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#GiveThanks I'm grateful for loving heavenly parents and this amazing world we live in. I'm grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. I'm grateful for earthly parents who taught me great and how to find real joy in life. I'm grateful for my wife, children, and grandchildren. I'm grateful for the opportunity to be with my family during this time and still be able to teach my students via distance learning. https://www.instagram.com/p/CH1Hn0SrMnb/?igshid=17wp1cop7uwai

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at Sanpete County, Utah https://www.instagram.com/p/CEqQu-WlgKg/?igshid=1m1a7zhth0jah

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Kicking off, Scandinavian days. (at Ephraim, Utah) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAg_GQJhc7S/?igshid=p1n58jfh6f44

Fun night, kicking off Scandinavian days. (at Ephraim, Utah) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAg-cdRhwaF/?igshid=zkn939emn1a3

at The Malt Shop https://www.instagram.com/p/B6bPYDShYCj/?igshid=7ssk2bkyvjoo

Stay in the Boat (Moose)

As a teenager, I enjoyed spending my time in the mountains of central Utah. One July afternoon, my friends were fishing in Skutumpa reservoir in a small trolling boat. Enjoying themselves for a time. They heard the people on the shore, yelling at them that a moose was swimming toward their boat, Jump in and swim to shore. One of the boys (Matthew Wilson) stood up rocking the boat ready to jump in and swim to shore. His little brother (Mark) was also nervous and panicking ready to dive in, when they finally heard their father (Delmar) saying calm down, sit down, and they heeded their father’s advice and he started the motor on the boat and moved to safety.

When we listen to the adversaries, negative thoughts (promptings), we can be deceived. Blaming God, family, members of the church, and the church for the trials we face in life.

When we panic and feel doubt when we listen to those who are on the outside and dislike the church, or our values, instead of heeding the warnings of the prophets that have prepared those who have built up a solid foundation.

Those on the shore reminded me of Lehi’s dream in the Book of Mormon, I have always thought of the great and spacious building as a place where only the most rebellious reside. The building was filled with people mocking and pointing at the faithful who had held on to the iron rod, which represents the word of God, and had made their way to the tree of life, which represents the love of God. Some could not bear up under the pressure of the people mocking them and wandered off. Others decided to join the mockers in the building. Did they not have the courage to speak boldly against the criticisms or messages of the world?

As I watch the current world moving away from God, I think this building is growing in size. Many find themselves today wandering the halls of the great and spacious building, not realizing that they are actually becoming part of its culture. They often succumb to the temptations and the messages. We eventually find them mocking or chiming in with those who criticize or mock.

For years I thought the mocking crowd was making fun of the way the faithful live their lives, but the voices from the building today have changed their tone and approach. Those who mock often try to drown out the simple message of the gospel by attacking some aspect of the Church’s history or offering pointed criticism of a prophet or other leader. They are also attacking the very heart of our doctrine and the laws of God, given since the Creation of the earth. We, as disciples of Jesus Christ and members of His Church, must never let go of that iron rod. We must let the clarion trumpet sound from our own souls.

Recognizing how important it is to listen and trust those who understand and know the real truth.

Dang, Thistles!

Removing Thistles

June 22, 1981

Thistles grow fast into tall plants, with prickly thrones covering it, having a long singular root that goes deep into the soil then it spreads out aggressively and can increase the width of a thistle patch 6 to 10 feet in a season. As the root system spreads, it gives rise to new shoots. In fact, the plants can grow back from even a small piece of root.

I just turned 14 in the summer of 81, one of my responsibilities was to irrigate the crops on the Rocky Ford and Vernal farms. This June there was an unusual number of thistles that have overtaken our hayfields. So after watering, I waited a couple of days for the soil dry enough to drive on. I then began the painstaking and persistent labor that was vital for the growth of healthy crops of hay.

To completely rid the land of this highly prolific plant a number of actions need to take place.

First, it is essential to remove the entire root of the thistle, so I would dig a full shovel blade deep near the root, pull the thistle out, shake the dirt off, making sure to have the complete root system, if I saw any breaks in the root I would continue digging until I found the remaining pieces, and then put weed in the Yellow F-150 cattle truck.

Second, Improving the soil’s fertility will weaken the thistle, helping desired plants grow better.

