Dear Family and Friends,
This week has been long and busy. But it has been good. I only have two more days of school and then it is Thanksgiving break! I am so excited.
It's gotten cold here and has snowed twice. It's never been a lot, but just enough to leave a thin layer of white on the ground. Everybody in my family knows what that means--Waffles Supreme! My family has a tradition that the first time the snow sticks, we make waffles and smother them with ice cream, chocolate sauce, and candy toppings. This tradition was a genius idea by my mother to get us excited about the snow and to stop the complaining. So, last night I had some friends over and we had our own little waffle supreme party. It was delicious and fun to share this tradition with my friends.
Today, I'm going to talk about traditions and share an analogy. Just like my family's waffle supreme tradition we all have traditions in our family that we love. They may be holiday traditions, birthday traditions, or just random family traditions. But they are important to us and we love them. These traditions are also fun to share because (I believe) it is a universal fact that it is enjoyable to share with others what we ourselves love.
The same applies with the Gospel. We have traditions in the Gospel of Christ that we love. Going to church and partaking of the sacrament, reading our scriptures, ward Christmas parties, etc. Some of them we love because of the Spirit we feel and the way that they uplift us. Others we love because they are fun and unite us. But all of them have one thing in common-they are fun to share! Although it is often terrifying to share the Gospel, anyone who has done it will admit that there was a joy to it. The Gospel is our most precious possession, and we should share it because every time we do others gain what we have without us loosing any!
So be proud of you family traditions and your Gospel traditions. And don't be afraid to share either!
Con amor,
S. Olsen
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Sunday, November 16, 2014
The Plan of Salvation
Dear family and friends,
This has been another hard week. There are only three weeks of school left in this semester so it's pretty busy! But that doesn't mean it was all bad.
I was on an intramural basketball team and we had our first championship game. In the championship games you play until you lose. Well, we lost our first championship game. In fact, the only game we ever one all season was when the other team forfeited because not one of them came. Although we never won a game, we won in other ways. I didn't know most of the team when we started, so I won some friendships. And all of us won memories. We worked hard and lots of our games were so close. We grew as a team, but more than anything we supported each other when we played well and when we played badly. And we had fun. So 10 years from now, when I think of my season on an intramural team, I won't remember that we never really won; I will remember how much fun we had!
This weekend was also really fun! We had the first basketball game of the season! The atmosphere at basketball games is one of my favorite things about BYU. There is just a rush of excitement and euphoria! We also went to the football game. We bundled up and tried as hard as we could to stay the whole game, but we ended up leaving 10 minutes or so into the third quarter. It was just soo cold. I'm cold just thinking about it.
As I mentioned, this week was also hard. I want to share with you all that even when we have hard times, we can learn from them, and there is still good to be seen.
This week, my bishop from my home ward passed away. He had been battling cancer for the past two years and he put up a really good fight. He was such an amazing man and such an influence to the youth, the ward, and so many others. My dad was in the bishopric with him and I remember hearing so many stories of his charity and his desire to give and help those in need. My bishop was so loving to all! Understandably, I've been sad this week. Death is hard. But the hardest part for me, is the sympathy I feel for his family. If his passing was hard for me, I could only imagine how hard it was and still is for his family. My heart and my prayers go out to them. I've been praying for them all week.
All of this sounds pretty sad and tragic, so where is the good? Through this experience I have gained a deeper understanding and testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Plan of Salvation. I was walking home from school, on the phone with my mom, when she told me the news. I got home, said goodbye to my mom, and ran to my room as the tears started to fall. I fell to my knees and thought I was going to start questioning why, and (for lack of a better word) start complaining. But I didn't. As I cried out to my Father in Heaven, I gave Him thanks. I thanked Him for His Son Jesus Christ and that He suffered for our sins and for our difficulties. I thanked God that Jesus Christ knows how we feel and I pleaded that He comfort those struggling with the loss of Bishop, but mostly that He bless Bishop's family with the calming and peaceful power of the Atonement. I then gave thanks for the Plan of Salvation. I told My God how grateful I was for His plan and that I had a knowledge of His plan. I gave thanks that families can be together forever and that we can return to our Heavenly Father. I cannot properly describe how I felt as I prayed with gratitude for the Atonement, and the Plan of Salvation. I think it was a feeling of joy more than anything. But there was definitely some peace and comfort mixed into it. It was a glorious feeling. I really felt God telling me that His plan was true.
Con amor,
S. Olsen
This has been another hard week. There are only three weeks of school left in this semester so it's pretty busy! But that doesn't mean it was all bad.
