Change

I used to dislike change. Very much. But if anything is constant in life, that is change.
I guess it all began to change in my mission. We would have transfers (we could call them "cambios" or "changes" in Spanish), and at the beginning of my mission, I would be stressed out and worried about what was going to happen. I was impatient, anxious, and wondering all day until finally we received our assignments. Then one day, I realized, whether I stress about it or not, nothing will be different. If I will be transferred, I will be whether I'm impatient or not. Then, I realized how exciting change can be. Later on, I began to love transfers, wondering what adventure would come next.
This has since "translated" into my everyday life. I get bored with redundancy. Yes, there are some things that cannot (or should not) be changed, like going to school or work. But, little things within them can be changed.

Let me tell a quick story.
When I got home from my mission, I attended a YSA ward out of boundary from where I lived. I guess it all happened so fast, I didn't want to go to a YSA ward just yet, I felt I wasn't ready. However, I went and visited with a friend one day, and I was convinced by a loving high-council member friend, bishop, and other acquaintances from my YW days and high school. I attended this ward for several months. I enjoyed it. I felt comfortable.
Maybe 5-6 months into it, I started feeling like I should switch wards, to where I belonged. It sounded exciting, like an adventure. I had been wanting a change again, being in the same area doing the same things started to bore me. But, my commodity convinced me to stay. I figured since I didn't know many people there, my church participation would decrease and I would just go to the Sunday meetings and nothing else. And, I didn't want that. Yeah, I know. It's a lame excuse. Nonetheless, I stayed.
Now, just a month or two ago, I was a Time To Blossom Counselor. Here, I didn't know anyone except my friend Taylor who was another counselor, and 2 of my cousins who were participants. So basically no one, in comparison to the 250ish girls there. And I loved it. I felt like I could be whoever I wanted to be: my true self. I had fun! I felt comfortable. I wasn't as shy as I thought I was. People loved me for who I was. One day, after a very inspiring talk, I remembered I had prayed before I left to receive an answer that week to know if I should switch wards or not. I was sitting, pondering about how great I felt and how much I enjoyed it. I was with a bunch of 12 year old girls, and they were my friends, because I was my true self. Why can't I be like this always? Then the thought came to me, "You can! In the new ward..." And I decided right there, to move my records to my new ward.

It has now been about a month since I have been a member of the YSA ward I belong, and I have loved it. I feel welcome. I feel like it's where I'm supposed to be. I have been put to work. I have been able to meet MANY new people and make new friends. When I think about my new ward family, I feel happy. It's just right.
Why didn't I jump at the opportunity for change right away? I think because I was comfortable with where I was. But, there is no growth in commodity. Getting out of our comfort zone helps us progress and allows room for change.

Change isn't a bad thing, if we channel it right. I am taking advantage of starting a new chapter in my life as school is starting, to change. I commit to eat healthier, exercise, use less social media, and work on self-betterment. This change will be for the better, as change should be.

I challenge you as well, to make some changes in your life where they are needed. Whether it be among the above mentioned, or something more serious, I encourage you to make the change. Repentance is change for the better, and becoming more like Christ. Leave the bad, the negative, and anything holding you back. And change.
There is never a better moment than now.

Faith Is The Power To...

Last night, we searched the scriptures, church history, and personal experiences to find definitions of what we can do by the power of faith. Here are some of my favorites:

Faith is the power to use your own muscles, then God's
The key to this one is action first. God blesses us after we first act ourselves, trusting he will make up where we cannot reach. Showing God we are willing to work, willing to do, is an act of faith. We are exercising our agency for a good cause, and he fills in the rest.

Faith is the power to be okay 
Sometimes, we go through hard times. Sometimes, life seems rougher than we can handle. Sometimes, it may seem easier to just give up. But through faith, everything is okay. Trusting in Christ and his Atonement makes everything okay. There is always a better day to come in the future. Always a brighter day. If we have faith and endure, everything will be okay.

Faith is the power to receive revelation
We have to be worthy to receive guidance and revelation. Having faith is one requirement to being worthy for this great gift. When we pray, we are showing God we are willing to do His will, and he blesses us with this inspiration with what to do. I have seen so many times in my life that I only receive the guidance, when I am willing to act. We can't "trick" God into getting our way. I often catch myself praying for specific events to happen, and they don't, and I miss out on the bigger picture. However, when I pray for His will and am willing to do as he has planned, I receive more revelation and guidance in my life.

