Don't Mess With The Jimmer

Meet Jimmer Fredette:




He is the starting point guard for the BYU Basketball team and arguably the most exciting player to watch in college basketball this season. Averaging over 27 points per game, Jimmer is currently in the running for the National Player of the Year Award. Jimmer has quickly become one of the most respected and loved basketball players in the country. After posting 47 points against Utah earlier in the season, Jimmer's popularity amongst America has quickly grown. Jimmermania is sweeping across the nation. He has been all over tv programs, sportscenter, radio shows, websites, twitter, etc. In Provo, he is reverenced. He is worshiped. He is idolized. Apparently there is one BYU student who doesn’t get the hype. Here is a letter to the editor of the school's Daily Universe that she wrote entitled "Idol Worship":

"I can’t walk across campus without hearing Jimmer Fredette’s name a dozen times. His name comes up everywhere: in class, at work, during lunch … really, people? Cut it out with the Jimmer worship. Last time I checked, idol worship was very much frowned upon in the scriptures.
Don’t you have a life to live? Then quit wasting it in front of the TV or in lines at the Marriott Center.
At the very least, stop trying to convert those of us who don’t follow BYU sports and don’t care that baseball and badminton are two different things. Pushing basketball on us isn’t going to make us like it any better.
I’m not blaming Jimmer for all this; was it Nephi’s fault in the Book of Mormon when his brothers worshiped him? As far as I’m concerned, Jimmer is perfectly free to live his dreams. If he reaches his goals and lives his dreams, more power to him. I would like the same courtesy from his fans: let me live my own dreams in peace, even if they don’t include ever sitting in the Marriott Center screaming my brains out.

Michelle Peralta
Apple Valley, Calif."


Unfortunately for the Jimmer-unbeliever, she signed the letter with her real name. To make matters worse, she posted a status update to her PUBLIC Facebook wall a few hours later:
"just wrote another irritated letter to the editor of the BYU newspaper. I hope this doesn't turn into a habit"

Last night I was on a BYU message board (cougarboard.com) and saw that someone had posted that her profile was open to comment on. Literally within seconds of reading this I went to her status and watched as the comments poured in. It went from 4 comments to about 27 in literally 2 minutes. In the next hour the responses to her status went viral. I was seriously crying laughing at some of the comments. Within an hour she had over 250 comments on her status. It took her until this morning when she had over 500 comments that she finally changed her facebook settings to private. Luckily someone archived all the comments for us here. Unfortunately, I was too busy laughing my head off and "liking" comments that I didn't get to contribute to her erupting status. Most of the comments were very creative, however there were a few that were a little too over the top blasphemous. Here are just a few of my favorite comments:

"You are hereby invited to attend the first church of the Jimmer! We worship every Wednesday night and Saturday afternoon."

"Wow, glad I finally finished reading this thread. Now I can brush my teeth, pray to Jimmer, and go to bed."

"One time the BYU basketball team was walking on the beach and they looked backed and only saw one set of footprints!"

"looks like your facebook page just got jimmered"

"If this thread goes down, Jimmer will resurrect it, he has that power. You know that now, right Michelle?"

So anywho, this story went viral overnight and was talked about on radio shows, internet articles, and sports websites.

Here is an invitation that FrontRowFanatics has sent Mrs. Michelle Peralta:

Scripture Power

Today I completed The Book of Mormon. I don’t even know how many times I’ve read it, but I’ve learned it really doesn’t matter the number of times its read, rather, more importantly is the consistent daily reading from its words. Bruce R. McConkie said, “I sometimes think that one of the best-kept secrets of the kingdom is that the scriptures open the door to the receipt of revelation… All of us are entitled to the sprit of prophecy and of revelation in our lives, both for our personal affairs and in our ministry. The prayerful study and pondering of the holy scriptures will do as much, or more than any other single thing, to bring that spirit, the sprit of prophecy and spirit of revelation, into our lives.” Dallin H. Oaks added, “The idea that scripture reading can lead to inspiration and revelation opens the door to the truth that a scripture is not limited to what it meant when it was written but may also include what that scripture means to a reader today. Even more, scripture reading may also lead to current revelation on whatever else the Lord wishes to communicate to the reader at that time . . . However talented men may be in administrative matters; however eloquent they may be in expressing their views; however learned they may be in worldly things they will be denied the sweet whisperings of the Spirit that might have been theirs unless they pay the price of studying, pondering, and praying about the scriptures.” Finally, Merrill J. Bateman said, “A casual, infrequent exposure to the scriptures will generally not open the door to the whisperings of the Spirit or provide insights.” I have seen the biggest difference when I read my scriptures daily, versus a casual reading here and there. I feel a lot more at peace and feel happier. Sundays are not the only days in which I feel the Spirit regularly now. President Eyring said, "If you have felt the influence of the Holy Ghost today, you may take it as evidence that the Atonement is working in your life. For that reason and many others, you would do well to put yourself in places and in tasks that invite the promptings of the Holy Ghost."

