Humility

We often see humility coupled with pride, especially in the Book of Mormon. For a long time, I think that I misinterpreted humility: I understood it as a low view of my own importance. Now I would say that having humility is having a modest view of my own importance.

"Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking about yourself less."

I believe that we are all children of a loving Heavenly Father, and each one of us are of utmost importance! However, we must remember that God is our Father and has given us everything. As we acknowledge His power and mercy, we are showing Him our love. We must be willing to submit to His will. 

"Humility is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign of spiritual strength."

My patriarchal blessing counsels me to be humble. It says that I must always give credit to my Heavenly Father for the gifts and blessings that I possess, for they are gifts of the Spirit that He has given to me. I am confident that I can do whatever the Lord requires of me, as long as I rely on Him. That confidence is in God (not in myself) and it enables me to do things far beyond my own capability.

Humility and gratitude bring some of the greatest happiness to my life. Bekah recently mused, "I definitely know that gratitude and happiness are inseparable. You can't be grateful and not be happy. That just is not a thing." I agree with her wholeheartedly.

I love this general conference talk given by Bishop Edgley in 2003: The Empowerment of Humility. It brought tears to my eyes as I thought of all the wonderful, humble examples in my life.

"They are consistently doing the unnoticed, the unspectacular, but humbly and righteously doing the important."

It brought tears to my eyes as I thought of the ultimate example of humility- my Savior Jesus Christ. I am so thankful for the love and mercy of my Lord that allow me to become a better person. Not in my own right, but to further His work and build His Kingdom. I am thankful for the gospel in my life and the many experiences I have that humble me. Sometimes it is hard to admit that while I am in the process of being humbled, but I know that it is for my good. I am humbled to know that I am a daughter of God and He loves me so very much. With that knowledge, I hope to help other people feel His love. 

Knowledge

Preach My Gospel promises that as I study diligently, prayerfully, and with pure intent, that the Holy Ghost will enlighten my mind and help me be more open to receiving personal revelation. I know that I can also gain knowledge by watching and listening to others, especially the prophets of God. I am thankful for my brain and the opportunities I have to increase my knowledge in gospel subjects, in temporal learning, and in love.

Am I ready?

A huge theme for class this week was covenants, which were found in the supplemental reading, “Understanding My Covenants with God,” and in Mosiah 18:8-10. We learned that making and keeping covenants with Christ is essential to receive eternal salvation. I was reminded that if I want the full blessings of the atonement, I must make covenants.

I am currently attending a temple preparation class instead of Sunday School. I don’t have a mission call, and I’m not getting married in the foreseeable future, so one might ask why I am taking Temple Prep. Since covenants have been on my mind this week, my lesson in Temple Prep today was especially meaningful. It was the last week in a series of lessons to help me prepare to receive my endowment. Something that my instructor said really hit home- he said, “Your endowment does not have to be triggered by a mission or a marriage! The question is, simply, Are you ready to make covenants?”  

As I learn more about covenants, my desire grows to be ready to make them. I am thankful for the preparation I receive regularly in religion classes, personal study, and church attendance, and soon I want to be able to answer, “Yes. I am ready." To make covenants with Christ that will lead to my eternal happiness.

True Conversion

I loved Elder Whetten’s general conference talk about true conversion and service. In high school, I had the opportunity to serve on seminary council, a group of students who were leaders in our seminary program. I cannot even begin to tell you how many hours of service that constituted. But even more so, I cannot begin to express the pure happiness I felt in that time of my life. Despite experiencing deep personal trials during that year, I felt joy when I served and I felt myself coming closer to my Heavenly Father. One of our advisors often told us, “An invitation offered in love will never offend.” I agree with this wholeheartedly and I think it goes along well with Elder Whetten’s general conference talk, because he noted that “love should be at the heart of all service.”

Service is a sign of true conversion, and it is a means of consecrating lives to helping others just like the Savior did. Thinking about the life of the Savior can be intimidating, but then I consider all of the small acts of service that He gave (gives) each day. I can serve in big ways by volunteering for organizations or fulfilling my calling, but I can also serve in little ways by saying hello, or washing my roommate’s dishes, or wiping out the fridge. Even though these acts of service are “little” and perhaps of little consequence to my own life, they could be the difference between a good and a bad day for someone else. When we are willing to serve and humble enough to listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost, we are capable of being instruments in the Lord’s hands and angels in the lives of others around us.

