Friday Creature Feature - Mara

Why is it that snakes often appear as villainous creatures? As Christians, we could take it back to the Garden of Eden. Maybe that's why ophidiophobia (fear of snakes) is among the most common phobias (right behind spiders). So it was no coincidence that the Fifth Doctor faced off against the Mara twice.

Though the physical appearance of the Mara was campy by today's standards, the evil snake was a chilling villain of Peter Davison's tenure. In modern Doctor Who, Sutekh's harbinger cited the Mara as the God of Beasts in the Pantheon of Discord. In addition, Captain Jack called fairies part Mara during the events of Torchwood.

After Tegan Jovanka fell asleep on Kinda, the Mara entered her mind and began possessing her. Though it shortly changed its host to Aris and defeated by a circle of mirrors, Tegan was affected for a long time by the demonic snake. Eventually, the Mara influenced Tegan to guide its return to a physical form. However, an old mystic taught the Doctor who to defeat the Mara by finding the "still point" and he defeated the serpent at the moment of its resurrection. 

Poor Tegan was still tormented by dreams of the Mara. The Doctor said it was her way of processing the trauma (though pseudo-canon featured more appearances of the snake afterwards). It was during the events of "Snakedance" that the nature of the villain really struck me. And what the real villain was: fear.

Behind the scenes sources on the TARDIS Wiki call the Mara a manifestation of temptation. I think you could also call it a manifestation of evil or anxiety. It was the concept of the "still point" that convinced me it could be anxiety or fear. Both on-screen appearances of the Mara play into this idea. During the events of "Kinda", the circle of mirrors turned the snake against itself. Maybe you could apply this to turning fear on its head. Logic doesn't necessarily always help with anxiety, but I have to admit that when I can turn the anxiety (or temptation) around and realize how ridiculous it is. At times, it's so ridiculous that I have to laugh. "Really, Satan, that's how you're going to present this?"

Later, during the events of "Snakedance", the Doctor learned that the only way to get the upper hand on the Mara was to find the still point. Applying that to fear, anxiety, or temptation in real life is a bit trickier for me. It comes down to mindfulness, meditation, and other forms of calming the body and soul. Mindfulness is a hard concept for me when my mind and heart are reeling. It's too abstract for me when I'm in the middle of everything. Life doesn't exactly quiet down amidst a busy schedule and hyperactive children. That being said, the Holy Ghost has taught me a little bit about slowing down. Call it self-care or something else, but I've said many times that you can take care of yourself or God can make you take care of yourself (I told my office manager that after she was out sick for a week after working about a million hours per week).

"Beside Still Waters" by Simon Dewey

"Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10) isn't just a religious platitude. It's an invitation (or maybe even commandment) for me to slow down and trust that Heavenly Father will take care of me and my family. It's hardly ever in the way I expect, but things have always worked out for my family, often even better than I planned. Modern scripture uses that phrase similarly "Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God." (D&C 101:16) I could work to "let" my hear be comforted--Not a shock to anyone who knows me. But Heavenly Father is in control. I take comfort in the phrase from Preach My Gospel: "All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ." And it will. Sooner or later. 

Take time to be still. Work to trust God. Practice self-care. That's what I need to work on at least. I trust it'll help keep the Mara at bay, even if it can't ever be destroyed.

"This is, here and now. The dance goes on. It is all the dance, everywhere and always. So, find the still point. Only then can the Mara be defeated.... the still point is within yourself, nowhere else. To destroy the Mara you must find the still point." --Dojjen ("Snakedance")

More Content You Might Like:

• "Fifth Doctor Revisited: 'Castrovalva'" by Spencer
• "Friday Creature Feature - Sutekh" by Spencer
• "5 Things to Know About the Celestial Toymaker" by Spencer

Moana 2 Goes "Beyond" with 3 Spiritual Lessons

Last month, we took our five-year-old to see Moana 2 for her birthday. It was her first time at the movie theater and if her hanging off the handrail (like Moana hanging on the boat) is any indication, she loved the movie. Sequels are always hit and miss and while I can't pinpoint if I liked Moana 2 more or less than the original, but it resonated with me and hit me hard in the feels.

Spoilers ahead.

My 5-year-old was literally hanging onto the railing like this.

Going Beyond

Shortly after finding "Beyond" on Spotify, I shared my initial impressions about the song on the podcast. I went into the movie without much context for the song and was kind of worried that the context of the movie might change the song for me. Not so. 

With Moana going further than her ancestors had gone before, she risks never returning to her sister and she has to face fears she didn't know she had. Like her grandmother's spirit tells her in the movie, three years after her initial voyage with Maui, she knows what she has to lose now. This (the song and movie) all happened as I accepted and prepared for a new job. I was at my last job for over three years (not unlike Moana 2 taking place three years after the original).

Going beyond what's known or familiar is scary. I started my new job last week and I'm reminded how much I struggle with change--even when I know it's the right move. It's a good thing that my daughter loves "Beyond" so much because I've been using it as my anthem to give me strength when I feel too stressed or intimidated by all the changes. The fear is still there and there have been plenty of tears (the movie made my wife and I both cry) but there is resolve. 

