Mmm, tasty...

Last week was filled with more good food than I care to think about. I gained 6 freakin' pounds, that's how good the food was! It was a non-stop eating fest in Denver. It was so much fun to hang out with all of Kara's family too, and Steve and Maryanne really made it a wonderful trip.

But the best part of last week was getting to spend it with my love. After two and a half months apart, it felt so good to hold Kara in my arms again.

We got so much done for the wedding as well. Among other things, we went ring shopping, had a taste test of our reception food (which was amazing!), rented my tux, went to the Temple, and made the final decision on our wedding cake. It was a pretty successful week as far as wedding preparations were concerned.

Above is a picture of the different wedding cakes we had to choose from. Our options were:

• Raspberry Blush Cake with Cream filling
  
• German Spice Cake with Cinnamon Apple filling
• Wedding White Cake with Raspberry Bavarian Cream filling
• Angel Food Cake with a Raspberry fruit filling

Any guesses as to which flavor we chose? Take the poll below.

Oh, and that's the wedding cake topper we decided on.

Which Wedding Cake Did We Choose?

Giving Thanks...

Well, turkey day is just around the corner, and what better time to take a moment to express our gratitude. Here are the top 5 things I'm thankful for:

5. Good Health - It's true what they say, you don't appreciate your health until it's gone. So I want to make sure I take the time to be grateful for my health while I still have it.
   
4. Great Friends - That's definitely one thing I'm grateful for! Jaimie & Wolfgang have helped me get through a tough semester away from my sweetheart, so thanks you two!
3. Loving Family - Not only do I have a wonderful family who loves and cares for me, but I'm also about to gain a whole new loving family-in-law come our wedding day.
2. Restored Truth - Seriously, where would any of us be without the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives? It gives our lives meaning and purpose.
   
1. Amazing Love - The #1 thing I'm most thankful for in my life is my darling fiancée, Kara! I cannot wait to marry her in exactly 43 days!
   

Life is really full of blessings if you take the time to see them. The Lord's hand is guiding every aspect of our lives, and He has certainly performed many miracles in mine.

Now it's your turn: What are YOU thankful for?

Leave a brief comment telling us one thing you're grateful for this year.

A 60-Second Distraction...

The other night I was over at Jaimie & Wolfgang's place, and we somehow got started on a video kick, searching for the funniest or coolest online videos we could find.

It's amazing how much fun you can have and how much time you can waste doing so!

So, in keeping with that, here are a few commercials that are sure to hold your attention for at least 30 seconds.

Enjoy!

The Invitation...

Kara and I finalized our wedding invitation, and we really love how it turned out. Over the last several weeks we designed the invitation together with the help of Kara's incredible creative talent and really made it our own. The monogram was Kara's idea. Isn't it awesome! (Great job, sweetheart!)

Who knew that wedding invitations could be such a huge task? The hardest part was finding a suitable engagement picture that we were both happy with. It's kind of hard to take professional engagement photos on a budget when there's a ocean between us. Planning a wedding together from 5,000 miles away isn't always the easiest nor the most stress-free of projects, but little by little we're getting there. In the end, our invitation turned out great!

We think you'll all agree when you receive yours in the mail.

Outtakes: Mountain Man

So, you may remember that little video I made of my hike to Laie Falls a few months ago. Well, here is another video of the things that didn't make it into that first video.

Basically, it's all about me looking like a dufus and being a spaz out in the Hawaiian wilderness by myself.

Enjoy!

And the winner is...

The results are in: With a total of 17 votes, the Voter's Choice tuxedo is #2.

Thanks to everyone for your comments and voting. This was really fun!

I'm sure you all want to hear which tux Kara and I decided on for our big day. Well, as most of you guessed, we also chose Tux #2. I really wanted to bring in a bit of my British background to our wedding and thought this traditional British styled tux would be perfect.

Now, it's time to announce the winner of our little competition. Chosen at random from those who got the answer correct is...

...drumroll please...

Mrs. Jennifer Cruz! Congratulations! Be looking in your mailbox next week for your prize!

Kara and I really had fun involving you all in our wedding planning and getting your opinions, so we think we'll keep up these kinds of fun posts. Stay tuned for the next "Voter's Choice" poll, with even bigger and better prizes!

Until next time...

Trick or Treat...

While we wait for the final results of the Tuxedo poll to come in, I thought I'd do a quick post about Halloween.

It's one of my favorite times of year, mostly because I'm an aspiring diabetic. I remember one Halloween when my sister Emily and I went all out in decorating her house. We created these home-made gravestones and covered their front lawn with them. We impressed the whole neighborhood. It was AWESOME!

On the big night, I dressed up as a zombie and sat motionless on the front porch with the candy bucket in my hands. When the kids came to grab the goodies, I would scream and jump at them. In hindsight, I think we should have passed out a fresh pair of undies to all the neighborhood kids that year. I think their mothers would have appreciated that.

Halloween is also fun because both Mary and Chloe share the month of October for their birthdays. In fact, Mary's birthday falls on Halloween. How cool!

Here's a fun little video I found of Chloe's birthday back in England several years ago. *Spoiler Alert*: I must have been having an off-day or something in that video, 'cause I NEVER act that way normally! Honest! ;-) The kids absolutely crack me UP in this video, too! Haha!

The Tux...

Alright everybody, it's time for you to voice your opinion. Which tuxedo do you think I should wear for our wedding day?

Kara and I have already decided on the perfect tuxedo for the day (and yes, it is one of the options shown above), but we thought it would be fun to see what you all think I should wear.

So, do your civic duty and vote! Click on the link to the right to cast your vote.

After you vote, leave a comment telling us which tux you chose, and you could be the lucky winner of our prize drawing.

We'll reveal the winner, as well as our tux choice, in a week.

Funny Family...

So, I was going through some old family photos tonight, and I came across quite a few that made me laugh out loud. They probably won't make anybody else laugh who doesn't know what was going on in the picture, but suffice it to say, I have a pretty funny family. This is just a quick post to say thanks to my family for all the laughs and giggles we've shared over the years.

Whether it's purposely trying to make the neighbors think we're crazy, doing hilariously wacky impressions, or just acting like a dufus in front of my nieces, there's never been a shortage of laughter in our family.

As the saying goes, "A family that wets their pants laughing together, stays together." I'm fairly certain that's how the saying goes anyway.

If our conversations are anything to go by, Kara and I are going to continue the tradition of knee-slapping, milk-snorting, gut-busting laughter in our own family. I can't wait!

I included a few videos just for fun.

