Bored? Try to learn a new talent!

Everyone's got a weird talent of sorts. Mine is gobbling like a turkey! It's perfect here in Ephraim, Utah where turkey farms are EVERYWHERE!!! 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_s2PSuJWdE&feature=autoshare

#Gobbling #Turkey #Ephraim #SnowCollege #Farms #OddSkill

Gaining a More Sure Knowledge of the Scriptures

A couple of days ago, I was reading in Alma 12 & 13. I learned a lot that night and it really got me thinking.

While reading Alma's words about how it is given to many to know the mysteries of God, I thought, Obedience to God brings knowledge. If we obey and keep His commandments, we will come to know of His mysteries until we, one day, will know all. However, if we do not obey His word, we retain less and less of the knowledge of God until we know nothing. It is possible to regain that knowledge if we repent and strive to do what is right once more. Christ's Atonement can purify and cleanse us of all our sins if we will forsake them and follow Him. Are you willing to drop all and go? If so, Christ will bless you when you act on that willingness and prove yourself before Him. His Atonement is open to all who come to Him and humble themselves before Him.

I wondered, what are the chains of Hell? Are they subtle distractions, punishments, literal chains? As I was pondering this, I realized the chains of Hell are more like spiritual ignorance. Each time we go against the commandments of God, we can gain a "chain." But if we repent and use the Savior's perfect Atonement, those chains can be loosed so that when the day to stand before God and be judged comes, we will be able to stand with confidence and know we did what is right.

This life is a test and a preparation for the eternities to come. We have the opportunity to repent in this life as we are on "probation." We are preparing to meet God. It is part of the Plan of Salvation. This brings the Resurrection. God had a plan and we were sent here with a purpose. He knows everything that is to happen. He knew beforehand what needed to happen so we could return to Him. During this time, we must pray to Heavenly Father and call on Him often. That is one thing I need to work on. He wants to help us make it through this life and to help us avoid or deny temptations to take over our lives. To do this, we must stay close to Him and make sure He is a part of our lives. God does speak to men through the Holy Ghost. Be worthy for its presence so you can receive His guidance.

We have been given agency so we can choose to do right or to do wrong. We are to act in this life in order to determine where we will be in the eternities. God gives builds a foundation by showing us the Plan of Salvation and then giving us commandments. Thus, the missionaries teach the Plan in the first lesson.

A lot of chapter 13 speaks of the high priesthood, the holy order, and holy calling a lot. I looked back to the end of chapter 12 and thought of how order brings peace. By the priesthood, we can enter into God's rest. If men are worthy to hold this priesthood and all are worthy to receive the blessings of it, we know we will be worthy to live with God. Thus, is it any wonder if we do nothing all day and just lay around all day, we are restless later and if we are working all day, we are tired and rested later? We must work in this life to endure and enjoy to the end and follow God's word, keeping the commandments and following the straight and narrow path to Him. So who is called? Men are called to hold this priesthood if they are faithful, obedient, serving others, and choosing good. Women need not be angry or fret over not holding the priesthood. Men can't have babies. It's not something against one gender. We are all loved sons and daughters of Heavenly Father and Christ is our Savior. It is His priesthood and worthy males are to hold it. Women can still partake of its blessings as they are worthy. Men and women support each other in these different roles and must continue faithfully following God and what He has spoken to His servants here on Earth.

I know that the scriptures are true. They are before us and available for our use. I know if we study them diligently and try to be obedient to the truths they contain, we can learn of these "mysteries" of God. We must work now and be prepared. This is not a test to procrastinate the study or use of the material. We must repent now and be worthy to enter into God's rest. The gospel is here for us and our benefit. It is simple and understandable so we can return to God one day. The Atonement occurred to help us be clean and pure so that we do not have to suffer for the sins we have committed. We must lose our pride and gain more humility. We cannot just pick and chose which sins to forsake. We must be willing to be rid of all of our sins.

I know these things to be true and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

#Alma #BookOfMormon #Scriptures #LDS #LatterDaySaint #MysteriesOfGod #Obedience #Knowledge #Priesthood #Commandments #Repent #HashtagsAreAPain #Atonement #Jesus #Christ #Redeemer #Humility #Hell #Chains #SpiritualIgnorance #Perfect #test #Procrastination #PlanOfSalvation #Resurrection #Probation #Purpose #Judgement #Purify #Cleanse #Sins #Follow #LambOfGod #CTR #Prayer #Improvement #HolyGhost #Worthy #Agency #Eternities #Peace #Blessings #Rest #Gender #Learning #Called #Faithful #Service #Roles #Testimony #All

I love Snow College!

