Important Lessons

My family and I had a great opportunity listening to the talks given by General Authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at General Conference. We watched the sessions on Saturday and Sunday from our TV at our house while the Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson and the other authorities spoke to the 20, 000 people who came to the conference center. During each session, I wrote down important things that I learned while listening to each talk. I'm grateful for the opportunity to share some things with you all!

SATURDAY, APRIL 6

MORNING SESSION:

• The Savior lives.
• We will not always be safe from adversaries' influences.
• The work of the righteous shall be peace. The effect of the righteous shall be quietness.
• If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear.
• Faith is a great power, not just a special belief.
• We have mortal bodies and power over those who do not.
• Separate the sin from the sinner.
• The atonement is a virtue.
• All are born with the light of Christ.
• To live righteously is part of the test of mortality.
• Each of us must stay in condition to receive the inspiration from God.
• Build upon a foundation of Jesus Christ in order to withstand earthquakes successfully.
• "If men build, they cannot fall."
• The plan is the plan of salvation, the great plan of happiness.
• Through prayer, we express our gratitude and love for the Lord, and can submit our acceptance of God's will.
• "Feast upon the words of Christ, for they will tell you all things."
• "Whate'er thou art, act well thy part."
• As daughters of God, each of us are in our own different circumstances.
• "I, the Lord, will do what I say. But when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise."
• Never forget the strengths of women.
• We must all act well.
• Mothers are primarily responsible for nurturing their children.
• Fathers are primarily responsible for honoring their priesthood and exercising righteously.
• Mothers and fathers are primarily responsible to love one another and work together as equal partners.
• The Savior wants to forgive.
• When we repent and seek His forgiveness, we are forgiven.
• Develop the strength to not see men as they are but as they are to become.
• "In the day of wrath, I will remember mercy."
• Remember and believe the words of Christ. Exercise faith in Him.
• The source of the priesthood is God's power.
• The authorization/ordination of the priesthood is the laying on of hands.
• Men and women have different but equal roles.
• The work of Jesus Christ is accomplished through the priesthood.
• "Draw near unto me, and I will draw near unto you."
• "I will go before your face, I will be on your right hand and on your left, and mine angels round about you to bear you up."
• Pray and serve the Lord.
• It is He who welcomes us to eternal life.

AFTERNOON SESSION:

• Children can be responsible for improving the Christ-centered home.
• Little things can lead to BIG things.
• Satan will try to ruin you by exploiting your goodness.
• Enhance technology as spiritual communication.
• Be wise on how you embrace technology.
• Greater peace will come to you as you come up righteously.
• The power of the Christ-centered home is what we can offer to the Lord.
• Be a true friend.
• Trust in the Lord and His Timing.
• The thread of hope is not very thin. It is as strong as a life preserver.
• In the midst of challenges, enjoy the inner peace.
• The stakes of Zion are a defense.
• Agency is essential to the plan of happiness.
• "Peace be unto thy soul, for thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment."
• To believe in God means to know all of the rules will be fair.
• The Savior is the author and source of peace.
• The Church is a refuge where Saints come to obtain peace.
• It's critically important to do what the Lord wants us to do in His ways.
• Our Savior, Jesus Christ, is the way, the truth, and the life.
• In mortality, we experience happiness and sorrows.
• Neither is the man alone, nor is the woman alone in the Lord.
• Marriage between a man and a woman is an authorized power that can bring pre-mortal beings to the mortal life.
• Protect the sanctity of marriage.
• Intimate relationships are only appropriate between a man and a woman.
• Heavenly Father desires us to be together and happy.
• Damned = inability to become like our Heavenly Father.
• Violating the law of chastity is a grievous sin.
• "Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly."
• Consider sin as a spiritual wound that leaves guilt.
• Consider guilt as a warning of the sin to never repeat it.
• Obedience to the law of chastity will increase your happiness.
• If you catch the wave with faith, others will too.
• Families can be together forever.
• He (God) wants His children to know Him and Jesus Christ.
• The Book of Mormon is the center piece of the Restoration.
• There is no error in the revelations which have been taught.

