29 November 2019

1 November 2019

This morning there was another amazing segment on Latter-day Saints channel. A general officer of the church interviewed a few young women about repentance for their "We will stand" series. One comment about pride impressed me. The content for the Latter-day Saints channel is a mess. It is practically impossible to recall the segments. On the app, I saw that the segment is called "We will stand: repentance." I wanted to quote the young woman's comment, and I am going to have to summarize it. She said that man's pride makes repentance difficult because we feel an entitlement to be who we want to be. The sister explained it much better than my summary. We need to trust God. Give our will to him. This is repentance to change, bringing our lives closer to his. His ways are preventive, stable, wise, omniscient, joyous, communicative, charitable, selfless, and loving. If you want to have the life of Godliness, learn of the restored gospel in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The process of repentance has the following steps: recognize, feel Godly sorrow, confess, forsake, and make restitution. A main point of discussion of the Latter-day Saints Channel segment is that repentance is not the confronting of judgment of God on all mankind. It is a rewarding and uplifting experience, a change of perspective. God embraces more than condemns. If you come to him in prayer, Heavenly Father will express to you what true love is.

Today at work, I reviewed my quality control reports with my project manager, getting good feedback. For an odd reason the third level mullions have been left incomplete. It is probably because management did not provide all the material, not fully understanding that part of the building. I am making instruction for the completion of that location. 

I am falling behind again, but I am publishing. Today is Sunday, and I am writing about last Friday. I realized that Wordpress gives only a few gigabytes of memory for a free website, so I have to catch up quickly.

This evening I got a great haircut. The barber was chill, and she actually listened. I think that her approach was good. She asked me how I wanted my sides done, and I said that I wanted it faded. She then clarified what type of fade. I did not want a hipster abrupt fade. I wanted a longer fade. She knew how to do the top well too. I gave her a thirty percent tip. She is a type of barber that I would want to go back to.

2 November 2019

I was assigned to follow the 6 am endowment session this morning. Since there was only six men in attendance, I did not need to follow. I went to the initiatory. I found that an ordinance worker was a no-show, missing his assignment at the name booth, so it was good that I was there to take his assignment.

I served a couple times in the initiatory, and my performance was off because I am usually told to serve in anointing, but I was asked to serve in the washing and clothing booth. I felt bad about my performance, but I shouldn't.

My service felt more comfortable, since my hand eczema is gone. 

I played Final Fantasy XIV with Trevor in the afternoon. I am a level 5 Pugilist, and he is a level 5 gladiator. We helped each other with our level 5 quests. I had a quest to collect Gil for the guild trainer, and I was running everywhere. Trevor pointed out that they are located on a map, which was useful until the icons disappeared on the map. Trevor had to look up the locations on the Internet. A guy stopped me named Little Minx. He was inviting me to join a free company. He was a level 55 dragoon. He was very helpful and patient. He added me as a friend and gave me a minion. I got a picture of it. 

My evening was distracted. I tried to write in my journal. I asked Josh if we are going to have a movie night. He revealed that he had to work last night, messing up his day. 

Facebook videos messed up my evening. I got a picture to show my new haircut and the pizza that I ate last night. I was trying to go to sleep on time, but the Facebook videos distracted me for 3 hours. I wrote the following caption for my new Facebook profile picture:

"This vegan pizza is a piece of work. There is no cheese on it. It has bell pepper, artichoke, garlic cloves, and broccoli. The baked vegetables without flavor enhancing seasoning like oil or salt on the tomato sauce is not normal, but the bold flavors are very natural. I think that eating this should be like eating a restaurant's food challenge, where they offer it for free if you eat all of it, taking a picture of you to paste on the wall. I bet that most people could not eat this. 

I had this picture taken for a new current picture, showing my new fresh haircut, the best that I ever had. The faded cut is all that I hoped, but no other barber was bold enough to do it. 

The pizza was incredible. I never imagined that a pizza could be used as a detox."

5 November 2019

I have been reading Moroni chapter 7 for the past few days. The emphasis on learning good and bad was impressed on my mind. It seem that knowing good and bad is a lot more hard than the normal average person would expect. The last general conference also had an emphasis on learning good and bad. I believe that it is a sign of the times. Many people are trying to be good without God, but all good things come from God. One cannot be a free agent. If one does not love God, the individual loves Satan or at least sympatizes with his ways most of the time. Man needs to seek the knowledge of good and evil, not letting the evil consume them, but hearken to the goodness of God. Let us not be discouraged, but learn of the nature of God. Seek after a relationship with him and apply his will, and you will find joy.
Eclad visited today. They gave me a lot of quality control work to do. I started my QC walk already. If the Eclad visit consumes the rest of my week, I could complete my weekly report.
The networking that my project manager suggested had a fifty percent success rate. One replied with a product that we could use, but the other did not. It seems that my research was not in vain.

6 November 2019

Today I dug into things. I dug into an article that my older brother wrote, wanting feedback on this evening, and I dug into a quality control item, which seemed to be impossible to resolve yesterday. Eclad wanted me to give a draft of the report responding to the remaining items. He wanted the draft to make sure that I am addressing everything effectively. 

