Tastes like liberty, don't worry, we free.

A couple notes before the beginning:


1. I hope your new years revolution is alive and well and...


2. I feel like you can never have too much review of freedom so here goes...

Eagles love freedom too!

So yeah, freedom is awesome. I love freedom. I'm a natural born, cheese burger-eating, American flag waving, 4x4 truck driving, (Native) American. So I just wanted to share a few thoughts that I had on freedom recently.


Freedom was something that I had wanted to write a blog on for a long time but there seemed to be contradictions the more I thought about it. How can we become more free if we are living under so many rules? I knew that there had to be an answer to the questions I had. I found a huge piece of the puzzle several weeks ago as I was studying the subject in a talk given by Robert M. Wilkes, chairman of the Recreation Department at Brigham Young University-Idaho. He gave a wonderful analogy that contrasted the difference between freedom from and the freedom to do.

Darth Vader didn't really like those
Rebels at all...

Freedom from is the kind of freedom I most commonly think of. I think of freedom from oppression, from rules, from restrictions, and from having a downer time. Freedom from is incredibly important, I think our Founding Fathers definitely had this kind of freedom in mind when they set up the United States. The rebels in StarWars definitely had this kind of freedom in mind when they retaliated against the iron fist of Lord Vader and the former Chancellor Palpatine. But Brother Wilkes had some wise words for me as I read his talk. He says:


"Too often, we believe the myth that we are free to do whatever we want to do. True, most of us are free to develop any ability or skill we choose; but until we develop them, we remain in bondage to our own lack of capacity. Even in lands of great political freedom, I fear that many of us live in bondage. Misunderstanding the principle of freedom, we lead lives of limited capacity and, thus, diminished choice. We tell ourselves that the only reason we are not doing certain positive, productive things is that we don’t want to. If we don’t play the piano, for example, we like to think it’s because we don’t want to. Actually, we don’t play because we are not free to. Remember, if we are only free to choose one thing—that is, not to play—we are not really free."

"So freedom is not just freedom from—freedom from interference, restraint, responsibility—although there certainly are things we want to be free from. But the greatest freedom, the freedom of God, is the freedom to do.... God is the greatest of all beings because, for one thing, he is the most free of all beings. And he has invited us to become like him." (emphasis added)

I know that when we follow God's commandments we become more free. It sounds weird, I know. I didn't really understand it in the beginning but I now know a little bit more that that is true. Try it and see for yourself. We all have the ability to do what we want, which is a huge responsibility, but I know that when we sincerely progress towards God through His commandments we will feel the most fulfillment. Progression doesn't come from having more posessions or power, not that those things are evil, but it comes from when we, as human beings, are able to use this time here on earth for what it was intended, to help one another out and "prepare to meet God"- Alma 34:32. 

NEW YEAR'S REVOLUTION.

res·o·lu·tionˌrezəˈlo͞oSHən, noun: 

A firm decision to do or not to do something. Not as cool as...

rev·o·lu·tionˌrevəˈlo͞oSHən, noun: 

A forcible overthrow of a government or social order for a new system. For our purposes we'll go with the definition: A forcible overthrow of [our old bad habits] for a new system [that we can feel totally better with].

 

You read it right, I'm proposing a revolution. I've heard of New Year's "resolutions" but I have two problems with that: 1. that doesn't sound near as cool and/or as hard core as a "revolution" and 2. I think that New Year's "resolutions" has been used up and doesn't quite have the same power as a "revolution" does. But a revolution is a great thing when those things that are tossed forcibly out of our lives are bad things. Bad habits make it hard for us to enjoy life, have a sense of well being, and be conected with those we love. Things like being with family, expanding our worthy talents, and serving others are always great things to do and show our love for one another.  



Stick it to the devil.

