You have so much worth

In Institute today, I learned about the worth of souls.

God himself said, "WE are the reason he created the Universe."

Here are a few parts of Dieter F. Uchdorf''s October 2011 talk: 

The Lord uses a scale very different from the world's to weigh the worth of a soul.

The Lord doesn't care at all if we are to spend our days working in marble halls or stable stalls. He knows where we are, no matter our circumstances.
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It is so important that each of us know how important we are to our Heavenly Father.

He loves us so much He let his Son, Jesus Christ to sacrifice himself for all of our sins.

He loves us so much that we are able to repent of our sins and have Eternal life.

He loves us so much that he gave us this beautiful Earth to live on.

I can't help but feel my Savior's love as I just even walk around campus.

The gorgeous trees, leaves falling and cool crisp air are just a few of God's creations for us.

The friends He has put in my life--to help build me up and make me a better person.

The people He has put in my life--that tests my faith and teaches me to stay away from temptations and Evil.

The parents He has given me to teach me how to be the best person I can be.

The family He has given me to laugh with, go to for advice and have great memories with.

and most importantly, his son, Jesus Christ.

Picture Via The Osborne's Free art

I'm blessed

Happy Sabbath!

Last night and this afternoon was stake conference. <3

What amazing opportunities they were. I just wanted to share a few things that stood out to me.

*Satan likes us to feel doubt. He can confuse us when we feel fear. 
I completely agree with this statement. Where there is fear, there is no faith. When I have been put in situations that make me doubt what I've been taught or feel fear, I have to remember that I need to have Faith that the things that I've been taught and the experiences that I have had are true. It think we also need to reach out to those that have had their Faith weaken and remember that they can come back to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

*The Holy Ghost can help you speak beyond your natural ability.


*Don't go anywhere that would offend the Holy Ghost inside of you.

*Choose your love and love your choice.

*"People change, every day." -President Monson
I think as members of the church, we are often some of the most judgemental people. I am not meaning this to be a generalization though. But I think that each of us need to be accepting of everyone and understand where people are coming from.

A great experience

A lot of the time, I pray to have experiences that humble me or let me serve others.
Today, I was able to have one.

This afternoon, I was working on homework when someone knocked at the door.
This girl, who had come by my apartment before, came for a visit.
I have met her twice and I don't even know her name.
I invited her in and we got talking.

I asked her to share her life with me.

She talked about her learning disabilites, her family situation and her trials.
It kinda broke my heart. To be honest.

Even though, I lost some time for my homework, she made my day.
She taught me.
She taught me to be grateful for where I am, who I am and what I've been blessed with.

Thanks to heaven above for blessing me with experiences that help me become better every day.
Thank you, dear friend for giving me a little 'pick-me-up.'

Gratitude

  I am grateful for...

Church

My family

Trials

Fasting

Great roommates

Sweet notes from friends

&

Especially these girls...

Kailey & Katie

Aubree, Katie, Kailey & Lisha

Stay Strong.

I'm in a writing kind of mood.
This past week was really hard for me.

There were tears. A lot.
Late night phone-calls to home.
My classes were extremely stressful.
Feelings of insecurity and not knowing my place.
Debating on sticking with my major.
Frustrations, late nights and home-sickness.

It was rough.
I wanted to click the invisible 'pause button' in my life and not have to deal with anything.

But with the help of my family, loved ones and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I got through it.

I realized...

My Savior is my best friend.
I am extremely blessed.
I have to rely on my Savior more than I ever have before.
I need to pray more, read my scriptures more and share my Faith.
Music that is clean and uplifting really helps me stay on track.
My friends are always there for me.
I am confident in who I am.
My Faith is very important to me.
My parents are the most amazing individuals and I appreciate their love and support.
I was accepted into the USU Interior Design Program for a reason.
I am strong.

