First Line of Defense

Occasionally, I find myself completely clueless.
I don't know how I am feeling, I don't know how to handle certain situations, I don't know what words to say, I don't know what's right or wrong. I wonder if there is something that I could have done differently, or if I could have handled certain situations in a more suitable way? Sometimes I'm clueless in how to make a relationship with someone, how to get through this last semester of my online classes, and how I am going to find the time to fold the heap of laundry that always makes itself present.
Occasionally I find myself at a complete loss.

So, who do I go to when I find myself in these situations? I usually go to first my husband, or my cute mom or dad. They always have great advice for me. I am so lucky to be able to be surrounded by so many wise people who can help me make positive decisions, and guide me towards a happy, and righteous living.

As I finished my morning prayers today, I rolled back into bed, and pulled out my scriptures where I opened to 2 Nephi 32:

8 And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that ye ponder still in your hearts; and it grieveth me that I must speak concerning this thing. For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray, ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray.

9 But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.

It hit me like a stone wall.
Heavenly Father should be our very first line of defense. 

I usually pray to my Heavenly Father when I need him, but it usually seems like I use him as my last resort. Unfortunately, it also seems that I only pray to my Heavenly Father when I feel I need him.
Elder Bednar says:  "Prayer becomes more meaningful as we counsel with the Lord in all of our doings, as we express heartfelt gratitude, and as we pray for others."

The more we pray, the more opportunities we have to better know and understand our Savior. With that knowledge comes faith.
When we have faith in Him, we will know that he grants knowledge to all those who ask, we come to know of our individual worth and the love that God has for us, and we come to know the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We come to trust our Savior's time table, and get to build a relationship with Him.

So, if you are facing a challenge in life, or finding yourself at a loss, instead of putting Siri, your spouse, your friend, or you parents your first line of defense, put the Savior there instead.
     Sincerely,

BYU Women's Conference 2015

My site is under construction, so pardon the constant changes and messiness:)

I had the incredible opportunity to speak at BYU Women's Conference this year. I was given the topic of "communicating with young adults." At first I thought the topic was going to be sooooo hard, but by the time I started actually writing my talk, I had so much information flowing out of my head that I couldn't fit it all in my time limit. I absolutely loved dedicating all of my spare thoughts to this talk for 4 months. It was exhausting, terrifying, and at times mind-numbing, but absolutely wonderful. Would I ever want to do it again? NO WAY, but I am so glad that this opportunity was made available for me.

First of all, I thought before this, that I was brave. Well, I'm not. I have never really felt like I get nervous in front of big groups. I went to hear my dear friend Lesa Ward share her incredible message in a room of almost 2,000 people. It was then that I realized there would be a little less than double that in the room I was presenting in (A.K.A the Smithfield House 3,700 seats). Recognizing how many people would be in my session felt like I was on The Screamer at Lagoon, spinning around and around and around and around and around, wondering if I was going to be able to hold my delicious carrot Jamba Juice down. Let me tell ya folks, I get nervous in front of big groups.

I have given sacrament talks before, and that kind of thing, but it was such a different experience speaking in Woman's Conference. I knew that just about every person in that room wanted to hear what I had to say, and were either struggling with a young adult, and/or hoping to learn more about the way that we young adults communicate. It was a lot of pressure, and so humbling to feel Heavenly Father guide my words in a way that I hope touched the hearts of the woman that were listening to me. 


I focused on three different points in my talk. Here is a very short, and brief outline:

The first is to Let Your Children Fly- In other words, don't be a mama bear. Let us learn from our mistakes, Let us grow and repent on our own. Let us turn our own weaknesses into strengths, and let us come to you when we need help. As parents of young adults, it is not so much your job to prevent, solve, or control our problems, but to help, lead, and guide us as we work out our problems.

The second, is my validation, invasion, manipulation, and communication guideline -
Validation; We NEED to be validated. It is vital for us to feel validated in our feelings, our concerns, our disappointments, our achievements, our dreams, our circumstances, and our efforts. Validation let's us know that you are genuinely interest and that you care about us in a non-invasive way.
Invasion; Having an added respect for privacy is an important part to having a functioning relationship with our parents. Invading our time, or space is a one way ticket to a ruined relationship. At that same time, I think clear privacy boundaries need to be set with you as parents as well.
Manipulation; None of us likes to be manipulated. All manipulation does is cause resentful feelings towards the person doing the manipulating. My parents have applied the saying "always and invitation, never and expectation" to our family, and it has helped my husband and my relationship with them flourish.
Communication; It is so important to have one on one, in person chats with us. Reach out to your young adult, and let them take their time to reach back to you. They may not come running in excitement at first, but eventually they will truly cherish the time they get to spend with you. It is also just as important to make meaningful memories with children.

