Hole 5: The Short Game, Par 4, 280 yds.

So at this point you have your drive down. You are sitting pretty good in the middle of the fairway looking at about 50 yards to go to the hole. Every golfer knows this stretch is one of the most important in golf. Pros pay through the roof for trainers who can help them get more accurate in close range.  In fact, all great pros make it count in the short game. In order to master the short game you need to master the chip shot, the pitch shot, the sand shot and the putt.  If you can do that, you will see your your ball on the green sooner. And your score will drastically improve.

Similarly in life, the small swings make all th difference. As we do the little things we can grow spiritually to a level that we can't understand right now. In Alma 37, Alma testifies to Helaman that "by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls."

So that is the big secret. Small things like reading your scriptures and praying make all the difference. As we do the small things in our lives, the lord will bless us with great things. Most people believe that God will strike them with lightning to reveal truth to them, but God proves time and time again that he will testify by the still, small voice.  So here's the big secret! Do the small thing by reading the Book of Mormon. And see if you feel the truh of the book! Do The Small Thing!!!! Click Here!!!!!

Hole 4: Par 4, 340 yds.

So you reached hole 4. at this point, you are used to the course and you are used to your swing. This about when the identity crisis sets in. You realize that based on your score you are just an ordinary joe-schmoe golfer. identity crisis is a very real issue for the human race. We all want to know who we are and who we have the potential of becoming. but many times in the mundane holes of the course of life we lose sight of our potential. I think about many of the movie of the day. One in particular, Shrek, is about an ogre who over the years has been content with the label he has received and is content that he is alone. He doesn't recognize his identity crisis until he meets an over-talkative donkey. It is there that we learn of Shrek's struggle with self. Donkey doesn't see Shrek how the world sees him. Donkey wants Shrek to be happy. Donkey tries throughout the movie to help Shrek see his full potential.

This identity crisis is similar to our own. Only our Savior Jesus Christ plays the role of donkey in our struggle for self. Paul in the New Testament tells us about our potential with Christ in Romans 8:16-17, which read, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." Because we are children of our heavenly Father we have the potential to become like him. but we need to realize the potential of the Gospel in our lives. That's why Christ suffered and died for us and rose again for us. Because he wants to help us realize our potential. I testify that we are sons and daughters of God and that he is our Father. I know that if we are faithful in our lives that we will learn how to become like him.

Hole #3: Par 3, 115 yards.

In Golf, most golfers know how rare it is to get a hole in one. The lucrative eagle on a par 3 hole is much sought after. The average golfer has odds of 12,500 to 1 of making a hole in one. So as you can see, the odds are stacked against you. but we do know that it does happen. Many pro have made holes in one.  So there must be something that makes golfers more likely to get holes-in-one. Experience. Every time a golfer plays and practices and works on his accuracy, He grows more and more likely to make the hole in one.                

Similarly in our lives we need to learn how to identify the prompting of the Spirit and to act upon them. It isn't easy to recognize the things that come from the Spirit verses our thoughts. in Moroni 7:13-17 we learn, "But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God. Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil. For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night. For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.

 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him."

I testify that as we practice recognizing the promptings of the Holy ghost and acting on them we will be more likely to respond to a promptings. while promptings aren't as rare as holes-in-one, it is harder to take an opportunity to act on a prompting from the Spirit.

Dealing with trials Hole #2: 540 yd. Par 5

Just when you feel like you have warmed up, the very next hole proves to be a test. When you get to the hole, you notice three things. According to the map, sand surrounds the green. The next thing you notice is the large body of water sitting next to the fairway along its right side. The last thing you see is that it is a dogleg right almost 90 degrees. As your partner tees it off, you think to yourself, Why me? Now it's your turn. What are you going to do? turn and run? give up? At this point there is really only one thing you can do. Go forward and hit the ball. You ask yourself how this relates to life and the Gospel. Well let me tell you.