Enjoy!

My Reasons...

Here are just a few.

Honeymoon Runner-Ups...

So, now that I've booked and confirmed our honeymoon plans, I thought it would be fun for all of you to see some of the other choices I was considering for our special day.

These were all a close second to the actual destination I chose:

• Cliff-side Couples Camping at the half-dome in Yosemite National Park.
• Billy Bob's Romantic Cabin for Two in Soggybottom, Alabama, complete with our very own swing and tiki torch.
• Happy Trailers trailer park in Millwood, West Virginia. I had my eye on that penthouse trailer.
  

As you can tell, I had many options. It was a tough choice. I sure hope the destination I chose lives up to our expectations!

The Beginnings of Pure Bliss...

To be sure, our wedding day is going to be absolute bliss! Of course, there will be minor stresses leading up to the big day, but Kara and I are so excited to start our lives together that we both know that no matter what, getting sealed in the Temple for time and all eternity will be the most wonderful, most joyous occasion!

The wedding planning continues to come along quite well. We've got most of the "big stuff" out of the way, and are starting to concentrate more on the fine details.

While Kara has handled the majority of the wedding planning surrounding our big day, and handled it beautifully I might add, I have turned my thoughts to handling the events surrounding our big night. I have been at it for weeks, looking for the ideal place to spend our first moments together as a newly wed couple. After much searching and numerous emails and phone calls, I finally did it! I found the perfect romantic destination!

Kara and I love to give each other clues about what we have in store for one another, so with that in mind, I've included some hints in the pictures about our special getaway.

I must admit, it is SO hard to keep from telling Kara all about it. I'm so excited I feel like I could burst! I just want to tell her how incredible it is, and how much fun we're going to have. Keeping such a fun secret from my love is so difficult! But I know the look on her face when we get to where we're going and can finally be with each other will make it all worth the wait.

I love you Kara! I can't wait to marry you!

My Everything...

This has been a great weekend! General Conference was incredibly uplifting, and I really enjoyed all of the messages that were shared. I hung out with Jaimie and Wolfgang, close friends of mine. I even cooked for them! Well, by "cooked for them", I mean I bought a frozen lasagna and had Wolfgang throw it in the oven so it'd be ready by the time I came over for lunch. Haha!

But despite having such a wonderful weekend, there was still a huge piece missing. Kara was missing. Now I know you're probably sick of hearing all of my overly mushy, lovey dovey posts, but allow me just one more (at least for now). This weekend was especially difficult for me, and I'm not sure why. It literally felt like there was a gaping hole in my heart every time I got off the phone with Kara. I long for her, I ache for her. Never before have I felt such desire for someone. It was literally painful to not be with her.

During the conference talks, I was particularly attentive as Elder Bednar spoke of being more diligent and concerned at home. He spoke of expressing and showing love to your companion, and of letting your children see that love you have for your spouse. I was filled with such anticipation for the time when Kara and I start a family of our own and can share such wonderful moments with each other. I can't wait to start a life with Kara. All I want is to show her how much she means to me.

But I can't, at least, not yet. And that's what has made this weekend so difficult: the reality of our current situation.

Excuse me if this sounds like a rant, or that I'm complaining, because it's not my intent to complain or be negative. It's just that frankly I'm sick and tired of this 5,000 mile distance between us. I'm tired of not being able to touch the woman I love, or to kiss her, or to hold her close to me. It is so frustrating to have so much love for someone and not be able to express it in any way other than a phone call.

Bottom line: I just want to marry Kara!

Operation: Registration

Kara and I have begun putting together our registry and let me tell you, it has been "Fun City!"

We're trying hard to avoid becoming registry snobs, so we're making sure we include items that aren't too expensive. It's hard though, 'cause I REALLY want that special edition Robin Egg Blue mixer from Kitchen Aid! Who wouldn't want that?!! Oh, and the Fiesta ware is AWESOME! I'm gonna love eatin' off those things!

We've gotten our kitchenware down, and will continue to update it with bed 'n bath items in the coming weeks. It only took us three hours to pick out everything for the kitchen. Not bad. Doing everything together over the phone is a definite help, but still, it would be so much more fun in person! It's hard to sneak kisses in between choosing items when you're on the phone.

In any case, it's coming along nicely. Sure, we still have TONS to do for the wedding, but little by little we're getting there.

92 Days...

...18 hours, 32 minutes, and 12 seconds..

...11, 10, 9, 8...

But who's counting?

I am! I cannot wait to marry the most incredible woman on earth! Soon she'll be my woman.

Until then, all I can do is wait, and plan for the big day. Kara and I have made some great progress with the wedding plans, but with each detail we plan for, 5 more details present themselves. The more we find out about wedding planning, the more we realize we have SO much more to do.

But it's a great adventure to plan it all together. Chatting with my sweetheart on the phone, while looking at various photography/floral/color options together has become one of my favorite things to do. At times it almost feels like we're in the same room, rather than 5,000 miles apart.

Kara and I constantly say to each other, "We're getting married!!", followed by excited giggling. It's so amazing the intensity of love and happiness that come from having her in my life, and knowing that in a matter of days, albeit 92, we'll be sealed to each other for time and all eternity. We are both so incredibly excited for that day, to look into each other's eyes, and know that we belong to one another. What a blessing!

Both Kara and I are going to make a more concerted effort to keep you all updated on our wedding planning progress. So far, Kara is doing a spectacular job, whereas I have been a little behind with the updates. But stay tuned, we'll be posting more as it all unfolds.

Oh, and one more thing...

...I love you Kara!

What matters most...

I wanted to take a moment to express the great love I have for the woman in my life. Kara truly is a gift from heaven. She is my source of happiness. She is my joy. These past several months have shown me that a life without her is not a life at all.

She has changed my life for the better, and shown me what true love is. I am constantly filled with love for her as we talk on the phone, or text message, or even when I simply picture her beautiful face in my mind. I love her!

Of course, she knows I love her, but that is not enough for me. It is not enough for me to assume that she knows just how much she means to me or that she understands just how precious she is to me. She needs to hear it each day. She needs to see it in my actions. She needs to sense it in my touch. She needs to feel it in her heart.

Kara, you are the most important person in my life, and you always will be. I am so blessed to have you as my fiancée, and I am so excited to marry you in just a few short months. I promise that I will cherish you forever, and that I will always uplift you and support you. I will protect you and care for you. I will love you unconditionally.

You are my everything, Kara. You are what matters most to me.

Blog on a Stick...

