Christmas Present

Here is a present, because I am just that type of guy.

“And to Thee, My God, the Fame”

By Wyatt Duclos

I sat in heaven,

 With my friends and family, 

Dreaming of a perfect life,

And an immortal body.

We pled with the Father,

Asked, “Please let us go,

To Earth to live,

To love and to grow.”

There sat our Father,

The Master of my soul,

He spake softly and said,

“One must pay the toll.”

Saddened and scared,

Too meek to volunteer,

I sat and watched our brother stand,

Loving and sincere.

“A sacrifice to be made,”

The Father sighed in pain.

“It is my lot,” the Son replied,

“And to Thee, my God, the fame.”

Christ, our Lord,

Suffered and died.

He did it not for money,

Or for adoring fans,

He did it for love,

For you and for me.

The Savior of All?

He made us free.

Outsmarted

I received a call from a blocked number. A normal person would ignore it. I'm not normal. After answering, I ascertained a few things:

A. There are multiple girls in the room. (Background noise and giggling) 

B. This was obviously a prank call. (Nervous tone and slightly altered vocality and the call was from a blocked number) 

C. The call was not a coincidence. (The caller asked for Wyatt) 

D. I did not know the person speaking, but I certainly knew someone nearby. (Not a voice I recognized and they had a name connected to a number used by me for 110 days) 

E. This would be fun.

The caller, "Dixie," acted as though we had met in the last while and we had plans for this weekend. She certainly believed that this behavior would leave me grasping for sense in her words, so I did the opposite. With little interest in my voice I simply confirmed all she said and agreed with everything.  After catching her off guard, it was short work to make her to want to end the conversation. I simply cannot help but come out on top when someone tries to confound me. 

T Minus 631 (Approx.) Days and Counting

I wrote my brother a letter today. It is a bit personal, but so is everything I write.

Joseph- 

Today was the last day of school. Today I finished getting all my stuff into your old room. Today marks one hundred days. My tears blurred my eyes as I pulled away from the curb of the MTC without my best friend. This is the most time we've spent apart. I am listening to the Past and Pending and I am missing you. You are such a great example to me. You really don't realize how jealous I am. You probably do. You are one of the main reasons why I so diligently study my scriptures. I remember you would study for what felt like eternity while I just sat on the couch in your room. Because of this and many other things, I would like to give you my real Christmas present right now.  

I know that Jesus Christ is our older brother who loves us more than I love you, which seems so unfathomable. He loves me for the person I am and would love me even if I hated him. His love is unconditional. He loves me even if I fumble with my words or act like an idiot. He atoned for my sins because of His undying love. He suffered more pain than any man can endure because He loves us. 

We are a chosen people, you and I. We were born in a time where the righteous were nearing perfection and the wicked couldn't get worse. It was no coincidence we were born in this time. It was no coincidence we were born into the church. It certainly was no coincidence that we are brothers. The Lord chose us because we were valiant. We stood by Him as probably some of our best friends walked the other way. It was hard. I could never imagine seeing someone I love as much as you leave the Lord because it would be too hard. But we stood strong. We knew that we were in the right. So the Lord blessed us. He blessed us because he knew that if we, the valiant people of His cause, had the gospel in our loves, there would be no power in the 'verse that could stop us from sharing it. We are chosen because we are needed. 

The people in Puerto Rico knew in the premortal life that you would be coming, so they worried very little about not starting out with the gospel. You are a man who stands on the rock of Christ in the flood of sin and you pull people to shore. You are the missionary the Lord talks about in D&C 4. You are my brother and I want you to know that when I say you are my best friend and hero, this is why. Nothing else matters because you have a testimony of the Savior. Any trial that arises in the field won't last long because you are an example of the believers. You are my best friend and you make my testimony grow. I can tell in your letters that home is already a nuisance. I can tell that, more than anything, you want to be out in the 80° December weather preaching His gospel. I love you. Thank you for everything. 

Have a good Christmas, mate. 

-Hyrum

Answers

So I saw that someone had taken a survey. I think I might do the same. But I don't think I will let you read the questions. It might be interesting. I might not actually post this. Here we go.

I attacked a piece of ice with my forehead. First one ever.

I don't think I did do anything. It was not a rememberable one, even though it usually is for people.

I'm pretty excited for the break, but I am not happy because tomorrow is going to last forever.

I went to temple square. I really enjoyed it, even if my phone died while I was reading the statistics of the LDS church.