Life is the same way. Just when we feel like we've warmed up, Heavenly Father allows us to go through some pretty, difficult trials. The trials are catered to us and are really easy. In order to reach our full potential, we need to go through trials. What will we do? Run? Hide? We can't! Will we wallow in self pity? We can't! The prophet Nephi says in 2 Nephi 31:20: "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." As we press forward we allow the Savior into our live who, as the prophet Alma said, has "gone forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people." I know that pressing forward through trials isn't easy. But just like overcoming obstacles on a golf course brings a sense of accomplishment, that same sense of accomplishment can e felt as we press forward in Christ Jesus.

Take a Swing At Golf: Warming up with Hole 1 365 yd. Par 4

Imagine if you will a brisk spring morning, 7:45 am. The dew has set in, and the fog is rolling out. A crisp, new green has come over the grass.  You pull out your driver, a ball, and a tee. You pick your favorite ball, a Srixon. You do some stretching and take a few practice  swings. Finally, you step up to the ball and take a swing. You hook the ball right into the trees on the left side. LOST! You grab an old, junky ball thinking you will do the same. As you come through on your swing you know that it was a great hit, sending your ball about 200 yards down the course. You mark and wash your old, junky ball now covered in mud and freshly-cut grass. You pull out a 5-iron, take a practice swing, and hit the ball another  125 yards. You walk up to your cart and grab your 56 degree wedge and your putter. You get up to your ball, and realize that it is in the SAND! You hop into the bunker and set up to get your ball out. First time it pops out and onto the green. Now you know to par you need to sink this putt. You measure out the now 30-foot putt. You take your shot. It comes within inches of the hole then veers off course. It rolls another foot. You step up to the putt and knock it in the hole to take the bogie.

You may wonder how this relates to the gospel. I will tell you. Warming up in golf is a lot like having the Spirit with you. A lot of times golfers forgo stretching and practice swings to try and get on the course early. I have found the same problem in preparing for everyday life. We don't prepare our minds for the day ahead. Here are some ways we can better prepare our minds for the day ahead:

1. Slow down. Cut the less important things off your list of things to do to make room for your family and family time together.

2. Study your scriptures. I have found this one work well for me. I always feel the Spirit more abundantly when I take time to study the scriptures.

3. Pray for strength and wisdom. Your Heavenly Father knows you and wants you to succeed but he wants you to ask Him first. 

Take a little more time to go to the driving range before your round of life and try the things mentioned above. Maybe you will start out your round with a birdie.

Take a Swing at the Gospel. First we pick our clubs.

First we pick our clubs. In PGA rules you are only allowed a certain amount of clubs at any time. There all sorts of clubs to choose from: Drivers, woods, Irons, Putters. And they come from many different brands: Taylormade, Nike, Titleist, Adams golf, Callaway, Mizuno, and so many others.

It doesn't matter necessarily what you use. But every golfer will tell you that  it matters how you and the club get along. What I mean by that is that your swing needs to feel good on your club. Typically golfers have these clubs: Driver, 3\5-wood, 3\4\5\6\7\8\9 iron,  Sand wedge, Pitching wedge, and putter.You can pick any clubs you want, but you can only have 14 clubs as a PGA golfer.

In the gospel, you need the right clubs. The Lord understands that. And he picked our clubs for us. He has called prophets throughout history to write down their dealings with the Lord. Their writings are called scriptures. Today the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has 4 major scriptures: The Book of Mormon, the Holy Bible, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. With these clubs we are ready to play the course of life and to take a swing at the Gospel. To learn more about these volumes of scripture, check out mormon.org.

Take a Swing at the Gospel Introduction

Intro

So the other day we were driving through Polson, MT and I saw a golf course. I thought, oh how I would love to go golfing. The green grass under your feet as you take that first swing. The breeze as you ride through the course, the beautiful scenery that surrounds the course.

I started to think about how this beautiful scenery and the game of golf itself can relate to the gospel and to missionary work.

Life is like 18 holes of Golf. I have often said that golf is the most frustrating but relaxing sport there is. I recall one such day when my dad woke us up at 6:30 to make a 7:20 am tee time at Alpharetta Athletic Club's west course. The dew had just settled this fall morning as we stepped into the tee box. Join with me as we discover 18 holes of how golf has changed my outlook on the Gospel.