What He Sees In Me

Sometimes I find myself wondering: "Do I believe in Christ?"

The answer is always a resounding "Yes." Then I realize that the real question on my mind is: "Do I believe in myself?"

Christ is pure and powerful and perfect. He has healed and forgiven and blessed people throughout all history, in all books of scripture, and even in our world today. I, on the other hand, have quite the different track record. I stumble. I fall. I mess up. I make mistakes. I sin.

When I start thinking these things, I remind myself of a quote that got me through a rough patch in my life. It goes:

"Oh, it is wonderful to know that our Heavenly Father loves us—even with all our flaws! His love is such that even should we give up on ourselves, He never will.We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever. Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won’t, for He sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming." (Joseph B. Wirthlin)

This beautiful statement gives me hope. God is perfect and sees me perfectly, and even despite all my flaws, He still loves me and will never give up on me. So when what I see in myself doesn't seem like enough to believe in, I decide to believe in what He sees instead, and that is enough.

Grace

Tonight I've been reading Stephen E. Robinson's "Believing Christ." This is a timeless book about grace and our relationship with Christ. In the part where I'm at, Bro. Robinson is talking about 2 Nephi 25:23:

"...for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do."

He argues that members of the church frequently interpret this scripture incorrectly, that "the correct sense of 2 Nephi 25:23 would be that we are ultimately saved by grace apart from whatever we manage to do. Grace is not merely a decorative touch or a finishing bit of trim to top off our own efforts--it is God's participation in the process of our salvation from its beginning to its end." 

After considering his thoughts, I have thought of yet another way to look at this scripture. In the part that goes "after all we can do," I have usually considered the "we" to be me--an everyday person. After all, this makes the use of "we" parallel with how it is used earlier in the sentence. However, after thinking about it, I realized that if I break all grammar rules and look at it differently, the "we" could be considered Christ and I. 

Looking at the scripture this way changes everything. Taken this way, this scripture never suggests there is a moment when I'm the only one doing the doing. Rather, it suggests that Christ is always there, a part of the "we" team, and that when I can't keep the team going anymore, His grace steps in and fills the void I leave. 

How awesome is that?! One of the biggest misconceptions about grace just dispelled by using the scripture that is probably the reason why so many people have said misconception! Man, I knew there was a reason why I performed so poorly in my grammar class!

If you want even more insights on what Nephi meant when he wrote this verse, President Uchtdorf put it pretty fantastically in this past General Conference, which you can find here. Or, you could read one of my all-time favorite talks ever, which happens to be about grace, here.

What a beautiful, happy reminder that we do not walk through this life alone! I'm so grateful for a Savior who keeps on pulling when I fall off the "we" bandwagon. I know I couldn't do it without Him--before and after that point.

Another Week

This past week has been filled with many fun activities. On Tuesday we had Jon's old mission companion, Andrew Perkinson, over for dinner. It was fun to sit and listen to the boys reminisce over mission times and to tell stories. I love how much Jon loves his mission. It's one of my favorite things about him!

Thursday we join Steve and Milli again for dinner and to watch the BYU football game. Growing-up in a house of all girls, I never watched football (or any other sport) when I was little (my poor father!) Hence, I don't really have a love for watching the game. Since marrying Jon, I've tried to change this. It was so nice to have Milli--who was often similarly confused/clueless as to what was going on--while we watched the game. Friday, we made pizza and watched a movie. Saturday Jon helped our ward with Friends of Scouting money donations while I ran errands and we went to Stake Conference in the evening.

Okay, so I look a little excited
about the popcorn too...

Today we went to Stake Conference in the morning and heard the words of apostles and other inspired church leaders. I was very grateful for the inspiration and guidance I received by listening to their words. This upcoming week feels so much more doable and exciting because of the comfort and direction these leaders provided. And just because Jon has to keep things interesting, he brought a Ziplock bag full of popcorn to the meeting so that he could have a snack like a three-year-old. I thought he'd get there and be embarrassed. Wrong. He ate from the bag like it was a badge of honor. Children...

 Lunch after Stake Conference was one of the best lunches I've had in ages. We invited my friend, Anna Stewart, over to join us. Anna just got back from serving an eighteen month mission for the church and I hadn't seen her since she got back until today. Before Jon and I went crazy and decided to get married, Anna and I had been planning on living together when she got back. Now when people ask her if she moved into a place with anyone she knows she gets to tell them that she was going to but that instead her friend ditched her and got hitched. Oops. Luckily, she doesn't hate me, which is a rather wonderful thing because as wonderful as Jon is, it is rather awesome to also have girlfriends in my life too. I hope Anna and I get to see each other often and maybe even go to the temple together like we used to always do.

