There's an Army rising up

This thought has been stuck in my head for a while now, so I figured this might be a good way to let it out. Bear with me on this one.

So my friend John sent me a song a while back from a worship service he had gone to. The name of the song was "Break Every Chain" by Will Reagan & United Pursuit Band (Here is the link to the song if you wanna take a listen. It'd help you understand) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXVYS1sEbss

Anyways, I listened to it. It is a long song, and obviously very repetitive. There are really only 6-7 actual lines in the song, and they are just repeated over and over. But the message is true and clear: There is power in the Name of Jesus to break every chain. 

I, being christian and LDS, loved the message right from the start. I thought it was a beautifully written song that rises and falls with a simple but powerful message.

Around 4 mins into the song, it gets slower, piano comes back in, and the line is sung "There's an army rising up" and repeated 8 times.

As it is repeated, the music builds again, drums coming back in, guitar until it reaches the climax and the line "To break every chain" is sung again. 

This is probably one of my favorite parts of any song. I get chills listening to it every time (even tho my iTunes tells me I have listened to it 45 times). The idea is so grand and so... Epic, really. The thought of an army rising can be interpreted many ways, but here is how I see it playing in my head when I listen (Again, bear with me): 

There is light on a horizon to the east. It is a new morning, a fresh day. As you look east, you can see a shadow rising with the sun in the distance over the horizon. The silhouette of one man walking west is all you can see. To his left, you notice another shadow forming. Another soon after to his right. Suddenly, you expand your line of sight and see dozens. And then hundreds. Followed by hundreds. Followed by thousands. 

Now, I know I am really taking this idea and running with it, but this is kinda what goes on in my brain. Imagine that army there was your last hope. Your only help in an otherwise helpless world. What would be your reaction? Now let's flip the script. What if you were part of that army? 

Some of you may have wondered what that background picture is. In the Book of Mormon it talks about armies and battles of the first native people of the Americas quite a bit. But there is one army in particular that stands out. They were called the Army of Helaman. Also referred to as the 2000 Strippling Warriors, this army was comprised of young men, most between 16-22.

They were vastly outnumbered in their battle and the remainder of the army either fled or trembled in fear, but they were undaunted and faithful in their leaders, as they were taught by their mothers. 

In the LDS Children's song handbook, there is a song called "To Bring the World His Truth", in which one of the lines is "We are as the army of Helaman, we have been taught in our youth. And we will be the Lord's missionaries to bring the world his truth".

THIS is the army rising up. THIS is the modern day Army of Helaman. THESE are the ones who will help break every chain. Christ has the power, we just want to share the knowledge that he does. I recently received my call to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and to labor in the Montana, Billings mission. There are over 50,000 missionaries worldwide right now, preaching, teaching and spreading the word of our Savior.

This is the army that I see every time (Credit to google search for getting me this picture. I had never seen it before but I love it.) Knocking on doors, teaching lessons, talking to people on the street, praying for them... That is how I am going to help break those chains that we all live with. And I can't freaking wait :) 

For those who are tagged or bored...

Ok, well, I found out that on my 2 year mission to Montana to serve for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I will be required to use a blog. And blog once a week, So.... I figured I should probably learn how to use this thing...

I don't have a whole lot interesting going on in my life, but the little bit that I do, I will share every once in a while.

So I'm not 100% sure how to do the idea that I have, but I was recently looking through my photo profile picture photo album on FB and was just realizing how many people who were in those pictures have affected my life and how many of them I missed. Haha one of those sad moments.

So I decided to give in and be nostalgic and share some of my favorite people who I have profile pictures with too and tell a little about them (I might go off script and add a couple other pictures in there that aren't profile pics... Jus sayin)

This is Brenna Davidson. One of my oldest friends. I met her when we were 14 at a youth conference and had the biggest crush on her. This is a picture of when we went to prom in 08, my first date. One of my favorite. She's the cutest little thing ever and our matching was perfect, no? She is currently at BYU as a sophomore where she recently got into the media arts program. She's gonna be a famous director one day. I am so proud of her and can't wait so say I knew her when :) 

My older sister and best friend, Karina Ussery Lee. Since I was just out of diapers this girl has been coming over to my house. I'm pretty sure we used to have dance concerts to Backstreet Boys and N'Sync on my banister with my sister. She has always been someone I look up to. This picture was taken the same day as the one of us in my PP Album, I just like this one better. We were on a double date at the Braves game. She is now living in Salt Lake with her amazing husband Greg (they got married in 09) and her beautiful daughter Savannah (Almost 11 months old) She will always be my sister and best friend and someone I look up to and strive to be like. 

Captain Joey Tippetts himself. From the days when he used to carry Bob around with him in primary, we were side by side. Scouts, deacons teachers and priest quorum, seminary, high school. You name it. We made movies together when we were 12 with Dross Knight Productions. This was taken at EFY in 08, his first year and my 3rd. He and I were on a mission that year to meet every single person it seemed. And came pretty close too. I have no idea what we are doing in the picture, but I assure you it is posed. We are just that weird. He is currently in Sao Paolo Brazil on his mission but returns in less that 3 weeks. I can't wait to see him and surely get punched in the face. 

