"I Was Born This Way"

     As I've mentioned before, baseball is a game of failure. Throughout all my years of playing, coaching, and watching the sport I've seen players define themselves by their mistakes. I hear things like, "I just can't hit", "I can't throw a strike", "I just can't play baseball", or "I'm just not good". I even heard one time, "I'll never get better. I just wasn't born to play baseball." It made me think of all the times I struck out growing up in super league and how many times my pitching wasn't good enough. I fell short many times, but one of the biggest parts of baseball is overcoming the times when we're at our worst. Even the best players in the world struggle with slumps, but they're the best at overcoming them. That's why they get paid millions of dollars to play the game. Nolan Ryan once said, "One of the beautiful things about baseball is that every once in a while you come into a situation where you want to, and where to have to, reach down and prove something." The players that let themselves think that they aren't born to play baseball are also the ones who don't handle pressure situations very well. Instead of thinking, "I'm going to make the big play" they think instead, "I hope I don't get out". THIS ALSO GOES FOR COACHES. Coaches play a huge role in the development of their players. A successful coach will lead by example of showing how hard things can be done, but also infusing this confidence into the team. Ultimately, it's the players who have to reach down inside themselves if the team wants to get better.

     Last week, one of the players on our 14U Chargers team threw a no-hitter. He had been struggling to this point finding the strikezone and going deep into games, but this game he found something else inside of him. In the first inning, he realized that he is better than the team he was facing. His demeanor changed and he threw a lot more strikes, eventually throwing the team's first no-hitter. After the game I took the opportunity to teach the players about that. When you're on the mound, you have to believe that you're better than the batters you're facing. Your pitches are better, you throw more accurately, and you throw more innings. Of course there are days where the other team will hit you, but all you can do be mentally tough and bounce back for the next time you go back out on the mound.

     Now onto the spiritual side. I believe that we all have specific weaknesses in life that we are dealing with. Just like in baseball, we fine-tune our skills in life in order to be more productive. Sometimes, we fall into the trap of believing that we are defined by our weaknesses and that we are simply "born this way". I know that we have a divine heritage. We have been created by an Almighty God that loves us more than we can comprehend. When Jesus was on the earth, he went away fasting and praying. Satan goes to him and tempts him. Satan attacks his very divine heritage as the Son of God. With the phrase, "if thou be the Son of God" he wants to make Jesus doubt that he was foreordained to be the Savior of the world. It's interesting to me that Christ responded with scriptures. He showed His knowledge by saying, "it is written" and quoting the doctrine that corresponded with that temptation. (Matthew 4: 1-11)

     You and I were born to be great. We were born in the Latter-Days to bring to pass the Restoration of the Gospel. We were saved for this generation because we have a lot to offer. Just like Jesus Christ, we were sent to this earth for a divine purpose. Trust in the Atonement of Christ. Pray always. Read the scriptures daily. By doing this, I know that we will further understand how special we are to our loving Father in Heaven. He knows you by name, He knows your capabilities, and He wants the very best for you. He hears your prayers, and is ever willing to answer them. He doesn't define you by your sins, but instead sees your eternal worth. All we need to do is sincerely desire to be better and turn to Him. Immediately, we will see a difference in our lives. We will have more self-worth, self-confidence, and an internal desire to do God's will.

Don't Drop The Ball

     In October, 1994 President Gordon B. Hinckley, then First Councilor in the First Presidency, gave a conference talk titled "Don't Drop The Ball." He related a story from the 1912 World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Giants. Here is the story, "The event of which I speak occurred in the World Series of 1912. It was an eight-game series because one of the games was called at midpoint because of darkness. Playing fields were not electrically lighted at that time. It was the last game and the score was tied 1-1. The Boston Red Sox were at bat, the New York Giants in the field. A Boston batter knocked a high-arching fly. Two New York players ran for it. Fred Snodgrass in center field signaled to his associate that he would take it. He came squarely under the ball, which fell into his glove. It went right through his hand and fell to the ground. A howl went up in the stands. The roaring fans couldn't believe it. Snodgrass had dropped the ball. He had caught hundreds of fly balls before. But now, at this crucial moment, he dropped the ball. The New York Giants lost. The Boston Red Sox won the series. Snodgrass came back the following season and played brilliant ball for nine more years. He lived to be eighty-six years of age, dying in 1974. But after that one slip, for sixty-two years when he was introduced to anybody, the expected response was, Oh, yes, you're the one who dropped the ball." 
   
     President Hinckley then explains that there are many situations in life where people "drop the ball". A successful student who thinks he is doing well enough, but stresses under the final exam and flunks out. The driver who has a flawless record until one moment of carelessness and is involved in a tragic accident. Or there is a trusted employee whose performance has been excellent, and then he steals a little from his employer. "A mark is placed upon him which never seems to entirely disappear."

     In the world we live in, people want to define others by their sins and not by their successes. At the same time, they want to sweep their own sins under the rug and put their best self forward. We are all guilty of this at some point in our lives. One common thing I've seen is the smell of smoke that lingers with a heavy smoker. It seems like wherever they go people are quick to give them dirty looks, talking about them behind their back after they pass by, etc. I'd like to offer this question, "what if your sins smelled as bad as theirs?" The point is, we are still commanded to love everybody. (this is the second great commandment)

     There is a great urgency to prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Instead of looking for the blame in others, look inside yourself and ask God where He would have you get better. We are commanded to invite and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone who will listen, and this does not mean that we condemn others for their actions. We simply invite all to come unto Christ. We are all guilty of sin every single day, or in other words we "drop the ball". The great thing is that each time we drop the ball, we can be forgiven because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We depend on this promise for our very salvation, and we must invite others to partake of the same promise. My dad gave me this wise counsel last year, "treat others the same way that you depend of Jesus Christ to treat you."

     As a side-note: As I was listening to this talk again, I realized how much I loved President Hinckley. He was the first prophet that I remember listening to, and he was so full of love. I enjoy going to Gospel Library or lds.org and listening to past church leaders. It strengthens my testimony that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1994/10/don-t-drop-the-ball?lang=eng

   

Come What May, And Love It

     Over the President's Day weekend earlier this year, our 14U Chargers team went to Las Vegas for a tournament. My brother, Tyler, was especially excited to get a new season started and get ready for high school tryouts. We've been working together on his pitching ever since he started playing, and he's turned into one of the smartest baseball players I know. When he's on the mound, he takes control of the game, he locates his pitches well, and he gets outs. I was excited to watch him again and we gave him a start in our third game in Las Vegas. Like he does, he recorded the first out on the lead-off hitter. He then recorded the second out with some help from his defense, and ended the inning with a strikeout. I was a proud big brother and waited for him to jog in. As he approached me, he was grabbing at his shoulder in pain. I pulled him aside and he was explaining what happened. During the second batter, he felt a little pop in his shoulder and the pain was too great to go back in the game. It hurt to throw, but he could still swing his bat. For the rest of the tournament, Tyler was our DH and was hitting really well. In March, we went to Arizona for another tournament where Tyler also served as our DH. However, his pain was growing worse and he went to get an MRI. When the results came back, his doctor said that Tyler had a SLAP tear. He would need surgery to fix it, and his season is done. This was overwhelming news for all of us, as we rely on Tyler's leadership among the players. On a personal level, it was emotional for me because this is the year that players get ready for high school tryouts, and Tyler has been working so hard. Tyler's reaction has been positive, and he still contributes to the team in different ways. His reaction reminded me about how we should all react when unexpected things come our way.

