More PICS!

These are some more pics of Emily being pregnant! And her catching me playing guitar hero without me looking! I know, I look funny.

Knowledge

"What does the Holy Ghost do for the education of men? Far more than our academies do. Our children have, by hard study, year after year, to acquire their learning in these human institutions; hard thinking is necessary, reasoning, gaining little by little, and it frequently requires many years of close application to become what is termed a learned man--a man that understands the sciences, that has worked his way through the various departments of mathematics, and perhaps geology, and mineralogy, and all the sciences, such as are usually taught in the universities. But a man filled with the Holy Ghost has the advantage of students who graduate at our universities. Why? Because he can learn more in ten minutes, in regard to many things, than another, not so favored, can in all his life." Elder Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses 19:284.

This is a humbling quote. This quote tells me that the Holy Ghost teaches all truth whether it be academic truth or spiritual truth. The Holy Ghost opens the big picture for our eyes to see and then in essence teaches us through that picture. The Gospel did not have real deep meaning to me until I started to study it like I study Tolstoy. It was not until I examined all the symbols in conjunction with the writing style of one of Bruce R. McConkie's talks that I realized that I was selling myself short in my study of the Gospel. Now I can say that the Holy Ghost teaches me more. I am grateful for the Holy Ghost and role it plays in my study, both spiritual and academically. It helps me remember more, focus more, and study for longer amounts of time. It is real, and it is powerful.

Xbox 360 Games!

I have been throwing around some thoughts in my head about some stuff I want to write about, but am not quite ready to write about them. I have not figured out my thoughts yet. So, instead I decided to write about two xbox 360 games I have been playing that are flat out sweet.

First off, it is no surprise that Guitar Hero III is one of them. This game is just awesome! My wife and I have played it together! We did the career where one person plays bass and the other lead guitar. We have spent hours playing it together. This is a must have if you have any gaming system.

Second is Burnout Paradise. This game is sick. The city is wide open for you to drive any where. You start all your races and events by squealing your wheels at any stop light. There is no main menu to go back to to start a race, you have to drive around the city and find stop lights. The online gaming on this game is also very, very good. If you like race car games you will love this one. Even if you traditionally do not like racing games I think you will like this one.

About the Pics

The first pic is of me in my snow boots. My dad got these for me for Christmas so I thought he might like to see a pic of them. The second and third one are of Em and that cute big belly. The last one is a pic of my office at work, surrounded by books in the basement!

Just Wanted to Add Some Pics

America

"I am the greatest advocate of the Constitution of the United States there is on earth. In my feelings I am always ready to die for the protection of the weak and oppressed in their just rights." - Prophet Joseph Smith

"We will cling to the Constitution of our country, and to the government that reveres that sacred charter of freemen's rights; and if necessary, pour out our best blood for the defense of every good and righteous principle." Prophet Brigham Young

"It was in this government, (government of the United States) formed by men inspired of God, although at the time they knew it not, after it was firmly established in the seat of power and influence, where liberty of conscience, and the free exercise of religious worship were a fundamental principle guaranteed in the Constitution" - Prophet Brigham Young

"No item of inspiration is held more sacred with us (Mormons) than the Constitution (of the United States) under which she acts." - Prophet Brigham Young

I am so tired of hearing people base their vote on religion, and religion alone. Have we forgotten what has made America so great? Have we forgotten what we fought for? I agree you should be able to choose how you believe, but to use that belief to solely decide who your leaders should be is wrong. I admit that I have a pull to Romney because I know he shares my same core values, but my biggest pull to Romney is that I believe he is the right person for the economy. To me the economy is more important at this time than the war in Iraq. If the war, or any war, was my main concern then I would vote for McCain. To simply say ignorant remarks about someones religion and base your vote on that is stupid and mindless. Does anyone know the religions of any of the other candidates? If you tell me I will find strange and interesting facts about their religions. However, once I do that I bring myself under the same condemnation if I base my vote on their religions. This is America. Choose your leader wisely. Truly look at everything, and give those things that matter most to you the greatest weight. If what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints believes is most important to you, then you better make religion your main concern with every candidate.

Do you have everything?

"For it must be true, as an old writer says, that he who has God and everything else has no more than he who has God only." - C.S. Lewis

I love this quote because it brings me back to reality. It lets me know that all I really need in life is God, and that my relationship with Him is critical to my happiness and salvation. I would love to have a lot of worldly things. At times I crave material things. I set goals to obtain worldly things. What I really need to be doing is setting goals to obtain eternal things. No one has more than the person who has God in their life. Having God in your life brings such blessings. I really do not deserve those blessings, but God still gives them to me. I am very grateful.