God, through his prophets, has always encouraged us to revolt against those things that tear us away from Him and bring us sorrow. Because "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other." (Matthew 6:24) Just like in political and military struggles all throughout time; there are sides, and we have the ability to choose which one we are on. Luckily there aren't a whole lot of choices, theres just two in fact; the good guys: God and Jesus Christ and His followers and the bad guys: the devil and his followers. I know that we need to make a constant effort to keep the devil away from us, our friends, and our families. The steps are simple and the rewards are priceless.  

Through learning more about Jesus Christ and His great example we can receive great protection and help from God. In our revolting against the devil we also need to remember to become closer to God. A prophet in the Book of Mormon counseled that we need to "[become] as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon [us]" (Mosiah 3:19). Our lives may not always be comfortable or easy but I know that when we persevere with patience, love, and humility we get a sense of peace; that feeling that everything is going to be okay. I know because I've been in places that weren't comfortable or easy for me to be in, and I've been able to have that peace with me. I know that pretty much everyone has had a time in their lives that wasn't comfortable or easy and that its hard when you don't feel any hope. But I know that Christ is that ultimate source of hope and direction. 

So feel free to join with me and start, or continue, the revolution against the things that take us away from what's important! The devil is lame and has got nothin' on the great feelings and experiences that come to us as we stay close to the Lord.   

 

 

 

Merry Christmas! ...Christmas Post 2011...

So... Merry Christmas! Congratulations, we made it to another Christmas day and Christmas season. And what a sweet season it has been. I know from my experience that as I strive to think more about the Savior I feel a greater sense of peace and a greater sense of what I need to do to feel more at peace. I know that peace is something that God wants us to feel and He has given us the way that we can feel all the peace we need. It's through His son, Jesus Christ. He gave us the teachings, and the perfect example, and that atonement that makes it possible for us to be, and feel, "at one" with God, our Father. I'm so grateful for that. I'm grateful for our elder brother, Jesus Christ, and His strength and His testimony, His Death and His life, and for the hope that one day we may all return with Him to our Father in Heaven. I know He lives. I know He is real. He has always invited us to come closer to Him, and He will continue to do so, forever and ever. I offer that same invitation to come closer to Jesus Christ, not only at this special time of the year, but always. For that is the right time given to us to bring ourselves closer to Him: always. I leave this with you in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.

Rez Pez



Before Poplar



So a couple three weeks ago I was sitting in the computer lab and another missionary offered me a piece of delicious chocolate pez candy. Now, at the time I was day dreamin' of my time when I lived on the Fort Peck Rez, back in Poplar. Back in the day when McDonalds was a basic food group, Rez Dogs were our entourage, and where people could use suran wrap as a windshield. You know, the good times... I heartily accepted his generous offer and as I glanced sideways my Rez dream ladened mind changed the lettering on the wrapper from "Pez" to "Rez". My mind started Rezzin' out things in automatically. It was awesome.  Then I started to think what if we started to do that in the Gospel? The gospel offers us great teachings and, as we live them, they will just become a natural part of what we do. Jesus said "if ye love me, keep my commandments"



After Poplar

 (John 14:15). He also said, later in that same chapter, "....he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." (John 14:21) I love the Rez. So I do Rez'd out stuff and I think Rez'd out stuff. I also love Jesus Christ, and I know that when we fill our heads and our hearts with the teachings and love of Christ we too will have those automatic thoughts of the gospel. We will do Christ-like things and think Christ-like thoughts. Stay firm in your love of Christ (and of the Rez) and we will go from thinking and doing to knowing and becoming!

Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome: Marine motto or eternal principle?



Improvising, adapting, and
overcoming since 1775.

Marines are pretty hardcore; they are in a lot of situations that require them to look at what they have to work with and overcome the challenges in their way. One of the unofficial motttos for some U.S. Marine units has been: "Improvise, adapt, and overcome." It seems to work for the Marines pretty well, so I thought I'd adapt it to a lesson in the gospel. 

We'll start off with improvising...

  

 



 

Not the kind of Marine I'm talking about.

Improvise

 So what can we take from this motto to apply in our lives? While there are some other principles that God has given us lets focus on a couple-three of the basics. Time to see what tools that you have at your disposal. While Marines have months of physical conditioning and weapons ranging from anti-tank guided missiles to sharp sticks, God has given us spiritual tools that are life changing and powerful. Below are some basic principles and ideas.

