Tabernacle Choir Concert

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is "America's choir". They are on tour of the east coast and we got tickets to go. My first thoughts were, I hear the tabernacle choir sing at least twice a year it really can't be that exciting. I was wrong, I joined some of my coworkers and friends and we made our way out to Wolftrap. We had tickets in the back on the grass which I loved! It was so fun sitting on the grass and enjoying the night.

The choir was AMAZING! They sang a bunch of fun songs ranging from African tribal songs to patriotic songs. Also included were their signature Come, Come Ye Saints and Battle Hymn of the Republic. It was awesome! Even better there were members of the church and non members alike there to enjoy great music! It was a great nice and it was fun to see the choir off of their normal stage and to be a little more casual. One thing that was really fun was when they sang an African Tribal song they swayed, clapped, and snapped all in perfect sync. To have 360 people all in perfect sync was pretty impressive!

Women's Conference Talk

Speaking at Women's Conference was an incredible experience. It is like nothing I have ever done before and will probably ever do again. I learned so much about the Legacy of Relief Society as well as my family. Due to the circumstances of Women's Conference it had to be perfectly times so it's written out word for word. I hope you enjoy it and if you ever get the chance, go to Women's Conference, it is wonderful!

Passing the Legacy of the Relief Society from Heart to Heart

“We are going to do something extraordinary” were the words by the first relief society president, Emma Smith, at the very first meeting of the relief society in 1842. Now, 169 years later we are still doing something extraordinary. There is a great legacy that has been laid before us. Women all over the world are following the council from so many years ago. Joseph Smith said, “…to illustrate the object of the Society, that the Society of the sisters might provoke the brethren to good works in charity and in administering to their wants-to assist by correcting the morals and strengthening the virtues of the community, and save the elders the trouble of rebuking; that they may give their time to other duties, in their public teaching.” Joseph Smith said the church was not perfectly organized until the women of the church were organized. As an organization of sisters we can come together and learn from our fellow sisters in Relief Society of all ages to fulfill the call of the Relief Society.
On March 17, 1842, 18 women, some in their teens, gathered in the upper room of Joseph Smith’s store. President Eyring said,
“They came from a great diversity of circumstances. All faced the universal trials and heartaches of life. Their determination born of faith to serve the Lord and others seems to take them not around the storms of life but directly into them. Some were young and some old. They were from many lands and peoples, as you are today. But they were of one heart, one mind, and with one intention. They were determined to help the Lord build His Zion, where there could be the happy existence the Book of Mormon had described so vividly for them.” We too, are just like the sisters that gathered that day. We all have our own circumstances, our own trials but together as sisters we can build up a sisterhood no matter our age no matter our circumstance to continue to build this legacy of the Relief Society. The Relief Society published a declaration that states:

We are beloved spirit daughters of God,
and our lives have meaning, purpose, and direction.
As a worldwide sisterhood, we are united in our devotion
to Jesus Christ, our Savior and Exemplar.
We are women of faith, virtue, vision, and charity who:

Increase our testimonies of Jesus Christ
through prayer and scripture study.

Seek spiritual strength by following the
promptings of the Holy Ghost.

Dedicate ourselves to strengthening
marriages, families, and homes.

Find nobility in motherhood
and joy in womanhood.

Delight in service and good works.

Love life and learning.

Stand for truth and righteousness.

Sustain the priesthood
as the authority of God on earth.

Rejoice in the blessings of the temple,
understand our divine destiny,
and strive for exaltation.

