What I Learned During a 10-Day Social Media Fast

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints I had the opportunity to participate in our bi-annual General Conference on October 6th and 7th. Every six months we are blessed to hear the living Prophet of the Lord speak. He is guided through prayer and revelation as to what things we, as a people, need to know. When he speaks, he is not only speaking to members of The Church, but to the ENTIRE world. God loves ALL of His children and is therefore desirous that they ALL receive His word and instruction in these last days. 

President Russell M. Nelson
(www.lds.org)

This conference, in addition to the General Sessions, we had a General Women's Session for women ages eight and up.  Prophet President Russell M. Nelson's call to women was that we might help in the gathering of Israel by doing things to positively shape the future. In this session, he issued four challenges to help us rise to a level to do so. 

1. Participate in a 10-Day social media (or other impure media) fast
2. Read the Book of Mormon between now and the end of the year
3. Establish a pattern of regular temple attendance
4. Be active participants in the Relief Society

Apparently there was some controversy that followed this challenge. Throughout the world people were ridiculing President Nelson for the 10-day fast invitation for various worldly reasons. As for me, when I first heard this list, I was excited to take on the challenges. I could immediately see benefits and was excited to see what else would be revealed to me.

I would like to share the things I learned while participating in that 10-day social media fast and interestingly enough, how acting on that one challenge helped me move forward in action on the other three challenges! Neat how the Lord works, isn't it? 

Here's what I learned!

• Without social media we have closer relationships and better conversations 
• In the first 24 hours of my fast, so many things were posted to Facebook, even important, vital news. It was really cool to see how friends reached out via other forms of communication to share that with me. Because of that, our conversations meant more than just a quick "comment" or a "like" or even... a "love". We talked about life, caught up, and discussed the news at hand in further detail. We talked about the gospel and other such things and shared real feelings with one another. I felt closer to my friends, even being in far physical distance from them.

• Without this worldly influence, revelation comes more clearly and quicker
• While attending my institute class this last week, I had thoughts come clearly to my mind while we were having a discussion. I could make connections with talks and scriptures. I could remember what I read the previous night and was able to apply it to my day. I was able to hear direction more clearly from the Lord. I honestly felt the whisperings of the Holy Ghost touch my heart and my mind in ways that I haven't had for a while. His words and guidance were not clouded by the loud voices on social media or other impure media. I also filtered out shows on Netflix that weren't bad, but they also weren't good. That increased my ability to learn spiritually.

• It's easier to make better choices without social media (or at least limited social media use)
• This was so neat to me. It's not that I was making bad choices while using social media but it did eat up my time and consumed my thoughts. I found myself using this extra time to workout and to study the scriptures and conference talks. I found more time to serve and love others. Here's a tie in to two other challenges; I really wanted to spend more time at the temple and more time in the Book of Mormon. SO I DID.

• It's okay to filter crap out of your life and out of your news feed
• I actually really enjoy social media, mostly for the sake of keeping up with friends and family that don't live nearby, but I do enjoy it. I think it has the power to be an influence for good if we let it but you also have to learn to filter out the crap! Unfollow, unfriend, and disengage. It's ALL okay to do! When you feel contention because of a post, unfollow or unfriend this group or person. When someone retaliates against a comment you make, LET IT GO. There are times when you might feel inspired to make yourself clear, stand up for what you believe in or share something otherwise, I think that is great! I would just urge that you don't let one comment made take over your day, emotion or happiness. 

• My soul and mind were being held captive
• This was something I didn't realize AT ALL. A few days went by during the first while and I wasn't feeling trapped or tied down anymore. I began to experience more joy, confidence and understanding in my life. Social media and other impure media (like my silly Netflix binges) were holding me down. During my day, I was thinking about a comment made instead of a service I could be doing. I was thinking about how the next episode was going to go instead of putting in more study time for my next institute class. I was wondering what I should post concerning a political or religious discussion instead of taking more time to pray about truth. I was held captive by this fast-paced, fantasy, online world. FOR WHAT? Nothing. Nothing can replace real, meaningful moments in your real, unfiltered life. Do NOT sacrifice those. BREAK FREE from the demands of society and social media.

