Forever Family

I have this irrational fear of whenever my family is apart. For some reason, if Dad's on a business trip or Mom's at a wedding or something, I always get very scared. It's not that I miss them (well I do a little ;) but I am terrified that some accident will happen and I will never see them again.

Last year my mom went to a funeral for a week in a different state. My science teacher had told us about how she can't ride airplanes because she's scared of terrorists and scared of bombs. But more people die in car crashes than airplane accidents. So I would freak out. I prayed SOOO hard that week that last night would not have been the last time I see her. Please don't let her airplane crash. Please don't let a drunk driver be on the road with her. Please don't let her have a heart attack.

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I remember playing the piano. A hymn. Over and over and over again, I memorized it. I was like, "see, I'm doing the right thing. I'm playing hymns--please don't let her die. "

Just because we are being righteous doesn't mean we won't ever experience pain.

My mom came home safely. But this weekend half my family went on a trip. Me and my sister stayed home. That heart wrenching fear came back again.

Why do I have this fear? I have a testimony of Jesus Christ, of the plan of salvation. I know that if any of my family members were to die right now, that I would be able to see them again. So why do I fear separation?

I guess I have felt my families love, and I don't want to go without it for a second.

I'm sure in heaven, we may have been a bit afraid of leaving our Heavenly Parents because we knew of their love, and didn't want to be separated from them. These two truths are why it is so important to return to heaven with our families so that we can be together forever. Death is not the end, and you will see your family again.

So right here is this incredible video. I absolutely love it. WATCH IT. it is incredible (videos don't work on iOS devices or android, so please please please don't be lazy, get up, take a little extra time to log onto a computer and watch this because you will be blessed for it!!! You truly will!!! It's my favorite!)

We can be with our families forever. We need not be afraid of God's plan for us because He loves us and will make sure that everything we go through will work together for our good. 

You will see your family again. I know it. 

<3 Eliza

P.S. For those of you who decided to skip that video, there is nothing better for you to do with five minutes of your time! Please? For me? It has given me so much comfort, and I feel the Spirit so much as I learn about it. 

Shine the Light

(Copyright Intellectual Reserve)

There are many messages the world throws us. Immorality is okay, glory is of utmost importance, you can cheat a little to get what you want. As long as you're not caught, you haven't done anything wrong.

That is so far from the truth.

Darkness is all around us. The storms and waves of the sea threaten to overturn us. You can see it on billboards, in newspapers, and peers. So many times we run into apathy, even disdain for anything virtuous.

In all this darkness, there are many who are searching for light, looking everywhere for a glimpse of hope.

We've all been given lights, in our testimonies and in our knowledge of right and wrong. But many of us choose to hide under umbrellas, "protecting" that little candle so that it won't go out. This hides our light from others though, and makes it unusable for ourselves.

As disciples of Christ in these latter days, as Christians and as morally keen people, we need to be in the world, but not of the world. Do men light a candle and put it under a bushel? No. They put it on a hill for all to see and be guided by it, for all to feel of it's warmth.

My friend once bought a homeless man some food, and cared for him. He tried to make sure the man had everything he needed to make it through that day. As he was leaving, the man called out to him and asked if he was Christian. He said yes. Make your life consistent with what you believe so that people recognize who you are.

One time I was on a bus, and this girl brought up the topic of religion. She asked me where I belonged and I told her I was Mormon. She got all excited and was like "I knew it, I knew it! All you Mormons have that smiling, bright face!" I was a bit surprised, but I was grateful to know that the gospel light is shining through me in the way that others can feel my happiness.

How often is your light on? How bright does it shine through your eyes? Shine so that others will want to know Christ, so that others will see him through you.

Power of a Smile

(Copyright Intellectual Reserve and lds.org)

Today was kinda a blah day. Rain. I wish I could dance in the rain. 

I heard this story once about a guy who went everyday to this bridge. He would smile and wave at every car that would pass by. In the beginning, people would sometimes wave back. But for a while nobody smiled back at him. This really hurt him, and one day he wrote a note and left it in his apartment saying that if nobody smiled at him that day he would jump the bridge into the river. He had no family or friends, and so those smiles people gave him was his world. When that stopped, his world stopped. That day no one smiled at him. :(

I hope your smile never needs to be a factor into a life or death situation, but the point is, you never know what struggle or pain is going on in a person's life. So you should try to brighten everyone's day. Smile at people you pass in the hall. Give a compliment to someone you barely know. 

There was a girl I knew once. She was a little overweight, and bullied a lot. She was quiet and barely looked into peoples faces because she was afraid that she would get hurt. 

I kept feeling like I should do something nice for her. I would smile and talk to her sometimes, but I knew I could do better. So for valentines day, I decided to give her a valentine. Now you must understand, back then, Fundip was gold and if you got it for a valentine you were forever in their debt. 

When I gave her that Fundip, her face lit up so much. She looked at me and tentatively asked, " for me?"  She probably hadn't gotten any valentines day cards or candy yet, and watched on the side as others received gifts galore. 

She moved away a week later. I was so grateful to have shown her that small kindness, to let her know that someone cared about her. I hope she is doing better where she lives now. I hope she knows how much her Father in heaven loves her. 

I would feel so guilty if I hadn't been kind to her before she moved away. So don't procrastinate your kindness. You don't know what effect you can make on people. :)

Go make someone smile for me ;)