Joshua Micheal Tew

o   Biography

§  Birthday, time, and place

10 August 1987, 10:xx P.M.,

§  Schools attended and degrees

Mrs. Wadsworth’s Kindergarten

Longfellow Elementary School

Taylorview Junior High School Aug 2000 – June 2003

Idaho Falls High School Aug 2003 – May 2006

Brigham Young University-Idaho Electrical Engineering Sept 2008 – April 2012

§  Sports and hobbies

Baseball, basketball, football, wrestling, swimming, hiking, camping, backpacking, cooking, eating,

§  Most memorable vacations

Hawaii July/August 2011

San Francisco

Disneyland Christmas 2009

Sawtooths August 2010

Tetons August 2010

Courde’alene August 2005

§  Missionary work

Mexico City, Mexico 23 August 2006 – 28 August 2008

§  Callings

Elders Quorum Secretary

Elders Quorum Teacher

Elders Quorum President

Assistant Ward Clerk-Records

o   Testimony

                  I want to share three portions of my testimony; Prophets, Jesus Christ, and Joy. First, I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God.  He has been given all of the keys, power, and authority to run Christ’s Church.  I know that Jesus Christ talks to His prophet.  I know that the other Apostles are prophets and seers.  I know that if we follow them, we will be blessed and we will be happy!  When I was in high school President Hinckley challenged everyone to read the Book of Mormon and pray to know if it was true.  He promised many blessings.  I reread it.  I prayed to know the truth of it.  I did not receive an overpowering witness that it was true, although I felt the spirit strongly in my life.  The blessings I received afterwards impacted me the most.  I had the spirit with me more.  Going through the hard times of high school I was really happy.  Things didn’t go right all of the time but I knew they would work out in the end.  Also, I followed the prophet’s council to not watch R-rated movies and not to date before I was 16.  To some these things may seem not that important but I did I felt like they were.  Because of that, I was able to be ready to serve a mission.  I didn’t run into any problems before hand that would have not allowed me to do so.  I know by personal experience and by the spirit that God calls prophets and that Thomas Monson is God’s prophet today.

Second, I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  He is our Savior and Redeemer.  As I have come to know Christ I have been comforted by knowing what He has done for me.  I have experienced hard times with my family, with friends, on my mission, and at school.  Many times I have felt that everything will be okay.  It is a feeling that I can’t describe.  Each time it lifts me higher so I can continue on in life.  This semester I am playing competitive baseball at BYU-I.  My first at bat of a game I got a good hit.  I felt pretty cool and important.  The next inning while I was warming up at third, I realized that it didn’t matter that I got a hit earlier.  I had a very clear statement come to my head that really touched me, “It doesn’t matter what you did in the past; only what you do now.”  Not only has that helped me in baseball but it helped me come to better understand the atonement of Jesus Christ.  I know that he suffered for all of our sins, sickness, and struggles.  Once we have done something-good or bad- we need to continue on the correct path.  I know that with the help of the Savior, we can do it.  We can let go of whatever we have done in the past and achieve greatness in the future.  I know that Jesus Christ was resurrected after He died on the cross.  I know that if we do our best to follow His gospel He will forgive us of our wrong doings and we will be able to enter into the Kingdom of God.

Third, I know we can have joy in the life and in the life to come.  This life is full of hard aches and disappointments.  Life is hard.  I know that by following the commandments of God we can be happy.  This does not mean that everything will be easy and bad things won’t happen to us.  There is something that happens when we obey.  This is one of the greatest blessings and one of the strongest reasons that I have a testimony.  As I come unto Christ more, I am able to experience even more joy.  I love this.  I like to be happy and I like others to be happy.  I know God wants us to be happy.  I know that if we follow Christ, we will be happy even in the most difficult situations.

