Was that all that was required?

I often listen to the talk "Worthy of Our Promised Blessings" by Sister Linda S. Reeves. It was one of my favorites from the most recent sessions of General Conference.

My favorite quote:

"I do not know why we have the many trials that we have, but it is my personal feeling that the reward is so great, so eternal and everlasting, so joyful and beyond our understanding that in that day of reward, we may feel to say to our merciful, loving Father, "Was that all that was required?" I believe that if we could daily remember and recognize the depth of that love our Heavenly Father and our Savior have for us, we would be willing to do anything to be back in Their presence again, surrounded by Their love eternally. What will it matter, dear sisters [and brothren], what we suffered here if, in the end, those trials are the very things which qualify us for eternal life and exaltation in the kingdom of God with our Father and Savior?"

At first when I heard this, I was touched deeply. Then it soon started to make me feel inadequate that I still struggle with my trials and have not yet reached this perspective. But as I've thought, listened, and pondered this beautiful truth, I have gained a greater testimony of the Plan of Salvation. I know God has a plan for me, and I know that I can count on my Savior to help me through every single trial that comes my way. This makes me want so badly to keep an eternal perspective and realize how great the reward will be.

What is your song?

Last week, I had a powerful lecture in my Media class on music. We went through many research findings on how influential music is in our lives. I want to share with you a few facts that I thought were impactful.

• Lyrics have more of an influence on your behavior than the tone of the music does. 
• Music is the most used type of media for personal identity and mood. 
• Listening to prosocial music (positive, helpful behavior) increases prosocial behavior, increases empathy, and decreases behavior that is not prosocial. 
• Listening to 20 minutes of classical music before bed helps you sleep better and decreases depression. 
• Those who listen to more sexual music have sex earlier and more frequently. 
• Hospice patients said they felt more in tune with their God on days when they listened to music.

So basically, music has a HUGE impact on our life--and we need to do our part to make sure it's helping, not hurting, us. 

We ended the lesson by figuring out this question: If you could be summarized in a song, what would it be? We referred to Soldier by Gavin Degras, which was the choice of a student (Ashley Cox) who, a week after having the music lecture, died in an avalanche. I had never heard this song before and wished there were more positive, uplifting songs that can inspire and motivate us to do good. 

I love this song called "Give Me Your Eyes" by Brandon Heath--I heard it in my early teens (on KLove:) )and I've loved it's message ever since:

What would be your song? I'd love to hear and get new suggestions for uplifting songs to listen to! 

High School Memories

Recently, Davis High Dance Company has been spotlighted in the news (i.e. people.com--go read it!) due to an inspiring team member named Gabe. He has no arms and legs, yet contributes to the Dance Co. and is an example to others to do your best and always be happy.

As I've seen these highlights in the news, it's made me reflect on my high school experience. I am so grateful for the great school I went to, the many lessons I learned there, and the blessings it brought. Here are just a few:

• I had THE best friends anyone could ask for--and still do!
• I learned that while school is important, a balanced life is essential.
• I had so much fun! It's crazy to me that so many college friends didn't enjoy their high school years. 
• I had fantastic teachers who were great examples to me. I still think of them often and am grateful for their influence in my life--whether they encouraged me, challenged me, or taught me different ways to think and view the world, many changed my life in little ways. (Do any of you Davis grads still have Emerson quotes memorized???)
• I was able to be involved--I loved being on Dance Company. Now that I'm not able to dance anymore, I often think of those good times, have a dance run through my head, or laugh from memories I made with wonderful people. 

Overall, I feel so lucky for the wonderful life I've had. There are so many good people in this world to learn from! And the best part is that life just keeps getting better :)

So here are some really great photos showing some blasts from my past--enjoy!

