"Because forgiveness connects principles, it connects people."

I've been studying up on forgiveness. This is too good:

“Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.”

Forgiveness is positioned right in the middle of these simple truths, founded on our Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness. Because forgiveness connects principles, it connects people. It is a key, it opens locked doors, it is the beginning of an honest path, and it is one of our best hopes for a happy family.

We have all been wounded. We all have wounded others.

I have discovered one thing that most have in common: they have a way of forgiving and forgetting the imperfections of others and of looking for the good.

We can feel God’s love for us every day. Shouldn’t we be able to give a little more of ourselves to our fellowmen as taught in the beloved hymn, "Because I Have Been Given Much”? The Lord has opened the door for us to be forgiven. Wouldn’t it be only right to put aside our own egotism and pride and begin to open that blessed door of forgiveness to those with whom we struggle?

In the end, happiness does not spring from perfection but from applying divine principles, even in small steps.

Thanks for always knowing just how to say it, Elder Uchtdorf. 

http://www.lds.org/liahona/2012/10/one-key-to-a-happy-family?lang=eng

"There is only one way to happiness and fulfillment. Jesus Christ is the Way. Every other way, any other way, whatever other way is madness."

I rediscovered this gem as I was walking to school this morning. Holy cow. What a powerhouse. I've seriously replayed it four times already. In the body of his talk he says that every other way is foolishness, but as he's reading it he changes to saying "madness," and I love that. How powerful. The whole thing is just too good. 

Please just go and do. Listen to it.

There is only one way to happiness and fulfillment. He is the Way. Every other way, any other way, whatever other way, is foolishness.

He offers a well of living water. Either we drink and never thirst more, or we don’t and foolishly remain thirsty still.

He is the Bread of Life. Either we eat and hunger no more, or we don’t and foolishly remain weak and hungry still.

He is the Light of the World. Either we follow Him and see clearly, or we don’t and foolishly remain blind and in darkness still.

He is the Savior of the world. Either we accept the blessings of His Atonement and are made clean and pure, worthy to have His Spirit, or we don’t and foolishly remain alone and filthy still.

The Lord’s way is not hard. Life is hard, not the gospel. “There is an opposition in all things,” everywhere, for everyone. Life is hard for all of us, but life is also simple. We have only two choices. We can either follow the Lord and be endowed with His power and have peace, light, strength, knowledge, confidence, love, and joy, or we can go some other way, any other way, whatever other way, and go it alone—without His support, without His power, without guidance, in darkness, turmoil, doubt, grief, and despair. And I ask, which way is easier?

Life is hard, but life is simple. Get on the path and never, ever give up. You never give up. You just keep on going. You don’t quit, and you will make it.

He is the Way.

thank you, elder christofferson.

"Keep going, and the Lord will help you. At times you may not know quite what to do or what to say—just move forward. Begin to act, and the Lord assures that “an effectual door shall be opened for [you]” (D&C 118:3)."
-Elder D. Todd Christofferson
"Bretheren, We Have Work to Do"
GCon, Priesthood Sesh Oct 2012


Also, this is too good. Check it out.

rediscovering

i'm re reading a favorite book. it's too good. check this out:

(sierra smith, this one's for you. made me think of you soo much:)
"...the Savior is the physical representation, the incarnate expression of God's love for us, and our acceptance of Him and our profound gratitude for His atoning sacrifice is the ultimate expression of our love for the Father!"

"God's love fills the immensity of space; therefore, there is no shortage of love in the universe, only in our willingness to do what is needed to feel it." -E John Groberg

Willingness to do what is needed to feel it? 

"It may seem odd, even unfair when we read that we are required to keep the commandments in order to feel the Spirit, but God, in His infinite wisdom, knows how and when to succor us with His love. It is His to give and ours to accept in gratitude. It is part of the glorious and infinite gift of the atonement."

"What can I do, beyond being obedient to the commandments and praying fervently, what will help me feel His love, personally, every day?"

"I have seen others who carry great burdens, whose hearts are shriveled by the daily demands..--creating a debilitating fear that keeps them focused inward until they just don't see anyone else. And yet, paradoxically, the very looking outward, the reverencing of the Deity in others would open a space for God to step in and heal the wounds that continue to bleed in their own hearts."

