WEBVTT
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Welcome to Strong, where we follow for the Strength of Youth curriculum to help you get a little closer to Jesus Christ and a little more ready for what's ahead.
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The temple, a mission, and the life that you're building.
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I'm Kirby Hayborn.
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This week in your class, the For the Strength of Youth curriculum wraps up the month with Covenant Living, becoming a covenant daughter of God for the young women, and becoming a covenant son of God for the young men.
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So awesome.
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This is the week everything else this month has been pointing toward: being a covenant son or daughter of God, whether or not anyone's watching.
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The young women, you're looking at what it means to walk in the paths of virtue.
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Young men are looking at a group of soldiers who never once had someone standing over them, requiring it.
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They're different scriptures, but the same standard.
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Virtue and true at all times are both describing a person whose character doesn't change depending on who's in the room.
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Has this ever happened to you?
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You pay for something and somehow you get undercharged.
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Maybe it's the wrong tag.
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It was in the sales section when it shouldn't have been.
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The register, the person there made a mistake, whatever it is.
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And sometimes you don't catch it right at the counter.
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Sometimes you're already back in your car.
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That's happened to me so many times in my life.
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I looked at the receipt and I realized, wait a second, I was undercharged, but we were already out of the store.
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And I remember telling my wife once, sweet, look at this, we got a deal.
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And she's so amazing and so in tune.
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She said, You're welcome to do whatever you want, but is your soul worth the dollar that they undercharged you?
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And I said, Well, they're never really gonna know.
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I really don't want to go back in.
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It's embarrassing because it would be.
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But the thing is, I knew better.
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She knew I knew better.
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And I knew that my soul was more precious than rubies.
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So since then, I've gone back in.
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If that happens, I go back in.
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And it's happened more than once.
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And I'll admit, some part of me, I always expect like a big moment.
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Like I'd go up and I'd say, Oh, looks like you you undercharged me.
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I need to pay an extra dollar or 50 cents or$10.
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And if I did that, that they would act amazed and they'd they'd put me up on their shoulders and celebrate me.
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Good job, Kirby.
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You're so honest.
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Or maybe they would just tell me to keep it.
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Guess what?
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That is generally not what happens ever.
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Most of the time, somebody just says, okay, and they either fix it or they tell me, uh it's too much trouble to try to change it now.
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So we're not going to charge you.
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And a couple of times somebody's thanked me.
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Mostly, it's nothing.
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There's no moment, no hoisting up on their shoulders.
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It's it's just over.
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Nobody in the store would probably ever even know what happened.
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It turns out that most of the moments that shape who we are, they're they happen exactly like that one.
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They're small and they're quiet, and nobody cheering you for making the right choice.
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No hoisting whatsoever.
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Well, here's the thing.
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This whole month has been building toward one thing.
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Your body is sacred.
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So what you feed it, what you watch, what you do with it, especially in private, all of it matters to God.
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But here's the thing underneath all of it.
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None of it is really about what happens when people are watching.
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Elder Gary E.
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Stevenson said that what you choose to think and do when you are alone and you believe no one is watching is a strong measure of your virtue.
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He goes on to say, be courageous, be strong.
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Doctrine and Covenant says, Stand ye in holy places and be not moved.
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That principle doesn't stop with your body this month.
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It reaches into every covenant ahead of you.
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The promises that are tied to the temple, the promises tied to a mission call.
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Every one of those gets kept the same way this one does.
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Quietly, privately, consistently, whether or not anyone's watching.
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Ron, thank you so much for being here.
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You spent 45 years as a firefighter, 15 years as a uh the chief of firefighters.
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I don't understand how it all works, the hierarchy, but I'm so glad that you're here.
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Um, I wanted you to be here today because the 30 plus years that I've known you, you are an example of exactly what we're talking about this month.
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That you are an example of virtue behind the scenes.
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What's something in your career as a firefighter that really, really mattered that nobody really ever saw?
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You know, there's these individuals who call for help.
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They call 911 because they've got a situation that they can't deal with.
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They need help.
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And for me to recognize that it was an emergency to them was probably the biggest hurdle I had to get over, even though it seemed mundane and like, why did you call us?
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Oh, that's amazing.
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But that it was something that mattered to them.
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Yeah.
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Thank you so much.
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Okay.
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Ron's about to show me exactly what that costs, how to be able to sympathize with other people.
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Every year, your department ran a performance test that was really hard.
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As you were describing it to me, I was thinking there's no way any human being could do this.
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But I'm gonna try it and you're gonna coach me through it.
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And hopefully we'll see if I pass or a fail.
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There's there's nobody that comes in, you do it all alone, and it's just to prove that you're still ready, that you can do it for another year.
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So we're gonna do an abbreviated version of it.
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Sounds great.
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Do it.
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Okay.
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Because you've never done this before, we're scaling back a little bit.
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We don't want to hurt you.
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Okay.
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Fair enough.
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Okay, part of the test is we're gonna have you carry a load of hose, which is about 40 pounds on your shoulder, and you're gonna go up a hill.
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We go upstairs, you're gonna go up a hill.
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Okay.
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You've got 45 seconds.
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Go! Okay.
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Come on, Kirby.
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You got it.
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Here you go.
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Good job.
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Keep going.
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You've got it.
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You're doing great, Kirby.
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Oh my god.
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You gotta keep going.
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You only got 45 seconds.
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And you gotta come back in.
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Here we go.
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Kirby.
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44 seconds.
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Okay.
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Okay, Kirby.
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This is the crawl.
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This is the crawl.
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You gotta go over and under up.
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You gotta minute to do the mum.
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Put your head down.
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Put your head down, Kirby.
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You'll get it.
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Put the under the ground.
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There you go.
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Good job, okay.
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Here we go.
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I mean, come under it.
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You're doing great, Kirby.
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You almost understand that's the hardest part.
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I mean, come on back under again.
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You got about 10 seconds, Kirby.
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Come on, Kirby.
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Five, four, three, two, one.
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You did it.
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You wanna go home now?
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I wanna go home.
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Sorry, we got more to do.
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So this is a dummy drag.
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Uh usually we have about a 130-pound, 140-pound stuffed dummy.
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So I don't have a dummy, but I do have 60 potatoes.
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60 pounds of potatoes.
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Yeah, but we're gonna just have you carry them.
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Go, come on, come on, we come up.
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Come on.
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Come in the piss.
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Come on in the picture.
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Hang in there.
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Here we go.
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Hang in there.
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42 seconds! 42 seconds.
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We did it.
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Good job.
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I'm amazing.
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This is a hose drag.
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150.
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You're gonna pick the hose up.
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And this has water in it?
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It does.
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It's not completely full, but it's because it's for me.
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For you.
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You're doing phenomenal so far.
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I know it's hard, but you're you're hanging in there, you're doing great.
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Go.
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Come on, Kirby.
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Come on.
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Come on, Kirby.
