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| Ours is a world where prime importance is placed on the outward
appearance. Inner beauty doesn’t make a difference when talking about
popularity. With the media bombarding on every side with weight loss
programs and super-skinny super-models, it becomes hard to believe that
you really have self-worth and a divine nature. Instead, you begin to
think that what the world says about “fat” people and “ugly” people is
true about you.
All of my life, I have struggled with who I am. I have truly wondered
why I am here. I have questioned whether or not I am even worth
anything at all. It was on a summer’s day at girls’ camp that I
received my answer.
As I was walking along the dusty road toward the amphitheater for the
evening devotional, I was contemplating the beauty of nature. I had
just come from amidst the silence of the trees where I was committing
to memory the precious words of “The Living Christ.” I was still
repeating to myself the words I had just learned in order to ingrain
them within my mind.
“His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like
the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun;
his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters…” I intoned,
trying to find some way that would remind me of the order.
I continued this chant as I sat down on a dirty wooden bench. I fell
silent as the Young Women’s President came to the front and announced
the opening song, “Walk Tall, You’re a Daughter of God.” I had never
heard that song before and was intrigued by the title. The words of the
song filled the air around me and I just listened, enjoying the music.
It was then that I heard the words of the second verse.
“He held you in His arms as He sent you down to Earth. He said, ‘My child, I love you, and remember your great worth.’”
Something about those words reminded me of something I used to know. I
pictured myself in the arms of my Heavenly Father. He was holding me
close to him, just as a mother does when her child leaves for
kindergarten for the first time. He didn’t want to let me go without
saying that one last important thing. “My child, I love you and
remember your great worth.” Almost immediately, my eyes welled up with
tears. I felt them rolling down my face as the last strains of the song
rang through the trees. The tears continued as the devotional and flag
ceremony came to an end. Every time I remembered those words and those
feelings that night, I would once again begin to cry. I couldn’t help
it. Nothing else had ever impressed me that much.
The week, sadly, came to an end. While driving home, my thoughts were
turned to the trees. I sat silently in the backseat, watching the
aspens and pines melt into a sea of blue-green. The magnificent colors
of the trees gave way to my feelings as the sound of my best friend
conversing with her mother faded into the background. I began to
reflect on the events of the past week.
A single thought found its way into my mind - a memory that I will never forget.
There, amidst the stunning backdrop of all of God’s creations, I
realized that I was one of them too. And God doesn’t make any mistakes. | | |
| Why do people swear? There is something about swearing (sometimes
expressed as "cursing") that I just don't understand. There are people
out there who can't see to go an entire sentence without saying the
F-word. I don't get it.
Sometimes it's easy to be tempted to swear, especially if you're
extremely angry at someone or something. But does swearing really solve
anything? If anything, it makes you angrier, not to mention making the
person at whom you are swearing feel bad. All in all, it just makes the
situation worse. In Proverbs it says that "A soft answer turneth away
wrath, but grievous words stir up anger." Through this we see that it
is better to speak softly, and control our anger, for speaking
"grievous words" - as the scriptures call them - just brings more bad
feelings.
Some swear because that's what they grew up doing. They learned it from
their parents or at school, or it may just be part of their dialect.
They don't really know any better. It's sad to me that they know
nothing better and are consigned to use that sort of language.
Many may swear because they think it makes them look cool or macho. In
my opinion, one who swears is exactly the opposite: crude and
uneducated. I'm not saying that all people who use profanity lack
education, for I know many with Master's degrees who can't seem to
refrain from using obscene language. All I'm saying is that there are
so many better ways of expressing oneself and one's emotions.
One of the most important and influential methods of communication (at
least in my life) is the medium of music. I believe that music can
express emotions that words couldn't describe in a million years.
Music, when used correctly, can touch you to the very soul, and bring a
wonderful spirit into your life. However, it can also do the exact
opposite. If it's too loud, or the lyrics are not conducive to having
the spirit with you, then He will leave, for he cannot dwell in unholy
temples.
Another way one can express him/herself is through writing (without
profanity). Many authors of old have written beautiful novels and short
stories that indirectly express their own emotions through the actions
of the characters in their stories. Some find writing to be soothing, a
method of getting excess thoughts and energy down on paper, where they
can sometimes be more easily accessed. Other times, writing is just a
vice to let out bad feelings. But once again, using bad language when
expressing these bad feelings generally makes things worse. For
example, the prophets counsel us to keep a journal, recording spiritual
and important life expriences, but to exclude negative feelings. One
does not want to look back on the negative, especially since rereading
a story like that can bring back all of the negative emotions that have
long since been forgotten.
