This morning I woke up to my very frustrated son, who handed me a big ball of yarn tangled in knots.

“Dad, can you fix this?”  

The yarn had been about 80 feet long, and it was clear my 8-year-old had been working on it with increasing frustration. There were a lot of tight knots.

He got up early to work on a STEM project his grandma had sent in the mail. He hadn’t eaten breakfast yet, and in “hangry” frustration he’d started pulling madly at the loops and ends of the string, until the knots were very tight.

I grogglily rolled out of bed and sat on the sofa working on it for several minutes until my brain was awake enough to talk.

We talked about how the first step was to take a deep breath and remind yourself that we can figure this out. We needed to stop doing what felt instinctive: pulling hard in all directions.

It reminded me of a scene in a children’s book, Maniac Magee, where the boy conquers a legendary knot on a flagpole.

We worked to loosen all the tight knots, pinching 1 or 2 parts and wiggling them loose. We looked for loops that could just pull through (there weren’t many), and then we found the ends of the string and worked to unravel it by one or two passes at a time.

The ball of knots took about 45 minutes to unravel.

We talked about how life has a lot of knots. There are knots inside of us and knots in our relationships with people, and knots in our society. Sometimes we feel like just cutting the string, or throwing the whole ball away. We need to trust that God can help unravel all the knots in our emotions and our problems. It’s hard to be patient, and stop frantically pulling and tugging.  Doing things in our own way may make the problems harder and longer to unravel.

I don’t like knots. But I partly like the feeling of getting one hard loop of a knot looser, and I really like the feeling at the end when the whole string is free.

I realize that I am full of knots. I don’t like the ones inside of me. I have struggled with knots in my marriage, in my parenting, in my job, and we all see many knots in our country.  

Poverty is like a knot. Our bad habits and addictions are knots.

I believe in the power of our Father in Heaven to help unravel our knots. He can help, through the healing power of His Son, Jesus Christ. I have felt it in me and in my family, loosening one loop at a time.

It has been said that God is the Master, not the Magician, of the Universe. (Terryl and Fiona Givens, The God Who Weeps). By that, we mean that God has a full and perfect understanding of the challenges we face. He obeys eternal laws, and does not just cut the string and magically reassemble it. His perfect knowledge and experience allow Him to comprehend and coach us in our complicated challenges. 

He knows some cases where pulling on just one loop would help the entire knot fall apart.  Through His prophets, our Father gives direction that can make life so much clearer and simpler.

He knows that some knots will take time, and He sometimes encourages us to focus on loosening just one particular tight loop so the others can come out later. The whole ball of knots might have to look messier before it gets better. Some loops might have to stay for a while, as we focus on the most important one first.

Knots are God’s work and His opportunity. He wants to show us His love. Our time wrestling with frustration, the feeling that some of our efforts are making it worse, and that we can’t do it on our own, can help us appreciate His help when it comes.

I know our Father in Heaven cares about our knots. He will help us with our knots as we turn to Him.

This year marks 400 years since the ship called the Mayflower sailed to Plymouth carrying the a group of pilgrims. Their journey was remarkable, and their legacy of seeking religious freedom even at great risk helped define Americans for generations.

During the first year after arriving in the new land, about half of the people died.

Several of my ancestors were on the Mayflower.

I am grateful for their legacy, and the opportunity to make my own spiritual journey.

I have a friend who told me he has a gap between two of his teeth that catches food. He has to floss it every day, sometimes after every meal, or it becomes unbearable. And while he’s at it he usually just flosses the rest of his teeth.

He’s got healthier gums than a lot of people because he flosses daily. Flossing can make a big difference in the health of your mouth. Doing it regularly is the key.

I think sometimes God gives us things to help us feel the need to take action, to make changes.

Repentance is the process of changing and improving, relying on the grace of Jesus Christ. Few things will change your life as much as a regular focus on dailiy repentance. Sometimes we don’t feel the need to change. Personal weaknesses or setbacks or persistent problems can become blessings in our lives, if they help us re-engage with the process.

Sometimes if a man is compelled to be humble, he will seek repentance. And sure all those who seek repentance shall find God’s mercy. (Alma 32)

What helps you feel the need floss?