While at BYU-Idaho

Fall 2008

I got home from serving in Mexico City, Mexico about a week before the semester started.  The only apartment I could find was at Cottonwood (because it so far from campus).  I just happened to room with Tyler Tueller who served in Mexico with me.  We shared a room.  My other roommates were Matt Simnitt, Ryan Flores, Brad Terry, and Ricky Ricks.  My calling was the Elders Quorum Secretary for Austin Wood.  I learned a lot.  Something that I always remember Austin asking us what the “base standards” of fulfilling our callings or job were.  Then we would know how to magnify our callings.  I took CompE 150, CS 124, English 101, Math 112 (Calculus), and the first part of the Book or Mormon.  I got all A’s (but two of them were A-).  I didn’t really date anyone seriously although I went on some dates.  I was pretty awkward when it came to that but I pressed forward.  One time I was asked to say the opening prayer at a Stake Fireside.  I kind of got nervous.  I had a very hard time speaking English.  Everything came to me in Spanish.  When I sat down the guy I was sitting next to asked me where I was from.  When I told him I was from Idaho Falls he was kind of shocked.  He thought I was from a different country.  It took a while for me to get back in English mode.  Austin left for his mission during this time.  I did competitive swimming.  I met good friends such as Oliver Crane, Kayla, and Jacqueline.  We were in the slow lane.  Before racing the 100 yard Breaststroke, Austin told me how to do the underwater part.  I did it and I improved a lot.  On my mission, I switched to showering in the morning.  When I got back I tried to do that thinking that was what grown up people did.  Living with five other guys I found that that was a mess.  I always had to fight for the shower and it was always cold.  I quickly switched to showering at night.  I could sleep in a little bit more and I didn’t have to worry about having a cold shower.  I focused on going to the temple every week because President Turley challenged me to go to the temple often when I met with him after I got home from Mexico.  I really liked it.  It is something I continue to do now. 

Winter 2009

I was “off track” this semester meaning that I didn’t go to school.  I lived at home with Mom, Dad, and Lexie.  I remember I tried to do little acts of hidden service for them.  That is something I kind of wish I would start again.  Lexie was a senior in High School and she was getting ready to come to BYU-I.  Before my mission I think I felt like she was just my little sister.  We were able to become real good friends.  We did lots of stuff together such as watch movies and play games.  We liked to play Nertz.  I think I even took her snowboarding a few times.  I worked part time for Greg Ehardt and the other part at Real Deals.  It was really nice because I could work my own hours.  I was suppose to work full time for Greg but he switched jobs right at that time and he didn’t really need me anymore.  He still let me do random stuff for him.  I tested out of three Spanish Classes.  I got two A’s and one A-.  They were actually pretty easy.  Vance and I went up to Targhee on some of their two-for-one-days.  We got super sunburned one time.  We had blisters all over our faces.  It was pretty gross. 

Spring 2009

I moved to the Pines to room with my cousin Vance Boyer.  We lived in Apartment 62.  My other roommates were Jordan Neal and Jeff Casperson.  I took CompE 224, Math 215, Chem 105, CS 165, and the second part of the Book of Mormon.  My calling was Elders Quorum Teacher.  I always did my calling but I did not teach that well.  I felt that everyone was a sleep.  I worked hard but it was hard.  I played competitive baseball.  It was really good to play again.  Mom and Dad came up for most of my games.  I was a little disappointed because a lot of the players pulled fits and swore.  I felt like I was back in high school.  I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to play again.  I tried to date Jenilee but she decided to go for this other guy who she married and now has a kid with.  I wrote her a poem to show her that I liked her but it was a little late.  Looking back on it, it was really awkward.  I am still kind of glad that I did it.  Her roommate Chantelle was a pretty good friend to our apartment.  She really liked Vance.  Before the 4^th of July, we went on a hike up to Moose Falls.  She brought some of her random friends.  Up before the falls, we made a campfire by a snow bank to roast hot dogs and marshmallows.  It was a really fun time. Right after that, I picked up Lexie and drove down to Twin Falls for our family reunion.  I think I ran 5k fun run that year. 

