Charity.

So, today sacrament meeting was bittersweet because we received a new bishopric. I'm excited to get to know the new bishopric, but I'm going to miss the old one; I didn't fully cry, but I did get teary-eyed.

Today in Sunday School and Young Women's we learned about how to be more Christlike. I was like, "Ding, ding ding! This is what my blog is about." We read from one or two of President Uchtdorf's talks; we read the one where he says, "This topic of judging others could actually be taught in a two-word sermon. When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following: Stop it! It's that simple. We simply have to stop judging others and replace judgmental thoughts and feelings with a heart full of love for God and His children." And I love this! Yes, it is sometimes difficult, but I have been getting better at it! I look at or think of people I admire and love and I think, "They're a child of God. He loves them like He loves me. They chose to come to earth; they chose His plan, too," and it makes me happy. We also talked about charity, and service, and how, if we serve people more, we can learn to love them. It's hard not to love someone once you've served them and helped them. Charity is the pure love of Christ, and as we serve people, we come to be more like Christ, we grow closer to Him, and we come to understand those that we serve better.

He is There.

This is different from what I normally write, but I feel like it is something I should write.

So I know sometimes we all go through really bad experiences and we want them to go away, and sometimes people get so depressed and want to (or do) commit suicide, and that makes me sad, and so I decided to write a poem about it (and some music for the poem that I might post later). I've never been depressed, but I've been in a really deep and dark place, and I thought I couldn't get out, but I turned to my Savior and now I know that there is hope--I know sometimes it's hard to believe, but I know it--I didn't think so at first, but there is hope! And there isn't anything we can't do if we have Christ with us because with God, all things are possible.

He is There by Mattie Radke

Sadness swirls within me;

I cannot see the light ahead.

I stumble through the darkness, trying not to fall;

I fail, and fall miserably--deep, deep, and down. 

I try to get up, but I'm so lost--I can't tell up from down. 

I start to cry--am I alone? I feel like I am. 

Suddenly, I hear it. It's small, but it's there. 

A teeny, tiny voice, saying, "It's all right--I'm here."

I sob because I cannot find the source. 

I stand where I am and sob and sob. 

I begin to walk, because I can't sit still. 

I hear the voice again. It's gotten a little stronger. 

"It's all right," He says. "I'm here for you," He says. 

I don't believe Him. I can't seem to find or see Him. 

"I'm here," He insists gently. 

My sobs quiet down to gentle cries. 

I think I see a tiny light. 

Now it's a little bigger. 

"I said I was here, didn't I?" He says. 

I turn around. 

There He is. 

My Savior. 

He's holding out His hand for me to take. 

I begin to cry again and slowly walk towards Him. 

I take His hand, and together we walk towards the light. 

I did not know where I was; I still do not. 

But He knew. 

He was watching out for me the whole time. 

I know sometimes it's hard to believe, but it's true:

Jesus Christ loves and is watching out for YOU.

So, I want you to know that I am so, so thankful for Jesus Christ because He still loves me. I did something so, SO awful (for me) and He still loves me. I want you to know that when I say you can do it with Him, I mean it. With Him, we can! Please, please, don't try to do it by yourself, because--speaking from experience--it doesn't work. Please turn to Him--He is waiting for you, watching you, and looking out for you. He loves you very, very much, and I do, too, so please, please, please turn to Him. Also, the LDS church released a video about suicide prevention, and it is a good video. You can find the link here.

"The past can hurt...you can either run from it, or learn from it."

I hope you guys are enjoying my blog! I hope it's been helpful and edifying to you because it's helping me to express my love and appreciation for my Savior and for His gospel.

So, we've had lots of flies this year that are super, super annoying, and I was just thinking that they're kind of like our temptations/sins. The flies have been super in-your-face and on-your-face and bothersome, and that's kind of like temptation/sin sometimes. Temptations are often in-your-face/on-your-face (although not always! Sometimes they're so silent you don't even notice them) and they are quite bothersome. And sins--well, the reminders of sins--are sometimes in-your-face because Satan likes to remind us that we're not perfect. Well, news flash, Satan--we already knew that! Nobody is perfect but we are trying really hard to be more like our Savior so that we can return to live with our Heavenly Father. I'm not saying it's bad to remember your sins, because we need to learn from our mistakes, but don't focus on them too much. I know it's hard not to--believe me--and sometimes they seem so bad to us, and we're worried we won't be able to return, but I have a theory. Now, this isn't doctrine, just a theory I have--I think that those who worry about whether or not they will be able to return are the ones who oftentimes don't have to worry about it too much. Because you are showing an interest in whether or not you are worthy to return, this means that you are doing everything you can to become like Him so you can return. Again, this is just a theory I have, so it's possible it's either partially right or completely wrong. So long as you focus on being where you're supposed to be and doing what you're supposed to be doing; and so long as you never forget whose you are (Christ's) and you "remember, remember, that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation" (Helaman 5:12), you will be saved. Also, don't forget to repent! If you need to see your bishop, don't be afraid! He loves you very much and wants to help you! His door is open to you any time you need his help.

So, in summary: Nobody is perfect. Don't focus on your sins too much--like Rafiki in The Lion King said, "The past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it, or learn from it"--learn from them, but don't worry too much. Focus on what you're supposed to be doing. Focus on whose you are. Focus on who you want to become. And don't forget to repent!

Love to you all!!

--Mattie :)

Becoming Christlike.

Patience. Love. Humility. Kindness. These are all attributes that I am striving to continuously have, as well as many more, because they will help me become more Christlike. Patience is one I am always having trouble with because sometimes little things make my temper flare. But I am striving to be better at being patient because I know it will help me in the future; I know it will help me become more like Christ. All of these attributes—including many others—will help/benefit me in the future. Striving to obtain these attributes now will make it easier for me so that I don't have to worry about obtaining these attributes in the future; I will just have to worry about maintaining them. In order to get/stay on the path to becoming more like Him, you have to just choose one to work on! :) Work on it until you feel like you need to work on something else. As you strive to become more like Christ, you will come closer to Him. 

Conference.

Conference is now over. I'm so grateful for all the messages given. I noticed something about two of the talks:

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf: The process of gathering spiritual light is the quest of a lifetime. 

Elder Allan F. Packer: Qualifying for exaltation becomes a quest of a lifetime. 

Do you see it? They're both talking about "quest of a lifetime". I love conference because sometimes the messages all coincide--and no one is given a topic. They all prayerfully ask Heavenly Father what He would have them speak on and write the talk. I think it's cool that a lot of the speakers talked about the prophets, and I think it's funny that both President Uchtdorf and Elder Packer talked about quests of a lifetime. In qualifying for exaltation, we can gather spiritual light. It will be the quest of a lifetime, and it will be glorious. 

Conference weekend.

This weekend is conference weekend, and we have heard so many good messages already! I love conference weekend because I love to hear all the messages and I love to listen for what God wants me to hear, and learn, and know. I always hear something that hits me hard or that I need to work on. I would now like to bear my testimony: I know that Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father love us all. I know that He lives. I know Jesus want us to return and I know that He has prepared the way for us. I know He speaks through the prophets and apostles to us. I know that prayer works. I know that if we do our best, He will help us finish. I know that He gives us families to learn and grow in. I know He gives us trials to strengthen us. I know that with Him, weaknesses can become strengths. I know He loves us all, and I know that He atoned for us because He loves us. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.