With my grades I did marginal. With the ladies? Well, ask them (all of them).

My mother bought this one and one with Boba Fett on it. She just gave them to me. So sick.

I see Trevor way too much. I am kind of sick of that dork head.

Too much. Too much money spent.

I want to be the same age as when I first kiss my wife. In other words, I don't care.

Sebenteen. Pretty uneventful.

Laurie, but I don't see what this has to do with me. Some people.

I can tell you this, I did not get enough sleep.

I think it was obvious with my last answer. Come on.

A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief always does it for me. Particularly the final verse. I love that song so much.

Punching things. For example, the other day I was mad so I just punched everything. I tweaked my wrist. I really think I could do something more productive, but it works.

Well, she has to be a girl.

Zombie apocalypse.

I didn't have it. I did eat breakfast food for linner. Egg, turkey, cheese on an English muffin.

Well yeah, but some would say it is irrelevant. Actually, I am kind of in this situation now.

Man of Steel. Question: What steel have you broken?

I was told I was in Canada, but some people might question my parents' motives.

I have not.

You can stab someone with a back? I was unaware.

Assuming by "dated" you meant "been on a date with" then yes, two people. If you mean what you sounded like you meant, I don't steady date.

Atticus Finch. Mentally, of course.

Strangely enough, it was Coach Blaisdell. He is a good guy.

Just mi amigos, Trevor e Kassie.

My mom. Usually I psychically contact them previous to them needing to contact me.

Erin Hardy got the last one because she was accusing me of being too much of a guy. I'm glad I'm on that part of the scale and not near the other end.

Kass the Gassie. Whiner.

Probably Jessie Marquis. Don't worry, I said it after I told her to marry someone else.

In my heart. Just kidding, he lives down the street.

I went to hang out with my Special Needs buddy, David.

SLC Temple baby.

PGHS. Best school in the US.

In the mountains.

I am at the peak of my adolescence. That is the stupidest question you could ask me.

Quantum mechanics. I don't know, so therefore the fact has no definite state of being.

I'm pretty happy with the current state of affairs, although Abraham Lincoln's friend would be interesting to be for a bit.

I think the thought of someone making his entire living off of muffin is pretty impractical, so no.

The future? Oh, I can tell you about the future."

Put two kids in the woods for long enough and either only one comes out or they come out with the same mind.

Apparently the quizzes were all the rave.

Because I needed one that was normal. I would've preferred Stormageddan.

Are you sure I am doing it?

I want to convey thoughts perfectly.

Maybe my shirt I wore in the second grade for photo day.

Stupidest question ever. A jetpack that runs off of oxygen or CO2. Idiots.

Every single one of them.

I usually move if I am trying to run. Impractical.

If I wasn't there wouldn't be much I could do anyway.

To read the questions go here.

Life lately

See the post previously to understand the title.

Samwise Gamgee

Have you ever titled something with the intentions of writing basically anything but what the title implies? I have just done so.

Today I got home from school planning on finishing my math and English assignments and then going to see a cool kid open his mission call across the street. Eureka took mind and I would achieve almost everything but that. I ate two breakfast sandwiches and watched two episodes of what is beginning to be one of my favorite shows. As I started the third episode, I promptly fell asleep. I am really good at not doing homework. It takes a lot of work for a person to get this far in their education and still maintain a serious lack of homework done.

Another thing. Tuesday my ratio of sleep to awake was 1:5. It ain't very fun. Don't try it. Take my word for it. Yesterday I was running of a total of nine hours from the last two nights combined. Seriously I must be doing something wrong.

In less than twenty-four hours my entire life will be about 9! times simpler. Maybe even 10! times. I really hate school. I don't think they really care about us. I love people though. Thanks for reading my blog. I appreciate the support and feedback I get. Maybe someday someone will give me money to do this.

It's called musing

I muse a bunch on my phone. Although the subject matter may not make sense without context, you aren't getting any context. I take pride in what I am about to show you. Some aren't finished, some don't make complete sense and some even sound kind of creepy, but what I am showing you is the roughest version of my writing you will ever see:
I hate it.
I hate pretty girls. I hate them like I hate steak while I'm fasting. The only major difference is I could eat the steak whenever I want, I just choose not to.


If you are ever really sad, just remember you are probably in need of sleep.


Lois Lane
I'm a typical high school student. Very often in one's high school career, a person has a chance to get romantically involved with someone. People think it's fine to kiss and steady date anyone with good morals, but I don't think that is right. You see, I have a wife somewhere who I love more deeply than any kids in high school can understand. Heck, I'm in it and I don't even understand. So as I figure, she is basically the only woman who fits me perfectly. So what girl can really compare to her?


