They're Engaged!

Remember this couple a year ago?


Rachel and Bradley right after they got engaged.
I don't know if I ever told the story. Bradley was living in Utah and Rachel was living in Idaho with me. Bradley called me up and asked me to help him with his plan. He drove up to Idaho without telling Rachel and did a temple session. I had to get Rachel to go to the temple with me the same day. I was able to and we went to a session. Bradley had gone to the one before us. So, when we were done he was waiting in the celestial room. He asked Rachel to marry him there. Rachel was so surprised!!

Fast forward a year. Meet this couple:




A few weeks ago Jared e-mailed me asking me to call him. I did, and he asked me to help him with a plan he had. Jared is living in Utah and Kara is living with me. He drove up to Idaho this past Wednesday to propose to Kara. He had me and another roommate come up with a plan to get Kara to go out to the porch behind our complex so he could propose. So, my roommate and I told Kara we really needed a break from homework and wanted to go out to dinner. A bunch of us ended up leaving together to go to dinner. Kara was at the back of the group when we walked out. She didn't notice he was there at first. But, she did see him soon enough and was soooo surprised! It was great. Jared asked me to take pictures of the event. I did so through the window.

So, just call me the engagement helper-outer. It is so fun to be part of these things. So, who wants keep up with the tradition next fall? :)

More F.H.E. Fun

This week we had another awesome service-oriented F.H.E. One of our F.H.E brother's grandpa's birthday was on Monday night. He and his wife live in a retirement community here in town. We decorated cupcakes and surprised him and his wife with a mini-party. I loved the wife. She's so cute! She looks like Sister Hinckley. She is a social butterfly too. We had a lot of cupcakes so we took them to some other elderly people. The grandma just led us around, introducing us to her friends. We were able to sing hymns to a few people, which really brought the Spirit. I felt like I was back on my mission. It was such a fun experience.

This week has been a week of pulling off surprises. I pulled one off tonight, but can't share the details just yet. I also have one planned for tomorrow night. More exciting posts to come soon!

My Testimony

We had stake conference today. Our stake president gave a powerful talk, speaking of important truths of the Gospel. As he spoke, the Spirit once again testified to me that this Gospel is true. I was reminded that the Gospel is true and nothing else in this world matters. There are so many other small and unimportant things I worry about, but when it comes down to it, my testimony is the most important thing in my life.

Our stake president challenged the whole stake to share our testimonies on our blogs, if we have one. I don't think words can adequately convey the feelings of my heart about the Gospel and what it means to me, but I will try. I want the whole world to know that I know without a doubt that the Gospel is true.
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First, I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is our Savior and Redeemer. He came into the world, went about doing good, and lived a sinless life. He is our perfect example. He performed miracles while He was on the earth and He still can perform miracles in our lives today, if we have faith in Him. He loves us so much that He would suffer and bleed from every pore for every person on this earth. He did that so we could be forgiven of our sins and so he'd know how we'd feel. He has never and will never turn away from us- even if we choose to turn away from Him. He loves us so much.

I know that we have a loving Father in Heaven. He knows us. He understands us. And most importantly, He loves us with a perfect love. He sent us here to earth to learn and grow. He wants us to return to live with Him again. We can, if we live righteously.

Families can be together forever. Death does not have to be the end. We can see our loved ones again someday. This is made possible through ordinances performed in temples throughout the earth. I know without a doubt that this is true. Our earthly sorrows will be but a small moment in the eternal scheme of things.

I know that the prophet Joseph Smith restored the gospel to this earth. He was searching for a church to join, but after praying to God, was told that none of the churches had the fulness of the gospel on the earth at that time. This was because plain and precious truths had been distorted or lost over time. A restoration was needed. So, God the Father and His son appeared to the boy Joseph Smith and the true church was organized through Him. Joseph Smith was able to translate The Book of Mormon- another testament of Jesus Christ- by the gift and power of God. I know that The Book of Mormon is true. It goes hand-in-hand with the Bible.

I know that we have a prophet on the earth today, President Thomas S. Monson. He receives guidance and direction from the Lord. I know He was called of God. He is the mouthpiece of the Lord. We need guidance and direction in this crazy world.

I know that so much happiness can be found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. There is a better way to live, and that is by living the principles and teachings of Jesus Christ. We don't need to turn to the world for peace and comfort. We will not find it there. We will find it by turning to our Savior.

