Preparing for General Conference

Does anyone remember President Russell M. Nelson's call to prepare for April 2020 General Conference?

You may wish to begin your preparation by reading afresh Joseph Smith’s account of the First Vision as recorded in the Pearl of Great Price.

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This image was entered into the Work + Wonder Co's workbook submission for April 2020. It's probably one of my very favorites I've seen. I have been giving it a lot of thought, what President Nelson said.

I have read the First Vision in the Pearl of Great price what feels like a million times. I have marked up my scriptures with so much insight I'm not sure I could mark anymore! But that's not the point. I'm not going to lie. I definitely slacked when it came to studying the Restoration and here we are, only 2 weeks until General Conference.

One thing I have done is watch the YouTube videos that Dave Butler did on the Restoration. They are so amazing and have been a light in my life these past couple of weeks. I absolutely loved Seminary and Institute and it felt like I was in a class again watching his videos. I also love the podcast he does with Emily Belle Freeman. This video, in particular, is my favorite for many reasons but one of them is that there are actual books that were owned by church leaders in the glass case he's standing by. In fact, he even gets to hold one with his bare hands.

I have dreamed many times of holding actual church artifacts with my own hands. I know many people who have had the opportunity, Elder Holland being one of them. But as I experience those feelings and the excitement I would expect to feel while holding those items, I am reminded of my love for the Book of Mormon. I am reminded of my love for Joseph Smith and the sacrifices he made so that I can hold this book of scripture in my hands today, by my own free will.

I am so excited about this upcoming General Conference and I have absolutely no idea what it will be like but I can say this... preparing for it (or the lack of preparation) has brought back so much strength to my testimony of Joseph Smith and the Restoration. It has brought back a motivation and inspiration to study my scriptures more and to dedicate time to the word of God. I hope you have found the same in your preparation (or the lack thereof).

He Is Showing Up For Me

Before motherhood, I felt like a huge piece of myself was missing. Now that I’m a mother, I feel it’s absence even more. I pushed it away a few years ago because I wanted to be accepted by those around me. I wanted to be loved and wanted regardless. I pushed it away and I buried it because being accepted felt more important than possibly standing alone. It has been so hard to find a balance of keeping that part of myself alive while also being accepted by my friends and family and society to be honest... The part of me that has been missing is my faith. My religion. My beliefs. Being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is becoming a difficult thing to be. We are hated and looked down upon. It’s a heavy burden to bear in today’s world. I have many friends and family who have left the church or who aren’t members. I still wanted them to love me. I still wanted them to want me in their life. I didn’t want our beliefs to separate us. So what did I do? I put my faith on the shelf and walked away. Nobody asked me to. I felt like I had to in order to keep these relationships.

I’ve been staring at my faith sitting on this shelf and feeling this need to get it down. I am missing this part of my soul. I’m missing this part of who I am. Why can’t I be loved by everyone too? Why can’t they accept this part of me too? I need this to survive. I need this to live and to be happy. I need God. I need to show up for myself but I’m struggling. Then I came across Courtney Casper and my life changed. She showed up for me in my life the way I need to show up for myself. She became the inspiration I needed to dust my faith off and find God again. I have been reading her book, “Choose Yes,” and it has been unbelievably good. It has been everything my heart needs and everything my faith needs. It has been everything I want for myself.

I worry every day which friendships I’ll lose for being a member of this church or which family member won’t feel connected to me because all I care about is my faith? I care what people think... and maybe too much. Courtney has helped me so much in finding my faith again. She has helped me restore that missing piece that I’ve been dying to find. I don’t even know her personally... I’ve never met her. But her example has been an answer to my prayers.

I just wanted to share this because it’s been on my heart for some time now and as a new mom, I’m getting tired of putting society before myself. I think daily about what I want to teach my daughter. I know that I’ll be loved even if it’s only by God. I want to work harder to be better about my faith. I don’t want to abandon it again. Don’t give up friends. Find what sets your soul on fire and don’t let it go.

God Is In the Details

If you remember my blog post about SALT Gathering then you'll remember how I mentioned the wonderful Kim White who was our concluding speaker.

Kim White recently passed away and she (and her family) has been on my mind every single day. I lost my dad to cancer almost 4 years ago and the feelings have been weighing on my heart as I think about the pain her family is currently going through. I know the feeling all too well and it's no good.

