#BecauseofHim

Happy Easter to Everyone!! I hope your spending the holiday with friends and family around you as we celebrate Our Savior, Jesus Christ.

I have a testimony of the Savior. I love the song "I know that my Redeemer lives"

1. I know that my Redeemer lives.

What comfort this sweet sentence gives!

He lives, he lives, who once was dead.

He lives, my ever-living Head.

He lives to bless me with his love.

He lives to plead for me above.

He lives my hungry soul to feed.

He lives to bless in time of need.

2. He lives to grant me rich supply.

He lives to guide me with his eye.

He lives to comfort me when faint.

He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears.

He lives to wipe away my tears.

He lives to calm my troubled heart.

He lives all blessings to impart.

3. He lives, my kind, wise heav’nly Friend.

He lives and loves me to the end.

He lives, and while he lives, I’ll sing.

He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

He lives and grants me daily breath.

He lives, and I shall conquer death.

He lives my mansion to prepare.

He lives to bring me safely there.

4. He lives! All glory to his name!

He lives, my Savior, still the same.

Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:

“I know that my Redeemer lives!”

He lives! All glory to his name!

He lives, my Savior, still the same.

Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:

“I know that my Redeemer lives!”

I know that my Redeemer lives. I know that He atoned for each of us and know each person's trials personally. I know that He sacrificed for me and my sins so that one day I may be able to once again live with Him and my Heavenly Father. As I have gone through some hard times in the last couple months, I have become closer and closer to my Savior. I have been overwhelmed with the pain that just my path has caused and to think that He took upon Himself the worlds pain, those who are living and those who have died before. He knows the pain of the sad, of the abused, of the neglected, of the depressed, of the addicted, of the lonely, of the hurt and inflicted, etc. He knows and gave us away through it. Lean on Him! Trust Him to help with your burden! Praise this glorious gift that He so willingly gave. He has helped me through my trials and pain and He can help all those who come unto Him.

 

Christ the Redeemer

[The Redeemer’s] sacrifice blessed everyone, from Adam, the first, to the last of all human beings.

By Elder Carlos H. Amado

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born and died in unique circumstances. He lived and grew up in humble conditions, without material things. He said of Himself, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head” (Luke 9:58).

He never received honors, favors, recognition, nor preferred treatment from the political leaders of the earth or from the religious leaders of His day. Neither did He sit in the highest seats of the synagogues.

His preaching was simple, and even though multitudes followed after Him, His ministry always consisted of blessing people one by one. He performed innumerable miracles among those who accepted Him as the One sent from God.

He gave His Apostles authority and power to do miracles “and greater works” than those He performed (John 14:12), but He never delegated to them the privilege of forgiving sins. His enemies became indignant when they heard Him say, “Go, and sin no more” (John 8:11) or “Thy sins are forgiven [thee]” (Luke 7:48). That right belonged only to Him because He is the Son of God and because He would pay for those sins with His Atonement.

His Power over Death

His power over death was another divine attribute. Great Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, pleaded “that he would come into his house: for he had one only daughter, … and she lay a dying” (Luke 8:41–42). The Master heard his plea, and while they were walking, a servant came to Jairus and told him, “Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master” (Luke 8:49). After entering the house, Jesus asked for everyone to go out, and straightway, taking her by the hand, He said to her, “Arise!” (Luke 8:54).

On another occasion, while He was traveling to the city of Nain, He came upon a funeral procession, a widow weeping for the death of her only son. Full of mercy, He touched the bier and said, “Young man, I say unto thee, Arise” (Luke 7:14). The people, upon seeing the miracle, exclaimed, “A great prophet is risen up among us; and … God hath visited his people” (Luke 7:16). This miracle was even more noteworthy because they had already declared the young man legally dead and were on the way to bury him. With two young people brought back to life, the evidence of His authority and power over death astonished the believers and filled the defamers with fear.

The third occasion was the most impressive. Martha, Mary, and Lazarus were siblings whom Christ would often visit. When people informed Him that Lazarus was sick, He remained two days before leaving to come to the family. In consoling Martha after her brother’s death, He categorically testified to her, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” (John 11:25).

When the Savior asked for the mourners to remove the stone from the sepulchre, Martha timidly whispered to Him, “Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days” (John 11:39).

Then Jesus lovingly reminded her, “Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” (John 11:40). And having said this, He cried out with a loud voice:

“Lazarus, come forth.

“And he that was dead came forth” (John 11:43–44).

After Lazarus’s four days in the grave, the enemies of the Son of God were faced with irrefutable evidence they could not ignore, diminish, or distort, and they senselessly and maliciously “from that day forth ... took counsel together for to put him to death” (John 11:53).

The New Commandment

Later on, the living Christ celebrated in Jerusalem, along with His Apostles, His last Feast of the Passover, established the ordinance of the sacrament, and gave them the commandment to love one another through sincere service.

His Agony in Gethsemane

After that, in the most sublime show of His love for humankind, and in the full exercise of His will, He walked bravely and determinedly to face His most demanding trial. In the Garden of Gethsemane, in utter loneliness, He suffered the most intense agony, bleeding from each pore. In total submission before His Father, He atoned for our sins and also took upon Him our illnesses and afflictions in order to know how to succor us (see Alma 7:11–13).

