Count Your Many Blessings...

I've been thinking lately of how blessed I am. I am lucky to be at this amazing university, even if I don't deserve to be here. I have amazing roomies who have great senses of humor and put up with my abnormalities :). I have an awesome ward, here and at home in Nampa, who are a blast to hang out with. I have so many great friends who are always there to help. I have been blessed enough to have two jobs (even if they leave me without much sleep), in a time when many people can't find a job. I'm grateful to have good health (knock on wood) and to be able to participate in lots of intramural sports. I have an awesome family, whom I miss sooo much and love with every fiber of my being (so sappy...). I have the best extended family a girl could ask for, who plan crazy reunions, let me crash at their homes for the summer, invite me to dinners, drive out at 3 am to pick me up when i'm stranded with a broke-down car, lend me a vehicle and fix my bike, make personalized crocheted blankets for all the cousins, and keep each other (particularly the missionaries) in their prayers. I am so proud to be both a Baldwin and a Flake. And most of all, I am thankful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints, and for the atonement offered by my savior. I couldn't ask for a single thing in the world that I need more than what I've got. 

Clean the Inner Vessel

Moroni was one of the most strategic and clever war leaders in the Book of Mormon. He was constantly rebuilding and fortifying his soldiers and cities to be prepared from the attacks of the Lamanites and Zoramites. His soldiers were righteous and they fought for righteous reasons (life, liberty, and property). Despite the fact that the Nephites were in the midst of war, it says "there never was a happier time," which is a direct result of their righteousness (Alma 50:23). They keep the commandments, therefore they are blessed. This can be applied to any day and age; external influences do not have to determine your happiness. Rather, those things that are external trials and/or temptations, will serve to strengthen you so long as you remain strong internally. Moroni had such a great army because he began with the inner vessel. Once the inner vessel was clean and strong, then Moroni would focus on protecting his soldiers with shields and breastplates, and his cities with "strongholds", ditches, and towers (Alma 50:6).

 A few years later, we see that "there began to be a contention among the people," because many people wanted to alter the law in order to have a king, rather than a chief judge (Alma 51:2). These people would not take up arms to defend their country, therefore they were a weakness to Moroni's armies. Therefore, even though Moroni had all of his strongholds and protections, the Lamanites were able to attack and slay many of the Nephites, and this because the Nephites "were not sufficiently strong in the city of Moroni" as a direct result of their internal struggles with the kings-men. To apply this to my life, I need to be sure that my faith, testimony, and works are strong and facing Christ, before I can expect to bring others unto Christ whilst on my mission.

10-weeks to Come Closer to Christ

Specific ~ My project is to come closer to Christ through preparing for a full-time LDS mission. That is fairly vague, so I narrowed it down to six objectives for the 'spiritual' part of my preparation (excluding the physical and financial). These are...

·         Attend the temple regularly

·         Read the book of Mormon daily

·         Read the entire Ensign monthly

·         Read from ‘Jesus The Christ’ regularly

·         Read ‘Preach my Gospel’ weekly

·         Write in my journal to record what I’ve learned and to track my progress

Measurable ~ In order to measure my progress, I will create reading charts to cross off what I need to read daily, weekly, and tri-weekly. I also will record in my journal my growth and movement.

Applicability ~ This project is relevant to my life because I am at the crossroad in my life when I should be prepared to make the next big step in this mortal life, which is celestial marriage. However, my choice to serve a mission will help me to prepare for that step by coming closer to Christ and developing consistency in the small and simple things such as studying the scriptures, praying daily, studying and learning how to teach the gospel, and keeping a journal.

Rigor ~ As long as I stay diligent, this 10-week project will push me to more soul-searching and will help me create a consistent pattern of essential habits in learning to become like my Savior. Though these steps and goals seem simple, remembering to do them, giving them priority, and doing them consistently are very difficult for me. Therefore, this project will be rigorous for me to dedicate to.