So, I just started school at Snow College in August. It's my first time living away from my parents' house and I must say, I love it! Sure, it's stressful and a pain in the butt when you're poor and you're so low on money you are eating ramen noodles for every meal of the day, but it's been worth it for the experience! Go Badgers!!
You know, orange was never really my favorite color. I never really liked it. But as a Snow College Badger, it's kind of starting to grow on me! I realized that as I walked home from singing at the senior center tonight. I really love this place, the beauty, and the experiences I am having. The people are so wonderful and kind as they say "hello," as they walk by and ask how things are going. It's a whole new and fantastic environment and brings so much peace to me. I now see so much more beauty in my life. I love my ward and I love my calling. I don't know exactly where or what I'll be ten years from now, but I know that as long as I follow my Savior, I will be where I need to be. I'm not so afraid because I know the direction to face, where I'm headed, and I know in whom I serve and that makes it all the more wonderful!
I feel genuinely happy today. (:


https://snow.mediaspace.kaltura.com/media/Why+Go+To+Snow/0_9771c51b



#SnowCollege #2013 #Freshman #Music #PoorCollegeStudent #RamenNoodles #Badgers #BadgerPride #RowdyCrowd #OrangeAndBlue #Singing #SeniorCenter #Farm #LDS

1 Nephi: 8 The Victor of My Story

As I travel through this world of turmoil, darkness fills my view. I am lost inside a mist of darkness, so I pray to Him. 

Father, help me to find my way back; guide me, I plead. Let thy hand show me how I could be. Guide me to thee. 

Through the trials that I face, I can always overcome, holding fast to the rod and holding to His word. 

Father, help me to find my way back. Guide me, I plead. I will hold to the rod all my days. Guide me, I pray. 

Never give up on faith. Keep your eyes on that goal to be there with the Lord when the vict'ry is won.There when the vict'ry's won.

Those are the lyrics of the song I'm writing after studying1 Nephi 8. The song can be found at http://musescore.com/user/134477/scores/158785
The story can be found here:  http://2013amandafrank.blogspot.com/2013/04/i-have-learned-for-myself.html

So, I've decided something. I've decided to not be afraid. I've decided to hold my head up high. I am a daughter of a King and I must follow my divine nature to that path, leaving behind my natural self and following God. If it so be that I am to leave and serve a mission, I will. If I am to stay and work here, so be it. But I am not going to let Satan lead me astray and stress me to the core. I will follow God's plan for me, for in Him do I trust. No longer will I think of myself as alone in this life, but I will think of myself with Christ and live so the Holy Ghost can reside and guide me to that Salvation. I'm sick of feeling like I'm not good enough and I am saddened that I allowed that in myself. I know I won't be perfect in this life, so I will do my best to strive for that perfection in a positive way, learning from the mistakes I make and once again, grasping to the rod. I have a calling in this life and I will find it. I will grasp to the rod and never let go. I will not be shamed in my testimony, for in it is my strength from God. I may be small, I may be a sinner, but I have God on my side and in Him, I can take upon myself the Atonement of Christ and be forgiven though His grace and mercy. I will be the victor of my story.

#Composer #IronRod #Lehi'sVision #DarkMist #Prayer #FirstSong #Duet #MuseScore #Trials #Overcome #Guidance #Lyrics #DaughterOfAKing #DivineNature #God #Missionary #God'sPlan #Trust #HolyGhost #Salvation #Worth #Hope #Perfection #Testimony #Strength #Atonement #Forgiveness #VictorOfMyStory #1Nephi8

Memories and an eternal perspective...

I've been thinking a lot lately about my grandpa. I miss him. It's crazy to think it's been about 4 years! And yet, it feels like just last week, I got the call at home while hanging out with my good friend, Kayla, saying he passed away and the neighbor from across the street would be bringing us orange chicken from Panda Express for dinner. I don't remember what we were doing at the moment, but I remember very well how my heart just sunk and I suddenly felt sick to my stomach. It was like the whole world just halted where it stood and I could just fall to the ground and lay there.

It wasn't fair. He wasn't supposed to go.
It was supposed to be a broken hip--not cancer.

