Marvelous Things

back

2012-01-23T17:35:00.003-07:00

Its been over a month and a half now, and I could probably go on all day about the events that have taken place since that memorable day I stepped off the plane. But I don't have all day. Even if I did have all day, I don't feel the necessity to share every little detail. Therefore, I'll make my return to the blogger world short and sweet. Here's to being home:

Ok, I realize this list wasn't all that short. But here is a summary of my past month and a half in pictures. Family, babies, mission friends, home friends, grandparents, Brock, Christmas, temples, California, and now back to school at Utah State. Life is stressful and wonderful. So many decisions to make, new and old things to wrap my head around, sometimes a bit of overwhelming, but I am happy.

home, love, family

2011-12-01T14:41:00.000-07:00

last assignment: Fulton

2011-11-26T11:17:00.001-07:00

Fulton, TN & KY... August-November 2011

"During our last few weeks of traveling, Sister Turner and I suggested to President McKee (our new mission president) that he put full-time missionaries in Fulton ward. It was our busiest area while we were traveling, and we both felt like it needed more time and attention than we could give it. We figured President would take our advice and send some elders to Fulton, and we told him they needed to be really good elders! Well, he took our advice, but rather than sending elders.. he sent us! We handed our traveling area book and phone over to the new traveling elders, and filled them in on everything that was happening. We then took our car and drove to Fulton..without a phone, area book. or apartment. And thus began the final adventure.

"The past week has been pretty chaotic. Fulton is about three hours away from the mission home, and we cover one of the largest areas in the mission. This ward covers six counties! We stayed with Mike and Lou Place in Sharon, TN for about ten days until we found our own apartment in Union City, TN. As Sister Turner and I were riding bikes back from the library today, we passed some commercial landscapers working on a cemetary. We waved as we passed, and a few minutes later I heard a lawn mower coming up behind me..and someone whistling from that lawn mower. I didn't slow down until he was right beside me and he motioned for me to stop. It was a guy who was close to my age, and he yelled over the sound of the mower, "Hey! Can I get your number?" Haha.. I wasn't sure how to respond, so I just told him that I am a full-time missionary, and the only way I could give him my phone number was if he was willing to read the Book of Mormon and would let us teach him more about it. He looked a little disappointed but he took the book and said he'd read it. Only in Tennessee would a sister missionary riding a bike in a skirt and dorky helmet get chased down and picked up on on by a guy on a riding lawnmower.

"This is Sister Turner's last week in the field, and every day leading up to today has been pretty miserable. Almost every one of our appointments have bonked; everyone has been sick, experiencing tragedies, or simply not wanting to see us. Its been 99 degrees outside, and flat out miserable. But today was our "eleventh hour".. and thank heavens God came to our rescue. First of all, it was rainy and dropped down to 80 degrees.. what a blessing. Our meeting at church today was incredibly spiritual, and some people we've been teaching came to church for the first time. While we were at church, we were asked by Sister Duke to come and teach her grandson Garrett in order to prepare him for baptism. After years of coming to church with his grandma, Garretts parents finally consented to let him be baptized, and we have the opportunity to teach him. After church we had some very spirit-led lessons and were asked by several different people if they could learn more about our church. Miracle Sunday.

"I have been so busy that I didn't even mention the fact that I'm training again! Her name is Sister Nalder and she is from Alberta, Canada. Sister Nalder and I have had a great three days so far, and are getting along well. Michael and Ginger, and couple who I've been teaching for a few months now, are ready to be baptized next weekend, and I am so excited! I sure have grown to love this couple. Unfortunately they moved to Tennessee right after we finished teaching them all of the lessons, but luckily they still want to have their baptism here in Fulton! I am so thankful for how humble they are, and willingly they follow Jesus Christ.

"I am loving the people here more and more each day..especially the ones we are teaching. This evening Sister Nalder, Sister Jasper (who is staying with us for a few weeks until she's assigned a new companion) and I went to our friend Mary's house to help her with her daughter's birthday party. We didn't know most of the people there, but everyone was so welcoming and sweet to us. The party was a success, and we had so much fun! Mary is one of my favorite people we teach, and so far everyone we've met from her family just treats us like a part of the family. They have such strong faith in Christ, and their foundation of the Bible has allowed them to accept and understand the Book of Mormon quite easily. I feel very blessed to be able to share it with them.

"My life is moving much too quickly right now, and I really just wish I could slow it down! The events of my last transfer as a full-time missionary have been simultaneously chaotic and wonderful. We have done so much traveling, preparing, and teaching. Every time things get a bit hard or frustrating, the Lord steps in and pours miracles and blessings into our laps. Two of the men we've tried to teach without much success have shared with us visions and promptings they've received from the spirit which have allowed them to listen to and accept the message we share. Sometimes I feel so undeserving of the miracles, but they motivate me to continue working and serving the Master. I know without a doubt that this is His work, His errand I've been on for the past year and a half of my life, and I wouldn't give any part of it back. He lives, He loves us, and this is His gospel I share."

assignment five: traveling

2011-11-15T11:03:00.001-07:00

Tompkinsville, Morgantown, Whitehouse, Russelville, Elkton, Princeton, and Fulton... June-July 2011

"Now I am traveling the mission with Sister Turner, going to all the areas that don't have missionaries and teaching the people who need to be taught. It is a program that President Hutchings started about six months ago and it has been very successful so far. I am excited to be serving with Sister Turner again! We had fun last time we served together. We are living in Hopkinsville, KY with Sister Warwood and Sister McCall. We don't get to see each other much because Sister Turner and I are never home, but when do see each other we have a blast!

"Traveling is very exhausting so far. We drive at least four hours every day; its like a never ending roadtrip! I am constantly praying for an alert mind and eyes so that I don't fall asleep on the road. It is really cool though because almost all of the people we teach are progressing towards baptism. Yesterday we had a baptism in Fulton and today we had a baptism in Morgantown. Sister Larsen taught both of them and was able to come to both baptisms with her parents.. its been a spiritual high all weekend.

"Last night we stayed with the Gallatin sisters (because it was closer to where we were going than our apartment) and we drove out to Tompkinsville this morning. Tompkinsville is beautiful-so green and forested-but everything is so spread out and hard to find! While trying to find one particular family, our trusty (or not so trusty) GPS took us on this little gravel road that went straight into someone's private farm. Sister Turner followed the GPS without giving it second thought, and as we got deeper and deeper into this farm the road became less and less of a road. We thought it continued, but the barbed wire fence ahead of us (which we may or may not have run straight into) told us otherwise. It just so happened that the owner of this farm we were driving through was standing twenty yards behind us wondering what in the world we were doing. Thankfully, he didn't shoot us.. he just shook his head and pointed us in the right direction. Adventures!

"Things are going so well right now.. we see miracles almost daily in the wonderful world of traveling. We are teaching many wonderful people and preparing several for baptism in the upcoming weeks. One of them is Jaret-the younger brother of Jailyn who was baptized in June. Jaret is fifteen and is so easy to teach, he is completely willing to listen and do what it takes to follow the example of Jesus Christ. We are also teaching a man named Tony, who has been coming to church for months and now feels ready to make the sacred covenant at baptism. His wife Nancy has been right beside him all the way encouraging him, and every time we are in their home the spirit almost overpowers us. Such sweet and humble people.. I feel very lucky to know them.

"Tonight was definitely a night to remember. We are teaching a woman named Phylecia who came to church on Sunday for the first time and absolutely loved it. She told us that when she walked into the church building "it felt like coming home". She has been to several different churches throughout her life but never felt like she was where God wanted her to be. She said while she was attending a certain church, she actually started crying because she knew that truth was not being taught. We taught her about the Holy Ghost and how it testifies of truth, and she recognizes that what we are teaching is true because she feels the spirit. She said each time she opens the Book of Mormon it talks about repentance and baptism, and she knows that God is speaking directly to her through its pages.

"One year ago today I left the missionary training center to come to this beautiful land of Tennessee. I was anxious and excited but I felt like a foreigner to this place and lifestyle. Its strange to think that I've been here in Tennessee for a year. It has been the hardest/craziest/strangest/most interesting and most rewarding year of my life. I never knew how hard a mission would be, but I would never take it back for anything in the world. Sacrifice brings blessings, refinement, character, love, and appreciation for all the things God has given me. It is interesting to look back and recognize the changes that have taken place within myself. Its hard, but worth it. Speaking of opposition and changes that are worth it, my friend Emily has been on my mind a lot lately because she is experiencing so much of this. Her baptism is this Saturday, and it seems like everyone she knows is trying to prevent her from making this step in the right direction. I feel so bad that she has to go through all of this, but I know the blessings she gets in return will be completely worth it."

assignment four: Gallatin

2011-11-08T11:14:00.001-07:00

Gallatin, TN...May-June 2011

"I'm not exactly sure what is going on in my life right now. Sister Koford and I are both new to this area, and as of right now we are homeless. We have been trying to find a permanent place to live, but until then we are staying with members of the Gallatin ward. Bishop and Sister Wade have been kind enough to let us stay with them until we have an apartment of our own! Their home is beautiful and they remind me so much of Mom and Dad. Today we had our weekly planning session out on the patio by their pool...so beautiful!

"What a great day. We are teaching a lady named Angelyn who owns a horse barn out towards Bethpage, and for our service hours this week we asked if we could come help her around the farm. It was so much fun! We spent a few hours watering and feeding, cleaning stables, and brushing the beautiful horses. It feels good to wear jeans for a short period of time and get to do physical work. Its actually less exhausting than teaching the gospel! Its fun seeing Angelyn each week because she teaches us about horses, and then in turn we teach her about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Nothing is better than seeing her eyes tear up as we teach her the principles of the restoration. She feels the spirit so strongly when we teach her, and so do we!

"Tonight we were teaching a lady who told me I have "Jesus in my face." She said she can tell because I am always smiling. The elders can't take me seriously when I teach because they say I smirk and it makes them want to laugh. Haha. I guess the smiling comes off in different ways to different people.

"Saturday was the best part of last week. We had a zone conference where President and Sister Hutchings talked about receiving revelation. A lot of times God wants to reveal things to us through the spirit, but we hold ourselves back from blessings because we neglect to ask. Had Joseph Smith not asked, he never would have seen the first vision. Had he never asked, the gospel of Jesus Christ would not have been restored through him. Each of us are entitled to personal revelation, and God wants to give it to us. After zone conference we were able to go to Madison where the Nashville Tribute Band was playing. Jason Deere is the singer/songwriter and he joins with other Mormon musicians to play about the restoration. It is so spiritual and uplifting; I love it!

"Speaking of music, tonight the wonderful Gallatin ward had a memorial day celebration picnic with a live band of talented members of the church! It was great. I really do love these people, and am thankful we were able to make it to the picnic. It was so hot though! Not only was it hot, but there was a loud background noise of screaming cicadas.. these nasty little bugs that only come out of the ground every thirteen years to reproduce. Well, this year they are out and reproducing by the millions! They are everywhere and cling to everything. It is pretty disgusting but interesting at the same time.

"Tender mercies.. so many tender mercies. It seems like almost every day we see unexpected blessings. Not just for us, but for the wonderful people we teach. Sister Koford and I have focused a lot lately on "The Things that Matter Most".. a talk by Elder Uchtdorf. I know the things that matter most in this life are my relationship with God, my relationship with my family, my relationship with everyone else around me, and my relationship with myself. The more I focus on my relationship with God, the more everything else falls into place."

assignment three: Burgess Falls

2011-11-01T12:24:00.002-06:00

I don't even know where to begin with this area. I was there for six months, loved almost every second of it, and saw miracle after miracle take place. I will do my best to condense some of my favorite journal entries from that time period into a post that I hope will not be too long or tiresome! Here's to serving with the Burgess Falls ward in Cookeville, TN.

Cookeville, TN...November 2010-May 2011

"I am in Cookeville! And what a glorious place Cookeville is so far. We live in a really old apartment on the square, but its cute and I really love it. Everyone we've met so far has been awesome-so helpful and spiritual. The second day we were here we had about twelve people from the ward call us saying, "we are SO excited to have Sisters back! What can we do for you? Let us know if there's anything you want or need!" They are so awesome. They are also really excited about missionary work and want to do everything in their power to help us out. We feel like we are being extremely spoiled, but we're not complaining! So far Sister Larsen and I have been invited to seven thanksgiving dinners.. we only said yes to four of them before we started realizing that our stomachs might explode if we accept any more.

"Saturday was really cool. We have been trying extra hard to be obedient and faithful so that we can have the spirit with us more fully and be led to the people God wants us to find. Saturday we saw some results. After a morning of teaching some former investigators, we were driving past a street where Sister Larsen noticed a lady sitting on a couch on the side of the road. She felt prompted to turn around and go talk to her. As we pulled up, we noticed she was crying. I rolled down the window and told her we were missionaries and asked if we could do anything for her. She just broke down in sobs and couldn't even talk, so we pulled over and went and sat with her. Through her sobs she told us that she has just prayed for the first time in ten years she had just prayed asking God if He really was there. She asked God if he could show her some sign that someone cared about her, and then we pulled up to comfort her and help her get the place she needed to be. She told us that we were the fastest answer to her prayers she'd ever gotten. We gave her a Book of Mormon and prayed with her before she left and she said that when we prayed she felt something she'd never felt before in her life. She was blown away by the miracle that had just taken place.

"Yesterday our friend Wendy came to church for the first time with her cute little boys, and they loved it! We have been teaching her for about a month, and her faith is really growing. She loves the Book of Mormon and the things the church teaches, despite the different doctrines she's been taught her whole life. Damon is another person we're teaching, and basically we met him by a pure miracle. We prayed and felt very strongly that we needed to be in a certain neighborhood, and the Spirit literally led us straight to his house. He opened the door with a huge smile on his face and welcomed us in, and since then we have taught him 2-3 times, invited him to come to the Christmas party and to church on Sunday, and he is loving every minute of it. He called last night just to say thank you and that "this church is bringing the light back into his life" He loves the Book of Mormon and everything else so far.. its amazing. I've never met someone so prepared.

