Melva Gifford

I keep spelling the word as originol or origional. An original only means one thing that is distinctly unique from others then maybe if I think of only one O I can think original.

If you have a good way to remember this, please feel free to share.

– Be careful of buyers out of state

– Be careful where they put more money in PayPal and they ask to get part of it back.

– Ask questions and get specifics can motivate people to run. They use Google phone numbers.

– Anything that says like this you’ll get xx is usually a scam.

– Put in ad, no out of state sales.

– Price of eBay doesn’t mean that’s what item will sell for.

A lot of time  when I think of heroes I often think that they were just bursting forth with talent and had few private challenges to contend with as they made a place for themselves onto the pages of history. I think that is one of the reasons I have always had a special warm spot for the founding father of John Adams.

I realize the other historical figures had private short comings but because of the saved correspondence between John and his wife Abigail, Americans are able to tap into the private lives of this figure. He was stubborn. Have we ever considered that a personality trait that is usually considered a negative can be a good thing? Here is an example of how stubberness can be used for good. I point this out because so many of us only see our short comings. Maybe we should consider how our different personality traists can be used for good.

One usually considers stubbornness to be a negative trait. But let’s combine that trait with fairness and courage. In the 1700s when John was a lawyer. There was a skirmish between the citizens of the Boston and the British soldiers. The soldiers were accused of murder. The colonials looked forward to having these men executed. Stubborn, John Adams was the man who possessed the courage to defend these men. He recognized that a man shouldn’t be judged as guilty until a jury indicted him as such. The citizens thought that John was being a traitor for being the lawyer for the British. John Adams didn’t want emotion to interfere with justice. After the jury, it was found that these men were innocent.

Another time that John Adams was known for stubbornness was during the time for the colonies deciding to sever themselves from British rule. He was instrumental in the founding of America. He was persistent on certain things being included in the founding of a government.

In the book of Mormon, a second testament to Christ, one of my most favorite references to history, is Captain Moroni. He got ticked about how things were going in his country. He had two choices he could either sit around and complain or get off his tuckis and do something about it.

Alma 46:

11 And now it came to pass that when Moroni, who was the chief commander of the armies of the Nephites, had heard of these dissensions, he was angry with Amalickiah.

12 And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it—In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.

John Adams and General Moron were both great men of character. But what about us? It is so easy to get discouraged about our personal shortcomings. We can wallow so deep in our negative self-esteem that we don’t see the light of our positive traits. Bouts of depression is something that many of us have to contend with.

The reason I bring up John Adams is to illustrate how in spite of his shortcomings, he accomplished so much. We don’t realize what each of us are capable of so much. Heavenly father sees our worth. He loved us so much that he permitted his son Jesus Christ to atone for our sins.

I know how discouraged I get when I make a mistake or I have a habit that I have to constantly work on breaking. Or I have done some activity that I know that heavenly father wouldn’t appreciate. It would be nice if we could have an interesting new problem each week. Instead we might have to contend with the same old problem, month after month, or maybe year after year, will we have to constantly struggle to overcome a certain problem. But we often have a challenge that may take a long time to overcome. Heavenly father wants us to keep trying and work toward perfection.

We can get discouraged when we don’t accomplish instant righteousness. John Adams shows me that in spite of some personality shortcomings, he accomplished so much in his life. He was a key component to the founding of the nation. I encourage each of us to take heart and maybe see how what we might consider to be flaws might be used for good if directed in the right way.

Do you have a person you admire who you know has short comings yet have succeeded in something? Please feel free to give an example or provide details.

In honor of Memorial Day my message is thanks to the military. Today is just to express a thank you for the military who has devoted their lives to protecting America. I have many family members plus extended family who have served and ancestors.

I just wanted to say thanks for your dedication.  Thanks also, to the families of the military.

I know it is silly but every time I heard the use of the social media of Pinterest I keep spelling it as pincherest. I spell phonetically with a southern Utah accent.

I think I’ll remember how to spelling it better if I recall that people like to pin picture of things they’re passionate about Pin + Interest = P-Interest. Or pinterest.

We’ll see if that will help me and others spell the word more accurately.

 At work, I have the opportunity to listen to business related on-line courses. Today’s topic was about Discovery Meetings. I thought I would share some of the things I learned.

First of all, a discovery meeting can take place when a business and their perspective new client meet to see if they can establish a positive business relationship. A discovery meeting gives the business the chance to determine how they can provide products/skills that will satisfy the client.

 I found this to be very interesting. I hope you will enjoy it too.

One of the first recommendations is to research on the client prior to the meeting. You can save a lot of time not asking questions about information that you can find elsewhere. Some goods sources of company info are through a client’s web site, news articles and public financial statements. Doing advance homework can give you a clearer idea of what their needs may be. It can help you anticipate what kind of questions they may ask.

