Season One : Episode 3 "No better Book"

I have always been one to enjoy a good read. Since I was very young I have especially enjoyed fantasy . I read everything from "The Magic Tree House"& "Harry Potter" to "Eragon" and "Gregor the Overlander" Each of these novels would paint a scene within my mind that was amazing and incredible. To image myself being that individual that character, to wonder what I might do? Would I have the strength to fight Lord Voldemort if faced with the challenge? How would I handle being swooped away from my home and family in a foreign land needing to solve a mystery? If any of you have read "A series of Unfortunate Events" you know that could raise all sorts of perilous questions to a child's mind as there is a tragic displacement of family, bad relatives, and a multitude of occurrences of death. Each of these series hold a special place in my heart as to me they seem almost as "experiences" which I have had.

On the other hand it is amazing how many times I went to read the Book of Mormon and simply lost interest. I would pick it up read a few verses and my mind was already elsewhere and distracted. I swear I had tried re-reading it enough times to memorize 1 Nephi, Chapter 1! It seemed no matter what I did it just didn't have the same interest of the other novel's I read. It was the scriptures... no one was supposed to understand them, right? I can recall being in Sunday school and seeing all the other kids know exactly what scripture a teacher may be referring to and I was lost and couldn't follow the timeline.

Granted we read as a family at different points in time and that helped me. But I think I used it as a crutch. When I would think about reading I could say, "well we read as a family.. I am good" and simply jump in bed, haha!

Eventually though, I reached a point where I sincerely wanted to know for myself if the scriptures were true. I believe it had been the winter of my Junior year when walking through Desert Book I saw a copy of the Book of Mormon. Now this book was different than the rest. It was a light brown hardback... I thought all the books had to be blue! It looked older and I realized it was a rendition of the kind the Church originally released. As I held it in my hands I was intrigued. That year I informed my parents that it was a priority on my wish list. When Christmas time came I do not know how much I remembered asking for it but i do recall the excitement and Joy I had when I opened it. I was sure it was my favorite of all the gifts.

It was with this book that my reading would change. Though the Book of Mormon was not different I felt like reading it in this book would somehow be different. There was an appeal to its authentic style. As I look back now I would certainly say the spirit had a great roll in impressing me. As I began to read from this book not only was I reading with a new book but with a new perspective. I began to be committed to finishing the Book of Mormon all the way. I began to truly desire to know its authenticity. I can remember my firm commitment to be sure to read every night as it lay under my futon in the side where my pillow. Although I did not always read extensively I did read nearly every night.

This time of life I see myself as very spiritual. I remember over the days and the weeks time and again I would be surprised and enthused as I recognized many things which I never knew. Reading the scriptures had become my next adventure. Rather than seeing it as a complicated book I could not understand I began to place myself in each of the Prophets shoes. To be as Nephi and wonder what I would do if my brothers would not support me in the Lord's will. How would I react to spiritual impressions I did not understand completely at that time? Would I follow through? I was amazed to see the topics the scriptures covered with such directness and truth, topics of atheism, transgression and repentance, faith, virtue. It was through those blessed pages I came to know the Lord. It was then that my prayers became ever more sincere. It was then that I gained an impenetrable testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

I had not yet finished the Book of Mormon but as I recall was in the book of Alma a little over half-way through when I could not wait any longer, I was determined to know. I had read a passage of scripture that touched my heart greater than any scripture before. I knelt down in prayer, sitting upright, so I did not become tired leaning on my bed. I pleaded with the Lord that I might understand, to know for myself that it was true so that I could serve him fully, so that I could know I would make the right decision to serve a mission and could prepare then to serve him. My mind was opened and my heart impressed in the same instant I recognized the many verses that testified of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I thought of how every time I applied the counsel found therein my life was bettered and it only helped me. I knew then that if any book could cause me to feel this way there was no way it could not be true. I felt shorlty thereafter and feel now that I had always known but the Lord had confirmed it to me in his mercy that I could know with a sure knowledge which I could never deny.

As I have read the entire Book of Mormon I have been inspired to be a better man. I have come to know the Lord and that he is a God of Love. I have realized that through the Atonement any man or woman can return to our Heavenly Father. I realized that the spirit is sooo real. I found such a connection to the Lord that I could never forsake him. He is a part of my life that I love and will never give up. I hope that all may come to know the Love of God and testify that there is no better book which can provide this besides "The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ."

'Concerning this record the Prophet Joseph Smith said: “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.” '   ~Introduction, "The Book of Mormon : Another Testament of Jesus Christ"

~Trent D. Nielson

Keep the Faith & Never Give Up, Never Surrender

Season One : Episode 2 "The Peach Perspective"

So recently I have had the opportunity to become a Professional Peach Picker at Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek, AZ. It isn't super close to my house but I really needed the hours and they provided a very decent wage that made up for the gas. I wasn't sure at first how I felt about being a Peach Picker. "Isn't that a job for ...other people", I ignorantly thought. My experiences would soon begin to alter my perspective. As it got closer to starting the job, though I was nervous, I was more excited just to work and went full force. I wore my lovely western clothing and boots to fit the atmosphere of the work.