We ended today by spending dinner at the house of one of Jon's coworkers--Nathan. Nathan has severe autism, so rather than serving a full-time mission, he works with Jon's BYU ground's crew as a service missionary. The food was delicious and spending time with Jon's coworkers/friends was super fun, but the best part of the evening was hearing Nathan's mom express her gratitude to Jon's crew for letting her son work with them. She talked about how many people get easily annoyed with Nathan, making him feel unwelcome, and about how it's been hard for their family to find places where he feels loved. Jon's crew, however, has been one place that Nathan has felt welcomed and loved. As her eyes gleamed with tears the Spirit whispered to me: This is what life's all about...helping the heavily burdened, welcoming those that others turn away, loving everyone--especially the outcasts, and making people feel the way that Nathan's mom feels about Jon's crew. 

It was the perfect way to end my Sunday. My life is absolutely perfect right now: I love my job, my husband, my ward, my apartment, my calling, my family, literally everything! However, even though it's absolutely perfect, everything is so new, which makes life sometimes hard to figure out. Along with all the joys of my new married/being-a-teacher life, the past few weeks have held their share of tears, frustrations, and moments of feeling like I have no idea what I'm doing and/or like I'm messing everything up. As these crazy moments have come, I've found myself wracking my brain, trying to find the secret answer to knowing how to fix everything. Today, though, Stake Conference reminded me that there's one fail safe source I can always turn to for help, and Nathan's mom reminded me that there's always one fail safe solution that will help me feel better: Christ is the fail safe source--I can always turn to Him for help, and charity--loving others as He does--is the fail safe solution that will always make me feel better. In the busyness of getting married and starting teaching I've lost track of these two things. After this weekend, though, I feel humbled and I'm determined to be better at remembering Christ and living with charity in my heart. I'm so grateful for the answers that the gospel provides. After 22 years it has never failed me, and for the rest of eternity I know that it never will.

A Very Good Weekend

This weekend was wonderful!

Yea for Cookies made in a Kitchen Aid!

On Friday evening, Jon and I worked on reliving our the first 3 dates that started it all by making cookies and lemon bars to give away to friends. This is what we did on the second date we had with each other (the one where he finally asked me out!!!) It was fun to use our new Kitchen Aid (thank you!) and to spend the evening chilling.

Late Saturday morning/early afternoon Jon and I went to watch my 7th graders play on the school football team. We cheered on my kids, talked to a few before and after their game, and soaked up some sun.

Later that evening I joined Jon for the first half of the BYU v. Texas game down in the Campus Plaza lounge. After the first hour I left him to pick up my friends I made over spring/summer--Emily and Julie--and the three of us crashed my apartment where we played Banana Grams and talked.

Today Jon and I were sustained to serve as the youth Sunday school teachers in our ward. It's a combined class--with all the youth ages 12-18, and we get to teach together. It will be a couple weeks before we get to teach our first class (because of Regional Conference and the Ogden Temple Re-dedication) but we are thrilled and can't wait to start!

This evening we went over to my Uncle Steve and Aunt Milli's house for a delicious homemade Cafe Rio meal! It was the perfect way to break our fasts. After the yummy food we played Banana Grams. We look forward to going back to their place on Thursday evening to watch BYU take on Huston.

Life is busy and so good. Good friends. Good callings. Good food. Good activities. Good family. Good games. Good husband. Good God. More than anything, it was so good to have time this weekend to find a peace and closeness to God that I haven't felt in a long time. I love Him and am grateful that He's always there for me, even when I mess-up and fail and feel like I deserve no second chances. Because of His Son, though, there always is a second chance as long as I'm willing to work for it. I can't wait to face the adventures of the coming week with Him at my side.

Jon and I at the Salem Jr. High football game!

There Is No Such Thing As The End

Yesterday, the church released this video, and I LOVE it! To get ready for Easter, I'm going to try to spend some time every day thinking--as this video suggests--about all the wonderful things I have in my life because of Him.

