how we treat people.

"Be one who nurtures and who builds. Be one who has an understanding and a forgiving heart, who looks for the best in people. Leave people better than you found them. Be fair with your competitors, whether in business, athletics, or elsewhere. Don’t get drawn into some of the parlance of our day and try to “win” by intimidation or by undermining someone’s character. Lend a hand to those who are frightened, lonely, or burdened.

If we could look into each other’s hearts and understand the unique challenges each of us faces, I think we would treat each other much more gently, with more love, patience, tolerance, and care.

If the adversary can influence us to pick on each other, to find fault, bash, and undermine, to judge or humiliate or taunt, half his battle is won. Why? Because though this sort of conduct may not equate with succumbing to grievous sin, it nevertheless neutralizes us spiritually. The Spirit of the Lord cannot dwell where there is bickering, judging, contention, or any kind of bashing." -The Tongue Can Be a Sharp Sword by Marvin J. Ashton

I think... no I know, there is a lot of hate in the world. We see it everyday on the news, through social media, even in our daily lives. The thing about that is, is that there is also good. We have the choice to be positive, optimistic, kind, loving, caring, etc. It is us, who ultimately chooses the type of person we want to be. 

Let us turn to our Savior as an example. I love our Heavenly Father. I can not repeat that enough. 

sin city and sensitivity

I took a trip to sin city this past week. As we walked around the strip, which I have made countless visits to in the past; I recognized a feeling that is always so present in my life, the gospel and spirit of the Holy Ghost. Things I am extremely grateful for and the perspective that they give.

Since I have lived in Utah, pretty much any trip I take out of the state is an immediate reminder of, what I like to call, “real life.” Where the majority of the people surrounding me don’t share my beliefs and standards. In a way it’s refreshing because I recognize choices in my life that have made me happier and who I am today. It pretty much scares me from ever going back to past life habits haha.

After my mini vacation was over, I had a nice drive home from the airport with a co-worker. Usually those drives consist of throwing the radio and myself a private concert, but with someone present it instead turned into a great conversation. I really loved something that she said and it has stuck with me since then.

She is grateful for the sensitivity the gospel gives us in relation to worldly factors. For example, I cringe a little bit every time I hear someone cuss or say the word God in vain. Not that I am judging or find that those things are the most horrible thing on the planet, but I recognize it. It’s something that stands out to me. Along with immodest clothing and other standards we hold ourselves too. There are many of us in today’s society completely unaware of the happiness so readily available. As members of the Church we can be examples and share knowledge and truth to those around us.

I think what I am trying to say, is that I love our Heavenly Father. I want to do everything in my power to follow his ways and I know that I can do that by following the Church standards. That guidance given to us in these latter days is in place for a reason. The sensitivity and recognition we feel in certain situations and surroundings, is what I believe to be the Holy Ghost looking out for us. Helping us to stay on the straight and narrow path Heavenly Father wants us to be on. He loves all of us, we are His children.

Mormonisms

Joining the LDS Church can be like learning another language. There were so many unfamiliar terms that I had to make sense of. Even the structure of the church itself was a task. No, not the physical structure, but how everything functions.

We have a living day prophet President Monson, who helps us to guide the church and his apostles. Then it trickles all the way down to our bishop, who we have a personal relationship with and is in a sense the leader of our ward. Your ward is the church that you attend, with the people that are living in the same designated geographical location as you. See where I am going with this? It isn’t that easy to have a conversation with someone who isn’t a member, without jumping into unfamiliar verbiage.

My youngest sister was visiting for the first time earlier this year. Throughout the week I must have mentioned FHE (Family home evening) and until the day before she left, she thought I was saying FAG. Major mix-up there! All along she was questioning why in the heck we would name something that.

There are times when I am conversing with my family, telling them about my week, and some church activity is involved. The first major things that come to mind are the day I received my Patriarchal Blessing or when I was assigned a new calling. Often, I type up a short paragraph explaining the said term and send it out to my wonderful fam. I wonder if that ever really helps. Mom, Dad, does it?

The thing about it is, all the programs this church has, and the way it is set up, is inspired of God. I love everything about it. It truly is His church here on earth. In a week, we are so lucky to be able to hear inspired messages from Heavenly Father, spoken through our prophet and his apostles. General conference is twice a year, it is amazing how every single person is able to listen and receive personal guidance.

Stay tuned, April 6^th and 7^th, 2013.

Mormon stereotypes

I was offered those super soft sugar cookies with colored frosting on top them tonight. Want to know the first thing I thought? One, I am too full for those. Two, I used to call those “Mormon” cookies.

In that instance, it jolted back memories. Why in the world did I call them that? Is it because Mormons tend to be good at baking and those are delicious? Who in the heck knows, but I kind of let out a little laugh.

