, but he must continually wear the temple undergarments, pay a tithe to the church, and not imbibe in social or hot drinks, among other requirements. To do this often requires the Mormon to pay a price in the secular world, as co-workers and neighbors can easily misunderstand the reasons why anyone would succumb himself to what might be considered a mundane lifestyle. 9. Overall morality. While Mormons struggle with sin just like everyone else, they are generally well known for keeping a high moral codes and abstaining from a secular lifestyle. Faithful members are not to partake in drugs, alcohol, or tobacco. Remaining chaste, personal modesty, and being honest (along with the other commandments) are important virtues in the LDS lifestyle. Of course, there are hypocrites in the LDS Church, just like anywhere else. Yet we as Christians need to be reminded that one's Christianity does not take a hiatus upon walking out the church doors on Sunday morning. Rather, our faith should influence our actions in everything we do. 8. Politics and religion mix. The Mormon Church is willing to put its money where its mouth is when political issues warrant a moral response. Certainly not every member may like the conservative stance that the LDS Church takes. But it is admirable how the Church is willing to support those things it strongly believes in. When Proposition 22, which would have given special rights to homosexuals, came up in California's Spring 2000 election, the LDS Church spent plenty of money and was quite vocal in helping to defeat this morally decrepit scheme. They rebuffed public intimidation and stood firm on their principles. Perhaps more of our Christian denominations need to understand that politics do not have to be separated from the Christian faith. 7. Organization in its leadership. The LDS Church is a well-oiled machine when it comes to organization, from the top down to the bottom. When the leaders make decisions, there is no second-guessing allowed in its ranks. There is no friendly opposition in the LDS Church. This can be a negative, of course, since a laity that is not allowed to question what its leaders do can easily become pawns, opening the doors to spiritual abuse. This is the reason why Martin Luther was compelled to write his 95 theses. He felt the Catholic Church had overstepped its boundary of authority upon its people. The Bible does not command Christians to be blindly led like sheep to the slaughter. The Mormons also have of way of getting people involved. Assignments from those in authority motivates members to become an active part of their church rather than just an observer on the sidelines. In many cases these "callings" have compelled members to stretch beyond what they even thought was their own potential. When it comes time to discipline or even excommunicate a member, the LDS Church is willing to follow through with its threat. If you are caught doing something that the church says you ought not to have done-i.e. adultery, heresy, not willing to be corrected, etc.-the local leaders have the ability to end your church membership. If you are officially excommunicated, you are prohibited from joining any other LDS ward in the entire world until you have demonstrated a satisfactory repentance. A person who is excommunicated in Christianity merely means that he must leave that particular church; in too many cases nothing prohibits him from going to the next church down the street, with no repercussions to the guilty. 6. Positive peer pressure towards missions. Many Mormon young people look with anticipation for the day when they can leave on a church mission. For the males this is a two-year commitment, 18 months for females. From an early age LDS children are taught the importance of serving their church as a missionary. Savings accounts are often started at birth, and while many young Christians are saving for bicycles, skateboards, clothes, and cars, Mormon kids are setting aside their resources for their mission. Tens of thousands of Mormon missionaries serve each year, two-by-two, all over the world. Wouldn't it be wonderful if every Christian young person were encouraged to spend two years of his or her life on the mission field? Perhaps many more career missionaries would be a result if short-term missions became a Christian priority. 5. Respecting Sundays as sacred. Sundays in the Mormon Church are treated as a quiet day, a time to reflect and be with the family after attending the morning service at the local ward. Recreational and sporting activities as well as retail excursions are discouraged. At an LDS softball field located next to the Spokane temple, posted signs clearly prohibit anyone playing there on Sundays. While such a rigid rule can certainly become legalistic, the biblical mandate to have a day of rest is too often ignored by many Christians who live in a stress-filled, gotta-do-it-now/gotta-have-it-immediately world. We should not forget that the day of rest was created for the benefit of man. 4. Religious education for the youth. The LDS Church is very concerned about educating its young people in the ways of its faith. First, the system is very uniform. What the LDS children learn in California is taught to another ward in Florida. When the child becomes a teenager, he is encouraged to attend daily before-school "seminary" classes at the local ward or stake center. Studies in the Book of Mormon, the Bible, church history, and doctrine are rotated over a four-year period. By the time the Mormon teen graduates from high school, he or she has been given a systematic overview of the faith's basic beliefs. For those who end up going on a mission, the training given at a Missionary Training Center is condensed, well organized, and prepares the young person to be effective in recruiting new members. Later, when the college years come and the young adult is challenged in his faith, he will have some possible answers to help him remain faithful to his religion. 