It will all be okay.

Now, I know I already posted today, but that was about my birthday. :)

This weekend was stake conference, and there were many messages shared that I needed to hear, so I will just share some of my favorites.

-We are not converted to the church but to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
-The Plan of Happiness (or Salvation) was created for families.
-Conversion is a process.
-God gives us commandments because He loves us. He wants us to grow and become a better person.
-Be a Latter-day Saint.
-Sanctification is a process.
-Sanctification is yielding our hearts to God.
-Never give up on yourself.
-The body and spirit are the soul of man.
-We are dual beings. We have a physical body and a spiritual body.
-Heavenly Father speaks us through our spirits by way of the Holy Ghost. Only you can discern his voice for yourself.
-God loves us, speaks to us, guides us, and teaches us.
-He will guide you along your path.
-Stay in tune.
-Let the Holy Spirit be your guide.
-All good things in your life come from a loving Heavenly Father.
-He knows you better than you do.
-Be a little more. A little more Christlike, a little more patient, a little more loving, a little more kind, etc.
-When we open our hearts and souls to the Lord, He will change us.
-The Gospel changes everything. The Gospel is full of effort every day.
-We must return with honor, and we must bring someone with us.

Those were all great messages, but these ones are the ones that I really needed to hear:
-Heavenly Father loves you.
-He has given you the gift of the Holy Ghost.
-Pray to Him! He knows you and loves you.
-It will all be okay.

That last message–It will all be okay–is my favorite. I really needed that message, and I'm so grateful that Sister Carden shared it with us Saturday night. It's been an edifying and uplifting weekend and I am so grateful for the messages that our leaders shared with us. I am so grateful for my Savior, and for my Heavenly Father, and for Their hands in my life. I am glad that I can count on Them because They know what is best for me, and They know how to help me change and become the great person that They know I can be. I am not perfect, but I am trying to be the best that I can be. <3

My birthday adventure.

Well, yesterday was my birthday!!! I had a great day! It went like this:

I had orchestra rehearsal in the morning and my friend got me a couple of cute things; then when I read her card later, I cried a little (for the first time but definitely not the last time I'd cry that day).

So then I went to spend a couple of hours with my family; I got the new Cinderella movie!!! My parents are going to buy me a couple of tickets to a BYU arts production so I can take a friend and they are also going to buy me a new camera. I'm so excited!! Anyway, after we had treats (my mom made mini funfetti cheesecakes) my parents took me out to lunch, and then I was home for about another hour while I tried to work on stuff for the new year of college. During that time, one of my friends going to a different college called me, and so I got to talk to her for a bit, which was fun.

Then my dad took me back to my dorm, and I got ready for stake conference really quick and then I headed up to the Joseph Smith Auditorium for that. I heard a lot of messages that I needed to hear, and as we were singing the closing hymn, "How Firm A Foundation", I started to tear up a little about halfway through the second verse, but I totally lost it at the third verse, and I couldn't sing it. There was an older man sitting a seat over from me and he patted me on the shoulder and so of course I felt really self-conscious then and I tried to stop crying and I tried to sing the last couple of lines of the song, but it just wasn't happening. I just really needed to hear the message in that verse, and my Heavenly Father knew that.

After that, I met up with my friends for dinner and then we headed to BYU's Ballet production of Alice in Wonderland. It was so good!!! I had a great time. After the ballet, we headed back to our dorm and got changed and then we headed downstairs to the basement–my friend had made me a cake, and my friends sang to me and we had cake (one of my friends gave me a card) and chatted for awhile before we all had homework and things to do.

At this point, I wrote in my journal about my birthday (it took up like three pages) and some more crying commenced because it had been a super great day and I was just an emotional mess (as always ;) ) when I got to thinking about it all, and about the things that my friends had written in their cards. I have been having a bit of a hard time lately, what with still trying to figure out when to do my readings and things for my homework, amongst other things, and the things that my friends said in their cards to me were sweet words of love and encouragement that I needed. I'm so grateful for their examples to me, and for their love. Yesterday was an amazing day because of my friends and family, and I'm so grateful for all of the people in my life. <3 <3

A collection of simple messages. :)

There were lots of great messages today!! So I am just going to post them in bullet list form. :-)

Sacrament meeting: Specifically about missionary work/mission prep, but it also works for the Gospel in general:

• To be able to teach, we must first love the student.
• All refining comes with a price.
• The Plan of Salvation would be void without the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
• You know more than you think you know. 
• Doctrine and Covenants 38:30-"If ye are prepared ye shall not fear."

