Well, Spring Break has finally rolled around (I LOVE year round school) and I'm finally getting to update the blog. Life is so fun! I love spending time with my husband and our wonderful families. Last week Jonny and I got to go to Costa Rica (thanks for the connections, family!) and we had an awesome time!! We got to zipline through the forest, slide down a 1600 foot river waterslide, ride horses to mudpools and hot springs. We also had a great time snorkeling in the ocean (aside from Jonny getting stung by jellyfish on his first time ever in the ocean) and saw some cool puffer fish and moray eels.
We learned an important lesson about diving with dive boots on....watch out for the sock tan sunburn!!
This weekend I was able to attend my mission reunion in Provo. It was wonderful to be reunited with friends and our mission president and his family. Saturday I drove to Ogden to hang out with my family and adorable nephew Aiden while we watched Saturday's sessions of General Conference. We also got to attend the Sunday session of General Conference. Such a neat experience! I love listening to the inspired messages.
Speaking of inspired messages, I recently discovered Mormon Messages on You Tube. Visit www.youtube.com/MormonMessages to view official videos from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I love one from President Uchtdorf called Create.
Recently, I've started reading the Book of Mormon from the beginning again. I got new scriptures for Christmas and I'm noticing that having unmarked scriptures is helping me to recognize some new insights. I'm so grateful for our scriptures! There is nothing else that can make a day improve faster than feeling the Spirit and the scriptures are a great way to do it!
Some thoughts on 1 Nephi 10:
I admire so much those righteous people who lived before Christ had come but had such faith that he would and lived accordingly. I guess faith is faith either way--we have faith that he came and did what he said, despite critics and unbelievers, and we also have faith that he will come again (and be ready!) They knew about when he would come and had signs to recognize him when he came. We don't know when he'll return but we do have signs to recognize that he will!
My favorite part from this chapter, though, is part of verse 17. After Nephi listened to the revelation his father had received, he writes, "I, Nephi, was desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the Holy Ghost..." I think that's admirable that Nephi didn't just believe his father but desired his own spiritual experiences. I am so grateful that the Lord gives us each the opportunity to receive revelation and confirmation through the Holy Ghost, (finishing verse 17) "which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him, as well in times of old as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men."
Nephi understood that receiving personal revelation through the Holy Ghost was important for them (before Christ had come), but that it would also be important for those who lived on the Earth during his ministry and after (like us!). God has not left us alone, nor does he only allow his Spirit to communicate with a few chosen people. He loves all his children and will allow his Spirit to be with all those "who diligently seek him." So, the question I ask myself is, "Am I diligently seeking him?" If yes, then I have probably had recent spiritual experiences where I have seen the Lord's hand in my life, felt his love, and received direction. If no, then I know what I need to do to have these gifts!
