The Problem With Jimmer

While I've yet to witness a game for myself, I have heard plenty about the lousy play of last year's National Player of the Year Jimmer Fredette. For many, it's a little hard to believe that that same guy we were screaming at last year to "SHOOT IT!" when 35 feet out from the basket, is having such a miserable time finding success in the NBA.

So what's Jimmer's problem? Why such a drop off after one of the most prolific college careers in NCAA history? The ball is still 29.5 inches around, the basket is still 10 feet tall, and from what we witnessed last year, a 3 foot increase in 3-point distance really shouldn't be too big of a deal for Fredette. Many will cite the substantial increase in the quality of athleticism and skill when moving from college to the pros as the cause of Fredette's NBA woes. While I do find some validity in this opinion, I do not find it to be the entirety of Jimmer's problem, not even the majority. Rather, I find that what gave Jimmer his past success has now become the cause of his present plague. Amazing what a change in perspective can do.

While at BYU, Jimmer was the man. It was his team and he knew it. The confidence that came from this perspective allowed him to meet, and even far exceed, the expectations had of him. The confidence that came from this perspective allowed him to square up 30 feet from the basket, let it fly, and watch it go in.....over and over and over and over again. And now today, it is the lack of this confidence and change in perspective that has created his less than stellar statistics and a barrage of negative criticism.

Like Jimmer, the expectations had of us are high, we have a lot to live up to and our perspective can make all the difference.

Do we remember that we are children of a Heavenly Father who loves, who works daily to prepare us for success(moses 1:39) and who's only goal and intent for us happiness if we so choose it? Our literal purpose is to experience joy, to grow, and to succeed!(2 nephi 2:25) God has promised it and it is up to us to take him up on it. There's power in perspective and a confidence that comes into our lives when we truly understand who we are and what we can become.   

Elder Nicholes' Top 5

Seems simple, maybe a little cliche, but these are the things and people that mean the world to me. So grateful for my many, many blessings.

"live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you."

-Alma 34:38

1.  My Family-

 

2. My Savior, Jesus Christ. His gospel, sacrifice, and plan have saved my life.  

3. The Book of Mormon- It's changed my life, I love it. No exaggeration.

 4. Friends, Role Models, Examples. All the people that make me smile!  

 

5. My Health- Another that might seem cliche, but I honestly thank my Heavenly Father for this every single day!

Girl Crazy

Girl crazy, definitely a fair description of both myself and many of the friends I've spent my past years parading around with. However, not too many years ago it was this craze that led to a certain missionary's dream coming true.  It's that same dream that every elder out there who is now, or has served has in common.

A pretty girl who will write you, week after week after week, after week, after week, after week finally ending with you returning home, sweeping her off her feet and marrying this sweetheart of yours.

For most, this dream remains just that, rarely becoming more than a wild fantasy, in which you receive 2 years worth of these coveted letters that let you know just how special you are, how proud of you she is, and how you're all she thinks about.

So here's how to make it happen. Or at least how it [sort of] worked in this friend of mine's case.

It happened about a week before my best friend's expected departure for the Missionary Training Center. We had spent the past few hours of that day perusing the shops of a nearby mall. We finished up, walked out the door, and there she was! My friend was nothing short of stunned. His short amount of time left in "the real world" didn't matter, he had to talk to her. There was only one problem, he literally looked like he had just gotten out of bed. Thinking that there was no way this girl would give him the time of day, considering his less than flattering outfit made up of basketball shorts, a hoodie, and bed head, he turned to me as we sat down in his truck and said "I have to go back in and talk to her, give me your clothes!"

In an effort to give my friend his best shot at a good first impression, we both began to strip. After making the exchange, there I sat, wearing nothing but boxer briefs and that hoodie in the front seat of the truck and there he went, back into the mall to find out who this young lady was.

He's gone for a few minutes, comes back and the story ends as follows; he found her, talked to her, got her phone number, but never gets the opportunity to hang out with this girl before his departure for the mission field. 

Unfortunate, right?..... Wrong. Turns out the girl he met at the mall, in borrowed clothes, and never hung out with sticks it out for two years and writes him faithfully the entire time...... WOW. I don't know if a last second effort has ever paid off in such a big way, and there's a good reason why.

Whether it be love, character, a jump shot, a college degree, spirituality or anything else we deem to be worthwhile or worth achieving; dedication and sacrifice are always required. Do we think when our time for preparation has expired that we can quickly shed our spiritual pajamas and jump into a friend's Armani suit and fool God?

"And now I ask of you, my brethren, how will any of you feel, if ye shall stand before the bar of God, having your garments stained with blood and all manner of filthiness? Behold, what will these things testify against you?" 

While last second efforts may earn us a few letters from the cute girl at the mall, spirituality and sanctification require a bit more.

  

 "And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?

   Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?" Alma 5:14-15

His Grace is Sufficient

 

 Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth;

 Mosiah 4:9

Trust Him

Come What May

"Come what may and love it."
                            Joseph B. Wirthlin



"Look not behind thee" 
                           Genesis 19:17

Even More Powerful Than Them!

"And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me." -- Moroni 7:33

Tough Stuff

"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;" -- Ephesians 6:13-18

Because It's True, Isn't It?

Wherefore, I the Lord ask you this question—unto what were ye ordained?

 To preach my gospel by the Spirit, even the Comforter which was sent forth to teach the truth. D&C 50:13-14

Be Happy

"God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing." --C. S. Lewis

 

 

 

 

"Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness."

--Alma 41:10

 

Setting Sail

"The winds of God are always blowing, but we must set the sails."

-- Author Unknown

"Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day." alma 37:37

Christlike

"Begin to be now what you will be hereafter."  William James

"And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?

Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?

I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth?

Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God? Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble? That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins?" -- Alma 5:14-16,27

He is the Way

"We are what we repeatedly do.

Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit." -- Aristotle

 

 "what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am." -- 3nephi27:27

Become Legendary

Not easy, but worth it. BECOME LEGENDARY.

"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall ENDURE TO THE END, the same shall be saved." -- Matthew 24:9-13

 

The Power of Prayer

"I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go" 
 -- Abraham Lincoln

"Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers." -- D&C 112:10

Strengthen Thy Brethren

"I sometimes wonder whether all pleasures are not substitutes for joy. "

--C.S. Lewis

 

"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." -- Luke 22:31-32

 

 

 

Book of Mormon and Biggie Smalls

"Sky is the limit and you know that you keep on, just keep on pressin on.
Sky is the limit and you know that you can have what you want, be what you want."

-- Notorious B.I.G.

"Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit;" -- 2 Nephi 2:27-28

Nothing To Do With Hermione Granger

"All I have seen teaches me to trust the creator for all I have not seen."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation." -2 Nephi 2:22

 

#TRUTH- Where It's Found

"Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important."

-C.S. Lewis

"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." -Moroni 10:4-5

 

The Power of Perserverance

"On occasion we need to make a second effort - and a third effort, and a fourth effort, and as many degrees of effort as may be required to accomplish what we strive to achieve."
-Thomas S. Monson

"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." 2 Nephi 31:20

Real Wealth

"Our lives are the only meaningful expression of what we believe and in Whom we believe. And the only real wealth, for any of us, lies in our faith"

-Gordon B. Hinckley

"Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God"

Ether 12:4