Blog Archives

Songs for the Sabbath- I Am Here

10/23/2016

Once again, my mom has inspired me. This is not anything new. My mom inspires me all the time because she is my mom and I love her and am grateful for her. This particular inspiration came from her posting today's song on Facebook. It is incredible and I would have had tears flowing down my face if my anti-anxiety med did not prevent me from shedding tears. (I am not entirely sure that it does prevent me from crying, but I have definitely noticed a lack of tears since I have been taking the med.) But that's beside the point.

This song is incredible and powerful. Period.

I Am Here- The Bonner Family

Why Do I Need God in my Life?

I need God in my life because He is everything. I would be nothing without Him. I was created in His image. He is the Father of my Spirit and I am His daughter. He loves me and not only that, but He loves me perfectly, with a love that I cannot even comprehend. He gave me His perfect Son, Jesus Christ, who atoned for my sins and died for me so that I could repent of my mistakes and return to live in God's presence as a clean and perfected being.

I need God in my life because life is hard. I cannot imagine going through the hard things in this life without being able to rely on Him for help and guidance. He has blessed me with the knowledge of His great plan of salvation in which I know that I lived with Him before this life and that I will return to live with Him again. Having this knowledge helps me through the difficult days of life.

I need God in my life because He is God, my Heavenly Father
and I am His.

"In the wake of our earthly struggles,
we look to the Lord for guidance and grace."
-The Bonner Family

Survivor Sister Scoop- First Descents & Image Reborn

10/19/2016

Hey there! I am posting this a bit late in the day, but the busy schedule of a college-going, temple-going, mother of 4 just did not allow for me to write anything sooner.

I want to focus on two Ah-mazing organizations today, both of which have helped my own healing process immensely.

First Descents

I have written so much about my experience with First Descents that I don't really know how much more I can say. I am including a couple of links to past blog posts so you can read them if you want to understand why I support this organization and am so grateful for all of the good things they are doing.

Past Posts:
First Descents
Reunited and it Feels so Good
Chicago, We Love You!

Here is a video that will further explain what First Descents is all about
and how it got started.

Click here if you would like to donate to FD

Image Reborn Foundation

Here is another phenomenal foundation that is doing wonderful things for women who are fighting or who have fought a battle with breast cancer. Image Reborn provides free weekend getaways to breast cancer patients/survivors. During these weekends there is a lot of laughter, pampering, food, and healing that takes place. It is so wonderful to be with women who "get it." Women who know can help you feel less crazy and more like a normal human being who just happens to have breast cancer. Here is a link to my blog post about my weekend with Image Reborn.

Image Reborn Retreat

For more information about Image Reborn, watch this video.

Click here if you would like to donate to Image Reborn

You Can Do Hard Things- Jennie Allen

10/18/2016

It's Back! Your favorite blog series (and mine.)

Oh my goodness! I have missed this blog series so much! I don't know if it is just that writing about challenging experiences is extremely difficult or it's not the right time to share those experiences or what, but my contributors pile for this series has hit a dry run. But for today, it's back and I couldn't be more excited to share another story of hope, faith, and the power of a human who can do hard things.

My guest blogger for today's post is my good friend, Jennie Allen. Our daughters are joined at the hip and we benefit from their relationship because Jennie and I get to be friends as well. :) I have known little tidbits of Jennie's story that she has shared with me here and there, but last week, she shared a huge portion of her journey on her Facebook page and I knew that it was a story that needed to be shared. Jennie is a survivor of Domestic Violence.

Along with being Breast Cancer Awareness month, October is also National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. So add some purple ribbons to the pink ones that you may be wearing. It's an important issue to be made aware of. For current domestic violence statistics, you can click here.

I Can Do Hard Things- Jennie Allen

This is my story-
(Feeling the importance of this month I wish to share a outline of my story saving much detail but wanting to share just enough so other survivors know they are not alone and justice can be served)

I remember trying to catch myself as my limp body slid down the back of his green T-bird car.

