Facing Giants - A Guest Post by Abby Lain

You know that moment, whether it is while being complimented or criticized, where you think to yourself, “If you only knew...”
We have all had that moment where that thought runs through our minds. That thought of, you have no clue how much blood, sweat, and tears it took to bring me here. You will never see the trials, the pain, and the world I had to go through to be able to stand in front of you, today. But guess what? I did it.
I may have walked only a mile, but it felt like thousands. I may have stood on solid ground, but it felt like fire. I could tell you that I have been to the dark side of the moon, but not even had left my house. Or was running through the depths of Hell, but was standing completely still.
If I told you these things, would you believe me? Would you believe the things I saw, or the things I did- or would you nod your head and roll your eyes? Would you take the time to listen, or would you cast it aside and say that I went through nothing?
No, to me it wasn't nothing.
To me, I had walked those miles, to me I had seen those things. To me I had stood in front of the devil himself and bowed my head in shame, as he laughed.
But to me, I had also overcome.
It might have taken days, months, or even years, but when I finally stood, I stood with power. I lifted my head at their scoffing faces and their pointing fingers, and I fought back. Not in the way I used to, not with darkness, but with a strand of light. And guess what? I won.

My friends, you are strong. I know that these things that you are going through, or have gone through, are not easy. I plead with you, down on my knees, to never give up.
To those of you who have won the battle, don't give up on the fight. And to those that aren't through the darkness yet, I promise you that things will become better. I can promise you that you are loved dearly, that even though you may feel alone in your battle, I can promise you that isn't the case. I can bear testimony to you that there is God in heaven that looks after you, that cares for you, and roots for you in your hardest times. I know He feels your pain, and even your joy. I know He laughs with you, cries with you, and even comforts you on your hardest day. I know that He will never forget you. Never.

My hope for you is that you will never forget this. You are destined for great things, and right now is just the beginning. Keep going, because after every storm is light.

Stay strong,
Abby




Bio:

Abby is just a girl with big dreams and a creative mind. She grew up writing stories with her friend, and eventually decided that she wanted to put her writing to use and started writing inspirational pieces. She is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and, God willing, hopes to someday serve a mission.
She also thinks that writing about herself in second person is a little weird, so she's going to stop, now. ;)

Human Rights

I'm tired of hearing people advocate for "Gay rights" or "Women's rights." I've really had enough of it.
But... What are rights, and where do they come from? Do people even know what they're fighting for?
Google says rights are, "A moral or legal entitlement to have or obtain something or to act in a certain way." Basically they are what a person is allowed to do. The freedoms which people have. 
So where do people go to get these rights? 
Well, the problem is that they go to the government. Everybody assumes that their rights come from the government these days. They fight for the right to be legally married as a gay couple, they fight for the right to smoke marijuana freely, they fight for the right to own guns. 
But they've been deceived. 
A person does not have to go to the government to obtain the right to be gay, or smoke weed, or own a gun. The only real power the government has is the power the people give it. If everybody in the United States stopped supporting the government today, there would be nothing the government could do. It would be helpless. By tomorrow it probably wouldn't even exist. So if a person was truly advocating for gun rights or gay rights, they wouldn't be trying to pass anti-discrimination laws or pro gun laws. They would be looking to restore the freedoms which they have given away, and to return the power to the people which has been stolen by the government. So is it not hypocritical when a person stands up and advocates to restore the rights of the people by implementing a new restriction...? Maybe I'm crazy, but that seems hypocritical to me.
No... Rights don't come from the government. They come from God. And God has given you the right to do anything you please. But seeing as God is the giver if rights, he is also the giver - and taker - of privileges. 
God gave us the right to commit adultery - but has told us that adultery will take our privilege of joy and peace of mind away. It may even lose our souls.
God gave us the right to kill - but killing others kills one's spirit, and quenches one's joy.
God gave us the right to do all wicked things. But each one comes with a price, in this life or the next.
So next time you hear a person advocating to the government for human rights, remember where rights come from. Remember that they are not from the government, but from God - and God has entrusted us to respect our rights, or lose them in the next life. 

I'm Going to be Vulnerable for a Moment

Right now, for a moment, on Saturday, December 21, 2013 at 11:37pm, I'm going to be vulnerable.

I'm going to open up, because there is something that I need to express.

I have a hard time accepting people. I have a hard time trusting people. I have a hard time loving people.

I am a lot shyer than I seem. I feel alone and afraid a lot. I do not feel accepted in many, many situations and places.

And it's hard. It's hard to overcome. Especially with people whom I respect greatly. I fear that I will become bothersome. That I am a nuisance, that I talk too much.

I wasn't always like this though. As a little child I wasn't. And then I grew, and I did things like interact with uncaring people and go to public school. And I changed.

In school I was told to sit down and shut up. To listen unconditionally to my teachers and to never speak out against them. I was told that asking questions is shameful, and that I would be looked down upon if I asked too many of them. I was told by my peers that there was a certain way to walk and to talk and to dress and to look, and that there were certain things that I had to like and do, and that if I didn't follow that way and like those things, I just simply couldn't fit in. 

And for a while, I was oblivious to all of it.

The first day I corrected a teacher and surpassed my reading goal by almost double yet again was the day that I started to see things. I started to see that many of the smiles were fake. And so were many of the greetings. And many of the friendships.

I saw the rolling eyes and the obvious sighs that I had missed before.

I saw the way that people turned ever so slightly away when I walked into the room, or tightened their circles just a little bit when I walked up.

I was different. 

And nobody liked it.

