Mold in my Stocking...

My little sister Bridget is hilarious. And I miss her like crazy. She just turned 7 and I'm always hearing about silly things she's saying or doing. For example back in October she called 911 because she wanted to say hi...yep, the cops showed up and everything. But, that's a different story.. My mom told me about a conversation she had with Bridget a week or 2 ago and I want to try to paraphrase it for your enjoyment:

Mom- Hey Bridget, what do you want for Christmas?
Bridget- I don't know...
Mom- Well you need to think of some things so that you can make a list for mommy and daddy and Santa Claus
Bridget- But, I don't know what I want. Is Santa Claus going to think I'm rude?
Mom- Rude?
Bridget- Yeah, is he going to think I'm rude because I don't know what I want yet, and give me mold in my stocking?
Mom- mold? you mean coal?
Bridget- yeah, coal
Mom- No, I don't think Santa Claus will think you're rude...

How cute is that? :) Maybe it's just because she's my sister and I can picture her saying it all, but it's the little things like thinking Santa will bring you mold that make me laugh!

D&C 76

Doctrine and Covenants section 76 is a revelation of profound proportion. It completely changed the Saints' view of life after death. It was revealed that it's not as simple as heaven or hell. As Latter-day Saints we believe that there is life after this one. We will continue to progress and move forward after we die. Section 76 is the first major revelation on the subject. Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon see a series of visions in which the Lord reveals to them the different degrees of glory. Only the sons of perdition, those who deny the Holy Ghost and Christ after having a perfect knowledge, will suffer eternal damnation. All others will gain some degree of salvation.

These degrees of glory are the telestial kingdom, compared to the brightness of the stars, the terrestrial kingdom, compared to the glory of the moon, and the celestial kingdom, that of the sun. Those in the telestial kingdom will have the Holy Spirit with them. Those in the terrestrial kingdom will receive the ministering of Jesus Christ, and those in the celestial kingdom will live with God. This revelation was a radical idea to the people in 1832. It also completely separated the Mormons from other religions...this doctrine was different from that of any other church.

There are other parts to this revelation that I love, one of them being the testimony of Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon. In verses 22-24 they state:

And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father— That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.

What a beautiful and powerful testimony! That, in and of itself makes this section important and significant.

I also appreciate that this revelation began with questions. Joseph Smith was reading in the Bible and he had questions...he felt that there was something lost or missing and so he prayed to the Father about it. And he received an answer. I know that it is important to question. I believe that's part of pondering, and we are taught at an early age to "search, ponder, and pray." I know we cannot get caught up in doubts and troubling matters. Sometimes we must set things aside and trust that Heavenly Father loves us and all will be right in the end. But, nonetheless we must continue questioning, continue growing, continue learning...the restoration of the Gospel itself began with a question, the question of a young boy...and it is absolutely incredible to me what has come of that as a result.

Christmas time

I love Christmas time! I'm not a big fan of the cold, but I love the lights and the music and just the feel in the air. Sadly, I feel like here at school in the mad rush of last minute projects, papers, and then gearing up for finals I don't get to really enjoy the Holiday season. I miss being able to help decorate for Christmas at home. That was always one of my favorite things to do. I remember bugging my mom about it as soon as Thanksgiving was over and it hit December 1...even when I was in high school.

I've been listening to Christmas music as much as I can and trying to take in the lights when I'm out driving. Hopefully I'll get a chance to go up to Temple Square and see the lights before I fly out for home. Right now I really have a desire to make cookies and decorate them for Christmas. It's not something I do very often, but ever since my grandma gave me a Christmas tree cookie cutter a few days ago it's been on my mind. Hopefully I'll be able to find time...what better way to take a break from studying, right? :)

Home

I never realized how much being from Georgia was a part of my identity until I moved to Utah for school. I love being from the south. I've grown up pretty close to Atlanta, so I haven't lived in a little country town, but all the same I feel that southern pride. Yes, I love pecan pie and peaches, but I don't have much interest in ice tea and I've never watched Nascar. When I meet someone for the first time, one of the first things they comment on is my accent...or lack thereof, but all the same when I hear a strong southern accent it makes me feel at home. I'm one of those kids who had to go to early morning seminary, though I was blessed to live very close to a temple. In GA there's a church on every corner, but they're not all LDS chapels like here in Utah and the sight of a big Gospel choir warms my heart. Summer makes me think of catching fireflies, going to Braves games, and occasionally catching a Stone Mountain Laser show- the epitome of Southern pride in action.

I miss it like crazy. I miss the humidity. I miss the diversity. I loved going to a school where white kids weren't the majority. I love my stake at home where my stake president is black, my stake patriarch is Hispanic, and during stake conference all sorts of languages are being translated. I miss the trees. I miss the road that curve and change names a million times. I love not being able to see everything around me as I'm driving down the interstate...as crazy as that may seem.

I love country music...and I don't care how many people can't stand it, I still love it. (not all of it of course...) It's kind of ridiculous how happy I am when I hear references to GA, or Tim Mcgraw's new song "Southern Voice." Maybe part of why I care to listen to it so much now is because it offers me a little bit of a connection to home.

It's interesting to recognize that I have no idea where my children will grow up. In my heart I want to take them home. Not necessarily to GA, but maybe the Carolinas, TN, Virginia...somewhere green. But who knows. Here I am engaged to someone who only remembers living in Utah and felt lost and claustrophobic when he visited GA last summer. No matter where they grown up, I know they need to find their own identity...I guess I just want to make sure that I never lose the southern part of mine. GRIT, Southern Belle, Georgia peach (that's my G-pa's favorite)...I'll take any of these names...because it's just one more thing to remind me of home.

Section 59

The insights into the creation that I gained from reading D&C 59 are that all things were made for man, not only for food or shelter, but also to gladden the heart and please the eye. Just because something might not have a particular obvious use, you can still find purpose in its existence. I also love the reminder in verse 21 (and just gave a talk on it in church) that "in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things..." I know it is important to "live in thanksgiving daily" and to have an attitude of gratitude. I think particularly during this holiday season we should each strive to open our eyes to the beauties of creation all around us and remember to thank our God for the beautiful world he has given us and all the other blessings we've been given.

Museum of Art visit

I'm afraid to say I'm not a lover of art. I think it's beautiful, I appreciate the talent of others, and I recognize it's value, but I'm not the kind of person who can stand there and stare at a piece of art for hours...nor can I look at a very abstract piece of art and find meaning in it.

That being said, I'm glad I had the opportunity to go to the Museum of Art (MOA) and look at some of the exhibit with the guidance of Rita Wrights. It is obvious that she does have a passion and love for art and I was grateful for her patience in helping us to look deeper at the pieces of art displayed.

I really enjoyed looking at the artwork that referred to the Prodigal Son. I think it is a very powerful story and the two pieces of art were so different and yet so profound. There was only one piece that I couldn't stop staring at and that was the new picture of the Savior holding the cross. It is beautifully painted and very straightforward. At the same time there were so many different things hidden from first glance. I appreciated the opinions of fellow classmates as they shared their insights. It is incredibly powerful to stare at a painting of the Savior and reflect on all He has done for me. It was a very moving piece of artwork.

I encourage anyone who has the chance, to go to the MOA and particularly look at the exhibit "Intimations of Divinity."

Exodus

This week we're supposed to compare and contrast the Old Testament Exodus and the Restoration Exodus. It's been really interesting to talk about in class over the past few weeks. I think I don't want to write about scriptural details so much as the spiritual implications. It's amazing how the Lord purifies his people. One image that I really like is that of a wilderness. I think even in our own lives we all go through our own wildernesses of different types and lengths. We all have periods of time in which we experience trials or we don't feel like we're receiving the guidance and answers that we would like. We have to trust and be patient and those are really hard things to do.