Mosiah 1:3-4

“Were it not for these plates, which contain these records and these commandments, we must have suffered in ignorance, even at this present time, not knowing the mysteries of God….Lehi did teach them to his children, that thereby they could teach them to their children, and so fulfilling the commandments of God, even down to this present time.”

I do not know when I marked these verses, but I am so glad I did. It caused me to pause in my reading and consider what meaning I must have gleaned from them before. One of the most effective ways for me to read scripture is by putting myself in the present situation: when I read those words in Mosiah, I think, “Were it not for these scriptures, I would be suffering in ignorance. The scriptures are given to me at this day for the purpose of fulfilling the commandments of God. My parents used the scriptures to teach me, and one day I must also teach my children the word of God.”

I am so thankful to be born of goodly parents, as Nephi would say. My mom and dad reared me in the gospel and taught me essential truths that carry my testimony today. My dad is a scriptorian, and knows the word of God inside and out. Not only does he know the words, but he also lives them. He is a wonderful example—like Lehi—of teaching the word to his children and “so fulfilling the commandments of God.” I hope to fulfill this commandment as well, when I have a family of my own. I am so grateful for the opportunities I have to study the word of God, and my testimony is strengthened as I do.

Do you ever just delight in the gospel?

On Thursday this week, we discussed a passage in 2 Nephi 11:4-6. It reads:

“4 Behold, my soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ; for, for this end hath the law of Moses been given; and all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of him.

 5 And also my soul delighteth in the covenants of the Lord which he hath made to our fathers; yea, my soul delighteth in his grace, and in his justice, and power, and mercy in the great and eternal plan of deliverance from death.

6 And my soul delighteth in proving unto my people that save Christ should come all men must perish.”

We were asked the rhetorical question- do you ever just delight in the gospel? For my journal this week, I want to answer that question with a resounding “Yes!” I delight in the coming of Christ. I delight in knowing that soon I will be able to make more covenants with the Lord in His holy temple. I delight in the grace of the Savior and in His Atonement. I delight in my testimony:

I delight in the Atonement. I know that it can be drawn upon not only for repentance from sin, but for relief from pain, for comfort, for understanding, and much more. I love my Savior Jesus Christ and am only beginning to know and understand Him in my life. I am nowhere close to perfect, but through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I can draw closer to Jesus and become more like Him. I strive to emulate His countenance each day.

I delight in my family. They are essential to my happiness. I spend quality time with my family whenever possible, and I believe that by living righteously according to the commandments of God, I can be with them forever, into the eternities.I  know that families are central to Heavenly Father's plan of Salvation and I can't wait to create my own. I delight in my aspiration to be a mother in Israel, and I also hope to rear my children in the teachings of the Church. 

I have a strong testimony of the Word of Wisdom and the gift of our physical bodies. I know that my body is a gift and that I must treat it as a temple of God. Because that's exactly what it is! I have a testimony of temples, and I have no stronger desire than to go to the temple for myself to learn more about God's plan and make lasting covenants with Him. I have an intense testimony of Priesthood power. I know that it is truly the power of God and I am so thankful for men who exercise it worthily.

I delight in the opportunity I had this weekend to review my patriarchal blessing and listen to prophets speak in General Conference. I have a testimony of personal revelation. I know that everyone is entitled to receive their own personal revelation and I have experienced that connection with heaven for myself. I also know that we are led by true and living prophets who receive divine revelations that speak to me directly, and the Church as a whole.

I have a testimony of the Book of Mormon that grows each time I read.  I know it comes from God because it gives me peace and happiness and wonder when I study it. I have felt the spirit of the Restoration in the Sacred Grove and I know and love Joseph Smith. This is just a small inkling of my testimony, but these things I share in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

I should really start doing family history work.

This week, we were asked to read an address given by President Uchtdorf in July at a city-wide celebration for the Ogden Temple dedication. He said, “Our pioneer ancestors will be most pleased if you learn something from their sacrifice, and if it makes a difference to you and your children.” He used the hymn “Come, Come Ye Saints” as a point of reference for his talk. Pioneers sang the words, “All is well.” Actually, all was not well, but their happiness was not based on outward circumstances. The pioneers learned to have faith and trust in God. The best way that I can show my gratitude to my pioneer ancestors is by incorporating faithfulness, compassion, love, industry, optimism, and joy into my own life.