Kim was a light to all who knew her and were touched by her story. I had the privilege of hearing her speak at SALT and tell her story of battling cancer every single day. It was the most incredible thing I've ever listened to. She never forgot God. Not once did she give credit to anyone or anything else without first giving credit to God. God showed up for her. He showed up for her in many ways. It probably wasn't always the way she wanted or hoped or imagined he would... but he always did.

As I've been thinking about her this past week, I've been thinking a lot about the details in my life that God has been apart of. Where have I seen him? What has he shown up in or as? What details am I not paying attention to because I'm giving too much attention to details he's not in?

I am beyond grateful for Kim and her constant inspiration in my life. I remember right after she spoke I walked up to give her a hug and say thank you. I, of course, cried as I told her how happy I was that someone elses cancer story turned out differently than my dad's. I told her that it makes my heart so happy to see her still fighting and living and breathing. She gave me a big smile and said thank you. I do remember that as I was telling her this she was focused completely on me. She wasn't looking elsewhere or quickly waving hi to someone in passing. She gave me her attention... someone she didn't know a single thing about. She was probably in so much pain, and maybe very very tired but she didn't let it show.

That detail is how God showed up for me that day. He showed up for me as Kim. He showed up to tell me to look at the details. He gave me an inspiring reminder that he is aware of me and that he loves me. That no matter how many punches my life takes or how often I'm pushed to the ground... he is there with me. Every single time. I just need to look for him and thank him for showing up. Period.

I miss Kim's posts and seeing her fight so hard every single day. I will miss her dance parties and encouragement to just breathe and love life. I pray for her family every day as they mourn her and live through this difficult time. May we do our best to honor Kim and look for God in the details because he's there.

Goals for 2020

Howdy! It's 2020!! Can you believe it!? I'm back with another blog post about my faith-based 2020 goals! I didn't do very well in my 2019 goals but, I tried! It's hard when you aren't truly specific about your goals so I'm going to try and do that this year.

My blog posts have been few and far between because I'm pregnant and my baby is due this month and the exhaustion is REAL! But I'm going to try and set some goals for this blog and try really hard to stay in-tune with the Spirit about where the Lord wants me to take it.

• Stop, drop, and find. Courtney Casper has been a huge influence in my life lately when it comes to scripture study. I want to work really hard to stop, drop and find in at least 5 minutes of my day. We're reading the Book of Mormon this year for Come, Follow Me and I want to spend a lot more time in the scriptures, especially with a little one on the way!
• Post 1 blog post a month on this blog. Like I said earlier, my posting has been few and far between but I really want to try and get at least 1 up a month. I say that because I have no idea what life will be like with a newborn and I don't want to set the bar too high.
• Read 5 faith-based books. Last year, I read way more than my goal and I'm really happy about that! I'd love to shoot for the same amount but we'll see so I'm going to set my goal for at least 5! I love using the Deseret Bookshelf PLUS app!
• Print off a habit tracker and track my morning and evening prayers. I really want to spend more time in prayer this year. I have a big life change happening and I want to stay close to God. I also want to track doing my Come, Follow Me for the week with my family as well!
• Email newsletter. I have always been intrigued by learning how to do an email subscription list. Not everybody uses Bloglovin' to follow their favorite blogs nor do they follow IG/FB pages for post updates so I'm wondering if an email would be better! I'd like to learn this but if I don't achieve it during 2020, no big deal!

I think that's a good amount of goals for me and this blog and my spirituality. If I feel like adding more or forget something then I will add when it comes ;)

What are your spiritual goals for 2020?

Be Thou An Example

I was talking with a friend the other day about the goals I have for the new year (also, a goal post coming soon)! I definitely have goals but I'm also trying not to set too many because I'll be welcoming the new year with my first baby.

One goal that I'm constantly thinking about, especially since I'll be a mother soon, is my spirituality. There is so much in that aspect of my life that is lacking. I know things get in the way and life throws us for a loop sometimes but I know that I can still do and be better about my spirituality.

When I was in high school, I attended a youth "camp" or conference, I guess you could call it, during the summer called EFY. The theme for the youth of the Church that year was "Be Thou An Example" being pulled from the scripture in 1 Timothy 4:12. I have reflected back on that verse many times in my life, especially during my teenage years. As I was talking with my friend about my goals, I kept going back to this scripture.

