Semper Fidelis

The Few. The Proud. 

Marine Week Boston 2010

We went to Family Day at Moakley Park during Marine Week here in Boston.  I was very entertained by all of the people around, and Luke enjoyed grilling the marines and inspecting all of the combat equipment. Due to two unexpected circumstances - a dead camera battery and an ironically timed freak hail storm - I don't have any photos of the Silent Drill Platoon.  I was, however, able to get a few good shots of the Marine Corps Band and some wonderfully characteristic onlookers.  Shout out to dad, Chris, and all the other amazing military men in my life!

We don't ask for anything more than everything you've got. 

And we will let you know when you've given it.

You will be measured not by what you have, but by how much of yourself you're willing to give.

Not by your ability to pull yourself up, but by your commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder.

Not by your strength, but by your honor.

You will not be given anything other than the opportunity to prove that you have the courage to stand 
on an impenetrable line of  soldiers stretching 234 years.

Our title is earned, never given.

And what's earned is yours forever.

-Recruitment Manifesto

Valuable Vision

If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.

-Wayne Dyer

I read this scripture the other day....

"...and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished." - 1 Nephi 17:41

and I started thinking....

What does it mean to look?

By dictionary definition, the word look is both a noun and a verb-

: to exercise the power of vision, to seek, to examine, to expect, to make sure, to have the appearance or likelihood of being, to take care of, to await with hope, to have a specified outlook, to have an appearance that befits or accords with, the expression of the countenance, to show a tendency, to consider, to anticipate with pleasure or satisfaction, to direct one's attention to, to rely upon.

By scriptural definition, to look is an action and state of being necessary to our salvation-

"Look for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing;"  - Titus 2:13

"...unto them that look for him shall he appear."  - Heb. 9:28

"...look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ."  - Jude 1:21

"...look forward unto Christ..."  - 2 Nephi 26:8

"Do you look forward...to stand before God;"  - Alma 5:15

"Look unto me in every thought;"  - D&C 6:36

"...look forth for the time of my coming..."  - D&C 35:15

"...the Lord said...lift up your heart, and be glad, and look." 
- Moses 7:44 

I decided that I would try to better understand the spiritual sense of looking by exercising the power of  my physical vision. So I took a walk around the Arboretum while it was in the full bloom of spring.  But what, exactly, was I looking for?

"...all things are created and made to bear record of me, both things which are temporal and things which are spiritual; things which are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth, and things which are in the earth, and things which are under the earth, both above and beneath: all things bear record of me." 

- Moses 6:63

I think I'm beginning to see...

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.

-Albert Einstein

A man should look for what is, and not for what he thinks should be.

-Albert Einstein

Visibility does not equate to value.

- Howard W. Hunter

It is always wise to look ahead, but difficult to look further than you can see. 

It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link of the chain of destiny can be handled at a time.

-Winston Churchill