Depression-- This Post is Important to EVERYONE

Elder Jeffery R Holland spoke multiple times about depression, and finding a way out.
Here is his most recent talk (Like a Broken Vessel), with specifically addresses MDD, but offers comfort to everyone.
These two are similar in their comforting words, but may better help you, or those you know.
"Look to God and Live"
Broken Things to Mend

Please send at least this video to anyone you know or feel may be suffering. Please know that people love you and are praying for you. I know that angels are looking down at you, and cheering you on. It may seem bleak and hopeless, but as you open your heart, God will pour light into your life, and you can make it out of your dark places.

Worth Waiting For...

Pres. Uchtdorf also talked about this in his talk "Continuing in Patience":

In the 1960s, a professor at Stanford University began a modest experiment testing the willpower of four-year-old children. He placed before them a large marshmallow and then told them they could eat it right away or, if they waited for 15 minutes, they could have two marshmallows.

He then left the children alone and watched what happened behind a two-way mirror. Some of the children ate the marshmallow immediately; some could wait only a few minutes before giving in to temptation. Only 30 percent were able to wait.

It was a mildly interesting experiment, and the professor moved on to other areas of research, for, in his own words, “there are only so many things you can do with kids trying not to eat marshmallows.” But as time went on, he kept track of the children and began to notice an interesting correlation: the children who could not wait struggled later in life and had more behavioral problems, while those who waited tended to be more positive and better motivated, have higher grades and incomes, and have healthier relationships.

What started as a simple experiment with children and marshmallows became a landmark study suggesting that the ability to wait—to be patient—was a key character trait that might predict later success in life.

Patience can be seen as the mother of all virtues. If you don't have the patience to listen, how can you be teachable? If you don't have patience, how can you develope charity or faith? If you don't have patience, how can you maintain your chastity?
Impatience can also be the mother of all vices. Impatience leads to anger, pride, and insecurity.

Pres. Monson said: Oh, precious youth, please give life a chance. Apply the virtue of patience.

Here is one of my favorite poems:

 Slow Dance

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round,
or listened to rain slapping the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight,
or gazed at the sun fading into the night?
You better slow down, don't dance so fast,
Time is short, the music won't last.

Do you run through each day on the fly,
when you ask "How are you?", do you hear the reply?
When the day is done, do you lie in your bed,
with the next hundred chores running through your head?
You better slow down, don't dance so fast,
Time is short, the music won't last.

Ever told your child, we'll do it tomorrow,
and in your haste, not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch, let a friendship die,
'cause you never had time to call and say hi?
You better slow down, don't dance so fast,
Time is short, the music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere,
you miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
it's like an unopened gift thrown away.
Life isn't a race, so take it slower,
Hear the music before your song is over

Absolute Truth

Tova Biesinger 

Sep. 16th, 2014 

Absolute Truth 

What is two plus two?  

"Four," would be the average response. But about all the unknowns? Two of what plus two of what? What type of equal are we looking for?  

For example, what if the equation was asking for the amount of apples on two apple trees plus two acres of apple trees?  

The world today is confusing, and it's hard to find absolute truth. But there are absolute truths out there. How do we find them? I thought you'd never ask... 

The first method is using your intuition; also known as your conscience or the Light of Christ. Although you can be trained to ignore this voice, it will always be there if you have the desire to listen. Deep within us we have a burning will to do what's right, we have a yearning for the truth. As long as we are humble enough to hear and heed that whisper, it will guide us. 

Another guide is the word of prophets, or spiritual leaders. Forms of scripture fall under this category. Scriptures assist you in fine-tuning your conscience. They offer experiences of those who've gone before, and words of God. That is another way to find truth. If it is the word of God, it is true. (Titus 1:2)  

The final way to discern truth, is to look at the results. The scriptures say that "… by their fruits ye shall know them." (Matt 7:20) Hitler is a fine example. He came forward telling the Germans how wonderful he could make Germany. Did he use true principles? The "fruit" of his work was Germany in smolders, and millions of Jews and others inhumanely killed. One the other hand, Joan of Arc promised the same thing: to save France. Did she  use true principles? Her "fruit" was a free France, a stronger king, and an inspiring death.  

