Looking Past the Shattered Glass

They are free to choose...

2010-04-25T19:27:00.004-06:00

Over the last week or so, maybe the last two weeks or so, I've been studying a little about liberty and choice. It all got started with the new health care bill that the government has passed. Now whether this is constitutional or worthwhile or anything in that regard is really beside the point. It made me start thinking about liberty because of the restrictions on freedom that it would necessarily imply by increasing the role of government in our lives. If anyone has any doubt about the importance of freedom they can have a look at the books of Moses, Abraham or Revelation. We had a war in heaven over that very idea, a war for agency, a war for the right to choose and not to be dictated to.

Similarly we had a war just over two-hundred years ago over the same things, many of you may remember it as the Revolutionary War. Our Founding Fathers wanted the freedom to choose, to do right by their neighbor or to leave him destitute. Their job was not to set up a moral code for the emerging nation but to allow them the choice to follow God or not, to be good or bad people, to work hard and prosper or to spend their days in idleness and to degenerate as a consequence. It didn't matter what they chose but that they could do so. As the prophets and apostles have taught us, this nation and more especially the Constitution was setup and inspired by the Lord to preserve freedom. That is what the Lord wanted for his people because, in this, they could exercise His greatest gift to them in this life; Agency.

As i have had the opportunity to study these last weeks i have been impressed by the emphasis that the scriptures place on choice. I've read lots of impressive things, several scriptures that talk of the importance of proper instruction and persuasion as a recipe for the making of good choices as well as the counter argument that no one should be forced to choose right. As i learned about the Lord's model of choice i also could see the opposite, Satan's plan for us. It is clear in the scriptures that just as the Lord will never force us to do anything, in defense of our agency and freedom, Satan seeks to dictate to us, to lock us into addiction, to give us oppressive and invasive influences in our lives. He wants nothing more than to force us to do anything. It isn't always that he would force us to do the most evil thing possible at any given time but the simple act of removing our agency, our freedom to choose, would be enough to foil our role in the Father's plan and more specifically to restrict and put in bondage the great and noble ones that were so independent and powerful in the pre-earth life.

Today i had the opportunity to study extensively 2 Nephi 2:27. It's almost as well know to the members of the church as 1 Nephi 3:7 but today it took on new meaning:

"Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great mediator of all men; or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself."

There are several things that i would like to point out, but first i need to make the disclaimer that i am in no way expressing the "absolute" interpretation of this verse or even the necessary views of the church but what as been impressed upon my mind as i read.

First we know that men are free, but only free according to the flesh. We've often heard it said that we are free to choose but not to choose the consequences of those choices. I think it is a little cliche because i have always thought that the consequences should be taken into account as part of the choice but it is true nonetheless. I believe that this is what this line is referring to when it says that we are "free according to the flesh"; we have no freedom of consequence.

Next it begins to point out the choice, essentially Liberty or Captivity, both provided by different authors. I think that it is important that the word "or" is include because we must understand that there is no middle ground, we must choose one or the other. The choice is between discipline, that begets liberty and freedom, and instant gratification, which begets addiction and captivity.

Note: When it says that Satan seeks to make us miserable like unto him i think, too often, we assume that it is referring to the choices we make while in captivity that make us miserable and while i believe that to be part of it i would also submit that the very act of being without a choice is what makes us miserable. Addiction and captivity, because they clash so sharply with the freedom inherent in our spirits, will not allow us to be happy. It put a whole new spin on the idea of existing that we might have joy.

Now, the grand question, where am i going with all of this? Partly i wrote this for myself; to express it imprints it more firmly on my mind. The other part is because of the abject fear i feel when i think of where our nation is headed. If we go down this road it will only lead to the entrapment and imprisonment in the ignominious bondage of our eternal and majestic souls. The choice is our to make for now, but in all honesty, if Satan can't get us with an addiction, he'll do it through entitlements, "free" health care (i know it's not free but there are many who think that it will be), redistribution of wealth, government welfare and any other handout that the government or man can think up.

Our Founding Fathers fought and many died to make us free, the battle between the anti-federalist and federalists over the Constitution begged the same question. History many times glorifies the anti-federalists for their desire to maintain a smaller government. These same historians turn around and say that the government must assert itself ever more to take care of all the citizens of the country. Even the Federalists who sought for a larger and stronger central government in their day would be appalled at the misuse of that idea. Government was never meant to "take care" of everyone but to preserve the freedom to allow the people to take care of themselves and each other.

I guess the basic idea i want to get across is that all of us have already fought a war to preserve our agency and the fathers of this country did it again in this life. We can't afford to allow all the sacrifices made in those wars be in vain. It has been foretold that the Constitution would hang by a thread. It would seem that that day is upon us.

I didn't MEAN to...

2010-02-05T00:28:00.003-07:00

You know the tragedy of that phrase is that it is supposed to make everything that happened un-happen, it's supposed to make it all better despite the obvious fact that it doesn't.

We act as if by saying that if the act performed, words spoken, or hurt given, wasn't "intended" then it is less real of a hurt or simply a more cope-able pain. The fact is that it doesn't. I know this sounds immature and i can feel the "mature" side of me saying, "Karl, you don't want to write this, it doesn't help anything," but i think i must beg to differ. Somethings are simply better when you get them off your chest.

The only consolation of the "I didn't meant to..." phrase is that it does in fact make it much easier to forgive and forget but it still leaves you with "Pain, lots of pain."

A Special Need

2010-01-31T19:00:00.003-07:00

I don't know how much i want to say in this post because the experience that is involved was singular in my life and extremely special to me. I don't know if i will ever forget it.

At work yesterday i arrived almost simultaneous with a group of the likes i had never seen. I got clocked in and came back out to the front to see a group of approx. 15 severely handicapped youth, probably all between the ages of 12 and 18 though i can't be sure. All i could think at first was that i didn't want to be caught gawking, so i went about my business treating them like any other table in the restaurant. In time though i couldn't help but notice certain things, acts of such selflessness that i was shocked. There was a teacher with them and three or four techs. I never did glean what they were doing there on a Saturday since i knew for a fact that they were all members of the same class or than it was a "special day" but i guess the reason they came wasn't really important.

After about 30 min or so i took the opportunity to ask the teacher a few questions (that's how i found out that some of the kids were techs, there to help the teacher with the group). She simply explained who she was and we chatted a little about the group. She seemed so happy.