I had the chance to attend the Nebraska State Fair with my love last week, and it was a blast! There was so much to see and do, but what really stuck out to me was the number of food varieties that could be enjoyed...

...on a stick.

At first, I thought it was just a straightforward novelty. I mean, eating a corn dog on a stick is obviously the best way to go with something like that. But pretty soon I could see that the majority of food items offered at the fair had the "on a stick" option. It opened up a whole new world to me!

Pizza on a stick? Cheese on a stick? Pork chop on a stick? Who knew food could taste so good, on a stick?!

It was a fantastic experience for the taste buds, and sharing these culinary delights with my sweetheart made them taste so much better!

Save the Date...

Chapter 3...

He came back for her.

Just like he promised, he came back for her.

But then, of course he did. She was everything to him, and he knew it.

Their time apart had only succeeded in bringing them closer together. His resolution had never been stronger, and soon she would know exactly how much she meant to him.

They emerged hand-in-hand from the Temple of the Lord, full of love and affection for one another, and mindful of the richness of their lives and the bounty of blessings bestowed upon them. After a short walk, they found themselves in a grove of trees overlooking the temple, nestled among colorful flowers and greenery. The sun burst through the foliage in radiant shafts of light, while the gentle singsong of lovebirds filled the air. They sat down and shared passages of scripture with one another. They discussed doctrines, shared experiences, and reflected on their time together in the temple. They pondered a life together, and the possibility of an eternity together as well. They held each other close in a moment of quiet affection, and he said a prayer of gratitude in his heart for this incredible gift of love. The cool of the western wind breezed through the leaves, and after another moment, he knew it was time.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out another book: his journal.

Over the course of their relationship, he had put his pen to paper, recording his thoughts and feelings, impressions and appreciations, and they were all of them about her. He opened to one particular passage and began to read it aloud to his sweetheart. He spoke of his great love for her, how it had grown and deepened over these months and years. There was an undeniable goodness in her, and because of her goodness there arose in him a desire to be a better person, to be a better man, for her. She encouraged the very best in him, and he loved her for that.

He spoke of the happiness she had brought into his life, and of a greater happiness he had yet to receive. He would need her help in reaching that happiness. Indeed, he needed her, and he knew it.

But he also knew that words could only express so much.

With a beating heart and shaking hand, he knelt down at her feet. They locked eyes. He presented her with a token of his love and affection, and with a quavering voice asked:

"Kara Lee Knudtson, will you marry me for time and all eternity?"

Without breaking his gaze to even look at the ring, she answered:

"I will!"

Joy overwhelmed them and they embraced more tightly than ever before. They were given a glimpse of eternity that day, and view of the happiness they could and would have together. They were beginning to understand that together they would help each other fill the measure of their creation and enjoy a love greater than anything they had ever experienced.

...to be continued...

Small Joys...

Of the many names I've been called over the years, one of the best has to be "Uncle Ben."

I've had the fortunate opportunity to spend a few weeks over this summer with both of my older sisters and their children, and it has been non-stop fun! The nieces and nephew are absolutely hilarious! Kids really say and do the darndest things!

Here are a few of my favorites:

• Annabelle saying prayers at the dinner table, then clapping afterward.
• Isabelle finally giving me a hug and kiss after 2 weeks of working for it. (It was a huge win for me!)
• Chloe saying to me: "You're the best uncle ever! Most uncles just sleep and burp, but not you!" Haha! Where does she come up with that?!
  
• Madelyn dancing around the living room with the stereo blasting.
  
• Mercy giving me singing lessons during Sacrament meeting.
• Connor wanting to take me 4-wheeling every 5 minutes of the day.

It's so great to spend time with the family, especially when I only get to see them twice a year. There's never a shortage of humorous and sweet moments with the kids. It makes me so excited to have my own children and start a family with Kara!

True Love...

You know what's amazing?

Love, that's what!

Now, I'm not talking about simple infatuation, I'm talking about real, honest, true love. The kind that makes you homesick for the one you love. The kind that keeps you up late at night talking with them, and that makes you jump out of bed at 5am to go greet them with a kiss. It really is amazing!

After all these long years searching for her, I've finally found my true love. It's a rare thing, a precious gift, something that you need to take care of and never take for granted. Kara and I have often remarked how incredible our love is, how all-encompassing it is, and how we wish other people could experience this same kind of intense, exciting, humbling and inspiring love.

So, for those of you out there who have not yet found your true love, my advice is to keep looking. Keep searching. Never give up in frustration or give in to doubt. Never, EVER settle for less than your true love. You'll be so happy you waited when you can finally experience a love so pure, so incredible and so uplifting that it makes you feel like you could fly.

In case you need pointers on what to look for (believe me, you'll know), let me share some of my experience on finding my true love. Hopefully it will give you an idea of what you can expect once you find yours.

You know you've found your true love when:

• You can't stop thinking about her. Every moment of every day.
  
• It causes you physical pain to be apart from her, and you miss her even when she's only in the next room.
• You regularly check the weather where she lives, just to feel closer to her.
• You can say "I love you!" to each other with a meaningful look, or a soft touch.
• Kneeling in prayer side-by-side, hand-in-hand with her is one of the sweetest experiences you've ever had.
  
• Life is more worthwhile with her in it, and everything seems more vibrant, more impressive, more beautiful when you're in her presence.
• You have an overwhelming desire to make her happy.
• You're excited to experience the good times as well as the bad with her, because you know you'll grow closer because of it.
  

And lastly and most importantly, you know you've found your true love when you feel like a better person when you're with her, and you know you'd do absolutely anything for her.

I am so happy I've found Kara. I can't imagine life without her. She is everything to me, and I am so thankful for the blessing of being able to call her mine.

I love you, Kara!

Chapter Two...

It was five years ago, and it was now. It was on an island far away, and it was here. The beats of his heart were identical. Only this time, they were stronger, more definite, more powerful. He stepped off the plane, exited the gate and anxiously walked through the airport terminal. His eyes darted back and forth over hundreds of faces, eagerly trying to find his love. His legs were weak, his heart was pounding, his hands were shaking. Suddenly the crowds parted and there she was, a picture of absolute beauty standing in front of him. The sun glistened off her hair and shoulders, illuminating her angelic figure. And she was an angel to him. His pace quickened as he ran to embrace her.

Time stood still. The airport fell silent. Everything faded into the background. All he could feel was her in his arms. They were finally together. They were finally holding each other. Nothing else mattered.

Thus began the greatest week of his life. Every day their love deepened. With each passing moment he understood more and more what true happiness was. He knew that he could never be apart from her again. He had to make her his forever.

