He Shall Prepare a Way

December 1, 2013

So, it’s Sunday morning, the Sunday after Thanksgiving. I have had a break from work for a few days.  It's been such a nice breather. We had Thanksgiving dinner here. There were 6 of us, me, Becci, Meagan, Kyle, Michelle, and Emmett. It was just right, festive, but relaxing. I enjoyed making the meal, and Becci helped me, which was fun. She put her own little touches on things by making place cards and little pretzel and oreo turkeys and we got some pretty dinnerware and a table cloth to make things look nice.

I haven’t been doing a lot of writing lately, and I think that I should get back to it since I have a moment of space in time to breathe, albeit briefly.

I’ve been thinking about talents and callings a bit this week.

Last Sunday Brother Henne asked me to be one of the ward organists. They have 4 of them in our ward. They have discovered that busy moms with young children like it better when they only have to play once a month, which is what they were doing before the ward split. Now that our ward has been reconfigured, they were looking for a couple more people to help out as organists, so they could keep this going. I think it’s a great idea. Share the wealth and all of that—so anyway, they asked me if I could play. Brother Henne wondered if it would be a stretch for me to do this, and a few people wondered if I was nervous, but I said yes I’d do it and no I’m not nervous. It’s been awhile since I have been called to accompany the singing at church, but I’ve done it before. I told them I was much more nervous when they called me as an organist for Sunday School while I was still in High School. I’m not nervous today. If the Lord wants me to be an organist, then I trust that he’ll make an organist of me. I am excited to become something that I've always wanted someday to be.

I don’t remember clearly when I started wanting to be able to play the piano, but I’m sure it had a lot to do with going to church and loving the piano music there. I begged my parents to let me learn to play the piano enough that they actually bought me one, even though I would be the only one who would be using it, and even though they did not have a lot of extra cash. I never really became an amazing pianist, but I learned to play enough that I could accompany at church, and that was my goal. After I got married, it wasn’t too long before I got my husband to buy his mother’s piano, so I could have a piano in my home again. Through the years I was called a few times to play for ward choir or primary, and I have been playing to accompany our school choir for a few songs each Christmas and Spring for the concerts at school over the last several years.

I always wanted to be an organist in the temple, I always thought that that would be such an amazingly peaceful job to just sit and play hymns in the temple chapel. I wasn’t sure this would ever happen, because I didn’t figure I had reached a competency level sufficient to ever be called as a ward organist, but here it is, my first step to get there, and I am excited to be given this opportunity to develop my skills to a new level. I can’t guarantee that I will ever play in the temple chapel, but, it could happen.

I know that people sometimes think that doing something a bit outside of your comfort zone is something to be shunned or feared, but I don’t think that’s how we should look at callings in the church.

I like to reference Nephi’s attitude to the assignment he got from his priesthood leader, his father: “ I will go and do the thing which the Lord has commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandment unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.”

Being obedient and accepting assignments in the church gives us opportunities to develop talents and to show our faith. I was thinking yesterday, that in accepting his duty, Nephi and his brothers did all that they could think of to do to accomplish the task their father had given them, but even so, they could not accomplish it. It was beyond their capacity to do so on their own. Only Nephi understood that they did not need to depend on their strength alone. He had enough faith to step out beyond his knowledge and understanding, and to extend his faith in the Lord as his only preparation to accomplish the job. He gave the task, in a sense, back to the Lord, and became an instrument in the Lord’s hands to accomplish the task, as the Lord would have it be accomplished. It thus becomes obvious to all that the Lord accomplished the task of releasing the plates to the family of Lehi. The sons of Lehi did not do it on their own. Why do you think the Lord accomplished the task in this way? Why did he manifest his hand so clearly and so clearly show their failure to get the plates through association, riches, persuasion or any other way?

Sometimes to get the full lesson being taught by the Lord, we have to look at things in different ways and ask different questions. Why does the Lord give us tasks to do that we feel we are not fully qualified to accomplish on our own? Does he not then give us the opportunity to be qualified; to be lifted up through our faith, and through his guidance and blessing? Does he not then test our faith to see if we will continue as we have started, and when we have fully demonstrated our commitment, do we not then see the miracle of the hand of God in our lives,  lifting us up and providing the way?