Together as sisters of all ages we can work together and help each other as we strive to be better. The Lord put us together to strengthen each other. Each of us has strengths that we can share and build each other that will help us all be better and stronger daughters of our Heavenly Father.
It is a responsibility of sisters who have been in Relief Society to befriend the young or new sisters and teach them of the legacy of the Relief Society. Share the love you have found for Relief Society with those new sisters. This is a great organization that brings sisters of all ages together. As Sister Beck said this morning: These sisters coming into relief society are prepared to be under the direction of the priesthood. Relief Society is to prepare women for the temple and to make temple covenants. Teach these sisters of the legacy of being organized under the priesthood and the power it brings. This legacy will help sisters become sufficiently matured and prepared to attend and better understand the ordinances temple. Young sisters are anticipating that bond of sisterhood and to be welcomed as a part of relief society. These sisters are at a pivotal point in their lives making decisions that will affect them throughout eternity, befriend them, share your wisdom and knowledge with them and help them grow in the gospel.
President Eyring said, “Now it’s time to talk about what you must do to pass this marvelous and sacred legacy of Relief Society on to those who will follow you. It will take small and simple things. Just remember that the legacy is passed from heart to heart. Charity, the pure love of Christ, is part of the mighty change of heart which the Lord promises to His faithful disciples. So it is not hard to see what simple things you can and must do to pass the legacy along…You pass the heritage along as you help others receive the gift of charity in their hearts. They will then be able to pass it to others. The history of Relief Society is recorded in words and numbers, but the heritage is passed heart to heart. That is why families are such beneficiaries of Relief Society.”
I would like to share a letter written by my great-great grandmother Jemima Daines to the Relief Society in her later years. This letter is a declaration of her dedication to the sisters in the Relief Society that she was a part of:
If by writing a few lines to you, my dear sisters, who have met here today would encourage you in your labors, I would willingly do so, but I realize unaided by the spirit of the Lord we can do but little. It will be 40 years the 13th of next month (April) since I, with my husband and baby then a little over two months old, arrived at this place and since the first organization of the Relief Society in this ward. I have been laboring with my sisters until compelled through failing health to stay at home. When the Society was first organized I was appointed treasurer. I assure you at that time we had very little to take care of, but we had good meetings and in our weakness we tried to do our duty. We are blessed in our labors. In a few years we were reorganized. I was chosen second counselor to Sister M. L. Woolf. With her and Sister Sally Hyde I labored many years and our associations were always pleasant. As the town increased in numbers our labors also increased. When Sister Woolf moved to Canada, Sister Sally was put in as president and I was her first counselor with Harriet Woolf as second counselor. With them I labored until my health broke down. I can truly say I have spent many happy days with them visiting with the people of this ward in our meetings and ministering to the needy. Many times I have hoped and prayed I might still have the privilege to labor with my sisters in the Relief Society. But in all of our afflictions what a blessing it would be if we could always feel that our Heavenly Father does all things well.
Do not get discouraged, my sisters, if things do not go as smoothly as you would wish. Remember, if we are humble and those that preside over us approve of our labors and we do our duty to the best of our ability, our Heavenly father will overrule all things for good and we will get our reward.
I have often thought what a blessing it is to be numbered with the people of God. Let us labor with all our might to merit that blessing and not do or say anything to bring a blot or stain upon our characters, but remember his eye is over us and he knows the secret of our hearts. Let us labor diligently to fill the mission assigned us here on this earth.
~Jemima Daines
As I read this letter I feel of her passion and love for the sisters in the Relief society. This great love is lost if we do not share it with the sisters around us. She has passed her legacy of service and dedication to the relief society on to those around her as well as her posterity.
I am grateful for the legacy of the Relief Society that has been passed down to me through the sisters in my family. For the example of my great-great grandmother and her dedication to the relief society until she was no longer capable of serving, for my grandmother who shares the stories of our ancestors and follows their examples, for my mother who is a great example of service and ministering to the needy and fulfilling the calling we have as sisters in the Relief Society, for the sisters who have welcomed me and shared their love for the Relief Society and lit a passion and love for Relief Society in me.
Let us stay the course. Let us fulfill our calling to bring relief to our children, our families, those sisters we visit, as well as anyone in need of “Relief”. Let us be excited for the new sisters coming into this great organization and welcome them with loving arms. And like they said in the very first meeting of the relief society, “This institution is a good one… We must cherish one another, watch over one another, and gain instruction that we may all sit down in Heaven together. “ I pray that as President Eyring said we can pass this beautiful legacy of Relief Society from heart to heart. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

