The Four-letter Word with Interest

Did I catch your attention? I hope so. Because I have some pretty strong feelings about what I'm going to talk about! Any guesses on what that is? What's the four-letter word? How can a word have interest? Why is Krista asking all these questions? Why doesn't she just get to the point?

Okay, you win. The four-letter word is debt.

The prophets and other Church leaders have warned against debt. "Once in debt," President J. Reuben Clark, Jr. stated, "interest is your companion every minute of the day and night; you cannot shun it or slip away from it. . . and whenever you get in its way or cross its course or fail to meet its demands, it crushes you."

Yikes. I don't want anything crushing me, least of all something so worldly and abstract as a massive, dark cloud of debt.

There are three exceptions in which debt is acceptable, according to Joseph B. Wirthlin: debt "for a modest home, expenses for education, [and] perhaps for a needed first car." So that's good news. I don't have to become a millionaire at age twenty-three in order to purchase a home with cash in hand. Thankfully, BYU is a CES school which allows me to go through my undergraduate education without having to worry about massive debt (as long as I'm wise). I'm sure grateful for tithes and offerings that allow this system to work so well.

So we know debt is a scary thing. How can we avoid it?

I'll only mention one basic principle right now, and in very brief terms. It's simply this: don't spend money if you don't have it. It sounds simple, but it may be more tempting than we'd expect. In an age of credit cards and grace periods and a "I want it now" mentality, we might get caught up in the latest trends. Newer, faster, bigger, smarter, prettier... and more expensive. The best way to stay out of unnecessary debt is not to give in to the temptations.

So next time I'm tempted to swipe my credit card for a classy pair of high heels or a brick of fudge from the bookstore, I'm going to practice positive financial stewardship and consider whether it's really in my budget.

My Two Cents on Politics (...Tax-free)

I've tried to put these thoughts into words during a few conversations, and I think I've found a coherent way to say (well, write) them.

When it comes to politics, our society has tragically fallen into individualized egotistical mindsets ranging in severity from "I'm right, you're wrong" to "I'm right, and you're a hateful, bigoted, mindless idiot who wishes the worst upon the country and has less value than the dirt beneath my feet." I'm not just pointing fingers; I have been guilty of supposing my ideas are the only correct ones (though I certainly hope no one thinks of me as being on the extreme end of that scale).

But I've had a change of heart recently, because many people I love and respect are voting for candidates I wouldn't personally vote for.

This is the conclusion I've come to: God gave us brains and the gift of choice for a reason. If a citizen has become informed (actually informed--not just swayed by trending Facebook videos or news reports from a single agency), weighed the options, and brought his/her conclusion to God in prayer, that citizen has made the right choice. And I have no right to demean, accuse, or insult that person for that decision.

I saw a bumper sticker about six years ago that said, "God is not a Democrat... He's not a Republican, either." I think that'll always stick with me. Too often, we judge a person's morality and worth based on which box he/she's checking in the voting booth. We can promote our own beliefs without tearing down others' beliefs--or worse, others' character.

When it comes down to it, I really think that there is no single "right" choice, and I don't believe God thinks there is, either. He did, after all, bless us with intelligence, resources, freedom of choice, and the ability to pray for confirmation or redirection. As long as we are informed, prayerful citizens, we won't make the wrong choice.



Fine Print: Everything in this post reflects my personal opinion and does not necessarily reflect anyone else's.

"There was not one. . . who had not received many wounds"

In the Book of Mormon, we read accounts of ancient prophets and peoples. There are accounts of miracles and angels and mercy and love. According to the Introduction to the Book of Mormon, the "crowning event" of the Book of Mormon is when Christ visits the people in the Americas.

Sadly, hate and war also existed back then. The cool thing, though, is that even in the "war chapters" of the Book of Mormon, we can find tender mercies, faith-filled acts, and modern-day lessons.

I was reading about one such war in Alma 57. It took place around 63 B.C. In simple terms, the wicked people known as the Lamanites were fighting against the righteous people known as the Nephites. Because their fathers had made a covenant with God to never take up their weapons of war again, about two thousand young Nephite men fought for the liberty and safety of their people so that their fathers would not break their covenant.

One verse in particular caught my eye: 

A Word to the Wise

A "This I Believe" essay (for a class, but this is real stuff in here!)

            My roommate in the living room could probably see it in the way I walked in, avoiding all possibility of eye contact by taking a sudden, uncalled-for interest in the kitchen wall. I had just come home from one of the worst days of my college career—and certainly the worst day of the semester—with swollen, red eyes and smeared mascara. Ordinarily, a baby grand would be a good friend of mine. Today, the sleek, black paint and smooth, ivory keys were my enemy. I hated my calling.

            When the bishop had asked me to be a ward pianist, he had become the instigator of my real-life nightmare. Sure, I knew how to play the piano. Sure, I had even taught piano lessons for a while. And yeah, I had played in sacrament meeting a couple of times. But ward pianist was the absolute last calling, second to none (yes, that even includes Relief Society president), that I wanted. For the first time in my life, I felt completely unqualified for my calling. And no matter how hard I tried or how many times I played through the hymns for the next day, I could not master them.

