I believe in Christ. So come what may.

Disclaimer: For any of those who don’t know, I am LDS. AKA, Latter Day Saint. AKA Mormon. I debated about writing my thoughts because they are so tailored to my religion, which is the core of who I am. But that's what this is. My blog. for my thoughts. I feel like I need to share. I write this with not intentions or desires to be challenged or debated with, although I welcome any questions if you have any. I feel anyone can relate to this, but it also contains specific LDS truths.

I feel so incredibly blessed to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. Whenever I think of the meaning of life, I always think about an experience I had in Junior High. I have no idea how it came up, but in my math class, I overheard a conversation. These boys were talking about why we’re here. One of them said that the thinks after we die, it will be just like before we were born. We won’t exist. There is nothing else. First of all, how SAD. Secondly, no wonder people live how they do if they don't think there are any real consequences. This is not to be meant in a judgmental way, but wouldn’t you not worry about touching the fire if you didn’t know it would burn you? How blessed ANY of us are who have some degree of perspective to motivate us to endure this life to move onto better things after.

The truth is that life is hard. We get chewed up, spit out, stomped upon, you name it. I feel like everyone has their problems. We spend our lives working through them. What we go through will never lessen our worth. It’s hard to not let the things happen to us effect us in a negative way. We must strive to come out a BETTER person. We are striving for perfection. We need to have the courage to be imperfect while working toward perfection.

Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don't come 'til heaven. But for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come. -Jeffrey R. Holland

Being grateful isn’t just “nice”, it’s required. True to the Faith says, “we cannot be bitter, resentful, or mean spirited when we are grateful”. I wonder how many blessings and even miracles go unnoticed because we write it off as being “coincidence”. If that even really exists. Its true, optimism comes easier to some then others. But through Christ, our weaknesses can become strengths. Are you better then you were yesterday? If not, something needs to change.

“Children have not yet learned to be depressed by concentrating on things they do not have. They find joy in what is available to them. Find the compensatory blessings in your life when, in the wisdom of the Lord, He deprives you of something you very much want. To the sightless or hearing impaired, he sharpens other senses. To the ill, he gives patience, understanding, and increased appreciation for others’ kindness. With the loss of a dear loved one, he deepens the bond of love , enriches memories, and kindles hope in future reunion. You will discover compensatory blessings when you willingly accept the will of the Lord and exercise faith in him." Elder Scott

I recently finished Helamen in the Book of Mormon (to those of you who haven’t read it, I have a copy just for you!). I kept noticing how the answer to everything is repentance. Or, striving for improvement. We can CHOOSE happiness. Or, we can CHOOSE darkness. Loneliness. Sadness. I’m not saying this is always easy, but the choice is ours to make.

I witness that with faith in the savior, and obedience to his teachings, happiness never ends, but sadness does- Richard G Scott.

ahh, I feel better now :)