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Stop, Kirby.
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Come on.
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You're halfway there.
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You're halfway there.
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Come on, another last part of the harvest.
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You're almost there.
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Come on, Kirby.
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Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go he's out.
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Do we need to call it AMT or the paramedics?
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Okay.
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I'm all done and I'm all sweaty.
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I'm sure you are seeing it.
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So this is the thing.
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People that you're rescuing, uh the the and and even other uh people in the fire department weren't there to watch you.
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You did this, the standard stayed the same, no matter what.
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It did.
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Whether people were watching, no matter the age, right?
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If people were watching, it didn't matter.
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The majority of people, including me, don't even know that this happens, but it has to happen, and you do it all the time.
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So here's the important thing.
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Did I pass?
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For our standards that we set here, yes.
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Okay, however, you would not have a job tomorrow.
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I'm sorry to say.
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Thanks.
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Let's go talk about this.
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Okay, you're awesome.
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So, Ron, thank you for putting me through that.
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It it was hard, um, but I did it.
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And I love that you just believed in me the whole time.
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Thank you.
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Yeah.
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What else is there?
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Yeah, you have to believe in people.
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Exactly.
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And that's something that you have done so well, and that I've seen just in your regular life too.
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You and your wife Karen have opened your home numerous times, um, yet more than once, to help people as they are going through a difficult time.
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Um, the rest of the world never saw that, but it made a huge impact on the people that you helped.
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I I would love to know what made you say yes.
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Well, Karen and I certainly recognize that you know there are people out who struggle.
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And we we could see the struggles that some of those individuals were having and how important it was to do whatever we could.
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And we certainly had the means to help in some of those situations and bring them into our home and and let them live with us.
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And uh it was that and our kids.
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Our kids were just as open to walking them and making them a part of the family, yeah, and uh making them come to a scripture study, making them come for family prayer, all that stuff.
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Even when it didn't work in them, it really did.
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Yeah.
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Proverbs chapter 31, it describes a woman that's and she's almost entirely through what she does when nobody's watching.
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She's up before dawn, she's working late into the night, and nobody's scoring her for while it's happening.
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In verse 10, it says, Who can find a virtuous woman?
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One of the most beautiful scriptures, for her price is far above rubies.
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It's talking about this woman who is doing things when no one was watching.
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So the Lord gives Emma Smith almost the same instruction directly in Doctrine and Covenants, section 25.
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He says, Walk in the paths of virtue before me.
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And then he says, continue in the spirit of meekness and be aware of pride.
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God gave Emma that instruction to live it out privately, long before anyone else would ever know about it.
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That also has to do with it, talks to her about how important music is, which is why I love that section.
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Ron just gave you a modern version of the same thing.
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Whoever you're becoming in that kind of private consistency right now is exactly who steps into a marriage and a family later.
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The people who end up closest to you are the ones who find out who you really are.
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So, Ron, between the fire department and your own house, was there ever a stretch when both were asking a lot from you, the department, your home, and asking everything of you at the same time.
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How, if there was, how did you keep showing up for both?
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Honestly, there was quite regularly.
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I mean, it happened all the time.
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I mean, life is full of challenges and struggles.
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Yeah.
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We all deal with them.
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And not just work and home.
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I mean, there's things outside, there's church obligations, there's neighbors.
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But I think the one thing that um made a difference for Karen, who is that Ruby to me, it's that we had a covenant marriage and that we had those uh promises made that if we cleave to one another and support one another and are there for one another, that we will be blessed.
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It wasn't easy.
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Some days we find that we just took one day at a time, yeah, because that's all you could do.
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Because if you looked beyond that, you would crash, you would just not be able to comprehend that you would ever get through it.
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So sometimes it came down to just simply that.
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Just do one day.
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I love that.
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Do you feel that because you had that confidence from your covenants you made with Karen that you were able to show up better as a fireman, as a fire chief?
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Yes.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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Absolutely.
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The culture of the fire department sometimes can be very challenging.
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You know, there's cursing, there's smoking, and there's um disrespect for the human race sometimes and the things that they would say and do, and and to be there amongst that became really challenging.
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I mean, it was being in the world, yeah.
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But to know the covenants I had made and the promises I had made, I knew that I couldn't become a part of that.
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And there were times when I was made fun of and kind of ridiculed for my beliefs.
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But on the other side of that, when I was remaining faithful and true to the covenants I had made, so many of them respected that.
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And with that respect, we developed a trust that no matter what they expected of me or asked of me, they knew that I would step forward.
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They knew that I was uh uh a man of integrity because I've stayed true to those covenants and promises that I'd made.
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And Alma 53, it doesn't say that the Stripling Warriors were brave once the fighting started, right?
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It says that they were true at all times and whatsoever thing they were entrusted, just like you were, when you were at home or when you were at the fire station.
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It means that that the training happened, they were ready for it, even on days when nothing happened.
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I'm sure there were days at the fire station where nothing happened, but you still had to be ready to go out and do to save lives and to battle the fires.
00:16:23.360 --> 00:16:34.879
Um, but these tripling warriors, there were no battles, there were no tests, and they were just the regular ordinary days at home that made it so they were ready when the time came.
00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:39.039
Um later in Alma 56, their commander writes about them directly.
00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:43.519
He says that they didn't fight because someone was standing over them, giving them the order in the moment.
00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:52.159
They fought on the strength of something that they'd been taught long before in private by their mothers with no army watching.
00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:59.840
Is there a shift for you, Ron, that really sticks out to you that maybe hardly anybody knows about?
00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:08.880
Yeah, um there's several that are, you know, right there that come to mind quite quite readily.
00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:09.200
Yeah.
00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:13.599
And uh unfortunately they recall that dealt with young children.
00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:24.640
And uh and and the challenge and and trying to save these children's lives and not succeeding.
00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:33.200
Became very challenging.
00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:37.680
Because the people you're working with sometimes they just move on.
00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:39.519
It's like it's just another call.
00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:47.200
But fortunately, I had the best sounding board at all with your wife.
00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:52.000
And we would hash these calls out and talk about them.
00:17:52.400 --> 00:18:00.240
You would come home after all of your training and knowing how to do it, and and it just didn't go how you wanted, you would come home and talk with her.
00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:01.039
Yeah.
00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:05.119
And and no one knew how hard it was.
00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:12.960
But knowing that I had that friendship with Karen made all the difference.
00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:23.200
It it helped me walk through the valley and the shadow of death and get through those things that were tearing me up, that were hard.
00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:42.319
And I'll have to admit that it was also through prayer and and my faith and knowing that there was a true real God and that he had and will save them, and then they will be uh able to live again.
00:18:42.559 --> 00:18:59.279
And knowing those principles and knowing that we have that as a gospel, it's it was a godsend to help me manage that despair and grief that I seem to be going through at times along with Karen.
00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:03.920
Nobody sees that beautiful moment that you would have had with Karen.
