Talents

I learned something this past Sunday.
Singing has always been so much a part of my life, it's almost like my staple. Kind of. I figured everyone knew I sang. Obviously.
And then I sang a solo in church at my singles ward and had more then one person telling me that they had absolutely no idea that I could sing.
What, really?
And then I thought some more about it. I have been in that ward for over a year now and I have never once gone to a choir practice.

Matthew 25:25 "And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine."

Fail.

I am now resolved to use my talent more and at least start singing in my ward choir.

Now... if only I could get over this nasty cough I have...

A Fast Sunday

For the past two months my Sunday rotations for my program have fallen on fast Sunday. And in my weakness I decide not to fast so that I can have energy to work at the hospital. But today I was able to come to my singles ward and hear some amazing testimonies. Home singles wards are never looked upon with excitement. No one wishes that they were living at home attending the singles ward. But as with all things, there is good. And you have to give yourself time to find it. I sat by myself a lot when I first moved in. I hardly knew anyone and the people I did know were more of acquaintances instead of good friends. But I decided to put myself out there and try going to the family home evenings. The Lord responded to that decision by calling me as a FHE coordinator. I know a few more people now. I have friends to sit by and talk to. I'm starting to remember names. And even though I still have times where I sit by myself, where I feel like I go unnoticed, Heavenly Father is always so good and sends me little reminders, little pick me ups through the members of the ward. Whether it's a text message from a good friend I made in the singles ward or a compliment on the FHE activity from the other night, I am reminded that I have people caring about me and watching over me.
I really do have a pretty good ward. There may be some things I wish were a little different but I have an amazing bishop, people that come to fhe and enjoy themselves, people that get up and share sincere testimonies, and now some actual friends that I look forward to seeing.
Again the saying comes to mind: "you find what you look for".
As much as people dislike the home singles ward, it is only because they haven't given themselves the time or opportunity to see the good in the church and the members of the ward.

The Conversion of Saul

We talked about the conversion of Saul today in church and I had this song playing in my head the entire time.

Happy Easter

Singles Ward

So I'm officially graduated from BYU-Idaho. Not anything grand, associates in generals, I know how extremely exciting... But! Hey now all my credits will transfer nicely. My radiology program starts in the fall and it's a 2 year program. Most of my time will be at the American Fork hospital, which means I'm going to save money and live at home.
Brief update, I have not lived in one place for more than 4 months for the past 2 years of my life. I've moved into a new apartment every semester, new ward, new roommates.
And now I'm here, for 2 years, attending the same singles ward for this period of time. Weird for me.
But I've decided to change some things. Like my attitude.
Before my attitude was along the lines of, what can this ward do for me and where are the cute guys?
My mom would always lecture me about instead seeing what I can do for the ward. But did I listen? Of course not. That speech went right over my head and I kept my attitude.
But like I said, change is happening.
I'm trying to become involved in this ward.
FHE, ward prayer, institute, ward temple night.
I don't really have any friend friends in the ward, I sat by myself again in sunday school today. But guess what? I don't care. I was taught some great things, and had some of my own great insights. Isn't that what church should firstly be about? Church? Taking the sacrament? Learning the gospel?
I shouldn't just hang up a ward after a quick glance through the menu.
That's just being selfish.
I'm trying.
It's hard to completely involve yourself sometimes.

Chap-stick

Chap-stick: apply for chapped lips or as needed.
Protects from dry chapped lips and sunburn.
Small enough to carry around with you everywhere.
Normally applied more than once a day.

The Gospel: apply especially when soul is chapped and as needed. (Which should be always)
Protects from adversary, gives strength to overcome temptation, strength to continue onward, and faith in this life.
Simplistically beautiful and beautifully simple. "Small" enough to carry around with you everywhere.
Should be applied more than once a day.

What can you relate the gospel to?

Wilford Woodruff

In my day to day scripture study, I have been reading the Doctrine and Covenants. I never grew a love for Doctrine and Covenants when I studied it in seminary (I’d like to deflect the blame from myself and onto my seminary teacher, who being brand new, did not do a very good job teaching it. Okay, so it’s probably my own fault that I didn’t try very hard to listen and learn…). So I decided this year to study it with the book The Doctrine and Covenants Made Easier. These books are heaven sent in understanding simple to deep understandings and I loved studying the Book of Mormon with them.

I came to the end of the first book yesterday; it took me up to section 42, and at the end of the book the author, David J. Ridges, added all this extra information about who was where, when, in early church history. I started thumbing through it and Wilford Woodruff caught my eye. It’s amazing to see God’s hand in someones life…especially when it involves being 13 years old and already having 11 serious accidents that should have killed him.