3. Helping to supply the needs of the membership. Mormons are known for being generous, even going out of their way to help their fellow members. Many times a group of Mormons will band together to help in a project that benefits another Mormon. The LDS Church also has a welfare program, with a food pantry available for members who are out of work or in a low-income category. The individuals are expected to give back in some form of labor, including volunteering at the Mormon-owned canneries or food processing plants. Truly actions, not words ("be warm and filled"), are what it means to be part of a functioning body. 2. Preventing members from falling through the cracks. When a Mormon fails to attend the services of his designated local ward for several weeks, he is sure to be missed. Home teachers who visit once a month will try to find out if there are any problems and figure out how to remedy the situation. It is not like there is anywhere else to go, for the Mormon is required to be registered with a particular ward. While I am not suggesting that Christian churches should become legalistic nags in order to force its membership to attend meetings and volunteer for projects, perhaps the general idea of following up on those who all of a sudden are no longer there would fulfill the shepherd role that the church is supposed to have. 1. The importance of families. And the number-one thing we can learn from the Mormons is (drum roll, please) the priority the Mormon Church places on family life. Certainly many Christian families are very successful. Yet few churches emphasize the importance of the family like the Mormons do; they even set aside every Monday evening for Family Home Evenings to play games, talk, do devotions, etc. I would stop short of saying that Mormon family life is utopia despite the image portrayed by LDS television commercials. But I do commend them for their efforts. Conclusion: By making this list, I certainly would not want to insinuate that all Christian churches fail in these areas. And these are certainly not reasons to authenticate the Mormon Church. After all, each of the 10 points do not deal with doctrine, and the Bible is very clear that a false view of God, Jesus, scripture, and salvation cannot be overwritten merely by a positive lifestyle. Part of the Christian experience is how we live our lives. If we can benefit from observing others in the practice of their faith, then I think we can grow in our own relationship with the God whom we serve. As Dr. Walter Martin so eloquently stated years ago, "Are we willing to do for the truth what others are willing to do for a lie?" Mormonism's morality is based in large measure on the broad Judeo-Christian foundation common to many western religious traditions. Like other Christian traditions, Mormons accept the Ten Commandments of the Hebrew Bible as well as the expansion of those laws as described in the New Testament. For Mormons, the most serious moral offense is to deny the Holy Ghost. This sin consists of obtaining a sure knowledge of the existence of Jesus Christ as the Savior of the World and then rejecting that knowledge. This is largely a theoretical category, however, because the required level of testimony is so high. No Mormon has ever been accused of committing such a sin. At the practical level, the most serious sin is that of shedding innocent blood (murder). Next in gravity to the sin of murder is the constellation of sins that involve sexuality. Mormons are expected to adhere to a strict code of chastity, which requires total abstinence from all sexual relations before marriage, and complete sexual fidelity within marriage. Adultery and fornication are grounds for excommunication from the Church. Likewise, sexual crimes are seen as extremely serious offenses against the moral order. The Mormon emphasis on sexual laws stems in part from the Mormon belief that sex is a sacred power entrusted by God to men and women. In Mormon theology, God is embodied and continues to use his powers of procreation to create spirit children. Men and women must thus learn to control and channel sexual desires into divinely approved directions in order to live a godlike life. These principles have also influenced recent Mormon forays into the realm of public policy. In an effort to defend what they view as "traditional marriage," leaders of the Church have mobilized campaigns to make marriage between homosexuals illegal. The sacred nature of embodiment also leads to adherence to the Mormon dietary code, known as the "Word of Wisdom." Mormons who follow this law abstain from alcohol, tobacco, tea, coffee, illegal drugs, and other harmful or addictive substances. The code also enjoins individuals to eat meat sparingly and to make every effort to care for the body In addition to proscribed behaviors, such as sexual immorality, a heavy emphasis is also placed on the moral necessity of caring for the poor and needy, both within the faith and outside of it. Faithful Mormons fast for two consecutive meals per month and make a donation to the Church at least equal to the value of those meals. These "fast offerings" are then used by the ward bishop to care for members of the congregation who need money and food. The Church also maintains large storehouses filled with food, clothing, and other items. From these stores, the Church helps needy Mormons and also ships large amounts of goods to sites of natural disasters around the world. Mormons also pay 10 percent of their annual "increase" as tithing to the Church. This money is sent to Church headquarters in Utah, where it is used to finance Church operations. For Mormons, tithing is grounded in the moral ideal of sacrifice and is designed to weaken the attachment that individuals feel for material things. One indicator of the most important moral ideals in Mormonism is the list of questions that Mormons are asked, and must satisfactorily answer, before they may be admitted to the Church's holy temples. Currently, Church members must pass these interviews once every two years in order to obtain a "temple recommend." All of the major moral issues and imperatives mentioned above are covered during this process. During this interview, individuals are asked about their doctrinal beliefs as well as if they live the law of chastity, are honest in their dealings, pay child support (if divorced), pay a full tithe of 10 percent, and obey the Word of Wisdom. Church leaders occasionally make changes to the temple recommend interview questions, and those interested in observing any shift in moral emphasis may monitor how the questions change over time." Again just wanted to say that this is his opinion and I like it and put it on here. “Get that line over here!” yells a husky crew member as he ties some cargo into a lifeboat as the wind howls and thrashes.
