No Coincidences

Tag: celebration

  • Leedy Wedding

    Leedy Wedding

    I wrote this at the hotel, a couple hours before officiating Matt Leedy and Sam Simpson’s wedding.

    It was such an honor being asked to do this.  For me, it’s a bit symbolic of how far I’ve come and transitioned from what I used to be.  When did I become the religious friend trusted to officiate a wedding?  I did this for my sister, but this will be the first real wedding I officiate.  My sister’s was more of a ring ceremony after their sealing in the temple.

    It is pretty cool to change to the point that people trust and ask you to play a part in what is one of the most sacred things. 

    At their wedding, before marrying them, I shared a three-minute thought.  In the moment, I didn’t use notes but rehearsed from memory.  But here is roughly what I shared at Matt and Sam’s wedding:

    “Matt and Sam, look out over all the faces here.  Take a moment, hold to this moment, remember this moment.  All these people are here to celebrate you, because they love you. 

    Something extra special is happening here today, though.  Nobody is here to celebrate you, Matt, or just you, Sam.  Some in the audience may even think they’re here for just one or the other, but that’s really not the case.  Every person here is to celebrate YOU, a unit, a new powerful team, one.  That is what makes this day so special.  Two people becoming one.

    On a day like today, we marvel at all the blessings we’ve been given.

    Remember who you just looked over.  Parents, grandparents, loved ones.  How blessed we are.  On a day like today, we also remember the ones we miss.  A grandma, a father, with a seat reserved.  It feels like yesterday that some loved ones had to leave us.  I think it feels like yesterday because something deep within us knows those loved ones never left us.

    I’m a firm believer in angels.  I’m a believer in angels that wouldn’t miss this day for the world.  So as you look out over those that you can see, I believe, there are some, many even, that are present that you can’t see.  Those loved ones that wouldn’t miss this.

    Matt’s father, Don, left us unexpectedly 18 months ago.  At that time, I got to witness something amazing happen.  I saw Sam love Matt.  I saw Sam protect Matt.  I saw Sam uplift Matt.  I saw Sam support Matt in the most difficult time in his life.  When life is the hardest, we find our foundations.  And when we find our foundation, or someone that does those things for us, it becomes our duty to love, support, uplift, and protect that person for the rest of our life.

    So, Matt, Sam, I encourage you to remember that the greatest challenges in life can result in the greatest blessings.  And with each other, as a unit, loving and supporting one another, you can get through anything this life tries to throw at you.

    We love you.  And we celebrate this day with you.”

    How grateful I am to have gotten to be a part of Matt and Sam’s day. 

    How grateful I am to feel worthy, and clean, to stand before God and a group of Matt and Sam’s loved ones and get to do that for them.

    How grateful I am for a Savior that allows me to be clean and feel worthy of that moment. 

    Thank you to Matt and Sam for trusting me and allowing me to be a part of something so important.

    We love you.

  • The Grinch and Jesus Christ

    The Grinch and Jesus Christ

    One of my all-time favorite movies is The Grinch starring Jim Carrey from the year 2000.  Most members of my family can quote almost every word.  My dad is on the record saying he has seen it at least 300 times. 

    It’s a phenomenal movie.

    Recently Beth was out shopping and she mentioned how crazy it was out there.  This led my mind, naturally, down the path of thinking how cunning Satan is.

    If you haven’t seen The Grinch film, or need a refresher on the classic Dr. Seuss tale, here’s a quick summary –

    What Happened To Cindy Lou Who From 'The Grinch?' Taylor Momsen Is A Rock Star
    Cindy Lou Who

    Whoville loves Christmas.  The Whos go all out – decorations, presents, celebrations.  Our loveable character Cindy Lou Who wonders, “what is Christmas all about?”  In the great words of Cindy Lou Who, “doesn’t this seem…superfluous?”  I couldn’t have said it better myself Cindy Lou. 

    Our antagonist in the classic tale is the Grinch who HATES Christmas.  “Ardvarkian, Abacadnezer Who, I, HATE YOU!” (I had to look that one up, can’t ever remember good ‘ol Ardvarkian’s name).  If you haven’t seen the film, I just lost you, let me get back on track.  We learn, ultimately, that it isn’t Christmas that the Grinch hates.  It’s really the hypocritical, showy nature of it.  He hates what Christmas has become.

    Which leads me to my spiritual thought – shouldn’t we all, or at least any believers in Christ, hate what Christmas has become?

    I write this as a hypocrite.

