Behind every hard thing is a blessing

Ack! I am so sorry guys! two whole days late!  I am dependent on a very unreliable satellite. Also, all computers seem to be against me right at the moment. Even though I did not meet my deadline, I think it was for the best. Don't you just love it when something bad happens and a day later you find out that it was a blessing in disguise? Well, I do. This is one of those times. While I was writing my blog for this week (before my internet failed me) I just wasn't feeling it. I knew what I was writing was good, but it didn't feel right. I had an epiphany this morning during seminary and then I knew what I should write.

One of my favorite story in the Old Testament is the one about Job. Job was a righteous man who had everything taken away from him. People, even his friends, started to say that he had done something evil and that he had sinned. The thing is that he never blamed or turned away from the Lord. It's a beautiful story. I recommend you read it.


I often ask my self why bad things happen to me, and complain that life just ain't fair sometimes. Then I have to hit myself over the head because 1)I really don't have it bad and it's selfish to be thinking about myself 2)Bad things happen all the time to everyone. Trials are just a part of life. A good friend wrote to me that life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. Ahhh, truer words were never spoken. We have the great opportunity to grow and learn through our trials. I have many a time been able to strengthen my testimony of the gospel and of Jesus Christ because of the rough patches in life.


In Alma 30:44 Alma said, “All things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator” 


Even the not so welcome stuff in life proves that there is a God. Some people don't see it that way and blame God for everything (Or just deny that there is a God or anything like it). Look at it this way-- we have been given free angency. If Heavenly Father stopped every bad thing then he would be taking away someone's free agency.

 
 When ever I find myself in a "pity me" mood I like to read this scripture--

Doctrine and Covenants 121:7-10

" My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

 And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.

Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands.

 Thou art not yet as Job; thy friends do not contend against thee, neither charge thee with transgression, as they did Job."

During this time the early saints were going through many afflictions that we couldn't even imagine going through. I often wonder if I had lived back then with the testimony I have now, would it be strong enough? If what they were going through wasn't as bad as Job, think how easy we have it! The life here on earth is such a small moment in the eternal perspective. 


Having this knowledge has helped me get through some frustrating times and I know it can help you too. You just have to accept the love offered to you by Heavenly Father.


P.S. I am hoping that soon I will have access to a camera, so I can add pictures!

Be Beautiful

I do not mean that you should take a shower, curl your hair, put make up on, and dress up nor do I mean that there it something about you that you need to change. Quite the contrary (not saying that showers are not welcome). I want to remind you all that you are beloved children of our Heavenly Father. 


There are many definitions of a "beautiful girl", but let me share with you mine.


A beautiful girl is one who: is confident, holds her standards high, seeks to be an example through action, is not afraid of the world's judgment, knows her worth, and smiles.


Now that is not my complete thought, but I think it's enough for you to get the idea. 


Be confident in who you are. I am a little wacky. I make dolphin noises. Nuf' said. I was/am kinda shy. I never let new people know that side of me until I knew that they could deal with it. Now I let them see it at the get go. When you are confident you have this shield around you that makes all negative things bounce off of you. It's great!


One of the best ways to show your standards on the outside is to dress modestly. I am so strict on my modest clothing. I don't care if it's just a little itty bitty to short, I will not wear it. I have seen a lot of girls my age bend these rules ever so slightly and after awhile that little bit becomes a foot. The way I think of it is that until the prophet tells us that the standards have changed it is still very important that we are stay true. Don't even try to tell me that there isn't cute clothes that are modest because I know that you know better.


Okay, I am a girl. I like boys. I am no way boy crazy but I would like to think that there's a guy out there that's just meant for me. I have a fairy tale complex. I am at the age that it is almost embarrassing that I haven't dated more than the wee bit that I have. Let me tell you how much I'm not embarrassed. Because I know my worth I know that I don't have to settle for less. (Please note that there is a difference between knowing your worth and stuck up.) I know that there is many young men in my area who are worthy young men, but they have not crossed my path. I also would rather have more friends than boyfriends. This doesn't  just apply to boys, but to everything in life. Don't settle for less than you are worth and never let anyone tell you otherwise!


I am currently the oldest young women in my ward. Let me tall ya', I have not seen more beautiful girls than in our church. I have also met girls from outside the church that hold similar standards that let Christ's light shine through. They are all shining examples of what I want to be and I only hope that I am to them as they are for me. I know that when you are doing right than you are letting your light shine. Even when your not physically lifting the corners of your mouth people will be able to see your smile through your eyes. 


"There is no more beautiful sight than a young woman who glows with the light of the Spirit, who is confident and courageous because she is virtuous." -ELAINE S. DALTON

Also I would like to invite you to read this talk by Jeffery R. Holland from the 2011 October general conference- We Are All Enlisted. Even though it was for the priesthood, we young women can still learn from it!


P.S. Hopefully in the near future I will be able to arrange my thoughts in a more organized manner. Until then, please muddle through with me.

The support

Yesterday I received one of the best birthday presents ever! My best friend wanted to do something amazing for my 18th birthday, so she got people that I know to write me a note with advice for adulthood. She put the notes in a binder and it is something I am going to treasure for my whole life.

I could not have made it to where I am today without the love and support of these people. It is because of their strong testimonies that I have been able to have my grow. I have been able to learn through their examples how to live my life, to be the best person I can be and to live life to it's fullest. Even though some of the things are things that I shouldn't do, they have let me learn from their own experiences making it so I don't have to fall to know. I cannot stress enough how important it is to fill your lives with these kinds of people. They are the ones we keep you on track with their love and support. 

In the notes I received most of them counselled me to keep my testimony strong and to always remember my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I know that me greatest support is from my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. "You are never alone when you have faith in Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father", I know that is so true. Whenever I feel like I have no one else to turn to I know that if I pray to feel his love that he will give it to me.

I often feel overwhelmed by the things bombarded at me at school. The temptations and pressure put on teenagers is unfair and unwelcome. It is so hard to keep to my standards at times. I want to stay worthy to be able to receive the blessings from Heavenly Father, but sometimes I wonder how long it will take me to break. Everything must at some point, right? Not exactly. I know it feels like it would be so much easier to succumb to worlds standards, but the farther we stray the more we will be placed in captivity. 

I have made some choices that I am ashamed of. Even though they might not be so bad to cause my eternal damnation I knew they were not with the standards the Lord has set for me. I could feel my personal freedom slipping away as I made those bad choices and let peer pressure get to me. Because of the examples of the people a surrounded myself with I knew that I could turn to Heavenly Father for forgiveness and peace. 

I have been blessed with the support of my friends, Young Womens leaders, bishop, and family. I know that that the Lord has put these people in my life so that they could strengthen me. 

Helaman 5:12

"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer,

 who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; 

that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, 

yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, 

it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo,

 because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, 

a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

P.S. I am new to this blogging thing, so if anyone has tips or questions please leave a comment!

INTRODUCTION

Hello! My name is Kimmi and this is my blog. I am starting this blog for my Personal Progress Faith project. If you don't know what that is let me explain. 


I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Young Women's group is for girls from ages 12-18. We have a program called Personal Progress. For Personal Progress we study and learn about eight different values:   

Faith

Divine Nature 

Individual Worth

    Knowledge

Choice and Accountability 

Good Works

Integrity

and Virtue

 For each value we complete six different experiences. After we complete those experiences for each value, we do a ten hour project. This is very much like the Scout program for guys. 


The reason I'm starting this blog is to finish my Faith project. I must admit that this project has caused me some woe. I have been tossing around ideas for this project for about a year now. But now I have found something that will stick. At first I was reluctant to take on the big task of keeping up with a blog --and it seems like everyone and their sister has one-- but upon reading this month's New Era (Our church magazine for youth) I decided it was a good choice. The theme  was how to use technology wisely. One of the ways is sharing your testimony and the truths about the church. The thing about the internet is that you can put anything out there. It doesn't have to be true or right, it can be ANYTHING. Much of that "anything" is negative. There is so much gossip out there that has no proof to back it up. Even if it's something that is true we shouldn't be degrading people for enjoyment. This is my way of showing the positive aspects of life. Showing that there it light at the end of the tunnel (Yay for cliches!). 


Another purpose is that I want to share how I am able to live in a crazy world, yet still keep my standards high. I know what it's like to be a young woman in the world. I have not been sheltered from all the horrific things. I know the challenges, fears, and temptations that girls my age face. I am not saying that I have been through it all or even that I can imagine what some girls go through. I just want you to know that I am normal. I have lived a somewhat normal life. I don't walk around thinking that everything is all daisies and butterflies. I know what's out there. 


I would like you to read my posts with an opened mind and heart, and please do not judge my lack of writing skills.