The gospel is great!

Sorry for the long gap between posts.  I couldn't really update it over the the break because of the firewall my parents have, and I kind of forgot about it.  A friend just reminded me I have a blog. :)

So far school has been great.  I've almost finished my first week of Spring semester.  I realized today that credit-wise I'm technically a sophomore.  How weird is that?  I'm very excited for this semester.  We have the Julliard Jazz Summit coming up March 13th (all of you who can should come to the concert that night!) and the Wind Ensemble is going to California the week after that.   Both groups are also planning on putting out a CD. 

I'm so glad I came to Snow College.  I've had such a great experience so far.  There are so many wonderful people here and I'm going to miss a lot of them once I leave on my mission.  I have been so incredibly blessed.  Heavenly Father is so loving and merciful.  Over the break I drifted away from Him, not really ready my scriptures or praying all that much.  Yet I have found Alma 34:31 to be true: "Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you."  Immediately!  That's how fast the atonement can affect our lives.  As soon as a I started praying again, reading my scriptures, and seeking to do the Lord's will I felt the Spirit come back into my life. 

It wasn't easy to try again.  I was ashamed of the mistakes I'd made and didn't feel deserving of God's help. However, in the First Presidency's message this month President Monson speaks of courage. "Courage is required to make an initial thrust toward one’s coveted goal, but even greater courage is called for when one stumbles and must make a second effort to achieve."  It's hard to try again when you've already failed.  No one likes failing and risking having the same failure twice or maybe for the dozenth time is not something we want to face.  President Monson also said, "There will be times when you will be frightened and discouraged. You may feel that you are defeated. The odds of obtaining victory may appear overwhelming. At times you may feel like David trying to fight Goliath. But remember—David did win!"  When I read that message, I knew I had to try again.  I've been focusing on the three ABC's President Monson spoke of: having a positive Attitude, Believing in yourself and in others, and facing challenges with Courage.    These principles have started to change my life. 


Following these principles, along with prayer and scriptures study, has brought me great happiness, and the first few days of this semester have been great.   Yesterday though I was met with a small disappointment, and I began to doubt myself again.  Was I really any good?  Was I doing things for the right reasons?  I felt discouraged and sad.  So I got on my knees and poured out my soul to Heavenly Father.  I asked Him, as young Joseph Smith once did, if I could know my standing before Him.  A thought flitted through my mind of listening to a conference talk on my Mp3 player.  I ignored this fleeting thought.  Often I find my answers in scriptures, so I began to open my Book of Mormon.  Usually when I look for answers in the scriptures I learn and feel the Spirit testifying of truths to me.  But as I opened my scriptures, I didn't feel that way and didn't even finish reading one sentence.  I grabbed my Mp3 player and letting the Spirit guide me, I began listening to President Ucthdorf's talk "Forget Me Not" from the General Relief Society Meeting.  As I listened, I couldn't hold back the tears.  The words of that great man were exactly what I needed to hear.  Clearly I had forgotten the five "Forget me nots" and needed to be reminded. 

I'm so thankful that God speaks to us.  He heard my prayer and He knew exactly what I needed to hear.  I am happy again, and so grateful for the many, many blessings I have been given.  This gospel is so amazing.  I urge anyone who reads this blog to turn to God in their times of discouragement and seek guidance from Him.  He is there, He loves you, and He wants you to be happy.