Humbled or Hardened?

I was recently asked to write an article for the ward newsletter. (Published again! W00t!) Below is the text from my article:

The "war chapters" of the Book of Mormon cover approximately 20 chapters, from Alma 43 through 62. In his account, Mormon takes us through a long, grueling experience for the Nephites as they endure years of hardship and sacrifice. In battle, they and their loved ones are wounded or killed. The people themselves suffer through hunger and sedition within the government. By the conclusion of this terrible war, everyone is understandably exhausted.

At this point, Mormon tells us that "because of the exceedingly great length of the war between the Nephites and the Lamanites many had become hardened, because of the exceedingly great length of the war; and many were softened because of their afflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God, even in the depth of humility" (Alma 62:41).

These people have been through the same experience together. Yet there are two very opposite effects on those who have lived through it. What is the difference between those who have become "hardened" and those who have humbled themselves? Ultimately, it is their attitude.

Not long ago, I read through these chapters in my personal scripture study. I couldn't help but think of the COVID-19 pandemic we've all endured together these past few years. When I came to verse 41, I replaced the word war in my mind with the term pandemic.

"Because of the exceedingly great length of the [pandemic] many had become hardened, because of the exceedingly great length of the [pandemic]; and many were softened because of their afflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God, even in the depth of humility" (Alma 62:41).

Just like the Nephites, we determine our reaction to adversity through our attitude. Will we become hardened by our challenges? Or will we choose to be more humble?

As I've had the opportunity to visit with our ward members, I have learned so much. I have observed that you face a wide array of challenges. Again and again, you have chosen humility over hardness. I'm in constant awe, inspired by the depth of your character and strength. You also strive to take care of each other. Like the people of Alma the Elder at the waters of Mormon, you witness that you "are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in" (Mosiah 18:9).

In return, our Father in Heaven promises that He will "pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon [us]" (Mosiah 18:10).

May we each strive to choose humility through our challenges. "And while [we] strive through grief and pain, His voice is heard: '[We] shall obtain'" (Hymns, no. 134). 

Santa Parade 2022

Someone let the cat out of the bag that I am an actor, or at least that I've pretended to be one on more than one occasion over the years. And so, I was recently drafted to play Santa Claus. I actually played Santa Claus once before a number of years ago, when I was a missionary in Peru. But that's another story for another time.

As it turns out, getting the chance to play Santa Claus is both really good for your soul and also a wonderful way to get you into the holiday spirit. I, in fact, had two chances to dress up as St. Nick this month for a couple of different ward activities.

The first came on Saturday, December 10, for the ward Christmas party---the first one we've been able to hold in person in three years due to pandemic restrictions. Our little shindig took place in the form of a brunch in the cultural hall. Santa made an appearance for the Primary kids, handing out both ho ho hos and plush toys for each one.

Successful first test. The second opportunity came with the annual ward Santa parade on Tuesday night. The concept of the parade began in 2020 due to the aforementioned pandemic restrictions. Because it wasn't a good idea nor was it safe to get people together in a closed space with COVID-19 out and about, someone had the brilliant idea to take Santa out to visit ward members rather than the other way around. It was such a big success that it was repeated again last year. Though the annual in-person ward Christmas party returned this year, we decide to keep the parade going due to popular demand.

I had a little help this time, because JB was asked to portray Mrs. Claus alongside Santa. And though it was a bitterly cold night (in the 20s and 30s), and the beard kept causing my glasses to fog up and obstruct my view, we had a wonderful time.

I don't know if I'll ever come closer to being treated like a celebrity. People of all ages love Santa and Mrs. Claus, and they frequently smiled back at us. We waved and shouted Merry Christmas! and ho ho ho, and they responded. They came out of their homes to wave back at us. Cars honked their horns as they drove past. At one point, we created a second parade on the sidewalk, as a number of kids had come outside to follow us along for several blocks.

A man pulled his car over and brought his young daughter out to meet us. He was as excited as she was and said that it was her first time meeting Santa in person; she'd never had the chance before because of the dadgummed pandemic. At another point, a group of native Spanish speakers huddled around us, and they were pleasantly surprised to hear Santa speak Spanish back to them. "Santa habla cada idioma" ("Santa speaks every language"), I told them.

In the process of all this, we did a little missionary work for the ward. The Bishop, Young Men and Women, and youth leaders walked alongside the parade and passed out candy, talking to active ward members, the less active, and nonmembers alike. Santa doesn't discriminate, either.

We were pretty pooped by the end of the evening. But it was an evening well spent nonetheless.

Merry Christmas, family and friends!

Paco Reviews: "Elvis"

Remember early on in the pandemic when Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, both caught COVID-19, becoming basically the first celebrities not named Rudy Gobert with the virus? They were in Australia, where he was filming a movie at the time.

