Seeing is Believing

In honor of today's invitation to help others see, I wanted to share some thoughts from a recent scripture study.

In Alma 36, Alma is talking to his son Helaman about his experience with an angel.

• Alma went about to destroy the church with the sons of Mosiah
• Angel appeared and commanded him to stop
• Alma was harrowed up by pain and guilt for 3 days
• Alma cries for mercy from Jesus Christ

This is what Alma says about receiving the joy of a remission of sins, "And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold. . ."

Alma SAW. 

His eyes were opened. He saw God on his throne surrounded by angels

Then comes the cool part in verse 26

For because of the word which he as imparted unto me, behold, many have been born of God, and have tasted as I have tasted, and have seen eye to eye as I have seen. . .

If we want to help someone see, if we want to help ourselves see eye to eye with someone else, or if we want to help ourselves see, the best way to do that is be born of God. 

Sometimes,

We look at the differences between ourselves and someone else.

We look at the weaknesses in ourselves or someone else.

We see someone looking at the difficulties and weaknesses in their own lives.

We wish our relationship with someone else was closer or stronger.

I would like to invite everyone to think of how seeing might benefit their lives. Then, I invite you to reach out to God, so that you might see.

https://www.mormon.org/christmas/in-25-ways-over-25-days/jesus-helped-others-to-see

Lydia's Baptism Weekend

So now to write the words...  Lydia's baptism was amazing .  She had mentioned to me a little more year ago that she wanted to have her baptism at Martin's Cove.  We had gone there to see a friend get baptized  and it was pretty amazing.  I didn't know if it was possible since her birthday was so late in the season.  When I scheduled it for October 8th, even later than her birthday, I was a bit worried. The day was beautiful. Martin's Cove is a pioneer Latter Day Saint Church Site.  Martin's Handcart Company sought refuge in the cove between the mountains while they waited to be rescue in the cold month of November.  Many lost there lives due to cold and hunger. Many others sacrificed to help others.  It is an amazing spiritual site. There is a little spot on the river that they have designated for baptisms.  The wind was blowing but the temperature was fair and the sun was shining.  Lydia absolutely glowed while Papa Dalton talked about  baptism and the importance of keeping that covenant and what it meant to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He mention how he had a little boy and then asked, " Do you know who that is?" and she grinned and pointed to her dad.  He said that as his little boy as moved all over, and the church has been there when his family was far away.  Then Grandpa Erickson got up and spoke about the Holy Ghost. He related two experiences.  One when he was a teenager and 

She entered the water. It was a little cold. But then when she went all the way under she really felt the cold. It took her a while to warm up. Even after she was dressed.  She then was confirmed and given the power of the Holy Ghost.   After that the Mission President of the Martin's cove spoke. He talked to Lydia about how the place she got baptized was similar to the Jorda river where Christ was baptized. He said that he had been to the Jordan River.  He held up a picture of Jesus at the Jordan river and showed us the similarities.  Th spirit was strong to testify that she was baptized like Christ was baptized , by immersion, and with the priesthood power.  It was just extra special to see the similarities in geography.  The Mission Presidents wife then spoke and gave Lydia a special necklaces of a hand cart. She gave her a little story about a young women who carried many people through the cold ice water so that they could cross to the other side.  That necklace can always reminder her of her baptism and the special place she was baptized.

We then had a wonderful little lunch. 

"Hoe to the End of the Row"

This is a fun video of Dan Nielson's grandpa. Dan is a good friend from Post Falls. I was inspired by the motto and attitude his grandfather has.

Fire to Stay Soft

Sometimes in life, it seems like I am getting hammered over and over again. To take a phrase from the video, I am "work hardening". Quoting a similar phrase from Amulek, a scriptural teacher, "all are hardened".  I resist help and softening at all turns. My contrary nature is like a piece of thin gold lifting a hammer.

Then comes the true test of character. Will I allow myself to be softened by Christ's sacrifice for me? Will I allow the "fire" of the Spirit bring me close to God? Instead of fighting everyone and everything, I can choose to be soft. 

Like you can see in the video, this doesn't change my potential. I still have a lot of "heft". I am full of substance, but now I am malleable. I am willing to listen. I am willing to change.

I hope that each of you will remember to stay soft in these hard times.

Workin the system

Sooo the group text thing has kind of been a mini blog. Which is great for those of us that have little time or little to say.. or just want responses, or whatever more reasoning that I cant come up with right now. Anyway it has its perks!

I decided to use those perks and start giving sneak peeks into the blog. If i put a cool picture in the chat, but then don't say anything else you'll come "watch the full length film" or read my blog post. That way I can get all my pictures out at once and you don't get spammed with text notifications! Double win. That's my working the system.

So. There's been a lot going on. Crazy college life that I'm sure y'all already know. So ill spare the talk and get to the pictures right??

Oops my eyes are clsoed! But this is from a Scotty Mcreery Concert that was super cool. He is a great performer live. Amori came down for it and it was fun to spend time with her. 

This was actually a Halloween concert I went to for Humanities. It was Star Wars themed and it was super good! They did cool things with the lights and had people act out the story. The bows had lights to look like lightsabers. Lute Skyrunner, Jedi concert master. Oboe one, Etc.. It was fun

We came home for Dad's bday! It was great. I brought two roommates too. I also got a new camera so these were partly me experimenting as well. 

I also went to Pocatello and saw the Post Falls girls run state! It was great to see Myrisa and her family again too. 

This is a sign on the printer in the library. I thought it was funny

Getting in my hammock time before it gets all snowy!!

Pinewood derby racing

These are from this last weekend! Its called Goldbug hot springs up past salmon

The view was really pretty

Tanner and Chelsey

I love this picture

One of the more popular pools

The pools were super cool to sit in here because it looked like it dropped off the edge. And yes they were warm. There were some hotter pools and some cold ones, but this one was my favorite. 

Annd the end! Thats pretty much all the cool stuff Ive been up to. Classes are going well. I am becoming a better swimmer. And i really enjoy my Wilderness first aid class. We had one day where we learned how to help Spinal cord injuries and how to properly stabilize, etc. We went outside and practiced and i was one of the patients. So i had to climb a tree and lay over some branches so that it would be more difficult to pull me out while having my spine straight and stable. It was a fun day. 

We had Stake conference two sundays ago. I loved it. Our stake presidency rocks! Devotionals are really good too, and if any of you need a boost, id recommend watching them. 

We were playig basketball the other day and i jammed my pinkie. Which its basketball so thats normal. But the next week my roommate and I found the heavy bags for boxing and that didnt really help it either haha. So I have a swollen knuckle to show off

 Also over the past month or so I was meeting with a Marine recruiter. Sergeant Leutzinger.   It was super cool and the more we talked the more I could see myself doing something in that area. He told me all about how hard it would be, but that didnt change my interest. Apparently the marines make up only about 2% of all the military. So its the smallest branch and one of the hardest to get into. Then of those marines, only 9% are females. I was one of the few that actually fit the requirements. After thinking a lot, I turned down the offer to fill that recruit spot. I told him that the timing didnt seem right at the moment, but its definitely not something I am ruling out for my future. Anyways, that was just something for yalls information!

My auto class is also really interesting, It makes me want to completely take apart a car to see where everything that weve learned fits together and such. It would be nice to have a lab with this class, but ill jsut have to look at stuff on my own i guess. 

I think thats all! Theres your update! Peace out