WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.490 Jethro D. Jones: Welcome to a decade, never to be Forgotten. 00:00:02.790 --> 00:00:05.130 I'm here with Nathan Jones, my brother. 00:00:05.370 --> 00:00:10.889 And this podcast, follows the stories of people, over the next 10 years 00:00:10.919 --> 00:00:15.329 about what they're doing to make their decade, a decade never to be forgotten. 00:00:15.870 --> 00:00:19.890 If you want to be part of the ten year journal, you can go to a decade never 00:00:19.890 --> 00:00:24.879 to be forgotten.com, and, you can join there and it's a little community where 00:00:24.879 --> 00:00:29.809 we post answers to a question, every single day, and then we'll ask, ask 00:00:29.809 --> 00:00:31.759 those same questions again next year. 00:00:32.189 --> 00:00:33.629 So that's a decade never to be forgotten. 00:00:33.629 --> 00:00:34.079 Dot com. 00:00:34.589 --> 00:00:36.389 And Nathan, welcome to the show. 00:00:36.839 --> 00:00:37.349 Nathan Jones: Thank you. 00:00:37.409 --> 00:00:38.099 Glad to be here. 00:00:38.579 --> 00:00:42.939 Jethro D. Jones: So, what, what brought you to this point in your life? 00:00:42.939 --> 00:00:47.289 Let's get a little background of who you are and what makes you, you. 00:00:48.234 --> 00:00:51.474 Nathan Jones: Well, just to get started, I am 38 years old. 00:00:51.654 --> 00:00:55.254 Was born in 1986 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 00:00:55.879 --> 00:01:01.319 My family moved us to Fallbrook, California, when I was about 00:01:01.319 --> 00:01:02.609 one and a half years old. 00:01:03.209 --> 00:01:08.619 And, then in 95 we moved up to Sacramento, where I spent most of my 00:01:08.619 --> 00:01:11.539 life, moving around back and forth. 00:01:12.459 --> 00:01:22.190 In 2013, I met my then wife, well, I met her earlier and we got married in 2013. 00:01:22.910 --> 00:01:25.850 We were married for almost six years. 00:01:26.460 --> 00:01:31.020 When we got divorced, we had four children during that time. 00:01:31.529 --> 00:01:34.739 George, Trent, Rory, and Piper. 00:01:35.519 --> 00:01:41.429 And I am now living in Ogden, Utah. 00:01:42.179 --> 00:01:46.169 My kids live in Draper and. 00:01:46.964 --> 00:01:49.544 That's the, the gist of where we are today. 00:01:49.949 --> 00:01:50.489 Jethro D. Jones: Gotcha. 00:01:50.879 --> 00:01:55.679 So let's go back to your childhood and what kinds of things, 00:01:56.229 --> 00:01:59.109 formed you into who you are? 00:01:59.139 --> 00:02:04.479 Like what memorable childhood experiences resonate with you today 00:02:04.479 --> 00:02:06.740 about, about how you are, how you are? 00:02:07.685 --> 00:02:12.695 Nathan Jones: There's two really big moments in my life that really resonate 00:02:12.695 --> 00:02:15.395 with me that I ponder on often. 00:02:15.895 --> 00:02:19.015 And that's, you know, most of it revolves around my dad. 00:02:19.015 --> 00:02:24.815 I had a very close relationship with my dad and, I always wanted to be by 00:02:24.815 --> 00:02:30.185 his side doing whatever he was working on, whatever project he had going. 00:02:30.605 --> 00:02:36.275 And I, I feel like I got my work ethic from my dad. 00:02:36.280 --> 00:02:39.965 He always had us going out and doing service projects. 00:02:40.400 --> 00:02:45.070 Helping people, move and all sorts of things. 00:02:45.170 --> 00:02:49.790 And so it really instilled with me a good work ethic. 00:02:49.840 --> 00:02:54.230 Another thing that was very memorable, on the grounds of work 00:02:54.230 --> 00:02:58.400 ethic is all four of us boys. 00:02:58.520 --> 00:03:01.670 I have two, three brothers and three sisters. 00:03:02.090 --> 00:03:07.500 All four of us boys were, went to go help a guy do some landscaping and 00:03:07.500 --> 00:03:12.630 he had hired a bunch of other people to come work as well alongside of us. 00:03:13.020 --> 00:03:19.230 And he pulled me aside one time and had me stop working and he pointed out 00:03:19.230 --> 00:03:25.080 a couple of guys that were standing around talking and he said, he asked me 00:03:25.080 --> 00:03:27.480 what's interesting about these two guys. 00:03:27.960 --> 00:03:31.920 And you know, I was probably seven or eight years old at the 00:03:31.920 --> 00:03:34.710 time and I had no answer for him. 00:03:34.740 --> 00:03:34.800 Yeah. 00:03:35.430 --> 00:03:38.340 And he said, see those two guys, they're talking. 00:03:39.600 --> 00:03:42.000 You notice how when they're talking, they're not working. 00:03:42.690 --> 00:03:50.010 And when you are when you're talking, then you can't be working at the same time. 00:03:50.660 --> 00:03:53.570 And I don't know why that made such a big impression on me, but it's just 00:03:53.570 --> 00:03:59.270 one of those things that, that I think about often and it helps keep me focused 00:03:59.270 --> 00:04:06.180 when I am working that if I do slack off or start talking, to make sure 00:04:06.180 --> 00:04:07.950 I'm being productive at the same time. 00:04:08.620 --> 00:04:13.240 The second really memorable thing, that really formed my childhood is 00:04:13.240 --> 00:04:18.970 I'm very skilled with my hands and doing physical and manual labor. 00:04:19.480 --> 00:04:24.230 And, remember when I was very young, I went out to help my dad change the 00:04:24.230 --> 00:04:27.620 alternator in one of our cars, and there was a bolt that he couldn't 00:04:27.620 --> 00:04:30.380 reach and he called me out and. 00:04:31.115 --> 00:04:37.385 Got my little hand up there to Unfasten Bolt and get the alternator out. 00:04:37.475 --> 00:04:40.865 And that was memorable in and of itself. 00:04:40.865 --> 00:04:45.185 But what really made an impression on me was how much he bragged 00:04:45.695 --> 00:04:48.905 about me doing that my entire life. 00:04:49.205 --> 00:04:56.465 And it really helped me to take a talent that I already had and really foster that 00:04:56.465 --> 00:05:05.435 talent and make that talent grow into me being able to fix cars today and, you 00:05:05.435 --> 00:05:09.680 know, build houses and do construction and do physical and manual labor. 00:05:10.175 --> 00:05:10.595 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:05:11.665 --> 00:05:11.955 Yeah. 00:05:12.170 --> 00:05:16.910 And in that aspect of, the, the first story of the guy pulling you 00:05:16.910 --> 00:05:22.280 aside and commenting on your work ethic at the time and the other 00:05:22.280 --> 00:05:25.550 guy's work ethic and then dad saying. 00:05:26.150 --> 00:05:29.510 This was awesome and bragging about you, those things. 00:05:29.660 --> 00:05:34.520 Those are things that I would still say are true with you, that you are good at 00:05:34.520 --> 00:05:39.480 doing things like taking a bolt off of an alternator, or bracket or whatever. 00:05:39.900 --> 00:05:41.130 Those usually get pretty tight. 00:05:41.340 --> 00:05:44.910 So little five-year-old kid being able to not just get his hand in 00:05:44.910 --> 00:05:48.120 there, but then have the strength and determination to keep doing it and 00:05:48.120 --> 00:05:50.520 not give up and say it's too hard. 00:05:50.730 --> 00:05:53.310 And you've been through a lot of hard things in your life 00:05:53.370 --> 00:05:55.290 and you still push through. 00:05:55.560 --> 00:06:00.000 And so that's another thing that I see coming from that story of, of having 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:01.380 the perseverance to go through it. 00:06:02.890 --> 00:06:03.180 Nathan Jones: Yeah. 00:06:03.255 --> 00:06:06.315 And it's not, you know, it's not always easy to push 00:06:06.315 --> 00:06:07.575 through those difficult times. 00:06:07.575 --> 00:06:14.745 There's a lot of times in my life where I have wanted to give up and, you 00:06:14.745 --> 00:06:20.625 know, I, if I, some, sometimes I look back on my life and don't know how. 00:06:21.105 --> 00:06:23.355 I've gotten through some of the trials that I've gotten 00:06:23.355 --> 00:06:25.665 through, but here we are today. 00:06:25.815 --> 00:06:26.325 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:06:26.925 --> 00:06:32.175 So what, what would you say has made it so that you could get through those trials? 00:06:32.175 --> 00:06:37.545 I know you say you're not sure, but now with some hindsight, what, has helped you? 00:06:37.545 --> 00:06:38.955 How have you managed that? 00:06:40.905 --> 00:06:45.415 Nathan Jones: to be real honest, I think the, through the hardest 00:06:45.415 --> 00:06:50.485 things in my life, I think that it really comes down to me just 00:06:50.485 --> 00:06:52.105 being too much of a coward to quit. 00:06:54.215 --> 00:06:59.645 with minor things in my life I'm able to push through, but with the hardest 00:06:59.645 --> 00:07:03.375 things in my life, I think I was just too much of a coward to quit. 00:07:05.575 --> 00:07:07.705 Jethro D. Jones: so how does that apply? 00:07:08.905 --> 00:07:12.085 are you afraid of the other people judging you? 00:07:12.085 --> 00:07:12.595 Are you. 00:07:13.135 --> 00:07:14.995 Afraid of failure itself. 00:07:15.415 --> 00:07:17.455 When you say coward, what does that mean for you? 00:07:18.805 --> 00:07:24.175 Nathan Jones: I think it means a lot of just being a, too 00:07:24.205 --> 00:07:27.055 afraid to let other people down. 00:07:27.655 --> 00:07:32.455 Too afraid of being perceived as a quitter, afraid of, 00:07:33.145 --> 00:07:36.115 and pride in myself and, 00:07:38.155 --> 00:07:41.155 also just have not having any other option. 00:07:43.135 --> 00:07:43.405 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah. 00:07:45.715 --> 00:07:49.615 there, in, in all of our lives are choices that we make that 00:07:49.615 --> 00:07:50.815 lead us to where we're at. 00:07:51.205 --> 00:07:54.835 What are some of the choices you've made that have led you to where 00:07:54.835 --> 00:07:57.355 you're at now, and what would you like to talk about with that? 00:07:58.355 --> 00:08:00.424 Nathan Jones: I think one of the choices. 00:08:01.424 --> 00:08:06.344 That I've made is more of a personality trait of mine that 00:08:06.344 --> 00:08:08.414 have led me to where I'm at. 00:08:09.104 --> 00:08:15.824 Is I, and this is a recent realization of mine and is that 00:08:15.824 --> 00:08:22.784 I get, when I make a goal, I get super hyper-focused on that goal. 00:08:23.534 --> 00:08:28.635 And some people would say that that's a good quality. 00:08:28.694 --> 00:08:30.885 Other people might say it's a bad quality. 00:08:31.374 --> 00:08:34.944 Because when I get hyper-focused on something, I tend to neglect 00:08:34.974 --> 00:08:36.714 a lot of other things in my life. 00:08:36.745 --> 00:08:37.155 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:08:37.455 --> 00:08:41.445 Nathan Jones: Most importantly my relationships, you know, and I think that 00:08:41.445 --> 00:08:50.625 that's probably one of the things that has led to a lot of losing relationships, 00:08:50.625 --> 00:08:55.305 especially in my marriage, that I was. 00:08:55.710 --> 00:09:00.660 Too hyper-focused on reaching my goals, which were for the benefit of my family. 