Parlor Tricks, Modern Day Compass’s, and a Odd Looking Mouse

Finding our way back to our Heavenly Father in uncertain times using three distinct, modern-day illustrations.

By: Tanner Clark

Parlor Tricks

While working in Orlando Florida for the Walt Disney Company, I fell in love with the magic and excitement that constantly surrounded me. Visiting the numerous attractions that Disney had to offer became a journey of a lifetime. I had many places within and without the parks that I loved to frequent.

One of these places was a magic shop at Downtown Disney. I loved to stand and watch the numerous tricks that the magician would perform. Of course, part of his job description was to sell the tricks to the customers who came in. I soon became one of those customers.
One of the tricks that caught my attention involved a nickel that was glued to the top of a hallow device that was designed to look like three other nickels, giving the illusion that there were four stacked together, with four dimes hidden underneath. The magician would then explain that he could magically turn these four nickels into four dimes by placing a brass cap on top of the pile and saying a simple magic phrase. The magician would then place the cap over the device, which, by the way it was designed, put pressure on the stack of nickels and when pulled up, holds them tightly inside, revealing the hidden dimes underneath.

After wowing the audience, the magician would explain that all good things must come to an end, so revealing a secondary brass ring that fit over the cap he slams the cap back on top of the dimes, which releases the nickel device, and gives the illusion that he has changed the dimes back into their original nickel form. He would then explain that for a low price of $9.99, he would reveal the secret of this magic trick to anyone willing to pay the price.

Though I was amazed at how the magician accomplished this feat, after learning the secret behind the magic trick, I was disappointed in the simplicity of it all. It became a simple parlor trick to amuse those around me.

In life, we come across many who are willing to sell us these great and wonderful illusions of grandeur. “For a small price, I can make you rich, I can make you powerful, I can make you happy.” They would say. Once the bait is taken, however, the illusion washes away and reveals the reality of the situation, to which is rarely beneficial or of any real worth, leaving the buyer feeling deceived, frustrated, and worse off than before.

Satan uses many tools to deceive, making sin look fun, enticing, and very desirable. Once committed, the bitterness of the situation is made known. You have then become entrapped in his ugly snare, and have started to walk down a path to which returning becomes increasingly difficult. There is hope for those who have become lost in the world of sin.

Modern Day Compass’s

Recently, while on social engagement, I became lost while traveling to the venue. I thought I knew where I was going and had been given general directions, but had missed a turn and found myself in unfamiliar territory. After awhile, the situation became increasingly difficult, and I discovered that I had been traveling northwest, when I thought I was traveling southeast.

After regaining my bearings, I tried again to follow the directions I had been given to reach our destination, deciding that if I could not find the venue, we would have to settle for an alternative activity for the evening. Fortunately, after paying closer attention to the road, I found the turn that I had previously missed. Though the road was there, the lighting was such, that if one did not look closely, it would be easily missed.

Now thirty minutes late, we entered the arena and enjoyed the rest of what turned out to be a pleasant evening. A few weeks later, I was given a GPS (Global Positioning System) device for my car as a gift for graduating from college. This new tool would give me step by step directions to anywhere in the United States and be accurate within ten feet of my destination. My parents smiled and then told me I now had no excuse for getting lost.

There is a lot of equipment that we use today to aide us in our journey in life. We have computers, electronics, and other machines to guide us. There are tools given to us, however, than man cannot duplicate, that can guide us to a happy, productive, and spiritually rich life. Such things as having the Holy Ghost present in our daily lives, obtaining our personal patriarchal blessing, and listening to the Prophets and Apostles of the Lord are some of the great blessings we have access to.

In the Book of Mormon, Lehi and his family were given the Liahona, a compass that would help guide them to the Promised Land. This compass would only work however, when they were righteous. Once they deviated from what the Lord wanted for them, the Liahona stopped working, leaving them stranded and on their own. When Laman and Lemuel repented and released Nephi from his bondages, the storm became calm, the Liahona began to work properly, and they were able to reach the Promised Land.

When we take the time to listen to the Holy Ghost, read our patriarchal blessings, and obey the counsel given to us by the servants of the Lord, we can have access to our spiritual compass and find the path to returning to our Heavenly Father. No matter what road we find ourselves walking down, whether it be the beaten down road of sin, or paving new grounds to righteousness, having our spiritual compass in our life will only guide us to true happiness and everlasting life.

An Odd Looking Mouse

A popular children’s book and now motion picture, entitled The Tale of Desperaux, is a story about a curious and brave little mouse that goes on many adventures in the human world. He befriends a lovely princess, to whom he tells his sad story to, of being banished from the world of mice for not being cowardly enough. Before being banished however, his brother takes him to the castle to eat the pages from books. Being the curious and brave little mouse that he is, he begins to read the book instead of devouring it. He finds himself enthralled in reading the story about bravery, honor, and chivalry, and princess tells him it is now his quest to finish reading the story makes him promise that he will finish his quest and return to tell her on how it ends.

