Not yet, not today

My life has been peppered with instances of nearly dying or being put into some serious possible harm. I don't know why I am so accident prone. I don't know why I have had to be rescued time and time again. Perhaps I have yet another thing or two more to do for the Lord, I always settle on, when it comes down to the why. I suppose we ALL have something more to do every day if we survive another night of sleep and have been permitted yet another new day to perform our labors.

There was once such experience which nearly befell me while I was a driver as my way to support my family and earn a living.

During my tenure as an Uber/Lyft driver driving in the Vancouver, Washington market, I recall the moment where I was driving down a familiar road. I was en route to pick up heading north on 164th Ave between Mill Plain and 18th and at a comfortable speed. I don't recall what speed I was driving but I was hustling to pick up the next passenger which lay about another mile North East of my location. Taking 164th Avenue seemed to be the most convenient route to get there, I should mention.

I remember moving along checking the GPS for an ETA when I had looked up to see there was a red light signal glowing the brightest of reds and it was staring me down. I could almost hear a pulsating "Halt" sound whispering to my mind and I had moments to decide what to do about it. I saw a car approaching on the right set to cross in front of me. I had moments to decide. My mind was thinking speed up to avoid a collision but another voice entered into my head that I should apply the break instead. Then everything began to slow down in my mind. Had I come to a complete stop, it would have been after the intersection about 50 feet at the rate I was stopping. All I could see was the other sedan moving slowly across my path. I did not see his eyes and neither did any of us honk. My car continued to move forward and even after I had been applying the breaks, I did not seek cause to actually stop but I kept moving forward. It felt as though I had been given an additional 2 seconds to slow down for some reason. Had I hit the gas, I might have caught the drivers-side corner bumper and then there would have been a very serious problem to encounter after then which was 1) How could I continue driving to support my family and 2) what if I had a serious injury to accompany 1?

I did not feel a hand over my chest holding me back but I felt as though my car was suspended and slowed up significantly and for the split second or two that our cars passed by one another harmlessly onto our destinations, neither one of us felt the need to stop and process what had happened by getting out of the car to catch our breath. I don't know what the other driver was doing but I was heavily panting and sweating by the time I had gotten to the next signal light.

I went to pick up my clients and thought nothing more. I certainly didn't want to divulge what had nearly happened either to the 2 passengers I had recently picked up just following this incident for at least the reason of instilling some confidence in them that they too wouldn't be getting into an accident with me that night but probably more so I would have had a difficult time attempting to explain the loss of about 2 seconds and how my car avoided danger. This was not my time to crash or die and it certainly wasn't the next lesson that God wanted me to learn. I had to support the family and it would have been catastrophic, to me, to ALL OF US, had I gotten into that accident.

What happened to me and why did I get those 2 more seconds? Why was I spared an accident there and not the accident which also could have snuffed out my life a few years back in April, 2009, now more than 10 years ago?

All I know is that through some special design or because of some divine providence, I am still around today to do something. I imagine myself being an instrument in the hands of God to do things both great and small. I endeavor to become trustworthy enough to be utilized for good and to accomplish some of the more important missions that God may have yet for me to do. Is this why I am being preserved and prepared?

Whatever the answer and to whatever end, I can only hope that my days will continue to be a high number... perhaps I may be of service ongoing and I will be around to usher in the return of my redeemer or perhaps be sent to rescue some soul or be someones transportation. To do all things both great and small.

