Music Is The Souls Sigh

I love music. Music is one of the most important things to me. I listen to it everyday, nearly every minute, and love searching for something new.
About a year ago I stumbled upon a christian artist, Jeremy Camp. I instantly fell in love with his music and find myself listening to it quite often.
A little background on this particular artist; he was married about ten years ago to a woman named Melissa. She was diagnosed with Ovarian cancer, and died a year after their marriage. As any man would be, he was devastated over the passing of his new wife and found himself questioning God's plan for him. When he found out she was diagnosed with cancer he wrote the song "Walk By Faith". Later after her passing, he learned to accept God's will and resembled that in the song "I Still Believe". This example sets a high bar in how we all need to live by what God has in store for us, not what we have in store for ourselves. He has been blessed with a new wife and two daughters now.
Anyways, to continue on, he has written some amazing music, and I love listening to it all the time. If you have not heard any of his music I strongly encourage you to look up the songs I mentioned earlier, or they are also in my playlist. I also consider his song "My Desire" the "theme" to my pre-missionary experiences. That is why it is number one in my playlist below.
He tours the country a lot singing, and giving sermons to those in company. He constantly mentions how he knows Christ love him, and how God lives and he has been working hard to serve him. He is an ordained minister, and is very strong in the sense of knowing God loves each and every one of his children. I encourage everyone to listen to his songs, and stretch their boundaries in the christian genre of music. There is so many good artists like Jeremy Camp out there, who I love listening to. It's clean, uplifting music, and you feel closer to the Savior by listening to it. Leaving for two years will bring the sacrifice of not listening to JC, but that is something I can deal with as I try to make the spirit my constant/musical companion. Jeremy Camp has affected me as an artist as he has taught me humility, love, and the desire to teach the people about the gospel of Jesus Christ.
For behold, the field is white already to harvest; and lo he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perishth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul.
D&C 4