I loved seeing other ancestors, like Tautai, as animal spirits.

Isolation

I tried to find the exact quote but couldn't, so I'll have to paraphrase. When the spirit of Tautai Vasa appeared to Moana to set off the adventure, he told Moana that isolation would be the end of their story. That's why the journey in Moana 2 was so important... Nalo had separated the peoples of the ocean and kept them isolated for generations. To join together and to grow together would mean life for Moana's people.

Similarly, the adversary often tries to keep us in isolation. Through sin, addiction, mental health struggles, or whatever else he can use against us, Satan wants us to stay isolated because he knows that's how our stories end. Before I met my wife, I thought of abandoning roommate life and living by myself. A wise bishop reminded me that "it is not good for man to be alone" (Genesis 2:18) and while that scripture is directly related to Adam's need for Eve, I've never forgotten how it applied to me. Sure, some people thrive living on their own, but I think that bishop knew me well enough to know that I'd end up isolated.

We need other people in our stories. That's why we have families. That's why we have the Church. And I can tell you the difference it makes for me when I reach out and actively avoid isolation (and I can "isolate" even when I'm surrounded by family, coworkers, patients, etc.). Even just in my first week, I noticed the difference I felt mentally and emotionally when I tried connecting with patients and coworkers, instead of letting myself drift into the background because I'm new and insecure. So while there's something to be said for "me time", nothing good comes from isolation. 

Getting Lost

I'm the type of person who likes to know what to expect and to have a certain amount of structure in my day. Even on a day off, I like to have a certain amount of plan to optimize my self-care (if that's even possible). Part of going "beyond" has meant having no clue what to expect in my new job and the new year. It's meant trusting in the Spirit's guidance as I figure life out day by day. 

While on the surface it sounded like a classic villain song, Matangi's "Get Lost" can be encouraging. Though it sounded like she was manipulating Moana, her advice was not unfounded. Despite my wish to have a clear path, my life has never played out like that. Sometimes the best advice really is to "get lost" and try something unexpected. Combine that advice with Anna's "The Next Right Thing" and it can be helpful in getting out of the rut I feel when stressors feel too heavy to carry. 

I could have a perfect to-do list and plan to get everything done and check all the boxes. Sometimes the best thing to do is go with the flow and "get lost". I don't know. I'm still figuring that one out, but in the movie Moana thought she knew exactly what to do or what she was supposed to do. And while Matangi's song sounded manipulative, it showed Moana how to get out of her own way so that she could rescue her crew (and Maui) and save her people.

"Beyond" These Lessons

I feel like I could keep saying more and more about this movie and the lessons I've learned from it and the songs. There are themes throughout the movie pointing towards identity, community, leadership, diversity, and self-confidence. I'll certainly watch it again after it hits Disney Plus (and I'm sure my daughter hanging off the couch this time) so don't be surprised if there's more Moana content from me in the future. Just like the credit scene setting up another sequel or Disney Plus series, there's more to come here.

Animorphs Teaches Me to Hold On

 I have recently been reading through the Animorphs series or rather listening to it during commute time or when outside running or taking care of animals. Spencer and I recently recorded a podcast episode introducing the series. During the course of my recent reading and listening, it is amazing to me how often I have wondered, “Oh boy! Are these guys going to make it out of this alive? Is someone going to die?”  Then, I remembered that this is a series of books.  A long series of books, too! These characters are going to be alright because they were going to show up in later books. 

It dawned on me that this is similar to our life experiences. Sometimes we may find ourselves or our loved ones in a situation that seems dire, and we may ask ourselves, “How will we get out of this?” Thinking about situations in the world today and in the past couple of years may have prompted similar questions. Just like I found comfort knowing there were additional books that the Animorphs were to show up in, we have additional chapters in our lives that we are to be the main characters in. Furthermore, the Lord Jesus Christ can be the “author and finisher” of our faith. With Him on our side, it is all going to work out. We may not see a way out, but He does. He knows the end from the beginning. We have our agency, of course, and there will be hardships and difficulties along our journey, but He will be with us and knows what lies ahead for us.

Sister Camille N. Johnson, former General Primary President and current General Relief Society President of the church said in the following in a conference address:

“I testify that the Savior is ‘the author and finisher of our faith.’ Will you invite Him to be the author and finisher of your story?

“He knows the beginning from the end. He was the Creator of heaven and earth. He wants us to return home to Him and our Heavenly Father. He has everything invested in us and wants us to succeed.

“What do you suppose keeps us from turning our stories over to Him?”

This is a good question to ask ourselves. I know that fear and uncertainty are big things that keep me from turning my story and life over the Lord. I pray and try to stay close to Him, but I sometimes wonder if everything really will work out alright.

