Returning to the Path

My hike on Thursday was very much like many of our lives. My date and I started on a path that was designated as an easy hike, very scenic, pretty, and short. We then decided we wanted to do a little longer of a hike, so we started on a trail that didn't seem difficult at all. It was all downhill in the beginning, and after a while we realized we were "lost". Neither of us had been on that trail before and not long after we realized we were lost, we decided to turn back.

Not realizing how steep we climbed down, we quickly knew how hard it was to turn back. We both noticed we weren't in nearly as good of shape as we thought we were, and it would be a lot harder to go back than it was coming to where we were. We were breathing very heavily and conversation slowed as we hiked back up to the trailhead. When we reached the map we realized we passed the spot where we were supposed to turn off, but both of us were so distracted in talking and goofing off that we didn't even notice the turnoff. We felt very silly and very tired. The rest of our date was very fun and mostly involved getting to know each other and eating.

Oftentimes in life we are on autopilot on straight and narrow, just living in a routine in the gospel, and then end up wondering off of the path, not noticing  that we missed the turnoff. When we need to repent we realize how hard it is and how out of shape we are in the gospel. It can be very discouraging! But once we are back on the path, and our breathing is regular again, we realize that we almost missed on the blessings of the gospel.

I bare to you my testimony that repentance is a great gift. Being able to repent and return to the path we are meant to be on is such a blessing. Christ gave us the Atonement so that we may return to the path and become like him. What a miracle! I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Officially finished reading all of the standard works for the first time :)

I just finished the New Testament for the first time all by myself. Phew!! It is a beautiful book and admittedly it was hard to study, but I'm grateful I did it. I have great admiration for those first apostles and I am so grateful we also have apostles today.i was surprised how comforted I was by the book of Revelations. It's very hopeful for the righteous, and that's what I plan to be. I know that God hasn't left us and that He still speaks to us through his apostles and prophets. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

See God has Got a Plan for You

"We may not know when or how the Lord’s answers will be given, but in His time and His way, I testify, His answers will come. For some answers we may have to wait until the hereafter. This may be true for some promises in our patriarchal blessings and for some blessings for family members. Let us not give up on the Lord. His blessings are eternal, not temporary."

(Waiting upon the Lord: Thy Will Be Done, http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/waiting-upon-the-lord-thy-will-be-done?lang=eng)

A few weeks ago while I was working on my mission papers, behind in my school work due to being sick for a week, overwhelmed by my calling, I was stuck in a boot, I was also (and still am) concerned about college, careers, and one day becoming a mother (for various reasons). I felt claustrophobic from everything. Everything seemed to be closing in on me.

I was attempting to clean my room while listening to music when I began to question everything. "Will I get my three papers done for english, history, and psychology? And get four larger cups finished in ceramics? Why was I even trying? Why would I serve a mission? How would that benefit me ever? Why can't I just stay here, go to school at home, and tell SVU that I don't want to go? Will I really ever be a mother? Would I be able to go off of my medication for the duration of the future pregnancies and such, if I can hardly concentrate on driving after missing my pill one day? Am I really smart enough to get a doctorate in history? Will I really be able to live in the dorms and successfully manage myself?" All of these things were going through my head while I was trying to pick up my room. Then "Don't You Worry Child" by Swedish House Mafia came on and I heard these words:

"Up on the hill across the blue lake,
That's where I had my first heart break
I still remember how it all changed
My father said
Don't you worry, don't you worry child
See [God has] got a plan for you
Don't you worry, don't you worry now
Yeah!"

It was then that I had the prompting to start clearing my bedside table. I was throwing trash away and putting away books when I found my patriarchal blessing. I had thought that I already knew all of it like the back of my hand, but a prompting from the Holy Ghost isn't one to be ignored. I turned off my music, sat down on my floor by my bedside table and read my patriarchal blessing.

It was everything I needed to hear. It covered everything that I needed to know; everything that I needed to know to keep going. It gave me a glimpse of the results in store that would be in place if I did what I was supposed to do. I started to cry. God has a plan for me!  He knows my struggles, my weaknesses and pains. He knows my potential, my strengths and limitations. Despite these, He still loves me! I stood up and continued to clean my room with a renewed purpose. 