I Love To See The Temple

The temple has played an essential part in my mission preparation. I love everything about it, the work that goes on, the beautiful landscaping, the architecture of the building, everything. It's such a beautiful place, and so peaceful. Even just being on the ground I can feel at peace. When I walk through those doors I can feel the Saviors presence. It's such an amazing place.
I obviously can't go into anything that happens inside the temple, as members of the LDS Church hold the work sacred, as do I. It's a sacred work and saving ordinances that are performed.
Anyways, I attend the temple as much as I can. I go every Thursday night, and a little more. Whenever I feel the impulse to attend, I do. I love going with family, friends, and its a special experience to attend by myself as well. It's been such an amazing testimony builder as I have attended at least once a week since I received my endowments on September 22. I have many favorite temples across the world, Such as San Diego, Washington D.C., Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, and Logan. I've told my mom constantly, someday I'm going to call you and tell you I've met my future wife, and we're getting married in the San Diego temple. That temple above all is my absolute most favorite.
Since I've received my endowments, I've also made a little "Journey to the different temples of Utah". So far I have attended Logan, Jordan River, and the Bountiful temple. I hope to attend Salt Lake City before I leave on my mission. (I'd try to attend the Provo temple, but we already know I'll be going there while I'm at the MTC! :)
If you don't know the history behind the Salt Lake Temple, let me hurry and tell it to you. At the time of the pioneers in the 1800's, there had been two temples constructed. That was the Kirtland, Ohio, and Nauvoo Temple. (The Nauvoo temple was destroyed as the saints were run out of the United States into the Utah Valley). They were commanded by God to build a temple in their new land. After 40 years of construction and work, this picture you see of it is the end result. It is an absolute beauty to look at it from the highway, temple square, and anywhere else. It is a HUGE temple, and full of many different rooms that other temples don't have. This is the temple that the prophets and apostles go to. This is the temple that Jesus has appeared in. I want to share a story, something well known but not well known about the Salt Lake Temple. At the time, Wilford Woodruff was president of the church. His health was failing, and Lorenzo Snow went to the SLC temple and pleaded to God to let President Woodruff outlive himself. This next part is a quote from his son.
While in the temple, President Snow
. . . poured out his heart to the Lord. He reminded the Lord how he plead for President Woodruff’s life to be spared, that President Woodruff’s days would be lengthened beyond his own; that he might never be called upon to bear the heavy burdens and responsibilities of the Church. “Nevertheless,” he said, “Thy will be done. I have not sought this responsibility but if it be Thy will, I now present myself before Thee for Thy guidance and instruction. I ask that Thou show me what Thou wouldst have me do.”
After finishing his prayer he expected a reply, some special manifestation from the Lord. So he waited,—and waited—and waited. There was no reply, no voice, no visitation, no manifestation. He left the . . . room in great disappointment. As he was walking through one of the temple hallways, he saw before him, standing above the floor, the Savior of the world. He was told that he was to be President Woodruff’s successor. He was again instructed “to go right ahead and reorganize the First Presidency of the Church at once and not wait as had been done after the death of the previous presidents.” Passing through the Celestial room and out into the large corridor this glorious manifestation was given President Snow which I relate in the words of his grand-daughter, Allie Young Pond. . (This is his grand daughter now). .One evening while I was visiting grandpa Snow in his room in the Salt Lake Temple, I remained until the door keepers had gone and the night-watchmen had not yet come in, so grand-pa said he would take me to the main front entrance and let me out that way. He got his bunch of keys from his dresser. After we left his room and while we were still in the large corridor leading into the celestial room, I was walking several steps ahead of grand-pa when he stopped me and said: “Wait a moment, Allie, I want to tell you something. It was right here that the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to me at the time of the death of President Woodruff. He instructed me to go right ahead and reorganize the First Presidency of the Church at once and not wait as had been done after the death of the previous presidents, and that I was to succeed President Woodruff.”
Then grandpa came a step nearer and held out his left hand and said: “He stood right here, about three feet above the floor. It looked as though He stood on a plate of solid gold.” Grand-pa told me what a glorious personage the Savior is and described His hands, feet, countenance and beautiful white robes, all of which were of such a glory of whiteness and brightness that he could hardly gaze upon Him.
Then he came another step nearer and put his right hand on my head and said: “Now, grand-daughter, I want you to remember that this is the testimony of your grand-father, that he told you with his own lips that he actually saw the Savior, here in the Temple, and talked with Him face to face."
That's my favorite story involving the temple, and how spiritual it is. To actually have our Savior show up in his literal house is beyond amazing. This is why I love going, to be where the Savior is, and to be in his presence. I'm so excited to attend the Laie Temple and the Kona if the chance is given to me. Temples are beautiful buildings on this earth, as well as they should be. Whoever is reading this I strongly encourage you to go to the temple on a daily basis. You will receive revelation for your personal self, and comfort for trials that are coming or are here. If you haven't gone through, or are preparing to go on a mission, GO ONCE A WEEK!! It's the BEST thing I've done, and it takes away the stress that serving a mission brings. I can honestly say I'm stress free about leaving because I've received comfort from my Heavenly Father in His house. My last two weeks here I plan on attending (hopefully) every day the temple is open, to receive anything else from my Heavenly Father that I will need as I leave and enter into the MTC as a full time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

La Parents

So my last post I went through my brothers and sisters and didn't do anything on my Ma and Pops...so here goes!!

I'll begin with my Ma! She hates it when I call her Ma, but I've been calling her that ever since I fell in love with Everybody Loves Raymond,....love it. haha but She's a pretty darn good Ma. She helps me out when I'm sick, buys me food, makes me food, is helping pay for the mission..she's a kind lady. I can tell how the gospel has affected her life and I love seeing how God works into her everyday. We go to the temple a few times together, and it's been fun. We attended a session at the Bountiful Temple just a week ago, and it was a special experience. Now my ma doesn't like having pictures of her on the internet so forgive the picture on this one, but it's her fault haha.

So this picture is of me and my dad when I went through the Logan temple for the first time. My dad is my literal hero and he has set such an example for me to live by. He's shown me forgiveness, mercy, and love. We talk sports, watch sports, and take an interest in each others life constantly. He's too old to play sports ;) haha or um...beat me at sports, let's go with that. But we sure bonded. The man works his fingers to the bone and still finds time to spend with us kids, and it's pretty amazing. Just shows me that no matter what happens in life, we will always be together forever and he'll be there for me no matter what.
So this is my ma and pa, sorry it's not really longer, but my parents know I deeply love them with all my heart. I know I have their full support as I go to serve the Lord.