Another things I find interesting is wondering how it must have felt both in the Old Testament and during the Restoration, to be in the midst of "the exodus." From our perspective we can see the end from the beginning...we can recognize the importance of different trials the Saints went through..lessons they learned, etc. But in the moment they had no idea what was coming next. Sometimes it's hard in the day to day busyness of my life to focus on a broader perspective. I try to guess about what's coming next or spend too much time wanting to understand perfectly why things happen the way they do. Sometimes instead I need to be better about trusting God. I know He loves me and wants what's best for me. I need to hold on to that and quit trying to figure everything out and worrying over the end result. I feel like I'm starting to ramble, but this whole idea of trust really has been on my mind a lot. I'm learning to be grateful that I don't always know what's coming around the next corner in my own life. I certainly could not have predicted the past year...but all the same it's still hard to keep from wanting to know what the next year will be like.

Maybe we each have our own exodus...as we follow the prophets, experience trials, learn how to more fully trust in the Lord, and finally return to his presence again. Maybe the exodus is something that happens over and over, more than we realize...in the pages of our lives and the lives of those around us, rather than just the pages of the Bible or Doctrine and Covenants.

D&C 42: "The Law"

Section 42 of the Doctrine and Covenants is one of the few sections that has an official name by which it is known. According to the Lord, section 42 is "the Law." It is referred to as such in previous sections and continues to be known by that name today. It is an important section in that it answers many questions and gives a foundation of doctrine upon which the church operates. It covers topics such as missionary work, commandments (very similar to the 10 commandments), laws governing the consecration of properties, and healing of the sick. It is also important in that it refers to pieces of information that will be given in future generations, such as the site of the New Jerusalem.

The Crandall Printing Museum

I really enjoyed my visit to the Crandall Printing Museum. I went 3 years ago when I took H240 from Dr. Holzapfel and I enjoyed it just as much this time around. I don't think I would have taken the time to go again if it hadn't been for the class requirement, but I'm very glad I did.

It's fascinating how the brethren at the museum are able to tie everything into the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. It's truly miraculous to be able to see the hand of God in things that we completely take for granted. I like how there are three different segments to the presentation, one to help you appreciate Gutenberg and the invention of the printing press, another to help you recognize the role of the printing press in the American Revolution, and lastly a room in which you learn about the printing and binding of the Book of Mormon. The brethren at the museum shared with us the designs for the museums expansion. I think it's an exciting idea that the museum will be able to hold many more visitors and that every missionary who goes through the Provo MTC will have the opportunity to visit.

I couldn't help but get goosebumps as they talked about the miraculous printing of the Book of Mormon, even though I had heard it before. I think I often focus on the First Vision and the coming forth of the brass plates and their translation, while spending very little time thinking about the actual printing. Printing a book now a days is such a non-event. We're constantly surrounded by books and it seems to be a very normal process for one to get printed. It's hard to imagine the vast undertaking that was in the mid-1800s. Not to mention, for a young adult living in a smaller settlement, with little funds. The fact that there was even a printer nearby with the knowledge and technology to complete the job was incredible. Then, that they completed the printing in so short of time becomes even more miraculous after seeing first-hand what went into the printing process at the Crandall Museum.

Something that hit me during this visit was how often I take for granted books in my life. I love to read. I always have. When I was younger my mom would have to take my book away from me before I went to bed, because otherwise I would stay up late reading...even in elementary school. I'm surrounded by books and it is so simple for me to go to a library or bookstore and pick from dozens of books on the shelf and take one home with me. I rarely, if ever, think about all of the steps that go into a book and all the hundreds of years in which the process has been refined and simplified. The printing press is something I don't think about on a regular basis, but I should...it should be my favorite invention.

I'm grateful for this museum visit that reminded me of the miraculous printing of many influential documents, including the Book of Mormon, and of the experience involved in making a book as we do today. It is easy to take for granted many things and I think we need reminders in our lives to stop back and remember. I'm grateful for the Lord and how the hand of God is evident in every aspect of life here on earth. I know it's impossible for me at this time to fully understand the consequence of any event or invention, just as I'm sure Gutenberg had no idea to what extent he had influenced the future.

The Gathering

In class this past Thursday we discussed how D&C 37 includes the first call for the saints to gather. This discussion really made me ponder how gathering was a fundamental aspect of 19th century Mormonism and how it is still an aspect today, only in different ways. The Lord no longer calls us to gather together in one geographical location, but at the same time he calls us to gather for meetings and worship all throughout the world. I take great comfort in knowing that no matter where I am in the world I will always have a support network and safety net in the church. I will always have a ward family and irrespective of language or location, the church is the same everywhere.

This past summer I traveled to Brazil on a study abroad trip for 7 weeks. While in Brazil we traveled to many different areas, and every Sunday we went to church. I reflected on this a lot last week, as it's my most recent personal experience with finding the church in a place far from my home. I loved attending church in Brazil and the comfort I found there, but particularly interesting for me was my last Sunday in Brazil.

My last Sunday, I spent with an American family who were in Brazil for 18 months in relation with the father's work. The members of the family did not know Portuguese, and yet they attended a ward every Sunday that included both Portuguese and English speaking members. The individuals in this family were able to find a support system in a foreign country, simply by finding the local church meeting house. I'm so grateful to know that no matter where I live throughout my life, I will always be able to find a home at church. I'm grateful that the Lord still calls us to gather, but that he allows us to gather in our own individual locations, rather than asking all members of the church to live in one geographical location.

D&C 25

As we discussed Doctrine and Covenants 25 in class today, my mind was open to meanings and implications I had never thought of before. Most fundamental to the significance of this revelation is that it was given to a woman. I think the reason why I haven't thought too deeply about this simple fact is because it feels natural to me. I live in a day when women are treated fairly equally with men, at least in the United States. There are laws, customs, movements, etc. which all seek to represent what is in the best interest for women. Even within the church, women hold prominent and important positions, they are valued, respected, listened to. It is not unusual to hear women speaking in church, women serving missions, or women getting a higher education. I have also understood since I was young that Heavenly Father loves his daughters just as much as his sons. I have every right to personal revelation and a patriarchal blessing that men in the church do. Of course roles and responsibilities are different, but that doesn't mean one gender is necessarily more important than the other. This was not the case in the time of Emma Smith.

From verse 1, Emma is called "daughter" and based on original manuscripts, we know that her last name wasn't added until later for clarification. The Lord was on intimate, personal terms with Emma. He knew her just as he knew Joseph. Just as he knows each of us today. In this revelation the Lord establishes a principle of equality in the church. Every line of this revelation sends a subtle message concerning the role of women in the Church, and most importantly, in the eyes of the Lord. It also enforces the notion that Emma has a role to play. She has choices to make. She is not just a bystander.

I love verse 5 and the reminders it gives, to comfort and console our spouse. Here, the Lord so simply emphasizes the importance of the marriage relationship. In verse 7 Emma is told that she will expound scriptures and exhort the church. Once again, she plays an important role! Verse 8 certainly contains a radical idea for her time, when Emma is told that her time shall be given to writing and to learning much. And once again in verse 9 is the role of the marriage relationship. Just as Emma is told to comfort and console Joseph, Joseph is reminded to support Emma.

I love the hymns of the church, I always have. Some of my first memories of church are of singing time in Primary when I was younger. The hymns have taken on new meaning to me since I was given a hymnal in Portuguese and I've begun to sing in that language as well. There are certain hymns, such as "Lead Kindly Light" and "O, My Father" that ring so true to me, they do feel like scriptures and/or prayers. There's no question how the Lord values hymns after reading verses 11 and 12, and looking at the importance of hymns within the Church today.

