a treasured moment from 2004.

photo via deseret news

This week we tried to be "screen free" to focus on preparing for General Conference. Although I refrained from blogging I couldn't help but to post a few pics on Instagram. Sometimes you just need a break from the world online you know? 

When Spring comes I think of the times when we lived in Utah being so close to the conference center & how convenient it was for us to walk to temple square just to listen to conference. Whether or not we got tickets to watch it inside going to temple square as a family & sitting on the temple grounds to hear the words of a prophet was perfection to my weekends while living there. 

Living on the east coast away from the church headquarters was an adjustment, but we always manage to make it to the chapel for general conference. Sure we can watch it at home, but on Sundays I can't help but to keep that routine going as if we're going to church to partake of the sacrament. Our kids enjoy going to the chapel & in my opinion makes listening to conference more spiritual & meaningful to us.

This past week we were watching old General Conference addresses. That is when I realized that this year marks the 10th anniversary of when I went to the conference center in 2004 to sing with other sisters during General Conference.

Relief Society Presidencies from our stake back in Utah were all chosen to sing at general conference. Yeah...me singing. Scary thought huh? The camera must have loved me because you can see me at the bottom in the very beginning at 2:57, 4:03, and at 10:51. I'll tell you though...looking back ten years at this video brings back some awesome memories. I see the beautiful faces of my sisters whom I served with in the Relief Society...Kim, Mary Lou, Andrea, & Kristen who was our Stake relief society president at the time. 

Chelsea was born a year after this wonderful event took place so she knew nothing about this opportunity, and when we watched it together I asked her to see if she recognized anyone. She blurted out saying, "What the heck...is that you mom, or did you photoshop yourself in there?" Her expression was priceless, and I'm so grateful that I have this wonderful recording to pass on down to my posterity. I'm so grateful that I had the opportunity to have done this service and to have been among an amazing group of sisters to sing songs of praise. An opportunity that many of us may never get. 

I count my blessings each day knowing that I have direction in my life by being a member of the LDS church, & that I have a choice to make each day a joyful one.

So thankful for the belief I have in God & for a living prophet who guides & leads us today with his words of wisdom that he gives. 

Living away from the headquarters of the church continues to strengthen my testimony & helps to conquer any resistance that I face. 

I have long since realized that I don't need to live in a place where I feel that in order to "believe" in a prophet, an apostle, or general authority that they're real. I know that by listening to their words via satellite & with the faith that I carry that their words are true. 

It is still the best feeling to have lived in President Thomas S. Monson's home ward for four years where I saw him maybe six times, and to have shaken the hands of President James E. Faust, & Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. I had the same feeling while singing at conference knowing that I was a couple hundred feet away from where they all sit. I had butterflies in my stomach...can't imagine how it will be when I meet the Savior (fingers crossed!)

The experiences I had while living in Salt Lake were some of the best, & although I had some major trying times those experiences have taught me lessons & strengthened my spirit in ways that I probably wouldn't experience elsewhere. 

This church is true, God lives, & I know that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ.

I am so thrilled to watch general conference again this weekend & I hope that you will too! It is worldwide & everyone is invited! 

Have a great conference weekend! 

Son of God: Reasons why I love movies about the Savior.

Ever since I was a little girl I remember my mother practically forcing my sister and I to sit down & watch The Ten Commandments with the iconic Charleston Heston. As if watching this movie from 1956 was going to teach us some kind of lesson, and help us grow spiritually. Funny thing is that I actually found that movie very interesting & inspiring. Growing up as a catholic I remembered having to memorize all sorts of prayers including the ten commandments. Now that I am older I have learned that there are more than just ten. Today...I thank my mom for all the times she would have us sit in front of the tv every time that movie would air during Easter weekend.

