Speaking Service

I have a family friend that lives here in Rexburg. They are the Conrad family. When we lived in Seattle they were in our ward. Sister Conrad was diagnosed several years ago with MS, and over time it has taken a heavy toll on her. Brother Conrad works during the day and the kids are off at school, so most of the time she just sits at home alone. She rarely leaves the house and often is too weak to attend church. Yet when I would visit or call this semester, you'd think she was the happiest woman in the world.

My speaking service entailed serving the Conrad family, helping ease the pressures a little of their situation. I could see that Sister Conrad benefitted by having me to talk with her when no one else was home or if she was particularly discouraged that day. We would talk about her mission that she served in the '90's, her kids that were in high school, her oldest as he served a mission, and the different things that were happening in both of our lives. I noticed that I spoke only positive things with her and her family, which came naturally. One time, my fiance and I went over on a Sunday afternoon and made the family a spaghetti dinner and dessert.

I am grateful for the Conrad's because doing the speaking service with them has taught me of the happiness there is in lifting up another with words. I have also been able to experience some of the joy I had as a missionary by a warm message to those in need of hope, like Sister Conrad. Being able to serve them in this way has been a blessing in my life, and I know that it has been a blessing for them as well.

Persuasive Speech

Persuasion Speech: Why We Must Learn History

I want everyone to close their eyes and imagine they are not in this room. Not in Rexburg, not anywhere you’ve ever been before. You’re not sitting either. You’re lying flat on a table. Listen to the sound of drip, drip, drip from the leaky ceiling. Breathe in…then out… The salty aroma of fish is in the air. Can you smell them? Feel the motion of the room slowly going up, and then gently down. It repeats endlessly, as you realize that the swaying room is part of a boat. Breathe in again, and you feel a SHARP pain in your back. AWAKE! You see the fish bones littering the floor. There’s a man in the room, hands wielding small pliers. Do you recognize him? No. “What is your name?” he asks. Silence. You can’t remember. Who are you? Where are you? What are you doing here and why has this fisherman just extracted bullets from your back?

            Alright, open your eyes. Does anyone know what movie that scene was from? The Bourne Identity, opening scenes. Great movie, right? Let’s think about that scene. Could he remember who he was? Could he remember why he was there? Is there a trilogy of successful box-office movies showing him trying to figure that out? Yes! Jason Bourne didn’t know his own history, and unless we study the past, neither will we. You see, everything that has happened in the world up to this point in time tells us what we are made of. I am me because of history. You are you because of history. Knowing our history teaches us who we are.

            How have civilizations gone by affected the world today? Why do we speak English instead of some other language? Where does our everyday stuff come from? Do the scriptures have anything to do with history? We are going to explore how that is; how history has developed us, how it has changed us, and why it should mean everything to learn it!

History in Culture

We speak English, correct? Who do we have to thank for that? Any guesses? I say we should thank the Huns. Remember the bad guys who popped out of the snow like daisies in the Disney movie, Mulan? A few hundred years after Christ, the Huns had moved from China, across Russia, and were setting their eyes on Europe. Behind them, a trail of destruction. Ahead of them, the barbarian tribes bordering the mighty Roman Empire. These tribes panicked at the Hun onslaught, and being so desperate resorted to doing an invasion of their own, aimed at Rome. The emperor at the time knew that Rome could not stand against so many barbarians. As the Huns pushed out the barbarians, the barbarians pushed out the Romans. In terror, the emperor recalled all troops from England. When he did this, two tribes, known as the Angles and the Saxons, took control of Britain. It is from the Angles that we get “Anglish,” or English.

Imagine if the Romans hadn’t left Britain to fight the Huns. We might be speaking Latin! History shows us where we've come from.

History in Business 
Who in here uses a credit card? Bank of America was the first bank to create the credit card system in the late 1950’s. If we trace Bank of America’s genealogy back a 50 years, we end up in San Francisco, 1906, during one of the worst earthquakes in American history. An Italian banker named Giannini had rescued the money from his bank before fire destroyed the city, and then set about loaning funds to the earthquake survivors as they rebuilt San Francisco. The quake had eliminated nearly all Giannini’s competitors, which helped Bank of America in becoming one of the largest banking companies in the United States. In other words, an earthquake is the reason you have that credit card in your wallet. History shows us how we got here.

