Testimony

I wanted to share my testimony at church today but didn't.  As the meeting closed a member of the bishopbric said that if we didn't get the chance to speak that we should still bare our testimony to a friend.  I know I've got at least a few friends who read this so I'll say that writing it out here counts as sharing.

I've had so many opportunities to talk about the church with friends who aren't members but are interested or curious in my beliefs.  Sharing my testimony with friends helps me realize what I really do know and believe.

I have a testimony of the teachings of Jesus Christ and His church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  This is His only true church here on Earth today.   I can confidently say this because when I am living in accordance with what His prophets teach only within His church I am truly happy.  I see the members of His church following His commandments and they have a light about them and are happy.  Some other churches have true doctrine as well, but The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has the complete fullness and truth.  One of the differences between this church and other branches of Christianity is the Book of Mormon.  I have read this book multiple times and know it to be true.  The teachings are the same as those of the Bible but were taking place in the Americas during the same time.  Another thing that sets The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints apart from others is the temple.   I try to go to the temple as often as I can so that I can feel loved, at peace and with a clear conscious.  When I go to the temple I know that I am doing what Heavenly Father wants me to be doing.  He helps me realize which aspects of my life I need to sharpen.  I know the power of prayer is great.  I feel support and love from those around me when I know that I am in their prayers.  I have studied the Ensign Magazine and General Conference talks a lot lately with articles given by the leaders of the church.  The topic most on my mind right now is trials.  Everyone has trials.  With my own trials I usually do not know where they are coming from or why I have to endure them.

"Our Heavenly Father, who loves us completely and perfectly, permits us to have experiences that will allow us to develop the traits and attributes we need to become more and more Christlike. . . . As we understand this doctrine, we gain greater assurance of our Father's love." (Elder James B. Martino)

Christ's life wasn't always easy or according to plan and mine won't be either.  Because of the Atonement He understands everything that I feel though.  He knows pain, sadness, excitement and worry.  When I experience trials I am growing to be more like Christ.  Trials should teach me patience, compassion, understanding, forgiveness, love and any other attribute of Christ so that I can be like Him.  Trials are for our experience, and our experience on Earth is meant for us to become Christlike.  He is our example.

Elder Busche

If you haven't heard this you should listen.  

I have heard it so many times but it never gets old.

Getting All Churchy For A Sec

My dad sent me the link to this video on Facebook this morning.  It has some of my favorite music in it :/ and is a comparison of life to running a marathon.  "How many people would sign up for a marathon if they didn't think they could really finish it?"  I know it is directed to the youth and that I'm....not technically "the youth" anymore.  I'm TWENTY-ONE, an adult, it freaks me out, shouldn't I have my life all figured out and onto the next step by now?  Nope, sorry.  It's not that I'm "coasting", I know that I'm still progressing towards bigger and better things but I also am content with where I am right now and who I'm becoming.  Even when I hit frustrating experiences I don't feel stuck in a rut.  I came to Earth just like you did because "we must have thought we could pass the test."  And we can, you will.  So please appreciate this encouraging and heartfelt side of me because it's not likely to come out on my blog very often.

CURRENTLY LISTENING TO:

The Hinckleys

They have the best words of advice.

CURRENTLY LISTENING TO:

[temple]

this morning lauren hedin picks me up. i'm not ready. we almost go to bountiful, then she decides to go to salt lake. then we miss the exit. then we can't find a parking spot. then her defrost stops working so we're stranded. then we finally make it into the slc temple. then we see two men in black suits. then we see a man with an earpiece like an fbi agent. then he tells us to wait in the hallway of the temple. then we see president monson, eyering, and uchtdorf walk by. then they waved at us and were so cute! then we cried. thanks to an odd sequence of events it was a great morning :)

she took this pic, she's great.

[11.12]

the neeeeeeeeeeeeeew xi officers of 2011-2012 are:

[thanks for the pic brynn!]

these guys :) love them. and we're already on the same page, color coordinated and all.

sisterhood: haley treasurer: stacie president: me vice president: anna  membership: jess secretary: jackie advisor: vicki

on this very first night as officers:

1. we had a port-a-party with phi.
2. someone took their party over towards a lady's car who was watching us.
3. the lady (from california) was so frightened and "appalled" that people danced in parking lots.
4. she wanted to sue everyone. for no reason.
5. apparently people were taking pictures of her car.
6. she had to see the cameras to make sure there were no pictures with her car in them.
7. she ended up taking someones number about the church of jesus christ of latter day saints. and is going to visit temple square. she just moved here because she had a feeling to.
8. success.

[prez]

sooooo last night was a big deal in xi. jessie got released as president. i made her laugh as she stood in front of everyone. then i got sustained as president. and she made me laugh while i stood at the front. awesome, not embarrassing. i'm excited though! i love xi, i'm so happy i get to work closely with our advisor vicki for one more year--especially because it's her last!

if anyone who creeeeeeps on this blog is around the 801...you need to join an lds sorority at the u. they're so amazing and you meet awesome people and have fun times. you don't need to be a student. but you need to enroll in institute, but you should anyway so you can find your ec(duh). you just....can't be over 30. that would be weird if you were 30 and wanting to spend your time with recent high school graduates anyway. look at how much FUN we have.

[sendai]

it's scary to think of all those who are still missing due to the earthquake and tsunami.  8.9 is powerful! recently it has been said that the death toll is near 10,000.  

two of my friends are serving in the sendai mission for the church. through church news it was reported that all missionaries in 5 of the 6 missions in japan were accounted for. because of the destruction it was nearly impossible for communication within sendai.  turns out every single one of the missionaries in sendai were together when the earthquake hit. they were having zone conference. all safe and sound together. on top of this incredible instance is another. my advisor shared this same story with my sorority yesterday about a young man that she knows in this mission as well. she said that the number of missionaries being called to japan in the past few months is nearly four times greater than it regularly has been. 

incredible.

the church was ready to respond to this event before it even happened. one of millions of small occurrences that assures me to know the church is true and led by an inspired prophet.

[bloggers' addiction]

this picture is so clever. ha. 

i think that we all can admit that blog stalking is...probably the best thing ever.  i became obsessed with it when i came across the seriously so blessed blog a while ago.  if you haven't read it, you should, it is kind of addicting. TAMN is a "typical" young lds mom who blogs. she has the most creative names for her children, definitely with the most unique spelling. bonus points, right?  it really is funny, don't be offended.  one time i tried posting a link to her blog on a friend's wall on facebook. it denied the post with a popup saying "users have reported this offensive material. sorry." so please, don't be so offended that you would be the one to report it to facebook.

anyway, i like this blog so much that i added TAMN on facebook to see if she posts funny things on there too. i mean am i pathetic? she is fictional haha. oh well. at least i'm admitting to this.  first step. well, i found this link on her facebook from one of her friends. this article is written by a non-member who is married to an inactive member. it talks about the weird addiction that bloggers all-over have with these mormon housewife blogs, even though the portrayal of a perfect life is sometimes irritating to them.

i enjoyed the article a lot, it wasn't demeaning towards the church like lots of these discussion articles are.  you should read it. it paints a good picture of mormon bloggers [the bloggernacle, how funny is that?] out there and even somewhat praises them for the good words and example they are putting out there for the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints.

here's a clip about one these bloggers.