An Afternoon on the Couch

"What matters most almost always involves the people around us."
-Thomas S. Monson

I love this quote, and oh, how true it is.  I have had a lovely morning and afternoon to spend with my grandma and it's a memory I don't want to forget.

After her usual Cheerios and banana for breakfast, Grandma got dressed and we set out to make cookies.  That's the routine when you're with Grandma.  So we decided on Snickerdoodles because they're her favorite.  We whipped up six dozen cookies, singing hymns as we scooped and rolled the dough--except I had to sing an octave higher because she sings so low!  But those were some pretty good Snickerdoodles.

After making cookies, Grandma went and sat in her favorite corner of the couch.  I jumped over the armrest of the other couch to lay on my back with my feet hanging over the edge.  Grandma said,
"I sure envy you being able to lay down like that."
I told her, "You can lay down if you want."
"I guess I could."

And so I watched her as she struggled to take her slipper boots off and re-position her body to lay down on the couch.  The silly comments she made to herself while she did this made me laugh.

"If you keep laughing at me I'm going to throw something at you," she threatened.
"What are you going to throw at me?"
"A cookie."
"But then you'd have to get up and go get one."
"You're right, I guess I won't do that.  I should've brought some over with me so I could throw one at you and eat two!"

I just laughed and laughed. We laid there on the couches in silence, just resting and thinking.

A couple minutes later she said,
"Oh, I don't know if I can fall asleep with my glasses on."
"Why don't you take them off, then?" I asked.
"Because then I'd have to get up to go put them away, and I don't want to do that."

Again, I couldn't help but laugh.  Then she said it was a good thing I was on the other couch, otherwise she would kick me.
""Why would you kick me??"
"I don't know," she said, kind of shamefully.  She went on, "No I wouldn't kick you, no matter what you said or did..."
"Oh, thank you, Grandma!"
"...unless you were in the right position."  What?? I just laughed some more.

Oh how I cherish these small, simple moments I have to spend with my grandma.  Despite the frustrating effects of old age, there is so much to be enjoyed.  Her desire to serve others and not be a burden is inspiring.  Her sense of humor is still there and it adds so much joy to the journey.  There isn't a lot she can remember, but she can remember the words of the hymns of Christ.  And that is so powerful to me.  Those are the things of eternal value.

It truly is the simple things that matter most in life.  There is always more time to study, to clean, to fold laundry, to wash dishes, to organize.  But the time we have to be with those we love in this life is limited.  We can't say "stop, time" to capture a moment or a season of life.  What we can do, though, is cherish it, take advantage of it, savor every opportunity we have to love and lift and learn from those we love.  Just like the story of Mary and Martha, have we chosen the good part, the part that won't be taken away from us?  Are we laying up for ourselves treasures in heaven?  These are the treasures that will last forever.  These are the treasures that will not be taken away, because we are going to live forever with those we love.

For now,

Alyssa

My Joy is Carried Away

Today has been one of those days that is just indescribable.  Blessings have been poured down upon me and I cannot find words sufficient to describe my gratitude and joy.  To start out, I woke up at 3:20 in order to shower, study my scriptures, and pack my lunch before heading to the temple.  I love early mornings, but I don't think there's anything better than waking up early to go to the temple.  It's my favorite.  And so I drove to the temple, singing hymns to myself on the way and it was lovely.  (Well, I'm not sure it would be to another person, but it was a lovely time for me).

While working in the temple I have breaks periodically where I can study ordinances or scriptures.  A couple weeks ago I decided that I was going to finish the Book of Mormon as a birthday gift to myself.  So this morning as I was in the temple I finished the Book of Mormon, and oh, how great was my joy.  I was filled with the purest and sweetest happiness as the Spirit bore witness to me of the truth of that beloved book.  (Alma 26:16, 35-37 come pretty close to describing it)  I love that book.  I love the Book of Mormon.  I love Alma and the incredible missionary he was, I love the humble and wise words of King Benjamin, I love the faith of the brother of Jared, the diligence and obedience of Nephi, and I love that part where the Savior invites us all to arise and come unto Him, to see the prints of the nails in His hands and in His feet.  I love my Savior, Jesus Christ.  I know that He lives.  I know that it is by reading this book that we come to know Him, understand Him, recognize Him, and become perfected in Him.

