Family History: Are You Doing It?

You know that song in primary:

"Fam'ly history - I am doing it,
My fam'ly history.
And the love I feel when I'm doing it
Is very sweet to me.
I learn stories of my progenitors;
I write their history.
I keep records of my loved ones
On my own fam'ly tree.

"Fam'ly living now and the ones who've died
Can all be sealed to me,
And someday I'll meet ev'ry one of them,
I'm sure as I can be.
Oh what joy we'll have when they say to me,
'We're all a family.
I am yours and you are mine now,
Through all eternity.'"

(Children's Songbook, "Family History - I am Doing it")

Since my primary days I have been encouraged to participate in family history and yet I haven't.  Family history was the work my grandparents did and now my aunts and uncles do.  It is something that I considered doing later in life.  Luckily I had a wake up call a year ago when I realized my days at Brigham Young University were numbered and I had better take advantage of the opportunity to learn about family history from a professional.  I signed up for a family history/genealogy class and enjoyed every minute of it.  My goal: to find a family member to take to the temple.  The result: nothing.  I spent hours doing research and going to family history libraries including the largest one in Salt Lake City but I was stumped.  I realized this was going to take a lot of work and decided it was something that would have to wait until I graduated and had more time on my hands.  Then came my wake up call number two.

I had gone home for a visit this summer and was sitting in Young Women's with my mother and listening to the lesson.  It was on family history.  We were shown a video that showed the #TempleChallenge issued by Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorom of the Twelve.  I thought back to the last few conferences and the talks that have been all about the need for the younger generation to be involved in the work.  I kept thinking that family history must be simpler than what I had been trained to do in my class at BYU.  A few days later my cousin and his family came to visit and we attended the Calgary, Alberta temple.  Afterward we were back at home and their son started talking about a new website called Puzilla that links to familysearch.org and how it has provided him with lots of work to do.  Since we are related I thought there might be a chance there would be work for me to do after all.

I returned back to Utah and was talking with my roommate one day when she told me she thought I should be doing family history.  I immediately started laughing and she got a little upset and said she was serious. I explained that I was laughing because it had been a recurring theme for some time now.  Anyway, this time I was serious and decided I better give it another try.  The result: I found names to take to the temple!

Today for the first time ever I took the name of someone I found to the temple.  I feel so much gratitude for this opportunity and for the opportunity to do more.  I felt a difference in myself as I sat in the temple and performed the work.  I felt a greater kinship for those who passed on and an excitement to do more and to share my experience.

The leaders of the church have been encouraging us to do our part.  Here is what they have to say:

"But what about you? Have you prayed about your own ancestors’ work? Set aside those things that don’t really matter in your life. Decide to do something that will have eternal consequences. Perhaps you have been prompted to look for ancestors but feel that you are not a genealogist. Can you see that you don’t have to be anymore? It all begins with love and a sincere desire to help those who can’t help themselves.

This is a spiritual work, a monumental effort of cooperation on both sides of the veil where help is given in both directions. It begins with love. Anywhere you are in the world, with prayer, faith, determination, diligence, and some sacrifice, you can make a powerful contribution. Begin now. I promise you that the Lord will help you find a way. And it will make you feel wonderful." - Elder Richard G. Scott, October 1990 General Conference, "Redemption the Harvest of Love"

"As you respond in faith to this invitation, your hearts shall turn to the fathers. The promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be implanted in your hearts. Your patriarchal blessing, with its declaration of lineage, will link you to these fathers and be more meaningful to you. Your love and gratitude for your ancestors will increase. Your testimony of and conversion to the Savior will become deep and abiding. And I promise you will be protected against the intensifying influence of the adversary. As you participate in and love this holy work, you will be safeguarded in your youth and throughout your lives." - Elder David A. Bednar, October 2011 General Conference, "The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn"

I know there are blessings in store for us and for our kindred dead as we do our part in participating in family history.  It isn't as difficult as I once thought and there are names for everyone to find.  Give it a try and you may be surprised at what you find!