     In October 2008, Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gave a talk titled, "Come What May, and Love It". He talks about how trials and struggles will come, but our attitude is what decides the outcome. "The way we react to adversity can be a major factor in how happy and successful we can be in life." Elder Wirthlin opens his talk by talking about his mother's counsel that he received from her when his sports teams were down. He explains that one day, his football team went home after losing a tough game. Elder Wirthlin was discouraged and poured out his feelings to his loving mother. She listened and reminded him of what she had always taught him and the other children. "She taught her children to trust in themselves and each other, not blame others for their misfortunes, and give their best effort in everything they attempted......Joseph, come what may, and love it." 

     Elder Wirthlin then gives four ways that can help us endure to the end among trials and hardships. They are: Learn to laugh, seek for the eternal, the principle of compensation, and trust in the Father and the Son. Learning to laugh in hard situations can ease the pain or lift the spirits of those around you. Elder Wirthlin talks about when they would take a wrong turn on a road trip, they would laugh instead of groan. Seeking for the eternal means that we learn gospel principles when God gives us trials. Look to Jesus Christ and God, with a good attitude, and learn from them. The principle of compensation is an interesting one. Elder Wirthlin says, "The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude." The last thing is trust the Father and the Son. Heavenly Father knows all about trials, as He gave His only begotten Son as a sacrifice for all mankind. I imagine it was hard seeing him struggle and be persecuted every day of his life. However, he knew the eternal importance of Jesus Christ's trials and sufferings. On the other side, Jesus Christ bore all of those trials like the man he was always destined to be. Never complaining, never looking left or right, but always praying to his Father. They know how you feel, and can be the best source of comfort.

     As for Tyler, he is in the process of all four of these steps. Even though he doesn't show it, I imagine this trial is very hard for him. I know that Tyler can put himself in a mindset to learn the importance of this trial and what he can help others because of it. Maybe the Lord needs him focused on other things right now, or possibly it was just a test of Tyler's faith. Either way, I know there's a purpose. Elder Wirthlin concludes with these thoughts, I know why there must be opposition in all things. Adversity, if handled correctly, can be a blessing in our lives. We can learn to love it."

Here is the url to Elder Wirthlin's talk:
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/come-what-may-and-love-it?lang=eng

My Thoughts About General Conference

     Indeed, this past weekend was a historic general conference. From new temples to new apostles, changes in priesthood meetings, and retiring a very common LDS practice (home and visiting teaching). In the midst of all these changes, we were instructed by the general authorities in numerous ways. I want to give my thoughts about some of the spoken and unspoken teachings that I noticed/felt during the last couple days.

     Walking into the priesthood session, my dad said to me, my brother, and my brother-in-law, "there are two ways that you can learn during this meeting. You can learn from what's spoken, and you can learn from what's unspoken. You can experience one, two, or none of these things, depending on if you don't get distracted." I was able to mentally prepare for these meetings, and I can testify of those words. The Spirit guided me through personal lessons that I needed, and helped me realize some things that I need to change in my life.

     First I want to express some of my thoughts about the solemn assembly, where we had the chance to individually stand as our groups/quorums were called and cast our sustaining vote for President Russell M. Nelson. I felt great joy as I stood in the basement of my in-law's house and raised my hand to the square as I watched the television screen. For me, it felt different than the other sustaining votes in the past. I sustained President Gordon B. Hinckley and President Thomas S. Monson with all my heart and soul, but I don't remember the solemn assemblies that were held. As I stood, I felt a personal responsibility to sustain President Nelson by testifying of him and acting on his words. During priesthood session, President Nelson invited the young men and men to stand individually as quorums as they were called. One by one he called, "deacons, teachers, priests, bishops, elders, high priests, patriarchs, seventies, apostles." Again, I felt joy as my quorum was called and I was able to stand at the prophet's request. We then joined together in singing "Rise Up, oh Men of God." Some of the unspoken words that I was able to learn is that we need to internalize the veracity of this message and act. We need to make sure we're ready to not only confront the world each day, but to spread the gospel as we do it. The Lord's second coming is happening soon, and we need to be apart of preparing the earth for Him.

     Next, I want to look at President Nelson's last couple of talks. He has spoken several times about paying the price for priesthood power, and learning for ourselves how to receive personal revelation. "I fear that too many of our brothers and sisters do not grasp the privileges that could be theirs.Some of our brethren, for example, act like they do not understand what the priesthood is and what it enables them to do." (General Priesthood Session, April, 2018) Also, "In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost." (Sunday Morning Session, April, 2018) It is essential that we learn how to use the Gift of the Holy Ghost that we receive when we are confirmed. President Nelson continues, "The Prophet Joseph Smith set a pattern for us to follow in resolving our questions. Drawn to the promise of James that if we lack wisdom we may ask of God, the boy Joseph took his question directly to Heavenly Father. He sought personal revelation, and his seeking opened this last dispensation. In like manner, what will your seeking open for you? What wisdom do you lack? What do you feel an urgent need to know or understand? Follow the example of the Prophet Joseph. Find a quiet place where you can regularly go. Humble yourself before God. Pour out your heart to your Heavenly Father. Turn to Him for answers and for comfort.......Does God really want to speak to you? Yes!" We must come to our own knowledge and testimony that God really does answer our prayers. Ask yourself, what do I want to know? And go ask God.

