Books:
Of course, I have been reading a ton lately. I always have a book or two that is being read. So let's start off there.
So my best friend, Taylor Hansen has been back in Utah after living in South Carolina for 7 months. He is leaving on Wednesday for the Provo MTC. It's been awesome to see him again. Today he gave his farewell talk in church. He has grown up now. I still think of him as a 15-16 year old that I had awesome experiences with.
He and I met in the summer of summer of 2007. We had moved to Wellsville a year earlier. His family had moved from California. I was part of a teen group, VIP, that was comprised of home schooled teens. His family home schooled as well, so we went over to help them move their stuff in their house.
When I met him I had no idea how he would impact my life. He started coming to VIP that summer. But I really met him when we attended the same school that fall, Cincinnatus Academy. We were the only boys, surrounded by 4 girls. We had such a fun time together. Brother Francum, our teacher, taught us sign language. One day we asked him how we would say drop dead gorgeous in sign language. He showed us, and all we could do for days after that was make the signs and laugh.
Taylor and I did many things together through the years. We would play Tiger Woods at his house, then make McDonald's runs late at night. We would go to dances and other activities together. It made me sad when I left on my mission, because I didn't supposed it would be possible to do things after I got back, as he would be on his mission.
But low and behold, I come back after 10 months, only to discover that he was moving to South Carolina. We had about a month together before he moved.
Now that his final days are appoaching, I'm saddened. But also very happy for him. One lesson I learned being his friend is that to be a true friend you must allow the other person to grow. I am not one who makes friends very easily. But when I do, they are very strong friendships. I tend to want to always be around them, never let them do their own thing. I also hate not controlling a situation.
Taylor is a golfer, which I don't particularly enjoy. It's fun, but not for long. He loves it, and would do it for hours. I would sometimes call him, and he would answer because his phone was in his golf bag, or he was golfing. I used to get to upset over that.
But it's ok now. i'm more mature now. I'll miss Taylor, but I won't forget him. I hope he will have as much fun as I did on my mission. I know he will do awesome. I want to be here when he comes home in 2 years. If not, I will see him in heaven. :)
Of course, I have been reading a ton lately. I always have a book or two that is being read. So let's start off there.
One of my favorites that I've been reading and rereading for several years now is The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. I normally read at least a page a day, sometimes more. I was reading in the book of Ether last night, and read in Chapter 3, verse 19:
And because of the knowledge of this man he could not be kept from beholding within the veil; and he saw the finger of Jesus, which, when he saw, he fell with fear; for he knew that it was the finger of the Lord; and he had faith no longer, for he knew, nothing doubting.
This a part where a man, named the Brother of Jared, sees Jesus Christ. This happens around the time where God confounds the languages of the people at the Tower of Babel. So several centuries before Jesus gains a physical body. In the previous verses, Jesus explains that because of the faith of the Brother of Jared, he showed himself to the Brother of Jared.
I love how it says how he no longer had faith, but that he knew. Faith is believing in something or someone without physical evidence to support your belief. So here, after this experience, the Brother of Jared knew that Christ would come, that he existed, and many other truths.
I thought about it, and wasn't sure if I could honestly say that I knew. I do believe in Jesus, God and the Church. But honestly, do I know? Can't answer that right now, not yet anyways. Hopefully I can soon.
A lot of people, when bearing their testimonies at church say they know that Jesus is real, that Joseph Smith was a prophet. I believe this too. But I have not had a very severe test yet. I have been on a mission and taught people eternal truths. but I'm still wondering if I know on the same level as the Brother of Jared.
A few other books I've been reading: 21 irrefutable laws of leadership by John C. Maxwell. It is an interesting book. It's about how being a leader means you influence people to do things. That is the basic premise of the book. it's interesting. I can't say I've thought of leadership that way before.
Another books I read was October Sky. There was a popular movie made after the book came out. The movie is pretty cool, but doesn't do the story justice, just like other movies based on books. The story goes in depth about how Sunny, or Homer, struggled to get his rockets to be accepted, especially his own father. His father is against rocket building and wants his son to be a miner, like everyone else in the town.
Sunny struggles for acceptance, and once he gains it he begins to take off. He and his friends teach themselves advanced trigonometry, calculus, and chemistry. They gradually build a rocket design that flies 30,000 feet in the air. Sunny eventually becomes a rocket scientist in NASA, and decided to write his memoir.
While I was reading this, I was also reading Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris. They are twins who have noticed to society at large doesn't expect teenagers to do much. They think everyone else just sits around and plays video games and maybe does a few chores. ''
Why has society started to view the teenage years as one to lazy around, mess up and enjoy? Before the 1940's teenagers were either adults or children. They had to work to help feed their families. They struggled, made plenty of mistakes along the way. George Washington was 17 when he started making money as a surveyor. Why aren't 17 year old's now professionals?
This is the reason the Harris twins wrote their book, calling on teenagers to try hard, to succeed, and overcome how society views them. I know as a teenager I could have tried a lot harder in school, at home or work. I worked during the summer during high school, but not during the school year. Now I wish I would have.