Helpful websites:

familysearch.org

ancestry.com

puzzilla.org
kinpoint.com

Lessons From My Father

Father's Day.  The day we all stop and recognize the fathers in our lives; their qualities, sacrifices, and characteristics.  While I would like to acknowledge my father on this day I want to share lessons my father taught me that I have remembered every day of my life.  I try to live by these precious teachings and in so doing, try to honor him every day of the year.

Learn to Work.
My father grew up on a farm in southern Alberta where he learned the value of work.  When I was very young, he gave up farming and turned it in for engineering.  The change in career also brought a change in environment.  My dad was very determined that his children would learn to work.  He always looked for projects and volunteered my brothers and I do service projects, perform music, and anything else that would help others.  Most importantly he taught us to work in the home and be of help to our mother.  There were times when my father focused the projects on working with my brothers but one particular time, my dad and I worked alone.  We decided to tear out the grass in our front yard and lay brick that would allow our RV trailer to be parked next to the house.  While this was initially thought to be a simple project it became complicated by the fact that our beautiful tree in the front yard had grown roots everywhere and they had to be removed.  We spent hours working side by side in the summer heat, digging roots and laying bricks.  There were frustrations and laughter and together we finished the job.  My dad has a couple sayings he always uses in regards to working: "A job isn't done 'til it's done." and "A job worth doing is worth doing well."

Learn to be Honest.
This lesson was not a fun one to learn.  When I was around 7 or 8 my dad caught me telling a lie.  He took me to my room and talked to me.  He explained that he felt he could no longer trust me because I had lied and that I needed to be honest.  I remember feeling his love and sadness and was determined I would never lie again or do anything to disappoint him.  There were several times when my parents both demonstrated to me their commitment to being honest in all their dealings and interactions.

Learn to Serve.
Being musical has is a great blessing but there was a time when I felt it was more of a burden. One instrument I play is the piano which means that at every fireside, church event, and some stake youth events I was asked to play the piano.  I also was a part of every choir and lots of musical numbers.  I remember getting ready to go to one fireside and being so frustrated that once again I would be playing piano.  I complained to my mom that just for once I wanted to go to an event and be able to be a normal person and sit back and just enjoy.  She looked at me and told me to think about my father.  She asked if I ever considered there were times he felt the same way.  She told me he never complains and neither should I.  I never complained again.

I would define my dad's life as a life of service.  I have seen him serve in the home in caring for the maintenance of our home and doing things for my mom.  I saw him serve in callings in the church.  He would go to work early in the morning and get home after a long day and take a power nap, eat dinner, and head out to the church to fulfill his callings.  The only time he had to himself was for a few hours on Saturdays.  I never heard him complain or seek for acknowledgement.

Learn to Love.
My father has taught me how to love in the way he has treated my mother, my siblings and myself.  He also shows his love to other people in how he serves them and truly cares for them.  I have seen on multiple occasions a person give him a huge hug and thank him for what he has done for them.  My father sees people for who they are and loves them as they are.

Learn to Laugh.
When I think of my father I think of his smile and his laugh.  My dad loves to laugh and have a good time.  He has a very fun side about him.  He loves to dance when the mood takes him and let's just say, it is the best and most entertaining type of dancing possible.  I love the moments when he laughs so hard he has tears streaming down his face.  There was one time he had to leave the dinner table to calm down.  He always knows when to be serious and when to have fun.  Another favorite memory was when my dad and I were trying to make something happen for someone else.  We were anxious to learn the results of our assistance so we went for a drive and spied on the person.  When we realized we had been successful we gave each other big high-fives and smiles and were so happy.

My father is one of my greatest friend.  He is one of the few that when I am having a hard time, as soon as I hear his voice or get an e-mail from him I get emotional.  I am so grateful I get to be his daughter and will always try to live in a way that he will be proud of me.  Happy Father's Day Dad!

I want the priesthood....

