Week(s) in Review

Hi there! Now I'm going to take the time to tell all the things I haven't writen in the last 3 weeks. On March 6 I had surgery to take metal plates out of my right arm. Pre-op went very well because I know the drill and I got the best anesthesiologist. It was a little disconcerting to wake up with a cast. It was bright red. My surgeon said he needed to make a snap decision and he decided to go with the red cast. He hoped I was okay with that. At that point I really didn't care. It went from the base of my knuckles to halfway between my shoulder and my elbow, holding my elbow at a 90 degree angle. I couldn't play so I had a lot of time to do "homework." I did homework, slept, and generally took it easily.

In this time I got to go up to conference. No, I didn't go to the conference center. but I did get to spend time with family and just be away from all worries. It was much needed time to relax. Thanks to aunts, uncles, cousins, and new friends it was a wonderful time.

The next week I completed a term paper on "The Affect of Music on Mood Disorders." I focused on bipolar disorder anddepression. It is a facinating topic and I want to continue to study it in the next few years.

The cast came off and the x-rays show that I can't study stringed instruments any more. If I try my arm will break since there is only a single twig of bone and a metal plate holding it together now. Now I am preparing for my voice audition. I want to sing the song "Without You" from "My Fair Lady." It is sassy and fun and I have always liked it. I need another song in a forgien language and I'm looking for something in Spanish or German. This will be fun and I will get to waive some class requirements if I go with voice.

It is fun but a little scary to see this semester begin to end. I made it through and even made some friends. I will be very happy to come back next year and I will even enjoy my summer classes I think (especially since they are air conditioned.)

Oh! Funny ward mission story. I was going to visit an inactive member alone, one who seems to have dropped off the radar, until Colby asked to go with me. When we got to the address on the ward list some Asian guy in boxers answered the door and asked what we wanted. I was really glad to have a companion right then. We acertained that he was not the person we were looking for, nor did he know him, so we will send this person's membership records to the "lost sheep pile" for inactives that no one knows where in the church they are. It is sad that such a pile exists. I still love my ward missionary job and overall I think we have more success than anything else.

Easter Message

Hello everyone. I know I have a lot to catch everyone up on, but I want to take this partcular entry to share my testimony of my Savior in honor of His holiday.


I know my Savior lives. I know that he completed the atonement for me and for every one of Heavenly Father's children so that we could gain the experience and grace needed to return to our heavenly home.

As Elder Holland and Elder Packer have both testified in the past, Christ created us, therefore He is also the one who can fix us. I have seen Him fix broken families, broken lives, and broken hearts, including mine. There is no one beyond His reach or His love. He brought life to Himself on Easter morning and now brings physical and spiritual life to each and every one of us.

I do not understand how Heavenly Father could watch His Well Beloved Son suffer and die 2000 years ago, but I know that He did. I can't even begin to imagine the love that took. The scriptures tell us that Christ and Heavenly Father participated in this so Christ could "succor us according to our needs." The dictionary tells us to succor means "to run to, to aid without hesitation." Christ does succor us according to our needs. Time and time again my needs were met before I saw I was in need.

It saddens me to see that some refuse to accept the perfect love and truth we have through the gospel, but it gives me great comfort to know it is never too late for them to come to Christ. The gospel will still be right here the day they accept it. Repentance is real. When Heavenly Father and Christ promise us we can become clean again they mean it. I seen and felt this process in my own life and I know it is true.

I testify that God the Father and Jesus Christ did truly appear to Joseph Smith in the sacred grove in response to his prayer and to the pleas of all Gods' children who are seeking for truth.

They had inspired valliant men to write the Book of Mormon so that there would be an anchor of truth in turbulent times. The Book of Mormon is scripture for our day. It is a testamony of Gods' wisdom and love.

I know the preisthood has been restored and is active today. The sealing keys are in use, as is the power to admnister to the sick and afflicted. If Jesus Christ were present the Church would continue the same work that is taking place now. Even though He is not physically present He does oversee the church and Thomas S. Monson does speak as directed by Christ, whose church this is.

Most importantly, I want to share that I love my Savior with all my heart. There is nothing I would not do for Him. I am still human and make mistakes but I do know that He loves me and suffered for my mistakes. Because of that I do my best to avoid mistakes. I will not alow the suffering on my account to be in vain. I will return to the celestial kingdom and thank my Savior. He set out on His mortal life and on his atoning journy to bring me to Him for eternity. Whether or not He is successful now depends entirely on me and I will not fail Him. I love the prophets of God and will follow their counsel as if it came from the lips of Christ himself, because they are His words.

I testify of this in His name, Jesus Christ. Amen.