Talks

Sometimes while trying to right my farewell talk I find great talks. They don't relate to my topic, but they're just so great I wanted to share it with the world! 
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/finding-joy-in-the-journey?lang=eng

Missions...huzzah!

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765623191/LDS-Church-announces-creation-of-58-new-missions.html?pg=2

Temple, love it

  I have now officially participated or watched all of the ordinances that take place in the temple. So cool! And I can honestly say that they are all fantastic and so powerful. The sealing ordinance is something else. When I was eight I was blessed with the opportunity to be sealed to my family. Sadly, I don't really remember what happened. I mean I was only eight, I do remember making Cade cry though, haha! But this last Friday I was blessed with the wonderful opportunity to see one of my very best friends get sealed in the temple. It truly was so great! Just the feeling of the whole ceremony was fantastic. It was such a strong sweet spirit. And I will never forget hearing the words time and all eternity, not death do we part. The happiness on Nat's face truly was something else. The look on her face as she looked into the mirrors with her husband was so sweet. As I was sitting in the sealing room I pondered things. I pondered the place I'm at in my life. I am no where near getting married! Even if all of Nat's family thought I was already married, it is not something that I am ready for. But that doesn't mean what happened in that room at the top of the Rexburg, Temple didn't apply to me. 
  Marriage may not be something in my near future, but a mission is. I am going to be teaching and inviting people to come unto Christ. My main goal and dream with that is to get the people I teach to a place where they can be sealed in the temple. Imagine living your whole life not knowing what comes next, then one day two crazy kids show up at your door with the Book of Mormon. And if you accept it your whole world will change. I love Natalie. Love her. It was such a great feeling watching her be sealed to the man she loved. I can only imagine the happiness I would feel watching someone new to the gospel making those same covenants. I mean that is what missionary work is all about, isn't it? Helping others come to know our Savior and finding a way back to him? The only way back is through the temple. The covenants that you make in that building is what paves the way. I am so thankful for the path I'm on and grateful for the opportunities awaiting me in the future. 

First World Problems

    First world problems. Yup. I have them. And the only to deal with them is to acknowledge them and yes...blog it out. My current first world problem is that people don't really like me. Yes. This is a current theme through out my life and I have a feeling that it will be something I have to deal with on my mission. But if you really think about it, it is for sure a first world problem. There are so many problems I could be dealing with that are so much worse. I have friends, I'm healthy, I have a loving family, and I'm not hurting for money. As much as at times this problem of mine can really get me down I have come to realize something. People may not like me and at times I may think they dislike me for no reason, but who was the most hated person of all time? Who was hated for absolutely no reason? The Savior. And how great of a man was he? He did nothing with his life but give it to others. He literally gave up his life so that the very people that hated him could have a chance at forgiveness. If he can do all that. If he can live for those who scorned and mocked him and beg for their forgiveness then I can live with whatever problem gets through at me. People may not like me. So what. They may talk about me, but no one is trying to take my life. If the Savior  can do it, I can do it. And I will do it. I will do it for Him so that one day I can live with Him again. 

A Little Child

   Sometimes I have epiphanies. I work with kids that have special needs. It is a hard job, but may also be one of the most rewarding things I have ever done with my life. Sometimes I will tell the little five year old I work with something and never expect him to remember it or even care about it. One day we were driving home and I pointed out the pink clouds from the sunset. I didn't do it for him to really care it was merely something to have him do so he would stop kicking my seat. He looked out the window said it was pretty and then some typical sassy comment and nothing more was said that day. The next day we got in the car and as we were driving he started to frantically look out the window. After a few minutes he looked at me and was so disappointed. Those big blue eyes of his were filling with tears...so weird, so unlike Aiden. When I asked him what was wrong he simply told me the pink clouds were gone and the sky wasn't as pretty. From this I learned something (other than the fact that my child was precious) I need to see like Aiden sees. The smallest simplest things, like the pink clouds, made him so happy. Sometimes they were even enough to change his attitude about a whole day. There are so many things I daily take for granted. So many things that little children remember so easily. 
  Aiden also taught me how to forgive, and I mean really forgive. I have always known that forgiveness and forgiving others is very important. But it wasn't until I started working with Aiden that I really started to understand the whole concept of forgiveness. Sometimes when we would be working together he would do something and I would have to be stern with him. This of course would upset him. We may argue for a little bit and I would make him do something he didn't like. Sometimes he got a little angry. But what really blew me away was what happened after our arguments. He always, everyday, forgave me and got over it. I may have really upset him and he may think I'm a bully for ten minutes. But at the end of every day he still loved me. He would still be excited for our next day together. It would take him a while occasionally and he never forgot what happened he just simply let it go. I need to forgive like that. I often will say I have forgiven someone, but haven't really gotten over what they've done. Aiden would forgive me and go back to how things were and pretend like nothing ever happened. He didn't hold a silent grudge. He got over it and was ready for the next thing. I realize he is only five, but that doesn't mean we can't learn from his example. Forgiveness should be that way. I should get over what has happened and be willing to move past it. Just because hard things happen doesn't mean you have to forget all the good times and rid yourself of the future ones. 
  There are so many things to be learned from little children. They truly have some of the sweetest spirits. From watching and listening to them you really can learn so much. 

