Choice and Accountability

This year, I have been focusing on my choice and accountability blog I kept as my project for Evening of Excellence. I enjoyed getting on the computer and putting down my thoughts and feelings about how choices affect my life. I would normally write on Sundays, so I would have time to think about the topic I wanted to cover for that week, and my mind would constantly be thinking about the choices I make. I have learned that the Lord gives us obstacles to make us better people. We can either falter and do things we know are wrong, or we can rise to the occasion and act the way we know we can. We can choose the right.

I love life, and even though it is hard sometimes, I am glad that we can choose for ourselves the lives we will lead and the direction we want to go and the things we want to accomplish. I have a testimony of this gospel and that the Atonement is real and the Savior loves us. My agency is something I need to be careful with and treat as a blessing in my life. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. :)

Job

I like learning about the story of Job, not because of his pain, but his reaction to the things he endured. The Lord was testing him to try his faith and see what he would do in the face of hardship. I dont think I could be as strong as he was, but I can learn from him and his example. I need to not give up when I have things going wrong in my life. Looking at the bigger picture and what will happen in the future and what will affect me for eternity can help me to keep my temper and not be angered by my situations. We can choose our surroundings all the time or our situations, but we can choose how we react and what we do with our lives when unexpected things do happen to us. Counting to ten usually helps with holding onto sanity. :)

I remember a story I heard a while ago. A man who was so patient and never got angry about anything. One day he was in an accident and fell a story or two from an unfinished building at a construction site. While he was in the ambulance, one of the paramedics asked him if he was alergic to any medication. He took a second to answer, and then said, "I think Im alergic to gravity..." How amazing that he could be in so much pain and still be lighthearted. When was later asked how he kept so calm, and said he always counted to ten before saying anything too! We should all find something in our own lives to help us choose the right and show love to others even when we get frustrated.

Peculiar People

I have learned that peculiar means out of the norm, not strange or wierd. Therefore, because we as Later-Day Saints keep the law of chastity, we are peculiar to the world. When someone who was considered one of us goes "out of the norm" and breaks this commandment, we consider them peculiar. However, amidst all of the confusing thoughts of men, there is only one standard, opinion, and judgement that matters: God's. And anyone who thinks they are above His judgement is foolish. Anyone who fears the judgement of men greater than they fear God is foolish. There is always hope and repentance there for whoever has fallen, and I know that Heavenly Father is willing to always forgive you if the effort is put forth to change. Immerse yourself in the things you know are right and the outcome will be what you are looking for 100% of the time.

Eternal Marriage

Today in Young Women's, we were taught about marriage and choices we need to make now to help us decide who we will marry when it is time. Also, about how important it is to write down the qualities you are searching for in a spouse, so you can be looking for them while you are dating. My teacher referenced 2 Corinthians 6:14. It talks about being "yoked together" like two oxen carrying a wagon. The weight must be equal for anything to get done, and progress to be made. Elder Russell M. Nelson said:

http://lds.org/church/leader/russell-m-nelson?lang=eng

"[The] proclamation on the family helps us realize that celestial marriage brings greater possibilities for happiness than does any other relationship.

The importance of choice may be illustrated by a homespun concept that came to mind one day when I was shopping in a large retail store. I call it “patterns of the shopper.” As shopping is part of our daily life, these patterns may be familiar.

Wise shoppers study their options thoroughly before they make a selection. They focus primarily on the quality and durability of a desired product. They want the very best. In contrast, some shoppers look for bargains, and others may splurge, only to learn later—much to their dismay—that their choice did not endure well. And sadly, there are those rare individuals who cast aside their personal integrity and steal what they want. We call them shoplifters.

The patterns of the shopper may be applied to the topic of marriage. A couple in love can choose a marriage of the highest quality or a lesser type that will not endure. Or they can choose neither and brazenly steal what they want as “marital shoplifters.”

The subject of marriage is debated across the world, where various arrangements exist for conjugal living. My purpose in speaking out on this topic is to declare, as an Apostle of the Lord, that marriage between a man and a woman is sacred—it is ordained of God. I also assert the virtue of a temple marriage. It is the highest and most enduring type of marriage that our Creator can offer to His children."

I also love what President Hinckley has counseled on this topic: "There is no substitute for marrying in the temple... It is the only place under the heavens where marriage can be solemnized for eternity. Don't cheat yourself. Don't cheat your companion. Don't shortchange your lives."

I am glad that I have made choices thus far that have not prevented me from going to the temple. I have already decided that the only place possible for me to get married someday is in the temple. Let us all decide, if we haven't already, to make the temple our goal and to do our best to partake of the blessings we can find there.

