Revelation in my Life

When I contemplate my patriarchal blessing, I look upon it as a valued and integral part of who I am. It is a private comfort for times of trial, a guide in times of choice, and a shout of victory in times of triumph. I carry it with me in my scriptures, and turn to it just as often as the standard works when searching for an answer. Sometimes, if the day has been long, and I can’t gather energy enough to read verses written in intricate and archaic language, I pull out my blessing and peruse its contents as my daily enlightenment. There are lines that I practically have memorized, and others that I rediscover each time I read it. Each word is perfectly chosen to strike my heart with joy and dedication to the Lord. 

Although the Doctrine and Covenants comes from the same divine source as my blessing, it does not have the same personal significance to me. The revelations laid out in the Doctrine and Covenants are given to specific people, but contain direction to the church in all times and places. To me, these revelations are important direction for my life, but are not as personally motivating. Some of the revelations were originally personal blessing to individuals, but now they are public, church-wide material that can benefit all saints. Some commands and blessings are time sensitive, and more akin to patriarchal blessings. These parts can show me how to apply my blessing, but do not offer any direct advice. Other parts lay out the doctrine or teachings of the gospel. I often rely on these verses to guide my daily actions.

My patriarchal blessing is very important to me. I rely on it for guidance and consider it a road map to my entire life. Its contents are often too general for a situation though, so I use the Doctrine and Covenants and other scriptures to supplement my decision making. Both are revelations from God, and as such are just and true. The teachings contained both in canonized scripture and my personal blessing can help me choose a path that leads to exaltation. As I study them both, I receive further inspiration from heaven that guides my actions. If I balance my reliance on several types of revelation, I will thrive and bring God’s glory into my life. Personal revelation and public scripture are formative articles in my life, but neither is a complete guide and instruction for me. Together, the two can help me in any struggle I may face in life.

This semester I have learned many things that have shifted my perspective on life. My Book of Revelation class has been more mind opening and perspective shifting than any other single force in my life. It tells of how dark, low, and filthy the world will become. Of how hard it will be to avoid the pitfalls that abound. Of how only those who remain faithful to the very end will survive the terror, and the glory that will be theirs. Reading section 76 of the D&C emphasized this whole idea. It illustrates with vivid detail the end result of the story played out in Revelation.

Section 76 is a major paradigm shift. So much is implied and so much is explained, it is hard to accept that all this can be real. After The Great Tribulation explained in Revelation, we will be rewarded beyond all we can believe. I believed that the Telestial Kingdom was just like the temporal earth. I was shocked to realize that the glory of even the Telestial Kingdom will be more than I know now.  Here the Holy Spirit will dwell throughout eternity. They receive the administering of angels and will be heirs of salvation. One direct quote is that “the glory of the Telestial… surpasses all understanding.” If that is the inheritance of “they who are thrust down to hell,” than what am I worthy of? What are my non-member friends worthy of?

Next, comes the Terrestrial Kingdom. Those who dwell eternally there will receive the glory of Christ. They will be denied His fullness, but those who “died without law” and “honorable men of the earth” will be with Jesus. I have family who left the church. They were moral and upright people, but they were no longer active members. Although I am not certain, since I don’t know how the judgment works, I would guess that this is where they will spend eternity. They will be in the presence of Christ, the Son, but not in the Father’s kingdom. It is so wonderful to know that good people, like some of my family and most of my friends, will receive a reward that is more than mortal minds can comprehend.

The final vision is of the Celestial Kingdom. I desperately want to be with Heavenly Father, but this is even more than that. D&C 76 describes those who dwell in the Celestial Kingdom as “after the order of Enoch… [who] shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever. [They are] come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly place, the holiest of all.” After reading this I turned to my reading for Revelation. In the final chapter, John states “And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:” Without doubt, the Celestial Kingdom is incomprehensibly more amazing than I can possibly imagine or describe.

The idea of the Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial Kingdoms is something so well known to me, that I never expected to experience so much shock and insight from reading section 79. For the early saints it was a more radical shift, but even for me this was a whole new idea. I know that God wants me to come home. “Home” is so wonderful, so amazing, so truly awesome, that I will always be grateful for the simple fact that God is trying to help me come home.

