NT. #12

Easter time is such a wonderful time. I have been able to feel the love of my Savior so strongly in the past few days. And in part, this is due to Easter.
My bishop (www.mormon.org) asked the fireside committee, of which I am a part, to put together a musical Easter fireside, on Easter. That means that instead of one speaker, he wanted several musical numbers done by talents in our ward. As we got together to discuss what we wanted to do, we realized how hard this would be.
Everybody goes home for Easter.
Everybody who is not going home is stressed out of their mind.
We decided to go by faith and started praying about who to ask to perform, and what musical numbers we wanted done.
The Lord answers prayers. People just came out of the woodwork, so willing to serve, so willing to help. As I checked on certain groups to see how their musical number was coming together, I was overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude and love for the gospel.
This work will go forth boldly, nobly and independent. And it will be because of the willingness of the Lord's servants. I am so grateful for the people who love the Lord and the gospel so much that they would be willing to sacrifice Easter dinner just to show up. Who would take time out of their busy schedule (for what college student indeed is not busy right now?) to prepare a musical number?
I am so grateful for this Easter season when I get to remember our Savior and the love He taught. The love that carries on in the heart of His servants.

Am. Gov. #12

I attended the last club meeting of "Free the Slaves" (apparently not associated with the NGO, they just happen to share the same name). A guy in my Government class is the president of the club and invited all of us to attend. It was eye-opening for sure. I knew that there were still slaves in the world, I just never knew any solid statistics on it.
I learned that a slave is anyone who gives forced labor for free under threat of violence, and cannot get out of the bondage.
27 million people are in slavery. That's the conservative estimate.
The meeting was very well put together, informative, efficient, and hopeful. Even though slavery still is a problem in the world today, I feel like there is something I can do, and it's not a hopeless problem.
I feel like this is an important issue that should be brought to everyone's attention. I know it is important to my father, a man whom I respect very much. He was one of my teachers at my high school. I remember one day he got up in front of the class and he spoke very strongly against the slavery that still exists today. The class full of immature high school kids grew solemn as he told us how disgusted he was that a ring of prostitution traffickers had been discovered in San Francisco, but the news had been pushed to the back pages because Tom Cruise decided to jump up on a couch. Because it was not front page news, this modern day slavery issue was withheld from the public's notice once again. My father told us that this should just not happen; human suffering should never be ignored.
Maybe I am simply feeling the residue from this impassioned lecture from a loving father, but I feel that the awareness of this issue needs to grow. People need to know that human beings are being forced against their will, to do things they will never see the benefit of.
Awareness.
Action.
Awareness.
Action.
If you care about any of your fellow human beings, please go to one of these sites and learn more:

www.PolarisProject.org

www.freetheslaves.net

www.love146.org

www.EndHumanTrafficking.org

www.NotForSaleCampaign.org

NT #11

Besides my birthday, which I always take 1/4 of the year to celebrate, my favorite day of the year is April Fool's day.
I love pranks. Methylene blue, toilet papering, dixie-cupping, newspapering... it's all fun. I do have some firm beliefs like pranks should be easy clean-up, not malicious, and not vandalistic. I also think that pranks should be planned, and should never be off-the-cuff, spur-of-the-moment ordeals. Pranks done in haste often end in tears.
I thought yesterday would be a great day in my prank history. I was wrong. I did not pull a single prank. Oh I thought of a few, I plotted a little inside my head. But I did not execute a single one. And it's the weirdest thing: I do not regret it at all.
As I heard other people tell me of their crazy adventures involving everything from whipped cream to smashed eggs, from tears to dislocated shoulders, I sat and listened, smiled a little at the more clever ones...
and then I was done. I had no regrets. I did not have to worry about any clean-up (emotional or physical) or any retaliation.
And it felt kind of good.
I read the assigned scriptures for my religion class this morning on the Last Supper. I thought about it, and this is kind of a weird thought, but I thought "I wonder how Christ feels about pranks."
For some reason I can not imagine Christ short-sheeting a bed and later yelling, "you got punk'd!" (which is not a very sportsmanlike way to engage in a prank war anyway).
I just can not see Him having fun at someone elses expense.
Am I condemning pranks? No, not at all. I can't even guarantee that I will never pull another prank again.
All I am saying is that I did not pull any pranks yesterday, and I feel pretty good about it.