I have had many opportunities to learn about my pioneer ancestors. I was lucky enough to attend trek twice- once when I was fourteen, and most recently, this summer. The experiences that I had while re-enacting what the pioneers went through have shaped the person I am today. It gave me a reason to research my own ancestors, and when I learned about the specific things they went through, I felt a connection to them. From this connection, I feel a stronger desire to find my ancestors through FamilySearch and do their temple work. When I have family names to take to the temple, my experience is so much more meaningful and it makes me excited to go through and take out my own endowments. So, you see, learning about my family ties makes them happy, makes me happy, and will benefit my future family for eternities to come.

"Insurance"

My name is Nena and I am eighteen years old. I am an avid tennis player and a semi-professional sleeper. I wish I could say that I like running, but I have tried and failed too many times to feel honest about that tidbit. I like to eat cookies and spinach and milk, not necessarily together. Born and raised in Davis County UT—surrounded by immediate and extended family—I don’t consider myself extremely cultured. I am perfectly at ease with that realization.

 As the oldest daughter of eight children, I do however consider myself well versed in Disney songs and SpongeBob episodes. Let’s begin with the youngest—Gabriel—who is eleven months old. His jowls are reminiscent of Elder Holland’s, which is a good thing because he is clearly an amazing man. Jack is three and Anna is eight going on fifteen. They are the beautiful ones of the family and they know it. Ashlei is the tender age of ten, and she enjoys waking up in the early morning to read less-than-noteworthy literature before school. Grace began high school this year, and I am quite jealous that she gets to play on the tennis team. Jens is a junior, sixteen years old, and a total lady slayer. My oldest brother—Max—is twenty and currently serving a mission in Mexico City. My parents met in high school, dated, went to Hawaii and Canada for school and a mission, got engaged ten days after my dad returned home, and the rest is history. We are a happy family!

We are a happy family. My home truly is my favorite place to be. As excited as I am for school here at BYU, it is difficult to know that Gabe is cutting teeth and Jack is starting preschool and Anna is breaking hearts and Ash is growing up and Grace is finding her niche and Jens is dating girls without my approval, all while I am gone. At least Max is still on his mission so I’m not the only one away. It has been a transition to say the least: living with one really clean, really quiet, really wonderful person as opposed to nine really messy, really loud, really wonderful people. I love it.

I am unequivocally grateful for the opportunity that is mine to continue my education here at BYU. Already, I am being pulled from every direction. My classes are rigorous and time-consuming. My job is not so rigorous, but equally time-consuming. My calling is insanely rigorous and very time-consuming. Yet, simultaneously I feel immense joy from the service and education and love and patience and people-skills and humility that come with these duties. So with the help of a day-planner and the comforting influence of the Holy Spirit, I know that I can do this.

            You may think I am your typical Mormon: born into the covenant, baptized at age eight, gone to church with my large family for my whole entire life. While all of those statements are true, I am not your typical Mormon. How can something that is so personal and sacred to me be merely typical? I digress. My testimony is not ordinary, nor is it complete. My goal this year is to continue to develop a working, trusting relationship with Heavenly Father. That is my desire, and it is also a necessity. I love my Savior Jesus Christ and am only beginning to know and understand Him in my life. I have a testimony of the Atonement. I know that it can be drawn upon for comfort, for understanding, and for a lot of love. 

A Blessing in Disguise

Since serving as a class officer in the eighth grade, my greatest ambition was to be elected as senior class president. Some people might cringe at the thought of planning reunions for the rest of their lives, but I craved it. I love planning, helping, and creating memories. My only drawback while I considered running for office was the possibility of failure. I would feel humiliated to put my name before my peers, to actively campaign, to work so hard: only to fail. Finally, after months of preparation--emotionally and otherwise--I took the final step of fulfilling my dream and put my name on the ballot. 

During those weeks, I forced myself to set aside my fears of rejection. I invested my heart in my campaign. After an exhausting first round of elections, I made it through the primaries. I was empowered by this accomplishment, and I began to enjoy myself through the rest of campaigns. It was fun to encourage my peers to vote, and I soon forgot my apprehension in running. Then came the day of final elections. I gave a speech that morning, and was told to expect a phone call from the current senior class president that evening. 

