Riverdale 1st Ward Youth Conference: "Anchor in the Gospel"

Seriously.  The Huntsville Boat Club was the PERFECT place for a fireside on setting your "Anchor in the Gospel".  My only regret was that I didn't pack a change of clothes so I could get a little boating in with these great youth and leaders!

I was able to tie in parts of my "Stand in Holy Places" fireside as I wrote the presentation for the night and this time I have VISUALS!  I know, right!?!  Here are the four ways that you can "Stand in Holy Places" as you "Anchor in the Gospel":

Thank  you, Riverdale 1st Ward for letting me meet you and feel of your amazing spirits.  I am CERTAIN that someday, each of you will move mountains.

Lewiston 2nd Ward Girl's Camp: Stand in Holy Places

I was blessed with the opportunity of speaking to these Royal Awesomenesses last week.  

Topic for the night?  

D&C 87:8 

"Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved..."

It was a lovely evening as we spoke about:

You stand in holy places when you...

-Go "AWOL":  Acknowledge that you are Worth Our Savior's Love.

-Kneel to Pray

-Change wherever you are right now into a holy place

-Remember

I can't wait to hear the result of the challenge I gave each of these lovely ladies.  And I sincerely hope they remember what I told them to remember.  Hope to hear from them soon!!!

(I'm telling the story of when the cup of water spilled on my head at the Bear Lake fireside...)

Farr West 3rd Ward Girls Camp: The Dream Team

Let me tell you a little bit about my fireside this weekend.

First, I got dressed like this:

then I drove here:

(beautiful Bear Lake in Garden City,UT)

and I met up with these wonderful MVPs:

while I spoke about this:

It was a memorable evening as I had a random cup of water spill on top of my head right in the middle of the fireside and then, as I sang the lyrics "He can calm the raging wind", a gust of wind rattled through the neighborhood and blew a toolbox off the back of a truck.  Hard to forget those events.

But also it will forever be engrained in my memory because the camp was filled with Beautiful You's who possess amazing spirits and someday soon each one of them will awake to their potential and rise to the call as they become MVPs on the Lord's "Dream Team".  And I can't wait to see that.

Declo Idaho Stake Girls Camp: Just Be Beautiful You

I had the most amazing experience at the Pine Dell Campground last month as I performed for over 200 beautiful campers in their true, wholesome spirits.  It was such a great and spiritual experience...one I know I will never, ever forget.

The camp directors chose the theme "Just Be Beautiful You".  The entire 4-day camp was devoted to helping the young women embrace the beautiful souls they possess and the invidual selves they are designed to be.  There were uplifting quotes, signs, videos (seriously. Watch this. It's super cool.), talks and crafts centered around this theme.  My song, "Beautiful You" was chosen as the theme song.  I was given the opportunity to wrap up the last evening of camp by speaking on self-acceptance, self-esteem, and self-confidence.

After my presentation, I was blessed to sit in on a small testimony meeting where the YW bore humble but emotional testimony of their self-worth and how they now know and can fully embrace just how beautiful they truly, truly are.  One young 12 year old girl has left a lasting impression on me, though, as she enthusiastically said, "I know that I am sometimes hyper and annoying and sometimes people don't like that.  But after this week, I have learned that I am who I am and with every silly little thing that I do, Heavenly Father is watching and smiling and He thinks that it's the most adorable little thing He's ever seen."

Yes, my dear.  Yes, He is.

And then, during (yes, during) my closing number, I was bombarded with wonderful hugs and handshakes and smiles and tears and pure acceptance.  I was changed because of these selfless YW.  They left a lasting impression on my mind because of their undeniable strength and testimonies.  Before I could even see them, I felt of their strong spirits and I know that someday, someday, they. will. move. mountains. 

Here are a few more photos of the evening.  Enjoy!

(Paparazzi...in bandanas and braids and "Beautiful You" t-shirts!)

National Women's Day

Pretty sure that every woman in the world needs to listen to this song AT LEAST one time today, in celebration of YOU on this National Women's Day! Happy listening.