I’m just going to quote all the details mentioned in the book. I hope you’re as amazed as I was that Wilford Woodruff survived as long as he did.

1807: Wilford Woodruff is born on March 1 in Connecticut. His mother will die when he is not quite one year old. He will be tough, having had numerous life-threatening accidents, and will be well prepared to handle the tough task of issuing the Manifesto stopping polygamy. He will write a journal of nine volumes with more than 7,000 pages. He will live 91 years.

1810: Wilford Woodruff falls into a cauldron of scalding water. He is three and it will be nine months before he will be out of danger of dying from this accident.

1812-1813: When he is five and six, Wilford Woodruff has many accidents. He will fall from the top of a barn flat on his face on the bare floor. Later, he will fall from the top to the bottom of the stairs but will only break one arm in one place.

(This next story is crazy and quite lively to picture in your mind)

Wilford Woodruff is feeding a pumpkin to his favorite cow when a bull leaves his own pumpkin, pushes away the cow that young Wilford likes, and starts eating her pumpkin. Wilford is furious, picks up the pumpkin and marches toward his cow to give it to her. The bull sees him carrying the pumpkin and lunges toward him. Wilford starts running but does not drop the pumpkin despite his father’s frantic shouts to do so. The enraged bull is upon him- he trips and falls, the pumpkin rolls away, and the bull jumps over little Wilford, gores the pumpkin, and tears it to shreds. Wilford escapes.

Wilford falls from his uncle’s porch and breaks his other arm. Wilford hasn’t yet broken a leg, so he does that. He lies in pain in the house for nine hours before help arrives. Wilford gets kicked in the abdomen by an ox. (If he hadn’t been standing so close, he probably would have been killed. As it was, he was thrown more than kicked, probably saving his life.) Later, a wagon load of hay tips on top of him, but he suffers no harm.

That all happened when he was 5-6 years old!

1815: He is now about eight years old and still alive, but his horse has bolted, tipping the wagon over on top of him and his father (his father should know by now not to get that close to him). Later this year, Wilford climbs an elm tree, stepping on a weak, dry limb when he is 15 feet up. It breaks and he falls, landing flat on his back on the ground. The fall knocks the wind out of him.

*Just as a side note, if you’ve ever seen any of the youtube videos of LOST in 8 min 15 seconds, how the narrator just slaps down these crazy happenstances like they’re nothing… I feel like that’s how the author wrote this. At least that’s how I read it in my mind.*

1819: Twelve-year-old Wilford Woodruff is drowning in 30 feet of water. A man saves him. He suffers much as he is revived.

1820: Thirteen-year-old Wilford Woodruff is freezing to death. Hypothermia has set in. He is asleep in the hollow of a large apple tree. A man in the distance who saw him crawl into the hollow comes over to the tree. He has much difficulty waking him but saves his life.

1821: Wilford Woodruff accidentally sunk an ax into his left instep, passing nearly through his foot. It will be nine months before it is healed. He is 14 years old.

1822: Wilford Woodruff is 15 years old and has just been bitten on the hand by a rabid dog. The dog did not draw blood, and Wilford is spared again.

1824: Wilford Woodruff has just been dislodged from the saddle on a runaway horse careening wildly down a hillside, has slid up the horse's neck and is on its head, hanging onto its ears for dear life as it continues to plummet down a steep, rocky hillside. The horse slams into a breast-high boulder, stopping it dead in its tracks while Wilford flies through the air, landing on his feet almost 16 feet in front of the horse (otherwise he would have been killed instantly). He breaks one leg in two places and displaces both ankles. The dazed horse almost rolls over him as it attempts to get up. In eight weeks he will be able to walk with aid of crutches.

1827: Wilford Woodruff is 20 years old and still alive, but he is standing on a water wheel, clearing away ice. Another worker, unaware that Wilford is there, opens the water head gate, which starts the wheel in motion. Wilford falls off and narrowly escapes being crushed in the machinery. 

1831: Wilford Woodruff has another bout with a water wheel. He survives again.

1833: Wilford Woodruff, age 26, is baptized on December 31, two days after first hearing missionaries preach. That same day, his horse with newly caulked shoes kicks Wilford's hat off his head, missing his head by just two inches. Ten minutes later, Wilford has hitched the horse with another to a sled and is driving away. Some loose boards on the sled slide forward, slip end first tot he ground, fly up endwise, picking Brother Woodruff up and pitching him forward between the horses. The frightened animals run down the hill, dragging him under the sled behind them. He escapes without injury. 

