Author: Will

Meeting the Geddes Family

Post author By Will
Post date 16 January 2022
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Today, I got to follow Walker to his two basketball games. It was fun to watch. The first they won, the second they didn’t. Walker plays pretty consistently; he works extremely hard, is disciplined to box out, plays great defense, and shoots well (although not usually often enough). The second game was against a team named Stance Elite. They are currently ranked 12th in the whole country. They killed us by 50; Walker had to guard the 6’8″ 230lb center. It was a tough fun learning experience.

I then went to watch Abby run at BYU in an indoor meet. She did pretty well finishing her part (1500m) of the DMR with a 5:14 time. She was fine with it as a first race.

We also met Abby’s team mate’s family, the Geddes’. They are very cool. They see the COVID situation and the world just like we do. It was really refreshing and a blessing. We chatted for at least 30min as if we’d been friends for years. I can see us spending more time with them in the future.

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Lightning Speed

Willy’s team lost in overtime tonight. They shot poorly, but it was till an emotional battle. A tender mercy came before the game. I had twenty minutes to get pizza and be back before the game started. If you’ve ever been to our Little Caesar’s then you know that’s impossible. Well, it happened today.

Chloe also played today in varsity and JV. She played awesome in Varsity. It’s fun to see her rise up and get used to varsity.

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Unexpected Comment

I’ve been talking to Michael Dabriel about the loss of his granddad. The conversation always has some faithful component to it cause my faith helps me deal with really hard things. Michael’s grandmother is also a believer. Well, today Michael mentioned that he might try praying again. It was a cool few minutes. I got to tell him about how the Spirit might talk to him to answer his questions of if God exists. He also told me about a vision his grandmother had about his grandad coming to her while he was in the hospital asking what he needed to do to become good with God. I felt the spirit when he recounted the experience. He asked if I thought it was true. I said immediacy, yes. I told him about how the fruits of the Spirit and how it testifies of truth. It was a fun discussion. Maybe Michael will try praying.

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A Call

Post author By Will
Post date 12 January 2022
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Abby runs at BYU on Saturday. She has been congested for a few days and so she was worrying if she’d fall ill and not be able to compete. I asked Paula this early this afternoon if she’d heard from Abby and she said no. Then about an hour later, Abby called and we got to talk about her classes and how she’s feeling. It was meaningful for me; she values my opinion. Thanks Lord for helping her think to call me.

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Good Lunch

I went to lunch with Dan Duckworth today. It was good to catch up. We talked about a number of tough things we are dealing with like Covid pneumonia and potentially recurring thyroid cancer. I felt the Spirit a number of times. It was a nice conversation. You really don’t know from looking at someone what they are going through. It’s easy to let the adversary convince you that everyone else’s life is perfect and void of struggles and while yours is crashing and burning. We discussed the need for faith and to push out fear, and always believe that a loving Father in Heaven and Savior are there to help us success as long as we turn to them.

My study in the Book of Mormon was in 1 Nephi and reinforced that the Lord will provide for and deliver us when we keep his commandments and do what he asks us to do.

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Two for One

Paula ordered some workout pants a month ago. They never came, so when Paula called Customer Service to enquirer, they just cancelled the order because it was lost, refunded her money, and told her to buy another pair. Fortunately, the style she wanted was still available. Today, both pairs arrived. She got two for one I guess.

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 17-22

1 Nephi 17

Lehi and his family continue “through much affliction” (having children in the wilderness, etc.) but “great were the blessings of the Lord upon us…” (v1-2)
- Blessings:
  - The women were able to breast feed their children.
  - The women were made strong like the men.
  - They were strengthened to endure the journey without murmuring.
- This is an example of the Lord asking that wildly impossible things be done and then strengthening the faithful in order that those things can be accomplished.
“And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled.” (v3)
- Whether we are among the faithful or not, the Lord will accomplish His work.
“And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; wherefore, he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.” (v3)
- If we are faithful in doing what the Lord asks us to do, He will:
  - “strengthen [us]”
  - “provide means where by [we] can accomplish the thing…”
- Nephi states the gospel principle and then seals it with his testimony: “wherefore, he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.” (v3)