Tree Hugging, the Lord's Way

The Lord created our world. It is His hand that gave us all that is on it. As human beings, especially now, we often debate the proper way to care for the earth. It is our responsibility, and we generally recognize that. However, I think that this section, if read properly, can guide members in how to conduct their treatment of the environment.
Actually, before He gives instruction on how to treat the earth, God dictated other commandments. They are oft repeated requests: love others, keep the sabbath day holy, keep your eye single to His glory. All these are precursor commands. Before we are given any sort of authority over the earth, we must be faithful children of our Father. He has given us this land, and if we follow Him, we will be more inclined to treat it right and more worthy of the gift.
Once we have qualified to use the earth, we are told that it has been given to us for two purposes: "to strengthen the body and enliven the soul." Basically, if we love the Lord, we can use the earth in whatever way it improves our lives. Limitations are set by the seasons. All the fullness of the earth is ours, and we are to use it.
We are given the direct command to not use the earth to excess or by extortion. As in so many other areas, our use of the earth should be in moderation. If we don't use it at all, than we aren't improving the earth or our situation on it. God wants us to progress, so that's a problem. At the other end, if we use the earth wantonly without a thought about caring for it, we will spoil our gift. Though there is enough and to spare, we show our Father that we are responsible stewards by being careful with what we have.
I'm from the Pacific Northwest. The native land of tree huggers. This direction helps me see where I fit in with them and with the water wasters of the rest of the country.

Shadows in the Paint

I had wanted to revisit the Types and Shadows exhibit, but as my daily life continued to build towards finals into one round of non-stop studying or brainless slacking, the opportunity continued to evade me. I was thrilled to find out that not only was I required to go, our class was going to be given a tour.

The first thing I realized is that not all the displays are great. At least not for everyone. The girl with the bread really wasn’t that impressive in my mind. After having it explained, I saw the idea behind it, but it never connected. But then moving onto the beautiful picture with the glass of water, I kept getting the feeling that there was more than I could see. The glass was so clear and so close to reach. But at the same time, it was so far away. The woman in the background was experiencing exactly what I was feeling. Her face looked like she wanted the glass so desperately, but just couldn’t get to it.

The other picture I really liked was the Prodigal Son painting of the table. I spent a good 10 to 15 minutes standing there and ignoring everything, trying to understand the picture. I still don’t get it all, but I got the most general, overall idea of it. It fascinated me how, if I removed the middle panel, the other two would fit together. To me it seemed to say that I will be shaped by all my experiences, good and bad. My life will be changed by all my actions. But I don’t need to experience all the bad things to have a complete life. It was a beautiful illustration of how life is changed by experience. I am planning some time during break, or just before Christmas to go back just for that painting. It really deserves more attention than I was able to give it.

Overall, I thought the exhibit was beautifully put together. Although I didn’t connect with all the images at first, or even second view, I can see how much deeper the meaning of each one goes. I am going to spend time looking at the art when there is no one talking to me. Despite how insightful and enjoyable the tour was, I also wanted some time to just allow the feelings to resonate with me. The spirit was easily felt when I got lost in the feelings of the art.

Parallel Lines

As I sit here, contemplating the similarities in the Old Testament and early LDS exoduses, I am finding it hard to put into words. Although I'm not an artistic person, sometimes I am very visual. And this is just one of those times that I need a picture to help me. Like we discussed about the Types and Shadows exhibit, images can convey more than words ever could. Since the parallels between the situations fascinate me, I am going to show you some amazing Photoshop work that helps me make sense of what was going on.

 Yeah, I sorta like Photoshop. The map starts at the top in bondage. This can also show spiritual bondage to Satan, not just physical bondage to mortal enemies. Then the followers of God wandered in the wilderness. They come to the mountain of the Lord, which is either an actual mountain (Sinai) or the temple in Kirtland. The best escape from spiritual bondage is found in the temple. This is followed by more wilderness wandering. It ends finally in the Promised Land, or Deseret/Utah. These lands are both mountainous regions. In them rests both living water and dead, salty water. We must personally come to Celestial safety and our eternal promised land. Right now, I think I'm in a wandering stage. Probably the one just before the mountain of the Lord, since I haven't been endowed in the temple yet. It's interesting how much time is spent in wandering because much of life really is just small progress from one stage to the next. Basically wandering. As long as I wander in the correct direction, I know I will eventually reach my eternal promised land.