And I was so desperate to have a friend, just one friend that would pick me first for the playground football team or console me on a hard day, that I stopped being me. I stopped being that confident, brilliant child that I was and started being a quiet child that spent most of his time reading books and playing alone. Not the one that was always alone, I had the occasional friend, but none of them really stuck around. They either moved to another city, or another popularity ranking, or a new set of friends, and I was left alone again. 

There was a day... There was a day when I stood in the room that I'm writing from right now and contemplated how much it would actually hurt if I took the knife that I was holding and cut my throat. 

That was my low.

From that point I was taken to a councilor. His name was Sean. He made me feel important. Like I was a somebody. Like my opinion mattered and like my thoughts were valuable. He changed my life.

I still struggle. I worry that I talk too much. That people don't like me. That my opinions are too strong. That the smiles are still fake and the circles are still tightened, they've just gotten better at hiding it. 

I still worry that I am not accepted. 

Behind the confident, enthusiastic, radiant young man that I am today, I still fight a brutal battle in every moment to choose to be confident, and happy and enthusiastic. I fight a battle in choosing to trust and to love. I fight a battle in choosing to accept, and forgive.

Don't you?

Like Hyenas

Like hyenas they laugh at me.
They laugh because I'm different.
Because I don't go to public school. Because I don't laugh at the dirty jokes. Because I don't laugh at other people's faults.
They laugh at me because I practice harder than they do. Because I work harder than they do. Because I choose to not give in to mediocrity. Because I'm a gentleman. Because I'm kind and caring and polite and righteous, they laugh at me.
They laugh at me because I choose not to give in to the easy way. The way of darkness and sin.
And like hyenas, they travel in packs, or groups.
And I feel alone.
Those groups make me feel insecure. They make me feel secluded and like I don't fit in. They look like they're having fun, and make me feel like I'm not. Sometimes I wonder if it wouldn't be worth it to join them.
But then... I see them sometimes when they are alone. Then they don't look so happy. In fact, they look absolutely miserable. Because they have to look at the past and see the harm that they have done. The distraught faces and the broken spirits of the victims of their humor. Is that what I want? Do I want to look at my past and see only broken people and broken lives?
And yet, this is a style of living that can be more easily lived than any other time in the history of the Earth. If I wanted to, I never would have to be disconnected from my friends. I never would have to be alone. And even if I did manage to be alone, I would always have the latest game to keep me busy.
And yet... What happens when I lose my phone, or my laptop, or my tablet? What if it breaks? Or, somehow everything goes... Off. And it won't come back on. Where will I be then? What will happen to the fake reality that I live in? What will happen when my virtual pack of friends disappears? How will I be treated now that I am all alone, without my pack behind me?
I don't know the answers to these questions, but I do have theories. And they're not good things. They are lives spent in loneliness, despair, and regret.
So maybe it's not worth it after all.
It's not my choice though, it's up to you.
Are you willing to do the hard things, and persevere in right and truth?
Is it worth it?
I think so.

The Devil Came To Me

Not too long ago I wrote a post about compromise. In that post I talked some about the metaphor of a person standing on the mountain of their morality, and how the devil tries to get them to come down from that mountain. Well, the devil has come to me lately. He didn't come in the way that I would expect though. He came as a voice in my head. It started very small. It started as I watched America on her mountain top start to walk with the devil down the mountain, and that voice said, "Oh that stupid America. She'll never make it back up. She is lost forever." So I turned to the mountain of the politicians for help, and they looked idly on while America was led down. They didn't care. Many of them cheered the devil on. Once again the voice came, "Those politicians are evil men. They deserve all of the hate in the world for what they have allowed America to become. How disgusting." The pastors of America had left their mountain completely and were trying to push America back up to the top of hers. Nothing worked though. And again the voice came, "All is lost. There is no more hope for America. Freedom, justice, and truth have already died." By this time I was so angry. I was angry at America. I was angry at the politicians. I was angry at the people. I learned to hate them. Today though, I saw something new. From my mountain top, I looked up. I saw God. And he was weeping. But he was not weeping for the same reason that I was angry. He was weeping because he knew what he would have to do to restore the morality of America and the rest of the world, and it hurt him. Because what he would have to do would hurt them. His creations.
I still feel anger inside of me. But it is dwindling. I asked God to humble me and help me be rid of it, and he has for the most part, but I think he has left just a little bit for me to overcome myself. Be careful, my friends. The devil is a crafty being. If I had followed the path of anger and hatred, I might have done something that I would later regret under the pretense that I was fighting for freedom. And that would have ruined all good I might have done in the world.
Stay strong and may God bless you.
-Dallin

Because You Will Live to See Tomorrow

Much has been said of the question, "If you knew that you were to die tomorrow, what would you do today?" There are even songs about it. Songs like, Live Like You Were Dying by Tim McGraw. And while I think this is good and all, I think there is a better way of looking at life.
Because you will live to see tomorrow, what are you going to do today?
There is no challenge in living your last day to the fullest, because you have nothing to lose; you're on your last day. The challenge comes in learning to live every day to the fullest not because it could be your last, but simply because it's another day! Living every day to it's fullest because you will live tomorrow requires optimism and hope. It requires a purpose and a mission in life. It also requires strength and endurance. Being happy is hard, it really is. Even for me, and I'm naturally a very, very happy and optimistic person. There is just so much to be sad about. Think for a moment. America is dying. Morality and decency is dying. Common sense is dying. Go look at the news, they will tell you all about it. But what goodness and joy can we glean from the world? That's the hard part. In the moment that you learn to see and focus on the good things in the world all around you, you expand your potential in an infinite way. And that, that is when you learn that you really can make a difference in the world.
Now go find the good things.
Love,
Dallin

Compromise

Compromise is one of the great plagues in America today. It's everywhere. Principles are compromised, values are compromised, morals are compromised.

