A quick review

Life is an adventure.  I’m going to start writing more regularly, but before I do I want to recap a little bit on the amazing experiences that this most recent chapter of my life has brought.

So in no particular order, in the last 5 years I’ve:

1. Met, dated, and married by incredible husband (this lead to other little adventures like moving to Salt Lake City, purchasing a car, and improving my cooking skills)

80s dancing!  Only time Jed has rocked this mustache

2. Ran my first half-marathon

3.      Enjoyed classes and deepened my understanding of gospel matters at the LDS institute

4.      Worked as a LEAP peer advisor, a technician at ARUP laboratory, and an assistant teacher at the JCC preschool and had eye-opening volunteer opportunities with the Welcome Baby program and Hser Ner Moo

5.     Began taking organ lessons and enjoyed teaching children new primary song as the primary music leader

6.     Learned to garden- and enjoyed some great produce

7.      Discovered a new favorite book: Anna Karenina

8.      Earned an undergraduate degree at the University of Utah (I've learned so much!)

9.      Went skydiving

10.    Traveled to Portland, Seattle, San Diego, Moab, Bear Lake, Jackson, and the Wind Rivers

It’s hard to believe that five years have already passed since I graduated high school- and here we are preparing for a baby to come in August!  I'm so grateful for the huge amount of support and love I've received from my family and friends- and very grateful for the new friends I've had the opportunity to meet. It’s been an incredible five years and I look forward to many more adventures in the future.  

Wearing Pants to Church

I believe in Christ.  I believe he lives and that he loves everyone.  His gospel is all about love; not an abstract love, but a love of God and love of every individual.  He truly is mindful of individuals and asks us to follow him. 

I want to share the gospel because I see how blessed my life is.  When I choose to trust Christ, he becomes my foundation and my strength on which I can rely.  This testimony helps me face challenges with hope and face success with humility.  He teaches me every day how I can be forgiving of my self and others, appreciate where I’m at in my development, and strive to be more patient, kind, loving and happy.  Life isn’t easy but I’m learning to appreciate the rough spots that give life added beauty and meaning.  The gospel of Jesus Christ makes my life rich- it adds value to my relationships and every day interactions with the world around me.

The scriptures state, “for this is my work and my glory- to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39) and also “men are that they might have joy” (2 Nephi 2:25).  I have not done enough to share the gospel, but I want to start, because I know that in this turbulent world I have peace and joy by following the Savior. 

Wearing pants to church is a small thing and I know I need to do more to share the gospel.  But I also know there are many women who leave the church because when they express feelings of or questions concerning inequality they receive glares and reprimands from other ward members rather than love and support in finding answers.  We are asked to sustain and follow our leaders, but we are not asked to do so blindly. We’re encouraged to ask questions, seek answers, and develop our testimony: “Therefore, ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (3 Nephi 27:29). 

I hope that by wearing pants today I’ll have the opportunity to support those women who struggle with questions surrounding the relationship between gender equality, gender roles, and church leadership; to show them that they aren’t alone and that they are welcome and wanted.    

             A note from my husband Jed: I am also wearing pants today, but I always wear pants to church. However, I am wearing a purple shirt. Purple was the color used by suffragists early in the 1900s when trying to obtain the right to vote for women. I support my wife and others who are expressing themselves in this way. I also believe in the gospel and this church and welcome everyone to join in its blessings.

Stimulate Students to Think

"It is imperative that we use our every capacity to stimulate students to think.  They must not be recording devices that play back information for a class discussion or test with little thought of future use.  When there is pondering and stimulation to incorporate a truth into life, it will be resident in the treasury of experience.  Then it can be drawn upon to help students make correct decisions for a worthy, successful life.  Ask carefully formulated questions that stimulate thought.  Even if the responses are not perfect, they will increase the probability that important lessons will be learned."

Elder Richard G. Scott, (2005), "To Understand and Live Truth", Address to CES Religious Educators

While Elder Scott was writing to religious educators, this is really important information for any and every teacher.  Why are students in school?  What are we teaching them that's worth the millions of dollars and hours that we put into the school system?  Our goal should be to teach students information that they can then use to enrich their lives.  This is true with both religious truths and educational truths- too many kids pass a math class but still struggle to balance a checkbook or calculate their mortgage payments, they pass health but it seems to have no effect on the choices they actually make. 

 We have a school system- this is really cool.  Children and teens in the United States are all getting the opportunity to spend 12 years in a classroom without having to pay for it- let's really teach them.  Elder Scott says that we need to "use our every capacity to stimulate students to think".  It wasn't until I was at college that I had a professor who took the time to teach us how important it is to ask questions.  I was so used to learning the answers, I hadn't stopped to think of questions.  Curiosity leads to discovery that is relevant and interesting- and because it's both relevant and interesting, we really learn.  I think this is something more adults would benefit from learning too- ask questions about the world around you and look for the answers.  And maybe, before you google it, think about what the answer could possibly be.

I'm just now discovering how much I learn from being wrong or unsure- and it's liberating.