Getting to the point as i watched them subtly for the hour or so that they were there the teacher never sat, she didn't eat, she simply went around helping her kids. She looked out for them, showed them that she loved them through conversation, attention and the help she gave. Despite the obvious discomfort throughout the whole meal she never stopped smiling and laughing, she was just SO passionate about what she was doing. As i watched how the kids looked at her i could see how much they loved her in return and i was suddenly struck by the majesty of it all. Here she was on a day she had off, she didn't have to be with her kids on a Saturday but chose to. I have spent some time over the last two days really considering what i saw and maybe more importantly the need that exists in the world; a special need for special children.

Obviously there have been some changes in my life as of late that have made me a little more aware of situations like these, that have made me pay more attention to the issue at hand, but point is the need is real. I am so grateful for those educators that take on this task because, though different, there can be no doubt in my mind that this is at least a slightly harder position to hold as an educator, and truthfully the power of all of this was not the act of an educator of but one who was willing to love unconditionally. It all seemed to surreal and yet so wonderful. Like I've said, i don't know if i will ever forget it.

Just a Little Chat

2010-01-28T23:25:00.004-07:00

Today i had a talk with my Mom about one of the most stressful things that i have ever encountered in my life and i was delighted to see the effect the conversation had on me.

First off i just have to say how grateful i am for my relationship with my mom. I know not all people feel this way and certainly not all guys but i can and usually do talk to my mom about everything. Life in general, accomplishments, mistakes, stresses, the gospel, you name it. We can talk about everything and it has been a constant source of wisdom and guidance throughout my life.

So after talking to my mom about all this stuff and what i thought about it and what she thought and her telling me that this difficult circumstance was "exactly what i needed" i was shocked and pleased to find that for the most part the stress had been lifted. Obviously the situation was still very really and difficult but i had a new perspective on it, i was able to have some hope regarding the whole thing rather than seeing it as a lost cause (which in and of itself is so unlike me).

Sometimes i guess we just need to talk things out as people. We need to opportunity to bounce ideas off of somebody and all the better if that person is wise. It's surprising what a little chat can do for you.

That Which We Cannot Have

2010-01-25T23:07:00.006-07:00

It seems a peculiar quality in us humans that we always seem to want either that which we cannot have or do not deserve. I've even found this same condition in myself. I am inclined to view this as a problem, a flaw in human nature but i have decided against it because in all truthfulness i am not qualified to decide what is and is not good or praise-worthy about the innate human condition.

Now that being said this post may be a little to emotionally revealing for some of you who may be reading so if you are easily unnerved or "creeped-out" i would suggest turning away...or at least navigating away from this page.

There is someone that i believe is exceptional, someone who means a great deal to me that just recently came into my life. Well that statement isn't completely accurate. She came into my life some time ago but we had been out of contact for years. Now to be honest i didn't think much of her when i first met her, in fact, though her personality was intriguing i was to shallow to see who she was and was only interested because she seemed to be so taken with me. I regret that now but really it wasn't the time and certainly there was not place for any legitimate "romantic" hopes so could i go back, i don't know that i would do anything differently...i digress.

As i had the opportunity at the beginning of this month to get to know her again i quickly realized two things, one that she was far too good for me, someone i could never have or even deserve, and second that i was falling for her. She seemed to be everything i would ever want which was such a paradox to me, knowing as i did, that i could never merit such a person. Now just to be clear i don't want you to think that i am simply putting on a face of false humility or being self-deprecating, that just isn't me...frankly i love myself too much. The point is that i could espouse to you the many qualities that make her so great but in a very real sense it would be a great disrespectful to her to give such information without proper consent.

So anyway in accordance with societal customs i asked her out on a date and she said yes. So we went out, it was something simple but it was such a great date. Now i don't know how much she enjoyed it but it really was the best date i have had post-mission. Now to all those who know me, they know that i take disappointment in stride and really nothing can get me down. I would say that it is because i don't care enough about things in life, i put very few things as a priority above my own happiness. My mother would say it is just my carefree nature...regardless of the cause i was surprised by my reaction to the succeeding events.

As happy and blissful as i felt the night of the date and during the following day, it was just a mirror image of how i felt come Sunday. Now in her defense she has been nothing but kind, genuine, civil, honest, and direct with me (you would expect no less from someone like her) but of course i felt very differently about things than she did...

The inspiration for writing all of this came tonight as i thought back on it all, still feeling very much the same (not sad, i mean feeling the same about her), and worst knowing that she feels the same as she did as well. I realized that nothing i do, no matter how creative or "cute", or impressive will ever change her mind. Only her choice and her feelings will be able to achieve that...and so i have come full circle. It is the sad state of the Human Condition that we want what we can't have. We seek what we think we most want only to be denied it when it is found. This may be a little melodramatic but the feelings are real.

I haven't lost all hope, despite the appearance this post portrays. I am a little worried that if she were to stumble upon this blog she would immediately abandon any small interest she may still have in me but i needed this opportunity to put my thoughts down somewhere, to write. There is power in the writing, i just hope there is enough.

The 9th Branch

2010-01-24T22:22:00.003-07:00

Today was an interesting Sunday for me. It was the first Sunday back to my singles branch in nearly two months, having spent the last 8 or so Sundays at the wards of family members or at homecomings or farewells of friends. I'll admit that i was even a little nervous to be going back the the 9th Branch after so long, nervous about how I'd feel and just what would be the general response. Much to my surprise and joy i found that i felt a sense of belonging that was inexplicable. That'd be why i can't explain it.

To truly understand why this was such a surprise and a big deal I'll have to go back a ways: When i first got home from my mission i was asked by my new Stake President to attend the Singles Branch here in the stake. He said that it would be a great opportunity to strengthen the stake and help out others that had recently returned from their missions. I of course agreed to go and go i did...for about 2 weeks. My friend Chase got home soon after and i began attending a singles ward in T-ville where he lives and i lived. It was great and i really enjoyed it there, in a way it was like a mini high school reunion. Of course all of that changed when after a few more weeks i needed to renew my Temple Recommend.

I went and saw my family ward Bishop and had my interview then went to the Stake Presidents office. He took one look at the new recommend and nailed me. He asked my why i wasn't attending the singles branch and lovingly corrected and properly chastised me. It hurt at the time but i really can't complain, it was necessary. He recommitted me to go to the singles branch making it very clear to me that i didn't have to attend and that i had my agency (a sure way to make anyone feel guilty whether you want to or not. So feeling a little ashamed i repented and began attending the singles branch. It was fine, i have no complaints and i have met some great people but i didn't feel "so" good about it...until today that is.