Relief Society: Simplicity ("It Works Wonderfully" by President Uchtdorf):

To become converted, you have to actively live the Gospel. Develop your own testimony. Study the scriptures and pray. That is how you become converted. Conversion is a life-long process. :)

These are a couple of thoughts that I had after our lesson in Relief Society:

• You are a child of God. And there is nothing that He wants more than for you to return and live with Him.
• People often forget that we are all human, and humans make mistakes. God does not make mistakes–His Gospel is perfect. It is the people living the Gospel who are imperfect.
• The message of the Gospel is love. It's the love that our Heavenly Parents and our Savior Jesus Christ has for each of us–They want us to return home to Them. 

I am trying so hard to be a good example. I'm trying so hard to be a better hand for the Lord. I'm not going to lie–sometimes it's difficult; sometimes it's really easy and fun. :-) Regardless of whether it's difficult or easy, it's always worth it to see a smile on someone else's face, or to make their life easier, or whatever the results end up being. 

Loving those you serve makes your life so much better. 

You know more than you think you know. Don't freak out so much. Take a breath and step back from your worries–believe me, I know how hard that is, but you can do it!–and think about it slowly and carefully. The answer will come to you in time. :)

The process of refining and changing yourself to be a better person comes with a price–you have to let go of who you were. I know that it is super difficult, but I also know that you can do it with the Lord's help and guidance. Trust me–Jesus Christ will help you, and He will not let you fail or fall. 

I know that this Gospel is true. I know that my Savior lives, and that He died so that we could all be saved. I know that He died so that we would never be alone in our troubles. I know that He sends people to us to help us. I know that He has sent me to help those around me. I know that conversion is a life-long process, and that your testimony can stop growing and disappear if you don't work on it daily. I know that God is always there for me. I know that He loves me. I know that He is always there for you; I know that He loves you. I know that you are a child of God–a daughter or son of an almighty King–and I know that He loves you with an infinite and endless love. That will never change. 

P.S. If you ever have any questions, you can ask me, or you can check out lds.org or mormon.org. These are a few of the Church's official sites. Mormon.org has a link where you can ask to meet with the missionaries. 

It's always your choice.

This year we are focusing on The Book of Mormon. I'm so excited! I love that book!! I know that it is true. If you want to know if it is true, then you should read it and pray about it. Pray about it a lot. It might take a couple of days or even weeks (because God's timing is different than ours) but the Spirit will testify to you that it is true. Only you can learn for yourself if the things of God are true.

In Gospel Doctrine, we talked about how "faith precedes the miracle". Seeing is not believing, someone said, because Laman and Lemuel saw an angel at the same time as Nephi and Sam, and yet, in the end, Laman and Lemuel lost their faith. Nephi desired to see the vision that Lehi had seen, and because his heart and desire was righteous, he was able to see the vision that his father had seen, and he was able to come to understand it.

In Relief Society, Jillian gave the lesson on prayer, which was so great and definitely inspired because I needed the lesson today (I'm trying to get back into the groove of scripture study and prayer and I'm not going to lie–it's a little hard. All of my homework this semester is reading, and not just one chapter or half a chapter. For two of my classes, we have to read giant chunks of reading, one of them due every class period, and the other due ever other Friday, I think. Anyway, it's been difficult to find time for everything. Even if I read all of my assignments for my classes for two hours, that's EIGHT HOURS! That's insane!! I just need to divide my time better. I'm still working on that. Anyway, so finding time for scripture study is a little hard. I'm going to try something different this week and we'll see if it works). Megan commented something that I've heard before but this time it really stuck with me. "If it's important to you, then it's important to Him." Heavenly Father knows all, but He still wants us to pray to Him! Tell Him about your day–tell Him about your worries, and your struggles–because He wants to hear from you. He wants to bless you–ask Him for help, and for blessings. He wants to have that relationship with you, but He can't do that if you don't do your part.

