Until We Meet Again

This entry is part of my general conference application series.

Until We Meet Again, by Thomas S. Monson
President, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints


As is increasingly becoming more common, I'm finishing my review of the general conference addresses mere days before the next conference. I don't know whether to be disappointed that it takes so long, or to feel great that I live in a near-perpetual general conference cloud! (probably the latter)

The end of conference is exciting because you I feel energized and ready to face life's challenges head on, filled with faith, looking to the future! I feel that way now, and I'm excited to feel the same way this weekend when we have another great conference!

Did you notice any recurring themes in the talks of the October 2011 conference? My reactions seem to contain many many references to my mission, which is a good thing; however, I'm surprised that the words "mission" and "missionary" weren't more prevalent in the talks. But you can see them in this cute word cloud of conference talks:


Do any words stand out to you?

I'm excited to see what stands out in the next conference. Please join me in watching it! (From your own house, online, though. I don't have enough candy or space for everyone in my bedroom...)

The Songs They Could Not Sing

This entry is part of my general conference application series.

The Songs They Could Not Sing, by Quentin L. Cook
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles


I was a new missionary when the film Titanic was released. I understand it was quite popular. I would often hear reports of the film in the interactions that missionaries have with others. More often than not (especially when Church member families invited us into their homes for dinner), we would be told, "I feel so sorry for you, elders; you have to wait to watch THE BEST MOVIE EVER!" We would then be told how many times each of the family members had seen the movie, with added acclaim going to those who had seen it the most.

Occasionally, we would talk with people who would essentially say, "You're serving the Lord during a needed time, elders; so many people are almost worshipping this popular film that portrays immorality as acceptable. I haven't seen the film myself, but from what I've heard others say, I know I don't want to ever see it."

I admit, I didn't really care about this film (or any others) because I had set my life aside in service to the Lord, beginning with the two years of full-time missionary work. But what I did care about was helping others come to Christ. And I didn't think a PG-13 film about sensational sensualized tragedy would do the trick, even if you went with a large group of friends from church to see it (which, unfortunately, we heard stories of).

My limited exposure to Titanic (speaking of the ship, the tragic event, and the film) is overshadowed heavily by the over-the-top reactions I saw as a missionary in Idaho. Because of this, I admit that I didn't fully connect with the stories and experiences shared by Elder Cook at first hearing.


That was when I heard it live, toward the end of conference, when my children were growing tired of trying to be reverent while listening to hours and hours of conference.

But now, alone in my office on a lunch break, I can feel the connection. Pain and tragedy happen more often than is portrayed on the big screen. Sometimes there are heroes available to alleviate suffering or aid in passing, who sometimes go down with the ship themselves. To paraphrase children everywhere, life's not fair. But as Elder Cook reminds:

Regardless of the trials we face in this life, the Savior's Atonement provides lifeboats for everyone. For those who think the trials they face are unfair, the Atonement covers all of the unfairness of life.

Similar to how some felt pity on me as a full-time missionary for not being able to indulge in the morally dangerous cinematic "masterpieces" of the late 90's, I feel sad for those whose lives are cut short through tragedy or "from the evil exercise of agency."

But I'm grateful for the Atonement that "will compensate for all the unfairness of life."

The Privilege of Prayer

This entry is part of my general conference application series.

The Privilege of Prayer, by J. Devn Cornish
Of the Seventy


I taught a class of nine-yr-olds last Sunday about king Benjamin. While I'm pretty sure that the thing they'll most remember is when I sang them the words to Mosiah 2:17 put to the tune of "She'll be comin' 'round the mountain" (with a great Yee-haw! at the end), there is another part of the lesson that came to my mind as I reviewed the words of Elder Cornish: "Wouldn't it be great if God could count on you to answer someone's prayer today?"

This phrase came to my mind spontaneously as I taught about serving others. I first encountered it as I looked through a journal my eldest sister gave me for my mission. She had gone through and hand-written quotes and sayings here and there throughout the book. That's the one I remember most.