One of my favorite stories about miracles that Jesus Christ performed was the night that He walked on the water of the sea of Gallilee, and He helped Peter to do it also. Jesus was walking to reach His disciples in a boat, and when they saw Him coming they were afraid. He said “Don’t be afraid, it is me.” Peter said, “If it is you Lord, let me come out to meet you.” Jesus said, “Come!”

So long as Peter’s eyes were on Jesus Christ, he too was able to walk on the water! But when for a moment he let fear of the waves and the wind replace his faith, and he began to sink. He cried out, “Master, save me!” Jesus caught his hand and helped him back to the boat.

This story reminds us that with God’s help we can be empowered to do things way beyond our capacity. And that if we let our focus slip, we will immediately begin to sink, but we should trust him to help us. A friend of mine has a reminder on his phone about this event: a picture of Jesus Christ reaching out and the words, “Focus on me, not the storm.”

The coming of Jesus Christ as the son of God and the savior of the world was promised, foretold, and foreshadowed many times before His birth.

Adam and many of the early prophets were commanded by God to offer animal sacrifices as the way to worship Him. Abraham, “the father of the faithful,” was commanded to offer his own son as a sacrifice: a terrifying test of his faith and obedience. At the last moment, God sent his angel to stop the sacrifice and provided a ram. The experience was a parallel of God giving His Son, Jesus Christ. Abraham believed in the resurrection, even that God could raise up Isaac if he had gone through with it. Abraham saw in vision the future day when Christ would come, and was glad.

Abraham’s grandson Jacob blessed Judah to be the leader, until Shiloh (the Messiah) would come. Genesis 49:10 Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob knew that they had been promised the Savior would be born through their lineage: “The shepherd, the stone of Israel.”

Jacob’s beloved son Joseph, was sold by his brothers into slavery, but by faithfulness saved the known world from famine. He was a type of Jesus Christ. After four generations in Egypt, the people of God were brought into bondage. Their prayers for deliverance were heard, and God sent a deliverer: Moses.

Truly Moses was a archetype of Christ: a prince, who was a shepherd, who gave up a kingdom to deliver God’s people from bondage. Moses predicted the coming a prophet that would be like himself, who all people would need to give attention to if they wish to be in good standing with God. (Deut.18:15) Jesus Christ confirmed that He was that prophet.

In Moses’ time the final price or plaque that freed the Israelites from Egypt was the death of the firstborn of every household. The people of God were instructed to sacrifice a lamb, and paint the blood of that lamb over the posts of their door. This was the sign of their belief in God, that protected them from the plague or curse which, in one night, killed all of the firstborn in the land of Egypt. The Jewish holiday of Passover was kept every year to commemorate this event that delivered them from slavery.

When the time came for Jesus Christ to give his life, it was the Passover. He was the lamb without blemish, and not a bone was broken. As John the baptist predicted, He was “the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world.” John 1:29

Jesus was often called “the son of David.” David was a respected king, and Jesus Christ came through his lineage. David was an archetype of Christ in several ways: a shepherd, who delivered Israel from impending bondage to their Philistine enemies. The giant Goliath can be understood to represent the things that threaten us with captivity. Unless one man was brave enough to battle him, all the people would be enslaved. Like David, Jesus Christ figuratively slew the giant and overcame the obstacles to our eternal happiness and freedom, including sin and death.

Many of the Psalms of David are Messianic or predict little details about the life of Jesus Christ. Such as

“Thou are my Son; this day have I begotten thee” (Psalm 2:7)

Thou are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek (110:4)

“The stone which the builders refused is become the head” 118:22

In my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. 69:9

“…the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. My God, my God, Why hast thou forsaken me?” (22:16-18, 1)

Thou has led captivity captive. (68:18)

Many other prophets have foretold bits and pieces of the life and mission of the Messiah. Here’s a link to a good list, and I’ll list a few more of the highlights.

Job said “I know that my Redeemer liveth, and shall stand upon the earth at a latter day.” He also bore his witness of the resurrection.

Micah predicted Christ would be born in Bethlehem.

Zechariah predicted that the savior’s life would be valued at thirty pieces of silver, and said ” I was wounded in the house of my friends.”

The most clear and beautiful prophesies about our savior come from Isaiah, who wrote nearly 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ:

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
“Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end” (Isaiah 9:6-7)

“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: …
He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the price of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4-5

It is significant that this history of the events of the Old Testament has been kept by the Jewish people, who while not believing in Jesus Christ, nonetheless hold a history full of predictions about a coming messiah, and full of prophesies that parallel the life of Jesus Christ.

