Lobster Claws

Feet are a big deal.

For some reason I have been thinking about feet a lot lately.  I don't know if I just have a bad case of the Foot, or what, but I feel like there has been a lot of discussion about feet in my life lately.  Probably because I had an incident last week that made mine look like they were going to fall off (more about that later)... but really I have been having a lot of "feety" thoughts lately... so I figured I would share.

I searched the scriptures to see how often "feet" were mentioned... and I got a HUGE amount of results.  Here are a few:

• Exodus 21:24

  24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot...

  • John 12:3

    3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

    • Doctrine and Covenants 84:109

      109 Therefore, let every man stand in his own office, and labor in his own calling; and let not the head say unto the feet it hath no need of the feet; for without the feet how shall the body be able to stand?
      
      

      • John 13:14

        14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
        
        

        • 3 Nephi 17:10

          10 And they did all, both they who had been healed and they who were whole, bow down at his feet, and did worship him; and as many as could come for the multitude did kiss his feet, insomuch that they did bathe his feet with their tears.
          
          

          • Mark 9:45

            45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
            
            

            • Doctrine and Covenants 60:15

              15 And shake off the dust of thy feet against those who receive thee not, not in their presence, lest thou provoke them, but in secret; and wash thy feet, as a testimony against them in the day of judgment.
              
              

              • Acts 14:10

                10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.
                
                

                • Luke 24:40

                  40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
                  
                  

                • Exodus 3:5

                  
                  
                  5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  There are SO many stories about feet! There are lessons to be learned from all of them. I will let the spirit speak to you as to what you can take away from these scriptures, and I will tell you a few of my own feet stories:
                  
                  
                  Story ONE -
                  
                  I was probably six years old. During a highly competitive round of cabin games, I jumped off the back porch of the patio and the patio and landed on an overturned board with nails sticking up. One of the nails went right through my cool Ninja Turtle velcro shoes. I screamed. Dad came running. They pulled me off the board and took me to Uncle Manx to get my foot cleaned up and make sure I didn't have tetanus or whatever. Lesson learned - "look before you leap."
                  
                  Story TWO -
                  
                  When I was 15/16 our stake went on a pioneer trek. We bussed out to Wyoming and walked the route that the pioneers did. We pulled handcarts up hills, over rivers, and thought Martin's Cove. It was pretty cool. Jay and I thought that we were really cool and decided to "get the real pioneer experience" and do the whole thing barefoot. Turns out it was genius because the paths were soft most of the way and we didn't have any shoes to get blisters from. So while everyone else was dealing with moleskin and crying that their blisters popped, we just laughed. However, this soft dirt didn't last the ENTIRE TIME. The few mile section in Martin's Cove was covered in tiny, sharp rocks. These rocks were the kind that cripple you as you try to run across the road barefoot... and the place was full of them. Long story short, my feet hurt SO BAD... there were a couple of times that I felt pretty dumb for choosing to go barefoot. But, I was determined and made the whole thing. I can say that I really did gain a deeper appreciation for the saints that came across in the dead of winter without shoes... Yeah okay, my feet weren't freezing cold - but I did feel pain. Lesson learned - The pioneers were tough.
                  
                  Story THREE - 
                • This last year, as I spent time in California with Madison's dad, I watched as her Uncle Scott would massage Madison's Dad's feet every morning. Her dad couldn't move his feet at all, and the little bit of mobilization got the blood flowing and had to feel SO GOOD. This one thing he did every morning is symbolic of the love and care that he would give throughout the day. He would dress, feed, help in the bathroom, and watch YouTube and cycling videos with his brother all day every day. Scott was literally and angel human for Tracy.  Lesson learned - Love your brother! 
                • Story FOUR -
                  
                  Two weekends ago, around mile 19 or so in the St. George Marathon, as Madison and I took a few seconds to stretch out our untrained legs, I looked down at my feet and saw that my right shoe was bloody.  I knew my feet were hurting, but I didn't know I was bleeding! From then on, it was a mental game. I didn't look at them again until the end of the race.  I knew that if I took my shoe off at that moment and tried to "fix the problem" that I wouldn't finish the race. So I ignored it. At the end of the 26.2 miles, I removed my shoes and my socks only to find the gnarliest blisters I have ever seen. I was messed up - BUT I FINISHED. Lesson learned - I can do hard things when I CHOOSE not to give up.
                • Who knew there were so many lessons to be learned from feet!?!  I am sure that by the end of this mortal race, not only will I have bloody feet, but my hands, knees and probably elbows will be bloody from crawling to that finish line.  BUT - I am going to make it!  And when I get there, I don't care how bloody my feet and knees are, I will kneel at Christ's pierced feet and thank Him for helping me make it home.  
                • Here is a picture of the nasties, in case you were curious:
                • 

