Pero like, what's a Mormon?

"Kristen, why doesn't your family have it's own 'Sister Wives' show?"

"Woah, you're showing your ankles. Won't your priest get angry?"

"I just don't understand why you can't use electricity..."

These are all things I've heard over the years. (I grew up in West Phoenix.. not too many knew too much about my religion except for the fact that I was "The Mormon".)

Why?  Because I am a Mormon.  Well... there it is.

I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  And I love it.

The LDS church is now more than 15 million strong and increasing in numbers.  We are all over the world.  And still, not many people know who we are, what we believe, or whether or not we drink soda.

With most of my friends being college aged, they will just assume we (LDS college students) roast weenies on the weekends and pray 20 times a day.

But really, this is what LDS young adults look like.  Normal people.  Doing normal things. 

 Every 6 months we have a General Conference.  It is a time when all of the leaders of the church gather together to speak to us, touch on important subjects, and to overall uplift the people. This past weekend was the 184th Semiannual General Conference. 

One of my favorite talks was by an apostle, Elder David A. Bednar.  He spoke about sharing the gospel with our family and loved ones. 

Whenever I hear a song that I just absolutely love, I have to tell EVERYONE. I'll sing it all the time, tweet lyrics, post it on Facebook. Because I love it, and I want you to love it.  Even if you don't love it, I want you to at least know about it. (Listen to Sam Smith's cover of Whitney Houston's 'How Will I Know'.  You're welcome.)

It isn't so much about trying to shove your beliefs down someone else throat, but it's simply sharing something that you love with someone you love.

"Our simple desire is to share with you the truths that 

are of greatest worth to us." -David A. Bednar

So I know that no one has time to read all of my thoughts and beliefs.  Also, ain't nobody got time to read through all of general conference right now.  So here are just a few of my key beliefs.  

•  I believe that this is Christ's church.  Our central purpose is to help all people come unto Him.
• The Book of Mormon is another Testament of Jesus Christ.  It is the keystone of our faith and a record of God's dealings with prophets and His children in ancient America.
• God has always communicated with His children through his prophets.  I believe that our Lord wouldn't leave us alone, and that he still has Prophets on this Earth today.
• He has given commandments through those prophets to help us live a happy life. Not to restrain us, but to free us.

And last but certainly not least, I know that my Father in Heaven has a plan for me.  That plan is known under many different names, but my favorite is the Plan of Happiness.  I am able to know who I am, where I came from, and where I am going.  I can know that even though times are hard, my family was hand-picked for me.  This is where I belong.  Best of all, I can have hope.  He knows each and every one of us, and that's something I can promise.

Even though he doesn't look too happy, these two are both a part of my Plan of Hapiness.

With all of that being said, feel free to ask any questions that come to mind. The way I see it, this church was restored all because of a 14-year old boy that wasn't afraid to ask a few questions.

 And remember, I love you.

Here is a link to that talk I referenced earlier, watch a few seconds of it.  It's pretty sweet.
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/come-and-see?lang=eng&media=video#watch=video

 Food for thought: "We are not here in this life just to waste out time, grow old, and die.  God wants us to grow and achieve our potential." -Elder Carlos A. Godoy

Losers That Sit Outside of Smith's

I think that the best feeling in the world is when you are surrounded by friends and loved ones; you are just happy. That moment when you can look around the room at everyone and just smile; that's the best feeling in the world.

What's one of the worst feelings in the world? Being in that same room surrounded by friends and loved ones, but feeling completely and utterly alone.

It happens. 

Last winter I found myself in a self-proclaimed schlump.  

Reasons For The #WinterSchlump2014

1. I was broken.  Literally.  I had broken my hand in three places that previous December in a freak accident. (Not really, just late night sledding gone wrong.)
2. In relation to number 2, I couldn't wear long sleeved shirts, or jackets.  If I did, it was more like a pancho-jacket. Which wasn't cute, trust me. I was cold. All. The. Time.
3. I was working as a waitress. That's it. Normally I had two jobs, but at this point, just dealin' out fajitas and salsa.
4. My poor family back home were dealing with red-headed issues. That in itself was a schlump.
5. Last but not least, due to the painkillers I was on for the hand, I was just kind of... out of it.

Now, this wasn't really that bad. I can look back now and tell myself to stop being a baby.  But at the time? It was the worst thing ever.

I vividly remember going to Smith's with all of my friends.  I told them that I had to make a phone call, but really I just didn't want to be around anyone.  So I sat by myself on a bench outside of Smith's in the snow.

For the sake of not looking like a total loser, I called my Dad to make it look like I wasn't just sitting on a bench outside of Smith's in the snow.

He answered, "Hello?" And it just all rushed out. I just started crying. The only words that came out of my mouth were, "I'm not happy.  I can't do this anymore. I'm not happy."

My Dad is the best. I'm not exaggerating.  He gave me some beautiful father advice. It was sweet. But still, I was sitting on a bench. Outside of Smith's. In the Snow. Crying.

(Just a visual of what I looked like.)

Anyways, a few days went by.  I just tried to keep busy and to try to forget the little break down I had.

Then, Kristi, my amazing Stepmom, sent me a text with this post. She told me that it had helped her and that I should read it.

http://lemmonythings.com/2014/01/05/god-will-give-you-more-than-you-can-handle-i-guarantee-it/

So that's what I'm doing here, right now. This blog has helped me, and I'm saying that you should read it.

My Heavenly Father knows me, He loves me.  I was so used to thinking that everything was easy if I was doing what I was supposed to be doing.  I was going to church, I went to FHE (more like I was forced to, as I was the FHE mother), and I was doing things in the right way.

BUT, I hadn't asked for His help.  I was just expecting my Heavenly Father to know what I need.  I mean, He does, but still, I have to ask.

He IS going to give us things we can't handle.  He WILL present us with decisions that seem impossible.  He IS going to give us trials we don't understand.

Why? Because He loves us.  He loves me.  He loves YOU. He wants each of us to come to Him.  I now know that if I do come unto Him, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, that I will be able to be healed.

That's what I did that winter.  I got down on my knees, and I prayed.  I prayed harder than I've ever had to pray, asking for help.  Asking to not feel so alone.  And what happened? I realized I never was alone.  That He was always right there beside me.

This is one of my favorite photos.  Jesus is there, He is willing to help us through all of this, but He can't open the door.  We have to let Him in.

Don't let there be a #WinterSchlump2015.