     I want to also highlight one of my favorite talks from the last weekend by Elder Massimo de Feo of the seventy. His talk was called, Pure Love: The True Sign of Every True Disciple of Jesus Christ. He says, "True disciples love to serve. They know that serving is an expression of true love and a covenant they made at baptism. Regardless of their callings in the Church or their role in the community, they feel an increasing desire to love and serve the Lord and one another. True disciples love to forgive. They know that the Atonement of the Savior covers all sins and mistakes of each one of us. They know that the price He paid is an "all-inclusive price." Spiritual taxes, fees, commissions, and charges related to sins, mistakes, or wrongdoings are all covered. True disciples are quick to forgive and quick to ask for forgiveness." He also goes on to say that true disciples love to submit themselves to the Lord and true disciples love the Lord more than the world. Again, the unspoken theme of this conference, and the previous sessions, is that we need to personalize this great gospel and be the best disciple of Christ that we can be. We do this by submitting ourselves to God, loving one another, and serving each other will all our heart, might, mind, and strength. Don't let previous sins and mistakes in your life impede you from serving someone today. You are ALWAYS worthy to help your neighbor on the Lord's errand. Remember that serving your fellow man can help you move forward in the repentance process.

     As I mentioned before, we had a lot of changes to church meetings and how we go about ministering. I've already seen and heard many people say something like all these changes are happening solely because of the new presidency. They're saying that a new prophet inspired these changes and that President Nelson is doing a lot in that process. Indeed, he's doing a lot of work in his first couple months. However, I would like to offer a different way to think about the changes. Instead of thinking that the changes came solely from "a new presidency", I think of it as the Lord giving us a chance to sustain President Nelson and he's giving him some fruits so that we may know him. This is the Lord's work, and President Nelson is his mouthpiece to the earth. I know that all of these changes came from God, and our lives will be blessed if we use them to bless the lives of others.

     Overall, this conference has already changed my life. I've set new goals, changed the way I pray and read the scriptures, and I've felt an increase of love for all those around me. As invited to by President Nelson, I'm excited to re-read and re-listen to all these messages in the upcoming months.I know that as you do the same, you can also feel the power of the Holy Ghost work through you and learn how to apply the new changes, receive personal revelation, and have unconditional love for your fellow brothers and sisters.

    Picture from the Deseret News

   

Be Where You Are

At the end of our practice last week, I spoke to my players about the phrase "Be Where You are". At that specific practice, we had some players focused on other things. Mainly it was a new video game that they wanted to play afterwards and it distracted them from our drills. As a result, their conversations affected the warm ups, the drills, their defense, and their attention span while the head coach or I was talking to them. At one point our head coach said, "If another team challenged our team at this video game, I think we'd get more excited for that than we do to play baseball." Before he even finished his sentence he was interrupted by shouts of excitement by the players, proving what he said to be correct. My post practice message was focused on being your best self in whatever situation you are in. "Be Where You Are" means that while you're at practice, you're only thoughts are on practice. 

In the stage of life where I'm at, I've had to confront a lot of situations where I'm dealing with more than one big thing. Examples in my life right now are school/homework, work, family responsibilities, and coaching a baseball team. All of these categories bring a lot of different sub-categories with them. For example, multiple papers or projects to do for school, having a record breaking day at work with sales and I have to make sure everything is still being done correctly, sometimes family responsibilities include driving 30 minutes to Riverton several times a week, or driving to multiple baseball practices a week. A lot of times, this comes at me all in the same week. Also, I haven't even mentioned supporting my wife in the activity she's involved with at the time. 

Now to talk about "Be Where You Are". If we feel overwhelmed with all of the things God is giving us, I believe that it can be one of a few reasons: 1. We don't have enough faith in God (sometimes in general, or sometimes at the time of the events) 2. We are lazy and don't want the responsibility (again, sometimes in general, and sometimes only in the moment) and 3. When we're confronting one thing, we're distracted by everything else we have to get done. Even in the course of the last year, I'm guilty of all 3 of these. At our baseball practice, our players were distracted by what they wanted to do after practice, and their efforts and performance suffered because of it. It's important that we bring back the One Pitch At A Time concept and take things one at a time. 

When you're at work, GO to work and EARN your paycheck. A lazy worker is only stealing money from his/her company, because no work is being done in exchange for money. When you're at school, get off your phone and pay attention. You're paying a lot of money to be there, so why waste it and not learn anything? When you're back at home with your family, be with your family. I remember being excited when my dad came home each day, and it meant a lot to me when he would spend time with us every night. 

If we confront these situations with faith in God and giving our best effort, we are promised several blessings. These blessings are multiplied when we have the mentality of building up the Kingdom of God at all times. "And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord. (Mosiah 24:15) And, "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." (3 Nephi 13: 31-33) 

Always have faith in God, because our life situations come from Him so that we may grow and progress. If you don't understand the purpose of a specific burden, ask Him. 

How To Deal With Failure

Baseball is a game of failure. To be successful, a baseball player must face failure most of the time he's at the plate. In the MLB if you get a hit 3/10 times at the plate, you're an all-star and one of the best hitters in the game. Knowing this, what defines a baseball player is how he reacts to the other 7/10 times. Is he willing to stick to it and keep working hard, or will he roll over and define himself by his mistakes? While on defense, physical errors happen even to the best players. After making an error, the toughest players have the mentality that they're going to make the next play, and they still want the ball hit to them. They don't let an error that happened in the 1st inning effect their play in the 9th inning, or even in the 2nd inning. One of the best things about baseball is that a team can play one of their worst games as a team, but can rebound and play their best game the very next day. This depends on the mental toughness of each individual player.

In a certain sense, we can say that life itself is a game of failure. We set high expectations for ourselves in various aspects of life. It can be weight loss goals, overcoming an addiction, dealing with a divorce or death of a loved one, trying to apply a gospel principle that we have a harder time with, or feeling like we aren't good enough. Even though we are trying our best to be like Christ, we come up short with our sins and shortcomings. I encourage you to read or reread the talk "Be ye therefore perfect, eventually" by Elder Jeffery R. Holland. Here is the url:

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2017/10/be-ye-therefore-perfect-eventually?lang=eng

In the Book of Mormon, the first story we read about is about Lehi and his family as they're commanded to leave their home and wealth in Jerusalem and depart to the wilderness. Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi are all obedient and follow their parents into the wilderness. When we typically think of Laman and Lemuel as rebellious, murmuring sons, they are actually obedient to their father. They could have stayed in Jerusalem and inherited the great wealth and home that was left behind, but they went with their family. The difference between them and their other brothers was their attitude as they were following their father/prophet. They couldn't understand why they were leaving, and not even seeing an angel could open their hard hearts. Nephi and Sam were experiencing the same trials, but they were always looking for ways to learn from God and seek His miracles. We are in a similar situation here in the Latter-Days where God's commandments may conflict with our personal views, or we may not see the importance of following a certain commandment, but it is important that we show faith to God and faith in His path. Nephi was able to bring miracles to his family, (building a ship in the way of the Lord and not of man, eating raw meat that was miraculously blessed with taste and made healthy, seeing the same visions as his father Lehi, retrieving the brass plates from King Laban, etc) and this was because he was always looking to the Lord. Laman and Lemuel did not learn these same lessons because they chose not to turn to the Lord, but instead lean on their own understanding.

