2014 in Review

It's been a pretty great year!  I'm grateful for the adventures, opportunities, blessings, and lessons learned in 2014.  It wasn't a perfect year.  I have much to improve and learn and change, but based on the goals I set for myself I'm happy about my progress.  Here are some of the highlights:

Study:  I'm still working on the best way to organize a gospel studying journal (probably electronically), but I have enjoyed reading the Book of Mormon, learning from Joseph Fielding Smith and the Gospel Principles manuals, with some study of the Old Testament, and various topics as the need and interest and inspiration has come.  I also decided to start studying all of the General Conference talks since I was born.  I'm trying to keep a list of favorite talks and quotes and hope that will grow into more organization and inspiration in 2015.

On a somewhat related note...Reading:  This hasn't been on my list of goals the last several years because it's not a problem - I love to read and might spend too much time reading.  :)  I read 60 books this year.  See my Goodreads profile for all of book reviews and ratings, but some of my favorites this year were:

• Little Princes:  One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal by Conor Grennan
• Leaving Microsoft to Change the World:  An Entrepreneur's Odyssey to Educate the World's Children by John Wood
• An Invisible Thread:  The True Story of an 11-Year-Old Panhandler, A Busy Sales Executive, and an Unlikely Meeting with Destiny by Laura Schroff
• Covenant Hearts:  Marriage and the Joy of Human Love by Bruce C. Hafen
• Strengthening Our Families:  An In-Depth Look at the Proclamation on the Family by David C. Dollahite
• 52 Life-Changing Questions from the Book of Mormon by Brad Wilcox and John Hilton III
• The Continuous Conversion:  God Isn't Just Proving Us, He's Improving Us by Brad Wilcox
• Becoming His:  A Daily Journey Towards Discipleship by Emily Freeman
• Let It Go:  A True Story of Tragedy and Forgiveness by Chris Williams
• Heaven is Here:  An Incredible Story of Hope, Triumph, and Everyday Joy by Stephanie Nielson
• Focused:  Staying on Track, One Choice at a Time by Noelle Pikus-Pace
• Divine Signatures:  The Confirming Hand of God by Gerald N. Lund
• On Earth As It Is In Heaven by Jeffrey R. Holland and Patricia T. Holland 
• Not My Will, but Thine by Neal A. Maxwell
• I Will Lead You Along:  The Life of Henry B. Eyring by Robert I. Eaton and Henry J. Eyring
• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Teaching the Gospel:  I LOVE my calling as a ward missionary.  I need to do it much better, in fact I don't know that I've done very well, but it is something that's on my mind a lot and I am grateful for the opportunity it gives me to spend time with the sister missionaries, know the investigators and reach out to those who need a friend.  I think it's kind of what the gospel is all about.  I did love the opportunity to be a part of two really wonderful baptisms this year - a golden girl in our ward and my sweet niece.  I'd say that's a pretty good year and I want to do better next year.  :)

Service:  So, I still haven't found a consistent place to volunteer in the community, but I have been involved and am grateful for those chances.  Some of my favorites this year - learning about the candidates and serving as a delegate at the Salt Lake County Convention on April 12, ushering at the Lamb of God during Easter, helping grandmothers, attending the temple, serving at a community Thanksgiving dinner in St. George, making donations to several organizations and a local Sub for Santa effort, and hostessing at the Festival of Trees.  I want to do better next year.

Sleep:  I need to sleep more.  I didn't do great with my goal of an 11:00 pm bed time this year, but at least it was rarely past midnight.  I want to be more consistently early to bed, early to rise next year.  :)

Running:  I feel great about my running this year.  I ran my second marathon, the Utah Valley Marathon on June 14, down Provo Canyon finishing right next to the under-construction Provo City Center Temple.  Two weeks later I participated in my first team relay that I really quite enjoyed - the Wasatch Back on June 27, 28.  Avon Pass was a bit muddy this year and I didn't know my teammates ahead of time, but we had a great time.  It was beautiful and I think I kind of like relays - it's a fun way to see beautiful places, get to know people, and exercise.  :)  I'm inspired to do more next year.

Music:  I feel like music was an important part of my life this year, although I didn't find a consistent group to sing with.  I appreciated music :) from performances of the Lamb of God, the Utah Symphony, the Tabernacle Choir, and lots of Pandora, particularly at Christmas.  I sang with our ward choir and the Priesthood Department choir a few times this year, all of which were very meaningful.  I signed up to sing with a group that was cancelled - hopefully that will be something I can be a part this Easter.  I am grateful for music.  It truly blesses and enriches and inspires my life.