My coworker, Jeff Nyleen, who is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, drove me home today from work. He said that he likes to talk to me because he doesn't have many people to talk to about spiritual things. I told him about the article that my brother wants feedback on. The title asks "Is there evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ?" We spoke about seeking for evidences of spiritual things, and whether they truly help in conversion. The only evidence cited in the Book of Mormon is the testimony of the witnesses who saw and lifted the gold plates. Everything else about the Book of Mormon is learned by the process of faith. Jeff made a point about knowledge making faith void, and I said that I think that faith is better than knowledge because faith is obtained by communication from God through revelation. It is not a mere belief. Knowledge can be forgotten in the mortal mind, but faith and spiritual relations with God abides with man. 

I also spoke to Jeff about what I wrote yesterday how I think that it is weird that people try to be good without God, concluding that they must be with Satan, if they don't love God. He said that if they don't believe in God, they don't believe in Satan. I see good people that don't go around preaching doubt. I have found that if I bring up religion, many people will get defensive, talking about how religion offended them. They may even say that people's faith is unrealistic. How can man be good without God, yet not love Satan? Would all good people embrace God, if they knew the truth? All good things come from God, yet their goodness forsakes God. Can good people forsake God without embracing Satan? How can someone stand on the tightrope? Can one not have a master, or must man chose God or mammon? Scripture does say that God will spit out lukewarm soup. The good man without God will not be forced to be with God in eternity. 

There are many Kingdoms of God. Heavenly Father only abides in one of the three main ones. Jesus Christ can visit the second Kingdom, but he lives in the highest Kingdom. The third Kingdom can be the people who do not want to abide in God's presence. 

When I got home, talking with Trevor, my little brother, I heard his excitement about going into business for social media, editing or something with me, since Thomas wanted me to give feedback to him on his blog post. Trevor mentioned that Jesse Kaupert asked me for blog consulting. He said that we should do a podcast, but I am too busy and kind of forsook podcasts. I considered ideas like this about a month ago, but I was too mentally exhausted this evening to get into it. 

I gave a lot of good feedback to Thomas. Listening to it at first, I could not think of much feedback, but when I dug into it. I found a lot to work on. I said that one sentence needs to be reworded because it doesn't make much sense, and that comment made Thomas laugh because it was a direct quotation from a book.

7 November 2019

I started writing journal entries on my old Android phone because I like handwriting rather that a touchscreen keyboard. Although I have many email addresses, I got a new email address because I email my journal entries to myself. I am trying my.com email. I like the security of it not having a password. Logging in is verified by a personal phone device. One flaw in the email app that I just found out is that it does not automatically save my drafts... This is my fourth attempt to write this entry. 
My conversation with Jeff, when he drove me home, we spoke about knowledge and faith. I said that faith is better than knowledge. Secular knowledge is obtain by physical exercises. Faith is a form of knowledge; however, knowledge is obtained is based on current experience and work. Working knowledge doesn't last years. Maybe months at most.
I caught up on quality control, walking levels 11, 12, & 13 today.
My self-reliance has helped Lucas because his car broke down, requesting money for a car part.
Today we picked up the church keys for Jasmine and Lucas’ baby shower.

8 November 2019

A couple days ago Trevor mentioned doing a podcast, and I looked into recording options. Since he is in Utah, we discussed recording our phone calls. I downloaded a couple popular apps. I have mentioned previous iOS apps are more corporate, requiring expensive subscriptions. I found one free app that is a little finicky. We will see how it works.
At work whenever I thought of starting a Hicken Media Company. My heart burned with the spirit. This podcast will be our first project. We should probably publish weekly. I want to make our work professional, where we could make money.
Getting back into media, I received a prompting from the spirit to check the news after work, but I didn't hearken to it until after couple slightly distracted hours. I finished the weekly quality control report. The internal quality control report will be huge.
Jeff drove me home again.
Currently we are finishing up setting up the baby shower for Jasmine and Lucas, When Lucas arrived, he reminded me that I will stand in the circle during the baby blessing. I have never been invited to join in a baby blessing. A man, checking on the building, said that it looks like a wedding.

11 November 2019

Today was my first day, using the Friended app on a week day. I think that the social network is designed very well. I had to archive the app into a subfolder, turning off notifications, because I knew that would check in on my friends. I checked out if there are other good social networks like Slowly and Friended, downloading Animo, Yubo, and ​ MeWe. Yubo and MeWe doesn't have much going for it. Animo is not intuitively social as Slowly and Friended. I think that the controversial design of the social network, making it on to the LewLater podcast, is evident of its good design. I am making friends of similar interests, and we support each other in our personal efforts.
My bike ride to work was extra miserable this morning because my back wheel felt like it had a tack in it. It probably did because it is flat now.
I completed my internal quality control report today. It is 81 pages long. I hope that the foreman are using it.
During a Multnomah Village fair, I met the River West Village charity. It took months to get trained, but I did it tonight. The values of the charity define the work, which I think, is an effective use of values. The charity's goal is to help senior people help live in their homes as long as possible by helping with simple requests.

29 November 2019

I have been very busy the past few weeks. The last time that I wrote in my journal is November 11th. My little brother and I started a podcast, and he described me as a very straight forward person. He also said that I like to explore and dabble in random things. 