Now don't get me wrong, compromise can be a very good thing, but not when it's dealing with morality or principle. Here's the problem.

When you're compromising your morality, you're compromising with the devil. The devil does not compromise. He pretends to though. Let us imagine for a moment that there is a mountain, and that this mountain is your morality. You're standing on the very top of it refusing to go any lower, and the devil is at the bottom calling you, asking you to come down just a little and talk to him. You refuse, and so he does what the devil does. He comes up to you. Now in coming up to you he is not raising his moral standards. No, he is too evil to raise them at all. So him coming up to you is all a ruse conceived for the sole purpose of leading you down the mountain and away from your standards and morality. Now it might not be the devil himself that comes up to you. He might come by way of an ambassador in the form of a friend of yours whose morality has already been compromised. And this ambassador will come right up to almost the top of the mountain. We're talking withing feet, and inches if he's clever enough. And he will say so gently and innocently, "Hey friend, it must get lonely up there all by yourself. Why don't you come down just a little bit to here with me? No? Well hey, I came all the way up this mountain just to see you. The least you can do is come down a couple of feet to see me. Ok, look. I'll come up to within 2 inches of where you are, and at the same moment, I'll step up an inch, and you'll step down one. We'll be together for a while." And so it starts. The devil is a very patient being. If it takes him a lifetime, he will lead you one inch at a time down even a mountain the size of Everest. One compromised inch is never okay, because the devil's standard moves. He is not rooted in principle. So when he tells you that he's okay, and a nice guy, and has come all this way up so he must be a good guy, know that he's lying. As soon as you step down, he will step down as well and invite you to join him once again. And if you move up, he will follow you. He's relentless.

The same applies to America's government. Those fighting for freedom were once so strong. They stood on the top never moving. Then they started to give things away, and started to move down the mountain of freedom, liberty, and justice. Things like the right to work were given away by way of labor laws. Then came educational reform, the government funded schools, government owned land, and the growing control of the people by the government. And then welfare, gun control, and anti discrimination laws along with new regulations, requirements, and taxes. And those ambassadors of the devil just keep moving down. They might not even know that they are ambassadors of the devil, that's how clever he is. But anyone, Republican or Democrat, who gives away the freedoms of the American people is working for the devil, because captivity is a thing of the devil. And so when people like Mr. Obama complain about Republicans such as Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, and Rand Paul not compromising, they're wrong. The freedom fighters and their predecessors have compromised already. Almost to the point of total loss of American freedom. 

Please, America. No more compromise. Stand firm on your principles and never move. Because any more compromised morals or freedoms could result in the loss of your freedoms, and your soul.

Be strong, my friends.

-Dallin

What I Learned From Dumb and Dumber

So I watched Dumb and Dumber for the first time today. I hope it was the last time.
The title of this article is misleading. I didn't learn anything from that movie. Absolutely nothing. The whole point of the story dies in the end. The guy doesn't get the girl, the briefcase full of money that they were trying the whole movie to return gets spent without the owner's consent, and they end going right back to where they started. There is no character development, nothing worth seeing. I mean, there were a couple of really, really funny parts. I'll give the movie that much. But not enough to be worth watching. Here are the opening and closing scenes for those wondering exactly how dumb this movie is. (As a side note, there is content of questionable moral character in this movie as well as it being just plain dumb.)

I stood up from watching this movie having gained nothing and having wasted two hours of my life. It was a terrible feeling. My friend, do yourself a favor. Don't waste a piece of your life with this movie. There are much, much better things to do. Anyways, I guess I did learn one thing from all of this. I learned that the human soul does not like to waste time on frivolous things. I learned that it desires to learn and grow and improve, and time wasted on things such as this movie dampen it's joy. Maybe that's just my soul, but at any rate, I at least learned something about me. :)
Have a good life, my friends.
Go be awesome.

The Abstraction of Marriage

This video makes me so sad.

It is sad to me that these kids don't see what is happening here. It is even sadder to me that their parents haven't taught them what is happening. The whole gay marriage battle... It's not really about people wanting to be legally bound as gay couples. That's just what is seen on the surface. There were civil unions for those who wished to be legally bound gay couples. The true battle here is the abstraction of marriage. Because once marriage is an abstract concept, what is the significance of it any more? It becomes meaningless. All the sacredness that marriage once held... It would be lost. The abstraction of marriage would make it okay for a man and an animal to be married too, using the basis of, "Whatever makes them happy" that is so often used to support gay marriage. Marriage is a bonding covenant between a man and a woman. Civil Union is the proper term for that covenant between members of the same sex. Oh my friends, please do not allow this abstraction of marriage to take place. Please love gay people, do not hate them. Help them realize that they have a special union all for themselves. They do not need the word marriage to describe their relationships. And if they don't like the name of their type of union, then let them vote to change the name; but marriage, marriage is something different entirely. Please do not be fooled into thinking otherwise.

If You Don't Look for Something, You're Probably not Going to Find It

I sometimes look at pictures of the stars and of other things and think, "Why aren't the stars ever that clear to me?" and "Why don't I ever see things like that?"
Today as I was looking at some spectacular pictures of the stars, I figured it out.

I never really looked. I've seen the stars thousands of times, but I can count on my hands the number of times that I've actually looked at them. In my rush to live life, I've missed it. Because life is all about the little things, and I'm missing a lot of them. So maybe I need to slow down a little, and take more time to look at, rather than just see the world around me. Because that is how life is lived at it's greatest, and I want to live a great life.

