You matter to Him. Never give up.

Which Way Do You Face?

"Courage is...the form of every virtue at the testing point.  ...Pilate was merciful till it became risky."

- C.S. Lewis -

Here's a one-minute video on Christ's example of courage:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a6BcSolTeo&list=PLClOO0BdaFaNmUqc3ItZJgiuQC9AuoGVo&index=3

I add my witness that these words are true.

For further reading, click here!

Qualitative Equations

Beauty = Love

Love = Beauty

*As long as it's real beauty, and real love

Just ponder on that for a while till it sinks in.

It's a beautiful, beautiful truth.

:)

Why all this talk about God?

Ever wonder why I can't shut up about God and my religion?

Take 5-10 min to read this talk by David A. Bednar.  He explains why better than I can!

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/come-and-see?lang=eng

Peace out!

Living the dream!

I painted this ceiling tile at the end of my senior year in high school, to be put in the AP Art room.  

The idea was to illustrate myself rejoicing in the bright future and potential in store for my life.

 

Now, 4 years later, I revisited the classroom where my precious ceiling tile is displayed.  Here I am, with a bachelors degree, now pursuing a PhD.  I'm living the dream!  

I'm starting to see that bright, beautiful future unfold before me, behind me, and all around me.  I know that I am in the path God would have me follow.  Oh, what joy, courage, and peace that brings to my heart!  I am so grateful to God for making possible all my deepest desires and hopes.  He loves each and every one of us, His children, more than we can possibly understand... yet. ;-)

How have you seen God guiding you in your life? 

What hopes, dreams, and desires has He enabled you to pursue?

I promise you that He is well aware.  If you don't see His hand in your hopes and dreams... Well, maybe it's time to reassess what those hopes and dreams are.

- peace out -

Our powerful roles as women, and men. As God's children.

Though I don't know everything, I know this:  

I am a daughter of God, my Heavenly Father, who loves me, and has great plans for my growth and happiness.  

This speech is pretty long (almost an hour), but it is worth listening to, especially if you have concerns about how Mormon's regard and treat women.  Please, listen with an open heart to the beliefs of Sharon Eubank, director of Humanitarian Services and LDS Charities.  I enthusiastically agree with her.  There is more to life than this temporary world!

Link is here

A glass half full

{image from fearlessmen.com}

This analogy gets a lot of use, and a lot of criticism.  But there's really something to it: we do get a lot more out of life, and are a lot happier, when we focus more on the positive than on the negative.

This works especially when people are involved.  

Progress and happiness grow in love, not fear.  (2 Timothy 1:7)  

People grow through love, not fear.  

When people feel loved rather than criticized

--when they know that they're enough, and worthy of love--

they have a greater capacity to grow, succeed, and serve.

{image from raya's paradise}

That's why I believe "constructive criticism" is rarely constructive (to use the words my Dad has said).  People can often feel attacked and belittled when receiving "constructive" criticism, no matter how true the criticism might be.  In one book of scripture (D&C 121:42-43), God commands us to be gentle, patient, long-suffering and show kindness to others as the general rule -- only giving correction when "moved upon by the Holy Ghost" (aka when God tells us to) and then being sure to express an increase of love towards that person, so that they know we are on their side.

So instead of focusing on what's wrong in others and ourselves, why not seek to catch them doing something right?  

For example,

Why not focus more on how kind it was of so-and-so to open the door for what's-her-name, instead of criticizing so-and-so's outfit?

Why not focus more on how much we enjoy doing [insert physical activity here], instead of hating ourselves for being overweight? 

Why not focus more on how we can make someone's day a little better, instead of wishing what's-her-face would make our day better?

There is a time and a place for the negative.  But in my book, it should be far, far outweighed by the positive.  As we keep our eyes single to hope, gratitude, love, forgiveness, etc., we will be able to see clearly, and recognize that though bad stuff exists, it does not have nearly as much power over us as we once thought.  Even though there are things you want to change in yourself and others, keep working on your goals, and being grateful for the good in yourself, others, and the world around you.  As you do this, the bad stuff will eventually fade away like shadows overpowered by a bright and glorious light.

{image from lds.org}

It's true.  :)

--Big thanks to my Dad who sparked the idea for this post, and both Dad and Mom who proofread this!--

One step at a time

Mosiah 16:9

"Lead kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom;

Lead thou me on!

The night is dark, and I am far from home;

Lead thou me on!