"I think the Lord knows that I need an extra boost being away from home at Christmastime. He has also blessed me by allowing me to help decorate 5 different homes for Christmas ( lights, trees, ornaments, all of my favorite things) and by giving me tons of chocolate from every direction. On Christmas Eve, Sister Larsen and I had our first baptisms here. Two boys we have been teaching, Dylan and Zach, were baptized in the river behind their house! Yes, they were baptized in a river on Christmas Eve. It was freezing cold and we were a little nervous they would get hypothermia from the experience, but they both came out smiling and the ordinance was done beautifully! What a wonderful Christmas present.

I love it here.. I don't know if i have mentioned that. This week was kind of crazy but so incredible. Because Damon, James, Wendy, and Nikki are all getting baptized soon, we had to teach a lot of important (and kind of stressful) lessons this past week. We talked a lot about the importance of the covenants they are making, and also taught them all the word of wisdom. All of them love their coffee (or tea or tobacco), and we were worried about asking them to give it up. But miracles are real..we have been praying like crazy for them, have gotten them all priesthood blessings, and lo and behold they have all three been keeping the word of wisdom since we asked them to! If that's not a miracle I don't know what is. They all have such strong faith and devotion because they have felt the spirit of this gospel and know that it is true and worth it. I can't wait to show you pictures of their baptisms next week! Nothing is better than watching these people who we've worked with and spent countless hours praying for finally take this step to come closer to Jesus Christ. They are so strong and I admire them so much.

"I am so thankful for Sister Larsen and Sister Warwood. They are so awesome. I think the three of us are perfect together, we are a good balance. Every lesson we've taught lately has been so powerful, and the spirit of God is constantly confirming that this gospel we share is true. I have been struggling lately with some things from home, but my companions have helped me out so much. Every time I feel lousy, all I have to do is talk to my companions or teach the gospel, and suddenly I feel at peace again. Today they found another way to lift my spirits. As we were driving home from Sparta for our lunch break, Sister Larsen told me she had a surprise for me. She turned away from our usual route home and stopped at the Burgess Falls trailhead. We spent our lunch break hiking (yes in our skirts) to the beautiful namesake of our ward. Only a true friend would know that there was nothing that could bring me more joy than hiking to a waterfall in my skirt!

"Well, I am training again! Sister Warwood and I will be staying here in Cookeville together, and we are training Sister Jasper from Alaska. I am so thankful I get another transfer here! I have been out for nine months now, and can't believe how fast time is flying. Our little trio is working out quite well so far! I attribute it all to Heavenly Father; he knows I can only handle so much at one time so he's decided to step in and take over for a bit. He truly is carrying me. We have been working a lot with less active families in the church lately, trying to help renew their testimonies and bring them back to church. I love seeing the light reignited as we share basic principles of the gospel, and then see the renewed motivation that accompanies that. We were also able to go to the temple for the first time with Wendy, James, Nikki, and Cordell.. and that was truly a once in a lifetime experience. How I love to see and be in and feel the power of the temple. 'From small and simple things are great things brought to pass.'

"Basically here is what I have learned in the past few months: God definitely answers prayers and miracles do happen! You just have to ask, have faith, work hard, and He will take care of the rest!"

assignment two: Clarksville

2011-10-25T11:03:00.001-06:00

Clarksville, TN...October-November 2010

"I was so sad when President Hutchings called and said I'd be leaving Murray. He told me I'd be white-washing into Clarksville, which I was a little nervous about. Since transfers, however, I have barely even stopped to think about Murray-we've been so overwhelmed! I'm with Sister Turner, who is really cool, and neither of us know a thing about Clarksville! We are relying on the members of the church a lot so far because we have no car, and don't know where anything is. The past few days here have been fun, but stressful.

"Sister Turner and I have done a lot of walking on the sides of busy highways, and we have met a fair amount of people. Things are picking up for us here in Clarksville. We are carless again this week, but it hasn't been as bad as last time because we have more appointments, and we know more people who can give us rides. For some reason I have been really nervous to talk to people recently, and I'm not sure why. Contacting people is definitely one of my weaknesses, but the scripture in Ether 12:27 gives me hope.. "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble... for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." I hope my weaknesses can become my strengths.

"Sunday night was a lot of fun. Gladys Knight came and put on a fireside for our mission and we got to go see it! Gladys directs a choir called Saints Unified Voices, which is basically a bunch of Mormons of all ethnicities singing in a southern gospel style. It was different than what we're used to, but she helped show that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is for everyone. She also invited everyone in the audience to meet with the Mormon missionaries! I loved it.

"We found someone golden! Her name is Kim, and the way we met her was really cool. She was having a yard sale and we were talking to her neighbors for a long time, but Kim was ignoring us. We gave her neighbors a Book of Mormon and continued on our way, but soon realized we'd left our map back on the table at the yard sale. When we went back she was much more friendly, and when we gave her a Book of Mormon she said she'd read it. Since we met her we've gone back a few times and each time we teach her she seems more and more prepared for the gospel. She tells us she's been in and out of churches her whole life..searching for truth. She still hasn't found what she's looking for. After everything we've taught her so far she nods her head and says that she agrees!

"Tonight we team-taught a couple with the elders. Tracy has been meeting with the missionaries for a few weeks and has a baptismal date, but tonight was the first time Steve has been officially taught. After the lesson we asked Steve if he would like to be baptized with Tracy and he said that he would! The spirit was so strong and they were both smiling from ear to ear. They are an awesome couple, I am so thankful I get to help teach them. Their kids are so cute too, which is always a bonus. We are planning their wedding and baptism right now, but unfortunately Sister Turner and I found out we will both be transferred before that day comes! Neither of us expected that call, and neither of us wants to leave, but I suppose we'll go where the Lord wants us to go."

assignment one

2011-10-20T12:39:00.001-06:00

If there is one thing I have learned as a missionary, it is how to find joy in the simple pleasures of every day and recognize the tender mercies the Lord provides for me. Sister Turner, my last companion, is one of the many people who have shown me how to do this. In order to commemorate her mission, she decided to highlight each of her previous areas throughout the Tennessee Nashville mission and celebrate the experiences she had and lessons she learned. I thought that was a lovely idea, and in honor of her, I think I shall do the same, using exerpts from my old jounal entries. Here's to my first area as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...

Murray, KY.. July-September, 2010

"I just said goodbye to Utah for 18 months. The longest I've ever gone without seeing my family, friends, or beautiful mountains is one month. The scenery in Tennessee is beautiful though. Almost everything is green and naturally forested, with big red barns and farms almost everywhere we go. I love the rainstorms.

"First full day on the job! It has been so busy since we first arrived here in Murray, and I have so much to write about, but no time. My trainers are Sister Fear and Sister Fluckiger, and we've been so busy that I haven't even had time to unpack my suitcases! Most of the day is hot, sweaty, exhausting, and headachy, but those moments when we get to sit down with people and share Christ's beautiful gospel make it all worth it. I love to hear about these people's lives and beliefs, and then share with them the fundamental truths that have come from the restoration of Christ's church. Everyone here is religious. There really is a diferent Christian church on every corner. Something I've realized, however, is how many people are still searching for truth and happiness! I am here to bring it to them.

"Since arriving here I've eaten a squirrel, seen a zebra in a horse pasture, painted a trailer in 110 degree weather, been proposed to by an ex-convict, and sung a solo Mormon hymn in front of an entire Baptist congregation. I never know what a day in this live will bring, but every day is an adventure. I am learning how to take the Savior's advice and 'lose [my] life for [his] sake'.. in order to really find my life. The more I serve these strangers, the less strange they become, and the more I love them. I find people, situations, and places to laugh about every day. I have found more joy in reading and teaching the scriptures than I ever have before. I am also coming to know myself in a better and deeper way.

"Although being a missionary can be very trying and discouraging at times, I know that this experience is good for me. I know that I have been given things in my life that most people live without: The Book of Mormon and the fulness of Christ's gospel, a family who loves me, friends with high standards, a quality education, good health, and a clean, consistent place to call home. I know that 'Because I have been given much I too must give' and serving the Lord for eighteen months is the least I can do to make it up to him."

the motive

2011-10-11T11:11:00.001-06:00

There's a little saying I have written down in the front of my "Preach My Gospel".. you may have heard it before:

Obedience is the price,

Faith is the power,

Love is the motive,

The Spirit is the key,

and

Christ is the reason.

"And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God" -Moroni 8:26

Love for dear people like these...is my motive.

And the people I have come to love throughout my mission...make all the hard things about my mission worth it.

the bridge between God and man

2011-10-04T11:27:00.001-06:00

As I drove through Land Between the Lakes on my way to Nashville last year, I felt as though this bridge was taking me directly to Heaven. I think Heaven is a lot closer to us than we realize. God is really not that far away. Even though we cannot see Him, he has given us many ways to speak to Him, and to hear Him speak with us. When we speak to God, it is usually through prayer. When God speaks to us, it is through revelation.

Revelation can come in many different forms. For me, it comes most frequently as I am on my knees in prayer, studying the scriptures, or listening to the current prophets and apostles (as we had the opportunity to do last weekend). Elder Dallin H. Oaks spoke about two different forms of revelation: the personal line, and the priesthood line. As I pray directly to my Heavenly Father and receive answers from Him, I am using the personal line of communication. As I listen to God's apostles and prophets teach me the things He wants me to know, I am using the priesthood line. Both are necessary for me to really understand God's will.

While listening to our dear prophet Thomas S. Monson and the apostles over the weekend, I came to understand revelation more fully. These inspired leaders revealed things that all of God's children need, and as I listened, the spirit taught me personally the things that God wants me, Sister Elizabeth Cosper to know.

"It is the office of a true teacher to show us that God is, not was; that God speaks, not spoke" -Ralph Waldo Emerson

If you missed General Conference, dont worry.. you can watch it HERE!

forget not

2011-09-27T11:43:00.000-06:00

With General Conference coming up this weekend (you might remember me posting about the last one in April) we have the opportunity to hear from the living Prophet of God, along with the twelve apostles. I have always loved General Conference weekends (when I was little that meant watching church from home in my pajamas and eating a lot of good food with the family) but I love them even more as a missionary. Last Saturday was the Relief Society General Broadcast, and we were able to hear from three amazing women, along with President Uchtdorf. The spirit strongly testified as they spoke, and it motivated me to be a better missionary and disciple of Jesus Christ. I stole from LDS.org these tidbits from President Uchtdorf's talk.. enjoy!

Forget not to be patient with yourself:

President Uchtdorf reminded women that everyone has strengths and weaknesses—that no one is perfect, even those who may seem so.
“God wants to help us eventually turn all of our weaknesses into strengths, but He knows that this is a long-term goal,” President Uchtdorf said. “It is OK that you are not quite there yet. Keep working on it but stop punishing yourself. “
“Dear sisters, many of you are endlessly compassionate and patient with the weaknesses of others,” he added. “Please remember also to be compassionate and patient with yourself.”
Forget not the difference between a good sacrifice and a foolish sacrifice:

President Uchtdorf defined an acceptable sacrifice as giving up “something good for something of far greater worth.”
“Dedicating some of our time to studying the scriptures or preparing to teach a lesson is a good sacrifice. Spending many hours stitching the title of the lesson into homemade potholders for each member of your class may not be.”
President Uchtdorf noted that every situation is different, and suggested asking, “Am I committing my time and energies to the things that matter most?” in order to distinguish between good and foolish sacrifices.
Forget not to be happy now:

Using an example from the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, President Uchtdorf described how one of the characters, Willy Wonka, hid golden tickets within chocolate bars, promising to reveal wonders to five people who discovered the tickets.
“In their anxiousness, people began to forget the simple joy they used to find in a candy bar. The candy bar itself becomes an utter disappointment if it does not contain a golden ticket,” President Uchtdorf said. Whatever a “golden ticket” may represent to each person, President Uchtdorf warned Relief Society sisters to not put their happiness on hold as they wait for a future event, or golden ticket, to appear.
“The lesson here,” he said,” is that if we spend our days waiting for fabulous roses, we could miss the beauty and wonder of the tiny forget-me-nots that are all around us.”
Forget not the “why” of the gospel:

President Uchtdorf said that sometimes, in the routines of daily life, the vital aspects of the gospel of Jesus Christ are unintentionally overlooked. “We sometimes see the gospel as a long list of tasks that we must add to our already impossibly long “to do” lists. We focus on what the Lord wants us to do and how we might do it, but we sometimes forget why.”
President Uchtdorf reminded the sisters that the gospel is not an obligation, but a pathway leading to happiness and peace in this life and “glory and inexpressible fulfillment” in the life to come
Forget not that the Lord loves you:

In closing, President Uchtdorf said, “Just think of it: You are known and remembered by the most majestic, powerful, and glorious being in the universe! You are loved by the King of infinite space and everlasting time.”

“You may at times feel a little like the forget-me-not—insignificant, small, or tiny in comparison with others,” he said, noting: “I hope (the forget-me-not) will be a symbol of the little things that make your lives joyful and sweet.”

I loved this so much, and hope you do too. Looking forward to hearing the rest of the speakers this Saturday and Sunday!

prepare to meet thy God

2011-09-17T11:54:00.000-06:00

Yes I'm aware that I look like a nerd.
There are just some things about Tennessee that I don't want to forget.

It is not uncommon to see a sign like this in Tennessee. In someone's front lawn, near a church, or next to the highway.. it is something I have almost come to expect. These folks are very aware that we all need to be prepared to meet our God. But what the signs don't tell us is how to prepare to meet our God.