At General Conference last week I had the chance to go up to Salt Lake and watch the Saturday afternoon session in the Tabernacle on Temple Square.  After the session my friends and I walked around the square.  I noticed a line starting to form for stand-by seating for the Priesthood Session of General Conference to take place in two hours.  I smiled as I saw fathers and sons dressed in suits and ties standing there with excited smiles on their faces.  We walked into one of the visitor centers and when we came out, there was a dramatic change in the line.  For one, the line was now extremely long and wrapped around the square.  However, the biggest change was there were now women in line.  Mothers, wives, and daughters all smiling and taking pictures, wearing pants or wearing purple.  I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach.  I suddenly became very self conscious and made a point to not be seen going the direction of the Conference Center.

I don't understand the needs or the mindset of the women seeking entrance to the Priesthood Session but I don't discredit their feelings.  I understand that they feel less valued because they personally do not hold the priesthood.  As a missionary I talked with many women in and out of the church who felt the same way.  The biggest thing I feel for these women is sorrow.  Sorrow that they don't understand the plan of Heavenly Father or their own unique role in the plan.

Here are some quotes I take great comfort in when it comes to this concern:

"In the eyes of God, whether in the Church or in the family, women and men are equal, with different responsibilities." - Elder Dallin H. Oaks

“Our Church doctrine places women equal to and yet different from men. God does not regard either gender as better or more important than the other." - Elder M. Russell Ballard

“[An] area of concern comes from those who, in the name of equality, want to erase all differences between the masculine and the feminine. Often this takes the form of pushing women to adopt more masculine traits—be more aggressive, tough, and confrontational.  In blurring feminine and masculine differences, we lose the distinct, complementary gifts of women and men that together produce a greater whole.” - Elder D. Todd Christfferson

“The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity.” - Margaret D. Nadauld, from Young Women general president

I am a woman.  I am a daughter of God.  I want the priesthood but not in the way you may think:

• I want the priesthood to come into my home as worthy home teachers to provide counsel and support. 
• I want the priesthood in my home to provide priesthood blessings to my roommates and I. 
• I want the priesthood in the form of bishops and stake presidents who counsel and guide me and help me repent. 
• I want the priesthood to be in the form a worthy man who loves me and takes me to the temple where the priesthood will bless our marriage to be eternal.  
• I want the priesthood in my home to bless my children individually after they are born and to give them a name and a blessing.  
• I want the priesthood in my home to lead in family prayer, scripture study, and family home evening.
• I want the priesthood in my home to take each of my children into the water and baptize and confirm them when they are of age and have decided to follow our Savior, Jesus Christ.
• I want the priesthood to bless my life through the actions of the deacons, teachers, and priests preparing, blessing, and passing the sacrament.
• I want the priesthood to counsel, lead, and preside in my home.
• I want the priesthood in my home and in my life because I want the power of God to bless my life.

Just because I personally do not hold the priesthood does not mean I am of less worth than any man.  It also doesn't mean that I don't have the same access to it as any man.  I know our Father in Heaven loves all His children.  Men and women have distinct roles and purposes to fulfill and we need each other.  It is important for each of us to understand the priesthood and the role it plays in our lives and then to act in our given capacities.  The Lord loves us, even and especially his daughters.

General Conference Weekend

I'm super excited for this weekend because it is General Conference Weekend!  Do you realize how lucky we are?  There is a living prophet on the earth and twelve apostles who are preparing to speak to us.  Thanks to the marvels of technology you can watch and listen on-line to what they say.  Check it out!

Grandparents.... Gotta love them!

This semester I am taking a class on aging.  Not the most exciting topic, but hey, it happens to us all so I should be prepared, right?  Anyway, our recent lecture talked about a study my professor had done that showed that children are nicer who associate with grandparents.  BYU made this cute and funny video about advice BYU students received from their grandparents.  What is some advice your grandparents gave you?

General Women's Meeting... History in the Making!

I am super excited because General Conference is just around the corner!  To start it all off, for the first time in the history of the Church a General Women's Meeting is being held for all women age 8 and older.  In the past the young women (age 12-18) and women (age 18 and up) used to have separate meetings once a year.  I am even more excited because I was given tickets to go to this meeting.  I am anticipating the messages that will be shared and the good experience it will be!  Join me by watching the broadcast at lds.org.

