I finished 1st Samuel and oh my- Saul's life was such a tragedy. Brother made so many bad choices, it hurts to read it. However, we also read about so many incredible accounts of David's absolutely solid character. He really was a pure legend before the . . . Incident. David was a peacemaker. After first running away (because Saul chucked a spear at him out of jealousy) David pulls a Robin Hood and his Merry Men and takes all the outcasts and men with debt and they start a club. He ends up with 600 guys! On 2 separate occasions David could have effortlessly killed Saul. His guys really wanted him to- but he refused to kill the very man making his life awful. Istead, he ripped off some of Saul's skirt and messed with his water bottle and javelin to prove to Saul that he had been there and could have killed him.
There's another spot where the David and His Merry Men leave a city they're staying in for a bit and the Amalekites come and burn it and steal all the wives. Everybody is crying when they come back and see the destruction- they cry so hard they run out of strength! David's 2 wives had also been stolen but instead of crying- he prays! God says “go get them!” So he and all the men who can go fight the amalekites and restore everything along with getting a whole bunch of treasures! His Merry Men didn't think the other Merry Men who didn't come deserved any treasure (400 went, 200 stayed) David tells them they're silly and divides the treasure equally in true President-Nelson-Peacemaker fashion.
If only he would've kept being a legend. . .
We were home quite a bit this week. Elder Holladay and I have decided to go “plant based whole foods,” the healthiest lifestyle ever. We had a deep study of the word of wisdom with another Elder who has had unbelievable experiences with Plant Based Whole Foods and the Word of Widsdom. It seems like it will only make things better. So if you have any recipes or questions let me know!
We have been playing alot with “pitch'' Elder Holladay has perfect pitch and he's trying to prove that I do as well. So far it looks like “maybe”
We play all sorts of games like just trying to start singing a song and start on the right note (I keep getting it right and idk how) and last night we stayed up till 2:30 trying to spell/sing words like “cabbage” or “feed” (just words with the music letters) it was really difficult and used parts of my brian I didn't know were there
We were driving on the freeway and some guy was racing through everybody, weaving in and out around 100 mph. And so I said “what in the criss cross applesauce”
As I have been home a bunch I have been reflecting on a lot. 1 experience in particular has been on my mind a lot.
Before my mission I attended a self-mastery group for teenage guys called “Sons of Helaman” this group equipped me with all the tools and lessons I needed to free myself from the plague of pornography. I loved recovery so much! Being free felt so good and made every moment of life so much better! I eventually made it past 100 days and was still going so strong. Suddenly, everything in life came crashing down. I had problems with friends, school was more stressful than ever, many other bad things going on and I started feeling depressed. Everything got so bad. Eventually, I had another lost battle. After being clean and free for so long I couldn't believe what I had allowed to happen. I stopped going to group meetings. I didn't want them to know I had messed up.
The depression continued and I struggled to get sobriety for a while.
Then one day mom asked me to drive some of my siblings to the school for a play of something. So we got in the car and drove up. We happened to be at the school 30 minutes before Sons of Helaman would be starting. The building where they met wasn't far at all.
Somehow I drove over there and parked at the end of the street. I fell apart. I was crying and shaking and so scared. I wanted to go in! But I also really didn't! I would build up strength and unbuckle and even open my door- then close it and cry.
I must have gotten out of my car and back in at least 10 times. This went on for a over a hour and a half.
Eventually, I did it! I made it all the way to the building and walked in for the second half of the group. With every single footstep I could feel satan and his legions trying so hard to get me back in my car. But, I was being supported by power beyond my own. I walked in and everybody greeted me warmly and expressed how happy they were that I came back. That night was the most powerful meeting I had ever attended and helped me so much to get back on my feet and start recovery again.
This experience is significant to me because it clearly shows the power of the adversary against the power of God. I know there were demons in there yanking me back to the car and screaming at me to drive away and telling me the group would never accept me.
There were also angels among whom were certainly some ancestors pushing me and encouraging me and telling me the group still loved me, and that I was a strong, good person.
The good guys won, but only after an extreme war.
I know that through the atonement of Jesus Christ we can receive strength! Strength to overcome depression, addictions, discouragement. Even strength to get out of your car when it seems impossible.
Pretty cool.
Have a fire week!
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