Language:  I took a Spanish class.  It was great and quite fun!  I had lots of people willing to help me practice.  I really do need to learn Spanish and my goal next year needs to be to learn, not just take a class.  :)  The basics were very helpful though and made me more excited to try.  Apparently other languages besides Asian languages can be fun, too.  :)

Travel:  Travel is always a highlight of life!  This year I had several really great trips:
* Portland for Josh and Kirsten's wedding on May 2 with a weekend stopover in Snoqualmie and Seattle - HIGHLIGHT!
* Washington DC for Sarah and Brian's wedding on May 24 with a Memorial Day run around all of the monuments.  I love DC!  It was fun to be back.
* Alaska in August was AMAZING!
* St. George is growing on me.  I kind of like it.  I made three trips there this year - Pioneer Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I'm glad for the time it gives me to drive and think and enjoy the open space.  I love the hiking in Zion (good thing I got there on Christmas Eve!).

Relationships:  I feel good about my progress in building relationships this year.  I love living close to family and feel like those relationships have been sweeter the last couple of years - with parents, grandparents, siblings, nieces and nephews.  I had a couple of fun sleepovers with the niece and nephews and was a part of many large and small family gatherings that are a blessing in my life.  I am grateful for good friends that I keep in touch with from previous life experiences and good opportunities I've had to make new friends at work, and at church, and in the community this year.  I'm learning who I am, gaining more confidence, and learning how to love others better.  I am reminded that life is all about the relationships and how we treat and love and serve each other.  I want to do better.

A few other highlights that don't fit into these categories....time together reflecting on grandpa Morgan's life, a new nephew, some nice runs and walks around City Creek Canyon, lots of beautiful fall leaves, a baby luau, all of the family together for a week in October, hiking Timp, lots of Christmas lights at Temple Square, a job that I love, and lots of pictures.  I'm grateful for the blessings and opportunities life brings and look forward to 2015.... :)

What I learned during my Christmas vacation

I love Christmas.  I love family.  I love vacation.  I love travel.  All of these things together is just wonderful!  It was a special and unique Christmas - just me and the parents and St. George, celebrating like it was 1979!  :)  I'm grateful.  They are pretty great and it was lots of fun and relaxation.

Here are a few things I learned during my Christmas vacation:

• It's okay to work late and stop and stay at your sister's for Christmas Eve Eve, in fact, quite fun!  Happy Birthday, Joseph Smith!  
• Utah is BEAUTIFUL!  I really love driving across the state in the daylight and sunshine....and have you seen the Payson Temple?  Beautiful!
• Hiking, even in the cold and with a cold and especially in Zions National Park, does a body good!
• I think one of my favorite hikes of all time is Observation Point at Zion.  It's enchanting with the fall leaves in bloom and on Christmas Eve with a dusting of snow....and don't miss the cool nativity set across the canyon on the other mesa.
• You can only be in one place to see the sunset on a given day.  There are lots of great options.  Choose where you want to be and be ready!  :)
• It's good to relax and sleep and play (games, movies, talking) and exercise.
• It's good to spend time with family members, one-on-one.
• It's important to use our time well and to have goals and to keep a journal.
• It's good to spend time at the temple.  I really love the St. George Temple - its historic significance and beauty and the chances I've had to attend and feel the spirit there.  I'm reminded after my visit this time of how beautiful Heavenly Father's plan is and what a blessing it is to be a part of His work.  I think it's remarkable that there is always someone ready to step in and keep doing His work.  We help and serve and bless each other as we serve Him and are ready to step in.  :) 
• Snow Canyon is another pretty great place.  The world is beautiful!  It's good to explore and enjoy and appreciate.
• I'm grateful for weather reports and how they help us plan to avoid dangers, like snow.  :)  Again, Utah is a beautiful place - it was a whole new view a few days later....everything was WHITE!  Watching the sun set out my back window, I felt like I was driving out of the sunshine corner of the world into a beautiful snow globe.  Pretty neat!
• Even after Christmas is over, Temple Square is still magical #becauseofHim #HeistheGift !

Merry Christmas!