Thanks for listening.
Happy Sunday.

xoxo,
lauren

God will never put you through anything you can't handle.

life is challenging.
sometimes i feel like i can't be succesful.
sometimes i give up too easily.

i don't know what i would do without my religion in my life.
i have been so overwhelmed the past few days that listening to a prophet, going to church or saying a prayer...
makes me feel so blessed and helps me get through the day.
life is hard but you gotta just keep going.

i wonder sometimes how i got into my major.
my professors tell me day after day how honored we should feel to be accepted into the program.
20 got in.
50-60 applied.
very blessed i may say.
for some purpose, for some reason, this is where i'm supposed to be.

i get out of classes everyday wondering what just happened.
it's really overwhelming.
i went to go talk to one of my professors today, telling him i felt way over my head & i wasn't getting anything.
he told me it's like telling a fish how to swim after being thrown in water.
it takes time to get used to new material, new workload and a new major.
he said keep pushing through.

i really need to stop focusing on myself.
when we are in the service of others, our answers to our prayers will be answered.
let us all put trust in the Lord and remember everything works out.

Hi, I'm a Mormon

I'd like to share with you a tad of what I believe....
(What you see below, is my profile on mormon.org, on the bottom of my post, there is a link to it.)

Why I am a Mormon

I was raised in the LDS faith, but that is not WHY I am a Mormon. It was definitley a huge influence of my choice though. My parents are both LDS and raised me with LDS principles and lifestyles, but I was never forced. I chose it because there is a special power in this gospel. A power that is personal and touches each soul differently. It is a power that I cannot deny.

I am a believer of prayer. It keeps me connected to my Savior and Heavenly Father. Without the guidance that I have received through prayer, I would not be where I am today. I have experienced trials and hardships, but with my knowledge of this gospel, I have gotten through it. I can feel the love of my Savior and Heavenly Father and that alone makes me love this gospel.

Jesus Christ died for each of us, he died for all of OUR sins, so that we may live with him again. He gave up everything for each of us. With that knowledge, that is why I am a Mormon.

Personal Stories

Please explain the part prayer plays in your life?

Prayer is an essential and daily tool I use in my life. Prayer is a very powerful and personal connection I have between my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Prayer has become a very vital part of my life. I use prayer as a time to ask for help during hardships, to just pour out my gratitude for what I have been blessed with, to pray for those that need help or just to talk.

Prayer is how I gained my testimony of this gospel. During my youth, I had studied this gospel and I felt it was true, but it was not until I prayed to know if it was true, that I had received a powerful witness that this was indeed true. Prayer has been there for me to help assure me of the truth of the things I have taught.

How I live my faith

I live my faith by how I dress, what I say and what I do. I conduct myself appropriately and surround myself with those that build me up and I put myself in situations where I know that I am living the standards I am taught. I strive to pray daily, read my scriptures and serve those around me. It is the simple things we do, that develop us into who we want and need to be.

click here for the full page

Pause button, please?

There's a lot on my mind.

Sometimes I wish that my life had a pause button.

There are so many things rushing at me that I feel like I can't handle it sometimes.

But then, I remember that through prayer, I can receive comfort & know that everything will work out.

I've been blessed.

I don't know where I'd be without the Gospel in my life.

Religion, to me is not just what I believe.

It is how I act, how I speak and what I do.

I sometimes think I am a therapist to myself.

Does that sound ridiculous?

Yeah...

It seems like whenever I blog, write, whatever...I do a lot of thinking.

I feel like there are 2 sides to everyone, their weak side and powerful side.

The weak side is full of worry with school, money, insecurities, trials and fears begin to pile up.

But then I have my powerful side, thoughts of joy, hope and knowing that things will pass by.

I need to have more Faith. I need to put more of my trust in God.

I know that this year is going to be full of....

New friends, roommates & ward

Difficult classes & long hours of homework.

Stress.

New challenges and insecurities.

But guess what?

There will be great new adventures with friends, family, my religion and school.

I'm in the program of my dreams, living with great friends, strong family and I love my religion.

I will get through the tough things with God, my friends and family at my side.

I'm sorry if my post was a downer. I've just been stressed out and needed to write things out.