I say that we do. So should we not then be anxious to serve in whatever place the Lord would call us to serve in--fully expecting that if we do what we can do by our own efforts, that the Lord will magnify us to fit our calling? I love it when I can see the Lord’s hand in my own life, when I can see the path that I have walked being guided by the Lord. Usually it is in hind sight that I see what has occurred, but sometimes it is quite obvious while it is happening as well. Even so, time usually gives us a unique perspective when we look back and see what the Lord has made of us.

It is so for me, with the organ playing. In the blessing I got when I was set apart I was told that I would be able to use the talent that the Lord gave me to bless the lives of others, that I could “bear my testimony” through playing music, and that I would “receive revelation and comfort from the Holy Ghost” through practicing the music, that The Holy Ghost would be close to me at these times. It was weird to think of playing the piano as a talent that the Lord gave me. I guess I had not really thought of it that way exactly.  It had become something that I just sort of learned to do. Now, thinking back and forward, it seems like more than that—and that’s kind of cool.

. . .a Thanksgiving Thought

Sometimes I look around at all of the things I love in my life, like my sunflower kitchen, my mountain view, my piano, and my cozy fireplace.

Sometimes I think about all of the people who make my life full and interesting and who center my world and make me whole,

and then I think of how all of these things came to be part of my life.

I like the song "The Wind Beneath my Wings." I have always kind of associated that song with ones parents. They give us so much initially to sort of launch us into life and hold us aloft.

So with that thought in mind, I was thinking about another person who really has become the foundation of my life today. This person is not so much the wind beneath my wings, as he is the legs upon which I stand.

Without him I would be less than whole.

Without him, the people and things that I currently hold most dear, would be gone, and my life would instantly be something completely different.

That person is you, Kirby Crowley.

After 30 years together, I find that making a life with you has made of my life something both meaningful and joyous--not without trial, no-- but a life that has given, even to trials, purpose and significance that transcends the moment, making temporary pain or discomfort an inconvenience, rather than a calamity.

I was just thinking that I should acknowledge this thought by writing it down, and by thanking you, both for holding me up, and for the making of us, which has become so much more than anything I could have made of myself.

Life is good. . . .

Forgiveness

"Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could be any different."

Oprah Winfrey--"The message that came through so clearly and stayed with me is this: Forgive, so you can truly live.  Forgiveness is letting go, so the past does not hold you prisoner, does not hold you hostage. . . .

Forgiveness doesn't mean you condone the behavior or, in any way, make a wrong into a right.  It simply means that you give yourself permission to release from your past. . . It's not holding on, hoping, wishing that it could have been any other way.

Forgiveness is like medicine--medicine that can heal your pain.  It can bring you peace.  Forgiveness is something that you do for yourself.  Forgiveness means that what someone did no longer is going to affect how you live in the present moment. . . .Unforgiveness blocks you from taking the risk of love."

I'm starting to understand how this is all supposed to work. God offers us everything. He gives us each an opportunity to have all that He has. There is no limit to it, so He can give everything to everybody. We do our best to follow him, but we all mess up. It's okay, He made a way to fix broken messed up people. We just have to believe and act. Two simple steps, over and over again, believe and act, and gradually we improve and grow. If we slip up we start again, but as much as we stay on track, we grow faster. This life isn't about what most people think it is about. It's not about winning. It's about submitting, learning, trusting, enduring, and then being lifted up. Faith and trust give the greatest power and peace.

Letter to Becci for YW lesson

Hey, Becci, My Girl,

I was asked to write you a letter about temple marriage--my testimony of temple marriage

Temple marriage is marriage the way God intends marriage to be.  It is the absolute highest ordinance of the gospel.  It creates a union that is meant to exist through-out eternity.  It gives us crowning, exalted blessings and grants us the opportunity to multiply--or to have children, to create a posterity for ourselves and our fathers and mothers before us.

When we are pure and we enter the holy temple with that special person whom we have chosen to be a partner with us for our life here, and our eternal lives, that is a special day,  a day when angels rejoice.  You go to one of the most perfect and beautiful places on earth, one that has the purest spirit, in your beautiful spotless white clothes, which signify your worthiness and virtue.  You are the princess for the day, about to be made a queen.

It is something to look forward to and to savor and to treasure.

Being married in the temple will be a powerful strength to you during your lifetime.  It will always give you courage.