My recent dabble that I concluded on Wednesday was social networking. I was inspired to join the social network "Friended" because LewLater introduced it. I had high regard for the design of the social network until people started asking me for money. Some people were very closed and some people were open. People often said that it takes a time to open up to people. I said to one person that working with closed people is exhausting.

Today is the day after Thanksgiving. I joined a charity called River West Village. I believe that I wrote about the charity already. The goal is to help senior people live in their homes as long as possible by performing requests. I did my first request today. A lady wanted help pulling flowers, which would die in the winter. She actually did a good amount of work with me. After pulling out the flowers out of the pots, I cut back her Iris bed while she finished raking the leaves. The Iris bed was a good amount of work. I cut it down to the roots it was interesting to see how thick they were.

In the afternoon, I played Pokémon with Trevor. I caught my first Dynamax Pokémon. I have a team of turtle, frog, and baby Pokémon. Turtles and frogs were my favorite animals. They are my preference over baby Pokémon. I had a team of baby Pokémon when I played Moon version. I liked the challenge. It was a little annoying to stop them evolving after each level, but it was very fun.

I was able to help people on Friended. One person wanted help designing a t-shirt logo. The girl said that she would get the shirt made for a good friend, who would feel support mentally by the gift. I made an image that she asked me to do, sending her the digital file at the end of lunch. She did order the shirt, and I helped her find printing opportunities.

Another guy was stressing out because he did not handle an opportunity well, losing it. He let me talk him through it. I don't know if my help helped him in the long-term, but I comforted him.

The Refugee Fundraiser Campaign Explained

On my Facebook page the 'Single Adults' Blogs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints', I typically reply to inquiries. "Hi, How can I help you?" A man named Javad Afzali asked, if the church is in Canada.

I said "Yes. That country was the one of the first that we expanded into."

Confusion came when he mention that he is in Turkey. Why is he asking about the church in Canada, if he is in Turkey? Sending him a map of the church buildings in Turkey, I was informed that he was in a refugee camp four hours away from Ankara. Javad said that he has no rights, since he is not a citizen of Turkey, having to receive special permission from law enforcement to leave the camp.

Javad Afzali is a refugee because he is an Iranian, who converted to Christianity, and he asked me to donate to Dariush and Marya Worship Ministry. I did not call the number that he gave me because I wanted avoid the possibility that the number would direct me to some scam person. Visiting their website, I found their email address to ask if they have any connection with a refugee in Turkey. Although I did not name Javad in my email, Dariush responded, expounding his situation more than I initially understood.

Javad is seeking asylum in Canada for his family of three, including his wife and his son. He sent me a picture of his son, who suffers from favism and seizures. He also sent me pictures of some of his documentation. Dariush revealed that Javad needs 7,000 US dollars for each member of his family to support them for a year of asylum, totaling 21,000 US dollars. Dariush and Marya Worship Ministry is doing a fundraiser event for the family on December 7, 2019.

Dariush and Marya Worship Ministry is an Iranian Christian Church in Los Angeles, California.One of the ministry focus is translating Christian songs from English to Farsi. Their recorded music is impressive to listen to. I highly recommend looking them up on YouTube. They are dedicating a 45 minute performance to the Afzali family on December 7, 2019 7 pm at the One Church LA - Feiz.

I will donate; however, I want a more reputable way to transfer money than to mail a check. Dariush made a GoFundMe because they have the charity status to make a Free campaign. My birthday is on December 4th, and I hope that you would donate to support the Afzali family with their asylum to Canada and gain some liberty and rights.

Feast on the Book of Mormon

D&C 132:22 For strait is the gate, and narrow the way that leadeth unto the exaltation and continuation of the lives, and few there be that find it, because ye receive me not in the world neither do ye know me. 

23 But if ye receive me in the world, then shall ye know me, and shall receive your exaltation; that where I am ye shall be also. 

24 This is eternal lives—to know the only wise and true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent. I am he. Receive ye, therefore, my law. 

25 Broad is the gate, and wide the way that leadeth to the deaths; and many there are that go in thereat, because they receive me not, neither do they abide in my law.

Only wise God 

Satan is no wise.

Path to lives Path to deaths

Why is the path strait & narrow? The path is designed by God. a path to perfection covenant path

Lamp to your feet A light to your path

Integrity knows their standards. Life is uncertain without integrity, Integrity always has lives their standards.

Cultivating does not yield fruit in a day. Cultivating the gift of the Holy Ghost require consistent effort.

The spirit of prophesy was given to Oliver Cowdery & Joseph Smith, when they were baptized, speaking in prophesy.

Pray before physical & spiritual meals.

Practice, record principles learned

shape the style of study to fit you.

Where would I be without the Book of Mormon?

No worldly wealth is worth more than knowledge of Christ obtained by sincerely studying the Book of Mormon.

The world would be rotten without the Book of Mormon. I would be rotten without the Book of Mormon.

What would you not know without the Book of Mormon? No one would know the true nature of God without the Book of Mormon. The true nature of God was revealed by the restoration, and many Christian religions are taking it for granted. The Plan of Salvation is lost without the Book of Mormon. The atonement of Jesus Christ is expounded more than any book.

Alma 22:14 And since man had fallen he could not merit anything of himself; but the sufferings and death of Christ atone for their sins, through faith and repentance, and so forth; and that he breaketh the bands of death, that the grave shall have no victory, and that the sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of glory;

1 Nephi 19:9 And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men.

When I think of the Book of Mormon, I think of the word power. The truths of the Book of Mormon have the power to heal, comfort, restore, succor, strengthen, console, and cheer our souls.

