Food for thought...

I went to High School with so many of you. I don't know how many of you remember seminary as vividly as I do. My senior year I had Bro. Hank Smith. I know some of you were even in my class. Seminary that year was completely set apart from any other year. I don't know if you think of him the way I do, I think I was close to him because he was good friends with my brother before he passed away and reminds me of him...still. So on with the story...

I was at the library the other day...I like to listen to books on CD and was looking for my next victim. I came across a cd by Hank Smith and I did a double take and wondered if it was THAT Hank Smith. It was. SCORE!!! Got home, listend to the CD which was incredible and googled (later in his talk he called it our 'google and thumim' I laughed) him.
First website...from Deseret book and he has this out...which I checked out yesterday and will listen to TODAY!!




And this...the first I found...



And this...who is next on my list




So another search found him speaking at EFY IN ST. GEORGE the NEXT WEEK....Seriously? I was going crazy...so I called the YW president (who I visit teach) and asked what it would take for me to go and they were short leaders and offered me a ticket!!! WAHOOO!!!





I got to speak with him as he walked in...He is still the smiley faced, infectiously happy person I remember.

This is the introduction to his talk...which is the entire purpose of this post
I don't usually go 'testimony builder' in my posts but this concept hit me so hard and I've been on a spiritual high since.

Hank Smith
Break up with the World. The world offers enticements and temptations that are difficult to leave behind. The strength you’ll need is found in a steady relationship with the scriptures and feasting on the words of Christ.

He talked about what it meant to break up and gave some awesome break up lines, he talked about his own break ups, and told of a day in seminary that his students put things on the board that were 'worldly' like TV shows, clothes, movies and challenged them to give up somthing that they liked but was hindering their spiritual growth. What I remember about that is that he said..."You'll know exactally what it is because your mind will go exactally to it and then you'll have the 'NO! not that!' reaction. He then talked about the Lord asking Abraham to give up something and Abraham offering many many things willingly but the Lord said 'No, I want the one thing you didn't offer because it's the hardest thing to give up...his son Isaac. Bro. Smith said "The Lord knew he would do it...Abraham needed to know Abraham could do it. The Lord asks of us things that are hard but when we show him we'd give up anything then we're on the right path.

Then he quoted...

“The greatest decision I ever made in my life was to give up something I dearly loved to the God I loved even more. He has never forgotten me for it.” Thomas S. Monson Liahona May 2003

This is the biggest thing I remember about the whole thing (this will be in my house on a wall somewhere)

Pride is in the 'er' You begin the pride cycle when you have to be 'smart-er' 'skinni-er' 'fast-er' 'rich-er' It's okay to be smart, skinny, fast, rich. It's when you have to do it bett-er.

"Help our children...escape our culture’s obsession with comparing, competing, and never feeling we are “enough.” Jeffrey R. Holland Ensign May 2007

Powerful huh?? Get his CD's. You'll love them...your teens will love them...I know it!!!