Keep thou my feet;

I do not ask to see

The distant scene--

One step enough for me."

"Lead, Kindly Light"

LDS Hymn #97

So often we get overwhelmed by trying to do everything at once, to know everything right now.

But that's not how it works.

Just as little children learn to crawl before they walk,

We as God's children are taught and led by Him one step, one stage, at a time.

The way to heaven/eternal joy/salvation (however you choose to describe it) is not by teleportation.

I like to think of it as more like the ladder Jacob saw in a vision.

God knows and loves you.  If you seek to submit to His will, He will reveal what your next step is--

Not the whole plan, but certainly enough for you to move forward.  

Then you apply your faith by actually taking that step.

You have something to contribute

I've been thinking a lot about spiritual gifts lately...

What exactly are spiritual gifts?

They are blessings given by God to His children for their own benefit, and for the benefit of others.

Everyone has different gifts; nevertheless, everyone does have a gift.

Moroni 10:8-18, 1 Corinthians 12, D&C 46:11, "Gifts of the Spirit"

Find out what your spiritual gifts are by considering what you're good at,

What you're passionate about,

The compliments other people give you, 

etc.

Kneel in prayer 

and ask Heavenly Father what spiritual gifts He has blessed you with.

Then, use them to bless others' lives!

“One of the most comforting teachings of the gospel is that each son and daughter of God—every one of us—is born with an inheritance of gifts, talents, and abilities that can help us through our earthly mission…We cannot be happy and successful in life without gratefully acknowledging those gifts and doing all we can to develop them.  Our problem is never that we have no strengths; the problem comes when we do not recognize our strengths and build upon them."

- Gerald Causse - 

"For When I Am Weak, Then Am I Strong"

Shout out to my dear, dear mother who has the gifts of:

Teaching

Pure love of God and man

Sacrifice

Learning

Obedience

{I am so grateful for her}

Peace out.

Feel-goods and Feel-bads

Emotions.
They are a peculiar thing.

Whether it's that fluttering you get inside when you think you're falling in love,

The pain of betrayal by someone you trusted,

Or those tender feelings of compassion when you sympathize with another human being,

You notice your emotions.

And sometimes, you struggle with them.

David A. Bednar (shown above) once said:

"In the classroom of mortality, 

we experience tenderness, love, kindness, happiness,

sorrow, disappointment, pain,

and even the challenges of physical limitations

in ways that prepare us for eternity.  Simply stated,

there are lessons we must learn and experiences we must have, 
as the scriptures describe,

'according to the flesh.'"

{{Things As They Really Are}}

See also: 1 Nephi 19:6; Alma 7:12-13

My thoughts?
I believe that we all existed as spirit children of our Heavenly Father before we came to earth.
That we did not have bodies before this earth life; and that
a huge part of our reason for coming was to obtain our own bodies.

David A. Bednar said that we experience those feelings in mortality as preparation for eternity.  "According to the flesh" means that ways in which we we experience them are likely unique to our mortal life (where we live in the flesh).

Personally, I think that these emotions we feel--tenderness, love, kindness, happiness, sorrow, disappointment, pain, etc.--at the intensity we feel them now, are new to us.  I think we had emotions before, but our physical bodies enhance them to a level that we've never experienced before.  Maybe part of this earth life is meant to be a learning experience for us on handling emotions.

Look around and you'll see all the different ways that people try to deal with their emotions.  We have developed so many ways to suppress, escape, or communicate them. Some examples and/or consequences include medications, art, food, drug addictions, behavioral addictions, posturing, music, dance, prayer, exercise, etc.
{Let me just put a special plug in for prayer!  God hears you.}

We are learning beings.  Always learning, learning, learning...

I don't mean to imply that emotion is "the answer to everything."  I just mean to say that, I believe, the intense emotions we experience might be entirely new to our souls, and therefore it's normal and expected to be a little unsure about what to do with them.

But let's keep this in mind:
Emotion, by definition, is meant to lead to motion.

So let's put them to good use!
"...bear one another's burdens that they may be light.... mourn with those that mourn, comfort those that stand in need of comfort..."
Mosiah 18:8-10

beautiful things:
our bodies
emotions
learning and growing from the good and painful
love and service to others

and much, much, more.




peace out.

The Savior wants to forgive

I met this humble and good man at the Utah Valley University Addiction Conference last year.

These words are true.  God is still with you, with His hand stretched out still.

(see Isaiah 5)

Beautiful is the peace that repentance brings. 