In order to be prepared to meet our God, we must first know a little about Him. I've never seen God in person, but here is what I have learned. Genesis 1 tells us that we are created in His image, therefore we know that God has a body of flesh and bone like ours. God is our loving Heavenly Father, and he is not far from us (Acts 17:27-19). He is all knowing, all powerful, and perfect. The scriptures also teach us that "no unclean thing can enter into His kingdom" (3 Nephi 27:19). Thankfully, God has provided a way for us to receive eternal life through his son Jesus Christ (John 3:16).

Then what can we do to be prepared? We can first have faith in God's only begotten son, Jesus Christ (2 Nephi 2:6-8). If we truly believe in Him, we will repent of our sins (Hel. 5:10-11). Full repentance is complete with baptism by immersion for a remission of those sins (Acts 2:38). God promises us that if we are baptized by proper authority, we can be given the gift of the Holy Ghost, which will lead us and help us to continue living a Christlike life!

Why is this significant anyhow? Why do we want to meet our God and live with him someday? "And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God." (D&C 14:7) From what I gather, this is what most of us are hoping for, and the Lord has shown us how we can.

What are your thoughts on the matter?

Elda Cospa

2011-09-13T14:37:00.000-06:00

Sometimes I get sick of writing about me and my experiences (imagine that) so today.. I am going to write a little more about my brother in Ghana. I posted about him a few months back; about how much I admire him and look up to him and get overexcited to read his letters and emails every week. Today I want to share a few tidbits from those emails of his. Hopefully he doesn't mind. Every time he used to make himself a big delicious meal in the kitchen (he's a much better chef than I am) I would wait until he turned his back and sneak a few bites..or a lot of bites. He always got upset at me for that. Now I am going to sneak a few bites from his emails which I think are more interesting than my own. I think you'll agree.

September 12th

"Remember Kingsley? We baptized him in Mamponse right before i was transferred. Well now two of his sons have been baptized and his daughter and wife will be baptized on the 24th!!!! All of that just because of one contact Elder Thom and I made one Sunday afternoon. I can't describe how happy i am about that. Seeing an individual change is amazing, but seeing an entire family change is even better."

September 5th

"I'm rocking out to some awesome gospel rock here in this internet cafe. Gotta love Ghana (and Tennessee)! This week we've been prospering work-wise but suffering physically. We've been without electricity probably 5 out of the 7 days this week. Here they call it "light off." The three worst things about having no electricity are: 1. Our water pump doesn't work, which is as good as not having any water at all. 2. Our fridge doesn't work and all the food inside starts to spoil (I have 5 KGs of chicken in our freezer that's going to be completely defrosted by the end of today if the power doesn't come back on) and 3. Our fans don't work! Which makes for hot sweaty nights. It's not fun! Ghana really needs to figure out this electricity business. Luckily this internet cafe is really nice and has a generator. Something we missionaries don't have."

August 29th

"One cool experience we had this week, we contacted and taught this guy named Sammuel B on Saturday. We committed him to come to church and he said he would, but after doing this work for this long i've kind of lost faith in people when they say they'll come to church. But then Sunday came and he showed up during sacrament meeting! After sacrament meeting we were taking him to the gospel essentials class and one of the members walked up to him with a big smile on his face and gave him a big hug. It turns out this guy is Sammuel's uncle! After church Sammuel told us how much he loved the service and said that he'll definitely be coming back next week. Experiences like that keep me going, missionary work is so sweet. I have the strongest testimony about following the promptings of the spirit."

Ok, that's all for now. I sure do love my little bro. Miss him like crazy but I know the sacrifice is worth it. He is blessing so many lives out there.

a poem for Wendy

2011-09-03T10:43:00.000-06:00

This post is long overdue, considering I met this lovely lady in 2010 and started this poem quite a while ago, but hey...better late than never.

A loving daughter of Heavenly Father,

You showed His kindness without falter,

But yet you did not know Him;

As you walked your path the light seemed dim.

You were content but not complete,

Still searching for that something

That could answer all your questions.

The Elders met a Baptist,

Who directed them toward your house;

You sat out on the porch with them,

Polite, but not about to give in.

"I'll listen for a while" you thought,

"But will not change my lifestyle",

(Little did you know what lay ahead).

It was then that we moved in,

Just two weeks after you'd met them,

You welcomed my companion and I,

As if we'd known you all our lives.

The dog became my biggest fan,

And little Eli preferred Larsen,

Even your husband let us come.

We asked you about what you'd learned,

Your face lit up, the spirit burned,

Our teachings were so new to you,

The premortal world and afterlife too.

We taught that Christ is your Redeemer,

Jehovah, Savior, stain remover;

We recognized the spark inside your soul.

Soon Thursday nights became our favorite,

Each week reserved for just the Bakers;

We'd say our prayers and answer questions,

Play with the boys and all their Nerf guns.

But nothing made us smile inside,

Quite like the tears welled in your eyes

Each time we testified.

Finally the day arrived,

When you agreed to be baptized,

The excitement was so evident,

Behind your nervous smile that moment.

We got to welcome Heaven's daughter,

As you ascended from the water,

In the whites you'd made us iron the night before.

You still continue learning,

And you have the tools for searching,

As we all keep pressing forward,

In this gospel of our Lord.

He loved you and your family,

Enough to send His missionaries

To the ones who were prepared.

To the recently called primary leader,

Whose son now calls himself "Brother Skyler"

And tells us he'll serve his own mission someday;

Thank you for letting us in dear Wendy.

I've been able to share my testimony,

This message so sacred and pure and holy,

With one of my very best friends.

the power of one

2011-09-01T10:54:00.001-06:00

Because of one who partook of the fruit

We each can live and die too.

(1 Cor. 15:22, 2 Nephi 2:22-25)

Because of one who spilt His blood,

We can all be lifted up.

(2 Nephi 2:6-8, 3 Nephi 27:14-26, John 3:16)

Because of one who decided to pray,

We have God's word alive today.

(Joseph Smith History 1:16-17, Eph. 1:10, 2 Nephi 3:11)

When I feel weak because I am just one,

I think of all these ones have done.
(D&C 35:13-14, 2 Cor. 12:9, 2 Nephi 4:20)

women of God

2011-08-25T11:11:00.000-06:00

"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

(I feel like the "We Can Do It" poster from the fifties would be an appropriate picture to go along with this post, but the public computers here in Union City, TN won't let me save photos from online...so you can just imagine the photo).

faith vs fear

2011-08-18T11:02:00.002-06:00

It took a lot of faith for me to trust the owner of this chicken when he told me I could hold it without getting pecked to death. This was my first experience with holding a chicken.

Faith is a principle of power and action. Faith is more than just a belief. If we have faith, we will do something about it. If we have faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior, that faith will lead us to repent of our sins, be obedient to His commandments, and serve him until the end. This is what I have gathered from my studies about faith:

-Faith leads to action. (James 1:22)
-Faith is manifest through obedience, diligence, and work. (John 14:15)
-Faith comes before miracles. (Ether 12:6)
-Faith is opposed by doubt and fear. ( 2 Tim 1:7)
-Faith can be increased through study, prayer, service, and obedience. (Alma 32:27)

Faith in Jesus Christ is the motivating factor behind what I do as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the reason I left home for a year and a half to serve without monetary compensation. It is the reason I keep the sabbath day holy, the word of wisdom, the law of tithing, and the law of chastity even when most of the world tells me to do otherwise. Faith is why I get up at 6:30 each morning, study the scriptures for two hours, and spend all day inviting others to come unto Christ, hoping that someone will listen.

Faith is a gift from God, and something He wants each of us to develop. I am so thankful for my faith.

emma

2011-08-13T13:57:00.001-06:00

Every time I think about the life of Joseph Smith or his wife Emma, I am reminded of how easy my life is comparatively! They did everything they could to serve the Lord and follow the guidance he gave them, and they were constantly persecuted for it. Emma Smith had to watch as her husband was taken from her in the middle of the night, beaten, and eventually killed. As the prophet of the restoration, He sealed his testimony with his blood as did so many prophets before him.

" Joseph Smith, the prophet and seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the fulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord’s anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum. In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated!" -D&C 135

I love this video because it reminds me of the sacrifice not only of Joseph, but of his sweet wife Emma. I am so thankful for her faith and selflessnesss.

he knows

2011-08-09T12:19:00.000-06:00

I started this post a week or two ago but was unsure of how to finish it. It seemed incomplete. Then on Wednesday I received a letter from my friend Mandy that was exactly what I needed. I love how my friends who are thousands of miles away can answer my prayers simply by listening to and following the promptings God gives them. I want to share the quote she sent me, because I love it:

"The gospel is the good news that can free us from guilt. We know that Jesus experienced the totality of mortal existence in Gethsemane. It's our faith that he experienced everything- absolutely everything. Sometimes we don't think through the implications of that belief. We talk in great generalities about the sins of all humankind, about the suffering of the entire human family. But we don't experience pain in generalities. We experience it individually. That means he knows what it felt like when your mother died of cancer- how it was for your mother, how it still is for you. He knows what it felt like to lose the student body election. He knows that moment when the brakes locked and the car started to skid. He experienced the slave ship sailing from Ghana toward Virginia. He experienced the gas chambers at Dachau. He experienced Napalm in Vietnam. He knows about drug addiction and alcoholism. Let me go further. There is nothing you have experienced as a woman that he does not also know and recognize. On a profound level, he understands the hunger to hold your baby that sustains you through pregnancy. He understands both the physical pain of giving birth and the immense joy. He knows about PMS and cramps and menopause. He understands about rape and infertility and abortion. His last recorded words to his disciples were, "And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." (Matthew 28:20) He understands your mother-pain when your five-year-old leaves for kindergarten, when a bully picks on your fifth-grader, when your daughter calls to say that the new baby has Down syndrome. He knows your mother-rage when a trusted babysitter sexually abuses your two-year-old, when someone gives your thirteen-year-old drugs, when someone seduces your seventeen-year-old. He knows the pain you live with when you come home to a quiet apartment where the only children are visitors, when you hear that your former husband and his new wife were sealed in the temple last week, when your fiftieth wedding anniversary rolls around and your husband has been dead for two years. He knows all that. He's been there. He's been lower than all that. He's not waiting for us to be perfect. Perfect people don't need a Savior. He came to save his people in their imperfections. He is the Lord of the living, and the living make mistakes. He's not embarrassed by us, angry at us, or shocked. He wants us in our brokenness, in our unhappiness, in our guilt and our grief. You know that people who live above a certain latitude experience very long winter nights can become depressed and even suicidal, because something in our bodies requires whole spectrum light for a certain number of hours a day. Our spiritual requirement for light is just as desperate and as deep as our physical need for light. Jesus is the light of the world. We know that this world is a dark place sometimes, but we need not walk in darkness. The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, and the people who walk in darkness can have a bright companion. We need him, and He is ready to come to us, if we'll open the door and let him.
(Chieko N. Okazaki, Lighten Up, Preface; p. 174)

I love this in depth examination of the atonement of our Savior. I know that he did suffer not only for our sins, but for "the pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sickness of his people." (Alma 7:11) I know that he's there, and I know that he knows.

blackie

2011-08-04T17:12:00.001-06:00

I am not normally much of a dog person. I feel like most of the time they just make houses messy and smelly and make visitors feel unwelcome. A pit bull even tried to kill my companion once, and since then I've been a bit traumatized. But Blackie.. is different. While staying with the Place's for the past week and a half, I must admit I became quite attached to this little dog. My favorite thing about Blackie (as you can see from this video) is how excited she gets when you give her a treat. She acts like every dog bone you give her is the most exciting thing in the world, and she dances all around it and makes sure you know how much she appreciates it before she eats it. I love it so much I always just want to give her another one when she finally finishes.

Alright, what does this have to do with missionary work or the gospel? Well, let me tell you. I've been thinking a lot about gratitude lately and to me, Blackie is the perfect examlple of a gracious receiver. When you give her a good gift, she will be sure to let you know how thankful she is..without even using words! How often do we show that kind of appreciation for the things that we receive? Every day we are given gifts.. if not from those around us, from the Lord. When we show our gratitude for the things we are given, God is more willing to give us more. Psalms 92:1 says it simply: "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, o most high". Alma 37:37 states, "..and when thou risest in the morning, let thy heart be full of thanks unto they God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day." I love that promise.

I know we each have so much to be thankful for. I find that when I express gratitude for all that I've been given, I recognize even more blessings throughout each day, and I am happier! Let us all be a little more like Blackie.

ask

2011-08-01T09:38:00.001-06:00

Ask me about the new release;

I've never heard of it,

Ask me about the greatest hits;

My radio's collecting dust.

Ask me about my best friend's wedding;

I didn't get to go,

Ask me about my baby niece;

I've never seen her smile.

Ask me about my graduation;

I was 2,000 miles away,

Ask me about my Italy trip

My classmates took without me.

Ask me about my Mom and Dad;

I hear their voices twice a year,

Ask me about my boyfriend

Who is kissing another girl.

Now ask me about the scriptures

And I'll tell you how to find,

The peace and comfort you are searching for

I know just where to turn.

Ask me about sacrifice;

I'll tell you a thing or two,

Ask me about my Savior;

I've walked a few steps in His shoes.

on the road again

2011-07-29T15:34:00.000-06:00

"And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head" -Matthew 8:20

Saying goodbye to Nyla.. our favorite 93 year old Mormon in Morgantown

For some reason this scripture keeps popping into my head as I think about the adventures Sister Turner and I have been having. For the past 6 weeks we have been traveling throughout the mission, and we have just been transferred to Fulton.. the very Southwestern corner of our mission. There are a lot of corn and soybean fields here. We are currently looking for an apartment and for a phone. Our area is very large, and we are probably getting terrible gas mileage because our car is still full of suitcases! Life is just a bit chaotic these days, but the work of the Lord moves forward! And along the way, are learning a lot about patience and flexibility. We have so many wonderful people from the church who are taking care of us as well.