I kept trying to see through this cloud of mist in front of me as I grasped at the air trying to catch myself. It was only after hitting the ground that I realized that the cloud in front of me was my frantic breath painting the cold damp air. As I laid in utter shock on the parking lot asphalt, I recognized that the ringing in my ear and screaming pain pulsing through the left side of my face wasn't from the harsh contact my head had just made with the pavement. No, the stinging and burning was from his angry clenched fist; the fist that was made from the hand of my high school sweet heart. This was the first time he had ever hit me and it would not be the last.

I endured countless apologies and mountains of "I am sorry's". He poured out tears of grief and sorrow and begged me to stay. He said he would die without me and if I ever left him he would have no purpose. Roses, gifts and loving gestures soon turned into threatening words and violent gestures.

"I love you"
"You need me"
"You're nothing without me"
"If you ever left me I would kill you"

Over time when children were in the picture, he also threatened their lives if I ever defied him. I still to this day have a hard time telling anyone about the amount of abuse that was endured.

But even through the darkest days, I believe with all my heart that Heavenly Father was watching over us. I often looked back to the times when I was young singing "Families Can be Together Forever" in Primary. My heart ached because I wanted nothing more then to have a forever family and escape this abuse from my husband. My soul yearned that he would have a change of heart. I thought that maybe if I just tried a little harder to be a little better he would somehow become better and less hurtful.

That is what the trauma of domestic violence can do. Twist things of the heart.

However, no matter how hard I prayed, I knew he wasn't going to change.

After six years of manipulation, control, and physical, emotional and spiritual torment from my ex-husband's hands, God blessed me with the opportunity to escape safely with my four children and start a new life.

The night we escaped I can remember so clearly.
It was one of those "walk on egg shells" kind of night. He was getting worked up and the tension in the air was becoming more and more noticeable. It always seemed like the smallest things could set him off. Tonight was just one of those nights. It escalated to the extreme and his temper exploded.

It happened so quickly. He began to shove, then push, then pull me. This whole time I was holding my youngest daughter in my arms. I knew it wasn't going to end well. I ran and quickly hid the children one by one to their "safe spots" as we called them. Sadly, they always knew what to do when daddy was mad. I ran into my bedroom with my youngest still in my arms, and locked the door. I was praying and pleading for a way out. I knew that we couldn't bear another night; another struggle to survive. I knelt down and prayed as he pounded on the door, shouting to me to let him in or he would hurt me and the baby.

And that's when I saw it. The phone.

He was always very controlling and by this time, he had successfully led us away from even the rarest of contact with family and friends. He had even taken all phone access away and always carried it with him where ever he went. So seeing the phone on the floor was a miracle. I knew that this was entirely the work of angels.

I quickly grabbed the phone and started to dial 9-1-1, but stopped in paralyzing fear of what he would do if I did what I was about to do. Then suddenly over the pounding and yelling I heard a very small but firm voice.

"Call. Call now. Before it's too late."

I squeezed the phone between both of my hands and heard the cracking of wood on the frame of the door that was beginning to give way. He was kicking the door in. I was panicked and stuck in overwhelming fear.

Then I felt a hand in my shoulder and the voice again tell me.
"Call. It is time. You will be safe."

So I called. I gave the 9-1-1 operator our address. A few weeks later, I had the opportunity to listen to that 9-1-1 call on tape and I couldn't even recognize my own voice. What I heard was me screaming the address. Then I heard my screams disappearing. It was at that point that he was dragging me by the hair from the bedroom to the front room with my daughter still clinging to me. He dropped me to the floor and ran back to the room, returning with the phone in his hand. He stood in fear and then smashed the phone yelling at me, "What have you done to this family!?"

I curled up in fear thinking the worst was about to happen, but instead he grabbed the car keys and fled. Moments later the police showed up and after documents were written and pictures were taken, we were escorted off the property in safety.

It had come to my attention sometime later that at some point during that horrific day, he had moved his guns to the bedroom. I feel very strongly that if I had not acted on that prompting to call 9-1-1, my children and I would not be here right now. We would in fact be, just another statistic in domestic violence deaths. I am sorry if this is hard to read. It is hard to write. But that's the reality of it. It's not pretty. Domestic violence is very dark. But yet, there can be light, there can be hope, there can be life after this type of darkness, and there can be love experienced that is truly the kind of love you deserve.

