today, i decided to take a leap and actually attend my singles ward. whoa. let me tell you. . . if you ever want to experience something that's completely crazy and wild and very interesting, all you have to do is go to a singles ward near you and you'll get the whole package, man.
i mean, i met a lot of people and they were all nice to me, especially since i'm a newbie. i attended the ward with my friend, austin. and it was pretty funny, because here in utah, if you go to a ward and bring a girl, it's most likely assumed you're together. so a lot (i mean A LOT) of people came up to austin, asking him if i was his girlfriend. talk about laugh out loud funny. there was this one guy, brian, who i later found out was twenty eight years old, thought it was funny to try and flirt mad hard with me. he was winking a lot, and gave this "speech" about how he was born with this disease that gave him irregular muscle spasms and sometimes he doesn't even know what's happening half the time. right after that speech, he proceeded to try and hold my hand, blaming his "disease". it was pretty clever, but i was like "i have a boyfriend, thanks though". haha needless to say, he thought i was twenty one, and quickly let go of my hand when he found out my true age. it was awko taco. but we handled it well.
since church started at one, there's four different wards in the building. so we had
relief society &
priesthood first, then gospel doctrine, and last but not least, sacrament meeting. it's awkward going to a new ward, seeing all these faces you've never met, and sitting next to a stranger during class. but that's the part when, if they don't come up to you, you have to make the first move in introducing yourself and making yourself known. so i met this sweet girl, paige. and she was telling me about the ward. it sounded pretty fun. there's a tongan ward that's right before ours and they had munch n mingle.
oh my gosh. island food. give me island food any day and
i'm yours. seriously.
but anyways, let's not get carried away talking about food. because you'll never get me back on topic.
gospel doctrine talked about the purpose of marriage and how setting your goal on an eternal marriage is different than setting your goals on a successful marriage. although, without happiness and love in your marriage, even if it IS eternal, it won't necessarily be successful. it works both ways. you and your eternal companion must have the same outlook on life, must think of Christ first. always. even if you're married in the temple, won't always "guarantee" a perfect happy ending. it's a lot of work, and you have to be dedicated and compassionate and compromising. but if you stick it out to the end, and always put your spouse and your children before yourself, you will have the marriage that most couples only
dream of.
in other words, for the non-mormons reading this post, that's basically the only topic we talk about in a singles ward. LOL.
just kidding. but it's pretty up there.
sacrament meeting was wonderful! a young man who's getting ready to serve a mission in kentucky, is going to the
MTC in mexico. so he spoke today, and it was a good talk. really insightful.
our munch n mingle, sad to say, was not as exciting as the tongans. but we did have a potato bar complete with nacho cheese, cheddar cheese, mouth watering chili, and buttered broccoli. okay, well it wasn't that good, but it's still food. and i still ate two of them. whatever.
but the reason why i'm bringing this up, is because i learned something valuable while attending this new ward. and that is, no matter where you are, or who you go with, it's important to realize that the church is true wherever you go. sure, there are going to be some members that have no concept of sympathy or have any social skills to use on outsiders, and that's okay. you learn to be on your own two feet, and speak up first. there's nothing wrong with that. and who knows? if you do, you can make some amazing friends.
just be yourself.
because God made you that way. and there's no reason why you should try and be someone else. it's pointless. you're
beautifully amazing in your own way. and even though there are so many inspirational quotes in society today that say that same cliché, i really want you to drill that into your mind, and believe it with everything you breathe in. because it's one hundred percent true. seriously. God didn't make you the way you are so you could see yourself in the mirror and be miserable for the rest of your life. that doesn't even make sense. He is there for you. He will always be there for you. He will never fail you. even if you fall to the point where you seem like it's impossible to get back up, like it's not even worth the effort, He's right next to you, reaching for you. all you have to do is humble yourself to the point where you'll let Him in.
for me, going to a new ward and not knowing anyone is really scary. but once i step inside that chapel, i just become overwhelmed with the Spirit. because i know i'm where i should be. where my spirit can call home. and no matter how i'm treated, or how i'm looked at, it depends on me and me alone to decide if i'll let it get to me, or if i'll be the strong one and go to church for my spiritual benefits. just remember the church is true. the gospel can bring unlimited joy and spiritual pleasure into your life, and if you let it consume your spirit, you will find yourself basking in the sunlight. and not just any sunlight, but the sunlight that's found in Heavenly Father's love. i promise you.
if you're reading this, and you're not a member of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, i implore you to read for yourself about the gospel. because once you do, you can never go back. you'll experience some wonderful feelings inside you that you'll never be able to fully comprehend or explain. but the catch is you have to
LET it change you.
it's all up to you.
and i believe in you.