There's More to Life

Just reading in the Book of Mormon in Mosiah 16 tonight and thinking about the fact that there is more to life than the here and now. 

So many little things don't matter. One day we will "stand before the bar of God to be judged of Him..." Yikes. I can't even imagine. That really makes me think. I want it to be a positive experience. I want to look back on my life and be proud of what I did and how I used the time I was given.

I was listening to a beautiful song (also by Felicia Sorenson) the other day which talks about Christ coming. One line has been on my mind a lot: "earthly things will slip right through our hands, leaving just our hearts to stand before Him, just our lives to speak for what we've done, what we've become."

That's powerful. Earthly things will slip right through our hands. What will matter is our heart- who we've become.

So much to think about. So much I need to change.

Perfect Love

I've kind of posted a lot about the Lord's love lately. Well, I wanted to share the lyrics to this beautiful song (sung by Felicia Sorenson). I love music and really feel the Spirit through beautiful songs. This is one of those songs. Sometimes I close my eyes and listen to this song and picture my Savior.

Lyrics to Perfect Love :

perfect love, purest love 
breaking through my anguish
precious love, endless love
his love never fails me
he leads my heart when my eyes can't see
when my soul is lost he carries me
he comforts me in all my pain
and so i trust in his perfect love

perfect love, surest love
grace beyond my failings
deepest love, truest love
strong enough to save me
he leads my heart when my eyes can't see
when my soul is lost he carries me
he comforts me in all my pain
and so i trust in his perfect love

it calms my fears and peace breathes through me
he moves me 
and he knows my heart even when i don't
he reaches me when i need him most
he rescues me from all my shame
he lifts me up in his perfect love

Lessons On The Way To Work

Heavenly Father sure likes to teach me lessons on my way to work. 

Today's lesson came as I saw a huge cloud of smoke and heard sirens. Apparently someone's house was burning away. As I saw what I saw and heard the sirens, I thought, "Wow. I am so blessed. My life could be so, so much worse." It has been said that if everyone were to put their trials on the middle and had the chance to pick someone else's trials we'd all leave happy with our own. It was just like that. 

I don't know why this affected me so powerfully today, but it did. The lesson: be grateful for my trials.

Another time I learned a lesson on my way to work was in May of 2012. I remember exactly where I was and what song was on the radio (it was "Some Nights" by Fun).

I was doing my daily commute from Lehi, Utah to Sandy, Utah. I was near the point of the mountain. All of the sudden, the cars in front of me started slowing down. Way down. My heart sunk. I just knew it was an accident. My worries were confirmed when I saw a man - about middle aged - lying there on the pavement of the freeway. Yes, he was lying there on the freeway. And he was lifeless. Someone was doing CPR on him. I just knew he was dead. The paramedics hadn't even arrived yet, so I'm pretty sure it had just barely happened. (It was a motorcycle accident. And yes, the news later confirmed that the man had passed away.)

I was really shaken up by this. I immediately said a prayer. When I pulled into the parking lot at work I texted all of my family members and let them know I love them. I said another prayer.

The lessons I learned that day: life can be gone in the blink of an eye. Tell people you love them. Live life to the fullest.

I'm grateful Heavenly Father has the teaching moments with me. I am truly a child and I need to learn what life is all about from my Father.

We are Daughters of Our Heavenly Father

"We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we love Him. We will “Stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places” (Mosiah 18:9) as we strive to live the Young Women values, which are:

Faith • Divine Nature • Individual Worth • Knowledge • Choice and Accountability • Good Works • Integrity • and Virtue

We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values, We will be prepared to strengthen home and family, make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation."

I used to recite these words (well, they've added a few things since then) every Sunday in my young women's group. I think it's something I need to go back to - I probably should recite these words every.single.day. 

Being a daughter of God is part of our eternal identity. Every girl and woman on this earth is a daughter of God, whether they believe it or not.

I am so tired of what the world (aka satan) has done/is doing to women. Enough with the photoshopping. Enough with setting unrealistic expectations. No one is perfect. Most women are not and will never be size zero. It is not what we look like that matters, it's WHO WE ARE.

When I went to that YSA Conference a couple of weekends ago I heard Stephanie Nielson speak. She was in a horrible plane crash and was burned badly. This woman is beautiful in every sense of the word. She has a strong testimony of the Gospel. She loves her family. I thought it was interesting that she mentioned to look people in the eyes and you will see their beauty. You will see their soul. 

Anyway, I was just thinking about all of this morning and felt the need to testify that I know we are all daughters (and sons) of God. Never, ever forget that.

"Women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity." - Margaret D. Nadauld 

"Let Them Be Little"

I spent all of last weekend with my sweet little nieces and nephews. And, for some reason this song recently popped in my head. It's a beautiful song with a great message. 

I love being an aunt. Truly, I love it with my whole heart and soul. I don't think anyone can comprehend how much I love it. I've been an aunt for ten years now. And I've learned a lot about parenting from it. I know I am no expert as I obviously don't have kids of my own. But, I do feel like being so close to the kids and seeing how my siblings parent has given me insight and a glimpse into parenting. 

I know that I have divine potential to become a mother. And I look forward to that time coming one day. I know that children are gifts from God. They are little miracles. It hurts me so much and makes me so sad when I hear of people not wanting kids- whether that be abortion or choosing to have a career instead, or whatever. Some of us would LOVE to have kids of our own.

I hope those who do have kids realize what a blessing they are.

"Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord." -Psalms 127:3

Believe in Miracles

I was just reading a talk given by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland in the October 2013 General Conference. I love this quote. 

I've been thinking lately about the reality of satan (as odd as that sounds... trust me this ties in :) ). Satan would have us believe there is no hope and no miracles. But there is. Just because some certain blessing/miracle isn't ours at the moment does not mean that it never will be. Things can change. And if things aren't changing at the moment, we've got to drink the bitter cup and be strong. And we'll be blessed.

I know that God has a plan. The trials we face won't last forever. He is aware of us. And I know for a fact that miracles do occur. Pray for them. Pray for the spirit to see them in your life. I'm going to try to be better about this in my own life.

"I'm Praying For You"

A good friend of mine wrote those four words to me yesterday. I was deeply touched. I had not solicited the help, she took it upon herself. We had talked about some personal trials I am going through (don't worry, nothing major - just stuff we all deal with :) ) and she decided to pray for me. I think that is one of the kindest acts of service anyone has ever done for me. It made me realize 1. I am so blessed to have great friends 2. I need to do the same - pray for my friends more often and let them know I'm praying for them.

I am a firm believer in the power of prayer.

My Testimony of the Temple

Photo of the Gilbert Temple from lds.org

This weekend I will have the opportunity to attend the open house of the Gilbert Arizona LDS Temple. Just thinking about it gets me so excited! ( By the way, the open house is open to everyone- members of our church or not.)

My first memory of temples is from when I attended the San Diego temple open house. I believe I was about 7 years old. I don't remember much other than this: I remember being in the celestial room and it was filled with light and I remember seeing rainbows from the sunlight hitting the crystals on the chandelier. I remember feeling amazing peace.

I love temples, which are houses of The Lord. I have never felt closer to The Lord than when I've been in His Holy house. 

As Latter-day Saints we believe families can be together forever - meaning marriages and family relationships don't have to end at death. "Until death do you part" does not have to happen! Eternal marriages are performed in temples. But, just because a couple is married in the temple does not mean they're done- they've got it made. In order for their marriage to be eternal they must be faithful to each other and God. 

I look forward to having my own eternal marriage and family one day. I know that because God is a just God, he will provide that opportunity in His own time and His own way. 

In the temple we make sacred covenants- or promises- with God. The temple is not secret, it is sacred. Because we believe it is so sacred, there are certain standards of worthiness one must adhere to to be able to enter. All who are willing to abide by these standards are free to come and worship in the temple and partake of the blessings.

And I can tell you firsthand the blessings are so great. I love going to the temple because it is quiet and beautiful. It gives me the opportunity to leave the crazy world behind for a little bit. It helps me refocus and remember the big picture. There is a plan. This life is just a small part of that plan. The trials I face won't last forever. I love being reminded of this. I need to be reminded of this. That is why I try to go as often as I can. 

I can't even express in words how much I love temples and how much I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I feel so blessed to have these blessings in my life!

For more information visit: lds.org/temples

God's Love

Do you know how much God loves you? This has been kind of a theme in my life the past several months. I think God wants me to try to understand better at least a small portion of His love. And do you know what?

I see it. All around me. I see it in the colorful sunset. I see it in the faces of my nieces and nephews. I feel it in the warm sunshine on my face. I hear it in a beautiful piece of music. I feel it in the kind words of a friend. I see it in the beauty of a magnificent flower. I feel it in the amazing opportunities He gives me. I feel it in His Holy house. I feel it when I read His words. 

I can't physically see or hear God. But I know He's real. And I know without a doubt His love for me is real. And that knowledge is amazing. 

Choose to Have a Good Year

Sunday is a huge day of reflection for me. It's a quiet time when I can take the opportunity to review the last week and look forward to what's ahead. 

With it being a new year, I've also been thinking about 2013 and now this new year we have before us.You know what's so great? Agency. We can choose to make this year a good one. If there's something about our life or ourselves that we don't quite like, we can most likely take steps to change those things. Or, if we can't, we can at least choose to change our attitude.

For instance, I will turn 28 this year. I am single. If I dwell on that thought too much it gets depressing. But, I can choose to make the best of this single life I have before me. I can choose to be happy. I can choose to have a great year of fun and improve myself as much as I can. Who knows, maybe one of these years it will happen. But, I don't know. So, I'm not going to sit around eating bon bons and crying. That will solve nothing. I'm going to choose to enjoy the journey.

I'm grateful to know that while there is so much that's out if my control, I have my agency and can make my own choices. I can (and will) make choices this year. It's such a happy thought- I have the power within me to become something amazing- THIS very year.

"The future is as bright as your faith." -Thomas S. Monson.