AM. Gov. #11

We watched the movie "Amazing Grace" in my American Government and Societies class last week. Such a good movie. William Wilberforce, the main character, endeavored so hard to complete what he felt like he was called to do.
Our world has seen hard times. Our heritage is besmirched with bleak stains that come in the form of crusades, imperialism, ethnic cleansing. It seems that over and over again, people make the same mistakes over and over and over and over, and it seems that history is to be a repetition of darkness.
And then out of the bleak recesses of history books shines a light. A Gandhi, a Martin Luther King Jr., a William Wilberforce, a Schindler...
And the light shines brighter against the darkness.
Some people are set in the worst of times, and they do so much good; they bring about so much change almost single-handedly.
And sometimes I wonder if I could be such an instrument for change. Could I devote my entire life to a cause? Can I stand for something, even if I'm standing alone at first? And help others catch the vision? Would I be able to die for something?
I just don't know...

Am. Gov. #10

My American Government and Societies also attended the Art Museum this week. I was very surprised that we took the tour of the religious section; I suppose I just assumed we would be going through the American Dreams (my second favorite part of the Museum, after the religious section). I am by no means an art critic, nor do I have any qualifications to be one. However I know how art makes me, as and individual, feel. Anyone can look at art in that way.
Anyway, I love the painting of the Savior at the pool of Bethesda. My favorite part of that painting is the man sitting next to the pillar, looking on slightly. I have always imagined that he is eavesdropping, but trying hard not to look like he is. In my mind he is wondering who the Savior is, and also, "will He come see me next?" Hoping without daring to hope that the Savior's next stop will be to him.
To me it is almost a call. Maybe the man was "overlooked" by the Savior, and it is our mission to go be instruments in the hands of the Lord in finding and helping those that the Savior did not get to. It makes me feel like I need to go find those people, sitting by the pool at Bethesda wondering, "Will He come see me next?"
I'm certainly not the Savior, but I can be His servant and do His work.

NT #10

I went to the Museum of Art for my New Testament class. I must confess that the BYU art museum is one of my favorite places on campus. It's the first building I remember seeing. My brother Richard went to BYU when I was eleven, and my family came to Utah to drop him off at college. The only thing I remember about the trip is touring the art museum with my dad. At the time, the Dead Sea Scroll exhibit was showing. I had no idea what they were, and man oh man, looking back, if I had only known. But although I did not realize the value of the Dead Sea Scrolls, my heart was instilled with a love of the BYU Art museum.
Since coming to BYU, I have visited the art museum several times. I go with friends sometimes "just because" or sometimes I will just go through by myself, rediscovering my favorite pictures.
One of my favorite things to do is to sit and memorize the large painting of Christ at the pool of Bethesda. I just like sitting and looking at it.
So it was a real treat for me to go on my first official tour and have the guide talk about it. I am grateful for the effort BYU has made to create a wonderful art museum, and expecially the effort they have taken to create a religious section. The art museum will always be a beloved place in my mind.

NT #9

I've been struggling the last little while to figure out something to blog about this week, and frankly I still am struggling.
So I think I shall go with a little stream of conscience:
I have had the most trouble this semester than ever before in my life to read my scriptures regularly. I'm not really sure why that is, because it is definitely not the most busy I have ever been before. Sometimes I don't know if I would have read if it weren't for my religion class. This might sound a little trite, but I can really tell a difference when I don't read my scriptures. In a way, I'm kind of glad I've had this experience. I used to kind of be jealous of the kids who would get up to bear their testimony and they would say how much they loved seminary, and how their day just doesn't go as well when they don't attend.
I never understood how they could feel the difference.
But I realize now that it's probably not going to kill me to miss reading the scriptures once. But as my scripture reading becomes more hit and miss, I can really tell the difference that a little act can make.
So a few weeks ago I decided to recommit to reading my scriptures. I changed the time I read from right before I go to bed to the mornings on Tuesday and Thursday, or after my 10 o'clock class Monday-Wednesday-Friday.
I do believe this is working for me, and I really have been able to tell a difference.

