Millennial Mormon Women

Hey friends!
Meet one of my nearest and dearest, Jessica!
Jessica is also a member of our YSA ward and has some terrific insight on life.
One of the many neat things about Jessica is she takes the hard questions about being LDS in true faith.
She is truly one of my best friends and what makes our friendship so special is that we have struggled through some of the same trials where our faith has had profound impact on our choices.
She will be guest blogging here infrequently as we tell about our YSA life!

Is God saying He's the One? (post from previous blog, 'Twenty-one and undone')

So tonight, I finally found something I think is worth blogging to you guys. I've been mulling it over and over in my heart for forever. I ask my mom what I should write about sometimes, and she says,"wherever the keys take me", but tonight, I was in for some sweet, sweet heavenly revelation I wasn't expecting. And even better, it was from a book.
About three and a half moths ago, I met this super awesome guy. Let's refer to him in only general terms, for privacy purposes. 
Things were going so perfectly. We truly enjoy each other's company, share the same silly quirks, and love the exact same things, especially as far as humor goes. He was the bomb.com in my eyes. We even went to a winter formal together, where we witnessed an engagement together during a walk around the town square where we live! How romantic right? All the right things seemed to be happening.
But then.....disaster.
Some unsavory details of his past came to the surface. He was honest and open about it to me, and a couple days later, he decided he needed to figure himself out before we started to really date. We had bonded strongly over a short time, so naturally, this was painful to me, especially after the disaster of my last relationship that left me more fragile than a newborn butterfly. Fast Forward to now, and we are still getting stronger. We have a best friend type of bond. But I couldn't help but feel like it is time to narrow down where this relationship was heading. Sadly, I haven't figured that part out yet, but after some prayer, I think that some mercy has been shown to my pleading prayers over this guy. When we first met, I didn't automatically think he was the one, but I definitely felt something that I hadn't felt in such a while. An awakening, if you may. It felt so wonderful. But that doesn't mean what I thought it meant..... in all this, I couldn't hear God's voice. What I had not realized, was that bitterness had overtaken me so badly that I no longer recognized it as cancerous...It just became something that I no longer felt was alien..but boy, do I see it now. 
It's always..."why me?", "why this...why that.?" , but now I get it. 
I used to feel that I was being punished for not getting to be the last guy's wife..I truly thought that all the mean things I had endured were a punishment for listening to my inner voice and deciding enough was enough. Now, I realize that I was oh so wrong. So, so, so wrong. I thought I was the one in control of that, but I was wrong about that too.
It never occurred to me that whatever plans I had for myself, were nothing compared to Heavenly Father's plan for me! It NEVER CROSSED MY MIND that the things I had planned out for myself..just because they were worthy goals, DID NOT mean that they were the PLAN...do you get what I'm saying? I was telling my God...my omniscient, all powerful Heavenly Father what to do with my life! I was telling Him that this was going to happen this way and not this way. Like I said, it was not God's voice.
I have been reading this book by a woman named Susan Rohrer, titled, Is God saying He's the One?
and some of the passages in this book are tender mercies to the prayers that are fresh on my heart. 

1. If I am so confused..even doubtful about this guy..even for a second...then what does that probably mean? Here's scripture that seemed to heal that loaded question..."...for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace..." 1 Corinthians 14: 29, 32-33. How truly beautiful is that? If what we are seeking is from God, then the Spirit would give us peace..not lead us to confusion and doubt.
2. This quote made me realize how much Heavenly Father cares for his single daughters. The profoundness is simply astonishing. "Stop for a moment and think about this: from the very beginning, God observed the deep need men and women have for each other. The creation of womankind was not an after thought. It did not take our omniscient God by surprise that Adam would need a mate. That wasn't  a holy oops. God had already created all the animals, implicitly including males and females as He blessed them, saying that they should be fruitful and multiply." How amazing is that??? 
3. My favorite idea from this book so far, is the fact that the author herself, has had several lessons on objectively receiving revelation despite her own feelings. For example, She had three men tell her in the same day that they truly believed that they were "the one" for her. However, Knowing that she needed to have this confirmed to her through prayer, or other revelation, she knew that this could not possibly be true. But then she noticed something about the third man. He simply stated back to her that he would give her time as well to "catch up" to him on this revelation. And sure enough, through faith and prayer, they were married two years later. This is what she wrote about this "lesson", or experience. "That quiet faith had kept him at rest while he waited for my heart to catch up with his, till we stood at the altar-God, he and I- uniting as that three-fold cord that is not easily broken. Indeed, as of writing this, we have been married more than three decades". Seriously???? HOW BEAUTIFUL IS THAT?

So to leave this post, I just want to tie all this together with my journal entry from tonight....I think I finally have peace about everything as soon as this was all tied together excruciatingly slow in my heart, but at last, it is here. And it is a beautiful thing.

