That Day

Man I have a beautiful family! This year we spent Thanksgiving with Gregg, Terri, and their children; privileged to have Elaine come along with us. Steven, Race, Amy and Kari joined in on Thanksgiving day. Delicious food. Incredible pies. Fun and games. Tradition of amusing, family-friendly YouTube videos and games around the table...a moment to capture our thoughts of gratitude together; a life time to demonstrate our appreciation for the bounty we all enjoy.

Black Friday...whether you like the tradition or not...manifests the abundance available to us in this era and particularly in our country even in the midst of the nation's challenges.

During the holiday, Saren shared with all of us something that really touched me. And now I want to share it with you.  (check out the script below; you can reference the quotes from the video)

Enjoy! 

UNLEASHING THE DORMANT SPIRIT

F. Enzio Busche

I want to share with you a vehicle, an instrument, which I have developed some time ago for myself and for my family. It can assist us to reach our focus as we read the suggested vision of true discipleship as a Latter-day Saint.

It helps when we from time-to-time ponder and seek identification with the following thoughts:

* Embrace this day with an enthusiastic welcome, no matter how it looks. The covenant with God to which you are true enables you to become enlightened by him, and nothing is impossible for you.

* When you are physically sick, tired, or in despair, steer your thoughts away from yourself and direct them in gratitude and love toward God.

* In your life there have to be challenges. They will either bring you closer to God and therefore make you stronger or they can destroy you. But you make the decision of which road you take.

* First and foremost, you are a spirit child of God. If you neglect to feed your spirit, you will reap unhappiness. Don’t permit anything to detract you from this awareness.

* You cannot communicate with God unless you have first sacrificed your self-oriented natural man and have brought yourself into the lower levels of meekness, to become acceptable for the Light of Christ.

* Put all frustrations, hurt feelings, and grumblings into the perspective of your eternal hope. Light will flow into your soul.

* Pause to ponder the suffering Christ felt in the Garden of Gethsemane. In the awareness of the depth of gratitude for him, you appreciate every opportunity to show your love for him by diligently serving in his Church.

* God knows that you are not perfect. As you suffer about your imperfections, he will give you comfort and suggestions where to improve.

* God knows better than you what you need. He always attempts to speak to you. Listen, and follow the uncomfortable suggestions that he makes to us–-and everything will fall into its place.

* Avoid any fear like your worst enemy, but magnify your fear about the consequences of sin.

* When you cannot love someone, look into that person’s eyes long enough to find the hidden rudiments of the child of God in him.

* Never judge anyone. When you accept this, you will be freed. In the case of your own children or subordinates, where you have the responsibility to judge, help them to become their own judges.

* If someone hurts you so much that your feelings seem to choke you, forgive and you will be free again.

* Avoid at all cost any pessimistic, negative, or criticizing thoughts. If you cannot cut them out, they will do you harm. On the road toward salvation, let questions arise but never doubts. If something is wrong, God will give you clarity but never doubts.

* Avoid rush and haste and uncontrolled words. Divine light develops in places of peace and quiet. Be aware of that as you enter places of worship.

* Be not so much concerned about what you do, but do what you do with all your heart, might, and strength. In thoroughness is satisfaction.

* You want to be good and to do good. That is commendable. But the greatest achievement that can be reached in our lives is to be under the complete influence of the Holy Ghost. Then he will teach us what is really good and necessary to do.

* The pain of sacrifice lasts only one moment. It is the fear of the pain of sacrifice that makes you hesitate to do it.

* Be grateful for every opportunity to serve. It helps you more than those you serve.

* And finally, when you are compelled to give up something or when things that are dear to you are withdrawn from you, know that this is your lesson to be learned right now. But know also that, as you are learning this lesson, God wants to give you something better.

Thus, we prepare all the days of our lives, and as we grow, death loses its sting, hell loses its power, and we look forward to that day with anticipation and joy when he will come in his glory.

Christmas Joy

Carols are ringing through the house. Holiday lights have been lit. The Christmas tree is decorated. Holly adorns our stairway. Goodies spill out of the kitchen. Nativity reminds us of our joy. And a wreath hangs at the door.

So what is different about Christmas this year? My daughters instigated all the decorating this time around. I helped, at least I think I did.
First, we put the lights up. Emily did the ones I couldn't reach.
Rearranging the room to accommodate the tree seemed like too much work - they did.
The tree boxes are way too big without getting some help; we can't move them - they did.
I said that we would never be able to raise the tree by ourselves - they did.
Try as I might, I couldn't get the tree lights connected properly - they did.
But we will never get the top on the tree "There is no way you can do that" - they did.

You are probably beginning to see a pattern here...

Below is a beautiful 4-minute Christmas music video from the College of Fine Arts and Communications at BYU.  My good friend wrote the music and alumni, students and staff designed and produced the music and accompanying video.



