For anyone who reads my blog and is not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, you may not know what some of these phrases and acronyms mean, so here is a quick glossary:
Book of Mormon: another testament of Jesus Christ. A book of scripture translated through revelation by the prophet Joseph Smith from ancient American text.
BYU: Brigham Young University
First presidency of the Church: President Thomas S. Monson, President Henry B. Eyring, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
General Authority: worldwide leaders of the church
LDS: Latter Day Saints
lds.org: a website of resources used by members of the LDS church
Mission President: Men who are called to preside over a mission
Mission age change: Historic revelation that Mormon missionaries can now serve at a younger age. 18 years old for young men, and 19 for young women.
Mormon.org: a website of tools for people interested in investigating the LDS church
MTC: Missionary training Center
Quorum of the 12: The 12 apostles of Christ who provide a special witness of him; (in order of seniority) President Boyd K. Packer, Elder L. Tom Perry, Elder Russell M. Neilson, Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Elder M. Russell Ballard, Elder Richard D. Scott, Elder Robert D. Hales, Elder Jeffery R. Holland, Elder David A. Bednar, Elder Quinten L. Cook, Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Elder Neil L. Anderson
I will add more as they are needed, or as I use them. Thanks for reading, please follow and share!
Sunday, June 23, 2013
All Of My Friends Are On Missions
I have been wanting to write this post for a while, but I haven't had the time and energy to write it, but here it goes.
The other day I sat down and looked at my facebook calendar. Over the past 7 months since the mission age change announcement, I have been to over 25 mission farewells and there were many more that I was unable to attend. While I was in high school I had one tight group of friends, and at the end of next month one more of them will be leaving and there will only be two of us left here at home. My friend's are serving everywhere from England to Chile, Nebraska to Washington, Scotland to Ohio. If I wrote each of my friend's serving misssions one letter every month I'd spend.... I didn't actually do the math but a LOT of time writing.
When I heard about the mission age change I was with my family at a marching band competition (were big sinners I know, not watching Saturday conference ;) ) and I stared at my mom and I just started to cry. I was so scared that I wouldn't be ready for a mission, or more accurately that people would judge me for having no desire to go on a mission at all. I got a text from my best friend in the entire world, and all it said was, "I'm going." At that moment my mind went blank, I didn't know what to think...I just started crying again.
Week after week new friends posted on facebook about their papers going in or receiving their calls, and I felt sick because I didn't even want to go. I talked with my dad and I asked about his mission and I wrote to my brother and several friends who were already serving and begged them for advice on what to do. All of their experiences sounded amazing, and I knew that they were loving their service, but I didn't feel a desire to do it myself.
Finally once I had thought it over for a long time I decided to pray and ask my Father in Heaven. I prayed to ask why I felt so wrong about going, and whether I was supposed to go at all. After praying a few times I was reading my patriarchal blessing, and I felt an overwhelming peace telling me that it was ok if I didn't serve. I felt so releaved and I felt an outpouring of love from my father in heaven and my savior.
Then my two best friends had their farwells and left into the field... The answer that I felt was so right before was so hard once I was making it alone. The day that I saw my best friend of eleven years for the last time I cried more than I had ever cried in my life before. My parents took me to see her at her house before taking my back up to Logan to finish school. When I realized that I couldn't wait any longer before I had to go I hugged her and wouldn't let go. We were both crying and people were probably staring but I didn't see any of them. It was just me and Brittany, and nothing and no one else mattered to me. I told her how proud I was of her and that j loved her more than anyone else in the world. She told me that she'd miss me and that she wanted to hear about everything that happened with me while she was gone. When I finally let go of her, and had to walk away, I coulsnt stop the tears. My mom held my hand and walked me to the car and my parents just let me cry.
I felt all of the sudden entirely alone. My brother, my best friend, my cousins, and most of the people I grew up with were gone, and I felt like there was no one on this planet who understood. I just wanted to talk to someone who would get it, but all of the people I wanted to talk to the most were on missions. What a coincidence.
I went through a few weeks of feeling this way. Of feeling alone and sad and I started to doubt the answer I recieved from the Lord. I was going through a lit of stuff and I felt unhappy and unwanted. I was struggling to pray and read my scriptures and I felt like my life had no purpose. Then one night I couldn't take it any more, so I wrote to the one person I have always been able to talk to, my older brother Jordan. I wrote and cried, and wrote and cried some more and when I finished I had typed a five page email. I want to share a few things that he shared with me in his response...