I was on an intramural basketball team and we had our first championship game. In the championship games you play until you lose. Well, we lost our first championship game. In fact, the only game we ever one all season was when the other team forfeited because not one of them came. Although we never won a game, we won in other ways. I didn't know most of the team when we started, so I won some friendships. And all of us won memories. We worked hard and lots of our games were so close. We grew as a team, but more than anything we supported each other when we played well and when we played badly. And we had fun. So 10 years from now, when I think of my season on an intramural team, I won't remember that we never really won; I will remember how much fun we had!
This weekend was also really fun! We had the first basketball game of the season! The atmosphere at basketball games is one of my favorite things about BYU. There is just a rush of excitement and euphoria! We also went to the football game. We bundled up and tried as hard as we could to stay the whole game, but we ended up leaving 10 minutes or so into the third quarter. It was just soo cold. I'm cold just thinking about it.
As I mentioned, this week was also hard. I want to share with you all that even when we have hard times, we can learn from them, and there is still good to be seen.
This week, my bishop from my home ward passed away. He had been battling cancer for the past two years and he put up a really good fight. He was such an amazing man and such an influence to the youth, the ward, and so many others. My dad was in the bishopric with him and I remember hearing so many stories of his charity and his desire to give and help those in need. My bishop was so loving to all! Understandably, I've been sad this week. Death is hard. But the hardest part for me, is the sympathy I feel for his family. If his passing was hard for me, I could only imagine how hard it was and still is for his family. My heart and my prayers go out to them. I've been praying for them all week.
All of this sounds pretty sad and tragic, so where is the good? Through this experience I have gained a deeper understanding and testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Plan of Salvation. I was walking home from school, on the phone with my mom, when she told me the news. I got home, said goodbye to my mom, and ran to my room as the tears started to fall. I fell to my knees and thought I was going to start questioning why, and (for lack of a better word) start complaining. But I didn't. As I cried out to my Father in Heaven, I gave Him thanks. I thanked Him for His Son Jesus Christ and that He suffered for our sins and for our difficulties. I thanked God that Jesus Christ knows how we feel and I pleaded that He comfort those struggling with the loss of Bishop, but mostly that He bless Bishop's family with the calming and peaceful power of the Atonement. I then gave thanks for the Plan of Salvation. I told My God how grateful I was for His plan and that I had a knowledge of His plan. I gave thanks that families can be together forever and that we can return to our Heavenly Father. I cannot properly describe how I felt as I prayed with gratitude for the Atonement, and the Plan of Salvation. I think it was a feeling of joy more than anything. But there was definitely some peace and comfort mixed into it. It was a glorious feeling. I really felt God telling me that His plan was true.
Con amor,
S. Olsen
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Apostles Live and Speak to us Today
Dear family and friends,
This has been a really good week. School was hard; I had a really big test. It was worth a third of my grade. But I studied really hard and did really well on it! I know God blesses me for my hard work. And He is with me and He helps me do more than I could ever do alone.
This week was a lot of work, but I got a lot done. Last week I had three tests, so only have one this week gave me time to have some fun and get other things done. I chose to write my term paper for my American Literature class on Little Women and I'm doing a project for my Spanish class about how the music of Spain influenced the music of the new world when they conquered territories there and how that influence is still seen today. It's pretty exciting (at least for me, I hope this is interesting to others too).
One highlight of my week was actually going on a run. I ran cross country all through high school and even though I hardly run now, I still love it. So, I haven't run in a really long time, being so busy with school. I was able to run 3 miles and it felt so good! And I felt accomplished. I also remember running and thinking: this is blog worthy. So there's that.
Today was a multi stake conference. Elder Ballard was the main speaker, but the whole conference was amazing. I am so grateful for living apostles and leaders of God's true church to lead and guide us. I was inspired and uplifted. Elder Ballard encouraged us to be our best and take time to reflect and personally interview ourselves to see how we are doing and where we can improve. He told us to ask ourselves, "Self, how am I doing?" He encouraged us to do the right thing and to do our best. He told us God only expected us to do our best. He also gave us some advice from "Grandpa Ballard." If anything, I felt his love as he spoke. He also told us to be our best beautiful selves and to let our eyes twinkle with the spirit. It was beautiful. He spoke for about 40 minutes, and I enjoyed it so much!
I know this church is true. I am so grateful for God's love and for the Atonement of His Son Jesus Christ. Make it a great week everyone!
Con amor,
S. Olsen
This has been a really good week. School was hard; I had a really big test. It was worth a third of my grade. But I studied really hard and did really well on it! I know God blesses me for my hard work. And He is with me and He helps me do more than I could ever do alone.
This week was a lot of work, but I got a lot done. Last week I had three tests, so only have one this week gave me time to have some fun and get other things done. I chose to write my term paper for my American Literature class on Little Women and I'm doing a project for my Spanish class about how the music of Spain influenced the music of the new world when they conquered territories there and how that influence is still seen today. It's pretty exciting (at least for me, I hope this is interesting to others too).