One of my favorite parts of the video is when it says: "Because of Him, there is no such thing as the end." Just a week ago in General Conference, President Uchtdorf addressed this topic. He said:

"In light of what we know about our eternal destiny, is it any wonder that whenever we face the bitter endings of life, they seem unacceptable to us? There seems to be something inside of us that resists endings. Why is this? Because we are made of the stuff of eternity. We are eternal beings, children of the Almighty God, whose name is Endless and who promises eternal blessings without number. Endings are not our destiny."

I testify that because of Jesus Christ, good things will never truly end; or if they do, it is only because something better awaits us. Because of Him, our families can be together forever. Because of Him, our dreams can someday be realized. Because of Him, the future is always brighter than the circumstances we find ourselves in at the moment, no matter how bleak or happy those circumstances are. Why? Because He is waiting there for us--waiting to take us into His arms with forgiveness and tenderness and love. He broke the chains of death and sorrow and despair, and with Him "there is no such things as everlasting endings, only everlasting beginnings."

Living as the Savior Lived

One of my favorite church leaders is President Uchtdorf. I love his teachings on perspective and attitude. In a recent General Conference, he pointed out:

"I think of our Lord and Exemplar, Jesus Christ, and His short life among the people of Galilee and Jerusalem. I have tried to imagine Him bustling between meetings or multitasking to get a list of urgent things accomplished. 

I can’t see it.

Instead I see the compassionate and caring Son of God purposefully living each day. When He interacted with those around Him, they felt important and loved. He knew the infinite value of the people He met. He blessed them, ministered to them. He lifted them up, healed them. He gave them the precious gift of His time."

I have a testimony that those who live their lives as President Uchtdorf narrates the Savior living His--lives full of sincere love, concern, awareness for, and time for others--will be happy. I know from personal experience that I am the happiest when I am more concerned for the welfare of my neighbor's soul than for my own. Happiness is something you can create for yourself only when you give yourself away in the service of those around you. It's one of the greatest ironies I know of.

Benefiting from His Hands

Yesterday it was very easy for me to see the Lord's hand in my life.

This past week has been a hard one for me. I've felt very lonely and confused and frustrated and sad. Yesterday, however, that all turned around.

On her way to work, Ems stopped by to say hi.

Melissa and Shonay came over to visit teach me because they're awesome.

Joseph Scoville stopped by our place--randomly--to help us fix our internet.

I went over to Joseph's to bring him cookies to say thank you and talked to him and Evan and Ally and Charlotte. They invited me over to watch a movie and do homework. I accepted.

Before going to bed, Elora and Elicia talked to me about life.

Yesterday, I felt very loved by the people reaching out to me. They were being the Lord's hands here on earth.

"A story is told that during the bombing of a city in World War II, a large statue of Jesus Christ was severely damaged. When the townspeople found the statue among the rubble, they mourned because it had been a beloved symbol of their faith and of God’s presence in their lives.

Experts were able to repair most of the statue, but its hands had been damaged so severely that they could not be restored. Some suggested that they hire a sculptor to make new hands, but others wanted to leave it as it was—a permanent reminder of the tragedy of war. Ultimately, the statue remained without hands. However, the people of the city added on the base of the statue of Jesus Christ a sign with these words: 'You are my hands.'" -President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "You Are My Hands"

Jesus Christ

In between all the craziness of the day today, I took a moment to watch this video. I loved it. I can see myself in the man sitting at the water's edge: thinking that I know what I need to help and heal me when all I really need is Christ. That's what we as Christians believe, isn't it? In a world that seeks the answers to their problems in self-help books, better organized schedules, bigger paychecks, more friends, increased self-discipline, and valiant causes; we know that the ultimate remedy to any heartache, stress, problem, or fear is Jesus Christ. He will help us. He will heal us. He will save us.

The Good Shepherd

Today I was studying why Christ has the title of "shepherd". In my searching, I came across this scripture:

"He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young."  -Isaiah 40:11

This scripture is so beautiful and tender to me. I cannot help but see a loving, compassionate Savior when I read these words. It is such a good reminder that at the root of everything Christ has done--and still does--for us is love. He loves us so much. He gave everything for us. And continually, day by day, He desires to hold us close and to lead us back to our heavenly home. He is patient. He is kind. He gives us the benefit of the doubt and sees us as who we truly are and can become. He is gentle. He is perfect. And above all, He is there for you and I. He did not give His life thousands of years ago on our behalf only to abandon us right now. I know that He lives and that He is just as invested in the daily dealings of your life right now as He was in the daily dealings of the people in Jerusalem two millennium ago. Come unto Him and He will lead you to still waters and there, with Him, you can find rest.