00:09:01.120 --> 00:09:04.750 But I did neglect my wife during that time, and I think it 00:09:04.810 --> 00:09:06.580 ultimately led to her downfall. 00:09:06.660 --> 00:09:07.080 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:09:08.185 --> 00:09:14.275 And, you know, as men especially, we do all this stuff for our families, and, 00:09:14.905 --> 00:09:20.515 and sometimes they have a hard time seeing that because we're never around 00:09:20.515 --> 00:09:24.295 or we're we're focused on these other things or, or something like that. 00:09:24.735 --> 00:09:29.145 What's a specific example of that, that you're, that you'd like to share? 00:09:30.370 --> 00:09:36.880 Nathan Jones: Well, in 2015 I started my own landscaping company and we were, 00:09:37.742 --> 00:09:45.032 I feel like it was very successful and, we were reaching a certain revenue goal 00:09:45.542 --> 00:09:51.492 and it was a revenue goal that was, particularly difficult to break through. 00:09:52.132 --> 00:09:58.162 But I really felt once I broke through that certain number, then the business 00:09:58.162 --> 00:10:03.142 would take off and I would finally be able to pay my family more money. 00:10:03.782 --> 00:10:07.532 We would be able to have a better lifestyle than we were living. 00:10:08.432 --> 00:10:16.172 And, I just, I felt, I just knew that we were close to just breaking through 00:10:16.172 --> 00:10:23.492 that ceiling and reaching a point where we could finally breathe and relax. 00:10:24.002 --> 00:10:26.372 And there's seasons to life. 00:10:26.372 --> 00:10:30.932 There's seasons in your relationship where you have highs and lows. 00:10:31.232 --> 00:10:34.232 There's seasons in your career where you have highs and lows. 00:10:35.312 --> 00:10:36.992 And I was on. 00:10:37.797 --> 00:10:43.317 I was on a high point in my career and I felt like we were gonna break through 00:10:43.317 --> 00:10:51.537 that moment and, I think it just became too much for my ex-wife and, ultimately 00:10:51.807 --> 00:10:53.637 caused to the end of our relationship. 00:10:55.342 --> 00:10:55.632 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah. 00:10:57.537 --> 00:11:03.417 And, so that hyper focus on reaching that goal made you take your attention 00:11:03.417 --> 00:11:07.137 away from the other things by just trying to get to that point. 00:11:07.137 --> 00:11:11.127 And then you felt like once you got there, then you could relax a little 00:11:11.127 --> 00:11:14.877 bit and the systems and process would be in place so that you could keep going. 00:11:17.847 --> 00:11:23.427 so how, has that changed your life and how do you manage that now in your, 00:11:23.427 --> 00:11:24.897 the relationships you have today? 00:11:26.337 --> 00:11:29.757 Nathan Jones: it's, it is still a work in progress because it is a. 00:11:30.747 --> 00:11:34.827 It's something I always knew about myself, but it's not something that I realized 00:11:34.827 --> 00:11:39.727 was such a big problem, because in my eyes I was doing, you know, I don't, 00:11:40.207 --> 00:11:42.097 I don't really do much for myself. 00:11:42.097 --> 00:11:45.517 I really thrive on doing things for other people. 00:11:46.077 --> 00:11:53.397 So usually those times of hyper focus come when I have the most people to let down. 00:11:54.357 --> 00:11:59.787 And so that's something that I'm currently trying to work on, and now that I'm aware 00:11:59.787 --> 00:12:03.687 of it, I think that I can, be more aware. 00:12:03.867 --> 00:12:09.567 But being single now, I don't, I don't feel that drive and that 00:12:09.597 --> 00:12:13.167 hyperfocus to reach to a certain goal. 00:12:13.857 --> 00:12:18.357 I think mo mostly in part because I don't have anybody to share that 00:12:18.615 --> 00:12:18.952 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:12:19.072 --> 00:12:19.152 Hmm. 00:12:20.182 --> 00:12:20.472 Yeah. 00:12:21.472 --> 00:12:24.262 you, you've had trials and challenges. 00:12:24.262 --> 00:12:28.552 How have these trials and challenges, helped you have faith and deepen 00:12:28.552 --> 00:12:31.342 your faith and help your faith grow? 00:12:32.342 --> 00:12:34.442 Nathan Jones: It, it's been a difficult journey. 00:12:34.952 --> 00:12:41.342 But I, one thing that I am grateful for is that I know of the blessings that I 00:12:41.342 --> 00:12:51.002 have in my life, and I am easily able to recognize the ways that the Lord 00:12:51.002 --> 00:12:55.892 has blessed me and all the things that I still have and all the things that I 00:12:55.892 --> 00:12:59.532 was able to rebuild, after those trials. 00:12:59.592 --> 00:13:06.672 And, so I, I'm eternally grateful for everything that I do have, 00:13:06.672 --> 00:13:08.652 regardless of what I've been through. 00:13:09.282 --> 00:13:13.362 And coming out of the other side of that, it puts a different perspective. 00:13:14.022 --> 00:13:18.522 Because, you know, sometimes it can be easy when everything's going good, 00:13:18.522 --> 00:13:20.142 when you have everything that you need. 00:13:20.782 --> 00:13:28.042 But going through those trials where everything gets ripped apart and 00:13:28.072 --> 00:13:33.652 your life is in shambles, that, you know, coming out on the other end, 00:13:33.652 --> 00:13:35.182 you don't see it in the moment. 00:13:35.922 --> 00:13:41.212 But in retrospect you can see, all the blessings and all the, 00:13:41.942 --> 00:13:43.652 opportunity that you have in your 00:13:44.060 --> 00:13:44.422 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:13:45.422 --> 00:13:53.047 So, so being able to see those blessings now is, is good, but in the trials it's 00:13:53.077 --> 00:13:57.967 often difficult to see the blessings, especially when your life is in shambles. 00:13:58.477 --> 00:14:02.857 How, how did you deal with that when your life was in shambles and 00:14:03.487 --> 00:14:04.837 it felt like there was no hope? 00:14:06.222 --> 00:14:08.802 Nathan Jones: I didn't really, I gave up a lot. 00:14:09.012 --> 00:14:13.332 I, you know, I've always had faith in the Lord. 00:14:13.332 --> 00:14:16.212 I've always had a testimony of Jesus Christ. 00:14:16.842 --> 00:14:18.882 And I don't think I ever lost that. 00:14:18.912 --> 00:14:23.412 I never chastised God for the things that I was going through. 00:14:23.832 --> 00:14:25.062 I never blamed him. 00:14:25.642 --> 00:14:28.882 I always took responsibility for my part in it. 00:14:28.972 --> 00:14:34.312 And, you know, I was horribly wronged in my divorce. 00:14:34.972 --> 00:14:41.362 And, so, I mean, to be perfectly honest, I, I didn't have. 00:14:41.872 --> 00:14:43.852 A lot of faith that I would make it through. 00:14:43.852 --> 00:14:51.142 I didn't believe that I could come back and I was broken down 00:14:51.142 --> 00:14:53.392 and beat down to my lowest. 00:14:53.932 --> 00:14:59.122 And one of the quotes that I love the most, and I don't know if he came up 00:14:59.122 --> 00:15:02.422 with this, but Mike Mitz always says it. 00:15:02.422 --> 00:15:07.612 And so I'll quote him in it, that sometimes when you hit rock bottom, 00:15:08.692 --> 00:15:12.592 you, your face gets dragged along the rocks for another five miles. 00:15:13.282 --> 00:15:15.142 And so you don't always bounce back. 00:15:15.142 --> 00:15:17.032 It's not always a quick bounce back. 00:15:18.052 --> 00:15:25.042 And, just my, own cowardice of not being able to give up is 00:15:25.042 --> 00:15:26.272 what pushed me through that. 00:15:26.272 --> 00:15:31.072 And I didn't think that I would ever come out on the other end. 00:15:31.162 --> 00:15:31.192 Okay. 00:15:32.677 --> 00:15:36.997 Jethro D. Jones: And now your life isn't perfect, but you are on the other end. 00:15:37.477 --> 00:15:41.107 What does that look like to be on the other end of that? 00:15:41.287 --> 00:15:45.367 Like, where are you at with your faith, with relationships, 00:15:45.367 --> 00:15:47.457 with, with things like that? 00:15:47.967 --> 00:15:49.437 do, you can talk about anything? 00:15:50.392 --> 00:15:57.712 Nathan Jones: So I guess one of my, recently I have been going through, 00:15:58.552 --> 00:16:02.485 I wouldn't want necessarily call it a depression, but I, would call 00:16:02.485 --> 00:16:08.635 it a period of trying to figure out what my purpose is from here. 00:16:09.085 --> 00:16:15.640 Because I am currently single, I. Unfortunately have not been allowed 00:16:15.640 --> 00:16:17.590 to have a relationship with my kids. 00:16:18.460 --> 00:16:28.090 I have a great career and I have a lot of future prospects, but you 00:16:28.090 --> 00:16:38.660 know, I think being single and kind of just in a, limbo stage has caused 00:16:38.660 --> 00:16:41.960 me to ponder of what's the point. 00:16:42.178 --> 00:16:42.575 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:16:42.835 --> 00:16:43.055 Now 00:16:43.580 --> 00:16:48.730 Nathan Jones: I, you know, I think I need somebody to share my life with. 00:16:49.460 --> 00:16:57.320 But I currently don't have anybody to, and you know, I often sit and think, 00:16:57.350 --> 00:17:00.650 you know, I don't need this big house. 00:17:00.710 --> 00:17:02.900 I don't need a yard. 00:17:02.900 --> 00:17:06.110 I don't need vehicles. 00:17:06.455 --> 00:17:09.065 You know, I'm happy living on the bare minimum. 00:17:09.065 --> 00:17:14.885 I could live in my camper trailer and be just as happy as I am now. 00:17:15.605 --> 00:17:15.965 You know? 00:17:15.965 --> 00:17:21.215 And so I kind of am going through a crisis of what's the purpose. 00:17:21.365 --> 00:17:25.805 And I often reflect on, well, I've been married in the temple. 00:17:25.925 --> 00:17:28.505 I have kids, I'm sealed to my kids. 00:17:28.955 --> 00:17:32.945 I, you know, what else, what else is there? 00:17:32.945 --> 00:17:37.535 I was raised in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 00:17:38.135 --> 00:17:45.215 where it was ingrained in us and indoctrinated in us that we grow up, 00:17:45.725 --> 00:17:51.305 go on a mission, get married in the temple, have kids, and that's how we 00:17:51.305 --> 00:17:52.805 make it back to our Heavenly Father. 00:17:53.885 --> 00:17:58.175 And I know there is more to it than that, but that's what's been ingrained in me. 00:17:58.745 --> 00:18:04.025 And, you know, so sometimes I feel lost in like, well, what's 00:18:04.025 --> 00:18:06.815 the point in being successful? 00:18:06.935 --> 00:18:10.715 What's the point in having things? 00:18:11.285 --> 00:18:15.425 You know, those things don't make me happy, you know, companionship 00:18:15.425 --> 00:18:16.745 is what makes me happy. 