Come Listen to A Prophets Voice

This weekend once again we had the chance to listen to our prophet. How tender it was to see him get up and address us and share a message that he felt we needed at this time. He used all his energy to give us this message. What should that tell us?!? Are we going to let our prophets energy go to waste or are we going to act upon it. A quote I came across today said, "The purpose of general conference...is fulfilled only if we are willing to act - if we are willing to change."
I was out of the state this last weekend but because of modern technology I was still able to listen to our prophet. Thousands of saints from around the world were able to tune in this weekend and listen to our prophet and other leaders. Now what are we going to do about it? Are we going to look back at this weekend and say, that was a nice message and then continue on with our normal lives? Or are we going to look back and say what can I change to incorporate what I learned this week into my life? What are you going to change in your life because you were able to come and listen to a prophets voice?

A Call From Africa

How grateful I am for technology. I seriously would have a hole in my heart if we didn't have modern technology. A year and a half ago I got home from my mission in Africa. Leaving behind all my friends in Africa was one of the hardest things I have ever done. They really did become some of my best friends. I do not know what I would do without skype, facebook and whatsup. I seriously talk to some of my recent converts every day!
I know we talk about how social media takes us away from our lives and distracts us and we can waste so much time on them. I completely agree but I also think that social media can be used for so much good. I can use facebook, skype and other social networks to talk to my converts in Africa and make sure they are still going to church, reading their scriptures and answer their questions when they have them.
This last week I got one of the best phone calls. One of my recent converts received her mission call to Ghana and because of modern technology I was able to watch her open it. That for me was the biggest blessing. I think social media can be used for good. Just like our prophet and leaders teach us that we need to flood the Earth with the gospel, how else can we do that besides the media?

Violence in the Land

In class the other day we talked about how violence is not thought of as such a big deal as say... sex or profanity in the media. I would like to beg a differ. This summer I had the opportunity to attend the BYU Jerusalem Study Abroad. During this semester we studied the bible in great lengths. One of those stories that we studied was Noah and the flood. I knew the story, the people were wicked and there was no hope for them so Heavenly Father caused the flood and Noah and his family were saved in the ark.

What I didn't understand was why the people were beyond hope? What was their sin? Well in Genesis 6:11&12 we read, "The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with VIOLENCE. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt."
The Earth was wiped clean because the people were violent. It wasn't because the people were breaking the law of chastity or because they had corrupt language, it was because they were violent.

This completely changed my view on violence. I used to think that it wasn't that big of a deal well I don't think that anymore. Violence isn't something that we should tolerate or let into our lives.

If God cares that much to wipe the whole earth clean because His people were violent, don't you think we should also care?

March Madness

March is one of my favorite months of the year. Why you may ask...because of March Madness of course. My March Madness isn't the basketball type of March Madness that everyone knows of. Every March for the past few years I have come up with my own March Madness and that is to read the Book of Mormon in the month of March. I started this years ago when my Relief Society challenged us to become more dedicated to the Book of Mormon. March Madness helps me to give March up to my Savior.
Reading the Book of Mormon in a month isn't an easy thing to do. Everyday you have to read about 17 pages, including all the regular things, like school, work and still trying to have a social life. In order for me to read this much everyday somethings must be given up. For me I have decided to give up social media. Instead of scrolling through my Facebook feed I pull out my Book of Mormon or instead of watching another TV episode I pull out my Book of Mormon.
My testimony of my Savior and his hand in my life has already once again grown so much and its only day 7 of the month. I am so grateful for my Savior and all that he has done for me. Also I am grateful for the Book of Mormon and the power that comes into our lives when we make it apart of our lives.

Entering the Iphone World

This past week my phone decided that it has had enough and gave up the ghost because of that I headed into the T-mobile store to see what I could do. There was no hope for my old phone so I entered the new world of an Iphone. At the store the guy helping me asked if I wanted him to transfer everything from my old phone to my new phone I told him just my contacts and he looked at me like I was crazy. I told him I wanted a new start. This week I decided that I wouldn't download any apps or use my phone for social media. It was crazy to see how much less time I spent on my phone. I had more time to do homework, to be with friends, to focus on those around me, and mostly to enjoy the moments that I was experiencing. Even though I got a new phone and now you could say that I was on the "in" I have felt more disconnected then ever and loving it!! I think technology can be used for good and used in moderation but I don't think it needs to control our life.

A Different VIew

Growing up, my sisters and I, were not permitted to play with Barbie dolls. My mother thought that they taught girls that happiness only comes through material items. Their bodies were perfectly shaped to let girls know that if their bodies didn't match theirs then they were considered "overweight" if you didn't have as many clothes as your doll did then you were considered "poor", also if you didn't have a boyfriend like barbies then you were considered a "loser".
These were all ideas that my mom didn't want us to have in our heads as little girls. So instead we were permitted to play with American Girl Dolls and Bitty Babies. Life continued on and I never thought more about it till now.
Recently I have come across two different commercials for Barbie Dolls. The first one promotes everything my mom did not want her little girls to be thinking about. Its all about the material items and their looks no elementary girl should be concerned about. The second commercial changed my view on Barbie Dolls. It made me think if this is what Barbie Dolls are all about, then I want my little girls to have one.
What do you think?