00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:09.680
But that's exactly like the Stripling Warriors going back to their mothers.
00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:16.160
There, they learn from their mothers, you learn from your wife, and you you get that that strength.
00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:25.440
And I think that's what the Stripling Warriors felt too the strength in their covenants, and you have that covenant with your wife, yes, it brings you that strength.
00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:28.720
So true, so true, and it's so beautiful.
00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:35.839
It's it's the same readiness that you are going to need when you're called on a mission.
00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:42.480
You're gonna be asked to do things, to live a certain way when no one is watching.
00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:47.680
How you prepare now is how you're going to show up when it really matters.
00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:50.079
How are you on a regular day?
00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:56.160
Are you ready to get up and wield the sword of truth?
00:19:56.400 --> 00:20:00.559
Years of showing up like that, it doesn't run on willpower alone.
00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:03.119
Now I've got a question for you.
00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:07.039
Have you ever almost done something that you'd regret?
00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:09.680
Something that only you would have known about?
00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:12.400
I want to know what stopped you.
00:20:13.119 --> 00:20:24.960
There was a time where someone asked me to do something I did not feel comfortable with, and I had to think from an eternal perspective how this would affect me and my life.
00:20:25.119 --> 00:20:32.720
And the spirit told me, stop and think about what you're gonna do, and how will this affect you and the people around you?
00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:36.480
And that is what stopped me from doing something I would not want to do.
00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:46.480
I was taught by someone that before you do something that you're unsure of is right or wrong, think, would your grandma do this or your mom do this?
00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:50.240
And if the answer is no, then you probably shouldn't do that.
00:20:50.319 --> 00:20:53.759
But if the answer is yes, then you can go ahead and do it.
00:20:53.920 --> 00:20:55.200
So that's what I did.
00:20:55.359 --> 00:20:57.200
And I call that the grandma test.
00:20:57.839 --> 00:21:01.200
Now, Ron, this is a question from a real youth.
00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:09.920
We have um youth send in questions that uh maybe they're too afraid to ask in their class or quorum.
00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:12.480
And this one, it's a big one.
00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:19.839
Um, and I think it goes deep to the heart of you, who you are, and and being um a firefighter.
00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:26.079
The question is, does it even matter if no one ever finds out?
00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:30.319
Now, you heard me talk earlier about how I wrestled with that one.
00:21:30.400 --> 00:21:35.680
You know, a dollar is a small thing, but what it says about you isn't.
00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:46.319
Was there ever a time, Ron, in in your career or in your life up to this point where you actually wondered if what you did actually mattered?
00:21:47.920 --> 00:21:50.000
I would say there was a lot of times.
00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:50.880
Yeah.
00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:59.599
So many calls that we we go and go and go and and and take care of people, take them to the hospital, do whatever we needed.
00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:09.680
To do, and rarely was there any kind of expression of appreciation for what we were doing.
00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:16.160
And sometimes it was a little disheartening to think, wow, I keep doing all this stuff for these people.
00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:19.119
And it's rare that anyone ever says thanks.
00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:23.279
And sometimes it made me think, is it worth continuing on?
00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:27.839
Um, but a couple examples, two that I'm gonna share.
00:22:29.119 --> 00:22:32.559
First one was when we were able to deliver a new baby.
00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:34.640
What an exciting thing.
00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:42.960
And every year on that child's birthday, they would come to the station with cake.
00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:50.640
Oh, and sh let us see how they were growing and how they were developing.
00:22:51.119 --> 00:22:51.920
How special.
00:22:52.319 --> 00:23:07.920
They did that for like 20-something years, and they'd bring cake and visit with the fire guys and us, and we were able to see the fruits of our labor, and they wanted us to know how much they appreciated what we were able to do for them.
00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:16.720
The second one was a call on our prophet president, Spencer W.
00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:20.240
Kimball, who was having a health crisis.
00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:44.720
But watching him, he was more concerned about Camille, his wife, than himself, and that he had troubled us that we would have had to come out in the middle of the night to take care of him.
00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:58.480
To me, that was a true sh expression of love and concern for our fellow man and for others around us.
00:23:58.880 --> 00:24:01.519
And it was a great example to me.
00:24:01.839 --> 00:24:30.880
And those kind of things, and there's more, yeah, but those kind of things will happen eventually, yeah, and will take place, and will make it worth it and make you feel like it did matter, even though they may not have expressed it, that you are doing good, regardless of what you choose to do, saying hi to a friend, eating lunch with somebody at school, you know, not bullying, doing things that are positive.
00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:37.039
It does matter to those other people, yeah, and they may not express it, but it will make a difference.
00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:38.079
It really will.
00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:42.559
There are sometimes moments in everybody's life where they think no one is watching.
00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:49.759
I can I can look at this movie or uh look at this thing online, and and it doesn't matter.
00:24:50.000 --> 00:25:07.759
But if you want to be strong and you want to keep moving forward and show up for people like like Ron has for so many years of his life, it's so important that you're ready in those moments because it does matter.
00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:12.559
There's a temple recommend question that I feel really illustrates how much it matters.
00:25:12.640 --> 00:25:21.599
And the question is: do you follow the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ in your private and public behavior with members of your family and others?
00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:29.119
And Preach My Gospel puts it in terms that what you actually do with the mistake, whether people find out about it or not.
00:25:29.359 --> 00:25:35.759
And Jesus himself answers the question directly in the Sermon on the Mount about this exact scenario.
00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:44.400
He says that something good done in private that nobody else ever sees, God's not just watching to catch you.
00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:49.759
He's watching because he loves you and he wants you to be happy.
00:25:50.000 --> 00:26:00.640
It matters because when the real fire comes, whatever's already been built in you in those quiet years, that is what shows up.
00:26:00.880 --> 00:26:05.920
That's what made it so Ron had these special experiences to be able to show up.
00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:09.440
There's no faking it in the moment that it counts, right?
00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:10.000
No.
00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:12.400
You need to have been ready.
00:26:12.640 --> 00:26:15.039
And that's exactly what you've shown us, Ron.
00:26:15.119 --> 00:26:19.440
So thank you so much for showing us what it's like to live there.
00:26:19.519 --> 00:26:21.039
That my pleasure.
00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:23.599
Is there anything else that you'd like to share?
00:26:23.920 --> 00:26:36.640
No, I just know that um for me, that when I am following the principles and the covenants and promises that I've made, they are some of the happiest times of my life.
00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:43.599
And the joy that comes from that with family can't be measured.
00:26:44.319 --> 00:26:48.640
And for me, I I love King Benjamin.
00:26:49.119 --> 00:26:51.759
When you're in the service, you're a fellow man.
00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:55.039
Yeah, you're only in the service of your God.
00:26:55.920 --> 00:26:59.680
And that's kind of my motto in a way.
00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:01.440
And I love to serve.
00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:06.640
And you've lived that in your public life and your private life.