I love you, my girl!
Mom

Letter to Bethany

Hi Sweet Girl,


How has your week been? Did you get to watch conference? I attached my favorite moment of conference here for you to put on your mp3 player. I love the last climax phrase of this song. It made me cry. This was the last song on the Sunday Morning Session, the last message of that session which sang in my heart, "All is well. All is well." The spirit carries that message powerfully into my heart every time I hear the last notes of this song. I was thinking about it this morning and I had an image come into my mind of Peter walking on the water (not looking down at the waves and water around him to realize where he was or what he was doing, which would be impossible to his mind for him to do) but Peter looking at the Savior and his outstretched hand and trusting that He was not going to ask him to do anything that he couldn't do--or that the Savior wouldn't help him to accomplish, so Peter was walking on the water, ignoring the waves around him. I thought about the iron rod, how there are so many distractions along the side of the path, rivers of filth, fog, large and spacious buildings, people pointing and mocking, and I thought that the people who were holding to the rod had to keep their focus on the path and the rod and the tree and not get too distracted by everything else that was going on around them. I think that the world we live in is so full of tumult and catastrophe that it is easy to get distracted and start to sink in the waves around us. It is essential that we keep our focus on the Lord and keep our trust in His power and strength to help us walk the path before us with faith and a sure footing, even if our path is on water with waves around us, it can still be as sure and firm as solid ground, if the Lord has bid us come unto Him across that path--so with our faith in His word, we can traverse it unafraid.

"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."

We had a fun day yesterday. Michelle brought her boyfriend, Emmett home to meet the family. He isn't very tall, just taller that Michelle, but he is kind of stocky--sort of like Brandon Cowen, but broader in the chest and not pudgy. He has nice blue eyes and dimples, and he is friendly and outgoing. He has some of the same types of mannerisms that Michelle has, which is kind of interesting to watch. He laughs a lot and he talks like Michelle. He definitely fits into Michelle's group of friends in personality type. He skyped home while they were here and I got to virtually meet his family. They reminded me a bit of the Schultz family, only he is the oldest at 25, so they must be younger by a bit. Emmett also has a nice voice, as we sang the conference songs together. Everyone likes him, so that's a good thing. Michelle has been walking every day, and has lost some weight. She looks good.

We all were here for dinner after conference and we went for a walk around the park at about 8:30 p.m. It was funny to watch Isiah running after his dad. That kid can move. It has been sort of rainy this week. We would have a couple of nice sunny days and then some cool rainy ones. My daffodils are out. I trimmed the willow tree and the wisteria on Saturday. I need to trim the lilac bushes, rake the lawn and mow. . .the list goes on. Michael is going to come over and get some starts for his garden today. He only has about 2 weeks before he is going to basic training. They called the other day and asked if he would be alright moving his departure date up a bit, so he'll be leaving the 23rd of this month. At least it will be cooler, they told him. Shantel and Michael are excited, but nervous. Isiah will be with Shantel here, at least until July. That is when the next court date is. He will either have to go back to his mom at that time or be adopted out. Shantel said that 8 months is as long as they'll keep him on foster care without adopting him out, but she thinks his mom will get him back because she is trying to stay clean.

Becci had a fun time on her trip and now I am trying to get her to go back to school. She has home release for 1st period now so she doesn't have to be at school until 9:00.

Meagan has a male interest also these days. Someone from Joselynne's neighborhood was trying to set her up with this guy, Aaron, but she was already dating Brigham, so she gave them Meagan's name. So Aaron started by texting Meagan for a week or two while he was on vacation, and then last week he invited her over to his family's house in Farmington (Thursday), and they watched movies, and they got together again for games on Friday night at Brigham's house. So Meagan kind of likes him, and he is active LDS, 21, I believe. Seems like a nice enough guy. He has dark hair and eyes and he is tall--a little overweight, but not bad. Both he and Emmett have beards (goatees), but Emmett is balding and shaves his head.

So, things are always interesting around here.

Caryn got a teaching job with a residential treatment school in Magna. They have about 30 kids there of various ages --(teens) who are working through different types of issues, like eating disorders, behavioral problems, etc. They have school and counseling etc. at this center. I guess they come from all over the US and are placed in this school for 8 months at a time. Caryn will teach history and Spanish. Each kid will get an individual lesson based on their grade level needs. There is a school in Magna and one in Sandy. Caryn will alternate teaching at both schools. It does not run a regular school schedule, so she won't get summers off. She will start at $30,000 a year. She and Sammy are starting to shop for houses in the West Jordan area. Caryn will graduate the first part of May, but she is not going to "walk" because she and Sammy are planning to go to Vegas that weekend to see a comedy show to celebrate Sammy's birthday. She does want to have a graduation party at the house and invite people, so she can get money. . .Good luck with that, I say.