A few weeks ago we were teaching a woman who had joined us for one of our church services for the very first time. As we asked her about her experience, she told us that as soon as she walked through the chapel doors "it felt just like coming home". She has been in and out of different churches her entire life, and has been searching for a place that felt right; a place that felt like God's house. She was overjoyed to finally have found the place.

I know that no matter where we are living or how chaotic our lives get, there is always a home for us nearby. I love being a part of a church that is worldwide. I love knowing that I can trust members of the church who I've never even met before. I love knowing that this is Christ's church, that His spirit dwells there, and that I always have a home (even if I don't have an apartment or a phone).

how to find happiness

2011-07-13T13:44:00.001-06:00

I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ brings true happiness. I also know that God wants that for each and every one of His children.

(Moses 1:39 and 2 Nephi 2:27)

promised land

2011-07-09T13:42:00.000-06:00

Yes, I know I am a little late for Independence day. But I never get time to blog anymore and I have been thinking about this all week, soo... I will write it anyhow :).

This is a picture of my niece that I stole from my sister

I hope you all had a marvelous 4th of July. I have been thinking about how truly thankful I am to live in a country that is founded upon the principles of freedom. At this time in my life, I am particularly thankful for the freedom of religion. Were it not for freedom of religion in this country, Christ could never have re-established his church through the prophet Joseph Smith.

You might say we as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are a fairly patriotic people. Even though the majority of our members live outside of the United States, we are all indebted to the early leaders of this nation because they allowed for an environment that enabled the restoration to take place. We also study from a volume of holy scripture that was written primarily in the ancient American continent. We study from the Holy Bible as well, but The Book of Mormon was written by ancient prophets in the Americas.

These people, though far from Jerusalem, knew and prophesied for centuries about the coming of Jesus Christ. And come He did. After he visited the people in Jerusalem, he visited the Americas as a resurrected being. The prophesy, "Other sheep I have which are not of this fold, them also must I bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd" in John 10:16 was fulfilled when he told the Nephites and Lamanites, "Ye are they of whom I said: Other sheep I have which are not of this fold" (3 Nephi 15:21).

Christ is the Savior of the whole world, and God loves all of His children everywhere. Of this I testify!

God bless America

for the one

2011-06-29T10:25:00.000-06:00

“What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
“And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
“And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

“I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance” (Luke 15:1–7).

The other day Sister Turner and I were talking about our traveling life. Every day we drive hours to see just a few people; maybe even just one person. We spend hours studying for just a few people; maybe even just one person. We help them have faith in Jesus Christ enough to repent of their sins. When they feel ready, we help plan their baptism. Baptism in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a very sacred experience. We do not call ninety nine people to the front as a spontaneous or momentary expression of faith. Instead we spend days, weeks, maybe even months guiding that one individual through the beautiful process prepared by our Savior. When that special day comes, the one feels ready. The one understands the gospel of Jesus Christ and feels his love. To me, seeing the change take place in that one... makes it all worth it.

"And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul: and we suppose that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some." -Alma 26:30

tender mercies

2011-06-18T13:15:00.000-06:00

A few years ago Elder Bednar spoke about the "tender mercies of the Lord" mentioned in 1 Nephi 1:20. Every day there are tender mercies given to us from our Father in Heaven as a reminder that he loves us and is watching over us. The closer to God we become, the more we recognize these tender mercies.

I remember the first night I arrived in Tennessee. I had spent two and a half weeks in the M.T.C. and still felt completely unprepared to go out and share the gospel with strangers full-time. I didn't know much about serving a mission, or about my new home. I was the only sister at the mission home, therefore I got my own room and queen bed to sleep in that night. I remember sitting on my bed that night and staring out the window into the backyard. There were rolling green hills and trees as far as I could see, and it was raining. Green hills, trees, and rain are three of my favorite things. In the distance there was lightning; another one of my favorite things. Heavenly Father knew I needed those green hills and lightning that night, and he provided those tender mercies for me. I thanked him for those tender mercies.

That was almost a year ago, and every day since then I have recognized tender mercies the Lord has given me. Here are a few as of late:

Fireflies (Sister Koford loves them too)

Gallatin Ward Picnic

Singing the National Anthem at the Sounds baseball game and seeing Sister Larsen and Wendy!

Serving with one of my favorite companions.. again!

Passing signs for my favorite American town! (I have yet to go there but I've seen signs!)

I know that God is aware of me. He is so aware of each of us. He knows our needs, our wants, our likes and our dislikes. He wants us to be happy, and provides many opportunities for us to be so. It is up to us to recognize those tender mercies he gives us.

What are some tender mercies God has given you lately?

awake!

2011-06-15T16:13:00.000-06:00

"Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, o my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul." -2 Nephi 4:28

I have been incredibly tired lately. There has been so much going on the past week and I just can't seem to get enough sleep! For some reason my body also decided that 5:00 a.m is the new time to wake up, so even when I do get some rest I am wide awake by 5 and can't fall back asleep. It doesn't help that I am a traveling missionary now and will spend approximately 4 hours in a car every day driving all around Kentucky. But I am not complaining! I love it so much. Waking up at 5 just means I have more time to prepare (mentally and spiritually if not physically) for the day and traveling all over the place means I get to meet so many great people!

I just felt like finding (and then sharing with you) a scripture reminding myself to stay AWAKE!

(this is also for my dear Sister Larsen.. who is leaving the great TNM after serving here honorably for 18 months. I sure will miss that woman. "O MY HEART!")

eternity

2011-06-11T11:03:00.004-06:00

How would it feel to know that the one you love the very most, the one you promise your life to, can be yours in the afterlife too? What would it be like to know that your marriage is not just "till death do us part" but "for time and all eternity?" Well most of my best friends I was just telling you about.. they know what this feels like. Because they were not just married for time but were sealed for all eternity in a house of God.

Most were married here..

or here..

These three temples are all in Utah, but there are actually 134 temples like these throughout the world. People often ask me about these beautiful temples: where are they? What are they for? What do we do in them? I tell them that one of the things that occurs in these sacred temples is these forever marriages. A beautiful blessing of having the restored gospel is knowing how our families can be sealed together forever. In the year 1836, God restored his priesthood and the sealing power of Elijah, which "turns the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers" (Malachi 4:5-6). This is one of the main purposes of having these temples.

Although I am not yet married, I am able to go to the temple to worship and make covenants with my Father in Heaven. I can also go there for peace and inspiration. The temple is a sanctuary from the world; the closest thing to Heaven here on earth. Yesterday I was able to go to the Nashville, Tennessee Temple, where I felt God's love for me so powerfully and received many answers to my prayers.

I love to see the temple!

the kind that last

2011-06-02T16:00:00.007-06:00

I've written quite a bit about my family in the past few months; more specifically about how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has strengthened my family and made us who we are today. It's something that has been made very clear to me as I've been thousands of miles away from them in a world where most families are falling apart. Something else I think about quite often is the impact that good friends have had in my life. Because most of my friends at home share my faith, the same principles that have blessed my family also made my friendships what they are today. A lot of my friends have been my friends since the beginning of time (or at least the beginning of our time). We played kickball together in elementary school, choreographed lip syncs together in Jr. high, suffered through braces and break-ups together in high school, and supported each other through college finals. Some of my best friends I didn't meet until after high school, but those friendships are just as strong. When most people think about large groups of college-aged girls, they probably think of one word: drama. But when I think about my girls, the words that come to my mind are love, trust, kindness, support, honesty, respect, creativity, and lots and lots of laughter. I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ has a lot to do with the good feelings my friends have and the high morals and standards we've helped each other maintain throughout the years.

These are most (but not all) of the girlies. I love them so so much. Always will.

"Living the gospel and being true to gospel principles is the key to true, lasting, triumphant friendship." -Jeffery R. Holland

endurance

2011-05-27T14:25:00.002-06:00

There's a phrase we hear a lot in gospel context: endure to the end. Before my mission I spent a significant amount of time running. I did not always like to run, but the more I did it the more I liked it. As my sisters and I were training for the state capital half marathon last May, I learned a lot about enduring to the end. My sister Emily is a very dedicated runner. She understands the importance of daily conditioning and strengthening better than I do, and because of her dedication she passes me up every time. Even when she has shin splints and back aches she can't be slowed down. When we ran the race, she was miles ahead. My sister Annie and I stuck together most of the time. I was thankful to have her at my side as we trained and as we ran the first 12 miles of that race. When we got nearer to the 13 mile marker, however, Annie started to speed up. My legs were aching like crazy and my ankles felt like they might break, so I panicked when Annie quickened her pace. She made me realize that I could not give up during that last stretch after we had worked so hard to get where we were. Annie sprinted that last mile to the finish line, and I did my very best to keep up with her. Even though every part of me ached, I still remember that incredible feeling as I crossed the finish line and joined my awesome sisters. Every bit of conditioning and training, every ache and pain was worth it.

As a latter day saint, I do not believe the "once saved, always saved" philosophy that many people believe in today. I believe that being a Christian is a lifestyle. It is not a single event, or one spiritual experience that makes us who we are. It is not just going to church once a week that makes us who we are. Rather, it is the things we do every single day that strengthen our faith and shape the people we are becoming. Studying scriptures, praying constantly, trusting God and serving others are all aspects of enduring to the end. Sometimes this process can seem a little intimidating, overwhelming, or maybe even excruciating, but in the end I know it will be worth it.

"I would hat ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end, and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved." -Omni 1:26

I am a child of God

2011-05-25T15:21:00.001-06:00

This just makes me :)

my friend

2011-05-19T13:22:00.003-06:00

I'd like to tell you about my friend.
My friend didn't know she wanted to be my friend at first.
I had to bribe my friend to be my friend by offering to do her dishes.
We did her dishes.
My friend didn't want to listen to us, but we found out her weakness was books.
We gave her a Book of Mormon.
We accidently took the Book of Mormon back, but brought her a new one the next day.
My friend started reading and thought it was bogus.
But then she kept reading and realized it wasn't.
She asked if it was true and God told her "yes".
She quit smoking cold turkey without a complaint.
My friend had God on her side.
My friend was baptized three months ago for the remission of sins.
Since her baptism she has practically read the entire standard works...plus the history of the church.
My friend has been through more in the past few years than most of us go through in an entire lifetime.
Yet my friend keeps smiling, and finds something to laugh about every day.
My friend has become one of my best friends.
She started a blog of her own a few weeks ago; you can find it here.

Thanks for being my friend, friend.

the oak tree

2011-05-18T09:48:00.001-06:00

On Sunday Elder Ballard shared this poem as he was talking about keeping ourselves strong during hard times. I really liked it (and not just because it's about a tree) and I would like to share it as well. It reminded me of this 1400 year old oak tree my family and I found in South Carolina a few years ago..the Angel Tree.

The Oak Tree

by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr.

A mighty wind blew night and day

It stole the oak tree’s leaves away

Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark

Until the oak was tired and stark

But still the oak tree held its ground

While other trees fell all around

The weary wind gave up and spoke.

How can you still be standing Oak?

The oak tree said, I know that you

Can break each branch of mine in two

Carry every leaf away

Shake my limbs, and make me sway

But I have roots stretched in the earth

Growing stronger since my birth

You’ll never touch them, for you see

They are the deepest part of me

Until today, I wasn’t sure

Of just how much I could endure

But now I’ve found, with thanks to you

I’m stronger than I ever knew

a pillar of light

2011-05-13T14:27:00.002-06:00

Yesterday Sister Koford and I had the opportunity to teach a woman about the restoration. We talked to her about the 14 year old boy Joseph Smith who went into a grove of trees to pray. Joseph had a simple question to ask God, "Which church should I join?" yet he received a marvelous answer. In his own words he said, "I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it rested upon me. When the light rested upon me I saw two personages whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other, Joseph: this is my beloved Son, hear him!" God the father and his son Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph and called him to be a prophet, to restore the truths that had been lost after the death of Christ and His apostles.

After we explained the first vision, I told Angelyn that I know this really happened. I did not see a pillar of light, or have God appear to me, but I prayed just as Joseph did to know the truth. My answer came more gradually and less obviously than Joseph's did, but to me it was every bit as powerful; because I now know with all my heart that Joseph was a prophet, and that he was called of God to restore Christ's church to the earth. Angelyn's eyes filled with tears as we continued to talk about the different ways that God answers prayers. We asked her to pray to know if what we were teaching was true, and as she agreed the spirit grew stronger and stronger. We each felt God testifying to us in our minds and in our hearts that the things we were discussing were true.

Sometimes God answers our prayers with marvelous visions and manifestations such as Joseph's, but more often they come by the quiet whisperings and promptings of the spirit. Elder David A. Bednar, one of the current twelve apostles, compares these different types of revelation to a light switch and a sunrise. Joseph Smith, and Saul in the New Testament, had light switch experiences. Angelyn and I had sunrise experiences-gradual and subtle but powerful nonetheless. I know that even though God speaks to each of us in different ways, he truly does answer our prayers if we have enough faith to ask Him. He loves us so much and wants us to have the truth. Are you willing to find it?

best mother's day

2011-05-09T14:26:00.010-06:00

In honor of this special holiday, I got to see and talk to my cute family over Skype yesterday! Words cannot express how great it was to see their faces and hear their voices after months of letters and emails. It felt like I was at home for just a short period of time. The words of this little primary song may be cheesy but they express exactly how I feel right now...

I have a family here on earth, they are so good to me.

I want to share my life with them through all eternity
Families can be together forever through Heavenly Father's plan.
I always want to be with my own family,
And the Lord has shown me how I can.
The Lord has shown me how I can!

(Families Can be Together Forever)

what am I doing?