Framework of Revelation

Section 42 of the Doctrine and Covenants teaches a myriad of important principles. However, I consider the framework it provides to be it's greatest contribution to the saints. The framework is not only that which it lays out in commandments and instruction, but even in the way it came to be.

Through revelation, Joseph Smith found answers to many questions. It can be difficult to realize that this applies to me as well. Reading Section 42 in the Joseph Smith Papers, I saw the questions Joseph and other leaders asked. These questions were the guiding force that spurred the revelation. Gathered together, church leaders considered the situation of their followers. Prayerfully, they decided which questions they needed answers to. They then turned again to the Lord, and asked those questions. Not only did they receive answers to those precise questions, other topics that were related, and important to God, were addressed. Later, the questions were removed, because the answers were what the church needed. However, seeing the questions teaches me that I can ask specific questions and faithfully expect an answer, if it is the question I need to ask.

The answers themselves also provide an important framework. Although many of them are time sensitive commands about the move to Ohio, the concepts are vital to saints of all ages. The section summary simplifies the content into this framework. Although I usually skip the summaries, I really like this one for the reason that it lays out the framework in simple terms, and I can then look for exactly what I am searching for more clarification on. I can see it in context, and then delve in deep.

1-10, The elders are called to preach the gospel, baptize converts, and build up the church;
Elders, like "my boys" (yes, I do call them that) from freshman year, are called to spread the good news of Christ. Throughout all of time, the Lord has relied on his faithful servants to go "unto all nations, kindreds, tongues and people" (1 Nephi 5:18). From Paul, the greatest missionary, to 19 year old boys of today, elders always have, and always will, be called to go forth to preach, baptize, and build. Since coming to BYU and meeting young men who want to go on missions, I have gained a new appreciation and testimony of missionary work. This is an eternal concept, and is outlined first in section 42.

11-12, They must be called and ordained, and are to teach the principles of the gospel found in the scriptures;
This is now the "how" to accompany the initial "what." Elders aren't just random volunteers who decide a mission would be fun, and promptly buy a plane ticket and start preaching. Although all members can be missionaries, those who are to dedicated their lives to the cause for a time must be called of God and ordained by the proper authority. The whole process of mission papers and calls shows how this is still in affect today.

13-17, They are to teach and prophesy by the power of the Spirit;
Continuing with "how" missionary work is to be carried out, the Lord explains how those called are to deliver their message. It won't just be a memorized schpeel that the missionary personally connects with. The Spirit must be present and very involved in teaching. Even in church this is important. I know I connect best with different teachers. But I can get something meaningful from any lesson in which both me and the teacher have the Spirit with us. Since investigators may not yet understand the Spirit, and definitely don't have the gift of the Holy Ghost given after baptism, the missionary must teach by the Spirit to make sure it is there.

18-29, The saints are commanded not to kill, steal, lie, lust, commit adultery, or speak evil against others;
The basic commandments that God has expected of His children for all time are reiterated. It's basically the 10 commandments in the language of the early saints. This is a reminder that just because we have the restored gospel, and all sorts of new revelation, we still need to follow the original commands of God.

30-39, Laws governing the consecration of properties are set forth;
Honestly, I don't think I could live the law of consecration. So reading this always makes me feel a bit overwhelmed. But at the same time, they show how all will be cared for in God's kingdom. Also, even though the full law of consecration is not currently in play, we use these same principles to govern tithes and offerings. It's really important to see what we are striving towards. For me at least, it's motivation to be more generous and grateful in the paying of tithes and offerings. I see why we do it, and what the Lord's final plan is.

40-52, The sick are to be healed through administrations and by faith;
Like the reminder of eternal commandments, this is a reminder that healing is still a miracle that comes through faith. The priesthood is one channel for healing, but faith is intrinsic to the action.

53-60, Scriptures govern the Church and are to be proclaimed to the world;
I have begin to grow in my testimony of scripture reading. These verses discuss how foundational to the church the scriptures are. Not only are they vital to the church, but they are to be proclaimed to all the world. This illustrates that the scriptures must be very important. They aren't just a supplement to church. If someone doesn't accept the Church, God seems to imply that if they have the scriptures, they will still be better off.

61-69, Site of the New Jerusalem and the mysteries of the kingdom shall be revealed;
I think I've said it before, but I'll say it again. I'm fascinated by prophesies about the end of time. Although it's just a promise for future knowledge, this gives me great hope and comfort. It shows that God does have a plan, and when we need to know the next part of it, we will be told.