Mormon Ad... Do you remember?

Remember these?  I love that the Church uses these as attention getting ways to motivate and teach youth to make right decisions in their lives.  More than once I have sat in a Sunday School lesson and heard a reference to a MormonAd.  They provide a mental image that people do not forget and can recall later on. So great!  Which is your favorite MormonAd?

Let it Go - Full Disney Cast

I just found this video that put a smile on my face.  It is one man who has the talent of being able to mimic every Disney character's voice.  It put on my smile on my face.  Hope it does the same for you!

Accepting Myself: My Battle With Body Image

I am going to share something very personal with you.  I feel the need to share my experiences in order to bring awareness to the plague that is sweeping the world and hopefully to offer hope to those who are suffering from its effects.

What is the plague?  It is the world's ideal of how each individual should look; both men and women.

As my mother once told me, I was never a size 8 or 10 but jumped to a size 12.  If that doesn't make sense to anyone it simply means, I was never very skinny.  I remember in grade 6 sitting at lunch and all my friends discussing what their weight was.  I told them my weight and remember thinking, what does it matter?  I was confident about who I was.  As I got into High School I learned to be more self conscious.

One day, I returned home from hanging out with a friend.  We had splurged and each bought our own quart of ice cream.  I was sitting in the kitchen eating some ice cream when my father made the comment, "A moment on the lips, forever on the hips."  I tried to brush off his comment but obviously it was ingrained in my memory.  As I have already mentioned I grew up with all brothers and I tried to eat along with them.  I often heard comments that I shouldn't eat like a boy.  I wondered why my brothers were never told to eat less or no ice cream.

I remember the instance it all started.  My dad was looking at a picture of me taken from Halloween.  I was in the parking lot of the church and the ward trunk-or-treat was going on.  I was really good friends to a younger girl in the ward who was a size 0.  In the picture I had picked her up and we were laughing.  When my dad looked at the picture, he mentioned that I looked heavier than he thought.  Now that I am looking back on the experience, of course I would look big next to a girl who was only 11 and a size 0 and I was 16 and a size 12.  I was humiliated when I heard this and from then on began to be highly self-conscious of my weight and size.  I talked to my mom and she said she would work with me.  We would both try to lose weight.  We tried Weight Watchers, rode bikes all summer, swam a different summer, and just tried to eat healthier.  Nothing helped.  I started to experience depression.  I wore hoodies everywhere for fear that someone would think my stomach looked fat.  Eventually I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism which explained why I could not lose weight and attributed to my size.  I started to accept that I would always be bigger.  I lost confidence in social situations and as I started college, I found myself living in my bedroom.

Later on, I decided and felt prompted that I needed to serve a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I was excited and nervous but also remember hoping that when my assignment came I could go somewhere that I would get a parasite and lose and ton of weight or somewhere that I would starve and come home skinny.  I wanted the mission to solve my weight and body image problem.  I also wanted to serve for all the other good reasons too.  When my mission call came, I was shocked to see I was called to serve in Raleigh, North Carolina.  My sister-in-law was familiar with the area and started telling me all the wonderful things about North Carolina.  The first thought that came to my mind was, "Oh no!  I am going to come home even fatter!"

As I prepared to enter the Missionary Training Center, I met with my Stake President and was set apart as a full time missionary.  All I wanted the blessing to say was I was going to be skinny some day.  At the end of the blessing it stated there was a desire of my heart that would be granted to me as I served honorably.  I immediately thought, okay I AM coming home skinny.

