Inights into a Teenager

Every wonder how you can get into the head of your teenager? Do you want to know what your teenager values most? Just spend a few moments in their bedroom sitting on their bed an look around. What you see is what they are.

Last night I went to check on my two boys to make sure they were asleep and not up late playing or talking. They were asleep. Entering one of their rooms, I had a very poignant experience. His room was surprisingly clean and orderly. But what caught my attention in a new and different way was what he had on his walls and shelves.

I must preface my remarks by saying that my son loves to collect things, as you will shortly see.

Almost alone, on one wall was a painting my older brother, Clark, an artist, had done of Martin Luther King Jr., a symbol to my African-American son of the blessings he enjoys in today's America.

There is a poster of all of the boys scout merit badges. He is very close to getting his eagle scout award.

Almost one full shelf is dedicated to pictures and memorabilia associated with the late prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley. My son loved that prophet. Pinned to the wall is a "testimony" that he wrote about President Hinckley when he died last year. He was the prophet of his youth. Next to these are several small pictures of Jesus in different settings.

Pinned to the wall is what you expect to find in a typical boys bedroom: a poster of a fancy sports cars. He loves sports cars and has a dream to own one some day (he wishes his father would break down and buy one).

On one shelf sits a large caricature of him that he had done recently while on a family vacation in California. He has a fairly high self image.

Scattered throughout the room are various forms of artwork he has done over the years. None are Picasso's, but they are his own work. You will also find scattered a few ribbons, medals and trophies for participation in swimming, wrestling, cross country, soccer, as well as awards for science fair competition.

There are collections of Nutcrackers, mementos from family vacations, books and magazines about government, history, and politics (including a few magazines, articles and calendars about President Obama).

It is obvious he is a Utah fan (probably because I am).

A photo of him and his brother is tucked into the corner of his bulletin board.

Near his door, pinned to the wall, is a school report he did a few years ago about his great grandmother, Virginia Chamberlain. She recently passed away and he misses her.

Want to learn a lot about your teenager? Just spend a few moments in his or her bedroom and soak it all in. As time moves on he will change and so will some of his values, and so will go the room decor...

My Grandma Ginny

Virginia Tanner Chamberlain, was an extraordinary woman, who lived a seemingly ordinary life. Ordinary to most, but not to her family. Widowed at age 44, just a few months before my birth, she finally is reunited with Grandpa Arch.

Though she was a widow for over half of her life she was never lonely. Her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren wrapped their love around her for over 45 years as we visited her each Sunday. These visits became such a ritual and tradition that Sunday evenings seem unfamiliar these days. Few have the privilege to be blessed with a close relationship with a grandmother and great grandmother as we have had. Such a rare blessing.

Yet as I reflect on the flood of memories, I consider the greatest legacy Grandma Ginny left me: family is everything. From family can only true joy and happiness come. She was a happy, witty, and energetic woman, yet her happiness did not come from a spacious home, a nice car, nor exotic vacations - for she had none of these. It all came from family. And the beauty of it is that it cost nothing - to her nor to us. The greatest blessing and satisfaction in life is actual free - it is actual right around us - our family.

So, Grandma, as I seek for true happiness in life, I promise to follow your legacy and seek it in those God has chosen to be my family. I will carry on your legacy and never let the world get in the way of family. I will fight for the blessing to be with parents, children, cousins, aunts, uncles and future grandchildren. Thank you for the joys and memories that I have experienced these past 45 plus years, and for the legacy of family that I will pass on to future generations.

Back in 2002 I wrote a song in honor of Grandma. I now have added a final verse:

Where We Belong

For generations to this home we're drawn

Led by spirits long past

Finding warmth of friendships that last

This place is where we belong

We've worked and played on this blanket of lawn

Explored every inch of the yard

Our imaginations carried us far

In this home where we belong

New faces come, time passes along

But constant is the place

Where families gather and celebrate

At Grandma’s, where we belong

What lures us here to this simple home

Where love and kinship abide?

Her heart speaks the reason why

With Grandma is where we belong

She’s journeyed on, to a place so longed

Where loved ones she now greets

A celebration, joyous and sweet

Grandma’s now, where she belongs

We now long for a heav’nly home

The place where she now abides

Once again we’ll be by her side

With Grandma, where we belong

Once again we’ll be by her side

With Grandma, where we belong

For more pictures of Grandma Ginny see: http://picasaweb.google.com/pachamberlain01

Coming to Know Christ

Coming to know our Savior Jesus Christ is the quest of a lifetime for any Christian. But why and how do I come to know Jesus?