In our world of increasing disbelief we may be increasingly out of touch with these predictions and parallels. But taken together they form a beautiful tapestry as the backdrop for the life and mission of our savior Jesus Christ.

I am grateful for Him, and the ways He is helping me along. I’m grateful He came to bear our burdens, and pay the price of our peace.

When reflecting on the importance of Jesus Christ, one of the significant promises He gave is that all people will rise from the dead and receive a glorified body.

This fact was disputed by some in his day, and is misunderstood or unknown by many people in ours.

This promise was part of the Plan from the beginning when all people chose to come to this challenging world, and the surety of the promise was affirmed by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

If you are less familiar with this, I invite you to go the scriptures and learn about it. Link

It was known and foretold by Old Testament prophets like Job and Abraham. It was confirmed and clarified by New Testament Apostles like Peter and Paul. At first, Jesus Christ’s disciples struggled to wrap the minds around it before and after His death and Resurrection.

Paul who likened our lives to a grain of wheat, which has to be buried and figuratively die in order to rise again with new life. Likewise the knowledge we gain and the attributes we cultivate in this life are to rise with us in the next life.

This Resurrection will take place in the future, after a period of time living as a spirit in the spirit world. The resurrection is connected with the final Judgement, when all people will be brought back into the presence of our Father in Heaven and or savior Jesus Christ, and there will be an acknowledgment of all we have chosen and become. If we have repented of mistakes and sins, they have been forgiven and covered by our Advocate, Jesus Christ, who paid the price to offer us such a gift. So it will be a glorious joyful day for those who have believed and followed of Jesus Christ.

There remains the wonderful and terribly intense fact that we will all inescapably live again and face the consequences of our choices.

Knowing this can have a great impact on the way we approach life.

I am grateful to know that none are lost to death. I’m grateful to know that none of my life work, (as small as it is) will be lost. And I’m reluctantly grateful to know that I won’t get away with anything; it will all have to be accounted for.

This knowledge is core to what it means to be a Christian, and is central to the comfort Christ gives us. Knowing the endgame can give us His peace, which passes all understanding. It helps us face life knowing the joyful ending has already been won.

I am grateful for the knowledge that all shall rise from the dead.

The title of this blog was the famous motto of Ms. Frizzle from the Magic School Bus. I was a big fan of the idea as a kid! Now as a parent… well, I strugggle.

This month I helped our three kids make sugar cookies. I know that the best way for them to learn was to do as much as they can, but there’s a big part of me that just has a hard time letting the mess happen. The battle was my internal unwillingness. I bit my tongue and encouraged them. Our son was reading the recipe, the girls helped measure out ingredients, and all three of them helped scoop out the 6 cups of flour, and dump each one in the Kitchen Aid mixer.

Ari then enthusiastically cranked the mixer to level 10.

Flour and chunks of egg-mixture errupted accross the kitchen.

That ended the kids helping for awhile! Ok, I didn’t lose my temper, but I got to face just how little my patience and tolerance for mess is. It was humbling.

They did get to help roll out the dough and cut some shapes. In the end the mess was not that hard to clean up.

I still believe that experiencial learning is the best kind! But that doesn’t mean I like it. The experience made me think a lot about how much love is shown by great educators and parents who consistently let kids learn and grow in this way.

Ultimately, our Father in Heaven proposed His great Plan of life to be just like this: to take chances, make mistakes and to get messy. That describes this life perfectly. The side that we don’t think about much as a child is the price of such an education. To have a safe space to make mistakes, and to have the means already prepared to contain and clean up all the messes, to overcome all the mistakes– that is a truly committed educator! Ms Frizzle seemed to do it rather effortlessly, but in real life, it takes serious investment from the grown-up responsible for overseeing the chaos.

I believe that from the foundation of the world, the way was prepared for us to safely come make honest mistakes, get messy, and get cleaned up in the end. And we get to keep the lessons and memories! The way was prepared that we could be healed from all injuries we accumulate, and sometimes inflict on each other. This prepared gift would allow us to learn from our mistakes without being condemned by them.

The gift that financed our experiencial education, is the gift of Jesus Christ. His life and sacrifice make all that learning, and all that tying up loose ends possible. I am not that kind of educator or parent yet, but I rely on Him for the help to clean up my own life and my own messes. I feel His willingness, even happiness, that I get to have my experiences and messes! I feel the irony of my unwillingness to let my kids make their own.