Time continued its relentless march, and before they knew it, their week together was over. The week that marked the turning point in their relationship, transforming their affection from deepest infatuation into a resolute commitment for their future.

As these two lovers parted ways for the second time, they both understood that life would never be the same again. They could not go back to the way things were before. Their love had changed. Their life had changed. They were given a gift, a glimpse of what life could be like together, and that knowledge would propel them toward their future.

As he left his love, he made her a promise: He would come back for her. No matter what, he would come back for her.

...to be continued...

Stay Close to Me

Isn't it amazing how time flies? How the years seem to tick by faster and faster?

I've had the privilege of watching my older sisters and their husbands raise fine families. I've been a proud uncle 6 times over. It literally seems like just yesterday that Connor was born. And now, a decade later, the nieces and nephew continue to amaze me.

Family is an wonderful blessing, inspired by a loving Heavenly Father. I'm truly grateful for mine, and for the ways in which they've enriched my life. I couldn't have asked for a better one.

I'm so looking forward to starting a family of my own, to having kids, and to creating such fantastic memories for my own children! I just hope they don't grow up too fast!

A wise man said, “Time is a companion that goes with us on a journey. It reminds us to cherish each moment, because it will never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we have lived.”

With that in mind, I put together this short video to remind us how precious this life is, and of the importance to stay close to our family, cherishing each day we have with them, because indeed, they will never come again.

Mountain Man

This past weekend I decided to blaze a trail up the Ko'olau mountain range. I've been wanting to go on a hike for some time, but my schedule had other plans. (Get it?) The weather has been great recently, and I wanted to take advantage of it. There are some great hikes around the island, with some really beautiful scenery. Unfortunately, I've been on none of them. All that changed this past weekend, though.

The hike to Laie Falls is a moderate one, with fantastic views of the ocean as you climb higher and higher. The 3.5 mile trail (one-way) takes you through dense tropical forests and winding, narrow pathways until you reach the secluded waterfall at the top. Make sure you bring a camera, 'cause there are plenty of opportunities to use it on this hike!

It really was a great day. I learned several things on this hike:

1. Take more water than you think you need: I made the rookie mistake of only bringing 2 bottles of water with me. With the heat and humidity, I was losing water fast! I've never craved a glass of cold water more than I did on the return trip. Dehydration would be a terrible way to die!
   
2. Wear more sunscreen than you think you have to: by mid-day I felt like my skin was sizzling bacon. It was oppressive. 3 coats of the stuff was thankfully enough to keep me from getting roasted.
   
3. Don't hike alone: you'd think I was gonna mention something about safety here, but no, that's not what I'm talking about. I just wanted my Kara with me so I wouldn't have to hike alone. I was really missing her this past 4th of July weekend, and would've loved to have shared this adventure with her!
   

It was a fun day, one that left a lasting impression on my body. Door-to-door, it was a 7 hour 25 minute journey, but that's only because I was lugging my camera equipment with me so that I could share the day with all of you.

So, enjoy the fruits of my labor...

Like Father...

Dear Dad,

It's Father's Day! You know, that time of year when you get a sudden influx of black socks and cheesy ties from your kids! Well, instead of sending you yet another impersonal gift this year, I thought I'd let you in on a little secret:

You're my hero!

It's true! Now you may disagree. Maybe you think heroes have to leap tall buildings in a single bound, fight crime, or drive a batmobile and have an annoying sidekick. But those aren't real heroes.

Real heroes are the ones who love and support their children in a thousand ways every day. Real heroes are mentors and role models. Real heroes teach their kids life lessons. I remember so many things that you've taught me over the years:

• You taught me to swing a golf club at age 3.
  
• You taught me the principle of honesty at age 5 when I stole that piece of candy from the store and you had me return it to the manager with an apology.
• At age 7, you taught me to start saving money while always remembering to give 10% to the Lord.
• You taught me at age 9 good sportsmanship, even though we beat the CRAP out of that Gustaveson kid at the Pinewood Derby. 12 straight races! His dad couldn't quit whining!
  
• At age 12, you taught me that leadership is taken, it isn't given.
• You taught me the value of daily prayer and seeking direction from the Lord at the age of 14 during our yearly priesthood camp-out for the ward where we slept in the back of the van and nearly froze to death.
  
• You taught me how to finally ride a bike without training wheels at age 18, just in time for my mission!
• And at age 28, you've taught me that I still have so much to learn in this life.
  

I could go on for ever. So much of my life is a result of the good things that you and mom have taught us kids. I know we give you a hard time about what a rough upbringing we had, but the truth is, you and mom have been wonderful parents to us kids. You've been such a great example to us and we've shared so many experiences together that brought us all closer as a family. We've seen the positive impact of having a father who upholds his priesthood and serves diligently in his church callings. And we've all felt the gratitude that comes from having a loving father in the home.

I hope you know how much I love you Dad, and how much influence you've had and continue to have on every aspect of my life. I've always tried to become more like you, and have used your example as my own moral compass in life. No matter what decision I've been faced with, I would always ask myself, "what would dad do in this situation?" or "how would dad handle this?" I've always thought that if I could be like my dad one day, then I'll have accomplished a lifelong goal. Thank you for teaching me how to be a better man, and how to become the kind of person I can be proud of.


Sincerely,
Your loving son,
Benjamin

Have I Seen?

I came across this short video, and it really touched me, so I thought I'd share it with all of you. The message is simple, yet profound: Have you seen the Lord's hand in your life?

As many of you know, my life has been richly blessed recently because of one amazing woman. I'm not sure why the Lord has seen fit to bless me with the kind, caring, wonderful, not to mention beautiful woman that is Kara, but I am so deeply grateful to Him for that. How is it possible that I've been given such a rare gift? Kara and I have talked about this at length, and we both find it simply amazing that after all these years apart, and against the odds, we would still end up together in the loving relationship that we now share.

My rational brain has tried to make sense of it all, to try to understand how this was possible, but has been unsuccessful. After all, what were the chances that after we both parted ways in Hawaii, and lived apart for years, that we'd be together again in the future? Infinitesimally small, that's what!

So how does one begin to explain it all? As I've pondered that idea, I always come to the same conclusion. This was not of our doing, but rather the Lord's. He has guided our lives in such a way that would bring us together again. It is truly humbling to know that a greater power has led you to the source of your happiness in this life.

How can I ever repay such a tremendous blessing? What did I do to deserve someone so wonderful? Then I remembered that our Father in Heaven wants nothing more than for each of His children to be happy, and to experience the joy that He has. After all, we read in the scriptures, "Men are that they might have joy."