Many places in the scriptures we are commanded to "come unto me", "be ye therefore perfect, even as I am", "What manner of men ought ye to be? Even as I am." The Lord also invites us to take His yoke upon us and "learn of me". He also taught us (paraphrasing) "This is life eternal, to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he has sent". If Jesus is the great Exemplar, then we must know him, understand him, so we can truly follow him. Our quest to be like him is truly a quest for life eternal (his life).

The "why" is therefore, that our exaltation is dependent on knowing the Savior, then emulating him in our lives.

Knowledge can come to us in many forms: studying God's word in the scriptures and from his prophets, revelation of knowledge to our mind through the Holy Spirit, and revelation and confirmation to our hearts of his attributes also through the Holy Spirit as we "experience" life. Certainly, we can and should gain knowledge of the Savior through study and prayer. However, I have reflected on the more impactful and meaningful way of coming to know Jesus: by experience.

Three areas come to mind, all of which are accompanied by the Spirit which leaves with us an unforgettable impression and deep abiding knowledge. The first is obedience to His laws and commandments. John teaches us that: "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine." Abundant blessings in many forms come to us as we demonstrate our faith through obedience. Through this process we feel the Saviors love and desire to bless us.

The second way we come to know Christ by experience is through an uninvited trial, test, or challenge. They can come in many forms, but if we allow them, they can teach us of His deep love and mercy that flows to us through the Atonement. In my own personal life I have come to understand that Jesus is patient, quick to forgive, full of love and mercy. I may have read similar words in scripture, but the words mean little compared to the experience of how the Savior has treated me in my trials. At the end of Matthew chapter 11 is described this process. When we are heavy laden and come unto Christ, we truly then will "learn of [him]" and learn that he is meek and lowly.

Finally, the third way is through His service. As we begin to study and learn of Jesus and develop faith in Him, we plant a seed of faith as we attempt to emulate His life of service. As we do, the seed grows and we reap the harvest of service in feeling His love (charity), then want to reflect that charity even more in our lives. The process feeds on itself.

The area of coming to know Christ through service is one that is completely in our control. If our motives are more out of love, then sense of duty, or even to be seen of men, then the harvest is much more plentiful. However, in my life I find that, though I may have righteous motives and desires, too many distractions keep me from His service. I fill my daily glass with worldly water, and leave little room for "living water". Though there are many "necessary" worldly pursuits (like a career), there are also many worldly demands that Satan puts before us that merely keep us busy so we have no time for Jesus.

The service we give can be in a multitude of forms - just learn what Jesus did, and follow Him.

In addition to worldly distractions, there is another barrier I have found that keeps me from a special type of service. The service is sharing the good news of the gospel to my fellow man. The barrier is fear. In my previous full-time missionary service, I truly came to know Christ better as he was on my "right hand and on my left" and as the Holy Ghost was my constant companion. Can we just leave those fears behind and reap the blessings of share the gospel of Jesus Christ to others? Blessing flow to both the messenger and the hearer.

Though I can learn of Christ through study and prayer, I can understand him better by exercising faith sufficient to make His service a priority in life. Then I can hope to know Him more, love Him more, and begin to become like Him. May we pray to the Father that we can be filled with His love that he bestows "upon all who are true followers of His Son, Christ...that when He shall appear we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as He is pure." (Moroni 7:48)

Am I a Summer Soldier?

"These are times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman" (Thomas Paine)

I have been recently reading David McCullough's John Adams. The above famous quote from "Common Sense" struck me as being very pertinent to our times. What made John Adams a man who would "stand now" and make a difference in his future that impacts to our day and into the future? He certainly recognized the significance of the "moment" he lived in. As he prepared and educated himself in law and government, did he realize the ultimate impact he would have?

What preparations am I making for some unkown future need. Or is the future now? Do or will I recognize the signfiicance of the "moment"? Will I shrink as a "summer soldier" or stand now?

I am convinced that life does and will bring "moments" where, if we do not shrink, we can be the one to make a difference. We likely will not see significant times like our founding fathers experienced, but certainly these days are significant times where, what our fathers founded may be crumbling under the pressures of greed, ignorance, and loss of vision of the past and the future. I am not necessarily referring to the downfall of our great republic, but perhaps the many downfalls occuring in in towns, communities, homes, families and the lives of the individual. Ultimately, these micro-crisis, have a cummulative or "perfect storm" effect that over time impacts society as a whole.

I truly believe that "these are the times that try men's souls" in different ways than over 230 years ago.

What is your role, what is my role?

I believe that God's hand is in our lives, just as much as he was concerned and involved in the founding our our great nation. Do we recognize his voice? Can we see our role? Do we have the courage to act even in the cold of a bitter winter or will we only volunteer when the sun shines?

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." (Edmund Burke)

May evil be defeated and may we be willing to do "something"!