While the following quote of Elder Cornish has a very heavy self reliance tone, I'll use it as a springboard to continue the help others theme I'm trying to establish:

It is contrary to the economy of heaven for the Lord to do for us that which we can do for ourselves.

Elder Cornish said this after using the familiar example of asking for help on a test for which no preparatory work was expended. Later he said:

The Lord is much more pleased with the person who prays and then goes to work than with the person who only prays.

Okay, I get it; I shouldn't rely simply on words or even on words and faith: I need to exercise my faith while praying. Also, we need to remember that we can serve God by serving others (remember Mosiah 2:17?).

I learn from my children when they sincerely pray. My daughter is especially good at remembering anyone in need as she prays; but even more, she lives a life of gentle service. She is ready to help when her siblings are sad, even when they don't ask her for help. She is quick to share every treat with others, and seems to always be looking for ways that she can answer the prayers of those around her.


I want to be more like her!

I guess I had better do more than just pray for help to be more loving; I'll need to work on it, too!

Choose Eternal Life

This entry is part of my general conference application series.

Choose Eternal Life, by Randall K. Bennett
Of the Seventy


I've been trying to play with randomness lately. I wanted to see what it looks like to allow certain variables to be randomly chosen, in a structured setting. This is my attempt at creating art by my conditions.

With formal training as an engineer, some may maintain that I'm too far on one side of some spectrum to appreciate or create art. They may be right, but here are two examples of these structured randomness art entries:



As you can tell, one deals with random distributions of dot sizes (black and white); the other keeps the circles the same size but changes colors randomly.

Where am I going with this? These things I'm trying to pass as art can be loosely seen as representations of life—my life in particular. Things happen that either are random or seem to be random (like the sizes and colors), but I choose how to arrange my life (the structured grid) and what I'll do with the results.

I know it's a stretch, but Elder Bennett's talk was so heavy on choices that I looked at my recent random fascination from another angle: from the constraints I set in place. Just like I can choose the parameters of my random "art," I can choose what I will do with seemingly random happenings in my life—as well as the predictable results, too!

Here is something applicable from what Elder Bennett taught:

In reality we have only two eternal choices, each with eternal consequences: choose to follow the Savior of the world and thus choose eternal life with our Heavenly Father or choose to follow the world and thus choose to separate ourselves from Heavenly Father eternally.

Whether or not you find beauty in my so-called random art, eternal life is beautiful.

And it's not random.

I choose eternal life.

Missionaries Are a Treasure of the Church

This entry is part of my general conference application series.

Missionaries Are a Treasure of the Church, by Kazuhiko Yamashita
Of the Seventy


The principle of proxy or vicarious work should be central to all Christians. Why else did Christ suffer if not as a vicarious offering for others? It is only by accepting His sacrifice that we are saved.

Similarly, temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are where faithful saints perform proxy ordinances for their deceased ancestors (like baptism, a necessary ordinance). They, too, can accept or reject the proxy "work" that has been done for them.

As I read Elder Yamashita's talk, I felt a proxy kinship with missionaries that served in Japan. I feel this connection because my wife's family has experience with Japanese missionary work: my father in law served there as a young man and then again as an adult overseeing the missionary work in Tokyo; my wife and her brother lived in Japan in middle and high school, respectively; my brother-in-law returned to the same mission as a full-time missionary for two years of dedicated service.


While they labored across an ocean, I went to the land of my forefathers... or, more specifically, my father: I went to Idaho!


While perhaps not as exotic or exciting as Japan (I imagine people don't laugh when they hear that someone served a mission in Tokyo, like they do for Idaho...), I think my mission and missionary experiences were wonderful! And I think Elder Yamashita might agree:

I am thankful that missionaries are called by the Lord, that they respond to that call, and that they are serving throughout the world. Let me say to all of you beloved returned missionaries: I am truly thankful for all your efforts. You are a treasure of this Church. And may you always continue to be missionaries and act like disciples of Christ.

Did you hear that? I'm a treasure.

And just like nature's buried treasures—potatoes—I'm now associated with Idaho!


But I do still enjoy sushi.