Week 14

I was reading in Moroni 7 and came upon  verse 13: "But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God." This seems like a pretty obvious statement, but it made me think of the talk "Good, Better, Best" by Elder Dallin H. Oaks from the October 2007 General Conference. 

I've been watching a decent amount of a TV series and although it certainly isn't evil, it doesn't "enticeth [me] to do good." I've realized that although it is enjoyable while I am watching it, it doesn't leave me with the same good feeling I get after I read the scriptures, have a meaningful conversation with a friend, or serve others. This verse was a good reminder that there are more fulfilling things in life than watching a TV series and that while you're wrapped up in fictional characters' lives, your own life does not stop and you miss out on fun college adventures you could be having. I think this is the point of good, better, best. The best option for me would be to focus on others and try to improve myself for the remainder of the semester rather than get sucked into my tv series. I need to be reading my scriptures more so I can be more receptive to the promptings of the spirit about what I should be doing to help others or improve myself. If I'm not actively seeking for the best options, I will get stuck in the same good situation and I will never improve past my current state. If I truly want to improve, I need to be consistently choosing the best options for myself and heeding the promptings of the spirit so I can become the best me I can possibly be. If this means foregoing my TV show to gain a better relationship with my roommates, I can definitely minimize the amount of time I spend watching it and use that time for the best options. 

Week 13

In my personal scripture study, I was reading in Mormon 9 where Moroni is exhorting all those who do not believe in Christ to repent and come unto Christ. He says in verse 3, "then will ye longer deny the Christ, or can ye behold the Lamb of God? Do ye suppose that ye shall dwell with him under a consciousness of your guilt? Do ye suppose that ye could be happy to dwell with that holy Being, when your souls are racked with a consciousness of guilt that ye have ever abused his laws?"

This verse is really powerful because it reminds me of a conversation I had with my mom. I was wondering why God doesn't allow all of His children to live in the highest degree of glory in the Celestial Kingdom because the scriptures say that's where the happiest people are located. If He really loved us He would want us in the place that will make us the happiest so He should allow everyone to live in the Celestial Kingdom. This line of thinking is inaccurate, however, because those who have not repented of their sins and still take pleasure in things not of God will be fully aware of how guilty they are and want to hide from their maker. They would be uncomfortable and feel inadequate around others who have progressed faster than they have. I certainly wouldn't have felt worthy to dwell there at that point in my life. I'm not sure how the whole system in Heaven works out, but I know that God wants the best for all of his children and as long as they are trying their hardest and putting forth the effort they need to, He will put them right where they need to be because He is a God of love. 

Week 12

I was sitting in the temple waiting room and I opened up the set of scriptures lying beside me. I flipped to somewhere in 2 Nephi chapter 28. As I was reading this chapter I happened upon the old scripture mastery verse: 2 Nephi 28:30 "For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, ^aprecept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn ^bwisdom; for unto him that ^creceiveth I will give ^dmore; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have." Many times we are tempted to get upset with religion in general because we are a generation of people who want things instantaneously and sometimes answers to question will not come in this life but will be answered in the life to come or at the soonest they'll come line upon line rather than all at once. These frustrations are pretty normal every time we're impatiently waiting on an answer. It's easy to feel like God has neglected you and isn't really listening to your silent pleas for direction when you're not getting an answer, but I bear testimony that if you will continue to ask in faith, He will give you a personal witness that He is aware of you and will guide you in the direction you should go. He reveals things to us line upon line because if we received it all at once, we'd get too overwhelmed with the information or we don't treasure it as much as we should. By allowing us to ask for the guidance we so desperately need, we get the exact amount of information we can handle at the time until the full answer is finally revealed to us. I know that if we listen to the answer we receive and are patient to receive it, it will shape our lives for the better and be exactly what we need.


