November 5, 2018

Halloween was pretty fun. We gave out more than 1,200 treats and I think that is a new record. The Thompsons gave out 1,056 Krispy Kreme doughnuts and ran out before 7:30pm. I sent you a bunch of pictures so I won't say much about our costumes. Mom and I are planning to put our house on the market this May so we can downsize into a smaller house somewhere. It made me a little sad thinking this might be our last Halloween living in this neighborhood but maybe we'll get one more depending on when the house sells.

I went kayaking in the Provo Recreation Center pool and started teaching Uncle Chris how to do a combat roll. It was pretty hard for him to pick up and he'll need a couple more sessions of practice just like I did. He likes my new kayak though so maybe he'll buy one like it.

Hannah and Dallin blessed their baby Maverick yesterday. We drove to North Ogden to be there with them. I forgot to take pictures so sorry. Grace Hume was there and she looks amazing - getting ready to date you when you come home! Just kidding she is putting in her mission papers in February with an availability date sometime after BYU Idaho gets out in May. 

My spiritual thought for you this week is about the "good ole days". It is a belief that everything before – missionary work all over the world and just life in general – was much easier in the old days than it is now. I used to think, from time to time, what it must have been like when missionaries met people in the 1950’s. After all, this was a time when everyone was nice. Most people were simple and most people were poor. They made do with what they had. Missionaries could just hitch a ride to wherever they wanted to go. People shared everything. They did not have the sins that we have to deal with like pride of people, riches, pornography, AIDS, Internet, or tons of everything that you have had to grow up with. 

Surely it must have been easier way back when right? But was it? Well actually, no it was not. These guys had their own set of problems to deal with. In the 1950’s they probably thought that those behind them, for example in the 1920’s, had it better. This goes all the way back to Adam. I mean all the way back to the days of Nephi. This vicious cycle goes all the way back as far as time itself. Even in Helaman 7:7 they were wishing to be back in the days of Nephi. Take a look at this:

Helaman 7:7-8

7 Oh, that I could have had my days in the days when my father Nephi first came out of the land of Jerusalem, that I could have joyed with him in the promised land; then were his people easy to be entreated, firm to keep the commandments of God, and slow to be led to do iniquity; and they were quick to hearken unto the words of the Lord.

8 Yea, if my days could have been in those days, then would my soul have had joy in the righteousness of my brethren.

You see that they were tortured in their minds that everything was way easier in the days of Nephi and Lehi. You see things had gotten terribly complicated and they were dealing with things they the others never had to deal with. Now let’s see when we actually go to those days what Nephi had to say about his own days. 

Jacob 7:26

26 And it came to pass that I, Jacob, began to be old; and the record of this people being kept on the other plates of Nephi, wherefore, I conclude this record, declaring that I have written according to the best of my knowledge, by saying that the time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream, we being a lonesome and a solemn people, wanderers, cast out from Jerusalem, born in tribulation, in a wilderness, and hated of our brethren, which caused wars and contentions; wherefore, we did mourn out our days.

Doesn’t seem so great, does it? It seems they were hungry or starving for a while, they were lonely, and drifters of the desert. It seems that not only did they not have it so good; they were maybe even thinking of how much better it was back in good ole days of Jerusalem. This pattern goes all the way back to Adam. Can you see the pattern in the scriptures? 

So there are two vital lessons here. Not only is the grass not greener on the other side, the grass is not any greener “way back when” either. Be happy not only where you are serving but when you are serving. It’s tough all over and has always been that way. Just serve and don’t get caught up in if you had served in the golden age of the 1990's with me when it was so much easier!

Love,

Dad