I Understand.

I've done this post about 10 times today. So many different ideas and plans. So I'm sticking with this.

A few weeks ago, I was able to help at the Ogden Temple Open House. Because of that, I understand now.

When I first originally went, I was a standby. (Basically I would help where-needed.) So I got to help a few different places;

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED YOUR TOUR.

The first place I helped at was after the tour, the people would come out of the temple and we would encourage them to take off their shoe covers, and direct them towards the information tent. Occasionally I would say "I hope you enjoyed your tour." Everytime without fail, they would state that they loved the temple and it was beautiful! 

I didn't realize how many people came to see the new temple. Yes, I knew there would be many but I didn't expect to see that many in just a day! It was amazing!

Also, it was amazing to see the nonmembers. It was amazing. You could already see the happiness the temple brought them. One lady in specific came up to us and described to us the Creation Room. At that moment I couldn't remember what it was called. She had a small family with her all of whom looked happy to be there. We pointed her to the way of the information tent. She was so happy and I hope she someday has the chance to take her family to the temple someday to be a forever family. 

THE SPIRIT WILL TEACH.

The next place I got to help at was pushing wheelchairs throughout the temple for those who needed it. I was able to go through twice that day. I'll tell you of each experience separately. 

The Light. 

The first sister I was able to push around, (I was very nervous. I didn't want to hit anything and it turned out better than I thought!) she was a nonmember. Her neighbors had invited her with them to go to the open house. She loved it! She asked questions (some of those I didn't know but I was glad to learn that I need to improve on learning more of temples.) I didn't know some questions but I was happy to have little parts in the tour that I could share my testimony. It was amazing to see the light of Christ in her eyes. She was truly happy to be there and loved it. I hope her neighbors continue to invite her to church. I think it did open a door to her. 

Love.

The next sister I was able to take around was already a member. One of the nicest people I have met. Her husband also came along with us and she told me of how her and her husband had worked in the Nauvoo temple. I can't remember how long they have been serving there but I do remember it was about 10-14 years. She was so happy to see this temple. They did not live in Utah but did come to the open house since they had a family reunion here in Utah. Her whole family came to the open house and when we came out, her family was huge! It was amazing to see they all wanted to see one of the Lord's Houses. She was very kind, and I hope someday to love and enjoy the temple as much as she does. 

I loved that experience. Being able to see the temple through a different view. Same rooms. Same place. Different Spirit. 

The experience was completely different and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to serve in the temple at just 16. I can't wait someday to serve in one of the temples with my eternal companion. 

Same but different.

As I mentioned before, the building was the same place, but different. A few days later I was able to go through the walking tour with the Young Women and Priests in our ward. It was certainly a different experience. I loved being able to be with my friends but we were all in the Lord's House. Especially one of my best friends since kindergarten, Mackenzie South. She has a great spirit about her and is always willing to give hugs! She loves you no matter what and can make you laugh! Being able to walk through with someone I've known for so long was truly amazing. 

I Understand. 

Because the opportunities I've had with the temple, I understand. I understand how important the temples are. I understand the love God has for each of us. I understand that I won't settle for less than a temple marriage. I understand that eternal happiness and blessings come from the temple. I understand that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true gospel and that I can have the everlasting happiness that comes when I live it.

~I loved the opportunity to be able to serve in the temple and later to see the blessings of service. I love the temple. I love the peace it brings. I Understand how God loves us by the way he shows it and gives us temples. It makes Life and Eternity Full of Smiles.~

***So GO and see the temple. Feel of God's love. Know you are loved!***

Pictures from being able to serve on a Saturday a couple months ago and lay wood chips down for the open house parking lot. TOTALLY worth it!

Helping hands are happy hands. 

Are You Ready??

Life lately. Some of the more crazy pictures...prepare yourself for the awesomeness that's about to happen.

ARE 

YOU

READY??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Some pictures of the multi-stake dance last week!

#selfie

Lets just say I'm making even far less attractive faces in the other pictures so I'll spare you those...

I love this weirdo!