“Rumble” as the ship tips over to the left as the ocean beats up against the ship. “Head for shore,” the captain yells as several small boats depart from the ship and head to land. “Captain, we lost one of our life boats,” one of the crew informs. “We can make a new one on the shore,” He grunts as he leaves his ship for the furry of the sea. “Hurry up and anchor the boats,” captain hollers over the wind. “Why, hello there,” a booming voice thundered overhead. The crew gasped as a huge figure looms out of the forest towards them. “I am Mod A. Log captain of the S.S. Miles, and would you and your kind my be kind enough for to let us stay till the storm clears up,” He bows to the huge creature. “Their will be a fee of course,” he chuckles. “We have brought you many crates of food for your kind,” he responded a little nervous. “That might do, but you don’t have our favorite food,” he whines. “What might that be, tell us and we will bring it,” The captain promise. “Well, I really like live human flesh,” he grins and leans down with a open hand to the captain. “NO . .. .” as he was silenced. “Run,” a crew member yelled as everyone scatters into the wilderness. “Oh, I just love it when they run,” he chuckles as he walks into the woods as well. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * “Come on Summer, we need to row harder if we are going to make it to the shore,” Oso hissed as he rowed along with me. “I’m doing my best,” I grit my teeth as my hair is soaked as well as my robe as Bluely hangs on to my shoulder with his sharp claws. “Sky how are we doing,” Oso yelled as a wave hit us on the side. “I’m doing my best but . . . there is too much for me to handle all at once,” she yelled over the storm. I looked over my shoulder as a humongous wave started to head our way, “Guys we have bigger problems now,” I hollered to them. The old wood of the boat creak and moaned as it hit us dead on as we were pulled under the water. “whoosh” “Summer!” “Summer!” “Wake up!” I heard as I opened my eyes gradually and saw Bluely yelling in my face. “I don’t feel so good,” I grunted as I sat up. “Let’s go find somewhere else to stay,” Bluely chirped at me. Looking up at the sky it was still raining but hot as hard as before as I said, “Your right, we to find the others too.”. “Maybe I can of assistance,” a booming voice from the forest. I quickly drawl out my black sword from it’s sheath and yelled, “I am not afraid of you! I just to find my friends a leave. I promise we won’t be a problem” “Oh, I am very sorry I didn’t mean too frighten you I wanted to help you and your friends out before the others find you,” he said still hiding in the forest. “If you really want to help me then reveal yourself,” I holler. “Alright then,” he said as he took a step out of the forest. He was rather short for a giant only bout 7 or 8 feet tall with a oddly shaped head and a long nose. ‘Your bird friend is wearing peculiar clothes,” he remarked as he walked toward me and bluely. “No further, I don’t want to use this on you,” I yelled as I swing my sword towards him. “Please follow me, I saw a another girl over this way,” he said as he walked along the beach. “I guess we don’t really have any other option but to follow him,” Bluely chirped in my ear as I proceed with caution after him. “I don’t trust him ether, but he our best shot for finding the others,” I whispered. “Hey, shortly,” a loud voice from ahead yelled. “Quick, hide,” he whispered to me as I dashed into some bushes. “Hey, did ya find anymore of them,” a tall figure yelled as he walked over near us. “No, I was just walking along the beach looking for them and didn’t find any,” he grunted back the taller one. “Well if you find any of them I want first dibs on them,” he chuckled as he ran off into the jungle. “It’s all clear,” he whispered to be and bluely “If you truly want to help us we need to find my friends before anyone else does,” I told him as we continued along the beach. “Well this is the spot where I found your friend,” he told me as he started to go into the woods. “Where are you going,” I demanded. “This is where I hid your friends from the others,” he replied as we walked in the pine woods of the island. “You didn’t tell me you found any of them,” I hissed at him. “I didn’t, I very sorry I do that sometimes,” he admitted. As we approach a big hill the giant said, “Well this is where I hid your friends,”. “Where are they then,” I retorted back swinging my sword towards him. “Underneath that cave over their,” he replied and moved some branches out of the way revealing a large gaping hole in the ground. “You go first,” I hissed at him. “OK,” as he starts walking down the tunnel. “I don’t like caves, there is no where to fly,” bluely chirped in my ear. “It’s alright Bluely, I’ll protect you,” I whispered to him as the cave somehow is getting brighter and brighter. “Where is that light coming from,” I ask the