Today was just an all around strangely wonderful day. I feel like my head all of the sudden is on straight. The spirit was felt, revelation received and it was just great. The disturbing thing though was that i felt almost attacked in someways. I came to realize that what i was doing, which by no means was bad, wasn't what I'm supposed to be doing. It's funny how it works, funny how it feels.

All i know is that there are certain capabilities, spiritual gifts that we are given, opportunities that we have. With those in union we are expected to achieve certain things, and not just for ourselves or even our families but for the nation as a whole. I've been thinking a lot about the mysteriously elusive citation that we hear all of the time in the church that designates the "Elders of Zion" as the rescuing force when the "Constitution hangs by a thread". In my mind there can be nothing more terrifying than the thought that Constitution will be in peril and more and more it seems like that days is approaching quickly.

I don't know what I've gotten myself off on now but i do know that this country is of the utmost worth and that with the privilege of living here and of having these rights comes certain inescapable responsibilities: "Where much is given much is required."

Anyway i guess in closing i am just really grateful for the 9th Branch and the spirit of belonging and of peace that seems to be part of the very air you breath there. Just another one of those tender mercies.

Curve Balls: You don't see 'em 'till you do

2010-01-17T10:54:00.003-07:00

It's amazing what you realize, what you learn when things are so polarized. Unfamiliar experiences have so much to offer, they shock you into a new view on life. Just a couple weeks ago, okay maybe not weeks, a month or so ago, my grandmother that lives with us had a stroke. It was a different experience, especially seeing it happen right in front of me. It made me think of what she used to say so often: "I've been short of breath lately, my doctor says that it could be a problem with my heart but i don't see how that could be, I've never had heart problems before."

It seems so silly for her to maintain that outlook on life because of course the first time you have a problem it is just that, the first time. We don't usually have a warning of things to come, we aren't told, "Hey by the way, tomorrow at 6:32 pm there's going to be a new trial coming your way, something life changing and very difficult, here's you fair warning." Though nice, it isn't feasible nor does it quite jive with the eternal necessity of the Plan.

Lately I've given some serious thought to the to this idea. Last Monday something happened to me that i perceive to be genuinely life changing. It was certainly a curve ball, something i certainly never would have seen coming and if you had asked me a week ago, i would have said that i would hate for it to happen. (Again an interesting point, another reason the Lord can't tell us when he's about to do something) As it is now, though it has been painful it would seem that it will continue to be painful, i am extremely grateful for the happening.

Sometimes it just bazaar how things can change so fast, change without warning, and in ways that you yourself wouldn't have picked or even thought wise. This is the strangest feeling i have ever felt, and not a pleasant one, yet...i wouldn't trade it away, i wouldn't wish it away.

Well now, i'm just rambling but maybe in the future i can be more straight forward about all of this but i guess for now this will have to do.

Un Paso Mas Cerca a Entender la Vida

2009-11-18T20:08:00.006-07:00

Hoy ha sido un dia muy difícil para mi, pero también me ha dado una oportunidad única de reflexionar no solo en mi vida sino también en el significado de "la vida."

Por dos anos tuve la oportunidad de ensenar "El Plan de Salvación" a muchísimas personas que ni siquiera habían escuchado de ello. Y confieso que yo no sabia mucho en cuanto a este plan, por supuesto sabia lo básico, entendía que Dios si tiene un plan para mi y para todos pero si alguien me hubiera preguntado, "Cual es el propósito de la vida?" no habría sabido que decir. Asi que me puse a estudiar en ese tiempo a fin de encontrar la respuesta a esta pregunta. Llegue a la conclusión de que hay 3 propósitos es decir 3 razones por las cuales estamos aquí. Ahora, por supuesto otros me ayudaron a llegar a entender estas cosas, no fue un proyecto de uno, pero llegue a estos tres principios. Estamos aquí para:

1. Obtener un cuerpo

2. Ser felices

3. Ser probados.

En esta oportunidad no quiero hablar de los tres pero mas específicamente del primero con algunas referencias al tercero.

Hoy dia, al contemplar muchas cosas me di cuenta de que no es suficiente el simple "obtener" un cuerpo sino que el cuerpo es un instrumento en ayudarnos a ser probados. Ves que no es que una vez que tengamos un cuerpo ya acabo todo sino que tenemos que llegar al punto en que dominamos, aun superamos, el cuerpo.

Entendemos de la doctrina de la iglesia y del testimonio del espíritu a nuestro espíritu que somos hijos espirituales de Dios y que antes de esta vida estuvimos en calidad de espíritu, sin cuerpos físicos. Parte de este tiempo de probación es el aprender a manejar y a subyugar el cuerpo; no tuvimos experiencia con eso antes, fue algo nuevo para nosotros al nacer. En esta vida aprendimos que el cuerpo tiene necesidad de muchas cosas, de comida, de agua, de aire, de protección y amparo, y también de amor.

Al comprender eso hacemos lo que podamos para satisfacer estas necesidades pero el Senior nos avisa de los peligros del exceso concerniente a cualquiera de esas necesidades. Me parece que todo pecado viene como resultado de no subyugar el cuerpo con el espíritu. La pereza, la glotonería (o gula), la fornicación, la envidia, la codicia, y la lujuria. Somos mejores que estos deseos carnales pero debemos aprender a trabajar en unión con los cuerpos que son tan importantes para nuestro progreso eterno.

Ayudara eso a alguien? Quien sabe? Pero necesitaba escribirlo. Todo virtud proviene del control corporal tanto como todo vicio proviene de la falta de ello. Que tengas una buena noche!

The Miller Family #1

2009-07-19T18:52:00.007-06:00

These are a few paragraphs from a book i am in the process of writing, in fact they are the first few paragraphs. Enjoy!

Dear Reader,
I wish I could tell you that what you are about to read is not something that will impact your life, change it for the better or even be exciting but the truth of the matter is that I am writing this more for posterity than for anything else.
My name is Jonathan Miller, and with a name like Jon Miller how could you expect anything but the most mundane, the most common-place. If in fact you were to ask anyone who knows the Miller Family here in Salt Lake City I am positive that they wouldn't tell you anything but how common and normal we really are. I would even go so far as to say that the only uncommon thing about our family would be our average height.
My dad Neil is 6' 3" and my mom Elizabeth is 6' 2". As far as my father goes his height isn't anything extraordinary but you would be surprised by the responses I get when my friends see my mom. Thinks like "Dude, your mom is so tall!" or "Does it ever hurt your neck to look up at her?" or my personal favorite "Your mom makes my mom look like a midget." Needless to say the ol' "My mom can beat up your mom" arguments ended early in my life. Now with parents like that how were we supposed to turn out as their children? I'll tell you how we turned out, Tall. We had no choice in the matter but I guess as the age old adage goes, that's life...its stupid and unfair but its life. Yeah, apart from the height we were the average family here in Salt Lake City, Utah and at 13 years old I hated nothing more.
Now don't get me wrong I loved my family, still do but as a newly full-fledged teenager, complete with all of the wisdom and social prestige, I could think of nothing more than of being someone, of doing something great and I couldn't see how being a Miller was going to get me there. Well all that changed at the end of my 7th grade year -- but before we get to that let's play a little "Meet the Millers" (yeah i always liked that alliteration). Let's go oldest to youngest, it will make more sense that way.

