The world was created with certain things being right, and certain things being wrong.
Sometimes it is really, really hard to tell what is right and what is wrong, because the lines seem to be gray and unclear.
Here are some ways to help us figure out what is right and what is wrong:
If something is right, it helps in the long term, although it may occasionally seem to harm immediately. If something is wrong, it only gives temporary help, or none at all.
Things that are right do not infringe unjustly on others' rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Infringing unjustly means killing and taking away freedom of innocent people who are not harming anybody else.
Sometimes, things like war seem wrong, but they are truly necessary. Wars should not be inspired by anger or hate, but rather love for those whose rights are being infringed upon. Sometimes you have to make really tough decisions between right and wrong, and nobody else can tell you what is right or wrong. You have to rely on your inner compass and have faith that help will come through your steadfastness in trying to do the right thing.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
How Characters in The Lord of the Rings Show the Young Women Values
I was reading The Lord of the Rings, and i started thinking that many of the people show the values which the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints encourages it's young women to follow.
Faith: Samwise Gamgee
Without Sam's faith in what they were doing, there would have been no reason for him to continue on, going through many hardships and almost death just to destroy a simple ring. There would be no reason to leave his little hobbit hole and go all the way to the heart of evil in Mordor unless he knew that the Ring must be destroyed in order for peace to stay in the land. He knew that it was his duty to risk his everything to vanquish evil and be loyal to his master.
Divine Nature: Aragorn
Aragorn knew who he was, and that he was destined to be king of Gondor. Nobility exudes out of him in every action.
Individual Worth: Peregrin Took
Sometimes Pippin seems kind of unessential, and like the story could go on without him, but he does some really brave and important things, that are utterly unexpected of a hobbit, if you observe their daily lives. One of these things is saving Faramir from being burned alive.
Knowledge: Gandalf
Gandalf astonishes me with the vastness of his knowledge. When he sees something that he doesn't understand and that he needs to know about, he studies on it. Without his knowledge, Frodo and his companions would have been dead the moment they left the Shire.
Choice and Accountability: Frodo Baggins
Frodo didn't have to go to Mordor and destroy the ring. Things were gong great in Hobbiton. He had a nice hole, he had a lot of wealth, friends, family, and the beauty of the Shire. But he did leave, because he knew that evil would become almost unstoppable if Sauron was allowed to get the Ring.
Good Works: Farmer Maggot
We don't know too much about him, but when Frodo and his companions show up in the dead of night, trespassing over his property on a night when a mysterious black rider had just stopped at his house. I would have not even answered the door, and let my dogs deal with them. Farmer Maggot, however, went to see who they were, fed them, and gave them a ride to Buckleberry Ferry.
Integrity: Samwise Gamgee
Sam did what he said he would. He continued on his journey and didn't let anything stop him, even when Frodo was taken by Orcs and it seemed like he would surely die. He just carried on,prepared to take the Ring himself if he couldn't find Frodo.
Virtue: All the good characters
A lot of the people in The Lord of the Rings a good way to act. They show that good is always stronger than evil, and that if we continue in the right then those who support evil will surely be smitten at last.
Faith: Samwise Gamgee
Without Sam's faith in what they were doing, there would have been no reason for him to continue on, going through many hardships and almost death just to destroy a simple ring. There would be no reason to leave his little hobbit hole and go all the way to the heart of evil in Mordor unless he knew that the Ring must be destroyed in order for peace to stay in the land. He knew that it was his duty to risk his everything to vanquish evil and be loyal to his master.
Divine Nature: Aragorn
Aragorn knew who he was, and that he was destined to be king of Gondor. Nobility exudes out of him in every action.
Individual Worth: Peregrin Took
Sometimes Pippin seems kind of unessential, and like the story could go on without him, but he does some really brave and important things, that are utterly unexpected of a hobbit, if you observe their daily lives. One of these things is saving Faramir from being burned alive.
Knowledge: Gandalf
Gandalf astonishes me with the vastness of his knowledge. When he sees something that he doesn't understand and that he needs to know about, he studies on it. Without his knowledge, Frodo and his companions would have been dead the moment they left the Shire.
Choice and Accountability: Frodo Baggins
Frodo didn't have to go to Mordor and destroy the ring. Things were gong great in Hobbiton. He had a nice hole, he had a lot of wealth, friends, family, and the beauty of the Shire. But he did leave, because he knew that evil would become almost unstoppable if Sauron was allowed to get the Ring.
Good Works: Farmer Maggot
We don't know too much about him, but when Frodo and his companions show up in the dead of night, trespassing over his property on a night when a mysterious black rider had just stopped at his house. I would have not even answered the door, and let my dogs deal with them. Farmer Maggot, however, went to see who they were, fed them, and gave them a ride to Buckleberry Ferry.
Integrity: Samwise Gamgee
Sam did what he said he would. He continued on his journey and didn't let anything stop him, even when Frodo was taken by Orcs and it seemed like he would surely die. He just carried on,prepared to take the Ring himself if he couldn't find Frodo.
Virtue: All the good characters
A lot of the people in The Lord of the Rings a good way to act. They show that good is always stronger than evil, and that if we continue in the right then those who support evil will surely be smitten at last.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
The Transforming Power of Jesus
I just finished reading The Voyage of the Dawn Treader a few days ago, and I really enjoyed it.
My favourite part was when Aslan peeled the dragon skin off of Eustace. It made me reflect on how Christ can take the natural man off of each of us if we allow him to.
"In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea, with a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me."
-Battle Hymn of the Republic
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
My Garden (Part 2)
This is my itty-bitty baby pumpkin. It's growing quickly, but my cats keep on trying to step on it and I'm afraid they'll break it. Any ideas for keeping cats away?
The Declaration of Independence
Tomorrow's Independence Day, and I want to share this video about the Declaration of Independence with all of you. It seems like so many Americans think of it as an excuse to have a day off work and hang out with friends and family. Now, that's fun and good, but this day is about celebrating the independence that the United States have declared. It is a day to study our history, and especially the Revolutionary War.
Declaration of Independence Video
Have a great Independence Day. :)
Declaration of Independence Video
Have a great Independence Day. :)
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Integrity
"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony."
-Mahatma Ghandi
When people are divided, they cannot be happy. It reminds me of a scripture that I read recently:
For man is spirit. The elements are eternal and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fulness of joy; And when separated, man cannot receive a fulness of joy."
-Doctrine and Covenants 93:33-34
I couldn't figure out what this scripture was saying for the longest time. I think it's talking about the reconnection of spirits and bodies after the judgement, but I thought of it in this instant because when a person's body and spirit are not connected, he can't be happy.
Integrity is about being whole and acting according to what you believe. This is what brings happiness, along with virtue.
-Mahatma Ghandi
When people are divided, they cannot be happy. It reminds me of a scripture that I read recently:
For man is spirit. The elements are eternal and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fulness of joy; And when separated, man cannot receive a fulness of joy."
-Doctrine and Covenants 93:33-34
I couldn't figure out what this scripture was saying for the longest time. I think it's talking about the reconnection of spirits and bodies after the judgement, but I thought of it in this instant because when a person's body and spirit are not connected, he can't be happy.
Integrity is about being whole and acting according to what you believe. This is what brings happiness, along with virtue.
Monday, June 25, 2012
My Garden (Part 1)
I planted my pumpkins last Friday, and they started growing. They're really adorable, and I want to share them with you. I'm going to show their progress sometimes. It will probably be once a week, because I'm excited about them.
Also, I planted carrots today. I'll show them to you when they grow.
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