So it's been a while

I'm trying to start a new post on some ineresting facts about the church and government. my brother in law and I are creating a binder of information with random articles, talks, and posts that will help explain some of the mysteries (and basics) of the gospel....more to come.

So this guy on this porter is my old missionary comp! I was getting a drink when i saw him! It's troy attridge

“I said it could be easy and I said it would be worth it.”

In my first apartment on my mission in Erie Pennsylvania there was a portrait of Christ with a familiar phrase below it that read “I never said it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it.” Personally, I was never seriously motivated by this quote and I never really thought about it until my new companion came to the apartment; the first week he moved in he wrote on a piece of paper and taped it over the quote so that the portrait of Jesus quoted Christ’s own words from Matt 11:30 “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light,” the latter quote contradicts the first, and is more doctrinally correct.

Let’s consider the implications of the first phrase “I never said it would be easy.” It carries a connotation that living the gospel is harder than choosing another path and you are more likely to find problems the “Gospel way” rather than the “easy way” and that despite the roughness of the way we should chose it anyway. For anyone seriously considering changing there lives to be more consistent with the gospel standards it almost seems as if you have to take a deep breath, look at yourself in the mirror and repeat, “you can do this” over and over rather than looking forward with a peaceful confidence. According to Strong concordance of the bible easy is translated from the Greek word chrestos which means “Better, easy, good.” Repentance is not a “hard” thing in comparison to what the world’s requirements and consequences are. I should not be mistaken that repentance should be taken lightly or that it is not difficult but rather that its outcome leads us to and easier and more fulfilling life than other paths. The gospel standards do not solve all our problems, the gospel changes our problems and in doing so we find we are not tempted above what we are able, nor is there anything we face alone, in other words our problems are easier to handle. (1 cor 10:13) Let’s consider the change in problems from on who lives the gospel versus one who does not, looking at this critically let’s decide who’s problems are more bearable.

Trials faced living the gospel:

How to explain to your boyfriend/girlfriend that you must wait to have sex till marriage while trying to not hurt there confidence or lose the relationship.

Trying to learn to help friends cope with drug addiction while not coming off “preachy”

Sitting through 3 hours of church


Not being invited to certain parties


Getting made fun of for your standards.

Living up to friends and families expectations




Trials Faced choosing another way

Supporting a newborn while still in high school.

Being addicted

Finding something useful to do with your time

Living up to others expectations when you’re at parties.

Getting made fun of for your lack of standards

Not living up to your families expectations

My picture of the vision of the tree of life in the book of mormon. For interpretation see nephi's writings.

FW: The Purpose of This Blog

One of the purposes of this blog is to impress the reader enough so that you can have confidence in asking questions. Don't be so naive to think my purpose isn't to convert; and don't assume I'll be closed minded to your religion...or lack of religion. If you have any questions about the way Mormons do things whether doctrinal, historical, spiritual, or otherwise, please ask. If I don't know the answer, I'll find it. Anti-Mormon's please challange me with what you know and please don't just refer me to a book or website and expect me to find your argument. Thanks.

General conference this year with my wife. I think this is a great picture.