• People are struggling throughout the world AND in my own family
• Social media was constantly bringing to my attention the trials of others throughout the world. During this fast I was able to see more clearly, the trials within my own family and friends. This is not meant to be a negative realization, just one that opened my eyes and sparked a desire to serve those that are close to me AS WELL as those throughout the world in need.

• It's more interesting and more fun to talk to people (other living, breathing humans next to you) than to stare at your phone
• Now, this is something I firmly believed before this 10-day fast but I too am guilty. When sitting next to a stranger at the doctor, school, store, office, etc. I sometimes use my phone/social media as a crutch to not have to start a conversation with someone I don't even know. You know why? I'm fearful of being awkward. But during these 10 days I watched faces literally light up as I made an effort to talk to new people. One was at a pharmacy, there was a long wait to get a flu shot so in the waiting room I sat next to an older gentleman and I simply asked, "How are you doing today?" He replied with his life story. Haha! But hey! I met someone new and got to learn a thing or two. 

TWO THUMBS UP RECOMMEND THIS EXPERIENCE!

I learned so much during these 10-days, these are just a few of those realizations. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to take a break, to open my eyes and to learn that it's okay to limit my time online and on my phone. I'm grateful that through this experience the desire to serve others, serve in the temple, and study the Book of Mormon became much stronger in my life. 

I would also like to make mention that I do NOT think the Lord is asking we take ourselves off of social media, I think He is only asking that we limit our time online and spend more time in the moment. I also think He is asking that we have a purpose in our use of media; how might we make the world a better place while using social media?

If you're still reading, thank you! Also, feel free to share and comment :) I would also like to point you to another post I made a while back concerning your phone/media and your relationships. Click here!!

While Standing In the Middle of a Busy D.I.

Today I went into D.I. (Deseret Industries) in search of some clothes. I was minding my own business just sifting through the racks. Suddenly I heard, "Excuse me ma'am, can I ask you a question?" I looked up to see a sweet elderly man holding a pair of women's pants in one hand and his dear wife's hand was clasped in his other. 

"Of course!" I responded.

The man proceeded to say to me."Do you think these pants would fit her? They're a stretchy waist band and they look like they might. She wears a size five, they say ten but they don't look that big, I think they'll work. Do you?"

I looked at her and back at this pair of pants. Then, I looked back over to this woman who was still gripping the hand of her husband. My heart was immediately filled with love. I looked at her husband and said, "I think they will do." 

He smiled a faint smile and then said to me,"I think so too. Thank you. I have never had to dress a woman before, but she has dementia now, so I'm learning. The stretchy waist band will make this easier for me to do." Then he walked away, still holding his wife's hand and that pair of pants. She followed him, not saying a word, but you could tell she was confused by the conversation.

At the time, my heart was filled with love for this sweet couple. Now, as I type this experience to share with you, my heart is still full but my eyes are now wet. I cannot express to you the gratitude I have for this sweet man who is faithfully living vows I'm sure he made to his wife while they were young and healthy; for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish.

I do not know if this couple shares a union that ends with "until death do us part" or "for time and all eternity" but I do know the Lord loves them. I felt it today, while standing in the middle of a busy D.I.. 

You yourself may be single, engaged, married by law, sealed in the House of the Lord, or maybe your journey has you elsewhere. But, wherever you are in this life and in your marital status, I would like to share these thoughts that have entered my heart today, because of my experience. 

First, love the Lord more than you love your spouse. If your love for Him is pure and is worked on daily, the love for your spouse will develop into something more beautiful than you anticipated. For those still seeking, be sure you find a man or woman whose actions show that they love you but that they love the Lord more.

Second, work towards a sealing in the Holy Temple of the Lord and keep that covenant pure. It will bind you for time and all eternity. It will give you access to the powers of Heaven, bring stability in your marriage, bless your children and protect your family. Being married by the power of a judge/man's law, will bless you in this life until physical death. But being married by the power of the Eternal Judge/divine law, will bless you eternally and your union will be recognized and sanctified after this life. Allow the Lord to be the third person in your relationship, it is the way to have eternal joy. 

Third, please never go to bed angry. Tomorrow is not a promise for our bodies or for our minds. Never fail to let someone you love, know that they are loved by you. Life is too short. 