"A Time to Prepare"

There are so many different things we can choose to feel. This may sound kind of cheesy, but last night I was watching "Monk" with my family, and on one of the episodes, they said "Happiness is a choice." Its so true!!! It doesnt matter what happens to us, whether its good or bad, its our choice to be happy, and in my opinion, that is probably the best choice we can make every single day. Im not saying it is easy, but it is definitely important and will make life that much more enjoyable. We should also be using our time wisely. Elder Ian S. Ardern of the Quorum of the Seventy said,"With the demands made of us, we must learn to prioritize our choices to match our goals or risk being exposed to the winds of procrastination and being blown from one time-wasting activity to another. We are well taught about priorities by the Master Teacher when He declared in His Sermon on the Mount, 'Wherefore, seek not the things of this world but seek ye first to build up the kingdom of God, and to establish his righteousness'” We must be diligently seeking out opportnities to do good, so we can be "prepared to meet God" at the last day.

My Personal Progress

I am so excited!! I am so close to earning my Young Womanhood Recognition and medalion! There is a starting sense of accomplishment s I near the end of this great program. The choices I have made in my life are directly influenced by the church, and more specifically the Personal Progress Program. I know that because I have chosen to go to church and mutual every week, and read my scriptures, and say my prayers, and worked on value experiences, I have become a better person, and I am so grateful for that!!

Following in His Footsteps

I have come to learn that there is happiness in following the Savior. Today in seminary, we read about Joseph when he was in charge of selling the stored grain to the people of the land during the famine, andhow his brothers who sold him into slavery came asking for help. There are examples of how we should be found in both Joseph and his brothers. His brothers gained a better understanding of the worth of life and family, and changed their hearts to have more compassion towards their fellow men. Joseph was completely willing to love his brothers, after all they had done to him. But because his brothers sent him away into a life of hardship, Joseph was able to later save his family from starving. The choices we make influence our lives in ways we cannot understand and may not even realize in this life, but the Lord does. If we will be put our trust on Heavenly Father and do the best we can to become like Him and live with Him again, then he will take care of us and lift us up in our trials and hardships.

The Worth of Souls

Wow... It's been a while! But here I am again. Today Sister Janes gave the Young Women's lesson, and she talked about showing others love and recognizing everyone as a divine figure from Heavenly Father. It re-occured to me that even the smallest of pleasant thoughts directed to someone in a slump can chande their day from rainy to sunny and dreary to happy. It reminds me of a boy named Kristoffer who sits by himself in a hallway everyday at lunch listening to music. I always walk by him and say hello. Lately, I've noticed, when he sees my group of friends approaching, he takes out his earbuds so he is ready for when I pass to say hello back to me. This is something I look forward to every day. It may seem like something very small, but the way his face glows when I leave is worth the extra few seconds away from the conversation my friends are having. In the lesson, my teacher showed us this video about a boy that participated in a triathalon with another boy in his quorum who has cerebral palsy. It was so touching! It was a great example of how this young man recognized the Spirit, not the body of someone else. This is my goal for the rest of my life: do not let anyone feel left out in a group while I sit and do nothing.

A Change in Heart

So today, Sister Steele gave the lesson on changing our hearts and turning towards the Savior. I thought about how I should always be striving to become like Him and live with Him again in the Celestial Kingdom. But to do this, I need to be converted. Sister Steele talked about how having a testimony is simply believing, but actually converting to the gospel of Christ is putting forth the effort and living what you preach. She also mentioned that when our parents ask us to do things, to do it without mumbling, because that means your heart is in the right place. And that is what I've been trying to do lately for a personal project experience any way! Amazing how that works!

"The Greatest Challenge"

Today in church, a couple spoke on parenting, and the name of the talk the man used for his talk was called "The Greatest Challenge". It was about parenting. I loved them both and i found and relized at my actions affect my parents. The things I do can make them happy, or sad, or excited, or depressed. I gained a new feeling of determination to act more like Christ and to show more love and respect to my parents. It's going to be great!!!! :)

"Suffer the Little Children"

So, today, the primary teachers had a sort of training meeting, so I got to substitute a class during the 3rd hour. I was assigned the CTR-4 class, and they were awesome!! They were definitely 4, but I could tell why the Savior asks all of us to be like them. Their spirits are pure and innocent, even if they may not act appropriately all the time, they are exempt from any real punishment, and that makes me feel better for them. That is not the case however for those of us over the age of 8. We break the rules and get in trouble for it and feel the consequences, and we cry and do things wrong and get frustrated with ourselves. But even through all this, we are given a way back to Him. We must partake of the sacrament and repent of our sins and shortcomings, and strive to do better, and "become as the little children". I know that the Lord loves us and we can fel His presence if we but choose to listen to the spirit and live in a way that invites Him into our lives.

It's Your Choice!

