A Prophet of God

Tonight I was shocked and saddened at the news of President Gordon B. Hinckley passing. Although we understand this life is simply a passing moment, and that his joy must be all encompassing at the reunion of him and his beloved wife Marjorie, I will miss him. For nearly 13 years he led the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as our Prophet, Seer, and Revelator. I have a testimony that he was a chosen vessel of the Lord and his work on earth has opened many opportunities for expansion of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

President Hinckley has felt to me, as I am sure to many, a personal friend. I couldn't help but feel his love when he spoke as the Prophet. His sense of humor and gentle nature, combined with his strong character and conviction is to me, almost a reflection of our Father in Heaven. He will be greatly missed on earth.

I will be eternally grateful for his council in 2005 when he challenged the members of the church to read the Book of Mormon in it's entirety by the end of the year. I took that challenge and on December 29th, 2005 after finishing the last chapter of Moroni I realized that I had never before felt the spirit so strong, so physically in my life. I took that opportunity to pray, and ask Heavenly Father if I should marry Adam Turney. The answer to me came as clear as if I'd known all along and the blessings promised months earlier by our dear Prophet had come to pass.

I know that tonight, there is much rejoicing as eternal companions are being reunited. President Hinckley said: "Every man who truly loves a woman, and every woman who truly loves a man, hopes and dreams that their companionship will last forever...and that companionship will endure beyond life if the parties to the marriage live worthy of the promise." A wonderful example of a loving husband and companion to a wonderful, supportive wife.

May we all live our lives by his example, we are so blessed to be led by a Prophet, we were blessed with his life, we are blessed by the promise that there will be a successor and that the work of the Lord will carry on. In last October's conference, he left his testimony with us: "I leave with you my testimony of the truth of these things, and I invoke the blessings of heaven upon you. May the windows of heaven be opened and blessings showered upon you as the Lord has promised. Never forget that this was His promise and that He has the power and the capacity to see that it is fulfilled. I so pray as I leave my blessing and love with you in the sacred name of our Redeemer, even the Lord Jesus Christ, amen."

Here it comes again...

Next week Spring Semester will begin for Melissa and Adam...oh the joy. My heart is pounding at the looming cloud hanging over...I will be at school Monday's from 8 am to 9 pm Tuesdays from 7pm-10pm Wednesdays from 8 am to 5:30 pm and then I work a 35 hour week Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. I had the privileges of ordering some of my books totaling 330 bucks and counting (I still need two more packets but ultimately saved 200 dollars and can sell my books online for 380 so I'm still in good shape. Tuition for Adam and I will be over 4,000 this semester and next...what is a poor girl to do... seriously....

I am grateful however for the opportunity to go to school, really I am. We've received several blessings along the way and continue to be blessed with support from friends and family. I'm mostly just excited to get these next two semesters out of the way, then its smooth sailing...until I student teach...AHHHH

Become Someone...

My Mom is full of little phrases and sayings in her arsenal that are usually ammunition to inspire and teach me about something. This morning I was thinking a lot about something she said to me for the last couple years that applies to me now in another way. "Before you become someones wife, become someone." This inspired me to pursue things like University and Russia, in fact, going to Russia was almost a direct action in response to this council. I went to BYU-I for two years, lived with lots of different roommates, and dated a few different guys, by the time I got married in 2006, I figured that I was ready for marriage. Well I laugh at that now and think, who is ever ready for marriage! Such a huge commitment which results in (hopefully for most) an eternal companion. I feel that I was as ready as I ever could have been and I still stand by that, although not a lot of couples pack up everything and move to a new and foreign state two weeks after the ceremony. Now it is a year and a half later and thoughts of becoming a mother often creep into my brain, especially when I see little kids. I think it is time for that next big preparation step of becoming someone but this time, I am becoming someone before I become someones mother.

In two years I will have my degree. This is something that is very important to me. I've always known I was going to have it and am a little discouraged that I don't yet. This is probably because if I hadn't gone to Russia or gotten married I would have it by now, but I can't even fathom that terrible scenario so I just push it out of my mind and pretend I never said it. But I will have my degree in December 2009. I also want to run a marathon in 2009 (the Ogden, in May) so I am training for that right now, going to the gym several times a week and working hard :). There is another thing I aspire to finish before I become a Mother, but that is a work in process and I will remain hush hush about it until I am able to disclose that information.

So that is my project now, to become someone again before i become someones mother, although as you might have noticed, these goals will be accomplished sometime next year in 2009 so...I'm not that far away :)