Third, make sure to remove them before they go to seed.

I needed a plan after learning about this obnoxious plant. After, some trial and error, I realized that the sharp thrones can pierce through leather gloves, stinging my hands, fingers, and wrists and anywhere else that the thorns made contact on my body. So protecting myself become a concern, wearing the right clothes was helpful along with thick leather gloves was still a must.

I had to work somewhat slower than I preferred, realizing that I do not want to deal with this plant in the future. So the goal was to completely eradicate this weed the first time around.

To organize myself and to be as efficient as possible, I worked in a grid system, to reduce the gas used, by moving the truck. Each trip to the dump was loaded to the height of cattle racks on the truck.

Connection to Life

What can we do, to remove the undesirable weeds in our lives?

When our lives are filled with undesirable (weeds), it takes an educated, sustained, and concentrated effort to completely rid ourselves of undesirable weeds of life.

First, we need completely remove the weeds in our lives, roots and all.

Second, we must also do what we can to help our neighbors remove their weeds, and to encourage our neighbors to help their other neighbors as well.

Can you imagine if farmers and the irrigation companies worked together, to reduce the pollination of fields with weeds? How uncontaminated and fertile land can become, for the next generation of plants to grow.

It's not just our fate its the fate of every one of the 7 billion people that are on Earth. If everyone is networked with say that's 1,000 people and my 1000 friends also have 1000 friends in thier Network. this put us one step away from a million and two from a billion. Yes, you may be just one person in their vast world, yet you can have a great influence for good.

What connections are you making, relating this analogy to your own life?

What weeds do we need to remove from our lives?

Why does helping our neighbors remove their weeds help us?

_______________

Ether 12:27 27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

Snowpack!

This past winter was filled with a number of rain and snowstorms. In June I took my family to Ephraim, Utah and was looking forward to fishing up in the mountains in Sanpete county. There was so much snow this past winter that the snowpack was incredibly high and we were delayed going up on the mountain until the middle of July when the forest service finally was able to cut through the snowpack on top so we could cross over the top to go to the ponds that I love fishing in.

When I heard the road was open, I took my family to the skyline to see how much snow there was and where the plow had cut through the snowpack. We measured over 25 feet of snowpack in the middle of July, absolutely amazing. If you have seen a snowpack near a glacier or high in the Mountains, you can imagine how the small trees and vegetation are crushed under the steady weight as more snowstorms add to it.

An amazing thing occurs as the spring arrives and the snow begins to thaw and melt flowing into the creeks and streams eventually arriving into the valleys. It provides the needed moisture for farmers, for food, and the water to sustain our lives.

It is interesting growing up on a farm and listen to farmers pray for the rain, and then pray that the rain would stop when they need to cut their crops and to bail the hay, just hoping that God will answer the prayers each and every time to make their lives more convenient and productive.

There are years when there is a great amount of moisture, resulting in a super-bloom, an incredible display nature for all to enjoy. These years are very rare in the West.

It's interesting how many of us are burdened, frustrated, and even pray for these storms to end. Most of us do the same thing when we are faced with personal frustrations, burdens, and trials. We want them to end, right away. At times we may complain to God, why is this happening to me? Some may even give up on God because their prayers are not answered the way we want them answered.

Just think, if this is how we attempt to strengthen our faith, randomly without a constant filling of our spiritual reservoir of faith. We will face spiritual droughts that allow the advisory to step in dragging us steadily down to hell.

In the winter of 1984, when I was a junior in high school, we had a number of major snowstorms resulting in a high snowpack. Early in the spring, the weather turned hot, melting the snow rapidly. This runoff led to major flooding throughout Utah. Salina Creek was overflowing and washing out, so many in the community rushed to help with sandbagging to reduce damage. My father was the Mayor so he felt great anxiety and concern. So, he and I spend many hours working to protect homes and land of our neighbors. I spent hours in Salina Creek catching thrown sandbags that I placed in the creek. Unfortunately, THERE WAS NOT A reservoir for the excess water to run into. Side note, I was on channel 4 News in the river.

This increase in water can fill reservoirs like Lake Powell and Lake Mead. To be used for our enjoyment, waterparks, swimming pools and for nice lawns, and more importantly in times of drought.

Having these times of heavy snowpack are essential at the time and more importantly when we are faced with times of drought.