My best fran.

Just watch Kaz in these next few shots...

Yes Micah does appear as though she's eating my hair. But in all reality, she's really telling me "Old sill Issa" (for those of you who don't speak Micah, that means "hold still Rissa.") Yes she was "doing my hair"

Wait for iiiiiiiiiiittt....

BAM! Baby photo bomb! Okay, really the photos went the opposite way but I think this way is all the more entertaining!

Kazia FELL ASLEEP ON ME!!! I'm not sure if you realize the importance of this. Kazia only falls asleep on Nana. Nobody else. 

Adam and his new companion!

Because #ricecereal.

Had to mow on Monday, (if you know me you know that is my least favorite chore) well after mowing I saw this sweet (unintentional) smiley face! Tender mercy!

Isn't she gorgeous? I'm a proud aunt.

Shambree came to play for a bit! Micah and Kazia loved it! There's just something about Asians and Gingers that's...pure awesome.

Got a HANDWRITTEN letter from my best friend! (Elder Barnes!) Brought me to tears! Love that kid! 5 MORE MONTHS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mom and I went to El Matador... Yes indeed I did feel my arteries clog. I'm surprised I didn't have a heart attack. It was delicious. Even after like 5 bites and I had to take the rest home...

...Huge fried fish...

I love this girl! She's a weirdy. But I never cease to laugh around her.

FOOOOOTTTTBALLLLLL.

And now with Morgan! Apologies for the blurriness. 

I wanted to see how many people would join in once I took a picture...

Okay I tried to point to both of my missionaries... well I'm pointing to Adam...and some kid that's not my brother. I blame my shortness...

~Life can sure be stressful, tiring, but full of fun and lessons and SMILES!! I AM READY!~

She's Been There.

One of the biggest role models is someone I've never met. Well not on this earth. It's my grandma Linda Barnes. Even if she passed mortally from this earth before I even born, I don't have a doubt in my mind that before I came to have my own journey on this earth that we were best friends.

To some that may be a complete, bizarre perspective and I know it's pretty far fetched to some. But I stand my ground. I love her. I know that we were best of friends before I came to face the challenges I do. I do not doubt that she helps me beyond the veil. She's always been there for me.

I don't know much about my grandma Linda. I just don't. I do know that she was a VERY giving lady, beautiful, and even in her moments of pain and trial, she didn't think of herself. When I hear stories of her or traits of her, I feel like it's something I knew long before. I love that I can still feel her comfort now on this earth. I love that she's my grandma.

My grandma Linda may not physically be here but I believe she really is. I believe that when I pray for a helping hand, she willingly lends a hand out. I believe she's ALWAYS been there for me.

Some may think I'm sure crazy about this post. I'm not completely sure why, I posted this but here it is.

~I know life can be full of crazy, stressful, worrysome, times. But when you have a testimony that  someone's there; it can be Full of Smiles.~

My beautiful grandma. I love this picture of her!

Old Macdonald Had a Smurf.

My parents have really been into garage sale shopping late. But no really. They get A LOT of grandkid toys from that. And I even found this....

Yes. A smurf amongst the farm animals. Strange isn't it? At first I laughed at the fact that such a random toy can be amongst so many things that can fit together. But then I looked deeper into it. (Because I'm all about things that have a deeper meaning.) And I thought that "Aren't we all a smurf?"

Being a female I am FULL of insecurities. Call it what you may, (sometimes I feel like it's hormones) but it's really just being a girl in this world. It's almost like we are programmed to think we don't fit in. WHO IN THE HECK STARTED THAT??!!?? We are so much. We sometimes may feel like we have blue skin in a world of people who all seem the same and know their place. It can be hard to fit in and see our true potential. But our Heavenly Father helps us see that. We need to lean to him in ALL of our hard times. 

I don't ever remember that a farm was defined by a single animal. That's what makes it a farm. Even if you look at the picture you can see even more things that don't really fit. But don't we all just not feel like we fit? We aren't alone on the path of insecurities. It can be hard sometimes to look at another and say "Look at her. She doesn't have any trials. Everybody loves her. Why can't I be that way?" Well the truth is, God made us all different. And for a reason. Can you imagine what the world would be like if we all were outspoken? Or even an introvert? Who knows how crazy it would be!!!

