Who am I? Who are you?

For my entire life, I have known that I have a purpose. There's a reason that I am who I am.

Every decision, every experience I've ever had has put me in the position I am in today. I am the sum of my choices, with the ability to make many more choices, and the unlimited possibilities therein.

So who am I?

 I am Dallin Hughes. I am a singer/songwriter, an instrumentalist, a slightly lazy perfectionist, the second oldest in a family of fifteen, (including parents) an entertainer, a dancer, and many other things, but the title that I hold dearest to me is Child Of God. 

I have the privelidge of writing to all you and telling you that I know this to be true. I know it with every part of my soul.

You are all children of God, and don't you forget it! There is nothing more valuable than a human being. We have the greatest potential out of all of God's creations. We have the potential to become like Him!

So this reason that I spoke about earlier... This reason that I am who I am. I have gifts and abilities, talents and opportunities to spread this message to the whole world, and that is what I will do. That is what I have been called to do, and I will not shirk or sluff my responsibility.

Now that I have given you part of the truth, I emplore you to search out the rest. It is now your responsibility to spread the message I have spread to you. 

Spread it like butter. All over your toast. (Or the world, if you haven't caught the drift yet. ;) Slap on a huge glob of truth and goodness! Haha.

Every talent, ability, gift, opportunity you have been given has been given to you to play your specific and personal part in this game of life. So play your cards.

Dallin H.

My Journey

Imagine yourself in the most comfortable place, with the most comfortable things, eating the most comfortable foods. Now imagine yourself staying there for the next two years of your life. What do you think you look like now? What would have happened to you had you gotten up and worked? Would your outcome have been different? Of course! You would probably be an entirely different person!

 What do I call that getting up off of your bottom? I call it a journey. Journeys are how we learn, grow, become.

So what do I want you to do? Leave your comfort zone! When you push yourself to your limits, your capacity grows and expands.

So I challenge everyone who reads this to do something good, out of their comfort zone twenty times. It shouldn't be the same thing twenty times, but try this, and I guarantee you will be so much happier after it is done.

 At my first dance, I was soooooo scared to ask anyone to dance. I was anxious beyond the butterflies in my stomache. I was still dancing with all of the "jumping" songs, but I couldn't bring myself to ask anyone to slow dance with me. After about half of the dance was over, I went into the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror and wondered why I couldn't ask anyone to dance. The thought then came to me that, maybe everyone in that room had an experience like I am having now. I thought back on the faces of all of the older kids in that room, realized that I would have to make a decision that had already been made by so many before myself. So I decided that I would then be known as the nicest boy there, and the dance king. I walked out of that bathroom after spiffing up a little bit, and searched for a girl that looked about my age. I found one, and with the butterflies still bugging me, (pun intended) I asked her to dance. It turned out that she was actually 17! For that one dance, I told her that it was my first, we talked a little bit, and for the rest of that dance, she taught and inspired me to be able to continue on with what I like to call, my "intention", or the intended result of my journey.

This was the beginning of my reputation at dances. I now know almost every youth in my stake. I love them, and I feel their love for me every time I see them. Because of that experience, I have grown mountains above the person I was. It opened up the opportunity for many more learning experiences than I will ever be able to count, and I will forever be grateful for those small thoughts of inspiration that I received that one dance.

The avalanche that resulted from one single decision with an intention behind it was monumental. I have forever been changed by that experience.

 I personally testify that when you set an intention, and leave on your journey to fulfil that intention, that you will gain what you intended to gain.  Look for the end goal, but remember to keep an eye on the road you take, cause sometimes we trip. Be faithful to yourself and take one step of faith at a time. 

 Your friend and brother, Dallin H.

Charity Pays For Itself

At the theater my family owns, I work in the concession stand.  A few weeks ago, three elderly ladies came up and asked me if they could have glasses of water.  My first thought was to charge them the cost of the cup and not worry about the water, but I looked back at them and felt like I should just put it entirely on the house.  So I did.

About five minutes later, another lady came up and asked if she could have a glass of water.  I thought about the other three ladies and decided I couldn't not give her the same treatment.

 When I gave her the water, she asked me how much it would cost.  I smiled and told her that she shouldn't worry about it.  She then proceeded to pull the exact cost of all four of those waters and told me that it was a tip.