            History in Religion

The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. We know this to be a record of the inhabitants of the Americas descending from Lehi and his family, as well as others who were led here by the Lord. The introduction says of this,

The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. Their words, written on gold plates, were quoted and abridged by a prophet-historian named Mormon.

The prophets in the Book of Mormon, ending with Mormon and Moroni, were indeed historians in every definition. Alma often reminds both his sons and the readers that history was essential in the converting success of Ammon and the sons of Mosiah:

Yea, I say unto you, were it not for these things that these records do contain, which are on these plates, Ammon and his brethren could not have convinced so many thousands of the Lamanites of the incorrect tradition of their fathers; yea, these records and their words brought them unto repentance; (Alma 37:9).

Were it not for their own historical records, we wouldn’t have the fullness of the gospel, the restoration of the priesthood, or even this wonderful campus to gain an education. We have every name mentioned in this book to thank for our education. History shows us how to live.

History in Who We Are

      The most important people I have to thank for who I am are my parents. As I have grown, I’ve been able to see them grow with me. There are people you value in your lives, be it parents or other close ones, that you owe gratitude for their contribution to you. I know that my grandpa, who passed away in 2009, was one of the first people outside of my immediate family I cared greatly about. He helped me discover a new level of admiration in others, a skill I use today. Though I love him, I've learned that the way my parents raised me was influenced by how my grandpa raised my mom. For example, my mom is one who always has hope in the abilities of others. This is a trait she’s passed to me, but I suspect she developed it while a teenager as she watched my grandpa overcome an addiction to smoking.

What things have we learned from our parents? Do we know why they named us the way they did? Where does your last name come from? How did your parents meet? I found out this summer how my grandparents met, and it’s a really wonderful story. But you should find out how your grandparents met. What can you do today to discover how your family has made you?

Take these. (Hand out papers) They are a starter questionnaires of things that you should know about your family. Why? Because you will never understand who you can become if you don't know who you are. Because the more you know your history, the more you know about you.

References:

The Bourne Identity. Dir. Doug Liman. Perf. Matt Damon. Universal, 2002. DVD.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/timeline/romanbritain_timeline_noflash.shtml

http://www.creditcardprocessingspace.com/history-of-the-credit-card/  http://about.bankofamerica.com/en-us/our-story/our-heritage-loans-handshake.html#fbid=7iecHgppVyS

Introduction, Book of Mormon

Alma 37:9, Book of Mormon

Familiar to Strange speech: making a PB&J --> secret scientist experiment

As I walked into the laboratory, I glanced around to see if the chief scientist was near. Eyeing nobody and feeling famished, my nefarious motives moved me further into the area of operation. I had been warned by the chief scientist to refrain from experimenting so soon before it was time to reconsume energy that evening. But I had to indulge myself. I hadn't had any energy since noon.

Pondering what might be the most immediate satisfying solution to my stomach cravings, I considered the options. Not enough time for something lengthy to prepare, for the chief scientist might discover me. And the stores of cheap, quick Pop-Tarts were depleted. I needed to concoct something easy, something sticky yet fruity. Something layered between two quantities of wheat. There remained one choice: the PBJ!

After locating a saucer upon which to begin my secret experiment, I scoured the cupboards for my first ingredient: peanut paste! That mashed mess of nutty beans are excellent appetizers on a post-lab eating binge. Pulped goober peas are crunchy, full of nuts. Not like that emasculated peanut spread some people prefer.

I set the cylinder on the lab table and moved on to the second necessary component. The smothered fruit preserves would do nicely for this particular test. I passed the blood-red colored jar and selected the purple tainted goop. Opening the lid, I was relieved to find there was enough for the experiment. (Sticks finger in jar and scoops out some.) Grape guts. (Eats portion of jelly on finger.) Mmmm…

Having obtained the bodily organs pertinent to my creation, I headed on to the final piece. I went to the gluten bank and converged on the carbohydrate-filled sponges that were available in times of need. And I was in need, for in no way was the experiment going to be quick or complete without two slices of this spongy-growth.