My Dad

I must confess, I'm a daddy's girl. From when I was little I just adored my dad. I remember being so small and walking beside him on the farm and holding his hand and just loving it and him. I would love to go on trips with him whether it was an afternoon trip up to Tremonton or the long trips to Delta to get hay for the trips to Montana with a quick stop at the Idaho Falls temple because he knew I loved that temple and I had never been there to see it in person.
My dad has always been there to talk to me and calm me down when I get all worked up. He has a way of calming me down and he always helps me think clearly. I can think of so many times when I just needed someone to help me talk through things and he was always there. I'm sure he knows by now whenever I go find him in the shop while he's working and just follow him around until I find just the right way to bring up what's on my mind. Sometimes if I'm not quick enough he just asks what's going on. I talk to him about all kinds of things and I'm sure when this happens he is never sure what will be on my mind.
My dad is a great source of knowledge about the gospel. Any question I ever have or even is I was want to talk and wonder about the wonders of creation he is such a great teacher. I am sure he was my primary teacher for at least half of the time I was in primary and I remember being so proud my dad was the teacher. He is a great teacher of the gospel in our home.
I can't go without mentioning the countless fathers blessings I have received. From the times when I needed them most and all I had to do was call his name and he was by my side, to the blessings before the school year started even after I went to college. I am so grateful that my dad has always been a worthy priesthood holder and the patriarch of our home. He is a leader and a loving friend. He is a great example of service to me, he is always so willing to help anyone and everyone many times putting everyone before himself. He is so selfless and loving.
I love when my dad using farming analogies to teach me life lessons. They are the ones I love the most. These farming analogies really drive the moral of the story home. I love his passion for farming and they opportunity that I have had to go to work with him and really work side by side with him. (Though sometimes I put up a fight and drug my feet I really enjoyed all the time we spent working together on pipe projects and other things).
Dad is such a great blessing in my life is so many ways I can't even count them all. I couldn't imagine a better dad for me. I'm so blessed to have a father who also teaches me and helps me know of my father in heaven as well. Thank you Dad for everything and for loving me. I pray that one day I will be lucky enough to find someone like you but don't worry I will always have a place in my heart that's just for you! I'm so glad I have the opportunity to call you MY dad!

Run Forever!

You always hear about people who say they can just run forever and it is just the most wonderful feeling... I have never felt that way. I always was one to say okay I’ll make it to this certain distance and then I’ll be done. Then I’d get there and be completely exhausted! So living in Provo where the elevation is 4500 coming to basically sea level and running I really do feel like I can run forever! I can run for miles with hills and I don’t have burning lungs or really tired legs it’s my mind that thinks I can't do it. A couple weeks ago I was at North Carolina at the beach and ran nine miles on the beach in bare feet! (I don't exactly recommend it, but it was a good experience) This isn't far for some people but for me who is not a runner trying to convince myself I am it was quite a feat. It felt great and I sure hope I can keep going and run forever!

