GREAT QUOTE - THEODORE ROOSEVELT

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actuallly strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least [he] fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”

-Theodore Roosevelt, “Citizen in a Republic” (address delivered at the Sorbonne, Paris, France, Apr. 23, 1910), Presidential Addresses and State Papers and European Addresses, December 8, 1908, to June 7, 1910, vol. 8 of Presidential Addresses and State Papers, Homeward Bound ed. (1910), 2191.

FUTURE DENTAL CLINIC SITE

Someday I am going to build a dental clinic here. People will trade me coconuts, fresh mangoes, and roasted pig for fillings, crowns, and extractions. Afternoons you'll find me at the beach adding to my shell collection, snorkeling with my children that speak Tongan and climb coconut trees. Nights reading next to a smoking umu drinking fresh otai. Saturdays at Teufaiva Stadium, watching rugby, and eating peanuts. Long weekends I will visit Ha'apai and Vava'u with my beautiful wife. And on Sundays I'll rest and grow wise.

SAVING SOUTHERN CROSSES

Looking up at a foreign sky between palm leaves,
I find a closeness I didn't imagine here.
My world has not moved, but I have literally turned myself upside down.
And not see the stars on the opposite side.
I hear the flatness of an island surrounded by coral.
I taste the smoke of an umu and
fall in love with a lazy Tongan Sunday afternoon. 
I smell green everywhere and a constant mist of the blowholes.
The repetition of the waves will continue when I'm gone.
I hear church choirs sing in harmonies not written in the book.
I learn food lasts today only and people are worth more than things.
A mother pig walks across the road
as I'm dodging potholes, learning to drive on the other side.
My fears of the future are smashed between two rugby players and
drowned with loud laughter.
I find new freedom and direction
hitch-hiking in the back of old trucks,
feeling the wind and real life.
Staring at a perfect sunset I find my humanity:
hoping to keep a moment forever - I know won't last outside my head much longer.
I've climbed higher than a coconut tree
and seen the depths of the blue ocean.

THE HOLY GHOST

I have thought a lot lately about what a wonderful gift the Holy Ghost is in our lives. As we are worthy, obedient, and doing our best to keep the commandments and do our Father's will, we are promised that the Holy Ghost, a member of the Godhead, will be with us through all that we do. What a comfort it is to know that we will never be left alone. We will always have The Spirit with us to help us make decisions, protect us from danger, and comfort us. 

I have tried this Summer to focus more on truly listening to the Spirit, finding quiet time to think about what Heavenly Father would have me do, and responding to those promptings. I have learned that the Holy Ghost can be as much involved in our lives as we let Him. As we follow promptings to serve and to act, our confidence in the Spirit, as well as our own ability to receive personal revelation both grow and we are able to receive further instruction. Interestingly we also learn humility in learning our need for depending on the Spirit and seeking what The Lord would have us do - instead of our own desires. It is humblingly to know how big a part of our lives The God of all the Universe wants to be in our individual lives. I have a long ways to go with learning to recognize and following the Spirit, but I know what Sister Beck said last conference is true,“The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life.”

I'm grateful for the Gift of the Holy Ghost in my life and hope to show my gratitude by heading its promptings and learning to better receive and act on personal revelation.

For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter

in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all

things what ye should do. (2 Nephi 32:5)

Neither is man capable to make them known, for they

are only to be seen and understood by the power of the Holy

Spirit, which God bestows on those who love him, and purify

themselves before him. (Doctrine & Covenants 76:116)

For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit

of man which is in him? even so the things of God

knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2:11)

And whoso having faith you shall confirm in my church,

by the laying on of the hands, and I will bestow the gift of

the Holy Ghost upon them. (Doctrine & Covenants 33:15)

EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE - JONATHAN SAFRAN FOER

learning to face Truth

growing up

the inability of people to communicate

the desire we have as human beings to be more than physically close to others

the power of curiosity

the inexaustability of inventive thinking

cataloging of events and individuals

the problem of disconnect in family relationships

questions of emotions

the use of paper and writing to express ourselves

doing things backwards

what it means to be safe

wishing you could change the past

BELIEVE - JEFFERY R. HOLLAND

God is anxiously waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams, just as He always has. But He can't if you don't pray, and He can't if you don't dream. In short, He can't if you don't believe.

-Jeffery R. Holland

THE MAN I WANT TO BECOME

In President Hinckley's book Way to Be, he says that we all need to find quiet time to ponder and think. He says that we should spend time thinking about the man or woman that we want to become. That is something that I have been thinking about lately. What do I really want to become in life? Not what others want me to do, not what I have been told to do, but what do I really want to become?

I want to live a life of service, looking for those in need and those that are struggling with real challenges in life.

I want to become a father; I want to get married and have a family.

I want to spend time in my life pondering and reading the word of God, and other good books.

If people were to describe me in one word, I would hope they would say I was Kind.

I want to develop true Charity in my life.

I want to create and enjoy good music.

I want to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with those around me and not be afraid to stand up for what I know is true.

I want to attend the temple often and have the Spirit actively guiding me in my life.

I want to learn to better recognize and receive personal revelation.

I want to have a successful career where I am able to interact with many people, and make a difference in their lives. I want to provide for my family.

I want to keep in contact with friends.

I want to spend time in the outdoors and enjoy the beauty of the earth that the Lord has created for us.

I want to stay close to my family, create memories with them, and make sure they know that I love them.

I want to be a true friend.

I want to keep my life clean of the things of the world.

I want to keep the commandments and assist others in finding their way back to Heavenly Father.