Build a Ship

After many days in Bountiful, the Lord summons Nephi to a high mountain and asks him to build a ship so the family can sale to the promised land. (v7-8)
- Nephi doesn’t appear to question the request despite not being a ship building, and immediately asks where ore can be found the make tools. (v9)
It’s interesting that the Lord had asked Nephi and his family to not use fire until this point. That’s at least 8 years with out fire for cooking or light. During that time, the Lord provided… “I will make thy food become sweet, that ye cook it not…” (v12) and “I will also be your light in the wilderness…” (v13)
- In general, the Lord said “I will prepare the way before you…” but there was one condition, “if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments…” He adds “inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led.” (v13) The Lord continued “After ye have arrived in the promised land, ye shall know that I, the Lord, am God; and that I, the Lord, did deliver you from destruction; yea, that I did bring you out of the land of Jerusalem.” (v14)
Laman & Lemuel “murmur against” Nephi. (v17-22)
- It’s interesting and incredible how they see the situation completely differently from Nephi.
Nephi recounts the miracles that the Lord performed in delivering Moses and the Israelites from the Egyptians. (v23-35)
Nephi lectures his brothers about being hard-hearted. They don’t like it and try to kill Nephi. (v36-27) Nephi has to warns them “… in the name of the Almighty God…” that if they touch him, they’ll be destroyed. (v48)
Nephi testifies that if the Lord can perform so many miracles in the past, He can certainly show him how to build a ship; he could do anything the Lord commanded him. (v50-51)
- Nephi had complete faith the the Lord could help accomplish anything.
Nephi’s brothers stayed away from him for days; fearful of being struck down. (v52)
Nephi is commanded by the Lord to touch his brothers. They are shocked and convinced the Lord is with Nephi. (v53-55)

1 Nephi 18

The Lord continues to show Nephi how to build a ship; “I did build it after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me…” (v1-2)
- What is the significance of emphasizing so much that the ship was built differently than man would do it?
Nephi was shown “great things” because he often went into the mountains to pray to the Lord. (v3)
Finishing the ship and seeing that it was high quality humbled Nephi’s brothers. (v4)
Lehi then hears the voice of the Lord that tells them to sale away in the ship. (v5)
- It’s interesting that when it was time for the family to move, the revelation always went to Lehi.
While on the ship for many days, they “began to make themselves merry, insomuch that they began to dance, and to sing, and to speak with much rudeness, yea, eve that they did forget by what power they had been brought thither; yea, they were lifted up unto exceeding rudeness.” (v9)
- I’m not sure what all this means, but it must have been in appropriate because Nephi “began to fear exceedingly lest the Lord should be angry with us, and smite us because of our iniquity.” (v10)
Nephi speaks up about his concern about how the family is acting and Laman and Lemuel don’t like it. In fact, they tie up Nephi. (v11)
- The compass stops working and a great storm comes up. (v13)
- After 3 days of storm the family thinks they are going to drowned. (v13)
- On day 4 of the storm when the weather was worse than ever before, “my brethren began to see that the judgements of God were upon them, and that they must perish save that they should repent of their iniquities;” so they untied Nephi. (v15)
  - Nephi immediately prayed to God all day, praising him and not murmur about being tied up with swollen ankles and sore body.
    - I wonder the impact this kind of attitude had on the compass working again? What would have happened if Nephi had complained a little bit? He was obviously smart/faithful enough to know complaining would do no good, so he didn’t.
- “And there was nothing save it were the power of God, which threatened them with destruction, could soften their hearts; wherefore, when they saw that they were about to be swallowed up in the depths of the sea they repented of the thing which they had done, insomuch that they loosed me.” (v20)
  - Sometimes the Lord needs to let life get really hard before we turn to him and repent.
- Nephi prayed and the storm stopped. (v21)
- After several days, they arrived at the promised land. They immediately planted seeds to grow food; they were bless as the food grew “exceedingly.” (v24)
  - They were also blessed with many useful animals and metals. (v25)

