- Jacob 3:9… Evaluate yourself, not others
- April 30th, 1995 – Sunday. Quito Ecuador… “I just got finished thinking a bit. For a good while before I was a little scared inside because I wasn’t being as obedient as I know I should’ve been. I would think a lot of the scriptures, and how the men would always receive punishments or tough trials when they weren’t righteous. They would receive these things to be reminded of the Lord & to be humbled. I was always scared that something would happen to me to frighten me to repent, or humble me to repent. At times I even asked for an experience that would change my attitude, that would help me to drop a lot of my carnal desires & sins. Well, the Lord did answer me. Because Elder Norris told me that experience of Satan which helped to make a change for the better. But I still wasn’t even close. I still had an inner feeling and knowledge that I had to change even more. Well, I kind of put it in the back of my mind, justifying my little sins – I mean, I was spiritually strong enough – Right?? Yesterday, right when I saw that poor kid dead in the street, a song entered my head that said “Do you hear me? I can feel you near me. It’s the answer that I’ve been longing for.” Seeing this boy woke me up. It was the answer that I was needing. It hurts me to think that I didn’t have the common sense or strength enough to repent for myself. The Lord had to humble me through this experience. It’s sad for me to think that one of the reasons for this kid’s death was to help me to re-evaluate my life and repent of the picky things that in my mind weren’t too big of a deal.”