Songs of the Season

There is nothing that gets me in the Christmas mood as well as Christmas songs. On the radio the other day I heard the song Mary Did You Know. I listened to the words carefully and I was extremely moved--I don't believe I have ever thought about how incredible it truly was for Christ to come to earth.

Music touches me in a way that nothing else can. One of my favorite parts of church is always the singing of hymns. Christmas hymns are my favorite. Each Christmas song has a different approach to the marvelous truth of the Savior of the World. It is extra nice to sing of Christ's birth in the dead of winter when the world is lifeless and cold, because of Christ we need never die.

He is truly the Light of the World even in the darkest night.

Thankful

It seems fitting to write a thankful blog. To make this interesting, I will write everything I can think of that I am thankful for (in no particular order) in ten minutes. Start the clock!

1. loving family
2. the gospel
   
3. health
4. educational opportunities
5. scholarships
6. living in the USA
7. having a job
8. being accepted into the nursing program
9. a house with heating
10. clean water
11. right to vote
12. rights given by the Constitution
13. enough money for my needs
14. enough food to eat
15. internet to keep in touch
16. three libraries within biking distance
17. rain
18. music
19. having the Holy Ghost
20. electricity
21. hot water
22. my own room
23. shoes
24. clothes
25. access to a car
26. bus pass
27. bicycle
    
28. close family
29. good friends
30. my own computer
31. blankets
32. chocolate
33. money in the bank
    
34. flowers
35. the mountains
36. the sun
37. a country that doesn't have riots (often)
38. my own stash of books
39. knowing God loves me
40. happy attitude
41. ideals
42. fresh fruit
43. fresh bread
44. hope
45. love for others
46. vacation days
47. Christmas
48. Easter
49. opportunity to cook
50. piano in the house

Wow--fifty exactly. I didn't plan that, promise.

Eternal Perspective

Yesterday I talked with a friend I haven't seen in a while. I always love her conversation because she has such great eternal perspective. It is very easy for me to get caught up in my own little bubble of classes, work, family, and friends. I need to have more focus on the eternal.

I believe that this life is a time for me to prepare to meet God. I need to live Christ's teachings fully so that I can be clean and return to live with Heavenly Father. I need to do what I know is right. I need to work on not occupying my time with the "good" things in life so that I can do the "best" things.

How much better would the world be if everyone often thought about the fact that one day soon they will need to face their Maker and give an accounting for their time and actions.

Law of Consecration

I've recently been thinking a lot about the Law of Consecration. Basically, that we give all our time, talents, and possessions to the Lord for His work. The law makes complete sense to me, but some parts of it are easier to live than others.

For example, the dedication of all possessions--I've never had a problem with tithing (giving 10% of my income to the Church) or with Fast Offerings (giving money to help the needy). In something I read, after we dedicate all we have to the Lord, He makes us stewards over our possessions. I pondered about why we needed to give up everything only to have it given back and came up with two theories.

First, when we are owners we don't answer to anyone for our actions with our possessions. However, when we are stewards we are responsible to the actual owner and we work harder to keep the commandments the Lord has given us--godhood by training wheels. Secondly, if we are owners we need to spend our own money to buy additional property. However, God is in actuality the owner of all things, and if we are wise stewards with what He gives us responsibility over, then He will give us more--in fact, all that He has. Someone has called it the "best return rate we will ever get" because we give God everything we have, and in return He gives us everything He has: everything.

Symbols

Recently it seems that my life has been centered on symbols. In Doctrine and Covenants class we've been talking about symbols in religious art, in my chemistry class we are always taking about chemical symbols, in my Adam and Eve class we talk about symbols, and in my Maya Art class we always talk about symbols.

Yesterday I went to the temple to do baptisms for the dead by proxy. I decided to "think like a Maya" and look for all the symbolism I could. I was blown away. I saw so many symbols with so many meanings it made my head spin and I had to stop. All in just one hour! I couldn't even grasp how much meaning there must be in all the temple symbols. Mostly I saw symbols of life and of gathering.

I am motivated to open my eyes and my mind a little wider to see all the incredible depth in what is around me--symbols and people.

Loving the Individual

In between General Conference Sunday sessions there is always a documentary of some kind. I remember the documentary during the Conference before last--it was about President Monson and how he cares for the "one," the individual. Hearing those stories, I felt much closer to President Monson.

In Sunday School today we read the scriptures in 3 Nephi 17-19 when Jesus Christ comes to the Americas and teaches and blesses the people. He takes time to bless them individually. Reading about Christ's compassion reminded me of the Atonement and how it was given for humanity as a whole, but also for each one of us individually.

Loving people is not very difficult for me. However, I am a very private person, and I easily get wrapped up in my own needs and wants and I often neglect to show my love. I am going to try to be better at caring for people individually--to talk to my family, friends, and acquaintances one-on-one, to do little things to make their lives better. In this way I hope for my love to be increased and to become more like Christ.

Family and the Sermon on the Mount

Today in Sunday School we talked about Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. I have been thinking how applicable Jesus' words are for family. How much less contention there would be in my family if I did not get angry with my brothers and sisters! How much more joy we would find in each others company if I did not judge my brothers and sisters!

I can imagine what blessings of tenderness and closeness my family would have if I would turn the other cheek. One of my favorite movies is Gandhi, although I do not watch it frequently because it is so long. Near the beginning of that film Gandhi is talking to a Christian missionary and they walk by a group of men looking for trouble. When Gandhi remarks that he will turn the other cheek if attacked, the missionary says that he thinks Jesus was being metaphorical. Gandhi says that he will take Jesus' words literally. And they work.

I am sure we all agree that Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount are beautiful and true sentiments, but I believe our lives would be much happier if we took them literally and acted on them. Our families would be more happy, the world would be more peaceful.