None of us marry perfection, We marry POTENTIAL!

I really liked this quote from Elder Hales at general conference.  

I was thinking about this a lot today as I was doing one of my assignments.  None of us are perfect, but we have the potential to become perfected over time.  We won't reach perfection in this life.  It's not possible!  But through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can continually become better!  When I am looking for a husband, I can't expect him to be perfect!  I need to look for some one who tries their hardest to be the best they can be!  And I need to do that as well!  Anyways, those are just my thoughts for today!  

A Tribute To My Mom and Dad!

I was having a really hard time thinking of what I wanted to write about this week.  I have read so many amazing talks and learned so much, but none of it really resonated with me.  I decided to watch some YouTube videos from the Mormon Channel. Two that I really loved were Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership With God, and A Father Indeed.  As I was watching these videos, I couldn't help but think of my own mom and dad.  I am so incredibly blessed with wonderful, loving parents who are always there for me.  They are such great examples of service, whether it is in the church or in the community!  They are always willing to help!

First, my mom.

 

My mom is literally the most hardworking woman I know.  Besides raising 8 kids, she also takes care of our cows, traps gophers, moves water, bales hay, hauls hay, (literally helps with every aspect of running a ranch) cleans the house, is a member of several community organizations, is a scout leader, and a member of the Stake Relief Society presidency.  She is always willing to help when anyone needs it!  I have learned so much from my mom; she has taught me how to cook, how to sew, how to clean, how to do laundry, the list could literally go on forever!  One of my most favorite things to do with my mom is to cook.  I love when we make dinner together! (even though we get frustrated at times)  I love calling my mom and telling her about my adventures when I'm at college!  She is a great listener!  I owe so many things to my mom!  Although we have arguments, (some bigger than others) I love my mom and I am so thankful for her and the blessing she is to me!  

My Dad.  

You can obviously tell that I'm his daughter :)

I don't know where to begin.  My dad is amazing!  My dad is also extremely hard working!  He always says that he is a teacher so that he can afford to be a farmer :)  My dad teaches wood shop and a small engines class.  I feel like I can talk to my dad about everything!  He has taught me so many things!  He always helps me with my car when I need it, he tries to teach me how to take care of it my self (which I'm not that good at) :)  he helps me to see the good in others and in myself, he is a great example of service, and he is a great example of humility.  I love my dad for his ridiculous jokes and puns! (even though I act annoyed)  I love emailing my dad through out the week while I'm at college.  I send him silly pictures and videos that I find interesting.  I love my dad so much!  I am so thankful for his example to me! 

I obviously wouldn't be here if it weren't for my parents, but I'm so thankful that they have given me the opportunities and the learning experiences that I have had.  I'm so thankful that they taught me the value of hard work at an early age and the importance of serving others!  I hope to some day be as amazing of parents as they are!  

Tolerance

One of the sections of required reading this week for my class was from an official statement made by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in January of 2014.  It is entitled The Divine Institution of Marriage and it talks a lot about how in our church, we believe that marriage is between a man and a woman.  That is the way Heavenly Father always meant for it to be!  At the very beginning of the statement, four purposes are given for why the church made this statement in the first place.  It says:

"One purpose of this document is to reaffirm the Church’s declaration that marriage is the lawful union of a man and a woman.

Another purpose is to reaffirm that the Church has a single, undeviating standard of sexual morality: intimate relations are acceptable to God only between a husband and a wife who are united in the bonds of matrimony.

A third purpose is to set forth the Church’s reasons for defending marriage between a man and a woman as an issue of moral imperative. The Church’s opposition to same-sex marriage derives from its doctrine and teachings, as well as from its concern about the consequences of same-sex marriage on religious freedom, society, families, and children.

A fourth purpose of this document is to reaffirm that Church members should address the issue of same-sex marriage with respect and civility and should treat all people with love and humanity." (The Divine Institution of Marriage)  

I REALLY like this section of the statement!  Especially the fourth reason.  A lot of times I hear member of the church who are very intolerant of people who may have different beliefs from them.  I know I have been guilty of this as well, but we can still love people who are different than us, without condoning their lifestyle!  I think this is a really important thing to remember!  There is a part later on in the statement that says 

"Tolerance does not require abandoning one's standards or one's opinions on political or public policy choices.  Tolerance is a way of reacting to diversity, not a command to insulate it from examination.  The savior taught that we should love the sinner without condoning the sin."

Another quote says:

"The church's affirmation of marriage as being between a man and a woman 'neither constitutes nor condones any kind of hostility toward gays and lesbians.'"  