Neil James Miller II - My dad was named for his father before him and even though he never included the "II" I prefer it, it sounds royal, or at least important. He works as a structural engineer for "Williams Enterprises" (yeah they don't have that good of a last name either). He loves his work but the true love of his life is my mom and the thing he is most passionate about is making her happy. He would change the world itself for her, her wish is most literally his command.
Like I mentioned before he is 6' 3" and if you asked my mom he is the most handsome man on the planet. I guess he's alright. He has light brown hair that he has always parted to the left since the beginning of time (I think they called that the 50's). He played basketball in college, i think it was called "the good ol' days" (at least that is what he always calls it) and he would love nothing more than to see his sons do the same.

Elizabeth Richardson Miller - Mom comes from another long line of boringly normal people as well. Possibly the most interesting thing about her and her parents is that while they lived in South America (I am pretty sure that is just south-east of Georgia) for three years they had my mom, so everyone things she speaks Spanish's. How's that for an ice-breaker at a party?
My mom is a nurse at a nearby hospital and she loves it. Like i have said she is tall, maybe too tall for a girl but it doesn't seem to bother her so i try no to let it bother me. Like my dad, her profession or the money she makes has never been that important. The reoccurring theme of our family has been just that, Family. She cherishes nothing more than to spend time with her children. It seems like a waste to me because when has anyone become famous or been important at all by spending their free time with their kids? Anyway the point is that she seems to love us a lot and honestly it is almost uncanny how when she is around it seems that nothing in the world could go wrong.

Idleness

2007-01-13T20:49:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

It has been a month to the day since I last got on to post. Due to the inability to get on to my new beta account and because I haven't had any real thought provoking moments (I know appalling!)

But now I am back and lately I have spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to figure out what motivates me, what drives me and why I like to just sit around so much.

Now I don't want you to think that I don't like life or that I just sit in a depressed stupor all day but I must admit the thought of work makes me feel not so good.

With a mission less than three months away I see this as a serious problem and as of yet I have found nothing to remedy the problem.

If any of you understand the color code I am a Yellow, and for those of you who don't understand that means that I am spontaneously fun and that I would rather play than do anything...all of you who know me know that this is more than true.

So as I was saying, I just cant find anything to really drive me, even the gospel. Now I haven't stopped doing what I am supposed to be doing but I just don't feel this great drive to be great or to be the best or even compete for that matter.

Anytime something comes up that I will have to work for it all of a sudden becomes not so important.

I just had an epiphany as a I was looking through an old Seminary folder, GOALS!!

This is going to end abruptly but I just figured it out...over and out.

Over the Top

2006-12-13T01:20:00.000-07:00

It is 1:20 am and I am still awake. I could give you at least ten reasons for this but really, what good would that do. I am awake because I am not a sleep.

I finally finished editing my blog after upgrading it to Beta.

I like it. I like it a lot. It is a lot easier this way, and much more concise. I feel like I have accomplished something, like my lack of sleep wasn't wasted and that I am now better equipped to express myself and to change the world, one post at a time.

While reading Jaron's blog today I realized what I am missing in my life. Now it wasn't necessarily anything that was said per say but the message was sent none the less. Since being out of High School I feel like I have made some major strides in my life but over the last two months I have seen a drop of productivity in almost every facet of my life, most especially in the development of ideas.

Now other people shouldn't be the reason you think but they can sure cause some powerful thoughts. I realized that I don't interact with people enough to get my mind going. I have no one to challenge my ideas or to offer their own, all I have is the same thoughts spinning around in a place that has been polished and shaped to fit them. There are not figurative stalactite or stalagmites that would change the course of my thought-breeze.

It lends credence to the theory that opposition strengthens us and makes us better. If we never had anything to oppose us or to challenge the validity of our thoughts or beliefs these same thoughts and beliefs would have no form or direction. Whatever we thought couldn't be right because there was no wrong. It couldn't be truth because there was no false.

My Point: I haven't had the blessing of someone to change the course of my thoughts so they have moved in endless circles and nothing remotely profound or worthwhile has been or could be produced.

The Solution: The only way to fix the staleness in my mind is to let a new breeze blow through. I need to be around people, and not just my family, even though they are exceedingly wonderful. I need to start spending time with the outside world and spend less time in front of screens of any type.

If everyone thought about time as an asset, as a commodity we wouldn't be so frivolous in how we spend it. I think I will address that in a different post. As for right now that is all.

In Summary: Opposition enables growth, embrace it! This beta set up it going to be pretty sweet, I am really excited. Time is precious, look for more on that in a future post. Last but not least, Bravo for friends and blogging.

Fulfilling the Founding

2006-12-11T15:42:00.000-07:00

So I gotta admit, I'm a movie junky. I love movies! Anyone who has spent more than ten minutes with me or anyone in my family knows how much we quote movies. They are part of are lives. We not only get 43.2 percent of our vocabulary from them but I would say we draw a fair amount of inspiration from them as well.

The point is that I spent three hours today watching "Brave Heart." (don't worry, it was edited) It was a great movie. I don't want to ruin for anyone so essentially it is about the Scottish Rebellion and there war for independence with England. The main character is William Wallace, a commoner who believed enough in his people and in his homeland to fight for their collective freedom.

Now I am sure that sounds cheesy but it is a great movie. What i learned from it though is what I thought I would share. It made make reflect a little bit on our freedom. Now not to get all historical, or Red-white-and blue on you but it really is an item of serious concern.

I think that with all of the things that are going on and do go on in our current government we lose sight of what it is really about. We have had the opportunity to be born in a nation that guarantees us rights just for being human beings, and whether we choose to believe it or not, it was a government established from a Constitution that was written by men inspired of God.

The Lord obviously has some kind of vested interest in this land that he would take care of it so well and would inspire men write the governing document according to His dictates. So what am trying to get across through all of this?

We should be thankful for what we have. We should be grateful that we have rights as simple as our freedom to express our views on blogs.