Little Drummer Boy

Christmas for me this year has had a lot to do with music.  I love music, but especially Christmas music!  :)  I listen to it anytime of year, but it's wonderful when the whole world is celebrating together with me.  I have some favorite Pandora stations and even though I don't spend a lot of time in my car I love turning on the radio this time of year!

It seems to me that there is always a song that finds me each Christmas - it's the one on the radio each time I get in the car.  A few years ago it was "Last Christmas" (not a favorite).  Last year it was "Christmas Shoes" (a little bit better).  This year it's been "Little Drummer Boy" - every possible version.  It has a catchy tune and beat, but between all of the rum pum pums I guess I never sat and looked at the rest of the lyrics closely:

Come they told me
A new born King to see

Our finest gifts we bring
To lay before the King

So to honor Him
When we come

Little baby
I am a poor boy too
I have no gift to bring
That's fit to give our King

Shall I play for you
On my drum

Mary nodded
The ox and lamb kept time
I played my drum for Him
I played my best for Him

Then He smiled at me
Me and my drum

I love this message!  We all have something to give and are blessed with different talents.  The Lord loves us for our offering and He smiles at us.  :)

One other song that I never would have thought of as Christmas song, but that I heard in that context this year and I'm grateful - Together Forever Someday.

For some of my other favorite Christmas songs this year, follow me on instagram @heatheronthemoor - a line from a meaningful song from the day is included with a picture of the lights from Temple Square.  :)

On My Mind

I really loved our Relief Society lesson today - teachings of President Joseph Fielding Smith about Individual Responsibility.  It was full of lots of important principles and many things I've been thinking about lately.

I love the story the lesson starts out with:

"Brother D. Arthur Haycock was walking toward the Church Administration Building one day when he saw that President Joseph Fielding Smith was unlocking the side door. Needing to enter the building, where he worked as the secretary to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Brother Haycock“hurried up the stairs, two or three at a time, to get his foot in the door before it closed. He barely made it. As he got inside the building he hurried again to catch up with President Smith to walk to the elevator with him. He commented to him, ‘I hope I can be that lucky to squeeze into heaven through the door you open.’” At first President Smith did not reply, and Brother Haycock worried that in his attempt to be humorous,he had said something wrong. But “as they reached the elevator President Smith said, with a twinkle in his eye, ‘Now, brother, don’t ever count on that!’”

"Through sermons and actions, President Smith repeatedly taught the principle he shared with Brother Haycock: He emphasized that although Latter-day Saints should diligently help others receive the blessings of the gospel, salvation is an individual responsibility. He also encouraged the Saints to be self-reliant and to work industriously in temporal pursuits. “That is what life is all about,” he said, “to develop our potential, and especially to gain self-mastery.”"

What a blessing to know that is the purpose of our lives - to learn and grow through our own work and effort.  Of course we need the Lord's help, but "the object of our being here is to do the will of the Father as it is done in heaven, to work righteousness in the earth, to subdue wickedness and put it under our feet, to conquer sin and the adversary of our souls, to rise about the imperfections and weaknesses of poor fallen humanity, but the inspiration of the Lord and his power made manifest, and thus become the saints and servants of the Lord in the earth."

"He who sent his Only Begotten Son into the world, to accomplish the mission that he did, also sent every soul within the sound of my voice, and indeed every man and woman in the world, to accomplish a mission, and that mission cannot be accomplished by neglect, nor by indifference, nor can it be accomplished by ignorance."

These quotes from President Smith reminded me of this little video highlighting part of Elder D. Todd Christofferson's talk from the most recent General Conference, Free Forever, to Act for Themselves, and a talk from the recent First Presidency Christmas Devotional.

I'm grateful for the reminder that we are here to do our Father's will and to be about his work.

Christmas Ponderings (See also Luke 2:19)

I have been inspired and affected by the Christmas spirit and Christmas message early and often so far this year.  I am grateful.  The lights, music, stories, pictures, scriptures, videos, plays, nativities, service, family, friends, symbols, reminders, thoughts and examples have been a blessing.

I'm reminded that Christmas doesn't need to be just one day or season, but the important message that we love and share at this time of year is really for every day.  I was particularly grateful for the opportunity I had today to participate in a small way in Christmas devotional at work.  The choir sang a few BEAUTIFUL numbers that really touched my heart and changed and uplifted and healed me.  Here are two of them:

Come, Lord Jesus (from Savior of the World, which I recommend everyone see!  I think this probably did more than anything else to help me feel the real spirit of Christmas and anticipation and love early this year.)