Prayer: Prayer is huge. Prayer is the way that we communicate with God. Through prayer, whether silently in our hearts or out loud with others, we can express our thanks to our Father in Heaven. We can also use prayer to ask God to help us with a struggle we face or to help us to find an answer to a particular problem. 

Reading the Scriptures: The Bible and the Book of Mormon are the word of God. In them we can find advice and guidance from a divine source. When we make scripture study part of our lives we become more receptive to God's Spirit and we become more sensitive to His promptings. We can also search the scriptures to find answers to our prayers.

Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy: Sunday is a special day. It is the day that God set apart to help us to remember Him. Blessings come to us as we keep God in our thoughts and remember to utilize His teachings in everything that we do. Attending Church is a wonderful way to remember God in our lives, grow our faith in His teachings, and experience more of His peace and love.

Adapt

 

A UNSC Marine explaining to Master Chief
 how to adapt to trials.

Adaptation is an eternal principle. We live in a world where things change all the time and while we do know that God has a plan for us sometimes we may not know the finer details, sometimes it feels like we don't know any details, and it can be easy to get lost or discouraged. But fear not, God knows whats going on in our lives and the principles that He has given us are eternal in nature, (principles like prayer, searching the scriptures, and keeping the Sabbath Day Holy) which pretty much means that they will work in any situation. Not only do they work in any situation but when we use them they help us to qualify for God's blessings! You may be thinking, "That's sounds awesome Elder Wood, but I don't have a belief in some of those things." Well, you're in luck, because God has provided a way for us to know for ourselves. God does not want us to follow His commandments out of blind obedience. He wants us to develop faith in Him and in His principles by living them and seeing for ourselves the blessings and happiness that follow using intelligent obedience. He has provided us the ability to think and to feel for ourselves that the truths that He gives us are true.



Overcome




Christ was able to overcome all
 things and, when we abide by
His teachings, we can too.

I know that when we are able to incorporate these and other truths from God in our lives that we can receive reliable, specific, careful guidance from God. I also know that when we do we can overcome any trial, hardship, challenge, or temptation that comes our way. I know this not only because I have heard of others who have been able to do the same thing, but because I have tried it myself and I know its true.









General Conference unwrapped...

So you may have heard of it. Its called General Conference. But what is it and how can you get the most out of it? Well, rest assured that is just what this blog is all about. So if you are reading this before a General Conference or if you're reading this after a General Conference just happened I can assure you that there'll be something that can help you to understand what it's all about.

So what is General Conference? General Conference is a time when the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are able to address the entire Church, and those that may not be members of the LDS Church that are interested in listening, all across the world and takes place two times during the year, once in April and again in October. The Conference center for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, near the Salt Lake temple. Speakers at General Conference prepare talks and messages to share with us months in advance and they seek direction from God to share things that will best help us not only until the next General Conference but also for the rest of our lives.



The First Presidency of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Left to Right: President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, President
Henry B. Eyring, and President Thomas S. Monson.





Why does this all matter? General Conference is important because its a time that we can hear the Prophet and other leaders of the Church. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we believe that we have a living prophet upon the earth much like Moses, Noah, and Abraham. And Just like those prophets of old we believe that the prophet and other leaders of the Church receive significant revelation and direction from God to give to us. What a wonderful opportunity to hear the words of God! So as you listen to their words remember that those are the same words which God would share with us.

So we know what Conference is all about and we know that it has some important messages in there for us, so how do we get the most out of it? Well, just keep readin'. President Uchtdorf, one of the top leaders of the Church, gave us some counsel to help get the most out of General Conference. I'm going to shorten the information up a little for your reading pleasure but you can read the full version here.

1.) General Conference is a time to receive answers and direction from our Father in Heaven.
We can prepare questions that we want answered ahead of time and listen for the answers as we watch General Conference.