1834: Wilford Woodruff and Brigham Young are marching with Zion's Camp. Wilford is nearly shot b y a rifle ball that is accidentally discharged by a camp member. The ball passes through three tents with a dozen men in each without hurting anyone and passes within inches of Wilford's chest. 

A musket, heavily loaded with buckshot and pointing directly at Wilford Woodruff's chest, is accidentally snapped but misfires. 

1839: In April, Wilford Woodruff is pinned in a wagon accident and dragged by the frightened team for about half a mile with his head and shoulders dragging on the ground. Despite his awkward position, he manages somehow to steer the frightened horses into the corner of a high fence, where he and team land in a pile together. Of this incident he said, "I was considerably bruised, but escaped without any broken bones, and after one day's rest was able to attend to my labors again."

1846: While felling a tree in Winter Quarters on October 15, Wilford Woodruff is struck by the tree, knocked into the air, and thrown against an oak tree. His left thigh, hip and left arm are badly bruised, and his breastbone and three left ribs are broken. His lungs, internal organs, and left side are badly bruised. He must ride his horse 2 1/2 miles over rough road to get back to the settlement. Pain forces him off the horse twice. Upon arriving back at Winter Quarters, men carry him in a chair to his wagon. Before putting him in bed, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards, and others bless him. He lay upon his bed, unable to move until his breastbone begins to knit together. In about 20 days, he begins to walk, and in 30 days, he returns to his normal duties.

Of his accidents, Wilford said, "I have broken both legs, one of them in two places; both arms, both ankles, my breastbone, and three ribs. I have been scalded, frozen and drowned. I have been in two water wheels while turning under a full head. I have passed through a score of other hairbreadth escapes." 

Goals and a Farewell

Some goals that I've been thinking about today:
-Finish Doctrine and Covenants by the end of the year, which means reading 1 section a day.
-Starting next year, instead of reading by sections or chapters, read a half hour every day in the Book of Mormon.
And my reminder for my life long goal:
-read the Book of Mormon at least once every year

Today was the farewell of one of my good friends from high school. Sometimes I feel like a missionary's farewell talk can be a little awkward. They wander in their talk and are nervous, about to embark for two years... but I have been blessed with great friends. Darren's talk was awesome. He is going to be such an amazing missionary, I was just beaming with gratitude of what a great guy he is during his whole talk. He made me think of the other guy friends that I have had through the years, the ones that I have such great respect for, and admire because of their righteousness. They were always fun to be with, but respectful of us and protective even, especially at dances. People sometimes would try to come up and dirty dance and those boys would just push them away and close in our little circle of goofy dancing. They kept my innocent bubble from popping. :)

Thanks guys for being examples to me. I really am so lucky to have had the friends that I did. Good luck Darren on your mission, I know you are going to be a great missionary.

Thoughts on a Sunday

I hate to admit it, but my thoughts this morning sounded something like this...
Oh crap it's 4th of July weekend, everyone is out of town, it's fast Sunday, no one is going to be at church, no one is going to bear their testimony, it's going to be an awkward sacrament meeting with long tense silences, and I'm already hungry...

But I'll have you know, that I have an amazing ward. There was not one awkward drawn out pause. And what I love about this semester, is that I feel like I actually know my ward. That the people that get up and bear their testimonies are my friends that I've hung out with. And they are such great examples to me and I'm grateful to know them. It's going to be sad moving out of this ward, but I think that in my next ward, I'll be even more outgoing, because I know what comes from a close ward family.

I was reading out of my notebook that I take with me to church, or when I'm reading scriptures and I read one of the poems that my great grandpa wrote. I already posted it earlier but I want to post it again.

God bless you and I breathe a charm
Lest grief's dark night oppress you.
Then how can sorrow bring thee harm
If it's God's way to bless you?

And so not all they days are fair
And shadows touch thee never;
But here's my wish,
God bless you through the years
That thou be safe my dear forever.

The line that caught my attention the most today was, "Then how can sorrow bring thee harm if it's God's way to bless you?" And I just thought about that a lot. If God is trying to bless our life and teach us, then why must we sorrow? And if we are sorrowing, and are troubled with life, how can it bring us harm, inflict damage, if we are trusting in God's hand?