00:18:17.255 --> 00:18:19.265 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:18:19.325 --> 00:18:25.385 So you've, you've been through this challenge where you don't 00:18:25.385 --> 00:18:27.035 have relationship with your kids. 00:18:27.320 --> 00:18:28.370 You still love them? 00:18:29.240 --> 00:18:35.870 What, what have you learned about love and eternal families from that situation? 00:18:36.380 --> 00:18:39.770 Nathan Jones: Nobody's ever asked me that question before, and I'm 00:18:39.770 --> 00:18:44.100 not sure that I have learned much. 00:18:44.190 --> 00:18:46.500 I, and it. 00:18:46.875 --> 00:18:51.825 Certainly wasn't from that situation that I learned anything. 00:18:52.185 --> 00:18:54.825 I love my kids dearly. 00:18:54.945 --> 00:18:59.805 I would do anything to have a relationship with them. 00:19:00.765 --> 00:19:06.555 But ultimately I just want them to be okay and for them to be happy. 00:19:06.945 --> 00:19:14.595 And if part of that means me not being in their life, then you know, that's 00:19:14.595 --> 00:19:17.265 what I'm willing to sacrifice right now. 00:19:17.855 --> 00:19:24.695 So that they can be cared for and taken care of as best they can without me. 00:19:25.535 --> 00:19:27.275 So I know I love my children. 00:19:27.635 --> 00:19:33.665 I know that I will be re reunited with them again, whether it's 00:19:33.665 --> 00:19:35.645 in this life or the life after. 00:19:36.545 --> 00:19:38.255 And so that gives me solace, 00:19:40.475 --> 00:19:48.905 and as far as relationships, I, I know that I am capable of love. 00:19:48.965 --> 00:19:56.565 I know that I have a lot to offer somebody, and I do believe that, there 00:19:56.565 --> 00:20:03.185 is someone out there that is deserving of me, that I can share my life with. 00:20:03.216 --> 00:20:03.575 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:20:05.195 --> 00:20:05.555 Yeah. 00:20:05.645 --> 00:20:11.345 So you talked a couple minutes ago about purpose, and we're gonna talk and 00:20:11.345 --> 00:20:13.745 record every year for the next, decade. 00:20:14.105 --> 00:20:18.545 So your purpose, especially now, if you're like going through a crisis 00:20:18.545 --> 00:20:20.225 with it, is likely going to change. 00:20:20.825 --> 00:20:23.495 But right now, what's your answer to that question? 00:20:23.495 --> 00:20:24.515 What is your purpose? 00:20:25.515 --> 00:20:31.880 Nathan Jones: I, I think my purpose, for now in the near future is to. 00:20:33.530 --> 00:20:37.940 Basically not blow up my life so that I can continue on. 00:20:38.870 --> 00:20:43.160 Because there are times where it's like, I don't need to work so much 00:20:43.520 --> 00:20:46.070 to be able to pay this mortgage. 00:20:46.070 --> 00:20:49.790 I could sell this house and go live in my camper trailer. 00:20:49.970 --> 00:20:50.060 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:20:50.870 --> 00:20:53.510 Nathan Jones: you know, I don't need this fancy truck. 00:20:53.510 --> 00:21:00.110 I don't need, you know, all these things that, that I've acquired. 00:21:01.130 --> 00:21:10.580 But if and when I get the opportunity to have my kids again in my life, I want 00:21:10.580 --> 00:21:22.580 to be prepared to be able to give them a life deserving and providing those things. 00:21:22.640 --> 00:21:25.220 And I also want to be prepared to. 00:21:26.630 --> 00:21:30.650 Have to be able to provide for a wife someday as well. 00:21:31.280 --> 00:21:37.640 So in the near future, it's just, don't burn your life down because you 00:21:37.640 --> 00:21:39.500 don't need all this stuff right now. 00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:46.820 They can still be a tool in the future, for when you do find that person. 00:21:46.820 --> 00:21:51.420 And, and I think my purpose right now is, finding that person. 00:21:51.600 --> 00:21:59.490 And I know that, that that person's not going to give me happiness and joy. 00:21:59.490 --> 00:22:01.950 They are, you know, I want them to add to my 00:22:02.450 --> 00:22:02.870 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:22:03.360 --> 00:22:10.770 Nathan Jones: And, you know, I'm not in a state where, I don't, where I'm unhappy. 00:22:11.040 --> 00:22:12.840 I am happy with my life. 00:22:13.740 --> 00:22:19.470 I just, you know, sometimes I feel like I just don't need everything that I have. 00:22:19.540 --> 00:22:19.960 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:22:21.350 --> 00:22:21.640 Yeah. 00:22:22.820 --> 00:22:27.285 And, you know, you are getting that, you're 38, you're close to 40, 00:22:27.285 --> 00:22:28.845 you're gonna have a midlife crisis. 00:22:29.385 --> 00:22:29.745 Right. 00:22:29.745 --> 00:22:31.815 Like every guy goes through. 00:22:31.935 --> 00:22:32.565 And I'm 00:22:32.595 --> 00:22:34.635 Nathan Jones: I am terrified to turn 00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:34.920 Jethro D. Jones: 40. 00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:40.815 Nathan Jones: I I feel like my life is gonna be over at 40 and I'm just not 00:22:40.815 --> 00:22:46.785 gonna be able to have the same vigor and drive that I do in my younger 00:22:47.325 --> 00:22:47.595 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:22:48.675 --> 00:22:49.065 Yeah. 00:22:50.805 --> 00:22:57.255 So, let's, let's talk a little bit about your career and what's going on there. 00:22:57.345 --> 00:23:02.415 And you said earlier that it's a great career and what is it that makes it great? 00:23:04.025 --> 00:23:06.485 Nathan Jones: The stability and the fulfillment? 00:23:06.485 --> 00:23:09.695 So I am a commercial truck driver. 00:23:10.265 --> 00:23:15.485 I work locally and I mostly work for construction companies. 00:23:15.995 --> 00:23:21.735 Of driving dump trucks, doing heavy equipment maintenance, stuff like that. 00:23:21.735 --> 00:23:28.155 And so I recently just got a new job where I am gonna be a heavy equipment mechanic. 00:23:28.935 --> 00:23:34.725 And the doing this line of work gives me a lot of fulfillment 00:23:34.725 --> 00:23:37.455 because I am helping build America. 00:23:37.995 --> 00:23:42.345 We do a lot of work on the Utah roads and infrastructure. 00:23:42.805 --> 00:23:46.205 We build a lot of commercial buildings, stuff like that. 00:23:46.205 --> 00:23:53.105 And so we really are helping build America and give the things 00:23:53.105 --> 00:23:57.465 that people need, places to live, places to work, stuff like that. 00:23:57.465 --> 00:24:01.155 And so it does give me a lot of fulfillment being 00:24:01.155 --> 00:24:03.165 able to have this career. 00:24:03.865 --> 00:24:04.945 And I do enjoy it. 00:24:04.945 --> 00:24:08.455 It's certainly not something that I want to do for the rest of my life. 00:24:09.025 --> 00:24:11.755 And I do hope to in the future. 00:24:12.520 --> 00:24:18.800 To be more involved with real estate investing and, to be able to build 00:24:18.800 --> 00:24:24.110 a real estate portfolio, which I'm hoping to rely on for my retirement. 00:24:24.260 --> 00:24:24.770 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:24:25.850 --> 00:24:27.560 And what makes that interesting to you? 00:24:28.560 --> 00:24:32.880 Nathan Jones: I think mostly, being able to provide housing for people 00:24:33.960 --> 00:24:40.710 and, you know, I'm a, I'm a dreamer, I'm a big dreamer and so I always 00:24:40.770 --> 00:24:46.230 fantasize about what the future's gonna look like when I do this and that. 00:24:47.010 --> 00:24:54.540 And so, um, one of the things that is. 00:24:55.140 --> 00:25:01.065 That I dream about and when I, um, go through the different scenarios of 00:25:02.310 --> 00:25:08.850 providing housing for people is, you know, having the opportunity when somebody 00:25:08.850 --> 00:25:10.740 comes to me and says, Hey, I need help. 00:25:10.800 --> 00:25:12.090 I need a place to live. 00:25:12.630 --> 00:25:17.040 I can't afford this or that, and being able to have the leeway 00:25:17.040 --> 00:25:21.540 to be able to provide them housing at an affordable price. 00:25:21.620 --> 00:25:26.840 You know, not saying that I'm gonna provide cheap housing, but just having 00:25:26.840 --> 00:25:32.900 the autonomy to be able to decide this family is in need and I trust them and 00:25:32.900 --> 00:25:36.080 I think that they are deserving of it. 00:25:36.080 --> 00:25:39.230 And so I'm in a position where I'm gonna be able to help them. 00:25:40.190 --> 00:25:45.620 And so it means a lot to me to be able to be in that position to help other people. 00:25:46.340 --> 00:25:46.640 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah. 00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:47.570 That's good. 00:25:48.680 --> 00:25:57.290 Um, so what are the things that you, in in going through the past, 00:25:57.350 --> 00:26:01.460 what are the things that, whether they're trials or blessings that 00:26:01.460 --> 00:26:03.110 have brought you closer to Christ? 00:26:03.610 --> 00:26:06.190 Nathan Jones: I think that my, 00:26:07.190 --> 00:26:11.480 I don't necessarily wanna say that going through my trials have brought 00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:18.920 me closer to Christ because I haven't been a very good steward of Christ 00:26:18.950 --> 00:26:21.890 in those, in those dark times. 00:26:22.610 --> 00:26:28.880 You know, like I said before, I've never chastised God for giving me 00:26:28.880 --> 00:26:30.530 the trials that I have been given. 00:26:31.190 --> 00:26:36.770 But on the other side of it, I always recognize the blessings in my life. 00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:39.270 After going through those trials. 00:26:39.870 --> 00:26:49.860 And I know that God has pulled me through those trials, because I 00:26:49.860 --> 00:26:51.480 certainly didn't do it on my own 00:26:52.560 --> 00:26:55.950 and I certainly wasn't capable of doing it on my own. 00:26:56.970 --> 00:26:57.870 And 00:27:00.540 --> 00:27:05.880 they say that God doesn't give you any trials that you can't survive. 00:27:06.540 --> 00:27:11.490 And I don't know that's a hundred percent necessarily true because 00:27:11.490 --> 00:27:16.470 I think that he gives you trials that you can survive through him 00:27:17.250 --> 00:27:18.720 and that he can pull you through. 00:27:19.860 --> 00:27:20.280 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah. 00:27:20.430 --> 00:27:24.450 Nathan Jones: so I think that, I think we do get trials that we can't survive, 00:27:24.450 --> 00:27:27.300 and that's where the atonement comes in. 00:27:29.035 --> 00:27:29.325 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah. 00:27:29.460 --> 00:27:30.870 That's really beautifully said. 00:27:31.020 --> 00:27:35.970 I was reading in Saints this last week, and, one of the stories 00:27:36.060 --> 00:27:40.740 talked about a woman who was, whose husband was shot in the neck, and 00:27:40.740 --> 00:27:45.360 he was paralyzed in the 1830s. 00:27:45.720 --> 00:27:51.390 So imagine being paralyzed, your husband being paralyzed in, that day and age, 00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:52.740 and you have to take care of him. 00:27:53.190 --> 00:27:57.360 And then the Saints were expelled from Missouri and then 00:27:57.450 --> 00:27:59.580 Navu, and they're on the way. 00:27:59.970 --> 00:28:04.380 To winter quarters, and the US government says we need people to come do the Mormon 00:28:04.380 --> 00:28:06.630 battalion, so we need 500 soldiers. 