My first day I was practically 30 minutes late because my GPS, "Nephi", led me astray... It took me to some Admin. building for a local high school. Then when I did find the farm I was at a closed off entrance. As I finally arrived at the main office I remember feeling relieved as I saw someone driving forward who would become my foreman and friend. When I told him I was here to pick peaches he looked at me and said... "They hired you to pick peaches!?" "oh, no" I thought, then he looked at my boots and said, " Your gonna pick peaches in those?" I just laughed to myself and wondered what to expect. When I made it to the field I was surprised to find most of the workers were my age and ethnicity! bahahahah! I began to wonder why Richard had questioned my being a peach picker so strongly. My boots remained a standing joke the rest of my time working for Schnepf Farms.

As I worked on the Peaches I enjoyed it much more than I had expected. Though it was routine, some may even same menial, in some peculiar way it was meaningful to be in the outdoors breathing fresh air, arising early & working hard. I found joy and fulfillment literally "by the sweat of (my) face." ~ Genesis 3:19

Unknown to me when I accepted the job I learned a lot more than just how to pick a peach but to start out I will teach you just that. When you are in a peach field at schnepf farms it can be exciting as you see all the trees with so much delicious fruit. One might be tempted to just take every peach from the tree but as a picker we needed to be more selective. We had an order of our picking and requirements such as wearing 100 % cotton gloves for both cleanliness and to not harm the peaches. We then would need a box and a liner. Then when we were at the orchard we would start in one corner and go East to West picking the peaches down each row. When we got to the tree we looked for the best of peaches by both size and color. Depending on our liner, our fruit size would be determined. The color would need to be a deep red with yellow it had to be firm but soft to the touch at the same time. Often one would need to step into the tree and then look out to see all the wonderful fruit that was really there. I realized soon the importance of these company procedures. The customer paid for each box, and they expected them to be quality peaches. On a long day when sun is beating and the demand for peaches is high one might feel justified pickin smaller, bruised or slightly damaged peaches. It would be easy with so many boxes to easily turn one to the other side and hide the blemish. The thing was after all the picking, the packing, the storing, and the delivering of those boxes was if the receiver opened your box and found one bad peach in box of thirty all 1000 boxes on the truck would be rejected. It seemed that something so menial would not be of so much importance yet it was. The peach picker was important.

I think in life it can become so easy to be complacent, to justify our actions and to be lazy. We often deceive ourselves with the lie that it is no big deal and won't affect anyone else. But truth is far from that. As taught in the book of Alma, "By small and simple things are great things brought to pass."~ Alma 37:6 Each of us have "glamorous jobs" and "menial jobs." I hope that both you and I can learn to do our best and have pride in our work before we are responsible for the rejection of 999 good peaches. "And Again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order."~ Mosiah 4:27.

Also out in those peach fields I began to meet people who became great friends. Most of us had very different backgrounds but being in those fields no matter who we were or where we came from we were all there to perform the same purpose. No one could be better than the other. We all took the job because we needed the money and so we all worked we all did our part.  It would have been really hard to find any place for any kind of pride. As we worked together our days were happier and we were more successful. I find it amazing as I look back and see that if perhaps we met in 'real  life' at the store or someplace else perhaps we never would have tried to form a friendship. I wish it could be so more in life the way it was in that field. What would happen I wonder if we didn't pre-judge those around us? What would happen if we didn't label others or put them in groups? How would our world be if we could simply see each other as equals and did our best at whatever we did? I would say it would be a much different better place. 

I have left Schenpf Farms a different man, the night before I left it dawned on me I would not just be leaving my job. I felt sorrow in my heart for I would be leaving a place of meaning,  friends and a perspective of life found few places else. It will be a time I look back on with great joy. As silly as it may sound I am honored and proud to say that I have been a Peach Picker.

~Trent D. Nielson

Keep the Faith & Never Give Up, Never Surrender

Season One : Episode 1 "So here it is"

Well I have been thinking about starting a blog for a long period of time. With the inspiration of friends and friends of friends I have finally decided to do so. I have become fairly good at journaling and now have a daily habit so I hope I am able to at least blog once each week. We will see in time I guess. Why is it I would choose to blog? Am I really so important or interesting that another would want to read my blog... probably not. hahaha But I am grateful for all that I have in my life. I am grateful for the experiences I have and the relationships I have with the Lord, my family and my friends. Perhaps there will be some small tid bit that will be beneficial to another. I certainly make enough mistakes for plenty of others to learn from!

Who am I? I am a man of 21 years old. I am a quarter Mexican and a mix of several other nationalities. I am tanner than my mother but the least tan of all my siblings. I love to spend time in the outdoors hiking, rappelling,  kayaking or good old fishing. I am mostly a city boy but know how to rough it. I love my family and they mean everything to me. I am somewhat technologically savvy and am studying computer science/ graphic design. I love to help others out and I hope that through small daily acts I might make a difference in the world.  Through the Grace of Christ I am saved! I am Christian and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.