The Tunnel of Darkness!

In modern times when we relate to something hard in our life it always seems like we talk about darkness. Darkness in most situations is troublesome. Have you ever tried changing a tire in the dark? Its not easy and depending on the area can be very scary. There could be someone or something watching you and you would have no idea. Your sight is very limited and makes things more nerve wracking and uneasy to the stomach. I don't want to scare you, but to enlighten you from this point.

So when you hear the title "The Tunnel of Darkness", what do you think about? I commonly think about going in an underground tunnel. This tunnel could be very winding to seem there is no end. This tunnel may not be lit up very well or even at all. Thankfully with modern day technology we have electricity and lights which light up the world, but what happens when the power fails?

In life we go through many tunnels of hardships. Some may seem there is no end, others may just come and go frequently. Some may hardly ever see severe hardship. I have picked just a few hardships that we suffer day to day: 
1) Finances- To me the world seems like the items there in are getting more and more expensive but pay is staying close to the same. It causes trouble in families, relationships and even personal life
2) Relationship problems within couples/families- Pornography, Laziness, Selfishness, Adultery, Finances and Jealousy are all common problems in relationships. Tearing couples/families apart
3) Employment- Truthfully how many people today are unemployed. I have been unemployed for 6 weeks and it sucks. Thankfully I am single and not providing for a family. Jobs take spouses away from each other, fathers/mothers away from their children, moving from place to place for work

These are common problems in today's society. There are more than this, but I hit just a few points. Each of these can totally cripple a relationship with another or self. 

Lets looks at the tunnel of hardships todays younger generation goes through:
1) Peer Pressure- "Its cool, everyone does it" is said over and over to these young souls. Are we teaching them to run from inappropriate peer pressure, which I personally think covers it all
2) Abuse- So many kids today are abused physically and emotionally. They are bullied physically and mentally which changes their life, not for the best usually though, these kids become suicidal and reckless
3) Broken Families- Kids grow up without a parent who may have been able to guide them a little different that the other, different experiences change attitudes, single mothers working all the time to provide for her kids
4) Lazy Parents- Parents teach their kids to live on welfare and not to work. What economic problems does that create?
5) Early Sexual Experimenting/Rape- How many teen girls do you know who drop out of high school because they are pregnant? How many lives are taken by abortion because the mother or father are still in high school? Girls are taken advantage of. Obviously there are certain situations for abortion but that will be discussed later.
6) Drugs and Alcohol- Lives are destroyed by these things

I hate discussing such content but its the truth of what we go through today. I was in high school just a few years ago and I saw all that went on. Thankfully my parents raised me to always run for safety. Was I an angel? Absolutely not, but if I would have listened to my parents earlier in my life it would have been easier.

Now that we have discussed these horrible and sometimes endless seeming obstacles in life, how can we over come them? Every person is different and different things work for different people. Some parents think locking their children in the house will do. I can honestly say if anything it normally makes them way more experimental in their lives away from home. I personally believe it all starts from the time the kids are born. How do we raise our kids? Are they given everything they want? Are they taken care of and treated with respect or are they just a tax write off? You may be wondering how this ties in with tunnels of darkness but you will see.

Their futures depend on the training, love and discipline they are given during their first 18 years. Roughly at about age 14 they are experimenting behind their parents back. It may be serious or just minor but no matter what how we respond will change their outlook the next time. If we respond in hatred, you may never see your kid again as they will run away. If you respond with the greatest love you can give, it will make them think the next time or maybe even years down the road.

So in the time that they are being raised, hardship will come to both parents and children and will effect both. Children will see how their parents respond. If the parents just give up that is what the kids are being taught. If they are taught to persevere throughout whatever comes their way they will be stronger when life gets harder.
Example; My mom was diagnosed with cancer when I was about 12 years old. My mom did not show much weakness to us kids. She seemed pretty upbeat about it. As we have gotten older and know more about it we can just imagine how hard it was for her to keep smiling, to press onward as if life was normal knowing it was definitely not. That took me years to actually understand how great of an example it was. I ran into different medical things in my life and my mom was continually giving support. It probably effected her more than me at the time but she didn't show it. I had a harsh attitude and wanted to give up. By her example though was I brought through that tunnel. 

Her example was that of the Savior. She continually tried to emulate His example towards us. Obviously yes we made her mad and she showed it on occasion, but for the most part she was so patient and loving when we made mistakes. We were able to learn from her testimony and strength when we didn't have our own understanding.

This is one of my favorite disney songs. It is called, "Go The Distance" from the movie Hercules. Hopefully you know the story of Hercules. He grew up a boy who was bullied and pushed around but with determination and incredible effort he became a hero to many. Its the same in our life. We may be having problems but with determination and effort our problems will be worked out and we will come to the end of the tunnel. The path may not be easy, but it will most definitely be worth it.

