Feeling blessed

Growing up I never appreciated or even thought that I could feel such love towards my family like this. After my parents divorced I thought that my life was doomed as was my family. I didn't think that my family could ever be a family. I was wrong. My family isn't together technically but recently I've learned that, with my circumstance, that's not really what's important. The point is that my family, no matter where we are, is still my family.
I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I was taught that families can be eternal. I was also taught that there are three degrees of glory, the celestial kingdom being the highest. In order to get there one must live as Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have asked us to live through His prophets and through the scriptures. The highest degree in this kingdom is where the families are. I never dreamed that I could possibly be a part of that because of my special family. Recently I have come to the knowledge that I can.
I went to tell my little sister something late at night. It ended up becoming a three hour conversation. I realized how much I loved her. Then I began thinking. I can't imagine this life or the next life or any other life without her. I realized that night how much I really love her. Then after my mom, my little sister, and I read from the scriptures and said our prayers I went into my mom's room to spend time with her. We read a story like we did the night before. What was different was my little sister wasn't there this time so I was able to spend some time with my mom. While we were reading I could really feel the love my mom has for me. I can't picture eternal life without her. My family isn't normal, some might say we're special. I say that the thing that makes us special is the fact that we love each other no matter what. I love how much love there is in my family, my special family. I can honestly say that I am very grateful for my Savior and for Him putting us together. I have learned so much from them but the thing that I'm most grateful for is the love that I feel when I am around them. I know that Jesus is the Christ and that He loves each of us. I know that He knows what He is doing though at times it doesn't seem that way. I also know that if anyone will put their trust in Him He will perform miracles in their lives sometimes not as expected.

Opinions

People have their opinions. Sometimes they are positive sometimes they are negative. Should we really let what they say get to us? My opinion is no they shouldn't. Personally whatever Our Heavenly Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost say should matter and they are the only opinions that should matter. I also think that anyone He has called to an authority over us matters as well. I have come to realize that. I don't care what others think. I care about being kind and helping others than what they are thinking. People say things to defend themselves but when Christ speaks it's not to defend but to help. Eleanor Roosevelt once said "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." Some of the hardest things in life are to ignore spiteful criticism, stay positive about life, follow the teachings of His gospel, and keep moving forward with faith. I know this to be true.

Having no more desire to do evil

This last semester has been extremely tough and challenging for me. To compare it to life it felt like turning on burner on a stove with your hand on it. At first it's not so bad then things heat up. The challenge to keep your hand on the stove becomes impossible. It's a bad analogy I know but it's the best description I could think of to describe how that semester felt for me. Everything bad that I could think of happened. I must admit I am not a perfect person and didn't hang in as best I should have. My old roommate and such an awesome friend of mine grew quite concerned for me after a while. She knew I was under a lot of pressure and such but was there for me. I am so grateful for her being there when I needed someone. I am also so grateful for my other friends who were there for me. Anyways, when I got home I was still struggling with life for quite some time after until I got an email from one of my friends who is on his mission right now. He has no idea that I went through a rough rough semester. After I got that email I had a desire to read my scriptures and about a week later I did. Then I started praying again. Strange thing happened after that...I actually felt better. Yeah, I had to admit to myself that I knew things weren't going to change much in life and my life won't instantly change because I did but it made me feel better. I know that my life will not be perfect and for now at least I will have to go through many challenges but I know that I don't have to suffer anymore inside because I go through so much. Christ suffered on the cross not only to atone for our sins but also so He can understand what people like me go through. He won't take away others agency but He can heal us inside and out. Yeah, people will make their choices and it's going to be tough but He can take the pain away, first we have to believe that He can. I am learning and probably will learn my entire life that bad things will happen to good people but it is what we do with it that matters most. I don't have to be bitter about my life and I don't have to see the negative side to life either because in all honesty even though the glass is half empty it's also half full. I can focus on the good or the bad. I must admit I have become a better person. I'm still talking to my friend who is out on his mission and it has been quite a joy to hear from him. He comes home in less than three months and I hope that I get to see him sometime.