70-73, Consecrated properties are to be used to support the Church officers;
Honestly, I didn't know that this was still in play so much. I knew that when the church was first formed, the leaders were supported monetarily, and I assumed that the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve probably had some sort of support in place. However, in class, we've talked about how all General Authorities at a certain level and above receive equal stipends. This makes so much sense to me. I am a business girl, and I totally see why the Lord would think that this is the proper way to do it. It will encourage modest and provident living. Also, it reinforces the idea that God's kingdom is always the same. He will always support his people, even economically.

74-93, Laws governing fornication, adultery, killing, stealing, and confession of sins are set forth.
After laying out His plan for His people, God explains the laws that govern this. Justice and Mercy both exist. Neither will rob the other. God says in what circumstances judgment is to be executed, and when mercy is to be extended. Although we are not to be a judgmental people, we must support God's law, and know when punishment is His will. This gives a good starting point from which our leaders may work.

I personally love it when someone gives me an outline. This is the Lord's outline about His plan which He is giving to me and his other children. It is a blessing to know this much about the expectations we are to live with.

Crandall Museum

So, last week I got a chance to go to a really interesting off-campus museum. I have gone to most of the on-campus ones, but this was really exciting, since it was "far away." Not that is was really far, but the Crandall Museum is on Center Street in Provo. And I don't have a car. Hence, it's normally way too far for me. My friend Ben drove Ari and I though, so all was good.

Being a bit of a history geek, I really enjoyed watching the development of printing. We started in Gutenburg's time. They had this MASSIVE press and showed us how to use it. They even cast a piece of type. It cooled crazy fast! They poured in burning hot printers' metal into the cast, and almost instantly it was solid.

The second room was probably my favorite. It was shown to us by Ben Franklin. He told us his history. How he became a printer, his love story with his wife, and many of his contributions. As I've said before, I love seeing the story of the people behind history. This was a great insight into who Ben Franklin, the grandfather of our country.

On top of hearing Ben Franklin’s history, we learned a bit about the physical process the Constitution and Declaration of Independence underwent. The Declaration was written, edited, reworked, ratified, and then signed. Then, it was rushed to the printer’s, late at night. By morning, several copies had been printed and were distributed throughout the colonies. The speed of the process was astounding. Plus, it was all done in secrecy. When we had been told this story, we were told to touch the type set that was in the press. It was type set molded from the same punches that formed the original letters for the first printing of the Declaration of Independence. To touch something that close to history was moving and exciting.

Our final stop on the tour was in a room the same size and shape as that in which the first copies of the Book of Mormon were printed. The room contained a pres s that was an exact replica of that original press for the Book of Mormon. It was really cool. We had seen how the presses had gotten smaller and more precise, but other than that, this press was basically the same as that which Guttenburg had invented. We looked at the type for the first few pages, and saw stacks of pages, 2,000 high, just as they would have been when the original printing happened. We even got to see how the books were bound.

At the end, we got to see a linotype machine and the ink rollers that replaced the old fashioned beaters. Those were both cool. The rollers were what I usually imagined when I thought of old-fashioned presses. The linotype machine was also awesome. It was like a massive, old type writer. Except, instead of putting words on paper, it put words on metal! That was super crazy.

The entire experience was wonderful. It made me happy to know that they are going to expand, and then have all the missionaries in the MTC come through the tour. I think it’s a worthwhile experience that all students who have the chance should take. I would not hesitate if I had another chance to visit. The one drawback is that it cost a ton if you don’t go with a group. So find a group, and have fun!

Gathering the Future

Gathering. It's an interesting word. What exactly does a gathering imply, particularly the gathering of the saints in the last days? Does it just mean we all end up in the same place? Or do we all come for the same reasons? And do we really gather to one place? It seems like everyone in the church has a very firm belief in their own particular view of the gathering. The major difference is whether we will all be gathered to Missouri or will be gathered in our own stakes around the world. Honestly, I don't care about that. I will follow the spirit and the prophet, and end up where I personally need to be.