President Henry B. Eyring once said, "if you are on the right path, it will always be uphill." While we are on this gospel path, we will experience hardships and trials. Instead of feeling that we are weak or that we aren't good enough, let's remember that God loves us more than we can imagine. Sometimes, we must realize that the consequences that we are experience are a result of personal sin, and some come as a result of personal sins of others, and some come because God is teaching us an eternal principle. When we show that we can endure trials, God will give us more so that we can learn more. Doctrine and Covenants 130:19 says, "And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come."

Pictures from lds.org 

Choose You This Day

     On the Riverton High School baseball team, we talked about what it meant to have a "quality at-bat". There are several ways that a batter can have a quality at-bat. They are: 1. Any kind of hit 2. Get on base (walk, hit by pitch, etc) 3. 6 or more pitches in the at-bat 4. Do a job (sacrifice bunt, squeeze, sacrifice fly, hit and run, move a runner, etc) 5. Hard hit ball. If a team can have all of it's players focused on getting quality at-bats, then their success rate will go up. I have seen far too many players who have a bad attitude about laying down a sacrifice bunt for their team. Instead of doing what's best for the team, they'd rather go up to the plate and be the hero with a big hit. Even though the coach knows that you are capable of getting a hit, sometimes he needs you to lay a bunt down and move the runner up a base. During most my time at Riverton High School, I hit third in the lineup. Despite being in this position in the lineup, I led the team in sacrifice bunts in two separate seasons. We had a good duo of hitters in front of me, and they were often on base when I came up in the first inning. Our coaches knew that I could get a bunt down, so they called on me to do it often. As a result, the fourth hitter behind me got a lot of RBI's. For our team, this meant that we were able to score in the first inning frequently. For me, I had the satisfaction of knowing that I was able to contribute to those runs. Selfish mentalities can plague a team faster than almost anything else. CHOOSE TO BE A TEAM PLAYER.

     In the church there are many callings where members are able to serve in, ranging from worldwide leadership to being in charge of teaching a class of 8 or so kids. Just like on a baseball team, we can choose to be a team player. No calling is more important than another in the service of God. When we magnify our callings, we are showing God that we sustain our church leaders and that we trust that He put us in that specific calling. As Sunday School teachers, it is important to love and pray for each individual member of your class. Help them realize that you love them by showing interest in their extra-curricular activities and attending those events. As a high school baseball player, I specifically remember my young men leaders who came to at least one of my games. I was happy to see them in the stands and I was excited to talk about my games with them on Sundays before class.

     In this comparison, my main focus that I wanted to talk about was using our agency for the betterment of the team. In gospel terms: Use your agency, that God has given you, to turn your life over to God. This doesn't mean that He will make decisions for you, because He trusts us with our agency, but it does mean that we can show our love for Him by keeping His commandments. He wants every single one of His children to return to Him. Make sure that YOU are your strongest convert to God. Trust God, know that He lives, and know that He loves and knows you personally.

Picture taken from lds.org

I, The Lord, Remember Them No More

One of the biggest poisons for a baseball player is getting inside his own head. This happens frequently during games when the player makes an error, when he strikes out, or if he struggles to throw strikes. Being mentally tough in these situations is what separates good players from great ones, because some players allow these emotions to consume them the rest of the game.

In a tournament, we were in need of a late inning rally to keep our hopes alive. As our team was watching the pitcher warm up and getting their timing right, I walked up to our lead-off hitter for that inning. I asked him, "you gonna get on base for us right now?" His reply surprised me, "I don't know." I asked him why he wasn't sure if he would get on base and he said, "because I'm not doing so well this game. I couldn't throw very many strikes when I was pitching." I tried to tell him to forget about that, because all we needed was a good at-bat from him in that moment. Long story short, that player didn't make solid contact in his at-bat and recorded the first out of the inning. This player was so enveloped in something in the past, that it impeded him from moving forward. In baseball, one big hit can break a slump for a certain player, but he has to have the mental tenacity to fight through the slump.

I see this happen in our day to day lives, where something in our past impedes us from moving forward. Sometimes it's sin, sometimes it's grief, or needing to forgive someone (including ourselves). An important scripture to remember is Doctrine and Covenants 58:42, "Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more." When we repent of past sins, we are accepting the Savior's invitation of coming unto him. Alma the Younger had a strong testimony about this concept, saying "Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death. And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more." Likewise, we are coming unto the Savior by forgiving somebody else of a wrongdoing. The answer to life's most difficult questions is simply to accept the loving arms of Jesus Christ.

The Lord needs us NOW. In the Latter-Days, we are making one final missionary push to spread this great message to the whole earth. One of the biggest things that will slow the work down is when we let something in the past hold us back, and we feel that we aren't worthy to do his work. Don't let Satan get in your head, but instead get in his. It bothers him when the weakest of the saints kneels down in mighty prayer. Come unto Christ, and let Him show you the way.

Bear With Patience Thine Afflictions

     As I've mentioned before, I'm an assistant coach for the 14U Corner Canyon Chargers. On Friday afternoons, the boys go to a strength and agility training session. On Friday nights, we practice inside an old Sports Authority store from 9:00-11:30pm. Needless to say, the boys are pretty tired by the time we start our late practice. During our Friday night practices, our pitchers and catchers rotate through bullpen sessions while the rest of the team does defensive drills. After that, we go through short hitting stations to finish the night. One practice, it was obvious that all of our players were exhausted. They were walking instead of jogging to each new station and their swings didn't look the same. There was about 10 minutes left in practice and I encouraged each player to finish strong. Before beginning my soft toss station I reminded each player, "I know you're tired, but this is when you get better. Give me your 5 best swings right now." As I observed each player's final swings, it taught me a lot about their grit, will to work hard, and mental tenacity. The formula to success always consists of hard work, even when we are tired or struggling. Not coincidentally, the same players who finished practice strong that night were the same players who had big hits in big moments in our tournament in Las Vegas.