The 12th Rib of Adam

I heard a while back there was a connection with the Book of Mormon peoples as it was compared to a rib on the rib cage of Adam. It intrigued me so much that I have not been able to stop thinking about it. Even symbolism from the creation of Adam and Eve has made its way into the purpose of the Book of Mormon. I would love to discuss more about this with everyone here but mostly I want to see what else anyone else has found on the matter and scripturally if there's more to it than just a nice Theory. What I've gathered so far... * the rib cage is designed with 12 ribs and in the symbolism, each rib could symbolize one of the tribes of Israel and 12 symbolizes much althroughout the scriptures. * God extracted one rib and moved it into the woman. Similar to a graft as often spoken of about the olive trees ie Adam's rib was grafted into the woman, Eve, our first mother. Similarly God took one of the branches of the House of Israel and removed it from the man (Adam) of the holy land from the main body of the church in Jerusalem / Israel and used it to create a righteous counterpart for the church in a distant land (Eve) his counterpart. * in scriptures, woman typically represents Church as spoken of in Revelation in the words of New Testament prophets and apostles. So as that rib is used to form a woman as in the story of the creation, the righteous branch of Israel was used to form another entity which had to also become one with the man Adam or rather, the original church. Paul suggests that 'until we all come to the unity of the faith' that we in Christianity are like the married couple still trying to become 'one flesh.' * just as Adam and Eve were to cleave unto one another and become one flesh, The Book of Mormon record contained in the woman would become one flesh once again with the man as Moroni suggest that the Jews will have the words of the Nephites the Nephites was also have the words of the Jews. They would become one in our hand. Thus helping to solidify Ezekiel chapter 37 where talks about the Stick of Joseph in the Stick of Judah becoming one in our hand just like Adam and Eve became one flesh and we're the stronger because of it. Second Article: I heard a while back there was a connection with the Book of Mormon peoples as it was compared to a rib on the rib cage of Adam. It intrigued me so much that I have not been able to stop thinking about it. Even symbolism from the creation of Adam and Eve has made its way into the purpose of the Book of Mormon. I would love to discuss more about this with everyone here but mostly I want to see what else anyone else has found on the matter and scripturally if there's more to it than just a nice Theory. What I've gathered so far... * the rib cage is designed with 12 ribs and in the symbolism, each rib could symbolize one of the tribes of Israel and 12 symbolizes much altheoughout the scriptures. * God extracted one rib and moved it into the woman. Similar to a graft as often spoken of about the olive trees, let's say a rib was grafted into woman. We LDS believe that God took one of the branches of the House of Israel and removed it from the man the holy land or the main body of the church in Jerusalem / Israel and used it to create a righteous counterpart for the church in a distant land much like God grafted a rib into eve to give her life. * in scriptures, woman dutifully represents Church as spoken of in Revelation in the words of New Testament prophets and apostles. So as that rib is used to form a woman as in the story of the creation, the righteous branch of Israel was used to form another Testament of God's love breathing life again into the church. * just as Adam and Eve were to cleave unto one another and become one flesh, The Book of Mormon record contained in the woman would become one flesh once again with the man as Moroni suggest that the Jews will have the words of the Nephites the Nephites was also have the words of the Jews... or that the church which was formed by God could eventually become one flesh with Adam, till all come to the unity of faith... the rest if Adam ... 11 ribs in all, the main body. Bonus They would become one in our hand. Thus helping to solidify Ezekiel chapter 37 where talks about the Stick of Joseph in the Stick of Judah becoming one in our hand just like Adam and Eve became one flesh and we're the stronger because of it. Post script: spoken of in Jewish wisdom and proverb, the coming together of a man and a woman and letting them become of one flesh no less than a miracle then Moses parting the Red Sea. Hence, it would certainly be miraculous to see the Book of Mormon in the Bible come together become one and it would be a miracle to see those group to get along just as a married couple should.

How Long Do You Plan To Survive?

"...but if ye are prepared, ye shall not fear."

We have heard this perhaps more than a time or two and it is fitting to suggest that this is absolutely true in all things. Preparedness both temporally as well as spiritually is a sure way to ensure that ones days should be "long upon the land" as the scriptures go. The promise of both prophets of old and of modern prophets is such... "Keep the commandments of God and ye shall prosper in the land of promise."

Here are some tips and helps that could make your preparations for emergencies go a little more smoothly as well as enable you or empower you to begin NOW and have no fear while doing so.

First of all, start with what you have and decide how long you plan to survive outside of or inside the home and plan accordingly. Financial planners do the same thing when they ask you about retirement. "How long do you plan to live after..." and then fill in the blank. If the answer is, "A terrorist attack" then you might want to ensure that the proper protection is available to you such as a taser, a gun or some other light weight weapon that you could carry in case you encounter some sort of intruder. Knowing this and knowing exactly what is needed will ensure that you have the greatest of chances of 'living through these times" and doing so with the proper resources for doing it.

Start now, not later.

Even if you are on a tight budget or on NO budget at all, you can still prepare and you can still get organized. Begin looking around in the home for some of the things that are laying about and you'll find that you have more than you think you do. Even on a tight budget, you could begin putting things into a box until you could purchase a back pack for 5-10 dollars. The Dollar store is a good reference for things that could go into your backpacks. About 80% of the things I have in my 72 hour kit was purchased little by little from the things I could find at the dollar store including but not limited to: granola bars, LED flashlights, batteries, trail mix, sunflower seeds and so forth. We also use Amazon Prime in order to find great deals on those things that we cant get cheap but can usually find quickly and at only 2 days shipping, ships 7 days a week. Amazon Prime is where I was able to pick up 3600 calorie bars, water pumps, a life straw and other things and I was able to do so with free shipping while on prime. Army surplus stores are nice to visit as well if you're looking for additional camping gear however it has been my experience that these places are expensive and if you're on a tight budget, you want your 200-500 dollars to cover as much as it can possibly cover.