00:27:06.880 --> 00:27:13.440
You served the community and you've served your family, and that's been amazing to watch.
00:27:13.680 --> 00:27:15.599
Thank you for being such a great example.
00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:16.319
Welcome.
00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:17.359
Thank you.
00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:23.440
All right, your move this week.
00:27:23.680 --> 00:27:28.720
Find one place in your life where nobody would ever know whether you were living the gospel or not.
00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:41.599
It could be what you're watching when nobody's checking, or how you treat people when there's nothing in it for you, or how sincere you are in your private prayer or in your private studying of your scriptures.
00:27:41.839 --> 00:27:45.039
Pick one and live it out for a week.
00:27:45.279 --> 00:27:48.160
In those private moments, live the gospel.
00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:50.079
Don't tell anyone.
00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:53.680
Now, Ron didn't get a trophy for the years that nothing happened.
00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:58.720
He didn't even get a trophy for when when the years when things did happen.
00:27:58.960 --> 00:28:00.240
Neither will you.
00:28:00.559 --> 00:28:02.079
That's the whole point.
00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:08.160
At the end of this week, I want you to write down what you noticed.
00:28:08.640 --> 00:28:13.039
Are you now a stronger person of virtue?
00:28:13.279 --> 00:28:15.279
Are you a stripling warrior?
00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:18.880
Are you strong when no one is watching?
00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:26.240
I'd also like you to write down where Jesus Christ's strength showed up when yours ran out.
00:28:26.720 --> 00:28:31.519
And I love that the curriculum this month closes with this question.
00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:40.400
The question is: as you've studied this month, what have you learned about how the Savior helps you keep your body sacred?
00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:44.640
How does that help you accomplish his work?
00:28:45.200 --> 00:28:47.039
That's strong for this week.
00:28:47.279 --> 00:28:53.039
Remember, you are a beloved son or daughter of God, and he has a work for you to do.
00:28:53.279 --> 00:28:54.640
Go do it.
00:28:55.119 --> 00:28:59.920
I'd like to thank our sponsors, Jared and Holly Swain, for making Strong possible.
00:29:00.079 --> 00:29:00.799
Thank you.
00:29:01.119 --> 00:29:05.119
Visit strongyoutfoundation.com for episodes and more.
00:29:05.920 --> 00:29:07.279
See you next week.
00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:08.960
Welcome to Strong, where we follow for the Strength of Youth curriculum to help you get a little closer to Jesus Christ and a little more ready for what's ahead.
00:00:09.119 --> 00:00:12.320
The temple, a mission, and the life that you're building.
00:00:12.480 --> 00:00:14.080
I'm Kirby Hayborn.
00:00:19.440 --> 00:00:30.320
This week in your class, the For the Strength of Youth curriculum wraps up the month with Covenant Living, becoming a covenant daughter of God for the young women, and becoming a covenant son of God for the young men.
00:00:30.640 --> 00:00:31.839
So awesome.
00:00:32.159 --> 00:00:41.359
This is the week everything else this month has been pointing toward: being a covenant son or daughter of God, whether or not anyone's watching.
00:00:41.600 --> 00:00:46.240
The young women, you're looking at what it means to walk in the paths of virtue.
00:00:46.479 --> 00:00:52.799
Young men are looking at a group of soldiers who never once had someone standing over them, requiring it.
00:00:53.039 --> 00:00:56.399
They're different scriptures, but the same standard.
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Virtue and true at all times are both describing a person whose character doesn't change depending on who's in the room.
00:01:09.120 --> 00:01:10.799
Has this ever happened to you?
00:01:11.040 --> 00:01:14.879
You pay for something and somehow you get undercharged.
00:01:15.359 --> 00:01:16.879
Maybe it's the wrong tag.
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It was in the sales section when it shouldn't have been.
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The register, the person there made a mistake, whatever it is.
00:01:23.599 --> 00:01:26.239
And sometimes you don't catch it right at the counter.
00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:28.959
Sometimes you're already back in your car.
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That's happened to me so many times in my life.
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I looked at the receipt and I realized, wait a second, I was undercharged, but we were already out of the store.
00:01:38.480 --> 00:01:42.959
And I remember telling my wife once, sweet, look at this, we got a deal.
00:01:43.280 --> 00:01:46.400
And she's so amazing and so in tune.
00:01:46.560 --> 00:01:54.560
She said, You're welcome to do whatever you want, but is your soul worth the dollar that they undercharged you?
00:01:55.200 --> 00:01:58.560
And I said, Well, they're never really gonna know.
00:01:58.879 --> 00:02:00.560
I really don't want to go back in.
00:02:00.640 --> 00:02:02.959
It's embarrassing because it would be.
00:02:03.280 --> 00:02:04.719
But the thing is, I knew better.
00:02:04.799 --> 00:02:06.159
She knew I knew better.
00:02:06.400 --> 00:02:10.080
And I knew that my soul was more precious than rubies.
00:02:10.479 --> 00:02:13.520
So since then, I've gone back in.
00:02:13.759 --> 00:02:15.520
If that happens, I go back in.
00:02:15.599 --> 00:02:16.879
And it's happened more than once.
00:02:16.960 --> 00:02:23.120
And I'll admit, some part of me, I always expect like a big moment.
00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:27.360
Like I'd go up and I'd say, Oh, looks like you you undercharged me.
00:02:27.439 --> 00:02:30.479
I need to pay an extra dollar or 50 cents or$10.
00:02:30.800 --> 00:02:36.159
And if I did that, that they would act amazed and they'd they'd put me up on their shoulders and celebrate me.
00:02:36.319 --> 00:02:37.520
Good job, Kirby.
00:02:37.599 --> 00:02:38.879
You're so honest.
00:02:39.120 --> 00:02:41.199
Or maybe they would just tell me to keep it.
00:02:41.360 --> 00:02:42.240
Guess what?
00:02:42.479 --> 00:02:45.280
That is generally not what happens ever.
00:02:45.439 --> 00:02:54.639
Most of the time, somebody just says, okay, and they either fix it or they tell me, uh it's too much trouble to try to change it now.
00:02:54.719 --> 00:02:56.400
So we're not going to charge you.
00:02:56.560 --> 00:02:59.599
And a couple of times somebody's thanked me.
00:02:59.840 --> 00:03:01.360
Mostly, it's nothing.
00:03:01.439 --> 00:03:04.879
There's no moment, no hoisting up on their shoulders.
00:03:04.960 --> 00:03:06.159
It's it's just over.
00:03:06.319 --> 00:03:10.479
Nobody in the store would probably ever even know what happened.
00:03:10.879 --> 00:03:17.840
It turns out that most of the moments that shape who we are, they're they happen exactly like that one.
00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:24.400
They're small and they're quiet, and nobody cheering you for making the right choice.
00:03:24.560 --> 00:03:26.800
No hoisting whatsoever.