Lastly, do not take what I have shared today lightly. I never have really understood the power of a temple sealing until lately. Even so, I still have questions and I still don't know all the answers but I do know you will NEVER regret the decision to follow the Lord and be bound in a union with Him. Without this union, there would be much confusion at the Day of His Coming. Because we have the proper sealing powers, we are linked together and linked to our Savior and Father in Heaven. 

If you have questions, ask them. 
Take action and move forward in faith. 
If you aren't on your knees daily, speaking with your Father in Heaven, start TODAY. 
He can hear you and He will answer you.
His promises are sure.
He loves you. 
He loves all of His children and that's something we can always feel, even if it's in the middle of a busy D.I..

The Divine Calling of a Father

Our Heavenly Father has an infinite and undying love for each and every single one of His children. He knows, loves, understands and wants to bless all 7.6 billion of them on this Earth; in addition, every child who came before and those who have yet to come. He is incredible, infinite and beyond our capacity to understand. But He is real and very aware of us.

Heavenly Father gave us a beautiful gift to have while here on this Earth. In fact, this gift was so important that He made it impossible for us to be here without it. It is required. He blessed us with an earthly father.

I think in the Pre-Earth Life (where we lived with our Heavenly Parents before this life)  He had a very special conversation with all of the men. To them I think He said something like, "I cannot go with you, I cannot raise up children in mortality. That is YOUR opportunity, YOUR job, YOUR divine calling. You have a sacred obligation to be the best example of me that you can. They will look up to you, they will need you. I want them to see a glimpse of me in you.

"Some of you may be required to perform this calling alone, due to earthly trial and sorrow. Others of you may not have such opportunities on earth, but fear not, all will be made right through your Brother, Jesus Christ.

"For those of you who will raise earthly children in this time, please rely on that same Brother when nothing seems to be going right. Rely on Him when you feel you have made every mistake that there is to make and that there is just no hope left. You cannot go wrong. I trusted you enough to let you raise up my children as their earthly father, provider, exemplar, caretaker and friend. Do not give up. Your perfection comes later; for now I only ask that you do your very best."

But then I believe He lowered His head in a way that you could see the heartache He felt. "Unfortunately," He softly continued, "Some of you will choose to use your agency otherwise. You will neglect, you will walk away, you will choose a darker path than you now anticipate. In these moments I will only be able to do my best in showing your earthly children that I am still here and that I have not forgotten them. But also, please try to remember Sons, in those same moments, I will not have forgotten you."

Our earthly fathers have a large role to play. Some of them have succeeded; they have loved us, raised us and taught us much about the character of our Heavenly Father. To each of those fathers, I am grateful. I am sure it has not been an easy path, but if you did your best, if you tried, if you did all you could to right your wrongs, YOU have pleased your Heavenly Father. You have risen to the call you were asked to perform here.

Unfortunately, there are some earthly fathers who have neglected the responsibility of fatherhood. They haven't been as faithful in fulfilling their calling to raise and love their beautiful offspring who are a gift directly from their Heavenly Father. They have fallen short. 

Those children who are faced with this trial are loved deeply by their Heavenly Father. He sent His Son for them that they might experience joy despite the loss in their childhood they may have endured. The Savior has felt their pain and their sorrow. He suffered that they may feel whole in all circumstances.

But for their fathers, He also suffered. He suffered so that their shortcomings might be forgiven through sincere repentance. He suffered because His Father, our Father, said He wanted ALL of His children to return Home to Him and that was the only way.

The point is, Heavenly Father is eternal. No matter our circumstance, He is there. And He, even in our weakest and darkest moments, continues to love us because once, in that Pre-mortal council, we ALL chose Him; we ALL chose to work hard to become like Him. We accepted His plan, knowing that we would have trials, regrets, and sorrows but also very happy and beautiful moments throughout this earthly journey. 

Today, I only encourage you to love and show gratitude to your earthly father who is trying. For those of you in less than ideal situations, forgive. Forgive your father or forgive yourself. It's the purest way to heal. Then go to your knees and express your gratitude for your Father in Heaven who tries every day to show you His love. 

WWW.LDS.ORG

Henry: A Son of God, an Addict, a Friend of Mine.