Truly for many reasons I barely summarized, this was a significant revelation and still is today. Just like Emma, every woman has a place in the Kingdom. We are each actors, with our own choices to make. We each should "lift up our heart and rejoice" (verse 13) for the truths we know! I am so grateful for the blessing of the hymns. And I am so grateful for the blessing of knowing with a surety that I am a daughter of God and that I am of infinite worth to him.

The Articles and Covenants of the Church of Christ (D&C 20)

I have enjoyed reading the Doctrine and Covenants since I was younger, I attended seminary in high school, and I have always loved church history stories. But, it really is true that the more you know, the more you know you don't know. For example, I never realized that so many sections of the Doctrine and Covenants had official names, such as Section 20 being the "Articles and Covenants." I had no idea that Section 20 was the most copied of any revelation in the history of the Church. I also did not know that Section 20 was read at every session of General Conference until it was printed in 1835. Even these three facts alone, point to the significance of this section.

We discussed in class that Section 20 is roughly organized into three categories: a historical overview of the church, doctrine/articles of faith, and a handbook of instruction related to church policy. With this knowledge it is easy to see why the Lord instructed so many missionaries to take Section 20 with them on their missions, along with the Bible and Book of Mormon. This section would arm a missionary with what information he needed to organize a branch or replicate the church anywhere.

What I have mentioned so far is all information that was discussed in my class, and they go far in illustrating the significance of this section, but now I want to add what this section means to me...or rather what would be missing in my life if not for information contained in this section. I would be missing a brief overview of the history of the church from 1820-1830. I would be missing an outline of the plan of Salvation, containing some of the most important truths to be found in the Gospel, for example the creation and the atonement of Christ. The priesthood holders in my ward would not have a description of their duties. I would be missing the principle of baptism, the importance of blessing children, and the sacramental prayers. Of course some of this information is recorded in other places as well, but that does not undermine the value of them being here in the Doctrine and Covenants.

The Doctrine and Covenants has a value and worth that I am only beginning to appreciate. I am so grateful for the opportunity to study this section and reflect on its significance. I know that the principle it espouses were given by God through revelation and that this information continues to be pertinent to the Church today. When you next have the opportunity, read through this section, which can be found at http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/20, and reflect on its personal significance to you.

"a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men" (D&C 4:1)

This phrase is perhaps one of the most significant phrases in the Doctrine and Covenants, because of what it represents. Joseph Smith said that "the Book of Mormon is the most correct book of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion...a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book." I know that the Book of Mormon has the power to change lives and ultimately to change the world.

To begin with, the coming forth of the Book of Mormon was miraculous in and of itself. Anyone who learns the history of the translation and printing of the Book of Mormon would have no other option but to admit that it was completed by the hand of God. However, my mind is drawn more to the present day results of this "marvelous work." It is still coming forth. The stone is still rolling and the Gospel will continue to go forth "until it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear" (Joseph Smith).

Currently, church materials are available in over 100 languages. There are over 100 operating temples worldwide. Over 52,000 missionaries are currently serving in over 340 missions. Church membership totals over 13 million and there are more members outside the United States than within it. I have friends serving all across the globe, spending 2 years of their lives sharing the gospel with others. How could this be anything but the Lord's work? Why else would so many 19 year old boys be willing to give up 2 precious years of their young lives, knowing they couldn't even hug a girl or play a video game or sleep in until noon. ;) It is true. They know it is true. And that is why they serve.

Thinking about this phrase sure gives new meaning to the word "marvelous." It is all encompassing in this context. In a couple days I will listen to the semi-annual General Conference of the church. It will be 2 days full of listening to Prophets, Apostles, and other General Authorities. I will be joined in listening to their words by millions of people all around the world. What a grand occasion this is. As one of my good friends refers to it, it's her favorite holiday! Much of what we will be taught comes directly from the Book of Mormon and the lessons and principles we learn as a result of reading it. This simple, but powerful book, this marvelous work, is continuing to influence the church each and every day.

I want to close with my testimony of the Book of Mormon. I know it is true. I know it can be read as a companion to the Bible, another testament of Jesus Christ. I know that as I continue to read it, my life will continue to be blessed, and I will grow closer to God. I've been re-reading it the past few months and my eyes have been open to insights that I have never seen before. It truly is for our day, and for us! No matter what part of our lives we are in. The Book of Mormon has come forth, it continues to come forth, and it is a marvelous work.

D&C "Lessons from the 116 Lost Pages"

My thoughts are rather scattered as I think about this prompt for our first blogging assignment in my Doctrine and Covenants class this semester (The Doctrine and Covenants are one of the standard works of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; A compilation of revelations received by the Prophet Joseph Smith with a few added by later church presidents).

To begin with, I think this story in Church History is such a miracle and a testament to the truthfulness of the Gospel. Many people have attempted, but it is not easy to thwart the work of God. Truly, NO ONE can stop the work from progressing. The Lord is there, every step of the way. A plan was prepared and a path was made so that the Church could continue to roll forward even after this crushing loss to Joseph Smith. The same thing happened when the mob killed Joseph Smith. They believed that in destroying him they would destroy the Church. But, they forgot the most important point, this is not Joseph Smith's church, it is the Church of Jesus Christ. This leads me back to the Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 9:5-6, where Nephi explains the Lord has commanded to make 2 sets of records, "for a wise purpose in him, which purpose I know not. But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men." It is an important reminder to not murmur or doubt, even if we don't understand a command the Lord has given us. We may not be able to comprehend a purpose at the time, but as the saying goes "Hindsight is 20/20." We must trust the Lord in ALL things, a lesson that we have to learn, just as did Nephi and Joseph.

I also love the humility of Joseph Smith at this time. I know what it feels like to be told by a parent or close friend who I love and respect, that I have chosen wrong, I haven't listened, or I have hurt someone I care about. I can only imagine the devastation Joseph Smith felt at this time to have to face the Lord over such a mistake. There truly has only been one perfect being to ever walk this earth and that was our Savior. The rest of us, whether child, college student, or prophet, are all subject to mistakes and we are all in need of the atonement. When things go wrong, it is so hard to remember the light. When we make mistakes it's easy to feel that the mark will never leave us, the scars will never heal, it can never be made up. But, it has been made up. We must ALWAYS remember the atonement. The older I get the more I come to recognize the importance of the atonement in our lives on a regular basis. I believe that like Joseph Smith, we can learn from our mistakes and grow stronger as a result. This story brings me hope. As God's children, we all make mistakes, but like Joseph, we can also all be forgiven.

Campinhas Temple

Yesterday, aside from the fun rain adventure, we went to Campinhas to go to the temple and then out to dinner. It's only a little over an hour away from Sao Paulo. I was pretty excited about the opportunity to see another one of the temples here in Brazil. Plus, the past few days I've been missing home a lot and I figured going to the temple would be a nice, peaceful break from the stress of class and crowded streets. The temple was built in a really pretty spot, it's up on a hill and you can see it as you're coming in on the highway...very different from the Sao Paulo temple which is on a really busy street.

We were able to spend about 20 minutes walking around outside and taking pictures before it was time for Rebecca and I to head to the baptistry. I was a bit nervous that no other girls were going with us just because I wasn't sure about my Portuguese, but there was an older sister missionary (on a mission with her husband) from Bountiful, Utah and she was very excited to find some people who spoke English! They've been in Brazil for 6 months, but her Portuguese is pretty limited. You could tell that she loved serving in the temple, but that it was also hard to be away from home and her grandkids. The Campinhas temple (at least what I saw) is beautiful inside and we had a really good experience. When we got out, the rest of the group had barely started a session so we ended up having almost 2 hours to spend hanging out while we waited for them.