Morning Side

Its interesting how one song can bring back thousands of memories. This week I was able to attend a morning side that gave me a rush of memories. On my mission I had one C.D. that was the soundtrack for my mission. I listened to nothing else besides this one C.D. I related so many of my special moments that I was experiencing to these songs. They helped me to cope with them, or made them even more special to me. At this morning side Hilary Weeks came and spoke/sang to us. One of her songs that she sang was, Even When. This song meant so much to me on my mission. It was the song that I would go to in good times and bad. In the song the main theme that is shared over and over agin is that no matter what God loves you. If anyone needs to feel loved or needs a lift this is the song that I would share with them to boost their spirit.

Disconnect to Reconnect

How many times have you stopped a conversation to reply to a text? How many times have you walked out of a party to answer a phone call? How many times have you sat next to one of your friends to scroll through your feed to see whatever else is doing? We are allowing media to control our friends and interactions with others. We spend more time staring at a screen in our hands then into the eyes of those around us.

This week my goal is to put my phone on silence and put it away. I don't want to look back and realize I have missed a moment or I missed an opportunity to make a new friend or build a stronger relationship with a neighbor. Disconnect to reconnect with those who are around you. Live in the here and now.

Cook Off..

Have you ever tried imitating what you say on TV?! Well let me tell you, its not as easy as it looks. One of my roommates favorite shows is Iron Chef. I have watched it a few times with her, along with Cup Cake Wars or other cooking shows. Well we had this great idea that we would attempt to have an Iron Chef of our own.
As roommates we all got together and asked someone out for our Iron Chef adventure. We bought all these different ingredients and got two different kitchens where we could have the show down. The time came and our Iron Chef adventure started. We had one hour to complete the task. My group was feeling very confident in our ingredients and our ability. As time passed and the cooking and baking continued we hit road bump after road bump. Our first cake got burnt, the frosting wouldn't thicken, the second cake fell apart into crumbs, our crushed white chocolate chips looked more like clumps of cheese then anything else. Time came to a close and we had to head back with our less then ideal cake.
We had a grand time making it and of course enjoyed laughing at all our mistakes but our Iron Chef turned out nothing like we saw on TV.

One of Those Days..

Friday night I held a Relief Society Activity at my apartment. It was a typical girls night including the finger painting, stuffing your face full of chocolate that you will regret in the morning, watching a cheesy chick flick and of course talking about all the cute boys in the ward. As the girls night concluded I couldn't help but think about all these girls and everything that they are going through. Some were trying to find the balance between work and school, getting rejected by who they thought was "the perfect guy", or attempting to figure out their future, some others were dealing with bigger issues, a family that is falling apart or a health issue that they will struggle with for the rest of their lives.

As I was thinking about each of the girls a scene from the movie we watched came to my mind. It comes from, Pride and Prejudice (The mormon version). Kitty and Lydia forced Elizabeth and Jane to go to the grocery store with them. You could say Elizabeth and Jane were having "one of those days". A day when you just need a good cry and need to be left alone. At the end of the grocery store encounter Lydia turns to Jane and Elizabeth and says, "Why don't we just put up a big neon sign that says, "Men, run for your lives! Menstruating monsters approaching!"

Some of my girls I know feel like they are seriously carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders. How are they ever supposed to feel like they can have "one of those days" when even in movies girls get made fun of for having a bad day? ITS OKAY TO HAVE A BAD DAY! Its okay to have a day when you just need to sit down and cry or when you need to just stay inside and eat everything in the fridge and that is OKAY!

One of my favorite quotes says, "It doesn't matter how many times you fall down it just matters how many times you get back in the race." So take "one of those days". Don't put on any make up, don't do your hair, stay home and watch every chick flick ever made and then once you have finished your cry, pick yourself back up and go conquer the world. Have your bad day but don't let it keep you down. Take that good cry and now put it to work.

Once Upon A Time..

I used to believe that Once Upon A Time and Happily Ever After meant that everything in your life was perfect. That you would meet prince charming that he would come and sweep you off your feet and then you would live happily ever after. No problems, no fights, and definitely no tears. Whenever there was a problem or a fight or a long night full of tears I would always think, "well thats it, this isn't my happily ever after."

My roommate introduced me to the show, "Once Upon A Time" and I instantly became hooked. I couldn't get enough of it. That was all I wanted to do, watch, talk and dream about Once Upon A Time. This is when I realized that my Once Upon A Time and Happily Ever After was going to include problems to overcome, fights to resolve and tears to wipe away. 

In this TV show fantasy meets reality as fairytale characters are forced to try and find their happily ever after in our world. Problems would always arise (as they always do) but instead of giving up on each other they decide to come together to work things out. Of course they are never perfect but the characters always find their happily ever after. These problems, fights and tears would bring them closer together as they learned to really trust, cherish and love one another and make their Happily Ever After even sweeter.