We are indebted to Him and to our Heavenly Father because His sacrifice blessed everyone, from Adam, the first, to the last of all human beings.

Condemnation and Crucifixion of the Savior

Once His agony in Gethsemane was concluded, He voluntarily gave Himself up to His detractors. Betrayed by one of His own, He was hurriedly condemned, in a manner both unjust and illegal, in a trial both manipulated and incomplete. That same night He was accused of the crime of blasphemy and condemned to death. In their hatred and thirst for vengeance--because He testified to them that He was the Son of God--His enemies plotted for Pilate to condemn Him. To that end, they changed the accusation of blasphemy to sedition so that His death would be by crucifixion.

His condemnation among the Romans was even more cruel: their mockings and scorn regarding His spiritual kingdom, the humiliating coronation with a crown of thorns, His painful scourging, and the prolonged agony of His public Crucifixion were all a clear warning for every person who might dare to declare himself or herself His disciple.

At each moment of His suffering, the Redeemer of the world showed exceptional self-control. He always thought of blessing others; with kindness and tenderness, He pleaded for John to take care of His mother, Mary. He asked His Father in Heaven to forgive the executioners who crucified Him. With His work on earth fulfilled, He commended His spirit to God and breathed His last breath. The physical body of Christ was taken to the tomb and remained there three days.

The Work of the Redeemer among the Dead

While His disciples were suffering from sadness, discouragement, and uncertainty, our Savior, in another phase of His Father’s glorious plan, extended His ministry in a new way. In the short period of three days, He worked untiringly to organize the immense work of salvation among the dead. Those days became some of the most hope-filled of all for the family of God. During that visit He organized His faithful followers so that they would bear glad tidings of redemption to those who did not in life come to know of the glorious plan or who had rejected it. Now they would have the opportunity to be freed from their captivity and to be redeemed by the God of both the living and the dead (see D&C 138:19, 30–31).

The Firstfruits of the Resurrection

With His work completed in the spirit world, He returned to earth--forever to unite His spirit with His physical body. Even though He had authoritatively shown His power over death, the scriptural accounts of those He brought back to life before His Resurrection demonstrate that they were only coming back to a life that had been miraculously prolonged; they would yet die.

Christ was the first to be resurrected and never die again, to possess forever a perfect, eternal body. In His resurrected state, He appeared to Mary, who as soon as she recognized Him, began to worship Him. Our Redeemer, with great tenderness, warned her concerning His new and glorious condition: “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father” (John 20:17)--providing an additional witness that His ministry in the spirit world was real and complete. Then, using language that confirmed the reality of His Resurrection, He said, “I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God” (John 20:17). After going to His Father, He returned again and appeared to His Apostles. “He shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord” (John 20:20).

The Redeemer Will Return

I testify that Christ will return in a way very different from His first coming. He will come in power and glory with all the just and faithful Saints. He will come as King of kings and Lord of lords, as the Prince of Peace, the promised Messiah, the Savior and Redeemer, to judge the living and the dead. I love and serve Him with all my heart, and I plead that we may serve with joy and dedication and that we may remain faithful to Him until the end. In His name, Jesus Christ, amen.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas Eve!!

Helaman 13:2-4

2 And it came to pass that in this year there was one Samuel, a Lamanite, came into the land of Zarahemla, and began to preach unto the people. And it came to pass that he did preach, many days, repentance unto the people, and they did cast him out, and he was about to return to his own land.

3 But behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, that he should return again, and prophesy unto the people whatsoever things should come into his heart.

4 And it came to pass that they would not suffer that he should enter into the city; therefore he went and got upon the wall thereof, and stretched forth his hand and cried with a loud voice, and prophesied unto the people whatsoever things the Lord put into his heart.

Helaman 14:2-4

2 And behold, he said unto them: Behold, I give unto you a sign; for five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name.

3 And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day.

4 Therefore, there shall be one day and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night; and this shall be unto you for a sign; for ye shall know of the rising of the sun and also of its setting; therefore they shall know of a surety that there shall be two days and a night; nevertheless the night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night before he is born.

Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus

 Said Samuel, “Within five years

A night will be as day,

And Baby Jesus will be born

In a land far, far away.”

Hosanna! Hosanna!

Oh, let us gladly sing.

How blessed that our Lord was born;

Let earth receive her King!

Across the sea, in Bethlehem,

Lord Jesus came to earth

As Samuel had prophesied,

And angels sang His birth.

 (Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus)

Luke 2:1-11

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Once within a Lowly Stable

Once within a lowly stable,

Where the sheep and oxen lay,

A loving mother laid her baby

In a manger filled with hay.

Mary was the mother there,

And the Christ that baby fair.

God sent us this loving baby

From his home in heav’n above,

And he came down to show all people

How to help and how to love.

This is why the angels bright

Sang for joy that Christmas night.

Luke 2:12-20

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Picture a Christmas

 Picture a stable in Judea.

Picture a sacred, silent night,

And can you hear

The angels near

And see the star so bright?

Picture the little baby Jesus.

Think of his life and words so dear.

