The Hunt for Happiness

            I don’t know why, but, my Stake has gone crazy talking about pornography. Three times in seven months the Stake Presidency has brought a therapist or someone in to Sunday School or Relief Society to talk to us about the threat of pornography, how to shield ourselves and our families from it, and understanding addictions. And when it’s a group of only women, we talk about what it’s like to date someone with a pornography issue. This is a serious obstacle, but taking time away from spiritual education in Sunday School or Relief Society every other month seems a tad excessive. I am proud that the conversation surrounding pornography is changing from being a subject clouded in shame to one igniting hope and faith in Jesus Christ, but as much as this change benefits those struggling with pornography, I’m worried that we’re going too far and accidentally hurting those who love the strugglers.         ...

"Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east. And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth... And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him. And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, he is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep... "And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them. And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept." Genesis 29:1-11 KJV TLDR: While Rachel goes to water her father's floc...

If you don't know, I love the show How I Met Your Mother . I've watched the series numerous times, and if I just want to have something on in the background, it's my typical Netflix-binge show. I've had a lot of people tell me that they don't understand how I can watch it, either because the characters are "horrible people" or because others just don't think it's funny. I for one think it's hilarious, and while one definitely shouldn't emulate Barney, overall it has some pretty good lessons, such as "Some people have expiration dates," "Nothing good ever happens after 2 AM," and "You're not looking for someone who accepts your quirks, you're looking for someone who loves them, cherishes them, and loves you more as a person because of them". But one of the most memorable quotes comes from the last season of HIMYM. This comes from the episode "The Lighthouse," right after the main character, Te...

I think journals are amazing. Just last month I was sitting with my parents at our dining room table and they were reading from their journals about their first encounters with each other. (P.S. It wasn't very flattering, their first written words about their future spouses were about how one seemed clingy and the other appeared stuck up.) This prompted me to get back to journaling, which I haven't done much of since I got back from various travels this summer. A little bit about my journal: It's adorable. I really liked the owl design because of all the allusions to Athena, goddess of wisdom, the arts, and war... She's cool. But I didn't actually get this journal for myself. It was a present from my most recent ex-boyfriend, which sadly means that this journal records the implosion of that relationship. But I'm not here to talk about that. The main point is that during those few months I recorded in this journal a few of the darkest points of my life. I...

To you, I stumbled for you. Not fell. You know what it’s like when I fall for someone, and judging by how put together I am now, I’m going to guess that I have not yet fallen. I’ve known you for 17 months. You’ve been one of my best friends for almost six. Hmm. Yeah, I guess I would call you one of my best friends.   I haven’t really labeled people as a “best friend” since my last one went to Russia. But in terms of who knows me best, you’re definitely in the top five. Anyway. I’m sorry I stumbled. Almost. I’m sorry if I stumbled because of all the people who told us we should be together, I’m sorry if I stumbled because I wanted to move on with my life, but I’m not sorry if I stumbled because of the amazing person you are. And I hope it’s because of the latter reason that I’m in this situation. You’ve changed my standards. I actually feel comfortable around you, except for maybe when you are judging the semester-old garlic I keep in my apartment. I ac...

I like drinking coffee alone, and reading alone.   I like riding the train alone,   and walking home alone.   It gives me time to think,   and set my mind free.   I like eating alone,   and listening to music alone.   But when I see a mother   with her child,   a girl   with her lover,   or a friend laughing   with their best friend,   I realize that even though   I like being alone,   I don't fancy being lonely . -Debated Authorship I don’t have much time to be lonely. I’m much too busy. On an average day I wake up five minutes too late, drive a little too fast, drink a little too much hot chocolate, read a few too many books (is there such thing? When you should be doing Arabic, the answer is yes.), and get too little sleep. I run to class, run too work, run to various church activities, often just before I realize I’m actually early. I’m almost always with my roommates, classmates, fri...

It's been said that to understand someone, you have to walk a mile in their shoes. And most of us know that this phrase doesn't mean to steal their shoes and walk in them, but that we need to not judge others until we understand what they're going through. But before you can put on another person's shoes, you have to take off your own. I may have taken that phrase a little too literally today. But the concept remains true. Too many times we try to understand the people around us by putting ourselves in their situation, but when we put ourselves in their situation, we react differently to it then they would. In other words, we try to walk in their shoes while we are still wearing our own. Before we can try to understand our friends, family, mortal enemies, ect. we have to take away our own judgements and our own ways of seeing the world, or else we run the risk of saying "Oh, I've faced worse trials than that!" or somethin...

Who says that you have to be in the USA to have a great Independence Day? While I was not in the parade like last year in Provo, I was able to have a great time here in Israel. The beginning of the celebration started when I walked into my dad's New Testament class, with my stars and stripes scarf, and the class singing 'America the Beautiful' The real party didn't start until dinner time though.  In the student cafeteria, we had a barbeque with genuine hamburgers, and real ice cream (both food items taken for granted in the USA that are hard to find here). Following Dinner were several 'Minute to Win it' games.  These games included: pouring water from one water carrier to another, while said carriers were on two people's backs; balancing a marble in a paper towel roll to get it from one destination to another; using a spoon to fill a cup with cereal, while only being able to hold the spoon in your mouth, and many other games. These we...

Once a semester, the BYU students get to go into the West Bank to go to Bethlehem for a field trip.  This time I went with them.  Along with Manger Square and Shepherd's Field we went to the Herodian, and a few other churches. The Herodian (or 'The Herod Place) The Herodian was one of Herod's palaces which also included his tomb, this palace lays right outside of Bethlehem, and it is a possible site of where Herod told the Wise men where the Messiah was born. From Right to left: Camila, Juan, Me, Ann-Marie, Jerica Boys and Girls separated in an old synagogue The entrance to the Basilica of the Nativity In the caves underneath St. Catherine's Church Being able to sing in the Caves underneath St. Catherine's Church was a wonderful experiences, these caves were separated from the traditional spot of the birth of Jesus only by a wall that was build only a few centuries ago, but the cave we were singing in was just as likely the spot o...

A Sunday Expedition: July 1 So my dad and I checked off two items off of our Jerusalem bucket list on Sunday: visiting the Citadel museum in the Old City, and going on the 'Ramparts Walk' which is walking around the outside of the Old City walls. Standing outside the Citadel Museum, or the 'Tower of David Museum' In front of the ruins of the citadel A replica of what the City of David would have looked like Ruins of the Citadel A model of what the original church of the Holy Sepulchre looked like A model of the inside of the Dome of the Rock Me in front of (from left to right) The church of the Holy Sepulchre, the tower of Saint Saviors, and the gold Dome of the Rock The Church of the Holy Sepulchre The Dome of the Rock My Home!!!  The JC (Jerusalem Center) On the Ramparts Wallk After we got off of the Ramparts Walk, my dad and I walked to our car through the Old City, and all of its markets and shops. ...