No Coincidences

Category: Uncategorized

  • Best-Loved Stories of the LDS People Vol. 3

    Best-Loved Stories of the LDS People Vol. 3

    One of my favorite books from 2020 was Best-Loved Stories of the LDS People Vol. 3. I flew through this 539-page book. I was worried this book would be too similar to They Knew the Prophet when I began it. It actually had 10 or so of the same stories cited from that book that I noticed. It was infrequent enough that it was definitely a unique read.

    What I liked so much about this book is the stories were split into categories. Categories include Conversion, Faithfulness, Pioneers, and 19 others. For the rest of my life, when I’m giving a talk on a subject, I can turn to the Table of Contents of the book, look up a topic, and read uplifting stories on that subject. Prayer, for example, has over 20 pages, 14 stories that I can go to for inspiration. A description I read online reads:

    “Here’s an outstanding collection of all those inspiring stories from Church history that you’ve heard and wanted (but couldn’t find) for your class.”

    I know not everyone (or anyone) likes Church history quite like me, but if you do, you will love this book. If you’re a spiritual individual who believes in God, you’ll find many stories that really make you think. The book was filled with stories that I had never heard before. Many push the boundaries of what we think is possible. Stories of angels seen by normal people, visions experienced by everyday pioneers, and profound experiences fill this book.

    One story I enjoyed relates a man visited by a person long dead who was commissioned to bring someone to the other side to assist with a work.  The living man gave the dead man all the work he still felt he had to do on earth and the dead man moved to another candidate.  “Now, I name this to show a principle.  They have work on the other side of the [veil]; and they want men, and they call them.”

    I haven’t read any of the other books from the Best Loved Stories series. From what I gather, there are the Best-Loved Stories of the LDS People Vols 1-3, Best-Loved Poems of the LDS People, and Best-Loved Humor of the LDS People. At some point I may look into the rest of the series. If they’re anything like this one, they’ll be worth getting.

    I particularly enjoyed the beginning of the book. There’s something about starting a new book that is so exciting. Almost every story had me turning the page for a new one. I must have read the first 250 pages in the first two sittings.

    John Taylor

    To conclude, I’ll share part of one of my favorite stories, though it was difficult to just choose one.  It comes from one of my favorite categories:  Courage.  It is a story told by B. H. Roberts about John Taylor. John Taylor would later become the third prophet in this dispensation. After reading this story, it’s easy to see why.  B.H. Roberts tells about a time when John Taylor was in Columbus, Ohio to preach.  John Taylor was preparing to go when men of the town ran to the house he was at and informed him that a group from the crowd he was going to preach to were boasting that they would tar and feather him if he undertook to preach.  John Taylor decided to go.  After Elder Taylor had arrived to preach, the book reads:

    “A very large concourse of people had assembled to listen to him.  He began his remarks by informing them that he had lately come from Canada-a land under monarchical rule; that standing as he then did on free soil, among free men, he experienced peculiar sensations.

    John Taylor said, ‘Gentlemen, I now stand among men whose fathers fought and obtained one of the greatest blessings ever conferred upon the human family-the right to think, to speak, to write; the right to say who shall govern them, and the right to worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences-all of them sacred human rights, and now guaranteed by the American Constitution. I see around me the sons of those noble sires, who, rather than bow to the behest of a tyrant, pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honors to burst those fetters, enjoy freedom themselves, bequeath it to their posterity or die in the attempt.

    They nobly fought and nobly conquered; and now the cap of liberty is elevated on the tops of your liberty poles throughout the land, and the flag of freedom waves from Wisconsin to Louisiana-from Maine to Missouri. Not only so, but your vessels-foremost in the world-sail over oceans, seas, and bays; visiting every nation, and wherever those vessels go your flag flutters in the breeze, a hope Is inspired among the down-trodden millions, that they, perchance, if they cannot find liberty in their own land, may find it with you … Gentlemen, with your liberty is more than a name; it is incorporated in your system; it is proclaimed by your senators; thundered by your cannon; lisped by your infants; taught to your school-boys; it echoes from mountain to mountain; reverberates through your valleys, and is whispered by every breeze. Is it any wonder, gentlemen, under these circumstances-having lately emerged from a monarchical government, that I should experience peculiar sensations in rising to address you?

    But, by the by, I have been informed that you purpose to tar and feather me, for my religious opinions. Is this the boon you have inherited from your fathers? Is this the blessing they purchased with their dearest hearts’ blood-this your liberty? If so, you now have a victim, and we will have an offering to the goddess of liberty.” Here he tore open his vest and said: “Gentlemen, come on with your tar and feathers, your victim is ready; and ye shades of the venerable patriots, gaze upon the deeds of your degenerate sons! Come on, gentlemen! Come on, I say, I am ready!’

