Tenacity

While listening to President Uchtdorf's recent general conference address this morning ("Two Principles for Any Economy," link), I was struck by one word in particular: Tenacity.

Adversity, when confronted with faith, courage, and tenacity, could be overcome.

I felt that I need to show more faith, courage, and especially tenacity.

Upon arriving home from work, I noticed something dangling from the open garage door. Closer inspection revealed it was a caterpillar stuck in a spider's web. Thinking of "Charlotte's Web," which my children recently watched, I ran inside to get a larger audience to view this epic struggle with me.

Here was a small spider against a much larger caterpillar, who wasn't going to go quietly. The latter was squirming and bending—literally fighting for its life. The spider reminded me of the need to be tenacious.


Interestingly, my brother called me while I was watching this struggle unfold. He mentioned that he recently tried some skateboard moves he hasn't attempted for some years, with the end result being that he, indeed, is an old man. Again I was reminded this same talk by President Uchtdorf:

While the phrase “been there, done that” may work as an excuse to avoid skateboarding, decline the invitation for a motorbike ride, or bypass the spicy curry at the buffet, it is not an acceptable excuse for avoiding covenant responsibilities to consecrate our time, talents, and resources in the work of the kingdom of God.

How fun to have two vivid, tangible reminders of important principles, back-to-back!

Fountain of Youth

We had a great time making labels for bottled water, apparently from the Fountain of Youth.


I designed this faux-label to accompany my home teaching lessons for this month. Ever since I've tried to teach more to the children, I've been having even more fun!

This month was great because we can talk about sailing on ships, the Fountain of Youth, whether or not the bottled water can grant immortality, and then tie it in to President Monson's message on the Fountain of Truth: Obedience (link).

I think it's wonderful that we know that through obedience (and made possible by the Atonement), we will not only live forever, but will live forever with God—Eternal Life: the greatest gift of God (see D&C 14:7).

New Pictures

We've updated our pictures page (link) to include our fun adventures of last month.


(This was a fun moment turned to tears when a smiling yogurt-covered boy started to play peek-a-boo... right when the camera was ready. )

Fun Questions

I get weekly emails from BabyCenter telling things to expect from childhood development. The message for my five-year-old (link to article) reminded me of something I observed while registering David for school a couple of months ago...

While waiting in a slow-moving line, I tried to entertain the children. We sat at a table in the elementary school cafeteria (where the line was) and did Daddy-children things like make silly faces and tickle each other.

Then I noticed we were being watched.

It's not unusual for people, particularly little people (meaning children), to stare at me and the children when we play. I like to think it's because we have such great fun (it could be because of my misshapen head, though...). I overheard the conversation of siblings that provided another reason for the stares.

We were sitting near a family where the mother was working on the seemingly-endless forms. [How shall I put this?] The family was apparently Vietnamese (at least that's what the language sounded like, and the registration forms provided alternate instructions in Spanish and Vietnamese only, so I just figured...). In addition to the mother were two children: a second-grader sister, and a kindergartner brother.

The brother and sister were staring at us playing for a while, when the younger brother started quietly asking his sister questions—never taking his eyes off of us. The sister tried to answer him as best she could in their native language, but seemed to not satisfy him.

The back-and-forth continued a little while more, with the sister turning to face the brother, speaking slower and more staccato-like, emphasizing each word. (Remember that we didn't know what they were discussing, because this was all in increasingly heated Vietnamese.)

Finally, at her wits' end, the sister slowly explained in English: "Their skin is white because their mommy's skin is white."

[One more question from the brother.]

The sister elaborated, "If our mommy had white skin, your skin would be white, too! That's just how they are."


How should parents address the race questions that ultimately come?

We teach that we all are children of God, and opportunities like this one provide additional teaching opportunities—both about skin pigment and the universality of the atonement, despite history's unfortunate prejudices (see 2 Ne 26:33).

I wonder how I'm doing as a parent. I haven't had many opportunities to discuss race or other differences (besides modesty and Word of Wisdom items). Given the unconventional racial distribution of students at his school, I imagine David may have some questions for me some time (see figure, below; link).


We'll take life as it comes, showing love to our children and their friends, and answering as best we can the fun questions that childhood brings.

Until We Meet Again

This entry is part of my general conference application series.

Until We Meet Again, by President Thomas S. Monson

I urge you to study the messages [of conference] and to ponder their teachings and then to apply them in your life.

These words of President Monson came as personal validation for this, my general conference application series. I remember two conferences ago feeling quite strongly that I needed to do this as a way of internalizing the messages and being reminded of their messages. Too often in the past I've finished conference with a mighty sigh and said, "Wow! What a great conference!", only to give little thought afterward and apply almost nothing that I heard.

I've liked seeing the application of the principles discussed in my life. I hope I'm a better person because of it.

In this address—the last one of this conference—President Monson caught my attention:

Now, a word of caution to all—both young and old, both male and female. We live at a time when the adversary is using every means possible to ensnare us in his web of deceit, trying desperately to take us down with him. There are many pathways along which he entices us to go—pathways that can lead to our destruction. Advances in many areas that can be used for good can also be used to speed us along those heinous pathways.

When the prophet of God issues warnings, I want to pay attention! He continued to discuss the dangers of the Internet and the prevalance of pornography and society's increasing apathy regarding moral virtues. I well remember the loving-yet-stern voice of power when President Monson said:

if you have allowed yourself to become involved in this behavior, cease now. Seek the help you need to overcome and to change the direction of your life. Take the steps necessary to get back on the strait and narrow, and then stay there. (emphasis added)

On my commute yesterday, I listened to Sister Dalton's recent CES Fireside address (link). Just before speaking of a need for us to lead out in a return to virtue through moral reform, she made a comparison that I found incredibly interesting. She spoke of the great environmental awareness that many of us have, calling us an "organic generation." We are concerned about air and water quality—we even have governmental agencies to mandate regulations for such—but many of us use insufficient filters on what we take into our minds through media, etc., "polluting [our] moral fiber."

This is reminiscent of Elder Oaks' now thirty-year-old quote on pornography (link):

We are surrounded by [immorality] . . . Pornographic or erotic stories and pictures are worse than filthy or polluted food. The body has defenses to rid itself of unwholesome food, but the brain won’t vomit back filth. Once recorded it will always remain subject to recall, flashing its perverted images across your mind, and drawing you away from the wholesome things in life.

I don't want to be drawn away. I don't want to be filled with pollution.

I want to be filled with light.

In the section called the "olive leaf," we are taught beautifully:

And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.

Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will. (D&C 88:67-68)

Incredible promises.

I'm grateful for the guidance afforded by prophets of God. The way to Christ is made clear as we listen, ponder, and apply their words.

I can't wait for another conference next weekend!