In sacrament meeting today, Paige said that you have to put "time and effort" into the scriptures/Book of Mormon". Honestly, they are just sitting there, waiting for you to open them. This same principle applies to your relationship with God. He is waiting for you to come to Him. He invites us to "come unto Him". You have to do your part. Also in sacrament meeting, Jared quoted Elder Neil L. Andersen: "Your faith will grow not by chance but by choice." This applies to your relationship with God, as well. You have to consciously make the decision to get closer to Him.

Every part of the Gospel and the Church is your choice. No one can gain a testimony for you. No one can develop your relationship with God for you. Only you can gain (or lose) your testimony, and only you can develop (or repress) your relationship with your Heavenly Father and your Savior. It is always your choice, whatever way you decide to go.

When we went to the temple on Friday night, after we had done baptisms, we sat in the chapel and read the scriptures for a few minutes before we decided to head back. I was trying to find something–anything–that would help me with a question that I had. I randomly came upon Mosiah 16. This chapter in general stood out to me, but several verses in particular hit home, a few of which I will share:

7 And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection.
8 But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.
9 He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death.

I don't know why these ones stood out to me, but they did. Because of Christ, we can live forever. I guess I just needed the reminder that yes, people die, but because of Christ, we will be resurrected and we can live forever. So I need to try my hardest to be the best I can be. Yes, it will be hard, and yes, it has been hard, but I am not alone because Christ is always with me, and it will all be worth it in the end.

Just remember that it is your choice, not anyone else's. No one can force you to gain that testimony or relationship with God. If it comes to you, then it is because you realized for yourself that it is true.

Such a blessing.

I had the opportunity to go to the Payson Temple yesterday (Friday) with some friends. It is such a beautiful temple! I am so grateful that my friend thought to invite me! I love her dearly and I am so grateful for the inspiration she had to invite me. I haven't been to the temple in awhile and I really needed to go. It was such a blessing. I felt the Spirit strongly and I was able to receive answers to my prayers. I'm so blessed to be surrounded by so many wonderful friends, and I'm so blessed to live in Utah where there are so many temples! :)

He brings peace.

First, I would just like to say that I made it through my first week of the new semester!! Friday and Saturday were just a tad busy (okay, a lot busy) but everything went smoothly, which is so great! I wasn't really that worried about it, but when it came time for those days, all of a sudden my brain went into "Oh my gosh, I'm going to be so busy today!" mode and then I was kind of worried, but everything went fine, and then as the day went by, I became a lot calmer. I know that that was because of Christ, which leads into what we talked about in Relief Society today.

Today in Relief Society we talked about the peace that comes from Christ. It was a lesson that I really needed, and so I'm grateful to Sheridan and Lexi for their time in preparing the lesson, and I'm grateful for all of the girls that commented today–I really needed to hear what a lot of them said. Sheridan said something at the beginning of the lesson that I loved: "The only way we can have peace is through God." I loved that. We read several scriptures about peace that I absolutely love and I thought I would just share them all! :)

John 14:27–"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
John 16:33–"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
John 14:6–"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me."

That last one isn't directly about peace, but it gives me peace, knowing that I can come to [know] my Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ.

One of the questions that Sheridan and Lexi asked was this: "How can we receive the peace Christ offers?" I loved what some of the girls answered. Someone said that you have to be open to receive it. The way to do that is to study your scriptures. Another girl said that you can ask Him for peace. It might not come right away, but it will come. :)

Another thing we talked about was that loving others brings you peace. This is my favorite because it's so true. Loving and serving others does bring me peace. It takes me away from my troubles, even if for a brief moment, and, in that moment, not only do I get to share God's love with others, I get to feel His love for me from their gratitude, and from the peace and love that the Spirit gives to me, whispering to me, "You did right."

We also talked about how the Savior can help us find peace regardless of the turmoil around us. This is when I shared my story about this weekend that you already read up at the top but if you don't remember I will share it again (in slightly different words but not but yes): Friday and Saturday were really busy days for me. I wasn't really that worried about it when I thought about it Wednesday or Thursday evening, but when it came time for Friday and then Saturday, all of a sudden my brain went into "Oh my gosh, I'm going to be so busy today!" mode and then I was a bit worried, but everything went fine, and then as the day went by, I became a lot calmer. I know that that was because of Christ. I also know that even though I don't turn to Him as often as I should (I'm trying to be better about that), He will still be there, and He will still help me. I said something during this relaying of events that went like this: Even if we're traveling through a hurricane of turmoil and events, I know that if we stand, even just for a brief moment or two, we can feel the peace of Christ, and that moment of peace can carry us till the storm ends.