Once in Royal David's City (including an additional, beautiful fourth verse)
Once in royal David's city Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby In a manger for his bed:
Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child.

He came down to earth from heaven, Who is God and Lord of all,
And his shelter was a stable, And his cradle was a stall;
With the poor, and mean, and lowly, Lived on earth our Savior holy.

And our eyes at last shall see him, Through his own redeeming love;
For that child so dear and gentle Is our Lord in heav'n above,
And he leads his children on To the place where he is gone.

One day he will come to greet us Blazing trails of glory past.

We will bow in adoration, For our Lord has come at last. 

O the long awaited morning, We will shout in joyous praise.

Promised Lord at last to meet us, Christ, the King of latter-days.

If that music weren't enough,  inspiring messages by three wonderful leaders also inspired, uplifted, strengthened, and blessed me:

• What do you do to always remember Him?  Remembering Him helps us have the Spirit, which helps us be one with Him.
• Just as "he leads his children on to the place where he is gone" we learn in Revelations 7:16-17, "For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."  At this time of year it's a blessing and opportunity to seek His love and His approval of our offering to Him.  There is something wonderful in thinking about the rest of Jesus' life as well - His ministry, teachings, Atonement, and Resurrection, and even how He will come again in glory, but now, at this time, we should stop and focus on the baby.  Pray, just listen, feel his love, just you and the baby.  :)
• The humble scene of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus teaches us more about truth, wealth, hope, and love than anyone or anything else in the world.

I'm grateful for the blessing and gift of Christ...and the chance to learn and ponder what that means for me.

These thoughts reminded me of a quote I loved at the First Presidency Christmas Devotional by Sister Oscarson.  She quoted President Gordon B. Hinckley who quoted E. T. Sullivan, who said: "When God wants a great work done in the world or a great wrong righted, he goes about it in a very unusual way. He doesn’t stir up his earthquakes or send forth his thunderbolts. Instead, he has a helpless baby born. … And then God waits. The greatest forces in the world are not the earthquakes and the thunderbolts. The greatest forces in the world are babies."  And then she added, "Notice the great patience which God the Father has in letting His plan for His children unfold. The Savior of the world did not come to earth at that time with a great show of power and majesty—He came as a helpless baby. This Christ child was certainly one of “the greatest forces in the world,” and yet He was born in a simple stable with straw in a manger for His bed."

I'm grateful for the Lord's plan and His love for each of His children!

Christmas!

A few things I'm already loving about the season....

• Where Are You Christmas?
• Angels We Have Heard On High
• Angels From the Realms of Glory
• Twinkle Lullaby
• Savior of the World
• 2014 First Presidency Christmas Devotional

Christmas Trees

This year while setting up my Christmas tree and helping my mom and sister with theirs I was very grateful for the little reminders of experiences in years past.  Most importantly, of course, Christmas trees are symbols and reminders of Christ and the blessing of everlasting life that He offers each of us.  I'm grateful for that reminder and incredible blessing!

I also think that there is something really special and sweet about the story of each Christmas tree.  Just like each person has a story to tell, full of unique experiences and challenges and meaningful symbols, each tree stands as a witness of someone or something special.  We all have a story!  I'm grateful for the unique stories and the opportunities we have to bless others and learn about and love others!  There is so much good in the world and so much to learn and so much to love!  :)

Worship

Today I was inspired by music and the important role it plays in my life and particularly as a way of worshiping God.  Even though most religious music, particularly hymns, are often written with the intent that we use them to worship, I don't know that they are always sung and performed with that purpose in mind.

I know from personal experience that I have a more meaningful and worshipful experience when I prepare my heart and truly focus on the Lord and praising Him as I sing or play or listen.  We can prepare for all of our Sunday meetings similarly.  With prepared hearts and minds focused on coming to know Him and praise Him our hearts will be filled further and we will be lifted higher, individually and collectively.  I think this is how we become as one - of one heart.

Music at church is much less about a perfect performance, but about a heart in the right place.  The person talking about music today is someone very gifted in performance, but it was so sweet to be reminded of its purpose and how to prepare to be worshipful.  It doesn't matter how you sound, but that you are there to praise God, singing with your whole heart!  The words and music of so many songs are so inspired and can bring us nearer to Him and Him to us as we prepare.

