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.”