My grandpa and I were best friends.
I remember when I was little, I would beg my mom to take me to see them. When we got there, I would go to my grandpa and say, "I'm a man--duh! (Amanda)" and he'd reply, "Well, I'm a man too!" with a wink. I'd give him a hug and lay next to him on the couch, where we would usually take an afternoon nap--him with his night cap on to keep his bald head from getting cold.
I remember Easter egg hunts. when I found all that was for me, I would excitedly show my grandma and grandpa what the bunny brought. We'd have a barbecue and he would help cook the food.
I remember sitting on the recliner next to his as we watched a movie and both ended up asleep. The usual was Air Bud or a princess movie. One day, he suggested we watch Fantasia (I think? It was the Mickey Mouse movie that was just music and Mickey leading it). We turned it on, fell right asleep, and when we woke up, we both decided that was too boring to ever watch together again. A movie was always part of our day when I slept over, and I slept over quite often because, like I said, he was my best friend.
I remember chewing my nails while sitting in that recliner chair and him saying, "Don't do that! They'll go straight to your stomach and cut it up!"
I remember he'd grab my wrist, give it a soft pinch and say, "I'm pulling your arm hairs! You should shave!" or some joke like that, and I would grab his arm hairs and tell him, "You're one to talk!"
I remember every time we were there, as we were giving him kisses goodbye, he'd give us a kiss, and say, "CHIN PIE!" and rub his pokey chin all over our foreheads as we squirmed and laughed, trying to get away. All of us eventually got smart and would give a quick kiss and try for a quick getaway, but sometimes, he'd still get us. It was fun.
I remember the fruit trees in the back yard, how he'd pick the fruit and have some ready for us to take home; but he always had his own share of it, too, which would be jarred and put into the fruit closet in the basement. To me, as little as I was, it seemed like an endless supply of canned fruit which would always be there for us, awaiting our snack times.
I remember him saying, "Come here, I want to show you something." He'd take me down into the fruit closet and say, "See all these? These are the fruits that I pick and jar myself. Would you like some? Apples, pears, peaches, or apricots?" We'd then take what was picked upstairs and share a jar.
I remember eating graham crackers and milk for dessert.
I remember sleepovers at their house. One day, I had 5 teeth taken out. I talked my mom into letting me stay at my grandparents' house for the night. The next morning, they proved that the tooth fairy didn't just go to my house. I woke up and went to the kitchen for breakfast and my grandma asked if I checked under my pillow. When I replied, "No," my grandpa told me to hurry back and check before the tooth fairy decided I didn't want it and took it back. I got $5. One morning, my grandpa came in and tried to wake me up for breakfast. I pretended not to hear. He went and told my grandma I wasn't up, so she came in and I scared her. One afternoon, at lunchtime, my grandma told me to try her lobster she had gotten the night before, since I had never tried it before. My grandpa said, "Oh yeah?! Try THIS!!" He gave me what looked like just a mini pickle. I tried it and about died from the terrible taste, with him saying, "Sweet pickle! Good, huh?" My grandma and I exchanged glances as she smiled at my reaction.
I remember when they first got their dog, Fiona. She was cute, but didn't always like my attention. He always saved me from her when she got upset.
I remember going in the basement to see why he had been down there so long, finding him hard at work, sanding and cutting wood, showing me his projects, and cleaning up. He was so good. He made the marble track at my house and his, the dresser in my bedroom, the cow chimes hanging in our kitchen, the little rocking chair at my parents' house, and many other things. He was a master when it came to building things. He even built his home. He was always at work. When he sat down, it wasn't for long, until he really could not get up. He worked harder than anyone I have ever known and he'll forever be a great example to me of hard work.
I remember looking at pictures of him and asking my mom why he never smiled in them. When I saw a picture where he was smiling, I would just smile at it and stare at it, because that was my grandpa--my best friend in the entire world and that's what I saw whenever I thought about him.
I remember going to his house to visit him after he had tried to pick fruit, lost his balance, and fell off the ladder near the tree, breaking his hip. I remember having to go to the store to buy him something, and my dad having to explain that even though it was Sunday, it was an emergency and it was OK.
I remember going from hospital, to care center, to other centers to visit him. I remember his sad, sick, tired face. I remember him on his medications which made him funny. I remember just wanting to hug him, because he was my best friend and I didn't want to lose him. I miss countless nights crying for him. I remember arguments and heartache. I remember when he got to go home to be on hospice. It was so hard to see him not able to leave that bed they brought in to stay in the front room, after all those years of always seeing him hard at work, he could no longer do the things he loved or move the way he had been able to his whole life. He was slipping away.
I remember when my mom called, all I wanted to do was cry and know everything: How they watched him go, how my grandma held his hand and cried, telling him to go...Hearing the pain on the other end of the phone line, I didn't cry at the time, because Kayla was there and she brought great comfort. And I'm very glad she was there, because I might have lost it completely because of how close he and I were.