Strangers think I'm crazy. My friends think I'm outgoing. Trevor and the guys stopped listening to me ages ago because they know me too well.


Disappointed.
It's weird learning incriminating information out about someone you respect. Even if it isn't anything too big, it really sucks. I thought they were perfect, but the perfect perception obscured the imperfections. It shouldn't be something to be sad about. It hurts really bad to know the truth, but I prefer knowledge to happiness. Ignorance is bliss, but knowledge is wisdom. I could have lived the rest of my life thinking this person was a perfect example, but I would've been completely wrong. It hurts, but ignorance gives false happiness. So my perspective is forever changed, but it's a change for the better.


Book

Chapter 1
On a small dirt road outside of the city there stood a small shed like house and a car garage. The stillness of the one-room house was only broken by the occasional night breeze coming through the only window. Next to the window sat a machine that, although appeared to be off, was always running; it had been for years. The room was barren except the machine and a small mattress.
Through the open window, the sound of a distant, roaring car engine was heard. Under the sound of the car, a faint siren could be heard. The machine's one white light started blinking, slowly at first, but increased in speed as the engine grew louder.
The car appeared to be passing the house until at the last second it swerved into the old garage. The driver jumped out of the car and pulled down the door of the garage. Just as he did, one, two, three police cars passed.
 After ten minutes of the machine flashing like a strobe light, the driver  entered the house. He went to the machine and flipped the switch to turn off the blinking light. He left and came back minutes later with a duffel bag. After he turned on the light, he opened the bag and poured out the contents. Soon the ground was littered with thousands of piles of hundred dollar bills. The man's dark eyes glistened with pride. He sorted the stacks in a bin and opened a door into a small closet. He pulled up the ancient shag carpet and typed a code into the hidden keypad. He pulled up on a small handle in the left corner of the closet, filling the immediate area with a blue light.
"Voice recognition required,"  a calm, almost monotone voice.
"California Girls."
"Voice number 567-A recognized. Welcome home, Samuel James."
The stairs went down only about a floor, but the room below went beyond the limits of the house above. On the floor of the entrance there was and inscription which read, "Only the True-Born Sons of Liberty fight for the freedoms of all men." The walls and the ceiling had white square panels of glass that each glowed just enough to give the room plenty of light. On the wall opposite the stairs, there was a large safe door with a hand scanner. Samuel carried the box full of cash to the safe and scanned his hand.
The safe opened with an intake of breath. Samuel placed the box on top of a stack of three others and closed the safe. The vacuum mechanism activated and soon the safe was completely air-free.
Samuel walked over to a crowded desk and sat down on a worn out chair. Out of his pocket he pulled his halotop and turned it on. Soon the empty space a foot above the desk was filled with a three dimensional desktop. He opened up a program with the name "Data Nexus Alterer" and connected the halodesk to a cord coming from the wall. The screen was filled with A's, G's, C's, and T's. The DNA code was billions of codons long and even when Samuel changed it into just the genes, it was still unmanageable. But thanks to the Data Nexus Alterer program Samuel had made, he could do anything he wanted to the code in moments. He had formulas devised so he could change the height, the weight, the eye color, even the type of belly button.
Samuel was furiously typing when the machine upstairs started beeping rhythmically. He paid no attention to it. He altered everything on the current DNA. Although he was typing with unnatural speed, he did not make one keystroke error. After several minutes, he stopped and examined his work. He changed a few minor details then went upstairs.
The beeping had gotten so furious, it sounded less like individual beeps and more like a constant ringing. With the press of a button, the beeping stopped and the machine started churning. After a few moments, the machine ejected a small vial. Samuel took the vial and sucked up the fluid inside with a needle. Taking a few steps back and to his left, he injected his left arm and immediately fell backwards onto the mattress, fully sedated. The timed lights turned off as the hidden basement door sealed itself.

