Today was a wonderful day! Today in Relief Society, I don't know why, I had the feeling that my little college family needed to have our own little testimony meeting. Our family consists of my apartment (Me, Shelby, Taylor, and Brittany), 2 of my neighbors (Hannah and Caitlyn), our friend that lives in a different complex but is always here (Anna) and some boys (Eric, Ryan, Andres, and Josh).
A couple Sundays ago, was when Taylor, Shelby, Anna, Caitlyn and I had our little testimony meeting, and for some reason I felt like we needed to do it again, but with the whole family. Plus, what a great thing to do Sunday night before Thanksgiving!
I let everyone know that we were going to do it.
For some reason, I was really nervous to bring it up because I didn't want the idea to get shot down, but it ended up being such a powerful night.
Tonight was the first time that I had heard Eric bare his testimony formally, and Ryan shared a powerful story with us about how he came to be here. Everyone just shared things that were so close to their hearts and the Spirit was so strong! We opened with singing "Teach Me to Walk in the Light" and and prayer, and then we closed with singing "I Stand All Amazed", another prayer, and a group hug :)
I just felt so good about life after tonight! I was so happy that we had all shared this bonding experience, and I was so proud of myself that I had sucked it up and followed a prompting that made me a little uncomfortable.
This gospel is the true church of God. Our Heavenly Father knows and loves me and wants nothing more than my success. I can not deny that this church is true. I know that some times it can be hard to remember the experiences that we have had that show us that the church is true, but I can not deny it. I know that the Spirit is always there for us. To tell us what we should do and to help us.
I am so thankful for this gospel and that I was raised, by 2 wonderful parents, in the true and living gospel of Jesus Christ.
Monday, November 24, 2014
Friday, November 7, 2014
"Ohana means family"
One thing about my past that I regret, is the relationship that I feel like I had with family. I feel like I could have been so much closer with my family members.
Since I left home, I have been determined to have a better relationship with our family. I have really tried to call every person at least a couple times a week. Obviously I don't do a very good job sometimes, but I'm trying! Even if the call is just a short one to tell y'all what happened just now! haha
But since being here, I have really gained a stronger testimony of family. I am so thankful that our Father in Heaven put us into families. I know that we are in families for a reason. People ask me why I write 7 page letters to Kelli EVERY WEEK. And they ask why I call my family so often. My answer? My family are my best friends! I know that my family will always love me. No matter how obnoxious, immature, silly, or annoying I get. I am so thankful for our family and for all of the memories that we have to share with each other.
I love you all so much :) And I am so thankful for that being here in Idaho has strengthened my testimony of families :)
Since I left home, I have been determined to have a better relationship with our family. I have really tried to call every person at least a couple times a week. Obviously I don't do a very good job sometimes, but I'm trying! Even if the call is just a short one to tell y'all what happened just now! haha
But since being here, I have really gained a stronger testimony of family. I am so thankful that our Father in Heaven put us into families. I know that we are in families for a reason. People ask me why I write 7 page letters to Kelli EVERY WEEK. And they ask why I call my family so often. My answer? My family are my best friends! I know that my family will always love me. No matter how obnoxious, immature, silly, or annoying I get. I am so thankful for our family and for all of the memories that we have to share with each other.
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
One of the best days since being in Idaho!
Sunday, was a fantastic day for me.
I learned something in church that was so powerful! We were talking about feeling inadequate. And this guy in Sunday School said something that was SO powerful. He said something along the lines of, "The Lord isn't going to give us a task that we can't accomplish. So we aren't inadequate, we are just scared. But if we have faith, then the Lord will help us. So why feel inadequate? Just do it." I loved that :)
After church, I was just sitting on my bed. Eric texted me and asked if I wanted him to come to his Sacrament Meeting. I thought about it, and decided that going to more church would be better than just sitting on my bed and hearing the rap music that people were playing in the other room. So I went, and it is so good that I did, because I learned some things from the Spirit that I needed! And that is when the fantasticalness started :)
After that, we went to his house and he made dinner (yes his roommates were there) and then I needed to leave because I had stake choir (2 of my roommates and I go every week). So instead of him taking me home, he said that I could just take his car. So I drove his car home and we went to choir. At choir I was starting to feel really lightheaded and dizzy. I called him and told him that I was going to bring his car back, and then go home and rest for the rest of the night. But he said that he had been resting, so I could just bring it back later. I took a nap in my bed and then when I got up, I was feeling much better. Thank goodness!