My joy is found in a life with Kara.

So, yes, I have seen the Lord's hand in my life.

A Day to Remember...

Today was Memorial Day, and my good friend Josh was in town, so he called me and Marissa, and we hung out with him, his brother Daniel, and Traci, his sister-in-law. Waimea Bay was our destination. It was a beautiful day, nice and sunny, which made the sand scalding and my sunburn-phobia overwhelming!

The water was surprisingly cold for May, but you get used to it after a few minutes. Josh, Daniel and I swam out to one of the rocks, and were fortunate enough to have a sea turtle swim up near us. Once it caught sight of me, it bolted, which was weird.

One of the cool things to do at Waimea is to jump off that large rock into the bay. Daniel and I decided to check this one off our "Things To Do While In Hawaii" list, so we climbed on up. The key here is to not think about jumping. You just have to do it, otherwise you'll psych yourself out. I cleared my mind, stepped up to the edge, and jumped. Then a thought came to me: "Why the crap did I think this was ever a good idea?"

Time seemed to slow, and I felt my stomach fly into my throat. The rock may not look that high from the ground, but for someone who is unaccustomed to jumping off two-story buildings regularly, this came as a shock to my system. Every muscle tensed, and I was pretty sure I was about to die. I hit the water with the force of a 220lb hammer, and my water displacement quickly responded with a similar concussive force to both my ears before my head fully submerged. It felt like someone put my head on an anvil, and then dropped another anvil on top. I stumbled out of the water, gasping, spitting, choking on seaweed. And immediately a second thought came to mind...

...I gotta do that again!

3 jumps, 3 near-death experiences, 3 times the fun! Just remember to plug your nose or you'll be sorry! Seriously! If you look at the picture, you can see me before, during and after the jump. My technique, you ask? I call it the Terrified Jack-Knife™.

It was a great day, with great company, but I still felt like something was lacking. Something was needed to make my day complete. Without which, it was not quite perfect. It took me exactly 0.68 seconds to figure out what that was. Or rather, who that was.

Kara. That's who!

Chapter One...

Once upon a time, on an island far, far away a young man fell in love with a beautiful young woman. She was perfect, in every way. Her beauty was legendary. So much so, that other men would travel from far and wide just to look upon her. Rumors spread throughout the land that she was single. When word of this reached the young man's ears, he knew what he had to do: find some way to make her his.

But how?

He knew he'd come up with something, he just had to be patient and wait for the right moment. So, he made sure he "coincidentally" attended the same various ward activities as she did: Family Home Evening, Ward Prayer, etc, where he could get to know her better. The more he did so, the deeper in love he fell with this fair maiden. At long last, his patience paid off and an opportunity presented itself. The young man wasted no time in taking advantage of it. He invited her to the Fall Ball. The delicate damsel graciously agreed to honor him with her company for the evening, and what an unforgettable evening it was! Dancing, laughing, talking, more dancing. Did she notice that he couldn't dance to save his life? Who knows? He was sure nobody could have missed him flailing around on the dance floor like a rubber chicken. But he didn't care because he was in the presence of the most beautiful woman in the world!

The Ball was over too soon, and as the young man walked her home that evening (after a stylish and classy ride back in a big yellow school bus), he felt something in his heart he hadn't felt before with any other woman. It was deeper than simple infatuation. It was more than just admiration. It was love, even if only the beginning of a deeper, more complete love.

He had just scratched the surface of getting to know this magnificent woman, and yet, he knew deep in his heart that the two of them had more to do with one another. But when would that be? Next week, next month, next year?

The young man would have to be patient again. But he knew that if anyone was worth waiting for, it was this woman.

...to be continued...

Saturday adventures...

As the Primary song goes, "Saturday is a special day... it's the day I sleep in!" I'm pretty sure that's how it goes anyway. But not this Saturday. This Saturday I wanted to do something fun.

We headed over to a small island off the coast of Oahu. You have to walk through about 200 meters of reef and shallows to get to it.

• Pro Tip #1: Don't try to cross the reef wearing flip-flops. No seriously, just don't.

The island has a really cool beach facing the main beach of Oahu, which makes for a very peaceful, very calm surf. The water was crystal clear turquoise, too. So cool! After a quick dip, we walked around the island, checked out the amazing scenery, then headed back across the reef. As we crossed back over to the main island, a funny thing happened. I found myself becoming increasingly enraged at the incessant waves throwing me off balance, causing me to lose my footing, scrape my knees, and slice my foot wide open on the sharp rocks, thereby enticing the nearby sharks to come feed on my bloody appendage. At one point, I even caught myself hurling verbal insults at the high tide. Fun stuff!

• Pro Tip #2: Don't be surprised when 3 coats of SPF 50 doesn't do ANYTHING to keep you from getting cooked to a buttery lobster red.

That's right, I was extra careful in staying out of the sun and took the necessary precautions to ensure my time in the sun was UV protected. Three thick coats of sunscreen oughtta do the trick, right? WRONG! I forget we're near the equator, almost into the summer months, and I'm a red head. 3 things not workin' in my favor, dermatologically speaking. But despite the pain (and possible cancer), I still had an absolute blast at the beach! It was such a beautiful morning!

We watched Star Trek in the evening, and I will say, that is the BEST movie I've seen this year. Nothing in recent cinema history can even come close to how good this movie was! I won't spoil it for you, but the story was well crafted, the characters were endearing and believable, and the sci-fi action experience was top notch! I gotta go watch it again!

After grabbing some sushi for dinner (imagine Dora the Explorer saying "Delicioso"), we headed back to Laie. Not bad for a Saturday. It totally beats staying at home and doing laundry. Isn't it amazing how much fun you can have when you try new things?

Training Day

So, I realize that many of my posts lately have been church-related in nature, but I had to share this one. In no way am I trying to come across as pretentious or "holier than thou", attempting to appear more spiritual than I am. It's just that most of the profound or significant experiences in my life do, indeed, happen to be related to church and to my calling.

Tonight we had a leadership training meeting in which only myself and the three members of the stake presidency were in attendance. Elder Scott D. Whiting, of the Quorum of the Seventy, spent three hours with us, teaching and advising us as to how best we could magnify our Priesthood callings. It was an absolutely wonderful experience! I felt so very humbled and grateful to have such a privilege of receiving training from an Elder who himself received it directly from the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve. Here are some of the highlights:

• There are 4 cornerstones of the Church, two of which I did not know.
• There are 3 sources of doctrine. The primary source should always be used in teaching, the secondary source can sometimes be used, but the tertiary source should never, ever, under any circumstances, be permitted to enter a doctrinal discussion.
  