A song from an EFY album called “Where Faith Lives” reminds us of the power of faith and turning things over to the Lord:

“It doesn't live at the end of a rainbow,

It doesn't sleep at the edge of your bed

And sometimes it doesn't fit so well

With the plans you're making in your head

But just before you reach the service station,

Right before the car runs out of gas

In the eye of the tornado

With all the strong winds blowing past

That's where faith lives

That's where fear tries to go

That's where everybody guesses

And you're the one who knows

And it may take the most that you can give

To find the place where faith lives

It lives in the fiery furnace, 

And it lives in the lion's den

And sometimes in the wilderness

Where it lives and dies and lives again

It lives where the doors fly open, 

It lives where the sun comes out

It lives in the window where you throw away all your doubts

You can't find it any easy way

Because it's all about the things that you can't see

But all the same it's right before you

Every time you get down on your knees”

 

The book of Hebrews teaches, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

So, when things seem uncertain or unsure, rest assured that Heavenly Father is aware of what you are going through and feeling. As we trust Him and recognize that He knows what we are going through, we can rest assured that things are going to work out. You are a character in the series of events that makes up the rest of your life and eternity, much like the characters in the Animorphs series make up the series and must be present for its duration.

Scripture Hero Spotlight: Mormon

We’re coming up on the end of another year and having studied The Book of Mormon during Come Follow Me this year, I wanted to stop and appreciate the ancient American prophet who made it possible for us to have this volume of scripture. As such, here are three lessons I appreciate from the life of Mormon. 

A Life of Surrender 

His abridgement of the Nephite record was Mormon’s labor of love. All the while, his nation was falling into apostasy. He knew his life’s work wouldn’t be for his people, but he did it anyway. I admire the faith that it must have taken for him to pour his heart and soul into this volume of scripture, surrendering to his faith in God. He trusted that his life’s work wouldn’t be a waste and that as he followed the Lord’s directions.

My favorite scripture is Words of Mormon 1:7 in which he says, “And I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will.” This scripture was in reference to including the small plates in his record, but it’s applicable for the full book–Mormon had to trust that his life’s work would amount to something. He may have been a prophet, but it still took faith and surrender to put his heart into results he’d never see.

A Life of Loneliness 

During the pandemic, I wrote about the isolation of Moroni, son of Mormon. While I maintain that Moroni was the champion of social isolation, Mormon was right behind him. This father and son duo lived in a time when their nation was becoming progressively wicked and vicious (sound familiar?). Sometimes I think our world has become wicked beyond belief–seriously, I can't imagine it getting worse without spiking my anxiety–but if you read the things that Mormon witnessed, it must have been lonely for a follower of Jesus Christ. 

Our world may not be as wicked as Mormon’s, but it’s pretty heinous. And being surrounded by people who would divide us and hate each other. And with our interconnected world of social media and anger, it can be easy to withdraw and isolate. Despite that interconnectedness, it's a lonely world in which we live. But despite being surrounded by evil, Mormon loved his people and lived faithfully. What an example!

A Life of Grief

There’s a reason Mormon was able to write about faith, hope, and charity in the letter now published as Moroni 7. In a world of pain and wickedness, Mormon never failed to love his people, even when it was painful. Mormon was called to preach and prophesy to his people, but they actively rejected him. To say he must have felt discouraged would be an understatement. I can’t imagine the grief he felt when he realized that his people had chosen to take themselves beyond redemption. 

In addition to the spiritual death of his nation, we can safely assume Mormon lost plenty of family members to physical death in the wars of his time. We know Moroni outlived him, but we don’t know anything about Mormon’s wife… but we know some of the horrific things the Lamanites did to the women they captured. And even if the men he served with were wicked, Mormon was full of charity, so their deaths would have elicited quite the complex string of emotions, to say the least.

Conclusion

As much as we know about Mormon from his record, I wish we knew more about how he stayed strong and faithful through such depressing circumstances in his life. Mormon had every reason to despair, and he definitely wept many times, but he refused to abandon his hope that was in Jesus Christ. How do you think he did it? How did he stay strong in a time of such awful wickedness? 

Though President Nelson has taught us the importance of using the proper name of the Church, the world still often refers to us as "Mormon". That's quite the legacy of faith to live up to.

Our Favorite Narnians

I recently finished re-reading (and rewatching) The Chronicle of Narnia. It's been one of my favorites for about fifteen years now, since I was first shown Prince Caspian at a college movie night. They're always good movies and books that I could watch and read on repeat to boost my mood. So for this post I asked some of our team to pick their favorite Narnian (which unfortunately rules out my favorite protagonist, Shasta/Cor). With such an inspiring series, I hope you're able to glean some inspiration from our favorites.

--Spencer

Aslan 

I couldn't decide between Aslan and Edmund for they are the best characters in the series. However, without Aslan, Edmund's redemption would be meaningless. Therefore, in this post I will highlight why Aslan is the best character. 

As any fan of Narnia knows Aslan is symbolic of Jesus Christ. They share striking parallels that underscore their roles as symbols of divine intervention, sacrifice, and redemption in their respective narratives. Both figures are depicted as powerful yet benevolent leaders who offer profound guidance and protection to their followers. Aslan, like Jesus, embodies the ultimate moral authority, representing the highest virtues of courage, wisdom, and selflessness. His actions in The Chronicles of Narnia, such as his sacrificial death and subsequent resurrection, echo Jesus's life.