Well, fortunately, Tom and Rita both recovered, and that movie, Elvis, is now playing in theaters. Director Baz Luhrmann, whose previous films include Moulin Rouge!, the Leonardo diCaprio Great Gatsby, and William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet, never does anything that he doesn't put all the whistles and bells into—and that is certainly the case with this movie in all 159 minutes of its length.

In Elvis, we see many moments from the King of Rock 'n' Roll's life. Included are glimpses into his teen years, before he became famous; his rise to fame, both in music and movies, through the aid of his manager (and professional grifter) Col. Tom Parker (Hanks); his being drafted into the military; his marriage to Priscilla and birth of daughter Lisa Marie; his downward spiral with drug abuse; his comeback in the late '60s; how and why he carried a gun with him on stage and the destruction of several TV sets with said weapon; and many other events. A great deal of the story is told through the point-of-view of Col. Parker, who ends up becoming the antagonist of the film.

I knew nothing about Austin Butler, who plays the title role, before seeing this movie. He does a wonderful job playing Elvis. He even sings a few of the King's songs (or at least he is credited as doing so in the end credits). Hanks is almost unrecognizable in the makeup he wears as Col. Parker. He bears an eerie resemblance to Richard G. Scott while he's on screen. (I don't know how else to describe it. But that's what he looked like to me.) David Wenham (Faramir in The Lord of the Rings trilogy), Dacre Montgomery (Billy in "Stranger Things"), and Kelvin Harrison Jr. (as Elvis's friend B. B. King) are good in supporting roles.

Paco's rating: 5 out of 10

The Good: Whether or not you're an Elvis fan, you'll be a fan of Austin Butler's acting. As Elvis rises to fame, you'll be rooting for him, and there are a lot of classic Elvis tunes performed. Hanks, as always, is solid.

The Bad: It's a bit long, at nearly three hours. Your bum may start to get a bit sore at two hours in. Also, this film may be strictly for Elvis and/or Baz Luhrmann fans.

The Ugly: It's a warts-and-all approach to telling the King's story, so we see Elvis doing his at-the-time scandalous "Elvis the Pelvis" dancing, philandering and otherwise messing around behind his wife's back, as well as his spiraling into drinking, drugs, and other vices. There is some swearing and vulgarity, which earns the film its PG-13 rating.

Hasta Luego, Presidente

Over the weekend, I learned the sad news that my mission president, Carlos A. Cuba Quintana, had passed away from complications due to COVID-19.

(This is me on May 9, 1995, at my welcome-to-the-mission dinner, along with the Cuba family; Elder and Hna. Silva, our family history missionaries from Texas; and Elders Urbano, Rodríguez, and Rodríguez [yes, two Rodríguezes], from Peru:)

It's hard to find the words, in either English or Spanish, to pay tribute to the good man we have lost. Nevertheless, I will try.

Presidente Cuba loved his missionaries; he called us his hijos (sons) and hijas (daughters). He treated us like a second father away from home. He was not perfect; he sometimes lost his temper, and he was sometimes strict—and there were times when he needed to be, including with me personally. Still, we knew that loved us. I will remember his good nature, his love of the gospel and of people, his good humor, and his showing me how a good husband and father in the way he treated his wife and five daughters.

He loved missionary work, and he dedicated three years of his life (among many other callings he served in throughout his life) to helping his missionaries learn to love it and preach its message well. It wasn't unusual to attend a multi-zone missionary conference with Pdte. Cuba speaking well into 9 or 10 in the evening. I spent four months of my service as his personal secretary in the mission office, one of the most-rewarding experiences of my time in Peru. It was a season in which I got to see up close just how tirelessly he worked on behalf of his missionaries and how dedicated he was to magnifying his calling.

This picture of Hna. and Pdte. Cuba was taken just a few months ago in front of the still-relatively new Arequipa temple, in southeastern Peru:

Pdte. Cuba, again serving under the title of president, was a member of the temple presidency at the time of his passing.

As one of my fellow missionaries pointed out in a social media post (Pdte. Cuba's hijos have been talking to each other a lot this week), this is not goodbye; this is just an hasta luego. We look forward in faith to the day when we are reunited with all of our lost loved ones through the grace and Atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Hasta vernos con el Rey.

Easter 2020

This year's Easter Sunday was unlike any other we had previously experienced. Due to COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, we were unable to worship together with our ward members at the local meetinghouse, nor could we gather with family members for an Easter egg hunt or for family dinner. However, we still held church in our home, partaking of the sacrament and then studying this week's Come, Follow Me lesson together.

Through the use of modern technology, we used mobile devices to join in together with the in-laws on a Zoom family dinner meeting, through which we were able to check in with everybody and to make sure they are all doing OK.

The bishop and his wife also made a socially distant visit, dropping off this Easter-themed gift:

The rabbit's head is a roll of toilet paper, and its ears are a dish towel—two very useful gifts in these days of spending more time at home.