Sing praise to him;

Remember him,

As you picture Christmas this year.

Picture the kind and gentle Joseph.

Picture the mother, Mary, fair.

And can you see

So rev’rently

The shepherds kneeling there?

Please as you lay your heads tonight remember the true meaning of this holiday... The Christ child was born and atoned for our sins.

13-16th of November

Sorry!! I have running around like a chicken with its head cut off this week and was not able to find much time to sit down and blog my thankful days. So instead of writing four different blogs I am going to bunch them all together. I apologize if they are short but here goes.....

13th of November

I am thankful church every Sunday. I absolutely loved going to church in my parents' ward. Most everyone was inviting and I knew just about everyone. My favorite part about that ward though was having the elderly member in Sunday School and Relief Society. I loved listening to their insights on the lessons and felt like I learned so much from them. My favorite person, if any of you know me would be like duh of course, was Sister Amy Jo Compton. She is such an amazing person! First, she was my freshman seminary teacher which was fabulous and then after high school she was over the young single adults in our stake which incredible. I credit a lot of my gospel knowledge from her. I love her lessons and her insight on everything.

Anyways, since being in a Student Married Ward, I feel like my introvert-ness has really, really been apparent. I have a hard time sitting for two more hours after sacrament. One, because I would rather not talk to anyone and just keep to myself which a lot of you may not know. And two, because I feel like I learn very little that I don't already know. Well, last week Relief Society actually surprised me. So though I try very, very hard to keep to myself, a gal tried to keep up a conversation with me before everything started. And she was one of those people that even though I am not want the conversation to keep going, she did. Which actually turned out to be okay, she was very nice. The he lesson started and at first I was skeptical mainly because the girl teaching immediately started crying..... For me this is never a good sign. Now, don't take that as I am some horrible person but it makes it very hard to pay attention, let alone hear the message when someone is sobbing through it. So I kind of already started to check out when she composed herself and started teaching. Right of the bat is was good. She passed out notecards for each of us and told us to fold it in half. One half make a list of things The Lord gives us and the other half things the world gives us.

Here was my list:

Everything good in our lives has been given to us from The Lord. Everything that Satan uses to pull us down to his level is what the world gives us. I am thankful for church with lessons like this. Think for yourself: how much time do you spend on eternal thoughts vs. worldly thoughts?

14th of November

I am thankful for BYUI and the schooling that John is receiving. I am extremely grateful for the tithing that goes into the school so that we can receive an education at very little cost to us. I am also grateful for a school that I instills that values and standard that the church teaches. How wonderful it is to have so many young people in the same town who have the same values!

15th of November

I am thankful for clothes and shoes! Now I am not really a girly-girl. Really my job doesn't allow that...way too dirty and physical! But I do love clothes and I really really love shoes! I am grateful to The Lord that he gave us the technology to make clothes and that he has given others the talent of designing fashion. I love that clothes, shoes, hair, accessories, etc make us diverse! I strongly feel that what we wear tells the world a little about who we are. Most first impressions are made on what you are wearing which to some people is not important but that is what makes each of us ourselves. Each person has there own style according to their personality, their situation, their location, their culture. Sounds silly but clothes make our lives a little exciting on what tomorrow brings and what impression you want to make to the world. And I am grateful for shoes just because I love them so!

16th of November

I am thankful that John and I are dreamers! How non-exciting our lives would be if we couldn't dream about what could be!?! Oh how very dull and mindless it would be! One of John & I's dreams is to have our very own modern day castle in a forest ;).

 Yes this is a very big dream and yes there is a possibility of it never happening but we still love to talk about all our plans for it, what kind of rooms we are going to have and where things are going to go. Our dreams push to go farther than we would push ourselves normally. It helps us make a path to find the means to accomplish our dreams. John and I love, love, love talking about our castle..... Hopefully one day we can share it with all of you!

1st of November

It is November!! My goal this month is to post something I am thankful for everyday. I tried this last year and sadly, I failed miserably. So here we go again. I challenge each of you to try too! Makes you think of something every day to be thankful for and makes the whole month more pleasant.

1st of November 2013

I am so grateful for the creation of nature. God's own artwork all around us. How amazing that we get to not only see it but live within it. I especially love fall! Who else would of thought of the leaves turning bseautiful colors right before they fall off the branches!?!  So yes I am terribly thankful for the nature around us. 

Whenever I hear the song of a bird

Or look at the blue, blue sky,

Whenever I feel the rain on my face

Or the wind as it rushes by,

Whenever I touch a velvet rose

Or walk by our lilac tree,

I’m glad that I live in this beautiful world

Heav’nly Father created for me.

The supreme beauty of the natural world reminds us of the power and perfection of God. When we are in nature, feelings of hope, peace, and reverence come to us through the Spirit. In nature we can see the handiwork of the perfect Artist. For centuries mankind has tried to emulate the handiwork of God. No human, however, has been able to match the perfect artistry of the Lord. Sometimes I wonder if God created the earth as He did to give us a small taste of what is in store for us in the future. If this earth can be so astoundingly beautiful, what must the renewed and perfected earth look like?

-Tom Reese

Healthy?

Which would you choose?

The Optometrist?

