As I took the time to decide upon a theme for my new year, I considered what would encourage me to be a better daughter, sister, friend, student, and disciple. With my senior year being half-way over and college craziness beginning, it's really important me that I'm not too eager about moving forward, and really take some time to enjoy the stage of life I'm in.

Within the last 2 days, I've listened to 8 hours of General Conference...and boy oh boy it has been wonderful! Yesterday my Momma & I were lucky enough to get to watch both sessions in the Conference Center. No matter where I watch it, I can always feel the sweet spirit of truth testifying to me that the words I'm hearing are truth.


I know that the words I heard this weekend are words of God, through the mouths of those he has called to do his work. I know that this church is the only completely true and living church on this earth. I know that my loving savior, Jesus Christ, suffered for me—he suffered for my pains, my fears, my struggles, my weaknesses, my embarrassments, and my feelings of inadequacy. I know that God sent Joseph Smith to restore His church upon this earth. I know that each Sunday as I partake of the Sacrament, I renew those covenants I made at baptism. I know that families can live together forever and that my parents were sealed for eternity on May 30, 1987 in the Salt Lake Temple. I know that the blessings of the temple extend beyond our earthly life, and that the work I do in the temple is to help those that have passed on receive the blessings that I have been able to receive while on this earth. I know that as I have questions and concerns about my life, the church, and those around me, I can reach out to my Father in Heaven and he will comfort me and tell me everything that I need to know at this time. I know that in order to return to him someday and receive those blessings I’ve been promised, I need to faithfully live the commandments and seek to serve in my everyday life. I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I’m grateful for the knowledge and testimony that I have been able to gain while being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

My journal entry tonight:

Life is currently wonderfully crazy.

These past few weeks have been insane, and I really have just been trying to keep my head above water. As I reflect on my crazy little life before I go to bed tonight, I decided to make a list of just a few of the things I am so, so grateful for:

As I take time to reflect upon the year that has passed, I recognize the immense amount of strength and knowledge I have gained with the help of my Savior, Jesus Christ.

The 2014 Youth Theme from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was Moroni 10:32, "...come unto Christ, and be perfected in Him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness." As we would stand up each week and recite this scripture, I would feel the encouragement to keep forging ahead.

A few things in 2014 that have been catalysts on my journey to Come Unto Christ include:

-Attending the temple as often as I can (most often the Provo Temple, but we tried to go on trips and other outings to visit nearby temples and it was amazing).
-Writing my testimony in a Book of Mormon and then giving it to a close friend who was moving away from Provo.
-Studying The Book of Mormon (2013-14 school year) and The Doctrine & Covenants (2014-15 school year) in Seminary.
-Using different forms of social media to briefly share my beliefs.
-Attending a 'Book of Mormon Marathon' this summer and getting to read the Book of Mormon, cover-to-cover in 26.2 hours.
-Getting to be a part of Provo High's production of, 'Waiting for Godot' and recognizing where I stand and how to better live my life.
-Having the opportunity to learn and then teach the young women in my ward 'The Living Christ.'

I'm so grateful for the people I met, the friendships I gained, and the relationship with my Savior that I have been able to strengthen.

I'm excited to start this new year full of new opportunities and challenges and see how much closer I'll be able to come to my Savior in 2015.

At 12:35am on Thanksgiving Day, my sister, Madison, had her baby!! When she told me she was pregnant she invited me to go with her to the hospital when the had the baby. I was SO excited, and the entire time she was pregnant Mad was kind enough to let me feel her baby kick...and it was the coolest thing!! The whole week leading up to when she had him, I was checking my phone non-stop hoping to get a call that she was going into labor :)