We should show our thanks by being good citizens. It is the simple things that make the difference, voting, understanding who it is that you are voting for and what they stand for.

Obeying the laws and upholding truth, and then later in life, teaching your children to do the same by word and deed.

That was my thought. We have something precious, and we live in a land choice about all the lands in the world, the scriptures say so. So lets do something about it.

To Peru...And Beyond!!

2006-11-28T20:21:00.000-07:00

It certainly has been too long since I posted last but this promises to be an interesting one, at least for me. This last Wednesday I received my mission call. I had been hoping it would come on Wednesday so I could open it with everyone in my family on Thanksgiving but I wasn't about to let myself hope it would actually come...but it did!

That evening I opened it with my family and to my shock and utter delight I have been called to serve in the Peru Lima Central Mission. I leave March 21st and will train in the MTC for 3 weeks then I will go to the Peru MTC for the final 6 weeks of my training. I am very excited to have the opportunity not only to serve but too preach the Gospel in Spanish.

Ever since I was a little boy (i know that is hard to imagine now that I am 6'7" but I really was little once) I have wanted and felt that I would serve in Latin America. Granted Peru NEVER even crossed my mind but I have felt an affinity to that area of the world.

So the moral of the story? Serve a mission. The preparation alone will change your life, and there is nothing that i have experienced that is more exciting than the thought of serving in a foreign country for two years. I am excited, if you boys (and those special girls) aren't excited yet, start now. You wont regret it!!

And the Winner is...

2006-11-13T22:36:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my first ever Choir of the Night Award. I will start by describing the competition and then the resulting reward. Following this I will present the runner-up and Winner. (Grand Champion if you will) So after attending the Taylorsville Choir Concert tonight and actually watching from the audience for the first time in four years, I have hand selected two choirs to take home these awards tonight based on varies things. I will expound when I select the winners.

RUNNER-UP: Madrigals
Tonight the Madrigals were simply stunning, and not just with there high percentage of attractive young ladies. There Jazzy sound took the auditorium by storm. There first song, taken from Robert Frost's poem, Two Roads was a shimmering work that truly emphasized there unity and blending. All things accounted for the sound was very impressive. There next two pieces on the other hand expressed their true style, that of Jazz. There dissonant chords and sweet harmonies secured them the runner-up position with no contestation.

GRAND CHAMPION: Jr. Choir
The Jr. Choir came out like a lion! With a triple spiritual assault they were able to leave the audience in the same state that Ammon left King Lamoni in. Out COLD! Or it could be compared to when the spirit carried Nephi away into an exceedingly high mountain. Take your pick. The point is not only was Junior Choir the best sounding, it was the most surprising. Jr. Choirs just don't sound like that. Concert Choir sounded like a joke in comparison (not to dog on concert choir, they were really good, it is just the Junior Choir was better) and truly in comparison to last years groups of men's and women's choruses, it was huge difference. I should know I was in Men's Chorus last year, and I am so proud of my little Men. They were simply astounding tonight. You all brought that group together so well, you guys are growing up and your voices are maturing so well. Congrats on the wonderful result of so much hard work!

That is all we have time for tonight in this Awards Ceremony. Congratulations to Mads on a tremendous job and an even more deserved congratulations to the Jr. Choir on their History making upset.

I hope you all enjoyed that. All I said is the truth and can I just say wow. Thanks for allowing me to witness it. And as Molly says, "I say go for it? What can you lose? Your pride? Good." Madrigals is worth the risk, and I would submit that this will be one of the hardest years for "T" to decide because of sheer talent.

Good Luck to all who are willing to go out for it! Remember a turtle makes progress when it sticks its neck out.

Re-Culture America

2006-11-07T13:55:00.000-07:00

I am pulling out my soap box so everyone better buckle up tight. I have some things to say, some things that I have been thinking about today and I think are truths so I will share them with you all. I am really interested to see the comments on this one because it might go in a direction that I am not expecting. Enough digression, on to the meat of this post.

I wish I had some statistics on this but I guess they really aren't necessary. What creates culture? Are Americans a well cultured people? Now I'm not talking about diversity. We are all "cultured" if you are talking about exposure to diverse cultures. Now I wouldn't say diversity makes America great but I would say the fact that we are exposed to so many cultures is a plus. Here again, I digress.

Now are we really cultured? I was at the Taylorsville High School band and orchestra concert the other night and I thought, "This is of value. This exposure to classical type music is good for me. By spending time here I am becoming a cultured person." Funny how thoughts work sometimes. Then I thought about museums in Utah. When was the last time any one of has been to a museum not counting the ones on Temple Square?

I will be honest. The last time I went to a non-LDS museum was in 5th grade.

It is true.

I got thinking at this. Why haven't I gone to museums? Why don't I take those opportunities? Aside from the obvious reasons such as time restrictions from work and/or school, I could think of only one. I would rather do something else.

Now don't get me wrong, I love to learn in almost any situation. I even consider myself cultured. I know lots of things that I feel are important but then why would I be opposed to going to a museum?

Keep in mind, I'm not just talking about museums. I am talking about Opera, Symphonies, Musicals, Ballets, ect. I am not saying that I participate in these things because I am as guilty as the rest of the world, I simply don't make time to go to these "cultural" events.

So here in lies the problem, and I don't know that it should be remedied on a large scale, but with the advent of television and well technology in general we lose these things.

Now I don't want to come across as some weirdo that hates technology, and that if Thatcher saw he would say, "Look honey, a weirdo" to his imaginary gird friend. I don't think technology is bad in fact I like it, I am using it right now but I do that there is a problem in this world that we aren't willing to leave are houses and interact with the community around us because we are addicted to the stimulus that is coming, unfiltered through the cords in our walls.

This has probably been my most incoherent post yet but hey why fight that. I really should work on my organization of ideas but just wanted to get this idea out here. There are some things, and yes most of them have to do with music that should be apart of our lives. I know that they seem/are boring, but I wonder what that says about me that I think these activities are boring. A self-evaluation is in order and I am sure forth coming with all of this.

So in closing: Lets support the arts, bring back things like the Hansen Planetarium, and re-culture America. No more watching 1/4 dressed pop singers on TV. Lets get America away from that and focused on things that will help us become better.

Misc.

2006-11-06T20:55:00.000-07:00

I have several unrelated items I want to post tonight. Not that they aren't related to me so much as they aren't really related to each other. The first will be the long a waited post about my good friend Nick Morandi. Second will be the importance and the value of good music. Last but not lease will be girls.