Learning to love like Christ

There have been so many complications lately. This semester I have come across many people who have been so hard to get along with. I started to wonder why I was doing all these things for them when they wouldn't do the same for me. I wondered why I was taking time out of my life to help them. All they ever did was complain about things that weren't going their way. Honestly I wanted to stop doing kind things for them and I think that I did for a little bit. To be honest I don't exactly remember how but somehow I decided to serve them anyways. I started to feel clean; I started to feel like I was doing something right. It felt right. It helped create peace a little. It helped me to become a little more like my Savior. I am growing to love them as Christ does by serving them. Serving people like that is always difficult at first but it gets easier over time. When I lose myself in the service of others I always find myself no matter what trial is thrown at me. This I know to be true.
One of my roommates told a story about a religion class she took. The class was asked to draw a picture of the person they most hated. After everyone was done the teacher took the pictures and put them on a dart board. He then told the class to throw the darts at the photos. They did. He asked them if they felt better and the class responded that they had. The teacher removed the photos and the dart board. Behind those pictures was a picture of Christ. The darts also had hit Christ leaving the same holes that were on the photos. The teacher then taught this scripture, "if ye have done it to the least of My brethren ye have also done it unto Me." Christ cares just as much as the people we don't care for as He does for us. If Christ who was perfect cared about those people who we don't really care for or get along with then shouldn't we care for them?
I know that Heavenly Father loves and cares for each of His children. I also know that we should do the same for His children regardless of who they are.

Simple words

This semester I have had a hard time with my roommates. One of them is a lot like me which is probably why we are having a hard time getting along. I started spending more time with my old roommate at her new place. This weekend two of my roommates left town to go home. Things are quieter than usual (hmmm...lol). I began talking to one of my roommates. We were talking and we talked about some of the things that have been happening here in the apartment. I won't mention anything because I really do believe that whatever happens in the apartment should stay in the apartment. I also believe that if a story could help someone it should be told.
I started talking to her. Somehow the things that I have said have made an impact on her. She mentioned that some of the things I have said sounded profound. I was able to teach her about how to care about people that are difficult to do so. I loved one of the comments she made. She told me that I seem like the person that would not understand but actually does. I don't know how many of the things that I said will help the situations out but I hope something I said will.
I know the gospel has power. I know that once we let the gospel really become a part of us we have the capacity to move mountains just by the sound of our voice. I firmly believe that testimonies were born to be heard. Sometimes it's not always clear what will mean something to someone. I do know this; silence is not always golden.

So I discovered

I became interested in quotes by Joseph Smith. I remember one quote by him when he was on his way to Carthage Jail he spoke to those who were traveling with him. He said "you be careful of which music you listen to because not all music is of God." He also mentioned that hard rock was not of God. Why would a loving God want us to listen to angry music or music that screams at us? Doesn't the Spirit whisper things to us rather than yell? Why then with this in mind would music that raised its tone in malice be uplifting or comforting? What is so comforting about something that drives the Spirit away? If that's the case then doesn't it seem logical that certain kinds of music drives the Spirit away? Just something to think about...
Anyways, as I was searching for this quote and I could not find it. I decided to search for quotes by Joseph Smith under the topic of forgiveness. I chose this topic because I figured that I needed to hear something about forgiveness. I discovered one quote that had a lot of power and meant a lot to me. "One of the most pleasing scenes that can occur on earth, when a sin has been committed by one person against another, is, to forgive that sin; and then according to the sublime and perfect pattern of the Savior, pray to our Father in heaven to forgive him also." I never thought of praying to the Father that He will forgive someone. I believe that there is power in prayer.

The clean feeling

I'm recently getting over the flu. It feels so great to relieve myself from such a sickness! I'm currently in the process of sanitizing, washing, and cleaning whatever I have used while being sick. As I was doing my second load I started thinking how great it started to feel to become clean. It's a wonderful feeling knowing that all the germs and bacteria that once infected my body can go away. It's a wonderful feeling to feel clean again.
This sparked my thinking. It also feels wonderful when we can free ourselves from our sins and become clean in His name. What a great feeling it is to free ourselves from bondage! It really does feel great to feel clean again. The Spirit becomes present in my life, so I've noticed, when I've created a clean atmosphere. Things are less chaotic and much more at peace. This I testify to be true.