The prophet Joseph Smith said of the Book of Mormon: “a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.” It still baffles me how anyone could read this book and deny the words that are in it. Moroni states, “And if there be faults they be the faults of a man. But behold, we know no fault; nevertheless God knoweth all things; therefore, he that condemneth , let him be aware lest he shall be in danger of hell fire.”

I know that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. I have seen it change my life and many others. I know that Joseph Smith translated it through the power of God and through this book we may know that Joseph Smith was called to be a prophet in these last days. And if Joseph Smith was called to be a prophet, then the authority and priesthood given to him is the authority of God on Earth. With this authority, I know we can be baptized in Christ’s church to enter the kingdom of God and be sealed with our families in God’s temples in order to live together forever with our families.

Also, here is an awesome testimony from a Latter-day Apostle, Jeffrey R. Holland:

Called out by the Professor

Soooo right now one of the classes in which I am enrolled is Molecular Biology with Dr. Evans. Each Friday we have a take home quiz that is due at the beginning of class. This past Friday I was comparing my quiz with my friends before submitting and noticed that I had mislabeled the y axis for the x axis and vice versa(No worries it's not cheating, in fact my teacher encourages us to work with other students). There wasn't room on the quiz to scratch it out and redo it so I pulled out a blank sheet of paper and corrected it. I asked around if anyone had a stapler, glue, paperclip or anything that I could attach my newly drawn graph to my quiz with, but found no such luck. The TA's were going around picking up the quizzes so I didn't have time to leave the class and look for a stapler. All of a sudden my Cajun improvisation skills kicked in. I remembered i had gum in my bag, so I quickly popped a piece in my mouth and chewed it enough to get it moist and sticky. I then converted my trident gum into 4 pieces of "ticky tac" and pressed them in the four corners of my graph. I know, genius huh? Here's a pic of the final product.

(If you look carefully you can see the TA's comments of "EW" and "This is gross" hahaha)

So anyways, yesterday at the beginning of class my professor totally called me out. haha. He mentioned how there was one student that made a fix to his quiz and strategically placed 4 pieces of gum to attach the correction to the quiz. He held up my quiz and showed the class and everyone in the auditorium started laughing. He gave me props on how creative it was. . . the best part though is that i got full credit! HA! Here is a video of class yesterday. If you click on the bar around the 2:40 part you can hear him talk about me.

connect.byu.edu/p86208578/

It's Been a While

Well, it's a new year and with new years come resolutions. My sister Jessica gave each one of us siblings a "Dream Big 2010" journal last year for Christmas, so that we might write down our goals and dreams. I happened to locate my book and noticed the first page was full of all these awesome goals I had made and realized that there was not one that I accomplished. So let's just cross out that last "0" of 2010 and tear out that first page and make it "Dream Big 2011."

I've heard that if you don't write down your goals chances are that they won't come to pass. I figured I would share some of my dreams/goals with y'all so that not only will I be accountable for them, but y'all can keep me in check also. So here goes nothing. . .
Atop my list are a few of the following:
-graduate in April (I just had my exit interview with my counselor so I'm on track!)
-get straight A's my last semester
-take the GMAT this summer
-find a job for after graduation

Another goal I have (encouraged by my sister Laura) is to write in my journal (or blog) more about my tender mercies and the way in which I've seen the hand of God in my life. Elder D. Todd Christofferson gave an amazing talk tonight at the Marriott Center (A rebroadcast can be seen here) The main theme he talked about was "Give us this day our daily bread" taken from the Lord's prayer. He compared this to the manna in which Moses' people received daily. Here are just a few quotes that I loved (hopefully it's enough of a teaser to get ya to watch it)

Manna today can be as real as the physical manna of biblical times.