The rest of my time in the temple was tender and sacred, and then I headed off to work.  And just because the Lord is so good, I was able to meet a sweet young lady who is preparing to serve a mission in Nauvoo, Illinois (pretty much my favorite place in the entire world).  I could not contain the excitement I felt for her when she told me she is going to serve in Nauvoo.  I shared with her my thoughts and feelings about Nauvoo and expressed to her my love for that beautiful place.  As I spoke of the missionaries in Nauvoo and my experiences with them, tears of joy threatened and I felt of the power of missionary work when we are all united in the cause of Christ.  The girl's mom said she felt they needed to meet me and she was so grateful for what I shared.  And I thought about that and was so humbled and full of gratitude because I felt I needed that experience more than they did.  It was a great strength to me and an expression of Heavenly Father's love, especially as Satan is trying so hard to rip me apart and discourage me from serving God.  And then two of my dear friends both received their mission calls tonight, and as I drove home this evening, I was overcome with joy and excitement to be a part of this great work.  I could hardly sit still.  There is power in this work.  It is the work of God.

"THE STANDARD OF TRUTH HAS BEEN ERECTED; No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but THE TRUTH OF GOD WILL GO FORTH boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the great Jehovah shall say: the work is done."

(Joseph Smith)

I am honored to be called to this holy work.  I am honored to be a daughter of the Almighty God.  I am honored to bear His name and preach His gospel.

For now,

Alyssa

Look and Behold

Ah, Christmas Eve…what a glorious, magical time of year.  Since I’ve returned home from my first semester of college a couple weeks ago, things have been crazy.  They’ve been kind of stressful, kind of frustrating, busy, tiring…hard, but good.  I can definitely tell that Satan is trying to attack at all sides the closer I come to serving my mission.  However, I have been so blessed with angelic people who love me and always extend a helping hand. 

It has caused me to reflect on one of my favorite Christmas songs, How Far is it to Bethlehem? written by Norah Lofts.

How far is it to Bethlehem? Not very far.

Shall we find the stable room lit by a star?

Can we see the little child; is he within?

If we lift the wooden latch may we go in?

Frequently in our lives Heavenly Father places us in circumstances that really challenge us.  These can be unexpected and confusing and we may feel that we aren’t ready for them.  We scramble to and fro, getting caught up in what we think is important.  Our minds constantly turn, trying to solve the puzzles—more like the Rubik’s cubes—of life that hover over us.  We can feel unsettled and flustered and unfocused and without purpose.  It is in the midst of these circumstances that we find ourselves yearning for the peace that comes from our Savior, Jesus Christ, and His gospel.  That peace can seem so far out of reach.  And when it does, we may find ourselves asking, “How far is it to Bethlehem?” 

Is it possible to find Him?  How far away is He?  Will He really be there if we go? 

As I pondered these questions, the Spirit opened my eyes and reminded me of a beautiful lesson in the scriptures.  Consider, in St. Luke 2, the account of Christ’s birth when the shepherds are abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night.  There is a parallel here with us; we are each “abiding” in our own fields of life, keeping watch over our flocks, or over our own responsibilities: work, school, families, callings, etc.  An angel comes and tells us where to find Christ: in Bethlehem, the city of David.  The shepherds said to each other, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing…”  And then we read, “They came with haste and found…the babe lying in a manger.”

That seems so simple!  The angel told them where to go, they went, and they found Him.  Is it really that simple?  Another account in the scriptures can help answer that question.

In 1 Nephi 11, Nephi desires to see the vision his father saw.  Because Nephi desires, and because he believes, the angel tells him that he will see a sign and receive a witness.  But there is one very crucial thing that Nephi must do.  It is one word: “Look!”  Nephi must decide to look, and he does. 