The Doctor's Office?

Or going to the Dentist?

I hate going to the optometrist. I hate going to the doctor. But I love going to the dentist. And I absolutely know why! At the optometrist, the doctor always tells me that my prescription has gotten worse or that my stigmatism is worsening. At the doctor's office , he always tells me that I need to lose weight, or I need some other thing fixed that I don't want to do like wart removal for instance. But at the dentist office, I have always been told how great my teeth are and how completely amazing that I am twenty-four with no cavities!! Okay so I am a little proud of that fact.... Anyways, I have always had bad experiences with the optometrist and the doctor and perfect experiences with my dentist which is usually the opposite for some people.

Well, I had to go to the doctor's office today. This may be too much information so I apologize now. I had to go get a Pap Smear. I am twenty-four years old and never had one. I had been dreading going to get one for a long time. I have tried to get one before this: once when I was eighteen and the military told me they wouldn't give me one (being too young; I didn't think so); and the other time, right before I got married and they didn't think that I needed one yet. So it's been a long time coming... So grudgingly, I made the appointment. Guess What? It went fantastic! I had heard from multiple people that it hurt and was awkward. My doctor, Dr. Meredith (a male!) was so cool about it. We talked for about a thirty minutes before hand and then through it. It didn't hurt. He made it funny so that it wasn't that awkward. Within seconds, it was done and it was like it had never even happened. I think the most awkward part was sitting there with a hospital gown on. No problem! Seasons Medical definitely will have a new recurring customer! 

To stick with being healthy, I read an excerpt from the Strength of Youth today that I would like to share. Even though, I am not a teenager any more, these standards still apply to me. They are great values to live by to help keep our bodies strong and healthy.

Physical and Emotional Health

"All saints who remember to keep and do these sayings … shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones; and shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge. 

Doctrine and Covenants 89:18–19

 

Your body is a temple, a gift from God. You will be blessed as you care for your body. Choose to obey the Word of Wisdom (see D&C 89). When you are obedient to this law, you remain free from harmful addictions and have control over your life. You gain the blessings of a healthy body, an alert mind, and the guidance of the Holy Ghost. You will be prepared to serve the Lord. Never let Satan or others deceive you into thinking that breaking the Word of Wisdom will make you happier, more popular, or more attractive.

To care for your body, eat nutritious food, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep. Practice balance and moderation in all aspects of your physical health. Also, avoid extremes in diet that could lead to eating disorders. Do not intentionally harm your body. Avoid dangerous activities that put your body at risk of serious injury.

Do not drink coffee or tea. Never use tobacco products or any form of alcohol; they are addictive and harmful to your body and spirit. Being under the influence of alcohol weakens your judgment and self-control. Drinking can also lead to alcoholism, which destroys individuals and families.

Avoid any drink, drug, chemical, or dangerous practice that is used to produce a “high” or other artificial effect that may harm your body or mind. Some of these include marijuana, hard drugs, prescription or over-the-counter medications that are abused, and household chemicals. Use of these substances can lead to addiction and can destroy your mind and your body.

Addictions harm your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. They damage relationships with family and friends and diminish your feelings of self-worth. They limit your ability to make choices for yourself. If you are struggling with any type of addiction, seek help from your parents and your bishop now.

Your emotional health is also important and may affect your spiritual and physical well-being. Disappointment and occasional sadness are part of this mortal life. However, if you have prolonged feelings of sadness, hopelessness, anxiety, or depression, talk with your parents and your bishop and seek help.

In all aspects of your life, seek healthy solutions to problems. Do all you can to safeguard your physical and emotional health so that you can fulfill your divine potential as a son or daughter of God."

What are you going to do every day to take care of your body??

Eves Homecoming

This last weekend was total Michelsen Crazy!!

Thursday night, Sherry (my mother-in-law), Kim and Michael (John's youngest siblings) arrived at our little apartment to start our family-filled weekend. Kim and Michael were super excited to meet our five kittens! 

Side note: Yes, people we have FIVE kittens.... No not a crazy cat lady just fostering some very cute babies.

Kim and Michael had lots of fun playing with the kiddies while I was still running crazy getting our suitcase ready after procrastinating!

Friday, we left at 9:00am for Utah after picking up Leisha! Now, I get terribly car sick when I am not driving like I can't even go ten minutes in a back seat without getting a headache and then the nausea kicks in. I have mastered at least not vomiting during a car trip since I was fourteen but it's still not fun.

 One of my worst experience with my carsickness was on a family trip when I was about twelve. I had been feeling it for a good while when I told my mom I did not feel good. She told me to sit up, look out the window, and suck on a peppermint. Well, the peppermint was no good and to this day I still do not like peppermints. I knew I had very little time before everything I ate that day came spewing out. Telling my mom and Jaren, my brother, this, they threw me a bag. Now if you ask either of them, they will say that they handed me the bag wide open. I do not remember this! I swear up and down that they threw me the bag in a crumbled ball and I did not have time to un-crumble and open it before everything fell apart. I vomited all over the bag and all over the floor next to me. I swear I have never vomited that much before in my whole life and it was all over the car! It's no surprise at all that my parents were not pleased especially after we cleaned as much as possible but still had to drive hours with all the windows open so that the smell didn't cause a repeat situation. And now it seems to be brought up all the time when we get all together.

