Hope for a Better World

This morning, as I considered the events that occurred in Charlottesville, I was brought to tears by the hate and anger that were demonstrated in the words and actions of immoral men and women. I thought not only of the victims of the violence that erupted, but also of the fear experienced by those who were the victims of the hateful words and beliefs paraded yesterday. I thought of people of different races, nationalities, and religions, who have long been discriminated against, left once again to be the targets of vitriolic speech.

As I began to despair, I thought back to the recent talk by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. His talk "Songs Sung and Unsung" was a powerful call for greater empathy. He reminded us that in order for us to truly be followers of Christ, we must first seek to love others and alleviate their suffering. He spoke of the guilt which comes as we speak of our own blessings while many of our brothers and sisters remain in the captivity of poverty and may I add discrimination, mental illness and other temporal burdens. We cannot faithfully sing of the blessings we've been given until we have honorably sought to care for others.

The part of Elder Holland's words that were most powerful to me, and which came to my mind as I thought of the recent hateful attacks, were those concerning the hope that Christ may be in the midst of complex societal issues. He said:

"someday I hope a great global chorus will harmonize across all racial and ethnic lines, declaring that guns, slurs, and vitriol are not the way to deal with human conflict. The declarations of heaven cry out to us that the only way complex societal issues can ever be satisfactorily resolved is by loving God and keeping His commandments, thus opening the door to the one lasting, salvific way to love each other as neighbors."

For those that are suffering, it may seem overly simplistic to say that the solution to their suffering is to love God and keep His commandments. While I myself have seen how the gospel can bless and change lives, I have also seen how suffering continues despite faithful living. But what I see in Elder Holland's words is not only a call for missionary work, but it is a call to love and live as the Savior did.

While on the earth, the Savior had one purpose: to call people to come unto him to be healed and to be saved. Christ did not only teach His gospel and the way of salvation but He showed how to live it by caring for the temporal needs of those around Him. He healed those who were sick, cared for the poor, and demonstrated that he was no respecter of persons. Put simply, He loved His brothers and sisters.

As followers of Christ, we are called upon to love and live as He did. We are to care for and empathize with those who are oppressed and those who suffer. As believers of God, we "might with surety hope for a better world." This hope is meant to be active and I do not believe it is just a promise of salvation in the next life. We are asked to work with God to serve others and help to build this "better world" while we are still on the earth. We promise to use our abilities and talents to build His Kingdom on the Earth through loving others as ourselves. I believe that a part of my purpose on this Earth is to love my brothers and sisters enough to do my part in ending the hate and the violence and the discrimination.

May we begin to listen to others with greater empathy. May we seek to end the damaging forces which keep people in physical, economic, or emotional bondage. May be do what we can to help build a better world.

To My Mother on Her Birthday

It is difficult for me to express all that my mother has been for me. As I think about the ways she has influenced my life, three words stick out to me—inspiration, joy and care.

            My mother has always been my inspiration. She is my example of faith, of courage and of perseverance. She inspires me to be my best self, and encourages me no matter my mistakes. From my mother I learned to trust God and His plan. I learned to seek and listen to revelation. I learned to believe and live according to my belief. My mother is courageous. She is my example of pursuing goals. She inspires me to do what I love and bless others with my talents. She has blessed her family but has also used her passion for teaching to bless many students’ lives. Her inspiring life has touched so many people throughout the world. She taught me what it means to be a strong woman and a caring daughter. She is my inspiration.

            My mother’s laughter and happiness has brightened my home. Her joy is infectious, even on a bad day. Growing up, we could always trust mom to make us laugh. She would play, tickle and laugh with us. I remember so many bad days that were made happy because of my mom’s ability to cheer and comfort. Even now as an adult, mom has an ability to make my life seem better and brighter. I am grateful that she has shown me how love makes you happy. Her love for my dad is shown through the joy she brings to his life. She brings happiness to her family.

            Most importantly, when I think of my mother I think of the way her caring personality has deeply influenced my life. She cares so much for the people close to her. She is the only person I want to talk to when I am sad or lonely. She understands her children and does all she can to care for their needs. Her help and advice have been a guiding force in my life. On my mission, her weekly emails meant so much to me. As a college student, our weekly lunches are such a relief and comfort for me. My mom is loving, caring and sensitive. She has taught me how to love and how to care for those I love.

            I am so grateful for the many ways that my mother has touched my life. Her love has always been a constant for me. I love her so much and I am grateful to know that I am eternally linked to her. Happy Birthday mom!

A Year of New Discoveries

I have been thinking about what to write at the new year for some time now. It has been a year to remember, filled with both happiness and heartbreak. I can't start my new year without expressing my feelings towards the last.

2016 was certainly a year of firsts and new experiences. The beginning of the year was a time of a lot of frustration. I felt stuck on a path that I didn't want to be on and I wasn't happy with the person I was becoming. I knew that is was time to change or continue in my unhappiness. The changes and new experiences started out small, I tried sushi for the first time, I died my hair, I rode on a motorcycle. Eventually the time came that I had to make bigger changes. I discovered passions which led to new plans for my future. New jobs and opportunities to serve helped me to discover interests and talents I didn't know I had. I explored new countries, found new paths for my life and opened my heart up in a way I hadn't before.

My new path was not discovered alone. I fully believe that God brings people into your life when you need them the most. In D&C 88:44 God is speaking of the movements of planets and describing their fixed course in the heavens. He describes their course by  saying, "they give light to each other in their times and in their seasons." God has created and orchestrated the planets to interact at precise times and seasons so that they can give light to each other. In a similar way, God has orchestrated our lives, the seasons of our joy and despair, in such a way that we touch each other's lives for a season and then leave when the time is right. This year I was blessed to meet incredible friends, mentors and inspiring souls who helped me to see windows that I didn't know were opened to me. I am eternally grateful to those people whose lives touched mine.

Of course, with change inevitably comes some hurt. By opening up, at times, I got hurt. I lost myself in an effort to fully give myself to the people I love. I discovered new fears and new lows. Luckily, I have incredible parents and friends who helped to remind me of who I am. Most importantly, I found out the depths of my trust in a loving Heavenly Father. I learned that His light can truly reach every soul.

Ultimately, 2016 was a year I will not forget. I am happy with who I am and the person I have uncovered through the new experiences.

To the people who were a part of my year: thank you. Your influence will not be forgotten.

To the new year: may it be filled with new highs, new lows and even greater discoveries.