00:03:29.840 --> 00:03:31.680
Well, here's the thing.
00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:36.159
This whole month has been building toward one thing.
00:03:36.400 --> 00:03:37.680
Your body is sacred.
00:03:37.840 --> 00:03:45.840
So what you feed it, what you watch, what you do with it, especially in private, all of it matters to God.
00:03:46.159 --> 00:03:48.240
But here's the thing underneath all of it.
00:03:48.560 --> 00:03:52.800
None of it is really about what happens when people are watching.
00:03:53.039 --> 00:03:54.080
Elder Gary E.
00:03:54.240 --> 00:04:03.360
Stevenson said that what you choose to think and do when you are alone and you believe no one is watching is a strong measure of your virtue.
00:04:03.759 --> 00:04:07.280
He goes on to say, be courageous, be strong.
00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:13.360
Doctrine and Covenant says, Stand ye in holy places and be not moved.
00:04:14.319 --> 00:04:18.079
That principle doesn't stop with your body this month.
00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:22.240
It reaches into every covenant ahead of you.
00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:28.000
The promises that are tied to the temple, the promises tied to a mission call.
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Every one of those gets kept the same way this one does.
00:04:32.720 --> 00:04:39.759
Quietly, privately, consistently, whether or not anyone's watching.
00:04:52.560 --> 00:04:55.120
Ron, thank you so much for being here.
00:04:55.439 --> 00:05:03.920
You spent 45 years as a firefighter, 15 years as a uh the chief of firefighters.
00:05:04.160 --> 00:05:08.879
I don't understand how it all works, the hierarchy, but I'm so glad that you're here.
00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:18.639
Um, I wanted you to be here today because the 30 plus years that I've known you, you are an example of exactly what we're talking about this month.
00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:24.800
That you are an example of virtue behind the scenes.
00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:32.000
What's something in your career as a firefighter that really, really mattered that nobody really ever saw?
00:05:32.319 --> 00:05:34.879
You know, there's these individuals who call for help.
00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:39.519
They call 911 because they've got a situation that they can't deal with.
00:05:39.600 --> 00:05:40.639
They need help.
00:05:40.959 --> 00:05:53.199
And for me to recognize that it was an emergency to them was probably the biggest hurdle I had to get over, even though it seemed mundane and like, why did you call us?
00:05:53.439 --> 00:05:54.160
Oh, that's amazing.
00:05:54.319 --> 00:05:55.839
But that it was something that mattered to them.
00:05:59.600 --> 00:06:00.240
Yeah.
00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:02.079
Thank you so much.
00:06:02.399 --> 00:06:02.720
Okay.
00:06:03.600 --> 00:06:10.399
Ron's about to show me exactly what that costs, how to be able to sympathize with other people.
00:06:10.639 --> 00:06:16.639
Every year, your department ran a performance test that was really hard.
00:06:16.800 --> 00:06:21.279
As you were describing it to me, I was thinking there's no way any human being could do this.
00:06:21.600 --> 00:06:25.199
But I'm gonna try it and you're gonna coach me through it.
00:06:25.279 --> 00:06:27.600
And hopefully we'll see if I pass or a fail.
00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:34.000
There's there's nobody that comes in, you do it all alone, and it's just to prove that you're still ready, that you can do it for another year.
00:06:34.240 --> 00:06:36.879
So we're gonna do an abbreviated version of it.
00:06:37.120 --> 00:06:37.680
Sounds great.
00:06:37.839 --> 00:06:38.240
Do it.
00:06:38.399 --> 00:06:38.720
Okay.
00:06:42.720 --> 00:06:46.480
Because you've never done this before, we're scaling back a little bit.
00:06:46.639 --> 00:06:47.600
We don't want to hurt you.
00:06:48.240 --> 00:06:48.480
Okay.
00:06:48.879 --> 00:06:49.360
Fair enough.
00:06:49.439 --> 00:06:56.399
Okay, part of the test is we're gonna have you carry a load of hose, which is about 40 pounds on your shoulder, and you're gonna go up a hill.
00:06:56.560 --> 00:06:58.160
We go upstairs, you're gonna go up a hill.
00:06:58.240 --> 00:06:58.480
Okay.
00:06:58.720 --> 00:07:00.079
You've got 45 seconds.
00:07:00.240 --> 00:07:00.879
Go! Okay.
00:07:04.879 --> 00:07:05.759
Come on, Kirby.
00:07:05.839 --> 00:07:06.240
You got it.
00:07:06.480 --> 00:07:06.879
Here you go.
00:07:06.959 --> 00:07:07.439
Good job.
00:07:07.759 --> 00:07:08.240
Keep going.
00:07:09.439 --> 00:07:09.920
You've got it.
00:07:10.240 --> 00:07:11.120
You're doing great, Kirby.
00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:11.519
Oh my god.
00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:13.920
You gotta keep going.
00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:15.199
You only got 45 seconds.
00:07:15.439 --> 00:07:16.560
And you gotta come back in.
00:07:17.040 --> 00:07:17.839
Here we go.
00:07:19.279 --> 00:07:19.519
Kirby.
00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:24.319
44 seconds.
00:07:28.319 --> 00:07:28.560
Okay.
00:07:28.720 --> 00:07:29.360
Okay, Kirby.
00:07:29.519 --> 00:07:30.399
This is the crawl.
00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:31.279
This is the crawl.
00:07:31.360 --> 00:07:32.399
You gotta go over and under up.
00:07:32.720 --> 00:07:34.560
You gotta minute to do the mum.
00:07:42.959 --> 00:07:43.839
Put your head down.
00:07:44.319 --> 00:07:45.439
Put your head down, Kirby.
00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:46.480
You'll get it.
00:07:47.519 --> 00:07:48.800
Put the under the ground.
00:07:49.120 --> 00:07:49.600
There you go.
00:07:50.079 --> 00:07:51.120
Good job, okay.
00:07:52.319 --> 00:07:53.199
Here we go.
00:07:53.439 --> 00:07:55.120
I mean, come under it.
00:07:57.120 --> 00:07:58.399
You're doing great, Kirby.
00:07:58.639 --> 00:08:00.319
You almost understand that's the hardest part.
00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:02.319
I mean, come on back under again.
00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:04.079
You got about 10 seconds, Kirby.
00:08:04.720 --> 00:08:05.759
Come on, Kirby.
00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:09.759
Five, four, three, two, one.
00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:12.720
You did it.
00:08:13.759 --> 00:08:14.720
You wanna go home now?
00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:16.000
I wanna go home.
00:08:16.319 --> 00:08:18.000
Sorry, we got more to do.
00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:19.920
So this is a dummy drag.
00:08:20.160 --> 00:08:24.720
Uh usually we have about a 130-pound, 140-pound stuffed dummy.
00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:28.480
So I don't have a dummy, but I do have 60 potatoes.
00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:29.600
60 pounds of potatoes.