I look back at those memories, and think, it's not fair! I still have not had closure and I still wonder if I will ever have closure. Why do the old people have to be the cool people? They're the ones who are next to go. What are we to do? Have you SEEN the younger generations? Yep, the world's gonna be in our hands. Great. Seriously, though! It's so hard. Every time I get a new best friend, they go. My parents keep telling me to find a friend my own age.

My next door neighbors as a little kid were my best friends. Auline and Sister Ferry (I never knew her first name). Auline was living there to take care of her mother. I believe the mother was in her 90's. I never knew until after she died that Sister Ferry did not like kids very much--they were too crazy for her to handle. At least, my parents told me that. Auline tried to keep me away from her to give her peace a few times, but after a few visits, Sister Ferry seemed to want me to be near her for a bit, so I'd go. I was oblivious to giving anyone space. I thought everyone needed some talking time and a friend. It seemed to be OK. She and I could just talk. I'd go and ask her how she was doing and I'd sit on the couch and just listen. I had no idea what she was talking about most of the time, but I enjoyed it and I figured the least I could do was talk to her since she couldn't really get up from the couch very often. She just laid there, skinny and frail, barely able to talk and when she did, it was too shaky to really understand. Somehow, my dad was able to understand most of it, though, and carry out conversations with her. I learned how to over time. She would talk about how she was feeling and how Auline was helping her and then ask questions that would come to mind.
Auline had two dogs: Sparky and Twinkle. Sparky was crazy and playful. Twinkle was, too, but I could pick her up, wrap her in a blanket, and carry her around like a baby whenever I wanted. I loved them. Auline would give Luie (my Boxer+Blue-Healer(?) mix) tomatoes and other treats all the time. I loved those two ladies. Sister Ferry often had an ambulance at the house to take her to the hospital. My parents would be standing at the windows, worried, and I'd say, "She'll be fine," and she always was. Then one night, the ambulance came again. I went up to my room in tears. My dad came up to ask why I wasn't so confident, as I normally was. I told him that this time, it wasn't OK. She wasn't going to make it. I just knew it. The next morning, he came in my room and told me she died and since I had already cried the night before, prayed about it, thought about it, and grieved, I took it better because I knew and received comfort. One best friend gone...
Auline decided after her mom died that she needed to move back to her own house with her family. She'd send me birthday cards and we both promised we'd visit each other. She tried and we "never got the chance" or were "too busy." She came by a couple times before she sold the house to our new neighbors (who I taught some English to and whose son I taught to read), and we visited, but that was it. We became friends on facebook to keep up. Suddenly, she stopped liking my pictures and sending messages and I wondered what was going on. I wanted to put a note on her timeline, but when I went to it, family and friends had written memories and RIP and sadness on it. I felt my heart sink again. She was the third--after my grandpa--to go...I still have her last letter to me with pictures of her at Niagra Falls, Sparky, Twinkle, her Christmas tree with ornaments that my mom painted, and a letter of what's been going on in her life and asking me how my life was. I keep it safe. So safe, in fact, that I have to find it and when I do, it's always accompanied by many tears. I miss her dearly. I've written on her facebook wall since then, not knowing what else to do, feeling so sorry for not going to see her, but wanting to let her family know how special she was to me. Some replied to me, letting me know how much she talked about me to them and how loved I was by her. She truly is and was a very special and wonderful woman.

I've been close to many of the older people in my ward. Some of which have gone, others can hardly make it out of their home. I love them and I can't help it. They're my best friends and they all tell me they claim me as their grandchild.


I don't know why I'm writing all this. I guess I just need to remember the good times and cry, so I can move on. It's such a comfort to know that there is a life after death. Families can be together forever and I'm sure I'll meet with close friends from this life on the other side. So, may this be a comfort to those in need of it. It's hard to lose the ones we love. May we keep those memories of them in our hearts. May we keep that eternal perspective in our minds as we ponder these precious moments. Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to be happy. Let us learn from those who are in our lives and strive to become the greatness we see in others. May we learn from the older generation and come close to them, as they are our history.

#Grandpa #MarlowSchow #Memories #TakeBackTime #FourYears #BFF #Death #Broken #HardWorker #Amanda #CannedFruit #Craftsman #Intuition #Remember #Comfort #LifeAfterDeath #FamiliesAreForever #Comfort #EternalPerspective

You are of great worth. There is much in store for you

Do you wonder if He knows who you are?