• We currently have the strongest and the weakest missionaries the world has ever seen. Interesting what he had to say about that, it's not what you think.
  
• PPIs are a lost art but a powerful tool in the Church. He taught us the right way to do them.
  
• And finally, Elder Whiting asked me, "What's the most important meeting you have each week." Confidently, I answered "Sacrament meeting." To my surprise, I was wrong. He said, "The most important meeting you have each week is taking your wife on a date." While I'm not yet married, I definitely took that one under advisement. You hear that Kara?! ;-)

It was an amazingly spiritual meeting, full of loving guidance and direction. Elder Whiting had such a powerful, yet humble, spirit about him. He even shared some funny experiences he had with Dallin H. and Boyd K. (Apparently, they're some pretty funny men!) He invited us to share with him our testimonies before we concluded the meeting. What a memorable evening! One for which I am deeply grateful!

Spring Time

Spring term just started, and already the work is piling up. I've got my first exam on Monday, only a week into the term. Yikes! But it's gonna be fun, I can feel it.

Classes I'm taking:

• Managerial Accounting
• Management Information Systems
• Ethics in Computer Science

That last class seems to be the most interesting so far. Basically, each class period we have debates about ethical topics in the technology field, and it can get heated. Some strong opinions on both sides of the ethical line, with each side thinking they're right. It's actually kinda fun to philosophize about things like "Should government be allowed to monitor us in order to prevent terrorism?" or "Should an employer have the right to read employee emails?"

Some good points were brought up in today's debate, causing me to seriously think about some of the positions I take on the topics. After careful contemplation, I decided the opposing debate team was still wrong. Ha!

If nothing else, this term should be a good mental and moral workout!

Easter Sunday

Today was an especially wonderful Sunday for me. Not only was it Easter Sunday, with the uplifting spiritual church meetings that come along with that, but it was also a day of deep gratitude for myself. I was set apart today as the Stake Executive Secretary, a calling in which I'll be working closely with the Stake Presidency. I admit I felt completely overwhelmed when I first received the call, but I remembered the words of President Monson when he said "Whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies." I sure pray that I'll be up to the task!

After a long first day as the Stake Exec Sec, I was particularly touched by an experience I had with President Hannemann, the newly called Stake President. It was around 8:30pm, and we'd been at the chapel all day doing interviews and taking care of church business. Everyone had gone home, and his family had been eagerly waiting to spend Easter Sunday with their father. But before leaving he called me into his office where he and I knelt down together to pray. He offered a prayer of humble gratitude for the blessing of being able to serve the Lord's children in this part of His vineyard. He expressed feelings of love and appreciation for his Father in Heaven, and thankfulness for the atoning sacrifice of His son, Jesus Christ, especially on this Easter Sunday. I was so grateful to be in the presence of this humble man, to share such an uplifting moment of thanksgiving with him.

I thought about the Saviour, and how He was always eager to give thanks to His father, even when He knew the tests that would inevitably come. He was not concerned about the praise of men, but rather in fulfilling His father's Plan. I'm so thankful on this Easter Sunday to have the knowledge of the gospel that I do, to be blessed by the Saviour's sacrifice that He made for me and the rest of us. While we can never repay that debt, we can try. We can live our lives in such a way that is pleasing to the Lord. What a gift we've been given! This Easter season is a time of thanksgiving, and I am certainly thankful for the wonderful life I've been blessed with, and to have Christ at the center.

The Voyage Continues...

After a long and arduous journey this semester, the Hawaiian Club's "Voyage to a New Era" has reached it's final destination and put on a magnificent performance for Culture Night. This video is of the club's final performance, including the short story of the origins of the Hawaiian people.

I filmed the project under the creative direction of club president Kale Kau'i, and with the help of fellow club members and photographers Leilani Miller and Ian Nitta. It's truly amazing what can happen when many talented people work towards a single goal. I wish you could have heard the "oohs" and "ahhs" of the audience as they watched our performance. It was different than the reaction to other clubs, it wasn't loud and excited, it was more reverent and respectful, which really impressed me. The performance was all about the journey of life, creating a new path for ourselves while at the same time remembering those who've gone before. It was an incredibly moving experience as I watched the culmination of many months of planning and practice come together into such an amazing 8 minutes.

While the journey is over for some, it has, in a way, just begun for me. I still have to put together an entire semester's worth of footage into an hour long documentary. I don't even want to think about it right now, with finals just around the corner. But despite the hard work that lies ahead, I must say I am truly grateful to be a part of something so meaningful. It's been a fantastic experience this semester!

Get some Culture!

This past weekend BYU-Hawaii put on its annual Culture Night, where the various clubs have the opportunity to showcase the culture of the nationality they represent. It's always a fantastic performance, and this year was no exception.

While my efforts were focused mainly on the Hawaiian Club this semester, I still had the chance to film some of the other clubs that performed. I threw the footage together into this little highlight video to give you a taste of the evening's performances.

This is just one of the many things I love about going to school here. The diversity in culture, people from all around the world, coming together in one place. It's fantastic! I feel so blessed to be a part of it, and to be able to interact with so many wonderful people from different walks of life. It makes you appreciate just how vast and varied this world is! This is truly an amazing place to be!

Ah, memories...

So, I was going through some old files on my computer and came across this little gem. It's a video I made about a year or so ago for one of my classes. The assignment was to make a video based around the idea of a chase, but we had to come up with the story. Being the hopeless romantic (not) that I am, I decided to make it about "getting the girl". Did I succeed in my endeavor? You be the judge.

Maybe this is a case of art imitating life. Despite my best attempts to win the girl over, it just never seems to work out. I think on a subconscious level I was echoing my own dating experience.

Yeah, that's it, totally subconscious. Riiiight...

Anyway, just a little mid-week peek into Ben's mind. Enjoy!

Don't you have a good feeling?

Recently I have become keenly aware of the wonderful ways in which my life has been so very richly blessed, and I feel that I'd be doing myself, as well as my Father in Heaven, a disservice if I did not acknowledge that fact.

So often in life, especially in my life, it is easy to get caught up in the busy day-to-day hustle and bustle, and lose sight of the important things. Homework deadlines, work schedules, social demands have a way of filling up our lives and staying at the forefront of our minds, pushing out more meaningful things. I can spend hours each week surfing the internet, and I'm embarrassed to admit that I check FaceBook WAY more often than is healthy.