“I looked and beheld the Son of God…I looked and beheld the Redeemer of the world…I looked and I beheld the Lamb of God going forth among the children of men...I looked and beheld the Lamb of God…And I, Nephi, saw that he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world…”

The more Nephi chooses to look, the more He sees and understands the life, mission, and works of Jesus Christ. We must look to behold. 

And so the answer is yes; it really is that simple.  We know where to find Him.  We find Him in Bethlehem.  I wondered what was so significant about Bethlehem and came to a wonderful discovery.  Bethlehem means “House of Bread.”  I found this so interesting because Christ is the “Bread of Life” and those who come unto Christ shall never hunger if they choose to partake.  One of the ways we can more literally do this is by partaking of the Sacrament each week.  Sister Cheryl A. Esplin said, “Our wounded souls can be healed and renewed not only because the bread and water remind us of the Savior’s sacrifice of His flesh and blood but because the emblems also remind us that He will always be our ‘bread of life’ and ‘living water.’”  When we choose to come unto Him, we can partake of the bread and the waters of life freely (Alma 5:34).  He will fill us completely and wholly.  It is only He who can fill us completely because only He knows us perfectly and understands our infirmities because only He suffered for us. 

In each of our journeys to Bethlehem, let us remember Him and look to Him.  Let us remember in whom we have trusted.  Let us remember in whom we can still trust.  Let us remember that we must only choose to look and we will find Him.  Let us remember Him, our Savior Jesus Christ, who is the Prince of Peace.  And let us also remember that the journey to Bethlehem is not very far.  We will find Him there. 

I testify that He was born of Mary, that He lived a perfect life and performed miracles, always obeying His Father’s will.  He bore our griefs, sorrows, pains, iniquities, and infirmities in the Garden of Gethsemane.  He was crucified and rose on the third day.  I know that He lives.  The prints of nails in His hands, wrists, and feet are a sacred reminder of His sacrifice for us.  He stands supreme.  I love Him.  He is my Lord, my Redeemer, my Savior, my King. 

For now,

Alyssa

To See With Christ

This has been on my mind a lot these the past couple of days and I felt like I should write about it. Lately I've been studying the New Testament in greater depth with the intent to recognize more of the attributes that make up the character of Christ.  I read a book a few months back that inspired this.  The book was "The Way Back to Heaven" by S. Michael Wilcox.  In it Wilcox writes about seeing with the eyes of Jesus.  He brushes upon several accounts in the New Testament when Christ sees those who are a great way off, those who are alone in the sycamore tree, those who are toiling in the wind.  Reading about this sparked a desire for me to learn of the eyes of Jesus and understand more how he sees us.  What a beautiful and humbling experience it has been to find the way in which Christ beholds His brothers and sisters.  

On Sunday in Sacrament Meeting, one of the speakers shared the story of Christ healing the ten lepers that prompted this post (Luke 17).  During the time of Christ's ministry, those who had physical limitations, such as leprosy, were cast out and considered cursed.  The people thought the physical or mental limitations indicated, or even derived from, spiritual problems.  This tragic misconception changed the whole way they treated their brothers and sisters.  They saw only the outside layer.  Christ, however, saw what was underneath the surface.  The physical and mental limitations of others never altered or determined how he viewed them.  Each was a beloved son or daughter of our Heavenly King no matter what.  

In Mark 1:40-41, a single leper came to Jesus to be cleansed.  The account reads that Jesus was "moved with compassion" for the man.  In the eyes of society, this man would be cast out and condemned, but in the eyes of Christ, this man is made clean and cured.  How often are we "moved with compassion" towards those who are at a mental or physical disadvantage?  I'm not only referring to obvious handicaps, but even those who we might be tempted to get annoyed or impatient with.  Do we view them as less than us?  Do we place our judgments according to their immaturity or ignorance?  That is the moment we need to stop and ask ourselves, "Lord, is it I?"  What am I doing that is blinding me from the worth of His children?  "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God" (D&C 18:10).  Then why not in our sight?  What is preventing us from seeing them through His eyes?  