00:28:07.020 --> 00:28:10.200 And she had a son who was of age where he could do that. 00:28:10.590 --> 00:28:13.890 And she was like, you can't take my son. 00:28:14.070 --> 00:28:16.290 Like he, I need him here. 00:28:16.740 --> 00:28:21.330 And and she heard the spirit whisper to her, don't you want 00:28:21.330 --> 00:28:22.680 all the greatest blessings? 00:28:22.800 --> 00:28:24.180 And she's like, well, yes I do. 00:28:24.570 --> 00:28:28.350 And the spirit said, well, then you have to give the greatest sacrifice 00:28:28.440 --> 00:28:30.950 and and you have to let your son go. 00:28:31.070 --> 00:28:35.150 Which was going to be an incredibly difficult thing because she helped 00:28:35.150 --> 00:28:37.100 him with her paralyzed husband. 00:28:37.610 --> 00:28:45.020 And, and what you just said really resonated that God's gonna give us 00:28:45.020 --> 00:28:49.760 trials and we're not gonna be able to go through 'em unless we rely on him. 00:28:49.970 --> 00:28:54.050 And, and to me it sounds like that's the purpose. 00:28:54.110 --> 00:28:56.630 So what, what helped you learn that? 00:28:57.080 --> 00:28:57.710 Because. 00:28:58.205 --> 00:29:00.905 I don't know that everybody understands that like you do. 00:29:01.455 --> 00:29:07.785 Nathan Jones: I think just going through losing my kids was the worst 00:29:07.785 --> 00:29:09.585 thing that I've ever been through. 00:29:10.065 --> 00:29:13.455 I fought tooth and nail for my kids. 00:29:14.145 --> 00:29:16.125 And I gave it everything I had. 00:29:16.755 --> 00:29:21.945 I spent 109 days in jail as a result of fighting for my kids. 00:29:22.695 --> 00:29:34.285 I was persecuted and beat down and destroyed, and I wanted 00:29:34.285 --> 00:29:36.055 to give up several times. 00:29:36.145 --> 00:29:44.635 I didn't want to continue, and no matter how hard I tried 00:29:44.635 --> 00:29:46.765 to give up, I just couldn't. 00:29:47.305 --> 00:29:53.455 And I, I, there's just no other explanation for it. 00:29:54.085 --> 00:30:02.795 And with my testimony and all the things that I've been through, I, 00:30:03.245 --> 00:30:07.715 there's just no other explanation for it because I know that. 00:30:08.180 --> 00:30:10.790 I didn't have the willpower to continue. 00:30:12.380 --> 00:30:20.720 And one of the things that I realized recently as well is, 00:30:22.940 --> 00:30:24.440 obviously nobody's perfect. 00:30:24.440 --> 00:30:25.550 Everybody knows that. 00:30:26.990 --> 00:30:31.130 And you can be successful and successful. 00:30:31.130 --> 00:30:35.600 You could do everything that you're supposed to do and you can still have 00:30:35.600 --> 00:30:38.930 failures and you can still be a failure. 00:30:39.410 --> 00:30:41.030 And I was a failure. 00:30:41.210 --> 00:30:46.010 I failed my marriage, I failed my kids, I failed my family, I 00:30:46.010 --> 00:30:48.980 failed my business, I failed life. 00:30:50.030 --> 00:30:52.250 And that's okay. 00:30:53.250 --> 00:30:54.180 And 00:30:56.850 --> 00:31:00.090 it wasn't until recently when I was talking to my brothers and 00:31:00.090 --> 00:31:05.010 sisters at my mom's house that like. 00:31:07.305 --> 00:31:15.705 We, talked through everything and it was the first time that I felt like from an 00:31:15.705 --> 00:31:23.205 outside source that it was okay that I failed and there maybe wasn't necessarily 00:31:23.205 --> 00:31:24.765 anything else that I could have done. 00:31:25.245 --> 00:31:28.035 And I really honestly think I did everything that I 00:31:28.035 --> 00:31:31.065 could do and I still failed. 00:31:32.145 --> 00:31:37.305 And I don't know that I could have possibly ever been 00:31:37.305 --> 00:31:39.135 successful in that situation. 00:31:40.065 --> 00:31:50.745 But I truly felt like it's okay that you failed and now it's time to come back. 00:31:51.645 --> 00:31:52.545 And 00:31:57.255 --> 00:32:02.295 even though you fail, it's still possible to come back. 00:32:03.295 --> 00:32:04.825 Jethro D. Jones: What does that mean to come back 00:32:06.625 --> 00:32:11.725 Nathan Jones: to be successful again, whatever you define success as, everybody 00:32:11.725 --> 00:32:13.345 has a different definition for it. 00:32:13.345 --> 00:32:15.445 Everybody has a different definition of failure. 00:32:15.895 --> 00:32:19.825 Your failures might not be failures to me, and my failures 00:32:19.825 --> 00:32:21.295 might not be failures to you. 00:32:22.075 --> 00:32:28.075 And so whatever your definition of failure or success is, is 00:32:28.075 --> 00:32:29.785 your own personal definition. 00:32:30.655 --> 00:32:36.565 And you won't ever, you won't ever be the same person. 00:32:37.705 --> 00:32:39.805 You are always gonna have those scars. 00:32:39.805 --> 00:32:41.605 You're always gonna have those wounds. 00:32:42.445 --> 00:32:50.995 Some wounds will heal, some won't, and you'll never be a hundred percent 00:32:51.145 --> 00:32:56.425 back to the way you were before, until 00:32:57.745 --> 00:32:58.675 the second coming. 00:32:58.675 --> 00:32:59.575 And the resurrection. 00:33:00.550 --> 00:33:06.010 And so it's okay to have those failures and it's okay to continue 00:33:06.010 --> 00:33:11.350 on, and it's okay to not be as successful as you were before. 00:33:11.380 --> 00:33:15.430 It's okay to be more successful than you were before, whatever 00:33:15.670 --> 00:33:17.350 that definition of success is. 00:33:18.350 --> 00:33:22.610 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah, I think that's really insightful because it's easy 00:33:22.610 --> 00:33:29.030 to think, I'm, I didn't do this thing that I set out to do, and therefore 00:33:29.300 --> 00:33:31.250 I'm a failure and now I'm worthless. 00:33:32.300 --> 00:33:34.700 And, you're saying very clearly that's not the case. 00:33:35.615 --> 00:33:39.485 Now, you didn't come to that conclusion right after that failure, right? 00:33:40.265 --> 00:33:47.375 So it took time and, now hearing you say it, you have such confidence in it and 00:33:47.375 --> 00:33:55.175 such clarity about it that it doesn't feel shameful either to you, that you did fail. 00:33:55.625 --> 00:34:01.415 Like it's just, you're just stating it like another fact, like any other fact. 00:34:01.745 --> 00:34:04.145 And do you think about that? 00:34:05.375 --> 00:34:10.655 do you have to work to not feel shame about it or do you, are you now oh, 00:34:11.135 --> 00:34:12.395 I don't even need to feel shame? 00:34:12.395 --> 00:34:15.035 Where are you at with that and how would you, how would you help 00:34:15.035 --> 00:34:16.415 someone understand that piece? 00:34:17.420 --> 00:34:19.550 Nathan Jones: I do feel shame about it still. 00:34:20.390 --> 00:34:23.330 I am very shameful that I let my kids down. 00:34:24.640 --> 00:34:27.490 And I think that there's, there's different levels of it. 00:34:27.490 --> 00:34:28.870 I struggle with it every day. 00:34:28.870 --> 00:34:33.520 I think about my kids every day and I feel shame that I'm not a 00:34:33.520 --> 00:34:35.290 part of their lives every day. 00:34:36.110 --> 00:34:37.670 I don't think that'll ever go away. 00:34:38.660 --> 00:34:44.870 Even if and when my kids are back in my life, I am still gonna feel shame. 00:34:44.900 --> 00:34:48.350 That's that scar, that's that wound that will never heal. 00:34:48.410 --> 00:34:50.090 I can never get that time back. 00:34:51.035 --> 00:34:56.435 I know that I did everything that I could do, but you know, 00:34:57.435 --> 00:34:59.595 the, the, the shame will still be there. 00:35:00.105 --> 00:35:05.955 And I have just decided that that's okay. 00:35:07.185 --> 00:35:07.335 I, that 00:35:07.335 --> 00:35:08.895 nothing's ever gonna change that. 00:35:09.645 --> 00:35:15.015 And I have to fight the, through those struggles when I have those down times. 00:35:15.495 --> 00:35:16.455 and, 00:35:20.595 --> 00:35:22.665 and I've told myself that's okay too. 00:35:23.955 --> 00:35:27.315 we don't have to be completely happy all the time. 00:35:27.315 --> 00:35:30.105 We can have regrets in our life. 00:35:31.095 --> 00:35:38.475 But we have to just continue to try to get that healing, whichever way it 00:35:38.475 --> 00:35:42.615 is, through therapy and or reflection. 00:35:42.615 --> 00:35:43.305 And it's. 00:35:44.565 --> 00:35:46.755 it's taken me five years to get to this point. 00:35:46.755 --> 00:35:50.505 It's been, five years since my divorce. 00:35:50.505 --> 00:35:57.435 I haven't seen my kids in four years, and that shame is never gonna go away. 00:35:58.805 --> 00:36:02.970 Jethro D. Jones: So the shame is still there, but you're still 00:36:02.970 --> 00:36:04.315 moving forward with your life. 00:36:05.910 --> 00:36:06.930 How, do you do that? 00:36:09.345 --> 00:36:15.195 Nathan Jones: I try to think of the future and, like I mentioned earlier, 00:36:15.195 --> 00:36:21.765 of setting my life up to be prepared for if I ever get to make amends 00:36:22.155 --> 00:36:24.315 for not having my kids in my life. 00:36:25.215 --> 00:36:26.925 And if they ever, 00:36:30.285 --> 00:36:35.715 heaven forbid something happened to my ex-wife and I have to take all my kids. 00:36:36.105 --> 00:36:37.635 I need to be in a position. 00:36:38.265 --> 00:36:39.675 Where I can do that. 00:36:40.365 --> 00:36:45.525 And I do have a house that I can house all of my children in comfortably. 00:36:46.305 --> 00:36:52.755 And I have a wonderful family that I know will support me and however I 00:36:52.755 --> 00:36:55.095 need support to be able to do that. 00:36:57.405 --> 00:36:57.735 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah. 00:36:59.685 --> 00:37:03.075 So you, talked about these down times. 00:37:04.785 --> 00:37:10.335 How do you, help yourself when you are feeling down, who do you turn to? 00:37:10.395 --> 00:37:12.525 How do you get support when you're feeling down? 00:37:14.235 --> 00:37:17.625 Nathan Jones: I don't, I don't turn to a lot of people and that's probably 00:37:17.625 --> 00:37:23.265 one thing that I need to work on, is I need to reach out to my support system. 00:37:23.845 --> 00:37:30.535 I do have two really good friends that I could call and talk to anytime. 00:37:31.375 --> 00:37:33.685 I tend to not want to burden them. 00:37:34.045 --> 00:37:38.995 With it because, you know, we both know that there's nothing that they can say 00:37:39.355 --> 00:37:41.215 that's gonna make any of it better. 