Truth

Last week I finished up a book called, "Faith of a Scientist" by Henry Eyring. It was a delightful read that got me to thinking. As Henry Eyring left home to begin his studies at the University of Arizona his father told him, "In this church you don't have to believe anything that isn't true. You go over to the U of A and learn everything you can, and whatever is true is a part of the gospel." In D&C 84:45-47 we read, "For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ. And the spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; ... And every one that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit cometh unto God, even the Father." 

Every truth leads man to God. Geologists find truth in rocks, historians find truth in ancient manuscripts, and the astronomer finds truth in the depths of space. Henry Eyring said, "The wise man searches all these and other sources knowing that all are communications from the same divine source and certain that, if followed far enough, all will guide him back to the divine Presence." 

Because the principles of the Gospel are rooted in fundamental truths, they do not change. Mormon 9:9 says, "For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing?" It is very comforting to know that in this world of change that the church is constant. 

In science, these universal truths, these consistencies, are called laws. D&C 130:20-21 says, "There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world upon which all blessings are predicated - And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated." In the scriptures the Lord gives us many laws which are accompanied by a promised blessing. I know that when I faithfully pay my tithing I will always be blessed with enough money. I know that when I obey the Word of Wisdom I will be blessed with good health. I know that strict obedience to the commandments will help me achieve the greatest promise of eternal life (D&C 59:23).

D&C 50:24 says, "That which is of God is light and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day." I know that this gospel is a continual learning process.We learn every truth line upon line, precept upon precept. And though our knowledge of the mysteries of the universe are always expanding, the fundamental truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ never change.

Disappointments of Reality

Two months ago I was hired by Utah State University to teach an introductory physics lab. I was so excited for the opportunity to educate eager scholars on the fundamentals of physics. I reflected on my days in introductory physics and rejoiced at the thoughts of recreating those same experiences for my students. I pulled out my old textbook and brushed up on my kinematics. I read through my old lab reports. I even revisited the dreaded chapters introducing sinusoidal wave functions.

Before teaching my first lab I got a little bit of instruction from my advising professor, Tonya. She told me this physics course had no prerequisites. Therefore, we would be introducing the concepts at a very elementary level. What? No prerequisites? Without some foundational knowledge of calculus how would they survive the course? Tonya laughed. I raised an eyebrow at her response. She placed her arm around my shoulder and led me gently to her desk. She pulled out the student's "textbook" and handed it over to me. I was stunned by what I saw. There were no variables, no integrals, no reference to Maxwell or his equations, and not a single greek letter. What kind of operation was she running? Tonya explained to me that this course is designed for freshmen elementary education majors. These students have no interest in math or science, but are required to get a small taste of physics for their degree. 

Tonya went on to tell me that these students are very fragile. If they show up to lab and make an effort I then have no reason to give them anything less than 100% on the lab. She told me the post-lab quizzes are to be done individually, but I am not to penalize them for wrong answers. If they show any type of work on their homework they are to get full credit regardless of the answer. 

The first lab was an absolute disappointment. The students were completely lost. Even after explaining the answers to them they just stared at me with vacant expressions. Finally, I resorted to telling them what they should be writing down on their papers. I thought I was to blame for this catastrophe so I visited my advising professor and told her what happened. She smiled and said, "Yup. Sounds about right." Tonya told me that I just need to get the students through the semester so they can move on and never revisit physics again. 

Yesterday I was sitting in my computer methods class and I found myself experiencing some anxiety over my assignment. The computer was not cooperating and I was getting nowhere. I turned to my neighbors for some insight, but they were having the same difficulties. Finally, I raised my hand. The TA approached me and asked what was giving me trouble. I rolled my chair back and motioned to my computer. She looked over my work and threw out a few lines of complete jiberish. After seeing my look of confusion she grabbed the keyboard and fixed the problem for me. 

At the end of class as I was turning in my assignment I apologized to the TA and explained that this is my first taste of computer programming. She turned to me with a warm expression and told me not to worry.  She shared my frustrations and offered many sympathies. She told me as long as I am in class and finish all my assignments I will get an A. I walked away from class feeling better about my situation.

Then it hit me. I am the freshman elementary ed major who does not understand Newton's first law. My TA is probably sitting around with her friends laughing about the hopeless idiot in her introductory level computer programming class who doesn't have a clue. I enrolled in PHYS 2500 to fulfill some physics requirement so I can forget all of it next semester. I am the retard. I now have greater sympathy for my poor little physics students. 

Right to Bear Arms

"Target shooting" in Enterprise

The annual family reunion

Guns are a big part of the Houghton way of life. When I was just a kid my dad quickly briefed me on the basics of gun safety then threw a .22 caliber rifle in my hands. So naturally, when I turned 21 I seriously pondered getting a concealed weapons permit. How cool would it be to throw a pistol under the bench seat in my truck? Awesome, right? 