2.) Don't discount message because it sounds familiar.
If something sounds basic and like its a no-brainer maybe its something that needs to be worked on. Most often times I find myself looking for answers to other questions when really I need to work on something so simple and fundamental.

3.) The words shared at General Conference can act as a guide for the coming months.

The words that will be shared with us will be from God and we have the opportunity to hear them and to try them and see if they are true. So remember those things that you hear and remember to try them out during the coming months, I can promise that you will find great blessings as you do so.

So I'm excited for General Conference and for your opportunity to be able to view and experience it. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true and that God does have a prophet on the earth today that leads and guides this Church under Jesus Christ's direction. I know that if you follow the counsel that you receive that you feel a greater sense of peace and direction and with that I close with some words from President Uchtdorf himself. "Our merciful and loving Heavenly Father has not forsaken and will not forsake His children. Today, as well as in times past, He has appointed apostles and prophets. He continues to reveal His word to them. What a marvelous privilege it is to hear God’s messages for each of us during general conference! Let us prepare well for this great blessing of divine guidance delivered by His chosen servants."

Why Do Anything?

 

WHY?!?



There have been few times in my life where I have questioned what this life is all about. Why am I here and why should I do anything? Sometimes it may feel like anytime we do something it won't really matter in the end. Well, the Restored gospel offers us hope in that in everything that we do there is a purpose.



     There are some pretty good questions floating around out there like the ones mentioned above. But, we are also all individuals with our own unique set of questions that we want answered and also goals that we want accomplished. Some of mine were: Why am I out here in Montana? Why did I make the choice to sacrifice two years of my life to serve a mission? And finally, why would I give up my regular life to live life in the Jolly Swagman Inn?

 

Our actions help us to keep our...

Those are some pretty good questions that have some pretty intertwined and intricate answers. But one thing that I think helps clear up the decisions I have made, and that we all can make, is to look at what we, as individuals, desire to become. We all have desires, things that we want or things that we want to become. But what role do these desires have in our lives? Dallin H. Oaks, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, "Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions. The desires we act on determine our changing, our achieving, and our becoming."

I believe that serving a mission is the right thing to do for me. I know that there are blessings associated with such service and that through my missionary experience I will have been made stronger. Now, how the heck could expect such things even though I haven't even finished my mission? Well thats where a little bit faith comes in...

Through the restored Gospel we find that faith is incredibly important. We find that the Savior Jesus Christ needed faith in order to perform the Atonement successfully. Faith is something that is necessary for many of the things that we do every day. But what does faith lead to? Well, faith inevitably leads to action. You have faith that your car will start, you turn the key, and it starts. You have faith that when you put batter into a heated oven it will become a cake, you do it and it cooks. I have faith that a mission would benefit myself and others, I started serving one, and it has. 

If you're lucky you can combine cake AND cars...

Whenever we use a desire or a want for something and exercise our faith in it enough to put it into action we are able to see the fruits of our labors.This is not just a physical phenomenon that only works when baking cakes or starting cars or even just in physical laws. It is an eternal pattern that is based on eternal principles and eternal laws that extend past the physical and extend on into the spiritual. But how can we know when we do something whether it’s true or not? Jesus Christ said, "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." -John 7:17. It is here that Jesus counsels us to try out gospel doctrine and see if it is true. And when we try out his doctrine we will be able to have his Spirit to be with us and then we will be able to know that it is true. When I was first learning about Christ's gospel I wondered what the Spirit felt like. Luckily, the Apostle Paul helps us out and tells us a little bit about it. Here’s what he says: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." -Galatians 5:22-23. I know that I have been able to feel those things as I have done my best to follow the commandments. What a blessing it is to know that when we exercise faith in a principle of the gospel we are entitled to receive a confirmation of that goodness.

So the reason why we do anything is to work towards being something that we want to become. I know that our Father in Heavenly is mindful of us individually and will give us that portion of strength that we need to overcome the trials in our lives and to help bring ourselves closer to Him and his Son, Jesus Christ.