Happy Halloween, Guys. :)

So this is my Halloween for this year. Don't laugh too hard. ;)
Happy Halloween guys! :D

Sometimes

Sometimes I get really frustrated with myself. Right now is one of those times.
Right now is one of those times where I just feel like I can't do anything right. I feel like my friendships are going to all crumble beneath me and I'm going to be back in the place where I was a long time ago. A place with no friends and no hope. And even though I speak of hope and how it is always there, I don't always believe that. Sometimes I don't. Sometimes I feel like I walk on a tightrope, and that tightrope is life, and I'm trying to juggle my interests while staying balanced on that fragile thing that we call life. And each time an interest is thrown up, I have to consider whether or not I am capable of catching it when it comes down and still handle balancing on the tightrope of life.
And sometimes I have to let that interest fall, and that hurts so bad. Because I really do, I want to keep all of my interests and my dreams up in the air, because I love it - I love life. And each time I drop an interest I promise myself that I'll pick it up later once I can handle it - once I'm good enough to handle it. But sometimes I don't. And though I've never fallen from the tight rope, I almost jumped once. And though I have friends and family who are walking their tight ropes beside me, and who are so kind and wonderful to me, sometimes I want to walk alone. And sometimes other people ask me so fervently to help them stay balanced, and I can't help them all at once. And that hurts me. And although I've never seen another person fall, I've seen some of them come awfully close.
I guess that what I'm trying to say is that sometimes I just can't give anymore, because if I did, I would run out of me. And once I'm gone, I can't come back.

Give Said the Little Stream

I think that the seemingly most insignificant things are often more significant than meets the eye, and that many profound things can be learned from the simplest of messages.

There is one message that I've recently found a deeper meaning in specifically. It comes from the Children's Songbook, (Found here.) The song's name is Give, Said the Little Stream. It goes like this: (Listen to either video as you read the lyrics.)

1. "Give," said the little stream,
"Give, oh! give, give, oh! give."
"Give," said the little stream,
As it hurried down the hill;
"I'm small, I know, but wherever I go   
The fields grow greener still."

(Chorus)
Singing, singing all the day,

"Give away, oh! give away."
Singing, singing all the day,
"Give, oh! give away."

2. "Give," said the little rain,

"Give, oh! give, give, oh! give."
"Give," said the little rain,
As it fell upon the flow'rs;
"I'll raise their drooping heads again,"
As it fell upon the flow'rs.

3. Give, then, as Jesus gives,

Give, oh! give, give, oh! give.
Give, then, as Jesus gives;
There is something all can give.
Do as the streams and blossoms do:
For God and others live.

Isn't that a wonderful message? It's my new life motto, I've decided. And, I hope I can follow it's message. If I do, I know I will change the world. One "field" at a time.

"I'm small, I know, but wherever I go the fields grow greener still..."

Another Side to Mr. Obama

My friends, a lot of hate is directed towards President Obama. I do not think that he deserves hate, but I also disagree with almost everything he does and says, not to mention that he is a liar and a fraud.
Having said that, he is the President of the United States of America and therefore deserves all due respect that comes with that office. It is the duty of the American people to support him - not necessarily his beliefs or his policies, but support him as the president of the United States of America. If we the American people don't like him, we must take the proper steps to remove him from office lawfully. Even though he plays dirty sometimes by doing things like lying and cheating, we the American people are better than that and must abide by the laws in place, regardless of how much we don't like them.
There is a side of Mr. Obama that I hadn't seen before today though. The side of Obama that is gentle and caring. I don't know, maybe it's all an act, but I felt like this was genuine. All of his other talk of caring about the American people I have a hard time believing. He does nothing to show that he really, sincerely cares about the people like he says he does. Instead he forces things like the Affordable Care Act down their throats. But this time, I think he cared. It was very one on one and personal with a young boy that makes my day every time he uploads a video to youtube. Kid President was invited to the White House and met the president. Take a look for yourself, and maybe reevaluate your thoughts on how you judge other people.

Hello Sunshine :)

My friends, life is so good. :) I feel like I can't contain my soul. It's bursting at the seams to get out of here and find a place that can contain more happiness than my little frame can. Maybe if I can contain it long enough it will stretch out my frame a little. That would be nice. :D
Anyways, because I'm so happy, I feel like spreading joy. Here are some things that make me happy. :)
#1
Sunshine
Oh, my friends, I love sunshine. It expresses without words how I feel right now better than I can express it in any way I know of. It's just... So beautiful in it's own happy little way.


#2
Music
There are days when I don't feel like sunshine. Days where I just want to... Well, days where I don't want to do anything. Days where I just feel empty. But music lifts me up. It speaks to my soul better than I can, and tells it to be happy. Here is some music that makes me happy. :)

Happy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIgRTPglVaI

Bring Me Sunshine - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXvJ8UquYoo%E2%80%8E

Happiest Girl in the Whole USA - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMXAMR28nq0

On Top of the World - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgltSp_mU7M

I'm Trying to be Like Jesus - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFkOBuPTeTs

Biggest Man in Los Angeles -  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MyolS9sM9o

#3 

My Family

A few days ago my family got family pictures taken. Here is my lovely family, all 9 of us. :)

So anyways, those are some things that make me happy. :)
What makes you happy?

Government Shutdown or Government Crack Down?