The symbolism surrounding Aslan is deeply rooted in Christian theology. Aslan’s death in Edmund’s place and his resurrection are direct allegories to Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection, signifying themes of atonement and the triumph of good over evil. Through these similarities, Aslan serves not only as a central figure in Narnia’s lore but also as a literary reflection of the profound spiritual and moral teachings of Christianity. The reason I believe that The Chronicles of Narnia is successful is thanks to Aslan similitude to Jesus Christ.

--Michael

Reepicheep is my favorite because he is an embodiment of “by small and simple things are great things brought to pass.” Despite being small in stature, he used his talents to fight for Aslan and always kept his eyes on the goal of one day entering Aslan’s country. I loved the interaction between Reepicheep and Aslan in the film version of Prince Caspian when it almost appears that Aslan will not be giving Reepicheep back his tail. At the sight of Reepicheep’s squadron of mice willing to cut their own tails off, Aslan restores Reepicheep’s own tail. It is sweet to see Reepicheep’s own loyalty to Aslan and see his desire fulfilled in being allowed to enter Aslan’s country, no longer needing his rapier, and the subsequently greet the seven friends of Narnia into that same country. He is loyal, he is fearless, he is a talented fighter and chess player, what more could you hope to find in a mouse!

--Russell

It's a struggle to decide on my favorite Narnian. Depending on the day it could shift between Reepicheep, Eustace, and Lucy (especially the movie versions) but for today I landed on Puddleglum. He's probably the biggest reason I'm still upset that The Silver Chair never got adapted for the movies. While the kids frequently described him as a "wet blanket", he stated multiple times that he was more optimistic than most Marshwiggles. Despite his apparent pessimism and his perceived negativity, I relate to Puddleglum a lot.

He came across as a pessimist compared to Eustace and Jill, but he never faltered in his commitment to see the quest through and find Prince Rilian. Imperfect as he was, Puddleglum tried to follow Aslan's signs despite the grievances of his traveling companions. True he made some mistakes, like going to the giants' castle, but he demonstrated faith in Aslan's words despite his mistakes and even though he didn't know the outcome. He readily accepted that following Aslan's direction didn't mean their journey would go smoothly, just that they'd get where they needed to be. In effect, he was willing to die on that quest if it meant listening to Aslan. And of course he was the one who finally stood up to the Lady of the Green Kirtle and put his fate in Aslan's paws regardless of the outcome. "I’m on Aslan’s side even if there isn’t any Aslan to lead it. I’m going to live as like a Narnian as I can even if there isn’t any Narnia."

Honestly, I probably come across a lot like him. Sometimes I have to verbalize my anxieties in order to stay optimistic (my wife has noted this many times) and sometimes I can get pretty down despite my faith and my words. But I'm on Aslan's side too. 

Also, did I mention that he was portrayed by Tom Baker in the 1990 BBC adaptation of The Silver Chair? The Fourth Doctor himself! Legendary!

--Spencer

Scripture Hero Spotlight: Captain Moroni

Flashback: 2010, my first area and first companion on my mission. Elder Call’s favorite scripture (his family scripture) was Alma 44:4

“Now ye see that this is the true faith of God; yea, ye see that God will support, and keep, and preserve us, so long as we are faithful unto him, and unto our faith, and our religion; and never will the Lord suffer that we shall be destroyed except we should fall into transgression and deny our faith.”

It’s a wonderfully inspirational scripture and I’m reminded of it and my time with Elder Call whenever I see a “444” on a license plate, a patient’s chart, or anything else. Despite how solemn this scripture describes faith and testimony, I also have ingrained into my mind the Moroni voice that my trainer would use when reciting this scripture.

Silly missionary anecdotes aside, I’m grateful to have studied the military career of Captain Moroni this month in our Come Follow Me lessons. He wasn’t a prophet, like Alma or Helaman, but he’s a wonderful example of stalwart faith in action. So as we finish up Moroni’s story and the Book of Alma, I want to highlight a couple lessons learned from the Nephite captain.

A Man of Conviction

“And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it—In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.” (Alma 46:12)

The example of Alma 44:4 could be an example of this as well, but there are so many instances of Moroni demonstrating his faith and conviction as a Nephite leader. The Title of Liberty and boldly sharing his testimony, despite the opinions of the king-men, is inspirational for those of us living in the latter-days. Social media and the internet only make it easier to be intimidated by what seems to be popular opinion–even if it’s not the popular opinion, it’s usually still shouted loudly enough to seem that way. Bearing simple testimony, as Moroni did on his rent coat, can be more impactful than all the loud voices screaming on the internet.