    No one moved, no one spoke. He stood there drawn to his full height, calm but defiant-the master of the situation.”

    John Taylor went on to preach for three hours.  This story concluded, “they had been awed into silence by the boldness of Elder Taylor.”

    In the time we live in I think this is a story of especial importance, which is why I shared it. More and more “religious” folks will have to be bold in our testimonies. More and more the freedom our ancestors died for is being attacked. Being bold and having courage will be of the utmost importance moving forward.

    I love this story and I loved this book.

  • Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures

    Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures

    We’ve been having a difficult time with Ivy’s sleeping the last couple weeks.  This morning I woke up and Beth was awake.  I asked if Ivy got up during the night.

    Beth laughed.

    Not a good sign.

    Beth said yes Ivy did get up during the night.  She said she was rocking Ivy and could tell that Ivy was not going to go back to sleep.  So she did something drastic.

    Warning: this strategy is not recommended, and we know full and well this is NOT a good idea. 

    Beth said she GOT IN IVY’S CRIB WITH HER.  My first thoughts, it didn’t break?

    I looked at Beth and said instead, “…is that ok?”

    Beth responded that of course no, it’s not ideal.  It’s not safe and the crib could have broken.  All bad things.  Like the title of the post says, Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures. 

    Beth continued to tell me that after a while she got out of the crib and successfully returned to our bedroom. A hero had slain the dragon. A cute little booty-up-in-the-air-dragon, but a dragon nonetheless.

    She said she got into bed and Ivy started to stir and cry.  Beth asked me if I remembered in the middle of the night her saying, “oh no.”  Beth told me I then started patting her on her back.  I vaguely remember this.

    But then a miracle happened!  Ivy went back to sleep.  Hallelujah.

    After hearing Beth’s tale, I started to meditate to prepare for the day. My mind drifted to this story as the mind is wont to do during meditation. I thought about that moment when Ivy cried and very well should have continued screaming until one of us came to get her.

    A past successful night of sleep resistance. The smug face of a champion saying, “I’m the boss here,” cross-legged and all.

    The coolest visual came to me as I was meditating. You see, that night was the first time in months that I slept a night without getting out of bed. MONTHS.

    This is the visual that came to me. Ivy started to cry, and God said, “someone do something!” And a legion, thousands of angels came pouring out of heaven to comfort and console Ivy back to sleep. Heavenly Father was like, “give that man one full night in his bed.”

    It was a true miracle and that’s the only possible explanation.

    So I say, thank you Heavenly Father, I sure needed that.

    After a good night’s sleep

    Sleep training here we come.

  • Never Forget

    Never Forget

    It was a normal day for fifth grade Brayden.  My fifth-grade teacher was one of those memorable educators.  Mr. Adams was equal parts kind and disciplinarian, stern and patient.  To this day, still one of my favorite teachers.

    I remember little else from that day. 

    What I do remember was this:

    In class that day, first thing in the morning a square tv was brought in on a stand.  Kids today likely can’t picture what I’m describing.  Yes, the tv was square, and it was wheeled in on a stand. 

    “Yay!” The class shouted.  What a treat!  A movie this early in the day?  The surprise and joy were nearly overwhelming for a class of 10- and 11-year-olds

    Yet something was different.  All classrooms from K-12 know the excitement of a tv being wheeled in.  Even the teacher showed pleasure on these special days.  A well-earned break.  A day off on a technicality. 

    Something was different.  As Mr. Adams wheeled in the television and plugged it in, there was no joy.  He was oddly somber.  Remember, disciplinarian, stern, never somber. 

    What was happening?

    Mr. Adams turned to us.  He was grave, and he was serious.

    He told us that this was a day we would never forget.  Interesting that’s the most vivid memory from that day: Mr. Adams telling me I would never forget this day.

    20 years later I remember those moments.

    He turned on the television to some news station and our 5th grade class watched the worst ever attack on American soil.

    Never forget.  But have we?

    As opinions run rampant, protests get violent, arguments over masks, arguments over vaccines, arguments over Texas, fighting, arguing, contention, hatred. 

    Beth and I watched a 6-episode documentary titled, 9/11 One Day in America.  This documentary was extraordinarily well done.  Viewers be warned.  It is deep, dark, and heavy.  Just as that day was deep, dark, and heavy.  A tragic day in American history. 

    Some things struck me as I watched:  teamwork, bravery, compassion, love.  This documentary was filled with extraordinary examples of selfless service to others in danger.  It occurred to me, a New Yorker that might have bumped someone out of the way for a taxi was hours later putting their life in danger for a stranger in a stairwell.