Faith is the power to perform miracles
"For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them" (Ether 12:12). Faith is the key to miracles. Sometimes, we think the people in the scriptures saw miracles so often, and we do not. This is not true. How many times has a prayer been answered? A loved one saved from danger? A feeling to change something? A fast answered? These are all miracles. God loves us today and blesses us with these miracles. But first, faith is needed. Faith preceded every miracle. If you have faith, you can perform miracles as well. In the Attribute Activity in Preach My Gospel, under faith, it says "I have enough faith in Christ to accomplish anything He wants me to--even miracles if necessary" We can do miracles through faith.

Faith is the power to move mountains
The scriptures tell us that the Brother of Jared had faith to move mountains. I believe this to be literal, but as well has symbolic truth. Mountains often represent trials and hard times. When we have "faith to move mountains" we have faith to overcome. We have the faith to not only MOVE the mountain, but to understand the mountain. It doesn't seem much like a mountain when we are looking forward to the blessings and growth at the top. Moving the mountain could also mean to put it behind you, after you've already worked to climb over it.

Faith is the power to make weaknesses strengths
Ether 12 promises us that through faith and humility, our weaknesses become our strengths. Christ can help us do this, when we work to better our weaknesses. The key word here is also work, for faith requires action. If your weakness is patience, try to be more patient through prayer and action. If your weakness is being shy, try to talk to someone new next time you're in a social activity. Whatever your weakness, work to make it a strength by DOing. I can testify through personal experience that some of my weaknesses have become strengths as I strive to do better and build God's kingdom.

Faith is like a little seed. If planted, it WILL grow!

God, Bless The Broken Road

Last week, my family and I took a trip to California. Like usual, we drove. And also like usual, all 6 (of the 8 in my family) of us kids had our headphones in and listening to our own music to pass the drive. I listened to some of my old music for the first time in a long time. As "God Bless The Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts came on, I listened intently to the lyrics. I never really paid attention to what the words were saying. I especially loved the first verse:

I set out on a narrow way, many years ago

Hoping I would find true love, along the broken road

But I got lost a time or two

Wiped my brow and kept pushing through 

I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you

So, this song is sorta a love song... but I think with a different perspective it is applied to every aspect of our lives. 

We set out on the path of life, getting lost here and there. But, every experience we have, points us back to where we should be going, as long as we keep enduring through the hard times. 

I think a lot of times, we struggle when we get lost and think the only choice left is to give up. However, this is not and never true. We are never too lost to go back. Never. Ever. Just keep pushing through, I can promise it will be worth it in the bigger perspective of things. 

Something I have learned in life, is that trials bring growth. The only way we can learn and progress is through something hard. In school we are required to put forth an effort to complete assignments and study. At work, we need to finish our tasks and get along with our co-workers. And in life, we need to push through trials and endure to the end. It is a truth we see in every aspect of our lives. Looking back at my own trials, I see growth and progression afterwards. My testimony is stronger. I trust more in God and His timing. I know I can do hard things. And when another trial comes, I know I can overcome it. 

Here's an example. My mother passed away 5 years ago. During that time that she was sick and after she had died, it was SO hard. I thought I would never get over it. I thought it would never get easier. Luckily for me, my father had a great perspective through this trial. He was optimistic towards the future and would ask "Where will we be in 6 months from now? a year? 5 years?..." and we would think of how we wanted to be. I wanted to be happy. I wanted to make the most of the hard time. And with this goal and vision, I was able to do so. We can't get anywhere in life without a goal and a plan. During this time, I kept a journal. When I look through that journal, and see how my thoughts and feelings were, I can see how I have progressed. I can honestly say that I am happier now. I learned so much. I was able to learn how to take care of home responsibilities as I sort of took on the "mother role" as the oldest child and only daughter. I watched out for my younger brothers. I pushed to succeed in my schooling. I went on a mission and was able to help those around me who were going through similar trials. 

I don't say this to boast, I have no intention of boasting. I say this, because I can testify that trials make us stronger. God knew that I needed this specific trial, at that specific time, to grow. He knows what YOU are going through. Right now. And he knows the purpose. Trust Him. Rely on Him. HE is "blessing the broken road" to lead us back to Him. You can do hard things. Christ is there to help. Always. 

So next time you find yourself on this broken road, thank God for the experience. Thank him for the growth and progression that you will see in yourself afterwards. Thank him for trusting you to endure through these trials. Then, "wipe your brow and keep pushing through."