Safety and other concerns should also be discussed and explained to members of the family in case of any emergency both disasters man made as well as natural ones.

1) Where to meet up in case of an emergency.

2) Having ready to grab at a moments notice of about 15-30 minutes enough food an clothes and were it possible blankets and sleeping bags to last every member of the family for at least 3 days.

3) Have read the means for personal protection such as a shot gun or a hand gun to fend off an attacker or possibly any wild animals should one take their refuge in the mountains.

4) Plan for both long term and short term eventualities and other such disasters so that you are not adequately prepared for one but hilariously unprepared for something else. Note: Probably preparing for a total blackout via some sort of disruption to a power grid and/or some sort of airborn EMP device ought to be answered with equally effective preparation such as: On going energy needs, transportation, food, light, and access to communication via a handheld radio or other such instruments to send and receive messages to area leadership and to be able to speak with those who aim to provide aid and support to any and all that are also trying to cope with and thrive during an environment of complete isolation from the outside world and some of life's amenities.

I have also wondered what is supposed to go in ones 72 hour kits. Bottom line is simply this. "What will keep you nourished, warm and independent while on your own for 3 days?"

You don't have to be MacGuyver to successfully stay away from danger or out of harms way for a pair of days here and there but you should have things that could aid you in starting a fire, eating food, fending off danger and ultimately get you around while heading in the right direction.

Things that may be included in your kits may possibly be: a radio, map, a compass, flint, matches, fire starters, flashlights, batteries, laser pointers, first aid and last but not least spare clothes. Bonus: If you plan to be out in nature, consider getting a notepad and ways to write things and/or a field guide of some sort which can help you positively identify food, animals and trees. Having this field guide can help you steer clear of any poisonous plants or foods which if coming in contact with those things could spell problems, then it would be best going into that situation 'in the know.'

What can I eat? I recommend MRE foods, granola bars and also 3600 calorie bars or 'bricks' as I like to call them. These will allow you to function for at least 1 day each if plenty of hiking and moving about is necessary.

I recommend trail mix, hard candies and some gum as well to help curb your appetite during your time away thus helping you NOT to consume all of your calories too soon leaving you destitute for food well before it's time.

A way to get clean water or a way to clean your water and make sure that you stay well hydrated. Even in colder temperatures, one must be hydrated in order for the blood to circulate the warmth that is within you properly into the other extremities of the body which need to be warm such as the fingers and toes. Consider a "Life Straw" or "Life Straw Bottle" where possible, chlorine tablets, and also bottles of water for drinking and later mixing of water with the chlorine tablets.

Travel light, travel in packs or with a buddy.

If you can travel with a companion or your family, then all the while better. More than 2 people can also stay close together and help to keep one another warm in the event where one has to stay overnight somewhere and aren't able to go home whether out in the wild or not. Even if you have a safe place to go and have some shelter over your heads, the buddy system will always serve.

Last but not least...

Keep your things out and not packed away some where. A hidden or buried survival kit will do you very little good if this means that you have to leave in a hurry and do so without your provisions. Also: Remember to set aside some money, silver, or other things that you could barter with in case you meet someone else who might be able to provide you additional provisions for a price.

The Lord and his prophets have warned mankind since the days of revelation began and could be recorded and kept for our benefit. We are living in the last times spoken of by mouth of his holy prophets and as the days move along, the world will move along completely unaware of the calamities and the tribulations which lay ahead of us all. There will be much confusion and concerns as to how one may continue to prosper. According to Thomas S Monson, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we ought to "Be of good cheer. Y(OUR) future is as bright as your faith!"

Having a bright future is all good and well however, one should have to prepare for that. Letting ourselves believe that our futures are bright is all fine and well however one must prepare for that.

This will not be granted to us from the blue fairy... regardless of our race, gender, or spirituality, one should lay up in store for themselves a surplus of both food and water and keep on hand for themselves, at the very least, 6 months worth of food and water, where it may be possible.