Union Station

Union Station. A place I frequent. Though I am always in the basement getting on the metro, one day I will go upstairs and see the beautiful architecture Daniel Burnham created over 100 years ago. I am currently reading a book about him called Devil in a White City. It's about him building the World's fair. It also is about the first documented serial killer in the US. That is really the reason why I am reading it. I always find studying sociopath and psychopaths interesting.
Last night Union Station witnessed a sweet moment. As I am here in Washington D.C. on my own, yes I have lots of friends but I know only one person out here longer than a month, I saw a familiar face. Last week I got a phone call from a boy I took a class with over a year ago. We a despised the class and became friends on the dislike of Humanities. I always see him on campus and we have become friends. I hadn't heard from him and wasn't sure why he was calling, I decided to just let him leave a voicemail because I was sure he didn't really mean to call. He didn't leave a voicemail and I am just too curious to just let it go at that. So I called him back and turns out he is here in Washington D.C. as well! How exciting!! He is doing an internship on the Hill and we even ride the metro to the same station, Union Station. Though we work different hours and we would never see each other it was a little comforting to know that someone I knew was somewhat close to me. Yesterday I ended up staying later than I ever have an made it to Union Station over an hour later than I usually do. I had a small thought to call my friend just in case he might be done with work. I could hear the train but decided to call anyway. When he answered the phone I could hear a train in the background and I could only hope it was the same one! IT WAS!! If I had taken a few more steps I would have actually ran in to him! My heart leaped and a familiar face. I was so excited I am pretty sure I hopped the last remaining steps to meet him. Then, the best thing that has probably happened, I got a hug from an old friend. There is something about a hug from someone who knows you and still wants to be your friend. I knew this tender moment was probably a lot more meaningful to me than it was to him but it was just what I needed. We were going in the same direction and rode the metro together. Oh how great it was to be with someone who was having all the same great experiences that I was. Today Union Station witnessed a great tender mercy. I am so grateful for the little moments that happen in our lives when we really know the Lord is mindful of us and fills us with little things that make us realize how our lives are overflowing with love from the Lord.

"I knew in that very moment I was experiencing just such a tender mercy. A loving Savior was sending me a most personal and timely message of comfort and reassurance... Some may count this experience as simply a nice coincidence, but I testify that the tender mercies of the Lord are real and that they do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence. Often, the Lord’s timing of His tender mercies helps us to both discern and acknowledge them."
David A. Bednar

Impressed

Few things impress me more than when I am on the train standing and some man stands up and offers me their seat. I usually say I'm just fine standing, especially this morning because the man that offered his seat to me I'm sure could have been my grandpa, but when they insist it really actually means a lot to me and really makes my day. It is even more impressive when young guys do it too, not just feeble old me. For all men out there that willing offer their seat to a lady standing on a train or a bus, thank you. Thank you for letting us feel special for a moment and making our day!

My missionary work

Missions are wonderful! And missionaries are wonderful! I live down the hall from the missionaries in my building and I love to see them. I think it would be an incredible experience to be a full time missionary and dedicate every minute of my life to serving the Lord. I could not think of anything better! However, the Lord and I have talked about it and a mission is not where I need to be right now. I see now very clearly why I am not on a mission and I'm sure I will see more to come. Though I do have this great desire to serve and share the light of the Savior that I have with other people. I pray every day hoping that I can at least be a spark or a memory of something that was good and one day someone because they knew me will want to know more. At work you can't really talk about religion but it is different when we are dealing with death every day and what that holds. I'm not afraid of death or dying and maybe that is one reason I can do the job that I do. As a recreational therapist part of our holistic healing includes spirituality. Not necessarily Christianity but being in tune. This has been a great learning experience for me. I am sure this sounds terrible but I look forward to the day when I talk with a grieving family and I hope that I can inspire them to have faith and the find strength in that faith.
I met a boy out here who is investigating the church. It was at an activity put on my someone in the ward and as our mutual friend and I chatted with him he got nervous and asked her if he should tell me. Well I guess he was nervous because he in not a member of the church and wanted to make sure I knew that first. I thought it was something like he was 40 years old or something. So when he told me this and it didn't matter and I could still talk to him and be his friend he relaxed. We've chatted a few times since but on Tuesday night he asked me if I would sit in with him and the missionaries in his next discussion with them. I have never been close enough to anyone who was investigating the church to sit in on a discussion with the missionaries. So when he asked me to participate I was flattered that he would ask me to join him. Our meeting is tonight and I am so excited! And a little bit nervous. I have an extra special prayer in my heart today that I may be prompted and have the courage to say the things that testify of the truthfulness of this gospel. Today I am grateful to be an instrument in the Lord's hand.