Many difficulties fall upon Desperaux while he struggles to complete his quest. He meets many new and interesting people along the way, including a wayward rat with a chip on his shoulder. Though the rat’s intentions are good, disaster befalls on him and Desperaux. In the end, Desperaux shows his bravery by overcoming his trials and finishes his quest of reading the book and reporting to the princess. The princess praises him by calling him brave, noble, and true.

In today’s world, there is sin all around us. Satan and those who follow him spend every waking moment trying to tear us down and make us deviate from the path of righteousness. One thing is for certain in a world filled with uncertainty - it is only going to become worse before it gets any better, and it is up to us to stay on the course.

Like Desperaux, we must be brave. Trials and tribulations will be thrown at us with a force that we have never seen before. We must live up to the potential that we have within us to be heirs to the Kingdom of God, even in our darkest hour. We are of noble birthright and have the ability to receive all that our father has, if we remain true to the covenants we have made with our Father in Heaven.

Final Thoughts

We must be true to ourselves and to what we have been taught. We can use our spiritual equipment that has been given to us to stay clear of the temptations of the world and to avoid the pitfalls that Satan has created to ensnare us. As we strive to live a better life, staying clear of the deceiving parlor tricks that Satan uses, we can be a brave, noble, and true people, being an example and light unto the world.

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid, Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

Way to break a vow Adam... even if it was a childhood vow to never wear makeup. We all love ya anyway. Again, thanks to Alisa Hansen for doing his prosthetics and makeup as well. I love the way she did his nose to make it look broken.

This is a picture of me at 2:30 in the morning after everybody left. I was so tired, but had to take some more pics before I started ripping all this stuff off, which took another 30 or so minutes... Amazing.

Halloween

Well, this Halloween came and went, and I was pleasently surprised by the turnout that I had at my party. Thank you for all coming. I counted about 35 of you plus 3 others that left minutes before most of you came. So all in all about 38 came. I had hoped for that many people, and was happy to see that many come. I must also thank Alisa Hansen very much for doing my make-up and prosthetics on my face. It was fun and worth it when I scared the tar out of a few kids with Adam Peterson later that night. I wish yall could have seen this one poor kid. I think I might have given him night tremors for a few weeks to come, but the kid came back and did a vampire laugh to show his courage, so I think its all good. I am thankfull for the friends that I have and that I can rely on them to pull through when I need them too, and of course, I would do the same for them. This weekend was a real self esteem booster and it made me happy... of course, BYU and Weber State football winning this weekend was also a boost as well... GO COUGARS AND WILDCATS!!!

Well, this summer was fun for me in the way that I was very busy playing with my new digital camcorder taking thousands of pictures and hours of video. At least it kept me from butting heads with my roommates (It was already bad enough as it was). So, here is a few of my favorite pics of characters.

Hip Hip Hooray for Aladdin.
Woody's Round-up... Right here everyday...(Not anymore though...sorry Woody... your parade got replaced)
Then there's the Jesse the yoddilin Cowgirl...ya da ya di ya da ya di yo...
Good old Captain Hook... Well, kids will get confused on this pic... they'll ask where his 'hook' is.

The mighty pee wee football league... oh the days of glory, honor, and loud parents... The little guy with the # 74 plastered on his chest is me believe it or not when I was 13. Though I only played for two years, I had a blast doing it, but seriously lacked talent. I loved being the defenseive captain the first year and playing Middle Linebacker. It was like a dream for me, though the second year, the tides turned and I got placed on the line as Noseguard. Oh so shattered by politicics...lol.

I have never considered myself part of the acting world, however, Disney does require that we wear these odd costumes when going to work... you get dressed, feeling absolutly embarrased as you go to work, having the sense of a fish out of water, then magically, when you step into the work enviroment, everything seems to blend in and you realize people arent laughing...

A co-worker and I however did manage to find some humor in this costume and "Southern Boatwright Manor" theming. We came up with the side sub plot that we interns were slaves in this 19th century theme, because we were all over worked, under paid, and had a slave master to report to. Okay... so when youre a young intern with a lot of time on your hands, you come up with some crazy stuff. Sorry to all who were looking for a politically correct joke here...








The French Quarter District wasnt a whole lot better in the realm of costuming. A guest came up and told me my shirt hurt his eyes. Dont blame him. My roommates at the time wanted me to pose for them while they decorated eggs for Easter. To this honor, I have to confess, I did decline. I may not have a lot of pride to wear this costume in public, but I do have enough pride to not degrade myself to my roommates.