There are so many alternatives to swearing; it makes me wonder why
anyone does it at all. For some it is their culture, having been raised
by parents who swear in the home and hearing words like that at
schools. For others, they think that it makes them look cool, older
even, and that in order to get anywhere in the world, one needs to use
crass language.
Unfortunately, swearing is something that we have to deal with in the
world of today. No matter where you go, you are going to hear some form
of profanity. It's all over the media and everyday conversation. It's
impossible to not hear it. However, we can choose to ignore it, and not
let it affect our lives. We can do as the scriptures say, and be "in
the world, but not of the world." | | |
| Isn't it amazing what some people will do for money? This thought
crosses my mind every time I see the security guards walk through the
bookstore carrying a bag of money to or from the bank. First of all,
there are more than one, and second, they are wearing bullet-proof
vests. Both of these things are precautionary measures to make sure
that no one tries to steal the bag of money, and if they do, the
officers won't get killed in the process.
Another example is in the movie "Spiderman" when the thief steals the
money, and then hijacks Uncle Ben's car to make a getaway.
Unfortunately, Uncle Ben had to die in order for the thief to
accomplish his goal.
Why are people so obsessed with money? All it is is a piece of paper or
plastic with fancy designs printed on it. In reality, it isn't worth as
much as we think it is. In this world, we are so infatuated with new
clothes, cars, and homes, that we seem to want to do anything for the
money to buy those things.
Without money, the world could not really work, because money provides
a means by which exchange is possible, thus eliminating the need for a
coincidence of wants. (Curse you American Heritage!) But just because
money is a necessity for the economic system to work, doesn't mean we
have to be obsessed with it. There are people out there who just use
their money to show off how rich they are. They use it to buy huge
homes that they don't need, fast cars that they can't drive fast, and
clothes for three or four times more expensive than something just as
good at a department store.
I'm not trying to say that money in and of itself is bad. It's the love
of money, and people's obsession with it that causes them to do bad
things sometimes. I hope that I will never let the love of money take
hold of me that strongly. All I ask of whoever reads this is that you
do the same. Use what you need, and then put some away for a rainy day.
Don't just spend it on frivolous things that you don't really need.
Remember what the scriptures say, "Before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God." | | |
| This world believes that beauty is based on the physical appearance.
Because of this belief, many people think that in order to be
beautiful, they have to look like the models in the pictures. They
think that they have to wear a size 2, have perfectly clear skin, and
have long flowing blonde hair.
The truth is that there are remarkably few people who fit this
description. Does that mean, then, that the rest of us are not
beautiful? The world would have us think so. This may be the reason
that there are millions of Americans suffering from an eating disorder
in order to fit into the smallest size they can. In order to keep their
youthful appearance, they get plastic surgery, spending often thousands
of dollars to do so. All this to conform to the world's vision of
beauty.
In reality, no one is perfect, not even the models we see in the
pictures. As amatter of fact, most of the pictures are airbrushed. In
light of this fact, why are many people striving to look like something
that isn't real? It's ridiculous, really; people trying to look like
their favorite movie star or model when, in all reality, the movie star
or model has been digitally remastered to look flawless. It is
physically impossible to look that perfect.
True beauty is not derived from someone's physical appearance. Many
times, it is not the seemingly "beautiful" people we admire, but those
who have done a good deed unto us or the world, those who are working
to make this world a better place, and, in short, inspiring us to be
the best we can be. While these people may not be as physically
attractive as our favorite model/movie star, they are making an impact
on our everyday lives and changing the world for the better.
I believe that one characteristic of someone who is beautiful is
confidence. For me, a person who is confident knows who s/he is and
where s/he came from. They don't worry about their physical appearance,
because they know that they are sons/daughters of a Heavenly Father who
loves them and has a plan for them. They remember that they have
inherent worth that nothing and no one can take away from them. They
realize that their Heavenly Father loved them enough to send His son to
die for them; to atone for their sins, sorrows, and pains; and to be
resurrected so that we may one day return to live with Him again.
We all have trouble remembering that we are indeed children of a loving
Heavenly Father who has a plan for our lives. I am one of those, but
whenever I begin to feel worthless and ugly, I remember that I am a
Daughter of God. I am worth so much to Him that he was willing to send
His son to die so that I could live, and live with him again. For some
reason, He found that a fair exchange. My soul is worth so much to Him,
and nothing that anyone can do can take that away. | | |
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