00:37:42.145 --> 00:37:44.845 But sometimes it just feels good to talk and I, I don't want to 00:37:44.845 --> 00:37:46.645 burden them with that too much. 00:37:47.075 --> 00:37:48.755 Because I know that they want to help. 00:37:48.755 --> 00:37:51.995 I know that they want to say the right thing that's gonna make everything better. 00:37:52.605 --> 00:37:55.515 And they just can't, there's just nothing anybody can do. 00:37:56.475 --> 00:38:07.085 So, you know, I do have my, uh, my dog Rocky, who, which kind of funny story 00:38:07.265 --> 00:38:16.235 about him is he has kind of molded himself into an emotional support animal, where 00:38:16.235 --> 00:38:22.115 he has picked up on my anxiety and when I get anxiety attacks or I get a little 00:38:22.115 --> 00:38:25.385 over anxious, he comes and jumps on me. 00:38:26.060 --> 00:38:29.750 And it took me a long time to realize what he was doing. 00:38:30.980 --> 00:38:34.490 But I made the connection that every time he would come and jump 00:38:34.490 --> 00:38:40.130 on me and try to cuddle with me and I'm talking like in your face, 00:38:40.835 --> 00:38:41.045 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:38:41.300 --> 00:38:44.300 Nathan Jones: you can't focus on anything other than me right now. 00:38:44.300 --> 00:38:46.040 You have to give me attention. 00:38:46.970 --> 00:38:51.140 And you know, to be honest, it was kind of annoying at first because I was 00:38:51.140 --> 00:38:56.570 being anxious and then I had this dog, this 90 pound German Shepherd come and 00:38:56.570 --> 00:38:59.630 jump on me when I'm feeling anxious. 00:39:00.290 --> 00:39:04.100 And it just kind of compounded the problem at first. 00:39:04.100 --> 00:39:09.290 And then I realized I made the connection of what he was doing, and I noticed 00:39:09.290 --> 00:39:12.740 that every time I would get anxious, he would come and jump on top of me. 00:39:13.370 --> 00:39:21.380 And so that's been a good way for me to realize that, okay, I am being. 00:39:21.830 --> 00:39:23.420 Too overly anxious right now. 00:39:23.420 --> 00:39:25.700 I have got a panic attack coming on. 00:39:26.120 --> 00:39:28.610 I need to recenter myself. 00:39:28.610 --> 00:39:33.500 I need to, eliminate the things in my life that are causing 00:39:33.500 --> 00:39:35.420 me anxiety at that moment. 00:39:35.915 --> 00:39:36.125 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:39:36.290 --> 00:39:36.770 Nathan Jones: You know? 00:39:36.830 --> 00:39:40.040 And it's not a permanent fix, but it's, you know, something 00:39:40.040 --> 00:39:42.470 that helps me in the moment. 00:39:42.470 --> 00:39:47.750 It's an immediate, recentering that, you know, and it doesn't last, 00:39:47.750 --> 00:39:49.550 but it helps me in that moment. 00:39:49.835 --> 00:39:50.105 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:39:51.035 --> 00:39:51.365 Yeah. 00:39:52.235 --> 00:39:54.245 So I have one more question about the past. 00:39:54.660 --> 00:39:57.960 But anything else that you want to say about the past before 00:39:57.960 --> 00:40:01.870 we shift to the future or a lot of things that you want to say? 00:40:01.990 --> 00:40:02.500 Either one. 00:40:03.370 --> 00:40:05.110 Nathan Jones: I don't know specifically, but I'm happy to 00:40:05.110 --> 00:40:07.090 answer any questions that you have. 00:40:07.125 --> 00:40:07.415 Jethro D. Jones: Okay. 00:40:08.115 --> 00:40:08.335 So, 00:40:09.335 --> 00:40:14.465 looking back at your life, what you know, now you have an opportunity to go 00:40:14.465 --> 00:40:20.855 back and give advice to your freshman self, freshman in high school, so you're 00:40:21.125 --> 00:40:23.375 13, 14 years old, something like that. 00:40:24.005 --> 00:40:27.785 What advice would you go back and give yourself at that time in your life? 00:40:29.370 --> 00:40:29.720 Nathan Jones: Don't 00:40:29.860 --> 00:40:34.145 let anybody tell you that you can't do something. 00:40:34.535 --> 00:40:41.195 If you want something, you need to fight for everything to be 00:40:41.195 --> 00:40:42.665 able to do what you want to do. 00:40:43.475 --> 00:40:45.665 And I have an interesting story about that. 00:40:46.775 --> 00:40:52.205 When I was a freshman in high school, the military came and did a recruiting 00:40:52.205 --> 00:40:59.675 event and I went to the recruiting event and I wanted to be a pilot so bad. 00:41:00.365 --> 00:41:02.555 I wanted to be a pilot in the Air Force. 00:41:03.290 --> 00:41:07.400 I wanted to be, I honestly didn't care what means. 00:41:07.400 --> 00:41:14.900 I got there and I saw the military as being the best 00:41:14.900 --> 00:41:16.880 way for me to reach that goal. 00:41:18.710 --> 00:41:23.990 and so I went up and after the event, I went up and talked to 00:41:23.990 --> 00:41:28.850 the Air Force recruiter and told him that I wanted to be a pilot. 00:41:29.660 --> 00:41:31.790 And he said to me, you'll never be a pilot. 00:41:33.290 --> 00:41:35.060 Just go pick something else. 00:41:35.900 --> 00:41:36.200 You know? 00:41:36.260 --> 00:41:41.960 Oh, you can, you can join enlisted and maybe someday you'll get to be a 00:41:41.960 --> 00:41:44.720 pilot, you know, but you probably won't. 00:41:45.380 --> 00:41:47.150 So pick something else. 00:41:47.150 --> 00:41:49.490 Nobody, hardly anybody ever becomes a pilot. 00:41:50.870 --> 00:41:52.400 And I was pissed off. 00:41:52.640 --> 00:41:54.530 I was incredibly hurt. 00:41:54.530 --> 00:41:55.850 I felt dejected, 00:41:56.570 --> 00:41:59.480 and I thought, man, screw him. 00:41:59.480 --> 00:42:00.680 Screw the military. 00:42:01.760 --> 00:42:02.900 You know, I don't need that. 00:42:02.900 --> 00:42:05.990 If they're just gonna tell me no, then I'm not even gonna try. 00:42:07.100 --> 00:42:13.840 And it wasn't until, it wasn't until several years later that I 00:42:13.840 --> 00:42:17.230 realized that he wasn't being a jerk. 00:42:18.580 --> 00:42:21.130 He was testing my resolve. 00:42:21.295 --> 00:42:21.655 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:42:22.720 --> 00:42:26.290 Nathan Jones: Because it is incredibly difficult to become 00:42:26.290 --> 00:42:27.640 a pilot in the Air Force. 00:42:28.510 --> 00:42:32.950 There's millions of service members and only a small fraction of those are 00:42:33.490 --> 00:42:33.910 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:42:34.720 --> 00:42:39.460 Nathan Jones: And where it is possible for anybody to become a pilot, you 00:42:39.460 --> 00:42:45.400 have to have that determination to be able to fight through the adversity 00:42:45.670 --> 00:42:47.020 that you're going to go through. 00:42:47.020 --> 00:42:50.560 To become a pilot, you have to have a bachelor's degree. 00:42:50.560 --> 00:42:55.555 I. To be a pilot in the military, you have to be a certain physical fitness level. 00:42:55.555 --> 00:42:59.815 To become a pilot, you have to have a certain amount of, I don't wanna 00:42:59.815 --> 00:43:05.875 say iq, but you have to be fairly intelligent and have an aptitude. 00:43:05.875 --> 00:43:08.275 You have to have good hand eye coordination. 00:43:09.505 --> 00:43:12.955 You know, there's a whole laundry list of things that you need to become a pilot. 00:43:13.405 --> 00:43:20.185 And if you can't handle one person telling you that you're never gonna 00:43:20.185 --> 00:43:25.795 be a pilot, then quite frankly, you're not gonna handle all the advers 00:43:25.885 --> 00:43:28.165 adversity that you have coming forth 00:43:28.300 --> 00:43:28.630 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:43:29.725 --> 00:43:33.565 Nathan Jones: And so that's why I, you know, I would tell my 00:43:33.565 --> 00:43:38.275 freshman self that, don't let anybody tell you that you can't do 00:43:38.667 --> 00:43:39.075 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:43:39.295 --> 00:43:44.725 Nathan Jones: because I truly believe, you know, 90%. 00:43:45.280 --> 00:43:47.920 Anybody can be anything that they want. 00:43:47.980 --> 00:43:50.140 Anybody can do anything that they want. 00:43:50.680 --> 00:43:56.980 Especially nowadays, we, we live in the information era where you have 00:43:56.980 --> 00:43:59.170 access to so many opportunities. 00:43:59.170 --> 00:44:00.460 Everybody does. 00:44:00.940 --> 00:44:05.920 And you just have to be able to fight to get those opportunities and you have to be 00:44:05.920 --> 00:44:08.380 able to persevere through that adversity. 00:44:08.920 --> 00:44:12.790 And as a freshman in high school, I wasn't willing to do that. 00:44:12.880 --> 00:44:14.680 So I wasn't cut out to be a pilot. 00:44:14.765 --> 00:44:15.185 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:44:15.610 --> 00:44:18.400 Nathan Jones: And so, 00:44:19.400 --> 00:44:23.990 Jethro D. Jones: yeah, I mean, the thing that is fascinating there is that. 00:44:24.815 --> 00:44:30.635 One conversation with that recruiter could have given you the hope 00:44:30.755 --> 00:44:37.265 and the determination to do it, or could have tested your medal. 00:44:37.805 --> 00:44:41.135 And like both of those things can happen, right? 00:44:41.135 --> 00:44:45.635 Like let's say he said instead, oh, you can totally do this. 00:44:46.055 --> 00:44:48.395 I would love it if for you to be a pilot. 00:44:48.755 --> 00:44:53.525 And him having confidence like dad did when you were a kid, gave 00:44:53.525 --> 00:44:57.455 you the confidence to continue your mechanical skills and work 00:44:57.455 --> 00:44:59.465 ethic all throughout your life. 00:44:59.795 --> 00:45:04.475 And, and, and yet him saying you can't do this. 00:45:04.835 --> 00:45:08.585 Um, you know, your attitude at that time was, well, screw you. 00:45:08.585 --> 00:45:10.715 I'm not gonna even worry about the military. 00:45:11.045 --> 00:45:14.705 What's, what's your perspective on that and, and how you think about things now? 00:45:16.340 --> 00:45:20.285 Nathan Jones: Well, and, and I want to be clear that I, I 00:45:20.285 --> 00:45:23.135 don't blame him for anything. 00:45:23.345 --> 00:45:28.505 He was playing his part, he played his part in my life that 00:45:28.505 --> 00:45:29.915 he needed to play at that time. 00:45:29.965 --> 00:45:34.135 Where I made the mistake is that I internalized that and I kept that to 00:45:34.135 --> 00:45:41.035 myself and I didn't go tell the people that were champions of Nathan what 00:45:41.659 --> 00:45:42.430 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:45:42.511 --> 00:45:48.475 Nathan Jones: And I, I honestly, I don't think I told anybody for years, you know, 00:45:48.595 --> 00:45:56.905 that was always, that was always a story of screw that guy and not a story of this 00:45:56.905 --> 00:45:58.945 is what that guy told me and I need help. 00:45:59.108 --> 00:45:59.410 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:45:59.485 --> 00:46:04.585 Nathan Jones: And I think if I'd have gone to my dad or gone to anybody and told 00:46:04.585 --> 00:46:08.755 them what happened, they would've said, don't, you know, they would've told me, 00:46:08.995 --> 00:46:11.815 don't let him tell you that you can't be a 00:46:12.205 --> 00:46:12.625 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:46:12.835 --> 00:46:14.605 Nathan Jones: You know, they might even have, have had the 00:46:14.605 --> 00:46:18.835 foresight to say, he's just testing you, he's testing your resolve. 