Lastly, love your children with all your heart, and trust the Lord - One of the many blessings of being a covenant keeping member of the church, as stated by Sister Parkins, is that those we love will be spiritually safe, and spiritually prepared. I have personal experience of the truthfulness of this blessing! I have stepped far off the straight and narrow before and I know that because of the covenants that my parents had made in the Holy House of the Lord, I was kept safe.

When things get tough, which they will, give your child the love that they need, support them through thick and thin, always use kind words, pray for your relationship with them daily, and unconditionally trust that Heavenly Father has a plan for each and every one of us.


I loved this experience with all my heart, and am so grateful for the testimony that has come from it. Huge thanks to all those who support me through thick and thin:)

     Sincerely,

There's Hope Smiling Brightly Before Us

One of my favorite parts of General Conference Weekend is the second session on Saturday. I love hearing the names of the leaders of our church being listed. I love being able to raise my hand to the square and sustain the The First Presidency and 12 Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators. I love these men and am grateful for the sacrifices that they and their families have made in order to provide us with a leader who directly communes with Heavenly Father.

How lucky are we to be able to have a man to lead and guide us. Apart from the apostasy, there has always been a prophet on the Earth. Can you imagine a world where we had absolutely no guidance? No one to warn us or teach us? I have complete faith that our prophet directly communicates with our Heavenly Father. Our Prophet and Apostles speak the words to us that Heavenly Father would be speaking to us if He was on the Earth. How awesome is that?? He is a direct link to our Heavenly Father.

Sustain: to strengthen or support; I have such faith that our Prophet Thomas S. Monson has been called of God. I am grateful for the sacrifices that he has made in order to serve the Lord and us with all his might. I am grateful for President Monson's unfaltering testimony in our Savior Jesus Christ, and for the way that it has strengthened mine. I am so grateful that we have a leader to look to in times of trouble. I know that when times get tough the Prophet's words will guide us. I know that times are going to get tough... really tough, but because of him there is "hope smiling brightly before us." We have no reason to fear the future if we follow the words of our Prophets. I know without a doubt in my mind that the prophets are called of God for our sake. I love Thomas S. Monson and I support and sustain him with everything in me.

 What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.

   
     Sincerely,

Earning Pennies

"For the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard"

How many of you have ever felt like you haven't been paid enough for the work that you have done. I know I sure as heck have. I know that I often get into the mind set that I deserve more than I get. I get frustrated with people when I feel that they are not pulling their weight, and they mooch off of my extra effort.

I absolutely love that Christ teaches in parables in the New Testament. They are easy to remember, easy to relate to, and are spoken so eloquently. For me the parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard has taught me the most about Christ's doctrine, and at the same time is the parable that I have the hardest time accepting.

The parable starts with a man leaving early to hire laborers to work in his vineyard. He had agreed to pay the laborers a penny a day. He sent the laborers out into the vineyard. Three hours later he went into the marketplace where he saw others standing idle. He said to them, "Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you." They went their way to the vineyard and began to work. The sixth and ninth hour of the day he went to the marketplace again and hired more laborers. At the eleventh hour he went to the marketplace again and saw others standing idle. He asked them "why stand ye here all the day idle?" they said to him "because no man hath hired us." He said to them "Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive." When the day came to the end, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward "call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first." All of the laborers came and lined up to get paid. The laborers that came the eleventh hour received a penny. The laborers that came came the ninth and sixth hour received a penny. When the laborers that started in the early morning came, they supposed that they should be payed more. When they received their one penny they complained against the man of the house saying, "these last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day."

At this point in the scripture I get kind of frustrated. If I was the laborer that had worked sun up till sun down, I would be pretty upset that the guy who decided to show up the last hour got paid the exact amount that I did, when I did all of the heavy lifting. I guess that's just my selfish side talking. However, before you get too frustrated along with me, read what the Lord of the Vineyard has to say to people who feel like we do:

Matthew 20:13 "Friend, I do thee no wrong; didst not thou agree with me for a penny?" First of all, I automatically love any scripture where Christ calls us his friend. We have all been told exactly what we are going to get paid for our work; eternal life. How can we argue for more? We came to this Earth knowing exactly what we would get paid.

14:  "Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee." Christ tells us to take what he has given us and go our way. He's going to give everyone the same that we get. He is telling us not to worry about what everyone else is getting. Worry about what you yourself are giving. Thinking that we deserve more is a pretty selfish way to think. How can we think that we need more recognition than anyone else who showed up. How can you really have more eternity?