The Lord loves you and as long as you stay close to him and remain obedient to his commandments, he will be able to see you through any situation and you will be led to places of safety. Pray always and faint not.

Scriptures for your consideration and study:

Doctrine and Covenants 105:14 "For behold, I do not require at their hands to fight the battles of Zion; for, as I said in a former commandment, even so will I fulfil—I will fight your battles."

Doctrine and Covenants 45: 68 And it shall come to pass among the wicked, that every man that will not take his sword against his neighbor must needs flee unto Zion for safety. 69 And there shall be gathered unto it out of every nation under heaven; and it shall be the only people that shall not be at war one with another. 70 And it shall be said among the wicked: Let us not go up to battle against Zion, for the inhabitants of Zion are terrible; wherefore we cannot stand. 71 And it shall come to pass that the righteous shall be gathered out from among all nations, and shall come to Zion, singing with songs of everlasting joy.

Like It Or Not, Gossip Is Real and Cliques Are Too

My fellow brothers and sisters... my answer to this growing plague which causes ones enthusiasm to dim is simply this...Gossip is evil and it exists and it hurts and it won't be going away anytime soon. People will continue to pass judgment and hold onto their cherished judgments made about you even even many seconds and minutes after you have partaken of the sacrament making promises to strive more diligently towards perfection. People in your wards will have their favorites and cliques will continue to exist. You will either fit in or you won't and at times, you won't fit in with ANYONE.

You may also feel as though the ward membership has only the power within themselves to only tolerate your presence vs provide the Christlike version of charitable fellowship and this, above all else, may cause your hearts to sink into despair and hopelessness. It hurts to feel alone or feel like you are outcast or that perhaps you don't fit in or that you don't belong. It hurts when people would rather talk with someone else than they would like to talk to you.

"One day you will prove to them all that they were wrong and God will prove to you that he was right about you all along." Now what do I mean by that? Well if you know your heart and that you are striving to be 'pure of heart' then you have no need to fear. God doesn't need permission by any of your ward members to allow your entry into heaven, PERIOD!

Turn to the Book of Mormon with me to "Jacob Chapter 3:1-2 and read the following:

1 But behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction. 2 O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever.

Are people really just sometimes acting like jerks? Possibly. We don't know their past or their upbringing. If you dare, ask them some questions to find out more about them. It is often revealing to discover just how it is that they were brought up. Continue in those conversations by stating how you understand a little more about them and thank them for that insight. Then do your best to lock away their secrets. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, right?

I testify to you, brothers and sisters, that it is not part of the natural man to think well of others and no matter what society you are brought up in, people are taught to shun that which they do not understand and we as a human race are not very teachable when it comes to how one ought to be treated and how to treat one another plain and simple. Judge not lest ye be judge. If you feel that you have been ostracized or ignored or loved less than what you are deserving of then join the club. People do have their favorites. It's also human nature...it's also ugly.

There's really very little we can do about this looming plague over those who are members of the church as it is also a plague upon humanity. Wards may have the same attendance percentages and similar rosters of like-minded people for many o quarterly reports. Your Elders quorum presidents will cite Home Teaching numbers and about reactivity and perhaps one soul or two will find his way through the labyrinth and regain his zeal for obedience to the Lord's commandments and begin to once again strive towards the heavenly goal while moving on up in the straight and narrow path. One day, my brothers and sisters, you WILL prove to the world that they were wrong about you but only if you have the intestinal fortitude to say this: I have ONE being that I need to be faithful to above all and that is faithful to the Lord and savior, Jesus Christ, first and foremost. Then you have a responsibility to your family and those you have stewardship over. (Including your home teaching families and those who are recipients of your service included within your church responsibilities and callings.) The important thing to know is that God loves you. You do NOT NEED the approval or fellowship of ward membership. I personally have not had my worthiness come into question by the bishop enough to talk with him about anything however I assume that it is possible where my own behavior may have gotten me into trouble. I am a bit 'boorish by nature' and being thus endowed (also described as being a bull in a china shop) I may have done, said or behaved after a manner which could have been offensive towards others. Que sera sera.