Anyways, somehow I forgot this situation and that I don't do good for trips, and got in the car without any form of dramimine. I didn't realize it until we were already on the highway when I started getting a headache. I immediately thought "oh crap" with the incident I just described running through my head! Luckily, we weren't too far just yet and were able to stop in Idaho Falls for some travel sickness pills which put me completely asleep for the next four hours of the drive. Sweet!

We arrived in Draper about 1:00pm to see Kristie and my niece, Lilly! She is too cute! Lilly was very apprehensive at first with everyone in her face and cooing at her but after a couple days with us, she was laughing and playing!

After a very quick pitstop at Kristie's, we were in the car again to Springville where the Eves live which was the whole reason for us coming to Utah. Grandma & Grandpa Eves just came home from their mission in California!! What is crazy is their mission area what the exact area where I have lots of relatives! Small world, right? Both my mom's parents and my dad's mom go to the Oakland temple every week right where John's grandparents were called to!! Crazy!

Anyways after we ate a quick lunch and we said our hellos, Sherry took Kim and I over to John's cousin, Annie. Annie does hair and is amazing....totally recommend if you live near or in the surrounding area of Mapleton. Annie gave me a great haircut and helped me achieve a long time coming dream..... Drum roll please ......... Dye my hair dark!! My mom has given me highlights and I went one other time and got professional haircuts but this was my very first time to dye ALL OF MY HAIR! And I love it!! It's exactly what I wanted!

I need to take a better pick of my new hair.....coming soon!

Well now we are still on Friday!! Holy long day..... Right after and I mean as soon as we were picked up from Annie's house, we were off again! This time, we drove all the way to Logan which ended up being almost two and half hours. We were all super excited though because we were going to watch Jake's soccer game! Bt man was it cold. All ten, and later eleven, of us were bundled up in blankets but that did not stop us from screaming at the top of our lungs, rooting on Jake's team. It was a pretty exciting game too and we flew off our seats when Jake made a goal!

(Wish I could have gotten better pics of Jake's game!!)

Saturday morning, we had pictures with my amazing cousin, Melodie Scott! And the grove that Melodie picked for the pictures was fanatastic! I wish I had taken some pictures myself. The falls colors were sublime and were the perfect setting! We ended up having lots of fun and laughing during the process too, which, of course, helps tremendously with smiles.

(Repeat Picture!! But seriously ... It is that good.)

Luckily after that we had a more relaxing day at the Eves. At least it was for me since John needed to finish a good amount of homework while we were there. I did make him take a break and get a nap in with me ;).

That night we met up with our clan at the Brick Oven to celebrate Leisha's birthday. It's so funny listening to everyone debate on what we should order. I definitely took longer than us actually eating the pizza later! It was super funny though and I believe we had a great time. The night got even better when the balloon lady came over and we insisted that she make Leisha a crazy birthday hat. It is so mesmerizing to watch someone manipulate balloons, all the while talking to you and not popping the balloons. The monkey she made for Michael was too cute! I hope Leisha enjoyed her birthday dinner!

Sunday was very nice as all of Sherry's sisters and their families showed up for their parents homecoming talks. It was great to feel the support and love the children had for their parents and what they had just accomplished. I am not one who gives their testimony at church a lot. But I love listening to others' testimonies! It's amazing to feel the spirit as others bear witness of the gospel, of our leaders, and of our standards. I feel like my own testimony grows through the things that they speak of. And missionary testimonies are the best of all! I loved listening to Grandma and Grandpa Eves talk about some of their experiences and trials that they pushed through. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity of being there.

Before we left but after church, we had a lunch at the Eves with most of the family. There was lots of us! The time with family was super enjoyable but the same time, I craved my bed! About two o'clock, we left back to Rexburg for another five hour drive to make it back to our own bed safely! 

Thank you to the Michelsens for taking John and I with you. It was great to have time with family!

Broken Vessel

Life is hard and there are times were even the most put together person can feel overwhelmed. I know that I have definitely felt overwhelmed with my life and the way it was going. I had some very, very low points when I wasn't sure what my purpose was. I loved how Jeffrey Holland shared his feelings.

If you would like to listen or watch Jeffrey R. Holland's talk, click here

Like a Broken Vessel

Jeffrey R. Holland

The Apostle Peter wrote that disciples of Jesus Christ are to have “compassion one of another.”1 In that spirit I wish to speak to those who suffer from some form of mental illness or emotional disorder, whether those afflictions be slight or severe, of brief duration or persistent over a lifetime. We sense the complexity of such matters when we hear professionals speak of neuroses and psychoses, of genetic predispositions and chromosome defects, of bipolarity, paranoia, and schizophrenia. However bewildering this all may be, these afflictions are some of the realities of mortal life, and there should be no more shame in acknowledging them than in acknowledging a battle with high blood pressure or the sudden appearance of a malignant tumor.

