"Me" does things differently

I've never understood the urge that some people have to fit in. I just can't stand the idea of doing what everyone else is doing. I am me. "Me" does things differently. I am different and I've accepted that. I am talented and unique. I think for myself and make my own decisions. I don't care what other people think of me or my actions. The only ones I answer to for my perfectly legal and commandment following oddities are my God and my own conscience.

I wear long socks with shorts. I don't drink, smoke, snort, or any of that other stupid stuff that kids do nowadays. I drink chamomile tea. I wash my hair once or twice a week. I love and wear pinup and retro hairstyles. I will not have sex until I am married, and then only with the man I am married to. I don't straighten my hair (the hair stylist doesn't count because that rolls into getting a haircut). Everything I do has a reason. I can pull apart every single thing I've listed and give you a health, faith, or just plain personal preference for it.

I am a child of God. He knows and loves me for who I am. He has given the Church commandments and morals for a reason, and that is too make us more free. I am more free to make my own decisions a when I am not intoxicated. I am more free when I am dressing modestly because I am more comfortable, I do not have to worry about anyone seeing certain sacred parts of my body, and I am following one of my God's commandments.

By being who we are and by following the commandments we will never be the most popular kids in school. We will never be the most noticed. We will never be the most talked about. I never was. Because I didn't party, I didn't get into any trouble. Because I didn't cheat, I didn't have the best of grades in some classes. Because I have dressed modestly, I was asked if I was homeschooled (yes, that actually happened...). The point is that we should not strive to be popular or to fit in, those always have a fading and changing definition that no human being can possibly keep up with. The only person you should be concerned about being popular with is God. I leave with you the testimony that Jesus Christ lives and His Father sent him to earth to live like us, so that he could take upon himself the pains, sicknesses, afflictions, and sins of His people (us). He did that so that we may be free. Don't take that for granted. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Without a doubt

"...I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.

 

"It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other--This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!

 

"My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)--and which I should join.

"I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”

Joseph Smith—History 1:16-19

http://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/js-h/1?lang=eng

My freshman year of high school was studied the Doctrine and Covenants and Joseph Smith History 1:15-20 was a scripture mastery verse (set of verses). I read them and reread them. They were awesome and amazing but I don't truly take them to heart until camp. We were reading these aloud and I got to read verse seventeen. I felt the Spirit so powerfully, more powerful than I ever had at that point in my life. I was fourteen, the same age as Joseph when he saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Almost a year ago I was helping my friend prepare her lesson in Young Women on the importance of the scriptures. We had the computer read some of Joseph Smith History aloud with the audio setting, but it cut off at verse fifteen. I knew that we had to era those aloud. Again I felt the Spirit so powerfully as I read verse seventeen and eighteen. I eventually had to give that lesson because my friend got sick, but I felt the Spirit very strongly again as I have her lesson.

Today I had the opportunity to meet with the missionaries and a friend. I was able to explain the First Vision (when Joseph saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ). Again the Spirit was very powerful as I explained this.

I have no doubt in my mind about whether or not Joseph Smith saw God and Jesus Christ. I have no doubt in my mind that the Book of Mormon is God's word. That it is written for us now. I leave you with this testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I am my brother's brother

"I may not be my brother’s keeper, I am my brother’s brother, and 'because I have been given much, I too must give.' " Jeffrey R. Holland

This is taken from a talk about service and caring for the less fortunate, but when I first read this quote it brought me back to something I was thinking about a while ago, "why do I want to serve a mission?" And automatically this thought came to mind, "The happiness I have I can't keep to myself. I want to share it with those I love, and I genuinely love my friends." The happiness I get from the gospel, knowing my Savior, and His plan for me brings me to want to share it. I love my friends. I love YOU. I testify that this happiness can be YOURS. :) in the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Temple opportunities as an answer to prayers

For a while I was praying for an opportunity to be able to go do baptisms for the dead for my family. I called the temple and found that there were only three options: go with the youth from my ward, come on the last and first weeks of the month at 6:30 pm, or come with another ward and call them. I still wish I could be able to call ahead and create my own appointment, but alas I can't. I decided that I could do the first one since I did not want to get home at 9-10 pm and I did not want to go with a ward I didn't know. I wanted to have people I know do the work for my family.

I was praying for a baptism trip. Lo and behold there was a youth temple trip yesterday (I went) and one with the YSAs this coming Saturday. I am so grateful for the opportunity to do the work for my family twice in a row :).