"I remember when you asked me for advice about going on the mission and that you said that you recieved an answer to stay. Have confidence in the answer you've recieved and trust it. Have faith that Everything will turn out fine and that God knows best for you. Never doubt an answer you recieve from God." He also gave me this advice, " First of all READ! it doesn't matter what it is and you don't have to try to find something that applies just read, because EVERYTHING applies. With Prayer don't worry about trying to come up with meaningful things to say, because to God EVERYTHING you say is meaningful, He loves you and want's to hear everything. The thing I've noticed is that what really makes us grow up and be more spiritual in the mission isn't anything more than that we're doing the basic things and living the gospel. It helps to be able to teach others, but What makes us grow more than anything is the Daily studying of the scriptures and the prayers at every possible moment." Sometimes it is beyond crazy for me to believe that this is my same shy dorky brother who left for Uruguay over a year and a half ago. He has grown so much and he is so wise.
It's still hard having my friends be gone, and sometimes I still feel alone, and I'm still not perfect about reading and praying, but when I follow my brother's advice I feel better. When I pray I feel happier and good things happen. I still miss them, but I trust in the Lord and his plan for me. I feel good about my decision to stay and I am constantly looking for reasons that I am needed here at home. My testimony isn't perfect, but I'm working on it. I know there are other people out there in my same position, and I want you to know that I've learned that the lord has a different plan for everyone. Never feel bad for your plan being different than someone else's.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
The Lords Hand
Can you see the Lord's hand in your life? |
| This week has been kind of a tough one for me, I've been struggling, and had a hard time recognizing my divinity and my purpose in being here. Sometimes our lives get hard, and we feel like we want to give up, DON'T. Whatever it is, whatever your going through, there's nothing that can't be solved through, prayer, scripture study, and sincere faith in Christ. |
 |
| This week we were all privileged to be able to hear from Elder Jeffery R Holland. He has long been one of my very favorite speakers, and I always look forward to his messages. This phrase that he said I know stuck with me, and i believe stuck with many who heard it. We should always live what we believe, and be examples of light and righteousness. |
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| My older brother is a missionary serving in the Uruguay, Montevideo West Mission. I never realized how much having a missionary in your family can bless your family, friends, and home. I miss him terribly, but I know how much he wants this, and that it's what the Lord would have him be doing. He's an amazing example. as are all of the other missionaries out there. We need to support our young men and help them to see how important it is that they serve. |
signed, someone small and simple
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
10 Lessons Learned from Life
This week I've had some great experiences and I've learned a lot of lessons about life and living it, so I thought I'd share them with you. Here are my top 10 realizations for the week.
1. Sometimes life is hard. I realized that college is hard, shocker I know, but that sometimes the hardest things are the most worthwhile. My classes have been hard. Sometimes I have no idea what is going on, but once I figure something out for myself it feels so great because it was hard for me and I worked for it.
2. Learn when to ask for help. I have been sick for the past few days and it's been really hard. I'm away from home with no mom to take care of me, but I realized that my family aren't the only ones that care, and even a new friend can be turned to for help when you really need it.
3. Family is forever. "I'm 18, I'm in college, I'm out on my own, I don't need my Mama and Daddy...right?" WRONG! There is nothing wrong with calling your mama and having a nice long chat. No matter how old you get, you will always be your parents baby girl/boy. Plus my parents are basically the best :D
4. Modest really is hottest. Do you know what message your clothes are sending? Do you know what boys or girls are thinking when they see you? I have always been taught that you should dress to respect yourself and others, but until I had a friend point it out to me that I could be doing better, I didn't realize that I was letting small things in my standard of modesty slip. Shorter shorts here, a shorter skirt there, or a lower neckline. well no more. Remember girls, and boys, we had it right back in primary, MODEST IS HOTTEST! :)
5. Be weird. I know this sounds like a silly cliche notion, but being yourself is always going to seem weird to someone. No one is gonna seem normal to everyone. Be your own kind of weird. It's good for you to express yourself and decide who "you" is, even if that means stepping outside the box and being a little weird.