I had this same principle revealed to me while trying to decide which college I should attend. I kept going back and forth between Brigham Young University or Utah State. I made pros and cons lists, weighed the options in my mind, and finally decided to pray fervently about it. I was very frustrated because I wasn't receiving an answer and deadlines were fast approaching. About a week before I had to officially decide, I made up my mind: I would go to Utah State in the fall. I started to feel a little anxious about this decision and began praying that if I was supposed to go to BYU I would continue feeling anxious about Utah State but if I was supposed to go to Utah State then I would feel peace. I couldn't distinguish my anxiety about going to college from my anxiety about going to Utah State, but eventually I decided to change directions and instead imagine going to BYU in the fall. I still could feel the anxiety of college pressing in, but for whatever reason I got the slightest bit less anxiety about going to BYU and I could also feel myself beginning to get more excited about the prospect of going to college than I had before. The process of this decision can be described as line upon line because I don't think I would've stuck with BYU if I had decided to go there right from the beginning. I needed to first decide on the wrong college for me, slowly get filled with doubts, switch my decision, feel marginally better about it, and receive further validation once I started my schooling. I don't think going to Utah State would've been bad for me, but coming to BYU was just the better option more me. I'm very thankful for the role of personal revelation in my life. It reminds me that we're not traversing this crazy, confusing world by ourselves. The quiet promptings of the holy spirit are waiting to guide us through the maze of this life if we will but pause for a second and listen.

Week 11

One of my favorite verses from the scriptures is in Alma 48:17 and it reads, "Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto ^aMoroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the ^bdevil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men." 

Many times, I get frustrated with myself because I'll repent for something and then almost immediately I'll make the same mistake again. I have to remind myself that Christ's atonement is an infinite one and although I might make the same mistakes over and over again, as long as I keep trying and there's even a marginal improvement, my Heavenly Father is proud of my efforts. It will be a long time before I can ever hope to be like Moroni, but this verse encourages me to try and be like him. I know that if I keep repenting and trying to be better than I was yesterday, I will get to the point where my testimony can withstand anything that the devil will try and he would no longer  have power over my heart to lead me away to temptation. I know that if I rely on the Savior to help me accomplish this, He will help me overcome these trials. All I have to do is ask in faith believing that He will help me and He will not lead me astray

Week 10

A few months ago I had a really eye-opening conversation with my sister. I was really stressed out about choosing the wrong major, not meeting the people I'm supposed to meet, and/or receiving bad grades so I can't get into my prospective major choice. The advice she gave me can basically be summed up in 1 Nephi 9:6 which says "But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold, he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen." 

Basically, all of these worries I'd been having were about things out of my control. Having these specific worries wasn't going to change the outcome and I just needed to trust that God knew what was going to happen throughout my life and He was guiding things into place. I knew I'd have to stay in tune with the spirit if I wanted to receive these careful promptings, but other than that I just needed to remember that God knows, loves, and cares about me so I need to trust in his infinite wisdom and know that He'll be there to help me make tough decisions because He actively cares about me - just like a parent does. He's my loving Heavenly Father and He will help me with any struggles I'm facing. All I need to do is ask for His help and prayerfully listen for His quiet answers because He hears every single prayer.

Week 9

In my personal scripture study I was reading in Mark and verse 16 relates how Jesus is eating with the publicans and sinners and the pharisees are shocked because they wouldn't be caught dead eating with such unclean people. Verse 17 is Jesus' response to their disgust and it reads, "When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." A lot of times I feel unworthy to go to church or the temple because I've lost my temper and said something unkind to a loved one or didn't keep the Sabbath Day holy or some other infraction that doesn't reflect perfection. At times like this I have to remind myself that there's only one person that lived on this earth who lived a perfect life and I am not that person. Heavenly Father did not ask me to be that person and he did not set me up for failure. Instead, He and His son provided a means whereby every son and daughter could live with their Father again if they only keep the commandments and take advantage of the redeeming powers when they make a mistake. Our only requirement is to try to be the best version of ourselves we can be and try to be a true follower of Christ and He will make up the difference for us because we cannot possibly do it alone.

Similarly, one of my very favorite talks was given by Elder Holland in an April 2009 General Conference talk titled 'None Were With Him'. Elder Holland reminds us that "because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so." He's suffered every pain and affliction specifically for us and for the shortest moment I know He suffered only for me. He knows every emotion I've ever felt including loss, guilt, pain, fear, anger, doubt, and loneliness. We do not have to suffer these burdens alone. If we will turn our hearts to Him, He has the power to make us clean- completely free of sin. All we have to do is have faith and put our trust in Him and He will make us whole.