My friends, I am tired of stories like this. Since the Republicans in congress refuse to raise the debt ceiling and vote to fund The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) the government of the United States of America is in partial shutdown.
Hallelujah!
God bless those politicians who stay strong in the truth.
I'm not one for anarchy, but this partial government shutdown is probably one of the best things ever to happen to America. Maybe the people will finally realize how much government there is that is not necessary. But here's on thing I don't get.
What's the deal with the government closing down the national parks and monuments? It sounds to me more like a government crack down than a government shut down. If those parts of the government are really shut down, what sort of jurisdiction do they have to do anything at all with these monuments and parks? Truthfully, none. If a part of the government is shut down that means that it has no authority whatsoever to do anything because it no longer lives, so with what authority are they closing parks and monuments? I don't know, I don't have an answer. But it's something to think about anyways.
Stay strong in the faith and deeply rooted in correct principles, and we won't have this problem. One day it will all be well, and if it isn't at least know this.
All is well in Zion.

Heavenly Beings on an Earthly Adventure - a Guest Post by Catherine Patterson

I think every person on earth has that one (at least one) human being to whom they are very emotionally attached, who lives very far away. That person who they wish lived next door, or even that they wish was their sibling so they could be with them all the time. Some of us have more than one person like that. Some of us have many. And no matter how many people you feel this way about, it's hard (trust me: I've fallen into all three categories). Sometimes it leaves you feeling emotionally worn, exhausted, and beaten. Sometimes it leaves you feeling emotionally broken, torn, or shredded. The hole in your life where they should be can stab or it can ache; but however it hurts, hurt it always does. We attempt to allay the pain by writing letters, sending emails, talking on the phone, chatting, skyping, and everything else, but nothing really kills that persistent pain except actually being together.

Why the pain? Isn't it absurd? Why can't we either let go of our longings to be with that person (or those persons), or else quiet our fussy heart by reassuring it that we'll see them again sometime? I've tried both these strategies, and both offer only temporary respite. They last only as long as I can deceive myself into thinking that I don't miss them.

Well, after struggling for many years, I have finally reached this conclusion: we are not meant to get rid of those feelings. Those feelings aren't pointless pain, they are evidence of something more profound. There is supposed to be pain when we are away from those we love, because we are not beings of this world. If we were, we would adapt to the point where we could kill these feelings; but no. We are heavenly beings on a mortal adventure. Ultimately, we are meant to be with those we love forever. No goodbyes. No endings. And no unbearable distance. It will be perfect.

The pain really isn't fun at all. But we push through it, work through it, and try to be grateful for it, because it's another reminder of Heaven, and what is to come.

***

Bio thing:

Catherine is fairly certain that she was born with a pen in her hand (although her mom denies it). Writing is a little bit of an addiction for her, and she does it as much as possible. (To read more of her writing, you can visit her blog here!) She also enjoys studying, being quirky, and being in the company of her cool friends, among other things. She currently resides in a lovely corner of Pennsylvania with her amazing parents and awesome little brothers. She is super honored to have had this chance to write for Dallin's blog, and hopes what she said made a difference. :)

Today My Monster Came For a Visit

Today my monster came for a visit - and I still wasn't stronger than he was.
But I'm getting stronger.
He came in the form of a lost family member. Not a dead family member, but one that decided to leave. I will not judge whether the decision was right or wrong - it is not my place. But that decision did hurt me very bad. And just as I started to come up from the pain of that beating, he came back. This time in the form of lost work. See, last week I decided that being 3 weeks behind on my schoolwork was far enough, so I did 4 weeks of school work and got caught up. But I realized today that I lost about 1/3 of that because of a document that didn't save. Oh, that was so discouraging. On top of that, I've been struggling with motivation anyways, so at that point I just wanted to go cry.
But now I'm tired of feeling beat up.
I just don't want to stay down any longer.
Those monsters have had their turns and it is time for them to move on. Maybe they'll come back, but for now they need to leave. I don't have time to be beat down. I don't have energy to spend dwelling on the pain. What I do have is hope. The hope that always follows the beatings. The hope that comes in the form of a friend or an idea. The hope that comes in the form of my God. You see, hope never leaves completely. Sometimes you just can't see it waiting to come comfort you.
Never lose sight of hope, my friends.
Everything will turn out just fine.
Love,
Dallin

The Dentist - A Guest Post-Story thingamabob By Dallin Flake :)

I enter the quiet office, soft chairs and comforting carpet. The receptionist smiles at me. “Good afternoon!” she says brightly. For a moment my fears are soothed, and I am calm. “You have an appointment at 2:30, yes?” she questions. I nod my head in confirmation. The fear is back. I am afraid to speak, to smile, to show my teeth, to show the plaque and tartar which have accumulated since my last visit. The receptionist points to the back. “First room on the left.” I nod my head in acknowledgement, and walk to the requested area.

The dentist is waiting.

“Hi, have a seat,” she says, gesturing to the chair of torture. I follow her instructions. “It’s been about two years since we’ve seen you, hasn’t it?” she says. “Yes,” I reply shortly. “Well, let’s hope you’ve been brushing, then!” she says. I avoid her gaze, knowing that if she can see my eyes, she will know the truth: I only brush on occasion when I remember to. It’s at this time I notice the tray of torture instruments; sharp, metal hooks that should definitely not go inside a person’s mouth lie upon it. She swings it away, out of my sight.

The x-ray is coming. I remember it from my previous visit. Sure enough, the dentist straps a lead coat onto me thick enough to stop a bullet. “Say ah,” she directs. I do so, and she sticks an object into my mouth at the back of my throat. It activates my gag reflex and I try desperately not to cough it out. After she swivels the machine to the side of my mouth, she leaves the room. I heard a click and a buzz. She repositions the object in my mouth, then does the other side. She takes whatever the thing is out of my mouth, clearly used to the large amount of saliva on the plastic wrapping.