My mission started out great but I was so self-conscious and worried about my weight.  I especially became distraught when I discovered I had put on weight and not lost weight.  I was transferred to my second area and later was assigned with my third companion.  A doctor came to one of our zone conferences and met with me personally.  He said I was very pretty but was hiding it and needed to lose weight so my beauty could show.  He gave me a diet and exercise plan and began calling me daily and then weekly for updates.  My companions from then on were all trying the diet plan as well.  It consisted of cutting out calories each day and running stairs for 30 minutes a day.  As I talked with the doctor he pushed me to lose a minimum of 2 pounds a week.  He counseled me to eat less and less calories.  I got to the point that I was eating less than 1000 calories a day!  I have since learned that is less than half of what a normal person should eat!  I was on the scale twice a day and obsessed with losing weight.  My prize would be returning home and having my parents be proud of my

size.  Luckily, I reached a point where I felt this was stupid.  The doctor wanted me down to 120 pounds and I began to realize he was going to kill me to get there.  I also felt the obsession was not a part of why I was a missionary.  I stopped responding and reporting to the doctor and stopped counting calories.  I began to happier.  I never came close to his goal for me but I had already lost a significant amount of weight.  I didn't become the size I dreamed I could/should be but I accepted myself 100% and learned that my Father in Heaven loved me no matter what.  I could be happy with whatever size I was and I was done battling for a skinnier tomorrow.

When I returned home I remember receiving so many compliments about my size, but I didn't care.  I had reached a point on my mission where I came to discover my own self worth and it wasn't dictated by my looks.  I felt healthy and physically active and in control of my life.  I was approached by many people who asked what my secret was for losing the weight and how I came to be so self-confident.  I simply told them to eat healthy, exercise, and accept yourself.

Now I still have days when I look in the mirror and think I look chubby and should lose weight.  But those days are not so common.  I am more focused on living a healthy life and being the best me.  There is more to me than being thin.  I am beautiful the way I am.  I have personality and I am fun to be around.  I am talented and I have much to offer the world.

I should add that I do have such an amazing support network.  I do believe my parents always have the best intentions for me.  Looking back, I see two loving parents who were concerned for a daughter who was always heavier and trying to figure out how to help her.  I love them even more for that!

Here is my advice to all of us as we battle the plague:

1. Accept Yourself as you are
2. Accept Others as they are
3. NEVER suggest what size someone should be 
4. LOVE

Come Unto Christ

This week was Stake Conference and the theme was "Come Unto Christ" from Moroni 10:32.  As part of the conference we were shown the youth theme video for this year.  Music and a visual message have such a power to change lives.  I feel the video is relates to everyone.

The conference was a good reminder of things we should all be doing to become better in our lives.  I love how in a world full of wars, disease, disasters there is hope through the One.

Love in Family

Bullying - Is it in you?

Today Mormon Channel came out with a new film to combat the increasing pattern of bullying:  

Bullying rates are increasing in the world and in recent research is identified as more than physically hurting someone.  The official definition of bullying: is actions with the intent to hurt or harm.  I was a bully victim throughout school and let me tell you, it wasn't easy.  I was made fun of by older boys for the simple fact I wore glasses.  At one point in high school, I lost every friend and didn't want to go back.  It wasn't something I was never comfortable admitting to anyone and still isn't easy to talk about.  What got me through it was parents who listened and older brother who became my best friend.

I believe bullying happens more often than we think.  Talking about it helps and watching videos helps but recognizing it in ourselves is difficult.  Have you talked badly about someone lately?  Have you done something to someone to put them down in order to protect your pride and ego?  It is easier to identify in others then to see it in ourselves.  There is a cure. Marion G. Romney an apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said the following:

“That man is a child of God is the most important knowledge available to mortals. Such knowledge is beyond the ken of the uninspired mind. Neither logic, science, philosophy, nor any other field of worldly learning has ever been, or ever will be, able to find it out… If men understood, believed, and accepted this truth and lived by it, our sick and dying society would be reformed and redeemed, and men would have peace here and now and eternal joy in the hereafter.”

Let's each of us be the difference in the world.  See the bully in yourself and STOP IT.  

My Favorite Book

This weekend the weather was so nice and that means I get the itch to do Spring Cleaning!  It literally is one of my favorite things to do.  I didn't get far but I did realize I have a lot of books!  Lots of text books, kids books, motivational books, and books for entertainment.  As I went through my books I thought about the last time I read each one: days, weeks, moths, or years.  I find being a college student makes it challenging to have time for extra reading.  There is one book, however, that I will always read every day of my life and it is my favorite:.