Right now I need to be at BYU. For many members, this is part of the gathering. We come here to find friends within the church and grow in faith. I know that my testimony has grown exponentially for my time here. My first year was just acclimating to the idea of a gathering of saints. And then it exploded. My knowledge from classes first year started to really sink in and everything suddenly became real! This is my place right now in the gathering. I grow and increase in faith from this opportunity. As I take full advantage of my short time here, I will be prepared to head into the world for the next stage in my gathering.

My Personal Role

Last Thursday was probably my favorite day of D&C so far. We spent the entire hour dedicated to discussing Section 25, the revelation to Emma Smith. Usually the discussion is "Emma was a great woman who collected our hymns. Why are the hymns important?" I was surprised by a verse-by-verse analysis. It was the most intense and enlightening lesson I have heard in a long time.

The first point we discussed was the reality of the phrase “my daughter.” God is our father. He is not a distant father; He is very intimate and personal. My spiritual growth over the past six months has focused on the idea that my Heavenly Father loves me, personally and sincerely. I gained a greater witness that God cares deeply for his children.

I noticed Emma was promised an inheritance in Zion, which has helped me when I’ve wondered if women will get to create worlds of our own in the Celestial Kingdom. I love using my imagination, and I want the chance to create worlds. I believed I would have that chance if I wanted it, and if I honored my covenants. But the promise to Emma made it clear that I will have “worlds without number.”

“Elect lady” then took on a new meaning to me. Every elect lady has a calling in the home. While men are the providers and protectors of the family, women are nurturers, comforters, and peace-makers. No matter how much I love my dad, my mother was my warmest fire in the coldest winter. Emma was exactly who Joseph needed. She was his home. Without her, Joseph would have fallen at the first blow.

The Lord takes a special interest in Emma, to show her what she’s capable of, and encourages her to act as scribe and teacher. As Joseph translates, Emma is given authority to record the holy words, helping her to realize her own special mission. Her authority is closely connected to his, providing an image of the relationship God intends for husbands and wives. She also is told to exhort the church. God recognizes that she understands the scriptures and has the capability to expound and teach them effectively. She will be guided by the spirit, and given the same authority of any male teacher. I love that Emma got to be both a loving companion and an ordained servant in the work. Emma’s life provides a message of hope that, as a woman, I am highly capable of learning and teaching.

Along with encouraging Emma in her pursuits, the Lord assures her that she will be supported by Joseph. Where I am in life, I can understand the relief this encouragement would provide. I am trying to make some major decisions about the direction my life will take. Will I be able to keep a job? What if I get married, will I be able to graduate? Would a degree in a field I love truly benefit me? Not only does God support the righteous desires of His daughters, He also expects His sons to support them in achieving their dreams. I will not only be able to follow my dreams, I won’t have to do it on my own.

I know that God loves me. He loves all of His daughters. This divine love will not leave me without support. I know that I have a very real and important purpose here, and that I am capable fulfilling it. My Father in Heaven will help me to come Home.

Tools of a Missionary

With all my guy friends going on missions, it's not surprising that I see the Lord's point very clearly when He emphasizes the importance of the Articles and Covenants in section 20 of the Doctrine and Covenants. Within this precise and condensed section are all the basic keys needed to establish and run a congregation of Christ's true church. From a short history of the church, to the specific jobs of different priesthood positions it covers all the basics.
The start is the history of the church including God's instructions to Joseph. Not only is this historical context, it also has some very strong foundations stones for testimonies. Following this is what the Lord expects of those who read, and what He will do to those who reject the message.
Next come the basic tenants of the church. What we believe, why we believe it, and how much we rely on God and His great plan. A summary of the atonement also is laid out in this area.
Finally the duties of the priesthood leaders and of the congregation of faithful saints are listed. Specifics include the manner in which to preform baptisms, and the line of authority amongst the leaders.

A Marvelous Work

“A marvelous work.” Such an interesting phrase.

In the LDS church, we use it so frequently I sometimes doubt we actually comprehend what it means. This is not a phrase coined by men; rather, it came into use through divine inspiration and revelation from God to men. In my view, this sheds a whole new light on the phrase.

God created so many wondrous things. Mountains, oceans, children, birds. There is so much grandeur in the creations of the Almighty, that it seems quite a high standard to be considered “marvelous” in His sight. The greatness of the world is not referred to as “marvelous” as far as I am aware. Instead, a small, simple book, the Book of Mormon, is termed “marvelous.” When looking at this comparison, it throws a vivid vision of what the Book of Mormon means in an eternal perspective.