Fall 2009

I lived in apartment 62 of the Pines again.  This time I got new roommates: Dave Wilcox and Jason Merrill.  By Thanksgiving they were both engaged.  Dave got the swine flu and I was sick pretty bad too but I never went to the doctor.  Dave and I were pretty good friends.  We really clicked.  We even had a class together (Biology) which was really fun.  I took CS 235, Math 316, Bio 200, and Chem 106.  It may not seem that much but it was such a hard semester.  All of these classes were so time consuming.  Biology and Chemistry were “weed out” classes.  I was taking tests all the time.  It was the first time I ever got a C and I got two of them.  I think my GPA would be different if I good redo this semester.  At the same time I don’t want to redo it because I learned so much.  I tried my hardest.  When grades came out I was a little bummed or disappointed but I knew for my circumstances that I did all I could.  It was a very humbling experience and I really had to rely on Jesus Christ to get through it.  I went with Dave to an apartment of girls in our ward to watch General Conference and have breakfast.  There were two really cute girls there: Mallory McCoy and Katie Lundgreen (now Crabb).  Dave told me he was kind of in to Katie so I thought it would be better for me to try and ask Mallory out.  It turned out to be the best thing.  We dated for a couple of months.  I learned a lot from her.  Her family was really fun too.  She was my first girlfriend.  Over Thanksgiving break, Vance and I had a great idea to climb Tablerock.  Not only would there be snow but we decided to try going up the face when neither of us have ever been up that way.  It was snowing the entire way.  We almost made it to a peak but the weather was so bad that we decided to turn around.  The enxt summer we realized that we were up near Alaskan Basin and we almost climbed Battleship Mountain which is a good distance away from Tablerock.  Close to where we turned around, Vance noticed that he lost his camera.  We said a prayer hoping we would find it again.  On the way down I spotted it in the snow on the trail.  It was such a miracle and a testimony builder that God really does answer prayers.  It was one of the best hikes I have ever been on even though we were lost the entire time and we hike back in the dark with one head light.  This was Lexie’s first semester.  It was fun to do stuff together.  We both did swimming together.  She was so good.  I think she won every race.  At the end of the semester we went to Mesa, Arizona for Chelsea Nye’s wedding.  Because of my finals I couldn’t leave at the same time as my parents so I had to fly down.  I flew out of Idaho Falls.  Alisha and Ben dropped me off at the airport and helped me get through security.  After the wedding, we went to Disneyland for a week.  We were there for Christmas.  It was so fun.  Grandma Nye, John and his family, George and his family, Debbie and her family, and David and some of his family (for a few days) were all there.  It was a big party.  

Winter 2010

I was off track.  I moved back home with Mom, Dad, and Lexie was off track too.  For Christmas Mom and Dad got us season passes to Targhee!  I took Lexie up a bunch.  She got pretty good.  The snow was so good.  A couple of times there was so much powder I didn’t know what to do.  Lexie and I worked at Real Deals.  There was a lot of stuff for us to do.  We always had tons of freight to do and we had to do inventory.  The little machine that they used broke so we had to do it by hand.  One time Karmelle wanted it done before a shipment was going to come in the next day.  Lexie and I seriously worked almost 24 hours straight.  It was probably the coldest week ever and the back of Real Deals is not very insulated.  We were bundled up and had a gas heater that made it bearable, oh what we do for Real Deals.  Another time we took the big truck down to the Lehi Real Deals to help get it set up.  The truck broke down on us on Malad Pass.  More Real Deal fun.  Right after Valentine’s Day, I broke up with Mallory.  It was pretty tough.  A while later I started dating Beth Westfall (now Porter).  We only dated a couple of weeks.  She broke up with me right before the next semester started.  It really hurt because I was really starting to like her.  I probably liked her the most out of the girls I have date (speaking in Dec 2011).  I guess I know how Mallory felt now. 