No matter how many times you have to do it.

Prophets speak today

I'll be watching every session.   I hope you will join me, wherever you are in the world!

Chemistry and the Gospel

The sun

image from: sherbornpastor.blogspot.com

Is the source of all energy on earth.

Light from the sun enables

Plants to create sugars (which provide energy) using photo-synthesis.

Animals and humans then eat the plants and/or other animals who eat plants,

And thereby get the sugars created by the plants via photo-synthesis,
To use as energy for needed physiological processes.

Basically, the energy you and I use to move, think, and even just exist,

Ultimately comes from the sun.

Similarly,

And much more importantly,

The Son, Jesus Christ, is the source of all energy in the universe--in heaven and on earth.

image from: https://www.lds.org/media-library/images/woman-taken-in-adultery-948852?category=jesus-christ&lang=eng

beautiful thing:  sweet symbolism

Heaven's help is there

this one-minute video is beautiful.

very, very well worth your time.  i promise.

#didyouthinktopray?

this video brought me back to my knees.

Do your best, and forget the rest!

photo from lds.org

“The Lord doesn't expect us to work harder than we are able. He doesn't – nor should we – compare our efforts to those of others.” –Dieter F. Uchtdorf
{quote from the mormon.org facebook page}

This truth gives me comfort when I start to feel pressured about school assignments

(Especially essays!)

Pain

Wandering into my bedroom--

Alone, weary, frustrated.

I collapse to my knees

And utter a silent plea:

Why these feelings?

With so much to be happy about,

Why do I have painful,

Confused, frustrating feelings?

An image comes to mind

A clear and quiet understanding:

You endure the pain of exercise--

Of resistance training,

Of running--

With pleasure and gratitude,

Knowing it will lead to greater gains in strength.

This is no different.

peace

This really hit my heart strings (and tear ducts) tonight.

I needed it.  

I hope it helps you, too.

<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>

"To the individual who is weak in the heart,

fearful in the heart:

be patient with yourself.

Perfection comes not in this life, but in the next life.

Don't demand things that are unreasonable,

but demand of yourself improvement.

"As you let the Lord help you,

through that, He will make the difference."

Peace in the knowledge of God,

and our identity as His children,

is beautiful.

<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>

We need food

Our bodies, this world, our lives... are all symbolic of eternal truths.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

{there is beauty in the seemingly insignificant}

peace.

What's in a face?

That's my face.

Isn't it beautiful?  ;)

^^^^^^^^^

Looking at another person's face is one of the most profound ways by which we can lose ourselves, 

and remember another person's innate human value.  Making both of us happier.

^^^^^^^^^

"Hearkening to the call of Christ from His Spirit,

or through another's countenance,

or both, we become genuinely honest, simple, solid, true--

often together with someone we may not have trusted before.

[do you want to be that?  genuine.  honest.  simple.  solid.  true.  i sure do.]

"Whether it is felt in His breast or in ours, 

the Savior's love can achieve what force cannot

because where force calls forth counterforce,

love calls forth love...

"How then shall we come unto Christ...?  

By sacrificing all taking of offense.  

By giving up criticism, impatience, and contempt....

By giving these practices their true name, 

violence, 

and abhorring even their first appearance.  

By renouncing war in every form and 

proclaiming peace....

"Listen attentively to the teacher whose lectures may be a little dry.  

Read with particular care the papers of students who struggle to write.  

Befriend the one who feels different, lost, or lonely.  

Embrace the child who seems to resist you.  

Take seriously the advice of parents who have trouble following that advice themselves.  

Invite to dinner those who lack the graciousness or the means to invite you back.  

Even 'love your enemies, do good to them which hate you' (Luke 6:27)....

"This kind of love is who we really are.... 

And anything less

--judging others and withholding our favor from them--

capitulates to Satan."

[Quote from this speech by C. Terry Warner]

{He's founder of Arbinger Institute, the group that wrote The Anatomy of Peace and Leadership and Self-Deception}

^^^^^^^^^

I have seen through personal experience how true this is.

Join me in putting these promises to the test.

Whether you're renewing your previous commitment, or turning over a new leaf.

Let us forget ourselves, and go to work.

Rethink how you treat others

It's only about 3 minutes.  You'd spend that much time trying to decide whether or not to watch this, anyways!  I promise you won't regret pressing play.

Beautiful:  The Savior loves each and every one of us, His children, more than we can comprehend.