fireside...

It's interesting to me how names tend to stick. A fireside is no longer a legit fireside. Unless, of course, you go to a canyon and use one of the city installed fire pits, bringing wood you bought at a gas station that's wrapped in plastic, and a gallon of gasoline to get the wood wet so you can light it with one match. And the fixings for s'mores and three or four bags of Starbursts to roast. Then you've got a fireside.

But that doesn't happen very often. A fireside now just takes place in the evening when you could have a fire because it's dark and a little chilly, but since they're normally in buildings you'd bring the Fire Marshall running with a fighting crew and a massive pile of paperwork, including at least one rather large ticket.

No bueno.

Tonight's fireside was very good. I highly enjoyed it, even though there was a rather horrific mistake (if you were listening for mistakes) during "I Stand All Amazed" among many members of my section. We are so fixing that tomorrow! However, it was really good to sing for Matthew Holland, president of the university. He's one of our biggest fans, and he's super nice. Not only that, but he's a great speaker. Really great.

His topic tonight was about being in the world but not of the world. His definition of "of the world" went something like this: searching and using the easiest, flashiest, most glamorous way possible to do things to gain power, popularity, or fortune with no intent to serve anyone but yourself. To be "in the world": doing the work of the world, such as gaining education; pursuing a career; creating a family; serving in the community; not for personal gain but to bring honor to the church, glory to the Lord, and to bless the lives of others.

I thought it was interesting, how different the two things are, and it comes down to this main point: one way of living serves you, and the other way of living serves others. Being of the world is to embrace it wholeheartedly, not caring if it's right or wrong, but only caring if it benefits yourself (whether or not it does in the long run). Being in the world is to embrace others, to make yourself better so you can help others. So very different.

Another great thing about President Holland is that he always tells funny stories. He tells serious ones, too, but the funny ones are always hilarious. I'll share one in closing:

‎21 year old girl: "All of my friends are getting married!!"
Grad student: "All of my friends are getting divorced."
Elderly couple: "Well, all of our friends are dying."

Puts life into perspective, doesn't it?