Idolatry, Tolerance, & Love

You become what you worship.

Anything that you prioritize before God is your idol.

Technology

Addiction

Yourself

Celebrities

Video Games

Family

Sports

Money

Prestige

Movies

YouTube

Pokemon

carnality

Addictions are never ending. More and more. Deeper and deeper. 

Addictions are self-centered.

Depression

Things as they really are. - David Bednar

Face God first.

Obedience brings freedom.

God has complete self-mastery.

Commandments are the path to God's life.

It is dehumanizing to live carnally.

Obedience to the Law of Chasity requires a higher self-esteem.

Power of force or influence.

Love of God enhances work.

Seek meaningful service.

Commandments gives power.

Obedience directs influence for good.

Good desires will increase obedience.

more commandments which inspired him.

Pray for service oppornities.

-------------------

Tolerance & Love

Tolerance is not the same as tolerant.

Love the person hate the sin.

2 Nephi 9:49 Behold, my soul abhorreth sin, and my heart delighteth in righteousness; and I will praise the holy name of my God.

Abhorrence - disgust/hate

Sin destroys people

Boundary lines without war lines

Each person has beliefs and assumptions that brings each other to a conclusion. One should not judge and reject because people think differently.

Textcast: Moving away from Google (also Huawei, Phone Companies dying, and Fuchsia OS.)

Alex: Hi Trevor, You may not believe it, but I want to delete my Google account. I bought a iPhone SE last night. I have the following things against Google:

- YouTube is too addicting with their personalized home page. 

- Google's search is personalized too, making the result biased.

- Google's ad service is makes my phone a personal mall, seeking to sale me anything according to advertisers desires, if it matches my profile.

- Google does not respect the privacy of my email, using it to their advantage; keep in mind, the many other things that they track such as: search, browsing, having questionnaires, and more.

I want to become free from this culture. Like I freed myself cares of movie, music, & celebrity industry. I want to free myself from YouTube & Google.

Trevor: Okay

Alex: This iPhone will enable me to get my old 0611 phone number back. hopefully going to Xfinity mobile, having free calling & texting. You think so? Transitioning away from T-mobile to have one less bill. They only charge for data.

Trevor: Yeah if Xfinity can work for you.

Alex: What do you think of my reasoning against Google? Are they fair & accurate? I may want to get into Linux too. Didn't you say that you like the SE?

Trevor: The SE is a nice size but now it could be getting outdated for system updates.

Alex: What do you think of my reasoning against Google? Are they fair & accurate?

Trevor: I could see that. For me I use YouTube because I usually I keep up to date with tech, and entertain me on my work commute. Personally I like targeted ads because its for me better than random ads that don't apply to me. You can always delete any info Google has on you in your data. You can always use YouTube without logging in if you don't like personalization.

Alex: I may use YouTube without logging it, but it is definitely less attractive without logging in, which I am happy about.

Trevor: Linux is fun. I just don't have time for it

Alex: Is messenger private yet?

Trevor: Messenger from Facebook? Facebook is worse than Google in Privacy.

Alex: Yes. I may want to get away from Microsoft.

Trevor: Linux just has some compatibility problems if you need it for specific programs.

Alex: It is easier to get away from Facebook. You don't need a Facebook account to access Android. Facebook's advertising is not universal.

Trevor: That's true. You can opt out of targeted ads on Facebook. Android without Google is crippled. You can still use it but the versatility is severely dulled

Alex: I am not worried as much about Facebook. I barely use it; plus, they are trying to be more private.

Trevor: You would need to download things through APKs

Alex: Have you been following the Hauwei news? Their cellphone division was basically destroyed; 10 billion dollar market share. Trevor: Yeah because Trump is using Huawei as a asset in the China-USA trade war. It's not because of Chins is "spying on us" He has no evidence.

Alex: Painfully Honest Tech said evidence was presented on a Thursday a couple weeks ago. 

Trevor: On FPT Prosser cited a video in which Trump said he would consider letting Huawei work with the US if Chins would agree

Alex: Trump has no tact. Trade deal conversation makes it obvious, but it is on snippet of the entire conversation. Huawei would have been blacklisted a long time ago, if our politics had not become so liberal.

Trevor: Trump is a businessman not a political leader.

Alex: Huawei is China's main tech company; heavily part of their communist efforts.

Trevor: He hasn't been informing the consumers anything and isn't telling us the real reason Huawei has been banned with any US businesses.

Alex: Trump has no tact.

Trevor: Hopefully China can make a deal

Alex: I hope that the ban is not lifted with the trade deal; then, Trump would not be a businessman.

Trevor: Well it would suck to see Huawei and competition die. They're the only company to compete with Samsung and Apple

Alex: Competition would surely not die, but be as the Gods, knowing good and evil.

Trevor: Hahaha. Huawei would die without Android; thus, would leave Samsung and Apple yet again

Alex: Huawei is not a phone company.

Trevor: They say they have factories for in house chips and a OS they are working on it but I doubt it would give fruit

Alex: They existed before Android.

