23 Days

I can't wait. There have been days when I have almost lost my mind because I just want to be there already. I want to immerse myself in all of England. I want my mission to consume me. I want worry about nothing except bringing souls to Christ. Twenty-three days. I started with 3 1/2 months and now I have less than 1. Twenty-three days to prepare; to read my Book of Mormon; to talk to strangers at Walmart; to go out with the missionaries and teach before I put on that name tag and become a missionary myself. Twenty-three days left in Arizona with my family and friends until I am in England with only my companion and the Lord by my side. When I think of those twenty three days and how long I have been waiting and what I am about to embark on, only three words come to my mind: I can't wait. 
People have been asking if I am nervous. Sure, I guess I am...I don't really think about it to be honest. All I can think about is stepping off that plane in England with that name tag on my shirt. Maybe I'll be nervous then. I know the Lord will not fail me, I know I have people supporting me back home, and I know someone that I trust dearly will be stepping off that plane with me. What more do I need?

General Conference is coming up; Easter is coming up. Take this next couple of weeks to think of the Savior, and what He did for you. Take this time to prepare for General Conference. Fast, attend the temple, pray, and read your scriptures. The answers you seek will be given to you according to your faith. Do not forget that patience is also required. The Lord will answer you in His time, not your's. I am so excited for General Conference. Whether there in Utah or at home, I always feel the Spirit. Those men and woman are truly called of God. I challenge each of you to watch all 4 sessions (including Priesthood and Relief Society). If your Saturdays are too busy, change your plans! You know when Conference is, plan around it. It will bless your life and bring the Spirit into your home. My favorite part of Conference is just turning the TV on on Saturday morning. The sun is shining between the leaves of my orange trees, and that light then shines through my living room windows warming everything it touches. Combine that with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing and it's the perfect morning. Nothing beats it...except maybe being in the Conference Center. You can disagree, but you won't win. :) 
I can't believe the last General Conference was 6 months ago. Crazy how fast time flies by huh? Six months ago my life was changed. I was told I could serve a mission now. I wasn't 19 at the time, but I was nowhere near being 21 either. Now I have my call and am leaving in 23 days. Take the time to listen to Conference, who knows...it might just change your life. 

Matt and Sarah-March 8th, 2013

On Friday my brother married Sarah, the love of his life. I am so incredibly happy for the both of them and couldn't ask for a better older sister. Right now they are on their way to California for their Mexico cruise while my family eats the rest of the left over sweet pork we had at the reception. Lets just say we made a little bit too much: 20-30 lbs. too much. By the way...anyone want some? 

I was so lucky to have the opportunity to be in the temple when Matt and Sarah were sealed. Spencer and I were both there and the ceremony was amazing. As my dad would say "all the women were crying". If I let myself, I would've cried; but if I had started crying it would have ended up in me bawling my eyes out. That would be just a tad bit embarrassing! My older brother and I have never had the best relationship, but lately it has been really good. Usually you think that when siblings get married you may grow farther apart, but Sarah has brought us closer together. She has already made him such a better man and I know he is going to be a great husband. The reception was supposed to be outside, but due to a rainstorm no one thought was really going to happen, we moved the reception into the stake center. It was still beautiful though! Sarah's mom is extremely talented in wedding stuff and what not, so we made it workout. I think my favorite part of the reception was when a group of boys told the DJ to play the Harlem Shake and then danced their butts off right in front of everyone. Or maybe it was when the bride and groom had the 'money dance' (if you want to dance with either the bride or groom you pay them a dollar) and I didn't have any money, but my brother let me dance with him anyway. But it could have also been when Matt and Sarah had their first dance and Sarah laid her head on Matt's chest knowing she will be with the one she loves for eternity. There's just something about weddings........and pictures. Here are most of the pictures I took that day!

P.S. I caught the bouquet. Maybe I'll find an English boy?

I love To See The Temple, I Went There Yesterday...

It's true, I went through the temple yesterday for the first time. My first word of advice is to go with an open mind and be ready to feel the Spirit; because you will feel it like you have never felt it before. My second word of advice is to not let anyone tell you that you may not like it or might not want to go back! 
Do.not.listen.to.them. 
If you go with the mindset that you might not like it, then you will most likely end up believing that you, in fact, don't like it. I was told that I might not like it, but that I needed to have an open mind so I would want to return. The day I went through I fasted and prayed that I would have an open mind AND that I would like receiving my endowment. The Lord hears and answers your prayers. I ended up loving everything that I did/learned, and it's true...there is no possible way to understand most of what is going on, so that is why you need to go back! I can't wait to go back and be inside those walls again. I love the Spirit I feel, the people who are around me, and I love being worthy enough to enter. I have a deeper appreciation for my family and for this gospel. One of my favorite things about going through for the first time was having everyone I love be there with me. I remember walking through the temple up to where the session was held and seeing my family along the way. Since I was receiving my own endowment I was allowed into the room first. While I was walking I saw my grandparents, my aunt and uncle, my two best friends, and my brother. They were just standing there, letting me walk past...but they had this smile, I remember them all having the same smile. It was just a smile of understanding; that they knew something I didn't, but we're so excited for me to gain that knowledge. It's hard to explain, but I will never forget how that moment made me feel. The temple truly is the House of the Lord. 