Hahaha Chris Rollins. Known this kid since he was that weird cousin of Joel's that moved from England when we were 5 and liked soccer. We always used to fight over who Joel was better friends with. Throughout high school, he was one of my closest friends. This picture... Yeah. I am not sure what we were told to do for the pose, but it came out like this and it is our favorite of all time no doubt. We were at a Lilburn Stake dance back in 09. He recently just got his call to serve in the Porto Alegre Brazil and leaves in May. I am super proud of him and can't wait to see the miracles he produces as a missionary. GET EM RISSAAAAAY!

Alexandra Reynolds. Xan of course. My birthday buddy and one of my closest friends in high school. Don't ever ask about the first time we met, just ask about the times after we actually became friends... Hahaha. We are too similar a lot of the times, butting heads in just about every single way. But the fact still remains that I can talk to her about anything and always have an amazing time when with her. This was taken at New Years Eve in 09 and shows the sweeter side of our friendship... Which rarely comes out. Haha but she is at BYU finishing up her junior year and about to be an EFY counselor this summer all up and down the east coast. So proud of her and know she will be an amazing example :) 

These two... Matthew Bennett Davis and Jeffrey Kent Griffiths. Even tho male relationships are based off of insulting each other, I do love both of these fools a great deal. This was taken from EFY summer 09: Greatest summer of our lives. We look really stupid, but I promise this is the only even close to serious picture I have with either of them. I will always associate that summer with these two. Rides in Fred, Owl City, Six Flags, tubing... I could go on for days. Matt is currently home being a loser with me as he awaits to return to the mission field after he is cleared medically of his cancerous condition. Jeffrey is an engineering major at BYU and will be putting in his papers this summer. The world could use more guys like these two, no doubt about it. 

Courtney Lee Gregerson. Another person that will forever be associated with summer of 09. It is crazy to think that we have only been friends for just under 3 years, because in those years we have been through so much. This picture was from my senior prom when she was gracious enough to pick to go with me, even tho we know she had options ;) She is one of the sweetest souls I know and is one of the best listeners that I know, which must be why we are friends, cause I love to talk to her. Haha she is out at BYU-Idaho right now starting her freshman year and preparing to serve a mission. She is an inspiration to anyone who gets a chance to talk to her and I am so glad to call her one of my best friends

Stevie Kaiser. My little sister right here. One of my craziest and funniest friends I have no doubt. I don't think I have any other friends that I have crazier stories to tell with than her. I have never had a dull time while around her, and it is probably due to how comfortable we have been since day one of meeting each other. We used to talk till 2 or 3 in the morning on my land line when we were 15-16 and get caught by our parents. This picture was taken New Years Day '11 at Alexander Park. There is nothing to describe, other than this is a pretty typical candid moment from whenever we hang out. She is at BYU right now as well and studying to be a fore sic scientist. She is one of the most loyal friends I have and has always been like a sister to me. We argue all the time, but that's what siblings do. :) 

Hahahahahaha oh man, this picture... There is not much to say about it. Connor Moody and Chris Rollins again right there. These two guys this past summer were my life savers. They may always both be off in their own little worlds in there heads, so that is why I have to be around to smack them back down to earth. I hope that heaven is like an air conditioned monkey cage guys, cause that was the best part of the summer was playing ping pong with these two fools and runnin it back. Connor is at BYU right now as an engineering major and will be putting in his mission papers very soon. I miss you fools

Lily Arnold. Basically my female personality-mirror-image. I know this isn't a profile picture of mine, but maybe it should be. Even tho I look like a total tool here. I met Lily back in '10 at a youth conference in Troy Alabama that I wasn't even supposed to be at. I remember sneaking out in the trunk of her sister's car to find a Chick-Fil-A and her giving me glow sticks at one of the dances. We didn't hang out all too much there, but somehow we stayed in contact. And I sure am glad I did. We only talk every day and it's really weird when a day goes by that I don't hear from this tool. This picture was taken last month during one of the 3 times I have ever seen her in person in Huntsville Alabama at a dance. She is off track right now, but attending BYU-Idaho, is also gonna be an EFY counselor this summer and is gonna be one of the greatest missionaries that we've ever seen. She is living her dream right now and I am so proud of her. 

Last but not least, John Troung. It was very hard to pick one picture of the two of us, considering he is in like 10 of my profile pictures and 200 others too. But I stuck with this one. Since I met him at ultimate frisbee back in 09, John has been one of the most sincere and genuine people I knew. Over summer of 09 we became great friends and have always had each others back since. I don't think I've spent more time with another one of these friends as much as I have with John over the years. This picture was taken on Spring Break '10, the first time John had stepped on a beach. He is now a Sophomore at UGA and applying to get into the accounting school there as an accounting major. He is involved with the Wesley and Freshly foundations on campus and is an inspiration as a leader for both. I am very proud to be able to call him my best friend. 

So... Yeah, that was my gayfest. I hope those who made it this far liked it. Sorry if you feel like you were left off this post btw! I will be sure to add you in or something...

I just wanted to show how proud I am to be able to have such amazing people in my life. The Lord truly has blessed me with some amazing friends. I thank him every day for people like these.