But when I take the time to recognize the beauty in my own life, especially the beauty that comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ, I am overcome with feelings of deepest gratitude.

This video is one that echoes my sentiments. Similar to the man in this story, I am so deeply humbled by the ways in which, often unbeknownst to me, I am constantly strengthened, lifted up, encouraged and sustained by others.

The gospel is true! It's message is simple, and I'm so grateful for my own knowledge of this fact. I felt it important to thank not only my heavenly Father, but all of you who have in one way or another, perhaps not even realizing it at the time, enriched and blessed my life.

I pray that the Lord may bless each of you in your lives in return for the ways in which you've blessed me in mine!

A Whale of a Time...

Last Monday was a school holiday for President's Day, and we took that opportunity to get outta town and see what this island had to offer. Jess thought it'd be a good idea to check out the local whale scene and so that's what we did. Jaimie and Wolfgang were kind enough to provide the rental car, as well as their company for the day.

Our destination: Haleiwa, on the north shore. We hopped on one of the boat tours there, and headed out to sea. I expected it would be a fun activity, but I had way more fun than I could have anticipated. Not that I had low expectations or anything, I was just surprised at how enjoyable the whole thing was. I can't put my finger on it exactly, maybe it was seeing whales up close, maybe it was the exhilaration of being out on the open sea, something I'm normally freaked out about (deep-water-phobia), or maybe it was just sharing the whole experience with good friends. Or maybe it was the combination of everything.

In any case, I had a fantastic time, and I really felt blessed to have such good friends with whom I could share the experience. Isn't it amazing how much fun you can have when you try new things?!

Check out the video for a more in depth view of the day's events.

Hawaiian Stylin'

This semester is well underway, and I'm already feelin' the pain of an overly packed schedule. Don't get me wrong, I love to be busy, but dang, I wasn't prepared for this. I swear, there are fewer hours in the day all of the sudden. Trying to fit in school, work, and church responsibilities is overwhelming enough. How could I possibly fit anything else in? But my motto is, "If it ain't broke, break it!"

For a while now I've wanted to work with the Hawaiian Club here on campus to showcase some of the amazing culture here in Hawaii. There is such a rich heritage and fascinating history behind these islands and people, and I've felt for some time how incredibly important it is to preserve that history.

So, I got in contact with the Hawaiian Club President, Kale Kau'i, and we arranged to do a one hour documentary of the semester's club activities. It's going to be a mammoth undertaking, no doubt, but one that I feel is too important to pass up. I'm really excited to see what we come up with. I get to work with some amazingly talented people too, like Leilani Miller, that beautiful wahine in the picture with me. She's the professional photographer for the club, and boy does she have talent!

This semester is going to be a tough one. I'm already falling behind in my studies, which means I'm gonna have to be extra focussed to get back on track with everything, and be able to juggle everything without dropping the ball. No matter what though, I can be sure that this is going to be an unforgettable semester. I can feel it!

For Kara...

Well, ok, this post isn't entirely just for Kara, but she gave me a gentle kick-in-the-pants to get going on my blog again, so she deserves partial credit at least. Thanks Kara!

It's unbelievable to me how quickly time can go if you're not paying careful attention. The last 6 months have gone by in an instant it seems, and what does my blog have to show for it? Nothing! That's what!

I'd like to say that I'm going to be blogging more consistently, but I'm not going to make any promises. However, I'm gonna try my best.

So, where did I last leave off? Oh yeah, France. Well, to bring you up to speed, I'm back in Hawaii finishing my last semesters at BYU. I have been so busy with school, that most everything else has fallen by the wayside. After finishing a brutal semester with top grades, I had the best Christmas I've had in many years. My entire family was together, something that hasn't happened in over 4 years. Before I knew it, my relaxing holiday was over and I was back to work here at school.

That pretty much sums it up. I wasn't paying attention, and whoosh, 6 months have passed. Incredible. I'm really going to make a more concerted effort this year to keep on top of life and sharing it with all of you. We'll see how it goes.

That's it for now, don't wanna over do it on my first time back from blog hiatus. Check back soon!

Normandy

The next day we decided to explore around Normandy. We went to the nearby town of Bayeux, and were blown away by the sights we saw. Cathedrals, markets, houses, bridges, I could go on. Every time we turned around, we say another impressive facet of French culture. It was incredible.

From there we visited some of the World War II sites, starting with Omaha Beach where Operation Overlord took place on D-Day. I've always been a World War II enthusiast. That time in earth's history has fascinated me for years. So I was eager to experience it firsthand. As we walked out onto the beach, I felt a deep sense of respect and gratitude for those brave soldiers who fought that day. Being there made it so real for me, so personal. I was standing on hallowed ground. I pondered on the great debt we owe to those brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for all of us during the war.

Continuing our historic journey, we visited the nearby American cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer. This memorial is the resting place for over 9,000 American soldiers, and overlooks Omaha Beach where the invasion took place. There was an exposition inside which depicted scenes from the events surrounding D-Day, and showed examples of the unbelievable courage of all involved. Stepping outside to the cemetery and viewing the overwhelming number of graves moved me to tears. What a price these men paid for us all. To say it was humbling would be an understatement. I felt so fortunate to be there, and I was reminded of the privilege of freedom I enjoy every day. What a tremendous experience!

We slowly made our way back up north, stopping at Rouen along the way. This city is known for its medieval town center, and you really do feel like you've stepped back in time 500 years when you walk its streets. Joan of Arc met her end here, and Richard the Lionheart was buried in a magnificent cathedral in the center of town. Incredibly history that we might have missed.

As our trip came to a close, I couldn't help but appreciate what an amazing time we had in France. Again, I was totally unprepared for such an astonishingly enjoyable it was. I couldn't get enough of France. I guess that's what surprised me so much. If I had to sum up our trip in one word, it would be serendipitous. Dad and I found so much to enjoy about the country. I'll definitely be going back again!

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Ah, Paris...

This past week we took a trip to France. I hadn't been to France in years, so I was looking forward to visiting again. But nothing could have prepared me for the trip ahead.

We hopped a ferry out of Dover, arrived in Boulogne 45 minutes later, and drove 2 hours south to Paris. The French countryside was beautiful. We checked out the town that evening, took pictures, visited the Louvre, Notre Dame, etc. It was so neat to be in Paris. But the best was yet to come.