2011-05-05T10:31:00.004-06:00

I live a very different life right now. I live out of a suitcase with no permanent home, no job, and no friends or family closeby. I just moved to a new city where I know no one. Yet I feel quite content despite this uncertainty. I don't know exactly what I'm doing or where I'm going or who I'm talking to, but this much I do know: I am a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life." -3 Nephi 5:13 This is what I'm doing.

I'll go

2011-05-01T09:27:00.006-06:00

"If by a still, small voice he calls to paths that I do not know, I'll answer dear Lord with my hand in thine: I'll go where you want me to go." Sister Jasper keeps making me listen to these lyrics, reminding me of the attitude every missionary must have! If I did not have this attitude, I would have never experienced this wonderful place, and I would never choose to leave it now. Cookeville is a place I will never forget. Not because of the historic train station or the cute town square or the college campus (even though they are all great) but because of the people I've met here and the miracles I've seen:

-People who treated me like a best friend when I was first a stranger.

-People who give all the money and time they can afford to serve God's children.

-People who open their doors to provide food and shelter to those less fortunate at any moment of any day.

-People who have enough faith to do what God asks even when the path is not easy.

-People who found the strength from God to overcome powerful addictions.

-People who prayed for the first time in years to know if God was really there, and then had us find them just moments later.

-People who were confused and frustrated by all religions until God sent us to explain the truth.

-People who truly understand the meaning of faith, hope, and charity.

-People who have become my family away from family.

I have come to love the people here so much. God's ways have been made a little clearer to me through these people I've met and the experiences I've had. I have faced some of my greatest challenges and disappointments, but also felt the greatest excitement, joy, and peace through it all. I have learned so much. Thank you, Cookeville (and Burgess Falls Ward). Now, the Lord needs me in Gallatin; so Gallatin is where I shall go!

storms

2011-04-28T15:36:00.007-06:00

One of my favorite things about Tennessee is the rain. In Utah, when the weather calls for storms that usually means about 15 minutes of sprinkling rain every 4-5 hours; and even that only comes every few weeks or months. I did not even own a rain coat or an umbrella before I came to Tennessee! Here, a stormy weather forecast is a whole different story. Water pours down from the sky in a constant stream for days at a time, and it is usually accompanied by thunder and lightning. Making a mad dash from your car to the grocery store will leave you utterly drenched from head to toe. Every time we think it's about to cease, it starts right back up again! I absolutely love it.

Sometimes, however, it can be a little frightening. More than once I thought our car was going to flood because the puddles on the road were so deep. The worst place to be during these kinds of storms is our third story apartment. Often we are awaken in the middle of the night by the wind and rain beating against our windows (as you may remember me writing about here). The rooftop outside our window becomes a solid river of water, and the thunder will shake our entire building. It's exciting but terrifying at the same time.

During several of these storms, I have taught little children the primary song about the wide man and follish man Christ refers to in Matthew 7. "The rains came down and the floods came up; the rains came down and the floods came up" yet the wise man's house stood still because he was built upon a solid foundation. The foolish man who built upon a sandy foundation was not as fortunate.

What is our foundation built upon? Do we spend the majority of our time and effort worrying about money, clothes, furniture, music, movies, and the way we look? Or do we focus on the things that matter most, like our relationships with God, our families, and our friends? These are the things I am constantly asking myself to make sure my priorities are in line and my foundation is solid. I know that if my foundation is stable, these Tennessee storms (or the spiritual storms we face daily) cannot hurt me. Bring in on...I can handle it!
"Remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the guilf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." -Helaman 5:12

good things

2011-04-26T12:11:00.007-06:00

I've been thinking of something to write that would sum up the way I'm feeling after this wonderful Easter weekend, but I'm a little stumped. I have always loved Easter. Easter means life, Christ, sunshine, good food with the fam and my little nieces and nephews and Easter baskets. Even though it was hard for me to be away from home on this special holiday, however, there are so many special people and things happening here in Tennessee that I would never wish to be away from. My mission companions and I are experiencing so many daily miracles that show how much God cares about us and the work we are a part of.

Rather than write about all of them, however, I am going to refer you to Sister Warwood's blog, and Sister Jasper's blog. My awesome companions have put into words the way I feel better than I can. Please read them!

an easter declaration

2011-04-22T15:35:00.001-06:00

Happy Easter friends.

He lives.

Because He lives, we can too.

a little taste of home (Cafe Rio)

2011-04-17T15:26:00.009-06:00

Anyone who has ever lived in Utah or who visits Utah has probably heard of a little restaurant called Cafe Rio. Why has everyone heard of this place? Because it's outstanding. It is my favorite place to eat out, and I don't even like most Mexican food! Sadly, I have been deprived of this deliciousness for the past 10 months. Besides my family, friends, and mountains, it is probably the thing I miss the most about home.

I have racked my brain trying to think of a way to get one of my favorite Cafe Rio salads here in Tennessee. I thought about having someone fly here with a meal to go on their lap on the airplane, or about having one of my sisters pack some ice packs around the salad in a cooler to UPS overnight it, but nothing seems very practical or cost efficient. Thanks to the wonderful Sister Whitaker (a member of our congregation) here in Tennessee, however, my problem was finally solved last Friday!

Sister Whitaker happens to have the recipe to the amazing Cafe Rio pork salad, and she slaved away all day to re-create this perfect meal for us. From the savory pork to the hint of lime rice, pico de gallo, homemade tortillas and creamy tomatillo dressing, she matched each taste to perfection..right from her own beautiful kitchen! It was everything I'd hoped for and more; a little taste of home here in Tennessee!

I am always so thankful for experiences such as this; experiences that make home seem just a little closer. Just like my Cafe Rio salad experience on Friday, I think God often gives us experiences in life that make our Heavenly home seem not very far away. He gives us loving fathers who help us understand our relationship with Him(Heavenly Father), families with whom we can experience some of the love and joy we can feel for eternity, and temples where we can go to feel the peace and safety that Heaven will provide. These experiences give me the motivation to do everything I need to do to return home to my Heavenly Father and my Savior's presence someday, so I can then experience the fulness of this peace, joy, love, and safety.

(I also think there will be a Cafe Rio in Heaven...just sayin)

I'd like to introduce you...

2011-04-14T14:33:00.012-06:00

...to my fam. I couldn't find one picture of all of us together (I left them all at home) but here are bits and pieces of us:

Boyfriends usually come and go, friends sometimes change, but family always stays the same!

The Cosper clan consists of my 3 sisters, 2 brothers, myself, 3 brother-in-laws, 1 sister-in-law, 4 nephews, 5 nieces, and the best parents of all time. Alice and Steve (ma and pa) have been married for 35 years, and the rest of us have joined the family one by one since then. I love my family so much. They are my best friends and they mean everything to me. No one could have convinced me to say goodbye to them for 18 months other than God himself; and I know He did this so I could help bring to other families the happiness that my family has. I know that the key to lasting marriages and siblings who would do anything for each other is having a home centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ. My family is not perfect, but the reason we are so happy is because Mom and Dad did everything they could to keep our home focused on the Savior. I also know that because of Jesus Christ, I can be with my family forever; even after this life ends. I am so thankful to know this.

How has God strengthened your family?

re-cap

2011-04-10T18:03:00.002-06:00

Just in case you didn't get a chance to watch this, or even if you did, I want to share some of my favorite quotations from our inspired leaders. (Click their names to read the full text)

"In the fourth chapter of Paul’s writings to Timothy, we read: “These things command and teach. … Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” I can think of no better way for us to begin or continue to be an example of the believers than in our observance of the Sabbath day." -L. Tom Perry

"It is here in our families, in an atmosphere of love, where we see and appreciate in a more personal way the divine attributes of His spirit children. It is here in our families where our hearts can be softened and in humility we desire to change, to become more childlike. It is a process by which we can become more Christlike." -Jean A. Stevens

“No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude, and humility. … It is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire.” -Kent F. Richards

"The names and the details of operation are changed to fit the needs and conditions of people. But always the Lord’s way to help those in temporal need requires people who out of love have consecrated themselves and what they have to God and to His work." -Henry B. Eyring

"We live in a time of turmoil. Earthquakes and tsunamis wreak devastation, governments collapse, economic stresses are severe, the family is under attack, and divorce rates are rising. We have great cause for concern. But we do not need to let our fears displace our faith. We can combat those fears by strengthening our faith." -Russell M. Nelson

"Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions. The desires we act on determine our changing, our achieving, and our becoming." -Dallin H. Oaks

"Brothers and sisters, the gospel of Jesus Christ is simple, no matter how much we try to make it complicated. We should strive to keep our lives similarly simple, unencumbered by extraneous influences, focused on those things that matter most." -M. Russell Ballard

"Brothers and sisters, with the blessings of modern technology, we can express gratitude and joy about God’s great plan for His children in a way that can be heard not only around our workplace but around the world. Sometimes a single phrase of testimony can set events in motion that affect someone’s life for eternity." -Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"The Crimson Trail in Logan Canyon is one of my favorite hikes. The main part of the trail creeps along the top of tall limestone cliffs and offers beautiful vistas of the canyon and valley below. Getting to the top of the cliffs isn’t easy, however. The trail there is a constant climb; and just before reaching the top, the climber encounters the steepest part of the trail; and views of the canyon are hidden by the cliffs themselves. The final exertion is more than worth the effort because once the climber is on top, the views are breathtaking. The only way to see the views is to make the climb. A pattern in the scriptures and in life shows that many times the darkest, most dangerous tests immediately precede remarkable events and tremendous growth. 'After much tribulation come the blessings.'" -Paul V. Johnson

"As we increase our own level of self-reliance, we increase our ability to help and serve others the way the Savior did. We follow the Savior’s example when we minister to the needy, the sick, and the suffering. When love becomes the guiding principle in our care for others, our service to them becomes the gospel in action. It is the gospel in its finest moment. It is pure religion." -Sylvia H. Allred

"As you appropriately seek for and apply unto the spirit of revelation, I promise you will “walk in the light of the Lord” (Isaiah 2:5; 2 Nephi 12:5). Sometimes the spirit of revelation will operate immediately and intensely, other times subtly and gradually, and often so delicately you may not even consciously recognize it." -David A. Bednar

"The world can be a challenging and difficult place in which to live. We are often surrounded by that which would drag us down. As you and I go to the holy houses of God, as we remember the covenants we make within, we will be more able to bear every trial and to overcome each temptation." -Thomas S. Monson

"Pure love is an incomparable, potent power for good. Righteous love is the foundation of a successful marriage. It is the primary cause of contented, well-developed children. Marriage is wonderful. In time you begin to think alike and have the same ideas and impressions. You have times when you are extremely happy, times of testing, and times of trial, but the Lord guides you through all of those growth experiences together." -Richard G. Scott

"Sadly, much of modern Christianity does not acknowledge that God makes any real demands on those who believe in Him, seeing Him rather as a butler “who meets their needs when summoned” or a therapist whose role is to help people “feel good about themselves.”^{" -D. Todd Christofferson}

"We are all indebted to the Lord. Let us not be accused of robbing God." -Carl B. Pratt

"Many of us create to do lists to remind us of things we want to accomplish. But people rarely have to be lists. Why? To do’s are activities or events that can be checked off the list when done. To be, however, is never done. You can’t earn checkmarks with to be’s. I can take my wife out for a lovely evening this Friday, which is a to do. But being a good husband is not an event; it needs to be part of my nature—my character, or who I am." -Lynn G. Robbins

"Through His Atonement, He heals not only the transgressor, but He also heals the innocent who suffer because of those transgressions. As the innocent exercise faith in the Savior and in His Atonement and forgive the transgressor, they too can be healed." -C. Scott Grow

'We testify to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people that God not only lives but also that He speaks, that for our time and in our day the counsel you have heard is, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, “the will of the Lord, … the word of the Lord, … the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.”^{-President Thomas S. Monson}

I sure do love the words of our prophets. If you missed General Conference and would like to watch it, click here!

confession

2011-04-05T09:16:00.021-06:00

I have a slight obsession with waterfalls. As missionaries, we have one day each week that is available to us for preparation and recreation. Lucky for me, there are so many cool places to explore around these parts. So what do I want to do every time this preparation day rolls around? Waterfalls! Each time I visit a new fall, I can't help but stare in wonder as the magnificently powerful rivers force their way through canyons and forests until they cascade over the towering boulders. Sometimes the river from which the fall descends is not even visible, because the water just seeps through the bedrock and emerges directly from the rocky face of the cliffs. No obstacle can stop the mighty waters from pressing forward. The power of it all amazes me.. and causes me to reflect upon my life.

Do I press forward when mighty obstacles stand in my way? Do I continue onward even when the path is not perfectly clear or certain? I like to think I do, but I know I am not always as persistant or determined as the mighty rivers God has created. Obstacles and trials are an unavoidable part of life, but I can't say that they never frustrate me. Sometimes I wish that the path would be more clear and simple. Sometimes I wish life was more easy.

But then I think of the life of the Savior, my perfect example, and the trials he faced every day of his life. His life was not easy, and it will not be easy for any disciple of His either. However, turning to Christ is what offers hope and allows us to continue on each day. As we press foward despite the obstacles in our paths and do our best to follow the Master, I know that God will lead us through those rocky paths to cascade triumphantly over the mountains ahead.

"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." -2 Nephi 31:20

what would it be like...

2011-03-31T10:10:00.009-06:00

... to hear Noah invite everyone to repent and get on his giant ship?