Hello Bearries,
I hope everyone is doing great in their respective spheres. A big (if belated) shout out to Zach and Landon for starting grad school. I just finished a book called "The Chosen" and was deeply affected by it. In particular there was a passage that I though was particularly poignant. In it the main protagonist is concerned that his dad is working too hard and asks him to slow down. To this the dad responds by saying

"Human beings do not live forever Rueven. We live less than the time it takes to blink an eye, if we measure our lives against eternity. So it may be asked what value is there to a human life. There is so much pain in the world. What does it mean to have to suffer so much, if our lives are nothing more than the blink of an eye?...I learned a long time ago, Reuven, that a blink of an eye in itself is nothing; but the eye that blinks, that is something. A span of life is nothing; but the man who lives the span, he is something. He can fill that tiny span with meaning, so its quality is immeasurable though its quantity may be insignificant. A man must fill his life with meaning, meaning is not automatically given to life. It is hard work to fill one's life with meaning- that, I do not think you understand yet. A life filled with meaning is worthy of rest. I want to be worthy of rest when I am no longer here."

• David Malter to his son, Reuven (p. 217)

Mormon put it in a gospel context to his son when he said against a backdrop of extreme hardship "And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God."

One of the greatest changes that occurred in my life when I gained a testimony was the new meaning it brought to my life. I now knew (and know) that I have a divine role in the scheme of life, and that as a child of God my worth was such that the creator of the universe put a plan in motion to provide for my eternal happiness. With this knowledge and forgiveness though, came a deep responsibility to do my best to try and live up to what Jesus Christ gave to m, and wants to share with me. 

For sure our lives at times seems hectic and challenging, but when I find the time to serve God by keeping the commandments and serving his children it makes the down parts of my life either become easier to cope with or go away entirely. I feel strongly that each of the Bearrie boys have a strong capacity to do something meaningful with their lives; you guys are awesome and are uniquely gifted at reaching out to the people around you. I know that by trying our hardest to stay close to the spirit and serve God and the church that we can find the most meaning to our lives, and be able to make a huge difference to some of God's children. 

A Quick Thought on the Atonement

Just a quick Sunday thought. This video just crushed me. I want to bear my testimony that the Atonement is real and that through Christ everyone of us really can change and become who we want to be and who we need to be. There are 11 other videos like this one on the church's new addiction recovery page (watch the other ones here http://www.mormonchannel.org/12steps). The ones I've watched have taught me a lot about the Atonement and about our Savior. I think that these are just phenomenal.

ПТИЧКА - A LITTLE BIRD

Bearrie Bisnus:

First day of shooool!  Giddy up. Hopefully that went well for all.  I am sure it went well, particularly those of us who aren't in school.

People are moved in and situated... if there are more moving concerns let us know!  Jay, is Phoebe set up?  Need to move any more big stuff?  Let us know.

Madison and I are back from Thailand - it was awesome.  Here is a link to the movie we threw together about it (don't tell Madison I sent this out - we aren't supposed to share it via social media until we premier it at her family's house this weekend) -  Madison and Cees Thailand

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I have been waiting for this year because my favorite Russian professor is teaching a literature class that I need.  She is AMAZING.  She, hands down, gives the best lectures I have had here at BYU.  And she somehow invites the spirit into class every day.  It is amazing.  And the interesting part is, she isn't mormon.  She is Russian Orthodox.  So, just so you know, the best lecturer at BYU isn't even a member... haha.

ANYWAYS, I want to share an insight that I had in her class today.

I hope everyone here has heard of Pushkin.  He is a very famous Russian poet.  From early age all Russians begin to memorize his poems.  Here is a picture:

Anyways, long story short, the king of the time didn't really like Pushkin.  He was in prison a lot during his short life.  Even though he was never really affiliated with any of the political groups of the time, he was held captive as a political prisoner.  

During one of his times in prison, he wrote the following poem:

ПТИЧКА

В чужбине свято наблюдаю

Родной обычай старины:

На волю птичку выпускаю

При светлом празднике весны.

Я стал доступен утешенью;

За что на бога мне роптать,

Когда хоть одному творенью

Я мог свободу даровать!

Александр Сергеевич Пушкин

(1799 - 1837)

A Little Bird

In alien lands devoutly clinging

To age-old rites of Russian earth,

I let a captive bird go winging

To greet the radiant spring's rebirth.

My heart grew lighter then: why mutter

Against God's providence, and rage,

When I was free to set aflutter

But one poor captive from his cage!

Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin

(1799-1837)

Honestly I didn't really get the poem at first.  It wasn't until class that I was clued into the significance.