00:46:19.465 --> 00:46:23.125 You know, I was at a very impressionable state in my life where 00:46:23.605 --> 00:46:27.295 I could have gone one or two paths. 00:46:27.685 --> 00:46:31.345 And I unfortunately chose the path of defeat 00:46:31.765 --> 00:46:31.885 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:46:32.125 --> 00:46:32.275 Path of 00:46:32.275 --> 00:46:33.205 Nathan Jones: path of victory. 00:46:34.015 --> 00:46:34.495 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah. 00:46:34.585 --> 00:46:35.515 How interesting. 00:46:36.085 --> 00:46:39.805 And, and that's such a, a pivotal moment for everybody. 00:46:40.375 --> 00:46:44.330 Your freshman year of like, you're starting to make decisions 00:46:44.395 --> 00:46:45.655 that will impact your life. 00:46:46.105 --> 00:46:52.105 And you know that, that's a good story to illustrate that. 00:46:52.270 --> 00:46:58.795 I, I think the takeaway for me is going to your support system, going to the 00:46:58.855 --> 00:47:04.255 champions of you and saying this is what happened and, and not hiding that 00:47:04.255 --> 00:47:08.305 from them is, um, is really powerful. 00:47:08.635 --> 00:47:08.995 Nathan Jones: Yeah. 00:47:09.050 --> 00:47:18.565 And I, I don't know a lot of people that can look at a defining moment in 00:47:18.565 --> 00:47:23.855 their life like that where they had such a clear path in either direction. 00:47:24.740 --> 00:47:30.920 And I am really grateful that I have the perspective that I have now of being able 00:47:30.920 --> 00:47:39.530 to look back and see a moment in my life where I made a decision that could have 00:47:39.530 --> 00:47:42.200 taken my life in two complete opposite 00:47:42.710 --> 00:47:43.110 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:47:43.860 --> 00:47:44.150 Yeah. 00:47:45.395 --> 00:47:49.985 And the reality is that we have those kind of decisions, regularly, and 00:47:50.015 --> 00:47:55.205 little decisions, big decisions that come into our life and, and the choices 00:47:55.205 --> 00:47:57.245 that we make do impact the future. 00:47:57.815 --> 00:48:05.375 So moving to the present and the future, what reaching far out 10 00:48:05.375 --> 00:48:09.995 years from now, what do you see as your priorities and what your 00:48:09.995 --> 00:48:12.005 life looks like 10 years from now? 00:48:13.710 --> 00:48:20.490 Nathan Jones: Well, 10 years from now, I want to own at least 10 rental properties. 00:48:21.375 --> 00:48:25.635 I want to be retired from W2 work. 00:48:26.185 --> 00:48:32.005 I would like to have a spouse, but that's not, I don't feel 00:48:32.005 --> 00:48:33.655 right making that a goal. 00:48:34.525 --> 00:48:39.355 Especially with my issues of hyper focusness that I have. 00:48:39.775 --> 00:48:44.065 I don't think that that's an appropriate place to put hyper focus 00:48:44.065 --> 00:48:47.825 in finding a relationship, 'cause that can get you into a lot of 00:48:47.825 --> 00:48:50.405 trouble of choosing the wrong person. 00:48:51.605 --> 00:48:56.675 So a desire of mine would be to be married again. 00:48:57.335 --> 00:49:01.625 But if that doesn't happen, I'm, you know, still gonna be 00:49:01.625 --> 00:49:03.695 happy and still feel fulfilled. 00:49:03.725 --> 00:49:04.145 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:49:05.690 --> 00:49:05.930 Okay. 00:49:06.140 --> 00:49:06.980 Anything else? 00:49:07.530 --> 00:49:11.670 That those weren't big enough, like be retired from W2 work when you're 48 00:49:11.670 --> 00:49:16.770 and, and have rental properties that are providing you an income for your life. 00:49:16.770 --> 00:49:18.510 Like, those are certainly big. 00:49:19.188 --> 00:49:24.030 Nathan Jones: Yeah, I don't, I don't know that I've given many other 00:49:24.030 --> 00:49:25.890 aspects of my life, much thought. 00:49:26.600 --> 00:49:33.230 I think a lot of the smaller things would be byproducts of the life 00:49:33.230 --> 00:49:35.090 that I want to have at that point. 00:49:35.670 --> 00:49:37.860 And so it's not really a main focus of mine. 00:49:38.090 --> 00:49:38.380 Jethro D. Jones: yeah. 00:49:38.835 --> 00:49:39.105 Okay. 00:49:40.015 --> 00:49:42.805 So why did you want to do this podcast? 00:49:43.975 --> 00:49:47.920 Nathan Jones: Well I listened to yours and Stacy's podcast 00:49:47.950 --> 00:49:53.230 and I felt a strong prompting. 00:49:54.625 --> 00:50:01.445 That I should reach out to you and, show my desire to be on the podcast. 00:50:01.925 --> 00:50:11.375 And I've really, my entire life, I've really tried to focus on being open and 00:50:11.375 --> 00:50:16.415 available to listening to promptings when I receive them and acting on those. 00:50:17.285 --> 00:50:21.305 And, you know, that's how the Lord blesses us. 00:50:21.305 --> 00:50:26.855 And I don't know what's going to come of me sharing my story. 00:50:27.545 --> 00:50:35.105 But the way I feel is that, you know, only one person's life needs 00:50:35.105 --> 00:50:39.575 to be changed by my words to, for it to be completely worth it. 00:50:40.085 --> 00:50:43.280 And that one person might just only be myself. 00:50:43.830 --> 00:50:44.250 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:50:45.100 --> 00:50:45.390 Yeah. 00:50:46.625 --> 00:50:50.935 Well, it's the interesting thing is, when you reached out and said you 00:50:50.935 --> 00:50:57.055 wanted to be on it, I, we've had a rocky relationship and haven't talked much. 00:50:57.385 --> 00:51:02.755 And so I was thinking like, why would he even want to, because 00:51:02.755 --> 00:51:03.835 we don't even talk really. 00:51:04.255 --> 00:51:13.795 And, and, and yet I felt like maybe this is what I need to be doing, that maybe 00:51:13.795 --> 00:51:16.105 this is how we rebuild our relationship. 00:51:16.615 --> 00:51:17.545 I don't know either. 00:51:17.725 --> 00:51:21.805 But as soon as you asked for me, it was the same thing. 00:51:21.805 --> 00:51:24.235 It was like, you need to have him on. 00:51:24.505 --> 00:51:29.935 And, and I didn't know what it would look like and to be honest, I was 00:51:30.415 --> 00:51:34.945 nervous and uncomfortable about it and didn't know what we would 00:51:34.945 --> 00:51:36.355 talk about and how it would go. 00:51:36.985 --> 00:51:42.645 And, and so I'm glad that we can do this in person and, and be here talking because 00:51:42.645 --> 00:51:47.835 I think that that, I think that it's been really good so far and I appreciate it. 00:51:47.865 --> 00:51:49.155 Anything else you want to add there? 00:51:50.175 --> 00:51:52.785 Nathan Jones: Yeah, just the, you know, I would agree with you that we've 00:51:52.785 --> 00:52:00.765 had a rocky past and, you know, going back to acting on those promptings. 00:52:01.230 --> 00:52:08.820 I can't let my own pride or my own feelings about you personally get in the 00:52:08.820 --> 00:52:12.060 way of possibly helping other people. 00:52:12.510 --> 00:52:16.680 Uh, because that's really where my heart is, is to help others. 00:52:17.190 --> 00:52:21.720 And you know, like I said, I, the only person I might help might 00:52:21.720 --> 00:52:24.660 be myself, and that's okay too. 00:52:24.780 --> 00:52:30.660 And, but I know that my desires for having this conversation with you and 00:52:30.780 --> 00:52:37.350 being vulnerable with you and opening up, is for the goal of, of possibly 00:52:37.350 --> 00:52:43.890 helping other people who might be struggling because I am still struggling. 00:52:44.070 --> 00:52:45.240 I'm not through 00:52:45.240 --> 00:52:45.390 it. 00:52:45.515 --> 00:52:45.750 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:52:46.140 --> 00:52:52.360 Nathan Jones: And, I struggle every day and some days are better than others. 00:52:52.510 --> 00:52:53.890 But I guess, 00:52:55.180 --> 00:52:58.780 I guess kind of one of the pet peeves that I have about these types of 00:52:58.780 --> 00:53:05.740 podcasts is they tend to focus on people that sound like they have it 00:53:05.740 --> 00:53:11.350 all together and have made it through the other side and are successful. 00:53:11.350 --> 00:53:13.990 And, you know, because those are the stories that are 00:53:13.990 --> 00:53:15.790 entertaining that are good. 00:53:16.300 --> 00:53:21.610 You know, it's gonna take 10 years for you guys to figure out the end of my story 00:53:22.210 --> 00:53:33.790 and, I want to give hope to people that are at that rock bottom that because, you 00:53:33.790 --> 00:53:38.260 know, I'm barely above rock bottom now. 00:53:38.980 --> 00:53:46.030 And even though I've only traveled a minuscule amount from rock 00:53:46.030 --> 00:53:51.880 bottom because my rock bottom was so hard that it's still. 00:53:52.240 --> 00:53:53.980 Miles and miles above it, 00:53:54.580 --> 00:53:54.860 Jethro D. Jones: Even 00:53:54.970 --> 00:53:57.130 Nathan Jones: it's very, it's a very short distance and I 00:53:57.130 --> 00:53:58.720 have a very long ways to go. 00:54:01.300 --> 00:54:06.070 I think that there is hope out there and coming from somebody that 00:54:06.070 --> 00:54:11.615 is still suffering, that even in suffering there can still be hope. 00:54:11.965 --> 00:54:13.645 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah, I appreciate that. 00:54:14.335 --> 00:54:22.135 and that is exactly why I want to do this podcast is to help people see that. 00:54:24.895 --> 00:54:29.575 my frustration is also you hear these stories and it's oh, everything's perfect. 00:54:29.935 --> 00:54:36.745 And 10 years from now, that's going to be the end of this decade of your story, 00:54:36.895 --> 00:54:38.785 but not the end of the whole story. 00:54:40.345 --> 00:54:40.960 and you will, 00:54:42.325 --> 00:54:45.955 you will have ups and downs over the next 10 years. 00:54:45.985 --> 00:54:50.215 It's impossible for anybody to go through 10 years and not have 00:54:50.215 --> 00:54:53.035 any trials or successes, right? 00:54:53.395 --> 00:54:59.455 And next year at this time, you could be totally jubilant and stoked and 00:54:59.455 --> 00:55:03.475 excited about whatever's going on and feel like you're in a great place. 00:55:03.475 --> 00:55:08.125 And then two years later, you could be at a new rock bottom. 00:55:08.605 --> 00:55:11.155 And that's the nature of what our lives are like. 00:55:11.185 --> 00:55:17.755 And what I want to avoid is saying everything's perfect for everybody. 