Rebecca and I decided to walk around outside again and I'm so glad we did. When we walked out of the temple, everything seemed perfect! It was at the end of sunset, so still light enough to take pictures, but the sky was also really pretty colors. The temperature was great and there weren't many people around at all, except for a woman with these four little girls (under 5). The girls were singing and dancing around by this water fountain and it just seemed like the most pure, innocent picture. One of those simple, perfect moments when I could easily imagine God looking down from heaven with a big smile on his face, watching these beautiful, happy little girls.

We could see quite a bit of lightning off in the distance and tried in vain to capture a picture of it. We walked around to the back of the temple to get a better view, but not long after that it began to rain. We waited inside the rest of the time and I was able to get ahead on some scripture reading. By the time we made it to dinner, and then back to Sao Paulo, it was pretty late and I had a headache and was very ready for bed, but it was a wonderful evening. Probably one of my favorites of the trip, simply because of how peaceful it was. All in all, quite the adventure filled day!

I now only have a week of class left. We're leaving for Ubatuba tomorrow morning, just staying for the weekend. Next Thursday is my last day of class and then a few days later I fly home. I can't believe it's almost done, but I'm excited to go home. The next week is going to be crazy busy though, so hopefully I'll make it through!

Chuva e um Onibus (Rain and a Bus)

We've been back in Sao Paulo for a week now and we haven't gone a day (let alone a couple hours) without rain. In general, I like the rain. I love the smell and feel of the air in Georgia right before or after a good rain...it feels perfect, especially during the summer. That's one of the things I miss most when in Utah is Georgia rain. And thunderstorms! I love sitting inside and listening to a good storm. But, my feelings are a bit different right now. A lot of that probably has to do with having to walk everywhere we go, dirty, polluted rain, and the fact that I desperately need to do laundry. I've been wearing the same clothes for so long, it's disgusting, but without the convenience of a dryer, traveling and then coming home to rain makes it a bit difficult.

Yesterday I had an experience with the rain that I will probably never forget. I felt like I was in a movie scene. I woke up to sun coming through the blinds and I was so excited! The sun had finally come out and we could finally do laundry! However, less than an hour later when we left the house it looked pretty overcast and I was starting to get bummed. Little did we know what waited for us. Within 5 minutes of leaving, the sky opened and it started pouring, to the extent that I'm not sure my umbrella was really doing us that much good. We were valiantly trying our best to make it to class on time and somewhat dry, but honestly I just wanted to run home and jump back in bed.

We were almost to class when a bus came heading our way. Buses in Brazil fly down the streets...literally. If you stick your head out just a little too far when standing on the edge of the sidewalk you might get it taken off. Well before we knew it, a bus flew through a puddle and completely soaked us with water. It was such a shock Rebecca and I both screamed. We looked like we had jumped into a pool up to our waist. I don't think I've ever been so wet from rain, unless I was trying to get wet on purpose. We couldn't stop laughing the entire rest of the way to class because we were so dumbfounded as to what had just happened. Luckily I was in sandals, because Rebecca's shoes still haven't dried. It was hilarious to watch everyone's reaction as they walked in to the institute building and saw how soaked we were, though a few people who didn't have umbrella's ended up getting almost as wet as we did.

Argentina...Curitiba and back home to SP

I thought the falls in Brazil were beautiful, but now I know why we visited that side first! The falls from the Argentine side were absolutely breathtaking (these posts about the falls are really going to test my vocabulary...there are only so many positive adjectives I can use :) ). We spent the entire day in the park, hiking around to different viewpoints. Thanks to the sunshine and mist there was a beautiful rainbow visible from almost everywhere. I have never seen a rainbow that seemed so close and that I could see from one end to the other all at once. It made pictures just that much more amazing to have not only the waterfalls, but a rainbow on top of them as well. There were all sorts of interesting animals we found hiding around too. I saw a Tucan which was pretty exciting thanks to growing up with Fruit Loops! The falls are so powerful and incredible...I guess everyone needs to go see them, because I can't come up with the words to explain it! Certainly, one of the most amazing things I've seen in Brazil!

After leaving the park, before making it back to the hotel, we went to a place where we could see the three borders. We were standing in Argentina, we could see Brazil straight across the river from us and Paraguay was across the river to the left. I've never seen 3 countries at the same time before! Oh, side note, it was really funny in Argentina because it was so hard to remember any Spanish! I took a few years in school and thought I knew a bit, but after being in Brazil it was pretty difficult to change pronunciation and such. All I could think of was Portuguese! It made me laugh to watch all of us stumble through the little spanish we know, well except for our resident Chileno, Gustavo.

Church in Foz was nice, though I was called on to read during Sunday School and I thought my heart was going to pound out of my chest. Pretty pathetic huh? It was fun to understand most of the lesson though! Sadly, I think by the end of the 3 meetings we were all struggling to stay awake and stay warm. Our ride to Curitiba was long and it was hard to sleep. I ended up talking to one of the guys in our group most of the time and that helped it go by faster. We were pleasantly surprised to find our hotel in Curitiba was really nice and we were all on the same floor for the first time, which was lots of fun.

Curitiba was really nice. It was a lot cleaner than Sao Paulo and felt really safe in comparison. Because Curitiba is farther south, there's a greater European influence and you could see it in the architecture. I wish we had more time to spend there exploring the city. Our first full day in Curitiba we went to several parks. On the one hand it started to get a little tiring, but at the same time it felt really good to just walk around, relax, enjoy the fresh air, and the calm atmosphere of the Botanical Gardens and various other parks we visited. We ate at a yummy place for lunch where we could basically "build our own pasta" and then watch the chef make it right in front of us. It was a fun change from all of the churrascarias we've been frequenting...

Our second day in Curitiba I woke up early to walk around the nearby square with Jon, a guy in our group who served his mission in Curitiba. I wanted to take some pictures of the cathedral and some other neat buildings near our hotel and I knew this was the only chance I would get. Afterwords we checked out of our hotel and headed to the temple in Curitiba. It was cold out, but the temple was beautiful and it was nice to spend some time on the grounds. Then our last stop, we went to the Oscar Niemeyer museum and then headed out of town! Once again, the bus trip was a bit long. A few people watched Twilight and it was particularly enjoyable to hear one of the guys reactions to the whole thing. Personally I really enjoyed the books, but I think the movie is pretty bad...all the more amusing though. Jeff and I talked again and studied for our test the next day, and eventually we made it to Sao Paulo.

Back in Sao Paulo we took it easy after our first day of class. Instead of going somewhere in the city we met up at the institute building in the afternoon for some futebol (soccer)! I was the only girl who played, but I'm really glad I did. Here they have courts and you play with a smaller sized ball. It made the game a lot more fast paced. I'm totally out of shape, and it's been a long time since I played soccer, but it was so much fun. I didn't realize how much I missed playing. Who knows maybe I'll check out intermurals this fall... I have quite the leg full or war wounds though! I came home with everything from bruises, scratches, a ball print, and an awful scrape that feels like a burn, all on my right leg. Totally worth it!

For almost a week now we've had a lot of rain. Aside from classes and futebol, we've gone to Instituto Butantan to see some big snakes and other reptiles, we saw a movie and had dinner at the mall, and we went to the temple. It was my first time going to the temple here in Sao Paulo and I'm so glad we were finally able to. A bunch of the guys came to help in the baptistry. It was a bit complicated at first just because they have a different, seemingly more complicated system than I used to in Provo or Atlanta, and it took quite a while to get started, but once again...totally worth it. The temple always is right? When the temple president spoke to us I had a neat experience of being able to understand him and feel the Spirit strongly testify of the truthfulness of his words. What a blessing to know that the Gospel is the same no matter where you are! The language of the country might be different, but the language of the Spirit is always the same.