After a serious conversation with my dad about carrying a concealed weapon, I started to have second thoughts about applying for a permit. He told me that carrying a gun means that I need to be prepared to use it. If I hesitate at all, I'm dead. Hesitate about shooting someone? Me? Pft! Not a chance! In fact my go to solution for most problems is to shoot someone in the face! 

Today in statistics the jerk behind me was chewing his gum way to loud. Solution? Shoot him in the face. On my way to work some doofus couldn't figure out the 4-way stop and pulled out in front of me. Solution? Shoot him in the face. At work some idiot yelled at me because I wouldn't break the law and give him his prescription early. Solution? Shoot him in the face. You see, a lot of things in my life permit the use of a firearm. 

Shooting at Panguitch

As citizens of the greatest country in the world we all have the right to bear arms, but maybe some of us should be a little more restricted than others. After a little reflection I decided maybe a concealed weapons permit isn't in everybody else's best interest. Until I find another solution to all of my problems I should probably only handle firearms under some serious supervision. 

Headin' fer the hills!

On a More Serious Note

I took a fishing trip to Tony Grove up Logan Canyon.

Logan Canyon

 What do I miss about Hurricane? There are a lot of things I miss. I miss my family, friends, clean air, Zion, zero traffic, and the sweltering heat, just to name a few. One of the things I miss the most, though, would have to be my co-workers. I worked with the best people around. After 7 years I developed a very good relationship with my boss. He was my personal life coach. I told him all my problems and he gave me solutions. This summer I started to get annoyed with Dave, because his advice for every problem was, "Jen, you need to have more faith!" That was not the answer I wanted to hear. How would increasing my faith get me scheduled to work 40 hours a week rather than 30? How would increasing my faith help me to decide what to major in? How would increasing my faith help me deal with some of the disappointments I was facing? I was so frustrated! 

One day I went for a run, and for some reason I was drawn to the St. George temple. I found a spot on the curb in front of the temple and sat there. After a minute or two my ipod began playing a familiar hymn, Be Still My Soul. For the first time the true meaning of the words struck me:

Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as he has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Skunked at Tony Grove

Sitting there, I was reminded of the lesson given by the first counselor in my stake presidency in relief society last spring. President Weaver told us that when his kids were younger he would buy each of them a lamb to raise for the 4-H auction every year. At the time they lived on several acres of land, so housing the lambs was not a problem. Because the lambs were so close, the children were able to spend a lot of time with them and develop a pretty good relationship. When it came time to show the lambs they were very comfortable with their care takers. 

One year, however, the Weavers sold their home and moved closer to town. They were not able to keep the lambs on their property, so they leased out a small piece of land a few miles down the road to house the livestock. This time around the lambs did not get as much attention from their keepers. One day President Weaver got a phone call from a friend to tell him the lambs had escaped. He quickly rounded up his children and drove out to find the roaming animals. Upon locating the lambs the children jumped out of the truck and tried to persuade them back to the gated pasture. The lambs resisted and even ran in the opposite direction. They did not gain the same trust the previous lambs had.

The same is true when developing a relationship with our Savior. Faith is not only a principle of belief, but of action as well. If we distance ourselves from Him we will not trust His gentle guidance. Therefore, increasing our faith is a matter of drawing near unto our Savior. Once we have developed a solid relationship with Him everything else will fall into place. In his General Conference address, Elder John H. Groberg said, "If we have faith in Him, we will repent and be baptized. If we do not repent, or refuse to be baptized, or are unwilling to keep His commandments, it is because we do not have sufficient faith in Him. Thus, repentance, baptism, and all other principles and ordinances are not entireley separate but are actually extensions of our faith in Christ. Without faith in Him, we do little of eternal value." 

The Savior had showed us time and time again that faith precedes the miracle. Just as the Children of Israel had to put their feet in the Jordan River before the waters parted we too must demonstrate our faith before receiving a witness. In a talk entitled, "Lord, Increase Our Faith", Elder John K. Carmack said, "If we place any condition on our willingness to serve the Lord with all our hearts, we diminish our faith. If we have complete trust in Him, our faith will increase, and that means the strength of our belief and our power to act will increase. We will not think we have done our duty and that is enough. We will continue with pure intent and total commitment the rest of our lives. ... Maintaining such an attitude is the way to increase our faith."  

I would never say this to his face, but yes, my boss was right. Increasing our faith can be solution to every problem. My faith led me to pay my tithing which blessed me with more than enough work throughout the entire summer. My faith humbled me and led me to the right major. My faith has brought me peace to deal with some of the hardships my family and I have had to endure recently. Faith does not pardon you from trials, but rather makes them easier to endure. 

I Really Need to Make Some Friends

Well, now that I live in Logan my social life has gone to pot. I know only a few people here in the Cache Valley so I have a lot of free time on my hands. In fact I was so bored the other day that I got out my old o chem text book and started writing out mechanisms for fun. Yikes. I did bust out my guitar and learn a few new songs. This clip is a little sampling of some of that action. I don't have the bridge down just yet, but give me an hour or so and I will have it mastered. 