6. Good study habits=happy school year. If your life has been anything like mine, then you've only heard this one a few million times. What if all of those teachers, counselors, leaders, and parents were right? Mind blown, right? Think about it logically though, if you set aside time to study, then you have more time for fun without the stress of having that huge amount of homework looming over your head. It's in your power to make your life much less dramatic.
7. Blow off some steam. Go outside!!!! It is just as important to give yourself time to have fun as it is to study. Life is all about making time for both. Have a picnic, play Frisbee, ride bikes, go for a walk, go dancing, or just lay out in the sun for a while. It's good to give yourself a break from being inside focused on school and work all of the time.
8. Life is a balancing act. I'm sure you've heard it a million times, but life is all about balance. Don't get to caught up in any one thing whether it be a sport, a fine art, school work, a boy, a girl...;) remember that the variety in life is what makes it exciting. Do something new every day for a week, you'll be surprised by the things that you find yourself loving.
9. Learn to Dance in the rain. When life gives you lemons, come what may and love it...I really could have used any of these, but this one was literal for me this week. It poured rain and I went out and had a nice dance. Nothing makes me feel better then the smell and feel of a newly cleaned world.
10. The Lord knows best. I think we've all heard this one once or twice, but this Sunday I found myself thinking more and more about it. The Lord will always love us, no matter what we say or do. He sees everything and knows everything. I think that's a pretty solid shoulder to lean on, don't you?
signed,
someone small and simple
1. Sometimes life is hard. I realized that college is hard, shocker I know, but that sometimes the hardest things are the most worthwhile. My classes have been hard. Sometimes I have no idea what is going on, but once I figure something out for myself it feels so great because it was hard for me and I worked for it.
2. Learn when to ask for help. I have been sick for the past few days and it's been really hard. I'm away from home with no mom to take care of me, but I realized that my family aren't the only ones that care, and even a new friend can be turned to for help when you really need it.
3. Family is forever. "I'm 18, I'm in college, I'm out on my own, I don't need my Mama and Daddy...right?" WRONG! There is nothing wrong with calling your mama and having a nice long chat. No matter how old you get, you will always be your parents baby girl/boy. Plus my parents are basically the best :D
4. Modest really is hottest. Do you know what message your clothes are sending? Do you know what boys or girls are thinking when they see you? I have always been taught that you should dress to respect yourself and others, but until I had a friend point it out to me that I could be doing better, I didn't realize that I was letting small things in my standard of modesty slip. Shorter shorts here, a shorter skirt there, or a lower neckline. well no more. Remember girls, and boys, we had it right back in primary, MODEST IS HOTTEST! :)
5. Be weird. I know this sounds like a silly cliche notion, but being yourself is always going to seem weird to someone. No one is gonna seem normal to everyone. Be your own kind of weird. It's good for you to express yourself and decide who "you" is, even if that means stepping outside the box and being a little weird.
6. Good study habits=happy school year. If your life has been anything like mine, then you've only heard this one a few million times. What if all of those teachers, counselors, leaders, and parents were right? Mind blown, right? Think about it logically though, if you set aside time to study, then you have more time for fun without the stress of having that huge amount of homework looming over your head. It's in your power to make your life much less dramatic.
7. Blow off some steam. Go outside!!!! It is just as important to give yourself time to have fun as it is to study. Life is all about making time for both. Have a picnic, play Frisbee, ride bikes, go for a walk, go dancing, or just lay out in the sun for a while. It's good to give yourself a break from being inside focused on school and work all of the time.
8. Life is a balancing act. I'm sure you've heard it a million times, but life is all about balance. Don't get to caught up in any one thing whether it be a sport, a fine art, school work, a boy, a girl...;) remember that the variety in life is what makes it exciting. Do something new every day for a week, you'll be surprised by the things that you find yourself loving.
9. Learn to Dance in the rain. When life gives you lemons, come what may and love it...I really could have used any of these, but this one was literal for me this week. It poured rain and I went out and had a nice dance. Nothing makes me feel better then the smell and feel of a newly cleaned world.
10. The Lord knows best. I think we've all heard this one once or twice, but this Sunday I found myself thinking more and more about it. The Lord will always love us, no matter what we say or do. He sees everything and knows everything. I think that's a pretty solid shoulder to lean on, don't you?
signed,
someone small and simple
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