Well I have not written in awhile, so I figured I needed to.

Let's see. First I suppose I will start with talking about going off to college.

It is just around the corner, 32 days to be exact.

I have already started to pack and buy things for up in Idaho.

I just keep getting more and more excited to start this new adventure.

Granted, I will miss my dearest Mommy and Daddy who have been my everything,

but that is just part of growing up, and I know that they are excited for me to have amazing experiences at BYU.

So, another topic to talk about, the week before I leave for school, I am going to my last year of GIRL'S CAMP!

It is going to be an absolute blast!

We had a J.C. sleepover last weekend, and a couple of the other girls and I decided (by accident) to pull an all nighter.

Before hand I knew of these girls, had smiled at them before, and maybe ran into them at some church functions, but after our all night discussion session, we really got to know each other and hear each other's stories.

And I just have to say that it is so great to hear about other people's lives and about the struggles and trials that they have been through.

It has always been easy for me to look at a person and immediately think, 

"Oh I wouldn't like her, because she is probably like ..or..."

So I always keep my distance from people I don't know.

All night I was kind of doing that, because I was surrounded by girls that I didn't really "know"

So finally the time came for us to go to bed and what not, and one girl that I know better than the others waved at me to follow her and her friends.

So I did.

And I am so glad that I did.

I was able to share some of my stories about things I have been through, and they were able to share things that they have been through.

It was so great to make friendships with people I never before knew in the time period of only a couple hours.

And because of those new friendships, I am even more excited than I was before to go to Girl's Camp this year!

One more thing that I want to talk about and then I will depart to be with my mommy as she is resting from her surgery ( which went perfectly fine, no worries!)

Pride.

 When someone is prideful, they don't and won't admit it. Not even to themselves.

Pride will be the death of the beholder, sometimes it has to kill you before you can be cured from it.

But just always know, "If you can not humble your self, the Lord will humble you."

Okay, well like I said, I am going to go now. I hope all is well with all those who are reading this! Be sure to keep in touch, there is more to come, as always :)

LDS.ORG

(The ONLY accurate internet source on LDS doctrine)

The Family

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A Proclamation to the World

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.

Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

Passion of the Christ

So last night I had the privilege of watching

Passion of the Christ

and even though it creeped me out with its Satan moments,

I think that movie can change lives.

It changed mine.

I am glad tht I finally watched it after years of being told I was too young and too sensitive.

I knew that Christ was beaten with whips, but I did not know the extremity of how badly he was beaten, even though the movie exaggerated it, it is still eye opening to see it rather than to just read about it.

The whole time I was watching him in agony as he was beaten, or as he fell to the ground, or as he was drug around, spat upon, kicked, slapped, ridiculed...

All I could think was...

Why have I ever been so ignorant to sin?

You may say, "Sin happens...every body sins."

But I know that I have sinned in perfect knowledge before that I was making a mistake.

It was so hard to watch the movie and realize "this is for me."

 The whole time I was watching I found that I kept asking myself

"How in the world could Heavenly Father will this?"

But I realized, Jesus Christ had the ability through out the process to stop the pain, to stop the whole thing.

He had the capability to prove his holiness to all those doubting him and lying of his works.

But he knew he was sent for a greater purpose.

He knew this was his purpose.

As he was being beaten, his accusers walked away...

As he was hanging, and left for dead upon the cross, his accusers walked away. 

While the whole experience was so painful for me to watch, In the end...

He was resurrected and his body was perfect.

With only the scars on his hands, feet, and side.. 

He walked out of the tomb.

 And finally, in his words,

"It is done."

Stay with me

I was thinking of how horrified I am of being alone in the dark, inside and especially outside.

I am often teased and laughed at for my "phobia" of the dark and what lurks in it at the age of eighteen.

"What are you going to do when you are married?"

"What about when you're at college and surrounded by mountains...people live in the mountains you know."

Well I have thought about this, first off in college, I will force my room mate to get the light hen it is time for bed, and I will have a lamp right next to my bed. As for when I get married? Well my husband will be so very madly in love with me and he will make the sacrifice of turning of the lights every single night for the rest of his life ( I say this in a loving manner of course)

But really, I have a meaning behind the madness of this post.

When Jesus entered into the forest and went unto the Lord in prayer, all he asked was for his disciples to stay awake and wait for him. 

They let him down.

 Not just once either, multiple times.

This story is something very special to me, it always has been.

I do realize that it is highly  illogical for Aliens to come and get me while I am sleeping,

or for someone to be watching me while I slumber (unless I secretly have a Bella type lover in my life then that would be acceptable.)

And while realizing this, I also understand that this story holds an entirely different meaning than the one I find.

But I know the Lord knows my fears, weaknesses, strengths, and comforts.

And I know he knows that this story brings me comfort.

Because, you see, even though the savior was "alone" when his disciples fell asleep when he asked them not to, Heavenly Father was only a beckoning away.

And when Jesus returned to prayer after realizing his followers did not listen to him, the father still remained constant and unwavering in his constant companionship with Jesus Christ.

Never leaving him alone. Even at his weakest moments.

So as everyone may ALWAYS continue to laugh at my fear of the dark, I do know how to get through it with the Lord's help( plus a lamp or flashlight with in reach)...for that is how I do all things.

<3

I wish so badly that I could beat BYU-I right now...

withdrawls

I feel like Glee is a part of me, and now that it is not on anymore...I feel an emotional separation.

Sad isn't it?