truth.

It is Thursday.
I feel exhausted, and to be quite honest I don't have time to devote to this post, but I need to write this.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true.

I feel His love for me everyday.
My life is blessed.

I call my mom between classes at least once, if not twice, a day. I tell her all the happenings in my life. But recently our conversations have change. My perspective has changed. Love is an amazing thing and I am experiencing it on a level that before wasn't imaginable. Now, I am not talking about the man of my dreams who has swept me off my feet. . . this is not a post about my hopeless-romantic-self. This is a post about the love I feel for my sisters and the Spirit that expounds that love and directs me in caring and service.

I beam the entire time I am on the phone with my mom as I try to explain to her how I feel. My heart burns and I get excited over just the thought of my Relief Society and IWA (Institute Women's Association) Sisters.

It hasn't been easy to get to this point though.

When I pray, I pray for the Sisters.
I pray for them by name.
I pray to understand their needs. I pray to love them. I pray to serve them. I pray to know them.
They are beautiful Daughters of God.

My testimony has grown tremendously as I have applied one principle of the gospel to my life.
The principle of putting the Lord First.
Sounds simple enough. Right?

I have felt the blessing of my actions in day-to-day activities.
My memory has magnified. I give all credit to the Lord.
I am able to accomplish so much, and when I do the things of the Lord first my time multiplies.

Monday I had institute. The lesson was Scripture Study in Personal Life.
I walked in knowing I was going to be Spiritually fed.

Brother Hopkins started off:

   "I knew I had to graduate from college quickly. At the time I had three kids, two part-time jobs, and I was taking 31college credits. I had to put my trust in the Lord. I knew that if I did all that He needed of me first then He would pick of my loose-ends. There was times that I only had an hour before a test to cram. I would pray to have my mind directed, then when I would open my books it was like the words I needed to study would stand off the page. Sure enough when it came time to take the test the topics I studied where the things that were asked. And even though these were my busiest times of life, I always did well."

I left class challenged.

I was off to gain my own experience, build my testimony.

On Mondays I have an hour break between Institute and my next class, which is news writing.

News writing is my hardest class. Every Monday we are given a five point quiz on the an article that we should have read during the previous week. The class is assigned about 32 articles a week, giving me pretty bad odds if you think about it. 

You may be think, "It is only five points, what is the big deal?"

I need every point I can get in that class! Yes, I am that desperate/determined to succeed.

I had done all the required reading. I wanted to review, but didn't have the time to review everything. It was crutch time. And so I prayed.

I prayed that my mind would be open, and that I could be directed. I prayed that I could be prepared for this quiz.

As soon as I opened my eyes, I felt strongly about one of the articles. Looked through it. And went to class. I didn't doubt for one minute.

Papers were passed out among the students.

I wrote my name at the top.

The question was asked, and even though I knew it was coming I still was surprised. 

My professor asked a question concerning the article that I was prompted to review.

The lord blesses us when we put Him first.

It is a simple truth that has change my life entirely.