Author: Richard Himmer

Author, PhD in Organizational Psychology.

Our Internal Drugs

Scientists, and to a small degree, the public are familiar with the damage to the brain caused by drug addiction. Meaning drugs introduced to the body from the outside.

Research has discovered that any addiction causes the same brain damage that drug addiction causes. Our brain is a natural pharmacy complete with computer sensors all through the body.

When a chemical is deficient, the brain sends a message to the pharmacist, who then sends the appropriate dosage to the region of the body in need. Recent research has taught us that many of the drugs on the outside of the body are also produced on the inside.

The Gypsy Moth

The Gypsy Moth

In 1869, the gypsy moth was introduced to Medford, MA to produce silk for the local industry. Some moths however, escaped and starting killing trees. Since that time they have spread west and south and are responsible for billions in environmental damage.

In 1972, scientists discovered an unusual weapon against the moths. I call it Greek-icide. Rather than employing toxic pesticides to kill the caterpillars and adults, they used sex. This may seem a bit unusual, however, considering what happened to both Rome and Greece when sexuality ran rampant in the streets, it makes sense.

The Impact of Addiction

Research indicates that 100% of males have viewed pornography by their senior year in high school. The average age of exposure is 11.

From a Darwinian perspective, those who practice unrestrained sexuality are selecting themselves and their DNA for extinction. The psychiatrist Norman Doidge in his book, The Brain That Changes Itself says:

“The men (and they are overwhelmingly men) who become hooked on this bilge are often miserable about it. They know that it affects their capacity to love and be loved by real women. Pornographers promise healthy pleasure and a release from sexual tension, but what they often deliver is an addiction, tolerance, and an eventual decrease in pleasure.”

The Romans And Their Addiction

In 70 AD the world’s most powerful civilization destroyed Jerusalem and demolished the Temple of Herod. No brick or stone was left untouched.

30 years later, in 100 AD the Roman strength had dramatically atrophied due to an excess of indulgence. Sexual excesses may have reduced human fertility to the extent that in 161, the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius enrolled slaves, gladiators, policemen and criminals to replenish his army.

By 192, the emperor Pertinax offered farms gratis (free of cost) to anyone who would till them. In 193, the government was openly speaking of a shortage of men. Historians would later report than the male population had been halved.

Neutral Space

Remember the story of the woman taken in adultery found in the New Testament – John 8?

 

The story is told of the Savior going unto the Mount of Olives when the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman taken in adultery unto Him. As I narrate the story pay attention to how the Savior remained neutral in His response even though He was the only party in the right.

The scribes and Pharisees bring the adulteress before Jesus seeking to tempt Him (deceive and trick would be accurate as well.) Without saying a word (or probably making an expression) Jesus stoops down and commences writing upon the ground.

Missionary Work: The Traditional Approach

You receive a special missionary lesson during the third hour at church.

The lesson emphasizes the importance of warning your neighbor that the gospel has been restored.

Here is your take away and scenario:

  • Get the neighbor to agree that your church is right and that their church is wrong.
  • You run into your neighbor and ask about their church.
  • You explain that you’re a Mormon and that the gospel has been restored.
  • They have no idea what you are talking about.
  • You explain that their church is apostate and yours is the only true church.

How Are Mormons Perceived?

Here is an article that speaks very loudly against our traditional approach to missionary work. This is an eye opening, articulate report on the state of mormonism in the eyes of our friends. This approach is not main stream and can be difficult because our leaders have been touting the traditional approach for 180 years.

We have convert baptisms because of what we do, not because of how we do it.

Approaching our missionary work in the stake from the Perspective of logic, reason and sound business principles and letting the Lord take care of the heavy lifting could have a dramatic impact upon our success.

Teaching vs. Criticizing

“I could just tell you what to do, or we could explore it together. The first is much faster to deliver. The second usually works better.” – Carl Ingalls

Teaching vs. Criticism

Teaching is the process of delegating thinking to the student.  The art of asking questions to teach has prerequisites and can only be applied when functioning within The You Pyramid™. The anti-thesis of teaching is criticizing.