In prison he was allowed to celebrate Easter.  One of the Russian traditions on Easter is to let a bird free from a little cage.  As he was himself in a "little cage" he was able to rejoice in giving freedom to another.  The last part of the poem is what was so profound to me - "why mutter against God's providence, and rage, when I was free to set aflutter but one poor captive from his cage". 

He was in a crappy situation.  He was locked up.  He had a few things that he could have been upset at God about.  But he recognized that EVEN IN HIS SITUATION, he could still serve and help others.  He was FREE to free another!  And that is what life is about!  That is what we are here to do.  

Yeah, sometimes life is going to suck.  We are going to feel stuck.  We are going to feel picked on.  We are going to feel grumpy because our life isn't as good as someone else.  But if we give up and say, "Poor me, poor me.  I am stuck.  I can't do anything."  Well then we have missed the point.

Pushkin nailed it.  We never have reason to mutter against God.  We can always make a difference in the lives of others.  I really believe that.  Whether it is a kind word, a warm meal, a smile, a favor, or 50 bucks.  We can always make a difference and set someone free.

Every week we have the opportunity to remember the ultimate "setting free".  Jesus Christ, like in everything, is the ultimate example.  He was in the lousiest of places.  He was in the worst of conditions.  He had every right to complain, BUT HE DIDN'T.  He set the rest of us free with the Atonement.  He could have bailed.  He could have said, "eh, I have enough problems as it is.  I think I will pass on taking on the problems of the world."  But He didn't.  And I am so grateful for that.

Pushkin remarked that when he let the bird go that his "heart grew lighter".  In Russian, the line "Я стал доступен утешенью" literally means, "I became available to comfort".  I can testify along with Pushkin, that when we focus on others, we are then able to become comforted.  We can let go of some of our cares and worries.  And our problems will not seem so daunting.

May we all focus on others when the going gets tough.  

Hey team!
This is a paper I wrote while in Jerusalem. I hope you like it.

Christmas rolled around Ellensburg Washington at the same time of year that it did for everyone else. It was bitter cold; the temperature rarely went into the double digits. I was a brand new missionary, enjoying the festive season and the kindness that was being poured upon me by members in the ward. I wasn’t homesick but I knew that my mother missed me dearly. I decided to take great care to make my phone call home meaningful and comforting.

Each Christmas eve, my family would gather around candles and read aloud the Christmas story. Our tiny living room in Manhattan would become a grotto as candlelight danced across the window onto the busy street. Dad’s mood would determine how many verses were to be recited. Not wanting to miss this tradition, I requested and received permission from my Mission President to call home on Christmas Eve. I thought it would be a nice gesture to my mother.

I lit a small candle on my desk, stationed in the corner of a cold basement in a rickety old farmhouse and read along over the phone. Dad decided that this year, we would read Luke 2 in its entirety. I took my turn to read aloud verse 49. Though written two thousand years ago, the words became mine. “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” Time seemed to stand still. My mother was comforted and knew that I was doing a great work. Like Jesus, she knew I had to leave everything behind, including family and friends to serve a higher purpose. My gratitude to the Lord was immense for he had comforted my Mother and taught me a valuable lesson.

Reflecting on the story, Christ’s desertion to the temple seems counterintuitive. It would not have been any trouble to inform Joseph and Mary of his decision to study in the temple. How could he worry his parents so desperately? I do not have a perfect answer to this question but I can take a stab at it. Mont Poulsen provided a powerful insight in the July 2011 Ensign. Brother Poulsen points out that many of the good things, like children and marriage, when done in the wrong order is a “disaster.” “Satan deceives us by convincing us to do the right thing in the wrong order.” The Savior taught on many occasions that the greatest commandments, and thus the ones Satan is most interested in, is to love God and our neighbors (Luke 10:27). The consequences of incorrectly prioritizing these two commandments are dire.

            It is easy to justify our sins by prioritizing people over God. I cannot number the dumb things done by missionaries in my mission in the name of companion, district or zone unity. It is vital that we consider the feelings of others and the impact our decisions will make, but we must first consider what God thinks of our decisions, then how it will affect other people. Elder Holland in October 2012 General Conference taught, “the crowning characteristic of love is always loyalty.”  

            The Savior wants us to be loyal to and love all men equally. The importance of this principle is evident its status as the second greatest commandment in the universe. Yet we often make it the greatest commandment when our loyalty to our brothers and sisters supersedes our loyalty to God. Christ’s love of his Father drew him to the temple as he left behind his friends and family and I can attest to the blessings of loving God more than man. As I read the scriptures with, but far from, my family those years ago in a hick town in the middle of nowhere, I could feel the encircling arms of a God who was blessing us for loving him more than each other. 

My Bearrie Brothers,

We love each other. but we must love God even more. 

