Walk in Truth

As a parent you feel connected to John as he rejoices in his understanding that Gaius is faithfully helping believers implement truth into their lives. I think a lot about the time when my children will have to walk alone and will what I teach them now, abide so closely to their hearts that they will be able to stand and walk in truth. My hope as a mother is that my children will have an influence on society to help many develop a greater understanding of what truth is and how it can uplift and develop a dying world. I want to be a person that exemplifies this desire to teach truth and to promote it wherever I am. So many feel so abandoned by God, that the need for individuals to testify of Christ, His reality, and His involvement in our lives is really pertinent. I feel an intense responsibility to be a teacher and a leader of love. You worry about your "Diotrephes" who get lost in the authoritative power of the priesthood and don't lead with love and loyalty, but stray from the true doctrine that Christ teaches just because they want to be in control. I believe that if you align yourself with the Savior and His teachings, you enable yourself to be in a place to recognize truth and to promote it.

A Last Lecture

My last lecture. Oh boy. It seems so imperfect to ask a twenty nine year old, mother of two, to leave a last lecture for someone else to glean truth from. Sure, I have had experience that merits some sort of recognition, but to actually translate that into my last lecture seems daunting. I suppose there is always that thought in the back of my mind, looming behind the scenes, what are my last words really going to be? What will they remember I told them when I am gone? I came up with a few points I am certain will help direct anyone who chooses to look to me for any sort of helpful advice for future success. I am an organizer, a professional planner who likes checking lists off so I decided to do just that. Maybe one day this list can be edited into some form of publication that my posterity can really use as a life resource.

• Obedience doesn't just please the God of Heaven and Earth, but it builds your true character. For some reason as a child rules are really obnoxious. They get in the way of pleasure. Every day I ask my son what his favorite part of the day was and he, most regularly states, "Um, when I played." It is really what every child is all about. The fun part of life. I have yet to meet a child that says their favorite part of life is all the rules that their parents make for them. Rules get more difficult to follow the older you get, but I can assure you that obedience to those rules will not only keep you protected from the ills of the world, but your confidence is strengthened in order to contribute to the good in the world. Even the smallest rules, that seem insignificant and absurd, fuel the character growing within you. Confidence is something you will need ample supply of as you make tough choices in life. Who to marry, what type of education to get, how you will serve the community, and what type of jobs you will create. Everything starts with someone who knows what they want and who they are. I believe that obedience keeps that person strong, in good moral standing, and pleased with who they are. 
• Money isn't everything. Blake and I are usually having the "one day" conversation where one day we won't be in school, our kids will be older, we will live in a home we own, and the burden and stress of trying to make ends meet will be a faded memory. Usually this conversation also brings about the understanding that what we want most out of life isn't all the toys and fancy lifestyle the "one days" will bring us, but the experiences the "one days" will enable us to have. It almost always brings us back to the experience we are having right now. Who we are without money is amazing us. We are creative, long suffering, humble (sometimes), tired, but excited. We are constantly learning and teaching. We are creating life and teaching those humans how to be people in a world without money and it works. Stress is hard. It gives Blake headaches and it gives my midsection a few extra inches, but it is part of this time in our lives. I imagine it will follow us to the "one days" as well and peak it's face into the walls of our home in unexpected ways, but we are learning how to handle it and it's not by throwing money at it. We are working out our problems, vocally, to each other and the Lord. Our children are learning how to survive without buying something every time we go to the store.Things are still happening for us without having money. So when we have money, and the one days become our nowadays, we want to make sure we remember what no money made. 
• Make choices in your youth that will enable you to be a trustworthy person. Trust will be the most important asset you can have as a businessman, a spouse, and a human. You build trust in yourself and others trust you as you make choices that are good and valiant. These are choices you make with others and more importantly, choices you make when no one is looking. Who are you when no one is around? Trust will secure jobs for you, it will secure your marriage, and it will secure your family. Make sure you can be trusted. The worst feeling in the world is knowing you let people down because you don't have a well of honesty and integrity built up in you. Built up from years as a child that you had to practice being true. If you can have integrity, you will never be alone. The most successful man in the world will never feel success, if he goes home to no one. Loneliness is a hard road to walk. Be someone that can be depended on and trusted in every aspect of your life. 

There is so much more to this. I am still trying to figure it all out. Be kind to everyone. Don't talk bad about your in-laws even if they are aliens from a different planet. Don't litter. Keep your home and office organized and orderly. Find time to go to the mountains and equal time to be on the beach. Serve the elderly. Talk to God out loud, whenever and wherever. Do good. Call your mother. Kiss your sweetie goodnight. 