With much love and support from amazing family and friends my children and I were on to a road to heal. Putting my heart and soul into helping my kids heal was my main goal. My children were receiving therapy, making new friends, and being able to be kids again. I was going to college and pursing my nursing degree, working full time, and helping others in my church and community. I felt so blessed every moment of every day to have just that...another day. I cannot tell you how strong my children were and are to have come through such a storm and be the amazing human beings that they are.

The first photo taken after being able to escape

It was almost a year after my divorce was final with protective and restraining orders in place, when my ex husband came back and tried to take (in his words) "what was his". He knew I was trying to start anew, and he wanted to destroy what was precious to me (and threatening him)....my spirit.

He came into my home and attacked and raped me.

In 2009, after 3 years of court hearings, tears and endless hours on the stand testifying with him sitting there in front of me, he was finally convicted of 1st degree felony Rape and Domestic Violence. He is currently serving his 7th year in prison at this time.

Sharing my story is not easy. Even 10 years after this horrific darkness in my life, I still struggle with PTSD, depression, social anxiety, panic attacks, triggers and more.

My children have struggled in their own ways and have thankfully had the support system they need to heal and just be kids again.
I want to thank my loving friends and family who saw me and my children through the storms for if it were not for your support and strength we would not be here, thriving.

To my best friend, my husband, Mark, thank you for your unconditional love. Thank you for showing me what a true gentleman looks like. Thank you for showing my boys how to be a good man and for showing my daughters how a woman deserves to be treated.

I have a testimony that God has each and every one of our names written on the palms of His hands and that He loves each of us so much. I knew, even in the darkest times, that we were and are never forgotten.

Will there be more dark times ahead? Yes. More trials to face more mountains to climb? Yes. But they aren't there to punish us or to hurt us, but to help us. And hopefully because of our experiences we can help others. Each of us was sent here for a purpose. .

I wish to shine a light on Domestic Violence awareness. A light to give you hope that you can heal even though it may take some time. You can see justice being served but you have to fight. You can find yourself after the storm, just love yourself.

You can get out!
Have courage!
Don't ever give up!

Jennie, Mark, and their family 2015

For more information regarding Domestic Violence, check out these websites...

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Utah Domestic Violence Coalition

Rape Recovery Center

National Network to End Domestic Violence

Jennie, thank you so much for sharing your story with us. I feel so blessed to call you my friend and I am grateful for the testimony that you have shared today. xoxo

Des Goes to School- Finding Myself

10/17/2016

This week was an interesting one for me. I spent most of the week battling a nasty cold and am currently not able to talk (which my family has no complaints about.) I also had the opportunity to be one of the Lead Students at our Pathway gathering on Thursday, which I was very excited about. Although I had little energy, I was determined to fill my brain with all the knowledge that I could so that I could be prepared to lead the discussion for our Religion class. The topic was a great one and there was no way that I was going to let a cold stop me from leading a discussion about the one person that I love the very most...my Savior, Jesus Christ.

I know what you are thinking.
"Desirae? Talk about Christ? Never."
Ya. Did you catch the sarcasm in that?
I love, love, triple love to talk about Jesus Christ and I make no apologies for that.

What I learned this week about my Savior...

As I went through the assignments and the lead student study guide this week, I felt my heart singing. It was so wonderful to be immersed in scriptures, quotes, and videos that were focused on the Savior and his Atonement. I feel that it really made my week go more smoothly, even though I was dragging myself to every appointment and responsibility that I had.

The Atonement of Christ is everything.

It simply is. Your relationship with Jesus Christ is THE most important relationship you will ever have. He is your older brother who loves you so much that he bled from every pore and suffered on the cross FOR YOU. He did those things so that you can be perfected in Him. We are flawed human beings so there is no way for us to live with God forever because "no unclean thing can dwell with God" (1 Nephi 10:21) But God wants us to be able to live with Him forever so He provided a way for us to be perfected. That way is only through the help of our Savior.

