Searching

When I was little, like 6 years old, my family moved to Ft. Irwin, CA. Ft. Irwin is literally in the middle of the desert since it's a military base/training center. I don't think there is much there still. All I remember was a PX (military version of Walmart), a Burger King, a Chinese restaurant, and 2 swimming pools.

Elissa holding Scout & Nathan & me

We were tan, happy kids with a dog, lots of Pokemon cards, and a desert to explore #livinthedream. We had this awesome "fort" behind our house--just a few desert trees and then beyond that it was just open space. I remember wandering around for hours and hours in our "backyard." Once, I remember Nathan getting dropped off by the police (he was like 4 or 5 at the time). He had been out wandering with his friend and they were throwing sticks onto the "freeway" (aka the biggest road in town).  We weren't really on a short leash growing up, which I loved. Luckily, that was the only police escort any of us kids ever needed.

Anyways, I loved exploring and finding things out there. We found mud cakes with coyote prints and called them fossils. Traveling has always been fun and a priority for my family. With my dad's schooling and being in the military, we moved about every two years. I just love going places and learning about new things.

Moving is hard for a lot of kids. I was lucky to move when I was young when it is easier (debatably). Lots of change. New places. New people. Lots of adventures. Lots of books. I love to read. Recently, I went sailing with a friend and he asked me what my hobbies were; I said a bunch of things but that I really liked to read. He asked why--I guess reading is like boring or something. I like the feeling of finishing something, really focusing, getting into a world that it's my own by choice. I like the ideas, the people, their stories, etc. Right now, I'm reading a biography of David Kennedy that my grandma gave me. I'm going to Europe this summer for a global finance investment trip, so she gave me this book because David Kennedy was the Secretary of Treasury and the Kennedy Center for International Studies at BYU is named after him. So far, my favorite part is a quote about politics *oh so relevant to us today.* He said: "We must have at least two political parties--the majority party in power and a minority party--the loyal opposition--to keep the majority party on its toes. The existence of a minority party is necessary to assure that decisions were the result of considered judgement." So now you can appreciate some of the disagreements you have with others about politics.

Anyway, I started it today and couldn't put it down. Sometimes it takes like half an hour of really trying to focus on the book to really get into it then you're hooked.

I've felt that way about many a books. One in particular that I feel the most strongly about is....The Book of Mormon. Mormons say that all the time. It's true though! "It's true...all of it" (name that reference). One of my favorite stories is Glenn Beck's story of how he learned about my church. He's now a member. He's a great storyteller, and he tells about how he searching for a really long time for answers. He read Socrates, Plato, Pope John Paul, Nostradamus, looking for how people thought about religion then. He was in a course about Christianity at Yale, and he thought "nothing has changed. where's the progress? we're asking the same questions that we were asking 500 years ago."
One thing that changed his course was reading letters that Thomas Jefferson sent to his nephew Peter Carr. He is giving him advice for his life: in science, know this. know these languages. etc. Then he gives him advice about religion: (everything in italics is my commentary)

"In the first place divest yourself of all bias in favour of novelty and singularity of opinion. Basically, take this seriously. Don't just listen to the first guy trying to sell you down the river.  Indulge them in any other subject rather than that of religion. It is too important, & the consequences of error may be too serious.

On the other hand, shake off all the fears & servile prejudices under which weak minds are servilely crouched. Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear. Wow." 

I would highly suggest reading the whole thing.
 http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/presidents/thomas-jefferson/letters-of-thomas-jefferson/jefl61.php

Seriously, Thomas Jefferson is a stud.

When it comes to religion, question everything. If there is a God, he wouldn't keep me in a box. He would want me to find him. Everything would point to him.

So what do I do? ask honest questions. not questions with an agenda. you're only agenda should be "I want the truth."

Ask questions and then start looking for answers. You know that famous quote "anything worth having is worth fighting for."

Food for thought.

Props to you if you read all of this.

peace,

Sadie