One highlight of my week was actually going on a run. I ran cross country all through high school and even though I hardly run now, I still love it. So, I haven't run in a really long time, being so busy with school. I was able to run 3 miles and it felt so good! And I felt accomplished. I also remember running and thinking: this is blog worthy. So there's that.
Today was a multi stake conference. Elder Ballard was the main speaker, but the whole conference was amazing. I am so grateful for living apostles and leaders of God's true church to lead and guide us. I was inspired and uplifted. Elder Ballard encouraged us to be our best and take time to reflect and personally interview ourselves to see how we are doing and where we can improve. He told us to ask ourselves, "Self, how am I doing?" He encouraged us to do the right thing and to do our best. He told us God only expected us to do our best. He also gave us some advice from "Grandpa Ballard." If anything, I felt his love as he spoke. He also told us to be our best beautiful selves and to let our eyes twinkle with the spirit. It was beautiful. He spoke for about 40 minutes, and I enjoyed it so much!
I know this church is true. I am so grateful for God's love and for the Atonement of His Son Jesus Christ. Make it a great week everyone!
Con amor,
S. Olsen
Sunday, November 2, 2014
God is in the Details
Dear family and friends,
I haven't much to say, so this will likely be a short letter. I had a very busy yet uneventful week. I was constantly studying for the three exams I had this week.
In preparing for one test, I attended a study group put together by a girl in my class. I have been to so many study groups in my time as a student, but never one like this. As the 5 or 6 of us that came gathered together and got ready to start discussing the material, the student that put it together suggested we start with a prayer. She offered it, and then we studied. In all the study groups I have ever been too, I have never started with a prayer. But I was so grateful for the spirit that it brought as she pleaded with God that we would be able to study things of importance and that we would be able to do well on our exam.
I took that exam the next day, and while I know I got some of the answers wrong, I was able to recall the information I studied and I felt good about my effort in preparing and I felt as good as I could have about taking the exam. I know God answered that prayer. I know he cares about the little things in my life. God is in the details of my life.
This week was Halloween, and I wasn't able to do too many fun things because of all my tests (I have more this week) but I was able to go with some friends and watch "Hocus Pocus" on campus.
I know this church is true. I know it because it gets me through the hard times. I don't think I would be able to handle the difficulties of life (in the way that I am able to handle them) if it wasn't for the gospel in my life. There is just something about knowing I am never alone. Whenever I feel down, I can turn to my Heavenly Father. I can talk to him through prayer. And He comforts me. Today at church we had an amazing lesson about the Holy Ghost and his companionship. We talked a lot about how the Holy Ghost it always with us. Having no body, his presence can be felt by everyone all the time. And as part of the Godhead is power and purpose is incredible. He truly can guide us and comfort us. I am so grateful for the Atonement of my Savior, and your Savior. Because it is through the Atonement that we access this comfort. The Atonement is central to EVERYTHING, and I am so grateful for the knowledge of it's power in my life. I can never say it enough, but I truly know these things are true!
I haven't much to say, so this will likely be a short letter. I had a very busy yet uneventful week. I was constantly studying for the three exams I had this week.
In preparing for one test, I attended a study group put together by a girl in my class. I have been to so many study groups in my time as a student, but never one like this. As the 5 or 6 of us that came gathered together and got ready to start discussing the material, the student that put it together suggested we start with a prayer. She offered it, and then we studied. In all the study groups I have ever been too, I have never started with a prayer. But I was so grateful for the spirit that it brought as she pleaded with God that we would be able to study things of importance and that we would be able to do well on our exam.
I took that exam the next day, and while I know I got some of the answers wrong, I was able to recall the information I studied and I felt good about my effort in preparing and I felt as good as I could have about taking the exam. I know God answered that prayer. I know he cares about the little things in my life. God is in the details of my life.
This week was Halloween, and I wasn't able to do too many fun things because of all my tests (I have more this week) but I was able to go with some friends and watch "Hocus Pocus" on campus.
I know this church is true. I know it because it gets me through the hard times. I don't think I would be able to handle the difficulties of life (in the way that I am able to handle them) if it wasn't for the gospel in my life. There is just something about knowing I am never alone. Whenever I feel down, I can turn to my Heavenly Father. I can talk to him through prayer. And He comforts me. Today at church we had an amazing lesson about the Holy Ghost and his companionship. We talked a lot about how the Holy Ghost it always with us. Having no body, his presence can be felt by everyone all the time. And as part of the Godhead is power and purpose is incredible. He truly can guide us and comfort us. I am so grateful for the Atonement of my Savior, and your Savior. Because it is through the Atonement that we access this comfort. The Atonement is central to EVERYTHING, and I am so grateful for the knowledge of it's power in my life. I can never say it enough, but I truly know these things are true!
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