Second, for the meeting you will want to choose a location that is convenient to both of you. It will need to be a location that does not cause distractions in your dialog. Come prepared with a laptop, notepaper and such so you can document what they say and gives you a chance present what your business offers.

Third, when you meet, provide an agenda you would like to cover. Ask your client if they have anything to add. This shows you take their potential business seriously.

Fourth, in your conversation, ask open-ended questions that will motivate the customer to talk about their needs and goals. The questions should concentrate upon the resources/product that your business provides for the client. If there is a point that is not clear, ask the person to expand so there is no misunderstanding between you. Ask clarifying questions if necessary. The questions should be reflective and guiding.

Pay attention of the client’s body language. Are their arms closed and defensive or open and inviting? Are they maintaining eye contact with you? What does their tone of voice tell you?

If there is a chance, try not to limit yourself to only one representative of the client. Different people have different perspectives and multiple contacts can widen your own understanding of client’s needs.

Finally, be careful of wandering off on a topic. Stay on target as much as possible.

This is a short list of ideas for Discovery meetings. If you have some observations to share, please feel free to comment at the bottom of this blog.

I hope today’s topic can be of use to youth ministries, family counselors, and family home evenings. It’s on the topic that saying sin is okay doesn’t make it so.

We’re living in a time of conflict. And when it comes to battles, I often think of the concept of strategy. Strategy is the techniques used to gain victory over your opponent and for today’s discussion; the conflict is between right or wrong sin and righteousness.

Who are we fighting with? Why the guy who is a sore loser in the war of heaven. First, I present the lyrics of the third verse for the song Onward Christian Soldiers.

Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
one in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

As illustrated by this song. The bad guy is Satan and his minions. The good guys are God the father, his son Jesus Christ and their servants, we Christians.

The bad guys, Satan and his loonies don’t follow the rules. He has no problem with lying, cheating and stealing to accomplish his gains. But God has promised that the final victory will be his. Personally, I would like to be on the side that will provide a positive affect on my life for eternity. The book of revelations gives us a hint of some of the battles that will take place. Our Heavenly Father has already revealed to us some of the strategy that Satan will use.

God offers us solutions of how to combat against Satan’s purposes through his Scriptures, his prophets and personal revelation through the Holy Ghost.

One battle tool is fight against Saten’s Propaganda: through the progression of time he is found some success of making sin become acceptable simply by giving it a pretty label. Two examples the coming really to mind for me are:

1. ProChoice for abortion
2. Chosen lifestyle for same-sex marriage or sex outside of marriage.

Satan attacks the righteous through a series of waves like an ocean. The tide comes in and hit us and retreats. It comes in again, and again, and again. Satan’s minions use a technique of repetition and name-calling to make them appear to be in the right.

I thought this poem by Alexander Pope does a good job in presenting my thoughts on this.

“Vice is a monster of so frightful mien
As to be hated needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.”

Object Lesson: Whittled away.

Supplies: one plate, a plastic cup filled tightly with flour, plus a squirt bottle filled with water.

Press the plastic cup filled with flour against the plate. Tap the bottom of the cup so that the flour comes out in one piece looking like a mold of the cup. Then, from a couple of feet have family members take turns squirting with mist on the mold of flour. One little squirt of missed doesn’t appear to do much damage. But as each person takes a turn squirting and squirting and squirting the integrity of the mold begins to be compromised. It may eventually crumble. Satan hopes to use this technique in trying to convince righteous people that sin is acceptable.

Satan will deliver his propaganda for years, decades, maybe even centuries, slowly working to corrupt righteous principles.

To combat the waves of propaganda, we need to create a barrier of righteous teachings and living. That wall needs to be constructed from the finest materials of a strong and united family, obedience to God’s commandments, and continually seeking God’s guidance. If there ever areas of weakness in a barrier, we are encouraged to address those weaknesses early so they don’t develop into becoming excessive challenges. God, family and community can all contribute to the success of maintaining our righteous living.

I invite us to recognize sin for what it is. It being given a pretty name does not make a difference. I encourage us to support organizations that want to maintain moral virtues. That includes for me, to be on constant virtual to improve my own life and maintain my own barriers to pursue a better life.

As you know, I’m always interested in learning interesting new things and on the radio show the browser. The hosts once mentioned items that are resalable. Here is the list:

Dssr camera

Golf clubs

Kayak

Old iPods

Pool table

Roller blades

Extra tvs

Extra computer module

Blender

Crib

Stroller

Bike

An alternative to selling them is to give old, usable items to such charity organizations as DI or Savers or such, so they can sell such items as fundraisers.  If you have items you think would be good to ask the list, please feel free to do so.