Turkey is way too gorgeous for me to only post these pictures. So, there will be more pictures to come.
Monday, November 12, 2012
A stone of a sepulchre
I decided that I'm going to alternate writing about my present and my
past (especially in the Jerusalem Center). I'll be throwing around
random pictures that I took while I was attending the Jerusalem Center. I'm too lazy to write everything that happened from Day #1 of the Jerusalem Center until the end. I'll try to give a taste of all the different aspects of my Jerusalem Center experience.
During "the Last Days" tour of Christ's life, we went around the Mt. of Olives. Our teachers took us to a place that is assumed to have been graves. Above is a picture (not a very good one) of a type of stone that could have sealed Jesus' tomb. I thought this was neat because the Garden Tomb does not have the sealing stone next to Jesus' tomb. Items like these made me realize how real Jesus' death and resurrection was.
During "the Last Days" tour of Christ's life, we went around the Mt. of Olives. Our teachers took us to a place that is assumed to have been graves. Above is a picture (not a very good one) of a type of stone that could have sealed Jesus' tomb. I thought this was neat because the Garden Tomb does not have the sealing stone next to Jesus' tomb. Items like these made me realize how real Jesus' death and resurrection was.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Mission Papers...Started!
Obama is re-elected, by the way. I can live with that. I want to see what else he can do as president.
Anyways, I started my mission papers on November 4, 2012. I'm already like halfway through filling out my mission papers too. I can't turn them in until like the end of December since my availability date will be at the end of April. I think the earliest I can get my mission call is in mid-January. I'm super stoked!
Anyways, I started my mission papers on November 4, 2012. I'm already like halfway through filling out my mission papers too. I can't turn them in until like the end of December since my availability date will be at the end of April. I think the earliest I can get my mission call is in mid-January. I'm super stoked!
Saturday, October 27, 2012
The Jerusalem Center meets Harry Potter
The Last Sunset at Galilee
Monday, October 22, 2012
Lame Mormons
On a sabbath afternoon in Jerusalem, I sat in front of the Dominus Flevit Church overlooking the Old City and the Kidron Valley. (By the way, this vantage point of the Old City and the Kidron Valley is the absolutely gorgeous. If you're ever down in Jerusalem, just sit in front of the Dominus Flevit and contemplate life. ) I could not stop thinking about the people of Jerusalem. I thought about the kindness they show for others. I thought about their sincerity. I thought about the emotion they have as they worship. I thought about the love that they have for who they are worshiping.
After contemplating what this all meant, I thought "Wow, there are people here in Jerusalem that are closer to Christ or God (for those who are Jewish and Muslim) more than some Mormons, if not most." I broke down crying as that thought came to mind. Too long and too often in my life I have forgotten the Lord. Yet, I have been blessed with the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I owe the Lord my heart and soul for the blessing of not only the Atonement, but having His fullness. I have been given much, but I have not been grateful enough.
The thought of Mormons lacking passion for the Gospel and the Lord has really been weighing on my mind. Coming back to BYU after spending time in Jerusalem was a culture shock. It was more of a religious shock actually. Church seemed like a social gathering, rather than a worship gathering. The young adults seemed a little too light-hearted on the sabbath. I questioned where their hearts were, especially on the sabbath. It made me sad to think that members of the Church lack love for their Savior. (Although I am saying all of this, this does not mean I am not like them.)
I was so so so so so so so grateful that this past General Conference revolved around having a true conversion to the Gospel and the Lord. I felt like the Lord knew what has been weighing on my mind, so He decided to address this issue at General Conference. It's not enough to just be a worthy, active member of the Church. We should be living and breathing for the Lord. We should be keeping the greatest commandment: to love the Lord. I just realized recently that we could be worthy, active members of the Church without keeping the greatest commandment. Our motive for being worthy, active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should be our love for the Lord. Actually, our motive in everything should be our love for the Lord.
So let's not be lame Mormons. Let's be true disciples of the Lord.
After contemplating what this all meant, I thought "Wow, there are people here in Jerusalem that are closer to Christ or God (for those who are Jewish and Muslim) more than some Mormons, if not most." I broke down crying as that thought came to mind. Too long and too often in my life I have forgotten the Lord. Yet, I have been blessed with the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I owe the Lord my heart and soul for the blessing of not only the Atonement, but having His fullness. I have been given much, but I have not been grateful enough.