Don't Worry, Be Happy (*Insert whistling here*)

Recently I saw a blog post trending on Facebook. The girl who wrote it went to see Al Fox Carraway speak. During the meeting, the author received a personal prompting: "You're living the Gospel wrong." She noticed she wasn't as happy as Al seemed and knew she needed to change. I also recently had the opportunity of listening to Al, and I realized I need to be more joyful as well.

That's what the gospel is about--the Plan of Happiness. President Uchtdorf recently said that we should be "living the gospel joyfully, with all our heart, might, mind, and soul." He also taught that we should be able to say that the gospel "works wonderfully" in our lives!

The blog post about Al Fox Carraway made me take a personal inventory: Am I living the gospel right? Is it working as well as it should in my life? Am I letting it buoy me up and make me joyful?

So. I'm challenging myself to be more happy--everyday! Maybe I'll copy this little hero of mine... ;)

Recognize Divinity

Last week the president of BYU (Pres. Worthen) gave a wonderful devotional on seeking positive relationships. I've been pondering on his message and have realized that it was exactly what I needed to hear at the beginning of a new year. What else could be a better resolution than to be more kind--AKA: fostering positive relationships?

I love the wisdom from C.S. Lewis, which President Worthen quoted:

"It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship...There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal...But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit..."

This truth is something I wish to ponder everyday! Cliche, I know, but can you truly imagine the results of all of us reading, believing, and thinking about this every single day? So this Divine Signature is just a little reminder to you and me to recognize divinity--in others and in yourself!

College Life

Tonight I had the privilege of attending a celebration for the 20th anniversary of The Family: A Proclamation to the World that my major, The School of Family Life, hosted. 

It was wonderful. 

The entire program, my body was filled and overflowing with the Spirit. I know--most of you are wondering how in the world I get that from my major, right? I'm so lucky, because I get to study social sciences with the foundation of my major being truths of The Proclamation on the Family. 

As I was sitting, listening, and enjoying the feelings of peace and comfort, I was reminded of a similar feeling almost two years ago as I received an answer that The School of Family Life was supposed to be my major. During one of my classes, we talked about how this major focuses on how to help the family and how it's based on The Family Proclamation. In that class period and tonight, I felt the exact same, undeniable confirmation from the Spirit that this is where I'm supposed to be. I'm supposed to study the family to help my own family and to help others strengthen their families. 

While the world is drastically changing the definition of the family, the Proclamation is a constant standard for families to find happiness. During tonight's program, President Worthen (the President of BYU) and a professor shared the apostles' vision for The School of Family Life. Their vision is for us to use our knowledge to not only help strengthen our families, but to share what we can with others in all that we do. 

So--while I'm no expert--I've made a new goal for myself to share things I'm learning and my testimony of the traditional family on social media.

I'm grateful that Heavenly Father sends us confirmations as we follow His will for us. This was definitely a Divine Signature for me today!

"Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when
founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ."

-The Family: A Proclamation to the World

4 Simple Steps for Seeing God's Hand This November

This past week, I have learned a lot about seeing God's hand in my life--noticing His Divine Signatures--which is fitting as it is now November, the month of Thanksgiving. 

You know what's amazing? The story of the brother of Jared. His faith was so strong that he literally could not be kept from seeing God's hand. I've never thought about this other than the literal interpretation, but today it clicked in my mind and I realized that we need faith to see His hand. And maybe, if our faith is strong enough, His hand will become unequivocally apparent to us. Can you imagine having so much faith, that you can't be kept from seeing all of the Divine Signatures in your life???

So here are my goals for this month to strengthen my faith and see more clearly God's hand in my life:

1. Pray every morning to notice His hand in my life.
2. When I do notice a Divine Signature throughout my day, stop and say thank you. 
3. At the end of the day, write in my journal the Divine Signatures I noticed.
4. In my  nightly prayers, thank Him again for all of the instances where I noticed His hand in my life, and pray for my faith to be strengthened. 

"And now, I ask, what great blessings has he bestowed upon us? Can ye tell?"

-Alma 26:2