...or to stand behind Moses as he parted the Red Sea? ...or to watch Abraham offer his sacrifices?...or to sit next to Isaiah as he poetically wrote about the Messiah to come? ...or to trust John the Baptist as he spoke of one greater than he? At the time, most thought these prophets and their followers were crazy. Matt 13:57 states that "a prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house." When God's promises were fulfilled through His prophets, people usually recognized them as prophets later. When Joseph Smith told people he saw God the Father and Jesus Christ, most people thought he was crazy. We tell people about Thomas S. Monson, God's prophet on the earth today. A lot of people think we are crazy too. This weekend is General Conference. Our prophet and twelve apostles are speaking from this building, and it will be broadcast throughout the world. Think that sounds crazy? Watch and listen for yourself, it's the only way to know.

newness

2011-03-30T13:59:00.002-06:00

There has been a lot of "newness" going on here lately. New springtime blossoms, new mission companions, new goodwill skirts (my favorite), and a new mindset for my future. Generally I do not do well with change. I tend to hold onto the past until it is down to the very last thread and I have nothing left to hold onto. This time, however, feels different. Its like I said in my last post, rejuvenating.

I cannot put my finger exactly on what makes this time different than my previous experiences with change, but I'm pretty sure that prayer, scripture study, and missionary work are the biggest factors. It brings to mind a few scriptures on the subject:

"..born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters. And thus they became new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God." -Mosiah 27:24-26

"..like Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newnewss of life" -Romans 6:4

"..that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." -Romans 7:6

And while we are speaking of new, here are a few pictures of my new companions and my favorite new members of the Burgess Falls ward at the Nashville temple for the first time.

Such an exciting day! Sometimes, change is a good thing. I think it is healthy to have some newness; new friends, new seasons, and a constant goal to become a new person in Christ.

rejuvenation

2011-03-27T09:35:00.013-06:00

Springtime in Tennessee is incredible. It is so refreshing. These are some of the blossoms I see everyday here:

Japanese Magnolia

Forsythia

Bradford Pear

Eastern Redbud

"And as the living, verdant spring follows the dismal, deathlike winter, all nature proclaims the divinity of the risen Lord, that He was Creator, that He is the Savior of the world, that He is the very Son of God." -Spencer W. Kimball

jesus walk with me

2011-03-26T18:54:00.002-06:00

This song.. just speaks to me. Especially lately. Perhaps I could request that Mo-Tab perform it at General Conference next weekend? I'll give it a try.

9 months

2011-03-23T19:38:00.007-06:00

No, I am not talking about pregnancy. I am talking about...

-9 months of many goodbyes and many hellos
-9 months of uncertainty and fear and faith and hope
-9 months of exhaustian and energy and excitement
-9 months of breaking down stereotypes and making best friends
-9 months of missing Utah and loving Tennessee
-9 months of finding myself through losing myself
-9 months of feeling lonely but never truly being alone
-9 months of 6:30 alarms and 9:30 curfews
-9 months of sharing my deepest desires and beliefs with strangers on the street
-9 months of learning how to trust in God
-9 months of listening to Mormon Tabernacle Choir

-9 months of sorrows and disappointments and joy beyond measure
-9 months of heat waves and snow days
-9 months of Tennessee "you'ins" and "y'alls"
-9 months of listening and teaching
-9 months of 20+ prayers a day
-9 months of scripture studies and testimonies
-9 months of frequent (or not so frequent) letters from loved ones

-9 months of being a total dork and not caring what people think
-9 months of fighting the adversary and serving the Master
-9 months of the best work in the world

9 months... of being a full-time missionary; oh how I love it.

finding joy when life gives you heartache

2011-03-19T16:51:00.018-06:00

This has possibly been the most painful weekend of my entire mission. Both physically and emotionally.. just painful. Thursday was the first sick day I've taken since I came to Tennessee, due to an illness that kept Sister Larsen and I in our beds all day consuming nothing but Powerade and a few Saltine crackers. My stomach was finally starting to settle Friday morning when I received some heartbreaking news from home, which just brought the pain right back. To top off the weekend, Saturday we got word that Sister Larsen (my best friend for the past four and a half months) will be leaving me on Tuesday. Needless to say, my stomach has demanded that all of my previously mentioned eating habits cease. It has been a trying time.

Despite everything that's been going on in my mind, heart, and stomach however, I have felt a surprising amount of strength and peace beyond my own as I have done my best to hand it all over to my Savior. Times like this always lead me to one article in particular that just seems to ease my soul. This talk is entitled "Finding Joy in Life" by Elder Richard G. Scott, and it has given me a new perspective on understanding and coping with adversity. I would like to share some of my favorite excepts from his talk and how I have tried to apply his advice to my life here.

"You are one of the noblest of God's creations. His intent is that your life be gloriously beautiful regardless of your circumstances. As you are grateful and obedient, you can become all that God intends you to be."

(Enjoying God's beautiful creations in my beloved grandma skirt)

"Men are that they might have joy" (2 Nephi 2:27). Your joy in life depends on your trust in Heavenly Father and His holy Son, your conviction that their plan of happiness truly can bring you joy."

(A rainy day in my favorite part of town)

"Simple, rejuvenating experiences surround us. They can be safety valves to keep the tension down and the spirit up. Don't concentrate on what you don't have or have lost. Find the compensatory blessings in your life when, in the wisdom of the Lord, He deprives you of something you very much want. You will discover compensatory blessings when you willingly accept the will of the Lord and exercise faith in Him."

(Roasting mallows with the wonderful Baker family.. a guaranteed spirit booster!)

"Willing service to others is a key to enduring happiness. President Kimball said: "God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another mortal that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other."

(I don't know what I would to without these two lovely ladies who do so much for me)

"Challenges are growth experiences, temporary scenes to be played out on the background of a pleasant life. Don't become so absorbed in a single event that you can't think of anything else or care for yourself of for those who depend upon you. Remember, much like the mending of the body, the healing of some spiritual and emotional challenges takes time. The Lord has said, 'Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days'" (D&C 24:8).

"You will learn that sadness and disappointment are temporary. Happiness is everlastingly eternal because of Jesus Christ. I solemnly witness that He lives, that He loves you, and that He will help you."

I know this to be true because I am experiencing it!

a marvelous work

2011-03-15T13:20:00.009-06:00

Two years ago I decided to title my blog "Marvelous Things" after a song by Eisley, one of my favorite bands. In my pre-mission life my posts were devoted to school, movies, bands, food, recreation, trees, boys, etc... all of the "marvelous things" that were going on in my life at the time. Now that I am a full-time missionary and am devoting my thoughts and blog to more spiritual (and I might add more significant) matters, the title "Marvelous Things" has taken on a new meaning.

My last post gave a brief visual and explanation of The Book of Mormon, the record of ancient prophets which was translated by the prophet Joseph Smith. After finishing the translation through the power of God, Joseph said that the Book of Mormon "is the most correct of any book on earth." Isaiah chapter 29 speaks of a sealed book brought forth by an unlearned man, referring to the Book of Mormon brought forth by Joseph Smith. He calls it "a marvelous work and a wonder wrought among the people," and a marvelous work this is!

The book of Ezekiel also references the Book of Mormon when it talks about the stick of Judah(The Bible) and the stick of Ephraim (the Book of Mormon) coming together in one hand (Ezekiel 37: 15-20). This is precisely what is happening today, as we use the Bible and the Book of Mormon together for the "confounding of false doctrines, laying down of contentions, and establishing peace" among God's children in these latter days (2 Nephi 3:12). It is amazing how the Book of Mormon clarifies the doctrines from the Bible that many Christians contend over.

Many times the prophets throughout the Book of Mormon talk about the "wise purpose" for which they are keeping the records; a purpose that only God truly understood. The purpose was this: to help people know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is his prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's kingdom once again established on earth" (Introduction to the Book of Mormon). How grateful I am to live in a time when these records have been brought forth by God's wise purpose; and to know that He has again called a prophet on the earth today to lead and guide His children safely home.

MARVELOUS

THINGS

INDEED

the book of mormon; put simply

2011-03-13T15:22:00.005-06:00

Here is the Book of Mormon made simple. I saw this a few weeks ago and liked how clearly it explains it for those who may not know exactly what it is. The cartoon is a bit cheesy, but the narration is all factual.

If you would like to find out more or receive your own free copy of the book, click the "Chat with a missionary" or the "Book of Mormon" icons on the right side of this page!

happy birthday taylor

2011-03-10T13:30:00.005-07:00

The white guy on the end is my 19 year old brother.
Tomorrow he will be 20.
He will probably be spending his birthday riding a bike around the dusty roads in Africa, sharing a message of happiness and hope.
He will be doing this for two years of his life.

He washes all of his clothes by hand and takes cold showers.
He sometimes has to eat things like goat stomach soup.
But he says its all worth it, because he is teaching the perfect gospel of Jesus Christ to the beautiful people of Ghana.

He is my best friend and example.
I admire him so much.

How many 20 year old young men are voluntarily doing this kind of thing throughout the world right now?

Approximately 50,000.

Just one of the reasons why The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is cool.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAY TAY!

"And now, behold, I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentane unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father." -D&C 15:6

become as a little child

2011-03-07T14:57:00.006-07:00

(painting by Carl Bloch)

My wonderful mother wrote me this week and told me about the Carl Bloch art exhibit she saw at Brigham Young University this past week. She told me to look up this painting, and I am so glad I did. Pictures always speak louder than words, and to me this painting says, "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven"(Matthew 18:4) and "becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father"(Mosiah 3:19). I am trying every day to be closer to my Savior by becoming like a little child.

the most essential truths

2011-03-05T11:35:00.012-07:00

Of all the things I may write about on this blog pertaining to life and the gospel, these are the most essential and basic truths that I know. Everything else I write will tie back to these essential truths:

-God is our loving Heavenly Father. He hears and answers our prayers.

-God gave us His son Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for our sins. It is only through our Savior that we can return to live with God again.

-The grace of Christ is sufficient for all who believe on His name, repent of their sins, are baptized by immersion, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, and endure to the end by keeping His commandments.

-God has called prophets since the beginning of time to show us the way.

-After Jesus Christ was crucified, His apostles and disciples were rejected, and basic truths of His gospel were lost and confused.

-God called Joseph Smith to be a prophet in the early 1800's to restore those truths and restore Christ's gospel in its fulness.

-Joseph Smith was also called by God to translate the Book of Mormon: an ancient record of scripture written by prophets in the American continent.

-The Book of Mormon is a second witness to the Bible and is evidence that Christ's gospel has been restored through a modern day prophet.

-There is still a prophet on the earth today, as well as twelve apostles, who have been called by God to lead and guide us in these last days.

-Every person can know of the truthfulness of these things by reading the Book of Mormon and asking God through prayer if it is true. He will answer.

-Knowing of the truthfulness of these things will bring more peace and joy than anything else this life offers. You can learn more by clicking here and meeting with missionaries like myself!

"And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever." -Ether 12:41

closed on Sunday because we love Jesus

2011-03-01T10:35:00.014-07:00

This is a picture of a license place I saw my second week in the Tennessee Nashville mission. I had to snap a photograph of it because this is just not something we see where I am from. One of my favorite things about this region of the world is the outward expression of love for God and for our Savior Jesus Christ. It is not uncommon to see license plates that say "I have decided to follow Jesus", billboards with the ten commandments on them, or to hear Christian rock blasting from a teenager's car in the summertime. When I surf through Tennessean's blogs and websites I find similar patterns: people are very open about their religious views and are not shy writing about their relationships with God the Father or Jesus Christ. It reminds me of the verse in Romans 1:16 that says, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ." People here have taken this scripture to heart.

The Utah culture I grew up with is similar to the culture here in a lot of ways, but very different at the same time. I grew up in a very religious community where people have a lot of the same customs as people here in the Bible belt; they read their scriptures on a regular basis, pray, and go to church on Sundays. They are very good at living the commandments in their daily lives. Most of my acquaintances from home truly are "doers of the word, and not hearers only"(James 1:5). Businesses close on Sundays in order to keep the Sabbath day holy, certain movie theaters refuse to play inappropriate movies, and many people choose to drink lemonade at college parties instead of alcohol. However, a visitor to this state may not know what motivates these people to keep the commandments because there are very few "I love Jesus" bumper stickers or billboards, and Christian music is usually only heard on Sundays. Most people I know in Utah do not blog about their relationships with God or their Savior-they keep this to themselves- even though these relationships are very important to them.

So where am I going with all of this? Well, I have been studying a lot lately about what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ, and I have concluded that it is a perfect combination of these two cultures I have experienced. It is not enough just to talk about Christ, for He told us "If ye love me, keep my commandments." It is not enough just to live a good Christian life, for as 3 Nephi 5:13 states, "I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they may have everlasting life."

My dream is that Tennessee and Utah will combine forces.. and that we will all become both "hearers" and "doers" of the word. For as a modern day prophet once said:

"We will attain our exaltation only on the condition that we share with our Father's other children the blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and observe the commandments that will enrich our lives here and hereafter." -George Albert Smith

good things to come

2011-02-28T14:39:00.003-07:00

death by tornado

2011-02-25T14:49:00.006-07:00

My mission companions and I had a near death experience last night. As we were getting situated for bed in our top floor, hundred year old apartment, we were alerted of a tornado coming our way. Now, I have been through tornado warnings before (I do live in Tennessee after all) but this time was a bit of a different experience.

Our windows literally shook as rain and 80 mph winds rammed against them. The rain was striking the windows so forcefully that it looked like we were going through an automatic carwash, it sounded like we were in the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland, and it felt like it too as the ground rumbled and the street lights outside our window flickered off and on.

Now, I might be slightly dramatizing the situation, but a part of me really thought it might be my last night to live. I told my two friends that I loved them, and tried my best to fall asleep while a violent death awaited me. My frantic mind then led me to imagine what the spirit world would be like. Morbid? Perhaps. But nevertheless, I will tell you about it.

The spirit world is the space of time between death and the resurrection/judgment day. As Alma says, "the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yeah, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life." He also states that "the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow" (Alma 40:11-12).