What can we do to build our snowpack and fill our reservoirs for those times of drought spiritually and financially, of course, there are more areas we can develop as well?

We have been counseled to prepare every needful thing. What are they? Are they praying for the gifts of discernment and charity? Are we focused on Christ when we partake of the sacrament? Are we living the gospel as he desires us to?

Are we preparing by increasing our snowpack and filling our reservoirs spiritually and financially so we can help others in their times of need?

We have been counseled to prepare every needful thing. What are those needs, not wants? Are some planning financially for retirement, serving and caring for others, or spiritual gifts Moroni 10:30 to lay hold of every good gift, touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing. We have been admonished to pray and seek the gifts of discernment and charity.

To seek learning, even by study, and also by faith, because the glory of God is intelligence.

Are we creating a spiritual snowpack to strengthen our resolve to resist temptations and to focus on eternity as we go through challenges and trials, we all face?

https://anchor.fm/brett-stubbs9/episodes/Snowpack-e5djoj/a-ao0r5u

#healthed spiritualhealth

Lost in Idaho!

Prologue: Time is a funny teacher, as the years go by, our perspective changes. In the following story, I have now been the lost little boy filled with fear and anxiety. The father whose adrenaline-pumping fear that morphed into anger when they were found and safe. And now I am a grandfather who has come to understand that the gentle and compassionate care given has a greater impact on a child.

In the summer of 76, we went into the hills near Pocatello to cut wood with my grandparents the Hart’s. My older sister Paige was just 11 and I was just 9 years old. Paige for some reason decided that we should beat everyone back to the cars and chose to take a “shortcut” through the forest. Paige thought that I should enjoy the adventure with her having me come along with her. Paige remembered that I was excited to go with her until our parents stopped us and asked us where we were going and to come back and walk with them. Paige tried to reassure them that she knew where the cars were and that we would be fine. I became somewhat hesitate and questioned Paige’s decision. Paige told me to come on and let’s go. Paige wanted to beat everyone back and told me to hurry up, and I did. Paige was really confident that she knew where the parking lot was. After some time, hiking through the densely wooded area for nearly 10 minutes, we couldn’t hear the chain saw anymore, I was getting worried and wanting to go back. Paige kept saying we're almost there it’s just through these trees and over this little hill. Paige finally, began to worry figuring that we should have come to the parking lot by now.

After about 15 minutes we did find the road that led back to the city. We were relieved to have found the road but were surprised that the cars were not there. We both became very worried, not knowing which direction to go to find the parking lot.

About this time, we could faintly hear Dad calling out, then the others, hearing concern in their voices, especially our fathers. It took us some time to recognize the direction he was calling from; it didn’t take too long before we found them, just around a bend in the road.

We were very relieved, and then slightly afraid of the coming scolding that we figured was coming…. after ignoring our parent’s council to walk back with them.

Dad was upset (afraid) about all the what-ifs…. as he yelled at us and I most likely would have had a physical meeting with dad like Paige did if it wasn’t for Grammie stepping in.

Grammie moved us away from him and gave us a hug. We got into Papa's light blue Bronco, Papa and Dad in the front seats, and Grammie was in the back with us. Grandpa disagreed with how dad handled his frustration, panic, and fear of us being lost. Papa Hart expressed how there are better ways to handle the situation. We were both feeling the thick tension, as no one spoke for a while. Papa Hart must have seen the looks on faces in the rear-view mirror, wide eyes and all. Paige remembers how both of them, slumped their shoulders and breath go out and soften and the tension left the Bronco.

Papa had sin sins the black salt licorice breath fresheners that he passed back to Grammie for us, she expressed her love and concern for us. It was then we felt relieved that it was over. The incident never came up again, except by Paige and myself.

It was Grammie who showed true leadership when she stepped in putting herself between us and my father, putting us in the Bronco. She understood that listening and counseling with Christlike love. This compassionate act has led to lasting endearment and a fond memory of her leaving a legacy of compassion and love.

With this all being said, if it wasn't for my father’s concern and recognition that we were missing, as early as he did, we may have wandered so far away, that we may have never been found.

[What if] we delay in seeking out those who are lost…

Each of us have been lost a different times in our lives. It may have been in nature, maybe in a mall, or even spiritually.