            So into my room I retreated. I was so prepared to drop on my bed and wallow as no ward pianist had ever wallowed before.

            But when I turned on my light, there was a surprise waiting for me. Streamers. Chocolate. A homemade sign, still in place on my wall four months later, proclaiming: “Krista, you are the bomb.com. Love ya!” Tears filled my eyes for probably the twentieth time that night as I looked around. My roommates really knew how to cure a pity party. They were the doctors I hadn’t thought I wanted.

            People say that actions speak more loudly than words. I don’t disagree. But I think sometimes, we interpret that to mean that words speak very little or not at all. Show, don’t tell. Walk the walk; don’t talk the talk. But what would we be if we didn’t tell or talk or write? Probably the same place I would have been had my roommates not written a simple note on a piece of 8 ½” x 11” computer paper: lost, confused, and hopeless.

            I believe in words. I believe in writing them, speaking them, singing them, thinking them. I believe in hearing them and sharing them, screaming them and sighing them. Most of all, I believe in remembering them. I believe in remembering words. I didn’t toss the sign to the trash and mutter that if they supported me, they’d sit at a piano with me and show me what to do. I still look at that sign on my wall every day, remembering what those words mean. Words don’t just lead to actions; sometimes, they are the actions.

I'm Not Serving a Full-time Mission

I've been trying to figure out how to say this, and I finally decided just to SAY it. A lot of you already know (some of you might've been surprised) that I'm not planning to serve a full-time mission. I adore this Gospel. I love and support those who do share it as full-time missionaries. And the decision of whether or not to dedicate 18 months of my life was NOT an easy one. It took prayer, priesthood blessings, tears, questions, and consideration. I just want to make absolutely clear a couple of things about those of us who do not serve as full-time missionaries:

-We are still missionaries. We made that covenant when we were baptized. Just because we don't wear name tags does not mean we don't love sharing the Gospel.

-It's not just because we're lazy or selfish. We work hard, too. We have jobs, school, families, church callings, and friends that all require our attention.

-It's okay to tell us that you're excited for YOUR mission, if you've chosen to serve one! We're excited for you, too!

-We have prayed. We have studied. We have received priesthood blessings. We have cried. We have worried. We have sought the advice of others. And we have received an answer.

-We appreciate the support we get from others. We need that support as much as anyone!

I decided to write up a blog post about this after stumbling across another's post about this same topic. That can be found here.

Why I'm Grateful for the Scariest Night of My Life

If you know me and you're reading this, you might have heard about my dad's recent stroke. This is something I haven't shared with very many people at all. You'll have to bear with me because this is a bit of a long story. But I think it's worth sharing.

I was out at college, living with a friend of mine while I wrapped up my last few days of work before returning home for the summer. She lived very close to two of my coworkers. I had only been to my coworkers' place two or three times before, and I didn't know the apartment number. So when I got locked out of Elizabeth's apartment, I was kinda bummed out. I had gotten off work early, and no one was home. Did I mention my phone was broken so I couldn't even call Elizabeth? I even tried opening the windows to her kitchen and living room. Luckily for me, either her neighbors didn't see me or they condone breaking and entering. (Kidding!)

So I walked over to my coworkers' complex. Like a lot of people, I have a somewhat photographic memory, so I was able to figure out which apartment was my friends'. I kind of looked at the number on the door, shrugged my shoulders, and went, "Hm. I hope this is the right one." I knocked and was relieved when my friend Eli answered. I was able to call Elizabeth with his phone and eventually someone came home and I was able to get in.

Remember that background information. It'll be important in a minute.

Reflection~Enos-Mosiah 3

Sorry; I accidentally posted my past reflection papers in a slightly incorrect order... Here's a missing one :)

Our Heavenly Father has given us all that we have. He has given us everything, down to a single moment’s breath. He hears and answers our prayers, and He leads and guides us through times of doubt and certainty alike. He gave His Only Begotten Son, our elder brother and Savior Jesus Christ, to atone for our sins, sicknesses, and sorrows. How, then, can we—we imperfect, inferior, inconstant mortal men and women—possibly repay Him? For all it entails, the answer seems a simple one: we can repay God for all that He has done and continues to do for us by giving ourselves to Him—all that we have, all that we are, and all that we aspire to become.

Final Reflection

This semester has been an eye-opening and uplifting experience for me. I have had so many wonderful times and met so many wonderful people at Brigham Young University, both inside and outside of class. I look forward to my Book of Mormon class next semester, where I will strive to learn as many important concepts and rediscover as many enlightening scriptures as I have in this class.

Reflection~Alma 1

My brother Steven left to serve a Spanish-speaking mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ogden, Utah when I was in sixth grade. He had completed a year at Brigham Young University before, so I knew what it was like to have him gone. All the same, I was worried about his going, and I knew I would miss him greatly, since I wouldn’t be able to talk to him whenever I wanted to for two years. I remember the day he left almost like it was last week. It was early in the morning, and I was crying. He hugged me and said goodbye. When he, my little brother, and parents left for Utah, I went back into my room. I was still crying, but I knew even at my young age that I could seek comfort through the words of the prophets. I opened my scriptures up and began reading.