In my General Studies class, I was able to research programs, degrees, and careers so that I will be able hopefully choose the right path for me. I have been leaning towards a Bachelor's degree in Communication with some emphasis on Family Studies. As I have researched these degrees this week, I am feeling more confident that this is the path that I need to be on. I am not looking to find a new job or anything like that. What I am looking for is a way for me to be able to be a better public speaker, and learn more about how our brains work as individuals and in relationships. Both of these goals will help me in achieving my one main goal in life...to help as many people as I can. That's why I am here. That is why God has so graciously blessed me with more time here on earth and if I only had one more day, 6 more months, or 70 more years, I would spend every second of that time in trying to achieve this goal of sharing God's grace and love to everyone I can.

This week has been a week of true discovery for me. I have discovered myself through my study of Christ's Atonement and you can too.

Songs for the Sabbath- Broken

10/16/2016

Have you ever felt broken?

If you answered yes to that question, then you are a normal human being. We have all felt broken at one time or another. I know this because none of us are perfect and it is part of the great plan of happiness for us to have this mortal experience which includes times of brokenness.

So why is God's plan often referred to as the "plan of happiness" if we spend so much of our time being broken? How can we find joy in this journey when our spirit is crushed and it is taking every ounce of strength left just to breathe?

It's because we have a God who loves broken things.
A God who suffered and died for us so that our brokenness can be mended.

Photo cred: lds.org

Today's song was written by Kenneth Cope and that is the version that I will post first. But there is another cover of the song that I really love. It is by Calee Reed and I found a little snippet of it from one of her Time Out for Women talks. It does not include the full song, but I want to post the video because of the words that Calee shares before she sings the song. Her testimony of a God who loves broken things is powerful and I am grateful that she shared some of her brokenness.

We can learn from and gain strength from sharing our brokenness with others. It's one of the reasons we have those experiences in our lives. We are here to help and lift one another. Sometimes we are the strong ones doing the lifting and other times we are the broken ones who need lifting.

Broken- Kenneth Cope

Belonging and Broken Things- Calee Reed

Photo cred: Pixabay

Survivor Sister Scoop- Little Pink Houses of Hope

10/12/2016

I literally know nothing.

I know nothing about what it feels like to be a Stage IV cancer patient.

I know nothing about what it takes to live knowing that the treatments that you are enduring are there to just maintain your disease, not cure it.

But I have friends who know exactly what it feels like because they are there and my heart breaks for them. They are constantly on my mind and in my prayers and I am always looking for organizations and foundations that are geared to helping them. They cannot be forgotten. They need us and we need them.

We need them to remind us that life is a precious gift. Don't waste it. Don't spend it arguing on Facebook about something that someone said that you happen to not believe or agree with. Don't waste it yelling at that slow driver (or the drivers who don't use their blinkers. :/) Don't ignore the ones who mean the most to you because you just have to finish one more episode of the show that you are binge watching on Netflix.

Life is way too short, my friends. Way too short and there are more important things in this life than the negativity that fills our newsfeed every day.

The organization I want to highlight today is one that fills my heart with joy. I had not heard about it until my friend, Tia, told me that she was going to go on a retreat through the "Little Pink Houses of Hope." I was so excited for her and her cute family and I know that they had an amazing week together. Watch the following video to learn a little more about the foundation and what they do for Stage IV Breast Cancer patients and their families.

Little Pink Hope and Family: The impact of a LPHOH retreat week from Jeanine Patten-Coble on Vimeo.

Click here to go to the "Little Pink Houses of Hope" to learn more or make a contribution.

Des Goes To School- Stand Firmly & Speak with Faith

10/10/2016

This was one of my favorite weeks of school. It seems to be getting a little bit easier as the days roll on. I am able to do my assignments faster and am feeling like my old study habits have collided with the new ones I have been learning and I have settled into a good routine.

In my General Studies class this week, the lesson was entitled "Lifelong Learning." That's what I really love about this class. It's not only teaching me how to be a good student while in school, but helping me to be a lifelong student of learning.

