Peek-a-boo!

Dear Readers,
The title of this post means that I'll be disappearing back into blogger obscurity for a while after posting this, but because I have been absent for so long, here is the first insight paper I wrote for my Book of Mormon Class. Enjoy!

Insight Paper the First

2 Nephi 31:19-20:

19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.

20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

If I were to bear record of my sensory experience of these past two days with a list of adjectives, such a list would include “sluggish,” “sedentary,” “foggy,” “lazy,” “heavy,” et cetera. The weather has been gorgeous, and I am aware of that, my classes have been interesting and I am aware of that, and I have been working steadily, but for whatever reason I have felt mentally motionless since Monday morning. I feel like I have lost momentum in my studies and that some sort of weighty haze has descended upon my mind. While leafing through my Book of Mormon in search of a passage to discuss in this paper, these two verses, marked in red, likely brought to my attention years ago in a fireside or on an early morning in seminary, took on especial significance for this moment in my life.

Two words, a verb and an adverb, found great relevance in the context of these recent days: “press forward.” I liked “press” because it indicates some sort of resistance. To press something requires some sort of force. It requires difficulty. It requires something to press into or through. “Press” is an active verb, and active is just what I need to be right now to “press” through this mental fog. I liked “forward” because it indicates motion and direction. I want to move forward in my life, but for the past two days, the natural man in me has wanted just the opposite—to stay put. But in this gospel, and in life in general, one can’t just stay put. Putting these words in context, the strait and narrow path is not straight, nor is it flat. It’s an overgrown, slippery mountain trail. Staying put really means sliding backwards. To progress, one must hold tight to the rod, and climb with great effort, pressing away through the overgrowth. In my experience, the path of righteous living isn’t easy. Those occasions when I think it is easy are usually those occasions when I need to work harder.

So how does one press forward, despite the obstacles (in my current case, this mental fog and inertia that has been with me these two days) without giving into discouragement (as I have oft been tempted to do these past two days—thankfully I haven’t given in yet and don’t plan to in the future)? The answer is in the verse. We aren’t commanded to simply “press forward,” we are commanded to “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men…feasting upon the word of Christ, and [enduring] to the end.” What we must never forget, and what I (thankfully) haven’t forgotten over the last two days, is to enjoy the journey in its difficulty. Though the trail is steep and strenuous, it is beautiful (when we can see it). As long as we continue to press forward, the light of Christ will illuminate wonderful things along the path (much prettier than any primroses we could see on another, easier path). I’m so glad I rediscovered this verse. It is the perfect piece of advice for this time in my life and any time in my life.

Here is something I LOVED when I was young:



I want to watch this movie at Thanksgiving or Christmastime. Listen to the last phrase and the last note--the technique is perfect and the performance exhilarating.

--Christian

P.S. I was cast as Nephi in Savior of the World (A major annual production in the Conference Center) but I had to turn it down. It was so hard to say no. Hopefully I'll be just as favorably cast when I audition in the future.

Amazing

Dear Readers,

I don't have any philosophizing to do tonight, but these two videos amaze me:





--Christian

Week One? Check!

Hey Everyone,
It's been a while since I've posted! I'll get better, I promise, but this past week was rather busy. Here's a little piece I wrote for my Music 161 (group voice) class, in response to a Brigham Young passage. I'll type out the passage first, and then my response:

"Strengthen the Hands of Your Fellow Beings"
Brigham Young

If you feel evil, keep it to yourselves until you overcome that evil principle. This is what I call resisting the devil, and he flees from me...When you are influenced by the Spirit of holiness and purity, let your light shine; but if you are tried and tempted and buffeted by Satan, keep your thoughts to yourselves--keep your mouths closed; for speaking produces fruit, either of a good or evil character...You frequently hear brethren and sisters say that they feel so tried and tempted, and have so many cares, and are so buffeted, that they must give vent to their feelings; and they yield to the temptation, and deal out their unpleasant sensations to their families and neighbors. Make up your minds thoroughly, once for all, that if we have trials, the Lord has suffered them to be brought upon us, and he will give us grace to bear them...But if we have light or intelligence--that which will do good, we will impart it...Let that be the determination of individual, for spirit begets spirit-likeness; feelings beget their likeness...If then we give vent to all our bad feelings [and] disagreeable sensations, how quickly we beget the same in others, and load each other down with our troubles, and become sunk in darkness and despair! ...In all your social communications...let all the dark, discontented, murmuring, unhappy, miserable feelings--all the evil fruit of the mind, fall from the tree in silence and unnoticed; and so let it perish, without taking it up to present to your neighbors. But when you have joy and happiness, light and intelligence, truth and virtue, offer that fruit abundantly to your neighbors, and it will do them good, and so strengthen the hands of your fellow beings.

Journal of Discourses, 5: 351-352

And now my response:

Good Fruit

This is one of my favorite quotes from Brigham Young. When Randy introduced it to me at YASE camp 2008, it completely changed my perspective on the healthy expression of feelings. While I cannot truthfully say that I have fully incorporated the principle of “no bad fruit” in my life, my efforts towards more fully living by it have made me much more positive and much happier. Especially in an environment of performance and scrutiny, which will be the context of this course, this principle transforms the vocal workshop from threatening to supportive. With the added comfort of knowing that one’s fellows are hoping and wanting the best for you comes an increased ability to perform to potential. The spirit can be present and will sharpen our faculties and help us to learn more effectively and permanently. Our voices will grow in their ability to sing praises unto our Father in Heaven.

Furthermore, it acts as a guideline for the kinds of choices we ought to make as performers. We must choose to take part in performances that are good and not evil. We must use our gifts to edify and enlighten others and in so doing we will edify ourselves. If we choose to lend our talents to unworthy performances, then we will be spiritually damaged and those for whom we perform will suffer as well. If we, as performers, truly wish to make the world a better place, we must be very careful the the fruits of our talents are not evil, but good.

Here is a song that I really like:



Love,
Christian