    I hope we never forget that day.  I wish it didn’t take a tragedy to unite a country.  Unfortunately, the pride cycle is real.  We couldn’t be more divided now.  Maybe if we truly remember, feel, and consider the unity that existed during and immediately after 9/11, we can reclaim that love for our fellow man. 

    That is my prayer for our country.

    Never Forget.

  • The Shack

    The Shack

    The Shack was a New York Times best seller and eventually became a motion picture.  I watched the movie before reading the book.  I liked the movie a lot so was looking forward to reading the book. 

    The Shack is a story about a man who has to come face to face with his faith and what he believes about God.  It’s written claiming to be the true experience of one man, written by his friend.

    The book is great.  It is a religious themed book with an engaging story that anyone could enjoy.  The story is one anyone can get behind.  We have all felt pain and the circumstances of the main character’s journey are easy to attach oneself to.

    I marked and highlighted throughout the book.  It’s a book with countless lines that make you stop and think.  It’s an intellectual and spiritual journey.

    I had the unique experience of watching the movie 2 or 3 years before reading the book.  I loved the movie.  The movie really made me think and expanded my view on pain, justice, mercy, and how God fits into that equation.  Surprisingly, I think the book touched on that in a different way.  That theme was there, but I remember it being more palpable in the movie experience.

    The big question I’d like to address – did this really happen?  Some of what I know to be true doctrinally was misrepresented in this story, but I still can’t say for certain that this was a story of fiction. The world is a mysterious place and I don’t want to get into a situation where I limit what God is capable of.  If He presented Himself to this man in this unique way… maybe.  Maybe it happened.  Maybe countless things happened.

    What I will say is this:  whether it happened or it didn’t happen, even if it’s a completely fictional tale, I learned something.  It expanded my mind, made me think, and I believe it even strengthened my testimony of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.  For that reason, I can say I don’t care whether the main character truly had this experience.  Even if he was just impacted by whatever experience he had in a way that led him to portray such a unique and beautiful story, that’s good enough for me.

    There is something unique at the end of the book.  The very last page has “The Missy Project.”  It states that the book became #1 on the New York Times Bestseller List on a $200 budget because of passionate readers.  It says: “if you were as taken with the message of this book as we are, you may already have some unique ideas as to how you can best let others know about it…. If you have a Web site or blog, consider sharing a bit about the book and how it touched your life.  Don’t give away the plot, but recommend that they read it as well and link to http://www.theshackbook.com.

    I checked, the website still exists these 13 years after publication.  In fact, it’s a beautiful website promoting both the movie and the book.

    This book did touch me.  It expanded my thinking.  I loved it.  I loved the movie as well. 

    A lot of the books I read few will ever read simply because people aren’t interested in the subject matters that interest me.  This book should not be avoided.  Anyone can learn and grow from this book, it’s a page turner with an engaging plot and wonderful story.  Please read it.

    If you’ve already read The Shack tell me what you thought of it.

  • Devastation of Ignorance

    Devastation of Ignorance

    Recently I was trying to do something I had no idea how to do.  Let’s call it HTML coding.  The point I need to stress here is I was starting at point 0.  I’d done little to no coding and didn’t understand HTML, and still don’t.

    It’s not my job to know HTML so it was fine, it was just something I had to figure out.

    I was doing some research and trying to understand the format needed for what I was trying to create.  Looking at the code I made some assumptions.  For example, I thought a symbol at the beginning indicated “this is the start” and a symbol at the end indicated “this is the end.”

    I spent a lot of time struggling with this.  As I thought I was figuring something out, I’d test it, and realize I was getting farther away.  I couldn’t figure out what I was doing wrong.

    I finally engaged someone I worked with.  This person knew almost nothing about HTML.  If I was a 0 this person was a 1.  He also knew very little about HTML but he immediately recognized something.  The part at the beginning that I thought indicated the start wasn’t needed at all.  It could be removed.

    I removed the beginning and it looked exactly how I needed it to.

    He knew little, but the little he knew made a huge difference.

    I realized something from this.  I saw how devastating ignorance can be.  If I knew just a little, I could have completed this task very quickly.  Instead, I spent a lot of time going in circles.

    Why is knowledge so important?  Because ignorance kills.

    I think we see this principle amplified in our society today.  We are surrounded by misinformation and while we’re in the age of technology and information is at our fingertips, false information is as easily accessible as true information.

    What this makes me appreciate is the truth and knowledge of God.  There is no misinformation with Him.  There is no ignorance.  God knows our yesterday, today, and tomorrow.  He is all truth.

    I’m glad that what we learn here goes with us.  I’m glad the knowledge we gain here stays with us and helps us.  This is one of my favorite principles of the gospel.