“How’s the rest of your family?” she asks. “They’re doing well,” I answer. The dentist points to the x-rays of my mouth on the laptop beside me. “You have your father’s teeth,” she says. I can only imagine what she does in her spare time - perhaps studying the teeth formations of her victims. “Mmhm,” I mutter. The dentist continues to bustle around, then swivels the tray of torture in front of me. I can already feel her shoving the instruments into my tender mouth.

After positioning the chair so I’m leaning back, the dentist swings the bright, blinding light into my face. It hurts just to look at it, like staring at the sun. “All right, open wide,” I am told. I do so obediently. I close my eyes, shutting out the light, waiting for an excruciating few moments. First, she presses down on each of my teeth in turn, checking for a reaction of pain, I assume. I give none, as I cannot feel my teeth. Then she selects a different tool off her tray. I can feel the scraping against my teeth, as the dentist scratches clear the built up tartar and plaque from my last visit.

And then the pain begins.

I can feel the sharp hook like a knife against my tender gums, poking and clawing and tearing it raw. At first the pain is minimal, in only one area of my mouth. Then she moves on to more teeth, picking away at my tender pink gums. Saliva begins to accumulate in the back of my mouth. I dare not move my tongue, for I am sure that the spit tastes of blood. After a few minutes, the dentist inserts a sort of vacuum nozzle into my mouth, and sprays my tenderized jaw with a few squirts of water. I can feel the blood washing away, but the pain remains, as prevalent as ever. “Close,” the dentists directs. I do so, watching something pink go up into the nozzle. I shut my eyes in horror.

And she continues.

As she does so, I want to scream out in pain. To cry out, to end the suffering! Mouths were not made for this prodding and poking and tearing! Mouths were made for eating delicious food, for speaking words of goodness and mercy, for soft kisses. As the dentist scrapes off more impurities, the pain spreads until my whole jaw is ablaze with it. Moving to my front teeth, she places a gauze pad in front of my teeth. This, I know, means blood in enormous amounts. “You doing okay?” the dentist questions. I cannot give in to this inhumanity. I will not give up as she wants me to. I will not show the pain. I lie, giving a thumbs up. “You’re one tough cookie,” she remarks, beginning the work on my top front teeth.

Fifteen minutes later, it is finished. I sit up, saliva and blood mixing in my mouth. I cannot speak until I spit this horrendous much out of my mouth. Grimacing, I push the mixture into my cheek. “Can I spit this out?” I ask desperately, gesturing to the sink. “Go ahead,” she replies. “There are cups to the right.” I empty my mouth of the gunk, highly disturbed to see my saliva bright, raspberry red. I wash my mouth out 4 times, not satisfied until my spittle turns a nice, pale brown. I turn around, gums still in pain, to see pads saturated with blood upon her torture tray. I shudder in horror.

An hour later, my gums still sore, I reflect on the past incident. Perhaps the dentist had my best interests at heart - or perhaps not. Perhaps I should spend more time brushing my teeth, and definitely more flossing. I may even have to resort to mouthwash if it means avoiding this type of torture. But, as we all know, the lessons of the past are wasted upon the young, and the next morning I completely forget to brush my teeth.

I must be asking for cavities.

Today I Learned Something From a Fortune Cookie

My friends, I have to say that sometimes, fortune cookies are profound. :)
I went to Panda Express with some family today, and got some awesome food. Seriously. It was good. :D But something that was better than my food was the fortune I received. It said,
"Look towards the future, but not so far as to miss today."
This is something that I need. I spend so much time thinking about what I'm going to be one day, one day that may not even exist for me in the future. Maybe I won't make it to the day I think and dream about. Today is what determines tomorrow's success, but without today, tomorrow will never happen. Tomorrow is good to think about, but today is the time to act. Now go spread joy.
Love,
Dallin :)

To My Downtrodden Friends

My friends, sometimes life is just plain hard. Sometimes it is going to be a monster. And this monster is going to beat you down to nothing, and let you up a little just so that it can hit you again and again until you fall back down again. Then, after you believe that you have nothing left, that monster will leave. Life will no longer be in the form of a monster, but in the form of a person, or idea, and it will come back and pick you up again. And you will heal, and forgive that monster for what it did to you, and you will be stronger. Then life will change from that person or idea and once again become that monster. But this time the monster won't look so big and scary, because you will be stronger, and more experienced, but it will still be stronger than you. And it will once again beat you until you believe you are broken. But you will learn, and grow stronger. And so the cycle will continue until that glorious day when the monster returns, and you look at it with all the certainty and confidence that comes with past adversity and say, "No more." And that monster will look back at you with all the fear in the heart of a damned soul, because it knows that from that point, it will never be stronger than you again. Then, on that day, you will be unbreakable. Yes, the monster will hurt you still, that is inevitable. But it will never again break you. It will never again look down at your mangled and bloodied soul and laugh with that deep, evil laugh that always used to scare you so badly. You are then free of this monster.
So, to my poor, downtrodden friends: please don't give up. Please don't let this monster destroy your life, because it will if you let it. It cannot hurt you past what you can bear. So no matter how painful the beatings become, persevere, and know that there is someone waiting to help you at the end of the beatings. Please know that God has a purpose for you, so keep the faith! And know that God is there. He anxiously watches, hoping that you will make the right decisions, wishing that you wouldn't have to go through as much pain as you do to become as strong as you need to be, weeping because of your anguish. Please know you are loved. And, if you believe that nobody in the world loves you, know that I do. But, more than I ever could, God does. And if you don't believe in God, please do some honest, open minded study of the Bible and the Book of Mormon and if you really are honest and sincere in your study, and you ask God for yourself, you will come to know for yourself of the truth that God lives.
May God be with you through the pain you must endure, and may you learn to defeat your monster quickly.
Love,
Dallin Ward