Am. Gov. #9

We're going to go with a little stream of conscience today:
We watched the Amistad in class last week. It was a really good movie, rather intense in a few parts.
But there was a line in it that kind of caught my attention. Someone said something like, "Martyrdom is the strongest power for change."
I've also been reading a compilation of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s speeches, with commentary from people who knew him. One person said of him, "He always knew that martyrdom was the potential price of challenging America's version of racial separation."
Another quote from Dr. King himself, "If you haven't found something to die for, you aren't fit to live."
So what IS the purpose of martyrdom? Is it necessary to bring about change? Is death really the worst thing that can happen to you? Is it some sort of requirement for something?
Famous martyrs include Joseph Smith, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Abinadi, Christ.
Based on these examples, I'm pretty sure you don't die until your mission is finished. Each of these examples could have been killed before their time actually came, but they all finished what they came to do.
I think I'll study martyrdom a little bit more. I wonder if there is anything I would die for. I'd like to say, "yes, of course," but I wonder if I'd be too scared or something. I think I would die for my religion, but I would feel terribly unjustified and take it up with Heavenly Father later.
Well, anyway, those are my thoughts for this week.

NT #8

I just finished reading Between the Testaments by S. Kent Brown and Richard Neitzel Holzapfel. It discusses the 500 years between Malachi and Matthew, and sets the stage for what the culture was like in the New Testament.
I feel like my understanding of the intertestamental period grew exponentially; probably because I knew absolutely nothing about it before a few months ago.
I understand more about how the Bible came to be, how it was compiled, why it was translated etc. I understand more about the politics of the time period, how Rome got involved in Judea, who the Maccabees were etc.
I think it is so important to understand about history. It leaves you more able to understand human nature, understand people's arguments, and understand motivations for a lot of things people, past and present, do.
I think you understand that people are people, no matter what century or culture they were born into. There is a disposition to do good in all of us, and there is a disposition to do wrong in all of us, in any time period.
Those are my thoughts.

Am. Gov. #8

I've been watching a lot of documentaries lately about other countries where the people have sadnesses. Sadnesses in their lives ranging from genocide to arranged marriages to child abductions to having to drop out of school because their family can't afford it.
These movies make me realize that I have so much to be grateful for. It's very easy to focus on the negative points in America, and the problems we have (And heaven knows we have problems) but today I would like to focus on the good.
I am glad I was born in America because we are a land of opportunity, and a land of change. The two work together very closely; our society changes to offer opportunities to those who have few. Let me explain this.
200 years ago, blacks were sold as slaves. Because of the way our government is set up, blacks gradually were emancipated, given the right to vote etc. 50 years ago, blacks still faced terrible prejudices against them. Because of the way our government and society is set up blacks were able to do non-violent protests and change views of society. In most other societies they would have simply been incarcerated or even executed. Today, we have a black man serving as our president. Is that something great about our country, or what?
Same thing with women. In the beginnings of our country, women did not have suffrage, they did not have opportunities for education, they did not have nearly as many equal opportunities. Look at how much that has changed!
America is an equalizing land! Yes, we have had our prejudices, we have had our periods of racism, and I believe some prejudices still exist today. The system isn't perfect, but it becomes more so all the time as our society becomes more and more accepting of others.
I love our land!

Am. Gov. #7

It seems like, in the Mormon culture at least--I can't rightly say about others-- there is a certain negative connotation about the word justice. But do we really even have an understanding about what that means?

We use the word justice all the time. We demand justice, we offer "justice for all" in our pledge of allegiance, and we say that mercy satisfies the demands of justice.