giant. “It’s a secret little cavern I found with a hole in the roof that lets in the light,” he told me as we step into the cavern. “Summer!” a filmier voice echoed off the walls. “Sky, how are you,” I asked her and saw that her clothes where ripped like mine. “I’m fine, Brando found me and Oso washed up on the beach and brought us here,” she said delightfully. “where’s Oso then,” I question her. “He . . . Not doing so good, he caught some kind of cold,” she sorrowfully. “I brought some herbs for your friend,” Brando said nervously and gave them over to Sky. “Thank you,” she said as she walked over to Oso who was laying on the ground moaning in pain. “Oso you have to eat these,” I said has Sky fed him the herbs and it took awhile before Oso finally forced the medicine down in a single swallow “Now what are we going to do, our boat is missing,” I hissed to myself. “Your right we can leave without a boat to sail,” Blue chirped in agreement. “Brando did you happen to find our boat,” Sky asked the him as he scratch his head and thought about it. “I did see a small boat on the . . . East shore of the island,” he said happily. “Could you be a sweetie and go get it for us,” Sky begged him. “Alright, you be safe while I’m gone,” he told us as he left us alone in the cave. “What do you want to do now,” I asked Sky. “Nothing much to do, oh I know I’ll give you a tour of the cave,” Sky said delighted about the idea. “That sounds alright,” I replied. “That tunnel is the way out, and the other one goes out to the ocean,” she told me as she walked around the cave. “where are we going to sleep at,” I asked. “Just nearby to Oso,” she told me as we sat down on the cool floor of the cave. “Hope we can trust this giant,” I sighed. Sky replied, “don’t worry we would have been dead by now.” “I guess so,” I yawned as the sun began to sink into the waves of the sea. “I don’t like the giant ether, Summer,” Bluely chirped to me. “He better get back here soon it’s getting dark outside,” Sky said as the stars of the night begin to come out. Then the sounds of footsteps echoed across the walls of the cavern as I said, “Their he is,” “I found your boat,” he thundered as he drops the boat in the middle of the cave. The boat had a gaping hole in the side and many little ones all around it I examined while saying, “Doesn’t look too good does it,”. “Not at all,” Bluely agrees. “we can fix it,” Sky said giving Brando a hug on his leg because he was so tall. “Maybe tomorrow,” the big Giant yawns and lays down in a corner and instantly fall into a deep slumber. “Alright then, but I’m sleeping with my sword on,” I hiss as I try to get comfortable in a cold cave. “Good night Summer,” Bluely yawns. “you too bluely,” I whisper as I slowly fall asleep always watching the giant. “Come on Summer, wake up,” a loud voice pierced my dreams. Opening my eyes I look around a see that they are already fixing the boat as I yell, “Why you start without me?’ “Brando said it be best for you to sleep then work,” Bluely peeped. “Well I’m up now what can I do,” I asked them. “We’re just about done with all the major things but you can help fill in all these little holes on the sides,” Sky said. I grabbed a stone hammer and some wood that the giant had gathered and began to plug in all the holes in the ship. I wipe the sweat from my face as the ship is nearing completion. “Summer, while we were working Brando found some of our belongings,” Sky said and handed me my satchel. “Wow, even my journal is in here, I guess I owe you an apology. I’m, sorry I doubted you,” I apologize to him. “Thanks,” he said as a loud booming voice overhead sounded. “Shorties, I know your in there you have some food in their I can smell it,” a another giant roared. “We have to go,” I said as I levitated Oso into the boat and pushed it out to sea inside the cave. “We need some cover or he can get us in the water,” Sky yelled as she and I hop in the boat. “Go you guys, I will handle him,” Brando said. “Shorties, can’t hide forever,” he barked down the cave. “Your right,” Brando yelled and punched him in the stomach. “Bad mistake dude,” as the Cyclops roars in pain and kicks Brando in the shin. “Hurry go,” Brando yells to us as we sail away into the ocean. “goodbye,” Sky sniffs know what will happen to him. “He was a true friend,” Blue chirped. “Snap” The Cyclops roars in victory and throws a rock at us but by then we ere too far away for him to hit us. Sniffing I pull out Oso’s map and see where the currents are taking us and say, “According to this we will arrive in a small town called Glimer in two hours.” “I’m going to take a nap,” Bluely peeped as tears roll down his beak on to his tarnished armor. “I hope they have some medicine for Oso their,” she sniffed as we sailed the ocean blue as snowflakes begin to gently fall on us. NEWS STORY — 13 MAY 2014 Mormon Helping Hands VolunteersParticipate in Arkansas Tornado Cleanup5/19/2014 Got this from the Church's Newroom for you guys because we live near where this happened. We're in the Roger Arkansas Stake and this happened closer to the new Searcy Stake in central Arkansas