Let us all continue to do our best and rely on our Savior.

Be Grateful

Tonight I was able to attend a fireside at BYU. The speaker was Kim Smith, the great-great granddaughter of Joseph Smith the prophet. She focused on the importance of families. She said that with the times that are coming, we will need to rely on our family ties. She talked about her conversion story when she turned 12 years old. Most of the JS line are those that have became part of the F-LDS sect or no religion at all. Her family line had many grudges with the prophet Brigham Young and understanding the LDS Faith. Their family was torn apart because of this.


Hold that thought. Rewind.

Lately, I have been really stressed with making sure I have enough money for school. The software I have to purchase for my program is extremely expensive, let alone my other supplies I have to buy for my classes. I talked to my mom about it and told her that I was worried about making sure I was set for school this coming year. My supplies, fees, housing, food, bills and tuition are going to be very expensive this year. I began complaining to her and telling her that I wish she and my dad would help me out with expenses more. In my teenage and immature mind, I got angry saying that they barely help me at all. 

They may not be sending me on Study Abroad or handing me cash for my tuition, but they help supply me with food, my daily needs and a place to live for the Summer. Mom and dad have helped me with the little things. I need to be more grateful for what I have.

After I said that, I realized what I said was terribly wrong. Even though I wasn't able to go on a study abroad this Summer like a lot of my friends, or have my parents pay in full for my tuition and housing, it has been a great experience for me to be humbled. Everything will work out. 

This fireside focused on the family and that we should not hold grudges or not forgive. I need to apologize, I need to be more grateful, I need to have more faith that things will work out. This fireside is just what I needed. Family is important and you should never take them for granted.


I have begun to realize when Satan can take control of me. He always gets me when I'm under pressure and stressed. I need to rely on Faith and my Savior. I was placed in this position as a college student and in the Interior Design program for a reason, He will make it all work out.

Happy Sabbath

Let us all remember our Savior today and the sacrifice He made for each of us.

Hayley's Baptism

Yesterday, my cousin Hayley got baptized.

What a special day for her.

It was an awesome day; full of love, laughs, great food and family time. <3

God is Love.

This week, I hear back from the USU Interior Design Program....

It's definitely bringing lots of emotions. It's something that I've wanted to do for a long time. It's something that fits my personality and creativity. It's something that I have worked so hard for. A lot relies on this letter and I just hope it works out in my want. But....I've noticed I've been extremely selfish with what I WANT lately. I need to keep reminding myself, that maybe this isn't the path that God wants me to be on. I feel that is a lot easier to tell other people though than myself. My Grandpa asked what educational path I had decided on. I told him I'm currently waiting to hear back from the Interior Design program at Utah State. He said, "Lauren, right now you're really just relying on faith. You took the first step to apply for it and the rest relies on the Lord."

Can I just tell you something about my Grandpa? He is one of the most "in-tune" individuals with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He loves it, lives it and understands it. He is an amazing example to me.

sundays ♥

sundays are amazing!

i often long for them. life is so insane that the sabbath is amazing to just relax and be uplifted.

i spent my morning at church with bri.

we went to a singles young single adult ward today.

it was interesting. a lot different than the ward i had when i was up at usu.

it's definitley an adjustment, but good.

&

i also made 4 dozen cupcakes, a spice cake and a white cake. ((for new neighbors and a funeral tomorrow))

with the help of my sister kate.