I've learned it's better to accept a tip and thank them instead of seeming ungrateful.  The lesson here is simple.  Charity pays for itself.  It generally isn't through monetary means, though.  I think that the saying "What goes around, comes around" is completely applicable.  I'd also like to add something I've learned recently.  The saying, "You reap what you sow" doesn't just mean, "what goes around, comes around."  When you plant an apple tree seed, what do you get?  You get a tree that produces thousands of apples with a few seeds each!  What happens when a weed grows?  It grows fast, dies fast, then produces hundreds to thousands of seeds.  The same is with our actions.  When we sow seeds of kindness, we receive more kindness in return, along with one of the most amazing feelings in the world!  When we sow seeds of hate, envy, or enmity, we receive more of those, and who wants to feel that way?  These are the thoughts of a boy who searches for and loves truth in everything. :) 


Your friend and brother,

Dallin Hughes

Enjoy My Random Thoughts!

It is so incredible to me that such courage, love of self, innocence, faith and happiness can be found in the most vulnerable of all people-babies.

Babies are simply perfect.

They are courageous and loving of themselves in that they are not afraid to ask for what they need or want.

So much can be learned from them.

Innocent at birth, we begin to learn about everything through the eyes (perspectives) of our parents and/or close elder persons.  This is amazing.  To think that how I viewed the world (myself included) was almost entirely shaped by my parents both excites me and terrifies me (in a good way).  As much as I already know this, it still blows me away to think that I have the potential to influence every other human being the same way, but especially my family.

I see this every day.  For example, my cousin Matthew consistently repeats the opinions of my uncles Adam and Andy (Andy being Matthew's father). He does not repeat the opinion right after it has been offered, but when that subject is brought back up.  You can see he just soaks in every bit of opinion, every sliver of perspective, every drop of viewpoint.  Many times he will do so without even thinking why that opinion should be had.  Such profound faith in his father and his father's knowledge just testifies of the man I need to be and am becoming.

So... what if I have been taught wrong?  Well... Ask and ye shall receive.  If you want to change something about yourself, ask for a way to do it and trust that you will receive your answer.

The easiest to change of these imperfect beliefs for myself, was my individual worth, my "mirror" or how I saw myself.  Such a small perspective I had.  I only saw my imperfections.  I saw blemishes, dark bags underneath my eyes, imperfect teeth and I didn't have "the perfect voice".

It was a very depressing way to view myself.  It was a way that I didn't like, but had learned that it was the way I was supposed to view myself.

I decided I didn't want that.  I would let myself know it too.  I spoke words aloud to dispel those thoughts.  I spoke to retrain my subconscious to think better of myself, to correct those imperfect beliefs.

"I love and approve of myself.  I am safe."

A few other affirmations were verbalized, but that was the big one for me.

I said it like I really believed it and I eventually "tricked" myself into believing it.

Now the small "bathroom mirror" perspective I had has transformed itself into a dance studio wall mirror.  I see all of myself and much more!

No, I am not the man I will be, but the point is that I will be that man.  I look forward to the beliefs and principles I can help my children understand and I hope to do too.

After all, "romance" is another way of saying "love" and love can not be fulfilled without a family.

I am a hopeless romantic to the core.

Dallin Hughes

P.S.  Everything begins with a thought.  Start thinking!

Courage In A World That Continues To Decline Around Us

Although the moral standards of this world are declining more and more, many people today don't intend on being your enemy, especially when you use kind words.

I remember, almost two years ago, I had multiple experiences with people that I had never known before. I was going to The 2010 National Scout Jamboree. On this trip, there were many people with standards that were not my own, and many people that did not share the understanding of the importance I felt my standards held.

I feel kind of lame saying this, but it was the first time I had gone "all offense" on what I consider to be destructive. You see, my fellow scouts had problems with their language, moral standards and habits, and code of conduct. Honestly, I wondered how they thought they could maintain the title of "Scout".

The first day of the trip was the worst. The profanity was near unbearable and I couldn't take another day of it, not to mention my younger brother, my cousin, and my uncle were all there with me, having their ears corrupted as well.

When I woke up the next day, I said my prayers, asking my Father in Heaven to help me have the courage to say what needed to be said for their hearts to be softened.

For the next... two hours?? (I think it was about that length of time.) I was contemplating how and what I would say, when I realized that all I needed to do was open my mouth and God would take care of the rest.

I walked up to a group of four of the thirty or so youth that had come with us and said, "Hey guys, you all know my little brother is here. I've been trying to set as good of an example for him as possible. Do you think you could help me?" a chorus of "Of course! What do you need us to do?' went up, and I stood there knowing that I could finish the rest myself, because I had been given what I needed to bring up the issue without putting them on the defensive about it.