On a mission you are not often lead to people who are totally prepared for baptism; more often you are lead to people the Lord simply needs you to love. 

In the beginning, I wasn’t the biggest fan of Henry and the Lord knew it. I was easily frustrated with his actions and quite frankly, I saw what he was capable of and became disappointed when he didn’t live up to that. However, over and over again I was prompted by the Spirit to love Henry and his wife, Christy, more. (My companion was all ready so good at loving them and this was hard for me.) So I started searching for reasons to love and believe in them.

By the time I left the area, Henry and Christy had a special place in my heart; they still do. I grew to love them because, after much prayer, I was able to see them the way the Lord did. I knew what they could become and more than anything I wanted them to achieve that. 

Unfortunately, Henry was trapped by the draining influence of addiction. Last night Henry overdosed on drugs and as a result, his life here in mortality ended. He left behind family and friends who love him dearly, especially his wife. He lost a battle he fought for a long time. 

Henry did love his Savior and he did have the mustard seed faith that had beautiful potential. He had a story and a heartache that never really went away. He had a big heart and a willingness to serve, in his sober mind. He wanted more for his life, I could see it in his eyes; but sometimes it was just too much for him.

I do not share this story to hurt Henry or his family or to be disrespectful in any way. I share it because I feel we need to see addictions and addicts in a different light than we do. They are children of God, caught up in Satan’s temptations. They belong to someone; they are a daughter, son, mother, father, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, wife, husband, cousin, friend. 

Addicts DO NOT need our judgement, they need our love. 

For some of you, this is hard to accept. You may face a broken heart and other serious damage from someone you know as an addict; I face that trial myself. I’m not saying you have to forget that; you do not have to pretend that you’re simply okay with their actions or however they may have mistreated you. But PLEASE do not judge them. That is not our job. That is not our calling. 

Matthew 7:1-4
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

Or Luke 6:37
37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven

Moving forward with peace in your heart may require you to forgive those who have wronged you. And let me note, forgiveness is not an act that requires us to trust again or allow a person to resume an active position in our lives. Forgiveness is the act or process of allowing peace to replace the hurt. 

Remember that every person placed upon this earth is your brother or your sister in Heavenly Father. He sent us here to love one another as He has so mercifully loves us. 

Henry is only one example of someone I love dearly who suffers with addiction. I pray that he might find peace and that he may come to truly understand the love the Father has for him. I know that I will see him again someday and I hope that it is a joyous occasion. He will forever be someone who influenced my life and someone who I am grateful every day, that my Heavenly Father and my Savior asked me to love.

If you know someone who is suffering with addiction, please extend your love to them in any way you can. Please help them, seek help. Remind them of their potential and their divine nature as a son or daughter of God. That divinity is within us all. 

There are many great help programs in place. One I have had personal experience with and LOVE is Addiction Recovery. https://addictionrecovery.lds.org/?lang=eng

To those who are struggling, seek the help. Spend another day here with those who love you. Remember your Savior, Jesus Christ, who died that you might live. Remember that you are worth it.

Henry, I love you. May we meet again.

                                          

YOUnity

Unity is defined as "the state of being united or joined as a whole."

I have such a draw to the concept of unity and our responsibility as individuals to bring it to our communities. In today's world we have such a need to be unified in a good cause. We cannot make it through this life completely on our own; I believe if we try to, we will find frequent moments of unhappiness.

Unity is a balm to our souls. It has an ability to heal long-time wounds and fill the gaps within out hearts. The Savior of the world, who died that we might be healed from all things, prayed, in His last moments, to the Father saying, "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me" (John 17:21).

Diversity is a beautiful gift given to us by God Himself. He knew it would take all kinds of souls, personalities, colors, shapes, sizes, etc. to keep our world going. He knew we would be blessed by the opportunity to be surrounded by many cultures. He understood that despite these differences, our hearts would have the ability to be knit together because of, quite possibly, the most important doctrine known to man; that we ALL are loved sons and daughters of a Heavenly Father. 

This doctrine unites us in a way that nothing else can. There was a hope that our hearts truly would be “knit together in unity and in love one towards another” (Mosiah 18:21). In fact it was stated by the Lord, “If ye are not one ye are not mine” (D&C 38:27).

Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles counsels us by saying, “Perhaps there has never been a more important time for neighbors all around the world to stand together for the common good of one another."

We have an opportunity to look past our differences and to become one, whole, unified, knit, His. We have a chance to be more like Him by doing our best to be a little better every single day. We have the responsibility to reach out to those who need our love and support. We are given the calling to love others as Christ loves us, to share the gospel in His manner and to be participants in His divine plan. 

Here's an additional article discussing the importance of unity if you're interested.


                                                                                       

         

                                                  Artwork of the Savior by Del Parson.

Living Waters

While I was in the Missionary Training Center in Provo, we took a walk to the temple. I noticed the water running down on the walls near the sidewalk. That is something that I have noticed before but I always thought this was just for landscaping purposes; water is beautiful and it tends to catch the eye. I don’t remember who, but someone shared with me the symbolism of the water that is found outside of Latter-Day Saint temples. 

The water found at the temples symbolizes Jesus Christ as the Living Waters. Found in the Book of Mormon is an explanation to the prophet Nephi about the dream his prophet father, Lehi, had. It says, “And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron, which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life; which waters are a representation of the love of God; and I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of God.” (1 Nephi 11:25).

The comparison of the love of God and water has stood out in my mind for quite some time. Allow me to share some of my thoughts!

Water makes up 50-65% of the human body. It is essential for us to have, to live! If the body didn’t have the nourishment of water, it would begin to show signs of dehydration. We would experience dry skin, lack of energy, dizziness, fainting, etc. Lack of water puts our physical health in danger. (This wasn’t intended to be a health lesson, but DANG I need to drink more water… haha).

The same goes for our spiritual health when we are not partakers of the Living Water. We show signs of a spiritual dehydration which is just as dangerous. We lack the energy that brings us to a higher level of joy. Our spiritual shields begin to dry up, crack and eventually break leaving us exposed to the world’s darkness. We experience a sense of confusion while making decisions and on occasion, feel a little lost.  At times, it feels almost impossible to stand on our own feet. 

Now when it comes to water, I’m the first to admit I would much rather a Coke. I don’t always like to drink water and sometimes I go the whole day without even thinking about it. The same goes for my daily intake of the love of God. Sometimes, I would rather binge watch Netflix than open the Book of Mormon and some nights I’m laying bed about to drift off and realize I forgot to kneel and say a prayer. Like water, the love of Jesus Christ needs and deserves a place in our being. We need DAILY intake, the recommended “8 glasses”. 

Remember the promise from the Savior to the woman at the well. He said unto her, “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

The Savior NEVER breaks His promises. He lives and He is the Living Water of which we are asked to partake.

                        

 

My Heart Belongs in Oklahoma

Returning home from a mission is one of the most challenging experiences I have had in my life so far. I wish I had the ability to share with each of you the totality of what is on my heart. Then again, maybe the Lord allows us to experience unexplainable feelings so that we might grow closer to Him who is the only One who understands.

Today, I have been home for a whole month (almost an entire transfer) and I'm still facing struggles that I thought would be long gone by now! For example...

-I feel out of place even when I'm at home.

-I can't seem to be by myself for much longer than an hour before I start to feel anxious.

-Music is still a huge adjustment! I'm confident I've listened to the music on my mission flash drive more than I have listened to anything on my free 3 month trial of Apple Music.

-I just keep watching Disney movies because everything else is too intense.

-I still eat pretty fast like I have someplace to be. Seriously, most of my family still has half a plate of food when I finish!

-People keep asking me my plans and in my head I think, "Honestly? To make it through the day."

-It's still hard to introduce myself as Casey and not Sister Warren.

-I miss the people of Oklahoma so much that it hurts sometimes. Most days I feel like I was taken out of my home there and placed in the foreign land of Utah.

The difficult experience I am having adjusting to home reminds me of the difficult experiences I had as a missionary. In those moments, the only thing I could do was turn to the Lord. That's the only way we can conquer our trials and our weaknesses. Prayer, church, scripture study, acting on faith, making good choices, etc.

Aside from the struggles I am having, I'm full of gratitude for the things I learned and brought home to cherish. For example...

