What Makes a Man a Man

     I was visiting with a lady from our ward the other week, we were over at her house for dinner and we were talking about the good ol' days. Even though she is much more chronologically advanced than I am, we both still knew what the good days were. It came to a point in the conversation where we started talking about heroes from the past. She then said: "We need those kinds of heroes today, we need heroes like John Wayne."

    John Wayne was the man. He is an iconic American actor, who played primarily in western films. He was the ladies man, the lawman, the straight shooter who always got the bad guy. He was the man who could do anything, and the guy you wanted on your team. What made him great was his morals, his code, and his grit. The things that make a man a man. He walked the line, and stood up for what he believed in, and he stood up to in the face of danger, no matter what. He treated women with respect, and never quit at anything. Truly, these characteristics are what made John Wayne an icon. Someone to look up too. When I think of people like John Wayne, I think of my Dad and my Grandpa.
    I couldn't give you an example of anyone more heroic that these two. My whole life I've lived and made mistakes, I always ask myself, "what would Dad do? What would Grandpa do?" I've never seen anything get the two guys down, ever, and I've reached a point in my life where I don't even think it's possible.
   My Dad and my Grandpa taught me so much. I could make a list a mile long and still not be done. They are both simple men, who love their wives, work hard everyday to provide for their families, are right with God, and are as real and straight shootin' as you can get. True heroes. I know if I can only be half as good as they are, I'll be alright.
   As I go on through my life, I thank God for my Dad and Grandpa. They helped make me who I am. I realize that more and more each day. And when life gets tough, I may stumble and fall but I'll never quit, because they never taught me how. . .
   Thanks Dad and Grandpa.
   

When The Light Comes On

       DING, DING, DING, DING, DING !!!! We have all been there at some point, and know what it means. You could have been driving down the road, or sitting in park, but when the check engine light comes on it your car, you feel a need for panic! Nobody would blame you, it happens to the best of us. You start to ask yourself what in the world is wrong, what happened, what you have to fix, and you might even not want to drive until that evil orange light goes away! It's very unsettling.
     Truth be told, the 'check engine light' or CEL, can go off for a lot of different reasons. You might have noticed you can usually still drive when its on. Its pretty obvious when there truly is something wrong with the engine. Most of the time, whatever this annoying little light is blinking about has absolutely nothing to do with your engine at all. It's always some sort of sensor that goes bad, an emissions control mechanism, or something that has no real or positive affect on how your motor runs. In other words, sometimes it tells you something is wrong with your engine, when there isn't.
     It's still safe to check it out none the less. . . You could have some serious issues with your powerplant and not be able to tell by ear or feel, and that little light can save your rear end. But what im driving at isn't about if you should trust your CEL or not, but what warning tool we can all use that will never give us mixed signals.
     We all call it by different names: The Holy Spirit, The Holy Ghost, The Great Spirit, El Espiritu Santo . . .  Whichever name you use, it all means the same thing, and all of us have felt it. The Holy Ghost is the third member of The Godhead. Throughout the scriptures it is described as the comforter, one who brings feeling of joy and peace. We know this is true. Another unique attribute of The Spirit is that it also bears witness of truth and light.

       In the Bible, James tells us that if we lack wisdom, we "should ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." This is clear enough instruction. But how is that knowledge given to us? By the power of The Holy Ghost. In the last book of the Book of Mormon, we receieve further truth of this doctrine: "And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest
the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." (Moroni 10:4-5) We learn from these passages that we can know the truth of all things through The Spirit. Thats a pretty big thing to claim, but I can tell you that it's true.

       The Holy Ghost is truly the only thing that can give you confirmation of truth, and be absolutly dead on. It doesn't send us mixed signals, it doesn't tell us our engine is going out when we lose an oxygen sensor, it tells us whats true and whats not. I promise that if anyone out there wants to know the truth, and you ask God, The Holy Ghost will bear witness. And this comes from personal experience, when the Holy Ghost tells you something, you can't deny it.