Do you wonder if He knows the secret pleadings of your heart?

He has numbered every sand of the sea

and He longs for you to know that He believes in you.

Can you feel the quiet power from above?

Can you feel His strength surround you when your own is not enough?

He has blessed you with His spirit from on high

and He longs for you to know it lives inside of you.

Oh, be true.

Daughter of a king, the Father's royalty

Heir to His divinity.

He's calling your name to come and take your place before His throne.

He has always known what He created you to be: 

A Daughter of a King.

You hold the promises of all eternity,

rights to claim the noble birthright you were sent here to receive

He has loved you since you lived with Him before

Let Him lead you to the gifts He has in store for you

Oh, be true.

Daughter of a king, the Father's royalty

Heir to His divinity.

He's calling your name to come and take your place before His throne.

He has always known what He created you to be: 

A Daughter of a King.

Daughters of a king, the Father's royalty

Heir to His divinity.

He's calling our names to come and take our place before His throne.

He has always known what He created us to be: 

A Daughter of a King.

~Jenny Phillips

I love this song! It is so wonderful and I'm pretty sure I've cried every time I've heard it--especially when I try to sing with it. God truly knows us--each and every one. He knows what you wish, what you hope, and everything that goes on in your life. All He wants is for you to come to Him in prayer and plead with Him, because He wants to give you all He has. We are all princesses. Young men, you are royalty, too. You are sons of a King with the Priesthood power which sisters in Zion fully support you with. We each have something to offer to God and He has something for each of us--everything He has He offers to us if we will follow Him. He is calling our names. He is pleading for us to "Come, follow me." How simple is that? So, let us follow Him in all that we do and say. When trials come and we are about to break, He is there to lift us up and to be our strength in times of weakness. Elder Holland stated in the April 2013 General Conference, in his talk titled, 'Lord, I believe,' "These things I declare to you with the conviction Peter called the “more sure word of prophecy.”¹⁶ What was once a tiny seed of belief for me has grown into the tree of life, so if your faith is a little tested in this or any season, I invite you to lean on mine."  Let us all strive  to follow Christ and to gain that sure testimony in Him. We receive the Holy Ghost at baptism as we are confirmed a member of the church and are granted the gift of the Holy Ghost. He is there to guide us. Let us be listening for that still, small voice and obeying the direction it gives.

I know that each of us are heirs to God's gifts. "Be loyal to the royal within" and "let your light shine before men..." and the Lord will bless you.

#DaughterOfAKing #JennyPhillips #God #HeavenlyFather #JesusChrist #Princess #Prince #Royalty #Priesthood #Zion #Trials #Strength #ElderHolland #GeneralConference #April2013 #Faith #Testimony #HolyGhost #Baptism 

AP + Me = no brain + no game + no win.

So, AP scores are in. These are Advanced Placement College Exams from college-based classes you can take in High School. If you take the test and pass, you don't necessarily have to take the classes again in college--you have the credit. If you don't pass, you basically wasted $80+ a test. No big deal. The scores range from a 1-5. A 3 is technically passing. I took the AP Literature and Composition and the AP Statistics tests. 

Yep, I failed both of them. Miserably. On the Literature test, I got a 2, which they say means I 'might' be qualified, but not entirely. On the Statistics test, I got a 1, which, you can probably guess what that means.

I feel like a failure. Sure, I can still take the classes and their tests in college, but it's one more thing I have to re-do, because I couldn't do it right the first time.

At the beginning of the school year, I understood Statistics. Everything made sense. Then, one week, my teacher told us not to miss that chapter because we would be lost. Of course, that was the week my body decided it needed to get sick. When I came back, my teacher left the class with the notes for the next chapter and said we had a test on it when she got back. Ever since then, nothing had made sense.

Lesson learned: Don't miss Statistics when your teacher warns you to not miss. Go to school, even when you're stomach is sickened and you have a migraine and dizziness, so bad, that you can't even stand up. Go. to. class!!!

I knew the entire time I probably wouldn't pass the AP Literature exam. That whole class seemed to be if you could figure out a poem in the beginning, you will pass with flying colors with everything. Obviously, that's not my forte.

~ - * ~ * - ~

So, I believe this is one more thing I need to figure out a bright side to. I guess I'll come back when that happens. In the mean time, keep smiling!

:)

#AdvancedPlacement #Exam #CollegeCredit #Failure #Literature #Statistics