Week 8

Yesterday in Sunday School we had a really good lesson about Emma Smith and her unfailing faith. We watched a video detailing the trials and tribulations she endured first from her family shutting her out after eloping with Joseph Smith and then with the unrelenting mobs that seemed to follow wherever they went and finally with the loss of many of her children. To try to get a better read on how hard this would all be to bear, I put myself in her shoes. I felt the fear of a young wife as her husband was roughly grabbed in the middle of the night and hot tar was poured over his entire body by a bloodthirsty mob. I felt the heart-wrenching sadness as Emma clutched her beloved child's lifeless body to her bosom and wept. I felt the elation she must have felt as she came to understand the fullness of the Gospel. And finally I felt the heavy burden of responsibility when Emma learned that Joseph had been shot and killed at Carthage Jail and now she was the sole provider of her little family now. All of these trials and tribulations she endured prompted this special revelation just for Emma Smith in D&C 25: 13. It reads: Behold, they sins are forgiven thee, and thou art an elect lady, whom I have called. 

To know for a fact that your Heavenly Father who knows you better than anyone in this earthly life knows that you are an elect lady is life changing. It gives you a whole new perspective on yourself and your worth in general. Whenever I read this verse I am reminded of Emma's strength and unfailing courage as she underwent all these trials. It makes me want one day to be proclaimed 'an elect lady' just as she was. I know that Heavenly Father helped her through her trials and I know that he can help me with anything I am struggling with as well. This verse further solidifies my understanding that each and every one of God's spirits sons and daughters is known by their Father and we all have the potential to be an elect follower of Christ if we follow the commandments and stand steadfastly in the faith no matter what types of hardships might befall us because he is aware of each and every one of his children.

Week 7

These last few years, my stereotype of people in general has been altered significantly. I used to think that everyone was always doing good all the time and that I was the only one who was really struggling with anything. It certainly seemed that way from very surfacey interactions including small talk as well as happy faces on social media I'd grown accustomed to. I think I was also a little too self-centered to really look outside myself long enough to realize that underneath the happy exterior, many were going through heart-breaking challenges everyday. Through advice from my mother, I began to talk more deeply with friends and try to feel compassion for their trials. The more I listened and prayed to feel empathy, the more I desired to help. I think this was a big turning point in my life because after this realization, I wasn't always worried about what others were thinking of me. Instead, I was looking around to see if I could offer assistance to anyone in need. I felt my heart begin to expand and I started to genuinely care about those around me. I began to understand the love Christ has for each and every one of his children because I could feel it whenever I served anyone. I then took it one step further and thought this must be how Christ loves me. This changed my perspective on so many things. I started praying more regularly because I knew He wanted to hear from me, I relied on his guidance because I knew He'd steer me in the best direction, and I was more motivated to keep His commandments because I knew that would bring me the most happiness. These little epiphanies throughout my life have completely altered the way I view life, the gospel, and people in general. I am a happier and more service-oriented person than I ever thought I would be. I think my findings can be summed up into one verse "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God" (D&C 18:10). If we remember that every human being on earth is a child of God as well as our brothers and sisters, we'll be more apt to lend a helping hand and really feel of the love Christ has for each of his children. I know because I've felt it and there's not a more peaceful feeling in the world.

