The Amazing Power: Trials vs. Blessings

I have talked about this many times in the past but I decided to revisit this thought.

We have trials in our lives. That's something that we can't get away from and you will have a trial of some sort one way or another. Some trials would be very difficult to deal with; some would be easy to resolve. However, the consequences of these trials depend solely on you.

Elder Anderson said during a Conference talk, "...Fiery trials are designed to make you stronger, but they have the potential to diminish or even destroy your trust in the Son of God and to weaken your resolve to keep your promises to Him." If trials are "designed" to make us stronger, why do we feel weak and lose hope when we face trials?

I 100% believe that people have potential and power that they don't realize. I also believe that time is not linear, but holistic. This means that you have the power to change your past. Of course, that sounds absurd and impossible. Yes, it is impossible and absurd; however, you do that all the time!

For example, let's say that you missed a bus in the morning to go to work. That is terrible!! You are late to work because you missed that bus. However, you come to find out at work that there was an accident and the people on that bus were injured. You realize that you were so fortunate to have missed that bus.

Do you see what just happened? The person in that example just changed the past from a trial to a blessing. I believe that Joseph Smith would not view all the trials in his life as the worst experience ever, but as blessings, life lessons, and opportunities to grow.

That's the power that I am talking about. YOU have the power to change your past and turn it into something amazing, something beautiful!

“Your success and happiness, both now and in the eternities, depend largely on your responses to the difficulties of life.” (True to the Faith)

I am not saying that it is SO easy to make a decision to turn your trials into a blessing. It is NEVER easy! I would never go up to a person who experienced something so awful such as sexual assault or abuse to get over themselves and turn that event into a blessing. NEVER! However, what I am trying to portray is that people have the power to turn something into an opportunity to grow, to seek God, and find joy in life. As the Lord said:

"Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.
"For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand.” (Doctrine and Covenants 58:3-4)

God gives us trials so that we can grow. God has given me many trials that I needed in order for me to seek Him, trust Him, and learn of Him.

Lastly, I want to end this post with a quote by Elder Anderson:

“When faced with a trial of faith—whatever you do, you don’t step away from the Church! Distancing yourself from the kingdom of God during a trial of faith is like leaving the safety of a secure storm cellar just as the tornado comes into view.”

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Decions Determine Destiny

Dear readers,

I will probably be writing off and on from now on.

I am currently reading "To the Rescue," a biography of President Thomas S. Monson. One of the chapters is titled, "Decisions Determine Destiny." In the chapter, he says, "There are factors within you and within me even basic principles with which we have been imbued from our creation, which seem to call out and demand of us our best. Those particular years and those cravings and those bits of inspiration seem to be telling you and me, 'Seek the best in life. Look for opportunities where you can be of greatest service.'"

An excerpt from my journal:

"Every decision you make determines your destiny. You have control over your future!

"When I decided not to pursue a career in rad. tech. I made a decision that would forever change my life. I will probably never have to work on the weekends. I will be deeply rooted at Brigham Young University and get the education for free.

"Who knows? Maybe I will find something else or change my destiny through other decisions. I pray, though, that all the decisions will be inspired and would lead me to be of greatest service to those around me, especially my family."

The Currant Bush
Recently, I was reminded of this story of the Currant bush by Elder Hugh B. Brown. I am not going to summarize the story because you can watch or read it. However, the most important part and what I want to talk about is this: "I am the gardener here. I know what I want you to be.”

The decisions we make shapes our destiny because it helps us become who we are supposed to be. I do not think that I would be a bad person for becoming a rad tech; however, it wouldn't provide me with opportunities that I now have with other opportunities that my current job will bring. It helps me become who God wants me to be.

Conclusion
Getting to where I am now, in the Dean of Students Office as an Executive Secretary, was a really frustrating, disappointing, and miserable experience. You can read all about it here...which shows that I didn't even write about how I changed my job...or they changed it for me. I got promoted! Yay!! From Campus Scheduling to the Dean of Students Office!

Anyways, I know that God's hand was in my life and he had guided me to make the correct choices that would help me become who He wants me to be.

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Story of Chris: Service

Story
I almost wrote a post a few weeks ago about a man I saw on the bus. He's Korean and I have seen him around on BYU campus. He is blind and carries a pole/stick with him. However, I have never talked to him.

A few weeks ago when I saw him, I was overwhelmed with compassion because he reminded me of my dad. I thought, "What if my dad were in the same situation as he is?" In a foreign country, no one to help him and so helpless. I am ashamed to say that I didn't talked to him that day.

Last Saturday, Alysha and I went to Smith's and I saw the same man going into the store guided by a security man.