SUNDAY, APRIL 7

MORNING SESSION:

• Not only does darkness exist, light also exists.
• Healing comes when we walk away from the darkness and into the light where there is hope.
• God's light does exist.
• It can illuminate the path before us.
• How we open our eyes to the hope of God's light?

1. Start where you are.
2. Turn your heart toward the Lord.
3. Walk in the light.

• The darkness will fade because it can't exist in the light.
• "I am the light of the world. He that follow me shall not walk in darkness."
• Help each other and joyfully serve the Lord.
• "No force in the entire world can stop the work of God.
• Hold up your light that it may shine to the world.
• Faith will overcome doubt and the Lord will bless you with miracles.
• Let every man (and woman) choose for himself (or herself).
• Let's make the internet as sharing our faith with others.
• In your own way, you can share the Gospel.
• Children's beliefs are shaped early in their lives.
• "Speak the thoughts that I shall say into your heart."
• Faith is the foundation of every virtue that strengthens marriage.
• Happy marriages rely on the gift of repentance.
• Humility is the essence of repentance.
• Live together in love.
• Cleave = completely devoted to someone you love.
• Marriage is a gift from God to us.
• The quality of marriage is what we give to God.
• Obedience to law is liberty.
• Free agency is God's greatest gift to man.
• Satan's role in God's eternal plan is to bring opposition.
• We are free to choose liberty and eternal life, or captivity and death.
• The world is constantly changing, but God's laws and promises do not change.
• Stand firm and steadfast.
• Truth is knowledge of things as they are, were and are to become.
• To obey God is better than to sacrifice.
• Obedience is the first law in Heaven.
• "Follow thou Me."

AFTERNOON SESSION:

• Three observations: 1) the Father asserts his faith first. Hold fast to what you know and have faith. 2) Do not quest your faith. Know them by your fruits. Everyone is to walk by faith. 3) Do not be afraid to ask for help. God will send help from both sides of the veil to strengthen your faith.
• Hope on, journey on.
• Those who love Him will keep His commandments.
• "As I have loved you, love one another."
• The heart of the Gospel is a correct understanding of the Lord.
• Heavenly Father is literally the father of Jesus Christ.
• The doctrine of Jesus and the Father is the doctrine of an eternal family.
• Physical abuse brings hatred to our hearts.
• A child who sings is a happy child.
• "For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart."
• It is not enough to know the scriptures, we have to live them.
• Seeking acceptance from the wrong sources can put us in the wrong place.
• How to be accepted by the Lord.

1. Know that our hearts are honest and broken. The heart is the dissenter of our feelings.
2. Know that our spirits are contrite. Acknowledge your sins and pertain to righteousness.
3. Make the conscious decision to observe and obey our covenants. We will always have Heavenly Father's spirit as we partake of the sacrament. Be striving to do what's right.

• Seeking and receiving the guidance of the Lord will help us be successful.
• "In the world, ye shall have tribulations, but be of good cheer."
• Need not fear the future or falter hope for God is with us.
• The Lord will keep us safe in the Church until He comes again.

I believe that these things are true and that God is our Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ, is our older brother and Savior of the World.

Heaven Is Here

A week ago on Sunday, March 31, I began reading a well-written and inspiring memoir by one of my heroes, Stephanie Nielson. As I read through the many pages written about her life before and after the near-fatal accident, I finally realized that what she went through was harder than I thought it was for her. Her description of the crash left me imagining the fire if I was in that plane and crashed. It also left me imagining the pain if I was burned over 80 percent and treated mercilessly for my outward appearance.

But I also read about the faith that she had to have for things to be all right and to receive the ability to do things that she was able to do before the accident. Her story almost left me in tears because of her testimony that grew even stronger, her love for her family and the unconditional love from her husband.

