(20) - Peace I Leave With You My Friend

This is it guys.  The last post that I'll be adding to this blog that will add to my overall grade in this class.  I'll tell you what, it has been very enjoyable being able to blog and throw my ideas out on the table for all to see.  Pretty neat, not going to lie.  I have learned so much as well.  This past semester truly has been a constructive one.  I have been able to progress in my overall journey to excellence.  I've made mistakes, that's for sure, but I have also picked myself up and continued forward.  I love it down here at BYU.  It truly is the "Lord's school."  I have had many spiritual experiences and I have been blessed on a daily basis being here.  I guess it's a good thing that I still have many years ahead of me to enjoy and experience.  I know that even though for now it is goodbye, I'll be back.  At moments like these I am reminded of our senior choir song called "Peace I Leave."  The lyrics go:

Peace I leave with you, my friends:
Shalom my peace, in all you do.
Peace I leave with you, my friends,
I give to you, so you can give to others, too.

To share God's love is why I came,
To show God's kindness to the world
Go now my friends and do the same,
Until I come again...

Take my hand and be at peace,
The spirit of our love I send;
And with this love you will be free,
Until I come again...

With this love you all will know,
That loneliness is at an end,
Rejoice my people though I go
For I will come again...

That's how I feel.  I know that it's only "see you later," not "goodbye."  My peace I leave with you my friends.

(19) - The Cabin Blues

The family is probably the greatest aspect in my life.  For that reason I make sacrifices to spend as much time with them as possible.  For that reason I took this past weekend to drive 5 hours north to Idaho/Wyoming area to watch General Conference at our family cabin.  It was a great weekend, but very short.  I guess that's the reason why I'm sad to leave.  I'm getting packed up to depart from my family and I feel the "blues" setting in.  It's a weird feeling because I know I'm not leaving my family for good.  I know that it's not "good bye" rather "see you later."  Despite this fact I still get those feelings of melancholy.  I wish I could just spend my days on end with these great people that I call family.  I love them and cherish them.  Sometimes we fight, quarrel, and disagree but I care about them.  It's a great feeling to know that we will be able to spend eternity together (hopefully we won't disagree/fight as much during that time though. haha).  I know that the family can be together forever, and these precious moments that I have shared with them will never be forgotten.

(18) - It Takes A Village To Raise A Child

At this moment in time I am here with the family for conference weekend and I'm with all my siblings, their spouses, and their hoards of children.  I recently returned from a two year mission to the Dominican Republic.  While I was away two of my sisters and one sister-in-law gave birth to 3 little tykes.  Needless to say, I wasn't here for these three events and when I came home I was greeted by three new faces, and they were, in return, greeted by one as well.  There are 8 of them in total between my brothers and sisters, and I'll tell you what, they seem like an army of little men and women running around causing havoc.  If it's not cheerios on the ground getting smashed into the carpet, it's falling down the stairs and bonking their heads.  They are like a reality tv show.  Sometimes I feel overwhelmed and fed up with how much they annoy and overwhelm, but then I stand back and truly see how precious these little guys are.  They are gifts of god.  It generally takes a smile from their banana smeared faces to melt my heart.  They are little angels and give me a good laugh.  Now that I'm home I have more time to get to know these little guys and play with them.  Despite their constant annoyance I love my nieces and nephews and am glad to be their big "Uncle Sterling."

(17) - A Cookie and A Kiss (Conference Address)

On Saturday morning I had the great opportunity to listen to the General Conference of the Church. One of the first addressees was Boyd K Packer of the 12 apostles.  "The procreative powers of life are between a man and a woman." He stated.  I really was impressed by the words spoken.  

As a young man at Weber College he would visit his "would be wife" in one of her classes.  He'd wait outside for her and when she would come out she would give him a cookie and a kiss.  That is the recipe a happy marriage.

 

He addressed the importance of eternal marriage and how if we have faith in the Lord then we will fulfill our duty to join in the everlasting covenant of an eternal marriage.  In this world that we live in we have to prepare for this great covenant.  We are surrounded by so much filth that tries to confuse and lead us astray in our path to eternal life.  Such filth includes pornography, infidelity, and other common sins. But as sons and daughters of a loving heavenly father we are all given the great gift of the Atonement to be clean and move forward in life.  

I really was able to learn and gain from his words.  I know that we are challenged by the adversary on a daily basis.  But I also know that we can overcome him if we have faith in the Lord and if we have good works.  We truly are on the greatest team in this eternal battle.  We have the greatest leader.  Our lord and savior Jesus Christ.  If we follow Elder Packer's words to stay strong, follow God's plan, and repent, then we will be happy in this short mortal life and we will gain our eternal salvation.