Sometimes I'm unreasonable

"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world. The unreasonable man persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man."

BYU Letter of recommendation.

I got my first letter from a professor today and they made a copy of it for me in the admissions office. This is the professor that I know the least of the 4 writing them.

"I am writing to support Devin Gleason's admission as a full-time BYU student. I had Devin as a student in my US Foreign Policy class (Poli Sci 376) this past summer term. This difficult upper-division class requires hundreds of pages of scholarly reading every week in order to keep up with class discussions and do well on exams. The class is especially difficult during a summer tern when students have to do all the work in half the time. Devin's performance in the class was very strong. He had excellent scores on all exams and his short essays were very good. He participated actively and effectively in class discussions. His research paper was a bit weaker but he finished in the top quarter of the class overall, earning an A- for the semester. Devin's class performance showed me that he could hold his own in difficult, upper-division BYU classes. In fact, I only knew Devin was not a regular student because he mentioned it to me when when discussing his research paper. I strongly recommend him for admission to BYU. I am confident that he fits in well with the high-quality group of student we already have. He will absolutely succeed here."

After this application is turned in I think my hair will turn grey waiting for an answer.

Joseph Smith

“Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God.”

President Hinckley

“Each of us has a fourfold responsibility. First, we have a responsibility to our families. Second, we have a responsibility to our employers. Third, we have a responsibility to the Lord’s work. Fourth, we have a responsibility to ourselves."

Been a while

It's been a long while since the last time I blogged. Mostly because I just haven't felt like it. But today I got the idea in my mind. I'm working on essays for my application to BYU, and am distracted by something else currently.

For various reasons I've spent more time in the last few days thinking and praying about where I stand in life and if I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing, and how to govern my time etc. Probably more time then I can ever remember. And it's been really good.

Anyways, today I got an answer to my prayers. Very clearly. I was in Institute and as the teacher was speaking I got the clear impression not of my own, "You've been praying, and here's your answer." The class I was sitting in (conveniently enough) was The Gospel and the Productive Life. The teacher taught us from a talk by Elder G. Homer Durham

“On January 2, 1891, a 19-year-old Norwegian immigrant sat down in his home in Logan City, Cache County, Utah Territory, and wrote the following lines on some lined paper:

“‘As I have come to fully realize; that, I am as weak as all other mortals—perhaps weaker than many; and realizing that happiness in life is only obtained by having a pure heart, a clear conscience; and fearing the Lord and keeping his commandments; also as I realize that happiness in old age consists of reviewing a life devoid from great sins; the gratification of noble desires manfully carried out; and finding that my life up to this time has not been as I should like it to have been: I lay down the following regulations by which I shall try to conduct my life hereafter; to which end may the Lord Almighty, my Creator, help me.’

“He then spelled out 17 resolutions. Nearly eight months later, on Tuesday, August 25, 1891, he copied them in a hardcover journal. Here he was to record his years of struggle as a stranger-student from Utah Territory at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He began by entering the 17 resolves that were to guide his life."

I may not be perfect on these but I'll do better on all of them. And here's my thoughts on some of them...

Resolved:

“1st. That religion, the science of sciences, be made my chief concernment throughout life."

I think of Grandpa and how even though he was always busy with business and family he always acccepted and fulfilled hurch callings fully. I can do that.

“2nd. That I will daily pray to God in secret."

“3rd. That I will daily reflect upon God and his attributes and try to become like him."

“4th. That I will receive Light, Wisdom or Knowledge, wherever or however it may be offered."

Reminded me of a quote from President Young
"There is no knowledge, no light, no wisdom that you are in possession of, but what you have received it from some source." So I will try to continue to educate myself no matter where I get that knowledge
“5th. That I never be ashamed to acknowledge my principles, beliefs and religion when I once become fully convinced of (Converted to) their correctness."

“6th. That I never lose one moment of time but improve it."

That every activity I engage myself in regularly will be worth my time and I won't idle away the time that I do have. Example. I just hid or "unsubscribed" from about 50 people who used to come up on my Facebook news feed so I spend less time reading over it.

“7th. That I maintain strict temperance in eating and drinking."

I don't eat healthy and never really have. I gotta be honest, I'll TRY on this one. I just love food way too much. It's pry my favorite thing. But I don't eat large amounts of food, and for some reason I've lost tons of weight after my mission (I was fed VERY well in my last area where I spent 10 months), so I think I'm good enough?

“8th. That I never do anything that I would not do were it the last hour of my life."

I read this one pertaining to me more that I should change behaviors and irreverances I have that I wouldn't want to answer for soon after. In other words, continually do better.

“9th. That I daily read the word of God, that I may learn his will and that I may be comforted, strengthened and encouraged by so doing."

Even if it's just a verse or 2, I will pick them up and read them.

“10th. That in any narrations I speak nothing but the pure and simple verity."

I'll try not to say anything to anybody I would later have need to apologize for. Pry not going to be perfect at first. But better.

“11th. That I always do that which I think is my duty and for the best good for my fellow beings."

“12th. That I live with all my might while I do live, that I may not die a living death."

This phrasing just confused me but I'll be happy and if not I can blame myself.

“‘13th. That I never by word or manner try to force my opinions on others but that I simply state them and offer my arguments against others!"

So don't get mad at others just because they have other opinions or feel differently then me.

“14th. That I seek to overcome the habit of being quick tempered, loud speaking, impatient motions and whatever might offend my fellowmen and hurt me."

Again I don't get mad. I could use a LOT more patience though. So I'll try to be patient.

“15th. That I never for a moment forget my duty towards my mother, she who has made me who I am and who will make what I will become, she who has spent the better portion of her life in my behalf and to whom I owe all the honor, respect, and affection that I can give; also that I always remember my duties toward my brother and all my friends and relations."

“16th. That I complete every task which I begin; also that I carefully consider my purpose and its results before taking upon me any duty."

“17th. That I always remember that the men and women I meet are my brothers and sisters and that I look to the beam in my own eye before attempting to remove the mote in my fellow’s eye."

I am pretty sure all 17 of those were written especially for me.

"It would be well if every young man and woman today would similarly evaluate his or her position in life. The young man who wrote these lines was John Andreas Widtsoe. In March 1921 he was called to the apostleship by President Heber J. Grant and continued in that position throughout a long and eventful life"

Jeffrey R. Holland

"In our heartfelt devotion to Jesus of Nazareth as the very Son of God, the Savior of the world, we invite all to examine what we have received of Him, to join with us, drinking deeply at the “well of water springing up into everlasting life,” these constantly flowing reminders that God lives, that He loves us, and that He speaks. I express the deepest personal thanks that His works never end and His “words … never cease.”"

What a great talk

Ralph Waldo Emerson

"It is the office of a true teacher to show us that God is, not was; that He speaketh, not spake"

We watched Joesph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration in Institute tonight. I really like that movie.