The Beginning of Something Great.

I decided to start this blog to allow those close to me to follow my journey as I prepare to serve a mission. I am blessed to be preparing at BYU-Idaho where I am currently studying Communications. Let me tell you how I got here.

In December of 2009, I wasn't the best person and I hadn't been for awhile. I had tried to push the light as far away as I could from my life. But I was starting to recognize that something was missing from my life. Deep down I always knew it was the gospel but it took me being humbled through the spirit to really recognize it.

I started praying. Not for myself because I didn't feel and wasn't worthy to ask for blessings, but for my family and my loved ones. It felt good to talk to my Father in Heaven again. I realized that the Lord was allowing me to have this relationship with him, even though I had been disobedient. The Lord allowed me to feel of his love through the gift of prayer, through recognizing that I knew he was there. I wanted to show the Lord that I too loved him. Slowly, I began to pray more. Praying led to obedience and the strong desire to be obedient. I started attending church again and I can't even describe how amazing it felt to be in the Lord's chapel. I had missed it.

This whole experience of my "rebirth" I guess you could say has forever changed my life. I have a testimony of the atonement. I know that because our Savior died for us, we can return to live with our Father in Heaven. Jesus Christ suffered all of our pains and afflictions and I am so grateful for his sacrifice. The atonement is real and can be applied to any of us, no matter how sinful we think we might be. 2 Nephi 28:32 says "I will be merciful unto them, saith the Lord God, if they will repent and come unto me; for mine arm is lengthened out all the day long, saith the Lord God of Hosts." Heavenly Father is always there for us. If we come unto him in prayer asking to be humbled and repenting of our sins, then we can and will be made clean. The atonement is real and if we utilized it in our lives we can return to live with our Heavenly Father once again.