Am I being an example of the believers? Am I being an example in general? One thing that has been weighing heavily on my mind is how I'm going to teach my child about Jesus Christ and how I want to raise her in the Church. It's a big responsibility to lead and guide someone down the path of faith you love and believe in. I pray each day that I'll be able to do my best to teach her of our Savior and His life.

Here's a little throwback picture for you of my group at EFY.

There are so many things that I want to be better on that I am going to try my best to do in the coming year. It's also okay to set goals for January 1st and it's okay to set goals and start today! To each their own.

I want to truly participate in Come, Follow Me by sitting down to study each Sunday with my husband. I want to read in the scriptures each day, whether that includes a journal or not. I want to attend church each Sunday whether we're out of town visiting family or in our own ward. I want to participate in Fast Sunday each month (being pregnant, I haven't been able to) and truly try to focus on the blessing it is in my life. I want to love my daughter and teach her of the Savior and His love for her however I can do that. I would also love to increase my temple attendance but that might be a little rough to do with a newborn but I know it's doable!

I know that sometimes I put pressure on myself to be the best and to be perfect and all God wants is the effort. I need to step back and just remember to take it one day at a time and that's okay. God knows the intentions of my heart and that I love Him but it's also okay to want to do better.

May the Lord bless you in your spirituality today and in 2020.

What I'm Reading Lately

Here are the next 6 faith-based or uplifting/inspiring books I have read over the last little while. It's been a minute since I picked a book like this and out of nowhere, I read 5 in over two months! I really enjoyed these books and I hope that you see one that maybe you haven't read before!

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Even This: Getting to the Place Where You Can Trust God with Anything by Emily Belle Freeman - This book is really good! I'm definitely going to revisit this book which is something I don't do often. I felt like Emily really got me.... she understood where I was coming from and even though our trials aren't the same, our pleadings and our yearning for God were the same. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Own Your Everyday: Overcome the Pressure to Prove and Show Up for What You're Made to Do by Jordan Lee Dooley — I really liked this book! It was kind of like having a conversation with your girlfriends and just talking about life and trying to be your best self! She had awesome tips. What she had to say was kind and genuine and didn't make me feel bad at all about how I've been trying to find my purpose in life. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Continuous Atonement by Brad Wilcox — This book was fantastic! I loved all of the real-life experiences shared and the words that caused me to think deeply about how I use the Atonement in my life each day. The Atonement isn't a one-and-done deal.. it is continuous in our lives. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Continuous Conversion by Brady Wilcox — I really enjoyed this book! Chapter 6 was my favorite. It definitely spoke to me in regards to now matter how low you feel in life, the love of Christ is always there to lift you up and you CAN find your way back to Him. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Christmas Jars by Jason F. Wright — This is definitely a new favorite Christmas book! I really loved this story. So sweet and the full circle that played out before me. I definitely want to start my own Christmas Jar now!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Heavens Are Open by Wendy W. Nelson — I'm kind of shocked that I wasn't more blown away by this book. Is that rude? I loved what Sister Nelson shared and a few insights had me pondering during my day but I didn't feel completely moved by this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Have you read any of these books? Comment your thoughts below!

The Christ Child

For the year 2019, the Church has created a movie titled, "The Christ Child" for the Light the World campaign. It is absolutely beautiful, and if you haven't watched it yet, do so now!!


I think the moment that got me most was when the Wise Men came to visit and offered their gifts unto Christ and the man cried. He cried and I felt so much emotion at that moment. It was beautiful and amazing and it is one I will never forget.

I, too, think I would have the same reaction meeting Christ. When I truly give it some thought, my heart swells so big I don't think it could grow any bigger. Christ is my Savior and my best friend. He has suffered so much for me and has saved me in so many moments in my life. He has lifted me up and carried me when I could no longer walk. I love my Savior.

This year, you can sign up to receive text messages each day in the month of December with ideas on who and how to serve someone. I have definitely signed up, you can text LIGHT to 71234. You can also download the monthly calendar and follow along by clicking this link. You can also follow along on Instagram and also subscribe to emails as well! There are plenty of ways to stay up to date with ideas and to be notified each day.

Another thing that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does each year is the Giving Machines. You can learn more by going here and finding a location near you. This year, there are 10 different locations with giving machines. I haven't had a chance to make a donation but maybe this year will be the year!

I'm so excited for this Christmas season and I hope I can work really hard to remember Christ and the true meaning of Christmas! I am excited to spend a lot of time with family and serving those around me. I love my Savior and I know that He lives.