My love for Jesus grew as my mother tried her best to keep us on the right path. I developed a strong love for Jesus, and every time there was a movie airing about him I was always eager to watch it...without force. As I entered the double digits, and endured the trials I faced throughout my childhood I began searching for that light of Christ that I once remembered as a seven year old girl. I wanted to encounter and investigate every single church that worshipped the Lord. That was the beginning of humbling myself as a tween hoping that by going to church, and learning more about the Lord just as I did about Moses in the ten commandments would somehow help me, and those who were hurting me both physically & emotionally. The difference then is that when I was a small child I had my eyes wide open, and a mind that was willing to be focused on learning more about Jesus...specifically to save me through my trying times. 

For some of us it's a lot different when we get older. Some of us drift away, and take for granted the things that are taught to us by our parents about God. Then there are those who have gone through so much crap in their life that we are eager, and willing to "find ourselves" and seek that light of happiness. 

I eventually chose the latter...at the age of 16.

As I reached my teens I was still feeling lost, and afraid. Wondering why people were so mean to me. I wondered sometimes what I did to deserve such hateful treatment. I never wanted to blame my childhood as to why I did the things I did, but as hard as it was seeing some of my friends treating me so harsh I couldn't comprehend, and I wanted to die. Then again...I'm a girl. And sometimes girls at the age of 16 have a boyfriend. And with boyfriends at a young age comes heartache and drama. And with drama comes heartache, and with heartache comes severed friendships and relationships with both guys and girls.

Now that I am older with a family of my own raising four children of which two are teenage girls I am wiser in the advice I give them. The fact that they are being raised with a foundation of God helps me to become strong, and I am not afraid anymore. Reading this lovely post today written from my oldest daughter tells me that I did something right. And even though she had to learn things for herself on her own motive...she is on the right path to having eternal life.

I love sharing my thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. I am forgiving, kind, and love anyone who has ever harmed me in my past, last year, yesterday & today. It is not my place to judge but God's. The fact that I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints puts me at ease knowing that I have the truthfulness of the gospel to share with others, and that puts a huge smile on my face. I chose to follow Christ, be baptized, and to remember my sins no more. That's what He wanted me to do. That's what He wants all of us to do.

Watching the Son of God this past weekend three times was humbling, and like attending the temple gave me an extra boost of energy knowing that I can always do good. I practically sobbed throughout the entire movie all the while saying to myself, I want to be just like Him. I want to turn the other cheek when someone says something hurtful, or rude. I want to have his patience, his courage, his faith, his deep, deep unconditional love. I want to have his sincerity, and obedience in always doing good. Not cursing, thinking evil thoughts, or saying anything inappropriate to anyone.  I personally felt the spirit knowing that each day I have a choice to be like Him, and I can. And although I think I'm pretty close to being like Him...I am sooooo far from it. 

Everything about him is so perfect. I cried when he spared the adulteress in being stoned to death. I cried when Judah betrayed him. I cried when Peter denied him three times after he was sentenced to death. I cried when Jesus Christ walked up a steep hill holding the cross while being whipped after he already had been given 40 lashes. His perseverance, and the strength that he had was amazing. And when he said, "With God all things are possible" I cried even more, because that sentiment is so true. His heart was filled with the most unconditional love you can ever imagine, and the fact that he had such a forgiving heart to those that betrayed him helps me even more to always, always love, forgive, and strive to sin no more.

There was not one dry eye in the audience and people clapping their hands at the end of the movie was proof enough that this movie was beautifully, and eloquently done. Proof enough that even though those that saw this movie will walk out as imperfect as I am hopefully knowing that we can change, will start now to follow Christ's teachings, and do better.

And so today I move forward. Each day is a new day. A chance for a do-over. A chance to do better today than I did yesterday. I will strive to be forever on that path. Striving and seeking the good in many ways. Striving to choose good over evil. 

I love watching anything about the history of the world, current events, but most of all the Savior and his apostles. My life has changed immensely because of Him. I am not a perfect person, nor will I ever be, but reading about what Jesus went through in order for me to experience this thing called "life" gives me the courage to follow him in righteousness, and fight the adversary.

After all... "He is the way, the truth, and the life."

**all photos via google.