Nothing worth having comes easy :)

This past week in New Testament, we discussed Matthew chapter 4, along with other scripture, but I want to focus on what I learned from Matthew 4. In the beginning of this chapter, it talks about when Christ was tempted by Satan after fasting for 40 days. Christ was tempted to use his priesthood power for food, to throw himself off of a cliff and to use Angels to help him, and offered him kingdoms of the world. Now Christ didn't take any of these offers, but that is besides the point. The point is that with all these temptations it doesn't matter if Christ actually did these events such as eating, but it is because it would be for the wrong reasons. Satan tries to offer us instant satisfactory for a long-term suffering. This principle applies so much in my life and I think especially right now in my life I need to make sure I keep this in mind. Yes, it would be much easier to not do assignments and say I did them, to cheat and not study for exams, but in the long run I wouldn’t be benefited. I am here in college at BYU in order to learn and to gain an education. If I were to take an easy road and cheat my way through school, I would fail miserably when it came to working in the real world. It would be easier and temporarily more enjoyable to not put forth effort, but I wouldn’t gain anything in the long run. Hard work pays off, and it isn’t easy, one of my favorite quotes is “nothing worth having comes easy,” and I truly believe it. 

In His Time

While discussing the story of Zacharias and Elizabeth, a personal story of mine came to mind. Just as a background, Zacharias and Elizabeth had been praying for a long time that they would be able to have a child. One day, Zacharias went to the temple and an Angel of the Lord came to him and said that his prayer had been answered and that they will have a son. Now my parents have a very similar story. about 11 years ago, my parents were told by doctors that their bodies didn't work and that they wouldn't be able to have any more kids. After many prayers fasting and failed attempts, they decided to stop trying. 8 years later, they were blessed with a little boy, my brother Garrett. Although unexpected and not the most ideal timing, God does answer prayers. Little did we know at the time that having another addition to the family, with such a sweet innocent spirit blessed me and my family in more ways then we could have imagined. Garrett always makes us feel loved and always keeps the sprit in the home. Heavenly Father truly knew that we needed him in our lives at this time and not 8 years sooner when we wanted him! In all things this teaches us that we need to just have faith in the Lord and trust in his timing. He knows the bigger picture and knows what is best for us! I feel so greatly blessed to know that Heavenly Father is always there for us and that he wants what is best for us, although we may think we know what that is, we don't, he does, so just trust in faith and follow Christ!

New Testament

Tonight I went to the temple with Sarah to do my scripture study for the day and for Book of Mormon. I also watched the fireside with Elder Russell M Nelson. During his talk, Motherhood and families kept on appearing into my thoughts, and also the Savior. After the fireside I couldn't stop thinking about how I need to make Christ the center of my life. While reading the assigned reading in Matthew, and all of the genealogy, it says at the end of vs 17 that there were fourteen generations. This immediately reminded me of motherhood and how that I could have 14 generations after me, and that every little decision I make will not only affect me personally, but my kids and their kids and so on. Then when reading in John, the creation of each of us by God was brought to mind, and how Elder Nelson said that as women, we are co-creators with God. Then reading about the Savior, and how the people he lived with didn't even recognize him, It made me wonder, Would I know my savior? Would I recognize him in a crowd? I want to be positive that I know him and that my future children know their savior, brother and friend, Jesus Christ. What a more perfect way then through the scriptures, they speak of Christ and in order to know him, we must read the scriptures. Not only read the scriptures, but study the teachings, and learn from them! I love my savior and I can't wait to learn more about him over the next semester.

SUMMER

Since leaving BYU, life is a little crazy working all day all week (with my six jobs) then sleeping Saturday and church all day Sunday. With farewells and everything else going on, I don't have much time to do anything but family outside of work. This summer being with my family I realize how much I take advantage of them and how much they mean to me. Garrett no matter what always makes me feel loved and shows me that the little things don't matter. Kristen teaches me patience... with our age it is not always the easiest for me to handle her, but I still love her to death. Nathan on the other hand is there to go on car rides blasting the music as loud as possible and still manages to put up with me when I beat him up (just trying to toughen him up). My mom is so amazing. words cant even describe how much I love her and what she does for me. we talk and talk and talk about everything! She listens and gives the best advice. My dad is my best friend. I have always been a daddy's girl and he still teases me as if I was seven years old and manages to still pull out the same laugh I had when I was little. When I'm feeling alone or depressed he just looks at me, gives me a hug and tells me he loves me, of course i then bawl like a baby, but I love him so much. Family means the world to me.

When I am away from them I had my BYU family. Being away from them now, I realized how much I love my college friends and how grateful I am for each of them and for the impact each and every one of them have on my life. I miss Maddy always asking me whats wrong and making sure I am okay. I miss my late night talks with Alli about life and the bigger picture. I miss stuffing my face with Sarah, not sleeping and being completely crazy and so loud, and not caring about what not anyone thinks about how drunk or lesbainish we act. I miss Lauren and our deep talks late at night up in the mountains. I miss Olivia and just everything about her, how she makes me cry from laughing so hard and of course sleeping with her, or anyone for that matter. (I realized that I hate sleeping alone...) I miss Rebecca's Cooking, Heidi's sweet spirit and how happy she always is, I miss Kathryn and how easy going she is and how she just lets me vent, I miss Jett and how she would laugh at everything! and that is just the girls... I miss all the guys too but they wouldn't see this for two years because Cole and Kurtis are the only ones left. My freshman year has changed my life, changed who I am for the better and I will never forget all the memories I created. Being away from all of it makes me miss it even more.

