"I know"

I've been thinking a lot lately about what we call a testimony. I think sometimes we get carried away in the dramatics of boldly declaring that 'we know   with every fiber of our being, beyond the shadow of a doubt that something is true.'

And sometimes we do know something that surely.

But sometimes we don't. (I'm talking about myself here.)

Sometimes I say "I know" when I'm not certain. I want to give you a revised edition of my testimony. Things that I can't deny to be true. Things that have been confirmed to me in the most personal, sacred ways.

I know that this gospel is good. I know that through doing my best to live it, I'm a better person and I'm a lot happier. I know that I've been blessed by following God's commandments.

I know that God answers prayers. I've witnessed this too many times to deny it. It's not always in the way I want, or in the way I'm expecting -- sometimes it takes weeks or months or even years. But without fail, He answers me.

I know that through consistent study of the Book of Mormon and application of its teachings, I can find peace and happiness in my life. I know that I can find answers in the Book of Mormon. I can't explain to you all the details of how it came about, I don't know the entire history of each person featured within it's pages, but I know that I love it. I know that it has blessed my life.

Cardboard Cut-Outs

I'm surrounded by people all day. And you probably are too. (Unless you're in solitary confinement, then I'm not quite sure how you got a hold of my blog...) That's just a part of living in the world.

And it's really great! People's lives are so interesting. I don't know why it's so easy for me to think of the people I meet in Carl's Junior as props -- just there to make the scenery more pleasant (Or sometimes less pleasant. Let's be honest). But they're real people and they live real lives, with just as much depth and excitement as I belive my life to have.

I think certain people are put in my life to teach me lessons. (And really good jokes. I learn my best jokes from other people.)

I'm starting to realize that everything that I am and that I've done in life, I owe to all the great examples that are around me. The people around me truly shape my life; I would never be where I am now if not for my family and teachers and friends and leaders. And not the least of which, Jesus Christ.

Answer Key

Anyone who knows anything about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day saints knows that we love us some modern revelation, and we believe whole-heartedly in an open cannon of scripture (essentially meaning that the Bible isn't the end of what God has to say). The nickname that most people know us by comes from a book -- the Book of Mormon, which we believe to be the word of God -- and we love it.

I would go a step further than saying that the Book of Mormon God's word. It is. That's for sure. In addition to that, it contains the answers to all of life's great questions ("should I get bangs" is unfortunately not considered one of life's great questions).

I tell people that all the time, so I thought I should at least try it out for myself. This morning I thought of a really good question. A question to end all questions. A question that, if answered, had the potential to change my life.

Does God know me?

God's Mouthpiece

Dear Mormon friends (and those familiar with LDS culture) (and other),

Today is a day worth blogging about.

But, let's be honest, everyday of my life is worth blogging about. (sarcasm)

Anyway, someday in the very near future, I will have the privilege of attending a talk given by Jeffery R. Holland. Yes. This is real life.

For all of you in the "other" category (and those not in the other category), this is significant because Jeffery R. Holland is an Apostle for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

And that's significant because that means he has the authority to receive revelation for the entire world's population.

I tried my best

What keeps us from becoming the best that's within our capacity to become; the best version of us? I read on a fortune cookie, (of all things to inspire this question) "If you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it."

Fortune cookies often inspire deep, soul-searching questions in my mind. (Be careful not to leave me alone with [American] Chineese food for too long.) This one in particular made me question what we define as our 'best'. Often we use the phrase "I tried my best" as an excuse for not getting the desired result, but are we really expecting the very most of ourselves? I don't think we are. Well, I'm not.

The scriptures counsel us to "serve Him with all your heart, might, mind and strength". This year I'm going to