mission accomplished.

It is the 31 of March.

I finished reading the Book of Mormon today.

I did it! I read the entire Book of Mormon in one month!

We were encouraged to choose a specific topic to focus on while read...

I originally chose the theme of obedience/disobedience -- but then I decided to also look at how the righteous behave while surrounded by wickedness.

I chose the topic because of everything going on with my sister. I wanted to know how to deal with all of the crap going on around this place.

Mormon shed some light on things for me towards the end of the book...

"Behold, I had led them, notwithstanding their wickedness I had led them many times to battle, and had loved them, according to the love of God which was in me, with all my heart; and my soul had been poured out in prayer unto my God all the day long for them; nevertheless, it was without faith, because of the hardness of their hearts." (Mormon 3:12)

Ok, so the Nephites are pretty wicked at this point in time... and have been for awhile now.

Here's how Mormon handled them:

Led them into battle

LOVED them with all his heart

Poured out his heart in prayer for them

Got it.

I'm feeling good right now. I'm gonna take a page out of the Mormon book of how to treat others.

Thanks Mormon.

idle.

Confession : I have not done very much since coming out to Utah.

My evenings are always pretty full -- but the day time is filled with... well, not much.

"...thou shalt not idle away thy time..." (D&C 60:13)

Today I have spent a couple (or more) hours playing my favorite game. FIFA 2010. I played online so I felt like it was somewhat better than just playing random games. But still -- not exactly productive.

I need a job.

socialism.

There is a lot of discussion about the direction the government is taking this country. There will always be people complaining about what the government is doing. However, the health bill that I watched President Obama sign earlier has certainly escalated the number and intensity of the voices speaking out.

The oft-used and inevitable comparison is between the policies being passed and socialism.

America? Socialist?

Never.

Well.... maybe.

And this is NOT a recent development.

I love this talk...

"According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles." (D&C 101:77)

I understand that times have changed and there have been amendments passed since the foundation of the country that have been necessary.

However, if the prophet in 1965 was warning about changes being made constitutionally that would lead the country down a destructive path -- imagine what our prophet could say today?

I am grateful to know that when President Hinckley spoke and when our current prophet, President Monson, speaks, it is directly from the Lord.

The Lord will not leave us to struggle and figure things out on our own.