Trevor: Globally they are, Which is what matters

Alex: Smartphone companies have died before. Motorola.

Trevor: Competition encourages innovation and lower prices and variety. As a consumer I don't want just Samsung. Motorola is not dead.

Alex: It was huge.

Trevor: It's still around. They sell it in Best Buy

Alex: HTC

Trevor: HTC has unfortunately reduced to a Block-chain smartphone company. I think Google has HTC for some things

Alex: Samsung tried to kill them, but Google saved them.

Trevor: Yeah. Anyways Huawei was on the way to becoming a force to reckon with. A leader in smartphones Since this announcement it's very uncertain their future

Alex: China is like one gigantic company. Their business tactics are not fair.

Trevor: Huawei will still sell in the China

Alex: Yep.

Trevor: But they'll be just like the apple of China.

Alex: Oh yeah. That's an interesting thought. It might make them more profitable. Probably not. Chinese software sucks.

Trevor: I think Apple is endangered of being banned in China which could stifle their expansion and growth.

Alex: Taking business away from China would strength other international business ties, and increase our self-reliance.

Trevor: Maybe but we want good relationships with China being they make everything. haha I don't want high tariffs passed to me

Alex: Doesn't Apple have factories in India?

Trevor: I think so

Alex: Apple should be fine without China. People may buy more of Apple, if it were not made in China. Communism is evil.

Trevor: we have factories inland but Apple needs growth to not stagnate

Alex: Apple is diversifying.

Trevor: They're going towards services

Alex: Harvesting more wool from their sheep

Trevor: They need to saturate their sheep with endless bills

Alex: haha. I think the cell phone industry competition is dying anyways. It is stagnating. The ban will make new movement.

Trevor: I want Google to succeed and grow in the smartphone industry which they have started to show with their Pixel 3a. They have the potential.

Alex: What cellphones would the global market purchase without Huawei? Samsung?

Trevor: Samsung, Xiaomi could expand, except their Ex Googler leader have left them now. LG sucks they haven't done well in recent years. OnePlus will grow.

Alex: Sony's cell phones have died too. Who is OnePlus with?

Trevor: Except if Trump starts to ban more Chinese industries. Google needs more budget options to continue forth. Their last Q the Pixel 3 sold poorly.

Alex: Pixel 4 is almost more mainstream, but cell phone designs are more distinguished this year. It is not unique.

Trevor: It's a Samsung look alike, but it should have a 90hz screen like the OnePlus 7 Pro

Alex: I expect that the punch hole will not be like the notch. Samsung is not a company to copy this round.

Trevor: The punch hole is pleasing to the eye is more discreet. I don't think Google will risk with a popup camera.

Alex: I don't see punch hole city being built quickly. Notch City is huge.

Trevor: It's only Samsung who does it so you'll need to purchase panels from them. Maybe China has copied them already. Who do you think will rise internationally?

Alex: Internationality should not be dominated by China. China should not be its face.

Trevor: South Korea?

Alex: Them too.

Trevor: Apple? Google?

Alex: South Korea is a little Communist because Samsung and other companies are funded by their government.

Trevor: Is LG?

Alex: Apple & Google are not countries.

Trevor: 5555. They might as well be. They have more power than most countries.

Alex:

Trevor: Tariffs 😞 Do you think Trump will get any trade deals?

Alex: I don't know if this statement is true. "South Korea is a little Communist because Samsung and other companies are funded by their government." I heard it from a HTC person.

Trevor: I don't know either. I mean Obama's funded some car companies don't mean we are Communist.

Alex: Someone who worked there. He said Samsung was dominating Taiwan because it was helped by the government.

Trevor: Yeah I have no clue

Alex: Maybe it is a socialist practice

Trevor: Yeah socialist is more probable

Alex: Socialism leads to Communism.

Trevor: Yeah. Obama's idea of Federal funded health care was socialist

Alex: Yep. Samsung killed HTC. It's on its deathbed. https://www.statista.com/statistics/271496/global-market-share-held-by-smartphone-vendors-since-4th-quarter-2009/

Trevor: HTC didn't innovate after some higher-ups left; even though, their slogan was quiet brilliant. OnePlus is probably categorized as Oppo, since they're under them.

Alex: Sony died in 2012.

Trevor: Nokia died in 2011.

Alex: HTC died then too.

Trevor: Yeah that's when some of the leading designers left

Alex: Before 2011 was the hay day.

Trevor: Scott Scroyle went on to form Next bit which was bought by Razer and since he has moved on. I remember 2010 was a year of phones before I left on my mission. He left in 2014 i guess. Blackberry is still popular in some part of Canada/US. They died in 2010. RIM-BB. Samsung really sold the most Q4 2018

Alex: How do you think we will transition to Fuchsia OS? 

Trevor: Probably in a couple years. It will probably first be on Pixelbooks and Smart-home devices

Alex: hm

Trevor: Phones I think will be adopting it later since Android is so predominant https://9to5google.com/2019/05/09/what-is-google-fuchsia/

pocketnow.com/huawei-defends-apple-against-possible-ban

www.androidauthority.com/ungoogled-refurbished-smartphones-986985/

Christ's Parable about Suffering

Studying Matthew chapter 13, I thought that the following parable relates to suffering: 

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. (Matthew 24-30)

Why does the steward not remove opposition? It is because it would destroy the product of his field. His field would be more fruitful if he waits until the harvest to sort out the enemy's seeds in the end.

