That Awkward Topic.

We had an AMAZING lesson in Young Womens. It was that topic that they have at least one lesson on a year. Yes. Sexual Purity. Yeah yeah it's awkward but it's a part of life! Luckily the Laurels in my ward are AMAZING and don't make it awkward at all. We all agree that it's a topic that NEEDS to be discussed. Especially in todays world.

Here's a few of my personal standpoints:

- I CHOOSE to remain and be sexually pure. It's not something that my family or faith has decided for me but, something I have seen in many different circumstances. I want to save something that sacred for my eternal companion. Not as the world sees it to be given to anyone.

- I don't hate or stray away from people who have made mistakes. WE ARE ALL HUMAN. It's who we are. We make mistakes everyday. It's just important that we repent and keep moving forward.

- So many girls are waiting for a man who will risk his life for them. What they don't see is that long ago, a man did on the cross. AND he suffered for our sins. I can only hope to SOMEDAY (not soon--I'm in high school.) To find an eternal companion that also sees that. That also finds my qualities and want to become better because he has a testimony of that man who died on the cross and suffered for his sins also.

- I'm not ashamed to say that I choose to be sexually pure. It's something to truly strive for I believe. I don't care what the world thinks of me. I care what my Heavenly Father thinks of me. HE knows the big picture.

~There were so many more amazing things that happened in that lesson. I'm so glad I was there and that I learned it. It's not an awkward topic if you are straight forward and have a sincere understanding of what being sexually pure means. Life is Full of Smiles when you make the decision NOW.~

It Aint Just a Word.

I'll never forget my first year of EFY during testimony meeting. A young man in my company had went up to bear his testimony and I'll NEVER forget what he said. He thanked us girls for dressing modestly and even broke down to tears. He told us it really does have an impacted on young men by the way we dress. Since then, modesty has a COMPLETELY different impact to me.

Modesty. I know some girls roll their eyes at that word. I know it can be hard to be modest these days. But it's SO worth it. If you're trying to get boys attention that way, then are those the boys you really want to attract? I saw this once and I laughed! It's quite hilarious but it also holds a lot of truth!

 I honestly dress for comfort. But you can be modest and comfortable. I believe if you dress modestly you show that you love yourself but in different ways that you can't see. You show that you respect yourself and want the men that are Priesthood holders to keep continuing to be one. After all, YOU get the blessings that come from the Priesthood.

Now I'm not saying that even when I swim I'm in a full jumpsuit hiding myself from the world. But I do not wear bikini's or anything that I feel is immodest to swim in. In fact it's kind of funny, I wear running tank tops and active shorts to swim in! They're actually cheaper than bikini's or any swimsuit that you can find! I love it!

I'm grateful for always deciding that I WANT to dress modestly. Yeah sometimes I don't always get those shorts that I want because they aren't long enough. But I have a firm goal that someday when I go to the temple and someday get to wear garments, that I won't have to throw anything out of my closet because it'll already be the right length. Modesty isn't just protecting others and myself, but it's me preparing to go through the temple someday.

CHALLENGE:
Young Men: (If any read this) TELL the young women you know, and thank them for dressing modestly.
Young Women: DRESS modestly. Don't have to throw anything out when you go through the temple. Because you decide NOW.

~I know that Modesty ain't just a word. I know that if I dress modestly now, I can be Full of Smiles in the future.~

And just a few pictures because I love these people:

**P.S. I never want to tell my nieces and daughters someday to dress immodestly to get attention. Would you want to tell the women you love to dress immodestly for attention to find the wrong men?

I Probably Looked Like a Fool.

It's true. I'm really good at looking like a fool. But there's one occasion that I can't seem to forget. That is the last day of EFY. One of the very last things we do is sing the EFY Medley and the years theme song together as companies in the gym swaying in a big circle. It's truly one of the coolest things you will EVER experience. 

If you truly know me, whenever it comes to anything with the gospel, I'm a ball-baby. (I blame my mom. She cries too about that kind of stuff. Adam and I agree we have her eye plumbing.) Typically by the middle of the EFY Medley I'm in tears. But this time was different. It's not like I wasn't extremely sad about not seeing those people everyday, but that I was just HAPPY.

 I probably looked like a fool just swaying there with everyone and having a grin on my face. I couldn't be sad. Because the Gospel takes me to places that nowhere else can. It brings me happiness that NOTHING and NOBODY else can. Happiness is hard to describe if you never felt sadness. 

I was TRULY happy in that moment. I felt the love that Heavenly Father feels for his children as I looked at the people that I had just spent an amazing week with. I know I needed to experience that happiness then. Although, I may not know now completely why, but I did. 

I'm so happy I experienced that. There's nothing that can compare to seeing others the way Heavenly Father and Christ see them. NOTHING. 

~Even if you probably look like a fool, still live the Gospel you know. Keep that burning testimony. Love life. That's what makes life Full of Smiles.~