Other than that, nothing is really going on around here. . .;)

We love you, and miss you, and pray for you all the time. I am very proud of you and how hard you are working to learn everything you need to know. I was describing your living conditions to everyone yesterday at the kitchen table, and Sammy kept nodding. I guess he had some of the same things to get used to on his mission. He said that the first couple of months were the hardest, and then he got used to things. Here's to things getting easier for you.

We sure love you bunches.

Mom

Don't Say Nuthin' at All

My dad used to always say:  "If you can't say something nice, don't say nuthin' at all."  It's a quote from the Disney movie "Bambi."  Thumper, the rabbit, repeats it as  one of the things his father always tells him.

I think I internalized this pretty well growing up. Staying in control was expected at my house, and it was a way modeled by my parents.  I don't remember them blowing off much steam.  They generally approached things calmly and spoke in measured tones, even when emotional.  When I have something that wants to come out that isn't nice and won't really help improve a given situation.  I will usually bite my tongue and withdraw whether than attack and let the critical thoughts fly.

It's kind of funny, cause Becci often tells me to stop yelling at her when I speak sternly to her.  I don't even raise my voice, and I'll tell her, I'm not yelling.  She doesn't like me speaking sternly to her.  I guess to her that is yelling for me.  I guess it's a good thing when people notice small changes, and you don't have to make a big scene to make a point, but it does make for pretty sensitive kids that are difficult to talk to without their feeling defensive.

Perhaps people have come to know that when I'm not so happy, it is a more pleasant thing for us all, for me to retreat.  Maybe they don't know that's what's going on in my head at all sometimes.  That's okay too.

It sometimes takes a little while for the annoyance to burn off and the mean thoughts to dissipate out of my head.  But they generally do after a bit.   Then, of course I am glad I kept my cool.  People think better of me this way I'm sure, and things stay more peaceful like.  Probably everybody feels that way sometimes.

I guess it's not a bad notion after all.

The Work Thou Gavest Me

I dropped Bethany off at the MTC today.  She was so ready to go!  I am confident that the MTC will be an amazing and wonderful experience for her.  Bethany has always been such a helpful and uplifting person, always so willing to work hard to set and achieve high goals.  I expect only the best for her.

It is my great honor to be the mother of 7 amazing people.  It is my greatest joy.

I am excited to see all of my children grow, and to watch them mature and overcome their own challenges and reach for their own stars.  A mission is something Bethany always wanted to do. . .Caryn also.  It is satisfying to see my kids make and achieve worthy goals.  Other examples of this include Michael and Shantel finding a way to nurture a child despite the obstacles that were placed in their way, Michelle finding a way to work in her chosen field, Caryn working her way to finish her education, and Sammy working his way to a good career opportunity.  I am pleased when I see Kyle becoming competent in various skills and growing in the gospel.  I am impressed by Meagan's creative genius, and Becci's determination to succeed and to make her way in the world.  I could go on and on. . .

I had a sort of affirming joyful experience the day Bethany gave her farewell talk in church.  For the sacrament hymn that day we sang the phrase:  "I've done the work thou gavest me, receive my spirit unto thee."  I looked up at Bethany at that moment and had the warmest feeling wash over me.  Sometimes we get a special job to do, and though our job might not be as huge as the Lord's was, it is still pretty great to have been given the opportunity to be a part of the Father's plan in some small way.  Bringing a soul into this world and watching them grow into someone amazing is definitely a work that is worth doing.  I felt God's appreciation for watching over his precious daughter that day.

It is indeed a sacrifice to offer a child to the Lord's service, and at the same time, I am only a steward, and the child was already his.

So Many Blessings

Kirby left this afternoon to go back to his job in Iraq.  We had a great 2 weeks together with our family at home.  It was bitter cold outside, but inside we were full of warmth and cheer.  Just a few of the highlights of the time we spent are: Christmas shopping and mission shopping, shooting guns, Christmas Eve with our nativity program and Secret Santa gifts and Christmas Day with pictures, Bethany's farewell speech and open house with so many family and friends, proxy temple sealings with our kids, freezing rain, more shooting, more shopping, and lots of good food.