Live day by day. Yes, look to the future, but it is a bunch of days that make up a full lifetime.

When we pray daily for help for the things out of our power, we must first be sure we are doing all that is within our power.

I don't want you to give in to the pressure of the moment. Look through it and get through the day. Don't look ahead to the pain, just get through the day. Take it one day at a time.

Our consistency in small simple things can lead to great things. Even the mundane daily tasks become the building blocks of a great and glorious future.

Before bed each night, think about the successes and failures of the day and thank the Lord for the manna he gave you.



I love the gospel! I know God knows us. I am so grateful for all he blesses me with. I am so lucky to have the best family ever. AND to be 2 blocks away from my 2 little sisters and 2 doors down from my best friend. K thats all for tonight folks. Hopefully I'll blog again before next year hahahaha

I'll Be home for Christmas!!!

Well, this post isn't really a serious post or a scripture study type post, but instead more of a blast from the past. While I was listening to Amy's new song she did of I'll be home for Christmas, I got reminiscing of past Christmas experiences of anticipating being home with the fam for Christmas. In so doing, I was browsing on my U drive and came across a paper I wrote four years ago for my freshman year english class. I'm basically posting this to preserve this work of art. So, here it is:

Murphy’s Law

It all started early on the morning of my flight home for Christmas break. My sister, Sarah, and I had arrived early at the Salt Lake City Airport anticipating our flight home. After waiting in a line the size of a girl’s restroom line at halftime of a football game, we finally made it to the front of the Delta desk. After checking on our bags my sister leaned towards me and whispered, “Yes, we’re in!” Unfortunately she said this a little too loud. The airport was sure to pick me as one of the “random” people to be searched. I swear I was sent through a series of at least five different search stations. After being run through with the metal wand, I was sent on to the next station. During this procedure I was “patted down” by a security officer. This was one of the most awkward moments in my life. This security officer did not give just any pat down; he practically gave me a body massage. At the end of this pat down he even asked, “Do you work out?” For a moment I thought I was in the San Francisco Airport. After being sexually assaulted by this “security officer” I went through a couple more search procedures until I got to the final search where shoes are checked. First, the security guard waved that metal wand across my left tennis shoes and nothing happened. Then she waved it across the right shoe. When this happened the wand would not stop beeping. I couldn’t believe what was happening. I was wondering what could possibly go wrong next. Did a terrorist plant some bomb in my sneaker? The security officer had to take my shoe and further examine it. She looked at my shoe for a few seconds and pulled out a metal screw from the bottom of my sneaker. She asked me if I knew why there was a screw stuck in my shoe and if there was something that I should tell them. Explaining to them that I did not know how a screw got in the bottom of my shoe they finally released me from their Nazi-like search.

After having my bags searched, being sexually assaulted and being perceived as a terrorist, I finally made it through security and to my terminal. Five minutes before boarding, Delta made an announcement that my flight was cancelled due to fog. Already ticked off, I had to stand in another long line to book a later flight home. Having finally gotten to the front of the line the travel agent informed me she was preparing to board people for another flight and she would not be able to help me. “That’s just great! You can help someone who has a flight leaving on time, but you can’t help me.” After giving the flight attendant an evil, disgusted stare, she sent me to another desk to get help. At this desk, my sister and I finally got assigned seats on a later flight home. I asked the lady at this counter, “Are we going to get any refunds or vouchers because of this inconvenience?” Without hesitation she replied, “There is nothing Delta can do in circumstances like this.”