So if you are an avid reader of my blog...or if you just caught my first blog you will notice a thanks went out to Nick Morandi for humbling me in Ultimate. I think it is probably wise to expound on this subject so here it comes. Last year when the year was winding down a lot of Ultimate was being played. It was the first time that I had played with that specific group, and the only people I really knew were Kyle and Brad. I had heard of Thatcher and I knew a few others by reputation but over all that was it. I had only heard a few things about Nick Morandi. I knew that he was well liked and I had only heard good things but like most people, I felt that of course he would be inferior to me when it came to ultimate. Yeah, I know I was a cocky jerk last year. I had only played backyard and pick up Ultimate, I had certainly never played with the caliber of Ultim-ites that I had the privilege to play with that day. So I was humbled in general but then one time I went to receive the disk and Nick shut down somethin' fierce. He caught the Frisbee and then made a great pass with me guarding him. So then I ran down field guarding him and he still caught the disk again and scored!! I couldn't believe it. I had been royally shown up by a Sophomore! I definitely was shocked. Not only did I gain respect for good ole' Nick Morandi but I was also humbled quite a bit. I think that this helped me start to get rid of my own bigotry and pride/vanity. So thanks again Nick. :)

Tonight I had the honor of going to the Concert Band and Orchestra concert. It was pretty sweet. I have General Authorities to back me up on this one but I think there is an amazing spirit that comes with Instrumental music. I think that all though I am sure choirs will be heavily prevalent in Heaven, I think the Lord has a special place in his heart for classical type music. Maybe that is just me though.

Again, last but not least, girls. I don't know what it is about them. I know I have been taught that lesson about natural attraction in Sunday School about a hundred times but I still don't understand how I can shift my feelings so quickly. I like girls, then I don't, then I do, then I don't again. Why is that. I almost think it is the natural man battling with my spiritual parts. I don't now but I think there is something to be said for the feeling of mission prep. I feel I have more control and a better understanding of girls because of it. Preparing for a mission is the coolest ever! I encourage all LDS young men to pursue it and if you aren't LDS, convert and allow the Lord to work in you as you prepare to serve him. You will never regret it!

The "Civil" War

2006-11-06T16:06:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! I apologize for my absence from the "game" for an extended period of time. I have been busy and well to tell the truth was lacking in deep thoughts to write about. Granted blogging should be about more than deep thoughts. It is about thinking in general and thus I digress.

I was reading one of my history textbooks today and basking in the unadulterated knowledge as it permeated my mind and I had a thought. Not shocking in this regard because I often have thoughts while studying History. I was reading about the Civil War and the anti-black sentiment in North. Many refused to fight once they heard the Emancipation proclamation, especially among the lower class who would have to compete with Blacks for low paying jobs.

We think, oh well how silly and unjust, we might even think how "un-American", But think about it. We understand racism is bad, but why? I will answer, because we were taught that it was. I will even go so far as to say that there is a drive within all of us to be just and good. We are sons and daughters of a God. A God who is just and right and we came out of his presence more or less with those attributes. Our personality is a shadow of that. So if what I am saying about God and about ourselves, why is there injustice, racism and bigotry in the world? Because we have been taught.

Those Men in the south thought that they were fighting for the right cause every bit as much as those in the North did. They both had mothers and unlike our day, the vast majority had fathers as well. They were taught honor, courage, and to serve God and Country. They also were taught the inferiority of the Black man. They were TAUGHT this. It wasn't something they were born with. At age 1 they didn't think themselves better than those different then them. They wouldn't have even know the difference!

In the musical "South Pacific" there is a song that Joe Cable sings called, "You Have to be Carefully Taught." This is what I want to get at. There are few in this day and age who would openly denounce those of a different race as inferior but what are the crisis' of today that are facing us? I believe the largest threat to our country, larger than Terrorism, larger than Drugs, larger than Pornography, and yes larger than the Extreme-Left, is that of moral disintegration in the Home.

For you that are LDS, prophets have been talking about this for more than half a century, and for those of you who are not, you can see the effects of this moral degradation all around you. The problem with the world today on the largest scale starts in the smallest and most personal places.

For starters one can look at the divorce rate. I have so many friends who have parents that have split up. As a child I didn't understand why everyone seemed to be engaging in this practice. It seemed silly to me. Why would you get married if you weren't sure they were the right one? My parents never once talked of splitting up as long as I can remember. It was never an option to them. They had made a commitment and they were aware even in the hardest times that there was more than the hard times. Now I don't say this to say how silly all of those parents are who have gotten divorced. It isn't my place to judge or correct, but I can see the effects of broken homes on the world.

Who was the mother of these terrorists? Where are there fathers? Where they taught to love their neighbor and to share with those around them? Or were they taught in the education of the world. An eye for and eye, a tooth for a tooth. We are "justified in committing a little sin; yea lie a little, take advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is not harm in this; and do all these things..." Doesn't that sound like our day? There is no harm is speaking ill of others; in dragging others to their knees. To quote the late Elder Neal A. Maxwell, "In a society in which 'anything goes' its member will learn too late that everything goes." (Deseret Book; Maxwell, Neal A., "The Smallest Part" 1973)

I would submit that the reason terrorism is in the world is because of a failure in a home. The reason drugs are everywhere, the reason there is so much murder and immorality, so much poverty and selfishness, is because not that parents aren't in the home, but that the proper principles aren't taught. Perhaps it isn't my place but if I can use my small voice to affect even one life it will be far more than worth it.

I will admit that I have a probably impractical idea that I can effect change, effect change for good. I want to have influence, I will admit it but I can see that it will do me no good to have even the slightest influence if I can't help the world by having it. Perhaps I have a complex that ties me to the world, that I have hope that humanity isn't completely lost. I do have influence in this world no matter how small in my home, in my community. I don't know why I feel this so acutely and so strongly at this moment but I know it is right.

I guess my challenge to all of you with in the circle of my influence (not that you will all or even most of you will listen to me) that you would make an effort to be honest, to be kind, and to strengthen, not demean those around you. The Civil War ended almost 142 years ago (it will be 142 years next April) but the a new "Civil" war is now raging. The war in our homes that will ultimately affect the future of our country as well as that of world.

A Look Back...

2006-10-22T19:40:00.000-06:00

I don't know how many of you are finishing, or have finished your mission papers (my guess would be none) but let me tell you it is quite the experience. I am not the kind of person that gets stressed...not just stressed easily, I mean stressed at all. I consider myself in many respects simply apathetic. I don't really worry about things in life because I don't believe that worrying or stressing will fix it or even make it better, but over the last 2 months I have experienced this anxiety that is called stress.

