Within the Fence

Shortly, after my sweetheart, Devonna, and I were married, she shared with me a story about how she learned in her youth this important doctrine that we are free to choose but that we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.

"When I was 15 years old, I often felt that there were too many rules and commandments.
I wasn't sure that a normal, fun-loving teenager could enjoy life with so many restrictions.
Furthermore, the many hours spent working on my father's ranch were seriously dipping into my time with my friends.

"This particular summer, one of my jobs was to ensure that the cows grazing on the mountain pasture did not break through the fence and get into the wheat field.
A cow grazing on the growing wheat can bloat, causing suffocation and death.
One cow in particular was always trying to stick her head through the fence.
One morning, as I was riding my horse along the fence line checking on the cattle, I found that the cow had broken through the fence and gotten into the wheat field.
To my dismay, I realized that she had been eating wheat for quite some time because she was already bloated and looked much like a balloon.
I thought, 'You stupid cow!
That fence was there to protect you, yet you broke through it and you have eaten so much wheat that your life is in danger.'

I raced back to the farmhouse to get my dad.
However, when we returned, I found her lying dead on the ground.
I was saddened by the loss of that cow.
We had provided her with a beautiful mountain pasture to graze in and a fence to keep her away from the dangerous wheat, yet she foolishly broke through the fence and caused her own death.

"As I thought about the role of the fence, I realized that it was a protection, just as the commandments and my parents' rules were a protection.
The commandments and rules were for my own good.
I realized that obedience to the commandments could save me from physical and spiritual death.
That enlightenment was a pivotal point in my life."

-Mervyn B. Arnold -What Have You Done with My Name? -October 2010 General Conference

Until you next read these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Amazing job today Olympians!! :D
Medal Tally:

38 -United States   16 Gold 12 Silver  10 Bronze
30 -China               11 Gold   8 Silver  11 Bronze
22 -Japan                 7 Gold   2 Silver   13 Bronze
19 -Russia               4 Gold   8 Silver    7 Bronze
16 -Great Britain     4 Gold   6 Silver    6 Bronze
15 -Australia           5 Gold   4 Silver    6 Bronze
12 -Italy                  3 Gold   6 Silver    3 Bronze
11 -Korea               5 Gold   2 Silver    4 Bronze
11 -France              2 Gold   4 Silver    5 Bronze
8   -Germany          4 Gold   3 Silver    1 Bronze
7  -Hungary            5 Gold   1 Silver    1 Bronze
7  -Kazakhstan       2 Gold   2 Silver    3 Bronze
7  -Canada              1 Gold  1 Silver     5 Bronze
5  -New Zealand    1 Gold   4 Silver
5  -Netherlands     1 Gold    2 Silver     2 Bronze
4  -Thailand           2 Gold   1 Silver     1 Bronze 
4  -Sweden            1 Gold   2 Silver     1 Bronze
4  -South Africa                  3 Silver     1 Bronze
4  -North Korea                  2 Silver     2 Bronze
3  -Spain                2 Gold                   1 Bronze
3  -Switzerland      2 Gold                    1 Bronze
3  -Belgium           1 Gold   1 Silver    1 Bronze
3  -Brazil               1 Gold   1 Silver    1 Bronze
3  -Slovenia           1 Gold   1 Silver    1 Bronze
3  -Poland              1 Gold                   2 Bronze
3  -Chinese Taipei 1 Gold                   2 Bronze
3  -Ukraine                          2 Silver    1 Bronze
2  -Croatia             2 Gold
2  -Colombia         1 Gold   1 Silver
2  -Slovakia           1 Gold   1 Silver
2  -Vietnam           1 Gold   1 Silver
2  -Czech Republic 1 Gold                 1 Bronze
2  -Greece             1 Gold                   1 Bronze
2  -Azerbaijan                     2 Silver
2  -Denmark                        2 Silver
2  -Indonesia                       2 Silver
2  -Georgia                          1 Silver   1 Bronze
2  -Lithuania                       1 Silver   1 Bronze
2  -Egypt                                             2 Bronze
2  -Uzbekistan                                    2 Bronze
1  -Argentina         1 Gold
1  -Fiji                   1 Gold
1  -IOA                 1 Gold
1  -Kosovo            1 Gold
1  -Romania          1 Gold
1  -Malaysia                        1 Silver
1  -Mongolia                       1 Silver
1  -Philippines                    1 Silver
1  -Turkey                          1 Silver
1  -Estonia                                          1 Bronze
1  -Israel                                             1 Bronze
1  -Kyrgyzstan                                   1 Bronze
1  -Norway                                         1 Bronze
1  -Portugal                                        1 Bronze
1  -Tunisia                                         1 Bronze
1  -United Arab Emirates                  1 Bronze