When my sister and I finally arrived to our destination we headed down to baggage claim. Just when I thought this day couldn’t get any worse the unthinkable happened—Delta lost our luggage. You always hear about airlines loosing luggage and you see it in movies, but you never think that it could actually happen to you. My sister and I went to the Delta counter and gave them our home phone number and address. The last thing the Delta representative said to us was, “We will be in touch with you shortly when we receive your luggage.” This statement could not have been further from the truth. By shortly if she meant never, then I guess she was correct. The next day, Sunday, I still hadn’t heard anything from the airline company. I attempted to call Delta baggage claim, but they were either busy or closed. My parents insisted that I still go to church even though my church clothes were in my suitcase. My dad had me try on one of his smallest shirts and khakis that didn’t fit him anymore. The shirt was a little loose, but the khakis were like parachute pants. A belt could hardly hold these pants up. My dad then threw me another pair of slacks to try on. These were a little tight but I was still able to button them. Realizing that these could not possibly be my dad’s pants, I looked more closely at them and noticed they had no pockets. “These are mom’s pants. There’s no way I am wearing these to church!” I exclaimed. My dad looked at my outfit and trying not to laugh he responded, “It looks fine, buddy, no one will notice that they’re girl pants.” I took off the pants and went in search for some different slacks. I finally found some pants that I hadn’t worn since freshman year in high school. While at church, I tried hard to avoid as many people as possible. I didn’t want them to stare at my baggy shirt, high-waters, and sandals that I was wearing. I didn’t want to have to explain to them why I didn’t have my church clothes and how the airlines had lost my luggage.

Each day that went by made me realize how much more I needed my suitcase. Some days I drove three times to the airport to see if my bags had arrived. After the third day without my bags I called Delta customer service. Delta is so cheap that it hires people from India and trains them to answer phone calls. After talking to a young lady who claimed her name was Susan, I asked for information on where my bags were and when I was going to get them. I could barely understand a word she was speaking. In her broken English she said, “I can transfer you to Delta baggage claim for your questions.” I tried to explain to her that baggage claim was either closed or busy. I told her that I wanted my questions answered. “Lady, I have been going funky the past few days. I have been wearing the same draws for three days straight. Since I don’t have my bags, will Delta reimburse me if I go out and buy clothes and toiletries and what not?” I questioned. She explained to me that Delta could only guarantee up to twenty-five dollars a day. What type of person can buy clothes for twenty-five bucks? Did she expect me to go shop at Salvation Army? After this conversation I went to Target and tried to manage my money the best I could to purchase clothes and some other necessities.

The days grew longer and longer. “Could this be the day that my bags finally get here,” I questioned each morning. After eight trips back and forth from my home to the airport our luggage finally came—five days after the luggage was initially supposed to be in! Out of all the Delta representatives I talked to these past few days, not one person apologized for what had happened. How could an airline company not care about its customers? This is not just any typical airline—this is Delta. Its customers deserve better treatment than what I received. How can Delta take my money and not only inconvenience me by canceling my flight, but not give me a refund or an airplane voucher? All it did was book me on a flight with empty seats that was already scheduled to leave. That airplane was going to leave regardless of whether or not I was on that plane. What does the airline company do with the money I paid for my flight? It certainly did not go towards the fuel for the plane that got cancelled. Was Delta going to give me a refund? Would they even respond if I sent them a letter to complain?

Murphy’s Law states anything that can possibly go wrong, will go wrong. While many people dismiss Murphy’s Law as a silly urban myth, there’s no doubt in my mind that this law truly does exist. I happened to witness it firsthand. Right when you think that a circumstance can not get worse—it can.

Despite the little bitterness I still possess, looking back at this whole experience can only make me laugh. Oftentimes unfortunate events are thrown upon one’s path. It all depends upon a person’s attitude on how they can overcome these circumstances. If somebody is willing to be optimistic and have a good attitude, then just about everything will be possible to handle. Sometimes even the wrong things can end up funny in retrospect.

The ironic thing is I finally received my Eagle Scout Award during this vacation home. The motto of the Boy Scouts of America is “be prepared.” To think I could have been better off if I would have paid attention all those years in Scouts and applied its principles to my life. Instead I was too busy sharpening knives and playing with fire. Being prepared will not only be beneficial with traveling plans, but in all circumstances in life. It never hurts to be prepared and always have a backup plan; it can only help. From now on I will put myself in the position to always have another option in major situations. The next time I fly I’ll make sure I have a carry-on bag with a set of backup clothes and necessities.