Homeless

My truck filled with all of my stuff

Yes, it is true, I left the beauty of Southern Utah for the arctic tundra that is Cache Valley. Utah State begins classes on August 27th, but Walgreens needed me sooner than that, so I made it here 3 weeks early. My apartment complex lets students move in on the 20th, so that still left me 2 weeks of complete homelessness to deal with. I wanted to camp up the canyon, but my dad said that was not going to happen. So I made plans to live with a friend from Hurricane for those two weeks.

My glove box and its contents

On my way to Logan Monday morning I got a phone call from my friend letting me know they had car troubles and wouldn't make it to Logan until Tuesday. She offered to call around to find me a place to stay, but I assured her I could manage for one night. Upon hanging up I realized my dreams of being homeless were coming true. I was giddy with excitement. I started making plans. 

Fortunately I have a very bad habit of leaving things in my truck. You can call it lazy, but I call it self preservation. In my glove box you will find the normal things like my registration and proof of insurance, but you will also find a backpacking stove, fuel, a lighter, granola bars, beef jerky, oatmeal, and a bottle of water. Behind my seat I keep a large backpack, my smaller daypack, several freeze dried meals, a giant first aid kit, a sleeping bag, an entire case of water rolling around freely, a fishing pole, a small tackle box, and several old pair of running shoes. Inside my backpack I have a water filter, tea kettle, compass, tarp, and a healthy length of rope. 

I began considering my sleeping options. The bed of my truck was the ideal choice, but it was (and still is) filled to the brink with my things leaving no room for me. Okay, the next option would be to sleep in the cab of my truck. One problem. I am 6 feet tall, and my bench seat is a little more than 4 feet in length. No way I was going to do that to myself. The only option left would be to sleep out under the stars. As far as food and water was concerned I was in good shape. Most people would stop at the local grocery store for a loaf of bread or something, but not me. I was in self preservation mode and all those hours of watching "Man vs. Wild" were about to pay off. 

Behind the bench seat of my truck

I stopped in Provo to fuel my truck when I encountered a worn, old homeless man. He sat near a busy intersection with a sign propped up near his feet which said, "Anything will help."  His leathered face was turned down toward the sidewalk. His calloused hands were outstretched, waiting for a good samaritan to leave a gracious offering. Before the light turned green his sad eyes met my gaze. I gave him a half smile and thought, "I know how you feel, pal. We are two peas in a pod." 

I had only been in Logan for an hour when I got a phone call from my Mother. I don't know how she found out about my friend's car troubles, but the text I sent her which read, "Yay! I get to live in the canyon after all!" may have given it away. Rookie homeless mistake! After all my planning and preparation my parents got a roof over my head. I guess my homeless dreams will have to wait for another day. 

I'm Too Young For This

 Last Saturday was no different than any other Saturday. I woke up, threw my day pack together, laced up my shoes, and headed for Zion. Some friends and I hiked the Taylor Creek trail found in the Kolob Canyon section of Zion National Park. The hike in to the double arch alcove is an easy 2.7 miles following a little stream with very little change in elevation. The canyon does continue past the alcove, but hiking beyond that point is not recommended due to a steep landslide full of loose boulders.


We wanted a little more adventure, so we decided to continue up the canyon anyway and do some exploring. My friends often give me grief about my awkward climbing skills, so when we approached a short, fluted, rock I decided it was time to prove myself. I dropped my pack and started climbing. I was about 10 feet off the ground when my foot slipped and the cruel force of gravity shoved me back down to the canyon floor. Upon recovering from my fall I picked up my pack in silence and climbed around the rotten obstacle.


We hiked further until the canyon narrowed and became completely impassable. Trust me, I made a valiant effort to continue. On our return trip I took a nasty spill on a steep dirt landslide and tumbled a good 20 feet before getting the situation under control. Did my friends show any concern or offer help? No. They pulled out their cameras to capture photos of me in my moment of distress. I did, however, make it back to the trailhead in one piece.


Sunday morning I woke up and as I placed my feet on the floor I felt an ache in my ankles. I stood up and and my knees buckled. I took a few steps and my hips creaked. I bent down to pick up my shoes and my back screamed in protest. In a matter of 24 hours it felt as though my body had aged 30 years. Sure, the hike was rough, but I thought I still had a few good years left in me.


Over the past few days I have kept an eye out for other signs of premature aging, and I have been pretty disappointed with myself. Monday morning I caught myself spooning oatmeal into my mouth with one hand, managing my 401(k) with the other, while the voice of Mary Nickels told me of Utah's latest breaking news.  My top 25 most played songs in my iTunes library include ballads from Bing Crosby, The Kingston Trio, Michael Crawford, and Simon & Garfunkel. 9 times out of 10 I have my truck radio tuned to NPR. I am one spoonful of metamucil away from geezerdom! How did this happen to me? But more importantly, how do I fix it?