The thought of Mormons lacking passion for the Gospel and the Lord has really been weighing on my mind. Coming back to BYU after spending time in Jerusalem was a culture shock. It was more of a religious shock actually. Church seemed like a social gathering, rather than a worship gathering. The young adults seemed a little too light-hearted on the sabbath. I questioned where their hearts were, especially on the sabbath. It made me sad to think that members of the Church lack love for their Savior. (Although I am saying all of this, this does not mean I am not like them.)
I was so so so so so so so grateful that this past General Conference revolved around having a true conversion to the Gospel and the Lord. I felt like the Lord knew what has been weighing on my mind, so He decided to address this issue at General Conference. It's not enough to just be a worthy, active member of the Church. We should be living and breathing for the Lord. We should be keeping the greatest commandment: to love the Lord. I just realized recently that we could be worthy, active members of the Church without keeping the greatest commandment. Our motive for being worthy, active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should be our love for the Lord. Actually, our motive in everything should be our love for the Lord.
So let's not be lame Mormons. Let's be true disciples of the Lord.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
LDS Marriage & Family = MUST TAKE
I believe that all single BYU students should take LDS Marriage & Family before they get married. It is one of the most enlightening classes ever...seriously. I feel like this class should be a required GE. My perspective on everything that relates to marriage is changed. Here's some ideas that were said in lectures that have stuck out to me:
- To be like God, family must be the number one priority.
- If you are sealed to it or you made a covenant with it, it should be your top priority.
- The Atonement makes eternal marriage possible.
- If we do not want to do what is right, we will not have the passion in marriage.
- Find someone that loves Christ more than you.
- If your career gets in the way of the family, you have failed.
- The temple will be the greatest marital councilor we will have.
- The temple gives the answers to all of our problems.
- Do not avoid dating someone because you are afraid of ruining your friendship.
- Do not fall in love with someone that you shouldn't marry, which is a statement directed towards LDS members dating other LDS members (not just nonmembers).
- Personality is the wrong criterion for marriage; you should marry someone for their Christ-like characteristics.
- If you want to know who someone really is, look at how they act around everyone else (family members, roommates, strangers, enemies, etc.). It doesn't matter how someone acts around you.
Here's a fun little section: "Lessons from Returned Missionaries"
- Dating can be spiritual, and not just social.
- God is more interested in our success than we are.
- Be purposeful - proactively look for a spouse.
- See each date as a beautiful son or daughter of God - leave dates better than you found them.
- Seek to serve those you date - don't just socialize.
- Honor agency - you are to invite not coerce.
- Do not let rejection or heartbreak keep you from finding heaven.
- The more you love - the less artificial your efforts will be, the more natural it will be...and the more enjoyable.
***These above principles can be applied to life in general***
....more to come....
- To be like God, family must be the number one priority.
- If you are sealed to it or you made a covenant with it, it should be your top priority.
- The Atonement makes eternal marriage possible.
- If we do not want to do what is right, we will not have the passion in marriage.
- Find someone that loves Christ more than you.
- If your career gets in the way of the family, you have failed.
- The temple will be the greatest marital councilor we will have.
- The temple gives the answers to all of our problems.
- Do not avoid dating someone because you are afraid of ruining your friendship.
- Do not fall in love with someone that you shouldn't marry, which is a statement directed towards LDS members dating other LDS members (not just nonmembers).
- Personality is the wrong criterion for marriage; you should marry someone for their Christ-like characteristics.
- If you want to know who someone really is, look at how they act around everyone else (family members, roommates, strangers, enemies, etc.). It doesn't matter how someone acts around you.
Here's a fun little section: "Lessons from Returned Missionaries"
- Dating can be spiritual, and not just social.
- God is more interested in our success than we are.
- Be purposeful - proactively look for a spouse.
- See each date as a beautiful son or daughter of God - leave dates better than you found them.
- Seek to serve those you date - don't just socialize.
- Honor agency - you are to invite not coerce.
- Do not let rejection or heartbreak keep you from finding heaven.
- The more you love - the less artificial your efforts will be, the more natural it will be...and the more enjoyable.
***These above principles can be applied to life in general***
....more to come....
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