A Man of Faith

“Now it came to pass that while Amalickiah had thus been obtaining power by fraud and deceit, Moroni, on the other hand, had been preparing the minds of the people to be faithful unto the Lord their God.” (Alma 48:7)

Not only did Moroni live his faith and convictions, but he taught them to his people. He was a military captain but he was also a teacher in the faith. He knew that despite the physical wars they were engaged in, the more important war was for their souls. In fact, aren’t most of the war chapters frequently taken as allegories for the spiritual warfare we face on a day-to-day basis? Decades ago, President Packer said, “The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior.” (General Conference, October 1986) I truly believe that if we internalize the gospel and are “trying to be like Jesus” there would be no wars (or at least fewer) and Captain Moroni’s job would have been obsolete.

A Man of Strength 

“Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.” (Alma 48:17)

I love Captain Moroni as an example of strength against the power of the devil. On my mission, we talked about being hell-shakers and I’ve thought of that often in the years since. Captain Moroni is one of the few mortal individuals in scripture or otherwise described to have faith so great to impact the adversary’s power. While becoming perfect sometimes seems unachievable (because we can’t be perfect in this life) the example of Captain Moroni gives me hope that the amount of faith to be a hell-shaker is attainable in this life. That’s a “short-term” goal I can shoot for.

A Man of Service

“Now behold, Helaman and his brethren were no less serviceable unto the people than was Moroni; for they did preach the word of God, and they did baptize unto repentance all men whosoever would hearken unto their words.” (Alma 48:19)

This scripture talks about Helaman and the spiritual leaders being “no less serviceable” than Moroni, but that statement also works in reverse. Sometimes I’ve felt that I’ll never match the strength and spirituality of powerful spiritual leaders who have impacted me–Elder Holland, my mission president, and more. Stories like this help to remind me that I don’t need to be in the spotlight to make a difference in the spiritual lives of the people around me.

A Man of Passion

“And now, in your epistle you have censured me, but it mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart. I, Pahoran, do not seek for power, save only to retain my judgment-seat that I may preserve the rights and the liberty of my people. My soul standeth fast in that liberty in the which God hath made us free.” (Alma 61:9)

A few years ago I wrote about Moroni’s letter to Pahoran, so I won’t rewrite that lesson here (just the link). Suffice it to say that I admire Captain Moroni’s passion for protecting his people from harm, physically and spiritually. Even when I overstep and make mistakes, they can be used for the benefit of those around me. Moroni never wanted to bully his way into getting what he wanted, but he did speak boldly and fiercely for the right. 

Heading into the fall season and the last portion of the Book of Mormon, I look forward to reading the pivotal visit of the Savior in 3 Nephi and the final lessons from Mormon and Moroni. For right now, I’ll bask in the lessons I’ve learned from the Captain himself.

Stripling Warriors: Momma's Boys

I grew up in the Los Angeles area and as such had the opportunity to frequent the Los Angeles Temple and its visitor center often. The visitor center has been changed and undergone some major upgrades since that time with a plethora of interactive media and family history experiences, but when I went, there were 2 pieces of technology that stuck out to me. One was the statues in front where a button could be pushed and a story or series of scriptures would be shared. The other was a large theater where you could request a church film or Living Scripture movie be played. My favorite Living Scripture movie to request was the story of Helaman and the stripling warriors. Given the fact that this story is included in this week’s study of Come Follow Me, I thought it appropriate to reflect on the film and the scriptural story it portrays.

Admittedly, as a child, the movie of the Stripling Warriors was my favorite because it had the most action. That being said, this story became one of my favorites and I can still remember being able to share about Helaman and his sons with a fellow member of my stake while on a bus ride to youth conference. He asked me what my favorite scripture story was and I pointed him to the story of Helaman and his sons. During high school, I had a t-shirt given to me that had the phrase “Stripling Warriors are Momma’s boys” which I loved to wear in public places such as Disneyland (back when I lived only a half an hour away and could go without having to take out a personal loan). It was a surefire way to get noticed by other members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Of course I had to be careful that “stripling” was read correctly or else it became a little awkward…

The sons of Helaman were indeed “momma’s boys.” I love that they credit their mothers for their faith. In Alma 56: 47-48, we read: 

“Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.

 And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.”

These young men were taught the gospel of Jesus Christ by their mothers and as result, were firm in their belief that the Lord was in control, regardless of the outcome of the battle.

Back to the Living Scriptures movie. Yes there was fighting and action and it was so cool to see the Stripling Warriors win, but as I reflect back on the film, a couple of things stand out to me that are different from the scriptural account. 

First, as they were fleeing from a speedy march from the Lamanites, Helaman was in the back of the army in an effort to head off the Lamanites should they come upon the rear of his army. Wow! He was willing to take on a whole army with only one other guy if he thought he could slow down the advance of the Lamanites and give his boys a better chance of escape. 

Second, the Stripling Warriors helped out each other. The stronger warriors protected those who were weaker. This reminds me of a teaching from Doctrine and Covenants 84:106: 

“And if any man among you be strong in the Spirit, let him take with him him that is weak, that he may be edified in all meekness, that he may become strong also.”