God loves each of us, and he has a plan for you, and you, and you! If we do what is right and follow His light, we will be blessed. I bear my testimony that I know that God still speaks to us today. He has not left us! He lives! He sent his son to suffer, die, and live for us so that we may also live again. I leave these things with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Happily Ever Forever

"Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord." "A man cannot receive the fulness of the blessings of the kingdom of God alone, nor can the woman, but the two together can receive all the blessings and privileges that pertain to the fulness of the Father’s kingdom." (1 Corinthians 11:11, Chapter 15: Eternal Marriage, Joseph Fielding Smith)

One of the greatest blessings of the gospel is temple marriage. When a couple or a family is sealed in the temple, they are able to be together forever. Death cannot separate families anymore. I think it is the most romantic thing ever, being with the ones you love most forever. It seems that all of my friends are getting married, and many of them in the temple. I am so happy for you guys. I can't wait to be married to my special someone, and then raise a family. It will be undoubtably hard, but it shall be worth it. I am grateful for my wonderful parents. I remember getting sealed to my family when I was little and it was wonderful. 

I bear to you my testimony that I know that Jesus lives, and through His atonement families can be together forever. I know that temples are sacred places where the blessings never end. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Finding joy in repentance

"The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." (Romans 13:12, http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/rom/13?lang=eng)

In Relief Society we talked about repentance. One of the main things we talked about was that repentance is a joyful process. Yes, you are supposed to feel guilt, and yes, it is supposed to be painful. BUT repentance is a joyful process. Repenting is hard, but the more you learn from what you did wrong, correct yourself, try to make it right, try to never do it again, you find yourself becoming a different person. You find yourself able to cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. You feel different. You are able to feel the Spirit more fully than you ever have. It's almost like being baptized again, you feel clean and renewed. Knowing that you are forgiven gives you a spring in your step you never knew was possible. 

I bare to you my testimony that repentance and forgiveness is possible and absolutely wonderful. It is one of the best feelings. Jesus Chrsit suffered for our sins so that we don't have to. I say these things in the name of Jesus Chrsit, Amen. 

Best 19th birthday present

Serving a mission will benefit any young man or young woman who decides to serve for forever, and their families, converts, and the people they just barely even talk to because some people don't always join the church the first go around. There are eternal blessings to serving a mission, and those blessings only come through serving a mission. "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God... And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father! And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!" (D&C 18:10,15-16) God loves each and every one of us, and when we bring someone to the gospel we have joy, and if we bring several people to the gospel our joy will multiply a million times over. We don't serve missions just because we are supposed to, we serve because we love our fellow man and want them to share the joy in living the gospel just as we do. That's why it's called "serving a mission", that's all we do on missions, serve.

I felt the call one year and 20ish months ago (almost two years) when I heard the prophet announce the age change and I knew I had to serve a mission. Believe me, a mission, up until that day, was not in my plans in the least. I was planning to go straight into college and not look back. But I knew I had to serve a mission. I had a warm feeling in my heart and I felt something say that I am going to serve a mission. It was wonderful and shocking, haha. And then when I went with the sister missionaries, all by myself, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am going to serve a mission, and I will love it because I love people and I love my Savior. I want other people to have the same joy I have in His light and His atonement.

This confirmation became even clearer when I went to someone's house who was taking the lessons, and her mom told her, while the sisters and I were there, that she could just keep going to her church. She said, "No mom, I don't want to go to your church, I want to go this church." Her mom asked why. She said, "It feels right. Every time I go to church with them I feel this warm feeling that just tells me that it's the right place to be." I saw it click in her eyes, and it was the most beautiful thing I ever saw.

I can't wait to serve a mission. I look forward to it more than Christmas, my birthday, even attending SVU. It will be such a grand adventure! A mission is so important to me and I know I will do my best and I will try and please The Lord. I bear my testimony on the power of the Holy Ghost and it is the only power that converts people. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.