In all, I felt this statement was very worthwhile to read.  While I don't believe that same sex marriage is right in any way, I do believe that God loves all of his children and he was us to love each other.  Hating someone for their beliefs is not going to make the world a better place.  You don't have to accept or be okay with the choices someone is making to love them.  

My Thoughts About Dating and Marriage!

Taking a class this semester called "The Eternal family", has obviously made me think a lot about marriage the last few weeks!  But first, let's talk about dating.  Can I just say that dating sucks?  I mean, you go out with someone you barely know, worry about what they think about you, try to make casual conversation with them while asking a lot of questions that you normally wouldn't ask.  All the while wishing they will either leave you alone forever after or ask you out again, it's a pretty vicious cycle!  Sometimes, I wish arranged marriages were still socially acceptable!  It would make things so much easier. :)  I'm just kidding!  But if we are commanded to get married, why is it so hard?  Well, I have a few thoughts about that.  I think Heavenly Father wants us to have to work hard for something!  If you don't have to work hard for something, you won't appreciate it as much.  If you just get married with out thinking about it, will your marriage be that important to you? Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and it is part of Heavenly Fathers plan.  In a nutshell, we are here to gain a body, learn and progress, get married and have a family.  I know that this is true.  But Heavenly Father never said this life would be easy!  He allows us to experience trials that he knows will help us to grow.  Some people never have the opportunity to get married, some couples are unable to have children of their own.  President Eyring said in a talk called The Family, 

        "For some of us, the test in the schoolroom of mortality well be to want marriage and children in          this life with all our hearts, but to have it delayed or denied.  Even such a sorrow can be turned             to a blessing by a just and loving Father and his son, Jesus Christ.  No one who strives with full          faith and heart for the blessings of eternal life will be denied, and how great will be the joy and             how much deeper the appreciation then after enduring in patience  and faith now." 

There are so many trials that we are asked to pass through, and all the while Heavenly Father is there with us, ready to help us if only we will reach out to him.  He wants us to succeed in this life because he knows how much joy will come to us afterwards!  In the end, as long as we are faithful, keep the commandments, and repent when we make mistakes, things will work out.  I'm so thankful for my eternal family.  They are such a blessing to me!

The Family, A Proclamation to the World

The Family, a Proclamation to the World Was introduced in September of 1995, (which just happens to be the exact month I was born)  Which means, it's exactly 20 years old (like me)!  So I thought I would post about it today!

This is TRULY an inspired document!  I don't know what the world was like in 1995, but I know it must have been better than it is today!  We have been given this proclamation as a guide to help us remember the importance of the family.  

The first paragraph says:  

           "WE, THE FIRST PRESIDENCY and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children."

The family is central to God's plan for all of us!  I am so thankful for my family!  I don't know what I would do without them and I am so thankful that I have the knowledge that I have of Eternal Families!  There is so much talk right now of same sex marriage.  It makes my heart hurt to see how much Satan has influenced so many people on this earth.  I know that God's plan is for one man to marry one woman. His standards will NEVER change, despite all of the turmoil on the Earth right now!  I am so thankful for the constancy of the Gospel!  

Things are about to change!

For one of my classes this semester, The Eternal Family, to be exact, I get to participate in a semester long project to help me strengthen my testimony of the importance of the family unit and to help me strengthen my family.  I am really excited for this project, but there is a catch, I'm going to be blogging once a week throughout this semester about different topics that we learn about in my class, as well as things that I come across on line pertaining to the family.  I would really appreciate any feed back or insights that you are willing to share about the topics that I post.  I am so thankful for my family and the blessing that they are to me!  Stay tuned for my first post, hopefully coming sometime next week :)

It's been a LONG time!

May 30th....  That was the last time I wrote anything...  I guess you could say I've had a pretty eventful, busy summer!  First, I flew on a plane for the first time (but I already wrote about that), I went to Arizona to see my nephew get blessed, and we got to go see the Gilbert, AZ temple and the Mesa, AZ temple!  They were GORGEOUS!!

 Then we went to the Grand Canyon on the way home,

 then my entire family came the last week of July for a family reunion (and we took family pictures!)  :)

I love my family so much!  It was awesome to have everyone home for a while and to get to cuddle my adorable nephews!!  

Now, I have 12 days until I go back to Rexburg!(which means 14 days until my 20th birthday!!)  What happened?!?!  At the beginning of the summer, I thought 5 months sounded like a long time but now it's all gone! I'm pretty excited for the most part...  Other than the homework part :)  I'm excited to meet my new roommates and make new memories with them!  I know it will be a great semester!  I'm excited to learn new things and make more friends!  I can't wait to see what is in store for me!