The Book of Mormon

This book has changed my life and brought me more help and motivation and peace in my life than anything else.  Here is a video of one of the Twelve Apostles of the Savior Jesus Christ.  He gives a great introduction to this marvelous book and why it is important for us in our day:

I have read the book many times and intend to continue to read it.  I have the simple power contained in the book and now it speaks truth.  It is a true book containing scripture that provide direction for our lives. Click here for a free copy of this book.

I Dared!

I have mentioned in a previous blog a lot of my thoughts about media especially social media.  I find it rather amusing that I posted that blog in November, and then this semester I am taking a class that looks at the impact all media has on the development of the human and the family.  As you can probably tell, I have been posting a lot about the media since January all due to this class.

This last week I took my media dare again and cut out all social media. What did I learn from it?  I learned I have more time to do things than I thought. I also learned how to be genuine with people instead of knowing their life from things they have posted.  Since I did the dare I haven't wanted to go back and don't really plan to.  Did you take the dare?...or will you?

Olympic Dreamin'

Do you have dreams?  As a little girl, the Olympic Games embodied dreams fulfilled.  I loved watching the athletes struggle and accomplish their dream.  Some fall short of the gold but yet come back four years later to try again.  I will never forget the 1996 Olympics where Kerri Strug gave her all to ensure Olympic gold in the gymnastics team competition breaking her ankle in the process.  Everyone has a dream.  Even Mr. Bean... 

For Moms Who Pick Us Up

It is now one of my favorite times that only comes around every two years.  Nope, not leap year because that is every four years.  It's the Olympic Games!  In the last few Olympics amazing messages have been coming out about mothers.  They are uplifting and show who is the truth force behind the athlete.

Now my family isn't not any great athletes, although my brothers have always done pretty well.  As mentioned in previous posts, my family is more into music.  On the piano, there is a paining of a boy sadly practicing the piano.  His left arm is resting on the piano and his head is leaned against.  With his right hand, he practices with only one finger.  The caption on the painting reads, "Keep practicing.  One day you will thank her."  

Moms everywhere should be thanked for their persistence in helping their children achieve their potential.  And so to my mom I say, "Thank You!"

Mormon.org

I have been thinking about how my church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have tried to involve the media in spreading the gospel.  Their campaign "I'm a Mormon" came was started a  few years ago.  Since then they have developed a website, pass-along cards, and a YouTube channel.  The idea is to show the world the diversity of the church.  The videos and website shows real people with real lives who are Mormon.  Members of the church are encouraged to create their own accounts on the website.  To the right of this post, I have included a link to my mormon.org profile (the orange "I'm a Mormon" button).  Ultimately the purpose is to bring others unto Christ and share the message of the restored gospel.

"And now I say unto you that the time shall come that the salvation of the Lord shall be declared to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people." - Mosiah 15:28

Doritos and the Super Bowl

To start off, two questions:

• Did you watch the Super Bowl?
• Why did you watch the Super Bowl?

I ask people these two questions every year.  I would say 90% of the time I get the response that people watch the Super Bowl for the commercials.  I personally have never watched this big game of the year, but thanks to YouTube I can watch the commercials I missed.  The truth is, I don't really care to watch them.  Here is one though that Doritos did...

White and the Apocalypse

Do you remember this video?

What was Tide trying to tell us in this advertisement? Is it...

• Betty White is always prepared
• You should get ready for an apocalypse
• Try canning
• Food storage is important
• Don't wear white when canning

Nope I think what Tide is trying to say is...
Stock up on our product!

An Odd Life Indeed

Family friendly films are my favorite!  The film “The Odd Life of Timothy Green” came out in 2012 and tells the story of a couple who are unable to have children of their own.  The night after they receive the news they overcome with emotion.  They start writing down characteristics and talents their “would-be” child would possess and then bury them in a small chest in the front yard.  That night a terrible yet magical storm comes.  They discover the chest they had just buried has been dug up.  They discover instead a young boy named Timothy who calls them Mom and Dad.  They soon realize Timothy possesses all the characteristics and attributes they had recorded for their child.  An additional odd thing about Timothy is the leaves growing on his legs.  I will leave it up to you to watch the movie to learn what happens to the family and what the leaves mean.