Chapter 2
"Good morning, Sam," said the monotone voice. "how may I be of service to you?"
"The usual, Gerome: two asprines and a bottle of cherry Coke."
Sam sat up and a hidden tray ejected from the wall. He clumsily grabbed the aspirin with his seemingly huge hands and sipped down the soda. It wasn't the same, the drink. He hadn't had real Coke since he was five. His dad had loved the stuff.
"Gerome, get me the mirror and the test."
"Yes, sir. Sir?"
"Yes?"
"May I say that you look great today. I mean really, it is way better than yesterday."
"You say that everyday, Gerome," Sam said with a






Shool
I hate it. If my classes are hard, I hate it. If my classes are easy, I hate it. The amount of suckiness it entails totally ruins my reasons to be in it. I am in a quitting mood. I am in real need of a motivation boost. Seriously feeling like I'm beating a dead horse (which would be surprisingly satisfying right now.


Unreadable.
If you are reading this without my permission and/or knowledge, please know this is private, rude and insensitive. I am writing this only to let go of my anger. If you have my permission, then I trust you to not judge me. That is a lot of trust. Here it goes.
I hate teenage steady dating. Very often when I see people kissing or putting their arms around each other or anything like that, it makes me mad. When I see people who don't need a relationship and I know know they don't need one, it makes me think less of them. I don't see the wisdom in dating like that. It seems like a selfish way to release pent up hormones. It is so dumb. The blatant disrespect to our church leaders is like a slap to the face. People need to go on more dates with the spirit instead of tongue wrestling a girl.


Trials
There is one truth that has stood the test of time. In history, science, and daily life you can find it: Trials are what promote growth.
Growth and development are the results of a change in the environment. In science, this is called natural selection. As the change gets established, the species must adapt to survive. Imagine a type of mouse with varying colors from tan to grey. This group experiences a sudden change in location, say from the forest to the beach. Now the mice that blend into the sand are safe from predators while the black mice are hawk food. Therefore, the group of mice become dominantly tan in nature, creating a more "fit" species.
The idea that trials promote growth is also true in everyday life. When was the last time you got a reward and thought, "I am doing something wrong." When it comes to our lives, we see that the path we follow is getting bumpy or leads to a ditch, so we try to go onto a different path. Now every time we pass that road, we know it is a bad idea.


A duty unwanted is the best duty you can perform
I have a great Scout Crew. We are all friends, even the leaders. We have a great time when we're together. I get the butt end of most of the jokes. I am the goof off. I tell bad jokes and get a lot of head shaking. I hate it. I want to be taken seriously. I want to entertain but I don't want to be a clown. I could never be an effective missionary, priesthood leader or father if I am a clown all the time. I just hate the lack of respect I get. I jibe with my friends, therefore I am a joke. It would be great to get some respect according to my intelligence level, my comedic flavor and my spiritual comments without the comedy becoming the only thing people remember.
One example is when I taught my mini-lesson. I had a very serious topic to discuss and I had no respect. I asked for everyone to calm down so I could share an emotional experience, but it took the tears in my eyes from thinking of my past sins to actual get my peers to pay attention to the not goof off me. I just need to get some help.


Some of these are pretty old and some are pretty fresh. Regardless, they can all be taken personally in some way. To that end I assure you that I mean nothing personal to anyone. That Trials one was probably written while I was falling asleep. That last paragraph needs help.

"Never let the truth get in the way of a good story."

I am a good liar, which is probably a bad thing. I can lie like Frank Abagnale Jr. But there are a few things that I will not ever lie about. Here they are for your enjoyment.

Truth #1
I will not lie about my weight. Unless my life depends on it, I can't find a reason why it is worth lying about. It's probably because I am a guy.
Truth #2
My religion is something I am simply too proud to lie about. I can never deny my testimony and my Father in Heaven. 
Truth #3
This is the one I wanted to talk about most. I will never lie for a compliment. I compliment people for one reason only: they are worthy of the truth. When I tell someone they are my hero or that a girl is beautiful beyond belief, I am being completely honest. I don't give half-true compliments to people in order to make them feel "better" about themselves. I tell people what I see in them and sometimes keep my mouth shut. 


Honesty is good. I lie too much. I should stop. That's a lie. I think there are some lies I've told that have actually replaced what happened in my memory, so vivid was the lie. In other words, I lie so well I fool myself.

Stay Up Late Writing

A stupid paper about a stupid lie for a stupid class that has a stupid teacher and then have the stupid printer break. Then you might feel the way I feel right now. I guess those other three assignments would've been worth tackling before the stupid five page paper. Stupid.

A Real Man

Weird coincidence the other day: I got choked up in class. That would make sense in Seminary or even Biology, but it happened in History. Now, History is not my best subject, but it is one of my favorites. We spoke of someone I have always respected but never really that too much about. A man named Abraham Lincoln. While we discussed his assassination, I felt a strong sense of respect and of solemness that I surprised myself. I really believe that Abe and I were pretty tight in the pre mortal life. Here are some great quotes of his:


Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?

Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.

Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren't very new at all.

Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.

Common looking people are the best in the world: that is the reason the Lord makes so many of them.

Don't worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition.

Everybody likes a compliment.

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.

How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg.

I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, and stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong.

I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.

I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing so until the end.

I don't know who my grandfather was; I am much more concerned to know what his grandson will be.

I don't like that man. I must get to know him better.

I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.

I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.

I never had a policy; I have just tried to do my very best each and every day.

If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?

Important principles may, and must, be inflexible.

In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.

It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues.

My dream is of a place and a time where America will once again be seen as the last best hope of earth.

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.

Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.

The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just.

Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.

Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.

When I am getting ready to reason with a man, I spend one-third of my time thinking about myself and what I am going to say and two-thirds about him and what he is going to say.

You cannot build character and courage by taking away a man's initiative and independence.

You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.

You have to do your own growing no matter how tall your grandfather was.




Abe was a true man. A real man. Don't forget to give this man the respect he has earned in creating a free nation where the gospel could thrive.

Thanksgiving

Sorry, I have been super busy. I really started writing this the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Here is my gratitude in a post.
Well. Thanksgiving. One of the best, most overshadowed holidays ever. Christmas really has a knack for oozing all over November, doesn't it? But because of the beautiful day of thanks, I would like to share with you what I am grateful for.
Things

• These probably sound really materialistic, but I don't care.
• My iPhone. Anyone who has spent ten minutes with me knows I use it more than a high school girl doesn't eat lunch. I really do love it (in a non-addiction way).
• My bed. I can lay in there and fall asleep in less than a minute (which is not a good thing after I turn off my alarm). I almost never want to leave it.
• My glasses. I deserve bad eyes because for the first eleven years of my life, I wanted glasses. I thought I looked good with them. They really help me see and I don't look half bad.
• My gospel library. With the combined power of the standard works, Preach My Gospel and lots of other manuals, I can study any subject. I really love spending that half hour every night set aside to study. I always get something out of it.
• Books. I can never get enough reading material.
• Trees. I wish I had had a tree house because I love trees.
• Water. I can't live three days without the stuff.

Places

• My room. I sleep in it. I study in it. That's why I love it.
• My house (especially when I'm alone). Their is a level of comfort in one's home that is unobtainable for any other place.
• The KPGR radio room. I love being on the radio. Really, it is so much fun. I can forget the stupidity of the world and just enjoy myself. I love it.
• Indian Springs. You know how every person has one place that isn't a part of the rest of the world? That is how I feel about Indian Springs. It is one of the most relaxing places in the world.
• The temple. If you don't know why I love this place, you haven't been there.
• My desk. I really only study my scriptures there and type letters. I think I have had more personal revelation there than anywhere else in the world.

People

• My parents. They care for me and they forget that they don't have a choice in my missionary plans (they want me to stay home and be with them instead of leaving). They are so good to me.
• Trevor Ward. I have talked about him a few times. I haven't even scratched the surface of the man I care about. He is one of the best friends I have ever had. He is a great guy.
• Kassie Hamilton. She is a great artist and song writer and sometimes I think that she doesn't know how much I care about her. She is like the sister I never had. She is kind to everyone, even the ones I know she wants to punch in the face (which is me, some of the times).
• Brock Duclos. I miss him so much and he really shows how a missionary should be. He is great.
• Russell Mayo. He is a teacher at PGHS. He teaches Radio. He changed my life. He is one of the nicest, most selfless people I've met and I am happy he teaches at my school.
• Delanie Doyle. She seems to be one person who always is nice to me, even when I shove her into a brick wall, or embarrass her in front of everyone, or any of the other things she accuses me of doing(long stories for all of those). She is a great example of love.
• Brennan Burnett. He and I share a radio show on KPGR 88.1 FM Wednesdays 3:30-4:30. Although we don't always see eye to eye, our show is one thing I always look forward to.
• You. I love people who read my blog and give me feedback. It is what I want to do for my career, so please feel free to read and love.
• I really appreciate so many people, it would be hard to write about them all. So if their is someone not on this list that I know, chances are I am grateful for them.

That is just a fragment of what I am grateful for. Please, think of what you are grateful for every day of every year. It makes all the difference in the world.

I think I will be posting more tonight after I post this. I really want to write more, I just haven't the time.