Obviously, justice can have both negative and positive connotations. In my religion class last semester, we talked extensively about mercy and justice, but I'm not really sure that I understood the class discussions until recently.

Justice, to me, means a fair chance, and a guaranteed consequence. Let me give an example. I remember one time in my high school biology class overhearing a conversation about curfews. One girl was complaining that her mother was SO strict for making her come home at midnight. She moaned about the punishment she received if she was late even five minutes. The other girl kind of shrugged her shoulders and said, "well, at least she cares about you. My mom doesn't even care about where I am at night."

The conversation moved on to other things, but the memory of it stuck with me. Whether they knew it or not, those girls were discussing justice. The first girl had a guaranteed consequence if she came home late. The point of the second girl was, when a mother exacts justice it shows her love for her child.

So to me, there is no negative connotation to the word justice. It shows consistency and it shows love. I just love that our country, although imperfect, endeavors to establish justice for all.

NT #7

I think everyone, at some time in their life, has wanted to go back in time. It is already exciting enough to travel to new places in the present day; imagine what it would be like if you could choose any time. Recently, I've been wondering what it would be like to go back in the time of Herod. I would like to see his amphitheaters, stadiums and other construction projects. I would like to talk to people of the time and ask them their opinions about life, religion and philosophy.
Often when I read about history, I always have questions like, "what was this person thinking when..." Then I wish someone had left a record somewhere to answer those questions.
Today, as I was feeling that wishful twinge, it occurred to me that someone down the road of history will probably wish that they had lived in the early twenty-first century, and wish that someone had left a record of our proceedings and what our thoughts are on life, religion and philosophy. I wonder what people in the future will want to know about our day. I wonder what they will think about us. Which little details will they be most interested in? It's all very enthralling to think about anyway, if nothing else.

Am. Gov. #6

An interesting thing about early American history is that there was a strong attitude of "It's obvious that I, and my people, should have liberty," but then a strong denial of liberty to others who were different. As people of all religions, blacks, and women have gained more and more equality, it has seemed more and more obvious that this is how it should be.
It seems like a lot of the time, if not every time, people engaged in war (from armed conflicts to mere disagreements) will spend a lot of time finding differences between themselves and the enemy. The crusades, the Catholic-Protestant conflicts, even the current war in Iraq all involve people throwing out names and looking for way to be better than others.
What is it in people that makes them look for differences in others and hate them for it? Why do we not see others as they really are: people? Why would people fight for liberty for themselves and then turn around and deny it to others?
I think that if people would be able to stop looking for differences (in religion, in clothing, in culture, etc.) then conflict would happen less, and greater liberty would ensue. There would be more trust, less wars, greater happiness, less fear.
I guess the real question is: how do we, as a country and as a world, arrive at this state of mind? And how can we be an example to others of trust and reconciliation?

NT #6

What is the most important lesson we could learn in life? This is one of the most interesting questions I have ever thought about. The answer is really subject to opinion, as people place importance on a variety of things.
To me, however, I think the most important less you can learn is who you are. It is so important to understand our divine heritage. I think if you can understand where you came from, that you are a child of God, and that you have such glorious potential! I think if this lesson is learned, then all other good teachings will fall into place.
I grew up singing "I am a child of God" and I heard every single primary, Family Home Evening, and Young Woman's lesson on divine heritage. I was told it so much growing up, that I never really thought about it. I merrily skipped along life giving my "primary answers" when asked, and never really wondered what it meant to be a daughter of God, and therefore only comprehended it on a very surface level.
When the identity crisis of adolescence hit, I felt so uprooted and lost. I remember the day I really understood this concept. I was at girls camp, and we had a devotional on "The Royal Within." Suddenly it hit me what everyone had been trying to tell me my entire life: I am a daughter of God. I am royal. Heavenly Father loves me, not just as a painter loves his artwork, but as a father loves his child.
I love this aspect of the gospel, the good news, I love the fact that we are all children of our Heavenly Father.
That is what I think the most important lesson we can learn on life is, anyway.