In an article by Henry B. Eyring, he stated 3 Attitudes of Lifelong Learners:

1. You are a child of God and as a child of God there is no limit to your potential learning. If you work hard enough and are faithful, you can become like Him and you can learn whatever He would have you learn.

2. Childlike humility is the key to being teachable. When you recognize how great God is and how small you are, it is easy to admit what you do not know. Humble=teachable.

3. Living a clean life will allow the Holy Ghost to confirm truth and expand your learning of it.

We also learned about how to use media in a helpful and appropriate manner. In a talk entitled "Things As They Really Are", Elder David A. Bednar suggested that you ask yourself these two questions to evaluate the place that media has in your life.

1. Does (the media you are using) invite or impede the Holy Ghost?

2. Does it enlarge or restrict your capacity to live, to love, and to serve?

Definitely gives you something to think about, right? I loved this talk the first time I heard Elder Bednar give it, but one quote really jumped out at me this time.

"To be encircled about in the arms of His (the Savior's) love will be a REAL and not a virtual experience."
-David A. Bednar

In reference to how to use media in a helpful and appropriate manner, we read a talk given by M. Russell Ballard. In that talk he gave a lot of great advice, but what it came down to for me is what I have chosen as the title of this post.

Stand Firmly & Speak with Faith

This is my goal with my media use. I am not perfect at it, but I am trying. Sometimes frustration gets the best of me and I post silly videos like my "Let's all learn how to use a blinker" PSA. (Although that was just being helpful in a sarcastic way.) But overall, my intent is to spread goodness, love, kindness, and most of all, testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

In my Religion class, we talked about the Creation, the Fall of Adam & Eve, and the Natural Man. Did you know that "the Fall" is probably one of the most misunderstood doctrines in Christianity? But in order for us to fully appreciate why we need a Savior, it is imperative that we understand the Fall.

Here's what the Holy Spirit taught me about the Fall of Adam & Eve this week.,,

*Some people say that Eve must not have been very smart because she was so easily "tricked" by Satan. I don't think this is the case at all. I think Adam and Eve were a lot like men and women are today. Eve was a "big picture" thinker. She was a planner- looking ahead- keeping the eternal perspective in mind. As she pondered all of the commandments God had given them, she realized that the only way to truly keep all of the commandments was to partake of the fruit. Satan's beguiling just helped her along the path to that discovery. I admire her for her courage and strength. On the flip side, Adam was just taking things one at a time. God told him what he needed to do and he was going to do everything in order, and probably one at a time; not by multi-tasking. (Remember, this is all the gospel according to Des and I have tried to explain it as I learned it.)

*Here is an interesting thought to ponder. Why was Adam so quick to say, "Eve did it first?" Have you ever thought about that? That question was brought up in my class and I love where the discussion went with that question. It was brought up that Adam had been walking and talking with God for a while before Eve was created. He had a deep and personal relationship with God. He also was the patriarch in the situation and had the priesthood authority. So when God asked what they had been doing, Adam answered first because of that line of authority and the honest relationship he had with God. Also, he wasn't throwing Eve under the bus. He was just stating the facts. What we have to remember here, is that Adam and Eve didn't have all of the distractions that we have now. Their thinking and knowledge was simple and pure. (Again, the gospel according to Des here.)

So why do we need a Savior?

Because of the Fall, we are subject to Satan unless we actively do something about it. Because of the Fall we became a lost and fallen people subject to death; therefore we need a mediator, a Savior, someone who can help us overcome that fallen state. That person is the Lord, Jesus Christ. It is only through Him that we will be able to overcome Satan. If we choose to follow Him, repent, and keep His commandments, we will have that chance for redemption that our Spirits long for.

So there you go. A week's worth of two classes in one (lengthy) blog post. I do have a lot more that was crammed into my brain, but either I am still processing it or my Nyquil has kicked in. (Feeling a cold coming on. Boo.) Either way, it is time for me to call it a night. Until next time...happy lifelong learning everyone!

Just in case you are curious...