00:55:18.445 --> 00:55:20.905 All the time because we know that it's not. 00:55:21.115 --> 00:55:24.325 But a lot of times these, these stories make it seem like that is the 00:55:24.325 --> 00:55:27.805 case and we just know that it isn't. 00:55:28.405 --> 00:55:34.285 So what are the things that you're doing now, daily, weekly, monthly, 00:55:34.495 --> 00:55:38.675 however you want to answer it, that are helping you grow closer to Christ? 00:55:39.750 --> 00:55:41.580 Nathan Jones: To be honest, I'm not doing a lot. 00:55:42.180 --> 00:55:44.700 That hasn't been a big focus of mine. 00:55:45.270 --> 00:55:52.410 When I went through my divorce, the church abandoned and it abandoned me 00:55:52.410 --> 00:55:55.260 in a time where I needed them the most. 00:55:55.830 --> 00:55:58.920 And again, I don't blame God for that. 00:55:58.920 --> 00:56:02.310 I don't blame the gospel for that. 00:56:02.940 --> 00:56:06.570 There are imperfect people in the church and so I'm currently 00:56:06.570 --> 00:56:09.300 not active, in going to church. 00:56:09.300 --> 00:56:15.180 And I don't live all of the principles that the gospel teaches. 00:56:15.810 --> 00:56:18.180 But I don't think that that makes me a bad person. 00:56:18.795 --> 00:56:28.665 And I came to the conclusion of why am I devoting my life to something, 00:56:30.015 --> 00:56:36.015 to people on this earth that abandoned me at the first sign of trouble? 00:56:36.375 --> 00:56:37.845 At the first sign of struggle. 00:56:38.475 --> 00:56:41.535 I've never asked the church for anything. 00:56:41.535 --> 00:56:44.895 I've never asked the people in the church for anything. 00:56:46.605 --> 00:56:52.185 And, I was abandoned and I was left alone. 00:56:52.785 --> 00:57:00.165 And so I had to rely on myself and rely on my relationship with 00:57:00.165 --> 00:57:02.595 the Lord, which I didn't do. 00:57:03.095 --> 00:57:03.215 I 00:57:03.285 --> 00:57:05.055 rely on my relationship with the Lord. 00:57:06.055 --> 00:57:07.345 But that's all that I could do. 00:57:08.155 --> 00:57:14.185 And so I recognized the Lord's blessings. 00:57:14.581 --> 00:57:22.441 Now that I'm through it, I wasn't as good at recognizing them in the past. 00:57:23.071 --> 00:57:30.601 So I don't, I'm not currently working on building my relationship with Christ, 00:57:30.601 --> 00:57:33.841 and maybe that will change in the future. 00:57:34.231 --> 00:57:39.211 I think if I move away from Utah, I will probably try going back to church. 00:57:39.421 --> 00:57:44.191 And I know that I don't need to go back to church, in order to 00:57:44.251 --> 00:57:46.141 build a relationship with Christ. 00:57:46.651 --> 00:57:54.121 But I know that the Lord blesses me today in my current state, and 00:57:54.211 --> 00:57:56.431 I am surviving in my current state. 00:57:56.521 --> 00:58:01.021 And so, you know, I. I don't feel like now's the right time to 00:58:01.021 --> 00:58:02.961 rock the boat in that direction. 00:58:04.261 --> 00:58:04.381 Yeah. 00:58:05.446 --> 00:58:10.546 Jethro D. Jones: So it's, it's really interesting because in, in the church 00:58:10.546 --> 00:58:17.626 we put so much emphasis on activity and, and like showing up and doing stuff. 00:58:18.076 --> 00:58:23.866 And I think one of the areas where we can certainly improve is on focusing on our 00:58:23.866 --> 00:58:30.256 individual relationship with Christ and, and making that, making that the thing 00:58:30.556 --> 00:58:37.846 and, and not, not just the pharisaical parts of going to church every Sunday and. 00:58:38.251 --> 00:58:39.751 And reading your scriptures. 00:58:40.171 --> 00:58:43.591 And while I know those things are important and they help me grow closer to 00:58:43.591 --> 00:58:48.481 Christ, there are a lot of other things we can do to grow closer to Christ, and 00:58:49.021 --> 00:58:51.871 everybody is, is at their own place. 00:58:51.971 --> 00:58:56.591 I read an interesting quote by President Nelson today that said, essentially 00:58:57.071 --> 00:59:03.221 the eternal truth doesn't change because it is what is what it is, but 00:59:03.221 --> 00:59:08.621 our relationship and understanding of that truth is what changes. 00:59:08.921 --> 00:59:14.561 And sometimes we understand it and, and we know exactly what we need to do, and 00:59:14.561 --> 00:59:17.531 other times we, we don't understand it. 00:59:17.561 --> 00:59:19.361 And, and that's all right. 00:59:19.361 --> 00:59:21.011 What's your perspective on that right now? 00:59:22.061 --> 00:59:26.711 Nathan Jones: Well, after, after just speaking that and hearing what 00:59:26.711 --> 00:59:31.841 you have to say, I am building my relationship with Jesus Christ because 00:59:32.201 --> 00:59:34.361 I am recognizing his blessings. 00:59:34.666 --> 00:59:35.086 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:59:35.531 --> 00:59:40.631 Nathan Jones: I still do have a testimony and I'm not out murdering 00:59:40.631 --> 00:59:45.071 people and stealing things and you know, I'm not living the word of wisdom, 00:59:45.071 --> 00:59:47.141 but that's not everything either. 00:59:47.291 --> 00:59:47.621 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:59:48.911 --> 00:59:50.501 Nathan Jones: you know, even though. 00:59:51.146 --> 00:59:54.176 I'm not doing everything a hundred percent perfect. 00:59:54.806 --> 00:59:57.266 The Lord still chooses to bless me. 00:59:57.336 --> 00:59:57.756 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 00:59:58.841 --> 01:00:05.711 And, and what I think is so important here is that you're still God's child. 01:00:06.191 --> 01:00:07.121 You're still his son. 01:00:07.511 --> 01:00:08.471 He still loves you. 01:00:09.071 --> 01:00:14.771 And, and that's the important thing that he's still blessing you and, 01:00:15.311 --> 01:00:20.381 and that you are doing something to build your relationship with him or 01:00:20.711 --> 01:00:25.631 wanting to, I mean, otherwise you'd be like, forget that, like you've said 01:00:25.631 --> 01:00:27.431 multiple times, I'm not blaming God. 01:00:27.431 --> 01:00:29.021 I see the blessings that he gives me. 01:00:29.411 --> 01:00:33.971 And having gone through what you've gone through where. 01:00:34.971 --> 01:00:40.161 Where the church really, the, not the church, but the people in the church 01:00:40.311 --> 01:00:41.901 really did turn their back on you. 01:00:42.681 --> 01:00:46.371 Like you said, the gospel didn't turn back on you, but you were not 01:00:46.371 --> 01:00:51.921 treated well by people and, and you were put in impossible positions. 01:00:51.981 --> 01:00:56.901 And, and yet God is still finding a way to bless you. 01:00:56.901 --> 01:01:02.001 And I believe personally that he understands where each of us are and, 01:01:02.811 --> 01:01:07.581 and totally gets why we're making the decisions that we're making and is gonna 01:01:07.581 --> 01:01:14.691 find a way to help us grow closer to him, regardless of, of whatever is going on. 01:01:14.841 --> 01:01:16.221 Does that, does that make sense? 01:01:16.506 --> 01:01:16.926 Nathan Jones: Yeah. 01:01:16.926 --> 01:01:21.246 And I think that the interesting thing is, is that as we talk through this, 01:01:21.906 --> 01:01:29.586 I answered the question from a Mormon 01:01:30.231 --> 01:01:30.951 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 01:01:31.056 --> 01:01:34.296 Nathan Jones: And not from my own personal perspective. 01:01:34.746 --> 01:01:38.706 And I answered the question in a way that I was raised. 01:01:38.706 --> 01:01:38.766 Yeah. 01:01:39.306 --> 01:01:42.456 And in the way that I went to church and. 01:01:42.966 --> 01:01:44.316 Did all of those things. 01:01:44.646 --> 01:01:50.766 And so, you know, I've, I've often told myself that I'm not building 01:01:50.766 --> 01:01:54.576 a relationship with Jesus Christ because I didn't do it in the 01:01:54.606 --> 01:01:56.496 quote unquote conventional way. 01:01:56.796 --> 01:02:01.296 I didn't do it in the way that they teach you in Sunday school. 01:02:01.296 --> 01:02:05.106 As a deacon, as a teacher, as a priest, you know? 01:02:05.196 --> 01:02:12.876 And although those are all good ways to build your relationship with 01:02:12.876 --> 01:02:14.736 Jesus Christ, it's not the only way. 01:02:15.846 --> 01:02:17.076 And that's what I just 01:02:18.106 --> 01:02:18.396 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah. 01:02:18.771 --> 01:02:20.511 So let's ask the question again. 01:02:20.961 --> 01:02:24.621 What are you doing daily, weekly, monthly, whatever to build 01:02:24.621 --> 01:02:26.001 your relationship with Christ? 01:02:26.916 --> 01:02:32.966 Nathan Jones: I am striving to be my best self. 01:02:33.786 --> 01:02:39.516 I try to be 1% better every single day. 01:02:40.086 --> 01:02:41.466 Than I was yesterday. 01:02:42.216 --> 01:02:47.766 I recognize the blessings in my life. 01:02:47.766 --> 01:02:55.956 I recognize all the things that I have are as a result of my testimony in 01:02:55.956 --> 01:03:02.526 Jesus Christ and my belief that I can 01:03:03.526 --> 01:03:03.886 get, 01:03:03.886 --> 01:03:07.516 wherever it is that I'm going back again, 01:03:08.236 --> 01:03:10.066 and I can find that purpose again. 01:03:12.261 --> 01:03:12.551 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah. 01:03:13.276 --> 01:03:15.706 that sounds very hopeful to me. 01:03:17.116 --> 01:03:21.316 Like, you, like what's the best way to say this? 01:03:21.376 --> 01:03:23.726 I. It is like right now. 01:03:24.596 --> 01:03:30.986 These, the primary answers are not happening right now, but these other 01:03:30.986 --> 01:03:36.866 things are happening and, right now where you're at in your life that 01:03:36.866 --> 01:03:38.666 feels like it's the right thing. 01:03:38.726 --> 01:03:40.406 Is that a fair summary of that? 01:03:40.796 --> 01:03:43.886 Nathan Jones: Yeah, and I don't need the primary answers right now. 01:03:44.156 --> 01:03:46.916 I've graduated from the primary answers. 01:03:47.486 --> 01:03:53.066 I, the primary answers serve their purpose to get me where I'm at today. 01:03:53.826 --> 01:04:00.876 But they don't serve me anymore because I was innocent in primary. 01:04:00.936 --> 01:04:05.376 I hadn't gone through trials that I've gone through now. 01:04:05.766 --> 01:04:11.346 And so those primary answers are for me personally, not gonna do it. 01:04:11.446 --> 01:04:11.811 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 01:04:11.976 --> 01:04:14.196 Nathan Jones: It's not gonna move the needle. 01:04:14.196 --> 01:04:15.546 It's only gonna frustrate me. 01:04:15.546 --> 01:04:23.586 It's only gonna put me back in that it's gonna put me back as being a child. 01:04:23.826 --> 01:04:24.126 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 01:04:24.576 --> 01:04:26.736 Nathan Jones: And I'm not a child anymore. 01:04:26.856 --> 01:04:29.526 I have bigger things to accomplish. 01:04:29.556 --> 01:04:31.116 I have bigger trials. 01:04:31.386 --> 01:04:32.946 I have bigger successes. 