Acceptance & Withholding Judgment

                                                                 James 4:11-12

  This blog is going to be me pouring my heart out here, so just bare with me. I know the topic of judgment is going to be controversial and may leave a sour taste to some of you, but that's okay.

  We are all taught (with or without religion) that we should not judge one another, but in a religious perspective, it's a commandment to "love thy neighbor as thy self." Now why are commanded to do so? As Christians of all types, we are taught to follow in Jesus Christ's footsteps and teach the way he taught, yet some of the most hurtful things done to me, have been by fellow Christians. Yet, we still call ourselves Christian and should promote peace and acceptance.


  We are also taught that we should accept the PERSON, not the SIN itself. You can have friends and family members do things that you do not agree with, but that doesn't mean we should push them away nor feel differently towards them. No matter the circumstance. The reason being, we have no idea what the other person is going through, nor the thoughts they may be having, affecting the decision or actions.


 It could be a good action, and someone could still not agree with it. That's life, and you'll have plenty of experience with this, but just remember, (if it's you in this awful situation) you are not less than anyone else. You are still brilliant, and you are still worthy of God's love and grace.


  I am deemed as a hypocrite, because I used to judge people A TON. I wouldn't even get to know someone, before I would pass judgement, but within the last year, I have really tried, to tune out those judgmental remarks and thoughts towards others. I found myself in a position, where a family member was making fun of someone in the store. They had said that she was "fat and ugly." I couldn't believe it! She was very thin actually, and very beautiful. I found myself thinking, how unfair it was, and decided that I would get to know people, and try to love them & better understand their circumstance.

  If I was going to call myself a true Christian, I would try to love and accept people, for who God intended them to be, and look past the sins and actions. I realized through my own experiences with myself and my family, that pushing those people away, hurts them deeply; especially those who value our opinion.


  I know what it feels like to be the one who is judged, very harshly, without getting to know me, and I was so hurt by the situation; so I decided I would be the one, to love accept people. As Christians we are commanded to do so, and it's always the right time to start, now! Now, I didn't write this blog to sound hypocritical, but to share my experiences with you, and hopefully some relate to this.


 Over the past year, I've really noticed the judgment of others on myself and have been hurt. Just know that if you are the one, who's unfairly judged, just know that you are still worth the world.

  And for those who pass judgment, just think about how you would feel, if the same you're doing, would be done to you.

My Story: Finding Faith & Finding God

WARNING: Very raw and intense content. (This might be a while as well.)

  Now that you are forewarned, I'll get to the point. 

  My whole life, I was a member, I was born and raised in the LDS church, I also grew up in Utah, so it was just a way of life. I never really had a "true" testimony and I never really had a close relationship with God. In a sense, I solely did it because it was expected. To please my parents. 

Something happened, very traumatic and devastating and one day I thought to myself, God, if you were really there, why would you let your children go through this stuff? I thought you loved your children.. I convinced myself that God wasn't real. I just didn't get it. I became very depressed . I really went downhill. I resorted to other substances to fill the gaps. My parents really were worried, and put me through counseling and it didn't help. My parents (stepmom and biological dad) sent me to live with my mom and her husband. I didn't want to live in Pennsylvania at all. I still wasn't all stable, emotionally, I still had a lot of kinks to work out. 

  

At this point, I was so bitter that I didn't even want to step foot onto church property, but of course, my mom made me go. (Thanks mom, I appreciate it now) I met a wonderful person, and she became my best friend instantly. I also had an amazing Bishop, who genuinely cared, and he asked my mom if I could take a trip with him and his wife, to New Hampshire, to meet his daughter. He was inspired by the Lord to do so. My mom said yes and I was so excited. 

 Amanda (his daughter) and I were talking and she said something that really struck me. It wasn't enough to change myself, but it was enough to get me thinking. It was an indescribable trip and it was absolutely amazing! A few weeks later, he asked me if I would babysit, for his other daughter. I accepted. There was a Christmas Devotion at the temple and they all wanted to go. The father of the children ended up getting sick, so he ended up staying with the kids. I didn't have a temple recommend so I had to sit in the visitor's center, but I didn't mind. 