At 8, my friends and I went to complex prayer. It is really hard for us to remember sometimes, but at least I had to go this time, because on my way out of church, this girl stopped me and asked if I would give the spiritual thought! :) I gave it on the power of the priesthood and how life changing it is. And how it is our responsibility, as sisters, to support our young men, and help them remain worthy of the priesthood and it is our responsibility and privilege to come to them and ask them if we need anything. We need to trust in the Priesthood. I used James 5:14-15. It went pretty well, but it was a little awkward, because I remembered when we got there, that there are always at least a couple guys there. So the "help the young men" part was a little AWK-SAUCE, but I think it was beneficial for them to hear it.
Then we went back home, and we went to my neighbors house. (Ok I call them all my roommates, but they don't all live here. They are the ones that I am going to live with next fall, and we are always at each others houses now anyway. My apartment is Brittney, Taylor, Shelby, and I. Our neighbors that are in our little group are Caitlyn and Hannah, and our friend Anna lives in Perkins hall. But she is over here all the time.) So Caitlyn, Anna, Shelby, Taylor, and I were all next door and we were just sitting around talking. Anna is dealing with some stuff, so we were talking to her about that. All of a sudden, she said "Guys, can we all share our testimonies with each other?" We are all kinda taken off guard, but we were so happy that she suggested it! She started. We were all crying right off the bat. I went second to last. I got up and told them that I had a testimony on the power of prayer. I told them that a lot of times, I feel like people don't really like me, and I feel like I don't really have friends. I immediately saw them start crying even harder. I told them that it was through prayer that I have made it. After I was done, Anna and Caitlyn got up and gave me a huge hug. Which was wonderful because they are the ones out of that group that I thought really didn't like me. When Taylor got up, she told us each how we have changed her life. When she got to me, she said "Rachel, I know that when we call you Righteous Rachel, it is a joke, but I mean it. I wish that I could be more like you. You are just like "This is how I am, I'm not gonna change. So take it or leave it." And that was sooooo kind of her! After everyone shared something, we all sang "How Firm a Foundation" and then group hugged it out. Then our home teacher showed up! He is more of a friend than a home teacher. We hang out with him quite a bit. We asked him if he would share something, so he did, and we all cried AGAIN because it was so powerful!
I went to pick Eric up after that. I got him, and yes I was still trying to stop crying haha, and took him back to my neighbors house, and all of us went Stadium Singing. Stadium Singing is at 9:30 at night, and people just bundle up, and go stand under the stadium and sing hymns. There is someone that holds up cards showing what number we are singing, and then everyone sings it together. It is POWERFUL. Of course we sang "How Firm a Foundation" and I started bawling again! My goodness could I even stop?!
That was the end of my night, but I couldn't help but feel so good! This semester had been officially changed forever. Then yesterday, I woke up and I still felt so good! I did my laundry yesterday morning, and I was in such a good mood that when the timer on my microwave went off (telling me that my laundry was done) my immediate feeling was "Score! This is great! My laundry is done! Life is wonderful!" It felt wonderful, but weird at the same time!