I had a brief day of staying in bed and not feeling very well this past Saturday, but it's passed (knock on wood!) and I'm doing well. I can't believe 2 weeks from today I'll be home. I know I'll miss Brazil and I'm so glad I came, but a lot of me misses home. I think I hit that point in the trip... Right now I'm really missing the dryer because we desperately need to do laundry and the rain is making it pretty difficult! Looking out my open window I can see that the sun is shining right now though, so I won't complain.

Yesterday I had a rather embarrassing experience where I got lost heading home by myself after hanging out with some other people in my group. I'll spare you the details, but what could have been my worst and scariest experience in Brazil turned out to be a really good one. I know Heavenly Father answers prayers and that we are never alone. I saw a group of people I felt comfortable and safe talking to and got help from a kind man who saw the necklace I was wearing (my Young Women's medallion with the temple on it that I had worn to church earlier that day), asked if I was Mormon, and by taking me in the direction of the temple helped me find my way home.

Thanks to all the e-mails, comments, prayers, and opportunities to talk on skype. You're all in my thoughts and prayers. Cross your fingers the rain stops at least by the time we head to the beach this weekend!

Tchau! Beijo!

Foz de Iguacu

Foz de Iguacu was one of the most amazing natural wonders I've ever seen. I'm already looking forward to going back!

We had quite the time getting to Foz. It's a long bus ride to begin with, but then we had bus trouble and ended up staying at one stop for a few hours. We watched the movie Bolt from beginning to end and never moved. The bus we got for the last leg of our journey looked like it belonged in the 60s and made for quite the adventure. Obviously the main part of this study abroad is being in Brazil, but I'm grateful for the people I've met and the fun random memories we've made together. I don't know if you really know someone until you spend hours and hours and hours and hours(you get the idea) on the bus with them.

Our first day in Foz de Iguacu we went to the Brazilian Falls and Itaipu. The falls were beautiful. As we hiked closer, every new view was slightly different and more beautiful than the first. On the Brazilian side you end up getting quite close and as a result pretty sprayed.

Itaipu is a Dam on the border of Brazil and Paraguay that gives Paraguay over 90% of it's energy and Brazil around 20% of it's energy. It's one of the most powerful dams in the world. We traveled there after the falls and lunch, went on a basic tour and had fun playing around in masks and hard hats...okay, I'll be honest, the masks were a pain. But it was neat to go and now I can say I've been to Paraguay too!

I'll write more soon about the Argentine side...that was the best part!

Adventures in Brazil: the First Four Weeks!

My study abroad trip is about halfway over, I’ve been in Brazil almost 4 weeks, and I have yet to really update anyone on my travels. So, here you go…and I’m going to try really hard to do better the next couple weeks. Once I started talking to my parents on skype, I forgot that it’s important for me to actually write down everything instead of just telling it. Be prepared, this will be a long post, but I’ll try to organize it into sections.

My first weekend:

Everything went well with my flight, though we flew through an absolutely amazing lightning storm. I probably should have been worried, but I was too awestruck at how beautiful it was. I got into Sao Paulo just after 8am Friday (6/19) and met up with my group without too much trouble. We took a bus to the temple where we met the families we would be staying with. I'm rooming with Rebecca, the only other person from my Portuguese class the past 2 semesters who decided to come on the study abroad. We spend pretty much every waking moment together, so you'll be hearing about her a lot.

Rebecca and I are staying with a 75 year old widow named Maria. Her daughter Celia lives in the house behind Maria's with her husband and 2 kids (she also has a daughter who's married and lives close by). Maria's son and his wife and their 3 kids live in the house in front of us. I'll try to put up some pictures, but the best way I have to explain it is to picture a long, skinny rectangle divided into 3 sections. The houses are kind of connected, but they're not connected at all inside. Or you can just google earth it like my mom did :) (Rua Andre Saraiva, 841 Vila Sonia 05626-001 Sao Paulo, SP Brazil).

Maria is very sweet, but very hard to understand. She speaks super fast and has a thick Portuguese accent (from Portugal), which makes it even harder. Last Friday went by in a blur, but we were pleasantly surprised when Celia's oldest son, Diego (18) came by when he got off work and he spoke English! His English isn't perfect, but it's definitely better than our Portuguese. He talked with us, told us how to get wireless on our laptops, and also volunteered to take us to Institute (a church class for young adults) with him on Saturday, the added bonus being it's in the same building as our classes, so we learned how to walk there from Maria's house.

Saturday went by slowly. Rebecca and I didn't know where anything was and we didn't really know how to talk to anyone so we were pretty stuck. Plus, in case you ever need to know, Netflix online and Hulu.com don't work outside of the U.S.! Nevertheless, 5pm did come and we went to Institute. Even though I understood very little of what was being said, it was comforting to be in a church building, with members, speaking about Christ and the Bible and quoting familiar names. Later on Diego took us to the nearby mall, and then a party at a ward building next to the temple. It was for Festa Junina, and everyone dresses up like caipira (a hill billy) and being from Georgia I found it pretty amusing. All the same I still felt lost. We ran into some of the guys from our study abroad group there and it was nice to see familiar faces.
Sunday was refreshing, though I don't think I've ever paid as much attention in church as I did that day. I was concentrating so hard to try and pick up any familiar words. I was able to understand some general ideas, which was comforting. We learned that Lani and Olga, the other two single (Olga's married but her husband isn't here, and Lani's actually engaged) girls in the study abroad were also in our ward. We spent some time with them, while Lani showed us where to go and did some simple translating. The rest of the day passed like most Sundays, resting and eating a big lunch over at Celia's house.

First week of school!:

It takes us about 20 minutes to walk to school everyday. We all start off together, for a simple devotional and announcements, and then we split off into classes. There are only 4 people in my class with Camila: Jeff, Michelle, Rebecca and I. We’re taking 201 (language class) and 211 (conversation class). Everyone else speaks pretty good Portuguese, so they’re studying linguistics, history, and literature. Class ends around 11 and then the rest of the day is ours (which for Rebecca and I means the rest of the day is ours to follow everyone else who can speak Portuguese). J

During the first week we explored several different places around Sao Paulo. Monday I felt like I was in the middle of the Primary hymn about pioneers, “and they walked…and walked...and walked…and walked…” because we walked around for several hours figuring out where everyone lives and attempting to go to the pool. We visited USP (Universidade de Sao Paulo) which wasn’t too impressive, they were on strike and the campus isn’t in great condition. We went to an oceanography museum there and saw a few funky fish. We went to MASP (museu de arte de Sao Paulo) and a park that was across the street. Some floors of were a bit too out there for me, I really don’t understand a lot of art, but on the bottom floor they had an exhibit featuring the work of Vik Muniz. It was really cool, totally worth looking him up on google and checking out some of his work.