On Friday, I ended the book with a warm, happy feeling that God loves us and is aware of our times of joy and sorrow. It has left me inspired to become like Stephanie Nielson, a caring mother and a faithful wife. Though there will always be trials as I grow older, I am willing to do the hard things in order to achieve the goals that I want to achieve.

For those who never heard of Stephanie Nielson, or read her memoir, I encourage you to read her blog nieniedialogues.com, watch her Mormon Message on youtube or lds.org, or read her memoir, "Heaven Is Here." This is a woman who enriches her divine role as a wife, mother and daughter of God.

Walking The Bridge

This past semester during my off-track at BYU-Idaho, I've been a part of the PEERS Connection Program for adolescents to gain confidence and independence. For 9 weeks, I was involved at the Scera Theater as part of the program. My last night was this last Wednesday and ended with a positive conclusion. The first few weeks were complicated at first, but through my willingness to open up, my weaknesses were able to improve. My chance for independence grew more likely as it did at BYU-I.

Now that I have finished my volunteer work at Clear Horizons Academy and the Scera, I will spend my time getting ready for my trip to Idaho in a few weeks. But I will also spend the time I have with my family.

Not only has college life helped me cross the bridge to independence but also working as a volunteer has. Somehow I feel like I'm still on that bridge and maybe I am. Who knows? Whether I've crossed that bridge or not, I have become independent so far and proved to myself that I can succeed in life. During my life, I have learned to accept my autism as a strength, not a weakness. It's a truth that autism is a learning disability, but what am I disabled to? I think in pictures and that's my way of learning and succeeding. In my opinion, autism is a learning disability because I can't learn things in other people's ways. I believe that God made me this way because He wants me to accept different things, places and people, even myself as different from others. Though it's still not easy for me to accept my disability, I'm willing to improve on that.

Easter Sunday

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

John 3:16

Every Easter Sunday, there's always a celebration to remember the life and miracles of Jesus Christ. Easter is not just the day of His death and resurrection but also of His birth. Though we celebrate His birth at Christmas, His actual birth took place in April.

When He was walking the earth, Christ performed miracles; He healed the sick, disabled and injured, fed 5,000 people with the 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish, and raised the dead back to life. He also forgave those who trespassed Him. He taught us to follow Him and live righteously. He also taught us to treat everyone kindly, especially those who offend us.

As a human being, Christ suffered. He suffered for the wickedness and sorrows of the world. In His prayer at the garden of Gethsemane, He cried in pain for His sufferings, He cried about the hardship of willing to make the most difficult decision that would yet save us. He allowed His persecutors to punish Him mercilessly and cruelly... He allowed them to scourge Him for the crimes He never committed... spit on Him... place a crown of thorns on His head that caused Him to bleed... force Him to carry His cross to Calvary's Hill... and nail His hands and feet to the wooden cross. Despite the pain and anger He had in His heart, there was enough strength for Him to forgive His enemies and ask His Father to forgive them as well. After his last breath, He gave up the ghost.

Within three days, He arose from the dead. He allowed His brethren to touch the scars on His hands and feet. After the crucifixion and resurrection, the atonement was given to us. After He met with the Apostles and ordained them to be men of God, He went back to Heaven but left a promise that He would return to the earth.

I have a strong testimony of Jesus Christ because I know that He died for us so that we can live again. Though I never saw Him on this Earth, I know that I knew Him in the pre-mortal existence and He loves each and every one of us. I know that He knows me and my heart. If we follow Him and His examples, we will be blessed and can return to live with Him and our Father.

Daughters Of A King

"STAND ye in HOLY PLACES and BE NOT MOVED."

Doctrine & Covenants 87: 8

Today was a great opportunity for me and my mom to go to the General Young Women's Broadcast and listen to the wonderful messages given by our great leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Though I am now in Relief Society, the Young Women's president invited me to come to the conference center and listen. There were messages inspiring and wonderful given to all the young women and their mothers, myself and my mother included. What was more wonderful was that calm and happy feeling I had.

The leaders taught some very important lessons and gave great insights. Sister Dalton encouraged us to become the wonderful women we need to become in our lives, especially in troubled times. She gave out this sentence, "Be a standard to the world." How can we become a standard to the world?

1. Be not moved in choosing right.
2. Be not moved in your desire to remain virtuous.
3. Be not moved in making and keeping sacred covenants.
4. Be not moved in the acceptance of the Savior's atonement.

President Uchtdorf also gave a great talk as well. He gave three messages in order to feel close to the Savior and His love and guidance.

1. Fear not for He is with you.
    -He looks upon your heart and loves you
2. Love one another as I have loved you.
    -The love of Christ is not a pretend love. It's a love that brings change in heart.
3. Be of good cheer.
    -Look for the happiness Heavenly Father has for you.

President Uchtdorf also taught us that "Life is a collection of journey's stories." Though there aren't a lot of us who write a lot, each and every one of us has our own stories and can tell them in our own creative ways.

I want to bear my testimony that I know God lives and Jesus Christ is His Son and He came to this earth so that we can have the atonement. I know that He loves each and every one of us and is aware of us. Because my goal is to become a standard to the world so that I can be strong, I know that I can succeed with faith and trust in Heavenly Father.

BYUI Fall Semester 2012/ Off-Track

From left to right: Lexy Knowlton, Emily Nelson, Erin Clayton and Me

I started my first day of school on September 10th. The first week was stressful but over time it got better once I kept my chin up and spent time getting to know my roommates who were just great and fun to live with. Two of them came from the farthest places, Washington and Alaska. Emily and I have come from the same state; she lives next door to Provo. All three of my roomies were excited to learn that my original home is the Mormon Colonies of Northern Mexico. During our living together in the dorms, we grew to love each other as sisters.

We had a great opportunity getting to know our super FHE brothers.

Lexy and Josh baking homemade Pizza Pie Cafe

Our local chefs: Chaz, Moises and Mikey

Our last Sunday dinner together December 2012

I had the chance to visit the Rexburg temple. Felt like a princess when I was there. As little Princess Sarah says, "I am a princess. All girls are. Even if they live in tiny old attics. Even if they are dressed in rags, even if they aren't pretty, or smart, or young. They're still princesses. All of us."

I spent Christmas with my family in Mexico. We went horseback riding in the mountains. I was sore after the trip but it was the best part of living in Mexico.

 Ellie enjoyed her first ride on a real horse! Sort of. It didn't last very long.

Other than that, we had a great time with each other. We were sad that we had to split for our daily routines before January arrived.

In February, I received roses from Bre for Valentine's Day. How did she know that roses are my favorite flowers? What can I say? She's been my sister for 19 years.

Two days after Valentine's Day, I took two whites and two reds with me to the cemetery where my dear friend, Christian Seamons, is resting. It was hard for me when I remembered his memories and his passing. But I still feel him everyday whenever a thought of him comes to mind.

In my life here in Utah, I've been working as a volunteer for Clear Horizons Academy, an institute for children with autism. It was hard at first, but my 2 months of working there got better and better. It has been a great opportunity for me to figure out what major I really want to study and what career I want to pursue. I will miss working there as a volunteer but I'm grateful for the experience of working with the teachers and the kids. After I finish volunteer work, it's back to school in Idaho. But not for a month.

Pressing Forward

On May 23, 2012, I walked in the auditorium of the UCC Events Center of UVU with my fellow peers who were graduating from Timpview High School. I was one of them but a special one; I graduated with honors. It was a great blessing for me that I would succeed in all of my classes and earn my diploma but also earn the blessing of graduating with honors. When I was wearing my cap and gown, I realized two things: 1) I finally succeeded and graduated from high school, and 2) All things are possible with God.

