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. 

Preparation, faith, and salvation

I wanna really quickly finish up these so that I can get to the last one, which is my favorite.

Feet shod with preparation for the gospel of peace. First, think about the importance of feet. They are our mode of transportation, and with good shoes, they will not get injured and we will be able to speedily complete any assignment we are given. I think the amount of time we take to prepare for the gospel and to integrate it into our lives is important because as we read our scriptures, pray, and trust in The Lord (all ways we can prepare for the day), we will be better able to rise to action quickly. 

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Look! The shield has the tree of life on it! ;)

Next is the shield of faith. I love this one. Think of how much safety and love and peace we have, all because of our faith in Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. As we trust them, they will protect us. Our faith can also get stronger and stronger to the point where we can withstand the blows of the adversary.

Finally, the helmet of salvation. As we keep the plan of salvation of utmost priority, we will be able to have eternal perspective. After all, we are driven by our heads, so we may as well have our head protected and guided by a loving Father's plan for us.

Alright I'm glad to be done with that. ;) tomorrow will be the fun part: the weapons :)

I'm so grateful for all the protection we have in this gospel, and for the peace and comport I feel from the Spirit everyday.

<3 Eliza

The Tree of Life

(copyright Intellectual Reserve and lds.org)

I'm so excited! In art class, we are having the opportunity to do self portraits in any way we like. At first I was a little unsure about it, because being the center of attention isn't too cool, but I have an idea!

I was thinking, and I realized there were not really very many widely known art pieces about the tree of life that are actually personal. They all show the grand scheme of things, but not a personal view. 

So I am going to draw myself reaching up and plucking off the fruit of the tree of life! 

For those who are unfamiliar with this story, it is found in 1 Nephi 7-11 or so (?). For those who are familiar, too bad! ;)

The tree of life was a dream that a prophet had. But I'll just describe what was in the dream. 

Many people were gathered, confused by the fog and storms and darkness of life. They were wandering, just like how we wander. Some of them found an iron rod suspended in the air, and grabbed hold of it. Looking down at their feet, they saw a straight and narrow path. If they followed that path and rod, they would reach a tree. Full of fruit and shining like the sun, the tree welcomed all to partake of its sweetness.

Across the way, a dirty river flowed. Across the river people laughed and spat and pointed fingers at the followers. They were rich and pleasurable, and some people who had reached the tree were ashamed. But those who had held fast to the iron rod were able to reach the tree and share the fruit with their families.

What did this dream mean? Well, that's what Nephi, a young man and the son of this prophet wanted to know. He prayed and asked God what it meant. An angel came to him and asked him what he thought the tree was. Nephi said he did not know the meaning of all things, but he knew that God loved his children (more on that in another post). The angel then showed him the vision and explained.

The tree of life is the love of God, and the fruit was the sweetest above all other fruits. The only way was by following the straight and narrow path and the iron rod to the tree. The iron rod was the word of God, and if we hold fast to it we can find our way through the mists of darkness to reach God's love. The word of God is found in the scriptures.

We need to make sure we find the iron rod and hold fast to it so that the people who laugh and mock us do not cause us to leave the light we've been given. As we keep progressing along the straight and narrow path, we will one day be able to bask in the light of God's love.

This past year, I have read my scriptures so much. I am so grateful to feel the love God has for me. If you want to feel it, read the scriptures. They will show you the way. God's love is the source of true happiness! I know that if you will search for him, and ask him if he loves you, you can receive a knowledge of that as well!

Beautiful Heartbreak

Moving stinks. Time to pour my heart out.

I met this lady yesterday. She's my new hero. She's the real deal super-disciple.

She is LDS. Was doing everything right. Had four beautiful daughters and one amazing son. But then a crisis shook everything she knew and she had to learn to rely on Christ like she never had before. Then her life was thrown into the storm as her family uprooted and moved overnight.

She was talking to me about a dance and I was lamenting on how amazing it was and how I was sad it was over. Then she said:

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."

That must be an accumulation of all of the faith she found, all of the hurt she's felt, all the love she's had to give away. It really inspired me.

God truly does have a plan for us. I think I was supposed to meet her yesterday.

Last year my friend was fighting luekemia. She gave it her all, and the whole community was convinced her prayers for that miracle would be answered. But she finished her battle in September. She is now living with her Father in Heaven.

So was she victorious in her battle? Did God answer her families prayers? I think he did. No, I know he did.

She has the greatest rest and relief now. I can't imagine what amazement she is experiencing right now. The community has risen and grown together, for through her love she showed us God's love. I wish I could influence people in the ways she did.

Then in March, my best friend passed away. Sure, she was a cat. But I could tell her everything. She never judged me and let me cry into her warmth when I had heartbreak tugging me down. That was hard.

But this summer, I moved. I'm no longer a Virginian, but a Pennsylvanian. It's not the farthest move, but I had to leave everything behind. All the relationships, all the memories, all the people who had taught me so much. I felt like now there was hardly an imaginary connection to my friend who passed away, much less a bond with my cat.

I've had to face humiliation, hurt, unfamiliarity, disdain even. I've done things I never thought I could do. I've shared the gospel a ton, and found my testimony in this world of darkness (I'll reserve that for another post). I've realized that the world moves on without me, people move away, people move in, friendships are broken and replaced. People get taller. Babies are born.


As our family drive away from Virginia this morning back up to Pennsylvania, it felt like I was leaving my home. But I guess wherever people you love are is home. Virginia is home, Utah is home, Nauvoo is home ;), even Pennsylvania is home now.

There is one place we all know well. Even though you may not remember it, you once had a heavenly home with your Heavenly parents. Jesus, our older brother, was there too. Everyone we loved was all together, in the same place all at once. That is our true home.

That is where I want to go. I want to be enveloped in His love again, and see the faces of everyone I
love. I want to be reunited with those who have passed on, I want to feel like I belong again.

God sends us heartbreak to help us grow. He wants us to return to his love. I am so grateful for this life and an opportunity to grow and learn.

If you haven't heard the song Beautiful Heartbreak yet, you need to watch this. It's the best.