Some days, I just don't know what God is saying. It is so frustrating. I guess He might be trying to teach me a few things. For a very long time, I've always been telling God how my life will go. I never once stopped to consider that maybe what I thought He wanted for me was not in line with what I wanted for me.  But so many beautiful things have risen from this pain that I have been feeling for way too long. First, I WANT TO SERVE MY GOD! before this, I could not have said that and truly meant it. I was not humble enough, or broken enough to know that serving my Heavenly Father was the key to happiness. My life has turned out to be so much more than a temple marriage to a man , that now when i look back on and see that we had nothing in common. Some days, I still think that I am being punished for not getting to be his wife, but now I am starting to realize that my Heavenly Father holds me so dear, and loves me sooooooo, soooooo much that he HAD to make this situation painful in order for me to change my ways. He leads us into deep waters, not to be drowned, but to be cleansed. I now realize that this was not because of me, but because He has HUGE plans for me, and that my plans and my times will not always match up with His. YES! :) I finally get it! :)

Get on your knees and pray, then get on your feet and WORK.(post from previous blog, 'Twenty-one and undone')

Hey Everyone! I have so much to tell you!

Two weeks ago, I received my first calling in my new YSA ward(even though I've been here almost six months:)) And I want to take the time to talk about magnifying our callings!

Last night, I went to FHE, and then to my first meeting with the chairman of the committee I have been called to, and all I can say is, "my cup runneth over." 

Do you know the feeling I am talking about here? In one day, I feel like I have gone from blissfully passive, to blissfully overloaded. And I woke up today with a new energy I have not felt in a while. I feel like even though I may not get EVERYTHING done, everyday, all the time, that whatever I absolutely try my hardest at-this will be enough to fulfill my callings. 

Last night, as I was driving home, I found myself becoming very choked up over the fact that I had so much to do in the next few weeks..I felt needed, and wanted. I felt joyful, and I felt FULL.

When I realized what was happening, I felt a silent prayer of thanks to my Heavenly Father. I am so happy to be where I am at. 

So, as I was saying....

Magnifying our callings can be a source of JOY, CONTENTMENT, and SERVICE for singles. (Yes, I see the eye rolling of you primary workers...).

Through our service to our brothers and sisters, no matter in the church, or not in the church, this is a way of emulating the Savior and his examples of service.

In the General Conference of October 1988, President Ezra Taft Benson(via Thomas S. Monson) addressed the single adult sisters of the church. I love this talk! It is in truth, a direct guide to being fulfilled in our singleness. Monson said," Become fully involved in the Church. Attend all your meetings and your single adult activities.

Reach out to others. Rather than turning inward, forget self and really serve others in your Church callings, in personal deeds of compassionate service, in unknown, unheralded personal acts of kindness.

If you really want to receive joy and happiness, then serve others with all your heart. Lift their burden, and your own burden will be lighter. Truly in the words of Jesus of Nazareth: “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake, shall find it.” (Matt. 10:39.)"

What a lovely statement he has made. Did you catch that? "He that findeth his life shall lose it: but he that loseth his life for my sake, shall find it." This is the ultimate "Black and white" scenario. There are no "grey" areas in serving the Lord. "Where much is given, much is required." and He requires it all.
My goal for you tonight is to serve in your callings more fully, and not for the sake of yourself, but in service to others. In this, you will find joy and fulfillment, I promise.

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1988/10/to-the-single-adult-sisters-of-the-church?lang=eng

Much love, 
              -E

So Who Am I? Check it out!(post from previous blog,'Twenty-one and undone')

Hey Everyone!(or should I say fellow sisters?) :)
So I bet you are wondering, how is singleness the best season of my life? Or how does it get any better than Netflix or singles dances? (Yes. I know. Major eye rolling going on here!)
Well, guess what. That is why I'm here! I'm a single Latter-day Saint committed to living the seasons of my life for the purpose they are there for. 
 Let me introduce myself.

My name is Emily, and I am from a tiny church ward in middle Georgia. I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and I love life! No, seriously, I LOVE life.

I'm a college student, a young single adult, and I want you to share this honest journey with me through the ups-and-downs of singleness. I can't guarantee you will not have hardships in your life, and I can't guarantee every single moment will be pure joy...actually, back up..I KNOW that won't be the case. But, so is the case of life, and it is our calling to rise to the occasion. I quote Elder M. Russell Ballard, "Make the decision to do what Jesus Christ has asked you to do.", and this most likely will not be easy to do as we get to know each other better! I have struggles just like you, but the fruit of our trials and struggles are entirely up to us! This blog is the fruit of a very heartbreaking struggle of mine, and I hope to only help and alleviate the loneliness that accompanies this season in life...but good news sisters! It does not have to be that way!! Let's focus on running our cups over, not letting them sit half empty! Grab your scriptures and journals ladies!!!(and...erm...gentleman if you are out there) Are you ready? Let's go!