We benefit in so many ways from others who can help and bless and lift us by contributing in some how to our lives. For me, that helps remind me that we cannot emerge from this life without the assistance of others, particularly the Savior Jesus Christ:

And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. 2 Nephi 31:21

And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world. 3 Nephi 11:11

Try as we might, we cannot make it through life alone, and gratefully we don't have to. Though our efforts are well meaning, they are futile except for the grace of the Savior Jesus Christ. Even after all we can do, it's not enough without him. 2 Nephi 25:23

At Christmastime and always, Jesus Christ is the Light of the World for all who seek him. For more Christmas videos, visit http://christmas.lds.org.

Favorites

We all have different motivations and things that inspire us. I have many, just like you--great literature, a piece of beautiful music, delicious food... Funny as it may seem, I include great ad campaigns among these treasures (link to some of the best). Here are a few of my favorites:

• Got Milk?—you have all heard of this one. Check this out.
• I'm a Mormon by the Church—go to Youtube and search for "I'm a Mormon" or http://imamormon.org
• BYU student's Adlab campaign Scan Me—this one beat out their NYC- and LA-based agency competitors

Anyway, sorry. I got side tracked. These are really good and often funny. But when it comes to great slogans, Zions Bank's "We haven't forgotten who keeps us in business" is right up there with the best. When it first came out, Jeff and I were doing some marketing at the time. And I had one of those moments "Why didn't I think of that!?" It seemed to capture in a brief expression all the reasons why choosing the people at Zions Bank made sense, because they were really going to take care of you. 

You may remember it, but if you don't I'm not surprised. Because when they rolled out the campaign, the spokesperson stressed the wrong thing. They would say "we haven't FORGOTTEN who keeps us in business" or "we haven't forgotten who keeps US in business" or some other version, failing to stress the right thing..."WE haven't forgotten who keeps us in business." 

Instead of becoming one of the great advertising campaigns of recent memory, it fell flat and was at best forgettable.

What I learned from this experience is that it is important where you place your emphasis. Great things can be lost and forgotten when we misplace our focus. Mediocre and seemingly simple things become great when you emphasize what made them valuable in the first place. Ask every mother who has kept for years Mother's Day, birthday, and other cards and drawings given as gifts from their children. Great things are even better when you emphasize the right things.

And so it is with the gospel of Jesus Christ. There is so much good, so much hope, so many opportunities to bless the lives of others if we will stress the right things. Maybe this was why the Epistle of James was Grandpa's favorite book among all of scripture.

"Pure religion and undefiled before the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."

James 1:27

Service is the very definition of pure religion.

Stress the right things.

Eye on the prize

I raked leaves today. Fortunately, I had some help. Melanie and Emily had scraped the leaves into massive piles in the back yard. So my lot was to dispose of those piles.

My thinking was that we need the mulch, and leaves will make the perfect humus, so I began combining the mounds and raking them toward the compost pile. Now, you're probably asking yourself "Why in the world is dad talking about raking leaves? Isn't there anything more interesting than that to write about?" And you would be right. It seems, at first, like a mundane subject, but read on. I began to realize that I could not move the massive pile in one group. Instead I raked individual portions of the pile to the compost and returned to repeat the process. 

At first, though it seemed like I was making little progress, I continued to return to the large pile and move it, piece by piece, to the destination of my choice. Sometimes I would try to rake too much at a time until I realized it was easier and more productive to be satisfied with my resolve so I would step back, take a manageable portion, and persist. Each time, though I saw little progress, I did see progress and that was enough motivation to continue. I thought of many things as I worked: the tons of leaves raked by my father down on the Castle Valley farm, and I wondered what a ton of dried, brittle leaves would look like. When I felt like quitting, I thought how fortunate I am to have a yard of leaves that I can rake and call my own and a home and family and abundance. My mind grasp the thought that these principles extend much further than my own yard or home. They apply to all of life.

Have you ever wondered while attending school "Is this really worth it? I have so much more to do and so little to show for my efforts." Thousands of hours and still you're a long ways from graduation. Or perhaps you're missing a loved one or facing a challenging obstacle in life and your stamina confronting problems is wearing thin. Remember, progress may be slow and incomplete, but it is progress just the same and worth celebrating. So many never get the opportunity to attend high-quality schools like you do or enjoy loving family ties that are even worth missing. When the going gets rough, take a step back, regroup and move forward again and again and again, because the prize is not to the quickest, or the strongest, or the most graceful. The prize is for he that diligently endures to the end. Mosiah 4;7

I love King Benjamin's words, which are the words of Christ, beckoning us home and warning us of life's pitfalls.

We have so much to live for when we keep our eye on the prize.

Celebrate it.

The blessing of social media

I'm not deluded into thinking the subject of this blog doesn't present challenges and perhaps a paradox, as well.

But the improper use of the medium (eg wasting time, inappropriate content, et al) doesn't rightfully discount the tremendous possibility of value in the tool.