    I’m not a big fan of gifts.  That said, I’m not out there in the Christmas season doing what actually matters either.  Volunteering at a food bank, helping a neighbor, serving, donating, volunteering, loving, doing the things Christ did while He was here.  That’s what Christmas is about.  How quickly we all get wrapped up in gifts, and parties, and gatherings, and decorations, and traditions, at the expense of what it’s all really about.

    Love.

    Family.

    Service.

    Charity.

    Giving.

    That’s what it’s about.

    So, please, next time you’re bustling about buying gifts and stressing about Christmas; let’s all, please, take a moment.  Let’s stop.  Let’s remember what it’s all really about.

    It’s about Christ, and all He represents.

    Light the World

    https://fb.watch/9XuyWb32Dr/

  • Freedom

    Freedom

    Let’s take a quick trip through history.  Bear with me on the history recap, I swear it will be brief.

    The Revolutionary War started in 1775. 

    Some rag-tag colonists decided to stand up to and fight for independence from the greatest power in the world.  I’ll say that again, a group of mostly untrained men decided to take on the greatest military force on earth at that time.  Louder for those in the back, a group of settlers stood up to THE world superpower.

    Can you believe how truly insane that was?  Just that they revolted was crazy.  Surely that got smashed into submission…right? WRONG!

    They won! Independence.  How?  Tons of stories from that time point to divine intervention.  We can save those for another day.

    Interesting Revolutionary War Facts You've Never Heard • FamilySearch

    244 years ago, July 4, 1776 The Declaration of Independence was signed.

    1777 The Articles of Confederation were written.  This would be the first constitution of the United States.

    1787 The Constitution we have today was written.

    1791 the Bill of Rights was written for the United States. 

    Amendment I of that Bill of Rights:

    “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

    Joseph Smith – Praise to the Man | The American Citadel

    1805 The Prophet Joseph Smith was born.

    1820 God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph Smith.

    1827 Joseph Smith received the golden plates.

    1830 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Christ’s restored church was re-established on the earth.

    Fourteen short years after the Bill of Rights was established and set forth the freedom of religion in this choice nation a prophet was born.  29 years after the established freedom of religion Heavenly Father appeared to His prophet.  Four short decades after the Bill of Rights was ratified Christ’s Church was restored. 

    Think about that for a moment.  Human history spanning thousands of years.  Yet, somehow, within 15 years of a free nation set forth the guidelines for free religion, a boy was born who 15 years later would claim visitation from God the Father.  He would establish a church from meager means.  Within 200 years that church would have millions of members across the globe.

    Talk about all the coincidences. 

    It was less than 40 years after freedom of religion was established in the United States of America that the Church of Jesus Christ was organized.

    What spectacular timing.

    I know there aren’t coincidences in God’s plan.  I know he reared up and prepared inspired, God-loving, intelligent men to establish this great nation.  Men who desired freedom above all else.  I know that soon after they did their part in establishing this free country it was finally time in God’s plan to establish His Church.  There had to be a place for the Church to be restored first.  There was nowhere else in the world the Church of Jesus Christ could have been established.

    God works in miraculous and spectacular ways for His purposes.

    I know the exact timing of Joseph Smith’s birth and the exact timing of the freedom of the United States were no coincidence.  They were planned out long ago.

    On this Fourth of July I’m grateful to our founding fathers.

    I’m grateful to Joseph Smith.

    More than anything I’m grateful to God for His perfect plan.

    I’m grateful for a country where I can worship whom, how, and where I please.  I’m grateful that I can pray in private or public.  I’m grateful to be born in a country free.  I’m grateful that I’ve never been truly persecuted for my religious beliefs.  We live in a special country.  We live in a country founded on true principles: freedom, liberty, and equality.  I know it took some time for those principles to be truly established and I know we’re still working on some of those principles.  But the principles are there.  There are still parts of the world, many parts of the world, where freedom, liberty, and equality are not even considered.

    The most important principle of all that this nation was founded on:  faith and belief in God.

    I know right now America is in a predicament.  We have turned from God.  God gave us this great nation and helped its establishment.  Now we spit on Him and marvel at our own great strength and power.  We’re American!  THE Global Superpower.  Doesn’t that sound familiar.  We know what happens to global superpowers that rely on their own strength.

    If we don’t humble ourselves and confess to whom we owe all, God in Heaven, He will take back His land.  We are only as strong and powerful as our faith in God allows.  Like England during the Revolutionary War we will fall if our pride is not removed.  We must return to God.  He founded this country and it will continue to degrade until we return to the source of all strength.  It’s time to repent.

    I love this country.  I hope we can return to our principles and be better.  I hope we can love God and keep Him here with us.

    GOD Bless the USA