I blame my mission, I blame college, and most of all I blame sleep. Thanks to this new found stress reliever known as blogging I have been able to dissipate much of those feelings. At this point even I feel like I am rambling. I will address these in an organized manner though.

I can not remember a time, barring the last six months, when I have not been excited to go on a mission, to learn a language and to serve the Lord. It has been something that I was not only taught but something I have wanted to do as well. I would spend many sleepless nights thinking about where I might go, which language I would learn, if any. Until Jr. High the bulk of my thoughts were on this important topic. I would try to do all I could to prepare, and so by 13 I had read the Book of Mormon through twice. Now I don't really know if that is unusual and I don't say it to boast or make myself look spiritual but for you to understand where I came from. I would continue in this kind of path and it would lead me to many wonderful experiences, experiences that I will never forget and would never want to trade away. The gospel is just like that. The economy of the gospel is sure and consistent. I realized as my mission came within the year mark that though I had been the "good" Mormon boy I was not prepared for the trail that would be my mission. I still am not sure if I am ready and now I feel like I am caught up in a 4 month cram session. I have to learn not spiritual self-reliance for that comes from the gospel but a person self-reliance that one must have in order to survive 2 years away from home. I want to gain all of the knowledge I can, feel the spirit everyday, and always wake up with a sincere prayer in my heart. These in my mind our worthwhile goals, goals that will get me where I want to go. I am feeling better already. The stress of the Mish-prep is real but worthwhile, it is kind of like spiritual adrenaline that gets you ready for the greatest experience of you life. So for all of you who haven't gotten here yet...get pumped!

Next is college. The only reason this is stressful to me is because though I am not the smartest kid in the world, high school was a breeze. I never studied for anything, most especially not for AP tests. I took 4 tests and I think that the total of study for all of them was 15 minutes. I just never had to study, school had never required it of me. I didn't get a 4.0 but I really didn't feel the need for one. I never got less than a 4 on my AP exams, and I felt like I was a pretty kick trash student. Now again I am not saying this to boast for of myself I am weak, but to help you understand my dilemma. I am in college and yet I still don't study and let me tell you studying in college is a must. So with a lack of studying skills and a lack of understanding when it comes to homework I have left myself in a lurch with no easy way out, I guess I will have to learn to work.

Last but certainly not least, there is sleep. My greatest enemy. There is nothing I want more but there is nothing that hampers my ability more. I crave sleep. I love the feeling of slipping into oblivion, of losing awareness and I love the "out of it" groggy feeling that comes upon awakening. At the same time there must also be opposition in all things. I always feel at my peak at night. I am awake, alert, my ideas are flowing, and I only want to do what is right and good. My prayers are always more sincere and the spirit seemed heightened. I love those 2 or 3 ours of complete control and repentance. They are best of the day. So then I top it all of with that slipping into oblivion with the satisfaction that I am "all good". When I awake the next morning all of that is gone. Sleep has robbed me of the feelings I had the night before and it makes me a different person with the dawning of a new day. I still don't really know what to do about this dilemma. Many nights have been spent wondering how I can avoid the personality amnesia that comes from sleep but to no avail.

There are few things better in this life and expressing than talking about what and how you feel. It changes you and clears your mind. Those are my grievances and those are the things that seem to be plaguing me but I am reminded of the words spoken to Joseph Smith. If ye shall endure it well all things shall work together for your good.

I know this sounds like a testimony meeting, and a bad one at that but I really and truly can not separate the gospel from my life nor would I. It is my life, it is who I am.

E-mails

2006-10-19T12:54:00.000-06:00

It has been a while since my last post, not to mention that my latest was far to serious for my taste. I won’t be doing that again for a while. It does make me wonder about myself, and about my approach to life. Am I really a serious person who acts flippant at times or a flippant person who acts serious at times? Although it may not seem desirable I have always been partial to the latter but with that last blog I begin to doubt myself. I am afraid that these will be the questions that haunt me the rest of my life...ok well maybe not the rest of my life, maybe not even the rest of the day. On second thought maybe I am just a logical person who doesn’t sweat the small stuff. Well in any case this is not the blog to take care of this important question. So just about 30 minutes ago I was driving home after my back to back History classes (which always seem to open my mind) and I was thinking, as I listened to the radio, about something that I have never thought about before. Yesterday a friend of mine, who I was talking to on Instant Messenger said, "Oh, I was just about to send you an E-mail." As I reflected on this sentence today I realized something.

I understand why the process is called e-mail (Electronic Mail hence E-mail) but why in heavens name would we say I was going to send you an e-mail? When I said non-electronic or tangible mail I say that I sent a letter, not I just sent you "a mail". These incongruencies (did you know that incongruencies is not a word, yet it means what is says, I feel like Carroll or Shakespeare right now) cause me to wonder. No wonder so many immigrants have trouble with our language not to mention the natural born citizens themselves. Is it understood that we are fostering a society that is corrupting it's own language?!? I think we must not be and except it were for the good saints of the English world like Ms. Parrish (for you that don’t know, she is an excellent English teacher where I went to High school) the future of the English language would be in dire straits, even the most immanent peril. She, with her English department colleagues, is nearly single handedly turning the tide on linguistic decay, and to think we don't appreciate the significance of what they are doing! I am planning to Blog about my English experience and Ms. Parrish at a later date but first I need to get her permission. If you long to sate this linguistic hunger you must wait until my future installment which will be entitle, “Ms. Parrish”…or something like that.

I digress. The point is that I have decided to make a stand and from now on I will be saying. "Oh, I was just about to send you an E-letter." Surely that is more correct! I know, I know. What a dumb thing to take a stand on, especially when I will sound silly while doing it, but if I don’t who will. Now does someone really need to take a stand on so “silly” a point? I think so. I for one will be firm in this arena. I will be found using E-letter in every situation that demands it.

I challenge all of you to stand with me, to fight this demon that threatens the beauty of a Language that brought us Shakespeare, Elliot, Thoreau, Seuss and many more! If we do not unite now on this hollowed yet public web page, all could be lost! I hope that all will see the wisdom of this argument and will join with me by turning the internet world upside down by using the word E-letter instead of E-mail when describing what is being sent. Flood cyberspace with it, make it the vernacular of the masses! Together we can and will be victorious!