  

 

&

i went on a 2 hour walk up the canyon with my family.

i loved it.

nature is seriously one of God's greatest creations. it's breathtaking.

i ran some too.

i get in these running moods that i just want to run for forever. haha.

i love it.

the power of music

tonight i went with some ward buddies to sing at a local rest home.

they go every sunday, but this was my first time going.

usually my sundays are so packed, i have a hard time finding time to go with them.

but i cannot tell you how great it was!

all the old folks were so cute and were so happy to see us.

we sang all of my favorite hymns and i kept tearing up haha.

my favorite hymn is, "great thou art."

and when we sang that...wow, words cannot describe....

what i loved about after we would finish a song, was the smiles and watery eyes the residents would have.

the glow in them was amazing!

the power of music is so strong.

i'm very grateful for hymns and the gospel in my life.

it truly is such a blessing.

i have seen the gospel change people's lives and i love it.

i will be forever indebted to my Savior for all he has done for me.

if you are curious about my beliefs and religion..
go
HERE

or ask me :)

I believe

Last night I had another witness of Inspiration and the power of God.
I met with the Bishop tonight with tithing settlement.
& he just shared with me things that I exactly needed to hear!
It wasn't even things that were necessarily directed towards tithing settlement.
Thanks Bishop. I'm feeling great about everything. :)

Hey It's been awhile...

Tis true.

I have delayed blogging 

     As some of you know, I am helping out in the Special Needs Institute. There is a kid in that class that is on a “service mission” for the church. He has disabilities, but is still considered a missionary. He has a tag and everything. He got up and shared an experience he had with one of the general authorities. One day, he said Elder Holland came to speak to the missionaries at the MTC, and the service missionaries with disabilities also attended, he said that after Elder Holland spoke, he came up to him and others around him and just told them how grateful he was for them to serve. Elder ****(in our class) said that was a testimony in itself, for Elder Holland to come up to them and take the time to express the love he had for them. Elder ***** said that even though he wasn’t capable to going on a 2-year mission away from home, he is grateful to hold the title of a missionary, to share the gospel to those around him.

      I loved this because he knows that he has disabilities, but he also knows that he can still have the ability to serve a mission. I am grateful for his determination and also yours. I just thought it was sweet. Even though I’m not in an acclereted Institute class, I can have other great spiritual experiences in this class.

     A few nights ago, my friend Trevor came by from next door and hung out with my friend McKenna and I. It was a blast. He went to India his Jr. year of high school and shared some awesome experiences he had there. It was awesome. Throughout his talking, it made me think of you and all of the many customs and culture shocks that my brother Jake is having to get used to in Chile. He talked about how insane the roads were, not being able to understand the language, eating food that he wished he didn't have to. Haha. and other things like that. But, he also talked about the powerful experiences when we got used to the food, fell in love with the kids at the Orphanage and just being able to travel. It was amazing to hear about his life changing humanitarian trip to India. I really hope that I will have an opportunity to leave the country and serve those less fortunate than me. :) Just hearing him talk really reminded me of Jake.

     I went to the HOWL this weekend. It's the biggest Halloween dance held at USU every year. It's considered a little on the crazy side, but we chose to stay in the basement, where the Institute was holding their own little deal, which was really fun! I’m really grateful I have high standards. Not saying that I’m all Missus Perfect, but I am so grateful for the gospel and how to recognize places where the Spirit can/can’t dwell. Upstairs sure was insane compared to the party in the basement. I am grateful for the Holy Ghost and how he has blessed me on a daily basis in my life. I hope I can always keep him close to my heart. Also, WE THE KINGS CAME! It was AMAZING. Oh and we dressed up as Tetris pieces, pics coming soon.

I'm thankful for: 

I'm thankful for my brother's continous example of missionary work. 

I am thankful for my family. I miss them SOOOO much.

I am thankful for great roommmates. Love you guys!

I am thankful for guys that honor their priesthood and feel comfortable talking about the church outside of church.

I am thankful for awesome friends, especially my Cedar friends, Hope and McKenna. I LOVE being around them, and I feel like my standards are kept high when I'm with them.

 

We finished this tonight! :)

Mix of everything

It's my brother's birthday today.

He is currently serving a mission in the Concepcion South Chile mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 

I can't even explain how proud of him I am.

 I hope you have a wonderful birthday. 

I love you so much and I look up to you in every way. 

Thanks for working hard and showing me what it means to sacrifice everything for this church. 

I can’t wait for you to hit your one year mark soon.

Love you! :)

ALSO....