Go to the Temple

  Yesterday I had the glorious opportunity to go through the temple with one of my best friends. (no I didn't get married) One of my good friends from high school has made the glorious choice to serve a mission. We're both leaving in March! So exciting. She invited me yesterday to go through her endowment session. It was a great experience. 
  Since going through myself two weeks ago I hadn't yet had the chance to go through a second time. I was super nervous to go through again without an escort. There are lots of things to remember and do and I was quite worried that I would hold things up. I also had no idea how things worked in the Rexburg, Temple. But I couldn't help but be excited! The temple is great and the spirit there is so peaceful.
  In 2008 I was blessed with the opportunity to be a part of the groundbreaking and the open house of the Rexburg Temple yesterday I was able to go inside. It was so great. So beautiful. And so confusing....but still great! Once the temple workers see that you have your big kid recommend they just let you go. After wandering around for a little bit one of the sweet temple ladies recognized a lost soul and helped me get to where I needed to be. I didn't need to be nervous. Everyone in the temple is looking for the same things as I was. The sweet peace and spirit of the temple. Everyone helped me get to where I needed to be and do the things that needed to be done. 
  As I was sitting in the session I was looking at my little pink name card. When you go through an endowment session for the dead they let you hold the card. I like it that way. My lady was Edith born in 1875 in Massachusetts. She was baptized and confirmed in 2009 and had her initories done in 2011. That blew me away. It took 4 years from when she was baptized to have her endowments done. Isn't that crazy? She has been on the other side of the veil patiently waiting for her life saving ordinances to be completed. And is still waiting for someone to take the time to do her sealing. 
  Looking at those numbers I realized I need to make more time for the temple. There are thousands of people on the other side of the veil waiting for that next step to be done for them. And there is nothing they can do but wait. When I was younger I only saw to baptisms and confirmations for the dead I'd completely forgotten that the wait for those people wasn't over. There is so much that needs to be done. And all it takes is a little time out of our daily lives. Just a couple hours to the temple to save the life eternally of another. Sounds worth it to me. 

I love my Elders

 
   Random title and it actually has nothing to do with this post, but I could think of nothing. Anyway I got a letter from my good from Elder Clark today. Proud of that kid. He is having a great time out there on his mission and doing some great things. Oddly enough he is actually in Georgia right now! Getting his last letter and see his return address was kind of weird, but awesome. Even though he isn't serving in the same area of Georgia as I am it's cool to hear him talk about it. He has some pretty great things to say about it. According to Elder Clark the people of Georgia are supposed to be fantastic and it really is the world of football. YAY FOOTBALL! They might not even go out Sunday of the Super bowl because it's supposed to be crazy. That makes me love Georgia so much more! Clark also said that his mission covers the whole coast of Georgia and part of South Carolina. It's kind of crazy to me how big his mission is. 
  One thing I think fits this post at least title wise is that I do indeed enjoy my Elders. They really are quite legit. They have made the choice to give up two years of their lives to serve the Lord and share this gospel all over the world. I am so proud of them for that. They are some pretty great examples. Letters from them are always great and help to make my day. There really isn't anything like reading their letters and watching as the spirit starts to completely work through them. They change so much and you can see it through the things they say. All of them have become so much greater than they were even before they left. I'm so thankful to have friends like them and so excited to follow their example. 

Letter.

   Oh Heavenly Father you know me too well!!! You know exactly what things would be the hardest trials for me. Ah. But as unfortunate as it may be and as much as right now I hate them I know that it is for the best. I know I know it is ah gotta breathe. This whole missionary age thing is still killing me! It shouldn't! It's great it's fantastic the Church is growing so much! Yet there are times when I don't feel that way. Ha. I mean AHH!!! I'm trying oh I promise I'm trying. Really my whole issue with this comes down to selfishness. This isn't about me. My whole life, all life is about you and my Savior. I just really need to remember that and not just say it, but come to believe it. This isn't about me. It's not not even a little bit. It's great that some many people want to serve and share this gospel with the world it really is. And I'm so thankful and blessed just to be apart of it. So I will gladly take these trials and I will do my best. You know Heavenly Father. You know the plan more than I can ever begin to understand and it is up to me to just have faith and let things work out. I will try my hardest to be the person you want me to be.