I LOVE BYU and can't wait to go down there in the fall again and make new memories, but not replace the old ones, just add to them. Working keeps me busy and helps the time go by fast. Crazy to think that I am turning 19, and then June will be over, then we are half way with waiting and there are only two more months til my life is a little more complete down in Provo.

Life may not always go the way I expect it to, or even want it to. With boys leaving left and right on their missions, either ones I have dated or ones that are friends, it is always sad to see them go knowing I won't see them for a long time, and I could possibly be married when they get back. But I have learned to not look for the future wishing away the days that I do have, because time flies by and life is unexpected. As long as I enjoy each day making each day count then that is how I will be truly happy and enjoy my summer away from my best friends and saying goodbye.

Just Hold On

Life is hard. No matter the decisions you make, there will always be things that make life difficult. Yes, life is better when Christ is in our lives, but it does not make it necessarily easier. There will always be hard times and trials. In my Book of Mormon class, we talked about this and how all we need to do is hold on. It is as simple as that. One of my favorite quotes is: "Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end." I firmly believe that. God loves us all so much, he does not want us to suffer, he wants us to be tested and tried so that we can live with him again. When we face times of trial, or think we cannot go any further, we just need to hold on. One of my favorite songs that my mom has always played for me, ever since I was little is Hold On, by Michael Mclean.

The message of this moment is so clear;
And as certain as the rising of the sun.
If your world is filled with darkness doubt and fear,
Just hold on, Hold on; the light will come.
Ev'ryone who's ever tried and failed
Stands much taller when the victory's won.
And those who've been in darkness for a while
Kneel much longer when the light has come.

It's a lesson ev'ry one of us must learn;
That the answers never come without a fight.
And when it seems you've struggled far too long,
Just hold on, hold on; there will be light.

Hold on. Hold on. The light will come.

When you feel trapped inside a never-ending night.
If you've forgotten how it feels to feel the light,
If you're half crazy thinking you're the only one
Who's afraid the light will never really come

Just hold on. Hold on! The light will come.

The message of this moment is so clear;
And as certain as the rising of the sun.
If your world is filled with darkness doubt and fear.
Just hold on, hold on, the light will come

I absolutely love this song, it fits so perfectly with the lesson in Book of Mormon, we need to have faith in Christ that everything will be okay. Through our struggles we become better and stronger. We will not be given a trial that we cannot handle. Just have faith, we are never alone, Christ will always be there and we need to just follow him and have faith that everything will be okay. Whither in stressful weeks of school, or more serious temptations, just hang in there, everything will be okay in the end. 

My friend

Last week, reading the Book of Mormon, and in my Book of Mormon class, I recognized how much our Savior does for us, and how much he really loves us. It isn't even comprehendible how much he loves us. He would literally do anything for us. He died for us, and wants us to come to him to ask for his help, because he wants us to be able to return and live with him again. In 3rd Nephi, there is such an emphasis on christ and his teachings. He wants us to just take one step each day, to end up facing in the right direction, He knows we aren't perfect, he knows we all make mistakes, but we just need to keep trying and to not give up. Jesus focuses on who and individual needs, he cares about us individually, one by one he takes care of us and knows our specific needs. The law of Moses was a partial law, but today we have the fully restored law. That means there is more expected of us. Christ is the law, we need to be Christ like. He is the perfect example. My favorite part of the reading was in 3rd Nephi chapter 17 verse 20 and 21, when he said "my joy is full" and then "he wept." This goes to show that Christ is vulnerable and he opens his heart to us. He lets us in and he cries for me. I need to let him into my life and into my heart. I can't possibly be as happy as I could be with him in my life. When I am facing trials I need to have him in my life. When everything seems to be going right, I need him in my life so that I can share my joy and thank him. I love my Savior, my older brother, and Friend.

This past week in Book of Mormon, I loved more then any other week. The lessons taught and the scripture that went along with it really hit home for me. Third Nephi chapters 11 & 12 have so much spiritual doctrine in them and I will never read them the same. Tuesday's class I cried, I felt the spirit so strongly. I felt as if what Brother Griffin was saying was meant just for me to hear. When we watched the video of the atonement and when Jesus came to the Americas, I couldn't help but put myself in their shoes and think of everything he has done for me. I honestly wouldn't be anywhere without him. I make a lot of mistakes, and I have lots of things that I need to work on, but with him anything is possible. I can try and try to make things better on my own, but I will just make things worse if I try to do things without Christ in my life. In chapter 12, Christ gives us the pathway that we can follow in order to follow him. In our lives, he will be what we need him to be. We may need him as a friend, someone to help us with all our troubles, someone to lift us up and tell us everything will be okay. No matter what it is, he is there for us always and forever. With how much he does for us, I want to help him in return, What does he need me to do? He needs me to try my best, that is all he asks. When I get down,  I need to stand up. I need to try a little harder to be a little better. At the end of the day, I need to be facing in the right direction.

I posted this to my Facebook as well:

I am honestly so blessed!! I am so grateful for the knowledge of the gospel, and for all the blessings it brings to my life! I know that my savior lives and he loves me. I am never alone, and through him I can become a better me. I am no where near perfect and I have lots I need to work on. But when times are hard I know that that my Heavenly Father loves me, and I have friends and family that are there for me and support me. Thank you so much for everything you all do for me! I love you ♥

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nczw6xHJ0I