Not so touching quote

Today I was scanning through facebook and on my news feed one of my friends had this as her status:

‎"There was a time when many Gods were a fact, a time when the world was surely flat, there will be a time, an age, if you will, of reason, when faith will be a minority, and at the exponential rate of social evolution, it may even happen within our life-time, if not our children's. Maybe then, just maybe, instead of believing in fantasies, we can start believing in ourselves."


Now I should say that I love this friend dearly, and we have strayed away from religious conversations probably for good reason. But despite how much I love her, I think this quote symbolizes a lot that is wrong with the way the world is moving.

Is this really what we want? A society that has no faith? Has no reason to behave so that we can acquire a divine future? Don't get me wrong, we need to believe in ourselves, like the author says. But I would, I suppose boldly say, that we need to believe not only in ourselves but that we are children of Someone who loves us more than we can comprehend. We need to believe that we have divine beginnings, and a divine potential. Why? Because if we believe in those things, we do what it takes to be good people and live up to that potential. I'm not saying that you can't  be a good person without believing in God (my friend who posted this is a lovely person).

It just blows my mind to see that our society is becoming so "open minded" that it's shutting the door on people who believe in God. Is that really open minded? Our society is going through exactly what civilizations in the Bible and Book of Mormon experienced and prophesied would happen in our time. We're experiencing the world becoming so materialistic, and short sighted, that it rejects faith, and the gospel.

I don't know who reads my blog, and chances are someone will disagree with me. That's fine, and we can talk about it if you'd like, but I'm not trying to start a fight. I was just very taken aback by this quote, and felt like showing my point of view.

I believe that Jesus Christ is our elder brother and Savior. He loves us so much that he died for our sins. He was resurrected so that we may all overcome death. He lives and is there to help each and every one of us through whatever life throws at us. I know this is true because I have pondered it many times and felt the Holy Ghost whisper the truth of it to me. As I have striven to live a life following the Gospel of Christ I have been blessed 10 fold for my efforts. I love our Savior and I hope that society can accept my love for Him, even if they don't agree with it.

Good-Bye's

Well, I officially had to say my first good-bye of my hospice volunteer experience.

Let me just tell you how awesome the lady is that I was visiting every week. She is in her late 80's and is a spunky lady. She lived in Saudi Arabia for 10 years of her life and has so much advice and information to offer me as I contemplate world travel. She's been through a lot of trials in her life, but has such a positive attitude.

I just loved spending time with her.

Sadly enough, she's at the point where she doesn't really benefit from a volunteer coming over and chatting with her.

So, I went over to see her  and say good-bye earlier this week. I thought it was going to be pretty awful. But I realized more and more while I was there that it wasn't sad at all. She and I both thanked each other and she told me how excited she was for me to live my life. She complimented me in so many ways. I'm just happy that I was able to help her out in a tiny way for a tiny amount of time. I have no doubt that we'll be friends after this life. I'm kind of excited about that.

For now I get to go help someone else! I feel so blessed that I have the opportunity to experience what I have with the hospice program.

It's been a big testimony boost as to my belief in Jesus Christ and his redeeming love. That is priceless.

Why thank you home teachers...

Our home teachers just left and our chat with them left me thankful for a few things (that I don't normally think about) in my life.


1. Scripture Study materials
I have made a goal this year to have better scripture study every day. I've made it habit over the last almost 7 years since I started investigating the Mormon church to read my scriptures every day. Now that I've read the Book of Mormon multiple times I'm excited to really delve into it and do more than just read it. Right now I'm going through this:

It's been awesome! It have increased my love of the scriptures a lot! I'm excited to use my Bible and Doctrine and Covenants study guides next!!!

2. My past journals

We were talking about how we need to be able to learn from our past and become stronger in the future. It's hard to learn from our past if we don't remember it....what we did and why we did it. Taking the time to re-read how I've gained the testimony that I have is an awesome motivator to keep me moving in the right direction. The Ensign (church magazine) had a quote that said "ask yourself every day...Am I closer to God today than I was yesterday? Will I be closer tomorrow?" That gives me a lot to think about.

3. My Patriarchal Blessing

For those of you who aren't Mormon a Patriarchal Blessing is something each member can receive. It is like personal scripture to us from God. It kind of gives us a roadmap to our lives if we live worthy to receive it. Anyways, I love to read my blessing and every time I do I learn something new about  myself. It's not long or detailed, but I can't read it without having something stand out to me. I want to make it a bigger part of my life and read it more.

I'm not trying to be profound or anything...I guess this is just what my Home Teachers made me think about. I'm happy to have the chance to constantly improve myself and learn new things about God and His eternal plan for us!

One of my favorite Christmas songs

Today I spent a lot of time reflecting on Christmas and how lucky I am to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I looked over my testimony notebook and had to hold back tears as I read the letters from the missionaries and friends who taught me. I decided it would be the perfect time to watch "Joy to the World"...which is a video that the church put out about Christ and Christmas. It is beautiful.

I'm so thankful that God gave us his "only begotton Son" so that I can overcome death and sin and live with Him again!

testimony

I have been working on my Sunday School lesson for tomorrow and it's on gaining a testimony. Naturally I looked back over my testimony notebook (which many of you know is the scrapbook I've kept since I was 16 of everything that has helped me gain a testimony of God, his son Jesus Christ, and the restoration of His gospel to the earth again by modern day prophets and apostles).

I can't help but be overwhelmed by the thick spirit that surrounds this notebook for me. I consider myself to be one of the luckiest people on earth to have had the opportunity to experience all that I have. I had friends who were willing to put their beliefs out there for me to analyze (and over analyze) over the space of two years. They also stuck with me and were some of the most amazing examples of Christ's love and charity that I've ever seen. My dearest friends didn't have to do extravagant things to help me, but little notes of their testimony and actions that prove this testimony further have stuck with me for years (and I'm sure they will for eternity).

I never imigined living my life this sure of the happiness I will have hereafter. I know that as I acted upon my tiny growing seeds of faith I was blessed 10 fold in return. It has definitely been hard at times, but it's those times that have made me stronger and more able to cope with future difficulties.

Anyways this is getting long, but I want to say thank you to everyone who reads this. Chances are you've been an example to me in one way or another that I admire. Thank you.

So lots of things have happened since the last post.

I went to Utah and got to spend time with lots of friends, including my other me, AND see Britany all dolled up on her wedding day. Thanks to everyone who babysat me while I was there and drove me around!!!!

Katie and I got to go to the Salt Lake Temple! It was absolutely amazing! Seriously. I can't express how much fun I thought it was...and it definitely increased my testimony of the temple. Although I'm a little bummed that we didn't "happen to find" any of the Apostles. hmmph.

Coming back home was nice! I've been hard at work trying to get ahead in my homework so that I can be almost done by the time Ross, Lauren and Ethan get here. Which by the way I'm very excited about. Lauren you should call me when you feel like working out the details. 

After that excitment I have two weeks before I'm an official college graduate! AND I found out that I'm graduating Magna Cum Laude...which I'm very happy about. Go team Phil and Kathleen for forcing Kathleen to work hard in college! 

Oh! and I'm coming home so I can walk. I'm not particularly dedicated to walking, but my mom seemed to be very excited about it AND I got plane tickets round trip for $208 which really isn't too bad. Bad news...I forgot about Phil and my anniversary and scheduled my plane ticket to come back at 8:00pm on our anniversary. whoops. Oh well...we decided to celebrate the following weekend...and we'll have lots more, right? Although I will say that it's  been a fantastic two years. Phil's awesome incase you're wondering. 

and here's me on my first day of Kindergarten.

I'm happy.

Yes indeed I am happy!

I had my last day of work today until the 26th! I love work and all...but I can't help but be excited to know that I get to have so much free time over the next couple weeks!!! I'm also done with midterms. I still need to take a test and a quiz, but those aren't technically due until after Spring Break (I just want to do them now). 

It's been delightful having my husband home. He makes everything a bajillion times better. I also got another calling with church. I'm the beehive advisor in young womens...and get this...my first lesson is on (drum roll) .....homemaking. whut. 

I feel they've been terribly mislead if they feel I'm qualified to teach such a lesson. 

On another church note. I went through my testimony notebook this last weekend because I was planning for a talk. I can't help but get excited everytime I look at what I've put in that notebook. It all reminds me why I fought so hard to get to the point that I'm at...a member of the church of Jesus Christ. I also read my Partriarchal Blessing...so much of it was clear to me in ways that it never was before. I love it! I love this gospel! Finally, I get to go temple hopping with my other me ( actually not Phil...he's my other half of me...). It will be delightful!

I ripped off a hang nail at work today. Now my thumb hurts.

And finally...this is proof that my baby tolerance level is slowly but surely growing. 

Not exactly a charming picture of me...but you get the point.