Southern Hospitality.

If you ever want to relax, head on down to North Carolina. 

I did not even touch this picture with any editing tools. AND IT'S FEBRUARY! However, the beach was not the best part. The best part was just hanging out with Ma and Pa Z-i-n-e (translation: the Strouds) and having them show me everything in the smallest town in the United States. I loved every second of it, obviously because I was with them, but because being with each other reminded us all of the mission. It was a perfect weekend to get away from the commotion of the Nation's Capitol.

I asked Ma and Pa to see their high school yearbook back to when they first started dating...make sure you read the caption...

And look at them now!

Yeah...everyone wants what they have. I guess you can say I learn more from them just by where they are now. And you sisters (you know who you are) if you don't go and visit them, you're missing out on the opportunity of a lifetime. I mean, c'mon!  That, and I am a completely devoted UNC fan as of now.

Now, back to public transportation and not-homemade BBQ sauce.

A little extra help.

“Perhaps if we would do our work in behalf of those of the unseen world who hunger and pray for the work we can do for them, the unseen world would in return give us help in this day of our urgent need. There are more in that other world than there are here. There is more power and strength there than we have here upon this earth." -John A. Widtsoe

I got to the temple this weekend with some friends, and just sit and reflect on how the Atonement doesn't just help those who are sad--because what about the times you're not sad? It would be...sad...if that's how you were all the time. Jesus Christ helps those who are happy. It's the same idea as only praying when you need something. 

"Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare..." -Alma 34:27

Just make sure you tell Him what's going on, so He gets just as excited as you do about the things going on in your life.

Peace with the unknown.

As most people do, I was listening in church. Even if you catch a fourth of Sacrament meeting, you're golden. Thankfully, this phrase was one of those things I caught:

"Be at peace with the unknown."

So it's probably a heck of a lot easier to just say that, but to actually do it? That's a different story. It's called the eternal perspective. My poor companions have heard me talk about this, but it really is the thing that saves my life. It's something I've been experimenting with since I was little kid. It all started with my dad. He is easily the most loving father on the face of the earth, and through just being who he is, he taught me how Heavenly Father works: as long as you work as hard as you can, no matter how cute you are, no matter how much money you have...you'll always have enough. So, "become as a little child, meek, submissive, full of love," and it's OK to not know what you're going to do tomorrow, next year, or even in the next five years. If you work, and the key word is IF, you'll always have your hands full...

"Be still, my soul, the Lord is on thy side...all safe and blessed, we shall meet at last." -Be Still, My Soul

Be in love.

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.