The Stake Choir

2006-10-16T09:13:00.000-06:00

Before I get to the point of this blog I want to send out some wise counsel to all of you out there in cyber space. Don't get sick, and don't fall on your left knee in a parking lot. This might seem random to you but last night I was getting sick and I spent a night sweating my brains out despite the fact that I was freezing. It was certainly an experience to be remembered. Then this morning (still sick) I was awoken to my sister telling me that I needed to go to the gas station and give my Dad a jump. I went in my pajama pants that are beginning to not be pajama pants anymore and then the car would not be jumped. Little did we know the alternator and the battery are fine and the problem was the starter...go figure. So we decided to push the extremely heavy car into a parking stall, so that a tow truck could come get it. It is important to understand that I was not being my wisest self. I was wearing my brown dress shoes and I found as I pushed the car, they have zero traction on wet asphalt. I went down pretty hard on my left knee and found that my entire knee cap had begun to swell and it was completely black and blue. I tell you this not for your pity or for you to send your good vibes my way but to let you know that it is neither wise nor seemly to fall on your left knee in a parking lot.

Now to the main point. I have the opportunity to spend an hour to an hour and a half every week singing in Stake Choir. It is our Christmas Choir and I choose to do it every year, though at this point in the practices I don't know why. After being in Madrigals or any of "T"-Mamma's choirs it is somewhat of a let down to sing anywhere else. The quality of singing is not near as high, the speed at which the choir learns is drastically slower and the songs seem somewhat less than poetic. Though there is something to be said for a stake choir. I believe D&C 25:12 said it best. You can have the worst singers, singing trite and plain songs about Christ, but if there heart is in the right place, if they are thinking about our Lord and Savior they somehow find a new voice in that final performance.

The funny thing is that it shouldn't work. It is a classic argument. Do you let everyone sing? Even those that are tone deaf? Why cant we just get 8 very talented people and let them sing all of the songs? I am convinced that his approach would work. If you took the best 8 singers (1 for every part) and spent only 30 min a week learning the music you would have a better sound than if you simply allowed the masses to join and practice 3 hours a week.

You might ask why I am saying all of this; well the truth is more than anything to appreciate the opportunities to sing with the Saints. The reason we don't use the 8 voice system in the church is because quality doesn't matter. You might have a better sound with fewer more trained voices but the spirit would not be the same. There is something to be said of any large choir, but even more to be said of a group of saints gathering to sing praises to there God despite there weaknesses.

So that being said I guess all of the bad experiences that I have had with Stake Choir don't really matter. The voices that will never blend, those men who don't know how to use there falsetto, and the strange older gent who threw up in our performance last year not a foot from me. The smell wasn't that bad. I guess the point is just that things are not always meant to be perfect, just for the greater good. It is an opportunity to help those that don't know how to sing, learn to do it.

It reminds me of Ultimate. Those juniors at T-Ville could exclude those that aren't the best (like me) and just play games with the "elite" but for some reason they have decided not to exclude others from the joy but to share this wonderful thing with everyone. It is kind of like missionary work. It is something that has brought you joy, it is the good news so you want to share it with everyone you care about, and maybe those you don't so you can learn to care about them.

I think I have a bad habit of rambling, but the truth is that I kinda like it. This is me, the unedited, unabridged and uncensored edition. These are my thoughts and this is what I wanted to say. I might not be a good writer, some may think that I am frankly a bad and discursive writer but the important thing is that I got it all down. I was able to share my opinion and I didn't hold anything back, that to me is a victory in its own right.

Now that I have said that I have nothing more to express on this blog but thanks to all of you would make it worth while by reading it, even if you don't agree or don't like what I have written.

A Tribute...

2006-10-15T23:04:00.000-06:00

Hello everyone!
I really don't know who will be reading this but hey I just wanted to make sure that if you are reading it you feel loved, acknowledged, and appreciated. I have come to be a firm believer in appeasing the masses. I know I like being happy and I know that most people I know like to be happy so I will be happy to oblige.

This first blog is to be somewhat of a Tribute. I first found out about blogging lat summer. I had heard about it but I had no idea what it really was. So you can imagine my glee when my sister allowed me to read my first blog written by the infamous Christopher Thatcher. Those that know him or have read his blogs will understand where I am coming from. Not only is he hilarious but his command of the English language is astounding. Now I don't think he would want me to praise him too much so I must acknowledge that he isn't the most eloquent author nor does he use the fanciest words but he is a veritable master of making you emotionally volatile through his writings. You feel what he is feeling (or at least what I think he is feeling). You feel like you are watching a Star Wars episode only Luke is now Thatcher and you want to just scream "Go Thatcher Go!! Don't give in to the Dark side, beat that slacker in you!" Aside: If you couldn't tell this subject is very emotionally charged for me. The point I am really trying to get across is that Thatcher has been an inspiration to me not only in the field of sports (Ultimate and Cross Country) but in the world of Blogging. Thanks Thatch!

So that Thatcher doesn't feel singled out I will pick on my fellow lurp Kyle Klein. What more can be said than his height says for him? The kid is incredible! I had the opportunity to be in Men's Chorus with him last year and let me tell you what...WOW! I haven't know him all that long but through my sister Marissa Worsham (see, same last name) I have had the excuse to spend some quality time with him. I learned to see the true measure of his (6' 5") stature in choir but also on the Ultimate field. I was very impressed with his sincerity and easy-going nature. So I made an added effort to seek out opportunities to get to know him better. After becoming his friend (I like to think that he considers me to be his friend) I would talk to him when I got a chance and tried to see what made him tick. I actually got the most insight on this in his blogs which were not only spontaneously funny but also very Kyle. I will illustrate. Last night is actually what made me finally decide to get a blog account when I read Kyle's blog on the "good ole' days". I definitely believe that the Power Rangers need to make a old school come back but that isn't the point. He was able in a way that I have not seen elsewhere to express himself and to make a statement, that might have been ridiculed in the "real world", without reservation. Thanks lil "k"!

Those are my tributes. I would like to add a disclaimer that I am most definitely heterosexual, in case you were getting any ideas. Sorry guys, you are cool and all but girls are just cuter. I hope that Thatcher and Kyle wont be offended by this heart-felt blog, which I hope they read. It was not my intention to embarrass them but to thank them for their positive influence that they have had on me and to praise them in public. Well maybe my blog isn't that public but hey I am only one guy with limited voice.

Special thanks to: the afore mentioned Marissa for her mad spelling skills, Don Harsh for spiritual support, Mr. Spell-Check for capitalizing my "I's", my parents for giving me life, Joseph Smith for restoring the Gospel, President Hinckley for leading the church, Nick Morandi for humbling me in Ultimate (I will blog this later), and finally the two stars of my blog, Christopher J. Thatcher, and Kyle J. Klein.

That's all Folks!