Best of luck in all you do. 

Name the One by One

It is interesting the feelings I have on gratitude and the experiences that have contributed to my understanding. I have a tendency to say woe is me and feel bad for not being validated or assured I am doing good to all men. Sometimes I feel like I "do everything" with no return. I have really had to submit myself to the Lord and learn how to be alright with His validation, being happy and satisfied knowing that He is pleased with the work I do. I am trying to get to the point where I don't need people telling me how great of a job I am doing, and just being at peace knowing that Heavenly Father loves me and is aware of my heart and the things I am trying to do. I also feel like my need to be more grateful to Him and others can be in my willingness to be positive, uplifting, and motivating. I have some things to work on!

Willingness

I was given the challenge by my mission president to develop the kind of faith that could move mountains. I didn't realize how difficult it actually is to develop a kind of faith that can work mighty miracles. From what I have read of Paul and the feelings I have had about faith I really have had one distinct impression and that is the difference of faith and belief. Right now I am finishing up a science class and have studied the scientific process so thoroughly that I have a pretty good handle on what belief is. Belief is grabbing hold on truth that has been demonstrated and proven to be true. It could be proven through multiple witness', artifacts, research and science consensus. What I am learning and LOVING about faith is that extends beyond the human's capacity to believe and there is a relinquishing of will and then faith is there. It is our willingness to come unto Christ, to do as He asks, and testify of the truth we find in the world. So many people feel like, if they can't say they know with 100% of who they are, they are alienated from a class of people who say they walk in truth. I believe that Heavenly Father is aware of what we know, what we believe, and what we are willing to act on. It is in our acting on His word that will enable us to truly understand His work and words.

Being of One Mind

There are so many instances in the scriptures that  we, today, can relate to our own lives. When Paul speaks to Phillipians he counsels the people to "be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind." (Phil 2:2) This counsel alone could be the resolution to a lot of turmoil members of the church face. I live in a ward with so many different people, a portion are of pioneer heritage, holding strong to their lineage and making sure other members know that their ancestors built the building we congregate in, and the houses we live in. A handful of members are new converts, returning members, or neighbors seeking welfare assistance. Another portion of the ward are members who are free thinkers, sometimes termed as "intellects" who have either found comradery with each other or have made quick enemies with those more conservative than they. I have found myself in a more neutral position hoping that the Spirit will direct me in where I should voice my opinions in regards to the gospel. I have also felt a slight pull to protect the underdogs or those who seem to not feel support when they make a comment, even if their comment seems off-color or not normal. Usually I don't even agree, but like Paul, I have a strong testimony of the importance of letting "nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves" (vs.3). I feel like this principle is so vital to the success of the Church but also the success of humanity. Being able to accept that each of us are different, misfitted, and peculiar  will set us free of hate, discord, and pride. It will allow us to be exalted together, being able to glean from each other reasons to know better, to do better, and to be better. Being able to turn to the scriptures to receive greater light in regards to our personal challenges has always been one of the best results of scripture study. Although these are ancient writings, they are really applicable to to what we face as human beings today. "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." (vs.4) Why else would we be here on Earth together?

Creative Cat

I LOVED Yunus' speech on creating a poverty-free world. The idea that every human is born with a potential to create something that will better the world and make society a greater place to be is amazing. It's an idea that really , if the world grabbed hold, we would live in a place that would be motivated by doing good to all men continually. I really felt impressed to seek out people who run for government offices who promote this idea of creating a world that is more financially stable and eliminate the poverty levels. I live in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City and I am surrounded by people who are "poor", but not only are they financially struggling, they are poor in spirit. They succumb to the social demographic that has labeled them unworthy to participate in a world that would thrive with their input. Instead of nourishing their ability to become, they fill the bodies with substances that contain them and keep them in their state of regression. I want to make the world better.

We're All in This Together

This week wasn't as thought provoking as it usually goes. I think the main reason is the fact that I have already decided how I want my family to be involved with starting a company. We are always trying to come up with ways our family to do business together. Whether it is a garage sale, selling stickers, or working on a shaved ice shack. We just want to do things together so our children learn to value hard work, discipline, and have a healthy money sense. We like being together when things are successful or when they fail so that we can all relate and share how we feel. I suppose my biggest thought this week is the understanding I have of how important my kids are and making sacrifices so that they can be happy and our home can thrive and function.