As we look beyond the physical and mental limitations placed before us, we won't see defeat.  What will we see?  Beyond bodily disfigurement, mental disorders, emotional anxieties, or temporal conditions, we will see the rudiments of God's children in the eyes of our brothers and sisters.  We will see the spiritual capacities of each precious individual.  We will see the spirits that live and thrive inside them--the spirits that will not die.  We will see the true identities and destinies of all our Father's children.   We will see the potentials of every one of them.  We will see them as our brothers and sisters in Christ, for each one of us is a beloved son or daughter of God.  

Below is a video of Christ healing a man born blind.  It depicts perfectly what I'm trying to say here.  While the Pharisees are blinded to the man's physical disadvantage, Christ reaches out to heal him because he sees inside of him his true worth.  This he does to each of us.  Let us emulate His example and do likewise to our brothers and sisters.  "As we emulate His perfect example, our hands can become His hands; our eyes, His eyes; our heart, His heart" (President Uchtdorf).  

One other aspect of this video that I love is the way the blind man's view changes.  When he opens his eyes and views his reflection, it's as if he is a new man.  After being healed by Christ, he recognizes that he has worth and he has potential.  How important it is that each of us comes to this recognition.  

"If only we understood who we are and what is in store for us, our hearts would overflow with such gratitude and happiness that it would enlighten even the darkest sorrows with the light and love of God.....You are no ordinary beings.  You are glorious and eternal...I plead with you, just look into the water and see your true reflection...when you look at your reflection, you will be able to see beyond imperfections and self doubt and recognize who you truly are: glorious sons and daughters of Almighty God" (President Uchtdorf).  

I share my testimony that each of us is glorious and eternal.  We are so much more than our temporal limitations, for our spirits are infinite.  Our Heavenly Father has a divine plan for all of His children.  He wants us to return to Him and to become like Him and He has given us the way.  Let us follow the example of His son, Jesus Christ, and we truly will reach our divine potential.  Our Father in Heaven loves us deeply and purely.  He knows us, He loves us, and He wants us back.  Christ is the way back.  I pray we can each make Christ the center of our lives and, by so doing, that we can develop the eyes to see others as He does.  I know He is my Savior and my Redeemer.  I know He bore my sins and carried my sorrows and that He did it willingly because He loves me.  And the sweetest joy is the knowledge I have that He lives today.  I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

For now,

Alyssa

All Creatures of our God and King

What an absolutely glorious place this world is.  I love the beauty that surrounds me daily--just outside my dorm and all over campus.  Heavenly Father has blessed us so much.  I find peace, reverence, gratitude, and awe in all of His creations.

 

For now,

Alyssa

the sweetest of mercies

I feel the sweet tender mercies of the Lord sprinkled on me daily.  

A few uplifting sticky notes my roommate left on my desk 

"I Believe in Christ" hymn #134

A breathtaking sunset 

A good heap of lasagna from the Dining Hall

A kind message from a teacher

A long walk with a trusted friend

This song by Paul Cardall (can't even explain how much I love it)

A much needed phone call from my dear sister

A package from my Mom...with homemade granola (doesn't get much better than that)

A friend who stays a minute to listen to me

A couple verses of scripture that bring new insight and perspective

The tips of the trees begin to change colors....fall is approaching!

Heavenly Father's hand is in everything everywhere I go, if only I am humble enough to open my eyes and see His beauty unfold all around me.  I know He is aware of me.  It's through His tender mercies that His love is made manifest to me.  He truly is a loving Father.

For now,

Alyssa

Nauvoo, that beloved place

For the past eleven years (off and on), my family has had the privilege in participating in the Nauvoo Pageant.  It is such a remarkable experience that each of us cherish deeply.  This summer we decided to take a trip as "onlookers" of the Pageant, as opposed to participants.  And what's even better is I got to drag my friend, Lexi, along.  After spending a day and a night and a day in the beloved motor home, traveling through the windy road of Colorado and the rather exciting plains of Kansas, we arrived in Nauvoo just in time for the Frontier Country Fair! (aka the preshow with pioneer games)

The traditional stilts.  Couldn't pass these up!! 