Jason Rowland owns a tree service in central Arkansas and was among other Mormon volunteers who showed up in western Pulaski County over the weekend to clean up debris from a devastating tornado that hit the region on 27 April 2014. In fact, Rowland has spent the past two Saturdays and two Wednesday evenings helping out his neighbors. Volunteers clean up downed trees in central Arkansas, which was hard hit by a recent tornado, Saturday, 10 May 2014 Volunteers gathered on 10 May in the Ferndale and Pinnacle Mountain areas where the tornado first touched down with chainsaws, tractors and tree service equipment. Much of the damage in the rural area was from downed trees. Rowland is known for volunteering his services during disasters, including storms such as Hurricane Katrina and service projects. Local leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints say cleanup efforts will be ongoing. UPDATE (6 May 2014): Hundreds of Mormon Helping Hands volunteers gathered in central Arkansas on Saturday, 3 May 2014, to help clean up debris in communities devastated by recent tornadoes. Storms tore through the area on 27 April, destroying hundreds of homes and businesses in the communities of Vilonia, Mayflower and surrounding towns. Local Church leaders estimate it will take weeks to clear all of the tornado debris in Arkansas Fifteen people were killed and more than 150 people were injured when the deadly tornadoes hit the southeastern United States, including a 31-year-old Latter-day Saint father who died when he was struck by some wood while shielding his daughter. His wife and two daughters survived. The twister was a category EF4, with winds of at least 180 mph. About 1,000 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and their neighbors who were wearing yellow Mormon Helping Hands shirts joined the American Red Cross and Team Rubicon, a national organization that coordinated the volunteer efforts, to sort through debris. “We were unprepared for the type of recovery we were going to face,” explained George Wing, a spokesman for the Church’s North Little Rock Stake (similar to a Catholic diocese), who said the tornado hit with such a velocity that there were no walls standing and the structures were reduced to “bits and pieces that needed to be sorted.” Wing said not a single piece of wood was salvageable. “We didn’t see a single 2-by-4 worth saving. This was not your typical chainsaw operation.” Some of the personal items recovered by volunteers include a girls’ soccer picture, a Mormon missionary badge, a Primary child’s Faith in God award and some food storage cans and buckets. One man was overjoyed to find his wife’s purse and remarked that everything was going to be all right now. Renee Carr of the new Searcy Stake in central Arkansas said the tornado hit one day after members of the congregation participated in its first “Day of Service” to clean hiking trails around Heber Springs, an annual event organized by the Church worldwide in which local congregations gather to render service in their communities. Carr said members from local congregations in the Searcy Stake, including women and children, gathered to tie more than 50 quilts and put together office kits for the tornado victims. “Our first Relief Society stake activity got converted into a relief effort at the building, tying quilts and assembling kits,” added Carr, who lost her home to a tornado in 2008. The women were originally planning to collect food for local food pantries and recipes for families for their already scheduled Saturday meeting, but they switched their activity to relief efforts. The office kits contain paper, stamps, envelopes, scissors and other items and can be helpful when families are working with insurance companies and rebuilding their lives. Some regular Church activities, such as an upcoming father and son campout, have been canceled while local congregations focus on helping their neighbors recover from the disaster If you could decide your destiny, so many possible decision and choices it would be impossible for one man to decide. Your destiny is shaped so carefully and every person as a unique and different one from the other. One small detail barely noticeable to the human mind let alone his eye can make one's destiny very, very different indeed. To chose one's destiny would be an impossible task, and you would have to have no free agency in order to accomplish your goal. What's the point of being a king or rich if you have no free will in the matter. Agency is what makes us human, it is what God plan for us to do from the beginning. Many believe the Fall of Adam and Eve was overall bad and forever brought man down low and separated from God. I believe differently.