     Some days are more tiring than others. Sometimes we will wonder why things are happening to us, even though we've tried so hard to be good. In the book of Ether, the Brother of Jared and his family are commanded to build barges to float to the promised land. The Brother of Jared had already shown great faith while preparing the barges, to the point where he conversed with the Lord face to face. When the barges were finally prepared, they got inside and trusted the Lord to guide them where they needed to go. Ether 6:5 reads, "And it came to pass that the Lord God caused that there should be a furious wind blow upon the face of the waters, towards the promised land; and thus they were tossed upon the waves of the sea before the wind." In order to get to the promised land, the faithful servants of God were blown by a furious wind and were tossed around in the water. Later in verse 11 it reads, "And thus they were driven forth, three hundred and forty and four days upon the water." Needless to say, this was a trying experience for the Brother of Jared and his family. My favorite part about this story is when they finally arrive to the promised land. In the very next verse (12) it reads, "And they did land upon the shore of the promised land. And when they had set their feet upon the shores of the promised land they bowed themselves down upon the face of the land, and did humble themselves before the Lord, and did shed tears of joy before the Lord, because of the multitude of his tender mercies over them." I can't imagine being on the waters for almost a year, but these people turned around and thanked God as soon as they arrived to the promised land. They may have been tempted to murmur along the way saying something like, why can't we just smoothly ride to the promised land? Or, we've already worked so hard and endured a lot, why can't there be a more comfortable method of transportation? Despite their trials, they were diligent and they thanked the Lord as soon as the arrived.

     Probably the most difficult thing to overcome during trials is the temptation to turn inwards and murmur in our hearts. It's eminent that trials will come, but it's up to us to react positively. In my Utah Valley University Institute class, there was a scripture brought up that I really liked. It's found at 1 Nephi 13: 37. "And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb; and whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be." The next time you are tempted to turn inward and tune out from the world, remember that the greatest joy comes from serving others. The Lord gives us trials as an invitation to remember Him and turn to Him. When we turn to Him in the midst of troubling moments, we will realize that helping others come unto Him is the best way to deal with any situation.

Photo from lds.org

Remember The Worth of Souls is Great in the Sight of God

     Over President's Day weekend, I had the opportunity to travel with my wife and two younger brothers to Las Vegas to play in a baseball tournament. I am a coach on my brother's team, the Corner Canyon Chargers, in the 14U division. We have been working hard for the last couple of months to be prepared for the season to begin. I was interested to see how the boys would do in their first tournament. In pool play, we played teams from Washington and Nevada. It was pretty clear that it was our first tournament of the year. We struggled to make plays and be in the proper position during relays and in-game situations. Despite the struggles, we went 2-2 in pool play and made it out of our pool as a 4 seed in the championship bracket. In the first round, we came out flat again and lost. It was an interesting tournament for us overall, and I'm excited to see how our team grows throughout the year.

     Also during this tournament, I was able to get to know the players. I already know several of them from prior teams, but there are some that I had never met before the last couple of months. I used this tournament as a way to analyze each individual player's strengths and weaknesses, what positions they can play on the field, where to put them in the batting order, etc. More importantly, I was able to gauge the player's ability to be coached, mental tenacity, and their will to win. Seeing those characteristics in a player helps me see them through different eyes. I can see how receptive they are to different types of coaching, and I can see what kind of young men they are on and off the field.

     One of the more memorable stories from this weekend was with a specific player on our team. I hadn't met this young man before a couple months ago, and I have been trying to figure out what to tell him so he can fix his swing. While warming up before our last game in Las Vegas, I was watching him hit and I decided to film a couple swings with my phone and look at it in slow motion. I noticed a very crucial flaw in his swing. When his round of batting practice was over, I pulled him aside to show him. It seemed like it clicked with him. During the latter innings of the game, he had an important at-bat. We needed to put a rally together, and this young man stepped to the plate with a chance for an RBI. He remembered what we had talked about, and he delivered a huge hit for our team.The best part about this at-bat was when he made it to first base with a big smile on his face saying, "I did it!" It was more than baseball for this young man. He had accomplished something that he had been struggling with for awhile, and I was grateful to be a part of this process.

     Just like in baseball, we have "teams" in our church organizations in the form of quorums, groups, classes, wards, stakes, etc. These individual groups aren't one single body, but are full of individuals with very unique personalities. We can't overlook an individual in the group just because they seem different than the others. As leaders/teachers it is our calling to teach the doctrine of the kingdom to our brothers and sisters. If we have been called to teach a Sunday School class, it is our sacred duty given to us by God to nurture and bring up every member of that class. Church leaders often have a huge impact on the life of youth by showing interest in their personal lives. I remember the leaders who came to my baseball games, and to this day I have a great friendship with them. Don't miss your chance to be God's messenger to one of His children.

     My dad once said, "treat other people the way that you depend on Jesus Christ to treat you." I depend on my Savior for everything, and I owe it to Him to spread his gospel to all those around me. "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God." (Doctrine and Covenants 18:10)

In Everything Give Thanks

     "Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks;" D&C 98:1. Probably my most memorable pitching experience is the game against American Fork where the region championship was on the line. I was going up against a pitcher who would eventually be drafted into the MLB, the winner would be the #1 seed in the state tournament, and we were ranked 1 and 2 in the Utah power rankings. Both me and my opponent pitched all 7 innings, and my defense came up clutch with some big plays all throughout the game to give us a 3-2 win. We were excited for the win and we got on the bus to go back to Riverton. When I got home, the first thing I did was go into my bedroom. Still overcome with emotion, I said a prayer of gratitude to my Father in Heaven. The prayer probably lasted 10 minutes, because I had a lot to be grateful for that day. When I concluded my prayer and stood up to leave, I was hit with a realization. I said to myself, "how come this is the first time I have prayed like this after a game?" I had played hundreds, if not thousands, of games throughout my life and it took me until the region championship game of my senior year to get on my knees like I did. It wasn't that I wasn't ever grateful for my experiences that I had, but I never knelt down after a game and thanked my Heavenly Father.

     On my mission in Mexico City, I felt that my prayers were at their strongest. I felt a strong connection with God not only as I knelt down, but also as I went about my day. As I got home I felt my prayers starting to be more repetitive and less meaningful. As a missionary, there was always something new going on and we always had things to pray about. As a regular church member, sometimes our days are repetitive between work/school schedules and it's hard to think of new things to talk about with God. One thing that has helped me in this situation is to say a different kind of prayer. Instead of kneeling down and struggling to think of things to say, I kneel down with the intent of not asking for anything. Instead, I give thanks for every little thing I can think of in my life. In the spirit of gratitude, the Holy Ghost will accompany you and help you make your prayers more meaningful. Even if it takes 15 minutes, I know that simple prayers of gratitude will help increase your capacity to pray.

     In the scriptures, we read about several experiences where disciples of Christ receive great visions or revelations. In these instances it also is mentioned that those people were in fervent prayer, or that had spent a lot of time pondering over the goodness of Christ. Here are a few examples: talking about his father, Lehi, Nephi said, "Wherefore it came to pass that my father, Lehi, as he went forth prayed unto the Lord, yea, even with all his heart, in behalf of his people. And it came to pass as he prayed unto the Lord, there came a pillar of fire and dwelt upon a rock before him; and he saw and heard much; and because of the things which he saw and heard he did quake and tremble exceedingly." (1 Nephi 1:5-6) Enos said, "And I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins.....And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens." Enos then had a conversation with the Lord and he was assured that his sins were forgiven. 

     Prayer can also be the way we help our friends and family members through hard times. I testify that the Lord hears each and every sincere prayer that we say. In the book of Mosiah, we see an example of how fervent prayer was effective for Alma. His son, Alma the Younger, was seeking to destroy the church and persecute it's members. In Mosiah 27:14 it says, "And again, the angel said: Behold, the Lord hath heard the prayers of his people, and also the prayers of his servant, Alma, who is thy father; for he has prayed with much faith concerning thee that thou mightest be brought to the knowledge of the truth; therefore, for this purpose have I come to convince thee of the power and authority of God, that the prayers of his servants might be answered according to their faith." 

     Prayer can be the way we develop and strengthen our relationship with God, but only if we diligently seek him. When we find ourselves struggling to have sincere prayers, we can start by simply thanking God for everything we have. Another way that I have found effective is to ask that the spirit can accompany us in the prayer, and wait for a little bit until I feel the spirit present. It never takes long. Our Heavenly Father is anxious to hear from and answer his children. Let's invite him into our lives each and every day!

Work Wins

"Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence. He that is slothful shall not be counted worthy to stand, and he that learns not his duty and shows himself not approved shall not be counted worthy to stand. Even so. Amen." (Doctrine and Covenants 107:99-100) One common misconception in today's world is that we do not have to do anything for our salvation, because Jesus Christ already paid the price for our sins. While it is very true that Christ suffered for all of us, we are still required to make decisions for ourselves and participate in saving ordinances and covenants. For example, Jesus said "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5) and also "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." (Mark 13:13) The things we do on this earth are eternally important. We recognize that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is for all of us, but we can't willingly go off in sin planning on coming back later. The time to repent is now.

Growing up in baseball, I got away with my size being my advantage during games. I was bigger than mostly everybody else, so I could hit and throw harder. When I got older, the smaller kids started to catch up to me. Even though I was still one of the bigger players, I started getting outplayed by the smaller players. I realized that my size was no longer going to give me the definite advantage over the other teams. I then made a decision that I had to work harder. I began to lift weights, work on cardio, footwork, explosiveness, and mental tenacity.

I want to keep this post a little shorter this week so you can look at the two links below. One is a video from TCU Baseball called "Work Wins". Every time I watch this video, I get excited to go to work. The other link is a conference talk from our new prophet, President Nelson, called "The Price of Priesthood Power." If the link doesn't work by clicking on it, you can copy and paste the URL into your browser. Even if you've seen these before, I highly recommend taking another look!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQzKVKFgRok

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/04/the-price-of-priesthood-power?lang=eng

Don't Take A Pitch Off

My post today is based off of a talk that I gave in Stake Conference in January, 2017. I was given the topic, "How do I stay clean in an unclean world?" It was my first talk given in Stake Conference, and also the first one that I had typed and read at the pulpit. I want to share it with you today.

     "In the 47th chapter of Alma, a wicked man named Amalickiah desires to be king. Through fraud and deceit, he acquires an army and has a plan to be king over all the Lamanites. A large group of men, led by Lehonti, separated themselves from Amalickiah, for they did not want to take up arms and fight for this wicked man. They went to the top of mount Antipas and prepared to defend themselves if necessary. Amalickiah desired to have that group in his army, so he sent some of his men to the top of the mount with a message. They were to tell Lehonti that Amalickiah wanted him to come down the mount and speak with him. Of course, Lehonti said no. Amalickiah sent his men up a second time and third time, but received the same answer. The fourth time, Amalickiah himself went up the mount with some guards, almost to the top. This time, he sent his men up with a different message. They went to Lehonti and said something like, "Come down just a little bit. Bring your guards. He just wants to talk with you. Come down, just a little bit." Lehonti comes down and talks to Amalickia, making a deal to combine armies and put Lehonti first in command, while Amalickiah would be second in command. I imagine that Lehonti was feeling pretty good about himself. He now had a big army, which meant a lot of power. We read that one of Amalickiah's men poisoned Lehonti "by degrees" and Lehonti died. As scripture states, "Now it was custom among the Lamanites, if their chief leader was killed, to appoint the second leader to be their chief leader." Amalickiah then had control of the whole army, and he eventually became king of all the Lamanites. Lehonti was a valiant man, but he made a crucial mistake by coming down the mount to talk to Amalickiah. I would like to apply this story to the topic of this talk which is, "how do I stay clean in an unclean world?"
     Like Lehonti and his men, we too are on a mount. Jesus Christ has raised the bar with standards and commandments, and we are expected to endure to the end as His disciples, defending the Church and giving our testimony of Him. We live a higher law than the rest of the world, and some might call our way of life, "politically incorrect." Keeping the commandments and living righteously keeps us on top of the mount, while the sins of the world bring us down. Lehonti's fatal decision was when he decided to heed Amalickiah's temptation of coming down just a little bit. Lehonti justified that he would be safe with his guards, and it wasn't a big deal. After all, he wasn't that far away from his men, right? How do we make similar mistakes today, and justify our sins? We may convince ourselves that, "it's just one day of not reading the scriptures, I'll just read double tomorrow" or "I don't need the sacrament this week, I'll just go next week." Referring to sins and temptations, John Bytheway once said, "if you don't do it once, you'll never do it twice." Staying clean and worthy of the Spirit is the result of small, righteous decisions that we make each and every day. Once we start justifying our sins, we unknowingly start coming down the mount, a little bit at a time. When Lehonti was poisoned, it was "by degrees." When he died, he had no idea it was happening. Likewise, we find ourselves heading down a steep and slippery slope. Before we know it, we've fallen to the bottom. The key to staying clean is to stand tall on our moral high ground, and NEVER come down. Not even a little bit. Satan will NEVER be on top of the mount, but rather tempting us from a little below. His only goal is to bring us down, so that we may be as miserable as he is. Do not allow him to convince you that it's worth your time to come down the mount. STAY ON TOP. Read your scriptures daily, have a heart to heart talk with your Heavenly Father each day and night, make somebody smile every day, and don't let each other go down the mount. As we strive to stay on top of the mount, we will be protected by the Holy Spirit. We will recognize God's hand in our life. And we will have a better remembrance of the things that we should thank our Father in Heaven for. Brothers and Sisters, the power of the Book of Mormon is imperative in our quest to stay on top. I echo the words of Elder Holland when he said, "I want it absolutely clear when I stand before the judgement bar of God that I declared to the world that the Book of Mormon is true." Paul wrote to the Romans, "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth." I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only true and living church upon the face of the earth. Being able to serve in this church is an eternal blessing. I bear witness that Jesus Christ lives, for this is His church. I know that He is my Lord, my Savior, and my Redeemer. I love Him, and I need Him. I pray that as we remember Him daily, we will be able to stay of top of the mount. Supporting each other into the eternities. If we rely on Him, we CANNOT fall. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

While it's essential to stay on top of the mount, all of us will fall at least several times in our life. It is important to remember that when we fall, Jesus Christ makes it possible for us to return to the top. Jesus Christ himself said, "Behold, He who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more." (Doctrine and Covenants 58:42)

In baseball, we can't take a single pitch off. We can't lose focus, because the ball will be hit to us as soon as we do. We will miss an opportunity to make a big play, and we will be reprimanded for it. It doesn't matter what position we play, even if we are on the bench, we must be 100% focused on the game each pitch. We never know when our moment to shine will come.