To my suprise, those four young men went through the rest of the camp and asked everyone to watch their language and behave reverently while we were on this adventure.

Throughout the rest of those two weeks, I and my family stood out as examples and ended up becoming very good friends with each of those thirty-odd boys.

I know that sometimes you may feel it hard to stand up for what you believe in, but others watch you and judge you (even though they shouldn't) by what you say you believe in and your actions.

"He does not believe that does not live according to his belief." ~Thomas Fowler



People will judge your character off whether or not you live your belief.



I hope we all stand for something, for if we don't, we will surely be brought down with the majority, for it is man's nature to be selfish, reactive, and carnal, and we must rise above our nature and become better, if not for religious reasons, then just because the world will be a better place.



I believe we are all courageous enough, we just need to know that we have our own courage and strength and that it is improved by our faith and our willingness to do what is right.



Your friend and brother,
Dallin H.

The Wonder of Wondering

I sit here typing this, wondering who will read it, wondering who I will inspire, wondering how I will inspire them.

I have a mild case of insomnia. Some people would consider insmonia a horrible thing, I know I do at times. Right now though, I consider it a blessing. I have received many different thoughts and promptings tonight.

I love the guitar. I spent a good three hours playing, writing, and goofing around on it, and I will tell you, it is one of the most fun instruments I have ever played. (And I've played quite a few)

When I sit awake at night, I wonder what other people think about when they can't sleep. I find it depressing that I already know the answer to that. Most cases of insomnia are caused by emotional/relationship stress. I went through something similar, so I know how that feels.


 I wish there was some way I could influence every single person in this world. I'm so sick of all the depression, anger, Etc. that rules the world.


I'm sure whoever is reading this will know or already knows I'm a musician. My biggest dream as an artist is to praise Him in every way that I can, and maybe, just maybe, have the honor and privilige of Him saying to me, that it was good, that I helped Him help others.

In the night, around three-four-ish I receive some of the most profound lyrics for my songs, and I have no doubt that the lyrics were intended for that song.

Finding the right lyrics for a song is like putting together a puzzle, but not really. It's had to describe. Somehow you think something might work somewhere in a phrase and it turns out you use it in a song you were working on two weeks ago, and you bring the phrase from the song you just re-wrote into what you are working on now and the pieces fit so well together that you know you had help.

I never used to consider myself a creative person. Always I was logical. Always I would stick to the course of events, never changing a thing, but here I am now, opening up to a mindset that was never really my own and yet, it was. Another part of my personality entirely. I knew I had a creative side, but next to that of my father's or my sister's, I didn't consider myself very creative. In the past short while, I've come to realize several things, the first of which being "The only person that can keep you in a box is yourself". People who are afraid to get up and dance because they are afraid people will see them and judge them because they weren't "good" enough set their own limits on themselves that don't allow them to express or open up. This is how I was with my creativity. I was afraid they would think (because their creative works were better than mine) I had little potential because my first steps were small.

Now though, I have taken those steps. I have begun to walk the path of a creator who is unashamed at his "... one-thousand ways not to make a lightbulb", and I will stay on that path.



Your friend and brother,
Dallin Hughes

The Power of Harmony

I wish I could express to you the power music has in our lives. I know you all feel it, but there is a distinct difference between feeling the amplifications that are created through music and understanding them.

So many people in this world today use music for very different reasons. Some use it to express, some to open anothers' eyes to beauty, while others are just using it for enjoyment.

Music has the power to amplify any emotion or understanding to it's highest possible elation. Sadness can sink to serious depression, happiness to a point of incandescence, or anger to rage. It can be either creative or destructive.

Unfortunatly and fortunatly, most people use it to express, but most people aren't perfect, so they tend to express the hard times they're going through, emotionally or physically. Most people can relate to what they feel, or so they think. What they are actually doing to themselves is destructive. Bringing ourselves back to places where we didn't enjoy being in the first place also brings back our feelings and stops us in our progression to what would be happiness.

On the upper hand though, when expressed with a smile and sweet melody, it brings inspiration, allows for room to think, and opens us up to things we may have never thought about otherwise.

If you don't mind, I would like to define the word "artist" through my own words.

I believe an artist is an individual who uses his/her abilities to create a possitive perspective on life and the many things therein for others in the world around him/her.

I would encourage you all to take care of yourselves and listen to uplifting music.


A mind can only output what it has input.


Until my next post,
your friend and brother,
Dallin H.