AT LAST! The materials assembled, I proceeded to concoct my creation under quiet experimentation. I began by placing the rectangular loaves parallel to each other. Then, placing a scalpel on the table, I took the container of discombobulated peanuts and used the scalpel to extract a proper portion from the container. (Smells container.) Ooh, I could smell the results already.

Taking the goober covered scalpel, I swiped the spread onto the sponge, thus nearly filling in each tiny hole on the porous surface. I repeated the system with the pectin-jelled fruit product, completing the maneuver upon the other slice of sponge. Then, setting down the scalpel, I took each sponge in each hand, smashing them together, and enjoyably tested the delicious data. It was at that crucial moment of discovery that the chief scientist opened the door to the lab. 

Opinions and Reporting the News

So another personal note about two things that have wandered across my mind. Namely, the media response to the recent general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and how people's opinions seem to be voiced in response to the outspoken views of others.

I attended both the Saturday morning and afternoon sessions of general conference last weekend. One of the speakers addressed how the Church is made up of imperfect people and mistakes are prone to happen. I was grateful that he had mentioned that, and I remember that a year and a half ago the same topic was mentioned. We do make mistakes. We say things or do things without always looking at all the options, or move forward without without having a clear view of the future.

And that's OK! Would Jesus need to come a second time if we were all perfect? Imperfection is how we grow, and it's comforting to know I'm not the only one who understand that. I thrive when someone tells me what I can do to improve, and most of the time it feels good to implement those views. So when I read in the New York Times last night titled, "A Top Mormon Leader Acknowledges the Church 'Made Mistakes,'" I was appalled at how such a misquote from the sermon was constrewn to change the whole purpose of being open about the human-prone error of large organizations. The article didn't even cover more pertinent issues relating to the title, giving the excuse that the leader "did not specify what leaders or mistakes he was referring to."

In an organization of an approximate 15 million members, with a singular doctrine that is followed devoutly and leadership comprised of all volunteers, there will be errors in judgement! But who's to say they happen with every decision leaders make? Did the Church leader speaking even reflect on what was deemed "a mistake?" No, he did not. This was not a confession of false hope, nor was it a defense of things that might have gone wrong in the past. It's what ever missionary understands when they meet a less-active member who claims they were offended or saw someone do something they thought might be inappropriate, and this writer for the New York times apparently just jumped on the bandwagon without checking to see what the real purpose of the sermon was.

Which purpose, in fact, can only be re-watched because the official text hasn't been released yet. This reflects the second reason for this post. Why did the writer take such a quote about making mistakes and turn it into a biased article about how Mormon leaders are fallible? Did she even say what her purpose was for writing it? If her intent was to report fairly and openly on an event, she should have left her personal inference out of it.

And even then, what am I doing in making this post? Aren't my views just as biased? Why yes, yes they are. That's why this is Blogspot, a place where opinions are meant to be shared. Not on the fourth page of the opening section of the internationally recognized New York Times.

A better title to the Times's article would have been, "Mormons Admit to Being Human."

-Adam

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/watch/2013/10?lang=eng&vid=2721983168001&cid=12

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/06/us/a-top-mormon-leader-acknowledges-the-church-made-mistakes.html?_r=0

Open for business!

WOW! I have a blog! Do you know what it feels like to get a new toy that you never knew would be fun to play with? That's what I'm feeling right now. There's this seething power underneath my fingertips just waiting to be used, dispersed, activated. Purposeful! It's seriously a new emotion. I am going to have fun with this.

One of the purposes to this blog is to share something I'm passionate about; something that I can show the world what I can do and how I see things as they could be. Whether it's a speech post that I slaved over, or an insight on a recent news event on how it affects myself, my people, and the way we make life happen.

Which brings me to my concluding point. I love reading and listening to the insights of others, so feel free to be open with your comments and feedback. Let's see where we can go and what we can accomplish on this path of progress.