Rebecca and I went downtown with Aaron, one of the guys in our group, to find some of our other classmates. We never found them (I miss the convenience of cell phones!) but we ended up having a lot of fun wandering around. We went inside Catedral da Se de Sao Paulo, the main Catholic Cathedral in downtown Sao Paulo and it was absolutely beautiful. There’s no comparison to the bright, clean, peaceful feel of the temple, but all the same, it was nice to step inside and immediately leave behind the hectic, noisy, dirty city, and enter the calm of a place of worship. Plus I had a proud moment while in there…I asked a guard if I could take pictures (very simple phrase) and he seemed very surprised that I asked in Portuguese and then complimented me. Even though it was extremely simple, it was a nice boost after feeling lost and stupid in a new country. Downtown we also went to BANESPA (Banco do Estado de Sao Paulo aka state bank) where you can go to the top and look out over the city. Sao Paulo is such a large city, it was neat to be able to see so much of it at once. The skyscrapers seem to go on for days… Interesting Sao Paulo fact- they have one of the largest helicopter fleets in the world. The traffic is so bad and so busy that the rich in the city take helicopters to work. When you look out you can see helicopter pads on many of the surrounding buildings. I was told that Sao Paulo is second only to New York City, but I don’t know if it’s true… Before leaving we went through the monastery in Sao Paulo and we rode on the metro (subway) for part of the way home.

That following weekend we took our first day trip to Campos do Jordao, a few hours away from Sao Paulo. It was a nice little town, but nothing too exciting. It was nice to feel like you could breathe clean air again. We went up a few mountains and saw some beautiful views, though it was overcast and often we could just see clouds. In Campos do Jordao we saw some manmade waterfalls, went horse back riding, and rode up a teleferico (picture an old ski lift). The teleferico was fun though a bit nerve-racking because it looked 50 years old. I was super excited to go horseback riding, but it was disappointing, nothing like going out with my Grandpa and riding his horses. The horses looked pitiful, but hey at least I can say I’ve ridden a horse in Brazil!

Second and third week in Brazil- Sao Paulo, then off to Rio and Belo Horizonte!

We went back downtown together as a group and visited BANESPA, it looked pretty much the same as it had a few days before. We also went to Rua 25 de Marco (a street named March 25) where they have tons of shops and people selling stuff on the street for cheap. I wasn’t a big fan though because it was crowded and just didn’t feel good. I don’t know how to explain it, but sometimes when it’s loud and busy and people are smoking everywhere and I’m trying not to get lost or robbed, I just feel exhausted and I need a little peace. I also went with some people to a nearby mall (Shopping El Dorado) and we had dinner and watched the new Transformers movie. It was in English with Portuguese subtitles…I found it entertaining, but I don’t know if I’ll see it again. It’s interesting though, for those couple hours I could have easily been anywhere in the U.S. It was a Cinemark movie theatre and it was weird to walk out and think, “Oh wait, I’m in Brazil!”

The day before leaving for Rio we visited a science museum. It was in a sketchy part of town, but it was awesome. It’s the kind of place that would be really fun to visit in Elementary school. It was a little bit harder for me, just because words about space, biology, etc. aren’t really things I’ve learned in Portuguese…and some of it I don’t even remember in English! They had lots of hands on activities like making bubbles and even a giant intestine you could walk through (lovely huh? J). They also had a rock climbing wall. It was an interesting setup- you would climb up to different pictures of famous people, like Leonardo da Vinci, Julius Caesar, etc and when you got to them a sensor would cause them to start talking to you, telling you a little about who they are. I couldn’t understand much, but it was still fun.

Sao Paulo to Rio de Janeiro was a long bus ride, but we survived. On the way we stopped a few times, including in Aparecida. The city is named after the patron saint of Brazil, Senhora Aparecida. Legend has it that 3 men were fishing and not catching anything when they caught this statue that was missing a head, soon after they found the head, and then after that they found tons of fish- a miracle! Well, after many more miracles, eventually the Pope declared her the patron saint of Brazil and there are two Basilica’s in Aparecida that are very famous, especially in the Catholic Church.

The first thing we did after arriving in Rio was run down to the beach for a few minutes. We stayed busy the rest of the trip. We visited Petropolis, toured o Palacio (Palace), o museu imperial (Imperial Museum) that used to be the home of Dom Pedro. We also went to a Casa do Santos Dumont, who invented the airplane (there are some pretty strong opinions concerning him and the Wright brothers) and other cool things like the wrist watch. We visited Maracana stadium, one of the most famous soccer stadiums, but I felt a little guilty because even though I loved playing soccer in high school I don’t follow professional soccer at all. Of course, all the guys with us were thrilled. For dinner that night we went to a Pizza Rodizio and stuffed ourselves with Pizza. My favorite dessert pizza was a key lime mousse one. Rebecca and Eric began a competition that finally ended after they both ate their 19^th slice of pizza.

While in Rio we also visited Cristo Redentor and Pao de Acucar (Sugarloaf). It was neat to ride a train up to Cristo Redentor and stand in front of something I’ve seen in so many pictures and paintings. The view was also great, though once again it was cloudy and hazy. I don’t want to undervalue the Cristo Redentor statue at all, but just like in the Cathedral, I was struck by the difference between it and the Christus in Salt Lake. The feeling was different. It was hard to really enjoy Cristo Redentor due to how many people were up there with us, but don’t get me wrong…it was really neat to see in person. On our way back to the hotel we passed by the biggest/most famous favelas in Brazil (I think), very interesting and sad. Favela is basically the slums or ghetto, but they’re built up on hills and it’s like its own little community, typically ruled by drug lords and somewhere that the police/government have no control over whatsoever. We played at the beach a little bit that day, sticking our feet in, and once I got hit by waves up to my waist. I also went to downtown Rio with some people and had acai for the first time. I loved it! Worth trying if you can find it anywhere in the states (though it seems to be a love or hate it kind of thing). That evening we went to Pao de Acucar. We took two different bondinhos (telefericos aka cable cars) up to the top. The view was amazing. Being able to see the beach and the city at night was probably my favorite thing. Sadly pictures just don’t do it justice, especially with my camera. But, if I had to pick…it’s my favorite thing we’ve done since being in Brazil. We went to a Churrascaria for dinner, and had a very unique 4^th of July celebration. There was a piano player in the restaurant and so one of the guys asked if he would play while we sung the national anthem. Tanner, a guy in our group sang, but by the end we had all joined in. It felt special to be standing in a restaurant in Rio de Janeiro, standing with my hand over my heart, singing our national anthem, surrounded by Brazilians. I’ve enjoyed Brazil, but I’ve also gained a greater appreciation for the United States and I’m grateful I have something to remember about July 4, 2009. We ventured to a ferinha and I found some brincos (earrings).

After church in Rio we went to Jardim Botanico (Botanical Gardens) in Rio and it was a peaceful way to spend Sunday, walking around the gardens where things felt clean and safe. We went down to the beach one last time and then spent a quiet Sunday evening. 3 of the guys in our group were robbed the first night in Rio because they were on the beach after dark, but other than that we all made it through one of the dangerous cities in Brazil for tourists with no harm!

We traveled to Belo Horizonte, in the state of Minas Gerais and spent 2 days there. We visited Ouro Preto (literally means black gold) and Congonhas, where we saw many, many, many churches. They were mainly done in a more Baroque style, whereas I enjoy the Gothic style cathedrals better. One of the churches we saw in Ouro Preto has over 400 kilos of gold, the second most of any church in Brazil. It’s pretty, but very busy. I don’t find it very peaceful, but I admire and appreciate the culture. I got a few neat soapstone sculptures in Ouro Preto and I’m hoping they make it home in one piece! We also went down into an old gold mine, which was fun. Our second day in Belo Horizonte we went to a rock and mineral museum, a Mercado (market), and finally to a cave. The cave was awesome; I just wish I had been able to take better pictures! Caves can’t really be adequately described, but it’s amazing what kind of masterpieces can be found in nature.