Time ~ 

·         I will attend the temple every week

·         I will study the Book of Mormon for 20 minutes everyday

·         I will read the Ensign for 30 minutes, 3 times a week (ex. Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday)

·         I will read ‘Jesus The Christ’ for 20 minutes every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday

·         I will read ‘Preach my Gospel’ for 20-30 minutes once a week (ex. Every Wednesday)

·         I will write in my journal every Sunday (at least) for 10-weeks to track my progress and to develop my testimony and faith

Scripture tie-in ~ The verse from the BoM that corresponds to my project is Alma 37:46. In this verse, Alma is speaking to his son, Helaman. Though Helaman hasn’t had a really wicked past like some of his brothers (and his father), Alma reminds Helaman to “not be slothful because of the easiness of the way.” The way is already prepared for us as Latter day Saints. We know what is right and wrong. We have a prophet who leads and directs this church. However, many members, myself included, do not remain diligent in keeping the commandments. The ‘big 10’ may be simple in keeping, though the smaller ones, like daily prayer, scripture study, keeping the Sabbath day holy, and keeping Christ as the center of our lives, are much easier to simply forget to do. So even though my project may seem simple and obvious, these are the things that I struggle with doing consistently, and I want to avoid being ‘slothful’ because of the easiness of the way.

People Can Change...So Let Them Change

Last Thursday, I was in my Brother Griffen's class, and we were going over chapter 31 of Alma. After reading the following verse, Bro. Griffen told us that these men who went with Alma, were the 'dream missionary team'.

 "Therefore he took Ammon, and Aaron, and Omner; and Himni he did leave in the church in Zarahemla; but the former three he took with him, and also Amulek and Zeezrom, who were at Melek; and he also took two of his sons." (Alma 31:6) 

Then he asked,"What is the first thing you think of when you hear the name 'Zeezrom"? If you have read his story before, you might think back on what this Zeezrom character had done. 

"And this Zeezrom began to question Amulek, saying: Will ye answer me a few questions which I shall ask you? Now Zeezrom was a man who was expert in the devices of the devil, that he might destroy that which was good; therefore, he said unto Amulek: Will ye answer the questions which I shall put unto you? And Amulek said unto him: Yea, if it be according to the Spirit of the Lord, which is in me; for I shall say nothing which is contrary to the Spirit of the Lord. And Zeezrom said unto him: Behold, here are six onties of silver, and all these will I give thee if thou wilt deny the existence of a Supreme Being." (Alma 11:21-22)

Obviously, Zeezrom has had a change of heart by the time he serves a mission with some of the most righteous men of that time. 

Though Zeezrom has changed, all of us students only remembered his wicked past. This shows me how I should always allow people to change, repent, learn, and grow. I should never fit anyone into a box that once defined who they were, but that is not flexible for a change of heart. I do not know what everyone is going through, or at what level of spiritual development they are at, therefore, I have no right to keep them at a point in their life that could have been the result of a wrong choice or mistake. Do not judge others because they sin differently than you. That is the basic gist I'm going for. I know that if I treat others with optimism and faith that they can become better, that I can be a strength for good to those I interact with day by day. 

Enter to Learn

This first week back from winter break has been very fulfilling. First of all, my cup over-floweth with blessings from heaven. I am so grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We had a fireside tonight at the Marriot Center where we were able to listen to an apostle of the Lord...Dieter F. Uchtdorf. I just love him!!! He spoke about truth, and how Jesus is the way, the light, the life, and the truth. He puts his trust in us, and we must ponder, search, and pray to find truth, which in turn, brings us closer to Christ. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

That is what searching the scriptures is all about. We find answers and truth when we prayerfully study the scriptures and the words of holy prophets. I know that if I can read and study the word of God daily, and write my reflections down at least weekly, that I will find more joy in my life, and will be able to uplift and serve those around me. I just hope that I can learn as much as possible and maximize my time here at BYU. I do not want to miss opportunities to teach myself and others the wonderful things I learn here at this inspired institution.