00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:31.920
Yeah, but we're gonna just have you carry them.
00:08:37.279 --> 00:08:39.120
Go, come on, come on, we come up.
00:08:39.840 --> 00:08:40.240
Come on.
00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:41.840
Come in the piss.
00:08:42.240 --> 00:08:43.200
Come on in the picture.
00:08:43.679 --> 00:08:44.240
Hang in there.
00:08:44.399 --> 00:08:44.799
Here we go.
00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:45.600
Hang in there.
00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:50.480
42 seconds! 42 seconds.
00:08:50.720 --> 00:08:51.519
We did it.
00:08:51.679 --> 00:08:52.240
Good job.
00:08:52.399 --> 00:08:53.360
I'm amazing.
00:08:53.519 --> 00:08:54.879
This is a hose drag.
00:08:55.039 --> 00:08:55.759
150.
00:08:56.159 --> 00:08:57.279
You're gonna pick the hose up.
00:08:57.519 --> 00:08:58.720
And this has water in it?
00:08:58.960 --> 00:08:59.440
It does.
00:08:59.600 --> 00:09:01.759
It's not completely full, but it's because it's for me.
00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:02.639
For you.
00:09:02.799 --> 00:09:04.480
You're doing phenomenal so far.
00:09:04.960 --> 00:09:08.159
I know it's hard, but you're you're hanging in there, you're doing great.
00:09:08.399 --> 00:09:08.639
Go.
00:09:11.840 --> 00:09:12.720
Come on, Kirby.
00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:13.360
Come on.
00:09:15.919 --> 00:09:16.960
Come on, Kirby.
00:09:17.440 --> 00:09:18.559
Stop, Kirby.
00:09:18.960 --> 00:09:19.679
Come on.
00:09:21.679 --> 00:09:22.799
You're halfway there.
00:09:23.120 --> 00:09:24.080
You're halfway there.
00:09:25.279 --> 00:09:27.200
Come on, another last part of the harvest.
00:09:27.519 --> 00:09:28.480
You're almost there.
00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:29.679
Come on, Kirby.
00:09:30.240 --> 00:09:35.519
Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go he's out.
00:09:36.240 --> 00:09:39.679
Do we need to call it AMT or the paramedics?
00:09:40.080 --> 00:09:40.399
Okay.
00:09:40.960 --> 00:09:42.799
I'm all done and I'm all sweaty.
00:09:42.960 --> 00:09:44.399
I'm sure you are seeing it.
00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:45.360
So this is the thing.
00:09:45.600 --> 00:09:53.279
People that you're rescuing, uh the the and and even other uh people in the fire department weren't there to watch you.
00:09:53.360 --> 00:09:56.480
You did this, the standard stayed the same, no matter what.
00:09:56.639 --> 00:09:56.879
It did.
00:09:57.279 --> 00:10:00.159
Whether people were watching, no matter the age, right?
00:10:00.320 --> 00:10:02.000
If people were watching, it didn't matter.
00:10:02.159 --> 00:10:07.679
The majority of people, including me, don't even know that this happens, but it has to happen, and you do it all the time.
00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:09.759
So here's the important thing.
00:10:10.080 --> 00:10:11.120
Did I pass?
00:10:12.559 --> 00:10:15.440
For our standards that we set here, yes.
00:10:15.679 --> 00:10:19.200
Okay, however, you would not have a job tomorrow.
00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:20.559
I'm sorry to say.
00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:21.039
Thanks.
00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:22.080
Let's go talk about this.
00:10:22.240 --> 00:10:24.080
Okay, you're awesome.
00:10:26.559 --> 00:10:28.559
So, Ron, thank you for putting me through that.
00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:31.840
It it was hard, um, but I did it.
00:10:31.919 --> 00:10:34.320
And I love that you just believed in me the whole time.
00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:34.799
Thank you.
00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:35.360
Yeah.
00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:37.039
What else is there?
00:10:37.440 --> 00:10:38.879
Yeah, you have to believe in people.
00:10:39.200 --> 00:10:39.600
Exactly.
00:10:39.679 --> 00:10:44.559
And that's something that you have done so well, and that I've seen just in your regular life too.
00:10:44.720 --> 00:10:55.440
You and your wife Karen have opened your home numerous times, um, yet more than once, to help people as they are going through a difficult time.
00:10:56.000 --> 00:11:03.200
Um, the rest of the world never saw that, but it made a huge impact on the people that you helped.
00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:06.879
I I would love to know what made you say yes.
00:11:08.639 --> 00:11:14.399
Well, Karen and I certainly recognize that you know there are people out who struggle.
00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:23.200
And we we could see the struggles that some of those individuals were having and how important it was to do whatever we could.
00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:30.960
And we certainly had the means to help in some of those situations and bring them into our home and and let them live with us.
00:11:31.200 --> 00:11:34.080
And uh it was that and our kids.
00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:44.799
Our kids were just as open to walking them and making them a part of the family, yeah, and uh making them come to a scripture study, making them come for family prayer, all that stuff.
00:11:45.120 --> 00:11:47.600
Even when it didn't work in them, it really did.
00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:48.320
Yeah.
00:11:48.799 --> 00:11:56.720
Proverbs chapter 31, it describes a woman that's and she's almost entirely through what she does when nobody's watching.
00:11:56.879 --> 00:12:02.960
She's up before dawn, she's working late into the night, and nobody's scoring her for while it's happening.
00:12:03.200 --> 00:12:06.080
In verse 10, it says, Who can find a virtuous woman?
00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:09.840
One of the most beautiful scriptures, for her price is far above rubies.
00:12:09.919 --> 00:12:14.080
It's talking about this woman who is doing things when no one was watching.
00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:19.759
So the Lord gives Emma Smith almost the same instruction directly in Doctrine and Covenants, section 25.
00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:23.120
He says, Walk in the paths of virtue before me.
00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:28.559
And then he says, continue in the spirit of meekness and be aware of pride.
00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:35.759
God gave Emma that instruction to live it out privately, long before anyone else would ever know about it.
00:12:35.919 --> 00:12:42.399
That also has to do with it, talks to her about how important music is, which is why I love that section.
00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:45.440
Ron just gave you a modern version of the same thing.
00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:53.919
Whoever you're becoming in that kind of private consistency right now is exactly who steps into a marriage and a family later.
00:12:54.080 --> 00:12:59.679
The people who end up closest to you are the ones who find out who you really are.
00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:14.159
So, Ron, between the fire department and your own house, was there ever a stretch when both were asking a lot from you, the department, your home, and asking everything of you at the same time.
00:13:14.559 --> 00:13:18.799
How, if there was, how did you keep showing up for both?
00:13:19.279 --> 00:13:22.000
Honestly, there was quite regularly.
00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:23.440
I mean, it happened all the time.
00:13:23.519 --> 00:13:26.159
I mean, life is full of challenges and struggles.
00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:26.480
Yeah.
