Why I am So Happy!

You all thought this blog was going to pine away in wake of my Scotland blog, didn't you?

Never fear. This is still the foremost place that I will publicly express philosophical and psychological theories, as well as personal and spiritual experiences. :)

So last weekend I went to the Preston Temple for a YSA convention. Trivial details of the convention can be found on my other blog. But I really need to express another part of the convention that didn't belong on that blog.

Because this is not Utah/Idaho where everyone grows up in the Church, the convention planned only for baptisms in the temple because many YSAs are not endowed. I was a little bit disappointed because I really wanted to got through a session. But my roommate and I volunteered to help with the baptisms rather than perform them. Turns out there were too many volunteers to help, and my roommate and I were left without any duties. So, we went through a session.

After the session, I sat in the beautiful Celestial room (it was really one of the most beautiful Celestial rooms I've seen, with this fantastic window letting amazing sunlight in). I sat in there longer than I ever have before. Leaving felt like I would be inflicting a fatal wound to myself.

You see, I am in a foreign country studying something that is very easily corrupted. My classes are "rated R" based on language alone, disregarding the content of the shorts we often watch. I knew it would be that way, and I still felt very strongly this is what the Lord wanted me to do. I felt like I'd been prepared through carefully planned experiences to face the challenges of this year. And I still feel like I'm up to the challenge.

Because I have a Heavenly Father to fall back on. Who supports me through absolutely everything. He has gotten me through everything in my life so far, and I'm not afraid of anything I have to face in the future. I know I can turn to Him at any moment and be safe and uplifted.

I am incomprehensibly grateful for the opportunity I have to go to the temple and feel the Lord's love for me. As well as listening to living prophets any time I need to, to hear God's words for me specifically. This is a wonderful work, a wonderful time to be alive.