My Role Models

Yesterday in the CES fireside Elder Walker talked about looking-up to the prophet as a role model. As I was listening to him, I wrote in my notebook: "Who are my role models? How can I keep them in my life so that I remember to look-up to them?" In thinking about this, and in thinking about how to just keep myself thinking about the things I should be thinking about in general, I realized that one of the best ways for me to stay focused on the things I should be focused on is by sharing my thoughts about those things with those around me. That comes through talking and writing about them. So today, I want to share with all of you some of the role models I have in my life in an attempt to help myself think about them more and to keep them in view. I hope that it will encourage you to think about who you look-up to in your life and how you can strive to be more like them.

Giving Him Joy

"Jesus' life and sacrifice bring joy to us, and our coming to Him can and will bring similar joy to Him. I find profound purpose in knowing that in that one small, personal way He 'needs' me. 'Men are, that they might have joy' (2 Nephi 2:25), but men are also that they might give joy to Him."  --Brad Wilcox, The Continuous Atonement, pg 40

I often find that I am much more motivated when I am working for others rather than myself. How awesome it is to think, then, that every good thing I do gives joy to the Lord. Every effort to progress, every effort to choose the right, every effort to resist temptation, every effort to lift another, every effort to try a little harder to be a little better--all of these efforts, and the achievement that results, give joy to the Savior. Elder Maxwell has rightly said that just about the only thing we can ever really give the Savior is our will. I would add to that that the only thing besides our will that we can give to the Savior is the joy that comes to Him when we do so. There are many reasons for the Savior of the world to feel down. I hope that I can make the choices that let me be one of the things that counteracts, in a small way, all that weight and makes Him feel happy.

25 Reasons Why I'm Grateful for the Birth of the Savior: It is About Christ

Reason 25: I'm grateful for the birth of the Savior because it is about Christ. Christ is my best friend. He's what gives me motivation to get up in the morning. He's the one that forgives me and makes it possible for me to return to my Father in Heaven. He's the one who always understands me. He's the one who makes it all worth it. He's the one that makes me happy. He's the one who helps me change. I love my Savior, and I love this time of the year that we have to celebrate Him. God be forever thanked for the gift of His Son.

Thoughts That Keep Me Going

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therwith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." -Philippians 4:11-13

"We can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness does bless and prosper those who put their trust in Him." -Helaman 12:1

An Instrument in His Hands

"And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work." -Alma 26:3

"The greatest thing in the world is love. And if we keep that always in our hearts, and give it as a message to those about us, we will be blessed and will be instruments in blessing those with whom we associate."  -Clarissa S. Williams, Sixth Relief Society General President, Daughters in My Kingdom page 74

"The sweetest experience I know in life is to feel a prompting and act upon it and later find out that it was the fulfillment of someone’s prayer or someone’s need. And I always want the Lord to know that if He needs an errand run, Tom Monson will run that errand for Him." -President Thomas S. Monson

"Is anyone sitting there?" I asked the lady on the plane. 

"You are!" she exclaimed. She moved the bag and bottle that had been sitting on the seat and I meandered my way down into the seat. The older lady was sitting on my left and to my right, sitting next to the window, was Kim Low--a girl from my home stake whom I happened to see out in the waiting area before we boarded the plane. I was feeling pretty lucky that the seat next to her was still open by the time I got onto the plane. 

Kim and I said hi to each other and started talking. 

"Why were you in Vancouver?"

"How are things at school?"

"You've graduated already, haven't you?"

"Where are you working right now?"

It occurred to me while we were talking that I should maybe take a second to say hi to the lady sitting to my left. I usually try to at least introduce myself to the people I sit next to on planes. But Kim and I were having a good time talking, and I figured I could introduce myself in a bit.

We were still waiting for the plane to take off when there was a brief lull in our conversation.  

"Do you two know each other?" piped up the lady, filling the pause.

Kim and I looked at each other and then back at the lady. We explained to her that we were from the same stake and also both went to BYU.

"I know the tennis coach at BYU," the lady said. "His name is Pierce. The tennis team is really good. You should look him up."

I asked her how she knew the coach.

"My son does tennis.  But he doesn't go to BYU. I'm not Mormon. But Pierce is really nice." 

I was beginning to feel like the lady really wanted to talk. Not about tennis or BYU or Mormons, necessarily, but that she just needed to talk. So I turned myself towards her, leaving Kim to read her Harry Potter book, and Paula and I talked for the next hour and a half while our plane made its way to Salt Lake City. 