Spring 2010

I moved back in to Pines 62.  My roommates were Vance Boyer, Jordan Neal, and Michael Carlson.  Michael was a very interesting guy, kind of hard to get close to.  It was a good experience but I am glad he moved out at the end of the semester.  I took CompE 250, PH 121, CompE 340, Science 101, and D&C.  It was definitely an easier semester.  I was able to get good grades and get my confidence back from last semester.  Lexie and I had our Science class together.  It was really fun sitting together each day.  After class we would go home and have lunch together. I played competitive basketball.  I was on the Thunder.  My coach was Blake Peterson and the assistance coach was this girl (she and her husband were really good friends with Mallory’s sister Chelsea and her husband Blake).  She was really intense.  I had some real issues with her.  I felt she was a little mean and too intense in practices.  I was a little intimidated and scared around her (this sounds kind of dumb but that’s how I felt).  I wanted to quit and not play basketball anymore.  I really tried hard to have a change of heart about her.  I prayed a lot.  Through the semester I came to realize how much she cared about me and my team.  That helped me see a difference in her.  It was a really cool experience.  I had so much fun playing basketball.  I am glad I didn’t give up and quit.  My calling this semester was Elders Quorum Teacher.  I felt a huge improvement in my teaching from the last semester.  I really tried to come up with thought provoking questions before hand.  It led to some really good discussions.  I tried to date Sydnee Barney but she left me for a mission (she is serving in Texas right now).  I got a long with her really well.  I might see what happens when she gets back. 

Fall 2010

I lived in Pines 62 again with Vance Boyer, Jordan Neal, and James Hatch.  I was praying for a roommate that I could just talk to.  It was so hard last semester to be with Michael.  We hardly ever talked.  James was a perfect match.  He is a little crazy but we had so much fun together.  He is still a good friend.  This experience showed me that God cares about me and answers my prayers.  I took ECEN 350, ECEN 324, ECEN 470, CS 237, American Foundations, Family Foundations, and Math 108 Test Out for a total of 18 credits.  It was so hard.  I don’t know how I made it through it all.  It was a really good semester.  I was able to trust in the Lord and I saw his hand daily.  After I had signed up for these classes, Brother Smith asked me if I would like to work for him.  Seeing this as a good opportunity, I took it.  I worked five to ten hours a week.  I re-wrote the ECEN 250 Labs and I helped students with their Labs.  It was a really good learning experience.  I didn’t play a sport because of my already busy schedule.  I continued my calling as Elders Quorum Teacher.  I continued to get better.  I was amazed.  Part way through the semester, I ended up getting on Fast Grad so I could take a special topic class only offered winter semester.  Austin got home from his mission this semester.  It was really neat to see him again. 

Winter 2011

I stayed in Pines 62.  My roommates were James Hatch, Jordan Neal, and my very own little brother Austin Tew.  Vance would come to visit often.  It was a really fun semester.  I did competitive swimming with Austin and Lexie.  I almost didn’t do it because I thought it was going to be too hard.  I ended up going to tryouts and continuing swimming.  I am so glad I did.  It was so fun to swim with Austin and Lexie.  I took ECEN 360, ECEN 380, ECEN 490 (special topics), Heroic Journey, and the first part of the New Testament.  I had New Testament with Austin and Kyle Martin.  I really liked EEN 360 with Brother Karl.  He is a really good teacher.  My special topics class was Power Systems.  I didn’t like the class too much but I think it was because of the teacher.  I really like Brother Grimmet but I struggle with his teaching style.  Now, I got a job because of that class.  I am glad I decided to get on Fast Grad and take it.  For a while I doubted whether it was the Spirit leading me to do it but now I really feel like it was.  I continued working a few hours a week for Brother Smith.  At the beginning of the semester I went to the Career Fair in Provo.  I had an interview with HP.  It went pretty good but I mainly did it for a learning experience.  I got a business card from Reliable Controls which I didn’t think much of (now I have an internship with them). 