Alysha and I didn't have much to buy but since we were used to Smith's in Murray, we had no idea where anything was so it took awhile before we found everything we needed. In the meantime, I kept watching that Korean man, and he took his time walking around and looked for things. According to Alysha, there were people who would get frustrated with him because he moved so slow. He moved slow because he had to examine things. No one stopped to ask him if he needed help. His quiet excuse me's to people who passed by him seemed to be only heard by me.

When we finally found everything we needed, I told Alysha that I feel bad for just leaving. She is so sweet, kind, and always supportive of me. She urged me to go help him and told me that she would be in the car changing Emma's diaper. I am so grateful for her and her support.

I finally walked over to him, who was at the produce section of the store, and asked him if he needed some help. He was very grateful and told me that he needed some mushrooms. By this point, he told me that his name was Chris Lee. When I took him where the mushrooms were, I asked him if he wanted them already cut or whole. He wanted them cut. I thought to myself that that would be easier to cook with and that he wouldn't have to cut them himself. He then proceeded to ask him if they were $1.99. When I told him that they were $3.99 and the cheapest ones were still over $1.99, he returned them to me and told me that he didn't want them.

Upon returning the mushrooms back on the shelf, I asked him if he wanted something else. Tofu. That was in his price range so he decided to get it. When I asked him if he needed anything else, he told me that was it. All he wanted was tofu and mushrooms. I couldn't just let him leave with tofu so I offered to pay for the mushrooms. He asked, "Really?" Yes, I would. After we got them, I turned to him and said, "Do you need anything else? I will pay." He thanked me profusely as we went to get some things that he wanted. When we were almost done, I realized that Alysha had the keys with Smith's card on the key ring. That's when I asked her if I could pay for Chris and she was once again supportive of helping him.

We gave him a ride to his apt. When I helped him carry his groceries inside, I saw his apt. His tiny apt that was smaller than my bathroom. A small stove, small counter top with a small sink, a fridge, a lounge chair, a plastic table, and other random things filled up his apt. He never stopped thanking me. I wish I could help him more but my own circumstances doesn't allow me to help him more than I did unfortunately. However, I am glad that I was able to help him as much as I did.

When I got back in the car, I apologized to Alysha for taking so much time and money but she told me that there was no need to apologize for doing a good deed. How can I not love this girl! I married the most wonderful girl in the world!

Today, I have sent a referral to the missionaries to go visit Chris. From what I could tell, he has been to the Korean ward, has been in the US for five years, doesn't go to school, doesn't really work, gets money from his family in Korea, and is all alone. If you see Chris (he is Korean, is tan, wears sunglasses, and has a pole that is wrapped), please offer to give him a ride or give him any kind of service you can.

Lesson
There are so many people we can and should help. There are refugees, homeless people, and people who are in need. This particular man is dear to my heart, perhaps, because he is Asian and reminds me of my dad.

We talk a lot about service and helping others. However, how many of us (both you and I) pass by people like Chris in the aisle of a grocery store frustrated that he is going slow? How many of us pass by him without asking to help?

Perhaps, we are too busy with our own life that we do not look around us and do not see others who are in need. Perhaps, we are too focused on our own problems that we don't notice others who are in need.

Today, stop what you are doing and look around you. Is there someone who clearly needs a ride? Is there someone who doesn't have enough money to pay for a small amount of groceries? Is there someone who needs help carrying groceries? Let's look around and serve.

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Birth and Atonement

Today, I was reading 1 John 5 and I came across these verses:

"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world:and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
"Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
"This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth." (1 John 5:4-5)

This may seem not much to you but I thought it was interesting that they made a point that Christ had to be born just like all of us. This may sound a little graphic but baby Jesus was born by "water and blood." He was a mortal who overcame the world, trials, evil, and even death. Once He had suffered all these things and was resurrected, He became perfect.

We, too, were born by "water and blood." We, too, have the potential to become perfect: full of glory and having all the attributes that God and Jesus Christ possess. However, we, unlike Christ, cannot overcome the challenges, trials, and death (alone).

Garden of Gethsemane by Simon Dewey

I don't know if you noticed the title of this post but you might wonder what do water and blood have to do with the Atonement? Everything. Christ who suffered in the Gethsemane sweated "great drops of blood." Through His sacrifice or should I say through His blood, it is possible for us to repent, change our nature, and become like God and Jesus Christ.

During the process of repenting, we make a covenant with the Lord through baptism (by water) and then through the Atonement (by blood), we are able to offer up our natural man and become a saint.

When we were born, we were pure and innocent but the whirlwind comes and beats us down and we slowly become tainted by the world. However, through Christ, we are born again and become pure once again. This time, the whirlwind and the world cannot bring us down because through His blood, we can be made white whenever we desire.

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Hymns: Peace to Our Little Emma

Not too long ago, Alysha told me that she plays some of Mormon Tabernacle Choir songs to calm Emma down. I can't remember if it was her idea or I just decided to do it but I started singing hymns to Emma at night so that she would fall asleep.