In striving for some peace and understanding in these difficult matters, it is crucial to       pursuit of godliness will be tested and tried again and again. Of greatest assurance in God’s plan is that a Savior was promised, a Redeemer, who through our faith in Him would lift us triumphantly over those tests and trials, even though the cost to do so would be unfathomable for both the Father who sent Him and the Son who came. It is only an appreciation of this divine love that will make our own lesser suffering first bearable, then understandable, and finally redemptive.

Let me leave the extraordinary illnesses I have mentioned to concentrate on MDD—“major depressive disorder”—or, more commonly, “depression.” When I speak of this, I am not speaking of bad hair days, tax deadlines, or other discouraging moments we all have. Everyone is going to be anxious or downhearted on occasion. The Book of Mormon says Ammon and his brethren were depressed at a very difficult time,2 and so can the rest of us be. But today I am speaking of something more serious, of an affliction so severe that it significantly restricts a person’s ability to function fully, a crater in the mind so deep that no one can responsibly suggest it would surely go away if those victims would just square their shoulders and think more positively—though I am a vigorous advocate of square shoulders and positive thinking!

No, this dark night of the mind and spirit is more than mere discouragement. I have seen it come to an absolutely angelic man when his beloved spouse of 50 years passed away. I have seen it in new mothers with what is euphemistically labeled “after-baby blues.” I have seen it strike anxious students, military veterans, and grandmothers worried about the well-being of their grown children.

And I have seen it in young fathers trying to provide for their families. In that regard I once terrifyingly saw it in myself. At one point in our married life when financial fears collided with staggering fatigue, I took a psychic blow that was as unanticipated as it was real. With the grace of God and the love of my family, I kept functioning and kept working, but even after all these years I continue to feel a deep sympathy for others more chronically or more deeply afflicted with such gloom than I was. In any case we have all taken courage from those who, in the words of the Prophet Joseph, “search[ed] … and contemplate[d] the darkest abyss”3 and persevered through it—not the least of whom were Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, and Elder George Albert Smith, the latter being one of the most gentle and Christlike men of our dispensation, who battled recurring depression for some years before later becoming the universally beloved eighth prophet and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

So how do you best respond when mental or emotional challenges confront you or those you love? Above all, never lose faith in your Father in Heaven, who loves you more than you can comprehend. As President Monson said to the Relief Society sisters so movingly last Saturday evening: “That love never changes. … It is there for you when you are sad or happy, discouraged or hopeful. God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve [it]. It is simply always there.”4 Never, ever doubt that, and never harden your heart. Faithfully pursue the time-tested devotional practices that bring the Spirit of the Lord into your life. Seek the counsel of those who hold keys for your spiritual well-being. Ask for and cherish priesthood blessings. Take the sacrament every week, and hold fast to the perfecting promises of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Believe in miracles. I have seen so many of them come when every other indication would say that hope was lost. Hope is never lost. If those miracles do not come soon or fully or seemingly at all, remember the Savior’s own anguished example: if the bitter cup does not pass, drink it and be strong, trusting in happier days ahead.5

In preventing illness whenever possible, watch for the stress indicators in yourself and in others you may be able to help. As with your automobile, be alert to rising temperatures, excessive speed, or a tank low on fuel. When you face “depletion depression,” make the requisite adjustments. Fatigue is the common enemy of us all—so slow down, rest up, replenish, and refill. Physicians promise us that if we do not take time to be well, we most assuredly will take time later on to be ill.

If things continue to be debilitating, seek the advice of reputable people with certified training, professional skills, and good values. Be honest with them about your history and your struggles. Prayerfully and responsibly consider the counsel they give and the solutions they prescribe. If you had appendicitis, God would expect you to seek a priesthood blessing and get the best medical care available. So too with emotional disorders. Our Father in Heaven expects us to use all of the marvelous gifts He has provided in this glorious dispensation.

If you are the one afflicted or a caregiver to such, try not to be overwhelmed with the size of your task. Don’t assume you can fix everything, but fix what you can. If those are only small victories, be grateful for them and be patient. Dozens of times in the scriptures, the Lord commands someone to “stand still” or “be still”—and wait.6 Patiently enduring some things is part of our mortal education.

For caregivers, in your devoted effort to assist with another’s health, do not destroy your own. In all these things be wise. Do not run faster than you have strength.7 Whatever else you may or may not be able to provide, you can offer your prayers and you can give “love unfeigned.”8 “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; … [it] beareth all things, … hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth.”9

Also let us remember that through any illness or difficult challenge, there is still much in life to be hopeful about and grateful for. We are infinitely more than our limitations or our afflictions! Stephanie Clark Nielson and her family have been our friends for more than 30 years. On August 16, 2008, Stephanie and her husband, Christian, were in a plane crash and subsequent fire that scarred her so horrifically that only her painted toenails were recognizable when family members came to indentify the victims. There was almost no chance Stephanie could live. After three months in a sleep-induced coma, she awoke to see herself. With that, the psyche-scarring and horrendous depression came. Having four children under the age of seven, Stephanie did not want them to see her ever again. She felt it would be better not to live. “I thought it would be easier,” Stephanie once told me in my office, “if they just forgot about me and I quietly slipped out of their life.”