"When I stack my obstacles against others' they seem too frivolous to be authentic. And yet, this mortal existence is designed by a genius, so that we will all, no matter our circumstances or parentage or gifts, have to exercise our agency to come unto Him."

-virgina pearce
A Heart Like His

hello. a few things--

i need you to do this (for some insights on who you are and how you communicate):

http://www.5lovelanguages.com/assessments/love/

and watch this (for a laugh):  

hawaii revisited

my sweet fam picked me up from the airport after the rich coast.

 man, it was good to see them. :)

a few days later we headed to Hawaii as a fam. willy planned this trip for mine and bro's entire missions and man, was it ridonkulously fun and exquisitely planned.

the first few days we were on oahu, my old homeland! 

just about everything in Laie made me think of you, dearest Mallory Marie Keith. what a dream that was! sure love you!

it felt oh so good to be back in the frigid aisles of my dear Foodland, although i did not welcome her steep prices.

i still do cherish my maika'i card!

we then went to the hukilau cafe for jack johnson's banana pancakes (or coconut or macadamia nut ooooooooooooooooooooooooooh yeah)

hello little shirimp in its entirety...

shrimp truck

THE ORIGINAL. 

haha. 

haliewa! my favorite beach equipped with the funnest cliff jumping!

little tabby's world was totally flipped upside down with the time change, humidity, diet, and schedule in general. but even though that was sucky for her, we were SO glad she was there!

the temple was under construction while I was at school, so we went there our first morning to check out the visitor's center. the "God's Plan for the Family"exhibit was moving. if you have the chance, go see it. it was amazing to see how going to the temple grounds as a family like that literally changed the entire feeling of our day. oh, the gospel blesses families.

i got to go by myself the next morning to do sealings (the session was full. what a great problem! i was so happy!). the inside of the temple was stunning!

...

we then took an "island hopper" to get over to maui.

colby and i really wished the view from our room was a little better... ha ha okay.

whilst on Maui, Heavenly Father was so kind to me. I got to see two sweet friends completely removed from our natural habitat: Kasia Marie and my compa, Hermana McCullough. Oh, it was beautiful!

Kasia took me cliff jumping here...

...and i died. SO BEAUTIFUL. we spent hours there jumping, swimming, cooking in the sun and having the most inspiring, beautiful, deep conversations. kasia marie, i love you so much. thank you for chasing your dreams and being so obedient to the promptings from Heavenly Father!

obviously i couldn't withhold this joy from my family. i brought them back the very next day!

we got to meet kasia's "mom" who gave us those beautiful flowers.

i love how being a member of the church brings us together in such an inexplicable way--no matter where we live or what language we speak!

oh, my dear sister. i love you, elissa! seeing you made my LIFE complete! you are such a strong woman and you inspire me to perseverar hasta el fin. you're a rock, sister. and i thank you for that.

we went to a luau on the beach...

those are whole pigs that were steamed underground for the feast. wow. 

endless piña coladas...

and the sun set while as we digested our food and there was a polynesian dance performance. too good.

oh my goodness. lululani's shaved ice. tdf. bye. 

we're training her well.

just another annoyingly beautiful dinner sunse. gorgeous!

from a whale watching zone. love you, dear sister!

aaaaah. the beach!

call kaylynn ansel adams.

before church we went on a drive up to this gorgeous lookout place--

(we could see people air surfing. i had no idea that was even a thing! how FUN!) 

we went to church in a tongan ward. a few things: 

first-- i got to be tab's gab the whole time. it was the best. love that little one.

second--WOW i love tongan's! they a) sing with their whole heart, b) bore such powerful testimony that the spirit was tangible even though we had no idea what was being said! the church is true and the spirit is universal!

...

tabby has been taught just about what every animal says...and it's adorable. i attempted to get it on film about 80 times. this was one attempt. for some weird reason she wouldn't say what a kitty says, which was her favorite one up until this trip! (then came the tiger..)

i finally captured the whole thing in this little clip!

so. basically hawaii was a joyful reunion (in so many ways) and too much fun. 

hat's off to willy. you did it again.

literally hecho pedazos

i'm not entirely sure why, but i watched this the other day in the middle of the jfsb and totally lost it...crying everywhere. ha ha. this clip is so powerful. see for yourselves: