Reflection and Conclusion

After finishing my 20th post and looking back at the last semester in Writing 150.  I have really enjoyed this class, and I have learned a lot from it.  I am glad our class only had around 20 students in it, because I feel there are a lot more discussions and group work in smaller classes.  As far as blogging, I wasn't excited to hear we would need to be keeping one.  Because I wasn't excited, I slacked off on blogging for quite a while at the beginning of the semester.  However, since I started posting a little more often, I have realized that blogging can almost be like keeping a journal. (Kind of...)  Although I was not excited to start, I have realized that blogging can be fun, and serve a good purpose.  I am going to try to continue my blog in the future.

My First Paper at BYU (I've come a long way)

No two identical people have ever been born at the exact same time in the exact same place.  We are all different.  From the family we were born into, to the place we were born, no two people have perfectly identical backgrounds.  We are born with different traits and we develop different abilities.  We all have different opportunities.  Thus, a completely uniform human society cannot exist and prosper.  There will always be diversity. All people live different lives also, so how could a society become, and stay, equal?  Government should not intervene to attempt to equalize a society because people are inherently unequal. 

            The very core of inequality in human society is at a time that none of us can control: our birth.  This is the very beginning of human diversity.  We all are born with different genes.  This is the main framework from which all inequality exists.  Government does not need to intervene because we all grow up in different societies with different people.  Any attempt by government to make everyone the same means a loss of rights and liberties to someone.  Across the United States of America, everyone deserves fair and equal treatment by the government.  The government should not favor some people over others because of where they are from, or who their parents are.

            Another reason that society is inherently unequal, and reason for which government does not need to overly involve itself, is opportunities and development.  Opportunities and development are, in essence, simply an extension of the previously mentioned reason.  As we grow up, we all face different choices, make different decisions and have different trials.  Here is a short quote from Moroni, written in his abridgement of the Jaredite record:  “… I give unto men weakness that they may be humble…” (Ether 12:27).  

El Salvador del Mundo

            El sábado 13 de noviembre mi papá y yo fuimos al centro para ver una obra de teatro.  La obra se llama El Salvador del Mundo, y monstra la vida de Jesucristo y su nacimiento y resurrección.  Esta obra se encontraba en el centro de conferencias.  Todo el elenco son hispano, y mucho del multitud fueron hispano también.  Mi papá y yo sentía diferente.  Pensé la obra fue un poco aburrido porque no entendido mucho de los conversaciones.  La obra había mucho música, y me gustó la música, pero no entendido la música también.  Una diferencia grande es los nombres del personas son diferentes en ingles y español.  Por ejemplo, en ingles, Jesucristo es Jesus Christ, y su papá se llama José no se llama Joseph.  Su mamá se llama Mariá, pero en ingles se llama Mary.  Las historias de las obras ingles y español son los mismos.  En la obra, Jesucristo nació en un establo.  Él vivió en Jerusalén, y es asesinado cuando tenía treinta y tres años.  Jesús fue resucitado después de tres días en una tumba donde los soldados lo pusieron.

Finals Week

With finals week right around the corner, I think it's fair to say we all have our fair share of studying to do.  This is especially true for me, because I have a much harder time paying attention in some classes than others.  I feel like my hardest final is going to be my world history class.  Not only do I have to get up early for that class, making it hard to stay awake, but the final is at 7:30 a.m., which isn't exactly the time I want to be focusing on taking a test.  As far as my other classes go, I feel more confident, but I still need to put in a lot of time in order to do well.

Looking Back at Freshman Year

As I look back at freshman year, I realize I have learned quite a bit.  One thing I have learned is how to study better.  In high school and earlier, there wasn't too much need to put in a lot of hours studying.  However, I learned quickly at BYU that more time should be put towards studying, and good notes should be taken for ease of studying.  Another thing I learned is how to manage my time a lot better.  With so much that I need to get done, it's important to set a schedule to prioritize and finish everything you need to do.  Those are just a couple lessons I learned my freshman year.

Why is History Important?

            What is history?  This is an age-old question that has many different interpretations.  Is it purely the study of the past?  Is it only what’s important?  Why do we study history in schools?  What does it matter?  Throughout this paper I will discuss what history means to me.  I will describe how I interpret the word history, and why it is important to us.

            So, let’s begin by first defining history.  Many people might tell you that they believe history is the study of the past.  Some might say it is the records from past civilizations.  One observation I would like to make is we can’t be certain what happened long ago because we weren’t there.  Much of what we study is biased by how we may feel, how the text was written, or some other kind of bias we might have.  It is important to realize that all of us have different views of history.  We all have different ideas about what has happened in the past.  Take the creation myths mentioned in class for example.  All of the civilizations since the beginning of time have had different stories and ideas about how the Earth and mankind were created.  From good Gods and Evil gods to multiple gods to giants and demons!  There are all kind of myths that explain the creation.  The Iroquois, for example, believe that the earth was built on the back of a turtle.  While that may sound ridiculous to us, it is their story- their perspective on the past, and therefore is their history.  If they saw our day, they would probably think our creation myths are crazy too!  This brings me to my definition for history, although perhaps more than one are correct, my definition is this:  History is an appreciation of the past.  It is our perspective of the past.

            This brings us to the next question:  Why is history important? Why is it studies in schools?  What does it matter?  One reason I think the past is studied is so we can gain an appreciation for it.  We can look back at our ancestors and founding fathers and be grateful for their contributions, hard work and dedication to making the world what it is now.  This can be looked at from both a gospel and secular standpoint.  Both the Book of Mormon and our records of secular history provide stories of people who have served to make this world what it is now.  By studying the past, we can show gratitude to the people that lived then.  We can be thankful for what they did for us.

            Another reason why history is important is those that aren’t educated are doomed to repeat it.  I know you hear this phrase all the time, but it’s true!  We learn from our mistakes.  If something didn’t work in the past, chances are it isn’t something we should be doing now.  This idea can be thought about at a worldwide, national or even personal level.  It’s important to realize what works and what doesn’t.  The past can play a very important role in teaching us a lesson or two.

            In conclusion, history can have a lot of different definitions.  In my opinion, the word “history” covers our perception of the past.  It covers our appreciation for our ancestors and the others that have gone before us.  It covers our perspective of what we think happened years ago.  Since we can’t say what for sure the people were feeling, or what they did, it is our biased view ideas and understanding of what we read and see.

Infinite and Eternal Sacrifice

            Jesus Christ, the son of God, came to Earth and lived a perfect life.  He served others and taught his message to all he met.  He lived a perfect life for us.  At the end of his mortal ministry, he gave up himself as a sacrifice for all mankind.  He did all of this so we would have the chance to return and live with him again.  The atonement was the only way that we could ever be cleansed from our sins and have a chance to return again.  His infinite and eternal sacrifice allowed all of us to be saved.

            So, what is meant by an infinite and eternal sacrifice?  Let’s start by dissecting the word “infinite”.  One of Webster’s Dictionary’s definitions of infinite is “subject to no limitation or external determination”.  I feel like this does a great job in defining Christ’s sacrifice.  It was infinite.  His atonement covered every person across the whole Earth, and not only that, it covered everyone throughout the whole universe!  The charity Christ showed by bleeding from every pore and suffering all manner of diseases and infirmities truly shows how much he cares for each of us individually.  He knows each of our pains; he has been where we are at.  He can help us if we are willing to repent.  So, Christ’s atonement was infinite in two ways, it covered the entire universe and covered all manner of disease, pain and infirmities.

            Christ’s infinite sacrifice not only covered all those that live on the Earth.  It covered everyone that would ever live, and had ever lived too!  This is what is meant by the “eternal” part of the sacrifice.  Going back to Webster’s Dictionary, we find that “eternal” is defined as “having infinite duration : EVERLASTING”.  Christ gave up his life for everyone that has ever lived.  From Adam and Eve to our present day, everyone can benefit from the atonement if they are willing to repent and become cleansed from their sins.  Everyone has a chance to return to live with Christ, our older brother.  Nobody that receives a body is doomed to a lesser kingdom.

            I am grateful for Christ’s infinite and eternal sacrifice.  We all should be grateful that He would give up his life so we all have the opportunity to return to him.  None of us are perfect, but through the atonement we can be forgiven for our sins.  He suffered blood from every pore for each of us individually.  We should use the atonement to our benefit and repent so we can return to our Older Brother and Heavenly Father.

            Although Son of God, Christ came to Earth as a mortal being.  His condescension was necessary for the Plan of Salvation to work.  In order for all of us to return to our Heavenly Father, there needed to be a savior to satisfy the demands of justice.  The only way that justice could be met, and mercy given, was if we had a mediator- someone who could pay the price of our sins, so we could be cleansed and perfect again.  Christ, although Son of God, descended below all of us.  His Earthly life was full of service and teachings.  He went about performing miracles simply out of pure charity and love.  He knew his purpose and his part of the plan.  Even with what seemed like everyone against him, he continued preaching his doctrine.  Through trial after trial, he stood for what he knew was right.  He never wavered, he knew his mission. 

            There are many things we can learn from Christ’s life.  He came to Earth and gave service to all.  He loved both his friends and enemies alike.  His charity covered all people.  His role was a vital piece of the Great Plan of Happiness, and he knew it.  He knew his purpose.  We need to humble ourselves and repent of our sins so we can return to him again. 

            I have a testimony that Christ came to Earth and lived a perfect life.  His life was a perfect example of how we should strive to live our lives.  If we all could show charity like Christ did, think of how amazing the world would be!  He gave service to everyone simply out of love.  There’s a lesson we can all learn from.  We need to be kind to everyone, regardless of any bad thoughts we may have about them.  I have a testimony of Christ’s infinite and eternal sacrifice.  He died for everyone across the whole universe that has ever lived.  He bled from every pore and suffered everything that we have ever felt before.  He did it so that we can use the atonement to return to live with him again.  I know that Christ knows each of us individually.  He knows our strengths, our weaknesses, our shortcomings.  He knows how we feel, because he has felt it too.  He may not always be there right when you wish he was- but he is never late.  I know that.  I have been incredibly blessed by the atonement in my life.  I have a lot of room to improve my  life to more fully emulate Christ’s, but I am trying to get better every day.  We all have trials and tribulations, but if we turn to Christ in prayer I know we can be comforted.  I am thankful for the atonement so I can have the chance to see my family again past the grave.  I am thankful that families can be together forever.  I am thankful for the Plan of Salvation and the blessings it provides to everyone.  I am thankful for Christ’s example, that he would come to Earth and suffer for each of us individually.  The atonement is the biggest blessing that we can ever receive.  It is because of Christ’s charity towards all of us that we have such great a gift.  I know that Christ lived and died for us.  I am thankful for my Savior.  I am grateful for his infinite and eternal sacrifice.