Spring 2011

I lived again in Pines 62.  My roommates were Austin, Vance Boyer, and Jordan Neal.  We kicked James out but he was always at our apartment.  I took ECEN 390, ECEN 480, Senior Project, English 201, and Teaching of the Living Prophets.  It was such a busy semester.  I still worked a little bit but I didn’t do a sport.  For my Senior Project Beau Heartling and I build Brother Smith a cruise control system for his tricycle.  I really enjoyed it.  It didn’t work perfectly but I learned a lot.  I was called as Assistant Ward Clerk for the Records.  I worked with Brother Scown.  I dated Brooke Walker.  She was in some of Lexie’s classes.  She saw me on Facebook.  Lexie told me I should ask her out so I did.  I called her up and we went out.  I had a lot of fun with her.  We went kayaking, to Mesa Falls, to Yellowstone, and we did a lot of fun things around here.  I thought I was going to continue dating her through the fall semester.  The last week of school I felt I need to end it.  I felt terrible.  I broke up with her.  It did not end well.  I am glad to say that we are on speaking terms again (for a while I didn’t think that would ever happen).  At the end of the semester we ended up going to Hawaii as a family.  We went to the island Hawaii or the Big Island.  I could write pages about that.  It was so much fun.  I feel like that Island was made for me.  It had so many things that I loved like mountains, mangos, Temple, and awesome beaches.  It wasn’t even too crowded.  Rebecka, Dan, Danny, and Kate surprised us and were there when we got off the plane.  It was a nice treat. 

Fall 2011

I was adventurous and I decided to move this semester.  I moved all the way arcoss the hall to Pines 63 (probably five feet away).  My roommates are Austin Tew and Kyle Martin.  It has been so much fun and really relaxing.  This is my last semester so I decided to play competitive baseball.  I wanted to have a different attitude.  I tried so hard to pick everyone up and keep them from pulling the normal baseball fits.  It was a huge success.  I had so much fun and my team was awesome.  It felt so good to pitch again.  The last game I was really seeing the ball.  My first at-bat I hit a triple.  I hit an RBI single that tied the game so we went on to play extra innings.  We ended up playing 11 innings (5 extra innings).  It was such a long game.  I continued to work a little bit for Brother Smith.  I took PH 220, CS 308, ECEN 450, Capstones, Family History, and the second part of the New Testament.  Peter Stevenson (he was in my Chem 105 class too), Stacy Clements, and Megan Bigilow are all in my Capstones class.  I sit with Peter and Stacy.  It has been really good to see Peter often.  I feel like he is a pretty good friend.  I continued on with my same calling.  I really tried to get to know everyone’s name in the ward.  I did better than I have done in the past but I didn’t get to know everyone.  Austin and I have had success with home teaching.  Two of the girls we home teach (Michelle and Emily) have asked us for blessings this semester.  I was happy that they felt comfortable enough with us to ask us that.  I went to the Career Fair in Provo again.  I got five interviews.  Nothing came from any of them.  I have really been searching hard to find an internship and a job.  Mainly, I have been trying to decide what to do after I get done with BYU-I.  Kyle was taking the GRE for Grad School.  I really felt like I should take it too.  Since I was signing up kind of late I had to take it down in Lindon, Utah on a Monday.  I went down with Mom the night before and we stayed with Kelsey.  Mom went to work with her and I took my test.  Then, I met up with them at Kelsey’s work.  Little did I know they had other plans for me.   Wendy, a lady that works with Kelsey, has two daughters that our close to my age (Megan and Aubrey).  They just happened to be there helping out with Kelsey’s class.  I didn’t think anything of it. I helped for a while too. For some reason I was always paired up with Aubrey.  Later, we started talking on Facebook and I went down to see her.  We have been out a couple of times.  I don’t know what is going on between us but I have had fun getting to know her better.  Because of her, I have been thinking of going to Utah.  I decided to start looking for a job in Utah.  Then, I could stay with Kelsey.  I felt really strongly that I needed to be in Utah.  A month again I would have never said that.  I happened to find the business card for Reliable Controls that I got at the first Career Fair in Provo.  I saw on their website that they had an entry level position opened.  I submitted a resume.  A few weeks later I got an email back saying they would like me to come down for an interview.  I went down and the interview went well.  They offered me a position a few days later.  I was so relieved.  This was another experience that showed me that God answers prayers and actually cares for me. 