 I walked into the missionary room and I felt the Spirit for the first time and it hit me so strongly. I knew at that moment that I knew exactly what I wanted, and I knew where I needed to be in my life. That day on, I decided I was going to change. I went teaching with the sister missionaries and I read scriptures and prayed. I knew God really was there. I thought that He wasn't listening to me, but in reality, I wasn't listening to Him. He is there, I know without a doubt. It took me many wrong turns and a lot of trials to realize that He is there and will always be there. I know that through the Atonement we could become forgiven for all of our sins and I know the truthfulness of the Atonement. I am grateful for the people who've helped me realize my true worth, because I didn't know I had a worth for the longest time. But I know now that He loves me and I am worth so much to Him.

I don't view  my past  experiences in a negative light, because I know for a surety that God is TRULY there, and I know that He loves each of His children so dearly. His restored church is absolutely true and I encourage you to find Him and have faith in Him.

Alma 32:21-43

Faith in God's Plan

 What's one concept that you have a hard time with? Maybe you don't have a strong testimony on tithing, or prayer. That's okay, it's normal. I have a few subjects that I struggled IMMENSELY with.

  Mine, was faith.

I have moved very frequently and it was hard for me to remain stable. I finally ended up in Pennsylvania and I met some of the greatest people ever. They were truly a blessing in my life. I finally accepted Christ, and His gospel. I have finally established myself and I was so happy. My grandpa died and it went downhill from there. My parents prayed about moving to Florida and I was so against it. I only lived in Pennsylvania for a year! We ended up moving down there, and I was miserable. I went to EFY in Pennsylvania and my perspective changed. I was in this one class, and the teacher (Brother Cummings) taught about the teenage pioneers.

  We've all heard about them, but I've never truly listened. To think about how these families packed everything they could take, and move West, where the Lord wanted them to be, is fascinating. That takes so much faith and so much courage. To think about the kids my age, risking EVERYTHING they have to do the Lord's will is extraordinary. When I went to EFY I was still mad at my parents for making me move. But when we were discussing this, my heart softened and I told myself, The Lord should always come first. I will do whatever His will is. I didn't risk my life on the move, so why were you so hard headed? 

  I knew in that moment that I needed to trust God completely and fully. He knows what I need and in the time I need it. I came back with a new perspective. Sure, I didn't love it here, but I knew I needed to be here for some reason.

 I know that as we allow God to guide us, we will be okay. I know that having Faith is so important and we really need to trust in Him completely and fully. I am eternally grateful for the people who have influenced me for the good.


 I know that as we have a faith in God and His plan, we will never be lost. We'll be blessed greatly.

He is the Gift

    This post might be a bit short, and very spiritually based, but that's okay. It's my blog, and I feel inspired to share. Lately, I have been doing a lot of service for many people. We all know service is a good thing, and we are suppose to diligently serve others, but I never grasped that concept. Sure, it was nice to do so, and I felt good after, but I never did it for fun. I never knew the true meaning to give of yourself. I have recently discovered how it feels to focus on others, and only their needs. I have felt so good, and I definitely feel the love of our Savior while doing so. 

   I have really felt the Spirit lately, and I have felt peace. My testimony of the Savior has grown immensely, and I am so thankful for that. I love my Savior and His atoning sacrifice for each and every one of us. He is very mindful of each of us, regardless of whether you think so or not, I know that He has shown us the greatest plan and a way back to our loving Heavenly Father. I know that He is the Savior and the Redeemer of mankind. I know that through Him, we can find everlasting life and true joy. I know this for a certainty, I have lived with the Gospel and lived without it and I am truly happy living it. I know that my Redeemer lives. I have a strong testimony of our Savior, and I'm still looking toward improving it even more. 

    I'm EXTREMELY grateful for the opportunity to serve others, and to have my testimony grow. I bear my witness to you, that I know He is the gift, and He is the way to salvation.

Success in the Making

 As of now at this moment, I'm disappointed in myself, I am appalled that I totally bombed a math quiz. At this time I feel pretty pathetic. How many of you doubt yourself and tell yourself that you're not good enough for something? All of you? We've all been there, done that. It's such a bad habit. We always cut ourselves short and tell ourselves, that "I can't do this." or "I'm too stupid." We always doubt our abilities. Now, don't worry I'm not calling you out, I do this WAY too much.

 How many of you know, Thomas Edison? The guy that invented the light bulb? The very one, had to try over a lot of times. I think he tried over a thousand times, to get it right. But he had also said," I don't look at them as failures, I found out a thousand ways not to make a light bulb!" (I was just paraphrasing, so if I didn't get it right, I apologize) He took the negative connotation of  the word "fail" and used it in a positive connotation as "success."