This verse has often been applied to ministering or missionary companionships, but I think it can be applied to marriages, friendships and pretty much any relationship we have. Recently, my wife was not feeling well so I was responsible for attempting to take care of my daughter. This experience was taxing on me and later that day, my wife took care of my daughter so I could recover.

Lastly, I loved Helaman’s reaction upon learning that all of the Stripling Warriors were alive. He dropped to his knees and while it was not an uttered prayer, I imagine him giving thanks to the Lord for sparing his army. I love the idea of being grateful under any circumstances. In 2020, President Nelson shared a video around Thanksgiving highlighting the importance of gratitude and then proceeded to pray a prayer of gratitude. It was a great example to me of the importance of expressing thanks to Heavenly Father.

It has been a long time since I have seen the Living Scriptures account of the Stripling Warriors, but I think it is fair to say that it started me on the path that led to a lifelong love of this wonderful scriptural account. I hope you enjoy your Come Follow Me study this week!

Link to President Nelson’s talk and prayer

How Big is Your God?

(Guest post by Spencer's dad)

Thirty-nine years ago, just after we were married, we had a High Councilman share a message that has stayed with me.   He asked three short questions.   It must have been amazing to others as well because a few months later, this brother came back and did a fireside on the same topic.    

For nearly four decades I have thought of these questions.  

Initially I was going to share in this blog post what I thought each question might mean or look like to each of us.   I won’t do that because I don’t want to limit where these questions might take you.  I will add question four, which I believe moves from theoretical to practical.

1.   How big is your God?

2.   How powerful is your God?

3.   How much do you know about Him?

4.   What difference does this God make in your life today?

Every time I ask myself these questions my pondering leads to new possibilities that I had not previously supposed.

Friday Creature Feature - Reepicheep

"We have nothing if not belief."

Recently one Sunday afternoon, I put on Voyage of the Dawn Treader for some uplifting background noise. The Chronicles of Narnia is a movie series (and book series) that I could pretty much have on repeat. The themes and messages have pulled me through some dark times (see my Horse and His Boy post). This time watching through Dawn Treader, I was reminded how much I love the mouse Reepicheep.

In case you've forgotten, Reepicheep was the leader of the talking mice, shortly before and during the rise of Prince Caspian. He was descended from the dumb mice who chewed through Aslan's binds on the Stone Table, back in the days of the Pevensie kids (rewarded with speech for serving Aslan). He was one of Caspian's most trusted soldiers, despite his small stature. In the movie version of Prince Caspian, he and the other mice help to infiltrate Miraz's castle in prepration for the oncoming fight. In the Second Battle of Beruna he was nearly killed and his tail was cut off. With Lucy's healing cordial, he was resuscitated, but it wasn't until he and his fellow mice showed humility to Aslan that his tail was restored.

Three years later (by Narnian time) he was aboard the Dawn Treader when they chanced upon Edmund, Lucy, and Eustace. At first he was at constant odds with Eustace (but who wasn't, right?). After their encounter with Dragon Island, Reepicheep forgave Eustace and they became friends. In the movie version, Reepicheep took to flying on Eustace's dragon head through their journeys and encouraging him to fight on. Reepicheep was also the only one it seemed (in both movie and book) to not panic when encountering the sea serpent.

Also of note for Dawn Treader was Reepicheep's belief in Aslan's Country. Many of the others on the boat thought they'd reach the end of the world and fall off the edge. But Reepicheep had been taught as a mousling, "Where the sky and water meet, Where the waves grow sweet, Doubt not, Reepicheep, To find all you seek, There is the utter East." And he took that in faith, giving him the hope that he'd one day see Aslan's Country. His faith was realized... he was the only Narnian to reach the End of the World and, surrendering his sword, he was granted passage into Aslan's Country. There he remained until The Last Battle, when he welcomed the Friends of Narnia into Aslan's Country and "further up and further in." 

There's one main reason I love Reepicheep: his example of faith. I like to think of myself as a person of faith, which I am, but I'm also certainly one to doubt, especially when it comes to divine worth. But maybe I just need someone like that around in my life to affirm me, like Reepicheep did with Eustace in the movie. The movie version actually makes me think of my trainer from my mission. It doesn't happen so much anymore now that I'm married, but I could always count on him for a pep talk with the same energy as Reepicheep's "Extraordinary things only happen to extraordinary people. Maybe it's a sign. That you could have an extraordinary destiny." Or my favorite, from Reepicheep's goodbye to Eustace, "What a magnificent puzzle you are. And a true hero. It has been my honor to fight beside such a brave warrior. And a great friend."

So here's to Reepicheep, a true hero of faith.

"Come on, let’s meet our destiny!"

Brandon Sanderson: A Story of Faith

The full interview, “Why I Believe with Brandon Sanderson”, can be found on Facebook…

Earlier this week, the acclaimed fifteen-time New York Times Bestselling author of epic fantasy, Brandon Sanderson, sat down to discuss and answer questions based on his faith and his books. I think this resulted in a deeply insightful and interesting interview, and not just for aspiring writers: he taught lessons for life. What do we do when we can’t seem to move forward? Where should we draw inspiration from? Should we follow the crowd, or be ourselves? How do we deal with uncertainty? Why do you believe? These are all questions that speak to the soul, and what this author has to say is so much deeper than just good writing advice.