Those bagpipes, I tell ya.  They're the sound of home to me.  And this here on the right is Lisa.  She is such a dear, bursting with light and life and love for everyone around her.  We were in the pageants last summer with her and had the privilege of seeing her again this summer.  She is incredible.

The lovely parade of flags and bagpipes and the Nauvoo Brass Band to sing the National Anthem prior to the performance each night.

British Pageant Finale folks!! What a sight.  The finale includes a rendition of the hymns Come, Come ye Saints, Oh Say What is True, Called to Serve, and Redeemer of Israel.  While they sing Called to Serve, all of the missionaries serving in Nauvoo and surrounding areas file onto the stage and man.  The spirit is overwhelming.  

What the stage looks likes in anticipation for the Nauvoo Pageant to begin.  (Yes the stage is inclined) Don't you love that view of the temple?  Gorgeous.  The pageant begins with Parley P. Pratt strolling on stage, whistling, then upon noticing the audience greets them and goes on to say, "Parley P. Pratt here.....The truth is, we couldn't be happier to have you here, in our homes, strolling our streets, and now spread so handsomely across this sweet green.....You see, when you're here, we're here also.  Because we're in you.  Some of what you are is because of what we were, what we became here, in this place, in this beautiful city called Nauvoo."

I love that.  I love that we are more than this. We have roots, ancestors, heroes who came before us and who shaped who we are today.  That's the spirit you can feel in Nauvoo, their spirit.  And as you discover more of who they were and what they did, you discover yourself and who you are.

If there's anything I love more than Southern Utah sunsets, it's Nauvoo sunsets.

Cherileigh and Lexi, the cuties.  I refused to be in the pic due to severe swelling in my face that made me look like a Dr. Seuss character.  No joke.

There's a little bakery called the Ivy across the river in Fort Madison.  We make it a priority to go there for lunch each time we're there.  So here's a very unprofessional picture of my turkey avocado panini.  It was absolutely delicious.

The temple they "build" during the Nauvoo Pageant.  What a powerful scene it is as the saints sing "Praise to the Man" while finishing the temple, only to leave shortly after on the journey West.  What inspiring faith they had.  The temple lowers after the exodus scene, and behind it on the hill stands the Nauvoo temple.  President Hinckley's voice comes on and reads the following quote as the temple lights up:

"Today, facing west, on the high bluff, overlooking the city of Nauvoo, thence across the Mississippi, and over the plains of Iowa, there stands Joseph's temple, a magnificent house of God.  Here in the Salt Lake Valley, facing east to that beautiful temple in Nauvoo, stands Brigham's temple, the Salt lake temple.  They look toward one another as bookends, between which there are volumes that speak of the thousands who made the long journey from the Mississippi River to the valley of the Great Salt Lake."

And then there it is, the magnificent house of God, beaming on the hill.

These are "our" sister missionaries we met the first night we were there.  We talked for quite a while and then kept running into each other everyday.  They are both from Utah and are so sweet and beautiful with stalwart testimonies.  So of course we had to get a picture.  Even though it's not a very good pic, that's alright.  We love them anyway!

"In that temple, families can be united eternally by the authority of God in bonds of everlasting love."

One of my favorite truths shared in the British Pageant.  That is what this gospel is all about, families.  I know that because of the Atonement of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the work done in the temple is real, the power of God that binds things here and in heaven is real and nothing can break it, save our own choices.  I know that the temple is the house of God.  As we live worthy of it, as we attend it and do the work of those who came before us, we truly will be endowed with power from on high.  The temple is a source of power, peace, and protection.  We will be filled with the redeeming love of our Father in Heaven and His Son as we make the temple the focus of our lives.  

 Jesus Christ lives, he loves us, and he has given his life for us, that we might receive these promised blessings.  Heavenly Father truly is our Father, we are his sons and daughters and we are "beloved in His sight, each one of us."  I testify of this truth, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

For now,

Alyssa