Home

My friends, the last two weeks have been quite an adventure. :) I spent a week in Veyo, Utah at Elevation (A camp that my school does 3 times during the year) and it turned out to be one of the best weeks of my life. I went climbing, repelling, ascending, swimming, caught crawdads, played a ton of koosh (Which, by the way, is one of the coolest variations of dodgeball that has ever been played :D ), did a service project, did a super intense simulation, spent a night alone in a canyon with only the clothes on my back, ran a 5:25 mile, spent 4 hours alone on a large rock overlooking a clear stream while nature moved around me, did yoga and meditation, had deep philosophical conversations with some of the coolest people alive, and with the same people stayed up until 2 in the morning laughing my head off. Then, after it was all over, we met again at Cafe Rio for one last meal with each other, and went and asked hair salon people for mosquito itch cream in a French accent and then watched the confusion on their faces while we accidentally busted out laughing. Needless to say, it was an amazing week. :D
Then, almost on a whim, I stayed another week in Utah with some cousins of mine, and went to BYU education week. Oh, that was so wonderful. I got to see the BYU campus which, by the way is amazing. I got to observe spectacular people such as John Bytheway and Hank Smith as they made me laugh, cry, and feel everything in between while helping me to realize what I need to do with my life, and how to change to fulfill my mission in life. I got to meet so many new people, people whom I have learned to love. I learned how to smile and really be happy, like, sincere happiness, nothing fake. It was funny, and kind of sad to see how shocked people were when I asked them how they were, and really cared to know instead of asking simply to be polite. I learned how to do the two step, the fox trot, the New York hustle, the three step, and the cha-cha in a dance class and at the dance itself. I met a girl named Amber who seemed happier than even I, which I did not think to be possible. I met a guy named David who taught me that appearances mean nothing, it is what's inside that counts. And I met so many other people who changed my perspective on life. I went to Legends Grill (Which I highly recommend) every day except Monday for lunch, and I learned that if you treat people with respect and kindness, they will treat you the same. I walked into Legends Grill on Wednesday and confidently walked right up the the cash register with a huge grin on my face to order my food. I walked up to the man at the counter and I said, "Hello Sir! How are you?" and then proceeded to order my food. Oh, the smile I saw on his face when I walked in the next day made me so happy. :D I walked in the next day and before I could say a thing, his face lit up and he said, "Hello Sir! How are you?" And he meant it! He really did! Oh, happiness is contagious, and it is something that I and determined to spread. :) It was so great to watch a girl's face, a girl who had sat on her phone in a corner for most of the dance, it was so amazing to watch how she smiled when I asked her to dance. And playing Monopoly with your cousins while making up new, fantastic rules as you go? That's the best. :) This, as well as the week before, was an amazing week. :)
But, yesterday morning when I woke up, I realized that it was time. It was time to come home. As much as I love adventures, I would choose home over endless adventures any day. I love my family too much to be gone for that long. Because I missed some things too much. I missed holding baby Nathan. I missed Rachel yelling "Dallin! Dance with me! :D" I missed how Rebekah would run up to me yelling "Dallin!" when I would walk in the door and give me a great big hug. I missed Ben's smile that never goes away. I missed Enoch's hilarious jokes. I missed talking with Spencer. I missed my Mom's muffins, and her loving care. I missed working with my Dad, and the example he sets for me.
Put simply, I missed home.
Now, I'm home, and I'm very happy to be here - it's where I belong. :)

Remembering

 My friends, how are you going to be remembered?
What is going to be the first thing to pop into a person's head when they hear your name?
I, for one, want to be remembered as a person with a sincere love of all people, and no regrets. I do not want to leave this life wishing that I had said or done something. I want to be remembered as a teacher, a mentor, a guide and an enlightener. I want people to say at my funeral, "Dallin was a man who changed my life."
So, having said that, allow me to exclaim to the world.
I don't care who you are - I love you. I want to help you. I want you to succeed. I sincerely hope that I have not hurt you. I pray for you. I want you to be a better person than I am.
So, when I tell you that I love you, I mean it. And I say it so that if something happens to you or I, I do not have regrets about not telling you how wonderful you are, and how much I love you often enough.
I refuse to leave this life with any amount of shame.
God bless you, my friends.
Now go spread joy.
Love,
Dallin

The Brilliance of Children

My friends, children are brilliant. It's just that simple, they know how to live life. And then, as we grow from children and become adults, we learn self destructive habits that, when we finally regain our senses, we spend the rest of our lives lives fixing. One of these habits is the constant need for stimulation of some kind to keep our brains moving. We desire this stimulation for many reasons. Maybe it is because we hate to spend quiet time examining our character - because that hurts. Maybe it is because we have regrets. Maybe we are dealing with other kinds of pain. But, how will your inner brilliance release itself if you don't ever make time for it to grow? This, my friends, this is why children are brilliant. See, they haven't confined themselves yet to this addiction to stimulation yet. They go outside, they spend time alone.
They think.
Today, my little brother Ben came to me with a thought. He is 9 years old. Here's what he said, (With slight revision for clarity. :) )
"Dallin, the word natural shouldn't exist. See, Jesus Christ was a man, right? And he created the world. So, technically, the world is all artificial."
Wow! That's brilliant! Let me tell you, in the world of stimulation that I spend far too much time in, I would have never thought that deep. This is the kind of thinking that has changed the world.
So, let me challenge you. This is something that I intend to do as well. Be more like a child. Spend time alone examining your character and the deep concepts and mysteries of life. And, if you can't stand to be alone with yourself, fix that. Whatever is making it painful to be alone - fix it. I promise that you will be more at peace if you do. And, who knows? Maybe the next thought that will change the world is waiting inside of your head for a chance to cross your mind.
Now go do.
Love,
Dallin :)