And there you have it: use the Light of Christ, the word of God, and try to see the results. By using those three tools, we can disperse the darkness that Satan is trying to pull over our eyes. We can see through the lies of the world, and find those precious truths that our souls desire so much. Not only that, we can search for our real selves. We can dig past the lies that we and others tell us, and become the royal child of God we were made to be.

(Follow-up on Last Post)

I found the list (well, my mom did. Isn't she amazing?)

7 Ways to make Today a Great Day!

In Sacrament Meeting today, someone shared 7 things they do each morning to help their day go well. I was really excited, because I'm tired of feeling sad and grumpy in the morning. Unfortunately, I didn't write the things down :S. So here are my own 7 things to do each day, and how I'll get them in in the morning:

1.Stand up for my beliefs; post here :) (btw, sorry I haven't posted in forever. Life got to me, I guess :S)
2. Remember who I am; listen to a beautiful song from Youth Music, and share it on my Remembrance blog.
3. Remember Him; pray (with a question, preferrably), read my scriptures, and journal about what I've learned.
4. Smile!
5. Lift someone up; send an email, write a note to someone I'll see that day
6. Fulfill my responsibilities; make a list of things to do that day.
7. Look up, and see God's hand in my life; journal a gratitude list.

Here are some other lists that people use.
Ways to be Happy:
1. Smile
2. Say something nice about someone
3. Do something nice for someone.
4. Thank God for as many things as you can
5. Become an anti-complainer
6. Spend time with someone happy
7. Do unto others

Behaviors that can make you Happy:
1. Listen to or read something that inspires you.

2. Make your body stronger and more resilient.

3. Review and hone your plans for the future.

4. Do at least one thing that's worthwhile.

5. Help somebody less fortunate.

6. Spend 20 seconds appreciating what you have.

7. Record at least one good memory.

If you'll notice, all of these lists have two things in common: gratitude, and service.

This makes sense, if you think about it. If you're forever grumbling about what you don't have, or not realizing how blessed you are, you won't find any reason to be happy, either. 

Along with that, if you're always centered on yourself, you don't get a chance to feel real happiness. Service allows you to step outside of yourself. There's a story about a girl who had a really hard time with her self esteem and happiness until she went to Zambia. While there, she saw how happy everyone was, even though (by our standards) they had every reason to be unhappy. That helped her put things into perspective.

I know that even if you don't officially set aside a time to do 7 things, if you at least have an attitude of gratitude, and take opportunities to lift others up, that you'll have a happier and more fulfilled life.

A BEAUTIFUL post by my mom

http://mylazarusquest.blogspot.com/2014/03/when-child-weeps.html

I absolutely loved this post when I read it. It reminded me somewhat of a talk in Church today that a missionary gave. He said that we often think of the Atonement just being there when we need to repent (which it is). But it is also there whenever we're in pain, or going through something bad. It's there for every negative cricumstance we may encounter, and it will help us get through it.

I LOVE EASTER!! :D

During Easter, I like to have lots of reminders of what Christ has done for us. 

So here are a bunch of videos and talks about Him, His Atonement, and His Life

 Here is the one the Church brought out specifically for this easter:  

http://easter.mormon.org/?cid=HPTU041514694

Suffering in the Garden

Luke 22 

 

 Suffering on the Cross

Luke 23 

John 19

He is Risen!

Luke 24 

John 20

 

He appears to Mary Magdelene

Christ the Lord is Risen Today!

 

He Lives!

He Lives (Richard G Scott)

His Sacred Name (from last Easter)

D&C 76: 22 And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the ^atestimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he ^blives!

 23 For we ^asaw him, even on the ^bright hand of ^cGod; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the ^dOnly Begotten of the Father—

 24 That by ^ahim, and through him, and of him, the ^bworlds are and were created, and the ^cinhabitants thereof are begotten ^dsons and daughters unto God.

He is Risen; John the Beloved's Witness of the Resurrection

He is Risen! (Thomas S Monson)

He is Risen (song)

The Messiah; the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Easter Performance

This Glorious Easter Morn (Gordon B. Hinkley)

There are many more, of course. If you go to this page, each Conference there has been something about Him and His Sacrifice. After all, this is His Church :).

https://www.lds.org/general-conference?lang=eng

Priesthood and Womanhood

 (this post deals with the priesthood; for basic info on the priesthood, visit this site https://www.lds.org/topics/priesthood?lang=eng)

 Recently, around the Conference Center, there was a protest against the Church policy that women can't hold the priesthood.