00:13:26.639 --> 00:13:27.759
We all deal with them.
00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:29.679
And not just work and home.
00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:34.080
I mean, there's things outside, there's church obligations, there's neighbors.
00:13:34.320 --> 00:13:58.559
But I think the one thing that um made a difference for Karen, who is that Ruby to me, it's that we had a covenant marriage and that we had those uh promises made that if we cleave to one another and support one another and are there for one another, that we will be blessed.
00:13:59.039 --> 00:14:00.000
It wasn't easy.
00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:04.720
Some days we find that we just took one day at a time, yeah, because that's all you could do.
00:14:05.039 --> 00:14:14.879
Because if you looked beyond that, you would crash, you would just not be able to comprehend that you would ever get through it.
00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:17.600
So sometimes it came down to just simply that.
00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:18.639
Just do one day.
00:14:19.039 --> 00:14:19.519
I love that.
00:14:19.840 --> 00:14:31.120
Do you feel that because you had that confidence from your covenants you made with Karen that you were able to show up better as a fireman, as a fire chief?
00:14:32.399 --> 00:14:32.879
Yes.
00:14:33.360 --> 00:14:33.679
Yeah.
00:14:34.080 --> 00:14:34.399
Yeah.
00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:35.440
Absolutely.
00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:40.559
The culture of the fire department sometimes can be very challenging.
00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:56.080
You know, there's cursing, there's smoking, and there's um disrespect for the human race sometimes and the things that they would say and do, and and to be there amongst that became really challenging.
00:14:56.240 --> 00:14:59.360
I mean, it was being in the world, yeah.
00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:09.600
But to know the covenants I had made and the promises I had made, I knew that I couldn't become a part of that.
00:15:10.159 --> 00:15:15.840
And there were times when I was made fun of and kind of ridiculed for my beliefs.
00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:29.679
But on the other side of that, when I was remaining faithful and true to the covenants I had made, so many of them respected that.
00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:40.000
And with that respect, we developed a trust that no matter what they expected of me or asked of me, they knew that I would step forward.
00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:50.080
They knew that I was uh uh a man of integrity because I've stayed true to those covenants and promises that I'd made.
00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:56.879
And Alma 53, it doesn't say that the Stripling Warriors were brave once the fighting started, right?
00:15:57.039 --> 00:16:06.720
It says that they were true at all times and whatsoever thing they were entrusted, just like you were, when you were at home or when you were at the fire station.
00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:12.559
It means that that the training happened, they were ready for it, even on days when nothing happened.
00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:23.200
I'm sure there were days at the fire station where nothing happened, but you still had to be ready to go out and do to save lives and to battle the fires.
00:16:23.360 --> 00:16:34.879
Um, but these tripling warriors, there were no battles, there were no tests, and they were just the regular ordinary days at home that made it so they were ready when the time came.
00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:39.039
Um later in Alma 56, their commander writes about them directly.
00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:43.519
He says that they didn't fight because someone was standing over them, giving them the order in the moment.
00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:52.159
They fought on the strength of something that they'd been taught long before in private by their mothers with no army watching.
00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:59.840
Is there a shift for you, Ron, that really sticks out to you that maybe hardly anybody knows about?
00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:08.880
Yeah, um there's several that are, you know, right there that come to mind quite quite readily.
00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:09.200
Yeah.
00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:13.599
And uh unfortunately they recall that dealt with young children.
00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:24.640
And uh and and the challenge and and trying to save these children's lives and not succeeding.
00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:33.200
Became very challenging.
00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:37.680
Because the people you're working with sometimes they just move on.
00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:39.519
It's like it's just another call.
00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:47.200
But fortunately, I had the best sounding board at all with your wife.
00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:52.000
And we would hash these calls out and talk about them.
00:17:52.400 --> 00:18:00.240
You would come home after all of your training and knowing how to do it, and and it just didn't go how you wanted, you would come home and talk with her.
00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:01.039
Yeah.
00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:05.119
And and no one knew how hard it was.
00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:12.960
But knowing that I had that friendship with Karen made all the difference.
00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:23.200
It it helped me walk through the valley and the shadow of death and get through those things that were tearing me up, that were hard.
00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:42.319
And I'll have to admit that it was also through prayer and and my faith and knowing that there was a true real God and that he had and will save them, and then they will be uh able to live again.
00:18:42.559 --> 00:18:59.279
And knowing those principles and knowing that we have that as a gospel, it's it was a godsend to help me manage that despair and grief that I seem to be going through at times along with Karen.
00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:03.920
Nobody sees that beautiful moment that you would have had with Karen.
00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:09.680
But that's exactly like the Stripling Warriors going back to their mothers.
00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:16.160
There, they learn from their mothers, you learn from your wife, and you you get that that strength.
00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:25.440
And I think that's what the Stripling Warriors felt too the strength in their covenants, and you have that covenant with your wife, yes, it brings you that strength.
00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:28.720
So true, so true, and it's so beautiful.
00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:35.839
It's it's the same readiness that you are going to need when you're called on a mission.
00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:42.480
You're gonna be asked to do things, to live a certain way when no one is watching.
00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:47.680
How you prepare now is how you're going to show up when it really matters.
00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:50.079
How are you on a regular day?
00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:56.160
Are you ready to get up and wield the sword of truth?
00:19:56.400 --> 00:20:00.559
Years of showing up like that, it doesn't run on willpower alone.
00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:03.119
Now I've got a question for you.
00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:07.039
Have you ever almost done something that you'd regret?
00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:09.680
Something that only you would have known about?
00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:12.400
I want to know what stopped you.
00:20:13.119 --> 00:20:24.960
There was a time where someone asked me to do something I did not feel comfortable with, and I had to think from an eternal perspective how this would affect me and my life.
00:20:25.119 --> 00:20:32.720
And the spirit told me, stop and think about what you're gonna do, and how will this affect you and the people around you?
00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:36.480
And that is what stopped me from doing something I would not want to do.
00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:46.480
I was taught by someone that before you do something that you're unsure of is right or wrong, think, would your grandma do this or your mom do this?
00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:50.240
And if the answer is no, then you probably shouldn't do that.
00:20:50.319 --> 00:20:53.759
But if the answer is yes, then you can go ahead and do it.
00:20:53.920 --> 00:20:55.200
So that's what I did.
00:20:55.359 --> 00:20:57.200
And I call that the grandma test.
00:20:57.839 --> 00:21:01.200
Now, Ron, this is a question from a real youth.
00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:09.920
We have um youth send in questions that uh maybe they're too afraid to ask in their class or quorum.
00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:12.480
And this one, it's a big one.
00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:19.839
Um, and I think it goes deep to the heart of you, who you are, and and being um a firefighter.
00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:26.079
The question is, does it even matter if no one ever finds out?
00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:30.319
Now, you heard me talk earlier about how I wrestled with that one.