The Frozen Craze

Why do people love the new Disney movie Frozen so much?

It could be because of an adorable snowman named Olaf who dreams of experiencing summer...

Or maybe it's because of the music...

For some it may be relating to the relationship of the sisters...

And maybe just maybe it is the love story...

Whatever the reasons, there is no doubt this movie has hit the big times in only a short amount of time.  If you haven't seen it I recommend you do.  The story does not follow the typical Disney pattern of boy meets girl, fall in love, go through hardship, and end in marriage.  The focus of the story actually centers on the relationship of the sisters and how the ultimate tool for saving them and their kingdom is there love for each other.  It is refreshing to have a new fairy tale story that has never been told.  I would give this movie a big thumbs up!

Music's Influence

Music: the science or art of ordering tones or sounds in succession, in combination, and in temporal relationships to produce a composition having unity and continuity (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

It is interesting to me to see how different types of media influence people.  Music itself can shape a person’s mood and feelings or build on them.  Have you ever considered how the music you listen to influences you?  When you are having a bad day what do you want to listen to?  When you want to be happy what tune do you turn on?

I feel there is a special connection to our spirits and the world around us.  Our spirits have a sensitivity to the world around us.  This sensitivity can decrease over time when we surround ourselves with filth and evil.  However, when we are in tune we are happier.  I love the truth taught in the below scripture that was given to Emma Smith when she was compiling the first LDS hymn book:

“For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.” – D&C 25:12

When I read this I ask myself whether the music I listen to is “prayer worthy.”  Consider the quote below:

“Through music, man’s ability to express himself extends beyond the limits of the spoken language in both subtlety and power. Music can be used to exalt and inspire or to carry messages of degradation and destruction. It is therefore important that as Latter-day Saints we at all times apply the principles of the gospel and seek the guidance of the Spirit in selecting the music with which we surround ourselves.” (Priesthood Bulletin, August, 1973.)

Music can and does influence us.  Bad music can be found easily but so can good music.  Recently I discovered a Christian artist, Kari Jobe.  I love her song “What Love is This” that you can listen to here.

My challenge to you is to take a day and pay close attention to the music you listen to and how much you listen to.  In the car, headphones, at home, at work.  You may be surprised at what you find.

Good Things Will Come

Since my return from the holidays I have been sick and I mean sick!  There has been H1N1 outbreaks and I tend to think I caught it.  Needless to say it has not been fun.  There were days I couldn't hardly get out of bed and definitely couldn't walk straight.  Luckily I have made a relatively quick recovery and I owe it all to a priesthood blessing, prayers, and medicine.

Each of us go through hard times.  While in the trial it can feel as if life will always be hard.  I have come to know that there is someone who is there to help us through the hard times.  Our Savior Jesus Christ can be our true comfort as he is the only one who has suffered it all for us (Alma 7:11-12).

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland spoke on a time in his life when things became overwhelming.  Looking back now he sees that things can and will always get better.  I am also grateful the Church has such an awesome media department and put together this great video clip that illustrates his talk.

"Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom." - George S. Patton

Despicable Me and Family Values

Recently I watched the new movie Despicable Me 2.  The first movie came out when I was serving my mission, and to be honest I could not understand the sudden obsession with all things "minions."  Eventually, I did watch the movie and was hooked.  With the making of a second movie I was interested to see if it was any good as sequels always tend to bomb.  However, before I even saw the movie I noticed a new billboard near my apartment:


The second movie shows Gru taking on the role of being a dad to the three, sweet girls he adopted in the first movie.  He throws a princess birthday party and even dresses up as a fairy princess.  As the story progresses, Gru realizes his daughters are lacking a mother in their lives and by the end of the movie (spoiler alert!) he marries.  I like how the movie portrays traditional family values of a mother-father home.  It shows the soft side of a man who is overly protective of his daughters and panics at the first mention of the word "date."  It is always nice when popular media teaches good values.