I haven't shared this with a lot of people. When I was 5 years old, I was diagnosed with high functioning autism. It wasn't easy for my parents to raise a child with a learning disability but it wasn't easy for me to live with it either. I had a hard time understanding different things in school because there wasn't enough help for me; I had a hard time trying to make friends when other kids would make fun of me or exclude me like an outsider. 

When I was growing up, I thought I wasn't smart like my parents and my teachers. I also thought that I wasn't special or important to anyone, not even to my one true God. But with the encouragement and love of my family and teachers, I was able to overcome the limits. When I was 14, that's when my life changed a lot; I moved to California with Lexie and Grant and got a lot of help that I needed, not only in school, but also in life. When I moved to Utah with my parents, my life changed even more. I got better in school and more prepared for college life. One most important thing I learned in my life is that no matter how hard things get, what I do, or where I go, there will always be people who will be there for me and love me for who I am.

After graduating from Timpview High with Honors, I began my summer with the preparation for my next life in college. The new and upper-leveled school I will be attending is BYU-Idaho in Rexburg. I am the only child in my family who's attending a BYU school in Idaho.

Not only did I begin my 2012 summer with preparation for college, I also began it with a Senior party at the Provo Beach Resort, which I loved a lot. I partied a lot with friends from the Oak Hills 6th ward and Timpview, Lacy and Lydia. The partying lasted until I grew tired.

I spent the following week at EFY here in Provo, which turned out to be a BLAST!!! I was sad that it was my last year to come to EFY but I'm very grateful that I spent the time that I had before the last minute. On the second to last day of EFY,  I felt the Spirit touching my soul so strongly. And it was a confirmation that the Gospel is true and there is a loving Heavenly Father who watches out for every one of us always and is always pleased when we strive to do what's right.

In the middle of June, the Oak Hills stake had an overnight youth conference on a weekend. Our 2012 theme was "Arise & Shine Forth." The fun part of it was the talent show. What a GREAT way to let your light shine!

Other than that, my most favorite part of the youth conference was the time I had spent with my dear 6ers and my loving Savior. :)

My buddy Ryan Yanes came all the way from Cali to Utah for a visit. We sure had a lot of fun time with him here. He had great experiences during his first visit to Mormon Utah.

Enjoyed the Manti Temple Pageant!

Visited the Living Planet Aquarium where he got to see the otters...

Jellyfish...

Sharks...

Stingrays and many other different kinds of marine life!

I also took Ryan to the 4th of July parade where we saw many things that made our day special.

What also made it special was the trip to Temple Square and Ryan got to feel the Savior's love.

After we landed safely in Cali, I got the chance to finish my last year of Girls' Camp where I learned an important lesson: BE YOU

As we go through our everyday lives, there will be trials such as temptations, discouragement and doubts. But if you keep holding onto the Iron Rod and shoot the temptations out of your way, you will be free and rewarded with blessings.

During my time in Cali, Lexie, Grant, Ellie and I got to go Disneyland where we hadn't been to in 11 years. It was a great way to celebrate Ellie's 1st birthday! We were grateful to have the Hardisty family from Lexie's ward come and join us in the fun and celebration.

Before we went back to RP, we went to one more place to visit: the LA temple. It was a beautiful temple! It's the perfect place to be sealed to your spouse for time and eternity and make that covenant with the Lord.

Nina finally tied the strings with someone she loved. We welcomed Andrew Chaffin to the family and celebrated their wedding in Salt Lake and our home in Mexico. May they make each other happy for time and eternity!

On September 6th, my parents and I made the journey to Rexburg where I would start my new life. It was hard for me to say good-bye to my friends in Utah because during my stay, I had grown to love Utah but I was still willing to go to new places and try new things no matter how scary they seemed. I had a feeling that everything would turn out great in Idaho, especially at BYU-I.