In relief society today we talked about the spirit, and how it manifests itself and how we can recognize it in our lives. We were talking about decisions and how you cannot just say, "I'll do whatever you want me to do Lord," as you wait and not move. You have to make the decisions, plan out your life, and then if God's will is different, trust in his arm and follow. He won't show us what to do, until we start moving first. In 3 Nephi 17:9 it says, "He did heal them every one as they were brought forth unto Him." They were healed as they were brought forth. It was only after they made the decision to walk to Him, that he could heal them. We then brought up prayer, and how if we are continually praying and not forgetful when life is easy, that we will be able to recognize the spirit more. And I thought about that with my school work, if I don't study for a test but then pray for help, I feel like I really don't have the right to ask for his help. If I don't do all that I can do, and if I only rely on blessings that maybe I don't deserve, then how can I ever grow? I put my all into studying for test. It's almost ridiculous the measure I go through in order to know my material. But once I do that, then I am comforted asking the Lord for his help. I must do all that I can, but then I still must turn to the Lord. If you are sick, use the resources that have been provided, but still ask the Father for his help in helping the medication work. We cannot just say, "No, I won't take medication, I'll only ask for blessings." The Lord has already provided a way to heal us here on earth! We have to take advantage of our surroundings. If we prepare to the best of our abilities here on earth, then the Lord will carry us the rest of the way. If we are consistently trying to have the Spirit in our life, then he will be there to help us.  He will manifest himself to us in the ways that are understandable to us. He will bless our lives.

Parley P. Pratt said, "The gift of the Holy Ghost adapts itself to all these organs or attributes. It quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands and purifies all the natural passions and affections; and adapts them, by the gift of wisdom, to their lawful use. It inspires, develops, cultivates and matures all the fine-tones sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred feelings and affections of our nature. It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness and charity. It develops beauty of person, form and features. It tends to health, vigor, animation and social feeling. It develops and invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man. It strengthens, invigorates, and gives tone to the nerves. In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being."

I know that the Spirit works itself in my life and guides me. I had no idea where I wanted to go to college my senior year of high school. I just hadn't researched that much. I came up to BYU-Idaho because my cousins dragged me up here. They talked me into going to this school and I am forever grateful to them for getting me up here. I have been blessed with a wonderful ward, good surroundings, opportunities everywhere to improve myself, an education that I care about and much more. This school has improved me and I've even felt weird at home not wearing long pants. Sometimes I whine and complain about how the sun just soaks up my dark jeans and burns me as I trudge my way up to the Ricks building...which is at the top of the hill...but after being in Idaho Falls last night for the fireworks show where so many young young girls were tromping around in these tiny shorts...I'm just glad I don't have to see that here at school.

I love being here. I love learning. I love growth and understanding. I miss home though...especially when they go for bike rides, have crepes with the Tour de France on in the background. I just can't create the same scene up here like it is at home. But I appreciate these experiences that I am able to have, to learn and to grow. They bless my life immensely as I learn to be more righteous.

I know it's the 4th of July and I haven't said one thing about this country, but I know that without this country, the gospel would not have been able to start. This is a blessed nation and I am thankful to be here. How lucky am I to not only be in this free nation, but born a member of the church into the wonderful family that I have.

Happy 4th of July everyone.

New Testament

I'm finally getting around to this post but I finished the New Testament with the ending of my high school year and here are some of my favorite scriptures I discovered.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.

St. Mark 12:27
He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living.

Romans 12:21
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

1 Corinthians 3:18
Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he man be wise.

1 Corinthians 15:53
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immorality.

2 Corinthians 6:14
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?

Ephesians 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

2 Timothy 1:17
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Sunday Hymns

All the songs we sang today in sacrament were some of my favourites. Some sundays you get hymns that you've never heard of and the melody just isn't there--but today wasn't one of them.
The first hymn was #89 The Lord is My Light. "The Lord is my light; then why should i fear? The Lord is my light, my all and in all. There is in his sight no darkness at all." I love the lyrics in this hymn. They are profound and simple. Why should i fear if i have the Lord in my life? How can i in darkness remain if Jesus is forever reigning in glory? The Lord is my light, my joy, my song. By day and by night he leads me along.

The secod hymn was #172 In Humility, Our Savior. "Let me not forget, O Savior, Thou didst bleed and die for me. Fill our hearts with sweet forgiving; Teach us tolerance and love." Mindy Gledhill sings a beautiful version of this hymn. The alto line is amazing, how it moves and gives feeling. My BMT sister and I switch parts every verse. I start as soprano, she as alto. I love hearing the harmony and singing it.

The third hymn was #85 How Firm a Foundation and it would've been more spiritual had i not been hiccoping loudly while trying to sing. The words were distorted as i sang/hiccoped my way through the song. We were all laughing. "What more can he say than to you he hath said, who unto the Savior for refuge have fled? Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed, For I am they God and will still give thee aid. I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand."