My Cousin Sean's Homecoming Talk

Yesterday Jon and I got to drive up to Pocatello, ID and back for my cousin, Sean's, mission homecoming talk. Wow! Not only was it nice to get a break from Provo, it was awesome to see family that we haven't seen in a long time.

Sean's talk itself was definitely the highlight. I haven't heard the Spirit during a talk that strong in such a long time. After hearing him speak, no doubt remained in my mind about where Sean's testimony is: it is so strong and he is so faithful. On top of this all, he is quite possibly the best example of unconditional love out of anyone I've ever met ever, and this isn't just one of those broad generalized statements that we sometimes throw out without really meaning them. I really mean that Sean probably has more unconditional love than anyone I've ever met before.

Several years ago I was starting my second year of college and I randomly got a call from him! Sean--who I hadn't heard from or seen since I was in kindergarten! He was just calling to say that he hoped I'd had a good first day and to say hi. Since then, he has continued to surprised me time and again by remembering me and loving me for no other reason than the fact that I'm family! Even without all these wonderful phone calls and visits, after one minute in his company I can't help but just feel so loved. What an amazing example he is of how we should treat those around us, especially our families.

There were two parts of his talk that really stood out to me. Both were things he'd heard on his mission and wanted to share with us. The first was this: "Trials are mandatory; misery is optional." So true, right? Regardless of circumstances, happiness is always within our reach. Attitude is everything.

The other thing he shared was something that his mission president had taught him. It was that there are three ways to keeping the commandments. The first is that you keep them out of fear of what will happen if you don't. The second is that you keep them like a robot--just because you're supposed to. The last way is that you keep them because you love Jesus Christ. Obviously, this is the most noble and happy way to live them.

Seeing the joy that the gospel has given Sean has inspired me to want to live the gospel more fully. I can tell that Sean receives his joy by serving God and those around him at all times. I know that such a life style is the best way to find happiness because of the times I've tried to live that way myself. I want to make today and right now and tomorrow and every day those type of times as well.

Family is where it's all at. Family and the gospel. And serving others. I can't think of three things more important in the whole wide world. Thanks, Sean, for reminding me of this.

The drive home from Pocatello was also pretty awesome. Jon was excited that we drove through Preston, ID--where Napoleon Dynamite was filmed. We also stopped at the Logan Temple, where my parents and Grandparent Sorensens got married. Overall, a topnotch day.

My Thought for the Day

As I've been thinking about what I should do when we move to Washington if I don't find a teaching job, I've considered many of the talents that I have (or want to have) and what I could do to develop them. At first, I approached the idea of developing these talents with enthusiasm and excitement. As I started thinking more about it, though, My thoughts were along these lines:

"So many people are better at these things than I am. My time would be better spent doing other things; these efforts will take me nowhere."

Typical, human thoughts to have, right? As I thought about them tonight, though, a question came to my mind: 

What is the purpose in developing talents? What is the end goal? And also, what is the end goal in me? In who I'm supposed to become?

What I realized when I stewed upon this question is that my previous train of thought was flawed. Why? I was using the world's logic. To the world, the end goal of developing talents is fame, power, and money. But what's the eternal end goal? 

The eternal end goal is to become someone special and wonderful and glorious. The eternal end goal isn't to settle for mediocrity, to consider yourself second-rate, or to always say to yourself: "That's reserved for them because I'm not good enough." NO! Ahead of each of us lies the opportunity to be equally blessed and talented and amazing. No one is left out. In essence, we can all be the best!

With a worldly perspective, it may not be worth the time to develop one's talents because it won't produce one of the three worldly desired products. But with an eternal perspective, we desire to be good and talented and wonderful because we believe that we are good and talented and wonderful, or at least that we are meant to be and are working on it. 

Celine Dion has surely accumulated a lot of happiness and fame and wealth from her singing career. But Celine's success should not take away from the triumph and success one feels when they finally feel like they can sing a hard piece well, or from the happiness and spirit that others feel when that individual shares their talent by singing a song in sacrament meeting, or from the peace and joy that one feels by becoming just a little bit more like the person God intends them to be through developing the talent God has given them.

I intend to start living a little bit more with this eternal perspective, now, as I consider what I want to do with my time and who I want to become. Of course there will always be people in this world who are so much better at the things I attempt than I am. But that doesn't mean that my efforts are wasted and my purpose is lost. There are lives I need to touch, the is a God I need to help, and there is a person I need to become. For these reasons, I will always strive to be the best I can be, and to inspire those around me to do the same.