The conversation I had with Paula is one of the best conversations I've had my whole life. It wasn't the content that made it so special, but the spirit that attended it. Throughout the conversation she mentioned that the reason she was in Oregon was because her father had just passed away and that she had been taking care of him and then, once he died, she had to take care of her mother. It seemed like she wanted to talk to someone about it, but I thought it would be good to talk about some other things first. So we did. We talked about her time as a nurse. She asked me what I was studying at BYU. We talked about God and serving people. We talked about Methodists (her choice of religion) verses Mormonism and about how sometimes it's hard for her to live in Utah because there are so many Mormons and she's not one of them. We talked about education. We talked about her son who's in Japan serving in the navy and her other son who's starting his senior year of high school and wants to go to NYU to study film. We talked about her involvement with a program her church does called Family Promise where they help single moms and their kids start over again. We talked about how she met her husband and my own dating life. 

In the middle of our conversation, when I felt like we knew one another a little better, I asked her about the experience with her father, and she was so glad to talk about it. She shared how hard of an experience it had been for her. She told me that her mother had althimers and that it was really hard to place her in a home. She told me about how, right after her father passed away, she went in the other room and suddenly felt a great sense of peace and love and knew that Jesus and her father were telling her it was okay and what she needed to do. She said most people thought she was silly for saying that and I told her it was the least silly thing I had ever heard. She really opened up and told me everything, and I had the sweet opportunity to be able to listen. 

"God sent you here to sit next to me," she told me several times during our flight. "You're not a coincidence, you're a God incident. He's always sending angles into my life. You're one of those angels."

At other times she would laugh and say: "I can't believe God sent me a BYU student to help me!" 

Paula and I laughed. We were serious. We hugged each other. When the plane landed I walked with her out to the baggage claim and pick-up area. 

We said goodbye to each other and gave one another one last hug. 

"Thanks again, Lindsey. You're so sweet. I would have cried the whole plane ride home if it hadn't been for you." 

I left, and that was it.

Now. I haven't shared this experience because I want to brag because I helped someone out who was having a bad day (Alma 26:11-12). I hate self-righteousness. I share this experience first of all, because it's something I want to always remember. I also share it because I want to add my testimony to President Monson's and testify that it is a truly humbling and sweet experience to know that the Lord has used you to help someone in need. I followed the Spirit when he prompted me to talk to Paula, and ended up having an incredible experience. I wasn't there to convert Paula or to shove a Book of Mormon down her throat. I was just there to be a friend. Through the experience, I got to feel the Spirit and the love Heavenly Father has for her. I know that she is special and that she is a daughter of God who is doing her best to be her best.  

I want my life to be filled with Paulas. Like President Monson, I want the Lord to be able to trust and rely on me to answer the prays of others. I cannot describe to you how humbling it feels to know that the Lord used me to help someone who was in need. That He trusted me. That I was an instrument in His hands. 

Seek out those promptings of the Spirit and determine to follow them when they do come. I promise you that   you will live with greater peace and joy when you let the Lord use you to do His work. When you do, some of the greatest experiences of your life will follow.

Who's on the Lord's Side? Who?

“Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad.”   -D&C 128:22

“Guided by the Holy Spirit, we will learn from our mistakes. If we stumble, we will rise. If we falter, we will go on. We will never waver; we will never give up. As a mighty brotherhood of the everlasting priesthood of God, we will stand together, shoulder to shoulder, focused on the principles of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and gratefully serving our God and fellowman with dedication and love.”   -President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, The Why of Priesthood Service, April 2012 General Conference

Now is the time to step up, unite together, and to be stronger and more determined than we ever have been before. Satan is not going to win. He may win at first. He may win today and tomorrow and many, many days after that; but I promise that he will not win in the end! He cannot win. We already know the outcome of the battle. It is not a question of who will win. God will win. It is instead a question of which side we will chose to fight for.

I chose to fight on God’s side. I want to throw in every last bit of energy I have proving myself and bringing forth good and helping lift up others and advancing the work of God. I want to be strong. I want to be steadfast and immovable. I want to be a solider for the Lord

I know that this church is the true church. I know that Joseph Smith saw God and Jesus Christ. I know that he restored the true church upon the earth. I know that he was a prophet. I know that the Book of Mormon is a true book because when I read it I feel closer to God and I receive inspiration and revelation for my life. I know that God’s priesthood power is once again upon the earth and that this power makes it possible for us to be sealed together as families in the Lord’s temples. I know that Jesus Christ lives. I know that He atoned for our sins, that He died and was resurrected for us, and that He lives and helps each of us daily today. I know that God lives. I know that He is our Father. I know that He knows each and every single one of us more perfectly than we know ourselves. I know that He desires us to succeed and to do well in this life so that we can return to Him. I know that He loves us with an immeasurable amount of love.