Without the Book of Mormon, the works of God would falter and the plan would not progress. Without the Book of Mormon, the world would be a waste. Without the Book of Mormon, there would have been no Restoration as we know it, and the church of the devil would reign. Without the Book of Mormon, all else is empty of meaning or eternal purpose. Therefore, the Book of Mormon is truly “a marvelous work.” It not only is a strong point in its own right, it is also the piece of the plan that ties it all together.

When God declares that “a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men,” He is not merely saying that the Book of Mormon is important to the plan. He is saying that it is pivotal and vital to the plan of eternal salvation. When I see the Book of Mormon from this perspective, it is no wonder that the declaration of its imminent emersion into the world is repeated so often in the early chapters of the Doctrine and Covenants.

I’m skimming back over the chapters where this declaration opens the revelation. In section 4, the overall theme is missionary work, in section 6 as well, along with instruction on revelation. These two themes dig deeper into how the Book of Mormon can become a pivotal force in the history of the world. As missionaries spread the gospel, they bring the Book of Mormon to nations and multitudes that had previously not had this knowledge or source of comfort. We all understand this pretty well. But when it’s put in conjunction with the verses about revelation, a new meaning unfolds.

When combined with revelation, the Book of Mormon is not just a source of knowledge and comfort; it also becomes a source of power. The power of the priesthood is explained to us through the Book of Mormon, as are gifts and talents possessed by all. These gifts and talents, if used in a righteous manner, become a power to those who wield them and for the benefit of those they are used for. All who come in contact with someone who has prayerfully studied and understood the Book of Mormon will be changed for the better. This power is the life-changing force that God was anticipating when he declared “a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.”

Connecting the Verses

Currently I'm in several religion classes. I'm taking Doctrine and Covenants with Ari and we are taking from Brother Holzapfel. Once a week, I go to a special studies class on Revelation taught by Brother Draper. Finally, for my students, including Book of Mormon. The story about the 116 pages is a wonderful illustration of how God uses all his resources to keep his plan on track. Lessons from all 3 classes connect to this, and were constantly coming to mind as I read.

After Martin Harris lost the pages, God's first revelation to Joseph reassures him that "The works, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught (D&C 3:1)." This pairs with a command God gave to Nephi, centuries earlier, to explain how and why he prepares his plans to be fail-safe. Anciently, Nephi wrote and Mormon retained through abridgments not one, but two records of the early Nephite and Lamanite history.

For God to have this ability to back up his plans, he has to have perfect knowledge of time to come. In the Book of Revelation, the script is in a surreal time because God sees what was, what is, and what will be in one eternal now. This does not mean agency is non-existent; it simply means that God sees where our agency will lead. In D&C 5:32, God tells Martin Harris what will happen if he fails to humble himself. This does not mean that Martin will choose that path, it only means that God knows the outcome of the choice.

Reading this, and seeing the connections makes it clearer to me what D&C 3:2 means. "For God doth not walk in crooked paths, neither doth he turn to the right hand nor to the left, neither doth he vary from that which he hath said. therefore his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round." God travels in a straight and narrow path, but that path encompasses the complete and "eternal round" of all time. He creates His plans within the framework of this path, then puts them into action in a world that exists in all time. We, the people who walk this path, only see a moment of now, and a sliver of what was, but our lives play into the eternal glory of all that is, was, and is to come. Although we cannot see it, God's plan is interlaced everywhere, and what may seem like a small choice (keeping two records) may create a major difference in some other time (a second version kept uncorrupted).

Blog Renovation!!!

I've been considering making some major changes to my blog, and I now have motivation. For my work at Freshman Academy, I attend class with my students. One of their classes is led by Dr. Holzapfel, my D&C professor. He asks his students to keep a weekly blog relating to what they learn in class. Therefore, I will be posting for D&C. At the same time, I will try to post for my students' American Government class as well.

At the same time, I will try to talk about what it's like living off campus, and being an experienced college student at BYU. It clearly talks about my perspective, but I want to try to help other students succeed. Right now I live in an all-girls apartment just below the hill south of campus. It's a very different experience from the dorms, but I think it's pretty fun. As the year goes on, I will talk about what's hard, what's easy, and such not in my life.

Oh, and I'm totally going to make a new layout and style too!! Super fun! :D