Characteristics of a Disciple

What is a disciple? a follower of Jesus Christ

• Jesus comes first before friends and family.
• Serve others before yourself.
• Humble & Modest   
• Seek no glory. Glory be to God.   

Why? To get to heaven.   

Obedience: Habits or rituals?

Live the commandments with purpose.   

What are the reasons that you are obedient to each commandment?   

Bonus:

Life is streamed live before the Heavens, and God can only edit it by your repentance & faith.

For we without them cannot be made perfect; neither can they without us be made perfect. (D&C 128)

Institute: Marriage (edited notes)

Marriage   

The marvel is eternity.  Man can be married for time and all eternity.

The congregation called Shakers reject marriage. Parley Pratt was sent to preach to them.

We teach the following about marriage:

Marriage is ordained of God, a partnership with God to raise his children. A student shared that his parents changed their habits of competing ideas, which may have contributed to his troubled nature; however, they united by practicing the following pattern: discuss, decide, & a confirm by revelation and prayer.

Eternal progression is a sole blessing of exaltation. All other glories have a limit to their progress, a damnation of sorts. Earth is created to be full, enlarging the human family.

The Doctrine of Mortal Suffering: Part 4

This talk on suffering by Francine R. Bennion is longer than expected. She questions general assumptions, making the following statement.

"If we believe suffering shouldn’t exist, but it does; or suffering is God’s way of testing and teaching, but what can a wailing infant be proving or learning; or prayer should cure the problem, but it hasn’t—then it is not only the suffering that troubles us but also the great cracks in a universe that should make sense but doesn’t." (A Latter-day Saint Theology of Suffering: Francine R. Bennion)

Is suffering only an aspect of mortality? When I read this, I made the following simple note: Don't ignore consequences. There are consequences to all decisions. Some have good results, and some have bad results. Most people would think enduring negative consequences is suffering. Negative consequences rarely affect one person; even, personal issues affect others. If this is the case, how can existence in Telestial, Terrestrial, or Celestial Kingdoms be absent of suffering? Telestial & Terrestrial Kingdoms are definitely full of imperfect immortal people, and the Celestial Kingdom is full of perfect immortal people; however, some Celestial beings are part of the marriage covenant, enabling them to have children. Will all of the children of God be perfect? No. It is a common Christian belief that one third of all of God's children chose to follow Satan. Spirit children before mortality exercise agency. How much anguish did God suffer at the loss of one third of his children? It must be tremendous. I expect that God feels a lot if not all that we go through by empathy. This empathy and suffering does not destroy all happiness and joy.

The Doctrine of Mortal Suffering: Part 3

Continuing my study of suffering, I have learned that a universal answer to suffering is important because it reflects on our understanding of and relationship with God. Some perceptions of Him that are brought up in the talk are depressing and false. The following are examples:

- Thirty-five years ago, one of my schoolteachers would not take medical help for a lump in her thigh because “God had given it to her.” 
- In Relief Society one Sunday last year, a class member told us we shouldn’t concern ourselves with events in the newspaper because God is planning destruction before the Millennium anyway, and all we should concern ourselves with is our own righteousness and that of our children, and then we’ll be all right. 
- A few years ago, one young woman’s confusion about God and suffering was central to her anguish and paralysis in the face of repeated violence: “I don’t know what it is God’s trying to teach me with my husband’s temper.” (A Latter-day Saint Theology of Suffering: Francine R. Bennion)

God does not delight in our suffering and misery unlike Satan. Heavenly Father desires man to have freedom, stability, peace, and prosperity; teaching them the way to achieve such a life. Man has their agency, and God granted them this gift, which he rarely intervenes. Earth is man's stewardship. Satan seeks to make mortality as miserable as possible, designing destruction. 

People of Diversity are chosen of God.

Last night I started to read the chapters for "Come, follow me," and I realized that one of Christ's original disciples was a Canaanite. 

"In the case of Matt. 10:4 and Mark 3:18, which refer to Simon, one of the Twelve, the word should be Cananean rather than Canaanite; it has reference to his political attachments rather than his lineage or geographical point of origin. Simon is also called a Zelote in Luke 6:15 and Acts 1:13, Zelote probably having reference to the Zealots founded by Judas of Gamala, which sect was called the Cananeans, and who openly opposed the census of Cyrenius. In other instances, Canaanite refers to land of origin or lineage through Canaan, son of Ham, as in Gen. 10:6–19; 12:5–6; and Abr. 1:21." (Bible Dictionary, Canaanite)

Nevermind, Simon's lineage is not of the Cananeans; however, Christ's apostles come from very diverse backgrounds. Jesus Christ ordaining of these people should help them feel embraced. People of many different cultures should feel comfortable in the church of Jesus Christ.

The Year-round Transportation, a Cycling's Advantage over Motorcycling

Last Saturday, I asked a motocyclist coworker about riding in the snow. He explained that bicyclist have an advantage in snow cycling because bicycling is an aerobic exercise; therefore, the body generates heat. Motorcyclists do not generate heat by physical exertion; therefore, they would feel the pain of the freezing climate. Motorcycling doesn't seem to be a year round means of transportation while I have found that it is at least in my residence of Portland, OR. I don't advise cycling on ice.