In life, don't take a day off! Again, endure to the end OF EACH DAY. Satan is always below us and is tempting us in every way possible. Some of us may fall for his temptations and go all the way down the mount, while others go half way down to meet him. In either scenario, we are equally being fooled by him. His promises are empty, and he only wishes that we may be miserable like he is.

What Matters Most

In July, 2016 I had the opportunity to umpire at the Park City World Series. When I was growing up playing, this tournament was played in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Today they alternate years at Park City and Steamboat Springs. Teams who want to play in this tournament have to qualify by placing 1st or 2nd in a select number of tournaments throughout the year. When I played on the Utah Horns, we placed 2nd in this Steamboat tournament. It was a very memorable experience. In 2016, I was invited to umpire in that tournament by the Triple Crown tournament committee. They paid for my gas and hotel and they treated me very well. In one of the games a team from Nebraska was playing a team from California. It came down to the last inning where California had the tying run on 3rd base and the winning run on 2nd, with 2 outs. The next batter hit a high fly ball to right field and it looked like Nebraska was going to win. The right-fielder drifted back to make the catch, and the ball hit off the tip of his glove and fell to the ground. By the time he got the ball to the infield, the winning run had come across to score. The game ended, and Nebraska jogged off the field. California packed up and left, while Nebraska went to prepare for their 2nd game. I was done umpiring for the day, so I went to pack up my gear and leave for my car. I was about 20 steps away from the field when I had a prompting to turn back and go talk to the kid to who dropped the fly ball. When I went in to their dugout, I saw the kid sitting alone on the bench with his arms folded and his head down. I sat down next to him and started to talk to him. I can't remember exactly what I said to him, but it was along the lines of, "don't get down on yourself, because you're getting ready to play another game right now" and "you're going to make errors in games, some larger than others, but don't let your errors define you as a player." I gave him a fist bump and wished him luck. I left the dugout and his dad stopped me, shook my hand, and said thank you with tears in his eyes. A couple days later, I received a text message from my umpiring supervisor. His text included a picture of me that the Nebraska coach had taken while I was talking to his player. His text also included how the coach of that team saw a different side of his player the rest of the tournament and it also had an impact on the rest of the team, as they started lifting him up as well instead of blaming him for the loss. I was grateful that I obeyed the prompting of going back to the kid and talking to him. I wasn't going back for praises or to be seen, I just wanted to make the kid feel better going forward.

Most of the time, we obey promptings and show little acts of kindness towards others and we don't hear about that person ever again. Satan tries to make us believe that our acts of kindness aren't worth our time because they really don't make a difference anyways. Every now and then, God allows us to know and understand the difference we made. Just because we aren't always given that knowledge doesn't mean that we didn't change somebody's life. If you receive a prompting to help someone, don't hesitate to obey.

President Boyd K. Packer once said, "That sweet, quiet voice of inspiration comes more as a feeling than it does as a sound. Pure intelligence can be spoken into the mind. The Holy Ghost communicates with our spirits through the mind more than through the physical senses. This guidance comes as thoughts, as feelings through promptings and impressions. We may feel the words of spiritual communication more than hear them and see with spiritual rather than with mortal eyes." (Prayer and Promptings, October 2009 General Conference)

Play The Game “One Pitch At A Time”

When I was a sophomore, my Riverton High School team made it to the state playoffs. After losing to Jordan High we were put in the loser's bracket, where the road to the championship game got a lot longer. As we were taking batting practice before going to Utah Valley University to play Lone Peak, Coach Jay Applegate approached me and told me that I would be making my first varsity start. I was overwhelmed with excitement. I called my mom and dad to tell them, and my dad got off of work so he could come watch me. The day before, another sophomore had a chance to pitch by the name of Tanner Draper. He pitched a complete game and got us a win. I wanted to follow his lead and pitch a complete game against Lone Peak. Coach Applegate talked to me again before the game started and gave me this wise council. "Barton, we only need 2-3 innings out of you. Take this one pitch at a time and get us through the first few innings." Being 16 years old, I failed to see the importance of his words. My focus was pitching the complete game. Long story short, I was chased out of the game after giving up 3 runs in 1 1/3 innings. We ended up losing the game and our season ended. If I had heeded Coach Applegate's council, I would have had more success in my first varsity start.

I have started a small business for myself modeled after what Coach Applegate told me that day. It's called, "One Pitch at a Time" and I coach young baseball players. I hold personal pitching and hitting sessions focusing on winning each pitch. If you would like to schedule a pitching or hitting session, you can text me at 801-657-8966 or visit jaredbbarton40.wixsite.com/onepitchatatime and submit your information.

I've learned and understood the importance of taking the game one pitch at a time. If we approach a big game with big expectations, like pitching a complete game in your first varsity start, it can be very overwhelming. I was disappointed with my performance because I wasn't able to overcome the challenges of each inning.

As I've thought about this principle, I've thought about the commandment to "endure to the end." We're taught that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is 1. Faith in Jesus Christ 2. Repentance 3. Baptism by Immersion 4. Confirmation to Receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost (by the laying on of hands) and 5. Endure to the End. Enduring to the end can seem like a daunting task because it seems to make us focus on eternity as a whole. In some cases we may spiritually take days off because we have time to rededicate ourselves later. Instead, I like to think of a one pitch at a time mentality. I like to change it to endure to the end of each day. If we can win each day, we will stay on the straight and narrow path. Spiritually taking a day off is like letting go of the iron rod saying, "I can come back later." Mosiah 5:15 says, "Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good words, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through his wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen." Likewise, Matthew 6:34 reads "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."

The next time you're on the mound, remember to win each individual pitch. If one doesn't go your way, bounce back the very next pitch. If you have a bad morning at work or school, bounce back and make it a good afternoon. We are in control of our happiness and confidence.

