Families Can Be Together Forever

Soo... I have kind of been throwing myself a pity party lately. I had mini-emotional breakdown number 384757462 today. This week I had kind of been thinking life isn't super awesome right now. Thanks to FaceBook and blogs, though, I've had a couple reality checks come my way.

Reality Check #1: One of my friends posted this link from a photographer's blog. This photographer had the honor and privilege of photographing the reunion of a family after being separated for six years. I can't do the story justice so you're just going to have to go and read it; it's a serious tearjerker. After reading this story I felt an overwhelming amount of gratitude for many things: my family, the country I live in and the freedoms I take for granted, the amazing church I belong to and the love, compassion and service that is such a huge part of it, the life I have and all the many, many blessings I have been given.

Reality Check #2: Another one of my friends posted on her blog about one of her best friends who has been fighting a nasty and incurable case of cancer for the past year and will return to live with her Heavenly Father any time now. I can't imagine being her friends or family members, or even her right now. I have been so blessed to never have had the experience of losing a loved one thus far in my life. I have also been so blessed and so has this girl and her loved ones with the knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the peace and comfort it brings into our lives. Because we know of God's plan of salvation for all of His children, we can take comfort in knowing that if we are obedient, we will see our family again and be together after this life, and forever.

When I think about things like these, my "problems" don't seem that big after all. Actually, they seem dumb and pointless. There are things out there way more important than worrying about writing papers, taking tests, what I'm going to do this weekend and all the other little things in our lives that won't matter later down the road or after this life.

I am so grateful for the church that I belong to and that helps me live my life in a way that I can experience true happiness and joy in this life and forever; it brings me great peace, comfort and hope in this world we live in. I truly believe that if we do the best we can in this life, we will see our loved ones after we leave this earth and be able to be with them forever.

Good Things to Come

I'm so excited for this new year. It's going to be fabulous. In life, there are ALWAYS good things to come. :)

Hope

"Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks... and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name's glory, saith the Lord." (Doctrine & Covenants 98: 1, 3)

I recently heard this scripture (at the BYU-I Center dedication) and it was definitely one I needed to hear. This scripture gives me more faith in Heavenly Father and His plan for me and more hope that everything I have gone through and will go through will help me progress and grow closer to my Heavenly Father.

I need to worry less and trust more. He knows me better than I know myself. He knows what I am capable of and what I can achieved. He wants me to be happy and to see me succeed more than I do. He loves me more than I am able to comprehend.

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not on thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct they paths." (Proverbs 3: 5-6)

BYU-Idaho: Disciple Preparation Center

This past Friday, the newest building on BYU-Idaho campus, The BYU-Idaho Center, was dedicated. President Henry B. Eyring(1st Counselor in the Presidency of the Church), Elder David A. Bednar and Elder Russell M. Nelson (members of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles) came for the dedication.

First of all, the building was PHENOMENAL. I was blown away by the size, design and overall feeling of it. President Clark (the President of BYU-Idaho) said that even though it looks amazing, the wonder of this building is in the work that will happen in there. I know that this building was built for purposes that we don't know but I know that amazing things will happen there. Being at the dedication listening to President Clark, Elder Bednar, Elder Nelson and President Eyring speak about our campus and testifying of our Heavenly Father and of Jesus Christ was definitely one of the best moments of my life. The Spirit was so strong. I could feel of my Heavenly Father's love for me so strongly. He has provided me with so many amazing opportunities to learn, grow, progress and become like our Savior, Jesus Christ. The BYU-Idaho campus is just one example of how much our Heavenly Father loves His children and wants to help them. I feel so incredibly blessed to be able to attend this university and partake of all that it has to offer. This university, also called a "Disciple Preparation Center" by Elder Bednar (read his awesome talk about that here), has been provided so that we can structure our lives properly and become followers of Christ. I know it is not just coincidence that I am able to attend this university and I know that the students attending aren't there because it was their next best option but that it is in Heavenly Father's plan for us. We are supposed to be there at this time for a purpose.

I know that everything we have is from Him. One of my teachers this past semester said that our Heavenly Father loves us so much and he wants us to be happy and succeed more than we do. He has blessed us with so much to make this life enjoyable and worthwhile. It is experiences like going to this dedication that put everything in perspective for me and I am once again, so grateful.

To watch the dedication (which you should), go here.

Look to the Light

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." -St. John 8:12

"Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ." -Moroni 7:19

"O Remember, Remember"

I have been realizing more and more how incredibly blessed I am. I have classes about the family that make me realize how blessed I am to have the family that I do and the opportunity we have to be together FOREVER. I have a class about developing countries that has opened my eyes to how many things in my life have been handed to me, and that I have way more than most people in the world. As a teenager, I thought that I deserved the things I had, that I was entitled. What I thought I did to deserve those things, I have no idea. The point is, I have SO much to be grateful for and there is no reason to complain about the things I think I should have. I love this talk President Eyring gave (click here to read all of it) about recognizing what the Lord has given each of us. As I look for the ways he has blessed me, I feel closer to the Lord and my love for Him grows because it becomes more and more evident how much He loves me.