Songs for the Sabbath- Gethsemane

10/9/2016

This song.

Written by the talented Paul Cardall and sung by the incredible Nathan Pacheco.

Break out the tissue boxes and have a listen.

Gethsemane- Paul Cardall and Nathan Pacheco

Where there's love
there is peace,
there is hope,
and there's relief.

Where there's faith
there is a power
that you'll discover
as you choose to act and trust I know the way.

When you're lost
I will find you!
I will heal you!
I'll bind up your wounds and give you rest.

Lift up your eyes to heaven
and abandon all your sins that hold you down.
Put aside your broken crown.
You're a child of God.
A child of light.
A precious soul who has hope within your eyes.

Come with me.
Follow me
where there's love!

All alone
by a tree
in Gethsemane
you came to me.

God is kind.
He is forgiving.
Our Father's waiting.
We are waiting for you to come home
where there's love.
Where there's love.

Our Savior is love and man, do we need more love in this world or what? Everywhere you turn you hear of evil things, contentious things, horrible things. But I promise you, there is still love in this world. There is still goodness and hope. It is found in following the Savior of the world.

Our Savior lives. He loves us. He invites each one of us to come to Him, to know Him, to find rest in Him. Will you do that? Have you done that? Your relationship with the Son of God is the most important relationship you will ever have. It is only through Him that we will find everlasting joy, peace, and happiness. This world in and of itself cannot offer us those things; not in an eternal sense anyway.

Only our Savior can...only YOUR Savior can, and He is yours.

Trust in Him.
Follow Him.
Love Him.

Survivor Sister Scoop- It's Pinktober, Now What?

10/5/2016

Well my friends, it's here once again. That beautiful time of year when the leaves burst into radiant hues of red, yellow, and gold. The time when the air gets a chill and the delicious aroma of spiced apples and pumpkins emanate from our homes. The sight of sweaters makes you give a little squeal of joy (until you remember that you can't wear sweaters anymore because your hot flashes would kill you.) Then, just when you think, "Oh glorious October, how I love thee!", the wave slams you in the face.

What is this wave I am referring to?
The tidal wave of pink ribbons, bracelets, shirts, hats, cups, food, socks, hair ties, (Really? Hair ties? Thank you for reminding all of the bald breast cancer patients that they can't wear hair ties) the list could literally go on for days. So much pink and so many places saying, "Buy this and we will donate 10% of the net proceeds to breast cancer research!" "Buy this and feel good because you are helping a breast cancer patient!"

Now before you think that I hate pink (and I don't), I just want to quickly recap what pink has meant to me on my own personal breast cancer journey. In the beginning, pink was everything. I encouraged my family and friends to wear pink on my surgery days or chemo days because it gave me strength. I was overwhelmed with their response and felt that it was the only thing that carried me through some of those days. The color pink united us and helped us all to be strong. To this day I know that the color pink serves as a reminder to many of my family and friends of the journey that we went through together and that, my friends, is awesome.

As my journey has progressed and I no longer have cancer roaming around in my body, I have talked with other breast cancer patients who are living with the disease day in and day out, and my view of pink has evolved.

For these survivor sisters, the color pink often means that they feel forgotten; that all of the pink ribbons, clothes, you name it, are for those who, for the moment, do not know with absolute certainty that this disease will take their lives. This sea of pink can be a blaring foghorn in their face, reminding them (although they need no reminders) that breast cancer is everywhere.

So what do I do? How can I help?

The pink is not going away, nor should it. I wish that it wasn't some gimmick that companies use just to sell more items, but there is nothing that this breast cancer survivor can do about that, so what can I do? Well, I can make sure that the money that I donate goes to organizations who are making an actual difference in the lives of women living with breast cancer. I can offer assistance and love to my friends who live with this disease. I can encourage women to know and listen to their bodies, to see their doctors for regular check-ups, and to get yearly mammograms. But most importantly for me, is that I am there for people who need a friend, someone who has "been there, done that." In my life as a survivor, that is a responsibility that I don't take lightly. I appreciate the wonderful women who took time out of their busy lives to share tips, tricks, and tears with me and now I strive to do the same.