I had an interesting experience the other day I want to share with you. I received an email from UVU, and I opened it up just so the message would be marked as read and leave my inbox. I never intended to read it--I didn't think I had time. But upon viewing the message a concise 16-word greeting invited me to watch a brief 3-minute video. I decided I had time for that. Then fifteen minutes later after I shared its content with those that could benefit, I realized that the ease of social media got me to do exactly what was intended and everybody involved was enlightened. I love win-win situations!

The voice of the common man now stands or falls on its value to others. The mighty dollar is no longer necessary to promote your cause and your message, and this provides more access to see the good in the world.

A couple examples of how social media is changing the planet we live on: Think of the good that can come to purveyors and viewers of quality content. Literally, a universe of opportunity is available at our fingertips and our influence extends far beyond the confines of our home, office, or neighborhood. When I was employed by WordPerfect, I worked closely with Janina Sajka, the director of the American Foundation for the Blind. We setup a national beta testing group for people all over the country who were working in the labor force, teaching product benefits, and using our software to enlighten users and improve the world around them--oh, and did I mention, they were all blind, including Ms. Sajka. But with technology, screen readers, and the media miracle, they too could experience the world from the comfort of their offices.

Someday, it will seem ancient to have had to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars to get your voice out in your city or region to market you wares. Even now, a few articulate words and well-versed phrases or a video can spread your passions across the entire world; viral marketing can't be forced, but when it happens, nothing can stop it, and participants are lucky to ride the wave of acceptance.

Be wise and use this blessing for the good that it was intended.

Emi Yo Leke

Perhaps, I have found my new favorite song. It's difficult to pick just one.

How can you choose a favorite star in the heavens or single blossom from the garden?

Life hands us many challenges, but I have made up my mind that I will rise when faced with whatever obstacles confront me.

And in the midst of the trials that we face, I look with hope for the day when all our sorrows will be swallowed up in the great plan of happiness. Until then, the Savior, Jesus Christ is the anchor for my soul, and hope for that day is enough.

I suspect you, too, will feel this emotion every time you listen to the song below.

Enjoy!

Onward

A few weeks ago, I shared with you a story that my dad used to tell about a sailor who prayed every day, despite the ridicule he would receive from his shipmates. As a boy, he learned to kneel by his bed night and morning. So naturally when he joined the armed services, he continued this habit. In the heat of battle, he had already sought the guidance of his Father in Heaven, so he could continue on with confidence doing what was within his power to affect.

I love that story and remember it often when I am facing difficulty. Last week my top two job possibilities dropped off my list in the same day. Details aren't important, but the event could have been devastating.

Later I thought this is exactly the way Mitt Romney must have felt after the elections despite all that campaigning. Or perhaps our pioneer ancestors, who had to continue from city to city after rejection on their trek to a new home. I'm sure you can think of more examples.

Though in many ways my experience pales in comparison to these examples and perhaps the challenges you face, this obstacle is significant to me, just as your trials are significant to you.

I remember with fondness singing the primary song Called to Serve with my brothers and Grandpa Curtis at my mission farewell. It had an important message then, and it is still important today. Though our field of labor has changed, our goal to further the Lord's work and derive strength from our Source of power remains the same.

Especially amid hardship.

God our strength will be; Press forward ever, called to serve our King.

Our Great Day

When I was a child, I relied on the faith and support of my parents to guide and strengthen me amid challenges. Later, as I was confronted with obstacles of an impending nature, I realized my parents had equipped me with solutions to challenges and security in the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And now when I look back, I can clearly see the wisdom of choosing to follow their counsel and the prophetic words of our leaders. 

Today, we are confronted with obstacles unlike those we have heretofore had to face. But that, too, is fulfillment of prophecy. Can you begin to comprehend your important role in God's plan? Many look to you for strength, courage, and respite amid the difficulty of our day. For you are the generation that must be prepared to meet your God. He has arranged for you places of safety to usher in his Second Coming.

You are not alone. The Lord is mindful of your needs. As you rely on him and heed the words of his prophets, you will feel the tentacles of Divine Providence reaching out to you in your time of need. The Good Shepherd knows his sheep.

Of this you may feel assured. 

Mom and I went looking for a favorite picture by Simon Dewey recently. I have posted it on my blog. She also shared with me a wonderful video presentation of the crucial time in which we live and your important role in it. 

Enjoy!

Living Water

...whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. ~ John 4:14

It was at Jacob’s well, in the presence of a Samaritan woman, that Jesus chose to declare his Messiahship in one of the most tender and profound teaching moments in the New Testament. He could have delivered his message to a large multitude of learned and favored individuals. Yet he took time to meet quietly with this woman, who was in much need of the sweet forgiveness and hope that only one like unto God could have offered her. We do not know the duration of their discussion, but we can imagine that as light and comfort filled the woman’s heart, there was a well of water springing up within her unto everlasting life.
~ Simon Dewey

Video