#healthed #spiritualhealth

The Monkey and the Jar

Artwork by Naomi Stubbs

I recently viewed the TV show called Kung Fu that related the following parable.

There is a monkey in an orchard that is filled with fresh fruit. The monkey discovers a jar with some fruit in it.

The monkey has a strong desire to have the fruit in the jar even though there is fruit all around him within the orchard.

The monkey decides to put its hand in the jar to get the fruit. Once it has grasped the fruit within the jar, it realizes it cannot withdraw its hand from the jar unless it lets go of the fruit inside. The monkey is unwilling to let go of the fruit in order to free its hand from the jar despite the many options of fruit that is available to it.

How does this analogy relate to various situations in our lives? What is the fruit in our lives that holds us back from the sweet fruit freely available for us to partake? Could they be addiction, pride, or an unwillingness to repent (change), or an unwillingness to forgive others?

Consider how our unwillingness to let go of these things end up trapping us and holding us back. How does it affect our relationships (marriage), our work, and our society (politics) to name a few?

Understanding how being unwilling to let go traps us and keeps us from having joy and happiness in life.

Look Up!

Check out my latest podcast:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6DgscgLvPrPyI8AWKn9sec?si=DuokglwVRFqDnEDccuyrVw

In the last few years, life seems to be dragging more us is down.

Once again, my thoughts turned to the farm, and feeding our cows and the mangers.

The purpose of the manger is to make sure all the animals can be feed without being pushed away by the larger stronger cows. Our mangers, had vertical slats that had a slight angle to them. They are wider at the top and tapper in at the base forming a V shape.

As the animal walks up to the feeder the (manger) they put their head in at the top and then lower their heads to eat. And they began desiring the feed of the other cows, they begin reaching there tongues for the other cow's feed, (I guess the hay is greener, on the otherside).

A strange thing occurred a few times over the years, some of the cows would get their heads stuck in the manger. The first time I saw this the cow was on its knee’s fatigued trying to stand, but couldn’t, it was choking, I was afraid it would die. So, I ran to my dad and asked him how do I get the head out? He said we will need to help by lifting the cows head up.

Then the thought hit me we must learn to lift our heads when we are down and out when we are dealing with whatever is causing our challenges.

There are times when we need to help those around us lift theirs heads up.

There have been times in my life when my faith has been tested… getting my head stuck so to speak. And I'm grateful for those who helped me lift my head up.

Hopefully we are not like the cows, wanting what others have and not appreciating what we have.

What can we do to lift others?

#HealthEducator

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Who do you turn to to help lift you up when you are experiencing difficulties in life? What do you do for others who may need your help?

Shetland Ponies

Life can turn upside down in a moment. Who is there to pick you up and help you to be your best?

Each time I see a Shetland pony, I'm felled with anxiety as my ISD rages back. If any of you would like to join my group therapy for my Irrational Shetland Disorder.

For those of you who have never experienced riding Shetland ponies as a child, Shetlands are sweet and wonderful to ride as long as an adult is present, once the adult leaves, Shetlands transform into a beast from hell.

I would like to begin by sharing two of my traumatic experiences. My father had bought a Shetland pony for us kids to ride when I was quite young, and dad saddled up the pony, and he began leading us around the vacant lot next to my home. It was great, soon I was confident and I wanted to ride on my own and I did fine, so dad decided to go into the house. Once the Shetland knew the adults were gone (and out of sight) she started running wildly then it came to a sudden stop, dropping its head and I would go flying over the pony’s head.

A few weeks later my brother in law Brad Sheppard, my father and I went the farm, Brad was bailing the hay at the farm, and I wanted to try riding the Shetland again. Dad helped me saddle the pony, and I swear that pony intentionally swelled up its stomach as we tightened the saddle. Dad began doing some chores and once I left the gate and out of sight of adults that pony took off down the road at a full sprint for about 200 yards. It then turns into the field that Brad was working and the saddle turns, and I'm riding upside down through the field, watching the hooves and ground as I wrapped my legs and held on to the saddle horn until Brad was able to catch the pony. When life turns you upside down, be grateful for family who set you right.

#Health HealthEd HealthEducation

Understanding that the little things really do matter.

How can perseverance and grit benefit you in all aspects of your life.

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