Whether or not you have had breast cancer, you can still be there for people. You can still hold their hand and say, "I'm sorry. What can I do to help you?" If you choose to donate money, you can donate it to organizations who are really striving to eradicate this disease and who are researching how to help women who are living with the disease. My plan for this month is to highlight a different organization every week. These organizations that I have chosen are ones that I feel are truly using the money they are raising where it counts the most.

The Side-Out Foundation

I first heard of this foundation last month when Emma's volleyball team sponsored a fundraiser. As I looked more into it, I really liked what I saw.

Combining volleyball and research for Stage IV patients? Genius! I love this foundation and have added it to my list of places that use the money that they earn where it counts.

Links to other posts you might like...

Beyond the Pink

The Power of Pink

All You Need is Love

Des Goes to School- Note Taking, Discipleship, and Covenants, Oh My!

10/4/2016

I have always been a big note-taker. Conferences, classes, workshops, you name it.
I have probably taken notes for it.

Moment of truth time...I love to see my handwriting scrawled across sheets of paper. Weird? Maybe.
But that's how I roll.

So when I read the objectives for Lesson 3 in my GS class and it said, "Establish effective note-taking skills" I thought to myself, "Oh, piece of cake lesson! I've got this."

When am I ever going to learn that I know nothing?

Although there is really nothing wrong with the way that I have been taking notes, I learned another method that will definitely be more efficient for certain areas of my studies. It's called the Cornell Note Taking method. Ever heard of it? Me neither, but I am here to tell you, it is fabulous. If you are interested in seeing what this method is, I have included a template that you can download that will give you the basic idea of the concept.

cornell_note-taking_system.pdf
File Size:	69 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

As I mentioned before, I don't think that I will use this method for every instance when I need to take notes, but it will definitely be beneficial when I have things that I need to study for. It is a great way to keep your notes organized and find information quickly.

Another thing that we talked about this week was "Disciple Prep Centers" and how BYU-I is a place where we can prepare and learn how to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ.

"Discipleship demands the total transformation of a person by putting off the natural man and becoming a Saint through the Atonement." -David A. Bednar

There are three essential lessons to be learned @ BYU-I
1. Have faith that is focused on the Son of God.
2. Faith in the Savior is a spiritual gift. We must seek after faith.
3. Faith in the Savior and spiritual preparation dispel fear.

I am looking forward to my time at BYU-I and am excited about the opportunities it will provide me to not only learn secular information, but will increase my spiritual knowledge as well.

In my religion class we talked about the promises of the Lord. Where can we find promises from the Lord? In the Book of Mormon and the Bible. The Lord has promised us many things and He will keep those promises as we strive to keep promises that we have made with him.

How important is it to keep covenants that you make with God?

Well, I don't know, how important is it for your heart to keep beating or your lungs to keep breathing air? Keeping covenants with God is no different. It is essential to your spiritual survival.

Doctrine & Covenants Section 104:5-6
For I, the Lord, have decreed in my heart, that inasmuch as any man belonging to the order shall be found a
transgressor, or, in other words, shall break the covenant with which ye are bound, he shall be cursed in his life, and shall be trodden down by whom I will;
For I, the Lord, am not to be mocked in these things--

Breaking a covenant with God is a serious matter and if you think that it is not as serious as I am making it out to be, maybe you should get on your knees and ask God how serious He thinks it is.

Pslams 89:28
My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.

God will keep His end of the bargain. Can He say the same about you?

Yowza! Sorry to get so deep and "hellfire and damnation" on you, but guys...you have to keep your covenants with God! He is, well...he's God. You cannot fool Him. He knows your heart and He knows your circumstances. Trust in Him. Trust in the covenants that you have made with Him. Focus on those covenants when the distractions and pretty things from the world come into your path. God's covenants will keep you safe. I not only believe this with all of my heart, but I know this with all of my heart because I have seen and felt the power of covenants in my life. I cannot deny the power that is in the covenants that we make with God in the holy temple. They are real and they are powerful.

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