I love music at this time of year.  I might even love Thanksgiving songs the best - I feel like their purpose clearly is gratitude and praise and worship.  Here are a few songs on my Thanksgiving list.  :)

He is the Gift #ShareTheGift

I LOVE this video that sweetly reminds us of the purpose of Christmas celebrations, gifts, and life itself:



"For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

Thanksgiving

It was a wonderful holiday!  My favorite time of year!!  I'm grateful!  A few of the highlights:

• clear roads
• time to talk to my brother and his wife
• games, particularly watching the kids play Disney's Scene-It
• movies
• talking and laughing
• sunshine
• a chance to serve together in the community
• good food 
• friends (and their willingness to share their working oven)
• a beautiful sunset
• time to relax
• the St. George Temple with two of my siblings and their spouses
• running outside - in the neighborhood
• a beautiful bike trail along the Virgin River loop
• the Live Nativity at Tuacahn
• Christmas lights at the St. George Temple
• celebrating mom's birthday
• hiking in Johnson's canyon
• swimming at Sand Hollow 
• setting up the Christmas tree
• another clear drive and getting home mostly before dark

Proclaim the Everlasting Gospel

Today I feel like I need to do better at sharing who I really am and boldly declaring the truths I hold most dear.  I'm a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Some people call us Mormons because in addition to the Bible we believe in the Book of Mormon:  Another Testament of Jesus Christ.  I love the Book of Mormon because it teaches me about Jesus Christ, His doctrine and commandments that will help us return to live with our Heavenly Father.  They have a plan for us.  They love us!

We believe in the same church that Jesus established on the earth when he was here.  It has been restored to the earth by Him in its fulness today!  We have living prophets on the earth today who have been given priesthood keys and authority and receive revelation from Jesus Christ, who is the head of the Church.  Through faith and repentance and the ordinances of His gospel we are blessed and draw closer to God.  This is why we are here on the earth - to learn, to progress, to become like Him.  He loves us!  He loves you!  He has a plan for you!

I invite you to watch this short video.  It is a recent talk given by Elder David A. Bednar, a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.  You can listen to or read his full talk here - Come and See



Here's a little bit more about what I believe (it's somewhat out of date, but all the important parts haven't changed).  I love the gospel of Jesus Christ and His church.  I know that He lives and loves us and wants us to be happy.  Through Him and because of His Atonement and His gospel we can be, eternally, if we will choose to learn and follow and change and love!

"This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."

For someone who grew up in Hawaii and didn't mind not having distinct seasons I sure have come to appreciate them in recent years. This year I have been particularly inspired by the changing seasons, fall leaves, and the mountains that have come alive! The beauty of fall has caused me to reflect in gratitude and awe at our Heavenly Father’s creations, His blessings and His love and goodness. I’m grateful for the seasons and opportunities in life. I’m grateful for change. I’m grateful for the time we have each day to live and learn and grow.

D&C 51:16:  “And I consecrate unto them this land for a little season, until I, the Lord, shall provide for them otherwise, and command them to go hence;”

Elder Marvin J. Ashton in The Time is Now in April 1975:

“The pleasant future belongs to those who properly use today. We need to find the abundant life as we go along. How can we be happy tomorrow if our “nows” are filled with self-inflicted unhappinesses and unwise delays? Generally speaking, those inclined to count their daily blessings have more to count because they help make more possible as they learn gratitude. A constant waiting for a brighter future may cause us to lose the beautiful today. Some spend so much time getting ready to live for an unknown future, too late they discover there is no time to live. Very often in our anxiousness for the joys of the future we run away from the very things we are wanting and needing today. An appropriate examination of the passing moment will prove it leads to eternity. We need to constantly remind ourselves eternity is in process now.”

President Henry B. Eyring in This Day in April 2007:  

“The God who gives us each day as a treasure will require an accounting….

…..A morning prayer and an early search in the scriptures to know what we should do for the Lord can set the course of a day. We can know which task, of all those we might choose, matters most to God and therefore to us. I have learned such a prayer is always answered if we ask and ponder with childlike submission, ready to act without delay to perform even the most humble service…..

…..It is hard to know when we have done enough for the Atonement to change our natures and so qualify us for eternal life. And we don’t know how many days we will have to give the service necessary for that mighty change to come. But we know that we will have days enough if only we don’t waste them.”

Psalms 118:24:  “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”