As soon as I got to the sanction of home, away from the influence of my peers, I sat in my room for three hours unable to do anything but wait for that phone call- a call that would determine my senior year of high school. I have to say, I felt very confident that I would win after being told so by teachers, friends, and family. But doubt still nagged at me. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the phone rang and I hesitantly picked up. For a moment, my heart leapt for joy! Then like a shipwreck, it plunged, when I heard his melancholy voice. I lost. I lost. I lost. That is the only thought I had as I began to cry. Everything I had worked for and dreamed of in the last four years was gone, over a simple phone call.

I put my heart into that election, and frankly it was the first time I had ever truly lost something. Sure, I’ve lost a few tennis matches and races and card games; but I’ve never lost a close family member, I’ve never lost a close friend, and I’ve never gotten less than an A. I really felt like a failure when I wasn’t elected. However, that feeling did not last. My friends and family immediately helped me get back on my feet and be okay. Through their support, I realized that I am surrounded by people who truly love me. I know that their love is unconditional. This understanding has carried me through other hardships since then. Also, a few days after the bad news, I was called to serve on Viewmont’s LDS Seminary Council. In hindsight, I see that I would have missed that opportunity if I were elected, among many others. 

I am reminded of this “failure” everyday at school, but I now consider it a blessing. The most important lesson I have gained from this experience is to trust in the Lord at all costs. Even though my plan to be senior class president seemed good and uplifting, it was not what He had in store for me. Instead, I’ve been blessed to know who my true friends are, I’ve been able to spend precious time with family before I leave for good, and I’ve been presented with countless ordinary, yet powerful, opportunities to serve my peers. 

Press Forward

This year I have the opportunity to serve on our seminary council. What a timely calling! I have already learned so much about myself and my testimony. During the summer, the council searched The Book of Mormon to find a theme that could benefit Viewmont students, not only in seminary, but in every aspect of their lives. It was an eye-opening experience that taught me about the process of revelation. After much discussion, consideration, and prayer, we felt unified in our impression that 2 Nephi 31:20 is to be our theme for 2013:

I must press forward. Notice the word "must". It is not an option. I will press forward by acting on promptings of the Spirit, big or small.

With a steadfastness in Christ. I looked up steadfastness, and one definition I found is "unwavering faith". With unwavering faith in Christ. As I am making important decisions that will affect the rest of my life, I need to go forward with decisions and know that He will provide a way. I will have faith in Christ by trusting His timing.

Having a perfect brightness of hope. Faith, hope, and charity are three best friends. Faith is in Jesus Christ, hope is in His atonement, and charity is the pure love of Christ. Hope is my personal favorite part of this verse...it affects every aspect of my life. I have hope that I will survive high school, I have hope that I can grow in the gospel, and I have hope that I will have a family of my own one day. (Read my favorite talk about hope here) I will have hope by looking for the good in every situation.

And a love of God and all of men. I am a daughter of Heavenly Father, who loves me and I love Him. In fact, we are all His children and all have divine potential. President Monson counseled us to see people not as they are at present, but how they can become. I will show my love to God by following His commandments and I will love others by trying to see them through God's eyes.

Feasting upon the word of Christ. We have all known our parts of speech since elementary school...what is feasting? It's a verb. It's an active verb. In order to feast, we can implement the advice given to us in the primary song "Search, Ponder, and Pray". I will feast by putting my spiritual studies above my studies in school.

And endure to the end. Enduring is not merely surviving. It is intended to be difficult, but ultimately, refining. We have the gift of the Atonement, so we must repent. We must have the Holy Ghost with us. We must serve others and become one in our Savior. We must share the gospel with others. And we must maintain faith and hope in Christ (Elder L. Tom Perry). I will endure to the end by learning that the Lord loves and supports me in my endeavors, as long as they are His will.

And here comes the promise...

I can have eternal life.

And you can too.

Wherefore, you must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if you shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

My capacity to love and understand the gospel is growing. My faith is growing. My seed is planted and my roots are growing deeper with each passing day. I love my Savior Jesus Christ. I love my family. I want to gain a greater understanding of the Atonement. I am willing to try my faith and study to attain this knowledge...and what better way to do it than in seminary? I am so excited to study the Book of Mormon this year, and hope to be able to share it with many others.