Eyewitness.

When Emma Smith felt the engravings on the plates of the ancient writings of the Book of Mormon through a thin cloth, she received a witness. When Lucy Mack Smith examined the Urim and Thummim through the same transparent thin cloth, she received the same witness. But when Mary Whitmer was shown the actual gold plates by Moroni himself, that's when she put all of her faith aside and had pure knowledge of The Work.

I put myself on this list this week.

On Monday, a few of us had the opportunity to walk over to the Library of Congress on our lunch break and see the original copy of the Book of Mormon. I knew it would be cool, but I didn't know how much of an impact it would have on me. As we walked into the "Rare Book Reading Room," it was a much smaller room than I thought. The two big double doors also made me want to make my own sort of entrance, but I refrained.

We had to fill out some paperwork and show our Staff ID's in order to even talk to the guys. After asking for the Book, the man asked if we were Mormon. He then brought out a couple more books he thought we'd be interested. OH YEAH.

The librarian set them down in front of us: the copy of the (March 26, 1830, E.B. Grandin, Palmyra, one-i've-been-talking-about-the-last-18-months) Book of Mormon, an original copy of the Book of Commandments, and the Book of Mormon translated in the language of Deseret.

Printed at E.B. Grandin's Bookstore in Palmyra, NY

Inside of the Book of Mormon

Moroni's Promise (Moroni 10:4-5)

The Book of Commandments. This happens to be a portion of what is now
Doctrine and Covenants 6...the chapter that led me through my mission.

Book of Mormon in the language of Deseret.
(I'm really glad I don't have to speak this language.)

I freaked out way more than I thought I would. They didn't even have us wear cloth gloves, because turns out, it would ruin the book more over time. I went through the whole process of how the book was made in my head, and everything matched up. Everything that I've ever learned about the Book of Mormon...matched up with this copy.

But what came right down to it, surprisingly, was just seeing the signature of Martin Harris on the very last page. Thinking about the things that he went through, even through his own wife and the destruction of his crops, to testify of how true this Book is.

The cool thing about this signature, and probably not what a lot of people would ever pick up on, was that on the two pages behind it, there were marks where the signature bled through. That's when I thought, "this is real." Like I said, everything matched up, all of the facts that I've ever learned and read about...they're all true. I knew I had received something way more than any other member of the Church gets to see.

And just one more cool thing:

I may have had Joseph's DNA on me. WOW.

Sailing to Philadelphia.

The theme for 2014 is spontaneity. I think so far I have done a pretty good job. Especially on this last escapade to Philly. Sunday night, a bunch of us found out we could get a car for the day under twenty bucks, so we made a quick, easy decision. We visited Independence Hall where the Declaration magic happened, the houses of Betsy Ross and Benjamin Franklin, and of course ate a Philly Cheese Steak. Again, I'll let pictures tell the story.

And don't worry--we found the missionaries. Twice. This one, on the steps of Rocky!

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” -Mark Twain

Two Weeks Notice.

So I've decided to stay! I really am loving every second of my internship here in Washington. I have learned more about politics in the last two weeks than I ever did in the last 20 years, so thankfully there is at least one success from all this. Being busy again is one of my favorite feelings.

I've also been teaching with the missionaries in my ward, and they are doing such an awesome job. It really is nice being able to teach, then go out and play instead of knocking on doors until 9 p.m.. :) It's a great little set up I have going on here. Here's some picture updates since I don't have too much time:

Senator Lee on live TV--it is really fun helping out on the communications team.

Spent my Saturday with the Smiths...what a great, beautiful family!

Wizards/Bulls game with the crew. 

FaceTime with my BFF Alison...how I miss everyone in Utah. 
At least don't have to write letters anymore...

Arlington Cemetary. I live within walking distance. :)

My first tour as a Capitol Hill intern. I took a group of kids from Karl G. Mauser Prep. 
They were a great group of future senators!

I'm not Elle Woods.

...well, kinda. Except they don't really allow pets on Capitol Hill.

But I'll tell you a little about what I'm doing here in the District. I'm one of the seven interns for Senator Lee who gets to give tours of the Capitol building (starting in the Visitors' Center--I'm right at home), answer phone calls and emails, and basically helping out any part of the staff that needs help. So yes, when you think of a typical intern, that's me. We are definitely the lowest paid people in Washington, but hey, at least it's something! Yesterday we got to go "get lost" in the Capitol so we can start learning our way around. 

It is really fun to be in the middle of everything. I am a huge fan of being in such a big city with so much to do. I love the 45-minute commute to and from work, because that means I get to read the Book of Mormon or New Testament, or whatever I feel like studying that day. My new ward is awesome, I absolutely love my roommates, and life is great. 

I can't wait until payday, however, so I can stop eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch. 

Temporary local.

This will be a travel log-slash-what it's been before. The District of Columbia is way too neat of a place to not share.

Yesterday, Instead of being a "kind of local," I was most definitely a tourist. After figuring out how I need to get from door to door starting tomorrow morning, I took myself around DC. Since it was close, I went straight to the Capitol building:

And since it was Saturday, it was closed, so no tours. But because I will be the ones giving the tours shortly, it didn't really matter. Then, I had to go see the Constitution and Declaration of Independence since they are fading fast. So I walked down the street to the National Archives:

With the security guard thinking he was Eddie Murphy, it made the long line not as lonely by myself. But once I got in, it was so worth it. I wish I could have taken pictures in the Rotunda where those documents are held, because it was absolutely incredible. I thought about what Nephi recorded about the coming forth of a free nation. Read 2 Nephi 10. Then, it was off to the American History Museum:

My favorite thing there (out of the thirty minutes I had) was to look at the wardrobes of the First Ladies. I wish I would have gotten pictures--oh well. Let's be honest, I wish I could have tried them all on!

I am so excited to get a personal relationship with this place. It's good to be back in the East. And talk about missionary experiences...He will give them to you if you ask--that's for sure!