Week 6

This past week has been a whirlwind of complete and utter stress. I've been going to bed late and waking up early trying to get caught up on all by homework and preparing for my impending midterms and I've missed reading my scriptures a few times in the process. I honestly didn't see the correlation between the lack of scripture study and the addition of stress until Sunday came around and I felt inclined to start reading again. I couldn't believe the difference it made. It wasn't that all my homework suddenly went away or that my classes were magically canceled, but my mind became clearer so I could begin planning out when and how I'd finish all my homework  and my attitude changed so I wasn't focusing on the debilitating stress and pressure, but instead just felt more motivated to get it all completed. I think Matthew 11:29 sums up my findings very well when it says "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." This verse says that if we do the will of the father and son and learn about them, we shall find rest in our souls. Because I had been so focused on getting my homework done and didn't think I had the time for scripture study, I missed out on the peace and blessings that come whenever you read the scriptures. I'm sure at times I will feel I have too little time to do everything required of me and I will be tempted to replace scripture study with homework, but I hope I will remember the peace I feel whenever I begin to read the scriptures. I know that He is watching out for me in all my endeavors whether they be somewhat trivial in the case of homework or more life-changing like marriage, career, or health. He will speak peace to my soul if i continue to pray to him and then hearken unto his words. I know that life is always stressful while we're balancing school, friends, work, and scripture study, but I know that if we put Christ first and hearken to his words, we'll feel the Heavenly peace that comes in and through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Week 5

In my personal scripture study, I was reading in Matthew 5:15 and I ran over the old scripture mastery verse "Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel but on a candlestick and it doth give light unto all who are in the house." In this context, I think it's meant to be interpreted as don't hide your testimony, but as I read the verse this time around, I interpreted it as an attitude. From the onset of this school year, I’ve seen the profound effect my attitude has had on my productivity as well as all who are around me. Usually, if I’m super stressed out or just upset or sad about something, those around me are effected as well and vice versa. One of my friends is constantly complaining about homework, midterms, friends, exc. And I’ve found it’s a lot harder to be positive and look on the bright side of things when I’ve been around her a lot. I think she’s a great person and has many wonderful attributes, but I don’t enjoy being around her because usually it dims my disposition. Similarly, I have a roommate who i admire with all my heart. She is in a wheelchair, but that doesn't stop her from being one of the happiest people I've known in all my life. She never fails to cheer me up if I've had a rough day due to a paper or a midterm and I aspire to have the same type of resilience and genuine happiness that she constantly exudes everyday. I find myself naturally feeling happier and better for just being around her.

Because I’ve felt the two different types of attitudes, I know what it’s like to have someone’s bad attitude seep into mine and I don’t ever want to make anybody else feel this way. Like the second friend, I want to be the type of person whose  attitude can “give light unto all who are in the house.” I want to go forward throughout my life with an optimistic lense and surround myself with people who will help uplift and inspire me and that will be receptive to my reciprocation. I know there will be times where I won’t want to have an optimistic outlook on life, but hopefully, I’ll have people around me who will help me see the good in life once more and my testimony will be strong enough to help me spread that same joy to others.

Week 4

I’ve been a curious creature starting from a fairly age. I’ve always wanted to know the reasoning behind certain rules instead of trusting in the wisdom of my parents. Question after question would emanate from my mouth as I scrutinized the world from my limited view of understanding. This curiosity naturally followed me through the ages as I moved from elementary school to middle school and then from high school to college. I used to view questions in reference to the gospel as a tool used by the adversary to try and lead away the children of God, but eventually realized doubts about the Gospel are different than questions. We are not told to blindly follow prophets and sustain leaders. Actively seeking confirmation on questions concerning certain aspects of the Gospel is actually encouraged. It can help strengthen your testimony if you find what you’re seeking with one stipulation: one doesn’t need to know everything about the Gospel for it to be true.

            When Nephi is being questioned about the condescension of God by an angel, one of his responses is “ I do not know the meaning of all things” (1 Nephi 11:17). Having been chosen of God, a righteous individual, and a prophet, it’s easy to assume he knows all the answers to the Gospel, but sometimes you really do just gotta count on faith. Like Brother Griffin said in reference to the Gospel, “You don’t know everything, but you know enough.” If we get too caught up in the logistics of the Gospel, we will eventually find something that nobody knows the answer to. If we discount the entire Gospel because of this, we’d be missing out on all the blessings and peace that come with the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. As brother Griffin said “Don’t let all the ? of the Gospel overpower the ! in your heart.”