Fourth week in Brazil:

After arriving back in Sao Paulo I had a day of tests and then left again for the weekend. My roommate Rebecca has family here in the state of Sao Paulo (her mom is Brazilian). They live in Piracicaba, which is about 2 hours away from where we live. It was neat to meet her family and spend a relaxing weekend. It also was a good self-esteem boost. Typically mealtimes at Maria’s house are pretty quiet, but with Rebecca’s family we were able to communicate and actually have dinnertime conversation. They were easier to understand mainly because they would speak slower, repeat their words if necessary, and explain things multiple ways if we couldn’t get it the first time. It felt good to know I could spend the weekend with a family that only speaks Portuguese, and communicate enough to have a good time.

For one of our group activities we went to Ibirapuera park and rented bicycles to ride around on. It was nice to be outside in a nice, clean area and get some exercise. I’ll admit though, it had been so long since I had last ridden a bike, I was a bit nervous that I would make a fool of myself. No worries, I didn’t have any big oops moments! We also went to a Crime Museum at the Police Academy at USP. It wasn’t particularly exciting, mainly just a simple historical museum of the Sao Paulo police force, but I was very excited to find something from Atlanta. They had a wall full of police patches from different locations and one was a MARTA police patch. Go figure!

Finally, today we went to the Portuguese Language Museum. It was quite the adventure! The main theme was “language/words without borders.” The presentation was creative, but I have never been in such a bizarre museum. Everything was presented in a very unique manner and I really don’t know how to describe it. It’s certainly fascinating though to see how many cultures and languages influence a single language, such as Portuguese. Afterwards we went to Liberdade, the Japanese area of downtown Sao Paulo, similar to Chinatown. Jeff, one of the guys on our trip, went to Japan on his mission and wanted us to taste real, authentic Ramen (Lamen). It was certainly much better than the top Ramen we’re accustomed to! After dinner we made our way back to Shopping El Dorado to watch the 6^th Harry Potter movie. I enjoyed it, but it was very different from the book. It’s always hard to see how movies are modified in comparison to the books they originated from. Tomorrow morning we leave for Foz de Iguacu, so I’ll have to write about that later! If you made it this far, thanks for reading!

Weird things about Brazil/ What I miss from the U.S.:

Probably the strangest thing to me is that you don’t flush toilet paper. Used toilet paper always goes in the trashcan and if you accidentally forget, you have to fish it out fast! Lovely huh? I also miss having hot water all over the house. Only the shower, dishwasher, and possibly washer, have hot water. Washing my face in the morning can be painful at times, when the water is so cold it literally takes my breath away.

I’m sad that it’s winter because of the time change. It begins to get dark around 5:30pm, which means that after then I shouldn’t walk outside without at least a couple guys. The guys in our group are great about walking Rebecca and I home when it’s dark, but I miss the independence of leaving the house whenever I wanted and feeling relatively safe while doing so.

I have a greater appreciation for our roads in the U.S. Every time I get in a car here I feel like I’m on a bad roller coaster ride. Likewise, I had no idea how clean Atlanta and SLC are. The streets are so dirty and it makes me sad. There are also so many people that smoke…combine that with the pollution, and often I feel dirty just breathing on the streets.

I miss free water! Most people who know me well, know that I typically drink water all day long. Here however, you have to drink bottled/filtered water, which means when you go out to eat it costs you a couple reais just for one cup/bottle of water. I also miss milk and cereal for breakfast! The box milk is okay with chocolate, but it’s not something I drink frequently.

I could probably go on for a long time about random things, but I’ll save that for another time. I have yet to buy a single postcard or stamp, but hopefully I’ll get on that soon. I’ll write more soon! For pictures, check out facebook.

Tchau!

Easter hope

One of my best friends was recently asked what Easter meant to her. She replied by simply saying "hope." This is what Easter means to me as well. This is what the Gospel means to me. Hope that we can repent and be forgiven of our mistakes. Hope that we will see our deceased loved ones again. Hope that goodness will ultimately triumph over evil. Hope that there is a plan for each of us, a great plan of happiness. Hope that we are never alone. Hope that family relationships can be eternal. Hope that we can live with God again someday.

Yesterday, the day before this beautiful Easter sabbath, I spent time with dear friends who recently had a baby girl. As I held their precious daughter who was just a little over a week old, I marveled at the miracle of life and all that new babies represent. She represents hope. Hope for new beginnings. Hope that she might live a life full of happiness. Hope that there is still a reason for progressing and moving forward. One cannot be near a child without feeling near to God, as if walking on sacred ground. I believe the same is true of all beginnings and especially of Spring. New flowers emerge with the hope that there will be sunshine and rain, and that they will blossom. Hope that says it will slowly become warmer and the earth will receive new life.

However, the ultimate hope surely does rest in the Lord Jesus Christ. Easter Sunday brings with it a special celebration of the resurrection and the glorious atonement that was accomplished for all. I'm grateful for the hope I have in my Savior. I'm grateful for the New Testament which preserves the record of that first Easter when Christ appeared to Mary. I know that life is worth living and there is joy to be found in living righteously. I hope that throughout my life, the word "hope" continues to take on new meaning and that I might always remember its source.

General Conference

What a weekend filled with peace, comfort, and instruction as I listened to the word of God through the mouth of his servants. Millions gathered around the world to listen to General Conference. On Saturday I watched both session on my laptop, sitting in my room, and I wore pjs the entire time. I only mention that because it was a very relaxed and calm environment in which to listen and learn. All was quiet and peaceful around me and I was able to listen to the Spirit.

I received the last minute opportunity to attend the Sunday morning session of conference at the conference center in Salt Lake City. The day was bright and crisp as I walked through temple square surrounded by people...people who know what I know...people who understood that we were going to listen to a prophet of God. Sitting in the conference center, even with the massive amount of people, there was still a feeling of purity and serenity in the air. At that moment everything felt right. And after listening to the 2 hour session, walking outside into the sunshine was the perfect addition to an already wonderful day.

Among other things I felt like a theme throughout all four general sessions of conference was faith and hope. I love the principle of hope. It is the antithesis of doubt and discouragement. What better way to describe the gospel of Jesus Christ- hope! The gospel of Jesus Christ truly is the good news. He brings hope to all mankind through his atonement and matchless gift. All things will be made right in Him. No matter what is happening in the world around us we can not lose focus on that most fundamental principle- that Jesus Christ is our hope and our salvation and He will stand by us. He understands perfectly and He stands at the door waiting for us to knock and ask for His help and comfort. I know this is true with all my heart. I know our Savior loves us. Even when we make mistakes, He loves us still!

Anticipating General Conference

This coming weekend is a very special one to me and other members of my faith. In April and October, General Conference, consisting of four general sessions, is broadcast from Salt Lake City, UT to areas all around the world. This is a particularly special time as we have the opportunity to hear from general leaders of our church, including President Thomas S. Monson and members of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles.

It is such a time of spiritual rejuvenation for me as I listen to their inspired talks. I enjoy taking notes as I listen to help me remember the things that stand out to me and to help me pay better attention. I also enjoy re-reading the talks given when they become available online. As I make the effort to listen to as much of General Conference as I can, and with the proper preparation, I receive comfort and guidance through the course of the four conference sessions.

Perhaps one of my favorite parts about conference is the opportunity to sustain the general leaders of the church in their callings. The Living Prophets class I'm currently taking has greatly strengthened my knowledge and testimony of the divine callings of prophet, seer, and revelator. I know that the men in these positions today, the ones who will be speaking to the church and the rest of the world this coming weekend, have the same calling and authority as the prophets in the Old and New Testaments. As much as I love the scriptures, I can't imagine how I would get through some of the experiences I have had without the guidance of living leaders. I know that Jesus Christ works through his servants presently on the earth and that I can look to them for guidance just as I look to the biblical servants of the Lord.