I know with out a doubt that these things are true. I have prayed and asked God if The Book of Mormon is true. I have prayed to know if we truly to have a Savior who loves us and died for us. I have prayed to know if we have a prophet on the earth today. I have received my answer- all of these things are true. I have felt peace, comfort and happiness. I know every person on the earth can know for themselves and feel these things for themselves.

I challenge you, whoever is reading this, to learn about these truths and get on your knees and ask God if they are true. I promise you there is so much happiness and peace that can come in to your life.

If you want to know more about the doctrines of the LDS church, visit www.mormon.org. There you can also find out how to meet with representatives who can teach you more.

Please tell me there is more to life than this!

It's Friday and I was just on campus from 9-6 doing homework and in class. I'm still not done. I have to watch a 60 minute video, take a quiz on it and do another quiz before tomorrow. Tomorrow I have to edit the Scroll for 3 hours, study for my PR midterm, take my PR midterm, start studying for my Editing midterm, do laundry, go grocery shopping and go to stake conference. Please tell me there is more to life than this. Life gets better, right?

Service Project

I haven't really done too much of importance in the past few weeks- nothing exciting to blog about anyway. But, last night we did service as an FHE group. It was wonderful! We were able to rake leaves for an elderly woman and gentlemen who live in houses near our apartment complex. Service really does give you warm fuzzies inside. It's so good to stop thinking about and worrying about your own life and problems and think about others.

Oh, and we went to Jamba Juice afterwards. :) Our Jamba Juice was having an FHE special (ha ha, only in an LDS community)- 8 oz. Carribean Passion for $1.50.

Technology!

I frequently vist lds.org. Today I noticed a caption titled, "Personal Progress Moves to the Internet." The text under it reads:

"Young women can now do their Personal Progress online—link to scriptures, track progress, submit plans and report completion, and keep their journal securely online. When finished, they can print the entire book, including their journal. Their parents and leaders can approve and track their work. Start now at PersonalProgress.lds.org."

No way! This is awesome! Technology is blessing the lives of Church members everywhere. I'm just waiting for the day when we can pay our tithing online with our debit cards. Exciting times.

Missing Chicagoland

Some days I really miss Chicagoland. Recently, I've had a bout of "homesickness" for Illinois. Fall seems to be the worst time for that. I loved fall in Illinois. I wish I could go back for a visit right now.

I know I've said it so much before, but my mission really does mean a lot to me. I feel like I don't get to express my love for my mission as often as I'd like. Up here at BYU-I people assume that guys have gone on missions, so that brings up the topic. But, not so much with girls. It's tough- I don't want to flaunt the fact that I've been on a mission, but sometimes I'd really like to talk about it with someone!

Luckily for me, the other day I ran into my trainer on campus. I had actually left my apartment 15 minutes earlier than normal and decided to go sit somewhere and read. I ended up running into her and we talked a little bit and reminisced.

I've been told that I'll see blessings throughout my life for choosing to serve. Some of the blessings are coming in really small and simple things. For instance, I recently had a quiz in one of my classes where we were randomly asked who the mayor of Chicago is. Thankfully, I knew. Being an RM comes in handy at times. :)

The other day I pulled out a notebook I used on my mission and started browsing through it. I came across a page entitled, "How I've Grown on My Mission and What I've Learned So Far (As of 2/18/08)." Several things were listed: "Increased in faith, more prayers in my heart, a deeper love for the hymns, become a stronger person overall, learned to be satisfied when I do my very best." Now, having been home for 21 months (as of yesterday), I don't always really think about how my mission changed me. But it did.

I'm glad the Lord prompted me and prepared me to serve a mission in Illinois. That experience has now prepared me for other things in my life. There will always be a special place in my heart for Chicagoland and the people there.

Fall Is Here

Fall has arrived here in Rexburg. The trees seemed to have changed colors overnight. I've been dying to get out and take some pictures. So, during a break in between classes today I went around campus and took some pictures. It was such a nice stress reliever! It is such a gorgeous time of year! (The last picture shows my little Halloween shrine I set up in my apartment.)

P.S. Conference was amazing, wasn't it? I stayed up in the 'burg. All of my roommates went down to Utah, so I was home alone. It was just what I needed though. I needed a quiet, relaxing weekend alone to re-group and de-stress. Feeling the Spirit through conference really helped as well. I'm so glad we have prophets and apostles on the earth to give us much-needed guidance and counsel directly from the Lord.