I delight in America.

It started out like any other day. Ten years ago today.

It was a day never to be forgotten.

Every September 11th, I go through that day just, 10 years ago, in my head. The morning of September 11, 2011, I woke up never having heard the names "world trade tower" "osama bin laden" or even really the word "terrorist" for that matter. It was that day that my life, my generation was changed forever. The world has never been the same since then.

While most of those changes seem to be negative...some positive changes have also happened. Like what happened in this man's life and the change that happened in the hearts of people in Gander, and the change that has happened in my life.

I think its important to reflect and remember the feelings we each individually and collectively felt this very day just 10 years ago. Let us always remember that each day must be cherished!

For further enlightenment, read the On Faith section of the Washington Post, written by President Thomas S. Monson.

I delight in institute.

Tuesday night Old Testament Class. I look forward to it all day. The Old Testament seems to be becoming more "loveable" and personal to me all the time overall, its way less scary now. I love that tonight I got to share it with these amazing girls in my program as well. Added bonus! Some 'treasure nuggets' from class today seemed appropriate to share 1 because they apply to me personally and 2 because they seem to apply to a lot of people I have talked to lately. Not that any of those said people are necessarily readers of this blog--however, I feel life goes in trends and often what we need to hear is what someone else needs to hear as well. So here you have some things I learned:

• "Satan uses every possible device to degrade and enslave every soul. He attempts to distort and corrupt everything created for the good of man, sometimes by diluting that which is good, sometimes by camouflaging that which is evil. We generally think of Satan attacking us at our weakest spot. Elder Spencer W. Kimball of the Quorum of the Twelve described this technique when he said: “Lucifer and his followers know the habits, weaknesses, and vulnerable spots of everyone and take advantage of them to lead us to spiritual destruction” (The Miracle of Forgiveness, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1969, pp. 218–19).

  Like the fabled Achilles, who was immune to every lethal blow except to his heel, many of us have a special weakness that can be exploited to our spiritual downfall. For some, that weakness may be a taste for liquor, an unusual vulnerability to sexual temptation, or a susceptibility to compulsive gambling or reckless speculation. For others, it may be a craving for money or power. If we are wise, we will know our weaknesses, our spiritual Achilles’ heels, and fortify ourselves against temptations in those areas.

  But weakness is not our only vulnerability. Satan can also attack us where we think we are strong—in the very areas where we are proud of our strengths. He will approach us through the greatest talents and spiritual gifts we possess. If we are not wary, Satan can cause our spiritual downfall by corrupting us through our strengths as well as by exploiting our weaknesses." from here.

• "When we put God first in our lives, all things will fall into place or fall out of our lives." ----President Ezra Taft Benson
• 6 priorities (as quoted by 4 prophets...i'm working on acquiring the direct quotes but now to quote Elder Holland via Brother Line) 1. spiritual and physical self, 2. spouse (or searching for one), 3. children or family, 4. church calling, 5. profession/schooling, 6. civic duties.
• "Physical discipline is a sign of being spiritually clean." ----President Hinckley
• There is a 5 point rating scale for church buildings--a little ah-ha fact with temples being number 5.
• The best equation ever: ∞ +1=∞ and ∞+(-100)=∞. Christ's "infinite atonement" is the infinity (∞), I'm the 1. There is a reason we minister to the one.
• And finally...its about quality not quantity. Let us not be confused in this world of 'fast-food' and never ending to do lists. We must not concern ourselves so much with quantity...its all about the heart behind your actions. I forget that so easily!
• "The submission of one's will is placing on God's altar the only uniquely personal things one has to place there. The many other things we give are actually the things He has already given or loaned to us." ----Elder Neal A. Maxwell, "If Thou Endure It Well, p. 54.

I delight in fair journalism.

Pretty sure any Mormon (member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) could tell you that half of the news that flies around in the media about us...isn't true. There are a lot of misunderstandings about our history and our beliefs. Misunderstandings are common with many cultures, religions, etc. Therefore, I really and sincerely appreciate when researchers and newscasters do their homework, thus publishing truth, facts, as opposed to whatever misconception they're "certain" is true. Check out this study: Major New Study of Religion Has Much to Say About Mormons.