Maybe It's Emily

http://news.msn.com/in-depth/we-are-creating-walmarts-of-higher-education The previous link is tied to an online news story that begins thus: "Universities in South Dakota, Nebraska, and other states have cut the number of credits students need to graduate. A proposal in Florida would let online courses forgo the usual higher-education accreditation process. A California legislator introduced a measure that would have substituted online courses for some of the brick-and-mortar kind at public universities. "Some campuses of the University of North Carolina system are mulling getting rid of history, political science, and various others of more than 20 “low productive” programs. The University of Southern Maine may drop physics. And governors in Florida, North Carolina and Wisconsin have questioned whether taxpayers should continue subsidizing public universities for teaching the humanities. "Under pressure to turn out more students, more quickly and for less money,...

I love Easter. It's my most favorite holiday. I even like it more than Christmas. Now, while I've caught you in your gasps of horror at my yuletide blasphemy, hear me out. I love what it means. It means the Son of God came to Earth. It means He lived a perfect life. It means He overcame sin. It means He took our sins upon Himself. It means He suffered our sins, our afflictions and the burdens of our illnesses. It means He gave up His life for us. It means that He kept his promises. It means He will intercede for us. It means we have a chance at life eternal and exaltation. It means I can live again. It means that He lives. It means that He loves us. It means that He listens to us. It means that He desires to bless us. That's why I love Easter. "And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.   " ...

This is one of the many special things I did on New Years. Karaoke. I've been wanting to do karaoke for a long while. Shout out to Kayla for doing it with me and Laura for being an excellent camera woman. Have fun, be safe, and enjoy our silliness!

I was reading an article on www.LDS.org about the training of new mission presidents, and I loved this: "President Monson said missionaries represent the flower of youth and the hopes, prayers, and dreams of their parents. “They represent sacrifice. If you as mission presidents can realize the importance of their missions in the lives of these young men and young women and in the lives of your senior couples, then you will be in a better position to motivate them properly.” It got me thinking about the importance of my mission in my life. I know that's not the context of the quote, but work with me here. I want to imagine that if my president asked me what the importance of my mission in my life is, having served already, what I would say. I don't know why I was called to serve a mission. I don't know why the Lord wanted me to go so bad. But I'm so glad I did go. It changed my life. I wouldn't have it any other way. Maybe that's why he wanted m...

 She wants to stop being friends with some silly people, and she's finding it to be more difficult than she bargained for. She said that other people are making it hard for her because they always bring them up, and they won't let her forget about them. "Well, hun, you can't forget. Forgetting about them won't make it better, because you'll remember them, someday, somehow. And then you'll get upset again. The goal is to deal with it, not forget about it. That way, when someone does bring them up, because it will happen, you'll still be okay." I believe that to be true. Stop running away from problems, they will always catch up to you. You will never out run them. Maybe for a season. Maybe for a short while. Maybe for a long while. But they will always catch up and make you trip. So stop trying to run. Stop trying to hide. Deal with it and learn from it and learn how to handle it. And you know what? When it does catch up to you, you can still ke...

So yesterday as I was leaving the temple I met a man crossing the street. His name is Joseph Kanoho Keliikoa, III. He has mild cerebral palsy and a hearing disability, but he's still very cognitive, don't be fooled. As I was crossing the street he greeted me like I was his best friend from his science class and introduced himself. In our conversation he handed me a slip of paper with his testimony on it. He said that he does it because his patriarchal blessing says that he needs to share his testimony with everyone, and I want to help him do it. Joseph also works at Photo Poly at the PCC if you ever want to meet him :) Dear brothers, sisters, family and friends! Aloha! I would like to share my testimony as a disciple and special witness of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This true church has blessed my life as my family lives forever. I know this to be true. I know we have a great, loving Father in Heaven, and that we are all his precious children. He truly ...

News Release  —  27 April 2012 Salt Lake City  —  The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) has announced the open house, cultural celebration and rededication dates for the Buenos Aires Argentina Temple. The public is invited to visit the temple during an open house from Saturday, 4 August 2012, through Saturday, 25 August 2012, excluding Sundays. The temple will be formally rededicated on Sunday, 9 September 2012, in three sessions. The rededicatory sessions will be broadcast to all stakes and districts in Argentina. In conjunction with the rededication of the temple, there will also be a cultural celebration featuring music and dance on Saturday, 8 September 2012. Latter-day Saint temples differ from the Church’s meetinghouses or chapels where members meet for Sunday worship services. Temples are considered “houses of the Lord” where Christ’s teachings are reaffirmed through marriage, baptism and o...