Conclusion (20)

Starting a blog has always been something that I have wanted to do. This assignment was the perfect push for me to start one up. I have enjoyed having the opportunity to write about important events, people, and thoughts about this amazing gospel.

I am so glad that this assignment was something that I could thoroughly enjoy. Each post was able to be about something meaningful to me, and I really enjoyed the amount of creativity that was put into our hand when accomplishing this assignment.

I hope that in my future I can continue a blog, as it is a perfect opportunity to record the important and amazing things that are continuously happening in life. I have never been very good at keeping my thoughts recorded in a journal, and I think that this is the perfect way to keep one electronically.

I know that these posts are going to be something valuable for me to look at in the future, and I am glad that I will have them to look back on. 

Sista Sista (19)

This upcoming weekend my beautiful, wonderful, funny, smart, amazing sister Lexee is getting married in the Bountiful Temple and she will be sealed to her sweetheart for time and all eternity. I am so excited for the fun and festivities that are coming up, but most importantly I am so excited that she will have the opportunity to progress eternally in this very important time of her life.

Lexee has always been one of my best friends, but throughout this pass year we have become so close and I love that we can talk with each other about anything and everything! She has always been an amazing example to me, and I am honored to call her my sister. 

As I have recently received my mission call, she has been so supportive of me and my decision and excited for me, but she has expressed her sadness that I will be leaving her for a year and a half. The memories that I have made with Lexee will always be some that I cherish the most, and I am so excited for all of the amazing things that she has coming up in her life!

LOVE YOU LEX! Thanks for being such a great sister and best friend throughout my life!

I Know That My Redeemer Lives (18)

One of my favorite hymns of all time is "I Know That My Redeemer Lives." Every time that I sing or listen to that song I am immediately filled with the Spirit and I can feel the immense love that Christ has for me and everyone. 

I know that my Redeemer lives.

What comfort this sweet sentence gives!

He lives, he lives, who once was dead.

He lives, my ever-living Head.

He lives to bless me with his love.

He lives to plead for me above.

He lives my hungry soul to feed.

He lives to bless in time of need.

He lives to grant me rich supply.

He lives to guide me with his eye.

He lives to comfort me when faint.

He lives to hear my soul's complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears.

He lives to wipe away my tears.

He lives to calm my troubled heart.

He lives all blessings to impart.

He lives, my kind, wise heav'nly Friend.

He lives and loves me to the end.

He lives, and while he lives, I'll sing.

He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

He lives and grants me daily breath.

He lives, and I shall conquer death.

He lives my mansion to prepare.

He lives to bring me safely there.

He lives! All glory to his name!

He lives, my Savior, still the same.

Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:

"I know that my Redeemer lives!"

He lives! All glory to his name!

He lives, my Savior, still the same.

Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:

"I know that my Redeemer lives!"

I KNOW that my Redeemer lives! And I am so grateful that I have that knowledge. I cannot imagine life without this knowledge and the comfort that comes from the Savior. I know that he atoned for all of the sins of the world, and I know that he died for you and me. 

To Sweep the Earth as With a Flood/Things as They Really Are (17)

Way back at he beginning of the semester we were asked to read David A Bednar's talks "Things as They Really Are" and "To Sweep the Earth as With a Flood." I really enjoyed both of these addresses that he gave and the different counsel that was given in both. 

In things as they really are he really focused on the warnings of the use of media, and how it can be misused. He talks about the fact that many are distracted from doing the things that matter most because of the presence of technology and media. Below I have listed some of the main teaching from Elder Bednar's talk.

"Sadly, some young men and young women in the Church today ignore “things as they really are” and neglect eternal relationships for digital distractions, diversions, and detours that have no lasting value."

"We live at a time when technology can be used to replicate reality, to augment reality, and to create virtual reality."

"I raise an apostolic voice of warning about the potentially stifling, suffocating, suppressing, and constraining impact of some kinds of cyberspace interactions and experiences upon our souls."