NT #5

I have rather struggled to think of something to write about this week.
I can think of things that might be interesting to me, but somehow I feel that they would be of little interest to others, or I do not know how to relate my thoughts in an articulate manner.
I have this problem in my classes sometimes. I will think of something to say, but I never know if I will be able to articulate my thoughts, and by the time I have figured out how to saw what I want to, the class discussion has already moved elsewhere. It's not a problem in conversation; you can clarify and ask questions and re-clarify until you understand what the other person is saying. I think it's just in situations where I know I will not be able to re-explain what I have said if the other person does not quite understand.
Thinking along these same lines, I think that is one of the challenges of teaching the gospel. I think there are a lot of feelings which come with learning the gospel. Feelings and words are parts of two very different categories, and trying to explain feelings using words is like sticking a square peg into a round hole.
I am always very impressed with people who can invoke strong feelings in others with mere words. People who can move others to action by speaking to them. Even books that move people to tears or laughter- evidence that they are feeling something. I think the New Testament has this quality. If you study the New Testament, really study it not just skim over the words, then I believe the Holy Ghost can enter your heart and somehow fit the square words into round feelings.

Am. Gov. #5

What brilliance the drafters of our Constitution had! They did the impossible: secured state rights while constructing a strong national government. They produced federalism.
And the anti-federalists! Because of their protests, we have the Bill of Rights. That is also a wonderful document, in my mind. Because of it, I can meet with whomever I want. I can attend church where and when and with whomever I want. I can say what I want to say. I have the freedom to put onto this blog whatever I feel like putting on it.
I think the Constitution--complete with the Bill of Rights--is a brilliant document.
Last year I took an American Government class for my high school. I'm sure many high schools did this, but we each got our own copy of the Constitution, and we got to highlight sections, and make notes in the margin. I still have mine and I was looking through it recently. And I just think it is so great that a girl from a small town in the middle of nowhere can have access to her own personal Constitution of the United States. Anyone can read it, anyone can have a copy of it! It's right next to me, as I type, and there it is! The framework for the government of the United States of America.
I just think that's awesome.

AM. Gov. #4

I love the book by Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities. I am reading it again for my Civilizations class, and I love seeing my old friends the Mannettes, and Mr. Lorry, and Sidney Carton. Although I know the book has been criticized because the characters are all connected through a series of unbelievable coincidences, that is precisely why I love it. I love how the characters, no matter how small, always come up later on in the story.
During our analysis of the book in my civilizations class (we are looking for causes and justifications of war) someone mentioned that the French Revolution was largely influenced by the American Revolution. I had heard this before and kind of shuffled it to the back of my mind again until I was reading for my American Government and societies class.
As I was taking a closer look at the American Revolution, I realized how much of a difference there was between that one and the French Revolution. The French Revolution was so much more horrorific, it's incredible. Even the difference between how we declared Independence. America, with the signing of a document explaining why revolt was necessary; France with the storming of the Bastille.
In America, it was largely the upper-class that took charge and laid a foundation for a country that would strive to minimalize the differences between classes. In France, the aristocracy was hunted and beheaded.
From America, we remember noble George Washington. Of France we learn of the terrorizing Robespierre.
What was the difference? Why the differences? I still do not have all the answers, mainly just observations so far. But I will continue to look and ponder upon the differences between the American and French Revolutions.

NT #4

We have spent the last little while in my New Testament class looking for ironies in the gospel of Mark. One irony, for example, is that women witnessed the death of Christ (Mark 15:40), they witnessed where he was buried (Mark 15:47) and they witnessed the empty tomb (Mark 16:4-7). They knew where He was buried, so it is not like they went to the wrong place. Women could not testify in court in the first century. The irony is that Christ chose as His witnesses, the ones who would not be able to testify in court.
As I was studying my scriptures today, I tried to look for some more ironies. I found one that I think might have been touched upon in class, but it finally "clicked" for me today. In John 15:13 it says, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man layeth down his life for his friends." I have always read this as I was typically taught it: It shows how much Christ loves you because He died for you and He considers you His friend. A strict self-application.
That is all good and well, but today I applied it to others besides myself. I thought about how, on the night He died, those who should have been His best friends turned away from Him. Judas Iscariot, Peter, the rest of them. He layed down His life for His friends, just as they were denying Him. And He was also dying for all the people who contributed to His death, from the people who voted for His crucifixion to the one placing the nails. They brought to death the one who was dying for them.
What irony!

