Up in the Canyon

So Friday night, a group of friends and I went up to the Canyon and made man's greatest creation, fire that is! We sang camp songs and made smores and hot dogs and snuggled...yeah haha. It was a fun night. Here are a few pictures of the night.

Draper Temple Dedication

I just wanted to say a brief word about the dedication that took place this last Sunday. As I have said before, being a BYU student has its perks and one of them was a chance to see the Draper Temple in person. Another was to see it dedicated via broadcast.

We watched in the Marriott Center as President Monson dedicated the magnificent edifice and I felt the spirit so strongly as we raised to join in the "Hosanna Shout." As we shouted what literally translates to "Save us," I had a very strong confirmation that what we do in the temple is exactly what we must do to be saved. I felt so blessed to know this and I feel an even greater love for my Savior who made it all possible. I know he has saved me!

"Up to my neck..."

So I was drowning in self-pity thinking about how much work I need to do in the next few weeks before school finishes that I decided to look for a picture that captured my daily activities (studying and homework). I was looking for a picture of a sleepy student with his head in his book, but I couldn't really find one that I liked. Then I saw this guy and I reconsidered my workload. I think he has a right to say he is up to his neck in work at the moment haha!

One Busy Week!

Monday-Spent the day doing homework and a started and finished a paper. Oh and I went to class. Started another paper.
Tuesday-Studied for American Heritage test most of the day. From Cumorah's Hill Choral Fireside (I was in it).
Wednesday-Finished my other paper. Studied for American Heritage test. Missionary Fireside.
Thursday-Took American Heritage Midterm. Owned it! Yes!
Friday- Homework. Another Midterm. Went out for dinner (to relax)

So those are just the highlights from the craziness of this week. I am just thankful it is over. I have a one day break (ish) and then it starts over again. I can't believe it is already mid-March!?

While I had a busy week, it wasn't anything compared to my sister's. Congrats Joy! Thanks for making me an Uncle again. It is one of my favorite titles!

A Note on Life Missions

I was reading the scriptures today and I just was filled with the spirit. I couldn't help but share some of the things running through my mind...

I was reading of Mormon and how he saw the degradation of his people. He looked on and lamented, "O ye fair ones, how could ye have departed from the ways of the Lord! O ye fair ones, how could ye have rejected that Jesus who stood with open arms to receive you!" (Mormon 6:17). When I think of the world in which we live and I as reminded of how Jesus wept when beholding the "workmanship of His own hands" in Moses 7. How often does God weep over us when he sees our actions? How often do we weep over our brethren? They are of as much worth to God as we are, should we not then extend our hands and hearts in their direction and act as God would have us act? This is true charity. This is Godly love.

As I have been pondering on my own life mission, I realize that so much is yet to be discovered. However, I have learned of some of the things which I must do. Those things I will share so that hopefully my words will be of worth to future generations to help cultivate faith in their hearts and give them courage to pursue their own missions.

Missionary work has been on my mind lately for obvious reasons. I have gained the knowledge and personal witness that my specific call is of God and that I was ordained to it from before the world was. As I was reading Moroni's address to the Lamanite descendants in Mormon 7 wherein he invites them to believe in Christ, accept His gospel, and gain testimonies of the Book of Mormon, I was particularly impressed by a prompting of the spirit that whispered to me that I would be an instrument to fulfill this prophesy in this day. I will be serving amongst the very Lamanite posterity in Nicaragua! How exciting that is!

For whoever reads this, I witness the reality of the truthfulness of the gospel and that Jesus is the Christ. I know he lives and that he will in one future day return to rule as King. I know that as we liken the scriptures unto ourselves God will show unto us all things we should do, including how we can fulfill our life missions! He has done that for me and He can do that for you! In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Draper Temple Open House

One of the perks of going to BYU is that you get to be close to so much that is church related. My stake had an activity on Saturday and guess where we went...the Draper Temple! What a beautiful temple it is too! It is very intricate and the baptismal font is probably the coolest I have ever seen. The endowment rooms are very elegant and the Sealing Room...HOLY COW! It is so awesome! I definately suggest it. I think someone said the ceiling in the Celestial Room is 57 feet (it is really tall). I included some photographs of the temple from the internet since I didn't take any on the trip.

The Celestial Room. That ceiling goes up for probably another 30 feet! Way cool!

As I walked through the Temple, I felt great whisperings of the Spirit. It is such a blessing to have temples in our day. The Spirit said to me just after I had walked through the doors, "This is God's House." Then I thought of the quote, "God is not an absenty Master" and I realized the sacredness of the building in which I stood. You can't help but turn your thoughts heavenward in such a heavenly edifice!