After Adam and Eve partook of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, their eyes were opened. Partaking of the fruit brought mortality, with its many opportunities to choose between good and evil, and enabled Adam and Eve to have children. Thus the Fall opened the door for Heavenly Father’s children to come into the world, obtain physical bodies, and participate in “the great plan of happiness” (Alma 42:8). “Therefore this life became a probationary state,” a time to learn and grow, to repent and overcome weakness, “a time to prepare to meet God” (Alma 12:24). Transgression, Not Sin. President Joseph Fielding Smith (1876–1972) said: “I never speak of the part Eve took in this fall as a sin, nor do I accuse Adam of a sin. … This was a transgression of the law, but not a sin … for it was something that Adam and Eve had to do!” Even though Adam and Eve had not sinned, because of their transgression they had to face certain consequences, two of which were spiritual death and physical death. Physical death came to Adam and Eve at the end of their earthly lives, but spiritual death occurred as they were cast out of the Garden of Eden, being cut off from the presence of God (see Alma 42:9). The result of our first parents’ transgression, explained President Smith, “was banishment from the presence of God and bringing … physical death into the world. The majority … [of Christians] maintain that every child born into this world is tainted with ‘original sin,’ or partakes of Adam’s transgression in his birth. The second Article of Faith contradicts this foolish and erroneous doctrine.” All descendants of Adam and Eve inherit certain effects from the Fall, but because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ we are held accountable only for our own sins. Children who die before the age of accountability (8) are “alive in Christ” (Moro. 8:12) and have no need of repentance or baptism (see Moro. 8:8–11). You might be wondering what does this have to do with Othello? Agency, it's what God wants, and Satan wants to get rid of. Without our free will we are nothing, we exist to do whatever the person with control wants us to do. God is a loving God and he wants us to choose to be righteous to return to him. Again, how does this relate to Othello? Growing, we are growing, to become like our Heavenly Father. We have to prove yourself to get to be with Him. In order to prove that we are clean and worthy we do certain ordinances to help us get closer to Him. After all we done all we can do the Grace of Jesus Christ makes up the rest, so we can return to our Father. How does this apply to Othello? In Othello, Iago wants to use people to get want he wants no matter how long it will take. This is exactly how Satan tries to capture you, he'll wait and slowly wrap you around his finger. Othello is a guy who is troubled of what is going around him and is unsure of what to do. Iago has set it up so that, Othello is moving farther and farther away from those you love him. At his moment of total fear and isolation Iago will make his move against Othello, and no one will be there to help him. His destiny will be defeat to the cold, cunning heart of Iago. We do not want want evil to take over our thoughts, and and minds. If we do not watch our thoughts, they will eventually become our words. If we allow our words to become tainted with evil sayings or words then our words will become our actions. Humans are sociable creatures by nature and if we separate yourself from friends and God you are very likely to make mistakes that you will later regret. So i guess the main message I'm trying to say here is . . . You don't decide your destiny God does. Don't sell your life to Satan and have a good life with your friends and respect(fear) God. |
Zach(Lash)I was born in the grand state of Texas, and currently live Northwest Arkansas. I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Thanks for reading my blog!!! As we marched away, I thought of the words of a rhyme I had learned in Primary years before:
Dare to be a Mormon; Dare to stand alone. Dare to have a purpose firm; Dare to make it known. Thomas S. Monson is our Prophet of the Earth today, watch the vid. above
You haven't heard of Lindsey Stirling's sister? She plays TUBA!
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Grandpa Mckneely is my great grandpa and he recently passed away in April 2014. If you guys want to follow up on his life you can read some stuff on my dA Another epic picture of me!
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