Brothers and sisters, do also as Jacob suggests that we do at the end of his record by 'being wise' as well as humble. Charity faileth not and he who is possessor of charity, at the last day, will have so much more the advantage over the brother who chose to participate in gossip or 1-upsmanship or any other behavior that signifies, "I am better than you because..." and perhaps they've got a full laundry list of GOOD and VALID reasons as to why they are better than you! Believe NONE of them. They may or may NOT have made better choices than you but if one of their choices was to think himself or herself as better than you, then they've got something wrong for 'all are alike unto God and God is no respecter of persons. God will not hold a sword over your neck with a vengeance. Jesus Christ will have compassion on they who have compassion on others. One day, not only will every 'knee bow and tongue confess' but part of this confession is where people will come to you and plead for your forgiveness on how you were treated. They will not need this forgiveness for their own entry into heaven for Jesus Christ has ALREADY paid the ultimate price and providing for us our atonement assured.

Some gossip is founded on truth, on partial truths and upon lies. The best way not to participate in gossip in your wards is to set the example. For example, if a new person comes into the ward and you've had the chance to talk with them and fellowship with them, then count your blessings if they are potentially one of your future, enduring friends. However, if another ward member decides to ask you questions about them, simply say this, "I don't know much about those guys so you'll have to go and talk with them yourself." Shift the responsibility of 'getting to know a new ward member' onto their shoulder because it is not up to you to do so. If they have something opinionated to say about them or perhaps they want you to agree on their assessments about them, then I suggest to you that you do one of the following: Excuse yourself from the conversation by politely saying, "I don't know enough about them to have an opinion about the matter." or simply say, "Well I suppose that's one way that someone could see them as being..." but reserve the right to get to know them yourself.

Brothers and Sisters... I testify to you that God loves us and he is keenly aware of how we're being treated or how others may have perceived or continue to perceive us as being. The important thing, above all others, is that you trust in the Lord. He will set things right and if at ALL necessary, he will send down justice upon those who seek your discomforts and want you to feel less than worthy. God teaches patience and he teaches humility. People will come up to you, in your lifetime, and tell you that they are sorry. Forgive them frankly and receive them as one of your friends wholeheartedly for you must... if you want to be numbered among they who are blessed of the Father in the last day.

I write these things and do so in the name of Jesus Christ, my redeemer, amen. Below: This was my rant but I decided to start over. If you enjoy reading and getting more in depth with the way I view the world, then read this unedited rant below. Otherwise, the article is done.

You decided to come back to church for the first time in forever and/or possibly you've been there for a while and haven't found your crowd. People go about their business and hustle off to class and yet, something feels missing. There hasn't been any fellowship. You sense something is missing but you just can't put your finger on it. It is my hope to write but a few words that if taken in the proper spirit can help save you from a downward spiral that could lead to bitterness and further inactivity and disenfranchisement from the church. For all of those who have felt lonely or outcast or for those who didn't feel like they belong, then perhaps this message is for you. A week or so goes by, and you begin to talk with someone at a mutual activity and their conversations with you are robotic and brief until you politely excuse yourself to then see that same ward member strike it up with one of their buddies giving handshakes with gusto and happiness. "What just happened?" you ask yourself. Did my breath offend? Did I let my hair go a bit too long before cutting it? Have I done something to offend the flock and I now begin to feel ostracized because perhaps something has been said concerning you either real or perceived that may or not be true? I have been the member of a ward for some time now and perhaps part of this is an editorial but in the end, or in the blog, I'd like to possibly answer some of those burning questions that I sometimes ask myself by also being the member of a ward family. We sure are an assortment of many different personalities both positive and negative. Before I begin making assumptions and then concocting solutions for assumptions both real or imagined, let me just clear the air and spell this one out for you clear as crystal. Gossip and judgment happens in the church PERIOD! Cliques are formed and judgments are made about you as to where you ought to belong. It's just human nature. It's not your fault or theirs, it's just how we are naturally bred to be. Even in the book of Mormon, it is discovered how the people would divide themselves into classes. If you want a fantastic read about Mormon's understanding on how the latter days would look like, then 4th Nephi is a very good read. It talks a lot about this. Now Mr LDSLIFE, you might be guilty of passing judgment upon others...beware on how you judge...and the measure in which you judge shall be added unto you etc etc... I get that. This is why I wish to tread somewhat carefully on the subject because whether I have all rhyme and reason or not, it seemeth me good to at least elaborate on my own experiences and then we'll let history decide whether they be of truth or may they be from out of my own imaginations. So once again, for all of those who have felt lonely or outcast or for those who didn't feel like they belong, then perhaps this message is for you and I believe that it is paramount that you read these words before considering to spend any length of time apart from coming to church and apart from renewing the covenant that you made with the Lord in being baptized because above all else, this must be observed. (I will explain a bit more what I mean by this below.)