There are three aspects of his story that stand out, and the first was the fact that it took him a great while before he discovered writing. He joked how a lot of his competition seems to have had typewriters installed in the womb so they could get a head start. Christopher Paolini comes to mind quite quickly, whose best-selling book Eragon was published at age 18 after only starting writing it at age 15. Sanderson, by contrast, didn’t encounter reading fantasy books until the eighth grade, and only started writing at age 16. Why this change, and why did it affect him so much? His teacher, Mrs. Reeder, gave him a book, and that transformed him. He describes himself as pretty much a constant “7” on a scale of 10 when it comes to happiness, but reading and following the experiences of the characters allowed him to experience levels of emotion and feeling that he had never felt before. Empathy with the characters was something that transported him to their view, and brought him to understand emotion in ways he never had before. Writing came because he wanted to be able to create that himself. The rest flowed from there. Those simple moments become defining. If we allow those experiences to help define us, we can pursue those things that bring us joy.

Brandon was asked what to do about “writer’s block”: what do you do when you experience it? His advice might seem blasphemous to those who, like myself, like to see things done well, or done right, the first time: just jump straight into it. When he doesn’t know what to do, he just writes. Even if it’s horrible, he writes. When it needs to be fixed, he throws out the mistakes, and goes at it again. In his words, it’s much easier to fix something flawed rather than create something good “out of wholecloth.” You can always go back and fix mistakes, but you can’t expect perfection. Especially for young writers, he said, you’ll run into so many things you have to throw out; but as you gain experience, it becomes easier for good writing to flow if you let it out. You have to accept that mistakes will have to be thrown out, and that a better, stronger “you” might be the product of the writing, not the book or the writing itself. If you write, and want to write better, then write! What does a musician do to improve? They practice music! His philosophy is that the journey comes before the destination. If you ever feel stuck, if you feel paralyzed by the task in front of you, maybe just try doing it. A sculptor is only ever able to see the product of the stone once it’s become clear. Our lives and our efforts are precisely the same This spoke to me so much, as one who tends to let perfectionism stop me from acting in a moment. If you want to work on something, just try it out, and throw out the mistakes when they come, and keep trying.

Throughout the interview, he spoke to his reasons for believing in God. In the beginning, he referred to his mission a fair amount. When he first went to the MTC, he felt very much like a fish out of water. “What am I doing?” was a question he asked himself. Even when asked about such things as the Plan of Salvation, which he’d heard of his whole life, he’d think “What? What’s that?” Being in an experience where he had to teach things that he had learned made him pay so much more attention to it that simply being told he needed to learn it. Contrary to what this implies, though, he never went on his mission because of cultural or familial expectations: rather, he went because of his testimony. In particular, he feels that, although he doesn’t know the truth of all things, he knows the God loves His children, perhaps in the same way that Nephi meant when you spoke with an angel. Without having a perfect knowledge, he knows that God is there, that God helped him know that writing would be good for him to pursue, and that he knew he should seek to marry his now wife. He said, if you plant a seed of faith, just start small and build upon it. As he tested the Lord, and received a manifestation of His love and power, he followed the path, and the joy and the fruits of it have blessed him ever since. I think we forget just how involved the Lord can be, if we let him.

This interview, though simple, was made in such a way that you do get to access the mind of Brandon Sanderson, and his mind is full of treasure. This interview was an hour, and I hardly was able to cover even ten minutes of interview. I have to admit it, though: I haven’t read one of Brandon Sanderson’s books. I’ve been intending to read them for years, but this just inspires me to want to read them even more now. Brandon Sanderson seems like a genuinely amazing man, one who is deeply thoughtful and empathetic, and wants to see the light contrast with the darkness. He seeks to follow what makes him feel happy, and to include the Lord in all aspects of that. We can find faith, take steps forward, and worry less that we’ll make mistakes, and more that we are able to make mistakes yet still correct what isn’t good. If you could listen to the entire interview, there are at least ten other points that he went into depth about. He is full of knowledge and life, and I hope that I can have some of that when I get to his age. Regardless, if you want good life advice, or just good writing advice, go find his interview, listen, and be edified with him.

Watch the full interview here: 

Why I Believe with Brandon Sanderson

Halo: The Flood of our Fears

Spoilers ahead, for a twenty one year old game series…

“One single flood spore can destroy a species…” -Rtas ‘Vadum, Ship Master of the Separatist Fleet, 2552

If you’ve ever known me really well, you’ll know I’m a big scaredy-cat. I noticeably jumped in the theater for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, when the Kraken screams in Jack Sparrow’s face. When my wife surprised me by being home before me and jumping from behind a door, I jumped a foot and screamed about an octave higher than my voice normally allows for what felt like a minute. I don’t express it often like that, but fear is one of my great weaknesses: whether that be fear of tackling a project, or of messing up talking to someone, or whether that be fear of dark places, or fear of a scary enemy in a video game. No matter how much we feel it, however, It’s what we do with our fears that matters. Sometimes that is why I feel such a connection to certain video games, because their allegory and their structure embody the chance for me to face my fears. Halo, especially in its first three installments, really resonates for me there. Since it’s October, I think it’s appropriate to explain why one of the most prominent and viscerally terrifying enemies in the Halo series is such a powerful embodiment of fear. 