I will forever remember this feeling :)
I learned something in church that was so powerful! We were talking about feeling inadequate. And this guy in Sunday School said something that was SO powerful. He said something along the lines of, "The Lord isn't going to give us a task that we can't accomplish. So we aren't inadequate, we are just scared. But if we have faith, then the Lord will help us. So why feel inadequate? Just do it." I loved that :)
After church, I was just sitting on my bed. Eric texted me and asked if I wanted him to come to his Sacrament Meeting. I thought about it, and decided that going to more church would be better than just sitting on my bed and hearing the rap music that people were playing in the other room. So I went, and it is so good that I did, because I learned some things from the Spirit that I needed! And that is when the fantasticalness started :)
After that, we went to his house and he made dinner (yes his roommates were there) and then I needed to leave because I had stake choir (2 of my roommates and I go every week). So instead of him taking me home, he said that I could just take his car. So I drove his car home and we went to choir. At choir I was starting to feel really lightheaded and dizzy. I called him and told him that I was going to bring his car back, and then go home and rest for the rest of the night. But he said that he had been resting, so I could just bring it back later. I took a nap in my bed and then when I got up, I was feeling much better. Thank goodness!
At 8, my friends and I went to complex prayer. It is really hard for us to remember sometimes, but at least I had to go this time, because on my way out of church, this girl stopped me and asked if I would give the spiritual thought! :) I gave it on the power of the priesthood and how life changing it is. And how it is our responsibility, as sisters, to support our young men, and help them remain worthy of the priesthood and it is our responsibility and privilege to come to them and ask them if we need anything. We need to trust in the Priesthood. I used James 5:14-15. It went pretty well, but it was a little awkward, because I remembered when we got there, that there are always at least a couple guys there. So the "help the young men" part was a little AWK-SAUCE, but I think it was beneficial for them to hear it.
Then we went back home, and we went to my neighbors house. (Ok I call them all my roommates, but they don't all live here. They are the ones that I am going to live with next fall, and we are always at each others houses now anyway. My apartment is Brittney, Taylor, Shelby, and I. Our neighbors that are in our little group are Caitlyn and Hannah, and our friend Anna lives in Perkins hall. But she is over here all the time.) So Caitlyn, Anna, Shelby, Taylor, and I were all next door and we were just sitting around talking. Anna is dealing with some stuff, so we were talking to her about that. All of a sudden, she said "Guys, can we all share our testimonies with each other?" We are all kinda taken off guard, but we were so happy that she suggested it! She started. We were all crying right off the bat. I went second to last. I got up and told them that I had a testimony on the power of prayer. I told them that a lot of times, I feel like people don't really like me, and I feel like I don't really have friends. I immediately saw them start crying even harder. I told them that it was through prayer that I have made it. After I was done, Anna and Caitlyn got up and gave me a huge hug. Which was wonderful because they are the ones out of that group that I thought really didn't like me. When Taylor got up, she told us each how we have changed her life. When she got to me, she said "Rachel, I know that when we call you Righteous Rachel, it is a joke, but I mean it. I wish that I could be more like you. You are just like "This is how I am, I'm not gonna change. So take it or leave it." And that was sooooo kind of her! After everyone shared something, we all sang "How Firm a Foundation" and then group hugged it out. Then our home teacher showed up! He is more of a friend than a home teacher. We hang out with him quite a bit. We asked him if he would share something, so he did, and we all cried AGAIN because it was so powerful!
I went to pick Eric up after that. I got him, and yes I was still trying to stop crying haha, and took him back to my neighbors house, and all of us went Stadium Singing. Stadium Singing is at 9:30 at night, and people just bundle up, and go stand under the stadium and sing hymns. There is someone that holds up cards showing what number we are singing, and then everyone sings it together. It is POWERFUL. Of course we sang "How Firm a Foundation" and I started bawling again! My goodness could I even stop?!
That was the end of my night, but I couldn't help but feel so good! This semester had been officially changed forever. Then yesterday, I woke up and I still felt so good! I did my laundry yesterday morning, and I was in such a good mood that when the timer on my microwave went off (telling me that my laundry was done) my immediate feeling was "Score! This is great! My laundry is done! Life is wonderful!" It felt wonderful, but weird at the same time!
I will forever remember this feeling :)
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)