Forget about yourself and get to work

Since December I have made it a point to have the same passion for the gospel as I did when I got baptized. Unfortunately I had to hit rock bottom before I made the decision to devote my entire self to the gospel.

Since December I have been studying the scriptures for at least 15 minutes every night, personal prayer, have been to church every single Sunday, pay tithing, have been to the temple, go to FHE and even institute. I have been forming more and more questions about the gospel and have come to realize that there is so much I don't know.

Every week in sacrament meeting I always take a message away from it. Whether it's one that comes from a sister's testimony or from the hymns or from the bishopric, I ALWAYS take something from attending sacrament meeting. The same is true for institute. Attending institute has been wonderful. I was a bit timid at first, but enjoy it quite a bit. It's caused me to ask those questions I have been ashamed to ask because everyone else seems to know that answers. It's caused me to be more humble.

At times I get overwhelmed with school and work and keeping up with my scriptures...they can be quite tricky! I'm guilty of wanting to do things for myself - like sleep, eat, watch a movie, hang with friends, facebook stalk people - when I really shouldn't be thinking about what I want to do but rather what the Lord would want me to do... strive to make myself better, to be an example to others and to share the gospel with those who aren't as fortunate as I am.

At the beginning of the year we talked about New Year's Resolutions. We all make them, and usually give them up within a month or two. I've decided that instead of making resolutions for the entire year to make them for the month or even the week depending on how much motivation I need. This month my goal is to say an opening prayer IN FRONT OF EVERYONE during one of our meetings. I also want to finish reading Alma and start reading the Old Testament.

Though I feel like I am struggling at times and am overwhelmed, I know that if I put the gospel first and rely on my Heavenly Father, everything will be just fine. I always seem to get through the overwhelming days with enough strength to get through the next. I always seem to get what I need to get done, done.

Temple Ordinances

I had the pleasure of going to the temple for the first time January 19th, 2013 with Whitney! I have been wanting to go for so long but didn't want to go with someone willing to walk me through what to do lol. In SLC, my roommates and I were just too busy or had conflicting schedules so we never made it.

The first time I walked into the temple was amazing, an overwhelming emotion of peace and comfort fell over me and I somehow knew what to do. Whitney was still a blessing and told me everything that was going to happen. Everyone knew it was my first time.

A week later I went to the temple again with my branch with Whitney again and it was just as amazing as the first time. I was baptized for a young woman who was born in 1625... I can't even begin to think what life was like then! She's been waiting for almost 400 years for the gospel and I had the honor of being baptized for her so that she may live with our Heavenly Father again!

I plan to go to the temple again someday :)

A Year Ago...

It's been an entire year since I have become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It's been a year of ups and downs. I've noticed that the ups were when I was regularly going to church and partaking the sacrament, going to church activities such as Firesides and FHE, reading my scriptures, personal prayer and hanging out with church friends. The downs were when I did not go to church, read my scriptures or say my prayers...

If there has been one thing I have learned this past year is that our Heavenly Father is willing to forgive us and love us unconditionally. I've read so many scriptures and this is a constant message that rings true in my ears.

I am so grateful for the atonement and the ability to repent of our sins and become clean once again. I am so grateful that one day I will live with our Heavenly Father once again. I'm so grateful for the scriptures and living prophet, Thomas S. Monson.

My adventure throughout my first year as a concert has been tremendous. I have come closer to our Heavenly Father, have learned more of the gospel and strengthened my testimony that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true and that Jesus Christ is our Savior.