The last thing we talked about was that by fixing our eyes on Jesus, we can triumph over elements that would destroy peace. This is so true. By focusing on Jesus (which, coincidentally, is one of my New Year's Resolutions), everything else will fall into place, and He will bring peace to your heart and soul. In conjunction with this, Sheridan relayed the time when Jesus walked on water in the midst of a terrible storm, and after he realized it was Jesus, Peter jumped out of the boat to walk with Him, but as soon as his eyes fell upon the water, he started to sink, and said, "Lord, save me", and Jesus lifted His hand to Peter and said, "O thou of little faith, [why] didst thou doubt?" Your lifeguard walks on water. He will NEVER let you drown.

I know that He brings peace. I know that He is the Son of God. I know that He helps me carry my burdens when I'm overwhelmed, stressed, or frustrated. I know that when I can't continue on carrying it, that He will lift and carry most of it for me. I love my Savior and my Heavenly Father, and I am so grateful for their love, and their faith in me, and their patience, and their help. I'm so grateful for the Atonement, and for the peace that it gives me. Life is sometimes really hard, but I know that I am not alone, and that brings me peace.

Compassion in trials.

So, funny story: I had an accidental sleepover last night. I had a party with my friends that ran later than I thought it would and my dad didn't want to drive me to Provo that late so I stayed home. 

Anyway, today in Relief Society Sister Sollami taught the lesson and we talked a bit about trials and how they can help us. Several ladies said some very poignant things: 

-Trials help us become more grateful, more patient, and more considerate. 

-Sister Worthington talked about when Jesus and His disciples were in the boat and Jesus fell asleep, His disciples were frightened when the storm came and woke and asked Him, "carest thou not that we perish?" He stood up and said, "Peace, be still" and calmed the storm and the sea. She said that He won't always calm the storm–sometimes we need to go through it–but He will always provide the peace and comfort we need. 

-Trials give us understanding. It's up to us to be willing to lift and help others in trials that are similar to or the same as what we've gone through. 

Compassion is a big part of trials. When we are going through trials, we turn to the Lord for comfort and guidance, and we want others to be compassionate to what we are going through–to be aware that we are having a difficult time and that we need someone to lend a hand, or an ear. When our trial is over, we are then compassionate towards those who have gone through the same or similar trials. We are willing and able to help them get through it.

In my patriarchal blessing, it says that I will be compassionate and understanding of other's needs. Though I didn't outright say, "Mattie, you need to be compassionate and understanding", it's something that I've always tried to do and be. I try to be aware of those around me, and I try to be helpful, and I try to be there for my friends/family when they need me. I had an experience last semester that I think about all the time. I was heading to the library, and I saw a woman, holding a lot of things, with her daughter trailing a few feet behind her, stopping every so often. I asked her if I could help her, and she said, "We're just slow-going." She said that they were returning books to the library, and I said, "I'm heading there now. I could turn them in." And then she said that would be great, except she might have to go up to the 3rd floor to turn the books in, but thank you anyway. And so I went on my way, and I have always regretted that. I don't know why I didn't just say, "Hey, I can do that for you." 

That experience was a lost opportunity for me, but it's made me realize just how much I love helping others. Because I did not help that woman, I felt really bad because I lost an opportunity to bless one of God's children. Being compassionate and serving others makes me happy–I mentioned something like that at the end of a previous blogpost (http://havingachristlikeheart.blogspot.com/2015/12/have-courage-and-be-kind.html). 

I just want those around me to know that they can always turn to me for anything–I will always be there for them. That's what Christ does for me, and for all of us, and so that's what I want to do for my friends and family. I want to always be there for them, because I know what it's like when you need or want someone to be there for you–even if it's just to talk to make you feel better emotionally–and they're not there. I don't want anyone to feel like that. I don't like it when people are sad, or alone, etc. So I've decided that I'll be there. Even if no one else is. I'll be there. Because that's what Christ would do, and what He does. He's always there. So, if I am there for you, just know that I'm there because Jesus Christ cannot personally be there, so He sent me. I hope that's okay with you.