Surprise

I know I just wrote but I had to write again. I had completely forgotten that I had a little party Saturday night. I went to celebrate a birthday and then I hung out with my awesome friend Julie. We watched a Muppet Christmas Carol and put up Christmas decorations. It was so much fun!! For some reason when I help someone else put up decorations it's more fun and magical then doing it for my own family. I learned that they make awesome temple ornaments which would be cool to have one for each temple or something. And to kind of go back in time on Thursday I had the chance to go to the Hale Center theater and watch a Christmas Carol with my mom and sister. That play gets more amazing every time I see it. I love the message it shares and how you can tie it into the gospel and into life. Everyone gets a second chance and you never know how much a little thing can help. Scrooge caught little glimpses from the past, present, and future and that was enough to turn his whole life around. The thing that hit me the most was when Bob Cratchit sang What Child Is This. For some reason that song hit me pretty hard and it has become one of my new favorite songs. :D I feel like rambling a little bit so be prepared. Yesterday was Wednesday and that means dinner group and institute. At dinner group I witnessed a priesthood blessings. I have a lot of faith in the priesthood and it made me happy that those 3 young men were worthy to give a blessing of healing and health. I love it when guys take their priesthood responsibilities seriously and I know if for some reason my dad couldn't be there I know there are guys that I can turn to. At institute the regular teacher was back and something interesting happened. At the beginning of the semester I liked him, then I was a little annoyed and didn't like him. Yesterday I realized I had been kind of judgemental and a little selfish. The lesson was very powerful and I thought my chest was going to burst. Some of it because of sadness but I was also happy. We talked a little about testimonies and that they are important. It reminded me of testimony meeting last month. I had planned before I left for church to bear my testimony. When I got up there I was so scared but I knew what I was saying was true and it came straight from my heart. Afterwards a girl in the ward told me she loved my testimony. She said it was so pure and straight from the heart. I know now that all the doubts and maybes I have been having shouldn't be there. I know this stuff is true. I have faith and hope in it probably more then I even know. Back to class when we were talking about testimonies there was a quote mentioned and I can't remember it know but it's "Charity preventeth a multitude of sins." Charity is an amazing gift that can help build up your testimony. If you have the pure love of Christ you wouldn't do anything bad and you would continually be out there helping others, being selfless, and becoming more humble.
Sorry for the rambling I guess I had more to say then I thought. The church is true and there are many wonderful parts to it. Until next time remember that you are amazing and Heavenly Father loves you!!! :D

Baptism

Sorry this is delayed but here is another post. Last week and the beginning of this week have not been so good but there are 3 days that were amazing. Last Saturday I had the chance to witness 6 baptisms. The first 4 were children from my parents ward. It was good to see people I haven't seen in awhile and to watch these children take a big step toward exaltation. The other two baptisms were my cousin and another little girl. Something funny the other girl was the cousin to my friend. So it was good to see her. Anyway it was cool to watch my cousin's bother get to be a witness and to watch my dad fulfill his role as a priesthood leader and was able to join in the circle for the confirmation. All 6 of these little kids are amazing and they have no idea what blessings are in store for them. Sunday was the Christmas devotional and i love hearing from the first presidency. They should a clip of Christs birth from when Mary is told by an angel to when they flee to Egypt. Those kinds of movies that depict Christ's life always touch me. Sometimes it doesn't seem real that someone loves me so much to go through all that pain and suffering. I am very grateful that Christ is our Saviour, brother, and friend. To go along with this yesterday I had the opportunity to go do baptisms for the dead. It was nice to go to the temple and step out of the world for an hour. The world is full of distractions that sometimes you just have to get away from it. I'm grateful that I have the opportunity to help those you have passed on. A story that has stuck with me from young women's dealt with baptisms for the dead. My young woman leader told us when she was in young women's that when she went to do baptisms she could feel the presence of spirits in the room and she felt gratitude. I know there are spirits who have passed on waiting to be baptized and confirmed. It's always nice to know you are helping others and this is the biggest help you can give. It's completely selfless, and to me it gives me a tiny glimpse of charity. :D Sorry if my thoughts don't flow well but I really felt like sharing a little bit of my testimony. Thanks!