I started with "I am a Child of God" and she loved it! She became very calm and started to fall asleep in my arms. Perhaps, it's just because she is tired. However, last night for some reason, she just started wailing! It was as if she was really scared/terrified of something. I just took her and do the same thing that we always do to put her to sleep: bouncing on the exercise ball and turn off all the lights.

She becomes more and more
Asian when she gets tired.

She was still crying and very fussy but when I started singing "I am a Child of God," she was calming down but still fussy. I continued singing hymns for a while and she fell asleep (not for long but she wasn't fussy anymore.) I think it is so cool that this little human would feel the Spirit and would receive peace from it. Some may argue that it's the sound of the song that she enjoys. I doubt that. I don't enjoy my own voice when I sing so I don't think she is enjoying it either. However, it really is the Holy Ghost that she feels when I sing and I feel it too.

"The singing of hymns is one of the best ways to put ourselves in tune with the Spirit of the Lord." -Elder Dallin H. Oaks-

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New Job, New Path

I was going to write about how I got this job that I have now but it was too long so I am going to make it really short and sweet.

I worked at the Intermountain Medical Center for about 11 months. I wanted to become a radiologic technologist; however, I didn't like the idea of working and going to school full-time when we were going to have a baby. I didn't want to miss anything. I didn't want to miss our little Emma growing and learning new things. I wanted to be there to experience and enjoy all of it.

Thus, I began my search for a new job. At times, it was frustrating, disappointing, discouraging, and depressing. However, I knew I had to keep trying: trying to find the right job, right career, and right path. For a while, I wanted to go into business management and perhaps get a degree in MBA. I guess that wasn't what the Lord had in mind for me.

After many interviews and sending off lots and lots of resumes, I was offered a job as an imaging scheduler at TOSH. It would be a desk job and would pay a little better than the job I had previously. I thought that I would just stick with it until I find something better. During that time, however, I also had an interview at BYU as an office specialist.

While TOSH was deciding whether they wanted to hire me or not, I had an interview at BYU on a Tuesday and a few hours after the interview, they invited me to a second interview the next day. During the second interview, I met with an assistant dean of the department and learned what I could do to move up in the department. I thought that this would be the best opportunity for me to get more education and have a stable career. I really wanted this job.

However, something that I feared would happen happened. TOSH offered me the position as an imaging scheduler. I really wanted that job at BYU but I wasn't sure I was going to get it. I decided that I would tell TOSH that I would accept the job and then if BYU offered me their position, I would just call them back and reject it and take the job at BYU. (This is exactly what I did with the rad tech assistant position (my previous position) almost a year ago now.) And that is exactly what happened.

BYU called and offered me the position that I have now. It is salaried with great benefits. I love, love, love working at BYU. I love the people I work with, the environment I am in, the possibilities, and everything. Perhaps, I am so "infatuated" with this job because it's something new; however, I don't think I will regret the decision and regret not going into the rad tech program.

Just to tell you a little about what I do now, I personally deal with all the off-campus people wanting to have a luncheon or a meeting at BYU (everyone else has their own responsibilities) and we all basically reserve rooms on campus for events. It is a desk job; however, it is never boring...except when we have finals since we can't schedule anything during finals. Thus, I am writing on my blog.

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The Book of Mormon: Of God or Of Satan

I was studying for a lesson I will be teaching this Sunday to the young men in our ward and I came across this talk by Elder Tad R. Callister.

He talked about how his great-great-grandfather had studied the Book of Mormon to know for himself if it is true or not. However, the way he approached this self-discovery was worth mentioning. He told himself that the Book of Mormon is either "written by God or the devil, and I am going to find out who wrote it."

Elder Callister goes on and says in his talk that "...there is no middle ground. It is either the word of God as professed, or it is a total fraud." No middle ground! It's not possible form God or maybe the prophets wrote it; it's either from God or not. Simple as that.

We don't to wonder whether it could be from God or not for days, months, or years. We have to decide right now whether it is from God or not. If you are still struggling to find the testimony of the Book of Mormon yourself, I would invite you to read it, ponder every word of it, and pray. Elder Callister's great-great-grandfather read the book twice in 10 days to find out for himself. How willing are you to find out for yourself?

To end, I would like to quote this scripture:

"But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
"And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
"And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?" (Matthew 12:24-26)

 Would Satan publish a book that is against him and invite people to do good?

I know the Book of Mormon is true and it invites everyone to do good and to believe in God and His Son, Jesus Christ. It is of God. I know it, and you can know it for yourself as well.

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"The Tongue is Fire"

For one, hello everyone. Kyoo is back! ...well, kind of. I finally got a desk job where I might be able to update the blog once again. Also, I will be working on updating my wife's and my new blog so we will see how much updating I will be doing.