But such. You never have experience or wisdom until after you no longer need it. It's pretty frustrating. but I guess all we can do is learn from them and use the experience later.
Alright, I'm done with books. Now I want to cover the subject of friendship.
This a part where a man, named the Brother of Jared, sees Jesus Christ. This happens around the time where God confounds the languages of the people at the Tower of Babel. So several centuries before Jesus gains a physical body. In the previous verses, Jesus explains that because of the faith of the Brother of Jared, he showed himself to the Brother of Jared.
I love how it says how he no longer had faith, but that he knew. Faith is believing in something or someone without physical evidence to support your belief. So here, after this experience, the Brother of Jared knew that Christ would come, that he existed, and many other truths.
I thought about it, and wasn't sure if I could honestly say that I knew. I do believe in Jesus, God and the Church. But honestly, do I know? Can't answer that right now, not yet anyways. Hopefully I can soon.
A lot of people, when bearing their testimonies at church say they know that Jesus is real, that Joseph Smith was a prophet. I believe this too. But I have not had a very severe test yet. I have been on a mission and taught people eternal truths. but I'm still wondering if I know on the same level as the Brother of Jared.
A few other books I've been reading: 21 irrefutable laws of leadership by John C. Maxwell. It is an interesting book. It's about how being a leader means you influence people to do things. That is the basic premise of the book. it's interesting. I can't say I've thought of leadership that way before.
Another books I read was October Sky. There was a popular movie made after the book came out. The movie is pretty cool, but doesn't do the story justice, just like other movies based on books. The story goes in depth about how Sunny, or Homer, struggled to get his rockets to be accepted, especially his own father. His father is against rocket building and wants his son to be a miner, like everyone else in the town.
Sunny struggles for acceptance, and once he gains it he begins to take off. He and his friends teach themselves advanced trigonometry, calculus, and chemistry. They gradually build a rocket design that flies 30,000 feet in the air. Sunny eventually becomes a rocket scientist in NASA, and decided to write his memoir.
While I was reading this, I was also reading Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris. They are twins who have noticed to society at large doesn't expect teenagers to do much. They think everyone else just sits around and plays video games and maybe does a few chores. ''
Why has society started to view the teenage years as one to lazy around, mess up and enjoy? Before the 1940's teenagers were either adults or children. They had to work to help feed their families. They struggled, made plenty of mistakes along the way. George Washington was 17 when he started making money as a surveyor. Why aren't 17 year old's now professionals?
This is the reason the Harris twins wrote their book, calling on teenagers to try hard, to succeed, and overcome how society views them. I know as a teenager I could have tried a lot harder in school, at home or work. I worked during the summer during high school, but not during the school year. Now I wish I would have.
But such. You never have experience or wisdom until after you no longer need it. It's pretty frustrating. but I guess all we can do is learn from them and use the experience later.
Alright, I'm done with books. Now I want to cover the subject of friendship.
Friendship:
So my best friend, Taylor Hansen has been back in Utah after living in South Carolina for 7 months. He is leaving on Wednesday for the Provo MTC. It's been awesome to see him again. Today he gave his farewell talk in church. He has grown up now. I still think of him as a 15-16 year old that I had awesome experiences with.
He and I met in the summer of summer of 2007. We had moved to Wellsville a year earlier. His family had moved from California. I was part of a teen group, VIP, that was comprised of home schooled teens. His family home schooled as well, so we went over to help them move their stuff in their house.
When I met him I had no idea how he would impact my life. He started coming to VIP that summer. But I really met him when we attended the same school that fall, Cincinnatus Academy. We were the only boys, surrounded by 4 girls. We had such a fun time together. Brother Francum, our teacher, taught us sign language. One day we asked him how we would say drop dead gorgeous in sign language. He showed us, and all we could do for days after that was make the signs and laugh.
Taylor and I did many things together through the years. We would play Tiger Woods at his house, then make McDonald's runs late at night. We would go to dances and other activities together. It made me sad when I left on my mission, because I didn't supposed it would be possible to do things after I got back, as he would be on his mission.
But low and behold, I come back after 10 months, only to discover that he was moving to South Carolina. We had about a month together before he moved.
Now that his final days are appoaching, I'm saddened. But also very happy for him. One lesson I learned being his friend is that to be a true friend you must allow the other person to grow. I am not one who makes friends very easily. But when I do, they are very strong friendships. I tend to want to always be around them, never let them do their own thing. I also hate not controlling a situation.
Taylor is a golfer, which I don't particularly enjoy. It's fun, but not for long. He loves it, and would do it for hours. I would sometimes call him, and he would answer because his phone was in his golf bag, or he was golfing. I used to get to upset over that.
But it's ok now. i'm more mature now. I'll miss Taylor, but I won't forget him. I hope he will have as much fun as I did on my mission. I know he will do awesome. I want to be here when he comes home in 2 years. If not, I will see him in heaven. :)