Week 3

Today in lecture, Brother Griffin explained the significance of Eve being (symbolically) created from Adam’s rib. God could have fashioned Eve from Adam’s cranium, his calf, or any other part of his body, but taken from the rib seems to signify a sense of partnership as in equals side by side. Women and men are meant to be equal partners in a relationship and anything else is contrary to the plan of happiness. As Brother Griffin began talking about his wife, my heart swelled as he recounted how he was “married to an absolute angel and a daughter of God who [he loves] with all [his] heart.”

Culturally, Satan has done all he can to convince us that dads are misogynistic or dense, kids get in the way of self-fulfillment and achieving dreams, or moms are strict and don’t listen to their children. This way, we degrade our partners or downgrade our spouses, but when Brother Griffin remarked about his wife, I felt the truth in his words. I realize that this is the way I want to feel about someone and the way I want someone to feel about me. Men and women are given divine roles that compliment eachother. Without each part, the whole system wouldn’t flow together perfectly, but because each has their own responsibilities, it creates a balanced mechanism. God never intended for us to go through life alone, nor did he intend for us to feel inferior to our spouses. He gave women to man as a “help meat”, but also gave men to women for a “help meat” for women (Genesis 2:18). In this way, each is helping each other to fill in the gaps of responsibility. This is exactly the kind of team God had in mind to raise the future generations of His beloved children.

Week 2

I was studying in Moses 1 verse 18 which reads “And again Moses said: I will not cease to call upon God, I have other things to inquire of him: for his glory has been upon me, wherefore I can judge between him and thee. Depart hence, Satan”. In one of the lectures this week, we were talking about the first vision and how intensely spiritual experiences are either preceded or followed by extreme temptations. For example, when Joseph Smith was kneeling in the Sacred Grove following the instructions of James 1:5, he was accosted by a dark spirit and was about to be utterly destroyed when a ray of light similar to the brightness of the sun descended upon him and he was delivered. I always felt strange about this phenomenon because I didn’t understand how God could let something like this befall young Joseph, but when Joseph related his story to a preacher, he was told this mighty vision was of the devil. Joseph was surprised and pondered this possibility, but ultimately decided it was of God because he could distinguish between the feeling of utter despair from the devil and the joy from the godhead. It was necessary to go through this process so he could refute such claims. Likewise, I need to remember that hardships and challenges that I have been given are to better me as a person or to help me understand something. Trials are not punishments. They are meant to teach us something and we do not go through them alone. He will give us the power to overcome them so long as we trust in his mercy and love.

Week 1

This week, we were studying in Moses 7 and Enoch came face to face with God. The Lord showed unto him many things which were to come like the restoration, the coming of the Son of Man, the Second Coming and Satan. Moses 7:26 reads: “And he beheld Satan; and he had a great chain in his hand, and it veiled the whole face of the earth with darkness; and he looked up and laughed, and his angels rejoiced.” The despair and fear felt after reading this verse is almost tangible, until you see verse 27: “And Enoch beheld angels descending out of heaven, bearing testimony of the Father and Son; and the Holy Ghost fell on many, and they were caught up by the powers of heaven into Zion.” Professor Griffin clarified that verse 27 was about missionary work and that when Moses had been foreordained and beheld the utter wickedness encompassing the entirety of the earth, he probably pointed to the Earth and said “please send me there. These people need me. I need to go there.” Moses did not quake and tremble at beholding the gruesome sight, but instead looked forward with faith which is the exact opposite of the fear one could expect. Professor Griffin said that we were up there too looking down and probably had the same response: “Please send me there. These people need me. I need to go there.” I’ve never felt the desire to serve a mission more than I did in that moment. I’ve always been afraid of getting rejected on a mission or that I won’t be an obedient and dependable missionary, but reading verses like this reminds me that missions are for service and hopefully helping people escape the bands of misery and destruction. I imagine what my life would be like if the gospel wasn’t a part of it and I can see myself giving into temptations and bending to what the world wants me to be. Instead, I know that God loves me and He weeps when His children are led away because “they are the workmanship of mine own hands…”. This more than anything else makes me want to save others who are struggling just as I have and bring them to know of their loving Heavenly Father and loving Heavenly Brother.