"If the adversary cannot entice us to misuse our physical bodies, then one of his most potent tactics is to beguile you and me as embodied spirits to disconnect gradually and physically from things as they really are. In essence, he encourages us to think and act as if we were in our premortal, unembodied state. And, if we let him, he can cunningly employ some aspects of modern technology to accomplish his purposes."

Elder Bednar later went on to give an address at Education week at BYU in 2014 of the ways that technology can be used for good. This address focuses on the fact that even though technology can be distracting, it is also a great tool that the Lord has blessed us with to share the gospel.

"An important aspect of the fulness that is available to us in this special season is a miraculous progression of innovations and inventions that have enabled and accelerated the work of salvation... All of these advancements are part of the Lord hastening His work in the latter days."

"A technology known as social media is evolving in our day and playing an increasingly important role in hastening the work of salvation."

"The Lord is hastening His work, and it is no coincidence that these powerful communication innovations and inventions are occurring in the dispensation of the fulness of times. Social media channels are global tools that can personally and positively impact large numbers of individuals and families."

Both of these talks given by Elder Bednar has very important principles included in them, and it is important to look at both sides of the use of technology.

General Conference April 2015 (16)

April and October are definitely some of my favorite months of the year. To have the opportunity to hear from the Prophet and Apostles is such an amazing blessing that we all have, and it is so apparent that the words they speak are coming directly from the Lord.

This specific conference was also extra special because it landed on Easter which gave the amazing opportunity to reflect on the Atonement and Resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. 

All of the talks in conference were phenomenal, but I am going to highlight some of my favorite quotes from conference. 

"I am convinced that a husband is never more attractive to his wife than when he is serving in his God-given roles as a worthy priesthood holder." -Sister Linda K. Burton. I loved Sister Burton's talk. This specific quote really resonated with me, because finding a worth priesthood holder has always been the number one priority on my list when I think of attributes that I want in my future eternal companion.

“We surrender to the ‘pleasures of this life’ when we are addicted, which impairs God’s precious gift of agency; when we are beguiled by trivial distractions, which draws away from things of eternal importance; and when we have an entitlement mentality, which impairs the personal growth necessary to qualify us for our eternal destiny,” -Dallin H. Oaks. In the world today it is hard to focus on those things that matter most, as we are all easily distracted by the material things of this world. It is important to be rooted in the gospel and put things of importance above material things.

"We should look to and have our focus firmly fixed upon the Savior at all times and in all places." -David A. Bednar. It is important that the Savior is the center of our lives and that we focus on becoming more like him each and every day. 

"God cares a lot more about who we are and about who we are becoming, than about who we once were." -Elder Dale G. Renlund. This quote highlights the amazing gift of the Atonement, and our ability to repent of the mistakes that we make. God will not look in the past, and he will only look at what we are doing now to better ourselves.

"As we enter through the doors of the temple, we leave behind us the distractions and confusion of the world." -President Thomas S. Monson. I love these words that the Prophet said. i am preparing to enter the temple later this week, and I am so excited for the experiences that I will have there.

Called to Serve In... (15)

The moment that I have so anxiously awaited and anticipated finally arrived, and I was able to open my mission call in the presence of my family and friends last night. I have been called to serve in the...

*drum roll*

ENGLAND LONDON MISSION!

When I opened my call and read those words I was flooded with the Spirit, and I knew that is where I am supposed to go to serve the Lord. It is truly amazing to know that I was called by the Lord to serve the people in London and I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for me!

When I was younger if anyone ever asked me what I thought the perfect mission would be, England was always at the very top of my list and I am so grateful for the opportunity I will have to serve there!

Narrative Assignment Reflection (14)

Recently for my Writing 150 class we were asked to write a narrative that highlighted an important event in our lives. I chose to write about swimming because it is something that I am very passionate about. Being able to choose any event that has happened in my life was really nice because it was very easy to think of what to write and it seemed like the words just flowed. For some of the past papers I have had some trouble coming up with things to write because none of them were really personal to me. 

I really enjoyed this assignment because it was different from the average paper you are usually asked to write. This is my favorite assignment we have had thus far.