Reflection~Mosiah 25-Alma 22

In the past, I have been prompted to speak with someone about the gospel. On too many occasions, I have ignored these promptings, and I still regret that decision. In reality, hardly a day goes by that I do not think of those sons and daughters of God who could have benefited from my sharing the gospel message with them. Even if they would have rejected the restored truths of Jesus Christ, I would have been able to feel the peace from the knowledge that I had at least given them the opportunity to accept it.

Reflection~Mosiah 11-29 and Addiction Recovery

The Savior knows and understands absolutely every single thing every single person goes through and experiences. Even in our times of deepest sorrow and private remorse, when it seems as though no one could possibly understand, Jesus Christ does. He provides us with the comfort and support we need to feel whole again. No matter the size or significance of the problem, He can aid us in our path to recovery—be it physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual.

Reflection~2 Nephi 33:10-11

I cannot remember the first time I read—really read—2 Nephi 33. I do, however, remember how much it affected me once I had put forth the effort of reading it with a purpose. I consider the entire chapter my favorite scripture in the LDS standard works, but for present purposes, I will focus primarily on verses ten and eleven. In these verses, he simultaneously demonstrates a great amount of humility, boldness, and conviction.

Reflection~The God Who Weeps

We, in our present states of mind, cannot possibly comprehend what it would be like to be gods or goddesses. To shape and create worlds without number!—as mortals, we automatically desire to attach a numerical figure to these worlds; how can something truly be innumerable?—to hold the entirety of creation in our hands!—the vast responsibility associated with such a calling is unfathomable; would it not be too much for one to handle?—to be the most all-knowing and ever-present being in the universe!—we humans do not know everything, but we do know enough to know we cannot know everything at this time; what kind of power would accompany such a wealth of knowledge? Of course, special attentions to unique power, ability, and knowledge cannot be the only matters of concern when considering the greatness of God’s responsibilities. To feel the pain of each individual… To witness the disobedience of one’s own beloved children… To fully understand the tears of every wounded son and daughter… How can one withstand the heartache brought about by these examples?

Reflection~2 Nephi 17-29~What is Grace?

The concept of a “saving grace” is one that can be easily misunderstood. Grace can be defined as a key to salvation—the priceless gift of Christ’s Atonement. Some religions believe that accepting grace is the single requirement for one to enter the kingdom of heaven. However, while it certainly plays an imperative role in that effort, grace alone cannot guarantee us eternal happiness. We must accept the Savior’s selfless gift of divine mercy, yes. But we are also expected to prove our acceptance of and appreciation for that gift.

Reflection~2 Nephi 19-22 (Isaiah 1:3)

In class, we discussed Nephi’s quotations of Isaiah’s writings. During this time, we examined Isaiah’s poetic form. It was interesting to me that such a topic would be near the center of our class conversation because it lined up well with two of my other classes. When we began looking at Isaiah’s words as poetry, I had just finished writing a close reading paper about a particular poem for my American Literary History class (English 293). I was also in the process of writing a second close reading paper about another poem for my Fundamental Literary Interpretation class (English 251).

Reflection~1 Nephi 11-18

Along with membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints come blessings beyond compare, joy in this life and in the eternities, and extra strength largely available through the Priesthood. However, living as a member of the Church is seldom easy for anyone. Even from before the creation of the world, God’s children have been faced with the fierce temptations of the adversary. Oftentimes, we feel we stand alone in our strivings to do what is right. And indeed, oftentimes, we do stand alone in a particular effort, save our constant companionship with the Holy Ghost, our Savior, and our Father in Heaven.

Reflection~1 Nephi 1-5 (4:7)

This is a reflection paper I wrote for my Book of Mormon 1 class last week. It is in regard to 1 Nephi chapters 1-5. I focus mainly on 1 Nephi 4:7. Before reading this, please understand that I mean it when I say (in the final paragraph) that I do not mean to boast in sharing some of my personal experiences of following the promptings of the Spirit. Now that that's been said, I hope you like it!

Reflection~The Book of Mormon

My first assignment for my Book of Mormon 1 class was to right a reflection paper on our relationship with the Book of Mormon. I loved doing it, and I wanted to share it. Periodically (or maybe frequently--not sure yet), I will post some of my reflection papers for you to read.

Gratitude

Why, hello there!

If you're a new visitor to my blog, welcome!! If you're not new... welcome back! I'm so glad you've decided to check out what I have to say today. If you look to your right (I'd make a splendid tour guide, wouldn't I...?), you'll be able to quickly find some of my most popular posts, as well as several other super awesome little gadgets. One of them is labeled "Great Sites to Check Out." I highly recommend following those links and have fun exploring!

Now, I've shared a bit about different aspects of my beliefs and knowledge. Today, I'm going to talk about one more that I hope can be universally agreed upon: The importance of gratitude.

The Plan of Salvation

"Where did I come from?" "Why am I here?" "Where am I going?" Those are really awesome questions, and ones that I think pretty much all of us have had. Luckily for us, those seemingly unanswerable questions DO have answers... And we have access to them.