-I learned that I actually like okra and fried chicken ain't that bad. 

-I picked up the Okie language of y'all, fixin' to and bless her heart.

-I learned to like frizzy hair and unpredictable weather.

-I learned to love people and to believe in them despite the comments from others.

-I learned to see the positive and the good in every situation.

-I gained a testimony of Joseph Smith and I let his trials be my motivation to do better.

-I met people whose stories impacted my life in many ways.

-I built friendships that I know came before this life and will stay through the next life.

-I learned how to be more Christlike in my words and actions. Though I came far, I am still imperfect and pray I can continue to improve throughout my life.

-I came to understand the Plan of Salvation and just how perfect God's timing is for every person.

-I grew in my faith and became more grateful for trials.

-I made a home away from home, where I long to be.

Oklahoma has my heart. It will always be the place where the Lord made of me more than I could have ever made of myself. Thank you to everyone who worked on His team and touched my life; if you met me, that's you. Also, thank you to everyone who knew me before and supported me, without your support, the experience would not have been the same.

Never take for granted the opportunities that the Lord gives you, they might just change your life.

18 Months to Find Him; Eternity to Cherish Him.

Welcome to the final stretch! Ten days until the MTC and thirty days until Oklahoma! A flood of emotion has come over me this last week as I said a goodbye to some friends and family all ready, given my farewell talk and had time to let reality sink in. 

Reflect back to the title of this post and then let me share with you the why behind it. 

I believe if I let the Atonement and the Spirit work effectively in my life, I can and will be the greatest convert on my mission. I have 18 months to spend with amazing children of God as we all strive to come closer to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It's a process and journey we will take together; as missionaries, members, family, friends, converts, investigators, etc. 

I am beyond words excited for my mission! I have found myself pretty nervous the last few days, but that is the Spirit working. I don't remember word-for-word, but a wonderful member in my ward said to me the Sunday of my farewell, that if we are nervous but the slightest, the Spirit is with us and ready to teach. If we find ourselves content and overly confident, we might not be as spiritually prepared. Now, this is just a statement of opinion, but I believe it is true. Our Heavenly Father wants us to be challenged so that we can grow.

There was a picture of Christ that always hung in my home throughout my childhood. Next to it was a phrase and it read, "I didn't say it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it." It was not easy for me to decide to serve a mission but I knew that time and time again, my Heavenly Father was telling me that, that is where I needed to be. As hard as the mission decision was, it was not hard to decide to serve my Savior after all He has done for me. 

I decided to serve a mission because of revelation given to me through the Spirit, experiences provided through the Atonement and Priesthood power in my life which testified of His love for me. This amazing Gospel truth has provided a change in my life that gives me hope and provides an eternal security. That is the message, His message, that I want to share. Love, peace, hope, truth, eternity. 

As I spend the next 18 months on a journey for my Savior and my brothers and sisters, my hope is that I will find Him and come to know Him better than ever before. Most of all, I hope that every person I meet and experience I have on my mission will better me for the eternity I have to cherish Him and His Gospel. <3 

Spiritual Serenity - May 19, 2016

Tonight, I have a few things I would like to leave here; things I have come to have a greater understanding of today. 

1. The role of a women/mother is divinely given

Many people today are in uproar because women do not hold the Holy Priesthood keys in The Church of Latter Day Saints. Right now, I ask you to open your heart and hear what I have to say.

This week I have struggled with pain in my big toe and about half of my foot. I thought it was from wearing shoes with no support so I let it go. Today around 4am I was woken out of a deep sleep with excruciating pain in my foot which brought me to tears. My mom was the "first responder" and, having illness of her own this week, didn't even complain; she simply did (in her words) "what mother's are here to do." 

After a while of crying and feeling much pain, my mom asked me if she could say a prayer with me. She knelt to the side of the bed and prayed for my pain to ease up so I could get some sleep until the insta care opened up in a few hours. She prayed that we would receive and answer and ways to treat it and then she thanked Heavenly Father for all we have. Within in minutes, my pain calmed and I fell asleep. 