Which brings me to another more recent event. My family has become huge on the group text. Needless to say, I get them often and my brother enjoys sending pictures of himself. He might kill me if he sees this, I am not sure if he ever reads this. Moving forward, I was so pleased to be included in one that said something along the lines of, “Haha, I’m turning into/look like a Mormon.” No picture was attached. I kindly responded… Well, I can’t see a picture, but if you are in some way hating on Mormons I am going to beat you. Okay okay, I didn’t say that haha, but I did say I hope you are not making fun of us! In which the reply was, I’m not, I am just looking fresh with a white shirt and black tie.

Perfect. If he would like to us associate us with dressing nicely and looking good, I am all for it.

It is funny to think of the way that society and non-members view us Mormons. In those two instances, I was/am proud to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. If there is a stereotype of being good at baking, dressing nicely, having morals, serving others, being happy, being generally good people, I am all for it. The sad thing is, sometimes we are being laughed at for those same things!

I guess sometimes it is not the “cool” thing to strive to be the best people that we can. In that case, I am perfectly happy being uncool. 

Anyone have any other great Mormon stereotypes? I'd love to hear them. 

purpose of life

You know what I am grateful for? The people that surround and support me. The other night Becky and I were sitting on our couch, the new leather one. Not the old comfy one I so dearly miss, and she asked me if I had read my scriptures for the day yet. I said no, but I need too, so we went and got them. I’ve really become accustomed to reaching for my computer or phone in times of boredom and I feel like there are so many other productive ways I can spend my time. So we got rid of those and locked them in our room so we could concentrate.

Even though we were on different parts of the book, we would stop and discuss certain topics or thoughts. Which lead me to a question I always had growing up. It was a question that I could never really formulate and always pushed out of my mind when thoughts crept in. It upset me that I couldn’t figure out what I wanted to ask and didn’t know the answer to.

My thought, that I now know was basically this… Why are we here? What are we even? Where in the world did we come from? How does this world even exist?

I find comfort in knowing about the Plan of Salvation. It explains everything. Pre-mortal life, mortal life, life after death. Yes, it takes a lot of trust and faith to believe in these things, but I know that they are true and I have a testimony of that. My testimony has grown and it’s easier for me to wrap my head around these difficult concepts because I put effort into understanding. I put the effort into drawing myself as near to Heavenly Father as I possibly can and I notice the difference.

I was talking to a coworker today and we discussed how being a Latter-Day Saint isn’t easy. Some people may say our religion is full of rules, and granted it is in a sense, but they are there for our protection. Things like drinking and smoking, breaking the law of chastity, all drive away the spirit. That is not the way that Heavenly Father wanted us to return to him, with an unhealthy and impure body and mind.

In my life thus far, I have been on both sides of the religion and faith aspect. Life without the spirit isn’t a distant memory, it is a clear reality of what I was missing out on. The thought of falling away from the Church scares the crap out of me, I will never let that happen. It is so easy to fall into worldly temptations, to be selfish, to be ungrateful, etc. And you know what, some days I do get down and think only of myself. But now when that happens, I usually get a mental kick in the behind reminding me of everything I have been given. I cant fathom going through certain trials alone, not understanding where we go from here. 

We have our agency and we make the choices. We decide if we are going to draw ourselves nearer to God. We choose whether or not we want to live a life without the person who created our life. We are in control of whether we are happy or not. We have chosen or not chosen to have faith in Christ, and not only that, but live a Christ like life. We put ourselves in control of the people and examples we surround ourselves with. We can make the effort to fill our life with morals and values that are pleasing to God, or not.

I love Heavenly Father, the gospel, the plan of salvation, the Bible/Book of Mormon/Doctrine and Covenants, my family, my faith, the people I am surrounded with that I can discuss and learn things from.  It’s a meaningful life.

Planet Earth

Earth, as in the grass and trees, mountains and beaches are one of my favorite things! I am not even exaggerating. That is one reason why I absolutely love Utah, the outdoors. We are surrounded by beautiful mountains and my short drive to work is nothing like my short drive to work back at home. I am grateful for this place we live that Heavenly Father has created for us.

I was really reminded of this the other day when I listened to a talk from the newest Ensign. It got me thinking about how much joy just sitting in nature brings me. When I was younger my grandparents would take me and my little sister camping all the time, up and down the California coast. I think thats where my love for nature started. It really has led me to habits today. I would choose to sit outside on my stoop and read a good book, rather than my couch any day. Sometimes I find myself in situations where I really want to think, and I will go drive myself to the top of a hill and just park and look out at the city. 

In the talk Earth: A Gift from God, it references D&C 59:18-19 which states, "Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart; Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and enliven the soul."I love that it uses the word enliven, because that is exactly how I feel. 

It also states that in nature we can see the handiwork of the perfect artist. I truly believe that he created this world for so many uses, not just to provide us with food. I was just talking to Becky about this and she made a new years resolution to love winter haha and I love that. Sometimes we take for granted the smallest most simple things. 

My favorite earth pictures captured via Iphone.

Oceanside

Utah

Provo

Zion

Oceanside

Utah Lake

Bridal Veil Falls

Lake Powell, AZ

Stewart Falls Hike

Hudson River, NY

Washington

Central Park

HOME. Moreno Valley, CA

Oceanside