BYU Experience (7)

Although this is not my first semester at BYU, at times I feel as if it were. I'm having a hard time making time for homework. I think in reality it's just my fault for deciding to do other things instead of actually doing my homework. I'm not quite sure why this is or what has gotten into me but I know that I've got to change this if I want to be able to pass my classes, which is why I'm here right. I need a good education! I guess you could say this is my mid-semester resolution to just hunker down, become a hermit if I have to, and get my stinkin' homework done!

Family Research Paper (6)

Looking back at the opportunity I've had to write this paper about my great-great-great grandfather, Benjamin Perkins, I have been able to grow in my writing capabilities and grow closer to my family.

It may be sad to state that this has been the longest paper I have ever written, but writing has never really been my favorite pastime, nor one of my strengths. I was able to learn how to do more in depth research to find the information needed to bring Ben's story to life. At times I would think that I had gathered enough information and had written all that I could about it but then I would see where I was at and what the requirement was and I still had more to go. It helped me push myself in a way that I don't normally do, which, not being the most comfortable experience, helped me learn and stretch my capabilities.

In knowing his story and learning about Benjamin Perkins, I feel a connection to the past that I had never felt before. In researching, I was able to get to know him better which is an awesome experience. I know about the accomplishments he achieved and that gives me hope to also be able to reach my goals and pass through trials helping others just like he did. It's in my blood, I know I can do it. 

Analysis on "Is it I?" by President Uchtdorf in the October, 2014 General Conference (5)

One of my favorite things of all time is that every six months I get the opportunity to listen to the Prophet and the Apostles who speak about different things we can do to improve our lives.

This October, 2014, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave a talk entitled "Is it I?" at the Saturday evening Priesthood Session. In this talk, Uchtdorf helps us understand how important it is to analyse our lives instead of the lives of others by using parables with pathos to teach his point.

The first parable that Uchtdorf uses is that of a beautiful yard: "This neighbor kept his lawn perfectly manicured, flowers always in bloom, the trees healthy and shady. It was obvious that the neighbor made every effort to have a beautiful lawn." He later goes on to explain how another neighbor notices a dandelion in the yard and thinks of all the things he can do to remove it and judges the neighbor even though his own yard is full of dandelions: "These thoughts totally occupied his mind as he walked toward his own home. He entered his house without even glancing at his own front yard—which was blanketed with hundreds of yellow dandelions." This is a story that everyone can relate to which creates pathos and helps the audience understand how many times we judge others by their small imperfections when we don't realize our own problems are considerably larger.


Another parable that Uchtdorf  uses is one from the Bible that the Savior Himself taught: "Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? …

“… First cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye." (Matthew 7: 3,5) This shows how hard it is for us to help others with their problems when we ignore our own. In this parable it would be impossible to help someone remove a mote from their eye if in our own eye we have a beam and cannot see clearly.

From the few points we looked at we can see how President Uchtdorf uses parables to gain pathos to teach.

Thinking About My Ancestors (4)

My grandmother has always told me stories about how our ancestors came through The Hole in the Rock to go south and settle Southern Utah. I've heard the story a million times... well mostly that it had happened more than anything else, but I feel it's time that I've learned the actual details. I know that they were part of the explosive team to blast through the rock but I want to know, why did they go? How did they do it? What kinds of explosives did they use? Was it dangerous? How did they learn to use explosives? Who did they go with? I am going to embark on the quest to find these details (ask grandma what's up). I'll keep all y'alls posted!

Thesis:

My great-great-great grandfather, Benjamin Perkins, was an excellent man because he followed the Prophet, served others, and was a hard worker.

Reflection on Writing Them Sweet Papes (3)

As a college student I have had a number of opportunities to write papers, essays, short stories, etc. Throughout my entire life, writing has been the bane of my existence and I have always been able to throw in a few good complaints about why I don't want to do it. That being said, I am learning how to just suck it up and deal with it. I recently wrote a rhetorical analysis paper on the speech The Great Society by President Lyndon Baines Johnson. In this experience, writing the paper wasn't as bad as I expected. Due to and overload of homework from a few of my other classes, it was a little difficult to get it started but all in all it was a good experience. I've never really analyzed a speech and it was interesting to do so and see what there is to learn a far as that goes. I was able to learn that Johnson was a very persuasive speaker and used rhetoric successfully.

The Stories That Bind Us (2)

In the New York Times article "The Stories That Bind Us" it talks about how sharing family stories and traditions will help families be stronger and plow through the trials that come into their lives. This is a very interesting subject to me and from personal experience I have been able to see that it holds true. In my family, we have many traditions that have been reoccurring throughout many years. We also share stories with each other about our ancestors both distant and close. Through these stories and traditions, my family has become very close and when trials come we stand together and are able to face them.

The Intro (1)

I am Chazzybob, Charles Robert Sampson, and this is my life at BYU.

I recently read a talk by Elder Bednar entitled "Things As They Really Are". Bednar talks about how in this day and age technology is changing very rapidly and it effects the lifestyle of many people and has even created a false sense of life. The reality of virtual reality is, in a few cases, very disturbing. He explains how we must control our use of technology and social media as to not lose our real identity to a false avatar. The best way to achieve this is to always be true and honest in what we say and post online and to always participate in uplifting and wholesome entertainment. Through this blog I hope to help in these aspects, to explain things as they really are and to help others find appropriate ways to entertian themselves and not waste time.