Only Step On The Mound When You're Ready To Pitch

Pitchers control the speed of the game. Some pitchers like to speed the game up and step right back on the rubber, while others slow the game down and take their time between each pitch. Depending on the situation, pitchers may have to change their pace in order to change the momentum of the game. If a pitcher finds himself pitching too fast, his control will falter and he's in danger of mentally spiraling out of control. Likewise, a slower pitcher may have to speed things up to keep his defense in the game. Whatever the situation may be, there is a golden rule that every pitcher must abide by. The rule is: Only step on the mound when you're ready to pitch. If you find yourself frustrated about the last pitch in any way, don't rush yourself back to the mound. Even during your best outings, you're going to have a moment where things can potentially get out of control. The key to staying in control is to keep positive thoughts and not let yourself lose control of your emotions. When a pitcher starts pounding his glove and covering his mouth to swear, it should give the opposing team confidence. In Heads-Up Baseball by Ken Ravizza it says, "Designate the mound as a place where only positive, productive thoughts and attitudes are allowed. If you feel negative stuff during the game, get off the mound; don't come back up until you're ready to have a positive focus on this next pitch. It's OK to get upset; you're not a robot. Just recognize when you are upset and get off the mound." You can designate a spot behind the mound to go to when you're frustrated. Here, you can prepare to throw your next pitch and flush out any negative thoughts about the umpire, other team, or yourself.

In this scenario imagine yourself as the pitcher, and Satan as the opposing batter. He is the big cleanup hitter that intimidates all pitchers he faces. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" (1 Peter 5:8) Satan is the best batter you will ever face. He knows your strengths, weakness, what makes you happy, what makes you mad, what makes you sad, and he knows how to make you feel down on yourself. Don't lose heart just because he's hard to beat, because he's far from invincible. Remember that you are the pitcher, and you're in control of the speed of the game; but if you allow it, the batter can control you.

So how can we step onto the mound, or step out into the world each morning, ready to face Satan and his team of demons? Like the pitchers mound, we must have a place where only positive thoughts are allowed. Before leaving the house each morning, it's essential to have a heart-to-heart talk with our Heavenly Father. It can be at the bedside, beside a desk, or in front of a couch. Wherever it is, make it yours to mentally prepare for the day ahead. Although we have natural enmity towards Satan, he still has a way of persuading us to sin. Without the constant power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, Satan will lull us into a spiritual sleep and drag us down. Even though his temptations are enticing, "he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself." (2 Nephi 2:27) It is crucial that we call upon the power of God each morning before we leave each day. Satan is working tirelessly until he will no longer have any influence on us. Just imagine if we all worked as hard to do good as Satan does to persuade us. He would be irrelevant. Until then, mentally prepare yourself each day by kneeling down in earnest prayer, call upon the power of the Atonement of Christ, and be an example of the believers in the latter days.

When Life Throws You a Curve-Ball

As a hitter, the goal is to determine what pitch is being thrown to you and hit it hard. Knowing your count gives you a hint of what's coming. For example, first pitches are usually fastballs, and 1-2 counts are usually off-speed pitches. In any situation, the pitcher has the choice of what to throw and doesn't have to follow the norms. What happens if you're expecting a fastball and he throws you a curve? Hopefully you have prepared for different pitches during batting practice and tee work, but there will always be times where the pitcher will catch you by surprise. Your first expectation should always be fastball, and you have several options when a curve is thrown. You can get fooled and watch it go by for a strike, you can get fooled and have a bad swing, or you can recognize it, wait back, and drive it to the outfield. Your reaction depends on your preparation during the off-season, pregame, and even in the on-deck circle.

In life, we are thrown many "curve-balls" otherwise known as trials. Like in baseball, the curve-balls of life are inevitable. Also, we can choose how we react to them. Trials can be testimony builders, but they can also be testimony breakers. The good thing is that it's our choice how they effect us. We may have a loved one pass away or be diagnosed with a terminal illness, but we can always be happy in the midst of these trials. We believe that trials come because of various reasons. They can come because of sin and consequence, or they can come because of the nature of mortality. Either way, they can have a positive or negative influence on our lives. The great thing is, it's OUR CHOICE.

So how do we prepare for the curve-balls of life? Is it possible to prepare to get fired from your job when you thought things were going so well? Is it possible to be happy when an auto-immune disease takes over your body in a matter of months? How do you bounce back when a surgery isn't successful and you lose an immediate family member? One answer to these questions is found in Alma 7:11-12. "And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." Jesus Christ knows how to succor his people because he has experienced every pain, temptation, sickness, betrayal, etc. In other words, He experienced and conquered every curve-ball that Satan had to throw at Him. No other man has been persecuted as much as He was, and yet He still lived a perfect life. He understands you perfectly, and knows how to comfort you perfectly.

Another way to be prepared for these curve-balls is to set aside time each day for a heart to heart talk with our Father in Heaven. Consistent, sincere prayers will allow you to get to know Him more. Also, we can get to know Jesus Christ through sincere scripture study. I have learned that it's not enough to "just read one chapter everyday." Even though it's a good place to start, I believe that it's much more than that. The biggest problem is the mentality. Instead of thinking "one chapter everyday" let's instead have the thought of getting to know the scriptures better everyday. When the goal is to just read one chapter today, we think about getting it done quickly so we can get back to what we were doing. In doing so, we cut ourselves off from personal revelation that God is anxious to give us. We must dedicate time to Him in prayer and in scripture study so we can conquer and learn from the trials that come from Him.

About Me

My name is Jared Barton and I'm from Riverton, UT. I started playing baseball when I was 7 years old and I eventually played at Riverton High School, where I earned All-State recognition my Jr and Sr years. I served a mission in Mexico City from 2013-2015 and I planned on playing baseball in college. When I returned home, I started training again to go to tryouts at Salt Lake Community College. As tryouts got closer, I had doubts about whether or not I should play baseball or prepare for my girlfriend to get home. After a lot of prayers and a temple session, I decided it was best for me to hang up my cleats and focus on getting ready for marriage. My girlfriend came home and we got married 3 months later. Of course I miss playing baseball, but I couldn't be happier with my situation in life right now My love and passion for baseball is still with me, and I continue that passion by teaching young baseball players how to play the game. 

As a left-handed player, I was limited to playing pitcher, first base, and the outfield. I played all of those growing up, but pitching was my best position. When I wasn't pitching, I played left field or I was the designated hitter. In high school I was a starter in a 3 man rotation, and I made occasional relief or closer appearances. The experiences that I will write about will draw from my time at the plate, in the field, on the mound, and on the bench.

Today, I'm a student at Utah Valley University studying Speech Communication and Political Science. I hope to go into either Education or Law.