I just look back on the last month or so and count all of the blessings in our lives, and I have to acknowledge and thank my Father in Heaven for his bounteous blessings to us.  Everyone is progressing in their lives with God's guidance so clearly in evidence as  jobs are acquired, lessons are learned, children and puppies are welcomed into the family,  missions are prepared for, faith is increased, and testimonies are forged.  I have to wonder and feel awe at the magnitude of the blessings we receive each and every day.

We have our challenges and our ups and downs like everyone does, but if you look at where we have been, and where we are now, and the direction everyone is headed towards, one must believe that God is in our lives taking an interest in us and clearing a way before us.

People often express their surprise, or sympathy, when they hear about the lifestyle Kirby and I have--living apart most of the time-- but I have to say that we have learned something about perspective over the time that we have been married. We have learned something about patience, and something about trust.  We have learned to be grateful for the things that are good in our lives, and to worry less about the things we go through that may be somewhat different from the things others may be going through.  We all have our stuff. . .some good stuff, some bad stuff.  We can learn from all of these experiences.  Then, it can all be good stuff.

Proverbs 3:
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Joshua 1

9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Bethany's Pre-mission talk

January 20, 2013
My Experience with the Book of Mormon
Well this is terrifying. Forgive me if my ears turn a little PINK—I’m pretty nervous. I guess it’s okay though, ‘cause even if I do a terrible job, most of you will still love me. I hope.
Brother Henne asked me to speak on the Book of Mormon and my experience with the Book of Mormon.
The first time I read the Book of Mormon I was eleven years old. I shared a room with my big sister Caryn, and everything that she did to get ready for bed, I did too. So we’d wash our faces and brush our teeth, read our scriptures and say our prayers each night. I made a lot of good habits doing that with her.
So I finished reading the Book of Mormon right when I turned twelve and entered Young Womens. This was really cool because in Personal Progress, one of the Faith Value projects is to read the Book of Mormon. So I just checked that off the list.
After I finished reading the Book of Mormon, I followed Moroni’s challenge to ask God if it was true. He says that if you “shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.” So when I knelt down to pray, I expected something great to happen, some big bold witness that it was true. And nothing happened. And I felt a little silly.
And then I realized that I didn’t feel anything new or different because I already knew it was true. I was asking a question that I already had an answer to. Sometimes testimonies are quiet like that. You don’t even realize that you have a testimony until you ask, “Do I know this?”
So how did I know? And how do I still know that the Book of Mormon is true? It’s the way I feel. When I read the Book of Mormon…
It feels good. It feels right. It feels true. I find that when I read it, my mind is clear. I feel like a part of my brain opens up, and I understand more. Not just the spiritual things, but everything. This is because reading the BOM brings the Spirit, and the Spirit teaches all truth. I actually do better in school when I’m reading my scriptures regularly. One semester I made sure to read every morning before I left for school. This was one of my hardest semesters, and I knew that the only way I could survive it was if I put God first. And you know what? It worked. That was my hardest semester work-wise, but it ended up being my best semester grade-wise. And it’s because I relied heavily on my Father in Heaven.
When I read the Book of Mormon, I feel most like myself—if that makes sense. There are some moments when I think, “This is right. This is me. This is who I am supposed to be.” It happens when I am at the temple, or when I am loving somebody, or when I am solving a really great math problem, or when I read my Patriarchal blessing. And it happens when I read the Book of Mormon. That’s when I know I’m doing the right thing. I am doing what my Father in Heaven wants me to do, so that I can become the Bethany he wants me to be. This is when I have the Spirit with me the strongest, and I feel full of light. They say that having the Spirit brightens your countenance, and your face lights up. I guess it’s some kind of BIOLUMINESCENCE.
On the other hand, when I’m being mean or cynical or selfish, I feel out of sync with myself. My mind gets all closed off, and I don’t want to read my scriptures. But that’s when it’s most important for me to read.
In 1 Nephi 15 verse 24 Nephi says that “whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.” So reading the Book of Mormon gives you the power to withstand temptation. I know that is true. I’ve seen the difference between days when I read and days when I don’t, and trust me, it’s better to read.