In Halo: Combat Evolved (2001), you play as the Master Chief, a powerful super-soldier who crash-lands on a massive artificial ring-world, named, you guessed it, Halo. You and your AI companion, Cortana, have to try to reunite with your scattered crew, fight a technologically and numerically superior army of aliens, called the Covenant, and get a way back to Earth. Captain Keyes, your superior who piloted you out of a bigger mess than you got into on Halo, sets out to find a weapons cache to beat the Covenant at their own game. In doing so, he accidentally stumbles across an enemy far worse. When you go to rescue him, you encounter the Flood. You see, Halo is a first person shooter. That means that you get to see things as if from your own perspective. There isn’t a magic camera behind you, it’s instead “inside” the helmet of the character you are playing. You get to see things in a more personal way. It also makes it easier to replicate our every-day, normal fears. What’s around the corner? What’s in the dark ahead? You can’t cheat: you have to go in and find out, or else walk away and hope it doesn’t come after you. 

When you go to rescue Captain Keyes, nothing is quite right. Their dropship is downed in a dark, gloomy swamp, playing a distress call on repeat. Even the Covenant’s dropships are crashed, and they’re in complete disarray. When you go down into the facility, you find dead marines, dead Covenant, and hollow, empty silence. Instead of an enemy force sent to defend a strategically important weapons facility, all you find are empty defenses and the bodies of the dead. Green goo drips from the ceilling, and blood is splattered all around. A single deranged marine shoots the moment you see him, saying “you’re not turning me into one of those things!” and never stops acting like you’re the enemy. Dead Covenant lie behind barriers that failed to save them. Your greatest enemy lost to this enemy.  Finally, you catch up to the bodies of the Keyes’s team, and find a recording from a fallen helmet. They were attacked, captured, and turned by tentacled, fleshy parasites. To this point, the Flood instilled fear in you long before you even saw them: now you know the horror, and you have to fight through it. 

From now on, you’re overwhelmed by hordes of Covenant and marine bodies turned into Flood, and all you can do is to escape with your life. Every corner is a horde of the Flood, and you can’t just stand there and take them on: you have to run. The parasites crawl up walls, writhing and jumping, trying to thrust their tentacles into your spinal cord to wrest control of your body. Marines that used to fight alongside you now are unrecognizable, as tentacles and mutilated flesh overtake them and the Covenant alike. They have strength to run and jump impossible distances, and they are absolutely relentless. But they’re not stupid or mindless: remember that crazed marine? The Flood left him there to draw you further in. They employ traps, destroy elevators, wield weapons, and use every conceivable technique to infect more hosts, and consume you with them. They are an absolutely terrifyingly designed enemy, and the only way to win is to run. 

Now, growing up, I had few opportunities to play Halo, but it left an indelible impact on me. The original Halo games are famous for being able to play cooperatively, and memories of playing with my brother and my cousin (though they played a lot more than I did) are still sweet. In many ways, because they’re a fair bit older, I feel like their confidence helped me to not be paralyzed by fear when I played; and in fact, extended to other games as well. While I’m still a scaredy-cat (the tension in Resident Evil 4 is sometimes more than I want to handle), I know how to stand, face the horror, and be strong. 

I feel like our lives are so much like these games. We are faced with horrors that are not gross and life-threatening, but they are existentially terrifying: are we smart enough to pass a difficult class at university? Do we have the talent to stand out in a field of job applicants? Will we be able to hold it together and be collected when we perform in front of everyone? Am I a caring enough father and husband for my family? These sorts of questions can easily grow, fester, and take over our lives. I see it in myself every time my graduation from school is delayed. However, even if we falter and pause in the face of fear, we don’t have to succumb to it: 

“Because the Savior, through His infinite Atonement, redeemed each of us from weakness, mistakes, and sin, and because He experienced every pain, worry, and burden you have ever had, then as you truly repent and seek His help, you can rise above this present precarious world.

“You can overcome the spiritually and emotionally exhausting plagues of the world, including arrogance, pride, anger, immorality, hatred, greed, jealousy, and fear. Despite the distractions and distortions that swirl around us, you can find true rest—meaning relief and peace—even amid your most vexing problems.” (President Russell M. Nelson, “Overcome the World and Find Rest,” October 2022 General Conference)

Even when fear floods our minds and threatens to consume us, or destroy us, or to drive us to insignificance, we have to be willing to face it; we must be present before it, trust in the Lord, and stand. Stand, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) Hopefully, through Christ, we all can find that power, and love, and soundness when we need it.