1 Nephi 19

It seems that one of the first instructions Nephi received from the Lord was to “make plates of ore that I might engraven upon them the record of my people.” (v1)
- Nephi made two records:
  - a history “which gives a greater account of the wars and contentions and destructions of my people.” (v4)
  - A more religious book that was used in the Book of Mormon. It includes “the ministry and the prophecies, the more plain and precious parts of them…” (v3)
Nephi said regarding this account: “I do not write anything upon plates save it be that I think it be sacred.” (v6)
Nephi emphasizes that to some, these things will “be of great worth” but “others set at naught and trample under their feet” or “hearken not to the voice of his counsels.” (v7)
- Jesus Christ is the first example of one set at naught. He will come and be crucified 600 years in the future. (v8)
- Many prophets for a very long time have prophesied of the coming of Christ. (v9-10)

1 Nephi 20

The Lord has prophesied of His coming through the prophets for many many years. Despite the advanced notice, the House of Israel does not recognize the Lord when he arrives. Despite all the miracles performed in the past for them, the House of Israel kills its king.
So, the House of Isreal is punished for their wickedness.

1 Nephi 21

In the last days, the Lord Jesus Christ will deliver and restore the House of Isreal.

1 Nephi 22

After the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the House of Israel will be scattered.
The Gentiles will nurse the House of Israel back to a believing state. (v8)
The Lord will “do a marvelous work among the Gentiles” (v8) that will establish His covenants and gospel, and bring them to all the world. (v11)
“…all that fight against Zion shall be destroyed…” (v14)
“For the time soon cometh that the fulness of the wrath of God shall be poured out upon all the children of men; for he will not suffer that the wicked shall destroy the righteous.”(v16)
“Wherefore, he will preserve the righteous by his power, even if it so be that the fulness of his wrath must come, and the righteous be preserved, even unto the destruction of their enemies by fire. Wherefore, the righteous need not fear; for thus saith the prophet, they shall be saved, even if it so be as by fire.” (v17)

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Unexpected Invite

Today was Nikki Smith’s home coming talk. She did a good job. I setup the nice camera for the livestream so I could record Nikki’s talk and the musical number. The livestream was tough cause the building internet connection keep dropping, but I recorded it and shared it later on ss4th.org.

As I was cleaning up the livestream equipment, Brian Kirkby came up to me and asked if I was still open to new job opportunities. I said yes and he told me his brother is a VP of Engineering at Nice InContact and they’re hiring director level people. This unexpected invite seemed like and answer to my prayers. I’ve been asking the Lord to help direct me in regards to work. I’m not saying this is my next job, but I think it’s a message that the Lord is going to help.

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Slow Saturday

It was nice to have a Saturday that wasn’t busy. I was able to study the Book of Mormon and prepare for my sacrament meeting talk. I started later than normal and spent more time. I was also able to manage the kids so Paula could workout without interruption or distraction.

I did the Costco run. I ran into Michael and Julie Ward. They have 4 children ages 8 to 14. They seem to be doing well. It was fun to chat with them for a while. I was uplifted by them. They are great people and I’m grateful for their friendship.

Walker had two basketball games. Paula went to the first at 5p and I attended the second at 7p. The first game was painful and not many points were score. Walkers team still won, but they appeared rusty. The second game was much better. The team played better together and hit shots. At one point, they were up by 16. A second half lull allowed the competition to work its way back to within 4 points, but we pulled it out. It was fun to watch.

We finished the night watching the end of a Hallmark movie. It’s a Christmas time tradition that we are slow to let go in the new year. The story was heartwarming; that’s why we like them.

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Real Code

Post author By Will
Post date 08 January 2022
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I wrote a script to part Tethr data. It worked and it felt good have created it myself. I also had another architecture meeting with an expanded group. It was fun to work on the problem together.

Willy’s Bball game went well. He played well with lots of assists, but few points. It’s going to be a fun year. Region play starts next week.