Thank You

Hey guys. :)
I just want to say thanks. :) It doesn't really matter what for, just so that you know, I mean it.
Thank you.
Thank you for all the good ways that you have influenced me, whether you know it or not. By reading this, you encourage me to write more, and make me feel like what I do is noticed by at least you. So, for that, thank you.
Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to read my posts, and for caring enough to leave a comment now and then.
Thank you for being who you are, and for your efforts to become a better person in a world full of sin.
Thank you for all the good you have done for me without my noticing. And, I'm sorry that I did not notice.
And for anything else where thanks is due, thank you.
God bless,
Dallin :)

The Reality in America's Nightmare

This post will take a while to go through due to the amount of media which you will watch when you read the post. You will need about a half hour of free time to read this, so don't do it on short time. :)

Before you go any further, listen to this.
Paul Harvey: If I Were the Devil
The first time listening to that, the purpose was to understand the idea.
Listen to it once more to let it sink in.
That was recorded in 1965. Look around today. Everything that he said would happen is coming to pass. There is a news story for almost every one of those predictions.
My friends,
America is dying.
My country. My home. It is dying.
Glenn Beck recently did a show on this topic. Watch parts one and two below.
No Right and Wrong, Just Agenda: Part One
No Right and Wrong, Just Agenda: Part Two
You and I, we're in trouble.
The Devil himself is doing his best to corrupt us. Will we stand idly by while he proceeds to do so? What are you going to do? How are you going to resist his ever so tempting lures? You will never make a good change in the world if you let him into your life, and you were made to make a change. So keep him out. Don't just resist, but resist with vigor. And if he does get a hold of you, you had better be kicking and screaming all the way down to Hell. Because you deserve better than the Devil can provide there.
Stay strong, my friends.
"Be the change you wish to see in the world."
-Gandhi

I Am Useful

Today, while at work, I realized something profound to me.
I am useful.
I am important.
I am needed.
Say that out loud. Believe it. You are useful, important, and needed. I don't care what you do, don't do, say, or don't say, you are useful, important, and needed in some way and to somebody.
I am useful because I'm a hard worker.
I am important because I am a Son of the Highest King.
I am needed because there is work to do, and I'm willing to do it.
In what ways are you useful? What about important? Needed?
Think about it.
Focus on the good.
Find how you're useful, why you're important, and where you're needed.
And then go and do.
This is how you live life with purpose.
Now get off of your computer and go live life. :)

What is Freedom?

What is freedom?
I don't mean the dictionary definition.
What does freedom mean to you on an individual level?
To me, freedom is what makes me happy. It's what makes me feel alive. It's what gives me purpose.
This is freedom to me.
Freedom is a quiet mountain peak overlooking a beautiful Idaho valley.
Freedom is the American flag waving for all to see.
Freedom is the sunrise, and the sunset.
Freedom is the crisp morning air after a night of heavy snowfall.
Freedom is a walk in the woods with nobody around for miles.
Freedom is hard work.
Freedom is contentment, joy, and peace.

This isn't going to be a long post. I just want you to think.
What does freedom mean to you?
How are you going to protect your freedoms?
Are you willing to fight and die for your freedom?
Because if you don't fight for your freedom, who will?

Calling It Like It Is

Political correctness. 

Grr.

That stuff really makes me mad.

Here's the deal.

If you're black, why do I have to call you African American?

If you're white, why must I call you Caucasian? 

If you're fat or old, why must I never speak of it?

Is there something wrong with being fat or black or old or white? Are you ashamed of yourself?

I'm a scrawny, short little white guy that is sure to get cauliflower ear from wrestling. So what? 

Must I be perfect to conform to what society wants of me?

Why can't I just be happy with who I am?

So, if you're black, don't take offense when I call you a black person.

If you're fat, don't take offense when I say so.

If you're white or Asian or Mexican or skinny or lazy or Mormon or Muslim or Atheist or gay or smart or stupid, or anything else that defines you, 

I don't care.

I'm going to call it like it is. 

Because I shouldn't have to worry about offending you by speaking what I observe. 

If you don't like who you are, then you need to change who you are.

But you should be proud of yourself, because you are spectacular. 

Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise.

Changing the World

I am going to change the world.

Look at the power in that sentence. Read it out loud. Right now. Really try to believe it. It means recognizing who you are, and your incredible potential, because you really do have incredible potential. You and I, we have the potential to change the world, but in order to do that we must first believe it.

Remember the quote from Marianne Williamson about your greatest fear not being your darkness?

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.' We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Look deep down inside yourself, really dig. Deep down, you know that it is your light that scares you much more than your darkness. Don't deny it, because for about 99.99% of the people on Earth, this is one of the truest things ever written. But, why is this? It is because living up to your potential, well, that means you have to work. It means you have to get out of your comfort zone, and you really have to push to believe how far you can go, and once you get there, it's hard to maintain because you don't want to be greater than anyone else.

I've found that much of life has to do with making a decision and sticking to it. Many times a deathly ill person's fate will be decided by whether or not they decide to live or die. I really believe that God will help a person that makes a good decision and is determined to stick to it. But I also believe that God gives much less help to a half hearted decision than he does to one that all of a person's heart is poured into. So, decide today, because when it's time to make the decision it's already too late - you will probably choose the easy way if your way isn't predetermined.

Today, I, Dallin Ward, have decided that I will not be scared of my light. I will not practice self destructive behavior, and I refuse to compromise my goals, dreams and potential for the easy way.

Because I am going to change the world, and I cannot turn back now that I've started.