I am very very suprised I lived through this week.

I have had so many tests, quizzes and assignments that I feel like my brain MAY blow up.

Actually it probably did.

I have been studying at the Library super late this week. I feel like I am a POL. Prisoner of Library. 

But...I LOVE the library. It is so peaceful, beautiful and open. 

Sometimes I love going in there and just sitting.

Oh something else really fun you have to try is just sit there and just "people watch."

It's pretty exciting.

Haha.

Well I better get going. I have been sick this week also and I've been coughing up a storm. I went to WalMart the other night and loaded up on drugs.

Good drugs, of course. :)

So I'm loaded with Delsyum, Vicks, Cough Drops and vitamins.

Yay for being sick right?

"Inspiration and the Holy Ghost."

Okay, just throwing this out there.
I think it is going to be TOO insane blogging EVERY day. 
But I promise to do it on a daily basis.
:)
(crossies don't count!)
I promise! :)

So anyways, life is good.
My roommates are grand.
I met with the Bishopric tonight with my roommates. That was great. They are all such sweet individuals, esp the bishop. I know with all my heart, he was definetely meant for this calling. He is very genuine and kind hearted.

I am grateful for new friends too.
Especially Hope and Mckenna.

This is darling Hope. She is seriously thee nicest person I've EVER met! She is always kind and smiling. :)

 and this is Mckenna. Isn't she just the cutest thing ever? Yep. That's Mckenna for ya.

I am also very grateful for inspiration and the Holy Ghost.
Here is a 2-second story.
Time me.
No, don't ha ha.
Anyways...So I was in my room last night with my roommate Dacy and we heard about Iron Man 2 going to be shown on Old Main.
I got Dacy to run with me.
None of the other roomies were really into it.
Which is lame.
Oh well, I'm glad Dacy came with me.
It seems like in college, you really gotta engross yourself in to the college "scene."
Anyways, so I had met Mckenna and Hope at FHE last Monday and they seemed awesome!
We exchanged numbers and I had an impression to text them.
I did and they were at the movie anyways.
So they said they would meet up with us so we could all sit together.
They were so excited to come find us and hang out with us.
I am glad that I texted them and was able to have a full night of chit chatting with Iron Man 2 in the background. Ha ha.
This may not sound like "inspiration" but I really think it was.

I have been praying that I will meet great friends and that I can be an instrument in the Lord's hands, wherever he sees fit.
& it looks like it worked.
I have met 2 awesome LDS girls and I can't wait to hang out with them more.
They said that the girls around them were really dramatic and kind of "party girls" so they said they are so excited to get to know us better! Which is awesome!

I texted them today too, and asked if they were at the Central Campus Party.
They were and I hung out with them today again.
They showed Dacy and I their cute apt and everything.
So, I'm going running tomorrow with them so it'll be a blast.

Alright, so that was a lot longer than 2-seconds sorry about that.
Ha ha.
Anyways, I'm just grateful I'm here.

XOXO,
L

"First time in a Singles ward."

Hello Hello.
It's Day 2.
Umm..let's just say nothing much happened today.
I went to church with Shayla and Jessica at 10.
We met with the entire stake in the gym.
Holy heck there are a ton of people.
The sacrament and talks were great.
All the talk were entertaining.
Which sure beats some of the talks I've heard in the past.
No offense.
Ha!
Anyways, we later broke in by ward and we met our bishop, Gary Olson.
He seems to be a really great guy, and so do his counselors.
I think it will be weird to not have my bishop my bff's dad (next door neighbor) or my dad.
We'll see, It's just another adjustment I'll have to get used to.
We had family prayer tonight...
that was...uhh...good?
I don't know it's kind of weird. A good idea, but interesting...

Ohh....good good news, Kristy moved in last night!
I think we scared her.
Honestly.
Hopefully she'll survive us.
Haha. I bet she feels overwhelmed that we've all been here and set up.
I like her.
She seems really easy going and nice.
It'll be good.
Talk to you tomorrow.