Constructive criticism is the politically correct way of seeking agreement from or forcing agreement on someone else and masking it as a virtue.

Constructive tends to build up and to serve a useful purpose.

Mormonism by Tradition

A newly-baptized member accepts a calling as the Gospel Doctrine teacher and really shakes things up. Both the Bishopric and the members are caught off guard and blown away her fresh thinking and new approaches. (This usually leads to complaints and hurt feelings and a meeting in the Bishop’s office.)

A fifty-year old life-long member who has been teaching Gospel Doctrine, Seminary, and Sunday School for decades misses insights and doctrinal connections over and over, because he’s still living in ‘tradition.’ He bores his students into complacency and monologues his way through lessons. (This is deemed acceptable and nobody is offended, moved, or edified.)

Missionary Blind Spots

I’m fascinated by the quick learning abilities of children when they play video games. Most recently my children received a Wii unit for Christmas. Before the day had expired Samuel, my 8-year-old son challenged me to a boxing match.

Finally, I thought, something electronic at which I can beat my children. I have formal training in the martial arts and can certainly move my hands quicker than my 8-year-old boy. The results? I didn’t make it past the first round. Sam KO’d me.

Making a Street Offer

What is a street offer? For a missionary it is initiating contact with a potential investigator. It is identifying if the gentleman walking across the street wants to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, or not.

For a member of the church, it’s being asked what church you attend or a general question about your membership.

An offer means you are offering another person the opportunity to have something. For example, if I were a Chiropractor I would answer the question about what I do for a living as follows:

Avoid conflict avoidance?

At one moment in our existence we sang for joy because our Father in Heaven agreed to coach us back into His presence.

Then we were born and a veil was placed between that moment and the present. Our memory became clouded even temporarily erased.

In order to accomplish our vision and dream, we needed conflict to make us grow. So the Lord introduces us to conflict every day. The rules of engagement for exaltation are to cope with…

  • Getting out of bed in the morning
  • Fatigue
  • Sore muscles
  • Too much food
  • Toxic family members

Conflict: The Source of Progress

Human nature teaches us to avoid conflict. Natural law (God) teaches us that conflict is a necessary part of life and can bring us closer to God.

Consider the following study conducted by Boulding in 1964 on conflict.

Boulding brought together managers from across multiple industries—forming them into teams and telling them that their problem-solving techniques would be analyzed.  What Boulding didn’t tell these managers, however, was that a “devil’s advocate” or critic would be planted in half of the teams.  The critic’s role was to challenge the team’s solutions, and push them to consider additional ideas throughout their problem-solving process.

What Boulding discovered, was that the teams having a devil’s advocate all performed significantly better in their tasks, and produced multiple options for successfully solving a problem.

Then, halfway through the experiment, Boulding allowed each team to expel one member.  Every team having a devil’s advocate chose to expel that critic.

Boulding then observed that the quality of those teams’ analysis and problem-solving abilities rapidly declined.  Boulding concluded that, ironically, the highest-performing teams ended up eliminating their  competitive advantage—because they didn’t like how the critic’s comments made them feel.

Intellectually, it is easy for many of us to buy into the idea that competition and confrontation can indeed cause others to perform better, and can spark creativity within an organization—but on a personal level,we don’t like how conflict feels.

Being willing to take, and learn from, criticism is an important skill in becoming an effective leader and communicator.

God places before us a constant stream of conflict to temper our capabilities and mold them into God-like characteristics.

A Favor, A Present, A Gift

What is a favor? A favor is…

  • Something you do for someone expecting a return of equal or greater value
    • Hence the saying: return the favor.
  • A favorable word in behalf of someone else.
  • A letter of recommendation you write for someone
  • A kind deed that helps someone else get something or avoid something

What is a present? A present is…

  • A wrapped surprise given under obligation or in expectation
    • Birthday present
    • Easter present
    • Valentine’s present
    • Mother’s Day and Father’s Day present
    • Christmas present
  • Something that usually costs money