But to her eternal credit, and with the prayers of her husband, family, friends, four beautiful children, and a fifth born to the Nielsons just 18 months ago, Stephanie fought her way back from the abyss of self-destruction to be one of the most popular “mommy bloggers” in the nation, openly declaring to the four million who follow her blog that her “divine purpose” in life is to be a mom and to cherish every day she has been given on this beautiful earth.

Whatever your struggle, my brothers and sisters—mental or emotional or physical or otherwise—do not vote against the preciousness of life by ending it! Trust in God. Hold on in His love. Know that one day the dawn will break brightly and all shadows of mortality will flee. Though we may feel we are “like a broken vessel,” as the Psalmist says,10 we must remember, that vessel is in the hands of the divine potter. Broken minds can be healed just the way broken bones and broken hearts are healed. While God is at work making those repairs, the rest of us can help by being merciful, nonjudgmental, and kind.

I testify of the holy Resurrection, that unspeakable cornerstone gift in the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ! With the Apostle Paul, I testify that that which was sown in corruption will one day be raised in incorruption and that which was sown in weakness will ultimately be raised in power.11 I bear witness of that day when loved ones whom we knew to have disabilities in mortality will stand before us glorified and grand, breathtakingly perfect in body and mind. What a thrilling moment that will be! I do not know whether we will be happier for ourselves that we have witnessed such a miracle or happier for them that they are fully perfect and finally “free at last.”12 Until that hour when Christ’s consummate gift is evident to us all, may we live by faith, hold fast to hope, and show “compassion one of another,”13 I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Favorite General Conference Talk

So life has been a little crazy of late so I apologize for the lack of posts but I refreshed and ready to start anew!! Thank you for being patient with me!

 I loved listening to this talk and it definitely had the most notes from me so I decided to share it with you all! If you would like to watch and listen to it instead of reading, I have posted the link below:

No Other Gods - by Dallin H. Oaks

No Other Gods

by Dallin H. Oaks

The Ten Commandments are fundamental to the Christian and Jewish faiths. Given by God to the children of Israel through the prophet Moses, the first two of these commandments direct our worship and our priorities. In the first, the Lord commanded, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). Centuries later, when Jesus was asked, “Which is the great commandment in the law?” He answered, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:36–37).

The second of the Ten Commandments elaborates the direction to have no other gods and identifies what should be the ultimate priority in our lives as His children. “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing” in the heavens or the earth (Exodus 20:4). The commandment then adds, “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them” (Exodus 20:5). More than merely forbidding physical idols, this states a fundamental priority for all time. Jehovah explains, “For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, … shewing mercy unto … them that love me, and keep my commandments” (Exodus 20:5–6). The meaning of jealous is revealing. Its Hebrew origin means “possessing sensitive and deep feelings” (Exodus 20:5, footnote b). Thus we offend God when we “serve” other gods—when we have other first priorities.

What other priorities are being “served” ahead of God by persons—even religious persons—in our day? Consider these possibilities, all common in our world:

1. •Cultural and family traditions
2. •Political correctness
3. •Career aspirations
4. •Material possessions
5. •Recreational pursuits
6. •Power, prominence, and prestige

If none of these examples seems to apply to any one of us, we can probably suggest others that do. The principle is more important than individual examples. The principle is not whether we have other priorities. The question posed by the second commandment is “What is our ultimate priority?” Are we serving priorities or gods ahead of the God we profess to worship? Have we forgotten to follow the Savior who taught that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments? (see John 14:15). If so, our priorities have been turned upside down by the spiritual apathy and undisciplined appetites so common in our day.

For Latter-day Saints, God’s commandments are based on and inseparable from God’s plan for His children—the great plan of salvation. This plan, sometimes called the “great plan of happiness” (Alma 42:8), explains our origin and destiny as children of God—where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going. The plan of salvation explains the purpose of creation and the conditions of mortality, including God’s commandments, the need for a Savior, and the vital role of mortal and eternal families. If we Latter-day Saints, who have been given this knowledge, do not establish our priorities in accord with this plan, we are in danger of serving other gods.

Knowledge of God’s plan for His children gives Latter-day Saints a unique perspective on marriage and family. We are correctly known as a family-centered church. Our theology begins with heavenly parents, and our highest aspiration is to attain the fulness of eternal exaltation. We know this is possible only in a family relationship. We know that the marriage of a man and a woman is necessary for the accomplishment of God’s plan. Only this marriage will provide the approved setting for mortal birth and to prepare family members for eternal life. We look on marriage and the bearing and nurturing of children as part of God’s plan and a sacred duty of those given the opportunity to do so. We believe that the ultimate treasures on earth and in heaven are our children and our posterity.

Because of what we understand about the potentially eternal role of the family, we grieve at the sharply declining numbers of births and marriages in many Western countries whose historic cultures are Christian and Jewish. Responsible sources report the following:

1. •The United States now has the lowest birthrate in its history,² and in many European Union nations and other developed countries, birthrates are below the level necessary to maintain their populations.³ This threatens the survival of cultures and even of nations.
2. •In America, the percentage of young adults ages 18 to 29 who are married fell from 59 percent in 1960 to 20 percent by 2010.⁴ The median age for first marriage is now at its highest level in history: 26 for women and almost 29 for men.⁵
3. •In many countries and cultures (1) the traditional family of a married mother and father and children is coming to be the exception rather than the rule, (2) the pursuit of a career instead of marriage and the bearing of children is an increasing choice of many young women, and (3) the role and perceived necessity of fathers is diminishing.

