To My Children Part 2

Hey kids. In the past year I've picked up on a few things in life. Keep in mind that right now I'm just 18 years old so I really don't know very much even though I may act like I know everything, because that's what all teenagers do. (; One thing I am starting to get a grasp on is opposition. When you are told: "there must be opposition in all things", IT IS TRUE. 2 Nephi 2:11 says "It must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so,... righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor miser, neither good nor bad". If something is good you must know the bad to appreciate it. If you know sadness you know happiness. Isn't that an interesting thought? If you did not know the feeling of sadness you could not truly comprehend the feeling of happiness and joy. Next time you are feeling sad, angry, depressed, or completely lost, please try to remember those are the feelings that give you the power to appreciate all the amazing and happy things in your life.

I have tried to do this when I am feeling down and it really helps me. It doesn't take away the negative feelings but it helped me find things to be thankful for. As I was doing this one day I had this overwhelming feeling that Christ knew exactly what I was feeling. This brought me so much joy because no matter how hard we try to describe a feeling to someone, they never know exactly what we are feeling or thinking, but Christ does. Once I had this epiphany, I grew closer to my Savior. My darkest times improve my relationship with Christ. When I feel sorrow I picture Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane feeling EXACTLY how I am feeling. He did this for me and for you. All those times when you feel like you are in a dark hole that you will never get out of, Christ has felt that too. Its crazy to think that someone would feel all of the sadness and pain you have felt, exactly how you are feeling it but He did it because He loves you. Please try to remember that as you are going through these hard times. Use them to bring you closer to Christ and use them as an opportunity to be thankful to your Heavenly Father because He knows what is best for you. I know you are not here yet but I love you so very much and cannot wait to meet you.

Here is a song that I love and I promise the lyrics can help you in your own life if you let them speak to you.... and yes it is from the cartoon, Joseph and the King of Dreams.

First day of College

I have officially started college. It isn't as horrible as I thought it would be.   On my first day I got to my first class super early abecasue I was paranoid that I was going to be late or not be able to find my class. I was sitting there by myself and a guy I had a classs with my senior year walked into my class.  We kind of new each other so he sat by me and we talked for a little. It was so comforting knowing that I somewhat knew someone in my class. We don't talk much but we sit by each other every day becasuse we both wanted familarity.  I went to my next class and sat alone and didn't talk to anyone which actually isn't the worse thing ever! I was on my way to biology and I see a freind who I played softball since I was eight all the way until my senior year of high school. We talked and we discovered that we were in the same biology class! I was so excited and relieved. This class is suppose to be my hardest class and it is so nice to have someone i know that I can go over all the material with. In between my biology and religion class I normally have institute but that didn't start until the second week, so I met up with one of my friends and we went to one of the buildings to hang out. We ran into one of my friends who I have known all my life. We talked with here when we figured out that we have institute and world religions together. It was so crazy but made me extremely happy and really calmed me down about school.

Rewind to the night before my first day of college. I was still feeling so nervous. I decided I needed to ask my Dad for a blessing. This was something that was really hard for me for some reason. Satan. Satan made me believe my Dad wouldn't want to give me a blessing. I am so thankful i got the courage to ask because it changed my whole perspective on school. At the end of that blessing I knew I could go to school and be perfectly fine. I felt so calm and I even felt a little excited. My nerves and anxiousness immediately when to tranquility and excitement. I know this was the Spirit of God telling me He loves me and He is watching over me. I am so thankful my Dad holds the preisthood and is willing to use it to help others. The preisthood is such a wonderful gift we all have accesss to. The preisthood is truly a gift from our Father in Heaven.