   We often compare our weakness to someone else's strengths. Everybody has flaws, not one person is perfect. Even Channing Tatum has flaws, ladies. We shouldn't compare strengths and weaknesses, at all, but we shouldn't even compare ourselves to others anyways! God has given every person strengths and weaknesses. Strengths are so we can be better instruments and tools for the Lord. The weaknesses, are so you can try to make them into strengths. It's hard to "love" yourself. It's easy to pinpoint flaws and imperfections we have.

  Thomas Edison has said that he had failed a numerous amount of times, before he got it right. That's how God intended us to be. He wants us to learn from mistakes or "fails" and transform it into a success or "strength". We don't have everything figured out, and that's okay. Things take time. Ever hear of the "Refiner's Fire"? God uses trials and mistakes to shape us and mold us into a greater and improved you. Instead of saying," I don't know what I'm going to do with my life!" simply say," I'm a work in progress." If you can't finish your 5k, give it your all, and tell yourself. " I will do better next time." Over time you'll improve, and one day, you can do it!

  "You can't rush perfection!" is my life motto. We all can become better, and succeed, the only thing that's stopping you, is yourself. Allow yourself to grow from mistakes, forgive yourself, and try again. You'll have a more optimistic outlook on things, and you'll learn "a thousand different ways not to make a light bulb!"

The Purpose of the Unknown

  Let's get something straight.. The agonizingly painful phrase of "everything happens for a reason" is accurate. Cliche. I know, but hear me out. The mortal, natural man, tends to struggle with the concept of trials. Why do we have them? Why me? Will this every end? Can today get any worse? 

  To be quite frank, I'm not a philosopher, I'm just a kid.. well, young adult. But if there's one thing I know about life, is trials. Yes, I know a thing or two about the tribulations, we go through. It took me 17 years to figure it out, but I'm pretty confident that I know what I'm talking about. Kinda. Sorta. Okay you get the memo. 

  Why do we have them? 

   We have trials to make us stronger. Totally cliche, but true. If we were to workout with  5 lb. dumbell for the rest of our lives, we would not gain muscle. We would stay the same. That's not in our books. We are not meant to stay the same. Change is inevitable. We change for a multitude of reasons, but the one that strikes me, is because of God's plan for us. I am LDS (Latter Day Saint, or Mormon) so basically everything that comes out of my mouth is centered around my faith, but I know that God is aware of what we're going through. God knows what we need most in our lives, and most the time, we change and become stronger due to trials. The things we go through, are heart wrenching and devastating, I'll admit, it's not always easy. It actually really sucks. (Sorry Mom, if you're reading this) But I know that with endurance and faith, comes strength and  hope. 

    Why me?

I've heard this too many times to count. We often don't understand why we go through tribulations, and that's okay. There's many things we don't understand, and we want to know answers. That's where praying diligently and earnestly comes to play. We don't know God's entire plan for us, we can only see what's in the past and what's in the present. We question, Why did this happen to me? I thought you loved all of your children? He does love us! That's the point, He loves us so much, that he only wants us to succeed and change for the better. Therefore, we have trials. They are meant to shape us and make us more humble. It's just up to you if you let it make you, or break you. Simple.

Trials come and go. One week, everything is going smoothly and things seem pretty good. The next day, you lose your job and your car breaks down. The things we go through, helps us really recognize the good. If you were comfortable all of the time, do you gain any strength? Is it easy to endure? We were never promised "easy" we were promised "everlasting life if we endured it well". Things get rough, I'll be completely real. I would be lying if I said life was easy. It's not. But, I know that we have all the proverbial "notes and answers" to the hardest "test". We were given: prophets, scriptures, the Atonement and Prayer. We have everything we need to get by and to make things a bit easier for us. 

 This year has been the hardest and most trying of my ENTIRE LIFE. But, it's been the most spiritual strengthening and I've grown so much. 

When things get rough, just remember that God is there for YOU. He will always listen, and you can ALWAYS talk to Him. We don't see the grand scheme of things, and we definitely can't see the bigger picture. But we all have a Divine purpose and those trials help shape you and mold you into what God needs you to be. The unknown is scary. Frightening, even, But it doesn't have to be. Let Him guide and counsel you, I promise it'll get easier, with the help of God. Through Christ, all things are possible..