I want no one to doubt whose side I’m fighting on. I am for the Lord. He will uplift, and help, and strengthen us all as we dedicate ourselves to fighting more earnestly to serve one another and to become better brothers and sisters in the gospel.

Who’s on the Lord’s side? Who? Now is the time to show. We ask it fearlessly: Who’s on the Lord’s side? Who?

Christ Lives

"We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son."   -The Living Christ

I want to add my testimony to that of the apostles. I know that He lives. He died for you. He lives for you. He supports you. He knows you. He loves you. I love Him, respect Him, and am eternally thankful for who He is, all He does, and that I can have Him be a part of my life. He makes me want to be a better person.

Goals, Motivations, and Aspirations

"While understanding the “what” and the “how” of the gospel is necessary, the eternal fire and majesty of the gospel springs from the “why.” When we understand why our Heavenly Father has given us this pattern for living, when we remember why we committed to making it a foundational part of our lives, the gospel ceases to become a burden and, instead, becomes a joy and a delight. It becomes precious and sweet."   -President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Forget Me Not", 2011 Relief Society Broadcast

Why I Do What I Do:

• So I can help others return to Heavenly Father
• So I can return to Heavenly Father
• So I can one day be happily married and raise righteous children
• So I can become a better person
• So I can learn
• So I can uplift others
• So I can be eternally happy
• So I can one day be like God
• So I can show Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ that I love and care for Them and am grateful for all they do for me
• So I can go to the temple
• So I can have the Spirit's comfort and direction in my life

Desires I Have

• To love God and feel His love for me in return so that I can share His love with others
• To serve, uplift, and inspire people
• To be happy here and now
• To get married
• To have children
• To know, understand, and love the scriptures
• To graduate from BYU with an English teaching major
• To love, respect, and care for my body
• To love going to the temple
• To love, support, and help my parents and sisters
• To feel confident that I'm living the life God wants me to
• To return to live with my Heavenly Father for forever
• To have a firm relationship with my Heavenly Father and Savior here and now

My "To Be" List

• A good daughter
• A good wife
• A good mother and grandmother
• An avid scriptorian
• A helper
• A happy person
• A missionary
• A friend
• A disciple of Christ
• A humble person
• Someone who develops her talents
• Someone who loves being a girl and understands why that make me special
• Someone who knows the Lord and talks with Him multiple times a day
• Someone who wisely makes her own decisions and confirms them with the Lord 
• A person who understands the divinity which God has given me 

Come Unto Me

"Go thy way unto thy brother, and first be reconciled to they brother, and then come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I will receive you." -3 Nephi 12:24

“Just because God is God, just because Christ is Christ, they cannot do other than care for us and bless us and help us if we will but come unto them, approaching their throne of grace in meekness and lowliness of heart. They can’t help but bless us. They have to. It is their nature. That is why Joseph Smith gave those lectures on faith, so we would understand the nature of godliness and in the process have enough confidence to come unto Christ and find peace to our souls. There is not a single loophole or curveball or open trench to fall into for the man or woman who walks the path that Christ walks. When he says, “Come, follow me” (Luke 18:22), he means that he knows where the quicksand is and where the thorns are and the best way to handle the slippery slope near the summit of our personal mountains. He knows it all, and he knows the way. He is the way.” -Jeffrey R. Holland, April 1998 Ensign

My favorite part of this scripture is that is says to come unto Christ with full purpose of heart. Coming unto Christ should not be a passive thing. It should not be something we think on and do if we have time once our homework is done, the house is clean, and we’re done working for the day. It needs to be the drive behind everything we do. When we do come unto Him—as Elder Holland says—everything becomes easier. Those things which we sometimes mistakenly put before coming unto Him suddenly become easier and more doable; not because Christ has changed the situation, but because he has changed us. Coming unto Christ changes us and give us the capacity to work more cheerfully, serve more abundantly, love more perfectly, and live more fully. It should be the full purpose of our hearts because it is truly the thing which makes our hearts full.