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).

African Slavery - An Insight

In American Government with my Freshman Academy, we were given this prompt to blog about. Imagine that you live in Africa and have been captured by a slave trader and are being shipped across the Atlantic. Write a 500-750 word personal narrative on recording what your thoughts and experiences might be along your journey. As I read it, I almost decided to NOT blog along with my students. Then I told myself that I don't care if it's hard, it'll be good for me. I tell myself that sort of thing a lot, and I almost never regret it.

My mother is gone. And my father. I pray they are safe at home. My little brothers and sisters are safe. All except one. I was told to take them to safety when the white men were seen. But the littlest girl, she is only 3, was not with us. I went to look for her, and that is when they got me. I do not know what is happening at home. I only know I am in this empty ship, and cannot see because of the dark. Others are here too, but not many. Only a few of us will suffer.

It has been days now. More and more people have been brought. The food gets less by the day, and sometimes I don't get any because I am so far back in the pack. They have taken all our clothes. That way they fit more of us in. I cannot move. I hurt all over. Men and women crowd around. When no one fit anymore, the white men closed the lid. We don't get out. We can't. Under us, the water rolls, and I can tell that we are now sailing. I do not know where we are going, only that no one ever comes back from wherever it is.

The crowding is less. Not by much, but they throw the dead over the side. Each body gone gives us room. And we don't eat, so there is no more desire to move. But I still hate it. The old woman beside me is dead. The white men have not noticed yet, and she stinks. I will not say anything though. If I draw any attention to myself, I do not know what they will do. Maybe whip me, or worse. I might even be killed if they are in a bad mood. Who knows, maybe that is a better option then this life. I am lucky to be on the top level. I was on the bottom at first, but I snuck up higher a few meals ago (I cannot count days, I rarely see light.) Now I can breathe just a bit more. But we are more likely to be hit for the slightest sound.

Finally we are out. Naked, chained in rows, we sit on the deck. I do not know what will happen now, but it can never be as horrible as what I just left. I would prefer anything to the living hell of that ship. I'll never sail again.

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

Wow...

I don't even know what to say. General Conference is always powerful. But every year I learn to pay more attention and take more away. Unlike some people claim, it doesn't always bring me peace. I am so stressed, physically, mentally, and emotionally, that I don't think anything will help anymore. The best I can hope is that by applying what I heard, I will be able to pull through.

So much is changing again. I am starting to get used to change. Ever since I got here, just as I get comfortable with life, it changes. I came, and settled in, and then all the big challenges of first semester hit me. Then I got a boyfriend, which I never expected. And then I went home for Christmas, but it didn't feel like home. Then I came back, and was in a different room and new classes. Then I broke up. And now everyone is getting ready to leave and move on. I am not sure I am ready to move on. College moves to fast to allow much time to enjoy the now.

I don't have regrets very often. And this isn't really a regret. I just sort of wish that I had tried to take life slower. It might not have worked, it wasn't always moving at my timing. But it would have been nice. Oh well... nothing I can do, and life is good. So I will move on anyway. I have homework to do and grades to maintain. If I can make it through this semester, I will be fine.

Almost Done!

Wow, there is almost no time left at school. This has been a great year. Not easy. Not always fun. But always wonderful. Every hardship I dealt with was so worth it. And obviously the fun times were great! But now the year is almost done. Last year, I couldn't even imagine what college would be like. And now I just want to do it all again. There are things I wish I had done differently, but most everything has been just right.

At some point, I think I will post a more detailed outline of the year. I am often very cryptic. I have hurt enough people by being blunt, that I am struggling to find a balance. But, I would love to summarize my whole year.

But for right now, I wanted to spew (I like that word) about a conversation I had the other day. One of my friends is really into the power of social networking. She and my dad could have a great chat about Web 2.0. She uses her blog to clarify our religious beliefs and is really involved on the online discussion about that. Her blog is really meaningful. I wish I had a meaningful blog.
What I have going right now is good. It's a great way to let my friends know what is happening in my life. But I would like to contribute to my world. That has been something I have always wanted to do.

I wouldn't change this blog. It really is just to let you know about my life. But what would my other blog focus on? I don't have much religious knowledge. I am sad to admit that, but I don't feel that my understanding is adequate to help others. The same with politics. Not only do I not know much, but I don't want a political blog. But what could I do? Maybe an advice blog? Or a story blog? Or I could make a couple and keep them all updated. Comment and give me suggestions! I really don't know what to write about.

Dance Sport was Amazing!!

I haven't competed in anything for over a year now. I had forgotten how great it feels. When I did Tae Kwon Do, I knew my ability, and it was so fun to, well, show off. Over the past year, I have to admit that I have not done much interesting. At least in the performance world. But I loved it. It's weird. You have something, and when it leaves, you miss it at first, but you get used to it. And then, suddenly, you get another taste. That's when you really feel what you lost. But I am lucky, my taste is just the first in a whole meal.
Today was BYU Dance Sport. For my dance class, I got extra credit to perform. So I decided I would. I didn't even tell my parents. It was no big deal. I practice a lot, and was excited, but it wasn't a huge deal. And then, last night, I was packing my bag, and I realized how fun this was going to be. I thought "I'll get to do this a couple times a year. Neat!"
But today, I realized I wanted more than that. It was amazing! I got cut on the first Cha Cha heat, and the second Swing heat, but I wanted to keep dancing. I already knew I loved dance, but I had always just constrained myself to social, and never expected to perform. But now, I want to perform. I want to practice for hours to look that good. To feel that good.
This morning was so great! :D I loved it, and I will keep doing it.

The Quote Wall Totally Rocks!!

So, we have this quote wall in my room. Anything highly repeatable, out-there funny, or beyond awkward is at risk to end up on it. Last night, or more like this morning, Ari, Katie and I counted up the total number of quotes. It was exactly 100! It is such an achievement. I doubt anyone else collected 100 quotes in less than a semester. Especially as funny/awkward as these.

At the end of the semester, we are going to post a large number of them online. Right now I just want to give you a teaser taste and mention a couple of my favorites. Sorry, but I won't explain them. Email me or call or something if you just need to know, and I might tell you.

Did you think your pants would just climb off??

Guys, I kinda wanna get married right now.

I'm going to hang up in 3... 4... oh, wait.

I was totally half-indenting to get up!

Alright. So there you have it: your first sample of the infamous quote wall. I really just felt the need to celebrate the 100th quote. It really is an accomplishment.