01:04:33.651 --> 01:04:38.191 You know, I kind of equate it to, you know, when I was, when I was 01:04:38.191 --> 01:04:44.591 12 years old, I had a paper route that I, I think I made like 12 01:04:44.591 --> 01:04:46.631 bucks a week or something like that. 01:04:47.171 --> 01:04:54.231 And I had this, video game steering wheel controller at Best Buy that 01:04:54.231 --> 01:04:57.681 I wanted to buy, and it was $50. 01:04:58.221 --> 01:05:00.981 And I saved and saved and saved. 01:05:00.981 --> 01:05:04.911 It felt like months it took me to save enough money. 01:05:05.511 --> 01:05:12.261 And I went and rode my bike down to the store with the money that I had saved and 01:05:12.741 --> 01:05:16.281 paid an exact change for this controller. 01:05:16.341 --> 01:05:21.261 And I had this, it was a big box, and I carried it back on my bike and rode 01:05:21.261 --> 01:05:25.426 all the way back home and set it up and played it for probably two weeks 01:05:25.881 --> 01:05:27.951 and probably never touched it again. 01:05:28.851 --> 01:05:29.721 And. 01:05:30.606 --> 01:05:38.376 The, the way that I relate to that is that back then when I was in 01:05:38.376 --> 01:05:42.186 primary, $50 was a lot of money. 01:05:42.726 --> 01:05:45.936 Today I could sneeze and spend $50. 01:05:46.206 --> 01:05:48.726 I just filled my truck up for $130 01:05:49.021 --> 01:05:49.101 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah. 01:05:49.986 --> 01:05:52.086 Nathan Jones: you know, and I'll probably have to fill it back up 01:05:52.086 --> 01:05:54.306 again when I get home, you know? 01:05:54.306 --> 01:06:02.796 And so, the, the perspective is, is that back then those primary answers 01:06:03.156 --> 01:06:06.966 were a big deal and they were hard to do and they seemed insurmountable. 01:06:06.966 --> 01:06:11.856 And it took a lot of work to do those primary answers to build your 01:06:11.856 --> 01:06:13.386 relationship with Jesus Christ. 01:06:13.746 --> 01:06:18.066 Now, not that they're, nothing, 50 bucks is still 50 bucks. 01:06:18.066 --> 01:06:24.157 I'm not, I'm not gonna step over 50 bucks, but they don't make as 01:06:24.366 --> 01:06:26.021 big of a difference in my life. 01:06:26.991 --> 01:06:28.651 As a thousand dollars would. 01:06:28.881 --> 01:06:29.871 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 01:06:30.111 --> 01:06:30.112 Yeah. 01:06:31.041 --> 01:06:33.231 Yeah, that's a really interesting perspective. 01:06:33.291 --> 01:06:39.966 And and, and you mentioned earlier like this is what the church teaches, that 01:06:39.966 --> 01:06:43.311 you do these things and then, you know, you'll get back to Heavenly Father. 01:06:43.791 --> 01:06:49.341 And that's a very simplified primary way of looking at it, but it takes. 01:06:49.791 --> 01:06:50.751 So much more. 01:06:50.871 --> 01:06:57.021 It takes enduring to the end, however, that long end is, and that end is very 01:06:57.021 --> 01:07:02.241 long for all of us, and we have to go through a lot of trials to get there. 01:07:02.631 --> 01:07:08.181 And, and I gained an insight on those primary answers that, that 01:07:08.181 --> 01:07:09.531 I haven't had before either. 01:07:09.591 --> 01:07:11.511 So I appreciate you sharing that. 01:07:12.021 --> 01:07:17.001 And like those primary answers are things that I still do. 01:07:17.451 --> 01:07:23.031 And yet I know that they are not the only things that bring us closer to Christ. 01:07:23.331 --> 01:07:27.141 And, and that I think is an important thing to take away. 01:07:27.621 --> 01:07:31.521 And, and to find where that, where that works for each one of us. 01:07:31.551 --> 01:07:37.671 'cause our relationship with Christ is personal and it is, you know, salvation. 01:07:37.671 --> 01:07:38.721 It doesn't matter what I. 01:07:39.201 --> 01:07:44.061 Your parents' testimony is, or what your parents' beliefs are, your 01:07:44.061 --> 01:07:49.551 salvation is between you and the savior, and, and that's all there is to it. 01:07:49.671 --> 01:07:50.931 And, yeah. 01:07:50.931 --> 01:07:52.251 What would you, what would you add to that? 01:07:53.691 --> 01:07:58.491 Nathan Jones: Just that, to kind of bring it back to the analogy to add 01:07:58.491 --> 01:08:04.891 on what you were saying, you know, those little things do add up and, 01:08:05.491 --> 01:08:10.906 you know, lots of $50 actions are gonna add up to a thousand dollars. 01:08:11.424 --> 01:08:11.696 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 01:08:12.376 --> 01:08:16.246 Nathan Jones: You know, and so not to say that, you know, I don't 01:08:16.246 --> 01:08:18.376 want to belittle those things. 01:08:18.916 --> 01:08:25.306 But they're just not, I'm looking for bigger purchases, so to speak. 01:08:25.756 --> 01:08:31.666 And those smaller ones, I've got so much ground to make up that those smaller ones 01:08:31.666 --> 01:08:33.556 aren't gonna make a big enough difference. 01:08:34.661 --> 01:08:34.951 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah. 01:08:35.511 --> 01:08:35.751 Interesting. 01:08:36.251 --> 01:08:40.966 So I'll be curious over the next year what the bigger purchases are 01:08:41.176 --> 01:08:43.066 that you're making spiritually. 01:08:43.246 --> 01:08:46.516 What are the bigger things that you're doing to grow closer Should of 01:08:46.516 --> 01:08:49.576 Christ and, and what that looks like? 01:08:49.786 --> 01:08:50.506 Because, 01:08:51.076 --> 01:08:55.636 Like I see it, I mean, you said that you wanna do this podcast 'cause 01:08:55.636 --> 01:09:01.366 you got a spiritual prompting, like listening to the spirit is key and not 01:09:01.546 --> 01:09:05.686 even when it's uncomfortable and not something you necessarily want to do. 01:09:06.316 --> 01:09:08.746 Uh, you gotta, you gotta do it. 01:09:09.136 --> 01:09:16.816 And you know that, that's not a, that's not a, that's not a little $50 thing. 01:09:16.846 --> 01:09:17.326 Right. 01:09:17.746 --> 01:09:20.566 Um, that's, that's a big, that's a big thing. 01:09:20.716 --> 01:09:24.736 And, and I think that's, that's really important to, to note. 01:09:25.606 --> 01:09:28.426 Nathan Jones: And I, and I know your question was rhetorical because we 01:09:28.426 --> 01:09:33.526 don't know the answer of what those thousand dollars things are, but you 01:09:33.526 --> 01:09:35.356 know, I think that that's one of them. 01:09:35.596 --> 01:09:41.626 And just like you said, being able to listen to those promptings and, you know, 01:09:41.626 --> 01:09:43.966 I don't always know all the answers. 01:09:44.041 --> 01:09:44.461 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm. 01:09:45.826 --> 01:09:49.646 Nathan Jones: You know, I. Some of the stuff that I've said in this 01:09:49.646 --> 01:09:52.466 podcast I have never said before. 01:09:53.126 --> 01:10:00.566 And I definitely know that the Lord is guiding my mind. 01:10:00.626 --> 01:10:02.396 'cause I'm not a very eloquent person. 01:10:02.396 --> 01:10:02.966 I, 01:10:03.206 --> 01:10:04.466 Jethro D. Jones: but you've been very eloquent 01:10:04.766 --> 01:10:05.306 Nathan Jones: and 01:10:05.366 --> 01:10:06.926 I, that is not me. 01:10:07.201 --> 01:10:07.641 Jethro D. Jones: This is, 01:10:08.216 --> 01:10:11.306 Nathan Jones: this is not the Nathan you get on a daily basis. 01:10:11.306 --> 01:10:15.536 I usually can't say more than two words without tripping over my tongue. 01:10:16.136 --> 01:10:16.706 So, 01:10:17.676 --> 01:10:23.346 I know that the things that I have said today have, have been from the 01:10:23.346 --> 01:10:25.176 Lord and the Spirit is guiding me. 01:10:25.776 --> 01:10:33.126 And you know, I, I know that I do have a relationship with Jesus Christ because 01:10:33.726 --> 01:10:36.426 of the things that I have said today. 01:10:36.636 --> 01:10:39.876 And I wouldn't, I wouldn't have been able to. 01:10:41.376 --> 01:10:45.276 Come up with the analogies and speak of the things, some of these stories that 01:10:45.276 --> 01:10:47.496 I told I haven't thought of in years. 01:10:48.036 --> 01:10:53.646 And so, I think that's just a testament right there that, you 01:10:53.646 --> 01:10:57.396 know, maybe doing this podcast and listening to this prompting is 01:10:57.816 --> 01:10:59.706 one of those thousand dollar bets. 01:11:00.111 --> 01:11:00.441 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah. 01:11:00.951 --> 01:11:05.781 Well, I, I know that I've been praying, ever since I decided to come down here 01:11:05.901 --> 01:11:11.631 this week that we'd be able to have a good discussion and that the spirit would 01:11:11.631 --> 01:11:14.391 be here and that it'd be worthwhile. 01:11:14.391 --> 01:11:16.041 So I thank you for that. 01:11:16.591 --> 01:11:19.321 Yeah, I think that was a great place to end. 01:11:19.411 --> 01:11:24.571 So, this is the June episode and so this will come out, I'm sorry, may episode. 01:11:24.931 --> 01:11:28.681 So this'll come out, in May and, be, be part of this. 01:11:29.191 --> 01:11:31.441 Each may will release it again. 01:11:32.371 --> 01:11:36.391 Nathan Jones: And I just wanna say that to everybody that's listening, 01:11:37.381 --> 01:11:42.661 you know, stick with it and hold Jethro accountable to keep doing this because 01:11:42.661 --> 01:11:49.501 this is a big commitment and each guest is, has to make a big commitment. 01:11:49.501 --> 01:11:56.311 Jethro has to make a big commitment to do this, and, it's important that we hear 01:11:56.311 --> 01:12:02.581 the end to these stories and, you know, I don't believe podcasts are going anywhere. 01:12:03.121 --> 01:12:05.611 And so they're here to stay. 01:12:05.611 --> 01:12:08.971 There's no reason why this can't continue on. 01:12:09.431 --> 01:12:16.031 And so whatever way that you can support Jethro and support each of the guests to 01:12:16.061 --> 01:12:18.491 continue to come on and share their story. 01:12:19.001 --> 01:12:23.711 And for Jethro to continue on to bring these stories to us. 01:12:24.211 --> 01:12:31.171 I think it's important that we hear the end of every story and whether 01:12:31.171 --> 01:12:35.501 it's just one person that you connect with individually, that you 01:12:35.501 --> 01:12:37.391 follow that all the way to the end. 01:12:37.831 --> 01:12:41.916 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah, I appreciate that and especially, when it's hard. 01:12:42.066 --> 01:12:46.146 'cause some years are gonna be really, really tough and we're not 01:12:46.146 --> 01:12:50.436 gonna want to share what's going on, but I do think that, that 01:12:50.436 --> 01:12:51.636 we're gonna bless lives from it. 01:12:51.636 --> 01:12:53.466 So thanks again Nathan. 01:12:53.706 --> 01:12:54.336 Appreciate it. 01:12:54.486 --> 01:12:58.116 Appreciate you wanting to do this and listening to that prompting. 01:12:58.431 --> 01:12:58.941 Nathan Jones: You're welcome. 01:12:58.941 --> 01:12:59.391 Thank you.