"Yet secular knowledge can be most helpful to the children of our Father in Heaven who, having placed first things first, have found and are living those truths which lead one to eternal life. These are they who have the balance and perspective to seek all knowledge revealed and secular as a tool and servant for the blessing of themselves and others. They know that preeminent among all activities in this life is preparing themselves for eternal life by subjugating the flesh, subjecting the body to the spirit, overcoming weaknesses, and so governing themselves that they may give leadership to others. Important, but of second priority, comes the knowledge associated with life in mortality."

Spencer W. Kimball
"Seek Learning Even by Study and Also by Faith"
"Ensign," Sept. 1983, 34

Reading this on the mailing list reminds me to write the following

On a Saturday afternoon last year, I was standing on the 4th tee and wondering what I should pray for ... for me to win? or for the others to win? or everyone to win? Then the spirit quietly whispered, "why don't you pray for help for your spirit to control your body?" So I did that and when I hit the ball, it flew up and fell down past the pin about a foot away, so I got a birdie and a birdie ball and a mention in the golf columns for birdie balls and I went on to win the C grade competition.

If only I could let my spirit with the Lord's help to control my body everyday of my life!

Another golf story, playing on the last hole of the Monday Club, I was sure to get the booby prize. I told Barry and he said how many points did you get. I said 14 and he said he is only 1 better at 15. So I said that I bet him I can get one better on the last hole and Brian another player said well Chai gets two points for the hole 12 and he would be the one. Well I prayed for the Lord to get me out of getting the booby prixe and I teed off. It was a beautiful shot .... straight into the bunker. Now, I haven't got a hope in hell to make a par for 4 points would I, but on the other hand, if I could shoot out of the bunker and land within 3 feet of the pin! So I started to pray again ... I shot it straight out of the bunker but I hit it too hard and it sailed past the pin ... there's no hope now as it headed straight for the other bunker. But is there something! What is Brian doing behind the pin, he is trying to avoid my ball which has sailed past the pin, and there is Brian doing a soft shoe shuffle trying to avoid it. Well he didn't and he kicked it and flop the ball fell 3 foot from the pin. And I got a par for 4 points, who said the Lord doesn't have humour and can't get you out of the hardest fix!

I didn't beat Barry as he got a par two and we tied, well, my prayer was not to beat him, but to not get the booby prize.

One golf story to top it all … On the last hole of the Monday Club, at the 12th tee, Martin Chaffey told me I only had to get 2 points to win …  So I prayed to the Lord that I would give up all my sins and be a good boy just to get 2 points on that hole. I took out my big 5 wood and gave it a good whack and the ball sailed towards the bunker and jumped over it and headed towards the pin and disappeared. Roger Johnston cried out it is going to be close, and Martin said that it must be in, but we all couldn’t see it. We walked up to the green and it was nowhere in sight, not on the green, then Martin walked up to the hole. It was in the hole. I got a hole in one. The blessings of heaven is like a flood, it not only rained but it poured. I got 1 for 5, an eagle hole in one!

Back at the club, I got fined for the hole in one and then the captain gave me a fake certificate saying it was all arse, not before giving a certificate to Barry Wise which I thought it was my own. Got the real one later. And it says I am officially a member of the hole in one club.

 Another Monday Club golf story … The captain was telling the club about this guy who had scored only 3 points in the first 5 holes and went onto nearest the pins in the next 3 holes to score 10 points, missing birdies in every hole … but he didn’t know that when I did that on the first 5 holes, I was telling myself off for not praying and not keeping my tongue under control. I prayed for the spirit to be mindful for controlling my tongue and my body so that I could do well in life and the gospel. Then I got nearest the pin on the 18th and the 8th and a magpie ball … ie second shot nearest the pin on the 9th. I think I have put magpie balls on that hole four times, and winning twice on that hole in the last three weeks. I am really enjoying my golf and getting nearer to God.

Still another story, at the Family Day at the Forest Resort April 2004, I was going to pray to get a hole in one and win the car, but thought better of it ... A hole in one is just luck and a bit like gambling I thought. I just can't ask for that. I didn't win the car for the shot, but the second and third shot was for a set of golf clubs. I hit a beautifully third shot and could hear the man down at the pin said that my shot was the nearest the pin. I wanted to pray that nobody could take it off me and that I will win. But I thought that is very trivial and not going to be of any eternal worth, I struggled for the next two hours waiting to see if I had won, and struggling not to ask Heavenly Father for help. I did win.