Anyways, I was reading from James in the New Testament this morning and came across this very insightful scripture:

"And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
"But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
"Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be." -James 3:6, 8, 10-

Out of all the body parts, Paul taught that the tongue is the one would defile our whole body. I don't think he meant that the tongue is the only thing that would defile the body; however, I thought it deserved some pondering.

"But the tongue can no man tame..." I don't necessarily think that we can't control what we say; however, it's something that everyone struggles to control and use. Before we could think about not saying something, it is already out in the open, completely exposed, no way of taking back, just...out.

And then Paul says that "out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing." How true that is! The priesthood holders give blessings, we pray for those around us, and we preach the word of God. Then, with the same mouth, we turn around and judge others, say negative things about others or about ourselves, and swear/cuss.

As I have mentioned multiple times in the past, I do not claim to be perfect. I need to be working on this for sure. What I am doing and hoping to do is to raise the awareness of all of us so that we ALL do our best to work on our weaknesses.

What I believe that could help us is changing ourselves, our very nature. If we didn't have any malice or bad intentions in the first place, we would not be "cursing" or our tongue would be "full of deadly poison." We must do our best to become, as we have heard many times, like Christ who would never let His tongue rule Him and defile His body.

To end, I found this quote by Brigham Young, who said:

"Let not thy tongue give utterance to the evil that is in thine heart, but command thy tongue to be silent until good shall prevail over the evil, until thy wrath has passed away and the good spirit shall move thy tongue to blessings and words of kindness.... When my feelings are aroused to anger by the ill-doing of other, I hold them as I would hold a wild horse, and I gain the victory."

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A Permanent Resident

On February 5, Alysha and I headed to Salt Lake City at 7 in the morning. We were both tired and worried but as we listened to K-Pop, we were able to calm down.

Alysha was worried for days that she would say wrong things and that I would be sent back to Korea. I wasn't worried until I had a bad dream that morning of a car losing both of its right tires. However, we knew we could trust the Lord.

I always thought that the Lord would not permit me to stay in the US for this long and then send me back to Korea now, especially now that I am married to a girl who wouldn't be able to survive a day without me. Who will cook for her? :)

As we waited, we looked at other couples who were there for an interview. We looked way more prepared than others and most definitely married than one couple who waited without even talking to each other.

Our names were called. We were brought into a small office. The interviewer told us to stay standing to swear by an oath to tell the truth. Of course, we would. I don't remember much of the interview; however, I remember him asking us how we met. I asked him if he were a Mormon (because I saw him wearing a name tag with a BYU lanyard) and he replied that I should just tell the story but added that he's been in Utah for a long time. I felt instantly better.

As we related our story to him, he asked few questions here and there. We also had a lot of evidence showing that we are actually married. I remember telling him how its hard to find a job with BS in Psychology and then he pointed at his diploma from Weber State University and said that he got his BS in Psychology.

In the end, he told us that he believes that we are married and that he would approve the application for permanent residency.

We did it! After more than 13 years, I have become a permanent resident (kind of) of the US. I can stay in the US with Alysha!

I know that the Lord does not grant every wish that we have because He has a plan for us; however, I also know that we can always trust Him that we will feel peace and comfort when we try to understand His will.

"Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand." (How Firm a Foundation, Hymns, no. 85)

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The Worth of Your Soul

"Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;
"For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him.
"And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentance.
"And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth!" -Doctrine and Covenants 18:10-13-

When people read this scripture, they think about how they could bring others to Christ and how they would receive so much joy. However, there is one thing that people forget or do not realize: "the worth of souls" means everyone's worth, not just "others'." It means you! You are a part of that everyone. Your worth is great in the sight of God! Your worth, as well as others', is Christ. He has saved us with His life. He has redeemed us with His life. He has suffered it all so that we can reach our full potential.

What is your worth? What is your potential? How are you reaching your potential? Remember your worth! Remember your potential! You are to be a god(dess)! Listen to Elder Neil L. Andersen's warning: "In our weakened moments, the adversary seeks to steal our spiritual promises. If we are not watchful, our injured, child like spirit will retreat back into the cold, dark crust of our former bloated ego, leaving behind the warm, healing light of the Savior." Don't fall for Satan's lies. You know who you are: a child of GOD!

However, don't think that it is easy to achieve your potential. President James E. Faust has said:

"Your strength and identity will come from honoring your priesthood, developing your talents, and serving the Lord. Each of you will have to work very hard to qualify for your eternal potential... It will require all of your strength, stamina, intelligence, and courage." (General Conference, Oct. 1995)

You have to work hard but it will be so worth it.

How are you "qualifying" for your eternal potential?

Related Posts
Worth of Souls
Mending the Heart; Healing the Soul
Everyone Is a Child of God

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