Winter 2012

I don’t really know what is going to happen but in a week I will be off to Salt Lake to start my job/internship.  I am sad and excited to leave BYU-I.  I guess I will update this when I get done with my internship.

Last Lecture

For the last three months, I have been able to study the second half of the New Testament (Acts – Revelation).  I have learned so many great things that have strengthened my testimony of Jesus Christ.  Today, I would like to share two main things that greatly impacted me along with an example with the hope that they will help strengthen your testimonies too. 

First, I have come to better know that Jesus Christ lives and I am not ashamed of it.  This simple knowledge makes life’s hard times better.  Paul was faced with many trials and adversity.  While he was on a voyage, he and his crew were in a terrible storm.  An angel came to comfort Paul.  After receiving this spiritual boost, Paul comforted his crew.  He said, “Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me” (Acts 27:25).  It would have been easy for them to give up.  Because of their belief in Christ, they were able to find joy and continue on through their hard times.  I love Paul’s advice.  I try to use it in my life.  I am happy for I believe in God!  Having a strong testimony of Christ can really help you.  It is not always easy to have that testimony of Christ or to act on it.  Sometimes, you are faced with trials were living the gospel or the testimony of Christ can be hard, embarrassing, or even life threatening.  This should not stop you.  The New Testament helps you with this difficult task.  A few chapters later Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).  Here Paul teaches that the Gospel of Christ will bring salvation to everyone and there is no need to be ashamed of it.  This scripture influenced me so much.  Whenever I read it I think, “Do I follow Christ when it is convenient or do I follow Him no matter what?”  You should follow Christ at all times.  Like Paul said, you don’t have to be ashamed of the saving power of Christ.  Believe in Christ and don’t be ashamed of him for in doing so you will find joy.

Second, I have come even closer to Christ by understand more and relying on His grace.  There are so many commandments that you need to do that it is easy to think that if you don’t keep them you won’t be saved.  This reflects the idea of saving yourself which opposes the gospel of Christ.  You are saved 100 percent by the grace of Christ.  Not enough of you focus or like to focus on this.  It is because you can’t do anything about it.  You have to rely solely on Christ.  Understanding and relying on grace will bring more peace into you lives than all of the works you could ever do.  Paul said, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).  It is not easy to accept this gift.  You must accept your weaknesses and that you can’t do it on your own.  It is the ultimate step of humility.  By humbling yourselves to the grace of Christ, you will find ultimate joy.  After I understood this, I felt so happy.  Before I felt guilty when I sinned because I made Christ suffer more.  Now I understand that I can’t be perfect this life.  I have weakness and I will sin.  I still try my hardest to follow the commandments but I have a peace knowing that I will be made perfect because of the grace of Christ.  You can have this peace too.  Understand and rely more fully on the grace of Christ. 

Third, I want to share an example that will help you better understand these two points.  Imagine you gave your best friend the nicest car in the world.  Your friend thanks you and takes the car home.  Your friend doesn’t understand anything about cars and is kind of embarrassed of the car.  Your friend hides the car in the garage and never uses it.  Years later you see your friend driving around in the same old beat-up car that he or she has had for many years.  From this, you may feel sad for your friend because he or she missed out on all of the fun of driving the world nicest car.  The same is with Christ and his gospel.  If you are ashamed to live His gospel and partake of his grace you will miss out on some of the greatest blessing He has in store for you.  Don’t doubt.  Be happy! Believe in Christ!  Accept his grace!  I know that Christ lives and is the way for eternal life.