The next day we took a bike tour through the city. This was the highlight of the Paris experience for me. I couldn't believe how much fun it was! I think I had a smile on my face the entire day. We got to see a plethora of amazing sights, rich in history and culture. We tried the local food, which was incredible, and soaked up the atmosphere as much as we could. I think biking through Paris is the way to go for anyone thinking about visiting the city. It was fantastic!

That evening we took off to Normandy. It was about 2 hours northwest of Paris. We stayed in the little town of Caen. We explored around that evening, and found some fascinating history behind this town. And don't even get me started on the food. It was so good, I couldn't believe it.

Today was absolutely wonderful! Paris was so awesome, I was totally caught off guard. I thought we'd enjoy it, but I didn't know it'd be that much fun! I can't wait to visit again.

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More Wedding Bells

We headed down to the London Temple on Saturday for Penny and Dave's sealing. It was so great to be a part of this step in their lives. Penny and I grew up together, and I've been blessed with a friendship with Dave through Penny. I was so happy to see the two of them get sealed together in the Temple.

During the ceremony, I saw the two of them whisper the words "I love you" to each other across the marriage altar. It was a sweet moment for them.

After the ceremony, we headed outside for some photos, but unfortunately the weather wasn't cooperating. Again, it's that British summer everyone talks about. Nevertheless, we made the most of it and snapped as many photos as we could before the heavens really opened up.

All in all, it was a great day, and I thank Penny and Dave for inviting us along. I wish them the best in their future together!

Stonehenge: it ROCKS!

It was either that, or "Stonehenge: it's druid-tastic!"

Alright, who's hungry for some more of my travel tales?

Nobody?

Well, too bad, 'cause here comes more!

We recently visited two very interesting sites here in England. The first was a little place called Avebury. About an hour south of us, it is a little known hamlet that contains some rather remarkable scenery. Huge, towering stone pillars seem to rise out of the grassy fields in a pattern reminiscent of Stonehenge. In fact, this structure was much bigger and much older than the more widely known Stonehenge. It was pretty neat to see these stone patterns, surrounded by a massive ditch as well as a bank. Apparently it took over 600 years from start to finish to complete construction of the henge. Very little is known about how or why these stones came to be arranged in such an odd manner; some scholars believe it was used as some type of ancestral worship site, while others think it was built to study the stars. These days it's used as grazing land for sheep. LOTS of sheep. I hope you're good at hop-skotch, 'cause that's how you'll have to move through the fields if you want to avoid the "leavings" of all those sheep!

About another 20 miles south we came across Stonehenge. This is the more recognizable of the two henges. The British National Trust has certainly capitalized on that fact, too! Everything was fenced off, and you had to pay to see these rocks. But it was worth it. The stone slabs were absolutely massive. Some as big as a lorry. The term "henge" actually means "to hang" or "hanging", so Stonehenge literally means "hanging stones". What makes this henge so amazing is that there are no stones or quarries with similar material for miles and miles. That means these babies had to be transported in from elsewhere. Remember, we're dealing with neolithic britons here. This wouldn't have been the easiest task for those cave dudes and dudettes. Especially because the entire region was covered in dense forest back then, very different from the wide open grassy hills that surround the monument today. It was so fascinating to me to imagine what life would have been like in those days. What was the structure actually used for? How did people dress back then? And were druids really as friendly as everyone thinks?

History rules!

My Movie Review: The Dark Knight

This past weekend I saw the new Batman movie: The Dark Knight.

Ever since I saw the most recent of the series, "Batman Begins", my enthusiasm for the franchise has been rekindled. I loved that movie! It was so good, in so many ways. Such a breath of fresh air from past attempts at the series. So you can imagine my excitement for this next installment, especially with so much praise and hype surrounding it!

As I walked out of the theater after the movie finished, I tried to put words to the feelings I was experiencing. I hadn't felt like this after seeing a movie for quite some time! It took a while, I couldn't quite grasp the right words. And then, like a Polaroid developing, the emotions became unmistakably clear, crystallizing in my mind.

The feeling I was experiencing was disgust. Pure, simple, powerful disgust.

But I wasn't only disgusted by the movie, I was disturbed. To me, that movie was so offensive on so many levels. I could go off about how the producers sold out and pandered to a "dumb" audience with big budget Hollywood pyrotechnics and stunts, while the story took a back seat, but that's not what bothered me the most about this movie. What really got to me was how dark and sinister it was.

This is where you say, "duh, it's called the Dark Knight! It's supposed to be dark."

But I disagree.

This movie went so far past the point of decency that it became overpoweringly oppressive. I had a pit in my stomach as I left the theater. I couldn't shake that feeling of darkness for several hours afterward. The messages conveyed in the movie were so inappropriate, so violent, so vulgar that the movie lost all entertainment value and became nothing more than an uncomfortable "rollercoaster" of emotion from which you couldn't get off. The villains in the movie glorified such atrocities as murder, torture, and threatening children, to name but a few. The dark images conjured by the main villain as he maimed and mutilated his captives were simply evil. It was my feeling that this movie should have at least been rated "R".

Now maybe I'm just being a prude. Maybe I'm overreacting. Maybe it wasn't that bad.

Or maybe it was...

At what point do we rationalize our behavior, saying "it's just a movie, it's not real life"?

How applicable is Alexander Pope's classic, An Essay on Man:
Vice is a monster of so frightful mien,
As to be hated needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.

How desensitized have we become in today's world that we, encouraged by godless movie critics, willingly embrace such filth?

What did Alma rank as the two most serious sins? Denying the Holy Ghost and "shedding … innocent blood," or committing murder. Every few seconds it seemed, the viewer was accosted by images of yet another grisly murder. I couldn't believe what I was seeing! How appalling this movie was!

"Depictions of violence often glamorize vicious behavior. They offend the Spirit and make us less able to respond to others in a sensitive, caring way. They contradict the Savior's message of love for one another." Sound familiar? It should, that was taken from the "For the Strength of Youth" pamphlet.

Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles expressed it well when he said: "I believe the entertainment industry cannot portray on film people gunned down in cold blood, in living color, and not have it affect the attitudes and thoughts of the people who see it. … I believe that the desensitizing effect of such media abuses on the hearts and souls of those who are exposed to them results in a partial fulfillment of the Savior's statement that 'because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.'

Moroni tells us that "the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ."

This movie was a real "eye-opener" for me. I've readjusted some priorities when it comes to what types of movies I choose, and I'll definitely be more vigilant in avoiding such detestable influences. It's scary what can slip past us if we get complacent and allow ourselves to become desensitized.

In closing, here's some food for thought: When you're faced with a similar decision, just ask yourself, "Is this virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy? If so, "seek after these things."