What a place this will be! I don't know exactly what the place for the wicked will be like, but I'm aiming for this paradise Alma speaks of. This is also the place Peter talks about where Christ preaches the gospel to spirits in prison(Peter 3-4). Now, I am not hoping for a tornado to take me from this earth anytime soon..but if it does, it's comforting to know the other side won't be too bad.

so far yet so close

2011-02-21T12:04:00.019-07:00

I am here

my little brother is here

my best friend is here

and the majority of my other friends and family are here

but even though we are thousands of miles apart and our main method of communication is this

most of the time they don't seem very far away, and I attribute that to this

and this

Each night my friends, family and I kneel down and pray to the same father: I pray for them, and they pray for me. I know that God hears our prayers, and I feel close to them when I pray.

Each Sunday we go to the same church buildings throughout the world, study the same scriptures and doctrines, and worship the same way. The amazing thing about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that the teachings stay consistent no matter where you go. We are a worldwide, unified body of saints with Christ as the head. I love knowing that no matter where I am in the world, I will always be a part of the same church family-Christ's church family. It makes me feel not so far away at all.

nasty habits

2011-02-20T19:24:00.013-07:00

I have a confession to make: since arriving in Tennessee last July, I have developed some nasty habits--all of which involve food.

Nasty Habit #1: Second Breakfast
I remember watching Lord of the Rings with my friends in high school and laughing when one of the hobbits asks, "What about second breakfast?" Well, this question has now become frequently asked by me. I eat a bowl of cereal at approximately 7:30 a.m. each morning and by 9:30 a.m. I am ready for a tuna fish sandwich. This habit I've developed is not very good for my daily calorie intake.

Nasty Habit #2: Fast Food and French Fries
The combination of having a very limited food budget and even more limited meal times has led to this nasty habit. It's not something I am proud of, but it has become a regular and sustaining (or not so sustaining) part of my life these past months.

Nasty Habit #3: Chocolate
Not once a day or twice a day, but after every single meal; even second breakfast. Let's face it though, I developed this habit long before I got to Tennessee.

While these nasty habits sometimes cause me to feel down about the down about the direction my body is headed in, I find comfort in these scriptures: Psalms 22:29 "All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship" and 2 Nephi 9:51 "Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness."

After reading these verses I am left feeling not so bad about my habits. I do feel like I am spending my daily labors for that which satisfies (I'm in the business of bringing people to Christ), and I am definitely worshiping regularly. Therefore.. I delight in fatness.

borned again

2011-02-19T14:49:00.011-07:00

A month or two ago our friend's little boy Skyler came to church with us, and that day they had a lesson in his primary class about baptism. After church, he came home and told his mom and dad that he'd learned all about baptism; about how "when you go into the water, you get borned again and when you come out your skin is all clean."

It was so cute the way he said it, and we all laughed pretty hard. Not long after this comment, Skyler was able to see his mom get "borned again" and see her come out of the water all clean. It was such an amazing day, and I couldn't help but just smile all day long after seeing her come out of the water with so much joy and excitement. Today I was able to witness that same beautiful ordinance with my friend Nikki. As I watched her go into the water, and come out with that same pure, joyous look about her, I thought of Skyler's comment.

Why do we need to get "borned again?" In John 3:5 we are told that "except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." 2 Nephi 31 refers to baptism as the "gate by which ye should enter" and through which God promises us "a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost." We know that baptism is a necessary step to receiving salvation, and that even our perfect Savior was baptized to show us the way.

So how do we come out of the water cleaner than we were before? One of my favorite scriptures is in Isaiah 1:18, where we are told that "though [our] sins be red like scarlet, they can be white as snow." Our Savior Jesus Christ has given us the opportunity to be cleansed from our sins, and to walk in a newness of life as we bring our lives closer to him. When we are baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority of God, we are not only being cleansed from our sins but we are making a covenant with Him to keep his commandments and always remember Him. After we are baptized we can continue to be cleansed from our sins as we repent and partake of the sacrament each Sunday.

Nothing is better than knowing we are doing what God wants us to do, and that through Christ we have been cleansed from sins. I am so thankful for the sacred covenant of baptism, and to be able to see some of my best friends make that important step in their lives.

opposition

2011-02-17T10:52:00.004-07:00

Last week I wrote about strength; about staying strong despite opposition. Opposition is something I have been thinking a lot about lately, and I have been finding a lot about it in my studies. If there is only one loving Godhead, "One Lord, one faith, one baptism" (Ephesians 4:5) and only one way to eternal salvation and happiness, then why does there have to be so much darkness in the world? Why aren't people running after every LDS missionary they see saying, "Hey! Will you teach me God's plan of happiness and what I need to do to live with Him again?"

If only missionary work was that easy. But, the reality is that most people we talk to do not recognize the value of our message. The ones who do come to recognize the value of our message do not usually come to that recognition quickly or easily; it takes study, prayer, and devotion.

So why isn't it easy? Why does there have to be opposition? Well, the answer can be found in 2 Nephi 2:15&27. There must be opposition in all things, "forbidden fruit in opposition to the tree of life; the one being sweet and the other bitter." Life is full of opposites: light versus dark, good versus evil. Men are according to the flesh; we can either choose Christ, or we can choose His opponent. Ho do we know the difference? Moroni 7:13. Everything good comes from God.

Every prophet has faced opposition and been persecuted. Christ, our perfect example and Savior, was persecuted more than anyone who has ever lived. Of course Christ's church and gospel faces opposition today! The reassuring thing, however, is that good always triumphs over evil. God is what will bring true and everlasting happiness.

love

2011-02-12T09:36:00.012-07:00

Today is Valentines Day, and I want to post something about love. However, the love I am thinking of is a different kind of love than most people think of when V-day comes around. I am not going to write about red roses, chocolates, or teddy bears (even though all three are lovely, don't get me wrong); I am going to write about the kind of love that lasts. The unconditional, purest kind of love that only Christ has truly perfected. This love I speak of is known as charity.

One of my favorite scriptures on the subject is in 1 Corinthians 13:

"Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth."

I also want to quote some parts of my favorite talk on the subject:

"Love is the beginning, the middle, and the end of the pathway of discipleship. It comforts, counsels, cures, and consoles. It leads us through valleys of darkness and through the veil of death. In the end love leads us to the glory and grandeur of eternal life.

Sometimes the greatest love is not found in the dramatic scenes that poets and writers immortalize. Often, the greatest manifestations of love are the simple acts of kindness and caring we extend to those we meet along the path of life.

True love lasts forever. It is eternally patient and forgiving. It believes, hopes, and endures all things. That is the love our Heavenly Father bears for us.
We all yearn to experience love like this. Even when we make mistakes, we hope others will love us in spite of our shortcomings—even if we don’t deserve it.
Oh, it is wonderful to know that our Heavenly Father loves us—even with all our flaws! His love is such that even should we give up on ourselves, He never will.
We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever. Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won’t, for He sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of transformation. It takes us as men and women of the earth and refines us into men and women for the eternities.
The means of this refinement is our Christlike love. There is no pain it cannot soften, no bitterness it cannot remove, no hatred it cannot alter. The Greek playwright Sophocles wrote: “One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love.”

(This is from Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin's talk, The Great Commandment. Click to read the full text)

I know that God's love for us really is perfect; and that nothing we do can change his love for us. I also know that the way we can show our love for Him is by keeping his commandments, and that the more we do so, the happier we will become.

strength

2011-02-10T14:12:00.012-07:00

I can do all things through Christ

which strengtheneth me

(Painting by Greg Olsen)

On Tuesday I was able to attend a mission-wide transfer meeting in Franklin, TN. Ten missionaries went home, fourteen new missionaries arrived, and the rest of us were all reassigned areas and companions within Tennessee, Kentucky, and Illinois. As I sat there observing the situation, particularly the new group of missionaries, I couldn't help but think back to the day I first arrived in Tennessee.

Nothing in my life could have fully prepared me for that experience. After a whirlwind of events from May through the beginning of July 2010, I found myself in a land 1500 miles from home, completely surrounded by strangers. I was living and spending all of my time with two young women I'd just met, and we spent the majority of our days walking around in 113 degree weather in skirts, talking to every stranger we met about our religious beliefs. It was a life so foreign from anything I'd ever known. I knew that I was where God wanted me to be, but I wasn't sure exactly why. I felt homesick, exhausted, and alone.

As time passed and I became better acquainted with the people and the area, I started to enjoy the work a bit more. But I still struggled. One day I met a lady who gave me a bookmark with the insignia: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" -Philippians 4:13. I read that scripture I had heard so many times before, and this time it stood out to me with much greater force. The one thing that I needed more desparately than ever before was strength.

A few weeks later I had a similar experience. Elder C. Scott Grow, an apostle of the Lord, came to visit our mission and asked if he could interview me. I was a bit nervous at first, but he quickly helped me feel comfortable. He asked me a little bit about my life before my mission: my family, my school, and my desires. He also asked me if there were any questions I had for him. For some reason the question that came out of my mouth was, "How do I stay mentally and spiritually strong when there is so much opposition all around me?"

He pondered my question for a minute or two, and then he reached for his Book of Mormon. The scripture he turned to was Mosiah 24:14-15, and he asked me to read it out loud. These few verses talk about the people of Alma, who were being enslaved and persecuted because of their beliefs. All these people could do was turn to the Lord in prayer, and this was the response they received, "I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions. And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord."

My eyes filled with tears as I recognized this inspired answer to my question. How do I stay strong when there is so much opposition? There really is only one answer to this question: turn to Christ for strength. Christ suffered everything that we go through so that he could strengthen us in our hard times. The Lord will not always take our burdens away, but he does promise us that he lighten our burdens. He will strengthen us if we turn to him.

As I have trusted in this these past several months, and prayed to my Father in Heaven fervently each day, the promise has been fulfilled. The Lord has strengthened me. He has turned my hardest days into my best days, and these strangers into some of my best friends. Christ has strengthened me, and I have found so much joy in sharing his beautiful gospel. I know that this promise is true not only for me, but for everyone who turns to Him.

a sacrifice for sin

2011-02-07T14:19:00.008-07:00

(Painting by Greg Olsen)

"The offer of the firstborn Son to establish through his own ministry among men the gospel of salvation, and to sacrifice himself, through labor, humiliation, and suffering even unto death, was accepted and made the foreordained plan of man's redemption from death, of his eventual salvation from the effects of sin, and of his possible exaltation through righteous achievement."

-James E. Talmage

serving in tennessee

2011-02-05T13:38:00.005-07:00

Well, I am here! I have not used the internet for anything other than emailing my family for the past 8 months, but this is all about to change. Missionary work is being revamped. As the internet is the place people go for most of their information these days, it makes sense that missionaries are being asked to devote a bit of time each day to online proselyting. So this is what I will be doing: sharing scriptures, thoughts, and spiritual insights each day. Its really nothing different than what any Latter-day Saint can do! If the gospel is what makes us so happy, if this is what we live for, why not share it?

nashville

2010-05-14T07:22:00.004-06:00

Called to serve in Tennessee, Kentucky, and a little bit of Illinois...

I'm ready for you.
(I hope you're ready for me too.)

mamma

2010-05-09T13:22:00.006-06:00

You are...

The one who taught me how to love.
The one who taught me how to read, and appreciate good literature.
The one who taught me to put family before everyone else.
The one who showed me how to pray.
The one who showed me how to cherish the scriptures.
The first person I want to tell everything to.. good news or bad.
The one who taught me to never give up or feel discouraged.
Always there for me.. and the rest of the family.
The best example of Christlike living.
The one who taught me how to put other's needs before my own.
Always the one with the best attitude.
The one who taught me the importance of honesty.
The one who helped me develop an appreciation for nature.
The one who taught me to aways stand up for what I believe in.
The one who taught me to recognize beautiful things.
The one who showed me how to be a good friend.
The one who showed me how to recognize the good in everyone.

So very talented.
The best chef I know.
An amazing seamstress.
An incredible gardener.
A musician and and artist.
So dedicated to any good cause.
So sincere, with everyone you meet.
The most patient person I know.
So lovely, inside and out.

(I know you don't like this picture, but I think you are beautiful.)

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

two weeks

2010-04-29T08:22:00.004-06:00

Two weeks from yesterday (possibly three) I will be doing this..

..because I will be holding my mission call in my hands!!

(the beach may or may not be included)

simply wonderful

2010-04-19T23:57:00.004-06:00

I never knew I was such a fan of limeade.
Until I tried this.

Oh. My. Gosh. I guess I should have known that the manufacturers of my favorite orange juice could also produce a perfect lime creation. Its so simple. But so wonderful. And so is Brock for continuously providing it for me.

Try it. You'll love it. This is my promise to you.

sweet sweet

2010-04-07T11:02:00.004-06:00

So, yesterday Brock surprised me right when I got home from school by bringing me these..

as well as some cookies :) He just did it to be nice.. no particular reason at all. He's pretty great. I kinda like him.

(this is us up by Tibble Fork last weekend)

not so bad

2010-03-25T09:14:00.013-06:00

This has been me for the past five days...

I've never gone through tissue boxes so fast in my entire life!

But as miserable as being sick is... it seems that sometimes the best things happen to me when my body feels the most miserable. Like when I got the flu in elementary and got to stay home from school drinking warm cherry Jell-0 (mama nurse told me it would soothe my upset stomach and I did not argue or complain). Or when I got my wisdom teeth out and I got to watch High School Musical 2 three times in a row (ok i'm just kidding about that being one of the best things). The last time I got sick was in October, and the boy I liked started coming over to watch O.C. re-runs with me because that was the only thing I felt good enough to do. And for some reason, the boy I've been hanging out with for the past month decided to wait until now, when I have tissues in all my pockets and I'm blowing my nose every ten minutes, to finally kiss me.