Am. Gov. #3

I love our country. I love being patriotic. One of my favorite days of the year is the 4th of July. We start out the day by going to the community parade with my Grandmother. We go a little early to set out chairs so we have good seats. After the parade my dad takes us into the foothills and we go hiking, enjoying the beautiful landscapes of our country.
We always finish the night by going to the local college to a spot in the grass where my father has claimed a spot for us with a blanket in the wee hours of the morning. There are hundreds of families laughing and playing together as they wait. We listen to the band and play cards and eat food and just have a wonderful time being together.
At a certain part of the night, the band plays all the songs of the armed forces. Veterans from each branch stand when their song is played and everyone applauds. At the end, the band director announces that it is time for the countdown. Everyone quickly gathers with their friends and families and we all count down from ten together. At the end, the most wonderful display of fireworks fills the night sky. Without fail, it leaves everyone with wonder.
"ooh's" and "aah's" fill the air, mixing with the crackles and poppings of the explosives. Sometimes you can see the trail of smoke the fireworks leave, and smell the gunpowder.
It's a wonderful time. But today I wonder how often I think of the founders of our nation during this time. I've been reading a lot about the events that lead up to the Declaration of Independence lately for my American Government class. I am fascinated by their stories, but do I remember them on Independence day? Right now, I am deciding to take a little time each 4th of July to remember those who have gone before to make this country great for me. I will especially remember the heroes of the American Revolution. I will remember why we are celebrating, and I will be grateful.

NT #3

The last time I really studied the New Testament--beyond a chapter here or there--was my Junior year in high school. I had the unique opportunity to be studying something from all four standard works on a daily basis: We were studying the Doctrine and Covenants in my early-morning seminary class; My family was studying the Old Testament together every night; I was answering yet another challenge to read the Book of Mormon and reading from that every night; and I had the wonderful privilege of being in Savior of the World- a production about Jesus Christ.
One thing I love about Savior of the World is that it does not really focus on the life of Jesus Christ. The first act ends with His birth, and the second act begins with His death. Mainly you see the effect His life had on others.
The production itself affected my life in several ways. My father was put in charge of directing it. It was such a time-consuming task that he said he would only direct if his family could be involved; That way, he would not have to spend so much time away from home. I had little desire to actually be a part of the show, but I couldn't very well sabotage it by saying "no I won't do this." So I agreed and took a very small part in the chorus. Since I had felt rather pushed into the whole ordeal, I regretfully did not have the best attitude.
Slowly though, as I began to understand a bit more about the show, and as I finally saw the scriptures coming to life before my eyes, Savior of the World began to mean so much more to me. I learned things then that somehow seem obvious to me now. For the first time I was really amazed at how humble and submissive Mary was. How understanding Joseph must have been. I became aware of how important the resurrection would be to people who had lost loved ones.
Many of these lessons became ingrained into my head, where I can now recall them and talk about how wonderful it is. Savior of the World has kind of drifted into the back of my head now, a wonderful memory that I rarely remember. Even when I am studying the New Testament, I don't automatically think of Savior of the World, it's usually when someone says "remember when?"
Some moments have stuck. The real things that have stuck with me, and will never leave, are the feelings I associate with the New Testament. The Spirit that was present during the performances, and during our conversations about the gospel. The testimony I gained of Christ's atonement, and the gratitude I feel towards Mary, Joseph, all of Christ's supporters, and especially the people who took the time to record the gospel. The good news. These things I will have always.