In God We Trust

AllllllRiiiigght there friends. Its been a while since I've done my duty to the blog. I'm ready to start recommitting now though. First things first, the wedding was sick! The Bearrie boys represented hard and brought an awesome party. Thanks for getting everybody pumped and laying down a killer rap. I was so jealous that I didn't have a verse in that. But it was also just sick and I was stoked to be there.

I'm sitting in class at one of my first days in med skool right now. Its orientation week and some of these presentations get a little boring so I decided it was time to write a real quick devo up on here. I've felt very grateful lately for a couple big blessings that have come into my life lately. A couple big changes have occurred in my life lately including moving to Colorado, getting married, and starting a new school. Everything really came together kind of at the last minute. 8 months ago I really had no idea what I was doing. I was working really hard in school but I didn't have any guarantee that that work would actually get me where I wanted to go. That was kind of stressful. I also knew that if I did get into med school on this application cycle I would be leaving Utah and BYU very quickly and moving to a very liberal, non-Mormon state. This was scary for a couple reasons but mostly because I was a single dude who wasn't dating anyone and didn't have anything serious on the radar. I knew that both my time and my options to date would be very limited in med school and I was a little bit worried that I was condemning myself to a life of celibacy. Once I got into school I started worrying more about this doubting that I had spent the majority of my undergrad in the library and had not allocated enough time to dating.

I share that only because I know that all of us have had similar doubts and worries in our lives about either the same topics or totally different ones. Sometimes life requires us to go out on faith, not knowing whats ahead. As Paul said,

"For we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor. 5:7).

Giving us hope in these times the Lord says, "Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers" (D&C 112:10); and again in Proverbs it is written, 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6). 

I just want to bear testimony today that things work out in life. I have seen that in my own life. Sometimes it takes a while and our prayers and hopes in life are not answered in exactly the way we hope or in the time frame that we want; but I know that if we strive to love Him and serve Him and trust in Him patiently when we're not sure whats going, things will eventually work out. He loves us and He knows what we need in life to be truly happy. Lets trust that the Lord will take care of us and will bless us as we serve Him. 

"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" (1 Cor. 2:9).

I want to say that of all my blessings I am most grateful to have my wife. She is an incredible lady that helps me a lot. Having her is totally worth any frustration experienced in dating and the continual, daily struggle to resist temptation and work to be a better man. I know that these things are true. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Are You Tough Enough?

One of my flaws as a writer (as I have been reminded multiple times by most of my psychology professors) is that I am too long-winded. So I am going to do my best to give you a concise powerful devo that includes all of my thoughts. But I might fail. Deal with it.

I was talking with Brother Bearrie Cees last night as he came by to check on me in my fragile state/eat all my ice cream when we got started on a topic that inspired this Bearrie Devo. Every single one of us has some really hard stuff that we have to deal with in this life. We are all dealt our individual burdens that no one else can carry for us or even fully understand. They are ours to face and work through as we live this life. And we know this a purposeful aspect in the grand design of the Plan of Salvation. We are told in 1st Nephi that we will be given difficult tasks and heavy loads, but that Heavenly Father will never give us more than we can handle. But sometimes it feels like maybe Heavenly Father made a mistake and gave us way too much. Sometimes it feels like it's impossible to push through...

At one point in my life I was really struggling with a lot of circumstances and trials that had come into my life through no fault of my own. They were not due to my mistakes or sins and it felt entirely unfair. I met with my Bishop about it and after I told him everything, he literally looked me in the face and said, "Billy, your situation is a real bitch." I was in shock. My Bishop just swore at me. But I really appreciated that he didn't try to act like my situation was fair. Because it wasn't. But he followed up that charming sentiment with this, "Billy, this situation isn't going to resolve itself and you're going to deal with it for most of your life. I can't fix that. All I can ask you is: Are you tough enough?" That question stuck. I have thought about it ever since. Am I tough enough? I am going to have to face hard things throughout life that will question my testimony, faith, hope, and endurance. I can't quit and turn around when things get hard. I need to keep pushing through no matter how unfair it is. I HAVE to be tough enough. Because I want to reach the prize at the end. The prize we are all working toward: eternal happiness and salvation with those that we love.

So, my brother and sister Bearries, I know life sucks sometimes. And I know sometimes it's our fault and sometimes it isn't. I know some of you are struggling to find someone to love and be with, some of you are moving to foreign new places and taking on huge scary challenges, I know some of you have experienced sickness and death of loved ones, and I know some of you have experienced doubts in regards to your testimony and the Church. And then I know there are hundreds of trials you all deal with that I'll never know about. But I just wanted to ask all of you: Are you tough enough? Search, ponder, and pray on that question until you can confidently answer, "Yes." Because I know you all are. Be a Bearrie. Be tough. And never forget the prize we are all working toward and the ultimate happiness we will receive. Love you all.

Three paragraphs. Not bad.