I'm thinking maybe I should get sick more often?

sunshine

2010-03-14T13:33:00.001-06:00

the beach
and disneyland........

HERE I COME!!

as if nothing had changed

2010-03-07T23:46:00.012-07:00

"No matter how long I was away, no matter how great the distance, whenever my friends and I met again, it was as if nothing had changed. We picked up our lives where we left off, and it was as if time had stood still."

-Elder Ronald Rasband

I heard this quote tonight and of course, it made me think of this..

That really is how it feels every time we get back together.

I will always love you Mands, Beccs, Chrissy, Dan, Madds, Heath, Laur, Stina, Katie, Tia, Stace, Bry, Rach, and Las :)

And I hope it will be that way with these ladies when we're no longer together..

my friends are pretty great

caring

2010-03-03T07:50:00.009-07:00

Caring is a beautiful thing. It's what builds relationships. It's what defines our character. It's what makes us human.

However, sometimes it is not caring that releases us.

Not caring if the carpet gets dirty (because our vacuum is broken).

Not caring that we haven't showered today.. or yesterday.

Not caring if our professor gives us an A-, B+, or B on our best effort project.

Not caring if it's sunny or if it's snowy outside.

Not caring that we're not wearing the trendiest item (especially if it's a weird knit ear warmer headband with a giant flower on the front).

Not caring that a boy we really cared about stopped being a good friend.

Not caring that we're not brave enough to try the jumps and rails that everyone else is trying.

Not caring if we're not the fastest runner in the race.

Not caring if our stomach is a little bit chubby.

Not caring that we're wearing leather grandpa moccasins rather than cute high heels to school every day.

Not caring that we've been eating micro-waved leftovers for two weeks rather than cooking something new.

Don't get me wrong, I still consider myself a caring person. I still care about the most important things in life. But as far as some things are concerned,

sometimes

it just feels good

to not.

my pa

2010-02-25T08:50:00.008-07:00

Let me tell you a little about this man...

-He used to let my sisters and me wear his oversized t-shirts as nightgowns to bed every night.

-He safety pins his socks together after he's worn them so that when they go through the wash he never loses a match like the rest of us (ingenious right?)

-He would take us to the grocery store every time Mom went out of town and let us choose every kind of sweet cereal we could ever want.

-He would stay up until after midnight with me in high school, helping me with some of my most complex calculus problems.. even the ones I didn't have to do for class, just because we both liked solving them so much.

-He scrapes out the last bit of every chapstick tube with a pocket knife and compiles them all into an empty container, so as to not waste one bit.

-He wrote a poem for me once when our parents were asked to write us letters. He went through every letter of the alphabet and complimented me accordingly. (You're Awesome..you're Beautiful..you're Clever..etc).

-He cuts off the tops of Doritos bags whenever the chips are running low, so that no one gets their hands greasy and crumby by reaching down to the bottom of the bag.

-He came home a few weeks ago with three different kinds of Dove chocolates for me.. just because he knows they're my favorite.

-He paid me to type up the lyrics to a funny song we sang in elementary school because he loved it so much.

-He's invented some of the best recipes known to man, including the pineapple lime slushie, Steve's famous bean dip, and Christmas Eve eggnog.

-He retains knowledge unlike anyone I've ever met... ask him a history question, and he'll tell you exactly when, where, and how it happened.

-His eyes light up every time he talks about his grandbabies, and they get the most excited when they see him.

-He always compliments my golf game, even though he knows I'm not very good.
-He used to go outside in the freezing winters 15 minutes before I had to leave for school everyday, start my car, and scrape the ice for me so I wouldn't have to.

-He still walks me out to my car every time I leave for Logan and helps me carry out all of my things
-He's never lost a game of hearts or monopoly.

-He sends me texts almost every day just to see how I'm doing.

-He tells the best 'punny' jokes ever.

-He's the smartest man I know.

-He's the most organized man I know.

-He's the hardest worker I know.

-He's the best dad I know.

And today is his birthday.. HAPPY BIRTHDAY PA!

I love him so much. I am so lucky to have him, and I will be lucky if I find a man who is even half as brilliant and selfless as he is.

walter

2010-02-22T18:07:00.006-07:00

Want to meet the newest member of our duplex family?

Rachel found him hopping along the middle of the road in Salt Lake Saturday night, so she pulled over and rescued him. I think this was meant to be..because I have been wanting a bunny so bad lately! We decided his name is Walter...he loves us and we love him. We read him bedtime stories last night and rocked him to sleep.. just trying to make him feel welcome here. Isn't he great??

happy v day

2010-02-14T09:30:00.008-07:00

I may not have a special Valentine this year, but I get to spend all weekend with people I love...

doing what I love most...

eating some of my favorite foods..

..and I have absolutely no complaints. So this year my heart goes out to them and to the rest of my family, to my friends who are amazing, to my roommates who are always there for me, and maybe... to whoever the man is that will be here with me...

sometime in the distant future.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

sunny kitchen

2010-01-30T12:55:00.005-07:00

As I might have mentioned before, Logan can be a bit gloomy in the winter. We've had week after week of gray skies, not because of stormy weather, but because of the inversion. Even when its sunny in Salt Lake, Utah County, or up Logan Canyon, it is continuously gray here in Cache Valley.

Rach and I noticed that is was starting to affect our moods. We were feeling depressed for no particular reason, and finally we linked it to the lack of sunshine in our lives. So here was our solution to all this gray.. after we turned in two projects on Monday, we made a spontaneous decision to paint. If Logan won't bring sunshine to us, we will bring sunshine to our kitchen!

Our walls were previously white, and our kitchen was almost as drab as outside. But not anymore! Its surprising how much it has affected our moods this week.

What do you think?

something else that makes me happy

2010-01-26T00:38:00.019-07:00

I just wanted to brag about some of the people I love the most in this world. You might think I'm talking about my awesome parents or siblings, or my incredibly talented best friends, but instead I just wanted to take a minute to show off my very favorite little people on the planet:

Olive

Violet

Charlie

Taylor

(little Tay and big Tay)

Jack

Maxwell

Hailey

Can you see why I'm kind of obsessed with them?? When I'm sad, there's nothing that can make me instantly happy like being around these guys. I miss them like crazy right now! The babies make me so excited to have my own someday, and Hailey, Maxwell, and Jack are more like my sister and brothers than my niece and nephews. My roommates and friends probably get sick of hearing about them, but I never get sick of talking about them.

I love them so..so.. much. Thats all.

(p.s. sistas.. thanks for letting me steal some of your pictures and show off your kiddos. Until I have my own I'll just keep bragging about yours. Thanks for sharing them with me)

thank you

2010-01-21T09:35:00.002-07:00

fresh snow makes everything better

tomorrow, tomorrow

2010-01-17T22:58:00.005-07:00

Will the sun please come out tomorrow? Or will it please snow tomorrow so I can go snowboarding? Please Logan? Please life? This is all I ask for.

break time

2009-12-13T09:33:00.005-07:00

The time finally came for me to say goodbye to this home

with this

and more of this

so I drove past this

and my favorite Logan tree

to get to my next favorite tree

and this

It finally feels like Christmas time.

I'm so happy to be home!

done

2009-12-08T13:20:00.011-07:00

I finally finished my final projects!! Now I just have two final tests to take before I'm done with this semester for good. After these projects though.. taking tests seems like a such a relief. I've been living in the Landscape Architecture studio for the past month.. and I am ready for Christmas break! Here's the 40 acre recreational park I just designed for North Logan City.. if you're interested:

And this is the same park but with a detailed planting schedule for my planting design class:

(click to enlarge...but the quality might be really crappy...its a 1.2 gigabyte photoshop file.. so down saving it enough to upload it decreases the quality)

tonight

2009-12-02T13:48:00.006-07:00

my old school

vs.

my new school

Who will I root for?! In my opinion, both schools are pretty great. I probably didn't have as much school spirit at BYU as I do at USU (ironic?). So I would gladly cheer for the Aggies, the only problem is that USU fans are pretty rude and annoying, at pretty much every game. Which I'm ashamed of. So part of me wants to cheer for the Cougs.. but I might get beat up if I go to the game in my Y shirt. Perhaps I'll just wear solid navy blue, and secretly cheer for both teams. Go Cougs! Go Aggies! May the best team win.

thank you, mom

2009-11-24T10:01:00.009-07:00

for introducing me to one of my best friends, so many years ago...

What is it? A vintage hair dryer.
Do I dry my hair with it? No.
However,

it heats up my sheets for me before I get in bed
it humms me to sleep every night
it drowns out all the worldly noise and chaos
when I come inside after a gloomy day, its at home waiting to warm me up
it comforts me when I'm sad or stressed
I know I could not survive a Logan winter without it.

But there is one problem.. these hair dryers are becoming scarce. They usually die or lose their warmth after a few years of loyal service, and need to be replaced. My mom and sisters are stocking up, and no one is very willing to part with one these days. Therefore, you may not buy one and try it for yourself after I've told you how wonderful it is. You may, however, surprise me for Christmas or my birthday or any other holiday with a gift like this. I promise I would love you for it.

13.1

2009-11-10T23:03:00.004-07:00

I did it! After months of training and anticipation, Saturday, Nov. 7 finally came and I ran the Snow Canyon half marathon in St. George. It was an amazing weekend.. spent in warm weather with some of my favorite people. And the run went a lot better than I expected! Not too hot (or cold.. which is what I'm used to in Logan), not too tiring, not too stressful or too much of anything. It was beautiful, and I loved it. I don't know if I'll ever do a full marathon, but I definitely plan on doing more races in the future! There is plenty of room for improvement. Here are some photos from my weekend:

Some of the favorite people I mentioned, carbo loading at Olive Garden

Marinda and I right after the race

The 3 of us with our victory medals

Katie Lewis came down to see us!! Oh how we miss her

The only bad thing about the weekend was that I lost my camera in all the rushing and traveling. Therefore, all of the pictures you see are stolen from Tasha's camera. This meant that I didn't get any pictures of me crossing the finish line. But fortunately, the news crews were taking pictures, and (don't ask me why) I happened to be the picture they chose for the newspaper article. It was kind of a shock when I clicked on the link and saw a close up picture of me at the top of the article! Its a pretty embarrassing picture. haha

good day

2009-10-26T23:59:00.008-06:00

today

Taylor

brought

our

snowboards

and

purchased

our

Beaver

resort

season

passes!!

counting down until the day we can use them!!

yay.

my life

2009-10-22T01:38:00.006-06:00

In case anyone was wondering, this is what I've been doing non-stop since Monday morning, taking breaks only for classes, and food. Its a 3 acre site in west Logan that we're designing demonstration gardens for.. with examples of formal, informal, postmodern, wetland, and native gardens throughout. I spent 7 hours Monday after classes (which don't end until 5:30 p.m. by the way), 13 hours Tuesday after class (which ended at 3), and 11 today. No one warned me that applying to the landscape architecture program meant I was signing away my life! Oh how I love it though...

(click on the image if you want to see it bigger)

P.S. Don't worry if this doesn't make any sense to you.. it only makes sense to me about half of the time.

change

2009-10-13T13:02:00.009-06:00

I already made a post about the changing leaves.. but the leaves are not the only thing that are changing. I’ve been thinking a lot about change lately. Not in an Obama-ish “let’s change all of America’s core values” kind of way. But rather, in a President Monson-ish “the only constant is change” kind of way.

Change has always been difficult for me.. I remember my mom saying I was her only child who wanted to go back to elementary school after going to jr. high.. or back to jr. high after starting high school. But I realize that change is an inevitable part of life.

Many noticeable changes are occurring right now that I can’t ignore, as much as I want to. I’m getting older. Life cannot be as carefree as it once was. School is not just about grades anymore, because it is more than just school, it is my soon to be profession. Religion is no longer just something to strengthen myself, its something I need to share with others.. and hopefully a year from now I will be sharing it full time :). My best friends are getting married and our group that has been basically the same since the 6th grade will never be the same. But none of these are bad things, they are just different things. The hardest part about change is that it makes me nostalgic. It makes me think about the people and things I miss the most:

-I miss the mountains in Alpine
-I miss laughing with Becca
-I miss sharing clothes and hot soup and meaningless dreams with Mandy every day
-I miss having deep conversations with Annie Stapp
-I miss sleepovers at Maddi’s
-I miss Katie Lewis’s voice
-I miss doing everything with and telling everything to Cody
-I miss going up the canyon with Braden and Kody
-I miss working on projects and getting lunch with Molly
-I miss playing with my nieces and nephews
-I miss golfing with Dad and seeing Mom every day
-I miss running and going on bike rides with Annie
-I miss going to Indie shows in Salt Lake
-I miss Mom’s dinners
-I miss dressing up for high school dances
-I miss math!!

And this is definitely not everything I miss. But my point is not to have a pity party, or feel bad about all the things I miss. Even though good memories make me miss the past and sometimes dread the future, I would never take any of them back. And I don’t think I would ever choose to go back in time either. Because as much as I love the past, I love now too. Now is good. I’m learning to appreciate the changes that come.. and look forward to changes the future brings. I love school, I love Logan, I love my roommates, I love fall. I’m looking forward to a St. George trip this weekend, Halloween, running a half marathon in November, Christmas, and snowboarding! Bring it on life...

autumn in utah

2009-10-07T20:40:00.011-06:00

"O hushed October morning mild,

Thy leaves have ripened to the fall"

-Robert Frost

I thought I'd share a collection of some of my favorite canyon photos...because its that beautiful time of year again. I just really love fall. On Sunday we went for a family drive up and around the Alpine loop.. and it snowed!!

I took these up American Fork Canyon two years ago...probably my favorite place in the world.

Last fall Chrissy and I jumped on her scooter in Dumb and Dumber style and meandered up Logan canyon.. we got lots of funny looks for some reason..I think its time for another one of these rides. Chrissy?