Am. Gov. #2

I love the musical 1776. I had the opportunity to go see the show performed professionally 2 summers ago with my parents in Sacramento. We laughed and cried with John Adams as he tried desperately to bring about the independence of the American colonies.
In the back of my mind I always doubted the historical accuracy of this beloved musical. I always assumed that the writer needed a central figure to base the story around, and so he chose John Adams for his hero. I knew the subplot with Rodney from Delaware was fairly accurate, because my mom is from that small state, and glows anytime she can boast that Delaware is considered the first colony to join the union. Aside from little assumptions like that, I never really took the time to find discrepancies between what really happened and what was portrayed.
In my American Government and Society class, however, we have been learning about what really happened to bring about the signing of the Declaration of Independence. I was delighted to discover that John Adams really did play a large role. I was surprised to find out that the actual voting took place on July 2, 1776, and most of the signatures were given a month later. I was still impressed with Dickinson's willingness to serve in the militia even though he did not feel that signing the Declaration of Independence was the right thing to do.
The main thing I have learned in my limited study of the birth of our great country, is that the people involved were great people. They were heroes, to be sure, but they were still people. They were courageous, but they had fears and worries, and families, just as we all do. They were people who did great things. And I respect them for that.

NT #2

My parents did a really good job raising 5 kids. The more I think about it, the more I realize how impossible it might have been sometimes and the more gratitude I have for their patience. One thing my parents really emphasized was family scripture study. Every night after dinner we would move from the kitchen to the living room and read at least 4 pages a night from one of the four standard works . Starting with my dad and moving counter-clockwise we would take turns reading, ten verses at a time.
I learned a lot during those study times. It's where I learned to read. I can recall sitting on my dad's lap, watching his finger follow along with the words being spoken. When it got to my turn, he would whisper the words into my ear, and I would repeat them louder, until I could recognize the words by myself.
I also learned to sit reverently during these times. My mother's head must have ached after some of the most trying study periods, mainly when we were younger. My brothers and I often tried to make each other laugh and would get sent to our rooms. We also had competitions about everything like who could say "amen" first, after the last verse was read. Those lasted until my parents explained, once again, the importance of being reverent and how, although fun and not necessarily "wrong," spiritual experiences can sometimes be missed in times of inappropriate joviality.
I also learned the importance of continual studying. We would read through the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Old Testament and New Testament and then start over again, and again, and again. My parents taught me that there is always something more to be learned.
I am so grateful that they taught me diligence in studying the scriptures. So now, when I am in Sunday school or in my New Testament class, I don't think "Oh, I've already studied this chapter, I can zone out." Instead, I have been taught to constantly look and listen for the insights I missed before.

Am. Gov. #1

Not only did my roommate and I watch the President Obama's inaugural address last week, but I also got to study it in two of my classes. I was very impressed with President Obama. No matter what your political views are, you must admit that he is a good speaker. It is very nice to have a president that we will be able to quote for his inspiring words of patriotism.
I think what I liked best about the address is that it did inspire hope. Amidst a blizzard of dismal predictions and pessimism, it was relieving to get lost in rays of optimism and hope. I was also impressed with his call to live American ideals. The ideals upon which our nation has been built. Obama's historical examples and is address overall really made me proud to be an American.

Post #1

I am enrolled in a New Testament class here at BYU. I was walking home after class yesterday, periodically taking time to crunch the snow that lines the pathways, feeling a little down on myself. After all, I have been studying religion--more specifically the gospel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for 19 years. So why in the world am I still stunned and amazed by basic principles? I will hear some insight about some topic like faith, and it will be so obviously true, that it makes me wonder why I never thought or heard of it before. Have I just not been listening? Was I just not ready?
Then I realized that it's probably not set up to be learned in 19, 25, 100 years. And frankly, I'm glad about that. If you could master every principle in a mere 19 years, what else would there be to do? It would kind of be boring for the rest of eternity. I am so grateful that we can continuously gain knowledge and learn and progress. And that there is enough knowledge to be gained, there are enough skills to be learned and there is enough progress to be made to last us for a very long time.