In the midst of these concerning trends, we are also conscious that God’s plan is for all of His children and that God loves all of His children, everywhere.⁶ The first chapter of the Book of Mormon declares that God’s “power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth” (1 Nephi 1:14). A later chapter declares that “he hath given [his salvation] free for all men” and that “all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden” (2 Nephi 26:27–28). Consequently, the scriptures teach that we are responsible to be compassionate and charitable (loving) toward all men (see 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 1 John 3:17; D&C 121:45).

We are also respectful of the religious beliefs of all people, even of those increasing numbers who profess no belief in God. We know that through the God-given power of choice, many will hold beliefs contrary to ours, but we are hopeful that others will be equally respectful of our religious beliefs and understand that our beliefs compel us to some different choices and behaviors than theirs. For example, we believe that, as an essential part of His plan of salvation, God has established an eternal standard that sexual relations should occur only between a man and a woman who are married.

The power to create mortal life is the most exalted power God has given to His children. Its use was mandated by God’s first commandment to Adam and Eve (see Genesis 1:28), but other important commandments were given to forbid its misuse (see Exodus 20:14; 1 Thessalonians 4:3). The emphasis we place on the law of chastity is explained by our understanding of the purpose of our procreative powers in the accomplishment of God’s plan. Outside the bonds of marriage between a man and a woman, all uses of our procreative powers are to one degree or another sinful and contrary to God’s plan for the exaltation of His children.

The importance we attach to the law of chastity explains our commitment to the pattern of marriage that originated with Adam and Eve and has continued through the ages as God’s pattern for the procreative relationship between His sons and daughters and for the nurturing of His children. Fortunately, many persons affiliated with other denominations or organizations agree with us on the nature and importance of marriage, some on the basis of religious doctrine and others on the basis of what they deem best for society.

Our knowledge of God’s plan for His children⁷ explains why we are distressed that more and more children are born outside of marriage—currently 41 percent of all births in the United States⁸—and that the number of couples living together without marriage has increased dramatically in the past half century. Five decades ago, only a tiny percentage of first marriages were preceded by cohabitation. Now cohabitation precedes 60 percent of marriages.⁹ And this is increasingly accepted, especially among teenagers. Recent survey data found about 50 percent of teenagers stating that out-of-wedlock childbearing was a “worthwhile lifestyle.”¹⁰

 There are many political and social pressures for legal and policy changes to establish behaviors contrary to God’s decrees about sexual morality and contrary to the eternal nature and purposes of marriage and childbearing. These pressures have already authorized same-gender marriages in various states and nations. Other pressures would confuse gender or homogenize those differences between men and women that are essential to accomplish God’s great plan of happiness.

Our understanding of God’s plan and His doctrine gives us an eternal perspective that does not allow us to condone such behaviors or to find justification in the laws that permit them. And, unlike other organizations that can change their policies and even their doctrines, our policies are determined by the truths God has identified as unchangeable.

Our twelfth article of faith states our belief in being subject to civil authority and “in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.” But man’s laws cannot make moral what God has declared immoral. Commitment to our highest priority—to love and serve God—requires that we look to His law for our standard of behavior. For example, we remain under divine command not to commit adultery or fornication even when those acts are no longer crimes under the laws of the states or countries where we reside. Similarly, laws legalizing so-called “same-sex marriage” do not change God’s law of marriage or His commandments and our standards concerning it. We remain under covenant to love God and keep His commandments and to refrain from serving other gods and priorities—even those becoming popular in our particular time and place.

In this determination we may be misunderstood, and we may incur accusations of bigotry, suffer discrimination, or have to withstand invasions of our free exercise of religion. If so, I think we should remember our first priority—to serve God—and, like our pioneer predecessors, push our personal handcarts forward with the same fortitude they exhibited.

A teaching of President Thomas S. Monson applies to this circumstance. At this conference 27 years ago, he boldly declared: “Let us have the courage to defy the consensus, the courage to stand for principle. Courage, not compromise, brings the smile of God’s approval. Courage becomes a living and an attractive virtue when it is regarded not only as a willingness to die manfully, but as the determination to live decently. A moral coward is one who is afraid to do what he thinks is right because others will disapprove or laugh. Remember that all men have their fears, but those who face their fears with dignity have courage as well.”¹¹

I pray that we will not let the temporary challenges of mortality cause us to forget the great commandments and priorities we have been given by our Creator and our Savior. We must not set our hearts so much on the things of the world and aspire to the honors of men (see D&C 121:35) that we stop trying to achieve our eternal destiny. We who know God’s plan for His children—we who have made covenants to participate in it—have a clear responsibility. We must never deviate from our paramount desire, which is to achieve eternal life.¹² We must never dilute our first priority—to have no other gods and to serve no other priorities ahead of God the Father and His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

May God help us to understand this priority and to be understood by others as we seek to pursue it in a wise and loving way, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.