"Attend the temple. You will be blessed for so doing. Every man or woman who goes 
into the house of the Lord leaves there a better man or woman than he or she was 
when he or she entered the house of the Lord. The house of the Lord will have a 
refining effect upon you. It will cultivate unselfishness within your lives. It will build 
righteousness. It will impress upon you the importance of doing what you ought to do. 
Go to the house of the Lord"
-Gordon B. Hinckley

Spotlight #1

I promised I would spotlight missionaries on this blog (fellas that means you too). If you want to be spotlighted, just let me know! Leave a comment in the box below. Here is our first wonderful sister missionary. I chose this particular sister because she spotlights missionaries on her blog as well, and I thought it would be fun to spotlight the missionary who usually does the spotlighting (if that makes sense). 

 Kira Lynn Anjewierden:

Going to the Belgium/Netherlands mission! She reports March 20th to the Provo MTC, and will be speaking Dutch!

1. Did the mission age change affect you?
The age change did affect me! I turned 19 a month after the announcement. It didn't affect my desire to go - I've always wanted to go - but it made it so that I could serve sooner!

2. What do you know about your mission?
That's an interesting question, actually! My dad's family is from the Netherlands, so I know quite a bit! I even knew a few words of Dutch even before I got my call. Anyway, there are the obvious things (windmills, wooden shoes, dikes, tulips, bikes, and the absolute sketchiness of Amsterdam, haha), but I know a lot of the old Dutch traditions. For instance, they celebrate Christmas on December 5th, and Santa Claus is Sinterklaas, who comes with his assistant Zwarte Piet (Black Pete) in a horse-drawn sleigh! You leave carrots for his horses in your wooden shoes and he leaves you treats.  
Geographically, I know that my mission is pretty tiny! It's about 21,925 sq miles (~35,285 km²) - to put that in perspective, Utah is 84,900 sq miles (219,900 km²)! Crazy, right?! If I were to drive straight down from the top of the Netherlands to the end of my mission, halfway into Belgium, it'd probably take 2 - 3 hours. It takes longer than that to get to St. George from where I live in Bountiful!

3. Why did you decide to serve a mission?
I decided to serve a mission for several reasons. Honestly, I've wanted to serve ever since I can remember, but I'm sure it started out as "oh, that sounds like an adventure!"
As I grew up, different experiences shaped me, my testimony, and with them, my desire to serve. One big thing was an older friend I had who I always really looked up to. She got her call when I was 12 or 13 to the Spain Madrid Mission. We wrote back and forth a couple of times, and the testimony that she bore to me of missionary work really strengthened my own.
In the end, the reason I'm serving is this - I am so grateful for Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life, and I cannot bear to think that there are people out there who cannot partake in its blessings simply because they don't know about them! I may not know the people I will serve in Belgium and the Netherlands, but I feel this great love for them already - it makes me feel like maybe I'm feeling some of what our Father in Heaven and our Savior feel for them. I'm serving to help the work move along, and to bring the most important message there is to others!

4. What have you been doing to prepare for your mission?

Well, in some ways I've been preparing my whole life - striving to keep God's commandments and follow Jesus' example, which always lead to me gaining a stronger testimony that what I'm doing is right. But right now, I'm preparing by working a temp job to get some money so I can buy the things on my suuuper extensive packing list (haha), sharing my testimony as often as possible, reading Preach My Gospel (I need to be better at that, really. I don't read it often enough!), praying for help in preparation, serving those around me (mostly my family), and reading from the Book of Mormon at least 30 minutes daily!

Learn more about Sister Anjewierden by visiting her blog: http://zusterkira.blogspot.com/2013/01/why-im-serving.html 

Am I Prepared To Go?

Call in hand, taking a stand

Am I prepared to go?

No.

Acceptance letter sent, money's being spent

Hundred eight days left, not excited yet

Am I prepared to go?

No.

Found good walking shoes, scriptures are in use

Mission prep commission, leave that special 'friend' a wishin

Six-thirty a.m. arise, Ten-Thirty p.m's a time you despise

Am I prepared to go?

No. 

You've been congratulated, starting to feel elated

Fifty days are coming fast, how many days have really past?

Teach a lesson here or there, praying almost everywhere

Meet the Bishop and Stake President, now you're feeling somewhat spent

Am I prepared to go?

No.

Holding the recommend gold and white, going through the temple tonight

Look around the gorgeous room, family beaming up at you

Fifteen days are around the corner, you have your stuff all in order

Suitcases are being packed, three sets of scriptures are being stacked 

Last night in your own bed, a thousand thoughts running through your head

Am I prepared to go?

Almost.

You crawl out of bed onto the ground, and do your best not to make a sound

You bow your head and close your eyes, but in the next room your mother cries

For while you pray she prays also, to Heavenly Father whom you will follow

"Lord protect my child and let them know, that we will love them no matter where they go

Days will be hard but they'll feel our love, and know you're watching from above"

Up the next morning saying goodbyes, take one last look into your mother's eyes

You ask the question you've asked before, Mother, am I finally prepared to go?

Yes. 

This is just a little poem I came up with today. It's just to show how much our mothers' love us and will miss us, and also how much they are rooting for us.