I am reading the Book of Mormon today and the account of Helaman. This morning I am impressed how chapters 11 and 12 speak about a situation that is very much like ours today. Because of the wicked ness of the people, the prophet Nephi asked the Lord to send a famine, which rages throughout the land until the people begin to perish. Finally because the people humble themselves and begin to repent, Nephi asks the Lord to stay his hand and turn away his anger. The Lord does so and the people begin again to flourish. 

But it doesn't last long. When the burdens are lifted and the people again begin prospering, they attribute their abundance to their own wisdom and efforts rather than a gift from God. And their sore afflictions begin again. It is easy to condense time when reading the scriptures as generations seem to be covered in a couple verses. But the tragedy is this cycle continues during the lifetime of Nephi, so it could be that long. The Lord clearly explains why this happens:

And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him. Helaman 12:3

Nephi is bold and faithful. The scripture makes the point that Nephi's brother Lehi not one whit behind him. But as the people again soon forget the Lord their God and trample under their feet the Holy One of Israel, the Gadianton robbers take hold of their hearts and again entrench themselves in the land.

https://youtu.be/l_J3Wdy5sqg  Nephi–Enos

https://youtu.be/DWk7UxCjO7I​  Mosiah–Alma

https://youtu.be/hBkz-PMFnXE  3 Nephi

Jesus Christ Appears in the Ancient Americas

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This is perhaps one of my very favorite videos. When the God of heaven and earth himself kneels, I am moved by his demonstration of humility to the Father. Angels administer to the children—one of my favorite parts of the Book of Mormon. 

This choice experience is recorded in the book of Helaman. The experience is not unlike that which is only a few years hence when we will be reunited with out loved ones. The video above for me demonstrates the joy that will fill our hearts and the happiness that awaits us as we prepare and anticipate for this great day.

I love having a vacation or family event planned for the future. Everyday as I anticipate the joy and happiness that will result when that occasion happens makes every day happier and better. The difficult days seem to pass more easily because of the anticipation and  realization of what is soon to come.

The Lord's Second Coming does this for me when I anticipate the joy we will feel to kneel in his presence, and together with loved ones worship and adore him for our blessings today and tomorrow and forever with Dad and Mom and Guy and Elaine and Gay and all our family and posterity are returned to us in abundance. I can't wait for that day. I know it will be soon and for a thousand years we will be able to receive the wishes of our hearts because God is smiling down on his children.

That fortune is something I can hardly wait for, and that is only the beginning. I can only imagine

Last night I sent out a text message about having a Super Bowl Party. It was simple. Basically I posted Linda's dictation:
Save the date February 12th for an
​epic Super Bowl party at 4:30 here  <dad>

I received some responses later that evening. When I read them I had mixed feelings, then laughed out loud.

Dad we probably won't make it but if our plans change I'll let you know!  <Steven>
Oh Steven we have so much fun when you spend time with us!   <Mom>
And I have a ton of fun with you guys too! I'm sorry:(  <Steven>
The Lambs will be there. Problem solved. ​ <Jerimiah> ❤❤

So I captured this little exchange to demonstrate and remember the multitude of great times we have as a family. Our digital and face-to-face communications bring us together as friends. Our family is the fuel that provides the motivation for life. 

I recently started reading a fascinating book called Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip Heath & Dan Heath. The book discusses the anatomy of ideas that stick and explains ways to make ideas stickier, such as applying the human scale principle, using the Velcro Theory of Memory, and creating curiosity gaps. Along the way, we discover that sticky messages of all kinds—from the infamous “kidney theft ring” hoax to a coach’s lessons on sportsmanship to a vision for a new product at Sony—draw their power from the same six traits.
1 Simplicity
2 Unexpected
3 Concrete
4 Credibility
5 Emotions
6 Stories

Provocative, eye-opening, and often surprisingly funny, Made to Stick shows us the vital principles of winning ideas—and tells us how we can apply these rules to making our own messages stick.

I want to start applying these ideas to promote my own projects and feel enthusiastic about its impact and potential to stick.

Interestingly, I am also reading a book about the inspirational Steve Jobs, which is eyeopening. He is an unlikely character in the creation of one of the world's largest and most valuable companies. Ask anyone who the greatest business innovator in modern history is they will likely say, Steve Jobs - and for good reason. He was a pioneer of technology and the founder of one of the biggest companies in the world, Apple.  quotes

In the audio ​book, author Walter Isaacson talks about the early history of Steve Jobs and the series of events that led to the creation of Apple.  I am actually learning a lot from this book about Jobs that I didn't know or realize, which has been eyeopening. He is adopted and overcame numerous hardships. You may have heard of Steve Wozniak and John Sculley for their early involvement. But I will bet you have never heard of Ronald Wayne. I hadn't until I read the details in the book. There is a story about Wayne that he was to provide the company with “adult supervision” and oversee some areas of the budding company for which he would receive a ten percent stake in the company. But while they were drawing up the documents, he got cold feet. So after a mere 12 days with Wozniak and Jobs, Wayne had his name taken off the contract and sold his shares back to his co-founders for $800.

Wayne’s decision to leave the start-up cost him big. Today, a 10 percent stake in Apple would be worth more than $95 billion according to experts. People know about Ron Wayne now as the man who won the lottery but lost the ticket.

Don't let that happen to you. When you realize the value of your personal and family history is not the time to start it.

Begin now!

This morning, another tragic shooting was reported. Linda blurted out "I don't care about the Trump supporters, something needs to be done about all these shootings." And she is right. The news reported on Jan 25 that there have been more mass shootings than there have been days this year. Incredible.

But considering the chaos in the government and the ridiculous news media reports, one really can't depend on this evidence or lack thereof. The motivation of the perpetrators and the ultimate instigators of the chaos is still in question. But the source is no wonder. It is satan, the enemy of all righteousness.

What are we to do?

The Book of Mormon prophesies about this level of utter confusion in the last days. All the scriptures do. I also refer the reader to  chapter 43 of the Gospel Principles manual. 

​For thousands of years, followers of Jesus Christ have looked forward to the Second Coming as a time of peace and joy. But before the Savior comes, the people of the earth will experience great trials and calamities. 

2 For behold, there were many of the Nephites who had become hardened and impenitent and grossly wicked, insomuch that they did reject the word of God and all the preaching and prophesying which did come among them.

3 Nevertheless, the people of the church did have great joy because of the conversion of the Lamanites, yea, because of the church of God, which had been established among them. And they did fellowship one with another, and did rejoice one with another, and did have great joy.

So the evidence abounds. The chaos is prevalent. But the question persists: What are we to do?

My answer is simple. Believe in Jesus Christ and follow him to the very end. In the words of our dear prophet President Hinckley " If it is not okay , it is not the end." Okay In The End - LDS Blogs
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​That much I can do.