Sunday, August 12, 2012

Endurance is key

"If thou wilt do good, yea, and hold out faithful to the end, thou shalt be saved in the kingdom of God, which is the greatest of all the gifts of God; for there is no gift greater than the gift of salvation." (D&C 6:13)
Henry B. Eyring said in the last General Conference, "Our choosing the right consistently whenever the choice is placed before us creates the solid ground under our faith. These choices, hundreds in most days, prepare the ground on which our edifice of faith is built. The metal framework around which the substance of our faith is poured is the gospel of Jesus Christ, with all its covenants, ordinances, and principles."
Trials strengthen us and turn us into who we're meant to be. Sometimes I like to think that each of us are lumps of coal. Trials are the pressure that we're placed under that makes us better. Overtime the pressure builds and builds until we are turned into what we're meant to be. A beautiful diamond.

Later in his talk President Eyring said, "When hard trials come, the faith to endure them well will be there, built as you may now notice but may have not at the time that you acted on the pure love of Christ, serving and forgiving others as the Savior would have done."
Try to keep a positive attitude because that's the best way to endure a trial well. Know that it's polishing you and you're becoming who you're meant to be.


Monday, August 6, 2012

S.M.I.L.E (Spiritually Minded Is Life Eternal)

Well... Needless to say it's been ages since I've posted anything. I think I'm overdue :)

So I've been thinking a lot about past summers and the fun things I've gotten to experience.

There was one summer where I got to go hang out with my cousins in Utah. Another where we went on a family trip to Yellowstone in our huge beast of a van. One time Mom and I went to Japan. And every single summer I've gotten to participate in some kind of sport. There was soccer for three summers and then one of the non-stop running of cross country.
Soccer, Soccer, and more Soccer

Old Faithful
Another thing I've gotten to do is be a part of some pretty spiritual things. There was EFY when I was 14 (at Pacific University) and another when I was 17 (Stay-At-Home kind).  There have been stake youth conferences. Girls Camp was always a big one. Oh and dances, dances, and more dances.
Matt, Me, Megan, and Tresa (dancin :))

This summer, I'm sad to say, hasn't had much of any of this stuff. No sports or big family vacations or girls camp, EFY, or Youth Conferences. There was Trek and that was a lot of fun... But it wasn't very spiritual. All I've done this summer is work and prepare for my very very near future of moving out and moving on. Sometimes I wonder what would it be like if I hadn't had work all summer. If I had had time for EFY or one more week of Girls Camp. Would I be more prepared for college?

So I guess my lesson for you this time is to take advantage of any spiritual experiences you can get and put all of yourself into it. Oh and don't complain if something seems hard. You can make it through it :)

Like Mom always says "What you put into it is what you get out of it".

Love you! Stay beautiful.
Love, Q