Looking for 50 GB Free & Affordable Cloud Storage

At work I had thoughts to back up the data of my external hard drive to cloud storage. Looking online, I found that Degoo gives 100 GB for free, but I could not transfer my files through my USB cable to my iPad. Degoo only allows people use their service if they use their app, or pay to use their service; lastly, a computer program is provided, if they invite ten people to use the service. That would be simple, but I did not want to deal with it. 

Apple only allows their users to transfer photos over USB. I think that Apple only allows that because they have an odd scheme. They have a "service," gathering individuals' photos. Apple syncs all the photos among devices. I think that this service is unnecessary. The scheme incentivizes people to pay for Apple cloud storage and phones with higher memory. They also make it difficult to delete individual photos. One practicely has to delete one at a time. Many dumb things like this makes Apple ridiculous. They have many little things that make their ecosystem difficult to get out of. This syncing of photos among Apple devices encourages people to upgrade to a more expensive device and subscribe to cloud storage.

Another cloud storage company that I considered is MEGA. They give additional storage space, if an individual is loyal to other products available. Their offer was satisfying my need, but a footnote soured it. The additional storage was a limited time offer, which is 180 days. 

I was looking for 50 GB, and I have been using OneDrive for sometime. Checking out Microsoft's offer, I found exactly what I was looking for, but their service cost 2 dollars a month.

This slowed down my day a lot, but I know that my data and files will be safe.

The Doctrine of Mortal Suffering: Part 2

7 March 2019

Today I studied more about suffering. Francine R. Bennion, the professor, taught that a quality of theology and religion is that it needs to answer questions universally. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-days Saints still doesn't have an official doctrinal answer to suffering; although, this speech was given one hundred years ago.

"There is no single theology of suffering in our church, one framework uniform in all respects in the minds of all leaders and all other members. Though we may share the same scripture, the same revelation, prophets, and belief that God and Christ are real, we have various frameworks for putting them together and for seeing suffering, either our own or someone else’s. One person thinks God sends suffering to teach us or to test us. Another thinks God or Satan can affect only our response to the suffering, and some think it is Satan who is causing the suffering. Others think there should be no suffering at all if we are righteous and certainly no misunderstanding at all about why it is happening. These are only a few of the varieties of LDS belief about the origins of suffering, and however contradictory they be, each can be supported by fragments of scripture."

I have not finished reading the talk, but the quote above offers some answers.

I will expound on these thoughts below.

"One person thinks God sends suffering to teach us or to test us."

Mortal life is hard, and the general term suffering can mean very different things for each of us. Difficult experiences vary for everyone. Many people rely on the school of hard knocks, learning from their mistakes. "Therefore, let your hearts be comforted; for all things shall work together for good to them that walk uprightly, and to the sanctification of the church." (Doctrine & Covenants 100:15) Who will walk uprightly before God? Who will trust God despite hardships, remaining faithful? This belief is a generic belief applicable to many mortal situations, but it may not be satisfactory to all.

"Another thinks God or Satan can affect only our response to the suffering, and some think it is Satan who is causing the suffering."

Each person's suffering can bitter or humble man, and both God and Satan will send their spirit to prompt them according to their influences. One may struggle to choose between the opposite enticing. I don't think that this explains suffering.

"Others think there should be no suffering at all if we are righteous and certainly no misunderstanding at all about why it is happening."

This is a utopia type belief, which I believe only exists in the Terrestrial and Celestial stages of the Earth. This belief is not applicable to our current life in the Telestial stage of the Earth.

Your Divine Nature (Institute notes)

Defend your divine nature.   

Does man's divine potential diminish or exalt God?    

God's ability to guide us in his grace & divine assistance to his nature is glorious.   

Man is changeable, yet the world would have you doubt that, thinking that God is flawed like mortal men.   

Christ had to learn how to figure out mortality too.   

Grace is divine assistance. Be anxiously engaged in a good cause. The more influence an individual obtains the more we should seek God's grace to continue to progress.   

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (1 John 3:2-3)

Divine Potential verses

Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?  (John 10:32-34)

Psalms 82:6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.   

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:16-17)

Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.   

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2 Peter 1:3-4)

Temple covenants maximizes man's potential  

Bonus thoughts

Temple ordinances guides us to our Savior.   

How can I do more?   

D&C 124:37-42   

Mountains were temples.   

Reveal ordinances   

sacred place for their administration   

Reveal that which was lost   

The original endowment took all day.   

Bonus thoughts 1

My work is to enable my wife to express her divine nature.   

Deep sweetness. Purity in charity.  

Bonus thoughts 2

unique uses of the 13 articles of faith

• A tool for missionary work
• guide to study the gospel   
• a tool for evaluating testimony   
• a witness of the restoration  

The Doctrine of Mortal Suffering: Part 1

Listening to the Mormon Channel Talk Radio this morning, I was introduced to an inspired woman's speech, which I started reading. The woman is Francine R. Bennion, and she was a professor, addressing the doctrine of mortal suffering. 

I was unable to pin down an edifying insight, so I decided to read it. The document exposes that there are contradiction or opposition in all things even scriptures, citing several. Thinking about it, I see contradiction or opposition in all things may be a doctrine. Prophets say that all things testify of God as an athiest say that all thing testify against God. Man's scientic theories have a lot of  studies backing them, yet it does not testify of God. Lehi speaks of opposition in all things, but what about contradiction in all things? Contradiction does not mean that their are falsehoods in God or science. Science is based on theories; although, the theories are based on evidence. It does not mean that they are completely true. God's gospel is true, yet the Earth is created with opposition and contradiction. 

Man needs to endure opposition in all things to understand happiness, peace, and joy. They cannot be understood; unless, man experiences sadness, dispair, and misery. The radio discussion said that fruits of suffering gives man empathy to understand each other and God, coming close to them. There was more to the podcast, but I don't know what more to write about it. I will most likely write more as I continue my study of the sermon.

God is just.

One scripture impressed me a couple days ago. It is Alma 6:13.

"For the Lord suffereth the righteous to be slain that his justice and judgment may come upon the wicked; therefore ye need not suppose that the righteous are lost because they are slain; but behold, they do enter into the rest of the Lord their God."

The Book of Mormon is so plain, teaching that God does not deny the agency of man to maintain temporal justice. If people make bad choices, it reflects on them. God's justice is not served immediately, and life is not fair in many temporal situations; however, God is just. Be faithful to him, and he will fulfill his promises unto you.

5 March 2019

Today I decided to switch things up. I have been starting to arrive at work late recently. I am starting to do many things late. I am a punctual person, and I am trying to figure out how to go to sleep on time, arrive to work on time, and do everything on time. Doing too much is making me late. I decided to do the dishes in the evening rather than the morning. I may needto give up something. 

The inspector was available to do the ones that I found yesterday. I am learning to engage people more to complete their quality control issues. I printed my list of QC items for Columbia Stone. The coordination of these inspections are a lot of work. I oddly felt very slow in the process. 

One scripture impressed me a couple days ago. It is Alma 6:13.

"For the Lord suffereth the righteous to be slain that his justice and judgment may come upon the wicked; therefore ye need not suppose that the righteous are lost because they are slain; but behold, they do enter into the rest of the Lord their God."

The Book of Mormon is so plain, teaching that God does not deny agency to maintain justice. If people make bad choices, it reflects on them. God's justice is not served immediately, and life is not fair in many temporal situations; however, God is just. Be faithful to him, and he will fulfill his promises unto you.

I drew the mage's pet bear cub, but file got corrupt; therefore, I lost that progress. It is a good thing that I publish it daily, so I can download yesterday's draft. 

This is faith to live by your spiritual knowledge, assurances, and revelation.

I started reading Matthew chapter 8 per the schedule of "Come, follow me." If God were living on Earth, would you ask him to bless one of your loved ones? I think that this would be as natural as prayer. The following story impressed me: 

"And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 
And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 
The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 
When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour." (Matthew 8:5-13)

The centurion knew Christ can heal his servant, and he asked him to do so. The miracle would not have happened, if he had not asked. This is faith to live by your spiritual knowledge, assurances, and revelation. 

I tend to write a lot about this because an accounting teacher taught what faith really is. Faith is so abstract according to the general understanding of society that the teacher's explanation of the true understanding was enlightening. Faith is a principle to live by; not a general belief. We live it by trusting in the word and revelation that God gives man. I trusted that he would provide for me, so I worked at it to let him provide my current life situation including my career and family. That is one example of practicing faith.

4 March 2019

Today I stayed inside, waiting until the climate warmed up. I typically check all of the locations, requiring inspections on Monday, so I worked on the sequence manual. 

Hoffman is auditing my inspection matrix, having me give all of my PSI inspection reports to them to verify how accurate my tracking is.

My operation manager asked me for a count of the remaining mullions to install, and the number was higher than he expected.

On my walk, I was not freezing, but my hands were. I have 11 inspections recorded from the walk to do. Crews can to me with issues to resolve, which were interesting.

I have never been a reader until "Come, follow me." I think that Habitica keeps me pushing my limit of daily achivement too. I read the Book of Mormon in the morning as I shave, do family scripture study as I eat breakfast, study personally from "Come, follow me as I eat lunch, and study "Come, follow me'' for primary as I brush my teeth. Never reading so much, I am packing my days so much that I pair passive activities with active ones. "Come, follow me" encourages the participants to read the chapters before engaging in the guidance of the book, and I finally humbled myself to do so, since my confidence in my reading capabilities has increased.

I started reading Matthew chapter 8 per the schedule of "Come, follow me." If God were living on Earth, would you ask him to bless one of your loved ones? I think that this would be as natural as prayer. The following story impressed me: 

"And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 
And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 
The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 
When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour." (Matthew 8:5-13)

The centurion knew Christ can heal his servant, and he asked him to do so. The miracle would not have happened, if he had not asked. This is faith to live by your spiritual knowledge, assurances, and revelation. 

I tend to write a lot about this because an accounting teacher taught what faith really is. Faith is so abstract according to the general understanding of society that the teacher's explanation of the true understanding was enlightening. Faith is a principle to live by; not a general belief. We live it by trusting in the word and revelation that God gives man. I trusted that he would provide for me, so I worked at it to let him provide my current life situation including my career and family. That is one example of practicing faith.

During my drawing time last night, I fixed her eye.