Today, as part of my Young Women's church class, we discussed this. Why don't women hold the priesthood?

A couple of them brought up that women are more spiritual, or more intellectual than men, and that men need the priesthood to catch up.

I DISAGREE WITH THIS!!!!! I dislike generalities with a passion. I know plenty of girls who aren't spiritual, and boys who are very spiritual (and vice versa, of course :)). I know smart boys and girls, and not-so-smart boys and girls. 

But if the priesthood isn't for boys to catch up, why do they have it?

When I researched this on lds.org, it brought up this exerpt from "The Basic LDS Manual for Women:

“Priesthood is to be used for the benefit of the entire human family, for the upbuilding of men, women, and children alike. There is indeed no privileged class or sex within the true Church of Christ. … Men have their work to do and their powers to exercise for the benefit of all the members of the Church. …

“So with woman: Her special gifts are to be exercised for the benefit and uplift of the race” (quoted by John A. Widtsoe, comp., in Priesthood and Church Government, rev. ed. [1954], 92–93).

Men and women have different but equally important responsibilities in the home and the Church. Priesthood power can help each person perform those responsibilities for the benefit of all 

This is the comment I shared in our class: men and women have different roles. The role of the man is to protect, provide, and preside over the family. The role of the woman is to nurture everyone in her household and to help teach them. 

In order to fulfill these sacred obligations, they have different divine capabilities; the men bear the priesthood, and the women bear children. 

You may think "What? That's not fair. Women have to go through pain to bear children. What do men have to do?" 

Men have a big responsibity--they need to remain worthy of the priesthood.

Here are a couple of talks some of the leaders of the Church gave about worthiness in the priesthood:

Personal Worthiness to Exercise the Priesthood

The Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood

If you want to read more about this, there was a page put up on a Church website: http://www.mormon.org/faq/women-in-the-church

I know that the priesthood is the power to act in God's name. I know that it is a man's responsibility to remain worthy of that calling, and a woman's responsibility to support him in that calling, and to pursue her own mission.

General Conference!

Sorry. I'm bad at keeping up with my blogs :S.
But at least I'm here now, right?

I just finished listening to the first session of General Conference. I'd been advised by leaders to write down questions that I had, but I couldn't think of any questions. Finally, as this session was starting, a big question that I've been pondering came to mind, and I wrote it down. I havn't recieved any direct answers to it, but I've been feeling more at peace about it.

If anyone wants to listen/watch the remaining sessions, they're on the radio at FM 102.5, or somewhere around there :S. (my radio doesn't show exactly where I'm at) Or you can watch it from the church website
Watch https://www.lds.org/general-conference/watch?lang=eng&cid=HPTU040114644
Listen http://www.mormonchannel.org/radio

Come Unto Christ!

Each year, the Church comes up with a theme for the youth based on a scripture.
A few years ago, it was D&C 115:5 "Arise and shine forth!"
Last year it was D&C 87:8 "Stand ye in holy places"
This year, it's Moroni 10:32 "Come unto Christ"

This is a video, introducing the entire scripture.
https://www.lds.org/youth/video/come-with-us?lang=eng#d

There is a song to go with it, too!!
https://www.lds.org/youth/video/come-unto-christ-2014-theme-song?lang=eng

I love that it shows such different and real struggles: self-worth, death/illness, parental/family relationships, and addiction. 
He really can help us with ANYTHING!! No matter how unique your trial is, He knows what you feel! Because of the Atonement, He can relate with us. 

7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the ^apit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the ^bdeep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to ^chedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of ^dhell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee ^eexperience, and shall be for thy good.

 8 The ^aSon of Man hath ^bdescended below them all. Art thou greater than he? (D&C 122)

The Young Men General Presidency said "Because of His Atonement, we can gain the power to serve, to deny ourselves of ungodly things in our lives, and to feel His infinite love. As we do so, we will find true peace and happiness."

I know that Coming Unto Christ is what we have to do in this life (or at least TRY to do :)). The more we try to become like Him, the better we'll be, the more peace and happiness we'll have, and the better our lives will be (but not neccessarily in a worldy sense ;))

Moroni 10:32 Yea, ^acome unto Christ, and be ^bperfected in him, and ^cdeny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and ^dlove God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be ^eperfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.