Honor's Code

   Today I wanted to talk a little bit about honor. Mainly because through all of my years in high school english I still haven't quite figured out how to share its meaning with others. From what the dictionary tells us honor is a verb, a noun, and sometimes an adjective. I found twenty-four definitions for the word, and that still wasn't enough for me to understand. Sometimes to grasp the idea of honor requires a little more work than reading in a book. There's a bit more thought involved--for me at least.



   So, what is honor? Honor is something that composes your character. Its a quality you maintain by the actions you take. Some examples are doing good to your fellowmen and treating others and yourself with respect. Some people receive medals and recognition for honorable deeds done, such as saving a life or donating to charitable causes.However, once someone gets awarded doesn't mean they now have honor and will have it from that point on. They must continue and persisit in doing honorable things.

  



 Elder Robbins of the Quorom of the Seventy defines qualities like honor when he made a comparison between doing and being.

   "Many of us create to do lists to remind us of things we want to accomplish. But people rarely have to be lists. Why? To do’s are activities or events that can be checked off the list when done. To be, however, is never done. You can’t earn checkmarks with to be’s. I can take my wife out for a lovely evening this Friday, which is a to do. But being a good husband is not an event; it needs to be part of my nature—my character, or who I am." I just love that quote!

   There is one last thing that I want to share concerning honor. Honor is something that should be sought after in a celestial sense. "And thus if ye are faithful ye shall be laden with many sheaves, and crowned with honor, and glory, and immortality, and eternal life." (D&C 75:5) Honor is so important in our Heavenly Father's eyes that its even mentioned with immortality and eternal life. So, I hope and pray that you all strive to be honorable in the sight of our Lord. I leave this with you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

  

Multitudes of angels honoring Christ

A Testimony of the Book of the Mormon

   Just recently, this morning actually, I was reading from the Book of Mormon. I had just decided to re-read the Book of Mormon a few weeks ago and I finally started today! I can't count all the times I have read the beginning chapters of the Book of Mormon, but this time it was different. Instead of thinking I had learned everything there was to learn I accepted that I could go through the same thing over and over again and take something new from it every time.
   That's a frame of mind that can go with anything in life. No matter how many times you've done something, read something, heard something, it always has the potential to change you. There's one condition though. You have to be open to change.
   The biggest change that I've had in my life was from reading the Book of Mormon was gaining a testimony of it. I had read from it plenty of times, but it wasn't until I actually read it for myself that I gained that testimony.
   Why is having a testimony of the Book of Mormon the biggest change in my life? Because, like a good friend of mine said "You let your testimony guide your life and that's awesome!" Every choice I take and every decision I make will in someway be guided by my testimony.

  
   My invitation to those who read this is to read the Book of Mormon and gain a personal testimony of it. Let that shape your life and bring you down a road of happiness. I give these words in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

If you don't have your own copy or just want a quick convenient
 way to read the Book of Mormon click on this link
http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm?lang=eng

The Passing of a Friend

Recently one of my childhood friends passed away. I came to find this out on facebook. I don't really know how to express my feelings. It's just hard to imagine that he's gone. This is his obituary. A few paragraphs could never show the great things he accomplished and the great friend he was to me, but it will have to suffice.

Jordan James Kagie 1987-2011

Jordan James Kagie fought the good fight. At 23, he passed away unexpectedly at home early in the morning on March 22 due to complications related to congestive heart failure.

He overcame cancer at the young age of 12 and battled multiple life-long health problems. Though he never complained and all these never held him back. He earned his Eagle Scout and became a member of the Order of the Arrow and worked summers at Tomahawk. He went on to attend SLCC. When his health finally caught up to him in July of 2010, and the news that he had congestive heart failure came after a near death episode, he rallied again. He went on to live life more energetically than ever. He finished his Associates Degree just five months later and was entering the Business Program at Weber State. He had the best reason to become the person he'd been waiting to be and took more joy in looking after himself and surrounding himself with others. He felt better than he ever had, and everyone around him benefitted. He was a standard nerd; as a gamer, a sports fan, a tease, a slight curmudgeon, Jojo was a fantastic addition to our lives. We enjoyed every minute of our stolen time with him these last months, and only regret that he finished his work here in this life so soon.

He is survived by his mother Rebecca Kagie, brother John Ross (Natalie), sister Jessica Kagie and many other family members who will all miss him dearly. He was preceded in death by his father John Clement Kagie. Till we meet again.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, March 28, 2011 at the LDS church at 311 North 800 West in West Bountiful, Ut. Friends may call there that morning from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. A viewing will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Sunday, March 29, 2011 at the Russon Brothers Bountiful Mortuary, 295 North Main.

   It was hard having to read this and know that I had found out three days after his funeral. I couldn't be there to celebrate his life. I knew I would miss him for these two years, but I didn't know it would be longer.
The most important message I want to convey is the great knowledge of eternal life, eternal families, and the Atonement of Christ.
   I know that I will see my dear friend again. I know that he is sealed to his mother and father, brother and sister, for time and all eternity. Most of all, I know that Christ was there for him during his most difficult times and I know that Christ suffered all that he went through to be there for him. I know that because of the Atonement of Christ Jordan's family will be able to feel peace and comfort knowing that he is with his Father in heaven.
   I give this testimony in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen