We don't have the time to be sorry, so baby be the life of the party

The Church of Jesus Christ

I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

I know who I am.

I know God’s plan.

I’ll follow him in faith.

I believe in the Savior, Jesus Christ.

I’ll honor his name.

I’ll do what is right;

I’ll follow his light.

His truth I will proclaim.

Words and music: Janice Kapp Perry, b. 1938. © children's songbook 

I have been singing this song since I could talk, and the words have never rung truer to me until recently when faced with many friends who claim to live the gospel of Jesus Christ, and simply do not. There are so many people member of the church, or not who question the church, and it's truthfulness, or wonder if they can believe everything but that one controversial topic. My personal answer is no. "Who's on the lord's side who? Now is the time to tell." (LDS Hymn) we cannot be standing on the fense. We are either in or out. If we truly understand the gospel we would be able to make a choice, and accept the whole gospel. If we think we can believe only certain things we are not a true disciple of Jesus Christ. I was talking with a client who said "I could never practice a religion where I am told what to do." My response was simply, she must not understand the religion because The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is all about freedom, and choosing for yourself! Ignorance (and satan) would tell us that practicing religion leads to bondage. 

Sunday someone brought up the story of the kites as told by Patricia Pinegar in the October 1999 conference report. The story tells of a dad flying kites with his young son. They let the string out bit by bit and the kite soared higher and higher until eventually they ran out of string. The boy begged the dad to cut the string so the kite can go even higher, and be free. The dad explains that if he did indeed cut the string the kite will crash to the ground. It's the string keeping the kite in the air. After much persuasion the dad cut the string to appease his son, and sure enough the kite dive bombs to the ground broken in many pieces. 

Well cute story, but what does the kite have to do with the gospel? The string along with the tails keep the kite flying high and in control, just as the commandments help us live happy and protected lives, close to the spirit, and away from sin. The strings represent following the lord's commandments. If we cut the string, or stop keeping the commandments we are no longer in control, we give up that agency to sin, and temptation, and spiral downward towards satan. 

It breaks my heart to hear people who view being a member of the LDS church restrictive, or stifling, I view it as freeing. There is no one forcing me to believe the things we learn in church, or general conference, It's all my choice. If I don't like something or agree with any point of doctrine I can research it on my own. If I don't agree I can leave at any time. It's all about making a stand, and following your passions! For me, my passion is living worthy of returning to God one day, and in order to do that I have to take the higher road, and rise above temptations, and the vein things of the world. Exchange the temporary satisfactions for the eternal life and happiness. 

It's so infuriating to me when people don't stand up for what they believe in. Make a stand. Latter-day Saints are different. We are supposed to be. If we conformed to everything the word (aka Satan) wanted us to do our entire belief system would crumble. Our doctrine and beliefs are unchanging because we live God's eternal law, and are proud to do so! I am so grateful for my belief in a non-conformist religion.

I know the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. I know that by following its teachings we will find a happiness we never knew existed. I know God's plan for his children is to be happy, and by following his plan, and living his gospel we will be much happier then living the way the world suggests we live. I know Joseph Smith restored the gospel in this, the latter-days. I am so grateful for his work in translating the Book of Mormon so that we could now read and learn another testament of Jesus Christ. I know the book of Mormon is a true account of ancient prophets on the American continent. I am so grateful for the Holy Ghost in my life, and the guiding light it has been, and continues to be. I know that President Thomas S. Monson holds all of the keys of the gospel and leads and guides this church as the mouthpiece of God. If we follow the leadership of the church we are doing God's will. I am so grateful for my membership in the church, and hope to always be an example of my savior Jesus Christ. I love him, and am so grateful for his eternal sacrifice making this whole earthy existence worth while, and atoning for my sins, as well as every single person who has ever walked the earth. I'm so grateful for his mercy, and understanding of our mortality. It is never too late to repent, and start or continue following our savior. We are allowed to make mistakes, and hopefully those mistakes make us stronger, and lead us back to Christ with a renewed belief, and faith in his teachings. My hope is that we can all be better examples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and shine so bright that there is no doubt that we follow our savior Jesus Christ. 

Sexy beaches

A resounding theme throughout my life has been "he's just not that into you." Not to start a little pitty party or anything, but I usually go for the guys who like me...wait for it...as a really good friend. If you aren't my friend you have no idea what you are missing! I'm a fabulous friend! If you are my friend, you know...you know. Years ago in my early 20's (wow! That's weird to say! I'm so old!) I read a book called He's Just Not That Into You (I'm going to reference this dating bible quite a bit, so from now on I will refer to it is "HJNTIY") by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo. As with most books, motivational talks, ect, after I read HJNTIY I was utterly empowered, then slowly I lost sight of the wisdom I had once gleaned from its pages. Recently I, and a few friends have had some boy experiences that made me want to scream from the hidden corners of my memory "duh! He's just not that into you!!!!" Lately I have been feeling like every girl needs to read this book, and just Incase you feel the need after reading this post here is the link to buy it on Amazon. Best $8.70 you will ever spend! I promise! 

http://www.amazon.com/Hes-Just-That-Into-Understanding/dp/141690977X

I have fallen into the trap lately of making excuses for my crushes not calling, not texting, not asking me out. 

He's too shy to make a move.

He doesn't want to ruin the friendship.

He must not know that I like him.

He is probably intimidated by me.

He doesn't want to seem to eager or needy.

He just got out a a relationship.

He's scared.

The truth? He's just not that into you. I am THE WORST at making these assumptions. Luckily, being the independent, straightforward woman that I am, I have mastered the simple "do you like me, because I kind of like you text." The interesting thing is, the three plus times I have had to bust this texting tactic out because I am "so confused, and nothing is happening." The answer has been unanimously no. I could have saved myself so much time obsessing if I would have just read the signs! 

"Classic single woman scenario: you really like this guy, but he's giving mixed messages. You make excuses, decide he is confused and afraid of commitment. Stop kidding yourself! He's just not that Into you. Let go, and look for someone else who is."(HJNTIY) The truth of the matter is even in my own experience when a guy hasn't asked me out, 100% of the time he isn't interested! It's crazy how much the female mind can rationalize someone else's emotions.

"If a sane guy really likes you, there is nothing that is going to get in his way. Despite your good intentions you are wasting your time. Men are not complicated, there are no mixed messages" (HJNTIY) 

Unfortunately being an independent woman today is a lot more difficult then in days past. Now we have to compete with content bachelorhood, halo parties, and parent's welcoming basements. Sadly a lot of men who are of a dating age are just not interested in dating period. That leaves us eligible women even farther behind in the rat race to find our happily ever after. "The Hardest thing for a woman in this day and age to do is nothing. We like to scheme, make phone calls, have a plan...most women who date...don't have men throwing themselves at her every night of the week. Sometimes there's a long stretch during which nobody's asking us out. So when we see a guy (who) might be a romantic possibility it's even harder for us to take a back seat. The opportunity might not com back for a long time." (HJNTIY)

Wow! Could words hit even closer to home? I think not! It is so true! Instead if jumping to conclusions, and sending "what's going on here?" texts we need to simply be better at reading the signs. "If they want you, they will find you. If you don't think you gave him enough time to notice you, take the time it took you to notice him, and divide it by half. Unfortunately guys are too terrified to ever directly tell a woman "you're not the one," but their actions absolutely show how they feel. When it comes to men, deal with them as they are, not as you'd like them to be." (HJNTIY)

"If you have to be the aggressor, if you have to pursue, if you have to do the asking out, nine times out of ten, he's just not that into you. Men like to chase and you have to let them chase." (HJNTIY) How many times in this feminist world do we hear the words "women should be able to ask men on dates!" It's true, women should be able to ask men on dates, and they do. I myself have asked numerous men on dates, but not a single one of those dates has ever resulted in him asking me on a second date. It's not the way men are hard wired to work. If your goal is to simply go on dates, then by all means ask guys out, but if your goal is to be dating, and eventually in a relationship with a guy, let him come to you. I cannot tell you the number of times I have asked men "do you like it when a woman asks you out?" Each time the answer is a resounding "yes!" Duh they like being asked out. It's the same flattering feeling we get when we get asked out by men. Being asked out by a woman, and wanting to start a relationship with the woman who asks them out are completely different things, and usually (in my experience) unrelated. So hard as it is to let go of that control, we have to let the men come to us. 

"If men are asking you out, if men have to get your attention then you, in fact, are the one in control. There's no scheming and plotting." 

I am a huge fan of fairy tales, and Nicholas Sparks plots, I will be the first to jump aboard the perfect fairy tale-happy ending train. Today in order to get there us ambitious independent women need to learn to take a back seat, and remember if he is into you he will find you. No matter what, no excuses, no plotting, no scheming necessary. If we find ourselves wanting to pick up that phone, drop it, and tell yourself "he's just not that into me!" Discouraging as it may seem now, rejection after rejection, there is that guy just waiting around the next corner who is perfect for us. He, ladies is worth the wait, (Or so I am told!)