Click HERE to listen.

Quote of the Day

"The world is filled with people

who achieve success

simply because they are willing to be

exactly who they are."

-Audrey Bandley

Quote of the Day

I found this on shabbyblogs.com as I was redesigning my blog page.  

Thought it was way worth passing on...

Thanks for the reminder, Sister Hinckley.

Quote of the Day

Sometimes we will have heartaches.  Sometimes we will cry. Sometimes it will hurt so very, very bad.  Sometimes we will be filled with so much confusion that we just can't make sense of.   BUT, we cannot let that stop us from becoming amazing.  We cannot let that sorrow drag us down.  We must keep going. We must keep trying.  And, most of all, possibly most important of all, we must do everything within our powers to continue to build others up around us and then eventually-very, very eventually, we WILL find peace.

I promise.

-Me

Perfect or "Christ-like" Perfect?

per·fect: [adj., n., pur-fikt; v. per-fekt] conforming absolutely to the description or definition of an ideal type

Christ·like: [kriyst-liyk] like Christ; showing the spirit of Christ

At the beginning of our Relief Society lesson today, our wonderful teacher taught us from the talk "Forget Me Not" given by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. The following quote was read:

"I want to tell you something that I hope you will take in the right way:
God is fully aware that you and I are not perfect.
Let me add: God is also fully aware that
the people you think are perfect are not.
And yet we spend so much time and energy comparing ourselves to others-
usually comparing our weaknesses to their strengths..."

click HERE to read the entire article
(SO worth your time, by the way...)

This quote got me thinking of the pressures I put on myself to be "perfect". (i.e. the "perfect" house, the "perfect" FHE, the "perfect" job, the "perfect" meals, the "perfect" wardrobe, the "perfect" body, etc., etc., etc...) Ultimately, I found myself thinking of someone else who could do all those things (or who has all those things) SO much better than I do. Which is bad, by the way.

At which point, I had the "a-ha moment"
where I literally was dumb-founded
as I wondered at what point had I began trying to become
WORLDLY PERFECT, instead of CHRIST-LIKE PERFECT.

All the attributes that I listed previously are good aspirations, none of them are necessarily evil or wrong. We should take care of our homes and our bodies and our families. We should aspire for uplifting FHE's, we should present ourselves in a humble manner and dress modestly well.

BUT, like the scripture says:

"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Matt. 6:21)

Am I desiring to reach those goals in an effort to "show and tell"? Is my purpose for those things to one-up my neighbor or to make others envious? Do I put stock into what someone might say more than how they would feel? Do I really accept what I am capable of or am I trying to compete with what I feel others can do so much better? Am I trying to grow closer to Christ as I try to achieve these perfections...or am I trying to be noticed?

Am I trying to be "perfect" or "Christ-like perfect"? Meaning: are the pressures I put on myself done with the right spirit, drawing me closer to Christ, helping others to see the light of His Spirit inside? Or are the pressures I put on myself distracting the Spirit, causing confusion of where I stand and why...bringing unhappiness and discouragement?

Ultimately, this is a very personal decision. A question that cannot be answered by anyone but myself. Only I can truly decide what is right for me and why. It is between me and the Lord to judge where my heart truly stands.

BUT, as I am fully aware, there is always room for much, much improvement.

Dear Girls...Oh! Be Brave!!!

Once in a while,

life leaves you breathless.
Sometimes it's because your panting, trying to keep up.
Sometimes it's simply because life takes your breath away,
sweeps you off your feet,
leaves you in a state of euphoria.

Nope.
That's not my case.
I'm just the prime example of the first case.
Busy.
Good busy.
But busy, nonetheless.

:)

Part of that busy-ness was the
beautiful opportunity to participate in
TWO presentations
for
TWO different Young Women activities
on the same night.

Busy...but beautiful.

I've thought a lot about those wonderful YW from
Fairview and Nephi the last couple days.