15: "Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?" Do you trust the Lord? Do you trust that he has a plan for every single one of us? It's hard sometimes to trust, because we don't see the big picture. We have to have faith and believe that we will be paid for our work. Verse 4 says "whatsoever is right, I will give you." Trust that the Lord is looking after you, and taking care of you. At first, reading "is thine eye evil" kind of threw me off and I couldn't understand what was being taught here. However, after discussing it with my husband, I believe that this is one of the key parts of the scripture. Christ is asking them if they are upset because the laborers are being granted eternal life? How could we be upset that someone is receiving eternal life just because they showed up a little later than you did. I get bitter sometimes and secretly hope that some people have the worst day of their life just because I don't necessarily get along with them. That is such a poisonous state of mind to be in, and something that I am constantly working on. Having even a glimpse at how amazing eternal life is going to be, I wish everyone to have it; even my worst enemies.

16: "So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called but few chosen." No one is more important than any other person. The very last person that showed up to work is just as worthy and deserving of eternal life and celestial glory as the very first person who showed up to work. Enough Said.

Why are we in the vineyard? Are we there to get our fair penny, or are we there to serve and build the Kingdom of God? What are our motives for working in the vineyard?

How lucky we are to have a Savior who is willing to pay the last person the same as the first? I know for a fact that I have not always been the first person to work in the morning. I get lazy, and lose my focus. I complain occasionally about the work that is to be done, however I know that there is work to be done. I know without a doubt in my heart, our Savior is merciful. I know that if we work the long days to the best of our abilities, we will be rewarded beyond measure. I am grateful for this parable and for the humility it teaches me. My Savior is full of grace, and I know because of him and only him I will be able to have eternal life. "Yea , I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold many mighty miracle we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever." The beautiful thing is that I could be the very first person to the vineyard every morning, but without my Savior Jesus Christ I could never earn even one penny.

     Sincerely,

Arise and Come Forth

3 Nephi 9:14  Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me. 

I often wonder what it will be like when Christ comes to the Earth again. I imagine it to be very similar to the story we read in 3 Nephi. There will be treacherous earthquakes, fires, wars, crazy thunderstorms, and a whole lot of other scary stuff. The whole Earth will be covered with darkness for three days. On the third day, the darkness will be broken with a voice saying "Behold, my Beloved in Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name - hear ye him" 

Oh man I hope I am still around to be able to hear those words. Can you imagine the peace that would overcome the Earth simply from hearing the voice of our Father in Heaven? 3 Nephi 11 is when this officially happens. Heavenly Father speaks three times before the Nephites could hear and understand what was being said. That scares the poop out of me. How on planet Earth (literally) could a person not hear Heavenly Father's voice? Verse 5 says that the third time that Heavenly Father spoke, the Nephites "opened their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came." Here's some food for thought, how do we "open our ears and eyes" so that we can feel and hear the spirit of the Lord speaking to us? Hopefully I'll be able to hear His voice the first time.

 Here's me and my mom. She is an incredible woman and example in my life. Not sure what i would do without her.

About a week ago, my mom and I were discussing the Second Coming. It was mentioned that it might be intimidating to meet our Savior. In our mortal life, we know that we will never be even close to perfect. Are we going to feel guilt when we meet our Savior because we know that we have judged others too harshly, or because we didn't give life our 100% all? There's a scripture that says "where much is given, much is required." Heavenly Father has blessed my life abundantly, and in many ways that I know I don't deserve. Have i given all that is required of me? Should I feel guilty when i meet the Savior? 

As my mom and I discussed what meeting the Savior would be like, I was reminded of the woman in the Bible who was being stoned for adultery. The Savior stops the persecutors, and says "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." I can't even imagine how embarrassed and guilty this woman must of felt to be caught in the act of adultery by the Savior. However, the Savior did not guilt her, and dismiss her. He loved her, and taught her. He forgave her, and I imagine he gave her a big hug and told her that everything's going to be okay. 

Back to 3 Nephi: Christ says "Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world." The multitudes fell on his feet, kissed them, and worshiped him. They hugged him, and felt his hand, feet and side wounds. They felt the love that he had for them. Every single person in the multitude had an opportunity to see the Savior with their own eyes. I can't hardly imagine for a second that even one of those Nephites wanted to shy away from the opportunity to meet the Savior, no matter what sins they bore. They wanted to see their Redeemer. They wanted to praise his name and be forgiven. 

I know without a doubt in my mind that when the Savior comes again, that I will not shy away. I will Arise and Come forth falling on His feet and praising His name. I know that when the Savior comes it will be a glorious and redeeming day. I am grateful for such a merciful, and loving Savior. I know that because of him, I will be able to live with my family for time and all eternity. I am grateful for the atonement and for the opportunity that it gives each of us to become clean again, and to build a relationship with our Savior. I know that he lives today, that he loves us, and that he is just a prays distance away from us. I truly cannot wait for the day when I can be reunited with my brother and Savior.

Sincerely,