drum roll please....

the bestest most incredible boyfriend award goes to......MINE!!!! Seriously, David was the biggest lifesaver ever for me today. One of the many joys of woman-hood that i take full part in are cramps. and let's be honest here, i'm not the happiest when it comes to dealing with them. (just ask my mom) but david was too good to be true and suffered through them with me today-from scratching my tummy and back to rubbing my feet, getting me oreos to fulfill a craving and even getting me a cup with a lid so i wouldn't spill-he spoiled me rotten! I am so incredibly grateful for him and all of the love and care that he gives me. i mean really, most guys shudder at the word "period" but once david knew what was the matter he stepped up to the plate and hit a home run. 

Something that i've been thinking lately was how i am so very grateful for the Priesthood and it's influence in my life. especially lately i've tried to notice the many blessings which we receive from it throughout the week and our lives. If it weren't for the Priesthood we wouldn't be able to partake of the Sacrament and renew our covenants with our Heavenly Father. Not only with the Sacrament, but we wouldn't be able to receive blessings and have the guidance and the comfort that it brings. I love being able to go to the Temple and feel and know of the power within the walls-how reassuring it is to know that when we follow the Lord's commandments and His teachings, He will always provide a way for us to return. When we keep our covenants, we receive extra strength, and blessings-we will still have trials and temptations, but the blessings and the power we have to resist them will be just as strong and stronger. 

I've recently learned that when we put our will into the the hands of the Father's we become more than we would have if we were to just follow the teachings. let me try to explain-I know that the commandments were given to us to keep us on the right path, and to help us return to our Heavenly Father and family. BUT, hear me out-we can just follow, but then we can willingly follow. give ourselves fully to our Heavenly Father and have Him guide our lives. Not just live according to the commandments-those are there to protect us, but then what Heavenly Father wants of us is so much more-and that is what will help us progress.  We read in the Doctrine and Covenants of the Word of Wisdom and how it is for the weakest of the weak-so then, if that commandment is for the weak, what is for the strong? what is the higher law? and that my friend, can only come to you through the spirit. When you are personally ready to receive the higher law, you will be able to have that because you want it. you desire what the Lord desires, and so he is willing to give you more intelligence so that you can grow grace by grace. I've come to realize that this principle is what i want for my life-and what i need to govern myself by. living the higher law, and being worthy to receive it. and that has posed many thought provoking questions personally-what do i have to do to be worthy of the higher law-and as i pondered and meditated about that, i realized that there is not a checklist of answers, but it is a lifestyle. you need to purify yourself. 

on that note:purifying yourself. i have recently done a presentation on the lotus flower and it's symbolism and the purpose of it in Buddhism . The lotus flower is a symbol of purity and of rebirth. coming out of the muddy waters every morning it rises above the sins of the earth and blooms into a beautiful pure and clean flower. then at night, it goes back into it's shell type thing and sinks back into the water where it is covered. so it is able to be in the water, but not apart of the water. Legend says that Buddha was born from a lotus flower and sleeps in one 6 months out of the year-that is also why you see pictures of Buddha standing or sitting on top of one. symbolizing how he has risen above the filth of the world and into the purity of meditation and the spirit. 

So i was about to end my post until i went searching for my favorite picture of President Monson. Oh how i love him dearly. he is incredible and i am so grateful that he has lived his life worthy of becoming our beloved Prophet today. well, i was searching for the pic, and then i got all of this anti-mormon stuff and it just broke my heart. it was all from bitter people who have had bad experiences with the church and some have even been through the Temple. How my heart aches for them-all i could do was x out of the window because it almost made me cry with some of the things that they were saying. how sad it was to know that some of these men and women had solid and growing testimonies which were broken down over time and now they are bitter and want to share that with the world and bring others down too. it makes me sick to my stomach thinking that people devote their lives to disproving the simple truths of our Savior. But, in the end, it just makes me realize how I need to make sure that i am continually growing and strengthening my testimony as well. To never let your guard down and to always make sure that you keep the Lord first in all that you do. :) oh how i love the gospel and it's teachings!!!