So in Young Women's on Sunday, Sister Jenkins talked about agency and how we can choose where our lives go and how they play out. There was a scripture she mentioned about how we either choose eternal live, or captivity and death. All I could think was, "Gee... I wonder which one I'd rather have for my future!" It's so self explanitory, but so many times we do things that turn us from the direction we know we should go. My goal is to choose the things that will uplift my life so that I will be able to live with my family and Heavenly Father again. I love life!! And thats a choice! I look at some people and miserable their lives are, and good of circumstances they gave, and then I also see those who are the happiest people I know and have horrible things thrown at them from every direction. It all depends on how we chose to live, and we chose to react to the different situations we are put in every day. Life is good, we just have to recognize it!! :)

How Much He Loves Us

So... Today I gave the lesson in my Sunday School class. It was kinda spur of the moment, but I talked about the Savior and how He died for us and how He loves us so much and won't give up on us even when we give up on ourselves. He also sends people into our paths to help us along the way even if we don't recognize them or the role they are playing in our lives. There is a scripture in John 15:13. It says, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." I have heard this numerous times and it has always stuck out to me, but today, I read the verse after, and it was amazing. 14 says, " Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." So, to me, this means that Christ gave His life and suffered for everyone's sins, and the people who decide to accept His gospel and follow His commandments are His friends, and have the potential to be saved and live with Him again. Throughout the lesson I focused more on forgiveness, but for the purpose of this blog being devoted more towards choices, I think that we should remember to do our best to follow Christ's ways and the example He set for us when He was on this earth. Another scripture is John 10:16. It talks of the "other sheep" who Christ is longing to bring to His gospel. No matter who we are, no matter where we come from, and no matter what we believe, we are loved for who we are by the God who created us. His love is infinite and cannot fail us if we but learn to listen to the voice of the prophet who guides the church under his direction. This is the true gospel. It teaches of freedom to choose and Choosing that which is right, and I know it is true.

So, this summer has been super chill... In fact so chill that iI have been doing almost nothing. I have turned into a totally lazy person who stays at home and doesn't do anything productive all day long. It's painful!But, I've also realized that it's my choice! I can chose to get up and do something, and that is my goal! I want to get more piano students, and when I start summer school next week, I'm going to be super diligent about keeping up and staying on task. I hope this is some motivation to any of you, but it's helped me to get started!!

Loving Those Around Us

So I just got back from Girls Camp and I absolutely love it!!! It is always such a fulfilling experience. Testimony meeting is my favorite night out of the entire time because even if its stake camp I get to become so much more connected with the girls in my ward and we get to strengthen one another in the gospel (and cry our eyes out all at the same time)!! Its great!

Also, when I got home, I had my dance rehearsal and then yesterday I got to perform it. IT WAS SO AWESOME!!!!! I am so glad I chose to be apart of that and to dance my heart out!! It was good to know that all of my hard work was paying off every time the audience would clap. I realized that I could have chosen to stay at home and do nothing all the time, but the things I have learned with Sister Duff as my teacher has strengthened my testimony because she doesn't just teach dance: she teaches the gospel, and life skills, and love. That is why I love it so much.

Today in church we watched a movie during the lesson called "The Cipher in the Snow". It was kind of depressing... Some kids were waiting to get on the bus, and one of the boys was obviously an outcast. During the ride to school he asked to get off and right when his feet touch the ground, he falls down dead. They show what is going on at the school and one of his teachers is assigned to write an obituary for him, but no one knows anything about him or who he is. The teacher does some research and finds that the boy was neglected and treated poorly for most of his life, and none of the people around him really cared or bothered to find out what was wrong or take the time to get to know him. This lack of friendship led to his death because of his lonesomeness. I thought that was interesting... This poor kid!!! Not one person, except perhaps his mother, even talked to him or acknowledged his existence. What a tragic life he must have led... no woder he died of a broken heart.

This story reminded me of how I have tried to help others and make sure they are not left out. I know how it feels to be ignored or treated poorly and I don't wish that upon anyone. One thing I do, is if I see someone sitting alone on the bus, I sit by them and begin talking to them. I already have two friends from doing that!! It's awesome!! Lets all try to show compassion to those who are rejected, do our best to love them, and "...comfort those that stand in need of comfort..."

Diligently Seeking

Yesterday, I was reading 2 Nephi 28:7-11. this used to be my favorite scriptre. I love it because it is Nephi teaching his brothers that we need to seek the Lord's guidance if we need it. Even if the Lord knows we need something, it is almost a test of faith for us to ask him and show that not only are we in need of his wsdom, but also that we have faith to trust his judgement. I also belive that the choices we make affect other people in ways we may not know. That is one of the reasons we are asked to be examples "at all times and in all things and in all places"."You make choices every day and almost every hour that keep you walking in the light or moving away toward darkness" (Henry B.Eyring/General Conference/April 2008/Walk in the Light).

Choices

This is my first post ever on a blog and I hope I get it right (as if its possible to mess up)! Anyways, i have chosen to focus on "Choice and Accountability". This is a mjor part of our time here on Earth. It was Heavenly Father's plan for us to come here and do our best and try to make it back to live with him someday. Had we followed Satan's plan, we would haveno choice in doing what's right, we would simply do t... but we wouldn't learn anything that way!! the point of this life is to grow and develope. Its great!! I am striving to choose correctly the path that will lead me to the temple and the Celestial Kingdom.