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.