So there it is, needless to say, I'm glad that I'll be home for Christmas!!!
(p.s. special thanks to Jessica and Scott for editing this paper-good times!)

Find Joy in the Journey- Now!

I've been pretty lazy in my journal writing as of late. Many spiritual things have happened, but I've been so busy to even just write them down. Well, on the way home from school today, I kinda had a wake up call. I was about a block away from home, when a girl began walking across a cross walk. At the same time a school bus on the other end, began to whip around the corner fast, heading right for the girl. At the last second the girl freaked out and jumped back, just barely avoiding a fatal accident. The bus was going fast enough that it would quite possibly have injured her badly if not killed her. Life just seemed to freeze. I began to realize that we, or any loved one for that matter, could be called to the other side of the veil at any moment.

I was reminded of President Monson's talk from this past October Sunday Morning Conference, Finding Joy in the Journey. President Monson admonished, "This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and non-existent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now. . . My brothers and sisters, there is no tomorrow to remember if we don’t do something today."

He goes on to state, "Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. Wrote William Shakespeare, 'They do not love that do not show their love.' We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us."

President Monson then issues us a challenge: "Send that note to the friend you’ve been neglecting; give your child a hug; give your parents a hug; say “I love you” more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It’s so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they’re gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of 'what if' and 'if only.' Said author Harriet Beecher Stowe, 'The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.”'

So there it is- straight from the prophet's mouth! I realized how much more I should be grateful and loving to those around me and to express it more publicly through actions and words.

"I wasn't there for the weeds"

Well, today I finally finished reading Mormon Scientist: The Life and Faith of Henry Eyring. Sister Gruwell purchased it for me as a gift on one of her visits out here this past summer. The book is about the life of renowned scientist Henry Eyring. Written by his grandson, Henry J. Eyring, Mormon Scientist explores Henry's contributions to science and religion, his family heritage, and his paradoxical way of thinking.

Today I was reading the last of four parts in the book entitled "Testament." I was really impressed of a story told by his son, Elder Henry B. Eyring of the Quorum of the 12. I've been thinking about it frequently today. President Eyring relates an account of his dad serving one last time, right before his death, on the local church welfare farm. Henry Eyring was pretty ill in his last year alive. He was the senior high counselor in his stake, and he had the responsibility for the welfare farm. An assignment was given to weed a field of onions, so he assigned himself to go work on the farm.

President Eyring said of his father, "He never told me how hard it was, but I have met several people who were with him that day. I talked to one of them on the phone, and he said that he was weeding in the row next to Dad through much of the day. He told me the same thing that others who were there have told me. He said that the pain was so great that Dad was pulling himself along on his stomach with his elbows. He couldn't kneel. Everyone who has talked to me about that day has remarked how Dad smiled and laughed and talked happily with them as they worked in the field of onions."

Now this is the joke that Henry Eyring told to his son afterwards. He said he was there at the end of the day. After all the work was finished and the onions were all weeded, someone said to him, "Henry, good heavens! You didn't pull those weeds, did you? Those weeds were sprayed two days ago, and they were going to die anyway." President Eyring retells how his father roared. He thought it was the funniest thing. He thought it was a great joke on himself. He had worked through the day on the wrong weeds. They were sprayed and would have died anyways. President Eyring said, "When Dad told me this story, I knew how tough it was. So I asked him, 'Dad, how could you make a joke out of that? How could you take it so pleasantly? He said something to me that I will never forget, and I hope you won't. He said, 'Hal, I wasn't there for the weeds.'"

Having recounted the story, President Eyring drew from it this moral: "Now, you'll be in an onion patch much of your life. So will I. It will be hard to see the powers of Heaven magnifying us in our efforts. It may even be hard to see our work being of any value at all. And sometimes our work won't go well. . . But you didn't come for the weeds. You came for the Savior. And if you pray, and if you choose to be clean, and if you follow God's servants, you will be able to work and wait long enough to bring down the powers of Heaven."

I just loved this story. It made me realize what really is important in life. It also made me realize that some of the stuff that I am engaged in daily will not be important in the long scheme of things. Sometimes we have to do as Henry Eyring did and just laugh off some situations and just remember that "we're not here for the weeds."