(I always wish that I had the chance to sit and talk with each of the YW individually.
It's the best part of my "job", my favorite part of the evening.
This night proved a little bit crazy in that I didn't even have the chance
to speak with the youth in Fairview after the event!)

BUT,
needless to say, the youth in both wards
made a very, very strong impact on my life.
Their enthusiasm, dedication, and
the goals they have set ignited in me a spark to be a better person.

So, this blog post I dedicate to the
beautiful Young Women I met this week,
as well as to those I will meet in the future:

My beautiful, brave young women, I encourage you to not only find the courage to
"arise and shine forth"
as we spoke about...

but also:

You have the strength. You have the choice.
You have the gift and the power and the ability.
You were saved for this very reason.

Be brave enough to show the world
where true peace and joy and happiness lies.
Be brave enough to speak kind words, to do good things, to love as Christ would love.
Be brave enough to stand alone
or to stand together
wherever you may be.
Be brave enough to shine the brilliant light
that you were blessed with,
that was put into your souls for this very reason.
Be brave...Be brave...Be brave...

The Talent Beneath

[Beware: this is a lengthy, but very thought-provoking post, of which I think you should read!]

We've all read Matthew 25: 14-30.
(If you haven't you really ought to. It's one of my favorites...and this post will make SO much more sense, if you're familiar with it.)

We've all said we feel like the servant with only ONE talent: because we cannot hit a ball or carry a tune in a bucket or create beautiful heirloom quilts. We have all felt like the Lord passed us by when handing out the talents in heaven.

I hope to change our minds

I was discussing this topic with my gospel doctrine teacher this past Sunday. He's a very skilled and well-versed man. He is a phenomenal teacher. I learn so much from his lessons. It always makes me feel so happy when I attend his classes. When teaching the parable of the talents this past Sunday, he mentioned that he felt like the servant with only ONE talent for the same reasons as I listed in the previous paragraph. This led to a discussion, after class, just between the two of us which ultimately led us BOTH to realize that the true talents in this world aren't necessarily being able to run fast or draw well or sing beautifully.
Those are the RESULT of the truest of all talents.

Example:

One might say that I am a very talented singer, a very gifted songwriter. To that I say thank you. But I don't deem those as my real gifts. Here's why: I didn't come out of the womb knowing how to read music or to stylize the control of my voice or write beautiful lyrics. Heaven knows that it has taken me an awful lot of work, a lot of heartache and a lot of sweat and blood to be where I am today (which is still leaps and bounds from where I hope to someday be).

But the Lord DID placed inside me the gift of determination, the gift of persistence, the gift of perseverance and hope and desire.

And through using and developing those very base gifts, I have developed other abilities that I wasn't necessarily born with but which I desired to do. I couldn't have ever learned what I have, had I hidden or buried THOSE pure talents because I was afraid.

And that's how it is for all of us:

The star quarterback doesn't throw touchdowns at birth; he uses his strength and his determination to develop that ability.

The artist doesn't design high-class artwork until she develops patience, awareness and feelings.

The motivational speaker cannot influence others unless he discovers courage, testimony and gentle persuasion.

The gardener doesn't naturally have a green thumb; she developed her desire and wisdom over time.

And that's how it is with us:

The man who shares love, concern and time ultimately is considered a talented father.

A woman who acts on promptings of compassion and faith is known as a talented friend.

A person who is thorough, attentive and willing becomes a talented leader.

I believe that we were ALL blessed with many, many talents that we do not recognize; many that we don't understand are true gifts. YOU are blessed with amazing abilities that stem to the very core of your creation. YOU use these talents on a daily basis to work and live and serve the Lord. Through discovering the true talents that lie beneath, through being willing to recognize them and develop them and then using the those gifts, we will become as the servant in the parable, of which the Lord will say unto us:

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter into the joy of the Lord".

And you will see that the talents beneath
are those which are the truest.

Quote of the Day

When I graduated from the Young Women's, my leaders gave me a beautifully-framed picture with the following truth:

Though the picture has long since been broken, the quote ever remains in my heart.