Peaceful moments

There are so many things on my mind tonight, I'm not sure where to begin.

Most importantly however, I want to bear testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for the knowledge I have and the ways in which my life is blessed daily. I know that prayer works. I know God hears us and that we are known and loved. I know He answers our prayers, though not always how we expect. I know that there is a purpose to our lives. Life does not end with death, families truly can be forever, and that is how God intends it to be. I know that we can be an instrument in God's hands. I see the people who influence me every day, who teach me truths, lift me up, and answer my prayers. I know that God is working through them to bless my life. I pray that I am open to the opportunities I have to bless those around me and unknowingly answer their prayers.

I had a discussion with two of my roommates tonight, which helped me to come to some conclusions regarding a few things. It was one of those times when certain things I was told rang true in my heart. I love those special moments of peace when I hear or read something, and then that feeling comes that says "this is right." I hold on to those moments.

Service

This past week was not what I expected. One of my best friends has struggled with getting sick for quite awhile, but last Tuesday he became more sick than ever before. I ended up spending over 5 hours in the hospital with him that night until I finally took him home around 2am. I spent the rest of my week doing my best to spend as much free time as I could over at his apartment, helping him with whatever he needed. I didn't get as much sleep as I might normally have hoped for and I certainly spent most of my time worried about him, taking little thought for what I needed. I didn't do this because he asked, but because I wanted to...it was because of love.

I mention this for how it has helped me to grow closer to the Lord over the past several days. There is something very special about serving someone for no reason, but that you love them and want to make their life easier and happier. Christ's entire life was spent this way, in service. Though of course I can hardly compare the service I render to that of Christ's, I know that we become more like him as we practice his teachings. The interesting thing about taking time to serve someone else is suddenly I found other people serving me. It is such a beautiful chain reaction to see people taking care of people...on every end. I am certainly blessed to be surrounded by people so willing to serve and emulate Christ.

Tonight as I read in the Gospel of John, I was once again reminded of how Christ served and blessed those around him. I hope that I can always remember him and remember his example, that I might reach out to those I don't even know and continue to find ways to serve. I also must remember to be grateful to those who touch my life through service, each and every day.

Prophets and Apostles

It is so amazing to know that so many things found in the New Testament can be found today, if only you know where to look. I know that we have a prophet of God once again on the earth and that he is the Lord's mouthpiece. In my Living Prophets class we've started studying the biographies and recent conference addresses of the current First Presidency and Quorum of the 12 Apostles. I truly believe that the current 12 apostles have the same power and authority as did the apostles in the New Testament. It's a neat thing to read about ancient prophets and apostles in the New Testament, while also studying the living prophets and apostles on the earth today. As I learn more about them my love and appreciation for them grows. Of course, they are mortal men, with faults and weaknesses just like the rest of us, but I also know that they are men of God. I know that I can learn and draw closer to God from listening to their current day messages, as I can reading the scriptures. With General Conference approaching, I hope I can value the opportunity I have to listen to these leaders as I would if I could listen to Matthew or Peter. I know that part of valuing this opportunity is being prepared...being prepared to receive inspiration and answers, as well as being physically prepared to stay awake and pay attention! I'm so excited for this semi-annual feast upon things of the Spirit.

The temple

I recently had the opportunity to go through the Draper Temple during their open house. A temple open house is a period of time before it is dedicated when tours are given and everyone is invited to go walk through. After it is dedicated, only worthy members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with a current temple recommend are allowed inside. It is a priceless opportunity to see the magnificent rooms and feel the peace within the walls of the temple. When I went, it was a particularly special opportunity because my grandparents were with me. My grandma works in another temple, but my grandpa has never been inside.

The more I learn and understand about ancient Judaism and scriptural history, the more sacred and precious the temple seems. Temples are not a new thing, but it is certainly a blessing to have so many, so close by. It is obvious that temples are sacred. They are a special place where we can go to learn and feel peace and draw closer to God. Many people have dedicated their lives to working in temples, protecting them, and studying them. I feel a kinship with people of many different faiths and particularly those that lived in days gone by, for the common bond we feel towards temples of the Lord. I know I am not alone in loving the temple and looking forward to the day when I can go inside often to partake of the blessings received there. I hope I can strive each day to never take the temple for granted, especially while I live so close to so many.

How beautiful is the atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ! I know I cannot fully comprehend the magnitude of the atonement, but my appreciation for it grows every day. A couple days ago had a migraine, the worst I think I've ever had. I don't even remember the last time I was in that much pain. I knew that I just needed to sleep so that I could work past it, but it hurt so badly I didn't think I could fall asleep. And it didn't help that my pillow felt like concrete!

I asked a good friend if he would give me a blessing, a blessing meant for healing or comforting the sick. I hoped that this blessing would bring me comfort and help me to sleep. In the blessing he gave me, he reminded me of the atonement. He reminded me that the atonement is not only meant for the repentance of sin, but also for our comfort in times of trial and pain. He reminded me that Jesus Christ had felt this pain for me in the Garden of Gethsemane. This blessing did bring me comfort, though not immediate relief from the pain I was feeling.

As I lay down to try to sleep, with tears streaming down my cheeks, I pondered the atonement and the words of the blessing given to me. As I recognized how much I hurt, it took on a new depth and meaning to know that I was not alone. There is one who could perfectly comprehend what I was feeling because he had felt is before. And he felt my pain not because he had to, but because he loves me and wanted to be able to succor me in times of need. I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and for the knowledge I have of the atonement. I am also grateful for the opportunity to study the New Testament in class and learn more about the life of Jesus here on earth.

In class last Thursday we had a discussion that touched my heart. It centered around Mark 15 and the interaction between Jesus and Pilate. In verse 5 and 44 the word "marvelled" is used to describe Pilate's reaction. As was mentioned in class- Pilate had never met anyone like Jesus before. Two stories were also related in class concerning heroic, selfless acts of others in our own day and time. And it was stated "These are people we don't meet everyday. We don't understand their actions. This is Jesus in front of Pilate." We marvel, because we don't understand... That thought- of these extraordinary people- brought tears to my eyes. I know people who live a Christ-like life, because they have touched me personally. Their example causes me to marvel and desire to be more like them and more like our Savior.

How blessed we are to live in a world that in the midst of so much evil, still contains so much light and good. Across ages, cultures, races, religions, etc. there are people out there who still surprise us. They surprise us with their good, their charity, their selflessness. It brings me great peace to dwell on those who choose the right with no thought to themselves, merely living their life, choosing good and service over evil and selfishness.

Sunday night I had the opportunity to attend a concert at the Tabernacle on Temple Square. It was an Interfaith Music Tribute with the theme: "Many Faiths: One Family." This event brought together people from many different countries, cultures, and religions. There was a Jewish children's choir, Native American dancers, a Muslim children's choir, Presbyterian Pipe Band playing the bagpipes, a Catholic and Baptist adult choir, a Buddhist children's choir, an LDS children's choir, Hindu dancers, and more. It was incredibly beautiful, particularly the voices of the children who sang about their common faith in God. Particularly touching was when the Muslim and Jewish children's choirs sang together of peace and friendship and common ancestry.

This event is one that I imagine many people would marvel over. But this is what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is all about. Recognizing that we are all children of God and He loves each of us regardless of race or religion. I believe that recognizing this- our nature as children of God- is central to loving as did Jesus Christ and having the charity and selflessness He possesses. These extraordinary people found all around us love and serve others. They surprise us with their ability to sacrifice for others and serve those they do not know. The New Testament is full of the teachings and example of Jesus in regards to these qualities. It is my humble hope that I may try to live in such a way that I add to the goodness and light in the world and in the lives of those around me.