A friend told me recently that he has been praying to want to want to do the right things more. 

He had noticed his desire to do good things was not as strong as he would like it to be, so he was wrestling with God to change, to have more desire to do and be good.

God has “given us a commandment that we must call upon Him, that from Him we may receive according to our desires.” Ether 3:2 

I think it is remarkable and beautiful that God wants to fill our desires. It shows His faith in us and our divine nature and potential as His children, that he believes in us. He believes in our ability to desire good despite the temptations that come through human nature. He believes our eternal spiritual natures will shine through. 

I have felt how much He wants to answer our prayers. He has answered many of my little requests– things that in the grand scheme mattered very little, but matter to me at that time. I have seen him answer the prayers of little children many times.

I think He asks us to bring our desires to Him so that He can fill His desire to bless us and show us how much He loves us. Eternal laws dictate that He is somewhat limited in His ability to bless us until we ask for it, because of His respect for our agency. We have a lot to learn about love, and He has a lot to show us. 

Another reason God gives this commandment to bring our desires to Him, is because it helps us desire and focus on good things. We do not typically bring evil desires to God intentionally, because we understand intrinsically that He is good. So if we are bringing our desires to God, we are searching out our best desires, which helps bring out the best in us.

Sometimes it helps us recognize or faced up to things that might need to be changed. It bring to light the things that we have been unconsciously pursuing, but our deeper self doesn’t really want.

In that case, we can pray, like the father who had faith but needed more: “Lord, I believe! Help Thou my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24) We can say “Father in Heaven, I desire! Help Thou my lack of desire.”

Even if your desire is imperfect, believe in it and believe in Him, and it can grow!

Jesus would say to such a request, “All things are possible to them that believe.”

If you can only “exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for” more desire. Alma 32:27

This process can shape us over time, and we have to be patient with the process.

Jesus said “Blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.”

He said that we cannot serve two masters, and researchers have attested that our motivation center tends to be simple: one motive tends to crowd out other motives. (See Drive by Daniel Pink). So we should watch carefully our motive. Jesus also said what we focus our figurative eyes on tends to fill us with light, or not. His message was that getting our focus and our desires right right and stronger is a first order item to attend to.

Our desires are like setting concrete… eventually they define us and they stick. Ultimately who we become and what we can enjoy we will be shaped by our works, our efforts, and the desires of our hearts.

As I noted in a previous post, a war was waged to preserve our agency. Now it is one of our greatest assets. So let’s use it!

God loves us, and He intends to give us what we really want. I believe that with His help we can grow until our desire to do good and be good is as strong as we would like it to be.

Today as we were walking down the dusty trails of the Garden of the Gods, I picked up my daughter and carried her on my back. I could feel her pockets were full of big rocks: treasures she had picked up along the way. I set her down and explained that this is like a national park, and we should leave the rocks for others to enjoy too.

Lauren promised the kids — we found that they had all been picking up special rocks– that if they would put down all their rocks, we would take them to a souvenier shop and they could choose a rock there.  They somewhat reluctantly agreed and put down their rocks.      Later we went to the trading post, and the kids got to fill a little pouch with shiny polished rocks.   The kids commented that these rocks were a lot cooler than the rocks. 

Later, at dinner, we talked about how sometimes our Heavenly Father asks us to put down something or some habit we really like. When He does this, it is usually in order to give us something better.  We can choose; He won’t force us.  But if we will listen and trust Him we’ll find that He has much better things in store.  

“God is anxiously waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams, just as He always has. But He can’t if you don’t pray, and He can’t if you don’t dream. In short, He can’t if you don’t believe.”                  Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Recently I have felt the importance of requesting of God specifically the things that we feel we need or want. Too often I am too general. I have felt that God hears and LISTENS to our every effort to really communicate with Him. But He ANSWERS according to our faith, and intensity of wanting, our specificity, and His wisdom of what would be best for us. And our specificity in asking.

Asking specifically increases the likelihood of receiving what we are asking for. It also makes it easier to recognize and say thank you for what we receive. Praying specifically for things that others needs (compared to just our own needs) seems to increase God’s willingness to respond. And it can be more fun or more satisfying to help good things happen in other people’s lives, than our own.