00:21:30.400 --> 00:21:35.680
You know, a dollar is a small thing, but what it says about you isn't.
00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:46.319
Was there ever a time, Ron, in in your career or in your life up to this point where you actually wondered if what you did actually mattered?
00:21:47.920 --> 00:21:50.000
I would say there was a lot of times.
00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:50.880
Yeah.
00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:59.599
So many calls that we we go and go and go and and and take care of people, take them to the hospital, do whatever we needed.
00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:09.680
To do, and rarely was there any kind of expression of appreciation for what we were doing.
00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:16.160
And sometimes it was a little disheartening to think, wow, I keep doing all this stuff for these people.
00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:19.119
And it's rare that anyone ever says thanks.
00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:23.279
And sometimes it made me think, is it worth continuing on?
00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:27.839
Um, but a couple examples, two that I'm gonna share.
00:22:29.119 --> 00:22:32.559
First one was when we were able to deliver a new baby.
00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:34.640
What an exciting thing.
00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:42.960
And every year on that child's birthday, they would come to the station with cake.
00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:50.640
Oh, and sh let us see how they were growing and how they were developing.
00:22:51.119 --> 00:22:51.920
How special.
00:22:52.319 --> 00:23:07.920
They did that for like 20-something years, and they'd bring cake and visit with the fire guys and us, and we were able to see the fruits of our labor, and they wanted us to know how much they appreciated what we were able to do for them.
00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:16.720
The second one was a call on our prophet president, Spencer W.
00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:20.240
Kimball, who was having a health crisis.
00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:44.720
But watching him, he was more concerned about Camille, his wife, than himself, and that he had troubled us that we would have had to come out in the middle of the night to take care of him.
00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:58.480
To me, that was a true sh expression of love and concern for our fellow man and for others around us.
00:23:58.880 --> 00:24:01.519
And it was a great example to me.
00:24:01.839 --> 00:24:30.880
And those kind of things, and there's more, yeah, but those kind of things will happen eventually, yeah, and will take place, and will make it worth it and make you feel like it did matter, even though they may not have expressed it, that you are doing good, regardless of what you choose to do, saying hi to a friend, eating lunch with somebody at school, you know, not bullying, doing things that are positive.
00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:37.039
It does matter to those other people, yeah, and they may not express it, but it will make a difference.
00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:38.079
It really will.
00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:42.559
There are sometimes moments in everybody's life where they think no one is watching.
00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:49.759
I can I can look at this movie or uh look at this thing online, and and it doesn't matter.
00:24:50.000 --> 00:25:07.759
But if you want to be strong and you want to keep moving forward and show up for people like like Ron has for so many years of his life, it's so important that you're ready in those moments because it does matter.
00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:12.559
There's a temple recommend question that I feel really illustrates how much it matters.
00:25:12.640 --> 00:25:21.599
And the question is: do you follow the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ in your private and public behavior with members of your family and others?
00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:29.119
And Preach My Gospel puts it in terms that what you actually do with the mistake, whether people find out about it or not.
00:25:29.359 --> 00:25:35.759
And Jesus himself answers the question directly in the Sermon on the Mount about this exact scenario.
00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:44.400
He says that something good done in private that nobody else ever sees, God's not just watching to catch you.
00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:49.759
He's watching because he loves you and he wants you to be happy.
00:25:50.000 --> 00:26:00.640
It matters because when the real fire comes, whatever's already been built in you in those quiet years, that is what shows up.
00:26:00.880 --> 00:26:05.920
That's what made it so Ron had these special experiences to be able to show up.
00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:09.440
There's no faking it in the moment that it counts, right?
00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:10.000
No.
00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:12.400
You need to have been ready.
00:26:12.640 --> 00:26:15.039
And that's exactly what you've shown us, Ron.
00:26:15.119 --> 00:26:19.440
So thank you so much for showing us what it's like to live there.
00:26:19.519 --> 00:26:21.039
That my pleasure.
00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:23.599
Is there anything else that you'd like to share?
00:26:23.920 --> 00:26:36.640
No, I just know that um for me, that when I am following the principles and the covenants and promises that I've made, they are some of the happiest times of my life.
00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:43.599
And the joy that comes from that with family can't be measured.
00:26:44.319 --> 00:26:48.640
And for me, I I love King Benjamin.
00:26:49.119 --> 00:26:51.759
When you're in the service, you're a fellow man.
00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:55.039
Yeah, you're only in the service of your God.
00:26:55.920 --> 00:26:59.680
And that's kind of my motto in a way.
00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:01.440
And I love to serve.
00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:06.640
And you've lived that in your public life and your private life.
00:27:06.880 --> 00:27:13.440
You served the community and you've served your family, and that's been amazing to watch.
00:27:13.680 --> 00:27:15.599
Thank you for being such a great example.
00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:16.319
Welcome.
00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:17.359
Thank you.
00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:23.440
All right, your move this week.
00:27:23.680 --> 00:27:28.720
Find one place in your life where nobody would ever know whether you were living the gospel or not.
00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:41.599
It could be what you're watching when nobody's checking, or how you treat people when there's nothing in it for you, or how sincere you are in your private prayer or in your private studying of your scriptures.
00:27:41.839 --> 00:27:45.039
Pick one and live it out for a week.
00:27:45.279 --> 00:27:48.160
In those private moments, live the gospel.
00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:50.079
Don't tell anyone.
00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:53.680
Now, Ron didn't get a trophy for the years that nothing happened.
00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:58.720
He didn't even get a trophy for when when the years when things did happen.
00:27:58.960 --> 00:28:00.240
Neither will you.
00:28:00.559 --> 00:28:02.079
That's the whole point.
00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:08.160
At the end of this week, I want you to write down what you noticed.
00:28:08.640 --> 00:28:13.039
Are you now a stronger person of virtue?
00:28:13.279 --> 00:28:15.279
Are you a stripling warrior?
00:28:15.519 --> 00:28:18.880
Are you strong when no one is watching?
00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:26.240
I'd also like you to write down where Jesus Christ's strength showed up when yours ran out.
00:28:26.720 --> 00:28:31.519
And I love that the curriculum this month closes with this question.
00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:40.400
The question is: as you've studied this month, what have you learned about how the Savior helps you keep your body sacred?
00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:44.640
How does that help you accomplish his work?
00:28:45.200 --> 00:28:47.039
That's strong for this week.
00:28:47.279 --> 00:28:53.039
Remember, you are a beloved son or daughter of God, and he has a work for you to do.
00:28:53.279 --> 00:28:54.640
Go do it.
00:28:55.119 --> 00:28:59.920
I'd like to thank our sponsors, Jared and Holly Swain, for making Strong possible.
00:29:00.079 --> 00:29:00.799
Thank you.
00:29:01.119 --> 00:29:05.119
Visit strongyoutfoundation.com for episodes and more.
00:29:05.920 --> 00:29:07.279
See you next week.