I challenge you to look(not dwell) at your problems, see what needs fixing, come up with a plan and then take that plan to God for help. As it states in Matthew 19:26 in the Bible, 

"... , but with God all things are possible." Let Him help you fight your hardship.  Let Him lead you to the light at the end of the tunnel. Let Him be the cornerstone and rock upon which your life is built. "He will help you avoid wells without water!"

May you always keep the eternal view is my prayer that you may not get distracted for the here and now moment.

Importance of Learning as a Child

In life we go through so many trials. We have to make so many huge decisions in life. Wouldn't it be nice to know what the answers already are? What would you do to know you can receive spiritual guidance by living the principles of the Gospel? Growing up in a family of 8 children was amazing. Some may ponder how did my parents do it. Well I just wonder how they dealt with me. HAHA! Well there is one major part that helped them to raise all of us kids. Teaching in the home was a huge part of our growing up life. The teaching that went on was a righteous teaching. They were teaching proper conduct according to the words of our modern day prophet. Don't get me wrong we are FAR from perfect but my parents did what they could to teach us right. In this teaching we saw their example, we saw that they loved us. We saw the joy and happiness that comes from living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I would like to talk about a few of things that I learned in the home and some examples of others. 

In my parents home as a family we went to church every week. We were fortunate enough to live not very far from the church. It was across town which averages about 4 minutes if you ran. From a child I learned of Jesus Christ and the things which He has done for us. We were taught about prophets and how God can still speak to us today. My mother and father showed me examples of how righteous people should live. They taught me how to work and provide for myself. They taught me the importance of having a relationship with my Heavenly Father. When I was a young boy I remember my mom teaching us kids in the home about church, about life, about families and the importance of them and they taught us to not sin. We were taught righteously in the home that is the big part. This learning in the home was very important to me. I cherish the things I learned at home from my parents. One of the most important things my parents taught us was to recognize the Spirit. It is so hard to figure it out. It is truly a life saving lesson. The Spirit or Holy Ghost is there as a Comforter as Jesus spoke about in John 14:26. He can teach us all things. He is there to manifest to us truths and to testify of God the Father and and His Son Jesus Christ.

In the book "Jesus the Christ" on page 111 it states, "In such simplicity is the normal, natural development of the boy Jesus made clear. He came among men to experience all the natural conditions of mortality; He was born as truly a dependent, helpless babe as is any other child; His infancy was in all common features as the infancy of others; His boyhood was actual boyhood. His development was as necessary and as real as that of all children. Over His mind had fallen the veil of forgetfulness common to all who are born to earth." The Apostle, James E. Talmage wrote this book. He talks about the birth of the Savior. Jesus was born as any other child. It later talks about Jesus learned about His Heavenly Father at His mothers knees. His mother taught Him perfectly. That is the importance of parents teaching the Gospel to their children. Does this help you understand more the importance of teaching your children? I sure hope so, it put a huge change of thinking about learning. Education is important as I will talk about later.

"Teaching in the home is becoming increasingly important in today’s world, where the influence of the adversary is so widespread and he is attacking, attempting to erode and destroy the very foundation of our society, even the family. Parents must resolve that teaching in the home is a most sacred and important responsibility. While other institutions, such as church and school, can assist parents to “train up a child in the way he [or she] should go” (Proverbs 22:6), ultimately this responsibility rests with parents. According to the great plan of happiness, it is parents who are entrusted with the care and development of our Heavenly Father’s children. Our families are an integral part of His work and glory—“to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). On God’s eternal stage, it is usually intended that parents act as the central cast members in their children’s lives. Fortunately, there are understudies involved in the production who may step in when parents can’t. It, however, is parents who have been commanded by the Lord to bring up their children in light and truth (see D&C 93:40).

Parents must bring light and truth into their homes by one family prayer, one scripture study session, one family home evening, one book read aloud, one song, and one family meal at a time. They know that the influence of righteous, conscientious, persistent, daily parenting is among the most powerful and sustaining forces for good in the world. The health of any society, the happiness of its people, their prosperity, and their peace all find common roots in the teaching of children in the home.

Elder Joseph Fielding Smith taught: “It is the duty of parents to teach their children these saving principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, so that they will know why they are to be baptized and that they may be impressed in their hearts with a desire to continue to keep the commandments of God after they are baptized, that they may come back into his presence. Do you, my good brethren and sisters, want your families, your children; do you want to be sealed to your fathers and your mothers before you … ? If so, then you must begin by teaching at the cradle-side. You are to teach by example as well as precept”(Elder L. Tom Perry, Quorum of the Twleve Apostles)