And it’s not just good for your spiritual health, it’s fun to read. As part of my missionary preparation, I’m supposed to study the scriptures for 30 minutes every day. And that’s a lot. But I’ve found that when I get really into the stories, my little 30 minute timer goes off, and I don’t want to stop reading. It’s cool to read about Ammon smiting off Lamanite arms, and the armies of Moroni with their stratagem , where they trick the Lamanites into leaving their fortified cities to chase after the weak little Nephite army, just to find themselves trapped between two huge armies. Or when Captain Moroni is ticked off at the government for sitting back and doing nothing and he basically tells them—if you don’t help, I will march my army right up to you, and we will take you out. He says in Alma 60:28 “Yea, behold I do not fear your power nor your authority, but it is my God whom I fear” and later in verse 36, “I seek not for power, but to pull it down, I seek not for the honor of the world, but for the glory of my God, and the freedom and welfare of my country.” Of course, it wasn’t really Pahoran’s fault, but I just love reading that chapter. It gets me all fired up.
I try to think of all these cool scripture heroes as real people--real men who are good and strong, and not unlike some of the men in my life. Captain Moroni, of course, reminds me of my Dad. They both are two of the coolest strongest men, who love their wives and children, and would do anything to protect them. I’ve known an Alma the Younger or two also. Young men that repent and return to God with a zeal and a valiance that I can’t help but look up to. They’re my heroes, even if they don’t know it.
In the Book of Mormon you have father’s like Lehi, whose greatest desire is for his children to partake of the fruit of the Tree of Life, so that they can taste its sweetness. And then there is Alma the elder, who prays for his rebellious son with such faith that an angel comes down to visit Alma the Younger. That is some serious fatherly love. I love the Stripling Warriors, whose mothers taught them to have faith in God, and they did not doubt their mothers knew it. And their captain Helaman loves them as his own sons. When Amulek gives up all his possessions, and is “rejected by those who were once his friends and also by his father and his kindred,” Alma took Amulek back to his own house to administer to him and strengthen him in the Lord. And when Alma reunites with the sons of Mosiah after many years, they rejoice that they are still brethren in the Lord. I love these mission companions and friends and brothers who care so much about each other.
I love Ammon and the sons of Mosiah, who, after being converted themselves, they told their dad that they didn’t want to be king, they wanted to be missionaries and teach the Lamanites. Everybody thought they were crazy for wanting to teach the Lamanites. The Lamanites hated them!  But as it says in Mosiah 28:3, “they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble.” And look at the success they had. They converted thousands of their brethren.
As a future missionary, of course I love reading about Ammon. Ammon was a great missionary, and not because he was great with a sling and a sword. He was a great missionary because he loved the people, and he wanted to serve them—he literally wanted to be a servant. King Lamoni is so impressed with Ammon’s faithfulness. He says, “surely there has not been any servant among all my servants that has been so faithful as this man (Alma 18:10).” I love when he’s teaching King Lamoni. He does just what they teach us in mission prep. He asks Lamoni questions, and gives very simple and straightforward answers. He uses the scriptures to teach, and he bears testimony. He’s definitely a great example to me right now.
Now where was I? Oh I know, I found this scripture by chance—I had a little SWIRLY drawn next to it. Anyways, in Alma 31, the Nephites were worried that the apostate Zoramites would join forces with the Lamanites and try to destroy them. And so Alma goes to preach to the Zoramites, because he knew that “the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else.” So at my house we go on and on about politics and how crazy the world is getting, and you wonder what we can do to change things, to make things better. Then I think, the best thing we can do is work on the hearts of the people. That’s the most effective way to change their behavior. So the best thing that I can do right now is go on a mission and teach the people of the Philippines.
 And then there is the Book of Ether, which is like the condensed version of the Nephite history, with the Jaredite people cycling through the pride cycle in just a few chapters. But the Jaredites were cool—not only did they have cows and sheep and horses, they had cureloms and cumoms and ELEPHANTS. Fact.
Anyways, one of my favorite scriptures in Ether—actually it was really my mom’s favorite first—is Ether 12:4. That’s the scripture I chose for my missionary plaque. It says, “Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.”
I'm the kind of person that worries a lot--about school, my family, my future career, etc. The world is a pretty crazy place, but because I have a knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I know that things will work out. I know that God is my Father in Heaven, and He loves me very much. He wants me to be happy. Whether I am excited or stressed, happy or heartbroken, I can talk to Him through prayer, and He hears me. He wants the very best for me, and so if I stay close to Him and keep His commandments, He will bless me. He knows that I am not perfect, and so He has provided a Savior and Redeemer, even His son Jesus Christ. Because Jesus Christ suffered and died for my sins, I can repent and be forgiven, and I can return to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ again. I love this gospel. I love learning from the scriptures. I love that my family can be together forever, even after this life. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is Christ's church restored on the earth, and it is the only place wherein we find true happiness.