Women may not have the same Priesthood authority in the church as men but that (in my opinion) is because our "Priesthood role" is to be mothers and caregivers. The Lord desperately NEEDS women strong in the Gospel who can help him perform those divine duties here on Earth. He hears our prayers as loudly, clearly and strongly as He does those of His sons. 

Because of my mother, I was able to find relief today in my physical pain as well as my emotional worry. There are so many reasons to love her and be grateful for her divine role and strong example.

2. Satan knows me just as well as my Heavenly Father knows me.

The end result of what happened today is that I now, for unknown reasons, have an infection inside my foot. It is being treated through antibiotics. (Additional answers to my mom's prayer this morning). 

So this leads me to the second thing I learned today. Satan knows me just as well as my Heavenly Father knows me. I was planning to go to the temple this week and that now, because of my infection, that has to be postponed. I also have very few weeks before I leave for my mission and this concerned me for my health. 

Satan has the agency to cause trial in our lives and HE DOES. He ESPECIALLY does when he sees that you have an opportunity to do good, be happy or serve the Lord. 

IT IS A TRIAL OF FAITH. 

Although he has placed things in my life to slow me down, I plan to walk forward with the Lord's plan. I will heal and then I will attend the temple and I will serve my mission because I have faith that the Lord's plan is FAR greater than Satan's plan and even my own plan.

I know this was a longer post but I felt prompted to share my experience today. Please know, YOU are capable. YOU can overcome hard things. What you are going through may be a trial in your life but it is also a trial of faith so hold tight and KEEP GOING. And if you have questions about your faith or the church, ask someone of authority. Those individuals are called to help, teach and assist YOU.

(If you have further questions or want to try to further understand the role of women in the church, PLEASE read the talk below, it's a favorite of mine, or visit www.lds.org): 

A Plea to My Sisters - Elder Nelson

PRICEless

People knock small towns ALL the time… especially little Price, Utah.

A drive by...

A simple coal miner’s town...

A college pit stop...

A nothing town...

I cannot tell you how many times I’ve been asked, “Do you like it there?” and then heard a laugh following my “I love it!” response. Or how many times I’ve been asked, “Why Price?” 

So let me answer that very simple question.

Price has given me some of the most amazing people.

The friendships I have made while in Price are so valuable and completely priceless. They are friends that turned into family. They are the kindest, most loving and caring people. These relationships mean the world to me.

Because of these individuals I have learned life lessons and skills that will follow me forever. With them, I have shared some of the greatest laughs, had the greatest conversations, made life-long memories and learned what it means to love and be loved.

Price has been the home of my mighty change of heart.

Before I moved to Price I was lost. I didn’t have goals that were on the straight and narrow and I didn’t know who I really was. Because of many wonderful influences around me, a lot of prayer and signs that my Heavenly Father was near, I was able to find myself.

Price provided me many opportunities to grow and learn: 

I was able to take on responsibilities as an adult that gave me necessary skills to progress. 

I learned that sometimes you have to just take care of you if you want to get anywhere. 

I learned a love for people, all kinds and all backgrounds. 

I learned when to love and when to give tough love. And most importantly, I learned who I am and what I stand for.

Price has given me various jobs that changed who I am.

First, I worked as a mentor on the USU Eastern campus. I helped first-year students continue on their successful paths of higher education. I had the chance to help individuals through their educational trials and it was so satisfying. I had the most amazing boss and teammates who definitely have a place in my heart. Getting to know these individuals and see their love for others made me so very grateful for their part in my life.

Second, I worked for one of the best families I know! Dinosaur Tire was the HARDEST place in Price to leave. I love the Axelgard family so much and I have eternal gratitude for everything I learned while I was there. They taught me so much and I was always laughing throughout the day. They are my Price family!  

Third, I had the opportunity to spend a few hours a week with an elderly lady helping her with basic tasks. Her stories and advice gave me a new outlook on life. I am so grateful for the time I could spend with her learning, laughing and serving.

Never take for granted the jobs you are given, they can be the biggest blessings in your life if you let them.

Price has given me a place to miss.

I know it’s cliché, but part of my heart will always belong to Price. It is a place that I am going to miss so much. It has become a second home for me, a place I will always proudly claim. Price, for me, will never be just a drive-by or a nothing town;

Price is home.