Mormon Messages

One of my biggest fears is to have to experience this or something similar. Ever since I've gotten my license, and have seen more and more situations, I have adapted to driving defensively in order to keep a little bit of order in everyone's lives. It's been a long process. I keep thinking something is coming soon, and I can't push it out of my mind, just in case. Just the other day, someone pulled out onto the highway and didn't see me and pulled right into my lane. If I hadn't seen them and braked, we would've collided. A little old lady and I came to an intersection at the same time. I got there first and had the right of way to turn left, but she quickly sped up after pulling a mild "California Stop". If I had gone, I would've been T-boned. There are so many other examples of this. It scares me to see someone else I love make poor choices and put themselves in danger unknowingly, or even be helpless and without control within situations like these. I do worry about it. I do think about "what if".

Then I think about Him. I think about how Jesus Christ had lived and died so we could live. LIVE. We can experience the wind through our hair and the sand between our toes. We can experience fear and inspiration and anger and make mistakes in the progress. We can experience trials and sorrows and confusion. We can experience joy and love and eternal happiness. Without Him, we wouldn't be able to LIVE.

With this knowledge I do not abuse events and experiences. But rather, I will get ready for whatever the Lord sees fit for me to learn, experience, and grow from. I will be safe, and I will LIVE. I want to be like Chris and be that vessel. I want to know Jesus Christ as best as I can here. Because I know He'll get me through anything.

Will your eyes tell a different story?

After being at school for 3, 4, 5, 6+ months, most of us haven't seen our families in a while. Being here at BYU-Idaho gives us a chance to really be influenced by this Disciple Preparation Center and have the chance to change through Jesus Christ. For when you return home to your families, ask yourself this question:

Will you have had a change of heart?

...

Will your eyes tell a different story?

..........................

The Story of a Father and Son

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.

When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands.

He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art." The young man held out this package. "I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this."

The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. "Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift."

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.

A few years later the man died too. Since he had no heir, all his paintings were to be sold at auction. Collectors came from all around, it isn't often that such a great collection becomes available.

As the auction opened the first painting on the platform was the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. "We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?"

There was silence.

After a few moments, a voice in the back of the room shouted, "We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one."

But the auctioneer persisted. "Will somebody bid for this painting. Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?"

Another voice angrily. "We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!"

But still the auctioneer continued.

 "The son! The son! Who'll take the son?"

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. "I'll give $10 for the painting." Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.

"We have $10, who will bid $20?"

"Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters."

"$10 is the bid, won't someone bid $20?"

The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son.

They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.

The auctioneer pounded the gavel. "Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!"

A man sitting on the second row shouted, "Now let's get on with the collection!"

The auctioneer laid down his gavel. "I'm sorry, the auction is over."

"What about the paintings?"

"I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including all the paintings.

The man who took the son gets everything."

.................

I'm sure some of you have heard this story. Today in New Testament was the first time that I had heard of it and it really opened my eyes. Just think; we want to be able to do all of these things in life, whether they mean something or not. We want to have families and be successful, or we may just want to help our parents paint a bedroom. Whatever it is, by taking the son, we will receive these things. Everything will follow in behind.