~It's not bad to be you. In fact, be the BEST you. Because life is a farm. And farms don't always go the way we want. They can be full of hardships and unexpected turns, new animals, laughter, but most importantly, Full of Smiles.~

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.~

Speak Up Marissa!

As odd as it is to think, I was a shy person at one point. I still kind of am! I don't like by any means getting out of my comfort zone. But 3 words have changed that. Told to me by one of my best friends, and missionary out; Adam. (I miss that kid SO much. But I'm so happy he's doing the Lord's work.)

I would say things to him in public but I would be way quiet, almost a whisper. Finally, he got so sick of it that every time I would he would say loud; "SPEAK UP MARISSA!" At the time I would be so upset at him thinking "Get bigger ears then!!" But now I realize the significance of three words.

Since then, I have become more vocal. I'm more passionate about things I love. Such as the Gospel. It's definitely one of my favorite things to talk about with people. I honestly am so glad I made the decision to SPEAK UP. I honestly don't think that would the testimony I do today if I didn't. I also don't think I would have the crazy friends that I do either. (I mean you've got to be heard with those people;))

So let your voice be heard. Be happy about who you are. Love yourself.

~I firmly believe when you Speak Up you become the person God wants you to be. And that makes Full of Smiles.~

EFY 2014- Promise Bound!

So it's been a while since I've updated this thing. Here's the adventures of EFY. (Obviously.) 

Aviators selfie.

Love me some ginger.

Wahoo!

Leif and Hunter! Hunter's face is pretty funny in this picture! I'm pretty sure I called Leif "Leaf" at least half the time. I'm not blessed in the area of remembering names well!

Trina and I! She's so funny!

Pterodactyl! We are so hot. 

This is pure awesomeness. 

Swedish twister!! That looks amazingly uncomfortable.

Love Kelci's face in this picture. 

EFY dances rock!!

Oh ya know, just stuffing a whale in the trunk, no biggie. 

Our sweet company flag!

Spiritual Thursdays with some of the coolest people around.

Selfie in a selfie!

Kennedy and I both have brothers on a mission! We both wear a piece of jewelry to remember them an that we also have a work to do!

#sistersofamissionary

Some cool kid named Jonah that was in the Variety Show and it was a must that he get his picture taken with Whalebert.

Variety Show practice!

Whitney, Ariana, Me, and Kelci with Whalebert before the Variety Show. We did a Disney Lipsync and "dressed" up or attempted to as the Disney princess. (Whit-Meg from Hercules, Ariana- Belle from Beauty and the Beast, Me-Mulan from well Mulan, and Kelci- Ariel from the Little Mermaid.)

Last day Aviators selfie!

'Stache Selfie

I love Julia! This girl was seriously one of the coolest people I have ever met! 

This is how we 'stache!

Cool company!

I was far too lazy to go through the pictures I had so this is what happened...

Girls yo.

Love these girls! 

And boys. 

                                                                   Selfie-ception

Loved Stacey!

And because Kennedy's face is awesome in this. 

The last escort!

Post dance sweaty-ness...and photobombing. 

In-n-out, because why not? Everyone and their dog was at Jake's Over the Top. So we switched it up!

I failed to get a good picture but, it had said "Come in for a faith lift." I laughed a little too hard at that every time I saw it!

Final goodbyes!

Some of the best people you will ever meet.

My group of girls! Love them all so much!

*Thanks to Kennedy for more than half of these photos!
**EFY is truly the best!
***But really.
****A random girl came up to me at the dance and said that I look like Mulan--basically made my LIFE!!!
*****EFY is something you'll never regret experiencing.

~EFY brings me closer to my Savior and Heavenly Father and Mother every year. I will never regret going and being able to meet the people I do. I LOVE EFY!!! It's a week Full of Smiles! Can I go back??~